Birthday and Everything Nice~

The night before my birthday (2012 not 198x) mum announced that we are out of Shao Hsing Jiu (Chinese Rice Wine).  She desperately needs it to cook Chang Sho Mien (Longevity Noodles) for my birthday the next day.  Nothing beats cooking Chang Sho Mien with Foochow Red Wine infused chicken soup but since it is impossible to find one in Adelaide, we have resorted to using bland SHJ.  The only shop open in our area at that hour is the Woolies and the possibility of finding a Chinese rice wine at a local Australian supermarket is nearly nil.  Anyhow, we thought we’d give it a shot since the only other option is to cook the soup without wine, which in my opinion, is equivalent to cooking kimchi fried rice without kimchi.  After searching high and low and almost giving up in despair, I finally spotted a single bottle of SHJ in its full glory on the very top level of a shelf.  Hallelujah! The day (or soup) is saved!  I’ll consider this my birthday gift from God >< ♥

Shao Hsing Jiu

I had the noodles + 2 boiled eggs for breakfast (only 1 for others since I’m the VIP for the day =p), trying very hard to not cut the eggs with my spoon so that my lucks are intact.  Lol..I am THIS old and I still love all these little traditions.  In the middle of the day, mum messaged me while I was at work and apologized for not remembering to wish me a Happy Birthday!  She stayed up late to prepare the ingredients for the soup and got up really early the next day to cook the noodles and still, she felt sorry for not saying what was already obvious from her actions.  T^T I have the greatest mother ever. ♥

Chang So Mien

We made plans to meet up and have dinner at a Japanese restaurant in the city but found out at the very last minute that the restaurant has been shut down.  Since my younger sis and I were early, we decided to take a walk along Rundle Street to see which other restaurant would suit our fancy.  While admiring the clothes on display along the street, she dragged me into a boutique and made me try on a few outfits.  We found a gorgeous black dress and after I tried it on, she insisted on buying it as a birthday gift.  She doesn’t believe in surprise gifts and would rather buy something she is really sure I would love.  I guess I am the opposite of her.  I love surprises – both giving & receiving.  They made my toes tingle XD.  Asking people what they want kindda defeats the purpose in my opinion.  I don’t always give good surprise gifts though.  Especially to my younger sister as she has very firm ideas about the things she thinks suit/doesn’t suit her.  =( In any case, I absolutely love the dress and it’s ingenious of her to buy me something I like and still let me enjoy the process.  Thanks bi! ♥ Mum got me a handbag all the way from Malaysia.  I’ve been admiring the bag while out shopping with her in Penang and were in mental anguish deciding whether to get it or not.  Decided not to in the end because I have already spent waaaay too much.  Mum and elder sis went back to the shop just before mum is due to fly over to Adelaide and got it as a birthday gift for me. ♥ My brother’s girlfriend got me  an adorable owl necklace~  ♥ Brother announced that he didn’t get me anything and if I’d just let him know what I want, he’ll get it for me from ebay.  Haha..guys.  He paid for my birthday cake and dinner and bought a box of my favourite apple ciders so I’ll let him pass.  ♥  Dad and elder sis called to wish me a Happy Birthday.  Miss them and wish they are both here with us. ♥

Dinner @ Brunelli's Cafe, Rundle Street

After dinner, we went home and I changed into my newly bought dress for photo taking session.  ^_^V

My Birthday Gifts.  FYI, serving suggestion for the apple cider : Bloody Cold XD

We put sparklers and a candle on the cake and after taking pictures and making a wish, I blew up the candle.  My brother and his girlfriend REALLY enjoyed the sparklers, as noted from the pictures. 

Birthday Cake & Sparklers

Haha..cute. 

