Another trip to Liulian Town

I know, I know, the 1st question that pop up in your mind after reading the title is "What?? Going to Liulian Town again???? Must be die die want to look for liulian!!!"

Went to Serian again (Yes, I was there last week and I was there again yesterday)....A friend even asked me whether I have a new found beau in Serian and I told her that I just bought a land (after cheating the owner) and am now building a big mansion as my weekend hideaway!!!
As a matter of fact, I should be going up there again mid Oct for an overnight camp

Anyway, enough of the craps. We went up to Serian yesterday to help out in the Parish Sale. SSVP was putting up a stall and I was asked to assist in the selling (and obviously the sale was a hit with me there....:-)

This is how bad the haze condition is in Serian yesterday:

This is our stall:

Sale was good and we had lots of fun buying and eating and laughing and of course, selling

On a separate issue, today is my chey chey's 7th wedding anniversary and the husband and her treated us to a dinner at Lok Thian last night......Being the creative sister, I made her a card.

Being a nice sister she is, she ordered buttered prawns and soft shelled crabs....Food was lousy compared to the last dinner we had there in August to celebrate a certain somebody's birthday...Maybe it's because of the the 2 wedding reception happening all at the same time..

Food not worth taking photos of except for this one:

Awww.....I forgot to put on my pink lipstick

I kept on saying it looks like a certain somebody's lips but that certain somebody denied it...(Or rather she was too high (after drinking a 9.9% wine) to deny it...

Papercrazy's pre-mature aging syndrome

Papercrazy has been experiencing one of the many many aging syndrome of late...

I think I'm suffering from rheumatism. I've always associated rheumatism with old people like my mother or grandma or any other aunties above the age of 50 but look what happen to me?? Perhaps it's a retribution from simply associate this with the old people!! Sigh



My knuckle (of the thumb) and elbow were so painful last night that I used up the whole packet of my ever faithful salonpas koyok patches...Salonpas has been a good brand and I've always liek the smell of the plaster (So refreshing. A said I'm a bit cuckoo cos it actually smell of chinese medication)

So worried the pain would not go away cos I have a card project to complete tonite....Anyway, this is not the 1st time I have had this kind of pain....used to get muscle pain over my other part of body too, on my feet (funny place eh?) and then for a while, my back.....Sigh..............

I'm really old now.......and Chen's post on kids of our era doesn't help as well...Well, Junoeqsue, as much as u like to deny that I am old, well....Yes, I am old!!

My kids are not married and I don't have any grandchildren yet....how like that??? Anyone out there who wud like to play matchmaking with my 5 children and 10 grandchildren??

So, the next time you see me on the road, please help me to cross the road...and if you see me standing in a bus, please offer your seat to me cos I'm a senior citizen....

*Remind myself to run walk (should not run as I'm an old lady) to the pharmacy across the road to buy some more Salonpas patches, preferably the twin packs with free 10 patches*

Can't blame me for being a stingy....I am an old lady, remember???

Newspapers' blunder

Wow!! This is my 3rd post for the day!!! So many things to talk about!!!!

Initially, this is not a funny neither is it an amusing news...I was reading today's online star news about a recent accident which caused the death of a young doctor and now the Government claimed that the family is not eligible for compensation as she was not confirmed in her job....nevertheless, I read further and spotted a photograph of a handing over of cheque to the father of the late doctor from the Malaysian Medical Association and what caught my eyes was the caption!!! I nearly fell off my office swivel highback executive chair pulling along my mouse and the keyboard when I read the caption....

I'm attaching the photo here (go to the website for the news)...I did not do any alteration on the caption...

PRICES CHECKED: Shafie holding up two processed chickens during spot checks on 15 pricecontrolled items at the Jalan Othman wet market in Petaling Jaya yesterday. — Bernamapic

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....chickens in suits!!!!

Kelam kabut posting

Cis!!! Posted something today only to find that it appeared below yesterday's post.....After checking checking, I realised that blogspot arranges the posts based on date of draft, not posting date!!

Actually it was meant for Monday but I have problem uploading the photos lor.....Nevertheless, we go malay style and read things backward...

Click here

Berbuka Puasa di Hartz Chicken Buffet

Ok, we had dinner at Hartz chicken. A request by a certain royalty in conjunction with his berth-day (yupe, berthday, the day he berthed his big bum bum on earth for the 1st time)

The meat bar.....As usual, I hantam the gizzards and livers.....We got 1 new dish last nite, strips of deepfried fish in bread crumbs....Smell very fishy

A said the curry is good...New dish it seems....Lots of new dishes last nite....

I called in during lunch intending to book a table and the reply that I got was so absurb and ridiculous that I nearly put on my borrowed crocs high heels and walked to the restaurant and give the lady a knock on her bum bum.......ok, ok, let's not diverge....where was I????? Ok, when I called to book, the lady over at the next line told me that she was instructed by her manager not to accept booking cos priority booking is given to the muslims to break fast.....Hello????? I was a bit agitated already and I asked her to repeat and yes, that was what she said and meant.. So, in my most annoying but maintained tone (can't upset them cos by hook or by crook we need to dine there) I asked her whether does it make any difference if I told her that I am a muslim (Heaven forbids) calling in to make booking for breaking of fast and she said no different.....At that point, I was really so jiet liaw but the picture of a certain royalty kept flashing in my mind pointing his finger at me asking me to behave.....So, I said thank you and put down the phone slowly and gently (I wish I could slam the phone but being a polite me, I don't)

I guess what the manager meant was that no over-the-phone booking is allowed in view of the anticipated large crowd for the buaka puasa thingy. Misintepretation of messages, I called it.

To cut a long story short, we managed to dine there and I guessed that certain royalty was the happiest man last nite cos he ate and ate and ate until we were chased out......Wud luv to post a picture of him in action here but I need to pay him royalty for that, so I guess I have to forego the intention lor....but i can post the aftermath of his conquest....

Redsponge, whose is gross now?? Yours or mine??

A visit to Liu Lian Town

Note: A small typo error in my initial post.....Junoesque with her usual sharp-eyed scanner noticed that I couldn't be arriving Serian within 15 mins unless I fly!!! Anyway, it was supposed to be a 45 mins journey...Thanks Junoesque for pointing it out and yes, I have said thank you...received the virtual kiss???

