About Life...and Death

Received a very sad news...A good friend's husband passed away suddenly this morning due to heart attack.

I heavy-heartedly texted T about this, telling him I am going to pay respect in the evening. T is working outstation this week. Eventhough I couldn't see his expression, but I can tell that he was saddened by the unexpected news.

T: If one day I am not around, I will miss you and Cedric kia...

Me: If you are not here anymore, you won't be able to feel anything lah

T: I think can still feel loh...unable to witness Cedric's wedding...to have grandson granddaughter...

Me: The one who passes on first will be less sad...The ones that are still alive will be sad for the whole life

I paused for a while, then decided.

Me: Dear, if I pass away first, you go marry another nice lady, then you will be less sad, can move on to a new life.

But (the lady) must sayang my Cedric lah, if Cedric doesn't like can not hah

T: I don't want to re-marry. (I want to be) Single and  go travel...Bring your photo along...Assume you with me kai kai...

Very touched...I can almost imagine a silly lonely man sitting alone at a farm in New Zealand holding my photo...

Me: (You) better re-marry. Otherwise Cedric big time he will have his own life, sure you gu ling ling (lonely), a kesian (pitiful) old man...

T: He comes back once a week to yam cha (have tea) and dinner with me OK already. I get a golden dog or husky accompany me

Me: We should enjoy our life everyday right dear? We never know for sure what will happen tomorrow...

T: That's why I really look forward to our new house. You don't worry about money, take it easy, we will work it out together. Relax lah baby!

Me: After we moved in, three of us should all jump into the bathtub together as the opening ceremony! I'll go pluck some flower petals, put some aroma oil

T: I want to scrub and mask using the New Zealand Rotorua stuff that we bought

Me: You laki banyak, can rub out huge black stuff like 50 cents

T: ~~~~~~~

I think life is as simple as ABC...to be happy...to make others happy...and to realize how lucky we are to still be able to open our eyes today, to see the people we love, to feel, to touch, and to just be here.

T might not be the richest, most handsome, most patient, most caring, most hardworking, most etc etc man, but he is the man that I have decided to spend my whole life with, be it 5 years, 10 years, 20 years or 50 years. And he is the one and only that allows me to be silly, to be sad, to be angry, and to be myself. He is the one who makes me laugh and constantly reminds me to "Relax lah baby"...

Great to have you and Cedric boy in my life dear...!

P/S: I really don't mind if you remarry after I am gone. As long as it makes you happy, and it is good for our boy.       ~~Cheers~~

One of the very few family photos we have

A dog named Wow Wow

Please meet the bushy Wow Wow, a new member in our family.

Wow wow, a name given to her by Cedric.

When I first met her, she was in terrible shape. Anxious, skinny, hairless, deep wound on one of her leg.

She used to be a stray, roamed about Subang area. One fine day, a kind rescuer Mandy spotted her wounded leg from afar, and her life has changed 360deg ever since.

Mandy, who was an avid dog lover and rescuer, took her to a veterinarian clinic for treatment. Apparently Wow Wow was hit by a car and lost her toes and most part of her paw on one of her leg. She was also carrying an oversize dead fetus in her womb. She was then treated for her wound, had her dead fetus removed, and neutered for good.

Mandy then posted Wow wow's story on the facebook, looking for someone to foster her until she recovers and is fit for adoption. That was how we met.

Wow wow many months ago, when her resuer Mandy Chee first found her on the street.

Wow wow was fostered in our home for a few months before we decided to adopt her. Initially hubby had a lot of concerns in adopting a dog. He thought it was not a good time to have a dog since Cedric was still young and needed a lot of attention. We do not even have enough time for ourselves, let alone to take care of another being. Furthermore, we live in a terrace house without much land area for dog to roam, which might not be suitable for dog keeping. But I guess Wow wow sensed our doubts, and tried to show us that she really wanted to stay. There was once she escaped from the backyard (where we usually keep her), only to be found at our front car porch the next morning. And the rest is history...

