Thirty Second Mile Post (4th July 2008)

Well. It is not so easy to live Thirty Two years in a world where you have to struggle for everything you want. Frankly I haven't struggled much to pass the exams with flying colours, to earn money to be like Warren Buffet, to secure a high position in the society. But I struggled to be a good person to the society. I do not know whether I have succeeded.

At the age of Thirty One I felt really happy with my growing son despite the fact he urinated on my Laptop ( The World's most expensive Toilet for a child to use), I was extremely happy with the identification of some true friends and concerned relatives and of course my youngest sister who simply stated " Wherever you are, Practise Dhamma".

The two things I still couldn't conquer in my life are "feeling sleepy at 9:00 pm" and hearing from someone " you are kind". These two things are so special to me because my father used to sleep at 9:00 pm and everybody told he was a kind person. I do not regret sleeping at 9:00 pm but I wish to wake up at 5:00 am as my father did. Let us see what I will achieve in this year

THATHTHA

One of my friends asked why are you always talking about your father. My answer was simple. I gained every respect from this society because of the good qualities inherited from you. You were so unique to me but I never expressed that to you. I thought I'd have told that to you in order to make you happy. I still remember the days you used to tell us stories. At the end of each story you told something which I could grasp as a lesson to my life. Do you know I eavesdropped most of your English lessons which helped me to gain gift of the gab? Do you know how much I cried in bed due to the fact that I lost many opportunities to make you happy? How can I repair this mistake?

Mars Landing

They Landed on Mars. It came to my mind when I heard about the BBC presentation on "Did We Land on Moon?" It was quite interesting. The questions were :

How will the US flag wave when there is no Atmosphere in the Moon?
No Stars were visible from Appollo's Photographs. Why?
Shadows should be parallel unless there is a close light source

But one thing I can guarantee. TinTin, Professor Calculus, Captain Haddok and Snowy have definitely landed on Moon.

Annual Party 2008

It’s been my second Annual Party at Hanscomb. I’ve got a rare opportunity to deal with Omanis, English, South Africans, Canadians, Indians and people from Hong Kong & Zimbabwe, since we are in an International Arena in Hanscomb. In an attempt to learn their native languages I still have failed to learn any. I have given priority to learn Arabic and now I’m progressing on the same.

The one you see in the picture is the person who is successfully managing this multi national organization in Oman. We enjoyed a lot in the party which is called a “Belated Christmas Party” (Surprised!!!!!!!!!, That is Hanscomb’s way), and people wished “Merry Christmas” to each other.

Fallen In Love Again

I have fallen in love again. Not with a cute little lady. But with the place I work. This is called Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. This Hotel is situated in a fascinating location in Sultanate of Oman. I started working as a Cost Consultant in the place from 28th January 2008.

Why have I fallen in love with a place? As a mother loves her children, as a farmer loves his plants and crop, as a fisherman loves the sea, we the construction people love the structures. When you see a structure which is managed by you, it will recall the memories of how the excavation, structure and the finishes of the same have been achieved stage by stage as a mother see her children grow stage by stage. When you perceive that the intended purpose of the structure have been achieved you will get the same feeling a farmer gets when he get the harvest out of his efforts. When you see the beauty and glamour of the structures you involve, you will fall in love with them as a fisherman loves the sea.

I'm Back

It's nearly 10 months since I last wrote.
Well I'm back

We Are With You

Dear Sri Lankan Cricketers,
You did your best to be the best and ultimately ended up as the second best. We Sri Lankans are very proud of you for your performance and ready to accept either the glory of victory or the agony oh defeat. We will never curse you for what you have not achieved, never destroy your properties, never burn your pictures. That is the great quality of Sri Lankans. You all are great.

Good Luck Sri Lankan Cricketers.

Proud to be a Sri Lankan

All I wish is that we should be able to become the world champions again. I am proud of Sri Lankan cricketers since they grow amidst lot of difficulties unlike other players in rich countries. I remember how Sanath Jayasuriya played as a school boy cricketer at Uyanwatta grounds, Matara my hometown. They didn't have playgrounds upto the inernational standards. But it is fascinating to see how he plays the ball with confidence at any international ground only from the experience he gained as an international cricketer in other countries. Sangakkara has a style which is in par with any star batsman in international arena. Mahela and the guys all the best and hope you will bring the world cup back to Sri Lanka

I Beat Laziness Today

Have you ever wondered why your body won't listen to your mind when you think of doing something. How many time have I tried to get out of my favourite couch to quit watching movies during holidays and read some thing. But I failed. Today I was able to get rid of that lazy feeling and felt really happy. One thing I observed is that our minds can do miracles when it is allowed to think a little. Just giving time to think of what we intend to do will lead to great disclosures.

