A new sister blog!

I recently added a new blog. I initially planned to set up the blog for posting up photos, which I eventually changed my mind. Rather, it's all about books I have recently read and will be reading in the future. Do check it out here.

You can also follow the link - Recent reads on my "Frequent Sites" bar.

Allow me to digress a little. On Thursday, I woke up and felt pain on the heel of my left foot. I am somewhat unable to explain the sort of pain. It's like the pain you feel after a hard stomp on tiling floor. All I can remember is when I woke up in the middle of the night, having gone to the toilet to ease myself, then I knew the pain was coming from my heel, but I didn't expect it to be that painful.

That whole day, I was limping. I couldn't even step on my left foot. I tried massaging it every now and then but I still cannot decipher what caused the pain. I came home, told hubby about it. I thought he would show some concern instead he said " Aiyah, it's nothing one. Sometimes, it happens!!" I thought to myself, oh ok.. perhaps it's normal to most people though abnormal to myself as this is my first time!! Still, I had hoped for the pain to go away and thank God it did gradually subside.

On Saturday, suddenly I looked down at my left heel and saw really dark bruise around my heels. It was on both sides and around the left heel. It was shocking!! I quickly woke hubby up from his afternoon nap (I'm not that cruel, it was about time for him to wake up anyway) and showed him my foot! Sleepily he awoke and his eyes just went wide upon seeing my foot. The next thing I knew, he got so worried and wanted to take me to the doctor!

It was just so funny thinking of his reaction and the very sentence he said to me, "Aiyah, it's nothing one!!" I used it back at him and earned the abashed grin of guilt.

Here's my bruised heel... sob sob.

Water delights at Canada Bay

We have some friends (a couple and a toddler) visiting us from Malaysia and will be staying till after Easter as their main reason here was to visit the Royal Easter Show in the Olympic Park.

I went to the show in 2007 that is last year, but really to call it merely a show does not represent what it's really like. It's a huge carnival so to speak, one of the biggest event of the year. The part which enthuse me is the showbags. For only $10 or $20, you can get lots of goodies which is of great value. It feels like a Russian matryoshka doll where you'd expect one surprise after another with many goodies inside the showbag.

Anyway, that's not my point of blogging today. It's Easter season and Good Friday today to be specific. To say these words loosely and not ponder on the reason for the season is such a thwart. This is a day of celebration for we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! AMEN! (I can hear my mum's voice echoing behind my ears!).

Moving on, again that's not my point of blogging although it's of high importance that we remember and give Him countless praise for dying on the cross for us and raising from the dead. This is Jesus Christ's victory over death and his resurrection means we have eternal life because we believe in Him. Coming back to my point of blogging, I am surprisingly pleased to have found a new place to go for picnics in the future. It is only 5 minutes drive away with a beautiful and scenic drive there. It's surrounded by a beautiful bay in a nice suburb known as Canada Bay. I would love to bring my family there next time.

I also had a test drive on my favourite car at the moment, Honda CR-V Luxury. Our friend's sister came to visit her brother who's staying with us now in her new car. I was so thrilled that she allowed me to drive them to the bay. It was a nice and smooth drive, particularly along the bay. It was supreme!

So, that was our outing for the day. A nice place to spend our time as everywhere else is closed for Good Friday.

Favourite HK actresses

Was watching a movie through Youtube shown in several parts called Sex and the Beauties. I quite enjoyed the movie, I must say although Edison Chen and Cecilia Cheung acted in those. They were not the protagonist, but rather it was because of Carina Lau and Athena Chu that I continued watching. It wasn't anything derogatory, only kissing at the most. I've always loved the maturity and classy look of Carina and the cute beauty of Athena. Here's just to share with you a clip of Athena dueting with a Singaporean actor, Chen Han Wei in a song known as Guan Huai Fang Shi.



Carina also sang a song with Jeff Chang, a song which I like too. Here goes...

Reality or imaginary?

Sometimes, I really have to smack myself around to wake me up from living in an imaginary world. It does not exist, only in my thoughts. I've always loved to write stories or even do screenwriting. But my language is too poor and I can hardly express myself..

Wasn't it supposed to be TGIF? Part 2

I am not someone who has a lot of patience. I can choose to be patient on certain things, but at times like these, I can just flip. The next day ie Saturday, I had a wondrous mood to clean up the house. When my mood is affected in that manner, I just loved to clean up the house. Eventually, I not only cleaned the house, I did a makeover too. 2 years living under this roof, same furniture, same arrangement, same way of cleaning. Time for a change I thought. Of course I didn't replace the furnitures but I rearrange some of them. I asked Andrew to leave the house so I can do things my way and my space without hindrance. So, he went out for shopping. 3 hours later, Andrew came home to almost a new and nice place and we were both glad again. It felt like a therapy to me!

So, I spent the later part of the afternoon just surfing the net. It was pretty tiring cleaning up the house, so I wanted to just sit and not move around anymore. I must say, I still cannot get over Lydia Shum's death. For those of you who don't know who she is, she is an entertainer ie actress, comedian and singer from Hong Kong and was much loved by everyone who watches her show. She was in the showbiz for 40 years and most asian chinese know her. She's only 62 and is survived by her only daughter, Joyce. I stumbled upon her blog and read an entry of hers. She's only 21 but she is definitely the most mature 21 year old I've ever known, judging from her manner, and particularly during the memorial service for her mum. Her father was verbally attacked by a close friend of the mother's, asking him what part has he played in the daughter's life all these while. I've attached the video clip below.



