Tuesday, February 28, 2006

It Takes Balls To Play

I need to get this thought out of my mind. I need to store it elsewhere, like in a pensieve, so that my own head does not explode. I seriously think that some men at work should have their damned b***s cut off! Pardon my French!! Whether you like or not, you are in the E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N line and thus, part of your job includes disciplining your pupils. HeLLo! Without it, I simply do not think any form of teaching or learning can take place.

What values are you imparting when some people are talking in front and your own pupil right under your nose is busy chatting away, and you simply don't do anything about it? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were so engrossed in the feeling one gets when one massages one's b***s!! As a teacher, you should jolly well tell the bugger to shut up! Seriously!

And what is worse are those men, who simply sit back and do not bother lending their weight to maintaining the discipline yet jump up and start shoving their weight around the moment they see the No 1 coming their way!!

I hate such people. What I get from these people is just that they are in teaching not for the betterment of the kids but to get some fancy schmancy post and get more pay. I'm disgusted. How some people pass through the sift and becomes teachers is simply beyond me.

So, men, come on, show us you have balls!

Monday, February 27, 2006

To The Hospital I Go... Again!

I went visiting at the hospital...... again. This time not for Mak, but for my baby brother. Well, not so baby lah... dah besar panjang pun. Heh.

That's him, with his freshly operated on knee and his newly engaged fiancee. She happens to be a nurse working at SGH. Then, in the background, you can see yours truly very artistically working her way into the picture. Hehe...

Anyway, went to pick him up today. I thought the black thing on his right leg looks quite cool. Hopefully, that thing and the crutches he has now somewhat permanently stuck under his armpits would make him stay home more. He's 29, but sometimes, he behaves like a little boy who's all of 8! I guess that's the "occupational hazard" of being the only son, and now the only man in the family. I love him I really do, but sometimes, I do feel like wringing his neck!

Well, baby brother, do stay home and behave yourself and try to not give Mak too much of a headache.....

Monday, February 13, 2006

Thank You ( II )

32, I am. Today.

Was asked how I felt about that. Obviously I feel a little bit old. But that's it lah..Heheh... I don't feel much different than I did last year. I feel happy and very loved though... Heh.

It all started on the 10th when MBB and I had a major arguement. Both also very the stubborn, both also refuse to give in so I had to wait like fruit no fall lah for him to say sorry. I got home late that night so the cold war went on. The next morning I went to do my hair with Gingerena. After that, we were supposed to meet up for dinner. 5pm, Borders. So I relented and showed up. When I got there, he was nowhere to be found! Of course yours truly, the blood started to boil. Then my phone rang. He said to come over to Royal Plaza. He wanted to have dinner at Cafe Vienna.

Hmmm.... a peace offering?

So I went over. He said he needed the bathroom. But instead of going to the restrooms, he took me upstairs! He had checked us into a room!


That's us in our room. At that point, all my anger and boiling blood all just melted away. We made up and out. *wink*. We then had a nice dinner and shopped. How easy it is to buy my over.Sigh.... Anyhow,I was in town, shopping, on a Saturday night. It was a long long time since we last did that. I did feel a little old and out of place. Every other person there was younger and hippier than I was. BUT, I was happy. I had many packages hanging on my arm...heheh.... at about 11 we returned to our room for......

I had thought that last night would have been the end of my celebrations. The next morning, I received this...

I was happily surprised. Again. I felt so loved at that point. Then I thought, how am I going to outdo if not match this birthday surprise. But MBB has made this year's birthday a wonderful one.

Thank You Ayang for making my special day a wonderful day for me. I truly enjoyed myself. We do need a break don't we? Anyhow, I do love you and once again, Thank You!!

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Thank You ( I )

I had a very,very happy childhood. I have very, very fond memories of it too. One of those memories is about my birthday celebrations. Or the lack of it. It was when I was 7 I think. I remember, or maybe because I have photos of it, that day somewhat vividly. I was in a red, very curtain -like dress. There were lots of food. There was a huge cake. There were also lots of people I hardly knew. Then there were the presents... that was the best part.

