.: This Gift I Give :.

What is making a difference?

It is the opportunity to take the time each day to acknowledge the beauty around us, to appreciate the amazing people who touched us and to leave the world a better place each day through our thoughts, words and actions.

I am making a difference each day by sharing myself and my gift with grace and ease with all those who come into my life.

.: Jay Leno :.

Jay Leno ends the Tonight Show? Awwwwww...... I love this dude and his sense of humour! No more Saturdays and Sundays late nights watching the first half of his shows (I usually skip the interview parts).

For more, click here at E! News

.: Recipe : Cupcakes :.

May 30th, 4.17pm - I did it! Joy of joys! And my house is still in tact albeit it did NOT burn down! Pictures to be updated soon :) Off to the National Library now.....

I wanna bake cupcakes next - perhaps this weekend. I got this recipe from Nigella's site. And I remember my uncle's neighbour once gave me a recipe similiar to this (I remember the proportion was 1:1:1 of flour, butter & sugar), so it's kinda tested and proven.

Here's the recipe.

Bakes for 12

125 gram butter
125 gram self raising flour
125 gram caster sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp of vanilla extract
2 - 3 tbsp of milk
*you may add 2 - 3 tbsp of lemon juice, orange juice, or coffee as a substitute for milk

Bake for 15 - 2o mins in a preheated oven of 200 degrees

As simple as ABC, can? :)

Edited :
Icing frosting (recipe from Recipezaar)

2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk (I substitute orange juice for milk, all we need is actually some moist)
1/4 cup butter

A dot of colouring (to your liking)

So the proportion is 8:1 for sugar : butter right?
Milk add in a spoonful at a time til the desired consistency.

And since Rachel dear is coming over for the weekend, I shall make some for her! :)

.: Of Happiness :.

JC & Me

My parents and I attended my graduation dinner last night at Royale Chulan Hotel. But what should be a happy event, ended up making me feel a lil down.

Don't get me wrong, everything went quite smoothly. I went back to get my hair done at the saloon (nothing fancy, just some bouncy lil curls, which I love so much and makes me wanna save up to get my hair permed again *wink*), put on some make-up, manage to squeeze into my LBD and was on the way. Traffic was quite smooth so we there early then expected.

When the guest start to arrive, there was a lot of mingling around, socialising - catching up with ex-bosses and ex-lecturers and fellow students. Meet up with the ICAEW President, David Furst & Regional Services Director, Charles Carter. And of course an old and dear friend - Dr Raymond Madden, Executive Director of Learning and Development (he was the one who presented me my award two years back) - all the big shots of Institute.

The dinner started a lil late (but it was expected). Great entertainment from the Sunway college students (I guess it should be from the School of Performing Arts?)

Official photographer was taking away taking pictures and pictures and more pictures. As you all may know, I am not a big fan of taking photos (yes, I am not a cam-whore) so I have to put on this smile til my jaw hurts!

Went up on stage, took my "scroll" (I worked my arse off for just a piece of paper?) and that was it. The conclusion of my journey as a ICAEW student.

Asked me if I felt happy & proud of myself yesterday? I would say no, not really….

Asked me if I felt happy & proud of myself yesterday? I would say, it's more of a sense of relief that I do not have to re-sit the paper.

But was I ever happy & proud of this whole passing the exams and getting my cert and adding the abbreviation ACA behind my name? I am not really sure.

I find more happiness hanging around with my cousins, laughing at lame jokes Ben makes.

I find more happiness teaching Sunday School to lil Joshua, Ryan, Joel, Jovita, Jobina and Kevin on Sundays

I find more happiness spending time with my ol' high school friends, catching up and reminiscing the good ol days.

I find more happiness sitting on the swings in the playground outside my house.

I find more happiness looking the flowers or the rainbow in the skies or sitting at the beach enjoying the breeze caressing my hair.

I guess a part of me do not understand why I am not happy for the supposedly one of the most happiest moments in my life.

But in a way, a part of me already know why.

.: My Funny Friends & Me :.

This is a picture of my frens & me! :)

Shows how jakun some people can be.

But I love them still :)

.: Banana Leaf :.

Mmmm... My date is gonna bring me for banana leaf rice @ Brickfields. I love Indian food! Yum, yum! :)

It's already 9.27pm and I have not taken anything since morning til now, except for a cup of milo and a cup of coffee.

Work was really hectic today. And deadline is set tomorrow. And I am planning to take half day off to attend my graduation dinner. Ugh. Talk about Murphy's law!

.: 30 Hours Famine :.

You've got the power!

Now you may ask, is there really such thing as a food crisis? Maybe in third world countries, but what about in a developing country like Malaysia?

The answer is YES, food crisis is very real! I know it for a fact, coz I have been volunteering in Soup Kitchen for a couple of months now, and I have seen the poor and the homeless (expecting mothers, children and senior citizens included) right in the heart of the bustling of Malaysia's city center. It's not just double digits or triple digits, but there are thousands and thousands of people, just in this city alone that is suffering from poverty and hunger.
For a short 5 minutes low down on food crisis - pls click here.

Having said that, we are considered very blessed. In other places of the world, in every 7 seconds, a child dies of hunger. Because of the food crisis, tens of thousands more will die.

The 30 hours famine countdown will be held in Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil on 22nd August 2009 12pm to the 23rd August 2009 6pm. This year, internationally renowned Taiwanese pop star A-Mei will be the 30-Hour Famine Ambassador for World Vision Malaysia.

You could participate in 3 ways :
For more info on participation to this 30-hours famine drive - pls click here.

i) DIY Camp Leader

ii) DIY Camper

iii) Individual Participant - if you can't attend the Famine Camp, you can still make a difference by fasting on your own!

Most importantly is that as a participant, you must be devoted and committed to this cause.

As this is also a fund raising event, a coupon/booklet will be issued to all campers/individual to raise funds for the poor. A goal is set to :

RM 80 for students/non-working adult
RM 120 for working adults

NOW THAT YOU KNOW, THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

"The magnitude of the problem can seem overwhelming sometimes but we need to remember that it is solved one person at a time; and we can all be that one person for someone else." Dave Toycen, World Vision Canada President

.: Of Friends & Soulmates :.

