Care vs Indifference

A few days ago, I was at the Indian Mamak shop packing food.


The queue was long and the space was tight.


After getting my rice, I wanted to backtrack to get some vegetables, so, I request for the young man to excuse me, while I needed some standing space. He was kind enough to let me through. While I was taking the stuff, which will total 5-10 seconds, the Restaurant Waiter gave an impatient remark because I was kinda in the way.


I was busy trying to hurry, so, I neither heard his remark or saw his face reaction.


But.


I heard the young man clearly rebuking him to be patient, for it will only take awhile.


I paused for a second and did not know how to react to this young man, standing up for a stranger, like me.


I was touched.


I went up to him and thank him for standing up for me and he gave me a very gracious, "Its OK".


Another scenario:


We were having family lunch at the same shop and have been trying to order something from the waiter for quite awhile. Then, a waiter stopped at the table next to ours. I kept waving to him but he did not take notice.


Strange.


The couple sitting on that table heard us clearly and even turned to give an indifferent stare. After looking at us a few seconds, knowing clearly that we were trying to get the attention of the waiter who was still standing next to their table, they returned to whatever they were doing.


I was shocked.


Such indifference.


The waiter walked away.


Now, I have a big question in my head.


Why the indifference or care. What causes someone to take the trouble to stand up for a stranger and another to totally ignore.

The Garden: Privacy Fence

Few weeks ago, I posted about The Garden.


There was this and that plan.


A privacy fence was one of the idea. The reason is to block and separate the back portion of the house from the front.


The Resak Wood was purchased from the local hardware store. The sizes of wood was 2 x 4", 4 x 4" and 1 x 4"

4 x 4" pillars as foundation

4 holes of about 1 feet wide and 1.5 inch deep was dugged. Instead of digging up the hole in a day, bit by bit was dug up over a period of few days. Just as I was ready to mix the cement to put the foundational pillars, the Indonesian worker was available to assist for the next few days. Hooray! So, he helped to fix the foundational pillars.

2 x 4" was fixed on by Joel and I, when he was off from
school during the recent Public Holiday

The foundation was allowed to dry for about 2-3 days. Then, I solicited Joel's help. Both of us took the late morning and most of the afternoon to cut the 1 x 4" plants to exactly 5 feet length with the circular saw. Then we measured and cut to appropriate lengths, the 2 x 4". That was hard work. Galvanized bolt of 3" was used to fasten the 2 x 4 " to the 4 x 4". We used the drill to make the holes.


Apparently (after everything was done), according to Hubby (who is the actual Engineer and Expert), we used the wrong drill bit size. It should have been smaller hole. Never mind, a learning process. That day, I used the drill for the 1st time in my life. Not bad.

The privacy fence and there is a plan to make a Pergola
using the same pillars

The next day, Joel had to go to school. So, I was left alone to do up the fence. All geared up and gung ho, I proceeded to fix the fence. How hard can it be? After all, I have researched in youtube and internet.


After taking 1 hour to fix 2 planks and realised that the bolts were not aligned and the drill holes were too big... As a result, the bolts was not strong and the plank begins to fall when knocked. The Engineer and Expert stumbled upon me, the Gung Ho, youtube educated Fence Installer.


A quick lesson ensued.


Oh.. I see. That's how its done.


Eventually when Joel came back from school, all of us fixed the fence together and I must say, it turned out beautifully!


It was great fun for me... I am a Handy-Woman... by accident.

Tree House - Part 1

The Tree House is up and running!


After talking for about 1 year, planning for a few months, its finally been realised. Watch the youtube movie.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlCGa_02xpA


Will update as and when more stuffs are added to the Tree House.

Organic Garden: What's growing?

The organic garden is coming along.


I have planted some seeds which are growing.

Left: Tomato

Right: Mulberry shoots

Left: French beans
Right: Seeds are placed on the window grills to get proper sun and
easy for me to monitor

Plant on the right is Passion Fruit. Mum bought a plant for me at RM5. I am also
using some seeds to grow. So far, no signs of growth yet. I loveeeee Passion Fruit

My new compost bin.

Let me share a little about my new compost bin.


