T'was my birthday

Was my birthday on Sunday. Yup! A year older and hopefully a little more wiser. So what did the men in my life did for me?

He sat around waiting for his lunch and then watch TV - its the Games remember? While the other little one is also waiting for his food, play around with my plastic containers and then nap time. Owen was being very well behaved on that day - THANK GOD! In fact I wish for nothing more on my special day that he being well behave and not make mummy really MAD. And for once he did as I wished. :-)

After all the baking, eating and cleaning up, I finally have the time to actually laze around and read a book. That is until Owen wakes up 2 hours later. Then its another round of "built & destroy", "flip & tear", hide & seek (not him - the cordless phone!) and, of course more cuddles & kisses.

Then we went out for dinner at the nearby Chinese restaurant. We can really seldom eat out now ever since Owen started walking. No. Make that ever since he was born!! The reason being; restaurants aren't made for babies and little kids. As soon as he gets bored or the hunger needs has been fulfilled, he'll be wanting to be let out from either the high chair or the stroller! If not he'll make loads of noise by crying or screaming!!

Gifts from June! YAY!

Close up of the needle pouch

So that was for Sunday, but TODAY I received some thing extra. Our door bell rang early this morning. It as the postman and with him its a parcel from home. I didn't wear my glasses - blind as a bat without them, so I didn't see who was it from, until I saw the name. It was from June of NNC!! She was my secret Birthday Exchange partner (organised by BJ).

The lovely work done by June...


The underside (do we call it underside?) of the Love Cube

So what's in the goodies bag? There's a red bag with a Love Cube lovingly stitched by June, a Cottage Patch needle pouch kit, a really cool Chinese paper craft book, some cute baby themed buttons (mental note: must think of where to sew it onto!! Its just too cute to be sitting around) and last but not least, a really COOL cardboard book for Owen. Its so cool that it caught his attention IMMEDIATELY!! WOW! Even the cardboard book we bought him were put aside...

My 1st try. Will get it to go ROUND the next time! ;-)

OH!! There's also a sushi making mold: we place the rice and other filling into it, then pop it out onto the nori! I've made a sample sushi using this and it came out just right: round and all ready to be warped in nori! Too bad hubs aren't into Japanese food, otherwise I'll have a sushi eating partner. Hmm... Which reminds me; perhaps a sushi party with my girlfriends? Since I don't work, can not do bento party right? hehehehehe....

Its POTTY TIME!

Hahahahahaha..... I guess you might be wondering if I spelt it wrongly.... But the truth is, I did not. I'm trying to potty train the little man in the house. Well, trying really hard.

I know, I know it takes lots of patience, silent cleaning up, creative ways to make it happen etc etc. Hubs isn't any help either. He'll go like; Errmmmm... I think he just poop! ARRGGHHHH!! Why can't men take proactive approach like keeping his mouth shut and change the poopy diapers for once when we're busy doing other chores?!? I seriously don't think poopy diapers are out there to get fathers who changes them.

I asked my 1st SIL about potty training her boys. She was like; But its too early to be training him now. Hm.... And so does the other advices online say; Its too early to potty train under 20 month old baby unless they show signs of readiness. So should I follow what they say? Or should I go ahead to get him to make "acquaintances" with Mr Potty while slowly getting him to make ngee ngee and shee shee in it? For the moment it seems like he's toying with the sitting on Mr Potty with his diapers on and knows where shee shee comes from (trust me, boys have a weird way of knowing!). So is this the sign that I should be looking for? Man! Am I confused!

WOW! Its been that LONG??

Since my last post! So what have we been up to.... Well I can say that there's nothing much but enjoying the summer and JP got his job back. Long story short; he was let go due to economic reasons of the company - AKA company in the process of a buy over. Then suddenly his old company find out that they could rehire him and so they did.

Eh! Where did the birdies went?

