Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Commisioner of Oath 18 Jun

*A replacement post for 18 Jun 2013

Searched for commissioner of oath via the internet......

New colleague 17 Jun

*A replacement post for 17 Jun 2013

Work as usual. A new staff joined on the day. We had a chat during lunch in cafeteria.

Settle Things 16 Jun

*A replacement post for 16 Jun 2013

Mum went out to settle a lot of things with brother-in-law. Ask god due to frightening issue.

Big niece cried when she got to go back to her home for schooling in the next day.

New Village Meal 15 Jun

*A replacement post for 15 Jun 2013

Sister came back from outstation. We went to had our vegetarian dinner in a "new village". The meal was cheap.

Life & Responsibility 14 Jun

*A replacement post for 14 Jun 2013

Mum and I sent the car for braking system check.

At night, I sent mum to relative house. Then she followed them to Buddha temple.

Half Day 13 Jun

*A replacement post for 13 Jun 2013

I took a half day leave on that day.

Work Done:

1. Changed engine oil.
2. Submitted postmortem application form and made payment.
3. Applied Skim Mesra Usia Emas. (Compassionate Support  Scheme for Retiree) - a bit disappointing on their services as I felt that they were playing "taichi".

Vietnam maid came to do house cleaning. She did a lot of cleaning, included air-con filter, fans, windows, doors, tables, floors and etc...... 

Distraction 12 Jun

*A replacement post for 12 Jun 2013

Mum and big sister went for facial treatment until a bit late after my working office hour. Perhaps it was a good distraction to avoid mum from thinking of dad.

Again mum and I went to pack for vegetarian fried rice at the same restaurant.


Vegetarian Food 11 Jun

*A replacement post for 11 Jun 2013

Dinner ordering and packing at a vegetarian restaurant. We bought instant noodles for the next day breakfast as we ate bread since many days back.


Early Travel 10 Jun

*A replacement post for 10 Jun 2013

Early visit to sister house since mum and niece had to follow my car while I traveled for work.


Nieces 9 Jun

*A replacement post for 9 Jun 2013

Small niece was supposed to stay with us as usual but she was sick. Finally big niece stayed and took a week off from school although school holiday ended. At least she accompanied mum since it was not a big deal to skip kindergarten lessons.


Key & Prayer 8 Jun

*A replacement post for 8 Jun 2013

House lock keys duplication as frontal entrance was chose to be used. Keys to be given to sisters.

Buddha temple visit, prayer and donation. For dad......


Exhibition 7 Jun

*A replacement post for 7 Jun 2013

It was a project exhibition day. I helped up on the tables and chairs moving and arrangement for the opening ceremony.

Students showed their hard works to the public. I had to assess the students' projects.

I was proud for my students as they won prize. The contest was a bit "competitive" as the assessment was not really fair.

We had the photo snapping sessions for memories. 


Back in Work 6 Jun

*A replacement post for 6 Jun 2013

I went back to work. No class for that day. I was telling stories to my colleagues about dad's death and cause. I was trying to settle down and came back to the working mood.


Soul Day 7th 5 Jun

*A replacement post for 5 Jun 2013

Insurance:
I called the agent. She was helpful and responsible. She helped to fill in the claim application forms, let mum signed, collected the supporting documents from me, submitted documents to the insurance HQ and returned the original death certificate to me.

Bank:
I asked for the procedure to claim the money from dad's current account. I was being told that the claim only can be done at the branch where account was opened. Maximum claim is only 5k. Supporting document is death certificate and marriage certificate. Besides, I only knew my old cheque book was still valid when I was asking for a new cheque book. At that time I only knew that there is a form in the cheque book to be submitted for the application of new cheque book.

Fund:
I visited the branch. An agent approached me while I was waiting for my turn for the customer service. I asked him about the fund issues. Later, I settled dad and my funds issues with the desk officer. Joint holder or main holder of funds can be cancelled if one of them was dead based on the terms and conditions. Of course the individual holder fund I can't do anything on it.

