One Day at Tong Kong

Sweet-Young -Thing taking my winning ticket

Its been truly a long time since I last posted.

Many things has happened since the last posting.

There were many dinners and the legendary not-to- be-repeated journey back to Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and the ancillary programmes surrounding it.

But for now, let's dedicate this post to one day at Tong Kong.

Tong Kong is an electrical outlet selling Panasonic products in SS3.

Today and for the next 2 days (25-27 September) they are having a carnival.

The prices may be a few ringgit cheaper but the GST is killing!

There was a sort of loyalty prizes given when the store opened at 10 am.

We got four cans of isotonic drinks.

We had two bowls of chendol and some sampling of fruit yogurt.

After that, all three of us tested our mettle is grabbing small balloons and pieces of papers in a whirlwind glass cage.

Not easy.

While my missus and son could do it at one go, Buttercup-fingers me had to do it twice to qualify for my tub of  ice cream.

Trying to coordinate eyes and fingers with much difficulty

A pretty sweet young thing from Nestle gave me the ice-cream.

A memorable fun day.

Hit the Road, Jon!

Aceing the dreaded papers finally

Today, it is  1st August 2015.

A red-letter day.

Well, Jon made it.

My son made the cut.

As he has aced the last two professional papers- the dreaded Auditing and Taxation papers, he is now closing one chapter and opening another.

Hit the road, Jon!

Today is the day that provided you with the gateway to the Big 4s.

So, get ready to rumble, my son!

Praise the Lord. Amen!

One Day In My Life

Two and half Storey Semi- Ds in Jelutong Heights 

And so it was, one day in my life.

Today,  I accompanied Bernard on his usual  routine to look over a property for sale in Jelutong Heights and a factory for rental in Telok Gong,

I could feel the anticipative spirit in his discussions with me. He told me that though the job as a real estate negotiator can be challenging, it has its really good days.

According to Bernard, if you have staying power and are persistent, you will succeed.

He told me then that he was one of the 5% of the negotiators that still remains in the field. Most fell by the way because they lack good English skills to be able to talk meaningfully with the prospective vendor, seller and the subsequent legal dealings with SPA lawyers.

We stop by at Jelutong Heights where we put up a banner on a house for sale. Originally bought at RM 1.4 million four years back, the asking price is now RM 1.7 million.

Interestingly, I found out that the guards can really be useful and could help real estate agents by getting prospective players . So, Bernard left a few of his calling cards with them for them to 'spin some magic'.

Bernard told me some owners do not want banners on their property and so in the event that you want to put up a banner, seek the permission of the vendor first.

The Detached factory looks like this in Telok Gong

Next, we went to Teluk Gong to look at a factory. It was for rental at RM 45 thousand per month. Place was vacated by an air-condition assembly company since December 2014.

An interesting observation by Bernard was that there was just too many broker banners on the property. This will give an impression that something could be wrong with the property. The correct way is to allow only a few brokers to handle the sale or rental of the property.

Image is everything in the property market, he told me.

He then related a near success story of his to me.

 A sale fell through-he decided to forfeit the deposit of the buyer as stated in a letter of undertaking to sign the SPA by a given date. The seller refused to pay. He wanted to institute legal proceedings but then found that there would be little money left even if he could win the case.

Fortunately for Bernard, the Lord was with him and after a few months, the seller contacted him because he felt bad and that he should give Bernard some money for his effort. It was not much but it made his day.

A Real Estate Firm

I asked him whether I could become a real estate negotiator. Was there examinations to pass?

None he said. All I need was to go through an interview and in all likelihood they will sign me on.

After having a good bahkut teh meal in Klang, we went home.

One day in my life, that's today for me as I return home knowing that a new window can open for me in the realty line.

Man proposes, God disposes. Amen.

Trial Teaching of Homeschoolers

Avinesh, Joey and Company

Who are home-schoolers?

They are students whose parents have decided not to send them to the national mainstream school system.

Parents have three pathways to choose.

Send the children to international school.

Send the children to private school .

Or send them to home school.

While the international schoolers will pursue the International Baccalaureate qualification, private schools will still pursue national mainstream examinations but with a fillip towards doing other international examinations.

For the home-schoolers, they will use any established teaching curriculum and then programme themselves at their own pace to sit for the IGCSE examinations of the UK.

Those pursuing the IGCSE can apply for a local university to continue with their tertiary education-Universiti Sains Malaysia.

I started teaching English to my 7 home-schoolers in the last two weeks of June.

It is now mid July and I have done my assessment of their English level.

From next week, they will move to compound and complex sentence building.

No more simple sentence construction, per se.

2 Months and Close to RM 8,000 Gone!

Yes, it was finally over.

Almost two months' of nerve shattering pain  that have to be endured plus a substantive hive off of my meager savings.

Imagine having two second hand cars in value in my mouth!

I am definitely going to the poor house with bowl in hand in no time.

Got the permanent bridge of 7 crowns fixed permanently on 28 May 2015.

Two abutments,three crowns and two pontics.

Still trying to get used to it. Testing the under bite and overbite.

No hard biting in the area of the bridge.

Need to buy a special floss to clean the bridge.

Will buy it later.

The Most Expensive Dental Investment Ever!

A Typical Chart Explaining A Dental Bridge

As the canine on my right was badly in need of care and attention, I could no longer delay its treatment. So I went to a neighbourhood dentist to explore remedial possibilities.

Dr. Diane suggest that I re-do my current bridge. What does it entail?

I would firstly have to do a root canal treatment for the right hand side canine which to my good fortune was broken but the upper part remains intact. It will serve as an abutment for the bridge. As for the current two crowns, they will have to be filed out to be re-crowned.

The new bridge will have 6 crowns and one pontic-an empty tooth that takes the place of a missing tooth.

Two of the crowns will act as abutments for the new dental bridge. The right abutment will now anchor a post that will hold the new bridge up from its end.

The whole process will take 8 weeks as it takes 2 weeks for the permanent bridge to be moulded for it to be cemented into place.

The difference it makes to your smile!

I have spent about RM 3, 200 so far with another close to RM 3,000 to be paid within the next two weeks.

After that my top front teeth will look so much better. Hopefully, with less teeth and gum problems too!

Paying My Last Respects to Au Leck Chai

Au's Obituary from THE STAR

On 30 April 2015, together with Tan Swee Yeong and Lim Kah Kheng, I visited the late Au at the Nirvana Memorial Park at Sungai Besi.

The body was kept on Level 1 Hall No: 12 and solemnly we approached the coffin to have a glance of his remains. He looked peaceful and serene in his suit.

Talking about the circumstances of his demise with Michael, his brother in law from Seremban, I pieced together the last remaining days of brother Au.

He coughed blood after treatment in Singapore. So, he went in and out of University Hospital. He passed on at 11 am or so in the morning of 28 April 2015.

I said my prayers, floated a white flower in a bowl of water; had one long last look at his demeanor and bade him good-bye.

After a cup of coffee and ground nuts, we bade our farewell to Michael and we left Nirvana.

This morning (1 May), Prof Thiru went for Au's interment at the Nirvana facility in Shah Alam.He felt sad and dedicated two songs to Au Leck Chai. These are Tears in Heaven and Forever Young.

Goodbye good friend. Missed but not forgotten!