http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/opinion/breaking-views/35095-whose-fault-is-it-that-leads-to-the-high-mortality-lim-sue-goan

H1N1 is going to kill the whole of Malaysia because we've got incompetent people in government. It's up to us to make sure our children and families don't get infected. Weeks ago, I began to get concerned and I thought I was bordering on paranoia.

Not anymore.

My kids wear masks to school and carry small bottles of hand sanitizers.

They don't go to school on Fridays to lessen potential exposure.

We wear masks when we go out.

I carry a bottle of diluted Dettol everywhere now. If we eat out, I spray the table top with the solution and give it a wipe. I dip cutlery and even straws in a glass of hot water before we use them.

We've stopped going out for our nightly mall walk for the time being.

I may cut down my kids' school days to 3 days or even take them out entirely if need be. They're top 10 students, so I don't worry about them catching up with their lessons. If we wait for our stupid government to take action, we'll be visiting our kids in the cemetery - unless we land there first. This stupid government of ours says they're going to launch a huge campaign to inform the public soon. It's 51 lives too late (that's the latest death toll as I write this).

We were supposed to go watch "Aliens in the Attic" this Friday, but we've cancelled. Can you imagine being in an enclosed cinema with 300 other people? All you need is one single moron who doesn't want to waste his ticket sitting in there, coughing and sneezing and potentially killing all 300 innocent people.

Am I being paranoid? Probably.

But in this case, I'd rather over-react than NOT do anything.

My family and I decided to carry out and experiment over August and September. We did this because every year without fail, our customer base dips beginning September. I don't know why - maybe it's the weather, maybe people just don't like eating in September, maybe there are lots of holidays in September. Whatever the reason, Sara, Sam, Mum and I decided to prepare ourselves for the slow months by trying to save as much as possible. I suggested that we try eating at home as much as possible.

You know how it goes. Even though we're in the food business and there is ALWAYS delicious, home cooked food at the end of the day, the kids (me included) like to eat out once in a while. Well that "once in a while" eventually became :

• KFC on Friday afternoons after school
• Wednesday evening at the Food Court because Sam would come home from school activities late and it's easier to just eat out and let someone else wash up
• Saturday dinner after our regular trip to the mall.
• Sunday dinner because it's Sunday

Then there would always be one excuse or another to grab a snack once or twice a week, and these snacks would eventually end up costing as much as a dinner for four.

We decided that other than our weekend meals, we would eat at home. Each meal we ate at home allowed us to save at least RM25 to RM45. At the end of two months of eating at home, I calculated (based on our average eat-out bill, 3 times per week) that we saved RM905! Whoa! That's RM450 a month just for eating out and snacking. And that's only eating at my kids' favorite budget places like McDonalds, KFC etc. Imagine how much we would be spending if we were in the habit of snacking at more fancy restaurants.

So the whole point of this post is this. If you think you've got it tough trying to make ends meet, try looking at what you're spending to fill your tummy.

We've decided to keep eating in. At an average of RM400 savings a month, it adds up to RM4800 a year! That money would be better off in our holiday piggy bank or in the children's education fund.

Think about it. Eat in and save. It justs takes a little self-control!

Image from Sausagewars.com WHAT'S good for your penis is also good for your heart. That's what health industry sources are finding out. Consultant urologist Dr Peter Ng Eng Pin says chest pains used to be one of the only outward indications of heart disease. But now, erectile dysfunction (ED) is the new warning sign of underlying vascular problems. "The penis is a dipstick to your health. When that is down, your health is down as well. "In many studies in was reported that more than 50 per cent of men with ED developed a heart condition within three years. "It used to be the other way around, where people with heart problems had ED. Now, we're learning that ED is a warning for more serious diseases." ED is an early manifestation of the blood vessel damage caused by high blood pressure, diabetes and other heart disease risk factors.

Well all I can say is this is really good news. If this article is true, then I am far from having vascular problems. Every time I look at my wife proves it.

The Chinese Hungry Ghost Month usually falls in the month of August. As a Christian, this is not supposed to be of any significance to me, but let me share my experience with you.

On the eve of Merdeka seven years ago in 2001, while we were on our way home from the mall, I was driving across the Kota Bridge. There was a power failure and the street lights were not lit. As we were quarter of the way across the bridge, I looked over to the GoldCourse Hotel on my right which seemed so beautiful in the darkness of the night. Next thing I knew, there was a sickeningly loud crash and my head smacked into the steering wheel. I greeted my first car accident with a loud "Aiyooooh...S**T! What am I going to do now!".

