Austin Family in KL

Thur 10 July 2014

Arrival of Mum and Dad as well as Abi, Anica and River at KLIA, late on Thursday night.

Fri 11 July 2014

We went shopping at Nu Sentral to look for Abi’s Perfect White Singlet as he and Dad did not manage to get them at Petaling Street earlier today.

Sat 12 July 2014

River is still adjusting to MY time and went to sleep on Sat morning. After a simple and delicious meal of spaghetti for lunch, it was time for a visit to a local tourist attraction: we went to the KL Bird Park.

With entrance fee of RM25, we decided to head over to the Islamic Art Museum to have a look at the free exhibit while Abi, Anica and River did the proper tourist thing - getting up close and personal with the birds at the Bird Park.

After that, we headed over to the Hartamas Shopping Centre to visit the optometry shop to ask for cleaning cloth. At RM20, it wasn’t cheap and is not the exact specification Abi was looking for. This might turn out to be another hard-to-find item, as difficult to find as the Perfect White Singlet that is on Abi’s shopping list. By the way, we bump into Bumble Bee as well.

Sun 13 July 2014

Family get-together: Visit to Klang to meet up with the Dad’s family members. We had a sumptuous lunch, which include suckling pig, prawns, abalone, fish maw and longevity noodles. River enjoyed the abalone, showing us that she has refined taste. 

After lunch, we were at second aunty’s place at Bandar Botanic, where River was thrilled to meet Honey. However her over-enthusiastic attempt to hug Honey may have traumatized the poor dog.

Mon 14 July 2014

We were just chilling out at the condo. After dinner, Mummy and I had a short walk around Brickfields to explore the nearby shops.

Tues 15 July 2014

Tourist must-do: Sample the local cuisine delight and enjoy the local sights. 

Translation: Dim sum brunch at Avenue K and a short shopping trip to Ampang Park where Abi bought his RM50 watch.

In the evening, it was time for River to get into the pool.

We had bah kut teh for dinner. Then it was Movie Night featuring “The Lego Movie”.  Has a nice song too: Everything is Awesome!

Wed 16 July 2014

Tourist activity: Visit to the Aquaria.

Grandpa’s treat: new toy for River.

Movie of the Day: Frozen. Another nice song: Let it Go.

Thur 17 July 2014

While everyone is enjoying dinner, yours truly is still stuck with “slave” role at the office.

Stayed overnight at Bikia’s condo so that we can have an early start to Penang the next morning.

Trip to Penang

Fri 18 July 2014

Everyone was up and about by 6.30 and we started our journey at 8.10 AM.

We had brunch at Ipoh, and arrived at Penang at 1.40 PM, and waited for the owner to arrive to pass us the keys for the rented bungalow. It is very spacious, 3 storeys with 5 rooms. With 7 adults and a toddler taking up 4 rooms, it was good getaway for our 3 days 2 nights stay.

After a short rest for everyone, we were off to the photo studio for our 5 PM photo shoot. While the ladies had their make-up done, the guys started with their photo shoot. At one point, River decided to go into her hugging mood. As I was next to her, yours truly was hugged tightly by her niece.

After the photo shoot, we had a nice Chinese dinner at Penang Street, recommended by Dad.

We took more photos at the bungalow before we headed out to explore the food area near Shamrock Beach.

Sat 19 July 2014

After breakfast, we headed to the beach where Abi, Anica and River played in the sea while the rest of us stayed in the shade and chit-chat. With Anica and River back at the bungalow and River having her afternoon nap, we headed out for lunch and had Indian food.

At 4.30 PM, we again headed out, this time to Gurney Plaza for some shopping before having dinner at the famous Gurney Drive.

Back at the bungalow, with River in her hugging mood, almost everyone had a hug from her including me, Grandma and Uncle Danny.

At 10 PM, we had our supper at the bungalow. This can’t be good for everyone’s waistline. Note to self: to have additional jogging sessions to get rid of the excess calories !!

Sun 20 July 2014

After checking out, we headed over to QueensBay to have lunch before dropping Beh Ling off at the airport.

Arrived back in KL at 5.30 PM, which is not too bad.

Mon 21 July 2014

With packing all done before 5 PM, Mum and Dad as well as Abi, Anica and River were ready to take the train to KLIA at 6 PM.

