Browsing the internet can bring you to everywhere, and content of everything. In order to "see no evil", one has to practically avoid browsing the net, but, unless you live in North Korea, otherwise, internet has intertwined in our life.
This feeling came about last night. After blogging using blogger.com, I clicked on the "next blogger" button to see what other people blog about. After a few click, some Japanese actresses came out, exposing nude with seducing pose. For a while, I took a deep breath, looked at the photos, and clicked on the hyperlink to see more of their photos.
With sense of insecurity, I thought, what if, my sons accidentally click on this type of blogs? I suppose they must have. Internet is an open book. You simply flip, the page just lays open in front of you. Being an asian mother brought up in a conservative way, I really need a lot of wisdom to interact with my sons. May the Lord guide their way, is my prayer for them.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Hypertension Medication
My General Practitioner, Dr.Ng, at Clinic Luyang prescribed me with Novartis Diovan (Valsartan) 80 mg when my blood pressure reading remained at 140mmHg/90 in mid 2011. She increased the dosage to 160mg because my blood pressure didn't seem to drop. She was such a conscience doctor that she took the trouble to analyse my blood test reports. She noticed that my potassium level had been consistently low. After that she referred me to Endocrine Specialist.
I went through the ammonium chloride test which they called renal tubular acidosis. That was in Sept 2011. My blood PH was at 7.296. Anyway, I don't know what it means but the doctor said there was nothing to concern. However, they wanted to find out why my blood pressure reading didn't come down despite increasing the valsartan to 160mg. I was put to do ECG, treadmill, heart scan, and thank God that my heart proves healthy. The Specialist did not see it necessary to do angiogram because it carries risk.
Finally, besides Valsartan 160mg, he gave me Ranbaxy Vamlo 5mg (Amlodipine Besilate) . That was in end April 2012. Ranbaxy Vamlo seems to work wonder in me. Not only it brings back my blood pressure reading to normal, it cures me of migraine and my subsequent potassium level return to normal!
I used to have bad migraine at least once a month. My first migraine attacked was when I was 28 years old. It got worse when I was 30+. If I slept late, watched too much Tv, staring too long at computer (I worked as Software Engineer), too stress, staying too long under the sun, all these would trigger migraine for 1 to 3 days. I don't know why Amlodipine Besilate can cure me of 3 illnesses. Are they related? After going through this series of tests, I came to realize that doctors may not know our health better than we do. They may not as good as we thought they are. I wish there is a clue to my question so that I know how actually my health is.
I went through the ammonium chloride test which they called renal tubular acidosis. That was in Sept 2011. My blood PH was at 7.296. Anyway, I don't know what it means but the doctor said there was nothing to concern. However, they wanted to find out why my blood pressure reading didn't come down despite increasing the valsartan to 160mg. I was put to do ECG, treadmill, heart scan, and thank God that my heart proves healthy. The Specialist did not see it necessary to do angiogram because it carries risk.
Finally, besides Valsartan 160mg, he gave me Ranbaxy Vamlo 5mg (Amlodipine Besilate) . That was in end April 2012. Ranbaxy Vamlo seems to work wonder in me. Not only it brings back my blood pressure reading to normal, it cures me of migraine and my subsequent potassium level return to normal!
I used to have bad migraine at least once a month. My first migraine attacked was when I was 28 years old. It got worse when I was 30+. If I slept late, watched too much Tv, staring too long at computer (I worked as Software Engineer), too stress, staying too long under the sun, all these would trigger migraine for 1 to 3 days. I don't know why Amlodipine Besilate can cure me of 3 illnesses. Are they related? After going through this series of tests, I came to realize that doctors may not know our health better than we do. They may not as good as we thought they are. I wish there is a clue to my question so that I know how actually my health is.
What is life insurance all about
Once I read a story which explained
very well of how insurance works.
Long ago, there was a village with 100 households. They were all padi farmers. Not far from the village lived a gang of robbers that came down from the mountain on the last day of each year. The robbers would target at the village and shot an arrow. Whichever house nearest to the fallen arrow would be required to give the robbers 100 sacks of rice. 100 sacks was in fact all the padi harvested in a year, leaving the family nothing to live by for the following year!
