..

It's February already.

Knit-wise this year has started off fairly well, I've got 4 FOs in the bag, all being put to good use. Two scarves, one sweater and one hat. Thank God for a satisfying winter this year.
I wanted to post pics of the FOs but really couldn't bring myself to take any good ones.

Another reason being that I lost my beloved camera on a terrible night that I discovered a revolting secret about the company I used to keep (sorry I'm being cryptic but it's also such a burden that I had to blog it out). Y'all would think I'd have been devastated but instead I was glad not to have any memories left of that night and was finally able to think of the whole experience as cleansing. Good spin on a bad day no? Thank Heaven I had just retrieved all my pics earlier on!

Big plans had been made for regular blogging this year too but unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, I haven't been able to get down to it.

Mum's been terribly ill and it's been disheartening at home.
Ever since I was little, she has been the pillar of strength. She single-handedly took care of my brother and I and also our Dad too since he was gravely ill and not even once did we ever see her cave under the harsh reality of our lives.
But now, the tables have turned and seeing both our parents so frail is terrifying. But we pray, asking for strength and miracles, because we have faith that things will be better.

Hope y'all have a great week.

2009

Did you know that it's been 10 years since the release of the Matrix?

-

-

-

Yeah, I reacted like that too. We're getting old. Unless you never watched the Matrix which would be impossible. But that would be a whole other story.

Hmmm..seems like Keanu Reeves managed to beat the years. Much like the whole cast of Friends after 10 years, while those of Fraiser looked like they've been through the grinder.

Yes, things to think about in 2009.

Sure there's a whole lot more, what with the recession (say it louder, it echoes!), the wars, earthquakes - just to name a few. Sigh.

But it's always nice to imagine the future, recession-free, clouds of yarn and picket fences made of knitting needles. What fun.

Gingerbread house you say? Sure thing, throw that in too.

Now to the tradition that I almost never keep: New year's resolutions. I'm a big list-maker. OH yeah. But I tend to make the lists in my head, so that really never works out you know, cos after a shower, all that's left is a soggy mess - what? my head's porous you say? mental note: I should look into that.

Last year I recall, after much discussion (no, I didn't do that in my head), the only thing on the list was something to the effect of 'let's have an awesome year' which incidentally did happen.

Moral of the story? I think it was the direct result of positive thinking and it'll work for you too. Trust me.

So what're my resolutions? Crap..I just showered before writing this. Sorry. But I think it was something along the lines of what was decided last year.

I'm hoping that for every single one of you too!

Happy 2009 everyone! Here's to an awesome year!



ps - knitting has been done! No, seriously. Updates soon.

Merry Christmas!

Wish you a blessed Christmas!

SOT - Save Our Tree!

Y'all have cats right? How on earth do you keep them away from the Christmas baubles on the Christmas tree??

My cat has developed a fetish for tapping the baubles, real darn hard, till they fall off the tree and she'll chase it all over the house. Only those not accessible to her (think...7 ft tree, 3 ft access - she uses the couch for extra reach) are safe from the wrath of Grinchy McKitty.

HELP!!

Home Sweet Home...sigh...

Darn it. I was hoping not be gone for a month! The last few weeks have been insane - from travelling to entertaining (and being entertained) to shopping etc. etc.

Now I'm finally home with mixed feelings. It's not easy leaving people you love behind and then the transition of moving your whole life from one country to another. It's terrible. I've left my heart behind. It HURTS!

Knitting however, will be back in the picture soon. Till then, this is how I've been entertaining myself. Well I certainly am a little bit more deaf but hey, watching sweet rides like this sure makes up for it dunnit?

I know what I want for Christmas? Car? Not really...how about Mr. Right who stole my heart, all wrapped up under my Christmas tree? Sob...absence does make the heart grow fonder.

Shop with good cheer everyone, for God certainly has given us a wonderful reason to celebrate this time of the year.