All in all, I had a really good day.  To everyone who’d left birthday wishes and greetings on my fb, sent them through whatsapp, msn messenger, phoned me and even drawn me birthday cakes on draw something (siok tze, andrew and jon – very inspiring! XD) Your wishes and greetings mean the world to me and I would like to say, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU.  =)

XOXO

p/s: I don’t mean to sound like I am dying..and if I sound like I just won an award, I am even more sorry =p but REALLY I am happy! **\ (^___^) /**

Reality TV

Hmm..Last night's My Kitchen Rules Grand Final was a major let down.  Leigh and Jen came out the champions.  How, what, why?  I am still baffled. Was so sure the boys would win.  Their dessert looked soOOo good I raided the fridge for ice cream just to subdue my craving.  I accept that it's probably the taste that won the judges over but getting 10 out of 10 scores is just too much.  Aren't presentations taken into consideration as well? Frankly, the girls' dessert looks unfinished and what about their congee entree?  Didn't the judges think that it's too light a.k.a tasteless? =/  I am beginning to think who goes out and when are all predetermined in shows like this.  Sucks.

How could this not win???!!!

Speaking of tv show, Please Marry My Boy Finale will be aired tonight.  I know I am probably watching too much reality TV but shows like this I just can't miss.  It's so funny I watch just for laughs.  Really..why anyone would subject themselves to such embarrassments is beyond me.

I blame mum for making me veg out in front of the tv.  Since she came, I've been spending waaaay too much time in the lounge room.  If not for her, I'd be in my room...playing......draw something......

Lunch Break

My boss called in sick for the very first time since forever and requested that I cancel his appointments for the day.   Settled that and efficiently plowed through work without the interruptions of telephone calls for the first half of the day.  I am now having a much deserved lunch break in between typing away on my blog and listening to my mp3.  It's great being alone in the office and not having to care if anyone sees me.  Wearing my comfy jumpsuit with my legs tucked under me, glasses instead of contacts and with my annoying fringe clipped up like a dork.  If it's raining, it'll be perfect~ Well, it's awesome now but most of the time, it's just plain lonely, boring and torturous.  There's got to be more to working life than this!!!

Speaking of work, my oral exam is looming up ahead and I am still procrastinating like mad.  Been playing 'draw something' on the go for the whole month and ended up with a data bill that nearly killed me.  So to all my draw buddies, I am sorry for the late response but as of now, draw has been officially banned everywhere except at home or where there's wifi.  >_< 

*sigh* I kept glancing at the time and it's already passed my allocated half an hour.  I haven't even had time to read the news. =(  Better get back to work.  Gah! I'm so bored!

Much Ado About Washing Machine

The washing machine we had at home started to act up and refused to operate on any function other than rinse.  There's a couple of reason why we would never select rinse.  First of all, it takes more than an hour for the cycle to finish instead of the usual 50 mins.  Secondly, there are 3 vigorous spins throughout the whole cycle.  Before the month is up, I predict that we'll all be wearing rags.  There's this worrying clonking and hacking sound as well coming from the machine.  I called the manufacturer's repair centre to have someone come out and have a look.  Were advised that getting someone to attend to the machine for the first 15 mins costs $92.  Subsequent 15 mins will cost us $35 excluding any spare parts.  I gasped, said thank you and hung up.

Sucks.  How to make decisions at times like this? If it's something as simple as changing a bulb (from what I've googled), do I really want to pay that kind of money? What if it's something really major and we're advised that it's more feasible to chuck the machine and get a new one? Do I really want to pay THAT kind of money just to hear that?

Hmm...so..I did what others would do in my position.  I turned to the yellow pages for a second opinion.  Called the first repair shop near my area and as soon as I said the magic words 'Front Loader' the guy at the other end of the line hung up. lol..joking.  He didn't but he said "No can do.  Front loaders are a hell to work with.  You're better off calling the manufacturer's repair centre.  I don't think anyone else would do it".  He should have changed his advert from 'Washing Machine Repair' to 'Top Loader Washing Machine Repair Only'.  There goes my second option.  As my last resort, I turned to google and were ecstatic to find that there's a repair company that does flat rates (meaning charge not based on hours) and have REALLY glowing reviews from past customers.  Rang the company up and was told that..no sorry..they don't do our area. =_= Halo..we're not on the other side of the continent ok.  It does make you wonder though.  They are probably getting heaps of business to be able to say no to a job just because of a few minutes' distance.  Same as a plumber.

