Being young & sentimental (in the era of typewriter)

Year 1990...when I was young & sentimental...in the era of typewriter.

Pre Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator & InDesign. 

Post a broken relationship.

Watercolour Portrait of My Little Girl

I did watercolour portraits of my son & daughter in 1999 & 2001 respectively, when both were 2 years old. The portraits were framed next to photos taken by their daddy (really have to thank my dear hubby for capturing countless beautiful moments throughout the years). 

1999

2001

Allocated a space for my youngest daughter's portrait but it is still empty

My elder kids' friends noticed the portraits on the wall. Some even asked them: "Why there's no portrait of your little sister?"

Well...I was really guilty as I kept telling my little girl that I would do one for her too. But the longer I delayed, the less confident I became since I hardly paint nowadays. 

However, last weekend I decided to pick up my paintbrush again for this long overdue project...

 It took me 3 days to work on it...including tracing & sketching to study her features

And I am truly glad that I have finally fulfilled my promise to my little girl!!! 

My hubby bought me this Rowney watercolour set from UK before we got married. Unbelievable that it is still in such a good condition!

Can't believe 12 years have passed since I last painted my children's portrait! How time flies and my 3 kids are growing up right before my eyes!!!

These portraits will be given to them on their wedding days.
It is a gift of love for them to treasure & cherish for a long long time.

Friends Forever

During our CNY 2013 old friends gathering, these 3 cool boys were game enough to retake a childhood photo (maybe after seeing their daddies and mommies crazily happy retaking some old photos too)

Too bad we couldn't find the same brand of packet drink, if not we parents may be able to make a small fortune by selling the images to that beverage company with a tagline "Smart kids grow up with (brand name)"

Hey, or perhaps we can sell it to its competitors with another tagline "Smart (& rebellious) teenagers know what is best for themselves"

How time flies! Glad to see these boys growing into fine young men. Very soon they will be in college. As they're growing up, we're growing old. Nothing is more important than to treasure the time together.

My BFF since primary school. It sure takes a long time to grow an old friend who knows the song in my heart and sings back to me when i have forgotten the words.

We share the same wish ... we hope that our precious friendship will carry on to the next generation...and the next...and the next...

That's our definition of FRIENDS FOREVER.

Blog & Facebook (Post Maid Era)

How time flies, I have not been updating my blog for a few months...again.

Apart from busy juggling housework and office work, my absence from Blog was also due to Facebook. I come to realise I treat blogging like essay writing which requires more time & effort, as compared to my posts in Facebook which are usually much shorter. 

However, I love what I have recorded in my Blog all these years. Reading through those old postings, I realised how time flies and my kids had really grown up a lot. There are many sweet memories which are so precious to me. Who knows, maybe one day they'll treat my blog as a "time machine" for them to cherish their childhood?!

Hence, I decided that I must "activate" it again and continue to record moments worth remembering. I extracted some of my recent Facebook postings below which reflect my family's "Post Maid Era":

沒有女傭的日子...

我的臉粗了，手粗了，膽子也粗了。

如今敢狠狠的把小強殺個片甲不留。

MY HELPFUL NEIGHBOUR

Knowing that I am without a maid now, my kind neighbour will help to push in my laundry rack when it is about to rain. There were a few times I thought all my efforts were wasted & my clean laundry would be soaked in rain, I happily found them dry under the shade of the car porch when i arrived home. 

I'm blessed with great neighbours. Can't agree more with the Chinese sayings: 遠親不如近鄰 （Good neighbour is better than a distant kin).

MY SON'S DUTY

Ever since there's no more kakak/maid, it is my son's duty to water the plants. Nowadays he sure appreciates mother nature more.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean he starts to have an interest in flowers and plants. In fact, I have to remind him to water the plant most of the time. He APPRECIATES NATURE in the sense that when it RAINS, he can SKIP WATERING the plants!

女傭與衣服

從前有女傭 ：穿衣、換衣
如今沒了女傭 ：穿衣、換衣、洗衣、曬衣、收衣、折衣、燙衣 
突然對每一件穿在身上的衣服多了一份珍惜 。
吃飯時也斯文了點，不想弄髒衣服又多了一個“浸衣”除污跡的過程。

For the past 14 years (with maid), I'd taken what I was wearing for granted. It was as easy as taking a cloth out from the closet, wore for a few hours and threw it into the laundry basket.

After I was left without a maid, to get a clean cloth means I need to hand wash or put it inside a washing machine, hang & later take it down from the cloth rack, fold or iron before I can put it on. What a lengthy process!

