A Penny For Your Thoughts, Cleffy's Pillow Talk, Fairy's Tale, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

The tale of the shell castle

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While I was beach combing with my husband in Teluk Batik on 15th February 2010, we found this big, beautiful seashell.

Might not be that big to all of you, but it’s very big to me, cuz when we’re doing the combing, it’s very hard for us to find big and perfect seashells.

I’ve always wanted a big seashell, but all these years, there’s not much luck. This is by far the biggest one I’ve ever found while beach-combing.

Part of the reason why I’ve been wanting to collect seashells is not just because I missed the sea and everything that’s related to it, but because I wanted to make shell castle as well.

Okay, what is shell castle, you ask me? Shell castle is this:

Shell castle is an arrangement made of seashells as well as coral debris that has been wash ashore.

You see, when I was a little girl, I used to make shell castle with my father after our beach-combing sessions. And craft making session turned into a round-robin storytelling session with my father around. I wrote the story down somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where I put the mini novella.

I still remember the story though. It started with…There’s once a princess who lived by the sea each summer. The princess often gets lonely during her summer holiday because people tend to befriend her for her status rather than herself, and so, every night, when her royal family members are busy partying and dancing away with their suitors, she would walk beneath the moonlight to search for seashells instead, so that she could listen to the ‘music’ that came from those seashells instead of listening to insincere flattery by her suitors who wants nothing but her money and status.

Many summers pass by, and her seashells collections grew, and she did not know what to do with it. She made many wind-chimes out of those seashells, and the music that came out of those seashells wind-chimes made the shape- shifting Sea Prince feel curious, and therefore, he transformed into a seagull and flew towards the princess’s window one fateful night. He befriended her, and soon after, he fell in love with her.

It’s been years since the first time the prince became her friend, and he wanted to make the sad and lonely princess happy, and so, he told her, if she made a small castle out of seashells and made a wish under the beneath the starry sky on the night of a harvest moon, her wish will come true.

And so, the princess did. She made a beautiful shell castle out of it, and wished for someone who loved her for who she is, and not what she is. And she wanted a kiss from that special someone.

The prince, who was nearby when she made the wish blushed to the root of his hair. Initially, he thought she would wish for something else and he would give it to her, and now, not knowing how to make her wish come true, he appeared before her in his human form, and told her the truth about everything…that he was actually the seagull, and he’s deeply sorry for not being able to make her wish come true.

The princess wasn’t amused by the fact that the prince had been deceiving her all this while in the form of the seagull, because she told him many personal things to him, and it embarrassed her. And it embarrassed her still because she made such wishes. Worst thing is, she fell in love with the handsome Sea Prince at the first sight as well.

She was angry with him for sneaking into her heart and deceiving her, and anger got the better of her, and she never wanted to see the prince ever again as she felt cheated.

She felt that the prince must have been having fun listening how foolishly she made wishes that might not come true, and he must be laughing at her naivety for even believing that her dreams would come true with just making shell castle.

The prince taught she was angry because he couldn’t make her dreams come true. So he latched onto her hand, and pulled her back and looked deep into her eyes. He then tell her, he could make any men fall in love with her  and be in love with her for who she is, but he is not willing to do it because he was deeply, madly in love with her, and he wants her for himself, and he couldn’t make her dreams come true because he doesn’t want to see her in another man’s arms.

The princess was shocked with his confession, of course. Initially, she thought her feelings are unrequited. And now that she knew that the prince is in love with her too, she told him to kiss her.

Much to her annoyance, he refused, and before she got mad at his refusal, he quickly tell her that he couldn’t kiss her, because he was cursed ever since he was born by his evil stepmother, and his kiss is poisonous and deadly to those who does not love him in return.

She smiled at his explanation then. And he was completely stunned and horrified when she stand on the tip of her toes and kissed him passionately on his lips before he could even stop her.

The Prince was surprised that nothing happened when she pulled away from him, except for her cheeks turning a few shades redder as a result of her bluntness. This is a first for him, as other girls whom he kissed, all dropped dead.

He smiled at her and dropped onto his knees and knelt before her. He then proposed to her. Being a cheeky princess she is, she told him that if he could make her a castle made of seashells from them to live in over night, she will marry him. And he did build a castle made from seashells for them to live in, with his magic.

The prince and the princess gets married of course, like every other fairy tale. But before they could live a happily ever after, their lives was filled with adventure… there are battles with giant squid monsters, incestuous and jealous stepmother as well as overprotective father.

