Netmoirs of A Solemn Rover

Sand In, Sand Away

A 6 wheel payloader was here today, pouring sand in front of our gate, and made a quick getaway. It was another minor makeover of our house. To be precise, the temporary kitchen floor. Mom & dad will bring in workmen doing cementing and floor levelling next week. It seems like the wheelbarrow will be put into full use again after some time of dormancy. Judging from the size of the payload, it was twice the size that we have used to level the compound behind the house. Upon completion...

Pai Ti Kong

Today is Pai Ti Kong (Pray Heaven/Sky God aka Jade Emperor, 拜天公), a Hokkien/Minnanese culture celebrated for more than a millennia now. As for us Hokkien's, PTK is day of remembrance to God the almighty which is the Taoist equivalent to Allah. His close associate is the Kitchen God who did reporting to him every year of how well 'behaved' the tenants are. Well, those are the beliefs anyway. We didn't miss out sugarcane as this plant is a symbolic plant for the Hokkien. The sugarcane...

Second Day CNY

Woke up just before noon. Relatives arrived as early as 11am. Soon we hear loud chatting and mutterings coming from uncle's house. 2nd aunt, Chong Lee & Mui Sim brought their baby along. Took some pics and mingle with more visiting cousin to our room. Ah Beng arrived for awhile as he needs to rush back to Teluk Intan to his wife's side. Chong Lee and wife can't stay that long either, and not long after that everyone assembled at uncle's place. Lunch then served with everyone randomly...

First Day CNY

Got up quite late, had breakfast together. Since I got a call earlier that Keng Woo, Cherrie and Wai Kyan is coming down for a visit, I did some preparation for them. They arrived just after lunch and reached Bidor around past 2pm. I met Keng Woo & Cherrie during the Transformers event in Queensbay and have not see them ever since. As for Wai Kyan, I only meet him during the gathering in Taipan last year. So all of us did a lot of catching up on each others life that day. After...

My Not So Dramatic Chinese New Year Eve

It was pandemonium in the house today and this Chinese New Year will be my first in five years. The feeling was awesome as we partake tasks of helping mom. Since sis was available, we did our prep while waiting for younger bro, sis-in-law and dad to arrive home. Bro and sis-in-law (SIL) arrived home much earlier eventhough they had to battle their way through the pillaging massacre of the Batang Padang highway stretch from Tg.Malim to Tapah as many commuters are exiting that same bloody...

Talking Business

Today I met up with my cousin into discussing about a business. We hangout at the mamak in USJ and chatted all evening regarding her plans of setting up a food delivery business. Her plan is to set up the first delivery outlet serving KL's business district. While I had no knowledge of how the business operates, the idea is to build an ecommerce website with some custom functions which fits her requirements. Since building an ecommerce site from scratch  is not my forte, I kept reminding...

Bro’s Birthday, 2012 Among Other Things

We both woke up late, it was already past noon, and our plans is still on - watching an apocalyptic movie, 2012 on a non-apocalyptic day in Tropicana City Mall! Bee got coupons of Subway, and we both get 6-inchers and pay only drinks and extras. It was a quickie though as we were only half hour away to screening. Since we were both fast eaters, we made it early to the queue. There weren't that many visitors as maybe it was still early in the noon. Our show eventually starts at 2pm. I...

Sis Birthday Weekend

This is my first time celebrating my sister's birthday since 10 long years! I did not see her grow up and in an instant she is now a grown up dame. It was much of a family gathering and for the first time we are complete with Yen in our circle as well. My sis invited 6 of her besties. Dave however couldn't make it because of his EP. Too bad he can't have his regular dose of sugarcane this time. As for relatives, only Tiffie, Wooi & Chloe with Uncle Choo & Aunt Siew Moi attended. My...

Mooncake Festival 2009

Mooncake Festival aka Mid Autumn Festival was special this year. Special cos I was home celebrating it. Also special cos mom is doing all the goodies. Missed those goodies for many years! This year besides taking some orders from friends and relatives, mom did quite a variety of mooncakes, or should I say moon-jellies? As time changes, traditional way in doing traditional dish changes too. Upon modernisation, mooncakes has transitioned from well, cakes to jellies stuffing them with variety...

Granny’s 80th Birthday

This has been the rarest event I ever celebrate - granny's birthday (it's not a norm for us lol). Mom and uncles had decided that we will throw a party for her 80th at a restaurant in Teluk Intan. All aunts and uncle except 2nd uncle, and 6th uncle with few cousins were absent (the married and traveling ones). We had to celebrate them a week earlier is because the 12th is the most convenient date where attendance can be maximized. We took of from hometown at 6.30pm and arrived an hour later....

Belated Birthday

Happy birthday to me. I am 31 now, old and penniless haha. Well, I had things for a change this year, and it was the opportunity to celebrate my birthday with my family after 10 long years in hiatus. I missed the days of celebrating birthdays in England with my buddies. I never forget the memories of celebrating my birthday there during the peak of the summer where we were free to roam with our polo shirts and khaki pants grilling BBQ or satays in the open air at the compound of my house. Damn....

Memories of Grandpa

September is one of the month of moments for me. One of them was the 16th, which was the anniversary of my late grandpa's passing. It was 14 years ago I remembered when I was 15, just few more weeks before sitting for my PMR exam, our family received a sad news from the doc saying grandpa was diagnosed with a cancer, and had no chance for a cure or to live. It was too late as the diagnosis was carried out during its very chronic stage, so the hospital can't do anything about it. We were...