There’s always been something about Liverpool FC where we just don’t seem to enjoy ourselves unless we make things difficult – and especially in Europe. If we had it too easy it would be nothing to talk about. We’ve been here before, COME ON YOU REDS!!
Make us dream
There’s always been something about Liverpool FC where we just don’t seem to enjoy ourselves unless we make things difficult – and especially in Europe. If we had it too easy it would be nothing to talk about. We’ve been here before, COME ON YOU REDS!!
Spankin' new
A month has passed since that terrible flood in our office. Now we have tiles, spankin' new tiles!
Before
After
Free decoder from Astro
Last week I got a phone call from a lady claiming to be from Astro (a local satellite TV provider). She said dialed my phone number at random and she offered me an Astro subscription with free decoder and outdoor unit (satellite dish). I was rather skeptical at first but still I kept on listening to her rambling (cause it's a lonely road up there in Kuala Lipis). According to Yati (the lady from Astro), they are dishing out this offer in conjunction with Astro's anniversary and also Akademi Fantasia 6.
To be frank, I was not interested with the offer since I don't think we really need Astro at home. I spent most of my free time after work looking after Adam (and soo Mia), surfing the Internet and blogging and stuff, I don't watch much TV anymore nowadays. But then since they're giving out a free decoder (worth RM200) and a satellite dishplus the fact that I don't have to pay my bill until June*, I thought that offer is too good to refuse. The only thing I do have to pay is the 80 ringgit installation fee. So I gave her my details over the phone and 3 days later the installer guy called asking directions to my house. The guy and his wife came, fixed the satellite dish and set up everything and 12 hours later, we're watching Astro in the comfort of our living room.
I chose the Sports + Variety package which will cost me RM54.90 monthly. I remember 10 years ago when Astro first launched, my dad had to fork out a cool 2K to subscribe to the country's first satellite TV. Now it's only 80 bucks. So now I can watch every Liverpool games and all my favourite TV shows right at home! (duh).
By the way, Yati from Astro called me again yesterday and she said if I got friends or family who'd like to get the free decoder and satellite dish like I did, just give her a call* at this number: 05 2360085. No kidding.
*Update
I don't know whether it's an honest mistake or a deliberate scheme, somehow they included the expensive Movie package into my Astro subscription so I had to pay RM102.50 (for everything including duty stamp) on my first bill. Some more I had to pay my bill starting from the first day of installation (late April) instead of end of June as promised by Yati. As of today, they have canceled the Movie package as I requested and they said they'll give me a rebate in my next bill. I guess we'll have to see about that. So guys, it's up to you whether to trust this Yati girl or not. You've been duly warned.
To be frank, I was not interested with the offer since I don't think we really need Astro at home. I spent most of my free time after work looking after Adam (and soo Mia), surfing the Internet and blogging and stuff, I don't watch much TV anymore nowadays. But then since they're giving out a free decoder (worth RM200) and a satellite dish
I chose the Sports + Variety package which will cost me RM54.90 monthly. I remember 10 years ago when Astro first launched, my dad had to fork out a cool 2K to subscribe to the country's first satellite TV. Now it's only 80 bucks. So now I can watch every Liverpool games and all my favourite TV shows right at home! (duh).By the way, Yati from Astro called me again yesterday and she said if I got friends or family who'd like to get the free decoder and satellite dish like I did, just give her a call* at this number: 05 2360085. No kidding.
*Update
I don't know whether it's an honest mistake or a deliberate scheme, somehow they included the expensive Movie package into my Astro subscription so I had to pay RM102.50 (for everything including duty stamp) on my first bill. Some more I had to pay my bill starting from the first day of installation (late April) instead of end of June as promised by Yati. As of today, they have canceled the Movie package as I requested and they said they'll give me a rebate in my next bill. I guess we'll have to see about that. So guys, it's up to you whether to trust this Yati girl or not. You've been duly warned.
Walk Walk Find Food episode 2
Kedai Tkrie
If you ever find yourself in Pasir Mas in Kelantan and you have a sudden urge for a taste of local mi celup (noodle soup) head over to Kedai Tkrie.
