But this Christmas is special, because I got my wish!
Halfway through Christmas dinner, Papa sauntered over to the young-people's table (I refuse to call it the kids table) and said:
"Okay the people at the big table have spoken. Next year, Christmas will be in KL."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right there and then, it felt like a good idea to do the conga.
Eh but it's a big deal okay, if you've spent almost every Christmas of your memorable life in Penang.
I'm happy dy :)
I survived the cooking and so did the rest of the family. And they even said it was good!!! :DD
I need to pack. I'm leaving for KL at 4am tomorrow morning. Stupid Papa's colleagues who arranged a meeting at 9.30am in the morning for him (!!!) on Boxing Day (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
But okay la. It was a good Christmas. :)
And here's something to share with all of you.
"Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake, Amen!"
- Robert Louis Stevenson.
And God bless us, every one.
♥
Okay in case you all haven't seen my facebook and PLURK yet
I'M MAKING THE SALAD FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER TONIGHT.
And I'm so not sure how to do it.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill caesar's salad or whatever slopped and dunked in mayonaise and thousand island dressing. This is the special Tan family salad.
The dressing is equal parts balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and lightly touched up with herbs.
Oh HELP! I have to put salt in the dressing, but I've forgotten how much!
I need Jirwan lah. Haha.
Okay. Garlic, tomatoes, purple cabbage, button mushrooms, straw mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, brocolli. No capsicums, but wth. I can live without those. The others, checkcheckcheckcheckcheckcheckcheck.
Now to chop up all the stuff and pray that I'll be able to remember just how many parts salt the dressing is before 7pm tonight.
PS: cooking for the 20 member-strong Tan tribe is no joke. Penang-ians are SOOO fussy about their food.
(Christmas eve is so not the time to bang on about this but wth.)
They overfeed us at BRATs camps you know, the food is just so tasty and they provide us with so many snacks.
And I went for TWO BRATs camps this holidays.
Then the second Sabah holiday with family, there was EVEN MORE FOOD. I think I had four solid days of prawnsprawnsprawns.
And now I'm in Penang with my grandmother. And everyone knows about grandmother's cooking right?
And the scary thing is my eating habits have changed. I feel like snacking more and more. I feel even more greedy than I usually am!
On top of that, with all the travelling I've been doing, there's been hardly any time to go and work out.
So everbody's like gonna be going "OH LOUISE I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!" but Itellyou, I'd rather be short and skinny than short and stout.
Like a certain teapot.
Bugger, needa go church. Midnight mass.
oh bugger
I managed to get the computer short circuited. And the modem too! And it's entirely my fault but don't tell my dad that. He thinks one of us did it but he doesn't know.
WHATAMIGONNADONOW???
*takesadeepbreath*
Oh, here's the space bar.
I'm blogging from my papa's office and I'm supposed to be finishing a very important email to someone but sorry la, I'm being selfish.
But you can't really blame me right? I've gone without my internet fix for 3 days now and I'm DYING.
Went to two or three edufairs, it's really gotten me worried and thinking bout the SPM and life after it, but don't think thiss is a good time to start ranting about it.
Anyway.
BLOG FASTER LAR ALL OF YOU BRATS. I'M GOING AWAY AGAIN ON THURSDAY AND I WANNA SEE IT ALL BEFORE THEN.
Oh and, see you all tomorrow ;) let's teach them Sing people a thing or two about camwhoring.
*PS :got the nagging feeling that I was supposed to blog about something but I so cannot remember what. WTH anyway.
PPS: Oh Alyssa! Thank youuuuu. And I know I look cute ;) heeheehee.
Okay first of all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY IZZY DEAR!
:)
(I’m using Windows Live Writer and I wonder where’s the LARGE font function. o.O)
edittt
(gone back to Blogger)
You’re an awesome sister and I hope you have an awesome 15th birthday. And don’t worry you’ll still get a Christmas present from me, as long as you don’t forget mine, dearie.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now check out this picture of Boon Hoe on FaceBook!
HA HA HA! Looks shooo cute right? Even though Joye’s looking the wrong way.
Sorry la but I LOVE LOVE LOVE ♥ ♥ ♥ this pic shooo much I just had to upload it again! Understandable right? It’s an awesome pic. Shooo glad Phynaz thought of it.
LOVE IT LA PEOPLE, DAMMIT. LOVE THIS PICTURE!
RAWR.
edittt.
WHY IS EVERYONE TAKING SO LONG TO POST ABOUT THE CAMP? ://
Bath time.
With the kids at the fishing village. There were so many more pictures. We were teaching them how to pose.
me and Hoei, the aikido instructor. Speaks in a uber cute way. Do not underestimate this chick weyy.
