When Did Singledom Become A Sorry?

The loan policy required me to buy a mortgage insurance. Two days ago, I dropped by our local insurance company to fill out the proposal form. While filling out the beneficiary section, the very nice lady (I'm highly impressed with her good mannerism and patience) advised me:

Nice Lady: Ma'am, you can put your children's name even if they are currently under 18.
Pancake: Is that so?
Nice Lady: Yes, but they have to wait till they are 18 to receive the sum of money.
Pancake: Ok, that's good source of info for me but I will still put my two siblings as my beneficiary.
Nice Lady: Oh, how about your husband and your children?
Pancake: I'm not married.
Nice Lady: Oh! I'm so sorry.
Pancake: No, it's ok. My not-married is not your fault. You don't have to apologise (said in a big-sisterly tone to soothe her worries).

When I walked out of the insurance company, I reflected on the entire conversation and I thought to myself: May be the sorry is she felt sorry for me?

Anyway, no matter in what way the sorry is. I'm happy currently in the state I am in :-)

2 Days Before CLCA Event

Our students worked very hard to make the event a success. 

Traditional Snacks That Can Be Found In Brunei Darussalam Part 1

Panganan CinCin

Rempeyek

Penyaram

Jit-Manis

Sesagun

Children's Pop Culture

Baby K currently loves this song. 

I love you. You love me. We're a happy family. With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you. Won't you say you love me too? 

I love you. You love me. We're best friends like friends should be ...

I Miss This Sitcom!

1st Brunei Custom Motorbike Show

Foot Detox

To date, this is the weirdest Foot Detox advertisement I have ever seen in my life! 

Wake Up Call

A friend commented recently that I have been given a number of good opportunities in the last few years, be it work or relationships. But, the comment didn't end there. After the first full stop, the subsequent sentence said: "However, you've never learn to cultivate on them".

"However, you've never learn to cultivate on them.
You let it grow by itself.
Like a plant, when you don't give sufficient care, effort, time;
Eventually it will wither and go."

I'm neither old nor young at this stage. I work hard and I work smart. The results are good. I don't normally take in every word friends said to me, but this particular remark does make some senses. The results are good, but they can be even better. Opportunities don't knock twice. I must capitalise on them, and be more assertive and proactive from now on.

The Realisation

I bumped into this interesting online article few days ago.

********

THE REALIZATION:

Just then - I realized that when we are trying something new, It is only the first step that seems difficult. May be we are afraid of it because we have not done something similar before ... But once we take the first step, we realize that we can do it, things start seeming easier, we start gaining confidence and we feel more motivated to accomplish that task.

That’s why I am saying : Once you take the first step, other steps will become easier for you.

So, Don’t just wait to do it later; Don’t listen to others who say you can’t do it. Don’t think you will not be able to do it, Try building up some faith in yourself and - Just go for it. Take the first step and other steps will seem easier.

Source: http://thepositivelife.com/2008/11/taking-the-first-step-to-achieve-your-dreams/

My Initials Say

You Are Shrewd and Talented

When You Are Comfortable: You are ambitious, and hard-working. Adversity allows you to shine. You resourceful and able to make due. People see you as honest to the point of bluntness. But they always know that you'll be fair. You have the good intentions. When You Are At Your Best: You are a glamorous, social person. You love being the center of attention and an object of adoration. People see you as charming and charismatic. You are naturally dazzling. You are ambitious, and find it easy to get ahead in life. When You Are in a Social Setting: You are a hyper, restless person. You need to keep busy, and you always are willing to take charge in life. People see you as energetic and motivating. You inspire people to be the best they can be.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

Wii Sports

Amazing, this 22 months old toddler is playing better Wii Tennis than me haha. Source: http://www.youtube.com.

Third Sister Liu

My grandfather used to play this song very often. Set in the Zhuang Minority region of scenic Guilin in China, this is an entertaining musical of a young woman overcoming adversaries with a unique weapon i.e. witty folk songs featuring her lovely voice.

Isn't Life Ironic?

Gigi Leung plays a translator, and Takeshi Kaneshiro plays a violinist, who live parallel lives and appear to be perfect for each other, but somehow fate seems to keep them apart. They live in the same apartment building, but don't meet. This is because when they leave, one turns left and the other turns right.

I Am NOT Fat

I AM JUST FLABBY! Haha ...

I am so sick of people commenting "You are fat!" especially after my discipline diet and more exercise these few weeks.

Alive Doll!

I am spending more time in children's educational toys aisles more than clothing shops these days. One of my major discovery is that toys are getting more and more sophisticated. Few days ago, I was amazed with this "alive" doll. Originally introduced in 1973, the much-loved BABY ALIVE doll can "eat", "drink", "sip" and "poo". You can even buy disposable diapers to change her diapers. Amazing! 

Barbie 50 Years On

I never owned a Barbie Doll until 2005 when my sister Woofhams bought me a Surfer Barbie Doll because she could see the resemblance of me in that doll. The Surfer Barbie Doll has a sweet coconut (not coconut oil) scent. Unsure it's the surfer outfit or the scent, I found it de-stressing every time I look at it.

Last Sunday when I was out shopping for Baby K's educational toys with my family, I saw a few Collector items of Barbie Doll that are so interesting. I may buy one if I happen to stumble upon this "Wizard of Oz" Barbie :-)

Tooth Time Kelly Doll

Isn't she cute? Barbie doll's little sister, Kelly doll, has lost her very first tooth. This Kelly doll has a fun color change feature i.e. when she brushes her teeth, her front tooth "magically" disappears. She can leave her tooth under her pillow at bedtime for the Tooth Fairy. This Kelly doll set comes with a comfy little trundle bed with pillow.

