I Can Bake But .............

Lately I am into baking. It's something my hubby encourages me to do and also mainly to cultivate an interest for our little one.  All along I never knew I could bake.   Somehow after a few baking sessions, I'm beginning to like this new hobby. Looks like rather hoping to see our little one gets fascinated, the mummy got hooked instead :-)

Up to now, I can proudly say all my baked desserts are yummilicious.  Family and friends who had tasted them,  gave their thumbs up to my accomplishments. However, the "disappointing" part here is that my hubby is somewhat hesitant to try them.  Well, can't really blame him as confections aren't exactly his favourite.  Still, I'd certainly be happy if he could at least try to eat them to show me some encouragement.  After all, this whole idea of baking project was conceived by him...hahaha!  It's mighty likely that I may abandon this hobby soon considering the person I wish to see most savoring my cakes and cookies hardly touches them.  Haha! 



Oh yes, I am so looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year as I've agreed to bake a cake for the party.  Just can't wait to see the approving looks in everyone's faces......;-)

Why do Married Men/Women Stray???

Just weeks ago, I received a call from a friend telling me her husband cheated on her.  My first respond was "how sure are you?.  She told how strange her husband behaved when answering phone calls and even started deleting all his messages. I felt so sorry for her.  Imagine a woman having to take care of some young children at home while her husband happily having an affair else where. How despicable is that??

Anyhow, I believe every marriage has its ups and downs.  I am blessed with a wonderful husband who is always there for me whenever I needed him.  Still, if someone were to ask me whether or not my hubby would stray someday? My answer would be "Why not?".  All men like exciting adventures.  Every so often, staying married for too long has the tendency of making couples grow tired of one another.   And when this occurs, these married men yearn for new excitement and not surprisingly, some married women crave for it too.  So, it's never easy to keep a marriage alive without both parties putting in any effort.

I had this interesting conversation with a group of friends recently.  We were talking about most wives have in hand of their partners' savings account, mobile phone and email address passwords - basically, there is nothing to hide unless the partner is up to something no good.  Some teased the wives for being so "controlling" but they forget that the hubbies also have their wives' passwords. Unfortunately, I belong to this so-called "controlling wives" category. Haha!...

My hubby even commented why I keep his email address password for, not as if there is some money in it. Haha!

Anyway, I wonder if someday my hubby would change his passwords without me knowing it.   If so, is it for security reason or is he up to no good??...;-)

psssssssttt....it's usually up to something no good lar...;-D

A Trip To Remember....

We recently spent a week long holiday in Gold Coast, Australia. It was a planned getaway, which we've been thinking about since our girl was 4.  Now that she's 6, we feel she's ready for long distance flight and would definitely be easier for us to take care of her too.

Having a kid to tag along, I needed to take whatever precaution there was to make our trip more enjoyable and comfortable.  I had children's medication standby and most importantly, anti-vomiting syrup for the 8 hours' flight.  We flew by AirAsia and surprising, it met all my expectations. It wasn't as bad as what many people cautioned me so.  The meal on board was tasty to my standard and the kids' meal even came with some snacks and toys!  The plane take-off, landing and the to & fro flight were generally smooth.   AirAsia  however, should mandate their air-hostesses to bun up their hair.   This would definitey give these ladies a more professional image.

Upon arriving at the Coolangatta airport, we were welcomed by friendly immigration officers.  They moved so swiftly and professionally.  I was personally impressed with the Aussies on how friendly they were.  I also liked the way they managed their daily operations - so systematically and so orderly.   Gold Coast was impeccably clean too.  Every where we went, the public toilets were in spic and span condition and without a tinge of unpleasant odour unlike the public loos here.    We clearly had some good fun in Gold Coast and needless to say, our little one enjoyed herself most.  Gold Coast is definitely a nice place to visit.

Well, our previous China trip before this holiday was 7 years ago and very likely we wouldn't be flying again for at least, the next 5 years ;-) 

Never Say It's Too Early...

Hubby was out with his friends and left my girl and I alone on a Saturday night.  Well, me being me, I don't like staying at home while hubby is away.  So, mummy and daughter had a "girls night out" instead.  In fact, my six year old was more eager to go out than me. Haha..

I drove to the nearby Pizza Hut for dinner. We shared a plate of bolognese spaghetti with meatballs and a small pizza.  Whilst I was savouring my portion, my girl vomitted right on the floor in front of me!  I was embarrassed of course for troubling the waiter to clean up the mess. Fortunately, she was quick enough to go up to the waiter and apologised.  Thank god, Mr. Waiter gave her an assuring smile and said "it's okay".  Before leaving the restaurant, I gathered enough change from my wallet and let her settled the bill.  She was more than happy to do the job and I think it's about time she learns to take on some responsibilities.
  

