Bye Bye to 2009 & Welcome 2010

2009 is an amazing year to me. I've done so many things including things that I did for the first time. I can't believe 2009 has finally come to an end and 2010 is coming very soon. This post is basically written to reminisce the year of 2009. Let's see what I've done:)

January-April 2009: Embun Cafe
Run the University Cafe with several friends. Got myself into serious stressful matters; learned so many stuff about managing a cafe as well as people; Burnt dozens of cookies and stolen some great recipes:P and despite all the stressfulness, I had some great time:)
Crazy Fact: Agreed on catering for an official event when we barely have enough people to help us. Despite all the chaos, we had fun at the end of the day:)

May-August 2009: Traders Hotel
Worked as a trainee in a hotel. Painted my face with Nippon Paint everyday in order to avoid being nagged:P Constantly waiting for break time so that I can eat all I can in the staff cafe. I miss the roasted lamb:( Learned sooooooo much and met so many people, good and bad of course:) Also learned about myself, how green and shy I am. Must work on it to get some improvement.
Crazy Fact: Met some ridiculous people asking for ridiculous stuff. Misled some guests..OPPSS!! Got tipped by a Japanese man for sending him a new key card:)

September-November 2009: Essential Associates - Challenges
Worked as Advertising Executive a.k.a multi-purpose lady. Learned a lot as well and met some great people. Was mentally tortured somehow doing things that I wasn't familiar with. I guess it's like the magazine's name - Challenges:)
Crazy Fact: Went to a major Hari Raya celebration in the Convention Centre all by myself and talked to total strangers promoting our magazines. My heart was beating irregularly:P

Besides the working part, there are other stuff that I did for the first time throughout the year
- Went to a concert: Jason Mraz concert:)
- My first anniversary with my darling
- Cooked a Shepherd Pie.. Yum:)
- Burnt dozens of cookies:P
- Cooked mee goreng and mee hoon goreng all by myself with a huge wok
- Graduated from University:) :) :)
- Went to a trip with my darling's family
- Went to Port Dickson and swim:)

In 2010, I want to
- Be healthier as in work out more:P
- Get myself a stable job while finishing my masters
- Stop taking money from my parents
- Get myself an oven
- Master the Ribbon Embroidery art
- More cardigans (I love cardigan:P)
- Learn more recipes



ps: That's all I can think for now and I will add on slowly when things come to mind:)

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

Nando's Fun

Wooohoooo!! I guess I'm a bit insane now after being so sick and staying at home doing nothing for so long. LOL!! Just kidding though. This is just a random post for today.

I was surfing the internet as usual and came to the Nando's website where I was planning to check on their party package I saw few days ago. It was my first visit to the web today and instead of searching for what I've planned, I was playing around. It was interesting!!!

Check it out!!!
www.nandos.com.my

ps: I told you it's random:P

Early Anniversary Celebration

It's our 21 monthsary but we always prefer to call it anniversary. This month we celebrated in Santini. We've been wanting to dine in Santini and before the Tropicana City Mall branch was opened, it was way too inconvenient to go to the KLCC branch. So now here we are, in Santini, trying out their famous Italian pasta and pizza. We both agree that it was a wise choice dining in Santini and the whole dining experience was GREAT. Great service and great food and of course with great price:P We are so going to go back in near future, hopefully:)

We were first served with complimentary bread but I was a little disappointed because it does not come with the famous olive oil and vinegar dip, instead it was served with butter with a hint of garlic.

Besides that, we ordered Deep Fried Calamari with Tartar Sauce, Tomato Bruchetta, Spaghetti Carbonara and Capricciosa Pizza. They were all so wonderful:)

The complimentary bread

Deep Fried Calamari with Tartar Sauce

Tomato Bruchetta

Spaghetti Carbonara

Clockwise: Chili Flakes, Tabascos and Parmesan Cheese
For the Pizza

Capricciosa Pizza

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

In life, there are so many choices to make each day; to eat the salad or the noodles? to wear the yellow shirt or the red one? to choose a barbie or a teddy for a birthday present? As we grow older, the choices seem to be harder to make.

Recently I felt so lost in life, not knowing what to do next. The vision of myself in the future suddenly became so blur that I could hardly see it anymore. It feels like driving in the dessert without knowing the direction, not knowing what lies ahead. I was scared for once. I used to have clear vision on my own future. I planned them carefully, knowing exactly what I really wanted and work hard towards them.

