Angpow Time!

Kong Xi Faa Chai!

This is my second Lunar Celebration in HK. For first timers in HK, it is a must to go to the Victoria Park flower market on the eve of the CNY and watch the CNY parade with the spectacular fireworks show in TST. Already did that last year, so this year was mostly spent chilling out plus 'menternak badan' (eating) with friends.

We walked thru the Lamma Island this time. I was quite proud coz I've been reading a lot about the island, first becuse it was the birthplace of Chow Yuen Fatt (my fav HK actor) and second because Robert, my very very favvvvvvv ex colleague lives there. And so...I became the tour guide for the day.

Ihe long weekend passed so fast, coming back to office yesterday and today was such a drag. But it was a 'must' to come back to work yesterday, to collect 'lai see' (angpows).

And I must say...it was worth the effort ....quite an impressive collection compared to last year. I feel quiet embarrassed to be collecting so much, even from the junior staffs but they are married and as others pointed out to me...it is customary for the married to give to singletons so just accept and say thank you. And soo...the whole day in the office, I have been wishing everybody

"Shin ning quai le" "Kong xi faa chai"!!!!!!!!

Also receive another pleasant surprise...a free ticket home!!! That was totally unexpected but thank you nevertheless....

May this lunar year bring us more joy, good health, better friends, long lasting romance and prosperity !!!!

And of course, Ms Wannabee's favourite sentiment, world peace...................................

PS: My immediate boss gave me a rather big angpow...I'm estatic of course but reality came knocking back....

That means now I am even more obligated (to HER not to the company) to come to work early and be more dilligent and hard working....Aiyaaa!!! Kow-chor ahhhhhhh!!!

Katam & Tahlil, Saturday 24Jan

Just reporting that the tahlil and katam went smoothly. I had my khatam, had to do a spot of public reading which was quite embarrassing but finally got it done with and we did tahlil for the dearly departed plus doa selamat for Bard's mom who will undergo a surgery soon. Of course, food was the main agenda...pulut kuning, roti jala, rendang, curry, pudding, cup cakes....needless to say...I don't think I can look at pulut for the the next 3 months.

All this eating-eating is doing me no good. The waistline is expanding rapidly and if I don't watch it, soon I'll be needing a whole new wardrobe again! Of course, Bard will always say that I'm just looking for an excuse to shop for new clothes but really!!! I am putting on weight!!!!

I really have to do something about this. That means less eating but unfortunately...I'm turning into my dad....always have good appetite for food. Having friends who are foodies as well do not help either.....I really ought to start exercising....

Badminton and tennis...seems like a good idea before but am too lazy to chase after the shuttle-cock/tennis ball.

Maybe....I should get that hula-hoop and skipping ropes that I see on tv... hhmmm...maybe that will work...

Ms Wannebee needs to go on diet!

Khatam Quran

Salam….

I’m pleased to announce that I have completed my Quran reading last night. It wasn't easy and I’m ashamed to admit that I still lack the diligence to read the holy book regularly. I need constant reminder and ‘push’ to mengaji each time…and it’s quite a challenge especially to somebody with cetek ugama like me.

Anyway, thanks Bard, for calling me in the middle of my shopping frenzy session last nights and reminded me it was malam Jumaat! It was pay-day after all (haha!) but I managed to go back home by 10pm and started reading till I reached the last Surah.

Alhamdulillah…never thought I could do it on my own but that I DID.

A special thanks also to my cousin Abg Man for the tips that he'd given me sometime back….
kalau takde masa or rasa malas…baca 1 page only,
if that is also too difficult just read one line only,
if that is also too much effort….just hold the Quran and flip through the pages,
at least touch it once a day.

Usually the flipping of pages will give me guilty conscience (for not reading at all). From there what started as ‘a line only’ continued to ‘a page only’ and subsequently to more pages……….Alhamdulillah….

I am more motivated now to start all over again….

In between.......

Okay, been quite tied up with work last week hence the silence…But in between... there were some things worth mentioning here.

Let see….