It's going to Jingle soon

Warning: Pictureless Post

It's been raining cats and dogs almost every single day. Rather fun I must say. But I do feel sad for the little kitty-cats that live below my apartment. They don't like it much as most tenants can gather from their pitiful mewing.

Oh phew, it hasn't been a month since my last post but not much has happened since then either. No knitting yet. I miss the feel of knitting needles and the much-loved clink clink clink as I settle for an evening of knitting while watching Friends reruns.

That's my favourite thing in the world to do. The perfect way to unwind.

Oh, Christmas decor is coming up full swing everywhere in this country. That does put a rush on things. The year is coming to an end so soon!!

Time flies don't it? Have you started your Christmas shopping yet??

The beat goes on

There still hasn't been any knitting going on this side of world =(

My time instead, is spent traveling, visiting, catching up with friends. So unfortunately I don't have much material to put up here. So here are some pictures of the places I've been recently.

Nature

Fun

Good times

Relaxation

Have a great week y'all!

In a nutshell..

Wow, it's been almost six months since I last posted. And a lot has certainly happened since then.

Unfortunately there is no knitting content that I can be proud to post here because I've left all my knitting equipment at home! Here in Malaysia I have to be content with staring at yarn that I wasn't able to send back home.

Let's get up to speed now shall we?

My final semester commenced in Feb and ended in June. These past six months were the most amazing out of my fours years here in Malaysia. Though there was not much knitting involved, these few months were a time of self discovery - still ongoing though.

I've graduated with my first major =)
Also, I've managed to pick up some Bahasa Melayu (national language of Malaysia) and can carry out rather funny conversations hee hee.
I've met someone absolutely wonderful and I know I'm just the luckiest person alive!

That's a start for what I know and believe is the beginning of the rest of my life!

Thanks for the sweet knitters in the loop who wished me last Sunday! Sure I'm a year older, but heck, I surely don't feel it haha.

Here's to keeping this blog going. Thanks to those who emailed me often wondering which edge of the earth I'd fallen off of, I really appreciate it!

Hope y'all have a fantastic weekend, I know I will =)

Perhentian Island ~ a vacation I'll never forget! More on that later ;o)

A Tideless Beach

A road trip to a beach with the lowest tide I've ever seen! Bagan Lalang, located in Sepang, Malaysia is known as a beach and imagine my surprise when what I saw was a stretch of land all the way to the horizon!

There was sand, shells, crabs, the salty air smell, all reminiscent of a beach yet there was that essential ingredient missing...sea water.

Strange yet true. It was a fun, impulsive road trip with an aim to get away from the city and turned out to be just what we needed.

A five star resort is currently in the process of being built at the "beach" and as you can see, everything is on stilts. Why? The water level actually rises that high by night time.
Creepy isn't it? Just to think that the sea water actually creeps in - or wait - more like rushes in by night time. The tide is known have very strong currents and many have lost their lives, not being able to make it back in time before the tide comes in.

The sandy shore itself was good fun to look at. What with the millions of teensy crab scrambling to get away from the big bad monsters stomping around.

I shall try to upload a vid, let's see.

That was Mr. Crabby building a home to keep away the baddies. He's cute isn't he?

Before hitting the beach, we decided to visit one of my friend's mum's plantations. Such fun.

Dragonfruit Tree

The Purty Pineapple

Gorgeous Oil Palms

It was fun fun to get away from the city and enjoy the greenery.

I hope y'all had a restful a weekend too!

Serenity

Sometimes, it feels like forever. Sometimes it feels like a flash.

Time - the dimension that cannot be stopped, where we exist in so helplessly and wield no control over.

So you might assume I have lost all control of time. Yes I certainly have. Life happened.

After months of deviant madness and the beginning formation of some sort of a leash to rein it all in, things finally seem to be slowing down.

Suddenly it feels wonderful to stop and experience each moment for its own beauty.

Nature Reserve, Malaysia (2008)

Unknown berries, Kuala Selangor, Malaysia (2008)

This blog is officially running again and I hope to keep it regularly updated. Hope all of you are keeping well.

It's good to be back.

