This week of school break

Started with 2 full days of crap talk on cashflow millionaire, the weekend was wasted gone, leaving the school break 7 days to go with the kids all to ourselves/ myself.

I had earlier made some plans with goolypop and her son on Monday, and had nearly cancelled it off due to a big investment plan project start up. But everything was back in place as the project didn't take off. We met up at 1U and went straight to the playground for the kids to run/jump/climb/bounce/slide in, while both of us sat at the mini cafe and bored each other to death (almost!).

After several hours of maximizing the RM20/head we paid with an ice-cream break in between and goolypop dozing off sitting down with saliva dripping from the side of her mouth, her son thought it was too embarassing and woke her up to head to our next destination in our itinerary.

Here we come! to the Club at Damansara. Being weekday, the charges imposed for non-members is slightly better affordability than weekends. We changed into our bikinis and jumped into the pool with the kids. Amazingly, as usual, they never get enough of the slide going for uncountable rounds in it. While they played, we ogled at young handsome well built hunks around, of course. And before we knew it, it was a little way past 6 and it was time to go home so soon. How time slides!

The rest of the days were spent in and around home. you know, baking cupcakes, and I forgot what else. It was so mundane that I forgot how we spent the time. But Friday, we went out again with the same companions we had on Monday. Guess we wanted so much to see who can't tahan who first. Heh!

Didi had a bad tummy pain on that morning though, and I suspected it to be constipation since I can't remember when the last time I saw him going for a poo. The night before he wanted to poo, but I suspected it was only 1 or 2 "stones". So he was crying in pain on and off all morning while we were waiting for the guests to arrive. Finally when they did, didi wanted so much for the pain to end that I took him to see the doctor first. No point going out gaigai in his condition where he'll probably be pulling everyone's moods down.

The doctor gave me a tube for me to inject some solution into his anus and after less than 1 minute, sure enough he cleared all out and he was back to his normal mischievous self again. Thank God for science!

Instead of having breakfast, we had our early lunch at our favorite hakka mee stall. Though it was near noontime, the trees gave a pretty good shade and we had a relaxing lunch out in the open. It's very yummy when haven't had it for some time.

When the kids had their tummy full, naturally they will run around and play. Here they are trying to make Ben 10's 4 arms. In this case, 6 arms, never mind if the numbers don't match.

(Hey! Why are you smelling my butts?!)

4arms is thrilled to get another 2 and upgraded to 6arms.

We then moved on to KLCC intending to go for the skybridge visit. Dang! The tickets were all given out for the day. Hearsay, they allow 1700 visitors per day, FOC, to visit the skybridge of KLCC twin towers. What a disappointment! Still haven't fulfill my promise to didi to take him up there, or did I promised him KL Towers only? hmm..

Inside the exhibition center. Gooly peeping a girl pee-ing.

Control freak, trying to tell gooly not to touch everything.

Then we decided to go to the Petrosains center and what we saw was a mountain-people-mountain-see. (I know it's people mountain people sea, but it's cliche already, ok?)

Even the tickets were gone and we could only settle for a visit to Muzika. So in we go, no choice.

Basically, this is half of the Muzika hall already.
No wonder tickets so cheap, don't expect so much la, ok?

I love this hanging "thing" of musical notes. Like telling you life's a song.

I wonder if this is the most interesting display? At least can turn the globe and identify the countries we know. What is that "thing" he's holding in his hand? He's an Earth Doctor, healing the world la him.

Uh oh! Gooly thinks this part of the world got no cure already.
His mom telling him to "jit hoi suen pin".

These 2 monkeys, meanwhile, likes to bang things more.

Watching a sad movie.

Poor globe! Damn ill it is and still being manipulated by its people.
(Got deep meaning one this phrase!)

Ahh.. finally goolymama heard a heartbeat... and she moved her hips and butts to it!

We tried as best we could to see the most of Muzika and having satisfied with it finally, we went out to the park for a little walk. Great that the weather was very permitting, in this hot spell we are currently in.

Bought some buns to eat out.

Right after taking that picture above, we heard a very loud whistle from a pak guard below, shouting "HOI!!! TAK BOLEK DUDUK. PECAH NANTI LU TAU!"

We are going up that skybridge one day!

We then went off to Butterfly Park at Perdana Lake Gardens. Didi and meimei missed that place on the last field trip held by the preschool. It rained so they had to detour to other places instead. That is why I had wanted to take them here for so long.

Perfect weather and nice greeneries inside the park. It's a bliss to be walking around aimlessly.

The butterflies weren't too impressive though. Most of them are just black or the most, some orange spots in some of them. Heiz!