Speaking of which, a plumber actually costs more.  I once got in a plumber at a rate of $130/hr.  To repair a broken shower head.  I might add that we initially tried to DIY and buy food with the money saved but ended up flooding the house.  Literally.  Apparently, our effort caused the pipe to burst (without our knowledge) and the carpet of our walk-in-robe next door, our master bedroom as well as our lounge room turned soggy the very next day.  Spent the rest of the day trying desperately to beg a plumber to come rescue us in between blow drying the room and moping up the mess.

Want your son to be a doctor in the future? *Scoff*I predict that the next 'in' occupation would be a plumber.  You have your own business, am able to pick and choose where and when you want to work, be your own boss and earn, well, most probably heaps more than an architect can ever hope to earn. T^T

All I can say is, I've learnt quite a lot from all these fiascoes.
1) Don't buy a front loader washing machine
2) Don't live anywhere not within 10km radius from the city
3) Don't be a smart ass and try to DIY
4) Everyone earns more than an architect

2012 Resolutions

My first blog for the year 2012. =) To be frank, the new year hasn’t started well for me. Something depressing happened and it’s been hard going. Still am in fact. I realized that despite my advancing age, (omg..even that sounds depressing) there are certainly many things for which I am much too naïve and gullible in. Thinking I am much stronger in mind and spirit than I actually am. How sad. =( A few days back, overcame with sadness while on a walk with my sister, I embarrassingly shed silent tears T^T which shocked my sister no end. @_@ <---her expression. Lol. Sorry bi! Even though she was concerned, knowing my nature, she did not insist on me divulging the whys and for that I am eternally grateful. However, the walk and the small talks we had regarding nothing at all eases my soul. So in order not to feel sorry for myself for too long and to help shake off the blues, I am going to write down my 2012 resolutions and hope to tick each of them off by the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

1) Top most would of course be to finally complete my APE Part 3 exam and register as an architect in Australia. I have fortunately completed and passed both Part 1 (logbook submission) and Part 2 (National examination paper),however, I had to forego my Part 3 (Interview) as a result of a pre-planned and paid vacation oversea. I am so not looking forward to the Oral examination in May. Talking is definitely not my forte.

2) When depressed, Write! So here I am doing exactly that.

3) Sketch more! Lol..I remember that for all my past presentations during my final 2 years in uni, I’ve used blue lead for all my sketches and somehow have come to think of it as my trademark. So, I am going to hit the supply shops and hopefully find myself some blue lead and of course, start sketching!

4) Go on another oversea holiday mid of the year. Probably Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong combined, if possible. I’ve been to Hong Kong but only for a day + and that was mostly spent shopping so didn’t get to see much of the country. Parents will be coming for a holiday in June and my exam is in May so hopefully somewhere in between July and October. We’ll REALLY need a holiday come the second part of the year since the public holidays will be few and very far in between.

5) Meet more people and hopefully find real love! I am determined a few bad experiences wouldn’t make me lose hope. Even if the whole world tells me there’s no such thing as true, unshakeable love, I will keep on believing until I turn into an old crone.

6) Lose more weight. Through daily walks, hiking, swimming, whatever means available. Dressing up on a plump body is definitely no fun at all. My motto is “When depressed, buy clothes!”

7) To appreciate what I already have. This is actually my younger sister’s resolution. I just thought I’d share it as it’s such a nice resolution. When things are dragging you down and you are thinking that there’s no meaning to life, listing down all your blessings will definitely make you feel luckier and more privileged than you realize.

8) I just got word today that one of the mixed development that I have designed and documented from scratch will be starting construction very soon. Even though I despise site meetings and did not enjoy handling contract administration on my previous project, I am going to try my damn-est this time to enjoy it more! Be more assertive Peggy!

