Sunday, June 17, 2012

It's June 2012 already!

It's now June, a half of the year 2012 has past. There were some uncertainties in terms of work and there were loads of stress too. So when the mid year school holidays came around, I was jumping for joy. I could stay at home for a few days and just relax. I did just that!

It seems that these days, we do take time for granted. During work days, I'm out of the house by 7am, back home in the evening then out again at night. I hardly do much at home except bath and sleep. If my mum was around she would say that 'home is my hotel now'. Its so true, we try to create and have a relaxing home so that it will be a place for us to unwind and relax when we get home. Seriously though, how much time do we spend at home.

I was very happy to have at least 3 days straight at home during the school holidays, what a relaxing time. Also, I got to really clean the house and throw out a whole lot of rubbish. That's two mission accomplished. The rest of the holidays were spent with continuous relaxing. After the few months of hectic work, it was most welcomed.

I managed to catch up with my colleagues too. During work there is no time to chit chat not even over lunch. So it was very good to go out, have lunch, chit chat and catch a movie. We met at KLCC, went to the food court to have lunch and also some good chit chat time, then we went to watch a most hilarious movie, went window shopping and then headed home with a big smile on our faces.

KLCC Park

KLCC
No matter what we teachers do, we just cant avoid working during school holidays, so in the second week we had to spend about 3 days working on our classrooms and lessons. How joyful I was when my aunt called me on Wednesday to invite me on a road trip. Woo Hoo!!! I was motivated now to complete my work. Hehe!! Simple pleasures of life!

Friday came around, I was excited as ever. I was going to a beach. Sounds like im a 'loco', but I havent been to a beach for almost 2 years. That's a very long time. So we four gals set off for PD late morning and reached there at lunch time. I have to say, PD has cleaned up itself since the last time I was there. Its incredible to see clear blue water so close to the beach. Amazing really!!! Never thought PD would ever be cleaned. First thing first, dump our bags under an umbrella and ran straight for the water. Ahhh!!! It was cool! So cool!!

Enjoying the water

See what I mean. Clean and blue.

New business - umbrella, table and chairs for rent.



Then around the time the sun was going to set, we cleaned up and headed to Melaka via the inner roads. I was apprehensive about driving through the inner roads, but it was a better idea rather than heading out to the highway and then back in to Melaka. I was most surprised to find that the inner roads from PD to Melaka have been very well paved and developed. Its much better than the roads in PJ. Seriously!! We made some interesting discoveries too. Some small villages which name we have never heard of before and buildings that has maintained its old, rustic facade.





 We reached Melaka in time for dinner, so after some shopping we headed to one of the roadside stalls in Jonker Street for a most delicious dinner, even though it was raining cats and dogs. After dinner we were headed to the car when we all had the same idea, lets check out how much are these new cheap motels just off Jonker Street. Maybe we could spend a night here. To our surprise though it was not really cheap for simple room. But we might consider doing this another time, booking a better hotel.

Ohh What's in there? (An ancient pot, about 100 years old)

Pit stop - Hotel Puri Garden

Dinner at Jonker Street
 
What a day we had.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Two weddings and a funeral

2011, it came and left in a blink of an eye. Now, we are at the end of the 1st quarter of 2012. Time does really fly. Lots to of things to be expected and of course the unexpected as well. Within just a month, I've attended two weddings and a funeral. Plenty of emotions flying through the air, and it is very tiring.

February 18, a date we were looking forward to for a while now. We were most excited when informed of my beloved cousin, Veronica's wedding to her best friend, Ron. Its been a few years since the last wedding in the family and before that it was about a decade plus since the last wedding in the family. It was the most beautiful and down to earth wedding. So off we went the to The Good Shepard Church in Setapak for an evening wedding mass.

The uncles and aunties with the bride and groom.


Of course, Veronica's creativity could be see throughout the decor and especially on the dress she wore. It was simply perfect! It suited her personality to the tee. Then to the K Club in Taman Melawati for the dinner. Except for a few absent family members, we were really, really happy to have an occasion to gather, laugh, drink and dance. Wow!! we did dance the night away. Even the aunties let their hair down and thoroughly enjoyed the night.

Some of the cousins

On March 3 it was off the Ipoh for me. For another most anticipated wedding. You know, I was the happiest person when I was told the dates for my cousin and then my best friends wedding. I decided on a day trip with my cousin, Kathleen to keep my company. We left Bukit Jelutong at around 8am and arrived at the Canning Garden Baptist Church in Ipoh well ahead of time for the wedding. It being a christian wedding service we were anxious of the proceedings. All the anxiety was in vain though. The service was long but it was a happy and fun kinda of way. There were some heartfelt moments but mostly it was just smiles, laughter and claps, lots of whooping and claps. Unusual for me!

(Will upload pics later)

Next, was lunch at a Chinese Restaurant in Ipoh itself! Simple and delicious food it was. I enjoyed it tremendously. Then, it was the drive back to PJ. I was very happy to get out of KL even for just a few hours, the scenery on the way was just simply refreshing. Long, rolling GREEN hills, actual hills yah!! Not oil palms plantations. Blue sky and lovely fluffy white clouds. I'm looking forward to the next road trip very much. Kudos!!! to Kathleen for excellent map reading skills. She was my GPS for the day in Ipoh!!

After all the lovely things that had been going on, it was most disheartening to get a phone call from my cousin, informing me on the death of a beloved grand uncle. Uncle Michael to everyone else (but Godpa to me), was a very cheerful man. He had his way of just making you smile always. I never really got to spend a lot of time with him but the time that we did meet was always full of smiles, hugs and laughter.

Michael Nunis and his brood of granchildren
(except for 2 strays there)
 He loved his whiskey and he loved his Dunhill. He lived until he was 74, and he was just a couple of days shy of his 75th birthday. He was always concerned for each and everyone around him, always giving advice and a helping hand, always giving. He has lead a peaceful and happy life.

Michael John Nunis
(20/03/1937 - 12/03/2010)
Dearest GODPA, May your soul have eternal rest in GOD's wonderful splendour!!