Guess where was I on Sunday?? Or rather guess which part of the town is labelled as the durian town??

Guess...guess....guess....

Sarikei is represented by an pineapple; Sibu a Swan (God knows what's the significance); Bau with pitcher plant and many many more significances....

Guess some more................

Ok, ok, I'm an impatient person and I couldn't stand all the guesses...

I went to serian for our Feast day celebration (Note this as I shall be doing a little bit of explanation at the end of this post).....It was actually a total alien to me....we started our journey at 8.30am and arriving Serian at 9.15am....Mass was at 9.30am and it was in Bidayuh (Bidayuh population is the largest ethnic group in Serian, and most Serianese can converse in Bidayuh and Hakka) I know nuts about the dialect though I pretended that I understand (since I was put right infront of the bench facing the altar)...

Mass finished at around 11am and we were told to roam around like hungry ghost while waiting for lunch at 12 noon at a lakeside restaurant canteen

Off we went to the market......

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.
Home again, home again, jiggerty jig.

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggerty jog.

To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again. Market is done

hehehee...sorry, couldn't find a fat pig or hog though I saw the head of a wild boar!!!! I bought the jambu air (another childhood delicacy). I remembered we used to mix the jambu with soy sauce and sugar...So nice and juicy and refreshing....

Exactly at 12 noon, we headed back to the lakeside canteen where to my dissapointment is a halal eatery (Why we chose a halal eatery beats me cos none of us are muslims....in fact we are all very much non-muslims...of course we are non-muslims, this is a religious activities, remember?? Duh!) I was sulking and whining about porkless lunch but at the end of the whole thing, I ate to my stomach's content....Food was just so-so and we were served just plain water and chinese tea...Not worth taking pictures of the food, thus explaining the photo-less food.

Anyways, I managed to take some breathtaking (cos' it stinks) views of the lakeside.....

What society am I in?? No, I'm not a member of any triad.....in fact, I'm a member of a society that helps the poor and the deprived by robing from the rich...heheheheh....No, no, no, I'm too good a girl to do the robin hood thingy though I've always like the robe of the Franciscan priest (with hoods and all that)....Ok, ok, enuf of the curiosity.....I belong *background music by celine dion and Il Divo I believe(??) starting to play by itself* to the Society of St Vincent de Paul where our main objective is to help the poor and the needy in our community and we relies on donations from both individuals and churches to keep our society going.... We provides food, dole and educational assistance on a montly basis and at times, counselling too. This is an international society and was founded by Frederic Ozanam in the year 1850.

27 September 2006 is our feast day and this explained why we were in Serian on Sunday....we have 5 conferences (Kuching, Serian, bau, Lundu and Padawan) and every year we take turns to host the feast day (and this year obviously is hosted by Serian Conference)

For the ONE

Chen, this is for you for being the lucky 1,000th viewer of Papercrazy!!!!!!!!!!

*throw confetti and shredded coconut candies*

Pinkcotton said the wording on the card sounded so mushy mushy....as if it's given to boyfren....

A very busy day for me today.....I'm updating this blog in a rush cos I'm conducting interviews in 2 mins time....and I shall not be seeing my computer until 12 noon today....I have another meeting again at 4pm this afternoon and I seriously hope that it will finish by 7.30pm, in time for me to "buka puasa" with a bunch of my friends at Hartz Chicken

Alrighty Chen, expect the unexpected!!!!

Childhood Food Reminiscence - Part 2

Part 1 http://papercrazy.blogspot.com/2006/09/childhood-food-reminiscence.html

I am freaking frustrated with blogspot lately.....This post is ready since Monday but somehow or rather I can't upload the photos.....I have no choice but to post this without pictures lor (I don't people to think that I have either RIP or went in hiding after losing Pinkcottons's 6,000 hit.

Ok, I'm continuing with the 2nd part of what I used to eat/fancy when I was young and carefree (not whisper or kotex) penniless and still have the priviledge of parasiting on daddy & mummy's hard earned money

Food No 3 - Masto Noodles Snack

My favourite....some other brands that I patronised were/still patronising were Lee Fah Mee Brand and 2-flower Mee......Used to buy this in the school canteen and surprised to note that the price still maintains at RM0.10 even after 25 odd years (for those who are eager to know how old I am, I'm sure by now u wud be able to gauge) Taste still the same though I wud prefer it a bit burnt like before (guess there was no QC then and the manufacturer literally fry the noodles in a big pan with oil rather than with machines now)

I remembered vividly how excited we kids were when Friday came and we will buy extra packets of the noodles to be shared amoung the siblings eaten while watching the P Ramlee's movie on Friday nights.......

Yummy...good old Mr Masto

Food No 4 - Shredded Coconut coated with sugar

Not one of my favourites but definitely was and still is my eldest sister's fav.....I bought just about 50grams (RM1.20) for this blog and I'm going to give them to my sister tonite....Too sweet for my liking now but I don't know we were so into them (guess kids last time don't have the priviledge of having Pringles Lay's or double deckers or cheezels (On 2nd thought, we do have Pringles and Double Deckers, it's just that it was so expensive then)

Food No 5 - Lollipop

I can't remember how much per stick then but I bought this one at RM0.70 and it's called Chuppa Chup now. Coke flavour or rather sarsi flavour used to be my favourite and it has always been a messy situation...We will slowly suck the lolli to the very last drop and by then, we would have gotten our hands all sticky and the stick soggy due to excessive saliva!! But hey, kids of today can't blame us cos we don't have the priviledge to have our lolli's stick made of plastic...Ours were made of a roll of stinking paper......Sometimes if we are not lucky, bits and pieces of the paper would end up in our mouths too.

Food No 6 - Apollo Milk/Chocolate Wafer

Suprised to note that it is still sold at RM1.20 per pack of 12...No increase in price, that's for sure but not as creamy as last time.....A bit soggy though...