Favourite evening walk

She is an extremely smart and opinionated dog. Picky eater too. She dislikes doggie biscuits very much, and to show her disliking, she would cover her bowl of biscuits with a towel, and of course refuse to eat. She can go whole day without biscuit, but when she sees us having dinner, she would immediately wag her tails and come to sit under our chair waiting for a few bites of the "real" food treats. Mandy told me she used to survive on leftover "chap fan" when she was a stray, but now...she has official joined Terrance and Cedric's picky eater club.

Boiled chicken breasts - Yay!
Doggie biscuits....Nay...

Looking miserable when chained

From a quiet cage dweller when we first fostered her, she decided that she needed an accommodation upgrade a week later. She would cry out loud for a long long time and bang the cage aggressively if we put her into the cage. We got her message, so no more cage.

We then leashed her with a long chain and allowed her some freedom to roam about the backyard while waiting for her leg to heal. That only managed to keep her happy for a short few weeks, after which she refused to be chained. So we unchained her, and the backyard was all hers to explore.

Unleashed for a few weeks, finally she decided that she belongs indoor and she wanted to be an indoor dog very badly. Same old tricks - crying out loud, scratching and banging the door demanded to be in. Her tricks worked, again, and now she is happily sleeping in my living room enjoying air-con and watching TV.

New Study shows that pets may reduce children's risk of allergy (http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20110613/pets-may-reduce-childrens-allergy-risk)

She has been quite a good girl ever since we allowed her to be indoor. Except a few accidents, where she peed on Cedric's play mat, presented me with a broken door mat, a few holes on my cardigan, and the scattered rubbish at the kitchen every morning.

My mouth is itchy...yum yum...

I realized to keep a dog is like having another baby. A lot of responsibility and patience needed, but the reward is unconditional love and affection. 

We are still trying to adapt to each other's needs and habits, it may take some time for the both the human and dog to adjust and to learn, but I am sure eventually we will find a way to live happily and peacefully together.

Welcome on board Wow Wow! Now you have a place called home, where you will be safe and sound, and away from pain and suffering.

Harvey Norman Warehouse Sale : 31st May - 2nd June 2013

Harvey Norman organized a warehouse sale at Citta Mall from 31st May till 2nd June 2013. Over the years the location is always at their Shah Alam warehouse but this time the location has changed. We have been to their previous warehouse sale many times and prices offered were extremely reasonable and value for money.

Based on our previous experience, we have no doubt that we might be getting a good deal this time too.
What I noticed on this warehouse sale

• Prices will change according to "demand"
• "DJ's price" is always cheaper than published price; however it might be different from person to person. Meaning ...Published price for a TV say RM2,599 after discount; I might get it at RM2,000 from the DJ, and you might be offered RM2,200 from the DJ. Its all based on "feeling and mood at that particular time"

Published price on 31/05/2013

Published price on 01/06/2013

For the fridge above, I got it for RM7199 including delivery on first day. That was after special discount given by the DJ.

The following day, we noticed the price increased. When we asked the salesperson how much would it be, I was quoted RM7199 excluding delivery. If I was there only on second day, I would have the thinking that I got a real good deal with the huge discount given. It's normal to see price being slashed but I was surprised to see its increased instead.

Published price on 31/05/2013

Published price on 01/06/2013

* Same model, price increased on second day.

* Not everything is really good deal. For example :

Published price RM6699. Internet Price RM6200

Published price RM5199. Internet Price RM4888

                              
                             

 Will I visit their next warehouse sale ? I will....and I will not buy on the first day. I will scout the price on first day, and do the survey back home and nego again the following day or last day of their sale.

Hair Cut Day

It is not easy to be a mommy. Mommy is a milk machine, a pacifier, a cook, a cleaner, a driver, a teacher etc...with the latest addition of being a barber.

