trucks

So in the Star newspaper today, I see that another Brit is travelling around the world in an unusual way. They have a tendency to do that. But what made me read it was the caption about how NZ trukkies were the worst he had seen in the world. I couldn't agree more, much as it pains me.
I think truck drivers the world over have an overly aggressive attitude, otherwise who would wanna drive such a lumbering and inconvenient piece of shit such as a truck?
Either that, or it's a case of 'small-penis-syndrome' and trying to be the biggest guy around.

Regardless of ALL the regulations and enforcement of trucks in NZ, it still baffles me how they can be seen as the worst - albeit just one guy's opinion. I mean, I live in Malaysia, and trust me, the trucks here make the kiwi one's look good. But still, I don't compare NZ to Malaysia when it comes to road stats...

I was in NZ during Feb (as if you didn't know), and did some driving around. I encountered many trucks, but to me, they were as well behaved as you could imagine. But I have to say, that was more my view in relation to my experiences of Malaysian trucks.

Regardless, something needs to be done to limit the trucks on NZ roads, indeed everywhere. If someone out there has a good idea for something which will replace trucks, then lets hear it.

sickness and light

crap... I'm sick. That one where your body gets all tender, and your joints hate to move. It started last night at about 8pm, at the start of one of my classes. I think I must have looked like quasimodo in the corner, cos I hardly said a word all night. Thank god that they had some writing and revision to do! I doubt I could have told the difference between any of the grammar tenses, subtle nuances etc...

Today, I've been spending the day outside, cos I feel nice and warm! It's times like this that I'm glad I'm not in NZ... bloody cold!

I think it began because yesterday I was a painter. I mean, I was painting the house, the school and myself. I picked my nose today (as you do) and pulled out some paint and chips from sanding down the wall... think that's how I got sick... snorting paint fumes all day...

crap... and no high either. Just a major loooooow...

So, I am resorting to a medicine which I know works wonders on low energy and a slow brain - coke. Since I've given up alcohol (3 weeks now and not missing it a bit), I've rediscovered coke, however, I must remain vigilant, and not let it get carried away. I must have a predisposition to addiction... all at once or not at all seems to be my way.

cheerio!

My Daemon Skaene

street names

A loooong time ago, in fact the first week I moved here to little ol' Sitiawan, I encountered a uniquely Malaysian problem. Street names, or the lack of them.

I was looking for some food for my darling wife, and was a little lost. I rang her and she asked me where I was. I looked, looked and looked for a road sign. None. Malaysians aren't too fond of naming roads. And when they do, they put the sign rather low, so that if a car is parked in front of it, you would be hard pressed to see it.

However, fortune was on my side, and I saw the sign I was looking for. I told Dee 'Jalan Sehala', thinking I was rather clever... she said 'yeah, but where?' 'Jalan Sehala woman!' 'Do you know how many 'Jalan Sehala' there are??? That means one-way white man!'... needless to say I was still lost.

The Fuzz...

Riding to work this morning, on the 150 scooter, I came around a corner and lo, there was the fuzz. No signs, no cones, just 4 blokes waiting to catch naughty bike riders without helmets etc. Or so I thought...

I was signalled to pull over, just routine(!), and was expecting to answer the usual questions about my licence etc. However, as soon as the first fuzz saw my skin colour (oh, Putih!), he promptly told me to 'go go go'. I duly said thanks, and took off. They were looking for some 'duit kopi' I'm sure. I think the Chinese dude next to me said a quiet 'thanks' to my presence too because he was shooed away also!

I also noticed they didn't have their normal 'saya anti-rasuah' badges on. Guess it was 'saya rasuah' after all! Hehehe... hope they get a pay-rise soon, cos they obviously can't afford to live on what they earn now!

I don't really blame them these days, although I still frown on it. I can see both sides of the problem. At least it wasn't a completely boring morning eh?

been a long time...

It's been a long time between blogs...

I think I just wanted to leave it alone, and still pretend I was in New Zealand...

Well, it was a great trip, with family and friends having a ball at my sister's wedding. Unfortunately, she and her new husband came down with dengue fever while on honeymoon! Only a few weeks later, she also had her appendix rupture. She was admitted to hospital, went thru the usual checks, and was promptly given an operation to take it out. Of course, with the lack of investment in New Zealand's health system (like almost every other country), she was discharged too soon, and that resulted in her having a major infection. More antibiotics, drips and pain. She's better now, but after 2 months of trouble.

