The As and Bs....

Despite a very hectic weekend of doing the usual household chores, you know, the usual stuffs - the laundry, the ironing, the cooking, the cleaning up, the sweeping - you know what I mean..heheh..*wink* (hey! I actually managed time to spend reorganizing my craft room! yipeee! *wink*), I actually managed to also squeeze in time to work some more on my Nature's Alphabet.

I have gotten as far as completing `A' already, and would have finished `B' too, when I realised that this design calls for some beads and buttons which I dn't have! Trust me for not reading the whole instructions again! *grin*

I am now on `C' and I am beginning to ENJOY working on evenweave, although I wouldn't go as far as to say that I will never go back to aida again! LOL! *wink* I spent quite a lot of time frogging due to miscountings. I think this is the biggest drawback (miscounting and frogging) of working on evenweave.

I know that many stitchers would tell me that all efforts and frogging is worth it when all is completed because of the beautiful effect the evenweave have on the ovearall effect, I would still have to say that, even though I AGREE, I still think that aida still looks nice if you choose the right design. After all, isn't it the design that makes the piece, and not so much the fabric used? You could have the worst design stitched on evenweave and it still wudn't make the design look good, and stitch a good design on aida, and you have a beautiful piece! But, then again, this is MY SAY........*wink*

All grown up......

It was my son's 6th birthday on April 22nd. Every year since he was two, I have always organised a birthday party for him, with invities which included his cousins, uncles, aunts, close friends of ours, and of course, his Atok, Tokmama and Tokmi, but, this year, without a maid, I couldn't organised one for him because there would be no one to help me with the cooking and the cleaning up afterwards.

I wanted to at least bake him a cake to bring to his kindie, but even that did not materialize because my hubby had to go outstation the day before the party at his school, and again, without a maid, I had to spend the nite at the mother-in-laws's house the night before he party, so, no baking could be done, what more the frosting. *sigh* I feel bad.

You see, the last 4 years, for each of his birthday, I had baked him a birthday cake in shapes of a choo choo train, a bear, a pirate, and last year, it was a cat and a castle (one for the school party, and the other for the party at home). He had begun to expect a cake this year too. When I told him that without a `kakak' to help me out, I wouldn't be able to bake him a cake, much less, have a party. His response, "I will help U, mummy. I can bake a cake too!". Very sweet of you, sayang, but, no, you are too small to help with the baking......well, actually, had I not have to spend the night at my in-laws, I think I would still have baked the cake, but my hubby's last minute travel plans pushed all baking plans down the drain. Oh well, I guess my son will have to learn that he can't have everything that he asked for.

Eventually I did buy him a cake to be brought for the school party, but, funny, when I called the school to deliver the cake, the teacher wouldn't allow it because she said that a cake had already been ordered for the class and another cake would only be a waste since his class is a small one. *sigh* I had to do some explaining to my son because he was so looking forward to my coming over with the cake because, when it was his classmates' birthdays, their moms came over to deliver the cake.

I guess it was probably partly my fault for not informing the teacher earlier about my plans to bring a cake. Well, at his previous school, I only informed the school just two days before the day of his birthday, and there was no problem, but at this present school, they have a specific day each month just meant for kids of that particular month to celebrate their birthdays at one go. Different schools have different policies, I guess.

All is not lost though. My son ended up having two cakes to celebrate his birthday, though both were store bought. I bought a small one to have a small celebration at my MIL's house since I was spending the nite there and I bought a big one meant for the school.

My son blew his candles on the small one and we (my father and mother-in-law, my son and myself) had that for dessert after dinner. We had the big one the next day with 3 of his cousins, and my father and mother-in-law. I brought back half of the big the cake for my hubby for dessert that nite.

I can't read my son's mind, but, whatever it may be, I hope he understands why there is no party this year. God willing, we will have one next year, insyaAllah.

Thank you, Auntie Silo and Auntie Ti for the birthday presents. Thank you too to Tokmama & Atok for the nursery rhymes books.

Happy Birthday, sayang! Mummy and Abah loves you very much! Thank you, Allah, for giving you to us to love with all our hearts.

I took the plunge!

Whoever said that once U start on evenweave/linen, that you'd never go back to aida is wrong! *wink* That person sure is making a VERY general statement, and a very grave mistake at that! LOL!

After trying out evenweave, I'll go back to aida anytime! *wink* Although I wud still attempt/consider working on more evenweaves in d future, I think I wud still make it a priority to look for patterns that I can work on aida first, and will only work on evenweaves if the pattern/design is so gorgeous that I just can't sleep dreaming about it! LOL!

Yup! I finally took the plunge and worked on evenweave over the weekend! That's it! I started on my Nature's Alphabet by Elizabeth Designs after having a very animated conversation with Zarina over the phone! LOL! I coudn't put off starting on it anymore after hearing Ina getting all excited about it. After all, I am doing a SAL with her, and I'd have to start on it soon before I get left way behind. *wink*

I must say that it was tough getting started. My eyes almost came out of it's socket just trying to count over two. LOL! I kept miscounting. I was either skipping 2 holes, instead of one, or I kept putting my needle into d next hole instead of every alternate hole! LOL! I ended up getting dizzy from seeing and counting too many holes in my 1st two sittings/attempts, but I am getting better at it - nope! not better at getting dizzy, but better at counting the holes! LOL!

I have so far stitched half stitches for the borders of 9 boxes. Am I glad that I decided to start my plunge on evenweave with Nature's Alphabet because the squares for the alphabets help me with d counting while I get used to the `problems' of working on evenweaves.

This is surely one project (working on evenweaves) where I won't be doing it in front of or while I watch TV, because then I can foresee myself doing a lot of frogging! LOL! It was hard enough counting the holes in full concentration, and I still had to frog several times, what more if I am only half concentrating while watching TV! LOL!

Since I started from the center, what better way to start off my stitching on evenweaves with the letter `N', the first initial to my name. Makes it even more `historical'! *wink* LOL!

I noticed that I work even slower on evenweave than I do on aida, because I have to be more careful with the counting. I prefer to work slower and frog less than to work fast and frog more. Patience! Patience! *wink* When frogging is less, hopefully, you get frustrated less, so I hope I will enjoy working on this piece, besides the design being very nice, but also because the good experience of working on evenweaves, and hope that it will motivate me to work more on evenweaves in the future, since there are so many lovely patterns/designs that I like which can only work better on evenweaves.

If U ask me if stitching on evenweave makes ur stitching look better than when worked on aida, I'd have to say that each one has it's own unique character! It is the love you put into each stitch that counts and at the end of the day, you are proud of what you have been able to create with your hands that matters. It's that good feeling U have at the end of every project that's important. It is all a matter of opinion as beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

A Sea to behold.....

My nephew celebrated his 11th birthday on April 21st, a day before my son's birthday. I finally gave him this stitched nameplate this year, despite the nameplate being completed some time back alraedy. I guess I was still trying to hold on to it just a little bit longer so that I can keep on admiring my work! LOL! *wink* Just simply love the vibrant colours of this piece!

Happy birthday, Hilmy!

