If you're planning to buy a book anytime soon, think no further, and make a beeline for Chaizani Shamsuddin's From Outer Space. Insightful, humorous and a must read for all women, (and men who wish to understand them) this book will keep you turning the pages until the inevitable end.

Ok, ok, so I may be a little bias, since it is written by my own sister, but seriously, you have to get it. Available in all Borders and Times bookstores across the country. (I checked!)

Blurbs from other readers:

"If Chaizani was a guy and is a Man U fan, I'd kiss her already!" - Limau Kasthuri*

*names have been altered to protect identity.

I managed to take some time to take some photos around the garden.

Mama is the kind of woman who would squish a bug in the most inhumane way to save her roses.

Mama was also the one who was always on some culinary adventure during festive seasons, and usually they are delicious.

We rarely express our feelings in our family, except when it came to frustration and nagging. So, for once, just wanna say, I love you Mama, for all of your quirkiness and all that you have thought me over the years.

Happy Ma Day!

Second day of Chinese New Year was the Koo family reunion. Yes, at least 3 families were missing, but that didn't stop us from whipping out the firecrackers, and setting the car alarms off the vicnity.

We spent the day playing cards. Nope, not Tai Tee or Blackjack. But Management Material and Uno: The Cars Edition. Hours of fun, no doubt about it.

Lucky number of the year was: 888.

Boleh percayakah?

Video courtesy of Winfield's new Sony Ericsson K850i. I want one of those babies myself :D

Since Baby came to surprise me and whisked me off to balik kampung earlier than expected, I didn't get to say my greetings first. So first of all, Selamat Hari Raya to all muslims. Maaf zahir and batin!

A lot has happened since I last blogged. So, here is a recap in pictures!


I finally got my new hand phone! Sony Ericsson's W880i. Of course, it's not as good as Baby's new Cybershot, but it cradles me to sleep at night with it's superb sound. The sounds of Leonardo's Bride is finally justified.

I had my eye checked out again. It started as irritating, and then painful, and then just plain worrying. My contact lenses felt like onion juice everytime I put it on. Damn pedih! So I took a trip to a very reputable clinic in Kajang, and one of the most ancient. Klinik Ng. It still has the old school look. Hard word benches, chinese signboards and the grumpy hunched lady that lectures you at the medicine dispensary. So my eye is a lot better now, but it still feels weird when in my right eye when I put on my lenses. Oh well...

Baby has joined the blogging world! I have resigned to the fact that he isn't much of a fancy writer, but he does make an excellent reviewer. And armed with his Cybershot, he has posted about our buka puasa adventure at Ikea.


It was the first hari raya for us at our new home. So we went all out and got 20 pelita api, and decked the terrace with fairy lights! It's amazing how something so simple can make you feel so much like a kid again. I have also learnt that water is actually heavier than kerosene :P And that cats does not like fire. :)

We also made our own ketupat. Papa reliving the days when he used to do it for Tuk Wan. Mama went all out and made five different cookies and two cakes. All of course, assisted by yours truly. I've learnt to never substitute butter for margarine, and when they ask for wholemeal flour, they do mean wholemeal flour, and that I don't give a damn if the dough has raw eggs and there's a chance for salmonella, I am licking that bowl!

Hari raya baking however could be potentially dangerous. Being my normal clumsy self, I have two burn wounds from the oven, a cut from the knife, and another cut from the jagged edge of a tin.

Ijam came back with scorpions! His wish to have a weird pet finally came true. Next on his wishlist to get an iguana. To which Mama protested loudly.

Hari Raya was an eventful affair with everyone from Singapore and JB staying over at our house. After test-driving the house as a potential base for future holidays, everyone proclaimed it to be perfect for get togethers. So next durian season, there will be several loud aunties and a handful of boisterous cousins at my home. It will be a lot of fun.

But the all the fun had to come to an abrupt halt. Here I am back in campus. One more presentation, one more thesis paper to finish. Final exams to look forward to finish and lots of headaches in between.

Here's hoping that Baby would drop by and whisk me off again...

The laundry from my trip to Singapore is still in the washing machine. Assignments are beckoning me. But I just couldn't resist posting some photos of the wedding. More will come soon! And congratulations to the newly weds! Wynne and Winfield, you guys are just too cute!

Amid my busy and hectic schedule, at the back of my mind, I am looking forward to one of the biggest event in the year for our family!

Yes, it is the second wedding among the cousins, and one that promises to be a spectacular one. Because the guy who is getting married is none other than resident funny man, Winfield.

For those who are not fully acquainted with our family, Winfield is my mom's sister's only child. Aunty Agatha or more popularly known as Sa Ee. (third aunty right?)

It's no secret, Winfield happens to be everyone's favourite cousin. He makes you laugh, able to talk and talk and talk till the cows come home, and have the ability to remember useless factoids. (I tried to remember one of them, but unlike him, I don't remember one!)

It was also no secret that there were members of the family that was worried that he wouldn't be able to get a girlfriend, because according to an undisclosed source, he blushes furiously when he's near a girl, and become uncharacteristically shy. (Let's hope he will let me in the wedding hall after this!)

But he did meet someone. And that someone was introduced to the family as Wynne. Everyone of course was struck by the fact that their names was so similar. Anyway, Wynne and Winfield was always seen together after that. It was like they were joined at the hip. Not many people were that surprised then when they finally announced their wedding plans.

So, a short trip down memory lane is due. I'm not going to point out the gangly girl that was me once, so let's just try and spot Winfield. He's the chubby boy wearing too large glasses. Other family members who reads this post will cringe at their old-fashioned hair and much too geeky smiles. But we were full from too much rich Christmas (or was it Chinese New Year) food by now, and never really paid attention to our poses.


So this is the typical Winfield pose. Relaxed, and oblivious to the fact that he looks like a large dumpling. Wynne already has a tough time controlling this diet I understand. Hehe!


A wedding is always a happy occasion. More so with our family, whom have had to deal with a big blow when Grandma passed away. It's a small comfort that at least she has met Wynne, and in typical grandma fashion, has once quipped "So, you're going to marry her?" And so he will. Welcome to the family Wynne! It isn't luck that I wish for this happy happy couple, but instead a hope and prayer that they will stay just that; happy.