Me, Nick and Alyssa.
Nick, the Rythmn Circle Conductor no. 2, aka Banana Boy aka the Attention Seeking BRAT.
Alyssa, my long lost friend from piano class! The maddest little lady ever, the Sporting BRAT.
SMOOOCH.
Jenani, my tentmate and transport buddy. The Diam-diam Ubi Berisi BRAT. Ever so sweet lah, Haha. :) Somehow I didn't manage to drive her crazy.
Me and Phynaz/Safinaz, the Producer for Video Group. And I forgotten what award she got, but she sure can cook and she sure can direct! Loved having you as the group leader : )
Me and Cheryl, the Life of the Party BRAT. Can't believe I came all the way to Sabah to get to know her. =.="
Me and roomate Sonia, the Princess - or was it Prima Donna? - BRAT.
I'm just shoooo smoochable.
Jirwan, i remember his award was cooking-related. Another cook in the making la!
We were complaining about how we have to come back here next week. Haha.
The real Jeremy Leong! Haha. I know he's acting like a tranny down there but that's just him. The Emergent BRAT, the tallest of us all.
Half of Karman and Esther Lian the Dynamo BRAT, who never stops going for camps. Budak tu overachiever lah! Proud to have you as a group member.
If you notice that none of us is looking at the camera, that's because we were all camwhoring and looking only at our own cameras.
Sandra, who started the whole "SAN-DRAAAH!" thing. Rythmn Group Conductor no. 1.
Sandra your award title very long la, I can't remember what it was. Something to do with leeches and semangat, right? :D
Justin, whom I keep calling Nicholas, the Lost BRAT.
Picture with Wan Hong, attempt no. 1.
Attempt no 2. He refused to smile.
Attempt no. 3. He closed his eyes but wth, I look good can dy.
He's the Wallflower BRAT or something. Real quiet but actually really nice to talk to. Haha :)
Kar Mun, the BRAT I met before I came to Sepilok. I forgotten what your award was too! Rythmn Group Conductor no. 3.
Joye, the Mad Chocolate BRAT, who managed to prank me in the stupidest way. gah.
Adrian the Nice Guy BRAT, who seniored with me in the BRATs Alternative. Sekarang dia pula yang men-senior-kan saya!
Oh no. I've caught Jeremy's malay-speaking bug.
Abang John, the D'Jungle People. He's darn funny lah. Picture attempt no. 1
No. 2
No. 3!
Abang Paul, who had to endure insults for carrying my bag through the jungle, though idk why. Sorry lah, forgot to serve you lunch and dinner for that. x)
Don't forget your little Tiny!
Jasmine, the Insect-Attracting BRAT.
Picture attempt no 1. with Kok Hin, the Video Group senior.
Gave up after attempt no. 2.
Kok Hin in my sunnies.
Sue Ann, the Aggressive BRAT. Arguably one of the noisiest people there!
Rhythmn Group, from L-R: me, Wan Hong, Jasmine, Boon Hoe, Cheryl, Jirwan, Kar Mun and Nick. Sandra doing her abstract impromptu dance in the center.
We rocked didn't we? :)
Video Group! With Alyssa doing her monster face.
I feel I didn't contribute very well to video, since I don't know how to take or edit videos. I only helped in a little part of the making. So the real credits of the video go to those standing around me - Phynaz, Alyssa, Esther, Boon Hoe, Cheryl and Justin.
In the bus, Ian trying on Nick's prize "glasses", looking very Cyclops.
Me looking lagi more Cyclops.
My favorite picture of the lot! The Kiasu BRAT and the Kayu BRAT.
We look so good man. x)
The BRATs blocking the passage in the plane in the middle of the flight. Haha.
Didn't manage to take pictures with all the BRATs. I know I've missed out some, like the lookalikes Michelle and Hui Ee, Hui Ee being my other roommate.
And Kah Yan, the BRAT that cheated me out of my Sweetest BRAT Award! Pffft.
Stanley the photographer.
Dhinesh the most Outgoing BRAT, I think.
And Boon Hoe! Lokan King/Blur BRAT.
I'll go steal the pictures from the rest of them later.
Proud to be a BRAT laaah. I don't care how many times i've said it already. It's good to be a BRAT.
edittt
found this photo, it's UBER AWESOME. LOVE IT, PEOPLE! ♥
from L-R: Sue Ann (S), Esther (E), Cheryl (P), Boon Hoe (I), Phynaz (L), me (O), Alyssa (K)
oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhh. ;)
Signing out now,
Louise!