The story begins when little Cedric's hair was growing longer. So did daddy mommy's anxiety level.

You see, few months ago daddy excitedly did a haircut for the boy, which turned out to be a moon-craters-creation disaster...! It ended with the poor Cedric being shaved botak. 

After that traumatizing mishap, daddy was very phobia of scissors and refused to do Cedric's hair anymore. So this time, he suggested why not we get "professional" help to make sure Cedric get a really nice haircut. 

Off we went to a Indian barber shop located at Tesco Setia Alam. I was praying that the barber would do a terrific job in giving Cedric the most handsome haircut in the world, as there are always some kids queuing n the shop waiting for a hairdo. So I assume, high traffic = highly skilled...

What is this ah neh doing mommy?

 

 

Are we playing something fun?

Cedric was all happy and cheerful to be seated on the barber chair. In my heart, I was hopeful, maybe there's hope to a nice haircut for Cedric after all. 

Who knows, in a split second, disaster again! The minute the ah neh turned on the electric trimmer, the sound of the machine scared the pants off the poor little boy. Cedric started crying and struggling. I tried to hold the boy's head so that the barber can do his job properly, but that only invited more struggling and screaming. And the worse part was, the trimmer accidentally created 2 uneven patches on the hair above the ears due to the struggling. 

Then the ah neh said: "Macam ini tak boleh potong handsome lah. Kita kasih botak senang."

The minute I heard BOTAK, immediately I grabbed my son and ran away. No more botak please!

Out of desperation, mommy bravely took up the challenge to do the boy's hair. 

Firstly, we prepared some of Cedric's favorite snacks. Then put the boy on his high chair with his snacks. Then....in super lightning speed, snip, snip, snip, here and there, everywhere...Voila! Amazingly we were done before the boy made noise.

The end result...not too bad I would say. **Proud**

Yummy snacks is more important that anything else

Let me help you comb

Little tail as requested by daddy

How do I look?

Driven: Mazda CX-5 Review

After driving the new Mazda CX5 for 7000km++ within 2 months, I can feel that the 2.0 liter Skyactiv engine moves it without too much fuss. There isn’t a ton of power, but there is enough to keep up with traffic without any issues. The 6-speed manu-matic helps in this regard. The engine doesn’t seem to get bogged down at low RPMs, and it doesn’t rev too high on the highway with the generous overdrive.

The Mazda also delivers in the interior department, with logical controls and nice materials.

You can find all sorts of creature comforts inside. The seats (only the driver’s chair is power adjustable) are wrapped in leather. The seats are very good for long journey drive. They have solid bolstering and support, especially for the lower back. Likewise, the dashboard is well laid out.The gauges are white-on-black and very easy to read at a glance.

The stereo is a Bose® unit that has 9 speakers and produces sounds strong which makes me enjoy my ride more.

The CX-5 does what the rest of the segment doesn’t—it delivers great handling, yet best-in-the-entire-industry-among-SUVs gas mileage of up to 600km full tank on road and approx 680km full tank on highway which comes about 8.1l/100km on highway and about 9l-9.5l/100km on city. It also features thoughtful and useful design, inside and out.

I appreciate the CX-5’s intuitive controls and high-quality materials, but its predictable list of standard features disappoint me . No infotainment system, No autolock and side mirror autofold available which I think it’s a standard in modern cars.

Push start button and a 5.8-inch touchscreen is standard fare and can be commanded by a round multifunction controller located on the console. Bluetooth and the essential USB and auxiliary connections are provided. It also includes dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera which I find it useful, automatic headlamp-beam control, rain sensor etc.

The navigation system fails big time. I don’t  like the Tom Tom navigation system, it’s one of the lousiest in the market and not user friendly at all. 