One day, a wise man from the nearby village heard about the ill-fated village and decided to pay the village a visit. He shared with them an idea of how every one can help each other to reduce the loss to the minimal. The brilliant idea was for each household to contribute a sack of rice at the end of the year. 100 household would mean 100 sacks of rice. At year end, no one should be in fear anymore of losing his fortune for a year!
This concept is similar to life insurance. Every policyholder does contribution from his premium to form an insurance pool. Should any of the policyholder pass on, the money from the pool is used for compensation.
Technical definition would be:
Insurance provides financial protection against a loss arising out of happening of an uncertain event. A person can avail this protection by paying premium to an insurance company.
A pool is created through contributions made by persons seeking to protect themselves from common risk. Premium is collected by insurance companies which also act as trustee to the pool. Any loss to the insured in case of happening of an uncertain event is paid out of this pool.
Insurance works on the basic principle of risk-sharing. A great advantage of insurance is that it spreads the risk of a few people over a large group of people exposed to risk of similar type.
Long ago, there was a village with 100 households. They were all padi farmers. Not far from the village lived a gang of robbers that came down from the mountain on the last day of each year. The robbers would target at the village and shot an arrow. Whichever house nearest to the fallen arrow would be required to give the robbers 100 sacks of rice. 100 sacks was in fact all the padi harvested in a year, leaving the family nothing to live by for the following year!
One day, a wise man from the nearby village heard about the ill-fated village and decided to pay the village a visit. He shared with them an idea of how every one can help each other to reduce the loss to the minimal. The brilliant idea was for each household to contribute a sack of rice at the end of the year. 100 household would mean 100 sacks of rice. At year end, no one should be in fear anymore of losing his fortune for a year!
This concept is similar to life insurance. Every policyholder does contribution from his premium to form an insurance pool. Should any of the policyholder pass on, the money from the pool is used for compensation.
Technical definition would be:
Insurance provides financial protection against a loss arising out of happening of an uncertain event. A person can avail this protection by paying premium to an insurance company.
A pool is created through contributions made by persons seeking to protect themselves from common risk. Premium is collected by insurance companies which also act as trustee to the pool. Any loss to the insured in case of happening of an uncertain event is paid out of this pool.
Insurance works on the basic principle of risk-sharing. A great advantage of insurance is that it spreads the risk of a few people over a large group of people exposed to risk of similar type.
Medical Insurance-Points to note
Most people will assume that their
hospitalization expenses are taken care of after signing the dots on
their proposal form. Policy documents are put away without first
reading the terms and conditions in it. When comes the time to make
claim, some are disappointed, leading to finger pointing at insurance
agents......
The following reminder is an extract from www.insuranceinfo.com.my which I find important for consumers shopping for a medical hospitalization insurance policy.
1)Buy according to needs and budget
Lower premiums will have lower claim limits, and the amount covered is commensurate with the premiums you pay. Understand what your needs are and how much you can afford to put aside regularly. It also pays to shop around and look at policies from various companies, as these will differ in coverage, benefits and costs.
2)Full disclosure of information
Do not hide anything about your medical history. Some will even ask about immediate family members,. You should never lie, as it can and will result iin claims not being paid.
3)Fully understand your policy
Ask your agent for more information about the policy you want to buy, and do not be shy about it. Understand what the terms and conditions are, as well as the scope of cover provided. You should at least be aware:
i.What is covered (limits of benefits provided)
ii.What is not covered (for example: investigative admission, prosthetic limbs)
iii.Period of cover (if policy renewal is guaranteed after a claim)
iv.Waiting period (the amount of time before you can make the first claim)
v.Annual and lifetime limits
vi.Co-insurance (cost-sharing between insured and insurer)
vii.The amount of premiums to pay (static or increases with age)
4)Be aware of exclusions
There will be a list of conditions and illnesses where claims cannot be made.
