Muah Chee's disappearing act

My hammie Muah Chee scared us by pulling the disappearing act from his cage this morning!

We went for breakfast and came back. Dad wanted to go disturb him and then he said Muah Chee is not in his cage. I thought he was hiding in the tube but no sign. And the gate to his first storey was not secured! Must have been me! I was cleaning up yesterday and I forgot to fasten it. How absent-minded of me.

We tried to hunt for it in the storeroom, under the sofas, behind shoe racks. I was worried that if he had gone to the kitchen, chances are he would fall into the drainage. I was thinking hard how to attract him if he was still surviving in the house.

Suddenly dad saw him and called us. I asked dad not to move so that Muah Chee won't run off! I tiptoed to where dad spotted him (beside our shoe cabinet) and there he was....standing there and looking up at dad! Hahahahaha...I slowly moved towards him, trying not to scare him into running away, then I caught him. I was so afraid he would bite me but I didn't care, rather than having him run away. Thank goodness he didn't bite. So I closed up, caught him and brought him back to his cage.

He dropped from the table top and I was worried he might injure his little limbs. Am still observing to see if he's limping. Looks ok so far leh. :)

29 Dec 2008 (10.24am)

Where is she?

Been searching for Xiaohei since 24 Dec afternoon. No sign of her at all! I went there 3 to 4 times yesterday at different times, and today about 3 to 4 times also. Getting worried again. I really have no idea where she could have gone to. We searched the benches, the bicycle parking area before the lift lobbies, shook the food container but ended up attracting other cats. Each search ended in disappointment and more worries.

I really miss my dear Chantek Xiaohei. She has been a princess at my block for a long long time and protected with so many people playing with her and patting her. Now they have suddenly relocated her to a new place. Could she have been living in fear and hiding somewhere I can't see?

Why can't people tolerate her? What kind of characters do these people 'possess'? What make them? She doesn't bite, she doesn't disturb. I am on the verge of swearing at them.

What other clues can I get from Town Council to help trace her whereabouts? I am really feeling very heartpain for Xiaohei. Will I ever find her and see her again? I really hope so. Ha, I will smack her backside if I find out she is enjoying life while I am here crying over her disappearance (I'd rather it's this). I just want to know she is well. I really can't let go. Too painful.

Wonder who and what can help me find her. Really miss her. Every time I come home, I still have the habit of looking around to see if she is running towards me or glancing at the door to see if she is trying to sneak into the house.

She is really a part of us. Will keep on looking for her.

26 Dec 2008 (9.50pm)

Search for Xiaohei begins

The Town Council has replied to assure us that Xiaohei has not been put to sleep and asked for my contact number so that they can contact me. They didn't call so that I called the Property Officer who was always not available.

Finally she returned my call yesterday slightly past 11am. She said that they had brought Xiaohei to another block and release her there. The block is just across a street to ours. I was hopeful again. She commented that Xiaohei is very nice cat, doesnt bite. But they couldn't help it due to complaints. That I understand. I just want to find Xiaohei. I shared that I was very worried they would kill her. The officer replied that they are not so cruel to do that. I should have probed more as to who brought her there and which part was she let off exactly, etc but I didn't as I was full of excitement to know where to start looking for her now.

As we were given halfday on Christmas eve, I came back and decided to share this with one of my neighbours who loved Xiaohei very much too. I went to their home and told them. They also thought Xiaohei must have been caught and put to sleep. The mum told me their daughter was also very worried about Xiaohei and almost wanted to cry. They said they would go find her when they go out later.

I went home waiting for hubby to come back, then we went to those cluster of blocks to try to hunt for the silly gal at about 3-plus pm. We saw other cats but no sign of Xiaohei. We even asked one man who was feeding those cats there. As our description of Xiaohei was not very accurate so didn't really find out much. I was so stupid to have forgotten to show him Xiaohei's picture from my handphone. I brought with me the bunch of keys and the container of food and we shook those while walking hoping to attract her, as that was what we usually do when she was at our place. Whenever she heard those, she would come running to us. Anyway, after the first round, I was disappointed. My hope was raised when I found one at our next block thinking it was Xiaohei. After scrutinising it for a while, we confirmed that wasn't Xiaohei.

Had actually wanted to go with hubby again early this morning to find her again but he had to go driving range last minute, so I went on my own after he left at about 6am. I wanted to try at different times of the day. I went round those 4 blocks and carpark but still no sign. So after half an hour, I walked back home, disappointed and worried once again. Later on when's it's brighter, I will go again.

I hope she hasn't ventured out of those areas. I also hope she hasn't gotten into fights with or chased away by those existing cats there.

My poor Xiaohei, where is she? She will be the best Christmas gift if I find her today.

