This is My House

Ok la, its time to give up blogging here. Its not that I don’t enjoy writing anymore, I still do. But its hard when I have to make it so PG13 due to the fact I have little cousins who tell my mom about every latest post. It feels like censorship and I refused to be censored- so I shall go underground *evil laughter*

But in all seriousness, this blog has been good therapy for me. When I first started writing in 2005 it helped mend a broken soul. It helped to pour out emotions that you can’t articulate on paper, it helped to compartmentalize the jumble of words in your head. It became an oasis of serenity for me, a place to query, to make suppositions.

Over the years it became a tool for friends faraway to keep in touch with the going ons in my life. It became a sounding board for congratulating friends, to make dedications to people, to share good news.

But all good things must come to an end, as dad would say. Just remember: don’t be a stranger and come by and say hello to me on Facebook

Peace and love to everyone.

*Warning: Content below may upset some readers.

Greetings all!

Sorry I know my blog is growing fungus and another nasties due to the lack of updates and I apologise. Been hella busy with work placement, organizing my upcoming trip away, attending birthdays (tis the season!) and getting my admissions sorted.

Anyhow, this post is a rant. R.A.N.T: as in a spittle inducing gesticulating diatribe. As in if I see them I’ll chop off their toes and stuff it into their mouths. Then roll them around in a cage filled with little nails until they bleed.to.death and sprinkle salt inside just for kicks.

If however, you aren’t in the mood to read the ravings of moi then by all means click on the ‘x’ on the top right hand corner. Surf happy cutesy hello kitty forums where the sun always shines and little squirrels hop around in meadows. Because this post is about the depraved, despicable, deranged and repulsive. Beasts really, because even animals don’t treat each other this way.

Why am I raving about like a madwoman? One, because a little girl called Nurin died in the most horrific way possible. It was senseless, brutal and unnecessary. No eight year old deserved this. Granted, I don’t know why her parents let her out on her own to go to a pasar malam but geezes what kind of sicko would do this?

Wasn’t it enough the bastard kidnapped her, subjected her to sexual torture ( brinjals eh? Let’s see how fun brinjals are in prison) he/she killed her and dumped her body in a freakin’ sports bag and left her by the side of the road. Like she was nothing more than ..roadkill. It really makes me furious because she didn’t have to die like this.

There’s simply no justification for treating an innocent child that way and I don’t care what the little voices in his head told him. Yeah we all hope he gets caught, charged and sentenced to life but somehow its not enough. I reckon the severity of the crime does not fit the sentence. If it ever became a mob of angry people ala Salem in the 1600s I’d happily take a pitchfork and be poking it at him. HARD.

Second reason for ranting is the story of three year old Qian Xun (I refuse to call her Pumpkin cos damnit her name is Qian Xun or Clare) who was abandoned at the Southern Cross Railway station recently. Captured on CCTV, her father led her by the hand and just walked off, leaving a rather confused child behind. Previously, he emptied out his bank account in Auckland, came to Melbourne and then bought a one way ticket to LA and flew off into the sunset.

Somewhere along the way he decided that his three year old daughter would be better off standing in a train station. Without him. A week on, the body of his dead wife (Qian Xue’s mother) is found in his car boot. The evidence at the moment is circumstantial at best, but honestly what kind of a father would abandon his child at a train station? Even if he was under threat or blackmail, the least he could have done was to arrange for relatives or family friends to look after the girl.

Then a new piece of the puzzle emerges. Apparently he’d done this sort of thing before to his other daughter, (now woman) who is Qian Xue’s half sister. WTF? Does this "martial arts expert" make it a habit to father children so he can just absolve his responsibilities as and when he feels like it? Someone should just give this P.O.S an involuntary vasectomy.

I mean, I try usually not to take the moral high ground because who am I to judge anyone right?  But sometimes crimes occur.. which are so extremely horrendous you can’t just continue living in your world of jaded ignorance. I’ve met schitzo thieves/bashers and drug addicted prostitutes but this really takes the cake. All I can say is that I hope these lower-than-animals (what species would these sub humans belong in?) get caught and face some bad medicine in jail.

