Cuppies!

After raving about the cupcakes from this Singaporean blogger, I finally decided to give cupcakes a try. Although my Mum loves baking, she never made cupcakes for us to decorate so since Jan was staying overnight, I thought it would be a great time for us to get our creative juices going.

Unfortunately, the chocolate cake recipe was a little, er, explosive. It was a total mess as it volcanoed over the cups and the bits looked like sai (shit). Never mind, I continued to do the icing. Sidetracking for a bit, the icing recipe I followed was total crap! 1.5 tablespoons of melted butter with 1.5 cups of icing sugar. I'd like to know what spoons this people expect us to use. I had to throw in almost quarter block of butter and loads of water just to bind the sugar! Dang, this is the second recipe that has done this to me!

Anyways, here is the result of our efforts:

I'll describe a few to you. Jan did the demented snowman, the ones with the stars, demented 3D snail and fish (I added the starry sai for the fish). Guess which one I did entitled "Janet Jackson's Wardrobe Malfunction"? KS contributed the spiral one and then went upstairs to surf the net. Men!

Actually, the snail is quite a nice one since it's the only 3D one.


It looks gross but when I had one this morning, it tasted quite good actually.

Oh well, we had fun. Just that next time, I'll change the amount of batter and maybe use my butter cake recipe for this. And I'll need another icing recipe.

Restlessness

For some time now I have been having this restlessness, disinterested in my work, my ministry, my reading... My daily life feels like a facade, going through the motions. Retail therapy doesn't seem to be working but reality bites when my bills come!

In the process of quelching this, I have orbited out of my normal habits by having a new attitude. I'd like to think of it as a carpe diem peppering, a renewed surge of resolutions. Who says resolutions need only come at the start of the year?

So what wheels have I set in motion? Firstly, I have been longing to be able to attend a photography workshop ever since my cousin in Canada attended one to learn how to use their newly acquired SLR. Not that I have an SLR or that I am interested in becoming a photographer, rather, to learn how to brush up and improve my basic photography with my humble Nikon Coolpix.

I've managed to find someone who is willing to teach a couple of us the basics for free. So that's going to happen next month.

Secondly, baking classes. I am still researching on this as I am looking for a hands-on class, to learn the foundations of baking. So far, no yields yet but still I will persist.

Thirdly, Toastmasters. Hmm... the fire for this one has died down as I have yet to find anyone interested to go with me. Solo is still fine but having a partner will help spur me on.

And finally, I am going to update my pathetic make up collection. My colleagues gasped in horror when I told them my set it at least 3 years old, an eclectic mix of cheap, ah affordable brands. "Throw them all away! Imagine the germs residing in your 4 year old foundation and mascara!"

So, in two weeks time, they are dragging me to KLCC to update (or ctrl-alt-del) my make up set for a girly shopping spree. They've been wanting to do a makeover on me for ever as I never wear make up to work. I'm happy to be putty in their hands for this.

Also, I have 13 days leave which I need to clear by end of the year. No idea where to go or what to do yet since KS doesn't have leave, now that he's started his new job.

Chicken Feet

A uni friend introduced this tim sum place near my home and I have been absolutely hooked to it. Their prawns are fresh and there is a good variety of dishes.

We've been there 3 times already and even though it is not cheap, I think this has taken precedence over my liking for sushi/sashimi.

And the best part is? I get to eat my yummy chicken feet!

Did I ever mention how I came to eat chicken feet? I was at my friend, jo-bloggs, place during secondary school. We were attending afternoon school back then and before heading to school, she offered me lunch, cooked by her granny. Of course I accepted. However, there was only one meat dish, and that was chicken feet boiled in dark brown broth together with chinese mushrooms. Thank goodness I was eating alone. My despair was apparent but I certainly couldn't starve and be rude, so I had to eat it. And discovered it wasn't THAT bad after all!

So, now I'm really hooked on the tim sum version. Absolutely yummy and KS lets me have the entire dish to myself - he hates it! Oh well, less men more share.

