tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73919482024-03-10T02:19:06.838+08:00PapiMamiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-82985227049234822982010-04-11T18:41:00.004+08:002010-04-11T19:15:19.884+08:00Alone in GermanyHere I am, sitting in the hotel room, with a cold 8 degree Celsius, windy and the sky gloomy. The weatherman said it's gonna rain today. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/?action=view¤t=DSC_0226.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/DSC_0226.jpg" border="0" alt="Gloomy sky"></a><br /><br />Ahh....wouldn't it be nice to be with Mami and Yiyi now. Mami by my side, sitting on our swimg in the garden, watching Yiyi running around, yelling in delight "Papi Mami! Watch me! Watch me!!".<br /><br />Oh well...another 3 weeks to go....<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/?action=view¤t=DSC_0300.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/DSC_0300.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />So what am I doing here in Germany, you asked? <br />I am on an work assignment here in Mulheim, Germany. The company that I worked with is in partnership with a German company, based in Berlin. For the project I am working on, I have to be here in Mulheim for some system testings. <br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/?action=view¤t=DSC_0116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/DSC_0116.jpg" border="0" alt="You're alone, too?"></a><br /><br />The weather here is crazy. April's weather, they say. You can get sun, rain, and snow all in 1 day. And it's bloody cold, especially when the wind is blowing. So how nice, if I am back home with Mami and Yiyi, having teh panas and banana leaf rice with kari ayam and dhal, some vege on the side, fried fish ....mmmhh....<br /><br />3 more weeks....3 more weeks.........Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-37447064548497967992009-04-30T07:25:00.001+08:002009-04-30T07:27:18.462+08:00Hello World, AgainHello? .....<br />Anyone there?? .........<br /><br />Wow! Looked at the last post. It has been almost 2 years since I last posted here. <br /><br />Hmm....maybe it's time to start again.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-36949802981019491122007-05-11T14:12:00.000+08:002007-05-11T14:17:15.462+08:00Watching TV with MomPapi : *channel surfing on Astro*<br /><br />TV : *showing another Hong Kong gansta-cop movie*<br /><br />Papi : hmmm... looks like a good movie.<br /><br />Mom : Oh this one ah...I saw already.<br /><br />Papi : Hmm...<br /><br />Mom : This one got Cheung Pak Chi (Cecillia Cheung), the movie OK lar.<br /><br />Papi : Yes ah?<br /><br />Mom : Yeah, this Daniel Wu is a killer. Cheung Pak Chi is a 'chicken'.<br /><br />Papi : Hmm...<br /><br />Mom : This guy is a cop lar. That guy is also a cop. <br /><br />Papi : Yes ah?<br /><br />Mom : Yeah, later Daniel Wu will get beaten up, until his eyes so bloody and swollen. <br /><br />Papi : Hmmm....<br /><br />Mom : Yeah, but at the end, Daniel Wu died wan.<br /><br />Papi : x_x<br /><br />Yup, that's my mom. The last person you would want to watch a movie with.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-42203108502239778872007-05-09T08:34:00.000+08:002007-05-09T08:53:42.747+08:00Work Work WorkIt's my 5th working day today and I am doing pretty good. Adapting to the working life here.<br /><br />The environment here is friendly. However, everyone's just super busy since they have got a few projects going on. I have yet to do any serious work, mainly because the project I am supposed to help out is already in advanced stage. So I guess it's difficult for my boss to slot me in. But every now and then, he would asked my opinion and experience on how things were done in my previous taking of projects. But one thing I dislike about the new company is it's location. It's twice as far as my previous company. Just yesterday, it took me almost an hour to reach home. Not to mention the toll I have to pay. But I guess I just have to adapt lor.<br /><br />So what am I doing now? Reading manuals and blogs. LOL! Nothing to do mah, mah read blogs lor. But mostly technical blogs on Linux lar. Coz I'll be working with Linux a lot.<br /><br />Just got a call yesterday from an ex-colleague of mine, asking for some info. So I asked him how he's doing.<br /><br />"We got a pay cut", he said sadly.<br /><br />"What?!". I was quite shock really. "When?"<br /><br />"Just after you left".<br /><br />Wow! Talk about timing. I was lucky to bail early. If not, that would really affect my package during negotiation.<br /><br />Got to get back to <strike>reading blogs</strike> work. Ta-ta!