Which was great, as it meant that I won't be as worried and stressed out about him being unemployed with a family to feed. Which also means that he can get out of my hair while I do my stitching!! :-) I'm really WAY behind my stitching schedule at the moment.... He will sometimes complained that I'm neglecting certain things when I stitch. Well HELLO? What is that? The only time I stitch now is when the dishes are done, Owen's asleep and toys being put away. So I don't think its fair that I can't do my hobbies while he lingers almost every hour of the day with his precious bonsais!!

There they are!

It was pretty sunny on only a few days with lots of rainy spells for the month of July. So we had to stay indoors, which was a drag since summer is the only time of the year where we get to enjoy being out doors.

Ooooo...

But still we managed to bring Owen to a zoo and the next door tropicarium (well both small ones and fairly recent establishments) nearby one partly cloudy Saturday, and he seems to like it. I think its the space that he likes; all the space to run and wander about as he wants to! What impress him most were the birds what run freely in the bird park: he tried to run after them! The fast swimming African penguins, some swimming tortoise & goldfish (don't ask me why there's goldfish there), the very BIG bear and cub and last but not least the domestic goat! Must be from the pictures of his bedtime story book.

Wah! Look at hos fast they can go mama!

YEAH! Papa look! Got teddy bear!

He happily clapped when he saw the bear, which was funny because all the other kids were like "Wow! A big mean bear!".... The big cats (tigers, lions and lynx) did nothing to him. Or it may be that they were cat napping? But we did hear the tiger roar! And still he didn't pay attention to it unlike towards the bear.

The not so "dangerous" teddy?

At the end of the zoo/tropicarium visit, he just fell asleep within 5 minutes when we hit the road back home. Guess its all the bear excitement and running about that does it. Thank goodness all animals were well fenced in, otherwise he'll be seen as live easy bait to the cats, wolves and bears!

Despite the not so wonderful weather on the month of July, we got to enjoy the seasons cherries. All big, red, round, firm and juicy. Hmm... Now I sound perverted!! Well a picture says a thousand words!

Next we get to finally enjoy bicycle rides we JP got Owen his seat (fixed on my bike - for obvious reasons) and his very own cycle helmet! We took him for a spin to the local swimming pool. And boy did he enjoyed the ride - with the wind blowing on his face and the great scenery to match. He almost fell asleep on our way back. I didn't realised how heavy he was and unstable I handle my bike till I ride and paddle with him on the seat!!

Handsome or not? hehehhehe...

OH! Did I mentioned that he really likes to wear the cycle helmet? He refused that the helmet be taken off even after having reach home an hour! Once its on him, its on him. So now I don't have to worry about him taking the helmet off while I'm cycling OR even refusing to put them on, eh? hehehehe...

Nice 2008

Strange "men" on lamp posts...

Can you see the sea beyond?

I feel that we've been "moving" around a lot lately. As soon as we got back from Paris on Tuesday, we're off again on early Saturday morning and this time to Nice, South of France. We've been to Nice before but without Owen. He wasn't even born then.... It was great while it lasted; I mean taking couples without kids holidays.

For this trip its just for a short weekend; hub's uni friend wedding. I've always thought that from our place to Nice will take at least 8 hours drive but it took us 6 instead. We went to go through part of the Valais (a Swiss canton) Alps (the view was amazing!) and then through Italy; which seems fast since Italians drivers are like F1 drivers any ways!! The roads on the Alps are really long and winding with really long (LONG) tunnels. In Italy, it was really (REALLY) straight then when we reach the coastline, more tunnels but this time its one after the other short ones. :p

Its a good thing hubs decide to get a GPS in January, that way I won't be held responsible if I point out the wrong way! hehehehehe.... But then again even with the GPS system, hubs still take the wrong turn while in Nice town centre!! LOL! And there I though we purposely put on a woman's voice so he'd pay attention! I think its time to switch it to a man's voice.. Hmmmmm...

We arrived at the hotel at about 4pm or so. And since there's still sunlight and its still warm out, we decide to go to the beach. Their beach here is not the sandy type but the pebble type! Which means if one falls flat on it, one will either end up having blue & black all over, brake their nose or have some kind of head injury. Since it was Owen's 1st seaside visit, we decide to not let him run around. Well he didn't run around this time (uneven ground) and he's afraid of the waves! hehehehe... Reminds me when I was little for my very 1st beach outing in Melaka! :) He held on to me like it was for dear life! hehehehe...

