Phone Lost

There must be a home for lost phones. Just like the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. They were boys lost by their nannies.

I lost my mobile phone on May 2, while shopping at Tesco Puchong for the first time in months. That was my second phone lost in about seven months. No fun, indeed, when I was getting used to using the Nokia N78 after losing the HTC Touch in October. The N78 was great in that I could send pictures directly to the Web. And the camera was a 3.2-megapixel Carl Zeiss one. That has spoiled me a bit. Who wants a 2-megapixel camera even though the iPhone is one cool piece.

A pattern has emerged, I noticed. The last time I lost my phone, Kayrin had come down with hand, foot and mouth disease, and I was walking around in a daze after losing sleep. I was trying to lobby her kindy to shut and prevent the spread when I lost the phone.

This time, it's the lack of sleep after Kayrin had her worst stomach-related viral infection. She threw up six straight days and was recovering, but on the day that I lost my phone, she threw up some of her breakfast.

So maybe when I lose sleep over my child's health, I should hang the phone around my neck. If you happen to chance upon me with a phone swinging from my neck, don't mouth SHOW OFF, OK? It's just one sleep-deprived mommy with a tendency to lose her shoe-phone.

On a Mission - Part II

I've got my police report. Not too bad an experience. I had to make the report in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur because that's where the incident happened. Now I know there's a police station next to Empire Tower (or now known as Intermark), along Jalan Tun Razak. I typed my own report and told the officer I didn't need an investigating officer on my case. No fees paid. Wonderful. Next task, snap pictures of the place of incident. Now, that's tricky, as I might be in trouble for snapping away in the embassy area. Will have to explain to the police guarding the vicinity of the embassies and high commissions what I'm up to! The only other time I got shouted at snapping pictures was along Penang's Gurney Drive, while doing my photo-journalism paper. Must have been 1992/3. I had positioned myself on to take a picture of the promenade when this lady in her 60s, dressed for a run, started hurling abuses at me for snapping her pix, supposedly. My regret was not to shout back at her.

On a Mission

My car bonnet had a dent, thanks to some flying pebbles from our very well-maintained roads. I'm now bent on getting the city council of Kuala Lumpur to cover, if not all, part of the costs of the fixing and re-painting job. I've always gone off the rails at the shoddy workmanship of the contractors which dig up our roads. This time, I'm taking action.
It's just the start, but already I've made about 20 phone calls over two days. I rang DBKL yesterday, got passed to Jabatan Kerja Awam (Public Works Department), given the run-around. And today, I got through to a legal adviser, who instructed me to file a notice of claim with a long list of a copy each of the following..
-IC
-driver's licence
-car insurance
-car registration card
-adjustor's report
-original bills
-police report
All's do-able, until I got to the bottom. To file a police report, where do I go? The nearest police station, you'd say. Doesn't work this way here. So that was why there were at least 20 calls made. More to come in this adventure. Stay tuned.

Eng Tay Exhibition

Eng Tay Exhibition
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Kayrin makes it a point to visit Galeri Petronas in Suria KLCC when we go for our month Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra performance. This month, New York-based, Malaysian-born Eng Tay was having his sculpture and paintings exhibited there. His round figures remind me of Botero's. The Brazilian artist's exhibition was the only one I made my way to in Singapore during my years of living there. Rushed there after work, before a company dinner, one Friday because that's a day when the Singapore gallery opens up to the public free of charge. Cheap me. I'm glad Kayrin's enjoying the art exhibits here. She knows she shouldn't touch them.

Pangkor Holiday

02/04/2009
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

(left to right: Lukas, Kayrin, Yau-Yau and his mommy Fong Siew)

This March school holiday we took a short jaunt to Pangkor Island. The Pangkor Island Beach Resort was wonderful for having a stretch of beach not shared with other hotels, giving us privacy. With a little cove, it was well protected. Trees lined the beach, and the pools, next to the beach, were clean. Much cleaner than what we experienced during our August 2008 break at Awana Kijal. Pangkor island doesn't serve up great food, so if we ever make our way back to this one, we'll definitely sign up for the hotel meals in advance. We had the company of two families, and with six adults and three kids, it didn't cost much to charter a van for a 50-ringgit return ride to Pasir Bogak. Kayrin enjoyed having the two little boys, Lukas and Yau-Yau, as company. The highlight of this three-day, two-night trip was the seafood lunch at a shack that we had at Kampung Koh. Hai Tien Di served wonderfully fresh seafood. Let's see if we can find our way back there. Would I go back to Pangkor Island Beach Resort? Definitely.

