New Maid!!!

Well,… Got a new maid!! Will call her Maid-M. She’s gonna start on 1st Nov. But is in the house now (31st Oct) to tidy her own room… Have to say that I am a little weary as to whether she can clean the whole house… she looks a little plump. I actually asked her if she was pregnant. He he he… Apparently, worked for a Chinese family for a year before, and they have 3 maids altogether…and I asked her if the size of their house is similar to mine, and she said that it was smaller…one cook, one cleaner and one babysitter.. So ber-banyak, don’t you think??

Actually, I was talking to this lady the other day…she actually has four hired help in her house!! Three maids and one house boy... I was like wondering...what do they do??? Thought I overpaid my maids already...hers one more leh. Although she pay them about RM 200/- (I pay mine RM 24o/-), she provides rice, sanitary napkins and extra RM 60 per month for food. Some more they eat soooo much rice one. Cialatt. Cialatt....

Ashtanga YOGA

Went for my first Yoga class on Monday (31st Oct) after 4 months of stoppage. Waliow!! ‘A see a cheng’ man. Am aching like no tomorrow the next day. Very cialatt because No.1 – long time never do yoga. No.2 – I was the only person there, so the instructor’s attention was all on me. So, obviously was like correcting my postures and pushing my limbs and body to the max!! Realized that I have been cheating in my Yoga sessions at Fitness First for the last 1 ½ years..hee hee hee. You know lah…Fitness First got like 20 over people or more in each class with only one instructor, sure don’t really check your postures one lah… So, you tend to bend knee here and there abit to make it less strenuous…

Anyway, signed up for ten classes at this Yoga place that is situated in a trendy boutique hotel. Price is okay, I thought.. about RM 370 for ten classes, that’s valid for 6 months. Can drop by whatever days I like. The yoga studio overlooks the pool and the city’s skyline. So quite nice, I have to say… It’s also got a spa! After Yoga, maybe can go for a nice body massage to ease all the muscle aches!! J Saw that they had some Body Package (scrub, massage, and two more thingy..can’t remember for RM 120 nett!!) Did check out the spa rooms, of course… very nice contemporary style. Will definitely go there after my yoga class one of these days…

Overall, was a good session…sweat so much…like huge BIG droplets over my eyes… I was like wiping and wiping…and the yoga instructor said that in Ashtanga Yoga, you are not supposed to wipe off the sweat because it then allows all your toxins to flow out…. Ooooohhhhh… “swa koo” from KL. And,… after the class, she did this OOOHHHMMMMM thing that’s supposed to be sound of universe in Sanskrit or something like that… Ooooooohhhhh… “swa koo” form KL again… Hee hee hee….

Kids these Days....

Kids these days are more techno-savvy than us man!! My 6 year old just ask me for a mobile phone so that he can DOWNLOAD games and music! Alamak!! I certainly don’t do downloads on my mobile phone. Neither does H. So, must be influence from school??!?? Also, he has been asking the father for a PDA… I was like asking S2 sarcastically “you know what is PDA, meh.. thinking that he doesn’t know what it is. And he said “of course! So that when I have parties to go to, I can just input the dates into my PDA” some more show me the ‘input’ action with those digital pen.

S1 also talking about iPODs and such… Aiyo….Aiyoyo. If I don’t stop H, he WILL indulge the boys with these gadgets. H was like asking me to give my iPOD (which I have yet to configure) to S1. I was like “NO WAY!”… As it is, we’ve given S1 one of H’s old phones, i.e. the Nokia N-Gage. But I can’t seem to find the game cartridges and now S1 is complaining that he wants a NEW phone!!! These kids!!! No. I’ve not allowed S1 to take the phone to school with him. He’s so irresponsible with stuff. Sure will lose it one. As it is, he’s lost his school’s name tag twice. It’s like no big deal, but the name tag is also a swipe card that allows the kid to purchase food and drinks at the tuckshop and cafeteria. I had the statement printed out the other day, and S1 was like I didn’t buy this and this and this. I was like “huh?? You see lah!! Lose you card and now I am feeding other people’s children???” Some more the food at the school so mahal some more. *sigh* How do you instill responsibility and accountability to kids these days????

Broadband Kaput Again...

The broadband here damn lau-yah lah. Every few weeks, must go kaput one. Feel so restless without the internet for the last 4 days....especially today. Don't know why leh.

Maid-A is Getting Married!!!!

Heard from Maid-Y today that Maid-A is getting married! You guys sure say "get married ma get married lor. What's the big deal?"..well, she is getting married to my Air Con Servicing guy whom she met less than a month ago.. Maid-Y told me that actually it is waaaaaay less than one month, think about 2 weeks only. Gila lah these ppl.

