Chiam See No 1

"Some people will help and support you in future. What-ever you are intending to get or to perform will be successful, but it may probably take a long time. You and your family will be in peace and happiness. Sickness will be far away from you. Your previous bad debts will be recovered. You will meet your relatives who have been out of sight long ago. Your luck in doing general business is not too bad. You will be brought to meet your real lover in a short time."

I quite like this one. Every thing seems to go well...

Am just very curious about the 'real lover' *wink wink*

Chiam See No 14

"It seems that you have some worry in your mind. Whatever business you are going to do now will not flourish. If you are in trouble, do not worry too much, because you have bad luck now. You will become rich and prosperous in the next few years. You have no hope in love now and should not make love during this time otherwise you will lose your favorite things. A sick person in your family will get well soon. Your debtors are faithful to you. Your luck in other things is no good."

*Sigh* as if having the feeling of impending dread and doom the last few weeks wasn't bad enough, I get this as my fortune...

Oh well, it's said and done. Plus, I can't have great fortune told all the time right? There's always gotta be some good and some bad, so I'm just gonna go with the flow.

Valentine's Day vs Chinese New Year

Which would you choose? To spend the day with your loved one.... or to spend it with your loved ones?

I had to choose this year. Spend Feb 14 with my puppy and get what could only be described as worse punishement than what Kathy Bates dealt in Misery... or celebrate Chinese New Year as usual with all my relatives....

With the Chinese blood pumping through my veins.... Chinese New Year trumps Valentine's Day.

Besides, I see the puppy everyday... and as he said "Every day is like Valentine's Day for us... no biggie,"

So yeah, it was the usual stuff... went back to granpa's house on the eve of Chinese New Year.... went to the temple to do the usual prayer offerings....

I love how the offering papers always leave silver markings on my hands... it's like proof... "Here grandpa... I made these with my very own hands!"

The usual fare... always too much great food that you don't know where to start and where to end... and always end up overeating.... to heck with diets...

The morning of Chinese New Year... serving tea to my uncle and aunt... of course with good wishes... and in return, I get my ang pows! Yay!

Then it was back to Ipoh for more family gatherings.... this time for a barbecue at my uncle's house and endless rounds of mahjong....

That's me and two of my cousins.... can't tell who is who here though hahaha

Photo courtesy of www.hugolim.com

It's really more of a spectator/consultancy thing than a game.... as we play... cousins or aunts/uncles will walk past and tell you "Keep this tile," or "Hey you've just won..." and most times, we'll have like 3 consultants per player and 10 spectators all together....
Photo courtesy of www.hugolim.com

This is mom and I.
Photo courtesy of www.hugolim.com

Thankfully.... I received a very pleasant surprise this year for Valentine's Day. I was out shopping on CNY eve (Feb 13) when a florist from back home called up telling me that she has a delivery for me... I told her I'll only be home in a few days time and she said alright, she'll deliver then...

My first Valentine's Day bouquet... also my first bouquet... ever...

It was from Andy. I thanked him and asked him why did he do it. He said I deserved to have flowers. I deserved to be happy. This is a way of him trying to make up for all those years. It was a very sweet gesture... albeit a tad too late...

I didn't tell the puppy who it was from. He asked, and I just said "I don't know, came to me without a sender's name..." and he teased me about having admirers....

Well whatever it is, it's just a bouquet... I've never received a dozen of red roses like this before... so let me bask in it... I deserve it...

Chiam See No 19

"Your future luck will be fluctuating. Sometimes you may become very rich and sometimes you may be reduced to poverty. At present you may not be successful in doing big business, but do not give it up, go on steadily with it and you will be successful in future. A sick person in your family will get well in a few days. When you become old, you will get much happiness. Your luck in doing other things is moderate."

Well, at least it's not a bad one! Happy new year everyone!

