Me and my life

sudah 'terlupa'

2011-07-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

Dok sibuk dengan apa tahh.., sampai sudah lupa 'tempat' inii.. Hari ini, setelah beberapa kali 'mencuba' akhirnya dapat masuk jugak.. Hehee..

Salam semua.. Semoga anda gembira..

p.s. tarak idea mau tulis laa...

hari ke-6

2010-08-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

diam tak diam.. sedar tak sedar.. dah masuk hari ke-6 berpuasa di musim panas nii.. 1st day kena puasa dr jam 2:05 to 21:05.. about 19 jam.. memang best.. memang terasa.. hari ni hari ke-6 berpuasa.. puasa dari 2:52 to 20:55.. about 18 jam.. nak kata tak terasa penat, dahaga dan lapar tuu.., menipu laa.. tapi kalau dibandingkan dengan hari pertama, hari-hari selepas hari pertama tuu.., semakin 'meriah' bila anak-anak yang berpuasa penuh kali pertama tak komplen.. tak demand nak makan itu ini.. dan tak cerewet bila berbuka.. senang cerita.. pastinya itu salah satu rahmat dari Dia.. syukur..

semalam, kawan lama datang beriftar bersama.. seronok.. lama juga tak jumpa.. last jumpa dia tahun 1994! lagi rahmat Ramadhan 1431h..

Salam Ramadhan di perantauan

2010-08-11T09:43:00.001-07:00

Tahun ni tahun ke-3 berpuasa di perantauan.. Terkenang kampung halaman.. Terkenang orang di bazar Ramadhan.. Tapi, paling terkenang, kedua orang tua laa.. Itu yang terbayang-bayang.. Saat ini.. Jam baru 5.45pm.. Lambat lagi nak buka posa.. Lagi 3 jam lebih lagii.. Aiihhh.. Begitu laa.. Tahun ni berpuasa di musim panas.. Summer! Siang panjang, malam singkat.. Kena berpuasa panjang.. Nak buat macam mana, kena berpuasa dari terbit fajar hingga terbenam matahari.. Kat mana.. Musim mana.. Kena la ikut.. Kan??

Kepada semua..

Selamat menjalani ibadah puasa..
Selamat berbuka pabila tiba waktunya..
Selamat bersahur untuk berpuasa esoknya..
Selamat beribadah untuk hari yang tiada esok padanya..

Gatal tangan je nii..

2010-07-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Mak aii..!! Lama gila tinggal.. Password pun dekat2 lupaa.. Nasib baik tak kena 'blok'.. Hehehe.. Takde pa pe yang special nak cerita punnn.. Saja nak lepas rinduuu.. Bagus jugak blogspot ni tak 'gantung' bloggers dan blogs yang mandom cam blog niii.. Hehehe..

Esok mau pi bbq kat Monikee Park.. Ahad minggu lepas, bbq satay kat Camperdown dahh.. Seminggu sebelum tuu.., bbq jugak kat Camperdown jugak.. Rasa best pulak.. Dua Ahad lepas, main masak2 dengan anak2 dan isteri jee.. Ahad lepas, main masak2 dengan keluarga Zul, keluargan Mahiz dan keluarga Mahmud serta dua anak dara dan si abang kepada seorang anak dara dari St. Andrews. Esok punya bbq, seramai masyarakat Melayu kat Dundee akan turut serta.. Memang meriah lee.. Harap2 laa.. Harap jugak sakit kepala tak menyerang.. Kalau tak, jadi la macam bbq kat St. Andrews aritu.. Cam 'hampeh'..

Tapi agak boring sebab anak2 dara yang ikut bbq dua Ahad aritu dan si isteri takde skali.. Depa nak pi 'kerabat' gunung la pulakkk.. Wishing them all the best.. Selamat pergi kerabat gunung dan selamat kembaliii... Hehehe..

Salji dorong curang??

2010-01-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Huh!! Biar betul.. Nak tau lebih lanjut, klik http://www.hmetro.com.my/articles/Saljidorongcurang/Article/

Entah la kann?? Harapnyer takde la orang2 'kita' yang buat perangai nii.. Dari artikel tersebut, ramai yang buat hal merupakan ".. penduduk kawasan paling teruk dilanda salji, termasuk di Hampshire, Berkshire, dan West Country." Lucky, area aku ni tak terlibat.. Ha ha ha..

Berat dok sebahagian penduduk UK nii..

Keeping up with the 'unprecedented' UK winter

2010-01-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

Ni winter ke-3 - 1st was in 2007, then 2008 and now.. The 1st time, was nothing.. The 2nd one a bit excited - siap plan pi winter 'retreat'.. The 3rd one.. Went for another 'winter' retreat and it was fun.. But, I think I had enough snow - for the rest of my life lah..

This winter is really different from the previous two.. Too much snow.. Too cold.. I had -16 degC masa winter trip aritu.. Recently, it was reported that Scottish Highland recorded much lower temperature, -21.2 degC!!

Ermmm.. Nak cerita sejuk macam mana, payah gak.. Tapi memang sejuk laa.. Pernah masuk 'cold roam'? Suhu cold room biasanya 4 degC to as low as -4 degC!! Or, kalau nak rasa camne sejuk -21 tuu.., try cari freezer -20 and sleep in it.. Boleh kot 'experience' kesejukkan 'pelik' winter kat UK kali nii..

Masa kat SANAE aritu, penah alami suhu -20 degC. Tapi mentari terang.., siang 24 jam.. So, takde masalah sangat.. Lagipun, tak perlu ke mana-mana.. Tak perlu pi Tesco, tak perlu pi lab.. Dok dalam 'kabin' jerr.. SANEA IV is very confortable.. Suhu dalam kabin, c. 20 degC.. So, boleh la pakai short jerr..

Sanae IV
(sebat dari http://www.sanap.org.za/sanap_stations/sanap_stations.html)

Apa nak buat? Perlu terus hidup.. Berusaha.. Berdoa.. dan tawakkal.. Insya'Allah!

p.s. I'm back.. I think.. Hello again :-)

Apa nak cerita..??

2009-04-21T01:50:00.000-07:00

Tang mana nak mula..?? Lama tak menulis.. Malas sebenarnya tapi selalu saja masuk dan baca cerita-cerita di blog rakan-rakan.. Ingat nak stop sekejap mem'blogging' (takde effect punnn..), tapi kalau stop, rasanya akan stop teruslah.. Jadi, ambil keputusan untuk menulis sebaris dua sebelum 'stop' sebab nak balik Malaysia untuk menjalankan penyelidikan di lapangan.. Memandangkan kemungkinan tidak ber'on-line' untuk tempoh masa lebih 10 minggu, elok rasanya diberitahu di sini, "Saya merindui tulisan kalian.. Teruskan menulis, dan jangan padam (bagi chance saya baca, ok! [agak2 tau kot sapa.. hehe]..)"

Saya akan menjelajah ke beberapa hulu sungai di Malaya semasa proses menjalankan kajian/mengumpul data. Kepada rakan di K. Lipis, insya'Allah saya akan ke sana.. Kalau ada kesempatan, boleh pekena teh tarik secawan dua.. Yang di sebelah utara, lama juga saya berada di sana.., "Jom pi pekena nasik kandaq Sarip kat Glugoq.." Yang di selatan, saya akan datang ke tempat anda.. Tapi, sampai Kota Tinggi jer kot.. Yang di ibu kota.. "Maaf ler, kawasan tu tak 'hulu' walaupun ada 'Hulu Klang'.. Saya pi Ulu Yam saja.."

p.s.: ni part yang paling best..

Yang ditinggalkan di Dundee, "Sabar ek.. Dok lame.. Nanti balik laa.. Doa2 semoga semua berjalan lancar.. Jaga diri molek.."

Insya'Allah..

Gone in 60 seconds..

2009-03-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Lihatlah..

Percaya tak? Gone in 60 seconds..

Haaa... Jangan tak percaya.. Dah setahun kempunan nak melahap menda alah nii, akhirnya tiba jua kat bumi Dundee, Scotland nih.. Dulu2 depa kata biasa ada jual kat Tesco Riverside, tapi dah setahun lebih dok usha, takde plak.. Semalam, pi kedai pak Matt.. Sungguh tak sangka.. Ada la pulak.. So, apa tunggu lagi.. Beli la dua peket.. Dua peket jer.. Nak syok lagi.., mai dari Malaysia! So, terubat la jugak rindu dan hilang la mengidam kat roti canai pak Wahab depan PGA tuu.. Haha.. Tapi, balik KT 24hb nanti, sure pi punya lah.. Mau yang freshly prepared!! Sapa2 nak join, mai la.. Jumpa kat kedai pak Wahab, jam 10.00mlm..

Kat kedai pak Matt smlm, beli 1/2 dozen cili sos Maggi, kicap kipas udang (masin) sebotol dan pau kaya dua peket.. Ada dua tiga benda lagi yang dibeli smlm, mai dari M'sia.. So, sapa kata dok Dundee, Scotland tak best? Hehe.. Selagi ada makanan berunsur melayu Malaysia, aku tak peduli berapa harga aku perlu bayar.. Aku Melayu Malaysia dan aku tetap mau makan makanan ala-ala Melayu Malaysia.. Walaupun roti canai tu tak berapa melayu tapi aku rasa dah cukup dimelayukan dah..

East Sands, St Andrews

2009-03-11T04:14:00.000-07:00

This is the view from my lab in early spring! It's really nice (to see!) a calm North Sea but I guess not for swimming la huh! Haha.. At least not for me.. I don't know but I think the water is (or should be..) cold! I'll wait for summer - YES!! This summer, I want to swim here.. Last year, I was away for most of the summer. But this year, I'll be here. This could be my best chance to get wet in North Sea but I have another year to do it if I can't do it this year.. So, wanna join? Anyone??

East Sands, St Andrews

[spring 2009]

A dozen years of happy time with supermom a.k.a che piah

2009-03-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

YESSS!!! It's been 12 years che piah being my wife, and my partner (actually more than that!) I am happy to have my che piah around as she is important to me! I always know that..

Doakan kami bahagia bersama selamanya..

Terima kasih.

Seven Ages of Rock

2009-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

I missed this show last night on tele.. I manage to watch it partly on BBC(online UK) and I like this part the most! So, I copied it here. I hope you (who enjoy heavy metal!) like it too.. Forgive me if you don't..

Enjoy yourself..

cheers.

Note. I'm trully sorry, for some reasons, I noticed that BBC had informed that this clip can't be played unless you're in UK! Too bad.. Anyway, the teaser is not what I really wanted to share with you or to show you what I want you to see.. Or at least, the best part in the clip. Whatever, I just leave it here.. O note for myself.. Keep rocking and let it roll..

Kepada pengguna Wondow Vista, JANGAN tiru saya..

