finally

Finally hopefully we can get our peaceful and clean home sweet home back

For those of you who had been to my house during the previous 11 months (almost a year) will have noticed the massive renovation on our neighbour's house. it's like building a house from scratch

While I think my neighbour are sure to be very happy to be finally be able to move in to their DREAM home, 

I guess I'm the HAPPIER one around.

For we have live in constant UNpeace of mind for the almost past 1 year.

it's like I'm staying in a PRISON and yet I'm in my home.

Imagine living next to a construction side,
so much so that we have to seal the house (meaning all door and window closed) in order to avoid the whole house being polluted. 

- the amount of noise 

- the amount of dust 

- the amount of toxic (cement, paint and i don't-even-know-what)

- the amount of inconvenient (we can't hang our clothes to dry outside... or it will be dirtier than before wash, constant cleaning of porch and home required...etc)

- the amount of ugly sights 

- the amount of rubbish (you know what happen when you have that BIG construction rubbish disposal metal box bin, plus it's the festive spring cleaning season)

- the amount of mosquitoes due to the above (don't even mention the smell)

- the amount of stress - drilling, banging, knocking, you name it. Also thinking the amount of toxic my children are breathing in every single day. Also the chinese believe that there should not be renovation of house during pregnancy....the list is just endless

- the damage the renovation caused to our already old house (and deny it's because of them)

- the 4 different batches of foreign workers (some are ok, some are scary)

- the deprivation - fresh air, gardening time, play time with kid outside house, the chance to have a clean house

- the entrance of house being blocked- loading unloading, worker car

oh...I can go on and on...

yes, exactly, I really sounded like an old grumpy nanny complaining. 

I was eager to celebrate western new year with PEACE but I didn't get to...

I'm thankful though I get to celebrate chinese new year with PEACE ... 

Before this I used to have a little intention to extend the house... but now, I don't think I want to ... a small house is just good enough for us, we stay close & warm and sweet with lesser cleaning. 

Finally, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel...

After having endure so much for the past almost 1 year, I'm don't have the 'gas' to complain anymore, i'm just plain grateful that it's all coming to an end...

and here's to a new beginning

Having said all the above, don't get me wrong, I do not blame my neighbour ... 
it's just the timing and it's just our luck ... 
perhaps god wanted us to learn something ... to learn to appreciate what we have, to appreciate things we taken for granted and things we do not realised we have all along.

Welcome back, my dearie home :D

GO SLEEP EARLY

the title says it all.
I've been telling this to myself since the week before 2013 end ... so called resolution.
But it's far from practice and enforcement.
there's always excuses, ANY excuses
including most bizarre one : I don't want to waste time sleeping! Still got many things to do.  (Sleeping is definately not a waste of time)

UNTIL
I dozed off (more like passing out) yesterday night due to extreme exhaustion just right after putting ah bi down on tilam. Or I was already nodding off while breastfeeding? I wasn't sure actually.

and I woke up this morning FEELING GOOD 
It (sleeping early, sleeping well, sleeping enough) really does WONDERS.
Although it may not seem 100% possible (at least for me) 
I'll try to get as close as I can. 
This, a promise make to my body who seem to have not slept well since half a decade ago. 
(Even half a decade does feel like a thousand years when not enough sleep ... and I'm hearing 'A thousand years - christina perri' playing in my head.

Here's to GO SLEEP EARLY
Here's to SLEEP WELL, SLEEP SOUND 

would like to do this again

there are many things that I would like to do
but I may need to postpone them till when I'm more available
one of such things : 

those were the days : pen pal'ing

Chinese new year is 2 weeks away, 
and since I'm not working, 
took this opportunity to do spring cleaning / decluttering / overhaul.
and while digging up all my stuff,
I found some 'gems' 

I had forgotten that I've had pen pals.
Evidence showed I've 9 of them. 
And I wonder how on earth was I so free to write during those days (if I remember correctly during upper primary & secondary school).

and my pen pal were from Saudi Arabia(KSA), Nizip-Turkiye, Gaithersburg-USA, Phillipines, Auckland-New Zealand, Roswell GA-USA, & Klang valley. 
However, I couldn't remember how I got them as pen pals during then.

It was sweet but weird at the same time, reading back letters from the past. 
there was once upon a time when I share my time with nice people around the globe ... actually if you ask me where are those places (except Klang valley) on the world map, honestly I couldn't pin point (pardon my bad geography).