Things have been interesting here in Malaysia too. I've resumed my studies, now that I have more time, I've been getting to the gym more regularly and I've given up alcohol. That last one is definitely gonna be hard when all the usual holidays come knocking, but I really feel that it's time.

There has been the usual laughable politics here, by (buy)-elections and political disasters which will always be ignored or swept under the carpet. Honestly, if they offered me permanent residence here tomorrow, I'd insist on the right to run for parliament. If they didn't allow me to do that, I'd say 'no thanks, you can keep your PR - I only want to live in a country where I can make a difference and am appreciated'.

The kids are good, getting into constant mischief. Caleb is learning to speak more words, and Kaitlyn is beginning to do as she's told! Not easy for little princess, but I'm not bringing up another Paris Hilton! There are enough spoilt brats here.

Hope everyone's been well, and if you have been waiting for another blog from me, sorry for the delay. I simply couldn't get the motivation up to write about anything!

Godzone, God's Own, New Zealand, Paradise

I'M BAAAAAAACK!

Here I am, sitting at my mum's computer in sunny Whangamata, New Zealand. My first blog from outside Malaysia. I'm rather happy right now.

We left last Friday, and what a hell of a trip it was. The flight alone was over 10 hours, and would have been tough enough, but what made it the hardest challenge of my parenting years yet was that Caleb did a power-shit in the boarding lounge JUST before we boarded the flight, soiling his legs, pants and shoes! Dee did an emergency dash to the nearest baby clothes store to get some pants, and not before time too! We were almost the last to board the plane, and the kids were getting rather tired from a long trip down from Sitiawan.
To make things worse, about half an hour into the flight Caleb did a power chuck all over mummy, probably from some dodgy airport food we had had just before leaving. Shit bugger fuck. He had been dressed in some cool-dude boy clothes and now he was wearing pink! Little shit. The joys of travelling with two toddlers! What were we thinking?!?! But, we made it, and it's been just perfect since we arrived.

No wonder New Zealand is called paradise. I had truly forgotten just how beautiful and clean my home is. I am now trying not to get too depressed at the thought of leaving in 3.5 weeks. I need to just 'be' here and enjoy it, and deal with leaving when it happens, otherwise I'll spend the whole time thinking how stink Malaysia is, and will ruin my time here! Now that WOULD be stupid..!

Tomorrow we are going back up to Auckland for Brent's bachelor party. That starts at around 3-4pm, and will go late-ish. I have been a little naughty, enjoying far too many NZ beers, but what the hell - they are the best damn beers in the world - who could say no? None today though, 'saving' it for tomorrow.

Happy New Year and all that jazz...!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope Christmas didn't leave too big a scar! Besides, a bit of make up will see to that...

Well, new year has come and gone, on time as usual. Can always count on new year being on time, if anything, a little early. Always seems like there's more to get done than time to get it done in.. who's speeding up the clock? - bastards...

Our school has reopened for the new year (did it close??) and we're at full-steam ahead already, which is really good - especially for the bank account. Makes the trip to NZ that little bit easier. Also, the house is coming along, I'll post some pics later, and we'll be moving in as soon as we're back. That's something to look forward to after a holiday.

I'm growing my hair long this time. I haven't done that before, cos I'm a sporty type, and like my hair 'streamlined'. But I have relented to my wife's wishes for me to cover up my supposedly ENORMOUS forehead. with hair. oh yeah.
I will also put up a picture or two of that look when it's ripe.

We leave for NZ on the 27th, arrive the next day, spend 4 weeks eating and drinking, and are back on the 28th. One month of 'oooooh baby, I'm on holiday!'

will love you all later!

Ok, enough is enough

Now I predicted a stressful end of the year period, but this is quite ridiculous.

Money, family feuds, money, business, students, money.

NZ can't come quick enough.

My students seem incapable of thinking for themselves. They need babysitting - at 16 years old. What's gonna happen to Malaysia in the future. I dread.

My wife's family has had a long, long, long overdue 'clearing-of-the-air' regarding very serious family issues. Bloodied, battered bodies lying all over the place. Emotions running high, all because they are scared stiff of each other. Chronic problems have surfaced, which is painful, but necessary for healing. Not pleasant stuff.

We need to make more money soon, or it will be ball-wrenchingly tight. We're talking male-ballet-dancer tight. I don't know if I can wear pants that tight...