One girl dead, one girl abandoned. I’m going to be a super news junkie until those jackals get caught. 

I am officially an aunt!! World, meet Kimberley Koh. She’s now a month old and I’ve been told she’s got some solid neck muscles (apparently lifting her neck up when its feeding time is something out of the Baby Guinness World Records..)

I’m sure her parents have great hopes and dreams for her when she grows up to be a young woman. Whether she loves to read, knit, play soccer or tinker with cars, bake or paint. Whether she loves playing basketball like her dad or whether she craves Japanese food like her mom. But perhaps the most important lesson she will ever learn is to be okay with who you are, no matter what. Accept it and revel in it even :)   

I feel strangely attached to this squishy,semi-bald, pink Yoda looking creature even though I’ve never held her or seen her yet..strange this. Am looking forward to making her acquaintance one day reaaalllll soon.

One day you’re writing in autograph books, dreaming about the school prom and suddenly *POOF* you’re giving angpaus to your just married friends. That’s when you know you’re getting old and wrinkly. I dunno if I should just weep or throw back a couple of tequilas and sing "18 Till I Die" over and over again.

As far as weddings go, I’m sure each and every one is special. I know I’m always somewhat surprised to see two people who’ve reached that point in their lives. So many factors have to be in place before that happens. Its a scary thing because as far as commitment goes, that’s declaring it loud and clear, then and there.

Its always fun to see the groom get emo on that day cause you know he’s moved by the significance of the occasion. Not so fun when the old ah pek wearing a blatant hairpiece is staring at you like you’re the last satay in Kajang. Fun to watch the ecstatic and beaming parents but not so fun when the "food presentation" starts- usually to the deafening sounds of the ‘Final Countdown’ (which I never found to be an appropriate wedding song anyway).

Its a given that the bride will look stunning but the groom’s behaviour may vary. Some are happy to go with the flow and put up with the fuss; whereas some really get into it and perform a song or two. I’ve lost the number of times I’ve seen the groom reduced to tears while the bride (having done all her crying weeks before) swans down the aisle looking fabulous.

One of the sweetest wedding gifts I’ve ever seen is a huge mosaic made up of tiny pictures of the two of them during their courtship, gradually forming a bigger overall picture of the two of them at the beach. Obviously, the bride broke out in tears again as all the women in the room nodded with approval. Big points for originality there big D!

But here’s my personal take on weddings: its actually guerrilla warfare. I’m not saying all of them are but having witnessed a few I’ve concluded this. Behind all the splendour and sparkly dresses is the result of many months of political maneuvering and tactical moves befitting a top level CIA strategist. ‘Who bought the biggest rock’ ’she bought such an inferior gold/diamond ring/necklace’ and the Ultimate Wedding Move: A mother-in-law’s asking price for her precious daughter’s lai kum (wedding dowry)- a whopping $1 million dollars! HOLY COW! That’s astronomically stupid, not to mention greedy.

I thought weddings were meant to celebrate the start of two people’s lives together, not to ‘one up’ Mrs. So and so’s daughter or match some sort of imaginary standards for a certain level of socio economic class. You do what feels special to you right? Heck, maybe I’m just too naive about weddings.

But until the next wedding (August 07 in bewitching Bali!) its always fun to wonder when’s the next attack of the marrieds..    

The Franklin News

Pictures courtesy of TheSearchForThe New PussyCat Doll

31 March 2007- The remains of a dinosaur that walked the University more than six years ago have been discovered at Wilson Hall today. Palentologists found the dinosaur; scientific name Mindyda midgetsaurus believed to be 5′1 tall, with a distinctive white trim on a black hide and an idiotic grin. Skeletons of other dinosaurs have been found in the vicinity before during a dig but experts believe this one to be in excellant condition and strangely enough, clutching a teddy bear wearing a mortarboard in its right claw.

