Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Superhero tag

Wonder Woman by the name of Dora tagging me this Super Hero meme. Thank you Wonder Woman. It took me few days to decide who I want to be, but in the end, I decided I want to be the Storm from the X-men series.

Superhero power I want
Able to command storm and rain when and where I want to

Why?
I can bring some rain hope to those people that stay in dry areas.

Downside of this power
I wouldn’t be able to control my power when I am angry

My superhero nickname
Storm aka Ms Moody

My motto
Rain is my friend

Sworn enemy
Those who started the bush fires

Official vehicle
I can fly and travel fast like lightning, so I do not need any vehicle

Day job
During the normal day, I would work as weather forecaster, checking out on the world’s weather

Not going to tag anyone this time, so who want to be superhero are welcome to join the league

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Are toys safe for your child?

It is the parents’ responsibility to buy a good and safe toys for their children. It is not enough by looking at the material or the age-appropriate warning on the package. When buying toys and to avoid accidents, we must also look the following aspects:

Check if there are loose parts
If your toddler can free a button, chances are he can easily pop it into its mouth.

Avoid toys with long straps, cords or strings
He may get tangled or caught that casing him to trip or worse

Safety measure for wheels
Do not let your toddler play wheeled toy near the stairs. Strap knee and elbow pads when they play skates or skateboards.

Lastly. Do not buy those cheap made-in-China toys for your children as to health hazard caused from the lead in the toys

Make it a memorable event

I have a chance to catch up with an old friend few nights ago. Although it was a short meeting, we manage to update ourselves on what we have missed out. Our conversation swayed to wedding at one point. You see, my friend is going to marry her boyfriend this year.

I was excited for this friend as she has been with her boyfriend for many years now and everyone expected her to get married soon. As my friend is a pretty modern thinker, she asked me for some suggestions on how to plan her wedding. She would like to opt for something different and unique.

Since I have done some searching before for my wedding back then, I suggested to her on having a beach or a garden wedding. Kuching is blessed with beaches as the nearest beach is less than 50 minutes drive from Kuching city. A beach wedding is romantic with beach and ocean as your venue. Imagine yourself walking down the aisle with sun set as your backdrop. Then I suggested a garden wedding as it is rather unique too. Maybe organize it at a friend’s house or renting a public recreation park. To add some romantic touch to the beach or garden wedding, you can have some special ceremony or set up details to compliment the event.

Then again, Malaysia’s weather is pretty humid throughout the year. So if planning for an outdoor wedding, you may need to take the weather in consideration. Setting up of canopies and cooling fans are pretty important to prevent any weather disaster and keeping your guests cool under the warm condition. And of course cost is another issue as it wouldn’t be cheap to have a beach or garden wedding compared to a traditional wedding reception in a hotel or a Chinese restaurant.

Well as for my friend, I let her decide on what she wants to do for her wedding as it is her wedding after all. Once she decided on what wedding she wants, I just wait for her phone call asking me to help her out. *wink* I believe everyone would love to make their wedding the most memorable as it is once in a life event.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Are you a good or bad cop?


Are you a disciplinarian at home? Or the other way round? Are you a parent that say “no” and always stand by your decision when your child is doing something not right?

For my case, I think I am both good and bad cop. Some days I tend to be lenient but othe days I would be strict on my little gal. I would tell her off on not to do certain things. I spending more time with her compared to her daddy who usually late after work. So she is more attached to me, yet when I am angry she would know not to displeased me further.

I try not to spoil her much as that is not a way in bringing up a child. You should pamper them, but not spoil them. It is good to praise them when they are at their best behavior than scold them for their bad behavior. Children learn and strive better when you praise them. A “thank you for keeping your toys away” is better than a “Do not leave your toys on the floor”. Children are like us, they have feeling and they feel great when you praise them rather than reprimand them.

So, I ask you back. Are you a good cop or a bad cop with your children?

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Gifts from SIL



My sister-in-law (SIL) told me to keep some crockery and cooking utensils that she got them free from her company. If you are guessing where my SIL works, she is not working in a hardware shop or departmental store. The gifts are pouring in throughout the years, to be given to customers or dealers that purchase their products.

Thanks to my SIL, I can save some money on crockery and utensils for my new house. Although the house would not be ready that soon (probably next year from the look of the schedule), I have stacked them in little gal’s rattan play pen. She hardly used the pen herself, bought by my parents when little gal were there for a month early last year.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Weekend Menu #9

Check out what I cooked for lunch today! Enjoy.

I did not cook this dish, just warm it up from last night dinner. RM10/kilo. Cheap right?



