Muzakarah with the DO

Had a meeting with the District Officer of Temburong and other officers from the District Department last night. Just to summarize the 2-hour long meeting, I can point out three issues that were raised last night:

1) Projects that were only half-done.

2) Ideas/Projects that the District Department would like to be involved with.

3) Leadership in the village (or rather lack of leadership).

The first issue is of immediate concern for the villagers of Kg. Piasau-Piasau. Many projects that were implemented/started last year are either a) unfinished or b) still in the very early stages. Projects such as erecting the ‘gerai ramadhan’ which is now dormant and the ‘Coconut project’ which is now either in a standstill or non-existence.

The DO also pointed out that they have tried all their best to help the villagers. Need money? Here is $14000. Need a road? Done. Proper drainage system? Done.

Although the money is already there, and is already divided for building, machinery, fertilizers, etc, what is still need to be done is going through the proper channels to get that money. It’s not going to be given in cash, however, it has to be claimed. That’s up to the Majlis Perundingan Kampung. SO, the MPK has got a lot in their hands right now.

Issue #3 is another concern, and one that might haunt this village for years to come if nothing is done. Changes must be there, sacrifices must be made. Someone must step up, take charge, be the man that this village so desperately need. That in itself is a rather tasking order. Watch this space. ES7

Hari Raya Aidiladha 1430: 28th

Brunei will celebrate Aidiladha (Hari Raya Korban) on the 28th of this month, after Syar’e judges and religious officers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as officers from the Survey Department at the Ministry of Development failed to spot the new moon yesterday. There’s usually some events on the day herein KP2, but sadly I can’t make it this year since it coincides with my sister’s wedding ceremony. More on that next week, insya Allah. ES7

PSR update

Just want to update on my last post about my pupils’ PSR performance. Here are their grades for each subject.

 

Name	English	Bahasa Melayu	Mathematics	Science	General Paper
Fazanil	B	A	C	A	C
Aizat	B	B	D	B	C
Ikwan	C	C	D	C	D

No, 5 A’s this year. However, that is just a bonus. An icing on the cake, if you will. Getting all the pupils to pass is nothing short of a miracle, if you ask me. Therefore, I thank God. Alhamdulillah. ES7

100%

Just want to blab out about my pupils’ performance on their PSR exam. Got a call around 1:15pm. I usually don’t stayback in the afternoon. Most of the time I go back home for lunch and go back to school around 2-ish. But this time its different. Call it a gut feeling. Call it pure damn luck. Call it whatever you want.

The GB called and asked to speak with me. She told me about the result and, being the calm guy I am, responded with a punch to the air.

Congratulations to Fakhrul Aizat bin Aliasan, Mohammad Fazanil bin Wira and Muhammad Ikwan bin Embran for passing their PSR exam. I would like to show appreciation to all SRPP teachers for their efforts in teaching these kids.

100% PSR passes. It can’t get any better than this.

Away form: Played 3, lost 3

First it was Burnley, then Liverpool, now Chelsea. Although two of the three away games have been against the so-called Big 4, and United have indeed beaten the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City, it’s a chilling prospect to know that not only were United beaten by a much better (luckier) team, but also the lack of scoring in those games prove to be the pain in the neck.

And was Chelsea lucky, or was Chelsea lucky? They scored from a freekick that the referee incorrectly given, off a John Terry header that was luckily glanced and almost touched by a player in an offside position. I think it should have been disallowed for offside. Not because the offside player – in this case Didier Drogba – touched the ball, but he did enough to misguide the goalkeeper. In terms of the offside rule, the player need not touch the ball, but interfering with play may also have him ruled offside.

.Goal scorer Terry celebrates his first goal of the season (ShaunBotterill/GettyImages).

Sir Alex Ferguson was again unhappy with the referee’s contribution with the defeat, but not to the extent of a few weeks ago. He did commented that his team failed to finish off a few good chances in front of goal.

Everton at Old Trafford is next after the international break at the weekend. Glory, glory Man United! ES7

UCL Matchday 4: Man United 3 – 3 CSKA Moscow

Man United are through to the last 16 last night with two games left in the group stage.

Goals from Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and a deflected Antonio Valencia strike at the end saw United getting 10 points from a possible 12 so far.

It would have been a different matter though. The home side might as well have been 4 goals up if not for the brilliant Igor Akinfeev. The Russian keeper denying the opposing frontline of Owen and Kiko Macheda time and time again. CSKA Moscow’s scorers were Alan Dzagoev, Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutsky.

