1 month 4 days

Congratulations to me...I have successfully managed to maintain a blog for just over a month now. hehe. 28 entries (29 counting this one). Most entries I've ever made into any single diary. yippee!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.

[I think the hardest part about these blogs is not the writing, but coming up with the titles. Half the time, they are the last thing I type in!]

Recently, I have begun dreaming of a world where we can speak and do nothing wrong. But that is not the world we live in.*

To a certain and limited extent, I am speaking in relation to a topic that has been around for a while. It affects not just women, but men as well, although they probably don't talk about it as much as women do. This topic is body issues.

From childhood, through our teens and adulthood, many comments are made about a person's appearance. These can sometimes be off-handed, possibly even well-meant, but unless they are positive comments, they are seldom helpful to a person's self-image and esteem.

In recent months, weeks, and indeed days, this topic has arisen in my day-to-day life that I am astonished at the frequency and appalled at the consequences: in one situation, friends have fallen out because one chided the other about putting on weight; in another, high school friends have refused to meet up with everyone else because they were so self-conscious about how they looked now. I can confidently say that we were more excited about catching up after a few years than to pick apart their appearances.

[I might know how they feel. I went through a period of massive weight gain when I first left home, and if that wasn't bad enough, was constantly teased and reminded of it, even by people whom I hardly knew and who I no longer have anything to do with. It was hard for me to shop in Malaysia, because the clothing (pants, especially) were just not cut for the girl with bigger hips and thighs in mind.]

We make so many comments in our daily life that we don't stop to think what it could be doing to this generation. Is it any wonder that so many have body issues and turn to anorexia, bulimia and any diet at all in search of a salvation? Why do we not say, 'that dress looks great on you/matches your eyes', 'you really know what suits you', 'you pull that look/outfit off so well' more, rather than 'you've put on weight' or 'you're too skinny'?

I know that to a certain extent, this is the result of old cultures. The Chinese think that if you're 'rounder', you show that you're prosperous. I have always maintained that a distinction should be made between being 'prosperous' and being unhealthy.

What is wrong, if a person eats what they want but does not gain weight, either through exercise, or they eat healthily, or because of their genetic make-up? Why should they be made to feel that it is wrong to look the way they do? What if they actually don't look good with a rounder face? One cannot assume that they look the way they do because they want to, nor that it is okay to criticise them without knowing their story. It is insulting and hurtful.

Of course, I do not profess to speak for everyone in this matter. I comment based on observation and personal experience. But I do think that as long as someone is happy with themselves and is healthy, they should be left well alone in this matter.

* In relation to my dream world, I shall discuss other 'realities' in time.

Grand Re-opening Dinner of Club - and more baking!

It was finally the night some Kuchingites have been waiting for for a year - the re-opening of the Sarawak Club. It was held a day after the one-year anniversary of the fire, because the Cheif Minister wanted to attend the whole event but had a prior engagement on Friday night, so the dinner was postponed a night. [In the end, he didn't stay the whole night - he left at about 11.30 p.m., but we shan't hold that against him :)]

The food was pretty good, including the much-talked-about signature dish, buttered prawns! There was sushi to start, and shiitake and abalone mushrooms... mmm...

I did my own hair, and was pretty proud that my hair stayed up all night. It definitely wasn't perfect, but at least I didn't have to go to a salon to have half a can of hair spray in my hair, only for the bun to fall out half-way through the night (it has happened before). I think I may have offended some people with my dress - low cut etc but you can't please everyone, can you?



Yes, the crazy baking machine is at it again, this time with orange cupcakes (unfrosted). Recipe and picture on the foodblog.

Lightning, Thunder, and the Lights Went Out

SO. It rained and rained and rained today. Where is all this water coming from? There was also thunder and lightning, and one so close to our house that it caused the power switch to trip. We decided not to turn the power back on immediately, instead waiting til the turbulent weather subsided a little.

Got an unexpected but very welcome call from GH, a friend from school, today. We went to a cake shop in town and talked about all sorts of things. Was indeed a welcome activity for a Friday night.

[Randomness] A person's past shapes them - it makes them the person they are today and it's importance should not be undermined. Having said that, they should not do things just because it reminds them of their past. They shouldn't do something now just because it's something that they used to do. Get it? I also despise double standards, arrogance/snobbery/pompousness and materialism. Cannot stand them.

Past Number 1 songs on your birthday

I almost forgot - I was driving home after dropping sis off this morning, and the DJs on the radio did what they always do: recap songs that were number 1 on this date. Ben, in case you were wondering, the songs mentioned were "Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones) and "We are the Champions" (Queen). Great songs.

