V.B.S. 2

Ian too just came back from his V.B.S. Below are some photos that I managed to capture.

Petaling Street

Petaling Street. The China Town of Kuala Lumpur. I haven't been there for a long time. We used to enjoy the Ipoh Hor Fun, Lok Lok, Chinese Pizza (Tai Kau Meen), Ice Lohon Longan drink, Dried Meat etc etc etc over there.

So yesterday when I have to make a trip there to pick up something that's related to my business..at 11.00 am in the morning...the place looks different both comparing the day and night activities and also the time now and the bygone days.

For the day and night activities. You can actually walk and even drive through the street. The people were busy setting up stores and you will notice that some will be busy setting up the stores while others had already started business. So you don't really see many people hassling for the best deal. You actually see more people eating at various places. Well, talked about food...I'm feeling hungry already. Yummy.

As for the difference between now and then...not that I'm qualified to talk about that..my brother-in-law will have lots to say about this because he practically grew up there. But as for me...from my observation...most, if not all. the stores are mend by foreigners. It doesn't feel like a Chinatown anymore. It's more like a foreign town. Personally, it doesn't gives me a safe feeling...even in the day time. It tells me that I need to watch my steps, my words and my actions. It also seems to tell me that I need to keep my wallet and my phone carefully. Well that's my opinion only.

Do share with us your opinion.

Face Saver

Kids. They have their own "Face Saving" mechanism built inside them. It's like the saying, "The cat will always land on their feet."

2 nights ago we had the pleasure of having a dear old friend visit us. Ivan was his usual self and he was running around when suddenly he trip over his own foot and fell onto the floor. Well he immediately put both his hand onto his face. Just to tell you.."No I didn't fall down on purpose. I want to lie down to enjoy the coolness of the floor tiles. (That where I quickly took out may camera to take this picture.)

This reminds me of Ian too. Some years ago...when Ian was around 2 years old, we were waiting at the lounge inside Eastin Hotel, to go in for a wedding dinner. He was holding on to a car each on his hand and he was swinging around when suddenly he fell, in front of a crowd. He didn't cry but instead (almost instantly) started moving his cars on the floor as if he to say that he meant to get down on the floor to play with his toy cars.

So you think kids has this "Face Saver" gadget built in? I can't find my child manual to confirm this. Both kids came without any Instruction Booklet.

V.B.S.

Vacational Bible School. (V.B.S.)

It's the holiday season again and the much anticipated V.B.S. has started. This is the first time that Ivan attends a V.B.S. and every day he comes back...our standard question is "How was your day?" and his reply was "No homework today."

I remember when Ian first attended the V.B.S. Because of his politeness he made many new friend and many of the youth too remembered him for that. He stayed oven in the church last year but decided not to for this year. His reason? To noisy. Cannot sleep. Just wondering when I will be able to take him to the secondary jungle to rough him out...one day...sigh!

I remembered when I first attended a church camp and we all had to sleep on the floor with 50 others. So naturally at night we will hear loads of "strange noises and voices". It's the best time to eave drop on the secret of others. And if you are not careful you will find that someone (whom we all know who) will caked up your sleeping bag's zipper with toothpaste...and that's the mild one. That very camp alone we had someone stealing all our underware and hang them up like Christmas ornaments on one of the tree the next day.

Such fun then...we hope our kids will have some similar memories to talk about one day.

Fuel At RM2.00 Per Litre

To put in on record...Our fuel price will be sold at RM2.00 per litre on 12 midnight tonight. But it still doesn't give us the license to drive around aimlessly or to keep the engine running when we are waiting for someone...right?

May we find a quantum of solace in the reduction.

Austerity Drive is still on.

Yesterday Once More

Remember the song "Yesterday Once More" by The Carpenters?

It goes like this :-

"When I was young; I'd listen to the radio,

Waiting for my favourite song,

When they play I'd sing along

It made me smile"

In life we sometimes likes to associate something to someone or some event. One of the things that I like to use songs that reminds me of a certain time or situation or person. Here are a few of the songs. What's yours?

With my wife :

Pre 'pak tor" (courting) days (though short) : "A Smile Like Yours" - Natalie Cole - Was attracted by her smile.

"Pak Tor" (Courting) Days : "My Heart Will Go On" - Celine Dion - This is everywhere we go...the people keeps playing this song.