Those were the times when we have trust 
trust that our letters are collected from the mail box - post office - transport - recipient (the whole postal system works)
trust that our pen pals will reply 
trust that we are genuine people trying to get to know each other
trust that human relationships needs time and effort to keep.

While tidying this 'stage' of pen-pal'ing of my life,
ah dear say : at this rate, no wonder pack until tomorrow also not yet finish lo...
Haha, in fact yes, I took a whole full day.
I was like that little girl I was, opening each letter from the envelope, reading each letter while trying to remember my pen pals. 
I believe I love them all at that point of time.  (OK, I mean friendship kind of love).

At the end of the session of decluttering my precious mails & greeting cards,
I was happy to relive that moment of my teenage years.
However, I was DISAPPOINTED at one thing.
I was hoping (and hoping) to at least find a love letter (or at least a little love note) in that big pile of letters and cards in that mooncake metal box.
But NONE, not even 1 ... ARGHHHH!!!!

(I guess I just wasn't someone someone will write love letter / love note to ... LOL)

Cut'ted

At last, another round of cutting it short ... my hair, i mean

I guess it's just a matter of time to get it cut for a person like me who :

1. doesn't take care / manage her hair

2. full of white hair (no longer gray hair for my case...haha)

3. hair fall like nobody's business

4. is always in a mess

5. needs a dash of fresh hope ... a fresh cut is like a new beginning 

6. needs some time off to pamper herself 

7. need to have some 烦恼 cut off (i think this could be the very main reason)

ok, so CUT done, so what's next? UNPLUG?

ps. this post isn't a very appropriate post to start 2014 ho? 
this year marked the 10th year into blogging
and shall be a year to redeem myself after a record breaking low no. of posts for 2013.

the never ending story

the washing machine is really a good invention, a good companion!!

one of the many things

of the the many things ...

he did for our home.

Although at times his action or rather inaction 'kek sei' me

but when he does it ... it makes me smile, sometimes even better

makes me laugh, sometimes with cheeky little suprises ... lol

one of those things

for the past 2 - 3 months ago

yet everyday I had to on the pipe by turning the bolt hexagon shape knob with a piece of cloth (using plain fingers will be too painful)

on one fine night, suddenly my kitchen water pipe has a new 'upcycled' look.

see that blue little 'knob' to on the water pipe?

see that pureen baby washing liquid bottle on the left 'with its missing dispenser'?

so now 

he's happy ... she no longer nag about changing the pipe

she's happy ... no more difficulties with the pipe, in fact she smiles every time she washes the dishes @ the 'novelty' of such idea.

wallet & purse is happy ... no need keluar $ 

the earth is happy ... one more plastic item 'upcycled'

perhaps the pureen bottle is 'upset' having its' head stuck on someone else's body ...lol

some cheers for year end, or are they not?

I received an email from ocbc bank a few weeks ago.

It says that 

(a) we can get BBWS RM50 voucher for opening any type of savings account

(b) another BBWS RM50 voucher for opening any type of FD deposit 

during the promotion period.

* BBWS : Big Bad Wolf Sales - the biggest and baddest book sales in Malaysia offering new books @ a fraction of retail prices.

Here's the catch : 

(a) min RM1k for opening savings account

(b) min RM5k for opening FD account

(c) max per pax is RM100 voucher per person. 

(d) applicable to selected customer who receive the email. (apparently their criteria for the mailing list is customer who only has credit card with them. They want to bring in your deposits)

But here's the cheers 

(for me la) :

1. Getting RM100 voucher for BBWS is very worth it (if average RM8 /book, I get about 12 books free literally). It's the kind of voucher that's definately not going to be ended up not utilized for me.

2. In term of returns, about 5% for savings account (RM50/RM1000), 

1% for FD account (RM50/RM5000) on top of the existing p.a interest rate. 

Mind you, this is not even per annum rate calculation basis. 

3. the returns in item (2) is given upfront / immediate, upon opening of account (ok la, upon collection and usage of voucher). In other words, we don't need to wait for month end / year end / upon maturity for interest calculation and crediting.

4. There are no bonding / tie in period. Literally, it can mean you can withdraw the money you bank the moment / after you collected the vouchers. But then again, don't think anyone will do so right? FD withdraw prior to maturity will have penalty/ no interest.