2009-03-05T04:30:00.000-08:00

Kepada sesiapa yang menggunakan Window Vista, ni nak bagitau.. Kalau dah tau takpa laa.. Pi kot lain.. Tapi kalau nak gagah baca jugak, ikut laa.. Ta'dak sapa nak marah aihhh..

Pendek cerita - JANGAN dok gatai 'clear' files anda sewenang-wenangnya dari subfolder 'Recent Documents' dan 'Recently Changed' (folder Searches) or you might loose your files - AFTER you 'Empty the Recycle Bin' la..

Kesimpulannya - JANGAN clear 'recycle bin' sesuka hati.. haha..

Padan muka aku.. huhu.. Tensionnya..

Spring is here..

2009-03-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

.. so does rains..

Sekarang ni, cerah sikit. Matahari hari ni terang sampai ke petang. Walaupun suhu masih lagi rendah (aroung 6 deg C) tapi tak la mandom sangat. Boleh ler lunch tepi laut sambil tengok burung main air.. Hehe.. Tapi lupa pulak nak bawak kamera, takde ler pemandangan Eastsand yang landai masa air surut.. Tak selalu jugak boleh dapat cuaca macam ni, kadang-kadang panas (terang benderang) sekejap, pastu hujan sekejap. Hujan tak lah lebat tapi sapa nak main hujan di negeri sejuk nii.. :-)

Walaupun matahari menyinari terang benderang, sekali angin mai, menggeletar la jugak sekejap.. Sebab jarang-jarang dapat bermain cahaya matahari yang terang tu, sejuk pun masih nak melepak tepi laut.. Dalam sebulan lagi, boleh la lunch lebih kerap tepi pantai nii..

.. tapi tak leh lawan keindahan pantai ni lah.. sempat ke nak mandi kat sini lagi.. hmmm...

Stick to your guns

2009-02-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

Like Bon Jovi said, in "Stick to your guns", I found this song, at this particular moment, is really motivating me.. This song, with great lyrics really pulled me through the day.. It's been a while since I felt a bit down.. It's nothing actually but my sickness is really disturbing me!

Tah apa yang aku salah makan ntah, or termakan lebih sampai 3 minggu lebih dah lutut aku ni bengkak akibat gout.. Biasanya, dua tiga hari, paling lama pun empat lima hari dah ok.. Ini dah masuk hari yang ke-27 dah aku masih jalan pelan2 macam kawan Aiman! Sampai dah nak habis bekalan ubat yang aku amik kat klinik kat Wakaf Tengah tuu.. :-)

Walaupun minggu lepas aku sangat gumbira sebab dapat report card (read: review) yang mengompemkan aku sebagai 'calon PhD' [elehhh.. baru 'calon'..] di Universiti St Andrews ni.., dok dapek den nak merayakannya.. Nak celebrate b'day dengan anak2 pun takde selera sebab gout yang degil nih! Lagi berita gumbira.. Pada hari Ahad (kerja jugak weh hari Ahad pun..) aku dapat surat dari penganjur 10th Student Conference for Conservation Science, University of Cambridge. Ini la seminar pertama aku sejak dok di UK sebagai student ni.. Tak sabar nak take part dalam seminar tu.. (cerita lanjut di blog satu lagi..)

Stick to your guns

[Bon Jovi]

So you want to be a cowboy

Well you know it's more that just a ride

Guess you got to know the real thing

If you want to know the other side

Ain't nobody riding shotgun

In this world tonight

And when you spit, you better mean it

You got to make 'em all believe it

If you're gonna be the one

Stick to your gun

Ain't nobody gonna hurt you, baby

You can go for the trigger

But only if you have to

Aim from the heart

Some will love and some will curse you, baby

And you can go to war

But only if you have to

It's only if you have to

So you want to be the big time

Some people have to drag you down

There's no living in the backseat

If you're gonna drive through town

And when you pray for independence

Boy, you better stand your ground

You got to give it all you got now

Or you might get shot down

Fight hard until the battle is won

.........................

Well, you know that I been through it

I got the scars to prove it

Fight hard and the Battle is yours

... But stick to your guns

So, "Stick to your guns" man..
p/s - kalau taktau lagu ni, youtube-bing la deh..

Kedai pak Matt(hew)..

2009-02-17T07:05:00.001-08:00

Matthew's Food - Scotland's Premier Oriental Supermarket

(http://www.matthewsfoods.co.uk/)

Kedai ni aku panggey kedai cina or kalau nak manja sket, aku panggey kedai 'pak Matt'.. Ni la sesatunya kedai kat Dundee ni yg jual durian! Hehehe.. Jangan tak percaya.. Kat sini la masyarakat nusantara dan Asia membeli (pastu blah!) benda2 nusantara dan Asia.. Banyak jugak yang ada kat kedai ni.. Keropok udang Rota pun ada.. Nak Indomee? Or bihun Yeos? Sorry.. Mee Maggi tarak! (tapi ada jual kat lain..)

Bagi yang tinggal di St Andrews, sini jugak la depa mai kalau nak cari rendang Indonesia cap Brahims or rencah tomyam cap Adabi or kicap cap kipas udang or ketupat pulut cap Nona or petai or asam gelugur! Hahaha.. Aku dok tunggu bila la dia nak jual belacan..

Dengan adanya kedai cina ni (lagi satu ada kat Glasgow dan Aberdeen), dapat ler merasa dan memakan makanan kot melayu.. Tak kuasa aku nak makan ikut macam Scottish nih.. Nama dah melayu, jadi melayu jugak pi mana pun..

Korang tau ni apa tak??

pulut durian..

Menjelang 38..

2009-02-17T05:37:00.000-08:00

Dah bertambah usia..

Semakin tua..

Gitu la..

Dah bertambah uban di kepala..

Semakin bijak..?

Semakin pandai..?

Tak tau la.. Harap2 laa..

Dah 'pjk'..

Dah kaya..??

Dah senang..??

Alhamdulillah, ada rezeki.. Tuhan bagi..

Dah berisi..

Sihat..??

Kadang2 sakit, kadang2 ok.. Dugaan..

Dah ready..??

Hah! Ready ape nyer?

Mati.. Tak tunggu berusia, tak kira uban, atau 'pjk' atau berisi..

Mati.. Mai skali, tinggallah semua yang engkau kasihi di dunia ini..

p/s - Pada kawan2 sekalian, saya mohon ampun maaf ya kalau ada salah silap tuu.. Dosa pada hambaNya, hanya boleh diampun oleh kalian.. Tidak Yang Maha Agung.. Begitu hebatnya kalian..

rambut sudah kembang.. hehe..

*pjk = perot jengoi ke depan

Head spinning..

2009-02-03T04:37:00.000-08:00

TOMORROW

[SIXX:A.M]

Where ya gonna be tomorrow?
How ya gonna face the sorrow?
Where ya gonna be when you die?
'Cause nothing's gonna last forever
And things they change like the weather
They're gone in the blink of an eye
Just look at yourself, can you see where you are?
Look at yourself, now you can't hide the scars
Just look at yourself 'cause there's nowhere to go
And you know
Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.
And are you terrified by sadness
And have you given into madness
You're running out of places to hide
'Cause everybody's got a reason
To justify how they're feelin'
Maybe you should open your eyes
Just look at yourself, do you like what you see?
Look at yourself, is this how it should be?
Just look at yourself, 'cause there's nowhere to go
And you'll know
Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.
Are you waiting for the reason to change?
Are you waiting for the end, has it came?
Nothing's gonna stand in your way...
Just look at yourself, do you like what you see?
Look at yourself, is this how it should be?
Tomorrow
You're gonna have to live with the things you say
Tomorrow
You'll have to cross bridges that you burned today
Tomorrow...
And everything you do, it's coming back for you
You'll never outrun what waits for you
Tomorrow.

is the another Tomorrow...??

Mee udang anyone??

2009-02-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

Hmmm.. Nak tak?? Hehe..

Kadang-kadang dok kat sini tak terasa sangat bila makan masakan selazat ni.. Well, kalau wife aku tak sibuk, ini ler hasilnya.. Pastu, bila teringin nak makan lagi.., arrgghhh.. Dia sibuk la pulak.. Nak pi makan kat luar, dalam mimpi la kot.. Hehe.. Thanks dear..

Days are getting longer.. and longer..

2009-01-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

YESSS!!!!

Sekarang nii dah lebih separuh dah kot winter.. Ni winter yang ke-2 aku dan keluarga lalui di Dundee nii.. Tahun ni tak se'basah' winter lepas.. Disember 2007, kami sekeluarga sampai di Edinburgh. Masa tu hujan. Tiba di Dundee, hujan masih turun.. Hujan kat sini tak lebat tapi turun sekejap-sekejap dan lama weeiiihhh.... Masa tu, tersangat la rasa bosan sebab tak boleh pi mana-mana. Dan lagi, siangnya pendek sangat.. Mana biasa dengan waktu siang yang tak sampai 8 jam! Bengong sekejap.. Dah la hujan memanjang (almost hari-hari!!).. Pulak lagi.., masa tu tak punya kenderaan sendiri.. Tak dinafikan, kenderaan awam kat sini sangat 'kelas' tapi nak menunggu (dan pergi menunggu..) amat ler menduga ketabahan hati dan minda! Leceh.. Kena balut satu badan.. Tapi, perut kena isi; mulut perlu disuap jugak.. Pi la jugak town.. Sebelum tu, dekat2 flat ni, ada Tesco. Mudah sket nak beli barang-barang rumah/dapur. Alih-alih, ditutup plak sebab nak buat Tesco Extra.. Katanya buka this April.. Oh! Alangkah..

Tak lama pastu, aku balik M'sia (masa tu mai teman isteri tercinta sebulan - tolong mana-mana boleh to settle down, especially skolah anak-anak). Kat M'sia, settle application, settle segala yang patut, dan akhirnya mai semula late Feb '08. Masa tu dah nak masuk spring.. Hujan masih ada tapi hari dah panjang sket.. Masa tu, berkira-kira nak beli kereta.. Hari-hari pergi St. Andrews naik bas, jalan kaki dalam sejuk dan basah, bosan gak ler.. Sejukkk... At last, beli ler kereta.. Beli kereta 4th hand jer for £900 (masa tu £1 = RM7 lagi!) Kalau la ni, alangkah.. Tapi kira ok ler.. Senang sket nak ke town.. Senang sket nak ke sana sini.. Senang sket aku nak pi St. Andrews! Tak perlu ler aku tunggu bas dalam sejuk ditiup angin North Sea tuu..

Sekarang..,

Tak sabar nak berjumpa spring lagi..

Tak sabar nak tengok pokok kembali berdaun..

Tak sabar nak tengok bunga tepi-tepi jalan..

Tak sabar nak tunggu Tesco Extra buka..

dan..

Tak sabar jugak nak balik M'sia, tangkap ikan lagi.. Haha..

1st year review

2009-01-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Pergh.. Lama gila tak update.. Macam2 jadi kebelakangan ni tapi takdan nak update.. Kepada yang ziarah, maaf lar sebab tinggal blog lama tanpa meninggalkan 'pesan'..