One day, I shall look back and smile at how I had survived my post maid era :-)

Auto"Maid'tion (Life without maid)

I have not been updating my blog for a while due to my maid's absence.

My previous Indonesian maid was with my family for 8 years, and after she quit, a Filipino maid took her place. She was so good, humble and professional that I never thought she would cheat us.

One morning she cried and said her husband died in an accident and we sent her back on the same day. She promised to return in 2 weeks time but never did (even though she left her big luggage bag and nice cloths behind).

Times flies, it has been more than 2 months my family is left without a maid. But I am glad we are adjusting well. I used to think I could not "survive" without one but I was so wrong! It is indeed a blessing in disguise because all my kids started learning & helping with household chores.

Apart from engaging part time domestic helpers (including an Indian man who comes to wash the cars), I have bought myself a few very useful items:

Spin & Dry mop & bucket -- The first item I bought after I am "maidless". 

iRobot that is smart enough to return to its docking station.

My iRobot comes with 3 lighthouses. The lighthouse uses invisible infrared signal to create a virtual wall. I find it very useful. 

This Philip Air fryer is so easy to operate. Now I can fry with very little oil or without oil at all.

Next in my list are a dish washer and perhaps a drinking water system too.

How I wish there is a robot that can help to iron the cloths too.

My hubby calls it "Automaidtion".

I never thought it would end this way

While waiting for the GE13 results last night, I was making a few mini posters to pass time. Looking back, I realized it was impossible to be calm when you were swimming in dirty water.

14 hours ago

12 hours ago (I was praying for Nurul Izzah to win)

7 hours ago. Raub vote recount

Before this poster was done I was already getting emotional when I heard one of my relatives was beaten up by 5 gangsters when he was trying to stop some foreigners from voting in Gelang Patah. His nose & mouth were bleeding and our hearts were bleeding too.

The last image I added before calling it a day.

Instead of using a black box as my FB profile photo, I chose to include a hand because I believe one day the true democracy will return to the hands of the people!

5 May 2013...
No indelible ink,
only indelible memory.

Children need to learn the true meaning of democracy...not from the corrupt leaders they see on TV or newspaper...but from their parents and good adults around them.
For the sake of our children, we must KEEP CALM and cannot lose hope.

Kids and Politics

My youngest daughter : "Mom, I checked already, many of my friends' parents are going to vote for Pakatan." (Her own initiative, I don't remember asking her to make the survey)

My elder kid in the private school : "My teacher told us not to discuss politics in class, because some of the students' parents are BN members." (I truly pity those kids...especially the offspring of the cronies. I'm sure they feel very uneasy now)

In the past my hubby and I refrained ourselves from discussing politics in front of our kids to avoid giving them bad impression on some country leaders. We felt that kids' childhood should be filled with happiness & good memories...more fairytales than real life horror stories.

However, I realized things are no longer within our control when my little girl handed me this drawing:

Click image to enlarge

Note: I intentionally cover the name in red, but it is not hard to guess.

Time has really changed. Kids have grown up.

We no longer need to deal with DIRTY DIAPERS aka CORRUPT POLITICIANS who have stayed in power for too long!

Love has different meanings (my mini poster)

Looking at the turnout at Han Jiang, I am confident BN will not get back Penang. How I respect and envy the wise and determined Penang Lang.

I pray that my beloved Selangor will not fall back into their dirty hands ... this few years Selangor is cleaner without those corrupt leaders.

Note: Selangor’s reserves hitting a historic high of RM2.6 billion in January 2013.

The neighbors I salute (Please Vote)

I asked an elderly neighbor whether is she going to vote this year.

She frowned and said she and her family will be having a vacation in Japan at that time. (Already booked AirAsia tickets last year, and is scheduled to return on 6 May).

Just as I thought she won't be voting, she said: “没有法子咯，要早一天回來咯。” （"What to do, have to come back a day earlier."）

Surprised by her answer, I asked :'How many of you?'

She started counting...her husband, 2 daughters (40+, both first time voters), son-in-laws, brother and 2 young grandchildren.

She can afford to fork out extra money for the air tickets, what she can't afford is to let her beloved country ruled by corrupt government again...and again!

My neighbour's family has 7 votes in hands! I see hope!!!

So, please don't say 'No Choice'. It is whether we are willing to do some sacrifice for our beloved country or not.

Please VOTE and let our voice heard!

Baby making V-sign in the womb (please VOTE!)

baby making a V-sign in the womb.