Hospital:
I requested for the application of dad's postmortem report at the Record Department in the hospital. It ended up I had to submit the application form at another day as mum's signature and IC were needed although I had the other supporting documents with me.

Gold:
I was being advised by the officer to sell the gold before the bank freeze the account. However, the account will only be frozen after it is inactive for about a year. How to sell? The gold price was too low at the moment. Also, the minimum remaining gold in the account is 2grammes. Account closure is again needed both to sign.

Stationary Shop:
I bought a few parking ticket booklets for backup as I used up some of them in that 2 days.

It was day 7th of dad's death. We had prayer at night for dad's soul visit. Again, something weird was occurred. The neighbours' dogs barked loudly and moderate strong wind blew when we burned the candles and joysticks outside the house. I hope I was not over sensitive but it was true. 


Banking Issues 4 Jun

*A replacement post for 4 Jun 2013

Mum and I went to settle on the banking matters. As heard from friends and relatives, the shared banking accounts will be frozen if one of the account holder was found deceased. Then the claim process will become complicated and tedious.

Therefore we quickly went to withdraw all of the money from the shared accounts as most of them are the account with the condition of either one to sign. After that, we transferred the money to the newly opened accounts without telling the banks officers about dad's death. Most of the banking issues were successfully settled. Unfortunately we were not able to close the shared accounts as it required both to sigh for account termination. Therefore we had to leave a few dollars in those accounts.

After all of the money was successfully transferred. We asked for the claim of money from one of dad's individual saving account. The procedure was moderate complicated. Original death certificate and marriage certificate (mum as the beneficiary), 2 witnesses photocopy ICs and signatures. Luckily we managed to get help from a relative who stays very near to the bank as one of the witness besides me. We went to get signature and take IC from her and let the bank officer to photocopy. The bank told us that the processing day will be one or two. We can collect the cheque from the bank later.

Overall, all of the banks services were satisfactory as we got most of our tasks done. There is one bank that has a poorer policy and offer. It offered lower fixed deposit interest rate with longer maturity months. The minimum money to be kept in the saving account is higher than other banks as well.


"Gold" Pick 3 Jun

*A replacement post for 3 Jun 2013

We went to the crematorium for "gold" pick. Previously I thought the body will be burnt into ash after cremated. Then the family members were being asked to grab the ash into the ash container. In actual condition, there were small pieces of bones remained after cremated. We had to use chopsticks to pick the bones into the container. This was so called "gold" pick. Those extra ash will be poured to the sea.

Later, I carried the container and allocated it at the ash compartment. Then we did the prayer. Mum cried at the moment as it was kinda a hard time for her.

At that night (if not mistaken), mum was still a bit emotional. She get angry to the niece on a small matter and she cried. We were quite worried about her.


Monday, 1 July 2013

Funeral 2 Jun

*A replacement post for 2 Jun 2013

I was not superstitious. However, something strange was happened early in the morning on the funeral day. There was one butterfly flying around the house. It happened in my grandmother's funeral previously and the butterfly was quite big by that time. It seemed like dad was transformed into a butterfly and said goodbye to all of us. Actually, I saw a small butterfly flying around and found dead on the first night of dad's death too. This was something extraordinary as the timing was so coincident.

Later, we had the typical funeral ceremony. Praying and paying last respect...... Walking around the casket...... Only giving speech was the special part of the ceremony. Dad's face seemed peaceful before the closure of casket if compared to the first day of death. Perhaps we kept on assuring him that we managed to take care on ourselves. It was pretty sad but we believed that dad was going to the heaven for a better destiny. 

After that we sent dad for cremated. It was quite simple if comparing to burial. A button was pushed by me and the casket was being conveyed for cremating.

After came back from the cemetery, we were busy in settling all the bills. Everything was happened so fast and in a sudden. It was just like a dream but it wasn't. It was real. I had to admit I lost dad forever. Dad, I am sorry that I disappointed you sometimes. 

Busy Ceremony 1 Jun

*A replacement post for 1 Jun 2013

A busy ceremony was the thing that I could recall for the 3rd day after dad's death.