Semi-productive day

I got up early this morning (as early as any person on 'holiday' should) to send sis to work. Then I went to the tailor to pick up a skirt that I needed altered, but it wasn't ready. Patooey.

Picked the sis up early (she was bored, nothing to do in the labour ward this morning, apparently), then went to have coffee at local popular hangout (1st time since I got back!) and then went shoppping. Yes, there is shopping to be done in Kuching, you just have to know the right place, and I think I found one of them! It takes a while to sift through all the small boutiques around town - if you take the time, there is usually a beautiful piece lurking amongst really mediocre pieces. I wasn't particularly taken by the dresses at the shop this morning, although there were a couple of stand-outs, but the range of tops and short sleeved, cropped jackets is superb. I got a pair of white pants from the clearance rack. Not only did it make me look pretty good - no thunder thighs for once; will have to wear with at least a slight heel, but no matter - it was only RM38 AND it was a size S!! This is exciting not because I've lost weight, but normally I'd wear at least at M if not an L in Malaysia, especially when the clothes come from Hong Kong. Supposedly, their stock comes from Singapore. I ain't complaining. Most importantly, I think I struck up a good relationship with the shop owners. May lead to better discounts in future??

After lunch, I made gingerbread cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting. I'm not sure, but I think that subconsciously I wanted to make something for Ben for his birthday. Obviously, I couldn't, but I think that's where the urge to bake came from today. Recipe available from the foodblog. I tried different moulds and cupcake wrappers today, but one was too big and the other too small. Trial and error, I suppose.

When that was done, sis and I headed to the Club for squash. I didn't mention in the previous blog or two, but I played for the first time on Monday after about 3 or 4 weeks, and it was absolutely appalling. I was so annoyed. Today was slightly better, but quite a long way off, I think, from the standard I played just before I left Melbourne.

The only major thing I didn't manage to do today was apply for jobs. That is why I consider my day only semi-productive. I was browsing for vacancies tonight, but need to get around to writing resumes soon.

Kinda slow at the mo

Time for another post, I suppose!

Attended a seminar last night, about unit trusts. Basically, people put money in trust funds and the bank pools this money to make investments in various projects, in Malaysia and overseas. It's basically a form of investment to grow your capital and, to a lesser extent, your income.

I spoke to both Helena and Ben tonight, which was really exciting and fun. I need fun, because I really do think that I am going bonkers.

It's Ben's birthday tomorrow - wish him a happy birthday!

Apologies if my posts have not been very exciting - life's kinda slow at the mo!

Unexpected win!

I can't believe I beat Reid in Dream Team. Despite my inability to make changes to my team, I managed to score 1901 points, and beat Reid by about 30 points. I imagine he's fuming.

Just can't get enough

Today was the day that I've been waiting for since I got back to Kuching. The futsal tournament. It was fun, although we (team name: Cheekee Monyets; monyet = monkey) were told we could've played better and therefore placed better than 3rd in the 'losers' league. The result was way off what we were aiming for, BUT I scored 2 of our team's total of 3 goals!!!! In crucial matches too - meaning, the 2nd game in the group stages, after we lost the first one 2-1, and one in the the 'losers' final. We were buggered by 1 p.m. - 5 x 15 minute matches in 3 hours! Still, I am actually contemplating taking up the guys' invitation to play again in a couple of hours, a mixed friendly. Crazy?? I think so... but sooo much fun! The girls on my team are hoping that I don't get a job outside Kuching, so I can keep playing with them.

Ben pointed out not-too-subtly that I have not posted anything for days *it was just 2 days!*, so to give you a quick wrap-up, Friday I went to the printer to sort out some history book stuff, then caught up with a high school friend, Sharon, who's doing her placement at the local public hospital with my sister.

Couldn't make changes to my Dream Team coz the page just refused to load, so I'm expecting a thrashing from Reid this week! :s But the Saints beat the Hawks, and Sammie Fisher had another ripper of a game. *eye candy*

Saturday, went and had a facial done with mum - painful but that's what I get for being vain! Supposedly, if I do it enough, my pores will shrink. I'm not sure then that getting it done yesterday was very logical, given that I knew I was going to be running around and sweating (like a pig) all of today.

Hm...I think my bed is calling me. Nap time.

Act for the Future, not for the Past

I was going to have a reasonably early night, but I have a bone to pick, and I don't think it should wait. Who with? In general, people who don't put safety first, and today, more specifically, the Malaysian Defence force and the cabinet.

