Sunday, 4 December, 2011
As usual got up early, had my breakfast of bread adn coffee. Started my Blogspot account and wrote the previous day happenings.
Felt like not going out, as the day was a bit dark and gloomy.
Finished reading the book, KIRBY: The life and the loves, a novel by Shaari Isa.
The author was a student at the first Malayan Teachers training college in Kirby, near Liverpool. The novel intersperes romantic fiction with factual historical account of teacher trainees in Kirby.
I have friends and teachers who were at Kirby. Shaari I suspect was in the second batch basing on the the information during the duration of the particular batch of students.
I found it interesting, romantic and did give a flavour of life in the fifties. Learn about the college song, The Golden Chersonese and it on youtube. The tune I loved was 'Spring in Portugal'.
Lunch we had crab curry which I had bought the previous day at Manchester.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
The children do not want to talk to me. They do not approach me for anything.
If they want anything, they would just have to ask.
I suspect that they have strong resentment against me.
Today's example when I ask my second son whether he could set up the anti virus for my new lap, he said no and said that he will not help me.
I asked my eldest and third sons whether they could me, they replied in the negative.
The wife told me that the eldest lad had got a place to do his teaching qualification at York University and to inform me, but he still has not done so.
He has not communicate to me to what he intends to do. I can see his frustration at not being employed.
He will be 23 years in August.. he has made a good choice for the course.
The second lad had I came to know his school concert. I was not told about. it
I did tell the wife that if the children refuse to tell me any, it is their choice.
Frankly I do not want to have sleepless about the failing to communicate with me.
I will elaborate this blog in the not to distant future
If they want anything, they would just have to ask.
I suspect that they have strong resentment against me.
Today's example when I ask my second son whether he could set up the anti virus for my new lap, he said no and said that he will not help me.
I asked my eldest and third sons whether they could me, they replied in the negative.
The wife told me that the eldest lad had got a place to do his teaching qualification at York University and to inform me, but he still has not done so.
He has not communicate to me to what he intends to do. I can see his frustration at not being employed.
He will be 23 years in August.. he has made a good choice for the course.
The second lad had I came to know his school concert. I was not told about. it
I did tell the wife that if the children refuse to tell me any, it is their choice.
Frankly I do not want to have sleepless about the failing to communicate with me.
I will elaborate this blog in the not to distant future
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
18 January 2012
Today I am 61 years old. Health OK, with diabetes and with the Sensory Perception Neuropathy are my main issues. Though it does not give much cause for concern.
Today too I finished reading a book by Fatini Yaacob called NATRAH. So what is the connection?
When my mother was pregnant with me in her last month in December 1950 there occurred a riot in Singapore which was known as the Maria Hertogh Riot involving about 18 death and over 173 fatalities..
It was traumatic times for people in Malaya and Singapore. You just have to type on Google, the words, maria hertogh, singapore riots, 1950 or even on to wikipedia and there is the background to the story.
Fatini Yacoob did some in depth research on the story and went on to interview Maria Hertogh herself, trailing her from The Netherlands to Lake Tahoe in the United States. It is a sad story.
I first came to hear about the riots sometime in 1967/68 when there was a hartal in Penang.
I think the hartal was over the depreciation of the new Malaysian currency.
I always tried to find out more about the background and this book published in 2011 more or else covers all that I wanted to know. I understand that this story was covered in a local Malay magazine in Malaysia in the 1990s. This is the only English translation. I found the book very enlightening and wrote a comment on the face book of the author.
Tonight I started reading Fergal Keane's memoir called All of these People. During these last two months I have read KIRBY, The Life and the Loves by Shaari Isa; SPILLING THE BEANS, the autobiography of Clarissa Dickson Wright; novel by Singapore writer Catherine Lim, FOLLOWING THE WRONG GOD HOME.
I went to Bolton today, had an Indian curry lunch.
I think I am OK with life. I have no worries to drag me down. I now know my strength and weaknesses. I know that I cannot change my thoughts and my behaviour because of my Learning Disability.
I accept it and feel that there was a purpose for me by the Creator.
In a way I am grateful that I have been brought this far in life and do not wish to have regrets and think of the negative past. The more you think about it the more the poison creeps into our body system and it ruins your life.
I have made my peace and only need the strength to sustain it.
We cannot change the past but we can go into the future learning from our past mistakes.
May the Creator give me the strength to face the future, for every day be grateful for what he has given me. Thank you.
Today too I finished reading a book by Fatini Yaacob called NATRAH. So what is the connection?
