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Quote of the day

"Map out your future, but do it in pencil."

– Jon Bon Jovi

An inspirational quote ...enough to look back on the plans and aspirations we have had made for future undertakings. This is especially for youth and parents to comprehend the meanings of these words.

Though, we may not achieve or be able to fulfill our initial dreams, be sure to have back-ups or some may call it the 'contingency plans'.

How you map out your future, there are bound to be blockades and obstacles ahead. If you can't go through route A, maybe you could make a little U-turn and take the possible route B or C.

Results of the recent June 2008 'O' and 'A' Levels Examinations are out. There were happy and sad faces. The happy ones will move on to the next level, but what about the sad ones?

Have they got any other alternatives plans or moves? CQ hopes that whatever they decide, always remember that it is their sheer determination and optimistic mind will bring glory and success in many ways. It is only their 'will' that will make the difference in their life. Opportunities are plenty out there, you just got to grab them! The choice is yours!

A mother's love ..

CQ believed that most of us are aware of the recent devastating earthquake that took place last Monday, in Wen Chuan - China.

Thousands of people have been killed and many more could still be missing or not found yet. Amidst horrors of the natural disaster, there are many touching stories from the Wen Chuan tragedy.

CQ received one such story thru' an email that has been translated into English because this Chinese friend thought that this love story of a mother should not stay only in the Chinese community.

"When rescuers found her, she was already dead, crushed by the collapsed house. Through gaps in the rubbles, they could see her posture. Kneeling on both knees, her entire upper body bent forward, held up by her two hands pressed against the ground, as if performing the ceremonial bow in an ancient ritual.

Except, her body had been compressed out of shape and looked somewhat eerie. A rescuer extended his hand through a gap and confirmed her death. He called out to her, and tapped on the bricks with his shaft, but received no response.

As the team walked toward next building, the squad leader suddenly turned back, yelling as he ran, 'Come quick!' He came to her remain, labored to maneuver his hand under her body, searching. He called out following some rummaging, 'There's someone, a child, still alive.'

With some effort, rescuers carefully removed the debris burying her, found her child lying beneath her, bundled in a little red blanket decorated with yellow flower prints. He was about 3-4 months old.


Shielded by his mother's body , he was totally unharmed, sleeping peacefully as he was brought out. His soundly asleep face warmed the hearts of all rescuers on the scene. As the rescue team's doctor unbundled the blanket to examine the baby, he discovered a mobile phone tucked into the blanket. He subconsciously looked at the display, found there was a SMS message.

'My Dear Baby, If you were to stay alive, you must remember that I love you.'

No stranger to the pain and sorrow brought by death, the doctor nonetheless wept at this moment. The cell phone was passed around, every person who read the message wept."

CQ too wept while reading this story. Tho' CQ could not confirm the authenticity of this story, CQ was wondering what will happen to the little helpless baby. The only memories he has of his beloved mother is her last SMS message during an earthquake. The dead woman showed her unconditional love in protecting her son from harm with her very own life.

Reflecting on CQ's own experience, it will definitely be a struggle and challenge for this little baby boy to grow up without his mother by his side :'(

R~a~n~d~o~m cute-ness

Of all creatures that exists,
only Mankind would think to demand an explanation!
~ oooohh how very trueee it is..

Don't let the good criticism get to your head;
and don't let the bad criticism get to your heart..
~ dedicate these words to all the Top 6 finalists ~ good luck!

Opportunities are never lost;

someone will take the ones you miss..
~ next time don't miss :p

The key to everything is Patience!
you get the chicken by hatching the eggs, not by smashing it!
~ if not, enrol in Anger Management huhu

'Being' the best is not at all important.
'Doing' the best is all that matters.

In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different!
~ hmmm no copy-kittens :)

add ka-lours to life

CQ's favorite spot to buy ice-cream :) @DQ

How much $$$ ...

When it comes to money, I wonder what our children spend with their allowances. In fact how much should they get for their allowances? Does it depend on the age and gender? As youth spending continues to rise, I am putting my drained-effort-brain to figure out just what Bruneian children are buying with their pocket money.

I found out that some children are given allowances according to their age. For instance, if the child is between ten and fifteen, he/she could be getting one or two ringgit a day; and more if the child is above sixteen and so on. Therefore, that sums up to about forty to eighty ringgit per month for the daily school allowances per child; imagine if there are more than three siblings!