Bless me, bless Xiaohei.

25 Dec 2008 (7.15am)

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas again! Wishing one and all a Joyous Christmas, enjoy your day and relax!

HoHoHoHoHo....

25 Dec 2008 (6.58am)

Xiaohei Kungfu

Tough moments

(For those who really don't like to read my rattling about Xiaohei, please bear with me. I will post quite a bit here for the next couple of weeks at least, amongst other things, since I can only bear my sorrows and pain here. And if you do see me, don't talk to me about her yet, cos I am really upset and can't talk about her at the moment. Thanks for the understanding.)

I mentioned in one of my previous posts that this is the worse Deccember I have encountered. Jinx! What more can I say with the apex being the loss of Xiaohei. The year end is totally destroyed.

Think she is really gone. But I just wanna know where she is. Make sure she is ok. I miss her and worry about her a lot. There is no closure. Thinking about her makes me wanna cry but I can't express this to the two men at home. I can only manage things myself because I will probably only receive 'needles' from them. I am feeling terrible enough, don't need them to add more to the pain if they have nothing nicer to say. I can do it alone. I admire those who can take it so easily. I wish I can too because emotion burdens are very tough to handle. But that's the way I am. In my next life, I hope I can be a little cold-hearted.

Anyway, I am not going to let things end here. I had written to the town council to ask them what action have they taken against the cat, if they are really the ones behind it (in order to appease complainants). Had actually wanted to just go down to ask (since TC is just downstairs) but I am sure I will just break down in front of them. They had better reply to me within the 7 working days, as stated in the return email. And if they had brought it somewhere, they had better tell me where!

I wonder if I complain about people urinating in the lifts and stairways, will they boot out the culprit as well! And if I complain about my neighbour's dog barking, will they boot the dog out? Complainants always win, don't they?

The people who hate get their way, the people who love have to suffer in silence. Just because the cattie doesn't have an owner. WHAT THE HECK!!!

I am feeling so bad also because I am unable to protect her; because I never speak up for her (though dad did, to the TC people who came); because we 'chased' her out of our house when she entered; because I was unable to train her to poo and pee in the litter successfuly; because I was unable to make her go down to the void deck, where she had always been. Did I cause her harm indirectly? I really hope I wasn't her jinx, from the day she stepped upstairs. If I was, I am so damn sorry.

The silly gal - wherever you are, I am thinking of you and love you. Hope you are being well-taken care of and have other friends to play with. Don't fight! When I know where you are, I will visit you. :)

The state of dad's slippers outside our house. This is Xiaohei's claw scratching tool. She loves this pair of slippers. In the mornings, dad has to 'fight' with her for the slippers. Hahaha...

21 Dec 2008 (9.27am)

Xiaohei is gone again

I hope this time it's not for real.

She hasn't been seen since yesterday afternoon.
She didn't come back in the evening for food or drink.
She wasn't back by night.
She wasn't at the door when I opened the door to check at 3.00am.
She isn't at the door meowing this morning when I opened the door.

Is she really gone for good?
If she has just left us on her own accord because she has found a better place or has grown tired of us, I am fine.
If she has left because someone else has adopted her, I am fine.
If she has found a better place to play and wondered off, I am fine.
But if she has been caught by Town Council or someone else, for that matter, then I am very worried for her.
But how am I to know?

It's no use talking to the two men at home because whatever they say doesn't help to alleviate my worries and fears.
They make me feel worse. So I refuse to talk to them about this.
They are attached to Xiaohei too, but they are being practical, which I cannot accept at the height of my heywire emotions.
During Xiaohei's last MIA for the afternoon after Town Council visited, I was terribly worried too and was being 'told off' for getting too attach to the cattie. One say if she is going to be caught, let her be; the other say have already told me not to get too attach.
They are right, I am wrong; but I can't help it too.
WTH! Emotions ain't something you can switch on and off anytime anywhere, especially when you have a 'messed up' brain like mine.
I can't make anyone understand my feelings of why I get so emo over a cat.
She is just a cat, they say.
How do I know? Ask my brain!
Looks like I have to be worried and sad all by myself over this 'stupid' thing.
But I hope I am just worrying over nothing.
I am still waiting for the meow when I open the door.

If she is gone a wondering or at someone else' place, I hope to know where she is so that I can go see her.

If she is caught because of the complaints, then bless those who have directly or indirectly caused her to be captured.
I detest them!

I hope to know what's happened to her, but at the same time, fear to know what's happened to her.

Dear Xiaohei, if you are not coming back here again, know that we love you so much, wherever you are. But I still hope you will be back later, okie?

20 Dec 2008 (7.08am)

My Top 10 Irritants (Top no-nos with essentially zero tolerance)

1. People who yak yak yak non-stop into your ears. Essentially, there is no way to find the 'full stop' for you to intercept the conversation and you just have to bear with it till the speaker stops. This is really tiring.

