Work hard..Play hard

Operation

One week before I went to Hong Kong, I had an emergency appendicectomy (removed of the appendix). Wow ! everything just unbelieveble quick..........keep the long story short.......

After suffering from the vomiting, bloating and pain abdomen for few days, I went to see my G.P (family Dr) for check out, when my Chinese G.P knew I was going to Hong Kong in a week time, he asked me to go to my hospital's A&E and referred me to the specialist for further investigation that what he told me...............I like my G.P, when I told him my problem, he always refer me to specialist...............

Ha ! I was ended up admitted in the ward for further blood test and investigation. Actually on that night I asked for discharged because I felt much better compare to the last few days, I felt it was not neccessay to stay in the hospital, told the medic I can go to my G.P clinic the next day for another blood test. After discharged myself, I went to see Vicky, the senior sister who is going to Hong Kong with me, she was angry after I told her the whole event, and I also checked my blood result from the computer. Shocking, some of the blood levels were abnormal high, I felt I was so silly to discharge from the ward. Vicky quickly phoned the ward to ask to readmit me again. For sure, when I went back there, the sister had a few words with me. Sorry !!!!!!!!!!! I was not a patience patient.

The next day I was seen by the surgical team and was told I can go home after the ultrasound, and they didn't think I had problem with my appendix, because I didn't have the classic sign of pain (constantly) in my lower right abdomen. BUT the ultrasound showed I had appendicitis, and was arranged to have appendix remove in the afternoon. Oh! My God...not now, I am going away in a week time.....The Ultrasound Dr told me forget about the trip, go and have a appendix out.................

I signed the consent form for the surgery and was wheeled to surgical ward for prepare and to wait for the operation. To be surprise to see the head of the ICU consultant, he was going to do my general anaesthetic (put me to sleep). I felt safe in his hands during the operation. Well...he is good in his job and does care of his staff and colleagues, bless him !!!!!!

When I was in the anaesthetic room, I was put in sleep very quickly, and the next thing what I heard was the recovery nurse keep telling me not to move. Later on, I found out from my colleague that I was quite restless at that time because of the pain, they gave me morphine and I settled down again. I could not remember anything, because I slept most of the time, hopefully I didn't snore, if not it was so embarrassing..........The bloody Frenchman always complained I snored.......... #@$%£#@

I stayed in the hospital for a night and went home the next day, because I had laparoscopic (key hole surgery) instead of laparotomy (cut) and recovery quite well. And I was granted by the Dr to travel to Hong Kong in a week time.

From this small event, I knew quite a lot of people put some effort and time to make it run so smoothly, especially say a BIG thank to sister Vicky to contact the relevant people and also say SORRY to her that to make her felt so worry for a week that our trip might have to postphone due to my unexpected surgery. Thank you everyone and I really appreciated for what they did for me.

Christmas Shopping

I was so happy to get off work at 3:30pm on monday, because everyone at work was paid 4 hours for Christmas shopping this year, cheer................................!!! My Christmas shopping day was on monday, it was just nice break to get away from work, especially the patient I looked after was so sick, love to care for her but I needed a break as well...........

Actually I did not have anything to buy, because it still quite expensive to buy anything even though some stores have about 20 to 30 % sell now on, I can wait till after Christmas, BIG sell..50 to 70% off from the shelf I love it................



Walked from Paddington to Edgware road, strolled to Oxford street for window shopping and enjoying the lights displayed on the street. They were so beautiful.



This year the lights display in Regent street look like flying Star Fishes hanging above the street.

Love to stand in front of the store window to enjoying the Christmas display. Due to credit crunch, not many people buying things at this time, probably like me wait till after Christmas sales.................

Back to work

After nearly two months away from work, I found it was a bit hard to go back to work, especially after travelling 19 hours from east to west and 8 hours different in time zone.

I have a good journey back to U.K. Started from KL to Hong Kong, I have nobody sat next to me, it was good to have two seats. After waited for three hours, I was on board again to travel to UK. Great, ha...................empty seat again next to me, and also next to my next next neighbour, may be, may be I can lay down to use the seat next to him, hm.............................At the end I used up two and half seat, I have few hours sleep on this journey, and this was so unusual for me to sleep in the plane ????????????? I can sleep in the car, bus or train, but never in the plane, this time was so unusual......................

When I found out I have to work for the next day after arrived in London, surelah, I was not happy, I have requested to work friday, saturday and sunday night duty before I left the country, but was told to work on Wednesday 12 hours shift, and two night duty for the following, I think I must in somebody bad book now, usually I got my request easily, but not this time, need to keep low profit from now on.......................

