Botanist I am not..

..but I do love taking photographs.

Photographing nature's beauty can sometimes be self-therapeutic. I have never appreciated nature this much until I have taken up photography.


Ladybird..

This ladybird had been spotted struggling to find its way home. A few seconds after I have taken this photo, LO frantically stomped on the poor bug citing "yeah, yeah, yeah". I was too late.


Unknown flower...


Another unknown species..

These flowers were merely the size of a £2 coin (50 sen?). Some are so tiny that you have to look hard to notice them. Most often they got stepped on rather than being appreciated or got picked. I have taken these flowers home for flower pressing.


Dandellion..

I think it must have been my first time looking at a full-bred dandellion, on its stem, ready to get blown or dispersed.


Yellow bells...

These are tiny. A version of bluebells but a whole lot tinier and of course yellow in colour.


Fern..

I love the colour combination this fern has. Red and green. Just lovely.

A peek to a Car Boot Sale

A natural way to rid off junks..

It is ironic how much people want what you no longer want and vice versa.... and how much your junk come a value to other people.

This morning we went to a car boot sale in Farnborough. It was quite huge. I was expecting the event on a large green field in the outskirts, like the ones they have in Fair Oak and Burlesdon, but I was wrong. It was held in a 2-floors car park area, in the middle of the city. In case you never had an idea how a car boot sale in UK looks like, here you are.

You can find all sorts of junks, unwanted belongings sold at very low prices..as low as 10p (a mere RM0.70). Toys, TV, video games, PS2, china, porcelain, clothings, bikes..you name it all. I would usually walk by every car boot and note in mind the things that I need or want and scout for the same item at every stop. I will only make purchases once I am satisfied with the bargain and of course with the condition of the items.

All sorts.

We had spotted a gramophone with a nice mahogany-like wooden base and solid brass cone (whatever they call the top part). When I first saw it, I fell in love with it. It was on sale at 120 quid, a price that is a whole lot cheaper than that if it were to be auctioned on e-bay (300 quid), well according to the mediterranean owner. Unortunately, we just couldn't afford it. :(

Notice the lady in the corner groping her man's butt?

We didn't buy much, only a couple of Adams denim jeans, dungarees (which are still bright in colour, and looks fairly new) and a hot pink Raleigh bike helmet for LO. Err.. and a small toy house. All for 4 quids. Not bad huh?

It was a nice outing in all. Especially for LO, for she has become accustomed to the routine of eating an ice cream at the end of it all. (Just so you know, it is a norm to see one or two mobile ice-cream parlour at the exit/entrance of every car boot sale) .

Imbecility is the word..

Two days ago, over an afternoon coffee, we sat down around the dinner table.

DH and I listened to few interesting stories that Z had for us to listen to regarding his brief holiday. Apart from stories regarding M'sian weather, food, traffic, etc, we finally had the opportunity to listen to this rather true, ironic and funny story.

It was a story regarding income tax, to be precise, the L-H-D-N people. I have not been working in Malaysia myself so I'll try to convey the story as close as to my possible understanding, so if I get certain hard facts wrong pertaining tax routine back home, I do apologise.

Ok it goes this way.

An elderly lady had been receiving letter upon letter chasing for payments from the income tax people (adressed to her husband who had long passed away) . Irritatingly but politely of course, this elderly lady acknowledged them that her husband had passed away years ago and pointed out that the claim over payment is ridiculous.

Yes, you may shake your head in disbelief, the letters kept coming and every time in response, the poor lady never missed telling them in writing or by phone that her husband is no longer to the existence of this world. But all were to no avail. Each year, same letter arrived asking for payments. Finally ( yes, after receiving yet another most recent of similar letter ) she thought that she had had enough and knew that it's time to call for desperate measures. Exasperated by it all, she wrote a 'nice' letter (to the L-H-D-N) which read something* like this ...



" Jikalau pihak L-H-D-N masih mahu menghantar surat tuntut bayaran daripada suami saya yang bernama **** (yang telah pun meninggal dunia 5 tahun yg lalu) pada masa hadapan, usah alamatkan ke alamat ini tetapi silalah alamatkan kepada:-

Arwah ****(suami saya)
Tanah Wakaf Perkuburan *****
*****, Melaka

Segala surat-menyurat di alamat ini tidak akan dilayan.

Sekian Terima Kasih"




I laughed hard listening to this story but my greateast sympathy is to the poor lady.

Talking about government bodies...
Who do we blame? Would you blame the attitude called ignorance?
Or simply conclude total inefficiency? Or imbecility?
Or all of them?

Digest.

Have a nice day..ahead!

*to my best attempt, the content of the letter is 95%, a re-qoute from Z's story and 5% is to my best exploitation in order to convey the story as placid as possible.

Kampong life in Svizerra

What the....??? Ohh... cows' parade

This is my Mummy

LO's artwork....sehr gut ja?