With the rear seats in use, the Mazda CX-5 has in my opinion a small cargo space, and when the rear seats are folded, cargo volume increases to about almost double size. These figures don’t rank the CX-5 at the top of its class for cargo capacity, but as one of the smallest entries in the segment

The CX-5 comes with stability control and a collection of six airbags. All this helped the car achieve a five-star crash rating from Euro NCAP. Security measures include an alarm and immobiliser. 

The ride would be complete without a few gripes and could be more forgiving, and the overabundance of wind and road noise ruins the car’s refinement. 

This is a good car, a fine family SUV that will serve me well for the next 5 years or more.

Performance   4 star – slightly underpowered for a 2.0 engine

Ride & Handling 4 star – wind noise is irritating to me when cruising above 90km/h

Features 4 star – lousy navigation system and no DVD playback.

Quality & Reliability 4 star

Security & Safety 5 star

Space & Practicality – 4 star – cargo space way is small compared to other SUV such as Renault 3008, or Honda CRV

2103 Hot Air Balloon Festival @ Putrajaya

30th March 2013, Saturday

A Sunny Day.

6:30am - Woke up and had a nice hot shower

7:00am - Woke hubby up

7:20am - Carrying a sleeping baby, and off we went to Putrajaya!

We arrived at Putrajaya around 8:20am. 

To our relief, we arrived just in time. All the hot air balloons were still lying on the floor, and the members from each team are busy firing up the burner, preparing for take-off.

Balloons preparing to take off

Smurf! The star of the show

Good morning Cedric

Baby refused to smile for camera despite numerous attempts

Some of the larger balloons that took off later

Morning kiss

Cedric and daddy

Too young to appreciate the balloons. Nevermind, let daddy show you...

Balloons taking off one by one

Oreo balloon, yummy

More balloons

Tata smurf!!

One of the last ones to leave was this green monster balloon

One more pic before we head home

Huggies Dry Pants

It has always been a struggle to put the diapers on my active Cedric boy. One second he is lying there, another second he is gone, trying to escape from mommy's evil clutches. 

I have been thinking whether it is time to change him to diaper pants for better convenience, which are supposedly designed to help end/ease the diapers struggle with toddlers. So when I received a bag of Huggies Dry Pants samples from Huggies Malaysia as part of their blogger contest goodies, I am more than happy to let Cedric try it out. 

More information on Huggies Dry Pants can be obtained from www.facebook.com/HuggiesMalaysia

So far Cedric has tried 4pcs of Huggies Dry Pants, M size. Below is the summary of my review:-

(Scale * Very bad ** Poor *** OK **** Good *****Excellent)

Ease of Use **** - Generally it is quite easy to use. When the toddler is refusing to lay down still for conventional diapers wearing, and is struggling to escape, what I did was, I sat Cedric on my lap, and put the Huggies Dry Pants on like putting a normal pants. The stretchable side makes the pulling up easier and smoother. 

3 simple steps to wearing Huggies Dry Pants - Koyak, Salin & Lepas!

Save of Time ****  - Of course there are still some strugglings involved when I tried to put the diaper pants on Cedric, but compared to conventional diapers which I have to keep pinning the screaming boy down while I try to tape and adjust the diaper, the diaper pants is much easier and quicker. With the conventional diapers, the baby has to be lying still for the diapers to be put on properly, if the baby moves or tries to roll over half way through the wearing process, the diaper has to be readjusted, and the process can repeat a few times, which is time consuming. With a diaper pants, the hardest work is to put the baby's 2 legs through the pants. Once the pants is on, it can be pulled up and be adjusted even when the baby is on the move. This save a lot of time and screaming.

Diaper Rash Prevention ****  - Cedric didn't develop any diaper rash or redness from wearing the Huggies Dry Pants. 

Huggies claims that they are Malaysia's first brand of disposable diapers which is clinically proven to prevent diaper rash.

Absorbency *** - I has been using Huggies conventional diapers for Cedric's day use for more than a year now. Usually for day time, I change his diapers every 4-5 hours, with the diapers about 70-80% full. Much like its sister diapers, I feel that the Huggies Dry Pants is good for day use of 4-5 hours without leakage. I have not tried it for night use of 10-12 hours, so no comment on that.     