Many people came to pay their last respect to dad. Relatives, friends, neighbours and etc...... 4 of my best friends and some friends turned up as well. It was really touching as most of them were from outstations and supported both spiritually and monetary. I was busy in managing the condolences tokens from everyone and preparing the ang pow that to be distributed after the funeral on the next day. 

We did put an obituary in newspaper and there was a friend of dad called to ask for confirmation on the news. The obituary was quite expensive actually and I was not sure how effective was the information was being disseminated. 

At night, we had Sutra chanting again. A community group did support on the Sutra chanting as well.

Sunday, 30 June 2013

Sad and Crying 31 May

*A replacement post for 31 May 2013

I quietly cried when thought of the last breakfast prepared by dad. He was fine in that morning. I complained a bit on the sticky food and dad helped mixing it with water. Also I recalled the last bun he prepared to me......

Mum cried when calling dad for breakfast in the early morning praying session.

Sister and I went to the cemetery for ash compartment selection. Big aunt and uncle accompanied us. We chose the compartment at the eyes level which facing a small garden and it was the most expensive category among the rest. The area is at the right when walking in to the ash compartments storage building which is considered good according to aunt. Left/right which I can't really remembered represents dragon which is a good sign.

At night, we had pray and Sutra chanting session. Many people cried when singing the memorial song. Dad, I miss you!


Forever Goodbye 30 May

*A replacement post for 30 May 2013

It was an extremely sad day for my whole family. Dad passed away in a sudden.

I received a call from my sister who stay in outstation. I got to know dad fainted at home. I called back home immediately. My little niece asked me to rescue dad. I knew that was something bad happened. Quickly, I fetched my big sister and rushed back home. My sister was trying to call cousin for help and kept update from him. On the home journey, I got to know dad was sent to the hospital by ambulance. I felt relief a bit as there was still hope if dad was taken to the hospital. I dropped my sister in the emergency section while I looked for parking. I parked quite far away. Sister called me and she didn't clearly tell me the status.

When I reached the emergency area, I was being told dad didn't make it. I just had no feeling at the moment. Dad was lifeless on the bed. Those equipment were still not dismantled. It seemed like dad had a shock on his face. I touched his hand and body. He was no longer moving. This was my last touch on him. Dad was leaving us forever.

Mum told us the incident. She looked calm but I knew she had no preparation to react to all these. I thought she was like me, no feeling in such a sudden. It was a bit annoying at the moment as there were several people approach us for the death arrangement. Later, a young Chinese doctor asked me to report my dad's death as they wanted to settle my dad's body. Then I was accompanied by my uncle to lodge report to the police. Then a series of arrangement was going to be carried out.

Health history reporting was very much related to  the death investigation (postmortem) by police and insurance claim. It was contradict to Chinese culture that don't encourage postmortem. Finally we decided to allow for postmortem. I felt we needed the answer for dad's death even though we managed to guess the reason. We spent for quite some time to discuss with the paediatric pathologis and sergeant in the dead body placement area on the postmortem issue. We discussed on the cremation/burial with relatives as well.

After that, we went to settle and arrange the casket and attire matters separately while waiting for the postmortem. After the postmortem, there were a lot of procedures on transporting the body back home. Body claiming, attire changing, casket entering (dry ice), calling dad for home when passing bridges and etc...... I saw some scars of postmortem during the buttons buckling session. Hope everything was fine.

Relatives were coming to support throughout the night. It was really exhausted. Sad......


Saturday, 22 June 2013

Sensitive Throat

*A replacement post for 29 May 2013

I was suffering from sore throat again. I went to see panel doctor and get some medicine. I checked with the doctor and I was being told that my last sore throat was 5 months ago. The doctor told me that I have a sensitive throat. She advised me to gargle after meals and take Vitamin C supplement. She didn't give me antibiotic as I had no fever. Those medicine were just lozenges, pain killer and for inflammation.

I felt I was tired due to sore throat. No mood.


