Believe it or not ? It's up to You

My brother once told me that there were ghosts wonder around in school, play ground, hotel or any building that was empty at night. They believed that the spirit shall take over the places where human 'chi' was less.

As for hotel, we need to knock at the door before we enter, upon opening the door, we need to step aside, let that 'someone' walk out from the room first, this is the respect to them, later, we turn on all the lights, wide open the window and let the fresh air and sun shine in. Guarantee best night sleep.

Some believe that baby and toddler have the tendency or third eye of seeing the spirit, if you wish to buy new house, bring them along, if they are happily playing inside the house, then house is 'clean', if the baby is crying, you better on hold the house buying.

After memorial or funeral service, good to stop by temple and pray, but if you are non believer, alternatively drop by public places like supermarket, hypermarket where the 'yang' chi are rife and deter spirit from following you home.

If you do have eerie or spooky feeling at home, cleanse by sprinkle salt at every corner of your house, leave it overnight and sweep away in the next morning.

Believe it or not? It's up to you, if you know more, welcome to share with us.

Jewelry Storage Organizer

My dear ladies, getting too many accessories will be difficult for storage, especially the necklace, bangle bracelaces and earing. I used to tossed them into a box, and later I will found them entangled with some broken.

Getting jewelry organizer from the shelves is costly and the compartment space is limited, there are some DIY necklace organizer, if you have the time and interest on DIY. Just share some websites on how to make jewelry storage organizer.

1. Solving the Jewelry Storage Problem
2. DIY Jewelry Organizer for Neckleces
3. Jewelry Storage Idea
4. DIY project: jewelry shadowbox
5. Stylish Jewelry Storage

DIY Jewelry board, hangers, bowls & frame.

But if you are as lazy as me, then you go for this lazy way which shared by my good friend. I find it useful & effective, specially good for steel matel chain necklace, gold & silver plated necklace, where the color will be preserved without oxidized.

What you need is ‘Clear Zip Lock bags’ (similar to plastic bag used by pharmacy to keep tablets medicine), get it from the shop that sell plastic bags, get a few sizes that suit your jewelries. See the following easy peasy way

Insert accessories in the clear zip lock bags.

Keep accessories in a box, and it is easy for accessible and viewable. Isn't it good idea ?

Durian Trip

It was Durian season again, picking up durian was never my choice of past time, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I was dragged to go despite me kneeing down begging with 101 reasons why I am not fit to go.

Can you imagine that far far away and deep deep in the plantation, with no human being around, some known or unknown animal watching you in the dark and no matter how you shout and scream for ‘fire!’ or ‘Robber!’ there will be no one comes to your help.

We reached at the early dawn, ahead of the intruders schedule (intruders come to steal durian), attired with long sleeves and long pants to prevent free blood donation to the mosquitoes.
Black was the words to describe the surrounding, only with dime light torch leads us the way, walking in the thick bushes will accidental step on and provoke the sound asleep living things, a stick was used to shoo and wake them up in much polite way.

Spotted and picking up durian can be quite enjoyable, but when the durian come with a pile of big red ants can be shocking, instant reaction is to drop it with lightning speed. I had forgotten to bring gloves where I need to bear with the prickle sharp pain cause by the spiky thorns.
Getting under the durian trees was dangerous, it is unpredictable as to when the durian going to fall. At times, we heard the sound of snap and breaking branches, and soon, with a 'boke' sound, durian fell a few feet away. Next round I will put on helmet protection.

At the end of the trip, we had our fingers wounded, mosquitoes’ sting and ants bite marks, and of cause fruitful harvest of durians pile up in the car, the unwanted unique odors makes us feel giddy in the car.

Garlic Bread & Mushroom Soup – ABC Preparation

My family members just love to have garlic bread dipped into mushroom soup, it is a ‘MUST’ eat dish in Pizza Hut and any Western Restaurant outlet.

My dear colleague Boon told me that I can actually get it DIY at home, cheap & economy, simple as ABC.

A. Garlic Spread (get in Giant, Carrefour, Tesco, next to Butter or Cheese corner)
B. A loaf of French Bread cut into slices
C. A can of mushroom soup

Spread the Garlic spread over the French Bread slice, put into Microwave Oven, use the 'Bake' feature, bake for 1 min or if you like it crispy go for 1 min 20 sec, alternatively can use electric Oven.