Last Friday, a Nuri helicopter carrying armed forces personnel crashed. Only in the last day or two did they find the wreckage. There were no survivors.

It appears that this is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred. According to The Star Online:

"The incident was the latest of several crashes, many of them causing the death of armed forces personnel, involving Nuri helicopters."

In today's newspaper, it was announced that the cabinet approved for 20 helicopters between 30-40 years old(!) to be phased out in the next 3 years. They decided this yesterday. Yesterday! Now, I'm no expert on helicopters, but surely one that is 40 y.o. should have been replaced ages ago?

Why has it taken this long to act? Why does it take not one, but numerous tragedies to push the Defence Force and the government into action? I am so dumbfounded and incredulous at the thought that lives are put at risk to save some money. Defence force personnel have pledged to serve their country and keep its people safe, but sadly their sacrifices do not seem to be valued enough. Their families should not be repaid in this way. It is not just that they have lost loved ones, but having to wait for days for the bodies to be found, and feeling somehow that the loss could have been avoided, had the choppers been replaced earlier. No amount of apologies or compensation money for widow(er)s or families can replace a life - that was someone's parent, life partner, and/or child. When will anyone dealing with aircraft (and safety issues) get this?

Three years ago, my sister's friend lost her father, a well-loved local politician, in a helicopter crash in Sarawak in 2004. If memory serves me correctly, it took 2 weeks to find the crash site. I did not know the family personally, but the waiting period alone must have been a terrible thing to go through. My sister's friend was 16 at the time, and had siblings younger than herself. That crashed also claimed the life of one of my parents' friends.

So, I ask again, whether the loss of life was necessary and avoidable. The most recent crash was not the result of some natural disaster, or anything outside human control. If it had been, then maybe it would arguably have been unavoidable. But crashes that are the result of faulty aircraft? I think that those in charge should be more accountable. Don't just say 'we'll buy new ones now and "pray" that nothing happens with the other old aircraft in the meantime'. I don't buy that, and I don't think other Malaysians should either.

Greenland is covered with ice, and Iceland is very nice

Famous words from the female assistant coach on the Iceland team in D2: The Mighty Ducks, one of my favourite movies as a young teenager. Of course, this had nothing to do with the fact that the very hunky Scott Whyte was playing the bad boy Gunnar Stahl (he appeared again in D3, playing a different character). Back in the days of laser discs(!), we used to go to a place called Home Entertainment, where you could rent a movie and watch it in a private room. The whole family used to go, and on occasions, with family friends or my cousins. Good memories, always lots of fun. That line is very helpful when you're trying to remember which is which, and I recited it (sis joined me halfway through) while watching Fantastic 4 this afternoon. There was a shot of Greenland and all the snow-capped mountains. Looked cold but at the same time, very nice and serene.

On the subject of movies, I watched The Notebook on telly last night. As it was on free-to-air, all the kissing (and the very minor almost-sex scene) was obviously cut out, so it made the movie a little disjointed and unsatisfactory. All the same, that movie never stops me tearing up. I know, I am such a girl. But when a girl asks a guy how come he never wrote to her, and he replies (truthfully), "I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you every day for a year", *swoooooon* how can you help but to feel a tugging at your heartstrings? You have to watch the movie to understand. Preferably the full version. It loses some of the impact and lots of the passion otherwise. :)

It's Raining but I'm a happy girl

I am happy this arvo for I received a box (actually I had to go and pick it up, coz Pos Malaysia couldn't be bothered sending it, after they had opened it up for a customs check - luckily, as far as I can tell, it's all there). I was so excited because I have been waiting for it for 2 weeks. Who would've thought that a girl could get so excited about a beaten-up box? It looks like it's about to explode! Thank you, Ben, for posting it :)

I have also finally received my shipment. I haven't fully unpacked it yet, but I'm getting the feeling that I have loads and loads of tops/shirts, but not enough pants/bottoms. Oh well. Guess I know what to look out for next time I go shopping!

...time keeps dragging on...

Still haven't finished the history book. Now it's getting annoying.

I have Folsom Prison Blues stuck in my head. Hence the title of this post. It could've been worse - I decided against using the line "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die...". I don't actually feel like time is dragging on. In fact, it's shooting by a bit too quick for my liking.

We took the relatives who are visiting to Magenta for dinner tonight. The Uncle needed a bit of persuading, but he enjoyed the food. As usual, the portions were huge, the presentation superb and the taste exquisite. My lamb shank was divine - the meat tender and beginning to fall off the bone. Photos to come in the foodblog.