Crunching Bones

When we got back from Melaka late last night, Dat Fella failed to come running to greet us. Then, as I was surfing the net upstairs, KS called me to quickly come down to check if it really was Dat Fella who was crouching at a corner near our potted plant. She seemed busy, ignoring KS' calls to come rub herself on his foot as per her normal routine.

She seemed to be chewing on something and by the time I spotted the rat's tail, there was a sickening crunch as her jaws crushed the bones. As swiftly as I had come downstairs, I ran upstairs, not wanting to hear more.

This morning, all that's left is a slight blood stain on the cement floor. Ew... But I'm glad she's a good mouser. Jay always vomited the half eaten rodent at the doorstep and I had to clean up before I left for work.

Angels & Demons

When my friend told me how good this book is, as compared to the Da Vinci Code, I knew it would be a good book. I just wasn't prepared HOW it would have kept me turning the pages.

There is an illustrated version of the book in my in-laws place. It's been there for months and every time I go there, I never had the desire to pick it up. However, our trip to Melaka extended by accident (we overslept but that's another story altogether).

So on the last night, I wanted to accompany KS to watch the latest U2 DVD release, Zoo TV. I had hoped I could alternate reading one page and watch the concert. Of course, that never happened. By midnight, KS was ready for bed but I was still immersed and sitting on the edge of my chair. I decided I could still accompany him but read in bed.

Next thing I knew, I heard the sound of a motorbike right in front of the house. I bolted up in panic, as my mind was filled with the terrors and killings in the book, but there was a dull thud as the newspapers was flung into the compound. NEWSPAPERS? I scampered out of bed to read the time and was really shocked to find it was already 6:30am.

I cannot remember when was the last time I slept so late and if I wasn't interrupted, I would have gone on until I finished the book.

Dang you, Dan Brown! This is your second book that has kept me awake until I finished them within 24 hours. I'm glad I read Da Vinci Code first. Angels & Demons is FAR better and the illustrations and photos of the actual sculptures in Rome really helped with the visualisation.

I also realised that I actually have a fear of sculptures, they look so life-like! How marble is carved to look like a flowing cloak makes it seem as though the statue can come alive any time. I hope never to be in the vicinity of one at night.

Ryan & Colin

Just spent the last 3 hours downloading and watching clips from Who's Line Is It Anyway? from youtube.com. This is one show I can watch forever, it's so funny!

Ryan and Colin really crack me up. Colin always gets the female roles while Ryan gets weird ones like being an embryo or something.

So, Day 1 hasn't been very productive. But I'm lovin' it!

Shopping Bug

I don't know what's gotten into me but I've had the shopping bug for ages! I want to buy a new top for work, a new pair of shoes to match all my skirts, a pair of white trousers (my colleague convinced me it's a staple in any girls wardrobe and that I should NOT associate it with emphasizing my thunder thighs and fishball butt).

Even though I have already been scouring some malls, I come away empty handed and determined to launch myself on the next mall. But what I've successfully purchased was not on my shopping list. I bought myself some bras.

I am not shy to admit my bloodline produces pear shaped women and cup A has always been my size. Let me tell you what size I bought this week, cup C. Yeah. Width was tighter by 2 inches and the more comfortable size was a B with the correct width BUT STILL! I proudly whispered to my colleague the next day, "I can wear a C!"

Some years back, I suspect bra manufacturers cottoned on to the fact that not many girls like to categorise their bits as a size A cup. God forbid, it is like a guy going to the drugstore, "May I have a pack of condoms, Small size please?". You CAN'T find a small sized condom, it goes by Large, XLarge and XXLarge (wow, the things one learns at Marketing classes!).

Either that or my fats have finally reached where I have always longed for it to go.

Lazy Bliss

I have a stretch of 5 days due to the Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays. Had great plans of baking til the oven couldn't take it anymore, reading until my eyes watered, being on the computer at great lengths, watching South Park episodes until my speech becomes like Cartman (dammit!), paint at least one shopping mall red and just LAZE around. But there's only 5 days, dammit! Suddenly, there isn't enough time to do all that!