When my mother was pregnant with me in her last month in December 1950 there occurred a riot in Singapore which was known as the Maria Hertogh Riot involving about 18 death and over 173 fatalities..
It was traumatic times for people in Malaya and Singapore. You just have to type on Google, the words, maria hertogh, singapore riots, 1950 or even on to wikipedia and there is the background to the story.
Fatini Yacoob did some in depth research on the story and went on to interview Maria Hertogh herself, trailing her from The Netherlands to Lake Tahoe in the United States. It is a sad story.
I first came to hear about the riots sometime in 1967/68 when there was a hartal in Penang.
I think the hartal was over the depreciation of the new Malaysian currency.
I always tried to find out more about the background and this book published in 2011 more or else covers all that I wanted to know. I understand that this story was covered in a local Malay magazine in Malaysia in the 1990s. This is the only English translation. I found the book very enlightening and wrote a comment on the face book of the author.
Tonight I started reading Fergal Keane's memoir called All of these People. During these last two months I have read KIRBY, The Life and the Loves by Shaari Isa; SPILLING THE BEANS, the autobiography of Clarissa Dickson Wright; novel by Singapore writer Catherine Lim, FOLLOWING THE WRONG GOD HOME.
I went to Bolton today, had an Indian curry lunch.
I think I am OK with life. I have no worries to drag me down. I now know my strength and weaknesses. I know that I cannot change my thoughts and my behaviour because of my Learning Disability.
I accept it and feel that there was a purpose for me by the Creator.
In a way I am grateful that I have been brought this far in life and do not wish to have regrets and think of the negative past. The more you think about it the more the poison creeps into our body system and it ruins your life.
I have made my peace and only need the strength to sustain it.
We cannot change the past but we can go into the future learning from our past mistakes.
May the Creator give me the strength to face the future, for every day be grateful for what he has given me. Thank you.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Usual Problem
On 10 January I went down to Manchester to ATOS a private company on behalf of the Job centre Plus which assess people who are claiming benefits for health reasons.
I am on Employment Support Allowance (ESA). This means that I am getting an allowance as opposed to the Job Seekers Allowance. The difference is that my claim is because of my health condition as opposed to those who are unemployed and fit for work.
After a certain period of time I would have to be medically interviewed to be put on another claim.
I was sent a letter from Job centre Plus that since I am now 60 years of age, I no longer have to produce a sick note. Financially I do not know whether it makes any difference. The only thing I know if I am certified that I am not able to work my allowance would increased.
I got my letter in December that my ATOS interview would be in December.
I requested the interview for their Manchester office.
Looking through the paper work from them, my interview was for January 6.
During this time I was getting letters for eye/orthpedic appointments and I was rearranging it from the appointment given. This was done over the phone.
Something told me that the appointment for ATOS was changed to January 10.
OK on January 10 I went to Manchester and was told that my appointment was on the January 6.
There I go again and got my appointment mixed up.
From Manchester I took the bus to Preston via Chorley. Arriving at Preston as I was early for the Orthopedic appointment and arrived at RPH for the 15:10 appointment at 13:30.
I waited and was finally seen by 17:10. even though the board first stated it was 30 minute delay and after 16:00 a 60 minutes delay.
When I was called the nurses told me that my name was called and I was not in the waiting area.
It appeared that I was in a good mood that day.
I am on Employment Support Allowance (ESA). This means that I am getting an allowance as opposed to the Job Seekers Allowance. The difference is that my claim is because of my health condition as opposed to those who are unemployed and fit for work.
After a certain period of time I would have to be medically interviewed to be put on another claim.
I was sent a letter from Job centre Plus that since I am now 60 years of age, I no longer have to produce a sick note. Financially I do not know whether it makes any difference. The only thing I know if I am certified that I am not able to work my allowance would increased.
I got my letter in December that my ATOS interview would be in December.
I requested the interview for their Manchester office.
Looking through the paper work from them, my interview was for January 6.
During this time I was getting letters for eye/orthpedic appointments and I was rearranging it from the appointment given. This was done over the phone.
Something told me that the appointment for ATOS was changed to January 10.
OK on January 10 I went to Manchester and was told that my appointment was on the January 6.
There I go again and got my appointment mixed up.
From Manchester I took the bus to Preston via Chorley. Arriving at Preston as I was early for the Orthopedic appointment and arrived at RPH for the 15:10 appointment at 13:30.
I waited and was finally seen by 17:10. even though the board first stated it was 30 minute delay and after 16:00 a 60 minutes delay.