Movie Times
This could be to mutual boredom….Bard and I did 2 movies in a week! First it was the IpMan, highly recommended by Waikin, which both of us thoroughly enjoyed and the second was OngBak2 at the Grand Cinema located in the in Elements.

The Elements is the highly advertised upper middle class mega shopping mall above the Kowloon Station within a large residential enclave. The Grand Cinema was…err....quite impressive and ‘technologically’ advanced with vibrating seats that vibrates with each blasting sounds from the screen. Its true! I really felt it in my seat!!

But I don’t like the smell of that place. If we are to go there again, I’ll make sure I’ll bring a mask or small bottle of perfume to mask out the musky odor.

Anyway, back to the movies…I’d say GO and watch Ip Man even if you are not an action movie buff like moi but I won’t recommend the other one. The first one was totally unexpected, exciting and inspiring while the second one was a total let down.

Strawberry Picking
Spring is coming again, the land will be filled with blossoming flowers and fruits abound. I followed Whaisee and her workmates to a place in the New Territory to a Strawberry Farm. We have to change trains twice and then took a taxi to the Kam Tin Country Park. This is a family place, with lots of things to do if you have children. There is a puppy area where you can pet and play with cute little puppies, a rabbit and piggy area (yeah…PIGs), vegetable farms, fruit farms, honey extracting area (or whatever you call it…), a huge and crowded BBQ area, and lots of area for children to run and play around.

The main attraction is the strawberry picking of course. There were several plots where they planted several breeds of strawberries. There were Japan, French, English breeds and others which we didn’t understand (coz all were written in Chinese)….but you can move to any plots and pick any strawberry you see.

Unlike the ones that I went to in UK, the strawberries here are smaller but there were some sweet ones too. Back in the fruit farms in UK, you can eat all the fruits to your heart content and only pay for the ones that you take out from the farm. But not here, you are not allowed to eat before paying! I feel sorry for the workers who have to watch and shout ‘No eating! No eating!’ to the 50-80 people scattered about in the strawberry plots.

I would just give this trip a ‘so, so’…There’s another one that I found that also had a lavender and tulip farm. Will try that place next…..


Friends and such...
Faizol made his second trip to HK and as before, it was a fun day together. He is such a sweet and nice boy to spend time with. We started with the customary din sum brunch, then explored the beautiful Stanley, got some nice trinkets and later took the bus journey all the way from Stanley to TST and proceeded to the Temple Night Market. What a long and interesting ride! But we enjoued ourselves indeed.

While at dinner in Shadowman, I was introduced to a newbie in HK. You thought that your growing-up background is unique and unlike others but surprisingly, we shared more than one common bond and growing-up experience. This is a good start….hopefully towards an enriching and lasting relationship with a fellow ‘sister’. I’m sure there’ll be more entries with her name in later on.

Wedding bells are ringing….Congratulations to Zakiah on your engagement. First graduation and now engagement…WELL DONE my dear!
I know you’ll beat me to it but I am still very happy for you dear girl. Just don’t forget me on your big day eh…

House hunting has been the riguor these few weeks. Suaimi has been busy looking for a new house and I have also been dragged along to view his shortlisted ones. I’m not complaining, it’s good to know that your views are appreciated but finally he did find a new place to call home. Phew!

On a more sombre note….

My faithful, strong and beloved Vittara has finally moved on to a new owner. I sooo loved that V6-four-wheel-drive-car of mine. I have survived a near-death experience from which a smaller or lesser car would not have made it. I’ve covered thousands of kms with beloved family and friends all over the Peninsular Malaysia on various trips, my sister in law nearly gave birth in it….the past 12 years have been colorful indeed.

Thanks for that car dad.....maybe next…you can replace the Vittara with an X3 or the Baby Benz instead ?????(Just joking)

Someone’s close relative passed away. My condolence to the family for the loss of their beloved parent. May the dearly departed rest in peace …..
When you hear this kind of sad news... compassion rise above ego and one can emerge a better person. I crossed that bridge....and glad I did it.

Hard times are coming….. Today I received an email from a friend with the following message….

" ...just went through hard days.. and maybe will go through hard days again (see how..)”

