Hafeez’s Friends

Missing the Olympics this year is not my spot of bother.

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:04:42 +0800

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-5/focus.html

So Brunei didn't get to compete in the Olympics. My opinion, though harsh as it may seem, is:

"so what?"

We missed a deadline, we don't enter. Simple as that. Let it be a lesson for us, Bruneians, that time is gold. In this case, Gold is our reputation - and we have just lost a large amount of that gold. At least, in that way our country could develop a little faster. People would understand better the concept of time management - and punctuality. You simply can't just ask for re-entry when it is clear that you are late. It was plainly obvious that the Olympics were an international affair - we can't simply just put punctuality aside. And we wonder why it has taken us years to set up a decent broadband service in our country...

Not that I'm a prime example for being punctual - but it does stress me a big deal when I am late. And it irritates me a lot at functions when people come late anyway, after huffing and puffing trying to catch a bus to the function thinking you would be dead if you were even under 5 minutes late. Isn't it high time we denounce late to be a fashion statement? It's been going on for decades!

My physics teacher in high school believed that punctuality is the best policy. If we are late for her class, she would lock the door. Full stop. No matter where you were before the start of the class, even if you were across the far side of the building, you would have to literally run towards her class before it it too late. However, I would often feel sorry for the students, who, at the time had leg injuries - it is not fair on them.

And speaking of injuries- it may be true that one of the would-have-been competitors sustained an injury from a past tournament, hence resulting in disapproval from the Ministry. However, the people in charge of registration should have communicated the matter to the said participant as well as the Olympics officials. Rumours that Brunei will no longer be allowed to participate in any international event, as a result of this, would not have been heard of if the above problem was simply communicated to the relevant people. It cannot be helped if the said person is unfit to participate- so why not just tell them the problem in the first place? And how about the other competitor? Did anybody ever consider his/her feelings?

It is never nice to give people high hopes before knowing that they will be given what they are hoping for. This is a grand example of what people call the 'janji melayu'*. I was hoping that that idiom would fade over time, and that we'll be able to prove 'janji melayu' is not very Melayu anymore. But boy was I wrong!
If whatever is promised cannot be met, then the person giving the promise should at least tell the person involved - especially before they started training hard for the event. Talk about wasting people's time...

But despite these disagreements, I still don't think it's a big deal that Brunei is expelled from the Olympics anyway. I would rather not join an event in which hundreds of thousands of people have to suddenly become homeless (without warning and compensation) because of it (click here for the story). That may be a small percentage of the population of China, but nevertheless, it's almost as big as, if not bigger, than the population of Brunei!

The Olympics stadium is this huge... (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-5/focus.html)

I am unsure whether the said expulsion is a permanent decision but if it is so, then our country wouldn't have to host the Olympics in the future, and we wouldn't have to evacuate from our homes to make way for a new stadium. If officials had been generous (which I think they will be) and we were not forced do so, we'd have to build the stadium anyway, because our current stadium, please excuse me, might not be big enough to hold such an event (we need more seats). Where are we going to build such a stadium? In our Temburong reserves?? No way!! The said event may last years to set up and finish, but growing a rainforest... could take decades, no, centuries... I'd rather refuse to go to a party than lose my most treasured possession.

Anyway, I think that's all I'd like to post for now. The above is my opinion only, and it is not in any way written (typed) to offend anyone. Let us see the bigger picture here and learn from what has happened. It may be fate that we didn't get to join the Olympics after all.

*janji melayu= Malay Promise

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Stop pointing your fingers at people.

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:32:47 +0800

If you did something wrong, admit it. Nobody likes a person who blames others for their own faults.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Don't expect everyone to like the same things you do.

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:39:52 +0800

And if they don't, it doesn't mean they're stupid. Or missing out.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Sometimes you have to lose some to win some.

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:52:18 +0800

And you wonder why you're not getting what you expect.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Stress week.

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:45:05 +0800

I have been walking up and down Mackintosh Place lately to help Ari clean the place up. She did most of the cleaning though; and despite spending days on end tidying the place the guy who came to inspect the place called the place 'terribly messy'. ARGH! I am so annoyed with that.
On another note, I was told the scholarship results for continuing students will be announced next week. And I'm still here in the UK... I am contemplating on whether or not I should go home... If I get it and I am not there, will they take it back? But if I do return to Brunei and I don't get it... I will have regretted not staying here for longer... because I love this place!

