Tote Bag

I have sewn a tote bag which can accommodate A4-size books.

I tried to iron the fusible interlining fabric but it seemed not working at all.  It did not fuse to the wrong side of my outer fabric. Anyway, i just sewn it. 

The tote bag has a flat bottom of 6cm.

Pens can be stored in the pocket inside. 

I sewed  the whole bag by hands only instead of sewing machine. I was worrying the seam line not tidy enough. Finally, it looks fine!

又水灾了吗

话说那一场雨我来得及离开公司，却还是逃不了被困的处境。困在车龙里，怎么说就是难受。而同事小玉呢，只不过比我迟那一步，公司门前的水位已升到她不敢跋水而过的深度。她只好返回办公室等水位退掉。一等就等到晚上九点多。

事后她告诉我，在那种情形之下，我们的办公楼很快被淹没的水四周围绕。这一栋楼顿时成了一座孤岛。办公室里还未回家的同事们，大多靠在窗边闲聊打发时间，同时也监视着淹水的情况。

楼下的马路旁原有好些停泊的车辆，车主肯定是来不及把车驾驶离开而留在那儿。如今全都成了“汪洋中漂泊的船只”。同事们都八卦地观察哪一种车会漂得较快。这可是前所未见的情景呢！

突然有一名同事大喊。原来他认得我们的同事小米的车，也看见了小米困在她那“漂泊”的车里。几个男同事见状，立即赶下去协助她。

小米在车里眼看水位急升，紧张得不知所措。同事们在车外一直喊：“快开门出来！”她依然手忙脚乱。经过一番挣扎后，她终于把车门打开，同事们扶她出来。

幸好她没什么大碍，有惊无险。第二天请了一天病假后便如常上班了。不过她的轿车则‘遍体鳞伤’，不能那么快修理好。

第二天上班，公司停水、停电，一些电脑系统失灵、连电话也失灵。这全拜那一场水灾所赐。

第三天上班，开始听到很多分行或外地的投诉电话，责怪我们前一天电话打通了却没有人接听。经过我们大费周章地解释后，分行的同事们总算了解我们的窘境。

一段日子后，电话无端失灵。外地的同事们不再那么火爆了。再联络上我们时，第一句话便关心地问：“你们那边又发生水灾了吗？”

My First Purse with Metal Frame

 I bought a frame some time ago when i traveled. I would like to try out a new craft. 

I was looking for the way to make myself a purse with frame but I had no idea how to sew the frame with my fabric.  The brief instruction attached was not in detail and it mentioned pliers which confused me what to do with it.  I put aside the frame until one day i accidentally found this blog UHandbag.  I was so excited that i understood the tutorial which is very clear enough.  Immediately, I chose the little red hood fabric which i bought in Taipei and started to sew one.

I was generous enough with the glue ( I think I was) but it was quite difficult for me to insert the edge of my purse to the channels of the frame. Anyway, I'm so glad that I still able to complete this purse! Thanks Lisa, the blogger of UHandbag.   

Burger at Soul Sweet

There are not many shops selling burgers in this small town.  We go to try out the burger at Soul Sweet.  I am not sure whether it is a chain store or franchise but that is not important to me.  The more important is its taste and its price.

We are so surprised that no matter its smell, its appearance and its colour, it is not worse than branded burger!    The sesame on top is not like other burgers that only appear a few seeds on top.

There are few layers in between and hence the whole burger is thick and attractive.  Of course, I am comparing it with those burgers with only a piece of meat, a piece of lettuce and some mayonnaise which form a thin burger.    

Apart from the appearance, it is so delicious that we will go to dine-in again.  This has become another form of encouragement for the kids to study harder (and smarter) and to 'redeem' this as a reward.  Oh yes, the price of the burger is RM3.80 each.  

I personally like the taste of the coffee frappuccino there too.  The only regret is insufficient of cream on top.

It is a pleasant afternoon break and we plan to go again soon.

一雨成岛

通常年中的天气较炎热少雨。然而那一年六月中旬的某一天，接近下班时间竟开始倾盆大雨。公司的所在是个淹水黑区，因此大家都心里有数。有人忙着望向窗外再汇报外面积水程度。我们的办公楼已开始形成孤岛，四周围都积水了。而我焦急得把手上要紧的工作尽快完成以便准时下班离开。

下班时间到了，我和邻桌的小玉约好以最快速度离开办公室。正当我俩一起站立，她桌面上的电话铃声响起，似乎还有些工作要处理。她示意我不要等她，我飞也似地出去了。

眼睁睁看着外面的积水约半尺深。我站在公司们前迟疑了一下，还是决定涉水走出去吧！走到了对面的轻快铁站，不知哪儿冲出来的蟑螂竟趴在我的脚，吓得我拼命跺脚，试图甩开它。回头一看，见到水位上升得很快，比刚才高了许多。而小玉在公司门前呆立着犹豫。

虽然我及时离开公司，结果还是在回家途中困在车龙里。前方一些路段淹水，车辆都过不了。我被困的地方形成了“大停车场”，很多车主都宁愿息掉引擎等候。这段回家路程费了两个半小时。苦哉！

好不容易回到家附近，又是堵车。等了老半天，有些好心驾驶人士比手划脚地告知要行驶另一条绕大圈的路。一路上都有倒下的树，害我一直提心吊胆地在黑夜里探险似的摸索回家。

家，好“远”哪！当天晚上回到家，我已疲累不堪。第一件要做的急事便是冲进厕所！然而，不知小玉是否已安全到家了呢？

Cellphone Pouch

I sewed a cellphone pouch using the material that I bought from Taipei. It is fun to choose a fabric to mix and match with another. I have chosen a new fabric matched with an unused blue jeans fabric.

