More Sketches for the Wall

As per my previous post, I mentioned that I wanted to do either 4 or 6 sketches for the bare terrace wall....Decided to just do 4 Sketches, as No.1 - A bit lazy liow, and No.2 - Don't think the wall is that big leh. After I put borders and frames over the sketches...it'll take up more space than as it looks now. Am thinking of white borders with either black or dark brown frames... Have attached the two new sketches. Nice or not?

Charles Dickens

S1 dressed up as Charles Dickens for school on Friday (27th April). He had completed a research project on a famous person, which was the famed author Charles Dickents. On this day, he had to walk around school pretending to be Charles Dickens..... Well, as I refused to buy a new suit just for this one-day thing, he had to wear one of his old suits that didn't fit too well. Also, with his oriental face, of course he doesn't look like Charles Dickens...more like some Ah Beng :-). He said alot of ppl asked him "who are you again??"

As you can see...Charles Dickens, S1 is NOT!!! KEKEKE...

FREE Dating Site...

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You guys must be wondering why would I be writing about a dating site! Nope. I am not dumping H...not yet anyway. Hahaha :-D

Anyway, I do have a very good girlfriend whom I've worked with eons ago. She's 38 and single. Being the busybody friend that I am, whenever I meet up with her, I would always query her to see if she's hooked up with anyone. Her answer was always the same - "don't have anyone". is she ugly? Is her personality bad? One would ask...but the answers to those questions are NO and NO. She's a cute petite lady. She's active (she had climbed Mt. Kinabalu and hiked in the Himalayas), funny, helpful. Why is she single? Well, tshe works 5 days a week till late and goes directly home after that. Weekends are spent with her sister and nephews. How on earth is she going to meet anyone? I am sure there are thousands of people out there in the same situation as my dear friend. The free dating services provided by JustSayHi.com could just be the answer to find the soul mate that's out there. Why wait? When this great site is 100% free??

Gila Daddy...

Boys as usual were up to no good at the dinner table last night. (BTW, made Carrot Soup, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Buttered Rice) .... Boys were walking about instead of sitting still to finish their dinner. Both H and I were already done... S2 was being his usual monkeying self that he had some food drop on the floor... So, H took out the cane from the kitchen and gave S2 a whack... so of course instantly sat properly to eat lah. .... While we were waiting for kids to finish, gila H suddenly said "You think anyone use the cane to whack themselves or not? You think pain or not?". I said "you try lah"... GILA H really went to do it... He whacked himself, stopped. Looked up to the ceiling "thinking", "feeling' and then said "yeah. Pain!". Of course the boys were laughing their socks off lah, as H was making a fool of himself. It's been a long time since H being silly... It was rather funny, I have to say. And then he did it again. Needless to say, the boys were laughing so much that it was a little bit difficult to eat properly.

Shiza! Am late again! - Updated

Starting to panic.... am three days late. And I am very punctual one!! Last month, when I was three days late, got excuse cause Feb only had 28 days.... This month... aiyo...abit takut as March was a month with 31 days! How? How? Am keeping my fingers crossed that it will come tomorrow!

Am such a lousy mother that I don't think that I should torture any more kids....

Update: Okay! It came today (Thursday)....have to say that I felt relieved. I mean a baby is cute and all, but realistically... don't think I can manage. Don't know if I sensitiveor what, but yesterday, H was like "heehee are you pregnant?" and this morning, he seems rather nonchalant when I told him my P came.... Maybe I read into things too much...

Scrapbooking Session..

Went to the ANZA (Australian New Zealand Association) for their weekly scrapbooking session to have a look-see and to be inspired! Have to say that I AM INSPIRED! But because am a BEGINNER, not gonna start using the boxed set that was given by my sis.. in case I destroy one sheet and then the whole set is incomplete. Will drop by in the Scrapbooking shop in town tomorrow to buy some individual sheet sets and start something simple. Was thinking of some of the pictures that I took of the boys in the first week of school. They were wearing their blue Batik Uniforms and playing in the garden.. SO, am gonna seek out some blue papers and blue embellishments!

Chandeliers for the Home

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Came across D'Legne Chandeliers while surfing the net this evening, checked out the site and found that they are offering hand polished crystal chandeliers for only USD 799.99. That's a steal! The chandeliers are European styled, and the reason why the price is so affordable is that they SELL direct to you. The middlemen is cut out of the equation! Their chandeliers are exquisite and looks really good hung either in the foyer or over the dining table etc... I would love to have one of these....