Chiam See No 7

"You who get this No 7 will be healthy and prosperous. Your family will be peaceful but it seems that you have some trouble at present. You can be better by giving alms to the poor. Do not be too anxious for wealth. Just like you grow trees near your house, some day these trees will yield you their fruits. Your luck in doing business is not so bad. Your properties or things previously loss will come to you again. You are quite lucky in love affairs. Any sickness in your family will recover. Your luck for other things is good."

I sure hope so....

Chiam See No 2

"Any one who gets this Chiam See is just like the moon when it shines. You are now the same as half a dead tree when it receives some dew and fresh air, it recovers its strength turning to perfect condition as it was before and having fruits and leaves as usual, like old mirrr which should be regularly polished otherwise it will not shine. What you are going to do should be consulted before it is done. Your luck for other things with the exception of love is good."

Not entirely a bad one but not entirely a good one either. Oh well... at least it's not all bad. All I need is a push and encouragement to reaffirm what I can do... :)

i miss you....

It's been 72hrs since I've seen your face or felt your arms around me...

It's been 72hrs since I've smelt your lingering scent next to me...

It's been too bloody long!!!

i'm home

I'm finally back home in Ipoh for the CNY hols.

Traffic was a tad heavy but was flowing rather steadily throughout the journey. There was only a jam at the toll but we detoured and exited via the off roads instead.

Being home is a good feeling. My dogs were utterly glad and excited to see me. I was very happy to see mom again.

But dammit I miss you... that's what's wrong with me... I get too used to having you around that I miss you whenever we're apart :P

Oh well, it'll probably be a long five days without him... *sniff*

Chiam See No 13

"ANY one who gets this No 13 is like a small tree having few leaves and no fruits. When the raining season comes it begins to spread some branches and leaves. You should not remove your present residence now, or do not change your occupation, do it as you did before, otherwise you may get trouble afterwards. You will meet your relatives who left you a long time ago. Your luck for other things is good. In case of love, you have little hope at present but in future you will meet your real lover."

This Chiam See has been one of the more accurate ones I've received of late. Well, the part about relatives that is. I have recently been back in touch with a cousin whom I haven't met in over 15 years or so... maybe even close to 20 years. I have to say I am very glad that we're back in touch... and the best part is... we talk as though time never left us. Blood IS thicker than water ;)

But the present residence and occupation worries me a tad. Not too much. But it's just that I had just accepted an offer for a new job and have just quit my present job AND will be relocating to PJ so... let's just hope it all goes well....

Chiam See No 22

"No. 22 is moderately a good one. Whatever business you are going to do should not be too big at the beginning. Do not go ahead of other people but go behind them and do not imitate other's luxuries, then you will get no harm. Think and consult before you do any business. Do not be anxious to become rich at the beginning, otherwise you will lose something. Do your work steadily but wisely, then you will reach your aimed destination easily. In case of sickness you should not worry, it will do no harm, but in case of prosecution you seem to be the loser. You will meet a person whom you always think about in a short time. Your luck in other things is quite good."

Well slightly better than the earlier Chiam See but still not the best. I think I like it this way. Wouldn't want to get a bad Chiam See but I wouldn't want something that all great too... cuz I believe if things go on too well... shit will hit the ceiling sooner or later... of if things are moderate... then there won't be any shit to hit the ceiling :)

Chiam See No 8

I have this thing, that whenever I go to Penang to visit my grandparents, I have to go get my fortune from this spinning wheel thingie at the Chaiya Mangkalaram Buddhist Temple in Burmah Lane. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember and will probably continue to doing it. I guess it's more of like a ritual thing for me.

What I love about this fortune thingie is that, the fortune reads in four languages - English, Mandarin, Malay (olden Malay to be exact) and Thai.

This time during a family reunion in Penang, as usual I visited my grandparents and had a go. This is my fortune.

"YOU who get this No 8 are however, not good for everything. Your present condition is like a big-tree receiving no wind and rain and its main roots have entirely been cut off. It is better if you are able to remove your present residence to some other place. Your property which had beenl ost can hardly be found. You have very little hope in love affairs. In case of prosecution, you will perhaps be the loser. Your aim for other things is rather poor."