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-45338917470426713232007-05-03T12:13:00.000+08:002007-05-03T12:23:07.140+08:00A New StartAfter resting and relaxing for more than 2 weeks, I started working today in a new company.<br /><br />It's bigger than my previous company, more potential, and not to mention longer working hours and it's also further!. <br /><br />On the phone ....<br /><br />Mami : So what are you doing now?<br /><br />Papi : Nothing lor, reading blogs hehehe....<br /><br />Mami : Which way you go?<br /><br />Papi : Highway lor. First day mah, must be punctual lor.<br /><br />Mami : So what time you reach there?<br /><br />Papi : Very early, 8am I reach already kekeke...<br /><br />Mami : So early ah?! How much toll?<br /><br />Papi : About RM4 something leh..expensive.<br /><br />So what did we do during the 2 weeks break? Lots!! We went to Penang, Sitiawan, Ipoh, Kampung Kuantan in K.Selangor to see kelip kelip. And we went swimming almost everyday! <br />Will post about those trips later. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-42627857265163357862007-04-05T15:42:00.000+08:002007-04-05T15:48:11.865+08:00PuppiesBoy : Mommy, mommy...<br /><br />Mommy : Yes, boy.<br /><br />Boy : Mommy ah...our neighbour's puppy very cute lar. <br /><br />Mommy : Yes, do you like it?<br /><br />Boy : Yes, Mommy....er... Mommy ah?<br /><br />Mommy : Yes?<br /><br />Boy : You give birth to many many puppies lar. <br /><br />Mommy : Huh??<br /><br />Boy : But I only want big puppies. So you give birth to many many big puppies for me, ok?<br /><br />Mommy : *faint*<br /><br />My nephew. LOL!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-88817818673808570052007-03-28T13:40:00.000+08:002007-03-28T13:52:04.275+08:00Under the weatherHou Yeet ah! Hou Kan Yu Yeet ah!! <br />So blardy hot today!!<br /><br />It was raining cats and dogs just few days ago, which flooded Shah Alam and some other areas, and now it's so freaking hot!<br /><br />And Yiyi fell sick again. It must be the fourth time this year. Ever since she started pre-school, she got sick quite often. Probably lots of germs in her kindy. Her classmates are the same as well. Every week, she'll come back and tell us that her friends got sick and didn't come to school. <br /><br />Everytime she got fever, we got extra worried. I have a history of very high-fever. So we are worried she inherited that from me. The highest for her was 42 deg C. In the middle of the night. <br /><br />But she got better this morning, and she's eager to get to school. She even went to school when she got the fever last week. Despite us telling her not to go, she 'insisted' she wanted to go. Luckily, the teacher told her she couldn't come even if it's just a lil' bit feverish. <br /><br />So now she listen to everything the teacher says.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-49994388641615368952007-03-19T14:26:00.000+08:002007-03-19T15:28:23.821+08:00No more batsYay!! Our house is now free of <a href="http://papimami.blogspot.com/2007/02/holy-batman.html">bats</a>!!<br /><br />There was a colony up there on the ceiling. The scratching, screeching and not to mention the smell and the droppings. Ewww... So, my dad and I went up there again. This time we were prepared. Armed with a long tongs/whadaya-call-that-long-forcep-to-pick-up-charcoal-for-bbq and a pail, we went up the hot and stuffy ceiling. While up there, I worked on some cabling for my Streamyx and my dad was responsible in catching those critters.<br /><br />Using the long forcep, he picked the bats, one-by-one into the pail. But two escaped into the cracks of the roof tiles. FYI, bats can't fly off the ground, like birds. They have to fly by dropping off an edge. Who says you don't learn anything from Astro.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/House%20Bats/bats.jpg" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br />Bats for Pets , anyone?<br /><br />He then put up some nets around the perimeter to prevent them from coming back. And he nearly fell through the ceiling because he lost his balance and his footing. I must say that my dad, although at 60, is a pretty agile guy. He's ok, but I ended up with a hole on my ceiling.<br /><br />We released the bats in a field far away from our house, worried that they'll find their way back. But that night, the two bats that got away came back. And they were really pissed off!! It was so noisy that we couldn't sleep a wink!<br /><br />Anyway, my dad came back the next day to check, and true enough, those two buggers were still there. I think they found another way in. And yes, this time, they still managed to get away. And yes, for the second time, my dad broke my ceiling again. So I ended up with two holes on my ceiling.