Empty mushroom soup, add in 200ml water and bring it to boil. Here you can enjoy your Ooh-la-la garlic bread dip in mushroom soup. Yummy.....

Just A Wish

At the age of 82, his vision gets blur, hearing gets worse, knees gets weak.

In lieu of the multiplying weaknesses, he was forced to scarify a lot of good things in his life. He gave up driving resulting inflexibility of getting around freely. He surrendered his responsibilities, he needless worry on marketing, household errant, bills, shopping and etc.

Besides, he had less accessibility to mend his own plantation, the place that he had worked for decades, money earned from the crops was to provide better shelter for the family, children education and now income for his retirement. He ought to trust his workers on the harvesting result & profit made. There were no way his children able to run the plantation business for him, as the kids had their own dream and business.

The only thing that he enjoys during boredom was to puff a few sticks to bring back the old memory that he vividly remember, but the whooping cough forces the doctor to put a stop on his medical report.

To get around, he needed 2 walking sticks to support his body, his knees are no longer able to support the body weight, and wheel chair was in used for longer journey.

He draws public attention where ever he had been, he just felt frustrated being looked on as handicap, he had a simple wish, a small wish to walk tall on his own without the 2 useless walking sticks. He once dreamt of his old buddy pushing bicycle, his buddy told him that bicycle replaced the walking sticks, this has triggered and sparkle his hope, he ‘summon’ his wife to assist and prevent him from falling while he do the pushing around in the house, it was not easy but he willing to give it a try. He just hopes that he can be able to manage it and who knows, he maybe able to ride on the bicycle when he get familiarise with the bicycle.

His wife burst his bubble dream by telling him that he will only able to ride on the bicycle in next life when he reborn again.

Japanese Table - Good, Good, Good!

Japanese table is my favourite, some called it low table or study table. The table top can be found in the shape of rectangular, square or even round, size approximately 1.5' x 2.5', could be smaller or bigger. The height is ranged from 12” ~17”.

The benefit of Japanese table :-
1. Ideal for study as books can be extended and place on the floor

2. Mobil-able and handy - can put anywhere you like

3. No chair is needed

4. Save space & easy for storage as table legs are foldable

5. Good for board games

6. Can be use as computer table

7. And many more usage like dining, 'yam cha', coffee table & etc

You may get it from any hypermarket, price are affortable and inexpensive, you will find it worthy.

Out of the Roles of Secretary

Whenever I responded that I am a Secretary by profession, some will look at me with disbelieve, in general, they expected someone slim for not breaking the boss bones on the lap, as beauty as a vase not a pot, rainbow Nippon paint face not black & white TV, and revealing female fashion not conservative attire. None of their expectation matches me.

Along my career line, I have the opportunity to work with bosses from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, US, Britain & Malaysia, with all kind of characteristic and working behavior, I learned to adjust myself to suit difference roles.

Just list a few to share with all of you:-

Roles of Student – Please help on my MBA project paper. OK Boss, give me deadline and I prepare for you. (I think I deserve a MBA certificate from my boss, for which I had help him to complete all his project papers)

Roles of Teacher - I need to improve my English. OK Boss, I speak English with you and write English mail to you

Roles of Editor – I got stuck with the Toastmaster homework – OK Boss, I edit and complete the speech for you

Roles of newscaster – I am too busy for the newspaper, OK boss, I agree to summaries and read it out for you daily

Roles of Nutritionist – My wife limit my diet. OK Boss, no coffee after lunch, no peanut, no junk food. (But my boss snatched my tidbit from my desk)

Roles of Liar 1 – I have no affair or what so ever, that woman was insane. OK boss, you have no girl friend beside your wife

Roles of Liar 2 –Ms XXX and I are on business trip, she is afraid to go alone. OK boss, both of you are on business trip

Roles of Listener – I am stressed, Taiwan pushes too hard (my lady boss weeping). YES boss, they push too much

You may feel funny and ticklish, yet, I have gone through it, though, I also learned along the way, widen my knowledge and gaining great experience from them. All I have to say is Thank You, Boss !