It was just by mere coincidence I discovered this product when I met up with a Malaysian friend who was visiting from Bangkok. He is currently marketing an amazing product. I am just so excited!


Well, the product promises to de-compose my Compost Bin in 3 days. What???!!! Three days? That is some amazing product. I was hoping to be able to use my compose in 4 months or so (at the rate its going). Not only it de-compose waste like these but its actually for industrial purposes. The other amazing thing is, it kills salmonella, E-coli and other bacterias which normal composting are not able to kill.


These microbs was a result of a 15 years research by a Thai Scientist. So brilliant!


I had some samples from him and have just started trying it out yesterday. Its going to be liquid fertilizer, which is the best form of fertilizer because it gets absorbed almost immediately.


So, let's just see how it turns out.

Organic Vegetable Patch

For the longest time, I have wanted to plant my own vegetable.


You might ask, "why?".


Well, nothing gives me more joy than to be able to go to my garden and be able to pluck some fresh vegetables to serve to my family. Healthy, organic and readily available.


Even better if someone would plant it for me and I just harvest it. I know, I live in this bubble of fantasy.


Anyways.


I seize the opportunity, now that I have space for a vegetable patch, time AND interest. I have gone into Youtube.com and have researched extensively on how to plant an organic vegetable patch. So interesting! So much of information!


Now that I am packed with all theory about planting, the practical should follow soon.


So, I have started a compost bin. Its all about recycling and creating healthy soil for my organic vegetables. All the banana peels, apple cores, pineapple skin and cut grass goes into the bin.

My recycle bin before it goes into the Compost Bin

The Compost Bin. Its chicken wire (3 feet high x 9 feet long) which I bought from the hardware
shop for RM2.50 per feet (Total RM22.50). According to the youtube.com instruction... its one layer of brown (dried leaves) and one layer of green (household rubbish e.g. banana peels & etc) or green grass/leaves freshly cut

Contents of the Compost Bin

I thought it will be smelly but surprisingly, no smell. Apparently, the chicken wire gives a lot of ventilation, so it will not smell. So far, so good.


The Garden is not done yet, so, its difficult to have a permanent location for the vegetable patch. But still, I have a make-shift location for the next few weeks, till The Garden is completed.

Make-shift Organic Vegetable Patch

Honey Dew plant



Chili plant

Baby Aloe Vera. I bought a pot for RM4 which has 6-7 baby plants in them. So, I transplanted
it onto the ground. I think I will move it later when The Garden is completed, not sure, yet.

I have a serious obsession with aloe vera

Jack fruit tree. The only plant left from previous owner

I think I will have to go through this with trial and error, since I have not had a successful garden patch before.

The Garden

Eventhough I titled this post as "The Garden"... actually it should be "What Garden?".


It was basically a disgraceful heap of mess. A real eye-sore to the inhabitant of the home-dwellers.


Therefore, no one was invited over to our new house, unless they insisted to invite themselves (No one will be named here).

In April 2010, it was a heap of mess. About 4 cars of dump was needed to
get rid of all this mess

View of the rubbish from another view

In May 2010, it was getting better but works were still going on here and there.

So, it was impossible to totally get rid of the mess. Please note that
by then, we had moved in (For info, the One Big Mess in white shirt and
black shorts, above, is still around. Don't think I will be able to rid of him for the next 30 years or so ;-))

Then "The Garden" was just there.


Yes.


Just there.


Mess and all.


The initial plan was to plant grass for the whole 2000 sq ft. Then, it was stalled.


Did I want to spend RM5,000.00 to plant, just grass? The guy was charging RM2.50 per sq ft. Its probably reasonable. It would have been more worth it (according to me) if it was lettuces or pak choy or kai lan. But then again, no one actually ask a grass planter to plant vegetables instead of grass on their lawn. Also, the kids might have difficulty walking on it.


So, I sat on the idea.


And sat.


And sat.


Then suddenly.... Yes. Suddenly.


... I was finished "sitting on the idea"!


(I can hear the family members screaming from the background, "Its about time!!!")


So.


1 week ago, I got 2 workers to clear all the mess and filled a whole load of dump truck with all kinds of rubbish from The Garden.



... The Garden is *drum roll*



Cleared!!!