There’s more to the story apart from the romantic ones that revolves around seashells and shell castles… there’s political disagreement and whatnot due to their marriage, but that’s another story to be told. But it is safe to say, the princess’s life was never boring and lonely . So I guess, all is good.

Cleffairy: To have a romantic and a long lasting marriage is just like building a shell castle. It takes a lot of patience and love to build one.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Down The Memory Lane, Food/Travel, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

All about seashells…

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Believe that dreams and wishes do come true. Because they do. Earlier this year, I made a wish, that I can return to the sea to unwind, and collect seashells. As most of you probably known, I’ve always been a child of the sea, and the sea has always been a part of me, and it’s been almost 7 years since I went to the sea, and have my fair share of fun…building sandcastles…collecting seashells and making necklace as well as shell castles out of those seashells after a long session of beach- combing.

I wished so badly that I could go to the beach not just because I missed the beach life, but also because my latest novel revolves around the sea as well. For many years now, going to the beach is just a dream, and now I couldn’t feel more blessed that finally one of my dreams did come true. So, believe that dreams do come true, because they do.

I love seashells. It fascinates me. And to me, seashells are pretty much like human. They are beautiful and and unique in it’s own ways. None of them are truly identical to each other, and yet, they dwells in the same sea. Human are the same. We’re all different, and yet, we dwells the same Earth. The only difference is in some ways… ‘seashells’  are better, as they live in harmony with each other despite of the difference, while us human, often fight with each other because we are different from one another.

It is surprising that considering our inseparable link to the sea, many of us human does not know, or knows very little about the sea…the place that holds so many mysterious marine lifeforms.

How many of us…have not combed through washed up beach debris to find elusive yet beautiful seashells? I’ve always make a point to comb through the beach each time I have the chance to find those seashells, or scientifically known as marine molluscs (a word derived from Latin, which means soft.)

Marine molluscs, or commonly known as seashells are the cast-off hard layer covering the soft bodied sea-snails. Those that had been washed ashore are the ’empty homes’ where the sea snails are already dead and no longer dwelling inside.

Seashells, are spectacular to me because they come in various shapes, colours and appearance. The diversity is endless indeed. Many species defy logic and comprehension and some are so extraordinary that it is hard to believe that they are formed naturally.

After the Arthropods the Molluscs are the most successful of the animal phyla in terms of numbers of species. There are about 110,000 species known to science most of which are marine.

They occupy a vast range of habitats however both aquatic and terrestrial, from the arctic seas to small tropical streams and from valleys to mountainsides 7,000 metres high, there are a few adapted to live in deserts and some are parasitic.

They also exhibit an enormous range in size, from species which are almost microscopic to the largest of all invertebrates the giant squid which can weighs 270 kg and measures up to 12 metres long in the body, with tentacles as much as another 50 metres in length.

Many species are common and many more a beautiful. Most species secrete a shell of some sort, these shells are long lasting and have been collected by human beings for thousands of years, some of these shells, and the pearls which come from oysters, which are also molluscs may be among the earliest forms of money.

Most molluscs are marine. Molluscs are very ancient organisms believed to have evolved from a flatworm like ancestor during the Precambrium about 650 million years ago. Because many species secrete a shell of some sort the fossil record is good.

Different classes of molluscs have been predominant in the past and the Ammonites represent a group of Cephalopods which were extremely abundant for millions of years before they became extinct. There close relatives the Nautiloid cephalopods were also once very successful but are now only represented in the world by one species, Nautilus.

Molluscs, because of their ease of capture, edibility and beauty have long been important to mankind. Molluscs of many sorts are eaten by humans Abilone, Clams, Cockles, Muscles, Octopus, Oysters, Periwinkles, Scallops, Snails, Squid, Whelks, Winkles and many more are all molluscs and all make there contribution to the human diet.

Mankind has been deliberately culturing molluscs as food for a long time and the earliest known records of someone farming molluscs for food come from Rome where one Sergius Orata bred oysters.

Mollusc shells have also had a long history of usage by mankind, many have been used as decorations, or as a substance to carve into cameos and buttons. In North America Tusk shells on the west coast and Cockles on the East supplied the basis of a system of money, in many tropical countries the shells of coweries were until recent times used extensively in trade.

Pearls, which arise in oysters as a result of the oysters attempts to cover up a grain of sand within its mantle, have been and still are much sort after. The ‘mother of pearl’ used to make pearl buttons comes from bivalve shells and so great was the market for it that the Mississippi and Missouri river basins have been seriously over collected and the bivalves are now quite scarce.

