LaundryAmah

Went to TST Park Lane and sent my ring to enlarge (fat ledi ma…so cannot fit leow lor). Bought it in 2003 from TSL so I could get it enlarged FOC. Then jalan jalan (walking) along Park Lane. Shops not so interesting so we made our way to Harbour City but I wasn’t sure of the direction from Park Lane. Guess guess and ask around la. Vague memory ma…

Had lunch at McDonalds cos I wanted to try the rice burger. So so nya…but the entertainment we had was awesome! We were eating halfway and suddenly there was this lady screaming in Cantonese ala Teochew accent. She accused this guy of molesting her while she was exiting and him entering McDonalds. She was obviously a nanny as I saw her holding a 7 - 8-year old foreigner boy. She kept saying that the guy molested her and asked him to go to the police station which was directly opposite that place. The guy refused of course and called the police on his handphone but the police never turned up even when we were leaving. I think the drama lasted about 15 - 20 minutes. Obviously the lady is from China and she was looking for a quick buck but didn’t get it lor! Sooooo irrrriiiiitating….really pity the boy she was babysitting.

Shopped at Harbour City next, spent like almost 3 hours in Marks & Spencer alone, eh 3 floors leh! Bought the prettiest dress for Kylie, lingerie, underwear & socks for Kieran. Then went to this floor which has all the branded kids wear e.g.Kingkow, D& G, Kenzo, Dior, Moschino etc etc…so beautiful ok but then the discount was not really fantastic so didn’t get anything la…somemore all wintery clothes. Saw Disney version Croc Shoes, quite cute lor cos the holes were in the shape of Mickey’s head but I didn’t get also cos I don’t like Croc shoes even though they are slightly cheaper there compared to here.

The difference of the Christmas deco between day & night.

Then we were hungry leow and my legs couldn’t take me anywhere further to look for more authentic food so we settled for shopping complex food at this restaurant which overlooks the harbour where the Star Cruise docks.

The serving was so big we actually had to force everything in our stomach since it was kinda pricey. Good thing we took a slow and long walk after that since we wanted to see the areana of stars. It was dark by then and the Christmas lights on both sides of TST and HK island can be seen clearly and it was simply beautiful!


Hong Kong Island TST

Print of my darling Tony Leung Chiu Wai

We then walked past this very familiar looking bridge which we’ve seen in movies and tv serials. Then we walked to the nearest MTR which was like so far….by the time we reached the apartment our legs were almost giving way! What a fruitful day. But it didn’t end here as we had to massage our host as she was aching all over from the hardwork of decorating a 10′ Christmas tree! That’s how we paid for our stay with her…kakakakakaka….

After checking in the hotel, we went off to savour the famous “chue par pau” (pork chop bun). I hardly eat pork back home but coming all the way and it’s supposed to be really popular and yummy, of course eat la! Well, the taste otoke? Hmmm….the bun was like sooooo yummy but the pork chop was like kinda normal lor. The bun was crisp on the outside and the inside was like so soft! We also tried the “lat yu cheesi pau” (Sardine in spicy oil with cheese bun). It doesn’t look special or delicious from the appearance but it’s yummylicious! I never really liked sardines but this sardine was so yummy that I bought some back! hahahaha….

The ruins of St Paul was a disappointment. Don’t know why it looked so good on photos but in real life…hmmm…not so impressive leh. Anway, we didn’t get good pics as it was dark already. They were supposed to have lights shining up the fort but that day they decided not to! Walked down the shopping street and the dried bbq meat pork sellers kept offering us to sample the bbq pork!

Dinner was then at an authentic Portuguese restaurant near the Black Sand beach..alamak forgot the name. The food was like OMG….really delicious lor! Again, the bread was like heavenly! I mean it! Heavenly! The bbq pork ribs too was yummy and I’m sure Oscar’s mom will love it cos it’s very salty!!!!!!! Don’t think the vege looks plain plain liddat, wah…also very yummy wor! The garlic cod fish was so-so nya…tasted kinda weird and was swimming in olive oil. See the wine they added lemon inside. Very nice wor…


Macau Day 2

Morning was at the typical char chan teng (coffee shop) near the hotel. We ate the “chue par pau” (pork chop bun) again and instant noodles with sardines. This time the bun was not as good but the pork chop was good. Piggyhoo tried the coffee with lemon which tasted weird….

