Steamboat Birthday Makan for Jac and I

Going out makan with the girls are quite fun – we can be ourselves without being conscious. We just go nuts.

Seeing Seaw Chin digging into the chicken wings non-stop.

Cheryl’s constant request to throw the vege into the pot.

Jac who kept asking, “Shall we take noodles?” from the buffet spread - took the yee mee, bihun, dried wantan noodle sheet and some green looking noodle sheet only to end up throwing the green noodle into the pot and savouring it. The rest of the noodles, we just return them back to where they originally came from.

Joanne was the pot lid keeper, throw the ingredients into the pot, close the lid, when the ingredients are cooked, open the lid, place the lid aside and eat. And the same activities repeat for a few cycles.

Me. What did I do? Just makanlah! Hehehe….

But I’ve got a deduction to make…
1. Going out having steamboat with girls – Vege and fish product aka fish ball, fish tauhu and fish noodle would be the main ingredients

2. Going out having steamboat with the Ranger guys – What they hantam would be all the meat and prawns and squids and crabs and other shellfish….

So tell me… to pay RM18.90 per person, which is more worth it?

http://www.slide.com/r/IOr-b1Hvzz9_FzBKyEire3JzDXSC2vmI?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url

My Birthday Cuppy Cake!!!!

How sweet of Ky Lie to make time specially to bake me these lovely cakes. Thank you dear. It was really sweet of you and the cakes are really sweet too… but deliciously delicious… Mmmmm…..

I immediately dug into the strawberry-topping piece. Mum took the one with the strawberry and kiwi piece.

Later at night I had my second helping of the cupcake with the kiwi topping.

I don’t know how I’m going to handle the balance 3.

Kwang Yew, you better help.

They’re too pretty to be eaten (I told you Ky Lie, didn’t I).

I just don’t have the heart to eat them. I can just stare and admire and stare and admire and I can just go on and on, about staring and admiring the cakes.

Gee…. Not forgetting the pounds I’ll put on, on top of the current pound that I’ve already put on. And the heavenly sweetness…. I’m afraid the ants will come after me too… Haha….

Love you heaps, Ky Lie. I really have a wonderful birthday this year. Angie…. My hats off to you too for the silver ball (on the sides of the M&Ms cupcake) idea… Muax! Muax!

10¢ Increase

A week ago, it was announced that the price of roti canai and chapati will be increased to 10 cents more, after the announcement of pay raise for civil servants. Reason for the increase would be the increase of price for oil, gas, flour and margarine.

Two days later, the decision to increase the price was pulled back. However, many doubted if the original size which people are so use to seeing (and eating for that matter) will remain the same. Unfortunately, size is what Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs officers can’t monitor.

In today’s news – 10 cents increase for teh tarik or any other beverages that contain condense milk. This is effective in the Northern Region. But I do remember hearing about the price increase of milk and unfortunately condense milk is affected too.

Everything has price increased. Just this 1 month alone, I hear of so many price increased. I went back to my designer/dress maker to make a dress for formal functions (a lot of weddings to attend this year, therefore a lot of “saman” to pay). Her price went up from the base price of the usual RM400 to RM500. She told me that wedding gowns are affected the most – the base price from RM1000 to RM1300!!!

Then I had a friend who asked me who was my make-up artist for my wedding and I gave her the contact. She called her and asked her how much, and the make-up artist quoted her RM1000 from the RM800 I paid her last year!!! And she was like, “I should have gotten married last year!”.

Getting married is not cheap anymore and there are so many weddings this year – apparently the Year of the Pig is very prosperous for business as well as getting married or even conception (babies lar).

I wonder if the market price to pay wedding “saman” has increase too…. Can we still maintain the old rate, ah?

Nothing Is Easy!

Gee... didn't think that posting a blog can be this tough! Editing here, editing there, aligning the photos and setting the format of the wordings right...

Tough job. Goes to show.... I'm not that fast with catching up with the young ones who can practically publish their public diary with photos!

My hats off to all you adik-adik (younger ones) out there. I actually have 1 more thought to post but I'm exhausted....

Well, i will when i have gathered enough strength to continue... soon I hope

An Ode To Angie and Ky Lie

Such a day it was
I’ll never forget,
Come 8.00pm
And in we step,
For food and fun
For smiles and flashes

Fulfillment of my birthday wishes.

Seafood Pizza
With a dash of Tobasco
Black Pepper Linguine
A truly spicy fete,
We ate them all, we clean the plates
To make way for a delicious cake.

Lovely lullaby of a birthday song,
Click click the camera rolls on,
Savour the Tiramisu
And we couldn’t help ourselves
To a second helping too!

Time to go
The bill was paid.
All I can say
What a wonderful day!

Thank you girls
For your thoughtfulness,
Indeed I am extremely blessed.

My prayers would be
For you from Above,
Blessings are always coming,
Protection wherever you’re going,
Wisdom in all understanding,
And Joy overflowing.

Cheers!

Survivor Fiji

I have watch Survivor since Season 2 and never have I been more proud of than to have our very own Malaysian, Chan Yau Man for this latest season.

Hailed from Kota Kinabalu, this man of prowess finished his studies in the States and now holds the position of a Director in one of the most prestigious universities there.

