Cats in the cradle

Ugly Kid Joe

Cats In The Cradle lyrics

My child arrived just the other day
Came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
He was talkin fore I knew it
And as he grew he said,
I'm gonna be like you, dad,
You know I'm gonna be like you.

Chorus
And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man n the moon.
When you comin home?
Son, I don't know when. well get together then.
You know well have a good time then.

Well, my son turned ten just the other day.
He said, thanks for the ball, dad. come on, lets play.
Could you teach me to throw?
I said, not today. I got a lot to do.
He said, that's okay. and he walked away and he smiled and he said,
You know, I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him.

From Wikipedia
"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974 and was Chapin's only #1 hit song. The lyrics to the verses of the song were originally written as a poem by Chapin's wife, Sandy Chapin, who is credited as the song's co-writer.[1] The poem itself was inspired by the awkward relationship between Sandy Chapin's first husband, James Cashmore, and his father, a New York City politician.

The story

The song is told in first-person by a father who is too busy to spend time with his son. Though the son repeatedly asks him to join in childhood activities, the father always responds with little more than vague promises of spending time together in the future, which is peppered with images from nursery rhymes. While the son longs to spend time with his father, he continues to admire his father as a role model and tells him that he will be just like him when he is an adult. The third verse shows the son now having his own life in college and the father now wants to spend time with him. However, like his father, it is the son who now ironically does not have time for his father, pursuing his own life.

Years pass and the lonely, aging father, who is now retired and free from the constraints of work, desires yet again to spend time with his son, who by this time is a family man himself. Hoping to make up for lost time, the father reaches out to him again. The son however has his own life and family to worry about; he warmly responds that he is now too busy with his own work and family to spend time with (or even see) his father. Like his father once had, the son promises that someday in the future they will spend time together. The last verses end with the lines "I'd love to dad if I could find the time/You see my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu/But it's sure nice talking to you, dad … And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me/He'd grown up just like me/My boy was just like me …". The father realizes that his son is now giving him vague promises exactly like he once did to his son. The final line also says that the son's prediction about growing up to be like his father came true, although not in a way the father would have liked, but rather that the son is now making the same promises for future quality time as his own father once did to him.

To reflect the promises that the two men make to each other, the first two times the chorus is sung, it uses the concluding lines "When you coming home dad?/I don't know when/But we'll get together then/We're gonna have a good time then...", and the last two times, it replaces the word "dad" with "son" and also contains the slightly-altered line "But we'll get together then dad".

The Ugly Kid Joe cover of the song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK singles chart

A very considerate driver

We were in JUSCO tonight and when we walked to our car this black Harrier was blocking a few other cars. Yes, we went in and paged for the driver to move his/her car.. and the security guards at JUSCO made a few more further announcements and still no sign of the driver. After more than 40 minutes waiting, the security personnel jacked up the car and moved it away.

Thank you JUSCO guys.... for the driver, just imagine if it happens to you... and you are late for some emergency.

Clive Burr (formerly of Iron Maiden)

I just found out that he is suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its good to know that his former bandmates in IRON MAIDEN is doing their bit to help him out.

“The Clive Burr MS Trust Fund was founded in 2001 when it was learnt that original Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, who performed on their first three albums, Iron Maiden, Killers and The Number of the Beast, was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. Through previous Iron Maiden performances at Brixton Academy and Hammersmith Apollo, and some amazing fund raising efforts of the fans, the trust has improved the quality of life with financial support to Clive and other MS sufferers. Reflecting on the forthcoming show Bruce Dickinson commented, “We added this final date to help continue the great work that the Clive Burr MS Fund has done. We’ve had an amazing time on this tour so far and the summer shows are shaping up to be something quite special in their own right. It promises to be a fun and special way to celebrate the end of the tour with all our friends who have supported us and Clive over the years.” notes from www.easier.com

He was famous for his drum playing style which match the guitar (adrian Smith and Dave Murray) and Steve Harris's bass riffs during his Iron Maiden days. You can sample it if you listen to Phantom of the Opera, Wrathchild, Prodigal Son, Purgatory etc. Personally I find his playing style more suited to Iron Maiden better than his replacement Nicko McBrain.

