I take public transport to work each day. And each day, I will pass by this really cute Beetle that is parked outside our unit. It’s the newest model of the Beetle and it’s bright hot pink. From memory, I think it belongs to the Breast Cancel Foudation hence, the pink color.

And everyday I am reminded of my dad’s car which he owned all his life. It’s a gorgeous white 1970-something Volkswagon.

And then recently, my sister who is the main and current driver of the car decided to give it a face lift. And if you’re reading this Sis, did you get the auto insurance done as well?

Anyhoo, while it’s great that she decided that it was time to give it a new coat of paint, I’m not too mad about the color. I’m just so used to seeing it white as I have been all the time, blue just doesn’t look right. But it’s been awhile now and I guess, I’m slowly beginning to get used to it. However, by the time I actually do get used to it, I’m sure she will paint it again! lol

It’s been on my mind for ages. For most Westerners, it is a norm to take on the husbands name after marriage but it is still a choice that ends up with the woman. Back home, it’s no problem at all coz married or not, you still keep your own family name but will be known as Mrs. So-and-So. So no need to meddle with your official documents and what nots.

It was a tug of war situation for me after I married Ted. Part of me wanted to take on his name but a bigger part found it hard to let go of my family name. I gather that he is ok if I don’t take on the family name but deep inside, I know that he would like me to. Not to mention that my MIL was rather afraid that the hospital might register Arianna with MY surname instead of theirs! *lol* And it wasn’t a surprise when they did tag her with MY surname instead of his. It was a good thing she didn’t see the tag. *lol* It would have caused a real kerfuffle!!

So after almost 2 years of thinking and deliberating, not to mention trying to decide what I’d like to change my name to since I have a middle name which I absolutely love and would like to keep. I’ve decided that I’ll sacrifice my middle name and keep both our surnames instead. That way, I still get to keep my maiden name as well as be known as one of the Petch family members.

It crossed my mind to have my FULL name and add on Ted’s but omg, it’s so long that it sounded rather ridiculous. And I do have to be reasonable and keep in mind that application forms in general were not created to fit just my name so it going to be just me KISS [keeping it short & sweet]. I will most likely be going official once my VISA comes through which is soon I hope. That way, I don’t have to worry about any mix ups which I feel tend to happen when you least expect it. And when it comes to me – aitelyou, sometimes I really have arse luck man!

I just hope that I don’t need to change my IC or passport la, then susah lor!!!!

Christmas 2008 was a celebration I had been looking forward to for a long, long time. After being away for 2 Christmases, it was great being able to spend and celebrate it with my family. Although it wasn’t as grand or joyous as it should have been due to the loss of an aunt, we still managed to enjoy ourselves.

Taken before going to church for Christmas Vigil. Sadly, we didn’t stay till the end. Arianna couldn’t last that long, it was past her bed time.

Our homemade Christmas Tree made from palm leaves from the garden.

Our little Christmas Eve finger foods. A norm after we get home from mass. [L - R] Homemade Bailey’s by Ted, Hawaiian Chicken Canolli with Fish and Prawn Fritters

We had the widest variety of cakes this year and mostly my favourite. [TT - B] Butter cake, Dunlop/Beehive Cake, Sugee Cake, Mum’s femes Fruitcake

We normally open our presents after mass but decided to wait till Christmas morning to open our presents. Who knows, Santa might pop by and leave us more pressies! *lol*

Here’s Arianna with her first present of the day.

The vibrating ball we got Arianna from Batu Ferringhi. Apparently Zorro was facinated at the same time scared stiff of it!

The look of realisation when one discovers that one has to piece 1000 pieces of jigsaw together before being able to see the end result of a GORGEOUS horse poster! *lol*

Ted very happy with his graphics card I got him

Sharing is caring.

Me going at it

A beach ball from Godma which came a little too late. Would have been great at Parkroyal but she is enjoying it even now!

It’s been a long time since we had a party at home, so this year, the Christmas party was held at our house. Instead of your traditional turkey and roast, we have gone all Malaysia! Of course, you all know why la.

[From the top] Vindaloo Trotters, Fish fritters, Lunas Plum Sauce Roasted Duck, Beetroot Salad, I forgot, Hinava, Fish Cutlets, Mutton CUrry, Chillied Balitong, Papaya Kerabu and Dragon Frui + Pineapple.

Please don’t ask me which was my favourite, I was too busy stuffing my face with EVERYTHING!!! *lol* I must say that I really enjoyed myself and it was just simply great to be amongst family and friends. It was good to be home.

My only Christmas pix with Arianna

Can’t believe that Christmas is over. It marks the fact that we are leaving for Sydney tomorrow night. If there was any way for me to explain what it means when time flies, this would be the perfect example. I feel as if it was just yesterday that sis, Arianna and I arrived at the Penang airport and was picked up by my aunt and Mum. I still remember how we stopped at a Malay restaurant at our taman at about midnight to pack back nasi goreng ikan masin and my must-have teh ais. And now, it’s time to say good bye once again.

I must say that the more often I come back for the holidays, it gets harder to say good bye. You’d think that I’d be used to it by now but sadly, this is not so. It makes me miss home even more once I go back to Sydney and getting over that is what makes it even more tough. Perhaps people who are living overseas can relate to this on a more personal note.