After that, I don't remember having anymore such celebrations. All through primary school, nothing. When I was in secondary school, birthdays were just excuses to throw flour and eggs as part of a lame effort to sabo the person celebrating the birthdays. After that birthdays were just excuses to get presents from anyone you can wrangle a present out of.

When I met MBB, we agreed that birthdays were going to special days we celebrate with ourselves. That's another story by the way.

So yesterday, when we went over to JL's place to check out his crib, I was pleasantly surprised when JB popped over with his 3 heroes, with a cake in hand! So we had a cake with a candle which yours truly kept blowing out, much to the chagrin of RY. It was good fun. RY and SS will celebrate their birthdays on the 11th and I will celebrate mine on the 12th. So courtesy of the whole gang, we got to celebrate it together. It was good cake, great company and wonderful conversations. Good times.I think, that was the closest I ever got to a birthday party. Heh.


Thanx guys, for making my 32nd birthday a really really happy one.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

This Little Piggy Went To Prada

I finally found it! This is the book which title and author I did not know. This is the book that I sent a Borders salesperson on a wild goose chase while searching for it. Why I'm dying to get this book?

"Spy Publishing presents twenty-one revamped, tongue-in-cheek, name dropping nursery rhymes, all wrapped up in a luxurious, linen-bound cover. With its super-chic look and beautiful illustrations, This Little Piggy went to Prada is the must-have gift for new mums. It’s politically incorrect, utterly frivolous and lots of fun. If the Sex and the City girls or Desperate Housewives had a baby shower, it would be top of the gift list."

My kind of book.

So, go on... Check it out! www.thislittlepiggywenttoprada.com

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Another Resolution?

Got this from Gingerena. Laughed till Milo nearly came out from my nose. Heh

In the year 2006 I resolve to:
Become one with my inner sociopath.

Get your resolution here

Sunday, February 05, 2006

The Domestic Goddess II

I coughed last night away. Between body shattering coughs and shoving a finger down my throat to get the phlem out, I barely slept a wink. Today, I thought I'd go see the doc and get some medictaion for this irritating cough that refuses to go away. Mak calls it the batuk anjing. Any reference to the year I wonder.Heh.

But I got distracted with a sudden craving for lemak daun ubi. So I cancelled the trip to the doc's and raided the fridge. Well whaddyaknow... I have all the ingredients, except for the ikan bilis. Then I remembered buying the daun ubi a few days ago at Giant. The vegetable was in a bin labelled Malay Vegetables. How cute.

So I had to get ikan bilis. We went to Tampines. No, not to get ikan bilis but MBB had wanted to get his laptop from the office. So, armed with a packet of kiddies' composition, MBB went to the office while I waited for him at the Starbucks there. It was raining and cold out while I was warm indoors with a hot cuppa in my hand. This was life, I thought, minus the compo.. heh.

When he was ready, we went to Sengkang for lunch and then bought ikan bilis. When we got home, I threw off my jeans and top and threw on my domestic robes. Heh. The Domestic Goddess was in the house! So I did all that I remember Mak teaching me ( yelling at me would be more apt ) and served these to MBB.


From top, clockwise direction: My Lemak Daun Ubi, Oyster Sauce Chicken, Outside Crispy Eggy but Soft and Yummy Inside begedil and the shiokest complement to LDU, Salted Egg. Yes lah, I made the begedil myself. Goddess or what right? The chicken looks a bit chao tar but that because the oyster sauce has caramelised.... heh. MBB likes the chicken a little bit well done and my sole purpose is to serve him.... hmm? heh. But MBB did enjoy his dinner. Not very often this Domestic Goddess exposes her talents you know.

How I guessed he enjoyed his dinner? See lah....

See how smiley MBB was as he drowned his rice with the kuah from the LDU?

And look at his begedil. I made an extra large one just for him.


Yummm....... Super Shiok..... Lemme kiss the cook!!

I was very pleased with myself. Obviously. Heh. I made a resolution after dinner. I can and will cook from now on. Everyday. Everyday? No lah.... Goals must be achievable right? We'll start with the weekends.

