see ya june ..

Emily Dickinson said ..... "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain."

I like that quote sent to me by Barb. She does send the most inspirational & uplifting quotes and does so without fail ;)) .. Sometimes that’s what you hope you can accomplish for people – the one to lift them from their hurt and pain, make then smile and feel a little better, make them feel warm & appreciated and worth something yet in certain situations you are at a lost of what to do especially when there are you so many barriers but you know what that doesn’t mean you don’t stop trying ………. Anyways ..

It’s the end of the month and the full moon is at its fullest hanging high up in the sky – a beautiful sight indeed. Like a ball round and shiny surrounded by the usual dark clouds which seem to be illuminated because of its rays. A beautiful sight indeed. I tried taking a picture but it didn’t turn exactly how I wanted it but its ok I can remember how it looks like it in my mind .. by the time I started writing this the clouds are slowly hovering over the moon but the moon seeing how stubborn she is decides to continue to shine regardless….

On my way to the bus interchange, I took a very packed feeder service bus no 291 after waiting for about 15mins. After waiting for so long usually 2 or 3 291’s would come at once but alas today there was just one. Anyways the bus came and it was packed I managed to squeeze my way in and find a seat near the window. As the bus approached st 21 there was the smell of cigrattes – cigreattes smoke on a packed air con bus hell who in their right mind would smoke on the bus???? I figured it came from someone behind but then I saw smoke coming from a few seats down and voila you see the person smoking. The lady beside him stood up by then people started to notice and this lady next to me asked do you smell that I said yeah someones smoking we got pissed – I started to cough and as short as trip it was someone smoking in a packed air conditioned bus can cause some major chest congestion anyways … I looked forward and saw an old man smoking away and no one did anything I think they were afraid of him then he suddenly put his feet up on the back of the seat then we knew he was a crazy old man. He couldn’t care for the rest of the world – hmmm I am starting to think that he was a little drunk or just plain crazy and ignorant whatever it was we were glad to get of the bus that’s for sure. That’s was just pretty much the thing that was bad about the day.

Overall it was a good day I would say – the sun was shining non stop so it was another ‘tanning’ day for me – hah my friend Mae gets redder in the sun hahah poor girl she said she looked like a shrimp – hahah reminded me of my English 101 lecturer who was at a beach resort and came back looking like a shrimp and we could help be notice it – it was that visible and being the good sport that he was he said we could create stories out of his predicament and boy did we do it hahah it was funny though we didn’t laugh at him but along with him ..

Anyways, we spent a couple of hours at Borders- I browsed at one section and she did another and if when we found something good we would text each other it was fun though and of course we picked up the books for the school library – I think the kids will enjoy them – I love childrens books. The colors in them, the limited text (ha) and of course the imagination of the writers. As much as I am a pre school teacher I find hard to get ideas to write childrens book speaking of which I do believe that ‘”C wants to write childrens books cool isn’t it and I find that so sweet ..*smile* ..

With every trip to Borders is of course a new list I put in my cell phone titles of books I want to read hmmmmmmm it probably is not a good idea seeing that I still have books that I haven’t read here at home but I guess when you’re a book junkie you’re a book junkie but I do want one particular book though The Witch of Portobello maybe next few weeks ill come down to Borders again so we will see. Borders day are always adventure days and it was a busy and packed Borders today seeing it’s the weekend and all but its fine to be with the packed crowd – a little sacrifice you make for the love of books.

After Borders it was lunch at Long John Silvers more like a snack seeing that we were saving ourselves for the raspberry swirl cheesecake at Starbucks and that much awaited cup of coffee.

What do you get when you have to very silly teachers out on the town? Silliness of course *grin*. We did a little unpaid mystery shopping seeing how big we both are on customer service and service is not as great as it is. I had two very bad encounters actually 3 last 2 weeks alone – sucks don’t it – and to think are working to improve the customer service here but anyways me and Mae went into high end stores to see how the sales girl would treat us and what not , we asked a lot of questions, tried on a lot of clothes but never bought anything and I happy to report the sales person was smiling and very helpful . Kudos to the girls at Nine West, Liz Claiborne , Island shop and east India company. You made our weekend ;))..

So we ended our day at Starbucks and it was a full house. We were lucky to get a cosy corner spot far away from prying eyes but near enough for us to pry on others I mean coffee places isn’t it where you sit and watch the world the go buy, read a book, write and people watch .. J …… Anyways we were silent while we enjoyed our cake hahah a good tasting always seem to shut people up – darn it I want more raspberry cheesecake ummmmmmm I can taste it sniffles now its gone ..So we spent the time talk about life in general the people who has made a difference our plans and what not and of course work. Our conversations went to people we love people we hope for and me with the many questions wonderings and queries had some insight and what not on certain things that are occupying my mind right now but anyways …

All in all it was a great day – life for the moment no matter if you’re heart is a wondering and at the back of your mind your in a state of constant wondering – you live life a day at a time make the most of the day and see what tomorrow brings maybe a good thing or maybe not either way one day at a time though sometimes worry of the future comes into play but I think that happens for just a moment ..

I am thankful for another day – with its idiosyncrasies blessings and natural wonders.

Nights world and bye bye month of June see ya next summer ;))

Saturday Sunshine

And a beautiful Saturday morning it is. In spite of the pounding and drilling from the house upstairs ( I think they are renovating or something) I managed to sleep in. Even when my mom came in I was half asleep but I managed to go back to sleep and I just woke up a while ago at about a little after ten. What can I say I was exhausted – mentally physically. The first week of school was the first week of school hahaha need I say more.

A routine of drinking hot honey water and checking my email didn’t bring much smiles this morning seeing it was just another email day nothing I was hoping for . Oh yes I dreamt of water again and people I don’t know and someone I know whose been busy I guess. I remembered a while lace blouse which I couldn’t fit – maybe my dreams telling me I should lose weight hmmmmmmmmm heehee. I remembered being on a ship or was it a boat whatever it was I was having the time of my life on it with “C” – we were standing at the bough of the ship and talking and laughing talking about the waves and what not and then suddenly I was in the ocean but I was not drowning or anything – I was actually enjoying myself and then magically I walked back to shore – hmmmm and a bunch of girls was talking in Malay about me they figured I couldn’t understand then I turned around and proved them otherwise.*grin* ..