This is an overly imaginated piece of work by LO.

If you may ask, no I haven't got round eyes and neither my other eye is way smaller than the other. In fact, my eyes are the opposite and my friends had once likened me to Eyore from Winnie the Pooh, due to the similarity they find regarding the eyes. Droopy they are. I had once been humiliatedly accused for being sleepy and dozing off in science class when in fact I wasn't. (I was lucky enough not to get my lab reports thrown out of the class like the others who had been sleepy.Phew!)

And no, my nose is not crooked and my lips are not thin.

Nonetheless this is one priced art I'm going to treasure for the rest of my life!

Let's time travel

How would you like the idea of time travelling? It would be interesting wouldn't it? There are times when we go "Heck, I wish I had done that or this" or "I wish I could have turned back time" and scrutinously, time travelling seems like a brilliant idea. Sure it does.

Imagine this. To actually be able to go back into the past and revisit your relatives or closed ones who have now long passed away.

Or travel into the future and buy lottery ticket and strike lucky for once and for all. Or change the course of the direction of your life with something remedial, something that promises better outcome.

How would it be like? If everyone in this world is able to do just that? Well, I think, it'll be chaos. Real chaos. But there is no harm in dreaming about it, right?

If I could time travel,

• like to spend more time with my grandfathers (paternal and maternal) and get to know them more.
• study harder and score 10 or 12 or maybe 17 A1 in SPM and get to pursue whichever course I want at no hassle. (Because sponsors can be very selective!)
• like to watch myself at the visited time and place, giving birth to my beautiful baby daughter. (I was too sedated by epidural to enjoy and remember it all)
• relive my best childhood moments.
• invest into most promising stocks and shares; and get rich out of it all and start up funds for the poor and orphans at the budding age of 20. (If only I am super duper rich, I'd spend my whole time and money helping the needy.)

..and the list goes on...

So what would your list be like?

p/s: Am reading The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The appetiser that will make you drool...

Today we had skate wings masak asam pedas with Som Tam for dinner. I thought it'll be a good idea to share you the recipe in my blog today, well Som Tam that is, because not many people know how to prepare it. I fell in love with Som Tam the first time during an evening meal at an Indonesian stall called Matahari in Berne, Switzerland. Thanks to DH who was once a frequent, (had noted the ingredients) and who had taught me how to prepare it.

Recipe for Som Tam Thai Salad

• half portion of a small young papaya (finely cut - mayang)
• half portion of a medium sized young mango (finely cut - mayang)
• long beans/ fine beans (straight cut - 2 to 3 cm)
• roasted peanut (coarsely ground)
• fish sauce
• dried shrimps (5-10 grams)
• lime juice
• 4-5 x bird's eye chilli (finely cut)

Mix papaya, beans, chilli and mango into a bowl. Add about 2 teaspoonful of fish sauce, ground dried shrimps and lime juice. Give it a good stir or shake or whatever you need to do to get it all nicely mixed. Last, sprinkle ground peanuts ontop and voila! Good Som Tam must not be too watery or too dry.

Great if you are sick of frying your dishes. This is fresh and makes a good appetizer or side dish. There is a balance taste of sweet and tangy, besides being slightly hot (you could opt out the chillis if you can't take it hot) and crunchy.

Tak cuba tak tahu...

It's not too bad after all..

MapleDurham House

We were all set for an afternoon walk alongside River Thames, at Reading on Sunday. I had even brought a rug for us to enjoy sitting down on the greens and reading novels. Unfortunately it drizzled and drizzled. There has been a need to change to Plan B : Sipping hot coffee at the Oracle. There wasn't much to do in the outdoor world, really. Especially when it's Sunday and the clock read almost half past 4. And the course of our drive has somewhat lead us out of the city, an onto an A road leading to an unknown destination. Boy, I blamed the one-way traffic. As we drove along the A road, far ahead we had seen a sign in brown. In the UK, a sign in brown locates you to various interesting places such as castles, seashores, historical venues, stately homes, etc (any places that would promise a good outing).

It reads "MapleDurham House and Watermill"

As we have always been driven by impulse, I proposed DH to let's-have-a-look. We have always been fond of historical places and stately homes, anyway so to drive up to the place and inspect seemed like that's nothing to loose. BTW, LO is really fond of castles too. This one would not be any different.

Turned left into a narrow road, leading to a beautiful scenery with good view of the woods and country-style boarding schools. Although it was drizzling tiny drops, the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, something I would miss about leaving UK. Its scenes of nature. If it wasn't for the drops on the windshield, I would probably have snapped a few photos myself. A good token for reminiscing 3-4 years down the road.