Zap.Zap.Zap.

I bought an Osim uZap about 3 years ago, but I hardly used it apart from the first week after purchase. Unsure what was the pulling factor, I dug the uZap out from some corners in my room last Friday. Strange that after belted on uZap for 5 minutes - something that I didn't quite notice previously - I found it actually effective in relieving medium cases of backache. It works better than massage - may be because I am not a massage person to begin with. 

Although a few friends have claimed that they lost 2-3 inches on their thighs, and 1-2 inches on their waist after 8 weeks of use. I don't seriously believe that it will have the same impact on me because I am a stronger believer in diet and exercise in losing weight. Look! My weight gain is largely due to indiscipline diet and lack of exercise. Anyway, let's see if any positive results will show by 11 June 2009 :-)

Bridges

I have always been fascinated by bridges. Some are beautiful, some are made of bamboo, some have long history and some are huge. They come in different designs and are built for different reasons and have different background stories. However, all bridges serve the same function, i.e. to connect two places together and enable us to continue further journey.

Missing Dan Brown?

"Angels & Demons" is actually the prequel, not sequel, to "Da Vinci Code". Can't understand why Hollywood likes to show movies this way - may be "Da Vinci Code" sounds more a catchy and positive name than "A & D" (?).

Uniqlo

Teacher: Repeat after me. Repeat after my every word. This is an apple.

Students: This is an apple. 

Teacher: Good. Now, that is a chair. 

Students: That is a chair. 

Teacher's mobile phone rang. 

Teacher: Hang on a minute, let me get the phone. 

Students: Hang on a minute, let me get the phone. 

Just Thinking

What do you normally do to cool down when you are angry?

Wishes

Pancakeism wishes to be Ginormica for a day. 

Any Alien Problem? 

Good Monster's Solution.

Accept You As Who You Are

Susan Murphy, aka Ginormica: A young woman from Modesto, California who is hit by a radioactive meteor on her wedding day, causing her to mutate and grow up to 49 feet and 11 1/2 inches. Somewhat meek and unassertive, she wants to return to her old life more than anything, but gradually warms up to her status as a monster. Even for her size, she is amazingly strong and has a resistance to energy attacks, making Gallaxhar's weapons all but useless.

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall. 

Who's the courageous of us all. 

The Chinese's Tao Te Ching states that courage is derived from ("慈 loving 故 causes and sources 能 ability and 勇 brave"). 

My courage curve has peaks and troughs. I recalled there were times when I was younger, I hit the nose of a boy classmate because he bullied my best friend in class. There were times I didn't even dare to tell friends that I received the highest marks in class. I noticed as I get older, the courage curve gets more erratic. I am concerned, and I really want to improve on it. I don't want to revert/turn timid. Without courage, I can't do/have many things that I am doing/having now. Now, I must take a short break, enjoy a cuppa and reflect on 慈, 故, 能 and 勇. 

I hope by tomorrow this time, I will be an even more confident and courageous person that I want to be :-) 

Fearless April

"I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. It is the dark menace of the future that makes cowards of us."

 - Dorothy Dix

Splish! Splash!

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."

 - Frank A. Clark

Decipher

I had one of those strange dreams last night and the after-dreams-thought puzzled me a little this morning. First dream scene: I dreamt about Mr Scorpio broke up with his wife, and I have been reminded by everyone to stay away concerning of potential rebound. I can't imagine my brain can think in such structured manner even in my dreams. Anyway, he wasn't the centre of my dream. Second dream scene: A man around my age, looks like Mr Scorpio, but certainly not him, visited us. His talks, his words, his care and concern all sound too familiar. It is almost like I have seen this person before, but I knew I haven't. But, he has appeared a few times in my dreams previously, especially about a decade or more ago. Definitely, he is not someone I have met/seen in real life. He has said a few things to me (viz. advice) in my dream last night, I found them meaningful and helpful. However, I can't recall a word when I woke up this morning, not even his name he has told me. But, a phrase came up in my head: "No matter where you go, I will protect you". I definitely have heard of this phrase somewhere before. Strange.

My Most Favourite Song

Easy Like Sunday Morning?

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." 

- Henry David Thoreau

Hair Keep City

Baby K dislikes hair cut at this stage and his memory is super good. He remembers all the roads he has been to, and he recognized the road leading to the salon even when we were 1 km away from it. He cried when we just cut the engine, and he gestured me to drive away from the salon. My heart broke when I saw him cried, so I drove away. The feeling was like someone telling you the right way to do, and you insisted of doing it your way and got it all wrong - like a cake throwing at your face!  

Mama has also taken him to another salon which children would sit in toy cars to distract their attention while getting their hair cut. This trick may work on some kids, but it doesn't work on Baby K. He cried and threw up. So, I have advised my mother not to take him for any more hair cutting until he is ready. 

Children at this stage need a lot of trusts from parents and his family. Baby K will lose trust in us if we insist on the hair cut. I researched and read from a book recently that, children will turn rebellious and search their own ways to protect themselves if they decided in their little mind that their family can't offer the secure environment they want. 

Anyway, just like me, I believe Baby K will look good in any hairstyle, be it long or short :-)