Guess what?

I am 1 year and 3 days old!

^.^ To my fellow blogmates, it's been a fun and exciting year, looking forward to more adventure and mischief together.

Frugal Lunch Campaign!

In view of many of us complaining about our lack of funds and the shrinking value of our moolahs, me and my beloved colleagues will embark on a FRUGAL LUNCH CAMPAIGN!

Each week max 50 bucks, if mon-thurs we spend less than 10 each, friday we can celebrate with whatever left for the week to reward ourselves! :) And if we spent all on mon-thur, friday we go on a fast! :( Of course it will be bonus too when have generous souls to belanja us... muahahahaha...

Its not bad actually, below a list of venues to get us started. It can last us for 1mth (20working days) Any more suggestions for us?? Feel free to add on!

Lunch venue:

1. O&S (no yongtaufoo, no extra middle food to share)
2. CP tower Pan Mee
3. Happy Chef Chap Fan or noodles
4. Beef noodles (no tenderloin)
5. Village park (own food, no extra to share)
6. Uptown Lam Mee
7. Ang kee (only noodles)
8. Ho weng kee wantan mee
9. Sek 17 lucky restaurant pork ball noodles
10. Chicken rice (same row O&S)
11. Uncle Koo's curry laksa
12. PJ Utara foodcourt (near rothmans roundabout)
13. Soo Kee kuey teow ting
14. Banana leaf (own food, no sotong)
15. Purnama mamak
16. Brother chicken rice (no siu yuk/no charsiew)
17. State porridge (no seafood)
18. Paramount Chap fan (same row duck rice)
19. Prince cafe (RM9.90 set lunch)
20. BYOL (bring your own lunch)

Desperation time (last priority):
1. Macdonalds
2. KFC

we shall try to keep a diary of our frugal lunches and share pics with you wonderful supporters out there!

I know, I know. I’ve gone MIA for a while now. I’m sorry to our two…and only two existing readers of FabFour about my sudden disappearance. haha! Just that I haven’t got much to share ..heee!
Well, not up until yesterday at least, after watching the finale of the fourth season of “The Biggest Loser”

Check that that body out:

In case you’re not a fan of this famed weight loss reality TV show, “The Biggest Loser” airing in the US for many seasons already (where else would you find an endless supply of obese people but the States right?)

Anyway, her name’s Jillian Michaels, one of the hotter and sexier trainers from the TV show. Besides being known for screaming lovingly in the contestants’ faces, this sexalicious trainer has actually trained all the winning contestants in each season!

mmm… looove the tight and taut abs. Wonder what would I have to give to be half as fit as her. I’m saying half as fit..not even going to attempt to look as FIT as her.

I hope with this sudden detox trend that we’re all following, will motivate us to eat healthy, drink less and exercise more. Having said that I’m not planning to starve myself and binge on fruits, I need my staple to survive the day in office. I’ve chosen to take the easier option of going cold turkey on alcohol for one week (if possible two weeks) and see how it progress from there. Wish me luck :)

And if you’re interested, by all means join our health regime. There are plenty of detox program you can choose from- alcohol, fruit juice, lemon etc..by the end of the programme, we will reward ourselves with a getaway in Genting Highlands..Grand prize awaits you there! Wait no more..come join us!

Wedding Bells

Took my first non-family wedding job today. Had a blast, and I think I'm getting a hang of it. By the time Alex & Dot's wedding in October, I'm sure I would have leveled up to a semi pro already! :) *self loathing smug*

The one painful lesson that I learned from today's shoot was that, technolgy seems to always fail you at the best of times. I spent 4 hours after the morning "chum char" session to finish up the slideshow, and the restaurant didnt have the facilities to handle a laptop. And it was also my negligence not to make various file formats of the video.

Since the guests didnt have the opportunity to see the wonderful slideshow that I did. I thought that I'd let you guys see it instead. :)

Your thoughts and comments (especially nice ones) are most welcomed!

How has your labour day weekend been?

I went, They inspired, I painted!

Clear Skies - Arcrylic on canvas

@eleanorng & @yu11us asked me to join them at a friend's art pad on Saturday evening. Saw a few artists painting, and that inspired me. I had a few canvases lying around, and thought, I might give it a try. This is the resulting experiment. Not too bad for a 1st timer eh! Will see what else I can cook up! Thanks for the inspiration guys.

Earlier this week, I asked on Twitter, which of the seven days in a week, do you hate most. Mine was Blue Monday, and Where-was-the-weekend Sunday. Well, I'm going through the last few hours of the latter, and not looking forward to the former.

