Free meal(s)

The title kind of says it all. Really.

2pm

Yesterday, I walked out of the house heading to DTE. Along the way, I stopped by at Popeyes and casually asked the server at the counter if I could redeem a couple of items. Actually, I got a code the from Internet that entitled me for free food (tongue). The best part of the whole process was she did not hesitate at all. I was amazed myself!

Now kindly imagine similar situation but back home. I have vouchers gifted by former company for good attendance. Last Friday, I went to Serdang to spend some and guess what? There was almost a commotion taking place between the server-on-duty and yours truly. She punched the cash register but I was not quite done with ordering breakfast. As I asked for an upsize of coffee, she insisted I pay with own cash when in fact there was still balance from the voucher.

Little Missy, my voucher was paid for so it was as good as cash. I still wonder why she hurriedly completed the sale, though. Is such Customer Service taught at University McDonald's? Hmm.

4pm

Getting back to the biscuit and chicken wing I got free-of-charge: I arrived at the airport and found a quiet spot and enjoyed them (yummy). With happy full tummy, I went straight for check-in and chatted with my girl while waiting for flight takeoff.

7pm

It was a smooth landing, thank God. Before entering my vicinity, I performed Asar qasar (shortened) prayer. Should not waste such rukhsoh (facility), right? After all, Islam is practical and understanding religion, I could not comprehend if anyone would think otherwise.

8pmI hopped on ERL making my way towards Bandar Tasik Selatan. Earlier, my drinking buddies had confirmed that they would fetch me at the train station (yay). Not only I would have a safer ride home, I also got to catch up with these crazy people.

They took me for dinner and surprise! There was a birthday cake for dessert, too (woo hoo). May God bless these people's life and guide them through countless challenges they face in their line of humanitarian work. And as for me, I would not wish mine be any other way. Amin!

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Hip hip hooray

4.30am

Last Monday, Abi and I left home in a cab darn early. We were heading to the airport because there was an appointment to keep. Before catching the first flight back to the Lion City, my husband and I shared a large coffee. Hence, he slept all the way (grin). Although, I could not close my eyes for I was feeling a bit claustrophobic sitting on window seat and tad suspense.

Touching down still a bit early, Abi decided that we had breakfast at Killiney Kopitiam in Changi Airport. I enjoyed iced coffee with butter and kaya toast while he kopi c with nasi lemak (yummy). By the way, it was smooth entry for me without the white embarkation card and I thank God for that!

9.30am

We began to walk along Boat Quay towards the Ministry of Manpower building. I went in and made my way into the card collection line. It was pretty quick before my turn was up. The officer at counter handed me the necessary document and the rest was history.

Service announcement

This goes out to those related to us in any way possible. So I do not have to answer your FAQs over and over again, you know. I hope it could save both our time trying to comprehend what is going on with my life right now. Here goes:

This week officially marks my being a dependant's pass holder (yay). Holding the pass means I could skip the long queue at immigration checkpoint and use the other lane instead. It also saves my passport pages from being stamped by them officers.

What else? This means I could open a savings account too, for my husband to bank-in my so-called spouse allowance (wink). So I am going to need a bank that offers electronic GIRO transfer service. With the account comes a bank card that has NETS service for making local payments and VISA for swiping international or online purchases (woo hoo). For those who do not really know, Malaysia is not always in the drop-down card payment option for many shopping websites and that to me my friend, is very frustrating.

Although it is going through quite major changes, my life is actually affected just a little thus maybe requires minor adaptation only. However effective immediately, Abi and I can no longer drive around in the country by law because that privilege is tourist exclusive (sigh). Hey looking on the bright side, the public transportation here is world class and above KL standard so I could not complain if I want to.

There you have it. I am a resident from now on therefore looking forward to enjoy benefits, deals, exemptions and rights as far as this new ID could take me. Tee hee.

Sick Sunday

9.30am

Abi and I both overslept this morning. The condition we were in did not show signs of getting any better today. My throat was itchy as ever I needed to cough it out so I would feel a lot easy.