Toothpaste Tube - You Can Actually Empty It

I am sure that everyone with teeth should have difficult experience of depleting toothpaste tube, squeezing, flattering & rolling the tube by getting the last particle. Various methods & gadgets have been used, you can refer this website for innovative tools to work on it http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/getting_that_last_drop_of_toothpaste_9574.asp

I came across Taiwan TV channel, introducing a straw to empty out the tube effortlessly. Try this out for which you may be surprised how simple it isStep 1 : All you need is just a drinking straw
Step 2 : Insert the straw in the tube, blow and inflate it

Step 3 : Remove straw & close the cover, swing the tube vigorously by holding the end part, the reminding toothpaste will eventually slide towards the opening of the tubeDone !! you can now use it for another 50 more times, repeat step 1 ~ 3 should you needed. I apply it on my cleanser or anything in tube form.

Brilliant idea right ??

When the big boss is coming

The place where I hang around from 8 am ~ 5:30 pm belongs to some big brand in Taiwan, closed to two decades of establishment in Malaysia. Due to the distance, headquarter was not able to have close watch over our operation, we were left freely based on trust and empowerment.

There were times that the big boss from HQ would like to look see the true, dropping by physically reviewing business, financial and evaluate the possibility of business expansion.

Our local boss started to worry and butt was feeling hot from the seat, he dug out his old and dusty weapon - the 5S book, following step by step on the 5S housekeeping, staffs from top to bottom were made busy like bees. Transformed the area into total quality work environment. (like Cinderella fairy tale, pumpkin turned into carriage).

External facelift started with trees trimming, shrubs & bushes got renewal pruning and eelgrass got their life shorten. Repaint on the dirty, flaking and peeling wall, clean the stubborn floor.

5S housekeeping really came alive from the graveyard, stressing on standardization of uniforms, shoes, tables & chairs, the unwanted, outdated document got a place to go, 3 years old faded posters on the notice board were renewed. 3-inches thick dirt floor would be scrap off, wax and buffer to make shine, you can mirror the color of underwear for lady who wear mini skirt.

Key management staffs were called in for rehearsal, discussing what to say, what not to tell, ensure that all were in line and no misconception along the visit.

These were the most important and busy moment for us, its like spring cleaning before Chinse New Year, or in rough say - dig holes before poop = Just in time at the last gasp.

Those days in College - YMCA Jewell House

During our college days, we were put up in YMCA hostel, 11 floor with 200 rooms, 9th & 10th Floor were catered for the female student with strict rules for security concerned.

Single room for each of us with basic facilities like desk, bed, fan, heater & wardrobe, common sharing areas were bathroom, pantry, TV room & laundry.

Busy traffic flow happened in the morning, bathrooms were specially packed, girls were seen walking with their toiletries bag and a bottle of white liquid, white stuff are Dettol mix to wipe on toilet bowl before sitting on it. Each and everyone were busy brushing up at the long stretch of sinks, some took long time cleaning, rubbing & massaging their face, some were like split of lightning zoom in and zoom out, some walk around with white mask on their face, some with white pimples cream dotted on their face, some with mourning face and frizzy hair. (some said woman most prettier time is in the morning, this had proven wrong)

Showers were separated by cubicles, some ‘book’ or reserve the bathroom by letting the shower running with their clothes in it, while they were doing their brushing. During winter time, it was difficult to undress where the cold breeze will some how flow in from nowhere, the fabulous idea was to let the shower running much much more earlier to allow the hot steam warm and fill the whole bathroom for undressing made easy.

The pantry consisted of dining tables, chairs, refrigerator, stove and cooking utensil, all of us were allow to store food stuffs in the refrigerator, but scenario of missing items played repeatedly without catching the ‘rat’, getting annoyed and frustrated, some came out with brilliant idea of labelling ‘POISON !! Do not eat’, ‘Stolen from …(name)’ to deter the act. Exam was the time that everyone had amnesia or temporary lost memory, causing the disgusting worms growing and nested in the fridge and at the he sink.

No hand wash and our laundries were done with washing machine & dryer, I shrunk my cardigan and track bottom 2 sizes smaller with paid dryer, where back home offer free sun for drying and size guarantee.

Watching TV for leisure, you need to group up a few to convince others that majority win, you then can pick your likable channel.