To know more about Clive click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Burr

Find out about Clive Burr MS Trust here www.cliveaid.com

In the photo you can see; Adrian Smith, Clive, Tony Iommi, Bruce D and Janick G in front of Clive white drum from his time in Iron Maiden at Hard Rock cafe London

Man Kidal in top 100 greatest guitarists ever

from http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/greatest-guitarists-ever.asp

I was browsing the net looking for guitar heroes and I found this list of greatest guitarist ever and my man Man Kidal (a.k.a. Rahman bin Mahmood) is on the list.. wow. Come now guys, vote for our man.

Maaaaan Man, I still remember going to Red Rooster in Medan Tunku back in mid-80's just to watch him perform with SEARCH

65) Man Kidal, Lefthanded

“man kidal is the best guitar performer..vote 4 man kidal”

» more comments on Man Kidal, Lefthanded

Full name: Rahman bin Mahmud a.k.a. Man Kidal
Born : 2 March 1963, Malaysia
Fan Page : http://mankidal.cjb.net
Guitar : Fender Stratocaster 1978
Amplifier : Marshall
Style: Speed, Neoclassic, Shredd
Previous Band : Search, Lefthanded

Look up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buTzLyKas4g for Man Kidal Cover 'Adagio' Yngwie Malmsteen

Some info taken from http://www.gitaris.com/musisi/ManKidal.p

X-mas deco at P Jaya Hilton

Fukutei, Bandar Baru Klang

I think the Fukutei at No.11 & 13 , Jalan Tiara 2C/KU1 Bandar Baru Klang, is a decent Japanese food outlet. The owners are there most nights and very friendsly talking with the patrons. I find the service quite decent ande the food itself is decent and fits the food bill which is quite affordable in the RM20-35 range for a bento or set meal. I prefer the sashimi combo with either sushi or tempura.
Full detail of the restaurant; Fukutei Japanese RestaurantNo.11 & 13 Jalan Tiara 2C/KU1 Pusat Perniagaan BBK, Bandar Baru Klang, 41150,Selangor Tel: 03 - 33431882

Aidil Adha - Qurban in Pulau Indah

After the Aidil Adha prayers the family drove down to my grandmothers home in Pulau Indah as our family will perform our annual Qurban ritual. This year we have 5 cows ready for slaughter.

Is this true? US has shipped $800 Billion of a new currency to China?

This is scary man.. I read this guy Hal Turner post in his blog and if its true I guess it will scare the shit off everyone's pants. He said;

The US Secretary of the Treasury has informed the China Development Bank that the US has shipped $800 Billion of a new currency..the Amero, ..merging of the economies of The United States, Mexico and Canada into .. The North American Union.

The current American debt obligation to China, based on the US Dollar, estimated to be$2.5 Trillion, and which this new Amero will be exchanged for $400 Billion of this debt as the current American currency is set to be devalued by 50 percent before the end of the year.

Virtually unknown to the American people is that the US Department of Treasury, Henry M. Paulson, Jr., has been tasked by President Bush to lead the efforts to join the economies of the US, Canada and Mexico and is also the head of the North American Development Bank, the bi-national financial institution established by the United States and Mexico to further the merging of their economies, and the leader of the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC), the organization created by the governments of the United States and Mexico to further the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

.. American economists have been warning about the replacing of the US Dollar with the Amero, due to pressure from China, for nearly two years, and as we can read in this December, 2006 report titled Analysts: Dollar collapse would result in 'amero',

(Bob Chapman, who issued a reconstructed M3 estimate to the 100,000 subscribers to his newsletter, "The International Forecaster", agrees. )"Creating the amero," Chapman explained, "will be presented to the American public as the administration's solution for dollar recovery. In the process of creating the amero, the Bush administration just abandons the dollar.”

He explains it in his video here :

http://video. google.com/ videoplay? docid=1954933468 700958565&hl=es

About 2 years back another article was written regarding this, THE NEW WORLD DISORDER Analysts: Dollar collapse would result in 'amero' where analysts predicted fall of USD to be replaced by the Ameros.

As I see it there is a good chance that the Ameros will replace the dollar, and what will happen to dollar dominated trading? loans? bank accounts? Will it go down in value or worse will it follow the same line as the Japanese Banana money when Japan left Malaya in 1945?

Bukit Bintang at night

Its been a while since we visited KLCC

Looking for a reason to go to KLCC, supposedly the Mega Sale is on but we spent most of our time in Kinokuniya instead and of course eating...

