Merdeka Musings

 

If you think about it, us Gen-Xers were born slightly more than a decade after Merdeka. Our parents and grandparents lived under the Brits and the Japanese. When I got into university (there were only six public universities then), I was only the third of my 40+ cousins to do so. Of course My parents were proud of me. They then gave me a monthly allowance that was a big chunk out of our household income. 

So I valued my education. I valued the effort made to ensure I had a degree and a better life. Sure, we also fooled around, broke curfew and played too much football sometimes, but we didn't take things for granted. We were the first generation of post-Merdeka kids given the opportunity to be smarter and better off than than the generation before (where only the rich could afford to go study overseas). 

We HAD to "make it". It wasn't a joke cos we knew everything laid solely in our hands. So yeah, Gen-Xers are proud of the fact that we can spell and have pretty decent manners. There really was no other way...

The Eurasian Connection

"Today, 15 August 2024, will be the 238th Anniversary of THE ASSUMPTION DAY LANDING, when the first Serani folk arrived in Penang."

My late grandmother was a Leslar, who then married a Castillo. We also have Newmans in the family who used to live at Argus Lane in Penang's Kampong Serani. (refer to pic)

From Penang Wikia:

Argus Lane, within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a narrow lane that zig-zags between Love Lane to the west and Pitt Street to the east. The lane that stretches across the rear of the Church of the Assumption is still home to a number of Eurasian Catholic families.

Pic of me with Uncle Johnny and cousin Angel at my great uncle's house at Argus Lane, Penang.

Argus Lane, now

At Argus Lane, 2015

Brother Hijab In The House!

 

Never thought I'd get to see brother Mohammed Hijab live but he's here today in Bangsar for a very deep session, "From Logic to Faith". And for the first time, there are more brothers than sisters in attendance! Masya Allah

Kisah Anak Gen-X: Selamat Tinggal, Jurgen Klopp!

 

Sebaik saja Jurgen Klopp mendarat di Liverpool pada Oktober 2015, penyokong, pemerhati serta pengamal media dunia terus berspekulasi dan bertanya; Mampukah si “Normal One” ini membawa pulang trofi liga ke Anfield selepas kemarau lebih dua dekad? Adakah ini permulaan satu revolusi ala Bill Shankly dan Bob Paisley?

Aku sendiri sangat berhati-hati kerana pernah menonton filem yang sama berulang kali sebelum ini. Harus faham, aku bukan baru menyokong kelab dari Merseyside ini. Aku membesar dengan Liverpool bertakhta sebagai kuasa bola sepak paling dominan di England dan juga Eropah. 

Namun, selepas memenangi kejuaraan liga buat kali ke-18 pada 1990, fasa kekecewaan bermula. Dari setahun menunggu, jadi lima, jadi 10, jadi 15; sehinggalah aku rasakan seolah mahkota liga itu sudah tidak akan kembali ke kabinet trofi Anfield.

Tiga pengurus sebelum Klopp, Brendan Rodgers, Rafa Benitez dan Gerard Houllier, pernah hampir memecahkan badi, tapi semuanya berakhir dengan airmata.

Klik SINI untuk artikel penuh

Jalan-Jalan Kuching 2024

 Ah, it's always good to be back, Cat City!