Then we walked to Macau’s biggest casino called Sands. The place was smoky and swarmed of Tai Luk people. Don’t see them like so Ah Piau, betting at minimum HKD100/chip and they bet with like more than 3 chips! We just went to observe and didn’t gamble of course!

Then we packed and checked out and went to meet my cousin’s (Piggyhoo’s mom) Macau friends (Uncle Gau & Aunty Po). We had the best Portugese tart ever before we went to Zhu Hai.

The car was parked nearby to Immigration and then we just walked across the border. Upon reaching Macau Immigration, we realised we have to submit the embarkation form but both of us do not have it in our passports!! PANIC!!!! The Macau friend quickly checked with the immigration office if it’s ok to fill in a new one. It was ok but then upon looking at the leng chai officer, he asked me to check my purse again, and I found the form! hahahhaa..As usual there were Tai Luk ppl everywhere and they were transporting goods back in plastic bags, shopping trolleys etc..We saw Immigration officers stopping some of them and some managed to escape!

The shopping centre was right in front of the Zhu Hai immigration. It reminded me of Sg Wang, only bigger. The first part was the handphone & electronic gadgets area and I bought the latest Nokia bluetooth (size is smaller than the normal ones) for RMB120 only! Can you beat that? The offering price was RMB240 and the Macau friend helped bargain it down. Terrerrr leh! Then Uncle Gau & Aunty Po went for massage while we shopped.

We bought loads of DVDs, mainly TVB serials and of course my Korean series! Wahahahahaa…we stopped buying after a while when we suddenly realised that we couldn’t overdo it, kena tahan (get caught) at the customs mai sei (die)!

After 3 hours of walking and bargaining we were really tired and went back to the Spa. They had a private massage room complete with TV. They had to add massage time as we overshot the time! hahahaha..then we decided to have foot massage since they were not finished with their body massage. It was just RMB35 only! Warao! I was not the massage massage type but went for it la! However, I warned the girl not to overdo it as I was the sensitive and the screaming type! (Where else did Kylie inherit this trait leh??) She was so gentle till I began to feel that she was just sayang sayanging (stroking gently) my leg so I told her can press harder one….wah…in just a few moments I let out a yelp! Yeowwwwwwww! It was hilarious!
After the massage we made our way back to Macau. Dinner was at a Burmese restaurant. We had Yue Tong Mee (Noodles in Fish stock), taste was nothing special but the stock was very good. Piggy had pork chop noodles and it was good too.

Then off to the ferry terminal. Bought our tickets (HKD176) and proceeded to board. However, we were stopped as we had our luggage with us. Jialatt (bad luck) cos I saw some ppl going in with luggage something like ours also managed to walk past! We went to pay for the luggage handling fee (HKD20 each) and the porter told us we were advised to carry them in as the ferry leaves in 15 minutes time and clearance in HK will take a long time (he described that we can go to HK and back to TST also the luggage will not appear!). That reminded me of the luggage incident earlier so I decided to carry into the ferry! So stupid right? Pay for the handling fee and then allow to carry! Bloody Macau Porter was so irritating cos he returned change for the fee in a ten dollar coin. Aunty Po asked him to give a note instead and he said no more! Aunty Po was a fierce lady and said she saw in the box, so he sei sei (at the end) also had to give us the note. Then Aunty Po also scolded him for exaggerating about the luggage clearance time. So kesian la (pityful) we since we were ignorant we kena (got) bullied..sob sob!

Arrived Hong Kong and took a cab to Aunty Florence’s (cousin’s friend too) place at Nam San Sun Chuen (Quarry Bay,Tai Koo). The apartment was very small as expected and we slept in the sofa bed in the living room.