A terrifying experience

Caught an intruder in my backyard while I was doing my laundry last Friday....My handphone rang while I was drying my clothes and I picked my phone and just squat near the drain and talk.....and from the corner of my eye, I felt like I was been stared and when I turn, there it was, staring at me with its big and round eyes, ready to make its escape....I think the intruder was caught off guard too...Little did it realised that I would go to the backyard to hang my clothes when it was raining so heavily....I abruptly and quickly (with hands trembling) end my call and the first thing that came into my mind was to call the police, but somehow or rather I just coudln't press the call button.....Before I managed to scream for help, it decided to make its way to the jungle behind my house.....Thank God for our security camera, it managed to capture the photo of the intruder...It looked kinda familiar but anyway, please be careful. Remember, call the police if you see this intruder....I am still trembling even as I typed this blog....I can not imagine what will the intruder do if I did not go to the backyard.......Better safe than sorry...














HAHAHAHAHAHAH

U know who it resembled??? PC's demised cat!

I officially checked out last nite from my matron duty......And guess what, I can't sleep in my own bed last nite!! HAHAHHAHA..Even cuddling my NN doesn't help in getting me to sleep.....

Another matron (with xtra baggage, and I mean real extra baggage plus of course the lil xtra baggage) checks in...

I have spotted THE ONE

Wow!!! It took me 1 year plus to reached the 900 hit but the moment I announced the 1k hit contest, I suddenly became so popular....but I am pretty sure the fast movement of the site meter was partly due to the competition between Malau and Redsponge..... No worries guys, there is always a 2000th, 3000th, 4000th........hit

Anyway, I have the pleasure to announced that the 1,000th hit was won by Chen....Congrats!!! I haven't decide what to give but rest asured prize sure guarantee cool wan....(Don't worry, not ice cream) Like I've said in my reply to you, I will dust off whatever dust that was collected in my drawers and salvage something for you.....)

Alrighty.....congrats once more to Chen and oh yes, thanks for posting your maiden comment in my blog....Sure proved 1 time lucky! Man!

Childhood food reminiscence

Of late, I've been thinking about food that we siblings used to eat when we were young and no longer in existence (or rather not to my knowledge until now) now that we are old have grown up. Anyway, I'm starting a self project in rekindling my taste bud when I was young (young as in far-from-reaching-the-puberty age). To-date, I have discovered 2.....Taste more or less the same but one thing for sure, price has gone up a thousand fold!

Food No 1
Cotton Candy - RM1.00

pink + cotton candy = ???

Past -
Used to like it so much and we siblings would 'pester' papa & mama to buy for us...Not 1 for 3 (3 of us only cos a certain somebody is still not in existence yet!) of us...Somehow or rather we don't believe in sharing and one must have their own and the person who finished hers/his first will sure cry!! LOL. I think it cost less than RM1.00 then but times were bad and to spend papa's money on this unnecessary sweets were definitely not a norm.

I just loved to see the floss turned to a darker colour everytime it came in contact with my saliva (try it by nibbling the floss) and I will slowly nibble the floss (which obviously mean that I was the last one to finish)...but then, that doesn't mean I have the best of both worlds cause by exposing the whole candy to air, it will shrink in no time and will turn sticky and crystalise the whole thing making it hard and not so good anymore....

Present -
I was at Hock Lee Centre after a dinner the other night when I spotted this candy and without hesitation, I just walked up to the stall and grab one. Too bad there is no more cotton candy machine at site...I used to love to see how the seller spin and spin until a whole big ball of candy appeared... Anyway, like I've said, we are old grown up now and I find it too sweet to my liking...

Food No 2
Onion Crackers - RM3.60

Yeah, there is a real onion at the top of the cracker......

Past -
I still remembered come month end, mama and papa will go to the nearest grocery shop to order ration for the month and to have it sent to our house. Amongst all the many many rations that they ordered (including the big and thick sanitary pads for us girls...LOL) a tin of either cream crackers or the onion crackers was sure to be in....(mind you, the tin I'm referring to was big and u don't get to see this kind of tin containing crackers anymore. not in supermarkets surely) Like mama, we both like the onion crackers the most....taste good by dipping it in your coffee or just by eating it dry.

Present -
Bought this packet from Giant Supermarket. Anyway, I don't know whether that's how it used to taste like or there's something wrong with the packaging but I find it a bit soggy and not as aromatic as before....But then again, last time we were not so exposed to all the nicest biscuits and crackers, thus, our tastebud is still very much a virgin and anything that goes into your mouth tasted heaven!

That's about all...I need to go and make myself a cup of nescafe and enjoy the crackers...
Hey, why don't u tell me what was your childhood favourite food and see whether we shared the same taste bud!

Till then.......

1k site hit

Updated 15 Sep 06: I have a funny feeling one of the 2 little girls will be the winner......



Oh boy....seems like I'm nearing the 1k hit and like any other bloggers wud be doing, I'm giving away gift to the 1,000th viewer of my blog... I'll think of what to give later. Please note that I am a very generous person and sometimes (depending on mood and time of the month) I feel so generous I can even offer somebody something that I can never give but due to obligation, I'll fulfill...

Meanwhile, if u happen to be the 1,000th viewer, please printscreen the webpage showing the site meter count and email me....

I'm on 971 tonight.....29 to go...

It's Junoesque's birthday today

Wanted to post this up first thing in the morning but somehow or rather, the internet connection was and still is slow...much slower than a walking tortoise......just to download 1 picture can take ages (Even have spare time to catch a sleep while waiting!!)

Anyway, time flies...just last year, I posted a birthday poem for her using another friend's birthday cake.....

Ok, Junoesque, Many Happy Return of the Day, Thanks for being a wonderful friend...You are an angel sent from above and there is never a moment of regrets in knowing you......Thank you for another year of laughter, love and being there for me....

A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good,
and sympathises with your problems when they're not so bad
-Arnold H Glasgow

I would have surely had an affair with you if I was borned a man!!!!!!!!

*run away again before Junoesque puke*

Community Service Post

My blog today is going to be different from my usual blogs complaining about shortcomings of the government authorities.....