It was the seventh month. I didn't take notice of the fact back then.

In 2002, while on our way back from the mall again, there was a loud squeel from the engine. Then the air-con died. The compressor was shot. I figured it must have been because the night before I had to rev my engine through 100 metres of flood water. Co-incidence perhaps but it was the seventh month.

The following year (2003), driving home again after visiting a friend, there was a loud explosion followed by a "ketak... ketak... ketak" sound. Stopping by the side of the road, I found my left rear tyre flat. What made it flat? A stubby bolt. Not a sharp one mind you - a stubby bolt. I thought it must have been because I had this habit of over-inflating my tires but it was the seventh month.

In 2004, the squeel came back suddenly one morning. Quick as lightning, I turned off my air-con, braved the heat and shot off to my air-con service centre. It could have been the air-con compressor they said, but fortunately this time it was just the fan that died which caused the engine to overwork. It cost RM100 plus to fix, and at least it was cheaper than replacing the compressor, but it was the seventh month.

2005 saw my engine overheating. It wasn't the radiator. It wasn't the thermostat. It was a very simple but expensive-to-fix engine gasket. RM500 down the drain to fix it. Seventh month.

Then in 2006 while happily driving near my house, there was suddenly a "click-clack-click-clack" sound. Drove home and checked underneath my car. There was an 8 inch wire that pierced the side of my right rear tyre. Not directly into the flat surface of the tire mind you - it was the SIDE wall of the tyre. If it was a seven-inch wire, I would truly have freaked out.

So before every seventh month since 2002, even though I have spared NO expense to service my car to make sure nothing goes wrong, it has. I wondered how long it would go on.

Then in 2007, I had an encounter with the devil himself. You guessed it... it was the seventh month.

BUT... I think that was the final song and this year, (shhh... don't say it loud) I have managed to go through the seventh month without any problems. Could it REALLY be a coincidence that last year's encounter with the Devil himself was the SEVENTH and perhaps the last???

No I won't sell my car. I've promised I will give it to my son when he turns 18. I also didn't want to admit I lost to a supersitious belief. Anyway... I'm NOT supposed to believe that these things happened because of the seventh month! Thinking back, I wonder if all these were caused by my subconscious... knowing at the back of my mind that it was the seventh month.

How's that for a story huh? I swear... it's true. No bluffing.

Every August, my kids will come home singing Merdeka songs that they learnt in school. Sara came home one day and asked if I could find the lyrics to the song "Warisan" written by Sudirman Hj. Arshad who in my opinion is the greatest Malaysian lyricist.

Anyway, after downloading the song and playing it, my mind immediately recalled this beautiful, emotive love song for our beautiful country called Malaysia.

As we go through the pains of rediscovering democracy, let's not look at the color of our skin but look at our hearts. We are ALL Malaysians, brothers and sisters on earth - equally loved by God.

Warisan (Heritage)
Sudirman Hj. Arshad (1954 - 1992)

Disini lahirnya sebuah cinta
Yang murni abadi sejati
Disini tersemai cita cita
Bercambah menjadi warisan

Here a love is born,
Noble, eternal and pure,
Here hopes and dreams are sown
To blossom into a nation's heritage...

Andai ku terbuang tak diterima
Andai aku disingkirkan
Kemana harusku bawakan
Kemana harusku semaikan cinta ini

If ever I am rejected, unaccepted
If ever I am left by the wayside
Where would I take,
Where would I sow this love of mine

Betapa
Dibumi ini ku melangkah
Keutara selatan timur dan barat
Ku jejaki

Wherever on this earth
Should I walk,
To the North, South, East and West,
Should I travel...

Aku bukanlah seorang perwira
Gagah menghunus senjata
Namun hati rela berjuang
Walau dengan cara sendiri
Demi cinta ini

I am not a warrior,
Bravely going into battle,
But my heart is willing to fight
In my own way
For the love of my country...

Ku ingin kotakan seribu janji
Sepanjang kedewasaan ini
Ku ingin sampaikan pesanan
Aku lah penyambung warisan

I will fullfil my promise
Through all my life
To declare that
I am the a child of My Country

Please excuse my unqualified translation to English.

Happy Merdeka Malaysia...

I've been meaning to write this for a long time now, but I've never written a politically motivated post before. I originally wanted to title my post "Why I would vote for Anwar Ibrahim"... but being always behind time is not a good way to write anything constructive.