Chicken with Sausage and peppers



Chicken with sausage and peppers (serves 4)
(recipe is taken from The Borneo Post, Sat 19 April 2008)


4 boneless chicken breast
1 tbsp olive oil
2 sausages
1 onion, sliced in rings
1 red capsicum, cut in wide strips
1 green capsicum, cut in wide strips
2 gloves garlic, peeled and cut in three
375ml chicken stock, heated
15ml cornflour
45ml cold water
Salt and pepper

1. Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken and sausage. Season and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
2. Cover the pan and continue cooking sausages for about 8 minute, depending on the thickness. Remove and set aside.
3. Add onion to hot pan and cook for 4 minutes over medium heat
4. Add capsicum and garlic, cook for 5 minutes. Season well; pour in chicken stock and cook for 1 minute
5. Dissolve cornflour in cold water. Incorporate into sauce in pan and cook for 1 minute.
6. Return chicken to pan and simmer for 3 minutes in sauce. Slice sausages and add to pan.
7. Simmer for 1 minute and serve hot with rice or noodles

Saturday, April 19, 2008

I am stumped

What should I do? Throw them away or keep them till someone start to make a noise again? I am totally stumped: I don’t know what to do with them!

“Them” here is referring to my old, second hand magazines. I love to collect magazines as I can read their articles all over again. Some magazines like Women’s Weekly have interesting personal and household tips and food recipes which I adore very much. I cannot simply part away from them just like that, right? I got my passing-down magazines from a friend and bought some at the Satok Sunday market, where there is a stall selling outdated magazines (1 or 2 months past their publication month). They selling them for RM5 (local magazines) to RM10 (imported magazines) per piece.

Again last night hubby was criticizing my tidiness (I am not very good at keeping my stuff in orderly manner). At night I love to browse through my magazines on bed then throw them on the floor or side table. Usually they will stay there as it is for days till my next spring cleaning round. *wink* Why don’t he just leave me and my magazines per se?

Alright, I know I am mean here and it is time to move on too. Either I throw them out or keep them out of his view. But question is: where can I keep them as there is not much space left in the storage rack, not to mention the downstair storeroom. So, I am in dilemma here. I know that it would be difficult to buy some of the magazines in the market again if I decided to throw them away. I would love to bring all those magazines with me when we move to our new house too, but problem is no space to keep them in our current place. Wish I have a magic wand that can make them disappear in thin air and only come out when I swing my wand. *laugh* Oopps, now I am too stumped that I am starting to have such imaginative mind.



Friday, April 18, 2008

Lengthy Form

Anyone submit their income tax form yet? Due date is end of the month though!
I just collect my form today and I already have some problem completing the 2nd page! So long! And my BM also deteriorating over the years, hardly understand some of the words in the form! lol! Sometimes I wish they have both BM and English (Chinese too) for conveniences of income tax payers! Don't you wish the same??
Hmm, either way I need to submit mine before the date line. Anyone used its e-filling? How is it? User-friendly?

Perfect hairstyle

Everyone has different facial feature, as such certain hairstyle may suit your friend, but not you. It is a trial-and-error process, dare to try new haircut before you finally come to term with the hairstyle that suit you. It is always good to get your hair stylist to advise you on what fit you (as they should know better) and update you on latest trend, treatment and products.

Getting a right cut can maximize or accentuate your facial feature. Have your hair trimmed every six weeks to avoid split ends and maintain its condition and manageability.

Long face – fringe will disguise a long forehead or chin. A shoulder- length style will add volume and broaden the face

Square face – Any style with off-centre parting, graduated layers or soft curls

Heart-shaped face – a layered bob with extra volume, which sits outwards and counteracts the narrowing of the face at the chin

Round face – soft, feathery cuts with length and layers can slim down a fuller face

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Attention crazed moments

Is it because I do not show enough affection to her that result in her too clingy to me? Or is it her sign of insecurity?

I experienced this behavior change in my daughter lately. She has been begging me to hug or carry her at home, even when I was not free or occupied with house chore. Even when going down the staircase she will cling to my leg and ask me to carry her (“mummy, pow pow”). Unlike in the past, she was eager to go down the staircase on her own, counting 1 to 10 along the way. Now she is getting too clingy that I can’t get out of her sight for few seconds.

Is it because she is becoming a spoiled brat, always getting what ever she want in the past? I am a little concerned here as I don’t want my little gal to be too reliable on me. I try to reason with myself thinking that maybe she missed me after long day at baby sitter’s house and she wants some attention and affection from her mummy. However I think she wanted more than that. She used to be independent and cheerful girl, but lately she switched from naughty to nuisance. She has become a dreadful cry-baby, crying when I am out of her sight. She cries and throws a tantrum when she could not get her way. She would not listen to any reasoning and even reject companion from her daddy or aunty. She used to play by herself and leave me alone, but I guess she is bored with her toys that she never care to go to her toy basket any more when ever we reach home.