Yet we went out to enjoy breakfast at DTE (grin). I ordered mee siam which did not really matter because my taste bud stopped working. He could not complain much about his fried koay teow, too.

12pm

We were trying to divert our attention from this slight fever by watching TV. It was hard sitting still and focusing on the programs when the itching, coughing and spitting out phlegm seemed to take all the attention away (sigh).

3pm

Yet again, my husband and I went out to enjoy Transformers: Dark of Moon in E!hub (tongue). Well all I have to say, it was just alright. Apparently, commenting on it being too much drama and lack of ethic would make some people put on defensive mode (wink).

After our so-called movie date, we decided to have a cuppa before heading back. I got my cappuccino from McCafe then joined him at the food court. Oh did I say it rained? Yes it flashed a bit but was gone as we walked home (phew).

7pm

I start to sneeze and it is not good. I hope the rain has nothing to do with this. Hmm.

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Stuck alone

They say there is a first time for everything. Well yesterday was the worst first night alone in a foreign country, ever! I am not going to hide anything from you, I cried like the biggest baby in the world (boo hoo).

It was not the spending time on my own that frightened me. It was the fact that I could not leave this country due to unfinished immigration business. I was darn scared if anything should happened (touch wood) and I could not do much from where I was stuck in.

Noon

I went out to Orchard Road just to kill time. After much look around, I got myself a UNIQLO top (grin). Because of its 80s look, I thought it was decent enough thus hoped to wear it for the interview.

7pm

Before going home, I dropped by McCafe in White Sand for a caffeine fix. Since Abi was not going to arrive from KL anytime soon, I really took my time sipping my cup of joe. Ah talk about bliss.

11pm

I just finished cooking at this very hour! Poor baby was not feeling well so I prepared porridge for supper. When my husband reached home finally, you have no idea how relieved I was. Tee hee.

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Rainy day!

11am

Thank God it is Friday. The weather is cloudy and very windy with a chance of rain (yay)! It has not rain since we touched down here last two days. I am beginning to feel sick, literally. The temperature is so high I was experiencing headache earlier and now chesty cough. So it is a good thing if it rains today (cross fingers).

Anyway I am all cleaned up and dressed up with nowhere to go, yet. Actually there is a program that has got me glued to the idiot box. I am not going to tell you what it is though (tongue).

1pm

It actually rained in Singapore (woo hoo). Despite the wetness, I am now outside

the house for my McCafe coffee, of course! Sitting behind me is a bunch of high school students who sound like they are having fun. With their confident high pitched voice and happily turned up volume: it is like music to my ears. I pray God spare me my still-in-good-condition eardrums (grin).

It makes me think: if you realize that you need to be in a pack to feel confident and happy about yourself, then it is really a bad sign. Come on, at this age you still need approval and recognition from the members of the pack? So high-school like, kids. Fully depending on them, you will not be able to walk with your head held up high when they are not around. Which is why at times you tend to fall apart without their support and believe me, it does not take a genius to see that.

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Hot day

4.55am

I set the alarm clock to go off at 4.45am but just managed to get up ten minutes later (yawn). Quickly, I went into the kitchen and prepared instant noodle for really early breakfast (yawn, again).

11am

I had the chance to sleep in finally, because of a few reasons. Actually we arrived last night from KL thus still tired from the journey. In addition, I was fasting today and the weather outside was darn hot in Pasir Ris! So it was only natural that I lay in bed online chatting with friends and watching TV (tongue).

6.45pm

Abi arrived home and we went out to E!hub to enjoy early dinner at PASTAMANIA! I ordered spicy chicken fusilli while he spinach ravioli. Both came with garlic bread and everything was delicious (burp and became history in our tummies.

My husband brought back a number of news from work. My appointment date had been set next week but in the meantime I could not leave this country even if I wanted to, surprise! On the contrary, my husband needed to go back to KL due to some ordered item had reached his brother's office. In other words, I would be stuck here alone for the weekend with hanging status. Nice.

