Christmas 2009

I woke up at 9.30a.m. and updated this blog.

When it was time to get ready, I wanted to wear something out of the ordinary but I found out that the undergarment that would fit better with that blouse was downstairs. So I changed my mind since I was late.

I drove to outside All Saint’s School in Likas and waited for Sophia and Monica to arrive. I did not wanna drive to 1 Borneo.

The three of us along with Elizabeth Chung and Alice Hiew were going to have buffet lunch at Novotel Hotel.

The restaurant is called The Square.

It is quite new and everything still looks new and nice.

I like the multi-colours decorations.

Carved fruits were used as decorations as well.

I like the Egg Salad and Potato Salad the most. Like Sophia said, ‘The cheapest stuff, the tastiest!’ Argh

The Salmon and Turkey Terrines tasted so so only.

This Salmon entrée was a bit fishy but still nice.

We were serenaded by three musicians at first. I think this was the first time to have live music while eating a buffet lunch for me.

Then it was time for main courses ie. Lamb Kebab, Boxing Chicken, Fish, Spring Roll, Samosa and Pumpkin Gratin. I did not have any hope for the Pumpkin Gratin but it turned out to be the best of this lot.

Sophia ordered a plate of Spaghetti Bolognese to be shared among us. Thumbs up for this.

The Tom Yum Soup was spicy.

An additional musician to make it four continued to serenade us.

The Corn Soup was too sweet.

These Glass Noodles with Salmon Salad and Sushi were also so so as well. Nothing to shout about.

This glass of honeydew juice had just the right taste for me, not too sweet.

I had a second serving of these.

The desserts were not too sweet but I did not go for second serving.

Anotiher musician joined the fold to make it five.

Lastly I had the ‘ABC’. I did not add in any syrup and that’s why it looked kinda pathetic. Tasted a bit pathetic as well. haha

Overall we rated the food selection and presentation to be better than Promenade Hotel. The price is cheaper as well. We had a good time having food and fellowship among friends.

I would definitely go back to this restaurant.

Look at how sad the pony is. Poor pony.

Eliz and Alice did not join the three of us in watching the movie Avatar. The cinema was full and we had a good time watching the movie, though a bit unrealistic but the special effects were fantastic. It would be even better if we could watch it in 3D.

The movie finished at almost 6p.m. We went to window shop for a while before going to Michii Japanese Restaurant for our Christmas dinner.

When Sophia dropped me back outside All Saint’s School, we saw the rear lights of the car were switched on. I must have accidentally switched them on when I got out from the car in the morning.

I started the car and it could move along fine but after I turned into Tuaran Road, I felt that the car was going to stall so I quickly drove to the side of the road. My sixth sense was correct. Tried as I might to start the car again, I could not. I figured it was no point to call either Monica or Sophia since they would unable to assist me.

I called the mechanic and I thanked God for him, for willing to come out to my rescue on Christmas night.

He came within fifteen minutes after I called. He touched the wires and the car engine could start once again. I told him I was afraid that the car may stall again on the way home so I told him to drive behind me until at least to the roundabout outside KMA.

Thank God I reached home safely after that.

Christmas Eve 2009

I nearly missed Christmas Eve service tonight.

After I had my dinner, I put the alarm on my mobile phone to 8p.m.

At 8.15p.m. I was awakened by a text message from Choo. And when I looked at the time, I had the shock of my life. I checked the alarm time and realised I did not put 8p.m. afterall.

I quickly got out of bed and changed my clothes before getting out of the house.

When I arrived in church, I got the last parking bay available.

As I was about to enter the sanctuary, the bell rang. I was still on time. I did not bother to go to the front to find a seat and sat at the back row.

There were less people this year as compared to previous years.

Don Budd sang and shared his testimony.

After the service, I took some photos with friends. Some asked me to join them for supper but I decided to go home to rest instead.

Favourite Snack

Mum made this today. Yums

Holiday Day 5

Mum has been pestering me for a few months to go to the bank with her to get the fixed deposit under joint account done. So I took the opportunity to take today off as well.

We went to CIMB bank and I had no idea that the bank shifted to the left side coming from KK – Menggatal side in Inanam Town. Previously it was on the right side and as I was about to make a 3 o’clock turn at the Inanam Town roundabout, mum asked where I was going. Then she told me she thought that I know the bank had shifted to the left side.

I went round the roundabout and proceeded to the bank. There was not a single parking bay available near the bank as I went round four times. In the end I parked illegally and hoped that the car would not be summoned by the police or being towed away.

Our number was the 18th on the queue and we waited for about half an hour before being served. Besides opening a new fixed deposit account, we also told the officer to update three other fixed deposit certificates as well. Mum also took out her pension money and banked into our joint account. Everything was done within one and a half hours.

After that we went home for lunch.

Next stop for me would be the Immigration Department. I left home before 2p.m. and I thanked God I found a parking bay outside the vicinity of the mini Putrajaya.

There were a lot of people including some people standing waiting to be served but there was hardly anyone at the Information Counter. The officer took a peek at my old passport and told me I should have another more recent passport. She went away to check in the system.

Meanwhile people were queuing up behind me and the queue was quite long. The officer came back with another more recent passport number which had expired middle of this year. I had completely forgotten about this passport. Mum must have stored it in the safe deposit box at Public Bank in Karamunsing. At least I found out that the Immigration Department is open during the weekends as well from 8a.m. – 1p.m. Next time I can go on a Sunday morning before attending church.

Then it was time to go to the tailor at Segama. There was major traffic congestion from the Coastal Highway leading to the city. Took me half an hour to get there.

When I arrived in Segama, there was a car coming out from the parking bay. I was about to park when I heard a car kept on honking at me. The driver was trying to tell me the parking bay belonged to him since he had double parked at the left side of the road waiting for cars to come out. But he did not switch on his indicator as I passed by his car. Oh well ...

As I was coming out from the road and about to reach the road below the pedestrian bridge, I saw an empty parking bay. And there was no car behind me this time to claim belonging. I quickly parked and went away happily.

My tailor was surprised at the size of my waist. I did not waste my breath telling her that her staff was the one who gave me a wake up call a few years ago by telling me that I had put on so much weight. After hearing that statement, I was adamant to lose weight.

Since I was not able to get to Sophia on the mobile phone after finishing all my errands, I decided to walk over to Suria Sabah to have a look at the Mall.

I was at the Mall for about two and a half hours. When I went back to Segama to get the car, I had forgotten that the place where I parked is used for hawker stalls at night. One of the vendors asked me where had I been. I was apologetic and could not wait to get out from the place. He was kind enough to direct me to come out from the parking bay.

When I arrived home, I felt more tired than after a long hard day at work.