My health started to have problems when I was 15 and I had went through so much to get through it. For that couple of years, my house fridge had turned into a medicine storage. Taking medicine daily became part of my routine need not mention carrying them around whenever I go. That was the first time I thought about my future, seriously. I told myself that I wanted to work with medicine so that I can help people including myself. I set the goal when I was 17. I work hard towards my goal and I was happy with the results. When I turned 19 and started another chapter of my study life, things changed and went out of hand. I had to change my plan but I wasn't panic at all. Again, everything was on track and I went to University. I worked hard and played hard during those times; I was so close to my goal yet to find out that was not something that I really wanted.

"I'm lost." I thought to myself.

All of a sudden I can no longer see my future. I no longer know what I want to do. Thanks to my bf's mother who found me a temporary job where I can work while rediscover what I really wanted. Two months have passed and to be honest, I have not find anything just yet. So I plan not to pressure myself too much and decided to take up masters degree to basically give myself some time to figure out what I want; and also to create more options for myself in the future. I hope this is a wise decision.

Wish me luck for my future:)

Plumber plumber where are you?

Just got back from the management office and they said they do not attend internal problems, we'll have to deal with it ourselves. Sigh~ Anyone know any plumber?

What a Wonderful Week

Today I can safely say that I had a wonderful week, so wonderful, so unbelievable.

Sigh~ In fact it was a week full of surprises, bad surprises I shall say. Just last Friday I got a summon for my car because I forgot to pay the parking, RM100 summon; what a good day I thought to myself. Then two days ago, a young boy driving God knows whose car and banged on my car. The lucky thing was he's willing to pay for the damages he caused but the bad thing is I have to go fix my car!! Sigh~~ Then just now when I was cleaning the bathroom, I accidentally hit the water tap and it BROKE!! (Yea darling, like the tap I broke in your kitchen. I guess I'm really good in breaking taps. Beware of me getting near to your house water taps) Sigh again~ Right now I got no water supply for the bathroom as well as the kitchen and the best part is------ today is public holiday!! No plumber available T_T I got a washing machine full of bedsheets in it stuck half way waiting for water.

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!!!

The Monkey Show

Woooohooooooo!!!!! Finally the monkey show is over, after draining me alive. Getting sick and having one of your biggest days in life is bad, very bad. I barely sleep and had survived both dinner and convocation ceremony with no other than PANADOL ACTIFAST!! Luckily it did help.

The dinner was great, not the food and service though:P My dearest friends all dressed up nicely and I'm sure everybody had enjoyed the night, at least I enjoyed. Aizat's show was wonderful!! Must agree that he's one great singer, gonna go get some of his songs. The award giving ceremony was one of the happiest moments too. I felt so proud and jealous at the same time for Satya for getting the best student. How I wish I can be in his place. Haha!! Dream on I guess, I must study 10 times harder to be in his place. The dinner ended with lots of photography session which drained me a little bit because of all the hyperness:)

During the convocation ceremony, everybody was half conscious due to lack of sleep from the previous night. The ceremony was long and bored until the pro chancellor entertained us with his great sleep skill on stage. LOL!! Should have taken video:P My course was the last for Bachelor Degree and I was actually nervous at that very moment. Hands were extremely cold and was feeling uneasy. My mind was blank at that moment I guess until I saw my photo. I was smiling so happily when receiving the scroll, what a happy and proud moment in my life:)

I feel so thankful to have my supportive parents by my side, witnessing my proudest moment in my life. The only regret I have was not being able to get into first class graduate which I thought I've made it. Long story though but I'm content with my 3.72 CGPA. I feel thankful too to have such great unimates who spent 3 years with me, sharing my happy and sad moments. I want to thank you girls (you know who you are) for giving me the graduation gifts, I love them all. Finally, thank you darling, for driving me to rehearsal and dinner, eased some of my tiredness. You did great meeting my parents, trust me they're okay with you because they know I'll choose the best:)

I can safely say I had fun during the whole monkey show thing although I wasn't feeling too well.

ps: if you're wondering why I called it monkey show, it's because I had to wear a huge robe with funky hood which covers everything I wear underneath, waited few hours to get onto the stage for like 10 seconds to take an empty scroll and three photos and came back down to sit in a separate hall, not being able to go to toilet. Wooohoooo!! Monkeyness~~~ *scratching*
* swinging around*

Home

Today is the 16th day at home, two more days to go till I go back to the reality. Coming back home is like a dream to me, each and every time. This holiday will be the sweetest dream out of all dreams. I had so much fun back home; both with my loving parents and my dearest friends. I'm already feeling sad thinking that I'm leaving soon.