Hari ni kira penting gak lar dalam sejarah hidup sebagai pelajar di bumi Scot nii.. Jam 11.30 pagi tadi, dengan langkah penuh 'gabra' masuk bilik Prof. Richard J. Abbott. Prof. Abbott is such a great man! Aku rasa malu plak bila dia minta jeket aku untuk disangkutkan di tempat sangkut jeket tuu.. Mana biasa.. Kat M'sia, takde nyer buat or diajar mende2 camni.. Dan lagi - PROFESOR tuu.. Sementara tunggu Dr. Iain Mathews mai, sempat ler berkenal-kenalan. Pas Dr. Iain masuk, bermula ler the first review meeting yang akan menentukan aku ni layak ker dinaik taraf ke 'calon PhD' dari 'general research student!' Aku lalui 45 minit dengan penuh debar; menjawab soalan2 depa tu dengan gaya dan lenggok Amarican Manglish aku yang tak seberapa tuu.. Alhamdulillah.. At the end depa kata, "You did well. You understand your subject very well and we are proud! bla bla bla.." (lebih kurang camtu ler..). Oh Tuhan! Terima kasih.. Lega sangat..

Walaupun selsema dan batuk2 yang menemani aku ni takmau hilang, aku berjaya mengharungi first year reivew.. Dengan ayat akhir depa tu, aku balik lab, pi jumpa supervisor. Story morry la plak kat supervisor aku for another 30 mins.., and she said, "Congratulation, I know you can do it!" Pergh.. Lega..

[Serius, aku risau gila dengan first review meeting nii.. Mana tak nyer.., kalau kantoi, bye bye ler PhD.. Depa downgrade to MPhil. jer.. Dari perabih and dapat Mphil., baik aku balik M'sia tanam padi.. Hehehe.. Lucky, dapat study sedikit sebanyak.. Boleh ler defend.. Semalam, dok mengadu nasib kat isteri, tapi takde nyer dia nak simpati, nak cakap manja2.. Huh! Anyway, Thank you dear, for the inspiration.. I know you pray a lot for my success.. Hehe..]

12 months from now, I'll meet them again and the second review meeting is something but not as tough as first review meeting since this one is just to make sure all plans are worked out well and to check the performance and progress of research jer.. But, nothing can be taken lightly.. I promise to do well..

Just to let you know, at University of St Andrews (at least at the School of Biology -- as far as I understand), we have a 'monitoring committee' comprise of a tutor (in my case Prof. Richard) and an internal examiner (Dr. Iain). Tutor acting as an independent 'advisor' - in case your 'relationship' with your supervisor turn sour, tutor will mediating the whole process until completion of PhD research. One interestring fact is, the candidate know who is their 'internal examiner' -- the one who will check and mark the thesis, and has no limitation for student to see their 'internal examiner' for advice, or other help. Both of them -- in case the student has no 'second supervisor' will monitor the progress of each student throughout their PhD years through 4-month review meeting (I skip this one!), first (year) review meeting, second review meeting and final meeting which is the viva. Interesting, isn't it? Well.. At least for me!

Penat tapi puas hati..

2008-12-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

Syukur.. Semua telah selamat pergi ke Fort Williams dan Ilse of Skyes dan balik.. Banyak kenangan tapi penattttttttttt.....

Depan hostel kat Roy Bridge, near Fort Williams

[suhu -3 deg C]

Musim demam dan batuk! part II

2008-12-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

Macam aku cakap sebelum ni, Bob tak pi skolah, Aidil tak pi skolah, Fizi sure tak nak pi skolah (or lebih kurang gitu ler..).. Arini, tiga2 anak lelaki aku tengah layan game kat Nintendo DS masing2.. Aidil mula batuk2 dan demam kelmarin; cikgu dia call suruh mai amik Aidil bawak balik umah.. Masa tu aku dah separuh jalan ke St. Andrews, so wife ler kena pi amik.. Kesia ler plak.. Jalan ler depa tiga beranak (Bob yang dah bosan dok rumah, ikut pi amik abang dia.. Berani plak jumpa cikgu dia.. hehe..). Jam 3.15ptg wife pi amik Fizi balik dari skolah.. Dia dah jalan half way berdua-duaan dengan awek Scottish (kawan Bob, katanya!) Memang dia tak puas hati sebab dia sorang jer pi skolah.. Phew.. Anak aku..

Petang tu dia sorang jer pi ngaji Qur'an kat rumah ustaz Che An! Bab ngaji Qur'an ni, dia malas tapi dia cepat blajar.. Soon, nak buat sambutan hari raya aidil adha dan AGM Komuniti Melayu Dundee, ada la sket program yang mana dia nak dia baca beberapa ayat dari surah ash-Shaaffaat (ayat 102-107 - berkenaan peristiwa mimpi Nabi Ibrahim a.s yang diarahkan mengorbankan anaknya, Nabi Ismail a.s). Bab baca ni, dia takde masalah.. Cakap jer.. (plus puji sket..) sure dia on.. Well, sejak dok sini, rasanya ni dah kali ke-3 kot dia diminta membaca ayat dalam majlis sebegitu.. So far, Fizi tak banyak songeh.. Hehe.. Hari ni, Fizi yang sihat (tapi dia kata, tak sihat la..) tu, taknak pi skolah.. Takpe lah.. Dok ler depa tiga orang ditemani aku yang tak berapa sihat gak ni..

Walaupun kena jaga depa tiga orang ni, kerja 'skolah' kena buat gak.. Bosan2 baca journal or buat analisis data, ini ler kerja aku (selain baca blog orang..) Kat rumah ni, kalau nak membaca masa budak tiga orang ni ada, payah sket.. Boleh ler baca sepintas lalu apa2 yang patut.. Nak buat analisis data yang berat-berat takleh gak buat kat rumah sorang2.. Nanti benda lain yang jadi.. Hehehe.. Ini kena buat kat lab; and masa supervisor ada di bilik dia.. Senang kalau ada masalah.. Setakat ni, masih boleh handle kerja2 analisis ni.. Lepas new year, banyak ler jugak yang nak kena belajar dengan dia.. Tak sabar gak rasanya.. ;-)

Musim demam dan batuk!

2008-12-16T06:13:00.000-08:00

Cuaca sejuk.. Dah cecah minus dah.. Suram jer kat luar tu.. Jam 3 ptg dah nak masuk Maghrib..
Sejuk2 ni.., mula la macam2 penyakit mencari mangsa (or sebaliknya!).. Kelmarin, supermom (jadi dok berape super doh..) dah mula batuk2.. Semalam, Bob pulak batuk.. Kesian tengok dia sorang2, teman ler dia tido.. Badan dia agak panas.. Malas nak nyusahkan supermom yang keletihan melayan batuk yang tido kat sofa kat luar tu.. Aku amik ler tuala kecik, basahkan dengan air suam dan lap badan dia.. Pastu, lipat kecik tuala tu dan letak kat dahi dia.. Pandai plak dia jaga tuala tu tak kasi jatuh! Beberapa kali gak dia terbatuk-batuk.. Sampai jam 4 pagi, aku dok pejam celik mata.. Bob bangun beberapa kali.. Tanya aku, abang mana? Kat bilik sebelah, tido dengan Fizi.. Pastu, Bob terjaga lagi.. Tanya aku, ibu mana? Kat luar, tido kat sofa.. Sedih plak aku bila dia tanya camtu.. Betul la.. Anak2 ni, camne pun nak mak dia gak.. Nak abang2 dia dulu.. Pastu baru nak bapak dia.. Takpe lar.. At least, semalam aku masih sihat.. Pagi ni, aku dah mula batuk2.. Semalam tu dah ada sket2.. So, arini aku memaksakan diri minum air suam bercawan-cawan walaupun tak dahaga.. Hehe.. Tak boleh ler dua2 ibu dan bapak depa demam.. Kesian plak nanti..
Aidil dah mula batuk2 tapi arini masih pi skolah.. Bob absent arini.. Rasanya, esok Aidil pun tak pi skolah.. Aidil tak pi, Bob tak pi, Fizi sure tak mau pi punya.. Pagi ni, dia yang sihat tu, siap buat2 batuk.. Siap mengadu, sakiiiiitttttttttttt... Hehehe.. Anak aku.. Siap ngadu (dengan nada tak puas hati..!), Fizi tak penah ponteng skolah lagi tahun ni.. Harap2 depa cepat baik.. Skolah tinggal seminggu lagi.. Abih minggu ni, sambung lagi 2 hari minggu depan, cuti.. Cuti until new year.. Cuti masa winter ni bosan ler sket.. Tapi ada lar plan nak jalan2 ke highland tuu.. Harap2 masa tu, semua sihat ler.. Hehe.. Anyone? Nak ikot?

Blow torch is for..

2008-12-07T04:10:00.000-08:00

.. layur ayam! Hehe..

Kepada yang tak berapa sure, aktiviti layur ayam ni jarang dah dibuat orang.. Bukan apa.. La ni orang biasa beli ayam yang dah siap potong into small pieces.. Jarang dah beli ayam sekor seketul.. Kalau beli pun, mungkin dah siap bersih sebersih-bersihnya.. Emmm.. Bukan le maksudnye ayam di sini (Dundee, Scotland) tak bersih.. Yang dimaksudkan bersih tu ialah 'bulu-bulu halus' ayam tuu.. Kadang-kadang, bulu-bulu halus ayam ni masih banyak sebab susah nak dibuang kalau cabut 'bulu' ayam dengan mesin mahupun tangan! So, kena ler layur ayam tu untuk membakar bulu-bulu halus tuu..

Zaman aku kecik-kecik dulu, selepas ayah aku sembelih ayam (selepas keliling rumah - kekadang sampai atas pokok aku kejar ayam; setelah mengumpan tak jadi.. sbb mak aku awal2 pagi dah bagi makan ayam tu kenyang2..), aku ditugaskan untuk mencabut bulu ayam tu (kerja WAJIB aku, selepas mak aku rendam dalam air mengelegak panas..) Lepas tu, ayah aku akan layur atas api.., untuk tujuan yang sama..

(cara-cara melayur ayam ni korang pikir ler sendiri ye.. )

Since kat rumah ni, tuan rumah sediakan dapur yg tak berapi dan berasap tu (hotplate) makanya tak dapat ler aku nak melayur ayam; membakar bulu ayam tuu.. Suatu hari, aku (dgn wife) menonton UKTV Food.. Ada ler mamat ni guna blow torch untuk kluakan tah ape tah macam kek tu (ada kat blog my chepiah - yg ada strawberi keliling tuu..) Selepas tengok rancangan tu (beberapa hari la jugak..), aku terfikir untuk beli blow torch tu.. Tujuan nyer lebih kepada nak guna untuk layur ayam sebenarnya! YESSSS!!! Memang aku puas hati..