I believe my little gal is growing up and have her own mindset and rebellious bone, never listen to reasoning and coaxing but is this a natural stage of children behavior change of her going to turn 2 years old? I do hope that she will grow out of it soon. Soon she will be going to Pre-school and get to know more friends and learn new stuff. I hope she will be more independent by then.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Diaper-free project

Darling hubby told me that he heard that prices for disposable diapers are going to be increased soon. Now I am concerned about the additional monthly expenses for that section, and I have not take into account the pricey milk powder. Gosh! I wish money fall from the sky. Everything is already pretty expensive now, and those responsible parties are going to increase the prices some more, especially necessity food such as rice and flour.

Back to my little gal. She is still wearing her diaper when ever she gone out and during night time. I don’t trust her to be diaper-free at home, especially in the room. Worry that she will not only wet the floor but the bed as well. A messy affair later.

She has been on potty training at young age by her baby sitter and diaper-free most of the day at her house. She knows when she needs to ease herself, she will ask to be brought to the bathroom. However on some of the occasion she just likes to be stripped out of her diaper and squat in the bathroom, reluctant to come out from it! Sometimes there were no pee or poo, but she just squat and look at you one kind saying she is enjoying herself. Don’t know why she likes to stay in the bathroom so much! Sometimes I caught her playing with water in the pail. Cheeky girl! Need to change her clothes when she did that.

So with the news of increasing in diapers’ prices, I think I better cut down the usage of little gal’s diaper and bring her to the bathroom more frequent. Guess it is time that she stops using them. I don’t think she likes the idea of having a heavy diaper strapped to her all the time too.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Linky Love Tag


I got the above tag from two lovely women, Lovely Mummy and Pearly. Since Lovely Mummy tagged me first, I used her link.

This is another of those Linky Love game where you only have to tagged 10 person in one post but still there is no actual limit (you can tag more if you want!). Once tagged, you have to copy paste the link in this post, and make them grow!






BennyliewRamblingMooMum & Kids In WonderlandJudelittle, Rose





Do not delete any of the links and be honest to yourself! :p





I would like to tag the following:





Linda


Jen


Nyumix


Billy's mom


Agnes

Janicepa

Didi


Hye

Singapore Housewife

Dann

Trust your husband to cook

If you let your man to cook a decent meal for you, then you may need to think of “tapau” (buying take away) just in case. I have experienced this before with hubby wanted to cook for dinner.

So I was happy on such occasions (of course) at the idea of coming home and having warm food welcoming me. But it turned out (always turn out) that the decent meal to him is “maggi mee”! Lol! Sometimes I wish I have a hubby who knows how to cook! I don’t want a cook as a husband, but a husband that can cook proper meal. Maybe for him, instant noodles or bacon, ham, baked beans and eggs are proper enough. Guess he is just not out from his old college and bachelor day diets. *wink*

Darling hubby was up to his cooking cap again on Monday evening, and he suggested that he cook! Since he is leaving his current job to join another company by next month, he usually reaches home earlier than me for the past few weeks. Back to the dinner, guess what he cooked? No consolation, okay? And yes, it is instant noodles again. Well, at least he tried to add some varieties to the noodle by putting in some vegetables and meat. After the dinner, he told me he was still hungry! Lol.

My little advice to you. Should your man want to cook for you, always keep in mind, do not expect too much from it! So, does your hubby cook? And if he does, what is his “signature” dish?

Monday, April 14, 2008

Weekend Menu #8

It was another cooking weekend for me whenever I can help it. I have been aiming to cook more for my family this year. Remember my resolution for the year? Yes, cook and eat healthy! Cut down on salt, sugar and other preservatives.

Let’s start off with my Saturday menu.

Fish Maw soup and Oyster Chicken with Broccoli

Soy Sauce Pork



We have those food for lunch and dinner. A bit too oily, don’t you think? *laugh* But no one complained so far, and little gal also finished up her rice. I am a happy wife and mother indeed when everyone starts to eat my food. *wink*

Curry Chicken



Veggies


As for Sunday, since me and little gal were out the whole morning, I just “tapau” (take away) this delicious and appetizing curry rice from a corner coffee shop next to Hollywood Karaoke, Sekama Road. Look at the chunky char siew! Not much meat in the packet though, but the rice portion was big. Not to mention the generous curry gravy for 2 persons. Since I have some vegetables left in the fridge, I just cook up two simple vegetable dishes, namely French beans and small bok choy to go with our curry rice. The whole family was enjoying our lunch in front of the television watching CSI on AXN Astro channel!

Let’s feast!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

I am hot!

I just got back from outside. It is sooooo warm outside, I think I have burned few calories and fat under the hot sun.
Before I prepared lunch for myself and darling hubby, who is actually calling for me from the living room downstair now, I thought I better pen some posts in my blogs. Want to know where have I been to?
Check out our morning adventure here! Have a wonderful Sunday everyone. It is time to prepare lunch. Chow!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

A treat @ Ipanema

A colleague, YL is leaving us early next week, so a farewell party was organized for her last night.


