Squeezing the drop

Crude oil has fallen below USD 60 per barrel as I discovered this morning through radio while on my way to works. What would that translate to in social economy sense or cents?

The last I check since the recent last petrol price reduction to RM2.15 per litre, my Avanza mileage consumption is RM0.18 per kilometer. Before it was close to RM0.22 per kilometer (based on RM2.70 per litre).

Can my wallet retain longer from now on?

Cheaper roti canai. Really?

After reading yesterday news saying that consumers in the Klang Valley have reason to smile as the prices of nasi kandar, teh tarik and roti canai are being reduced immediately. So I decided today for another round of roti canai as breakfast. It is reported Nasi kandar will see a reduction of 20 sen a plate, while roti canai (and other roti items such as roti telur, roti pisang, etc) and teh tarik will see a reduction of 10 sen each.

Guess what? I am not quite smiling after looking at the bill. Roti canai is still RM0.90 a piece in my office area at Seri Kembangan. Curiosity take the better hold of me or I should say dissatisfactions. I opened my mouth and asked the operator "isn't that Government had said roti canai has been reduced?". The operator can only smile at me.

I guess I don't really have a good reason to smile this morning. Maybe the restaurant operator does because he did it to me.

Got the ticket

Today I just got my confirmed AirAsia ticket to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for a 3 days work trip there. I will be going there on next Monday and be back the following Wednesday evening. The trip supposed to be on this Thursday but all tickets were sold out due to last minute booking. I was informed to be on board the Cambodia project team only last week. Hmmm....

I will be working along with my colleague, a Project Manager to manage the construction of bungalows together with others appointed Malaysian consultants. Hence, from now on I will need to travel back and forth minimum once a month until the project completed. Initial stage will need to be there fortnightly. Estimated the duration will be about 2 years the most.

I personally have not been there before, so this will be my first. The furthest I have been was Bangkok, Thailand (it was a factory visitation trip back in 2002). I always have a feeling that I will be traveling there but never come across my mind through work.

Lord, guide me as I have never travel this path before. Let Your protection be upon my life and my colleague as well. I commit therefore this project that You have sent me to for Your blessing. Trusting that You have a purpose for my presence there. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Longest day

It happened unnoticed as we didn't anticipated that the complaint have serious tone behind it.

Early last week, Ivan started to complaint about having cough during bedtime. But we thought he just trying to make it up as an excuse. Then Tuesday the cough became very apparent. During the night time it turn to bad wheezing and subsequently a restless night for Ivan as he tries to get himself to sleep.

Next morning, Pei took leave to bring Ivan to have a check with a clinic doctor hoping to relief the asthma. We try to avoid having Ivan to use the nebulizer. He just don't like that mask thing. Unfortunately the doctor said Ivan condition needs immediate usage of the nebulizer. Ivan condition didn't improve until the evening when we decided to go for a second round of checking with the same clinic. Hence second round of nebulizer. The clinic doctor have advice for emergency admission to hospital for a constant treatment against the bad wheezing if it still persist and written a letter for us to do so. The relief just only managed to last not more than 3 hours when the bad wheezing resumed.

Decision have to be made whether to admit Ivan. But the wheezing is just too much for that little body to take it. That whole day, our poor Ivan just wanted to lay down and sleep. Shunning away his regular milks and porridge. At almost 11pm, we decided to admit him to the nearest medical hospital upon checking with our medical card panel list. My dad drives Pei, myself and Ivan to the hospital whereas Reanne stays home with my mom.

Within an hour after arriving at the hospital attended by the on-call paediatrician doctor, having another round of nebulizer, taking of blood sample and X-ray, finally Ivan was admitted to a ward. The doctor have prescribed nebulizer treatment for every 2 hours. It was the longest night for both Ivan and me as I was there to accompany him throughout that night. Pei gotta be home to attend Reanne.