Besides, school allowances, do these children get any other allowances – like extra weekly or monthly pocket money - that they can spend or buy whatever they want when they are out with friends or even with families?

I am sure with this extra pocket money; it increases their overall spending power. I guess the biggest part of their ‘heavenly’ allowances would go to food with movies comes in at a close second and followed by clothes, gadgets and so on. But some children are smart when comes to dealing with money. Some are spending right along their gender lines. Though at times it is fascinating to see how they are spending their so-called extra cash, parents should also instill the habits of savings at a young age. It is quite-an-alarming fact that there are some children who do take money for granted – spending lavishly and unwisely. They can just act as if their parents are running a money factory at home.

Today's kids, even those as young as three can wield an enormous amount of spending power. As the amount of money in the kids' wallets increases, it falls on to the parents to figure out how to teach their kids to responsibly save, budget and spend their cash. They should be taught how to manage their money and how to set priorities at an early age. These include allowing them to test their own financial limits and learn the value of money so as not to spend on frivolous things.

You can never know how’s the future economy will be like. If these children do not learn the value of money now, they can never survive when they enter the real world or working life.

Just sharing my concerns as it also serves as a reminder to me. Alhamdulillah, having taught the responsibility of savings at a tender age, Kimchi understands the importance and value of $$$ and learn not to be an impulsive spender.

Journey of our life

We push very hard everyday to make more money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies that we love.

One day when we look back, we will realize that we don't really need that much, but then we cannot turn back time for what we have missed. Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition.

Life is definitely not about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of work and play, family and personal time.

You have to decide how to balance your life. Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts.

Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim of human existence. So, take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate nature.

Life is fragile. Life is short. Do not take life for granted. Live a balanced lifestyle and enjoy Life!

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. So enjoy everyday as yours!

Life never seems to be the way we want it. But we live it the best we can. There is no perfect life but we can fill it with perfect moments!

Ancient age

This is awesomely interesting. A devout Muslim, Mariam Amash is thought to be the world's oldest woman alive at 120 years old. She was discovered by chance when she applied for her new identity card.

A Bedouin descent, she lives in the predominantly Arab town of Jisr az-Zarqa in Northern Israel.

According to her records, she was born during the Turkish Ottoman Empire period..hmmm an era where many forms of media like radio and television are scarce. How did she ever manage to stay healthy at this ripe ancient age?

Mariam Amash is said to be an active lady who rises as early as 5am, walks a lot without aid and attributes her exceptional longetivity to eating rich diet of vegetables ...WOW! A pious Muslim lady, Mariam Amash made her last pilgrimage to the Holy land of Mekah in 1990, making a total of five trips in her life.

An extraordinary aged lady who must have seen and gone through a lot of history in her time ...and possibly she could be a 'walking encyclopedia'!

Well, in my seventeen years in Brunei, I have met and seen many old aged people. Some do age gracefully while others aged either too abruptly due to illness or stressfulness of life.

But nothing really amaze me than this unidentified old woman (above picture). I have seen her walking along highways and roads that I have passed by. In my thoughts, she could be some one's wife, mother, friend or sister or a grandmother. She could be about 70 - 80 years old or maybe more than that.

She never fails to carry a bigger-than-her-size basket on her frail shoulders. She also has a worn out handbag. Everyday she would dressed in different set of soon-to-be-discarded kain sarongs, faded blouses and wears a scarf on her head. Her feet are protected by an old pair of cheap flip-flops and on rainy days, she carries an umbrella.

Once I did bump into her in a shop near my area. She was buying a box of mosquito coils and two packets of Hacks sweets. Smiling at me meekly, I could see her ancient face is full of wrinkles and creased folds and her skin are obviously tanned-sun-dried yet she is quite bubbly when she speaks ...in her thick Bruneian accent. She did amuse me with her fuss-free spirits and attitude.

For an old woman of her age, she definitely has an extraordinary amount of energy and stamina to have her daily morning walks to wherever her destination brings her (only God knows where) with a load on her back that some of our young people of Today's world could not even carry!

I believe, just like Maraim Amash, this petite and strong-willed old lady must have lived on rich diet of vegetables or 'ulam-ulaman'. wowwww...so People! eat lots of vegetables and do daily exercises to maintain that you-look-young looks when you are old and stay healthy.

Live life without limits..

Something to share... reasons for sleeping and waking up early:

Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music.

If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time.

Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier - before 6:30am for those who are sick.

Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals.

Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

Take care and be responsible about your health!

So sad...

A long-lost friend suddenly called me up, sobbing and blaahh blaahh all out to me. She is a smart lady but she has an 'Ugly Betty' looks... hmmm so here's something for me to blog down.

It is so sad to know that in this modern society there are still (much on the increase) people who are blessed with so-called magnitude beauty but yet being brain-less and attitude-less.

I wouldn't mind them being brain-less but attitude-less?? So what's to be proud with the beauty if you can't even portray any sensible attitude towards others who are less pretty? Would that make you more superior? A goddess? A diva? KMA!
(my friend said that..not me ..i think she meant kaboom?)

Check yourself in mirror-mirror-on-the-wall ..and see your actual self before judging and tormenting others.

Everyone has flaws including you! Beauty comes from within, not just the exterior. Someone once said ~ 'Your children are beautiful ..and so are other people's children."

It would not hurt your beauty pride any bit ...if you show a teaspoon of kindness or morally good attitude to anyone regardless of how they look like. But it will definitely boost your conscience. Your attitude will in some way reflect your upbringing ...so that involves your parents' looks and pride!

Remember ...these are the best four blessed looks ~ all year round!

Look back and thank God

Look forward and trust God

Look around and serve God

Look within and find God

courtesy of Martin Buxbaum

a little note

'A man is as big as the measure of his thinking' ...so do not be afraid to think out of the box. Life does not require you to be the biggest or the best, it asks only that you try ...

Early bird gets the worm :)

I got this shot while sitting in my car - thinking hehehe

I miss you

Today, you would have been 64 years old. ooohhhhhh how i wished i had been able to celebrate all of your birthdays..in your 40's and even your golden age of 50...and buy you a cake, even if it was just a small cupcake with one candle...and singing you 'happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to mama...happy birthday to you' ...and you would blow the candle...fhuuuhhhh

Sometimes...maybe all the times, when the thought of you came flashing through my mind, i will always let my mind dream away of how we could have that mother-daughter get-together, doing things that i envy seeing other ladies or women have with their mothers...going shopping, arguing, giggling, laughing, picnicing and many more...like how i am missing the moments of you teaching and guiding me all the things that mothers would usually do, to have you listen to my woes and frustrations as i grew up, to love me, to confide in you whenever i need you...and most of all, craving for a mother's love i never knew...how i long for your presence in my life...it's hard for me to express!

I never get to know your smile, laughter, favorite food, your style of cooking, colours, hobbies, how you would dressed up or even your tantrums and principles of life...

If only i could let you know that your three little babies have grown up...all of us have our own families..you have a son and two daughters in-laws...and you have four grandchildren! You first grandchild is Kimchi...my one and only princess. If you were here, i am sure you would be a doting grandma...protecting your grandchildren from their parents...buying them gifts, going holidays with them, pamper them with all your love, care and hugs....but they never get to have or feel that...to know who you are or how life would have been with you around us.

But no matter how i felt or keep on yearning for you...you will never come back and i know you are in a peaceful place. Allah The Most Beneficient knows best... when you left us to 'defend for ourselves' thirty-eight years ago on 20th January 1970. A date i will always remember...

A song by Adibah Noor - 'Kau Yang Teristemewa' will always bring tears to my eyes...at times breaking down silently...listening to this part of the lyrics '..tak tertanggung rasa rindu mendengar suara mu...' You will always be in my heart..in my memory...Happy Birthday Mama...i will always miss you.

Al-Fatehah...Amin.

One at a time..

errrr hello...I'm Norma d'snail. I was asking myself "where am i going?". I think I will be stuck here forever, can't cross over with my heavy shell plus a bloated stomach...hihihi I had a hearty meal moments ago... you missed seeing me gobbling down Big Mac ...lols.

Some friends told me that I look very delicate and elegant *blushing* ...well, I know I have a supple body, so this is my great opportunity to show you my skills and ability to do the impossible - by crossing over to the other side of this table...uuuhhh whatever you call it.

You see, in life, we have to give our best because when we continually give our best, it will lead us to new great opportunities, life-changing challenges or better things that we least expected it. It may takes time but i am sure it will happen. My advice...make the most of everything you do :)
Ok let see...I am about to stretch my slimey body (hey! in my world. we do have body lotion and I do yoga too) ..urrgghhh woooo ...hmmm be considerate here ok...I am taking one step at a time...it's not the fast lane here, I need to stretch out more...

