a microwave meal

Piping hot and delicious and it took my partner just 15 minutes to prepare, from the cutting and chopping, to the washing up. He's quite the expert at maximising the uses of our microwave and creative too. He's whipped up some yummy microwaved meals before, but yesterday's chicken casserole tops the lot, thus far that is, for I know there are more varieties in store.

Last nights dinner was chunks of boneless chicken, cubes of potatoes, peas, green pepper, onions, in a rich black soya sauce; and bread to soak it all up with. It was really good - light (dinner like a pauper, we're trying to subscribe) and filling, and being the darling that he is, he made sure too that there was no cleaning up for me to do!
I'm such a lucky girl!

there's no substitute to swimsuits

It's just not right, substituting proper swim wear for casual shorts and track-pants and t-shirts; and behaving like it's perfectly acceptable!! It's an annoying sight and it ruins the whole 'holidaying by the pool' scene.

This is what I had to put up with recently during my Kuantan weekend. In fact, I've had to tolerate this nonsense at every one of my beach holidays here in this country - with the exception of Berjaya Tioman, where I had seen the pool staff actually confronting such senseless guests.

There'd be this huge signboard showing what a proper swim wear is, both for women and men, yet so very many people, locals of course, totally ignore this requirement. More peeved I am with the hotel management for not ensuring that patrons do adhere.
The idiocies we have to live with!

browner than brown

That's my colour, after my Merdeka weekend in the sun in Kuantan.
I spent my time by the beach, frolicking in the sea and lounging by the pool.
One would wonder why, when my original colour is already a tan; but try as I might, and I don't really try that hard, I just can't stop myself from basking by the pool when I'm on a seaside holiday.

I don't care to stay out of the sun, I don't care to pick out a swimsuit that minimises skin exposure, and if I feel like getting into the waters for a swim, I'll just do it, even at the expense of getting burnt in the scorching heat.
It's just way too much fun!
Even when knowing that I'll always always chide myself afterwards, for being so carefree.
Which is precisely what I've been doing since yesterday, everytime I look at myself in the mirror, and as I administer creams and oils to my sun-bruised skin.

Oh well... I'll look myself again.. soon... in time to plan for my next beach retreat.

a Thailand affair

I love Thailand. It's my favourite country. I can't fault it even if I tried.
(I'm intrigued by Moscow/Russia and Germany too but I've not been there yet...)

My first Thai experience was Haadyai; it was fun, a group of us by bus from KL. But my love affair with Thailand started when I went to Bangkok on a work trip. We stayed at the plush Metropolitan Hotel, and when my sponsored days were over, we moved to the much more affordable Siam Regency hotel.

We took a cab from Met to Regency. It was drizzling. On arrival, I went to take my luggage from the taxi booth while my partner settled the cabbie fare. As I was lugging at my bags, a guy on a bike stopped nearby, moved his bike away from the traffic, came up to me and started pulling out my bags. I panicked! I thought I was being robbed in broad daylight, in the midst of high traffic!

Fortunately my partner got to me before I could cause a commotion and being one who has a lot more faith in mankind than I do, he assured me that that man was actually just helping us. In my panic I hadn't noticed that the man had gestured towards the sky (indicating rain), towards the luggage and the walkway (indicating offer to help); and more importantly his facial expression - friendly, warm. He was no young lithe fellow and he couldn't have gone far with our bulky stuff - and silly me hadn't thought of all this either. This stranger was simply helping us, simply being hospitable. I've never experienced anything like it.

We went exploring later that day. Map in hand, very touristy in appearance, looking lost. A guy stepped up to us and asked us, "Where you wanna go?!!". We told him, he gave us clear directions and sent us on our way. I thought this too was incredible. We didn't ask for help and he didn't have to approach us. But he did come up to us and small though the act might be for him, it did wonders on my impression of Thailand.

These are just two fond memories I have of the country/people; I've got plenty more from visits to ChiangMai and Phuket. It is my belief that Thais are generally warm kind hospitable unprejudiced people, and so, the ongoing unrest in Thailand, the state of emergency in Bangkok, do very much trouble me. Thailand, for me, is a land of peace, and the people deserve nothing less than just that - peace and stability.

doctors aren't always smart

Aside from my personal doctor at a clinic in my neighbourhood, my experiences with doctors have never been pleasant. I realise that just because they're doctors, they're not necessarily definitely smart. I mean, once I had thought one has got to be of above average intelligence to be a doc, but wiser me now, has learnt that that's not true.

When I was under employment, my panel doctors were never kind.. I remember two docs who actually bark. It's like they don't have to be nice because they know that I'm not paying the bill. But this changed when I became senior management at one of my past employment. Their tone of voice and facial expressions were softer, more pleasing... maybe they thought I could determine their continuity as panel with the company. I couldn't of course.

Now, I've found myself this really gem of a doc. When I consult with him... I know I've got his fullest attention. And he actually mulls over my prescription, about what's best for my ailment, even when I go to him with a common fever/flu. Now how great is that!

I'm thinking doctors today because I've got to see one next week, not to consult with but to discuss with, and I'm dreading it, not because she's nasty (for I now pay my own medical bills), but because I don't know how I can make her see reason. If I succeed, I might just change my opinion about doctors.

pigeon curry anyone?

They're poultry so they should taste like chicken, tastier maybe since they're smaller in size. I can cook the curry, but the bird's got to reach my kitchen all cleaned and cut, and cleaned. And I can't and won't get anyone to do all that bloody work for me.

Up on the fourth floor of my apartment building, on the drainage pipe just below the roof, a family of pigeons has made home. I'm on the first floor, and the pipe is right above where I have my clothes rack for drying laundry. So there's the problem that's got me thinking pigeon curry. The floor is covered in pigeon filth and although the cleaners do quite regularly wash it all off, unless the pigeons find another home (or are dealt with), the cleaning is pointless.

I've had to move my laundry rack further out on the landing which is fine on a sunny day. The original spot however offers shade and I had the luxury of just leaving my clothes to dry there, shine or rain. That spot was just so perfect; and that's why I'm now nursing murderous thoughts, but animal rights advocates needn't pounce on me.. bcause these are just thoughts, they'll never turn into action. Nope. Never. Ever. Really. I won't.

old girls

Maybe it doesn't help build social skills, which is my one argument against Facebook, but I can't think of any other faults with this networking tool. Thanks to FB, i'm able to keep in touch with friends overseas, and local, and best of all, have found old friends from my Convent days.

I had a long chat with one old friend today who found me on FB. I haven't seen her nor spoken with her for over 20 years, and while we've been in touch on the FB for the past few months already, I had been just a wee bit nervous about calling her up today. What does one say to someone after a 20 year hiatus? We had some good times back when I was in Form 5 and she in Form 3. We hooked up well back then, the bunch of us Catholic girls, but I'm so very different now and she likewise, I'm sure. It would be horrible to discover, after attempting to rekindle our friendship, that perhaps now we don't have anything in common at all. It would be horrible to have this tarnish the sweet memories I have of then.

It's a heartwarming discovery for me everytime it happens; that when we've formed a friendship once, be it quite recent or so very long ago, it's a friendship that lasts, that when revisited, the affection and warmth just seep back into it like it's always been there, like there's never really been a hiatus afterall. And today, my long chat with my old girlfriend was that moment re-experienced.