stressed

My week started with alot of inconveniences and changes. I am such a creature of habit that any change that comes makes me very stressed. Unnecessary stressed.

I had to change my seating location at work coz I had to pitch in to help out another department. Stressed teruklah coz I have got accustomed to the location having sat there for the past 3 years... but what management tells you to do, you just do it. No questions asked. That's really my work mantra.

Anyway, it has been almost a week and I think I have gotten darker by a few shades. Driving from one appointment to another has been taxing and definitely very detrimental to my now fair skin. Luckily I have recently started applying massive layers of SPF 50 sunblock (Biotherm's) and I hope it helps.

I actually started writing this post on Tuesday but didn't quite get to it until today coz I have to acclimatise to the new position and new job scope and of course the sales calls. And today, I must announce that I closed at RM85K contract with a client breaking all of my company's previous records. Come on I have been here less than a week and I have managed to close a sale, applause please...

Another silver lining is that for the past couple of days, I have had a fantastic time dining out during lunch. The 1st day was at Ikea, had those yummy meatballs and the crunchy pie; 2nd day I had lunch with some friends at Village Something which sells nasi lemak with all kinds of lauk but was totally not spicy and not very tasty, the next day we went to Penang Village at Hartamas Shopping Centre for Prawn Mee which was so-so only, and today we went to Sakae Sushi and had quite a gala time fasting on an assortment of sushi, maki, soft shell crab, tofu, etc...The total bill for today came up to RM60 and was quite reasonable considering we had quite a fill. At Sakae Sushi, when you have accumulated a total bill of RM500 over 3 months, you will be entitled to become a member. All members get a 10% discount on all food items. So our next plan is to eat at Sakae Sushi at least once a week for the next 3 months to get the membership card... after some thought, maybe not coz after 3 months of intense feasting on Jap food, the appeal could be reversed!!! Muak!

Anyway, have a great weekened. Going for Earth, Wind & Fire tonight. Looking for to boggying to Fantasy...

thank God its friday

Though I was at work only three days this week as I was on mc, boy am I glad that the weekend's here. Maybe it is due to missing last weekend (away on company's retreat) or maybe it just one of those days when lepaking seems more appealing than crawling out of bed to go to work... oh heck, I definitely think and know its the latter. No revelation there.

I have kinda mentally planned my weekend retreat. Tomorrow, both my husband and I will go and watch a movie either in MV or 1U, depending on where I can get hold of tickets to '300', so far no luck at either. Hopefully we can get hold of the tickets before the end of today, otherwise there goes my plans...

Upon getting our tickets, we will go and have breakfast. My husband usually craves pancakes on Saturdays, and we have on several occasions sampled those at 1U but so far none have been of any standard. Maybe this time, we will try the hotcakes a McD's. Cheap and hopefully good.

Of course this will only be fulfilled if and when we get OUR TICKETS!!!

After the movie, we will go and do some grocery shopping, visit the cosmetics dept to stock up and then head home.

I hope to go to Rakuzen for some maki for dinner and thankfully the Man U match will only kick-off at 9.55pm (yahoo!!!). And husband dearest if you are reading, Rakuzen or Sugimoto, your choice... or why not the Jap place at BV... yummy cod and mackerel....

This is all dependent on the acquisition of the tickets, well at least for the 1st half of the day. I am sure my husband is game for Jap for dinner (subtle persuasion).

On Sunday, I have an appointment with my hair stylist at 12noon at the Curve coz husband will be golfing then. Afterwhich I will have a late lunch, walk around the bazaar area (but I do want to go to the bazaar at Mont Kiaralah...saw some nice shoes there; maybe next week) and drop by Metro to try on the ring I saw a month ago (very slo'mo'...possibly sold out already) then drop by mum's, sembang-sembang, decide on dinner and go home. End of weekend. Way too short!

Anyway, had a great lunch with the girls from the office. Very seldom do we get a chance coz busy and all but we managed today. Great time catching up especially with the stories about last weekend.

Again, contemplating where to eat (always the main topic around 11.30am), we ended up once again at the Curve and once again with some many choices, we had to take a consensus and finally decided on Friday's.

I had to go off to the washroom and had the girls decide on what to order. We had onion rings (bland), parmesan chicken with pasta(less bland, nothing great) and the BBQ steak burger (scrumptious; large portions). Total bill was about RM95 for 2 mains, 1 appetiser and 3 drinks. Not bad. Filling but its okaylah, conditioned for the weekend.

Since my hair appointment has been postponed to Sunday, my initial plan to grab food from Kenny Rogers for husband has been dashed. But it turned out to be for the better coz I think he's caught my bug and is now without voice. Maybe will just make him something simple and soupy for his throat. Good wife - ME.

Have a great weekend ya all.

lam mee lunch

Still nursing an awful cough and the lack of voice, my decision for lunch was tough; can't have cafeteria food coz its too oily and not healthy usually, don't feel like fast food coz mostly deepfried patties and can't keep away from those fries and going home for lunch was just not an attractive notion today. So off we went to the Curve for lunch. Since they have multitudes of makan shops, surely we can locate one that is nutritious and slightly appetising (quite an oxymoron isn't it).

After making the rounds and agreeing (finally!), we ended up at one of our usual lunch joints, Little Penang Cafe. Familiar with their menu, I was debating over the Acar Fish set that comes with pucuk paku, either a ju hu char (some cuttlefish dish) or lobak (5 spiced meat wrapped in beancurd sheet) and of course the acar fish served with rice or the Lam mee. For a split moment the fish set did beat the lam mee on the nutritious value but the thought of the 'kenyang' (too full for lunch) factor, I gave that a miss and settled instead for the lam mee and a 'pat poh'(eight treasure) herbal tea. My colleague had a curry mee and the herbal tea.