And since the night was still young, I brought her to the Big Book Shop.  As usual, she frantically went searching for the books she wanted to buy and refused to let go off my hand.  Wherever she went, I followed.  At the end of the visit, she bought a colouring book.  One funny thing she did was that she positioned two similar colouring books side by side on an empty shelf and compared the thickness of the books.  And she chose the thicker one!  It made me chuckled.  At least I could see that she is smart enough to decide what she thinks is best for her ;-) 

I bought a few Primary One workbooks for her too - Bahasa, English, Math and Science.  In my defence, I am not that kiasu-type parent who eager to start her early and wished she'd be a top student.  My intention was for her to stay focused during these long Hari Raya and school-term holidays. And you know what, she didn't disappoint me a bit. She could do those workbooks in a breeze and without much supervision except for Bahasa, which I had to guide and explain the meaning of the words to her.  There is no doubt it helps a great deal if a child is taught and given strong foundation of knowledge when he/she is still young. I believe it's never too early to start teaching your kids.  And due to the fact she receives early education when she was little, it helps and makes it a whole lot easier for her to grasp certain concepts.  Straightforwardly, my hubby and I are very proud and happy with her current progress and we hope it stays that way or even better (fingers and toes crossed).

For parents out there, never-never say it's too early to start educating your kids.  Spend a few good years to impart as much knowledge as you could to them. Their brains would absorb like a thirsty sponge and you will never regret it..:-))

Excuse Me, That's Our Prerogative!

Whenever parents get around chatting about their kids' schools, one will hear different opinions and endless debates on which is the best school to enrol into.   Parents these days especially the Malaysian Chinese prefer to send their kids to Chinese schools for one reason or another.  The core objective is to have their kids be able to read and write the Chinese language as an added advantage.   Many even opined that China is gradually opening her door to foreign market and this will create abundance of job opportunities for the years to come and hence, not mastering the language will somehow thwart one's chances to penetrate into the market (I'm sorry to admit that we are not convinced by this reason to enrol our kid into a Chinese school).  Of course, some parents send their kids to chinese schools due to their lack of faith and confidence in the national schools as the standard of the goverment school teachers had deteriorated at an alarming rate. Teachers nowadays are not as efficient and attentive like the old days. 

I was somehow offended by some relatives' comment that my hubby and I were "stupid" for sending our only child to a private school!!!  Well, for someone who did not complete his/her studies, did not understand the importance of education and had no vision of what's the real world is like out there if one's without proper acadamic qualification, has no right to pass judgement as such!!   

We are not arguing that private school is the best school there is.  The point is that we respect our friends/relatives' choice of schools and we expect likewise from them.  Otherwise, I would take it as anyone who insults our choice of school is a method of disguise of their jealousy of our independence and competence to pay for the school fees..;-)) 

Yes, A Typical Auntie I Am!...LOL

"Don't think of the price, just grab whatever you like from the shelf!", cried my nephew. "Yeah, sure!", I replied him as he volunteered to go shopping with me.  The best part was that hubby agreed to sponsor my shopping spree without a blink of an eye (so loving him for his generous gesture).  Budget set at RM1,000 and of course, I knew I wouldn't exceed it ..;-)

I arrived at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur at eleven in the morning and found my way to our meeting point, La Bodega.  I heard a lot about this place but haven't been there myself.   We settled down in a cozy spot and I ordered a cup of warm creamy cappucino and their signature dish, "American Breakfast".  And much to my chagrin, the food wasn't up to my expectation.  The review of their breakfast set is so over-rated but their cappuccino tasted good though.

After filling up our empty tummies, we headed straight for  Bossini where I bought a casual denim dress.  And before I could even took out my wallet to pay, my nephew flashed out his membership card to collect points!  Apparently, he is a frequent patron to Pavilion and had just started to accumulate points not long ago to become Pavilion VIP member.  Hahaha!  Next, we advanced to Okaidi, Pumpkin Patch and Gap Kids.  We went about checking out and comparing prices - oops not WE, actually I.  My nephew teased me for being such a "typical auntie".  Anyway, after much comparisons, I purchased two pairs of leggings and a long sleeve shirt from Gap Kids for my little one.

The branded lady handbags shop, Tod's caught my eye.  I walked in, took a brief tour around the shop and immediately fell in love with a gorgeous tote bag but my conscience said, "not this time, save the money for other things" and walked out.    My nephew has such high taste. He took me to Armani Exchange and made me tried on an off-shoulder purple blouse priced at RM250.  I can't deny the fact that it did give me a fresh look but I just couldn't convinced myself to buy it.  Price was one thing and furthermore, the design was too formal for the office and casual outings.  