In ancient times the city of Tyre was famous for its purple dye, this dye was made from a marine mollusc called Murex sp. while Sepia, a brown pigment used by artists was, perhaps still is, made from the ink of Cuttlefish. Not all the interactions between man and molluscs are to man’s benefit however, slugs and snails are, in some places, serious pests of of crops, and are often a nuisance in people’s gardens. Wooden ships and wharves can be destroyed by burrowing bivalves such as Teredo navalis, known as ship worms, which weaken the timbers until they collapse or fall apart.

I’ve always been irresistibly attracted to seashells. I used to wonder why. But not anymore. It’s simply because while it is a part of nature, it is different from any other creation. And there’s more about seashells to me. Seashells bring sea to my home. It reminds me of the sea. As when I place the seashell on my ear, it’s as if I can hear the soft, gentle waves hitting the sand. This, fascinates me.

Anyway, enough of marine biology. I think I am boring everyone here. Let’s take a breather from science, and next up would be a tale of shell castle…


Cleffairy: Believe that dreams do come true, because they do.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Down The Memory Lane, Food/Travel, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

Return to the sea…

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It was the second day of Chinese New Year. 15th February 2010, a day after those in the West celebrate Valentine’s Day. I was still in my husband’s hometown. Me and my little family had our self-imposed curfew again when we were there the night before, and went to the room to sleep after dinner from 8:00pm- 9:00am the next morning.

And when the sun rises in the east on 15th February 2010, we went down for the usual compulsory breakfast where my poor husband was served more than double the amount that he could eat by his mother. She must have wanted to fatten him up, but then again, the real reason he never puts on weight is not that he was not well fed, but the fact is that he’s a smoker, and some smokers really doesn’t put on weight no matter how much they eat.

Bah, humbug, I can’t be bothered explaining biology to people. *roll eyes* I bet my husband gets sick of people asking why I am skinny too…they must have thought that I didn’t eat or something, but then again, I can be such a glutton when I eat. Genetically, my side of the family… we don’t really put on weight until we’re in our 40s.

Anyway, my husband had to eat up my portion too, as my stomach wasn’t agreeing with me that morning, and I couldn’t really stomach anything as I ate too much mushrooms during new year’s eve dinner. You see… the food that’s served during new year’s eve dinner were all vegetarian food.

My MIL is a strict vegetarian, and therefore, no meat or poultry were allowed, period. Not on Chinese New Year, not ever. So, most of the dishes contains mushrooms and bean products, and I was thanking God endlessly that there was no bean sprouts served and placed in my plate, as if I were to take them, I might ended up having nasty stomach cramps for days. Thank God for small mercies, eh?

It is my misfortune that not many understood why I couldn’t take bean spouts…and foodstuff that produces too much ‘gas’ in the stomach, as I often have troubles ordering when I’m having food outside. I had to tell them strictly no bean sprouts, and yet people would tell me that the food in question would taste nicer and better with bean sprouts. Apart from being a picky eater, this is the reason why I loved my own mother’s food and eating at home more than anything else. It would spare me the agony of explaining why I can’t take certain food, why I usually pick out bean spouts one by one and put it aside and why they must not put it in my plate unless they have the intention to kill me. Sometimes, people annoyed me to the point that’s enough to enrage me and makes me feel like telling them to take up biology classes.

Anyway, let’s put the food issues aside. I am getting sidetracked from what I really want to share with all of you today.

As I mentioned earlier on, my little family and I went down for a huge breakfast served by my MIL, consisting of the leftover foods, newly cooked foods, and takeaway foods…and after more than one hour stuffing his face while I bemoaned the fact that my stomach is filled with gas and having a mild case of indigestion, we finally went out of the house for a walk after taking the cat with us.

Basically, we were practically wasting the precious petrol after going out of the house, as we don’t really have a destination to go to. My husband ended up driving around in circles. After a while, I suggested to my husband that we go to the beach in Lumut.

My heart did a little cartwheel dance when he agreed, as I’ve been wanting to go to the beach. It’s been almost goddamn 7 years since I last go to the beach. I was really excited, no kidding, as finally, one of my 2010 wish, which is going to a beach to collect seashells is going to come true.

Because the little trip is unplanned, none of us had proper attire for the beach, and therefore, after making a stop at a local supermarket to buy some short pants and sleeveless shirt, we’re off to the beach.

My husband was whining that Lumut is too far, and he doesn’t really know how to go there, and therefore, he drove us to Teluk Batik instead. 😀 Oh well, I don’t really give a damn whether it’s Lumut or Teluk Batik. A beach is a beach, and it will be better than staying at home, doing nothing but face the four walls or the idiot box, or worst, stuffing our face with food when the stomach is practically bursting and begging us not to torture it anymore.