We had enough of each other for the time being now. Let's see when we shall have picnic together.

You think I'm what?

Yesterday I was at a mall. (so what, huh? wait la, story just starting..)

While I was busy fiddling with my handphone writing an sms to a friend, I stopped briefly right before the supermarket. And that was when suddenly someone next to me was saying "MISS! MISS! I wanna give these to you". After done with the sms, I turned to her and looked. She waved a few tupperwares in front of my face and keeps on saying that she's giving these away.

(Those tupperwares, not really TUPPERWARE brand ones, but the transparent ones used for tapau-ing food away)

Normally, I would wave a "no thanks" and move on before they can even say another word, but for this time, I felt "eh, like macam very rude to walk away, and some more, I can use these stuffs also laa"

So, I said to her "OK then, give me!". She said with a face that reads "finally a waterfish hooked on to the bait". She told me wait la...that I have to write down some personal info for the company to report to la, sounds fair to me, yeah?

Thus, I sat down and ask "ok, what you want?" and quickly filled in the form to fill some simple particulars. She tried to do some small talk but I stopped her short and said "look, honestly I don't have much time actually, I need to run and get some stuffs before the supermarket closes". She said she needs to do a very brief intro to her product, before I can take my gift away. I think, ok la, give the girl some credit at least. It's her job anyway.

Hence I stayed on to listen to her bla bla bla, pointing out the various awesome things her product can do and I also nodded my head ya ya ya.. Then at the end, another girl asked if I would like to get one. The product is an induction cooker, btw. And she commented that I don't look like someone who cooks at all. (seriously! I don't even want to waste breath to debate that point with her). Anyway, I think she was trying to "ampu" me by saying she thinks that because my hands look so smooth.

Both the girls tried to convince me to change my cooker at home, but I told them that yeah, it's a good product, I will consider that when I shift to a brand new home in future. Seriously, by this time, I really regretted responding to her in the first place already.

One of them also tried to hold some small talk again, asking me how much I bought the bag I was carrying. I said tak tau la, my hub bought for me one. They said "wahh.. so lucky la you", but I bet in their mind they must be thinking "sure fake one la, if real one, where got so cheap, these cheap wares also want one?". One of them said with an envious tone that the last time she checked the price, it was 2.7k, I ought to tell her where got, 100 bucks only nia.

Anyway, I was getting very irritated and said I really gonna go. Without much success, she handed me an envelope, telling me it's a gift from her company and it contains 50 to 100 bucks cash voucher and can be used for any purchase within a month from now. So ok la, I took it and she demanded that I have to open the envelope right in front of her. I just complied (so mangchan by now jor!) and took out 2 pieces of paper out. She asked me what I get, and I said I dunno, and gave it to her.

She looked at it, looked at me with eyes as wide as O-O, back to the voucher, almost in a very animated way. I really can't hold back from giggling and wave to her "don't bother! no need!". I mean, c'mon, do they still use this trick? The other girl told her "no la, these vouchers over the due date already, return back to the headquarters tomorrow". In my mind, I thought, ya la, really expired la this trick, can think of something new anot?

She had no choice but to let me take home the damn wares but NOT before she took one away from that package! How blardy cheapo is that! Even cheapo than me! Can you comprehend how cheated I felt? I mean, I spent the entire 15-20 mins sitting there entertaining them for something I don't even really want to have, and she dared to "tax" it away? Boy! That was really totally so unprofessional!

Heiz! I just shook my head and took it from her, moved on to my destination somewhat rudely delayed. These salespeople really! Though they just wanna "find 2 meals" but...heiz! But they can provide a good story for blogging though.

And oh yeah, just to let you know, we were those "waterfishes" before, totally caught in their hook with the bait of "free things" and once-in-your-life damn good vouchers! It was a long long time ago in Sarawak by the same company, different products though. That's why I told her "don't bother! no need!" And I think I should have feedback to her that she needed to brush up her acting skills too. The way she did it, how to win the oscars award home?

Tonight's dinner

*slurp* Grilled ribs. Makes me feel like a hungry man-eating animal.

Suddenly God says Hello!

Yesterday morning, I was supposed to meet a friend up for breakfast at our usual eating joint. She flew plane last minute and that left me filling up my tummy alone on a fine morning. After a quick dash at it, I then proceeded to go about in my once-weekly task.

The mangoes were abundant everywhere. woohoo~ my saliva was drooling seeing those 3kg waterlily mangoes for RM10 already. Walked around, browsed around, bargained around and finally got 3 bags full of good raw food to last for another week. Stopped by another joint for fresher and cheaper seafood stuffs and a good, juicy, fat-less malaikai.