Day 3 : I am still nursing my poor limping leg from the hiking at Apek Hill on Saturday (the hike - here & the photos - here).

I am so excited to have a girls night out with Qian,Xiao & Suk tonight! :)

Oh boy, do I have alot of things to do before flying off to UK next week! And of course the mental "To Do" list - which includes the annual spring cleaning of my room (or sty, whatever it is referred to), washing and vacumming my car (way overdue-ed), settling my banking stuff (yes, online banking is the way, but there are still some things that just requires you to be at the bank physically), preparing for this week's Sunday School (I have to look for pictures of different houses - tip pee, igloo, etc), finishing up the minutes of MDC meeting, ahhhhh..... the list is endless.

Darn. If there were only more hours in a day.

But then again, I'd most likely spend it slouchin on my self-cleaning *private joke* green couch, with the remote control in my palm (they say to know your soulmate, his hands will fit perfectly in your hand, as if you two were made specifically for one another.... so if my Astro remote control fits perfectly into my palm, does it mean that it's my soulmate? *dramatic gasps*), channel surfing the whole night thru.

Darn!

.: Relay For Life :.

Relay for Life : One World, One Hope!

From 6pm 30th May 2009 to 10am 31st May 2009

MSN Training Stadium, Bukit Jalil

03-2698 7300 (Anne/Clare/Elizabeth)

Participants will need to pay a fee of RM10 and will receive a T-Shirt upon registration.

Relay For Life (RLF) is participated by 23 countries worldwide. It is one of the world's largest cancer fundraisers (click here for worldwide timetable in 2009)

This RFL campaign is not just an awareness campaign but also to show support for those fighting with cancer and those who have fought and won, as well as a memorial for families and loved ones for those who lose their life to this cancer.

The 16 hours marathon will be filled with engaging activities and entertainments for both the young and the young at heart. There will be competitions, quizzes, treasure hunts and performance by local singers and children (click here for events timetable).

.: Bukit Apek : Photos :.

Photos I stole from other people's camera! :)
Credit goes to Uncle Albert, Gary & Christina

P/S : I don't like pictures with people. It's all about nature and should be enjoyed this way :)

The trees greeting us :)

It is really that steep. And unlike walking on stairs, you have to really watch your footing.

Wrong judgement, may cause you some serious injuries.

A small lil rainbow at the waterfall. So cute :)

Rainbow at a different angle :)

The waterfall (this is the upper waterfall of Bukit Apek)

Cute lil white fungus growing. Look like pretty lil flowers eh? :)

Even the grass on the rocks look pretty :)

The tree bark - up, close and personal :)

Enjoying nature - magnificent creations of God.

Now isn't it our responsibility to protect Mother Nature so that we can continue to enjoy this?

.: Bukit Apek (previously posted as Klang Gates) :.

Uncle Albert, JC & I will be conquerin Klang Gates hills this Saturday! :)

Update : Plan aborted. We are plannin to go to somewhere else to hike instead. Absolutely have no idea where it is. But I heard that there's a waterfall *big grin*

So there I was, walking towards this Apek Hill/Apeh Hill located in Taman Bukit Saga, Cheras (click here for map and further info), looking at it, and thought that it doesn't look that intimidating. In fact, it looks almost like Bukit Kiara, not that bad I said to myself.

As we reach the foothill, our leader, Gary, a member of the TME (The Malaysian Explorer) advised us to warm up or do a lil bit of stretching because the first 30 minutes or so hiking would be slightly strenuous and afraid that some of us might have cramps. I was trying to fake a smile, hoping that from an expert trekker like him, when he said "slightly strenuous" it would just mean that, not more.

10 minutes after taking a few steps up, I was huffing and puffing and silently cursing. This is NOT slightly strenuous. This is killing me! What was I doing here at such an hour in the morning when I could still be in bed, under my comforter, dreaming a lil dream of Mc Dreamy or something? Damn!

And we reached to a forked trail that has two route, labelled - Route A and Route B. Someone who was on the way down told us that Route A was more difficult and steep and Route B was a slightly more longer route, but fairly simpler. I was quietly praying that the leader, Gary would choose Route B. But yes, you guess it right, he opt for Route A instead.

So there I was, even more huffing and more puffing and more silent cursing. And I kid you not, this trek was absolutely steep. To say 90 degrees would be exaggerating, but it was about 65 - 75 degrees all the way. There was ropes tied to the tree trunks along some of the way, but there are times where you had to rely on nature - i.e. the tree bark, tree roots, stones, etc to hinge you up. Lesson 1 : Be careful of what you hold on to, as some tree barks have sharp thorns. I learn it the hard way as I grabbed a tree bark, but thankfully I did not press firmly before I realise that its actually thorny. A lady told me that she too learn from the hard way as there was one hike where she slipped and fall, and grabbed the nearest thing she could, only to injure her hand from the thorny barks.

After for what feels like an hour, we arrived at a resting point (Station 3). We detoured slightly to this man made pond (about 20 minutes from this - with really steep slopes downwards). I have no idea how this group of people, mostly uncles and aunties, could have carried big pails, pots and pans and even a sink to this place so set up a mini site. I could not barely carry myself. Lesson 2 : Never look down on the strength and endurance level of the elderly uncles and aunties. Never.

From this man made pond, it was another hour plus hike to the waterfall site, tho this was more of a flat terrains with very gradual slopes. JC commented that I can walk really fast on flat terrain than I can on steep ones. You see, flat trails are like walking around shopping complexes - I've done that a million times. No shopping complexes I went to has slopes. So yeah, go figure.

After one hour plus, and a couple of pit stops for drinking and resting, we were heading a steep, slippery slope down to the waterfalls (Accordingly, this is the top part of the waterfall. The bottom part is another trail - which I believe is a much simpler trail, but apparently that place is more crowded - hence, we went to the top part). The journey down this steep slope was very scary, and it being wet and slippery doesn't help. Instead of being all excited and looking forward to reach the waterfall, I was like thinking "How the heck am I going to climb up this? Oh please, please, please, let there be another route out, or I will be stuck here forever."

