We are having a good creative start to the year…

I can’t say anything yet but we’ve had a lot of interest, creatively speaking.. Fingers crossed things will come to fruition in more than ways than one….

so kinda busy at the moment, more words soon:)

Today was kayley’s christening (oops baptism)

our niece Kayley was baptised today at the family church (assumption I think? the one near Assunta Hosp) with some other babies too! Videos and pix will be up soon! Thank you Min for the gorgeous cake!

Today.. American Idol starts on our local tv..

yes That SHOW.. although I rather watch Nigella Feasts but gotta lah.. something different.. It sucks you in…… Wonder whether there will be anything interesting this year.. Karen will come and watch with us (as is our tradition each year).

I need to find some energy to try more recipes leh..  Sudah running out of ideas..

A letter to an American and a bunch of Malaysians.

As promised to Jenn in response to her letter. It’s prob not as witty as hers but I’ll have a go

So here goes:

To Mr. Al Gore, Environmentalist and former politician,

cc. our Malaysian Government

Dear Mr. Al Gore,

Congratulations on your new found fervent interest in environmentalism. You even have a movie out on your new passion, heard it’s very interesting, well done! Now why would I, a Malaysian, be writing to an American politician (sorry, I meant “former” politician) ? Well, simply put, it’s the global environment,we live in the same planet, don’t we (despite what a certain person with the “W” in his name seems to think otherwise)?

I am sure as a fervent environmentalist, you have watched with concern the changing weather patterns, the more violent and extreme storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, hitting our beleaugured planet at the moment.’El nino is coming!” claims the scientists and they warn us to expect a very dry year with more crappy weather too. Great, just what I always wanted to hear. No one seems to be doing anything proactive, even to the point of DENYING the greenhouse effect.

Perhaps from your last visit to Malaysia, instead of yabbering about reformasi and supporting it, you should have instead used stern rhetoric (accompanied by a pointing finger to the sternum) to bring Indonesia and other ASEAN countries (including ours) for allowing the haze to continue each year, each time gaining ickyness (yes that IS a technical term). I have cc. this letter to our Malaysian government, cos well.. one would hope our own government would spend time DOING something instead of TALKING about doing something. Mind you, we could blame it on acts of God and just dissolve any responsibility. Perhaps your US politicians could find that particular excuse useful Seems to do wonders for our own government.

I’d actually love to see all you fellas stuck indoors with everything shut with 3 young kids, trying to keep em entertained and not getting sick. Or three sick kids with no maid to help you. Or wait, fight through the smog and traffic while paying a 60% rise in toll to get to your doctor, whilst avoiding the potfholes. Then driving around and around trying to find parking. Find a clinic nearby and walk, I hear you cry? Well, u tried walking along our pavements? Or worse, moving a stroller along those pavements? (oh, that’s sidewalks to you, Mr. Gore), If not getting hit by snatch thieves (and generally no ordinary mum carries an expensive handbag, unless u count a nappy backpack as one?), you have to fight through traffic to even try and cross a road and avoid getting hit by non-red-light seeing motorists.

Would you, instead of supporting a war which no one else wanted, devote your time to stamping out environmental disasters waiting to happen Mr. Gore? would you find a way to get our “abundance” of flood waters sent over to drought ridden africa and Australia? We seem to be amassing a greater amount of these flood waters each year (this year/end last year being the worse in a century), may as well find some use for it. I would have to warn you it’s chocolate coloured, full of I dont know what cos well, we dont have a very active Rivers/environment/water supply bunch of folks here. Ignoring the increasing water tariff of course.  Perhaps this brings back memories of Hurricane Katrina stomping across new orleans and neighbouring states. Or was it “an act of god” and a way to practice population control?

As you can see, Mr. Gore (and the other fellas), Im a very concerned citizen (yes, Im Malaysian dang it! I refuse to check boxes that only define me as a race) and humbly ask what you plan to do about the environment you appear to be so fond of. Recyling is in its infancy here, perhaps we could pay you hundreds of thousands as a “consultant” and you could advise us in that capacity? We are fond of doing that. Oh, if anything goes wrong, you will get blamed instantly and get sued and we’d do without any conveniences as the dispute rages on. Our works minister is a past master at this, he’d be happy to advise you Im sure.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog.

Yours sincerely,

A concerned mum in Malaysia.

Got these new books today. Worth taking a look.

Daphne Lee, book reviewer and columnist from the Star has come out with a series of children’s books. Article on them here.the illustrator is also someone we know, Amir, very very talented chappie!

so I picked them up from MPH today (thank heaven for Xmas book vouchers HAHA), RM9.90 each (a set of 4 in total). Worth getting folks!

Don took some pix of the covers etc, go see in his Flickr album. I havent read them yet but I think the print quality didnt showcase amir’s art as well as it could have but that’s the way it is sometimes.

Great job Daphne, and Amir!!! It’s also for a good cause, the proceeds go to a charitable foundation!

also got nigella lawson’s new book, Feast! YAY YAY!!

A new look…

How ya like it folks? Just thought I’d update it (there are new temples now), very pleased with the look. Spent time trying to fiddle with it of course hehehe..

Feed back welcome!

Saw this today in the Star

Publishing online (from Star 2).

Basically its about publishing via the net, there are a couple other sites that do this (EDITED:ka-blam)  and Lulu.com is very interesting, u pay publishing costs etc but the storefront etc is for you (FOC), u set the price, etc. very interesting indeed. Worth looking into and budgeting for, perhaps.

who knows…

Johor Floods…

A state brought to its knees..

Since late dec/early Jan, we have had consistent floods (and I mean DEVASTATING) down south in Johor, an entire state “bogged” down in water.. over 100K homeless, goodness knows the cost from monetary POV but also health and other concerns that will crop up. Seeing the govt’s handling of the matter or not.. Not declared a state of emergency? Looters gone nuts?No aid (given as “LOANS” for effing sake for the most part) seen? Not a mention of any gomen party getting stuck in to help out (save smattering of MCA I believe, judging from the Star but who knows lol).. No constant reminding us to give generously and HOW to give generously, care packages etc?
More images from this: TV Smith (also follow links etc on other reports).

My heart goes out to these folks. I get to go on my daily routine here, Im safe at home (well relatively speaking, crime being what it is lol), kids go to school, play outside, sleep at night. Its definitely a time to count and savour my blessings!

any idea on how to organise care packages for Johor? (and how to send it on and what’s really needed?)

May the gomen and Malaysians alike get off their comfy behinds and rally around! (do we have an Oprah figure? ehehe)