I love the zip comes with the Snoopy.

After this, my sister-in-law requests a handmade pouch for her irregardless any pattern, any mix and match of the fabric. Her existing cellphone pouch is wear and tear. Well, I would try another pattern using button instead of zip.

购书乐

这是我第一次到台北一游。乡里再度出城啦。

令我喜出望外的是那儿有很多书局！太好了！我超爱逛书局。我“躲”在小镇已很久没机会踏进书局了。更惊喜的是连新书也有折扣。在我国若买同一本新书，就得付比定价要高更多的价钱呢！更别梦想会折扣。台北的书迷可真幸福啊！

Chess Mat

The boys love to play Chinese Chess. The chess paper attached in the box of chess is wear and tear. The lines on it is faded. The paper is so light that while they are playing the chess, the wind will blow the corner of the paper. It always interrupts their games.

Well, let me think of a way to solve this problem. I use a piece of felt and sew the lines on it.

Another piece of fabric sewn behind.


Now, they are so happy that they can play the games on this new chess mat. They can see the lines on it and they are not interrupted by the wind anymore.

I found that other games also play on the board with 8x8 rows and columns such as Draught and Othello (or formerly called Reversi). Both of these do not have a 'river' in between. Hence, the mat that i sewn here can be used to play other games!

We have been searching for the Othello game set in the town but we are unable to get one. Hence, we bought 2 sets of smaller Chinese Chess so that there are 64 chess pieces. Now, we can play the Othello game on this mat too.

Busy September 2011

Time flies. It is the end of September. I have been busy in this month. I have not accessed blogs for a month.

I helped a family to take care of their boys while the parents went travelling. I woke up early around 5.30am to get ready for the boys to go to school. I sent them to school every morning and fetched them home in the afternoon. I prepared simple lunch and dinner for them as well. It was their school examination period and I helped them to do revision. I also took care of the pets and plants for the parents while they were away. Well, it was tiring but a good experience.

After that, it was my turn to go travelling. Although it was just less than a week, I walked most of the time for almost ten hours a day! After I am back from the trip, I am so tired but still worth it.

Little Pouch

It has been a long time that I wish to sew a small handphone pouch. A friend bought me a piece of fabric that is pink with a Hong Kong movie character, CJ7. This has motivated me to start sewing a pouch immediately.

Well, let me try out the use of Velcro for the first time.

Hmm....finally it is done.

It is not perfect but I enjoy the process of sewing it.

Felt Cake and Cat

I am learning on sewing these small items from books that I borrowed from library.

A piece of strawberry cake, my little niece and nephews love to see it but unable to eat it. It makes them hungry!

It is fun to sew this cat key chain holder too.

游戏规则

从小玩游戏，总是要遵守游戏规则。若没有设定规则或其中有人不遵守它们，游戏便没办法好好持续下去。不是吗？例如玩一些棋子，小朋友都知道必须轮流投骰子。

从小学开始，上周会、去图书馆或放学时，都必须排队守秩序。上学每一堂课都有设定固定时间，铃声响了不是换另一堂课便是下课或放学。不论测验、小考、大考、期中考、期末考。。。，也必须在固定的时间内作答。时间一到，就要停笔交试卷。

奇怪的是，为什么学生时期所要办到的，在社会工作时便南辕北辙了呢？瞧！上司要下属天天延长时间在公司加班。尽管大家都知道没有加班津贴，也知道原本该下班的时间。为了一份薪水，只有忍气吞声。更甚的是一些上司逼下属“加班”的目的并非为赶着完成紧急的工作，而是本身准时下班回家感觉无聊而要求下属“陪同”留在办公室。类似的情形，我已听过不少了。孰不知已设定的天天上下班时间其实也是一种规则？

我曾经任职过的一间公司，由于地点稍微偏僻，所以公司安排了每天上下班时间都有几趟巴士免费载送员工，穿行于某地铁站与公司之间。话说乘搭这免费巴士的员工大部份都属于专业人士，但上车的情景竟然是争先恐后，连幼稚园的小朋友都不如！我当时讶异不已，难以置信。这并非偶然让我看见，而是天天都上演同样的一幕。

也罢！我一直告诉自己：“我正在增广见闻，开拓视野。”

My Camera Pouch

I have my very first digital camera since few years ago. It was first spoilt at Singapore Zoo when I visited there. I could not take any photos there. Well, it was just after one year warranty period and I required to spend for the lens repairing.

One year later, I brought the repaired camera to visit Hong Kong. On the first day, it spoilt again. I did not intend to send it for repairing any more.

