Vocal, Call Bell, WhatsApp

Vocal  -  My house is small, ironically my kids can’t hear my calling, I have to raise my voice, yell and even scream to the air.  Moments later, my kids pop their heads out from their door and look at me innocently, "mom, you called me ??"

My entire neighborhoods within 1 km away know my kids names, reason not because of me being sociable.   Sad to say that my decent image has been ruined.

Call Bell - To ‘recollect’ and salvage my image back, I did a lot of findings, and my bingo came after I watched Mr Bean at Room 426, YES !!  The Call Bell.

I placed the call bell near the staircase.  ‘Ding Ding Ding ! ’ my kids hated that sharp ding sound, so they will response to me to prevent further sound pollution.   

WhatsApp  -  in line with the latest technology, I got to thank both Brian Acton and Jan Koum for the great invention of Whatsapp, an additional gadget for me to ultilise beside call bell, I use it for all purposes; notification of meal time, exhibit room messiness with photo attached, change of house rule and many more.

Glad to say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  At times, I will exhibit the dos and don’ts, or before and after. 

As both my teens are now staying at hostel, I created a group chat in Whatsapp, and update them the happenings at home.  I dont have to update them one by one when they are back in different date and time.    

Life make easier with WhatsApp.  Most important, I gain back my decent self.    

CID, Walking Calculator, Inspector

It has been six months without domestic helper, first time in my life, I lay both hands on house chore.  The overlapping task took one month, I jotted down the daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and half yearly to do list.

Now that without helper, the most peculiar changes that I noticed was the usage of household items getting much lesser as compare to before.  The reduction ranging from food stuff, beverage, toiletries, and the most significant reduction was my water bill, it dropped more than 180%.  

I recalled during a round table aunties chat time, aunty May advised me to keep an eye on the helper , 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, she spied on her helper all the times, she wore black spectaculars so that her helper will not notice her spying eyes, keeping 8 feet distance away from her helper.  She is more than a qualified CID.

Aunty Rosie added that we must also do inventory check daily, she suggested to count the number of bread slices, count the chocolate, count the biscuit, count the coffee sticks, count the eggs, measure and mark the milk, or whatever at home that maybe consume by the helper without permission. She has become the walking calculator. 

Ya ya, interrupted by Aunty Susie, she found biscuit wrapper under her helper pillow, coffee wrapper under the mattress, half bite apple in her wardrobe , chocolate wrapper in her pocket and many more eatable or uneatable things in her helper’s room.  She even went to the extreme to check on the garbage bin searching for evidence.  Inspector on the move.

Sounds to me that all helpers are greedy for food.    

Contradictory, my pillow partner (husband) just work on the opposite of aunties, he asked me to keep both my eyes close, let the helper eats extra, use extra, or if she takes our money without asking permission, it is alright, as we should consider it (missing money) as bonus for them. 

I cling on to this mindset, and I went through more than a decade of peaceful mind minus the position of Inspector, Walking calculator and Inspector.  

Mr Postman

‘Ding-Dong’, someone is pushing my door bell, I rush out, to find out my teenage neighbor at the door, he handed me a letter of mine wrongly sent to his house.  I really appreciated it and thank him with a bow.  Such a caring neighbor, sure he deserves a rich and good looking girl friend.

Two months later, the same boy holding an envelope at the door, I gave him my cutest smile, but he replied, ‘Aunty ah, your letter come to my house again, why huh?  Always wrongly sent?’  I can see his dismay and irritation, I felt so vexed, as if I am causing him the trouble and inconveniences.  At that moment, I immediately withdraw my previous blessing on him.  Still, I remember to held on my noble posture, I extended a humble apology and thank him, I told him that I will take action on this. 

Another two months later, I received 5 letters wrongly sent to me, I scratch my head off, some are 3 km away from my home, some don’t know what and where on earth, this round, I am at sixes and sevens, how to deal with these 5 letters?  To kill my curiosity I prefer to open and read, or, make easy burning on garden leave, or, gain extra by selling with old newspaper, or use as recycle paper for my son to do math, or just simply write ‘wrongly sent’ and drop it back in the post letter box, and of course, the last resource is to hand carry deliver like the teen boy did.

Clueless, and cause me to swallowed 5 paracetamols daily by clenching on with these 5 important letters.  As a sagacious person, I made the decision to kick the ball back to Post Office, there go an official mail to tell them my 5 paracetamols problem.