No more Rubbish!!!

See, I told you... clean... desert...

Full... of rubbish

I will let you know what we are going to do with "The Garden". Its going to be a family project. Its a DIY thing. I am so excited! Just thinking about it (makes me tired), er, I mean adrenaline rush.


Stay tuned.

Happy 14th Birthday, Joel

To My firstborn son,


You are fourteen
A number neither big nor small
A season of fun and all
Life of carefree calls


I have enjoyed your company
Not denying that your tricky
behaviour at times equates to the monkey
Drawing me to the point of insanity


Since you and i
Are still alive
We must have worked a partnership


I have enjoyed the jokes you churn out
You have overtaken me with your sarcasm and wicked sense of humor
Making me laugh with your lame remarks
Like the one about the hospital having a HOSPITAL sign on it
Kept me amused for weeks


This year has been a year of change
Good changes
New friends, school and house
Hope you continue to enjoy your life
I hope awesomeness becomes your life
For today and always

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From blogger-droid

I am testing this feature from my Samsung galaxy 5.


I wonder if its working properly.


Test.


Test.

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Goodbye Sony, Hello Samsung

I have gazed into the screen of my Sony Ericsson various times and promised everlasting...



... faithfulness



.... loyalty


.... never to look upon another phone with the intention of longing to purchase....


It was my companion through the ups and downs in the journey of life for almost 2 years.


I have to admit that it was no celebrity phone with iphone features or look.


It didn't matter. I was happy. Satisfied.


I kept my promise.


....till death did we part....


It was a horrible death. No one should die like that. Drowned in pee. But I believe it was quick and painless. But still.


The grieving totalled a full day.


I never really bid goodbye. I was busily thinking of ways to replace it... Er... I mean, how to function without a phone.


The male members of the household basically decided on the type of phone. Not only that, they joined the bandwagon. Hopped in. Took the same ride. Returned home with one exactly the same.


So, goodbye Sony, hello Samsung.

Four Eyes

I never had the opportunity to be teased "Four eyes"!


You know what I mean right? In school... If you wore spectacles, you must have been teased with that. Surely. I have teased numerous "Four eyes" persons.


Well, I am now enrolled in the club. Sent my applications. Accepted. Full membership. Reluctantly.


I am "four eyes" whenever I need to read.


I mean, its really amazing.


Blur.


Clear.


Blur.


Clear.


Now you see.


Now you don't.


Now you see.


Now you don't.


Whoever created the spectacle is a genius. Allowing people like me to enjoy a good book.


Sometimes reality hits hard. Eventhough I would like to blame it on my reading positions (I have read lying down, on my back all my life), the lack of lightings, blah, blah, blah...and etc. But still, its dawning on me that I am no longer 21 years old (Er... Actually I am just a little over 21 years old..plus... plus x 10 ...).


Ah well, what's the fuss and big deal about putting 2 pieces of glass (magnifying glass) in front of my cute Chinese eyes?


Just do it when no outsider is watching ... Brilliant idea.


"Mummy, you look farnee with the spectacles... Like Grandma... Ha ha"


I hear my son whispering into my ears.


I think he is the one who is having the bigger eye problem.


Hummpph!

Full-Time Employment

I recently decided that I was ready to market myself for full time employment.


The last time I worked full-time was 10 years ago. Since then, I have been working part-time and from home. That gives me flexibility to cook inbetween emails, wash the toilets and then make calls to Suppliers, run to grocery shopping and return to my filing, sending out faxes to the Media at 1am in the morning, etc.


How does it feel again to be able to totally concentrate on work without the kids fighting at the background?


Heavenly.


Peace.


Tranquility.


Sanity.


Well, all those wonderful thoughts were dashed like a broken vase, today... Apparently, according to the potential Employer, he is NOT flexible for me to pick my kids up everyday at 3pm.


Looks like I have to find a Transporter or I will have to say 'bye bye' to this new excitement which is bubbling over (or is it the Rootbeer which was too gassy in my stomach?)


Anyways.


Never mind.


Surely something will come along. Soon.


*fingers and toes crossed*

Shrinking

Have you ever wondered why children's book fonts are size 20 or more, while adult books are about size 10 or 12?


