waddafak

Moved The Farm Bit...

2008-09-29T06:28:00.002+08:00

http://thekebun.wordpress.com/

How Time Flies...

2008-05-27T22:47:00.004+08:00

Almost 3 Month's Since Last Post. Much Has Happened. A Robbery, Fist Fights, 2 Continents, 5 Cities Visited, A Night In A Police Station Enjoying The Amenities, Discovering My Borneo Rice Hound Has One Testicle, 2 Relatives Joining The Underground Movement And A Friend Choosing To End Her Life Rather Than Find The Courage To Fight Cancer.

Do Not Squat!

2008-03-05T15:00:00.001+08:00

Snapped At Ikea KL.

Choked Nuts

2008-02-26T18:37:00.003+08:00

Bought Myself A Box Of 6’s Underwear Labeled ‘L’ Today. My Nuts Are Choking. Has Inflation Caused The Manufacturer To Cut Down On Material?

eSpring

2008-02-26T12:02:00.003+08:00

Bought myself an eSpring Water Teatment System. Let's see if it is any better than my ELKEN which does not kill microorganisims.

Convert .wpl to .mpg

2008-02-25T17:58:00.004+08:00

Been Trying To Convert a .wpl File to .mpg File. Going Nut's. Argh! Any Idea's?

White Geese

2008-02-23T10:32:00.002+08:00

The White Geese seem to have settled in. I look forward to them having eggs soon.

Cattle Shed Done (Almost)

2008-02-23T10:25:00.005+08:00

Just completed the Feed Troughs for the cattle shed yesterday. I think we have to let it rest for a few days at least and water it a couple of times to make sure the concrete does not seep anything poisonous.

Then to clear the mess before the cattle can move in. I hope they like their new digs.

It's Growing Back

2008-02-22T12:00:00.000+08:00

Like I Said. It's Growing Back!

Looking Malnourished

2008-02-21T00:41:00.004+08:00

My bank account looks rather malnourised. Wonder if it has anything to do with the (conveniently ignored) growing stack of the farm receipts lurking in the drawer next to my bed?

The Tropical Garden by William Warren

2008-02-19T15:15:00.011+08:00

The Tropical Garden
by William Warren
Photography by
Luca Invernizzi Tettoni
AUD32.00

Sarawak by Robert Hoegel

2008-02-19T14:28:00.007+08:00

Clearing off some books.
This one is Sarawak
by Robert Hoegel
(Hardcover) 1986.
AUD32.00

Miniture Horsese

2008-02-19T12:08:00.004+08:00

Now i have to pick from amongst these a couple for the Farm. Don't they look adorable? Miniature horses. They are so going to be pampered and loved. I think these will be the first in Sarawak? Now let's see if MasKargo can screw up this time.

My Hair Is Growing Back

2008-02-19T11:53:00.005+08:00

This morning i swaggered out of the barbershop. My barber said to me that there was very noticeble hair growth on my bald spot. Yeah Baby! Now i am wondering if that DoubleX is responsible? Whatever. I am grinning away.

Agong Behind Bars

2008-02-18T16:29:00.003+08:00

I had a good laugh looking at this report on the BBC website. This was at the demonstration 2 days ago was organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force, which is demanding the release from jail of five of its leaders.

Kind of strange looking at the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's portrait there 'behind bars' I wonder if he was as amused as me.

This Tame Goose

2008-02-18T09:50:00.004+08:00

After mowing the grass one of the Geese came and sat by me. Strangely it made me contented.

Postcard On The Visor

2008-02-17T22:21:00.003+08:00

Morning Chill Felt Trimming My Goatee
Hurried I Was Thinking Of My Coffee
Then I Noticed The Fellow In The Mirror
Said To Me Again Today Fight The Terror

Sipping Coffee From The Yellowed Mug
Hand Seeking Last Cookie In The Jug
Today Is Like Many Battle To Be Fought
Again Why Has It Be Like This I Thought

Postcard On The Visor Make Me Smile
Get There Must Walk Few Thousand Mile
So Just Another Day Myself To I Say
Lord Help Me Make It Through Today

Totally Unsafe

2008-02-14T19:14:00.001+08:00

Saw this on the way back this evening...

Absolutely no safety concerns...

Tapping Rubber

2008-02-14T19:03:00.004+08:00

I have an old neighbour whom i have not noticed being around for a few weeks near the farm. Thought i better pop in and see if he was alright? Saw his rubber cup still fresh with rubber latex. Guess he has not joined the underground movement yet.

Another Bridge

2008-02-13T20:16:00.003+08:00

It rained again this afternoon but not before the new bridge was up. Another couple of hours work and we should be done. No more walking around to get across.

Shoveling Is Hard Work

2008-02-13T12:28:00.005+08:00

Finally got around to starting on the pavement to the back. Muddy paths will be a thing of the past!