So what gastronomical delights shall this Domestic Goddes whip up next week? But this domestic goddess got rebonding appointment on Saturday... Is this a sign of a failing resolution? Will the Domestic Goddess never show herself again? Stay tuned, next week for the Misadventures of the Domestic Goddess.....

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Dance With My Father

Today is my dad's 17th death anniversary.

Funny calling it death anniversary isn't it? Well, it has been 17 eventful years without him. Terribly missing him, I am. Incredibly lost without him, I am too.

I have always been daddy's girl. Whatever fancies me, all I had to do was open my mouth, and I'd get it. How lucky I was. I have very fond and warm memories of him. Growing up, he played a major part in shaping who I am today. He was my best friend, my guiding light, my confidante, my worse nightmare too, whenever I crossed the line. He was never cross, never punitive but when there was the need to, he had no issues whipping out the belt and introducing the leather to my skin. He showed me things, taught me a lot and adviced me loads.

The saddest thing is that I never had the opportunity to return the favours. I had dreamed of taking him on holidays to faraway places. Dreamed of driving him around in my car as he did with me and the rest of the family. Dreamed of having my photo taken with him with the mortar board and my scroll. Dreamed of having him by myside at my wedding. Dreamed of having him Bang into my baby's ear when I gave birth. Dreamed of taking long walks with him on the weekends.

All I can do now, is pray for him. Recite the Al-Fateha for him. Pray that he is with those of faith. Pray that God forgives all his sins. I love you Bak. And I miss you. We will meet again. One day, I'm sure.

This one's for you.

Back when I was a child
Before life removed all the innocence
My father would lift me high
And dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around till I fell asleep
Then up the stairs he would carry me
And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him,
I'd play a song that would never ever end
How I'd love love love,
to dance with my father again
When I and my mother would disagree
To get my way I would run from her to him
He'd make me laugh just to comfort me
Then finally make me do just what my momma said
Later that night, when I was asleep
He left a dollar under my sheet
Never dreamed that he would be gone from me
If I could steal
One final glance
One final step
One final dance with him
I'd play a song that would never ever end
Cause I'd love love love
to dance with my father again
Sometimes I'd listen outside her door
I'd hear how my mother cried for him
I'd pray for her even more than me
I know I'm praying for much too much
But could you send back the only man she loved
I know you don't do it usually
But dear Lord she' s dying to dance with my father again
Every night I fall asleep
And this is all I ever dream

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Prosperity GEMS

I ordered Pizza Hut's Prosperity Pizza for dinner today. When I called, the lady who took my order said that the order will take about 1 hour to reach me. Sure, no problems, or so I thought. When my order came, there was nothing prosperous about the pizza what so ever! The tomato dips that was supposed to accompany my breadstix weren't even there. The slices of pizza which were touted to be 'covered with succulent barbequed chicken meat and generously sprinkled with chicken floss' were not covered with any meat and the floss was only enough to clean my teeth. It was pathetic.

So I called the call centre to let them know what kind of pizza was delivered to me after an hour of waiting. Firstly, there was no apology. Not that I was not even angry. In fact I was very nice to them. I told them that I was not looking to get another pizza. I just wanted to let them know that this was the kind of pizza they were dishing out and that it should not be this way.

So they promised me that the supervisor of the Lot 1 outlet, that made the pizza would call me to apologise. That call NEVER came. So they promised to deliver the tomato dip that they missed. That dip NEVER came.

and they are encouraging us consumers to say thank you and please and appreciate good service! WHAT SERVICE??!! I was so indignant when I saw the ad for our latest campaign GEMS - Go The Extra Mile for Service.... Why are they targeting the consumers when the clearly the problem lies with the service providers??

To me, being in the service industry, you actually have to like serving people. You actually have to enjoy being around people. You actually have to be proud of what you are doing. Unfortunately, in Singapore. for every 1 wonderful sale person, you get 10 lousy everything-is-there-you-are-not-ang-moh-why-should-I-serve-you kind of sales person.

How many times have you and I been ignored by sales people? How many times have we been irritated by incompetent waiters? How many times have we encountered want-to-kena-whack cabbies? How many times have we saidthank you at the check out and responded to with grunts?

So again, why is the campaign targeted at the consumers?

What about you? Any horror stories to share?