Layur ayam ni ada baiknyer:

1. bulu-bulu halus ayam tu, gone! burn baby, burn..

2. kulit ayam tu jadi keras dan melekat molek pada isi ayam, so bila potong, takde la isi ayam takde kulit.. nice untuk menggoreng kunyit..

3. lelemak pada kulit ayam tu, cair.. hehe.. ini yg paling best.. so, kalau dah goreng garing tu, takde la rasa terkilan nak makan kulit tuu.. hehe..

4. bau dia.. huh! menyelerakan.. (so, hati-hati kalau tgh tight diet tu ek..?)

another scene.. BANJIR part II

2008-12-03T03:58:00.000-08:00

This is another pic taken by En. Mokhtar (UMT photographer) to share with all of you..

p/s: I have to remove the previous pic due to unforeseen circumstances.. ;-)

BANJIR...

2008-12-02T03:44:00.000-08:00

(pic by en mokhtar - UMT photographer)

Kampusku (UMT) banjir.. Telah diumumkan bahawa 1 Dis 2008 adalah hari cuti untuk warga UMT..

Apa cerita K. Berang ye..?

nota tambahan: katanya, CAT digunakan untuk meroboh tembok pagar UMT bagi mempercepatkan air mengalir ke laut, setelah tembok pagar UDM pecah dirempuh air (pic malas nak letak..)

di'tag' by ::lynn::

2008-11-27T13:20:00.000-08:00

terus terang cakap, aku tak suka tag2 ney.. sama cam forward junk mail (biar ler tak dapat sesen pun from BG..), aku tak suka TAPI for this time ONLY (BACA: SKALI NEY JER..) aku buat.. well, bukan sebab ::lynn:: tapi sebab aku tak penah bagitau orang aku tak suka tag2 ney.. so, now aku dah bagitau, JANGAN ler ada yang tak faham, ok?

[aku follow jer ::lynn:: punya format..]

Starting time: 21.23pm

Name: Amirrudin Ahmad

Sisters: 1

Brothers: 2 (both RIP [Al-Fatihah buat arwah Hishamuddin dan Shaharuddin Ahmad] + 1 step bro

Shoe size: 6..kdg2 6 1/2...

Height: 164 cm (sama lar ::lynn::).. kadang2 166 cm (bila rambutku kembang.. hahahaha...)

Where do u live: Dundee, Scotland (for now ler..)

Have u ever been on a plane: slalu gak ler lately ney..

Swam in the ocean: jarang-jarang skali

Fallen asleep at school: masa kimia kot...

Broken someone's heart: ada ler.. hehehe.. romeo..

Fell off your chair: masa skolah2 ada ler..

Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: buat ape? fon tak bunyi ke?? apa ra.. buang karan kan ::lynn:: kan..?

Saved emails: dulu2 kala..

What is your room like: room mana? bedroom? living room? opis room?

What's right beside u: wall..

What is the last thing u ate: nasikk goreng puteh with budu and sambal belacan cicah durian dan ikan tamban goreng garing...

Ever had...
Chicken pox: std 2..

Stiches: nope...

Broken nose: twice..

Do u believe in love at first sight: first sight? yer ler.. dah suka, pandang sampai hilang di mata ler.. jatuh cinta pandang pertama lar...

Like picnics: yeap.. sorang2 pun jadi..

Who was/were... The last person u danced with: huh! kak noor (cikgu tari kat USM in 1991!!

Last thing made u smile: tak ingat.. and smile sokmo..

Today did u...
Talk to someone u like: yeap.. the supermom!!

Kissed anyone: do

Get sick: my middle name ler 'sick' tuuu...

Miss someone: yeap.. deeply...

Who do u really hate: stupid people that don't know how to use their brain, and can't see the good from the bad!! hampeh..

Do u like your hand-writting: sangat ler tak suka, tp nak wat camne..

Are your toe nails painted: idok ler..

Whose bed other that yours would u rather sleep in: my kids..

What color shirt are u wearing now: kaler ijau ala2 buruk gitu..

Are u a friendly person: kalau kena dgn orang..

Do u have any pets: long2 time ago.. a cat name Puteh

Do u sleep with the TV on: hehehe... that's the best thing to do...

What are u doing right now: typing to answer tag on me..

Can u handle the truth: try me...

Are u closer to your mother or father: can't say.. both..

Do u eat healthy: not at all..

If u're having a bad day, who are u most likely to go to: noone..

Are u loud or quiet most of the time: depands.. but mostly quiet..

Are u confident: depends..

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
i. susukan anak
ii. beli lampin pakai buang anak
iii. anta anak pi rumah Pak Akob
iv. pi kerja kat Bio, USM
v. amik anak

5 of my bad habits-
i. tak pandai simpan bila excited
ii. mudah percaya orang
iii. mudah jatuh cinta.. aduhhhhhh..
iv. lambat marah
v. pendendam

5 places I've lived/living-
i. Baling, Kedah
ii. Kangar, Perlis
iii. Sg. Dua, Penang
iv. Pdg. Nenas, K. Terengganu
v. Charleston Dr., Dundee

But I won't tag anyone.. Sorry.. Not me..

Goshhhh... I did it at 21.49pm

Semoga anda puas hati..

maaf kalau ada salah silap deh..

I'm listening..

2008-11-24T13:34:00.000-08:00

Well.. I'm listening to GnRs' Chinese Democracy at http://www.myspace.com/GunsNRoses. The sound, the music were totally different from the previous GnR album. I guess Axl doesn't want to be compared to the previous album at all. I've been listening to a few songs and I think I can accept "This Is Love" and "Sorry". I don't think any songs from this album can make a big impact or be more memorable that "Welcome to the Jungle" or "November Rains". But, hey.. like I said.., this is a different album altogether.. For now, I just want to listen to it first.. If one day I buy the album, it's because I'm a fan of GnR.. That's it..

To buy, or not to buy..

2008-11-24T04:14:00.000-08:00

That's the question.. I'm a big fan, of course.. But this is NOT at all the band I used to listen to.. It's so much different (except the 'problem' I guess, remains..) from the original line up.. Well.. Original line up was first gone after UYI I and II were released, but at least the key player still there.. Slash, Duff, and Matt (not the 'ori' though!) were that in UYI I and II.. This time, it's totally a different line up except on vocal.. So, the sound should be similar.. Yeah, right but the music don't.. Which one I prefer? The sound of Axl vocal or the music the band played? I guess, the MUSIC.. So, I'm NOT going to BUY..

But.. This album is something.. Really.. It has something in it.. Probably something like.., hey.. I guess this is THE longest ever album to be produced and released.. Would it be nice to have and listen to the much 'talk about' album since The Spaghetti Incident? It's truly an epic project, Chinese Democracy is (new) GNR's first studio release since 1993. So, I would love to listen to it.. At least, it is fair for me to judge the current line up.. Hmmm.. I should BUY the album..

Ermm... Err... But... Damn... I wish this is the GnR that I know.. Sh*t...

Reading, and more reading..

2008-11-22T06:34:00.000-08:00

Dari ari rabu lepas, dok rumah tak klua mana2.. ada dua sebab: (1) lutut aku bengkak, sebab aku makan udang banyak ekor.. dan (2) aku nak baca some books and journals..

Dok rumah, musim luruh ni boring sebenarnya.. Nak klua, gi kampus nak kena berbungkus sebab dah makin sejuk.. Pastu kena drive for 35 min.. Pastu, sblm masuk lab, kena gi bilik kecil dulu untuk menunaikan hajat kecik.. Nak baca memang boleh baca tapi rasanya kalau kat rumah, boleh jugak buat benda yang sama..

Anak2 pi skolah dari 9 to 3.30pm. Kalau dapat baca dalam 3 jam pun sebenarnya dah cukup bagus.. So, tak payah ler nak pi kampus.. Lega la jugak sebab dapat membaca seperti yang dihajati.. Buku tu tak abih lagi baca.. Amik masa ler jugak.. So far, dah baca a few (good) journals' paper for various topics from 'beta diversity' to 'species abundance distribution'! Lega..

Dok rumah, one BEST thing is banyak makanan.. Haha.. Sambil baca boleh me'reward' diri sendiri.. Nikmatnya...

Report done but...

2008-11-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... Dua report dah selamat.. 4- and 9-month reports dah selesai.. Berhempas pulas ler jugak nak siapkan kedua-dua tu.. Both were tough but 9-month report demand more materials.. Kalau ikut buku panduan tu, both reports should be about 4000 words but when it was completed, approved for submission total words count far more than what it supposed to be..! And, I am glad it was over..

Is it really over?? Naah.. I got sit for the 4- and 9-month review.. I will happen sometimes end of this month or next month. If the meeting will be held in December, I hope it will be held on the first week of December. After that I can visit the British Library to get some materials for my next report.. Huh.. Another report..?? Well, yes! Another report to write and submit.. This one will be ".. straight forward!" Itu ler kata-kata yang gerun didengar klua dari mulut my supervisor.. The last report, she said the same thing, now I understand her language better - "straight forward" means "... hehehe..., I know it well.." I am prepare for it.. I have about 3 month (11 weeks, actually!) I have enough time. I can do it..

For now, I need to read.. Read.. Read.. And more reading.. Especially on SAD and species range size distribution! Any help, anyone?

IDEA OH IDEA..

2008-10-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

Alahai.. I'm stuck!! Huhu.. Tatau mau tulis apa.. Dekat 2jam 'mencipta' ayat nan sebaris.. Bila dalam keadaan macam ni, rasa nak tido sesangat.. Bila tak nak tido, rasa nak makan sesangat.. Heh.. Buat mee goreng best gak nih.. Mee goreng basah.. Alamak.. Udang plak tadak.. Alah.. Letak ayam cukup ler.. Telur ada.. Jadik..

Ok.. Chow dulu..

p/s - mungkin idea mari lepas makan mee..

12 days and counting...

2008-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

Subject: 9-month report
Duedate: 31st Oct 2008

Draft 1: Submitted 16th Oct 2008
After a brief review from my supervisor on the following day, my 9-month report is far from completed! Still got a long way to go.. Luckly, she gave me a few ideas and hi-lite a couple of things that I need to put in the report.. Hmmm.. Next Monday, she want to see it (it is TOMORROW!!) Aduhhh...

(flashback) After the meeting, which lasted about half an hour, I went back to the lab. Sitting on the chair in front of the PC; without much ideas I went back to my notebook. A lot of things I (think I..) wrote during the meeting.. Hmmm...

Apart from that, Prof. Anne also give me some works which would take sometimes to complete! Huh.. My 12-month report just around the corner.. I guess I know what to put in the report.. And, she want to see the manuscript on modified-natural pools fish by end of the year! Fuhhh... Berasap ler..

