* Su-Ee *



Well, I did intend to write about dog stories when I started this blog and been straying quite a bit lately. So today, this is about a little dog whose owner decided to give her a makeover!

Su Ee is a three year old shitzu. She stole my friend’s heart in a pet shop who bought her for her daughter. She had dark hair colourings on her head and of course, as all puppies are…simply adorable!

I have only seen Su Ee lately since last year and she is a cutie. Her owner claims she thinks she is a human as she is always in the house and sleeps with her daughter every night. She welcomes you with her charm and next thing you know, she is enjoying a good rub or stroking session with you.

My exasperated friend says she is a hopeless guard dog. Errr….well, she is basically a toy dog. No? She’d run away from the two wooden elephant statuettes that now stand the same height as her when she was younger!

Adorable as she is, I find her quite independent and very attached to her little friend, my friend’s daughter. She would come sit with me whenever I visit as I give her the attention she wants.

Last night, after having spent the whole day out with my friend, we settled down to long gossips in her house. Su Ee as usual was lying in the center and the conversation turned to dogs and my friend began talking about the schnauzers she’d seen at a recent pet show.

She had been toying with the idea of trimming dear Su Ee’s coat to liken the schnauzers! And I guess last night was when it all happened. The poor dog had no chance. Within minutes, the little girl whipped out the scissors and comb and Su Ee found herself being groomed for the second time that day! Yes. My friend’s husband had just spent the afternoon combing her hair out and trimming off her knots etc and I bet the both of them must have been quite tired at the end of it.

Using a picture on the notebook nearby, she began cutting off her hair whilst I brushed another dog’s coat. Snip snip snip and soon it was time to do her head. After an hour of trimming and holding and adjusting and figuring….. they finally have a pseudo schnauzer!

I would say her head has a little likeness to the actual schnauzers, not her body but the idea had been achieved and I doubt Su Ee would actually mind the short coat on her back with the weather being so hot these days.

End of day, although she is the pseudo schnauzer, Su Ee the shitzu still manages to keep that charm she rightly owns. But first…..a nap. It’s been a long day. Heh heh!

Woof! Woof!

* Kgs pile up! *

~ 28th December 2005 ~

Help! The kilos are doing a pile up and I am in trouble. I used to be able to 'slip' into my clothes with ease but these days... it's like fighting gravity as you raise your arms to fit through the sleeves. Shall I use the excuse 'frozen shoulder' ? Trying to slip into my clothes is fast becoming a myth and quite breath taking at the same time. I now have a bluish hue about me as I titter about in my 'fitting' clothes.

Blame it on Christmas I'd say. All those dinner invitations beginning from the eve or even before and right up to the impending new year..... I must admit, the food were good and in utter abundance. Even doggie packed some home so as to help the hosts not have the same leftovers till new year! Poor things.
Though after two consecutive dinners are enough to tell me that I need to take a break - a long healthy one that is; but truth be told, I am out the next day gorging on lunch and desserts and more food.

It's the spirit of christmas where everyone cooks their finest and wants to feed you cos it's christmas! It's the perfect excuse for getting together and catching up on the past year and enjoying each other's company. Hosts either cook or as the norm these days, cater.

We've been catering for a few years and everyone loves to come because of the lamb pit. These guys will set up the pit at our place and by the time the party is about to start, the lamb is ready to be cut up and presented to the now familiar lamb loving crowd. A plate will be piled with the juicy meat and placed in the center of the table by the respective table's self elected hosts. Within minutes you will be able to tell if the plate was white or blue in colour and made of melamine or paper!

Mum said some actually parked themselves next to the lamb table waiting patiently while the man cuts the pieces, one person hardly moved from the area until he had filled his tummy insatiably with the prized dish of the evening. *cheek!*

I wouldn't talk about other countries but Malaysians have evolved and many are learning that there's more than the usual chicken and fish dishes. What with international trading and visitors, the variety of food is endless and you can find almost a bit of many countries' cuisines right in Kuala Lumpur.

However, due to commercial reasons many cannot be endorsed authentic enough by those who do know the actual tastes and flavours arising from these cuisines and claim disgrace to their country. Yet the smarter ones do fusion of their country and ours and surprises have delighted many instead.

Sigh.....talking about food has started the juices in my stomach and this means I have to go look for... you got it! How did I get into this subject anyway?

Well, with the kgs piling on and another eight more days of christmas to go through and new year sneaking in between...... it's been another year and soon into another one. Happy christmas again everyone and merry merry new year to you too!

Let's not forget the unfortunates during these times especially and count the blessings we are having compared to them. May 2006 be a motivated year for all of us to be wealthy in life, health, happiness and love so that we are able to help the unfortunate ones whenever we can.