The sun was burning fiercely on the top of our heads when we arrived and the beach is practically full of human beings who escaped from don’t know where. My husband was complaining about how crowded it was and how hot it was, but I wasn’t even complaining. Nope, not a word. 😛 Wonder why?


Elementary my dear readers. I was a child of the sea. I grew up by the seaside. When I was in England, there was Blackburn Beach, and when I came back to Malaysia, I lived in places that’s near the beach, or the beach is practically reachable within walking or cycling distance. I was an outdoor girl.

I never liked being cooped up in the house, and when I was younger, my daily activities consists of cycling, horseback riding or taking a stroll by the seaside or digging for shellfish or fishing in the evening so that I could bring it back home to my mother to cook for me. Yes, I was an outdoor girl, or rather, a child of the sea.

The sea, has always been a part of me. The sea not only gave me food, but it also gave me joy and comfort, along with inner peace as I inhale the salty breeze as the wind caress my body comfortingly. Being by the seaside, is like being in a mother’s embrace, and when I was younger, I used to go to my very own secret place near the beach each time something is bothering my mind, and without fail, the sea would take my worries away.

All these while when I live in Kuala Lumpur, I feel as if I’ve been chained and shackled by my own nature as there is no sea nearby. The nearest would be Port Dickson, which is hours away. 🙁 And the closest thing I can have to something soothing is the Titiwangsa Lake Garden and the Perdana Lake Garden. While I can’t be choosers when it comes to recreation, I still have to say that nothing can compare to the sea, and when I returned to the sea on 15th February 2010, I was really ecstatic, though I got sunburns and turned a few shades darker.

It was scorching hot and crowded, and my husband was complaining about the heat and sunburns, but I had fun. I have forgotten when was the last time I felt as relaxed as when I was in Teluk Batik. My worries were gone as soon as I stepped my feet into the sand and as soon as I smell the scent of the salty sea breeze…

I felt as if…though I wasn’t so pleased with the hoohah about Chinese New Year and stuff…for a moment… just that moment, I felt as if nothing else mattered. Mother Nature had comforted me… for that moment. Yes, just for a moment, nothing else mattered.

My husband helped me to collect seashells for me to make shell castles and necklace out of them, and that’s the best Valentine’s Day present he could ever give me. I couldn’t feel happier if he were to give me roses or chocolates.The seashells were a better present, as it’s not something money could buy, and each of them are unique in their own ways.

Anyway, all good things have to come to an end. After collecting some seashells and relaxing at the beach, we had to go back, as MIL was getting restless back home as we didn’t go back for lunch.

She called my husband a few times when we were at the beach. Fearing that MIL will be upset as we sneaked to Teluk Batik, we went back after collecting more seashells and buying some tidbits and some T-shirt as a souvenir. We left the beach at 5:00pm after having a late lunch meal of seafood fried rice at the stall nearby.

We arrived at MIL’s house at around 9:00pm, and went straight to the room without dinner, as we had dinner earlier on before going back. Everyone was beat from the little trip, but I was really happy, as for the first time in 7 years, I return to the sea, albeit, just for a few hours.

Next up: Stories of seashells and sea castle…

Cleffairy: The best thing that anyone could give me, is not what money could buy.

ps: Thank you, God, for listening to my prayers and my wishes. I couldn’t thank enough…


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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Down The Memory Lane, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

What the teacher taught me this year…

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It was 14th February 2010. It was Valentine’s Day. And it’s also the first day of Chinese New Year for the people in the East, and therefore Valentine’s Day was overshadowed this year. I am not sure how it was for the rest of you over here, but it was overshadowed to me.

But then again… I’ve expected this. Valentine’s Day has always been the same to me since God knows how many years.  It was just another day. No mind blowing sex, no romance, nothing, and I have forgotten when was the last time I received a rose as a token of love or chocolates as a token of appreciation. I think it was when I was in college? High school? I couldn’t remember anymore. But I can say it’s been almost ten years since I received a stalk of rose or a box of chocolate from others.

It may sound pathetic to all of you. But, this year, I feel a bit numb. I suppose, not expecting my Valentine’s Day to be filled with romance helped me not to feel sorry for myself when the rest of the youngsters who are my age are out romancing their other half. Valentine’s Day this year may coincide with Chinese New Year, but I’ve seen some lovers out there made efforts to make each other feel appreciated despite of the clashing event, and I feel happy for them.

