Hi people!

Chronology of events last week since my last update (Lion King, this is gonna take more than 2 pages I think!):

Wednesday :

I was wrong. The SAP Singapore helpdesk immediately identified the error which caused the problem. There was a bug in one of the hot packages (a bundle of corrections on SAP programs for customers to implement) which we implemented on 14th March. This coincides with our find whereby we identified the date of error occurence which fell on that similar day. Our hunch was correct regarding the biggest reason for the problem could be the hot package. I breathed out a long sigh of relief.

However, I've to go onto my next assignment already. It's regarding an interface between our SAP system and another Powerbuilder built application. I can't breathe normal again. Forsee another 3 new coming systems. I'm going to hide myself somewhere, somehow....

Thursday :

An immense feeling of tiredness pursued.

Friday :

Okay, the feeling was too much - I really wanted a day off. I couldn't care less about taking an unpaid leave. My colleagues urged me to be patient for another month. This time, I didn't care. I was feeling too demotivated about working and needed a day to refresh myself. So what the heck, asked for an unpaid leave. Told my local I.T. boss for Monday off. He understood and immediately proceeded to sign my form with me mumbling about taking the whole day to sleep although the reason on the form was outstation trip. He asked why I was taking an unpaid leave and when I was entitled for my annual leave:

With that, I guess I could go for one of my ex-housemate's belated birthday gathering the next day after all. I had to have a day off on Monday because if I go for the gathering, I know I'm definitely not be able to sleep at all the whole Saturday night and will only be back on Sunday.

Saturday :

At 1pm, I sped back home. Was too lazy to go to Subang Jaya early. The gathering at Poh Aun's place was after 8pm. Made unsuccessful attempts to take naps so by 5pm got ready to wait for bus at Terminal 1. Probably catch my dinner at Subang Parade or Carrefour.

Eu Cheng, I thought of visiting you but then they said you went out at the time I called. I thought maybe Sunday, but when I phoned on Sunday, I found out you went back to Kuala Pilah already.

I was pleasantly surprised when there was a tap on my shoulder and there stood my cousin sister who was heading back to Singapore! I thought she'd already gone back earlier. Chit chat until 6pm when her bus leaves for JB. So Lee May, might be seeing you next month in Singapore, kay?! Looks like I'm breaking the assumption that I'll only visit the "fine" country in 5 years time since my last sojourn there in Christmas 1995.

It was raining heavily upon reaching Carrefour at 8.10pm. I decided to stop at Carrefour although the bus I was on would pass by Ching Ching's house. I thought Ching Ching should be at the gathering already. Aiya... reached so late and still haven't isi my perut yet, I had to cancel the idea of exploring Carrefour which I haven't visited a very long time. So looked for a sandwich restaurant - I wanted a quick dinner:

The owner of the restaurant	:	What would like to have, Ms.?
Me	:	I'd like to try that Chicken Sate sandwich.
The owner of the restaurant	:	I'm sorry Ms.... we've run out of that. How about other sandwiches?
Me	:	Aiya.... like that ah... let me have the vegetarian sandwich loh....
The owner of the restaurant	:	Sorry again... we don't make the vegetarian sandwich anymore. Not much demand for it.
Me	:	Then I'll take the tuna sandwich.
The owner of the restaurant	:	Okay Ms... but could you wait for a while for us to prepare the sandwich?
Me	:	How long?
The owner of the restaurant	:	About 10 minutes.
Me	:	Wah... so long ah... Okay, make it this way - what's the fastest sandwich you can make?
The owner of the restaurant	:	Aiya.. Ms. Don't be so in a hurry lah... raining outside mah... How about our chicken sandwich then?
Me	:	Done, and gimme the ice lemon tea to go along.
The owner of the restaurant	:	Having it here?
Me	:	Yep, definitely.....

Sitting down, I immediately regret not bringing a book with me like I normally do when I go out. Anyway, not too bad, as I could get down to my "kay pohness" in watching everyday people behaviour. Munching away on the chicken sandwich which tasted similar like tuna, I watched the people walking by with particular interest. Some really make shopping like an adventure - all fired up with their trolleys and ready to grab some great bargain, some looked bored pushing the trolleys (ahem! Guys in particular following their wives or girlfriends), the youngsters were mostly trying to look their best in whatever latest fashion (I'm not sure whether they came to shop some things or to shop for people!), the children were happily scramping around and finally some looked at me as if I was a Martian from outer space. I guess a person who could sit in a restaurant having a meal alone comfortably wasn't a norm. Especially a girl (I don't quite like to use the word woman). I think this is not unusual if I stayed in Western countries. Anyway, I do enjoy being a lone ranger as I've done so many times already - either shopping, eating, going for movies and short travels to safe local areas. The thing that I still haven't tried but very much like to is to go travel on my own to further places (unfortunately barred from doing so from my parents). Perhaps when I reach 30 years old...

