Christmas is a time of giving...

Christmas is a time of giving....and when you give... someone has to receive, right?? Guess what I've been so lucky to receive a few award these past couple of weeks from a few wonderful folks!
From the mysterious Lady Java!!

From pretty Polli of Polliwog's pond

From gentle Bokjae and yummy Jean...isn't this the cutest?!?

From super Sugar Queen's Dream

From still mysterious Lady Java again... Sweet Ann thinks I'm a little nutty and I think she might be right sometimes LOL

And finally from cute Ratu Syura a nice little slobbery kiss...

If you already have it or gave it to me, it doesn't matter because it's coming from me to you now. I'd like to give these awards to you for your support (take one or two or all if you like...all except the Slobbery kiss award...that's only for the ladies LOL):

A Great Pleasure
A Nice Place in the Sun
Anything Goes!
Aunie Dar's Life
Brainy Bimbo
Cotojo
Shinade
Monday Morning Power
Sugar Queen's Dream
Christy's Coffee Break
Diamonds Saphire
Emila's Illustrated Blog
Huma B
In Cinq
Journey with Water Learner
Kim Fei's Blog
Lady Java's Lounge
Listening..Learning..Living
Mariuca: Wishing on a Falling Star
Maunie James
My Life is Murphys Law
NAFA
NoDirectOn (not: NoDirection)
Nessa's Mumblings
Nihal's Anything & Everything
Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen
Room's of My Heart
Project Heavy Traffic
Random Magus
Speedcat Hollydale Page
Purple Frog
Polliwog's Pond
Santa's Community Blog
The Magical Golden Cat
This Is A Miracle
Zubli

Congratulations to all!!

More Christmas Shopping....

I don't know but I can't seem to finish the list that I started out with this Christmas! I keep getting stuff but somehow it just never seems enough. It's not like I didn't draw up a list nor am I simply buying unnecessary things. Even today we went out to get a few items but fell short...to be honest we have been even going around after work too. We'd rush home and pick up the little one and then go out. I'm thankful that we have a stroller for her. It's really been a help to us so that we don't have to carry the little one when our arms are sore or full! Alternative ly you can also carry the little one and put the bags in the stroller which is what we did when I bought my large new Santa! Hey he was heavier than her so it made perfect sense right! LOL

Doesn't he look heavy to you??

I'm glad we got a nice one but we had to look around a lot before finding it. I wished then that there was a site with stroller reviews but there was none at that time. So we had to go from store to store looking and testing. Nowadays there are an abundance of places that have stroller reviews so it's much easier to pick and choose what is suitable.


We really use our stroller to the max. I mean everywhere we go! We've taken it on our trip to Bangkok and we took it when we went to Singapore too. We used it in the zoo and practically everywhere we go! When my other best buddy gets his little one I'm going to recommed him ...no, I'm gonna tell him that he must get a stroller. It' just somehting you need as a parent. It'll be up to him to find which model he wants but like I said with all the places that have stroller reviews he'll have no problem finding a suitable one to suit his budget and needs!

Stroller in the background in Singapore!
Stroller at the bird park

Final word...you could really say we don't go anywhere without a stroller and the times we forgot...welll lets just say the back aches are not worth it! LOL

Christmas Woes

Well not really woes but my trust old washing machine just went kaput! Not sure if it can be fixed either. It's a darn good machine and has served us well for nigh over 14 years since the wife and me got married. It's a real quiet machine and hardly ever gave any trouble so it's sad to see that it's shiny metal drum that won't spin no more!

The woes start because I have to now try to get the service people to come fix it. Who knows when that'll be!!! And then it's so close to Christmas and there will be tons of stuff to wash too. Right now, I'm contemplating getting a new washing machine and maybe a stackable washer dryer to get the job done. Argh I hate having to do this in such a short time and so close to Christmas but because this is such an important tool I have to.

We went to the the mall to actually look at a new washing machine today but we got caught up with other things...err like watching the Christmas decorations and joining a meet and greet with Santa that the time just disappeared. (We've done that a few times this year hehehe) Pretty soon we had not done anything except take some photos and make a few cards for Christmas and that was it! Time to go home and no time for the washing machine!