When I saw this amazing photo, I instantly thought of our coming election, and how important each and every VOTE is...even to the babies who are yet to come to this world and be given a MyCard. (I mean the Malaysian babies, not the Filipino, Indonesian or Bangladeshi babies)

His/her future depends on the policies today!

TIMSS 2011 Proves Malaysian Examination Results Manipulated

To all mommies and daddies out there, please come out to vote. 

Your children's future is in your hand! 

Go Out & Vote (my mini poster 1)

I am worried because I notice there is a group of people (most of them are senior citizens) who prefer to give a vote to Pakatan and BN each. It is just like someone who is facing head lice problem for many years yet failed to exterminate those blood sucking insects even after trimming and cutting the hair shorter and applying special shampoo on it. Those tiny creatures will manifest and continue to suck your blood! 

It is time to take a bold step. 

Just shave and regrow the hair. 

It is time for a new hairstyle too!

It takes a long time to grow an old friend (retake old photos)

During my recent Chinese New Year gathering with a bunch of very dear old friends (most of them since kindergarten/primary school), we decided to go down memory lane by retaking some old photos. 

Photo taken in a studio in the early 90s

From 3 innocent girls to 3 matured women. How time flies!

We went back to our primary school for a reunion party in 1984. 

Close to 40 years of friendship means we can afford to be stupid with each other.

2 of our old friends were absent from this photo (one was back in JB), hence their space were filled in by 2 friends' spouses.

We even skyed our dear friend in JB and sang her our favorite songs of yesteryears.

We have good singers and guitarist. Our gathering is always filled with laughter and songs. I really can't ask for more.

The best thing is, our wonderful friendship has extended to the next generation - our children. They have joined so many of our gatherings throughout the years, sharing and cherishing those precious moments together. 

photo taken in 2011

Cheers to more good years.

It really takes a long long time to grow this bunch of old friends.

"I count myself in nothing else so happy, 

as in a soul remembering my good friends." - 

William Shakespeare

Friends Forever.

Forever young...at heart

 I Love You All!

友誼萬歲！

Happy Valentine's Day

Photo taken in Taiwan in Nov 2012

We wanted to copy a scene from our favorite movie -
"那些年，我們一起追的女孩"

We met each other when we were 16.
This year our eldest boy is 16.

How time flies. 想起“那些年”。。。

Glad that our marriage is still on the right track :-)

But Valentine's day is no longer that significant to us. There is no more candlelight dinner nor roses on this occasion.

That's because I know I have found my Perfect Valentine - a true gentleman who is very loving and caring. Even though he seldom says "I love you" , he never fails to show how much he loves me and the family.

Every day is a Valentine's day if you have found the one you truly love.

Happy Valentine's Day.

First family trip to Taiwan 台湾之旅

In November last year, we had our very first family trip to Taiwan. In the past, this country was not my preferred vacation destination. However, after being convinced by many that it is a wonderful country to visit, we finally decided to book a flight there. 

Instead of joining group tour, we opted for private tour guide cum driver (車導）for a more carefree & relaxed trip. After a few emails on itinerary and price, we were ready for the trip!

慈濟(Tzu Chi) is my favourite buddhist organization. Our tour guide cum driver purposely drove us to see a few of the Tzu Chi landmarks in 花蓮。I'm grateful to him. 感恩。

My MIL enjoyed the trip very much. She said it was very relaxing.

We are fortunate to have Peter - a good tour guide cum driver with a big and comfortable MPV. We are satisfied with all the inns/hotels recommended by his team, especially 七星海民宿 in 花蓮 (clean and nice, and within walking distance to the beach) and 川湯養生館 in 礁溪 (do bring swim wear if you want to try the hot spring)。

We spent the last 3 nights  in Taipei without Peter. We put up in Just Sleep 捷絲旅 - a clean, nice and modern hotel conveniently located in Ximending. We booked two rooms with 3 single beds, and the rooms are spacious enough and the beds are very clean and comfortable! There is a washing machine and ironing board (FOC) in one of the floors but I was too lazy to use it.

Another wonderful & unforgetable family trip :-)

The places we visited：

日月潭(搭船游湖)/青青草原 - 武嶺合歡山/太魯閣峽谷/砂卡礑步道/七星潭/花蓮 - 清水斷崖/南方澳/宜蘭傳統藝術中心/羅東夜市/礁溪 - 金瓜石黃金博物園區/野柳地質公園/九份 - 台北自由行 (my favourite is 故宮博物館）