Jam Packed Saturday !

Saturday, 29 September 2007, it's Nuzul Al Quran Public Holiday ... Unfortunately, for me, I have to work because this is the only PH that my hotel does not recognise ... In the afternoon, I went to my nail salon to "lepak" with friends like Nanthini and Lyn who came over to chit chat while having their manicure and pedicure done.

Later, we (Nanthini and I) rushed to the 7th street market to buy the ingredients for Tau Yew Bak (Dark Soya Sauce Pork) and Fried Bee Hoon with can Guilong Pork. Went back to my house for a quick shower and while waiting for me, Nanthini got to know Puffy, my persian cat better.

Arrived at Dennis' s place, cooked Tau Yew Bak and Fried Bee Hoon. Dennis could not come back on time, so we ended up eating with Angeline.

We both went to Red Box Gurney Plaza to join both Aw Eng Liang @ The Purple Rain Rocker and Lyn Teh. Dennis came later to join us in the karaoke and we all had sensational time until almost 4.00am !

Chuck & Larry .. a Couple ???

Thursday, 27 September 2007, Dennis was on his off day. After sending his Hong Kong friend to the airport, he invited me for lunch. We (Dennis, Ravi Firdaus and me) had Nyonya lunch at Nyonya Breeze, Abu Siti Lane. After lunch, we adjourned to Old Town Cafe, New World for our White Coffee and Hemut milk tea.

We went back to work after our coffee and tea, while Dennis went for his hair cut at Gurney Plaza. Dennis called me from there to ask if we wanted to join him to watch "I now pronounced you Chuck & Larry", a comedy movie at 7.10pm. In the end, only Soo Theng and me joined Dennis because Nanthini had to finish her 2008 Budget for manning.

Chuck & Larry is about two good friends, Chuck Levine and Larry Valentine who are firefighters. Victims of circumstance, Chuck has to claim Larry to be his domestic partner on some city forms in order to beat some procedural red tape. They think it will be easy because nobody will ever know. After Chuck agrees, the two men go to Niagara Falls to get married, and Chuck moves in with Larry and his unsuspecting kids. However, an official becomes suspicious, and the new couple's arrangement goes from confidential to front-page news. Forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds, Chuck and Larry must now fumble through a charade of domestic bliss under one roof. After surviving their mandatory honeymoon and dodging the threat of exposure, the well-intentioned conmen discover that sticking together in times of crisis is what truly makes a family.

All three of us liked the comedy very much ... definitely most suitable for those who need to a good laugh after a long day at work !

We had coffee at Starbucks Gurney Plaza, later joined by Nanthini. After coffee, we went for our Hokkien Mee Supper with extra "Oink Oink" @ Seo Bak and pork balls at Hot Wok. It was so yummy !!! We called off the evening at approximately 12.30am.

Mid Autumn Festival !

Friday, 21 September 2007, I had my dinner with Michelle Koay at Taipan Fins, The Northam, All Suite ... After a wonderful dinner, we were invited to sample some of our homemade mooncakes which come in different types of fillings, from chocolate to coffee flavour to green tea and the traditional ones such as lotus paste and red bean. The one that captures my attention is our signature mooncake in the shape of a pig ... oink ! oink !

Marriage Proposal ? Ya Right !!!

Friday, 21 September 2007, my colleague Bob, our Recreation Manager came to our office. He saw this beautiful hand bouquet from Front Office to my GM lying on the Executive Secretary's desk which was meant to be a Get Well gift because of his slip disc. Bob, being Bob, a mischievous, fun and loving guy in our hotel "borrowed" this bouquet to "propose" to me on his knees ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Look at how funny we were !!!

Aunty Rosemary's Visit !

Wednesday & Thursday, 19 & 20 September 2007, Aunty Rosemary came to Penang after her holiday in Japan. This time, Aunty Rosemary's trip is short i.e. 2N/3D trip .. but it was a very fruitful trip for aunty. We had a wonderful Seafood Dinner hosted by aunty at Ocean Green Restaurant on the 1st night and an 8-course special Chinese Dinner at White Beach Restaurant hosted by See Kim aunty for the 2nd night.

Friday, 21 September 2007, we (brother and wife, See Kim aunty, Anne and me) sent aunty to the Penang International Airport for her flight to Singapore on MH653 at 1.15pm. Here's wishing aunty a pleasant trip to Singapore for her 1 week stay before departing back to Sydney, Australia.

Post Depression ... Movie Marathon !

After Voon Choong's departure on Saturday morning, Dennis, Angeline and I decided to go for a movie in the same afternoon .... we went to watch Hairspray a musical comedy by a number of good stars such as John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and many others. The story is about Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion, dancing. If you need a good laugh, then go for "Hairspray" cos, I am very sure that this musical is going to enlighten you like what it has done for me !

Sunday, 16 September 2007, another Movie Marathon Day ... this time we watched Knocked Up by two unknown stars; Seth Rogen as Ben Stone, and Katherine Heigl as Alison Scott. Ben is a 23-year-old slacker who is in the process of establishing fleshofthestars.com, a website that lists the exact moment in time at which nude scenes with famous actresses occur in films. Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl) is a responsible young woman who works behind the scenes at E! Television Network. After a drinking together one night, they had a one night stand. Eight weeks later, Alison begins feeling very sick and comes to the conclusion that she is pregnant, and she contacts Ben. She tells Ben that she is pregnant and that she has decided to keep the baby. The rest of th story is about how both of them learn to know each other and coping with her pregnancy. My rating on this movie is so, so only and only to be watched if you have extra time to kill !