God Bless.....Shalom.

* Christmas *

~ December 21st 2005 ~


Christmas is almost here! Everywhere is crazy, the mad rush is on and I am almost done with my pressies and cards for this year! Yippee!!
Every year is one big dash to do my letters and ready the list on the naughty and nice. Brain storming with catalogues and malls on what to get who what and not... *smile* But I managed to complete 95% and that is an achievement, given my hectic schedule.
Rome at this time is cold and it looks like a cloudy day today. It's a wednesday and I heard the pope says mass on wednesdays and sundays. Maybe we will get some Christmas blessings later.....confessions before Christmas, mmm.....
Anyway, I would love to wish everyone who drops in here a very Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! Maybe I shall blog one of these days while I am sleepless in Roma and not in the company of two gentlemen engaged in a very intense discussion in french seated two feet in front of me! I am trying to be polite by not disturbing them with my clikkety clak on the keys. Also, am controlling myself from blurting out my colourful accompaniments when i make mistakes! Don't think they will approve, a petite cutie swearing at 100 words per second! * chuckle *
So have fun during these festive seasons and a prosperous 2006 to all of us! Ciao...:)

* mandi bunga *

~ 09th November 2005 ~

Malaysia has a rich fusion of a wide variety of ethnic and religious beliefs and cultures. So it is not uncommon for its people to seek help from other races if they believe it can help benefit them in their lives.

‘Mandi bunga‘ loosely translated ‘floral bath’ in english, is a practice many use here. There are variations in some places but it is mainly to do with the cleansing of bad luck and impurities of oneself so as to be able to be more receptive of the well desired wishes. Some ladies take this bath so as to attract a suitable partner or some to hopefully better their life course.

The concoction of the bath that I know consists of a mixture of seven different kinds of flowers ( preferably more fragrant, the better ) and three numbers of ‘limau perut’ - citrus hystrix  or lime may substitute. Quarter the limau perut and mix them with the flower petals in a bath.

One of the girls at the party mentioned she was gonna do this and since I had always wanted to do this as I felt my luck with men and money quite unfortunate…. *smile*

So we met up the next morning, went to market to get the flowers. I guess you have to be in the right frame of mind when you set yourself to undertake such a ritual and we were picking our flowers instinctively. We couldn’t get the limau perut so had to settle on limes.

We went to her place and began chatting…what else? She taught me how to cut the limes and place them in, squeezing them at the same time. The flowers were separated from the stems and the petals were peeled off their centers. As I continued, the water looked so colourful and the mixing scents of the flowers and limes was very refreshing in the air.

Next I took a shower, a cleansing of the body before the actual ritual floral bath. I soaped, scrubbed every inch of me from head to toes, same time clearing my mind of my troubles and fears. It is all in the mind I must say, whether you want to believe or not or have faith that it’ll work. I was 98%  there and I was ready.

I did not want to do it in the bath so I had prepared mine in a pail and after listening carefully to what she told me, I took the pail in and set it on the floor. I finished peeling the balance petals off the centers and squeezed the limes harder.

Satisfied, I scooped some of the water and floral mixture in both hands; quietly making my wish just before I doused my face gently with it and moving my hands upwards towards my head and down my hair. I did this three times, each time wishing for something different. Then, using a small bucket, I scooped the water and started pouring from the top of my head, feeling the petals running down my hair and body. I went on till I had petals sticking to me all over and till the pail of water had finished. I used a towel, pat myself dry, leaving whatever flowers on myself as they were. It was quite funny as petals were falling off me every where I moved.

Now, I can’t describe what I felt actually, probably refreshed cos after two showers. Then my friend told me I had to throw the used petals and limes into running water, preferably a river. That kinda spoilt it for me. Right…here I have just cleansed myself but I have to go pollute the environment with my bad mojo so to speak! Not that I am such an active ‘save the world!’ person. More like the fear of being caught and given a summons was more like it!

I went to see another friend to pass some stuff and we got to talking and I told her I was a bit stressed out at having to rid the ‘bag’ into a river. She started thinking of any nearby and soon we were heading along a river but it had a wide embankment running along it and I’d have to really swing the ‘bag’ hard so that it would land in the river. Sigh….i drove further along and we came upon a small bridge. Excitedly we saw the huge drain running to meet the river. Environment or not, the mojo had to go and I threw it quickly before anybody came nearer. We shrieked a bit when we saw the ‘bag’ hit the divider wall and ‘phew’ as it was taken away by the fast currents…straight into the river.

