Old ties renewed

This evening, after a couple months of planning, I finally caught up with the Nazz, an old ex-colleague of mine from Langkawi days. Apparently after he left there, he went to Berjaya and subsequently came down to PD. I am surprised that he hasn't changed much still moving from place to place unable to make headway and making pittance. It's so good that they all survived yes? While my Cor just keeps on spending crazy amounts of money!

Anyway I drove him around the Bagan area, we had Ikan Bakar and to him and his mate the food was delicious even though to me it was just so-so?!?!?! Finally we walked through GEe Pee Tee and he loved it

So yes at least today we had some developments from this angle, right? Hehehe!

I also spoke to the Pee Woman on the phone and she is now in Malacca. So that's another corner heard from

Goodnight diary/ blog!

Painter's Block ...

When writers have a problem getting the words out, they called it writer's block. What about when painters cannot paint? I tried all evening and was struggling to get anything decent out. I even used the proper canvas (finally) and was doing such a bad job that I gave up

O yes and I learnt new things about watercolour that I didn't know before ... at least that was good!

After 4 hours, I went back to sketching and tried some different techniques to fool around and that's it.

Nothing else monumental happened today. I saw no one. I ate alone (ARGH!). I fought with Cory (as usual) on cars (as usual). About the only work I did is submit claims for Aug 2013 (one more to go) and wrote back to Shakur

Tomorrow I have to go KLIA to pick up my sis so goodnight diary-blog!

RM1 million ... really?

Here's a good one ... I am in discussion with a client ... potentially to work on their troubled projects. However, the more I discussed with them, the more it seems like they have things hidden away. Imagine saying you are land owner only then to disclose that you paid the deposit but never proceeded ... for years. But that the contract is still valid. Then next when pressed further, you said that the land owner has passed away and now it is in the estate but that you have to talk to the beneficiaries. I mean, what the fuck?!?!! Right?!!?!?!

Next, they wanted me to work on their project except that they are short somewhere in the region of RM2million to complete. My job? Operations i.e. pre-opening work for their nearly 300 room hotel. I am being nice by lowering my price to RM10k a month (freelance and not full time). So what do they do? Why in a meeting they asked if they can owe me because they do not have the cash?!?!?!?!

When I hesitantly said okay can be for a few months, guess what?

Now they want the contract to include clauses like I need to be responsible for finding the RM1million and they only the remainder. Well excuse me. Finding RM1m has a 5% fee or RM50k by itself and that has got nothing to do with a hotel operator's responsibilities. Really too much these people!

So naturally I am only pursuing sales of their properties and will be dropping everything else!

Aside from that nasty watsapp message and email, nothing else of note happened. It was generally a quiet day ... or do you want to hear about the massive argument in my non-existent love-life? Hahaha!

Imagine 2 birthdays in a row (one for each of us) and a trip to China and the amount of sex we had? None! The amount spent on shopping RM12k. The amount spent on fighting? Everyday! What kind of relationship eh? Time to end this if it continues - absolute bullshit here as well! O yeah today's topic is purchasing new car. It seems like he wants a new car every year or so! Madness!

My Average Day

Here is an example of what passes as a normal day for me now when I am not in Jakarta or in some sort of meeting or other:

I slept very late around 1:00am plus ... and naturally woke up early ... because these past days the weather has been cool ... I must have been up around 6:00am because the skies were still dark but you can hear sounds of people getting ready for school

At 7:45am, I went to Le Teng for breakfast with Case Man ... always nice to see geeky/ nerdy skinny man right? Especially when my other half is no longer interested with me ... ah if only Case Man is keen ... I wonder what I would have done ... Hmmm ...

Next I am home and spoke to my neighbour ... very rare we are both in on the same day ... it turns out she is on the way out to Malacca for work ... see what I mean?

After that, I did write up and emailed out on PBuwo project and followed up sale of Langkawi land to a few parties ... and then it was time for lunch ... and I decided to eat ...

When lunch was done, I came home and feeling out of sorts took 2 intermittent naps ... swept a bit of the house ... did a bit of cleaning up of old documents ... a bit of writing on the Time's End book .. and that's about it

Then did a bit of stretching exercise ... while watching GI Joe Retaliation ... and hey it's 8:30pm ... so it's Olio Resto for dinner!

See? That's my average day! Boring ... lonely ... alone ... ARGH!

Other than that, my so-called other half's friend finally contacted me to discuss potential business prospects in Lombok ... very early stages ... so see how lah!

A Little Bit of This and That

Well today is a good day for catching up with some people and I started the morning having breakfast with JLee ... we decided to give Ikea a try and to our surprise there were many people queueing up even before the shop opened ... so we hopped over to a mamak shop for coffee first and come back to Ikea later

Got to admit the food is reasonably priced ... decent portions ... not too tasty but tasty enough!

I had 2 rounds of black coffee, tasted the porridge that J bought and a plate of nasi lemak ... o yes and the spring rolls ...

It's so heavy that I skipped lunch and dinner was after I reached Pelek town ... hehehe!

Next up I did nothing much all day except surf internet and chatted with people on potential to sell the MSar team's various properties ... it's so hard to believe that they have had so many decent opportunities and they grabbed them all and yet failed to finish anything decently ... so this is a good opportunity for me if I can make it ... I am hoping to shift the land ... if I can then everything will fall into place ... as they say Insyallah or God Willing ... I do pray I be found worthy for completing this deal!

Other than that, I met up with realtors and gave them the leads so that I can have a team to work with me and finally I spoke to EOng as well ... so let's see what works, eh?