Shoveling concrete takes a lot of really hard work. I am getting too old for this.

Listen To Your Mother

2008-02-13T00:27:00.001+08:00

Was on Skype with Mum tonight. She told me to go shave. Because I looked like a Bum.

Sorry Mummy. Maybe on Sunday. Afterall i only go back to work on Monday.

Replaced & Strengthen

2008-02-12T23:09:00.001+08:00

The riverbank finally collapsed and the footing to the goat house had to be replaced and strengthen with a 4 foot tall concrete footing. Took a whole Sunday's worth of work.

Campbell Ducks

2008-02-12T18:53:00.001+08:00

A couple of weeks back i visited a duck farm and got my ducklings. They sure have grown fast! I hope to have my first eggs in late April when they will be 16 weeks old. They are looking more and more like their parents.

I wonder what they will taste like. The ducks i mean. Not that i intend to eat them.

Completely Rebuilt

2008-02-12T18:48:00.001+08:00

Completely rebuilt last weekend. All its left to do is the painting and chainsawing that large tree trunk across the stream, the cause of the whole bridge breaking up!

Poor Sampan

2008-02-12T18:43:00.001+08:00

After the last heavy rains the sampan got washed out to the main ruver behind the farm and got busted really bad again, this time beyond repair.

And that is the exact spot i am going to build the Jetty. Another busy weekend.

Made Does It Everytime

2008-02-12T18:34:00.000+08:00

I Gave Made a bath this afternoon. Everytime i finish he rolls about to compliment it with a good sand/dirt/grit bath. I wonder sometimes why do i even bother giving him a bath?

He can go on for 5 minutes like this. Grrrrrr...

A Time Reflected (Parte Quatro)

2008-02-11T22:55:00.001+08:00

The giant of a man I always looked up to was my Grandpa. I only realized how simple his life was when after his passing his belongings were no reflection to the life he led. His possessions were neatly packed into a suitcase and I wondered to myself be this all he had after 86 years?

As a Caucasian in war time Borneo he eluded capture by the Japanese right up to the end of the war surviving for most times deep into the jungles that bordered Sarawak and Brunei surviving on anything he could lay his hands on. Mum used to tell me wartime stories of the hardships the family endured in Miri and how ever so often Grandpa would appear at the garden house at odd hours of the night and bring her paddling in a small sampan out to sea to fish, crossing under a bridge guarded by Japanese soldiers on the way out. Mum was still amazed at his bravery to return ever once in a while to make sure the family was safe and had enough to eat.

Grandpa second marriage was to a Chinese lady. I never got to see him much until i was in my very early teens when he moved in with us after she passed on. He had 3 kids by that marriage and I never got to see or mingle with them much. Later on in my late teens he moved out to be with one of them and then it was only fleeting occasions and we slowly grew apart. I only managed to grow close to him again when I came back for the annual visits and was aghast to eventually find him was put in a nursing home.

In those few years that we were living together I remember my Grandpa as a silent giant. Nothing much said but when he said something it was always something of substance. Always keeping himself busy, it was him whom taught me how to make a kite, how to draw glass onto thread for kite fighting, how to sharpen a saw, how to thread a pipe, how to change the bladder of a bicycle, how to fish, how to patch up small holes with a thread and needle, how to use the old singer machine to sew, how to crack neatly the old preserved cabbage jars so that I could use it for breeding my Siamese fighting fish, how to not be scared of snakes, what jungle plants could be eaten, how to cast and repair a fishing net, how to weave coconut leaves into roofing material, how to cook with bamboo, the list goes on, all skills I have found useful until today, skills which I could bet my bottom dollar not many people will know how today.

But the most important lesson I have learnt from him is humility and kindness to your fellow man. I never heard him raise his voice. I never heard him prejudge anyone. I never heard him speak in anyway of himself. He was just there quietly tinkering away in whatever that suited his fancy, repairing an old clock, trying to fix a stubborn drawer or helping to see if I could get anymore power out of my air compressor for the fish tank. He just got it done. Period, no fuss. I guess his motto was ‘Just Do It’.

I was very angry the day he was buried. But that is another chapter. Something that I have to choose my words carefully for, after all I want to remember my Grandpa for what he was, what he did for me and what and how I want to remember him by.

MasKargo Jokers

2008-02-11T19:42:00.000+08:00

My shipper dogtainers.com.au emailed and said they could not get any info from MasKargo in regards to the type of aircraft that flew into Kuching. This was much needed information as the type of aircraft determined the kind of rails the pallets for the livestock to sit on and be secured to. Anyway i called them up to verify. Lo and behold they 'did not have the information at hand'. I was flabbergasted!

