Don't be a Bargain Hunter

I read with horror an article on "Black Friday". This also reminded me of a Chinese Medicine practitioner whom I used to frequented his medicine shop. I still go to his shop...

We used to called him "uncle King Kong". One day, as usual I visited to his shop to seek for some medical advise on my kids' petty health issue. He was not in at that moment. Out of curiosity, I asked his wife who attended to me by saying: "where is uncle King Kong, is he in?"
His wife: "He is not in."
I said again: "He went out for wedding dinner is it?" To me, when he is not in, that means only dinner invitation that will make him leaves his shophouse. Then,
the wife said again: "You didn't know?"
I said: "Know what?"
The wife told his daughter: "Girl, you tell aunty where is papa"...
The daughter: "He was dead."
The wife: "That was exactly 1-month ago."....

I could not believed what I heard. Once reached home, I burst into tears when I relate the incident to my husband. This uncle was a indirect victim of holiday-bargain-hunter. He died of heart attack when the car that he and his family were traveled in was caught in a 1hr massive traffic jam under the hot sun nearby a brandnew shopping mall during our National Day celebration holiday on 31Aug.

His wife advice me this:
It's better not to go to shopping complexes in crowded seasons!

It is just Not Worthwhile to cause a loss of a precious life in spite of a few bucks saved.

Early enrolment to Kindergarten 1

My computer savvy son Ryan will attend to his new school on Monday 01Dec. This 1 month holiday program is for the new comer to get themselves adapt to the new school environment as well as the teacher. So, I dare not expect much and just hope that he will not cry and be good at school so as not to make me worry.

From previous experiences, he tends to have stronger separation anxiety than his other peers. hmm... until now, I still can't find a solution to this problem.

Tree Planting Campaign

Matthias invited you to "North Selangor peat swamp forest reserve Tree Planting" on Saturday, December 13 at 9:00am.

Matthias says, "Hi Friends - please come along to our tree planting event and/or invite your friends that are based in Malaysia. Please join as well our Eco Warrior Malaysia group to get future invites to events that are focussed on us protecting our environment".

Event: North Selangor peat swamp forest reserve Tree Planting
"Action Time for Eco Warriors - let's plant trees !"
What: Club/Group Meeting
Host: Eco Warriors Malaysia
Start Time: Saturday, December 13 at 9:00am
End Time: Saturday, December 13 at 12:00pm
Where: North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF)

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=36315182195

Choices of Kindergarten

A few friends of mine keep asking what are the choices of pre-school which I might send my kids to? Well, most of the pre-school more or less are the same. However, I personally feel that teacher's quality is a important factor which we should seriously consider in a preschool.

Ideally, Kiddy House is my top choice at the moment. but, it's quite a distance from my home which needs to travel for 20min by car for 1 way journey. Whereas, De'Monte just set up a franchise school nearby my house which is only 5min. away. which 1 should I choose lerr?

Cake Baking - Marble Cake Secret Recipe

How many of you like butter cake? Well, a neighbor of mine and my family members all are butter cake fans. Occasionally I would bake some for them. hah, speaking of that, I think I might practice to bake more cakes then can be given away as Christmas gift horr...If you wish to try out my recipe for butter cake, here's the link - Oshi Marble Cake.

Free WiFi at Penang

Penang/Kulim free WiFi service initiated by Penang state government is up and running….

visit http://www.mybroadband.gov.my to register a new account for free, then you can use the internet service at those designated places in Penang

The list of places that provide free WI-FI service are stated on www.mybroadband.gov.my

Keep me sane

I hate those industrial buyer that take seller as servant!

When the fuel price increased few month ago, they don't allowed us to increase the price even for transportation cost. The cost of product is RM80 + (RM8 delivery charge+30% fuel cost)= RM90.40, our selling price RM95 with 60 days credit term.
Yet, she said this to me: if you want, give us your new price then we'll ask other supplier to quote and you guys fight la... who cheap we buy from the person.
see la, no point one giving round the clock support with extra extra extra explaination. in the end, this co. still judge based on price per se. don't call us one day and say: ei, come now. our line down, need urgent support... I will ask our people not to support. Then, we'll know who is more influencial : P

And guess what they asked you know? Contribution for their annual dinner - reply before 14Nov. You say what we should give??? Miserable...

Road accident victim

My old friend rang me yesterday informed me that her father-in-law passed away during Devali holiday while he was motocyling to meet a friend. The accident happened at 8.30am not far away from his house. I was totally shocked by the bad news as her FIL was a healthy 60year-old and no one would expect this could happened on him.

According to her, the car drove by a man suddenly changed from fast lane to outter lane and rammed to his motocycle. He flung some 20meter away from the accident spot and died on the spot. It seriously injured his head. Came out in our local newspaper but I missed the report.