Need. To. Sleep. Earlier.

Rainforest and Rain

Had fun at the Rainforest World Music Festival. No, it didn't rain then, but it is raining now. Will post more details when I'm not rushing to get to bed :)

Came back to Kuching today, and brought the relatives and their friends to lunch. One of them made the comment that she has come to expect sub-par standard (local) food in Sarawak. She mentioned roti canai. Well, she should try some real Sarawakian food if she wants good food! The number of mamak stalls and the like in KL mean that to be competitive and sustainable, the roti canai sold must be good or excellent. In Sarawak, Indian food is not the dominant hawker cuisine. Try la something really local, Aunty! I mean, having brought KL-ites out this same weekend and watching them Hoover (i.e. vacuum) up bowl after bowl of laksa, kolo mee, and belachan bee hoon (read: dishes that Sarawak is actually famous for!), I was so insulted that such a comment was made. To know the best places for local food outlets and cuisine, one should really have a local guide, something that I don't think she has had here.

Played futsal with boys tonight, really enjoyed it. Scored a hat-trick, which of course isn't necessarily a priority, but you can't deny that scoring is always a confidence booster. Maybe I'll put off retirement from this crazy game for a little while longer. ;)

Rain and thunder outside my window. (It's like Thunder! Lightning!)

Enough food for a week...

Quick post - I really should start sleeping earlier.

I brought Mel, Boon and their friends out for lunch at Padungan today. They ordered soooo much food, I don't know where it all went. But it is great that they are enjoying Kuching food so much. Everything from Belachan bee hoon and laksa to kolo mee and fresh coconut - we had it all, and they ate it all.

Just about finished with the history book. Just have to get The Brother's approval, and finalise the photos.

Didn't go to Rainforest today, but will tomorrow.

Miss The Boy terribly.

It's the Overachievers' Club - and she's the Chairman

I actually missed a day *gasp*! I was being so good, keeping you updated (however many people 'you' are, coz I'm not convinced that many of my friends are actually reading this on a regular basis :) ) about the non-events everyday. Oh well, it had to happen sometime...

I thought I had just about finished editing the history book, when I realised that I had missed a page when I was doing the formatting, and that actually affected the following pages, so I had to reformat from page 48 (out of 121) onwards! Not cool.

Mel arrived today, and I picked her and Boon up from the airport at 9 a.m., after dropping sis off at work. I treated myself to Starbucks at the airport (yes, it's been open for about a week now), and was quite impressed with the latte I got. Thanks, Radja! Great service first thing in the morning starts your day off on the right note.

Dinner was at the Sarawak Club Main Hall with family friends. Still some glitches to iron out in the kitchen, and we ordered waaaay too much food. The title of the blog has nothing to do with this post - it's just a comment I made to mum over dinner, and she thought I was being serious. We all had a good giggle about it.

Saints won again, beating the Crows by 2 points. I seem to have all the wrong players on my Dream Team though. I had that cutie, Sam Fisher, last year but not this year. He did well last year and the form seems to have carried on into this season, despite an injury earlier in 2007. But they won. They won! *big grin*

P.S. I will be thinking of you guys at Starbucks when I'm at the Rainforest World Music Festival tomorrow

Just call me Editor

As you can see, I almost missed a day. Almost. I have actually been busy today. Apart from the occasional nap *grin* I have been busy helping to edit a book on the history of the Sarawak Club. Growing up, it was my second home, because I was there for squash training just about everyday of the week. Almost exactly a year ago, most of the Club went up in smoke, literally. So my brother compiled a book on its history for the 'history corner', and I have been proofreading it, ready for the grand re-opening in a fortnight. Another job prospect for me :)

Apart from tomorrow morning, when I will be stuck at home because I don't have the car, I will be running around town over the next couple of days or so. Feels so good to be doing something.

Foodblog

Just lettin' y'all know that I've added a new post to xanga.com/foodinfatuation. Enjoy. It took sooooo long because I wanted to get the pictures in the right place! All for you, Sam.

Mayday, mayday

On a high but crashing. Quickly.

One rainy day

Started as a beautiful day. Baked chocolate orange cupcakes (I'm making up for the time I didn't bake for 3 weeks) to give to neighbours who live in Canada, but are back for a holiday. It was pouring with rain after lunch, so I couldn't go over. Am now waiting for sis to get home so that we can go over together.


...you like...?