Service as usual was very prompt, so prompt that the food came before the drinks. When I first saw my dish, I thought something was amiss. The soup/gravy was a little diluted/watery; isn't lam mee supposed to be soaked in slightly thickened broth. Tasted more like a chicken noodle soup rather than lam mee... maybe I have got the dishes mistaken??!! Anyway couldn't finish it. I think I managed only to put away slightly less than half. Disappointed. The herbal tea, on the other hand, was good.

My colleague's curry mee looks quite yummy with the rich coconut milk. But should I have eaten that instead, my voice will probably take a longer time to recover. I refrained.

But I have to add that the accompanying sambal for my lam mee was scrumptious. Spicy. My sister will like it too. Spicy sisters!

So, know I have started to ponder on my next meal coz I am kinda hungry. Maybe for dinner I can make pizza at home... then again how nutritious is that. Maybe not.

speechless

I touched down in KL on Sunday at about 2.40pm, one hour later than scheduled time due to technical problems. Mind you we took MAS but being delayed 1 hour (less tolerant if you have to pay for an all frills flight!), may consider taking AirAsia the next time.

Anyway the three days in Langkawi were alright. Very hot!!! The food wasn't great plus the room we had was the lowest of the grade, so nothing to rave about.

And the worst thing that could happen, happened - I caught a bug and my throat is like super sore and on top of that I lost my voice.

I went the Dr's and was given alot of meds to take and diligently I have (since Sunday) but I am still without voice.

I know realised that I can't keep quite for very long. I need to talk and respond. For two days now, I can't. I have a deficiency. Hopefully this will all pass soon because it is so difficult being at work and having trouble answering and responding to calls. Buggero!

Had chicken and peanut porridge last night(bland) while husband lapped up the last drop of sauce from his hokkien mee. He didn't allow me to have any of his. Buggero!!

Don't know what surprise he has for me tonight...

kneaded bread

They call it roti prata in Singapore but in Malaysia it is fondly known as the Roti Canai. Made from flour with alot of oil (that's why it so flavourful), the roti canai which when translated in English means kneaded (canai) and dough/bread (roti).

Usually served with curry and dhall, one can opt for fish or chicken (only the curry) and dhall which is made from lentils with carrots, potatoes, etc. You can also have fried chicken or fish or mutton or beef depending on what you want. Then again, there is always the fish in the fish curry and chicken in the chicken curry.

Anyway, had another craving this morning and this time, it was the ROTI CANAI. Our cafeteria serves a decent roti canai and the gravy is not bad too. Due to the congestion and the smell of oil when dining there, I usually takeaway. You must be wondering how on earth does one dine on roti canai without having to transfer the gravy into different bowls, etc...

My solution is very simple and done by many over the decades. I place an order of a torn roti and ask for 'banjir' when translated means flood!!! it with GRAVY both the curry and the dhall plus a dollop of sambal for that extra kick. Easy Peasy. Yummy like crazy!

Now that I am recollecting what happened in the morning, with the conscious reminder of how stuffed I am,there will be no lunch for me. Sudah kenyang (full). Probably just a drink to settle my stomach...

hot, hotter, hottest

Was in Langkawi on a day trip yesterday to recce a venue for a company do. Blazing hot weather and somehow the skies seemed more vibrant than that in KL. Maybe its all the blue and green, who knows...

Anyway, upon arrival, I hopped onto the taxi and was taken to the Westin to do my rounds of inspection. The landscape seemed a little parched (maybe from the lack of rain) but the interior of the hotel made up for it. A contemporary slant yet very welcoming and peaceful. The warm colours of beige and white with textured walls from stones were brilliantly coupled for that Westin touch. Very similar to Westin KL and if you like it there, chances are you will at Westin Langkawi too.

They have 3 very distinct f&b outlets at the Westin, namely Taste that serves western and local food, Tide serves Thai Fusion and Breeze which is the bar. I didn't have a chance to sample all the choices but did have a go at Tide. Highly recommended at Tide is their Pad Thai dish as well as the Thai fish cakes. And having tasted the Pad Thai at the Peninsula Bangkok, this one wins them hands down. Not oily at all and the size was just right. All hype of a great charkwayteow without the heartburn thereafter. The brown sugar served as the condiment was a nice touch and it did add even more flavour to the dish.

Besides the selection of restaurants, the pools were very inviting as well. They have a total of 4 pools - infinity pool overlooking the ocean, a baby pool next to it, a rock pool which is like a landscape pool as well as one other at the spa area (which is actually unknown to many people... my secret hiding place).

Anyway, the Westin is actually the newly refurbished and renovated Sheraton Perdana where they spent over RM8million on renovations.

After a fruitful day the the Westin, I am really looking forward to spending a weekend there!

carnal cravings

It has been a hectic week and am glad that it is drawing to its end. After the endless number of meetings, updates and paperwork, there is still tons to complete. Oh well, next week lah.



Maybe it is due to all the stress and the insane pace of this week that despite having the fried meehoon and fried kuey teow (RM1; vegetarian, flavourful, filled up a takeaway Styrofoam pack) for breakfast, I had a strange carving for lunch - A&W Root Beer Float.



So off I went to A&W with a colleague and as soon as we paid for our order for the beverage and a pack of fries, we couldn't stop oohing and aahing at the long forgotten float. It has never tasted better!



And I must say that the fries at A&W are actually by far the best fries served at a fast food place. They are like a cross between the usual fries and the curly wurly ones sold at MacD's during CNY. Yummy!



Anyway, after the meal, I felt happy. Could have be the float or that at the very moment, it was four hours before the weekend actually begins... go figure