My thoughts for the night

Tonight I had a lovely dinner with 2 girlfriends, both from my workplace. It was a lovely quiet meal, to celebrate our belated birthdays, and also to catch up. It was a good few hours break from work to break free from the stress, the complaints, and the many issues at work. I felt that I really
could kick back and relax.

During the dinner, we chatted about many things, and among them are how we should do the right things at the right age, and also to do it right. Jo, was the one who gave us a lot of advices throughout the dinner. It was interesting to hear her stories, her life, and how simple things in her everyday life gives her satisfaction. She is a successful businesswoman, and yet behind that suit, she is a simple lady who appreciates simplest things in life. I came back with a lot of thoughts in my mind. I thought about the many things that I would love to do, and been putting it off as it is almost impossible to find them to complete it. I am angry at how I have became a statistic, in the group that responds " Oh, I don't have the time" , which I myself used to think that it is a silly excuse.
By working 14 hours a day, and 6 days a week, and at times 7 days, it is almost impossible to find the energy and time to have a hobby, do sports or even cook! There must be someway to find a work balance, and I am working my way to plan that out.

It's time to take a pen and paper to jot these down ( I am a conventional girl, no ipads and digital notes :) )
But for now, it's also time to say Good Night!

Hello again!

It's been 2 months since I last wrote, when I was battling my emotions with work and with my grandmother's condition. The hours in each seems to zoom past without me noticing, and all of a sudden I find myself sitting here and staring at October on my CIMB calendar.

Today, I am still battling with the mixed emotions at work, well, more of the long hours at work. As for Grandma, I am happy because she has recovered and looking much better. Last month, we had a dinner to celebrate her birthday, and she was looking so radiant and happy. Last Sunday, exactly a month from that dinner, we were in Bukit Tinggi having a family dinner, and she could remember Alicia, and also things from her childhood.

This is life.. as much as things are difficult and stressful, there will always be a silver lining to it, something that you can look back , and it puts a smile to your face..

And here's to everyone who puts a smile to my face..

*smile*

The Progress

It's been 2 weeks since her fall, after spending a week laying helplessly in the hospital, she is finally back at home. We all thought she would feel more at ease being at home, and not in the cold, white hospital ward - but we are not entirely right. At times, she couldn't recognize the house, and asked to go home. That's when Grandpa will hold her hands, and tell her patiently that this is her house, and her bed.

Watching from aside, I'm overwhelmed with emotions - it was cute to see her say the most random things, it was a heart warming scene to see my grandpa talking to her softly, and finally, it was sad to see my grandma acting like a child. Nevertheless, I am thankful that we didn't lose her, I am thankful that she could still walk and talk like a normal person.

I'm praying each day, for her to be back to normal, to be the superwoman I once knew.

My grandmother, My superwoman

My grandmother whom I fondly call "Ma Ma" is not well and lying in the hospital now. The sweet looking lady, whom I have always regard as a energetic, talkative, hardworking, very much a superwoman, is now frail and quiet on the hospital bed. One close look at her, made me realised how much she has aged. She is no longer the strong old lady, who could once carry a basket of vegetables over her shoulder, worked long hours tendering to her crops, and spoke as loud as a teacher and performed many other strenous tasks.

The doctor said we might lose her. The doctor said we just have to be prepared in case the blood clot expands. I'm praying hard now. I hope that she will pull through this time. For herself.. for us..

I love you Ma Ma.

Knock Knock

It's been a long long time since I pen down something. ( Clicked on a new tab > view blog> gosh! May 21.)

The month started off as a crazy one, with many late nights and some sleepless nights. It paid off I suppose to see my event up and running, the difficult part was preparing for it. I sometimes wonder if this is what I want to do for life? No, probably not. This is for now, and for another 2 years i suppose. And then.. some other plans should kick in*wink*wink*

There has been some changes here at work, be it for good or worst, I'm looking at it with a positive mind, and looking forward for shorter hours at work. Well, that's what they said it was all about, bring in more sales, and create more balance between work and lifestyle. You spot the irony there? But oh well, let's see where it will head on the 1st July.

Am having a weekend off tomorrow, and looking forward to do some quiet things at home. Well, for starters, I'll put up those backdated pictures.. from... urmm... early this year? At the back of my mind, there's the Dim Sum@Yuan, the PD trip, Mothers' Day, BBQ at my house, ok.. it's a long list to do.