This little eatery provide among others, a really delicious mi celup. I've only been there twice but I'm sure they also offer a variety of delicacies beside mi celup. Last week I went there again with my wife and kids and we had Tkrie's special mi celup. It's basically noodle soup with eggs. One thing you must try is their special coconut shake drink served with ice cream and sprinkled nuts. I really like that drink and I think it'll beat any Starbucks drinks anytime. But then in my eagerness to eat all those glorious food, I forgot to take any pictures.
I can only say you'll have to try it for yourself then. The place is rather secluded too and unless you live in Pasir Mas, I don't think you'll ever heard of the place. To get there you need to turn left the junction just after the railway crossing (not the one before) and go in for about 400 meters. Another way in is through the little road next to the Shell station along the Pasir Mas - Kota Bharu route. A little bit difficult to grasp I'm sure but trust me, it's all worth it.
During my last visit, Linda and I had a bowl of special mi celup each plus a glass of Tkrie's special coconut drink. Overall it costs me just RM5.80, a price you won't find anywhere here in the Klang Valley.
Scouser rule the world
LIVERPOOL 4 - 2 ARSENAL
Champions League Quarter Final (2)
Reds into semis after gunning down Arsenal at Anfield
Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel have sent Liverpool into the last four of the Champions League following a pulsating victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
The Reds had looked on the verge of a heartbreaking exit after Emmanuel Adebayor had made it 2-2 with just six minutes left to cancel out Fernando Torres' 69th minute wonder strike.
But when substitute Babel was brought down for a penalty, Gerrard stepped up to coolly restore the home side's advantage before the Dutch forward raced through in injury-time to seal a 4-2 win on the night and a 5-3 victory on aggregate.
Ahead of the match Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor had suggested the Arsenal players knew all about the Anfield atmosphere - how wrong he was.
The wall of noise that greeted every one of the away side's touches in the early exchanges is not something you grow accustomed to during Carling Cup matches.
But while the likes of Juventus and Chelsea (twice) were unnerved by the Reds' famous 12th man, Arsenal were inspired by it and made the kind of fast start that has so often been Liverpool's forte.
Indeed, the away side were first to every loose ball, harrying the Reds midfield into mistakes and looking to release Emmanuel Adebayor at every opportunity.
And so it was somewhat surprising that Liverpool were the first to make a chance of any real note, when Steven Gerrard's marauding run to the byline on eight minutes almost saw a re-enactment of the goal he manufactured so brilliantly at the Emirates. But this time Dirk Kuyt could not apply the same sort of clinical finish and the ball sailed harmlessly wide.
It was a brief respite for Rafael Benitez's side who once again relinquished the impetus to Arsenal and on 13 minutes they paid the ultimate price.
A period of sustained pressure ended with Mathieu Flamini cutting the Reds defence to pieces with a clinical through ball for Abou Diaby, who beat Pepe Reina at his near post with a low drive.
The home side needed the famous atmosphere more than ever now, but as the half wore on it was Arsenal who continued to look more likely with two lightning breaks that first saw Emmanuel Eboue test Reina with a deflected volley, before the Spanish stopper had to be alert again, this time punching clear as Adebayor looked odds on to connect with Gael Clichy's searching cross.
Liverpool's chances were restricted to long range efforts with Fabio Aurelio's opportunist volley from 20-yards the best the hosts could muster in the opening 25 minutes of the match.
The Reds looked nervous and edgy and so the irony will not have been lost on Arsene Wenger, that on a night when the pre-match talk had centred around Liverpool's frailty at set-pieces, his own side were undone from a routine corner.
A neat interchange between Aurelio and Steven Gerrard opened up Arsenal down the left and when the full-back's cross forced Manuel Almunia to palm it out of play, the crowd responded with a roar of approval.
The message seemed to transmit onto the pitch as well as Gerrard's arcing set piece from the right was met by the imposing figure of Sami Hyypia, who celebrated the one-year extension to his contract penned earlier this week, with a bullet header that crashed in off the right-hand post.
Needless to say, Anfield erupted and the tide turned in Liverpool's favour.