9) All the resolutions that I have written above are easily achievable (except perhaps Item 5 and Item 1) so I am going to think about one more resolution that will shake up my whole year. Probably uproot myself and move somewhere else, say Perth. Or think of serving in the church. Or take up driving again (my boss kept pushing me!). Lol..I cant really think of any extreme resolutions at the moment but I’ll keep you posted!

p/s: I did something extreme early this year and had my hair chopped off. I like it though. A new me. When I’m bored with that I’ll consider a short perm. ^_^V

October Trip to Penang

Heart feels heavy thinking about my nephew's cries when we left for the airport. Clutching at my hands through the grilled gates. Heart-breaking. Glad that I was able to spend the majority of my time with him this trip though. He's grown so much and becomes so talkative. So much fun to be with. A lot of whys that I couldn't really answer. (I usually give him some random answer when I am not sure and he'd keep quiet. Probably thinking "This yi yi is no good") *sigh* Missing him desperately.

Dad flew down from Bintulu to join us as well. The vacation this time was more relaxing. Not much rushing about except for the 2 hours drive from Penang to Ipoh. We were late in arriving as the traffic was horrendous. Apparently there were 3 accidents that day. We were so behind schedule that my bro-in law had to drive straight to the hotel where my cousin is holding her wedding banquet. Fortunately, we were given loan of the honeymoon suite to change and make-up at top speed. Embarrassingly though, the bride was still making last minute preparation in the room. Even more embarrassing is the fact that the happy couple left for the banquet before us. Aih...the shame and indignity of it all. The rest of the event passed on smoothly enough. The bride is gorgeous in both the white longish bridal dress and the green beaded knee length cheongsam. The one thing that is stuck on my mind during the banquet is the fact that a lot of people seemed to enjoy singing karaoke on stage. I wonder if it is a West Malaysian thing. I think it's admirable...especially the groom's father who really looked like he is having fun. He sang a military sounding song with gusto. Very cute. I am not sure if the song has any connection with a wedding but wth, as long as everyone's happy. I asked dad if he'd consider singing on a stage. His reply is "If it's your wedding, I will sing"....awww....haha, I'll remember this pa.

The next morning we had breakfast at a famous dim sum restaurant in Ipoh called Foh San. I absolutely love it. The atmosphere, the food....everything about it. Definitely coming back again. We had a great meal and everyone enjoyed themselves. Only remembered to take photos halfway through the meal. After that, we drove to where the bride's family stayed (a house they rented for the wedding) for a quick visit. It was too hot to consider visiting anywhere else so we drove straight back to Penang. The drive back was surprisingly quick as traffic was good.

After a quick late lunch and dropping the guys at home, us girls went to a saloon for hair cuts and perms. I originally planned to have a cut and perm but was told that my curls are still intact. As such, I opted for a cut and a hair dye. Mum and sis had a hair cut and permed their hairs. While on our way to the saloon, sis reminded me not to inform anyone of the fact that I work in Australia in case they decide to slaughter us (price-wise of course). So when the stylist asked where I came from, I smartly answered that I am working in Penang. Let me re-construct (with the help of my sis who eavesdropped from the chair next to mine) the whole conversation.

Stylist : Where do you come from? You dont sound like you come from Penang.

Me : Oh...I come from Sarawak but am working here in Penang.

Stylist : Really...how long have you stayed here?

Me : Um...a year and a half I guess.

Stylist : Where do you work?

Me : (taken by surprise, my mind went "OMG! I didnt think of this!) Um...ah...um...er.....(by now varied thoughts crossed my mind. Should I admit that I am an architect? but I dont know any architectural firm in Penang. What to do?? the only thing that came to mind is my sis's company and as the stylist was looking at me all puzzled, I had no choice but to blurt out the name) errrr...... Avago.

Stylist : Oh? Avago? Never heard of that...?

Me : (oh freaking please dont ask me where coz I have no idea!) Well yeah...it's here...in Penang. An electrical and electronic company.

Stylist : So, you're an engineer?

Me : Um..yeah. (kept glancing over at sis and trying to catch her eyes. She's talking to her stylist and I was sincerely hoping that she wont tell him that she's working in Avago and give us away)

Stylist : ....(here I averted my eyes and tried to look busy reading the magazine. If he asked me what I do as an engineer then I am dead meat)

Luckily my sis overheard our conversation and am smart enough to tell her stylist that she worked in her previous company. If I am holding onto the hope that the conversation sounded normal and not as fishy as what my mind is telling me, it was completely and utterly shattered by my sis. She laughed her head off as she recounted my conversation in the car. Sien. I'm never going back to that saloon.