Saturday (18th Oct 2008). My wife and I agree to make a small gathering at our flat to celebrate Fizzy's 9th birthday which actually falls on Monday, 20th October 2008. We plan to have it on Saturday, so that we can rest on Sunday! (and I can do some works!). Yeah! The gathering was great; almost all families and their kids were here and the food mostly 'gone'.., and we had a good day rest on Sunday (but I had it too much.. I guess..)

Sunday (19th Oct 2008). REST DAY.

Huh.. Ni MEMANG nak tayang..

2008-10-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Siapa yang tak happy kalau orang yang diminati sudi menjenguk dan meninggalkan 'kesan' di blog ini.. Hehe.. Sblm ni bro Shuk from Belantara and then bro Pyanhabib..

Tak kisah ler kalau korang tak kenal.. Tapi kalau korang kenal mereka, pasti korang pun suka macam gua ler.. Hehe..

From bro Pyanhabib...

and, from bro Shuk of Belantara (emel personal terpaksa digelapkan!! Pesonal tu..)

New backdrop

2008-10-05T04:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing is changed.., just a bit here and there.. After 'accidently' press the ENTER key, the whole things gone.. Now slowly cari balik link to all those pages yang telah 'dihilangkan' tu.. Mostly dah dapat balik but a few belum.. In a few days semua boleh dapat ler, insyaAllah.. Tak banyak pun.. Blog A.Faizal. Prof. KMS, webpage Altok (yg tak update2 tu.. hehe..!!) and my univ. and knac.com!

Oh ya.. My tunes tu kena buat balik ler.. Hehe..

Nanti2 lah.. Free sket, baru masukkan semua tu..

I don't know what I'm doing...

2008-10-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

Huhu.. Sedih sangat.. Abih hilang semua link.. Camne boleh salah tekan key!

Nanti ler masukkan semula link ke blog korang yang selalu saya baca tu..

But, background baru nih nice kan..?

Hmmm.. Freshwater fish kalau ada, sure lagi best!! Hehehe..

A Song For You..

2008-10-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

Terasa best plak layan MUH nih..

Ada sapa2 yang faham?? Hehe..

****sengeh sorang2 ler..

Sorry.. If you hate the sound of my tunes..

2008-09-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys.. This is me.. If you don't like the song, please "PAUSE" it.. IF you like it, go full blast.. Yeah... Enjoy it..

p/s - I dedicated those songs to Fahmi and Dukes.. Enjoy my frens..

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

2008-09-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Kepada semua yang menziarah laman blog ini, saya mengambil kesempatan ini mengucapkan "Selamat Hari Raya". Semoga kalian bergembira di hari raya ini dan sentiasa di dalam lindungan dan dilimpahi rahmat Allah selalu.. Saya juga mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memohon ampun dan maaf sekiranya ada salah dan silap saya pada kalian yang tidak saya sedari..

Bagi yang berhari raya bersama keluarga dan/atau rakan taulan di perantauan, tak usahlah bersedih. Hari ini untuk semua bergembira tapi jangan sampai lupa diri sudah ler.. Kesempatan yang ada patut digunakan untuk mengeratkan tali persaudaraan sesama kita.. Semoga semua bergembira..

SELAMAT HARI RAYA...

One down, two to go..

2008-09-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

YES!! One down, two to go..
I just completed my 4-month report which include first part of the literature review, objectives and short methods. Prof. Anne approved it today and I went to pass it to Jane (Postgrad Sec.) but I were told to submit in 3 copies! Hmmmm.. Ok. Since I won't be going tomorrow, I told Jane to submit it on Monday. She said, "It's ok!" Yes.. I am glad..

Two more reports to write before 1st year end! One is 9-month report which due on 31st Oct 2008! Hmmmm... Not much time left. According to Prof. Anne, the report should include all the works I've done so far including all those analyses and the field trip carried out recently in P. Malaysia. Well, it's sound like simple but to put everything into words, it's not gonna be easy! I hope to have the first draft in the middle of Oct, so that I could give to Prof. Anne to read and check on it..

The other on will be the 12-month report. That will due in Feb 2009! However, drafting should be ready before Christmas.. Still have time to read all those papers I downloaded recently..

Next week, Prof. Anne group will start lunch meeting to discuss/talk about any related works/papers on fish! The first one will be held this Tuesday but I can't make it! So, may be I'll join the second one!

Busy busy busy...

Selsema la pulak..

2008-09-19T01:06:00.001-07:00

Aduih la.. Baru semangat nak buat keje, selsema la pulak.. Smlm petang kena hujan sket waktu jalan klua ke kereta.. Sket jer.. Malang nyer.. Masuk kete dah rasa kepala panas.., pastu tekak rasa kering dan semacam dah.. Sblm buka posa, hidung mula rasa gatal2 dan mula bersin.. Pastu, mula la mengalir air... Ah sudah...! Selsema dah.. Kepala makin berat, batuk pun mai.. Ish.. Potong stim betul.. Malam nyer, lepas buka posa, amik ubat and masuk tido ler.. Bangun sahur, sah! Selsema melanda.. Sedih betul.. Bos nak jumpa plak ari ni.. Kerja pun tak settle lagi.. Aduhhhh....

St. Andrews masih sunyi...

2008-09-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hari ni mai St. Andrews dgn Rauhan.. (Rauhan spent a night kat rumah smlm slps berbuka dan bertarawikh).. Masuk St. Andrews, tak nampak students.. Masih bercuti ler.. Mai lab.. Huh.. Sunyi betul.. Malas plak nak naik atas, so dok kat lab cari references.. Prof. Anne takde arini.. Esok dia masuk kot.. Risau giler nak jumpa dia.. Maklum ler, kerje tak siap.. Hehehe.. Walau dah tua2 ni, bila nak jumpa supervisor jer, masih lagi terasa 'kecut perut'.. [Errr... Dengan macam orang batuk2 kat bilik sebelah.. Errr.. Hehehe.. Prof. Anne baru masuk office ler.. Sempat gi kacau sat..]

Alamak.. Takutnya2.. Tabahkan hati.. Fuh..

Back in Dundee

2008-09-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

After being away collecting fish for my research, I'm back to my kids and wife last Thursday night. Flight was ok! I had a great time on board MAS flight MH16 before connecting to Edinburgh with KLM. Yang paling best, semua barang makanan yang aku bawak lepas.. L E P A S... In the bag were:
i. Sambal daging from Kelantan (for my wife..) 1.5kg
ii. Serunding daging from Terengganu (utk Taufik) 1.5kg
iii. Belacan Tanjung Dawai (Altok dan Ain bagi, thanks!)
iv. Belacan Perlis (beli kat Penang)
v. Budu (Along tak nak amik duit!) 2 botol (satu utk Taufik)
vi. Beberapa jenis rempah
vii. Belacan serbuk
viii. Kiub perasa ayam, tomyam dan ikan bilis (Taufik punya!)
ix. Ikan bilis (utk Taufik) 1kg
x. Ikan bilis putih (Along tak mau amik duit lagi!!) 1kg
xi. Asam gelugor/keping (mak bagi..)
xii. Beberapa jenis makanan lain spt bun bilis Gardinia, Milo peket kecik, kopi peket kecik dan seluar utk Taufik.. Hahaha...
xiii. Mentol cahaya putih!!!

Keseluruhan, puas hati betul.. Senang betul ikut Amsterdam!
Hari ni rehat sebab kepala masih tak berapa betul! Pening sket lagi.. Esok ingat nak gi carboot! Nak cari baju utk winter. Fall is just around the corner. Sejuk dah mula terasa.. Cuaca pun mendung jer.. Tak ceria langsung..
Apa-apa pun, I'm glad to be back..

I would like to take this opportunity to thank:

i. Lina (Lynn): for being my "personal assistant" updating me with approval letters form Jabatan Perhutanan for my sampling/works. THANKS a lot..
ii. Syed - for helping me with equipment, sampling and fun.. You are the MAN!!
iii. Fahmi, Amzar, Nadia dan Gee - for helping me with the net, scoopnets, water quality meters, fish measurement and fun.. Without you guys, I won't be able to do it! To Amzar - kenduri kak Long was nice..
iii. Abg Joe - for helping me sampling in Terengganu..
iv. My Ketua Jabatan and all Jabatan staffs - for all their support and helps
v. En. Rahman (Forestry Pahang) and his staffs - for helping me with sampling at Lata Berkelah, Belimbing, Jeram Jin dan tumpangkan kami di rumah selama 3 malam!
vi. En. Azhar Ahmad (DFO Kluang) - It's really nice to see you again, my fren! It's been a while since we last met in 2002 during Matang Mangrove scientific expedition
vii. Dato' Prof. Emeritus Dr. Abdul Latiff (Pak Teh) of UKM for all his words of encouragement and support.
viii. Dean, DVC and VC of UMT for all your support!
ix. Altok and Ain for hosting me, and invite me for dinner and berbuka puasa
x. Along for take me late nite out looking for roti canai and belanja me makan.. (FYI, duit aku laku tau..)
xi. Ee Ling dan Fong - for taking me to town looking for kedai farmasi utk beli ubat and helping me getting those souveniers
xii. Aira, Eamy and group ikan biod - for tolong belikan nasik utk berbuka
xiii. Siti - for tolong belikan nasik utk makan tengah hari after sampai tu..
xiv. ... dan lain2 individu yang tolong sepanjang aku balik M'sia
JASA KALIAN, HANYA TUHAN YANG DAPAT BALAS..

Syukur...

2008-08-05T05:37:00.000-07:00

At last.. I'm on the road or rather in the stream looking for fish.. I'm back in Malaysia - "tanah air ku" for 6 weeks to collect data for my PhD (see story under myresearch).

I arrived at KLIA about two weeks ago (on the 21st July). It took me a few days for me to get things started. Alhamdulillah, at last I managed to get things moving.. So far dah travel Perlis dan Kedah and now in Perak. Esok mula my work di Perak - Ulu Kenas..

Walaupun seronok dapat balik Malaysia sampling tapi penat ler buat kerja nih.. Walau dah slalu buat field works tapi long duration field works can be very tiring.. Tapi kena teruskan juga..

Kesian gak kat anak isteri yang ditinggalkan kat Dundee, Scotland nun.. So far, boleh sms jer la dengan isteri (see supermom). Nak emel, agak terkurang kemudahan ler.. Sepanjang on the road ni, ni kali ke-2 boleh ekses internet. Semalam, ekses internet kat depan KFC Baling melalui wifi dan malam ni melalui wifi Rumah Rehat Kuala Kangsar. Semalam sempat emel Prof. Anne, reply emel dia actually.
Ok lah.. Untuk tatapan umum, ada beberapa gambar diambil sepanjang 7 hari trip ke utara ni..

Aduih laa...

2008-07-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Emmm.. About me going back for 6-weeks sampling, it's almost going to happen! I am glad that I'm be able to go back and do some works for my research. It's gonna be tough but I'll do my best.

I have to thank my wife for all the trouble she has to take while I'm gone.. You guys out there, don't try to do this, ok.. It take years of 'practice'.. Hehehe.. Well.. She is great.. Super mom.. Really..!!!