In any case, my reason for writing "Why I would vote for Anwar Ibrahim" was to get things off my chest. Talking to friends and acquaiantences is okay, but I figured I might as well shoot off my mouth for once about how I feel all over the Internet. Perhaps the high-and-mighty-nose-in-the-clouds people in Parliament will somehow read.

To tell you the truth, my reasons for "Why I would vote for Anwar Ibrahim" is not really because of support for him or for PKR, but because of my growing disgust with Barisan Nasional.

I can go on and on, spouting my half past six political views which can easily be shot down by a half drunken, money-power-and-sex maniac MP, so I will just state some of the things that have made me fed up of Barisan Nasional :

• Rising fuel and food prices. Ordinary folks are struggling to keep their heads above water but we see obvious mismanagement of public funds and politicians getting fat living the good life. No, not just the politicians - even people we know who are well connected are sharing in the plunder. No need to state specifics. Just look around and you will have your own story to tell.
• One particular moron ex-Minister turned unwitting porn star in particular disgusts me. After years of cheating on his wife, he dares to declare that at least has the "moral courage" to admit what he did. Yeah... so if he becomes the leader of one of the biggest parties in Malaysia, he's telling everyone "Hey... look at me! I screwed around behind my wife's back for years. I was caught, but heck I'm sorry... I'm still a good guy... next time round I'll check for hidden cameras. For now, vote for ME!". I dare say this is one of the major reasons I would vote for Anwas Ibrahim. If a senior Minister who's fairly decent and responsible on the outside is actually is actually enjoying the "fruits" of his position, I can't imagine the other lesser "leaders" who don't even look half as intelligent. What kind of message are we sending to our children if such a person leads a major party in this country?
• Another ex (now dead) MP who "allegedly" built a palace without approval right in the midst of people struggling to make ends meet. This is just the kind of arrogance and greed that we hard working souls are tired of.
• A growing arrogance exists everywhere - from the management of local town councils to the administration of schools. They don't have to say anything. Their actions scream "Hey... I work for the BN government. I can do anything I like" and they continue to rub salt in the wounded pride of hard-working folks with policies and inefficiency.
• Morons who keep shouting "ketuanan Melayu". Look, before you go and stick voodoo pins in a doll, I love and hate Malays, Chinese and Indians equally. I believe there are as many idiotic Malays as there are Chinese and Indians. But I'm tired of having to explain to my children that there are some things that they cannot say to their friends even if it's the truth because somewhere, somehow, there is an unwritten law that a certain race must always be protected from "sensitive" issues.

Hey BN... I was born in Malaysia. I am a living breathing Malaysian. I want EQUAL rights. After 51 years of Merdeka, we are still afraid to talk to each other openly and honestly. Now, all the feelings of frustration and hate have come to the surface and threaten to explode in another May 13.

So let me relate a small incident that tells me why this country is in the state that it's in. An ex-colleague of mine once asked me to join the MCA. I replied that I wasn't in the least interested in politics and I didn't think I could serve the community. His reply?

"Hey man... you think I and all the others joined *** to serve the community? Podah man... I joined because I can make contacts with other businessmen. Now whenever there is a project, we are the first to hear of the opportunity so we get to make money. I scratch my back you scratch mine lah"

So that got me thinking... this is why Malaysia is going down the drain.

In any case, I digress. This post is titled "2 Ugly Durians And The Permatang Pauh By Election". Here's the reason for the unusual title.

2 nights ago, my inquisitive children Sam and Sara asked me who "Anwar Ibrahim" was. I explained who he was and why he was now in the news almost daily. I tried to explain the problems with our present government as best as I could in simple terms they could understand.

They asked me "If Anwar was in jail years ago, doesn't that make him a bad man?"

Followed by "So, why do we want him to be a leader now?"

I almost pengsan at the question. How to answer? So the first thing that came to mind was durians. I asked them "Imagine we have 2 durians. We open one and find that it's full of worms. The other one also looks just as ugly from the outside and everyone also says that it's ugly, but we don't know for sure. What do you think we should do? Should we just throw away the second one away?"

Sara, my smartie-pants 8 year old quickly said "No-lah! Why so stupid. We already know the first durian is full of worms we can throw away lah. But just because the second durian looks ugly on the outside doesn't mean that it's really bad on the inside. We have to open it and see for ourselves lah. Only then we will know for sure mah..."

And so my dear friends... for all my life, I have lived and tolerated a durian that grows uglier by the day and is so full of worms it has rotted to the core. I now have a choice to try another durian that may be beautiful inside although it looks just as ugly on the outside.

Life is about making decisions. And sometimes you have to take risks.

I've had enough of the present ugly durian called Barisan, thank you.