It was a bone (pun intended) of contention between the experts who argued over the remains. Could it be classified as a dinosaur, as opposed to the young spring chickens flouncing all over the place? This new discovery was especially exciting for Chief Inspector Mom, who fussed over the sighting almost like the Second Coming of Christ. The Chief Inspector said that they were in the process of digging out the remains to be stored and analysed and that it was likely that the remains would be eventually displayed at Union House. EXCLUSIVE  Pictures below:-

My life has changed once again because now I’m one of those faceless, nameless working people who rush to work in the city. I’ve always thought we resemble ants.. abuzzing away to different burrows, with different tasks at hand.

I’ve learnt how to TRY to get to bed earlier so that I will be able to withstand the mind numbing 8 hours in a "workstation" and being cooped up indoors. I’ve learnt that I need to force myself to eat breakfast so that I won’t embarass myself with a grumbling tummy at 11.30am. I’ve learnt that I gotta sign in every morning, hence I have to be punctual for a change. As in REALLY punctual, not Malaysian time, which is give or take 30 mins.

I’ve found out pleasant little surprises along the way..like WHAT? they stock 5 different herbal teas and soy/skinny/regular milk in the fridge?! I’ve also found out that my collegues are a pretty cool lot. It reads something like out of a movie cast. You have your typical kwai Jewish girl who’s getting married, the lovely bubbly chubby lady, the nerdy Asians, the joker Indians and just for diversity’s sake- the giant Irishman. You’ll notice however the lack of hot guys, unless you count the Aussie bloke who kinda looks like Bruce Willis only because he is folliclely challenged..

I could say that this new direction in life is somewhat challenging and refreshing, but it doesn’t stop me from missing my friends and family back in KL. That’s the shitty thing about having options isn’t it? Everytime you leave you feel like you’ve left a part of yourself behind and then you come back to [insert country of residence] to an entirely different reality. Then you get used to the daily grind and the awful feeling goes away.. until the next time you go home. Eeish. Must play some poker to feel nostalgic now. 

Ultra blurry picture of poker set. I miss KIN MUN’S SET specifically haha

I love Malaysia because only in M’sia:-

1. You’ll see three uncles singing softly to Cliff Richards in a coffeeshop on a rainy afternoon playing chor tai tee.

2. You get to see the latest blockbuster movies (for example, today’s movie was Blood Diamond) playing on the big screen at around 10 p.m at mamak. PLUS, if you make friends with the mamak people you get to bring your OWN dvd and they’ll play it for you. NICE! As close to hiring your own cinema and all you have to do is pay for one teh O ais.

3. You get wifi in a coffeshop. And I’m not talking Starbucks and the like. Btw, Kopi Ais waaayy tastier (not to mention cheaper) than your Iced Caramel Macchiato Grande with Soy milk.

4. You get to eat your fruit directly at the fruit seller’s stall. Can’t get any fresher than that. Plus, boleh exchange if its not up to standard. Safeway eat your heart out!

5. You buy 10 dvds you get one free! Not to mention the dvd seller who’s actually attempting to communicate with you in some secret dvd seller-patron code about the police when you’re actually thinking he’s talking about the monsoon weather.

But all is not a bed of roses because Only in Malaysia..

6. You’ll encounter horrendously bad traffic as well as really poor driving etiquette. I’m suffering from road rage and I don’t even drive!

7. You’ll hear the most irritating and shrill voices of little girls/aunties singing Chinese New Year songs from every corner of every mall/radio station/shop. Festive? Heck no.

8. You’ll get touts who try and blackmail you into paying extorbitant prices for parking in "their" designated parking spots when its clearly government property.

9. If you find a bug in your meal and the chef doesn’t blink an eye. He simply flicks it out and scolds you for being picky.

10. You’ll encourter the baddest mozzies ever. The mosquitoes have become spray/fog/coil/smoke resistant and are fast evolving into some super hybrid species capable of squeezing into an air tight room AND biting through sweaters. One bite from the wrong one lands you in a hospital with a doctor named Murthy poking a needle into your arm every few hours.

Good and bad.. it still feels like home

So I had a hot and humid X’mas with the family in Perth. Coincidentally, it was grandad’s 90th birthday celebration..so here’s a snapshot of the mischief I got upto:-

Every night after dinner, the poker set comes out WITHOUT FAIL. We even played on X’mas! So blasphemous right.

