Simply Profound!

Some things touch our hearts when we least expected it.

This one caught me totally off guard ..

How long do brake pads last? - Part 1

According to HowStuffWorks - The lifespan of a given set of brake pads is dependent on a very wide set of variables ranging from personal driving style to the impersonal laws of physics. Mechanics and manufacturers have a loosely agreed upon mileage range from around 30,000 to 70,000 miles (48,280 to 112,654 kilometers)...


Well, if you know me well or if you read this space often enough you will recall that the most unlikely things are likely happen to me and my dear life.


And so....I replaced the original brake pads of my aproximately 2.6 year old Latio back in August 2011 Mileage was about 43,000km. Within the range. No issue with that.  Chronology of events as follows:


August 2011
...Nissan Service Centre charges about RM300 for a pair of original sets.  The cost of the of the 40,000km service was estimated at around RM400 which means total cost will be at least RM700 if I were to take the pads from Nissan.  The cost was too much for me to bear at that time. 


..So I made a decision to have the pads changed at T, a place that I solved my alignment problems and I go back religiously for tyre and wheels related matters.  They charged me RM218 , assured me they were original, etc.


..Few days after the change I realised there were "squelling" noises.  I drove back to T for inspection.  I was told that it may be due to uneven disc.  Was told that they can do skimming for me, additional cost of course but it's not compulsory as "it is still safe" to drive, I can ipt to do skimming if I really can't stand the noise"


So..I drove on, despite the noises.  I always have music blasting..so it wasn't that bothersome.




February 2012
50000km service due.  I almost fell off my chair when the service centre called to say my brake pads had exhausted!!!




That marked another episode of my colorful life experiences.. so I spent a few days..talking and writing to several parties at Nissan itself, at T (the place that supplied the pads), at my neighbourhood mechanic...all parties confirmed that the pads were original.  All parties told me the possibilities, the why and why not of such scenario.  All parties agreed that it shouldn't be my driving habits cos the previous pair lasted 43,000km.


So..who's fault is it?  


TO BE CONTINUED...


sigh..the little strange things that happen to me...




     

Why bother calling

Hello ms w , I'm calling from the service centre. So, how's ur car after the service ?

Car is ok but I am still puzzled by the brake pad issue.(note: brake pad exhausted after only 7000km)

Oh.. Ok .. just calling to check on how is your car after the recent service.. Bye.


A typical example of calling for the sake of calling... No sincerity detected. It's jus part of the SOP.

Watch the butter dissappear..

This is Skycraper from The Red Beanbag.

Was trying to get the best shot to post in foodspotting.

Shot #1

As usual..I'm never satisfied with one shoot.

Shot #2

Ooopps..butter STAY!

Shot #3

Didn't realise butter was melting :D

Shot #4

Aik...where the butter??

Urticaria 2.0

A good thing about having a blog is I can trace back 'historical data' of my life quite easily, at least those that I've blogged about.  My hives (urticaria) friends returned to visit me recently.  Similar symptoms like before, they'll come early in the morning when I rise or in the evening, and will appear at certain parts of the body especially places where clothing are tight like the waist line, etc.

Tracing back in this blog, I developed hives back in 2010 during CNY.  I blogged about it in March.  It went on for quite a long time.  Chinese sinseh said that it was due to weaker body (immune system?) - he recommended some herbs.  The GP didn't have an explanation.

I met up with Jas in August the same year, she was introducing Usana health supplements to me.  Ya..one of those MLM you and I would say.  At that time I was already taking GNC's Women's Ultra Mega (as a multi vit), Fish Oil and Masquelier's Pine Bark as anti oxidant.  


I'm not a fan of pill popping though..but Jas' intro talk on Usana made sense and since I was having issues with hives for months..I decided to switch to Usana with an open mind. I took the 'recommended set'.  It comes with :


..the Essentials (Multi vits) - AO Pro and Chelated Mineral - 2 bottles - one pill from each bottle , 3x a day. But I only take once at most twice a day :D


..there was also a bottle of Proflavanol - as anto oxidant


.. Bio omega III as fish oil supplement


Ya..many pills to swallow!  I don't take all everyday though..one or  two types a day against the recommended prescription :P


So..with an open mind..I took the supplements daily..often 'forget' during weekends ..but I think it was regular enough,..and over months..the hives stopped.