Upon arriving at the waterfall, I was feeling really calm for the moment, even tho that Gary told me that the route out is the same route in. I tried not to worry about it, let it be, and enjoy the moment. It was a bit disappointing that the waterfall wasn't as big and great at the waterfall in Ulu Yam, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

And how we hiked back up, that still remains a mystery to me, but we went back, and I live to tell this tale. We were out of Apek Hill at about 2.30 pm. Uncle Albert says that we have walked for almost 12km. Wow. Suddenly I don't feel so guilty for the Japanese buffet I went for at Saisaki anymore.

Would I do it again? No, not for now, until the memory of the pain I've experienced fades (if it ever would).

For now, I am still suffering from the muscle aches, walking like a limping dog....... And yes, a few broken toe nails and purple toe nails (my bad for not cutting them short before I went on this trip - now I'm paying the price for this mistake. Lesson 3 : Ensure that your toe nails are short beforehand)

So in conclusion, if you're a big fan of jungle trekking and what not, you may wanna try this route. But if it's your first time trekking, I suggest you try on Bukit Gasing or FRIM first a couple of times, before trying this one out (especially so if you're someone as unfit as me).

On a scale of 1 - 10, I give this a 7. With FRIM's trail being a 3.5 (minus the leech), Bukit Gasing/Gasing Hill 3 and Bukit Kiara/Kiara Hill 1. Uncle Albert says that Gunung Kinabalu/Mount Kinabalu would be a 9.5 and Bukit Nuang/Nuang Hill a 10. This is excluding Gunung Tahan, which may be the most challenging of the lot?

.: Leatherback Turtles :.

"Turtles play a critical role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy; the same ecosystems which sustain our fisheries and tourism industries that provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. Marine turtles are threatened with extinction due to various factors, including: the practice of consuming turtle eggs, marine and nesting beach pollution as well as illegal trade of turtles and their parts. Leatherback turtles have already been declared functionally extinct in Malaysia. In the 1950s, there were 10,000 leatherback nests in Rantau Abang each year; now there are less than 10. Moreover, turtle protection laws are inadequate. Please sign up and help save turtles."

I think the least we could do is to pledge our support for our priceless treasures. I never had the opportunity to see the Leatherback turtles @ Rantau Abang. And I hope that in the near future I would be able to!

I am a big believer that every pledge/vote/signature counts! :)

.: Fool :.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
~Jim Elliot~

.: Kids Say The Darndest Things :.

I suddenly remembered this.

At church during Mother's Day (10th May), cheeky lil Basil, one of my student in Sunday School, came up to me and said :

" Happy Future Mother's Day!"

=.= *sweat*

The witty things kids say nowadays! :)

Update : And below is the pic of cheeky Basil (taken by kor-kor BK @ Kampar). Tammie, you wanna adopt?

.: For Ben :.

Sometimes I just should give a lil more credit to my brother who is taking this better than I thought he would. In fact, better than I would if I were in his shoes. All the worrying on how he would take it, on what should I say to console him.... when I chatted with him thru MSN, he told me tho he is sad and dissapointed at his predicament, he's actually ok.

It just suddenly daunt me that he has really, really matured, and perhaps surpass my expectation of the man that he is. Yes, he's a man already, no longer a boy.

And I guess it's kinda difficult to let go of the image of this little brother I have that needs us all to protect and shelter him. Tho I will always love and care deeply for him, in a way, today's chat with him gave me comfort that he is "ready" for the outside world. The word I can think of (in Cantonese until I know the English word for it) is : fong sum. Really.

I guess this lil birdy has learn to fly :)

So proud of him!

Love you loads Ben! :)

.: Battle of Aliens, Monsters & Women(Sales) :.

SJian had free tickets (which he won from a contest) to watch the premier of Monsters vs Alien. So when he send me a text yesterday morning and since I was free for the night, I said ok.

So after work, I drove straight to One Utama to meet up with my mom and aunt to reserve some clothing which I've tried for today's (Thursday) Jaya Jusco Member Card sales. Tip : Always go the night before, try on the stuff that you wanna buy, and reserve it. We used to do that every year - and year by year, it seems more and more people are doing it. In fact, last night was already crowded, but it's nothing compared to today's crowd this kinda sales would draw. It's madness I tell you - went once and that was it.

Back to the movie, I met up with SJian, Qian & David and we proceed to GSC cinema. And to my delight, it was a 3D movie & the ushers gave us a pair of goofy lookin 3D glasses. Now, for someone who have not watched a 3D movie before (and I speak for the rest of the gang) we were like 5 year old kids, awe-ing and ooo-ing at the 3D graphics. It was great! So 3D-like, that there was one part where the animated character was playing ping-pong, and the ball was like aimed towards the screen and "pop" it feels like it almost hit your face. Thank goodness I did not embarrassed myself by ducking or something, but it would not have been as embarrassing as for this audience that actually screamed! :)

Before the movie, I was telling Qian that I wanted to keep the dorky glasses. It was only when Sjian highlighted to me that it has a magnetic thingy embedded in these glasses that prevents it from being stolen that shattered my devious plan. *lol* Ok, so I wasn't really going to take the glasses, I mean like, what am I to do with it? :)

Anyways, it was a good family movie, story line was ok, a few crude jokes for the older ones (or did I just imagined it?) and the 3D graphics made it all the better!

Go catch this movie at a cinema near you! :)

.: Buffet :.

I'm just back from a japanese buffet me and my colleagues had for lunch today. Boy, am I stuffed!~

Place :
Saisaki Buffet

Location :
Unit 1 - 9, First Floor, Wisma UOA II
Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur

Direct line :
03-2166 3728

Opening hours :
Monday - Sunday, including public holiday
(LUNCH : 12 noon - 2.30 pm)
(DINNER : 6.30 pm - 10.30 pm)

Price :
RM 43++ (for lunch)

Price I paid :
RM 24.73 net

Reason :
Coz there's an ongoing promotion for 50% off lunch (Mon - Fri only) & 30% off dinner (Mon - Thur only) from 5th May to 5th June 2009

Verdict :
Recommended : Aside from the fresh oyster & raw salmon, you must also try the teppanyaki & tempura (I loved the oyster tempura) & chawan mushi (it's really good).
Not recommended : Beijing duck (supposed to be a popular dish there, but it was dissapointing)
Overall verdict : Worth it for the price we paid. There's a wide variety & array of food. Tho lacking in the dessert department, there wasn't much room left for desserts anyways (first time in Kath's buffet history). Oh, and just make sure you make prior bookings (like we did) or you will end up having to wait for tables (like others did)!

