Extreme Make Over….

I’m here to break the one-month silence. With all the feelings that mixed up and things that happened, I have no idea how to summarize it one by one. There were sadness, happiness, disappointment, satisfaction, depression and all the emotions adjectives that I can find in the dictionary. I guess I’m the good demonstrator for all the words. I want to go back to Fantasyland…. Can I? The world that full of joy and happiness, the finest and prettiest things that we can find, it’s all in there.

January 2006 marks a new beginning, a new chapter of in my life. I have written 24 chapters in the book and now I don’t know how to start writing the first paragraph of Chapter 25. Sigh…. Just like what Ainie mentioned in her blog that Karn and I always made fun of… mixed feelings – confused, frustrated…. etc

After Karn left to KL, my house was so empty and quiet, the office also seems less livelier than it used to be. The first week of January, I packed my stuff and moved to the table where she used to sit to be nearer to Ainie and Shah (my working partner). And one fine night, my cleaning habit came to strike me. After a tiring day at work till late night, I went back home and stared at the walls and surroundings. The cat that gave birth to 3 little cute kittens (one pure white kitten and two black kittens with small white spots) in Karn’s room just moved out the day before. Even cat and kittens also didn’t want to keep me accompanied. Sigh…So I guessed it was the right time to MAKE SOME CHANGES AT THE SOONEST. I CAN’T BE MORE MISERABLE THAN BEFORE! So there I went, took up my broom to sweep the floor and tidy up my stuff. Yes, I have bigger plan for the empty house. EXTREME MAKE OVER!! Muaahahaha…. I splashed water from bathroom, pails of it to the kitchen area and flooded the whole place at 1am!! I knew the neighbours will be wondering what happened to that “Anak Dara Cina”. “Buta-buta malam, buat apa bising-bising kat situ, main air??” I brushed and washed the kitchen area and the stubborn stains left by the previous housemates who like to cook oily stuff and never clean up the stove area. It was left empty but not the dirty spots. Cooking oil left for some time, it won’t be got rid off easily as it has become like candle form, sticky and thick. Oh ya, I used detergent given by Karn that she bought from Giant to wash her previous house that she stayed – toilet, bathroom. It was effective as she said, so I poured all the “acid” to the cooking area and yes, it helps 60% of the dirt and stains. Then I had to pour the water on the floor to the bathroom bit by bit as there was no water outlet system at all in the kitchen neither the balcony! After all done, I prayed that when the kitchen was dried, it will be sparkling clean. Hehehe…. I went to take bath for the second time on that night and went to bed. Result of it, skin on my feet was peeling off quite seriously because of the acid till now, but clean kitchen is more worthy!

As promised by Shah, he will lend me his car when he’s on leave for a week, I anticipated for the day to come when I can go for “Grand Shopping Mission”. Every night I went back, I’ll be walking around the house and sitting on my bed and brainstorming what to do and things to buy. As I failed to make appointment to do my hair on Raya Haji Day, I changed my plan to complete my adventurous mission! Hahaha… before I went to the battle field, I was fed by Dill’s Nasi Briyanni. Thanks Dill for sending over my brunch! You looked gorgeous in that outfit, but please send all your clothes to be altered, remember you are now Size S already!!! Muaahaha…. ;-)

I drove down to Skudai to buy my Chinese New Year Bus Ticket and it started to rain heavily. Got frustrated when the agent that I used to buy from said the ticket was only open for Singapore market, to be advised later and I was soaking wet. And another counter was closed, luckily I met an uncle who has available tickets and it’s non stop express service to KL! :-) I still remember while turning the steering to make a right turn to the town, I was typing a sms to the weirdest best friend. My driving skill was tested! Hahaha…. Tampoi Hypermarket here I come. Oh God…. No nearest parking lot and I didn’t have umbrella in the car, luckily I spotted an empty lot some distance away from the hypermarket. “Jen, keep running, reaching soon”….