Preparation

Kayrin and I have been playing the "fishing" game with a deck of cards in the evenings. It's the one, where we flip two cards and try to find matching pairs. Last night, she prepared the cards, laying them out nicely on her mattress while waiting to play with me as I quickly had dinner and showered after my return from work.
Half way through, I notice the little girl easily getting her pairs. As it turns out, she was paving the way to her being the winner by setting up the pairs next to each other! The conniving one ;)

Three-Hour Journey

A three-hour trip out of Kuala Lumpur could take you quite far. Seremban for sure, Melaka too, and even Singapore at the speed that SF drives. From Penang, three hours in a car would take you to Ipoh and beyond.
The three-hour journey of mine started in KLCC at a bit after 6 p.m. yesterday. Back up a little, to about 4:30 p.m., when dark clouds rolling in from the Titiwangsa mountain range drenched the downtown area.
So, the rain brought floods and disrupted train services. I ended up walking along Jalan Ampang to get to a monorail station to try and find my way to KL Sentral, which would normally take me all of 10 mins and 5 stops on the train. Instead, I had to walk 20 mins, overtaking cars and buses in a bumper-to-bumper crawl. There was no proper pavement all the way and where there was a pavement to walk on, puddles formed, and pedestrians had to jump out to the path of traffic. It's quite an act. Jump out, swing bag(s) away from any potential snatch thief, avoid being hit by motorcyclist, and then deftly skip back to the so-called pavement while trying to avoid knocking into fellow pedestrians.
Then, upon arriving at destination, I looked up and saw where I'm supposed to head. Near but thanks to a lack of consideration for people who have to take public transportation, that means meandering through Brickfields' former railway depot (after darting into and out of traffic on the mainroad of Jalan Tun Sambanthan), and wandering through the bus and taxi stand in the gutter of KL Sentral. No signs to guide you. No fun. Some of our city planners should be down here with us.
I reached my destination. To a spouse whose face was as dark as the looming clouds at 5 p.m. Because he's had to wait for three hours in a hotel lobby. Nothing to keep him entertained except for his notebook. For me, another day spent battling my way home after work. The life of a worker bee in KL city.

And sore gluteal muscles (I call it butt muscle) I've now got. From walking on a slanted pavement.

Not Unhappy, Not Crazy

I haven't written for a while. I've been busy dealing with issues relating to a new home, to Kayrin not coping well with her Mandarin lessons at kindy. May be that's why I'm again battling another coughing fit. I've gone back and realized that I tend to fall ill in February and August. Is that when the weather changes? Is that when I get stressed out by changes in routine? Or just that I'm not getting enough rest at those times of the year?
I haven't written because I haven't been really mad or angry, or ecstatically happy. But that doesn't mean life is not great. In fact, life is good. I'm pottering on. SF was away last week, in Hanoi, and Kayrin and I appreciate his being home even more since then. He's a great parent. He participates in everything to do with Kayrin. OK, I still complain that he doesn't get up often enough to pull the duvet over her. He's an easier person to live with these days. When he gets angry with me, he stays angry for a much shorter period. That's something I really appreciate. I'm the kind to want to talk things through. And he keeps mum. So, you can imagine the stress when I want to talk AFTER a fight and he wants to stay quiet. Yup, it gets us into another fight. So, I'm trying not to talk right away. Not right then. And he bounces back faster, talking to me normally. That really eases the tension, because after a while of talking about other things, I don't feel the urgency to be the psychoanalyst in our relationship.
I'm happy with things now. I try not to think too far. I'm a worrier. Big time. But I'll try to manage with worrying about nothing for the moment. May your day have spots of worry-free time too.

Year of the Ox

31/01/2009
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Here's Kayrin with our neighbour and her favourite little fella, Lukas. She adores him, thinks the 2-year-old is partly hers.