Itadakimasu! :)

.: All About My Facebook :.

All about my Facebook account :)

Number of pictures : 54 pics (of which only 6 which I upload on my own, so as you can see, I am not a picture person)
Number of videos : nil
Number of notes : One (got tagged by SJian to write 25 random things bout me)

Average times logging in to Facebook : Almost everyday at work, very seldom during weekends
Average posting of status : Once or twice a week

Favourite applications : Visual bookshelf, Pet Society (use to be)
Least favourite application : Meaningless quizes like "What's Your Japanese Name" or "How Malaysian Are You" or "What Is Your Euro-Persona". But I've gotta admit I've taken a few (less than 3 ok) myself!
Most frequently used application : I would have to say that it used to be Pet Society, until a couple of weeks ago, when I just couldn't log in.

Number of friends to date : 467 friends
Briefly describe the group of friends : Ranges from my family members, primary school mates, secondary school mates, uni mates, uni lectureres, colleagues (at PwC & Hong Leong), church friends & other random people that I've crossed path with
Number of friends you have not met for 10 years : 3 - primary school friends whom I have not bumped into since.
Number of friends you have not met before : 9 people of which, 5 are my colleagues from Singapore which I have not met before, but only talked to on the phone & another 4 are my Pet Society friends (from Indonesia, Philipiness, USA & France)
Number of friends over 50 years old : 3 - church members *wink*
Number of friends over 70 years old : nil
Number of friends below 10 years old : nil (unless Tammie creates an account for Rach like she did with Friendster)

.: Home :.

I seriously think it's bout time I look for a home to settle down. I am already 24 this year. Can't be staying with my parents my whole life (not good for my mental sanity & parents-daughter relationship as well).

Would prefer an apartment, a nice balcony would be a bonus (so that I can have a mini garden).

But what's most important is a nice kitchen, a good set of stoves and an oven!

Yeah, below is my dream kitchen! :)

.: Over The Cookoo's Nest :.

Ok. So it's not really a cookoo's bird, but.....

.....there's a bird that has been construction it's nest just at the small bush tree right outside my house compound (the bush tree is situated right next to the main door actually - so it's actually protected from the rain and all). In fact, this is actually the second time a bird has built its nest on the same exact spot. Tho I highly doubt that it's the same bird couple, coz the first time it did, was like 4 - 5 years ago? How long is a bird's life span anyways? (yeah, terror-bibble general knowledge).

Anyway, it's nice to see a nest being constructed of literally bits and pieces of everything - twigs, strings, tissue papers and whatever junk that this lil bird can get it's hand (I mean beak) on.

Now just observing when this lil bird is gonna lay its eggs. Should be anytime soon, coz the nest looks like it's almost completed! :)

.: Jesus Wept :.

Jesus wept.

John 11 : 35 (NIV)

The most shortest verse. Yet the most profound.

Meditate on this.
Why did he wept even when he subsequently did raise Lazarus from the dead?

.: Angels & Demons :.

My date brought me to watch a Friday night movie : Angels & Demons in Berjaya Times Square. I particularly enjoyed this movie very much, tho it's been highly controversial among the Christian, especially of the misconceptions & stereotype that this movie may give of Christian (especially Catholics). It is very important to realise that this movie is purely fiction, and only meant to be enjoyed as it is, and not for anything else.

But I am sure that the audience (it's rated 18PL*) should be mature enough to do so eh? :)

* Note :

18SG :For 18+ with non-excessive violent/ horrifying scenes

18SX : For 18+ with non-excessive sex scenes

18PA : For 18+ with political/ religious/ counter-culture elements

18PL : For 18+ with a combination of two or more elements

.: Why? :.

When I was way way way younger, sitting at the backseat of my dad's car, while looking out from the back windscreen.... I remember asking my dad:

"Daddy, why is the moon always following us?"

For some bizzare reasons, the memory of this particular incident and conversation seems so clear, like it just happened a few days ago.

On a random note - I love my dad to pieces!

And I know he loves me too...... coz I will always be his lil princess! :)

.: Autumn Leaves :.

I received this message from an unknown number (overseas number) yesterday morning while driving to work...

"It's autumn! The leaves are turning red and gold. Waiting to fall off so that new leaves can grow. I hope your problems are like the leaves, fall off so that new problems can grow? Lol. Anyway, have a nice day! Don't reply, just wanna use up all my credit."

Then minutes later, another message from the same number came.

"Oh shit! Does it cost you to receive my sms? No right? Lol. I forgot this is international. Oh well, you are rich, nevermind la!"

To which at that point, I replied (while waiting for the traffic light to turn green - just to emphasise that I did NOT texted while driving!)

"If you think it cost me, why are you sending two messages to me then? Anyways, it only cost 50 cents to send you an sms :) I believe you must be Fei (shortname for my friend Angelia), but if you are not, please identify yourself as I do not have your ID."

To which I receive a reply

"So cheap! 50 cents for friendship man! Lol. Yes, this is your most beloved Fei. The person you will never be able to get rid off the rest of your life :)"

And I honestly hope so :)
This message made my day yesterday, knowing that I have someone out there thinking of me still! :)

Who is this Fei? Read here to find our more! :)

.: Grace :.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1 Corinthians 15 : 10 (NIV)

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Corinthians 15 : 10 (KJV)

This verse struck a very deep meaning to me, when I was reading it just the other day. And I was greatly humbled by my interpretation of the meaning behind this.

People’s misconception about being Christianity is that, once you become a Christian, you have a rather smooth-sailing life. I do not agree.

We encounter the same problems a non-believer does. And sometimes, to an even greater extend. We suffer from diseases and illnesses. We get hurt or betrayed not only by others but also by our Christian brothers/sisters. We are not shield from financial crisis. We are not spared of famine or poverty. And we face the same worldly temptations. Worse of all, we face persecution (whether directly or indirectly) for standing firm on our faith

But sometimes we succumb to pressure, and we stray away from the righteous path that God wants us to follow. And sometimes, we realize that, seek for forgiveness from God, and work our way back to the right path. We work hard to come back to that path and work even harder to stay on it.

