Car Broke Down Again

After Canaanland Celebration, I went to Giant Kolombong Foodcourt to takeaway the from Merdeka Chicken Rice stall.

Just two days ago, one of my colleagues found out that this stall did not close shop. Instead it replaced the Mongolian Chicken Rice stall which was operating opposite the Merdeka Chicken Rice stall. No wonder once when I asked my office boy who was going there to takeaway and therefore I requested him to do the same for me, I tasted the chicken rice and thought it tasted like the Merdeka Chicken Rice. When I asked him where he bought it, he said from the side where the Mongolian Chicken Rice stall was operating.

After I took away two servings of the chicken rice, I went to the drinks stall to take away one serving of ‘ABC’.

As I drove out from the exit of Giant Kolombong, suddenly the car jerked and stopped. I was telling myself ‘Not again’. Once again I did not panic. The exit is big enough to accomodate two cars to go out at the same time. Sometimes I had to flag the cars behind to use the next lane because they could not see the emergency signal that was switched on due to the sunlight. Tried as I might, I could not start the car.

Once again I called my colleague and told him to tell his cousin to come to my rescue. Upon checking, the mechanic found out that one of the parts malfunctioned. He was unsure whether he could find the parts since today is Sunday.

He left me in search of the part. While waiting for him, I ate more than one serving of the chicken rice and had more than half of the ‘ABC’.

Half an hour later the mechanic came back and told me that all the shops he went to were close. Only one of the shop owners was away somewhere and would only be back after two hours. At least the mechanic managed to start the car and reversed it back to the Giant Kolombong carpark.

While waiting for the two hours to pass, I slept in the car with the windows unwind down. There was a breeze and therefore I did not feel hot at all.

After one and a half hours, he came back and changed the part for me. The car could start after that.

Upon reaching home after 4p.m., I still had to take mum to Servay Hypermarket, Plaza Juta for grocery shopping. Eventhough I insisted to go tonight but mum wanted to get it over and done with. She was scared it would rain tonight.

Last Day of Hari Raya Puasa 2009

Went to Wong Kok Restaurant with mum and Aunty Alice for dim sum brunch. This was the first time I brought Aunty Alice out for brunch on a public holiday since she moved in to stay with us.

Had to wait for a few minutes since the restaurant was jam packed with people. Met some distance relatives (my late dad’s cousins and their families).

When the people sitting nearest to the entrance left, mum walked up to the table to book the table. I told her she was jumping the queue since she already told the waitress upon arrival how many people would be sitting on our table.

When she saw the waitress, she asked whether we could occupy that table and the waitress answered in the affirmative. But then a lady came up to mum and told her she was jumping queue. Mum answered back by saying the waitress allowed us to sit there.

This time I found that the dim sum were not as delicious as when I had them with Adam Barclay when he came for vacation during last year’s Harvest Festival.

After dim sum, we dropped by L.T.S. Supermarket behind New Emperor Restaurant for grocery shopping.

On the way home just outside the road near New Emperor Restaurant, the car jerked and stopped suddenly.

Tried as I might to start it again, I could not. I did not panic though I was obstructing traffic on a public holiday. Thank God it did not happen during a working day. Drivers were patient to wait for their turns to get out from that road.

I called my colleague to tell him to inform his cousin who is a mechanic to come to my rescue. I was relief to find out that he did not go anywhere during this holiday period.

The problem was the battery had gone kaput. The mechanic managed to help me to jump start the car so that I could drive to Taman Bunga Raja to my friend’s shop to change the battery. The mechanic did not charge me for anything however minor it was.

I did not have anything else to eat the rest of the day and only ate again during dinner. I had a good rest, trying to catch up on some sleep and read.

In the evening as I was fidgeting on the digital camera (as there was a stain on the lens), suddenly the lens cover could not close. I had spoiled the camera. :( Shucks!

Car Service

Yesterday on the way back from grocery shopping at Servay Hypermarket, Plaza Juta, I discovered that the front right wheel of the car did not have enough air. I did not drop by the petrol station to pump. In fact I have been very ignorant when it comes to car, I only know how to drive but I do not know how to maintain it.

This morning I told the office boy to help me to pass the car keys to my mechanic whose shop is below my office for him not only to help me pump the tyre but also to service the car. He was going to check on something as well which is not functioning well.

I am thankful that he does not charge me anything to do this sort of service.

13 September 2008

Finally got the car back today after one whole week at the workshop.

I almost forgot how to drive. :)

6 September 2008

The car was finally under repair. Needed major overhaul.