Oh, and perhaps tidy up my bags of clothes.

For the past month, I have been living out of bags. What with all that travelling, staying over in PJ, my home hasn't been a home. I've grown to despise packing, unpacking, packing and then finally unpacking. Thus, I have at least 3 bags on the floor with clothes I have used/packed during the last few stays.

Anyways, there's our trip to Melaka squeezed into this 5 days too. My sis-in-law is back from Perth and also KS's dog is living on the edge due to old age.

I'll start packing AFTER I've had my fill of blogging, clearing my bags, doing laundry...

Weekend at PD

My uni mates spent the weekend at Port Dickson and competed for these cups at the Go Kart there. My friend Z came up with the idea and tie the title of the Championship to our uni name, Waikato, and paint the cups. Alas, he was called to do some last minute work over the weekend so he couldn't join us.

Here are some photos of me and Andrew racing for the Runner Up Cup. I admit I used dirty tactics to get ahead of him, but I did so want the cup! Andrew unsuspectingly relaxed at the start of the race and within the first 5 seconds, I overtook him and never allowed him the chance to overtake me. =)


After the race, I and a few others, took a short trail on horseback. It took us to the beach but unfortunately, what spoilt it was that they had handlers holding on to the horse the entire time. Still, it was good to sit on a horse again after 6 years.


This place that we had all these activities was at Eagle Ranch. Great prices, only RM10 for 4 laps on the Go Kart, RM25 for the Horse Riding (short trail), RM10 for 15 arrows for archery, RM60 for 50 paint bullets for paint balling, amongst other facilities. Highly recommended for a place of weekend fun!

We stayed at Corus Hotel which had rooms facing the sea. This is what the view outside my window looked like:


Had a great time and had fun catching up with each other. One thing we learned from this trip is that, if you want to travel to any beaches in Malaysia, do it during fasting month. The beaches were EMPTY! It was simply splendid to walk around without tripping over running kids.


*Pictures are slightly blur due to the haze

Retro Friday

Had a great Friday night as my entire department went to Ikea for a buka puasa and celebrated someone's birthday. The spread was quite good for the price you pay, just RM16.70 per person. This is a buffet here in the Klang Valley and we're talking Ikea here. Highly recommended although it is better to go after 7:30 after the Malays have broken fast.

We then went to 1 Utama and played Daytona again and other arcade games. This time, boss wasn't too pleased as we ganged up against him and kept making him smash against the walls.

When I tell people about playing Daytona, they roll their eyes and exclaim people just don't play Daytona anymore. Ah well...we need to start looking for inexpensive group games which we girls can participate. Perhaps we'll look for internet cafès next. Any other suggestions aside Eric's idea of mud wrestling in underwear?

Fishballs

My colleague has a thing about checking out butts. She has checked out the butts of most guys on our floor and has cheerfully declared that the only one with nice buns are on the guy who looks like my Aunt. The one who is so rigid that every new person who comes into the office gasps in wonder when they find out he is married. He's certainly NOT what I would call handsome but if his buns are nice, well then, God is indeed fair.

Anyways, I was walking in front of my colleague on our way to lunch yesterday and she started sniggering with another colleague. Pointing to my rear end, she goes:

"We are looking at your butt! You have a nice butt. You know, like fishballs."

Suddenly, fishballs don't seem to appeal to me anymore.

Bubur Lambuk - Finally!

My colleague was kind enough to grab me a pack from THE original Kampung Baru Mosque Bubur Lambuk. It smelt absolutely delicious and by the time I got home to reheat it, I was really looking forward to having my first spoonful.

There were weird things in it which made each spoonful suspicious. Since I couldn't tell what they were, I spent a few moments sifting through each scoop. It smelt of sup kambing as I guess it used the same spices. Easy to digest, this is meant to be an easy meal to line the stomach after a day of fasting for the Malays.

However, I guess I was too eager and although it was nice, perhaps I hyped myself up too much and it tasted... just okay. I wouldn't mind having it again but I certainly got over my craziness in wanting to try it so much.