This morning I saw this article on my iGoogle, which I thought I'll share it, it's a an article called "Letting Go of Sentimental Clutter". You know how we all have a little box, ok maybe a few boxes, filled with cards, stickers, wrappers etc.. Once in a few years, we take it out from under the bed, blow away the thick layer of dust, stare at the contents for a moment, and then push it back under the bed. I'm guilty as charged! Over the many years, I've collected so many things which I felt there's a sentimental value to me, from cards to movie tickets! and the weirdest, a dried leaf from Autumn in NZ. The content of this article did make a lot of sense, and gave me that urge to clean up my room, but I know it's a tedious project that will probably take months to complete. At one point when I was loitering around with no job last year, I wanted to redecorate my room, but it never happened. I wonder if that will happen anytime soon.. hrmm..
Anyways, here is the link to the article.
http://www.wikihow.com/Let-Go-of-Sentimental-Clutter

Happy Decluttering!

Backdated: Of cheese cakes and tuna puffs

Was invited to go over to Li Ping & Kin Mun's new pad for steamboat. Brought them a lemon cheesecake. Since I was in the baking zone, decided to try out those puffs pastry i bought the other day. After a lil trial and error... i got these...

My family

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.
~Author Unknown

Came across this quote as I was reading through a site, hoping to charge some positive energy into myself before I take on the day. Things have been really hectic, at the end of the day, I feel really low, and find myself wondering where is all this leading to. But as I enter my warm cozy house, I know that it is not the warm cozy furniture, not the dim dining lights that gives the feeling - it is the thought of the joy and laughter that takes place in every corner of the house, the every family member that makes my day.


*Mom, Dad, Alicia, Andrew, Piggy, and the new addition to the family, my Darling - the nuttiest people in my life *

I ♥ You all !

The bob !

I finally had a haircut, after putting up with this messy curls that was going out of place for months!

It was totally unplanned, funny how it just happened and the opportunity came along. I've been saying that I need a haircut since the 2nd of April. Every weekend in fact, but time never allowed. I think the comment from my colleague pushed me towards that direction. I had a really bad hair day at work yesterday, so i kept it all up and away from my face. No, it wasn't the usual pony tail, it was just a short stump! When she saw me in the pantry, she said I looked like an "ah sam", literally, a middle aged "aunty". Oh, I was so offended, and I thought, that's it, I'm cutting my hair this week! And then the email flashed, to say that sales meeting is canceled, so I hurried along and got a haircut.

Feeling so much lighter and happier.

Change of status

*Fuh*Blowing the dust off my blog, ok, that's a bit lame, but gosh, can't believe that I have not written since Valentines Day ! That's decades ago already. *pulling a guilty face*

It has been a while, and so much has happened since then.

Picking up from where I left, I celebrated V-Day this year ! After giving it a miss for 3 years? I've got my darling now ! And I wanna celebrate every single valentines day with him ! Wheeeeeee.
Ok, now I sound like a high school kid in love. Well, I am in love, and I'm proud to announce it. things are moving a big step forward and I'm happy and grateful about it.

The recent change of status on Facebook stirred up a bit of attention from our friends. Years of being a FB user, and I have never felt complied to change or announce it, just because of peer pressure. But this time, I'm proud to click on "in a relationship" :P

More happy posts to come!

Fush n Chups

Have a sudden craving for fish and chips, the closest to me now would be Chinoz in the Park. Tried their fish and chips once, and they came pretty close a good one. A friend told me that Malones offer a pretty decent fish and chips too. Did a google search of the best takeaways in NZ to see if I did try any of them.

Here's what I found ..

http://www.newzealandholidaytravel.com/pages/Best-fish-and-chips-in-New-Zealand

Among the many meals of fush and chups I had in the 6 months in NZ, the best would be this little shop up north, The World Famous Mangonui Fish Shop.

Read more here http://365days2play.com/2010/07/09/world-famous-mangonui-fish-shop/

Valentines Day Celebration at Tosca, DoubleTree, KL

This post has been long forgotten. It was Feb 14 and darling said, the dinner venue is a surprise. He picked me up from work, made a turn towards Jalan Tun Razak, and DoubleTree was where we were heading to. It was an interesting experience as the food quality was compromised, and we had our table at the foyer area of the ballroom. Why interesting? Just because it wasn't an unpleasant one, as I had the right company, and that was all that matters that nite. Voila, let the pictures tell you the story.