Have you ever had that feeling of deja vu? I have been having that lately – things seems all too familiar and I don’t like it and I don’t like the mercury retrograde either .. grrrrrr. This all too familiar is something I don’t like it– its really taken over me I wish I knew the cause of it the reason for it but it seems like I don’t but its familiar and my gut feeling is pointing me to that direction hmmmmm I don’t usually trust it though sometimes I do hahah maybe I am just too paranoid or what not. in recent days its just been moments of déjà vu for me I don’t know .. oh well ..

This is probably off track but you know the thin plastic film on the mouse? I just finished peeling it off talk about short attention span huh I stopped the blog entry and did that lol and as weird as it seems it’s a whole lot of fun .. I don’t know why but it just is .. new discorveries of the weird kind and now my mouse is smooth and half naked *blushes*

So this hot humid afternoon I am off to Borders with a colleague from work Mae to pick some guys up umm I mean books up hahaha kidding. We are going to pick up the books we ordered for the school library a few new ones are in. The kids would be really happy I would think.

After Borders we will be with the Saturday crowd walking around town and trust me it will be packed seeing that the Great Singapore Sale is still on. Speaking of which – this time last year I was trying to convince ‘C” to come out here for the sales – hmmm déjà vu again? I reckon this time last year too he was on his way back and just got back .. Familiarity brings back so much don’t it …

I just realized my hair has been behaving (off track again). My hair usually has a mind of its own during the summer months as much as it is summer all year round it gets much much warmer around this time. I think a change in shampoo did it for me. I am currently using a limited edition Sunsilk shampoo range called Summer fresh. It has cool watermelon extracts and while you’re shampooing your hair you can feel a cool minty feeling your scalp I like it and it makes your hair smell oh so good and the hair mist is a plus for last minute I want my hair to smell extra nice heehee. Its hydrating and my hair feels soft hahah I sound like an ad. Maybe I should load up on the shampoo seeing that it’s a limited addition and my hair works so well with it so we will see ..

<----- My new best friend ..

And with the summer months comes a much more tanner me too. I never realized it until last night – I was like wow I got darker face , body hehee and I haven’t even been to the beach I think if I do id be much darker but I don’t mind. Got to be happy in the skin you’re in and I am happy with me even when it gets darker in summer and not so dark in the cooler months.

Anyways drink extra water, put on that sunscreen and enjoy again drink water keeps the panda eyes and lethargy away too :D

Anyways that’s it for now time to get ready and go meet Mae. Hopefully it will be a great afternoon – umm well it involves books, great company and coffee later it usually is heehee *thoughts drifts to someone far away….. * someone else would be great company too but anyways … I hope I hear from “C” - a little hello, a little silliness a little of everything is good enough for me – and knowing there is a smile on his face even a little one is priceless..

So I am off blog ya laters drink lost of water cause the heat waves upon us .. tsk tsk tsk ..

The Brothers B

I am still in the process of sorting pictures from my cousins wedding just when I thought I am done with it more pictures came as it did today so its back to sifting and picking out the good ones for my blog.

Anyways, within the pictures I found a little movie file and it’s actually a video file of my cousins – Fahmi, Lutfi & Saleh singing at their sisters wedding. We obviously had a karaoke session and little did I know the talent that these guys posses. As much as we know these guys are bright and good for something ;)) It was a shocker for all of us all that they can sing too – its brains brawns and talent .. I have to say to the original singer of the song ‘Mungkinkah’ - Anuar Zain move over cause here comes the brothers B ;)) ..

Clad in their Johor style traditional outfits, the brothers brought new light to their version of the song. The singing session started with Fahmi the forth of the 7 children starting the song followed by Saleh the fifth and Lutfi the eldest of the lot. The bride & groom was standing hand in had watching them sing while the crowd cheered on – the crowed being immediate cousins and relatives who stayed on after the reception ended and it was a riot. We laughed and clapped our hands and cheered them on – we were really surprised because they do sound good and yes we did get the goose bumps because they poured so much emotion into the song.

In good fun and obviously pride, my aunt came over and gave her sons a bouquet of flowers and a kiss on the cheek – just how sweet is that. My auntie is the one with in the white scarf. As you can see it was an all white event for the brides parents and siblings ..

Anyways, after her another lady came over and gave them each a flower– talk about being a star for a day. Camera flashes were flashing, the photographers video camera were aimed at them and sometime during the show which isn’t in here someone came over and asked for their autograph.

From the sound in the background its clear that they are hit and if you notice there are other relatives in the background waiting to get into the singing action .. My auntie Adi, my cousin Shahmee both waiting for their turn & flipping through the folders looking for a song to sing ... :D and by looks of it looks my little niece the flower girl wants in on the action too as she looks on her uncles with much curiosity ... ahh yes the feeling of being a star for a day ..

And so without further ado I present my very surprisingly talented cousins The Brothers B with Mugnkingkah ..Enjoy

Of markets, food & special people …

Teachers and students alike survived yet another very hot and humid day in school. The weathers really going bonkers these days – if it isn’t the rain which comes for a few then leaves which in turn creates the humidity which makes you feel all wet and sticky sheesh on days like these I feel like jumping into a pool filled with iced water hahah I would probably be freezeiffa sweet & cold hahaha just kiddings after that…

School was ok like it always is well it’s the first week too soon to tell anyways. I figured I was done with the whole wedding picture sorting but alas that was not to be cause I received more today to add to my already immense collection of wedding pictures. Sorting out these pictures is pretty tedious having to pick which one to include in blogs and to share is even a bigger headache and I do hope that I finish it soon seeing its way past due date and my cousins on my case about it. While sorting out the pictures I found a video of my cousins from the wedding and it showcased their hidden talents – I never thought they could lol .. Anyways I will post that on a later blog a little suspense there.

i went to the market this evening and it seem so dead not bustling like it always is. Even the market seems that way. Don’t know why – maybe it’s the midweek or maybe it’s the evening but its just dead didn’t have the market feel but it sure made shopping a breeze seeing that there were not many people around and a lot of the stalls were closed even my favorite fruit stall was closed so no chance for ‘jemput jemput’ *sniffles* anyways ..