Don't let me go!!

Here you go mummy....

The water wasn't that clear since it was near the town centre, but still it was quite warm. Hubs went for a dip in the sea while I stay on the beach with Owen playing throw the pebbles. By the time its time to go back to the hotel, he was sleeping in the stroller. Playing with pebbles seems to tire him!

Peaceful sleep...

We went to the old town for dinner after having fed him in the room. Had to, since there's no under 2 years old kids menu in restaurants. Went to the old town walking. Since there's so many places to eat, it took us 30 mins to decide which restaurant to seat in or out in many terraces! Finally decided to eat inside since there's just no place to put the stroller next to me. Its typical here in France (not so sure about any where else), they place tables & chairs so close to each other that if seated, I could hear the couple whisper at the next table! Not that I want to!!

All happy and ready to paint the town "RED"!

Since its the wedding dinner on Sunday (why Sunday? Don't know!), we went out for a walk in the late morning to the other parts of Nice all the way to the seaside. I think the sea breeze did a lot of good since made Owen fell asleep without a fuss! Besides it was really hot by the time we got to the seaside. Had KFC for lunch in town; (YES!!! Its been ages since I last had KFC!) which is about a block away from the hotel. The afternoon was just to hot for walks with Owen, so its stay in and enjoy the air-conditioning for us. Owen and I had our afternoon nap, while hubs was watching his Wimbledon finals (Federer Vs Nadal; Nadal won).

Just in case he forgot the words....

We drove to the other side of Nice called Beaulieu. The view of the sunset on the way to the Grand Casino was spectacular as the roads were built on a rather rocky and winding sides of the coastline slopes. Good thing we weren't late for the cocktail reception, as we get to listen to Yohann (the groom) sing to Delphine! Not this is a guy who doesn't speak a word of English and here he's singing an Eric Clapton song with the wedding band! LOL! Both of us think that he's been practicing for months for this surprise.... He sang it very well in fact.

The table of sweets! YUMMY!

The actual dinner takes place at the next hall where tables were decorated according to theme. The decorations were DIY by both of them as it was really creative and special. Our table was the Carambar candy car way. The few tables next to us was the Marshmallow men, the cotton candy (called Barbapapa here), the Snow White castle, the 7 Dwarf mountain etc etc. They hired a local blues band for the entire dinner reception where everyone got up to dance whenever they played.

Our 1st dance as mother and son

The very smart men in my life

The best part of this wedding is that they hired a baby sitter to attend to 3 babies (including our boy). So that way we got to enjoy ourselves amongst friends even more knowing that he is being looked after. By the time we leave it was 1am and people are still dancing away! Owen was soundly asleep even after when we moved him from the travel cot to the kiddie seat in the car, drove all the way back to hotel and back in the room.

Ginger bread Minnie & Mikey!

As all holidays/get aways/vacation has end, this one as well. I don't know when we'll come back to the south again, perhaps next summer when Owen isn't too afraid of the waves. ;)

Summer in Paris

Am just back from Paris yesterday. What can I say about this trip?.... Its to meet up with the in-laws. Was supposed to go to Mallorca Island, Spain; due to some kind of "disruptions" the trip was cancelled and all of them decided to spend a few days in Paris instead.

A cooling place to be in hot and dusty Paris....

Paris this time of the year is very (VERY) hot and dusty and the sun was burning!! It was at least about 33°C for the whole 4 days when we were there. I enjoy only the mornings and evenings there but the afternoons are horrid... :p Why? Because of the above and also the horrible traffic; there was a demonstration held by lorry drivers because of petrol price hike. Thank goodness we had enough sense in us NOT to drive around but took buses and walk around.