5. I just discovered OCBC has a very attractive savings account which they call 'Smart Savers Plan'. It allow adult to earn interest rates like children account provided there are no withdrawal. It's good if you plan to use it for REAL savings and not day to day operating account.

provided no withdrawal, deposit of 

RM0 - RM49.99 interest rate 2.4% p.a

RM50 - RM999.99 interest rate 2.75% p.a

RM1000 above interest rate 2.90% p.a

(refer pic2 below)

help me see...did I miss any catch here? (since I think I'm blinded by the BBWS cash vouchers) 

ps. this is not a paid post. 

the above post is just the opinion of the writer.

 

longing for you

You

You didn't leave my mind the whole night. 
for many many nights...

And without mercy, 
you appear in my dreams ... making me want you more.

Every morning without fail, 
I'll peek at the window at you. 

Every evening before the sun set, 
I can't stop myself peeking at you for one more time.

Sometimes I blushed when our eyes meet

Sometimes I hide 
I love just watching you from afar ... letting my imagination run wild..

what will the suprise be when I open you up?

how juicy will you be when i taste you?

how good will you be (that you keep enticing me like that)?

how good will you be fulfilling the needs of a thirsty woman?

you know there are boundaries I can't cross

you know there are risks I can't take

you know there are people like me you can't flirt with

cause I might do anything I can just to have you next to me.

How could you be so cruel to me? (when I love you so much)

I'm desperately in love with you
I'm longing for you

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

financial education in primary school 2014, secondary school 2017

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Better late than never.
Let's not delve into details ... contents, resources, readiness, implementation.
let's just take it as good news to a humble mother for her children to have access to financial knowledge / information in which she has to learn the hard way. 

source of today's happiness : 
http://schooladvisor.my/?p=news%2Ffinancial-education-to-be-taught-in-primary-schools-from-2014
http://schooladvisor.my/?p=news/secondary-students-to-be-taught-financial-management

thanksgiving

Only realised today is thanksgiving day after seeing so many post on this topic on FB.

Although neither well known nor celebrated widely in Malaysia,

this day trigger a very strong urge in me to be thankful and grateful. 

this year I really need to count my blessings and be thankful to all the people I'm indebted to (however cliche this may sound)

I'm thankful 

to God for forgiving me and for everything

for all my ah bis to be healthy 

for my parents and family who brought me up (although I doubt I can ever repay, I'll nevertheless still want to for as long as I'm still around)

for ah dear who stood by me despite all my worst

for my in-laws and relatives who look after me like their own children
for friends who are always there, always share
for medical personnels - doctors and nurses that helps us alot in times of need 
for having a roof over our head, warm meals, still having a job
for all the people who taught me about life and help me grow
for everything everyday 
(this list can go on and on...) but today, just for this once
allow me to be grateful, 
allow me to say thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart.

I will always remember ... 
I will always try to pay it forward shall I not be able to repay you ...
May God bless you all ...

I can't thank enough
I didn't know the way to express 
but deep down in my heart, I'm deeply thankful
for all that have been through...

my latest work out sessions

someone posted this work out on facebook 
and I could RELATE ... lol












source : http://bit.ly/17D53uM

how the boss see it..

Excerpt from Xin Ran's Ms Chopstick
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the difference between male and female worker in the eyes of the boss : 

when the boss sees a male subordinate with a family photo on the desk, the boss thinks : Hmm..He must be a good, responsible man who takes care of his family.
when the boss sees a female subordinate with a family photo on the desk, the boss thinks : Hmm..work isn't the most important thing in her life, no point in expecting her to put heart into the company.

when the boss sees a male subordinate with an untidy desk, the boss thinks
He is so industrious! Look, he doesn't even have time to tidy his desk.
when the boss sees a female subordinate with an untidy desk, the boss thinks 
Look at that! She's clearly no organisational ability.

when the boss sees a male subordinate talking to his colleagues, the boss thinks
He must be discussing business developments. That's the spirit.
when the boss sees a female subordinate talking to his colleagues, the boss thinks 
Humph, she's gossiping and finding fault again. Oh well, it's in women's nature to have long tongues.

