Long leave

I'm on leave (from blogging!) and will be back..... until further notice. Maybe, see you around next year.

So, don't bother to come over and check what's happening, I'm ok, just hanging myself only, I mean, hanging out only, just enjoy the rest of the holidays before I'm back to waking up at 6.30am, just trying to wonder what I had done for 2007, and maybe just recollect what my 2007 new year resolutions had been and how far I have progressed (which I think would suck big time) and maybe wasting time again to make new year resolutions and plans for 2008.

Well, I guess it's the mid life crisis la.. usual la.

Till then, Happy New Year to all of ya, See you next year (if I am still alive) and May God bless ya!

My Christmas decoration this year

That's all I have this year for Christmas. Nice?

It's actually just a 3D card which we got from a street donation, you know, those who goes round the tables when you are having your chicken rice or wanton mee.

I wanted to put up last year's christmas tree tucked in the store room, but was too lazy and busy to do that. Hence, just this card I just "plopped" on top of the TV. (Just to entertain the kids, especially the eldest, who kept complaining when I am going to set the tree up)

Anyway, we are not celebrating, so, doesn't matter. Maybe I'll have the mood when CNY comes.

In any case, I think the malls are doing better job over the years in these decorations for the shopper's pleasure. Heard about the snowfall at the Curve, planning to take the kids there this weekend to enjoy the mood there.

Oh yes, Merry Christmas to you too!

Lazy Sunday

Early morning, my maid gave me a headache by telling me she wanted to go home. Sigh.. now after seems like convincing her to stay only a few more months until her contract ends, I'm confused if I should just kick her out of my house. She's like a "timebomb" waiting to explode, if I'm unlucky, so I told my mom just to keep a more close eye on her. Headache! Headache!

Now, let me go and rub some "minyak angin". sigh.....

So, I have no mood to go anywhere today. Whole day just rot at home. Also, playing with facebook, adding and exploring some games, check out every member of "Main Convent" group, contributing some pictures to the group. For those interested, especially my mid school's friends, do join the group here , if you have nothing better to do also like me.

Creepy, isn't it? My kindy picture! Can you spot me? Can't imagine I have known some of the friends here since I was 6 years old, and still keeping in touch until now!

My best looking smile for class pictures, so "best" until
a cousin brother of a classmate told her to ask to be my friendl! So S-H-I-O-K!

See me? I looked so cool at that time! Every year, the outstanding sketches would be selected to perform for the whole school and we did it for 2 consecutive years!
After I performed, somebody actually told me I looked very charming in the boy's suit.

Boring stories of my childhood years, huh? I still haven't touch on my Sixth form and varsity life yet! Well, can't help it, I had a very colorful school life, have to boast a bit. hehe..

Addiction

Introduced this to my elder son today, and he started 3 games with me! Good la, no need to buy the real one from ToysRus already.

And I'm addicted too.

CHIJ, my very first alma mater

Been playing around with Facebook lately. Yes, it can be addictive a bit.

Joined in the group of ex-Convent girls and saw some pictures posted by them. Made me think of my old school like my old home.

Our school is of a wonderful architecture design. I used to think I could never finished exploring the entire school compound. It's like full of secret compartments and passages, with vast areas for our young legs to run around.

This area made me remember most about the baseball games we used to play during PE. Oh, how we loved the game. Pitching, batting and running for home base, we had so much fun.

This is the path leading to the main hall. It was also the place to line up for Fifth formers for the beginning of school and after recess. It's a prestigious "walk of fame", I would say, as we could only get the "shaded area" to line up by Form 4. Before that, it was always under the sun, and we used to squeeze into the tiny shade available and I can't escape having 2 boobs pressing against my back every freaking day.

The main hall, where we sit for our exams, sing hymns with the whole form during Islam classes, attend masses, watch concerts, receive end of the year awards... Ah... all the special moments this hall gave to so many ex-CHIJ girls. If it has a mind, it will know it's in the hearts of us glued forever.

Nay.. this the place we lined up under the sun la.. Other than that, we take most of our annual pictures here with whole class or societies we were in.