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Some Sunday

12.30pm

I am enjoying lunch with my husband at Pizza San Francisco (yummy). He had meatball spaghetti and I tuna melts with mushroom soup. However, written on their napkin is bruschetta and seafood soup as must try dish. Oh man! I got to taste those next time but I wonder when that would be. Hmm.

3pm

Abi is out for a football match. He is playing in an alumni league Ansara representing his school. Go SedaraFC (woo hoo)! On the other hand, I would have some personal time to sketch down ideas for my small project. It is working out great so far and I like the result I am seeing.

6.30pm

Suddenly received a call from the usual suspects (whoops). The guys were on their way back from an outstation duty and they were already downstairs to take me out for a drink! So I ended up spending some time with them until sun down. Tee hee.

10.30pm

We just checked-into PNB Darby Park at this very hour (wink). The last time we were here, they gave us darn huge executive suite. Maybe bigger than some of your houses, I kid you not! So this time, earlier, Abi had requested for a deluxe room only. However, due to its unavailability or perhaps Abi was not early enough, we had been upgraded to a studio instead (phew).

Hello, weekend

7.30am

Abi and I got up early then drove towards Sri Petaling. There was an unsuspecting roadblock along the route taken but we managed to get away with it despite our road tax expired already in June! I guess a smiley but hungry face could not do much harm to national security (wink) right?

8am

We were already enjoying breakfast at Nasi Lemak Tawaf. I had my usual egg and prawn sambal but my husband slightly changed his menu from beef rendang to squid sambal. Everything was delicious, no complaint (burp). Oh have I ever?

4.30pm

We just came back from grocery shopping at the supermarket. I was quite surprised to find the rise in many items' prices. Hmm inflation does play its supposed role without fail, so there is no escaping it huh?

7.45pm

Poor baby requested sardine sambal for dinner. Aaaww we have not got over sambal yet today, have we? So I am now preparing the necessary because they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Tee hee.

10.30pm

We are flipping through TV channels still deciding on a program to watch. Malaysian version of Minute to Win It looks alright (funny). Wait, almost forgot my coffee needs ice-ing. By the way, cheers!

Ride home

1.30pm

I am on the way back to KL (yay). Alright my getting excited about it just seems weird but whatever! I hope traffic is going to be kind despite that current issue we see on the news.

By the way, what do you need a rally for? You are not being oppressed by anybody. Or you cannot say for sure if somebody had not played fair the last time. Besides, to suspect for foul play you need to come up with evidence or witness. Lawyers should know these things better than I layman. Well it is only my two cent, probably worth nothing to you.

Anyway, I drank my coffee already and bought three Donut Factory pieces for lunch. Hmm I think it is the only halal certified donuts around so far but most importantly, yummy! I had passed both immigration checkpoints so I am praying for smooth sailing all the way to my final destination. Zzz.

3pm

We made a pit stop at Machap R&R northbound. I ate my first donut: raspberry dark chocolate! It was heavenly I plan not to share the apple cinnamon and double chocolate (drool) with anyone, can?

Buyer hunt

9am

Laundry is complete. I am now catching a breath while sipping jasmine green tea. It is hoped to better this weak tummy. The cause for yesterday's so-called bowel mishap had been figured out. It is that bloody orange! Err I am not simply cursing. Seriously, see?

4pm

I just arrived home after a whole day out (phew). The first destination was CityLink Mall, followed by Marina Square, then Suntec City Mall and finally Raffles City Shopping Centre. Not bad eh? From these four hunting grounds I discovered many interesting stuff that hopefully later could be turned into some profit generating activity (cross fingers). The next question is: where do I find a financier for my project? Hmm.

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Coffee break

9.30am

The one thing I almost forgot about staying home is that I become lazier when it comes to taking bath. It is only a matter of time before I would drag myself to the bathroom and soon find how much I despise shower (sigh).

10.30am

Finally tolerated a quick shower with coffee as my motivation. Tee hee. Now I am getting ready to go out and hang out where I could enjoy a good cuppa.