On the next day evening, the Post Office Manager & Supervisor drop by my home, they acknowledged their mistake, that maybe caused by his newly on board staff, contributed by no proper road signage, added on with upcoming Taman that have confusing names (Taman = resident park), and the excuses list went on like toilet roll.

Last and foremost, they inform me that for recurrence, don’t take the trouble to write officially, just give them a call, they will come by my house to collect the wrong letter.

My Home Helper - Sophia

Sophia (not her real name) is my Cambodia house helper, aged 22 yrs old, she had gone through 3 months intensive English speaking course prior her trip to Malaysia, she has not more than 50 words of vocabulary, talking to her can be really exhausted and tiring, typical chicken and duck talks, beside talking, sign language and eventually getting help from on line translation.  

I sit with her every night to teach her English, she ‘graduated’ with a pass after 6 months of hardship.

In Cambodia, she stayed in stilt house minus electricity and water, generator was used for television which is the sole entertainment.  They washed clothes in the front river, get drinking water from the well. 

Bowl and bucket are used to create beautiful rhythm during raining days, 2 small rooms were built to cater for her family of 6, and countless animals were staying below the stilt house.  The animals will be mistaken rain when their owner is taking bath on top of them in the house. 

Breakfast is not a must, plain water is enough to run the day, lunch will have to depend if there is any left over rice from last dinner, plain rice with soya sauce is considered sumptuous for lunch. Dinner will be served with rice and ONE dish that consist of mix vegetable and meat.

Most of the neighborhoods are farmers, those owning a motorcycle is considered well to do. They don’t visit DIY shop, but instead they DIY most of their household things.      

Going to town needs 4 hours of rough drive in the dusty and muddy path, the visibility distance is less than 5 feet, thus, providing free natural face mask along the road.

In view of the above, it is of difference culture and background, yet we managed to live like a family.  

Mothers Gossip - Branded Vs Generic Products

I came across two mothers who spoke on difference views of selecting products for their children.

Mother Lucy

Financially above average, working parents with teenage kids, both she and her husband could choose to have some good and expensive products, whereas for her children necessity such as clothing, shoes, and others, she would go for generic brand, maybe once a while invest in branded product depends on situation.

Her reason given was not to let her kids indulged with all the luxury and top notch brand at young age, her worry was whether her kids can manage to keep up the luxuriate standard when they stand on their feet.  To be precised, can her kids make enough money to support those high end meets.  She explained that if her kids happened to be in mid income group, they will survive well with the moderate expenses in genetic brand.

Mother Grace

Mother Grace has her own perception, for herself she would rather go for generic brand product, but for kids, she provides branded and expensive product. She even gave a car for her college going kid to travel around. 

Mother Grace explained that branded items means good quality, by introducing branded items at young age could cultivate the kids to have good quality sense, where in life, her kids will strive and work harder to maintain the standard of good quality.  She further added that those parents provide generic brand will cause the kids to have fewer quests in quality, simultaneous put in less hardship and effort in career.  

Well, there is no right or wrong on the above opinions, perception defers, yet we need to evaluate and make a judgment on our own.

Just for sharing on some interesting infomation on Marketing Brand Vs Generic Products - http://www.essortment.com/marketing-brand-vs-generic-products-24139.html

Happy parenting.

Sudden Fortune, Sudden Headache

3 months back, we took 3 hours drive to lunch in Tanjong Tualang, enjoying and collecting the cholesterol count from fresh water prawns, it was worth to exchange such delicious and sumptuous meal with 30 days work out.   

While walking back to the car, my 11 yrs old niece Little Fuji Apple suddenly pointed on the road and shouted “Money!”, Money is a nice term to me, I think, I dream and I love Money.  With my 1^st instinct and lightning speed, I rushed forward like a tiger hunting for its prey, grab hold of the whole stack of RM50 notes, just 8 inches away was another stack, where my Little L inherited my  DNA on speed, and I just behind him by half second.

Little L was shouting over the moon, I ruled out such kind of disgraceful act in public, cause I need to maintain my noble and elegant self. 

50 meters away from the scene, we finally put ourselves together after having a whale of time, I took out the money and count, it was exactly RM500, where Little L got RM208, a total of RM708.  This was a huge sum, a lot of suggestions pour in, wait for the owner to come back, ask around, keep it or spend it.