This area is the primary section. It made up of 2 badminton courts and we used to play "kong kwan" a lot those days other than jumping rope. I remember one of my friend, Yee Kwan, would throw something down from the verandah when the bell rings for recess time to mark the territory and noone can come and play other than us. Once, she threw something so tiny, I think it was an eraser or something!
Dear old mr phua. it used to be only him and another man teacher in the whole school. Wonder where he is now? He used to use this phrase "Faham tak? Tak faham tak apa, ini tak penting".. what the heck...

The one incident I always remember about him...

We were in Physics lab, and he came, started mumbling with his hand covering his mouth... we normally don't listen to him or look at him, but that day, the way he kept his hand on his mouth made us even more curious to know what was going on. Soon, he forgot to cover up and all of us saw HIS TWO FRONT TEETH WERE MISSING!!!!

OMG! Can you imagine EVERYONE of us BURSTING WITH LAUGHTER??? And amazingly, he just sheepishly looked down at his notes and didn't say anything at all...

My goodness, the rest of the time during that period, we just can't stop laughing. And I think he was really glad when the bell rang. And we just continued laughing all the way back to class!!!

Never had I have such a memorable science lesson.

Got this picture from the group in Facebook. Mrs Chan and Mrs Kong had been teaching there for the years before and after we left.


They were specially invited by Michelle Yeoh to attend her French Legion award ceremony. Cool, isn't it?

CHIJ Ipoh girls, come and join the group in Facebook. There are already 500+ members there, and Mrs Kong is one of them. Nice tool to search old acquintances indeed.

Lost in Klang Valley

I was searching for a place today. Went all the way up NKVE until the last toll and was trying to follow someone's direction to get to the destination.

However, I ended up driving on a big highway, with no U-turns, no signboards, and no directions where I was heading to. The sky was cloudy and apparently, not many private cars were seen on the road. Mostly were lorries and trucks. Gas tank wasn't really full, though not exactly in danger zone yet, but my mind started to think about the ugly scenarios I might get myself into already. Creepy!

I wondered who would be able to save a "damsel in distress" at that hour, in that secluded territory, if I really am in trouble. Mind was flipping through my imaginary address book, and maybe there could be one!

And that would be my ex-boyfriend, I suppose. But heck! I ditched him last time, has he forgiven me yet? So, I sms-ed him to find the answer. No replies. Confirmed! He's still mad with me even after all these years! Aiseh, man! Regrets, regrets! (for not dragging someone along with me la, of course)

Lucky, I have a good grasp of the directions, and eventually, I did find my way back home. Whew! But I have learned one thing about men. Very unforgiving creatures they are indeed.

Haha...

How we celebrated her birthday

That day we went to Phang Nga Bay, it was also the little girl's birthday. Her eldest brother kept reminding us about it and asked if we were going to get any cake for her. I really wondered if he really wished to ensure we celebrate her birthday or he wanted to eat cake.. hmm..

Anyway, we tried to get a cake for her as just a simple ceremony celebration (birthday must have cake only is called a birthday, right?), but unfortunately, Phuket is really not our "territory", coupled with the fact that "time not enough", it was difficult to find a bakery, not to mention, a cake.

We went to Patong beach for dinner that night, and tried to look for a carpark desperately. When we find a spot, we dare not park our car in, for fear it's illegal and might be towed away, else the slot shouldn't be empty. As such, we tried to "join the troupe" to find a slot among the cars park alongside the street but to no avail. Rather frustrating. Finally, after a couple of "chickened out" attempts, we decided that "that" spot should be rather safe. A disadvantage of having a car actually.

By that time, my sandals I was having was way beyond repair. Sigh! What a time to let me down (talking about my sandals). BUT, it's also a good excuse for me to buy something home for my own. hehe..

We picked a simple "Thai" restaurant for dinner and ordered just fried rice (again!) and tomyam(again!). Was darn hungry actually, I really pitied the children.

By the time we were cured from the hunger pangs, we set off to see the crowded street which was in the festive mood. Like I said, it was "Loy Kratong" festival, you bet I still do not know what it is.