A glass of bubbly champagne to start the evening

Antipasti
Carpaccio di capesante e caviale Avruga|Impepata di tonno rosso

Sea scallop carpaccio, Avruga caviar, marinated watermelon, lime foam

Pepper crusted bluefin tuna, mesclun stack, mango salsa, aged balsamic

Zuppa
Consomme di anatra arrosto
Raosted duck consomme, foie gras parcel, duck rilette, morel

There were 2 choices of the main course, and we picked one each

Braised beef short ribs, truffle polenta, carmelized shallot, baby carrots, broccolini

Norwegian salmon, lobster beurre blanc

Squid ink pasta, green pea puree, salmon roe

And then came dessert...

Hazelnut & chocolate tart, raspberry sherbet, sesame croustillant, chocolate soil

My cuppa

Chocolates for the lady

Happy Valentines Day !

I ♥ HK

Watched this with Tracy, Abby & Alicia in MBO Tesco. It's a Chinese New Year must watch ! The movie was a good laugh, and emphasized on a lot of family values. But I personally preferred last year's movie - 72 Tenants of Prosperity.

A hopping good year !

Gong Hei Fatt Choy!!

It's that time of the year again, where family members place gathers in their ancestral home. While the older generation slave all day in the kitchen to prepare dinner, the younger ones keep themselves busy decorating the house, playing cards, catching up, waiting for the yummy food to be served.

The reunion dinner on Chinese New Year Eve is a very important event in the Chinese culture. It is almost a must for every member of the family to be present at this dinner. As such, daughters and sons whom are working abroad, would also make an effort to come home to see their parents and family.

In every home, an array of scrumptious food would fill the table. Some families dine out, some prepares the ingredients for a steamboat affair, and even bbq! For my family, it is a must to have chicken, pork, fish, prawns and vegetables on the table. This year, we have an addition - Ayamas nuggets and drummets! It was added for for the benefit of the children ! ( Not! I see my uncles and aunts digging into it too !)

Besides the reunion dinner, personally, I think CNY is only complete with the sounds of firecrackers in the skies! Back then when we were younger we enjoyed playing sparklers and "dragon eggs" on the street. It adds on to the atmosphere! Other Chinese New Year must haves are the mandarin oranges, red capped cookie jars filled with all sorts of sweet treats, bak kwa, packet drinks, and of course ANGPOWS!

Have a great celebration ahead !! Have a hoppity new year !

Day out with Trace

It's my off day! It's a day for shopping and catching up with my bestie. Trace is back from NZ for Chinese New Year, knowing that I won't get to see her till next year, a shopping trip is a must! We spent the whole day walking around Times Square and Sungei Wang. Sometime, it's amazing how each of our shopping trip feels exactly like all the previous ones, the shops around us might change, but I always enjoyed every moment of our outings.

Trace & I are almost the complete opposites in many things, she loves cats while I dislike them.(Trace, I only put up with them because u like them). Her idea of a holiday is to stay home and watch drama, while I want to sit on green grass and enjoy the sun. She is a vegetarian, while I can't live without my dose of meat.

These are just lil things to start with, there are many more things that we are just the complete opposites, but at the same time, ironically, we find common spots in many things. We both love shopping, TVB and mamak food, and many more. We have been friends for 10 years, she is one the best listener, one who doesnt judge but offers rational advices, one who supports my decision although she doesn't get it sometimes. She is the best BFF I can ever ask for, 10 years and still counting. I only hope for her to find happiness in her life, wherever she is. ( PS: I hope she will find her Mr.Right soon too!)

Pinchos & Reggae Bar

Today is a public holiday, hence the partying last night !

Well, it wasn't that much of a party, but it was a girls night out. Patricia and I have not seen each other for a long time, for at least a month? Well, we make it a point to meet up at least once a month, it was supposed to be a trio gathering, but let's leave that out of the picture for now.

Last night, Patricia brought me to Pinchos, a Spanish pub along Changkat Bukit Bintang. We ordered some tapas, and she had a glass of Sangria while I tried the Peach Sangria. It was a mixture of white wine with peach syrup/liquer. I still prefer the one in La Bodega. We sat at the bar, and I was fascinated by the slab of ham sitting in front me! And then I remembered what darling told me, this must be the Serrano ham! The layers of fat around the pork leg was at least 2 inches thick, mmm I can almost imagine the creamy taste of the ham slices..

