Caricature of the 'Retards'

Ophthalmology posting is yet another feel good department to be in just like Otorhinolaryngology such that we are rendered free from a hectic schedule. Wednesdays are cool. It's written in the timetable as 'E-learning' in the afternoon which basically denotes that we are free. The group is planning to go for paintball during the next E-learning session. So here I am, typing this entry under a chilled out mood.

Was sorting out the photo albums when I realized there were many photos left unposted. Sometime back, the babes (Alicia, Eunice and Michele) and I had visited the park and we had a bout of fun doing frenzied stuff there, as though we were carried back to our naive days as kids. Alicia had uploaded the entire album on facebook on my behalf. It won't be amusing if I were to post something of the same. So, I decided to give a little touch up on these pictures for the sake of fun. Guess I'll be getting a good scolding from them pretty soon. Alright, since all of us have a prominent special feature of our own, I thought I should further enhance it, shouldn't I?

Eunice is a smart girl. So the best way to present this feature is by amplifying her forehead. You know how Einstein had a high forehead that contained a huge brain? Most geniuses do too. That's how Eunice should be, in order to look brainy.

Alicia in return has bubbly cheeks all along which are oh so pinchable. She's cute like that, really. Whenever she smiles, her high cheek bones become pretty salient. Rosy like strawberries. And I must show you this by giving her an even more pronounced cheeks.

On the other hand, Michele owns this smile typical of just hers. Apply it under the medical jargon, the smile becomes 'Micheloid'. The moment she smiles, her eyes widens and brightens, making her looking really captivating. Michele sweetie.

When I tried doing a caricature of my own, I was lost. I didn't know what facies I should be giving to myself. I'm not really smart but I do have a wide forehead. Hence I ended up gaving myself a 'frontal bossing' appearance. Frontal bossing is a sign seen in children with syndromes or vitamin D deficiencies or Thalassemia(if I remembered correctly). XDOk. So welcome to the world of retarded looking people who aren't exactly retarded.

Well, we don't appear this ugly in life, do we? :p

Embraced by warmth

It was hence a lovely day. I woke up to an abrupt anticipation about attending church and it wasn't exactly an impromptu decision. At the start of the week, I'd dropped Pastor Joanne a message on Facebook informing her that I would love to visit City Community Church someday. CCC is somewhat affiliated to BAoG through the pastoral connection. Ps. Joanne is someone whom I'd known since my teenage days. Had met her in many of the Youth Alive's camps, APYAC and even Planet Shakers conferences. She was BAoG's youth camp speaker back then as well. So yeah, I'm glad she still remembers me.

The minute I entered the sanctuary, I was cradled by two friendly ushers with such amiable smiles carved on their faces that surge the warmth in me. They shook my hand with a grasp oh so tight and we exchanged names. I couldn't recall who they were but one of them handed me a bulletin while the other gave me a guest book to sign on. The praise and worship session was one thing I enjoyed and found comfort in. Sermon shared was awesome too! That's the church I would love to nestle in right here.

I returned home feeling blessed and pleasant. Then mom rang me not long after. It'd been a couple of days since I last heard her voice. I missed her dearly. We had a long talk updating each other about our on-goings. She was telling me what she was up to with dad recently and yes, they are the loveliest married couple I'm certainly proud of! We chatted about Yoke Tien's news. She told me her part and vice versa. Feeling all contented with that conversation. Aww.. I'm missing family already especially my brother whom I hadn't seen for weeks.

Have a great day ahead!

Infidelity with searing honesty

The joy about reading Cathy Kelly's 'Once in a Lifetime' is certainly about the depth of the storyline and it's all worth a warm, moving read. I spent the whole afternoon revelling in the seclusion of an infidelity embraced by a diverting tale competently told. A quarter of the book to go still before I unveil the truth. I cannot stop reading, and have to sound like 'Omg, this is really hooking!'

I saw my own cynicism growing in one of the characters. Now, I just love reading books where I come across little snippets of wisdom that touch me. At some point of time I'm feeling it's been written just for me.

You will be remembered, always and forever

I know it's too late now to write an eulogy about the friend I lost. Others may read it, but she will never. My discombobulated still-in-shock mind wound it's way through every memory I had with her. Though not many and they happened more than a decade ago, they came vividly like it was just yesterday. My heart leaped a beat when I got the news.