That said, I guess the other thing that will keep me occupied until we think about coming for another visit would be the fact that we are looking forward to the arrival of our little Pacman come April 2009.  I am currently about 5.5 months pregnant which leaves me with very little time to mope about once we arrive in Sydney because I’ll be busy getting out all those tiny newborn clothes and clearing some space for her in the cupboard. Added to the fact that although Arianna is still not walking much, she has added climbing to her recently developed skills. So I see myself constantly watching her every move. Going home would also mean that I will be back in my own environment which I created to make life easier for me.

My Kulim home is not really baby friendly hence, Arianna spends a lot of time in the walker but not when we get back. I hope that with less use of the walker, it will encourage her to start walking. My stomach is getting in the way and it’s getting tougher trying to carry her for long periods of time.

All in all, our time spent here for Christmas was great. I was very happy to be back with family and to be able to celebrate Christmas like we use to albeit it being a little quiet due to the passing of one of my aunts in November.

O well, time to get packing….and then we usher in the New Year!

Well, actually….we’re heading out TODAY, since it’s already 2.20am! *lol* Yes, I’m still awake getting those last minute things done. I rather get it done today and not get enough sleep than to wait till tomorrow and rush like mad. I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way many times so I’m well aware that this method of preparation works best for me.

I’ve just finished copying some MPGs and AVIs for my mum as well as prepared some pix for Ted to make copies of and to bring it down with him when he comes. I should have done this earlier but…..procratination is a thief of time. So now, I’m up la.

I’ve packed 99% of Arianna and my stuff. You won’t believe the amount of things one small toddler needs…..her clothes are definitely more than mine!! The bag is mostly all her things and not to mention that I am bring on the plane a nappy bag AND a toy+food bag as well. Aiyo…..so many things!! Lucky my sis is there…she will be the baby wearer for the trip and when we return, it will be Ted coz by then my tummy will definitely be poking out. O, did I mention that we are going to have a baby girl??? So I am preparing to look and feel like a beached whale.

Well, the copying is done and I think I should head off to bed. Next time, I’ll be blogging from Kulim – provided that stewpid Streamyx doesn’t cause a havoc la.

GOsh, I’ve been wanting to get on with this post for as long as I can remember but I keep putting it off plus the fact that I’m hardly in the mood to blog when Arianna is awake. Also, it’s hard to blog la when the small fler keep whining and whinging…..ish, so have to layan her first la.

Anyway, this is mainly a picture post but I do have to add my 2 cents worth of thoughts as well. As you know, we were in Malaysia not too long ago, when petrol prices was still RM1.92 and we took a short vacation to Penang island. We spent 3 days and 2 nights at Parkroyal Penang [PR]. I chose this over Lone Pine. Perhaps it would be been a better choice compared to PR but I guess I’ll never know.

I can’t remember how much we paid but it was approximately RM300+ per night and I felt totally scammed when the happy hour by the pool side bar was just atrocious! I know that we have to expect the drinkies to be expensive BUT RM20 per pint not including tax is a little steep. So that was that la – am thinking if they charged us for the peanuts as well. Then again, the price must have already been included in the drink eh? Marketing tactic la konon….

The room itself was nice and despite asking for a huge king size bed, we ended up with 2 queen [?] beds instead. In the beginning I was a little pissed because I was looking forward to a giant bed so I can roll from one side to the other and jump like I’ve never jumped before but then I realised that chances of me EVER having to sleep alone on a single bed will not come by often and what more a queen size bed to myself so I pretended to reluctantly be ok with the arrangement with the reception staff. But inside, I very teh syiok! *lol* But…..the view outside our balcony was another big scam!! I felt so cheated. It was suppose to be a coastal view so I thought okla, should be quite nice what….wake up in the morning and can see the beach…but what did I get? I got this….

So yes, I was pissed but I couldn’t be bothered to go and fight la. Malas since I was here on holiday might as well enjoy it as much as possible, scammed or not. But technically, can see a bit of the coast line la…passed the trees n all like this…

I guess the thing that we most enjoyed was the swimming pool not that Australia got no swimming pool or anything like that but it was nice weather all the time we were there and Arianna really enjoyed herself. She must have been thinking that this is the biggest bathtub ever!

I expected her to be a little intimidated and perhaps a little scared because not only was it her first time in the pool but the water was slightly cool but nup, this water baby went straight into happy land!

But surpringly, the only time she cried was not when she was face to face with a horse we chanced upon while taking a walk in the evening but when Ted held her so she could stand on the beach while the waves broke at her little feet. She screamed! She wasnt a happy tropper then…

Needless to say that, I enjoyed my buffet breakfast a lot especially the fresh fruit juice without any sugar. It was really yummy and having someone make it for you made it taste even better. As usual, our first night in the hotel and we were pooped so we ordered room service and of course la, the prices are like cut throat prices! Watodo….we were too tired to go out so no choice la. The next day, we made sure we had all our meals outside it was less than a fraction of the price – which is normal but like I said, still TOO steep!

I ended up getting the cheapest thing on the menu which was a club sandwich which was like RM29++ but it was really huge and filing. O, and lunch the next day which included fried rice and fried squid for me, ted had sweet and sour pork with rice and prawn salad with beer and I had teh ais plus one teh panas bungkus, and the total didn’t even reach RM29!! See la – this was just at a restaurant around the corner from the hotel. Siao man!

But overall, I think we had a nice time vacationing as a family and next time, maybe we might go a little further, maybe to Tanjung Aru in KK? Only time will tell….

I gotta admit that the sunset was really gorgeous and I’m glad I managed to get this shot with the horse in the view – I like!!