You won't see this in the papers so I'm doing my own "report". Everyone can see a 60-storey building, but one can build a sewer system for 4 years and no-one knows what you've done. It's also a subject that most people aren't too interested in. They want to flush their loo and forget about it!
On Tuesday 30 November 2007, after 46 months of toiling, Shimizu-Road Builder-Hitachi Plant JV began diverting a significant amount of KL's sewage into new pipelines that carry it to a new Treatment Plant in Pantai Dalam.
The main benefit of the diversion is that the pollution of the Klang River, from sewage flowing out of existing sewer pipes and manholes, will be greatly reduced. Also, newly-laid trunk sewers along the Federal Highway, Jalan Klang Lama and Jalan Puchong will provide a modern, durable system of sewer pipes to cater for expected future development.
Yes indeed folks, we've commissioned 2 out of 3 major connections this week. One more to go next week, then some reinstatement and bits n pieces that'll likely drag on until January '08, then I'll be on my knees begging the Project Director to get me off this God-forsaken project and onto something new (but preferably in KL!).
Friday, November 02, 2007
Etape du Tour 2008
I won't make it next year, but one year soon I must do Etape du Tour. This is next years route....
165km including the Tourmalet via La Mongie(17km @ 7.5%) and Hautacam (14km @ 7.2%) - in the stunning French Alps, in summer....
The big boys will do that route 6 days later.
165km including the Tourmalet via La Mongie(17km @ 7.5%) and Hautacam (14km @ 7.2%) - in the stunning French Alps, in summer....
The big boys will do that route 6 days later.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Once Upon A Time...
I managed to dig out a few old snaps when I was at Mum's place recently...
c1985, age 14, ready to cycle about 2km to Samuel Whitbread School on a decent looking summer day, astride my sturdy Raleigh Grifter, in the days before I converted to 700c wheels. With two tennis raquets tucked in my Midland Bank bag...
Next, c1987, age 16, another nice day (early Winter), with little bruv Max before setting off for a few days cycling in the Cotswolds, on my much-missed* Carlton Carrera bike. With clips and straps, a well-loved silver Isostar water-bottle, soft-soled Reebok trainers and mudguards squeezed onto a racing frame. I loved that bike. Paid for with a year of saved paper round money, it had a beautiful 60cm Reynolds 531c frame with chromed forks, and a Shimano 105 groupset. Downtube shifters and exposed brake-cables were the order of the day back then...
c1985, age 14, ready to cycle about 2km to Samuel Whitbread School on a decent looking summer day, astride my sturdy Raleigh Grifter, in the days before I converted to 700c wheels. With two tennis raquets tucked in my Midland Bank bag...
Finally, c1988, with pal Ben on his slightly-too-big-for-him 61cm Raleigh Road-Ace, ready to leave Stranraer for a 4-day ride across the South of Scotland and down into the Lake District.
This was an absolutely fantastic ride that I'll never forget. I set off, with black woolly jumper under my Fagor jersey, knitted track mitts, 2 full rear panniers (I was the mule for the two of us), new brake levers, Avocet computer, a slightly improved hair style and a selection of scars on my left leg from a crash a few days before (I went off the road going too fast down a steep winding hill near Stranraer, did an endo over a stone wall and ended up upside-down in a bush with by bike on top of me and my feet still clipped in). The adrenalin rush was great!...
This was an absolutely fantastic ride that I'll never forget. I set off, with black woolly jumper under my Fagor jersey, knitted track mitts, 2 full rear panniers (I was the mule for the two of us), new brake levers, Avocet computer, a slightly improved hair style and a selection of scars on my left leg from a crash a few days before (I went off the road going too fast down a steep winding hill near Stranraer, did an endo over a stone wall and ended up upside-down in a bush with by bike on top of me and my feet still clipped in). The adrenalin rush was great!...
Before this ride I spent hours in my bedroom listening to ELO and closely analysing a huge Ordnance Survey map of the Lakes, to formulate a route that would cover all the main Passes in the area. I was looking to ride along roads with black arrows on them (indicating grades steeper than 1:10 or 10%).