How the fuel price increase affects our business
As far as our catering business is concerned, we are expecting prices from our suppliers to shoot up this week. An estimate of 40% increase is not out of the question. The question is how do we act responsibly and increase our price without chasing away our customers. We've come up with an approach that might work.

From day one of starting our home catering biz to 31 December 2007, we maintained our price at RM200 per pax per month. Expecting a fuel increase this year, we increased our price to RM220 for new customers who joined us from 01 January 2008 onwards. We maintained our old price for old customers (those who joined before 01 Jan 2007).

Now it looks like our new price of RM220 may not be sufficient to cover the huge increase in fuel price. So, we've decided to increase out price to RM240 per pax per month. This is for 3 dishes (one meat, one veggie and one side dish). However, this increase may be too drastic for some of our fixed income customers, so we've also decided to offer a budget package from July 01 onwards which will consist of one meat, one veggie and one soup at RM200 per pax per month. In effect, this means that if customers choose to pay the old price, they will have to settle for less. We're still not soo sure if our new pricing will work out, because it might take about one month for suppliers to increase their prices.

How the fuel price increase affects our family budget
Obviously, there is going to be cost cutting. Thankfully, since my wife and I work full time at home, we have full control over household expenses. The fuel price increase should see our petrol bill go up RM150 per month and our electricity bill by about RM50. We haven't taken into account other stuff that will obviously be affected by the fuel price increase. So what we've decided to do :

• Pay off our remaining credit card debt of about RM4K as soon as possible. Thankfully, if all goes according to the government's plan, I should be one of the first to receive my fuel subsidy because my road tax is up for renewal on 02 July 2008. I also have a motorbike that has been sitting and collecting dust for about 3 years now that I will sell. This should bring in an additional RM1K - RM1.5K. We'll then bite the bullet and increase our monthly credit card payment to around RM700 per month. If all goes according to plan, we will clear this our credit card debt in about 4 months.
• Repair, service or clean all our electrical equipment. Clogged fans and refrigerators that aren't running at optimum performance will be power-guzzlers that eat into our family budget.
• Cut our weekend trips to KL/PJ malls to once per week instead of the current 2-3 times. This should save us around RM100 - RM150 per month in petrol, toll and parking fees.
• Spend more of our evenings doing family things instead of going to the mall. I like enjoying the free aircond at the mall, but this is going to cost more from now on, so better to strip half naked and enjoy a noisy game of badminton with my kids from now on. Or jump into the kiddie pool with them or maybe finally start jogging to lose weight. All in all, those nightly trips to the mall always end up with us spending more on snacks and impulse buying.
• More meals at home. Making sure the family fills up our stomachs at dinner time instead of half-full and then having an excuse to go for supper. Thank God we are in the food business so there is ALWAYS left over from catering that is more than enough to feed us.
• Cut all unnecessary expenses like newspapers (can read it online), weekly trips to the arcade for the kids and soft drinks when we eat out.

There are lots more ways we can cut costs. No we don't need to go drastic, but we figured it's a good way to get to grips with the crazy increases we will soon experience all around us. It's time to "ikat perut" guys. I hope all goes well for you.

The first year we were in business - when we didn't really have a lot of money coming in from my websites - we were on the verge of panic. It was the first time we really felt the effects of the balik kampung exodus. That year, we were left with less than ten customers during the Chinese New Year month. Thank God we were still holding on to our day jobs - albeit part-time.

After 5 years in the home catering business, we've come to accept the CNY month income drop as part and parcel of our business. That's why we're thankful that our online income keeps things stable.

From day one of being full-time work-at-homers, we decided that we would NOT rely on our online income to sustain our family. There are just too many variables that can swing against your website(s) which will ultimately affect your income. So we work hard and make sure that our home catering business pays the bills and keeps food on the table. Our catering business is also a heck of a lot more predictable than search engine mood swings and their ever changing algorithms. So despite receiving a healthy income from my websites, we ONLY dip into our Google Piggy Bank for the extras during low months like Chinese New Year. Thankfully, December's Adsense payout was a fat one and came in via Western Union just in time for our CNY shopping.

So like it or not, Google has been putting the "Happy" in "Chinese New Year" for our family the last five years. So I guess what I'm trying to say is this - unless you are prepared for the erratic ups and downs of earning an online income, I strongly suggest you keep your day job and save your income from Adsense, Kontera etc for those rainy days (especially if you have a family).