Not exactly the best of all... but still... you take life as it comes and make the best out of it :)

changing names

Very often people don't like the names they were given. In fact I know some people who detest their own names.

When I was younger, I didn't like my name... mainly because 8 out of 10 people I meet will never know how to pronounce my name. I mean, if I write it down on a piece of paper and thrust it in your hands and force you to pronounce my name, fine. Earlier this month, I met this girl... who had difficulty pronouncing my name even after I repeated myself three times.... THREE effing TIMES!!!

How hard is it to pronounce Claire? It rhymes with bleh.... or care... or blare.... or where... or chocolate e-clair (okay e-clair a little far fetched but you know what I mean)!

I disliked my name so much, that I contemplated changing it to something... more common when I finally turn 18... like... Elizabeth... or Amy.... or Christine... or maybe even Anne.

Anyways, people have found difficulty in pronouncing my name in the Eastern world not the Western, which reminds me of an article I read in the newsies some time ago about locals who had difficulties with immigrants who had cultural names.

Cultural names are beautiful. Especially when it is painstakingly researched by various members of the family who only wants the best for the newborn child. One of my youngest cousin sister's name was partly chosen by my mother, because she was born on a Wednesday and her Chinese name meant "Coloring of the Dawning Clouds"... so mom named her Wendy.... which of course she doesn't really it but unfortunately has to live with it :P

Unfortunately, when these names come across to the Western world.... they are often misconstrued... mispronounced... misunderstood...

So because of that, the world is slowly ridding itself of meaningful cultural names... and we have more Kevins, Michelles, Jasmines, Andrews, Michaels... you get the picture.

By the way, it's not just non-caucasians who are having this problem. Apparently many Brits who don't like their own names, have switched as well.

Last year, Joel Whittle changed his name. He is now known as Big Crazy Lester (this was taken from Reuters).

You know what? I love my name. I love the fact that my mom took forever to choose which would be the best name for me. I love it that my grandfather painstakingly chose my name over 6-7 choices ever since mom was preggers.

I love it that my name is one of a kind.

I just don't really like sharing it with people because it takes FOREVER to explain my name to them :P

kuih kablooiieee

So today mum and I felt like Chinese New Year biscuit making. Back then when I was younger, grandma had the secret recipe... the age old yummy yummy recipes for all these cookies. All we did was to help out during the moulding process. No one was allowed to help with the batter. Somehow someway mum managed to worm it out from her a couple of years before grandma passed on. But grandma equipped us with the skills on how to make the perfect love letter, honeycomb and kuih bangket - just not the recipe.


Years after grandma passed on, mum and I would sit down one day and just make love letters. Not the truck load we used to make when grandma was around (we used to make enough to give out to neighbors and my aunts and uncles) all in the spirit of Chinese New Year. This year is no exception.

Mum concocted the batter, I started the fire and heated up the love letter moulds. Fire was burning nicely. Batter was tasty.


But somehow, something was not right. Normally it takes about... I don't know... about 5 mins to get one love letter done. This time, it took us half an hour to get one. And I'm not saying TRYING to make one after having a few failures, it was literally one. It took forever to brown.

After two, mum and I decided to pack up and make honeycombs instead. So she packed up and I sat there manning the burning charcoal stove hoping and wishing the remaining three wouldn't take too long.

5 mins after mum stepped in the house... *KABLLOOIIIEEEE* (yeah I know, explosions don't go kablooie but it sounds way better than kaboom)

Ash... charcoal... debris... the grill... and all the loveletter moulds went flying in the air...

One piece of burning charcoal fell conveniently on my left calf and burnt me skin. I now have a burn scar the size of a dime...


and the front porch... has a hole....


What a day....... geezzz

Although, I have to say that I am uber glad that even though it blew up right in front of me... nothing really bad happened to me... I'm counting my lucky stars ;)