A call to the local Kuching Airport gave me the information i needed. Boeing 737-400 Jet, Airbus 330-300 Jet & Airbus 330-200 Jet. I don't know who are the Jokers MasKargo is employing at Melbourne Airport?

Shivers Down My Spine

2008-02-10T11:55:00.001+08:00

While catching up on one of my favourite blogs, Aussie Cab Log, I came across this. And it sent shivers down my spine.

And then I reflected. Much.

Joker This Bloke

2008-02-10T11:24:00.000+08:00

After spending the last 2 weeks at the farm trying to finish off my 'to do list' I came up with a list of the kind of farm animals i wanted to top everything off nicely apart from my Chinese Geese, Deer, Cattle, Chikens, Game Fowl and so forth. Looking at the probablity that i could never have the list completed from getting the fowl i needed locally i decided to give my 'wish list' to a friend back home and see if he could gather them up.

3 emails and a couple of calls later, the list was broken down to 86 heads. 12 Muscovy's, 12 Pekins, 12 Khaki's, 12 Saxony's, 3 pairs each of Emdbems, Tuffed Romans and Toulouse Geese, 6 each of White and Bronze Turkeys, 3 pairs of Blue Peacocks and 1 pair of White Peacocks.

Total AUD8550.00 excluding Freight and all...

I know i am getting buggered here. Waddafak?!

Much Done. More To Be Done.

2008-02-01T19:02:00.000+08:00

Been A Long 2 Weeks. Much Done. Much More To Be Done. Proper Updates Soon. I Promise.

The Laziest

2008-01-14T07:16:00.001+08:00

It is Amazing Just How Lazy Some People Can Be. And These Are A Good Example. Enough Said. Shall Be Working Hard To Replace These Fellows At The Farm. They Have Pissed Me Off One Too Many Times.

Where I Want To Paddle

2008-01-13T13:28:00.000+08:00

This Is The Stream Behind The Farm Where I Want To Paddle Up Stream When I Decide On My Kayak Or Canoe. Can't Wait!

Made Is Back

2008-01-12T13:15:00.000+08:00

Made Is A Happy Dog. After More Than 2 Weeks At The Vet For His Maggot Problem He Was More Than Eager To Hop Into The Ute And Go Home.

An Ordinary Life Is A Crime

2008-01-11T22:52:00.000+08:00

Saw This T-Shirt. And Its Spot On. For Me At Least.

My Sharp Healsio

2008-01-11T20:04:00.001+08:00

Bought Myself A Sharp Healsio This Evening. Not Only Reheats, Steams, Grills, Roasts, Defrost, Bakes, It Fries! What I Love About It Is That It Uses Superheated Water To Cook Food. No Need Worrying About Radiation As Compared To My Microwave Oven. Amazingly, It Reduces The Oil And Salt In The Food Whilst Preserving The Vitamin And Moisture Content! It Goes To The Test This Weekend.

Dayak Hunting Dog

2008-01-11T17:03:00.000+08:00

I Got Ayu From An Iban Longhouse. One Of My Best Farm Dogs. She Takes No Nonsense From The Other Dogs And Is Tough As Nails. I Hope To Get More Like Her. Very Smart, Loyal And Affectionate.

Rebuilding Bridge

2008-01-11T16:58:00.000+08:00

Not Much Done Yet. But This Weekend It Shall Be Finished! I Hope This Time The Bridge Will Hold When It Floods. Maybe More Supports.

My Poor Sampan

2008-01-10T14:14:00.000+08:00

Before I Even Had A Chance To Fix The Hole The Sampan Was Washed Down AGAIN After The Storm. Looks Like A Long Climb Down To Get It Fixed. This Time The Roof Was Torn Off. Bugger!

A Time Reflected (Parte Três)

2008-01-09T15:09:00.000+08:00

Nanny was a gem. The smell of her talcum baby powder and loud laugh made me feel safe. Fiercely independent she lived alone for most of her life save for the occasion where family needed a roof over their heads in hard times. Her face mashing to the bosom hugs left me with a buzz. It felt good to be showed just how much your Nanny loved you.

But there was always those gaps in our lives, for years at times when we got to be together. I was 7 when she insisted that I spent the summer holidays with her. Her ticket in hand I traveled by aeroplane alone. The sight of her beaming face was the most wonderful thing to see after crossing oceans. I was never fussed over so much, stuffed with so much food and given the freedom to express myself. I was happy. These visits repeated itself a very few precious times only.

As an adult the opportunity got blinded with my worldly distractions and responsibilities but Nanny was always in mind. There would be a birthday card from her every year. I realized her mind was failing when there were still a $10.00 note in those cards for pocket money. It got worse in her later years when speaking to her over the telephone she would ask how school was and if I was going to come and spend my school summer holidays with her. I played along. I loved my Nanny and refused the fact that she was getting senile.