When I was called the nurses told me that my name was called and I was not in the waiting area.
It appeared that I was in a good mood that day.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Monday at Chorley
Went to Chorley on the bus to attend the dental appointment. While on the bus received a phone call about a dental appointment being cancelled for the day. I told the caller that I am on the bus and on the way to the dentist.
Reaching the dentists I inquired if they had called me and no and suspected that it could be another dentist and i was right. My son had a dental appointment at a another practice and they wanted to change the appointment!
I was attended by the young dentist and his nurse assistant. Had a good chat about what I did over the weekend.
After this went to Tates, and while having a beer, met G with her son G. She called me over to her table and we chatted over past times. Later on some of her friends certainly more older than me came trotting in.
After this I went to the POW and had my usual drink.
I sat at the table and was reading. This lady who was seating next to the gentleman aged 74, asked me where I originated from and I told her it was Malaysia and this guy Brian Keating told me that he had served in then Malaya from Jan 1957-Jan 1958. We exchanged information and how by coincidence I was carrying a tourist map of Malaysia and we traced the places then he had been. Apparently he was a Private with the 1sr Battlion Regiment Loyal North Lancashire Regiment . We chatted about Malaysia. Suddenly as though quietly he whispered to me whether he could have the PJM from the Malaysian Government. This medal is given to British Army Personnel who had served in Malaya/Malaysia from Malayan Independence 31 August 1957 till I think to the end of the confrontation with Indonesia.. I promised Brian that I will help!
We had another drink and we had to leave, Brian to Howrich and me to Adlington.
We boarded on the same bus 125 to Bolton, me dropping off at Duffy's at Adlington and Brian to Howrich.
Reaching the dentists I inquired if they had called me and no and suspected that it could be another dentist and i was right. My son had a dental appointment at a another practice and they wanted to change the appointment!
I was attended by the young dentist and his nurse assistant. Had a good chat about what I did over the weekend.
After this went to Tates, and while having a beer, met G with her son G. She called me over to her table and we chatted over past times. Later on some of her friends certainly more older than me came trotting in.
After this I went to the POW and had my usual drink.
I sat at the table and was reading. This lady who was seating next to the gentleman aged 74, asked me where I originated from and I told her it was Malaysia and this guy Brian Keating told me that he had served in then Malaya from Jan 1957-Jan 1958. We exchanged information and how by coincidence I was carrying a tourist map of Malaysia and we traced the places then he had been. Apparently he was a Private with the 1sr Battlion Regiment Loyal North Lancashire Regiment . We chatted about Malaysia. Suddenly as though quietly he whispered to me whether he could have the PJM from the Malaysian Government. This medal is given to British Army Personnel who had served in Malaya/Malaysia from Malayan Independence 31 August 1957 till I think to the end of the confrontation with Indonesia.. I promised Brian that I will help!
We had another drink and we had to leave, Brian to Howrich and me to Adlington.
We boarded on the same bus 125 to Bolton, me dropping off at Duffy's at Adlington and Brian to Howrich.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
Another Day Out
Saturday 3 December 2011, Saturday
I was thinking of buying a pair walking shoes which I saw in the Go brochure. I fancied a shoe. The nearest store was in Wigan.
Got up early, breakfast of a slice of wholemeal bread with lurpak butter and a big mug of coffee and drove off to Blackrod, parked my car there and took a bus to Wigan. It was cold and windy and on reaching Wigan it was drizzling.
Walked down to wards the Go store, stopped at WH Smith, bought the DK German language guide £13.99). Passed the Train station which is on the right, collected some time tables and went down to Go. Saw the shoes which I liked, and also a head cap and purchased them. The shoes was £39.99 and cap £2.99.
Walked back the way I went and stopped at the local pub and had 2 pints of Carlsberg, costing £2.20 a pint.
I began to feel hungry and initially felt that I wanted fish and mushy peas, then rice and curry that was available at Bolton. Finishing off my beer, walked to the train station and took the train to Bolton which left at 11.18 am.
While on the packed train, I decided to go to Manchester for a dim sum meal instead. Sitting across I saw a Chinese resembling girl who was reading a book while listening to her music. The book was an autobiography of Duncan Balantyne. He is one of the Dragons on Dragons Den, my least favourite.
I passed a note to the girl reading the book with these words scribbled, what is interesting about the book?
She read the note and gave me a smile!
The person sitting next to me was reading the book, 'We have to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver.
I got off at Salford Crescent to change the train to Oxford Road.