Day 1 - Stranraer to Castle Douglas
Day 2 - Castle Douglas to Carlisle
Day 3 - Carlisle to N Lakes to Helvellyn YHA
Day 4 - Helvellyn YHA to S Lakes to Oxenholme
On Days 3 and 4 we conquered the ridiculously steep Hardknott, Honister and Kirkstone Passes. We might have done Wrynose or Whinlatter too. We did about 120-130km a day and I don't remember struggling up the hills...unlike these days...although I am more than double the age I was then!
And we played nomination Whist on the train all the way home!
*Stolen from outside Leeds Uni Civil Engineering Dept. in 1991-ish. I left it unlocked as I was rushing to the start of a lecture and decided to take the risk - I lost!
Day 1 - Stranraer to Castle Douglas
Day 2 - Castle Douglas to Carlisle
Day 3 - Carlisle to N Lakes to Helvellyn YHA
Day 4 - Helvellyn YHA to S Lakes to Oxenholme
On Days 3 and 4 we conquered the ridiculously steep Hardknott, Honister and Kirkstone Passes. We might have done Wrynose or Whinlatter too. We did about 120-130km a day and I don't remember struggling up the hills...unlike these days...although I am more than double the age I was then!
And we played nomination Whist on the train all the way home!
*Stolen from outside Leeds Uni Civil Engineering Dept. in 1991-ish. I left it unlocked as I was rushing to the start of a lecture and decided to take the risk - I lost!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Fergie or Halle?
You can tell from this post that I'm not concentrating on training enough...
Simon and I recently exchanged vitally important comments regarding Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas and Halle Berry. So I've opened a poll (look right).
The simple question is - Fergie or Halle?
Please vote (in the poll on the right!) If Fergie wins, I'll buy Simon a pint.
The only rule is - one vote per person, and Simon & I can't vote.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Swim Lesson #15
24/10/07
A deliberately shorter than usual 500m warm-up, to save my poor weak arms for the main set.
Main Set
100m breaststroke cool-down then stretching by the pool.
TOTAL 2,300m
A much better performance than the previous week. Need to stretch arm/shoulder muscles more often.
A deliberately shorter than usual 500m warm-up, to save my poor weak arms for the main set.
Main Set
- 4 x 100m on 2:50
- 4 x 100m on 2:45
- 4 x 100m on 2:40
- 4 x 100m on 2:35
- 1 x 100m on 2:30
100m breaststroke cool-down then stretching by the pool.
TOTAL 2,300m
A much better performance than the previous week. Need to stretch arm/shoulder muscles more often.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Taking The Piss
So......now even making a light-hearted comment about a common characteristic of a particular race is "racist".
Halle Berry (see previous post) has caused a big fuss by her "anti-Semitic" remark during an interview that a digitally altered photo of her with a big nose makes her look like "her Jewish cousin".
The irony is that her comment was inspired by a Jewish colleague of hers that made an almost identical comment backstage before Halle went on air!
If I was Jewish I'd like to think I'd be embarrassed by the fuss being caused. God help us all of taking the piss out of someone is suddenly racist and there's an international outcry.
Halle Berry (see previous post) has caused a big fuss by her "anti-Semitic" remark during an interview that a digitally altered photo of her with a big nose makes her look like "her Jewish cousin".
The irony is that her comment was inspired by a Jewish colleague of hers that made an almost identical comment backstage before Halle went on air!
If I was Jewish I'd like to think I'd be embarrassed by the fuss being caused. God help us all of taking the piss out of someone is suddenly racist and there's an international outcry.
Friday, October 26, 2007
The Wonder Of Nature
If I was asked to do a presentation on Wonders of Nature, this would be in it...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
2008 Here We Come
I've signed up for my first race of 2008 - the Pacesetters GE 30km in January.