Found out as of today that I will be unemployed for a little bit longer. So it's back to the drawing board for me. Am going to try harder for Singapore now, I think, but still not ruling out KL. The phone that I have my heart set on is the Dopod C730. I have been searching for reviews on it to make sure it is exactly what I want, and I came across this review today. Part of it says:

This sleek Smartphone is built to empower users who crave power and connectivity... The C730 is designed with the ambitious professional in mind.

I wish I could show this to prospective employers who doubt that I am driven. Or get them to put me on a squash or futsal court. That could work, too. I know I'm ambitious and competitive, I just don't see any point in going around bragging about it in everyday life, and acting as if I want to pick a fight with everyone. It makes you and the people around you miserable.

Going to see the neighbours now.

Good and Bad

I'm not sure what happened with Dream Team this week. My hunky Geelong boys (Chapman, Selwood and Bartel) did pretty well, but Alwyn Davey got injured, so that kinda off-set the points I got from the trio. Then the Saints lost, but my darlings (Dal Santo, Riewoldt, Gram, Milne and Koschitzke) did pretty well. Then I realised all too late that I did not finalise my Dream Team properly on Friday. I made my trades and picked an emergency player, but COMPLETELY forgot to choose the other 2 emergencies! To top it all off, I changed my captain, coz there was uncertainty over whether he would play, and forgot to choose a new one. I thought it was game over for me...I don't quite know what I was doing. Clearly, I was not on this planet. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked that I won.

Was in a crappy mood this morning, then went shopping and the day got a bit better, but futsal put me back in a filthy mood. How things can change so quickly. I'm so over futsal at the moment, it's not funny.

I have been missing Melbourne a lot this weekend.

Good vibrations

I was in a good mood this morning. I had an awesome night out - first dinner with family at the new Sarawak Club restaurant, then meeting up at Soho with a couple of friends that I've known since primary school, and whom I haven't seen for about 4-5 years(!!). It was so much fun, although the music wasn't my first choice, and there was no room whatsoever to dance. So the company must have been excellent, for me to feel that good about it. :) Afterwards, I gave Amanda a ride home, and we sat in the car outside her house for over an hour, talking, until her mum called her at 3a.m., wondering why she wasn't home yet!

This morning, I woke up to the news that Ben Cousins, the West Coast Eagles' "star" injured his hammy at training and wouldn't be able to play this weekend. In case you didn't know, he was suspended indefinitely before the start of the 2007 season for drug-related 'indiscretions' (and you must've been living in a rainforest the past 6 months!). West Coast and the AFL made it sound as if it would be a long time before he would be allowed to play, that it was a serious matter, etc, so I was unimpressed when the AFL 'medicos' cleared him to play this weekend a couple of days ago. I thought it was far too early and that it sends out the wrong message. Justice is done. That's my opinion, anyway. That was the other thing that put me in a good mood. :)

The third was making a pretty good batch of cupcakes (albeit in a muffin tray, because my cupcake moulds are still in the shipment). They turned out pretty good, if a little big, because of the mould. I made the icing a little less sweet, for my parents :) and they enjoyed it for dessert this arvo. More details to come on my food blog. In the meantime, you can drool over this picture of them cooling. Aren't they cute?

p.s. I'm hoping this will make everyone forget my failed self-saucing pudding, which really turned out as chocolate gunk.

The only dampener today has been the Saint's 9-point loss to the Pies. Oh well. Can't win them all.

It Burns

Shipment from Melbourne arrived yesterday, but I won't get my stuff til next week. Pooey.

Went to play futsal last night, even though I wanted to take a break this week and see if that quad muscle repaired itself. But it was a friendly match, and I was asked to play because we needed more people. I readily obliged. I'm a team person, see.

I got some heat rub off one of the girls, to see if it would help. She warned me that it was quite hot. I applied some, and didn't feel much, so I applied some more. Big mistake. She omitted to tell me the part where, unlike other heat rubs that you feel as soon as you put them on, this one gets really hot after you start running around. After the game, it felt like there was a gas heater right next to my leg, on the upper outer left part of my thigh. I couldn't sit down because doing so meant that the sensation would be more pronounced. I had no idea if I had reaggravated the injury (as I had at training on Sunday); all I could feel was hot hot hot!! 10 hours later, the burning sensation is gone, and the quad is actually feeling ok. Thank goodness.