I started off my Valentine’s Day by opening one of my letters and read it as the clock stroke midnight…you know, the letter from me in the past to my present self? I wrote about it HERE.

This is going to sound extremely pathetic, but the letter that I was supposed to unseal on 14th February 2010 did comfort me and made me feel that I am worthy of love and life, and I should do whatever I want that day to make myself feel better. And I did just that.

Hey… I shouldn’t let things dishearten me, should I? I have Me, Myself and I. They loved me, and because they loved me, I should live for their sake, and not for others. And I should make them happy by making myself happy. (Okay, I’ll stop. I started to sound looney… or worst, schizoid).

I spent my Valentine’s Day sleeping in from midnight until 11.30am in my husband’s room back in MIL’s house. I woke up to husband’s sms ring tone, which is a cue for him to do his yearly visit to his teacher’s house for gathering with his ex-schoolmates.

We headed over to his teacher’s house after brunch. His ex- classmates were there. There was 10-12 of them, I think, well I don’t know, I didn’t bother counting or snapping pictures of them chatting.

It is better for me to shut up and not make them notice me too much, cuz they were doing their yearly routine of small talk of ‘How are you?’, ‘How’s your career?’, ‘When are you getting married?’, ‘Do you have a bf/gf?’ or even ‘When are you going to have a baby/second baby?’.

My husband’s teacher’s house is definitely more relaxing, and I took the chance to rest my head a little bit, and while my husband was busy chatting away with his friends, I took the picture below. It is something that caught my eyes ever since I entered his teacher’s house.

My husband’s teacher might have taught my husband and his classmates, but I wonder if she had taught them the things written in the scroll that was hang on the wall, and I wonder how many of those people present in the teacher’s house that time noticed this scroll?

I found it very meaningful. I noticed that this scroll has been there at the same place for many years…as early as 2003, and the teacher must have been trying to instill the good values in the scroll to the people who would glance at the scroll.

My husband’s teacher may have taught him when he was in school. I may not be her student, but she have taught me the values above, and now, she’s my teacher too, for she taught me moral values and how to be at ease with people around me and life itself.

When it was time to leave the teacher’s house, my head was filled with the things written on the huge scroll.

After visiting my husband’s old teacher, we went home to change our clothes and bathe, and went out again to loiter in a supermarket then unwind at a cafe until dinner time.

I had to laugh at the poor imitation of Old Town White Coffee, but I had to applaud their service. Teluk Intan’s George Town White Coffee provide better service than Teluk Intan’s Old Town White Coffee. Teluk Intan’s branch of Old Town White Coffee is absolutely notorious, and well known for their nasty food, horrid customer service and filled with assholes of staff. They disgust me and I wouldn’t go back there even if I’m paid to.

Overall, 14th February 2010 was tolerable… and it ended on a sweet note when some of my blogger friends and my ex schoolmates sent me sms wishing me a Happy Valentine’s Day, just before the day was over. 😀

To those who sent me greetings… thank you…thank you for remembering me. And thank you to the teacher who taught me without knowing as well. This might not be the most romantic Valentine’s Day, but it’s been a fruitful one, cuz I learned something from the teacher.

Cleffairy: Open up your eyes, and you will see…





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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Down The Memory Lane, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

Cleffairy Returns: The Reunion Dinner 1

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Yes, yes, yes! Finally, I am back to where I belonged. At home in Kuala Lumpur. I’ll still be busy with family matters though… at least until 20th February 2010, so please excuse me if I don’t to visit your blog and leave my footsteps there. I’m still struggling to get back to my routine.

It’s been a hell of a week, and I’m thanking God for sending me His angels to protect me all the way when I was away from the safety of my home.

There is not much fun things to tell about my experience during Chinese New Year. More or less, it is just the same, and it is something that I just endure for the sake of peace. And I did not do anything special besides stuff my face with food and rot in the room.

You see… I’ve always resent Chinese New Year, because it is no fun. Yes, no fun at all cuz I don’t really like to mingle with people whom I don’t know well and not really fond of. I bet the feelings is mutual. They don’t like me, and I don’t like them. And the fact will remain the same til the end of time. Truthfully, I don’t hate Chinese New Year that much. It is the bad company that makes me annoyed with the entire thing.

Anyway, if you are expecting me to put up the food that I had for reunion dinner, I’m sorry. There won’t be any. Why? Firstly, because I did not bother snapping those photos up when I was in my MIL’s house.