Basil at Bangsar

Duck noodle and otak-otak

nostalgia: UK comedians

Went to Petaling St tonight looking old DVD of my favourite comedians while I was doing time in UK a few years back, some favourites of mine include Jo Brand who used to be a psychatric nurse(you can see her live here), Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (yup from Dr House) from A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster (and don't forget Hugh's role in Blackadder with Rowan Atkinson (a.k.a. Mr Bean)), Rik Mayall especially in his role as Alan Beresford B'stard a selfish, dishonest, devious, lecherous, sadistic Conservative the from the show The New Statesman, Ben Elton and Ade Edmonson from The Young Ones. What about Monty Phyton and the Flying Circus, especialy John Cleese and Michael Palin. Was also searching for Julian Clary...mmm, or failing that maybe I could search for Whose Line Is It Anyway - UK version hosted by Clive Anderson with Tony Slattery, Paul Merton. as I think the joke is even cruder than the American version. with Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Grady etc

I put the link from You Tube on the comedian stated above so you can have a feel of their talent.

Urfortunately can't find any of them there, so I end up with box-sets of Alo-alo and Benny Hill... and oh.. ROOTS... you remember Kunta-kinte?

Casa di Napoli in Klang

Down in Bandar Baru Klang, actually at No 12 Jalan Tiara 2C/KU1, Bandar Baru Klang, stone throw away from Jusco at BBK, there is a nice little Italian Pizzeria. in Klang?? Did I type it wrong?? :) . Edin Mehmedovic and his partners been running the place since 2004.

We tried the salmon salad, chicken.. (forgot the name) and spaghetti... very tasty, and the serving is adequate even for the big stomach of mine. Ah by the way I get a complementary cappucino on the house. I forgot to mention the tiramisu is mouth watering and it gets better when it actually melts in your mouth :)

A certain Kurau King has a whole lot of better pictures of the place during day time here and here.

Firefly to Penang from Subang Airport

I have never been on a propeller aircraft before so when I booked the Firefly from Subang to Penang I was a bit apprehensive. Well, check in at Subang was a breeze at 6.15am the waiting lounge was vast but not many people around, there was another flight to Kota Bharu at about the same time but the total number of passengers that morning was less than 50 I should say. The aircraft was nice maybe it was new, I think less than 1 year old, 4 seats abreast, with 2 stewardess on board. It was a smooth flight and we reached Penang in 40 minutes. No complaints at all about both the outward and inward flights.

Mutiara Parahyangan executive lounge, Bandung

The flight from Bdg to LCCT is at 5.15pm and we checked out of the hotel at 3pm, and reached the airport at 3.20pm. After 20 minutes we were all checked in and no where to go. With 3 kids in tow we need to have a place where they can be comfortable and we checked out the Mutiara Parahyangan executive lounge on the 1st floor of the Bandung Airport. It was no luxury but we have the place to ourselves for the next 1-1.5 hours and the rates is quite OK plus there is complimentary food n drinks.

Massage for Udin & Aina

Udin & Aina experiencing foot massage at at Heritage Chic Spa, Bandung

Sajian Sambara, Bandung

Another place where we wouldn't miss if we are in Bandung, the restaurant Sajian Sambara at Jl Trunojoyo specialising in Sunda food.

For more info please surf to http://www.sajiansambara.com

Kg Daun Culture Cafe, Bandung

http://mattingtong.blogspot.com/2010/03/lunch-kg-daun-bandung.html

Its a restaurant located within a resort style residential area in Bandung. We droppped by this restaurant on our way down from Tangkuban Prahu and this is actually our first visit to this restaurant after our umpteenth trip to Bandung.

Well, we should have been earlier.... the setting is fantastic, patrons are seated in little huts spread around a valley with a stream flowing by in the background, we were there for lunch but it was chilly for the kids and that only makes them even more hungry.

Food was good .. soto betawi mmm... succulent sate kambing... even though a bit on the high side (well someone got to pay for the nice little huts and the scenery you know) and you just feel like going to sleep after you have eaten your meal. The atmosphere is so inviting for a nap, what with all the cushion spread around in the hut and there was light rain just when we finished lunch.