Okay, I can move on now.

Tight Corner

Couldn't resist putting up this photo of Dat Fella. Found her sitting amongst the brooms balanced against the wall one hot afternoon.

Why is it that cats like tight corners? She slept there that afternoon and I often find her in that spot thereafter.

And we're still not sure if she's pregnant. How long can a cat stay pregnant anyway?! Or we should just go get some deworming pills. And if she's not pregnant, could she be a he? Missing balls shouldn't be the only way to determine the sex of a cat.

Oh well.

Dentists' Bane

I hate flossing my teeth. The flossing tape would only come in handy when I have something stuck to my teeth and I don't want to brush my teeth when it is not the time for brushing teeth.

Anyways, here is my dental floss. Which I bought in Perth. In 2003.

Was introduced to this by Grace who asked me to buy it for her when I went there. It has the thinnest tape ever and doesn't really cause my gums to bleed should I yank it into tight spots. Unfortunately, it is only found in Australia.

So when my sis-in-law comes back next week, I'm gonna ask her to get my two packs. To last me another 10 years. By then, I would have had the chance to ask someone else to bring another pack back for me. Or I'd be wearing dentures and don't need floss anymore.

Strange Names

Along the way home in the bus, at about 4am, I awoke when we were about an hour away from Alor Star and took note of the signboards to determine where we were.

It struck me that some of the towns up north have really weird names and I have passed these towns countless of times on our journeys down south. Translated literally:

Kota Sarang Semut - Ant Nest District
Arang Batu - Charcoal
Gurun - Desert

And I used to think Malaysia did not have interesting names.

Alor Star Updates

Okay, this is specially for the benefit of jo-bloggs and Khor Ling, let me update you two on what's been happening to our friends from back home:

New parents:
Raily
Han Sen / Boon Lee
Alvin Tan / Ming Ai
Khoh / Jessie

Still single and available (any single girls out there, let me know if you're interested):
Kin Hup (didn't catch up with him, not sure what he's specialising in)
Shah (he's specialising in plastic surgery - "preferably breasts", he says)
Ngek (lost a lot of weight and looks really good)

Speaking of Ngek, he was extremely surprised that jo-bloggs just gave birth. What made him even more surprised was that Khor Ling also gave birth like 7 months ago. He never even knew you guys were preggers! Oh dear, our updates are not very frequent, is it?

Wedding in Alor Star

Just got home from a weekend at Alor Star. My friend, who happens to also be a neighbour, tied the knot last night and SO many old friends came back for it that the wedding dinner sort of turned out to be a reunion of sorts. People whom I have not seen in yonks were there. Ch'ng flew in from Hong Kong, Han Sen, Boon Lee (wife), Wong, Neoh (& wife) from Singapore and many more from KL amongst the usual suspects.

It was good to meet and catch up with some them. It was a night of revelation when we discovered those who had broken off with their partners, those who are already parents and that I felt like I was the only one who put on weight. One looked at me and said, "You're looking well!" and puffed up his face while indicating that I might be pregnant. Sigh. Don't worry, I didn't hit him.

The bride was resplendent and the groom showed his romantic side as he crooned songs to her. A funny moment was when he called all his buddies to come up stage to sing with him and amongst them was one of their fathers. And this dad was so cool, took the stage to sing a few more songs and thanked everyone for coming, as though he was the father of the bride or the MC. The two sons sitting at my table could only shake their head and cross their fingers that their dad would sing the correct song.

Which is when I found out one of my friends whose wedding I didn't attend, sang "I did it MY way!" at his wedding. Oh dear.

But overall, it was great to be home. We spent all day watching National Geographic. Now we're thinking of getting pay TV.

Psychic…

At work, we would often get complaints routed back to us whenever it involves our products. Sometimes, we get ridiculous ones like this:

Customer claims she is one of the winners of the XYZ special promotion. She is not very sure whether she won in May 2006 or June 2006. She has not been informed that she is one of the winners.

