I am so very very very sad that my friend and fellow blogger Ami lost her battle to cancer yesterday.
She’s one of the bloggers i loved working with since my days at Tongue in Chic.
I’ve always had the utmost respect for her strength and passion, and in her own words, “Battling cancer in style.”
Ami was always super sweet, gentle, nice and hardworking.
I love that she went after what she loved doing, and she will be missed greatly.
It will suck not being able to see her familiar face at events anymore,
nor check out her incredibly pulled-together outfits,
or see her inspiring healthy breakfast concoctions on Instagram.
I am at a loss for what else to say. I want to be positive but it’s hard.
I was so SURE that Ami would pull through cos she was so positive herself.
I’m so sad for her husband and family…
i wish them a lot of love and strength to pull them through this difficult time.
Ahmygad. So many things have been happening the past few days…
I’m in the airport waiting to board and decided to answer some emails and blog a bit.
Last weekend, my family made our way to Awanmulan on Saturday to celebrate my mum’s 60th birthday! There were 6 of us – my parents, me, Clem, my bro Nick and his gf Sonia. Oh wait 7 of us. Caeser the chow chow came along too. No one thought it’d be a problem for Caeser to go, cos he’s a well-behaved city dog but alas, because he’s male, one of the dogs in the vicinity got really aggressive towards Caeser the moment he stepped out of the car, and Caeser snarled back.
We thought we chased the other dog Daniel away, but he suddenly went RUSHING at Caeser, there was a moment of complete chaos as Caeser ran around my dad’s legs and my dad tripped over Caeser or the leash backwards toward the slope. I saw my dad fall and thought, “Shit. Ok no i’m sure he’ll be okay” and ran off to get myself in between Daniel and Caeser, while my brother Nick ran down the hill to catch Caeser, and my mum was screaming.
Oh man. Clem helped my dad up, and he was in such obvious pain that we had to fetch him a chair and he sat there for about 20 minutes before Clem fetched him, my mum and Nick to the nearest hospital with Uncle Teng leading the way.
I felt so shit.
Like it was my fault for not being more cautious of how dogs would react there.
Or how i should have suggested my brother carry Caeser in.
Or how if i was earlier maybe Daniel wouldn’t have been there when we arrived.
I’d been planning this getaway for us since October last year, and this had to happen before my dad even managed to step into the place ๐
In the end, he got an x-ray and painkillers (at this impressive new private hospital in Seremban) and we discovered today that he’s got a fractured vertebra.
It’s so upsetting to see your parent in pain… like you’re so helpless and a child again.
He was being quite positive yesterday tho, saying that these things happen and at least we were all around when it did – which is true! We still managed to spend time together at Awanmulan, and my mum and bro could see why Clem and i always go there cos it’s so beautiful. Poor daddy couldn’t move around much so he stayed in the room with Caeser as we went out.
I’ll blog the pix in another post when i’m in Frankfurt. Clem and i got home around 6pm on Sunday evening, and my plans were to unpack from Awanmulan, do laundry, and pack for Europe cos my flight is on Monday.
I suddenly got news that my grannie was bleeding in the brain and had to go in for neurosurgery in London. I didn’t know the extent of the surgery… and just hoped it would go great. I know she’s old, but i don’t think it’s her time yet!!! I comforted myself with the thought that my aunt and uncle would ensure she got the best doctors to perform it and i just had to be patient for the results.
In the same hour, i received a whatsapp message from a friend in Jakarta… who told me her boyfriend had passed away. I didn’t understand anything. I was utterly confused cos i just saw them in KL for drinks a mere few days ago. They also took Clem and a bunch of our KL friends out when we went to Jakarta for the Phoenix concert last January.
After 30 minutes of messaging other friends, being on the phone and packing for Europe haphazardly, i found out that he passed away possibly from 1) weak heart, 2) the same stupid drug that’s been killing people in KL pre- and during FMFA.
Btw, i found out that police reports state that 5 people who passed away *from FMFA* were actually fetched to the hospital from Ascott hotel and NOT FMFA grounds. Which is why the FMFA organisers were so confused when people were saying on social media on Saturday the 15th that 5 people died. They had no idea cos FMFA has a huge professional medical tent that is almost like a hospital and anyone who isn’t well goes through that tent.
Anyway. I just couldn’t believe that he passed away just like that. I felt mad that he had to be so stupid to take stuff after all the reports of people dying in KL and Jakarta from this mystery drug.
What a waste.
What a terrible mistake to make.
What a stupid way to die.
People these days put all sorts of rubbish and poison into drugs to make a quick buck.
You have NO IDEA what’s in there!
I don’t know what to say except to please tell all your friends this story so that they would NOT take something and end up shutting down their own body.
Rest in peace dude. You didn’t deserve to go like this.
