One year today, The Storyteller left us. But her stories continue to live in our hearts. We miss you every day, Yasmin Ahmad. Al-Fatihah.
TSB in Bolehland
I don't Tri. I do
One year today, The Storyteller left us. But her stories continue to live in our hearts. We miss you every day, Yasmin Ahmad. Al-Fatihah.
The throne where Papa sat on at his best friend’s kebun. It has his name written all over it. It has been a month since he left us all. We’re reminded constantly that a man’s worth is measured by his true friendship, goodwill & generosity much more than his religious deeds. We miss you every single day, Pop. Al-Fatihah.
It’s been nearly 4 weeks since you left us. It’s your 64th birthday today.
Happy birthday, Pop.
So another Football World Cup came to an end. Spain edged Holland 1-0 to be crowned a new nation to lift the World Cup trophy. Spain was the favourite to win it too (with or without Paul the Octopus’ revelation) due to their individual playing skills and overall tactical abilities, apparently. Much can be said about Holland as well but they also possess the skills bruise their opponents. That kick in the chest made Cantona’s Kung-Fu kick looks juvenile. A red card was inevitable and had to be flashed at some point. At least that was what I saw while trying to keep myself awake for the match. I confessed, I missed Iniesta’s winning goal but bless you Astro, I was able to watch the highlight of it. Astro also claimed that they were the first in Asia to have a 3D broadcast of the final match. Intriguing indeed. You only need to splurge on a Samsung LED 3D TV that costs RM17,000 that comes with 2 pairs of 3D glasses. If you have 10 people, you take turns to wear them?
Back to the World Cup. I have been watching this World Cup mostly from my Samsung CRT Flat Screen TV which works perfectly well on a non-HD transmission signal. Sure, I was mesmerized by the sweat droplets and face pore of the footballers on HD TV/Astro b.yond at the mamak shop near my house. As mind blowing as it is, I can’t find a real justification to buy a HD TV even though they are competitively affordable these days. I don’t really watch the telly anyway. The wife does. She’s most welcomed to buy a HD TV to enhance her experience if she wants. I’ll probably get a PS3 to complement it.
Sorry. Sidetracked again. So yeah. The World Cup. I remembered watching the first tournament kick-off match. Bafana Bafana vs. Mexico over a damn good Nasi Dagang at this neo-kopitiam in Merchant Square. There was a couple of 32 inch HD TV’s without Astro b.yond so that didn’t really jive but still watchable. Good goal from South Africa but they Mexico equalized through a good long pass from a veteran sub. He had only came in for 5 minutes but he was sweating like he was playing full time. I went home after that and stayed up for France’s uneventful match. I should have slept instead. I supported France quietly. Since Zidane’s retirement and the brilliant coaching of Domenech, France has been degraded from classy to banal. Anelka shouldn’t have been fielded. He can only play in Chelsea and with alongside Drogba. I pretty much expected that France would flop in this World Cup.
Throughout several days of the tournament, I managed to catch several games. South Korea vs. Greece caught my attention. The Koreans were fearless, skilled and organized. Along with Japan they both deservingly made it to the knock-out stage. Whenever I watch them play, I can’t help but to compare it to our own national team. Actually, there’s not much to compare. But you know what I mean. I was also eager each time England played and see how they would chart their way to win the cup. They said it was their last chance to win it. I’m not sure what they meant by that because they say that every 4 years since 1966. I don’t understand why most Malaysians support England too. Maybe the EPL is widely watched here?Maybe most of us studied or are studying in England? Sure. They do have quality players like Rooney who could have fooled us as a Manchester United striker by his inability to score. Gerard who couldn’t get his team together as a captain. Lampard whose photo is still shown on Maxis’ billboard on Federal Highway. England was like a boy band. Only 1 or 2 of them can sing but the rest just makes up the numbers. I was extremely annoyed at how they got to the 2nd round but then jumped in joy at how Germany whooped their arses 4-0. For the record, I also think the England Rugby Team is a boy band. They won the World Cup only by virtue of Wilkinson’s drop goals.
Actually most Malaysians support the big boys. Brazil who really doesn’t live up to the hype since losing to France is 98. Italy only had 10% of the players that won the last World Cup in their current lineup. Even so, to see them losing to Slovakia was a joy to witness. Maradona came back to the world cup 30 pounds heavier hoping to lift the cup for the second time. His sublime ball tricks from the sidelines were a treat to us. While Argentina has possibly the most lethal attacking force of all the teams, they had the shittiest of defenders. I feel for Messi and how his talent was wasted. Including by appearing in Astro’s TV promo with Lampard. Portugal despite their 7-0 trashing of North Korea was all really about the diva called Christiano Ronaldo. Germany was by far the most impressive in my opinion. Then again they had been consistently impressive as a team at the recent World Cups. New and young German stars are born at each tournament and their ability to work together with the older players remain to be emulated by the rest. Uruguay was the surprise, emerging as the best from South America. They also played well as a team that had almost equal abilities and experience.
That is probably the key to winning the World Cup, in my opinion. The team has to be made of up of mostly equal playing abilities. It’s how you cohesively work together as a single unit for the duration of the tournament. I thoroughly enjoyed the display of the Underdogs in this World Cup. Slovakia, Slovenia, North Korea, USA and New Zealand who is the only team to be unbeaten in their campaign. Their goalkeeper was a force to be reckoned with and he should be going places soon. These are the elements that makes this World Cup such a ‘memorable’ one. There might be a drought of goals in this tournament but as Spain showed it, you don’t need to score 7-0 to win the World Cup.
More to look forward to, I guess. Euro 2012 will be in Poland and Ukraine. Yes. But first, I’m getting ready for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next year. I also would hope that these world cups and euros would be a platform for brands to showcase their new marketing strategies.
And I was wondering how to define a smartphone;
It’s been a little over a week since Papa left us. Not a day that goes by without him in our thoughts and prayers. Hardly a day passes through without us reminiscing wonderful stories about him.
One of Papa’s very close friends shared with us how they took a day road trip to Taiping, 2 weeks before his passing. They drove through the monumental Taiping Lake Garden which had always been special to him. Papa told his friend, this was the place where he used to go out on dates with Mama in the old days. None of us knew about this trip. Not until after the day he was laid to rest.
It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Not a second we do not love or miss you. Rest well Papa. Al-Fatihah.
Soulmates
In one of his best elements.
The day before his surgery with his beloved grandchildren.
It would be one of his last photos with the family.