The next few days, we plan to go 'inland'.. My wife idea, actually.. I like the idea very much.. It's great to see the countryside of Scotland before going back.. Probably will spend a night or two there.. It will be great..

Later, this coming weekend we going to have a bbq.. My lady will be preparing something which is actually a request by someone actually.. I kind of like it too.. You want to know what it is?? Hehehe.. Pulut kuning with ayam panggang.. Yum2.. It will be really great.. Balik Malaysia nanti, kena makan kat kedai ler.. Huhu..

Sesema makin baik.. Batuk makin hilang.. Tak demam dah.. Kepala pun ok.. Gout?? Come and go.. So far, so good.. I like it.. I'm going to have a great time ahead except.. I'm not happy with my 4-month report.. I could have done better.. I'll see what my supervisor think about it.. No thumb up..

I'm so serabut..

2008-07-01T02:23:00.000-07:00

Huhu.. Serabut wey... Sesema.. Batuk.. Sakit perut.. Pening kepala.. Demam.. Apa lagi..??? Aduih laa..

Tiket tak settle lagi.. Surat tak anta lagi.. Mati ler..

Kaki tangan tak cukup lagi.. Tolong2..

Mana mau cari???

ANYONE????

o
o
o
<;)}}=<

Only Time Will Tell..

2008-06-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hi..
It's something hit me lately.. I am sooo 'miss' the 80s.. Hey.. Is this date, 8th of August, 2008 give any meaning to you guys? Something I can't tell you but something kind of special with this 080808!!
Emmm.. I don't know.. I just feel like listening to this song and I thought you might like it too.. The song is called "Only Time Will Tell" by Poison (**Husky005 make it sooooo right..**)

Oh! Balik kampung.. Tangkap ikang..!!

2008-06-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Setelah berjaya menjalankan analisa ke atas data-data terdahulu, insyaAllah akan tiba masa yang ditunggu-tunggu untuk mendapat data 'baru'.. Hehe.. I really can't wait to jump into streams and rivers again.. It's been a while (actually.. baru 4 bulan lebih sket dok kat Scotland neh..) since I left my hometown, rindu sangat Sekayu chomey, Lata Tembakah, dan lain-lain anak sungai yang selalu kuredah mencari ikan.. Soon, I'll be back.. Soon, there will be more streams and rivers to visit and more fish to catch (and released!!).. Soon, there will be more data to collect and sooo, there will be more headache.. Hehe.. Yang last tu tak per dulu.. Janji boleh redah sungai yang sejuk dan sangat best..(err.. kat sini hari-hari redah cuaca yang sejuk.. tapi tak best!!!)
Tak sabar nak re-unite dengan Smith-Roots LR24 yang telah berjaya dan berjasa banyak sangat.. Kalau takde aral melintang, I'll be visiting at least 2-3 streams in (almost) all states in Peninsular Malaysia to sample fish. I really look forward for this.. I plan to visit Perlis first but will make a pit-stop kat Baling dulu. Since dah sampai Baling tu, might as well sampling kat Sungai Nau, which is not far from my parent house. The next day, may be drive to Sik via Tg. Pari-Bt. Lapan road and conducting a survey there. Then to K. Nerang (probably to Puncak Janing) before heading to Perlis State Park. I will spend at least 2 days there before heading south to Penang.. No stream to sample in Penang but there's nasik kandar to eat there!! And to meet my buddy, Dr. Chaop, Dr. Rahmat and K-own..
From Penang, balik Kedah (to visit Sg. Sedim/Lata Bukit Hijau - still pending) then heading to Batu Kurau to sample Sg. Anak Kurau. I hope K-own and abg Bad could join me there.. Afterthat, drive south to Ulu Kenas. I hope to sample a small in Tasik Temenggor but, it's all depends on the decision from Forestry Department. If I can't sample there, I hope to get a good stream somewhere within southern Perak - Tapah downsouth.. Sungkai will be alright..
From Perak, I plan to sampel fish in Selangor, possibly in Kanching near Rawang, Sg. Chongkak, Ulu Langat or Sg. Tekala, Kajang or Sg. Tua, Selayang.. Unless Forestry Department say otherwise, these will be the ‘most’ disturbed sites among my sampling sites. I’ll talk to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shukor of UKM with regards to sampling sites in Selangor and probably Negeri Sembilan too since the next state to visit is N. Sembilan.
Sites in N. Sembilan are very interesting and very important to me.. I’ve yet to survey any streams from N. Sembilan. Never before collecting any fish species from N. Sembilan. This will be my first visit to stream in N. Sembilan. Among the stream I wish to visit are Ulu Bendul, Batu Maloi or De Bana, and Ulu Sepri (may be a little bit difficult to gain access to this site, but I’ll try to get permission from BTN..). I’ll skip Melaka!! I’ll heading south to Johor and plan to survey G. Berlumut (I’ve been there before!) and Sg. Bantang, Segamat. I am still looking for another stream and I hope Forestry Department could suggest me one! G. Ledang will be nice..
After Johor, I hope to visit Pahang. I wish I could go to Kenong again but it’s too far. So, I may be sample fish from Lanchang/Kuala Gandah area, Jerangkang, Belimbing in Maran or Lata Berkelah. I hope this site harbour an interesting fish. I’ve been to Jerangkang and Belimbing before. I hope to be able to sample the site again so that I can compare the fauna diversity there.
My field trip will take about 3 weeks. I shall end the 3-weeks trip in style..!!! Before Ramadhan, I hope to complete my sampling in Terengganu and Kelantan. Sites in Terengganu will include Sg. Peres in Sekayu, Lata Tembakah in Besut and Besul in Dungun. These sites’ survey should be done in three 1-day trips. For Kelantan, so far I have choose Bukit Bakar, Jeram Linang and a small stream, a tributary of Sg. Lanas. Bukit Bakar and Jeram Linang are considered as ‘disturbed’ and greatly ‘modified’ stream. I wish I could get other streams. Streams within Gua Musang or Ciku would be great if I could get one or two.. Sampling in Kelantan will take 4-5 days in total. I try to avoid sampling dalam bulan puasa.. Penat ler.. Tapi kalau terpaksa, kena ler buat jugak.. Well.. Bukan tak biasa buat, cuma kalau boleh nak ler buat kerja lab masa nih..
Emmm.. I can’t wait to go back.. WISH ME LUCK..

TERKEJUT..

2008-06-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Cisssss.... Terkejut besar aku.. Nasib baik e.a.m.y kata 'lawak hari rabu..' Mau nyer betul burger rege rm10, mmg puasa tahun ni aku start awal ler.. Mana nak cukup duit nak sampling round Malaya (err.. Sabah dan Sarawak tak masuk ler..) Harap2 boleh sampling within the budget.. Dah ler minyak petrol naik, beras naik and sure kalau makan kat kedai/gerai, semua mahal2.. Bayangkan 5 orang kepenatan makan malam. Sure melantak tak ingat dunia.. Apa la nasib.. Nak buat macam mana, kena la jugak makan.. Kalau tak nak buat kerja macam mana.. Kalau batu dan kayu bisa dimakan, senang ler hidup.. Sure tak kebulur kalau gi sampling.. Hehe..

I'm alive..

2008-06-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

Weh.. Penat weh.. Sudah agak sibuk lately nih.. Skrg ni tgh belajar analisis guna PRIMER and EcoSim. Sblm ni guna EstimateS.. Dah agak terer ler jugak dgn EstimateS tu.. Lepas berhempas pulas membaca manual dan jurnal.. From output EstimateS tu.., pilih satu yg 'basic' untuk buat analisis lanjut.. Supv decide buat yg paling simple - guna data ikan modified and natural pools.. I tot data nih ler yg paling tak best skali but supv fikir lain, ada sesuatu yg sangat menarik.. For the last few weeks or so, bermain-main ler dengan data tu.. Smlm baru dapat apa yang dicari-cari.. Hari ni (lewat sket nnt..) nak re-run all analyses so that it look more structured.. Sblm ni main bantai jer.. Just to get familiar with the program/software.. So, masa main2 dah over, now get down to serious business..
Soon after this, kena strategize upcoming sampling plak.. Banyak gak nak kena buat masa fieldwork nnt.. And banyak sites nak kena visit.. So, kena ler buat proper planning.. Equipment nyer, work force nyer.. COST nyer.. Adui la.. Harga minyak pulak naik melambung2.. Harga makanan pun.. Tak kan nak beli barang mentah and masak.. Mana nak dan.. Nak sampling lagi.. Tapi ikan tak yah beli.. Err... Ikan free.. Hehe.. Tapi mmg tak sempat ler.. Nak cover banyak sites all over P. M'sia. At least 24 sites, at each site, ada 3-5 replicates of 50 m long.. Lebar sungai kalau 2-3 m, takde la masalah sangat.. Mostly 5-7 m tu.. So, nak sampling 50 m tu amik masa gak.. Pastu nak ukur panjang SL dan TL ikan lagi.. Then timbang plak.. Sekor2.. Mau satu site, buat kerja sampai ke malam.. Nak amik gambar lagi.. Err.. Dan ker.. Anyone nak tolong? Sangat dialu-alukan.. Hehe.. Harap2 semua berjalan lancar.. Wish me luck..

Great bbq, I say..

2008-06-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

At last.. We were joined by Ustaz Lutfi's and Zahir's families picnic at Monikee Park.. The trip was nice.. It take about 30 min drive.. Since Zahir and I don't know the place, we have to follow Ustaz Lutfi lah.. Kalau dah tau may be tak sampai 20 min drive there.. Not far actually, just a bit outside Dundee. Nice place there and they have a good facility too.. A countryside.. Nice country view.. Farms and more farm.. Green everywhere but a different kind of green compared to Malaysia..

We prepared some foods, chicken and lamb.. My wife prepare the chickens and Kak Ashi and Ustaz Lutfi bring nice prep lamb for us.. Zahir bring rice ( a lot of rice - Hey.. Beras mahal tau..) sure enough for everyone.. But the kids were just busy playing.. Got some left overs.. Overall, I had a great time.. Except for my 'kaki' it is great outing..

May be going there again this summer.. Hehe.. I hope this time boleh jalan2 look around and take a nice photograph..

For this time, just a quick snap here and there.. <;)}}}<

Family day out..

2008-05-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

Kami sekeluarga having a great time today.. First with Indiana Jones' muvee and then a picnic in open air of Dundee at Camperdown park.. The kids had a great time playing kat playground.. For the first time since they were here, they had a good time just to be the kids..

My wife and I had a good time for ourselves.. Lepak.. Kat M'sia takleh lepak bawah matahari.. Kena lepak bawah pokok, kat teduh.. Tapi kat sini, hehehe.. Kat teduh sejuk, so lepak kat tengah panas.. Beshhh... We plan to have a bbq there next week.. That will be awosome.. I hope it won't rain next Saturday..