After driving past a few numbers of large farming lands, cottages and meadows, we finally arrived to MapleDurham House and we were the last visitors to be given entrance just before closure. LO was so excited that she hopped and said out loud,

"It's cassel , mummy look! I like it !!"
*pointing out to the huge building ahead of us*

I do not want to bore you the details, but it was worthwhile, considering that they accept last entrees at 5pm.

The building was purchased by Richard Blount in the 17th century and whom had refined and extended it over a span of 20 years. According to the guide, he has royal blood although I wasn't sure to which descendant (their websites says of Normandy and someone in line was a companion to William the Conqueror) , I am not usually into intricate details anyway. However, what fascinated me was that the Blounts had and always have been residing in the house from then up to this present day (current owner has the surname Eayston because his great-grandmother who had heired the property lost her surname by marriage to an Eayston). Oh yes, one Blount historically got famous for being killed by his own sentry during the Civil War.

We weren't allowed to snap photos of the indoor, but suffice to say it was impressive (you could however have a look at its flight of stairs at www.mapledurham.co.uk/history.htm). Some parts of the house have been preserved, including personal belongings and furnitures. In the stately room there lies a big steel chest which looked really worn off, used by one of its descendant during expeditions around the world. There were steel nails strutted ontop, forming the year '1752'. The clasps rusted well and the leather trims faded into what seemed like 'kain buruk'. Hollywood filmed "The Eagle has landed" here and the guide claimed the state room was in it.

There were other ornaments that worth looking at and think wow, it has been sitting there for almost 200-300 years old. Family potraits, libraries, old maps, furnitures, Persian tapestries with illustrative weavings and Latin descriptions, wooden steps, all are marvelous. Including the red satin pillow Queen Victoria had knelt on during coronation in the 19th century.

The ground was huge with neatly trimmed hedges and the far-off sight see you herds of dairy cows on the next piece of land. The stable was sufficely huge with what I assumed would have been the stable-boy's residence. And as we walked up the trail, there were a row of cottages, which again would have been the servants' residences.

Before we left the house I know I just had to ask whether the house is haunted and whether apparitions had or have been witnessed.You see I am a huge fan of "Most Haunted" by LivingTV (also aired by ftn), a show that investigates into haunted stately homes, castles, ruins and historical places for spiritual presence ie ghosts. I haven't seen the episode with this house, even they have investigated it here so I knew I had just to ask, for the sake of curiosity.

The guide who looked old enough to be my grandmother politely says No, not haunted. Well even if there are ghosts around here, they are all good ones for I haven't been disturbed. But however later added Well, you do feel eerie at times especially when it is dark, rainy and gloomy outside. Seemed to add the idea that there is actually sightings but politely denies that it is haunted.

However a glean over the internet revealed:-
The mansion is haunted by the ghost of a servant who was killed by his master in a fit of temper,the murderer is also seen dragging the corpse across the floor.

Stable

River Thames

Opposite a small church located behind the stable was a watermill. It looked really old and if you carefully see at the rear a small part of it seemed to have stumbled, probably by old age. I wasn't surprised by the maintenance bit as it is solely a family business and not under English Heritage. Nevertheless, I could imagine that it'd be a perfect spot for an artist.

Family Water Mill

Continuum of the reservoir by the watermill, is the River Thames. I am not sure wheather it is but DH believes so. So I guess if you take a trail adventure on a barge, it'll certainly lead you to central London.

Au revoir..

It was certainly not bad at all for an outing on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Later we eventually reached the Oracle and had a snack and coffee at McD and had a brief visit to Haagen-Dazs.

Sweet little promise

LO: "Mummy, mummy...shooby doo pleeez??"
M: "Mummy busy... go ask babah" *reclined *

LO went for DH and handed him Scooby-Doo Shiny Spooky Knights bedtime storybook. What a choice huh? I am starting to think she has a thing for spooky movies and books.

LO: "Babah , babah...read shooby doo pleeez...?"
DH: "Ergh? Mummy, mummy go ask mummy..."

After a few minutes of ting-toing here and there, DH gave in and read Little One the much desired bedtime story. Once finished, DH planted a revenge.

DH: "Ok, babah read for you already. One more time?"
LO: "Yeah !!" *nods excitedly for the generous offer*
DH: "Ok, you want another time, go to mummy. Mummy baca"

hah? revenge ye *Jeling DH*

M: "Oklah..come mummy baca. But one BIIIGG kiss first"

Emmmmuuuarrrgh!!

After I have read cover to cover, she asked for a repeat. Same book, same story. I reluctantly obliged, but said...

M: "Ok, one more time but this is one last time for tonight. Esok baca lagi. Promise?"
LO: "Owait...dis is lasss! Pomiss.." *nods and grins while kicking her legs to and fro*

After another quick round of bedtime story, LO reached for the book to put it away, ready for bed. Bagus stick to promise pun...

M: "Aik, wait! Kiss mummy one more time!"

Yes, I love getting lots of kisses from my dear daughter. I am lucky for she never got tired of giving me kisses!