We last shopped at Dorothy Perkins.  My nephew was quick to choose some blouses for me,  which designs I wouldn't bother to look if I were alone by my own.  Well, those pieces turned out to look good on me - something simple yet practical. I could wear them to work and for my weekend outings with hubby.   And that last transaction of day at Dorothy Perkins qualified my nephew to become a VIP member.  I got a discount on the spot and a RM25 voucher for my next purchase! Not too bad, huh.

My total spending for the day was RM350, way below my budget.  I was teased and mocked at for being such a typical auntie for checking and comparing prices, having no guts to put on something far too different from my usual style and always keeping tab on my budget. Hahaha!.. Nonetheless, this rare retail therapy with my nephew was a fun day out for me :-)

Making My Loved Ones Happy Through Their Stomachs..:-)

Cooking is never my forte but of late, after experimenting a few new dishes on my own, I kinda begin to comprehend why homemakers like to cook for their loved ones.  I personally get lots of satisfaction seeing my two precious enjoy eating my cooking.  Probably they wouldn't want to hurt my feelings but then again, a six year old kid doesn't lie, right? If she says it's nice and yummy, it gotta be nice and yummy. Haha!  I like stealing glances at my hubby everytime he takes his first bite of my food.  To be frank, I can't read his poker face!  But mostly, he likes whatever I whip up for him (I'm not blowing my own trumpet here..really!)..;-))

My girl is one fussy eater.  She's  just like me -not adventurous in exploring new recipes.  Kim Gary is one of her favourite diners and every visit, without fail, she'll order her favourite dish, that is pork chop nissin noodles. Well, last week at Kim Gary, it took the chef ages to prepare her order. The kitchen staff made a mistake and my girl had to wait for more than 20 minutes before her food was served.  I ordered baked cheese rice with pork chop for myself.  My dish arrived first and since she was famished, I offered her to eat some of mine.  She refused at first but after much coaxing, she finally took a bite. And voila! She loved it and kept asking for more!!  The next thing I knew, she said, "Mom, can you please cook this for me at home?" *giving me the pleading look*.  How could I possible say no, right?

This week, I attempted 2 new dishes - baked cheese rice with chicken sausages (upon request) and the other, baked cajun pork ribs.  Both turned out to be a success!  Hearing praises like "umph..nice, it's better than Kim Gary's and yes, tastes good" from my girl and hubby, worth every minute I spent in the kitchen.

Guess what?  Hubby suggests to have fish for our next weekend meal!  Must now hurry to get new recipes to impress him..;-))

Twinkle Lighting Little Bugs...:-))

As I was rummaging my hubby's office bag for his notebook,  he said to me, "Come, lets change and wake our girl up.  Lets go to Klang".  I happily quickened my steps to the drawer, took out a pair of jeans and a shirt for our precious and visualised myself in my new weekend dress.   And before I could turn around, my girl cried, "Mummy! daddy is taking us to see fireflies!".  I thought hubby was only  kidding us and futhermore, we weren't sure if that place still existed.  We did a quick google search on the internet and found a place called the Firefly Park Resort, Kuala Selangor.  Hubby copied down the map and we wasted no time, get changed and dashed out of our home without further ado  (btw, my new dress has to wait till the next weekend ;-)..)

Our girl was so excited and chatted cheerfully in the car and just couldn't wait to be there.  The journey took us almost 2 hours.  We weren't sure of the exact location and had to keep looking out for signs.   The sky was getting dark and the streets leading to Kuala Selangor were not properly lit and narrow.  I was beginning to worry that we'd missed the resort and ended up going home instead as they shut at 10:00pm.  Even the signages leading to the resort were quite confusing enough. I was doubtful that we could reached there on time but hubby never gave up *I admire his patience*.  He kept going and searching in the unfamiliar territory.  As we were almost giving up, we saw the arrow sign leading to the park!!!  Phew, what a relief.!  Otherwise, it would be a huge disappointment. 

It was almost 9:00pm by the time we got down from our car and thank goodness there weren't many people left. I supposed visitors mostly had gone home.  I made my way to the ticket counter, bought our tickets and managed to snap a few photos before we hit the jetty.  We helped ourselves with the life-jackets and hopped onto the awaiting boat and getting all ready for the boat cruise, which lasted less than 25 minutes.

Though it was just a brief river cruise, I knew our girl was truly fascinated by the sight of the lighting bugs.  To her, those mangrove trees were like Christmas trees being illuminated by hundreds of twinkling fireflies instead of christmas lights.    Prior to this, I doubt she could fathom what these nocturnal bugs would look like during the night .  It was certainly a learning experience for her :-))

Finally, it was time to go home.  To make it a more memorable trip for our little one, we pulled over at KFC (her fav, of course).  Besides food, I signed her up as a chicky member.  She was thrilled to get a watch plus other premium items. It really made her day. And guess what? She must be overly exhausted by the long car ride that she fell asleep twenty minutes into our  way home.  In a way, it was good for hubby and I.  We managed to have some quality time chatting without her interruptions for a good one and a-half hours on our journey home.. :-))

Hubby's Preference..:-))

"I like to see you in proper lady shirt", says my hubby to me.

