Nota keterangan latihan dalam kamar saya, dari tarikh 12hb Julai hingga 23hb Julai, 2010.
D124 (12th July): I got a feeling it's gonna be a good week.
D125: Legal Aid, then homecoming-cum-birthday celebration for A-S.
D126: Arrrrrrggggggh!!!
D127: Ethics & Professional Standards Exam at LPPKN Building (I hope I pass!), then lunch at the Royal Selangor Club.
D128: Seeking balance.
D129 (19th July): I barely remember the weekend happening.
D130: A mentally stimulating day, in the non-law sense.
D131: I miss authentic pub grub served in authentic pubs.
D132: My story is still in the writing.
D133: Another restless, lonely, pathetic Friday night in an endless stream of restless, lonely, pathetic Friday nights.
This Friday, I shall not be a victim again. This Friday, I'm going to leave the office on time. This Friday, I shall have somewhere to go and something to do. This Friday, I'm gonna paint the town red. And ain't nobody gonna stop me.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Can Barely Stand On My Feet
More notes from the dark side.
D114 (28th June): "Please don't go to Malik Imtiaz and ask him for an autograph. Jatuh standard man."
D115: Legal Aid at Tenaganita. Truly, I am blessed.
D116: Work will never end, but your life may, today.
D117: New love is fleeting, but old hate festers.
D118: Introductory session with Ms. Pushpa at Brickfields.
D119 (5th July): "Well, it looks benign, but if it doesn't go away by next Monday, we'll have to take a sample for tests."
D120: Legal Aid. This country scares me sometimes.
D121: The meds are making me weak.
D122: Very sick. At work. Yeah, hardcore, I know.
D123: Regret is life's best and most useless teacher; you'll always learn the lesson—after it's too late.
***
The past week was one of the most challenging work weeks for me, as the antibiotics I took to combat an ulcer (500mg!) wrecked havoc on my body, leading to coughing, a dry throat, phlegm build up and a very bad fever. I had not been that sick since I came back from the UK. Thankfully, I'm much better now.
I realised that when you're really sick, the world just seems like an awful place to be in, nobody cares and life just seems to suck. It was very hard to remain positive about anything. I thank God that for most of the time, I am blessed with good health.
As for the ulcer itself, it has subsided, but I still need to follow up with the doc about it. I guess we'll see what he says tomorrow?
(On a different note, when I googled "somebody to love lyrics", the first result was Justin Beiber's song, the second Glee Cast's cover, the third Leighton Meester's and the fourth, yes, FOURTH was Queen's. This is say, I sad, sad.)
D114 (28th June): "Please don't go to Malik Imtiaz and ask him for an autograph. Jatuh standard man."
D115: Legal Aid at Tenaganita. Truly, I am blessed.
D116: Work will never end, but your life may, today.
D117: New love is fleeting, but old hate festers.
D118: Introductory session with Ms. Pushpa at Brickfields.
D119 (5th July): "Well, it looks benign, but if it doesn't go away by next Monday, we'll have to take a sample for tests."
D120: Legal Aid. This country scares me sometimes.
D121: The meds are making me weak.
D122: Very sick. At work. Yeah, hardcore, I know.
D123: Regret is life's best and most useless teacher; you'll always learn the lesson—after it's too late.
The past week was one of the most challenging work weeks for me, as the antibiotics I took to combat an ulcer (500mg!) wrecked havoc on my body, leading to coughing, a dry throat, phlegm build up and a very bad fever. I had not been that sick since I came back from the UK. Thankfully, I'm much better now.
I realised that when you're really sick, the world just seems like an awful place to be in, nobody cares and life just seems to suck. It was very hard to remain positive about anything. I thank God that for most of the time, I am blessed with good health.
As for the ulcer itself, it has subsided, but I still need to follow up with the doc about it. I guess we'll see what he says tomorrow?
(On a different note, when I googled "somebody to love lyrics", the first result was Justin Beiber's song, the second Glee Cast's cover, the third Leighton Meester's and the fourth, yes, FOURTH was Queen's. This is say, I sad, sad.)