At Oxford Road I went to Tai Wu Chinese Restaurent and had to wait for a table, and while waiting had a pint of Carlsberg.
About 20 minutes later my number was called for the table. Had about 5 dim sums.
The bill came to less than twelve pounds and after paying decided to go to Chinese grocery in Chinatown.
Here I bought 4 male crabs, Ching chong fun.
While at the grocery, saw a small English boy looking at the crabs. Took one and showed to him how harmless it was. While talking I met the Dad who was with his family. Discovered he had worked and lived in Kanthan (cement factory) near Ipoh. We exchanged common information.
From Chinatown walked to Market street and took the tram to Victoria Station. Here I met the chinese looking girl whom earlier I met on the journey from Wigan to Manchester.
I smiled and she responded and exchanged information. Her parents were from South Vietnam of chinese origin. She was sixteen and was in Manchester for a tutorial session. Parents ran a chinese take away in Winstanley in Wigan. Had a chat with her and had to leave at Salford Crescent in order to take the next train stopping at Blackrod, where I intended to stop and take bus up to Spar to collect my car.
After 2 trains I discovered none was stopping at Blackrod and no other trains indicated on the board.
Decided to take the next train to Bolton and if no further trains to Blackrod, get the bus direct to Blackrod.
At Bolton there was no indication of any training stopping at Bolton. Got off and in front of the station discovered the buses here go Wigan via Blackrod (575).
How grateful I was, originally thinking that I had to walk to the main bus station to get on to this bus!
The bus dropped me faithfully at Spar on Blackrod and took my car home.
I was thinking of buying a pair walking shoes which I saw in the Go brochure. I fancied a shoe. The nearest store was in Wigan.
Got up early, breakfast of a slice of wholemeal bread with lurpak butter and a big mug of coffee and drove off to Blackrod, parked my car there and took a bus to Wigan. It was cold and windy and on reaching Wigan it was drizzling.
Walked down to wards the Go store, stopped at WH Smith, bought the DK German language guide £13.99). Passed the Train station which is on the right, collected some time tables and went down to Go. Saw the shoes which I liked, and also a head cap and purchased them. The shoes was £39.99 and cap £2.99.
Walked back the way I went and stopped at the local pub and had 2 pints of Carlsberg, costing £2.20 a pint.
I began to feel hungry and initially felt that I wanted fish and mushy peas, then rice and curry that was available at Bolton. Finishing off my beer, walked to the train station and took the train to Bolton which left at 11.18 am.
While on the packed train, I decided to go to Manchester for a dim sum meal instead. Sitting across I saw a Chinese resembling girl who was reading a book while listening to her music. The book was an autobiography of Duncan Balantyne. He is one of the Dragons on Dragons Den, my least favourite.
I passed a note to the girl reading the book with these words scribbled, what is interesting about the book?
She read the note and gave me a smile!
The person sitting next to me was reading the book, 'We have to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver.
I got off at Salford Crescent to change the train to Oxford Road.
At Oxford Road I went to Tai Wu Chinese Restaurent and had to wait for a table, and while waiting had a pint of Carlsberg.
About 20 minutes later my number was called for the table. Had about 5 dim sums.
The bill came to less than twelve pounds and after paying decided to go to Chinese grocery in Chinatown.
Here I bought 4 male crabs, Ching chong fun.
While at the grocery, saw a small English boy looking at the crabs. Took one and showed to him how harmless it was. While talking I met the Dad who was with his family. Discovered he had worked and lived in Kanthan (cement factory) near Ipoh. We exchanged common information.
From Chinatown walked to Market street and took the tram to Victoria Station. Here I met the chinese looking girl whom earlier I met on the journey from Wigan to Manchester.
I smiled and she responded and exchanged information. Her parents were from South Vietnam of chinese origin. She was sixteen and was in Manchester for a tutorial session. Parents ran a chinese take away in Winstanley in Wigan. Had a chat with her and had to leave at Salford Crescent in order to take the next train stopping at Blackrod, where I intended to stop and take bus up to Spar to collect my car.
After 2 trains I discovered none was stopping at Blackrod and no other trains indicated on the board.
Decided to take the next train to Bolton and if no further trains to Blackrod, get the bus direct to Blackrod.
At Bolton there was no indication of any training stopping at Bolton. Got off and in front of the station discovered the buses here go Wigan via Blackrod (575).
How grateful I was, originally thinking that I had to walk to the main bus station to get on to this bus!
The bus dropped me faithfully at Spar on Blackrod and took my car home.
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