Tick, tock, tick, tock...

It just hit upon me that it's the end of the financial year in my company and next Monday is the start of a new calendar year.

This time last year, I was most busy and stressful. Trying to meet meeting deadlines and get everything prepared before I went on 2 weeks leave to prepare for my wedding.

This year, it's different. It's another 2 weeks before I say farewell. And it also signifies that my new chapter is fast approaching...

*panic*

It's amazing how the subconcious works and how much it tells..

.. with some aid from wine, of course :)

I had lotsa fun (with friends to keep reminding me how much) during Wednesday night dinner.. Don't know why I can let my hair down so much. On second thoughts, doesn't take a lot to guess why for those in the know.. hehehe

It amazes me that my subconscious is rather conscious although outwardly I didn't seem to be. I certainly couldn't remember how I got back home, although I knew I got into my car. I couldn't remember if I locked my car which only hit me when I reach my unit doorstep and have to make another trip down to carpark just to check. Which I discovered the car IS locked. I couldn't remember taking out my contact lenses but when I got up in the morning, there they were nicely soaking and getting moisten up in the contact lens case.

It's like I was on autopilot. Amazing isn't it how much the things that we do every day, every night, every minute, every second, until it become so mundane that we do not realised that EVERYTHING is captured and imprinted into memory and allow us to still function when the situation calls for it.

But the morning after, OMG, it was such a torture. The hangover was a killer and I wished so much that it was the weekend. And of course a lot of red-cheeks and I-can't-recall doing-that moments in the office when friends updated on what I was capable of the night before, including pouring three rounds of chinese tea for everyone at my table, saying it was 11.10pm and the night was still young, reading every song titles that's displayed on my friend's car sound system and becoming a live GPS telling when to turn right and what are the landmarks.

What a night!

So when's your turn?

Under normal circumstances, this line of questioning only happens when the family gathers together and the elders will then target the singles in the family on when are they planning to settle down.

But it took a different twist when I attended my cousin's baby daughter full moon party yesterday night. Aunts and cousins kept on asking me when is my turn to start a family. After all it's already coming to a year that Hubby and myself were married and of coz age is catching up. Not good to keep delaying.

*sigh*

And I'm of the opinion that after the first baby is born, the family will ask "So when are you planning for the 2nd one?"

Looks like there is just no ending to this...

Expo Penternakan Tenusu

Basically this translates to Dairy/Cattle Farming Expo. I just received a phone call inviting me to attend this event held somewhere in Jln Bangsar. The call transcript goes something like this...

Caller: Hello puan..
Me: Yes?
Caller: Puan ada masa tak..?
Me: *silence* (at the back of my mind i'm thinking this must be one of those credit-card scam)
Caller: Begini puan, saya ni buat panggilan, nak jemput puan untuk menghadiri satu expo... Expo Penternakan Tenusu
Me: Not interested!
Caller: *babbling..*
Me: Not interested!
Caller: *... and more babbling*
Me: NOT INTERESTED!
Caller: Ye ke? OK La. Bye

- end of call-

Can someone tell me where in the world has my phone number "visited" to get invitation to such events?!

Travel stories: What I learned in Siem Reap - being grateful of the little things in life

Lei navigating the roads where it's dry and dusty OR wet and puddle-ly

My recent trip to Siem Reap taught me one thing: that our city Kuala Lumpur is actually rather clean, at least where pavements and roadsides are concerned.

Upon touching down at Siem Reap International Airport, Lil' Sis and myself were met by Lei, our assigned tuk-tuk driver during our 4-days stay in Siem Reap. Sis was immediately excited when Lei informed us that we will be travelling to hotel by tuk-tuk. Me too, as it was my 2nd time on the tuk-tuk and thought it would be a fun experience. As the saying goes, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do".

However after about 10 minutes, the ride slowly became not-so-fun. As our tuk-tuk turned into the main street, the first thing that got to us was the fumes spewing out from lorries and trucks. I quickly stop breathing and without much fuss the offending truck turned off at some small lane.

But it wasn't long before another truck overtook us and in the process, stirred up another cloud of fumes and dust. I quickly covered my nose and mouth with my hands. But that's the least of my problem - I felt dust sticking to my lips, my teeth and when i grind my front teeth together, i actually felt sand. *yucks*

I told Lil' Sis that the very next thing we need to do is to look for a pharmacy and buy some face mask. She nodded enthusiastically as obviously, she too, felt the same thing. And it got worse when the weather becomes hot. According to Lei, the local city council does not do anything to clean up the roads of the dirt during the wet season, as oppose to the dry season where they will actually sweep up the dirt and transport them to elsewhere.

So Angkor stardust anyone?

Water vs Electricity...

Which one is more essential?

After surviving four days of water rationing, I say water wins hands down.

When there's no electricity, it sure gets a bit hot.. but there are 1001 remedies for that
The top 4 I can think of are:

• good reason to visit the malls for some retail therapy, betcha that even the significant other/spouse will NEVER EVER argue with u on that
• call up friends for some impromptu yumcha-followed by-dinner-followed by-after dinner drinks
• good reason to walk around the house in that brand new bikini
• build up ur biceps thru manual fanning of self

and the list goes on...

But when there's no water, the No.1 problem is where to do your business.. Even if ur plumbing is the rather-cloggy and not regular type, there's still the small wee-wee to think about.. u'know what i mean??

And there's also the daily shower.. I solved this by suddenly becoming this health-freak-cum-I-so-love-my-gym person, after a long absent of almost 2 years..
*blushing to my hair ends* ;p

On top of that, the dirty laundry piles up, the mugs are given a rinse rather than a proper wash and the household just become this big petri dish for microorganisms to breed.. uggh