The Bootcamp Battle begins

I never knew that I have a sado-masochism streak in me. This week is the third week I put myself through physical torture and agony that is the Bootcamp. When I told my brother about the bootcamp activities, instead of motivating me and telling me what a strong girl I am, all he waid was "..and you are paying them for this?"
Hmm...I dunno how to answer that.

Somehow the quest for size 10 bikini seemed as ludicrous as it could be. But one thing for sure, I can't back off now. This is do or die situation. I just want to give my best shot and see how far I could go. At the moment, still no where because I am still amonsgt the last to finish each exercise.

Now, for 3 mornings each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5.45 to 6.45am, I struggled bleary eyes out of bed and make my way to Padang Merbuk at Tasik Perdana. This is the KL Alpha Team. If anybody is late or AWOL, then the whole team gets the punishment. Talk about "one for all, all for one"....if anybody is caught cheating (walking instead of running...or not following orders), the rest will have extra time added to their 'torture' (exercise).

The first week was a trial week...I came home each time covered in mud (head to toes!)with aches and pain...Walking, sitting down, getting up is so painful (everywhere!)..going up and down the stairs is the worse! I feel like a heavily pregnant women (no that I know how a pregnant women feels like since I have never been pregnant).

I supposed all those unused muscles for the paST 37+ years have finally been put to use. It has yet to get better...but this is hardly the first month and I still have 3 and half more months to go!

However, as much as I hated the pain...each time when the class is over...one feels soo proud and elated for having achieved such feat. Yeah, I call it a feat coz I never knew I could do such things!!

The trainers (Sarge and Corporal) really knows how to push you. They seem cruel and relentless on the field but I guess they know what they are doing and they know your limit and will push you over and over again.

Physically, as much as I hated the pain...I think I must have improved myself a bit, and now, I could say that I have some decent stamina now compared to 3 weeks ago. In the first trial....I spent most of the time laying down on the ground (next to my vomit) but in the 2nd and 3rd trial...I managed to stay up. That was a real motivation...

For 3 mornings each week, we struggle with grunts, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running, jumping, sandbags, rifle (pvc tube filled with concrete, that weighs a tonne when you are really tired), ropes (yeah! weighs a tonne too when you really have no more energy to lift and carry it around), tyres (not the car type but those big tractors type. i couldn't even move it in the first week but I was shocked when I found that I managed to flip it last week!!!)and God knows what else awaits us. It sounds really easy but believe me...only if you are in this bootcamp, you'll know how scary those things are!

Come rain, hail or snow....there is no excuse. I have really outgrown my OCD nature. There is no such thing as wet tissue or sanitiser. As it is a wet season in KL now..the field is wet and muddy. And so, at the end of each class...yours truly will stagger out of the field tired out of her bones, completely bedraggle and covered in mud (and who knows what else!) from top to toe. Luckily I have a very good and diligent helper at home. She will dutifully clean my muddy clothes, shoes and socks (yes, the mud seeped into the socks too)and have them clean and dry before each class. I really must give her an extra allowance for this.

And so...my personal battle continues. Worse come to worse...there is always Marie France and Philip Wain but I realise that as long as I can still push myself physically, I will continue. The trainers and team members are equally supportive too....and I know they are other team members as weak as me.

No matter what, I shall reach my aims for agility, strength and that size 10 bikini by the end of this 4 months. And I shall be one of the prime examples of "remember that lady who collapsed during the warming up session in her first trial....?"

Till then....as they shout at the end of each session...HHOOOO YEAH!!!!!!!

My 38th Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! Last year I celebrated my birthday in the circle of close and dear friends in Discovery Bay and this year I enjoyed my own company. The parents went away to visit a sick relative in Singapore, I would have gone along but due to work, got left behind. But I didn’t mind, needed time alone anyway. I have been sooo tired, with outings and projects the past few weeks plus the aches and pains from the Bootcamp which still have not fade from this aging body.

This weekend is the best time to recharge my battery. And so today, there is nobody in this house but my faithful helper and my own company.

I wanted to sleep in and wake up as late as I could but unfortunately got woken up with work-related phone call. Damm! There went my beauty sleep. Could not go to sleep anymore after that. But luckily, it was a solitary morning, the helper was somewhere in the house… while I get to made my own breakfast (which is not as often as I like), with the food that I WANT to eat. Usually mom dearest prepared the breakkie, so have no choice but to eat whatever that was prepared.