Before that, River demonstrated her signature pose (lying on the floor, with her arms spread out) when she was not allowed to go out the front door. Anica explained that River decided on this pose as the initial tactic of falling backwards and knocking her head was too painful. The second tactic of slowly sitting down before bursting into tears routine was perhaps too tame, so it has been refined to the “lying down on the floor spread eagle” and bursting into tears.

While being put into the stroller for the walk to the train station, River again burst into tears as she wanted to be carried by Mama. With Mama admonishing her “River no!” she went into sulky silence mode for the rest of the walk. 

At KL Sentral, it was a quick good-bye kiss for River and then everyone went in the entrance to catch the 6.15 PM train to KLIA. 

Sat 26 July 2014

Back to KK for the Raya holidays. We arrange for Hangout session with Austin, for Mummy to learn how to use the tablet (gift from Bikia after he bought a new tablet for himself) for the video call. There was a small hitch at the beginning. No audio from the tablet. In the end the mute icon appeared and it was pressed to unmute it.

Sun 27 July 2014

We had a second Hangout session as Grandpa couldn’t make it for last night’s session.

Tues 29 July 2014

Major milestone: Mummy manages to send out email on her own after reminding her that she needs to switch on the wifi before using the tablet.

Thur 31 July 2014

Back to KL and back to work.

July Family Photos

A picture is worth a thousand words. 

Although most of us were initially reluctant when Beh Ling suggested to have studio photos taken during our July Penang trip, the result was priceless and everyone was happy with the final photos.

Here are the family photos where all 8 family members are in

All the adults

Three men and a baby

Austin family

Mummy with Abikia & Abi

Just the girls

Looking Good

Good things in life don't come cheap. It costs $$$ to have these studio photos taken during our Penang trip, but I must say, everyone looks good !

While the ladies were having their hair and make-up done, the guys started their photo shoot session. Here are the results of our hard work, which would not have been possible without the help of our professional photographer Karen and main sponsor Beh Ling.

After a makeover by make-up and hair stylist...

Just chilling

Striking the CEO pose

The latest addition to the Lee family

World Cup Fever

Thur 12 June 2014

My colleagues are egging me on to choose the winning team for World Cup and I haven’t got a clue. Officially not a football fan and can’t understand what’s the fuss about 20 guys chasing a ball. 

The only football stars I know of are Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. With David looking this good, no female can claim to not know who David Beckham is.

As my colleagues are very persistent, I have to rely on my limited football knowledge of Ronaldo. Read that he has his own museum and is not as humble as Messi. Also he has been appearing a lot on TV, for KFC ads and a non-dandruff shampoo commercial.  Can’t recall the name of the shampoo.

Decided on Portugal as the winning team as they have the best footballer i.e. Ronaldo. 

Fri 13 June 2014

What ?? My favourite Friday TV programme shelved because of World Cup !! 

What am I suppose to watch on Friday nights ?? For the next four weeks !!

Sat 14 June 2014

Hmm… I guess I will just have to watch Netherlands vs. Spain because… there’s nothing else to watch on TV. 

Whoa.. what an amazing goal from Van Persie (just learnt his name). Ohh.. he’s good-looking too.  Suddenly football just became more interesting. Can’t understand why the crowd is booing whenever Spain guy has the ball and he’s close to the goal.

Sun 15 June 2014

Did some serious research about “World Cup Hotties”. It all started when I read up on some World Cup news and saw that one of the articles was about the football players that one should watched out for. The article started with …

We don't know much about soccer (or sports for that matter), but we do know who the hot players are!

This is just my cup of tea… so I continued reading the article and browsed the photo gallery.

Langerak (Australia)

Karnezis (Greece)

Torres (Spain)

I’m starting to think that this football thing can’t be too bad when there are so many good-looking hunks to look at. With their fabulous abs. Why didn’t I know about this earlier ??

Mon 16 June 2014

Argentina vs Bosnia Herzegovina, with Messi being the star of the match. He looks so much better with his shorter hair. 

Tue 17 June 2014

Germany vs Portugal. Luck was not with Ronaldo, with Pepe been given the green card and another player injured. The Germans meant business whereas the Portugese did not seem to be giving their all.