2. People standing in the middle of the path you are walking when there are other places for them to shift their butts too.

3. People who stroll in front of you in a narrow path; or walk in twos or threes in a row, thus blocking the path. I wonder when they will look behind to realise they are hogging!

4. A wet kitchen - I still do not understand why some folks let the water drip off their hands to the floor when they can at least wipe off the wetness. The person who steps on the water will leave their wonderful foot prints, together with the dirt, all over the house.

5. Oily surfaces or floors - I can tolerate dust to some extent (and wet surfaces) but am very irked by oily places. Washed utensils that are still oily is also not acceptable. Some households have got oily table cloths (used to wipe off oils from tables, etc) that are not washed properly.

6. Finding the slippers meant for the bathroom/toilet outside it, at least at my home. Why can't people just leave what is meant for thetoilet inside the toilet??

7. Screaming kids - This can be in the form of a bunch of playing kids, or kids who are simply naughty. Whichever form it is, my whole body will tense up when I encounter such situations. Even one horrendous screaming child can cause my tension to accelerate. Even while writing this paragraph, I could feel my ears narrowing.

8. People following too closely behind me making me the road hogger. I will always walk to the side to get rid of the irritant behind.

9. People who distributes flyers. We are getting more and more of such people sticking out their hands in your paths. It is really very very very....and very irritating! Get off my way!

10. People trying to rush up trains and buses even when they are not crowded! Simply cannot understand. Crowded, they rush. Not crowded, also rush.

13 Dec 2008 (9.00pm)

Our celebration

Too tired to play with computer for the past 2 days. So didn't post this photo I took on 10 Dec. So these were our dinner in celebration of my wedding anniversary and dad's lunar birthday. Crab crab is yummy yummy. We also ordered fried mee suah as dad's birthday dish. Heh heh heh, are you salivating now??

13 Dec 2008 (1.54pm)

Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday

Today's double happiness and cause for double celebrations! So what's the occasions?

First, it is my 3rd wedding anniversary and also my dad's lunar birthday. We are gonna eat out tonight...perhaps have chilli crabs and fried mee suah! Heehee...

Can't believe it's already 3 years.

Gongxi gongxi...

10 Dec 2008 (8.57am)

My hair and me

For the past months, I thought I saw a trend in the way my hair 'behave'.

On work days, my hair curls all over the place and hair sticks out like I am a crazy woman. No matter how I blow or comb, it will also get to the messy stage.

But then, on weekends, it is neat like never before. No matter now I slept the night before, the curl doesn't get out of place and I feel very comfortable.

Any explanation? Or even my hair knows my mood and behaves accordingly? Heeheehee....


8 Dec 2008 (8.01pm)

A relaxing Saturday walk

I realise I have not been to Carrefour for years and thought, hey why not go today with dad. So off we went. The overhead bridge linking Citylink to Suntec City is now replaced with an underpass....and still it is a long walk!

Nice X'mas Tree at Suntec City!

I was trying to capture the 'water fall' but it's not very clear. It's really nice - just like the water is glittering.

At the Koi Garden.

We bought a $2 pack food for the Koi but well, they didn't really seem interested. May be due to two reasons - they have been overfed, or they are too fat to jump at the food, unlike the young ones. Years back when I visited, the Koi were mostly small ones. But today, they are all (I really mean ALL) big and fat!

6 Dec 2008 (8.40pm)

8 Most Undesirable Traits in Men and Women (my version)

8 Most Undesirable Traits in Men:

1. Petty
- Complains about nitty-gritty things under the sun. Such kind will keep yakking and yakking till you feel like slapping him.

2. Stingy
- Counts every pounds. Will certainly dampen people's moods when shopping.

3. Unable to keep P&C matters P&C
- Insensitive to people's needs to keep certain things private. Better keep mouth shut if you don't want the whole world to start knowing about the most private things in your lives.

4. Gossiping
- This is certainly like a woman's trait but it seems awkward to hear it from a guy. Ok, ok, some gossiping is normal, but some carry it too far and you can see how engross they are when they start to gossip.

5. Mums
- I don't mean 'quiet'. I mean men who hang the 'mummy this, mummy that' phrases on their lips. It is utterly irritating when overdone. Certain things can be verbalised at its minimum, while keep most in the hearts.

6. Obnoxious
- This is an absolutely unattractive trait. They boast, they talk big and they behave as if they know everything under the sun. Even if they are that smart, their behaviours will negate everything.