Think it's eczema...

As per my previous post on my cracked heel, I said that it was Athlete's foot..but have been doing abit of reading, and it's not. Athlete's foot concentrates around the toes. I don't think I've mentioned it but I've also had itches on my hands since about 4 weeks ago. Friends tell me that it's eczema.... and I've done some reading up too..and yeah..I think it's eczema.

Was gonna attempt a PPP post on the organic eczema cream but all the opportunities taken up already. Nevermind lah, still gonna write about "eczema".

The itchiness on my hands were really quite unbearable. Scratched until blisters form. I recall that I changed to using a new brand of soap 4 weeks ago... and that may be the cause of it. I've thrown the soap away, the itch has reduced but not disappeared.

As for my heel, I don't know the cause... I've tried all sorts of creams. Now, I'm trying to do a regime of exfoliate, cream and fresh aloe-vera. See it it works.

Maybe also getting old...starting to find that I am allergic to quite a number of stuff. Bought myself a tube of Japanese sweets on Sunday (gonna go watch TMNT with boys), after popping two in my mouth, felt that I was turning into Angelina Jolie leh....

And remember my hospitalization in Dec 2005? Allergic to fish?? or What? Dizziness, red as a lobster...including the eyeballs, shortness of breath.... cialatt!

Misc Foods

Sushi

Yesterday, I attempted to make sushi for the first time. Hee Hee ... The taste was alright, but as my H says "no presentation one"... S2 says "I prefer to eat in the restaurant"... My sushi roll sort of disintegrated into pieces and not hold its shape. My "Genki Sushi" style of salmon mayo also not like Genki Sushi's lah.. My california roll okay lah.. just roll into cone only ma.. Didn't take photo lah.. So malu :-)

Khaw Niew Mamuang

Or Mango Sticky Rice. Made that the other day. Have to say it was pretty good. Easy to make. The difficult part was to find SWEET mango. Not mango season now lah. Bought some from one supermarket. But the mangoes weren't even ripe, so had to go to another one to buy. Bought some "Bangkok Mangoes". Not that sweet either. My friend used to tell me that the good stuff, they keep IN Thailand and do not export! I think that's quite true. Always seem to get to eat SWEEEET mangoes all year round. Their pineapples are also mega sweet. I hate pomelos but Thai pomelos are yummy and I do eat them when I lived there...

Greek Food

Couldn't get these food photos in my earlier posts. So thought I'll include them here in my foodie post. ...The picture shows Greek Salad with big slab of Feta Cheese, Mussels Saganaki and Grilled Sardines...YUM YUM

New Baby..

There's a new baby in the family!! No lah! Not me lah. My sister has just given birth to her second baby yesterday. 3.5 kg BOY! Congratulations to you, SIS!!!

Yup! A second boy for her, a fifth grandSON for my parents! To date...5 grandSONS and ZERO granddaughters. When the first granddaughter comes, she will be a REAAAALLLL princess!! Will wait see which of my sisters gonna have the first granddaughter...definitely not from me ler... donwan liow.

Yup Yup...my generation, was girls girls girls.. this generation is boys boys boys wor...

Sketches for the Wall...

I bought these two lounge chairs from a Malaysian friend who has left for Doha, Qatar. Each one costs RM 200, which is quite a good deal lah. They are still in very good condition. Probably because she's not really sat on them, and basically just used them as a "clothes hanger". I've put them in the terrace. But as you can see the wall is very very bare.

At first, wanted to paint something..but decided to just do some black pen sketches, that I can have black borders, and a simple frame. Have picked "Angkor Wat Ruins" as the theme. Am thinking to do a series of either 4 or 6 sketches (depending on whether I am hardworking or not)...but so far have completed two. Nice or not?

Thai Ko Kar

Or Cracked Heel or Hiong Kong Kiok or Athlete's Foot or whatever names there are... I have this problem that doesn't seem to be going away. Started sometime last year... and now it's still not healed. It's only on my RIGHT heel though. The skin hardens and cracks reaaaaal badly. And my tangan also soooo itchy cannot stop peeling it. Peeeeeel until it bleeds. Peeling that time not pain wor....but sometimes at night, when the pieces of skin harden and brushes against my bed ar...so pain. Even wake me up from my slumber.