I went to get some ingredients to make teowchow udang or prawn teochow. I am not sure where this dish originated from but I know everyone loves it. Its got fried tofu in it with chili padi or really small and spicy chillies, and of course prawns. The base of this dish is made of chili paste & preserved soy beans. No salt is added to the dish seeing that the preserved soy beans are salty in itself and we have to wash more than usual so that it won’t be so salty. Lemon grass and galangal is added to give it fragrance. This is a simple dish eaten with rice and we sometimes have fried eggs and cucumber with it – that usually completes the meal. The thought of preserved soy bean doesn’t go down well with many but trust me when the dish is complete and you have a taste you would want to have seconds :D.

Going to the market got me thinking about the prices of certain foods how much they have increased and how much cheaper they were when I was growing up and the worry of the GST (goods & services tax) increase on things come July 1st from 5 % to 7 % ,. I hate taxes /J .. then again who doesn’t hahah anyways .. I bought the shrimp at a bargain seeing they had it on offer today – what use to be SGD11.80 a kilo for medium sized grey prawns are now only SGD7.50 per kilo and there were fresh looking prawns who could resist that right. I think what I wasn’t happy about was the price of French loaf or baguette. They cost about SGD1.20 a loaf and I was just thinking to myself I made it with that amount I could have a few loafs which is true. You could make them and freeze them and bake them when you need to use it. I know that certain delis pre bake their breads, freeze it and bake it when its needed – its legal though just a passing thought at the time. Thinking about the price of the bread brought me back to my growing up days at Telok Kurau. There was a bread shop round the corner that had freshly made French loaf and sandwich slices at the fraction of the cost. Then it was just 70 cents or 80 cents – tsk tsk tsk just look at the mark up but I guess with the times comes the price hikes.

Ummm I can smell the freshly baked bread of yesteryear. I loved going to the bread store because of the smell that it emits and you can see the guy baking the bread too. I recall a concrete oven that they use; I can see and feel the dough and flour as I write this. I remember the crust on the sandwich loafs and the remnants of the crust in a basket which they give to the birds later. The freshly baked bread are put in boxes for sale and it comes in various sizes long short and baby French loafs which were really cute – those were the days of cheap freshly made and yummy bread …

Well I finally talked to “C” well rather emailed him so we kissed and made up ;)) …… I am glad we did because as calm as I was all day I was still wreck knowing me little miss paranoid. Its funny when we finished all that it felt like a burden has been lifted and I had a skip in my step again *grin* .. I still miss him lots though anyways ..

Sometimes we forget to remind or tell people whom we care, lover or people who means the world to us how much they mean to us how much we love them. Sometimes you want to be there for them all the way through every moment be it good or bad and you wonder if they know that. If they know you want them to always be happy, see them smile and let them know that they can turn to you no matter what. And you want to know they are needed and that they matter to you no matter how busy you are in your life. You just want them to know they are not forgotten than they are thought about always and when they feel sad that you do too that their well being means a lot of you and I hope sweetness knows this ..

My cousin Omar came over with his parents today to drop some things off for my mom and he looks so much better. He has been getting treatment here in Singapore for his condition and he does seem to be doing much much better there is hope still if we just believe I think. He is so adorable these days more than usual ;)) … I asked if he wanted to stay over he said yeah but I didn’t bring a change of clothes I said when you coming then so he said asked his dad hahah poor kid he wanted to come over so his mom said maybe this weekend so we will see if I will get a house guest this weekend …

So it was a great day over all. A day of smiles of happiness and good food and the moon came out to look at it late at night bright over my house nearly full bright beautiful its beams brightening the dark clouds around it full of hope ..yep hope is sticking around and shining bright …

Nites world ..

moon beams & hope

The moon though three quarters full was shining really bright tonight – it’s as if it’s illuminating the whole sky. It looked like a lighthouse without a tower because of the light coming out of either sides of the moon. It brought the stars to centre stage – each shining brighter than usual – it was like diamonds in the sky as the song goes and you could easily pick which you want to wish on. It is an amazing sight to behold. Capturing a picture of the moon would probably just show a great big ball of light in the sky and honestly it won’t do the moon justice.

The moon though only at its three quarter phase ,seems to be emitting light all over this island. Wherever you went and when you look up there it is – it’s probably sent its beams a hundred miles away. It acts as a guide for the lost souls, the ones who feel hope has deserted them & their paths seem dark. Guiding them home to their loved ones, to a new sense of renewed home or just acts as light after going through a dark tunnel – at least that’s how I see in my world.

I have seen many bright moons but tonight was exceptionally beautiful maybe because of the moon beams and it was something to really take in the beauty that the universe has to offer. That beauty I today immortalize in words and in mind and wishing that everyone saw just how amazingly beautiful the moon was tonight.

Spending time at the beach alone or with someone special, someone who could appreciate this would be just right. I know a certain someone who can appreciate this with me but anyways. Looking at the moon at the beach would mean seeing dark waters being lit up, the beams making the ripples on the water visible – looks like silver colored fish swimming in unison.

Tonight was clearly a beautiful night and with that comes to mind a certain someone who is so dear to me who is how do you say it. - Far away …………

By the time I reached home the moon beams have vanished and what was shining down on us was something that looks like a flower with many different shades of blacks, golden browns and grays with a bud in its centre which is obviously the moon. It was still beautiful none the less shining brightly among all that darkness being the one that gives the flower its brightness.

I see things in this case nature as giving us a sign, an inspiration to pick us up to make us open to the reality that nothing in life is permanent and this goes even with the bad things that happens in our lives in the words of Charlie Chaplin ‘Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles'.. and in spite of the darkness we still can shine because it does all go away and that’s what I saw because a little while later the moon was shining majestically giving the world light and hope …..

mondays, animals & all that

It started to rain a while back I hope it continues through the morning – would be a nice night to sleep if the rain continues. The sound of the rain and the cool feeling that we so need during these very hot and humid summer nights.

Today was the first day of school. The looks on the kids faces clearer showed that they wished they were still on vacation I have to say it’s the same with the teachers too me included hahaha.. Like I said in previous blogs just when you’re getting the feel of the school holidays – school starts. oh what fun anyways there is always the September and year end school vacations to look forward too.