<br /><br />So, yesterday, we spent the whole day fixing the ceiling and cleaning up the bats dropping. Really tiring work. So now, we could sleep peacefully again. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-54428791799794197442007-03-14T10:43:00.000+08:002007-03-14T11:21:33.675+08:00Peter and JaneYour kids either like them or hate them.<br /><br />But Yiyi loves them. Every morning, the moment she wakes up, she'll talk to them. Every night, before going to sleep, she'll chat with them again.<br /><br />Peter and Jane are actually the main characters in the series of books known as <a href="http://www.ladybird.co.uk/">Ladybird</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_Jane">Key Words Reading Scheme</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/PeterAndJane_1a_PlayWithUs_97818442.jpg" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Photo from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_and_Jane">here</a>)</span><br /><br />The first book was published in 1964 and was designed to teach small kids to read and write. The system was devised by teacher William Murray, which uses a system of key phrases and words. From his research (together with Prof. Joe McNally), Murray realised that only 12 words account for a quarter (1/4), 100 words account for a half (1/2) and 300 words account for three quarter (3/4) of the words we normally used in our conversation, reading and writing of the English language. <br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/Misc/3keywords.jpg" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(Photo from <a href="http://www.theweeweb.co.uk/ladybird/key_words_reading_scheme.php">here</a>)</span><br /><br />There 12 sets in the series. Each set consists of 3 books/grades: a, b and c (i.e. 1a, 1b, 1c.....2a, 2b, 2c.....). As you moved from one series to another, more words are introduced to the reader. The fonts will gradually become smaller and smaller, and the sentence structure becomes more complex. The text is usually on the left, while the illustration is on the facing right page.<br /><br />Yiyi and "Peter and Jane" (as it is popularly known) are inseparable. Whenever she goes, she will bring them along. To grandpa's house, to my in-laws, even when we went for a holiday, she'll bring it along. She's now reading 3a and 3b at (pre) school but she's also reading 4a at home. She has been doing quite well, and according to her teacher, she's progressing very very fast.<br /><br />She's also learning how to write on her own! She would ask Mami how to spell certain words and by checking on her ABC book, she would try to write it out. The first word she wrote on her own is Mami's name.<br /><br />Now, let me get her to write my name pulak.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-62824848249420117282007-03-07T16:21:00.000+08:002007-03-07T16:43:09.578+08:00StrawberryLast night....in the toilet....<br /><br />Yiyi : mmmmm......mmmmm......<br /><br />Papi : Are you OK, Yiyi? Got 'ta pian' or not?<br /><br />Yiyi : Yes, Papi. Like strawberry..<br /><br />Papi : Huh? Like strawberry?? Let me see..<br /><br />Yiyi : Yeah, smell like strawberry lar. <br /><br />Papi : sniff...sniff...hmmm...yeah Mami, smell like strawberry. Come and smell it. <br /><br />Mami : I don't want...uwekk!!<br /><br />Papi : Come lar, like strawberry wan, come lar...<br /><br />Mami : UWEK!!<br /><br />Actually it didn't smell like strawberry, it smelt like sh*t.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ta pian : Mandarin for faeces or passing motion.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-14288208137072838432007-03-06T11:49:00.000+08:002007-03-06T12:13:55.358+08:00A small step..Last week was a major crosspoint for me. I tendered my resignation to my company. <br /><br />My manager was shocked but not really surprised. We had a chat, a good chat, which further emphasized my decision. They are losing focus and they are trying to steer away from our core business. But the problem is they don't have a goal or plan on what to do next. <br /><br />Better 'cabut' early. <br /><br />So, I have a job offer already in the bag. And I am still talking to another company, which I think will be able to provide me with a better offer. There are also some other people who got to know of my resignation and started to approach me on some partnerships. So I am keeping my options open, for the time being. <br /><br />Special thanks to <a href="http://babybokchoi.blogsome.com/">MamaBok</a> for providing me with some info on tax in Canada. Really appreciate it.