Bonsais, one of the many show cases in the park

This time since Owen is already walking, he gets to go around and play with his cousins. It seems like they like to play with him, although he doesn't speak - in words that is.... ;) We went to a park in Vincenne, Paris, where the summer open air live Jazz music on weekends being played. Loads of picnickers and jazz lovers, which makes the ambiance at the park really relaxed and enjoyable. One good thing about this park is that dogs aren't allowed in; therefore making the grass "clean" of any dog pee/poop! I think that's the only place I'd let Owen walk bare foot...

Very orange lilies....

As for the family gathering, we all got together in this restaurant at Bercy Village, just a few minutes walk from 3rd SIL's place - which reminds me; I did miss going to Loisir & Creative shop. A LNS which sells pleanty of stash for card making, beading/jewellery making, DIY home decorations and needle works. Bercy Village is where one could find restaurants with great people watching terraces, a cinema - been told that its the greatest in Paris (which BTW we haven't been into... YET) and a really (REALLY) good biscuits and candy store call La Cure Gourmand.

Chai 33: deco wise good, food wise: so-so

Anyways back to the restaurant called Chai 33, the place isn't bad - great for people watching like any good places to do that in Paris. They have a bar at the top floor and a very relaxed atmosphere down at the restaurant. But alas the food did not met my expectation of a fusion kind of way. May be what 1st SIL had done was go and ordered a menu for all of us..... :( I do NOT like having someone else make decision of what I'm eating especially coming from a member of an extended family AKA the in-laws!!

Anyways, what is done is done. Thank goodness we didn't give in to her "demands" for our son's name to be in FRENCH!! I mean, yes she might be the oldest and having to somewhat care for her brothers and sisters when their parents are gone (bless them), but doesn't she give it a rest already?!? I don't go around giving people "advices" about their kids when I'm not even asked to do so. GOSH!! Yes, she survived cancer and all (hubs say I should give her a break; why don't she give us a break?) but come on! We live and we die, (death and taxes people!) doesn't matter young or old nor the way we die. When its faithed, its faithed! GOSH! ITS FEELS SO GOOD TO GET IT OUT OF MY CHEST!!

OH! There's this little "incident" that I thought would be "great" to share. At the restaurant, 3rd SIL & family was late (was suppose to EAT at 8PM!). I was so hungry that I ate the so called fusion food that was placed in front of me almost immediately. Owen was getting grumpy as it was close to 9:30pm by the time we ate main course. And that the same thing happened to his cousin (whose a year older). 9pm is normally bedtime for both of them. So he was crying, his cousin was agitated, the mother was like" I'm chatting here and why are you crying?" Then hubs was like "its my job to keep Owen quite while we chat". HELLO!! As far as I'm concern, restaurants aren't made for small children. Even if they are, what the hell are they still doing out of bed at 9pm plus?!? I felt I was getting evil stare jabs from other diners. I don't know what in her right mind would she go ahead to book dinner for all of us at 8pm!?!? Which mother in their right mind would do that? Unless of course one has a sitter they would. Plus her kids has been out with them, walking Parisian streets from 11am!!! Aren't they tired at all? Or did she just gave them some "steroids" to keep them going and going and going and going.....? I was so angry at hubs by then end of the evening. I had to some what cut the evening short by making him go back with me. And besides he's the one whose been complaining to me; "oh, I think I might be sick" earlier. So its for he's own good to rest!

Just HAD to come out with SOMETHING, right? hehehehe

Friends at NNC asked me if I've been satshing. Its safe say that I didn't go crazy this time! We walked from 3rd SIL's place (district 13) to Bonheur des Dames at Viaduc des Arts (took us about 40 mins!) . Why we didn't drive there? Its because every single time hubs drives me there, there's either no parking or there's no place to stop to drop me off. So this time we decide to walk there. Even though its the SALE season here in West Europe, I can't really find what I like there due to time (its hubs fault) and attention (Owen was grumpy) constrain. But still I can't seems to walk out of the place empty handed can I? So I just grab 2 pcs of pre-cut linen, 2 hangers (metal and wooden) and a chart (DMC roses sampler). Only wish if I'm alone or with a fellow "stasher", and having a "fuller" pocket that I'll try to stash again at that place. They have vast varieties of samplers, flowery, yummy etc etc there. All in kit though as they seem to not really keen on selling only charts there.