For Joel's benefit.
Presenting JEREMY LEONG!
In his hat, my sunnies and Sonia's nail polish.
The rest of the pictures are in the camera and I don't have the bloody card reader.
Ciaoz!
;)
"Hi mama!"
"How was your trip?"
"It was AWESOME!!!"
"Uhh... What does 'awesome' mean?"
=.="
.edittt.
I NEED THE CARD READER.
I SO want the pictures out of the camera because the BRATs Year-End Journey was just so indescribable.
The people rocked the most. :)
Shooooo proud to be a BRAT/!
.edittt.
so what!
I'M STILL A ROCK STAR!
I GOT MY ROCK MOVES!
AND I DON'T NEED YOU TONIGHT!
see the playlist. the "theme song" is in it.
I'm sorry lah, but I'm just this easily jealous.
Deal with it.
You should have learnt how to by now.
Aren't you now glad you don't owe me any obligations either.
And not for the first time, I am SOOOOO reluctant to be back home!
THE BRATS YEAR-END CAMP WAS AWESOME LAH.
Go and join the BRATs, all of you. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON.
Anyway I'd better type it all out now because I just know I'll have forgotten all of what I wanted to type by tomorrow.
DAY 1.
1. Woke up at 3am to go to airport. Bahhh. Hopes never to do that again.
2. Meets up with the Taiping BRATs - Jen, Jirwan and Jeremy. Jirwan's first words to me.
"What?"
"Next year SPM. HAHAHAHAHAHA."
=.="
3. Jirwan starts singing Pink's So What song. Nanananana nananana na na.
4. Board the plane and sit with Jenani and Jasmine, try our best to sleep.
5. The Taiping BRATs are - Jenani, Jirwan, Jeremy, Esther, Ian, Cheryl, Boon Hoe, Wan Hong, me, Stanley and Justin.
6. I found a long-lst friend at the camp. Wan Alyssa Liana!!!
7. Abang Paul and Abang John still remember me from wayyy back when! Even though it was 6 years since I attended the D'Jungle Juniors Camp.
8. Somehow ended up in Video Group instead of Print. Not so good lah. Print is my forte.
9. Our phones got taken awayyy :/
DAY 2
1. Jungle trekking. Leeches banyak banyak.
2. Ian: "I think there's a leech in my shirt."
*nobody takes any notice.*
"NO SERIOUSLY THERE'S A LEECH IN MY SHIRT! LOOK LOOK!" *shows us the little wiggling thing*
Abang Paul: "What a cheap way to get girls to look inside your shirt."
3. Syafinaz (gets a leech in her belly button) : "Ah well, I always wanted a navel piercing anyway."
4. I SET UP A TENT FOR THE FIRST TIME!
5. On the underside, got a leech bite for the first time. Gross.
6. I can't think straight, I only know DAY 2 damn fun lah. I can't even remember if we had our aikido lesson on this day or not.
7. I couldn't sleep! I woke up at 3am and stayed awake till morning because of two people snoring and one person coughing throughout the night.
DAY 3
1. Went to the fishing villages. Learning about their lives was kinda cool lah. :) Oh and the kids were uber cute!
2. Went lokan fishing. Pissed because I didn't get any. =.="
3. Found out that I didn't miss my phone so much.
DAY 4
1. Packed up tent. Again a first.
2. Sandra & co pranked some of the guys this morning I think.
3. Cooked a meal. Alyssa and Safinaz rock lah! :D
4. Went back to Labuk to finish u our assignments. Video Group's assignment was awesome :) Not that I did much, because I know almost nothing about video production. Hee hee.
5. We got our phones back!
DAY 5
1. Video, Photo and Rythmn Groups performed for the VIP at the Rainforest Conservation Centre. Good job to Sandra for the impromptu dance!
2. Followed by major camwhoring session at the canteen. Rupa-rupanya BRATs semua posers sial!
3. Everyone is singing along to Pink's So What. (Refer to Day 1)
3. Packed up and went home.
Proper update tomorrow morning.
I love BRATs. :))
Oh! Only one more file still transferring. Yippay!
PS: The camp was indescribable lah, I'll get the pictures and let them talk.
seriously I do. It's one of the reasons I don't like to log in to msn.
Going for BRATs year-end camp. Dreading it, anticipating it, gonna be sick for it. I'm getting up at 3am to catch a flight. GRAWRRRR.
This tag was due aaaages ago.
1.The last person to tag you is?
Jo!
2. What is your relationship with him/her?
Friend//neighbour//schoolmate//church-mate?//emergency transport. ahaha.