It was to be a day of leisure and I was happy because I managed to do just that. I relaxed, watched tv and then by noon I decided to go out. Of course, being my birthday today…it is a day of indulging and pampering myself. Started with a few hours at the spa followed with a few hours of retail therapy….it was soooo relaxing…..Now, that's what I caLLED A BLISSFULL LIFE……This is how life should be…

Alas, this is one of the best birthdays for me. My gifts were not as many as last year but compared to last year but its okay. I only got 2 things this year…..but like I said, its okay…especially counting the 10k extra spending money (never mind it’s just on credit) and this cute fuschia pink netbook which is sooooooooo cute and pretty. It is a Sony Viao no less! Hehehehe…(Bard really hates me for this).

I know, I know…I just got a laptop couple of months back but somehow….despite the earlier attraction…we just didn’t fizzle together. Must be the size or the weight. Anyway, this is gift, I can’t say no to it. And so…thank you to my loving friends who made this possible for me. I feel soooo blessed….

As part of my birthday rituals… (a ritual which I only started after I reached 35)I spent a standard 3-5 minutes for deep contemplation You know..."why, how, what, where I am now" kind of questions and thoughts.

I still havent got the answers till today. Have I reached a milestone in my life??? I dunno.... My friends always say that I am too critical of myself...but hey, its my life..
I am 38 now. If I were to compare my life to my siblings when they were 38, I would have to perform the hara-kiri now or live in shame. Apart from work (and that is not something to be proud of sometimes), nothing changes.

I’m still the same person with the same thoughts as when I was 18 or 28. Older does not neccessasarily mean wiser and I am the true testament to that. I still don’t know what I’m doing and still unsure where I’m heading with my life. There is NO long-term planning here….it’s just a day to day existance.

Oh well..., there is no answer. I don’t want to waste too much time to dwell on big question marks in life so that is why I only limit myself to maximum 5 mins on contemplation only. Why do I want to depress myself? Better do other things and think happy thought......in a true Wannabee nature.

And so, after a day of full indulgence (I sooo deserve this after working back-to-back the past few weeks) I am now refresh and fully rested. I also spent quality time with my second brother and his loving family for abirthday dinner last night.

The spa cost few hundred, the new netbook was nearly 2k (but free), some clothes, make-up and shoes cost a few hundred more but most of all…..this feeling of happiness (especially as I am typing away on this brand spanking new pink VIAO),the peacefullness and contentment that I enjoyed this weekend is PRICELESS!

Thank you!

Ms Wannabee wishes to thank all her loves ones, friends and colleagues for the birthday messages received via phone calls, sms’s, emails, cards and fb. Hopefully, next year it would include newspaper announcement too.

My first bootcamp experience

Everybody laughed out loud when I told them I was going to join the Bootcamp. The idea that yours truly is going to embark on an extreme physical training is too ludicrous and funny to some people.
But I don't blame them....I've never been one for those sweaty, high-impact physical sports.

Why I did I decide to do this??? Hmm...several reasons actually:

- need to lose weight and get back into my fav Tommy pants (most of my clothes are too tight now and getting a whole new wardrobe is too expansive

- need to build my stamina and be more healthy for my own good

- need to build my mental strength, bootcamp is not easy and with all the discouraging remarks...I need to push myself mentally and physically..this is something I have to do before I hit 40..which is not too far now (uurrgghhh)

- the mental strength is another step towards my next plan in life...maybe embark in a small partnership somewhere interesting and exotic with Ms T (somewhere not too hot to give us wrinkles and not too hit to give us rheumatism). So if I could succeed with this...who knows what else I could do if I really push myself...hahaha...that remains to be seen

- need to tone my body and slim down and fit into that size 10 bikini! Actually this was the first and primary reason but I added those reasons mentioned-above to make it more worthwhile..



And so...armed with my strong motivation and brand new running shoes (just bought the night before), I went to the first trial on MOnday morning.

The trainers were young men, not bad looking but quite stern and being a Ms Wannabee...I know these boys are Commando Wannabees. They called themselves Captain, Corporal and Lans Corporal...just like in the army.

This is the trial week, the actual program will start in early November. The training will be for 4 months, 3 times a week from 0545 hours to 0645 hours (dear Lord....).

After laying down the house rules, the torment began....

The first 5 minutes went well, then 10 minutes was still okay but after 15 minutes....I was dying!!!
Talk about lying in your own pool of vomit! I vomited, vomited and vomited!!! If I could bleed, I would have bled to death. It was sooo excruciatingly humiliating!!! I was past being embarrassed.....
As other went ahead with their training...I was on the ground...on the muddy field...spattered with mud and god knows what else (unfortunately it rained the night before, hence the muddy ground).