when the boss sees that a male subordinate is about to get promoted by his manager, the boss thinks
This man must have great potential.
when the boss sees a female subordinate is about to get promoted by his manager, the boss thinks
This woman must be having a thing with the director.

when the boss sees a male subordinate arrive late, the boss thinks
Was he burning the midnight oil again last night?
when the boss sees a female subordinate arrive late, the boss thinks 
Did her husband want it again last night? Or have they just ....

when the boss sees a male subordinate hand out wedding invitations, the boss thinks
He'll be more responsible now. Let's give him a big red envelope of lucky money as a bonus to encourage him.
when the boss sees a female subordinate hand out wedding invitations, the boss thinks 
Let's not make her red envelope too big. Soon, she'll get herself pregnant, take 2 month maternity leave and end up quitting her job to look after the kid.

when the boss sees a male subordinate leave for a better job, the boss thinks
He's a man who understand how to make the most of a good opportunity. Too bad the company can't keep him.
when the boss sees a female subordinate leave for a better job, the boss thinks 
That's women for you-untrustworthy!

Now, guess whether the boss is a man or woman? 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sometimes I do wonder ... how many of the above is true (even in today's society)?

learning

Everyday we learn new things ... 
whether consciously or unconsciously.
Found this transparent pockets hanging piece from Daiso .. think it's great for learning for myself and kiddies. 
All we need is just to change the contents diligently.
Now it's hanging at the room where I change clothes .. and I learnt a few more new phrases / words.

Talking about learning ... I have lately realised that our lives and the people in it are teaching us something new every single day. I'll leave that for another post.  

currently craving

Source : goodyfoodies.blogspot.com

something as simple as stir fry asparagus prawn & scallop .... heavenly ...

a fright in the afternoon

My Fridays seem to be quite exciting and unpredictable these days. 
After a scare on the previous previous friday morning,
I had another fright yesterday afternoon.

If you happen to pass by the office building where I work ... 
you may be one of the many by-passers who wonder what are they offering at this building... why are there so many people queuing up since early morning?
Welcome to my daily routine ... which include queue'ing and waiting for lift in the peak hours like morning & lunch time.

I've tried queueing for about 30 minutes to 40 minutes just to get to my floor. 
I would have like many others chosen to just take a morning climb up the stairs if not for my current condition.

Back to the afternoon fright.
Out of the 4 lifts available for a 21-floors building, I was 'lucky' to have chosen the 'chosen' one.
The lift was packed like usual and after dropping some lift passengers on the 7th floor,
the lift door closed,
the lift start to black out,
the lift floor button indicator goes off, (no matter which button you press)
the lift stop abruptly,
and 4 ladies inside started standing at 4 corners of the lift.
I was at the left upper corner of the rectangular box.
We are trapped in the lift. 
It was my 1st time. Everyone was asking everyone if everyone is alright.
The malay lady standing near the buttons started pressing the bell for help. 
(btw, the building management and security guards are famous for their very slow if not non-action)
Perhaps from watching too much movies, I started having thoughts of free-falling lift. (eexperience of some colleagues who wrote to top managements about falling lifts doesn't help either).
And another lady kept telling us to bend our knees to lessen the impact in case it really happen.
Free-falling lift is risky for condition like me ... 
Perhaps my little one inside could sense my anxiety that I could feel ah bi moving actively.

It was time like this, I feel handphones are god-sent.
Everyone trapped started calling our colleagues to inform the building management aka. security guards (although we know it may take some time).
I managed to call a colleague of mine. 
I guessed it helped with my current condition, everyone say we need urgent help as there's someone with 'big belly' trapped inside.
Of course, my second-to-contact is ah dear...although I knew there's nothing much he can do. But the line wasn't getting through so I ended up sending him a sms...

At 1st I was alright and steady.
However, as time goes by, I started to feel my legs getting tired so I sat down.
It was ok at 1st but as time goes by, I think it got a little stuffier. (not sure whether real or psychological though).
We continue pressing the bell but nobody came. 
My colleague couldn't get through my line so she sms telling us the guards are checking.

We waited for about 20 minutes ... it was when one of the lady say perhaps we should try pulling open the door. She mentioned that's how her male colleagues do it. 
the 3 of them with all their strength tried opening the lift door, i wasn't allowed to help.