BUZZ RR

This is a 3 person RR between Wendy, Linda and myself. Lately, I am prefering to do more RRs rather than exchanges after realising in 2004 where I was involved in so many exchanges, that when d end of 2004 came, I had nothing to 'show off' what I had done for the year since everything was given away.

Although I did have a lot of lovely pieces done my exchange partners, I still wanted something I made as proof that I did do some stitching that year, and also something I cud be proud of that is my own piece worked by myself.

Exchanges are good when U want to learn new skills from each other coz from each xchg pieces U receive, U learn new methods. I like that. I learned a lot when I did d exchanges. They were great pieces that I will treasure as gifts from friends who share d same passion.

Ok, back to the BUZZ RR, here is my portion completed. Below is a photo of the whole piece, complete with borders and date. The empty boxes will be filled with stitchings by Wendy and Linda, and we hope to get the pieces done by August. Right, Linda and Wendy? *wink*

Next person in line is Wendy, and Wendy will pass it on to Linda before it comes back to me. My theme is Seeds of Friendship because I used the seed packet designs from Cross Country Stitching.

I can't wait to see everything completed!

The Trellis

This is what I have been working on since completing my L*K Stamp-it series. I have also been working on my BUZZ RR, but more report on that later.

This design is called Trelis and is by The Workbasket. I am beginning to like designs of this nature lately. I see myself doing more of this in d future, although, once this is completed, I intend to start on the Nature's Alphabet, an Elizabeth's Design, which is supposedly another SAL with Ina, although Ina has started on hers last week.

I can't wait to get this done to see the overall effect. The original was done using GAST and a few other overdyeds. I am using D&T overdyeds for the vines, and DMC for the rest.

If U look closely, though dn't scrutinize, *wink*, I started with DMC for the vines, and continued with D&T when I finally found a colour that matches. If using DMC, it was to be a tweeding between DMC502 and DMC554. I made a mistake when I read the intructions (trust me to make such a silly mistake! duh! *wink*) and didn't do the tweeding. I wanted to do it halfway into the project, but abandoned it when it just didn't look right. So, finally, decided to combine DMC and D&T. I thinks it doesn't look too bad. In fact, I think it gives this piece more cahracter! Don't U think so? *wink*

Tag it!

A Tag Exchange was organised Malaysian Crafters2Crafters (MyC2C) by Mona last month and the mail out date was on 30th march 2006. However, I did not mail out my tag until last week becoz I suddenly found myself maidless and very little time to do my own things. Sorry, Mona, Usha and Roz!

However, I managed to do a simple one, but I am quite please with the tags (we are to do two - either similar or different ones, to be mailed out to 2 different people), considering my current situation and since little time was spent creating them. I hope my partners like them.

The bottom picture shows tags I received from Margaret (left) and Ying (right) with all the goodies included. I love them all! I especially like the tea bag that was included by Margaret. Real nice touch! Time to make that tea! *wink* Love all the lovely papers sent by Ying. I have to think how to use them in my future cards!

Thanks, Mona for organising the xchg! Thx, Margaret and Ying, for the tags and the lovely goodies!

Getting the hang of things......

Aahhhh! I has only been 2 weeks ago that I last posted, but it sure feels like it has been like more than a month ago! LOL!

I want to write more often, but, now that I am maidless, I have less time to myself. More time is spent on household chores, and by the time I do get done with d chores..err....chores that is a MUST DO, err..actually, household chores are never done, *grin*, it is almost d end of the day! LOL! *wink*

You must think that I am such a slow worker to take the whole day to do the household chores! LOL! Actually, there is so much to do (only those who have done the full course of household chores wud be able to appreciate what I am talking about), but I have only so much energy to do, and it has been 4 years ago that I did any heavy household chores.

I am begining to enjoy doing the chores with the exception of the mopping. *grin* I dn't know why, but I simply hate mopping the floor! LOL! I dn't mind sweeping the floor, but mopping the floor? hmmm...... *grin* My hubby has volunteered to do the mopping for me and the vacuuming, which is another chore I dn't much enjoy doing. Thanks, hubby! Love you! Muaaaahh!

Hey! Don't get me wrong! I still do the mopping, but I'd rather do something else first than do the mopping! LOL!

I dn't mind the cooking, the washing, the cleaning up, the laundry. I dn't even mind having to prepare all 4 meals for the day, including tea, bcoz I have always enjoyed cooking, and I am blessed that my hubby and son is not fussy about food, as long as they are not too greasy. My hubby prefers steamed and soupy food to fried ones. Though it limits what I can cook, but, never the less, I still enjoy cooking for them, and seeing my son eat with such heartiness, especially his favourite food!

It is not so bad being without a maid. Though physically tired by the end of the day, I am very much mentally happy since I sent my maid back to her agent. It felt like a heavy load has been lifted off my head.

I could foresee life without a maid. Although I worry whenever my hubby or I goes outstation, so far, we have been able to adjust things around (that is within our control) so that at least one of us is still able to be around for our son. My only other worry is when, should one day, my hubby has to go outstation for a period longer than d usual 1 - 2 days. So far, I have stayed at my mother-in-laws house on those days. But, if he goes longer than 2 days, I am not sure I'd be comfortable staying at my MIL's house for an extended period. Hmmm........I am sure things will work out, insyaAllah, when it is time for us to cross the bridge, for God is great.

For now, I will take each days as it comes.....

It's done!

It has been quite a while since I posted anything on my stitching. A lot has happened and my mind has been cluttered with so many things that I couldn't spend time on my stitching and take photos of my progress on my WIPs, until two days ago when I went on holiday to Penang (will write more about that later).

For this posting, I just want to post a photo of the LK Stamp-it I completed on Wednesday, 12 April 2006. It is actually a nice piece *wink*, but my photo taking did not do justice to d actual piece! LOL! I took d photo in d hotel room before I handed it over to Ina for framing.

I have since started on a new project - Trellis by The Workbasket. I am about 15% done. The original design was done using overdyeds and on #36ct Wheat. I am doing it on 14ct off-white aida and using DMC. I hope it will still look just as nice, but I have already blundered with the colour that requires that I do tweeding. Yeah! I did not read the instructions properly, but at d same time, I think the instructions were not that clearly written. Yeah! Blame it on the unclear instructions! LOL!*wink*

Anyway, I still hope that it will turn out fine. I want to try to finish this quickly too coz M planning a SAL with Ina for the Nature's Alphabet.

Maidless....

Yup! That's it! I am now MAIDLESS. It happened all of a sudden, I actually went into a state of `shock' after it happened! LOL! It was never intended for us to send her back to the agent unplanned. I was hoping to keep her up until we could get a replacement. But, fate has it that we were going to be maidless as of 1st April 2006, with no forwarning what so ever, up until when God decides that we are once again to have a maid. Until then, it will just be the 3 of us - my hubby, my son and I.

I sent my maid bck to d agent on saturday morning after she told me directly that she is stressed out working with me. She? Stressed out? My goodness! Doesn't she know how much she has stressed me out with her 24hr sour face and bad attitiude?