Would 4 years old children have problem looking at words, that publishers actually print such huge fonts?


No!


On the other hand...


Would a 40 years old and above adult have problems looking at words with font size 10?


A huge, "Yes!"


Of late, I realised the font sizes of most books are shrinking.


Are they cutting down on ink cost?


Are papers expensive?


Are the Extreme environmentally friendly people turning publishers?


What is wrong with this world?


They are making life difficult for me.


Not only do I have to squint my eyes to read those books but somehow, they (the publishers) have incorporated some kind of magical papers in them, as well. But this only happens with book having small fonts ... E.g. If I usually hold the books about 1.4 ft away while I read. I would have to hold it 1.8 ft away. Any nearer, it becomes blurry and unreadable. It has to be at the right distance.


Shocking?


Indeed.


Honestly, just a year ago, it was OK (publishers were great people) and suddenly overnight they start shrinking fonts. This is causing a lot of frustration.


Since I am on the subject of shrinking.... They did that to the needle hole, as well! It used to take me 5 seconds to get the thread into the needle hole but since the shrinking, it took me 10 mins before I gave up and asked my elder son to do it for me.


What is wrong with this people??!!!

Moved!

On May 10, 2010, Monday, was probably one of the happiest day of my life.

Eventhough…..

Boxes everywhere.

Sandy porch.

No cabinets to put my clothes.

No kitchen cabinet to hold my plates.

No stove to warm my food.

No curtains to dress my windows.

Only one properly working toilet.

Yet.

The joy of staying in our new place.

The anticipation was fully realized.

The expectation was met.

The discomfort of the pest infested rented place is forever left behind…….

The beginning of a wonderful journey….

… for my family and I.

Probably the last time I will ever have full view of the floor

Excitement!

The Movers recommended by a friend was truly reliable and up to expectations.

None of my goods was damaged or missing :-)

RM350 per trip for a 3 ton lorry. More pricey than normal
but worth it since my goods were handled well

Interesting Facts

At School, Joel was in a team of 3 boys. They were required to do a write-up of a particularly famous person for History class. The group leader wrote additional essays in case his team members forgot to do it. Well, EW did forget his essay. Before he was to read the essay, he was encouraged by the teacher to read it first before presenting it to the class.

Unfortunately EW did not.

He just picked up the essay and started reading it to the class.

After EW finished reading … The Teacher thought that the ending sentence had very interesting facts. Even she did not know it….

"…… and he wore purple underwear and was fat."

Teacher SC turned to Joel who was sitting beside EW. He was holding his stomach and controlling a huge laughter from bursting out.

She then took the essay piece to look and realized that the last sentence was in a different writing.

The whole class burst out in laughter…

….when they realized that Joel added the "…… and he wore purple underwear and was fat" to teach EW a lesson… "Read before presenting", as Teacher SC has instructed.

This story was related to me by his principal.

No, he was not sent to the principal's office. Incidentally the group leader is the principal's son. They had a good laugh over the prank.

I raised Joel to be humorous, able to take pranks, jokes and not to feel offended when his peers play jokes on him.

But.

I did not expect him to exceed way beyond my expectations!

Have I created a monster?

Joel & friend schoolmates enjoying a game of Twister

Renovation Update: Day 22 to 27

Sorry for having very little update lately on my Renovation. I have been really really busy. At the end of everyday, I am so pooped that when I reached home at about 8pm everyday, I just hit the bed. Literally.


I have decided to put more photos on my update on my picasa online album so that you can see more photos of it.


To read and view photos of my house update from Day 22 to 27, click here.

Mission Possible

The house is almost completed. Yes, almost.


You know, the feeling when you get at a meal. When you think you are almost full but you can still stomach something. A dessert for sure but also something else (like the food the person sitting next to you is enjoying).


Well, the house is almost completed.


Its still a work-in-progress.


We don't have much of a choice but to move in soon. Our current rented place has new owners who would like to take possession by 15 May 2010. So, just like how urgent we were in taking ownership of our property, the new owners here also are looking forward to "do up" their new home.


So, ready or not, we are moving.


Hooorrraaaaayyyyy!


There are bits here and there to be done but we do have 1 perfectly working toilet.