Take it from me: PLEASE DO NOT PARK INDISCRIMINATELY WHEN YOU ARE SENDING OF WAITING FOR SOMEONE AT THE AIRPORT. BTW, THE WHOLE STRETCH OF LANE ALONG THE YELLOW LINE IS NOT A LEGAL PARKING AREA

Ok, I was just been ripped-off RM50.00 a while ago.....The RM50 I m supposed to use for my haircutting....I was sending my parents off this morning and thought I could just play with the police by parking my poor car along the yellow line.....brough my parents to the check-in counter, doing the usual check-in for them plus a few mild exchange of words with the MAS staff and then papa noticed a policeman writing summons and quickly notified me but by the time I reached my car, the summon has been issued and the pliceman actually apologised some more....Being a courteous and responsible citizen I am, I said it's ok and took the summon from him....He looked kinda apologetic and suggested that I appeal....but I did not, or rather the counter staff at the police station said I can't....Again, being a responsible citizen, I paid without any confrontation or commotion.....Be this a lesson to me and perhaps to everyone who used to park at the mentioned lane.....U'd rather park your car at the parking lots for a mere RM1.00 per hour nia instead of paying RM50.00 for the same amount of hour....

No mood to write......I'm salvaging somebody's home now for free lunch

DiGi Hidup

A sms this morning makes me a happy girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Sorry guys, can't take a pix of the whole original text as I can't use my phone to take its own pix, can I?? Furthermore, cudn't wait until tonight to take the pix on my digicam as I am just tooooo excited to blog about it. )

Here's an extract from my phone:
{Quote}

From: 200

U've received your reload bonus of RM37.00

{Unquote}

See??? see??? I am heavily over-budget this month after buying all the not-so-important items like shoes and am just lamenting on my condition as I may not have the budget to reload my handphone...This message is so appropriately timed and boy, am I glad!!!

Anyway, just to reconfirm that the bonus was not wrongly sent to me, I went to the website and yes, indeed, I deserved it!!


For those who are not aware of how DiGi prepaid works, they offers bonuses between 5% to 10% of your total reload for an accumulative period of 4 months based on your reload amount with the minimum being RM200 for the whole period...I can't do any better explanation as I don't work for DiGi but boy am I glad!!! So, my past spending on calls really paid off!!! And my loyalty to DiGi meant a lot too!!!

*run away quickly before some monkey chop off my head!!*

Shoes Fetish

I don't know what's the cause, neither do I know why it happened but of late, I've been so addicted to shoes, Vincci in particulat....

It all started from the trip to KL. I came back without buying a single pair of shoes which is very unbecoming of me. Then, I visited Vincci Shop back home and there I was mesmerised with a pair of nice while and beige strapped high heels.....and it doesn't stop there. To-date, I have bought 3 pairs of shoes.....and the latest one was over lunch just now.

What a beauty, eh?? Cost me RM38.90

Reduction in traffic summons due to high fuel price??

*Updated 07.09.2006 - The Police has today, informed the public that they are yet to reduced the fines......*

I'm forced to put up a new post for reason only me and that certain somebody should know....

I read in a local paper yesterday about the move in decreasing the fines for traffic summons in view of the high fuel price.....What has this 2 gotta do with each other, I wonder....and also, it was mentioned that the reduction is to encourage motorists from settling their fines promptly and to stop bribery!!! Hello????? did anyone give consideration to the negative impact of this move???

Anyway, the news below appeared in today's Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry, tasked with reducing road accidents and improving road safety, was not consulted over the reduction of traffic fines.

"It came as a surprise to me. There should have been some consultation. The police is a very important partner in the ministry's effort in reducing road accidents." – Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong ChoyMinister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who expressed surprise over the move by the police, said the reduction of fines could send a wrong message to road users, especially habitual offenders.
“It came as a surprise to me. I was never consulted by the police on the matter. I only knew about it through the media,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
Chan said he would ask for an explanation and a briefing from the police to find out more about the matter.

"We can reduce them when or how we want to. We do not have to consult the Transport Ministry on this. We have the power to do so." – Internal Security and Public Order Director Commissioner Datuk Mustafa AbdullahHe said he would also raise the matter at the next Cabinet meeting and discuss it with the Prime Minister.
Chan had directed Road Safety Department director-general Suret Singh to find out if the reduction of fines would affect the ministry’s road safety campaign.
“I really want to know the reasons behind this major decision. There should have been some consultation,” he said.
“The police are a very important partner in the ministry’s effort in reducing road accidents.”
The Road Safety Department, which comes under the ministry, was set up in 2004 to improve road safety.
On Monday, the police announced that traffic fines have been reduced by as much as RM200 to encourage offenders to settle their fines as well as discourage motorists from offering bribes.
Chan said the move could lead hardcore traffic offenders to think that there would be further relaxation of rules.
He said traffic fines were meant to deter motorists from breaking rules and not to generate income for the Government.
“We do not want your money. Keep your money. We only want you to behave and drive safely. We do not want a single sen from you,” he said.

Crocs

Don't be misled by the title of this post....it's not about the late Steve Irwin, or rather the infamous Crocodile Hunter

but then again, since I have mentioned his name, might as well make a slight diversion and contribute the first part of my post to him....

Poor man, from the way he handled the crocs and what not, I've always thought that he will die in the mouth of crocs but doesn't seem that way! From what I gathered, his death was very rare and unfortunate...Read on here. In general, stingray is a shy creature and would not attack unless it is 'provoked'. He was stabbed in the heart by a stingray's barb, so I guess the cause of his death is more of puncturing of heart than the sting! Talking about bad luck!!

So, to show our respect to him, we decided to do away with our fav bbq stingray with sambal last night and went for sambal sardine instead!!

Anyway, back to my original post

I was given the honour (thanks to my panglima) to try on a RM129.90 rubber cheese-look-alike ay tua/slippers which is fondly known as crocs........




Last night was the 1st time I laid my stinking feet into such an expensive slippers.....Hmmmm, how do I explain the feeling??? Of course, one thing for sure, I feel rich (who doesn't when u get to wear slippers that cost u more than RM100!!) and I must say it is very comfy because of the sufficient ventilation....no more stinking feet.....but on 2nd thot, will it not make those with a perpetuallyhongkong athlete's feet even worse by emitting the stink out instead of just confine to the shoes??? I wonder.......

Here are some random pixs of the slippers in question.....

Top view

Front View

Side View

Mindless post

I am so happy today!!!! My accounts clerk is finally back from her maternity leave and I can now breathe.....I don't have to work unearthly hours anymore, I don't have to skip lunches, teabreaks or gossips anymore!! Yippee!!!