LO: "Owait, but dis is lass..pomisss? Tomow sam moe" (Orait, but this is last..promise? Tomorrow some more)

Lesson of the day: Your child's speech and behaviour are very much influenced by you, you and you!

Woi-Lei Road luuuurve??

Suddenly, this gloomy and rainy afternoon reminded me of my early days being in UK, about more than half a decade ago.

At a train station after that trip to Birmingham City,

"54, Wyley Road please"

"Whooaak? Say where is that again luuurve" *glimpsing at the rear mirror*

"54, Wy-ley Road"

"Where is that luurve? Nah, afraid do not know any road by that name" ...by this time, was scratching his shiny bald head which I presumed not that itchy anyway.

Gosh. You are the taxi driver! I'm not.

"Err..off the ** Avenue, near Safeway. You'll pass the city library, well depending which route you'll take"

"Ohhh.. That! That, Woi-Lei Rowd! "

"Yes, uh-huh...Woi-Lei Rowd! Woi-Lei Rowd it is !!!" accentuating the pronounciation 'Wyley' as much as a real Brit would.

From that day on, I sticked to Woi-Lei instead of plain Wai-li.

Pronounciation can sometimes be painstakingly fastidious especially when locals around you speak heavily accented speech.

Much later I learnt that letter A is to be pronounced as 'Aey' instead of plain 'A' (plain A - you know, as you would normally say in ABC song). Otherwise, the plainly narrated letter 'A' would be written down as letter E.

For example if your name is Anita and were to spell out 'Anita' to some kind of a telephone operator, 7 days later you'd be receiving your statement or requested brochure with the adresse spelt as

ENITE

and not

ANITA

True.

I have learnt my lesson well.

I looked at my letter earlier today. And spotted an alien alphabetical letter within the row of those spelling my name which has obviously been wrongly spelt. It seemed bold to my eyes.

Since when does R sound like an A ('Aey')?

OH gosh... maybe next time I should be sounding like a tiger to say letter R. AAAARRRrrrrrr

Or perhaps it is only normal to understand that with all that phone-talking qoutidian routine, telephone advisors eventually have impaired hearing.

Malu, malu ....

Speaking of embarassing moments..

Mine have always been the consequence of being clumsy. My first unforgettable embarassing moment that ever got etched in memory was a fall in the man-size drain with flowing drainage in a county hospital, at 7 years of age.

It was totally a result of miscalculated judgement over the width of a drain during a silly jump. I had been running to escape from a chasing cousin. I fell with a big splash as the drain was heavily filled with drainage water, God knows from where. I didn't want to know and I bet you wouldn't too. I was lucky as I didn't hit my head against the concrite although I had fallen face-down. It wasn't pleasant. Mother got crossed and of course, my enemy brother was laughing non-stop. Cousin had shown a guilty face although I knew he too, was about to burst into laughter but trying hard not to. But later showed sympathy, anyway. The climax of a family visit to the maternity ward for that welcome-to-the-world greet (to a newly born relative) was heavily spoilt by that embarassing incident and thus the visit was cut short.

Much later in life, I had experienced few ocassions of embarassing moments that associated with clumsiness. At 16, I fell on my back, again, into a drain. I was lucky this time as it was a dry one albeit much smaller. Unfortunately, it was harder to get out of. A close friend had to pull me out with all her might, of course using both hands. You see, it wasn't easy to help a friend who has fallen into a drain, laying flat on the back, as it too tickle your funny bones, so chuckling away and pulling up that friend wasn't an easy task. I thanked the friend though. A passing by male classmate who had seen me laying flat in the drain, irritatingly made a remark which went something like this,

"I do not want to bother you much. But would just like to remind you about the important meeting after this recess. Er, by the way, what are you doing there 'resting' in the drain? It's recess you know, should go to the canteen instead"
*trying hard to look curious, at the same time not to burst into laughter*

???!!

And off he went. A few minutes later heard him chuckling away like mad.

Another girl friend who saw it all quickly raced down the stairs and tried to console me.

"I was trying to tell you..Jangan gostan, jangan gostan"

"huh? gostan?"

"Ye la, I told you repeatedly, jangan gostan .. siapa suruh gostan, kan dah jatuh..kehkehkehkeh" *holding her stomach*

The friend who helped pulled me out of misery said to the then-laughing-like-mad friend who had tried to warn,

"I heard you, but she didn't. It happened too fast. Tak sempat nak tarik her away from the longkang...kehkehkehkehkeh hehehehe!! Hilarious sungguh kau ni " ...looking back at me.

As I was recovering from my brief amnesia, I remembered looking up to the friend who had been on the first floor's flight of stairs to discuss about a matter. I thought,

Wait a minute now, that makes sense. No wonder she was shaking her head...