Mum called one very late evening telling me that Nanny was in the hospital after suffering a fall. There was this strange stir in my heart. Nagging me for the rest of the night, the airport found me looking for a flight before it even got light. I desperately wanted to see her. Checking my voicemail during my stopover to the connecting flight I got an urgent message. Nanny had taken a turn for the worse and was asking for me. I called home to say I was already on my way.

As I stood by Nanny holding her cold, limp wrinkled hand she opened her eyes, her face lighting up despite the grogginess. We chatted what little we could, the conversation strangely familiar to when I was 16. I fought back tears when she told me she missed me terribly making me promise to spend the next summer school holidays with her. I told her yes but struggled to accept the fact she saw her grandson was still the little boy she knew.

She was gone a little while later. The fall breaking her hip had let to complications of blood clots reaching her brain causing a stroke. More details I am not the least to remember on because it was a blur. I knew only one thing, my Nanny was gone. Thinking back I now realize that she had always dwelled on to the happy times she spent with her grandson and that just perhaps those were her happiest times with each other that despite falling so senile those memories were locked in her mind. Today I think to myself if there will be someone to respect, love and miss me remotely as much?

To Be Continued…

When I Get Back

2008-01-08T17:51:00.000+08:00

I want to go backpacking when i get back. I miss Airlie Beach, Bowen, Whitsundays, Whitehaven Beach, Agnes Water, Susan River, Bundaberg, Fraser Island, Cradle Mountain, Wild Rivers National Park, Pelion Plains, Pine Forest Moor, Frog Flats, Douglas Creek, Kia Ora, Cathedral Mountain, Pinestone Valley, Windy River, Mount Massif... much memories to relive much more to look forward to.

Canoe Or Kayak?

2008-01-08T17:10:00.000+08:00

I need to call Francis about getting to a Kayak. But now my thoughts are wondering to if a Canoe is better suited? Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Mil & Her Mate

2008-01-06T21:19:00.000+08:00

Mil seems to have a new mate. Her name is Crappy, the cat who lives next door but craps in my garden.

Morning Waves

2008-01-06T20:58:00.000+08:00

I drove down to Damai Beach Resort to accept an invitation for happy hours at the Bar and later on to Buntal for dinner eventually leading to a getting myself a room when the rains proved to heavy to drive back with. This morning I watched the waves pound the beach. It is good to have time alone.

A Time Reflected (Parte Dois)

2008-01-05T10:43:00.000+08:00

There was one weekend Dad got me to go along with him to visit Mr. Clark. I did not know then what was the visit about until the three of us walked to behind the barn and that morning was my first introduction to tropical fish despite it just being 3 old fish tanks that seen better days. Soon we were on our way back home in Mr. Clark’s borrowed ute with myself wondering what were the plans for those fish tanks that lay on the tray.

There was a bit of fuss when we got home. Mum was not very happy to see the fish tanks sitting in the porch. Her face looked contorted as she looked on disapprovingly. Dad muttered under his breath to me something about women getting crankier as they age. It was only when we were on the way back to send the ute back was when Dad just said to me that the fish tanks were my responsibility. I kept quiet.

Months later I thanked Dad silently for this. By then the tanks were thriving with aquatic plants and tropical fishes although it was only red platy’s and black molly’s then, all of which were ‘borrowed’ from the pet shop in the city. On one of my open mouthed gawking wishful thinking trips, the pet shop owner had offered on condition I bred them and sold the fry back to him. This showed me that when you want something bad enough, it shows in your face and there will always be a good samaritan out there.

Hence my youthful foray into breeding tropical fish. Almost a year later I was making fortnightly trips into the city by bus to sell my fry. Having that few dollars in my pocket made me feel very good and my mind went into a spiral of grandiose thoughts of what I was going to buy myself. Strangely enough eventually that money went into bigger tanks, air pumps, aeration stones, breeding stock and so on. Even Mum was finally grudgingly in approval. Dad gave a occasional pat on the back and said good job.

The only thing I bought for myself with the money from my enterprise was a pair of levis. You just cannot imagine the feeling of pulling on your first pair of brand new jeans bought with your own very hard earned money. I felt liberated a sense of being free for the first time at 16, no more hand me down jeans ever I thought to myself.

To Be Continued…

Never Can Tell

2008-01-04T12:22:00.000+08:00

Night before last some cash went missing. The CCTV surveillance tapes were reviewed. Looks like one of the most senior trusted staff is a thief.

Footage to come soon...

A Green Frog

2008-01-03T02:13:00.000+08:00

What Kind Of Frog Is This?

A Time Reflected (Parte Uma)

2008-01-02T23:03:00.000+08:00

Growing up in a small rural town, I used to day dream of the day when I could just take off and run away to the city. I was just 12 years old then.