The kids’ moods soon picked up when it was story time – not from me but from them. Stories of their school holiday adventures and when you have a room of over eager 6 year olds you know each and everyone has a story to tell and some can’t wait while others made sure they did even if it means stepping on their friends. To be fair to them we made the kids draw their school holiday activities and divided them into groups so they can share their stories during the week – this way all the kids have a chance to tell a story. Diplomacy has to start somewhere right? Even teachers get a chance to tell their stories ;)) .. only when asked of course which they usually do – where did you go teacher? What did you do? Who did you go with and so on and so forth? So stories are told and more questions are asked – kids ;)) inquisitive and curious …

So this is the 3rd term of the 2nd semester and it will be a busy next few months for me and the kids. My six year olds will be heading to primary one next year or first grade. Its time to drill and instill these kids with the syllabus and some values which we can only hope they carry with them in their lifetime. On the first day of school we don’t usually cover much – but come tomorrow its when the norm starts for these kids – cant give them a rude shock on the first day now can we :D … save it for the next day and beyond *grin*.. So not much in school except for a meeting after school which on went on longer than needed but that’s a norm so in spite of the endless questions and excited not so looking forward to school kids it was a pretty relaxed day but so I savored it while I could because it isn’t going to be that way in days to come but I am ready … or am I ?

I am actually a little tired but I managed to check on little mei lan who isn’t very little anymore – the cam works slightly and I have seen that she has grown lots and is faster in her climbing than usual. She can duck her mom this time. Mei lan is a tad playful these days and bratty and daring – when you have a kid who has all those rolled into one – you’re in for trouble. Take it from me I know – my niece is that way. Anyone interested in an update on her can go here .. http://www.zooatlanta.org/animals_giant_panda_cub_updates.htm

but i decided to included this update and picture anyways cause its just so cute..

- a very cute & stubborn mei lan ( i can relate ;) )

Sunday, June 24
Mei Lan, the last two mornings, has been a struggle to get outside. She has decided that playing inside with bamboo or mom's food bowl is much more exciting then following Lun Lun outside. Lun did not seem to notice because she wanted her breakfast bamboo. No matter what I tried to do, Mei just thought it was a game, and had a good old time trying to interact with me. Luckily, Lun eventually noticed that the cub is not around and came back inside to investigate where she could be. Lun first tried to get a response by nudging her and then turn to walk away, but Mei did not followed the first few attempts that Lun made. Each time that Lun came back the nudging became a little stronger, but that just appeared to be a game to Mei also and tried to start a play bought with her mom. I do not now if Lun just ended up getting frustrated, because she started to vocalize which finally got the cub to listened and follow her back outside. If Lun Lun did not do all this, I would have just had to wait and hope that Mei Lan would go out, and who knows how long that might have taken.
Joseph T. Svoke
Giant Panda Keeper II

Since were on the topic of animals, I found these pictures I took of round not sure if they are pregnant gold fishes at my grandma’s. She has a little fish tank in her bedroom. They put it there so she will be entertained and not get bored. Inside of it is 2 round goldfishes and another silver colored goldfishes which isn’t as round. I think that silver colored goldfish got the two pregnant hahaah oops what was I thinking.. Anyways there 3 of the round gold fishes but one died. I had to share this picture only because I have never seen a fishes like that before. They say it’s pregnant but by the looks of it they are way pass their due date. I actually waited for it to give birth during my stay there but they still haven’t. I even called to ask – yeah silly but that’s just me :P .. So the big mystery remains – are they pregnant or just round and pregnant looking by nature?



The rain seems to be getting heavier outside which is always nice. It hasn’t rained late at night in a while – so this is a treat for me. Speaking of things which happened in a while I haven’t heard from “C” since last Friday. Don’t really know what is going on but I hope he is doing fine and keeping safe. I often wonder if it was something I said or didn’t say (hah little miss paranoid here). Anyways I hope he is doing safe & happy wherever he is and my only wish is that I hear back from him soon. What can I say I miss him and his emails seeing how limited technology is where he is instant messaging is out of the question emails from him is my best friend right now ..

Now I am off to la la land. I am tired and sleepy and since its raining it’s a perfect night to sleep – I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can actually fall asleep so early and off I go wondering what tomorrow brings but before I end this blog here is a little something to ponder on

What shall be tomorrow, think not of asking. Each day that Fortune gives you, be it what it may, set it down for gain.
- Quintus Horatius Flaccus Horace

Now I am really off to bed with hopes of good dreams and good news ….

Warm & fuzzy courtesy of Paulo Coelho

A little something warm & fuzzy before bed so I can have sweet dreams. A story of love and thoughts of a special someone are just some of the things that sweet dreams are made of. Here is a short story taken from Paulo Coelho’s book which I was flipping through today. It’s guaranteed to get you all warm & fuzzy. Enjoy the story ….

On My Way to the Chicago Book Fair …

I was flying from New York to Chicago to attend the book held by the American Booksellers Association.

Suddenly, a young man stood up in the isle of the plane and announced:

“I need twelve volunteers each willing to carry a single rose when we get off the plane”

Several people raised their hands. I did too, but wasn’t chosen.

Even so I decided to follow the group. We landed, and the young man indicated that a young woman in the arrivals hall at O’Hare airport. One by one, the passengers presented their roses to her. At last, in front of everyone, the young man asked her to marry him, and she accepted.

And the air steward said to me:

I’ve been working here for years, and that’s the most romantic thing that has ever happened in this airport.’

Story taken from :

Like the Flowing River – Paulo Coelho

it rained on a beach day..

It rained on my parade today .. Sniffles ...on days like this I wish the rain would go away. I was all set and packed to get some sun seeing that it started out as a very very hot day with the weather standing at 33 degrees Celsius that is very hot weather in Singapore. Anyways the very hot weather quickly turned to a heavy downpour and the whole beach plan was scrapped and here I was thinking what a way to end the school holidays with a trip to the beach just like the good old days. I had my bag packed lotion, towel, slippers and what nots and then the rain came down … i was ready for the sun ready to feel the salt water on my skin and get a little more tan ... sniffles …. heehee..

Today’s beach outing was going to be with the family – cousins, aunties and my visiting family who are still in town. When we were growing up trips to the beach on weekends and during the school holidays was a norm but as everyone grew up and had their own lives we stopped doing it because it seems that everyone was always busy. Makes me wonder why we are all busier than usual these days – we have to slow down and smell the roses. These days even if we did have a beach outing it was once in a blue moon or when we have family visiting from overseas.