I then realized I have a sms on my way home. It's from an ex-coursemate during varsity days and a penangite, she's moving back to her own hometown after several years harassing KL folks. So, she invited me to her place to take any books or cds from her since she can't be taking everything back. I replied her yes, I would be there at 11.30, half an hour to get the lunch cooked and then, hang around at her place for an hour before going over to pick meimei. Plan's good.

I got to know she moved back to penang earlier via FB but it didn't strike me that anything's wrong. When she opened her door for me, it just hit me there and then that maybe something is not quite right. I was getting a bit panicky and asked her if she's ok. She asked me to be seated first and she'll tell me about it. Oh dear! That was enough to know something is terribly wrong somewhere.

She then took off her scarf and showed me her bald head and still keeping my fingers crossed hoping it's not what I think it is, she told me she has breast cancer. For a second, I tried to think hard what should my appropriate response should look like, but the next, I just kept shaking my head and said "OMG, OMG, OMG", tears welling up in my eyes. That's not quite a cool thing to do, hoh?

She comforted me back and said sorry that she alarmed me but really, I think I should be the one to comfort her. Felt so guilty.

She's a friend who's quite special in her own ways. Though not as close as some, once in a long while, we do chat up and we "keep" our friendship at heart. I know that it's a mutual feeling. All these years while both of us in KL, the times we met up were

1. she came over for dinner at my home and I still can remember she kept complimenting me on my cooking and how delicious it is. (notice I use the present tense!)

2. Once, we bumped into each other in Midvalley and we went to Starbucks for a short chat.

3. The other time, years ago, she invited me to a pre-screening of a documentary she made and for which she won an award. She's good!

And we promised that we would catch up again soon, one day. Just the one day that I take for granted. And now, she's going back to Penang for good. And it would be even harder for the "one day" to happen. In the condition she's having now as well. I felt so awful.

We chatted. She was open and we discussed about the diet, the chances, the treatments, the future. More importantly, she told me how she feel about life now. I guess it's all too cliche to hear it - live life's to the fullest, enjoy everything you do, cherish the people around - but hearing it so close to me then, my heart reached all out. I'm reminded to remember that.

She said she doesn't know how to pack her stuffs home. She said when and if she dies, nothing, not one single thing would mean anything for her then. So she thought, might as well, give them to friends where it might still be a bit of value. Yet again, there are just things that hold so much memories and she just can't let them go, not just yet. I could only nod my head.

Honestly, I really do not know what to do, what to say. To reassure her that everything's will be fine? How can I know that when the doctors might not even be able to answer that for her? To tell her to take care of herself and bla nag bla? I think she would be tired hearing all those too. To tell her that she has lived a good life and not to fear death? NO!! How can I be so negative when she needs all the positive vibes she needed right now? And even more selfishly, I did think about myself, since we both at the same age, should I be worried and go for a check up as well?

I left her place feeling groggy, like just being drugged. And it just went on for the whole day, feeling rather sad to see this happening to a dear friend whom I had a good time with at times in USM. Yes, she was quite someone special indeed. And kind too.

I let the kids do their own stuffs, being very exceptionally lenient for the day. Then, the normal routine and after tugging them to bed, I sat down to look at the visual diary I took home from her. She asked me to write or draw something for her, it's her visitors' book.

I turned the pages slowly, one after another, reading her own account what happened on surgery day, what she felt etc. Her friends drew a sketch on the bedroom where they were in, and there were some jokes thrown here and there. It was really heartwarming.

I tried my best to give her a nice sunset masterpiece, with her walking on the beach, but yeah, it was real yucky. I think she would appreciate my piece of art though. Then I scribbled some words of encouragement, and that's when I found out my handwriting has gone from very-yauying to incomprehensible shit. Yet again, I convinced myself she would appreciate my piece of art also. Then I told myself I had to stop even though I began to start enjoying myself. Yeah, you know how naggy I can be.

Well, I guess this is life. This is the survival game. All these challenges are becoming real as we are approaching old age. I reminding you now too to enjoy life's each day.

Visiting her with a friend tomorrow and I'm bringing heaps of "warmest regards" from others to her. Hope this won't be the last.

The beginning of some real reading

For a long time, korkor kept asking me what's the fun reading books with just words and without pictures at all when he sees me engrossed in novels. I'm now reading Sidney Sheldon's "Are you afraid of the dark?", borrowed from our playcenter library.

I tried explaining to him that it's really quite enjoyable. Painting the scene out in the mind, appreciating the beauty in the play of words, knowing how the feelings of the casts. It's intriguing, to say the least.