A cute teddy for Elena

Another thing to dance about is that little Elena; 3rd SIL daughter - AKA 1st little girl on hubs side, got her little gift from us. A cute ballerina bear by Margaret Sherry. I finished it in 2 weeks, a record time for those who know me! ;) So for the next project.. Well there's no next project for the moment. Only return to my kitchen curtain, which had been put aside for sometime. Then some plan for NNC Anniversary exchange gift for end of Oct early Nov. Knowing how slow it'll take me to finish a piece, I'd better start by end of this month itself!

P/S: I don't justify my actions or reactions with my in-laws, nor I regret what I've done to "show" my temper. When one is so stepping on my head, I'll have to "pull" their legs down to earth don't I?

1st birthday already!

That's My cake!

What's with the candle mama?

This is actually an over due post. But with running around behind Owen and having grandpa over for the weekend, I hardly have time to blog. Owen is 1 last Wednesday and we had a small party for him on Saturday. And it was the 1st time grandpa ever get to cuddle Owen! :)

Sorry birthday boy alseep already....

For the party, I didn't even bother to decorate our place since he'll be more interested in the food than the deco anyways. And besides, he's the only kid around since our friends has yet to have children of their own. I bet that there's gonna be more birthday parties when he grows older and has the ability to actually "appreciate" a party! Let's hope that these parties will not be on a full scale bankruptcy for both of us! I'm praying now that his future kiddy friends/invites are nice kids, but then again I'm keeping stakes to high here!

From left to right: Azni, Dominique, Tony, Cheryl, Yanina, Shirley, me and grandpa.

We wanted to have an out door barbecue but as the weather wasn't co-operating, we did it on our balcony. No not that charcoal barbecue, although I'd love to have one of those. We had to use our electric barbecue set, which emits less smoke since we're living in an apartment building. As it was a potluck thing, our friend from the Philipines came with Embutido - Filipino style meatloaf - which was delicious! The others came with nasi impit, some great suasages for grill, kimchi, pandan agar-agar; while I made orange fried rice, prawn & veg skewers, char siew pork ribs, satay sauce to go with the nasi impit/cucumbers/onions. As usual I didn't manage to take photos of the food but a video of it. Must be from the fact that its been so long since we get to meet up with these group of people that its non-stop chatting for all of us until I forget! :D I will up load the video here once I manage to convert it.

It was like yesterday when he was born! Owen at 1 month old with grandma

As for the pièce de résistance AKA as the cake, we've ordered a strawberry cake. Believe me when I say strawberry, I mean whole strawberries and not the slices. The berries were actually sandwiched in a very light textured vanilla mouse. I was really happy every liked the cake as it wasn't too heavy to stomach nor too sweet to taste. Hubs had to blow the candle for Owen as he's already asleep by the time we get to the cake part. I actually baked him Winnie the Pooh pattern cake on Wednesday to share with his play group. It was an egg less banana cake as I wasn't sure which kid can or can not eat whole egg, so better to be safe than end up in the hospital! eeiikkksss....

My eggless Winne the Pooh cake! :D

Owen trying to crawl at 5 and half months....

How time does fly! It was just like yesterday when he was born, 10 days late that is.. hehehehehe.... All of a sudden, this little guy is rolling over, smile to you (finally) after having to make funny noise/faces (come one, which parent doesn't?!) in attempt to make him smile, trying to make the 1st attempt on all fours, crawling, cooing, giving you his hearty belly laughs, the midnight "alarms", the 1st jabs at the doctors office, etc etc... Its these precious moments that we're going to cherish forever in our hearts and minds, coz he's growing up and has only 1 babyhood.

Fuel prices....

has increase once again in Malaysia. According to mum, its now at RM2.78 per liter. Well the increase is every where around the world. Well... except the middle east of course. Why? Because I still think its the only place on earth where oil is DIRT CHEAP! Perhaps cheaper than a bottle of Coke! But hey, what do I know, right? I've never been to the middle east before.