Thank God she 's back now cos now I can concentrate on my new project as well as rekindling ties with my other office of which I have very very mercilessly abandoned for the past 2 months! Oh, and not forgetting my card biz....Talking about card, I have just completed 1 very nice card for a very special birthday girl....Can't post yet cos she might see it!

Went for lunch with malau at D'Grill Cafe (Sarawak Plaza). The cafe is spookily bare and dim dim. It has been in business for almost 2 years (I think) and was previously called Roadhouse Grill.....Anyway, shame to say but this is my first time here and I believed my next visit would not be in the near future....

Setting is cool with wood design...Very few crews and we spotted no more than 2 waiters during our lunch there last week. Ok, straight to the menu.

I ordered grilled chicken chop with a choice of either hash browns, rice or fries and it came out looking like Fries with chicken (Note the difference between chicken with fries and fries with chicken). Let's do a "Spot the chicken" in the photo below, shall we???

Nothing fanciful but prices are reasonable. That's all I can say, it seems!

On a separate note, somebody showed off to me via mms on a dish that he had (which is supposed to be our menu for our next dinner together)...While scolding him with my sms, I am thinking of whether I should re-instate the eatery-territorial-zone between the 2 of us.....and while protecting my "territory", I think I should protect the menus too!!!

The oyster omelette is MINE!!!!!!

In another week's time, I'm going to take on a new temporary job as an in-house matron.

This post was meant for Monday but was put on hold due to the traffic update thingy.

Last Friday, we visited a friend, P, and celebrated her birthday ( I am not going to reveal her name neither will I post her picture here for privacy purposes and for those readers who knows who I'm talking about, please help to keep it private)

I have known her for almost 15 years. She is not just an ordinary girl. She's pretty, cheerful and has been bedridden for almost 20 years....No, she was not born that way.. in fact, she was a very healthy and active girl until she collapsed on her way to school one day and was in a coma. The family prayed so hard for her recovery and God answered their prayer....She has her life back, a restricted life but never a day will you hear her complaining or blaming God about her condition. In fact, she has been very diligent in saying her daily and night prayers and one can spot a whole stack of prayer books and rosary next to her bedside.

During our last visit, she shared with me about a movie that she watched. It's about a girl who was paralysed and was blaming God for her misfortune...and the girl's mother consoled her by asking her to think about what she has instead of what she don't have...Anyway, P concluded her story by telling me that despite her condition now, she's thankful to God that she can see the beauty of God's creation, she can hear the beautiful sound of nature and las tly, she can talk about the beauty of God's love for her....

How many of us can think that way? Honestly, I don't think I can!

I survived the ordeal!!!!!!!

I survived!! I survived!! *singing Celine Dion's song I'm alive, followed by drum beat*

I've made to realised that whatever obstacles in life can be overcame with a bit of change...For once, I decided to sleep early last night so that I can leave the house slightly early to avoid all the traffic jam....

My initial mission:
1) Play with Della from 8pm-10pm
2) Bathe and change to my baju tidur at 10.15pm
3) Read a bit of Archie comics until 10.30pm
4) Cuddle NN to sleep by 11.00pm
5) Alarm clock to wake me up at 6.45am
6) Leave the house at 7.00am

My Achievement:
1) Day nightdreaming from 8pm-8.30pm
2) Do a bit of cards from 8.30pm-9.00pm
3) Went out to pump petrol from 9.00pm-9.20pm (borak a bit with the plump pump attendant at Jalan Keretapi Shell)
4) Play with Della from 9.30pm-10.30pm
5) Day nightdreaming from 10.30pm-11.00pm
6) Bathe and change to my baju tidur at 11.15pm
7) Hit the sack and read Archie comics until 11.45pm
8) Alarm Clock went off at 6.45am but I did not get up until 7.00am
9) Left home at 7.15am
10) Reached office 7.50am

Not bad eh??? So proud........Oh, this post is not complete if I did not extend my thanks to the following persons for their concern (So like grammy awards like dat):
1) Redsponge - Thank you lah for concern tho I know u can easily fall into the option 3 of my proposed alternative...

2) Anonymous - U also can easily offer me Option 3.....I have u in my mind when I typed Option 3

3) Ayam Kicik - Ok lah, ok lah, u did offer me the jalan alternative lor...As a reward, I shall not berpantun for the next 2 days (Btw, I took a totally different route this morning and yes, I did passed thru some of the routes that u proposed....)

4) Malau - Thanks but no thanks for offering Option 4.......I have to spend money to belanja u pulak...

Of all Jam and Butter

Initially, I intend to write something very inspiring and a touching post but what happened this morning has dampen my mood in writing anything good....Anyway, guess how long it took me to reach the office this morning, using the same old route that normally guarantees my arrival in 15 mins???? 1 hr?? Guess again....not even close.....

IT TOOK ME 2.5 FUCKING HOURS!!! (disclaimer: Sorry folks, the F word just came out from my mouth before I realised that I have young readers in my blog)

I was stucked at flyover, basically on a stand still without moving a single millimetre for almost 2 hours....Called the Police Station but no reply!!! After 2 hours of torture and frustration, the traffic finally move but not for long when a car decided to call it a day after the ordeal and stopped itself in the middle of the road.....Thanks to some considerate mototists on the other lane who decided to be courteous for once and give way to us...

Why the jam, I wonder?? I heard about the road closure over at the city centre as rehearsals are ongoing for the merdeka parade but why is it affecting 3rd mile, which is at least 3 miles away from the city centre??? Anyway, the reason why the traffic is smooth flowing after 2 hours is because several traffic police teams were send to ease the traffic.

While stucked in the traffic....I envy several people who doesn't have to go through this ordeal with me, namely Pinkcotton who is on leave because it's her birthday.......A because he's flying off somewhere less congested, Junoesque, malau and many other people who doesn't live around the 3rd mile and works far away from the city centre....

