I have taken the plunge and have decided to stop shaving and attempt to produce facial hair for charity. It is tricky raising money for Movember charities in Malaysia, especially when my school has just started its annual run up to the mighty Mufti Day fundraising extravaganza. Last year the students and staff, led by the year eleven prefects, raised over RM 200,000 for a variety of local charities and sick children. This year will be no different although in the spirit of Movember some of the money raised will go to men's health organizations, recognizing the that certain willing twits are having a few weeks away from the razor blade.
I was very close to getting rid of the facial fuzz late on Sunday and then again early on Monday but pressures of time and the words of David Mitchell stopped me. On Sunday Lexi had managed to find an episode of Alan Carr's Chattyman on YouTube, with guest David Mitchell. As well as plugging his latest TV programme he spoke of the joy of beards, claiming that once he had grown his he felt a great sense of achievement. Naturally I am looking forward to the moment when I no longer itch and share in that sense of hirsute success.
There has been a change to the security guards at Desa Park City in the past few weeks and that change of company, uniforms and personnel has left me with quite a few questions. Malaysia appears to have gone security crazy. It is almost unheard of to go to a public space, building, toll plaza, condo, housing estate or car park and not find the place crawling with security guards. Often these chaps appear to be doing very little apart from checking that machines are doing what they should be. Uniformed blokes stand next to car park exit barriers watching drivers put their tickets into machines. Then there is the duplication of duties lads, the guards who stand outside their office and tell the bloke inside the office to press the button to allow barriers to up or down or for a door to open or close. However the guards who stand at the two main entrances to Desa Park City are troubling me at the moment. Currently one khaki uniformed, Baden Powell hat wearing guard stands at each of the entry and exits and makes sure that every car that passes receives a crisp salute.... And that is their job. However it is clearly a job that is not to be taken lightly. In the week before the new company took over we were treated to the bizarre spectacle of blue uniformed guards training the khaki chaps on how to salute to each passing vehicle. Questions abound. How many times per 12 hour shift do the blokes salute? Do they suffer from repetitive strain injuries? Has anyone thought that this is a real waste of human talent? Nothing will stop the saluting though. As the children and I drove to school this morning it was pouring with rain so we were treated to the guards, stil. Standing outside their guardhouse, by the exit, we were saluted by a guard, dripping wet, in Wellington boots and full yellow waterproofs.
Luckily we have cultural matters in Chateau lawrence to take our mind off security issues. Strictly Come Dancing continues to fascinate us all and cause controversy. Despite being a nice guy Dave really should have been voted out several week ago, although he did give good entertainment to the crowds at home and abroad. Both Lexi and ok are hoping that Edwin brings just as much entertainment to the dance judges in Singapore this weekend as he and his dance partner compete in the quick step, waltz and their newly learned tango routine. I have to take on the role of encouraging Dad, taxi driver, outfit arranger and either congratulator or commiserator depending on what the judges decide.