As usual this Amah very last minute with so many unfinished tasks left to the last day before the travel date. Managed to finish just before midnight and then only started packing! With my half past six packing, I forgot to bring the maps to my shopping and food destinations and also the time table which we planned our trip on! Also the address of the person whom we going to stay with in Hong Kong was on the time table. Sigh, the best part is I remembered printing all of it and put it together with my camera USB cable and even had vague memory that I’ve placed all of them in the bag…but in actual fact, it was not! Now, I’m stuck with the limited memory of 1Gb in my camera and also 1Gb in my phone memory…

Day 1 (10/12/2006)

There was a 45-minute delay departing KLIA and I arrived HKIA 2.00pm. I was told that I do not have to go through HK customs, and can directly get on the ferry to Macau from the airport. Yes, true enough. It’s that simple. After coming out of the plane, I just walked straight following the sign to the ferry and then got the ticket for HKD180.00. My luggage will automatically be transferred to the ferry which I’m booked on, which was 3.15pm. Instructions were clear and everything was smooth.

Ferry ride was about 1 hour and when I came out of customs, I was actually expecting something like the airport, i.e. luggage coming out in a carousel but unfortunately no! They dumped the luggage in a room and there was no queue and I see everybody crowding around that place waiting for their luggage! I was like oh noooooooo..how long do I have to wait? The situation was worsened with the fact that a group of Macau athletes had returned from the Asian Games! But thank God, somehow despite the fact that I was quite far from the counter, I managed to spot my luggage coming in the trolley as it was right on top of the pile! I quickly waved my luggage tag to the porter and shouted that my luggage was out! I didn’t know what gave me the courage to do so but I just did it! So that saved me a lot of hassle and off I went!

More to come whenever I have the chance to put down before I forget the details! Photos etc will follow when I return!

Ayo, weyo so little sleep? And summore today going to take family picture at the studio. They better put the makeup gau gau and photoshop to hide my panda eyes leh!

Ok, laundryamah occasionally takes back some stuff to wash one, like small small contracts la, just to get some pocket money and also for the sake of R & D with my various chemicals. So this time, me got back this stupid contract to wash some hideous looking polyester cloth. Yes they come in rolls of at least 50 yards and we have to unroll and then after the wash have to untangle it! The untangling job is the worst and I think my arms just grew bigger because of this! Well I have been leaving this job to my worker and of course he’s been quite slow and always complaining, “It’s not that easy you know….” so me also fed up la and the customer also very irritating, always asking us to finish the job faster cos they have to finish sewing those hideous looking shirts for CNY! Ok, may post the picture of the cloth when I have time.

Anyway, since my worker couldn’t cope with the load, I passed on the last batch to my customer to help out. This customer is actually a centre for people with learning disabilities and they actually have a laundry washing towels for 2 hotels in town. I thought they could do with the extra business and they had a bigger and more efficient machine than mine in the store. Dim chi…after 2 days, they couldn’t even finish half of the load I gave them! Ayo…ok ok..remember their workers have learning diabilities, so they were only used to fold towels! So otoke? Bring back and do myself la! What time was that? 5.30 pm already, so have to do myself the whole night la since worker have to go home ma! But of all days, yesterday have to go to relative’s pre-wedding party so only came back at 11pm to start the washing.

But I must say, with only 1 pair of hands, I managed to do more load than my worker plus help from my maid! You see la, actually it’s always better to do things myself one, but then again cannot la…die lor if everyday like that! Slept at 2 am but didn’t really have a good one also as my mind was thinking of the remaining load…so woke up at 6 am to continue! Now waiting for a load to finish while writing this! See this amah, so tired also die die must blog! Sei moh??

Aiya, just when I’m about to go off for a holiday and there are full activities this weekend, the kids are not well. Actually, both kids have been wheezing for quite some time. Both also haven’t fully recovered.

Then last night while I was planning my holiday, Apah called to say Kylie was down with fever. Ayo…so this morning I took her to paed and she said at least her wheezing has stopped and she should be having an infection cos the inside of her nose is reddish. She suspects a running nose episode to come up. Sigh, my poor lil princess has been in and out of paed since the day she was born leh..not only for jabs! That’s why eventhough she eats a lot she’s still like so tiny!