This year's event was my first run over 15km (I did the 20k) and so 2008 will be my first time at the full distance of 30km. I then plan to do my first marathon in KL a couple of months later.
I've also re-jigged my weekly training schedule to squeeze in more hours and km's by making the most of the wasted time spent sitting in some kind of vehicle. So, with the help of Jackie and a neighbour to take the boys to school in the mornings, I'll be able to run to/from work 3 times a week instead of once...thats 42km! ...and I hardly eat into any "family" time. Some good planning is required though!
I've also started cycling to and from my weekly Tuesday night ride to give myself a 57km ride instead of a measly 26km. Mind you Jalan Tun Razak at 7.30pm is a bit hair-raising!
This year's event was my first run over 15km (I did the 20k) and so 2008 will be my first time at the full distance of 30km. I then plan to do my first marathon in KL a couple of months later.
I've also re-jigged my weekly training schedule to squeeze in more hours and km's by making the most of the wasted time spent sitting in some kind of vehicle. So, with the help of Jackie and a neighbour to take the boys to school in the mornings, I'll be able to run to/from work 3 times a week instead of once...thats 42km! ...and I hardly eat into any "family" time. Some good planning is required though!
I've also started cycling to and from my weekly Tuesday night ride to give myself a 57km ride instead of a measly 26km. Mind you Jalan Tun Razak at 7.30pm is a bit hair-raising!
The Big Day
Here's a couple of snaps of my little Sis' big day on 6th October, at Islington Town Hall...
That's weird - I'm sure Lucas was with us all the way up the stairs - so where is he?
Presenting...Mrs & Mrs Newbold!
That's weird - I'm sure Lucas was with us all the way up the stairs - so where is he?
Presenting...Mrs & Mrs Newbold!Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Highs and Lows
HIGH - I ran 14.2km from work to home on Friday night. Although it took me 8 mins longer than before, it was my first run over 10 minutes for 7 weeks so I was happy I had the will power to do it. I ran really slowly but still needed to stop a couple of times for a total of about 5 mins. IN the last 30mins I was pretty tired and dehydrated. Much more fatigued than before my break. I plan to do that twice a week.
LOW - I woke up too late on Saturday to ride to work. My plan now is to use this short ride to do some strength training. Lucky this week on my 07/08 Training Plan is still "preparation" (mental and physical!).
LOW - Liverpool snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
LOW - England lost the rugby. Its difficult when the ref and the video ref are playing for the other team.
HIGH - went to the MotoGP on Sunday. The 250cc race was great, with 4 riders forming a pack towards the end. I correctly predicted that one of them would crash about 1 minute in advance! Lorenzo was crowned World Champ and he put on gold boxing gloves and a cape. The MotoGP race wasn't a great one but it's quite a thrill when they all start together - it is as if God is tearing the air apart.
HIGH - no jam on the way back!
LOW - I woke up late and missed the start of the F1. Sounds like Hammo messed up at the start.
LOW - Spurs were hammered by the Geordies last night. What a bunch of LOSERS!!!!!!!!!
LOW - I woke up too late on Saturday to ride to work. My plan now is to use this short ride to do some strength training. Lucky this week on my 07/08 Training Plan is still "preparation" (mental and physical!).
LOW - Liverpool snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
LOW - England lost the rugby. Its difficult when the ref and the video ref are playing for the other team.
HIGH - went to the MotoGP on Sunday. The 250cc race was great, with 4 riders forming a pack towards the end. I correctly predicted that one of them would crash about 1 minute in advance! Lorenzo was crowned World Champ and he put on gold boxing gloves and a cape. The MotoGP race wasn't a great one but it's quite a thrill when they all start together - it is as if God is tearing the air apart.
HIGH - no jam on the way back!
LOW - I woke up late and missed the start of the F1. Sounds like Hammo messed up at the start.
LOW - Spurs were hammered by the Geordies last night. What a bunch of LOSERS!!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Showtime
These are two of my fave films...as recommended to my Sis when in London recently. If you've been in Malaysia for the last 2 years you might have missed these. V for Vendetta was shown but wasn't advertised much, and Sideways wasn't shown I think.