I was thinking that it was extremely coincidental to have met my cousin sister two hours earlier. I was hoping for similar luck whether somebody I know of who is on his/her way to Poh Aun's place will also be at Carrefour. I still have not decided whether to call them to pick me up from Carrefour or to venture myself to his new place. I consider unknown things as an adventure which I'd like to try out but then it was late, I was afraid that I might be really late for the gathering then. I was thinking whether Meng Heng and Sing Hoon would just happen to be there. I guess if that happened, I must be really lucky. And you know what? I WAS really lucky for suddenly Sing Hoon's hand was waving in front of me!

Meng Heng dropped me off about 30 metres away from Poh Aun's house. I was on a bluffing scheme again. Trying to see whether people would feel sorry for me, heh, heh.... But the laugh's on me later on... Earlier, I had phoned up Poh Aun to tell him that I was somewhere in Carrefour and asked for his address as I'll be coming on my own. I don't seem to evoke much pity feelings from that point up to reaching the place. Goes to show that I'm certified no matter how, you don't have to worry about me, I will be there somehow. *Chuckle! If I were to go on my own, I think I'll most probably take a cab since I'm unfamiliar with SJ housing area and walking aimlessly in the night wasn't a good idea.

As USUAL, this Poh Aun will forever try to intoxicate us with his cocktails of sorts. I dunno what were the ingredients this time, but it's improving. His other friends (coursemates) were playing this thing called "Jenga" - blocks of wood whereby you try to make the structure higher and higher by removing certain blocks from the original structure to the top one at a time. As for me, I got hooked on the dartboard. I think I'll get one myself when I'm back in Seremban although I dunno where to put it to cause the least destruction on the wall.

We later played a game of trying to pour water on a glass without making it spill. The best was definitely getting Shaw Feng punished by singing the "haunting?" Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On for us and especially his girlfriend there. The haunting became "no feeling" - no insults meant, Lion King, put more feelings lah (I know you tried)!

Aiya... I forgot to show off my magic tricks on cards that night.. Never mind, since I didn't practise much. Must make sure to practise well, nanti tak nampak professional. I got another book on coin tricks but quite complicated.

We went for supper after the cake ceremony and when his ex-coursemates left. Somewhere behind Inti College. After that we spent the remaining hours of the night till about 4am playing Jenga (coincidentally, the gift bought for him was also a Jenga set but with colours). I was kept from dozing off occasionally when it was my turn to take out a block which totally needs concentration and patience. The last game we played (not everybody) before we slept was "answer a question with a question" which can turn out to be quite funny if you could think of gila-gila questions which are still relevant.

I didn't manage to sleep at all. It was already nearly my "waking" hour when we started to sleep at about 4.30am I think.

Oh dear, I just realized I'm been blabbing on and on and it's already more than two pages. I shall summarize the next day's event - we went bowling at Sunway Pyramid (yah Doreen, I finally bowled there!). Bowled not too bad but unfortunately no strikes and scored 95. After one game and still got time to play (this place count per hour per lane), some of us decided to experiment our bowling methods. I tried to bowl the ball so that it curves (the first try was totally awful - the ball flew up and drop on the floor, the first few seconds like a ping pong ball, the second try was much better - it curved and managed to hit a number of pins but not power enough lah....) and also tried to bowl the ball so that it spins. Memang perlu banyak practise and $$$$.

I doze off at home from 4pm till 7.30pm just now.

I'm about to wrap up this week's Weekend Stories. I'm glad that some of you do enjoy reading my stories which is free of charge. Believe me, if you enjoy reading it, I enjoy writing it. I'm about to turn into a walking diary coz nowadays I seem to register many things that happen just about every second of my life.

Before parting a few words to friends, Poh Aun : Thanks for the party! Sorry birthday boy, didn't get you anything and sorry for leaving a few "impressions" on the wall near your dartboard! Eu Cheng: I've taken a listen at Savage gardens cassette and I'm not too sure about trying out their concert. The two songs that can "play" in my head are still their hits - "I Want You" and "Truly Madly Deeply". Also, I already tried those tipu Tatoos already (2 of 'em)! Cool!

Bernard : So, I did drop by at Klang Valley after all but then too rush to contact you. I didn't know that Man are from Mars and Women are from Venus come in so many topics. However, can't seem to find any chicken soup series books at the MPH of Sunway Pyramid. Tak belilah.. me like I said - kedekut.....

Everybody : I'm harvesting ladies fingers from my vegetable scheme already!

Share something with you from the biography of Charles Schulz - the Peanuts comic strip creator/cartoonist which I'm reading currently:

Regards,
Li Li