I remembered our trips to the beach when we were younger. We would either frequent either Changi beach or East Coast Park beach. Changi beach was fun because it was right behind the airport runway and when the planes are about to land its really low. We would wave to the passengers on the planes. It’s an experience because before an airplane approaches we would guess what airline it was until it was close enough for us to see its tail and the airline’s logo. Sometimes I wonder if the passengers waves back at us – we probably look like ants to them.

Trips to the beach usually included aunties’ grand aunties’ cousins’ grandparents – ALL of the family as you can see. Each family would bring a different dish and we would share. Some would bring fruits, others snack, drinks and so on forth. I can still remember the taste of ‘nasi lemak’ or fried rice noodles on our salted hands. Who can ever forget the curry puffs … yummm … I remember when my older aunties would swim in their sarong its so cute and how they would sit by the beach and collect shells – they would dig and look for the shells. The Malay term for it is ‘remis’ it’s a kind of cockle I think. They are good at looking for these things and when they have collected enough they would bring it home and steam it and eat it with chili sauce.

Our beach trips consist of swimming, building sandcastles and cycling. We would rent bicycle from the kiosks and cycle from one end of the beach to another and trust me it’s a long stretch. But the view is beautiful – its a long stretch of beach and with music in your ears and the breeze against your face and endless open roads ahead of you its sheer bliss though it’s a little tiring on the legs - I mean it’s not something we do everyday.. but I love cycling by the beach something inspiring and calming about it. Sometimes I would cycle all the way down to the jetty and watch people fish. There were times when my cousins and I would race and if my memory serves me correctly – I have had my share of scrapes from falls embarrassing but who cares and hey I scares to show for all that .. *grin*

What really entertains us a lot during our trips to the beach are pushing or pulling a family member into the water and it’s even better when they never brought a change of clothes. Trust me we have been bad that way and gotten hell for it but it was well worth it. Who goes to the beach and don’t get wet huh???

Those were the days .. Maybe its time to pick up on the fun things that we as a family use to do together. It seems we are so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget about family and the little things that bring us together and help us bond and relax.

Since the rain spoiled it for me today I am going to pout for a bit ..blog ya laters world ..

airport, family & all that

Another tiring day – days seem to get busier when school is about to start. Typical isn’t it. Today we sent our relatives from Indonesia back home. About 11 of us made the trip to the airport to send them which includes my very very bratty niece who seem to be brattier than usual these days – she seems to be fashioning after her ati fah *grin* anyways .. Why so many people? lets say we love going to the airport – because after we drop or pick people up we usually head down to the cafeteria where they serve lots of delicious food and now that’s its newly renovated and has addition food stalls who can resist right? The cafeteria actually caters to the staff at Changi International Airport though it is open to the public.

We had tahu goreng(fried tofu) which is really known there. It’s a Malay dish which is obviously fried tofu with shreds of cucumber and bean sprouts top of with an out of this world peanut sauce. We have had others but nothing really compares to this and seeing that we don’t always go to the airport the once in a blue moon trip we head down to the cafeteria to have it. Its one of my mom’s favorite.

tahu goreng

We had the usual rice dishes where else my cousins and my niece had steak & fish & chips. Another cousin had an Indian dish called beef steak. It’s not the usual steak but it’s actually morsels of beef cooked in a special sauce which is made out of chili paste & tomato and I am not really sure what else. It’s served with thinly sliced fried potato (not chips), peas, fried egg and sliced tomatoes. It’s really good. I had the Indian fried noodles – they make really good fried noodles. It’s been a while since I had a very good plate of fried noodles. I requested for two types of noodles – the broad rice noodles or kway teow and the yellow noodles. To top it off we had ‘ice kacang’ – - its actually shredded ice in a bowl with red beans, jelly and the ice is topped with syrup and milk. I found a picture of it on the net just incase anyone’s wondering what I am talking about –

ice kacang

So the flight takes off and the visitors are on their way back home to Jakarta, Indonesia. The ones left are my aunts from London who will be going back home next week. The flight to Jakarta takes about an hour and 45 mins so it isn’t that long a flight. Anyways they left with a lot of luggage and it got us pretty nervous. There were 5 of them and they were allowed a combined baggage of 125kg. They obviously way beyond that and had to hand carry the rest of the things. My cousins and I were worried that they won’t be able to carry their hand luggage into the plane but it seems they made it without any glitch phew! One thing I can say about the Indonesians they can really shop till they drop and on top of all that shopping is all the gifts given to them by the family here heehee seems like Christmas came early for them.
While I was there I seem to be seeing ‘C” everywhere I turn. He is there and there was one of “C’ who keeps walking back and forth from where we were – hah talk about the stars giving you a hard time. Sometimes I think I am being teased first it’s the almost there then its all that you’re missing .. sigh .. whats a girl to do if that’s what the universe are up too right .. yeah I know drama - a little drama doesn’t hurt *grin* anyways .. I miss the guy so can you really blame me if I am still beat up about what happened? Anyways ..

My little niece was in a loving mood today. She wanted to be carried and she hugged and kissed me I felt so love – kids I think they know when you’re in need of some tender loving care or warmth. We walked around the airport and she was so intrigued by the string water fountain they had at the airport and the all the greenery that was around. There is this huge string fountain that starts at the ceiling and goes all the way down to the basement – I think any kid would be curious about it. So my little munchkin was coming up with all sorts of questions what it is why is it there where did it come from and shes only 3 ;)) . that she takes after me (oops don’t let her mommy hear this) – my curiosity *grin*. Anyways we played a little game of where is safa? She would be walking infront or next to me and I willl pretend to ask where she is lol she said im here ati fah hahaha well I pretended not to see her until she grab me and got me to carry her hahah kids what smiles and laughter they bring to you ..

I think what really fascinated her was a set of twin boys that we saw. She kept looking at them I think she must be wondering why they look so alike how is that possible – they look the same dress the same? She couldn’t take her eyes of them could be that or they are just cute little boys lol ahhh puppy love *giggles* ..