I wanted to post of a picture of my heel but thought better not lah, skali people lose their appetite for the rest of the month. It looks so bad that I don't dare to go have my pedicure leh. Even when I had my yoga the other day, was sure the instructor was looking at my Thai Ko Kar.
A friend said that it's bad circulation. But I have reflex and massages what. That should help right? But NOT wor. Another friend said that I'm deficient in some nutrient. But what nutrient? I've bought all sorts of cracked heel creams but maybe it's my itchy fingers that's the problem... I think I am also abit GILA liow. Psychologically thought that peeling off the hard skin will be good. Really realised that I have a problem when I used a blade to scrape and cut the skin off my heels. Of course cut my self lah! So many places some more. GILA or not???

Both H and boys are trying to help me NOT touch my heel by screaming and threatening... H the screaming...Boys the threatening.. Threaten me by saying "if you don't stop peeling, we are going to watch TV and play games the WHOLEEEE TIME!!"

I know I know..have to stop this nonsense with the peeling business.

Handicraft Fair

Err.. today not so good lah me. Went back to bed after sending boys off..cause so sleepy. Had a fight with H last night, so slept kinda late. Fight about what? Aiya...usual lah..."king-kai" that went haywire. Of course before we went to bed, want to "ngai" me back lah. But where can just switch off fire one??? I "mm choy hui" lah. So, in the morning of course still want to friend back lah.. I still "mm choy hui" and went back to bed. So, went he woke up for woke, I could feel that he gave me a peck on my cheek and mumbled something like "see you later". But of course I am ZZZZ-ing, I am not gonna wake up and "choi hui" what.

Anyway, woke up at 9.50 PM (errr..actually, my friend texted me) and then was out of the house by 10.15 AM. Got Handicraft Fair ma... wah... I salah besar, go and colour-coordinate my outfit wor, so wear my heeled wedges. Aiyo.. kaki so sakit. Really "oi leang mm moi meang" man. Some more the place was soooooooo BIG. There were loads of stuff...furniture, ornamental ceramics (statues, incense burners, basins etc), clothes, leather goods (shoes, bags, jackets, office table sets etc), baskets of all sorts, boxes of all sorts, artwork, assorted houseware, handicraft ...

What I bought?? Err...very pathetic. Only bought one very nice box (about RM 8) to dump the loose DVDs in our room; and an oil burner. That's it! Was looking at some Kebaya tops (about RM 120 for those nice embroidered ones. Malaysia how much ah? The lady said she used to supply to Endon's Batik project 3 years ago...) ...very nice, but thought that I will have no place to go in it, plus H probably will say "where got nice???" Also saw a nice tray that sits on foldable legs, but the one on display had goyang-goyang legs...otherwise would have bought at RM 48. Now come to think of it, should have bought a leather set for the office table. They have the mat, with the pencil holders and note holder etc.... And also maybe buy the soft leather magazine holder. I saw it in one of the Singapore Women's magazine... It's selling about RM 50. Think maybe I will go back again,...with more COMFY shoes! It's on till this Sunday (22nd April)...so maybe pop in to buy those things..

Honeymoon in LV - Updated

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The other day, S1 asked me..."Mom, do you know what LV stands for?" . Me - " Louis Vuitton?" Hee Hee :-) And of course he said "No! It's short for Las Vegas! Have you been to Las Vegas?"... Well, in fact, H and I had our honeymoon in Las Vegas....more than ten years ago! Have really good memories of our time in Las Vegas. It's a good place for a holiday. There's the theme parks, the famous captivating shows, the casinos, and it's a short hop to the Grand Canyon... cool, yeah? In fact, H was just commenting that now is the time to buy property in the States. Maybe I should get him to buy me a luxury holiday home in Las Vegas as our tenth wedding anniversary present??? Hey...we could rent it out during other times, and VOILA! It's an investment, and not wholly for my indulgence! Would be pretty cool...I should roll up my sleeves and research on Las Vegas real estate MLS listings now; and log onto www.millionsaver.com and *hint* *hint* *blink* *blink* to H.

Blogger Tag

Got tagged by Mommy of Two Angels.
Aiyo... I am terrible in the BlogSphere ...my answers are all crap and boring leh.

1) Who is the 1st blogger you meet?
Laundryamah lor. She was the one that urged me to start my blog so that friends and family can keep up with our nomadic life. And like Mommy of Two Angels indicated, known Laundryamah for the gazillion years......like 24 years?

