I love walking along the shore...

21 February 2010, Sunday

Whenever I go to the beach, I would walk along the shore, looking for things the tide had yielded overnight. sometimes, there was an odd-shaped piece of driftwood or an old slipper or a sports shoe, or an old torn t-shirt, or even a clock, washed up from God knows where.

It amused me to imagine how these things ended up in the water. I once found a coconut - had it arrived at the beach after months of adrift frrom Tahiti or had it rolled off a yatch deck from a sundry bag?

Often, sadly, all I found were garbage - soft drink bottles and plastic bags, chunks of Styrofoam and torn fish net.

Sometimes, all I wanted was to look at the footprints left by humans or dogs, or even horses. It would be interesting to know the stories behind those footprints, and the odds and pieces that were washed ashore.

Down memory lane in Singapore and Kitchen Makeover, Day 27

20 February 2010, Saturday
It's awesome to catch up with my old friends in Singapore

I'm been in Singapore since yesterday, Friday (19 Feb) taking a much-needed break after slogging at the computer the last 3 months working on my Digital Marketing book. Miracles of miracles, I managed to complete the book on the eve of my departure to Singapore.

I was kind of worried as I had to leave the supervision of my kitchen make-over to my kids, but then again, I badly needed this break and I was so looking forward to catching up with my old friends in Singapore.

Safaruan (my ex-school mate) picked me up from Holiday Inn City Centre at Orchard Road at 9:00 a.m. and he was joined by his hospitable wife, Sabariah, another ex-school mate, Sabariah (too) and her husband Shaffii.

We headed to Hajjah Maimunah, a popular joint at Geylang for breakfast. I savoured every morsel of my lontong, which was really, ohhhh so goood. We had a jolly good time catching up on old times and were later joined by Maimunah (not the owner of the shop, rather my ex-classmate) and Haida (another ex-schoolmate).

Before these two friends arrived, the discussion was quite subdued except for regales of stories from Sabariah and laughters from the rest.

But the minute those two arrived, they sent sparks flying and the whole group erupted into laughter. We were there till almost noon. As Munah and Haida weren't free to join us, Safaruan dropped Sabariah, Shaffii and I at Parkway Parade.

We adjourned for coffee at Starbucks. It was interesting to note how Shafii reacted to Sabariah, I guess most married couples would potray similar traits, me and hubby included.....

As we had a rather late breakfast, we decided to defer lunch to almost 2:30 p.m at Kartini Restoran at Parkway Parade. The food was really great, in particular the Tahu Telor... Oh my..... that was really yummy.

And later in the evening, despite being rather tired, and as I had already made prior arrangement, I met Zaleha Arip (a new friend I made through Facebook). We had a simple dinner at the nearby restaurant. We chitchatted for about an hour or two.

Zaleha, I'd always remember two things about you. 1/How you told me about being conned by taxi drivers in Malaysia despite looking very much like a Malaysian (although you were not happy when someone commented that you look just like a Malaysian as you were very proud of your Singaporean look????), and 2/Your comment "I smell Malaysia", which I thought was in rather poor taste.

All in all, despite my brush with a little Singapore snobbery, I had a wonderful and great time with my ex-school mates. And I'm looking forward to meeting them again and some others tomorrow for BBQ at Munah's house. And this time my husband would be joining me.

Later in the evening, I spoke to my son to find out the progress of my kitchen make-over. At long last, they have laid tiles on my table top. I reckoned that by the time we arrived back home on Monday afternoon, work on the floor tiles would have started. 

Kitchen Makeover: Day 26

19 February 2010, Friday
Day 26

Today, both my husband and I are bound for Singapore. It'll be the first time, we're flying SilkAir.

And we're leaving the workers to resume work on my kitchen make-over. I hope everything will turn out okay with both of us being away.

Occasionally checked with the kids and was told that the wall tiles had been completed. Phew!!! Thank God there's progress.

Kitchen Makeover: Day 25

18 February 2010, Thursday
Day 25

Today, the workers were supposed to resume work, but when I checked with Jali, the site contractor, he told me that they would only come in tomorrow. Alas, I lost another precious day to the completion of my kitchen make-over.

I'm like Pinatubo volcanoe, wating to explode....

Kitchen Makeover: Day 21 to Day 24

14 February 2010 
Day 21 to Day 24

Today till 17 February, the workers (both Indonesians and Chinese) take a break. And they are supposed to resume work on 18 February (Thursday). Hopefully they do.

To all my Chinese friends, Gong Hee Fatt Choy!!! I reckoned the Chinese are welcoming an extremely HOT tiger. For the last one and half weeks, the heat has been unbearable and sweltering. Turning the air-condition on doesn't reduce the heat very much. At this point of time, I wish I'm holidaying in a cooler country.

Reunion of some sort

13 February 2010, Saturday

After a lapse of almost 1.5 years, today I met my ex-student, Omer Cepalo from Bosnia. He had been holidaying in Malaysia the last 1 month, but only managed to contact me at the very last minute through Zameer (another ex-ESOL student from Pakistan).

Omer Cepalo is scheduled to return to Bosnia tomorrow (Sunday). When I received a call from Faizal (also my ex-ESOL student from Malaysia), that both he and Omer Cepalo wanted to meet up today, I agreed immediately as I needed a break from supervising my kitchen makeover.

As my daughter Ina has also been cooped up in the house the last 1 week (she's back for a 2-week Chinese New Year break), I asked her along.  Without much hesitation, she agreed.

