Dinner or Breakfast?

Looks like yummy breakfast? nope - that was my last night's dinner, in fact the second time i had the same this week. The night before that was an apple and some potato chips. Its a seosanal thing for me, there's the cook every night season, eat out season and eat any grub season.

What does it say about me?

a- Lazy bum
b- Pathetic lonely soul
c- Diet freak

Paying respects to Lollies

My deepest condolences to my blog-buddy Lollies & family. Ibu Lollies passed away early this morning.

I remember knowing Lollies from my other blog buddy Nekbat a.k.a Dora's blog, then Lollies started dropping comments in mine. Its just a coincidence that soon after my trip to Qatar, Lollies and family was moving there due to her "lover"'s posting there. We exchanged some experience on life in Qatar.

I also remembered how much i felt for Lollies when she had red-tapes problem to return here when her Ibu was hospitalised. When I was on assignment in Bahrain, I had to write some policies on middle east expatriate immigration procedures, so i kind of understood the issues. I was also estatic to hear Lollies finally got on the Qatar Air flight...i sms nekbat saying "lollies should arrive KLIA by now".

It was nice to see how lollies blog buddies was lending support to her. Some of her postings made us cry with her, and some made us laugh out loud. Isnt it strange this connection among a bunch of strangers......

Be strong lollies. Al Fatihah.

I prayed for help.......and help came. I was grateful, but then i got worried. If i accept too much help, than am i expected to give back in return. Would being grateful deprive me of honesty and sincerity? Should we always question other people's motives?

May be i think to much.........may be a thank you will do.

The waiting game......& the back pain

Nory's replacement never came........now the search continues. I worry about mom & dad. whether they are ok, whether they have food, if they are taking their medicines and vitamins. I worry when dad have to cross the road to get roti canai for breakfast, worry when he drives to buy some lunch. At his age & condition, he shouldnt be driving. I worry about mom overdoing the house chores and hurting herself.

Isnt it ironic that our parents used to do all the worrying and for the most part of it you really dont get it. Now the tables have turned....

In the wee hours of monday morning ,like 3 a.m. i woke up and found myself in front of the tv. I fall asleep in front of the tv very often...but this time with this chronic back pain, and i still feel it. I have had hot baths, put on minyak angin...any other tips you guys may have, please leave a comment.

Now, i have to go spend the next three days in a training room (conducted by Dr. Jeez - if you read my Bahrain post, you'll be sorry for me).

Thank God It's Friday

Thank God tomorrow is the weekend.

Thank God we found a replacement for Nory. New maid will report for duty on Monday (got 30 day free trial some more!!!!)

Thank God Mr. A & B has paid me for my damages. (Has received RM50 from Mr. B, and Mr. A promised to bank in RM100 tomorrow morning)

Thank God Mum and Dad arrived home safely at noon today.

Thank God the car i hit last night did not suffer any scratch.

Thank God my new car thingy is almost sorted out.


There are many other things to worry about, but i thot i would feel better if i count my blessings.

Bumper to Bumper Fender Bender

Car A had trouble with brakes, hit car B, car B hit car C. Car C got hit at the back, but hit no one.

I am car C.

There I was leaving the office early to meet up my Sis who just arrived KL for her medical. I promised Mum to visit her at Abang Az's house in Subang, while Mum & Dad is visiting Abang An in Melawati.

Technically, Car A is responsible for Car B, and car B is liable for my damages. But car B had bigger plans. Car A started all this mess, so car A should pay for B & C's damages. A is a bit of a blur, so B and me had to stand there in the drizzling rain explaining the disadvantages of filing an insurance claim - RM300 fine, loss NCB. Car A & B had it pretty bad, but my boot was slightly dented, and the bumper closed in slightly more than it should. Nothing was decided, so we exchanged cards and numbers.

