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just some photos of proton city for those who have never been there. a very quiet place but not something i will call a township (you need to have people living there before calling it a town). most of the bungalows are still empty except for 2 or 3.
there is a sports complex as well, equipped with track and field equipments, football pitch, indoor squash and badminton courts, outdoor takraw, basketball and netball courts. however, the running track has only officially been used once (last month) for a district level athletics competition since completion. what a waste. i wonder whether residents living here are free to use the complex.
proton gen 2 models were seen lining up outside the factory for despatch....and what a long stretch it is.

all souls day

aaarrrggghhhhhh.......feast of pork for the coming days!!
what are you going to do with 2 roast pigs???
an uncle bought them for 'ching ming' (chinese's all souls day) and mom sat chopping and cutting them up after they were offered to the ancestors. some were distributed to close neighbours and relatives. but there is still so much left. urrgghh....noon was already pork porridge...wonder what is next?

new companion

i miss blogging!!!!
has been bogged down by work for these 2 weeks!!
the table is spread with papers and files!!! and all need urgent attention. so die lah...which ever is more urgent or which ever needs to be handed in pronto is given immediate attention. sigh.
another reason for not blogging is the slow opening of the blogger log-in page. why do i have this problem at the workplace? i have no problem logging in at all at home. i just cannot seem to be able to get through the log-in page. anyone has any explanation?
well, might not have to depend on the office pc now. just received a new notebook : compaq presario v3000. hehe...not the latest model, so of course when it is free u dun complain lah. i found out that it has even been discountinued in hp official homepage! gulp....like we are the dumping site.
can do my surfing at the workplace via wi-fi, and dun have to fight for the limited pc. hehe...can even watch dvds! the thought just titillates me..shh....dun tell the boss.

congratulations nicol!!!

watched squash for the very first time in my life.

venue: berjaya times square, kl
date: 18 march 2007
time: 5-6.30pm
game: kl open, women's final; nicol david vs natalie grinham

this is something new to me. dun even know the rules of the game, or whatever the referee was calling out. just knew nicol was winning when the crowd cheered and clapped. ;) better go and check some basics of the game next time so i won't feel like a fool watching a game of squash.

it was actually quite difficult to even catch the game from where i was standing. had to stretch my neck to follow the ball. some unruly people were shouting while there were long rallies and were warned. is it really suitable to hold such a big event in a mall and have children running about or crying???

result: nicol david, defending champion of kl open.

new craze in town

new hobby...paper folding...not my new hobby but for some ladies i know here.
and the greetings of the day now is : eh how is the folding coming along???
i guess the craze started before chinese new year when everyone wanted to decorate their homes with fans, lanterns, red auspicious shaped hangings, etc.
then it has continued. as you know, chinese do have all their gold and silver papers they fold the whole year long to be burnt to the ancestors.
what more with the coming of all souls day (ching ming), it gives you another reason to indulge in this.
they have even bought books to refer to and some busy parents even send their daughters to master the skill.
i know men have joined this group too and are active as well.
as for me, i am just a bystander looking as more folded creations are brought into the house.

we won! we won! we won!!

oooooohhhhhhhooooooooooo!!!!
what an exciting doubles match!! koo kien keat and tan boon heong will emerge as the new heroes of the new generation!!!
congratulations on winning the 2007 edition of the all england. the crowd were rooting for them and i think they got a standing ovation from the crowd too. the commentator also did not forget to mention that their partnership is only 6 months old. so that is really awesome that they have created so many wins.
toast to them...and to more wins!!! keep your heads guys!!!

