Monday 26 April 2010

Faster than CNN

In an earlier post in late February this year, I wrote about the updates posted by my nieces who are connected to me in Facebook, and about how I try to keep such news as private as possible. Even to the extent of feigning surprise when my wife tells me something that I'd already read online, as if I am the last person to know.

Well, today I reversed the process... and the effect is exactly as what I expected.

It is one of my niece's birthday today (Sunday 25 April 2010) and I dropped by her FB profile to post a birthday message on her wall. While there, I spotted an exchange of messages between my niece and some of her friends (or possibly, staff) about the rumour of a job transfer to Sabah. I later mentioned to my wife that it is the niece's special day today, and that she may want to send a congratulatory sms to the birthday girl. I also casually mentioned that the young lady may be re-posted to Sabah.

My wife was surprised and immediately texted the girl's mother. The girl's mother was doubly surprised when she texted back that she didn't know anything about this. My wife shot a look at me and asked how I know something even the girl's mother doesn't know. Well, maybe daughters don't tell their mothers everything, I said.

No... can't be! Not this niece, says the wife, with a firm shake of the head. So, go ask the young lady herself, I said.

A quick flurry of sms exchanges took place between aunt, niece and niece's mother. Finally the young lady clarified that the news of the job transfer is just office gossip... I can almost hear the sigh of relief from the mother (apparently she doesn't want the daughter to work too far away).

To my lovely niece Aliah... sorry if this old uncle of yours caused you a bit of bother by forwarding a piece of unconfirmed news. But if you do actually get that transfer, don't decline... grab the chance for a new working experience. At least then, we can find a strong reason to travel to Sabah, a place that we've been longing to go to.

By the way, Happy Birthday (yang ke berapa, ek?). May today and the next 364 days be filled with joy and good tidings.

 Birthday girl is the one on the left. This pic taken eons ago and lifted from someone's FB album.

26 comments:

mamasita said...

Hahahaha..haa tu laah..uncle kaypo yea..hampir kena benam kepala dalam pasir!
btw..boleh tak you add me to your FB list? Thanks in advance!

Mamaboyz said...

next time she might hide her status from you :) (did that when i dont want my mum to know certain things)

Lili said...

Haha, jadi 'first to know' pun susah jugak kan!

Pat said...

Good advice - for your niece. Most would suggest that a girl, especially, stay near. But you are right: there are plus points to being far from home, and learning that you can stand on your own, that you can survive, and that you actually can be happy!

Too many times we take the easier path, and stick within our comfort zones. But it is when we venture a little 'outside' that we learn to be all we can be!

Justiffa said...

Dont fret too much la oldstock. this sorta thing kadang2 just have a way of escalating beyond control and we're left tercengang2.

Just hafta keep cool & stay macho la no choice lol ;p

Happy birthday to the anak buah osso!!

Zendra-Maria said...

Oldstock, they may have an opening for you at CNN :)

Fadhil said...

mamasita,

bukan niat nak kaypoh sangat. cuma nak test tengok org rumah saya dah ada info tu ke belum.

ok, FB add request on the way to you..

Fadhil said...

Doc, hopefully not la... I'm a very understanding uncle :-)

Fadhil said...

Lili, actually it's good to be the first to know... cuma kadang-kadang yg menyusahkan ialah to be the first to let others know.

zafi said...

hahahahaha Happy belated birthday!!!! The vintage picture look amazing!

Fadhil said...

Pat, most mothers would generally prefer to have their kids work somewhere not to far away. Understandable, I guess. I can still remember the first time I came back after studies and telling my mom I'm thinking of applying for a job at Sarawak Shell.

She said,`takde tempat yang dekat-dekat sikit ke?'

Fadhil said...

Justiffa,

Tu laa... ingat kita bagitau dia just for info only, tapi orang pompuan ni memang naturally curious dan nak tahu dgn lebih detail.

Anyway, I'm taking your advice and staying cool, which I am, most of the time anyway, heheheh...

Fadhil said...

Zen, yeah maybe I should work for a news channel... but I prefer BBC though :-)

Nora Uteh said...

Salam Dil,

Haha,no sweat la dil. The person getting the transfer was an office mate of hers in Ipoh. Terkejut juga at first, tapi kalau betul pun tak pe la. Its for her own good. Tapi risau juga coz she will be all alone..you know what I mean..

All the best..cheerio!!

Anonymous said...

uncle,
don't worry.. u r still the coolest uncle..thanx 4 the advice
p/s : yg transfer sabah tu officer yg replace me in ipoh, so tu yg ex-staff bergosip.. :-)

Fadhil said...

zafi,

there are a few other vintage pics of the birthday girl in the album but I chose this one because the birthday cake in the pic ties in with the message.

Fadhil said...

Kak Nora,

Hehehe... I didn't intend to pass on that bit of gossip, tapi saja je test :-)

The other day, she asked our second son pasal nak buat akaun facebook ni. The son replied, `Tak payah la mama... susah facebook ni, mama tak paham punye.. ' Of course, the intention was not to give the mother the chance to check his profile, hahaha!

Fadhil said...

Hi Aliah!,

Nasib baik gossip pasal transfer, bukan gossip cerita lain, hehehe...

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hahaha Oldstock, but but I..errr only the messenger what....

Why la u put yourself in such a predicament, be like this unker la...make don't know only; especially pompuan punya pasal, no problemo then mah.

Salam,
Tommy

P/S - U never seems to learn ka, it's always the man's fault! Have u ever heard of a 'FALL GAL'b4 :)))))

Unknown said...

Hahhhh! Mcm2 bende yg kita boleh baca di FB, tapi authenticity nya kengkadang di ragui!

And sometimes kita baca komen2 yg going on between a few people and accidentally jump to conclusions too.

I am a great fan of FB (honestly) but everything there, I take with a pinch of salt!

DrSam said...

FB can be a good way to peek into somebody's intimate life. It work vice versa for us too. Just stay cool uncle!

And Happy belated birthday to your anak buah!

psssstt...uncle, can ask her to add me onot?

Fadhil said...

Hi Tommy,

Usually I make dunno only... but this one was just to test maa :-)

always the man's fault, yeah I know that one, heheheh...

Fadhil said...

Verse,

Cannot help to read the conversations on other friend's profiles... kekadang tu memang gatal nak join.

I am a great fan of FB too, honest. Found so many long-lost school friends by way of FB.

Fadhil said...

Dr Sam,

I can ask her, sure... no prob. But you must be my friend first la kan :-)

3yearshousewife said...

Hehehe, kesian. Niat baik tapi lain pulak yg jadi.

Fadhil said...

As, niat memang baik, tapi kita dah boleh agak apa yg akan berlaku, hehehe..