A Sunday trip to the cinema meant a long walk to the bus stand and a slow torturous diesel chocking journey that took an hour before I could settle my scrawny bum on the cheap wooden cinema seats. I was always had to take the midday show to make sure to be able to catch the last bus, if not then I was buggered. Dad would come on his motorcycle looking for me if I was not home by 4. No, we did not have a telephone.

Accepting an invitation to a friends party or going to the disco was too very few and far in between. There was always the consideration for the fact that Dad had to pick me up. The sight of him waiting patiently for me especially when the weather was foul still haunts me. And he never complained. But the thought of him making the long trip back through pitch dark rural countryside roads was scary for me even as I rode pillion pressed tight against his back to shield myself from the cold bone biting night air.

On the days when Mum needed some ingredients there was that walk to the village shop. It was not too bad even on bitterly miserable cold days even if it was for some small bottle of spice or sugar. But I hated it when she needed her Kotex. Those days it came in a huge assed pink box. I think the shopkeeper found delight in my torture as he always said he did not have a bag big enough for that damn box. Who were you to argue when you were a kid?

Not every meal was one I looked forward to. It was a matter of eat what was laid before you or go hungry. It depended on 2 things. The mood my mother was in and the time of the month. We had porridge on a daily basis. Most times plain with soy sauce or salted fish. I hated it. Till this day I have never eaten another bowl of porridge and will not even if my life depended on it. We did have the occasional decent meal when Dad’s paycheck had a bit leftover. Or it was one of the chooks from the shed. But you had to be careful, lesser chickens meant lesser eggs so it was far and few in between those meals of roasted chicken. I remember sucking on each and every bone.

You had to be inventive and resourceful for playtime. Flying kites was a favourite pastime during the summer. I still remember having to ask Mum for 50 cents to go buy a ball of thread She gave me the dirtiest look complete with lecture of how hard money was to come by. Boy, Mum's know how to make you feel guily. The construction of the kite was always Mum’s baking paper and starch for glue. Bamboo was cut, split, then fashioned into a frame. What joy and a sense of accomplishment when your kite took to the air. I never got angry when it broke its thread and fluttered away into the distance. It was more like a mad dash to get it where it landed just to save the hard work.

Fishing was also another pastime which I remember well. Chinese snakeheads were the usual catch. It never lasted long, a quick fire and the fish was grilled, nothing fancy, just plain. I guess when you have a hungry belly you tend to not mind a lot of things like grit and soot. Reminiscing back now the whole adventure of hoe in hand digging for earthworms for bait was the most fun. The ‘reel’ was a stick and string fashioned with a fish hook. No.6 back then went 3 for 10 cents.

To Be Continued...

Taking A Break

2007-12-29T13:54:00.000+08:00

Away To The Farm I Will Be. Seasons Greetings To You. May The New Year Bring You Good Health, Happiness And Success In All Your Endeavours.

Prayer For 2008

2007-12-29T13:52:00.000+08:00

God Please Take Away My Habits That Are Bad
But Know You Say No But Not To Make Me Sad
Because I Know Tis Not For You To Take Away
Rather More For Me To Give Up You Will Say

God Make Me Patient In My Undertakings Daily
But Know You Will Say No Rather Say Me Silly
Patience Comes From Life’s Tribulations Be Earned
Grant It You Will Not Because It I Have To Learned

God Can You Help Spare Me Some Of My Pain
But Know That You Will Not As There Is Be Gain
As All My Pain Pulls Me Apart From Worldly Care
Hence Brings Me Closer To You Better I Shall Fare

God Can You Give Me Happiness In Coming Year
But Know That You Will Say No But Have No Fear
Because You Have Already Blessed Me With Life
Happiness Up To Me To Make Happen To For Strive

Lastly God Help Me Love Others As They Do Me
But Know That You Say Yes As Now I Clearly See
World May See Me As One Person So Insignificant
But To One I Just Might Be The World Magnificent

Thank You God!

Very Kool Too

2007-12-29T01:15:00.000+08:00

Val Inspired Me To Write This And She Posted It On Her Blog. Very Kool. Thank You Val.

Vietnam In February

2007-12-28T14:29:00.000+08:00

Centropus Sinensis

2007-12-27T18:51:00.000+08:00

Finally Managed To Get A Photo Of This Burung Bubut (Local Slang) or Centropus Sinensis This Evening. This Time It Was Prancing About In The Bamboo Thicket Near The River Stream On The Farm. It Makes This Low Booming Note... 'Boot' 'Boot' 'Boot'.