I enjoyed shopping alone there. I took my own sweet time to survey around all the things that I wanted to buy and I was really happy that all I needed were there, except some stuff that I had to buy from specialized hardware shop. I’ll figure that out later. From kitchen items to DIY furniture and decorative items, I grabbed all into the trolley, but I was short handed of course. How to buy all the things and fit in one trolley, even if I have to use two trolleys, who’s going to push that for me besides myself? Left with no choice, I lined up at the crowded cashier for first round payment. Time seemed passed very slow, imagining slow motion movement just like in any action- packed movies, oh ya, Matrix’s famous scene where Keanu Reeves was avoiding the bullet. Hahaha…. Very chun! After paying about RM 500, I filled Shah’s car up with all my hunting. There was a lady waiting behind to park at my place, went to tell her “Sorry, Miss. I have to go back to the hypermarket later.” She left and another car came. I just couldn’t be bothered to say anything as I was almost finished arranging the stuff and go back in. Hehehe….

Second round, took the nice carpet, I couldn’t be so sure about it! But the tricky part was ermm… which cabinet? Which chair and table? Will them suit my living room theme? After some time, I made up my mind and proceed! Hehehe…. I spent 6 long hours in there and RM700 burnt, but I was full of satisfaction. I just couldn’t wait to set up my house and give it an extreme make over! Hahaha… soon… I’ll have free time soon…. *crossed my fingers*

I bought some buns for dinner after a tiring shopping experience. Initially thought of eating them while driving, but on second thought, with such a full house car, I must drive carefully, no distraction was allowed. I threw them behind the car bonnet, off I went. Somehow, just two km away, I was stuck in a massive traffic jam. Why?? I never experienced such slow traffic movement, if it’s because of public holiday, it wouldn’t be so bad, would it? It’s torturing as my stomach was making noise and I was so hungry. Many times I thought of getting out from the car and get my food from the bonnet. I wouldn’t affect the traffic because it only moved in every 1 minute interval for only 2 or 3 metres. I could only drive for about 2 km within 2 hours and I was starving at 10.30pm! Suddenly my foster sister called and invited me to her house. Oh no… starved Jen still have lots of work to settle and dying for a sleep soon after that. Please mercy me…..

Reached home at 11pm, carried everything that I hunted up to my house 5 times up the stairs, 10 times in total to be exact and all the things I carried were either in big pieces or heavy stuff. Feel like fainted but well, I’m an independent lady, I can do everything myself! Hehehe…. I pulled myself together and the joy was overwhelmed and the anticipation was high. Without turning them down, I took my bath and paid them a visit just to have some chit chat, while acting fresh and energetic in front of them. There went all my resting hours, could only reach home at 2am to sleep.

Days went by without Shah, I was used to handle most of the things alone without his present in the office. But during the period he was on leave, not only I handled my own tasks and things that we were responsible to, I have to take up his work to do, the new project that I partially involved in. Sometimes just feel like I was going to break down in no time, one week time to do everything alone was extremely tiring, especially when Mr. Trump came down to JB and my boss was around. I felt like tearing myself into pieces to focus on different things. Now officially I’m proudly to announce myself as the Miss Multitasking of the year! Sorry, Karn, I have given up the Miss Universe 2005 Title! Hahaha……although I like to be crowned as Miss Universe, I don’t like the person who gave me the honour, you know I know lah, none other than Mr. Moon Yam! Yucckksss….. hehehe…

A long working week (9th – 14th Jan) had gone but with the heavy work load, it never failed to make me feel like ages. As I was not going back to Singapore that weekend due to working Saturday and saloon appointment on Sunday morning, Ainie, Fazrul, Dill and I planned to pay bowling in IOI mall – the place where Fab 5 used to hang out after work and weekend. Just that now we don’t have Karn with us anymore. After the incident in Seremban where Fazrul drove his BMW car down the drain in front of Nasir’s in laws’ house after his wedding dinner, he was down with another unfortunate incident. His precious car front tyre punctured on the way to IOI mall and the culprit was a two inches nail! He called Ainie and me for the rescue but we were just standing there watching the monkey show when he stepped on the “dunno-what-tool” to loosen the screws. Well, this is the result of asking girls to help, I didn’t even know how to name the tool, let alone change the spare tyre! Hahaha…. Sorry sir, I forgot what you taught me during driving lessons 8+ years ago! Hahaha….