On our ride back me and sat way at the back and made a lot of noise. We sang and she insisted that we did it really loud – she shared her candy with me and made sure I didn’t bite them instead just suck on them it disappears and she actually watched my mouth movement to make sure I didn’t bite she is so cute that way .. I was actually sleepy and I told her I wanted to nap she said nooooo wait before you do let me build a house – don’t ask I don’t know what she meant but she did. With her fingers she drew a house in the air – and a detailed one at that. With windows a door a garden with flowers then she asked me how to draw a tree so I showed her she was so excited and happy about it. Then she asked what colors I wanted for the walls the window and when she was done she said ok you can sleep now. Reading about it probably isn’t as exciting as reading about it but you get the picture.

She is a really creative smart & imaginative little girl. Brilliant for her age I have to admit and very observant. I am so proud of her ;)) its just that in recent days she has been a little bratty and whiney I think because her mom is due next month and she throws tantrums more. As much as she is looking forward to a baby brother she is still seems to be a little threatened. I hope it will be ok and knowing her and the attention she will continue getting I think she will J .. And speaking of which I think I can relate to her tantrums and being bratty and whiney in more ways than one *wink* ..

So it was an overall fun day for me I would think in spite of the constant wonderings. I laughed I smiled I was happy J thankful for the little things that are always present around me…..


Photo credits:-

1- www.the-inncrowd.com/
2- http://www.sbestfood.com/
3- http://www.stomp.com.sg/stfoodiesclub/

Britains Got Talent - A Star Is Born

Ever so often you find a story online that inspires gives you hope even gives you goose bumps and them there are some that gives you hope again in mankind and maybe life in general. It opens your eyes and teaches you a thing or two and this story that found at petriproject.com is one such story. It is inspiring and makes you cry.

Here is a simple shy man , Paul Potts, whose self confidence is lacking yet he possesses an amazing voice which he keeps hidden until the talent show. From what I read he won the British talent show .. British Got Talent with Simon Cowell as one of the judges – who wouldn’t be worried right seeing how brash he can get ..

Anyways this guy surprised the judges and all the audience causing them to go into frenzy with cheers, tears and goose bumps. He deserved the standing ovation. Get the tissue ready

laughed & laughed

I just realized that we laughed alot last weekend over at the grandma’s almost bringing everyone to tears…. it seems when my very funny family get together we cant help but share tons of laugh – i guess the perks of having a family of clowns :D … No make up just lots of wit ;)) .. we would gather at the living room and just talk and joke around – i have seen some peoples ( the older folks of course) face’s turn red ;)) good clean fun ..

Sometimes we laugh when one is being teased this is of course in good fun and then we made fun of the bride & groom’s first night which was a riot – i think we havent had a laugh like this in ages and it actually feels really good :D

See more progress on: Laugh. A lot. Genuinely.

Mercury Retrograde yet again! argh!!!

I remembered this time last year when communication was a miss, emails never got through instant messages were a pain and even in relating messages you were misunderstood. This was the time when communication between me and “C” was scarce too. Either we didn’t get each messages or we were misunderstood each other and this was the time when he was on his back from Iraq anyways that time of year seems to be happening again and of course I am talking about the mercury retrograde. As much as we don’t want to accept it I think the planets has quiet an impact on us and our world. How much truth there is that I don’t know but looking at the signs it does make one wonder but then again talking about Yahoo it is always a pain anyways just wanted to share bits and pieces of what its about from various articles I found and how to survive the retrograde until it goes direct again on July 9^th I cant wait … need some normalcy here …

Article 1

Excerpts from http://www.karmastrology.com/mercrx.shtml

Retrograde Mercury is the most commonly known astrological signature for Murphy's Law ("If something can go wrong, it will"), and is one of the first features intermediate astrology students learn about. Say it to a seasoned astrologer and you'll likely get an amused smile and some delightful stories about how things can get quite unexpectedly unhinged.

Computers crash, software develops unexpected glitches, traffic jams ensue, telephone service snarls up, letters get lost on the mail, machinery breaks down, new projects fail. Ah, yes, the trickster Mercury is up to his old pranks again. In fact, at least three times a year for about three weeks each time Mercury has his way with us.

First let's look at what Mercury retrograde is, and then look at what can be done about it.

Those of a keen astronomical bent actually watch the planets each night as they travel through the zodiac. Mercury, which is only visible just before sunrise or just after sunset travels in a forward direction most of the time.

But three or four times a year, if you care to watch carefully, it appears to turn around and go backwards for about three weeks! Now Mercury really isn't going backwards. It's just an optical illusion based on the relative speeds and orbits of the Earth and Mercury around the Sun.

Here's an easy example. Think of riding in a fast car on an expressway which is passing a slower-moving car. The slower moving car appears to be moving backward, but it isn't really. It's just the relative speed and direction of the two cars gives that illusion. Retrograde Mercury is similar to that.

The apparent backward motion of Mercury is called retrograde, and it has been known and studied in western astrology for thousands of years.

In general the effect of Mercury retrograde is annoyance. Little things get snarled up and a low-grade frustration emerges. Anything involving communications, verbal activity, technology, short trips and journeys, primary education, and siblings can be affected.

While Mercury retrograde usually is in the minor irritant category, every now and then a colossal screw-up can take place.

Article 2

Excerpts from http://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrology-articles/mercury-retrograde.php

Mercury retrograde

June 16 - July 10, 2007

Here we go again... Mercury goes retrograde once again. It happens 3 times a year and it lasts for about 3 weeks.

This time is from June 16 to July 10, 2007. Next, from October 11 to November 1, 2007. And then from January 28 to February 18, 2008.

This is an important period, and we should be aware of the effects associated with this astrological influence. Since it is so often, we must learn what it means and how to take advantage of it.

General influence of Mercury retrograde

Mercury rules over the mind's processes, studying, communication, businesses, travels and the like. When Mercury reverses its direction, all these areas are affected as well. The mind turns naturally inwards and people tend to analyze more the own thoughts and follow the common thinking patterns, rather then be curious and eager of new intellectual experiences or challenges. This helps the meditation or the thorough lonely long-term study of a specific matter, but it affects the study of new subjects, the communication with the others, the attention oriented outwards.

Businesses, travels and communications tend to experience delays and different problems. Computers and other processes that work with information may experience crashes, unexpected failures.

Don't enroll to courses, don't buy expensive Mercurian items (books, cars, mobile phones etc.), don't sign important contracts and do not marry.