A controversial moment a few minutes after the restart saw Darren Fletcher tripped in the penalty box by Berezutsky. Not only did the referee not give the penalty, but he also booked Fletcher for diving.

With Chelsea at the weekend in mind, Sir Alex Ferguson rested Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra came off the bench while the defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were injured.

.Valencia, Rooney, Wes Brown and Gary Neville celebrating the equaliser (GettyImages).

 .The (non) penalty incident (GettyImages).

Other Matchday 3 results:

Bayern Munich 0 Bordeaux 2

Maccabi Haifa 0 Juventus 1

Besiktas 0 VfL Wolfsburg 3

Manchester United 3 CSKA Moscow 3

AC Milan 1 Real Madrid 1

Marseille 6 FC Zürich 1

Apoel Nicosia 0 FC Porto 1

Atlético Madrid 2 Chelsea 2

Happy anniversary

November 2nd, 2004.

I begin a new chapter in my life by waking up to the sound of the birds chirping to a different tune, the new scent of air that I’ve never smelt before, the sun shining a tad brighter, added to a fresh sense of responsibility.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the beginning of a career held high up in esteem by Islam, a job that keeps you on your toes, a profession that lets you be creative, productive and gives you the opportunity to shape future generations. A teacher.

And for the icing on the well-made and delicious cake, this year’s anniversary date is just three days before the whole of Brunei itself celebrates Teacher’s Day. A momentous event for all teachers, past, present and future, to commemorate.

Happy 5th anniversary to my friends/teachers of the 2004 intake.

Carling Cup draw: Holders face Spurs again

This time in the quarterfinals as opposed to last season Final. And this time United aren’t about to face another 120 minutes again seeing the match will be played the week after November 30th. The toll on the players will be immense if it does go to penalties.

Carling Cup quarterfinal draw:

Blackburn Rovers vs Chelsea

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspurs

Portsmouth vs Aston Villa

Manchester City vs Arsenal

Ben Foster was the hero for United during the final. Hope that this one will be done and dusted after 90 minutes though. Glory, glory Man United! ES7

The security whatchamacallit debacle

Went to Bandar with the wife today. I won’t tell you readers about the boring stuff. But what I do want to share is a story about a particular incident that happened when we went shopping at a popular shopping complex in Bandar.

I bought some adidas soccer socks, paid the full amount at the counter and went down using the lifts. Met with the wife at the ground floor and we were walking to the escalators when we heard an alarm when we went past the security booth. A security came and asked me for my bag. He held it past the security booth and nothing happened. Then he asked for the wife’s bag and again nothing happened. No sound, no lights, nothing. He apologized, gave us our bags back and we calmly strolled past the booth again and went on our way.

One question springs to mind. What the hell happened? Let me tell you what happened. Went I arrived home, took out the socks from my bag since I wanted to try it before getting it washed. And then… Lo and behold! This is what I saw.

.The red circle is there for a reason.

I mean, what on earth? That’s why the alarm went off. But why didn’t it go off the second time? Why did it go off downstairs but not near the elevators? What do I do now? Do I need to give it back? How can I use the socks now?

I remember paying for the two socks. One was $5.++ and the other $7.++. I distinctively remember giving the cashier $15 and got some cash back. I also remember hearing the sound of their machine taking off the first one from my socks.

After serious deliberation and consulting with the wife, in the end I decided not to give it back and tried to take the thing off. Two screwdrivers, 15 minutes and one throw to the wall later and I finally got it off. I was curious to see the insides of the thing and how it works.

.The security thingamajig – broken into pieces. 

If there’s one thing that I learnt from this experience, it this: Next time use pliers! ES7

I’m invited!

November 5th, 2009. That’s is when the whole of Brunei will celebrate Teacher’s day. It’s usually on the 23rd of September, but since it fell during Ramadhan, the event was postponed.

Just got the invitation card today. I was reluctant to go there ever since I was invited in 2006. Oh well, I was due another invitation though.

Schools around the country will be closed, so that’s an extra day off for pupils and students. Teachers who aren’t invited will also be granted a day off, however, teachers who are still paid on a daily basis are required to be at school as usual.

.Front cover.

.The inside of the invitation card.

.A correction to the time of the arrival of Ministers and officials.

.Have to show this at the front door – lucky draw it ain’t.

.The dress code for that day.

.Guests are issued parking privileges, albeit it’s far down the hill.

It’s going to be a great day for some people, namely teachers who are recognized as being a great servant to the government and worthy of the accolade they are about to receive. They will also receive certificates, medals and monetary benefits amongst other things, from His Majesty himself. Congratulations to whoever will get this year’s accolades. ES7