Smoke gets in your eyes...

Smoke across the city

The fire alarm went off, again, and there was a stampede to leave the building. We converged at the piazza , shivering in the brisk, cold autumn afternoon. It was a welcoming break and we traded info., jokes and bonded with the rest of the team. A fire engine parked nearby, and there was silence. We were busy checking out the firemen. Man, they were fi-it. We took the opportunity to tease the top management ladies mercilessly.

On the way home, I noticed smoke bellowing furiously from a distance. Kevin told me that he came across several fire engines along the way. I took several photographs from a far. Saw on the news that a huge blaze had gutted 60% of the Sidney Stringer School. More than 100 fire engines around the Midlands was there. Luckily, I left work early cos there was a massive jam around the ring-road as motorists trying to find their way home. Thankfully, no one was injured.

That was the first piece of news from Coventry to grab the national headlines. An even bigger one was when the Sky Blue boys knocked Man. United 2:0 out of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford. Who would believe that? It was a shocker. Anyway, today they managed to draw 1:1 against Charlton Athletic at the Ricoh. From the house, I could hear the jubilant roar when 'The Mosquito' equalised at the 84th minute. Well done again.

The University was also in a jubilant mood when they celebrated a decade as the top university in the Midlands. This was revealed in The Sunday Times University guide. Our next door neighbour, Coventry Uni. was 11th . There was, again, the obligatory Open Day for prospective students and suddenly there were lost people everywhere.

I've already moved into my new temporary office with its penthouse views. Lost my marbles when they couldn't connect my PC and IT personnel have gone AWOL. Spent the morning reading and looking out the window. Just realised that if a heron or geese flew by, it would be the same level as me. Must have my camera nearby, just in case.

Another Staff Party but I didn't attend cos of Ramadan. At the monthly office meeting, again I was thanked for 'agreeing' to vacate. Also found out, it might be in November that I might get back my old office. Wait a minute, I didn't agree to that.

Watched my favourite documentary, Tribe, focusing on the Penan of Sarawak. It was heart-breaking to see these mild-mannered natives trying to hold on to a lifestyle in conflict with the modern world. It had touched a number of viewers because when I logged on to the Survival web-site, thousands had contacted them for further details. Bruce was right. He has the means to highlight the woes of these people to the outside world and it's up to us to make sure they aren't forgotten.

Get well wishes for the former PM of M'sia, Dato' Mahathir Muhammad. He'd undergone a 2nd coronary bypass surgery on the 4th of Sept. He was re-admitted again of wound debridemant on the 23rd. I don't agree with all his policies but one of it has enable me to be what I am today. With my Bumiputra status, plus good grades, I was entitled to a scholarship and went to boarding school. I didn't rest on my laurels, studied hard and worked my socks off. Took every opportunity to better myself, and only circumstances and married to the man I love, that I wasn't able to return and be among those who try to make Malaysia a better place.