On yet another different note, I took the 'Do you have a Type A personality test' and here is the result:

You Have A Type A Personality

You are hyper, energetic, and always on the mood

You tend to succeed at everything you attempt

And if you don't succeed at first, you quickly climb your way to the top!

You could be called a workaholic, but you also make time for fun

As long as it's high energy and competitive, you're interested

You have the perfect personality for business and athletic success

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Why am I not surprised??

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Happy Birthday Darling!

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:34 +0800

I love you so much! Hehehe...

My world is empty without you
I know so because you have filled my life with happiness.

Beautiful picture of us together

Actually, I kind of have to go see you now, so... see you hun!

love,
JanJan-chan

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I'm a winner!

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 04:53:53 +0800

Went to the gym again today after taking a long walk down Crwys road to my old house at Mackintosh Place to get my dear old bike, umm... I forgot what I named her?
I didn't get much for the bike but I really meant to get rid of it so GBP 20 isn't that bad I suppose. She was getting rusty and out of shape anyway. I had wanted to help Ari clean the house but unfortunately she was not around; and I really didn't know where to start because she had not moved her things yet. Best to leave it after she has, I thought.
I had a meal at Benny's; then took a walk down Albany road only to find that most of the shops I wanted to browse through were closed.
So I went to the gym.

There was a new class called 'Challenge Workout'; where we tried out a lot of balancing on the gym ball. No, nothing acrobatic here. It'd be pretty cool if that were the case, only if I were able to do those things as well. The trainer demonstrated the toning moves which looked easy but when you're actually on the ball, it becomes a whole different story.

Anyway, after the workout I saw a poster with my name on it:

I'm on top three!

Pretty good huh?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

If I were a chicken...

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:36:37 +0800

Nando's would so be after me! *inside joke*

Tummy grumbling again. And it's strange that I'm suddenly longing for Nando's chicken. It has been a while since I've eaten there, though. Yummy... Ah well, at least Jay's cooking tonight- at least dinner is going to be good, he is a very good chef after all.

Notice that my posts have been random lately? Well, I hate to admit it but I'm running out of ideas. Maybe I need to travel more. But that would been I'd need to spend extra money- which I don't have. Damn it. Ah well, as long as I have my dear boyfriend, I won't need much. I've just about saved enough cash for living expenses- and my new house is always stocked with food, which my new housemates always want me to finish. Hehe!

I should be worried, though; about being a piggie again. But I'm being optimistic here, since I've got a bike, my new house has a safe and good sidepath for brisk-walking, and oh, a very supportive boyfriend! Wee-hee!

- Do I sound hyper or what?
No, it's not tomatoes; please be relieved. It's just kit-kat bar rush. No biggie!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Blogthings: The Quick and Dirty Career Test Result...

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:17:02 +0800

Your Career Personality: Independent, Down-to-Earth, and Hard Working

Your Ideal Careers:

Business executive

Computer programmer

Financial analyst

Geologist

Hedge fund manager

Lawyer

Pharmacist

Real estate agent

Stockbroker

Technical writer

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

Damn... That's everything I don't want to be... Could I possibly be changing course?

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Heat and Endorphins

nobody@vox.com(Jannah) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:21:19 +0800

I'm getting back to the habit of working out at the gym. However, this heat is making me perform less actively than usual. I get tired easily. But as soon as I reach home, I feel like I want to exercise again. Must be the confidence in me saying that I can actually do it.

I've got to be realistic though, I am not going to be a size 10 by the end of the fortnight. But I must try to at least maintain my shape now. I'm rather happy with my current figure, I just need to lose just a little bit more inches, or tone up. And I hope I don't come back to Brunei looking like the way I did last summer:

What the hell?!?

Yeah... tragic huh? You may wonder why I'd want to keep such a hideous photograph. Well... I just want to remind myself that looking and feeling good is important. The chubby look is not for me- and I really should learn to hide a bad haircut next time I do get one - not that I'm hoping for it. And even if I were plump, I should at least wear something more flattering!

Ah well... With Jay on my side, I will be challenged to working out harder. Face it, Jann- you've got a lot of competition... Gotta look extra sexy for your man... ;)

Read and post comments | Send to a friend