I kid you not when I said it’s been a very ‘unlucky’ monthly+ for me (and actually the rest of the family as well). If anything, I think Zachary’s the one with the least problems.
Jan 272012
Jan 242012
bugdies /bəgdis/
Noun: Plural of bugdy; Combination of bug and buddies; Very good friends who enjoy bugging one another as a way of bonding.
My bugdies from the north and south dropped by my place for Chinese New Year. It is beginning to be an annual thing for us — meeting over the CNY. I wish we could meet more often, but as I said — one lives up in the north (state of Perak) and the other lives in Singapore. But this is as good as it can get for now… And I’m just glad we can still find the time to meet up.
The least I could do was torture feed them with home-made dishes. Just sharing the photos a bugdy took. Please bear with the blur photos… They were taken with an iPhone.
A table of food for bugdies…
L to R: Failed grilled mushroom & vegetarian-belacan stir-fried four angle bean
L to R: Greens in herbal sauce & Stir-fried tofu with diced vege
L to R: Superior corn soup & multi-grain rice
Chef hard at work…
Jan 212012
I was doing some last minute shopping at the Setia Alam pasar malam when I saw this guy selling this thing… Seems quite interesting and a real bargain since it’s only rm12.
Do ignore the horrendous spelling and grammar mistakes on the box…
This building set is actually quite good. I’m quite impressed. The box does not come with any ‘manual’ because according to the seller, everything is possible. It is about imagining things. Which is very true. I’m planning on getting another set so there’s even more combinations that can be done.
In case you’re wondering… Yes, I’m the one actually building up the set while Gabriel just watches… But I noticed he’s also trying to help. I guess it is just a matter of time before he figures out how the cogwheel works and starts making imagination into reality.
And ya… I know I’m feeding Gabriel’s obsession for wheels and tyres…
…and I’m so unprepared. Grass not cut. No decorations. Have not bought any drinks (I like)… Have yet to change money for the ang pow.
This time around, just really no mood to celebrate Chinese New Year. Whole family is quite tired and stressed out from the bouts of flu, fever, throat infection, eye infection, cough, etc… We just wanna sleep and sleep and sleep…
Anyway, Gong Xi Fa Cai to all…
Jan 142012
Don’t really understand this obsession Gabriel has with wheels and tyres… He just loves them.
He likes to touch the wheels (on his toy cars), dismantle them (also referring to his toy cars), etc… When he sees a lorry or bus on the road, he would be so happy and say “tyre, tyre…”. And if he’s near a car tyre or car accessory shop, he can just stand and look at the tyres in the shop.
And everyday (I’m quite sure it’s more like every minute), he would go “Daddy, do tyre…” or “Daddy, fix tyre”. I’m going bonkers…
Jan 112012
Both Mrs Tai and I like Gabriel with short hair… REALLY, REALLY short hair.
So about once a month, when I visit the barber, we would bring Gabriel along. He would also get his haircut at the same time. We realised it was not cheap and long term, we might be better off doing the haircut for Gabriel on our own.
Last week, I bought the hair clipper and over the weekend, I put it to use.
The Wahl Pro Lithium Scion, as klix rightly observed and commented, is a high end model. But I figured it was better to be safe than sorry. Might as well get the best and hope it lasts long enough for me to get my ROI.
The hair clipper is easy to use. After the initial charging (about 5 hours), I just need to then put on the appropriate comb and that’s about it. Start clipping/ cutting…
How was the first DIY haircut on Gabriel? If there’s something I learnt from the experience, it is to make sure I find a good place to do the hair cut. I had originally planned to do it outside in the garden but the weather did not seem that good for hair cut. So I ended up doing the haircut in the bathroom (dry bathroom, if you must know). But it was quite messy cleaning up the bathroom after that. Hair everywhere…
Actually, there are two things I learnt! The other is to make sure I cover Gabriel up. Halfway through the haircut, Gabriel started to struggle and cry. We found out that the cut hair falling all over his arms and legs were scaring (maybe tickling and perhaps even pricking) him. So next time around, we’ll get him to wear a long sleeve shirt & long pants first. But otherwise, everything seemed good.
So, curious to know the outcome?
I’m sure you’ll have to admit that he does look better with short hair, right?
Just FYI, I had tested the hair clipper much earlier before I tried it out on Gabriel. It was only after I was satisfied with the outcome of the test that I had the confidence to DIY the haircut on Gabriel. Click “Continue reading” to find out more about my first test… 
Continue reading »
Jan 092012
Throat infection is almost over, thanks to the super-strong antibiotics.
But now having super bad cough… Just could not sleep at night. I’ve been coughing non-stop. Each time I talk or even breathe, I get an itch (in the throat) that just causes me to cough. It’s causing everyone sleepless nights… 
Dunno what to say about 2012… I just hope this is the lowest things will get.
Jan 062012
We’ve been thinking for quite sometime now about the cost of getting a haircut for Gabriel (and soon, Zachary too). We like to keep their hair short for easy maintenance. Kids tend to sweat often and Gabriel body gets hot quite easily — we could be sleeping in an air-conditioned room and he could actually be sweating while I’m about to turn into ice!
I think we get charged about rm6 to rm8 per haircut and we go for the haircut once a month. So long term, it would seem like we would better off D-I-Y.
Google-d for some reviews, etc and came back with a few brands — Wahl, Andis, etc… Locally, it seems Wahl would be easier to find/ purchase. So I placed an order for the Wahl Pro Lithium Scion from hairdressing.com.my two days back. I opted for the TA-Q-BIN service, without realising that there would be a surcharge for this service. Dang, the fine print is really FINE. Else, I would have just paid with my credit card and be entitled to FREE delivery.
Anyway, my Wahl hair clipper has arrived…
Anyone want to volunteer to be my first ‘customer’? I was thinking of trying it out on a balloon when a friend suggested I try it on a rambutan instead. That gave me another idea — Kiwifruit.
Jan 042012
Not a good way to start the new year. First week into the year, already down…
This morning, all of a sudden while in office, started to feel really cold and shivering. Joints were aching too. Went to the clinic near the office but was told me temperature was normal (36.2 C). But the Dr could tell I’m not feeling too good. She said the fever should be coming real soon.
Later in the evening, started to really burn up. Went to another doctor again. This time, near my house. Throat infection had worsen. The doctor I saw in the afternoon did not prescribe any antibiotics (usually it means infection is mild). This time around, the doctor prescribed me with antibiotics. I saw the packaging and its sealed air-tight. It usually meant this is one super strength antibiotics, which also meant my throat infection is quite bad. <– of course I could be wrong about this.
I have been told to take a rest at home tomorrow…
Oh ya… Learnt something else from the doctor I saw in the evening… It seems the Panadol is also a generic drug. He told me the ‘original’ one was something else — I can’t remember what he said. Hmmm…
Jan 012012
It’s another new year…
What have you planned for the new year? What would you like to do?
For me… Strike the jackpot and be able to semi-retire. That means I have to start buying lottery first…
Seriously though, I hope to achieve even more work-life balance and be able to give back even more to society. Somehow, I still feel I’m not doing enough when it comes to giving back — to family, to friends, to community.
No, it is not about the $$$, phenom. 
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