5)15 days free-look period
Once you receive the policy documentation, read through it thoroughly and see if you are agreeable to it. If you are not, you can return the policy within 15 days and receive a full refund of premiums (certain costs may be deducted)
6)Claims procedure
Always check with the insurance agent or company before undergoing treatment. They can advise which are their panel clinics, and what you are entitled to. In the case of emergencies nd treatment is sought at a non-panel facility, the insured usually has to pay for it firs, and will be re-imbursed later.
7)Buy additional riders
If required, you can buy extra coverage on your policy (for example, overseas treatment of waiver of the annual limit).
The following reminder is an extract from www.insuranceinfo.com.my which I find important for consumers shopping for a medical hospitalization insurance policy.
1)Buy according to needs and budget
Lower premiums will have lower claim limits, and the amount covered is commensurate with the premiums you pay. Understand what your needs are and how much you can afford to put aside regularly. It also pays to shop around and look at policies from various companies, as these will differ in coverage, benefits and costs.
2)Full disclosure of information
Do not hide anything about your medical history. Some will even ask about immediate family members,. You should never lie, as it can and will result iin claims not being paid.
3)Fully understand your policy
Ask your agent for more information about the policy you want to buy, and do not be shy about it. Understand what the terms and conditions are, as well as the scope of cover provided. You should at least be aware:
i.What is covered (limits of benefits provided)
ii.What is not covered (for example: investigative admission, prosthetic limbs)
iii.Period of cover (if policy renewal is guaranteed after a claim)
iv.Waiting period (the amount of time before you can make the first claim)
v.Annual and lifetime limits
vi.Co-insurance (cost-sharing between insured and insurer)
vii.The amount of premiums to pay (static or increases with age)
4)Be aware of exclusions
There will be a list of conditions and illnesses where claims cannot be made.
5)15 days free-look period
Once you receive the policy documentation, read through it thoroughly and see if you are agreeable to it. If you are not, you can return the policy within 15 days and receive a full refund of premiums (certain costs may be deducted)
6)Claims procedure
Always check with the insurance agent or company before undergoing treatment. They can advise which are their panel clinics, and what you are entitled to. In the case of emergencies nd treatment is sought at a non-panel facility, the insured usually has to pay for it firs, and will be re-imbursed later.
7)Buy additional riders
If required, you can buy extra coverage on your policy (for example, overseas treatment of waiver of the annual limit).
8)Review policy annually
The cost of medical care increases every year. It is prudent to regularly check if the existing coverage meets current costs.
The cost of medical care increases every year. It is prudent to regularly check if the existing coverage meets current costs.
Medical Card – to upgrade or not to upgrade
My husband bought a medical card from a
renowned insurance company 7 years ago. The cover was RM100 for Daily
Room And Board, RM50K for annual hospitalization and surgical
procedure, RM150K lifetime limit, expired at age 70. No claim has
been made so far.
Now that he is 7 years older, at the age of 50, we feel that 70 years old is not very far away. Reviewing the medical policy, we ask ourselves whether it is necessary and worthwhile to upgrade the medical card to a higher plan, or buy a second medical card to maintain the terms and conditions in the first medical card. The T&C was better and insurance charges was cheaper.
On inquiry, upgrading to age 80 will cost an additional monthly premium of RM191.30. To purchase a second medical card will cost another monthly premium of RM250 on top of what he is already paying RM150p.m.
After evaluation of the objective of upgrading, which is to ensure some kind of hospitalisation protection after age 70 to 80, we decide to invest RM250 monthly in an investment tool that can give us an average return of 8% per annum. This will give us an estimated dedicated hospitalization fund of RM137K at age 70.
Now that he is 7 years older, at the age of 50, we feel that 70 years old is not very far away. Reviewing the medical policy, we ask ourselves whether it is necessary and worthwhile to upgrade the medical card to a higher plan, or buy a second medical card to maintain the terms and conditions in the first medical card. The T&C was better and insurance charges was cheaper.
On inquiry, upgrading to age 80 will cost an additional monthly premium of RM191.30. To purchase a second medical card will cost another monthly premium of RM250 on top of what he is already paying RM150p.m.