Blogger or not… I don’t think I can be bothered snapping photos up when everyone is more than eager to make acquaintance with the food and get it over with more than anything else. Besides, I didn’t think the old lady would approve me snapping pictures, anyway. I would know if she approved of it, cuz my elder brother in law, who loves snapping up pictures during dinner or family occasion, didn’t even take out his handphone to capture the moment.

Second reason is  that I wasn’t in the mood to really snap pictures during the reunion dinner as I was reprimanded by my husband for not helping to bring food out from the kitchen. Well, excuse me… it’s not that I didn’t want to help out, but I was chased out of the kitchen by my MIL. She told me not to stay inside the kitchen and so, whether I like it or not, I had to get out of the damned place.

Probably she knew that I’ll be reprimanded and chided by my hubby for not helping, I suppose. Anyway, seeing what happened in the kitchen, my sister in law told me to go out and help her to take care of her two boys. And I did just that, and went out to play with the kids, earning some nasty glare of disapproval from him for not helping out despite my attempt to tell him that I was kicked out of the kitchen and was told by my sister in law to stay outside and take care of the kids. I wasn’t sure why my husband did not know that I was chased out, cuz as far as I’m concern, he was around the vicinity of the kitchen.

I got fed up, cuz I kinda expected this sort of mood killing thing to happen and I silently pray to God that I’ll be given the patience to deal with the erupting volcano within.

Reunion dinner became an event that is not fun, and not relaxing. I had to be mindful of what I do. I was tired from the long journey and my mood and appetite was definitely killed. I wanted to eat faster, and I had to ‘zonk’ out, ignoring every nagging, uneasiness and whatnots at the table.

I was praying hard that it’ll be over soon, and nothing would go wrong at the table again, or I’ll probably explode later on, and neighbours would have some nice show to watch, cuz there was no curtain installed in husband’s room in his hometown. Don’t ask me why there’s no curtain. I don’t know.

Thank God for my elder brother in law, though. He made the reunion dinner tolerable for me. He made small talks and happy conversation that momentarily made me forget about the uneasiness moments before, and keep putting some food that he thinks that I might like into my plate.

My spirit was lifted a bit, and I started to chat with brother in law and took some food for him in return, and for the first time during dinner at MIL’s place, I felt that someone is actually doing something to keep the situation under control instead of allowing the whole event turning into a full scale fault-finding scenario. In some ways, I felt that my brother in law was there in my FIL ‘s place to keep things from going out of hand.

My FIL wasn’t there, because he’s no longer living with my MIL, and I am looking forward to the reunion dinner that he hosted, cuz it’s always fun and more relaxing in comparison to MIL’s. Maybe it is just me… but it doesn’t matter where or when, I still remain a daddy’s girl, so I tend to be fond of the elder male in the family, especially my FIL.

When I spend time with my FIL, I feel that I’ve been spending time with my own father, simply because he make conversation with me instead of finding faults, and therefore, make me feel at ease spending time with him. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I am pretty easy to pleased. As long as I’m fed with desserts like ice cream or food for carnivore, my heart is theirs. And my FIL did just that. 😀

Anyway, back to the dinner. Thank God there was no extended drama after the dinner. I finished my food first and took my plate in the kitchen to wash it. My sister in law probably knew that I wasn’t amused with the earlier incident where I was reprimanded by my husband for not helping out in the kitchen, so when I was washing my plate, she piled up the dirty plates for me to wash and chatted with me while I do the chores, and soon after I’ve done the dishes, I was rewarded with dessert by my brother in law. 😀 He proffered me a bowl of longan dessert and I quietly and happily drank it away soon after while my husband chatted with his mother at the living room.

When everything was cleared from the table and dishes were done, I chatted with my sister in law and brother in law, and as usual, like the years before, they will take their leave to spend overnight at sister in law’s parents’ house until their holiday is over, and after they left, my husband claimed fatigue and we dashed upstairs to rest until morning.Yep, people… curfew. From 8.30 til 11.00am the next day.

I used to wonder why my brother in law never overnighted in his own mother’s house, but I no longer wonder why, because I know that sometimes, one had to so in order to stop war from erupting and ruin the good relationship that one had with the elders. Sometimes, it is not easy to live under one roof with others, especially when one practiced different style of living. It is harder still when the elders wants things to be done their way and reprimanded us each time they opened their mouth to speak when we’re already adults and have family of our own. You see…things like this… ruin our respect and good relationship that we have with the elders. So it is better to avoid such things.