It all happened because she has yet again forgotten to pack up some things I told her to pack up for me to bring to work the next day (I instructed her on Wednesday nite). When I asked her what had she forgotten, she refused to admit that she had fogotten, even after I had showed her what it was that she had fogotten. What was so `menyakitkan hati' (annoying) was when she repeatedly shook her head, refusing to admit her mistakes. Even after I repeatedly asked her whether she was going to own up, she repeatedly shook her head. Really stubborn this woman! Eh! M stubborn too, *wink* but when I am wrong, it would not take me long to realise my mistake and own up. My guilt wud swallow me up and bring me to my senses within minutes! *grin*

When I told her that she should apologize to me for her mistakes, again she shook in her head in stubborness. Instead, she said to me, "Kalau puan dah tak suka saya kerja disini, hantar saya balik! (in a tone that is so annoying!) Saya stress kerja disini. Semua saya buat, puan kata salah" (If you no longer like me working here, send me back! I am stressed out working here. U find faults in everything I do).

She refuses to admit that she is forgetful, that she is stubborn, that she makes mistakes. She feels that I have no right to remind her when she forgets or correct her when she is wrong bcoz she feels that she is right but I am wrong for correcting her. She never forgets, but it is I who gives her too many things to remember!

I ONLY correct her when she does anything wrong or not according to d way I had taught her. I ONLY remind her when she forgets, and she forgets to do things almost daily, even routine things.

Since she started working for me, exactly 6 months on the 1st of April, I noticed that I cannot give her intructions to do more than one chore at a time. She will not remember. So, I would always have to wait for her to finish one chore before I can give her another. Tiring, dn't U think?

There are times when I cannot wait for her to finish a chore before giving her another because I have other things to do, but if I give her more than one chore to do, but to do them consequetively, she tells me, "mana boleh saya buat semua nie?" (How can I do all this) in an annoying tone. *sigh*

She is still in d country, and according to the agent, trying to secure a job with another employer! I wish the new employer GOOD LUCK! I am still negotiating with the agent to send her back no matter what, since her employment is still in our name. I do not wish for another countryfellowmen to suffer d way I did. It has been so too traumatizing for me with this maid, that I feel if I can just do without a maid, I would.

Also, each time I look at a person from d same country, I cannot help but feel a little bit resentful, you know, like, why are they here if they come to work but not in sincerity? I know I shouldn't generalize, but sometimes I cannot help it. But, for sure, I know that this feeling will go away once I can get her (this maid) out of my head.

Now our government is trying to get them more rights, and the employer is left at a disadvantage. They run away, WE get penalised. Should they not perform to our expectation and we request for a replacement, WE have to pay for everything like as if it is a new application. The agent is not responsible enough to vet through the maids before they come in to ensure that they are good and can perform as what they are here to do - help us make housework light, not burden us further.

Even the minister is not spared. Didn't Dato' Seri Nazri Aziz's maid of 6 years ran away with his money and jewellery worth RM350,000.00? After 6 years of trust! Didn't a trusted maid of 3 years also stabbed her employer after an argument? Can U ever trust them totally?

Your employer trusted you enough (wudn't U if ur maid had worked 4 U for 6 years?) to leave a large chunk of money and jewellery at home, never once thinking that you would be unfaithful and run away with d valuables.

If the maid so much as hate working for an employer, do it properly by discussing with the employer/agent to be sent back legally instead of running away. Yeah! I know they (the maids) have a lot to lose by being sent back, but we, the employers, have spent loads of money already and we DO want our money's worth.

It hurts that we, as the employer, will always be at d losing end. I sometimes sympathize and understand the case of the employer who is suspected of abusing her maid. Although I dn't agree to her abusing another human being, but she must have come to a point when she could no longer take it from this maid who is so `duh' that her patience suddenly snapped after being so patient and tolerant of this person who probably just keeps on annoying her with her (the maids) bad attitude. I could have many times lost my patience with my maid, but, because I have faith in God to help me through the rough tides, I persevered. I thank God for giving me strength and patience.

I am happier now (but sad that she is still in d country) that I no longer need to deal with her, and M free to go out anytime I wish without having to think about what she is up to at home and what I need to bring bck 4 her meals. Only thing is, I hv less time to myself to do ME things like stitching and cardmaking coz I now I hv to do all d housework and cook. We ate out most meals over d last weekend, but I dn't think we can afford to eat out everday.

I am still adjusting 2 a life without a maid. It has been 4 days already. Last nite came back late frm work, after prayers, quickly started dinner....more like heating up food since I still had some leftovers frm Sunday. But, by the time I got dinner done, eaten, clean up, made Milo for everyone, put my son to bed (my hubby helped me with the dishes - thanks, Dear! Love U!), I only managed abt half an hour of stitching b4 my eyes grew watery frm tiredness. Slept at 10 pm. Wanted 2 watch LOST, but I totally got `lost' in slumberland d minute my head touched d pillow! LOL!

It takes time. Although I am enjoying the fact that I no longer need to think abt d maid, M exhausted frm doing even d simple housework coz it has been a long time since I did everything frm A-Z.

Even when I had the maid, I was still doing chores like cooking, organizing things in the house, things like that, but I always leave it to d maid to do the washing, cleaning up, and things like that.

Even b4 I had the maid, I did everything myself, but I was much younger than and without a child. Now dah manja (spoilt) kut. LOL! I can do this, but it just takes some adjusting.

When I told my son that 'kakak' no longer wants to work for us and wants to go home because she misses her mummy, and that he has to help mummy in the kitchen, he said to me, "Aiman kena masak ke?" (Do I have to cook?) I find that so adorable and touching......

Give up my stitching?

The other day my mum called me after she read my blog regarding my problems with the maid. She has partly blamed my stitching for my problems. *sad* She said that I shud give up my stitching and any other craft hobbies, coz each time I spend time stitching, my mind (her assumptions) tends to wonder and think of unnecessary things, like thinking about the faults of the maid.

She thinks my time spent in the stitching room (although I now spend more time stitching in front of the TV in d company of my hubby and son), in a quiet environment, tends to make me see small problems as huge problems.

She feels that I shud forget about my stitching (give up stitching totally) and spend more time out of the house away frm the maid. That way, I will hv no dealings with d maid whatsoever. Hmm.....I still need to deal with her when I come back on what to prepare 4 dinners, breakfast, give her everyday instructions on everyday chores and things related to my son's well-being etc. You have to remember, my maid is very forgetful.

She feels dat I shud just eat out most days so tht I dn't have to bother abt cooking, and let the maid handle the running of the house (cleaning, washing, ironing, etc.) That way, when she feels that she (the maid) is d 'boss', she will no longer intimidate me (make me 'sakit hati').

Whenever my hubby takes our son out for swimming or just having a boys’ day out, she feels that I should also go out with them. Whenever my hubby goes to d gym, she feels that I shud also follow, instead of spending time at home stitching. I have days out with my son too, without my hubby, and my son enjoys those outings too. They are different from boys’ day out outings. During those times, my hubby prefers to go to the gym or meet up with his friends. Don’t get me wrong, we have family outings too with all 3 of us, sometimes, even including the maid in d outings. We have `me days’, ‘your days’, and ‘our days’. My hubby and I understand the need for time and space alone to do our own things, and individual needs that are different.