I have done so much during this holiday and had so much fun. I spend so much time with my parents, talking and laughing. Same goes to my dearest girl friends, we spent so much time together doing happy stuff, crazy stuff.

I feel so grateful and content.

p/s: Darling!!! I'm coming back soon:)

University Life

Today I did not go to work and I stayed at home to rush on my Industrial Training Report. I'm currently sitting in the living room, listening to music while typing my report. The weather is beautiful and I feel peaceful and calm. Today is a beautiful day.

Suddenly this feeling came striking me.

This will be my last university report and my three years university life has finally come to an end. I can still remember when I first told my parents that I've chosen a University for myself, I felt nervous yet excited. I packed all stuff in my room, making sure there's nothing left in the room to be attacked by dust while I'm not around. I left home knowing dad was really sad to let me go.

When I first stepped into the University, I felt lonely. People around me don't speak the same language as me, they don't live the same live as me. I remember struggling at the beginning, trying my best to fit in. I once felt like an alien, not able to understand their conversation. I asked myself how I'm going survive my three years here. I chose to stay alone.

I stayed here alone feeling home sick everyday until I found this bunch of great friends. My University life became more colourful because of them. Slowly, I found myself having fun going to class everyday. Every task given to me seems like another challenge to me and I dare myself to score the best. Each time looking at my own result i felt as if I could do better but don't get me wrong; I do feel content. University life has became more and more colourful and I'm loving it.

Three years of University life has gave me so many things. I met a bunch of great people; I found my best friend and my soul mate; I saw and did so many great stuff. I'm not a religious person but I do want to thank God for giving me all these. Now, this place is no longer a strange place to me, I feel like it's my second home here. I'm going to miss my University Life.

Depressed

I'm currently feeling so down that I feel like I'm going to cry anytime. I'm missing someone so badly:(

Darling, it's been more than 2 weeks already that I did not manage to talk to you properly nor see you long enough everyday. This week is hard for me, very very hard for me. I feel like I have tons of pressure on my body and it's suffocating me. I tried to stay strong, I really did but it's just too hard for me. I want to talk to you about it but we just do not have the time.

I miss you darling, I miss you so much:'(

My Internship Days

It's been 3 weeks since I went for my internship. I've learnt so much within this 3 weeks time, so much more than I've learnt in my 3 years university education.

First of all, I've learnt to have a healthy routine. I sleep early every night and wake up early every morning to go to work. I eat only 3 meals a day because I have no other time for snack. I have 30 minutes walk a day to get to my work place from the LRT station and vice versa. *Eh? Looks normal only woh.. Not really healthy also?*Giggles*

Secondly, I've learnt to smile and greet people more as the working environment has forced me to do so. Remembering people's name suddenly became a challenge for me as my RAM is low if you know me well. Facing two-face people is another challenge too; office politics is no longer something new I guess, it's just my time to face it finally.

Thirdly, I learn the importance of taking good care of my own skin so that all the colour that I've painted on my face won't leave too much harm on it. Putting the uniform and my makeup, which I see as part of my uniform as well, become a disciplinary thing to me. Working 8 hours with a high heels become something challenging as well.

Fourthly, I've gained so much knowledge withing the 3 weeks training. I found my weaknesses and I promised myself to improve as I go on. I need to learn to multitask and become a calmer person. I want to be a person who can solve problem quick while staying calm.

I'm getting ready to face what's coming ahead and hope my experience during my training time will guide me. Wish me luck:)

Anticipating the New Beginning

I'm feeling excited but at the same time nervous. Tomorrow is the day, the day which I'll be starting a working life. My mind is restless, I can't help wondering what will be happening tomorrow, who I'll be meeting, what I'll be doing. I'm excited yet nervous. Pray for me...

My University Life

My university life has finally came to an end. Today I had fun with my uni mates, mates that I had spent most of my study time together. We went through good and bad together; sharing hardship and laughter; seeing each other's ugly face during research trip:P; helping each other during exams. Three years have passed so fast and we have all grow into a more mature person.