Bowling time….after finishing 3 games, feeling very exhausted and yet the Great Dil still didn’t show up. Her explanation – sorry babes, I was taking a nap and overslept! To Dill….. GGGRrrrrr……. Unforgiven… hahaha….. just kidding….My foster sister called again inviting me to her house for dinner with the kids because she and the husband were not around. At that moment I was thinking to give myself some time alone at home, especially weekend. I knew I’ll be the nanny there till they come back from town, and then my foster brother would take out a bottle of Hennessy or Martell…….. come, drink Jen Jen… top up…. till late night. I was sure I won’t be able to go back by 1am!! In addition, I got to get up before 9am for 9.30am appointment with Steph.

15th January 2006, I allowed myself to change new look after persuaded by Steph.

“Rebonding not so effective as you just dyed your hair 1.5 months ago. How about perm your hair?”
“Nevermind la. Just do the rebonding la. Perm ah? I’ll look like aunty la. I look very old enough for my age!”
“No la, where got old? See this Japanese magazine. Now it’s the trend to have perm hair, look at this girl, she’s 23years old. Isn’t it gorgeous?”

I was thinking…. Errmmmm… of course gorgeous, whatever hair on her face also nice because she’s damn cute and pretty!

“Ok la. This is my first time to have perm hair. Let’s try something new”

Clock was ticking…. 3 hours were over… the end result was…. Eeeerrrrrr……. Speechless…. Maybe I needed some time to get used to it, soon it will be fine. I have to learn to take care of my hair!

After borrowed the hammer, drilling tools and screwdrivers from Ainie and bought the curtain strings from the recommended hardware shop, I started my journey of extreme make over for the unlivable house on the fine Sunday afternoon with the hot humid weather! I started with the decorative items on the wall – Framed Paper Roses. Vertical? Horizontal? How many frames on one sided wall? What kind of arrange is nice? Ok done. I measured the length width, and the interval of each frame, perfectionist at work, so every single measurement must be accurate! Hahaha….hammered the nails on the wall to hang them up and switching colours until I was satisfied with it. I climbed up the chair to hit the nails on the window for curtain strings to get hold of the curtains given by my bro! yes, just nice! I sewed up the old purpled that I have washed to enable it to be hang instead of using hanger clips like what ex housemate did. It wasn’t nice at all. Door curtain for my bedroom was one of my favourite! :) Then I swept and mopped the floor again before I installed all the DIY furniture, because I want to make sure the house was clean before setting up the place! Colour box done, coffee table done, shoes rack done. TV set was shifted out to living room on top of the horizontal colour box and carpet was put in the middle and coffee table just right on top of it. Arranging some miniatures on the colour box, fake flowers in the vase, setting up the kitchen area, table and chairs, stove etc etc….. tidying up my new ironing room (used to be Karn’s room) etc etc….

After long hours of hard work, I finally did it. I have made the quarters just like a home to me! I was so happy and proud with my design, although it’s not up to Gary’s standard. He’s the architect cum interior design for my company, has exceptional sense of creativity! I just couldn’t wait to take the photo and show the world my new home! I couldn’t believe either that I had stayed in such terrible condition before. Just RM1k investment, I managed to cheer up myself at least for the rest of the stay in the “dungeon” for years to come. Wait a minute, did I say YEARS? Well, not sure if I will be here that long. Stay tuned!! You will know my updated whereabouts…..