Unfortunately and unconciously, I had taken few steps back bit by bit in order to adjust my position, so that my voice was well heard. I had refused to listen to her distant murmur, because I thought my points were much more important than what she had to say. Little did I know her murmur had been the warning. dah, padan muka.

A year later, I had clumsily fallen on my tummy onto a pile of garbage with a stream of classes passing by. My classroom had been the third classroom along the row and the only way out was the stairs at the end of the building. So imagine the two classes that had to walk me by. It was a free show as a friend later recalled, for I had my skirt up the calf and I was funnily wriggling my legs with my hands spread out, like Superman on his first flying lesson. Yes that was exactly her words, like Superman.

Another friend likened it to a tortoise on its back. Struggling to flip over.

I cursed the cleaning ladies.

I couldn't blame the fact that it was the first day of school (school re-opened after a long holiday) and that the cleaning ladies had to clear all classrooms that had been used for some stupid courses over the holiday (yes, at that time, they dubbed the school to be the most advanced, modern and beautifully crafted school in SEA so, had been the favourite location for courses and seminars). But to have left a humungous pile of garbage there seemed to me an irresponsible act. They had left about 8-10 fully filled black bin liners exactly outside our classroom at the narrow pathway. What was more likely to happen than for someone to get trip over them?

I had to put on a brave face later that afternoon for the prep session. I wished I was sick in the infirmary. Male classmates made a fuss about it and girl friends teased.

Later in my life, followed a series of other clumsiness leading to embarassment:-

• accidently fell off a seat during a heated discussion with a university lecturer at 20. Almost made him spill his tea.

• repeatedly (accidently) dropped a bunch of house keys during first date with husband (at 19 of age).

• had misbuttoned (if there is ever such word!) the kebaya for akad nikah. Photos revealed one side of my kebaya was actually shorter than the other due to misalignment. Unfortunately no one was brave (or polite) enough to interrupt and 'correct' situation. Had wrongly blamed the tailor before realising it was all due to missing a button. (at 23 of age)

..and God knows what else are there waiting to happen..

A relative had once said, I was born to be clumsy.

Oh well, maybe I am clumsy. So what.... asal bahagia sudah.

Reporting from Oriental City

Einstein? EMC Squared Tower in London...

We headed for Oriental City around 4pm yesterday. It wasn't a good time for a journey on the motorway as it was close to peak hours, people were commuting home from work. The traffic on M3 to London made the highway seemed like a perpetual snail crawl to perdition as our tank was running crucially low. Lucikily we managed to reach service for refuelling and onto A406, route to Wembley Stadium before it was dark. A further half an hour later we found ourselves clueless and lost. At that very momment, suddenly it felt worthwhile to head back home a few minutes after realising that I have forgotten the crucial thick A-Z London map-book (that was as soon as DH started the car engine..actually to have gone back into the house to get it was not really a big hassle. I guess I was too lazy) And it might have been useful to have actually WRITTEN down that suggestive route from Mapblast. Well, I guess our memory have been put to test.

I tell you to be lost driving in London is not what you want. Especially when it is NOT central London and road signs are hopeless, not much help at all especially when the road you are on seems endless. (Central London is not too bad as road signs are about everywhere)


Lion dance lesson. Ironically the instructor was an Indian, students were chinese.

With a few hunches here and there, we finally got to Oriental City in Colindale just before the sun set. It wasn't a big place. It is just like any normal shopping complex you would see in any small town back home. DH likened the standard to a shopping complex in Sg Buloh. Many shops within were already closed and some that were still opened had their merchandise displayed outside their shop alongside the pathway. Well, something like Kompleks Pertama lah, I would say only a bit smaller size-wise. Immediate after the entrance you'd see a small wooden stage, with a few benches for spectators. And I thought so this is where cik siti showcased. takde la gempak mana...

She could have chosen a much better place but I guess there is no better place to sell up her remaining unsold tickets than Oriental City.


The concourse.. looks big but in fact quite small

There were a lot of chinese shops. One was selling herbal remedies, the other selling jades and chinese-style jewelleries and some others are ethnic shops. We were looking for the food court but only found two chinese restaurants on the first floor.


Food court

Later after a brief tour, we were finally seated in the food court. The size is slightly bigger than that in One Utama, with huge selection of oriental stalls. There were Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Singaporean, Japanese and Malaysian. The one Malaysian has an adequate sign "Lemon Grass Malaysian Halal Food" at its front. Many there were chinese, some are Malay students and a few mat and minah sallehs.


A quid each...

We were fascinated by the male Malay cashier who singlehandedly managed the Malaysian stall. Not fascinated by the way he copes but the endless smiles he threw to every customer. Very friendly. During the feast-endevouring, I have pledged to smile at all times, inspired by this cashier.

"Smile all the time, can....but as long as you don't smile and do this!"
said DH with a big grin on his face and as he rolled his eyes towards his nose.