Next, we watched The Brave One by Jodie Foster who acted as Erica Bain, a successful NYC Radio host with a loving fiance. But her world is shattered when she was brutally beaten and the love of her life is killed. When the police is unable to help her, Erica goes on a vigilante hunt on the city street to track down and revenge against the men who ruined her life. This is definitely a better movie to watch although it is a bit slow ....

Well, after those 3 movies within the two days, we all felt better !!! What to do, life needs to go on ....

See You Later Voon Choong !

Saturday, 15 September 2007 @ 7.40am on CX720, our dear good friend, Goh Voon Choong @ PIG has left all of us to pursue his career at Shangri-La Pudong in Shanghai, China. Voon Choong's farewell was celebrated in two days and two nights ...... the sequence of his farewell as follows :-

Thursday, 13 September 2007 @ 5pm, Nanthini picked up Voon Choong from the bus station upon his return from KL. They went back home to change. Then, Soo Theng pick us from our respective homes to Bali Hai, Gurney Drive for a sumptuous seafood dinner (Marmite Prawns, Salted Egg Crabs, "Mee Teow Fried", Baked Oysters, Prawn Mantis with Dried Chillies, Mango Chicken and Seafood Hor Fun. After dinner, we went to Bagan for a Vodka session with a few rounds of snooker games and "three cards" with loser had to drink the vodka. We ended the evening at 4.00am at Soo Theng's apartment with more vodka and card games !

Friday, 14 September 2007, everyone (except for Nanthini cos her two EXCOMs had already taken their off day on the same day) took off on that day to continue Voon Choong's farewell celebration. We started the day with lunch at Old Town Cafe, New World and by 3.00pm, we were already home to catch up with our nap. At 5.30pm, Soo Theng came to fetch us all and off we headed to the Mainland for a quick household shopping at SSF, Prai. By the time we reached SSF, it was already 7.45pm due to massive traffic jam being Friday rush hour and also the heavy downpour that does not help the situation. From SSF, we went to Auto City 2 a newly developed township with many nice restaurants and watering holes such as Bed and Vivo. We had our dinner at Soho because our original plan of having dinner at Tao, Japanese Restaurant was too packed.

To Voon Choong, we all wish him all the very best in his new posting and may he finds success in Shanghai ! We will not say goodbye but instead, we will say ... See You Later ! I am sure we will all be able to meet up with him again, soon .... be it in Shanghai or ........

Happy Birthday Moneyman !

Monday, 3 September 2007, it's Northam Financial Controller's Birthday. I have been invited to celebrate with his team members. Cheers and Happy Birthday Brian !

Baby Olivia Cheong !

Sunday, 2 September 2007, nothing to do but to laze around the house ... in the afternoon, I decided to pay a visit to my friend, Sharon Heah to see her and baby gal. Olivia Cheong was born on 27 June 2007 to both Stanley and Sharon. Adorable and very active baby who likes to be carried and pat on her back at all times.

Later, after visiting Sharon, I headed to my nail salon for my manicure and pedicure. Using one of OPI latest colours from the Russia collection called "Vodka and Carviar", I put it on my toes ... Wow ! the red is so vibrant and I like it very much!!!

We all (Dennis, Voon Choong, Angeline and me) grouped at Nanthini's apartment for a steamboat dinner and I must say that the soup boiled by her is simply delicious ! Soo Theng joined us later upon her return from her hometown at Sungai Petani. We ended the evening by watching Tom & Jerry and playing Chor Ti at the same time.

50th Merdeka Weekend !

Thursday, 30 August 2007, Eve of Malaysia's Independence Day ... we (Soo Theng, Voon Choong, Angeline, new house mate of Dennis and me) had a Choo Char dinner (Pai Kut Ong, Lotus Soup, Fish Curry and Fried Kai Lan with Salted Fish) near Tanjung Bungah market. Later, we adjourned to Soo Theng's place for a "21 o'clock" poker gambling session .... with more friends joining us i.e. Nanthini, Alister, Christine and many others ... We ended the evening early at approximately 12.45am as everyone were too tired to go on ...

Friday, 31 August 2007, Malaysia's 50th Independence Day ... we all had lunch together (Soo Theng, Nanthini, Voon Choong and me) at the new Old Town Cafe, located at New World Park.... It was a sumptious lunch and we all enjoyed it very much.

Later in the afternoon at approximately 4.30pm, I went to Traders Hotel (THP) to pick up Nanthini and Voon Choong for our groceries shopping at "7 Street" market. Besides groceries, Nanthini bought herself 3 black beautiful blouses. Went back to Dennis and Voon Choong's place and started our cooking.

Nanthini cooked Tau Yew Bak, while Voon Choong steamed Prawns with Coconut Milk A'la Nyonya (using his mother's recipe), Boiled Chicken Soup with Lotus Roots, Peanuts, Red Dates and Cuttlefish, Boiled Cockles Meat with Homemade Garlic & Chilli Padi Sauce and Fried Beansprout with Salted Fish. Other than that, we have Fried Kai Lan with Prawns and Seo Bak (Roasted pork which we bought from the market).

We ended the dinner with Red Beans Soup made by Nanthini and not forgetting our favorite fresh Longans, too. Soo Theng and her hubby, Jimmy also joined us for dessert.

As usual, after dinner, we played Chor Ti until almost 1.00am and the loser for the game is me and was made to drink red wine and champagne by Dennis ... Face all red and had to be driven home by Dennis ! Shame on me for not being able to drink .....