Spending quite a lot of time on Twitter and My Brute this weekend. Checkout this really simple Online RPG fighting game. http://cheemster.mybrute.com

Well, sigh, gonna end Where-was-the-weekend Sunday with an exciting FA Cup semi-final game between Manchester United and Everton! Have a good Sunday evening! And welcome Blue Monday :(

Oasis - Wonderwall (Live in Singapore 2009)

Apologies if the video seems to be abit shaky, as there was this sibeh tall ang moh standing in front of me so I had to put my hand way up high for that 3 mins plus. I think I was much better off that poor Plus One. She could hardly see anything with the sea of heads in front of her.

For those who didn't had the opportunity to head down for the gig. Here's one of three videos that I took. As all these were taken in HD, it takes me FOREVER to upload one video. More to come!

Videos were taken with the Panasonic Lumix LX3 thanks to www.markteo.com

The Pantry Tour

Our office pantry is bursting with food.

After a season of drought (ie. no food), it seems like we've arrived at the land flowing with milk and honey.

Come, let me give you a tour around the pantry.

(They don't call me the Pantry Inventory Officer for nothing. Gotta do my job.)

Ice cream in abundance. And not just any ice cream kay, this is premium quality, various-flavours kind of ice cream.

The in-house favourite? Jamoca Almond Fudge. *ahem ahem hint hint*

Next, the famous Him Heang pneah all the way from Penang.

How can you forget, good ol' MAMEE. Brings us back to our schooling days. Comes complete with Optimus Prime stickers.

Japanese rice crackers. Look, even the packaging tells you to 'WANT WANT' it.

We don't only have Jap crackers, but we beli buatan Malaysia. Keropok Ikan Segera. Not Cap Kaki, not Cap Tangan, but Cap Mangkuk dan Keropok. Hahaha!
And if you need the assurance, ia "Boleh di makan selalu."

Show me the lurve.. Love letters. My favourite to start each morning. I have at least 6 everyday.

And our latest addition: DUNKIN DONUTS!

Never knew Dunkin Donuts had these funky-looking donuts, square-shaped and got sesame seeds some more.

You tell me, you tell me, how not to gain weight with a pantry like this???

Till the next update,
Your Pantry Inventory Officer.

What's the story? Morning glory!

I'm actually typing this on the way back to KL. Yesterday's Oasis concert was nothing short of pure awesomeness. If only I had mobile web access, this would be posted up right away. Sadly, by the time this gets posted, it would have been many many many hours later. Inspired by cyber-red, here's my own haiku:

What's the story? Morning glory,
The British boys were around,
And boy did they rock the house down!

Packed was the freaking stadium,
But hot it was not,
Unlike our very own Stadium Negara with no air, no air!

Gigs are of pure awesomeness!
But only if I go alone, and not "alone",
Just so that the focus in on stage, and no where else!

Distraction is what i need,
A target to achieve,
A mission to accomplish.

Short fun trip it has been,
Loving the island more and more,
So lets not look back in anger anymore.

My new found friends! (Plus one's kakis)
The Brit boys thick in action
Liam Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Awesome stage man! PURE AWESOMNESS
Amazing light display!

All images in this post were taken with the all mighty Panasonic Lumix LX3 courtesy of my good buddy, Mark Teo. Check out his amazing photography at www.markteo.com.

Mel's review of first quarter 2009

Yeeeeshhhh!!! We just bid farewell to the first quarter of 2009 and jeng jeng jeng......i've achieved my weight-loss goals!!! Clap clap clap... thank you thank you thank you....

So you see, i need to shed off at least 40kgs which sound totally unachievable :( BUT when i break it down.... like this:

two years = 40kgs
1 year =20kgs
1 year = 4 quarters
1 quarter = 3 months = 5kgs
1 month = 1.66666666kg!
1 day = 0.05555555kg!!!!

see! totally achievable eh! and...... i lost EIGHT kilos!!!!!!! clap clap clap....

now onto some proof of my weight loss... hehehe...

this was end of last year when i was in india! yesh... i was 124kg! omegosh!! no wonder i'm always tired and sleepy :p

and.... tada!!! this was me beggining of March....can see abit of improvements right? hehe

and this is my fav photo so far!! no double chin!!! yayyyy!!! good photo by cheem!! hehehe

oklahh... now to my ice cream! oops... after achieving 8kgs... can reward myself abit lar right? :)

Instant Gratification

Someone on the Lomographyasia Forum posted this really cool idea of using instant film in a TLR. Tried doing it but the results were'nt that great. So what I did was experiment abit further, and loaded the instant film into my Diana F+ instead. The results! Same dreamy Diana effect, but you get to see the pic in 90secs!! The only shot that turned out right from the pack of 10films though. Lots more to learn.