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Quote of the Week
"The way to start writing isn't to start writing at all, but by living. It isn't about creating something from thin air, but about documenting our personal feelings about the things that we see, or to put it crudely, how are you going to be a storyteller if you have no story to tell? Perhaps, in the end, there are not such things as creative people; there are only sharp observers with sensitive hearts."
Friday, 2 July 2010
Blog & Roll: Stuff No One Told Me
I know, it's been a while since the last feature. Work saps away so much of me.
Anyway, I discovered this via another blog. Still in it's early stages, but already showing a lot of promise. Click on the title post to visit the blog.
Anyway, I discovered this via another blog. Still in it's early stages, but already showing a lot of promise. Click on the title post to visit the blog.
Sepuluh Haiku untuk Memandu di KL
One of the reasons I think Amir Muhammad is da man. Click on the post title to read his hilarious poetry.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
I Wanna Make a Supersonic Man Out of You
I've finished my play for Short+Sweet. It just needs some proof-reading and then I'll send it off, fingers crossed it'll get picked. Next week is going to be really long, 2 days in court, 1 day at legal aid, half a day for an introductory session with a KL Bar Committee member, and for those days when I'm actually in the office: a photoshoot (don't ask), 6 bills to prepare (all overdue), a capital reduction petition, case summary for submissions, research on credit letters...yes, you're right...there's no way I can do all that!
Notes from my pupillage, from 21st to 25th June.
D109 (21st June): Be careful, cause word gets around.
D110: "I won't even donate blood to help them!" (Yes, referring to the KLBar's Blood Donation Drive).
D111: "Don't be so cynical Josh!"
D112: Such a drag.
D113: Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or kill.
God help me, I hope I'll survive next week!
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Happy Father's & International Refugee's Day!
This weekend was breathless: a Bible class on Friday and today, song-leading today, a youth meeting yesterday and Adam the Musical at Actor's Studio Lot 10 Rooftop this evening, which was quite an experience. It feels like I've used the weekend well, and there's a sense of satisfaction in that. Yet, there are books waiting to be read, DVDs meant to be watched, and pieces swimming in my head, waiting to be written down. In particular I would like to write a play for Short+Sweet, but finding the time to do so before the deadline may be tricky. Time, we all need more of it.
Anyway, here are notes from my pupillage, 7th to 18th June.
D99 (7th June): It's always good to get out of your box once in a while.
D100: Conspicuously not at Legal Aid today.
D101: Jaya Grocer's at Empire Subang. I am one happy bunny.
D102: Capital Reduction has reduced me to tears.
D103: I don't remember about this being in my employment contract. Oh wait, I don't have a contract.
D104 (14th June): Stamp duty calls!
D105: Legal Aid Duty #3. A bad day that turned out well in the end.
D106: Ethics & Professional Standards Course: what a drag!
D107: Sometimes, all you can expect is apathy.
D108: Q: What, you have no life ah? A: No, I was working for you.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very (late) Happy Father's Day, and Happy Refugee's Day too! I hope you had a great weekend.
Anyway, here are notes from my pupillage, 7th to 18th June.
D99 (7th June): It's always good to get out of your box once in a while.
D100: Conspicuously not at Legal Aid today.
D101: Jaya Grocer's at Empire Subang. I am one happy bunny.
D102: Capital Reduction has reduced me to tears.
D103: I don't remember about this being in my employment contract. Oh wait, I don't have a contract.
D104 (14th June): Stamp duty calls!
D105: Legal Aid Duty #3. A bad day that turned out well in the end.
D106: Ethics & Professional Standards Course: what a drag!
D107: Sometimes, all you can expect is apathy.
D108: Q: What, you have no life ah? A: No, I was working for you.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very (late) Happy Father's Day, and Happy Refugee's Day too! I hope you had a great weekend.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
indicinelive! Episode 2
I watched the first episode of indicinelive! at KLPAC last April 13th and had the time of my life! indicinelive! is a high-energy collection of live short comedy skits presented one after another, and the writing team's fearless and blindingly humourous take on modern Malaysian life sent me laughing till I literally cried; if you've never watched live theatre before, this would be an excellent, light-hearted introduction.