Anyway, to cut the whole story short, she was reviewing the movie "Evan Almighty" and wrote that the line which struck her was when Morgan Freeman who played God said “Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”

Wow, it took me a good minute or two to let that phrase sink in and how it applied to the ordeal on Friday. We always ask from God, yet we thought we never receive. But have we ever realized that God actually was wanting to give us what we ask, but in ways we never expect to receive. Hence, people who never learned through the "hard" way, will never have claimed to receive what they asked for. Andrew, being the wise man he is, did try to alleviate my stress by explaining the same analogy to me, just that it didn't hit as hard as I was not thinking straight. So, mum was right too, that we have to thank and praise the Lord at all circumstances. Indeed, Romans 8:28 says,"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God".

Wasn't it supposed to be TGIF? Part 1

I supposed I could still thank God for it, like what my mum always tells me, in all circumstances, give thanks and praise to the Lord.

Last Friday was not an ideal day for me. We drove to work in the morning, as is every morning. The battery warning light has come out several times, but we couldn't understand why. We filled in water before and serviced our car regularly. It can't be the battery we thought, although I knew something needs attention immediately. I dropped Andrew off and drove to work, which is almost about 45 minutes away depending on traffic. I prayed so hard to God, hoping that the car won't break down. Every sets of traffic lights made me worry more and more. Everytime I stopped the car, it makes a strong vibration. I tried to avoid the long traffic by using a 'safer' route. Just imagine, it was almost 9am, the busiest time of the day. Soon, it was almost 200meters to the workshop. My workplace was closeby too. Just the last sets of traffic lights which I had to endure, and I really prayed that the car will not break down. I stopped for the last time as the lights turned red, and within seconds, the engine went off. It was completely silent!! I almost cried my heart out! I knew I will cause a long queue and people will start cursing me. We didn't even have any insurance that can cover road side assistance. If we were to call for towing service, it will be costly. Well, you can imagine the whole drama. Of course, ultimately money solved the problem. Andrew helped to call for NRMA, waited for 45 minutes, then had a guy to change the battery although he then told me, it wasn't just the battery, it was the alternator. I went, "What's that!!??"

So, explanation was made to me and I sort of got it. I was also told it will last me no more than a couple of days to get the car moving whilst solely relying on battery and I MUST fix the altonator as it's needed to charge the battery. Ok, I thought to myself, I will bring it to the workshop first thing in the morning and no more driving for the rest of the night after getting home from work.

Left work at 5.30pm. Sharks, I should have left earlier to avoid traffic. But work was such that I was only able to leave by then. Traffic was pretty bad. As usual, I had to pick Andrew up from work. Arrived at 6.45pm, parked my car at the kerbside. Within 3 minutes, Andrew got in to the car and he asked, why did you off the engine? Literally, my eyes just went wide open. Not again, I thought to myself. I wasn't even aware that the engine died again. Tried restarting my car several times, but it just wouldn't start. I was absolutely frustrated and stressed out beyond words. Another whole big drama to follow. Andrew reckoned it was the battery again. We tried calling several friends to help us jump start the car. Unfortunately, no one even has a jump cable!

We finally had to resort to calling our landlord for help. He is like one the world's best person!! He agreed to come to the city just to help us. We tried to jump start the car, but it just wouldn't start. We then had to call NRMA again to see what was wrong. 20 minutes later, the NRMA guy came. Tried to jump start, nope, didn't work. Checked the battery and the alternator, and said it was the alternator. He advised us not to drive the car at all even if he can help us start the car. So finally, we had to call for towing service. Thank God, this man was kind enough to give us a contact so we can get a cheaper rate. Soon after, it started drizzling. We waited for almost 1 hour before the towing truck arrived. It was pouring by then, the last thing we needed.

Just imagine the whole ordeal. Our night was spoiled, and my whole DAY was practically ruined!

However, we are most grateful to our landlord who was with us the whole time, eventhough he could have just gone home when it started to rain. He fetched us home after we took the car to the workshop. Really thank God for him. Oh, I must also mention, at the first break down of the car, 2 good samaritans (from some courier company) offered to pushed my car up to the kerb so that I don't jam up traffic. That was exactly what I hoped someone would help me do.

Long break!

It's been so long since I blogged. Obviously February was a break for me. I was back in Malaysia for chinese new year and it was a good trip home albeit the unfortunate event towards the end of the trip. I caught dengue fever! Thank God it wasn't the serious one, and I was healed in within a week post symptom. So really want to praise the Lord for keeping me well in His hands.

Came back to Sydney and I know it's going to be a long year for me. Work wise was not too good. Lots of outstanding work to catch up, and mind you it's been 2 weeks since I got back and the lab is still catching up with the workload. I can only pray that God will give me strength to go through these day by day.

On a different note, I am thinking of switching my skin care product. In fact, I don't really have one of late except for the gel that I'm currently using called Emprizone by Mannatech. It is fantastic for allergic skin especially when I went home to Malaysia. Somehow, my skin develop serious rash whenever I go back to Malaysia. I've adapted to the weather here that the only thing I dread about going home is the allergic reaction I will have to endure.

By far, I've only tried 2 major brands of skin care products that was Artistry by Amway and Clarins. Both were really good products although Artistry gave me a more notable difference. This time, I would like to try SK-II. Many recommended this brand for skin care and hence I would like to try it out. SO we'll see how it goes and I will definitely let you all know if there is any difference with this brand =). By the way, I'm still scouting around for the cheapest price
possible I can get.