I can't help it. It takes me a long time to get over the school holidays. The hols mean crazy late nights playing board games with Sam and Sara, midnight snacks and ice cream, then late breakfasts and totally screwed up schedules. When you run a home based catering business, that translates to total madness in the kitchen. And don't even mention my blog. You know how they say if you're gonna start a blog, don't leave it unattended for more than a week? Well the people who say that obviously need to spend a month in my shoes.

Since the new school year started on 3rd January, I miss the whining and bickering and the squeels of laughter when Sam and Sara are up to mischief. I miss having Sam looking over my shoulder to see what Papa is typing on the computer then being a nosybody asking about this and that. I miss Sara busily rummaging for stuff for her latest impromptu art project. I miss her slowly sidling up beside me asking, "Waaaaatcha dooooin?". I am a total kid addict. I anxiously wait for the school bell to ring so's I can be with them. I must be the world's most sorriest looking Dad in the world when I'm not with my kids.

Anyway... like it or not, the kids are back to school and that is good news for my business, websites and (hopefull this blog). I got in 2 solid hours of work on my websites this morning although I absolutely hate the silence. And now that the kids are fed and napping, I'm typing this. It's the calm before the daily storm. In ten minutes, it'll be off to the kitchen to cook, pack the food into tiffins and I'm off on my delivery route.

I wish it was still the school holidays.

"Aren't I like almost 5 days too late?"

"Yo! Andrew! Are you chronologically challenged or what?"

Heh... No... I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas on the 29th of December because to me, everyday is Christmas! We were driving to our regular hangout - One Utama - for last minute shopping when Sara sighed.

"Papa... it's almost Christmas! I'm so excited! I can't wait to open my presents... but then you know what?"

"What?" I asked.

"After that, I'll be sad. I'll have to wait another year till Christmas again!" Sara said in her most serious voice... "Aren't you sad?"

I didn't even have to think before answering that question.

"No" I said.

"Why?" Sam and Sara chorused.

I told them, "You see... everyday is like Christmas for Papa as long as I can be with you and Mummy. Christmas carols don't sound as nice as your laughter. And everytime you say 'Papa I love you', it's like getting a Christmas present. And my bestest Christmas presents are kisses and hugs from you"

"Yah... but you're OLD already... we're still young. We wish everyday was Christmas." Sam said.

"Aren't you excited about getting presents?" asked Sara.

Well, for one thing, when your present for the last five years has been nicely wrapped underwear, it kind of gets predictable you know. Sam and Sara probably won't understand how I feel, but I'm sure you do.

Now that your presents are opened, the (artificial) Christmas tree packed, the Christmas CDs stored, think about it - when you have the people that you love with you, doesn't that make everyday like Christmas?

Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart, and when it does it doesn't just happen on the 25th of December.

So Merry Christmas everyone.

Since returning from the hilltop, I've been extremely busy catching up with my websites and more importantly, meeting a few mall management people about the possibility of setting up a store - either a stall in a food court or kiosk selling merchandise. We're also exploring the possibility of selling food at a couple of our local coffee shops.

Our home catering business has been good to us. Without it, we would surely have sunk into the depths of despair and discouragement during our employment crisis nearly five years ago. The truth is, even though the money is good, we find ourselves being tied down to a really fixed and uncompromising schedule. Sure, we can play around with our time, but it boils down to this - our home catering business is a totally hands on money maker. It only makes money when we work. If we take a break, not only do we NOT make money, but we have to give our customers a refund. Not exactly what you'd call passive, residual income.

Another problem is that with me being so tied to our home catering business, I don't have the time to devote to building my online income (not to mention this blog). My websites also require my attention. SEO just doesn't happen. Not only am I in very competitive categories, but I also have to handle marketing and content building. The good thing about making money online is that I can leave my sites for a while and they would still generate income. It's just that Google is an unpredictable beast and if you want to play the SERP (Search Engine Results Pages) game, you've got to keep up to date not only with changes to their algos, but with hundreds of competitors looking to take your spot in the SERPs. To put it simply, I am plain lucky to hold on to my page one positions given the low number of hours I am putting in. But the bubble will surely burst sooner or later.

So, my wife and I have decided that we need to specialize - with each handling our own business. She will look to diversify by setting up one or more food stalls where we will employ staff to handle the day to day running. I am already looking into setting up an online store. As we do this, we will still carry on with our home catering business. We've given ourselves 2 years to get our food stalls and online store profitable enough so that we can decide whether or not to let go of our home catering business. If all goes according to plans, we will still be busy - counting money that is and hopefully enjoying loads more free time. At the very least, we will have more streams of income (online and offline).