After a few attempts, they managed to slice open a thin line between the lift doors, and lucky we were not too far away from the 8th floor - floor.
It was really a relief. With a little help, we got out of the lift. 
Thank god we are all alright. 
(well, i did manage to speak to ah dear when we are out from the malfunctioned lift, he said not to worry, as even if no electricity, the lift will clamp itself secure and under normal circumstances will not free-fall)

Perhaps this is another reason I dread going to work ... and that's it's time for me to move on... haha

a scare in the morning

yesterday morning I had a big scare.
Over the past few years, I did have fainting spells but
I would rate this morning black out as 2nd (if not 3rd scariest)

The scariest was the morning after my second ah bi delivery @ the hospital delivery ward toilet (the lucky thing I'm in a hospital and other mothers at the toilet called help for me). the next thing I know after the black out was I was being wheeled by 3 nurses back to my bed and had doctors checking on me and nurses busy taking my blood pressure every 5 to 10 minutes. 

The other scary incident was fainting in LRT. Lucky thing during then was it was during morning peak hours and have someone who knows me in the LRT and we were near the station our station. A good samaritan even took trouble to buy me roti krim and mineral water.

Yesterday morning, it was scary because I was alone with 2 little ones. 
1 still sleeping inside the room and another inside me. Dear was outstation.
I felt dizzy when I woke up but instead of sitting at the bed to rest, I stubbornly stood and walk to the door (in my effort not to wake little one sleeping on the bed so that I can wash and prepare myself in peace).
Things happened so fast after that.
I closed the room door and blacked out. I can feel myself falling like blocks of wood on the floor with a 'thump'. Everything went black for a few seconds I think. 
The next thing I knew was I was lying on the floor and force myself to breathe to get in more oxgygen for my brain and especially little one inside.
Lucky I'm still at the door (which is just a few steps away from the stairs) and not at the stairway. 
I sat there stunted not knowing what has happened and dare not know what will happen if I don't wake up from then. I'm thankful I'm still here.

This morning I woke up feeling aches on my left upper arm and body, most probably impact from the black out fall yesterday. 

Lessons learnt : If feeling faint / not well, it's better to stay put and rest / recover 1st, instead of acting like a hero.  

they reminded me that ...

@ work, fingers have been pointing, accusations have been hurling around when system errors occur after the major project cutover.

Being a tester, we are most of the time the most vulnerable group irregardless of whether you have done your due diligence.

To avoid further unnecessary stress, I decided to just let those pointed and hurled at me to take place without struggling to put up any defense. 

It was after all very meaningless to me. 

However, to say that I'm not affected at all is telling a big fat lie through my teeth.

Somehow God decided to remind me that admidst all the 'you have not done .... / you have done it wrong' that have been hurled towards me, that Saturday, through my ah bi(s) I was reminded that ....

perhaps I've done something really important ... something that matter more ...

that day the elder one told me he love me and offered to help me wash the dishes (all of sudden) and later that afternoon he helped me fold most of his own and sister clothes. 

In case you're wondering how they reach the sink, look at the 2 fella tip toeing. 

I was happy when he told me he love me, happier when he offered to help me wash the dishes, happiest when he solved his own problem (taking the stool when he can't reach the running water) and the little one followed his example. 

(and to satisfy your curiousity, no, they didn't thoroughly rinse all the soap from the kitchen utensils ...haha, but to me they are already doing a great job =) 

* ps. sorry for the exposed skins, she was getting ready to take bath when she decided to join the fun.

   

Maybe after all, I'm not as bad as what they say.  

and that I now know very clearly that I live for myself ... 

lucky i still have u

For the past few weeks & months, life has not been easy for me.
work wise also very bumpy, so much so that I feel like giving up because it's affecting me health wise.
But lucky I still have you .. 
who's still there for me even when I show my ugly dark side
who try to cheer me up when I hit the bottom
who tell me things that I refuse to listen and let me see things that I couldn't see through

thank you for the sewing machine and little radio which allow me to seek comfort.
We will together little by little make our effort build our little home sweet home ... even if it's a little brick a day.

不再让你孤单

Just finished watching this movie... after a few sittings. (I seldom get to finish a movie in 1 sitting..hehe)

Titled 'a beautiful life' in English .. directed by Andrew Lau, staring Liu Ye & Shu Qi. 

this is a touching movie which tell tales about love and life of normal people just like you and me.