If the first half an hour belonged to the Gunners, the final 15 minutes prior to the interval were the home side's as they looked to punish their opponents with the knockout blow of a second goal.
It didn't materialise though, despite a good opportunity when Jamie Carragher's cross from the byline almost fell for Peter Crouch before Kuyt's follow up was deflected to safety by a desperate Arsenal defender.
The Reds maintained the ascendancy into the second period and could have gone ahead within a minute of the restart when Peter Crouch latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and hit a low strike that was well smothered by Almunia.
There was certainly more belief about Liverpool's play and as they attacked the Kop end, they continued to threaten as a lung bursting run and cross from Fernando Torres ended with Aurelio's miss-hit shot deflecting narrowly wide off the outstretched leg of Crouch.
The 12th man was certainly playing its part as renditions of 'Oh Campione,' 'Fields of Anfield Road' and the new ditty paying homage to Fernando Torres echoed into the night sky, but despite forcing a chink in the Arsenal armour, it could not inspire a second Reds goal.
For all Liverpool's possession they still had to be wary of the Gunners' threat on the counter attack, a fact further underlined when Emmanuel Eboue escaped the attentions of the home side's defence to fire a warning shot into the side netting on 62 minutes.
The tie was balanced on a knife edge and it is on such occasions that players of breathtaking genius showcase the most precocious of talents.
Again the crowd looked towards El Nino and once again it was the boy from sunny Spain delivered.
A long kick from Pepe Reina was flicked on by Crouch and when Torres took control in the penalty area, he spun brilliantly on a six pence, to curl a magnificent shot into the top right-hand corner.
It was goal 29 for the season and it was arguably his most important.
With time running out Arsenal threw caution to the wind, with Wenger bringing on both Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, and the young England international made the impact his manager was looking for.
It was his surging with just six minutes remaining that carved Liverpool open down the left and when he crossed low into the area Adebayor was on hand to steer in the equaliser.
Anfield was stunned and the semi-finals beckoned for Arsenal.
But the Reds still had hope and little did we know that one of Benitez's substitutions would pay dividends in a similar manner, with Ryan Babel winning a penalty just two minutes later after being tumbled in the area by Kolo Toure.
Steven Gerrard held his nerve to send the Kop into raptures before Babel capped another incredible European night with an injury-time strike.
Next stop: Chelsea
Champions League Quarter Final (2)
Reds into semis after gunning down Arsenal at Anfield
Late goals from Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel have sent Liverpool into the last four of the Champions League following a pulsating victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
The Reds had looked on the verge of a heartbreaking exit after Emmanuel Adebayor had made it 2-2 with just six minutes left to cancel out Fernando Torres' 69th minute wonder strike.But when substitute Babel was brought down for a penalty, Gerrard stepped up to coolly restore the home side's advantage before the Dutch forward raced through in injury-time to seal a 4-2 win on the night and a 5-3 victory on aggregate.
Ahead of the match Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor had suggested the Arsenal players knew all about the Anfield atmosphere - how wrong he was.The wall of noise that greeted every one of the away side's touches in the early exchanges is not something you grow accustomed to during Carling Cup matches.
But while the likes of Juventus and Chelsea (twice) were unnerved by the Reds' famous 12th man, Arsenal were inspired by it and made the kind of fast start that has so often been Liverpool's forte.
Indeed, the away side were first to every loose ball, harrying the Reds midfield into mistakes and looking to release Emmanuel Adebayor at every opportunity.
And so it was somewhat surprising that Liverpool were the first to make a chance of any real note, when Steven Gerrard's marauding run to the byline on eight minutes almost saw a re-enactment of the goal he manufactured so brilliantly at the Emirates. But this time Dirk Kuyt could not apply the same sort of clinical finish and the ball sailed harmlessly wide.
It was a brief respite for Rafael Benitez's side who once again relinquished the impetus to Arsenal and on 13 minutes they paid the ultimate price.
A period of sustained pressure ended with Mathieu Flamini cutting the Reds defence to pieces with a clinical through ball for Abou Diaby, who beat Pepe Reina at his near post with a low drive.