Episode 2 will be playing July 21st - 25th and if the skits are as good as those in Episode 1, then trust me when I say it will be money well spent. Admittedly, I know half the cast/crew/writing team, so this little advert may be seen as a bit of a plug-in, but really, if you don't laugh at the show, come see me and I'll recommend a therapist.
Tickets are already on sale at RM23 flat. You can buy them at KLPAC's box office in Sentul (or call 03 4047 9000), The Actor's Studio Lot 10 Rooftop box office (or call 03 4242 2009/03 4243 2009) or at Axcess Ticketing Booths (Jalan Semangat PJ, One Utama or Alamanda Putrajaya) or at www.klpac.org.
"Real life, fun sized!"
Do yourself/your mum/dad/better half/sibling/BFF/boss/trainer/postman a favour: buy tickets for the show and get a healthy dose of heart-healing, stress-busting laughter. See you there!
Episode 2 will be playing July 21st - 25th and if the skits are as good as those in Episode 1, then trust me when I say it will be money well spent. Admittedly, I know half the cast/crew/writing team, so this little advert may be seen as a bit of a plug-in, but really, if you don't laugh at the show, come see me and I'll recommend a therapist.
Tickets are already on sale at RM23 flat. You can buy them at KLPAC's box office in Sentul (or call 03 4047 9000), The Actor's Studio Lot 10 Rooftop box office (or call 03 4242 2009/03 4243 2009) or at Axcess Ticketing Booths (Jalan Semangat PJ, One Utama or Alamanda Putrajaya) or at www.klpac.org.
"Real life, fun sized!"
Do yourself/your mum/dad/better half/sibling/BFF/boss/trainer/postman a favour: buy tickets for the show and get a healthy dose of heart-healing, stress-busting laughter. See you there!
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Soz
Dear World,
I believe I forgot to wish everyone a Happy Wesak, Happy Gawai Keamatan and erm, Happy Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday...so yeah, sorry about that, been busy.
Take care out there,
Algy
I believe I forgot to wish everyone a Happy Wesak, Happy Gawai Keamatan and erm, Happy Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday...so yeah, sorry about that, been busy.
Take care out there,
Algy
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Take a Look at All the Suffering We Breed
I am re-wired at home now that the spoilt router has been replaced, but work truly has taken much of my time and attention, so blogging has taken a back-seat so to speak.
People know how busy I am; some basically give me the impression that they think I've sold my soul to the devil (sometimes I myself wonder if there's merit to that claim), but the worse thing for me is that the invitations stop coming after a while. If the answer's always "No", why bother right?
Soon my only friends will be lawyers...From the firm I work in. I shudder at the thought...too late! too late! In for a penny, in for a pound.
More notes from my pupillage, 24th May to 4th June.
D91 (24th May): New shoes! Same crap...
D92: Legal Aid Session #1.
D93: "Will your principles and morals feed you?"
D94: Air cond down. Can.not.breathe. Can.not.work.
D95 (31st May): Goodbye Kenwayne!
D96: Legal Aid Session #2. My country is so screwed up.
D97: JID to death.
D98: Birthday celebrations for Emily and Vivian. Yay!
D98: "Everyday you can be tired, but not everyday you can meet up." True dat Daron!
I've done 2 out of my requisite 10 sessions at Tenaganita (every Tuesday), and I've already read and seen enough to conclude that there are some aspects of my country that are truly deplorable. I'm talking about stuff we as Malaysians should be utterly ashamed off, stuff we should shout about everywhere...but no, because we are (choose to be?) ignorant. And even if we cared, the truth is unknown because it is rarely told, and when told, suppressed by those in whose interests it is to keep us ignorant.