Maid-A

Maid-A has gone AWOL...

She left on Saturday (21st Oct) night, and told me that she would return on Tuesday (24th) night. She didn't. And still not back nor called. Maid-Y told me that her stuff has all been cleared from the room. Anyway, I told Maid-Y to move into her room if she wants to (Maid-A has a bigger room cause she started work first so had chosen the bigger room earlier).

Actually, before she left, I already knew that she might not return..cause her uncle (my driver) already warned me. He told me that she is no good, and that I should get rid of her as he didn't want his name tarnished as it was he who brought her to our house. He told me that she goes out at night to talk to her boyfriend at night and that he has told the guards to lock her out if she does it again. Also told me that she tells the guards, him and Maid-Y different stories etc etc. So, we actually kept our more valuable stuff in the safe before her departure, in case she decides to take anything, and didn't give her the full month's pay. Didn't give her angpow also. But you know lah, what we deem as not valuable (so thus not kept in safe) may be deemed valuable to them. So, even if she did take some stuff, I also would not really know ler...

Anyway, this is very very common here. The maids go off during the festive season and never to return. H's customer was telling him that he had tried all sorts...money, leave, gifts etc etc to entice them to return after the festive holidays, but they never do. When I told H this morning, that the maid didn't return, he giggled and said that he will text his customer with "you are right. we just lost one..." Oh well.. Just maids anyway. Btw, Maid-A is the one that I see always taking afternoon naps.

So far, Maid-Y has been okay..other than the bedsheet incident. She somehow has more initiative. H notices too. Even when she rests, she keeps her room door open so that she could still respond when I call or when she hears the car come home. The other one, i.e. Maid-A don't bother one...really have to call and call. Well,..Maid-Y is going on her "festive" leave on Tuesday (1st Nov) for a week... we'll see if she will be a returnee or another AWOL person... :-)

H...

Thought I would post a little bit about H.

Have to say that he was kinda sweet... when we went out shopping on Tuesday, I saw a dress at Next. It was kinda nice. I looked at the price tag and saw that it was about RM 340. Thought it was kinda expensive (you know me lah... where got buy things not on sale one...??) It was the right size some more.. Then H said "go try it on lah". So, I tried it on for fun lah... and it fits nicely. Then he said "It fits you! You look good. You have the bod for it! Get it". So...I got a new dress lor...

And yesterday, at the hospital... he was quite concerned about me. Kept asking if I was okay. He asked "do you want me to stay back and not fly?" Of course, I said "no need. Go. I am okay". He was like "These things you got to tell me one, okay. Don't like ask me to go, and then inside your heart says 'if he loves me, he will stay that kind of stuff'". I still said "no. it's okay. go"... then he went off to make more calls.. My friend was there, and I was kinda teary-eyed and told her "aiya..of course I want him to stay, right? Why he so stupid one leh. But I am not that kind of woman who will tell her man to stay and not go work".. Then she said "at least, yours touched you and constantly ask you if you are okay! When I fell and mouth bleeding, mine just stood there and ask if I am okay. Didn't even come hug or touch me to reassure me"... So there you go for "moak-tow" men??!!?? But H came back after making those calls and said that he has cancelled his trip, and that his boss will go to Frankfurt alone first, and revert with instructions the following day... Guessed, he is not so "moak-tow" after all.

Hope this incident has not caused any problems to his work...

Horrible horrible day today... Accident

It has been a horrible horrible day today. I had an accident which involved a motorcyclist.

*sigh*... I got my local driving licence last week, and as this week was Hari Raya, the driver is off and there are less cars on the road. So, I drove out of the house with both H and a friend. I was only about 100 metres from the house, and was turning right from a traffic junction, and some reckless motorcycle just zoomed right in front of me. He was so quick that I didn't even see him come at all. I kept on thinking whether there was any way I could have avoided, and the answer was No. There were two motorcycles waiting at the light with me, and H was telling me "Be careful of the guy in front. He might swerve in front of you" and so I was extra careful...waited for my light to turn green, let those two guys go forward, saw that the cars on the right stopped at the red light. And out of the blue, this guy just appeared right in front of my car. He was going against the red light on his side and was going rather fast. I slammed into him lah.

*sigh* Spent the whole day shuttling between the hospital and police station. We offered to pay the hospital bills but not the repair of his bike. The repair may not be much but it's a matter of principles. I don't want to pay for everything as it might be seen that I am in the wrong. I am very confident to say that I was not in the wrong at all. The long wait was because we had to wait for the surgeon to come to see if he needed any operation as they suspected trauma in the chest. Thankfully, it was not required. The guy is admitted for observation for three days. Hopefull there are no adverse changes in his conditions. Although not my fault, also don't want to have my conscience lingering over me about this.