In Sideways the acting is so good you won't think they're acting...
V for Vendetta is based on comics, and is by the Wasckckckckowski Bros. (Matrix guys). Portman gets her hair shaved and does a reasonable English accent...
In Sideways the acting is so good you won't think they're acting...
V for Vendetta is based on comics, and is by the Wasckckckckowski Bros. (Matrix guys). Portman gets her hair shaved and does a reasonable English accent...
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Amazing Race Asia 3
Dear General Public, In order to avoid wasting our own valuable time, and that of thousands of applicants, we have decided that from now on only the following persons should apply to be on any of our shows. This also applies to Fear Factor and all other "reality" shows:
Yours sincerely
Itsallabout Sexreally
CEO, "REALITY" TV Shows Inc.
Marc & Rovilson - both TV hosts!...and one of them is also a model!
Aurelia (L) is a model!
Jurgen & Horst here just missed out!
- Models
- Actors / Actresses
- VJ's
- Fitness Instructors / Personal Trainers
- Singers
- CEO's / Senior Management of a company involved in Leisure / Entertainment / Media / "Fashionable" Industries such as I.T.
Yours sincerely
Itsallabout Sexreally
CEO, "REALITY" TV Shows Inc.
Marc & Rovilson - both TV hosts!...and one of them is also a model!
Aurelia (L) is a model!
Jurgen & Horst here just missed out!On The Other Hand...
When ranting and raving about certain things I always think that I should have something positive to say, so here goes...
The Malaysian Polis get a bit of a hard time from the public and the press most of the time but I must confess that my experience of lodging a police report at the Balai Polis Trafik in KL the other day was not bad at all. Apart from not knowing what to do to start with, once I'd found out it was pretty plain-sailing, and the 4 officers I dealt with were perfectly pleasant.
So...kudos to PDRM!
The Malaysian Polis get a bit of a hard time from the public and the press most of the time but I must confess that my experience of lodging a police report at the Balai Polis Trafik in KL the other day was not bad at all. Apart from not knowing what to do to start with, once I'd found out it was pretty plain-sailing, and the 4 officers I dealt with were perfectly pleasant.
So...kudos to PDRM!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hugh Laurie
26 hours on a Jumbo recently afforded me the opportunity to finally get a glimpse of Hugh Laurie doing an American accent in "House". I'm a great fan of Laurie (A Bit Of Fry & Laurie, Jeeves & Wooster and especially Blackadder) and it's always intriguing to see British actors leading American series.
...and I wasn't disappointed. I managed to watch about 6 episodes and they were pretty good, although they all follow an almost identical format. I can see why he's won acting awards for it.
I wonder how many people who watch House are aware of Laurie's acting in Blackadder 3 and 4. Here's a clip from Blackadder 3 from 1987 - wow! - thats 20 years ago!. You will notice Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) in there too. Life would be much less bearable without Blackadder, a truly classic British comedy.
Three cheers to Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnery, Miranda Richardson, Rowan Atkinson, Miriam Margoyles, Rik Mayall, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Helen Atkinson Wood, Tony Robinson!
...and I wasn't disappointed. I managed to watch about 6 episodes and they were pretty good, although they all follow an almost identical format. I can see why he's won acting awards for it.I wonder how many people who watch House are aware of Laurie's acting in Blackadder 3 and 4. Here's a clip from Blackadder 3 from 1987 - wow! - thats 20 years ago!. You will notice Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) in there too. Life would be much less bearable without Blackadder, a truly classic British comedy.
Three cheers to Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnery, Miranda Richardson, Rowan Atkinson, Miriam Margoyles, Rik Mayall, Ben Elton, Richard Curtis, Helen Atkinson Wood, Tony Robinson!
Gore
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of attending Universiti Hospital Emergency unit and the Balai Polis Trafik in KL, due to a daydreaming helmetless motorcyclist sliding into the front of my car in the morning.
