Long Sunday

Yesterday was a normal Sunday but it seems very long to me.

1st of all, I woke up too early.. then I sent my sister to the softball field as she is one of the official scorers for the softball tournament. The I went off to the airport to cover some Takraw officials flying off to Thailand for a technical congress and they kinda knew my family and went on talking and talking... from sports, where I worked before, to my dad and to booking for a catering for their association's meeting.

Then went back to the softball field where we played in the semi finals.. after the match, I was covered with mud from head to toe.. literally.. I had to dive for a bunted fly ball and fell flat in the mud.

We lost the match and continued playing in the second semi final and yeah we managed to win that match and qualify ourselves to the grand final. Which we were informed to be played at a later date due to bad weather (it was raining heavily.. but we played both semi finals in the rain and mud) and unsatisfactory playing pitch.

So we decided to go to a local restaurant nearby to grab a bite.. I just arrived and ordered soto and Milo but I had to leave as I was informed that a house was on fire. I had to rush to the scene as I didn't want to miss out the flames. As I got there, I saw the house was engulfed by flames and only 1 fire engine was there. Moments later another fire truck came with an APU (don't ask me but I don't know what it is.. ask some fireman).

It was raining heavily and I watched as the firemen extinguished the flames but there were still lots of smoke and I was standing in the rain taking photos and waiting for information from the investigating and operational team for more than an hour and a half.

I finally got my information and went to the old house which was nearby to go to the toilet. When I went out, a customer who was buying satay hit my car as she was leaving. I was shocked.. it was still raining and I inspected the car. The lens of the front light was cracked as well as the turn light. We made an arrangement to bring it to a workshop.

So I left and went to the office and did three articles and found out that I forgot to take photos of softball (it was raining, I didn't wanna spoil my camera and my mind was set to only take the prize presentation.. which didn't occur as the grand final is postponed to a later date).

So I did my articles and finally when it's done I went off home, thinking I need a shower and sleep. A cat crossed the road and I had to brake real hard that my car skidded to a 90 degree angle on the road, (what's with cats with death wish? they tend to do that. cross the road but crossed back when they see a car coming and make the driver panicked.. cats are a bit dumb sometimes).. luckily there were no cars coming from the other side or I would have been six feet under by now. So I sorta turned the car and head home.. safely.

Til my next ramblings.. Drive safe..

Moolah.. Cash.. Fulus.. Money Money Money...

Money.. Money.. Money... I remember this song from the eighties and every time I need money, I kinda sing the tune automatically...

The world nowadays evolve around money.. not like it used to be.. It used to be so fun to be a kid not worrying about money.. Financial management is what I need (I know someone will agree fully on this ;p and will say I need to save up.. but don't.. I'm warning you!).

But just when I was going to save up more, there comes the financial tide where needs and wants come to the attention. My beloved D300's shutter died in the middle of a corporate event coverage.. few days later I bought a D300s and sent the D300 for a new shutter leaf installation. Before that I was supposed to buy a fast zoom lens because my 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S (very few have this lens.. especially in Brunei) lens is broken and repairing it is almost the price of a new lens.. so I'm gonna buy a 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR. It's for my job, I'm a sports photo journalist and without a fast zoom lens, I can only take group photos. That's not a thrilling job that I signed up for. And especially if I need to take photos of royalties.. His Majesty, The Crown Prince, The Grand Vizier, The Princesses, etc.. So that's a couple of thousands... and my laptop (the other one which I use to do photo post processing and all) is broken and my hard disks are full.. so I need a new hard disk and the laptop.. more money to spend and just this morning the D300 arrived (it's repaired to a new condition) and I need to pick it up soon... all these at the same time.. I'm gonna have to think of a way to get all these and it's a few more weeks to payday and more months to go for bonus.

I just wished I hit the lottery jackpot so that I can pay off my loans, and did I mention I have to clear my credit cards.. no more using them.. I'm gonna cut everything... If I can clear off everything and get my gears. I'll be a happy man and I can sleep soundly every night.

One lesson, don't use the credit card unless it's an emergency and pay it punctually coz the late charges kills you.. hahah.. (no, it's not a laughing matter.. then why am I laughing?), save up for a rainy day.. (well it's raining everyday now and I haven't been able to save up yet)..

This year, I'll get through it slowly and I hope once I get my financial right (my way.. someone try to say it's wrong and I'll stop saving completely.. I'm a bit rebellious and I'm not proud of it but I wanna do things MY WAY!!)

Well, just another random rambling of my life.. If only these things get broken one at a time. it'll be easy to pay.. but all at once is a knife in the throat..

Until next time.. owh yea.. I need to start uploading photos again.. and pay my flickr account and I think the website's due for payment.. LOL..

I think I might go back to do some event or even wedding photography... but the market nowadays.. some people look for cheap and quantity rather than quality of the photos... Well.. back to the drawing board.. gonna help out with the family business soon.. need the extra cash.. (means no Harley Davidson or a new car but I'm gonna clear off all my debts).

Til my next ramblings... For now, I'm gonna concentrate more on my career.. my photography.. MY LIFE... ;)

So long 2010.. Hello 2011..

It's been soooo looong since I last blogged.. been really busy with my occupation.. I really love my job.. it made me busy.. but the adrenalin rush and also doing things that I love and get paid for it.. that's a dream job for everyone..

So it's the 3rd day of 2011.. it's a good refreshing year.. last year was good.. this year, will be better...

Owh yea.. before Christmas time, the family went off on a road trip to Kota Kinabalu Sabah.. we had a fun time there, just having a vacation (which didn't stop Mom from doing her shopping) and I drove to Lok Kawi Wildlife Centre where I was brought when I was sent working earlier in October - November (that's another story, probably next time) and brought the 2 gremlins.. Aiman and Baby Ariana.. we went on an elephant ride, watched lotsa animals, elephants, tigers, leopard, snakes, crocodiles, bears, ostrich, gibbons, Orang Utan, Proboscis Monkeys and lots more.. only Rhinoceros were missing (I think it died or no longer there) and watched a show there.. very good I recommend going there.

We had seafood, Fish & Co, Starbucks (when will Brunei have one?) Mom's personal favorite Dott's Egg Tarts (which we had everyday and took home 15 boxes to Brunei). It was fun to not work for a few days just hanging out with the family. We're planning to go back there again.. when? not really sure.. coz planning to go either Bangkok, Shenzen, Guang Zhou and Jakarta with the family.. and yeah.. Umrah to Mekah for the parents..

Well, so much for ramblings.. I'm a person with few words.. I will try to update more photos soon.. but I have put up a few photos in the main website -> http://www.GoDsGiFT730.com I uploaded photos that were published last year...

Til the next time I feel like blogging.. or have the time to do so.. again.. it's still not too late to wish everyone a very Happy new Year 2011. :)

p.s.- and for a treat.. here's a photo I took on New Year's Eve.. unedited.. straight from the camera.. a photo published Front Page on the first day of 2011..