december 2010

This has been the most hectic month of the year. There is only two days left and I must complete my thoughts for 2010 before 2011 begins.

Lots have happened in this one month. Invigilation took a major part of my time. Made keropok. Then NeeChia and family came. That was really a major event. Infact it is still not over yet. We travelled all the way south and now up north. I think the kids have covered more than half of the peninsula. No pictures here....uploaded them all into my facebook. Don't have the time to blog on them.

Then it was christmas. Another busy busy time. Rather low key this year because I wasn't well but the others like my mom in law, KC and NeeChia did quite a bit to help me out. Not to forget Ah Yean who took over the cleaning.

Kids were real busy with their carolling practises. They sang at Terminal 1 and 2. The carollers did a wonderful job this year and the commitment amongst them was great. Now Lyn is off to Youth Quake and Dan is having great fun with his cousins. I feel that I have not spent enough time with my children this holiday.

Dan had a fall. Frightened all of us. Spent RM200plus for his checkup and x-ray. Thank God; nothing serious. Then I myself fell seriously ill. Lost my voice and had fever for quite a few days. Finally when Christmas came, I was flat. Slept most of the time.

Now...it's meeting non-stop in school. So work has begun. What can I say except the holiday is full to the brim and I need another holiday from my holiday!!!

I am not sure how prepared we are to face 2011. At least for me, I have started going to school and it's like a prelude to 2011. I'm afraid my kids are going to have anti-climax on 1st January when reality hits them that holiday is over and school is starting. It's going to be an important year for them as they will be having major exams. Well, they have played hard this time; so study hard the next year!!

kids say the darnest things

The kids returned from carolling last night past 12am. The cousins were so excited to see them because my kids had been out the whole afternoon and night.

They took a can shandy and passed round. Stood around the dining area and talked and talked.

KC and I went up first as KC has to work today. Then suddenly Lyn had the urge to play the piano!! I rushed out to tell her to keep the tone down as the dad and the uncle were trying to sleep.

When I opened my door I saw these 3 young boys walking up the stairs talking. Dan was removing his tie and said, 'It's just like we've gone to the pub, we've just drunk beer!!!'

voiceless

Woke up this morning and found my voice totally gone. I could hardly make myself heard. I remembered losing my voice like this eleven years ago. (no pain; just voiceless.) I have to whisper when I talk. It's quite frustrating when you want to be heard and nothing comes out.

Back to reminiscing eleven years ago, KC was in the US when it happened. Early one morning (before 6pm), aunty Vivian phoned and asked if I heard about KPing (KC's second brother). Said he passed away...my heart almost stopped. It was like a joke. I whispered loudly into the phone and said no. She asked if I wanted to go Mantin with her to check and see what was happening, I said I couldn't go because KC wasn't home and I couldn't leave my baby alone. Phoned 7R and there was no answer; everybody had gone to Mantin.

I called Ing and whispered to her that KPing passed away. She couldn't hear me too well and thought KC passed away. What drama; she called Vancouver to inform our family there about it. What a shock I had when I found out how the news was misunderstood all because I couldn't make myself heard!!!

I'm going to the airport now to meet Neechia and family. I can't phone them because I can't talk over the phone. Hope Neechia knows how to sms by now.

X in the sky

I was hanging the laundry one morning when I saw this in the sky. An X across the sky. Looks real nice.

DIY

One of the places that we love to visit is Ikea. We just enjoy walking through the big store, looking at how the furniture is arranged and the variety of stuff that one can have in the house. It is from Ikea that we get some ideas on how to arrange our own house.

Besides looking at the furnishing; we love the restaurant too. It is a must for us to eat the beefballs served in some kind of sauce and jam. Before leaving the store, I will always buy the frozen beefballs and sauce to make our own at home. This time I am so greedy; I bought two packets of the beefballs (1kg each). Of course, we have to pack the currypuffs to eat on our journey home.