And I have tried to pull him into the world of reading these pictures-less books, but failed. That is, until today. Yay! I successfully did it finally! Made him read an Enid Blyton "The mystery of the secret room" and he was so engrossed with it that he pleaded with me to let him read on when it's his bedtime approaching. He loves it! I hope he would read more rather than play computer games during the school holidays.

Didi progress in school.

2.5 months passed since didi started formal schooling. For the record, he's doing just fine (from his own daily report when he comes home everyday). Later on, I found out it was not so fine as his "fine"s. His class teacher, whom I passed by one day and thought it harmless to say a "hi" to, told me he's a pain in the neck, while geleng-geleng her kepala as she described him.

And hence, I set forth to try and straighten things out for him. Make sure he does his homework, make sure he knows the rules and obey them, make sure he does not get kicked out from school. However, I know, at the back of my mind, I do hope that his seemingly "naughty" behaviour is not substituted by one who just go by the books on everything. I know, he needs guidance.

The first few days, I dropped by in his class when I sent him to school and talked to his friend who sits next to him. She's a little girl and she was all too eager to make friends with me indeed. I asked her to take care of him and be friends with him, giving her my number just in case she needs to report to me. She called me immediately that day after school! I talked to her mom and she told me she herself is a foreigner and doesn't know English much, let alone Mandarin. Ah well.

The next few days, when I packed his lunch box, I added in some cookies and asked him to share with his friend, little Miss K. When he came home that day, I had a chat with him on how it went. His story was pretty cute. He said he told her to follow him before recess bell rings and then she stood behind him while he ate his food! What a neat little "gentleman"! Apparently, he told me she has no lunch boxes and no money to buy food. I was wondering about it when later, I got to know that her parents do provide her with food catered from the canteen instead.

Apart from that, his daily routine is modified to a nap-less afternoon and early bedtime, that is 8pm. He was reluctant at first, talk about children so used to routines! Then again, with the easy adaptability nature of children, he got used to the new routine pretty soon, and sleeping for few hours straight, I hope he would be better behaved in school. Afternoons, I spend time with him on his homework and some home tutoring while meimei sleeps and korkor still in school. It's like a personal bonding time between us as well.

After the cny holidays, I decided that I shouldn't be stressing too much over his school "work". I read somewhere that kids could detect the stress parents feel and would feel stressed themselves. In the end, it's just probably appropriate at this time to let him venture on his own and learn how all things work by himself. After all, I learnt that it's not only him who gets to be punished or scolded by the teachers and who doesn't do homework everyday as well.

Anyway, I do let him know that I would punish him in the form of caning if I see any teacher's red big ? on his workbook or a red comment anywhere. With this, hope he learns it's his responsiblity to remember what homework he has and the consequences if he doesn't get it done. I'm so not calling any kids' parents and cross check what homework they have already. Life like this is so much better.

I guess as long as he's not violent and hurting anyone, he should be fine. Getting on the teachers' nerves should be fine too. hmm...

Meanwhile, his performance in the academics part is really not too bad. His strength lies in chinese and maths. The worst would be BM, which both of us dread going through everyday. I hope my patience with him would pay off. Nevertheless, my hub commented that we need not pay too much attention and put that much time and effort in a subject which is not so "critical" when they come out to work next time. I guess I can't disagree more. Other than teaching it to the boys now and splashing some BM words here and there in broken form, I don't see how I use it in my daily life as well. I think I ought to pay more attention to their English indeed, as they are really not very "fine" with it.

So hopefully, I would record his progress on a good note the next time round!

Koko journalling.

The other day, korkor asked me for a diary so he can write one for his daily journal. He excitedly scribbled something on a page and instructed me not to look at it at all costs. And it was purposefully laid on the empty dining table, like asking for me to read it at all costs...

Do you think I peeped at it? Of course NOT!! (where got so free la?)

After 24 hours passed, he was like very uncomfortable that it was lying exactly where it had been, and after much fidgeting, he told me that he allowed me to read it but with 1 condition; i.e. not to scold him for whatever he has written in there. (I really scratched head by now.. what does he want from me leh, exactly?)

So I nonchalantly said "ok laa... I read it when I have nothing else to do la then. I won't scold you, but I would correct your grammar mistakes and maybe write a comment on two of my own opinions, is that ok?" He said ok, I surely didn't misinterpret his delighted tone in his words. Wonder why.

And for the past 2 days, he would write his daily journal and shoved it to my face. Cheh! No juicy secrets in there one? Waffor la? I'm getting confused as to what a preteen mind's is made up of actually. What is he up to?

New book shelf soon.