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >cabut : malay for run away</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-73311970794706871862007-03-01T09:48:00.000+08:002007-03-01T21:35:23.458+08:00Explosion in Shah AlamI came to work this morning and was alerted by the news of BIG explosion in Shah Alam (or Batu Tiga) area around 5am. It was felt all the way in USJ and PutraHeights as reported by forumers in usj.com.my and lowyat.net. How come I didn't feel a thing??<br /><br />A dude managed to capture videos from his house and posted online. Talk about how fast information travels. And our news media has yet to break any news. From the video, it looked quite serious.<br /><br />Check out the video <a href="http://rapidshare.com/files/18770562/MOV00927.3GP.html">here</a>. Submitted by <a href="http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/419746">jackyflc</a> of LYN. Great job, dude!<br /><br />Read about it <a href="http://www.usj.com.my/bulletin/upload/showthread.php?threadid=17232">here</a> and <a href="http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/419746">here</a>.<br /><br />There are lots of factory there near the USJ/Shah Alam border, being an industry area.<br /><br />Updated:<br /><br />It's on YouTube!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2-vjrPRwjS0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2-vjrPRwjS0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />There's still nothing on The Star online and NST. But I think it's already on TV3 and RTM news. <br /><br />Looks like a factory caught fire in Section 26, Shah Alam, near the Proton factory. And the fire spread to two nearby factories! But the great news is there is no fatality.<br /><br />UPDATE 2!!<br /><br />A new video on YouTube.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ngxDZ4oNHs"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ngxDZ4oNHs" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />I was sitting in front of the TV to catch the 8pm news but strangely, none of the TV stations mentioned this on prime time news. Our online media also nothing wor. Why ah??Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-21429292505200394832007-02-28T12:45:00.000+08:002007-02-28T13:00:34.930+08:00Holy Batman!!We have bats in the house.<br /><br />When we first moved in, there were bats up on the ceiling. But after the second nights, they were gone. Probably got scared by us moving in.<br /><br />Then a couple of years back, they came back for a few days and then gone.<br /><br />This time, they came back again and seems to refuse to leave. Aiyo...how ah? The noise is disturbing our sleep and it's beginning to smell too.<br /><br />Over the weekend, my dad and I decided to climb up onto our ceiling and paid them a visit. There were more than 10, some still young. And the stench from the droppings were terrible. Despite our banging and prodding and a can of Ridsect, they just simply refuse to leave.<br /><br />Mami : How ah?<br /><br />My dad : I think I'll go up again and try to catch them.<br /><br />Papi : I think you'll need gloves. If they bite you, you'll become a vampire.<br /><br />Mami : Ha ha no lar, you watched too much 'kiong see' movie already. What can we put to scare them ah?<br /><br />Papi : I know!!<br /><br />Mami : What?<br /><br />Papi : Garlic!!<br /><br />Mami : Garlic? Can meh?<br /><br />Papi : Can!! You see those dracula movies or not. They usually hang garlic around their neck and in the house, so the dracula won't hurt them. Dracula scared of garlic wan!!<br /><br />Mami : LOL!! Aiya!! You ah...<br /><br />Talk about 'Ng Fook Lam Mun' but this 'Fook' (bats) is causing us sleepless nights!! *sigh*<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >p.s. Garlic won't work on bats.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-87595761424289413502007-02-26T14:53:00.000+08:002007-02-26T17:29:55.419+08:00CNY eveBack to work today. sigh..<br /><br />So, what did we have for tuan-nien lunch?<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/chicken.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Kampung 'white' (steamed) chicken...<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/chickenrice.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />..and hainanese chicken rice.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/braisedmutton.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Braised mutton<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/mixvege.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Mixed vege<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/butterprawn.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Butter Prawn, cooked by yours truly :)<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/yongtaufoo.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Stuffed Chilli ala Yong Tau Foo (this is authentic hakka style with fish, prawn, meat and salty fish, yummy!)