"Proper shirt? How proper is proper??.

Fashionista I'm not but I do keep myself updated with the latest fashion.  His version of proper equates plain, no sequins, no beads, no glitters, no medium/large prints, no half-sleeve, round-neck and single colour, if possible. Hmmm, quite an uphill task to scour for these type of shirts.  Someone told me to try looking at Forever 21 but I still couldn't find any.  My next stop was to Padini and thankfully, I managed to get hold of something that's real simple and plain.  Frankly, I'm not  hundred percent in love with the design but I bought it anyway to please my hubby.  Afterall, his approval on my dressing means a great deal to me :-))

Well, I think I ought to take a day-off from work and go hunting for more of these shirts. I'm pretty sure there are loads of them out there, which I'll like.  Just that at this point of time, I don't have the faintest idea where to scout for them.  Spare me a little more time and I'm certain I'll find something that I'll like and he'll like it even more..:-D

                                 A Big No No

  *********************************************************************** 

                 Absolutely YES
***********************************************************

A Fun Day Out With My Siblings & Families....:-D

I didn't know what to expect when I had to go up to Genting Highlands again right after returning from that place for less than a week.  I thought I'd be bored to death. After all, what has it got to offer me since I am not getting any younger now? Basically naught!..

We sat in my mom's CRV and sitting at the back of the car was not fun at all.  The journey to Genting was a little bumpy and thank god, my girl wasn't really affected by it.  However, she did throw up on the way down as we reached Gohtong Jaya  :-(... ..And hopefully she won't feel  nauseous in my new Exora  *fingers crossed*.

Well, the trip turned out to be quite enjoyable after all.   We spent most of our time at the outdoor theme park.   3 years ago, my hubby and I brought our girl there but during that time, we didn't do much cos she was still very young then. She was below the minimum height and too timid to try out the rides except for the antique car ride, which was dull for an old lady like me ;-)..   Now that she is six and grown a little taller, she begins to like and enjoy  the rides.   She wanted to try the "Pirate Train" ride thinking it was exciting.  So, we queued up and I held her closely to me during the ride but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.  It was neither thrilling nor frightening.

The day passed by very quickly as everyone was busied with their own activities.  As for me, I wasn't bold enough to take any of the thrill rides - too afraid I'd passed out.  Instead, I exchanged tokens for the games hoping to win some cute plush toys for my kid but lady luck wasn't with me.  Despite many attempts, I failed to win  a single thing  :-(

Anyway, throughout the whole outing, I was looking forward to the evening cos my hubby promised to join us for dinner :-)   He arrived earlier than expected.  Believed it or not, I didn't see him waiting for us at the entrance/exit as I conveniently walked past him.  Talk about looking forward to seeing him..hahahaha!

Finally, before leaving for home, my hubby bought everyone dinner at Gohtong Jaya and I honestly believed most of us had a great time that day especially the kids!  And for those who walked out of the casino poorer, better luck next time..:-D

No Regrets for Interfering..

Should we meddle with our kids' affair in school and speak up on their behalf? 

My girl's sports day was approaching and I didn't really care much about it until she told me she wanted to be part of the pom-pom dance on that day.  She insisted that I spoke to the principal to give her a chance and mind you, that was 4 days before the sports day! How could she possibly fit in?!! Well, being a protective mom and didn't have the heart to see that rejected look, I finally found my guts to speak to the school and fortunately the principal was kind enough to let my kid practice.  The principal said to me, "Well, no harm letting her try since she wanted it so much, she deserves another chance"..:-).  All of us at home was so worried that she would affect the dance and spoilt the whole performance and we braced ourselves for the actual day to come. 

The day has finally arrived and we gritted our teeth for the show to start.  And my oh my, she did so well and surprised us all!.. Despite having practiced for a short period of 4 days, she did a very good job indeed.  She shook well and danced well.  Most importantly, she enjoyed herself!  We were so proud of her :-)

This experience has taught me a lesson.  Always listen to our kids' requests and understand what they really need.  As parents, we must understand and always give space for our kids to express their inner feelings.  No doubt, we should try our best not to meddle with the school's arrangement but if the interference turns out to be something positive, it's all worth it. 

Goodbye Aveo...Hello Exora..:-))

As the proud owner of a 6 years old Aveo Chevolet, I love my car to bits. It has never given me any major problems nor breakdown on me. It never strikes me to replace it until my hubby mentions it. He says once a car crosses the 5 year old mark, it's high time to get a new one but my answer is always "let me think about it first!"...