We decided to try out Ipanema since it is a stone throw away from our walk place. Yet each of us drove our own cars over in case we stay late and not safe to walk back to our basement carpark to retrieve our cars.

Ipanema is a drinking lounge, exactly next to Soho, another favourite drinking place around Kuching. I don’t usually drink when I drive, for safety reason. I don’t trust myself! *wink*

We reached there around 6pm, highly a great time for some drink. 2 tables were filled up. Wow! Those people were sure early. There were 9 of us, including big boss and wife. Work is work, boss been boss, but after office hours, we can talk from family to other interests.

There was supposed to be some nibbles, but end up, we all so full from the food! All fried stuff, you name it, we had it! Fried calamari, fried chicken wing, fried lamb cutlets, baked mussel in cheese and tortilla! I think we all need to take exercise seriously after eating all those sinful stuff.

As for YL, she will persuade her dream of becoming lady boss herself. She only joined us for 3 years, a very short time, but we have a good working relationship. She is a very intelligent and out-spoken young lady. Wishing her all the best in her future undertaking!

Friday, April 11, 2008

One Day Wish


Weekend is here again. As usual I am day-dreaming in the office, too lazy to do much work today. *wink* Don't I wish I would no need to work but instead have someone working for me. *wink* (I told you I am day-dreaming, right? Yeah, crazy thinking too, must slap myself from this stupid dream.) If I am to ask you this question: If you are to be granted a wish to be someone for 24 hours, who would you like to be? Don't know about other girls, but when I was young, I always love to day-dreaming about been a princess living happily in my own fantasy world.

As a princess, I would expect to do nothing but worry about what clothes to wear, what hair style to have, and what eat. Every day I wake up to have servants waiting for me to get ready and bring breakfast for me. Not only that, I get to fly to places that I love to go and meet all those famous people. Wow! Isn’t that every girls’ dreams?

Now that I am older, I would not longer want to be a princess. It is just unreal to be a modern princess. I don’t think I would like all those paparazzi to follow me around if I am a famous princess, spying on what I do and breathing down my neck all the times! So, if you ask me who I want to be, I think I would love to be a senator for a day! Just like Hillary Clinton from U.S. *wink* I would like to feel how it is of going to the Senate, campaigning for election and be in the political limelight. I am not greedy, just want to feel how it is to be a Senator for a day is good enough.

So, I ask you, who would you like to be for just 24 hours??

Brush up!

I have been training my little gal to brush her teeth for few months and even get her baby sitter to train her as well. She simply just put the toothbrush into her mouth and makes a small movement on her tongue!

Most of the times, I would just force myself on her, brushing her teeth! So, I have a screaming child (which is much better if she opens her mouth so I can brush her teeth around). Usually I would do it when she is bathing. Otherwise she will be spilling her toothpaste around the room!

I heard that some children love to brush their teeth. How come my little gal despises it? We have problem feeding her medicine too. We still need to inject the liquid medicine using syringe into her mouth. When she sees us bringing out the medicine and spoon she is nowhere to be found. Lol!

How can I train my little gal to brush her teeth? With the sight of the toothbrush in my hand, she will start to run and hide in the corner! Please, can someone give me tips on how to make her takes up brushing habit?

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Not just a mom

Please read this story carefully. It gives a whole new perspective for the job titled "mother". Am I proud to be one. For all the mummies and mummies-to-be out there, salute to all of you.
*************************************************************************************
An Inspirational Story, Motivational Story - by author unknown
A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is", explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ...."Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. 'I'm a mother.'
*************************************************************************************
'We don't list 'mother' as an occupation....housewife covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrrogator' or 'Town Registrar.' 'What is your occupation?' she asked.
*************************************************************************************
What made me say it, I do not know....The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'
*************************************************************************************
The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in the midair, and looked up as though she has not heard right.
************************************************************************************
I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
*************************************************************************************
'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,'just what you do in your field?'
*************************************************************************************
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, 9what mother doesn't), in the lab and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
*************************************************************************************
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
*************************************************************************************
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7 and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
*************************************************************************************
I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the offiical records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another mother.'
Motherhood....what a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make granmothers 'Senior Research Associates" and great grandmothers 'Executive Senior Reseach Associates?' I think so!

I got my IC

At last! I got my new MyKad today. I did not get it yesterday as they have some internal system problem! So much for wasting my time and driving all the way there yesterday morning. Ironic thing is that the customer service staff at the counter did not inform me (or other customers) on the failure, she just proceeded with giving the waiting number to me. Shouldn’t we at least been informed on the problem at hand than let us wait aimlessly? Sigh! After 10 minutes of waiting and sensing something is wrong, I went to check with their officer who happened to stand in front of the customer service counter! Then I knew that their system was down. Sigh! So much for been efficient and computerized department.