<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/mushroom.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Stuffed mushroom<br /><br />And the star of the day...<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/lobster.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Steamed lobster!<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/sauces.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />And some sauces to go with it. On the left is hainanese chilly sauce while on the right is onion with soy sauce, hakka style.<br /><br />At night we went to FGS Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, Selangor for their <a href="http://www.fgs.org.my/cny/index.html">lantern and flora festival</a>. It was the first day and the lotus was not even 'blossomed' yet, to reveal the sitting buddha inside. Officials were seen busy with the opening ceremony of the Lotus Pagoda.<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/lantern.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Lanterns<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/lantern2.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />More lanterns<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/CNY%202007/yiyi1.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br />Yiyi and Little Buddha<br /><br />If you planned to go to the <a href="http://www.fgs.org.my/cny/index.html">FGS Dong Zen CNY lantern and flora festival</a>, remember, parking is <span style="font-weight: bold;">free </span>there. There's a huge parking space just next to the temple (on the left of the temple). Ignore those thugs that seems to direct you to their parking space, and then charged you RM5. These thugs were trying to make a quick buck and were trying to block traffic leading to temple. While we were there, 2 groups tried to block our car, and I simply ignore them. Follow the RELA officials and they will direct you to their free car parks. I even made a complaint to the RELA official, and when we left, we saw the police taking the thugs for a little 'talk'. hehehe...<br /><br />For CNY, we went to Sitiawan and Taiping, but that's another entry.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-31784889365178153442007-02-16T14:33:00.000+08:002007-02-16T15:02:23.259+08:00RejectedI think the white envelope came in yesterday. It was in our mailbox this morning. Mami was out fetching Yiyi to her kindy. <br /><br />I took it out from the mailbox, along with a CNY greeting card and some junk flyers. In front of the letter read "Private and Confidential", addressed to Mami. It was from the company she went for an interview more than 3 weeks ago. <br /><br />Bad news. It was a reject letter. <br /><br />Mami was really hopeful on this one. Really looking forward to it. When I passed the letter to her, immediately she knew what it's about. And I can see she was really dissapointed. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she kept it in. <br /><br />I think part of the rejection is because of her experience. It was a junior position, and they are looking for fresh graduates. Although Mami has agreed to the pay cut (and a big one too), I guessed they just weren't comfortable with it. Furthermore it was also a job of a different industry. A completely different industry. So it's difficult to match her experience with their requirements. The only reason why she tried it was because there's a friend working in there and her department was looking for someone to help her. So she'll be happy if Mami could join her and help her. But I guessed, the boss didn't think so. <br /><br />Don't worry, Mami. Sometime we'll run, sometime we'll walk and then, sometime, we'll fall. <br />That's life. We just pick ourselves up, and move on. Life goes on.<br /><br />If we couldn't get this one, we'll get the next one. <br /><br />A better one. <br /><br />I promise :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-15204427512339734312007-02-15T14:01:00.000+08:002007-02-15T14:26:42.958+08:00Dong Dong Chiang!!Oh boy, oh boy!!<br /><br />3 more days to Chinese New Year. Yay!! But it's not the new year day itself I am looking forward too, but the eve. This year, Chinese New Year's eve is on Saturday, 17 Feb 2007. <br /><br />If you don't know already, the Chinese New Year's eve is the reunion day and the day we'll have the tuan-nian dinner (or brunch, lunch, supper...) . On this day, my mom will cook the bestest, yummy dishes. There's chicken, fish, prawns, vege, authentic hakka yong tau foo, and of course, hainanese chicken rice! I'm Hainanese mah. Thinking of the chicken rice makes me droolll...