I can still remember the first day of class, everyone was looking naive but hopeful; maybe some was blur. We were fresh from high school, not knowing what was waiting for us ahead. We face all challenges together with no fear; we help and support each other in order achieve something better. As time goes by, our friendship grow stronger; we found our true friends after knowing what's betrayal.

In studies, we continue to face different kind of challenges, went through all obstacles and grow into a more confident person. In the past, we might just want to pass all exams and graduate from uni. Now, we have a dream, to be the best achiever who can make our parents proud. We want to graduate first class together, be the proudest batch in the program. We work hard together, even spending days and nights together to get out assignments done.

In uni, I found my good friends whom I know will help and support me when I needed them. In uni, I found my bestfriend and soulmate whom I can share my life with. In uni, I learned to be a better person, a stronger person, a more confident person, a happier person.

The future may be unpredictable but I know all of us will be doing great because we are the best. Today was a happy day, it was also a sad day. I did not feel the sadness until I saw my friends were going apart but I am not hopeless, I know we will always love each other till the end of time. We will always be friends and continue to support and pray the best for each other.

Good luck everybody in the future days.

The Starting of My Cooking Journey

Ladles, pot, pan, knife, cutting board, lunch box, lunch bag, containers.. ALL NEW!!!!
*jumping and running around while clapping hands*

I GOT NEW KITCHEN TOOLS!!!!

Thank you darling for making my dream came true. Now with all the new tools, I can finally make darling lunch or any other food. I've been wanting to cook for darling and now I can finally do that. I'm happy, very happy, super duper happy:)






I'm so going to save more money to buy more complicated tools and cook more complicated meals. *jumping around again*

Update Vs Ranting

Wow!! Its been like a month or more since I wrote something here. Close friends would know what I've been through. I was busy and perhaps lazy:P

Cafe has finally come to an end but the paperwork just won't want to finish. Exam is coming in two weeks time and I guess I shall write something before I get really busy again. Christie, Vien, Elsa, Vinc and whoever is reading this, I got my practical already!!! Sorry for letting you girls to find out here as I was busy and lazy(forgive me) I got my practical in Traders Hotel next to KLCC and will be working there for 3 months. Wish me all the best I guess. I'll be working like a cow for the next 3 months if you know what I was trying to say here.

Let me share some thoughts here since I'm talking about my internship.

Recently I have came across with this money versus work thing which sometimes really piss me off or at least got me ranting. Let me ask you a question before I start writing anything. Do you think money is important? The answer would be "yes", 10/10 of the people you asked. Who won't like money and those who don't are either crazy or crazy. What I was trying to say is money is definitely something we can't live without but there will be something that is equally important.

This was inspired by my internship application. As a beginner who has little or no experience in the real industry, I would say that experience is way more important than money. In the hotel industry, during the internship period, most likely you won't get a cent paid for working your ass off 8 hours a day, or sometimes more. This is the reality and anyone who has chose to do this must be ready to accept the fact. However, I always disagree with the phrase "work for free". Call me stupid or naive but I personally think it's never free. It's just like when you're paying for your education, only this is working hands-on to get educated. To me, even the smallest thing you do now will be something crucial to a decision you'll have to make when you're a manager in the future.

What I was trying say is that a fresh-grad student, even with the best result, will still be a person who knows little or nothing about the real world. To me, being humble is the best way to learn. Even the the most successful man started his job in the lowest level.

Happy Working everybody:)

One Year Anniversary

14th March 2009

One year anniversary with darling

My gift for darling was...









Taadaaa...

A scrapbook, recording all our memories throughout the year..

Those hands belong to darling and mine

In return...

Darling gave me this...





Ignore the habib logo by the way...

Haha...

Silly darling...

My tears was flowing like river when darling gave me the book (it's a storybook with our love story) Those silly ribbon and the silly wrapping, darling must be having a hard time wrapping it and tying the ribbon. Darling was saying how lousy the gift was compared to mine but I know darling has tried his best to make me the book. I cried and cried and cried while looking at the book. I was tearing again when I looked at the book last night. Darling.. I love the book very much. Don't worry about the appearance, you know I'm not a materialistic person. I'll love the book even if you were to give me without the nice wrapping.

I'll be reading the book again and again and again <3<3<3<3<3<3<3

I MADE SHEPHERD'S PIE TODAY!!!

Before

After:)

Happier Day

Today...

I felt tired as usual...