Kayrin's First Poem

The lunar new year started on Jan. 26, and I had a whole week and more to spend at home. It was a wonderful break, spent at home watching movies including "Ip Man," "Vicky, Christina, Barcelona," eating lots of yummy siew yoke (roast pork) and watching SF and Kayrin prancing around, wildly swinging their arms. The Nintendo Wii found its way into the home as Kayrin's birthday present.
The highlight of this relaxing week at home was discovering Kayrin's talent. She wrote a poem. She made it up as we were playing. It goes like this.
On a hot summer's day,
She played and played
Till her hands are gray
Then it rained
And she quickly hopped onto a train.

I helped her with the last line but to be writing a poem before she's even 6. Wow. I'm beaming with **pride**.

Pork Noodles

06/01/2009
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Best pork noodles in the Klang Valley, SF and I says, is at the Hao Wan coffeeshop in Kuchai Lama. This bowl, filled to the brim with minced meat and lean meat, comes at just 4 ringgit. We've been going to this kopitiam for pork noodles for a whole decade. The coffeeshop doesn't look that great. Broken tiles and dirty drains outside. But for this bowl of kuey teow, SF and I will put up with the surroundings. We sneaked there for our breakfast after dropping Kayrin off at the kindy on the first day of school and she didn't bawl her eyes out.

Welcoming 2009

Another year, another milestone.
This year, I plumbed the depths of depression, and grudgingly accepted help to get me out of it. SF and the chest physician must have spotted things not right with me. Psychologist Paul J's help was invaluable.
This year, Kayrin turned five. And I have yet to give her a sibling. I alternate between telling myself to give up and to seek medical help before it's too late.
This year, she started kindy full time. Snagged herself her first boyfriend. And caught hand, foot and mouth disease (not from him).
This year, SF and I started our breakfast dates. Friday morning, with wantan mee and tea, we talked without the interference of a 5-year-old who must know everything.
This year, SF fulfilled his pledge to take his kid to Disneyland. We holidayed in Hong Kong, Kijal/Terengganu, Melaka and Penang. I realized then that home is best.
This year, we committed to the biggest debt we've taken on -- a new home.
This year, I marked the second anniversary of Woan's passing, and realized that I could still cry when I think of her.
This year, I resolved to be nicer to my mom. And stayed thankful for all my sisters.
This year, I had a new boss at work, and started thinking about cutting back on working hours. (No fault of the boss!).
This year, I learned to post photos from my mobile phone to blog, and how to touch up pix.
This year, SF and I fought hard. And loved each other to greater depths. Or at least I know I have.
This year, we ate more at home than ever because SF re-discovered the joys of cooking.
This year, we became brave enough to use our pressure cooker for the first time. First time since we bought it in Singapore in March 2005.
This year, I worked out resolutely at the gym and cut my cholesterol level to the lowest in three years. And I ate oat every day. Almost.
This year is coming to an end. In nine hours or less.
Next year, I want to nudge SF a bit harder to get to the gym, be a more-relaxed, lots-more-fun mummy and be happy!
Happy New Year, all.

Carousel

Carousel
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Kayrin's favourite ride is at the IOI Mall. We hardly allow her to have kiddy rides but at this place, SF indulges her. For 2 ringgit, she gets quite a few rounds on this carousel that seems like something out of the movies.

Another Flat

21/12/08
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

When it rains, it pours. About a month after a big gash on one of the back tyres, I had another puncture. This time, I was at the office. A kind soul left this note on my car windscreen. Had I not seen this, I would have driven out of the office carpark. The tyre on the driver's side was flat as a pancake. Last round it was the other side's. AAM came to the rescue because the last round's tyre-changer was in a meeting. There was quite some heated exchanges between us because I was aghast that I had to find my way home after dropping the car at the workshop past 8 p.m. SF turned up in the end.
And thankfully, too, this time it didn't cost me the 1,031.90 ringgit like the previous incident.
It was a mere 32.55 ringgit, to patch what a screw had damaged. The amount had also included a 15 ringgit car wash, so all in, not too painful on my pocket during these recession-hit times.