Car boot..!! Oh..!! Car boot...!!!

2008-05-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Ceh... Hampeh sungguh.. Tak menarik ler kali nie.. Apa yg nak satu pun tak jumpa.. Aleh2 aku beli buku joke Knock Knock Who's There for 50p.. Beshhhh... Tak per ler.. Next time teroka lagi.. Mana tau terjumpa EOS40D.. Hehe.. Tak sempat nak amik gambar pun.. Asyik berjalan tengok barang2 2nd hand jer.. Ada gak yg brand new but harga dia mahal gak ler.. Brand new.. Anyway, maish murah kalau beli kat kedai.. Tapi ikut nasib ler..
On the way nak pi car boot tu.., tak kat mana tak.. Ada ler sekor rusa melompat dan melintas jalan betul2 depan kete aku.. Mak aiiih... Terkejut weiiii... Nasib baik tak dilanggar or melanggar kete aku tuh.. Hmmm... Wild animal.. Nice..
Next week tak pegi dah kot.. Nak pegi bbq ler pulak.. Panas2 ni syok gak makan2 kat open air.. Err... 10 deg Celcius tu panas ker??? Tak tau ler aku apa definasi panas kat sini... Pada aku, lagi tak cecah 30 deg C, kira tak panas ler tu.. Hehehe..

Pi carboot..!! Pi carboot...!!!

2008-05-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

Kengkawan.. Jom pi carboot sales.. Huhu.. Bajet2.. Ingat..!! Dunia semata-mata.. Hehe.. Nak cari rak buku second hand, some books and anak2 sibuk nak beli mainan.. The past visit depa beli sorang satu mainan 2nd hand yg seelok baru pada harga £3-4.. Ok ler.. Itu jer yg aku mampu.. Huhu.. Nak tau apa aku beli during my first carboot visit? Hmmmm.. An old Dunlop wooden tennis racket with wooden frame.. Nnt ake masukkan gambar reket tu.. This time, kalau ada reket squash, aku nak sambar jer.. Harga dia? Only £2.. Berbaloi ler dgn 'memory' dia.. Kan2???
Okeh.. Next posting is after carboot visit, today..
p/s - nak cuba try test my Canon EOS400D gak.. Smlm main2 sama my 400D kat dlm umah jer.. Ari ni nak bawak dia klua jln2 ler.. Beshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

My Fotopage.. Syed and gajah2 nyer..

2008-05-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

At last, aku terpengaruh gak meletak gambar2 kat photosharing nih.. Aku pilih Fotopage utk letak gambar2 favorite aku sebab tak perlu susah2 resize or compress all those pics tu.. Fotopage will do it for me.. Tapi kadang2 nak upload tu makan masa sket.. For a start.., aku letak gambar Syed, my best buddy dengan his elephans. Hehehe.. Emmm... Kot yer pong ko tak cukup bajet, jangan ler bagi gajah2 ko cari makan kat tepi hi-way, korek sampah lak tu... Ish...
Sad but true.. This is real.. NOT cut and paste tau.. Too bad.. You judge yourself.. Is it good or is it bad? Healthy or unhealthy for the environment? Humane or inhumane.. Whatever it is, I like the pic of Syed with his gajah at the background.. Hehe..

Got extra penny..?

2008-05-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

A friend need some help.. If you have time, go and visit her page.. Emmm.. If you got extra penny, why not contribute to her, so that she can jump down the Tower.. I'll do it.. I'll contribute a bit for her.. Can you..? Can la.. Can la..

Another low week..

2008-05-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

Last week, sungguh tak produktif.. Another low productivity week.. Hampeh betul.. Dah 2 kali selsema since mai sini.. To make things worst, seminggu baru mau baik.. Tension betul.. Pastu, campur dengan 'lain2 hal..' hilang 2 weeks like that.. Huhuhu.. Risau betul.. Lagi 2 bulan kena anta 4000 words literature review!!!
Nak dapat ubat darah tinggi, kena gi jumpa doktor empat lima kali.. Kat M'sia, sekali gi dah boleh dapat ubat.. Err.. Ish.. Camne doktor kat M'sia cepat sangat bagi ubat ek?? Kadang2 risau pun ada.. My BP agak tinggi ler.. 140/100.. Huhu.. Tu dalam dok kontrol makan tu.. Berat tak ler bertambah banyak sangat.. Now at 64kg.. Naik ler sket sejak mai.. Nak buat lagu mana.. Bini masak sedap woo... So, bedal ler.. Hehehe..
InsyaAllah.. Petang ni boleh ler buka balik journal2 tu.. Buka balik 'result'.. Kena tulis sket pasal complementarity.. And pastu kena tulis pasal alpha, beta and gamma diversity.., but kena baca dan buat notes dulu ler.. Hehe..
p/s - Hari semakin panas.. Yahooooo...........!!!!!!!!!!! Err.. 14 deg C tu panas ker??? Suhu aircond dalam office dulu 20 deg C... Hah??!!! 14 deg C???!!! Bungkus ler..

Spring!! Oh spring...!!!

2008-04-18T03:48:00.000-07:00

Sekarang dah spring.. Spring!! Spring!!! Tapi suhu tak ler panas pun.. Hari ni mendungm suhu 8 deg C.. Semalam pun lebih kurang jer.. Minggu lepas pun dah spring, suhu macam tu ler jugak.. Aku pun, macam tu ler jugak.. Berbungkus setiap kali nak klua.. Hehe..
Minggu ni agak kurang produktif.. Kerja masih tak habis but, at least not for another 2 years and 10 months.. Hey.. Ok ler tu.. Now, have to read a lot more.. More and more technical stuff have to understand.. More on EstimateS, need to explore before planning for the next sampling.. That will be done in August-September this year! Yahoo.. Cari ikan.. Hehe.. I love being on the field..
This week, I got several interesting emails.. I got email (and reply!) from Dr. Hamid on Tomistoma project in Setiu, from collegues at UMT on Sime-Darby biodiversity inventory, pasal FYP student/PITA project, from Dr. Hii on Kenyir environmental baseline survey, from Dr. Isa Ipor, and from Yg Bhg Dato' Prof A. Latiff Mohammed.
The most interesting is from Dr. Hamid lah.. It seems like project on False Gharial in Setiu is about to come alive, and kicking. Dr. Shahrul email me yesterday, saying that it might take off in June.. Well, that's something. My contribution might be small, but I'm interested to study the fish fauna that probably a major part of diet of the False Gharial. However, this might not be happening soon because I have another important things to do. But, I'll keep that in mind..
On Sime-Darby intention to identify 'biodiversity importance' in their plantation is one interesting topic to discuss. Previously, I was involved with GEF on the work at Meliau, Sabah with TSH Plantation, which interested to 'develope' ecotourism potential in their area. Then, Prof. Datin Ann Anton invited me to assist her on fisheries aspects of an oxbow lake in Sandakan areas as well under the management of IJM. It's very interesting when people becoming more interesting and open their eyes on the biodiversity in 'agroecosystem'! More interesting is the fact that, the 'plantation' owner are interested to know what is their 'land' has and in Sime-Darby case, they really would like to know something that is 'close to heart' for environmentalists and every one as well.. I don't think there will be many interesting finding that are considered 'endemic' or 'rare' or 'endangered' but there is certainly something.. For example, an aquatic plant such as Cryptocoryne has been reported growing well in small streams in oil palm plantations and certain species is probably found nowhere else in the world. I hope others will follow what Sime-Darby is trying to do in their land.. Semoga berjaya.. Kudos to Sime-Darby!!

Alpha, beta and gamma..

2008-04-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

I just completed a short write up on species richness, evenness, diversity, measuring biological diversity and species abundance distributions (SADs). It is something many of us come across or may be learned before but when I try to put this into my own words, it's not easy especially on SADs. SADs is a concept that actually not being fully explored in biology/ecology. The recent paper by McGill et al (2007) is really great... They discuss a lot on SADs..
Now, about alpha, beta and gamma.. I heard it before, read about it before dan dah ajar pasal nih.. Tapi, masih banyak kena baca.. Bagus gak ler.. R&R.. "Refresh and refurbish.." Err.. "refurbish"??? Ko ingat ko dah cukup ilmu..??? Tambah lagi ilmu yang ko rasa ko ada tu.. Tak cukup... Just not enough.. FAHAM..???
Good luck..

Fuh... It ain't easy..

2008-04-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

Fuh.. Berasap dah rasanya kepala nih.. Dah dekat seminggu dok ulik McGill et al (2007) tapi masih tak boleh nak summarize apa-apa ler.. This week considere tak produktif tapi tak ler duduk saja.. Sambil-sambil tu, tengok-tengok jugak data yang ada tu.. Masih buat analisis species richness guna EstimateS.. Not much I can say at the moment but the output quite interesting.. So far, dah buat data abundance and +/- of 34 sites, dah buat untuk Sg. Peres dan Sg. Bubu, Sekayu, data Air Menderu, Lata Payong, Lata Belatan and a few others. What I got from there? I just can't tell yet.. But surely something interesting..

I keep my finger cross.. ;)

What to do..

2008-04-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

Emmm.. Nothing much to write.. Well.. Life is getting much busy now.. This week, I need to write something on "species abundance distribution." I yet to give this one to Prof. Anne. She gave me McGill et al. (2007) paper on SADs, which she's one of the co-aouthors. I hardly understand it even after 3x reading the paper. Well, some is ok but some are not so easy for me to digest.. May be I'm a bit old.. Hehe.. No lah.. Just need to read a bit more. Hopefully, tomorrow I'm able to write a short topic on it.

I'm still play arround with my data. Currently, I'm running EstimateS to estimate species richness of fishes in headwater streams in Peninsular Malaysia. After reading and understand (partially!) Colwell and Coddington (1994), I'm be able to run and analysed output from EstimateS (Thanks Prof. Anne for helping me with data entry and analysis..). The results seem pretty good, though.. It seem like, the number of sample I got is not really big enough but roughly, I can 'tell' now about how many species of freshwater fish can be found in our headwater stream. I plan to go back probably in August this year to do more sampling. A few 'experiment' will be conducted as well.. I hope to be able to get some data to try the parametric analysis! It's seem very interesing to play with EstimateS.

Fuh.. Still got a few things to do with the data. I never thought I had so much data to play with but now, I'm quite happy 'playing' with it. ;)

Oh, the picture showing the old building (foreground) where the attic is! At the background, is the new Gatty's Lab. Sorry, it's not the best pic, I'll snap another one, this Monday. It's still looking nice, huh..