I guess I won’t do it again, considering that last bit was quite a hassle and made me feel guilty at breaking the law and spoiling mother nature. Yet it was an experience I will remember and especially the hilarious little scurrying adventure I had with my friend in ridding the ’bad  mojo bag’ and praying  we would not be caught by the law! *chuckle*

By the way, that floral bath…. It did work! Let’s just say, some things happened the next day. Good things.
To learn more about mandi bunga, check out this address below. Enjoy…

http://www.best-of-langkawi.com/CULTURE-floral-bath.php

* schoolgirls round-up *

~ 08th November 2005 ~

Three days ago, I met up with the usual gang. A reasonably big group of women who have known each other from school, some as far as kindergarten days! Yes, quite a number of moons ago…

It was the Indian Festival of lights –DIWALI or Deepavali as we know it better here and our friend had a separate do for our group a few days after the main day.

Needless to say, once we got around the table, it felt smaller and the conversations got louder mixed with long ago schoolgirl giggles and cackles as we caught up in each other’s lives and anecdotes. Our few parents at the party seemed not to notice as it was a normal scene for them. They had to get used to this since we were young! There was a point we were kinda quiet and I noticed they were staring at our table, faces comical as they wondered at the silence. I guess we were taking a ‘small’ break!

Many have commented at how we all still looked the same but better from school days and were mainly surprised at our camaraderie after all these years. ( Yes, yes…..quite a number of moons since! ) The laughs and old ways never seemed to have left us whenever we gathered. Come to think of it all, even with the careers we have where we have to be on our proper best…we became the same old bunch from those days. All prim and proper etiquettes went out the door. Of course we are not that bad…just a leg tucked under here or there, slapping wrists, animated arms and hands flying about in between narrations, couple of sound effects that can be sold for a song, faces contorting according to tales, etc. You get the picture I’m sure.

Yes, it’s rare to see a group of friends get together at least four times a year since leaving school. We try to get as many in each gathering but distances and work have been many excuses. The average number of regulars among us lately has been five at least. Of course, I missed a few small meets as I was away but hey, they didn’t need my entertainment all the time right? I’d been boring by the time we get old!

This Deepavali, there were seven of us. Some missing due to the long holidays. Though it was a small group, we had so much fun catching up and never stopped laughing. Maybe these meets are part of the secret that has kept us well grounded and young at heart. Not forgetting looking young too!

Whatever it is, I’ll never trade them for a posh dinner with the rich for these gatherings have been truly rich enough for me. They make the best memories. Three cheers to the old girls with young hearts!

Muah, muah muah!

* Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! *

~ 30th October 2005 ~


When I first started this blog, I went through a few hitches just to get the first one posted! You can read that in * juno's first blog *. When I told my friends about my proud new blog, one of them asked me, " Why? "

Mmmm.....well, I have always liked to write but only when in the mood. I can take a long time to get the words and phrases right because at the end of it, I want those who read them to feel what I feel and to enjoy the stories I share.

I have loads of dog stories to share especially but I had added some personal ones in between. However, I do have a tendency to get carried away and write some really long ones because I can't seem to stop! But when I do stop...I was affected by ' writer's block ' lately till I forced myself to finish the piece on Guzz's mother, Sayang. Then that hot little spiffing kitty...got me on fire.

My friend asked me today who were the comments from and I was surprised when she said there were a few! So I checked and only managed to send a comment back to one person. The others, I can't seem to get to your blog or maybe, am not doing it right....

So this blog is to say 'Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!' for reading my blogs and liking what you read. This will definitely keep me in the mood to write more often.

One thing for sure....this blogger's purpose is to entertain and entertained, it has.


peace, love , doggies.....amen.


P/S: See what I mean about being carried away.....Thank you! :)

* hot spiffer *

~ 29th October 2005 ~

Through half open eyes, I thought I heard Guzz whining strangely outside. I lay still thinking maybe he was looking at something outside the compound. Then I heard it again, a high whine like followed with a frustrated short bark. The bark turned into a frenzied few and I had to get out of bed to see why!

Peeping through the curtains, I saw Guzz peering above my car's front tyre. He stepped back and whined again. Then he goes around to the other side and I lose sight of him, hear him whine again before trotting back to the first one!

I tapped the window to let him know I was aware and he looks out the gate as if he saw something but I couldn't see anything. He looks in my direction and walks away from the car.

Niggling in the back of my head, " What if? " as I crawled back into bed. I didn't want to think about it, tried to ignore it until minutes later, I hear Guzz doing the song and dance again. I cover my ears but he decides to go in full mode....bark, bark, bark!

Sigh.....why me? I look out again and this time he seemed more frenzied as he knew he had my attention already. Think he'd been patient enough to wait till he was sure I was up and wanted me to help him get to his subject!

I take my time changing and washing my face as I wonder what could be that was bothering him. I had gone on my knees to look under the car ( at a safe distance from inside the house ) and there was nothing there.