With this financial turmoil, everybody will be affected somehow. Hopefully each of us still have our jobs by the end of the year. Hang on there mate, let us pray and doa that each of us will pull through….

Come what may, it is comforting to know that you are with REAL friends…….. . Alhamdulillah....

Moving on...

Well, it's back to the humdrum existance of home, office, home, office........ This is the first full working week of 2009, so far it has been smooth and I am unexpectedly not feeling down or lazy...hahah!!!
Hopefully it will remain this way, eh?

On a separate note............,

An unexpected personal message pop up on my screen a couple of days ago.
The details I rather keep to myself

All that I can say is.........I suppose it is best left all alone....
It is not anger nor sadness
Case close, I DON"T need any explanation, no more...

I have moved on...

That's all I wanna say....

Welcome 2009...Happy Birthday Bard!!!

I should have written this yesterday...but halfway thru writing, the Internet connection was interrupted and my nearly completed draft disappeared...Damm!! Should have known to save it earlier....then I got too lazy to start again...and so, here I am again.....with my commentary what took place during my co-called new year 'party'.

Mimi's performance was a lot shorter than last year. We went all the way there (Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing) and only get to watch a 5 minutes dance routine...aiya!!!! Oh well...at least we did our part of supporting a dear friend... despite tantrums and occasional black moods, he's still a darling to us.

Anyway, back to the evening....despite my earlier blooper and blurted out to Bard on the 'private venue'....I think I still managed to 'surprise' the birthday boy. His expressions when he thought that everybody has deserted him and after we surprised him was priceless!

And so.....we managed to have our countdown and watched a bit of the fireworks and give a 'surprise' t Bard for his biethday......though it was not as grand or posh as the birthday boy would like it to be............

Most importantly, each and everyone of us......Linda, Mimi, Karen, Whaisee, Fuisim, Rahim and me...were there to give a bit of cheer and support to Bard for all his good deeds and kindness that he has shown his, especially yours truly..........

I wished I could have been more 'happening' but everybody wanted to watch Sleepy Hollow and that we did...joined by Laura, Whaisee's friend.

To Bard,

Happy Belated Birthday!!

You've done and given us so much....hope you enjoyed yourself. Hopefully if we are all still in HK by the end of 2009, I'll try to make it better.......better event, better food, better venue, better party for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To all my dear friends,

Thanks for making 2008 an interesting year for me!!!

Lol,

Cici

Mimi's show

Karen, Linda, Bard

Fuisim, Whaisee, Rahim

Linda & me with the new year revellers to LKF (Linda's first new year in HK)

The party just started

My elation that everything went as planned




Happy Birthday Bard!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

As Frankie said, 'and now...the end is near....'



That is how I am feeling now, a bit nostalgic but at the same time excited to welcome a brand new year. It has been an eventful year, especially with relationships and friends.

Some friends came and gone but more new ones came (what a drama it has been!),

the expected relationship blossomed then wilted and died unexpectedly (better now than later and life goes on...),

two friend got married (happy for them of course),

another friend separated (sad...sad...but you gotta pick up the piece and go on with life),

one or two got new babies ( i lost/couldn't be bothered to count anymore),

two friends left the security of their jobs and embarked on their own business (scary! But my hat off to you guys...you have the guts to do it!)

an aunt, uncle and a cousin brother passed away peacefully (may His Almighty bless their souls).



Thanks to facebook, old relationships were rekindled, previous scholmates found each other (though iWelcoming at first but, there are one or two that I really don't want to come across to anymore...and this are the ones that managed to find me!)



On the job front, it was quite okay. Not as bad as last year coz I got the additional help that I wanted but it was exciting nevertheless.

Did not imagine that I will step foot in Japan but 2 trips to Sapporo this year was really worth it! Also, having Bard and Linda joining me in Xian made it the best post-meeting holiday ever!

Where else? Oh ya, Brunei was totally unexpected, it was my second trip there after more than 10 years and Shanghai.....i loved it, 2 times this year!



But most of all, now I enjoy the luxury of leaving the office ontime on most days.

And have also got on better undertanding with my immediate superior. I don't love her but at least....we understand each other better now.