But any ways. After reading some online news, seems like the government will be doing something about it. Doing what? Cutting costs on government functions, reevaluating mega projects, improving the public transportation system, and assisting poor and single mothers.

Why I high lighted cutting cost in RED? Coz it will not do a lot of good for the people in terms of cost cutting. If they really want to cots costs, shouldn't they be considering ministers not travel in "style"? How about cutting out on fancy luncheons/dinner/galas that ministries has the "privilege"? How about NOT "burning" our tax payers money this coming 31th August, Merdeka celebration with fireworks? How about monitoring corruption, cutting out unnecessary government staffs who's doing nothing and getting paid? I seriously don't think a director needs to have 2 extra kaki and tangan (legs and arms) on the left and right when he/she already has the thousand "Buddhas' hands" and their own legs and arms, right? What do I know?

The high light in GREEN: Man, I've heard and read what the government wants to do, but seriously do they need to do it now and what is the purpose any way? And BTW, what happened to all the profits from Petronas? Shouldn't Petronas be giving back to the people in times like these with all the profits that they are making a.k.a. fuel hike? Oil that is found and "drained" in Malaysia belongs to the country and its people. Why can't we Malaysian's enjoy at least some benefits as an oil producing country like our neighbour Brunei? OR is our oil slowly drying up and the national oil company a.k.a Petronas is keeping us in the dark? Why? Its because Malaysia is currently importing more oil and exporting it. But then again what do I know?

On improving public transportation. Not enough bus lanes, how to move during traffic jams? We've got 4 lanes in some areas and 3 in most. I'm pretty sure by allocating 2 lanes for public transport, people would just give up driving their cars since its just going to be jammed up any way. hehehehe.... BTW, its been 2 years since the last time anyone monitors what the government said about building more LRTs, having more buses and trains in the country. And ever since I've been back in 2007, NOTHING has changed!! No work has even started up till today for new routes/rails etc. We don't even know where our new lines/routes are going to be built or where it goes through as there's such silence about any rail projects. At least our neighbour knows where their rails are going to be built for the next 10 or 20 years. Again, what do I know?

And what is this about taxes for importing spare parts for buses/trains? As if we are producing them locally, (which is NOT at the moment!) tell me how does the bus companies up keep our already running buses and keep the cost low for users?

Man, already the electricity is (or has already) going up, food prices (especially RICE!) that is already high will be even higher with this fuel hike. I'm thinking now, how does the average Joe/Muthu/Ah Beng/Ali that earns just enough to cover rent and food for the family is going to survive ah? Haiz.... And being a senior citizen, mum is getting very worried about this increase as we Asians tend to spend more on filling our stomachs with rice.

And then, the government comes out with this rebate thingy. COME ON MAN! You can not be serious!! I think the government needs a new accountant-lar, RM625 annual rebate is really nothing. Can not even buy a kopi-O at your local mamak or a Coke from the machine man! Double haiz.....

Then someone somewhere told us Malaysians, your average Joe here, to change your life style/attitude. Man, how to change when we're already living in a very thrifty lifestyle. Change our attitude towards public transportation? YEAH RIGHT! Look at the state of it, there's just too much demand and not enough supply. Why don't you Mr/Madam/Encik/Puan minister take the bus/LRT/Kommuter/bicycle to work? Has anyone of you notice the safety, accessibility irregularities of our public transport system? I can't blame you being chuffed around in your spanking new Mercedes/BMW/Perdana/SUVs. So tell me, why can't you change yourlife style sir/madam? Once again, what do I know?

What I have been up to...

Well nothing much these days. Got some visitors though - friends from school (Swiss Hotel Mgmt in Caux, Montreux) who came all the way from London. Thanks guys for visiting and THANK YOU SO MUCH PHI FOR THE RIBENA & Kripsy Kreme!! Me and food.....

Loving the mess!