The reason why I dn't follow each time my hubby & son goes out is bcoz I hv no trust with this current maid to leave the house in her care (I hv heard and read too many frightening stories), although I hv left her alone for very short periods of time and only once or twice.

With my two previous maids, I take about 1 - 3 months b4 I trust thm enough to leave them at home alone. I still leave them at my MIL's house if we are going outstation for more thn a day, more 4 their safety, and not bcoz I dn't trust them. Once I trust them enough, my hubby, son and I love just going out the 3 of us to watch shows or movies, or just going out about town, just for the sake of taking our son out.

It has been almost 6 months with this current maid, but I still dn't trust her enough to leave her alone coz she has demonstrated many times her untrustworthiness even when M around. She has let in unknown contractor into the house even though I hv many times instructed her not to open d door to strangers. She chats up with the neighbour's maid and gets all secretive when I asked her who she was talking to when I hear voices frm the back. It is as if she is trying to hide something frm me.

My two previous maids make friends/chats up with the neighbour's maid too; I have no problem with that. But whenever I asked them who are they chatting up with, they tell me truthfully. In fact, the previous one b4 this wud actually tell me everything that the neighbour's maid had told her. LOL! No secrets. She has nothing to hide. But this current one gets all defensive. Why? Is she hiding something from me? Am I being paranoid?

Giving up my stitching or any other craft hobby, for that matter, is like taking away part of what makes for who I am - a unique person that never fails to amaze people, even my hubby *wink* In the office I am this strong character, sofisticated lady (I am known for my good dress sense that one office boy actually refers to me as a model. Me? A model? LOL!). When my hubby 1st met me, he thought I was a disco queen and was pleasantly surprised when I dn’t even like going to clubs, but instead can cook great meals! Such a contrast! LOL!

I have a very strong character (tegas), hard headed sometimes, but it is for this character that I am not being easily taken for granted at work and get respect from my colleagues (male and female), and people I deal with in my line of work. If you do not hv a tough character in this line of work, U can be easily manipulated and be taken advantage of. I am a principaled person like my dad.

Even though I am very strong headed at work, but at home, I am just a wife to my hubby and a mother to my son. I am very much a domesticated person, prefering to stay home and cook, taking care of the house, all those domesticated stuff, instead of going to clubs or stalls for 'teh tarik' with friends. Unlike my two sisters who prefer the nite life and entertaining, I'd rather be entertaining my hubby and son! *wink*

My work is stressful. There are days when I dn't see daylight in my house. I leave the house as the flowers bloom in the wee hours of the morning, and dn't get home until the flowers drooped a sad look, late in the nite.

I look forward to coming home, to enjoy my lovely house (reason why the weekends are so precious to us) and to relax with my hubby and son, but bcoz I do not know how to relax totally (I am always up and about doing something, if M not doing my hobbies, I would end up reorganizing my house many times over! LOL!), I need to come home to a hobby that destresses me, while I spend time with my family.

If he does not bring his work home, my hubby loves surfing the internet or watching late nite movies, and I would keep him company as I stitch. Other times, I love just sitting and looking at my son play (sometimes we read a book together too). My son sometimes feels `suffocated’ when all I want to do is hug and kiss him! LOL! Can I help it when I find him so adorable? *wink* After all, I waited 8 long years for his arrival! *grin*

My craft hobbies keep me sane. They are my saviour in times of down. I have many times stitched through my tears, and asked Allah to help me through the tough days. They help ease the hard times, as Allah guides me through the rough tides.

Although my hubby is always there for me when I need him, but it is not always that he understands, for men don't always see things the way a woman sees things. We are from a different planet, are we not? LOL! *wink* what is important to women, might be a flick for the men....

My hobbies keeps me ‘in touch’ with my grandmother, for there are many times that as I sit stitching, I think of her (I miss her so..) and wish that she could see how much her talent has developed in me, apart from the other characters of her that I have inherited. She is a good cook, a fair person, loves to spend time sewing and creating things with her hands like crocheting, patchwork, knitting and many more crafts. She patiently taught me most of my hobbies. Her talents live on in me. How could I stop something inherited from someone so dear to me?

I will go on stitching for as long as my hubby permits me (he has given me his blessings for me to go on stitching), for as long as it does not take me away from spending time with my family, and I will keep on stitching and doing my other craft hobbies for as long as my eyes, and my health in general, will permit me. I hope to still be stitching when I am old and grey as I sit with my hubby and son, at the garden terrace, as we slowly sip tea or coffee with some homemade cakes.

Ma, I hope you will understand why it is not that easy for me to simply give up something I have grown to love almost all my life through the patient teachings of Che’ (my grandma). It is like taking away a part of who I am. I love you…..

Ee Koon wrote: Nik, if your maid is chasing you away from the things you love to do and the home you love... I think you should think about finding a replacement. She's employed to make things easier, not the other way around, and I think you are a good employer and treat her fairly. You have had maids before, and that is proof. Maybe she is just not cut out for this sort of job... thinking about you and hugs. Don't stress so much, la... maybe you can do something about the situation.

My response: Thanks, Ee Koon, for ur kind words and support. It means so much to me to have friends who understand. I am blessed. It is true that we have maids to make things easier for us, and not make life more complicated. It would be so easy if I could just do without a maid, but alas, since I am working, and my hubby and I travel all the time for work, it is almost impossible to be without one. However, we are trying to negotiate with the agent to get a repalcement, but it is taking time bcoz the good ones mostly prefer to work in countries that pays better. We are just left with the `just ok' ones if we are lucky, or a `bad' one if we are not. Hugs, to you too, Ee Koon.

Has it come to this?

I no longer enjoy staying home because I end up getting more stressed out at home than I am at work!

Each time I am at home, be it during the weekends, or weekdays (when I take leave), I end up being stressed out, compliments from my maid! *sigh* I so much want to just take a few days off to spend some time with my son, take him out on outings or just simply spending quality time with him. Maybe do some stitchings too in between! *wink* But after a few incidents where I end up getting all stressed out, I dread staying home. I can no longer enjoy staying home. That is BAD, isn't it?

Today, I am down with the flu. I had a long day yesterday, waking up as early as 4.00 am to get ready for my 7.30am flight to Kuala Terengganu. I couldn't get an earlier flight back and had to settle for the 9.20 pm flight via AirAsia, arriving only past 11.00pm.

Today I am at work since I have a few meetings all lined up. I have a few more meetings lined up too until the end of the week, and look forward to the weekend, but, at the same time, I am dreading it.

In fact, I am even dreading going home early today. I am not feeling well, and just want to go and pick up my son, my maid and try to get home early so that I can get some rest before I start preparing dinner, but already I am not looking forward to it, bcoz every day there is something that she will do that will get me all stressed out.