As for the boy, since his pneumonia episode last year, he’s also been having this wheezing problem off and on. So penat (tired) la…the paed also almost running out of ideas to treat him. Any ideas on chinese medicines??? My sis-in-law’s mom who operates a ginseng and chinese herb shop recommended to boil dried crocodile meat with herbs for him. It’s like quite gross lor but if it can cure why not leh?? Any ideas??

Today, 8 years ago I walked down the aisle and married LaundryApah. I can’t believe 8 years had just passed! Gosh..how time flies..

So what are we doing? NOTHING lor…aiya I don’t remember ever celebrating our anniversary leh. Nevermind la, cos LaundryApah promised me a gift…..but yet to get it cos the place which gave us the best offer ran out of stock. What is it??????

A ring?

No lor…

A bag?

Aiya I got a lot la….

Jeng..jeng…jeng….

Sony T50

Pix from Samm’s site

Well thanks to the influence from Samm, I’ve managed to persuade LaundryApah to get me this. If Sony has run out of stock, we may have to go back to that shop where the sales guy was like kinda rude. No choice la, cos that shop has the stock and the offer was the 2nd best one.

Can’t wait la…loh kung faster get it la so I can use it during my holiday la!

I was about to post my final episode of Milan but my mom called yet again about how menacing Kieran was after ..(I lost count how many times she called). She picked him up from school today as I was super busy with work and I had to send the maids to the agency to get a good whacking from the agent as they cooked up some cock and bull stories and wanted to go home before their contracts end. So can you imagine what kind of stressed has built up in my system at that time?? It was like going to explode ledi!

So I rushed home and even before I could enter the house I can hear my mom yadda yadda bla bla your son so disobedient…refuse to listen, fighting in school etc etc etc. I quickly grabbed the cane from my car (yes I keep a cane in the car!) and went straight upstairs. Upon seeing the look on my face, my mom panicked and quickly said that Kieran’s in the shower, wait…But I can’t wait as I was fuming! Went straight to the shower, yes I caned him and I think this was the hardest that I’ve caned him. I was screaming on top of my lungs as I guess he apparently did not get the message when I grounded him since the money incident!

I was so so so disappointed and sad with his behaviour. I really do not know how to teach him as each time after I talked to him, he seems to understand why he was being punished and that he should not repeat the mistake again, but yet again and again, he misbehaves. I really need help now, should I find a child councillor or child psychologist?? Really I’m at wits end now…I really do not want to go on with this shouting and caning session as I know it’s so unhealthy for both of us and I pity the neighbours also la! So how???????

Anyway apart from that, my mom found a peeled and cut cucumber in her maid’s bag! WTF is it in her bag and the shape was like ah hem..and when confronted she pulled an innocent face and said I don’t know why it’s in there..DUH!!!! Harroooooo..we were not born yesterday!! How disgusting can these maids get????

Yes this is definitely the final part of my journey. My flight was in the afternoon but since the guys were going to the airport I tagged along la, but it was so early, left the hotel about 7am! See la me, want to save the airport taxi charges, die die wake up early la!

Upon reaching my flight also not even on the departure schedule! I wanted to ask for help regarding the claim for VAT but I searched high and low for information booth and then finally found one but eh…no one was manning the booth! What is this??? Shouldn’t they have information like 24 hours in an international airport?? Enjoy the sunrise from the window la…

Then periodically I went to check the departure schedule to check my check in aisle and finally came out around 9.30am. I brought along 2 bottles of mineral water which I took from my principal’s booth! But then as I was queing in to security check I was told that all liquids have to be in a tiny plastic bag which they gave and it doesn’t fit the 500ml mineral water lor! Otoke? Glug glug glug…telan all the water while queing la! I already drank one while waiting to check in, phew! Since I was in the queue to the security check I couldn’t get out and throw the empty bottle so I just left on the floor lor! Ayo so embarassing ok, cos I never ever throw rubbish like on the floor one!!!