#1 is the card...Nice Santa! #2 is Midvalley at night #3 is Midvalley during the day #4) Skinny Santa at the Curve #5 is "snow" at the Curve

Since that was the case I decided to check my favourite site, Wize, for product reviews because it is done by the customers. If you can't trust the uses then who can you trust!! This way I can actually save a lot of time going from store to store to find out about washing machines or even stackable washer dryers. Having a stackable washer dryer would save space and be so helpful too in our weather. Don't get me wrong we have sunny weather all year around but also we have as much rain showers too. So sometimes because of the unpredictable nature of the weather, it's impossible to get the laundry all dry and smelling fresh.

The Real Meaning of Christmas…

I know that I’ve been posting a lot about my Santa Claus collections and decorations and shopping and goodies and all but the real meaning of Christmas is really about something a lot different. It’s about a little baby who was born and the hope of peace he stands for. So at Christmas our home is not complete without the humblest of things. A crib set.

When we were young I remember my mum teaching us about how to make our crib set. You see back in those days it only came with small figurines and no house/stable/etc. So every year we’d look forward to making the crib. We’d think of creative ways to make it look humble yet nice. Believe me this is the real highlight of Christmas for us.

When I went to the US for the first time back in 1997 I found a beautiful crib set by Kirkland Signature in Costco of all places. Back then they didn’t sell that many crib sets here in Malaysia and even if they did it was small. So I bought it immediately and I hand carried it all the way back. My brother and sister loved the set and I wished I had got them one but it was just impossible to carry so many sets because they were heavy.

Of course the next time I went to the U.S. the first thing I did was get a similar set for my brother (they didn’t have the other set anymore) which was just as beautiful and hand carried it all the way back too. He loved it but now I had a problem because I didn’t have a set for my sister. So I had a friend send me the same set I bought for my brother for my sister. Unfortunately, the set came in with a few little parts broken off. I was devastated. I couldn’t give that set to my sister in that condition. I had managed to fix the angel’s hand that had broken off but the cow’s hooves were shattered and not repairable. It was almost Christmas I couldn’t send it back either. I had run out of options.

So instead of giving my sister the broken set, not that she would have minded, I gave up my own crib set to her and kept the slightly broken set for myself. After all the broken crib set still looked beautiful and now it had a little story behind it too. Besides I can still take a peek at my first set whenever I go to her place at Christmas too. So now every year whenever I put up our crib set I try to hide the cow’s hooves somehow while remembering the story. I can’t wait to tell my daughter the story of the crib set when she grows up.

Woo hoo I just love Christmas!

Christmas goodies….

My family... Guess which one is the Genie King?

Another tradition in my family is making Christmas goodies. My mum used to make cookies, and cakes and murukku and ghee balls (my favourite) and we’d help in what little ways that we could. My brother and I used to press the murukku out of the mould while my sister helped with the tarts. The other goodies mum would to do on her own. I wonder how she found the time and strength because for years now after her passing I still can’t bring myself up to her standards. I can still remember the smells that wafted through the house throughout the Christmas period. Mmmm such great memories.

Nowadays we usually buy our goodies and this year is no exception. We bought some nice little cookies which I have yet to try so I hope they taste as good as they look on the box. I also got a Christmas pudding, stollen, and fruitcake which I don’t usually get. Those are some of my favourites so I hope they taste good too.

Out of the frying pan

One of the things I wanted to make was murukku (like rice crispies but with spices). So on Saturday we found the old recipe book my mum had and we tried our hand at it. Boy was it tough! We just didn't want to open the ready mixed packet but instead wanted to incorporate some of the spices Mum used to put in. We toiled and toiled because you need to squeeze the dough out of a small hole. We managed to do it and with sore palms we proclaimed success. The murukkuu tasted better than the store bought stuff and it was worth the effort to get a taste of my past.

The final product

On Sunday bouyed by our success we decided to make another pack but it didn't turn out as good although it tasted the same. We couldn't figure out what was wrong. Wifey also made peanut cookies at the same time. So we were juggling our time and duties as the little one slept.

When we finished we were dead tired but had a great sense of satisfaction.