Don't believe me? Just the other day I took out my son and my maid to Pusat Sains Negara. We were there only slightly over an hour, but, even within that short period, my maid could actually strike up a conversation with the cleaners (also frm her home country) and within minutes they (both females, thank God!) were like holding hands as if they hv known each other for ages! Goodness gracious!

My previous maids hv striked up conversations too with people frm their home country whenever I bring them along to clinics, supermarkets or many other places, but never the way this maid goes about `making conversations'. I really can't explain it, but there is something about this maid that is different from the other two. Well, ok, naturally, everyone is an individual, but, sometimes U can `read' them and understand them, but this one.......

Every Hari Raya, I bring my maid (including the two previous ones) to the same relatives' house..well, basically. While we spend time eating and chatting up with relatives frm near and far, my maid would usually be in the kitchen (unless I tell her to feed my son) to help out or just make conversations with the relative's maid.

At the end of these visit, my relatives would usually just give my maid some `duit raya'. This is the usually routine every raya. End of story. But, with this maid, she not only get `duit raya', but also packets of cookies, cakes and drinks. Is she telling our relatives that we are not feeding her?

I feed my maid well. My two previous maids go home a few extra kilos heavier, maybe more. They go home with chubby cheeks. They eat what I cook and eat. We eat burgers, they eat burgers too. We eat spaghetti, they eat spaghetties too. We eat Chicken Rice, they eat Chicken Rice too. If my hubby and I eat out, we never fail to bring back our maids some packed food.

My two previous maids also strike up conversations with our immediate neighbours' maids, but they never pass food to each other. This maid gets food passed from other neighbour's maids. Is she starved for food? There are planty of food in the house. I only request that she tells me if she wants to eat food other than what I have prepared. Cookies are a plenty.

I can't put a finger to it, but this maid is of a different species........

My weekend

I don't remember ever posting anything here about a weekend that I just went through...hmm....wonder why?...Heck, there is always a 1st time for everything, right? *grin* Anyway, I decided to put on record what I did LAST weekend, because I think I am starting to get a little forgetful.

I think it has something to do with the fact that I now have to remember more things, when it comes to the domestic front, which last time, was taken care of by my previous maid. Now, I have to remember things like "don't forget to switch off the iron", "don't forget to switch off the boiler", "don't forget to bring in the shoes", "don't forget to bring in my son's school things", "don't forget to water the plants", "don't forget to lock the door", and so many more!

Yeah! They are all routine things but this current maid needs to be constantly reminded all the time, and my mind is constantly kept preoccuppied with things like these that I tend to forget other more important things. *sigh*

Just the other day, I spent the whole morning looking for two magazines which I had bought for Cheeze. I simply cannot remember if I had mailed them out to Cheeze or not. It seems like I have a memory block on this incident. I can't seem to find the magazines at home, and yet, I cannot remember mailing them out either. *sigh* I wish I have a camera installed in the house (only at certain places..*wink*), so that I can play them back should I need to recall a certain day that I cannot remember. I think this should be good too to `spy' on my maid to see if she is doing things the way she is supposed to, and also if she is up to things she shouldn't be doing, though may Allah jauhkan.

Anyway, back to my weekend....I do love to blabber, don't I and get so easily off-track! LOL! I had quite a productive weekend (in terms of stitching) but it got punctured here and there with headaches and stress with the maid.... again (so, what's new? *sigh*).

I completed two more L*K Stamp-it months, as U can see from my posting before this. I am progressing well on the Stamp-it that I actually took time off to prepare for yet another new project! LOL!

Yup, on Saturday nite, I stayed up way past midnite to prepare for an RR I am doing with two other members at Malaysian Stitchers. I did the tacking (for the areas meant 4 my partners to stitch) and actually started stitching. I am glad I did not go that far that nite (got too sleepy), for the next day, I realised that I had stitched on 16ct aida instead of 14ct like the 3 of us had agreed to do on.

No wonder I was like squinting my eyes last saturday nite looking 4 d holes to poke in the needles! LOL! *wink* Age is really catching up on me! LOL! Can't seem to run away from it anymore!!!!..or was it because it was late in the nite that I could not see the holes?..heheh...still in denial...LOL! *wink*

Anyway, Sunday morning was spent re-preparing (is there such a word? *grin*) for the RR, and I am quite happy with the progress, though I know I could have progressed more if not for the headaches that kept coming back throughout the day yesterday.

I hope to report more on the RR, and of course, the progress of my L*K Stamp-it, which I hope to complete very soon, as soon as I can get the threads which I have ran out of.

Here's wishing everyone a good week ahead. Happy stitching!

Two more completed!

Yipee! I am dancing! *grin* I completed two more L*K Stamp-it on Friday, March 17. I actually completed the July Stamp-it on Wednesday, March 8, but was too lazy (shame on me!) to put in the buttons, so I could not consider it as finished. I finished stitching the October Stamp-it on Thursday, March 16, but could not complete it in total when the buttons that came with the chart was faulty - there were no holes. It was frustrating..stitchers would know what I mean..heheh... *wink*

Luckily Linda had brought in some extra buttons when she brought in the L*K charts, so, I dropped by Linda's place on Friday (took Thursday and Friday off because my son had the fever and an asthma attack) to get a replacement. Thanks, Linda!

With these two completed, I have two more to go! Yipee! I am eager to have the series completed! Wouldn't you? *wink*

Charlene wrote: Nik, Love to see the L*K Stamp-It that you finished one by one. If you happen to let go the chart that you already finished, don't forget to inform me.

my response: Will certainly do, Lene! I might want to sell off the charts once I am done with them so that I can buy more stash! LOL! But, since I spent so much time on this series, I am also sad to let them go, but.....I MUST refrain myself from hoarding more stash.....hehehh...*grin*

..and 'N' is for......

Like I said, it's gorgeous! Don't you agree?

Simply love the colours of the overdyeds! I wish I knew which brand of overdyeds she used so that I could also use them in any of my future stitching projects. Maybe I should ask? *wink*

The use of overdyeds by Mona also got me started on an overdyed craze where I went hunting (surfing, rather) looking for overdyeds! LOL! I think I posted so many questions about overdyeds over at Malaysian Stitchers, that the members probably got sick of my questions! LOL! But, I appreciate all the help I got from the members. Thanks, people! Muaaahhh!!

Mona wrote: Hey Za the overdyes are from Vicky Clayton's Hand Dyed Fibers . It's silk but I can't remember what the colour name is.

my response: Thanks, Mona! heheh..I am not sure I should be buying any more overdyeds. Didn't I just spend close to RM200.00 on ODs from Linda less than a month ago? *wink*

Mark that page!

I am on a roll here! LOL!

Here is a photo of a bookmark I made for Leena, my partner, for the Bookmark Exchange, also organised in 2004. See what I mean when I said that I was involved in so many exchanges in 2004? LOL! There's more to come! Keep a look out for this page! *wink*

Country designs almost always appeals to me. I just love the vibrant colours of country designs! They always put a cheery smile on your face. Don't you agree?

Besides the stitching, the bookmark is also handmade by me. I made them to sell (upon request from friends), but have not been making any for some time because I got caught up in making cards, also in the year 2004! LOL!

