Sunday 10 January 2010

..best job in the world..?


..Ben Southall..

last year, sometimes in May, a Brit, Ben Southall, landed what was touted as the best job in the world..he was paid close to RM400,000.00 just for six months of catering to some island and the sea surrounding it..it was some reef, I read...all he had to do was blog about it..for view of blog click here..

...a few days before his term ends, he was stung by a deadly jelly-fish, Irukandji..he survives the sting..

..but how can that be?..how can the best job in the world holder be stung? ..and it sounds like a lot of hard work to me..all those diving and swimming around..and riding sun dunes through all those heat of the desert..factoring in the risk involved, I have to agree with NST's columnist, Syed Nadzri when he wrote that there is no such thing as the best job in the world..click here for his views..and Southall does not even have a personal Lear jet at his beck and call...for the past six months he was stuck there on that island..like a prisoner..

..to my mind, the best job in the world is not even a job.. they are the retirees and pensioners, like Uncle Lee, (whose blog can be viewed here) ..with all their loans and mortgages all paid up...health holding well, and receiving monthly pension payments in the higher figures bracket... and their lump sum gratuity earning income from some trust fund or other...with their children all grown-up and gone .. they are free to do anything they want....they are free to laze along some beach..or climb some jungle tracks..or just pack and go on a cruise to Pitcairn Island and say hi to Southall..and later goodbye to him..or romp on the sand with their grandchildren with nary a care...or relax with a laptop and blog about their exploits and experiences...no limitations and no tiresome time constraints...ah..that's the best job in the world...

..but to be eligible for this best job in the world, you must marry early and have children early..so that by the time you retire, all the children have finished college and started out on their own..and you should not marry at fifty, as most men of affluence/influence are wont to do..like pakmat did..even though pakmat did not fall into the well-to-do category..for then you will have children late..and spend your later years sending and fetching them from school..as pakmat is now doing at 65...a big mar on the best job in world..even if you can afford a driver, minding growing up children at 60 is taxing no matter how you looked at it...

..and, of course, you have to plan you finances well..for once you retire, the banks will no longer give you credit..but then, again, you do not need credit, or loans..as your list of wants had somewhat diminished...and everthing else is accounted for and paid for..but you have to resist whatever itch that comes you way..which is quite difficult sometimes..

..health is like family..take care of your health in your early years and it will take care of you in your late years...everything should be in moderation..no smoking and definitely, no drugs..apart from all that, just keep your fingers crossed and pray that you will live long enough...

..good luck...





12 comments:

Cat-from-Sydney said...

PakMat dear,
That "best job in the world" was located here, Queensland to be exact. 11,000 people applied, if I'm not mistaken.
Your description of the best job in the world is intriguing too. To me, the best job in the world can be summed up in one word: ME!!!! purrr....meow!

nurmisnan said...

salam pak mat
my husband working around d world.. we always travel and feel so tired but had fun. now i just stay at malaysia for a month and will fly again to Australia soon... but this time we fly for vacation...

will do clik on Ben Southall.. chow pak mat

YuinTing said...

I agree with you, Pakmat.
Also, as the saying goes, "Health is Wealth".

Unknown said...

my dear cat..come to think about it..being a favoured pet cat is about the best job there is..all those humans at your beck and call..catering to your every wishes..your private vet and all..it must be great being a cat..and in Australia at that..

Unknown said...

salam nur..your hubby's job is to globe-trot..? wow..talk about the whole world being at your feet..and your playground..seeing places where pakmat can only dream about..that's heluva job..


hi, ytc..you r right, lady..no point making a bundle and spend it only on health care in your late years..so you take care..that you may join pakmat in retirement in bachok...

Anonymous said...

. . . loans and mortgages all paid up...health holding well,... and their lump sum gratuity earning income from some trust fund or other...
Pakmat,
Everything as you define but this part ''with their children all grown-up '' come a bit too late.
MFT

Unknown said...

salam mft...pakmat cant help but smile..certain things are not within our control, right..we plannned and made provisions..and sit back and watched all those plans go awry..for, indeed, man can only proposes..but it is within our realm to make adjustments..have a nice day, mft..pakmat wishes you good luck and all best..take care..

Lee said...

Hello Pakmat, no wonder I was coughing at home.
Ha ha ha, you flatter me with your jalan atas ayer thoughts.
Yes, I am retired. Retired 10 years ago....and yes, I have two pensions....and no, my health, body wise belum makan pills.....

But I have tennis elbow, and my knees are giving me some aches (must be all that kneeling down young days)....doctor says its 'degeneration of muscles', whatever that means....
Most important, my eyesight can still spot a sarong three lamp post away. That is important, ha ha.

But what makes my day is a certain gentleman in Bachok making me laugh....best obat of all.
Terima kaseh seribu, Pakmat.
May your aim be accurate, and your trigger finger easy, have fun, Lee.

Unknown said...

hi, uncle lee..one of the holders of the best job in world..:)..and you are the envy of many..and admirers a plenty...even at 60...now if that does count for something, pakmat doesnt what does...here's wishing you many happy years of blogging..and doing the things that would made you happy..cheers..and take care..

rizal hashim said...

PakMat, who says Tan Sri Lee is 60...his blog clearly gives the impression he's a young chap always on the move and ready to pounce. Oh yes I envy PakMat and Tan Sri Lee, two bloggers full of wisdom, wit and wealth, to make it the 3Ws...wealth not necessarily in terms of monetary gains...

anyway PakMat, I'm going thru the fetching and sending school going kids phase at the moment...struggling to cope with the commitment but enjoying every minute of it...your posting is a timely reminder to all...

also thinking of registering myself at a gym...hehe

Pakmat, you take care...

Salam

Unknown said...

..lc..you should..register at the gym..how can a sports pundit carrying on being a pundit when his body is not fit..? and to sports fan everywhere, you have the best job..being paid to go and cover..and getting ringside view of all the sporting events including the World Cup..the Olympics..sheesh..any one would drools his saliva just envying you...and not to mention posing for pictures with red kebaya Anna Kourniva..and guest appearance on tv..and getting to strokes the dolphins..the list goes on..:)but you take care..and please remain focus..dont get distracted easy..for is in the manner of some damsels to distract guys like you..

rizal hashim said...

shhhhh...pakmat, careful...damsels in distress usually go for bloggers with wit and wisdom, like your good self! hehe. See, most of your commenters are from the fairer sex...