<br /><br />We normally started the day early. Being the only cook in the house (and no daughter to help her hehehe..), my mom will prepare all the dishes. My brother, Mami and I will help her and at the same time help her with the house chores.<br /><br />We normally eat around 2pm. My dad normally comes home around noon from his shop. He works half-day on this day. The rest of the day is just resting and relaxing, watching TV. This year, we'll probably go jalan-jalan at some shopping or to some temples to see <a href="http://www.fgs.org.my/cny/index.html">lanterns and flowers</a>. <br /><br />At night, we'll give angpows (yak-sui money) to each other. I still gave to my parents, Mami and of course, to Yiyi. And my brother too. (Oii!! Cepat kahwin lar!!) . Then more TV watching, and snacking (keropok, BBQ meat, Coke, kacang, crispy honeycomb cookie, cheese tart, chocolate, mandarin oranges......)<br /><br />Then midnight.......<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Happy New Year!! Kong Hey Fatt Choy!!!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1171424477491601372007-02-14T11:23:00.000+08:002007-02-14T11:41:17.513+08:00Another offerThank you! Thank you all for the advices and tips!<br /><br />I must say your comments really made me re-think the whole thing. Of course, Mami was there too. So, I have responded to the offer and I have put in a good package since they have asked me for my expectation. If it worked out, then great lar. If it didn't, then I don't lose anything. <br /><br />And then, there's the second call. This time from another company, our competitor. Actually my ex-supervisor is there now and thanks to him, he had gave me a rave review to his boss there. His boss and I spoke on the phone for a few minutes, the usual hello-are-you-interested-to-come-over chat. We have fixed an appointment after CNY to take this further. <br /><br />Wow, 2 opportunities in a week. And it's gonna be tough, coz they are both something I wanted to do. Really hope this turns out positively. <br /><br />And oh yeah...Happy Valentine's Day!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1171003175704530952007-02-09T14:15:00.000+08:002007-02-09T14:39:35.723+08:00To go or not to goYeah, that is the question.<br /><br />I just received a call for an ex-employee of my current company. Apparently his big multinational company is looking for someone and he wanted me to join him. The pay will be good, and I think the benefit would be very attractive, but the work will be very hard. And lots of traveling too. <br /><br />Aih....decision...decision.<br /><br />Lately, my company is going off-course, a lil' bit, and they are losing focus on the core business. Actually, one of the main reason this company was started a few years ago was to break away from a parent company and to mainly concentrate on this particular business that we are in. At that time, we felt that we need to be more focus and to take away all other (unperforming) business that was bagging us down. Thus this company was born. <br /><br />But now, looks like they are going the opposite way and going backwards. Going back to the old ways, trying to take on something that is totally unrelated to our field. And the worst is, they started to neglect the core business, causing some lost opportunities along the way. <br /><br />But on the other hand, this company has been treating me real good. And there is a sense of belongings and familiarity that makes it a difficult decision to leave. And step into a world of unknown. <br /><br />Maybe I should take the step? Or not?<br /><br />Mami has a simpler thought. "If the pay is good, go lar!", she said over the phone. <br /><br />Aiyo, how lar....<br /><br />So I don't really what to make of this offer that came this morning. Is this good news?<br /><br />To go or Not to go leh?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1170649255607608392007-02-05T12:03:00.000+08:002007-02-05T12:20:55.636+08:00Lauya PencilYiyi : Mami, Mami!!<br /><br />Mami : Yes, dear.<br /><br />Yiyi : Mami! This pencil is not good. <br /><br />Mami : Why?<br /><br />Yiyi : Spoiled already, cannot use. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lauya</span> pencil lar.<br /><br />Mami : Come, let Mami have a look.<br /><br />Yiyi : Spoiled already lar, <span style="font-style: italic;">lauya</span> wan.<br /><br />Mami : *check pencil* Ok ak? The pencil is ok mah.<br /><br />Yiyi : No lar, when I draw with it, it will draw outside the line wan. It doesn't follow the line wor. No good lar, spoiled already.<br /><br />Papi : LOL!! That wan not pencil <span style="font-style: italic;">lauya</span> lar, your hand <span style="font-style: italic;">lauya</span> lar. kih kih kih...