Well, another hell tomorrow.....I have done a good thinking about 2 moro and this is what I might be doing:

either

1) I leave the house super early tomorrow to arrive at office super early (before they close the road at 5.30am). I'll come to office in my pajamas and NN (don't ask what is this) and continue sleeping until 8am; or

2) I don't go home at all tonight and check in to a hotel near my office....better still if it comes with complimentary breakfast and free laundry so that I can send my officewear for cleaning tonight and wear them again tomorrow; or

3) Somebody kind staying around my work place to offer me a free bed & breakfast.....Somebody's hostel just came into my mind...:-) or

4) Take a half day leave and sleep...Save money on petrol and my energy!

So, readers, which one should I opt??

No one is above suspicion

I'm suffering from writer's block today.....having a terrible headache too (probable cause the fried seaweed popiah) Instead of just keeping quiet until I have found inspiration, let me share with you this cute pix sent to me by somebody....So cute I'm turning it into my desktop pix as well as my msn pix



Cute dogs, aren't they??? I 'met' an ever nicer Custom Dept's dog in Melbourne International Airport the last time I was there....They were using a cocker spaniel to sniff and check your baggages for prohibited food.....Was told that you are not supposed to touch it or even coax it....

Only Professionals are wanted in Malaysia

Was reading the Star newspaper of today and this article has brought me to realise what kind of country Malaysia is.

Apparantely, the Government is urging Malaysians who have made a name for themselves elsewhere to come back and contribute to the nation. And I tell you, the Government is prepared to pay fortune in order to get them back....So, my question now is this, "What about the non-professionals?"

I'm sure we have lots of Malaysians in Singapore and other neighbouring countries who doesn't hold any high profile jobs. Why is there no appeal in inviting them home? Or perhaps they are not encouraged to come home merely because of their status???

By counter-offering them higher pays and incentives, will that improve our nation's economy??? I doubt...

Anyway, this is just my personal point of view. I have pasted the article here. Read on...

THE STAR 22 AUGUST 2006 Malaysia wants the Jimmy Choos to come home

KUALA LUMPUR: Come home – that is message the Government wants to send out to those who have ventured abroad and made names for themselves

internationally in designing, modelling, singing and acting.

Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said there were many such Malaysians.

“There are many with the experience in Broadway. We have Malaysians who are top models in New York and London. We have people with the experience in fashion designing,” he said.

He noted that these people were experts in their fields and that the country would benefit by having them back.

“We should attract them back because they bring a good name to Malaysia,” he said yesterday at the 11th Civil Service Conference.

Dr Fong said that under a programme to bring experts back to the country, the word “expert” had been defined a little too rigidly in the past to mean professionals and those with tertiary educational qualifications, like scientists, doctors, accountants and bankers.

“But we want to attract not only the scientists and medical experts. If we want to attract people like (internationally-acclaimed shoe designer Datuk) Jimmy Choo, how do we do it?” he added.

Hence the Government had decided to be more flexible and would try to attract these talented people to come back, he said.

“They are innovators, the benchmarkers. They are the ones who inspire others,” he noted.

Dr Fong said Malaysia had hoped to attract thousands of experts back to the country when it introduced the programme in 2001 but only 300 experts had came back so far, mostly those in medicine and financial services.

He said the poor response was due to the difference between salaries offered here and overseas.

“We can only offer incentives but the major change that we want to put in place is beyond us. The salary level is dependent on the employers,” he added.

Dr Fong also noted that a number of electronics firms that had relocated operations to China were slowly coming back to Malaysia because it had the infrastructure for best practices in the sector.

“We want this to be transmitted to all other sectors,” he said.

Announcement

I am pleased to announced the arrival of little baby Della who was delivered to me on 18 August 2006 at 4.30pm.....She weighs just merely over 2 kg and she is a a very healthy and pretty baby and I can never get enough of her from the moment I lay my eyes on her.......For your information, she is not delieverd to me on normal circumstance, thus, I have to actually order her and I paid a hefty sum of money just to have her and I can tell you, it's worth every penny and effort....Like any normal parent, the first night was such a tiring night.....I did not really sleep until the wee hours of the morning...getting to know her, preparing her place, panic at the tiniest blunder and so forth....

Anyway, these are the 2 photos that I took on her 1st day.....I'm sure u would all agree that she is a cutie and adorable

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...Thought I heard Junoesque scolding me OCHIPALA in the background??

Before u guys started to scold and curse me in my comment box, bear in mind that I never say Della is a human being lei.....Gotcha!

ok, back to work, people!!!

Cats and Dogs

Found this joke in today's Eastern Times and thot I should share with you all:

The top 10 differences between Cats & Dogs
10. Dogs come when you call them. Cats take a message and get back to you when they are good and ready
9. Dos will let you give them a bath without taking out a contract on your life.
8. Dogs will bark to wake you up if the house is on fire. Cats will quietly sneak out the back door. 7. Dogs will bring you your slippers or the evening newspaper. Cats might bring you a dead mouse.
6. Dogs will play frisbee with you all afternoon. Cats will take a three-hour nap.
5. Dogs will sit on the car next to you. Cats have to have their own private box or they will not go at all.
4. Dogs will greet you and lick your face when you come home from work. Cats will be mad that you went to work at all.
3. Dogs will sit, lie down and heel on command. Cats will smirk and walk away.
2. Dogs will tilt their heads and listen whenever you talk. Cats will yawn and close their eyes.
1. Dogs will give you unconditional love forever. Cats will make you pay for every mistakes you've made since the day you were born.

--------------------------------------
A man takes his dog to the vet. "My dog is cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?" "Well", says the vet, "let's take a look at him." So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to put him down." "What? Because he is cross-eyed?" The man asked of which the vet replied, "No, because he is really heavy."
-----------------------------------------

The Rain....ahhhhhhhhh

It came unexpectedly,

It's gentle touch, it's gentle sound,

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

How I miss the smell of its pre-arrival

No word can describe how much I have longed for it to come

The Rain!

Finally, after endless nights of dry spell, hazy weather, Redsponge's frogs false alarm croaks, the rain is finally HERE!!! Be it natural rain or result of the cloud seeding, I don't give a damn, at least the rain is here, no matter how little.....at least it helps to clear the sky a bit...

I love Friday, and I love today!!!!

*I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain, la la la la la* (Redsponge & Pinkcotton are too young to know how to sing this song)

Series of Sad Stories

I was sad yesterday and even sadder today....