This morning I learned that the police report need to be logdged within 24 hours of the accident. So lunchtime i rushed to get a quote - RM150 to fix the fender bender. B called to say A figured he cant afford the RM500 each to pay for A & B's damages and wants to file an insurance claim. B wants me to talk to A on whose going to pay my RM150. What the hey, i told B if I go lodge a police report he will be fined for my case, not A.

I finally had to call A and A was still a blur asking what do I recommend he does to settle this. I said that should be sorted with B. A was telling his sad story that B wants him to be responsible for my losses. A then agreed to pay for RM100, and ask me to get the RM50 from B.

B was on standby for my call. B is the "smart-one" who figure it all out. He will lodge police report on A, but not mention he hit C. That way he wont be fined, and he got A to pay the bulk of damages to C as well.

I am about to let go of my car (C) soon - trade in with another, so i dont really have to fix this. I told B to get the money from A, add on his share and send it to me. B had the chic to ask what if he runs away with the money (he didnt have his card on him yesterday, so i only had his phone number). But before i could conjure up some snazzy reply, he gave me his office address, which is almost next to mine. We'll see what happens...if the money comes, i'll fix it. If it doesnt, i'll let it be.

I have already so many things in my head as it is.....

Hopelessly Hoping

My instinct has kept me hopelessly hoping.....sometimes i feel embarassed by my own foolishness.

The Instinct of Hope

Is there another world for this frail dust
To warm with life and be itself again?
Something about me daily speaks there must,
And why should instinct nourish hopes in vain?
'Tis nature's prophesy that such will be,
And everything seems struggling to explain
The close sealed volume of its mystery.
Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace
As seeming anxious of eternity,
To meet that calm and find a resting place.
E'en the small violet feels a future power
And waits each year renewing blooms to bring,
And surely man is no inferior flower
To die unworthy of a second spring?

by
John Clare

Waiting for Nory

Mum said...."Mak dah doa kat tuhan, kalau niat dia nak buat yang tak elok, biarlah dia tak balik sini dah, tapi kalau niat dia nak kerja elok2, biarlah dia balik."

Yesterday, 5th of March was supposed to be Nory's return date. We waited for a phone call to fetch her, nothing. Well, no one was really expecting her to come back. On the last day, Sis caught Nory red handed when she found her skirt in Nory's luggage. Then mum thought she saw her kain batik folded in Nory's luggage. Mum also was wary that Nory had too much cash on her during her last minute shopping trips.

Mum was hurt and angry. She has been too nice to Nory. I even paid for her excess baggage.

Maybe mum's prayers were answered after all.

Now i have a new project in hand...seeking a new maid for mum.

Wishful thinking...........

i wish i'm at a coffee place, on a comfy chair surfing the net

i wish i'm having conversations with dory about making our first million over teh tarik

i wish i'm home alone watching re-runs of akademi fantasia concerts

i wish i'm watching a movie munching salted popcorn

i wish i'm sitting on a rock, with my feet in water, looking at the waterfall flowing down the stream

i wish i'm somewhere else today

Melancholic

".......apelah guna ke bendang,
padi seberang takkan menjadi;

........apelah diharap sayang,
kasihnya orang..
orang tak sudi."


(Sudirman, Gerimis Di Lautan)

Pleasing Mom & Dad

While Nory is away...Mom & Dad is in town.

Mom & Day are not the happiest people in the world nor are they the most miserable.On normal working days, its just mom, dad and nory the maid. During the weekend, my elder sister comes home and brighten up their life a little bit (well, if she's not overworked and tired)

I will call almost every other day, abang az will call ocassionally and abang an will call once in a blue moon.

Not so long ago, Dr. Riz said dad should not be driving anymore at his age. That affected mom and dad's lives as they are not that mobile anymore.

Mom no longer goes to her "persatuan wanita" meetings, events and other dos like she used to because she feels uncomfortable leaving dad alone. Tak elok lah kan Nory tu bukan muhrim.

Mom and Dad are lonely, they have 2 sons, 2 daughters, 1 adopted daughter, 2 daughter in laws, 2 grandsons, 5 grandaughters yet they lead lonely lives.