He played the game right in Survivor and uphold intergrity throughout while playing (except for the fake immunity idol, he made). Unfortunately he did not get to win the million bucks (got played out by Dreamz who did not hold his promises to Chan) but nontheless he made it to the final four. Eventhough Earl won the million bucks, he was even branded by a former survivor contestant The Ultimate Survivor.

It was:
"Yau Man is a true Survivor and a class act all the way." (quoted by Terry Deitz- Survivor Panama, Exile Island)

"To Yau-Man; Thanks for setting the standards of Survivor to a new level. The Immunity Necklace should be called the Yau-Man necklace. A shot of Jack or Sake with you any time. You should give up ping-pong and write a book on, “How To Win at Survivor.“ I think that the Pirate Master will be a flop without some older people (there were a lot of older real pirates), me and the Yau-Man. I really think that all the older Survivors can kick butt. Also, I have some real pirate wenches on myspace." (quoted by Bruce Kanegai- Survivor Panama, Exile Island)

"From the neck up Yau Man is one of the most powerful players the game has ever seen. He’s one of the most active thinkers and most cognizant of his surroundings of anyone that’s played. " (quoted by Bobby Mason - Survivor Panama, Exile Island)

"In all the seasons of Survivor, Yau-man has rightfully earned the title of OVER-ALL ULTIMATE SURVIVOR! Earl is a very nice man. However, he will soon be forgotten. Yau-man, however, will go down in Survivor history as the most amazing human being ever to play this game." (quoted by Scout Cloud Lee - Survivor Vanuatu)

How do i know all these when they do not show this season of Survivor on our shore? The reliable internet and CBS network of course. Go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor14/

What i don't understand is, why aren't our tv stations airing Survivor this time round? We have a Malaysian on it and i think the country needs to show our support for him as he plays the game (although, they're usually air the episode months after they're back).

I mean, this guy is a through and through Malaysian (yes, he's a US citizen now) and we're not making a big fuss out of it. But former Miss Georgia (Miss America 2006 1st runner up), Monica Pang who was not born here, who never grew up here and who don't even really know her roots here in this country until after she won her title - BIG media hype!

Well, i'm waiting to see if after the news appears from the US about Yau Man, our local tv might consider airing Survivor Fiji. But one thing is for sure, if he had won the 1 million bucks - they'll definitely show, without a doubt.

Coffee At Last!

Because i sick sick sick last one whole week, i was deprived of my favourite drink - coffee, nescafe, anything with caffeine, you name it.

Finally, alas! I had my 1st cup of Nescafe this morning. Tea lady laughed at me, saying, "Bagus ma. Sudah baik, kopi boleh minum". I was in ecstasy slurping in and having my cereals with it. Back to my normal lifestyle.

Somehow, when i was sick last week, i only had Milo and now looking Milo, i would be thinking, "Darn. Milo is only for the sick." and not "Minum Milo anda jadi sihat dan kuat!".
Heard from a friend many weeks back, Nescafe is of the lowest grade of coffee... processes after processes after processes - wa la! Nescafe!

Gee.... who cares?! So long as i get my dose of caffeine. Vietnam coffee is the best.... especially when you brew it using the traditional coffee maker. The aroma lifts you to cloud 9. With a little dash of creamer and sugar, the taste just simply brings you to heaven.

Ok, it's coffee break now...

In the mean time, just go to this link your reading pleasure:
http://www.positivelycoffee.org/

Mothers' Day

Well... Mothers' Day is tomorrow. The day when mums all over the world are suppose to be resting... I really mean suppose to. Still, there will be mothers out there fussing over their children or other people's children and makes you wonder....why?

How about children who are clueless as to this day? Even with all the hype through the media... which world do these kids belong?

How about mothers who are not all that motherly? Or mothers who just refuse to believe that they're mothers, no matter what the circumstances are?

Anyway, it doesn't matter.... To all mothers out there... wishing you "A Blessed Mothers' Day. Take a break, chill out and God bless".

Mum... my wish would be, "You're the best mum a daughter could ever have. You're my hero - Superwoman, Wonderwoman and Ultrawoman. I love you and I'm definitely taking you out to chill. I love you. Happy Mum's Day and oh yar! Happy Nurses Day too! Muax!"

Sick Sick Sick

Have been sick a about a week now - cough, cold and sore throat. Thank God the sore throat and cold are gone... I'm left with this dreaded coughing, day and night - can't even sleep.

3 days of MC in a row. How about that? Well at least, i was resting or rather pigging. Blame it on the cough syrup. And i get to finish a book - John Grisham, The Testament. Wonderful book with a sad ending, nevertheless good.

Going to finish another, by my favourite author, Jane Austen - Mansfield Park.

Well, there was another book, before The Testament, i was practically hooked to it - Empress Orchid. Tells the tale of the last Empress Dowager of China's life before becoming the dowager herself. Rather an eye opening experience and definitely different from what you see on TV... or i could say a little similar to "Wan Chu Ke Ke", just a little.

Well, that's all for now. Can't believe i'm using office time to blog. Hope to hear from me more.... I'll try to be more initiative to blog more...

Looks like i'm caught in the motion of blogging now... let's see til how long