Five years ago, I thought working at home would be free and easy. Yeah.... right.

It hasn't been a bed of roses I can tell you. Being my own boss calls for lots to sweat (literally) and grit. If we want to make money, we have to literally work hard.

As a full time work at home Dad, there is :

• no more automatic salary banked in at the end of the month.
• no more paid annual leave.
• no more medical benefits.
• no more annual increments.
• no more executive benefits.
• no more free broadband.

But what I do get is :

• More time with my family - literally. I'm at home ALL the time - which is good for me since I'm really a home-body!
• Peace of mind. With my wife and me running the show, there's no chance we'll retrench each other.
• Full stomach. In our line of business, there is NO way we won't have food to eat... and with my role as senior quality control, I must say the job is very satisfying!
• Freedom to set my own schedule. This is really crucial. Although I'm really like a cartoon Monday to Friday trying to juggle business, family and web needs, I love NOT having a boss and deadlines.
• Stress that translates directly to money. Don't kid yourself. Running a home based business and my websites is no piece of cake. However... all that stress pays off in the end by money flowing into our bank account!

But as they say... life begins at forty. And I can feel it in my bones - I have just begun to paaaarrrteeeey!

We've been planning this trip for months. Our home catering business pretty much ties us down so 300 days of the year so family getaways are usually planned during weekends. This will be an extended weekend for us. We're taking 2 days off on Monday and Tuesday, which means that we will need to refund a total of approximately RM700 to our customers!

Fortunately for us, our room has been paid for by earnings from Kontera, our Genting food bill and Annual Passport for year-round rides at all theme parks will be courtesy of Google Adsense. The cost of refund and other miscellaneous expenses is paid for by other online earnings. I really looooove making money online!

We're getting an early start today. In fact, I'm typing this at 4.35 am in the morning! In half an hour's time, the kids will be up and we'll pack them into the car. We'll stop at McDonalds for their favorite Big Breakfast before taking a slow leisurely drive up to Genting Highlands. Along the way, we'll make many photo stops for me to play with my new toy - my shiny new Video Recorder. But the trip will be over before we know it and we'll soon be back in our kitchen cooking as usual...

So, what's a girl to do with all that nail polish and no more nails to paint after she's done hers? Why, look for other "victims" of course!

Yesterday, she asked in her sweetest voice (that she knows always gets her into Papa's soft spot), "Papa, would you like to try my nail polish?". Next thing I know, I'm lying on the floor, spread eagle and my junior manicurist is deep in concentration painting my nails.

My very own personal manicurist in action

Notice the steady hands required in the art of painting nails?

Ten minutes later, my nails are shining with a beautiful array of glittery colors. Please excuse the photos... it's quite, quite difficult trying to get good photos when your nail polish is drying...

My favorite - my left hand finger nails are now coated with glitter

My right hand fingers are now a trendy shade of purple

Look how pretty my toes are now - in blue glitter and pink!

No, I did not wash off the nail polish after that.

Yes, I did go to to the mall with my finger nails all decked out in their finest.

No, I was not shy about it.

Yes, a couple of ladies noticed my nails and gave me that "look".

No, no guys noticed and gave me that "look" - thank God.

And Yes, I highly recommend every Dad have your nails painted by your daughter. It's truly an enriching experience!

It's all in good fun. I quite enjoy being Sara's test subject. I wonder what I'll have to do when she's a teenager!

"What grind... you work at home!" I hear you ask...

Well, it might come as a surprise to you, but work-at-home-ers are not immune to stress. For us, stress-time starts at about 3pm, when we actually start to cook. If everything goes smoothly, then it's pretty much routine, but if something goes wrong (there are a hundred and one things that can go wrong), then things can get really hairy between 3.30 and 4.15. That's packing time... getting ready to send the food to our customers.

Still, the bills still need to be paid even if you work at home. Kids still need attending to. Chores still need to be done. Customers need attention.

Here are my mini stress-busters :

• Music - I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and listen to music for five minutes. One of my favorite pieces is Palchabels' Canon in D major. Long title, but give it a try. I found one piece with really nice accompanying scenes. Hope you enjoy.

• I play video games. Simple games. Complicated ones just gets my mind all twisted in a knot!
• My favorite stress-buster is horsing around with Sam and Sara - crazy jokes, pillow fights and non-sensical conversations.

Remember to take time off for de-stressing. Makes a world of difference.

I'd love to know how you de-stress amid the tornado of activity on Mondays and throughout the week... tell me!