In general, it was not that easy to live under the same roof with difference culture and multi races from Singapore, HongKong, Malaysia, Japan, Brunai, Australia & Thailand, tolerance & compromise are the key words that tie all of us together without hair pulling drama.

Those days in College

Back in ages ago, I am one of the very few Asian in the girls’ college, I was surrounded by the gigantic female Aussie classmate. I muted most of the time with only return smile to acknowledge my agreement or disagreement, maybe I am shy & introvert then, or maybe over shocked on the difference culture, I love to observe the girls around me, they are pretty, young at 16, 17, 18 or so. To them I may look like the malnutrition girl from the Somalia or Ethiopian, small & short.

At the class, some dressed well with make up, perfume, scarf, accessories, they looked professional and 10 years mature, some were just simply simple, faded cardigan top with flare skirt, they don’t even mind their torn pantyhose, and rubber bands were used to tie up the holes to mend the ugliness, so, you can imagine each leg with a few rubber bands sticking out like some kind of seeds hanging from her legs.

The girls smoked before & after class, chewing gum was to freshen their breath, they often disposed by sticking it under the desks, I used to peep under before settling down. Some desks looked like Tangyuan (Glutinous rice) ball sticking on it, with variety of colors and there were hundreds of it.

Unlike the quiet shy Asian, they were actively participated in all the Q & A posted by teacher, when a question raised, 90% of my classmate will raised hands, some stand up with hand waiving in the air to get attention, some calling the teacher, some were closed to shout. But the naughty teacher love to pick Asian L. I can see their disappointment for not being picked.

On top of school bag, they have a makeup bag to keep cosmetics, skin care, cigarettes, lighter, condom, pills and lot more expected & unexpected stuff in it, after school, they zoomed into toilet for freshen up before they adjourned to somewhere else.

Despite the differences in culture, I found them nice, honest, no faking, naïve, playful and possessed happy go lucky characters.

Girl who lost her way

My daughter W was in cross road after getting her SPM (Form 5) result, she doesn’t know what she wants to study to be in line with her future career.

The effort had been made from my side by providing vast info and full support, with the hope to help her gained a clearer picture of what suit her on what she want. She attended numerous talks, spending hours with the lecturers finding out, seek advised from school councillor, exchange view with teachers & headmaster, and finally all my unfortunate friends and relatives were forced to chip in and help.

Since young, W had limited access to TV program, allowing her to watch Disney, Animal planet & Discovery channel, she loved the show of late Steve Irwin – “The Crocodile Hunter", where she developed the passion on animals, then, her ambition was to become Veterinarian.

During her long break waiting for SPM result, she was free to watch any program to kill her 100 days boredom, she landed up watching soap drama related to the legend of Lawyer, she changed her mind to pick Law for study.

With all her intended ambitions made me busy during the 100 days, for her choice of Veterinarian, I had brought her to pet shops, shown her the reality of work, able to tolerate the stink odour, the messiness, the dirt and the not so discipline pets.

Follow by Magistrate court to witness court procedures, she adored seeing lawyers dressed up smartly in black, but, when the session began, she had instant disappointment on the lawyer presentation, soft and monotonous tone, where was the excitement and thrill as shown in the TV ??

I witnessed some ‘katak’ (frog) teenagers jumping around, jump from science to art stream, from A-level to form 6, from medicine to fashion, from accounts to chef. I am kind of worry she will get the deadly virus of katak.

Finally, she picked sixth form to continue her study, allowing her another 2 more years to firm up her ambition. During which, I will help her to explore further on her liking in Psychology, Physiotherapy, Ecologist & more, I presume ?

Office Life

My good friend Liz pops into my house last week, she blows out her trumpet, loud enough to cause my neighbour misunderstood that we are having some kind of quarrel, letting go the pressure from the long cook cooker, out pouring her unhappiness at work.

All her arrows sharply pointed at her boss for misbehaving at work, sleeping in the office at the broad day light, nod off in the meeting, building castle in the sky during discussion, doing personal thing in the office, making suspicious call, shows no concern on the decending business trend, and she went on and on non stop without giving me a chance to raise my voice, and all I could catch on her last breath with high pitch tone that sounded abruptly with “He is not carrying out his duty to lead the company, he is just like a wounded worrier that loses the battle !!” Liz cried loudly.