Could not even get up from the wet ground to save my life (for this Ms Wannabee...to be laying down on the grass and muddy ground without any mat or protection from the 'soil'...this is REALLY, EXTREMELY EXTREME!!! She never ever touches the ground without a mat and there she was...laying down IN THE MUD, NEXT TO HER OWN POOL OF VOMIT..EEEEEUUUUWWWWWWW

I wanted to give up at that time. This is not for me, there is always Marie France if I want a slim body. But I could not even move and was still retching up my banana breakfast. Sungguh memalukan....

I tried to go back again but after 2 attempts (after several steps) I dropped again. I was too dizzy to stand and COULD NOT move even a step forward. I wanted them to call the paramedics but nobody was looking at my direction...everybody was busy with their training.

Had I had my car keys with me at that time I would have crawled back and gone straight to Marie France. But earlier, they made us leave our car keys with them...for security purpose. But now I know...they also made it hard for you to leave.

Finally the fainting spell and dizziness died down. I was not dying after all.....and I could move and get up without wanting to throw up again.

And so...Ms Wannabee who wants to be in Bootcamp, staggered back to her team much to the surprise of the trainers and others.

Just like Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, I walked back into the field and joined in the group for the final round of exercise...even though it was only for the last 10 minutes.

I know my limits now....low impact yes...high impact no! However...I still have traces of Mat Kilau DNA in me (being born in Pahang...that's the only think I could be proud of)....and so...I SHALL NOT not give up.

Ms Wannabee shall go on with the Bootcamp until...officially kicked out by the Bootcamp trainers.

And so...the painful, laborious, breathless journey towards size 10 bikini shall go on for Ms Wannabee...

Welcome Stefanie!

Ms Wannabee wishes to welcome Ms Stefanie (with an 'f') Chuah another new reader to her blog.

Gosh! First Sek Hin and now you.... I am honoured of course but with more editorial people looking into this, it gets more daunting!! I have to check my grammar and spelling and make sure all t's are crossed and i's are dotted.

Oh well....this blog is purely for entertainment and of no scientific and commercial value (compared to your kind of writing). Therefore, please close one eye to any editorial inperfections and just enjoy my personal musings on mundane matters....

Happy reading!

Whaisee's Wedding Dinner

I left HK on Sat afternoon and dashed off to Whaisee's wedding banquet in the evening at PJ Hilton. It was quite a mad hurry, arrived home from the airport at 6.30, got ready within one hour and by 7.30 dashed off again and arrived just in time for the wedding couple to make their grand entrance.

But before that, there was a moment of panic when I could not find my car key, apparently my parents drove it to Kuantan for the weekend but luckily there was another car under the porch. Thanks to my bro's C200 Merc, with its single digit plate-number (which I later nonchalantly passed to the valet. I also can’t help but noticed the covert glances from people at the lobby...wink, wink....ooohhh i soo loved that moment!)

To compliment the car that I drove, I also looked HOT (even if I say so myself) in the black Club Monaco Monroe style LBD that showed lots of skin and cleavage (Karen will be envious if she were to see me that evening) but still managed to be demurely covered with the black shawl paid by my beloved buddy (thank you gift I supposed....but thanks so much!) at the airport shop.

Okay back to the wedding (being so full of myself again....), this is the final wedding for the Lee family. My dear (ex) housemate cum tuan-rumah when in HK, Whaisee Loong (as she is now should be known as) finally had her wedding reception.

After nearly a year of hearing the moans and groans (I mean the non-sexual type). More to do with frustrations of having to deal with too many debates and suggestions of interfering well-intentioned family members and new-in-laws which I guess are the normal pre-wedding dramas and rites of passage that one has to go through if one gets married. Especially if this is to be the first wedding in the groom's family and also, when the groom is the only son!

And it finally happened. Phew!!! Finally.....What a relief.....I am sure not only to the beautiful and radiant looking bride and groom, but also the close circle of friends that constantly have to hear the abovementioned complaints, moans and groans. WHAT A BIG RELIEF!!!!!!!!!! I also like the short but meaningful speech given by WC’s eldest brother. Quite touching….but that’s always the case with weddings….

Alas, it was a beautiful wedding... as any wedding ceremony should be.....any behind-the scenes dramas or hiccups could not be avoided but as long as everything went well and all guests left home fully-fed and happy and the anticipated angpows poured in, that's ALL THE MATTERS.....

(I wondered if the total angpow collection broke even the whole cost but I was too polite to ask).

Everybody left with smiles and thanks. Even yours truly...though tired that she was, left home happy....

Congratulations to Whaisee and Sze Peng!!!!!!

Service with a smile at the airports....with a few exceptions..

This is the something exciting that I wanted to write about earlier....