Hubby knows I love driving big cars and suggests to get an Exora (reasonably priced and looks good too) but I hardly fancy Proton cars. It's not about the price, it more of its performance. I told him I rather buy a Perodua car than a Proton. I have been checking around on other cars but not really enthusiastic about it...

Anyhow, it was finally time to decide either to get a new car or to keep my old buddy. We have shortlisted a few like Mazda2, Exora and Alza cos these are the latest models on the road...

The first car which, I've tested was the Madza2. It comes in 2 designs : sedan and hatchback. Hubby likes the hatchback but I prefer the sedan cos it suits my age and I don't like flashy and eye catching cars ;-))  After having tested the Madza2 and before I even test drove the Alza and Exora, I told my hubby perhaps I should get the Alza (with Toyota's technology). Hubby gave a fierce NO and said, "don't tell me or decide anything now before you test drive the other two cars"....hehe!

Without wasting any more time, I hurriedly fixed appointments to test drive the Alza and Exora on the same day itself. Disappointingly, I didn't feel good driving the Alza. And what surprised me was that the performance of the Exora truly captivated me. Prior to all these, I had never given the slightest consideration until I tested the car myself. The feeling of maneuvering it was superb. The interior of the car is spacious and I really loved it..

But then, do I really need a seven-seater car??? Hubby assures me that a seven-seater car doesn't mean it needs to ferry 7 persons all the time - very true indeed..haha! . He says as long as I like it, go ahead buy it and I will...:-)

Goodbye my long-time green buddy, Aveo...I'd definitely miss you..

Am Getting Really Old....

Last Sunday, woke early up in the morning for aerobics at the MPSJ field. Met a friend there and did an hour of non-stop jumping and stretching exercise. And you know what, I came back half-dead!!  The big thick mattress, which we placed in front of our TV looked so inviting that I threw myself on it and slept.  "No more to MPSJ, if you continue to sleep like this", says hubby..haha!.

Later that same day, I took my girl to attend an art competition. It was a real good experience. I personally find it a good exposure for the kids.  It's not about winning, it's more of getting some experience and let the child see for herself what competition is all about.  She was absolutely excited and couldn't wait to be there.  We were one of the few early birds to arrive at the hall. As time went by, participants slowly filled up the designated area and were all excited for the competition to begin.  My girl came home with a consolation prize - a "motivational" prize, which all participants received for their participation.  Of course, the best top three walked away with some big trophies and goodies  lar..:-))

Rushed home from the competition and again busied ourselves for the next appointment - girl's classmate's birthday bash at the A&W.  While kids were running up and down having their own fun, mommies gathered round to exchange anecdotes of what's going on in school - quite a cool way to kill time if you asked me.  Party ended at 8:30pm and we finally reached home at 9:00pm. 

It was definitely a hectic Sunday for me.  I guess I'm getting really old for all these and by the end of the day, I was totally knocked out......

One Word Sums It All....That's My Opinion..;-))

                                    Betrayal.........                                        

                                     Pretense....

                                     Loving.....

                                        Respect....

                      True Love....
                                         (oops, 2 words here..:-D)

Reunited After 30 Years...Wow!!...:-D

I was driving home the other day, listening to my favourite radio station when my mobile-phone rang. It was from an old schoolmate inviting me to a reunion. My mind went like, ”Huh, is this for real? Will they cancel it last minute again just like before?”   Thankfully, it materialized this time around.. :-))

Well, we finally get to meet after so many years. Everyone still looks pretty much the same to me except for their physical sizes. Some have piled on alot of weight but who cares - as long as they're happy.  And yes, we all aged. Of course, everyone ages. Who wouldn’t wish to possess eternal youth but how possible is that, right? Even those lucky ones who inherit good genes need to spend time, effort, money and slap tons of skincare products on their faces to look young, you know...;-))

It's nice to know everyone is contented with their lives and hats off to my friends who become fulltime housewives for more than a decade ago. I still couldn’t see myself as housewife as yet. Each of us just couldn’t wait for our turn to speak and everyone talked almost at the same time.  I can't describe how glad I am to reunite with these friends. The best thing is that we could still click after losing contact for 30 years!!  We had such great time catching up on each other’s lives and  reminiscing the past. It felt like we were flipping through pages and pages of our history books - how we met, who sat with whom and the silly things we did together during our 6 years in school. It was so fun!!

Whatever it is, the gathering had to come to an end. Everyone bade goodbye and promised to meet again soon....next time, we’ll bring along our children..:-)

AmBank Customers' Service Sucks.....

                        Not My Preferred Choice!