The home side needed the famous atmosphere more than ever now, but as the half wore on it was Arsenal who continued to look more likely with two lightning breaks that first saw Emmanuel Eboue test Reina with a deflected volley, before the Spanish stopper had to be alert again, this time punching clear as Adebayor looked odds on to connect with Gael Clichy's searching cross.
Liverpool's chances were restricted to long range efforts with Fabio Aurelio's opportunist volley from 20-yards the best the hosts could muster in the opening 25 minutes of the match.
The Reds looked nervous and edgy and so the irony will not have been lost on Arsene Wenger, that on a night when the pre-match talk had centred around Liverpool's frailty at set-pieces, his own side were undone from a routine corner.
A neat interchange between Aurelio and Steven Gerrard opened up Arsenal down the left and when the full-back's cross forced Manuel Almunia to palm it out of play, the crowd responded with a roar of approval.
The message seemed to transmit onto the pitch as well as Gerrard's arcing set piece from the right was met by the imposing figure of Sami Hyypia, who celebrated the one-year extension to his contract penned earlier this week, with a bullet header that crashed in off the right-hand post.
Needless to say, Anfield erupted and the tide turned in Liverpool's favour.
If the first half an hour belonged to the Gunners, the final 15 minutes prior to the interval were the home side's as they looked to punish their opponents with the knockout blow of a second goal.
It didn't materialise though, despite a good opportunity when Jamie Carragher's cross from the byline almost fell for Peter Crouch before Kuyt's follow up was deflected to safety by a desperate Arsenal defender.
The Reds maintained the ascendancy into the second period and could have gone ahead within a minute of the restart when Peter Crouch latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and hit a low strike that was well smothered by Almunia.
There was certainly more belief about Liverpool's play and as they attacked the Kop end, they continued to threaten as a lung bursting run and cross from Fernando Torres ended with Aurelio's miss-hit shot deflecting narrowly wide off the outstretched leg of Crouch.
The 12th man was certainly playing its part as renditions of 'Oh Campione,' 'Fields of Anfield Road' and the new ditty paying homage to Fernando Torres echoed into the night sky, but despite forcing a chink in the Arsenal armour, it could not inspire a second Reds goal.
For all Liverpool's possession they still had to be wary of the Gunners' threat on the counter attack, a fact further underlined when Emmanuel Eboue escaped the attentions of the home side's defence to fire a warning shot into the side netting on 62 minutes.
The tie was balanced on a knife edge and it is on such occasions that players of breathtaking genius showcase the most precocious of talents.
Again the crowd looked towards El Nino and once again it was the boy from sunny Spain delivered.
A long kick from Pepe Reina was flicked on by Crouch and when Torres took control in the penalty area, he spun brilliantly on a six pence, to curl a magnificent shot into the top right-hand corner.
It was goal 29 for the season and it was arguably his most important.
With time running out Arsenal threw caution to the wind, with Wenger bringing on both Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott, and the young England international made the impact his manager was looking for.
It was his surging with just six minutes remaining that carved Liverpool open down the left and when he crossed low into the area Adebayor was on hand to steer in the equaliser.
Anfield was stunned and the semi-finals beckoned for Arsenal.
But the Reds still had hope and little did we know that one of Benitez's substitutions would pay dividends in a similar manner, with Ryan Babel winning a penalty just two minutes later after being tumbled in the area by Kolo Toure.
Steven Gerrard held his nerve to send the Kop into raptures before Babel capped another incredible European night with an injury-time strike.Next stop: Chelsea
The Great Flood of Bandar Putra Permai
There was a really-really heavy downpour this afternoon at my office.
Water rose quickly as rain water from up the hill accumulated around my office turning it into a little island before flowing down to the main road.
I managed to move my car which is parked right in front my office just in time. My friend's car there was not so lucky. It was already flooded when he got to his car.
The parking lot right next to our office was also not spared as the zinc walls fell onto a few of my office mate's cars. Fortunately that didn't leave much impression on the cars. All of them escaped with hardly a scratch.