We have no qualms highlighting and condemning the evils of others: the past imperialists and colonialists of Britain and Japan, the "Zionist regime" of Israel, the self-serving Americans, the hypocritical West, the tyrants of failed states, etc. etc. etc. Yet in our own backyard, migrant workers and exploited over and over and over again, refugees are whipped, tortured, detained and trafficked, people are being sold as slaves and prostitutes. Yes, by our very own countrymen.
Parts of our country seem to be run by gang lords, criminals, runners, syndicates, agents, middle-men and corrupt politicians who don't want you to know this. It all makes me sick sometimes...
People know how busy I am; some basically give me the impression that they think I've sold my soul to the devil (sometimes I myself wonder if there's merit to that claim), but the worse thing for me is that the invitations stop coming after a while. If the answer's always "No", why bother right?
Soon my only friends will be lawyers...From the firm I work in. I shudder at the thought...too late! too late! In for a penny, in for a pound.
More notes from my pupillage, 24th May to 4th June.
D91 (24th May): New shoes! Same crap...
D92: Legal Aid Session #1.
D93: "Will your principles and morals feed you?"
D94: Air cond down. Can.not.breathe. Can.not.work.
D95 (31st May): Goodbye Kenwayne!
D96: Legal Aid Session #2. My country is so screwed up.
D97: JID to death.
D98: Birthday celebrations for Emily and Vivian. Yay!
D98: "Everyday you can be tired, but not everyday you can meet up." True dat Daron!
I've done 2 out of my requisite 10 sessions at Tenaganita (every Tuesday), and I've already read and seen enough to conclude that there are some aspects of my country that are truly deplorable. I'm talking about stuff we as Malaysians should be utterly ashamed off, stuff we should shout about everywhere...but no, because we are (choose to be?) ignorant. And even if we cared, the truth is unknown because it is rarely told, and when told, suppressed by those in whose interests it is to keep us ignorant.
We have no qualms highlighting and condemning the evils of others: the past imperialists and colonialists of Britain and Japan, the "Zionist regime" of Israel, the self-serving Americans, the hypocritical West, the tyrants of failed states, etc. etc. etc. Yet in our own backyard, migrant workers and exploited over and over and over again, refugees are whipped, tortured, detained and trafficked, people are being sold as slaves and prostitutes. Yes, by our very own countrymen.
Parts of our country seem to be run by gang lords, criminals, runners, syndicates, agents, middle-men and corrupt politicians who don't want you to know this. It all makes me sick sometimes...
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
It's the Terror of Knowing What the World Is About
Sorry I've not posted often; been busy and the router at home has gone kaput. Anyway, here are my daily pupillage notes, from 10th to 21st May.
D81 (10th May): Dreams can turn into nightmares, and nightmares into dreams.
D82: "If you're moving towards peace, you're moving away from money. If you're moving towards money, you're moving away from peace."
D83: Going to the High Court nearby is almost like working from home!
D84: Goodbye Gordon! Hello David! And, err...Nick I suppose.
D85: All bets off. Back to war.
D86 (17th May): The audacity of some lawyers!
D87: Tenaganita Legal Aid Training Day 1. (I'm missing a trial I've prepared months for and it's raining buckets!).
D88: Day 2 of Legal Aid Training. Daniel Lo says, "If you always fight for truth and justice, you will never lose a case".
D89: Friends make my world go round.
D90: I was fortunate enough to hear Y.A. Dato' Azhar's landmark decision on Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal's case. I'd never guess the "Law, Literature & Art" course I took at uni would come to life so soon!
P.S. In case you haven't notice yet, all my posts viz. pupillage are titled with lines from Queen songs.
D81 (10th May): Dreams can turn into nightmares, and nightmares into dreams.
D82: "If you're moving towards peace, you're moving away from money. If you're moving towards money, you're moving away from peace."
D83: Going to the High Court nearby is almost like working from home!
D84: Goodbye Gordon! Hello David! And, err...Nick I suppose.
D85: All bets off. Back to war.
D86 (17th May): The audacity of some lawyers!
D87: Tenaganita Legal Aid Training Day 1. (I'm missing a trial I've prepared months for and it's raining buckets!).
