Refurbishment.

My workplace is currently undergoing a minor refurbishment and for that, we are closed for a couple of days. After 3 days, it looks like its almost done, minus the cleaning. Cleaning is gonna suck big time. Basically, we have to wipe down and wash most of the stuffs because of the sandstorm.

We are launching a new extended menu when we reopen for business (hopefully) on Saturday. Good stuffs are coming out of the new kitchen, I tell you. Sorry Greg, still no sign of that salmon bagel yet.

I wanted to post up some food photos to tempt you people but it will take the fun out of watching you ogle at our new, American diner-inspired (design) menu. Drop by if you want to know what I mean.

Cock-A-Doodle-Do!

Meet Ah Hueh (花 / Flower), our resident alarm clock.

I don't remember when, but this rooster came into our home and never left. Naturally, my mom and sister began feeding him. I think that's the reason why he stayed.

Once, my dogs chased him around our garden and plucked out a bunch of his tail feathers. Poor chicken. Probably thought he'll end up on our dining table that night.

So How?

I've been having a couple of 'feel-good' dreams lately and I think the current ongoings in my life had contributed to it. I believe the dreams has affected me in a way because I can't seems to get/achieve what I dreamed of (literally) in real life. Maybe what they say about "dreams usually means the opposites" is true after all.

Now that my subconscious life is so exciting, my conscious life is gonna suck big time.

Yohei, look what I found!

Maybe we should get this for Yi Fan, aye?

Foosball, anyone?

The latest addition to my home's ever expanding junks is a foosball table, apparently redeemed from credit card points. My God! Someone has to calculate exactly how much we've spent to accumulate enough points to redeem this table!

It is a nice table. Sturdy and all. We've been playing lots of foosball lately, especially after dinner to burn off excess calories!

Trust me, the novelty will die down soon.

Backpain.

I am currently suffering from a back pain, courtesy of the 'stunning' move of balancing myself from falling down after stepping on a muddy patch (Ngui Yi Fan, stop laughing!). I must say, I was pretty impressed with my balancing act as I was twisting myself in an awkward position. There was an oncoming truck and I was by the roadside. I shudder to think what might happen if I actually fell.

On the lighter note, I bet the motorists who saw the incident from their car were laughing like mad dogs. Just like my brother and his girlfriend, who witnessed the whole drama.

God. Dig me a hole for my head!

Perseverance!

Too much procrastination is never good for a person. Truth sucks but I am determined to do something about it. I know that my will power can be strong when the situation calls for it. It's probably gonna be a long hard road but I've got to do it. It sucks when temptations are everywhere! Blame myself for being a sucker for all things, food!

I declare, I am going on a diet! (to at least get rid of what I got from Auckland. ^*&%@!)

Tempt me. I can't be bothered. Had my last day of indulgence and I will refrain and persevere until I achieve what I wanted to. So in case I forget, remind me.

Yumm!

Was feeling rather 'bakery' today so I attempted this cake recipe I found from kuali.com. I would have to say that it turned out good, considering that I do not have the talent for baking. Taste was alright even though I had to substitute coffee liqueur with hot water!

My first recipe option was Mocha butter cake, but along the way I found the recipe for Coffee butter cake instead. Well, coffee versus mocha? Coffee won hands down. Too bad for you who wanted me to bake the mocha one. Nyeh nyeh nyeh.

Eggs Benedict.

I attempted the recipe I found online and I can tell you that I am not going to go near any eggs benedict anytime soon. The amount of butter! Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh! I am so stuffed up after eating that, I just want to puke and get rid of the buttery taste in my mouth!

The poached egg turned out fine though. Just they way I wanted it to turn out.

NZ in Photos.

Finally managed to get photos off the dvd Yohei burned. Microsoft Vista is such a drag!

The photos from Yohei's brand new SLR turned out great. I am so tempted to get one now! Looking back at the photos, I realised that we did quite a bit of stupid stuffs while under the influence of alcohol. Stupid stuffs like these;

Rihanna in the house!

And Beastie Boys!

Monkey faces

There's one thing I need to find out though. Ms. Ngui, tell me that's not your leg at the bottom picture. If it is, remind me to whack you when I see you next year.

Battle Wound.

Joined my cousins and some of their friends for a game of paintball today. It was apparently a rematch/revenge game for those who was severely badly shot the last time we played it. Previously, we played at the outdoor Sunway Extreme Park (which has now be plowed to ashes) but this time around we played at the indoor carpark of Taman Desa Waterpark. It was cool as we weren't exposed to the elements, thus less tiring too.

With everyone determined to revenge, the pressure and challenge was high. Everyone was watching their own ass to avoid being shot by the orange pellets! As careful as all of us may seem, getting shot was inevitable. I was shot on the head a couple of time, with one pellet hitting directly on top of my head. I have yet to find out who shot me!

The saddest part was when my own team-mate thought I was the enemy and started pointing the gun at me! She looked clueless but was prepared for an assault. Stunned, I started firing (I wasn't sure if she was the enemy or not!). We were just few metres away from each other and because of that, we both ended up with injuries. Sigh. Talk about betrayal.

I have no idea when and how I got the bruise on my right arm (pictured above). It is a 'battle wound' that I am proud to display though. We had so much fun, I think we're gonna do it again soon! I bet some people want to revenge...

Memories Remain.

Home sweet home. Nothing beats the comfort of your own bed and smelly pillows!

During this short trip, friendships are strengthened and new memories were created. Granted, parties weren't as crazy as those WSA days. Those great times will forever remain in my mind and nothing will ever replace that.

Meeting up with everyone who had a share of my uni life was great. We've all change for the better and that's good to know. When I go back again in the future (I've got unfinished business), everyone would probably no longer be in NZ. I don't know if we'll ever meet again but for my part, I know I will make an effort to keep in touch.

All good things must come to an end. I am glad to have met great people who coloured my uni life with nothing but great memories. You know who you are. Thanks for being a part of my life!

Fun's Over.

Got more than I bargained for when my mom asked me to extend my stay in Auckland so that I could settle some banking stuffs here. I was caught in a total surprise when she called and made the request. Well, I am more than happy to extend my stay anyway.

The additional 1 week stay gave me more time to catch up with friends and also to eat at places we used to go to when I was studying here. Never really thought that I miss this place but I do. Every walk to/around the city, passing by WSA, the bus rides, the drinking sessions, the food, the chit-chat, everything brings back sweet memories. I was only here for a year but I have gained so much and I am very very thankful for that.

This trip back made me realise and see things differently. Everyone has evidently grew up since I last saw them. Many relations began to change. For better, for worse, I am not the one to judge. One thing that made me seriously sad was my buddy going home for good. It came as a total surprise and as much as I hate to accept it, I guess everyone has their own life afterall. I was among the first to leave this place for good anyway so suppose I can't be selfish about it. Looking at the bright side, if I fly over to his country (again) I will have accommodation provided for!

Home's not too far away now. Can't wait to get back!