I am back!!.... again...

It has been more than 2 years since my last post. Nothing much change. Oh, by the way there was a new addition to my family.  My daughter was born 30 November 2010.  Cheeky and bubbly little girls she is now.

Eldest son, Luqman, is now in Standard 1 at Al Amin KL.  Yesterday he had his first jogathon.  1.5 km.  Not that far, but enough to work him out. I volunteered as one of the marshall along the route.  Too bad I got the senior route, so I did not get to watch him run.

Raziq, my number two, is making a lot of progress since starting brain training early this year.  It is in USJ.  Astara Point.  A lot of words are coming out, and he can express himself more now.

I have also restarted cycling.  Since no time for squash and calisthenics sometimes do bore me, I had to find one thing that interest me.  Lucky me I haven't sold it yet.  The Brooks B17 and my sit bone are getting proper breaking in again.  After 1 week, it started to feel good again.  Love the saddle.  If only I have more disposable income, I would love to get the Swallow Honey.  But then, I better upgrade the bike first befre getting it.  My bike now worth as much as the Honey Swallow.

Well, actually, I got pumped up after watching "Premium Rush".  Since I am not gonna be spending more money for bike now, I just dust off the hybrid and ride it mostly in one gear only.  Maybe I'll save enough to get myself one of the fixie.  Droollll....

Update on golfer's elbow

Finally after resting my for two weeks, I have full mobility of the right hand again. It is as if the golfer's elbow was never there. Of course, the first day playing squash after the started, it was still a little bit sore. I still had to play lob game. But at least it doesn't hurt that much when I took a volley. Now, after 1 week of squash (3 days), no more pain.

So here is the lowdown on what did I do for my golfer's elbow:

1. Rest : first week was total rest, even for doing normal activities, I tried to replaced the right hand with the left hand whenever possible.

2. Ice: about 15 minutes a day after coming back from work.

3. Heat cream: to relief muscle sore

4. Bandage/elbow support: most of the time, to give more support to the injured muscle/tendon/ligament

5. Golfer's/tennis elbow band: most of the time during the second week while not bandaged or using an elbow support

6. Massage: deep tissue massage - helps to relief the soreness of the elbow's surrounding muscle due to being idle while nursing the injury

7. Gyro ball: This I believe helps a lot. I got it during the middle of the second week. Before using it, the pain still can be felt much of the time, the muscles were sore and I still could not straighten my arm. But after doing the gyro ball exercise 2-3 times, I can feel the elbow's surrounding muscle improving and the pain subsides. The popular gyro ball brand is power ball but I just got a no frill one at the fitness store at Carrefour wangsa maju. Power ball cost >RM130, mine is only RM39.

Well there you go. but the most important lesson learnt here is to give it a rest for a while before going back to any sports or strenuous activity.

Ciao

Golfer's elbow

One week. That how long I have been suffering from this pain. It started with something that feels like sore muscle two weeks ago. I continued playing squash, thinking it is just something that would go away. But on that friday games, I could not even hit the ball hard or hit any volley off the front wall ball without winching. It did force me to change the way I play though. I played a slower game with more lob. Nice way to play when you are tired. But after 2 games, my hand just could not take it anymore.

The next morning, I couldn't fully straighten or fully bend my right hand. Movement at the elbow is restricted. And I could not put any weight on it. Even placing the hand down was causing me problem.

I started to bandage my elbow since then. It seems to work in reducing the pain. But after a while, it seems that the elbow is lock in place. Perhaps, restricting the movement had caused the muscle to stiffen. Then I got myself the elbow band. It does help to relief pain especially when I have to lift something. The theory is it distribute the stress to all the muscle and tendon surrounding the injury evenly.

Well, tonight I got myself a massage. Ouch.. It hurts so much for a while, but after a while the stiff muscle around the elbow become softer and the pain subsides. So, tomorrow morning we'll see whether it reduce the elbow pain.

Later.