We're moving back to NZ asap. Enough is enough. This place kills. So does speed. But I think Malaysia needs a warning label on the side, to warn users of side effects - loss of sleep, incontinence, impotence, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, suicidal tendencies, screaming fits etc...

But, my ever-present (and annoyingly obvious) optimistic attitude will see me through. I was made of tougher stuff, and this present fit of the screamin' heebie-jeebies will fade. Then we'll be in NZ, where there are never any problems, and everything and everyone is perfect. Even the criminals say sorry and please.

la de da.

Nearly there...

Well, the end of the year is fast approaching, and with it all the accompanying stresses!

First, my school is having its final exams, and so last minute preparations, classes and whatnot are par for the course. It's been tough, mentally taxing and stressful, but fun all the same. I get an inordinate amount of work done during this period, and it always reminds me of the saying 'if you want to get something done, give it to a busy man'. True true.

Secondly, the house is now reaching the final stages of completion, and although the structure is now up, all the interior designing is now taking place. That is a headache all in itself! Dee and I have our own ideas of what we'd like in our room and the kids room, but we have to find the middle ground of course. That's where the challenge is!

Thirdly, Xmas is coming, and that means 'SPEND MONEY!' Hey, aren't we supposed to be saving for the trip to NZ in Jan???

Lastly, I need to get things at the school ready for next years classes and courses. We need to do an 'open day', send out flyers, organise who will teach what, and when. Lots to do.

I have pretty much given up on having any kind of time off during the xmas period, but that's cool cos we're off to NZ in 6 weeks! WAHOO!!!

Why oh why didn't they just stick to singing...

Well I was right again. Wales got a hiding, and they got one after deliberately snubbing the Haka, one of the few genuine theatrical moments in rugby. The Haka isn't a commercial gimmick - it's the soul of the All Blacks. You just don't mess with it, cos really nasty, painful things happen to you - on the field, and with your pride.

I used to have respect for the Welsh, since they are about the only other country in the world where rugby is their national sport - but after they decided to 'move' the Haka from after the national anthems to in-between them, with the All Blacks deciding to retort by doing the venerable Haka in the dressing room, I have to say I'm very disappointed. Now, I am a fair-minded sort of chap, and I had a giggle at the thought of 22 very upset muscular guys doing a war chant facing a concrete slab wall, but, I also saw the point both sides were trying to make. Wales knew they couldn't beat the All Blacks, so resorted to all sorts of tricks to take away the psycological edge... well that worked didn't it.

They got thoroughly pasted 45-10.

So much for helping your team. You just made the All Blacks more angry. NOT a very bright idea. Twit.

update on the house

We take our trees very seriously...

Trees and footpaths are very important in NZ, and if you hurt one, watch out!

More..

So I was a little off...

Well, I didn't quite predict that last game against France too well did I?? I expected a close match with a score line difference of no more than 10-15 points.

The All Blacks beat the Number 2 side in the world 47-3.

Jeez...

And that included 10, out of 15, changes of players from the week before...

So in reality, New Zealand now has the top 2 teams in the world.

Chest swelling, pride thumping stuff. I'm damn proud to be a Kiwi.

Let's see what happens next week - should be closer, cos the French will now know what to expect. I certainly hope it will be closer - the AB's need a close game!

New Stadia

In New Zealand, arguably the home of rugby, there is no national stadium. There are wonderful stadiums in all the major cities, and they have been there many years and have amazing histories, but there is not one stadium which could be called 'Stadium New Zealand'.

Now, New Zealand has won the hosting rights to the 2011 Rugby World Cup and there is real need for Auckland to step up and upgrade its infrastructure and facilities for a major event.

Auckland is in the top 5 of best livable cities around the world, and rightly so. There are over 800 parks and recreational areas in the city, far more than any other city i've ever been to. It is disabled-friendly, has a mild climate, the people are friendly and genuine (to each other too!) and has 2 amazing natural habours which have spawned a love of the outdoors which New Zealand is all-too famous for. Auckland is known as the 'City-of-Sails', because there are more boats owned in Auckland than any other place on earth. We LOVE our outdoors.

But Eden Park, that beloved old lady, is getting tired. She has had her day, and the time is ripe for a new, modern and better-located venue for sports and concerts. Eden Park is located right smack-bang in the middle of Mt Eden, a leafy suburb of Auckland, more known for cafes, bars, well-preserved old villas and wonderful streets. Not the sort of place to have the city's largest and busiest Stadium!