I wasn't not sure if it was entirely because of Usana....since I wasn't sure..I didn't brag about it.  In fact I had problems finishing the products I had to stop the delivery.  


And..I slacked recently..I have not been taking the supplements regularly since December.  Also been out of Omega III before December.   ..and right..the hives re-appeared during CNY this year!  I resumed intake as regular as I could since 2 weeks ago ..and I haven't had any hives in the last 2 days...  


Hmm.. amazing?


Whatever is it..as age catches up. And our my current lifestyle doesn't make it easy / convenient for us to get healthy balanced diet all the time.  So I guess..it's worthwhile to take in some form of supplements to help the body out.

Sleeping is the best activity?

At least 2 persons had told me before that sleeping was their favourite hobby.  At that time I kind of disagreed cos I thought there are better things to do than sleeping.  But now..I can't help but look forward to sleep times.  I'd normally be tired and had to nod off around midnight latest.  At times I'd be so sleepy as early as 10ish..  

Uh-oh~  

Is that sign of old age?  Or my body is telling me something?

Another way to look at it...sleeping indeed is a good way to escape into wonderland.  That few hours we can shut down and be taken away to faraway land..away from our real life, away from whatever commitment, work, family stress?

It's been a cold rainy morning today.  Past noon now..but it's still very cooling.  Ahh..how nice to be able to snuggle in bed eh?   Nah...I haven't gone into that state yet.  Just feeling a little under the weather today.  Bad throat.

Really have to get back to 'work' *rolling eyes*

Sometimes I feel like the only time I'm 'awake' and 'alive' is when I'm working out.  What's happening to me?

Source: tumblrgym.tumblr.com via WSL on Pinterest

Pinterest

I have not been blogging and I know it.

And I don't really know why..

Don't wanna blog trash but there's really nothing much to blog about lately.

I've been on Pinterest though.  Can't really articulate what it is exactly..I'll just say it is a space where you can find thoughts, humor, pictures, graphics, ideas, well..actually everything and anything that Pinterest members decide to PIN.  Items that are relevant, funny, informative...will be repinned.

Here's my pinterest PAGE.

Funny..how the cyber space has change our life.  With Pinterest for example..do we speak less? talk less?

Will my blog have less original posts but more Pins?
If you noticed, the previous post was from Pinterest.  It does represent how I felt lately, though.



Okie dokie....time to bath the dog...s t r e t c h...but then..

Source: hilhombgaom.blogspot.com via Jeanine on Pinterest

Really..I am kind..

Source: tumblr.com via WSL on Pinterest

Lord of the Ribs!

The picture says it all..

No joke. This dish is really called Lord of the Ribs.

A whole rack of rib that is!

I think it's about RM110 but all other blogs stated RM98.

Anyway,,I think the price is quite worth it since its huge enough to be shared amongst at least 5 pax.

Other food were great too.

Highly recommended.

But I must warn you that it ain't any fancy place. Cosy yes..not fancy :)

Checkers Restaurant

19, Lorong Setiabistari 2,

Damansara Heights, 

50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2095 3304

Business Hours: 6.00pm - 10.00pm

Reservations is a must as the place is quite small but popular.

Lunch at home

Guess what.. I've been "creating" my own lunch. One good (or bad) point about working at home. You jus get too lazy to go out. Can save money too :)

Angel Hair Pasta Mushrooms and Pork strips

Recipe for above ?

Angel hair pasta

Mushrooms

Pork strips

Garlic

Salt

Cheese

Olive Oil

Nothing fancy actually..

Recent Coffee Adventures

Gone are the days where we were satisfied with a cup of home made instant coffee.

Gone are the days where we go ooh ahhh over Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 

Gone are the days where we go ummph over Ipoh White Coffee.

It's complicated.  While I still enjoy my neighbourhood coffee shops' Kopi, I cannot deny that I do love Latte and Cappucino equally and I crave for a good cuppa quite very often.  Despite the fact that they cost so much more than Kopi.

And, goody goody we are so blessed now that there are more and more cafe mushrooming around town serving very good quality coffee. Relatively cheaper too!! than "you know where".

Her are my recent top picks.  Absolutely brilliant ! 

I've just concluded that it's so true that .."when the coffee is good, you don't actually need sugar".