As we were busy watching the rain outside, I was the first one who noticed that the rain water had actually seeped inside the office! And it's no plain water too, it was nicely mixed with water from the septic tank outside. So you can imagine the smell me and the rest from my department will be living with for the next few weeks. Luckily we managed to save all of our office equipments because of my early warning (ahem).
In the mean time, the little stream in front of my office overflowed onto the road causing a massive traffic jam from Seri Kembangan town heading to Equine Park. That poor little lorry driver who tried to brave the water got stuck when his lorry went dead midway.
Traffic turned into a standstill for almost an hour and only eased a little bit when the traffic police created a temporary contra flow for the stranded vehicles. The water only receded about an hour later.
I'm calling our newly appointed MPs and representative to look into this matter before this problem escalates further (that's you Gobind Singh Deo and Dato' Satim Diman). I suggest we improve the drainage system and deepen the little stream.
Water rose quickly as rain water from up the hill accumulated around my office turning it into a little island before flowing down to the main road.
I managed to move my car which is parked right in front my office just in time. My friend's car there was not so lucky. It was already flooded when he got to his car.
The parking lot right next to our office was also not spared as the zinc walls fell onto a few of my office mate's cars. Fortunately that didn't leave much impression on the cars. All of them escaped with hardly a scratch.
As we were busy watching the rain outside, I was the first one who noticed that the rain water had actually seeped inside the office! And it's no plain water too, it was nicely mixed with water from the septic tank outside. So you can imagine the smell me and the rest from my department will be living with for the next few weeks. Luckily we managed to save all of our office equipments because of my early warning (ahem).
In the mean time, the little stream in front of my office overflowed onto the road causing a massive traffic jam from Seri Kembangan town heading to Equine Park. That poor little lorry driver who tried to brave the water got stuck when his lorry went dead midway.
Traffic turned into a standstill for almost an hour and only eased a little bit when the traffic police created a temporary contra flow for the stranded vehicles. The water only receded about an hour later.I'm calling our newly appointed MPs and representative to look into this matter before this problem escalates further (that's you Gobind Singh Deo and Dato' Satim Diman). I suggest we improve the drainage system and deepen the little stream.
Saving Sufiah's privates
My little opinion on the recent brouhaha regarding former child prodigy Sufiah Yusof.
A little bit of background shall we? Sufiah Yusof was born in Britain in 1985 to a Malaysian mother and a Pakistani father so that makes her British (i.e NOT Malaysian). She first made headlines in 1997 when she gained entry into St. Hilda's College, Oxford University to study mathematics at the age of 13. In 2001, she ran away from her student flat in Oxford, after taking her final examination paper for the academic year claiming her parents had placed her under intolerable pressure to succeed. She was found by police 12 days later working as a waitress at a Bournemouth internet cafe but refused to return to her parents, who had given up their jobs to educate their five children at home. Miss Yusof was taken in by a foster family and shortly afterwards sent a searing email to her parents, documenting the "living hell" she said her father had created.
She wrote: "I've finally had enough of 15 years of physical and emotional abuse."
She accused her "controlling and bullying" father of forcing her to work in the cold to aid concentration and added that she never wanted to see him again. Two years later, she returned to Oxford to complete her undergraduate master, but failed to finish the year. In 2004, she married trainee lawyer Jonathan Marshall, but the couple divorced 13 months later.
In January this year, the Daily Mail revealed that her father Farooq had been remanded in custody after admitting sexually assaulting two girls, both aged 15. Farooq, 50, was sentenced to 18 months at Coventry Crown Court.
On 31st March, popular U.K tabloid magazine, News of the World reported that Sufiah is now earning a living as a £130 an hour prostitute. A news that had definitely sent shock and ripples across the globe including her other homeland Malaysia. The Malaysian Government who suddenly felt obliged, started a campaign to "Save Suffiah" the British so called mathematic genius. The effort is going to be championed by Dr Mashitah Ibrahim.
First and foremost, I'm don't want to be judging a person I hardly knew and have never met. God knows what this young woman has gone through all these years to end up that way. What perplexes me is the effort made by certain quarters who purportedly wanted to save this girl. Has it ever occurred to you that she chooses to live that way by her own free will and not forced into it by anyone? With her amazing brain she should be able to make money any way she wants but instead she chooses to be a call girl. Life is about making choices and Sufiah made hers. Anyway, £130 - that's pretty good maths if you ask me. For just 3 hours a day she could earn £390 a day (that's around RM2700), nearly as much as a British Member of Parliament earns in an hour.