After evaluation of the objective of upgrading, which is to ensure some kind of hospitalisation protection after age 70 to 80, we decide to invest RM250 monthly in an investment tool that can give us an average return of 8% per annum. This will give us an estimated dedicated hospitalization fund of RM137K at age 70.
Housing Loan
When we got married in 1990, my husband
and I pooled our income together to buy a house. It is a corner,
double storey terrace house. At that time the house was RM150K. 20
years later, which is now, we were told the house can fetch RM500k
because of its locality.
Half a million as compared to RM150K seems to be a good price. However, punching number in my financial calculator, the annual growth was 6.2%. If I factor in the interest which we paid to the bank, the annual growth is merely around 3%, not very impressive as compared to fixed D!
20 years ago, the loan interest was calculated using a formula BLR + ? %. The BLR kept increasing until our housing loan interest became double figure! That means the monthly prepayment was not even sufficient to cover the interest! It was some kind of Ah Long dilemma. We were somehow sort of lucky during that period because my company introduced housing loan subsidy. The interest was brought down to flat rate of 4%, and we managed to settle the payment in year 2000.
Checking with the PBB and BSN today, the housing loan interest is calculated based on BLR-2.2% for the duration of the tenure. BSN will pay for the legal fee, transfer fee etc which they call 0% moving fee, but if you decide to settle in full before the tenure term ends, penalty is 3% of the loan amount. Whereas PBB only implement 3 year lock-in period but you have to be responsible for the moving fee yourself.
Nevertheless, I should think that it is quite a good time to take up a housing loan now as compared to 20 years ago.
Year BLR Remarks
2009 6.50 5.95 (February)
5.55 (March)
2008 6.75
2007 6.75
2006 6.00
2005 6.00
2004 6.00
2003 6.50
2002 6.50
2001 6.75
2000 6.75
1999 8.00
1998 10.50 12.27%
1997 9.25
1996 8.50
1995 6.60
1994 8.25
1993 9.50
1992 9.00
1991 7.50
1990 7.00
Half a million as compared to RM150K seems to be a good price. However, punching number in my financial calculator, the annual growth was 6.2%. If I factor in the interest which we paid to the bank, the annual growth is merely around 3%, not very impressive as compared to fixed D!
20 years ago, the loan interest was calculated using a formula BLR + ? %. The BLR kept increasing until our housing loan interest became double figure! That means the monthly prepayment was not even sufficient to cover the interest! It was some kind of Ah Long dilemma. We were somehow sort of lucky during that period because my company introduced housing loan subsidy. The interest was brought down to flat rate of 4%, and we managed to settle the payment in year 2000.
Checking with the PBB and BSN today, the housing loan interest is calculated based on BLR-2.2% for the duration of the tenure. BSN will pay for the legal fee, transfer fee etc which they call 0% moving fee, but if you decide to settle in full before the tenure term ends, penalty is 3% of the loan amount. Whereas PBB only implement 3 year lock-in period but you have to be responsible for the moving fee yourself.
Nevertheless, I should think that it is quite a good time to take up a housing loan now as compared to 20 years ago.
Year BLR Remarks
2009 6.50 5.95 (February)
5.55 (March)
2008 6.75
2007 6.75
2006 6.00
2005 6.00
2004 6.00
2003 6.50
2002 6.50
2001 6.75
2000 6.75
1999 8.00
1998 10.50 12.27%
1997 9.25
1996 8.50
1995 6.60
1994 8.25
1993 9.50
1992 9.00
1991 7.50
1990 7.00
Rules to follow in Family Financial Planning
Budget:
Have a budget. Plan
your budget with care and make sure you adhere to your financial
goals.
Savings:
Pay yourself first! Every month, set aside at least 10% of your income as savings. Place these savings in a separate bank account and choose not to have the ATM card facility.
Make savings a way of life: Begin saving TODAY. Know the concept of compound interest.
Make savings a way of life: Provide an emergency fund, ideally at 6 times of monthly expenses.
Make savings a way of life: Allocate your savings for retirement fund, but most importantly - Live Within Your Means.