This trip to Ikea, we bought a coffee table to fill up our living hall. KC prefers the hall empty; looks more spacious. I managed to convince him the table would look good in the hall with a carpet at the bottom.


Ikea stuff is DIY....we've done plenty of this based on the leaflets provided. Pretty simple. I've fixed a few myself too.

The final product.

busy busy busy

This is the busiest holiday ever. I just 'merdeka' yesterday....finished my invigilation. I came home to a house full of kids n people, the porch muddy because the kids played water balloons again, dining table laden with fish curry, crabs, sardine curry.....enough to eat for a few days. Not complaining here but trying to commit everything in my memory to blog so I will remember it again next time when I read it. That was my view of the house when I stepped in.

Ing promised to send the kids to Jusco on her way to the toll...she was snoring on the sofa at 2.30pm. I quickly rushed them to the mall because they had only an hour to spend. At 3.15pm, Ing was still lazing on the sofa. I had to rush everybody again because I need to leave the house to pick the kids up and send mine for carolling practice and neechia for dental appointment.

At 5.15pm, I was off again to pick neechia from dental clinic and send her and family to Nilai to meet Suzane. Reached home 6.45pm; warmed up the rice and rushed off to church to pick kids up. What a day!!!

It's the beginning of my real holiday and I can see myself busy like this till early next year. Must learn to stop every now and then to take a breather so that I will be energized again.

Thursday I have PIBG meeting, 27th there is staff meeting (can't attend because away with my neechia and family). I believe other meetings are scheduled before school reopens. I need to make a trip back home before the year ends to say hi to my father.

This is a different holiday. Anyway....I managed to make 8kg of keropok...eaten 1kg already!!! Not sure how much will be left for CNY.

water fun

The cousins arrived yesterday. Ing thought they were touching ground at 12pm; but I remembered Nee Chia mentioned 1pm in her email. Noni came to massage us and she was done with me at 12pm. Ing started rushing me saying that we were late. By the time we left the house; it was past 12.30pm. I suggested we take the kampung road through LBJ but I wasn't sure of the route. So I asked her to lead the way(we had to take two cars). She drove like a madwoman! In the kampung road she was hurtling away at about 100km/hr and most of the time I was left behind. When we hit the four lanes; she just zoomed off; way ahead of me doing about 130km/hour (I think). I lost her even though I was doing 100km/hr. When I reached the roundabout, I panicked...didn't know which road to take. I did a 360degree trying to decide where to turn to. Finally I turned 9 o'clock. Then she phoned, saying that she was waiting for me at the 12o'clock turn. I was so angry with her...told her to just go on her own and I will find my own way there. When I reached a junction, I saw her car hurtling past at great speed (hah...my route was correct and faster). By the time I came out of the car; my hands were totally cold and shaking....I will never ever follow her again. (We found out later that she was mistaken about the time).

Anyway...back to the topic; the kids played water balloon this morning after a heavy breakfast at alWazer. The balloons came all the way from Vancouver. There are different from the normal balloons; thin and small; meant for water fights.


Jackie watched in anticipation as the boys get the balloons ready. Wasn't easy. Christina filled them up; passed to Dan; Dan passed them to Mark to tie.

Hard at work getting the balloons ready...the whole back porch was totally wet. Had to remind them over and over not to run as it was really slippery.

Dan holding his hose; ready for the fight.

Mark still struggling filling up the balloons. He was already wet before the fight began. He loves playing with water. He wasn't hesitant to roll across the wet floor to catch a runaway balloon. After playing; he just picked up the pail of water and poured the water on himself. It's summer!!

Ok...ready; one with the balloon; the other with a hose ready to hit it. I don't think he managed to hit any.

Nice throw....Mark has gaya like a baseball player. That's bonding for them. They left after NeeChia's dental appointment with Eric. They are now in Sitiawan attending a wedding dinner; Tien's daughter's wedding. (that is our cousin's daughter....rather distant...don't even know who she is.)