Dear Diary,
It’s not paranoia if they are really out to get you!
That’s how I felt after several intense games of Ludo last night/early this morning with my wife, daughter and her schoolmate who has been staying with us since before the start of MCO. They really were out to “get me”.
All because I get as much pleasure from knocking out their tokens and sending them back to the base – especially the closer they are to “home” – as I do from winning. Rolling a six to get out of the base is the norm but if I can knock out someone, I will usually do that instead.
So for a couple of hours, I was being chased by several ladies – the story of my life, really – as they were determined to knock out my tokens but not each other – unless they had no choice.
It was fun and helped make the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) bearable.
Separately, the Bundesliga returned yesterday but I only caught bits and pieces of the Dortmund-Schalke game which the former won 4-0.
It was indeed strange watching a match without fans but as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said in a recent interview: “We all started playing football without supporters and we loved this game, not because of the atmosphere in a stadium. It is still a wonderful game.”
Here’s hoping the English Premier League returns sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir finally resigned as Kedah Menteri Besar and was replaced by Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. So Bersatu has now lost control of Kedah and Johor.
Here’s how day 61 of MCO unfolded.
7.13am: HE SAID, THEY SAID – Only former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram can clear up what really happened in the Riza Aziz case as there are several versions as to who approved his discharge not amounting to an acquittal. Since today is World Communications Days, perhaps someone can communicate the truth to us.
8am: NICE TOUCH – Although no fans were allowed in the stadium, Dortmund players kept up their tradition of “thanking them” after their win.
Back with a bang!
Erling Haaland scored and assisted in his Revierderby debut as @BlackYellow thrashed arch rivals @s04_en to keep up their @Bundesliga_EN title challenge.#Bundesliga #BundesligaonFSA #BVBS04 pic.twitter.com/L0U9Bodp75
— FOX Sports Asia (@FOXSportsAsia) May 16, 2020
9am: BIG HEARTS – Farmers in Malang, Indonesia are giving out their unsold harvest for free to passers-by instead of dumping the produce as has happened in several countries. I was fortunate enough to visit Malang many years ago. Nice place and kind people.
10.03am: NO ENTRY – Thailand extends ban on international passenger flights to June 30.
11.16am: SPORTING BOOST – New Zealand’s struggling sports sector has received a NZ$265 million (RM684.3 million) injection from the government to help it mitigate some of the worst financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, her fiance and a group of friends were turned away from a cafe in Wellington because it had already reached its customer limit. No special treatment, unlike in some countries.
12.01pm: DRIVE-IN MOVIES? – Back in the day, drive-in cinemas were big and could make a comeback because of Covid-19. Several drive-ins have opened in the United States. Will Malaysia follow suit?
1.47pm: VERY COOL – Since I was busy with Ludo, I recorded the season finale of The Blacklist which I watched while having a bowl of homemade Sarawak laksa for lunch. Like many shows, production was shut because of the pandemic before filming of the series could be completed. As such, they opted for a unique idea to finish the shortened season –blending animation with live action. It was very well done.
2pm: GIVE THEM ROOM – Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says guidelines for organisers who invite the media for their events are being prepared. This comes after pictures of media personnel not following physical distancing while covering Friday prayers at National Mosque were widely shared on social media.
He also says postgraduate research programme students, including those taking their Masters degree and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), are allowed to carry out academic activities in the campus. The defence minister reiterates pubs and nightclubs are still barred from operating.
Meanwhile, 1,248 vehicles were forced to turn back for violating interstate travel restrictions,
3pm: AHEAD OF HIS TIME
4pm: STUART ON THE BALL – FA of Malaysia’s general secretary Stuart Ramalingam appeared on the RSS with HD today.
4.39pm: 80% RECOVERY – Fatalities remain at 113 as there are no new deaths. Twenty-two new cases bring the total to 6,894. Another 59 patients are discharged, which means 5,571 persons have been cured. That’s a remarkable 80.8 per cent success rate.
5.30pm: TELEPHONE – Since it’s World Communications Day, here’s Sheena Easton on the Telephone.