Watching Marvel Agents of SHIELD too. Very interesting episode where Ward and tech agent was sent into a mission with no extraction plan. And they didn’t know about the no extraction plan part.

Wed 18 June 2014

Brazil vs Crotia, which was the opening match. Guess this was chosen for the repeat telecast at 10 PM because the 0-0 result from Brazil vs Mexico did not have any goal-worthy moment.

The star of the match was Neymar, with the hope of the entire nation resting on his shoulders. And there is a guy called Hulk. His physique matches his name.

Thur 19 June 2014

Netherlands vs Australia 3-2. Spirited effort from the Australian team with two goals from Tim Cahill. Magnificent effort from Van Persie, Robben and Depay. These two teams were playing to win and it showed. A satisfying match with both teams putting their hearts and souls into it.

Tim Cahill

Fri 20 June 2014

Uruguay vs England 2-1. Suarez and his beautiful goals. I wouldn’t fault Team England for not trying, with Rooney scoring his first World Cup goal. Unfortunately Suarez was just better.  

Sat 21 June 2014

Switzerland vs France 2-5. The big news was Italy vs Costa Rica 0-1 meaning Italy is probably not going to make it for the last 16.

Sun 22 June 2014

Germany vs Ghana 2-2 so didn’t get to watch Messi in action for Argentina vs Iran 1-0.

Mon 23 June 2014

What ?! They are not showing the Portugal vs USA 2-2 match ??

I’ll just have to look at photos of Ronaldo instead of watching him in action...

It was Korea vs Algeria 2-3. No good-looking guys to get excited about…

Tues 24 June 2014

Was hoping to watch the Spain vs Australia 3-0 or Netherlands vs Chile 2-0 match but had to settle for the repeat telecast of Brazil vs Cameroon 4-1. Watched parts of it with Neymar being the star of the match, and watching Marvel Agents of SHIELD most of the time.

Wed 25 June 2014

Big news on Suarez having another meal, this time biting the neck of a Chile player.

Greece vs Ivory Coast 2-1. Watched parts of the game and saw the goal scoring moments for Greece. The second goal was questionable as Samares was awarded a free kick even though it was not the IV player’s fault that he fell. 

Mon 30 June 2014

Suarez finally admitted he did intentionally bite the other player. Which is what everyone had known since the biting incident took place.

Sat 5 July 2014

Saddest day in World Cup 2014. Neymar is injured due to Colombian knee to his back.

Message from Neymar to his fans (which includes me):

Brazilian people, players, staff, fans. This is a hard moment, and I don't have the words to define what's going through my head and my heart.

I just want to be back as fast as possible, when everyone least expects. I want to say thank you for the support, the love that everyone has shown for me, for all the messages.

I'd like to tell you all that my dream is not over. It was interrupted, but it goes on. My dream is to be champion.

My dream was also to play in a World Cup final. But it won't happen this time. I'm sure that they [Brazil] will win and be champions. And I'll be there, with them.

And us, Brazilians, will all be celebrating this.

With this inspirational message, I changed the wallpaper for my laptop to Neymar’s photo.

Sun 6 July 2014

Netherlands is in the final 4.

Fifa will investigate the incident that causes Neymar to be injured. We (Neymar’s fans) demand for justice !

Mon 7 July 2014

What ??!! The Columbian player gets off scot-free ??

What justice is this ? Does Neymar need to be paralysed for a more severe punishment to be meted by Fifa? What was the point of challenging him from behind and kicking him from the back when there was no way you could have retrieved the ball ?? 

Tues 8 July 2014

Will not dwell on the Brazil vs Germany 1-7 defeat. 

Sat 12 July 2014

Likewise for the Brazil vs Netherlands 0-3 match. News report mentioned that Netherlands showed compassion and did not go for the jugular. 

Mon 14 July 2014

Controversy abrews. Some thinks that Lionel Messi doesn’t deserve the player of the tournament award. Poor guy. Not only was he heart-broken that he didn’t win the World Cup, there are some who don’t think he deserves the next best award.

Can’t believe World Cup 2014 is over. Good news is that Neymar will recover. Bad news is that I have to wait another 4 years for the next World Cup...

Lionel Messi - Golden Ball Award

Columbia - Fair Play Award

James Rodriguez - Golden Boot

Germany - Champion !