Take Danny, a Christian, for example.

“Hey! I think did pretty good with my life. I mean, yeah, I backslide and was ex-drug addict once. I went to rehab. It wasn’t easy for me. I struggled to come clean. I was kicked back to the streets. I had nothing left, but the clothes on my back. My family disowned me. I struggled depression. But hey, I got out of it. And look at me now, a successful businessman and also serving God in my church ministry.

I mean, I could have fallen back into the addiction again. There were many points in my life where I nearly did. And my life would have been wasted. But look at what I did? I overcome it all.

But boy did I work hard to be where I am today! ”

Which is a GREAT testimony!

But then God ask – you Danny? You did that all yourself? Yes indeed you had to work extra hard to get your life back to the right track. But it wasn’t all you. It was MY GRACE that was with you.

Think about it. There are times in life where we struggle. Whether its from a drug addiction or financial problems or conflict with others. But we manage to see through it, coz we have the GRACE OF GOD with us.

Isn’t it wonderful?

If God puts you to it, He will see you through it.

.: Yes? No? :.

It's time for a change......
What do you guys think of the new layout? Like it? No?
Leave your comments here :)

Update : Someone please enlighten me on how to edit the borders? It's like too thick. I am very sure there's a way.

.: Swine Flu :.

It was once said that a black man would be president "when pigs fly". Indeed, 100 days into Obama's presidency.... SWINE FLU!

Ok, jokes aside, on a more serious note - what is this swine flu all about?
Stay tune to find out! :)

What is swine flu (H1N1)?

Like people, pigs can get influenza (flu), but swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. Swine flu doesn't often infect people, and the rare human cases that have occurred in the past have mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. But the current swine flu outbreak is different. It's caused by a new swine flu virus that has changed in ways that allow it to spread from person to person -- and it's happening among people who haven't had any contact with pigs. What happen is the pig's respiratory cells can be affected by many type of flue (bird, human, mammals) and functions as a mixing pot. This is when the virus evolves and become this H1N1 we have today. And bear in mind, this virus is continueosly mutating, hence, vaccine that is effective last year may not be effective this year.

The Symptoms.

The symptoms are exactly the same as your regular flu symptoms, which includes (but not limited to) runny nose, body aches, chills, coughs, fever, vommiting, diarrea. So this could only mean that you or your doctor couldn't tell the difference. The only way is to have your blood tested by the lab.



The Cure

Well, if you are infected with swine flu - here's the good news. You can be cured by antiviral drugs such as Relenza (zanamivir) & Tamiflu (oseltamivir), provided that flu like symptoms are only present for less than 48 hours. In fact, according to scientist, some people that contracted this virus are able to recover without any treatment at all.

The Prevention

Well, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. The simplest steps such as maintaining good hygene such as washing your hands more frequently, avoid touching your mouth, eyes or nose, etc are recommended by CDC. And of course, refrain visiting countries such as Mexico.


Want to know more? Here are some links for you to note.

http://www.webmd.com/
http://www.medicinet.com/


Which brings me to the final, most important question -
Can I still eat pork?
Well, good news is yes, you can. Swine flu virus is not transmitted by food, tho you must make sure that the pork is thoroughly cooked and all the germs are killed (recommended internal temp of 160 degrees).

Thinking of having your bakuteh now?

Don't forget to invite me along!~

.: Captivating :.

Michelle loan me this book Captivating last week, and didn't really had the time to open it til last night (after finishing Zodiac). I've only manage to finish one chapter (it was already 2am).

Will read more tonight :)

.: Zodiac:.

Reading this spine chillin non-fiction novel by Robert Graysmith......

Updated : Finish reading. Think I should stop reading too much crime & sadist novel (fiction & non-fiction alike). Starting to think like them already. *evil snickers*

.: As We Stroll Along Together :.

Two people, no matter how similar they are, will tend to be different in one way or another. There are no set of gloves in the world that will be an absolute perfect fit. No two individual the exact replica of each other.

Because this is the way that God has made us to be. This is what makes us all individually unique and beautiful in our own ways. And this is what makes the world an interesting, wonderful place to live in.

As we interact with one another, we learn a lil bit more about each other, and we learn a lil bit more about ourselves. We learn to give and take. We learn share what's mine and what's yours to be what's ours. We learn to be there for one another, but also learn to give each other space.

We learn to love and hold on tightly, but we learn to complete that love by letting go. We learn to be comfortable to laugh at each other's fault, we also learn to comfort each other of their sorrows and fears. And even many, many years down the road, we will still be learning all these things and discover new things about each other, for the process of learning will never stop. And that is what makes all relationship interesting.

The road ahead may not always be smooth. There will be some bumps and portholes along the way. But I am glad that we are travelling down this road together, hand-in-hand today and in the next fifty years to come.

Happy 3rd Anniversary….

.: This Lil Piggy :.

This little piggy went to market

This little piggy stayed at home

This little piggy had roast beef

This little piggy has none

And this little piggy cried "wee, wee, wee" all the way home

My colleague is so sweet. She gave me a Jamie Oliver Cookbook. An E-Book, but a book nonetheless.

I was thinkin of doing up roast beef! :) Mmmmmmmm........

.: Always On Your Side :.

Always On Your Side
Sheryl Crow & Sting

My yesterdays are all boxed up and neatly put away
But every now and then you come to mind
'Cause you were always waiting to be picked to play the game
But when your name was called, you found a place to hide
When you knew that I was always on your side.

Well everything was easy then, so sweet and innocent
My demons and my angels reappeared
Leavin' only traces of the man you thought I'd be
Too afraid to hear the words I'd always feared
Leavin' you with so many questions all these years.

Is there some place far away, some place where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are you left to wander, all alone, eternally
This isn't how it's really meant to be
No, it isn't how it's really meant to be.

Well they say that love is in the air, but never is it clear,
How to pull it close and make it stay
Butterflies are free to fly, and so they fly away
And I'm left to carry on and wonder why
Even through it all, I'm always on your side.

Is there some place far away, some place where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are we left to wander, all alone, eternally ?
But this isn't how it's really meant to be
No, it isn't how it's really meant to be.

