Hello all! So my next big purchase is a house! I’ve been thinking about it for awhile. I’ve been renting and moving for the past 8 years…its time to call some place my own! Although its not going to happen in the next year…it is a project I’m completely dedicated and excited about!

I already know that I want it to be single story and preferably a small plot of land for the dogs to run in. Sounds impossible to get around KL but I’m looking further out too. I’ve started buying all these property magazines and interior design books! Some of the things I’ve read I’ve had to look up in a dictionary to understand! I’m also one of those sad people who drives around neighbourhoods on Sunday, looking at houses for ideas. Hahahaha

Whew! It’s hard work. It makes me think if I’ll ever find what I’m looking for! How long will it take and will I convince myself to get something I don’t really want out of desperation! And to top the list off…price!

It seems a long, personal journey to find that nest in the forest! But it will be so worth it when that day comes! Here’s hoping!

A good weekend to all!

I’ve decided that I’m going to spend the rest of the year trying to see more of Malaysia…so forget about going to Bali or Thailand…look for that little piece of paradise right here! To be honest, because of work, its not easy to always ‘get away’ but sometimes something as small as a day trip will help you get through a difficult week.

I’ve never been to Redang of Perhentian before and as soon as it opens, I hope to plan a trip down! Since I discovered Pangkor and its white sandy beaches I’ve lusted for more awesome discoveries! I’ve gone online to look at Malaysian islands and there are loads…far more than I thought there were.

It reminds me of a New Years Resolution that I made with a girlfriend one time. We decided to do something new that neither of us had experienced ever, once a month…so by the time the year was over, we had experienced 12 new things and opened our eyes to what is around us.

When I have friends over to visit from the UK they are so taken aback with the beauty of Malaysia. I guess because we see it everyday we’ve become immune to it. That’s taught me something. Now, I’m set in discovering Malaysia’s hot spots…whether its beaches, cities or Kampungs.

Hello All!!!

I have to say…last night I stayed up to watch the movie ‘Dreamgirls’…again. The first time I watched it I was not much of a fan. I think because of all the hype, it had been built up too much in my head. Therefore, I was more critical than usual. So, the first time I watched it I probably rated it a 6 out of 10.

But, as I was working last night, I decided to leave it on to hear some old classic songs. I ended up watching the whole movie over again! And even more strange…I enjoyed it much more the second time round! I appreciated it more…because it was an old movie the hype had ended and I really got to watch the acting and appreciate the set, dancing and directing! It actually is an awesome movie!

Great actors, awesome story, amazing singers! What’s not to like really? I was a huge Jennifer Hudson fan from the time she was on Idols and happy to see her acting well (thank goodness)! But yes, all in all…I think from now on, I’m willing to give “over-hyped” movies a second chance. Or try to not listen to the hype...good or bad!

Hello my lovies!! I was surprised with a trip to Pangkor last weekend! I had never been before. The drive up took a little over 3 hours. Lumut is a cute little town with a very ‘holiday’ feel to it. And the ferry allowed passengers to go out on deck and bask in the sun! We passed a naval base and a wonderful fishing village!

When we finally got to Pangkor, we decided to rent a motorbike, and sped off to our beach front paradise. We stayed at a cute place called ‘Havana’. It’s a little basic beach huts with the sea just across the road. I’m a complete beach bunny, when there is sea and sand…that’s where I’ll be! So getting a hotel is sometimes not always the most practical choice when you’re only sleeping in it. I’m very fussy about cleanliness so it passed the ‘Sara’ test….since I myself am a complete neat and clean freak nut!

As soon as we got there we camped up on the beach and stayed there for hours, tanning, swimming and canoeing. I even managed to watch the sunset, which is something I haven’t done in years and it was breathtaking. Pangkor is not your ‘typical’ getaway…there are a lot of locals who go there but everyone pretty much keeps to themselves.

The food was fresh and different! But then again, we tried food that you could not find in KL. The sand was golden and soft and the water (although not very clear) was a beautiful deep blue/green! Ahhhhh….I came back from that place, only after one night, revived and refreshed!

Malaysia is small and full of wonderful places we’ve never seen. So many times people choose to leave the country to find their paradise…when sometimes…paradise is a 4 hour drive away!

Hello chappies!

I met an old friend the other day who had a horrible breakup with her fiancé and everyone saw her deteriorate into a frail woman. She became obsessed with exercising…in order to boost her “confidence” I reckon.

Everyone was worried about her. She was a tower that was slowly crumbling. But two things helped change her life around. One is, she left the country and went away to “find herself” and the second part to her ‘rehabilitation’ was to get herself a dog…(well, she’s kind of sworn off men at the moment).

Since coming home and getting herself a dog…she’s found her confidence again…and slowly she’s getting back on her feet and taking charge of her life.

Life is not fair sometimes but no matter how bad a day you’ve had…an excited little doggie to come home too, always puts a smile on my face and theirs! When you have a pet who loves you unconditionally and is just happy to see you and have you rub or pet them, it makes their day. Don’t underestimate the power of a pet when your life is not going the way you want it to go. Because in their eyes, you make their day! What’s better than that!

