CNY in Mid Valley & Home

Was at MidValley over the weekend. CNY deco is already up. Here are some photos to share. This pink one is in Garden City. There was a chinese troupe playing out some CNY's songs when we were there.

This one here, with red deco is at the center court of MidValley. Nice hor...

In exactly 12 days it will be CNY. I haven't bought anything yet. Anything as in CNY goodies like packet drinks, tid-bits, mandarin oranges and etc. As for new clothing, also nothing yet.

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As in tradition, year after year a very good friend of mine who is involved in clothing business will settled this part of problem for me. I am not a 'new clothes for CNY' person. I hate the crowd at the malls during this festive season and I hate the idea of bumping into someone wearing exactly the same shirt I bought for CNY (as you know, everyone will be shopping for CNY, so it is inevitable that another 100 person will be buying exactly the same thing as us).

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I am not fussy with clothing. So year after year, this good friend of mine will insist that we have to at least wear something new; preferably red, for CNY to ensure good luck. So whenever she goes for her last minute CNY shopping, she never fail to grab something red for me. So, as time goes, i somehow relied on her to settle my CNY wardrobe issues. This year, unfortunately for me (fortunate for her), business is so busy that she havent got the time to pick out stuff for me. She asked me to get them at their other outlet which is nearer to my place... but I am still lazy. Will probably go later after delivering some stuff to a customer in town.

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Other than that, I supposed to go to the market this morning to get some 'pussy willows' (harrison is so tickled by the name of it) but I can't wake up in time despite Harrison kicking me couple of times (I told him to kick till I wake up this morning). Also, I don't have a big vase for it. I need to solve the vase problem first then only my waking up issue.

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Seriously, I am really not in the mood but still have to do it cause afterall, this is the first year that we are celebrating CNY as husband and wife. Whatever it is, must have a little of festive mood at home. Am not in the mood cause yesterday, the doctor at the hospital told mom to take PP home and that she have less than two weeks to live. Despite it being a good news (cause that will ease PP's suffering), somehow it is still a sad news. How festive can that piece of news be?

My Favourite Wall

This was my favourite wall in Court 9. I remembered how 6 years ago, I couldn't wait till the next morning to hang up the newly bought frames, I hammered the nails into the wall at 1:00am in the morning. Thank god no one complain. (I am not so kind though... I remembered how I used to call the security when some mad people living below would hammer and knock at 2:30am...:p)

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I've always loved this wall. Especially how the curtain, basket and flowers jived. I didn't plan it that way, it just so happen that I don't have a vase for the flowers and there is this red basket sitting in the store room doing nothing. Might as well.

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Anyway, back to my favourite wall. It was decorated with memories in myriad shapes & colours of frame filled with photos of friends who are close to heart, photos of parties at home, photos of my family (parents, cousins, grandparents), photos of important events in my life - pageant, dancing, getting drunk... and all.
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I packed up all my memories last Friday when I was back in Court 9 and stored them neatly in a box. I gotta clear all my stuff since I know longer staying there. Gone are those wild crazy party days where all that I cared for are boozes & parties. I was at this annual dinner last night. The sight of young punks downing glass and glass of whisky makes me sick. Waste of good alcohol isn't it?

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It's nice to walk down memory lane once in a while. That chapter of my life is closed now and another chapter is beginning. I bet it's gonna be as fabulous as the last.

Needy Orphanage

Recently an email has been circulating around regarding a poor orphanage that is in dire need of assistance to fund the school going children.

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Together with a bunch of good hearted people, the first step of a fund raising event to build a suitable home for the children was set. We had a meeting last Tuesday to discuss the details of how to go about it.

Each of us were allocated different responsibility and mine was to speak to the Social Welfare Department to find out the status of this orphanage as well as to enquire about the procedure to go about for a fund raising event.