Well, obviously since she has NOT been informed, then how the heck does she know she is a winner?! Our customers are psychic!

Attempt

Last Friday, my colleagues and I attempted to hunt down THE shoe for me to wear to work with my no-longer-new office suit. We went to Mid Valley after work and looked at every shoe shop in that massive place - and came out empty handed.

Feeling disappointed that she didn't help me achieve my goal, I assured my colleague that this is normally how I shop anyway. I could walk for hours and not find it. Eric, my husband's best man and the guy whom I've been telling stories about in this blog, had walked into at least 15 shoe shops in Sungai Wang with KS and I looking for my wedding shoes. With aching feet and a disbelieving look, he gave the best eye-rolls ever when I explained I couldn't find ANY shoe that I liked.

Instead, I could be just at a mall to meet someone and happened to step into a shop and spot the one. Just that nowadays, I hardly step into malls anymore. That shall be my mission next week, to happen to step into a mall and happen to look at some shoe shops then. Eric, you free?

Step One

Last week or so, I chatted with my friend jo-bloggs a few days before she gave birth to her first child. Congrats, gal! Can't wait to see little Eliza! Her sms merely mentioned of a sore bottom when I would imagine mine will be filled with profanities from the pain experienced from giving birth!

However, I have finally come to the decision that being pregnant and giving birth ain't so bad after all. Many friends tell me epidural is God's mercy to women for the sins of Eve. Of course, the relief is different from one person to another and also depends whether you have a natural birth or caesarean.

Anyway, as I was revealing this to KS, he was delighted that I have taken at least one positive step toward inevitable motherhood. I did stop him short that I am NOT ready to be cleaning poo and changing nappies or taking care of a baby every single night for 2 years. That would be Step Two and hopefully I will overcome that in 2 years time "before my biological clock stops ticking", according to an aunt.

So then I casually asked KS how many kids he would like to have. He threw me a side glance and said, "Two?".

"YOU TRY TO GIVE BIRTH YOURSELF AND TAKE CARE OF TWO KIDS AT ONCE AND SEE IF YOU LIKE TWO KIDS OR NOT!!"

Oh well, at least there's an improvement. I'm just glad he didn't say more as our new car can fit 7.

Parting

You know when you have to start clearing your wardrobe to give away clothes you can never/will ever wear again? For me, I hate parting with my clothes, even though it's a really really torn t-shirt. I especially despise having to make an old shirt into a rag. Giving it to Grace or Jan is not a problem because then I know it's still in the family.

No, this entry is not about clothes. This morning we were supposed to go trade in the old car for the new one (the salesman called this morning to say he forgot to collect the keys from his boss so we can only get the car earliest tomorrow evening). Yes, although in my head, I keep reassuring myself that we have had so much problems with the car, with it's many breakdowns and expensive upkeep, I was really really sad last night. Sweeping the car with my fingers last night, a lump formed in my throat. This car is synonymous to KS. He's been driving it since he got back from NZ more than 8 years ago and it has taken us from North to South of Malaysia.

I feel as though we're trading in an old pet with a new puppy/kitten. Sorry ol pal, you're old and tired now, we don't want you anymore. Suddenly the car looks so woebegone, sitting quietly in the driveway in it's new polish which makes it's white paint gleam in despair.

The new car will look like the many thousands out there, with no special character to it yet. The old car is not as common as this new one, especially in white. How will it fit into our lives? Will it protect us as the old one has, will it bring us the joy we hope to find?

It's been quite funny actually. My parents have been anxious and excited about the arrival of this car. Dad has been sms-ing for two weeks now, asking when the car will arrive, if KS is getting someone else to do the paperwork, getting my Mum to call to ask how we were enjoying the car (even though it hasn't arrived) until even last night, asking when we are collecting the car. I get sms-es from Dad perhaps once or twice a fortnight or even lesser so it's funny to see so many sms-es from him. He is so excited about this car as he himself was longing to get one too.

Okay Dad, we'll give you a spin in the car when it arrives. Promise!