<br /><br />Yiyi : No lar, the pencil lauya lar. <br /><br />Kids do have a really interesting perspective. <br /><br />She proceeded to show me how 'lauya' the pencil is. hahaha... She is showing some improvement in holding pencils, drawing and writing. Her hands are getting stronger and she has better control of the hands. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">lauya</span> : lousy. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1170399615662285002007-02-02T14:45:00.000+08:002007-02-02T15:00:15.683+08:00Teacher YiyiYiyi : Okay, everybody!<br /><br />Papi, Mami : *chat chat*<br /><br />Yiyi : Be quiet!<br /><br />Papi, Mami : ...<br /><br />Yiyi : Now, what is this?<br /><br />Papi : I don't know, what is that?<br /><br />Yiyi : This is a purple dolphin. Everybody say "purple dolphin"<br /><br />Papi, Mami : Purple dolphin!!<br /><br />Yiyi : Good. Okay, everybody say "A - Apple".<br /><br />Papi, Mami : A - Apple!!<br /><br />Yiyi : Good!! *clap clap*Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1169611277962826452007-01-24T10:26:00.000+08:002007-01-24T12:01:18.200+08:00Job InterviewAs you might have read in the <a href="http://papimami.blogspot.com/2007/01/pisang-goreng.html">previous</a> post, Mami has decided to work again. She has been really bored at home, and itchy to be working again. Also there are also some other rea$on$. hehee..<br /><br />So we contacted a few friends and ex-colleagues, and I went through the newspapers. A good friend recommended a position in her company in Shah Alam. Mami sent in her resume and before you know it, she was called for her first interview. <br /><br />One thing about a job interview, is that, it is actually a two-way traffic. Beside the employer evaluating the candidates, at the same time, the candidates will also be evaluating the employer. So how a company handles an interview, tells a lot about the company, especially time-management. <br /><br />Mami got an appointment at 1.15 pm for a job interview on a Friday. As Ali, Ah Chong and Muthu, and everyone else know, it is lunch time and it's Friday's prayer for the Muslims. We also got to know the interviewer is a Muslim. Despite our numerous call to confirm the time, the HR still maintained that the time was correct, and requested Mami to be punctual. <br /><br />And the first thing the HR officer said when she walked into their office at 1.15pm,<br /><br />"Wait ah. It's lunch time, and the interviewer just went out for lunch."<br /><br />And she waited a full 2 hours before her turn. That's why I got so much time and went looking for the pisang goreng and managed to finish my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Higgins_Clark">Mary Higgins Clark</a>'s novel. <br /><br />Despite that, she really likes the job and is hoping of getting it. Wish her luck, ya?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1169535292947838222007-01-23T14:09:00.000+08:002007-01-23T14:54:52.973+08:00Pisang GorengEver queued just to buy pisang goreng? And I mean <a href="http://zamil2020.blogspot.com/2006/04/they-didnt-queue-up-for-bus-although.html">really, really long queue</a>?<br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/MakanMakan/gorengpisang1.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Taken with my lousy camere phone.<br /><br /></span>Last Friday, Mami had a job interview in Shah Alam. Yeah, she's thinking of working again, since she's really bored at home. But tell you about that later. <br /><br />I wasn't working that day, so I decided to give her a lift. And went food hunting! I read about this pisang goreng near Shah Alam Komuter station in Section 15 (more like in Section 19) and decided why not! <br /><br />The stall is really difficult to spot. It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> near Komuter station, but not visible from the main road. Exiting from the Komuter station, go straight until you reached a left junction turning into a residential area. The stall (with BIG MPSA sign) is after this junction. <br /><br />And the queue is unbelievable! I was lucky there were only 8 person ahead of me, but the people keep coming, and coming, and coming....<br /><br />Azmi Pisang Goreng was operated by a few malay youngsters, with loads of pre-cut pisang, ready to be fried. And they have 8 big woks frying these banana fritters. <br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/MakanMakan/gorengpisang3.