They are suspecting the car's driver is a drunk driver worst still he's gurnment inspector. nerr......the one who should reinforce the law break the law. I believes there are many of such cases not being published and the culprit should be prosecuted and sentence twice as much compare to the citizen.

It is a great lost to the family as he was a kind, gentle, caring husband, father, grandpa and respected by family and friends around him. Although I saw him 1, 2 time during my friend's child birth when I visited to his house, me too felt sadden by his sudden passed away.

He will be deeply missed by all people around.

Craving for crabbie

Once a while we do crave for seafood. Know what I'll do? Wait for 1.30pm, heading straight to an afternoon fish seller 5km away from my home, and grab a few fresh crabs back to cook for dinner. I don't know how convenient your place to get fresh seafood supply, but here in southern Penang, there's aplenty. I usually will buy flower crab like this as it's cheaper compare to green crab...

It can be cooked with Tau Cheong paste or Chilli sauce for crab.

As I'm writing this post, the craving comes again. Can't resist its taste - hot & spicy, fresh, juicy, yum-yum...

Cane Basket - Old charm

I've been using this cane basket since gave birth to Ryan to carry all the nursing tools wherever we go.

The dearly basket still in good condition despite get a bit of stain here and there. I no longer need to carry milk bottles in this basket as kids are drinking milk on cup already. To put it into good use, I carry it to my everyday marketing. This is one of my green campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags ; ))

These are the new baskets sell at the morning market by the mobile cane seller which I bought recently ^_^

Wireless@Penang Forum

We attended a forum on turning Penang a wireless state at Dome, Komtar.

All the stakeholders are there, be it organizer, industrial experts, analysts or residents. We are there because we just want to keep abreast of latest happenings involving ICT.

Our Penang Chief giving his speeches:


Lists of panel taking questions from the audience:

Sandwiches for dinner

Sometimes everyday routine daily cooking could be causing ourselves to lose appetite of I eat what I cook... sound very boring isn't it?

Once a while like fortnightly, hubby will volunteer himself to prepare sandwiches for the family. Usually these are the things you can find in his sandwiches - sausages, scramble egg, butter, cucumber, mayonaise and chilli sauce or ketchup for kids. Ryan and Russell love cucumber, that's why it's the only choice of vegetables.

Deepavali Open House

I attended a Devali Open House hosted by my good friend Usha who is staying nearby. Brought along my children there.

Also met a few neighbours who were invited too. Most of them are senior and guess what, I'm became a language converter. These old people only can speak a very limited Malay, can't speak English at all besides 'bye-bye'. No choice, in order not to run away right after lunch, we chatted for about 30min. while eating 'kuih' - Indian festival's delicacies like muruku & butter cookies.

So, it's them here - my friend.

1st Black Mr. President, Unbelievable

Yesterday night I believe all of the people in this world hooked on to news channel to get latest updates on who will be the elect- US President 4Nov 2008.

Me too waited anxiously, very kanceong - can't wait for the result.

As predicted, he is the most likable and favourable people on earth I can say. The world seems cheering for him over his success to be the 1st black Mr. President. This is amazing, unbelievable!! It is the hope that people has in him for better. This is one of the traits that a true leader must have.
This is also 1 of my life principle - be a person that people can hope for. In Chinese it is 'Xi1 Wang4'. Gone lah if people labelled us as a hopeless person, can see the difference?

Offended someone

Sorry... I didn't mean it.

Yesterday I was with my gang hanging out at Queensbay Mall. They are the Kengs (a deeply in love senior couple), Emma, Patie and a medical doctor - Daphne and myself.

Our conversation started when this doctor was suggesting that we should make an ebook on promoting 'how to build a long lasting relationship with spouse' as the Kengs are the example. Then I said: "not to promote the childless part" oppsss....I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to offend their feeling. They are my friends. .... really too fast the words pouring out. What I really mean is if you have children at young age, what romantic also gone like my case. Just forget about romance until they are older and able to be independent.

I prefer and advocate for a balance life and healthy family. When a couple married and decided to live life together, naturally we are hoping to get our own offspring and extend the family members. I feel weird and imbalance if couple with childless thought. It is such a selfish and individualistic person. The exceptional case like they have health complication or infertility, they are excluded in the category.

Don't forget that life lies in how much you give, not how much you get.

Black Vinegar Pork Leg Recipe

During confinement month for women after child birth, we are advised to consume nourishing and remedial food to supplement to their health. I took this dish once a week during confinement ; ))

One of my favourite is Black Vinegar Pork Leg, here's the recipe. It's easy to cook and all in the family can eat as it is not spicy. I tend to cook more for my parents live nearby.

So, cook this dish for your family or ask your gal-fren or boy-fren to cook for you.