When I was working in KL while my wife was working in Batu Gajah, my priority then was, without doubt ‘family comes first’. When my mother was still alive, it was a weekly emotional tug of war between family and mother.
Occasionally, I had invitations to wedding dinners or just get-togethers of old friends or ex-classmates. In the case of wedding invitations in KL, SP would try to make it as well if it involved relations. I tried to explain my reason if I had to forego attending, that my presence was more important to my children, especially Cheng who really showed her excitement when I went to fetch her from the baby-sitter, compared with my inconspicuous presence in a dinner crowd of a few hundred people.
At last night’s dinner, Govin and wife, actually came all the way from Johor Bahru to attend my mother-in-law’s birthday event. Veny told me that she actually asked him whether they should give it a miss this year, having just attended a wedding dinner the night before in KL. But he insisted that this event is very important to him. Anyway, the dinner party consisted of 40 people only and that included 10 workers, so he actually felt honoured to be invited too. So, it has to do with number of people involved again.
Recently, I was one of many, invited to DAP’s dinner in PJ, by Tony Pua and because of the many dinners locally, I had to give it a miss. This was also more to do with ‘who am I?’ and ‘I wouldn’t be missed at an event attended by 1,000(?)’.
Did I hear some sniggering? Yes, going to KL is a luxury to me now. A trip would cost me easily over Rm100 in petrol and tolls, and the latest penalty for having lost my transit ticket (presumed to be coming from JB) which costed me Rm68, really put me off. In trying to outsmart people who tried to cheat, I can understand the rules. But only recently, friends on a trip to Vietnam said their van paid only Rm4.30 from Gopeng to KLIA! So the loopholes are still there. It seems there was an unscheduled stop where the driver alone 'had to go to the toilet'.
Government fed by the people
Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.
Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?
When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.
Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)
3 comments:
This is really an important insight, it so easy to place family and life on the back burner and focus on work. Thanks for the reminder that life is more then work.
keep up the GOOD WORK bro. i read your bolg everyday and understand what you are going through ----a small comment -----your daughter with her condition has got a sweet smile------and your son trying to understand his sister's condition.
i lied there were 2 comments----hope you understand.
damm i having my own problems living in the little red dot south, but i appreciate what is written from the heart.
julian
Thanks Anonymous and Julian.
Writing in own blog reveals a lot about the person - choice of topics, opinions and so on.
With WWW, the reach is incredible, some found the site by chance and if happen to like it, will continue doing so. One thing is certain, only those with similar interests are likely to read daily.
Julian, I am not sure whether you know me and family or have seen our pictures in my blog. Didn't quite get what you mean. Hope you would elaborate. Thank you for visiting my blog daily.
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