Have a great weekend all!

X Sara

Hey All! The internet is pretty handy…I went without it for about 3 years…had no reason to go online…my email from the past had expired and I had lost all my contacts from overseas and after that happened, I had little faith in the system!

But someone introduced me to this site called Facebook…as it was a site where you could join and find people. So, after a couple of years of avoiding the net, I decided to give it a shot and find my friends! Wow! I didn’t realize that not only where they on…but people I had lost contact with since I was a little lass in Kuching, were on!

I was reconnected with people I vividly remembered, school friends and high school crushes…..one thing I have to say is that all my friends are married with kids which is also shocking! Hahahahaha….only myself and a few friends are still single…by choice I might add.

Hey hey hey!!! Itook part inthe Ratrace the other day and surprised myself by jogging at least 30-40 per cent of the way. I actually hate running...but I love walking. There is a great walking path in Taman Tun that takes you into the 'jungle'...and up a hill which we lovingly refer to as 'Hells Hill', cause its gradient is like 60 degrees for 10mins! Its a great, refreshing workout. Its a 3-5Km walk, depending on which route you take...but I digress.

The rat race raised a lot of money for charity this year and it felt wonderful crossing the finish line but upon collapsing on a chair, I realised that I over did it a litte bit...well...a lot! Hahahaha....its been 2 days and everything is fine expect for my thighs which ache terribly...no more running for me! Hahahahaha...thats a good excuse. I must say, the rest of the team: Non, Rex and Julian were miles ahead of me and did a great job.

But it was the first time I took part in any kind of race and although it was for a good cause, it got me out and gave me a terrific workout at the same time. So all in all...it was a great day! I will be looking forward to next years race and encourage more poeple to join in on the fun!!!

Love to all and have a great weekend!

Hey Guys…I think today I’m jes gonna go with something easy. Decorating! Hahaha…I love doing DIY stuff and decorating my house…Ikea cashier ladies know my name even! I always thought I would have made a good interior designer. I’ve got my sights set on buying a house soon and that would be the ultimate ‘project’ for me.

My current house, which is rented, is a flurry of colors: Green kitchen, aquamarine bedroom, lilac living room, need I say anymore? Ha ha ha…I’ve had to paint every house I’ve left, back to its drab cream colors and white washed walls. Yuck! Color is too exciting to not be used! It’s a quick fix for any room that needs a face lift. Color really does help you feel a certain way….but its very personal.

I found that I was very creative when my room was dark green. Very lively when it was yellow and orange and a little bit chilled with lilac….the best room for me was still red! It’s suppose to be a restless color but I really think it depends on the person…I found it to be a little more calming.

On Friday, my mom’s dog of 10 years passed away peacefully. Although my mom is absolutely traumatized, I can only offer her words of comfort that Charlie (my mom’s dog) died at home, with her. She’s a little lost without his company at the moment and she feels it terribly because she lives alone. So it seems harder on her. I’ve not had good luck with the passing of my last two dogs. The dog that set the benchmark for all dogs was Coco. She was a shih Tzu, maltese mix I think…and she followed me absolutely everywhere. She slept curled up in my arms and got very annoyed when I even went to the bathroom and didn’t let her in!! She fell one day that caused some internal bleeding…and she seized on the operating table while having a check up at the vet and I was asked to make a decision quickly to put her down. It was very unexpected and the hardest thing I’ve had to go through. She was only 9 or 10. But she left me with one thing…a memory that I could never forget…dogs are beautiful companions and Coco kept me company for many years…the memories are priceless. And when I look back and think of her, a little bit of me aches but a lot of me remembers the good times. When I came to KL, after about 3 years I decided to save a dog from a really poor looking pet shop…without the correct papers…I just felt so sorry for the little guy who was stuck in the cage in the hot sun. I named him Jonas and I remember the vet telling me off for buying a dog without papers…but I was in love with him already. Poor Jonas was a sick dog from the start. In fact, he only managed to live about 5 years because he had a terrible skin condition which had him scratching himself every second. His legs and paws were constantly swollen and bled, he became blind from the allergy. I took him to about 4 different vets to get an opinion on his condition. They could only tell me that it was an allergy of some kind. A lot of tests were done but nothing new came about. His skin got very hard and all his hair fell out. His skin constantly smelt and he left a trail of bits and black marks everywhere he went or lay down. But, for as long as I could, I looked after him. Until one day I looked at him. He was 5 but a vet told me he looked double his age. I watched him at home, his quality of life was so poor that he would lay in one place for hours upon end because he knew that once he got up, he would get itchy again. After years of being on medication, I made the decision to put him down. Jonas, as everyone said, was suffering and I felt bad for keeping him with me through all his hardship. So, I went to put him down. It was sad, but I felt it was the right thing to do. Hopefully he’s running in a huge field in heaven, because he loved big fields. Now? I did manage to fall in love with another shih tzu..who is still a puppy….coming up to a year in a few months who brings me nothing but joy, cuddles and love! I know it won’t last for ever…and with every thing that’s happened around me…..I know now not to question ‘why’ but to enjoy what I have when I have it! Ta Guys!