Any ways, Owen started WALKING!! Yup! He just got up and then started holding on to the sofa edge, then he let go and start to walk over towards me on the other end of the sofa! I was like WOW! I was too excited to even remember to take a photo or capture the moment on video... He's walking with two arms opened up like he's going to stabilise himself as he gets wobbly. Its just so cute the way he moves.

Look at the little tiger go!

Now the seasoned parents knows this; a walking child will mean as house that is already in a mess WILL BE MESSIER.... :p How true. He's moving chairs and the side table at the moment. My lower kitchen cupboard (which is filled with plastic containers, Tupperware, ) is currently being emptied every time he sets foot (or on all fours for speed) in the kitchen. So does my bookshelves (currently books are being "relocated" to the "upper levels for hibernation"). Sigh*

Its not that I'm not happy that he's walking but that the mess we'll have to face every day for the rest of our natural lives. Let's face, even if Owen (or any of our future kids) grow up and leaves the nest, there's bound to be some mess some where that has to be cleaned up now and again by us, the parents. That is what the job description says: "24 hours worry, always on stand by and willing to do the cleaning up no matter what - no pay increment. Will be lucky enough to get "a return of investment" for retirement". Not that I'm complaining but it is what it is.

The book

Moving on, I'm on to this new book, P.S. I Love You, I've got from the trip to Frankfurt - OK not that new any more. Haven't really read it till last week or so. Finished it just today. I can't believe that I can actually finish a book in a week. Used to be in a day or two; depends on how thick and "heavy" it is. What can I say about it? It has a great storyline with plenty of tears and laughs in between. I find that somehow this Holly character is kinda selfish in away. But then again, how you I or anyone react when their dearly beloved is dead just like that? Plus at a young age. I don't think I could do it any better. Bravo Cecelia Ahren!

The movie in DVD....

Then I saw the movie. I still like the book best. Hilary Swank just didn't not met my expectation as Holly - she's just very annoying! Why are there just really (REALLY) short parts of Holly and Gerry? What's up with the karaoke scene? Holly was suppose to suck at singing and have stage phobia. Perhaps I was expecting too much.... As book setting was in Ireland and I prefer it being played in Ireland rather than in New York City. I think it gives a "fresh" look. Whatever it is, I just can't seem to like it that much. Plus I seriously think this; Why can't they get Irish actors to play the Irish parts? I bet they would sound better anyways.

I just can't wait to see the latest Narnia epic; The Caspian Prince. I've got the book or rather the books (bought on eBay!), read them and truly enjoyed it. The 1st one; The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe was just as I've expected. I do hope that the next one will be even better.

A ballerina for the princess

OH! Did I mentioned that I'm on a new cross stitch piece? Still a Work-In-Progress for over a week now. A kit actually, as I can't find the chart only, by Margaret Sherry's Charlie & Friends series. Its a gift for our niece, 3rd SIL's baby girl who's turning 6 month when Owen turns 1 this June 11th. She's our only girl on hubs side of the family, our little princess. I just hope that even though we treat her like one (princess) but she won't have this princess tantrum like my other niece does when she grows older! EEIIKKKSSSSS! Will be a nightmare for the parents. I do hope that ours don't turn up having "his highness" tantrum as well, fingers crossed!

Fake shark fins anyone?

a Mako shark all ready to be finned than thrown back into the sea ALIVE... How cruel!

While Googling for free shark photos on-line, this article pops up.

Fake fins eye saving sharks, Chinese wallets


by Staff WritersTokyo (AFP) Oct 19, 2007

A Japanese company is launching fake shark fins in China, hoping to tap a market as prices for real ones rise amid concerns the species is being hunted to extinction.

Shark fin is considered one of the highest-end delicacies in Chinese cuisine and also fetches high prices in select Japanese restaurants.

Nikko Yuba Seizo Co. a Japanese food-processing company, said it had developed artificial shark fins made out of pork gelatin. Its top executives returned Friday from a two-day trip to China to introduce the products.

"Shark fin prices have been rising constantly in recent years due to a fall in the volume traded, so we decided to develop an artificial fin," said Tadashi Kozuka, a top official of the company which also trades real shark fins imported from Indonesia, Brazil and elsewhere.