Flat Fold cum Notebook

I said in my earlier posting that in the year 2004 I was involved in so many exchanges. One of them is a FLAT FOLD Exchange. If not for this exchange, I think I would never have known what a flat fold is. I still don't know what is the purpose of it till today, except as an ornament, so, when I did mine, I made it dual purpose - a flat fold cum note book.

I don't know if Aida, my partner for the exchange, is still using it, but I had fun experimenting and trying out so that it is not just an ornament for show, but useful too.

In exchange, I got a very lovely flat fold from Mona, my partner, which she stitched using overdyeds. I will post photos of it as soon as I can get hold of a camera. It is gorgeous!

Only an image to remember.....

I was doing some housekeeping on my computer and came across this photo of a towel band I made for my partner, Niza, for the Towel Band Exchanged I organised at Malaysian Stitchers sometime, I think, in 2004.

I wished that I had stitched another one for myself, but I am one of those people who dislike stitching the same design twice, unless I really need to, for I get bored easily.

I love this design by Mary Engelbreight and might just be tempted to do one for myself, if only I don't get distracted to do anything else first! LOL!

I did not join that many exchanges in 2005 except for the BDE 2005 Exchange. In 2004, I was constantly kept busy stitching for exchanges (I thought that I am a superwomen! LOL! *wink*) that when 2005 came, I realised that I had nothing I stitched in 2004 to show for, for I had given away whatever that I had stitched as exchanges. So, in 2005, I refrained myself from joining any exchanges.

I was tempted on many occassions, but at the same time, I also wanted to stitch something that I could keep and admire many years to come as my own and not one that someone else gave, although I love and appreciate all the stitching exchanges I got from my partners for they showed me methods which I am unfamiliar with.

I think, between exchanges and RR (round robins), if U are talking about keeping something as a token to remember which U also have a hand in it, maybe RR is a better option. But, in exchanges, you learn new methods from your partners which, before this, you would never have thought of doing it that way.

All in all, you gain from both experiences. It is up to you what you prefer.

I have come a long way......

Zalita, or better known as Cheeze among our stitching friends, wrote in her blog that yesterday, 12 March 2006, was the 1st anniversary of her blog. Congrats, Cheeze! That made me want to find out when did I 1st started blogging, or rather, when did I 1st set up this blog.

I didn't realise that it has been more than a year since I started up this blog in January of 2005, on the 12th, to be exact, with my 1st posting. But I didn't post again until 6 months later with my 2nd posting in July, 2006. Even then, that posting was actually abstracted from a Yahoo Group I frequented during the fever (It's coming back! *wink*) , which I would sometimes give my opinion on matters that affects my feelings. Can you guess what the subject is about? *wink* Click on the this link to find out! *wink*

I started this blog upon introduction by Cheeze when she 1st started blogging at Blogdrive. Later she moved to Modblog and used that as the learning ground to get familiar with the world of blogging. Much later she moved again, this time to Blogspot for personal preferences, where she has been since. I started at Blogspot from day one and have been faithfully here since. There was a lot to learn about the world of blogging and the HTML, and I am still learning, but I had help from a lot of my stitching friends who were already bloggers. Thanks, everyone! Heheh..my blogging also got my nieces, mum and sister to blog too! *grin*

I have always been a keen writer and have always been interested to put my thoughts to paper, well, blogging isn’t actually putting thoughts to paper, but thoughts into the virtual medium, but, that’s pretty close because I could always make a print out from a page of my blog.

Many years back when I was the Chief Editor for the news bulletin at my former office, I had a medium to let loose my thoughts and ideas. After I was transfered back to the head office 5 years ago, I lost the medium where I could unload my feelings, thoughts and ideas on matters that is close to my heart. I felt restless for I needed to express myself (must be the writer in me. LOL!). I wanted to share, not necessarily to a specified audience, but to anyone who wishes to hear and read about what I have to say. Blogging was the answer to my restless heart! LOL! *wink*

I sometimes have a lot to say which sometimes can get me into trouble *wink* because sometimes I can be easily misunderstood even for my most innocent statement. You see, reading someone else’s thoughts are nothing like hearing the person him/herself speak him/her mind with the correct intonation. You know from the expression and intonation of that person as to whether that person is serious or just making a joke.

Even the use of emoticons cannot replace in total the actual expression and intonation of a person saying his/her thoughts in person. I always have to be careful with my expression, thus, I always use *wink* to indicate to the reader that I am joking or kidding, and I use a lot of “LOL!” in my postings too to depict that I am laughing at my own joke/writing/experiences with the hope that the person reading my blog will laugh with me and not take too seriously things which I find funny and never meant to hurt anyone, for I am a very sensitive person.

I have come a long way......and I still have a long way to go......may my friends and families join me on this journey of my thoughts, feelings and experiences, for we may learn from one another.........

Oopps!

heheh..I did it again! I went out to buy two more cross stitch books to add to my stash! LOL! But I love both the books that I bought and want to do most of the designs featured, but I only have 24 hours in a day, and most of it is spent away frm my stitching. So, how?

The designs in Cross Stitch Teddies are so adorable, and the designs in Oriental Odyssey are so beautiful! I love them all, but where can I find the time to do them all? I have to work in order to make money, right? Only then can I fund my hobbies! Of course, there are also many other things that I need to pay for, you know, the BIG B? Bills!.....LOL! *wink*

We finally did it.....

After much discussion and soul searching, thinking that probably we are the fussy ones, or we probably make bad employers when it comes maids, we decided to send our maid to the agent for counselling.

We gave her a one-day leave. Dropped her off at the agent's house and told her we will pick her up the next day. In the mean time, we went for a much needed break. We went to Port Dickson. I will tell more about that (the break) in another posting.

Prior to dropping her off, we had met up with the agent a week earlier, to seek his advice, as to what we should do in dealing with our maid. It has come to a point when not a day would pass by without her giving me problems. I was constantly under stress and it was beginning to also affect my hubby, and my son was also starting to feel the heat of my stress.

The peak of it was last Sunday when she let in a contractor into our house, even though it was only for a brief moment for him to pick up his things which he had left after doing some repair works to the house. I had many times told her never to open the gate to strangers.

We (my hubby, son and I) were upstairs taking an afternoon nap when I heard the gate opening and closing. At first I thought it was the neighbours (I am a light sleeper), but after a while, I realised that the sound sounded too near, and I got up to check. I was shocked to see a man loading up his van with construction things belonging to our contractor and with my maid passing a pail to him filled up with other working things.

I hurriedly rushed down, calling out to my maid, asking her why she had let in a stranger (she never met the contractor before this because it was his workers that came to do the repair works) when I had specifically told her never to open the gate 2 strangers. By the time I got down, that stranger had left the house in his van.

Her answer? "Puan tidur, saya tak nak ganggu" (You were sleeping. I did not want to disturb you). I had once told her before that should a stranger come a calling, and if noone is at home or if I did not hear her when she knocks on my bedroom door, no matter what, she is not to open the door. She should either keep on knocking on my door, or, if it is urgent that that person needs to talk to me, to tell the stranger to call me, or my hubby, on the phone, or come back later.