I came out, closed the glass entry door - just in case! Guzz runs to the front tyre, his tail waving side to side like a sign, 'Follow me!'. He looked kinda different when I realised his face had black patches from sticking his head in between the tyres. I slowly bend to look but nothing. Mind you, my heart was racing because I was not in the mood for a reptile to jump out at me in surprise. Did the same on the other side, also nothing.

'OK Guzz, we'll see.' He was so excited with me there, almost tripped me few times. I went to get the car keys, opened the door cautiously - just in case! So I stuck the keys in and started the engine.

A loud, hoarse, 'Mee...ooowww!!!!' sounded from under the hood. Phew! What a relief! I smiled and turned off the engine. Finally.... for sure. I popped the hood and lifted it. And there was this little black kitty sitting on the top of my engine!

As I set up the hood, little fella runs down the middle. Guzz meantime was going nuts from behind the glass door. I had to shut him in cos he was causing such a ruckus, the kitty was too afraid to leave the car!!!

For 45 minutes, I tried to coax that kitty out of the corners it managed to get into. The driveway was right in sight for it to jump to and scoot off but no....not this fella. It seemed to feel safer in my engine than out!

Finally, I managed to get a good grip on it and bring it out from there. I was half deaf by now with its yowling and spitting sounding even louder as it echoed around the car hood and Guzz barking and almost breaking my door....

I carried it to the side gate and began to calm it by stroking its back gently and speaking softly. Poor fella, don't know how long it had been in there and imagine its fear of setting a paw down without my Guzz getting at it. It didn't spit at me anymore but howled in between my stroking. Probably to assure me it still felt scared.

Much as I felt sorry for it, I couldn't keep it because I was not sure how Guzz would react. So I urged it through the gate bars and guess what? It placed its front paws against them to prevent from going out!

"Hey Kitty, there's no way you can stay here!" I said while gently pushing it out through the bars. It turned back and was trying to get back in by the side. I had to bang on my gate to shoo it but it was one stubborn little critter.

Plan B: got Guzz and he went straight to it but I held him by the collar so that he wouldn't get it. That stubborn little critter stood its ground and curled its back and did a whole spit and spif dance! I could feel Guzz tugging forward - more curious than intending to attack! I had to pull Guzz back many times cos I was more afraid he'd lose an eye than hurting the kitty! Ha ha ha!

Nope, that black kitty is a fighter as it lunged forward with claws wide open each time Guzz moved. So I had to grab my stick and practically move the kitten with it and shaking it ( the stick not the kitten ) before it moved backwards and away.

Sad to do so but had to be done. It didn't go very far because i can still hear its meow nearby. I saw its mother earlier and I hope they'll be reunited soon.

Thus the mini adventure to my otherwise could have been longer sleep in morning.

P/S: At no time during this episode were any animals harmed in any way. Thank you!

* Sayang *

~26th October 2005 ~

She came to our house in a box with another sibling. Pure white and like a tiny furry ball, wriggling and emitting cute little sounds…she stole my mother’s heart immediately. The partner in crime had wanted the other pup and brought her over to do just what he knew would happen.

Mum looked at me and all I said was, ‘I am not going to be responsible for this one. I have had enough ok. You want, you take care of her yourself.’

Reason why I was unusually unwilling was because I was just trying to overcome the loss of my Juno who I had to put down a few days ago. I then decided I was not having another pet as their eventual passings broke my heart every time. I would grieve as I would for a family member and cry like there was no tomorrow.

Being the softest with the pets we’ve acquired through the years at home, I was usually left with their well being as I got older. Until today, I have had to teach the help how to feed them their meals and meds, give them proper baths and drying them correctly so that they don’t catch a chill. Yes…sounds absurd huh? Well, that’s where my eccentricities come in where animals are concern.

Sayang in Malay is ‘love’ and my mum felt that for her when she realised she had a little handicap. We noticed she dragged her left hind leg along when she walked. The vet said it was probably not well developed at birth but could be remedied with constant massaging to help the bones develop in the right direction.

So my dad did that everyday. He would hold her gently and massage her hip to her leg. Even us, whenever we picked up this tiny white snowball…we would absently massage her leg without realizing. She now runs, walks as normal as any other and is …. quite the growler.

Sayang came not long after Sheba (whom I will relate another day) and Samo who then lived across our house. When Sayang went on heat for the first time, she never had a chance. Samo too was very eager to prove his male hood so to speak. And so they both grew up just after turning one!

Who is Sayang? Well, she is the mother of the rascal Guzz who benefitted his mother’s good looks and coat and his father’s tan shades. With a good mix of his parent’s characters, he has turned out to be quite the intelligent yet playful Guzz I love.