But I'm happier...

Haha.. Haha..

Speechless

I felt like I have so many to say but I just can't...

I feel tired...

Totally exhausted...

Mentally and physically...

I wanted to call mum so badly but I'm afraid that I would cry if I tell her what had happened to me. In some way I was regretted for getting myself involved in such huge responsibility. Each day I woke up feeling the pain on my chest. The pressure I felt is killing me slowly I guess. Forgetting my medicine is not something new for the past 5 weeks. Sleepless night caused by the overflowing mental plans I had. Sometimes I felt so lonely that no one could understand how I feel.

I wasn't myself lately and I guess I'm reaching my limit now. Staffs who can't seem to understand my thoughts, partners who can't seem to understand my situation; I felt as if I'm alone. Sometimes I felt invisible while doing work alone in the kitchen. I thought to myself, probably nobody even realized my existence.

I asked myself this question thousand of times. "Am I doing the wrong thing?"

The answer I gave to myself would always be "Maybe its really my problem"

Mum and dad used to tell me that no one can get involved in the food business if they don't know anything about food. I always make sure that I know every detail so that no one can easily fool me with some crappy answers. I try so hard to remember every single detail just in case something goes wrong but no one seems to understand me. Maybe they'll just think I'm doing too much unnecessary stuff.

I tried to explain myself but I couldn't find the right way to explain myself, I rather keep quiet in this case.

Darling,

You might be annoyed with me at this point, for being so weak. I admit that I'm weak this time, I'm not that strong to carry this responsibility. I needed help but I just don't see anyone could help me. There were so many times that I wanted to tell you but I just couldn't. I couldn't stand you being annoyed with me. These two days I felt totally lonely, so lonely that I felt as if I'm alone. We're opened for 5 weeks already but everyone still can't do the right thing at the right time. Take it as if I'm asking too much but if everybody would try harder then we'll be stable sooner.

Crazy Week

Its been a while since I last updated. When I was back in KK, I can only get internet connection by going to coffee bean or starbucks to get free line or else I can do nothing about it. Don't think I want to apply a line there while I know I will only be there once every 6 months, or more.

Ever since the day I came back to KL, I was busy and am still busy. The whole cafe thing is draining me slowly and I didn't know there will be so many preparation work needed to be done before I can finally operate the cafe and start making money. It gave me some sleepless night as my brain was too busy doing mental schedule and planning.

The first few days was disaster to us, rushed for order list, cleaning the kitchen and cafe, changes here and there, then manpower, then schedule and procedure, bla bla bla... Luckily the window is open while all the doors are closed, tightly. We still manage to see some light in the darkness. Few people came for interview and we actually have 200 plus for starting. Everything seems to be on track at the moment.

All ingredients arrived on Thursday and we started to do the preparation thing yesterday including some cooking. The chicken and fish came out good but the sauce was giving us some hard times. We added too much vinegar and it was too acidic to be eaten. Yucks, I can still remember the smell and taste, it did cause some discomfort to my poor stomach. After some adjustment, it finally can be eaten, safely:)

Then the next problem came, the soup for tomyam and curry noodles are failure. They don't taste right at all to be used to make money. If I was a customer to pay for that, I'm sure I'll be mad. Luckily one of our staff manage to find an expert to cook for us, hopefully everything goes well on monday.

After all the preparation work is done, it was already 6 something in the evening. I was totally drained out and felt like I could break down anytime. I was standing almost the whole day doing stuff. My legs muscle were killing me as well as my back. we went back almost 8 and it was 8.30 after buying dinner and showered. I lied on my bed not wanting to move around too much as my whole body was aching. I put my dinner aside and had only a piece of papaya before I called mum. When I heard mum said " I know it would be tiring and I thought I want to tell you not to get yourself involve in it" Tears were running around my eyes. I nearly break down while talking to mum. I manage to stay calm as I don't want to worry my parents. I'm sure I'll do fine in the coming days, I will.

After talking to mum, I started to have my dinner slowly. I found it hard to swallow my dinner as I was really very tired. I was thinking how nice if there's someone there to feed me. Later on when I was trying to sleep, my legs are still in pain and I couldn't sleep as it was bothering me. I broke into tears this time. I couldn't really stand it because I wanted to sleep so much but I just couldn't. Nobody was at home to talk to me. I fell asleep after crying.

I hope everything goes well in the future days. Pray for me.