Well they say that love is in the air, never is it clear
How to pull it close and make it stay
Butterflies are free to fly, why do they fly away ?
Leavin' me to carry on and wonder why
Was it you that kept me wandering through this life ?
When you know that I was always on your side.

Always on Your Side - Sheryl Crow And Sting

.: Lost & Found :.

Remember the jigsaw puzzle pieces that were missing?

I found it!

Or rather, Mummy found it while doing some house cleaning.

Oh! Joy of joy! :)

.: YoGa Pose :.

Today at yoga class I saw this elderly man (definately above 55 years) did the Urdhva Dhanurasana pose (also known as Upward Bow Pose or Wheel Pose).




My jaw dropped - I mean, how can this old man be so flexible?

Then the yoga teacher turned to me and asked me if I would like to try. You see, today in class, there was only three of us. The elderly man has been practising yoga for close to 30 years. The lady for 8 years. And me - a few days short from six months.


I was like "Are you even sure I can do that?"

I mean, can you imagine a hippo in that pose? Yeah, neither can I, hence, the scepticism.

To which he replied "Well, you can try!"

I reluctantly agree to try, which slight comfort knowing that I'm insured (under Prudential *wink*) if anything should happen to me. Tho I'm not very sure if it covers injuries due to stupidity attempting nearly impossible yoga poses.

But to my utter surprise - I did it.

I mean, I actually did the Urdhva Dhanurasana pose!

So proud of myself.

It was like on-top-of-the-mountain-high feeling for me....................



.............until I realise I do not know how to get out of that pose.

I went like "Oh no! How do I get out of this pose" to which everyone laughed, including the yoga teacher who helped me dislodge my pose. >.<

.: Be Careful :.

Edited (7th May) : Another similiar incident in Kota Bahru.

Robbed of her most precious thing - her life. Such irresponsible acts of such snatch thieves!

JOHOR BARU: The killers on motorcycles have done it again — this time, snatch thieves took two lives when they tried to rob pregnant Jamilah Selamat.

Jamilah, 31, suffered severe head injuries after falling from her motorcycle on Sunday. She died at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital at 7.30am yesterday without regaining consciousness.

Her husband of seven months, trader Razali Ahmad, 41, was a distraught man yesterday.
For him, the tragedy was harder to take because he had just started to taste happiness again after five years when his first wife died of cancer.

The tragedy also leaves Jamilah’s two children from her first marriage — Norasyikin Salleh, seven, and Mohd Khairi Ridwan Salleh, five — without their mother. They looked dazed and clung to their crying stepfather.

Razali said he was told by an eyewitness — his older brother’s friend — that his wife had hit the pavement face first and did not move after that.
“The witness told me that he saw two men on a motorcycle flee the scene immediately after Jamilah fell, and her bag was nowhere to be seen,” he told reporters at the hospital mortuary yesterday.

Razali said Jamilah, a handicraft dealer, was on her way home to Taman Mekar after work that day.

Jamilah had lost her handbag to snatch thieves last year but escaped unharmed. A friend advised her to twirl the handbag around the rearview mirror for a tighter hold.

That move may have been fatal.

In mourning: Razali with his stepchildren Norasyikin and Mohd Khairi at the mortuary yesterday.

When the snatch thieves grabbed Jamilah’s bag, they pulled her motorcycle, causing Jamilah to fall.

“I never thought that I would lose her this way. We were expecting our child, we have only been married for seven months ... I lost my first wife to bone cancer and now, I have lost Jamilah and baby,” he said.

Razali has two teenage children from his previous marriage.
Jamilah and the unborn child were buried at the Ayer Hitam cemetery yesterday.
Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Ibrahim Arif confirmed police received a report on the incident.

Eyewitnesses are urged to contact the police hotline at 07-2212999.

In 2004, a Nanyang Siang Pau clerk, Chong Fee Cheng, 37, died after she lapsed into a coma following a snatch theft in Taman Molek, Johor Bahru.

In December last year, snatch theft victim Lim See Nya, 58, was run over by a three-tonne truck when she lost her balance and fell onto the road, after a motorcycle pillion rider grabbed her handbag in Bukit Mertajam.

Source : The Star

.: Sssshhhh.... It's Our Lil Secret :.

Sssshhhh....

Lemme let you in on a lil' secret.
*looks left and right to make sure no one is around*

Mummy is going to go back to Malacca this Friday.

*evil snickers*

Which means that I can.......... *rub hands gleefully*

...... use her kitchen and start cooking & baking!

Mummy (like most women I know) are exceptionally territorial when it comes to her kitchen. So, I'm gonna take this opportunity to cook what I have intended to cook for a very long time.

SHEPHERD'S PIE.......

Any good recipes?

.: Long Weekend, In Short :.

30th April, Thursday night
Movies with JC and his audit team.
Watched :

Verdict : It was an ok movie, not that horrorfying as I would expect it to be....

1st May, Friday night
Dinner with Daddy (it's Daddy's birthday), Mummy, Ah Ee and JC
Dine at :

Verdict : Food was good, love the variety of sauces! I has golden porridge soup base. Nice!

2nd May, Saturday morning
Needed some relaxation, was really, really, really tired
Facial at :
Verdict : Just love a relaxin facial! Exactly what I need!

3rd May, Sunday morning
Taught Sunday School. Three students in my class only - Ryan, Joshua & Joel :)
Taught about :

Verdict : I just love 'em kids! They are such joy to teach to...and of course, learn from! :)



Had so much activity this long weekend, that I'm just so sleep deprived. Having weird dreams at night had elevated this deprivation.

Again, suffering from the Monday blues! :(

.: 38 - As In SamPat :.

My cousin Tammie did this in her blog. Not wanting to do it, but want the enjoyment of mindlessly filling up tags and all, I will add on to what she has already wrote. Yes, I really don't have a life. Sue me.