We did a lot of shopping this time around. I absolutely love every single items that I bought. We once spent a couple hundreds (lol...the figure is too shocking to reveal) in just one shop. Wish there's a lot of events to attend so that I can wear my dresses (fat chance here in Adelaide). No more shopping for me for at least a year.

Besides that I also managed to bake quiche and cook spaghetti australian style (with thickened cream). Speaking of which, the bacon that I bought from Adelaide has been confiscated by the immigration in Penang. Upsetting since I used to think that the rules are pretty slack in Malaysia. They almost seized my 3 expensive sheep skins. I nearly passed out. 'Luckily' they only took my bacon and let the skins pass. They handed me a leaflet and made me sign a form saying that I've been a bad girl bringing illegal things to Malaysia. By right, they should have taken my thickened creams and shredded cheese as well since diary products are in the list of things not to bring. Mangoes are also a big no-no. No animals. No bacons, frankfurts, sausages, etc. Avocado, strawberries are ok. I cant really remember what else but it's a pretty long list. Note to self: do not bring gifts of food or anything even remotely animal like during my next trip.

Aih, I am already missing everyone back in Malaysia. Dad, da jie...and my precious nephew. Till my next trip again everyone!

p/s: It's great having mum back in Australia with us again! She complained about our lack of housekeeping and proceeded to bring everything under control again. Long live parents of the world!!

Life is good!

First off..Congrats da jie for moving into her new apartment! Whoop! Whoop! Cant wait to go back and check out their new abode. Mum reported (via dad as there's no internet connection yet in the new house) that it's very cool (as in no need for air-cond. cool) and looks great. Makes me itch to redecorate my own home as well. I want new bookshelves, lots of lamps and more porcelain dolls!

It's nearly the end of the year. Many things have come to pass and many more to look forward to. My trip back to Malaysia in October, mum's trip back to Australia with me, brother's graduation at the end of the year and our family trip to Sydney and Gold Coast. Unfortunately, da jie and her family wouldn't be able to join for various reasons. Have no fear jie! You will not be forgotten! We will think of you when we are having fun! >_<

Ahh...all in all an up and down year. Some excitement (not a lot though) and some very low lows (quite a lot). However, am still glad to be alive regardless. "Every cloud has a silver lining" don't they say? I love that. I think that it's true to every aspect of life. Sometimes, something happens and you think that your life is over..or that you will never be able to smile from the heart again...never find joy in life. Hmm...wait, that sounds kindda superficial. Rephrase----Something happens, and you feel like...you cannot see an end to the tunnel of despair (lol..sorry! my brain kept spouting these cheesy lines!) Well anyway, something happens that makes you feel like being alive/dead makes not much difference. I think everyone has gone through such phase before. Life is full of ups and downs, curves and bumps. Of course, everyone experiences different things and to say that you understand is a little presumptuous. However, whenever I hear or read about people committing suicides, I felt really regretful. For the poor guy/girl who must feel like they have reached the end of the road. To be so overwhelmed with despair that they cannot see a way out other than dying. But most of all, I regret the life that they could have had. If I could say one thing to them, I would say...Please, ride out the pain and suffering for there will surely be a day when you will be glad to be alive.

-__-"..Boy, am I glad I am not a suicide helpline volunteer. I really can't think of anything else to say besides that. Anyway, that topic's way off from my first paragraph. I am listening to this song (林宥嘉 - 神秘嘉賓) and it's so good it made me feel all fuzzy and warm.

I bought a painting kit last week. Suddenly felt an itch to rediscover the joy of painting. I'm basically finished with the sketches (something I liked and grabbed off the internet). No..it's neither landscape nor still life painting. I am not that profound. It's a cartoon that I think looks cute. haha...I'll donate it to my nephew's new bedroom if it comes out ok. If it doesnt come out ok you'll still have to keep it jie. Treat it as...a lesson of not to do when painting. =p

Yum cha tomorrow! Yes! Life is good!