I was actually lazy to go to the registration office this morning. Why? It is actually out of the way, after sending little gal off to baby sitter’s, I need to take one round back to the other side of the city! It took me about 30 minutes to reach the registration office from baby sitter’s house. Before I went over, I gave their hotline a call to check on their system. Luckily the system is back to normal and I was able to collect my new MyKad! It took me less than 2 minutes to collect it, since not many people this morning. Must be the drizzle this morning, a wet day with roads nearly packed with cars and jam everywhere.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Little tips for you

I got this email recently from a friend on some useful tips that I would like to share with my friends and readers here. Not so sure about their credibility, but nevertheless it is worth finding out, don’t you think so?

1. Cure for headaches:Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead.The throbbing will go.
(Rose: Never try it before, but I guess I would not mind the smell of the lime on my forehead)
2. Use of Soap Wrapper:Don't throw away the wrapper after removing a bar of soap. Place it insideYour school cabinet or shoe box. It is a cheap way to filling the air with aNice smell.
3.. Are your shoes smelly?Here's a solution. Put some tea leaves into a pair of stocking stuff eachInto a shoe. Leave for day or two and the smell just vanishes.
(Rose: I always put tea bags in my fridge and shoe rack to get rid of the smell)
4. Tips for stamp collectors:Place the envelope in the freezer for a few hours. You'll then able toEasily lift the stamps off with a pair of tweezers.
(Rose: To remove the stamps from the envelope, I usually place the envelope in a cup of water, wait for few minutes, then the stamp is easily lift off)
5. To keep buttons from dropping off:Dab a drop of clear nails polish onto the thread that secures the buttons.This will harden and make it more difficult for the thread to break off.
6. Are cockroaches in your home driving U mad?Try this tested trick. Fill a large bowl with cheap wine and leave it underThe sink. The pests will drink it, fall in the bowl and drown easy.
(Rose: oooh! Make them drunk and drown, huh? Chinese wine would do?)
7. To avoid hurting your fingers while hammering nails into the wall:Hold the nails with a wooden clothes peg instead. So even U miss, U won'tGet hurt.
8. To get rid of itch from mosquito bite:Try applying soap on the area - instant relief.
9. Ants, ants, ants, everywhereWell, they are never said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk outAnd draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march, see forYourself.
(Rose: I believe this is the most used method at home in combating this pest)
10. Don't panic if your soup's too salty:Add cut raw potatoes and throw them away once they are cooked as they haveAbsorbed the salt. Your soup's saved!
11. Use air-fresher spray to clean mirrors:It does a good job and better still, give a lovely smell to the shine.
12. If U have problem with slippery shoelaces which refuse to stay:Rub them with a candle and make them less slippery so that knot stay put
13. If U have stubborn grease stains on your work clothes:Add a bottle of Coke with detergent. It'll help loosen the grease.
(Rose: Coke can act as a good cleansing and bleach agent! Eew! Thank god I never like to take soft drinks. Imagine what Coke does to our body??)
14. Dirty marks on your white court shoes:Just add some medicated oil on a piece of cloth and clean off the dirtyMarks on your white court. They'll be looking as new again

Charges for check-in luggage?



Is Air Asia expecting me to travel light or totally with no luggage? For me, maintain the air flight fees but instead charging the check-in baggage still serve the same purpose. In the end, it comes back to us as we still need to pay for the increase in the fuel price.


AirAsia to have check-in baggage fee (updated) By ROYCE CHEAH SEPANG:
AirAsia will be charging all its passengers a fee for check-in baggage from April 21 in a bid to defray rising fuel costs, its group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said.The fee would be RM3 per piece of baggage through online check-in and RM5 per piece of baggage when checking in at the airport.Checked-in baggage will be charged on a per piece basis up to a maximum combined weight of 15kg. Anything over 15kg will be charged as excess in addition to the checked-in baggage fee.According to Fernandes, charging the fee for check-in baggage made more sense than charging everyone an additional fuel surcharge, which was what other airlines were doing.“With the rising fuel costs, we have to find new and innovative ways to keep our fares low. “When it comes to bags, we notice that many passengers bring a lot of bags making our planes heavier which in the end makes the plane consume more fuel,” he said.Fernandes said he did not think that there would be a negative reaction to the move as the fee was not high. “It will help to defray up to 10% of the fuel cost. It is not much, but it adds up with all the other things we are doing such as priority boarding, selling merchandise and food on the flights.”According to AirAsia’s statement, the airline believed that passengers should be given the option to choose the services they require and pay for those services.“This approach has enabled AirAsia to provide continuous low fares, which is a priority for us,” it said. The statement added that AirAsia was looking to change travellers’ behaviour by encouraging people to travel lighter. “Lighter baggage weight on board the aircraft means burning less fuel, hence, less pollution and a better environment. Fewer checked-in baggage improves airport efficiency and will eventually lead to shorter check-in queues.”
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

A drunken dad and a curious child

Here I am, making this posting before I call it a day! Yes I know it is still early, but my body is tired and I have a long day. I will have my dinner then off to bed. Tomorrow would be another busy day as after sending little gal off to baby sitter’s house, I would be going to the registration office to collect my new identification card before heading to the office

Office has been pretty busy since boss coming back from his paternity leave, nothing but meetings and updating works done for the past two days! I dread the meeting part as the last one lasted almost 2 hours this morning. Sigh! I hardly can concentrate at the end, as my stomach was calling out to be feed by 1130am! Brain was also not functioning well as did not have a good night sleep the night before. So, with tired eyes & brain plus hungry stomach, I did not enjoy my meeting at all. Lol!