What mostly people there were doing were:
1. Making paper boats with flowers and float in out to the open sea
2. Lit some paper lantern and make your wish (I think!)

These paper lanterns came in S, M and L sizes. It works very simple. Lit up a fire below the lantern, the hot air would be trapped inside and as hot air is lighter, the lantern would just float up into the air. And voila! What a pretty sight it was, with thousands of these lanterns illuminating the night sky. I can't help gazing and admiring that beautiful sky that night.

As there were no birthday cakes and candles for little girl to blow, papa decided let's just lit one lantern up as a symbolic ceremonious birthday present for her. Sounded really good to me. So, we ended up paying 150 Baht for that L size lantern. Didn't dare to save money for a S size, as S size tends to get "burnt" down (we think)! Eew, that would be so "bad luck", I imagine.

...before it was lit up (looks like a giant condom, huh?)

... and after! I thought it was really simple and nice.

... and up into the air! I wished, on behalf of her, for everyone in the family healthy, happy and together for many, many years. And we fixed our eyes on our magical lantern as it floated higher and higher until we can't differentiate it from the rest of the gang.

The air on the beach and street was in truly festival joy. Everyone seemed to be in a delighted mood, nothing would make them upset even if they step on s**t, I think.

I gave up looking for a pair of shoes in the end, as again, the prices quoted were so ridiculous, similar to the experience in James Bond Island. We passed by this new modern shopping mall and went in to visit the loo and wash our legs as they were full with sand.

There were Xmas decorations all over the place and the children love it. Son#2 just kept asking me to take pictures for him.


And we went back to the hotel room, tucked the children to bed and both of us went out into the balcony to look at the "twinkling" sky.

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3 years before, on that day, at 12 am+, we were making love on our bed while the rest of the people were sound asleep. After it was over, I felt labor pains for like, every 20 mins. Wanted to sleep through it, thinking maybe the next day it would be better. But the pain couldn't be ignored, and I told hubby about that and wondering if I was in labor soon. (FYI, though it was my 3rd pregnancy, I still had not known yet what the signs of labor were at that time!)

Half asleep already, he murmured to me to go to sleep, we shall go and ask the doctor the next day about it.

I was half convinced that it was THE TIME, but worried that the nurses would find semen in my "private part" and then scold me for still "working out" in that critical period of time, I also tried to sleep it off to put the pain away from my mind.

Then, by 2+, the pain was increasing to such close proximity and strongly, I couldn't bear it longer and shook him awake, saying I can't wait till the next day. Have to go for Plan B. That is, hurriedly pack up the final things in my luggage and set off to the hospital. Lucky the hospital wasn't far, about 10 mins as there were almost no traffic on the road.

We reached the hospital, I can't remember if he had tried to find a parking slot or let me get off first. What I remembered was, we did not know where to go for the labor ward, funny how the place seemed so alien in that kind of trauma even though we had checked out the place a few weeks before. We then got on a lift with another person. The waterbag, already burst in the car on my way to the hospital, was still flowing, and I wanted to apologize to the other person in the lift for that. Unfortunately, the contractions were coming on strongly, and I could only grit in my teeth to hold on.

Half walking and stopping every few steps because of the contractions pain, finally we reached the labor ward. It seemed like a cross-country experience. Bugger, later I only knew, no need to walk one, got wheelchairs available at the entrances for emergencies like these.. Yikes, missed the opportunity to let hubby pampers me.

Immediately nurses were checking me inside out, and eew... I smelled "that" smell. Blushed slightly, I looked away, I didn't want to be asked if I was making love just not so long ago but I really wondered if she noticed or was I just too sensitive?

My cervix was opened 5cm that time (for those not in the know, cervix starts to open means beginning of labor already and should be in ward, not making love!). Records showed I was admitted at 3.15am and my baby daughter came out at 3.55am. It was so lightning fast that I had no painkiller, epidural whatsoever! Really natural... and cheap for my hubby.