Loans & Credits:
Loans & Credits: Know the purpose of your loan and repayment capabilities; and, be aware of the terms and conditions of the loans.
Loans & Credits: Know the effective interest rate on your loans; and, keep payments within 40% of gross monthly salary.
Loans & Credits: Always be a good paymaster so you have a positive credit report; and, NEVER borrow from unlicensed money lenders.
Signs that you need financial advice:
You only pay the minimum amount every month for your credit card.
You take frequent cash advances.
You have little or no savings.
You depend on overtime or bonuses to pay your living expenses.
You consistently pay your bills late.
You borrow money from family or friends to pay your debts.
Financial Basics:
Make and stick to a budget.
Save at least 10% of your monthly salary.
Track your expenses and cash flow.
Live within your means.
Spend wisely, learn to differentiate between needs and wants.
Delay gratification.
Have an emergency buffer fund of 6 months of your total expenses.
Managing debt better:
Borrow or take loans only for productive purposes.
Ensure that you can pay the installments comfortably.
As a guide, your monthly loan repayments should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.
Adhere to the repayment schedule to avoid unnecessary charges.
Use surplus fund or extra income to reduce your total debts.
Building Wealth:
In order to build wealth, start saving early.
You need to ensure you have a positive net worth (asset - liabilities).
Diversify your investments in order to spread your risks.
The higher the return you get from an, investment, the greater the risk.
Be wary of get-rich-quick schemes.
Tips on using credit cards:
Limit the number of credit cards you have to just two.
Do not use a credit card if you cannot make the monthly payments.
Avoid using credit card to get cash advances.
Always check your credit card monthly statement to ensure there are no irregularities.
Savings:
Pay yourself first! Every month, set aside at least 10% of your income as savings. Place these savings in a separate bank account and choose not to have the ATM card facility.
Make savings a way of life: Begin saving TODAY. Know the concept of compound interest.
Make savings a way of life: Provide an emergency fund, ideally at 6 times of monthly expenses.
Make savings a way of life: Allocate your savings for retirement fund, but most importantly - Live Within Your Means.
Loans & Credits:
Loans & Credits: Know the purpose of your loan and repayment capabilities; and, be aware of the terms and conditions of the loans.
Loans & Credits: Know the effective interest rate on your loans; and, keep payments within 40% of gross monthly salary.
Loans & Credits: Always be a good paymaster so you have a positive credit report; and, NEVER borrow from unlicensed money lenders.
Signs that you need financial advice:
You only pay the minimum amount every month for your credit card.
You take frequent cash advances.
You have little or no savings.
You depend on overtime or bonuses to pay your living expenses.
You consistently pay your bills late.
You borrow money from family or friends to pay your debts.
Financial Basics:
Make and stick to a budget.
Save at least 10% of your monthly salary.
Track your expenses and cash flow.
Live within your means.
Spend wisely, learn to differentiate between needs and wants.
Delay gratification.
Have an emergency buffer fund of 6 months of your total expenses.
Managing debt better:
Borrow or take loans only for productive purposes.
Ensure that you can pay the installments comfortably.
As a guide, your monthly loan repayments should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.
Adhere to the repayment schedule to avoid unnecessary charges.
Use surplus fund or extra income to reduce your total debts.
Building Wealth:
In order to build wealth, start saving early.
You need to ensure you have a positive net worth (asset - liabilities).
Diversify your investments in order to spread your risks.
The higher the return you get from an, investment, the greater the risk.
Be wary of get-rich-quick schemes.
Tips on using credit cards:
Limit the number of credit cards you have to just two.
Do not use a credit card if you cannot make the monthly payments.
Avoid using credit card to get cash advances.
Always check your credit card monthly statement to ensure there are no irregularities.
Planning Concept
I learned my first planning lesson in
Form 3 of home science classes. Mrs.Karim was our cookery class
teacher while Mrs.Kok taught us sewing. I picked up valuable ideas
and skills from them. In the home science exam, we were supposed to
cook for a meal.
The meal consisted of 3 dishes and a soup for a meal. Below were the things we needed to write down.