Now I'm wondering about either cooking or catering for our Christmas party. If I cater then it's be less work but if I cook there will be a sense of satisfaction. Although I might require a new fridge to store all the stuff that is needed. I saw a great place called Wize that had a bunch of Refrigerator Reviews. The best thing about is that they have ranks for the reviews that make it easy for you to select a top model not based on what the salesmen say but on what other customers say. To me that is important when making an online purchase espcially for a large item like a refrigerator.

My old fridge now is pretty decent and has a large capacity but you won't be able to keep two turkeys together with the other meats and vegetables that are needed for the party. For that you need a really huge refrigerator that has great cooling power and can get the job done!

My 100th Post!!

A long time ago in Bethlehem...there was a Star that shone bright! It shone so bright that it led shepherds and kings to the place where a baby was born with the hope of bringing peace on Earth. This was the beginning of Christmas! The Star of Christmas therefore signifies a light so bright that it shines in the night and guides us to the goodness of life.

I am fortunate that my 100th post coincides with the wonderful season of Christmas so I'd like to take the opportunity to create something in the spirit of Christmas for my readers and community members to commemorate the occasion by giving you back a little something.

That is why I created my very own Christmas Star. It is to be shared with all the people on the blogsphere who are my Christmas Stars for their role in being a guiding light by shining so bright in one way or another and lighting the path of my journey here!! Thank you all!!

Drumroll Please:
A Great Pleasure
A Nice Place in the Sun
Anything Goes!
Brainy Bimbo
Cotojo
Shinade
Monday Morning Powerl
Sugar Queen's Dream
Christy's Coffee Break
Diamonds Saphire
Emila's Illustrated Blog
Huma B
In Cinq
Journey with Water Learner
Kim Fei's Blog
Lady Java's Lounge
Listening..Learning..Living
Maunie James
My Life is Murphys Law
NAFA
NoDirectOn (not: NoDirection)
Nessa's Mumblings
Nihal's Anything & Everything
Petty Ramblings of a Petty Queen
Room's of My Heart
Project Heavy Traffic
Random Magus
Revellian
Speedcat Hollydale Page
Purple Frog
Polliwog's Pond
Santa's Community Blog
The Magical Golden Cat
This Is A Miracle
Zubli

& last but not least my best blogger friend Mariuca!!

I hope I have not missed anyone but if I have please feel free to help yourself to your Christmas Star! They come in two colours, pink and blue, and you can pick which one you like or even have both... I really do hope you like your little Christmas token. Thank you again!

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<a href="http://eddiejohn66.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141669139713838098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn46syk4pz4DBledsvQbqMCggpKZZVloeFnIRmCmP2xVPJ5ux392qMidWpuMdqSc88ora3X_8AFa4TtN6OTMofqsoXc4XdsNYiju-u1bhwHZd-QjNJzDP0OpTpBf0yX5-6atA0YXlG1hd1/s320/StarBlue2.jpg" border="0" /></a>

Peace to all and Have A Very Merry Christmas!

With love from our family!

Here we come a Caroling…

Genie King's first caroling gig

A long long time ago I used to go caroling during Christmas. In fact they (the elders) asked me to be the leader of the group which was strange because I had no experience before and had never gone caroling with the with the previous group before that which was disbanded several years prior. I think they asked me because everyone else before me had turned the job down too. LOL To tell you the truth I really took the job because I was interested in one of the girls there hehehe (Wifey quit giving me the evil eye….that was a long long time ago LOL) and was trying to impress her too! The first thing I did of course was to get her to be my co-leader…a wise decision too considering that I can’t sing for nuts! LOL

Genie King's first gig as Santa

So together we worked out the list of songs to sing. Then during the final term school holidays we’d round up all the kids in the neighborhood who expressed an interest and started having caroling practice. Every afternoon we’d get together and work on the carols. It was a lot of hard work because some of the children were very young but we were pretty persistent and pretty soon got them into some sort of shape to sing.

This was the home of a Hindu family who didn't celebrate CHristmas...we spread the cheer!