1 week escapade

one week....yes...you heard me right!! another week of rest!! dun curse me lah.....
it was hectic ok when it was back to work after chinese new year and the pace had not stopped at all till now. this week is only one to escape from work and to psyche oneself to resume work. sigh.
this is a week to escape!!!
MATTA fair is back and hopefully this time around something will materialize out of this fair...like the failed beijing trip in march! but i am short of one to make the group even!! how???? someone will have to be the odd one out and that person will most likely be me! duh..the other four going are all sisters! any gal out there interested to go?
cambodia trip in august is made safer now....thanks to the recent air asia discount frenzy (yet again!). 6 others colleagues have managed to book their tickets but i will still have to fly there one day earlier! they booked a day later because it was cheaper!!! and yes they can save one day of lodging in the hotel. oooohhhhhh!!! i will have to do the ground checking and source for deals. i hope we can arrange the landtour before we go. anyone has any advice to share? destination: phnom penh-siam reap-phnom penh.

life is a maze

ooh...if life is only just as spontaneous, impulsive, nerve-wrecking, exhilarating with happy endings as becky bloomwood's (aka mrs brandon).
i am totally smitten by this character from the shopaholic series. which girl isn't? she does land herself in hot soup most of the times, but everything fares well for her in the end. if only life is just as simple.
we have all our insecurities, blunders, doubts and the negative list goes on...but how many can be as frank (minus the visa bills) as becky? being such a reserved person myself, everything is bottled up and sometimes i think i am paranoid! :)
but i guess what i am writing now is just out of envy for becky. as soon as the effect of the book runs off, i will be back to the aggressive, self-centred, carefree self. you won't even know if i have any prob (thanks to my camouflage skills).
dun worry, i am not in any problem here.

so becky, what is next on the shopping list?

harry potter and the deathly hallows

pre-order has started...i did mine in mph.
pay a deposit of rm70, get a rm10 cash voucher, and the estimated price of the book is rm120 (sssoooo expensive!!!!..the most expensive book i will buy).
will be released on 21 july. comes with a paper bag and limited edition harry potter mug. hmm..initially the release date was 7 july ah...that would be so much better hehehehe....

aiyoh..i just found out on amazon that they are only selling the book for £9!!! so unfair!! why is the book so expensive in malaysia?? i hope that 120 price mentioned by mph is only an estimate. gulp!

diamond is a girl's best friend...

gosh, will everyone think twice now after watching blood diamond? i mean, it has been known all these while that people are exploited in the mine...but seeing it on screen makes it much more difficult to swallow or on the other hand, more real. if all guys brought their girlfriends to see this movie, they might be able to save quite a bit huh.
so does that mean no more bling bling??

this is just something i got forwarded in the mailbox. hehehe....dun u all wish that healthy lifestyle is just as simple as all the answers given??

HEALTH QUESTION &ANSWER SESSION

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO . Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming Whoo what a ride".
With our heartfelt BEST wishes for a healthy, serene and fun-filled 2007 !

my best friend's wedding

aaahh......the first wedding of the year is over. what a weekend it was and what a memorable one!!! am so glad everything went smoothly without a hitch. wishing the bride and groom many happy days together...don't forget the terms and conditions you have adhered to Paul...hahaha...i hope you have read every word clearly and understood all.
also, i think those guys have one of the easiest paths to get the bride in the 'waiting room'. all my effort and time spent were wasted!!! you are welcome ya.
sigh....you only needed to shout your heart out that you came to pick the bride, answer some simple questions (yet some were still wrong and i still let you through...so fast gave away the 'lai se'...or was there another one..hhmmmm...), have some slices of lemon (which is good for cleansing lah) and then sign the marriage contract. AAWWWWW!!!!!
what happen to all those whipped cream, wax, singing, etc???? anyway...a big toast to the couple!! what a handsome couple ya?? everyone who has seen the photos say so...cheers to both of you....

chinese new year wishes

i know this is a bit late...apologies..my fault
i received an e-mail instruction from a dear friend, k. sugumaran who is in england at the moment. he wants me to wish all friends a happy chinese new year.
so to all friends of k. sugu...happy chinese new year.
anyone who wants to write to him, ask me for his e-mail add lah. he is a busy man doing his masters now...and in his mail, he has only slept for 2 days in the last 5. life is hard eh. man, you have to take care!!!

the mandarin man

congratulations!!!

date: 20 february 2007
venue: garden seafood restaurant

yaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmm..........ssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!


