Bloggers are stupid. Thankfully, this category of bloggers are a minority. Nevertheless, these few are like the thorn in the flesh that pricks you where it hurts most. What do you get when you stand up for the rights of the people who are being discriminated and disparaged by publicity-seeking shallow-minded bloggers? You get abuses of all forms hurled at you from mindless droves of zombie-like fans that cannot see the facts for what it is. You get hate blogs dedicated to attacking your dignity in the crudest forms. Then there are the opportunists watching from the sidelines, looking for ways to manipulate such issues to drive traffic to their sites. After having exhausted that, they would turn on you by stupidly picking on certain “offensive” words used in your blog and twist it out of context. These people need better dictionaries and lessons in respecting the rights and sensitivities of others. But most of all, they need to get a life. Need I say more?

Personal Assistants (PAs) are an integral part of the Independent Living Programme for People With Disabilities. PAs enhance the quality of life for disabled persons by peforming tasks that are beyond the physical functional capabilities of the disabled person. Depending on the needs, the work required of a PA may range from assisting the disabled person with personal hygiene to feeding. The services required and provided will have to be worked out between both parties.

I have been nominated to attend two training courses in Bangkok beginning February 28. The first course, Training of Managerial Personnel of Independent Living Centres, runs from February 28 to March 7, the second, Peer Counselers for People with Disablities, is from March 9 to March 17. Participants have been invited from Malaysia, The Philippines and Pakistan. Both courses are organised by the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD), an agency of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand.

APCD was jointly established with the collaboration of the Government of Japan and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on 1 August, 2002. APCD is also working in close cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations whose work is related to persons with disabilities.

For the entire duration of both courses, I will need a PA to assist me, mostly with mobility matters such as helping me traverse barriers and loading and unloading my wheelchair. I can manage my own personal hygiene tasks. The PA accompanying me will be provided with a return ticket, lodging and meal/meal allowance. One of my friends has confirmed that he is able to be my PA for the first course. The position for a PA is still open for the second course. Therefore, I would like to invite applications for the position of Personal Assistant for the duration from March 9 to March 17. The qualifications needed are that applicants must be physically healthy, able to handle a wheelchair and have a keen interest to learn about disability issues. Please leave a comment here, send an email or IM me for more details.

Tokyo will be my first trip out of Malaysia in three decades. Unfortunately, Wuan could not go as my Personal Assistant (PA) because of work commitments. She is not too fond of the cold either. The temperature will be hovering around 0°C to 10°C. I am a little apprehensive of the extreme temperatures as well. Genting Highlands is already a tad too cold to my liking. The cold will definitely induce spasms in my limbs. I hope that will not affect me too much.

The training will overlap beyond the Chinese New Year celebrations. Since Dad and Mum are no longer around, I do not mind spending that period elsewhere. I remember the first time I spent the festive season alone after Mum passed away. It was a depressing time. Familiar surroundings without the familiar sights and sounds and elders to greet were just not the same.

Weather reports of Tokyo, KLIA and Penang have been included in the sidebar. I thought it would be interesting for Wuan and all who read my blog to know what I am experiencing in Tokyo. It will also be interesting to compare the temperatures and weather conditions of the three cities.

Wuan will be helping me to pack in a while. I would love to travel light but that is just not possible. I need a supply of adult diapers for the places where no accessible toilets are available. I am taking along clothes enough for five days and one set of winter wear. The heaviest among the items I will be lugging is a notebook and a digital camera. If there is a connection, I definitely will be blogging from Tokyo.

What can a bloggers meet, breasts and banana smoothies have in common? A lot apparently if one is in the company of two pre-middle-aged women whose laughter could be heard above the cacophony of a food court full of hungry shoppers and another young woman whose bundle of energy could outlast the Energizer Bunny any day.

It was the bloggers meet initiated by Dee at Coffee Bean, Suria KLCC. Wuan and I were ninety minutes late. As soon as we got in I recognised Dee from her unmistakeable short hair. Desmo and Edrei were already there. CHiQ arrived a short while later.

Jomel and I had arranged to meet for lunch. She arrived a short while later too and she brought me presents for my trip to Japan - woolen cap and scarf. Thank you JoMel!!! Those definitely will come in useful. I thought it would be a good idea to see if SK was around the premises since he works there too. He was, and joined us. We chatted for while and decided to adjourn to the Signatures Food Court for lunch. Desmo and SK had to leave.

It all began with CHiQ talking about saggy breasts. Before long, Dee and JoMel chipped in by explaining how, in kampungs, such mammaries could be flipped over the shoulder to feed the child the woman was carrying on her back. My image of women and their breasts was forever shattered by the gross description by CHiQ, Dee and JoMel. Fortunately for Edrei, he was away buying lunch. Thank you you three, for permanently erasing the words perk, firm and voluptuous from my vocabulary. I shall not elaborate more. Here is the meet in photos:

Presents from JoMel for my Tokyo trip - a cap and scarf.

Group photo before we adjourned for lunch.

SK and me.

Thorn among roses - JoMel, me and Dee.

Edrei - modern day cannibal.

Shiseido-Memoirs of a Geisha contest finale at Suria KLCC Centre Court.

Another group photo - CHiQ, me, Edrei and Dee.