Be wary of BEST BUYS!

Pretty exhausted with the nomadic lifestyle from Hong Kong to Macau to Zhuhai to Panyu to Guanzhou to Shenzhen and back to Hong Kong in 6 days, Dec 22-27, I slept through the 4 hours flight without even paying my dues to the throne!

Marketing strategy at most outlets in China is atrocious! Prices quoted for the same product fluctuate by 50% between the initial and last offers! Desperate to secure more sales, the personnel with their products, even dashed up the moving coach to offer rock bottomed prices! Obviously, we, who had already purchased at the higher price, felt cheated!!

There is this gems, semi-precious stones, outlet in Shenzhen, operated by a migrant from Malaysia, who shared with us, his success story. We, fifteen of us, were each presented with a jade pendant as a token of rejoicing his newborn son, the day before, after having had 3 daughters with the eldest at age 21!


He sounded genuine when advising us against purchasing his overpriced jewellery! So impressed I was with his sincerity, I decided to seek his expertise in selecting a white gold diamond set as my existing diamonds are mostly in yellow gold settings! In fact, in Hong Kong, at Jacky Chan's owned outlet, I had bought a diamond ring!

However, I was stalled by our tour leader, for reasons, best, not mentioned. She urged my mom to restrain me from striking a bad bargain! Thus, except for me, even Aderlyn who was cautioned, left the outlet armed with purchases!

A complete ruby in diamond settings comprising of a ring, ear-rings, pendant and necklace, showcased as pricey as RMB66,000 sold for merely RMB1,600 with certification!! You bet, no typing error! They read RMB Sixty-six thousand and RMB One thousand six hundred !!

Aderlyn kept harping that I missed a good deal. Had I??? Ironnically, no one doubted the credibility! I, however, have reservation over the ABSURDLY OVERPRICED ???!! items though!!.....

Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas!!

How could I refuse??

My immediate neighbours have always maintained that my house looks best in the street. I thought so too myself....simple and can never be outdated. Honestly, I've always loved coming home since moving in the very first day on June 19, 2000!!

With the new coat of paint, it looks even cosier especially on a gloomy day! So impressed they are, they couldn't resist requesting for the colour code and asked whether I minded if they have their house painted in the same shade!!

Well,of course I mind, and, very much indeed, but how can I tell them so without being offensive. I wouldn't have minded if the house is not located on the same street and so close for that matter. With a heavy heart though, I quoted them the number.

When Mdm xxxxx called again earlier, mentioning her husband opined that I might not be pleased, I took the opportunity to share with her that people in the neighbourhood especially her in-laws right opposite, who are not on speaking terms with them, may find that they are copycats!! Somehow it jolted her senses. Realising her disappointment I felt bad...

I can understand her anxiety in choice of colours for she wants to ensure her money spent would be rewarded with appreciation of her resurfaced home! It had cost me RM9,000 to paint just the exterior walls and fencing and Rm4,000 to paint the roof!

I suggested another slightly darker shade which would look just as good, simultaneously reassuring her that it should be alright if they insist on selecting my shade.....

My joy short-lived!!

After my trip back from Korea, Leslie, having had Curoii for a fortnight in my absence, offered to care for him. He claimed Curoii would be better off within his larger home and would eventually succeed his aged dogs guarding his house!

Well I thought, why not?? In fact, I was delighted! Curoii had been a nuisance since I brought Crimi and all, home, after I ceased operating the pet shop.

He incessantly yelped every morning when the maid let the smaller dogs out to defecate in the backyard! I was often immensely stressed by the THUNDEROUS barks for fear that my neighbours may lodge a complaint with the council thus risk re homing the rest of the pack!!

He would howl LOUDLY upon hearing each passing ambulance or police car which had the siren on and you can well imagine, with the back of my home almost fronting the main road, how many times he would noise pollute in a day!!

Despite the above scenario, I brought Curoii, much as I dreaded it, home, yesterday without Leslie's knowledge since he is still in Australia until next week! He has got a useless maid whom I would have sent packing home had she been mine!

Curoii was fully infested with ticks. Swollen ticks were all over his head, face and body! We couldn't bear an ant crawling over us while the poor thing had to endure thousands of ticks sucking on to him! His continuous scratching brought about hair loss and crust has since formed on his ears and back of body which will eventually lead to mange if care is not exercised! Gone was the glossy coat while under my wings! It was such a pitiful sight!!....
I weeped as I gave him a tick bath apart from the Frontline administered 3 days ago to ensure no ticks would be passed on to my dogs at home!