He was also surprised, the man who was waiting outside the labor ward came before us, and hubby got to "jumped queue", he was called in before that guy to give me support (and his hand for me to bite). Whew! What a night it had been. And at about 6am, we were placed in a private room. Really worth it, I checked out the next day at 7pm, and we paid for a night's stay even though we had actually stayed for close to 2 full days. How we wished hotel also the same!

So, that was the events of labor for my 3rd baby. I thought it might be nice to put it down before I forget everything, like I already done so for my 1st baby here.

Maybe later, I would note down the details of the 2nd one too.

Phang Nga Bay boat trip

I always hated dragging myself up from bed even though it's for a tour. But the hatred won't last long. We didn't have much time to take our breakfast in, for the driver came very punctually to pick us up from the hotel.

We were the 2nd group of people, among the 3, and very soon, the whole van of 8 adults + 3 kids were on the way to the boat pier. The journey took almost 1 and half hours though Papa had covered the same route the day before in about 30 mins. That was the reason why he kept complaining about the journey back as the driver was stepping on the pedal to go on 40km/hr average. I begged to differ with his complaint, as I thought it's better to be safe than sorry. Nobody wishes to have a holiday turned into a disaster, right? Well, that's women's thinking! And the difference in men's!

Anyway, back to this tour, remember I talked about the episode where little girl wanted desperately to pee?? My goodness, it was !@#$%, a RERUN!

I had to "plead" with my eyes (since I didn't know Thai and the driver doesn't seem to talk English), you know, like telling him I really need to "release nature's call" really quick else he would need to wash his van later! God knows how I had the gift to pass the message across with that expression of mine, but it WORKED! haha!!! I was so glad he stopped by the road and let us get down to let the girl, well, un-ladylike-ly peeing by the roadside. Gosh! So "fish" la.

So, with a sense of relief, I look forward to continue with the tour.

We came to this pier and very soon, boarded the big boat. Had to wait a little while more for the rest of the tour groups.

The tour costs us 4500 Baht total. The full day tour included lunch on board and 4 destinations with free flow of drinks and food. This is how the interior of the boat looked like.

We stopped by at an island to swim a bit first. The tour guide explained that is to wait for the tide to lower down so we were able to canoe under some "lubang" later. Furthermore, he jokingly added that he knew all of us still had not taken our shower before coming over. How funny!

We reached the first stop very soon, and before I knew it, all the big boats were taken and left only the canoes to "move" us over to the beach from the anchored point. I was really ultra worried riding on the canoe with the 2 youngest ones with the waves gently swaying. Was really glad nothing happened and it was not far.

Hahaha... this is me in my bikini! See? I so nice, don't want you to end up washing your eyes with tonnes of water so I "photoshopped" a bit. Honestly, how do I feel wearing bikini for the first time in public ah? I felt rather "naked", if you ask. And very perasan too, like feeling people were watching and thinking "OMG!" Then again, it's really not a big deal there. Everyone is really walking and running around in bikinis, thin or fat, old or young alike. So, what's the big deal?

It was only awhile splashing ourselves wet on the seaside. I quickly jumped on the long tailed boats to ride back to the main boat. Whew! Made it back to homebase.

Then, we reached the 2nd stop, forgotten what's the name of it liao. This time, no way out, we really need to hop into the canoes as it's the only way to weave around exploring the area there.
I wasn't too shaky after the "warming up" session on the 1st stop, so very soon, I relaxed a bit, and started to really enjoy the luxury of being "chauffeured" around in a canoe. Though it seemed rather flimsy, like we could anytime turn over and land up in the sea, it was actually very stable. The kids were really behaved and apparently, they too seemed to be awed by the experience.



Don't know why, the canoe-r seemed to enjoy taking us below the teeny weeny holes. The smaller the better. And the children knew very soon they had to lie down fully on their back when we were near the holes. Oh, how they loved it! Especially Son#2. He would say "OH, quick, we need to lie down now" and he would stare back up with eyes wide and a smile on his face. Like he's TOTALLY in bliss.



Entered a lagoon, took one round, and back to homebase.

Lunch time while on the way to James Bond Island, which was about an hour's drive away. Food was OK, I was too busy feeding the 2 younger ones and by the time they were done, it was almost time for another adventure. So, I had quickly gobbled up some fried chicken and stuffs. Didn't feel too eager to eat so much as well.