Hole In My Sampan

2007-12-27T18:13:00.000+08:00

The Flood Yesterday Snapped The Rope Off My Sampan Pushing It Downriver. There Is A Hole Now On The Bottom. This Sucks Bigtime Because I Was Planning To Spend New Years Eve Shrimping. Looks Like It Will Be Spent Pulling The Sampan Up And Looking If I Can Replace The Planks On The Bottom.

Curling Back To Sleep

2007-12-27T11:08:00.000+08:00

Morning Dawns Grey And Gloomy
Looked Like Another Day Stormy
Like Dark Fists The Clouds Gather
Curl Back Into Warm Bed I Rather

Made And His Maggots

2007-12-26T20:29:00.000+08:00

Made Has A Maggot Infested Wound. Noticed It When He Was Being Given A Bath, Him Stinking So Bad. Rushed Down Tonight And For An Overnighter At The Vet. Yep. Those Are Maggots Coming Out.

Happy Birthday Lord

2007-12-24T21:49:00.000+08:00

Thus The Hour Slowly Draws Near
Something In Me Has Slight Fear
Used To Ready To Walk By Eleven
Said Mum If Not We Go Not To Heaven

Midnight Mass Was Our Destination
Flock Towards Like Sheep To Station
These Times The Tradition Been Broken
Small Corner My Mind Lord I Forsaken

As I Knell At Home Before My Altar
My Belief In You Still I Have Not Falter
Despite My Sins Have You Judged Never
Here Hope I Still Be In Your Favour

Happy Birthday Lord...

Flying Fox

2007-12-24T17:34:00.000+08:00

I Was Up In Serian Today Looking For Some Goats. Came Across This Farmer Who Had This Flying Fox In His Rabbit House.

This Flying Fox Has Been Making Himself At Home Here For 2 Years Now. Coming And Going As He Pleases, He Always Reappears Before Dark.

Never Thought I Would See A Flying Fox Like This. Here You Can See Him Helping Himself To A Drink.

Got My Ducks

2007-12-23T13:54:00.000+08:00

I Drove Out Of Town For About An Hours Worth After Hearing There Was This Duck Farm. Finally Found The Place. The Owner Was Extremely Friendly And Helpful. I Selected My Campbell Ducklings And Hope To Pick Them Up In About 2 Weeks Time.

Papa And Mama Campbell Ducks.

Restocking List

2007-12-22T18:42:00.000+08:00

A Tour Agency Called Saying They Are Looking For A Farm Which Can Be Used To Bring Tourists In. That Plus The River Behind Makes It Ideal For Mangrove Cruising. Now I Have To See About Restocking The Farm With Cattle, Ducks, Guinea Fowl, Goats, Turkeys... Maybe Some Peacocks, Not To Mention Making The Farm More Tourist Friendly.

Back Bungalow

2007-12-22T18:33:00.000+08:00

I Haven't Slept In This Bungalow For At Least 5 Years Now. Looks Hagged Since When It Was Built New. This Evening A Proper Inspection Saw Some Floor Boards That Need Replacing And The Bathroom Floor Has Sunked Plus I Think I Better Put In A Water Heater And Shower Head For The Tourists.

EX 5

2007-12-22T14:17:00.000+08:00

Just Got Back From The Honda Dealer. Bought Myself The Honda Cub aka Ex 5. Picking It Up On Monday.

I Huffed And Puffed

2007-12-21T18:09:00.000+08:00

I Am Out Of Shape. After An Hours Worth Of Huffing And Puffing, Balancing and Tugging At The Darn Seed Branches The Palm Trees Are Cleared. Much Better Than Before. And No Worries Of having To Clear The Crap Seeds On The Ground. But My Arms Hurt. My Back Is Sore And I feel A Kink In My Neck.

What A Fright

2007-12-21T16:22:00.000+08:00

Late Last Night. I Was On The Computer. There was A Very Loud Bang. Nearly Fell Off My Chair. The Aircon Blower Had Given Up. Got Such A Fright. I Do Remember Shrieking Like A Girl.

Making Crème Caramel

2007-12-20T23:34:00.000+08:00

Made Crème Caramel Tonight. Turned Out Not Like This. Turned Out Like Crap. Bleh.

I Want A Cub

2007-12-20T23:23:00.001+08:00

I Have Been Thinking Of Getting A Honda Cub To Potter About Doing Those Nearby Errands. I Just have To Get Over My Fear Of People Getting Themselves Into Accidents When They See This Oversized Angmo On This Tiny Bike. Just Like Magilla Gorilla.

And 5 Makes 8

2007-12-20T14:48:00.001+08:00

Watching The 3 Koi Happiliy Frolicking In The Pool I Could Not Help Myself And Went Got Another 5.

Bubbling Pool

2007-12-20T12:31:00.000+08:00

Well, the 3 Young Koi Are In For A Start And Don't You Just Love The Sound Of The Bubbling Water? I Should Have Cleaned The Pool Before And Got The Pump Working. But Its All Good Now.