I was like a Zombee, I was so tired to go to work, due to jet lag and not slept very well, woke up at 1.30am and never gone to sleep till 6am, time to go to work. Anyway, I managed to get through this three shifts safely, patient still alive at least............................

My personal photos album

I got my personal photos album, thank to my my brother in law to take these special photos for me. Actually I felt funny to stand and post for other to take these photos, due to I use to take other photos and not other people to take for me.

The photos came out quite good, even though no make up, no pretty dress nor special light, I just like nature. I have to say that to post in front of the camera was really hard work, half way of the photos shotting I was so sweaty and sticky.................................Anyway, I got my own personal photos album to keep...........before too old...................

Team Building Day

Actually our team planned to go to Eurodisneyland for our team building day, unfortunately two of our team members were unable to obtain vises to go to France. Unfortunate become blessing, because the week we plan to go to Paris, the services of Eurostar were limited due to fire in the channel 2 or 3 days ago, so if we did go ahead, there were be so much problems to go across to the other end, Thank God, we didn't !!!

On our team day, normally we did quite a bit of teaching and go for a meal afterward. But, this time we went to Thorpe Park, what an excititng place to go. Please sit back and relax to view the slid show, to see how our team was bonding together and enjoying the day out in Thorpe Park..........

Bad News

Magda just left the flat to go to work. Few minutes later while I also prepared to leave, Magda came back again. I had an unease feeling, and found out her father passed away in the early morning. When she returned her mum call on her way to work, her mum was very upset at the other end of world, South Africa.



Magda's parents, her nephew and niece, this photo was quite blurr because I took it from the wall.

I knew her mum, Mrs Hertzog, she came to London few years ago. I never meet her dad, Magda loves her dad very much, sometimes when she talked about her family, there were always some funny stories about her dad, Magda and her family are going to miss her dad very much. Luckily Magda managed to get a flight back to SA, everyone needs to stay together when some bad news happen, so family members can comfort each other. I paid my condolance to Magda and her family for their lost, the respectful loved one, husband, dad and grandfather.

In retrospect the day my father passed away 11 years ago, I was in Germany for holiday. My sister and brother tried to call me day and night, I received several notes on my nurse's flat floor when I arrived back. At that time the mobile phone was very expensive and email via internet was not that popular, so I received the news after my father's funeral. I flew back home and stayed for 2 months.

On the same day Magda's dad passed away, I looked after a very sick patient, and the consultant wanted to break a bad news to the family members. I cared her the last two days, so I chose to go back to look after her and her family members when the Dr break the news.

The patient was only 47 years old who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and had a surgery early this year followed by chemotheraphy and radiotherapy. After all the treatments there was no signs of recurrent breast cancer. But when she felt unwell recently and admitted to the hospital, was diagnosed with respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. But after more than 10 days in ICU, she was deteriorated everyday, O2 and machanical ventilation requirement increase, so the lung biopsy was performed. The result was vey bad, the cancer cells were spread in her lungs.

The patient only had her son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter and her sister in London, the rest of the family were in Poland. After the Drs told them the bad news, they were very upset and cried their eyes out. I had to walk away and hide myself in the toilet for few minutes. The patient died on the same day after all the treatment were withdrawn slowly. I stayed with the family member until the patient passed away, she looked so peaceful and no sign of pain. This was a very...........sad ending !!!!

I also encoutered a horror death patient. The patient had a cardiac arrest outside the hospital, also had severe liver damaged due to alcohol abuse and surprisely he was a Muslim ?????? I looked after the patient next to this patient, when he passed away, I helped my colleague to clean him. His look-alike tree legs, were a shocking effect to all the people who nursed him, his feet nearly fell off, we had to lift his feet very careful to avoid any part of his feet got missing, and from the nipple down his skins were broke down after the big blisters popped off one by one, body fluids all over the body, it was so horrible, I never saw/dealed with this before, this was the first time and hopefully the last as well. Pity the young nurse, she was so upset, and she could not stop crying when cleaning the body. We had put him into two body bag instead of one to prevent any fluid leak out. The patient was old and the sad thing was he did not have any next of kin (family members) to accompany him for his last breath in this world.

So, my friend enjoy while you can, do not wait till retire or children grow up to plan your trip/travel, do it now if you can affort, our future is so unpredictable. Smile and laugh often is the best medicine for every illness.