11.30am

I am enjoying my cup of joe while people watching and listening (err sorry, I cannot help it?). Thank God McDonald's is just minutes away, not to mention within walking distance only. Ah life can never be more grand than this, at least for me. Cheers!

12.30pm

Due to unforeseen circumstances with poor bowel condition, I had to postpone my window shopping plan but head home instead. Some breakfast coffee I drank back there. Hmm.

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6pm

I took an evening stroll from DTE to MRT station through Pasir Ris Town Park as Abi decided we were going to have dinner in Tampines. Well, I did not mind doing a bit of walking except for the wrong footwear: I donned flip-flops rather than running shoes (grin). Now you cannot say I do not exercise, can you?

Day trip

8am

Abi and I were getting ready to leave home. Everyday was an early start for me so far and I could not recall if I ever slept in, including weekends. And today it was bring wife to work day (wink), literally.

9am

We arrived at Raffles Medical for my check up purposes. They took my blood sample as I needed to undergo HIV test (again, I know). Besides that, X-ray imaging and seeing the doctor was also required.

11am

My husband paid for the check up bill. Now we wait for the result which would only be out on Monday. After that he took me for brunch because both of us had not eaten anything yet. I ordered macaroni in clear soup: pretty weird dish but there is a first time for everything so yeah. Surprisingly, it was quite yummy!

Noon till evening

I hopped on the MRT and headed to Tampines. I dropped by at McCafe for a cup of cappuccino since I had not taken my caffeine shot for the day. Then it was window shopping time! Unfortunately as much as I tried to avoid buying anything, UNIQLO had failed me big time (sigh). Apparently, the GSS was still going on. Hmm.

Nostalgic night

My obtaining a free soul status just touched a week but already I was experiencing the life of a socialite (wink). All thanks to my drinking buddies who made it possible for me to taste the so-called life on a totally different grass.

To begin with and for the record, I am a volunteer at one of the registered and renowned Islamic NGO based in KL. Because of my hectic life schedule, previously I would have to let go of the opportunities for getting involved in the many humanitarian programs lined up by this particular organization. However last weekend, that was not the case at all.

I was personally invited to a charity dinner by the Head of Operation and Finance during our regular drinking session. And it was not just any dinner, mind you. We are talking concert dinner featuring a respectable performer, the versatile Datuk Sharifah Aini or fondly known as Kak Pah by her fans. The event would be taking place inside the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Seri Pacific located just next to PWTC.

That evening, I got ready by 6pm and waited for my girl to fetch me at my apartment. As the Head of Corporate Communication and Public Relations for the organization, I say she did a pretty good job making sure I had social fun! We arrived at the venue by 7pm, thank God for smooth traffic on a Saturday night (phew) and were briefed about guests registration immediately. Next thing I knew, I was handing out confirmed tickets to arriving guests, voluntarily.

Right after 8pm, dinner was served and food was simple but delicious (burp). So that officially initiated the Majlis Makan Malam Amal Simfoni Kasih IKIMfm "Hapuslah Air Matamu" Bersama Datuk Sharifah Aini organized by Islamic Relief Association Malaysia. I sat together with a Producer pal and a couple of lawyer associates I was introduced to earlier, who by the way, knew how to have fun!

The guests were then entertained by the one and only, Datuk herself. It took a while before she got the crowd going, actually. After a few warming up numbers, the audience really started to party (woo hoo). Kak Pah sang more than 20 songs including our all time favorite Seiring dan Sejalan where she had a major donor's staff to be her duet partner on stage. Coincidentally, the dinner fell on the same day as her birthday so she was not spared that night. The hotel brought out a cake and everybody in turn sang Happy Birthday to her (aawww).

The event ended at 11pm but we volunteers stayed for a little longer to capture memories through the overly excited photographer's camera (tongue). The organizing President also had all of our photos taken with Datuk as soon as she was done with press conference.

It was indeed a night to remember where I enjoyed an unforgettable event with friends who have always been by my side through thick and thin, thus I will treasure them in my life forever. When they say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, they know darn well what they are talking about!

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