Post Election Inflation blues

Cry Fellow Rakyats!

It was not unexpected.

For all the excesses that were promised by the politicians during the elections, someone has to foot the bill.

So, hardly, into the sixth month after the 5th May GE, its payback time.

First, it was the reduction of subsidies for petrol and diesel at the pump, affecting all transport industries that will add to cost of all things. Then the sugar subsidy was taken away en bloc.

The unkindest cut is the 15% rise in Tenaga rates beginning January 2014 with a thumping multi-layered   effect increase for all residential use and industry too. Another inflation booster!

Now there are talks of increased assessment and also toll rate increases.

Can the poor lower income class and the pensioners take this all at one go?

Meanwhile, the politicians and senior public servants are increasing their salaries and allowances by leaps and bounds at the rakyat despair.

So, where do we go from here?

Is the slogan of  "Rakyat didahulukan" dead and frozen forever?

Room and Love at The Top

Sensual Love

This two-parter UK made telly series, Room at the Top s is a powerful rendition of the classic book.

As I have not seen the Simone Signoret film version which won Academy award acclaim, I can make no comparison.

The characters and the actors that hone them into flesh and blood make this one a refreshing new outing.

Romp in the Hay

The eye candy is the tragic Alice played by Maxine Peake and the lovable cerubic beauty Susan played out nicely by  Jenna Coleman.

Cerubic Delight

Matthew McNulty takes on the stoic protagonist Joe.

Sadly because of copyright issues, the series was aborted.

The Current US TV Series-Wonderful!

Sure, some of the series can be downright engaging, taut and suspenseful.

Then there are the other almost documentary and light stuff too.

Let us look at the suspenseful ones first.

Cat and Mouse

The series Homeland takes the cake here;followed by Boardwalk Empire.

While the first is CIA-centric, fast paced and cat and mouse stuff, the second one based on the life of Nucky Thomson and Al Capone in Prohibition era  Chicago is razor-sharp and bristling with excitement. Both have ended their current season last week and will sea their next seasons in 2014.

Blood and Gore

The second type of series is the smart-talk category. Here we have the English Lord and Lady setting for the fictitious Downton Abbey as well as the legal wrangle called The Good Wife. Both are great series with its twists as well as riveting and downright engaging dialogue.

Naughty and Sexy

Then, there is the lighter series, Witches of East End. A lot of mumbo-jumbo and it can test your patience. It may have its last seasons in 2014 unless it can get a slew of great writers and better editing. Quite fun to see what unfurls in the parallel world.

Hocus Pocus

Of special historical significance is the docu-drama Treme chronicling the rebuilding of the city of New Orleans after Katrina and how the community begin to re-built their lives amidst corruption in the police force and City hall..

Antoine Batiste and his Trombone

Currently in the 4th Season and four more episodes to go before it goes off for good.

Great series.

Halcyon Days

Then, we have another docudrama of historical relevance, The Vikings. It chronicles the early days of Viking society and their raids to bring home bounty. It has just completed Season 1 and Season 2 will be released in 2014.

Violence and tradition

The Senior Years

Acquiring new skills at 82!

Yesterday I had the good fortune to run into Mrs Liew.

We just about met each other last week.

So, we spent some time talking when we went together to submit our Genting Warrant subscription at Tricor in North Tower, Mid-valley as well as over a drink at Little Penang.

What I found fascinating is that at 82, she is fit as a fiddle, travels well and can still drive very well.

Driving a storm!

She told me she started driving when I was only 5.

She bought her semi-D  house at a shockingly low price of RM 22K.

Those were the days, I told myself.

I would not walk her path even in my dreams.

She already has 8 grandchildren.

She spends her time exercising in the morning; cooks her own meals and have the occasional liquid diet.

For recreation, she watches the Hokkien series on TV8 and whiles her time away at Aeon Big in Subang Jaya.

She now wants someone to teach her computer skills.

Great senior citizen, this!

Only in Malaysia

There is a saying in Malaysia-Malaysia Boleh and now we have another slogan; Endless Possibilities.

We are living both of them now as this cartoon depicts in humour.

Wahla!

USM Dinner for 3 Returning Ladies on 9th November 2013

This is the email I sent out to all our friends who attended the function as well as those we need to keep in the loop.

Dear friends,

I think our USM Dinner went pretty well yesterday night. We had a good time reminiscing the old times at USM during the slide show as well as during the off the cuff speeches.

I am certainly confident that with this meeting, the bond of camaraderie has further strengthened amongst ourselves and it was great, I am sure for everyone, it was an immense privilege to touch base with Kong Huat, Mahendran, Rita, Kee Teck and Saw Imm whom we have seen very little since graduation. We hope to see more of them in the future.

To all our 24 friends who felt that it was important to keep touch constantly when we have already transcended the age of 60, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them again; especially so to Kwang Chye, Kee Teck, Saw Im, Kong Huat and Mrs Chew for flying in or driving in from outstation. It was a great effort and most encouraging on your part and we would like to say “Bravo and keep attending!”

I also like to thank our good friend, Kwang Chye for graciously footing the bill again this time around.

To Richard, many thanks for emceeing the night and Say Chuan for the unseen background help in menu selection, helping with driving directions as well as putting up the slide show.

To Kong Huat, we appreciate your wondrous gesture to host the next dinner gathering. 

To the three ladies-Esther, Helen and Ruby, it was great to have you back home again and we wish you a pleasant stay and safe journey home. (And thanks for the presents!)

Perhaps 2014 could be a good time, God willing, to change our dinner venue possibly to Penang, Johor Bahru or even to Perth where we have many USM friends residing there.

For your information, our elder brother Bala has also informed that he would possibly organise another larger USM lunch or dinner meet early next year.

All the best again and till we meet again, remember there is always the phone, sms and email to keep in touch!

God Bless

Heng

10 November 2013

A Blue Chinese Daughter-in-law

  

Looking for an Online Date

According to a Malaysian Chinese daily, a 57-year-old grandfather invited his female online friend to have sex in a hotel but was shocked when his daughter-in-law showed up.

The man, known only as Wang, was even more horrified when he noticed his son tailing the daughter-in-law at the hotel in Heilong­jiang, China recently, it reported.

With the username “A Caring One”, Wang had been actively chatting with netizens since he retired two years ago.

Chinese Girl on Internet Date

Wang came across a netizen with the username “Lonely Flower” on Oct 21 and they decided to meet in a hotel room after exchanging fake photographs.

Wang’s son found out about the chat-room conversation and decided to secretly follow his wife to the hotel.

The woman was shocked when her father-in-law answered the door and tried to run away.

However, Wang’s son showed up at the hotel room and attacked the both of them.

Wang suffered injuries while the woman lost three teeth.

This can only happen in the modern internet era.