the happy bride and groom; kien and hua

happy chinese new year

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! WELCOME YEAR OF THE BOAR!!! OINK! OINK!

it is such a quiet day. nothing like the past years where the house was crowded with siblings, cousins and friends. i guess time is changing as everyone moves away from home. most are overseas and the noise and festivities are more reduced now. no mood or spirit at all!!
gosh, this week might be a dread instead now. i hope tomorrow will be a more active one. getting red packets is no longer the priority; only the kids will feel excited. and everyone who is giving the red packets keep pestering you to be the one to give next year... not fun at all having to think of an answer.

happy valentine's day

woohoo!!! a box of ferrero rocher first thing in the morning!! 7++!! what a better way to start the morning. haha...so nice of the boy. everyone else promised this and that one week before this day, and yet no actions!
haha..who says singles cannot celebrate valentine's??
wishing everyone else a happy and sweet day. pour those loving feelings out and dun keep 'em all for yourself!

storm came. after the one week of dry spell, finally it came in torrents! the gale was so strong that it blew down trees, water came into the house and my car got a wash....but not a good wash, as soon as the water dried, it was all covered with dust. even bro's bedroom did not escape the torment. the wind blew in dust and sand particles through the gaps above the windows. i got an immediate itch when i slept on the bed. had to wake up to dust them away before sleep could resume. some rain is welcomed, but no more gale and storm please.
the dry weather is really torturing. the sun is so bright and cruel, it sucks every drop of moisture on the surface. headache even visited once it got unbearably hot. when will this end? it hampers all the sports activities i have in mind in the evening.

mom's pride and joy. they are really in full bloom now. i love the purple one on the right, it is so unique. could it be the hot and dry weather now that is forcing the out from hiding?? in time for the new year too (i hope). haha..no one knows what will happen one week later.

the time is past 5pm.,
yes, i know it is almost time,
for the tiffin carrier to drop by
with the day's dinner.

hip! hip! hooray!
no more worries,
stomach is filled
aaah...first is the bowl of soup,
next comes a lil' bit of rice
plus the 3 dishes
yum yum...satisfied

*oh, it is such a convenience to have this service now. the food is not bad as well and i have so much more time on my hands.

trip to beijing has been shelved for the time being. might go in june if the cost permits. going in march is impossible because of the expensive air fare despite the so-called air fair.

been really busy recently. sorry there is nothing much to fill in as well. when i thought of something to write about, the computer was occupied. well, just my luck i guess.
the travelling plan has hit a snag. beijing might be a dream only now. blame the wau bulan airlines! they actually retrieved the confirmed bookings i had made through a travel agent and instructed all passengers to go and book their tickets through their online travel fair. fair my foot!!! previously i managed to get my ticket for only rm16++, now the price is rm24++ for my travel period. how unfair is that? if i go in may or june, i can get quite a cheap fair, but no one will be free to bring me around then. if i choose to go via others airlines, the price is still around rm21++ or less which i think is still expensive to go to beijing ah :(. will wait and see what my housemate say. the wau bulan can fly far far away lah, i will find some others means to go.

cny around the corner

everywhere you go is a sea of red now i bet. red lanterns, cherry blossoms, god of prosperity, red packets, you name it you have it!!! the malls are crowded with ppl of all races and ages buying and basking in the festive air. these are what i saw during one of the visits to the malls. the god of prosperity was a favourite among the crowd. he was distributing red packets filled with sweets. the crowd really pushed their way to get their hands on one. i was busy clicking away and the 'choi san' headed towards me go give me one. hahaha...i dun even have to shove and push.

no new is good news

it pained my heart to read in the newspaper this morning news of riots and curfews again in this mythical and mystical country called nepal. since my visit there in 04, i have harboured hope to make return trip but the political situation there does not seem to encourage return of tourists. it is really a beautiful place and the people are really friendly and hospitable. if you guys out there has a chance for a visit, do drop by. it is highly recommended. it will enrich your life and make it more complete than it already is.