The next day, Ivan gradually return to his normal self. The wheezing was almost unnoticed already thanks to the overnight continuous nebulizer treatment. Ivan appetite was good starting with the hospital breakfast porridge. In the morning, Ivan was sent to have a physiotherapy to promote the removal of accumulated phlegm at the lungs.

We thought it was pretty much over and Ivan can be discharged soon with his sign of improvement. However, in the afternoon the paediatrician doctor brings us an unhappy news. There were sign of pneumonia at Ivan's right lung shown in the X-ray. Ivan needs to be treated with antibiotics medication to control the infection. So further monitoring is needed with extended hospital stay.

To cut the long story short, Ivan was discharged on Friday evening after staying of almost 2 days at the hospital since from Wednesday midnight. Doctor was able to release Ivan given that his improvement was satisfactory. Now Ivan still under antibiotic medication for one week. Follow up appointment will be conducted this Friday.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank God for His protection and covering on Ivan's life. Thank God for his quick recovery and healing from the pneumonia. Not forgetting also to all those who have spent their time to pray and visited Ivan. Thank you for your care and love shown to our little boy :)

Early birds

Gosh, I have been absence in the bloggersphere almost a week now. Some major issues came out just few days ago that have taken my whole family attention and energy away (to be shared soon).

So just let me start with the phrase of 'the early bird who catches the worm'. Springing forth from my office recent revised five days week, beginning yesterday i.e. Monday we are now branded ourselves as 'early birds'. Yes, we are now officially commencing our office hour from 8.30am to 5.50pm after a few days of internal 'voting' among staffs. Majority have chosen to become 'early bird' so that we can return to our 'nest' early too. I guess like one of our politician have said, "it proof that democracy still being triumph in this country".

Five days work

Starting this month, my office have revised the working day to 5 days week instead of 5 and half days recent being for more effective and efficient operational reasons. Working hours have been extended with additional 1 hour from 9.00am to 6.00pm.

Previously we need to work on Saturday based on alternate basis which mean working on two Saturday only in a month.

But if calculate carefully, staffs actually works extra 12 hours based on the latest working time. Original working hours was 168 hrs per month (20 days @ 8 hrs + 2 Saturdays @ 4 hrs) . Latest working hours is 180 hrs per month (20 days @ 9 hrs). Even that it made no different to me as normally I worked even after 6.00pm. However I do appreciate with a completely free additional time for all my Saturdays. Most of my friends are already 5 days week. I am glad with the changes that made. Just need to use it wisely that's all if not it will be an excuse for me to sleep late ;P

Julie oh Julie

Singapore AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary) has issued a latest statement mentioning melamine has been detected in 17 biscuit product from Malaysian. 12 of the products are Julie's brand and the others are Khong Guan Assorted Biscuits, Khian Guan Biscuit Osborne, Leo Gold Finger Choco, Santa Chocolate Gold Fingers and Swan Chocolate Fingers. Julie's manufacturer Perfect Food Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd have already issued a press release calling for products recall.

The AVA said that the contamination in the Malaysian biscuits seems to have stemmed from tainted ammonium bicarbonate, which is used as a raising agent in confectionery. Perfect Food is now rushing out new batches made with leavening agents from Germany and Japan, and the new products may be available as soon as in five weeks' time.

For more details information of the affected products list, click here to view AVA statement.

Banned China food products

In today news headline, our Health Ministry has banned food products worth RM3.28mil from China due to the presence of melamine-tainted additive, ammonium bicarbonate, a raising agent.

This will have a grave effects on the upcoming Chinese New Year which is just less then three months away. I just can imagine the various CNY a 'must have' or symbolic festival items could in jeopardy such as the Mandarin oranges, dried meat, melon and sunflower seeds, niangao, etc.

Thanks to melamine, next year CNY will be sure different if not less 'festive'. But I am sure we Chinese will able to find ways to compensate that 'lack' with other means. Important is not the items or foods (though it's synonymous with everything Chinese do), but the kinship and fellowship we cherish with our loves one, friends and relatives.