Curoii couldn't wait to go home and kept on whining as I proceeded to bathe Leslie's other dogs. He didn't even want to pee when walked around the garden, pressing his body close and with his eyes focussing on me.

Back home, the instant he leaped from the car, he dashed to mark....his territory..this is his HOME!
Surprisingly, he didn't bark when the maid let the tiny tots out this morning and I pray hard such behaviour persists!! Curoii, please don't fail me!
I despise inconsiderate neighbours and surely would not wish to end up being one!!!......

What a joke!

3am? But I thought Tham had just taken Cuddles out to wee and poo and had the entire room mopped as well as bathroom cleaned?? I had retired early last night at about 10.30pm ...... I must have been dreaming...but it felt so real!!! I was damn sure that I saw her towering over me for a brief moment when I opened my eyes! Goosebumps were all over me! Whatever, I headed for the toilet, eased myself and hopped back into bed. I could sleep no more and kept tossing about the bed....

At 5.30 am, I toyed with the iPad browsing through the latest gossips on the entertainment news! 7am, no sight of Tham! When she finally came @ 7.20 am, she was all apologetic...."Sorry, mom, for oversleeping. I had thought it was 7 am when I performed my chores earlier @ 1.30 am...."

I wasn't dreaming after all. I guess for my own safety, I must remember to lock, a habit I never adhere to, my bedroom door from now on.....

Happy birthday, my precious!

Kiasu!

Since student days, I had not been on a bus, so I thought it was fun when Adelyn, my sister, suggested we board one to Genting Highlands. "Standing! Standing!" chanted the attendant to all of us waiting to board the already fully seated bus. The ride up to Genting would take approximately an hour and yet I noticed senior aged commuters scrambling towards the bus.

Standing? Won't it be dangerous? I questioned. Soon, I saw these people, regular guest members of the resort, I suppose, seating themselves well prepared they are, on papers they laid on the aisle and steps on the bus! I took a quick shot, afraid that they might bellow at me! Gosh, they couldn't even wait to board the every half hourly departing coaches! Well, I told Adelyn, I'm definitely not going to offer my seat! If they were rushing for ailment treatment, I would.... but to a gambling resort...no way!! Youthful, ahem, though I may look, I'm almost a senior citizen myself!

We checked into First World Hotel and then, queued up to be seated for our lunch! Yes, you bet, because of the holiday season, the resort was a sea of local and foreign tourists!

For the first time, in Malaysia, I felt like a tourist. The air was chilly with people around me donning winter clothing...woolen scarf and all, while I was draped in, merely, t-shirt and jeans!

We went around the shopping outlets scouting for bargain purchases and ended up with only 2 bottles of nail varnishes...green and cobalt grey!!!


After a cat nap, we made our way to the casino. There were so many people?..no gamblers?.... I found myself a comfortable seat and within minutes, lost Rm100 in four consecutive bets in the game of Big & Small! Talk about first time gambling luck!!

I was reprimanded by Aderlyn for failing to comprehend the game despite her numerous explanations! "You're worse off than the grandpas and grandmas here!" she grumbled impatiently.

Shrugging and not wishing to be a generous donor towards the casino, I went around watching as others played. I came upon a table playing cards of Three Pictures. The croupier was an attractive young girl. Minimum bet....Rm100! The demon must be at her back, for, she lost, as a dealer in seven consecutive games with the cashier topping up her chips three times to be paid the players! I was so tempted to place my bet hoping to make up for my loss.....and.....thank god, I didn't. At the eighth game, lady luck went to her rescue, she won all! The players left the table instantly having lost in just, that one game! Smart, eh? Wonder if the croupier will be sacked for the heavy losses?......
Since the crowd dispersed, I went to yet another table of Big & Small, witnessing a gambler with high stakes of Rm3,000 each bet!!! I ached at losing Rm100 and he lost Rm9,000 in three rounds and abruptly vacate his stool!!! How is he gonna sleep?

It agonize me observing the players' losses and their grim faces and feel sorry for their family members.......

I surely do not belong here.....

Nite, Cannon......

Mommy still haven't relinquished you of your duty at enhancing mommy's life with your presence and have sought solace having you close within the home ground.... Sleep tight....I love you.....