D88: Day 2 of Legal Aid Training. Daniel Lo says, "If you always fight for truth and justice, you will never lose a case".
D89: Friends make my world go round.
D90: I was fortunate enough to hear Y.A. Dato' Azhar's landmark decision on Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal's case. I'd never guess the "Law, Literature & Art" course I took at uni would come to life so soon!
P.S. In case you haven't notice yet, all my posts viz. pupillage are titled with lines from Queen songs.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Insanity Laughs Under Pressure We're Cracking
D71 (26th April) : "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end, We'd sing and dance forever and a day."
D72: The highlight of my day: Old Town French Toast. Sad, no?
D73: I'm hungry tonight, but have no appetite to eat.
D74: People may seem unassuming, but never assume that they are.
D75: Fact: all lawyers are sadomasochistic.
D76 (3rd May): It's hard to think of others when you're all alone.
D77: Maps have traps. Both figuratively and literally.
D78: Boss says, "Don't panic!"
D79: Why is it that when I'm free, everyone ignores me, but when I'm dying from the workload, I get loads of invites?! Why?
D80: What doesn't kill you only makes you balder.
D80A (Sat 8th May): Now I know why they bolt the windows: so no one can attempt suicide.
D80B (Sun 9th): No words.
Last week was a nightmare. I went home past midnight 4 out of the 5 weeknights, and over the weekend I went to the office for about 8 hours on both days, all this in preparation for an upcoming trial which will not even proceed due to settlement.
At one point I was swear delirious: it was so un-funny that it became funny and I laughed to myself in the office like a madman for half a minute. No kidding.
To makes matters worst I got lost and was therefore late for an event, missed Mother's Day dinner tonight and couldn't make it for a friend's welcome-home-cum-birthday party.
But through it all, I surprised myself—I survived (with help from above), and I realise I'm a lot stronger than I thought.
On a separate note, the 15-year old who was fatally shot by the police recently is my sister's junior and studied at my alma mater. Students there are of course reeling from the tragedy.
The fact that it happened shocked me, the fact that it happened 2 minutes away from my house makes me shudder, and the fact that the police are not just unwilling to apologise but are implicating the innocent victim makes me want to vomit. Why can't any public body take some responsibility in this country instead of trying to cover things up and play the blame game?
D72: The highlight of my day: Old Town French Toast. Sad, no?
D73: I'm hungry tonight, but have no appetite to eat.
D74: People may seem unassuming, but never assume that they are.
D75: Fact: all lawyers are sadomasochistic.
D76 (3rd May): It's hard to think of others when you're all alone.
D77: Maps have traps. Both figuratively and literally.
D78: Boss says, "Don't panic!"
D79: Why is it that when I'm free, everyone ignores me, but when I'm dying from the workload, I get loads of invites?! Why?
D80: What doesn't kill you only makes you balder.
D80A (Sat 8th May): Now I know why they bolt the windows: so no one can attempt suicide.
D80B (Sun 9th): No words.
Last week was a nightmare. I went home past midnight 4 out of the 5 weeknights, and over the weekend I went to the office for about 8 hours on both days, all this in preparation for an upcoming trial which will not even proceed due to settlement.
At one point I was swear delirious: it was so un-funny that it became funny and I laughed to myself in the office like a madman for half a minute. No kidding.
To makes matters worst I got lost and was therefore late for an event, missed Mother's Day dinner tonight and couldn't make it for a friend's welcome-home-cum-birthday party.
But through it all, I surprised myself—I survived (with help from above), and I realise I'm a lot stronger than I thought.
On a separate note, the 15-year old who was fatally shot by the police recently is my sister's junior and studied at my alma mater. Students there are of course reeling from the tragedy.
The fact that it happened shocked me, the fact that it happened 2 minutes away from my house makes me shudder, and the fact that the police are not just unwilling to apologise but are implicating the innocent victim makes me want to vomit. Why can't any public body take some responsibility in this country instead of trying to cover things up and play the blame game?
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