7. Chauvinist
- Men who think they are the superpower on earth and the other gender is pinned under their thumbs.

8. Yes-man
- Men with simply no guts to make occasional rejections to people, whether at work or at home.


8 Most Undesirable Traits in Women:

1. Tantrums
- Too frequent tantrums irritate the hell out of people around. (I hope I am not one of them)

2. Petty
- This is an undesirable trait both in men and women. Pick on the tiniest things on earth. A certain level of magnanimity is ideal. (I hope I am not talking about myself)

3. Rumour-monger
- Frequently spread remours about the most insignificant things about people, talk behind people's backs, gossipping, etc. Such are people who try to create havoc on earth.

4. Arrogance
- Walk with their eyes on their heads. Best to ignore them. Paying attention to them will only heighten their sense of arrogance.

5. Temperamental
- This can be due to many factors, namely a personal characteristics, life's stresses, medical conditions, etc. To a third party, the reasons may not be important as they only see the behaviour. Thus, this can be quite a damaging trait if done to the extreme.

6. Picky
- Especially when shopping. Will check things from outside in to inside out. Not that checking is wrong, but some things can really be ignored if they are insignificant. For a simple item, they can check till the cows come home and they still don't feel secure.

7. Insensitive to others' feelings
- Such are people who don't give face when criticising, especially to men. The words just get out of the mouths without much thought and filtering.

8. Indecisive
- Toggles between ideas, jump idea to idea, ask for opinions, but still cannot reach a conclusion. If others are involved in this decision-making process, will definitely create hell for everyone. (Phew, I have not gone to the extreme yet)

Of course, as human beings, we may show some of the above traits every now and then, here and there. But to overdo it and to carry it to the extreme will really make one undesirable. That's what the lists refer to - Extremes. Don't you think so?

6 Dec 2008 (10.09am)

Husband of hostage killed in Mumbai recalls last few agonising hours

I couldn't help it but was very touched by Michael Puhaindran's statements, as published in the Channelnewsasia website on 3 December 2008. It was a very sad but also very sweet account by him. I have extracted from the website to place it here.

The most touching sentence to me was: "....if I don't make it out of here I love you all."

A video clip is also available.

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Their final few weeks of marriage were truly the best time of his life. Breaking his silence for the first time, husband of Singaporean hostage Lo Hwei Yen killed in the Mumbai attacks, Michael Puhaindran gave an insight into the life of the 28-year-old.

Puhaindran proposed to Lo in the Maldives within eight months of meeting her.

He said: "Everything I did, I did for her. My whole life revolved around her and she truly was the meaning of my life."

But after a beautiful Bali wedding, things went horribly wrong last Wednesday.

The first sign of trouble came when Puhaindran received a call at midnight Singapore time when Lo heard gunshots while having dinner. "

About 15 minutes later, she or I called. We spoke. She said she was in a stairwell on the 10th floor and she was with security and some staff, and they were waiting for the police," he said.

After that phone call was a few agonising silent hours of waiting.

Then came another call in the early hours of the morning which confirmed Puhaindran's fears.

"She was talking in a very steady voice; she was extremely brave. Her voice didn't even waver. (She said) that she was being held hostage by gunmen and she said they were armed with machine guns and grenades," said Puhaindran.

He contacted Singapore authorities.

Then came the final call.

"She said they said they still see activity, still in a very steady voice and still talking to me. I was trying to remain calm as well. Only in her last sentence, she said 'please tell them to hurry up'. And that's when I couldn't really take it, and said that I love her very much, and she said the same thing. So at least the last words I said to her were those words," Puhaindran continued.

Puhaindran recalled her last final e-mail.

"This one came in about 6.36 am Singapore time. She ended off by saying if I don't make it out of here I love you all. Despite everything she was facing, she still had the strength and courage to tell her friends she loved them. I do want you to tell people she was a brave Singaporean," Puhaindran added.

Finally on Friday, he was let into the Oberoi hotel.

He said: "They were still detonating grenades. Initially they did not want us go back but MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) got us permission to get to the 19th floor. Everything was pitch black because there was no electricity. The floors were slippery. I think the sprinklers must have gone off. Then (they) showed her to me and I was able to touch her cheek and she still looked very beautiful."

While questions remain unanswered about the siege, for many like Puhaindran who lost loved ones during the terror attacks, picking up the pieces from here will now be hardest.

"She would want me to live my life but it's going to be very hard,” said Puhaindran. -CNA/vm

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6 Dec 2008 (7.26am)

Is it suppose to be cold or hot this year end?

This was the condition at 11.38am yesterday morning. It became gloomy for a while as we were on our way to lunch, then came the wind and the rain. It didn't rain for long.

What happened after that? The weather became hot like crazy.

What a funny kind of climate for a year-end. Isn't it suppose to be cold, coupled with frequent rains?

1 Dec 2008 (4.08pm)