When we got married : "For The First Time" - Rod Stewart - Hey this is our song...no contest...until...we heard "I've finally Found Someone" - Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams. This song was rather appropriate for us because we had a string of failed friendships before we met each other. But Rod Stewart's song still remains as our song since we have "bonding". Bonding man...we are talking about bonding. This is the season to talk about "BOND"ing. It will not be Shaken neither will it be Stirred. (If you know what I mean).

Old Photos

Photo of my mum at the Ipoh Race Course.

My mom and dad inside the Ipoh Race Course

My daddy o

My dad again.

My dad with two dogs. He has always like dogs.

Most of these photos were in black and white but special water colours were added to the photos and I'm amazed that the colours still remains until today. Compared to the new technology..though, it's easier on our part...since we don't have to physically colour them...but the colour doesn't last.

Ivan's Class

Class Of 2008

An Eventful Uneventful 10th Anniversary Night

This morning (yesterday) started out with a few SMSes from my wife, asking what we are going to do tonight. My answer..."I don't know". I kind of like let the night roll by and waited for some inspiration. The night came by and still no inspiration....so what are we going to do tonight?

After a brief discussion...we thought that the best choice will be a safe choice...KLCC. And KLCC it was. There we can have a whole load of restaurant to choose from. There is the Chilli's, the Japanese food, Sudanese Food, Thai food, Penang Food, Madam Kwan...you name it.

We walked up to the third floor...walked round the complex...then we proceed to scout for our elusive place at the circumference of the building....we walked round, and we walked round....in the end...we ended up in ...TEN TEN TEN... "Burger King". Yes the very Burger King...is the place where we "celebrated" our 10th Anniversary...which comes once in a life time. Come to think of it, my wife and I had our first One-To-One lunch in Pizza Hut, now this comes once in a life time too. (And our first movie [alone] together was "TITANIC"...What a blast!!...No it did not give us a sinking feeling. In fact it was so cold that I have to hold my wife's hand, and say to her "You jump, I jump"...with the Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" playing in the background...everywhere we go, during that time...anyway this is another story. It's a Blast From The Past)

When my Mom-In-Law heard where we spent our night..she tried to "console" us by saying that's a wise choice...since the economy is not too healthy. Spend less is the best policy...for now.

An " Ai !!! " to Austerity Drive....

Be Focused On The Task At Hand

It had been a busy 2 weeks and every day's been a battle. So when I received several calls from my boys today, it was somewhat difficult for me to give my full attention to them (I know, I know...I'm a terrible Mom)... And so the conversations went something like this...

1st call was from Ian (2:30pm) :

Ian : Mummy, Ivan dropped the remote control of my remote control car and said that it was Kakak who dropped it!!!

Me : OK, I'll deal with him when I get home, OK?

2 minutes later, 2nd call came from Ivan (2:32pm) :

Ivan : Mummy, Ko-Ko says he wants to slap me...
(from behind, I could hear Ian trying to argue / defend himself)
Me : Did you break Ko-Ko's remote control?
Ivan : I already said "sorry" to Ko-Ko but Ko-Ko doesn't care about me.
(from behind, I could hear Ian trying to say something and then the air was punctuated with Ivan's shrill screaming...)
Ivan : ...but Mummy!!!
Me : Ok, I'll talk to you when I come home tonight, OK?

3rd call from Ivan (this was at 6:00pm and I was on another line) :

Ivan : Hi Mummy...
Me : Ivan, I'll call you back, OK? Mummy's on another line.

2 minutes later, 4th call from Ivan (6:02pm) :

Ivan : Mummy!!!
Me : Yes Ivan?
Ivan : Ko-ko gave his remote control to his friend.
Me : Which friend? When? Why?
Ivan : I don't know. It was Ko-ko who went to his school, I didn't go to Ko-ko's school.
Me : I thought you broke the remote control?
Ivan : Mummy, this story is about Ko-ko...this story is not about me!!!
Me : Ok. So how?
Ivan : I don't know....Mummy, the car is now moving by itself.
Me : Really? How did it do that?
Ivan : Bye, Mummy...


Now, can anyone please tell me what to do with these boys of mine???
If anyone wants to learn the art of being focused, you know who to look for...