This is James Bond Island, apparently the venue for one of the James Bond movies. Something about the Golden Gun. Heck! Too lazy to find out la.

Everyone hopped into the long tailed boat to get into the island. It's a place to take pictures and shopping.


This weird looking stone is the favorite background for the tourists to take pictures with. Like to tell everyone, "I was here", fullstop, no arguments.

The place wasn't too big for any exploration, just some hiking up the hill, see the stone from a different angle and hiked back down to where we were.


Lucky the time allocated there wasn't too long, as there wasn't much to do there either. Shopping was futile. That's because everyone knew these sellers were waiting for waterfish to come and pay a stupid few hundred dollars for their so-called pretty homemade souvenirs. Who would want to be this waterfish?

Like at one point of time while waiting for the long tailed boat, the children were playing around with some magnets in one of the stalls. The woman tried to lure us be the waterfish, saying the kids just seem to love the things there, and let them have one each. So, I kehpoh a bit and asked how much is one. She said "850 Baht" for a lousy tut-tut magnet. My God! I wanted to tell her no wonder business was so poor.

Isn't it crazy? What do they think at all? I don' t think they ever give it a thought. Isn't selling more things at a lesser profit to gain more sales better than closing one sale in 1 day (maybe even none at all) at a high profit margin? By selling things cheaper and more reasonable, tourists would surely spread the word around and customers would be back again for more. Sigh.. no wonder those stall keepers seemed to be "beating flies" only.

And that woman was pretty rude as well. She was in for a bargain with me, but I wasn't keen. Having lost interest, she was like shoo-ing my children away, something to the effect like if I do not want to buy, then don't let the children hang around there and play with her stuffs. Well, fine, I wouldn't want to stay there as well.


We could have explored that area too, but the long tailed boat was here, and we need to get back into it. Was rather glad too, as I was getting rather bored with that place.

He seemed to enjoy sitting on the chair, lazing around, relaxing and feeling the breeze on his face. haha.. Seems kinda cute, for a child at this young age to know the word "enjoy".

As for the elder one, he seems to have his dad's genes, checking out the place all the time, never seemed to stay at one spot.

Last stop for to call a day was the cave exploration. Again, we were taken to the beach from canoe and water tide was so low that we could walk around instead. The cave was pitch darkness at one point. It made me recall the movie "Cave", where a few female cave explorers met some aliens in a secluded unknown underground cave. I couldn't comprehend the kind of excitement it gives to really do such thing.

Halfway through, the water level seems to be rising, and we asked our guide if it was safe to keep walking. I really couldn't see what was in store as we walked each step forward. The guide kept telling us no problem, the water level very low only... while it was already up to my knee. I was darn worried about the youngest one only. He read my mind immediately, like he had no idea there was a child that young with us before that.

I was grateful that he volunteered to help carry her while I held on to Son#2's hand while the big one stayed with papa. Soon we saw light at the other end of the tunnel (whew! breathe a heavy sigh of relief!)

We came to a "lagoon", sometimes water level was high that it would be better to canoe in. This time, it was dry and we can see mangrove all over the place.


Took some pictures and went back to where we came from, via the same tunnel.





Mostly the tourists were back in the boat, and we were on the way to where we belong. Coconuts on board, that was really good! Chilling and thirst quenching, we savor all the coconut flesh as well, "sapu" up clean and nice.

Obviously, everyone was exhausted from the day's work, all of us just fell back in our chairs smelling the sea breeze on our face. The hifi was blasting away with some rock songs, and suddenly the crew started to perform some disco-dancing away to liven up the mood. Then, there was this humorous "akua", dressed up extravagantly with XX bra size coconuts boobs, dancing and jumping all over the place. Quite a nice attempt indeed to please their customers.

We reached back uneventfully by about 7pm, and there wasn't time to hop onto the beach (as I intended to). Quickly showered and went out for dinner. Lucky the kids get some "recharge" while on the way back from the pier and we could hang around at Patong beach until late at night.