And now they want to save her. What irks me is, why is the government so concerned about Sufiah's welfare? She is not even a Malaysian! Newly minted minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dato Zaid Hamidi said,she need to be saved because she is a pride of our nation, Uh hello, she is British and she screwed up! End of story. If they are really concerned about saving women like her, why not start by visiting Lorong Hj. Taib, the back alleys of Petaling Street and a few dozen more places like that around the country? Most of them are in fact Malaysians and unlike Sufiah, they were forced into prostitution by life's hardship and yet to find a way out. Just because they didn't enrol into Oxford, are these woman not worth saving?
I think they government should really get their priorities right. Before we attempt to save Sufiah or any other foreign prostitutes abroad, we should really concentrate our efforts on saving all Malaysian women from prostitutions regardless of age, race or religion.
A little bit of background shall we? Sufiah Yusof was born in Britain in 1985 to a Malaysian mother and a Pakistani father so that makes her British (i.e NOT Malaysian). She first made headlines in 1997 when she gained entry into St. Hilda's College, Oxford University to study mathematics at the age of 13. In 2001, she ran away from her student flat in Oxford, after taking her final examination paper for the academic year claiming her parents had placed her under intolerable pressure to succeed. She was found by police 12 days later working as a waitress at a Bournemouth internet cafe but refused to return to her parents, who had given up their jobs to educate their five children at home. Miss Yusof was taken in by a foster family and shortly afterwards sent a searing email to her parents, documenting the "living hell" she said her father had created.
She wrote: "I've finally had enough of 15 years of physical and emotional abuse."She accused her "controlling and bullying" father of forcing her to work in the cold to aid concentration and added that she never wanted to see him again. Two years later, she returned to Oxford to complete her undergraduate master, but failed to finish the year. In 2004, she married trainee lawyer Jonathan Marshall, but the couple divorced 13 months later.
In January this year, the Daily Mail revealed that her father Farooq had been remanded in custody after admitting sexually assaulting two girls, both aged 15. Farooq, 50, was sentenced to 18 months at Coventry Crown Court.On 31st March, popular U.K tabloid magazine, News of the World reported that Sufiah is now earning a living as a £130 an hour prostitute. A news that had definitely sent shock and ripples across the globe including her other homeland Malaysia. The Malaysian Government who suddenly felt obliged, started a campaign to "Save Suffiah" the British so called mathematic genius. The effort is going to be championed by Dr Mashitah Ibrahim.
First and foremost, I'm don't want to be judging a person I hardly knew and have never met. God knows what this young woman has gone through all these years to end up that way. What perplexes me is the effort made by certain quarters who purportedly wanted to save this girl. Has it ever occurred to you that she chooses to live that way by her own free will and not forced into it by anyone? With her amazing brain she should be able to make money any way she wants but instead she chooses to be a call girl. Life is about making choices and Sufiah made hers. Anyway, £130 - that's pretty good maths if you ask me. For just 3 hours a day she could earn £390 a day (that's around RM2700), nearly as much as a British Member of Parliament earns in an hour.
And now they want to save her. What irks me is, why is the government so concerned about Sufiah's welfare? She is not even a Malaysian! Newly minted minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dato Zaid Hamidi said,she need to be saved because she is a pride of our nation, Uh hello, she is British and she screwed up! End of story. If they are really concerned about saving women like her, why not start by visiting Lorong Hj. Taib, the back alleys of Petaling Street and a few dozen more places like that around the country? Most of them are in fact Malaysians and unlike Sufiah, they were forced into prostitution by life's hardship and yet to find a way out. Just because they didn't enrol into Oxford, are these woman not worth saving?
I think they government should really get their priorities right. Before we attempt to save Sufiah or any other foreign prostitutes abroad, we should really concentrate our efforts on saving all Malaysian women from prostitutions regardless of age, race or religion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)