You can be so careful and yet there would always be stupid people around who just doesn't care about their lives. Found out that the guy did not have driving licence and was also involved in an accident last June with his son whereby son broke his leg which took 8 months to recover. And as we were leaving the hospital, saw that the guy peeling off his own bandages, and the orderly had to stop him. These people so tidak apa. And the policeman also want to makan duit only.

*sigh* In the morning, they retained my driving licence and car registration card and a policeman told us that we have to talk to the family first etc etc, and if can settle amongst ourselves and not go through the whole legal process, then we should sign a "statement" to agree settlement, and then I could get back my documents. But when all these were done, the policeman who attended to us earlier was not there, and it was another guy and he was very "wishy washy" and did not want to return our documents (the guy's wife was also there with us, and his registration was also retained by the police) and he outright told H's colleague (a local whom we got to help with communication with the family and police) that he wanted ~ RM 200 (equivalent) and I told her that I've paid some bills and don't have that amount, only about ~ RM 120. I spoke in English, and i guessed he understood. But she told him Only ~ RM 40 and told me to give him ~ RM 40 and I did. And he said "No. ~ RM 120 (equiv)". So I took another ~ RM 40 and started counting my tens and twenties to make up another ~ RM 40 equiv, and that was when the lady (the wife of the guy) started to kick and pinch me to stop over-paying the policeman. And H's colleague was also shaking her head,....so I kept back my tens and twenties... The police then accepted the ~ RM 80 and then proceeded to give back all our documetns. *sigh*...

Anyway, H was supposed to be on a flight to Frankfurt tonight.. actually was taking him to the office, whereby he would take a cab from the office... but thankfully, he was thoughtful enough to cancel his trip to be with me. I was a little bit shaken this morning, but am feeling better now. I know that it couldn't be avoided. At least it was I who was driving and not H, as he didn't have any licence here (his Malaysian one expired yonks ago). So..don't think will ever drive in this country again...

So, as H's trip was cancelled, we went to his colleagues Hari Raya open house. We took a cab and right at the same spot, our light was green and another motorcycle just dashed through his red light and whizzed passed us. It's another accident waiting to happen! !

I was a little shaken this morning, and am better now. The scary thing was that I did have premonitions that I would slam into a motorcyclist one day...these thoughts were when I was still living in Malaysia... Scary scary.. Anyway, not gonna think about it. It's not my fault.

Mad with Maid Again....

Will I ever stop from getting mad at the maids???

First..I saw that my toilet bowl was not scrubbed.... It was all splashed with water and so all wet but you could still see a speck of sh!t in the toilet bowl (either H's or mine or whoever, don't care lah..but it was there). Close one eye and scrubbed it myself....with the toilet brush lah of course. Was gonna let it go and not mention it. Just need to show the maids how to wash properly after the Raya holidays. Why after? Because they may not come back after the holidays ma...

Then, I was actually all dressed up nicely...going out already. Then don't know why, I walked out the service entrance upstairs (maids use this to enter the 1st floor of the house) and there I see the boys' bedsheets hanging side by side with the maid's. I instintively knew the maid mixed hers with the boys in the washing machine. Of course I screamed for her lah. Asked her if she mixed her sheets with the boys and she said YES. Wahh...I went ballistic already. Why the hell I buy so many thousand pails for? If she doesn't want to mix her clothes with the other maid's, why the hell did she mix her stuff with my sons?? I was really really so mad. I stood there barraging the two maids. Of course brought up the toilet bowl being unclean lah. Told them that I have certain quality standards, and already I close one eye on many things already, BUT there are some things that I just cannot tolerate. And that is mixing clothes all over the place. I think I went on for more than 15 minutes. Told them that if they think adhering to my rules and standards is too difficult, then they can leave.

Am soooo fed-up. I am trying to let go and not think about the stupid sheets, but the thought of her sheets being washed with my sons' is kinda geli lah. Don't know got period or not some more. And yes. I told her that only her husband wants to be in touch with her bodily fluids and we are NOT her husband. Bloody hell man.. Even I don't mix my stuff with my sons! The nerve of them..

Will probably ask them to re-wash the sheets. Geez...

My New Shoes....

Here are photos of my new shoes...the pair that I bought last Thursday (12th Oct). Nice or not? H says it's not nice. Says it looks like "Ah Lian" wor... Got meh? Then he said "What happened to your taste these days?? You look so chic with your Mikimotos and then you go and wear this!". Really ar? Ugly meh? Give me some comments....