As Christmas drew ever nearer we’d pick a few days to go out and visit the homes of those who were celebrating and sing our little hearts out. The first year I remember that we didn’t have a Santa with us and we only had parents who helped chaperone the kids and walk around with us. It was a great feeling to go from house to house. The kids never complained and were probably excited to be out at night too! Some people even gave us money which we put aside. We were pretty good and someone asked us to go to McDonalds in Section 14 to give a little performance. We were thrilled took the offer. We sand a lot of songs that night and then were treated to free McFood! LOL They even paid us handsomely too!

Genie King as Santa with an old friend

After all the caroling was done we tallied up the cash and then had a little party for the kids and parents and the community too. We’d also buy gifts for the children who participated. It really was a lot of fun and I can still remember the barbeque we had the first time!

Genie King manning the BBQ

The following few years I’d take the bus (three in fact) over to my cousin Joey’s place in another town just to borrow their Santa Suit. It was a simple suit but back then it wasn’t so easy to get a Santa Suit. The beard was made out of rabbit fur too. So of course I’d be the Santa…and I must say I was a pretty decent Santa (this was even before I used to collect Santa’s mind you!) and I can still remember sweating buckets in the suit. It was not easy walking around in rubber boots wearing a suit and hat and beard with a pillow tied to my tummy. Yeah back then I needed a pillow to look the way I want to look now LOL I made a fine Santa who just didn't stand around but danced and conducted and sang too LOL...Fav line..."Rudolph with your nose so bright...won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

The new carollers - this Santa was a little dull.

Nowadays, there is a new group of carolers going around. They are a lot of them too and I haven’t joined then but I just might so that my daughter will enjoy those wonderful memories that I did! In fact we recently bought her a couple of children’s books that have Christmas stories and songs. We’ve been reading to her at bedtime every night too and teaching her the songs. I think that she has learnt a lot from the Chipmunks Christmas CD she loves to listen to. In a few years she’ll be ready to go out with the group and sing too!

The group is much bigger nowadays

I better take care of myself if I want to be able to follow her in future. Hey I'm not young any more and she's just two so there is a huge age gap. I'll need all the help I can get and maybe I'll try to find tips on better care to help me. I'm no genius and judging from past experience I've pretty much failed miserably in taking care of myself. So with the tips and hints that are available at better care I'm sure going to have a better chance to keep the old engine in check. After all we are like cars...need our tune ups and oil changes and most of all preventitive maintenace and that's what better care is all about....taking care of yourself before you breakdown! You could probably look around for some nice nursing homes to settle down when you get older too...all part of life nowadays!

More so I'll also need to keep tabs on the latest topics by joining the discussion forums. Being a first time parent I want to be informed about everything. And this will also be a good place to trade experiences and learn from others too!

The Broken Ball

This year we got a little help in setting up the Christmas tree. Our little one was really excited to be part of the fun and we loved having her help. Besides I was not feeling well at that time and it was up to wifey to get the job done so she welcomed the help too.

Everything went well when we set up the tree and there were no mishaps. That was until I chose to buy a few more balls for the tree. "but we don't have white balls" was my excuse to wifey. So while putting up the new white balls we kept the little one away because these were made of glass. Somehow, with the speed of lightning she got her hands on a couple and before you could say "Santa" we heard the pop. She was covered in little shards of glass. All over!!

We slowly lifted her and removed every tiny speck...thank goodness she stood still too because the carpet was also full of sharp bits. We quickly got our old vacuum cleaner out and it barely got the job done. I mean after vacuuming I could still spot little pieces here and there. I really ought to buy a new vacuum and I saw a few fantastic looking models the other day at Dyson. They have a whole line of Dyson vacuum cleaners to suit everbodys needs. Believe me I don't like vacuuming but some of the models there are just so cool looking...I wouldn't mind doing the cleaning. Guys these vacuum cleaners look like power tools! Cool! Opps I better not talk too loud because wifey might just get me one for Christmas. Doh!! What am I saying...I MEAN I LOVE THE VACUUM CLEANERS THERE AND WIFEY SHOULD JUST BUY ME ONE FOR CHRISTMAS! Do you think she got the message.

To top it off the have a whole range of and Dyson genuine accessories and parts too like the stubborn dirt remover which I could have used to clean up the glass and made the place safe for the little one. Sometimes these things are just necessary.