Update =D

Just an update to let you all know how great you all are!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Y'all put a big smile on my face! I really appreciate the cheering and the pick me ups =D

The world is my oyster hee hee and I'm doing fantastic!

I have been knitting my darned sleeve - who knew my arms were so long?

Nothing else new so far! But stay tuned, all regular scheduled programmes will return shortly =D

Life happened

It's been a really long since I last blogged and a LOT of things have happened since then.

Here's the lowdown:

• I made it through my exams. Instead of a pair of socks as expected, I have two leg portions. Heh.
  
  
• I ended a three-year relationship. It was definitely a big step but nevertheless, the right decision. I couldn't see the point of moving on. What else can you do when the man you thought you knew for three years turns around and ignores you when you need him the most without giving any reason?!
  
  
• I am single after over three years! DUDE...I've forgotten what that was like!
  
  
• My little brother turned 21.
  
  
• I've to get used to everything I own being covered in bales of cat hair *gasp*
  
  
• I am STILL working on my wonderful sweater.
  

Now in other knitting news, I received a fabulous package from Here Be Knitting as a prize for her very very very awesome contest. Take a gander won't you?

Approximately 1100 yards of the softest merino yarn in laceweight and a tube of delicious blueberry body lotion. I love the colour! Thank you Deb!

Next, I received the final package of SP 11.Wooooot! And my SP really outdid herself. Look at all the yarny goodness. I was speechless!

Two balls of bamboo-wool in a gorgeous blue-gree-purple mix (extreme lower left).

One gaily coloured Sockotta - it's cotton and the colour just cheers me right up! And I really needed that!

One beautiful purple-pink mix of Tofutsies, get this, it contains chitin along with soysilk. Now that's really funky.

Two skeins of purple-blue-green-white Cascade fixation. I love this yarn!

A cute notions case containing a chibi (yay!) and a very cute tape measure. Thank you very much Laura!

Now interrupting all regular scheduled programming for some big news: my little bro bought a car. Like OMG. This is a BIG BIG deal to me because those who know my family and our situation would understand what a big deal it is. Here's a peak of the new mama sita:

Isn't she a beaut?

I thank God for the favour he has bestowed upon my family. We've been through terrible ordeals but He has held us together making sure we wouldn't crack. So those of you going through hard times out there, remember it all happens for the best and I myself certainly believe that with all of my heart.

Therefore you see, it has been a bittersweet month with both good things and bad happening, but eventually I've come to see the good and the reasons for the bad and I am grateful. I also want to thank Mira for helping me in ways I cannot even begin to express. Thanks babe and I miss ya too!

Oh btw, am sorry I haven't been reading many blogs lately because my internet server *insert a lot of colourful language* has BLOCKED FLICKR. How damnedly insane is that? So you see, I haven't been able to access most blogs.

Well, that is all for now. Excuse the digusting cell phone pics. Next on my wish list, a kick-ass digital camera. Heh.

I hope all of you are keeping well and had a fabulous Thanksgiving too.

Cheers!

Thinking aloud

I'm confused. It's exam time. Hair getting fried. Brain cells exploding everywhere. Blood vessels threatening to burst.

I. must. knit.

And so the Bayerische Sock was born. Perhaps I shall have pair of socks to mark each time of year the exams roll in. Perhaps not. But I certainly am enjoying this pattern to bits.

But right now, a sock doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Must. cast. on. multiple. projects.

Something simple?





Something CROCHETED?


Pattern here.


Something more substantial?

I cannot decide. Perhaps you'd help me =)

Oh yes I finally manage to take a picture of my very long-awaited SP 11 package.

A skein of Euroflax, a pair of 4mm addi turbo needles, rosebud salve (I love this), sachet of wool wash, keychain and a tin of mints. Thank you SP. I also want to make an apology to my SP for the misunderstanding on Ravelry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

I think that's about all for now. I must return to knit-cough-study.

Toodles~

I am blessed

It's been over a month but it's never too late to show birthday goodies now is it? In random order.