New frontier

Finally, I have the courage to make a move from my current job. Just tendered my resignation on last Wednesday (3rd Feb 2010). I'll join Eon Capital on 8th March 2010. Better pay, new portfolios, different field, inferior benefit but better post. Most importantly, I'll start a new book. Fresh record and with better chance of moving up the corporate ladder.

It is not that I don't like my current job. It is challenging and entertaining and I do get personal satisfaction on completion of various tasks and projects. But after so many years carrying the extra responsibilities and tasks out of my job scopes, I felt cheated that I do not get any promotion. I was doing jobs that personnel of 2 grades higher are doing. Part wishful thinking, part foolishness. Enough is enough then.

I will miss all my colleagues and I do feel for them that they are now faced with a difficult situation to fill in the vacancy. But hey, got to think of my future too. I will miss the ease of getting up to play squash on 45th floor right after office hours. I'll definitely loose some play time after joining eoncap. But squash ain't gonna put food on my table. I'll just have to adjust the play time later. I hope my fitness won't suffer.

Finally, I pray and hope that this new job gonna be suitable for me. I thank Allah for giving me this opportunity.

End of an era..

Finally, I give up.. can't be bothered to fix it anymore and am tired of its unreliability. After so many breakdowns, emergency leaves, head ache and agony, I had to let it go. No point of spending hundreds more to keep it running just for commuting. On 16th January 2010 at around 11 p.m., on the way home from Bob's kenduri (Congrats Bob!!!) the engine just died on me. It suddenly stop without warning with only about 2 km to reach my house. The worst thing is the final 1 km is uphill. And then as if it was magic, it started and I was able to ride until about 500 metres from the house before it died again. Luckily there were good samaritans around. One guy on his scooter offered to tow the bike. It was difficult to get it moving at first due to the weight of the bike. Came to an uphill turn, we stalled. Then another bike stop to help.

The following Monday (18th Jan 2010), I got the bike check by Din of FIS Motor (in front of Dato Keramat LRT station). He is good a fixing bike. By the look of his workshop, one would think he just do "kapcais". But if you see the bike waiting to be serviced, you realise he is something. From kapcais to BMWs, he can do it all. I was told that he used to be mechanic for LTDL marshalls' bike. Anyway, after the diagnose, we found out that the electronics died. The rectifier is broken and the spare part is not available. To fix, he must modified other bikes rectifier. Coils to recharge the battery also burnt. Also, no spares available. It has to be rewound. That's it I said. Better off to get one reliable kapcai for commuting.

So I got myself a Honda 125 Wave S now. A bit small compared to the MZ. I just got to adjust the way I ride. Just like between a mountain bike and a BMX. The bigger is more stable while the smaller is twitchier. So there goes the savings plan, now that I got a new monthly commitment. Luckily, the payment for MZ just completed. Well, at least now I'll be saving on the maintenance and petrol bill. Plus, there will be less possibility of breakdown requiring emergency leave. This should be a help when I got the new job.

Ciao.. rempit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahhaa

Kids...

Well.. tomorrow my sons are having orientation for their kindergarten. These days, even kiddie school have orientation.. huh!!!..
It was not planned earlier.. Luqman was only supposed to go to kiddie school next year when he is 6. However, since we have to get Raziq some schooling days, got to put Luqman into one too. Lucky both are accepted into the same kindy.
They are well excited for the school to start. Bought their shoes already and tomorrow gonna pickup their uniforms. Gotta wake up early then.
Ciao

N-Code

Hahahaha.... not even a month past, I've already got a better racket. Even after restringing the previous one, the feel is not there. So, what did I do? Got and get myself a new N-code 145. Good thing the shop in Ampang Park give good deals. Got it for RM200. Would love to get the Prince or the Head.. but they were over my budget. I also got the Nike court shoes there. Cheapest of all Nike for RM120. Not bad at all.

Wahh.... after 2-3 games I could well feel the difference. My drive and and bosting are more accurate and I can drive off to the back wall more often now. Even a couple of times the ball was going out of court over the back wall. Since the power part of the hit is taken care off, now I have to train more on the control part.

That is it for now. Been searching around the web for Squash sites and training videos now. Ciao