Kampung Daun Culture Gallery & Cafe (website www.kampungdaun.net )
Jl. Sersan Bajuri Km. 4,7 No. 88 RR1 – Bandung
Phone: 022-2787915, 2784572, 2784573
Fax: 022- 2787881

Warung Nasi Ampera Bandung

Another local Bandung restaurant, but this one with many branches/outlet all over Bandung city even in Jakarta and Bogor. For more info go to www.ampera.co.id/

My Angkot

I like this Angkot (angkotan kota ) in Bandung because it bears my name :)

Amanda Browfee Cafe

Browfee, combination of ‘Brownie’ and ‘Coffee’... yummy, at Jl Dago No.167

No trip to Bandung is complete without a visit to Amanda cafe known for its browfees, i.e. brownies and coffee :). It sells steamed brownies, so sweet - a no no if you're a dentist. I read somewhere that the company was founded by PT. Pos Indonesia retired employees. Amanda the name is “Anak Mantu Damai” sorry I dunno what it means though.Its normal to see tourist carrying bags of the popular brownies up the Air Asia aircraft back to KL. So much so that even the customs officers at LCCT will give you a big smile when you show them the brownies. There are so many different flavours to choose - From the original chocolate flavor to other variants such as cheese, blueberry topping, tiramisu etc. At this outlet at Jl Juanda (Dago) they have a cafe type outlet selling brownies and other local dish and you can have it in the cafe together with coffee etc. I just love the brownies with ice cream.

Sometimes people from outside Bandung just buy theAmanda Brownies Kukus from cars or vans parked along the street, mostly on Jl Dago and Jl Martadinata. At a higher price of course compared to buying from Amanda outlet.

Rumah Ebo in Bandung

photos from Mar 2010

Tired of going to a hotel we want to explore the cosy, homey type of service you get at a fraction of the cost of a monotonous hotel and this is what we found in Bandung. If you need a home away from home, Rumah Ebo is the place. Its a house with 9 rooms and best thing about it is all rooms has a landscaped garden right at your doorstep with a fish pond all around it and the sound of running water adds to the relaxed atmosphere. The whole place is well maintained, clean and cosy.

There are single, twin and queen bed size rooms and we took the family room as there are 5 of us. It is a huge high ceiling bedroom with a connecting lounge/room with extra bed. Just nice for my family.It is on a quiet road even though its only a few metres away from the busy Jl Juanda (Dago).The staff are all very helpful and a cheerful lot.

Breakfast is right at your room door and you can have breakfast right on the garden/lawn too :)

A few FOs are withing 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel along Jl Juanda (Dago) including Grande, Blossom, Raffles City, Glamour etc. the Heritage Chic Spa is on the next road and there is a nice restaurant serving western to local food 2-3 minutes walk away.

Rumah Ebo details are:
Jl. Imam Bonjol No.27, Bandung, Java 40132, Indonesia.
email : rumahebo@yahoo.com website: http://rumahebo.wordpress.com
Phone : 62 22 2533773,
Fax : 62 22 2506629
and speak to Kiki the Operation Manager

A bold statement on a lorry in Bandung

I saw this lorry on our way down from Tangkuban Prahu in Bandung. It says SUAMI TAKUT ISTRI (husband afraid of wife) very honest :), then on the mud flap you see SALAH OBAT (wrong medicine)

Hotel Sawunggaling, Bandung

from 28 JaN 2008 POSTING
This time we put ourselves in an old small hotel down a leafy street but not far from the malls/Factory outlets. The staff are very friendly and helpful and by our second day we 've known most of them and we really felt at home. Even the manager Ms Ade Mardiah was around to greet us. U can visit their Website: www.bumisawunggaling.com or email direct to the manager at ade mardiah and the contact details are : HOTEL BUMI SAWUNGGALING
Jl. Sawunggaling no.13, Bandung 40116, Phone 022-4218254, 4212043, 4212045 Fax 022-4218253. Price starts at about Rph 390,000 or somewhere there and it is really value for money and I highly recommend it.

Our room is on the ground floor with a small balcony and ..... right across our room is the SPA :) which we duly visited after a long day of shopping :)

Update May 2008; view from the 1st floor room above the dining area








Update July 2008; Photo of the bath in the Spa in the hotel








update posting Nov 2008;
The Sawunggaling Room, largest room in the hotel - the whole family of five are tucked into one room with extra bed. High ceiling with 2 (did I say 2?.. yes 2) balconies.

other posts:

http://mattingtong.blogspot.com/2010/03/hotel-sawunggaling-bandung.html

http://mattingtong.blogspot.com/2009/11/hotel-sawunggaling-bandung.html

http://mattingtong.blogspot.com/2008/01/bandung-again-hotel-sawunggaling.html