My very first affair with tweed.

I think Sally read my mind because the little flecks of colour caught my eye just the day before while admiring someone knitting with some gorgeous tweed.

Lo and behold, I have my very own tweed.

Thank you Sally! I think a scarf is in order with this yarn but I am hunting for the perfect pattern for it. I've been knitting and scrapping so many swatches in search for perfection.

Then I was pleasantly surprised with a gift that made it all the way from Singapore. Thank you Regg, it was so thoughtful of you. The cotton yarn is just so soft.

There was more....two hairbands and a cute set of buttons, all being put to good use =)


Then this arrived in the mail. My very first pair of Addis with a gorgeous load of yarn. Thanks Annie.

I've already experimented with Magic Loop using the needles. Loving it so far. The yarn is wonderful too.


And last but not certainly not the least, the wonderful package from my buddy Mira. Gorgeous cotton yarn, stitch-holders, aromatherapy oil and a face mask.

Thanks babe. I love everything!

Thank you ladies, you made the day extra-special. And of course I want to thank each and everyone of you who remembered and were kind enough to wish me. Y'all turned a frown upside down.

Also, thank you for the kind comments on the demise of my hamsters. It was good to share.

Further grim news, exams are upon me. Hence the scarce blogging. What's even worse, I can't seem sit still enough to knit anything - I should be talking about studying but y'all know what it's like. But let's just not ruin it shall we?

Anyhoo, here's to great friends, good times, blessings and better year! CHEERS!

Over the rainbow

Last week, two of my beloved hamsters crossed over to the otherside of the rainbow into Hammie Heaven.

I dearly miss them. From the rambunctous family of four, we are now left with Meta (mumsy) and Rinky (the brat).

Ed (dad) and Binky (sweet thang) have left and I was pretty much in shock at losing both of them so suddenly. Ed was old, sure, but Binky was ill. She pretty much refused to eat, drink or do anything despite our best efforts. I just hope she didn't suffer.

Now however, we are focused on keeping Meta and Rinky as happy as ever and they are simply overjoyed at the increased amount of attention they're getting. I can see the happiness swelling in their content tummies.

I tried to get Meta to keep still for a photo but it's a losing battle. But I got an angelic shot of the little one (R) as she napped.

Here's to wonderful pets who make life much more special.

ps. Thanks to Kessa for giving me the nudge to post about this. I pondered for too long making no headway at all.

Shopping Cart Software

Ashop Commerce, is a prominent company in the web world who are well-known to be the providers of shopping cart software for use in online shops. Everyday now, you can see bloggers putting up shops with their creations and other lovely handmade things that are for sale. As simple as it may sound, setting up shop however is not so effortless.

This shopping cart software however strives to help merchants start their shops with a bang, but without all the stress. It contains everything you may need to start your own online shop and its fantastic features allow your shop to stand side by side with the most powerful and popular sites in the web nowadays for a very low monthly fee.

If you are wondering what features does this software contain that makes it better than its competitors, all you have to do is try out their 10 Day Free Trial and see for yourself! Not only that, they also provide an offer where clients can get a free design for their online shop!

So if you are going to start your own business online, why not give Ashop Shopping Cart Software a go? It might be the best thing you do to boost your business!

~This is a paid post~

Uncanny

How the heck? I mean seriously how?

No I am not loco.

I took a Quiz which I thought was like any other. But then - some stuff rang very very true! I iz confounded.

You're Confessions!

by St. Augustine

You're a sinner, you're a saint, you do not feel ashamed. Well, you might feel a little ashamed of your past, but it did such a good job of teaching you what not to do.

Now you've become a devout Christian and have spent more time ruminating on the world to come rather than worldly pleasures. Your realizations and ability to change will bring reverence upon you despite your hedonistic transgressions. Florida will honor you most in the end.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Do take the quiz and tellz me if you iz confounded too.


ps. Who/what is Florida (not the place I assume)?

Tagged!