At both locations I was truly delighted to be faced with numerous vivid and beautifully prepared boards displaying a variety of images of horrifically injured motorists, mostly dead ones. I am sure that the young kids looking at the photos enjoyed them as much as me.
I'd like to know what the purpose of these displays is. Are the families of the people in the photos asked for permission? I doubt it.
The evening before I was asked if I would like to look at photos of Nurin's post-mortem on someone's mobile phone. I declined the kind offer.
As I write I recall the numerous emails that my previous secretary used to send me containing graphic photos of people eaten by crocs, or people who's arm had been chewed up by some industrial machinery.
Then there's the quite literally never-ending stream of horror/ghost movies at the cinemas and on TV. I have complained to Astro about previews of horror movies being shown at all times of day and on almost any type of channel. Cinemas also show gory trailers. Once there was even a prop in the KLCC cinema lobby where there was a bloodied baby in a cot. If you approached it, it would suddenly pop up and frighten you.
I am no psychologist, and I grew up in the UK where we are fairly well protected from gory images (The BBC rarely shows anything remotely unpleasant and the papers never do), but I really can't understand the purpose of displaying gory images - will it encourage people to drive more safely? I am also puzzled by what seems to be an almost childish fascination with death, to the point of prying on others misfortunes for some kind of kick. I really cannot comprehend what goes on in the mind of an adult who chooses to keep photos of the post-mortem of an 8-year old girl on their phone.
I also don't like young kids being exposed to it. Lucas was petrified for weeks after watching a DVD, that I believe showed a beheading, at a friends house. Another 5-year old friend of his has a folder of XBOX games including lots of graphic and violent games.
Oh well, that's my rant for the day. C ya!
At both locations I was truly delighted to be faced with numerous vivid and beautifully prepared boards displaying a variety of images of horrifically injured motorists, mostly dead ones. I am sure that the young kids looking at the photos enjoyed them as much as me.
I'd like to know what the purpose of these displays is. Are the families of the people in the photos asked for permission? I doubt it.
The evening before I was asked if I would like to look at photos of Nurin's post-mortem on someone's mobile phone. I declined the kind offer.
As I write I recall the numerous emails that my previous secretary used to send me containing graphic photos of people eaten by crocs, or people who's arm had been chewed up by some industrial machinery.
Then there's the quite literally never-ending stream of horror/ghost movies at the cinemas and on TV. I have complained to Astro about previews of horror movies being shown at all times of day and on almost any type of channel. Cinemas also show gory trailers. Once there was even a prop in the KLCC cinema lobby where there was a bloodied baby in a cot. If you approached it, it would suddenly pop up and frighten you.
I am no psychologist, and I grew up in the UK where we are fairly well protected from gory images (The BBC rarely shows anything remotely unpleasant and the papers never do), but I really can't understand the purpose of displaying gory images - will it encourage people to drive more safely? I am also puzzled by what seems to be an almost childish fascination with death, to the point of prying on others misfortunes for some kind of kick. I really cannot comprehend what goes on in the mind of an adult who chooses to keep photos of the post-mortem of an 8-year old girl on their phone.
I also don't like young kids being exposed to it. Lucas was petrified for weeks after watching a DVD, that I believe showed a beheading, at a friends house. Another 5-year old friend of his has a folder of XBOX games including lots of graphic and violent games.
Oh well, that's my rant for the day. C ya!
On The Way
When is "On the way" o'clock?
A few days ago I exchanged SMS's with someone who's arrival time I wanted to know.
A few days ago I exchanged SMS's with someone who's arrival time I wanted to know.
- The first two answers were "On the way".
- The third SMS asked me why I was asking (the reason was that they were already over 2 hours late for an event that my wonderful missus had put a lot of effort into)
- The 4th SMS gave me the answer to my original question!
Hope for Heroic Hammo
Good luck to Lewis this weekend, hope you stuff Droopy and the Ice-man!!
Lewis
Alonso
Raikkonen
Lewis
Alonso
RaikkonenI also hope for....