2) Who is the ‘Most Wanted to Meet’ blogger for you?
Aiyo...don't know yet

3) Who is the ‘I could meet, want wanted to meet but somehow never got to meet’ blogger?
Again. Donno

4) Who are the group of bloggers you most wanted to meet?
I guess MOMMY group ler

5) Do you have bloggers/blog readers that you wish to meet right now?
MOMMY group lor

Need to tag other mommies? No need lah. Okay???

S1's Year 5 Residential Visit

S1 is going away on a 3 day/2 night trip next month (7 - 9 th May). It's going to be the first time that he will be away on an overnight trip without any family! I mean he has had sleepovers, but that's at a close friend's house and only for a night...but this is different. Think he is rather scared. He was like "err...can I not go?". But you know arr... I don't know who is more scared? Him or ME???? :-P

These angmoh schools basically want the kids to be independent... and they don't want parents to call them whatsoever (so mobile phones for the kids not allowed on the trip). If you don't allow your kid to go, the teacher will call and "mann-cheong mann-tuen" and then advise you to give consent. If you still have reservations, then they will get the Year Leader to talk to you. Wa... it's like a NO-NO if you don't give consent. (My Singaporean friend didn't give consent for daughter to go on her Residential, and she was like kena "samm-fann" like that. So when she finally gave her consent, she wanted to go along, and of course the answer was a BIG NO. She was like mega-kiasu that she wanted to go there herself to look-see but stay at arms-length kind. hehehe....).

He's gonna do historical tours like to the museum, to the docks etc. But don't pway-pway okay. The kids are staying in a 5-Star Hotel. Three to a room. So S1's already selected his two room mates. Both also angmoh-kia. But luckily these two boys' moms are quite stern and no-nonsense kind. So...quite good also lah.

(p/s S1 whispered into his father's ear over dinner..."I am going to learn about S-E-X next year. We have got to watch a show. My friend, T is very excited to see the show". HAHAHA...kids!)

Productive Monday!

Waa... have to say that yesterday (Monday) was very productive. After I sent the boys off on their school bus, I had my breakfast, did some weeding, updated my blog, and then I did go for my Astanga Yoga class. After the class, went to the nursery and bought 2 palms and some other ground plants. Went back, re-potted some of the plants and put some in the ground. Did more weeding, and then shifted my two lounge chairs to other end of the terrace. Showered, had some lunch, did about 6 Sudoku puzzles, had 20 minute power nap, then took boys to their mandarin class. Did some shopping, helped S2 with some reading, did more Sudoku. Good yeah??

Err...today ah.. after sending boys off at 6.45 AM, I sat on the terrace and did some black and white sketches of the Angkor Wat Ruins (from photographs lah...have not been there. Should! Any ladies interested to go?? Actually, should go to Borobudur first leh)..till about 11.30 AM. Dashed out to the Mexican Restaurant to have lunch with 3 friends...chatted till about 2.30 PM, then they came to my house for a coffee (or rather a tea) till about 4 PM.

Then H came back, and took the boys to the local SOS clinic...because got a note from the school nurse saying that S1's immunization is not up to date, and if I can't give written proof of the Tetanus and Polio Booster, he can't go to his residential visit (more about that later). But I remember in Malaysia, once the kids enter Primary School, we basically don't have to worry about immunization what. The Ministry of Health have school visits. RIGHT? Also I asked S1 and he said that he had jabs and some liquid drops when in Puay Chai. So had to go talk to the doctor lah. Anyway, doctor says no need then till he is 12. However, I remembered that S2 is due for all the booster jabs, and I would have to do it since we are no longer in the Sekolah Kebangsaan. But they gave him DTP, MMR and Polio. Say BCG no need wor. But I thought BCG must???? Wa.... S2 SCREEEEAAAMMM like siow man!!! Luckily H was there to HOLD him down. Really have to HOLD him down.. Don't think that I would have managed. Even the doctor turned away to laugh!!! Cause S2 was soooooooooo dramatic. You know him lah...

Remember my earring?? Aiyo, I dropped it again!!! I was like "OH SHIT!!" when I realised that it was gone, and in the clinic some more. Told H and I kena scolding as he said "You know that it is loose already. Some more you go and where it again. Shouldn't have worn it again!! blah blah blah". So, go look lor..in the consultation room. Cannot find. Was gonna give up. Then S1 heard that I've lost my earring again. So he went to look. He didn't find it, but seeing him looking at the floor prompt some nurses to look too. And luckily one of them found it. Si-peh lucky man. But cannot wear the earring liow..until I fix it. (P/s I gave my maid approx RM 40. She was surprised and I told her that it's for finding my earring. She was soooooo happy. )

Back on Schedule?