"We visited Shanghai and Dalian -- big cities where wealthy Chinese people live -- to seek trading partners. I guess fins sell well among rich people," he said.

But he said the artificial version would also appeal to Chinese who would not be able to afford the real fins, which are served as a luxury at weddings and other important occasions.
Kozuka said the company had long queues of customers when it first presented its product in China at a trade fair in June in the southern city of Guangzhou.

The price of the gelatin-made fin costs only one-tenth of the real one, or about 1,500 yen (15 dollars) per kilogram when sold wholesale, he said.

Controversy over China's appetite for shark's fin rose last year when the country's most famous sports personality, basketball star Yao Ming, called for a boycott of the dish to save the fish from extinction. Some species of shark are now endangered.

Environmentalists have campaigned to stop "finning," when fishermen catch sharks and cut off their fins before throwing the carcasses back into the sea. The practice is blamed for preventing an accurate picture of shark numbers.

Well, good for you Yao Ming! I may not be an environmentalists but as a responsible consumer, I choose not to eat them, and its not only fins I'm talking about here. Its animals like whale, abalone, sea horse, sea cucumbers, tiger, bats and other exotic animals/sea creatures. Its not to say I've never eaten shark fins or sea cucumbers (would be a lie). In fact was slurping on them when I was young and know no better.

What changed my mind was also not due to the latest documentary film by Rob Steward; Sharkwater, which is by the way a GREAT documentary (a must see!) in line with Sicko, 9/11 by Michael Moore, The March of the Penguins by Luc Jacquet and Earth by Alastair Fothergill. It was due to the fact that its expensive, tasteless and has no health benefits at all. Shark meat and fins by the way has very high mercury levels (thanks to us humans), much like the tuna, swordfish and other large predator fishes in the sea. So by eating them we are poisoning ourselves.

The very basic of economics teach us that with more demand, and dwindling supply drives up the prices. And besides I think only its only the Chinese (older and may be middle aged?) who likes to show off how wealthy and "well versed" they are are the ones eating shark fins any ways. And I really loathe show offs. But I believe that the new generation of Chinese- like Yao Ming, are well informed, educated and responsible enough to make their own choice.

By the way, why are we saving elephants, tigers, polar bears, pandas, sea turtles etc and not sharks? Did you know that elephants, AIDS, famine and accidents kill more humans than sharks? And the other thing; HOW COME DON'T HAVE THIS MOVIE SHARKWATER IN MALAYSIA? To many powerful shark fin eaters there ar?

PS: If anyone of you would like to sign a petition to Save The Sharks, please click on the title of this article. Thank you

What I love...

Owen with his new toy push car

Look! There's something inside!!

• is when he loves to look for me when he wakes up first thing in the morning or from his nap time.
  
• When he just wants a cuddle and sit by my side -preferably not wriggling around. When he leans his head on my chest when he's sleepy or for more cuddles. When he laughs and plays with us.
  
• When he has on his mischievous grind over his face - "I'm going to do/up to something" grin.
  
• When he has his full concentration - doing the "big business", tearing up catalogues/flyers, trying to find out how does it work, how to play/start his toys.


• When he makes a real mess in my kitchen and the living room but still gives me a BIG smile to say "look! I've "re-arrange" for you!".
  
• When he "switches" TV channels for us.
  
• When he actually crawl around looking for me; in the kitchen, bathroom/toilet and bedroom just because.
  
• When I tell him bed time stories and sing/hum to him until he's sleepy.
  
• When can't wait for his food!

Look mum! I've re-decorate for you!

What I really hate....

• Is when he cries while pulling at my legs hungry/for attention WHILE I'M COOKING!

• When he cries if I put him in his bed.
  
• When I can't have time to be alone in the bathroom/toilet!!
  
• When he still wants to eat when he just ate 5 mins ago...
  
• When he switches off the DVD player/TV when we're watching DVD/TV.
  
• When he still can't understand the word "NO".
  
• When he can't wait for his food!!!

more to add to the list as he grows....