Lazing around on Cottlesloe Beach on a lovely day. The same beach where a surfer lost his leg.

Being Chinese, the requisite dish@ X’mas would not be turkey but a giant siew chi. It was bloody awesome tasting, I can tell u that.

Instead of carving the turkey, Pa is carving the roast pork. We also had homemade popiah as well as honey and anise cured ham.

*gossip*gossip*stuff face*

Presents being exchanged

Yes, its the macho men.

And the lovely damsels with Grandad- The Macho One.

The cousins and cousins-in-law with grandpa during his birthday. The little man in the denim overalls is Grandpa’s great grandchild, Ben.

During the day, we’d be off running around either playing cricket or captain ball/ shopping for last minute presents /doing alterations to dresses/picking up the suits/doing our hair/ picking up ingredients for parties/arranging dinners/. But it was all wonderful, mad, chaotic fun

So after nine days of non stop gilaness, I came back to Melbourne to have a quiet New Years with WC. I shall leave you with a photo taken from Docklands (courtesy of Gavin).

Imagine a young married couple, the lovely wife expecting her first child. A time for much joy and celebration. Congratulatory hugs all around. Then the world shattering as German measles spreads through her system, and the ob gym advising them to "terminate" the pregnancy due to a myriad of expected birth defects- from deafness and blindness to severe mental retardation.

The young couple, although shaken, are undaunted and resolute in carrying on the pregnancy. Ob gyn shaking his head, calling them ‘foolish’ for doing so. "Odds stacked against your baby" "How will you cope with caring for a severely retarded child??" "You must be seriously deluded."

Seven months later, her waters broke and a mad dash to the hospital. And a perfect baby boy with all faculties intact was born. 25 years later, the only freakish thing about this boy is his amazing ability with music and physics. Tops the Melbourne University Science faculty with ease and even Google can’t find an unsolvable physics question for him O_O

I stand and watch this amazing man, nervously fiddling with his suit whilst he awaits the arrival of his beautiful bride on the foreshore of the lake. He breaks out into a shy smile as he catches my eye as if to say, ‘Do I look okay?’ And yes, I nod reassuringly to him that he does indeed look as handsome as any groom I’ve ever seen.

As I watch him grin and pose for photographs with his newly wedded wife by his side, the life that might have once been lost has now come a perfect and sweet circle.

         A good gal pal and I were having a chat, basking in the sun like the slothful creatures we are. Inevitably, the topic of men and their wandering eyes came up.  She’s in a new and exciting relationship with a guy who’s pretty famous and with that- the girls who surround him. Gorgeous, hot women with legs-up-to-there types. A creature of great self confidence, she says nonchalantly "If he wants to cheat, what can I do about it right?" Knowing her, if he did decide to do so, she’ll probably make curry puffs out of his gonads.

         I wish I had that kind of confidence when I was younger, and in circumstances when I was racked with intense paranoia and self-doubt. All that suspicion and endless need to FIND.OUT.WHAT.WAS.GOING.ON!?!?! All those sleepless nights and driving myself gila. But being young and foolish, all I could do was stay silent and miserable. I did not know how to communicate my honest feelings and was afraid of creating a possibly nasty confrontation with possibly dreadful consequences. Looking back, it was so simple. It is basically like a pimple. Once you get brave enough to pop the little sucker, the pain would be gone. Sure, you’ll bleed like hell but at least the healing process could start.

         I guess I am more philosophical (or is it jaded?) now. Be brave enough to speak up if your intuition is attempting to communicate with your brain. Nothing is ever absolutely certain. In this time and age, both men and women are exposed to more temptations via the indistinct forces of globalization. We are able to meet so many people now, whether it be through the Internet or the increasing capacity of borderless journeys.

         I read somewhere from a wise blogger who wrote ‘Women always know if you fall in love with someone else. And often times, they know even before you do. It’s in the tone of your voice and the things you don’t say. And women, know that your instincts are always right. In a cruel twist of nature, the reason you possess that clarity is because you love him down to your bones. And it will break your heart. It will seize you with fear before you understand why you are frightened.’

And with age, comes wisdom and the courage to do something about it.