Leakage Prevention **** - No leakage from 4-5 hours of wearing.

Comfort *** - The material of the diaper is quite soft to touch, and the stretchable sides help to prevent red marks on baby's skin. 

Cutting *** - The cutting of the diaper pants not big. Cedric is wearing M size of the conventional diapers quite comfortably, but with the Dry Pants, I feel that M size is a bit tight. And with conventional diapers, I like to put them on in a way that the back side is slightly higher than the front, so that when he poos, the higher back will prevent the poo poo from staining the clothes at the back. With Huggies Dry Pants, I notice that there is no front and back, as in both front and back is of the same length and design. 

Design & Presentation ** - I find the blue colour cartoons and wordings on the diapers a bit dull. 

Will I use Huggies Dry Pants on Cedric? **** -  Yes, for day use. 

Note: For mommies who would like to try out the Huggies Dry Pants, you can request for samples at  http://www.huggies.com.my/huggies-community/request-a-sample. 
 

Cedric checking out the goodies from Huggies

Sexy Pose

Front view of the Dry Pants

Back view

I love Mommy

1-Year-Old Cedric

Time is a magic wand. In a wink, my little baby Cedric has turned into a cheerful, cheeky toddler. 

Now my big boy Cedric is very much a little adult. He is pretty good in doing what we adults do.

He can walk, sometimes he walks very fast, and he trippers and falls. But he is such a brave boy, he will stand back up in no time, and walk again. But his little legs sometimes get very tired from all the walking, and after 10 minutes or so he will start wanting to sit on the floor, and want daddy mommy to 抱抱 (carry). Never mind my good boy, let mommy 抱抱，then you can walk again when you have enough rest ok?

Walking in my first shoes!

He is a chatty boy, he can talk, talk and talk. But too bad mommy and daddy is not very smart, so we can only understand some, but not all of what he wanted to tell us. Luckily he is not at all discouraged by his blur parents. He keeps his talking spirit high and always patiently explaining and talking to us.

His favourite words are "nen nen" (milk), "抱抱" (carry), "mom mom" (eat), "wow wow" (dog), "pa pa pa" (daddy). Oh, not forgetting his signature 不要不要 (Don't want!), which comes in a package with a dramatic shake of head and hands. 

Cedric giving speech

Since last week, mommy decided that Cedric is a big enough boy, so he has been promoted to join the rest of the family members at the dining table. He has his own spoon and plate, so he is free to feed himself and explore his food. One good thing about my lovely boy is that he is quite generous in sharing his food. He shares it with the floor, the chair and his shirt. And he sometimes worries that mommy is hungry, so he likes to feed mommy his food too! Mommy is so proud of Cedric who is not stingy to share. I hope you can keep up this good trait and continue sharing with others.

Self feeding, the Popeye way

Mommy I feed you!

Cedric is a very affectionate boy. He likes to hug and kiss. His way of showing his love is by head-to-head knocking, and rubbing his face and nose against his loved ones with a lot of energy and passion. Sometimes he will kiss/eat/bite your face, nose, eye with his little mouth, and leave his sweet saliva as a souvenir.

We rub head sayang sayang

Cedric sayang yiyi

Cedric is a lucky boy. He is being loved deeply by daddy mommy, gong gong popo, grandpa grandma, yiyi, gugu, and suk suk. And he himself is a fair boy with a big heart. He will share his love with all who love him. He will want gong gong to carry for a while, then it's yiyi's turn. Before play time with daddy, he will sayang mommy for a while and perhaps gives a few kisses and hugs so that mommy won't feel left out. He makes sure everyone has enough of his attention and love, so that all will not get jealous and fight among each other. 

We are lucky to be blessed with Cedric! We are one big happy family who loves Cedric dearly!

We love Cedric!