escapism in 2007

travel plans for escape 2 in 2007
1. first stop: beijing in march
tickets are already booked...but still not paid yet. i am still hoping to get cheaper tickets. heard mas virtual ticket fair that is coming soon. dunno whether i can get cheap tickets online. it will be a free and easy thingy in beijing. a housemate's sister is studying there...so accomodation is settled. i have an aunt there too...a 100% local...shopping for local goods will depend on her. i hope the weather will not be cold. people say it is already the beginning of spring, so maybe flowers are starting to bloom and light springy steps will lead the path. aahh..how ideal and romantic.
2. next stop in may/june: langkawi island?? maybe
3. third stop or last: cambodia in august
this is confirmed as well....blame air asia for making me plan this so well ahead. 1,000,000 free tickets to give away....well, i only got one!! what giveaway..my foot!!! i only got 1 way free...but it is still the cheapest way to fly to cambodia i guess...less than 400. only another gal dare to follow me on this less trodden path. the others have been filling me in with stories of visit to the police station. not one story mind u, a few which ended up in the police station. these are people who travelled on their own without a guide. i plan to get a hotel online and then explore on my own, but after hearing the stories, am in a rut. there is still ample time to go ask around and seek advice. maybe hiring a local guide will ease the scare. well, if anyone has any advice, please drop them. or anyone wants to join this trip?? flight is going to land in phnom penh and angkor wat is not to be missed in siam reap.
4. err...still got money left ah???.........

shopaholic dilemma

aiyoh....bad news for shopaholic!!! an aunt is coming back from germany via dubai!!! red alert!!!
dubai duty free!! dubai shopping carnival!!! aaaaahhhh!!!
;(((((((((((((((
no money, no talk. sigh.
anyone stopped in dubai before or heard of any exciting things about the duty free at the airport?? naa...i am not buying but maybe whatever information i can get hold of, can tantalise my aunt to buy a thing or two. hahaa
a friend who went to the states via dubai last time, bought lots on the way to and on the way back. is it really that good???
what is cheap there?? i have heard of perfume, and most recently watches. aaah....watches...hmmm...yes that is what i want. dun worry, i will hold my horses and wait till i have hit the jackpot. so wish me luck.

cough...cough...

i bet you guys have never seen anyone who is happy to be coughing away. well, here i am feeling glad that i am coughing...finally...after bearing with the bad sorethroat for 2 weeks, i am finally coughing and the throat is not as painful as it used to!! yippeee!!!
usually the cough is the last to come in the recovery process, so i guess (fingers crossed) i am on the road to recovery. i still dare not shout or use that much voice (as if i have that). still have the vitamin c prescribed to take, cough medicine, a bottle of honey as well as a packet of chinese herbs with dried bees to boil and drink. hehehe...yeah, they are real preserved bees. a friend recommended it, so what the heck. i also took some paracetamols on and off in these two weeks...could not help it because of the fever. now the fever is gone, so i guess the bacteria is sort of terminated.
hope the worst is over and the silver lining is peering and shining down on me now.

p/s: have forgotten the effect of cough mixture until yesterday. took one big spoonful before the start of american idol. and my lids could not even hold themselves till the first commercial break. i hit the bed instead. dared not take this morning as i was afraid i would hit the table while reading the morning papers. haha...but after this, it will be the best sleeping mixture for a cool rainy night.

(i am writing this at the dictation of Atticus Lim)