As some of you may have noticed, I have re-instated my blogging name to Papercrazy (where I was initially known) for reason only me know but can't share lor......So, if you noticed a Papercrazy posting comments in your blog, do not get excited about a new visitor, it's just merely me, the simple MNG...

Also, I have decided to shut down my other blog for good after it has been discovered by an unwanted guest...No, I'm not a criminal neither am I running away from one......:-)

Haze
I'm getting frustrated with the weather condition each day.......I can still bear the hot spell but haze??? Please note that it is our right as a citizen/human being to be given fresh air to breath and we have been deprived from all these.....The API reading as at last night was 115 and Kuching has been labelled as one of the unhealthiest area....

To make matter worst, no effort has been made in cancelling all outdoor activities.....Drive thru Padang Merdeka and Waterfront and u will know what I meant.....Construction of stages and platforms for the upcoming Merdeka Parade is underway and looking at how extensive the works, I doubt they are going to stop the parade.....As I am writing this blog, they are conducting the parade rehearsal at Petra Jaya.......

Last Saturday was the official opening of the Kuching Fest.....Is the authority aware that fireworks contributes to air pollution too??? For once, please do not blame our neighbouring countries on the haze issue, instead, please look at ourselves, our surroundings....sad to note but we are the biggest culprit ourselves!!! Despite the Gov't's directive to stop open burning, I still notice several houses doing that!!!

The weather too has caused people to illusionised......Imagine mistaken the sun and moon for MARS????

365 days ago

15 August 2005

It's the day we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption

(Mother Mary ascending to heaven body and soul)

It's the day I believed in reconciliation

It's the day I believed our life on earth is just temporary

It's the day that proof that God is always there with me

It's the day I've been granted a 2nd chance in life

15th August - It's a day I'll remember for the rest of my life

Read this blog for those who has just recently joined my blog's reading list. It is exactly 365 days ago when I was strucked with the biggest blow which changed my life drastically.

I don't read chinese so I don't know what was written. All I know is that 50% of the write-up is bull....To start, it stated that I was driving a Honda!

Only God knows how I live my days shortly after the accident and only my closest ones would know how much I suffer, both physically & mentally. Trauma? Yes, I got over it within 2 weeks, after a good long cry and lamentation (in private, of course! I'm a very proud person in nature yunno....;-). A friend found that I got over things too fast...Even the doctor that treated me thought so....But I believed in life goes on....thus, there!.....I started driving again 2 days later!

What have I learnt from this incident? I learnt to appreciate life more and I believed that nothing is permanent in this life, so, live life to the fullest.

We don't really get to live our lives normally until recently. My car was finally released free-of-defects in March after a much tug-of-war event between us and UMW. So, imagine, I've only managed to sleep peacefully and get on with my life after 8 months. But above all things, God has been very kind to me and I have never once blame or question God for all these...

Nevertheless, as a friend used to say, I'm in good hands! Indeed, I am!

Peace!

Dreams

I've always believed that whatever u do during the day will influence your dreams...

Have not been sleeping very well the last few nights (since Friday to be precised). A, being a 'dear' house husband during his leave, changed my 5-year-old contour pillow to a newly bought hotel-standard cotton fluffy pillow (and so proudly showed them to me when I returned from work on Friday)...The pillow is so huge for my little head that I basically slipped down everytime I lay my head on it...Anyway, I've no choice but to learn to get used to it cos he has chucked away my comfy saliva-stained pillow up in the cupboard beyond my reach.

Anyway, back to my initial post. I was just reading the comments in my blog from Yo on her dislike of dory and chips and a the same time, Pinkcotton and A were laughing talking about the spongebob cartoons. So, last night, I dreamt about having dinner with Yo and a few other friends including Anonymous and Laksamana Ayam Kecik (don't ask me who is this cos I m not going to reveal)...We ordered fish and chips and the chips tasted just like sponge...Since I like chips, I finished them but Yo gave them away to the next table comprises of several young chirpy girls (I'm sure it's Pinkcotton and Redsponge) and boy, were they happy!!!!!!!!!! LOL

That's all folks.




Oh, another thing.....I'm still frantically looking for a hairdresser. Have not been having a hair cut since...since....since 4 months ago??? However, I have scaled down my list of potential hairdresser to the following of which I would appreciate if you could give me a recommendation ( be it a new recommendation or an endorsement from the list below):
1) Rigi @ RH Plaza
2) Hair Do @Sarawak Plaza
3) Alan Inspiration @ Parkson (I don't really fancy a supermarket-chained-like saloons unless it is so good)
4) The-what-name- shop at Travillion

Of This and Of That

Helloooooooooooooooooo People!

I'm back in action...Thanks for waiting...Had a very fun and enjoyable trip to KL except for a few bad encounters.

OF AIR ASIA

Thumbs down for AirAsia....But then again, I must say the airline is really cool and it was indeed a no-frill flight except for an hour delay both going and coming back. Problem is not really with the airline but more of the passengers....Flew to KL on the new airbus (and was really comfy and smoth flying) but we returned using an old and haggard boeing 737 which seats that can be removed and nasi lemak that was over-re-heated (Thanks to Pinkcotton who kept on convincing us to try out the nasi lemak..yucks!)

Aside the service, we encountered several uncivilised, uneducated people who prefers to practise the law of the jungle....On our flight to KL, 2 ah lians doesn't understand the meaning of queuing..For them, Queue means Kill (which literally means they have to kill in order to board the plane)...these assholes just barged in as we began to move in line and to my dissapointment, the airasia crew still smiled at them and wished them a good journey!!!

Coming back lei.....Even worse...Queue for the check-ins were like snakes......U'll find people with trolleys at every nook and corner trying their way to cut queues....Standing there in line reminds me of the TV programme Supermarket Sweep....

Check-in done, bags labelled and thrown into the dustbin cargo conveyor done, boarding pass obtained, and off we go to the immigration checkpoint....Queue was not long but somehow or rather, people are just so used in cutting queues that I was cut by a stupid man (I shall not mentioned the race for fear of being labelled a racist) but it's definitely the most common race in KL...He just ignored me when I told him off and pretended nothing has happened. Again, what dissapoint me was the attitude of the officers....They should have stop him (for me, anyone who rushed through the immigration checkpoint has every reason to be questioned)

So, Junoesque - good luck on your forthcoming trip in December!!!