Life at Gatty's Lab

2008-03-27T04:14:00.000-07:00

Dah sebulan berulang alik dari Dundee ke St. Andrews ke Gatty.. Penat gak.. Kena jalan kaki (Baca: SENAMAN) setiap kali datang dan balik ke bus stand, ke bus station at Dundee City, then from St Andrews bus station to Gatty's lab.. Tak ler jauh mana, lebih kurang 0.5 km jer.. Jalan dalam sejuk ni kan.., tak ler peluh mencurah-curah tapi mengah ler jugak.. Maklum ler, sejuk, jalan agak laju ler.. Tapi.. Tak leh lawan dengan Scottish ni ler.. Depa jala laju sungguh.. Tak terkejar ler.. Hehe..
Gambar kat bawah ni adalah (grand) view kat PostGrad room. Kalau mentari terang, sangat mengingatkan pada Malaysia - very much similar to what I used to have at UMT.. Laut.. Nak melepak tepi laut? Hehe.. Takde ler.. Sejuk.. Dua hari lepas, ada fire drill ke betul ke tak tau la.. Tapi ada bomba mai ler.. So, semua orang kena berkumpul kat tempat perhimpunan, tepi laut.. Tepi sigh board dalam gambar di posting sebelum nih.. Mak aiii.. Ada ler kot dekat setengah jam dok kat situ.. Menggigil.. Sejuk gila..
Tapi dalam Postgrad room tu ok ler.. Boleh ler.. Tak kena pakai baju tebal ler tapi kalau kat M'sia, kat office rasanya aircond kat bilik tu tak sesejuk kat PostGrad room ni ler.. Hehe.. Nasib baik meja yang digunakan sekarang ni betul-betul sebelah heater..
Dalam Postgrad room ni banyak betul buku.. Syok giler.. Macam dok dalam library le pulak.. Hari-hari belek journal yang bertimbun tu.. Banyak yang lama-lama ler.. Best.. Bukan senang nak dapat macam ni.. Peluang yang ada ni kan, gunakan ler.. Baca mana-mana yang patut.. Semua yang ada kaitan dengan IKAN especially ecology, baca, jangan tak baca.. Walaupun boss mintak bende lain (kena hantar 1 para of 5 topics this Monday), baca jer mana yang berkaitan tu.. Mana tau kot-kot nanti berguna..
Bilik ni sebenarnyer macam 'loteng'.. Tau tak loteng tu ape? Ala.. Kot inggeris dipangil 'attic' ler.. Ada lebih kurang 9 meja yang ada sekat-sekat macam selalu ada kat library tu.. Ada du meja besar - one each kat tepi tingkap besar tu.. Dan ada dua jugak meja kecik sket bertentang dengan meja besar tu.. Satu Thomas guna dan lagi satu Miguel guna.. Both of them currently finishing their PhD write up..

Life in Dundee and St. Andrews

2008-03-26T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hmmm... Pejam celik, pejam celik dah hampir sebulan berpijak di bumi Scots ni.. Life in Dundee not bad... Not bad at all.. Cuaca? Boleh tahan ler.. Now dah spring, mentari bersinar terang sejak 6pagi tapi masih sejuk ler.. Suhu tak pernah lagi melepasi 10 deg C. Argh... Kena pulak angin, macam tak boleh jalan tu sekalii kalau kena tiup dari depan.. Sejuk jangan tanya ler..
So far, everything goes well.. According to plan.. Registration to matriculate at St. Andrews dah settle.. Simple sangat but still, ada satu dua yang masih pending.. I am happy to be here, have the opportunity to do my PhD at Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland..
It's special.. Sort of 'meneruskan tradisi' here... My major Professor Mashhor Mansor was graduated from St. Andrews years ago.. My major super senior, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sofiman Othman (he was my lab demo when I was in second semester, 2nd year, at Univ. Sains Malaysia I think, ..) also graduated from here. We both from School of Biology majoring Botany at that time.. So, now is my time but I'm not into 'botany' anymore.. I'm doing ecology with Prof. Anne E. Magurran. Currently, I'm using fish as my study subject.. I'm looking forward to analyse my fish data which was collected all over peninsular Malaysia in the recent years, here and from there make another round trip to study fish diversity of headwater sream ecosystem pattern and distribution..
For a month, I'm pick up piece by piece, day by day, what I had left for so long.. I'm to be a 'student' again.. But this student sudah tua ler.. Hehe

For the Nation

2008-02-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

From 24th to 28th Jan 2008, I went for a 'Nationhood Course' at Ulu Sepri, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. The course was meant for goverment sponsored Malaysian who wanted to further their (higher?) education or for professional to enhance their skills. Overall, it's really beneficial.
I got a lot of new and very usefull information but it's something else that make it really special. Two things that I like attending this course - i) meeting new friends of different background, and ii) the characters of soon-to-be scholars and professionals attending the course.
There were no other events that I'm going to have a chance meeting some (well, mostly..) young bloods, the top brain of the country and professionals whom their expertise are really amazing (doctors mostly and engeeniers too!).
One person I really happy to meet is Mr. Mohd Uzir from Statistic Dept. We were in the same group for the first two days but then were seperated for LDK. He's a bit senior who share the same dorm with me. One thing I like most about 'abang' Uzir is his "note-taking" attitude.. I hardly seen anyone in the hall taking notes for all lectures given to us for 6 sessions but he did! He is a special person.. I hope to have another chance meeting him in the future.
I met Dr. Zaki from Kuching Hospital. He's a nice chap with a jovial mood. I hope all our doctors are like him and surely, those 'sick' people are happy to be at the hospital.. Ha ha.. Dr. Zaki is planning to do his professional course somewhere in UK! I hope to see him again, too.. Well, I might pop up in front of his office in Kuching, sometimes in the future, too.. See you theren Doc...

Besides, my group members had such a character - two persons really special were Rin (Lin - that's what I used to call her, at least during most of the LDK and 'makan' time!) and Fatin.. Rin is a lecturer at UTEM and she is going to Australia for her PhD. She'a a happy person and one thing about her is, she look like Adlin AF2 'older sister' to me and later, my group members also noticed it..
Fatin has some special kind of character; she is a talkative person.. Well, she talked a lot.. One thing I shall not forget about her is her "fren".. Always has one for any stories.. He he.. She's going to Australia too.. Well, probably 60% of the participants are planning to go to Australia for their MSc/PhD incl. the professionals..
Overall, it was a nice meeting.. I can say, in the near future, one of these people will be heading a research institution or even university in the country.
To all, I thank you for making such a memorable moments at Ulu Sepri and GOOD LUCK..

p/s - Pics of LDK group 6 - the start, the halfway and the end... ... but the memory remains ...

The New Year..

2008-01-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

Today is January 19, 2008 (10 Muharam, 1429). I wasn't really celebrating the new year because of so many things which supposed to be completed in 2007, are still pending.. So many things still on my 'in tray' and 'out tray' always empty! And this year, it's begin with a sad note..! I'd lost my youngest (only!) brother, Shaharudin Ahmad (1980- 1st Jan, 2008) at the age of 27 in an accident. He is the second to leave the family after his elder brother, Hishamudin Ahmad who past away at the age of 6 before he was born! Both of them will be missed dearly! Al-Fatihah.
I was away to accompany my lovely wife and kids to Dundee, Scotland for almost a month from Dec. 6, 07 to Jan 2, 08. Well, the trip was good - really an eyes opening to me! I visited Univ. of St. Andrews during my stay at Dundee. It was great! I can't wait to be back.. Scotland, Dundee per se is a great place to live, and study. The place is peaceful, rather quite and 'cool' for a student!

I hope to come back in Feb 2008..

Sek. Keb. Tg. Pari - bhg II

2008-01-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

Setelah hampir 16 tahun "tak pulang" menjenguk 'kampung' akhirnya aku pulang jua.. Sudah banyak yang berubah.. Sedah membangun dari suatu 'lena' yang panjang.. Sudah nampak kemajuan; sudah banyak bukit dipotong.. Kemajuan la tu.. "Tanah kemajuan.."

Sekolah pun dah besar; tiada lagi bangunan papan tempat aku belajar, tiada lagi bilik darjah kembar kantin, tiada lagi.., tiada lagi.., lagi... Apa-apa pun, aku bangga - bawa anak-anak bersama meninjau sekolah "lama", mengimbau kenangan lalu masa kecil-kecil dulu..

Di mana guru-guruku..? Sayu juga aku mengenangkan guru-guru - ada yang sudah pergi menemui Ilahi, ada yang tidak tahu di mana kini.. Kawan-kawan sekelas, sepermainan tinggal kenangan.. Ada la sorang dua yang kadang-kadang berutus khabar - untung ada SMS ni.. Menulis surat - perkara lepas; menulis emel, terlepas.., SMS je lar yg pantas..

DI mana jua guru-guru, di mana jua kawan-kawan, semuga semua sihat san selamat menjalankan perintah Tuhan.. Amin..

Sek. Keb. Tg. Pari

2007-11-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Uh.. Sudah lama aku tinggal kampung yang aku membesar, menimba pengetahuan (err.. betul ke nih..), belajar jadi orang.. Kecik2 dulu boleh tahan jugak buas aku.. Tapi takpe, selalu dapat no 1..
Masuk sekolah darjah satu umur 6 tahun, belajar kenal huruf ABC sampai Z dekat satu tahun, nombor 123 tak sampai seribu pun.. Belajar bahasa orang putih ikut melayu, maklum la guru pun tahu, kami budak2 tak tahu..
Dalam kelas, aku la pembantu guru, kena sapu kelas, susun bangku, tak ade lantai simen, banyak debu.. Atap zink, dinding separuh kayu, warna putih macam penjara mungkin begitu.. Aku tak tahu..
Belajar menulis tak guna buku.. Guna papan hijau pinjam dari guru, sorang satu.. Tulis dengan kapur, aku suka kaler biru, lepas tulis padam dengan baju, marah mak aku..
Kawan aku, kenal huruf tak berapa, aku tolong ajar mana aku tahu, selalu guru bagi tahu, tolong kawan yang tak tahu, bukan luku.. Kesian kawan aku.. Aku luku.. Sekarang sudah jadi guru..
Sekarang aku rindu, sekolah dan kawan2 aku, mana pergi aku tak tahu, seorang jadi guru, masuk U sama dengan aku, sorang jadi askar sekarang kat Putrajaya, sorang baru aku tahu, di Sungai Petani, bukan bertani tapi kerja di kilang cari rezeki..
Mana yang lain2 aku tak tahu.. Nama pun sudah lupa, rupa pun sudah tak ingat.. Nak jumpa, bila?? Aku tak tahu..

About me..

2007-11-02T08:35:00.001-07:00

I'm a kampung boy but now very much grow up.. I love music especially heavy metal/fast rock..I'm strongly attached to my root.. I've been living a city life for a while but I prefer a quite life, away from the hactic and noisy city dwellers..After living for a while in urban jungle, I know my heart is always wishper to me to be close to where I'm now.. Currently, I'm teaching in the east coast.. I choose to teach, I dedicate myself to teach kids to see their true potential.. Somewhere in life, people will change.. With some helps from his frenz.., I guess I'm on the right track..
One thing I always remember.. "I can't changed my past but..."