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Unfortunately, the orphanage issue got blown up too much and now political parties are getting involved. Involved from A~Z. That's left us nothing much to do ... :p We'll probably just have to sit back and wait if our services is required. I am just kidding.. Seriously, we'll just wait for the next meeting to decide what should we do. To proceed or abort.

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Anyway, I can't blabber my thoughts out now. Am watching 'Sex & The City', third season, and my stomach is growling so loud that I cant really hear the conversation of the show . Am thinking of a cheese burger or maybe even a big mac, but too lazy. Think I gonna just make myself a maggie. And of course with eggs.

Yes? No? Can? How?

It's strange. I don't seems to have anything to blog about this entire week. Kind of like going thru some mental block or something. Just don't feel like blogging. Absolutely nothing to blabber.

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I was startled from my slumber this morning by a phone call from my mom. She confirmed the worst. The doctor wants to amputate both of PP's feet. How sad can that be? It is the worst cause I would rather received news of her passing than this. Judging from PP's condition, there is no way that she will recover. Her sugar level can no longer be controlled by insulin. Her average glucose reading is 16. Her kidneys is giving way and she is totally paralysed. She would probably have another month or two (I think). What's the point of putting her thru another trauma? Another agonising pain?

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According to the doctor, if we do not wish to go ahead with the amputation, PP will be discharged from the hospital as there is nothing more the doctors can do. The doctor also suggested that we should put PP up in a nursing home cause there will be qualified nurses to take care of her and tend to her wounds.

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The thing is, being a Chinese and raised with all the filial piety values, it is hard for us to do this. How can we send PP no nursing home? How can we stand the thought of her all alone, by herself, surrounded by people she don't even know? Can we?

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But then, come to this stage, it is no longer whether can we or not. It's more for her comfort. We have to make decision on what is good for her. If we send her to a nursing home, she will be professionally taken care of and we can visit her anytime we want. It will be good for her. But then again, she might wanna spend the remaining days of her life at home, with people she love. How?

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The best would be to hire a nurse and take care of her at home. But that gonna cost quite a lot of money which nobody are willing to share. Sigh...

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Probably its because of all these that I don't have a mood to blog this entire week...

Kluang to visit PP

(Beautiful 'Gunung Lambak' partly covered by the low clouds)

Was back home in Kluang over the weekend to visit my ailing PP. She is once again back in the hospital, 3rd time for the last 4 months. This time round, it is due to the sudden rise of her sugar level. It was so high that all it was shown on the glucose machine was 'HI' instead of the normal numerical readings. According to the manual, when 'HI' is shown, whoever that is being tested need to be sent to the hospital immediately.

(inside Melor Ward)

So there she is, my PP, still in Melor Ward in our Kluang Hospital since 30th Dec. It is very sad and frustrating for all of us to see her trapped in a frail body that no longer functions. All that she is still able to do is opening & blinking her eyes. Even so, we are not sure she is able to see or hear anything cause she no longer response to us when we talked to her. We are not sure that the stroke has finally got her sight and hearing or that she just gave up. Every now and then, I will catch a tear formed in the corner of her eye. It makes my heart wrenched in pain.

(Beautiful green scenery of the army camp outside the ward)

Her kidneys are beginning to give way cause she looks kind of puffy and the colour of her urines are that of a very dark colour (almost bloody). Gangrenes beginning to form on both of her feet due to lack of blood circulation despite of constant massaging. It was a sad sight. There is absolutely nothing we can do except to pray for the Almighty to embrace her as soon as possible.

(releasing birds to freedom outside our home)

From time to time, mom would held PP’s hand and whisper into her ear stories from the good old time soothingly so that PP will not fear should her end comes. How we wish there is something that we could do to lessen her misery.

(mom releasing the birds)

We bought some birds from a local pet’s shop early this afternoon, released them to the wild and transferred the merits to PP. Hopefully, thru this, in some ways, we can at least help end her suffering a little sooner.