1. Decide what to cook and which to cook first(set the goal and set priority),
2. Write down recipes and check if you have the ingredients (gather relevant data and information),
3. work out a time schedule for each step to follow. Estimate time taken for each step. (Analyze info and develop the process for implementation.)
4. Cook according to what were written down. (execute the plan)
5. Constantly check to ensure stewed meat does not dry up, etc., until completion. (Monitor and review)
In upper form, in order to carry out any experiment, the same procedure will follow. Similarly, in financial planning, the logical way to follow is
1. Determine what i want to achieve financially and prioritize them
2. Arrange, file up, and put on paper what are the resources and liabilities i have, e.g. how much money i have in the bank, invested in shares or unit trust, loans etc.
3. Analyze the assets and liabilities and the income sources
4. Detail and write down the financial problems I have and the solutions that I can have
5. Implement steps to solve my problems and to achieve my financial goals
6. Check and adjust the implementation to ensure problems are solved and goals can be achieve.
It is easy to say than to implement. Get a financial planner to advise you.
The meal consisted of 3 dishes and a soup for a meal. Below were the things we needed to write down.
1. Decide what to cook and which to cook first(set the goal and set priority),
2. Write down recipes and check if you have the ingredients (gather relevant data and information),
3. work out a time schedule for each step to follow. Estimate time taken for each step. (Analyze info and develop the process for implementation.)
4. Cook according to what were written down. (execute the plan)
5. Constantly check to ensure stewed meat does not dry up, etc., until completion. (Monitor and review)
In upper form, in order to carry out any experiment, the same procedure will follow. Similarly, in financial planning, the logical way to follow is
1. Determine what i want to achieve financially and prioritize them
2. Arrange, file up, and put on paper what are the resources and liabilities i have, e.g. how much money i have in the bank, invested in shares or unit trust, loans etc.
3. Analyze the assets and liabilities and the income sources
4. Detail and write down the financial problems I have and the solutions that I can have
5. Implement steps to solve my problems and to achieve my financial goals
6. Check and adjust the implementation to ensure problems are solved and goals can be achieve.
It is easy to say than to implement. Get a financial planner to advise you.
See who can't "tahan"
Hubby and son had used up the
toothpaste. The tube was already flattened. I use Sensodyne. I was
curious why no one had taken the move to get a new one from the
drawer just a few steps away. When I asked, hubby said, 'see who
can't tahan.' After having said that, son went into the bathroom and
came out with the empty tube to show me. 'Why no one takes a new
one?', I said, 'your father said who can't tahan. If you can't, get a
new one then.'. He smiled and replaced with a new one.
We both laughed. Sometimes men are so lazy. I can't tahan the dirt on the floor. That's why I am always the one who mop the floor, clean the kitchen, so on and so forth.
Living In Kota Kinabalu
It is a blessing to live in Kota
Kinabalu. My life is casual and relaxing.
My house is located at a convenient spot.
My house is located at a convenient spot.
I can buy groceries and daily needs just about
any direction near my house.
My office is 10 min within walking
distance.
My children's school is 6km away from my house, and most of
the time I can avoid traffic jam at different hours using different
routes.
I love jogging at Taman Tun Fuad Stephen early in the morning
especially after rainy nights. The fresh air and the sound of stream
flowing down from the slope is simply refreshing. Sometimes I choose
to jog round the man-made lake at Likas Sport Complex. When time is a
bit rush, I jog at Taman Tropicana.
SNN Symptom
Get tired so often. I think due to age.
Hubby said,'You have developed SNN symptom.'
I asked, 'What is SNN?'
He said,'Sao Nai Nai, sleep whenever you want.'
I replied, 'I don't go shopping, I don't go to hair saloon and I don't play mah jiong'
He teased me,'Because you don't have money to do all these'
I said,'Then, work harder, make more money so that I can live like a real SNN.'
Sign.........
Overcharged by Permai Polyclinics
This happened on 15 May
2011.