"You'll look demented!"

The food was a bit on a down side and DH claimed to have a bloated tummy as soon as he finishes his seafood Tom Yum. The taste didn't reflect the colourful and variety of samples displayed. So one good lesson is learnt, never judge a dish by its garnishing and variety ingredients! We should have gone for the Malaysian stall instead for the satays were excellent. Or tempura and banteu from the Japanese stall.

Next time, we will have sotong kangkung instead. If there will ever be a next time!


The Durian Fruit Centre...

After the frustrating meal (except for the satays), we went into the supermarket. It was huge. Anything from petis, belacan, to daun kesum, durian, you name it, are all available. They even sell halal meat. What seemed like a brief visit turned out to be a checkout with a basket full of groceries. Well not quite actually, we had a big green guava, a packet of chicken gizzards, keropok singkong (hehehe..the name's funny isn't it?), a packet of frozen kaya pau and a few selection of preserved fruits (asam) in our checkout basket. Not bad huh for an hour trip?


Harrods at night...

Well, I might as well be a food critic and travel journalists..but who cares, this is my blog.

Adieu!

Oh my little daughter - Part 3

As I am hitting this keyboard, Sky Movie 4 is showing The Ring (Hollywood version) and LO is watching it with full anxiety albeit cowardly hides behind the couch pillows. A few minutes ago the thrill was at a crescendo and the music was too much to my annoyance as it is close to midnight and I bet you waking the toddler next door is last on my list (next-door neighbour has a toddler that constantly wails at the slightest slam of doors).

Ah..yes, LO is a late sleeper.

"Sayang, tone the volume down a bit please. Too loud"

"Owait.." *Reaches the Sky remote and adjusts the volume*

And she slowly crawled underneath my legs and uninvitedly sat on my right foot. Using my body to shield herself from the TV screen, she stretched her neck out to watch the ending, exactly like a shy tortoise hiding in and out of its shell. And yes my foot is getting numb from all the weight.

Aiik..

...suddenly the telly went mute.

I turned around and saw that the telly was set to mute but yes, The Ring was still on.

"What happened ? Come on mummy tak dengar...volume please"

"No.." *Eyes on telly, head unturned*

"No? Why?"

"Atin tak nak" *Concentrating on the ending..wooo it seems that mummy's order is a fuzzy, distant murmur*

"Huh? Come on...mummy tak dengar."

*no response* *Still peeking. Hands clutching to mummy's shirt.*

"Mummy tak dengar lah. " I wasn't actually watching it but however it felt nice to listen to the telly while on-line.

"Taaaaak naaaaak, Atin tatut" *Eyes still glued to the screen*

Takut ??

Oh my little daughter....

Unbelievable eBay..

I am a frequent ebayer myself and when I found this advert by Ebay, I smiled.

Maybe Malaysia is not hot on it yet, but if you are one active e-bayer, you'll get the message.

Enjoy.


P/s:-You can even get 'E-bay for Dummies' in Waterstone (or other major book dealers). The impact!

Oldies to Goldies

Granny and Grandpa in GrandCar

We were on the M3 to South today and spotted an antic car. My luck was in as I had my GX20 in my denim's jacket instead of my jean's pocket. Not wanting to miss the chance like I had last time (spotted a Proton Gen-2 last week but missed the car by a split second by the time I had my mobile out of my pocket), managed to snap a photo or two. And it turned out that this is the best outcome. As the antic was exiting M3 towards Eastleigh, I only realised that the driver was an elderly lady in her 70s and on the passenger seat was an elderly gentleman also, in his 70s I must say.

The driver grandma had her long scarf wound around her neck and her scarf was swaying back along with the flow of the air. The grandpa ...was wearing some kind of a hat that looks like a fishing one. He had his arm around his spouse's back, on the upper seat. Both have all-white hair. And the car? I think it must has been in its heydays in 1920s?1930s?

Wa...very the goldies! And to see goldies go romantic is a priceless scenery.

I don't know about you but everytime I see elderly couples walking side by side, holding hands, I have my melting moments. aaaahhhh...so sweet. Why? Because such a sighting is so rare. You seldom see elderly spouses grow old together and embrace each other companies as either the other spouse is six feet under or marriages do not last long.

LO and behold!

This video clip was taken last autumn.. after Petai's visit to Soton. It's LO's first motorbike.

Lion's Lost Ball

Hahahaha....

Late night shopping in Swindon Outlet Park have us purchasing more books . When hardback bestsellers are sold at only 10 quid for 3 books you simply cannot resist the temptation. So we ended up paying three books of the same price range for only 10 quid. Fair and square, one for mummy, one for babah and the other for Little One.

I didn't realise the title of LO's newly purchased book, well at least not until we got home. After late dinner and hot shower Little One was very excited and anticipated to be read her new book. So I sat beside her and started to read her the story book ...