Taken with Instax Mini 7s in a Diana F+, the image still has that dreamy Diana effect.

I've submitted this image in one of the Lomographyasia contest. If you feel like voting for me, click on the image to go the competition page. VOTE FOR ME!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

Still second fastest! :p

93 words

Typing Test

Still slower than our only reader! :(

Sunburst KL 2009

The awesome stage that was built by Clef
Well, as mentioned in my previous post, Sunburst KL 2009 was just pure awesomeness. All the bad thoughts and cussing before the festival itself has gone out the window. Only until the very next day. The organisers got themselves into a lot of trouble when N.E.R.D. canceled their Jakarta gig (Sunday) on that very morning, citing that they did not want to experience the same treatment they had when they were in Msia. Apparently their passports were held on to by Msian authorities as the organisers did not have the proper permits for them to perform. Ah, who cares about that eh! As long as they put on a f'kin good show, and I had a f'kin good time! Hell yeah! Now, the organisers were in quite abit of trouble in 08's festival, when festival goers snapped pics of the artists on stage shirtless. So this year, they were really strict with the "No-Camera Rule". Funny thing is, they feel that only DSLRs are capable of taking pics that are worthy to be uploaded on the internet to be of a threat to them, hence compact cameras and every other phone that has a friggin camera attached to it is allowed into the festival! With a stroke of luck, and a few really good friends (who risked their lives), I managed to smuggle my gear in, and here are some of the pics on that night! ENJOY!

Nidji from Indonesia

Local boys - Butterfingers

Instruments from the heaven above!
Plus One and DJ Bunga

She complained that her head is already so much smaller than mine, summore must hide behind the television! O_O|||
Da man with da master plan! Pharrel from N.E.R.D

Crowd surfing was mandatory as ORDERED by Pharrel.
The chicas that were invited on stage....damn you Pharrel!
Lets all do the Star Trek Sign!

She aint letting go of you man!

The rock gods themselves!
Jonathan Davis
Fieldy
Munky
Twilight Action Girl ending the night - DJ Bunga
DJ Xu

Waves farewell to Sunburst KL 2009, as I dont think we will be seeing the daylights of Sunburst KL 2010!

Quickie

Really need some much deprived sleep. But just had to jot this quick update before I head off to Lala land.

Sunburst was all in all....LEGEND.....wait for it DARY! All thanks to N.E.R.D and the rock gods; KORN. Was worth every single cent that I paid for the ticket, eventhough phone calls offering me free tix came in the moment i agreed to buy the tix! :( Security was really really tight, and they were body searching the guys (yes, touch beckside as well) so I asked Ms. JJ Tan if she could help me smuggle my camera in. Which she did! Albeit getting into trouble with the security and subsequently her colleagues. So yes, I owe her BIG TIME. Managed to snap 1000++ pics, so give me some time before I upload them ya.

Pharrel and N.E.R.D put on such an engaging performance, that I believe everyone there was jumping to every single beat man. KORN was just PURE AWESOMENESS! Jonathan Davies apologised, as they took 15 years to come to Malaysian shores to perform. Well ofcourse, with all the restrictions that they have, I am pleasantly surprised how they let them in this time? I think the organisers were rolling in their graves as N.E.R.D and KORN broke every other rule there was in the rule book.
Constant use of profanities on stage - CHECK
Removing clothing item on stage - CHECK
Letting fans from the crowd to come on stage - CHECK

IT WAS FRIGGIN AWESOME!

To end the quickie, I thought that I'd share this really funny thing that happened on Twitter. Ms. Salad Bowl hair uploaded a twitpic to show me what a batterless tempura looks like, and this was the image she uploaded.

She uploaded a pic of poor ol' Plus One. And here I was thinking of giving up battered tempura! :(

Vote Earth!

Taken from the Earth Hour Website:

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Let's all play our part. I'll be making sure that my family not only switches off for that one hour. But also to be more mindful in their everyday routine to switch off whatever they are not using as well. Join me in this great cause!! And click the banner above to sign up!

Tickle your tastebuds

2 down. 2 more to go. Sleep must. Rest needed. Run tmrw will be!