I spring up immediately to make her a cup of Hor Yen Hor tea to bring down her temperature. I can understand Liz' feeling, for which she has worked for 10 years, growing and surfing with the company together, she treat the company like her own, devoted all her passion and interest at work.

Sigh, as friend, I was not able to sooth and help her, lending both my ears is the best comfort to her.

When we actually love our company, we tend to comment and complaint with the hope of improvement from the management, but for Liz scenario, how to tell her boss that he needs to buck up ? he needs to improve ? he needs to lead ? he needs to change ? He needs to behave ?

I supposed it is hard, unless she back stab him to escalate further up.

Ah Mah and ‘Ang Kong’

My mother in law is a staunch believer of Taoist, she pray everyday. In front of all the deities & ancestors, she would seek for guidance, ask to ‘po pi’ (blessing) for health, safety, wealth, or something that seem impossible to us.

My daughter W depends on Ah Mah (mother in law) whenever she sits for examination like UPSR, PMR & SPM. All Ah Mah did was to light up the oil lamp & a pair of electric candles, 3 joss sticks for each deity, she will chant with reasonably voice & tone, loud enough for us to hear, ‘Ang Kong (God), Ang Kong! po pi po pi my grand daughter who will sit for SPM tomorrow, let her have good result, if she request for A, you grand her with A, or better still fulfill her wish by giving whatever she ask for’, I like this po pi request, Ah Mah sounded very much in power and authoritative. Putting her hands together she prays and finally places the joss sticks on the urn carefully. With this prayer, W will have invisible protection with less stress and less panic during her examination.

Just weeks ago, W jumping with joy for scoring SPM with flying colors, forgetting not to thanks the support and blessing from ‘Ang Kong‘, we were asked to prepare some fruits offering to thanks them, Ah Mah did all the usual pai Ang Kong procedure and starts thanking, ‘Ang Kong, Ang Kong, now that W had got the good results, can you ‘po pi’ her to get scholarship and enter into good school, or better still let her get what she wish for, kam sia che che, kam sia che che (thank you very much). I grinned beside, thank you with another request.

Ah Mah playing important roles for everyone at home, she is just like the bridge between us and Ang Kong. In return, Ang Kong will have regular joystick burning, ornament paper, fruits and big feast that comes in steam chicken, duck, roast meat, mix vegetable, rice, noodle, tea, wine and more.

We are thankful for Ah Mah’s effort. Without her, we maybe need to sail thru the turbulence sea. Ah Mah, kam sia che che, kam sia che che…

Extra Classes to Excel

There are plenty of tuition centers near my area to cater for primary & secondary student, almost 95% of the student attended at least 2 or more classes per week. Those do well in academy without tuition are classified as eccentric, extraordinary or genius.

Traffic jam and air pollution are normal scene near tuition centre. Teachers’ supplementary income rise from 4-digits to 5-digits, high tech gadget such as notebook, overhead projector, wireless microphone are used to cater big classes of more than 100 students.

Catching up 2 or 3 tuition lessons after school is a norm, kids are picked up from school and send from one to another tuition class, to save time, eating & changing clothes in the car are made possible.

Competition is rife, tuition centers are all ways out to lull and recruiting more students, advertisement banners of all sizes and colors are in race along the road, flyers are distributed much often to add weight in selling together with newspaper. To maintain good reputation, some centers prefer to pick top performance students, gradually sift out or disqualify the non performance student.

I happened to bump into a reputable tuition center for secondary school. To amaze me that the responsible principal actually acted like a discipline teacher with a long cane in her hand, auditing classes from time to time. She will hop into noisy class, exercises her cane by smacking on the table to wake up or frighten the student, punishing the chatter box by separating their sitting position, confiscating handphone if found any, lastly wind up with 10 mins long winded preaching causing the student to yawn.

Hmmm..... student at the age of 13 ~ 17 yrs is old enough, wondering the appearing of cane will do any help to deter wrong doing? I believe lots of parent welcomes this act, to ensure that their kids are under close supervision. How the student feel being treated like small kid ? I ended up in deep deep puzzle & pondering. Readers, appreciate if you could share your view for enlightenment.