Cappuccino @  Jin Yi by Coffee Ritual
Price : RM7.00 (TBC) - tax free at the moment

My current favourite:

Jin Yi by Coffee Ritual

(Formerly known as Coffee Ritual)

I blogged about CR here and here

They have recently moved to a new location in D'sara Uptown - same row as Killiney.

Note that they are on the 1st floor.

Latte @ Coffee Chemistry
Price : Can't Remember, should be around RM7-9

 The latte was sooooo gooood that I couldn't resist ordering another one!

Baby Latte @ Coffee Chemistry
Price : RM6.00 - I think, cheaper than the standard size but stronger!

Coffee Chemistry Cafe

Went all the way to First Subang Mall to try.

I've gotta be a coffee junkie to go so far out just to try coffee =')

Latte @ The Red Bean Bag
Price : RM8 (TBC) 

The Red Bean Bag

Conveniently located at Publika

Should be a good place for breakfast too 

Cappucino @ Coffee In Love
Price : RM7.50 (TBC) - tax free at the moment

Coffee In Love

Definitely good value for money for such a big mug of good coffee.

Currently located at a very unique location inside a plant nursery at Sri Hartamas. 

Well, it's kind of hot and humid in our kind of weather..but it's really a pretty cool place.

Unfortunately, they are moving very soon...to Publika..I heard.

Ooh..all my favourite cafe are in Publika now \o/  Plan B, Red Bean Bag, Coffee in Love, The Bee..woo hoo~

Food for thought

 :)

The Balut

I just remembered that I've forgotten to blog about us eating the Balut . Ya,..I used the word 'us' , not 'me'.  

I only took a small tiny bite :D  so I can't even describe what it tasted like.  And I think I took the egg white instead of the most nutritious part, the embryo.  So...if I'm not mistaken it tasted like ...EGG lor.

Oh..it's actually fertilised duck egg boiled alive and eaten from the shell, in case you don't know.  

Some info from wikipedia:

The age of the egg before it can be cooked is a matter of local preference. In the Philippines, the ideal balut is 17 days old, at which point it is said to be balut sa puti ("wrapped in white"). The chick inside is not old enough to show its beak, feathers or claws, and the bones are undeveloped. 

The Vietnamese often prefer their balut mature from 19 days up to 21 days, when the chick is old enough to be recognizable as a baby duck and has bones that will be firm but tender when cooked.

Here's a clearer pic from wikipedia:

Read more about Balut - here

Euw...

Friends will be Friends

Had a nice meet-up with some good buddies from my first company today.  We've known each other for about 15 years!  Not easy to maintain such good long lasting friendship especially from work.

I'm blessed *heart*

Not only that, I also enjoyed an awesome Sunday evening playing badminton with two school mates (plus spouses).  The last time we played together was probably more than 20 years ago!  It's just awesome awesome to be able to play together again after so loooong.  What's even more amazing is we believe our skills are as good if not better than school days :D Secondly, from the pics that we took..we don't seem to have 'aged' :D:D:D

Lena which I don't meet so regularly (last met was about 2 years ago) looked damn good when she arrived. "Oi..how come you like you are still 14??" - I asked. Her answer was - "Hehe..I go to the gym mah"

I was like.."duh..I also go to the gym lor..but .."

Lols.. anyway..we had fun. Will probably do it again...with a few others hopefully.

A friend posted this comment in a pic of another gathering

"do you realize our friendship as x school mates are very different? we can chat & chat & chat like old buddies. and we don't actually meet up regularly..."

That's what the song meant by "Friends will be Friends".

Doesn't matter if the song is this :

or this : 

Haha..which one do you prefer?

I think the first one by Scooter is so much more fun =) 

Hair dryer

Hair dryers at one of the gym outlets are always out-of-order since the gym started operations many years ago.  At one time, there weren't any for some months.  It's slightly better now but the management put up a notice that says something like "Please use hair dryers for its purpose to avoid spoiling it.." something like that la. Whenever I see those notes I wondered how else can one use a hair dryer for? May be the hair dryer is low quality ler...

But today I understood..

There was a big group of "new or to be recruited" members in the gym for some trial sessions.  Huge group. I suspect they are from some college on some trial package or some college event.

All the hair dryers were taken when I came out of shower.  I took my own sweet time to pack and dress while waiting for them to be done.

