Tata's Creation :-)

Well, everyone is born for some kind of purpose. I know that mine is not to be a creator, at least not visually. Tata, my cousin, on the other hand is one who's born just for this purpose, among other things of course. She's gonna give my blog a makeover...ehem...I love her visual, which is this:



And that is just preliminary. I wonder what other nice visual she has in store for me :-)

Falling in love again

My heart ached after selling Fordy. Somebody told me I should stop naming my car. But it looks like I've never learnt my lesson when it comes to cars.

Introducing Maia.



She is 12 days old (at least in my household), small, compact and reliable. She doesn't mind being overworked. Since the day we took her home, she has run over 1000km. She can find a parking space anywhere without difficulty. I feel really comfortable with her and I keep saying Maia must have been made especially for me. Having a reputation of being a 'cowardly' driver, I tend to avoid driving big, fast cars and tend to stick to one at a time. And inevitably fall in love with the one I'm using.

So Maia, we're stuck for now. I'll take care of you and you, me :-)

Another Year Gone By

It's unbelievable how time flies. We're already into the fourth day of January 2010. I've now been back to Kota Kinabalu for 3 weeks, and did a lot in that period, I think :-) I had to get my kids into a school, which took about a week of intensive searching and rushing from one place to another. Got my car on 31.12.2009 (it's a white myvi, by the way, which I couldn't resist but name Maia. I just hope that I'd never have to sell this one to avoid heartache). And finally got my internet connection on the same day. God knows why must it take two weeks to get an internet connection, but I'm glad to finally be online again.

The best thing ever was the December feasts that involved my big, boisterous, and happy go lucky family. We had a wedding anniversary on 26.12.09, a wedding on 28.12.09 and a family gathering on 31.12.09. It was a great joy to see faces I haven't seen for a long time, some as long as 20 years!

Happy New Year. May the year 2010 bring us joy, peace and good health :-)

Packing and moving on

2 days before we head off to the homeland. Started packing 3 months ago during the weekend. Thought that way, it would be easier since some of the things are already out of the way. But how wrong one can be. The last few days before the things are due for shipping are actually the worst.

The kids suddenly found that everything is 'important' and wanted them packed. One spent endless time arguing with them over an item. The only time when one could really pack is when they are away at school. And even then, one has to slot in other activities like meeting friends for good bye coffee etc. Worse, there are still the daily things that the family needs to use. Those are really hard to pack. I ended up categorizing things into 3 piles- the ones to be packed, the ones to give away, and the garbages. And gosh, didn't we have heaps of them!

We finally did it today. As it is, I'm watching the movers load the things in the truck and feeling a bit like crying. Haven't yet figured out the reason for the feeling though. Be it sadness, relief or sheer exhaustion...I just don't know. All I know is in the past 3 days, I hardly got enough sleep at all due to wanting to finish everything in time for shipping today. I can only be thankful that it's over now.

Well they say packing is the third most stressful thing after a bereavement of a loved one and a divorce. Good thing it's only the third...it is indeed a hard work.

The God question

Somehow, I believe at least at one stage of his/her life, the God question must pop up in a person's mind, even when one is comfortable with one's religion.

This book is a great start to know what great minds of the past and present, from Plato to Dawkins, observed about God. I have to say the author has managed to present the big ideas in an easy to follow manner that it doesn't seem like one is reading philosophical stuffs at all.

I'd recommend this book for the curious minds. It is really food for thoughts.

There is a purpose behind every incident

I opened my email this morning and saw this one. I thought it is a good reminder for all especially myself that I decided to keep it in my blog:


~The ' L I T T L E ' Things~

As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11
Because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was
His turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her
Alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike
Because of an auto accident.

One of them
Missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
Time to change.

One's
Car wouldn't start.

One couldn't
Get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man
Who put on a new pair of shoes that morning,
Took the various means to get to work
But before he got there, he developed
A blister on his foot.
He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today..


Now when I am
Stuck in traffic,
Miss an elevator,
Turn back to answer a ringing telephone...

All the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
This is exactly where
God wants me to be
At this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be
Going wrong,
The children are slow getting dressed,
You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It May be just that
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
With all those annoying little things
And may you remember their possible purpose.

Indeed, there is a purpose behind every incident.

Good bye Fordy

I didn't know that selling a car could hurt this much. Fordy is only a second hand car. But he has been so good to us in the past 3 years. He hardly ever gave us trouble. We have had to sell him because we're moving away and it's not practical to take him with us. If I'd have my way I'd have kept him.

Well the selling was inevitable. But what I didn't expect was that he would be sold on the day I was not home. Hubby took the liberty of doing that because the buyer came knocking on the door. In my mind we'd have Fordy till at least 2 weeks before we have to leave, not a month before. And I was so unprepared for the shock.

The kids excitedly shouted "we sold the car" when I came home. Imagine how I felt. I rushed to the garage to have a look, and true enough, he was gone! Fordy was gone! I'm still getting over this funny feeling, of course with tears running down my cheeks. *sigh*