Is it really so difficult to get things done these days especially when one has to deal with the bank? You see, 3 weeks ago I contacted AmBank to request for a bank statement to settle my personal loan. I had to call them numerous times just to get the correct requisition form.  Every time I called up, a different officer spoke to me and I seriously think not all of them knew they job well.  I felt like being sent on a wild goose chase just to get the right form!  Finally, as I was filling up the form, I found something was not quite right and called them to double check. Guess what, I was told it was a WRONG form AGAIN!! I couldn’t believe my ears!?  I had to repeat my explanation to them for what I needed and they finally faxed me the correct form. This time with the right form in hand, I furnished them with all the information required and I happily faxed it back to them. To ensure everything was in place, I called them up to acknowledge receipt of my form and they did and I waited with abated breath for their reply. 

Assuming everything was orderly, I waited patiently for 3 weeks but heard no news from the bank.  I knew something was wrong. I rang them up to check on the status of my request and OMG, I was told they didn’t receive my form! The officer whom earlier acknowledged receipt of my form had mistaken it for someone else’s!! My mood changed from glee to getting annoyed.  How could I not blow my top, you tell me? I had to re-fax the form and re-start the waiting process all over again. And this time around, another officer promised  she'd personally look into my request and made sure it would be done. 

I wonder if some of these customers' service officers are competent enough to do the job.  Well, will see what happens in another a week or so. Hopefully, they wouldn't give me silly excuses for not processing my request again and mind you, it’s not for free, okay. I had to pay for their service – lousy service that is!

In short, Ambank customers' service sucks!

Novice's First Attempt....;-D

I've never attempted to write poems before in my life because I don't have a flair for it. But there is always a first time for everything, right? So, for those of you reading this, refrain yourselves from laughing at my amateur attempt, okay! hehe!....Here it goes...;-D

Wherever I am, whatever I do, I'll constantly think of you

You're someone who understands me through and through

Sometimes when you're with me, your mind seems far-away

Stressed out about work or perhaps thinking of someone who's soon going away?

****************************************************

Your existence without doubt completes my life

Because of you, I'm now a mom instead of just a wife

You can’t possibly imagine how important you’re to me

And it’s my duty to love and protect thee

*****************************************************

You are someone fiery but generous to the core

SZY is one of the few you adore

Travelling and exploring the world are what you like best

Without the above, you find life is a pest!

******************************************************

I discover not many are as good as you, whom exceedingly giving

Whatever you do, you'll do it without moaning

Many a time you accommodate more than you could handle

For this, I place you high on my pedestal

*******************************************************

Very often, I hear you whine and complain

And I'm sorry I couldn't alleviate your pain

I urge you to speak up and show me your bravery

Otherwise, you'll be forever trapped in this misery

                          Remember, refrain from laughing...;-P

Triple Celebration on Feb 14th...That Don't Impress Me Much..

Everyone says this is an extraordinary year for me as Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day and my birthday, all falling on the same day. Triple celebration - that's how everyone puts it!  Well, I don't share the same sentiment at all.   I had to celebrate my birthday two days in advance to make way for CNY (tell me what's so special about it, huh?).  The only plus point was that I didn't have to queue up at the restaurant like all previous years..hahaha!..

However, I do consider myself a lucky woman now that I have a  terrific husband and a lovesome daughter. At the stroke of midnight, he gave me a light peck on the head, followed by a "happy birthday" greeting.  And the very next morning, the minute my girl awaken from her sleep, she ran up to me, hugged me and wished me "Happy Birthday, Mummy".  What could be more dear than that, right?

My hubby asks me what do I want for my birthday pressie?.  He suggests to get me an iPhone, watch or even a handbag but I don't really need these things. At my age now, I don't yearn for material things anymore.   All I want is a stable and happy home  (yes, I'm  just an ordinary woman)..... ;-))

Perhaps you tell me, what do you want for your birthday present?..;-P

A Pain in the Ass....*Ouch*

Have you ever come across anyone who's lazy and refuses to accept own mistakes and forever blaming others and giving excuses for everything? Well, I have. There is this female colleague of mine who's absolutely LAZY and has poor attitude at work. You can’t imagine how lazy she can be! We had tried all avenues talking to her plus giving her chances after chances and yet the bad attitudes don’t change. One must be wondering, why not just sack her lar?! I raise the same question for countless times too but my goody-goody boss who's ever so kind-hearted always gives her another chance over and over again (he is blessed with 101% tolerance, haha!). I don't understand why we've to consume so much time to deal with a person who's beyond help and it's not like she's not paid for the job!!..*sigh*. Apparently, my boss says the company needs irrelevant people like her to meet the "race quota”, which a condition set by the MOF in order to renew our company license.. but I tell you, she's a real pain in the ass!

One classic example: -

Boss: You've a habit of coming in late almost everyday. Reaching the office at 9.20am every morning!.

Female: I live far from here and I leave my house at 8.15am, so expected to be late. I do reach here early sometimes! *without slightest repentance*

*jaws drop* What sort of mentality is this? If I were she, I'd have quickly find the nearest table and hide under it! But then again, if she were to have a little bit more dignity and proud of her job, she wouldn't had repeated her negligence in work over and over again!!