Fingers crossed and all that!

I Need to Crash ...

Wow let me share this with you ... our flight took off on time more or less around 11:30pm on Sunday ... onboard the flight ... I stuffed myself with 1 round of food and drink ... then tried to doze off but wasn't successful as the flight was simply too short!

We landed around 4:30am at LCCT ... cleared immigration, got our bags, said our goodbyes to the few people present there at the luggage area ... then it was off to get Core checked in for his connecting flight to Jkt ... one cutie at the airport but I could not take his photo because ... I do not have that old cool camera anymore ... sigh! Men in uniform ... my one huge weakness!

After that, I waltzed up and down until time for my cabbie and I went home ... to Pelek land ... it was like 7:15am ... I quickly did my laundry, unpacked ... and then drove all the way down to Damansara, sis place ... and you know what? There were instances where I felt so sleepy until I was like floating!

However, I tried to control myself and not to sleep even nap at her place ... I don't want to screw up my sleeping pattern anymore than is necessary as you know ... so I even forced myself to go watch a movie ... hoping it would be good but guess what? It was Riddick! And a major bore!

I had a nice hour or so discussion with Abs but WHOA is his company in a mess. Every single land or project has issues and dramas attached to them. Not even sure if I am up to fixing it all!

Finally I went to German Bierhaus @ Curve with Ange and sis ... for nice food ... sort of belated birthday celebration but ... it was kind of eh ... sausages and grilled pork belly were great ... schnitzel was overcook and so was Kessler ... and the salad was a rip off ... no cheese no black pepper and stale croutons! Sigh!

Still too much cholesterol in me already! And finally, now home at 10:30pm ... I really want to sleep! Hehehe!

I Am Number 4 ... well 4 and 1 = 41 not 5 hahaha! Day 5 China

Today's my birthday and I am so glad that though it was unplanned, I am glad I am spending it in China with strangers rather than at home alone like last year. Yup my 40th was a horrible birthday. So I am happy to be spending it with strangers. Let me explain it to you

We were in Hai Ning city and had finished shopping. It was late when we reached the room of our hotel. Although the room was nice and large, we had this horrendous train rumbling through. Then at midnight, to my surprise, Cory came out of the toilet with the cake he bought from a cake shop across the road and lit up with candle. He wished me happy birthday, we blew out the candle and he fed me the cake. We had a quick cuddle before starting to pack our bags as tomorrow we will be leaving China for home

For a present, he got me a batik shirt. The only downside is he said he went with Andz (ugh!)

The day started well in the restaurant as it was a huge spread for breakfast and we were not in a rush. Then at point of check out, I told them not to give people rooms facing the railway and all they did was asked if we would like to complain. There was one hiccup though. When we were about to board the bus, they said an adaptor was missing from my room. I asked if they wished to search my bag and they said no but I had to go explain myself! What bullshit that they didn't check the room properly because it was where it was in the socket above the writing table. None of us moved it!

Then as we boarded the bus, the supervisor came onboard to apologize!

After that, as the bus got on the way, our tour guide said he got a present for those of us celebrating birthdays because to our surprise, out of 22 pax, there were 3 people with the same birth dates! Me (naturally), this old lady (who is travelling with her husband) and a Malay man (who is travelling with his wife). Wow! That was unexpected! So good wishes and singing abound

Today was certainly a packed day as we made our way to the West Lake. It was beautiful but too bad there were foggy/ misty all morning. We had a private boat cruise which was nice. The lake was jam packed with tourists. After the cruise, we went to the city for a wonderful buffet lunch that even comes with Haagen Daaz ice cream. It was again a private luncheon for us at the top floor of the hotel.

With that comes a looooooooooooooong walk to the cable car station. Not sure what the attraction here is except the cable car station. The attendants are funny. They made it like its something super modern and dangerous and try to literally manhandle people into each vehicle making the journey worse! However, sad to say, for those of us who have been before, it was just an ordinary journey. Even the view was average. At the top, was a temple and not even a large or unique temple. Just a small temple that was very oddly constructed around a broadcasting antennae. This you have to see to believe it. Why o why can they not separate it?

After this, the final highlight and what a highlight it was is a show. We were wondering if it is yet another show and the venue was kinda dodgy ... but once inside it was WOW! It beats the first show and it beats Genting anytime - acrobatics, digital/ laser/ 3D/ 4D - dancing etc and even the ending with 4 motorcyclists in a metal sphere! All aces! Everyone enjoyed it tremendously!

O yes did I forget to mention that they stuffed more food into us in the form of dinner? We had one before the show even though everyone was full and it was in a very odd place. Somewhere old and rundown but the food was yummy especially the stewed pork belly!

Anyway after the show, it was bye bye to the airport. No dramas here. We queued, we checked in and we walked inside the airport. Surprisingly large, modern and quite deserted. Nearly everything inside is ridiculously priced. I did buy a silk boxer here since I didn't buy anything for myself the entire trip

Ah well ... all in this is one great vacation trip! Especially for the price of RM399!

O yeah I am 41!!!

No laptops ...

For one of the very few times, I am typing this entry "live" and not like typing and changing the dates for publishing. Hehehe! Basically in another 2 hours, I will shower, pack and go to Tune Hotel LCCT

Then I am meeting (hopefully) some ex-acquaintances from Medan as they transit KL from Korea and later on is Cory

So why no laptops?

Because tomorrow Cory and I are headed to China for a holiday - 5 days in all and will reach Malaysia next Monday ... wooo-hooo!

Take care all out there in cyberworld!