Kitchen cabinets to be coming in on Monday (hopefully).


Air-cond to be installed on Monday or Tuesday.


The modus operandi is....


Clean up the house....


Pack. Pack. Pack.


Move the house in stages .... maybe one lorry load a day....


Totally out by Friday, 14 May 2010.


You will see Mission Possible unveiled before your eyes.... Ta Da!

Father and Son at work... Mostly Father doing the work...

Job's Friend

Due some recent events happening in my life and out of frustration with myself, I expressed it to my older son, Joel during our regular breakfast sessions.


Me: I feel like kicking myself.... Sometimes, I just feel like kicking myself...


Joel: Do you need any help?


Me: *blink blink*


There you have it, a complete replica of Job's Friend (Job from the Bible who had lousy friends who were not helpful at all in his time of need).


Just what I need....


I still feel like kicking myself.... and him too.

Plaster Ceiling

The Plaster Ceiling was done by a young Chinese guy by the name of Ah Soon. He has been in this profession since he was 14 years old. He did a good job and gave me a reasonable price. The workmanship was also nice. One of the very few things I am happy about the Renovation.

Hard at work

Tarzans hanging from the ceiling

Putting on metal casing

The Plaster ceiling was completed within 1 week, both upstairs and downstairs.


There are some part uncompleted due to a missing wall near the back of the toilet. The Contractor's Indonesian workers didn't do a very good job on that. As a result, Ah Soon could not put up the ceiling. So, that will be done a little later. That part was supposed to be paid by the Contractor and the latest update - he refuses to do it. Looks like I have to get it done myself.

Electical & A little more of Plumbing

Electrical work started around the 24th day of the Renovation, which was 6th April. Till today, it has not been completed. There seems to be a great number of hacking for concealed wiring. I have not worked out the cost for the wiring due to addition here and there. So, I shudder to think what the cost might be... *shivers*


The Electrician is a Supplier of Hubby's. Gave us a good price and good service. A very nice humble guy. Even told me his nightmare stories about his own renovation. About how his 2x2 tiles 'floated' out of the flooring and causing damage amounting to RM80K for raw material and RM60K for workmanship. I didn't really need to know it, after all, I am in the midst of my own Renovation. I need more comfort stories....


Thank God, I didn't get my Contractor to do the electrical stuffs! He would have charged everything from switches to installation. I saved some $$$ there.


Wire cost seems to be very high - especially the ones that is being run outside the house for the auto gate, doorbell and lights. The "aman" (not sure of spelling) cable are said to be strong and last for a very long time compared to the normal wiring fitted into normal casing. Its too expensive for my liking but it has to be done according to the Electrician ... if we don't want any 'shorting' or termites chewing it for a snack (I didn't know termites chew on wires). Anyways.

Wiring for the kitchen

"aman" cable running on the outside of the house

Plumbing works started around the same time as the electrical works. Just 1 or 2 days earlier. This plumber is by the Contractor. I was fortunate enough to be around when he was doing his work. If not, I would have to put my fridge where the washing machine was suppose to be and some other really annoying mistakes. So, I spent half of the day supervising his work. So, since then, I never trusted any of the workers. I ensure that I poke my nose into everyone's work.

Dish washing water from the kitchen sink will go into a gully and then into
the sewerage. Apparently, this is ideal and clean way to do it.
The Plumber did the 'right' way by accident. According to the Contractor,
he finds the easiest exit. If the drain is easiest, the drain it is!

Piping for the kitchen sink. I was so smart to buy a mixer at a warehouse sale
when I only need cold water.... But it was 50% discount!

Plumbing

The pipes needs serious changing. I didn't realise how badly till I saw some of the old pipes which was replaced.

It will be concealed underground

Going into the house

Piping from the mains outside the house

The poly pipe is said to be so hardy that even if a car ran over it, will not break it. Good. We need something like that. Anyway, this house is 10 years old. Its overdue to have some clean pipes. I have this paranoia about drinking yucky rusty water. One of the 1st things I bought even before this house was ready, was a good external water filter. Which I purchased last year November at the CIMB Home Exhibition.

See the rust!

Now with good piping going all over the house, especially to my kitchen - I am a happy woman!