Ros came to fetch me after 6p.m. after her choir practice.

Sms Sharon Lai and Quek Lip Kie to inform them I could not make it for Canaanland Celebration. I am holding the keys and therefore Quek had to get the keys from Sharon. It was Holy Communion Sunday.

5 September 2008

Jeff had to wake up early to drive me to work. I told him not to drive the car back to the office since I can get my usual ride from my colleague KK. But KK could not do OT and therefore James had to fetch me at 6p.m. Chang and Barnabas accompanied him to fetch me.

3 September 2008

Mechanic found the problem with the car and was about to do some major work.

But Jeff called up and said he had to use the car. He had to bring Ah Wen and his girlfriend to buy seafood to bring back to Kuala Lumpur before driving them to the airport. Therefore the repair had to be postponed.

Back to the Grind 2 September 2008

I woke up with a slight headache after the long weekend. Not a good sign.

Had to go to work because had to prepare salary for the rest of the colleagues who are based at the project sites.

Parked the car outside the car workshop so that the mechanic can check what was wrong with the thermostat.

Arrived work at 7.30a.m. and tried to rest for half an hour before starting work. At 7.50p.m. a contractor Wong (who usually gives me red packet for CNY) called to say that he would be dropping by downstairs with some goodies and will give me a tinkle again once he had arrived. When I went downstairs, he was holding six boxes of mooncakes – 2 for the boss, 2 for two colleagues and 1 for me.





Got the thermostat for the car changed around noon and Jeff came to collect the car but he said the problem was still occuring.

Mum cooked a gastronomical affair until I felt full looking at them. There were eight adults and three children eating. The food was enough for twice the amount of people.

We had sharkfin soup, sweet and sour crabs; chicken, pork and eggs in soya sauce; crab claws, fried fish, roast pork and veges. Dinner was served after 8p.m. and therefore I had lost my appetite. I only ate a minimal amount.

Happenings of Last Saturday

On Saturday I did the following.

1. I managed to nearly finish updating the company accounts. Next month end will be the end of the financial year and therefore the bosses want to see the draft net profit figure to see how much they can spend between now and then to decrease the tax to be paid to Inland Revenue Department.

2. I had the car service at the workshop below the office. For a long time the windscreen wiper had been making sound whenever it was being switched on when rain came down. The sound is quite annoying and therefore I decided to get a new one. Now the new wiper does not make any sound.

Last year the mechanic suggested to me to put a layer of window tint at the top of the windscreen but I did not ask him to do that until two days ago.

3. I left the office to come home at 3p.m. The house next to our house was bought over by new owners and since three weeks ago, a contractor has been doing renovation. The noise has been quite deafening for me during the weekends that I have been home with the sound of drilling and hacking going on. That’s why I did not want to come early during the past weekends unless I was too tired to go elsewhere.

4. I watched the Russian team won the Sychronized Swimming ahead of Spain and PRC at the Beijing Olympic before having an hour nap.

5. That night my sis-in-law Ros drove her parents and mum to attend a dinner at Ocean Seafood Restaurant while both us went to Yayasan Sabah Auditiorium to listen to The UK South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu. On the way to Sabah Foundation, there was massive traffic congestion at the Coastal Highway.

The programme is as follows.

First Session

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – John Williams arr Michael Story

Highlights from Moulin Rouge – Eden Ahbez arr Michael Brown

The Children of Sanchez – Arr Tom Milford

Selection from Chicage – John Kander arr Ted Ricketts

Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder arr Naohiro Iwai

Miss Saigon – Claude Schonberg arr Warren Barker

Second Session

The Cowboys - John Williams arr Jay Bocook

Queen in Concert – Brian May arr Jay Bocook

Selections from The Lion King – Elton John arr Paul Lavender

Irish Party in Third Class – Gaelie Storm arr Richard Saucedo

Pirates of the Carribbean – Klaus Badelt arr Ted Ricketts

Third Session (Combined with Tshung Tsin Secondary School Band)

Four Norfolk Dances by Philips Sparke

Asian Selection II by Mitsuo Nonami

Since the concert was performed by youths, my expectation was not that high. Nevertheless these young people did a good job. The conductor was Mr. Mike Booty, who is also a Rotarian. At the end almost half the people in the hall gave the band a standing ovation.

When we arrived home about 11p.m., mum and Ros’s parents were not home yet. They only arrived home at 11.15p.m.

Pizza Hut Pizzas

Last night I was very tired but I did not feel sleepy at all. I did not sleep until after midnight. This morning I did not want to get up.