My New New Year

First day of 2009 started off quite early for me (that is by my standard la) cause I have a New Year breakfast appointment with a bunch of lovely ladies. The alarm went off at 8am but I only managed to drag myself out of bed 45 minutes later. Work also not so rajin...

(the lovely ladies & of course the cute Alex)

We met for dim sum breakfast at 9:30am at the Imperial China Restaurant in Subang Jaya. When I finally made my grand entrance at 9:38am, I quickly spotted the clan sitting cozily in one of the big table. Luckily for me, I am not the last. Good improvement on punctuality (not me of course, but them. I am just striving to be late so that they are early) lols...

(Florence & baby Alex - cute isn't him?)

One thing good that did happened this New Year is the reconciliation of some estranged friendship & family relations. Way to go girls! It was just a pity that An not able to join us this time round - rumours has it that she got in quite late the previous night and can't wake up in time.

It was a nice breakfast catching up with each other and gossipping without having yawning husbands around fighting hard not to fall asleep or children fighting for mommies' attention. It was just us, girls, and of course, baby Alex too. He has been such a darling throughout the two and a half hour breakfast session without a single whine (even though he pooped in his diaper).

By the time breakfast is over, it was already noon. Did some groceries shopping in Sri Kota and after that, got my hair done. Finally. Been wanting to do something to my hair for ages.

So, there I was, at the salon from 1:30 till 7:30pm. Freaking 6 hours. Sat till my bum bum also sored already. Not to say I have a lot of hair but just a miserable bunch of hair also need 6 hours to handle. It was like this...

Step 1: wash, blow dry & cut
Step 2: wash, blow dry, bleach old highlights & coloured based
Step 3: wash again, blow dry, highlights
Step 4: wash & blow dry

(the back of my hair done in orange highlights)

My hair never felt so clean in my entire life. 5 washes in a day. Have you have that too? My whole body ached for sitting too long. I told Belle (my hairstylist) that they should get those reclining chairs so that we can be in our dreamland while they work their magic on our mane. She said I am not the first to suggest. If I am not the first, then why am I still sitting on that most uncomfortable chair on earth???? lols..:p

(the front of my hairdone in cherry red)

After my 6 hours ordeal at the salon, I quickly rushed home to change for family dinner at this place called 'Cha Wong' (Tea King) in Kuchai Lama together. Besides the usual 6 of us, Harrison's aunties and cousins joined us too. It was a lovely dinner. I always love eating there. Their style of cooking is very unique.

Anyway, that's about what happened on my new year day. A new hairstyle, renewed family ties & friendship for a happy new year. :)

New Year Eve Celebration

We joined the Fernandez at The Curve in the very last minute (halfway to Genting). We had dinner at the Bavarians Bierhaus and waited for the fireworks. It was a mad place there. So very crowded with people, majority teenagers. Seriously, we felt so old. Looking at how excited and energetic they are, I cant help but visualizes a 'battery depleting' sign in us. You know.. that 'battery low' icon shown or mobile or camera? That's what I meant.

(the crowd in front of The Curve)

(one for the album)

(Ham platter)

(Sausage platter)

(ribs)

(don't ask me why I looked so serious. I was given an important task to cut the ribs)

(dessert! apple strudels!)

(chocolate maideline)

We arrived at The Curve at 9pm, by time we finished our dinner, it was still one and a half hour before midnight. The guys got really bored and started their nonsence.

(cheers!)

(one pint not enough la...whole barrel la...)

(slurp slurp.... zzzzz)

(zzzzzz...)

After dinner, we proceeded to Starbucks. It was super packed. Nevertheless, we got a table, had a drink while watching the party people around us. Most of them look barely 16.

(the mesmerising fireworks)

After that, it took us almost 1 hour to get out of the carpark and another 1 hour to get home due to some stupid road block and the best part was, my bladder was full and I am turning green controlling my pee.

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It was a nice ad-hoc new year celebration. Will I do it again? Definately no.