Above all, be generous and compassionate: you are already aware about the influence of this period, but the others aren't aware of it or there may be uncontrollable events. That's why you should have more diligence with the others and give them some more time. It'll be your mental health that you'll be sparing actually.

Article 3

Mercury Goes Retrograde Again

Find ways to thrive and survive it

As the cosmic catastrophe returns for its three-week stay, here's the information you need to survive and thrive until Mercury goes direct! Does email have you in a twist? Are your voicemail messages being misinterpreted? Is your regular mail undelivered? Locked out of the house? Locked in the garage? Does everything seem wacko for you and everyone around you?

It's not such a mystery once you realize it's that time again. Three times a year we enter a period known as Mercury Retrograde. This occurs when the planet Mercury appears to reverse its course through the cosmos (an illusion created by the earth's orbit). The second of these periods began on June 15 and it's not scheduled to end until Mercury goes direct on July 9.

Messenger of the gods

In Roman mythology, Mercury was the messenger of the gods. He was also quite the trickster, and it didn't take long for thieves to adopt him as their protector. It's no surprise then that when planet Mercury goes Retrograde, it can cause disruption, misunderstanding, poor communication and carelessness. Coupled with mishaps like missed appointments, travel snafus and lost documents, Mercury Retrograde seems like a perilous time indeed.

With a few key tips in mind, however, you can weather this little reversal of fortune (we won't say "without a problem" because it's trickster Mercury's way to trip you up when you least expect it) with a knowing smile.

Expect difficulty

It's common during Mercury Retrograde for something that would normally take five or ten minutes to take an hour because of an oversight or malfunction. Part of getting through this time is accepting that things will be more difficult than usual and will require some extra work. By accepting and preparing for this extra work, you will save yourself a great deal of frustration.

Small things matter

It's a lot easier to overlook small, but important details during this time, so pay close attention to the little things because that's where Mercury loves to trip you up!

Roll with the punches

Though it might feel like you're the universe's punching bag for the month, don't take it personally. If you begin talking to friends about what's been going on with you, you're sure to hear stories from them that bear all the hallmarks of Mercury's interference. We too often take the burden of the world on ourselves, forgetting there is a whole universe working its mojo. Sometimes it's really not about you!

Lay low and turn inward

Unless it's a matter of necessity, avoid programming a new phone or buying a new computer while Mercury is in Retrograde. You may even want to avoid making big decisions, like asking your crush out on a first date or buying a house. What Mercury Retrograde is best for is introspection. Instead of making big decisions, think about them. Allow yourself this time to get past the hurdles. Once Mercury goes direct, you too can move forward with your plans.

Laugh it off

As exasperating as Mercury Retrograde can be, there is an element of humor here. It's sometimes refreshing to find the universe messing with our mail, our minds and our methods. It reminds us of our own fallibility - the missed details, the errors - our own slapstick buffoonery that can make us smile like a child if we let it!

by Jamie Nishi

Published: 06/13/2007

Believe it or not better to be safe then sorry and hmmm has anything gone wrong for any of you?

Book time - The Witch of Portobello

One of my favorite authors has a new book out. Paulo Coehlho known for his inspiration book The Alcheimist is out with his new book entitled The Witch of Portebello. I have the read the excerpts and the sypnopsis and I think it’s a book worth reading then again all of his book are worth the read – it seems to offer a sense of comfort and motivation while inspires the reader. He makes you think about your own life your relationship with everyone around you and with God on the whole. Something about his book that makes you want to get up and make a better life for your self. Though some of his books are fictional they are about the experiences of people like you and me. I like how he takes us away to distant lands and to the lives of people who chances are we wont encounter in our lifetime. Anyways here is an excerpt from his new book as well as synopsis..

The Witch of Portebello by Paulo Coehlo

How do we find the courage to always be true to ourselves - even if we are unsure of who we are?

That is the central question of international bestselling author Paulo Coelho's profound new work, The Witch of Portobello. It is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well - or hardly at all.

Synopsis:-

Paulo Coelho, one of the world's best loved storytellers, is back with a riveting new novel set in London. This is the story of Athena, or Sherine, to give her the name she was baptised with. Her life is pieced together through a series of recorded interviews with those people who knew her well or hardly at all -- parents, colleagues, teachers, friends, acquaintances, her ex-husband. The novel unravels Athena's mysterious beginnings, via an orphanage in Romania, to a childhood in Beirut. When war breaks out, her adoptive family move with her to London, where a dramatic turn of events occurs! Athena, who has been dubbed 'the Witch of Portobello' for her seeming powers of prophecy, disappears dramatically, leaving those who knew her to solve the mystery of her life and abrupt departure. This gripping new novel is filled with the themes Paulo fans know and love: spirituality, relationships, destiny, freedom.

Excerpt

The Witch of Portobello By Paulo Coelho

Before these statements left my desk and followed the fate eventually chose for them, I considered using them as the basis for a traditional, painstakingly researched biography, recounting a true story. And so I read various biographies, thinking this would help me, only to realize that the biographer's view of his subject inevitably influences the results of his research.

Since it wasn't my intention to impose my own opinions on the reader, but to set down the story of the "Witch of Portobello" as seen by its main protagonists, I soon abandoned the idea of writing a straight biography and decided that the best approach would be simply to transcribe what people had told me.

Heron Ryan, forty-four, journalist

No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people's eyes, to reveal the marvels around. No one sacrifices the most important thing she possesses: love. No one places her dreams in the hands of those who might destroy them. No one, that is, but Athena.

A long time after Athena's death, her former teacher asked me to go with her to the town of Prestonpans in Scotland. There, taking advantage of certain ancient feudal powers that were due to be abolished the following month, the town had granted official pardons to eighty-one people— and their cats—who were executed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for practicing witchcraft.

According to the official spokeswoman for the Barons Courts of Prestoungrange & Dolphinstoun:

"Most of those persons condemned…were convicted on the basis of spectral evidence—that is to say, prosecuting witnesses declared that they felt the presence of evil spirits or heard spirit voices."

There's no point now in going into all the excesses committed by the Inquisition, with its torture chambers and its bonfires lit by hatred and vengeance; however, on our way to Prestonpans, Edda said several times that there was something about that gesture which she found unacceptable: the town and the Fourteenth Baron of Prestoungrange & Dolphinstoun were 'granting pardons' to people who had been brutally executed.