Tonight I will fetch them from Abang Az's house and they will be with me the whole weekend. I have cleaned up my humble place, prepared their room, put on clean comforters, laid out my best towels, put 2 sejadah in the study, stocked up the fridge. I am trying to figure out plans to entertain them this weekend.

I will take good care of them. I hope they will be happy.

Nory's Security Undies

Who's Nory?

Nory is my mum's indon maid. She's been with us for close to 2 years now. About this time last year, i sent Nory to the airport to go home after all the commotion she caused. She was adamant to go on a 2 week leave although her contract says she is not to take leave prior to completion of 2 years. After all her tantrums, being rude towards mum and dad, mum just could not tolerate it anymore. So, i made the arrangements to sent her home. Me and Abang Az sent her to KLIA on her first solo flight. I think my mum took her on a flight "balik kampung" from KLA once, and that was her first flight ever.

Despite our kind advise, you insist on taking all her cash with her. After converting her hard earned salary into rupiah, she carefully placed it in her sports shoes she was wearing and off she goes. Two weeks later, mum got a phone call asking to transmit some cash for her to buy a ticket to travel back to Malaysia. She said all her money was stolen by some muggers upon her arrival at the Jakarta airport. Her shoe gimmick apparently is too common for the experienced muggers.

We didnt send her any money because we could not be sure if the story is true...But it was, and by some miracle she did come back much to the whole family's surprise. Since then she's been doing well, no more tantrums, mum has less to complain about her and her cooking gets better every day.

Today, after work, i will be picking up Nory at the Shah Alam bus station. She's arriving from my hometown, and her flight back to Indon is tomorrow morning. It is supposed to be another 2 week break. Even though her contract is over, she promised she will be back, and we are keeping our fingers crossed. From friends and family experience, majority never come back.

And how is Nory carrying her cash this time???........In her undies, yup, you read it right. Mum has got her "security undies" for her going away present. I've never seen it but according to mum its a normal ladies undy, with a zipped pouch just like a "kangaroo's baby pouch". Nory plans to wear the security undies with her cash all zipped up (in notes of RM100 - quite thick i imagine), topped by her normal undies, topped by shorts, then jeans. Nory is a small thin figure....she's gonna look like an old lady wearing incontinence diapers tomorrow...wakaka.

I hope the security undies works for her, and for mum's sake i hope she returns to us on the 5th of March.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (The New Season)

All the hype!!!





I was all hyped up about CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The New Season. After last season's dramatic finale, where Nick was buried alive, AXN has been showing all those repeat episodes. It started last night on AXN at 10p.m.

I left the office about 10 minutes to 6p.m., all eager and looking forward to watching it. (I am a self confessed TV addict) I already planned my dinner in my head - heat up the leftover rice and chicken curry from the night before, some fried ikan bilis, veg - bonapetit!!

20 minutes later the traffic was hardly moving all the way after the Damansara toll to Shah Alam exit. It was about 7 at the time. The Shah Alam exit is closed due to flooding and traffic was rerouted to the highway leading to KLIA. I took the Seafield exit to re-enter Shah Alam town road, only to be stuck at 2 (was it 3) roundabouts, and only reached home at 8.10p.m. My legs were so tired - I drive a manual car!!

I bathed, worked on dinner as planned, watched TV including the first 10 minutes of the much awaited CSI- and fell asleep....So much for all the hype. Oh well, I'll catch the repeat episode over the weekend.

Yee Sang Lunch FEAR FACTOR Style

I was on medical leave yesterday for gastric pains. My GP said there's too much acid in my system. My stomach has been feeling quesy since the department lunch last Wednesday. This is my second Yee Sang lunch since i joined this firm. It's like a tradition for them to have a Yee Sang lunch hosted by the Division's Director.......for luck i assume. Before the last 2 years, I was not exposed to a predominantly chinese environment......so some of these stuff are pretty new to me. But as usual i try to fit in and enjoy the experience.


