Many things have happened since. On 10 December, the Institute's Director retired and I am currently made as Acting Director (like the Malay direct translation: Berlakon Pengarah) until the university appoints a new one. My guess this appointment will be so when the dust of restructuring settles down. My own appointment as the Deputy actually ends on 31st May 2019 and am looking forward to it.
Last few weeks, I finally got the official letter that my research grant proposal was unsuccessful. So it has been more than two years, I am without a grant. Given my near retirement, personally I thought perhaps I should stop trying to get one - much of my research expenses have been from my own pocket and am still surviving. However getting a grant is a KPI, which more or less forces me to keep trying, perhaps to the benefit of my students.
Third, my scheduled trip to APCWQIS 2018 in Kolkata was cancelled much due to my personal mistake of not finding out more about visas. I had thought that being part of Commonwealth, I could get a visa-on-arrival like in many other countries. But I was wrong; I was stopped from checking-in into the flight and went back home disappointed. Quickly I wrote an email to the conference chairman, saying that I can't come (otherwise, I would need to apply for a visa and buy another set of tickets). Essentially I lost the ticket (purchased from my own pocket as I have no grant) and added to this is my international roaming package, which the service provider told me is not refundable.
In a way, it is a blessing in disguise, since almost immediately I fell sick with flu and cough. Perhaps due to this, my back pain worsened. So last Saturday, spent my birthday mostly in bed. My other half, thinking I would be in India, had earlier arranged a trip to Rompin and was left with my youngest and the eldest who is working during weekends. Did celebrate the night before with my family.
Oh yes, just after my India trip failure, my other half decided to get another furry family member, which is a munchkin. The cat has since grown attached to my youngest since he was always around playing with the cat. Here are some pics:
Today is Christmas public holiday and I'm still struggling with all the marking I need to do. I did not get to do much of my work after all during the period. Tomorrow will be back at work and my calendar is already full for the rest of the year, it seems. Despite this seemingly gloomy post, I'll make a cheery end with Seasons Greetings to my blog readers and have a happy holiday.
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