Loku Thaththa

My mother has only one sister. She is the eldest of the family. She was married to a very silent person. They did not have children. So they loved us a lot. We called him Loku Thathttha. He recently passed away. I remember one thing about him.

There is a small stream flowing in front of Loku Thahtha's place. That was one of our favourite trips those days. My youngest sister lost one of her earrings when she had a bath there. Loku Thaththa searched it for hours and found it. It was kind of a miracle to find such a tiny thing in a stream full of water. Loku Thaththa, this Tribute is for your determination

You Still Live With Us

Three months elapsed, but none of the words you said or none of the acts of you have faded away from my heart. You were always early, that's why you said " Early to bed & early to rise, makes the man healthy wealthy & wise". I never had an alarm clock in my room because you woke up early to read news papers. That good habit still remains the same in me.You were wise to give ayya & me a "construction set' and a 'Mechano set'. I learnt A,B,C of the stability of the structures from them. Today I have become an engineer because of that strong foundation you laid. You spoke English very fluently. I followed your lessons thoroughly to gain the "Gift of the Gab". You were a wealthy man, not in monetary terms, but of course with the rich feelings and attitudes you had to be a good person.

Thaththa, I want my son to be a person like you, the genes must exist on him, to love the society, to be kind and of course to be genuine like you were. Five of your own flesh and blood performs well just because they had a good father by all means. Thaththa, you live in us and it will be reflected by every single act of us as a tribute to you.

My New Blog Buddy

I got a new Blog Buddy. She has cute children. I imagine the actions of my son through her photos. Soon they will be with me. I am really curious.

Trip to Rustaq

We recently had a trip to Rustaq. On our way we came across a sprinkler system.

Being Alone

Yesterday I experienced being totally alone. Normally I used to have partners in my life to share with. I could recall how I spent my university days with three other guys in the same room. We shared the same rice packet, gathered and discussed our difficulties and almost everything in life.

All of a sudden the loneliness has given a meaning to my life. It will make you more strong and more confident in a way. I thought of a life of an ascetic. He might have to be very strong not to give up his effort since there is nobody to encourage him. On the other hand he might have been really happy to be alone without a single person to discourage him.

However, loneliness pave a new way for you to think, to steer your own path. That I have experienced for the first time in my life.

An Year with Determination

I would like to call this year as the year of determination. I have determined to do lot of special things. First one I achieved as a new year gift. That is I had been called " kind hearted" by a special person in my life. That I totally inherited from my father. I cannot explain the joy I gain whenever somebody tells that " You are like your father".

The series of determined tasks will be revealed whenever I achieve them. I am proud to announce that they will neither be harmful to the society nor exceptionally ambitious that will affect the others.

Many Happy Returns of the Day and Merry Christmas

December 25th is a very important day for me since it is the Birthday of my Better Half and of course the Christmas. I wish my wife "Many Happy Returns of the Day" and "Merry Christmas" to the whole world simultaneously.

Our Annual Christmas Party

We recently had our Annual Christmas Party at Dolphin Centre. I was the lucky guy to win the first prize in the draw which was held.

His Flexibility

My father was a very flexible person. He allowed us to decide of our own. This reminds me Buddha's teachings about "Kalama Sutra", the last line which says:

"After observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

My sister explained one such instance he allowed her to decide of her ownas follows:

"Thaththa used to dress me up sometimes, when I was in the kindergarten. I can remember once I wore a frock to school with all the buttons in the back. That dress had the buttons in the front but I did not listened to my father and said it is dressed in the other way. He didn’t argue with me. He was such a flexible person."

Vulgarising

I just read an article about Vulgurising one of the nice creations of Amaradewa. It is
"Shantha me re beela... pissu natai vedila, Mulu gama natavai pissa"
in place of
"Santha Me Re yaame, Kumudumale siriya"
The original song has a strong impression to calm down your stressed mind. The latter is only a distortion of lyrics in order to provide almost nothing.

I am really fond of wrap music and find nothing wrong in it. For instance "Rangahala Dan Atha.." wrapped by Sangeeth is really innovative. I enjoy both songs sung by Wijerathna Warakagoda and Sangeeth. Latter has not harmed the impression given by the song.

But the earlier example reveals a sad story of how people play with good piece of music and almost killing the great songs by adding no value to it. I wonder what these people expect from this sort of distortion.

A Management Practice

Today I learnt a management practice. That is, if you feel an employee is unnecessarily bothering you( fromManager's point of view) you will never give the message to him directly, instead he tells a selected employee (presumably senior to the earlier one) " why X is hanging around?, I don't have time to talk to him"

But when the said emplyee meets him, the manager never gives a least expression of his displeassure. See how tactful he is?