Full name:: Tammie >> Full name is Tamie Tan Ming Ai (spelt with only one 'M')
What are you most commonly called by?: Ming Ai or Tammie >> Or Ah Mie
Age:: 18 plus >> Old enough to drive?? Ohmygosh!
Do you act your age?: Most of the time :) >> When she's around family members, she rarely act her age :)
Shoe size:: not telling :P >> A size or two bigger than mine. Either I have really small feet, or she's BIGFOOT! :)
Height:: 167cm last time i checked >> No way are you two cm taller than me. We just checked like the recent CNY and I am so taller than you. Go check again!
Weight (if you don't want to share just put "x"): x >>*wink*
Who lives in your house?: me,daddy,mommy,Rachel & Kevin. >> And me when I come to Malacca :)
In your immediate family: dad,mom,bro & sis >> Yay!Happy family! :)
Do you get along with your parents?: Most of the time. >> Isit really? *lol* Yeah, she does get along with her parents most of the time :)
Do you get along with your siblings?: Not with Kevin. HAHA. >> From the day Kevin was born.
Do you tell your parents everything, or nothing?: Nothing they don't need to know. >> On a need to know basis only *wink* The rest she will tell me. Right? Right?
(assuming you do) How long have you had your own room?: 18 long years. >> So nice. I had to share mine until I was like 14?
What's your perfect meal?: Sushi everyday. >> Yum yum!
Do you wear jewelry?: If you consider ear rings. >> And she has loads of them :)
What is your general mood?: Thankful :) >> When she was younger, it was grumpy. She was known as Grumpy Pot :) Yeah, it's true. Ask you mom!
Can you cook?: Yes. (don't gimme that look) >> *Gives her that look*
How often do you use the word "sketchy" in conversation?: None. >> Do you even know what it means? *lol*
What would be an alternative word?: No. >> *nods head*
What's your favorite drink?: Milo! >> Not alcohol? Hmmmm...... *wink*
Describe your music taste:: Pop Punk, R&B and Country >> And Chinese pop!
What's your favorite love song(s)?: I don't really have one..But I like anything that's touching. >> Her fav song is "Ring My Bell" which she loves after playing GTA on PS2. Irritated the life out of me when she sings it while I'm napping! Remember Tam?
What kind of music do you listen to when you're sad?: Simple Plan or Taylor Swift. >> Call me, I will sing for your "Ring My Bell"! :)
How many pets do you have?: Used to have 4 turtles. Died one by one. >> I wonder why?
Where do you like where you live?: On top a mountain overlooking a beach. >> Cool!
What stores do you shop for clothes at?: I go from Padini to Chic Avenue. >> She shops EVERYWHERE!
Are you athletic?: Not really. But I have a pretty good stamina coming form a person who don't exercise regularly. >> Erm, shopping is an exercise to you isn't it? Like 4 hours in a row, non-stop! That's how you built your stamina! :)
What do you order when you go to starbucks?: Nothing. I don't like coffee. >>Starbucks have warm chocolate....Lovely :)
Which of the 7 dwarves are you most like?: Doopy? haha... >> *lol* My favourite too!~
Which of the 7 deadly sins best fits you?: I gossip quite a lot.... >> Alot is an understatement of the year ok! Hehe :)

Have you ever:
Ran away from home?: Nope. >> Nearly wanted too, but I stopped her! And she wanted to hitch-hike all the way to KL *wink*
Been out past curfew?: Yup.Dad called. >> Naughty, naughty!
Gotten lost?: Haha.Yes. Thank God I found everyone at last. >> Bad sense of direction. Genetics?
Snuck out of your house?: Nope. >> Good girl! :)
Danced in the rain?: I wished I had! >> You should! Its really, really fun! Trust me! *wink*
Wished on a star?: Yes. But I forgot what.haha. >> That you and Wentworth Miller will be together forever, happily ever after? *lol*
Watched the clouds?: It's my fav thing to do! Clouds are stunningly beautiful. >> Yeah, they are aren't they? Like lil cotton candy fluffs! :)
Smoked?: Nope. And I would NEVER try. >> Very good girl! :)
Been drunk?: The most alcohol I drank it two mouthfuls. >> Is it? *wink*
Been depressed?: There was a period. >> All of us do...
Been lonely?: Yup. Just like Akon :) >> Yeah, again, all of us do!
Been afraid of the dark?: Not too much. >> More afraid of things that goes bump in the dark? :)
Stayed up all night?: My record was until 4am. >> Break your record! :)
Slept all day?: My record was until 1pm. >> Again, break your record! *Your mom is gonna kill me for such encouragements*
Gone streaking?: Nope. >> *lol*
Gone skinny dipping?: Heck no. >>*lol* This one, I'm not gonna encourage! :)
Played strip poker?: In your dreams.. >> If she plays poker, she will be the ONLY one stripping *lol*
Been on a roof?: Yes.haha. >> Where? So nice! :)
Been put in a trashcan?: No.. >> Why would you be put in a trashcan anyways?
Willingly?: No. >> Again, why?
Egged or Tee-peed a house?: Nope. >> She's a girl. Only boys will do something that stupid! *lol*
Eaten squid?: Yes. Fried squid. >> Yummy!
Sushi?: Love em' >> And she can make them too *a lil promo for my couz!*
Broken something valuable of yours?: Yes..forgot what. >> Too many to remember?
That wasn't yours?: Yes.Gosh I felt so awful afterwards. >> You should, especially coz it's MINE! Hehe! :)
Made a prank call?: Yes.. >> I made one to her friend too, remember Tam? :)
Done something illegal?: Nope. >> Are you really, really sure? *wink*
Been in love?: No. But lots of 'like' >> What happened to Wentworth Miller, your one true love?
Regretted something you did?: Yes. >> All of us do!
Regretted something you didn't do?: No... >> Like not calling her couz! Yeah!
Lied to your parents?: Yes. >> Tsktsktsk!
Lied to your friends?: Yes. >> Tsktsktsk again!
Cheated on somebody?: Nope.. >> Cheated on Wentworth over McDreamy!
Made somebody cry?: I dunno.. my sis i think >> Yeah, you bullied her! Bad jie jie!
Cried yourself to sleep?: YES. Homesick then.haha. >> Where you went till you're homesick?