I did not understand back then, but I now see my brother in law as a smart man, who knows how to keep peace, and I have a lot to learn from him, and people who have a family of their own, should learn from my brother in law on how to protect their own family and keep peace with each others;which is avoid, avoid and avoid the elders and not courting problems by trying too hard to please them with what you do. Extreme, yes, but it works.

Cleffairy: Thank you God, for gracing me with the presence of Your angels to comfort me and when I was disheartened.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

House Arrest…

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Dear all,

Cleffairy will be on the annual house arrest and probably couldn’t update Over A Cuppa Tea until at least 17th February 2010.

Cleffairy did not make any scheduled entries, as her beloved netbook was confiscated and she wasn’t really in the mood to use other’s PC to write, and she found herself uninspired when she uses other people’s PC. Therefore… Cleffairy didn’t write any schedule entries to keep the readers occupied when she’s in house arrest.

Cleffairy might also be restricted from using the Internet when she was in in detention for there will be lack of resource, and therefore, probably couldn’t visit your blog and leave my trails and footsteps over there. 🙁

However, Cleffairy will try to stay away from nasty guards and wardens, and sneak online to catch up with the rest of the world and update on her current status if the situation permits it and does not bring any bodily harm to her.

Cleffairy sincerely wishes all Over A Cuppa Tea readers a Happy Tiger Year, and Happy Valentine’s Day to all hopeless romantics out there. Please pray that Cleffairy shall not be badly tortured or seriously harmed during the house arrest this year, and Cleffairy shall pray for those who are under house arrest in return as well. May God be with you. God save your soul from the evil around you.

Cleffairy: As she walks towards the house of horrors, she thought of the late Queen of England, Anne Boleyn. And Cleffairy finally understood Queen Anne’s feelings when she was about to be beheaded. Cleffairy is completely horrified. God save Cleffairy’s soul!

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

Tick tock tick tock…

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Tick tock, tick tock, the clock is ticking, snickering at me, and I can hear an evil witch’s cackling in the background from a dark forest somewhere, awaiting me with a basket of poison apples in hand.

Tick tock, tick tock…the dreaded day is approaching, and I am warning you people… yes, everyone out there… don’t you dare wish me a Happy Chinese New Year, because it’s never quite a happy event for me. It’s a mere obligation to endure each year.

While I wish everyone a very happy time with their family during this blasted festive season, kindly DO NOT wish me a Happy Chinese New Year... or WHATEVER THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO IT. Or shall make you into distorted monster in my novel and blast you and your entire family to the next dimension! Yes, I mean it!

And yes, this is a threat! Don’t bother talking about how fun it can be, and don’t ask me questions either! Have your fun, and leave me to rot!


Cleffairy: O Almighty God, protect me at all times, that I may not be seized and bound. Guard me, that no gun, firearm, bullet or lead, shall touch my body; and that the evil ones shall be weak and burnt in the pit of hell. Protect me, I beseech you, O Almighty God.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

And the blessings keep pouring in…

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This is another of those short entry. Yes… you guys are lost and somehow landed in Disneyland. Run for your life. LOL…

The blessings keep pouring in. Hopefully this is a sign from up above that the year ahead is full of His promise of blessings.

I received these stuff last night…Baby’s full moon box from my friend, consisting the traditional glutinous rice, angku kuih, red eggs, pickled ginger, chicken curry as well as the modern fruit tarts.

I received two boxes of the thing, no less. *sigh* I wonder if people are starting to feed me like STP? LOL…no, I’m not complaining. I just feel blessed. 😀

Let’s play spot the difference…below is picture number 1…

And then comes the picture number 2

Can you spot the difference?Okay, that’s lame. I think it’s obvious what’s the differences are. Ahaha.

Cleffairy: Hopefully the baby is not the consequences of reading too much of my Pillow Talk… *shudder*

Ps: I give you thanks, O Almighty God, for your blessings… One who lives and reigns in a world without end.


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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Down The Memory Lane, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

Giving thanks

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Initially, I wanted to write about this last night, but I arrived home rather late, and I was so exhausted that I dropped dead as soon as I arrived home. The day itself overwhelms me. There is nothing like a good working stress to keep my head from delving into thinking and mourning about those things that I cannot change. Work, as usual, is something that I can handle, but not those bloody emotional stress.

I wanted to give thanks to God. Praise him, for filling my day with joy and unexpected surprises. First there was a guardian angel who sent me present in the form of beautiful clothes….for both the ET and Alien. LOL.