Lion's Lost Ball

But soon burst into endless laughter as I read the first few lines which reads...

Lion really loved bouncing his shiny red ball
He'd bounce it in the sunshine
He'd bounce it in the rain
He'd bounce it up the hills and back down again
But one day he went a bounce too far!
His ball was stuck high in the branches of a tree!

Oh gosh....! Wouldn't you end up laughing too?

Oh well, maybe I watch too much of Desperate Housewives , OC and the likes!

Hahahahaha.....!!!

I have to apologise if I have offended you in any way. I just cannot help myself.....!



Found it!

Places to go..nak ikut?

We have a grace period of 7 solid days to enjoy sightseeing.

Been contemplating to go to either of these places

1) Warwickshire .
It would be nice to visit the place that I have used to live in back in 1994-96. Used to live in Wyley Road, wonder how it is now. The college, the town, everything.
A 2nd visit to the Warwick Castle (it has been dubbed the finest castle in England and it is!) would be great!

or
2) Swindon.
The Glenn McArthur factory outlet. To shop and shop and shop. But duit takdak. But to think of it again, you couldn't and wouldn't find fine designer watches, clothes, tableware and perfumes at very discounted prices back home. So this may be the only chance. But then again, to buy new clothes and stuff is not our highest priority.

or
3) Paris.
I have been longing to bring LO to the EuroDisney. If it ever materialise, it'll be my 4th visit, DH's 2nd visit and LO's first.

or
4) Stay home.
And anticipate that Royal wedding in Windsor. We might as well anticipate the day and have a short drive to Windsor, and record that royal drive-in with our very own camcorder.

Em, what do you think?

Library, tsunamis and being paranoid

Yesterday, after that brief meeting with Dr Supervisor, LO and I head for the library to give a quick call to DH to come and pick us up.My Virgin airtime has long been all used up and I am too lazy to top it up...err, the library?

Wow, the library is all new. Imagine a 19th century building on the outside with an all new sci-fi look on the inside! Really. Well, for a change it does look good, no not just good but fantastic! This reminds me of my early days in the undergraduate years, the carpet used to smell. Smelt of rotten damp carpet with all that trapped dirt and grime from the outside pavement and the smell was worsened with the full blast heat from the central heating. Now? It has been replaced with the type of floor covering you would find in playgrounds.

And the alarm near the security bar, it used to falsely set off and if you were that unlucky person to have set it off, the old pak guard would come scavaging your backpack. Embarassing. Now, it has been replaced with the ones you'd see in London tube stations. Yes, those are a little bit funny but they do add that X-factor to the sci-fi look, I must say. And the pak guard? hmm...I must say I din't see him around.

And the counters...they used to be all wooden counters. Now all metal and very stylish.Chanteeeek you...!

The monitors to the computers were all 13.5" black screens with green fonts. You know like the ones you used to see back then during the dot matrix printers era , or the ones you used to use to play PACman at 7-8 years old. Now, now all have been replaced with stylish, all black exterior flat panels with stylish and sleek, tiny, all-black keyboards. Wow. I gave it a try but unfortunately my password has expired. Too bad.

I am very amused with the new stylish library. Very. So this is all where the fees have gone to. You see, they increase the education fee, the accomodation fee and all possible fees around at roughly 10-15% a year. ( I'm taking a wild guess here but yes, they do increase fees frequently) So I can see the money is well spent. Often you see new buildings are erected. Last spring we had our all-new indoor swimming pool and gymnasium. Although the scene of flabby students swimming across the pool is not a pretty sight ( yeah, because I used to wait for the 101 bus after fetching LO from her nursery...at it is directly next to the see-through swimming pool building) but I must say the University is picking up fast on new facilities. I bet in 3 years time, no more old buildings will be around. So far half of them that were around had been knocked down and new intelect buildings have been built.

Right, so much about the university new look. But I have to say if you have studied here before you'd be amazed with all the changes they have made.

After all that amusing moment, we headed for the small garden next to the library. I realised that they have planted a sun-dial like monument at the middle of the shrubs. That is interesting,I thought, because it has been there all the while and I have only just realised it is actually a sun-dial, you know like the ones they used in the old times to tell the time.

I felt like stepping into the shrubs to have a closer look at the sun-dial but the thought of not wearing a belt around my very loose-at-the-waist jeans cancelled the notion. I was afraid that I might get my jeans caught in the wild shrubs and I do not want to look like a fool with her pants down and her scarves on in the middle of the tiny garden! Very the lucah, it'd be.

As we were waiting for DH to arrive, came a person with a familiar face. Before I could even recall,

"Aaaah..look at you! All grown up!!" this lady was actually pinching LO's cheeks.

"ahah..yes ..all grown up" I could only mutter to repeat what she had just said..was still trying hard to recall siapa minah ni ye...