I did it - The Human Race 10k run !!!!!!!!!

When I saw the poster for the Nike plus The Human Race 10k Run in London on 31/08/2008, without second thought I registered myself to join the race, especially the date of 31/08 is Malaysia's Independent day, I should run with proud and celebrate this day with run, run, run...(run away from home, ?? from my own country, never I still plan to go home for retirement !!!! )


To be honest I did not really train for this race, I did jogged twice that all. My mentality for this race was I will stop or only walk if my knee or leg start give me any problem, I even think about only run for few miles and straight back home.




It about 20,000 people joined the race in London, I was proud to be ONE of them. That a sea of scarlet, all the runners were wearing red T-shirt provided by Nike. To my surprise these T-shirts were made in Malaysia.





The venue took place in Wembley Stadium. I left my place at 3.30pm, it was heavy rain and thunderstorm when I arrived in tube station, been thinking whether I should still go there ?????

How am I going to run on this wet track ???????????????

Thank God the rain died down when I arrived in Wembley Stadium.





Just do it...............Oh, Yes. The race started at 8.00 pm for the wave no. 1 and I joined the wave no. 4, and we started the run at 8.30pm. Before the wave no. 4 start the run, it rained again, I was so glad I brought my overall rain coat, most of the runners were wet, wet, wet...inside out...he, he..............You must well prepared for the England's unpredictable weather ............

















Cheers, I crossed the finished with other 4 runners, I did ran for it..............The reward was a long sleeves white T-shirt. I was happy to complete the run.




Proudly wearing the T-shirt.



Posted in front of the Finish line. Actually I was so hungry after the run......................



Night view of the Wembley Stadium.


I received this text 20 minutes later I crossed the finish line.


20 years ago when I ran 10k in Malaysia, it took me about 1hour 30 minutes, and 20 years later, it took me 1hr 26 min 14 sec for this 10k run, I am still as fit and young as before. I was glad to stay and complete the run, I arrived home at 11.30 pm. Oh ! my god, my hips and thighs were so sore the next day when I woke up.


I might run again in 2009, just wait and see................................Well done everyone who joined the Human Race 10k run.

Cup cakes and Niamh

These cup cakes were made by the little girl, called Niamh, with helped from her mum, Mags, cute little cup cakes from Niamh to ME.....................I was thrilled. When I have a first bite, it was sweet in my mouth, even sweeter in my heart, hm........................Thank you Niamh and Mags. Me and Mags met up again before No 2 is born, I do not think for the next year or so, we can meet up again to have a nice chinese meal in Edgware, because she is going to be too busy with two kids.




Niamh is going to be three in Oct, and she is also going to become a big sister for a little brother or sister soon. She looks pinky, well she likes pink sweater, shirt...........pink colour in her room, not sure whether she likes pink panther or not. As usual most of the little girl like pinks, nature colour for them, and boy likes blue !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Any comments ???????????????????????? Boys and girls ?




Even though Mags offered to take our picture, we think it was more fun to take our own.........



Active little girl, one thing she hates is combing her hair. When Mags wants to comb or tie up her hair, she will run miles away, Mags always has no luck for that, so she can save money not to buy that little pretty clips for her hair from now on. For sure I could see she like eggs fried rice, so I can cook it for her next time round I see them again.

Under the rain........................

The weather was not looking good on 20/08 evening, well I still made my way to Regent Park, Open Air theatre where we are going to watch the GiGi theatre show. We have a good started with the nice picnic, but half way through it start to rain, rain,..........................Instead of looking for the shelter, all umbrellas were out, blue, green, red, spot, .......It was fun to eat some wet foods and holding the brolly, it definitely would not happen at home....................

It still rain when we made our way to the open air theatre, pray for the rain to stop.....................!!! In one minute the rain seem died down, and the workers started to dry the stage for the performance, its raise our hope...............Oh ! no, not again, the rain was pouring down, at the end it was announced that the show had to be cancelled due to the unfortunate English weather, what a shame !!!!!

We have to come again for the second time.....................................................Never mind, another picnic before the show, not a bad day out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dancing Night........................

Catherine's wedding dinner night, we all enjoyed very much.....................Cheers Catherine and Efran !!!!

Cutting Hair in China Town, London

My hair was getting longer and heavier, at first I wanted to keep it long and when I go back home I will have it cut by my male hair stylist (always travel up to Klang for my hair cut..............I live in KL). For convenient and quick managed my hair, I always have it tied in short ponytail. But.........I was getting fed up with my hair style, as you can see.................................