When I tried to explain to her the danger of opening the door to strangers, she had this very annoyed look on her face, like she is mad at me for scolding her. She just doesn't want to admit that she is in the wrong. She must think that she is one very smart women, and smart people shouldn't need to be told what can and cannot be done (or so she thinks).

She refused to look me in the eye, and all this while, while I was talking to her, she went about doing her chores with a very sour face. Even when I told her to stop doing her chores and come and sit down so that I can explain to her why I scolded her, she just wouldn't budge frm cleaning the fridge. She just kept at it (cleaning the fridge) even though I kept calling out to her. Eventually I got up and went to her (my hubby said that I shouldn't have gotten up).

That was the last straw. I could no longer take this attitude anymore. I could tolerate her not-up-to standard work, but this attitude problem is getting way out of hand where is she starting to purposely want to annoy me. I cannot forget the look on her face as I spoke to her as she cleaned the fridge that day. It was a face of great annoyance (I can't really explain or put it in words that can actually make you imagine that expression correctly), and that of someone who needs her head checked.

Anyway, back to present day (sorry for blabbering! *wink*), when we went to pick up our maid the next day, the agent told us that she complained, among many other things, that she has to work long hours (getting up early and sleeping late). She wakes up at 5.00 am (I get up at 5.15 am) and she is in bed by 10.00 to 10.30 pm on most days (my hubby and I sleep much later than that). It was only one month (mid January to mid February) that there were a few late nights as we were preparing for my brother's wedding and my FIL's birthday party.

The other late nights were when we take out my in-laws for dinner, we work outstation and take a late flight back, or when my hubby goes to the gym. Days like these are not often. On these days, she normally sleeps first at 10.00 pm and gets up only to open the door.

She has to work two houses (my MIL's house and our house). There are 3 other maids at my MIL's house - my SIL's maid, my BIL's maid and my MIL's maid. My maid's job is just to take care of my son and his things. When my son goes to school (she has taken naps sometimes during those times), she is relatively free and once in a while, my MIL would ask her to help her. She is picky (berkira) and always has accuses not to follow my MIL's instructions.

My two previous maids have been able to work happily together with my MIL's and SIL's previous maids in the same situation for the past 4-5 years with no major problems. The previous batch of maids have mutual respect for one another, and they work together to help out my MIL to take care of 4 children, cook, and clean up the house, though the major portion of the work is done by my MIL's maid as the head butler, as we like to call her role.

My maid said that she is not comfortable that we are always inspecting her work, like we dn't trust her. With my two previous maids, I always inspect their work the 1st 3 months they start working for us to make sure that they carry out their work the way I had taught them to do. After I am satisfied that they are trustworthy and will carry out their chores according to the rules I have set out, I will no longer need to inspect or monitor their work and can get on with doing my own things like stitching or card making! *wink*

It only took me a month of monitoring my 1st maid before I was satisfied that she is doing her job correctly, while it took slightly over 2 months for my 2nd maid to need monitoring, but it has been close to 6 months already with this present maid, and I am still not satisfied with the way she does things because the minute she knows that I am not within her vision, she cuts corner (curi tulang). When asked if she had done what she is supposed to do, she will quickly answer `yes', but, upon inspection, she has yet to do it. When asked why she said she had done it when she hasn't, she said that she forgot. Can you belive this woman? And she expects me to trust her? *sigh*

Anything else she complained? Yes, she does not like the fact that I sort out my laundry and load the washing machine myself. She only takes them out to dry. Again, she says that I don't trust her. She is right! I don't trust her. When she 1st came, I told her that my working clothes are to be hand washed only, but I have caught her dumping everthing inside the washing machine! Can I trust this woman?

Ooohh! The list is endless, but basically, the agent agreed with us that her head needs checking, she has a attitude problem and, to put it short, she is LAZY! She makes up accuses to get away from doing chores and lies if she thinks that it will get her off from doing certain things. She has no initiative to do things on her own, and needs to be reminded constantly even of routine things.

After all that, are we still retaining her? We had a long chat/discussion with her with the agent present. I followed-up with another pep talk with her alone when we got home last night. She is under probation for a month. Basically we told her that we are going to go on observing and monitoring her work until she can prove to us that she is worthy of our trust. She will have to change her attitude and will not make any more accuses to get out of doing chores, or when instructed to do things. I told her I do not wish to see her sour face anymore in the house and she is to respond to me immediately with a smile.

Do I have faith that she will change? Bad habits die hard but she is young. She can change IF she wants to. It is now all up to her. In the mean time, we will just have wait and see. We are leaving our options open. I wish ourselves the BEST OF LUCK! May Allah give us patience.

My say.....

I watched Anugerah Bintang Popular 2005 last weekend at my mother-in-law's house. I missed the award for the best male radio presenter, but was hoping that one of the K&K (Khairil & Kieran) from Radio Era would get it. I enjoy their breakfast antics everyday as I travel to work, and was a tinged disappointed that they lost to Halim Othman instead. *sigh*

Yeah! There have been times when I do get bored of listening to the same old songs being played over and over again, but I never bore of listening to their (K&K) fun antics. Definitely much more than I enjoy listening to Halim Othman! They make a good team, K&K, better than when Khairil was being partnered with Halim.

Most of the time, when one of them calls in sick or is on leave, the morning drive to work just isn’t the same, and I think I am not the only one who feels that way. There has been callers who call in complaining why one or the other has to take leave for the breakfast show just isn’t the same with just ONE of them. The K& K team is not complete!

To me, Halim is too full of himself (oops! Sorry fans of Halim Othman, but this is MY say!). Yeah! I know, just because he is handsome, or so he thinks (yeah, I won’t deny it – in a way he does have the looks, but my vote would still go to K&K when it comes to the joy of listening), it sometimes gets to his head in the way he presents himself. This is MY say….. it puts me off listening to him!

Radio Era works hard to promote K&K, because throughout the day, you would be able to catch snippets of the breakfast show, but, unfortunately not enough to garner enough votes to win the prestigious award. It is always the handsome or the pretty ones that win, never the talented. *sigh* Our general public has yet to mature when it comes to the voting game. They simply vote for who they like, not for who they think has the talent. Yeah, don’t let me start on last year’s Akademi Fantasia. That really irks me. LOL! *wink* I think my mum will see RED if I say something not nice about her idol - not that I have anything to say. If I do, I have said it all last year….! LOL! *wink*

True, Anugerah Bintang Popular IS a popularity contest, so I guess K&K will find it hard to win 4 as long as Halim is still very much in business, and for as long as he stays charming in so many women’s books! LOL! But, I hope that one day either one of them, if not both, will still one day win an award for their efforts and fun antics!

I now listen to Radio Era more for K&K than for any other reason. If not for them, I would probably have long migrated to other radio stations for I feel that Radio Era is kind of bias when it comes to playing songs on its radiowaves.