My house is in a terrible mess. All the clutter of things on the dining table. It's rarely been used for dining purposes anymore, unless I have guests over for visits. I just loved and missed the home when we first moved in, it was so free of stuffs, bare and simple. Easy to the eyes, easy to clean up too.

With time, and the unstoppable urges to buy things, we stack more and more piles of books, and stuffs, and rubbish! Today, I finally put my feet down and decided something needs to be done.

I hurriedly and excitedly went to the nearby furniture mall to get a nice cool shelf. The salesman told me there isn't any more stocks left and I was so disappointed. I told him I just take that display set then. Initially he told me can't be done, but I insisted. Finally, it's mine and I get another 20% discount too. Happy! Don't even have to assemble it myself. It's going to be delivered tomorrow. I can't wait! All these mess would be settled in due time, and my dining table would be standing proudly as a dining table again.... I hope!

Mandarin lesson

Didi is doing his homework and writing some chinese words. I looked over his shoulder and asked him "what's this word you are writing?". He said "Fei Ji". Attempting to "buat ayat" with this word to enlighten him on how this 2 words can be used in, I said "Ni si huan juo fei ji mah?". He answered "I don't like because I don't like origami anymore!". Now, what has that got to do with origami baffles me. So, I discussed with him "But I'm asking you if you like to ride aeroplanes or not wor" He looked at me with eyes that said "...err, is it something else fei ji?" Reading his mind, I corrected "Is it - ni si huan tat fei ji then?" His eyes lit up, like "yeahhhh, that should be it" and said "Wo si huan tar fei ji" (OMG! What did I do?) (yeah, I know you know that's what coming!")

I should let the tuition teacher alone to teach him mandarin.

Coming school holidays plan.

School holidays are coming soon, right after (almost) the first term exams over and done with. With this one week break, families will be scrambling around to take a short break, I suppose, and have some sun and shine and fun with their children. For us, no plans!

As it is, I didn't bother to check out any places so far. We have a few destinations on tow, with free stays vouchers, about to expire, if not utilized soon. But I expect, with such a short notice from now, it would be "Full house" everywhere to use these privileges.

Suddenly, I decided I wanted to take a break too. I guess it's been sometime since we went anywhere (Singapore not counted, ok?). If possible, I would like to fly out of the country too. But with it being so close, I doubt even AA would have cheap flights. Damn! Papa is going to Bali with this customers for a so-called business trip, covering up the fun with terms like "team building activities" and "conferences". Now, I want to go too!

Under nourished children of mine.

As usual, both me and my hub would wake up about 9+ on both Sat and Sun while the kids do much earlier and get themselves entertained. It's the weekends where it's the only chance we get to laze around on the bed a little bit longer after sleeping as much as our body says so, thus we would be out and about only much later, like say 10+. But the past 2 days, it was dragged on even further to, like, 11-12 noon.

When my mom called me up for just a tete-a-tete, I nonchalantly told her that we were still at home, haven't gone out for breakfast yet. That caused a tsunami from her, scolding me over the phone on what kind of a mom I am, depriving them of a normal healthy breakfast, causing them to be so damn skinny and under-nourished. The words almost at the tip of my tongue to say "Certainly a good mom, at the very least!", but of course, I kept my cool and learnt the art to just keep quiet and let her lash at me.

This ain't the first time she lectured me on parenting methods. Many things she ain't agree with me on how I possibly let them rule or probably spoling them in the process, in her opinions.

I did feel guilty for having breakfast/lunch at 12 that day. Papa wanted to eat dimsum but the place didn't offer 50% discount since it's chap goh meh. So, we went around to look for food. In the end, we went to have the much popular (but pricey, according to my hub's standard!) chilli pan mee. When we sat down, I didn't hesitate and ordered 5 bowls of pan mee, hoping that that would be able to fatten them up a bit to relieve some of my guilt.

My mom didn't have the mood to chat any much longer after that 1-way conversation and I just let it be. However, that did bring my mood down to the gallows and I was feeling a bit, ok, make that more than a bit, walk-not-stand-not-sit-also-not. I felt depressed and sorry that I had bring these kids to the world while I can't be up to it. I can't even give them a proper breakfast, for goodness sake!

After some time wallowing in self pity, I pulled myself up and decided that I should pump them up more from now and instruct them that they have to "wash up, brush teeth, shower, eat buns or cookies before turning on to watch TV" during weekends themselves, or else..... And korkor shall be the leader and make them milo or spread orange marmalade on slices of bread and ensure all these are done before I am up and about, or else...

Now, I can laze around on weekends morning with less guilt.

This morning, started another extra item, oat cereal drink, in their weekdays breakfast menu on the course to pump them up. Hope to see more flesh in the cheeks soon!