But they were still not done when I'm done : / cos they were doing all sorts of drying with the hair dryers.

Saw one gal drying a small thin towel...that's acceptable..although.not quite appropriate.."go home and dry la"

Then there's this other gal drying her huge thick bath towel..some more change from one dryer to another~

Haiz..no wonder la..

Show up

Wasn't feeling well since yesterday, but I went ahead to meet an old friend.  2 out of 4 couldn't make it at the very last minute, I could have call it off but decided to show up anyway.  This friend comes back from overseas only about twice or three times a year but he always come all the way to meet us so I thought I should make an effort to turn up instead of calling it off.  We had a good time catching up.


Still not feeling too well today but I went ahead to the gym. And will be joining some friends to go visiting later this evening.  It's Friday..why not.


No problem with going out and about..but getting down to serious work stuff is another story..help~


Time to pay a visit to the sinseh again, the body needs servicing.

It has been a month..

Time flies indeed.
It's been a month since I left employment.

Been busy..can't remember what exactly kept me busy, most likely all the buzzing around in preparation to CNY. And the 'mental-burden' of juggling whatever fun, household chores, work related matters .. is actually quite tough.

You noticed that I update this blog less nowadays?

I wouldn't say that I've been extremely busy, let's just say everyday life had been different.  Those days' my main responsibility of the day is to report to the office and be contactable and answerable to whatever issues that arise and yay..I'm free as a bird by the end of the day.  So, I'd normally update the blog in between breaks or after work.  The office environment was also very conducive for me to pen down my thoughts.

It had been quite difficult for me to get into that 'mode' nowadays.

It has been tough trying to work in the house with all kinds of distractions - from my father's rumbling (sometimes incoherently), his TV volume, the weather, the food, the cats, etc.

But I noticed my father had been trying to adapt to having me around the house too.. he's been 'considerate enough' by lowering the TV volume when certain channels or programs gets too loud.  Most of the time I hog the dining table especially the last few days till late night, he opted to eat at the couch instead :)

I've been eating less too, I think.  Hope that helps to cut down the expenses and body fat :D

I go out less too, I think..hope that helps on travelling costs too $_$

ML asked if the change had affected my motivation to the gym ?  No..for now, thankfully.  Fortunate for me..I still look forward to a bc / rpm class every other day.  It keeps me going.. my body needs the regular workout to function properly.  I've always had weak blood circulation ever since N years ago after TM attack, I get nerve, muscle stiffness very easily when I'm inactive.  The recent back injury added on to my version of 'disability'.  So..I do need to stay active for healthy reasons.  May have to change / adjust the days / time or even the gym that I go to though simply because I won't be in PJ all the time for e.g.

Coincidentally, the gym had some changes in class schedules too.  The class that I used to frequent on Thursday evenings had a change of instructor.  Hmm.. it's going to be tricky. Even before the change I've been wondering if its worthwhile to still go all the way to PJ for the class (when I'm not in PJ).  But when you've been following the same class for many years, it kinds of become a part of you.  Now that there will be a brand new instructor..it gives me a reason to let it go? Find another slot?


Anyway, I have been slacking big time on the back exercises ... the routine got disrupted when I stopped having to 'leave the house early for the office'.  I've also been skipping my nutritious oat based morning drink..I've been skipping my multivitamins too.  Yikes..

So..my back hasn't been well.  Especially in the last few days cos I've been sitting a lot rushing out the report.

What's the story for February, I wonder.

Energiser Race 2012 is ON

Remember last year's disastrous Energiser Race at the Sepang Circuit?
I blogged about it here


In summary, last year's event was a total flop.  History is history, the team had done their best in damage control.  We closed the case with one question in mind - will we sign up again in 2012?

Many said  'Yes' .. simply because everyone deserve a second chance and we trust that with last year's experience, they will go all in to make this year's event an ultimate one.

Ya..I sound like I'm gonna sign up right?

But.

I just found out that it's 2012 race is gonna be held at the same venue - SEPANG CIRCUIT.

Yikes...!

That was my first reaction ~

Hmm... Energiser is really going all out to make up for last year.

But isn't it risky to choose the same venue again ?

Very brave decision but ... very risky I think.

If I'm Energiser,  I'd go for a fresh venue..everything fresh..no connection to previous year.

What say you?