I've got a few tags...

... now, I've got to recall what they are! Hahaha....

Been very lazy, but it's a good way to post something out of nothing though.

Well, Jo-N first.

1. 10 things I hate :
a) having an awfully perfect figure and getting all the unwanted attention from ham-sup-lo everywhere I go (my goodness, can you please stop imagining things?)

b) being so filthy rich and worrying all the time about being kidnapped (oh, pleeeeaze, stop dreaming la, will ya)

c) married a handsome hunk and wondering how many mistresses he keeps (Yucks! your taste in men ah...)

Well, I understand by now, you would be throwing up all over on your pc/laptop already, so I spare you all.. HAHAHA...

Seriously, 10 things I hate....I guess I can't think of anything I TOTALLY DESPISE right now, though the list of things I despise is pretty long too. Anyway, let's not go into that, because this blog, after all, is about the "JOY OF A HOMEMAKER", right? (haha.. such a good excuse not to finish up the assignment)

2. My breakfast : 1 scoop Milo+ 1 scoop "3-in-1 White Coffee Mix" + 1 scoop condensed milk and 2 slices of soft fluffy white bread filled to the brim with thick cold butter slices (salted) and my mom's homemade delicious just-nicely-sweetened kaya....mmm... yummy!

(Yeah, sounds a lot of "lemak", hoh? ish!)

3. and I received "The Friendship Award" (Thanks a lot! I'm so.... flattered!)
Next came from Mommy, who wants to know if I spare the cane.

What? Spare the cane and spoil the child? No way, man!

In actual fact... it's because I have no patience. I used the easiest way out, I suppose. But when the eldest is getting more matured and can be reasoned, I tried to spare it as most as I could. In fact, I used too much on him when he was young, I am afraid it made him a little bit violent. I am trying to mellow it down now to reduce the negative impact.

Heck! I hope nobody reports to the authorities and get me into prison for child abuse. If you don't hear from me from now on, you know where I would be. And, Pek Imm, I would "repay" you ah.... haha..

Btw, I came across this funny humor "12 Days of Christmas" . That really made me laughed, bringing me back some joy in a moody cloudy day. Really am amazed with the kind of creativity some people are gifted with, such as the person who came out with that.

Talk about arrogance

I was at 1U today.

As usual, finding parking was tough, though it wasn't any weekend. Driving around looking for a carpark bay, I suddenly found myself behind a Toyota Harrier, stagnant for a few mins. Apparently, she was waiting for a car who was either trying to get out or get in, not sure which one. That car's driver was rather hopeless, sigh, I won't go into details.

Anyway, the arrogance came from this woman behind the Harrier's wheels. She could be just "snatching" the person who came first for the bay, seeing the other person not skillful enough to manuevre the car in the constraint space.

In a moment, she was out of her car, scorning at me for being impatient, so I gracefully reversed back my car and let her take her time to "put" her car in that bay.

She was trying so very hard to park her car in, and very obviously, she was getting impatient herself. Suddenly, I saw her reversing her car and it didn't seem like stopping. Before I could reverse my car somemore to accommodate her, there was this loud "BOOM".

Bugger! I was really speechless. Such a nice car, don't tell me there's no reverse alarm. And she didn't seem very apologetic and wtf, was she trying to ask me to say sorry instead ah? She said "nothing wrong with your car la". I said "YOU bumped into my car, that's wrong". She was adamant and said "I said sorry la"... Sigh.. such arrogance.

I didn't even want to continue to argue with her. Waste my breath, spoil my day only. I just wondered do these rich people need to behaved so uneducated, so utterly rude?

"you drive toyota harrier means you own the road meh?". Really pissed today. But I do feel sorry for her a bit. I think she must have tried to look for a carpark bay for hours and she was running late for her appointment. Then again, no need to take it out on others la, if the whole world has less of this kind, it would be such a better place to live in.

Later in the night, I got to hear another pissing story. Well, not going to "wash dirty linens in public", but feeling rather "tulan" geram-nya...What a blardy pissed off day!

Well, tomorrow would be a better one, I'm sure.