Talking of last night, hubby has a terrible night, came back drunk around 1am. I hated it when he came back drunk. When he was drunk, he sure can wake up the whole household (hope did not wake up the next door neighbors) with his banging and kicking! Like a baby!

He has few rounds and got himself too drunk in the end. He was the one that suffer and I have to suffer along! I have to endure his groans and clean up after his vomit in the bathroom and bedroom! He sounded like a donkey crying painfully! F**k! Even little gal was awake by the noise he made! So, as a curious toddler, she just called out for her daddy and did not get near him. Her first time seeing her daddy drunk and in his worst behavior. She dozed off again in my bed after the feeding, but everything felt so slow with one drunken man making funny noise and a curious little toddler wondering in and out of the room, reluctant to continue her sleep. I ended up arguing with hubby as anything can happen or said when one person was intoxicated and the other was deprived of her sleep!

Hubby slept like a baby this morning, I cant get him out from the bed. As for me, I have to suffer as I hardly get some sleep after the drunk incident while he was snoring right next to me. I only dozed off around 3am and little gal woke me up at 615am. Sigh! Why can’t she give me some extra minutes to sleep in?

I am going to bed after this post and I don’t care what little gal and her daddy would be doing in the room. I need some sleep to replace for what I lost the night before! So, have a wonderful evening and goodnight my friends. See you soon……

Monday, April 7, 2008

Those were the days

The last time I had supper was when I was pregnant with little gal! I turned hungry pretty fast in the evenings! Even if I had my dinner around 7 something, I still need to feed myself something around 9pm. I have tried to sleep early around 8 something, but it did not do me good. My stomach reluctant to let me go peacefully, so I need to feed it well before I can doze off at night. Thank god my supper habit did not continue after my pregnancy term.

Gone were those days when I stay late at night, gone out for few drinks and supper with friends. We love to hang around the café and karaoke lounge, chit chat and sing to our heart’s content. After few round of drink and karaoke-ing, we always ended up at Kuching Open Air Market for supper. It is a food hawker centre, where you will find local foods and drinks almost 24 hours The market has underwent few renovation works in the past, so the market is no longer having open concept, with roof constructed to cater for more tables and chairs. Yet the market still has not lost its touch of been buzzing with lives at night with people searching for cheap, local food with convenience for smokers to puff and ambiance of fresh air (not really fresh if you considering the market is surrounded with busy roads). If you don’t mind seeing some ratatouille friends wondering along the drains or noisy crowds or even drunks and crazy people, then this is definitely a place to try some food when you are in Kuching. *wink*

Kuching Open Air Market at the old Main Bazaar area is always full of life even at wee hour of the night. Tourists and late owls patronizing the area for food. Food ranging from porridge, ordering of dishes with rice, ice kacang (a cold dessert), kolo mee (local noodles), sio bi (pork dumpling), to beef noodles and a lot more.

Bak Moi


I love to go to Open Market for its famous “bak moi” (meat porridge in Hokkien). Easy and light supper to have at late night, say 12midnight or 1am. I remember there were one time when a group of us had supper and chat till almost 2am in the morning! Each of us was with tired eyes that almost drop out of their sockets. Yet when the group of us meet together, we can talk non-stop and almost did not feel the times are ticking away. Sigh!

I had my favourite bak moi last night. We had early dinner around 4something, darling hubby cooked his signature dish again yesterday. What else? Fried egg, green peas with sliced bacon and microwave-heated bacon accompanied with Campbell soup! Very sinful I had to say! Hahahah! By 8pm, our stomachs were grumbling and asked to be fed! Lol. So, a round of bak moi supper last night make me think back of those days when I were single, fun-going with no worries. Sigh! Yet I have to say that last night supper was the best supper I ever had! Why? Because I was having it with darling hubby and little gal by my side! *smile*

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Tag & Award from Dora

Thank you very much to my friend, Dora for passing me a tag and award. What a great Sunday to start with! :)





Firstly is a tag:





1. Think about what it is that you want more than anything, what your heart’s desire and fondest wish is, and what it is that you would wish for if you were to see the above wishing star flame across the night sky.
2. Right click and SAVE the blank graphic above.
3. Use a graphics program of your choice and place your wish on this picture.