Recently Lis tagged me with the 8 things about me meme and I've been meaning to do it earlier but the fact that this would be a boring and pictureless post put me off.

Anyhoo, I decided to suck it up and write it.

Rules:

Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they've been tagged.

8 things about me:

1. I was a rebel in school. Imagine the hate-loathe relationship I had with my teachers. Heh. Teachers those days loved to mentally torture students into submission, I was their Everest. But at the same time, a nerdy rebel.

2. In reference to #1, I made one of my teachers cry.

Why? She went mega-nasty on me for something I didn't do. I won out in the end. The look on my nemesis' face? Priceless.

3. Honestly, I am a nice person. Picking on people for kicks is just wrong.

4. I hate spelling mistakes. They just irritate the crap out of me.

5. I hate geckos. Geckos scare me enough to shriek like a banshee if they catch me unawares.

6. I only knit when I'm in a good mood. I know many who knit to get rid of bad moods etc. but me, I could never. I feel my knitting should only embody feelings of happiness.

7. I love rain and gloomy weather. Big surprise. LOL.

8. I love dark chocolate =)

I tag: Mira, Sam, Ayumi, Jollin and whoever who'd like to join in because I do not know who else who hasn't been tagged! Let me know, I'd love to read more about you.

**ETA: Adding Kitman and Sharon to the tag list. You're it!!

Ahoy there!

During one of my daily traipses through the internet I came across something I thought I might share.

Do you own a boat? I certainly don't, I haven't seen a bed of water in three years - if you don't count the reservoir that recycles mucky water that is nearby.

Well anyways, if you do own a boat, did you know that you can actually insure it? From small dinghy boats to cruisers to luxury yachts marine insurance is apparently quite common. I seriously didn't know that. You can get a quote online for your boat's insurance costs. You can even insure a canoe too! Splendid isn't it? More reason to pick up fun hobbies.

Fresh air, salty breezes, vast expanses of blue and pure bliss, yep all that comes with a boat. So if any of you lucky peeps out there have a boat, why don’t you get it insured? From the looks of it, the process seems easy and painless! Oh and invite me for a day of fun in the sun please.

Bad knitting, good presents and leafy fun...and oh yes..a fly

Sweater news first. I managed to snap a lousy pic of the icky front. Go on, take a gander.

I've frogged it and am redoing without shoulder shaping, which you can see in the pic...looking horrendous. UGH.

On a happier note, I just received my birthday pressie - a day early (good timing!). All the way from home. I miss my family.

It's the very very cool Ipod Nano, from my little bro. Isn't he the best brother in the world?

Warning: Non-knitting content ahead.

Last week a bunch of us were taken to MARDI (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute) by our university to understand and get a first hand view of organic farming. It was a mellow experience. This organisation however was making waves in Malaysia with their research that inevitably bettered the crop production of the country.

However, I do have a question. Would y'all prefer organic crops that haven't been sprayed with pesticides or any other chemicals to genetically enhanced, highly nutritious, high-yielding crops? Would you mind picking up organic veggies that have teensy holes...cos...well...no pesticides so it's really party time for that dang catterpillar.

I'm not too sure what I'd pick. No chemicals sure does appeal, but to me, so do the genetically enhanced ones.

Oh yeh, they have a couple of scary ass chickens, whose dung is used as fertiliser (!!!) in organic farming. I've never seen chickens so HUGE. Damn it's like seeing Chicken Little on steroids. Here's one that was camera shy:

Trust me, it was huge.

While we're talking about veggies, here's what our Crop science project looked like a few weeks ago:

Aren't they purty? Unfortunately, the whole lot is right now drying in an oven. How sad is that?

Warning: Grossness ahead

Just for funsies, a picture of a mutated fly (Drosophila). The red dots are eyes. And yes you do see eyes all over the fella.

The fella was knocked out using ether and then used for the photoshoot. I've got more, but then y'all would just be totally grossed out. Lets not have that shall we? =)

Lis, am still thinking about things about me for your meme. Will post it soon =)

That's all for today. Happy Knitting everyone!