Practice makes perfect

090604 Badminton Practice, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

The lecturers have a badminton match coming up next week against the Medical Officers. We decided to have a training session. A few of us turned up, minus one of our star player who decided to give the match a miss. He may be way too good for it anyhow.

The session did last a couple of hours and as per tradition, we topped it off with dinner and teh tarik. I had a hugely disappointing mee goreng mamak. Never to go to the same shop again methinks!

Decision made and plan changed

Irfan watching Animal Mechanical!, originally uploaded by Haris Abdul Rahman.

The last couple of weeks has been a difficult one for me on the personal front! No, my wife still loves me ... or at least she said so. No, UMMC has not sussed me out that I am not that cool a doctor. But it became clear that my planned Australian sojourn is just not viable. My close family expressed deep reservation about uprooting my family for the coming four years and after some deep thinking .... they have a point! However, I don't think this if any, is an appropriate forum to discuss it in detail.

So, I will stay put. I will consider my options. There are a few. I still think that research is something I want to do in the future apart from teaching. It is not that I am not keen to see patients, but I feel I can be a more effective physician if I broaden my horizon. At the end it will come down to personal choices and I realise there are so many advise you can seek but there will come a time when you, yours truly will have to swallow the pill and face the music.

Should any of my friends read this, yes, you all will still have to put up with me for the foreseeable future. I must say that my seniors has been anything but understanding about my decision. Since I made it, I have to confess that I have an extra spring in my step. My family was certainly happy with it, and at this point I think that is more important.

The other side of my role at UMMC

It's a rather surreal day. One of my nephew was born with undescended testes, and since he has been complaining of pain in his tummy in the last couple of weeks. Initially his parents tried traditional massage, but clearly it has not worked - have faith, my son! I brought him to see the Paediatric Surgeon this morning expecting just a consultation. Instead, he identified a slot tomorrow morning for an op, and admitted the boy.

I spent the afternoon explaining to my nephew what to expect tomorrow. This poor boy really like his comic book and fast food. Had to buy him some then since he will be fasting from midnight tonight. As I was sorting out my stuff, I got a phonecall from my wife telling me that her auntie is also inpatient. It was however a planned one. She will have her angiogram tomorrow morning.

Hence I spend the day as a visitor and counsellor today ...

KLIA Journey

Making sure everything is in beore checking inI spent yesterday morning sending my sister off for her Umrah in Mecca. She went along with her husband and son, Imran. It was quite a big organised group, 46 people all together. The flight was planned for 11.30. We got there at around 8.30.

Imran and his cousin chatting away

The famous KLIA roof

Julia and Salleh

The Ustaz - religious guru in the group organising the partyStill plenty more to goImran making sure everything checks out Time to goEverything was quite well-organised. The group will be staying in Bahrain overnight before flying off to Mecca. They will away until Thursday week.

United taught a footballing lesson

No, I will not resort to violence a la the incident in Cheras where a Barca supporter was slashed. United were simply outplayed by a better team. Hang on, that will just insult Barcelona. They were handed a footballing lesson.

United started out full of confidence, but quickly discovered they were ahead of steam. Barcelona did not just pass the ball well and retain possession, they caress the ball. Exquisite triangle passes and all. Right from their defender - an ex-United player - to the great Lionel Messi. The two midfielder on show, Xavi and Iniesta were just breath-taking. Park Ji-Sung and Anderson were just no match. They were like men against boys. Even Sir Alex did not complain with the outcome. United were just beaten by an awesome team. It could have easily been three or four nil. Two nil was just respectable.

Well, time to regroup, and with that I mean, to participate in a lucrative Asian tour! We will come back better next season.