If there is really a thing called “Broom Award", she’s definitely the best recipient!

新年来了!!..祝大家新年快乐....:-))

Chinese New Year is just less than 2 weeks away and I haven’t prepared a thing! Previously, at this time everything is already in order. You could see boxes of assorted cookies nicely stacked up on my kitchen table top, big bright red lanterns hung decorously at the car porch and pussy willow beautifully “dressed” up with ornaments…....but this year, none is done yet!

CNY doesn’t really mean much to me these days and my kid is also obviously too young to understand what CNY is all about. To her, it’s merely an occasion to collect angpau-s from grannies/ granddad/god-ma/uncles/aunties/friends and dressing up in new clothes. She doesn't even get to see firecrackers or play with sparkles like I once used to when I was little (thanks to the ban imposed by government :-( ).  As usual, we don’t have any specific itineraries, just the same old year-in and year-out and probably get on the road for some impromptu outings with friends. I suppose the only difference this year is that we’re gonna have our reunion dinner at home unlike in the past we celebrated at my hubby’s grandma’s place.

Well, it’s our tradition to visit my mom on the first day of CNY, hang out with my siblings, play some card games (with husband's permission, of course ;-) ) and entertain some closest friends at my mom’s. In those days when my dad was still alive, he’d hire a troupe of lion dancers to perform lion dance to summon some good luck and fortune and since his passing, we don't carry on with the practice. This year, my girl is hoping to see one and I’ve promised her that she will. Few years back, she was very afraid of the loud combination beating sounds of the cymbals/drums/gong and hopefully this time around, she’d be less frightened by the deafeaning sounds and enjoys the Chinese acrobatics dance :-)

I better sign out and get going to the supermarket to buy some cookies.....and wishing everyone double happiness, double health and double of everything in this Year of the Tiger...*RAAAWWRR*..:-))

Valentine's Day & JAIS Don't Mix!....

I just can’t help laughing out loud after reading the Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS)'s plan to illuminate all public parks and go around knocking on the doors of the budget hotels looking for "offenders" this coming February 14. I think it's an outlandish move and come on lah, I'm sure there are other better things to do than apprehending couples making out, right.? By the way, why choose February 14, as if lovebirds wouldn’t engage in sex on any other days or as if couples wouldn’t get sexually aroused on any other occasions!... Well, I'm not a Muslim and I may not fully comprehend the stringent rules of the religion but frankly, it does deserve a good laugh. Isn’t it lighting up the parks is supposed to curb crimes and to make park-goers feel safe rather than to deter couples from hanky-panky?..Hmmm, obviously the authorities is doing it for the wrong reason again! ..And couples enjoying candle-lit dinners that night beware.......for you are being watched!....hahaha!

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/29/nation/5571447&sec=nation

Another amusing rumour about college female students planning to go “panty-less” on February 14, a gesture to express their love for their boyfriends!!..Gosh, this is something really new and I wonder how on earth is JAIS going to prevent that from happening?!..Are they going to hunt these “panty-less” students by peeping under each and every skirt?!! That would be a glaring sex offence, wouldn’t it? I can imagine every male student on that day will be betting and guessing which female student is not wearing underpants! ...;-)

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/29/nation/5567822&sec=nation

Oops….February 14 also happens to be my birthday and I’m contemplating whether I should go “panty-less” too, a sign of love for my husband. On second thought, I guess I better not cos he will surely find it offensive!....LOL LOL... :-D

Hakka Cuisine for Lunch, Anyone?!..:-))

I was so preoccupied with work for the past few days that I had to stay in the office during my lunch hour. And since I don’t take lunch on most weekdays, my stomach never begs for food when it comes to lunch time.

Of course, there are times I do join my colleagues for lunch especially on special occasions or whenever I feel up to it. And today, one said, “hey, why not we go for “lui cha” (擂茶) in Old Klang Road?. I went like, “huh?! what’s that?”. Apparently, it is one of the Hakka cuisines. After much persuasion, I relented and agreed to join them. I was also eager to find out what this "lui cha” is all about. Well, for someone who is not particularly ambitious in trying new food, I find the name sounds pretty intriguing. Why not check it out!..... :-)

And off we drove to Old Klang Road. The medium sized restaurant is located in between the shop-lots. The environment was generally clean (much to my delight) and there were few empty tables and we quickly grabbed a table and ordered 4 sets of “lui cha”. I had a shock when the food was served. It came with a big bowl of thick green soup, which tea leaves and vegetables pounded together and a separate plate of rice surrounded by various types of vegetables/beans (I was like ewww…could I actually stomach that soup?!) Surprisingly enough, it tasted awesome (though I didn’t empty the bowl of soup onto my rice like what the rest did. ..haha!)