What I wish for? I wish for a peaceful and happy life, and also this wish goes to everyone in this beautiful world!

2ndly is an award!

Thank you Dora for thinking of me, you are a great friend! I may know you for few months and we never meet face to face, but you are indeed a friend for keep. Friends forever!

I would like to pass the above tag and award to all my friends in my blog roll. Happy tagging and award sharing, my friends!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Early bird on Sunday

A moment of silent since hubby is not around and so is little gal. Her aunty bringing her to Secret Recipe for an early dinner! And me? Lazy to go out. Tried to get some nap but I cant close my eyes and shut down my brain! Since sleep cant elude me, I better don’t waste my times tossing in the bed!

Tomorrow is Sunday! Oh well, whether tomorrow is a Sunday or not, I usually wake up early on such day! It is not that I don’t want to sleep in late, but my body clock gets used to me waking up every 6 days a week. Little gal also pretty early, waking me up around 630am almost every day! She is my most reliable alarm clock! Lol!

What do you usually do on Sunday? Sleep late? Cleaning the house? Do some house chores? Window shopping? Or go somewhere with family, i.e. picnicking, go to beach and have swim, driving to other town?

When little gal was small, we seldom have much activities on Sunday. We spent most of our time at home. Now that she is growing and more active, we try to spend more time out of the house. We would usually go out for breakfast with my parents, going to church, and do some grocery shopping after that. Once a while we will spend our afternoon at my parents’ house. Routine stuff, if you ask me! *wink*

I told hubby that we should plan something interesting once a while since little gal is older and she seldom take 2 naps during day time (now she only sleep 2 hours nap, usually in the late afternoon on Sundays). My plans including going to Sunday market at Satok area (how I miss those crowd and ambiance of open flea markets there), going to the beach for a swim, driving to other town such as Serian or Matang for fun! But having a lazy hubby that only want to sleep late and play computer games at home, my wishes rather difficult to be granted. *wink*

So, how do you usually spend your Sunday? Or how do you want to spend your Sunday?

Friday, April 4, 2008

Iritating Bunch

I am not a skeptical woman, but when come to men (particularly the whistling wolves) I cannot stand of not scrutinizing the opposite gender. I do not mind them to look and admire you, but if the situation becoming too rampant when they start talking senselessly and ogling at you like you are a transparent piece, that is way too much! I know that every individual has the right to look at whatever and whoever they want, but I am trying to say that as a civilized individual, we should be more tactful and not perturbing into other people’s privacy.

Sorry if I sound boastful but I do get some attention from the opposite gender. It is always feel good to be admired afar (ladies, please do not tell me that you don’t like it!!). However, just don’t attract the wrong attention, ok?

As for guys, please be civilized a bit, be a gentleman. Do not over do it. It makes you look like a bunch of crazy dogs. Even dogs are adorable than you!

All about home

I was telling darling hubby the other night on how I would like our new home to be. Nothing fancy but comfy. Not too many furniture and built-in for easy cleaning.

We were discussing on how we want our bedroom, living room and kitchen to be, what items to be added in and additional powerpoints and extension work for some areas! We are expecting to spend over RM50K for just wet kitchen extension. *cold sweat* Not very cheap to own a dream home, don’t you think so?

We have withdrawn some fund from EPF last year and have put aside those for some of the furniture. Hmm, I was thinking of getting some furniture and equipment on installment basis but hubby insisted otherwise. Why need installment? Sometimes those furniture are not worth buying! Ok, since he insists, I better keep my mouth shut! LOL!

Buying house is a big investment! I never consider it as an asset, until we have settled all our loans with bank. How can a house be an asset when it does not belong to you and when you are paying the bank for the loan owed? So a house is a big purchase (liability) when you (normal people like me) are spending most of your live paying for it! Do not forget the expenses that come with it such as assessment rates, monthly utility and household bills, repairs and maintenance works.

We are thankful that we currently staying in my parents-in-law’ house. We do not have to pay much except monthly utility bills. The house compound is bigger than our future home. 4 cars fitted in comfortably within the car pouch (we extended the side and cemented to put in 2 cars). Where can you find a terrace corner house that can squeeze in 4 or more cards nowadays? Hardly! Land and house are getting scarce and expensive each day.

We dread the day when we finally move into our new home and start to pay all those expenses! Guess we cannot escape from those things but on good side, at least there is a house that we can call our own home.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

A blogger country?



I read in today article (The Star, Thursday 3 April 2008, page N49) stated that Malaysia has over 500,000 active bloggers, ranking the country among the highest in the world after Indonesia and European Union. It also mentioned that how powerful blogs are in influencing the mindset of people, especially in politics. Does the big lose of BN in the recent election has anything to do with blogs? How blogs play big role in this case? Rather interesting right?