Sara, Mummy and Sam

I remember when I was a wee little lad, the journey to the zoo was a long and winding journey that was free except for the petrol in your car. Today, it is a leisurely one-hour drive from Klang using the Kesas Highway and costs RM13 in toll (to and fro). The entrance fee is RM15 for adults and RM6 for children.

I really can't remember how much has changed in the zoo from the time I visited it as a boy, but the excitement and look of amazement on the faces of children is still the same. However, today, I noticed that there are just as many monkeys OUTSIDE of the cages as there are IN them (if you know what I mean).

Our last visit to the zoo was about a year ago and I must say that there are many pleasant changes :

• The train trips are now more informational with each train having a trainee guide who would brief visitors on the interesting aspects of the animals and zoo as we trundled along.
• The multi animal show is still entertaining, with the addition of a new sea lion named Dawbi (if I heard the host pronounced his name correctly).
• The aquarium has received a nice new facelift.
• The zoo's website looks great now with lots of information.
• Zoo Negara by Night is open on Saturday, Sunday and Malaysian Public Holidays from 9.00am – 10.30pm which must be really thrilling although we have not made a trip there at night.
• More food pitstops which is important to us.
• The toilets are cleaner and seem to be well maintained.
• Zoo Negara seems to be more brand conscious. They've started branding some souvenier items with their logo. More revenue can only mean a better zoo. I say "Yay" to that!.

Some things have not changed though :

• The smell of poo and wee is really overwhelming in some areas and my city kids need their emergency "hong eui" (minyak angin) handy when we go into these areas.
• The host of the multi-animal show still spoke only in Bahasa Malaysia although I noticed that they proclaim to be one of the more popular zoos in the world and I notice foreigners at EVERY animal show that I have attended. Surely the Zoo realizes this is a weak point.
• There are many animal shelters and walkways that could do with a major sprucing. I can't blame the zoo for this though because I'm sure the zoo is not running with a fat budget.
• The main waiting area for the train ride needs a shelter really badly. I wonder why they don't see it?
• I think they could help themselves a whole lot by including a small souvenier goodie pack for every visitor. Perhaps a button badge, bird whistle or stickers would make a great keepsake for the kids and help market themselves.

Sam and Sara have a couple of friends that they simply MUST visit every time they come to the Zoo. There's Wizard and Hobbit, the 2 miniature ponies at the petting zoo, Ottie (we gave him that name), who lives in the otter enclosure, and Manja and Bud, the orangutan and aging (but lovable) sea lion at the multi animal show.

My favorite thing in Zoo Negara is the train ride. It was a busy weekend, and there were many school groups plus Petronas organized a function for hundreds so kids, so we could only go the train ride 3 times. Dang...

The other thing I really like about the zoo is it's natural surroundings. After over 40 years of existence, the trees and foliage give you an almost jungle like feeling - somehow, very calming for me. Perhaps my inner self longs to go back to my hairy roots and live in the trees?

All in all, Zoo Negara is a great place to bring your family for a day-trip. A couple of pics follow below. Some are a bit grainy because I screen captured them from the videos I took.

Sara loves Hobbit, the miniature horsie

Wizard's more affectionate though - likes to snuggle close to you

Manja - the orangutan at the multianimal show. People say I look a lot like her...

The new seal Dawbi. Really lovable fellow. He's set to replace the aging Bart

Bart is the star of the animal show but he's due for retirement pretty soon

Sam was really hoping the parrot wouldnt poop on him. I was hoping he would!

Sam and Sara always look forward to visiting Ottie.

I think all of us need to remember these words as we go about our daily routines. It's easy to get caught up in a web of self pity when we compare ourselves to others. The world dictates that wealth and status IS who you are. But God does not look at your job. He looks at your heart.

If you're a waiter, dish washer, truck driver, clerk, cleaning lady or in any job that you didn't foresee yourself being in years ago, don't be discouraged. And if you happen to be at the edge of your career right now and circumstances threaten to push you over, strengthen your resolve and look to the future. I know it's easier said than done, especially when you seem to be struggling to keep your head above water and there are folks determined to pull you under.

Five years ago when the storms of retrenchment brew over our lives, my wife and I stood together and braved the uncertainties. We felt we were hanging at the end of our rope. No job meant we would have to rely on our already depleting savings. Yes, we were discouraged. Yes, we were fearful. Yes, there were moments of despair that drove us to tears. There IS a time for sorrow and mourning. But when the crying was done, we determined that we would not go out without a fight and so we took that step of faith and worked to build our own business. Five years on, we're tougher and smarter. And we know that when you dig deep within yourself, you might just be surprised at the strength and determination you have.