3. What are your 5 impression towards him/her?
- hyper
- and bimboish. but in a cute way.
- uber kindhearted. Never met anyone really like that.
( I'm uber addicted to the word uber.)
- really scary when she's emoing.
- oh! got really pretty pink cheeks. HAHAHA.
4. What is the most memorable thing that he/she has ever done for you?
mei
- the confirmation camp thingy ;) actually the whole beginning-of-2008 thingy. I really appreciate it, until now, because I know the rest of you just sort of gave up on me.
WHERE'S NUMBER 5? THERE'S NO NUMBER 5!
WHY IS THERE NO NUMBER 5?!
6. If he/she becomes your lover, you will...
Run away and join the monastery. No, seriously. Somebody will chop me if I do that.
7. If he/she becomes your enemy, you will...
Know that I'm in biiiiiiiig trouble.
8. If he/she becomes your lover, he/she has to improve on...
Er. Idk.
9. If he/she becomes your enemy, the reason would be...
Being too emo? I guess. Haha.
10. The most desirable things to do for him/her is...
What's this supposed to mean? Sheeesh! English.
11. Your overall impression towards him/her is...
She's so good she makes me feel guilty sometimes. Can you believe it.
12. How do you think the people around you feel about you?
Er. I know I come across as shy sometimes. But once I get to know someone well I drive them nuts.
13. The character of you for yourself is?
Optimistic! And a stickler for proper english. Take that bloody question for example. I simply assume they are asking me to characterize myself positively. (Though that could just be OCD.)
14. On the contrary, what do you dislike about yourself?
Uhh. Being too shy/ insecure? :(
15. Describe the ideal you.
Somebody successful. Yeah. I have a big head. Figuratively.
16. Say something about someone who cares for and likes you.
I hope he doesn't change;
And I have corrected that sentence above. It used to be "For the person who cares and likes you, say something about them."
17. Bra or panties?
Both la!!!! Who goes out of the house with only one of the two? Which girl, I mean.
18. Chocolate or ice-cream?
Chocolate ice-cream. :9
Okay I have a confession. I don't like chocolate ice-cream. I just said that cuz it, sort-of, is a witty answer? Honestly, it depends. If the chocolate is the kind with creamy fillings, I'll take that. If the ice-cream is caramel or butter pecan, I'll take that too!
19. 10 people to tag.
-ANNICE
-IAN
-DEBBIE
-MELISSA WONG now that i've finally found you, here's a tag for you ;)
-MIAW FEN
-BRIANA
-ELYSSIA
-if he had a blog, I'd tag him. But.
-.
-.
You know, this tag would be reeeeeaaaaaaaalllllllllyyyyyy nice if it had a nice round 20 questions. But idk why it's only 19. Dumb right. Shall I make my own question 20?
20. Have you been told you look like someone famous?
I know someone at the BRATs Alternative told me I looked like Jessica Alba.
Okay, now STOP LAUGHING!
EDIT: I HAVE GONE BACK AND GRAMMATICALLY CORRECTED THE QUESTIONS ABOVE.
Except for question 10, i can't figure out what it means.
Be PROUD of me, EDE!
Oh bother forgot there's no question 5. Someone slip one in.
SHOPPING LIST
`shower gel
`track pants
`proper sports shoes one can go hiking in.
`sarong.
`baby oil.
That's for the BRATs year-end camp this Friday. Can die, right? Jungle trekking and all.
Ohhh gotta remember to buy more MOSIGUARD. Hahaha.
Though my mom thinks I can get by on the citronella oil she got me. Still, to be on the safe side, I'm getting another bottle. The bugs at The Farm were dead annoying. And I got bed bug bites! Can you believe it?
Okay so maybe you didn't really wanna see that. Blah. But anyway THEY ITCH.
BLARDY BED BUGS. I'M PUTTING MY SLEEPING BAG OUT IN THE SUN LATER AND I HOPE YOU ALL ROAST AND DRY UP AND GET HEAT STROKE AND DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE.
Hah!
I am SO spraying mosiguard in the bag before I sleep in it again. Pfffft.
Anyway, bugs aside. The Year-End Camp is gonna be FUN FUN FUN.
THINGS TO DO NOW
` think up a REALLY good excuse for teacher melissa as to why I didn't practice piano AGAIN.
` prepare for wall-climbing later
` wash shoes
` go and kill some bed bugs.
DIE, BED BUGS, DIE.
Ooops/
PS: I hope you're having a good time in Singapore, Ian! ;)
Hello everybody, guess what?
It's the FIRST of DECEMBER.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING!
can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait.
Okay, like I haven't been counting the days to it since the beginning of November.