Also, you should be remembered for the person you were and not how you went,
and i’d like to end this with a mention that people have been saying you are one of the most generous and nicest guys they’ve ever known.
This has been a shocker for many of us. I couldn’t concentrate on packing and even lost my phone in my own apartment. Found it 30 minutes later in a paperbag of wrapping paper (must have been when i was wrapping presents for Eurotrip).
This morning my aunt told us that the surgery on my grannie was successful, so i’m really relieved about that. I’m so glad i decided to fly to London to spend some time with them seeing i’m already going to Frankfurt, so i’ll get to see my grannie.
I can’t wait to get on this flight actually.
Flights are my quiet time, when i get to just SIT down, i don’t have to work, i don’t have to be online, i don’t have to talk to anyone. I can just rest and think. And i think i have a lot of unthunk* thoughts to sort through.
Happy birthday to my wonderful man! I threw him a birthday party at Stratosphere @ย The Roof, seeing it has a gorgeous 360ยฐ panoramicย view that’s worthy of a birthday celebration!
We first went there for its launch in November 2013, and figured it’d be a a great place since there are 5 rooms of 5 different concepts and we wouldn’t have to drive elsewhere in case friends wanted to eat or we wanted a sudden change of atmosphere or music.
Clem and i at The Malt & Leaf.
We grabbed a bite to eat and some beers before heading upstairs to Stratosphere.
The Malt & Leaf is known as a whiskey bar (i really wanna go back and try their Jap whiskey taster board, RM100) tho i saw a lotta people having champagne that Friday evening as well. Every table next to the view was booked(!) so we sat in the inner area of the restaurant/bar.
I ordered some salmon with vegetables and roe.
I only managed to have a third of it cos friends whacked the rest off me.
We moved up to Stratosphere after eating. It’s Asiaโs first and only luxury bar on a grassy helipad lounge with a 360ยฐ panoramic view.ย love it cos it’s so spacious!
Before the party, Clem was asking me things like, “So, did you get Jay-Z and the fireworks?”
Me: ย “Wellll i called Jay-Z up and he couldn’t make it, and the fireworks…”
Last Thursday, i went for an event held by Yeo’sย – the household brand name known in Malaysiaย for its drinks. I myself have a weakness for theirย chrysanthemum tea… and Clem always asks whether i want some every time he pops by 7-Eleven >.<
Saw long-time blogger buddy Jezmine Blossom looking as cute as always!
There were quite a number of bloggers and media cos there was a big contest launch to happen that day… in short,ย Yeo’s and WeChat announced a collaborative contest where they’ll be giving away RM500,000 in CASH and 72 iPads across 80 days.
That’s a lot of money… and alotta iPads!
As it is, Yeo’s already uses WeChat to announce their latest news, updates and offers;
and now they’re using the mobile app to host this contest too.
Called theย โYeoโs 80 Days Drink to Cash Contestโ, it will run for 80 days fromย 13th March to the 31st May 2014.
During the entire contest duration, there are all these crazy hooks that will make you wanna enter:
– Daily Draw of RM 3,000
– Special Bonus Draw of RM 10,000 once every 10 days
– Final Grand Prize for RM100,000 draw on the 80th day
– No SMS charges (participate via WeChat)
– No long waiting, results are announced daily via Wechat to all participants
How to enter:
1) Buy anyย Yeoโs, Justea or SoyRichย range of beverage in Tetra Pak 250ml (pictured above), Tetra Pak 1L, PET Bottle 350ml/500ml/1.5L, with codes on pack or using the outlet Official Receipt.
2) Joinย Yeo’s Malaysia WeChat Official Accountย by scanning QR code on pack or add WeChat ID:ย YeosMalaysia
3) Submit contest code and snap picture for proof of purchase.
For contest code:
i)ย The printed code on Yeoโs, Justea or Soyrich beverages
or
ii) Using the Official Receipt number as Contest Code for the purchase of any Yeoโs, Justea or Soyrich beverages that does not carry any printed code
For picture for proof of purchase:
i)ย Yeoโs, Justea or Soyrich beverage with printed Contest Code โ photo must clearly show the code and the Yeoโs, Justea or Soyrich Product must be opened/consumed
or
ii) Picture of receipt for yourย Yeoโs, Justea or Soyrich beverage.
4) Send the code + pic to YeosMalaysia via WeChat.ย You will receive an official notification from Yeoโs Malaysia WeChat with a hyperlink to view Yeoโs Commercial via Youtube.
5) Answer a simple question based on the Youtube vid and retain winning photo for verification purposes.
That’s it!
Then you just wait for the Daily or Special Draws to see what you’ve won.
You can enter as many contest entries as you want, as long you have separate contest codes.
I’m always interested in seeing what Jonathan Liang comes out with every season. His vision to create utilitarian shapes and abstract lines in apparel, make him one of the most forward-thinking designers in my book.