Firstly i am never a big fan of chinese set meals........annual dinners or lunch or whatever versions. The long wait, the little portions, eating one thing at a time....i just dont have the patience. I was prepared for a not very enjoyable meal, but OMG, I was not prepared for a prequel to Fear Factor.

The ceremony began with a Yee Sang toss.........the higher the better!!!It was quite edible although i'm not crazy about the raw salmon.




Lunch started with some kind of soup called Monk Jump Over the Wall (seriously!). Its supposed to be some special delicacy. Inside the soup there are a cocktail of strange things like sharks fin, some kind of fish insang which look like tauhu, some seaweed looking things, and some part of a black chicken feet...with the skin in tact it look like a charred body part with goosebumps....disgusting. The whole bowl smell funny.


I slurped a spoonful and chew on some unknown stuff, and decided the monk can jump all he wants, but i'm gonna pass.

Next came roasted ducks sitting on a huge plate. Then the waitress put her hands in plastic gloves and start ripping the duck meat of the bones. There was nothing artistic about this culinary process, it was already putting me off. Then the "ripped-by-bare-hands" meat is rolled up in popia skin, served with cucmber and some unknown sauce. If I remember correctly, this is my first experience eating duck meat. It's tough. I had a small bite not to offend the rest of the table who seemed to enjoy it.

Then came something edible, finally - fried cod fillet with cream sauce. (I know....not chinese at all). I gobbled it down in a jiffy...thinking things can only get better from here.



Then came the chilli prawns......huge but not that fresh, ok lah.




Next came some vegetable dish that didnt look like veg at all. I recognise some mushroom , and a somekind of roll - the inside was oozing out with this whitise sauce with black and white polka dots. Ok, pass.

Then came fried "kiuh bakul", and ice cream with pomelo (durian belanda) i think.

I was so glad it was over.....note to self....i'm so not fear factor material!!!

The Longest Break

I remember how excited i was the whole of last week looking forward to the long strecth of public holidays. Since i have already taken a week off work to "balik kampung" during Eid-al-adha, i decided i'll stay home this break. I got the whole week figured out......long overdue things i need to do for my humble abode.

I even draw up an A4 size plan and sticked it on the fridge, of course carefully placing it not to hide the picture of my yet to be life partner...wakaka..(dory, in case you are smirking...cant blame a girl for dreaming big). Anyways, the mega project was doing up my little study room. After some slaving, back breaking, painful few days....its finally done. Ok or not??


Finally i can see the floor.......



Why do i need a study table???

And then there were other spring cleaning stuff i dont want to bore you bloggers about.

And i got an olive green rug for my living room after how many years....let's see 3 years plus i think.

Now the break has ended, and its back to normal at the office. Dont know when i'll get a long break again....oooh i so envy Dory's perpetual holiday!!!

My Money Matters.............

Let the world be known that today I parted with Ringgit Malaysia Two Thousand Five Hundred Eighty One and Sen Thirty only....not a lot of money for some but a whole lot for me!!!!!!!! I tried to hold on to it as long as I can. Finally the illusion of having a healthy (well by my standards) account balance has been diluted...i feel weak.

End of miserable post ;-(

It's a HUGE problem because it's MINE!!!

I remember this scene from an episode of Ally Mcbeal. She's always stressed out with some kind of issues whether its work, men or her own quirkyness. One of her colleagues was telling her that she's taking things too seriously, and its not such a huge problem.....and she replied its huge for her because the problem is hers. (i dont remember the exact words but something to that effect.....).

Anyways, a few days back i was complaining to a friend my predicament. My housing loan refinancing is stuck - some problems to resolve with developer, lawyers, banks. Car needs to be sold. Arrange financing for new car (i dont mean brand new!). Sort out mum's maid tickets to go back to Indonesia...i felt like a million things to do. This friend was telling me i was taking it out of proportion.......I was slightly offended, like Ally said - it felt HUGE coz its MINE.