"Yes..you have always been pretty! Yes you have!" *pinching LO's cheek for a second time*

Ah! This must be one of LO's former nursery child minder. How could I forget!

" You remember her, huh?" I asked.

" Well, yeah because she has always been pretty. And of course I remember her for that!"

Oh wow. Really? For a second there I felt kembang setaman ..hehehehe

"SO, what have you been up to? Who's looking after her?"

"Er, we are going back to Malaysia soon!"

"Really? So how's things ? Is it all a OK?"

Alamak..for a second there I actually thought she asked about my work. You see, I hated it when people keep asking me how my work is going on. When actually it isn't going on that great. Well, although now that I have submitted my draft, the paranoia is still there. So when this child minder asked how's things, I actually thought she referred it to about my work, my project.

"Huh???"

"You know, with all that tsunamis going on"

And she was actually asking about tsunami BACK home. How daft I was!

"err..well as far as I am concerned it's pretty safe at the moment"

"Well, maybe your place is far from the beach yah?"

"Yes, true"

"OK then, all the best!" And that was an adieu .

With that adieu, I bade farewell to the library and headed for a long journey home.

A Tiring, Daunting, Exhausting and Full-filling Week.

Tiring, Daunting and Exhausting.

I am sooooo done with moving houses. It has been tiring and nerve-wrecking. Well, on the concise side of the story I should say that waiting 2 days for the 'specialist' international movers had been really nerve wrecking, especially when they have promised you to arrive at an arranged day and time but simply didn't turn up. 2 days in a row, promise after promise. At the same time, your mind is thinking there are still floors to scrub, windows to clean, fridge to unload and toilet to wash. No cleaning could be done until all 14 1-cubic meter moving boxes, one wooden trunk and 3 wall framed-pictures are cleared out of the apartment. And yes, we have to vacate the apartment clean and as new, at least if we need that 800 quid deposit returned. And I can tell you by the look of our bank accounts, we do need that 800 quid returned. We have become all poor, yes, poor.

After the torturing, agonising wait we eventually managed to get our belongings and precious car stored at a warehouse, waiting for shipment to Port Klang. And for 2 days, 2 solid days, I had suffered severe muscle strain. Really. A big red spotted bulge (I mean, huge) has developed on each arm. I had become Popeye instantly. Thanks to all that weight lifting.

And our weekend? It was good. I wasn't sure why but it definitely felt good spending the whole day strolling in Festival Place and licking ice cream under the sun with a packet of japanese rice crackers at hand. And aaahh, watching your little girl clowning around on the pedestrian and from the look of it, as if it was the first and only day she has ever experienced of an outing.

And ah yes, on Sunday a trip to Heathrow Airport. DH claimed to have seen Siti Nurhaliza and her entourage leaving for the departure hall. Yes, I can tell you he was as excited as a 7 yr old boy tearing open a Christmas present. At that moment, I wasn't sure if I am as excited as I am more amused with DH's reaction. And I wasn't sure if that trip to the loo was actually meant to have a quick sneak peek of Siti.

"OK, Z...confirm kau satu flight dengan Siti. Aku nampak dia n gang baru masuk departure hall..." *very excited*

"Iye ke?"

LittleMiss Datin the hard core Siti fan was more excited. " Bestnye....!"

Z, the Potential Datuk was as excited and started to imagine that they would be among the ones in the photo snapped by reporters awaiting in KLIA. He was adjusting his Calvin Klein shirt as he was saying that they need to look good, for the local papers. I looked at LittleMiss Datin and yes, she looked very nice. Very colour co-ordinated. A Datin indeed, at least a few years down the road she'd be.

That night we returned home to find out that the bathroom floor covering was soaking wet. For some reason, water had been seeping through the carpet and we failed to find the leaking source . The next day water kept seeping through and by the time night falls, the carpet near the door had become partially wet. Becoming all panicky, we called LittleMiss Datin who had by then arrived home safe and sound.

"Ok...just call up operator and ask them to send a foreman to look over the matter...."

" Alright...we'll see to it. So amacam M'sia?" the scenes of a kampung , nasi lemak 20 sen and all that teh tarik snacks were playing in my mind. And err, I was referring the question to her more about her feelings towards coming home to her close-knit family and relatives.

" Oh, dapat gambar dengan Siti"

"uh? "

"Aritu, balik..dapat gambar dengan Siti tau"

"oooohh..ye ke? Good for you."

Oh well, Siti or no Siti, I still have to move on with this transitional period. In one month's time I will be home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah,Yeah.


Fullfilling....

It has been a fullfilling week as I have submitted my full draft of the final thesis! Hip hip hooray!


**OK...need to catch up with Desperate Housewife** So, will catch up with you guys later !

Amused And Confused Interrupted

I'm in the midst of moving to a new apartment. A lot to do, and so little time in hand. I shall continue blogging once I've settled down.