Auntie in Tenom gave me some chicken
feet already deep fried. What I needed to do to make it a
delicious stewed chicken feet and mushroom was very simple. Just
soaked some chinese mushroom and stewed with the chicken feet with
garlic, soy sauce and other spices. It was superb! However, my two
sons didn't seem to be very interested. On Thursday, hubby went
outstation. The leftover became my lunch and dinner.
On the same night around 3am, I woke up with itchy left foot and left hand. Like before, my first suspicion was mosquitoes. I turned on the light and ready with Shieldtox mosquito spray to fight with the intruder. After searching for a while with no mosquito on sight, I looked at my foot and my hand and found no sign of mosquito bites. I went back to bed until the next morning.
On Friday night after dinner, the itchiness came back. Now with more rashes all over my body. My brother said it must be due to food allergy. Guess I ate too much chinese mushroom.
Since it was already 10pm, all the pharmacy shops were closed. I had no choice but looked for a 24-hour clinic. I finally found one in Lintas Plaza. It was Permai Polyclinics. The doctor in charged insisted an injection was necessary to stop the itchiness even though I told him I preferred to take medication. 3 years ago I had more severe allergy due to insect bites. The skin specialist didn't give me injection but medication and cream to apply at that time.
On the same night around 3am, I woke up with itchy left foot and left hand. Like before, my first suspicion was mosquitoes. I turned on the light and ready with Shieldtox mosquito spray to fight with the intruder. After searching for a while with no mosquito on sight, I looked at my foot and my hand and found no sign of mosquito bites. I went back to bed until the next morning.
On Friday night after dinner, the itchiness came back. Now with more rashes all over my body. My brother said it must be due to food allergy. Guess I ate too much chinese mushroom.
Since it was already 10pm, all the pharmacy shops were closed. I had no choice but looked for a 24-hour clinic. I finally found one in Lintas Plaza. It was Permai Polyclinics. The doctor in charged insisted an injection was necessary to stop the itchiness even though I told him I preferred to take medication. 3 years ago I had more severe allergy due to insect bites. The skin specialist didn't give me injection but medication and cream to apply at that time.
Sitting in front of the doctor, I didn't seem to have a choice but to follow his instruction. Even though the the jab eased the itchiness very quickly, the bill gave me heart pain!
The total bill was RM112!!! Consultation RM30, Injection RM40 (with 2 medicines), Dyna Calamine Lotion RM12, 10 tablets of Predinisolone 5 mg RM20 and 10 tablets of ucb zyrtec Cetirizine Hydrochloride 10mg RM20.
Can you believe how the clinic charged me for the medication? I just wonder whether there is a system for us as consumer to report over charge by the doctor. Living in Malaysia, we don't seem to have a way to fight for our right. Inflation is hitting me really hard. I am not happy because certain people are abusing their charges. Who are suffering? People like me who don't earn high enough to shoulder the inflation
A Cup Of Hot Chocolate
I read this in a Chinese magazine,
which speaks to me what is really important in life. How we now live,
is really the choice made by us.
A group of graduates, well
established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided
to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their
visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their
work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went
into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and
an assortment of cups – porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain
looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help
themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: “Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you’re drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups… And then you began eyeing each other’s cups.
Now consider
this: Life is the hot
chocolate; your
job, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and
contain life. The cup you have
does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes,
by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate
God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the
cups. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They
just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love
generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.
Protecting my mango from bats
This photo dated 20th June 2010
In the previous mango season last year,
bats came to enjoy my ripe mangoes at night leaving behind the mango
skin with the flesh gone. This year I wrap the fruits about to ripe
with plastic bags. This way keep the mangoes away from the bats. The
birds like to poke on the fruits as well. I just couldn't wrap every
fruit so let the birds enjoy the fruits together with me.
My Mango Tree
This photo was taken on 20 June 2010.
It was mango season. I have an apple
mango tree just in front of my house. It shapes like apple, and we name this species "Apple Mango". The flesh is smooth and sweet
and juicy.
Yummy! When comes mango season, I eat at least 2 to 3 fruits everyday. This is also
the season I find myself a few kilos heavier.
Mangoes are usually given to my family
members and guests. Everyone loves my mangoes.......
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