Oh!pEnions

Chinese New Year Eve

So, the trip to Mid-Valley was actually just a break from the hectic program for us. As soon as we came back, we had only less than 2 hours to get ready. Which is a feat considering there are other chores to do, such as fetching siblings from the train station, cleaning up, making sure the girls are wearing the right clothes, etc.

OK, one of the chores is done, a million more to go....

Finally, Chinese New Year Eve Dinner is about to start. We booked this restaurant somewhere in Kepong, which was just streets across from my old office.

Yes, Dinner is about to start. In the meantime, the girls are very happy because they have a newfound love with the iPhone.

Ah, Dinner is starting, Which is a new one to me because the soup's quite hot despite us waiting for more than an hour for it. And so, by the time it came, it was so delicious, we ate all the food served to us and wanted more. And today is also Opposite Day.

Four Seasons of I-dunno-what-you-call-it. I mean, this is fine if you're in some small town or kampung but man, we're sitting in a two-shoplot Restaurant.

Delicious looking Bowl of What-was-that?

Dead Prawns in a shallow clay pot

Mutated Fish

The I-think-its-chicken Dish

Rice

Yeah, they had a lot of fun. For the kids, its just food. For us its, "WTF! We burnt RM298 for these crap". Other tables did not fare better.

If I tell you whereabouts was this restaurant in Kepong, I would be spoiling it for you but here is a clue. Yeah, THOSE people are just a few feet away.

After dinner, its off to sleep... for tomorrow, its a Big Day!

Personally, I am not very happy about the Restaurant Booking. And its not about the money either. The reason we had to wait for more than an hour was because they were waiting for a few more families with the same package so that they can cook it all in one shot. Not only that, their staff were also running about here and there trying to obey the orders from a few disorganised Bosses. And the presentation for the food, well, to be honest, the small town and kampung folks can do better, actually.

I know its the Eve above all else and they're trying their best to fulfill orders, overcoming staff shortages and all. I really have to give them the benefit of the doubt but on that night, it was horrible. The only food that was delicious was actually, the onions in the fish, which, unfortunately, looked more like a mutated zombie.

In the aftermath, I think they're going to lament about the loss of profits, time, etc. Even though I do not know how to run a restaurant, common sense for that night would be to: get the families in, serve them, let them eat, collect their money and get them out of the door as soon as possible. Because, if you let a table be occupied for an hour doing nothing, you have actually lost a potential of one to two walk-in families, never-mind if you have a lot of bookings.

This was taken earlier and it was not that bad...

22012012 Trip to Mid Valley

OK, I'll admit it. We're on a last minute rush for the CNY stuff. There were quite some things to buy but because of my working schedule, it was not possible to do anything until today.

Not sure what they're trying to do with this deco and since in a rush, not going to care

Everything was going OK until we stopped in front of the Sushi King...

"We only have enough for this sushi, OK?"

"Once you finish that, you can order something else."

Its fun to see them try eating with chopsticks

Yeah, as I said, its fun. But I need to start training them properly.

Oh-oh. Better order something else quick, the way she is looking at those sushis, it might be expensive.

OK, some noodles for her and rest of the Bento sets for us.

Passed by the Food Court and it was literally shut down. 40 minutes ago, it was business as usual. Went to V-Hobby but they closed their shutters halfway. darn. Wanted to the the twin Element EX-6. Yeah, 40 minutes ago, they were still operating. Notices everywhere said shops will close at around 1600 but everyone closed hours to half hours earlier...

Just can't help playing with a few poses.


After that, we were just in time for the Drum exhibition. Which is very nice. I got the video but I am not sure if I want to upload it since its quite shaky.

The long Tunnel of Waiting Spouses.


Peek-a-boo at Jusco. The girls were in very high spirits despite everyone around us 'rushing'

The Bikes

Ask them not to monkey around with the bike and see what happens...

The Eve of CNY

Told them to stand watch at the altar and see what happens...

Not going to give them much Ang Pows...

That Korean Restaurant

Wife wanted to have a meal outside tonight and so, she suggested we try at The Sphere near Bangsar. Or rather, the area newly developed behind Angkasapuri. And so, after much searching, we came to this Korean place and because by then, we were very hungry indeed to the point, I forgot the name of the place...

Since we were still early, the food came in quite fast. These are botomless appetisers and they're delicious!