Watch shop

*A replacement post for 28 May 2013

I went for shopping while waiting for my dancing class. I was surveying on the automatic watches.

It was a bit embarrassing when I asked for a budget watch in a high class watch shop. Luckily the salesman was quite nice. I only knew Oris is a Swiss made watch which is expensive. The price is all above RM1k and above for an automatic watch.

Higher end - Watchshoppe, Watatime
Lower end - City Chain, PK Time


Watches Brands

*A replacement post for 27 May 2013

I was wasting time again at home on my day 5 holiday.

My watch was functional at sometimes and  failure sometimes. Therefore I planned to buy a new one. I planned to buy an automatic watch. Unfortunately they were really expensive when I browsed via the internet. Some of the Orient watches were still affordable to buy but I didn't like the outlook. Oris watches was damn expensive. Tissot watches were also the same. Seiko was not my preference even though the price was considerably cheap if compared to others. It was because it reminded me on someone that I didn't want to think of.


Jelly Bean

*A replacement post for 26 May 2013

I was spending my day 4 holiday at home again. I was upgrading the firmware of my smart phone on the previous day. Therefore I was spending the whole day in figuring the new features after the upgrade. Besides, I did some minor configuration on the phone as well. It was normal as many stuffs to be done after any upgrading.

The firmware is the Android 4.1.2. It is the Jelly Bean! Sweet sweet!


Photos Reorganization

*A replacement post for 25 May 2013

I was doing a housekeeping on my personal computer. I was tidying and rearranging my photos in a better folders organization. A bit of wasting time at the day 3 of my holiday.


Fast and Furious 6

*A replacement post for 24 May 2013

I went to watch Fast and Furious 6 with my buddy and ex-colleague. It was quite an interesting movie even I didn't watch the previous series.

That were two scenes that really impressed me. 

The "flying" scene when the main actor rescuing the main actress by using the force of hitting the car to the road barrier to throw himself to grab the girl who was being thrown from the tank. 

The "dropping" scene when the co-actress sacrificing herself to the co-actor by dropping herself from the airplane to shoot the enemy who attacking the guy. 

Comparing = Encouragement?

*A replacement post for 23 May 2013

I went to have a steamboat dinner with my ex-colleagues. Coincidentally I was taking annual leave on that day. I was taking leave on the following Monday as well so that I was able to enjoy the continuous 5 days holiday (Friday was Wesak Day). Actually I was trying to clear some of my leaves before the year ending.

After the dinner, I only knew that my buddy and another ex-colleague got their promotion and giving us a meal treat. After the dinner, I felt of heart pain as I was comparing myself to them. I was not envy them. I was really happy for them, especially my buddy. I just felt I was not competitive with my low paid. I was uncertain in my career path. I didn't know what did I want?


Legs Muscles Pain

*A replacement post for 22 May 2013

My legs were really painful. It was a quite serious pain. I felt extremely painful when I was going down from the staircase. Climbing staircase was still considerably alright. Besides, I found difficulties to take a seat on a chair too. The muscles were stretching heavily until you wanna cried.



2nd Floor Flooded

*A replacement post for 21 May 2013

It was a freestyle dance in that week. We used the Samsung commercial advertisement song - I Love It. It was fun and interesting as I like these type of dance. Lively and energetic. However, I felt my legs muscles slowly to become painful when I reached home.


Late at night, my 2nd floor house was flooded with water. It was a bit unbelievable right? It was because dad forget to turn off the water pipe in their washroom and the drainage hole was being blocked by the water pail. As a result, it caused the flood at 2nd floor. Luckily it didn't flow to the lower floor. We were trying to clean and dry up all of the bedroom floor. I was totally exhausted. It was quite suffering because my legs muscles were really painful when I was trying to clean up the mess.



Stock History Chart

*A replacement post for 20 May 2013

I was following closely on the shares as I have one IPO that performing pretty well after the general election. Unfortunately, the online trading website that I used was having some issue after their maintenance and upgrade recently. The stock counter history chart cannot be shown in the new interface. Such an inconvenience for their user. Damn it!