Boo Hoo Hoo...

My beautiful orchids are starting to wilt. One by one, I see the flowers getting lembik. *sigh* good thing I took photos already. I don't know whether it is because that it is time for the flowers to wilt or is it the maid watered too much or too little? Don't know leh.. The guys (who sold the orchids) told me that they would last for a month. I guessed it must be some sales bullshit.

Anyway, weekend has been lazy lazy lazy. Yesterday, took boys to their swimming lessons at school, and then we went for lunch at a place called Penang House, I think. H had a Penang Prawn Mee and a Penang Char Kway Teow. Have to say they are not bad!! I had a fish head beehoon....also not bad ler.. Then we went off to buy some dvds to watch. Dropped the boys back and went out to the supermarket. Made lasagne for dinner, and then some smoothies...

Today... "pou" dvd, and then went out to the mall for a short period, as H wanted to have his hair cut.. then we came back home. Watched more dvds. Damn cialatt... weekend is really rotting and growing worms!

Laaaazzzzyyy Day

S2 had a fever which started yesterday. I was out at the craft fair with some ladies, and I called home and S1 told me that the brother had a fever. So, S2 did not go to school this morning. Thankfully, he was okay by this morning... but I kept him home just in case.

Had a massage lady come to the house ... I slept while she worked on me, and after that, I spent some time with S2 while he watched TV...and I slept again. Then woke up to make lunch for S2 (yes..I made lunch. Don't think the maids know how to make yet). We ate, and then both of us slept this time. Slept until S1 came back from school and woke us up.

Did some homework with S2, while S1 was writing or rather copying stuff from Pirates of the Caribbean. Really into Pirates stuff. He's got some Pirates Code and Drawings all stuck on his room door, and poster of Jack Sparrow too in his room. Anyway, maids were fiddling in the kitchen trying to make a simple pasta dinner, and then the LPG gas cylinder ran out of gas, so got the security guard to bring the cylinder from the maids' quarters to fix to my kitchen, but something wrong with the thingy (don't know what you call it) and gas was leaking out from the top. So, what to do?? Told them no need to cook lor. Took the boys out to dinner instead. Would be a real lazy day if not for the LPG cylinder. I would have been glued to one bed or another...

Nothing much ler..nothing much from the Craft fair. Bought some butterflies (fake one lah) to stick onto my house plants, a door stopper, a textile carved wooden hanger and a pair of shoes... H saw my shoe and thought it was UGLY and very Ah Lian. I thought it looked kinda nice. Will take a pic tomorrow to show you guys..

Night night...

Beeeaaauuuutiful Orchids....

Thought that I should take pictures of my beautiful orchids before they die on me. Bought these on Tuesday (10th October)......In the morning, I went to buy the "blue/white" chinese

(reproduction lah, of course) bowl and then went to the orchid vendor to fill it up eith 6 pots of orchid into the bowl. Nice, huh?? Soooooo beeeeaaauuutiful.

The orchid guy said that it should last about a month, thereafter, I must chop off the stalk, move it out of the house, and then give it some liquid fertilizer... then it's waiting time for the next season of growth. Have to say again.. sooooo beautiful!!!
Also said not to water it since the bowl has no opening for extra water to flow out. So, it's a spray of water on the leaves every 2 days. Gave the instructions to the maids already. Hopefully, they don't kill my orchids prematurely. 6 pots of orchids costs about RM 70/-. Made the orchid guy give free arang batu.

As for the reproduction bowl... actually prefer reproduction. Don't really fancy antiques.
No.1 Don't know how to appreciate OLD OLD stuff.
No.2 Cost a huge bomb. Pay the extra $$$$ for worn and tattered stuff? For what??
No.3 Cannot tell REAL Antiques from Reproduction. Skali kena con.

Driver took me to a place where there were a row of antique stalls. Saw a "blue/white" plate and the fella wanted RM 800 for the plate. SIOW!!! My reproduction bowl so nice and only RM 60.

Gosh... some guy just called me house and actually asked "MJ?" (House address lah) and I said "Yes". And he said "F&#k You!". I wonder who could that be. Could be the gardener? Maid-Y's husband?? AquaMan?? Don't know lah...

Am going out to a Craft Fair with some friends later this morning. Will see what goodies I can find. Will take pictures and update later.

Drought...

There is actually a drought here... Rain was supposed to come 1 1/2 months ago.... and it is still no where in sight. I've moved to the new house 1st Sept and I have yet to experience rain over here. As a result, my garden is like mega dry. Ground is like soooo dry that it is cracking. Grass is dying.. Mmm.. Think gardener and maid not doing job of watering the plants???