Okay, okay....you must be thinking what is sooo exciting about that??? Actually, it was something to be amused about. Okay, if you are a regular traveller and keen observer like err....eerrr......yours truly (imagine my gleeful smirk here), one will see this typical scenario:

When the plane lands, ....upon exiting the aircraft, most of the flight attendants will stand at the door and will wish goodbyes and thank you's as you leave the plane. Then at the first arrival door, another group of airport personnel holding flight transfer notices or those meet & greet cards with the traveller?s name and flight number. Everybody greets you with a smile.

If you are not sure where you are going to, you approach the Enquiry Desk and as expected, again the smiles and friendly hospitality. You will see smiles on most of the front liners' faces except on these small groups of airport personnel......

- Janitors/ airport cleaners. They are mostly quiet and surly....can't blame them though....who can be cheerful doing what they are doing for a living? Though one country is an exception. I met friendly and cheerful airport cleaners in Japan. But then again...this country is known for their politeness and kind hospitality. Even when they are being rude or unhelpful, they are still polite to you. But I was amaze with the Japs. One of my most memorable travel scenes was seeing the airport ground staff happily bowing, smiling and waving off to each aircraft that slowly reverse from its gate prior to take off. Being the passenger in that aircraft, I must say that was a very nice feeling and even though they cannot see you, one can't help but wave back at them. Imagine they do this every day for every aircraft that leaves. Amazing isn't it????

I was most impressed and for a few second, the Ms Wannabee in me saw myself being the a Queen or a First Lady, leaving a country after a successful official tour on that country and I did that 'WAVE'....

- Okay back to the janitors and airport cleaners.....the ones in China seems very serious about their jobs, the ones in Changi look like overworked senior citizen (that should be enjoying retirement rather than still working). It makes one feel guilty and sad for them because where I came from...these people who look like elderly relatives and grandparents should be sitting at home not slaving away washing public toilets. So sad....

The ones in KLIA are varied in age and usually sits in a corner waiting for you to finish-off your business while busy 'sms'ing on their mobiles or gossiping with each other... and the ones in Heathrow will be speaking in the kinds of English that made you wonder if you are really in England after all......Blimey...

The next unsmiling group:

- Security personnels......okay this goes without saying. Sometimes they are accompanied by scary looking canines and always made me shudder especially if I happened to bring frozen beef or chicken rendang with me at that time.

Finally, the group that is the highlight of this topic....the fearful Immigration Officers........

I often wondered if one of the requisites of being an Immigration Officer at the airport entails that each officer has to look serious and mean. Or, maybe they have to go through some training class for this.....Not mean in a bad way but mean...in a chilling, serious, 'I better like your look', 'don't piss me off' way.... and as you wait for that person to go through your passport and finally give you that chop or stamp your arrival date into that country and how long you are permitted into that country.....don't you realised that for that particular few minutes....the fate of your whole journey depends on that Immigration Officer!

Sometimes they are sooo deep in thoughts while browsing through your passport, sometimes they took such a long time to scrutinise the message on the screen and the information on your passport with the ones that you wrote on your Disembarkation Card (arrival card), there were never eye contacts unless they asked you some extra questions and I supposed, the next worst thing is when they called another officer to look into your passport while you stood on the other side of the glass wall, trying to look patient and pleasant (while inside churning with dread, trying to figure out what is wrong), holding your breath, waiting for your fate......

Do you realise that this person has the power to change your whole perspective of the country, especially if that is the first time you arrive in that particular country. This person can either make or break your holiday. He can approve you to enter that country OR, on the other hand, if something is not ?right? in his or her eyes....he will squash all your travel plans and deny your entry into that country. There goes that holiday, there goes that business deal that will be signed during this trip, there goes that meeting or conference that you will missed, there goes that visa-on-arrival that you hope to get .......This has not happened to me before and hopefully will not ever happen as long s I do my homework prior to travelling.... But unfortunately, it has happened to some unlucky people I know.

Nevertheless.....I realised that each time my turn came for my passport to be stamped, I always wait with bated breath, try to look pleasant as that officer flick his/her eyes when comparing my passport photo with my present look and I never, ever, ever forget to say 'thank you' after my passport is handed back to me. Oh...I also make sure that I write every information on my Arrival Card clearly and neatly. We don't want to cause unnecessary inconvenience or annoyance to them with illegible handwriting, do we?

In China, there is a small device at each Immigration counter. The device is a service-measurement system, there are 5 buttons to press......numbered from 1 to 5.
On that scale of 1 to 5, you are to merit the level of service given to you by that Immigration Officer with 1 for 'not happy' and 5 for 'very happy and satisfied'.

Being the kind hearted, polite girl that I am.....I always pressed button number 5 :)-