It has not been particularly fair to the other AF kids who I think have potential too. Instead they only play songs that bring them `money', so to speak. They play songs which they think will keep them in the top spot as the most listened to radio station in the country - for now. I guess that is the game of business. Money accounts 4 everything! *sigh* But, watch out, Radio Era, for if you go on like this, many more listeners of Radio Era will slowly start migrating to other radio stations, for shear frustrations, because they feel that they are not getting what they want in radio listening.

I have heard songs by Kaer (AF2), Zarina (AF2), Elliza (AF3) and a few others, being played at HOT.fm and XFresh.fm, and they are good too, if not better, than the so called 'talent' and phenomenal success of last year's AF champion. *wink*

Again, this is MY SAY.....

Works in Progress (WIP)

I started this many many years ago, but after awhile I got bored (Geminians! *grin*) ! LOL!

See what I mean when I say that I need to get the L*K Stamp-it completed quickly before my boredom creeps in? *wink*

This design is from Cross Country Stitching October 1996. I am very very keen on completing this and hope to do it sometime this year. Let's just hope I dn't get distracted with other projects first! LOL!

This one is also another piece done almost 3 years ago! *gulp* It is called Kimono Row by Design Works. I wanted 2 do a Stitch-a-long (SAL) with Ee Koon who is doing the same piece, but she beat me to it. She got hers done in under 6 months! Wow! Now I am ashame!! *head hung low*grin*

My 3rd WIP is a project I started sometime last year. I bought the chart when I was in Penang for a meeting and drop by Tammy's, thanks to Ina who was gracious enough to bring me around.

It is clock chart. I bought it after seeing so many nice cross stitch clocks at Tammy's and immediately wanted to do one. The chart looks pretty easy to do (don't judge the simplicity or complicatedness of the design just by looking at the chart! LOL!), so I thought I could get it done in no time...my estimate was one month. It is coming close to a year already! LOL!

It actually has so many colours, and the pinks are almost similar that when I stitch at nite, I tend to get confused! LOL!

After listing down my WIPs (which I have long been wanting to do in order to take charge of all my unfinished works), I realised that these are my only WIPs - only 3 - for now, at least! *grin* Isn't that great? Before this I thought I had about close to 10! It sure felt like I had so many unfinished works! LOL! Maybe I have not rummaged enough through my craft room? Maybe if I dig further, I might just find more! LOL!

September is done!

Yipee! I am happy to rreport that I completed my 8th Stamp-it (September) in eerr.....shall I say, record time?

I started on this Stamp-it last Sunday, 26 February, 2006, and completed it 7 days later! Happy! Happy! Happy! I now have 4 more to go!

I am now working on my July Stamp-it and hope to get that done in record time too! *grin*

I think I need to quickly finish this series bcoz I am really itching to start on a new project! LOL! Also, my interest on this project is starting to wane.....hehehhhhh.....eerr....is that the right word? Or shall I say, I am starting to get bored! Oopppps! I am in trouble! LOL! *wink*

my 7th......

Not bad! Considering that I have been travelling here, there, everywhere! LOL!

Yep! I completed my 7th L*K Stamp-it - March, last Sunday! Just in time to welcome in the month of March! LOL! heheh...the 1st weekend in two months that we could finally just relax and do OUR things! *grin*

For those who have been reading my blog, U would know what I mean when I say that this is the 1st weekend that we are free to do our own things. Before this, for the past 2 months, we have been tied up almost every weekend preparing either for my brother's wedding or my father-in-laws surprise birthday party. But, in between, I have managed to do some stitching! I think I need that bcoz my stitching is very therapeutic. It eases a lot of my stress (work and maid related). Though it does not take it all (ease the stress), it helps me get through the rough patches of a hectic life style of living in the city.

I am now moving on to stitching the September Stamp-it. Hope to get that done in record time too, and not get it done in September! LOL! *grin*

With the 7th Stamp-it completed, I have now passed my halfway mark! Yipee! So, I decided to feature (show-off! LOL! *wink*) all 6 stamp-it that I have completed thus far. I wanted to include the August Stamp-it (completed in December 2005) but it wouldn't look nice since I have yet to start on the July Stamp-it and have only just started on the September Stamp-it (I am a freak for perfection! LOL! *wink*) .

How do they look? Nice huh? *wink*

She annoyes me....

..or shall I say, she is irritating?

Yes, my maid irritates me! Will I have the patience to wear out the contract? It is another one and a half years before her contract expires. Sometimes I think she purposesly wants to irritate me. Either that, she simply has a very bad attitude problem, and probably....eerr......shall I say, very unintelligent? I dn't particularly want to use the `d' word.

My maid is very very very forgetful. She cannot even remember routine things like switching off the iron when done with the ironing, switching off the water boiler before retiring for the nite, bringing in my hubby's work shoes each time we come back from work, watering the plants, that sort of thing. I have told her several times already which uniform my son wears on what day to school (he wears sports attires on Tuesdays and Thursdays), but come every Tuesday, she will ask me again. *sigh*

I have to keep on reminding her on what to do......almost every day! It is like she has only started working for me only last week at the rate I am telling her what to do, but the fact is, she has been here close to 6 months already! I almost sound like `berleter' now, and I dn't like that!

I do not mind having to tell her daily what to do, if only she takes critism and reminders well. She doesn't! She gets all defensive and tells me in her mumble jumble mother tougue that she is not forgetful (hehhe...did I understand her language? *wink*)....simply put, she goes mumbling to herself whenever I remind her that she has not done this or that. She gives me an annoyed look each time I remind her anything that she has forgotten. Like as if I have no right to remind her and that she has every right to be mad with me for reminding her!

Last night, when again she forgot something that I had earlier told her to do, I told her that despite being young, she is as forgetful as an old person, and I said that in a joking manner. U know what? She had the cheek to answer me back by saying "Memang tua pun!" (You are right! I am old!), in a very annoying and defensive voice! When I told her not to answer me back (menjawab), but just to respond with a 'yes', she gave me a grunt.

This morning, when I called out to her to bring in my son's school things into the car, U wanna know what she did or did not do? She decided not to answer me! Yep! Because I told her last nite not to `menjawab'!!!!! uuurrgghh! I had to call her like 5 times before I finally got a grunt like sound coming frm deep inside her throat!

Also, this morning when I told her not to bring along certain things to my MIL's house without my prior permission (she had packed up some dirty clothes of mine which she shouldn't, to my MIL's house - according to her - to wash them), she gave me another grunt! This is so annoying and irritating! Uuurghhh!

Gosh! How much longer can I take this? My work is stressful enough. I dn't need anything more to add to that stress! Please, God, give me patience........

Niesa wrote: I think u shoud list down the job description

My response: I did. In fact, I wrote a whole weekly timetable that lists down everything that she has to do each day from morning to nite. Does she look at it? U guessed it..she didn't!

When I 1st gave it to her after a month of working for me (after so many 'forgetful' events), she does not even want to look at it, saying that she doesn't need such time tables because she will remember. The timetable also lists down ingredients for food I cook regularly, yet she still does not remember for she refuses to take a look at it. To her, I suppose, the timetable proves her lack of memory and probably is demeaning to her, thus her reluctance to refer to it. *sigh*