Then someone popped out the ‘what if’ questions, what if the owner was in need to feed the family of 8 including 28 ducks, 18 ants, and an aged ailing 108 years old mother, or worst in urgent need to pay for medical deposit.  Our happiness cut short to just last for less than 8 minutes.  We frowned and lost, guilt level increase to the maximum, stared at the money in hand and look back at the scene, how I hope that the scene could replay back and I will choose to ignore the money. 

We waited a little while and decided to leave the place as there was no claimer, those money was put in our family pool fund. 

The guilt feeling had since been haunted me for weeks, I had troubled in sleep for the first few days, it also stirred my feeling whenever our family use the pool fund. 

Lately, my Leng Lui mom (means pretty mom) called to tell me that she lost RM50 in the sundries shop, she was very upset, and I rendered my ears for her to nag, she nagged every day, long enough for a totaling of 7 x 7 = 49 days.

With this, my peaceful mind created a whirlpool…. big and bigger, I look up in the sky, I am deeply sorry and I don’t mean to cause that pain for others…..  

Price Price Price !!!

Since we moved into our very own house, I need to stand on my own feet and be independent, marketing is considered as one of my greatest challenge. 

I used to pick up my food grocery at the wet market, the place frequently visited by aunties and uncles, tongue fighting can be seen over few cents on price negotiation of poultry, vegetable, fish & others. 

Wet market can be the best place for Business Study Student to do their practical internship, where price negotiation skill can be practiced with win-win solution.

To promote friendliness and create closer relationship with customers, the sellers are storing away and keeping the price in their memory, as buyers, we are forced to ask the pricing, this is how to foster closer tie with them.  Sometimes, asking too many pricing may projected the wrong impression of being calculative and stingy, I would normally acted and behave like a rich ma ma, zip off my mouth and just pay generously whatever the price is.  

2 years back, Tesxx Stores Sdn Bhd (not the real name) mushroomed out their branch here, Tesxx had all the pricing clearly stated and labeled, from vegetable, poultry to all seafood items.  Since then, I come to know all the prices without asking, and the prices are fluctuated according to supply and demand.

After some comparison, I came to know that the wet market traders’ pricing are actually dearer by 30% to 50% (applicable to most of the items).  Sobbing in my heart, upon knowing that I am contributing towards their luxurious lifestyle.

Of lately, I made a trip to Cameron Highlands, fully enjoyed the free natural air conditioner weather.  Cameron Highlands is a primarily agricultural domain where we find an abundance of vegetables and fruits farms, one of the major tourist attractions is the vegetable markets, but to my horror that some of the vegetables are actually selling 15% more expensive than Tesxx, ironically, our supply of vegetables are actually trucked down from Cameron Highlands.

Buzzing… The more I know, the confuse I am. 

Wheels Power

Kembara was born in year 2000, those years she accompanied me day in and out, more lovable than my pillow partner. She is stylishly black fitted with kangaroo bar, she is tall and sporty.

For my petite size and height, at least I am made visible to other drivers. (Prior to this, my colleagues used to haunt by invisible driver at work.)

The time finally come that I have to part with her, my junior took over the steering….vroom vroom vroom… they speed off with my old faithful Kembara. From then onward, she was seen with additional ‘make up’ here and there, I was called to the scene numerous times to settle the problem, thanks god that almighty Kembara gave full protection to the driver.

One month ago, my son gave me a desperate call and I went to the scene, I saw my beloved Kembara lying lifeless with 4 tires pointing up to heaven. All the mirrors were broken,

petrol leaking like a river, to me I saw it like a real person lying with blood oozing out from the wound.

This round was less lucky, my son & 4 passengers sustained minor injury. Kembara was sent in for remedy after the stunt act of performing turn turtle & somersault , but the repairer sees no hope in her future, she was then put at peace.

Adios… Kembara, I will always remember you.

Angel or Devil ??

My Litter L goes to school by school van, there are mixture of standard 1, 2 & 3 girl & boy students in the little vehicle. Little friends are small in sizes, but the noise they made are equivalent to 100 twinttee birds sharing in one cage.

They are having great fun during the journey, chat, play and waive to passerby and commuters. Some time, they tend to disagree with each other, and start the name calling, pushing, punching and throwing little things.

Little L will come back sharing on the happening in school and in van, regardless of happy, sad, angry or frustration.