It's about 7.50 AM (local time) now.. So, I woke up at 6.00 AM this morning. Roused boys up from their slumber, sat with them through breakfast and sent them off onto their school bus. School bus was about 5 minutes early. Supposed to come at 6.51 but came at about 6.45 AM. As the Bus Mom (chaperone) was waiting for the boys, I apologised BUT she in turn apologised back saying that the bus was early.

Alot of people complained about the bus service, but again, I have to say that they are quite good. There was once that I was at school, and S1 decided to go home with me at 2.20 pm (he was scheduled to be on the 3.20 bus as he had basketball that day) as he was unwell. So I called up the School bus office to inform them that S1 will not be on the bus today. Immediately, the guy on the line said "What about S2? Will he be going back with you?". I was gobsmacked that they know S1 and S2 are siblings. I mean there are 600 kids that take the school bus everyday and yet they know the names of the kids. All of them??? GOSH! I will be in trouble if I work in there. I cannot even remember what I ate for dinner last night!

Anyway, after the boys left, I had my breakfast (coffee and toast) and then did some weeding in my garden. WOW!! I didn't go back to Bed! That's GOOD!! The gardener ... how should I say? Can't say he is horrible but yet... He comes 3 times a week for 3 hours each time, yet my garden is turning into a jungle. Is it that I need to supervise every single time? Be a hawk to "kapp" him when he works? There are weeds and such. I didn't finish weeding lah. Just did enough to leave a statement!

See if I am gonna keep my schedule and go for my Yoga class at 9.00 am!!

YAAYYYY!!! Earring is Found!

Actually, it's my maid, Y that found it. At least she didn't gasak it for herself. Reckoned it would have fetch the equivalent of a couple of her month's pay. So, she's quite honest, yah?

I was gonna write and complain about her "creativity" the other day. I've so far taught her three different ways to steam fish, i.e. the Teochew Style with the "hamm choy", the taucho style and the plain kicap style. But the other day, she somehow tried to be Kylie Kwong or whoever, and used ALL THREE styles on the same fish! Thankfully, it didn't taste yucky that we couldn't eat it. But did tell her to STICK to the way that I've taught her!

Anyway, this post is not about my maid grouses. It's to commend her on her positives.

No. 1 - She is still with me after 7 Months. In this country where maids come and go. This is a big Plus already.

No. 2 - She doesn't show me face when I scream at her, nor give me the dumb smile look like some of the previous maids that I've had.

No. 3 - She does have initiative to do things without being told.

No. 4 - She is quite "sik chou", in terms of sorting out boys and their school things

No. 5 - She is honest (so far...)

No. 6 - She is quite good in following instructions (although occasionally need some reminding)

Overall, have to say she is quite good. So, better just close ONE eye for other little things...which I do lah. I just tell her to do it lah.

BTW, I texted H about my FOUND earring, and he just called to say that I should reward the maid by giving her some money. I don't think I'll give her money lah...Maybe just buy her a gift as appreciation for her honesty. I know Laundryamah sure say "no need to treat maid so good!". Think she scolded me once when she found out that my Filipino maid (old maid back in Malaysia... ) has got a TV in her room :-)

Lazeeee Fortnight!

Wa...these two weeks have been ONE LAZEEE FORTNIGHT man... After my trip from Athens, I have been sleeping till 10 to 10.30 AM. I got a shock this morning, when I woke up and saw that it was already 10.30 AM...not long later, H called me and said that he's already arrived at the TeamBuilding site...which actually takes about 2 hours drive from here. Can you imagine? My H left early in the morning, and I still "mm chai". I seriously thought it was about 9 AM only leh.

Boys already have been having a BALL of a TIME lah. Wake up, watch TV, play their PS2 the whole day...until they become ZOMBIE... even if they weren't zombie-fied, their eyes must have popped out of their eyes.

Well.. Thank Goodness we will get back to some normal more decent schedule from tomorrow. YAY!!!! Boys go back to school!!!! So, starting tomorrow, I will have to get back to my normal routine of waking up at 6 AM. Tonight must sleep early liow.

As for boys, that also means going to bed at 8.30 PM, waking up at 6.10 AM. No more PS2 during weekdays. No more Gameboys during weekdays too. As for TV. Only about half an hour IF they behave well.