Early in the Morning...

Since last week, I've been arriving early to work. As early as 7:00- 7:30 am. The feeling is great, even Mr. Smiley (my silent work companion) agrees with me. I've been wanting to change my lifestyle, to sleep early and rise early to watch the sun rise (yes, 6am). Now that I no longer have evening classes, I'm able to doze off by 10-11:30 pm! Good eh?

The benefits of coming in to work early:
1) It's quiet- gives u a piece of mind. You can read the papers, sip some tea before starting work.
2) NO TRAFFIC- yes, I work at Jln Tun Razak, my usual 1.3 hrs drive to work has cut down to 30 mins (the max)
3) Lower petrol consumption
4) Best parking space

Let me show u:
7:15- Arrived at work
7:17- Boot up my notebook
7:20- Watered my money plant and my neighbouring collegue's plants- with the remaining water in my kettle (It's ok to do that right?)
7:30- Went to the Loo
7:40- Fill up my kettle at the pantry, washed my cup (No queues, since I'm realllyy early heee)
7:50- Set my kettle to boil. Blog
8:00- Ahhh...nice steaming cup of Green Tea

In the past, I used to come in late (9:00-9:30am- my office hr starts at 8:45am), rush to my seat, quickly boot up notebook, boss asking this and that, rush to pantry, rush back to desk cause forgot my cup...you get what I mean la...

Have a great week people!

The Horror of California Fitness (Midvalley)

Yesterday, me and Kel went for the free trial at Mid Valley, with all intentions to try out the hip hop class (and me forgeting that I have BAD legs and hands coordination). Upon arrival, we was greeted by a consultant, filled in the usual forms and was given a tour of the place. The place is PACKED with people working out and 'walking' about. As we were close to being late for our class, we quickly collected the towels (they provide u a big and small towel, which is nice) and headed to the women's dressing room. Frankly, I hate the lockers! It's built in an odd 'F' shape, meaning the only usable place is the upper part of the locker. What happened to the conventional square lockers? Anyway, we got changed and head straight to the studio. Our hip hop class only lasted 10 minutes (yes we gave up) and decided to try out the stryder machine. There was hardly any unoccupied machines, noticed some of the machines were not 'oiled' as they were squeaking- v annoying. Non the less, we managed to have a good workout- didn't keep the time as we were busy chatting while swinging our legs hee. That's the beauty of having a Gym partner :P. After the fulfilling workout, we head for the shower. The shower cubicle is 5x smaller than the ones in RHB Gym- yes it was v stress to find place to hang my stuff. Got out and change, rush out and met the consultant. He was busy so we were 'entertained' by another of his collegue, which was rather RUDE. We asked about the 7 days free trial and he said it doesn't exist and it's only a 1 time trial (they obviously have not visited their own website). Asked about the RM35 for 6 weeks of workout+ 1 personal trainer session, he got a little impatient and said, if you feel u want to be healthy and work out, then why not sign up for a permanent package? Well, I didn't want to waste my breath to tell him that I've been working out in my office's Gym and was deciding on joining a fitness centre to try out the class exercises. By then, me and Kel were a lil bit pissed off (and hungry too), we gave him the 'we wish to consider further' and walked out. Instead of feeling 'relaxed' after a good workout, I ended up feeling pretty 'stressed' out. Probably caused by the crowd, queuing up for things, the 'red' around the centre and of course, the 'unmotivated' consultants . I'm sticking to RHB Gym- the best so far :)

Changing the World

...begin with yourself. Came across this topic in the Daily Bread yesterday- very meaningful, so wanted to share with everyone . Jesus told a parable about the problems of not seeing our own faults. He said, "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? First remove the plank from your own eye" (Luke 6:42).

It is easy for us to point out other ppl's fault and it takes a lot of courage to ask ourselves if it'sour own attitude that needs to be changed. Maybe it's ourself that need to apologise. Maybe it's ourself that needs a humble spirit. We can't change others, but with God's help we can change our own behavior. And when our attitude changes, it may seem as if others have changed as well.

To change can be a wonderful prospect,

Though often it's met with resistance,

The transformation begins within us

And will take a lot of persistance - Hess

When God works a change in us, He can change others through us.

'Fake' Apple Guava

Covered in The Star papers today.

My mom bought some at pasar malam a month ago, lucky we didn't consume any of it!

He said artificial colouring was used to fool the people into thinking that the guavas were jambu-apple hybrids.

He claimed that colouring agents brilliant blue and tartrazine were mixed for the light-green effect while carmoisine was used for red colouring.

Mohamed Idris said studies in Britain had linked tartrazine and carmoisine to temper tantrums, poor concentration, hyperactivity and allergic reaction in youngsters.

He said the Food Standards Agency in Britain had been reviewing the safety of such additives since 2000.

“Although the colouring substances are currently permitted under the (Malaysian) Food Act 1983, we need to question why fresh fruits are allowed to be coloured and modified?” he added.

Mohamed Idris said CAP had received complaints from foreign and local tourists who felt cheated after the fruits went bad within a day or two.

Apple Guava- what a con job!

My mom bought some 'apple guava' from pasar malam yesterday and this morning we realised it's merely guava cutted in the shape of an apple and dyed with apple essence! The fruit seller told her it is a new breed of 'guava and apple' fruit, and gave them a slice to taste. The slice they had was seedless and the guy sold them 3 'apple guava' for RM7. The plastic bag is now filled with fluorescent green liquid *eek*.

Looks like an apple?

Skinless guava stained with apple flavoured essence!.Product from Thailand.

Beware of what you buy in pasar malam.

The rugged cross...

We may not know, we cannot tell
What pains He had to bear;
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
—Alexander

(quoted from the Our Daily Bread)

Picture: flickr (by Cieleke)