Ok, Ok, I shall not go further on the airline cos I have more interesting stories to share

OF KL

Changed a lot since the last time I was there which is just a year ago....Haze was so bad we couldn't even see the KL tower from our hotel room.


Within 1 day, we met 3 taxi drivers, the cuckoo, the senile and the devil....
LCCT-Hotel: The cuckoo - As we were lining up for taxi, I spotted a driver wearing a mickey mouse hat (with the ears and what not) and prayed silently I wud not get him.....A said my prayer was answered when the cuckoo came to our "rescue"...Throughout the journey he kept on asking us to call him for airport transfer blah blah blah....

KL Sentral-The Curve: The Senile - We boarded a cab and the driver (at least in his 70s)doesn't even know where the Curve is...Even after A explained to him, he was still blur blur until I cudn't stand it and asked him whether he knows or not, else we changed to other taxi (I know, I know, very mean of me, but hey, we are paying to be driven there, not the other way round). The moment I said that, he quickly started his car and still mumble mumble on how to get there....and A has to tell him the direction all the way there...and he nearly rammed into a Vios (phew.....)

KL Sentral-hotel: That was after we have been 'cheated' by the train.....waited for the 10.15pm train back and was then delayed to 11.15pm...we took the cab and finally, we experienced the real KL taxi driver....He drove like mad and we were home within 10mins........ahhhhhhh

OF FOOD AND FOOD

Warning: Pls do not drool on my website

For our 1st nite dinner, we went to Manhattan Fish Market... The food there was glorious and value for money.....They serves mostly seafood, not just any seafood, but fresh and juicy ones...A and I ordered the fried seafood platter consisted of prawns, mussels, calamari, fish fillet and rice....yummy...To some people, U might find the presentation slightly LC (serves in big pan with the handle and what not) but heck, we are here for the food!!

As usual, I made a point to visit my ever favourite eatery, Secret Recipe...Tried something different this time (Cordon Bleu) and as usual, it never dissapoint me.....The food was so good that we just don't have the heart to walked off when the waiter gave us the wrong bill (at least 50% cheaper than our actual price) Was he ever grateful when we told him....he covered his mouth, shaked his bum bum a bit and said in a very apologetic feminine voice "Oh..I'm so sorry!"...(Note: It's a He)

A's cheese macaroni

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Doesn't look good??
Wait till u see the inside

Shucks!! I'm hungry now and it's only 5.40pm

List of other eateries that I have tried/bought/went in and came out empty handed/went back over and over again during my stay:
1) Esquire Kitchen
2) Chopstick Noodles
3) The Chicken Rice Shop
4) Bread Talk
5) Japanese Sushi from Jusco
6) Bee Cheng Hiang
7) Baskin Robins
8) etc etc etc etc

Enuf saying....photos please...........


OF SHOPPING AND OF WHAT NOT

Sale quite dissapointed....Even then, I spent almost a month's salary (after deducting car installment and petrol) on clothes and food....To my suprise, I did not buy a single shoe this time round.

Oh, being a good catholic girl, I fulfilled my sunday obligation before going for a shopping spree...Went to St John's Cathedral early Sunday morning for mass at 10.30am...As usual, u'll get people selling all sorts of things along the entrance and beggars begging....Pinkcotton was amused but I've told her it was even merrier previosuly...U even get barbers doing business there!! Hmmm....funny site

To conclude - I enjoyed the food so much that's the only thing that I missed when I came back....

Chiak Hong

Last blog before I pack my bag/clean up my workstation again/withdraw $$ from the bank and go chiak hong/eat wind/makan angin/cherk fung/makai angin on my maiden no-frills airline

Cleaned up my workstation yesterday evening....but today it's back to square one....Can never have a tidy and well-organised workstation....Read somewhere that how your workstation look like can determine your characteristic....(like that, mine sure very not good wan)...wait till u see my bedroom too

This is how my cleaned-up table looked like:

Nice room eh?? Wait till u see the view from the window...even nicer

Don't you think this is a nice pendant? It's a opal dolphin bought from Australia...Apparantely, it claimed that the stone has some reflexology effects......Something to calm you.....(No wonder I am so calm today...to the extent of blur blur and promised somebody a live frog from KL)

My inner child got the best of me again (after the McD spree) and looked what I had for my afternoon snack yesterday:

I still prefer the 2-flower Mee with a picture of a boy and a girl looking at each other...what an advert eh??

Call me a hoarder or whatever but look what I've found while ransacking organising my bedside drawer.....

It was drawn by my one and only mei mei some years ago for reason only her herself knows....She even put my name and my year of birth underneath the pix....as if it's my tombstone....Why am I cat? I dunno. What happened to my front tooth?? I dunno too

Alrighty people, that's all for today.....See you again in a week's time...

Ciao

Mindless Post

Howdy People

Attended a One-day seminar on property tax yesterday at Hilton and I nearly fell off my chair from boredom...However, one of the speaker revived me from boredom with his funny pronounciation of words....He boasted that he is a graduate in Accountancy but nothing was mentioned about where he had his english lesson.....As usual, all 'sh' and "t" pronounciation were made silent but I was ok with that...What amused me most was how he constantly pronounced the word EXEMPT - Thot I heard him pronounced EPSON....Nvr mind...He might be promoting the Epson printer.

People, do u feel like doing charity but don't know where to start or who to look for?? Look no further, MNG is here to help you...

St Theresa Church in Serian is having their Annual Parish Fair from 29.09.2006 to 01.10.2006 and tickets are on sale at RM10.00 per booklet.....Am helping a priest friend to promote...Please let me know if you are interested in buying (Note: U all better make sure that u r interested, otherwise no more interesting blogs for you all to read liaw)

MNG's offer - Buy 1 booklet, free RM1 ticket.... This offer is only valid if u buy from MNG....

3 more days to go...KL Here I come...Might not be updating my blog lor unless I can find a net near where I stay, and also provided that I have the time to write.....My agenda has been drawn up and Boy, am I going to be a very busy bee