Christmas Turkey

2007-12-20T12:06:00.001+08:00

I Have Asked, Searched And Looked High And Low. I Cannot Believe It. There Are No Live Breathing Turkeys For Me To Buy And Slaughter For Christmas.

For How Great A Man

2007-12-19T13:22:00.001+08:00

Charles Lindbergh Was A Great Man And Aviator. He Lived A Full And Varied Life, One To Envy.

But Look At The View From His Grave? A Simple Tombstone, Buried Barefoot In His Khaki Workcloths.

He Can Go To Hell

2007-12-19T13:04:00.000+08:00

I recognized the voice immediately even after all the years. Cousin needs to borrow. Mum called saying that same Cousin was asking for my numbers. I told her he called already.

Mum was told that I gave Cousin a flat No. She knows why. Back when we were poor, he was a pompous prick that took every opportunity to make Dad look bad. I don’t give a flying rat’s arse what happens to him. Payback is sweet. God Bless You Dad.

Kids In Love

2007-12-19T12:49:00.000+08:00

Kids. They Are Always Honest.

What Should I Get..

2007-12-17T22:28:00.000+08:00

Myself For Christmas?

Why?

2007-12-17T22:18:00.000+08:00

We sometimes can form an attachment to things. This morning i absentmindedly slipped on my old Hush Puppies and only realising they were on my feet when stepping into a puddle of water. I wondered to myself 'Why haven't you thrown them away YET?'

Look at them. Battered, torn, restitched, cuffed... But i Like! Very Much! But my question is 'Why'?

The World's Remotest Island

2007-12-16T09:48:00.000+08:00

Someone asked me in my dream last night where was i living now? I replied i was living on the Remotest Island in the World. Tristan Da Cunha.

Addicted To Sweet Plums

2007-12-15T23:40:00.000+08:00

Seriously. I am on my last Sweet Plum. They taste so yummy that i went through 12 in 2 hours. *Burp*

My Cubicle

2007-12-15T19:24:00.000+08:00

Christmas Past

2007-12-15T18:26:00.001+08:00

This was over the Radio today on the way back from the Farm. Mum and Dad used to play in on the old record player. Happier times for us all.

But Diana Krall is my favourite version

Destination Jakarta!

2007-12-15T13:08:00.000+08:00

My New LCD Monitor

2007-12-15T12:34:00.000+08:00

Just Managed To Hookup The BenQ LCD Monitor I Bought In Jakarta Last Night. Much Better Than The Lousy Box I Had For The Past 5 Years.

What Was I Doing?

2007-12-15T12:27:00.000+08:00

Someone Asked What Was I Doing In Jakarta? Attending A Leadership Seminar.

Am I A Monkey?

2007-12-15T12:16:00.000+08:00

These Palm Trees Are A Pain. Everytime It Flowers I Have The Problem Of The Seeds That Litter The Ground. Keeping Up With The Cleaning Is Fruitless. Am I Monkey Enough To Climb Up And Chop Of Those Branching Seeds?

It Is Cleaner Now

2007-12-15T12:10:00.000+08:00

Finally After Much Scubbing And Cussing The Outdoor Pond Is Clean Again. Now A Short Trip to Get Some Nice Koi. Or Some Nice Goldfish?

Garden Figure

2007-12-15T12:05:00.001+08:00

The Monsoon Rainy Season Has Been Here For A Few Weeks. I Love The Way The Lichen Has Grown On This Garden Figure By The Outdoor Pond.

Sometimes You Just...

2007-12-15T11:37:00.000+08:00

Want To Strangle Some People. The Grass At The Farm Was Knee High What With The Rains. But The Bush Cutter Had A Sprung Cable Which Was Fixed Day Before. This Morning I Was Up Again And The Bush Cutter Is Broke Again With A Faulty Igition Coil. There Always Seems To Be A Problem With The Bush Cutter In Particular On A Weekly Basis. These Bangla Farmhands Give Me Headaches.

Clean The Pond

2007-12-13T23:20:00.000+08:00

I Think I Shall Clean Up The Stinky Pond Tommorrow. And Get Some Pretty Koi. Yeah!

Thai Seafood Salad

2007-12-13T22:43:00.001+08:00

You can use any seafood that you like for this simple Thai Seafood Salad recipe. Please note the seafood needs to be blanched before it is added to the salad.
Ingredients
Squid - cut into pieces
Fish Fillet - cut into pieces
Shrimp (Prawns) - washed, peeled and deveined
A dash of Fish Sauce
Some Lime Juice
Green and (or) Red Chillies finely chopped
Some melted Palm Sugar
Thinly sliced Lemon Grass
Onions thinly sliced
Tomato's thinly sliced or chopped
Chinese Celery - roughly chopped
Spring Onions
Vercimili

You can use Crab Meat and Mussels too!
Preparation
Put some water into a pan and bring to the boil. Blanch the Squid, Fish and Shrimp (Prawns) separately. Once cooled mix the seafood together and set aside.
Put the Fish Sauce, Lime Juice, Chilies and melted Palm Sugar into a bowl and mix together. Add the seafood and stir well so that the seafood is well covered in the sauce.