"Here we are in the twenty-first century, and yet the descendants of the real criminals, those who killed the innocent victims, still feel they have the right to grant pardons. Do you know what I mean, Heron?"

I did. A new witch hunt is starting to gain ground. This time the weapon isn't the red-hot iron, but irony and repression. Any one who happens to discover a gift and dares to speak of their abilities is usually regarded with distrust. Generally speaking, their husband, wife, father or child, or whoever, instead of feeling proud, forbids all mention of the matter, fearful of exposing their family to ridicule.

Before I met Athena, thought all such gifts were a dishonest way of exploiting people's despair.

My trip to Transylvania to make a documentary on vampires was also a way of proving how easily people are deceived. Certain superstitions, however absurd they may seem, remain in the human imagination and are often used by unscrupulous people. When visited Dracula's castle, which has been reconstructed merely to give tourists the feeling that they're in a special place, was approached by a government official who implied that I would receive a "significant" (to use his word) gift when the film was shown on the BBC. In the mind of that official, I was helping to propagate the myth and thus deserved a generous reward. One of the guides said that the number of visitors increased each year, and that any mention of the place would prove positive, even a program saying that the castle was a fake, that Vlad Dracula was a historical figure who had nothing to do with the myth, and that it was all merely a product of the wild imaginings of one Irishman [Editor's note: Bram Stoker], who had never even visited the region.

I knew then that, however rigorous I was with the facts, I was unwittingly collaborating with the lie; even if the idea behind my script was to de-mythologize the place, people would believe what they wanted to believe; the guide was right, I would simply be helping to generate more publicity.

I immediately abandoned the project, even though I'd already spent quite a lot of money on the trip and on my research. And yet my journey to Transylvania was to have a huge impact on my life, for I met Athena there when she was trying to track down her mother.

Destiny—mysterious, implacable Destiny— brought us face-to-face in the insignificant foyer of a still more insignificant hotel. I was witness to her first conversation with Deidre—or Edda, as she likes to be called. I watched, as if I were a spectator of my own life, as my heart struggled vainly not to allow itself to be seduced by a woman who didn't belong to my world. I applauded when reason lost the battle, and all could do was surrender and accept that I was in love. That love led me to see things I'd never imagined could exist—rituals, materializations, trances.

Believing that I was blinded by love, I doubted everything, but doubt, far from paralyzing me, pushed me in the direction of oceans whose very existence I couldn't admit. It was this same energy which, in difficult times, helped me to confront the cynicism of journalist colleagues and to write about Athena and her work. And since that love remains alive, the energy remains, even though Athena is dead, even though all I want now is to forget what I saw and learned. I could only navigate that world while hand in hand with Athena.

These were her gardens, her rivers, her mountains. Now that she's gone, I need everything to return as quickly as possible to how it used to be. I'm going to concentrate more on traffic problems, Britain's foreign policy, on how we administer taxes. I want to go back to thinking that the world of magic is merely a clever trick, that people are superstitious, that anything science cannot explain has no right to exist.

When the meetings in Portobello started to get out of control, we had endless arguments about how she was behaving, although I'm glad now that she didn't listen to me. If there is any possible consolation in the tragedy of losing someone we love very much, it's the necessary hope that perhaps it was for the best.

I wake and fall asleep with that certainty; it's best that Athena left when she did rather than descend into the infernos of this world. She would never have regained her peace of mind after the events that earned her the nickname "the witch of Portobello." The rest of her life would have been a bitter clash between her personal dreams and collective reality. Knowing her as I did, she would have battled on to the end, wasting her energy and her joy on trying to prove something that no one, absolutely no one, was prepared to believe.

Who knows, perhaps she sought death the way a shipwrecked victim seeks an island. She must have stood late at night in many a Tube station, waiting for muggers who never came. She must have walked through the most dangerous parts of London in search of a murderer who never appeared or perhaps tried to provoke the anger of the physically strong, who refused to get angry.

Until, finally, she managed to get herself brutally murdered. But, then, how many of us will be saved the pain of seeing the most important things in our lives disappearing from one moment to the next? I don't just mean people, but our ideas and dreams too: we might survive a day, a week, a few years, but we're all condemned to lose. Our body remains alive, yet sooner or later our soul will receive the mortal blow. The perfect crime—for we don't know who murdered our joy, what their motives were, or where the guilty parties are to be found.

Are they aware of what they've done, those nameless guilty parties? I doubt it, because they too—the depressed, the arrogant, the impotent, and the powerful—are the victims of the reality they created.

They don't understand and would be incapable of understanding Athena's world. Yes, that's the best way to think of it—Athena's world. I'm finally coming to accept that I was only a temporary inhabitant, there as a favor, like someone who finds themselves in a beautiful mansion, eating exquisite food, aware that this is only a party, that the mansion belongs to someone else, that the food was bought by someone else, and that the time will come when the lights will go out, the owners will go to bed, the servants will return to their quarters, the door will close, and we'll be out in the street again, waiting for a taxi or a bus to restore us to the mediocrity of our everyday lives.

I'm going back, or, rather, part of me is going back to that world where only what we can see, touch, and explain makes sense. I want to get back to the world of speeding tickets, people arguing with bank cashiers, eternal complaints about the weather, to horror films, and Formula 1 racing. This is the universe I'll have to live with for the rest of my days. I'll get married, have children, and the past will become a distant memory, which will, in the end, make me ask myself: How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so ingenuous?

I also know that, at night, another part of me will remain wandering in space, in contact with things as real as the pack of cigarettes and the glass of gin before me now. My soul will dance with Athena's soul; I'll be with her while sleep; wake up sweating and go into the kitchen for a glass of water. I understand that in order to combat ghosts you must use weapons that form no part of reality. Then, following the advice of my grandmother, I'll place an open pair of scissors on my bedside table to snip off the end of the dream.

The next day, I'll look at the scissors with a touch of regret, but I must adapt to living in the world again or risk going mad.

Excerpted from The Witch of Portobello. Copyright © 2007 by Paulo Coelho. All rights reserved.

Sources:
Image: http://www.barnes&noble.com
Excerpt & entry title:- http://e.bordersstore.com
Sypnopsis:- http://www.amazon.co.uk