In your world, try to be more considerate because getting and being angry tend to make you argue more; be appreciative of good things that happened and don't complain too much.

yeaaaaahhhhh I got it! I managed to get hold of the other end with my chin? head? hahaha i am clowning myself..errr well, to give me some boost of energy, i guess....or maybe to lessen my painful stretched out body, lols.

When you laugh, you will know or at least accept that you are not perfect. No one is perfect. Nutshell speaking, do take humour seriously, it will help us survive in times of grief and dissappointment. Once a snail prof told me that there is a funny side to every situation, just look for it. Laughter does not only reduces physical pain, it reduces mental pain too...no stresss ok!

Now i am getting so sengal lahhhh....heLP!!! why is nature so cruel to me maahh ...i am so stretching out like what...and i think i am going to drop ...look at my shell!! It's hanging upside down now...aahhhhhh tolong bahhh

Hey! i don't have muscle or biceps like The Rock alright! I have to be patient...and relax for a while. There's a saying -'Patience is the art of concealing your impatience'. I know I am going to struggle but it builds up my strength and gradually I will progress in my effort. It gives me the positive attitude. Every of my journey is a moment of learning experience.

PHEW! Finally...yeeaaaaaaa i got to the other side...isn't it amazing? We live in an extraordinary world, so we can't take it for granted. Don't wait for your life to get easier. You make the choice. Well, in a nutshell, you don't find happiness in the absence of you problems but you find it inspite of your problemo.

Ok..see ya, i am going rock-climbing now....with my heavy shell uurrgghhhh :)

b4 you zzzz

After a hectic day, you sure do want to relax and soak your tired feet in warm water filled with therapeutic oils...or to fix up a mini relaxation ritual.

Do take a break and pamper yourself to some simple stretchings before knocking off. Though this will not bestow the full long-term benefits of regular exercises, this simple stretchhhhh certainly can be helpful both physically and mentally.

z z z z z z z zZ Z Z Z Z Zz z z z z z z z

it's raining

rain rain go away, let the sun comes out to shine, i got loads of clothes to wash huhu...

to love is nothing ...to be loved is something ...to love and be loved is the thing ...love is not forget but to forgive, not to see but to understand, not to hear but to listen, not to let go but to hold on!

to those who are putting on love dress today, make sure to iron out the wrinkles or any lumpiness ...do the last minute starch-it-on ...weeeeeee

oppsssieee....roger mantis flew off to SG this morning 0740am ~ my former colleague, good friend and son of a tauke' ~ a REAL kiasu nowadays lols, i couldn't meet him this time and he went blah blah blah "so many excuses ...susah banar" hahaha in his true Bruneian accent :D

What's in the handbag?

When I started to carry a handbag in my mid teens, I was asking myself what am I supposed to have in a handbag. I was more of a sporty type of girl that was always carrying a backpack or a large tote bag, full of my softball or basketball gears.

I was so curious that I went being so 'busy-body' peeping into my vain girlfriends' dainty bags...and wooooo! They carried lots of make-ups - mostly different kinds of lipsticks, comb and many little things like pictures of boyfriends, hair clips, change of jewelleries and many more.

It was a change of style, when my good friend, Steffi, who was just as 'tomboyish' as me (only during those teens years lah) and me went on a hunting trip at shopping centres to get ourselves perfect handbags for the school's year-end party...lols. We don't use much make ups, so it was just purse, lip balm and a packet of tissue can be found in our handbags hahahaha....

But as time went by, we learnt the tricks of adding up what sorts of contents for our handbags. And when I started to work in my twenty's, I was so hooked up on buying designer handbags and purses....some brands like Gucci, CJ and Lanvin are still in my possession while most of them have been given or thrown away.

I learnt to appreciate these fine and beautiful custom made handbags. It did cost a fortune at that time and I took careful care to keep them. On certain occassions I would splurged myself with a new one... the longest that had been with me was a Nina Ricci purse, for about twenty years. Now tattered and been replaced with a Braun Buffel :D

I have also added more items in my handbag such as diary/notebook (which I still do now), moble phones, pens, a mini pouch of lispticks, balms, liners rouge etc...a packet of mentos and many more....lols

But I guess, different women have different contents in their handbags. Each woman has her own preference when choosing a handbag in regards to the colours or style or even in sizes. Today's women do enjoy splurging themselves with expensive ones. Well...is it a trend or just being a victim?