- England to beat South Africa
- Liverpool and Chelsea both to drop points
- A podium place for Shahrom in the Duathlon World Champs
- Bettini to NOT win the Tour Of Lombardy
Thursday, October 18, 2007
England in October?
Ice creams in a sunny Clapham Common in South London on the day we arrived.
Arizona? Nope - Teasles in Bedfordshire, England.Nice blue sky, and a nice photo if I may say so myself!
Uncle Paul shows Lucas how to drive his "gay" (according to him) Audi convertible.
Me driving the said gay car.
Cool dude Lucas chillin' in an S-class on the way to Auntie Vicky's wedding
Hey! - This is the place we see on TV on a Saturday night!Yep - it's Craven Cottage, home to Fulham FC.
As you can see, Lucas was pretty excited.
Fulham 0 - 2 Portsmouth. 2 goals scored right in front of us, and I even had the chance to catch the ball
after an off-target shot, but the guy in front of me stood up and got it - damn!
Swim Lesson #14
17/10/07, Bukit Jalil
Warm-up: 8x100m = 800m
Show coach what state I'm in = 100m
With/without pull bouy = 100m
Main Set:
4x100 - 2x200 - 1x400 = 1200m (400m = 10:00)
3x100 - 1x200 = 500m, at which point a sympathetic coach let me stop!
(was supposed to do 2 x 1200!)
Cool-down 100m breaststroke
Stretching
TOTAL 2800m
My first swim in 6 weeks and what a shocker it was! I managed to do a few strokes with a good technique in my warm up but my main set was a nightmare. All my muscles felt tired. My shoulders were hunched and I had zero power. In my last 200m I felt like I was sinking. My 100m time varied 1:59 to 2:30. Simon and Christopher kept overtaking me and eventually Coach Peh relegated me to the cripples lane to ease the traffic!!
Now I know that a 6 week total lay-off isn't such a good idea. In my Tuesday night 51km ride my HR was way higher than usual on the hills.
Warm-up: 8x100m = 800m
Show coach what state I'm in = 100m
With/without pull bouy = 100m
Main Set:
4x100 - 2x200 - 1x400 = 1200m (400m = 10:00)
3x100 - 1x200 = 500m, at which point a sympathetic coach let me stop!
(was supposed to do 2 x 1200!)
Cool-down 100m breaststroke
Stretching
TOTAL 2800m
My first swim in 6 weeks and what a shocker it was! I managed to do a few strokes with a good technique in my warm up but my main set was a nightmare. All my muscles felt tired. My shoulders were hunched and I had zero power. In my last 200m I felt like I was sinking. My 100m time varied 1:59 to 2:30. Simon and Christopher kept overtaking me and eventually Coach Peh relegated me to the cripples lane to ease the traffic!!
Now I know that a 6 week total lay-off isn't such a good idea. In my Tuesday night 51km ride my HR was way higher than usual on the hills.
Gnat West
The title of this post is a tribute to an advert I once saw in Viz magazine, for a bank called Gnat West. The ad was based on ads trying to attract students to open accounts. The accompanying text was something like "No Job? Then F**k Off!".
I don't like Nat West today. They've just charged me RM266 because a cheque I issued caused me to go overdrawn for one day. So I'm writing to them to ask nicely if they can refund the charge. Little do they know, if they decline my request, that I will charge them RM350 for wrongly debiting my account with someone elses monthly pension payment earlier this year. So they will actually owe me money. If they refuse to pay, I will close all my Nat West accounts, and good riddance to them!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh that feels better!
I don't like Nat West today. They've just charged me RM266 because a cheque I issued caused me to go overdrawn for one day. So I'm writing to them to ask nicely if they can refund the charge. Little do they know, if they decline my request, that I will charge them RM350 for wrongly debiting my account with someone elses monthly pension payment earlier this year. So they will actually owe me money. If they refuse to pay, I will close all my Nat West accounts, and good riddance to them!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh that feels better!
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