This friend who went with the name Brittany or rather, Yoke Tien, had left this world today. I was more accustomed to addressing her by the latter name. Had known her since first standard and we were quite good friends till the end of my primary studies. No, we were still friends, it was just that we weren't as close as before. As far as my memory can contain, she was the 'little princess' in her family being the only daughter of both her parents. She had everything she wanted as a kid. I was frequently getting invitations to play at her house during that time. Was amused to have recollected that she was in point of fact the one who taught me how to play my first piece of music from a piano. It is a tune familiar to everyone yet I do not know its title.

I was consciously drawn to our childhood where she used to squander money on us(me, Alicia, Eunice, Christine, Xin Yee, Jye Chi) generously by dropping some coins around the bushes and we had to find the scattered coins to possess them. Next memory that came to me was an outing to Summit Parade when it was first launched during our third standard. It was an outing with Yoke Tien and Eunice and no doubt, it was my first lepak-ing experience as well. The three of us actually walked around the mall synchronously with our feet going left, right, left, right, left. Then I remembered the sticker collections era we went through. It was part of our growings. Alicia and I were very fond of Yoke Tien's velvetty disney stickers. She told us it was purchased from a country which I failed to recall now and promised to get us some when she revisits the place. She gave me a memorable childhood I will never forget. I'm sure to my other friends as well.

The thought about her demise is still hard for me to comprehend, really. Such that how did a girl like her leave the mortal world at such a young age? The many doubts that rushed through my suspicions. One thing I'm truly regretful of is for not dropping by a greeting while she was still alive. The last time I had a conversation with her was in Nov 2007 as I looked through my inbox. I was asking her about London when she told me was already back in Malaysia for good.

Life is indeed fragile. It is short. I have yet to save a life but I'm already watching another friend gone from my life. Of the many things I wished I had done, it's all too late. For all I know now, don't live a day of your life with regrets because what happens next, we can never predict. Dear Yoke Tien, may you rest in peace, with a prayer dedicated to you. Thanks for appearing in my life significantly.

Life's random captures

Hidden morning sun on the other side of the palmae leaves

A whiff of the warm season grass

A half of the circular wall sconces from Dusk

Contemporary lantern from Dusk

Shadowless stepping stones

Lomography glimpses through my biological lenses

Gossip Girls

I reckon Batu Pahat is absolutely lacking of places for a course of fine dining. Like a restaurant which features higher quality materials with an eye towards the atmosphere desired by the restaurateur. The babes and I made our way to La France Restaurant for dinner this weekend! To my humble surprise, they served pretty good food there, especially their pastas, pizzas and cheesy-escargot that seized our growling stomachs. We spent the whole evening turning ourselves into gossip girls and chatted casually on random stuff. There was just so much to talk about that we had to go to a second location which wasn't pricey and we ended up at the mamak stall, as usual. We were planning to go for a brief holiday somewhere this year with the gang. So 'Seventh Heaven', stay tuned! We can definitely make a do with it. xoxo

Deepavali 09'

The 'Festival of Light' is here again! As for this year, I'd got an invitation from my ex-schoolmate, Shobita, to celebrate Deepavali together with her family. I called along Meicher and Chuanbee and we decided to dress in a saree and go. With me are two sets of sarees while Meicher has one. So it's cool enough for the three of us! Seriously, it wasn't easy draping a 6 metres cloth all around the body and the process became tougher when it came to making neat-pleats. I was literally struggling for almost half an hour to get the 3 of us done nicely. Yet the end results weren't at all satisfying! The saree and its pleats got all messed up the moment we walked out of my house, before we even arrived at the host's. We failed to walk gorgeously into the house when Shobi had already spotted our funny gaits from afar. *blush, embarrassed, blush blush!!*

This was one of the best Deepavali I spent. It was great to see Sereen and Ching Wee there as well. Shobi's mom offered to re-drape our messy saree and *gulp* she's just good at dealing with that long cloth! The way she patiently untangled the cloth and tied them back prim and proper amazed me. I just had to keep praising her. Alright, so that differentiates a Chinese and an Indian. A million thanks to Shobi and her family for the preparing a sumptuous spread of aperitive Indian cuisine. Had such a good time savoring the putu mayam, idli, beryani, curry mutton and chicken. Much to my surprise, Shobi's dad generously gave us angpau before we left. I mean, I didn't know they practise this culture too. I'm already looking forward to the next Diwali celebration.
Happy Deepavali, dear all!! ♥