Currently:
Are you a happy person?: Generally. >>Yay! :)
Are you a lucky person?: Sometimes :) >>Yay! :)
Are you a virgin?: I'm still proud to be one. >>Yay! :) *Gosh, is this thingy going to end yet? I'm tired already*
Do you do your own laundry?: um..no. mummy's doing it :) >> Mummy so nice! :)
Do you get angry easily?: If the person who provoked me is my bro then yes! >> Well, don't blame you, he can be really irritating at times! Payback for "Ring My Bell" I suppose? *wink*
Do you love your life?: Big chunks of my life I do :D >>Yay! *Are we there yet?*
What kind of socks do you wear?: Black ones to school.Basically I dont wear socks. >> Stinky shoes. *Are we there yet??*
Describe your clothing style:: Casual and feminine. >> Yay! *ARE WE THERE YET?*
Do you wear weather appropriate clothes?: It's always HOT here. >> It is hot isn't it? *Gosh, I so regret doing this now!*
Do you wear age appropriate clothes?: Haha.I still can't get enough of teen stuff. >> You are not going to be a teen for long now, enjoy it while it last. Muahahahah. *Why are we NOT there yet?*
Do you wear gender appropriate clothes?: oh yeah.Being a girl rocks. >> Yeah! We can wear pants AND skirt. How cool is that? *wink*
Do you have a lot of friends?: My friends keeps changing as I go different places.. >> And as you go older!
Are you clumsy?: Used to be.. >> Still is
Are you organized?: No! >> I agree *Gosh! Why did I do this in the first place?*
Do you like parties?: As long as it doesn't get out of hand.. >> As long as she doesn't have to organise it. Refer above!
Do you like dressing fancy / formally?: Like it? I love it! >> Yeah, should have seen the signs when she was a small tod and love playing dressing up!
How often do you use your cell phone?: At least once a day. >> Only ONCE? Unbelievable. Her hp is like one of her vital limbs. Can't survive without it!
Do you have a lot of natural energy?: Yes. I dunno where I get it from.LOL. >> From sugar? *Gosh, I am so gonna give up now!*
Are you doing well in school?: Kinda..haha.. >> NERD!

Friends and Love
Which is more active: your social life or your work life?: Social life. >> Yeah! You don't work!~
Do you treat your friends well?: That, you have to ask them XP >> Nopez!
Do they treat you well?: They are amazing! Can't ask for more. >> Of coz, that's why she's your most favouritest couz right? *cough*cough*
Who do you trust the most?: Tzyy Ning I suppose.But sometimes she betrays me.haha. >> I thought it was me? *feeling really hurt & betrayed*
Who do you like to shop with?: Yin~~ had fun today >> Anyone but me I suppose! Haha! Her favourite line is "I hate shopping with an accountant, everything is about $ and it's about saving them, not spending them. Sigh!!"
Who is the craziest?: Xin Ying! >> I thought it's Ben?
Who is the shyest?: Kar Nee..?hehe
Who's the stupidest?: umm...ALL my friends are SMART. Even if they aren't, mixing with me would've sharpen their mind. LOL. >> Please la! *I'm sleepy now!!!!!!!*
Who can you be serious with?: Davin >> Who is this Davin? The boyfriend? Why never intro to us? *wink*
Who has betrayed you?: Tzyy Ning! >> Tsk,tsk,tsk. Off with her head! :)
Do you lie to your friends to make yourself look better?: No way man. >> Yeah, Tam lies to herself to make herself look better. *lol*
Who do you act like yourself around?: Every single one of my crazy friends! >> And MORE crazier with her couz! :)
How many boyfriends have you had?: None. >> Yeah right, I believe you...
How many do you still talk to?: haha..none. >> Refer above
Have you ever got your heart broken?: YES. >> Kesian-nya.... *sayang*
Have you ever broke somebody elses?: Not that I know of...oh wait..there's this one. >> Only one? You heartbreaker!
Have you ever been kissed?: Yes. By Rachel! >> Oh! Oh! So have I!~
By how many people?: 1 >> What bout me? I used to kiss you alot when you're lil! Coz you're as cute as a tomato! :)
Do you give a lot of hugs?: Tonnes :) >> Awwww.... *hugz*
Have you ever said "i love you" and meant it?: Yup >> When you say I love you, you should mean it right? :)
Is love a mistake?: Nope! >> Love is never a mistake!
Does love last forever?: Definitely! >> God's love for His children will last forever and ever. Human to another human may fade (coz nobody can love perfectly the way God loves us!)
Have you ever loved somebody so much that you thought of them every day?: I wouldn't say that's love but it certainly was serious like. >> Oo0o0o... Your big crush eh? :)
Prayed for a chance with them?: I didn't have the courage to.... >> Should have gone up to him and ask " Would you be my bf pls?" Hehe :)
Have you ever fallen out of love?: I suppose so.. >> Hmmm.. how can you fall out without falling in?
Are you a loving person?: I would say so. I'm to emotional to know any better. >> Yes, you are a loving person! I attest to that :)

Would you ever:
Eat pizza with chocolate chips?: no.gross. >> Why not? Anythin with choc sounds gooooood. Mmmmm....
Elope?: Huh? I'm not that crazy..I'll want my family afterwards too. >> I'm so gonna kill you if you ever elope! I wanna be the bridemaid :)
Be a nun?: HaHa..um..no. I'm not catholic. >> It has been your life long dream to get married. At 24. And have kids at 25. Gosh. You're scary!
Give money to a homeless person?: Yes. But i'd rather buy them food. >> As long as you help them from your heart, that's all that matters.
Wreck somebody's car?: No way.... >> Coz she hasn't started driving yet. If she has, stay away from her! *remember Rachel was screaming when you were test driving your dad's car? * *lol*
Say hi to a stranger?: YES! haha...laughed myself silly afterwards. >> Ohhh... Must be a Wentworth lookalike!
Have a conversation with a stranger?: Yeah..haha..it was awkward >> Who was it?
Go on a blind date?: No. Unless.....haha >> Unless you're already 23 and still not seeing anyone! Then you are SO DESPRATE! :)
Be vegetarian?: Maybe someday..meat is getting too unhealthy. >> More than 500 calories is so NOT sexy *wink*
Kill somebody?: Heavens no. >> Well, you broke someone's heart...so you have figuratively "killed" him. Poor fella!

Finally, I'm done. Took me a period of 3 days to complete this. Remind me again not to be so 38.