Anyway, do women realised that their handbags do post some risks of contracting illness if not diseases? How is that so? Imagine, or you may see that some, if not all women, tend to put their handbags on the surfaces which we do not know for sure if those surfaces are really clean...for instance in the public toilet. Handbags are often put on the counter while women wash their hands...with the naked eye, it looks clean but what if it happens before the cleaners made their rounds??

Another good example is at eateries or restaurants. Women tend to put their handbags on the floor by their side...hmmm yikes! Can you imagine what 'stucks' at the bottom of the handbags...and then when these women get home, where will the handbags be put? Some are either on the dining table, living room or anywhere in the home... errrr I will leave the rest to your imagination ..lols...like the germs at the bottom of the handbags being 'transferred to the dining table and so on...yikes!!! There could be millions of germs...some could also be deadly!

Think about it and be your own CSI ...because I have and I am so kiasu on this...lols.


Below are among some items found in my tote bag...Bigboss thinks I am always carrying a large rock! hahahahaha....

ICE on mobile phones?

It was not long ago that I read an article in the local newspapers about the mobile phones population in ratio to the human population.

The numbers of mobile phones users are increasing. With the modern and new high technologies, new models are coming up and these gadgets are really eyeing the people's 'pockets'. Even the younger generations are already becoming proud owners of trendy and well-equipped mobile phones. Well, I do own two but not the high-tech one lahhh...lols, no camera one maahhh hehehe. What is important that I can get in touch with Bigboss and Kimchi whenever I am not with them.

I believe that on every mobile phones are stored with hundreds of names and numbers in its memory. Only family members, friends and aquaintances other than ourselves, know who these people are. But do we have ICE on our mobile phones?

What is ICE? ICE = In Case of Emergency

ICE is a number or numbers that strangers can call or contact in cases of emergencies. It is a simple method of contact during emergency cases. For instance, if one is involved in an accident or had an heart attack or whatever emergencies, people or strangers or even paramedics who are attending to you, can refer to these ICE numbers and inform family members of your situation. Yes, there are many numbers stored in your mobile phones; but which one is the contact person in case of these emergencies??

Therefore for this reason, one should have one number or more stored under/as ICE in his/her mobile phones. It could save your life or put loved ones' mind at rest. It will make a difference.

It was said that this idea of ICE was thought of by paramedics who found that when they attend to the accidents scenes, there are always mobile phones with the casualties but didn't know which number to call.

I have stored mine, have you? :)

ice ice baby ...lols

Speaking of ice...do you know that a glass of iced water will not overflow even when the ice has finally melted? Try it out! This is Science. Cooool eh!

Laughing matter

When did you last had a good chuckle? I mean real good chuckle? A chuckle or laugh is a great way to relieve mounting stress at work, home or anywhere.

Having some sense of humour adds a pinch of zest in your life. Learning to laugh at yourself helps or at least lets you think positively that the challenges of handling stress is part of a normal life. I like to laugh or giggle even when I am alone.. Not that I will laugh unnecessarily! Some people say that laughter makes you look young ...?? Well Kimchi has this 'lemak' (milky) kind of laugh lols...

On the anatomy's point...when you laugh, the blood vessels expand and send more blood to your muscle. It reduces the stress hormones and relaxes the body. Laughter also helps to strengthen our immune system by raising the antibody levels, cutting down colds, sore throats and chest infections... therefore, it's like - some laughs a day keeps the doctor away?? hmmm

Sometimes, when I laugh, it gives me a boost of confidence. I can talk better after awhile of little chuckles... Chuckles or laughter will expand the lungs capacity and exercise the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Give it a try...err but don't laugh out loud :D

Laughter helps to tone your facial muscle too. It is a kind of facial exercise which sends blood to our face and nourishes our skin and making it glow. When you glow, you look pretty :D People who laugh a lot will have less wrinkles as they age, especially women...so, if you want to look much younger than your age, laugh often. Anyway it is good for a healthy life.

Besides, laughter brings people together through constant interaction and eye contact. You will communicate effectively in a happy mood. You can move people in one moment and make them think about their lives or even make them understand about something through your laughter that there is more to life. You wouldn't want to be near angry people, right? That will make you more stresssssss...

But hey, don't laugh toooo much at a time, people may think you have just been released from MH ( Mental Hospital) ...lols