No Sweat

Some ladies at the gym head off after their yoga classes without showers. I've always had to have a shower, no matter how late I am in getting back to work. With sweat dripping down at every class, how was I to just "dry-clean" this body and put the office attire on. Today, I broke with routine. I traipsed into a different instructor's class and Cedric isn't the kind to drive you through yoga as if it's a cardio session. He instead tells you to "meld your heart", "lengthen the sides of your chest."
Mind you, it was quite difficult to do that. Got to focus on every bit of your body to know what to do. But it was a sweat-less session for me. So, after washing the hands, applying some deodorant and combing the hair, I was back at work ;)
Certainly not as gratifying as a yoga class that makes me sweat, but still good enough to keep me from nodding off at the desk.

Concert

Concert
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Kayrin's first concert. Held at the Sri KL private school's hall, we had a good laugh seeing kids gyrating to the Ketchup song on stage.

KLCC Park

KLCC Park
Originally uploaded by leechingshen

Kayrin and I had our girls' day out on Nov. 26, 2008, and she decided she wanted to go to the KLCC Park, her favourite in this city. The place was full of kids as it was the year-end school hols. This was taken via my Nokia N78, and posted via Flickr. Trying to get a bit tech-savvy here, as you can see. This isn't the original photo. It's been tinkered with, using Picnik.

Ogres

This morning, I started calling Kayrin 'ogre ogre.' What about mommy?, I asked. Mommy ogre, she replied. And daddy, I asked. 'Bad ogre.'

Tyres and Trains

It takes being on the other side of the pasture to realize that your side is often greener. Today, I had to take the train in to work after dropping the car at the workshop, following a tyre puncture last night, and boy, was I unhappy in the RapidKL two-carriage coaches. A lady kept coughing and snifling hard, right into my left ear. The snorting noise made by the young lady in her 20s was driving me crazy. I certainly didn't fancy catching a cold from her. What's worse, she was standing close to me and refusing to get the hint from my stares that she moves away because on the other side was a man. Now I appreciate my personal airspace in the A-class. And to think, I was grumbling each day about having to drive myself to and from work.
The car passenger side's back tyre took on a big gash last night. Must have been the pothole along the Bukit Jalil Highway. Damn DBKL. If I had more time, I'd be claiming the costs of the two 16-inch Continental 195/55 treads from them. Joe from Cycle & Carriage just rang. That would be 800 ringgit. Well, could have been worse. I could have been stranded, could have driven off the road.
Thank goodness there was Shaw Feng at home. I wouldn't fancy being the damsel in distress at the road side at 7:30 p.m., waiting for help on tyre change. I totally have no idea how to change a tyre. OK, I do. A bit. Jack the car up and remove the tyre and plug on a new one. I've never done it. May be there's a course I can go to. May be I should read the manual. Thankfully, Shaw Feng knows how. I know how to call for help. I rang the Mercedes breakdown service. But they couldn't come! Thank goodness for Shaw Feng. The poor fella, who had to work in the drizzle on the car porch last night, deserves a big hug. Or a big bowl of Hokkien mee.

HTC-Less But With Loads of Supplements

I lost my three-month-old HTC Diamond phone on Oct. 31, a nightmare. I inadvertently left it behind in my haste to get out of the gym. Realising my loss 3 minutes later didn't help. The phone had been switched off by the time I rushed back to the gym. But I didn't dare go on and on about it at home. It was, after all, a present from Shaw Feng. Normally, my way of getting through such stuff is to talk it to death. You know, where I berate myself, curse the thief, wonder how I could be so careless, thump my fist at the dishonesty of some people, then scold myself somemore, etc. You get the point. That's pretty cathartic. It exorcises the pain. This time, I kept quiet, telling myself that Paul the psychologist would ask me to ponder changing my actions. I thought it worked quite well. And then a weekend after the incident, Shaw Feng sarcastically remarked that my loss didn't seem to hurt me. Aha! He's so used to my nagging, talking self that a change like that seemed to indicate I wasn't upset with the loss.
Anyway, amidst the handphone loss, which happened in the gym, I won a prize for being one of the top three gym-goers for September and October. The prize -- loads of Blackmores supplements. Supplements are no replacement for a lost phone but at least it's some form of consolation. Now, time to get used to using a Nokia again.