I am all for the new stadium being designed for the downtown area. It will be modelled on the Alianz Arena in Munich, which was the centre-piece for the 2006 Soccer World Cup.
It should cost in the region of $700 million, not a small sum, but well-worth it to help re-invigorate a tired and less-than-appealing downtown.

There are still major political and economic hurdles to overcome before the first piles are driven in, but with some positive thinking, logical planning and good-ol' fashioned foresight, Stadium Aotearoa should be ready for 2011. Cheers to bold thinking and bright ideas!

Godzone indeed - no corruption

Another round of drinks for Kiwis please!

Yet another reason why NZ is the place to be...

This today from overseas...

Any more reasons for me to love NZ? Still, we could do better yet.

So far correct...

Well, I picked it. The All Blacks beat England by 41-20, almost exactly the scoreline I predicted. We were masterfull, basically giving the World Champions a lesson, and proving yet again that the All Blacks today are by far the best team in the world. Now comes the much tougher challenges of France and Wales, but my predictions are as follows: 30-12 AB's over France, 40-30 AB's over France (second test), and 40+ - 15 AB's over Wales. These scores have an 'ish' about them...

Go the All Blacks!

Bring on the Rugby!

Well, it's the end of year tour to the Northern Hemisphere, and the end of year tests that usually define a season. Last year, the All Blacks acheived a clean sweep of the 'Home Unions', and beat England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland one after another, achieving only the 2nd Grand Slam in All Black history, the previous one being in 1979. This year, although playing different teams, it is no less important thanks to the World Cup being less than 1 year away.
During November this year, the AB's are playing England (1), France (2), and Wales (1). We're expected to win comfortably over the English, because they're having a shocker of a season, but a much more torrid time is predicted in the French encounters. Those will be the real tests of the AB's character before next year's tournaments. Wales also shouldn't put up too much resistance, but you can never be sure with the Welsh - they have wonderful passion about rugby, and have earned a lot of respect from New Zealand.
With Tana Umaga retired, it looked like there was a significant gap in the middle of the back line, but cover is there with Ma'a Nonu in 13, and he has Aaron Mauger inside him and Joe Rokocoko outside. Plenty of experience there. The Captain's duties have been awarded to Richie McCaw, number 7, so he will also gain valuable experience from this tour - even though he was captain for 1 test during last year's tour. This time though, he's the Captain for the whole tour, and will find himself in unfamiliar territory regarding the English media!
I expect the AB's to outshine England with a score around 20+ over the English. France will be much tougher, having their club sides winning the Heineken Cup now for 3 years. But I still predict AB wins, albeit much closer. Wales will get a hiding.

They make it so hard to love...

This sort of thing just shouldn't happen... but it does, and with far too much regularity.

In Malaysia, you have this much beloved government department devoted to keeping Muslims from being naughty or too western - the JAWI, or religious police. It is their job to keep up the high moral standards they believe everyone should adhere to. The majority of the time they keep their beady narrow eyes on muslim women (in more ways than one), and stop them from misbehaving (having fun) with muslim men they are not married to. Some of their other duties include stopping people from showing too much (any) affection in public, holding hands, hugging, smiling - ok, not that last one, but if they could... etc.
Now Malaysia is trying to become a developed country, and an Islamic one at that, so they are entering unknown territory - there are NO developed Islamic countries in the world (you could say Dubai and the UAE was developed, but I'm not sure of the 'requirements'). So, there are clearly a few common practises happening in Malaysia which would definitely slow down it's progress, and having a Morality police is certainly one of them. The grey area for this job would make any lawyer proud!
I don't have a problem per se with having a department devoted to keeping public order (that's what the police are for), but it's the job description, the limits (or lack of them) of their powers, who, what and where they are applicable and the people entrusted with this job that makes the difference. It seems to be that unemployable hicks from the backwaters get these jobs! They are the most conservative, holier-than-thou, hypocritical bunch of limp-wristed twits I have had the displeasure of seeing. The effects of their raids and inquisitions on mostly innocent people have created sooo much anger, humiliation and resentment among the Malays that they are feared. Which is exactly what they want.
Bastards.
Now, they have picked on the wrong couple, and have got egg on their faces, and have made Malaysia start to look like either a police-state, or a religious zealot's holiday destination of choice!
Malaysia is gonna have a hard time convincing people that it is moderate and open if it continues to humour these wankers.
I often find that one minute I really 'get' the place, and could spend time here, but then this ugly side of Malaysia rears is bigoted head; that, and the endemic racism. But that's another story!
They make is so hard to love it here...