The guardian angel wishes to remain anonymous, so I’m not going to mention the angel’s name over here. LOL… Anyway, thank you very much for everything. 😀 It certainly brighten up my day, especially the ahemm… ‘mourning garment’. It is so, very thoughtful of you, my darling. I certainly will use it wisely. LMAO. Guess you’re now my partner in crime, eh, sweetie?

Look at what this God’s angel sent to me…

One bulky package on my doorstep.

Double wrapped the pressie for me to build up the joy of anticipation…

Three cutie t-shirts…

And one cool, dark coloured shirt for me to scare people with. *grinZ*

Anyway, receiving the package makes me feel that God is blessing me, and encouraging me to open up my heart to Him and the others, and persevere in the world where evil reigns over goodness most of the times.

All my life…I’ve always been the one who give and give non stop, up to the point that I felt that I have nothing left to give, and so, when I’ve been placed on the receiving end, I feel so touched and grateful.

The people in my life, people that I gave things to, never really did appreciate what I gave them, or even be grateful for my efforts. Instead, they asked for more, and I almost stopped believing that the world can actually give back something, until recently where I’ve been overwhelmed with God’s blessing in the form of good friends who are generous and thoughtful…the people whom I actually never even gave anything yet. Yes, it does feel good to be on the receiving end. It makes me feel warm and well loved.

Yesterday, my blessing did not stop just there. As there was an unexpected surprise visit from people whom I love dearly. And also a surprise phone call from my best friend. All of these things makes me so happy. I felt that my day was filled with blessings, even though I have unresolved issues in my closet.

I used to think that the whole world is against me and God doesn’t love me, for He keep punishing me with the hardship of life. Little did my human mind know, that those things that happened to me are actually blessings and His way to tell me the truth about life.

His way to knock on my doors the way I’ve been desperately knocking on His. It is His way of telling me that nothing last forever.The good and the bad… nothing ever last forever, and I am worthy of His love, though I don’t know what I have done to deserve it. Thank you God, for not giving up on me when I actually gave up on You. Thank you for being patient with me.

Cleffairy: Sometimes, I feel sad for those who couldn’t feel grateful for what they have and often take things for granted and keep asking for more, for they wouldn’t be able to understand that being able to wake up from sleep every day itself if a blessing. Not many are privileged enough  for that.


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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Time Heals What Love And Reason Cannot

Love, faith, and hope…

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I’ve been reciting prayers for the whole goddamn day. Why? Don’t ask me… I’m freaking out over evil sorceress and royal pain in the ass succubus who no doubt shall suck my blood dry til nothing is left of me. As I said, my life is like an action thriller, and I had to live like a stunt movie star. Right at the moment, this movie star is waiting for her impending doom as it’s approaching.

Oh yes… it’s coming. It’s that time of the year again. Lesser than a week now, with all of those monstrous lions waiting to bite my head off, and I will be no doubt, be bruised and battered a few days after, and I will have to search and find a way to heal myself.

I have love, and God has granted me faith, and now that I know I’ll be bruised and battered after being thrown into such a horrendous stunt in…say, approximately six days, all I can do is hope that someone out there is bearing the first aid knowledge and willing to heal me after that. Anybody? Anybody? Aww, come on, don’t tell me none of you are first aider. I am actually one, but even a first aider needs another when he or she is injured.

Anyway, please pray that I will come out of succubus dragon’s lair in one peace, with my heart and soul still intact. And in the mean time, let me share the serenity prayer with all of you over here. Most of you may not be Christians, but the prayer is inspiring nevertheless.

I have come to the point of my life, where I believe that I cannot always rely on the comfort of human around me, because… to some people, I am nothing special, and deserve no protection nor attention. To some, other things are more important, and whether I like it or not, I have to accept that at times, my feelings will be taken for granted in favours of others, and my faith will always be laughed upon by Pagan whores.

It doesn’t matter. My relationship with God is my own business, and I never asked people to respect my beliefs and faith though I am forced to kneel before theirs. Sometimes I wonder if mutual respect is even achievable…for as far as I am concern, I never asked people to change their ways of life… the way they worship, the way they eat. Perhaps I am asking too much.

All I can do now is pray for serenity for the things I cannot change. And here, allow me to share the Serenity Prayers with all of you. May God grant all of you serenity, and inner peace for the things you cannot change.

Serenity Prayer


God grant me the serenity,

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right,

If I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.


And here is Serenity Prayer by Olivia Newton John.


Cleffairy: Shape your life by the way you think. Shape your thinking by the way you love. Shape your love by your willingness to open your heart.Open your heart by your sheer desire to experience more love. I am naught but bare…I only have love, faith and most importantly, hope.

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