2008.........some tears were shed but more laughter came. Yeah...we learnt one or two more lessons in life and learnt to appreciate the unappreciated a bit more. Oh! More importantly, i have learnt to be more selfish (as opposed too giving ) and more evil (from being too kind).

Don't mess with me now...or you shall be eliminated!! haha!!! Actually, its just corwardly move of deleting people from my fb (which is rather childish, I must say) but hey, that's my perogative. I don't want to be a hypocrite and I will do whatever I want to do....

But i still try to be a better person....like a wrote earlier, a better friend, a better daughter, a better worker, a better person.... I will try to be more patient and understanding towards demanding colleagues, clinging family members, sensitive or inconsiderate friends. But don't push me too far....or..... i'll delete you!

So tonite, like last year a few of us will get together to cheer Mimi and his fitness show,followed with dinner then the countdown at a secret venue. I can't write now coz this is supposed to be a surprise to my dear friends. All that they have been told is that it will be at an exclusive private venue......hehehe......if only they know.....

Till then....

Good bye 2008......... well hello 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ms Wannabee wants to party tonite!

The Christmas Holiday

Oh gosh! It's been quite hectic these past few days. Hiking, X'mas party and entertaining family friends and of course, the customary cooking (and eating) activities....

We finally did the Dragon Back's Trail. It was a 7km trail, a proper hike this time without the paved trail and quite strenuous, especially going up the hill. Nevertheless, it was well worth it. The views were breathtaking and spectacular!!!

The Dragon’s Back Trail

Starting off in from the side of Shek -road , the ascent to Shek-O Peak is quite strenuous, as the ridgetop path cuts through some treacherous terrain. As we gained height, a great sweep of azure sea came into view. This section of the trail is known as Dragon's Back, so named because it rolls up and down like the back ridge of a dragon. The vantage point offers splendid vistas across Shek O and Big Wave Bay. Not to mention the picturesque and majestic bungalows and mansions which we can only ogled from the distance peak.

Towards the end of the hike as we approached Big Wave Bay, we found a new fantastic spot, right over a cliff with unsurpassed view of the jagged cliffs, rocky shore and strong big waves....(near the 3600 years old stone carving). This is the south coast of HK Island. The view is totally awesome and invigorating. I wish it's near here but the closest access will be via Shek-O. Oh, never mind....I'm sure we will be there again soon...

Friends and such…

Several parties came over from M’sia. What started as an obligatory courtesy call (on behalf of my brother) ended very well indeed. But I must say that is was quite tiring acting as an unofficial Tour Guide as I did not expect to be herding 11 adults and 2 children from IFC Tower towards the Central ferry pier to TST (via ferry, of course) and escorting them all the way to Shadowman Café and after that taking the MTR Train back to Central and Sheung Wan to send off another party to Macau at 12 mindnight!

Well, at least I gave Pak Kadir some new leads for his potential investors.

Abg Syed, Kai and the boys…it wasn’t that much trouble entertaining you guys and I was glad to show the part of HK which I am quite proud of.

Thanks to Linda and Bard for including me in their social activities with their visiting friends and colleagues from Msia. It was enjoyable to spend time with Rina, Kak ‘Wa and Siti. They are real fun to be with!

Thanks also to Abdul Rahim who led us to the Dragon’s Back and patiently trod with us. He also has to endure all our noises...made worse since it was mostly in Malay language which he doesn't understand. As much as I hate it (because I don’t want to encourage more smoking), I think next time we should provide him with a supply of his fav cigarette whenever he joins us. At least that will keep him occupied…..

And a special thanks to Rina for getting me the highly sought-after Twilight book which has sold-out all over HK and the earliest I could get will be in January 2009. Rina came over here just before X’mas and managed to get me the book from KLIA airport. Thanks so much Rina!!!!!! And you even refused to let me pay.

Ops, nearly forgotten!! Thank you also for the unbelievably easy Tiramisu recipe. ….
It was truly and greatly appreciated………….(the Twiligt story book and recipe).

And last but not least, thank you Karen. Your Christmas gift to me, the story book on vampire/finding your true self ....................how apt for the occasion. That is sooo me!

Till then…….