hello people of the world! i am Atticus Lim and i want you to keep on looking at this blog and have a look at every picture on this blog. i am nine and i am the ruler of the world. i want you to obey my orders. read the famous five, and garfield. they are very good books. i want to tell you i am from Australia, Melbourne, Kew, Stawell Street. i will not tell you my number and i have a very nice house. a pool and a trampoline. i like my computer and tv includin the dvds. my favourite dvd is jurassic park. i have seen 1, 2 and 3. i want you to obey my order by watching it. hmm..let's see, let's see..stop that!! stop that Escape...whatever your name is!!!
now, be good. i want you to write what i say or else i shall hang you. this is my cousin ah jet, the one who is trying to be the main person. i want you to know that i have a very good teacher at my school called Miss Sonia Hawking and my new teacher for 2007 is Cheryl Griffn. she used to be a librarian. my favourite place in australia is my house. my favourite place in my house is my room. my favourite place in my room is my bed. my favourite in my bed is under the covers. my favourite under the covers is at the right top hand corner. my favourite place at the right top hand corner is at the bottom left hand corner.
i love reading doraemon. my friend, robert xiao loves it as well. he is the one who has read the most doraemon because it is in japanese and i dun understand that language. so i haven't read as much as him but i still like it.
(he has gone down to get a bottle of water for me...oh..how much longer is he going to dictate??!!!)
shut up Escape to escape!
i like my pool because i like swimming. i order you to swim. now i must go. escape is being "!££$%&*£$£!!!!

stay put

When you are at the top spot, don't let anyone grab it away from you.
Donald Trump

what a motivation. it would seem embarassing isn't it if your top spot is grabbed away? it is almost like being demoted. i would not like to face this fate. so after all those whining i have done regarding my tonnes of responsibilities and tasks this year, those words by mr trump have set me back on track again. i will not fail and be sorry for what i know i could have done.

gosh, i think i am down with strep throat. too much information overload on the internet is not necessary a good thing huh. all the symptoms of strep throat are in me. i did not get any flu or cough. i had mild fever few days ago. hm....and it is contagious. so i better not stay too close to ppl. ok and rest is important plus a lot of fluid...so rest drink rest drink...and lots of toilet breaks!!

thank you

what a saturday it was!! been staying idle and quiet as planned and managed to get some work done.
i finished reading a book too. the title is the finer points of sausage dogs by alexander mccall smith. man, it is really bone tickling. that main character is really like a mr bean character reincarnated in word form. i hope to get his other best seller too: the no 1 ladies' detective agency. i heard it is even funnier.
i finished catching up the korean series my delighful girl chun hyang as well!! waaaa..i sat in front of the computer for about 8 hours!! i laughed, i cried, i wanted to kick the bad guy, etc. so yes, i am a sucker for funny romantic korean series.and why do they always have good looking protagonist??!!!!!
here, i would like to take the opportunity to those who have shown care and concern for me regarding the bad throat. thank you all!! some even promised to bring me medicine...ooo...i am touched. thank you from the bottom of my heart. i promise not to scream, yell, bawl, chatter, throw a fit, and others that will harm my thoat!!!

sob! sob!

sigh, what a start to 07. it is only the 5th day of the new year and i have already made my first visit to the clinic!!!
i have lost my voice!! came out from the clinice with cough mixture, vitamin c, flu pills, and antibiotic. was supposed to get a bottle of saline gargle too but they ran out of stock! horror!! so these few days i am going to be really passive and keep my mouth zipped...how sad.
my second resolution seems to be having some obstacles here. how can i work and get the money i want if i cannot even utter a sound??!!!!!
i woke up in the middle of last night and had trouble even swallowing saliva. the throat inflammation must be really bad...waaa......!
i want to cry...i want to get my voice! can't even cry because it will make things worse!

resolutions

goodbye 2006, welcome 2007.
hmm..how does it feel? one year has gone just in a blink of an eye. i do not have any reflection of 06 because i dun recall doing anything at all in those 365 days. i did not even make any resolutions for 06 in 05 because i know i will forget them the next day.
oh well, now that i am blogging it, i hope they can be achieved. here goes the resolutions for 07:

1. stay healthy, stay fit
2. work hard, earn more money
3. enjoy life, do more travelling
4. stay happy, wish everyone else is happy as well
5. not doing something that i will regret
6. stay cool, clear and focused
7. last but not least, get a boyfriend? (GULP_i can't believe i am spelling this out) ;)

now, are they enough to last me for the whole year, i guess they do. so anyone who is interested to help me make those resolutions stay, be kind enough and do so.
warning: spoilers stay away!!