Meet Najib

Najib and his meal

Something I could very well do with on certain days

I am a huge fan of chocolate eclairs among other things chocolate. Whenever I am at Saffron I would never miss the chance to have its chocolate eclair. Absolutely delicious. Chin is very observant and knows food that makes Choo very happy.

She decided to surprise me last night from with a whole box of big puffy chocolate eclairs from auntie Linda's! Oh the joy on my pace when I opened the box. I savoured one last night before retiring to my inviting bed. There is still plenty of them and I plan to share them with my family.

I just want to say a big thank you to Chin for this sweet and considerate gesture. I feel much better now...hehehehe. HUGS

Bookmaking class by Chin

After putting it off for a few months I finally got to attend a basic bookmaking session conducted by Chin. It was an enjoyable lesson. The teacher was softspoken, concise and clear with her instructions not to mention patient. You see, the students took frequent and extended breaks because we could not withstand the temptation of some very delicious refreshments sitting in the same room as us. "Come eat us"...they kept telling us...

Chin showing us how to use the drill. It is easy peasy we were told.



But I had my concerns...



Teacher took some shots while waiting for us to finish up a portion of our books.







Ta-dah! My book! As usual i would pick my favourite colour for the cover. I love the contrast red gives to the book cover.

Don't take me wrong...I am not your mushy girly type person but somehow the heart cushion felt right with the book.

I used the circles to symbolize life and my favourite activity...no prizes for guessing!



The inside of the cover. There is a name for it but I forgot. Cikgu marah ni...



I would like to go back for more classes. That will be after I finish my belly dancing classes that is.

What will the Pope say when he sees this in his hotel room?

Price = RMB20.00

Boring!

It is not a very good day for me today.

I am resting at home because of dizziness, throbbing headache and laboured breaths.

You know what that means?? One less day of aikido for me!

Hmph...

Fooooooooooooood

I now do my facials at kiulap.

One of those days as I walking down the stairs to my car after the session I caught the signboard of this restaurant. I said to myself, "another Korean restaurant!". Hmmm, I definitely need to try this place out. I called up Chin and LuLu (who is one heck of a beautician. Anyone who wants to try her out just give me a call.) Upon walking in, the decor strikes me as simple but rather dark. No matter. I am here to try out the food primarily. My companions were very considerate when it came to ordering food, as I am still in the middle of my 100 day vegetarian diet.

As usual the side dishes came first. Or are they appetizers?

I like the pickled radish and carrots. Sweet and sour...appetizing!

I really wanted to have rice so I ordered my favourtie type. Your garlic rice is still the best Moo.

The kimchi here is milder, something more to my taste. But that only means that I will take 2 pieces compared to the usual none! hahahahaha.

Then came the fried vegetables.



This is kimchi tofu. A sweetish and slightly sicy dish, it goes well with rice.

Fried rice cakes. While I was told that it has no meat in this dish, it actually has fish cakes! Chin tells me that while the marinade has gone into the fish cakes, she agrees with my that the taste did not go into the ricecakes.

Ah, my source of protein. Egg rolls. Everytime I see talur in cooked in one way or the other I would think about No. 2 and No. 4. They need to do a scramble egg cooking contest one of these days for mama and I to decide who cooks the best scramble egg. *grinning from ear to ear*

All and all it was a satisfactory meal. I was not able to enjoy the variety of selection on the menu. No matter, come the end of June 2009, I will be back to try out more of the dishes. Hey, I had great company!

Oh ye of little faith!

I heard that said to me for the first time in Malaysia. That happened in September 2008 when I joined the AWARE programme at Pulau Redang. Apart from diving we also had a clean up campaign of a certain stretch of the beach on the island.

Chong took down an inventory of the rubbish collected



I picked this up and asked of Chong, "What is this?"




"This my dear," replied Chong, "is the backbone of a cuttlefish."

Incredulous, I gave him dramatized doubtful look. He urged me to seek clarification if I thought he was lying. It turned out that he wasn't!

Sorry Chong! hehehehehe...

Oh I can have very little faith sometimes....


Chong, Jason, Mins and I on a great day at the beach

Is this what you call service?

I am a customer.

I walked into a bank to pay for my hire purchase instalments.

I give my credit card, identity card and filled up bank in slips.

Clerk takes my credit card and went to one corner where the credit card machines are placed.

Clerk swipes my credit card for more than 10 times only to find that my credit card won't go through

Why?

Because my credit card has a security chip.

Being rather concerned I tried to call the clerk.

Her officer then stood up and told the clerk that she was doing it the wrong way.

Now there are 2 persons standing over the credit card machine to deal with my credit card.

I see buttons being pressed but nothing is happening.

My concern turns into irritation.

I call for the clerk to come over.

The clerk walks to the counter.

I asked her if there was something wrong and asked for the return of my credit card.

Guess what?

Clerk walks off on me while I was talking.

Irritation gives way to utter annoyance.