One day, Little L told me that he was sad to have enemy, I come to know that this standard 2 girl, accusing Little L and friends for pulling her hair and poking her eyes. It seems that she was the victim among the boys, cause was unknown.

Her mom was furious about the incident, she went into the van with a camera, she took pictures of all the boys, giving stern warning and threatened to report this issue to the school principal for their misconduct in van. Little L was upset about it, after discussion among themselves, a group of 5 students went to see principal to tell the truth that they are being misquote and unfair judgement. School head take note of the issue and so far, little girl mother has not turn up for the complaint. (maybe she meant to frighten the boys only)

After a few days later, it seems that the quarrel and bad feeling still persisted, again, the little girl’s mother turn up in the van with a rattan stick in hand, scolding and threaten to beat the so call naughty boys who disturb her daughter.

How strange to see such an over protective mother? Did she really find out how her daughter behaves? Was told by van driver that little girl was engaged in fierce tongue fight with the boys as well, she was no loser.

Children are smarter than parent, in front of parent they can be angel, but, behind they are no angel but devil.

To mend the situation, the van operator separated the little angel to be seated in front beside driver. There, solve the entire problem. As usual, boys and girls are happy to play around with the little angel missing the fun, mother of angel have stress-less night with the camera and rattan stick keeping for good use.

The world is in peace again.

99, 80, 79

I was thirty years old when this additional growth appears in my body, the doctor got his wallet thicker by inches using his knife to remove it. He then told me that it will recur if I do nothing to improve my health.

I pray and turned to someone ‘up up’ there, I told them before I join them floating on cloud, I need extra days to settle on earth. Based on my good track record, I definitely deserved to lengthen my days to 99 years old.

I knew I must strive to ensure that number come true, I did whatever good for 99, my daily schedule include diet, exercise, spa, massage, and many logical & illogical methods and ways to battle it.

Lately, elderly in my family tree reached and crossed over the number of 80, I discovered the great differences in them, namely:-

More ‘don’t’ then ‘do’

• Spending more time with doctors than friends
• Degrading Memory
• Increasing complaining & nagging

I started to wonder how will I be if I set foot on 90?

My junior, Little L bumps into places that he need my explanation, I carefully explain to him what is Old Folk Home. After a long silent, Little L said the following:

LL: Mom, you need to take good care of your own health, because I am not sure whether to keep you at home or send you to old folk home. (Little L sounds serious)

(I am nervous as I never like the place)

LL: I want you to stay healthy, no dripping & bed wetting (Urinary incontinence), I dislike the smell

Oh no, I would rather float than meeting those aged folks under the same roof. 99 ? maybe not that tempting anymore. Shorter life with healthy body will be the best. I should revise and target to float before 80.

79 – I am heading.

Float in Air & Walk on Fire

When I was four feet young, some strange things happened in my home, our family members of four took turn to visit doctor, mom whispered that she sensed something not right in the home. She did not tell what was wrong, but, the young me believed that it should be related to - long hair, white gown, long tongue, bleeding eye, uttering hu…hu… hu… and had the ability to float and walk in air.

The situation persisted for a year, my helpful cousin sister brought us to the Chinese Zi Kong temple, popular among Chinese, located far and deep in the village. The path was small, bumpy, zigzag with tall weed grass in both sides.

The temple opened for consultation from 9 pm, sea of peoples queuing seeking for help or por-bi (protection). The Ji Kong Chinese spirit medium (tang-ki) dress in ancient clothing, cap that symbolize a ‘yuan bao’ (ancient money) and a torn fan in hand, we gave our house address, he used his super power to search and investigate, within seconds he said that our house had took over by ‘unwanted guests’. We were given protection ‘fu’ to wand off the spirits temporary.

That night, all of us squeezed into mom’s bed, I dream of them flying everywhere.

We revisited the medium for permanent protection, the tang-ki confirmed that there were a total of 5 spirits involved, of three were young orphans from no where, of two were my ‘sister or brother’ resulted from my mom previous miscarriage.

Tang-ki said he chased away the three, but the two refuse to go as they need sense of belonging, they wanted a ‘place’ in the family.

Tang-ki gave protection red stamp on the back of our outfits, he then placed a Buddhist rosary around my neck, he told me to follow closely, I found myself in a queued in front 12 feet long fire path made up of burning charcoals, the young me fear nothing but to obey, according to Tang-ki, those who cross over the fire path will have their bad luck change.