Also, it's soooo dry that it is also creating some problem with the swimming pool. Water evaporated and there is no replenishment from the rain. And stupid pool man emptied
the whole tangki into the swimming pool and left us with ZERO water. Of course cannot right? I mean the tangki is so small compared to the bloody swimming pool. I had to use some of my engineering skills to try to sort out the valving and such. Had to close off my pressure pump and activate the groundwater pump to fill up the tangki.. Realised that my water comes from the ground......GOD knows what shit is in the water.. but cannot exactly use bottled water to brush teeth too, right?

Anyway, hope rain comes soon.....not a whole lot but enough to fill up my swimming pool, give my plants and grass some nourishment and hydration, elevate the groundwater levels.. Come at night...very nice to sleep. :-)

Haaaaaazzzeee...

Haze that is!!! Everyone inMalaysia that I've come in contact with (via yahoo and msn messenger, via telephone) has asked me the same question "Is there haze over at your side??" Well the answer is NO. It's bright clear sunshine over here....Can even see buildings that are located in the CBD area from the South of town... Really very very clear.. Had coffee with H yesterday evening in the Golf Course, while waiting for boys to finish their Mandarin Classes...sat in the clubhouse that is slightly elevated. So it was breezy and kinda nice. Really could see miles and miles away ....

Later... got to go get ready.. Want to go and buy some pots for my houseplants...

Broadband out of Action...

Have not posted for a few days...almost a week actually ...due to the broadband in our area being maintained or repaired or whatever. Bottom line was there was no connection. Called the fellas at the service provider to inquire....at least they were helpful and knew what was going on and not the regular passing me from one dept to another... They even offered to come over to the house to check the line if it still doesn't work the next day...

Anyway, broadband back into action late Sunday (8th Oct) evening...

It is Tuesday, 10th Oct today...

Some updates...4th October

Nothing much happening lah... other than normal grouses from hired help...

It's Wednesday, 4th October today. Decided to stay put at home. "Lann Kai" whole day yesterday already....so obviously maid also take a day off when I was not around. How I know?? S2 had punched out some "flower-shaped" paper and there were some on the stairs on Monday evening,... and yesterday (Tuesday evening) I saw those flowers still on the floor. H said to warn the maid (ie Maid-A) and get rid of her if she doesn't want to work. But I decided to wait till today and see if those flowers are still there. Haven't checked... But you know hor...today I am IN the house, I see Maid-A mopping the terrace now... Otherwise sure.."thau lann" again.

The other day, H said "these two maids , not very smart is it?" ..he was away for 3 nights and when he came back, he was coughing so did not smoke (yup..still has not quit his smoking yet)... and the cigarette butts were still in the ash-tray after 4 days. They don't know how to empty it one leh...if you don't tell them. It's like everyday also must remind them to do certain thing.

This morning, S2 didn't drink his breakfast milk, so I told Maid-Y to keep it and I will drink it later..and she said YES. When I came back for the milk, she said that she threw it liow. Alamak!!!!

And...the gardener decided to NOT come to work today!! Think he doesn't want to work, I also don't want to employ replacement. Maids are soooo free, can ask them to do the garden as well... Otherwise, what do they do in the afternoons?? Tidur lah.....zzzzzzzzzzz

Boys... boys ponteng last Friday...need to go do our Residence permit and visas... and my god, not only they need our thumb-print, actually all TEN fingers and thumbs were required. Cialatt or not, you say?? Friend joked that she was surprised that they didn't require our toe prints!!! Ha hahaha...

Saturday? NOthing much ler..boys went for their swimming lessons at their school, which we have to pay extra lah, of course.. met some new Malaysian ladies...

Sunday?? Went to the market with some other ladies... over-bought food and fruits as usual.....

Monday? Cannot remember what I did lah.. on Monday.. Oh yeah.. H was ill so did not go to work.. So ended up watching telly the whole day ...up until about 4 pm, when I had to dash off to take boys to their mandarin class....

Tuesday..went out brunch and then exhibition with a friend. Supposed to be a textile exhibition, but ended liow..so instead, attended the furniture exhibition..okay ler.. on the way back, was really really jammed up. So instead of going home and then sending driver back out to pick H from the office again, I ended up picking H up...

Wednesday...well, today...is a veg-out day in the house for me... Maids must be hating me for staying at home!!! Ha haha..

Thursday, tomorrow...probably have to go to boys' school to help out in their reading sessions...this one is for S1. S2's is next Wednesday...

Until next time...cheerio...

:-)