We met at KLCC and had a sumptous and delectable lunch at House of Sundanese. Although the food was pricey, it was well worth it as the dishes were really good. Afterall it's not everyday that I could dine with my ex-ESOL students.

Muhammad Faizal with his brand-new 2010 hairdo

After lunch we went our separate ways; Omer and Faizal walked into Kinokuniya, and my daughter and I headed towards the LRT, enroute Amcorp Mall, as she wanted to buy a couple of stuff. In the end, she didn't buy anything as most shops were closed as the Chinese would be having their CNY reunion this evening.

We ended up buying McDonalds for my hubby and boys who hadn't taken their lunch (what my husband called as 'heavy tea') and I managed to nick two books from BookExcess (knowing how I cannot resist books), it's amazing that I only bought two books this time around.

All in all, it was a good outing for my daughter and I, as what I'd termed as "mother-daughter" time.

And, it was wonderful that I managed to have a REUNION of some sort with my ex-ESOL students. So long, farewell guys. Till we meet again, God knows when, especially for Omer, who's ensconed on the other end of the globe, i.e. Bosnia.

Kitchen Makeover: Day 20

13 February 2010
Day 20

Yesterday Jali told me that his workers would come in this morning to cover the upper portion of the kitchen door with bricks, now that they have fixed the door, and the workers who's supposed to fix the mistake in the grille size was supposed to come too.

In the end, only work on my door, and fixing of the gutters were completed. My windows are still not fixed yet as the workers failed to turn up. Angry couldn't begin to describe my current feeling.

In any case, last evening, I received a call from my ex-student saying that Omer, my ex ESOL students is in town and wished to meet up. As I have veen supervisng dilligently and patiently my kitchen makeover the last 3 weeks, without any break, I agreed to meet up as I deserved a much-needed break. It has been quite a stressful 3 weeks, to say the least.

Kitchen Makeover: Day 19

12 February 2010, Friday
Day 19

I was told that today, the electrician would come to fix all the electrical sockets and fixtures (hanging lights, downlights, fan, exhaust fan, cooker hood, hob). I did raise some issues with Jali but he dismissed my concerns (it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know all these, somehow a blogging housewife seems to know better.....)

So, when the electrician came, they were quite annoyed as they realised that most things were not ready yet despite being told otherwise by Jali, i.e no hole was drilled for cooker hood; wall lights and fan couldn't be fixed yet as the walls hadn't been painted yet. And the wall facing the washroom has not been plastered, hence they couldn't fix the electrical socket.....and the list goes on......

There's still a lot of things which are not done yet despite it being Day 19:
1/ Floor tiles
2/ Wall tiles (5%) left
3/ Grille
4/ Door
5/ Tiling of table top
6/ Gutters
7/ Painting of ceiling (dry area)
8/ Plaster ceiling of wet area
9/ Painting of washroom
10/ Kitchen cabinets
11/ Plumbing work
12/ Glass frame for windows (kittos' rooms)

Later in the afternoon, the workers came to fix the door and grille for the window. Thank God they called me before they fixed the grille for the windows.

Depth-wise, the grille was far too big. Of course I had told them they needed to redo or readjust as there was no way I was going to have an oversized grille spoling the beauty of my kitchen!!!! They promised to return tomorrow to fix the mistake.

I'm trying very hard to contain my anger and frustrations.....

I'm in labour!!!

12 February 2010, Friday

I'm in labour and my due date is not till 24 February 2010.  Actually, I'm about done with my translation project. I'm now at Phase 3, i.e proofreading stage, and by the next couple of days, I should wrap up everything and hand over the completed assignment to ITNM.

I couldn't wait to be relieved of this as it has been a long and laborious process. Come to think of it, why do I keep on doing this? The money isn't that great, and it's a painful process. I likened doing translations to being pregnant:
1/ Conception stage (Acceptance of project)
2/ 1st Trimester (Translation)
3/ 2nd Trimester (Editing)
4/ 3rd Trimester (Proof reading)
5/ Labour (Finalising and tying up loose ends)
6/ A Baby is Born (Handing over completed project)

And in my case, during stage 2 to 5, you keep cursing yourself on why you're in such deep s&*%#@, and after you've gone through Stage 6, with a short break, and if another project comes along, you agree, just like agreeing to have another baby, despite going through a long and painful labour the last time around. Life is such, and I'm no exception.

And, especially when you see your name printed on the book, it's such a euphoric feeling, and really satisfying, just like holding and caressing your own baby.

Kitchen Makeover: Day 18

11 February 2010, Thursday
Day 18

Time sure flies, and today is already Day 18 of my kitchen makeover. Today, Ah Ki managed to continue with the wall tiling only after 12:00 p.m when Jali delivered more tiles. Because of this delay, Ah Ki did not manage to complete all the walls. The balance of the walls can only be tiled after Chinese New Year.

With effect from tomorrow, the Chinese workers would take a week's break before they resumed work.

And today, Kamal Pest Control came to do treatment of termites in my kitchen before the workers lay the floor tiles.

 My area is notoriously known as a termite-infested area, but was later told by the worker that the ENTIRE KL is ACTUALLY infested with these vicious pests. As the other parts of my house are still in a mess, they would come back, probably 6 to 8 weeks later to complete the treatment.

Coupled with the extreme heatwave that we have been experiencing the last couple of adys, I'm getting very irritable and impatient with the slow progress of my kitchen makeover. And looking at my house condition, I'm on the verge of going bonkers....