Add to the Vercimili, and then add the Lemon Grass and Onions. Finally add the Tomato, Chinese Celery and Spring Onions. Mix together and serve immediately.

Have You Been Good?

2007-12-13T22:17:00.001+08:00

The Kebun

2007-12-13T19:04:00.001+08:00

I think the farm is long overdue for some TLC. The next week is going to be a long one as i make a list of things that need to be done. The focus will be turning the whole area into a 'homestay' experience. Something i should have done a long time ago. Sometimes you have to stick to your gut feeling and bugger those doomsayers.

[Time for an before and after album? Perhaps.]

Eating In Jakarta

2007-12-13T18:57:00.000+08:00

The Seat Was Hardly Warm And They Started Sending In The Food. Loads Of it. You Pay For What You Eat. Simple And Cheap. All For AUD16.00. *BURP*

What Happened?

2007-12-13T00:06:00.000+08:00

I Have No Idea What Happened. Jakarta Was The Best Ever Shopping. For The First Time I Totally Lost It. I Gulped At The Dough For Overweight Luggage I Had To Cough Up. But Damnit. I Still Have a Buzz.

Joys Of Delays

2007-12-12T17:21:00.000+08:00

It was supposed to be ONLY a 5 hour transit wait. But turned out to be 7 plus hours. Finally landed into Jakarta at 1.40 am local time.

AirAsia Everyone Can Fly, Your Delays Make Me Cry

Poor Pony

2007-12-12T17:16:00.000+08:00

There were these ponies that stood around waiting for some tourist looking for a cheap thrill. I find it absolutely pathetic that animals have to be abused like this. It really is sad.

When In Jakarta

2007-12-12T15:23:00.000+08:00

I Saw Peter Cox In Jakarta. Inspiring. Very Inspiring.

Where? Johor Bahru?

2007-12-06T11:35:00.000+08:00

Now AirAsia regrets telling me that the connecting flight to Jakarta is delayed to 11.40pm. I reckon a 6 hour plus wait in the airport to connect. I have also learned that its not going to be in KL's LCCT. Instead its going to be in Johor Bahru.

I feel like crying...

[PostNote] Maybe Make A Short Trip Into The City?

[PostNote2] Flight Into Johore Bahru Is Delayed To 5.55pm. Argh! Betcha The Hotel Bed Will Not See My Sorry Bummed Out Arse In It By 4.00am Earliest!

Politicians?

2007-12-06T11:23:00.001+08:00

Over Laksa this morning i was asked how i viewed the politicians here in Malaysia. Admittedly i don't pay much, if any attention, to the political scene here. I have always had the view that politicians are like Monkey's, the higher they climb up the ladder of politics the uglier the view from below.

Happy I Am Not

2007-12-05T17:28:00.000+08:00

It was raining so hard on the way up to the farm i had to stop and wait it out. I began to reflect what was going on in my life as the raindrops splattered over the windshield.

I enjoy the food i get to eat anywhere anytime. Have good health. The clothes on my back are pretty decently labeled. Lovely homes. Decent savings and investments. Nice cars. The occasional holiday. Friends seem envious of what i have. But deep down i am miserable.

I don't want to be Dad. He died way too early. A hardworking bloke should not get such a raw deal. Looking at Mum today makes me both sad and resentful. I remember mostly the whipping i got when she was angry at the shit she got from life. Dad always on overtime. Not enough money. Nasty relatives. The poverty was all around. Rice porridge everyday. Every damn day. Every fucking day. Getting my first pair of jeans (Hand me downs from cousin Greg) at 16 still bugs me until today. Yeah. Poverty sucks. It sucks big time.

Do i need more than 1 car? No. Do i need to keep the farm? Well it was to be a retirement home but who am i kidding? I envision a retirement home and lifestyle completely different now. Do i need to work so hard? No, because of all these extra bits in my life it makes me busy running about like a headless chicken. Do i need all the materialistic things i have? Do these things make me happy? Am i fooling myself into thinking that the pursuit of such pleases me?

I got to change my life. Darnit! I want to be happy!

Pissing Me Off

2007-12-05T10:50:00.000+08:00

Few months last mentioned about those breakins. These past week alone there have been 2. And 7 cocks taken. Workers scared. I am pissed. Jakarta tomorrow.

Hyperspin

2007-12-05T10:44:00.000+08:00

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