So, my friends, we are part of the big bloggers community here! And how powerful tool we have in influencing the life of our people. *wink* Cheers to blogging world!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

After the movie



We watched Ah Long Pte Ltd last Saturday! I got 2 free tickets from Star Cineplex, so decided to utilize them. Initially plan to watch 10,000BC but darling hubby has bought its DVD, so decided to watch other movie instead. Ah Long Pte Ltd is a worth-watching comedy, packed with laughter and songs. You will laugh till your jaw dropped and muscle cramped! We enjoyed the movie very much.

The movie focuses on a life of a female gangster cum money lending triad leader and a sissy male dance instructor. The woman’s dream on bettering the money lending business with less violence and more systematic way of doing business. In order to avoid constant nagging from her mother on marriage proposal, she forced this dance instructor to marry her! Enter this sissy dance instructor into her life and money lending business! Either he likes it or not, he has to help his wife in re-constructing the business plan

The director of the movie is trying to portrait the real life of money lender and way of tormenting their victims (borrowers). There was a part where a young victim pledging with the loan sharks not to beat her family up! It was heart-breaking when I think that it is what happening in the real world. Do they have rights to beat up their victims for not paying on time or turn back on them? Whose fault it is in this case? Should we blame the borrowers for borrowing money from them? Should we blame the lenders for offering such deeds to them and charging high interest?

Pretty unfortunate that youngster, businessmen and financially-struggling people are resorting to borrowing money from those money lenders and in the end, tied down with huge amount of unsettled debts. Eventually that leading to disastrous ending, such as family break-up, becoming fugitive by running away, business fall apart, and sometimes resulting in suicide/death. Our government in previous years have been advising publics against borrowing money via media as not to encourage such illegal transaction, but life goes on! Money lending companies will never die off whether we like it or not! When there is demand, there is supply for such goods and services………(oops, now I am getting too serious! LOL!) On the real serious not I am sad to discover I am no longer have privilege to access my blog from office! I got blocked! ;p Meaning I can't go into my blog during the day time, so I would have much limited access to my beloved blogs! That does not mean I will give up and neglect my blog. :) So from now onward, I will have lesser posts due to inaccessibility to blog world……sob sob sob. :( (psst, it is not April Fool's joke, it is one day late by the way to play prank on others)

One sweet treat





A lovely mummy, Pearly give me this really sweet award, I am very privilege to receive it! Thanks Pearly for sharing this award. Your blog is also a one sweet treat to visit.

I would like to pass this award along to all my blogger friends in my blog roll for been there for me! All of you have wonderful blogs that are special in their own! Sure one sweet treat to read! Special thanks to following too:

Jen – she can chat from anything to everything, never bored visiting her blog
Linda – one sweet lady with a good taste in scent
Dora – a well-liked lady, always full of surprises in her bag!
Agnes – a really one sweet treat as her blog is full of pictures from the other side of the world
Cooking Momster – If you are hungry, you can drop by for some sweet treat from this mummy. I always drooling looking at her cooking, slurp!
Billy's mom - A sure treat to read her posting on her life and family in The Secret City

A kind of accent


How I hate those people that are trying hard to have an accent. Why don’t they been themselves, a Malaysian with Malaysian accent?? They are trying hard to have an accent, and it is even harder not to get annoyed by them speaking in such way. Alright, they may have further their studies for few years abroad, but why do they need to pick up those accents? And why can’t they throw away those accents once they come back here?? Pretty hard is it? It is even harder for us not to laugh at some of the words you used.

For example, someone would say “fu-oh” to you and it take you few seconds to decipher and come to a conclusion that he is saying “four” to you. Oh boy! Pretending that you understand the single word he is saying is one hell of a job! ;p I have an ang mo (New Zealand) boss, I have to admit, I had problems understand him when I started working in this company!! But practice make perfect, I have learnt (and still learning) to understand his accent. I am not good at speaking proper English more than writing them so I am not pretending to have an accent to sound like Englishwoman when speaking to him.

I could go on with those funny accent, but I won't. I'll stop now as I do not want to offend anyone. ;p However, anyone want to share on some funny words that you have difficulties to understand at first place? Come on, spill it out!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Sport shoes revival

After 3 weeks of absenteeism, I was finally able to join my aerobic class yesterday. Everyone was asking about my disappearance. ;p

The instructor was unable to conduct the class yesterday due to migraine. Geez! So coincident! Just when I am back from 3 weeks lay out, the instructor is unable to make it! But luckily one of the participants used to be an aerobic instructor and she willingly take over the class. So, not to disappointment of everyone that were there, the class went as usual. Been laid off for so long, I have some difficult time following the pace. Puff * puff * puff! Really take my breath away! My back is still in pain and I having some muscle pains around my thigh areas.

The aerobic centre is starting a yoga class, first class been this evening. 2 classes per week. Hmm, I have never keen in yoga, I find it rather slow! ;p I like aerobic steps, fast pace and routine movement all the time!