I'm surprised that I actually liked it and wouldn't mind going for it again. And I realise, all these while I had been too conservative with my food choices that I had actually missed out a lot.

Perhaps, I should be more adventurous, next time...:-P

My Crying Princess...Wwaaaaaa!.....

Of late, my princess wants my attention so badly that her tantrums fly all over the place. She wants to be with me all the time. Hmmm..it’s partly my fault though. I have been spending most of my office lunch-breaks with her at home. I am trying to detach myself gradually from her now onwards. And because of this, she’s so unhappy that she keeps crying and keeps asking for me. Surprisingly, on my part, I find it equally tough too. I miss her terribly and the little voice in me constantly urging me to go home to see her. Only now I understand why it is so hard for her. As an adult, I find this transition period is too stressful to deal with, what’s more for a six years old kid??!.. This is indeed a very testing time for us both.

I glanced at my watch and the school is going to be over in a short while. I expect my princess to call me any time now. My heart squeezes a tad listening to her pleas on the phone and frankly, I have this great tendency to leave everything behind and rush home to hug and kiss her. But for her and as well as my own good, I need to do what I have to do…grit my teeth and carry on with my plan and keep my fingers and toes crossed that everything will be fine in no time!

P/S…just called home…princess is in jovial mood today…hooray!.:-D

Sixth Sense or What?!

I woke up this morning and I felt strange. An image of an old girlfriend kept flashing on my mind. I told myself there was no way I could locate her anymore. We had lost touch for many years already. And holy mackerel, I received a call from her on my mobile not long after that!!!! Apparently, she had gone through the trouble to search for my hubby's office number to find me. Wow, I was truly truly surprised. From now on, we could keep in touch on Facebook!!...isn't that wonderful...:-))

Well folks, I do believe in sixth sense or some may call it premonition. There were times, I felt weird and as if something was about to happen, be it good or bad. I usually try to avoid doing something of the ordinary on that day. Friends used to say I am a tad superstitious and paranoid at times. I guess I can't help it It's always better to be take precautionary measures than to be sorry later, right?...:-P

Let me share with you one of my favourite quotes, that is "Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you." -- Elbert Hubbard

Hell Breaks Loose or Is It Insane People On The Loose??!!

Oh dear, oh no! What has become of our nation? First thing in the morning, I read about the attacks on the churches in several parts of the city and then the impending petrol price hike on the size of the cars!.. Gosh, this is really starting to be a joke!

Malaysians are getting more daring by the day, you know. With all these uncalled for attacks on the churches, I wish to think it’s all partly due to our PM’s fault for being in tune with the Home Ministry’s “consent” for the protest over the “Allah” issue to take place. This is utter rubbish. Yes, I do understand the government is trying to woo the hearts of the Muslims but don't they realize it is at the expense of the non-Muslims regardless Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and others?. This senseless aggression is keeping everyone on their toes about their own safety. No one knows what will be the repercussions of these ridiculous attacks. Before anyone knows it, the whole nation’s security is at risk. I pray that these certain group of irresponsible attackers would immediately cease all their nonsensical acts if they really love this country and their religion. No religions in this entire world had ever taught us to be aggressive. Please do stop it and let's have peace once more!

On a separate note, I am quite baffled with the impending ruling that bigger cars have to pay higher petrol price. I really wonder how the government is going to implement this. (are the owners of the kiosks going to employ extra attendants to man the pumps to ensure bigger cars fill in expensive petrol or to have separate sections for bigger cars?) And the most preposterous thing is that Malaysians are required to swipe their Mykad to refuel their cars. This is definitely the “bestest” idea that I have ever come across.

Well, having said all that…nothing is impossible if we’re residing in Malaysia for she’s the ultimate “BOLEH LAND”… No other countries could ever top that!

Boat Ride....

Year 2009 is over in a blink of an eye and I welcome 2010 with much anticipation and new hopes for myself personally and for the rest of the world too. Lets us hope for a better year and wish for the impossibles! (If Barrack Obama can be made the President of United States, what else is impossible, right?)

We kicked off 2010 by going for a boat ride at the Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur. We frequent that place a couple of times in a year but the idea of a boat ride had never struck us until a few weeks ago. Well, it was my hubby’s idea anyway :-) Out of the blue, he suggested that we hurried to the Lake Garden to catch the boat ride before they called it a day. I was quite skeptical at first but then what the heck! Lets us do it for our girl. And surprisingly, the boat ride turned out to be awesome after all. They charged us RM6.00 for a paddling boat, for ½ hour ride, which was quite reasonable. We paddled till our calves became sore (talk about getting old and lack of exercise, haha!). It was absolutely a new experience for my girl :-P

And for those who haven’t done it, give it a try!