Tang-ki chanting and he started running, I follow closely behind him and ran over the fire path, I feared for the fire, speed was fast and pushing Tang-ki from his back. Tang-ki almost fall when we finished the line. I brushed and apologized repeatedly.

Two weeks later, there were a new incense burner next to Di-Zhu-Yeh alter (place on the floor). Mom said that it was for the brother and sister. Since then, we live happily ever after。

Di-Zhu-Yeh Alter

Long fire line

Resemble Ji-Kong

Young Men - Please be Reasonable

My basin tap was leaking drop by drop, it was like coin dropping to me, so I use bottle to collect the drops to ensure it go to no waste.

A small little name card pop into my letter box, I gave it a call for help. With 'bip bip road runner' speed, 2 men push my door bell, my eyes enlarged 3 times when they walk in, 1st - they are too young, 2nd - they are too neat, 3rd - they dont have the plumber look, I calmed and pacified myself not to judge the book by its cover.

To get my tap rectify, they need to cross the mountain, plug the stars from sky and empty the seawater. My jaw drop wide when they told me that they ONLY charge a minimal of RM700 to get it done.

These two youngsters' ambition is to own a Mercedes within an hour, bold and daring enough to charge a hefty sum. For these, tug-of-war negotiate going on, they finally turn face and gave it the final dong! dong! hammer of RM380 and nothing less.

I Ting! Ting! on my triangle - RM300 final and nothing more. Obviously, it didn't match the deal. We call off the deal. Too bad, they burst their dream car.

Upon leaving, the young chap ask for their petrol charges, which he had not mentioned upfront, I did not comply and they zoom off with a little not so happy mood.

I went round to grab a house repair contractor to bring in their plumber, next day, 2 men in their fifties came in, at ease and phew ~!! at least they looks like plumbers. With tools in hand they get the repairing & curing job done just within hour. Most important - they charged RM120.

When there are less Shoppers

Being a home maker, I enjoy grocery shopping at non peak hour. Missing are the road traffic, given free will to drive at any speed, or bold enough to perform stun show by driving and cutting toes nails simultaneous. (while traffic police is sipping tea after the busy hours)

Car park is as spacious as desert, car can be parked anywhere, no one will leave creative signature on your car for occupying 2 parking lots.

Trolleys are always there, being the picky one, I use to choose the cleanest and sparkling trolley to bring shine to my face.

Goods are abundance and shoppers are less, I can choose, pick & inspect as I wish, I can use my snail reading speed to finish every single contents and look up for dictionary if needed so, or pocket out my calculator for price comparison.

Honestly, with less shoppers, my mood is super good, relax and happy.

The only setback is I hardly see those ‘leng cai & leng lui’ (handsome and pretty young chaps) around, meeting those with limited regenerative abilities who needed badly on facelift, or those left home without looking in the mirror, and some horrifying with polka pimples cream on their face.

At the counter, cashiers are so warm and friendly, using eye contact to signal that she is available for serving, and beg us to her counter. They will treat all the goods with extra care, arrange it nicely in the bag, forgetting not to bonus us with a smile and words of thank you.

Fishing - Difference experience

During the 1 week school holiday, we went for fishing in Sg. Petani, paying RM26 per rod per entry for 3 hours, we can bring back all our catch.

Chicken gizzard as bait

total of 5 ponds for the anglers to move around

This was consider crowded as fishing lines may be entangled if there is catch

1st we need to hold still on the rod, no moving even there is fire next door

2nd we must set our eye wide open staring on the floater, dont blink, or else we shall miss the nibbling

hours of patience & endurance (if same effort put in study, sure will get 1st placing in whole school)

there you go... the thrill and the satisfaction (10 times more happy than dating a pretty girl )

Here you go... Patin Fish

Removing hook with pliers

another catch - Cat fish, taste yummy with curry

Worth while after the long long wait, hot sun and missing date with pretty girl

Unusual Flowers

12 years old red palm trees, lately blossom with flowers.

shape likes octopus tentacles

close up look....

difference view

silhouette image

the tiny flowers drop or 'sprinkle' on everywhere

on the path

on the stones

in between roots

close up look, do you think it looks like jelly fish? or alien creatures

I finally caught this little one hanging on the spider web