Forgot what we ordered but there is a choice of third free dish. So we got steamed egg, nice but a bit burnt.

Drinks with real lemon

The burnt parts were crispy and delicious...

Selected menu. Good.

Sorry but this was so many months ago, and I really have no idea on the details. However, I do not mind if you treat me to another meal at this Korean Restaurant to refresh my memory...

Pasta Lunch

Why do I like Pasta? Here is why:

ITALIAN PASTA DIET -- IT REALLY WORKS !!

1.. You walk pasta da bakery.

2... You walka pasta da candy store.

3.. You walka pasta da Ice Cream shop.

4.. You walka pasta da table and fridge.

You will lose weight!

Heh heh. But really, I like pasta in the simple sense that its really filling and there is nothing so complicated than just a dab of mayo or chili sauce and I am done. On some days, half an onion and a sprinkle of chicken stock will do too.

I love my Wife. I really do. Just a simple dish like this and she can make it taste like Heaven

The Kaleidoscope

I found this on the table and this was a lovely surprise as it was ages since I held one in my hands. For all those who do not know what it was, its a kid's cheap alternative to getting stoned. OK, OK, for the 'up-to-date' version, its the cheap alternative for those who has no money to buy this app for their iPads/IPhones/Androids/etc.

Basically, its just a paper tube (extended toilet roll) filled with colourful trinkets and some mirrors to create a wonderful image or fractal-like patterns in an infinite variation. Also, its a cheap way to entertain kids non-infected for hours. (Infected as in exposed to TVs, iPads/iPhones/Androids/Internet)

The sad thing is, for kids nowadays, especially my girls, this tube only distracted them for less than 30 seconds. One day, I am going to blacken the eyepiece...

A tube of fun...

And when you peek into it, whoa.......

The change of clothes

After the shoes cleaning, they changed to their clothes, All these were done within 10 minutes. But it took us twice to clean up after them. Sigh.

But then, you ask, what is that compared to later years? As they grow up, children will learn how to take care of themselves and also, to learn that Parents are not slaves of convenience nor cheap servant replacements. This is a very good advise for kids who do not have common sense and limited pocket money.

Yes, so you Mommas and Poppas know that for every cutesy pics like these, there are more 'behind the scenes' ones hidden. Yeap. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Cleaning your own shoes

I figured that at their age now, its the right time to get them to clean their own school shoes. And so, I picked up their shoes and get them to clean it at the rear washroom. The only concern is that their enthusiasm in scrubbing might produce more holes in the shoes. Still, I have to instill these into thier heads.

You wash and white your own shoes or there's nothing to wear on Monday

Unfortunately, they created more suds than normal, which Mommy was not in the mood to clean it off...

1/20 Scopedog-The Berkoff Squad

I am really not in the mood right now. With problems from work. This means crap coming for me, especially during and after CNY. To take my mood off, I decided to explore this model kit from Bandai which I got from ICW (Infinite Creation Workshop) at a very good price weeks ago.

There is another version which has metal parts but since I missed that one, I guess this is as good as it gets. Moreover, if I do get the chance to do this model, it would not be in the form of what the manual intended. This is a 1/20 scale Scopedog (ATM-09-ST) which is the Berkoff Squad version, taken from the series "The Pailsen Files'. For decades, I was not very intersted in these models since they look kind of silly, especially where the 'heads' are concerned. But the more I read, it is quite nice and sort of fits the theme of the anime well. And then after a few episodes of the Pailsen Files, I really wanted this model, which was in my hands, thanks to rayloke of ICW. Of course, being so 'late' into this Scopedog, I was informed of my missed chance when the recent Litt Tak Warehouse sales threw all these at ridiculous prices. Unfortunately, some people picked them all up but it did not 'surface' on the streets...

In a nutshell, you have to think of this armour suit as a walking tank. The pilot sits inside the chest and their heads fits right into the dome. So, when it comes to fighting, the upper torso is the main target. What I really loved about this design is how the suit 'kneels' for the pilot to climb in/out.

this is the 1/20 Scopedog from Bandai

And its a very big box.

There are a lot of parts and what I really liked was the Pilot Chiroco Curvie, which comes in two versions; standing and seating.

Here, you can see how the suit kneels (left) and there is really not enough space inside the cockpit. So, now I understand why they prefer sharp metal spikes for close combat.