I dont believe in Astrology (but I read them....)

Of course i dont believe in Astrology.........syirik kan. I believe in Qada & Qadar..but i have to admit i do read astrology for fun. Somedays they are like spot on...some days totally way out of target. One of the things I enjoy reading is characteristics based on zodiac signs, birth months and also chinese birth year; and also those annual astrology reviews you can read every new year. Today i stumbled upon this overview for my sign (I'm a Saggitarius) for 2006. I read the third paragraph and smile...is it just me or are human beings in general suckers for hope???

Source: Astrology.com

You've never been the type to stay put for long -- not literally, figuratively or any other way. And for most of 2006, you'll amaze even yourself with the changes you'll make! First of all, you'll be a veritable paragon of self-control when it comes to finances (and not as the result any threats, real or implied, from accountants, parents, authority figures or IRS agents). Don't worry, it's not symptomatic of a total personality shift. It's just one of those subtle learning experiences the universe tosses our way every now and then. So learn!

When a parade of far too 'coincidental' events and encounters begins marching by you in January, February and March, you'll instantly recognize their common denominator and their collective meaning: Your personal priority list needs to be reorganized, and by mid-2006 you can expect it to become top-heavy with loving relationships and meaningful experiences. You'll safeguard your personal integrity even more rabidly through your world-famous, up-front honesty. Things -- anything with a price tag -- will be at the bottom of that list, which doesn't mean that you'll never again whip out a charge card and feel that delightful tingle. But you'll be safe until the tail end of the year. (At that point, consider rehiring last year's chaperone to accompany you on any and all shopping trips, or to baby-sit you if you get the Home Shopping Network.)

Your second source of personal astonishment in 2006 will be even more striking. You, the most freedom-oriented of all zodiacal creatures, may want to settle down this year. Yes, really -- with one person, romantically. If you're already with that person, just keep doing what you're doing. You'll be quite content to spend most of the year in their company and in their company alone, hibernating in your comfy clothes and snuggling up on the couch, working your way through a stack of videos. This should be mandatory.

If you're single and hunting for a soul mate, step up the pace a notch or two from mid-February to mid-April, especially around the solar eclipse at the end of March. Be extra attentive again during May and June (when you'll hear a foreign accent you just can't walk past), and after late November. Needless to say, prepare to make the rounds during those end-of-year celebrations -- and get ready for a great 2007!

I'M BACK (FOR GOOD????)

Its been too long since my last posting..to be honest i almost forgot that i had a blog. In between rushing to finish work to leave Bahrain, recovering from jetlag, catching up with friends, work, "balik kampung" for the holidays...i could not find the time.

But i'm back and happy to be back. I'm just crossing my fingers that i wont have to go back to Bahrain, i dont mind short trips but a month or two is an unbearable thot....dr jeez is already hinting about the next trip.

Happy belated new year to all out there.

Away From Home Diaries Part 5

G.U.I.L.T

Dont you just hate guilt feeling.........especially when you are not even sure if you are guilty or not. Today is one of those days. Big Boss (BB) is in town...supposed to set up a meeting for him with a client but it didnt happen, couldnt happen actually because of some new interventions. Meeting supposed to be today (it was a tentative thing), but Dr Jeez & me told him at dinner last nite that plans has changed. BB seem cool about it, and said we'll meet at the office today at 2. We were there waiting in the meeting room....nothing, then Dr Jeez saw him talking to the 'Judge'. So we thot he'll look for us after that. We were busy working while waiting.

The next thing we know, he has left the office; and going to the airport.

And I feel guilty....guilty coz meeting didnt happen, guilty coz didnt try to find him to ask if he wants to talk to us......and why should i feel guilty when Dr Jeez (THE PROJECT MANAGER) couldnt give a hoot.

I thot posting this would make me feel better, but i still feel guilty...;-(