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So is this '<a href="http://marjan.blogsome.com/2006/09/15/the-best-goreng-pisang-fried-banana-so-far/">best goreng pisang in town</a>' good? It's actually quite nice, the bananas (pisang awak-awak as stated in the menu) are cut into smaller pieces, lightly battered and fried. It was really crispy, and the banana is sweet and soft. A bit oily though. But I also think it is good because it is served hot, fresh from the wok, since it is snapped up quickly the minute it is removed from the wok. So you get hot pisang goreng everytime. <br /><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/papimami/MakanMakan/gorengpisang2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" /></a><br /><br />It costs 10 cents per piece. I bought RM2, and I think I got about 24 pieces in the bag. There is also a container where they poured all the leftover crispy bits (I love these!), and you can scoop all you want! The makcik in front of me even took her own sweet time choosing the bigger pieces! She walked away with 2 big bags of these. <span style="font-style: italic;">Oi makcik! kalo free pun, takanlar sampai berbag-bag! Ingatlah orang kat blakang nie oi. </span><br /><br />There's even a branch in USJ10 Taipan, maybe I'll try there next time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1169437265692306742007-01-22T11:02:00.000+08:002007-01-22T11:56:09.053+08:00SickIt has been a tiring weekend!<br /><br />Yiyi has been sick since last Thursday. She came back from kindy and was having a fever. Her temperature went up to 40 degree C!! On Friday, it was worst. 41 degree C. The paracetamol that the doctor gave wasn't effective, so we went back to the doctor on Saturday.<br /><br />Her fever still persisted on Saturday, and the doctor began to suspect it's dengue. But her blood report came back negative. phew.... The doctor put her on Bifen (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibuprofen">ibuprofen</a>) and antibiotic.<br /><br />By Sunday, her fever had come down, but she was having diarrhea. But the fever came back at night. *sigh*<br /><br />So today, she's still resting at home, with Mami caring for her and putting up with her whinning, and 'manja-ing'. <br /><br />I think it's the 'sick season'. I was feeling under the weather the whole of last week, Mami was down too earlier. My mom was sick last Saturday and the whole family of my neighbour was down, including their 1 y.o. baby. And then there are <a href="http://loopymeals.blogspot.com/2007/01/sick-days.html">James</a> and <a href="http://belacans.blogspot.com/2007/01/suzanne-has-hfm.html">Suzanne</a>.<br /><br />So take care everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1169015548420556162007-01-17T14:24:00.000+08:002007-01-17T14:32:28.440+08:00Run, Yiyi, Run!*sigh*<br /><br />She does <a href="http://papimami.blogspot.com/2007/01/running.html">run in a weird way</a>.<br />Sort of a gallopy-kind of run. And her hands moves too much, and closer to her chest. Like she's holding some oranges with both her hands and her chest, and running at the same time.<br /><br />But she's only 3. <br /><br />According to the teacher, her motor skills are related to her legs and her hands. She's also having problem with her writing and holding a pencil properly. So we are training her on her writing, and it would also help if her legs are strong. <br /><br />Oh well..so I guessed we'll have run with her more. I could use some exercise myself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7391948.post-1168932564874771742007-01-16T14:02:00.000+08:002007-01-16T15:29:25.030+08:00RunningToday...<br /><br />Mami : Papi ah..<br /><br />Papi : Yes?<br /><br />Mami : The teacher said hor, Yiyi is not running properly. <br /><br />Papi : Huh? What do you mean she is not running properly?<br /><br />Mami : The teacher said her motor skill, especially her legs, is not fully developed yet. So she need to run more.<br /><br />Papi : Huh? So how?<br /><br />Mami : So, we have to bring her out to the playground more frequent lor. Train her legs a bit.<br /><br />Papi : Ooo...so she can exercise more lar.<br /><br />Mami : Yalor.<br /><br />Papi : But she is active what? Running here and there, jumping like a monkey. We have a lawn for her to run also. How come the motor skill not developed? Looks OK to me.<br /><br />Mami : Dunno leh....<br /><br />Papi : I think the teacher indirectly ask you to go exercise more often lar *muahahaha* (<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Warning: Don't try this at home!</span>)<br /><br />Mami : NO Lar!!! Eee-yer!! I think the teacher was referring to you lar!! hahaha....<br /><br />Papi : OK lar, OK lar, we both go lar.<br /><br />Come to think of it, I think Yiyi's doing just fine. I mean, I've seen her running , and it looks OK to me. Well, she does gallop here and there, like riding an imaginary horse, when she's being playful. Maybe today, she galloped, thinking it was a game they were playing. And the teacher thought she was running in a weird way. <br /><br />I think I'll test her today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com