Anyway, passed security and the moment I walked out I saw the VAT refund booth. Quickly went there and was told to get custom officer’s stamp and signature first. See la, no information I so kelam kabut (lost). Then the moment I stepped into the custom officer’s room I got a rude shock, the officer just scolded or cursed me in his language and was gesturing his hand towards me like, “Get out!”. Warao eh.. Sai em sai so ngok ah..(why must be so fierce?)

Then when it was my turn he looked up at me with this really disgusted look.

Custom-Where’s the goods?

Me-Here, pointing at my LV bag which I was already using!

Custom-NO NO NO…u cannot use the goods..(just shoved the VAT form away)

Me-Err..No? I didn’t know! The shop assistant did not warn me! Please sign the form. Please…

Custom-started talking in Italian to his colleague and ignoring me! You, call this shop ask them to call us.

Me-Oh ok.

Custom-Go outside! Call outside! (the hands like shoo shoo me like a chicken liddat!)

Me-damn humiliated and frustrated at the same time

Called the LV shop and they said they will call but after waiting some time light no reaction leh! Then I looked at the custom office with pleading eyes liddat ok. The rude guy went off for a break and his colleague who was a lady I think sort of pitied me. She called me in. Then I told her why not I call LV and she can talk to them on my phone but the LV line was busy!

Finally the lady just stamped and signed for me la. Really the most humiliating experience for me to claim back Euro78!!

Then off I went to do more shopping!! I must say for Milan, the duty free shopping stores are kinda pathetic. Thank goodness there’s still a Gucci outlet. And after rounding the shelves and touching like all the bags and stuff I bought the following items. Unfortunately, the tax was inclusive, which means I have to go to back to Mr and Ms Black Face Custom Officers to get their stamping! Mr Black Face still not back from his break, I hope he never did make it back! Anyway, Ms Black Face stamped and signed quietly!

When I came back to show my loot to my cousin, she liked the bag instantly so I sold to her la..kinda felt guilty for my purchases too, so lightened my burden a bit! My disappointment from this trip, I never made it to the the brand outlets and also Prada! Yeah…yeah..sut pai…

LaundryApah said this year will be the last birthday party for Kieran. But then again.. I love birthday parties! See how it goes…

This year I chose the church as we had a charity bazaar the same day I planned to hold his party and I thought it would be a good idea since I can tumpang (enjoy) the free clown and slides etc. But the moment the I turned into the road that leads to the church, I immediately regretted! There were cars lined up on both sides of the road and it’s still a long way to the church leh!

I think it was a working Saturday, there was another church on the same road and also a warehouse sale going on! Warao! I dropped the cake and stuff plus a wailing baby with the maid and went out to find a carpark. I parked like a zillion miles away and walked like mad back to the church. As I was walking, I was like thinking oh no…what about my guests?? I was then glad that a lot them couldn’t make it and there were a few others whom I FORGOT to invite (yes they are now thanking their lucky stars that I forgot them!) I quickly smsed those who were coming to warn them about the parking problem.

When I reached the church, I noticed the place which they reserved for me was occupied with people. Hmm..where was the organiser? Alamak, it was crowded like mad ok, but after a while I bumped into the organiser and managed to get hold of the person who was supposed to assist me. She was very helpful, helped me with the food and drinks also.

I was so happy that Angeleyes managed to make it to the party thanks to Oscar’s mom of course for giving her a lift. Unfortunately the party was getting a bit out of hand due to lack of planning from this lazy Amah! However, the clowns were great and very entertaining. I really enjoyed them very much, I think more than some of the kids!

Noticed the Thomas the Engine cake? I ordered from the contact Allyfeel gave me. It was really very beautiful and at a very reasonable price I reckon. The taste was so-so but I was sure the kids appreciated the look more than the taste.

Below are the gifts Kieran received. Thank you everyone for the wonderful and very practical and useful gifts! Kieran was especially delighted with the mini toy computer that his grandfather gave him. He played with it immediately upon opening it! Kylie too was attracted to the computer as it produced songs! However, kor-kor was not too pleased with that and kept shouting at her and shoo-ing her away!