Clerk comes back with my bank in slips, my credit card and one set of sales slips and asked me to sign on it.

I replied that I will not sign on it because I came here to make 2 payments, the transaction took so long and I did not know what was happening to my card. I asked what the problem was but she walked away from me.

Clerk replied that one payment has already been approved when I asked her about my card.

I replied I did not know because SHE WALKED AWAY.

I asked what happened to my other payment.

Clerk replied that its not gone through yet because the machines takes a long time.

I said that I wouldn't know that because SHE WALKED AWAY when I was talking to her.

Clerk told me to sign on the sales slip at it has already been approved.

I said that I do not want to make payments here anymore because when I asked for what the problem was SHE WALKED AWAY and that she SHOULD NOT HAVE WALKED AWAY WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO HER. Now I do not want to make payment in this bank.

Clerk asked me to sign because one transaction has been approved.

I came here to get to make TWO hire purchase payments and I get this kind of service. I said that if this was the case I will make payment at the hire purchase office.

Clerk said the transaction has been approved.

I said it can be voided.

Clerk refers to officer.

I overheard officer telling clerk to just tell me that transaction has been approved. ( My unhappiness at the clerk's service and attitude now extends to that of the officer.)

Clerk comes back and tells me that transaction has been approved.

I told her that I don't want to pay here. VOID THE TRANSACTION.

Clerk goes back to officer.

Officer reluctantly voids the transaction and pass the void sales slip to clerk.

Clerk comes back and returns my cards, bank in slips with the sales slip and voided slip and sat down without saying a word. No apologies. NOTHING. Nothing from the officer either.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS

To Grandpa, a truly great man.

It is yet another new day of a new week and nearly one month since you left us. I still can't believe that you are gone. Grandma called out your name this morning as she was going through some old clothes. I asked her if she wanted to speak to you and she replied that she is so used to calling your name. Your wheelchair still sits in the living room and I really wish you were sitting in that chair everytime I walk into your house. My heart weeps whenever I see the empty chair. Are you smiling down at us from heaven?

You never spoke much but I know how much love and care you have for all of us. You dedicated you whole life to your family and your work, never uttering a single complaint. You made sure that everyone of your children receives a decent education. We were never short of anything.

You love family and you love us. I remember with much fondness of the time you brought your grandchildren to Kuching for a holiday. I remember how you and grandma were so worried when the currents brought Ling and I out to sea no matter how hard we paddled. We made it back eventually but not before giving you a mighty scare. Then you brought us to the pool and told us to swim for our lives because you are playing the shark. We screamed and swam and had so much fun. I could see the contented smile on your face from the joy that our company gave you. I will never see that again.

As I got older you stopped talking to me as much as you did. But you never stopped caring for me. You never stopped loving me. Time and again you will ask about me, my father and my brothers because we all matter to you. You would lecture me about the importance of education, because you never had much of it and made sure I am well educated. You would reprimand me whenever I misbehave, because you want me to know the importance of being respectable and acting with integrity. You would ask who cooked a particular dish because you wanted to eat my mother's cooking. You would always steal glances at me because you want to see me for just that one more time.

Despite coming to Brunei with nothing but the clothes on your back, you married a wonderful and supportive wife, bore 9 beautiful children and they gave you even more beautiful grandchildren, and in the process you made you mark as a giant in the construction industry. You were a man of honesty, responsibility and integrity. We are the legacy that you leave behind. I never realized how sophisticated you were, until it was too late. You time on earth brought forth us, and when you left us you brought us together.

I am glad that during the last few weeks of your time here I was there to spend it with you, right up until the time just before you were called back to the Lord. We spoke and held hands all the time, I fed you and you would tell me not to overly mush the vegetables. I stroked your soft grey hair as you rest. You would look sometimes to see if I was still next to you. Even at a time when you were not conscious you would hold my hand tightly whenever I held yours. At a time when we were uncertain of how long you would still be with us, you gave me the chance to say goodbye.

Grandpa, I just want to tell you that I am so proud to have you as my grandfather. Your blood flows in my body. Fond and loving memories of you and our time together are forever etched in my mind. I will strive to live by the principles that you have instilled in your life and be a good and giving person. I will love, take care and honour grandma whom you have entrusted on us.

I hope that I made you proud. I hope that we all made you proud.

Goodbye grandpa. May you rest in peace in the eternal kingdom of the Lord Almighty. I love you.


with love,
your granddaughter Chui

Where I failed, LT succeeded

LT's bathing in a tea cup

I was playing around with my camera at Takara waiting for the table to be filled before the start of the sungkai buffet. I took a few photos of LT posing sideways above a glass of water. The pictures did not come out so well and LT decided to give it a try.

She took the above photo and proudly commented that I looked as if I was bathing in the tea cup! Looks pretty much like it doesn't it? I did not want to leave her talent undiscovered and decided to post this picture.

Well done LT!