How well we understand now what that line means : "What defines us is how well we rise after falling".

I really understand if you find yourself so dependent on your job that you end up in a vicious cycle, unable to explore other opportunities. Although most of the obstacles you face when you consider being your own boss are usually just your imagination acting up as you move beyond your comfort zone, there ARE real problems that you will face :

• You have no money.
  Starting a business takes money whether its a couple hundred bucks or tens of thousands, you need capital.
• You have no time.
  How could you? The boss expects you to be on-the-job ON TIME and for most folks that means leaving the house before sunrise and if you're lucky, you get home before your kids are in bed!
• You have no experience.
  You need to know what you're doing if you want to succeed in your own business. Unfortunately, most of us work at a job that is totally boring and unrelated to our passion in life.

These are real problems. They're not problems that can be solved by simply wishing them away or buying yourself an e-book that guarantees you financial freedom. The solutions to these problems will take time and conscious effort on your part, but if you're really serious about breaking free of your "dead end job", you will overcome them bit by bit, day by day.

There are many, many people I know who would be good examples for me to write about, but I'll use the best case study I know - myself. You can name any fear, any insecurity, any mental obstacle that you're facing as you consider being your own boss and I will be able to emphatize with you. I went through it ALL because I was once the world's worst scaredy-cat. Nothing would budge me from my comfort zone. Nothing. But life always has surprises in store for us. Join me in my next few posts as we discover solutions to the 3 main obstacles to breaking free of your dead-end job.

In this series :

1. Breaking Free Of Your Dead-end Job
2. Getting The Money To Start Your Own Business
3. Making The Time For Your Business
4. Getting The Experience To Run A Home Based Business

I found one success guru who teaches us by example. He's an adorable fella and he's got lots of gumption to reach his one and only passion in the world. You know him too, but I'll figure you never thought you could learn the secret to success from him. Well you can....

If Scrat were a real, human he'd be a great home business owner. He faces a multitude of obstacles and challenges that stand in the way of his one true passion in life - nuts.

Like any true hero in life, he stares each challenge in the eye and never backs down with fear. He focuses on what needs to be done, and he does it. Sure he miscalculates and falls flat on his face many a time, but does he give up? Nope... he bounces back with even more oomph.

I remember one snippet where Scrat slides down a looooong hill to take off into the air and grab his prized target - a nut of course - only to land in iced cold water filled with prehistoric piranha. He fights of the piranha with incredible Kung Fu moves to protect his hard earned nut.

That scene translates nicely into what every (home) business owner faces. He meticulously plans and calculates his moves to successfully launch his dream business. Then he finds there are piranhas (of the two legged species) all around him, waiting to tear him and his business to shreds. In the business world, we call these two-legged piranhas competitors and it takes all the smarts and savvy moves we can muster (Kung Fu included if necessary) to beat their attacks.

And that's the way we should ALL be... whether you're planning to work full-time at home, starting your own small business or working your regular full-time job.

Scrat teaches us in this video the secret to success is to focus on what you want, to be determined, to do whatever it takes to reach that dream and to never, ever give up.

This post also teaches us that Andrew is an overgrown baby who still loves to watch cartoons. Long live Scrat!

P.S. For more Scrat videos, visit this link.

No choice I suppose. Last year, I went to the bank to activate a dormant account and the pretty lady there asked me to fill up a form. Egads! Everything was a blur! I was writing with my arm outstretched when the nice lady politely asked, "Sir, may I help you fill out the form?"

After she filled out the form for me, I thanked her and she said... "it's okay Uncle, many OLD people forget to bring their reading glasses".

"Oh open up earth and swallow me whole..." I thought!

Anyway... I found a really neat pair of reading glasses that can fit into a credit card sized case so I can carry it in my wallet. It's called "WalletReader Emergency Reading Glasses" and it comes in powers that range from 1.5 to 3.0. I've been using them for about 2 weeks now and I must say they really come in handy especially when I have to read those little print on forms and expiry dates on food items. However, as the name suggests, these are "EMERGENCY" reading glasses. They don't stay on as snugly and comfortably like proper glasses. Anyway, I think it's time for me to start carrying my proper reading glasses around with me (sigh...).

When you have kids later on (or if you have them now), make sure you nag them to sit the proper distance from the TV, never read while lying down or in a dimly lit room. I did all that and I suppose ten years as a webmaster staring at a computer screen for hours on end have really taken its toll on my eyes.

So let me leave you with these parting words of advice - take care of your eyes. They help you make money...