Therefore I decided to have it cut now in China town. Why China Town ????



I got used to one Malaysian female hair stylist in China Town, unfortunately she had gone home ???? Illegal worker ??? As the immigration law is getting tougher nowaday, owner of the business will have a big fine if they use illegal worker, and the person will also deported out of the U.K.

She had gone and I have to choose another hair salon. I went to one of the hair salon which was recommended by Resti (the colleague who stand beside me). From the outlook of the Hair Salon, not too bad, all male hair stylists whom have their equipments in the small pack tied around their waist, dressed up to date and modern hair style and one of them was wearing hat (may be bald on the top of his head, just like Prince William getting bald).

But I had to wait for a while. Funny thing was one of the hair stylist (from Hong Kong) chose one of the customer who came later than me, why ???? She dressed more modern and have make up on (also from Hong Kong) ??? rich customer ??? compared to me whom have loose hairs around my face with ponytail and wearing eyes glasses and carried big racksack (laptop inside), may be he thought I only cut my hair every six month, poor old soul, ?? poor customer !!!! At that moment I just kept myself cool not to complain, cos I don't use to complain anyway, and I just can not reply back if people got shape tongue. Sad thing....people just judge other by their look or dress, like me as well.......................

When I saw a guy waved at me and told me that he was going to cut my hair. Who was he ? A trainer ????? He looked like university student more than hair stylist, with curly long hair, big eyes glasses, slight overweight, and wearing jeans and pale T-shirt

Oh my god !! Please help me....................He said come, come, he was going to wash my hair first. Wait a minute, he was not like others who they always consult and give suggestion to the customer first before hair wash. This guy washed my hair first and then showed me some hair styles and asked me what I like my hair style to be, I just pointed to him that I want my hair style like this and this and this, he just said O.K ! Wow, are you sure, man ?????Besides he did not has his equipment tied around his waist, may be he just a normal hair dresser....hope he know how to cut my hair. Actually I was quite nervous...............................just told myself give him a chance...............

To be my surprise, he got a skills and very patience to cut my hair, cos my hair was too thick and too much hair.................... At the end I really like my hair style, it looked much better and lighter than before......................and I will definitely go back to him again.....I did gave him some tips. Forgot to ask his name, thank anyway Mr Big Guy............The counter lady gave me the Salon's name card, she might think I can be their potential or long-term customer......

Therefore never judge people from their look, or dress or......................................

Stunning Wedding

Catherine' wedding was on 08/08/08, the perfect wedding date for all the brides and grooms, especially for the Chinese people whom love number 8, because no. 8 symbolic prosperity. This date also was the opening ceremony for the Bejing Olympic game, Olympic game or wedding ?? For sure we will attend the wedding, therefore all of us have to record the Olympic opening ceremony. Catherine looked so beautiful, and with her bride mates, Marissa, Maileen, Mariam, Catherine's daughter and other, all of them looked so.......................pretty. Oh ! I always dream to be a bride mate as well......................he ! he!


While they were posted for the professional photographer to take their photos, I took this opportunity to snap few photos, not too bad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Catherine and her two lovely daughters


Efran and Catherine are Phillipinos, I were so pleased to attend their wedding.



Catherine' uncle and his girl friend gave Catherine away for her wedding........................



This was a Catholic wedding.






Catherine invited quite a lot of colleauges from work,. Due to many colleagues want to attend the wedding, therefore a lot of people requested day off on 08/08, at the end we received a meno to ask whether anyone want to work on that day, bacause not enough senior staff cover on the unit. For sure I would not volunteer to work on that day, may be next time................... Sorry for the people have to work on that day, they neither can come for the wedding nor watch the Olympic opening cerenomy, poor thing !!!!!

We all enjoyed very much for the wedding services and photos taken, snap, snap........and also it was very nice to dress up nicely and get together outside the hospital.

The photo of me and Leela, only two of us from Malaysia, the majority of them were Phillipinos.













This was just half of the guests on the photos





Minglin and Aldwin on the photos, Minglin is just joined the unit, she looked so stunning on her red dress, looked like China's Doll.







Great time to post for the photos taking.............................smile







While waiting for the dinner, I took some photos again, in total I have 350 photos for the wedding and dinner. Thank Cathrine and Efran, all of us enjoyed very much...........it like our unit's party, we felt quite comfortable because a lot of our collaegues were there, not at work...Good food, laugh, music band and dance.................