Before I left for futsal, I'd made chocolate self-saucing pudding for the family, something I'd promised the day before, as none of them had ever had it. Guess what. I failed. Something as easy as that, that I've made many many times before, using the exact same recipe, and it didn't turn out properly. Will have to make something else today to redeem myself. We went to a baking/kitchenware shop yesterday (heaven!) and bought paper muffin cups and I found paper cups that I could probably make cupcakes in, so I can hardly wait.

Yucks.

Breaking out big time. My face, that is. What am I doing wrong???

Contradiction

So, I know being skinny doesn't necessarily mean that you're healthy. But seriously, friends know me as the crazy sporty one, yet I am told by some that I should exercise more, and on other occasions, that I should eat more. Confusing? Contradicting? Infuriating? Friends also know that I love to cook and bake, and consequently, eat. Of course, I also have to taste other people's cooking so that means I eat more than I cook. But I still am the shape and size that I am. Could it be BECAUSE I exercise?? I may not do it everyday, but I think what I do every other day is pretty strenuous and I take a day off to prevent injury.

Urgh, it's hot, I'm bothered, and I'm still waiting. Double urgh.

The 3-week Itch

Sis and I were talking over the weekend, and I mentioned that I would make chocolate self-saucing pudding one of these days. I wanted to make it today, but mum's friend showed up with a whole Tiramisu cake. All the same, I whipped out the only cookbook I have with me at the moment (the rest are in my 'shipment' which is arriving Friday *yay* can't wait! I'm kinda getting sick of my VERY limited wardrobe) - just a regular exercise book with handwritten recipes - and was looking through the assortment of recipes in it. Then I started browsing for Malaysian recipes on the internet. All of a sudden, it hit me - I haven't cooked or baked in more than 3 weeks!! *gasp* that's practically unheard of, for one who practically lived in the kitchen in Melbourne! I'll have to do something about that. And soon!

AFL Dream Team

Why do I bother??? The Saints did really well, and the players I have on my team scored massive points, but all the other players I have seem to have crashed and burned this week, thereby completely negating the extra points my Saints racked up. Pooey. Oh well, at least I'm playing Ben this week. And the Saints are winning.

The waiting game

So. I'm back from KL and a couple of interviews. I find it hard to tell how interviews go, and I shan't say much about any interviews until I receive positive confirmation. I may know in the next fortnight.

I don't like to subscribe to stereotypes but once in a while you encounter people of a particular culture who just reinforce the stereotypical image. For example, Aussies make reference to 'whingeing POMs'. I would usually prefer to give 'POMs' the benefit of the doubt, but when I arrived in KL on the budget airline, there was a female British backpacker who was traveling with 2 friends, who were a couple (meaning, they are in a relationship). They got their trolleys and found a spot near the conveyor belt. After a couple of minutes, about half the passengers who were on the flight did the typical thing - went and stood right next to the conveyor belt. Now, if you're used to Malaysian mannerisms, this will not surprise you. It not only surprised, but obviously really irritated this girl, and she started going on and on and on about how all these people were in the way, and she couldn't see her bags or wouldn't be able to get the bag off the belt, and oh, how rude of them, etc etc etc. Her traveling companions remained silent on the issue. I couldn't help but think to myself, 'My dear girl, if you so desperately want your bag immediately, find a spot where you can see the belt.' In the end, they could spot their massive packs from miles away, and it was the guy she was traveling with who ended up getting all 3 packs off the conveyor belt! He had no trouble getting to them, save for a small kid who probably didn't understand English or his accent.

More on waiting - or the lack thereof. People who stand really close to you in the queue, especially when checking-in at the airport or when boarding the plane, coz apparently they'd be able to get on the plane quicker that way(???). People who unbuckle their safety belts as soon as the plane touches down. Those who stand up in almost the same instant, and who turn on their mobile phones in the plane although the pilot has specifically said that for safety reasons, you must only turn on your phone once you're in the terminal. They just can't wait!

But I digress. After arriving home this evening, we went out to a dinner organised by Chaine des Rotisseurs Kuching at the Hilton Hotel. Chaine's concept is that membership consists of food and wine lovers. (For basic information/history, visit www.chaineus.org/general.htm) Tonight's theme was 'a Twist of India'. It was interesting; despite my love of food, it is probably the first real degustation dinner that I have attended. I sat next to a chef, and it was exciting, meeting people who are as obsessed with food as I am! I will write about it on the food blog when I get the pictures.

I have futsal on tomorrow, but I should probably be resting. I think I did some real damage to my quad muscle last Sunday, it still hurts now when I walk up and down stairs. It feels different to just a regular strain. But I am mad enough that I will play. After tonight's feast, I will need the run!