My Santa Collection

Santa on the tables!

Several years ago I was invited to a house of a colleague for a Christmas party. It was just like any other Christmas party but because it was the first time I had been to his place I noticed that his wife had a collection of Santa’s. I was so enthralled by their collection that I spent the best part of the evening looking at their collection while everyone else was mingling and having fun. And that was when I decided to collect Santa’s too.

So ever since that fateful day I’ve been picking up Santa’s wherever I go. Not every Santa but the one I like and find interesting and unique. I look all over for them. Whenever I travel on holiday or work I’ll look around too. Somehow my eyes are attuned to Santa’s and I can spot them through a pile of stuff or if partially hidden. Scary isn’t it? LOL Even wifey is into it and will add to my collection when ever she can find a nice Santa during her trips.

So I’ve amassed a small army of Santa’s over the years. You name it I have it! Hehehe Big and Small. Short and Tall. Thin and Fat. Wooden and Plastic. Resin and Porcelain. Metal and Ceramic. Soft and Hard. New and Old. Stationary or Moving. Lighted or Clear.

I have Salt and Pepper Santa shakers and even porcelain Santa and Mrs. Claus Sharpeners would you believe! I have Santa's that can dance and Santa's that can sing and Santa's that can do just about anything! I have Santa's on the wall and on the floor and even on the doors! I have Santa's that are on the fridge and in the air and almost everywhere! Okay! Okay I suppose you get the picture LOL

I’m pretty proud of my little collection and hope to keep on collecting forever...if you don't like Santa's then I'd advise you to not go any further! LOL

Santa's magnets on the fridge!

A Santa clock courtesy of my brother and a Santa windsock!

A flat Santa and a lighted Santa (and Snowman) for the ouside!

Santa birdhouse!

Can you see my daughters tree...shes is so proud of it...and her lights are battery powered so she switches them on and off to have the twinkling effect LOL

The shakers and the movers!

Okay this is not Santa but it's my favourite movie of the season!

Close ups of the gang in the old showcase!

The latest addition to the "family"!

Okay either you like it or you're out puking your guts because of the overdose of Santa's LOL Either way is fine as long as I get a reaction! hehehe

Pre Christmas Bash

Christmas time always means loads of parties and gatherings among family and friends and in my recent post "Traditions" I wrote of one more tradition. Our pre-Christmas Bash!! Yes! It was today! basically the bash is usually the three of us, Sean Nick and me who have dinner, drinks and then sit around and talk about old stories and song old songs.

For dinner today I made a beef pie which turned out pretty decent. Then wifey also made a lovely chocolate cake. It was her first attempt and I hope she keeps it up! So after pie and dessert we had a few drinks and then started talking about old times.

You know how when we are younger we do strange and foolish things well here is a prefect example. Recently you read about my friends Sean's wedding. Well in that post I mentioned there were some who never thought that he would....but did you know I was referring to a certain blogger we all know LOL Yes Nick stand up and take a bow.

You see at one point in time dear old Nick believed San would get married and did the foolish thing of taking a bet with us. Even better he wrote it down. Now this happened ten years ago and me and Sean always remember it. I even save the paper he wrote it on and recently scanned it in...

We gave him some suggestions on how to have his socks but he's going to surprise us...Oh I can't wait!! You'd think he'd have stopped there but NO...he had to go a step further...just read this and you'll know what I mean...

I hope that we continue with our pre Christmas bash until I'm old and grey...speaking of grey...I've noticed a grey hair here and there on my head and while I still have a full head of hair I sometimes worry (did you notice a strand of hair on the scanned copy...arrrghh) about what if my hair starts to fall...my dad didn't have much hair and I know the barber said that I have a little bald patch somewhere but I still don't see it. Well I was worried until I came across this place run by Dr. Shapiro that offers a great service to mankind! Restoring hair! So if I'm ever in need of good Hair Transplant that is very reasonable in price I'll know where my first stop will be. In fact I know a few people that do need hair transplants now, but I won't mention names, who I'd recommend to Doc Shapiro because they do such great work from what I can see!