Today early morning at work was a total bliss for me. There were no telephone calls or people to disturb me. I only took slightly over an hour to finish doing the payroll.

One thing good about my office location situated in an industrial centre is that there are a lot car workshops I can choose from. Since there are two workshops directly below my office, I do not need to go far to have the car serviced. These workshops are also renting the shoplot from my bosses. Thus I can trust them to provide me with good service, unlike so many mechanics elsewhere who want to earn a quick buck and give shoddy service.

I had the wheel alignment and service on the whole car done. On Monday I have to return the car to the workshop to service the air-conditioner. The mechanic did not have enough time to check it out since I only worked half day today.

My boss is once again the Chairman of Technological Association of Malaysia (Sabah Branch). He served as a Chairman previously as well. Around noon time, the first committee meeting for 2008 was held in our office.

The lady boss ordered four pizzas online from Pizza Hut and had them delivered. I had two and half slices of Pepperoni Delight Crunchy Crust Pizza and one slice of Hawaiian Chicken Pan Crust Pizza. I liked the Pepperoni Delight because the crust is thin and crunchy. So yummy!

Me, Food Critic?

Yesterday was another busy day after one day off for Labour/Worker’s Day.

I did not even manage to do the payroll until 4.50p.m. Anyhow a couple of days before the end of April, lady boss already told me we would only receive the salary on 5th May. I could only spend ten minutes doing the payroll before I had to attend to some other urgent matter.

While doing my work, a Window Live Messenger window popped up on my monitor. One of my associate colleague asked whether I have become a food critic. I was a bit blur so I asked him why he asked such a question. He said I had uploaded a lot food photos into my Facebook page. Haha I told him I love food and sometimes take the opportunities to take photos of them but I am not a food critic at all. (I did not mention anything about my blog) He was curious on how I can be so slim and yet could love food so much. He even introduced a website www.sabah.com and told me there are some good restaurant reviews inside there. I told him I often go to www.ravejoint.com for food reviews.

All throughout my life I have been having problems in maintaining a constant weight. Since one and a half years ago up until now, I am considered to be on the slim side. I have been trying quite hard to slightly put back a bit of weight on but to no avail.

For too long I have been procrastinating in going for a medical check up. I should go for one very soon to give myself a peace of mind.

I did not realise that the tyre at the front left wheel of the car does not have sufficient air until the office boy told me so. I felt that something was wrong with the car when I was driving it to work but I did not know what. When I arrived at work, I totally forgotten about this.

Bishop in the House

Today for the first time since his appointment as the Bishop of BCCM Sabah, BCCM KK including Canaanland Celebration at Kyrugma House has the priviledge of having Bishop Thomas Tsen to preach the sermon and conduct the Holy Communion. Bishop Thomas Tsen is also Sophia Tsen’s uncle, her dad’s younger brother. He preached on the topic ‘Together in God’s Mission’.

We had lunch fellowship after Canaanland Celebration.

I could not resist not taking photos of Mr. Johnny Liew’s car.

Dinner at Upperstar, Damai

Steak Salad


Lamb Chop


Chicken Wings


Grill Salmon

This morning my nose bled while I was brushing my teeth. I did not have nose bled for many years already. My body must be too heaty.

Put the car in for service to change the timing belt. Thank God I decided to do it sooner rather than later because it had already split into half! The mechanic told me if I had postponed it later, it may cost me over RM1K rather than RM350.

Tonight had dinner with Lily Tan and Sophia Tsen at Upperstar Pepper Grill & Bar (formerly Atlantis), Damai Plaza. We sat on a table with access to a computer and internet. Lily checked on her emails, read news in Chinese and tried hard to get into Facebook but access was denied because of incorrect password.

Lily ordered Steak Salad and carrot juice. Sophia ordered Lamb Chop with mince sauce and orange juice. I ordered Grill Salmon and sky juice. Sophia also ordered and treated us to a side order of 6 chicken wings. The waiter did not look at the order before giving us spoon and fork. How would Sophia be able to eat her Lamb Chop using those things? And even after her order came, the waiter was not alert enough to change them for her. She had to request for the change. The food was ok.

When we almost finished our dinner, the waiter gave us our bill without us asking for it. Sophia who had been to this place many times said it is their practice to do that. We paid but we did not want to leave yet.

After dinner, Sophia login to her Facebook page and showed Lily. Lily left first while Sophia and I hung around and discussed about her Facebook page before we left to go home.