After 2 drinks and some good chat, we left Changkat and headed home. On the way home, we passed by Reggae Bar, and thought we'll make a stop since I have never been there. It was a nice cozy bar, reminds me of the hippy bar in Queenstown! Ah, the backpackers lifestyle.. One last drink of vodka puts a cap to the night. And so we went home as happy as a doll.

How many different person are you?

It's Monday. I seriously wished I am not here. I wish I could *zap* myself to somewhere with a hot sunny beach, me sipping on a cold drink, and getting a tan. Ah, the ideal holiday. Can't wait for the next one.

I was doing some observations today at work, and suddenly I pondered on a question,

"How many different personalities does one have?"

I gave it a thought, and I figured " It is a theory that applies to everyone of us. Like it or not, we all wear a different mask each day, and different ones with different people that we meet. It is not a matter of hypocrisy, but it is almost a survival skill. Being in the hospitality industry, we put on smiling face and a "never say no" policy to most guests and clients, but would we apply the same with our colleagues and friends? Sometimes, even with our friends, we are a different personality all together, with one, we could go all crazy and wild, with another, we could be domestic and quiet.

So, how many different personalities do you have?

A lil emo Sunday

It's a Sunday, and I'm, having post weekend blues already.

Went out for a lovely date with darling yesterday. We went to D'Tandoor for some north Indian cuisine. The food was mediocre, and I wouldn't say that I'll go back there anytime soon. Have to keep hunting for some good indian choms, next on the list is Malabar Palace, in Hartamas Shopping Centre. After dinner, we went to Tropicana City Mall to jalan-jalan. I have only been there once, and the thought of looking at some new shops and a new place was fun! There was a bazaar on Ground Floor, and I spotted this cute handbag, unfortunately the owner of the stall was not there, so I did not find out the price. After a cup of yoghurt from Tutti-Fruiti, and some shopping later, we dropped by the stall again. This time, the lady was there, and she said the bag was RM30 for one, since I couldn't decide between yellow or black, I bought both, for RM45 only! Think I got a bargain there ;)

After TCM, we went back to Kepong MBO to catch The Tourist at 10.15pm. MBO at Kepong Village Mall has become our new favourite cinema, it's huge, spacious, and queue free ! Oops, better not speak too soon, don't want it to be too crowded. The movie was a good watched mainly because Angeline Jolie & Johnny Depp were in there, individually, that is, as I found no chemistry at all between them. I can't wait for the final sequel of Pirates of the Carribean! Ooh la la..

Am feeling a little emotional today, been having some crappy thoughts about my life, basically I just needed that extra bit of assurance. I try not to cloud myself with these thoughts as I know it's unhealthy, but at the same time, I can't eliminate the fears completely. Am learning to be more positive, and speaking out my mind helps.

Good night for now.

a short break

It's Tuesday, and I'm sitting at home. Wheee...........

Daddy & Mommy are away in Vietnam, and I'm in charge! *grins*

Took 3 days off from work to sort out some chores, and luckily, got my appointment at the dentist. So, that's a few things off my list. It was a good few days rest at home, it was good to take my mind off work and everything else.

Mommy is coming back tomorrow, and then I'll be back to work. At least I'll be all fresh and ready to face the challenges at work !

Finding my way back into love...

Was reading sissy's blog, and she posted the song Accidentally in Love, I totally *heart* that song too !

And so I wanna post up this song as well, because it carries a special meaning for me.

Lyrics | Hugh Grant & Haley Bennett - Way Back Into Love lyrics

New Years' Day Bake

Happy New Year 2011!

It's a brand new year, a brand new start to everything. Well at least everything. I have not written down my 2011 resolutions yet. It's quite a cliche to do so, however, I guess it works like a motivation for us to achieve certain things in the next 365 days. Hrmm, there are quite a few at the back of my mind. And it brings a smile to my face to know that many things will be achieved by us.

It's nice and sunny outside, and a good day to stay home and be fully domesticated ! It calls for some baking ! Made some cheese tarts with the tart shells that Aunty Wendy gave me, baked a marble cake for darling, and some muffins :)