I bought another new digital camera which is about 50% cheaper than my previous camera. They are of the same brand. There is no camera pouch in the package. According to the sales person, if I buy a camera costs 50% more expensive, there will be a free camera pouch. Well, I prefer to save that few hundred dollars. I sew it myself. Here it is - the padded blue colour pouch with sweet pink strings and tag!

我的工作是看杂志

在那一年工作不景气之前，我很幸运的得到这毕业后的第一份工作。当时面试我的人有来自四个不同部门的主管。椅子还未坐热便面试完了。心里暗忖该是不成功了。然而隔天便接到电话，我被录取了。原来该部门办事效率一流，难怪面试也可以那样速战速决！

后来我才知道，一些前辈的面试经验也和我一样，只耗几分钟而已。我应征的那段期间，刚好老板要找一批刚毕业的新鲜人。我们这批新鲜人被分配到不同组别。

我那一组同事正值非常时期，全都为一个大项目忙得连午饭都托别人买便当回来快速解决。我在一旁什么也帮不上忙，因为他们也没那个时间对我介绍什么，但都很友善的给些资料我读，以让我打发时间。

有一次近下班时间，同事F善意的叫我趁着不忙的日子，准时下班回家。不然以后的日子是很难有机会准时下班的。那确实是对菜鸟的金玉良言之一。多年后我也对自己组的新同事讲同一番话。而另一组的同事在多年后告诉我：“我是菜鸟时，为什么没有人好心这样告诉我呢？现在后悔当初没有抓住准时下班的机会呀！”

刚开始上班数天后，老板竟跑过来亲切地告诉我：“我知道你刚进来上班还没有分配到什么工作，你大可拿些杂志看看吧！“没想到这一看就明目张胆地看了数个月。这一定羡煞许多人吧！

后来我又得知一名前辈刚来上班时，情况和我一样。更甚的是他在工作时间众目睽睽地伏在桌上睡着了！老板见状还叫醒他，递张钞票叫他替老板出去买些东西回来以赶走睡意。若抵不住那段无所事事的日子，肯定会另谋高就了。别以为坐在办公室无所事事很写意，其实渡日如年,很考验耐力啊！

万无一失

同事V君是从另一间公司跳槽过来工作的。话说他们父子三人都在同一间机构里效劳，只是都在不同地点上班。一时间，这引起同事们的注意。

他很快和部门里的人打成一片，同事们都喜欢和他开玩笑。不知怎的，大家都在传他很积极地找对象，似乎人人都为他这件事挂心。即然平日爱开玩笑，想必是大家在辛苦工作之余拿他寻开心地消遣而已。

不料有一天，他告诉身旁的同事们，他买了介指准备送给女友。他的幽默令同事们大笑一番。原来不是幽默，他竟真的亮出一枚介指给同事看！他女朋友都未找到，又怎么知道女友的手指有多细呢？这么早买定介指，肯定戴得上吗？同事们又都七嘴八舌地争着问他。

意外地，他告诉大家他不只买了一枚介指，而是很多枚大小不一的介指。他预料将来的女友，肯定会适合戴上他买的其中一枚。这下子可好玩了，他这举动为同事们带来了一番娱乐。第二天他果然带了几枚介指来亮相以示他所言都属实。这确实是他万无一失的准备工夫！

电话礼仪 (2)

我毕业后第一份工作的公司便很重视电话礼仪：电话铃声响三声内接听。对方开口前先问候，报上自己的称呼及部门，再问对方需要什么帮助。时过境迁，那已成了一种自然的习惯。

多年后我调到了国外，这习惯依然跟随着我。所谓礼多人不怪，没什么不对吧？

岂知在这国外的公司里，原来在电话的沟通完全不同。礼多人会怪的。后来我才少见多怪地发觉到沟通方式可以是接听电话即默不作声；拨电话者不必清楚听者为何人，认定只有这电话分号的主人才会听这通电话，所以大可马上说个没完没了。

在他们的“字典”里是没有打错电话这回事，也不会出现同事帮忙接听电话的。而打电话的人也大可当电话一有人接听后便无礼地大声嚷嚷：“到底怎样？”（什么东西怎样？）、“你怎么能这样做？”（我做了什么？指哪件事？）、“他在哪里？”（谁在哪里？）、“马上过来开会！“（我吗？去哪里开什么会？）总之我听过无数类似的电话，实在莫明其妙。就算后来讲清楚来龙去脉，是对方弄错了，也没认错或道歉就挂断电话了。真是个奇怪的公司文化。

话说会来，这间公司的人都压力太大了吧？不然怎会这样沟通呢？

当我和一些不同组的同事稍微熟络后，他们都会在电话笑我：“接听电话不要那么专业，好吗？“噢，文化冲击！

饯行

许久没有整理照片了。今天一开始要整理，便看到这些不禁令我想起去年五月的相片。

话说续上一次的‘高档日本餐’后，友人不死心。一定要在我离开前品尝到好吃的日本料理以当作饯行。“又是日本料理？”这是我第一反应，虽然我也爱吃日本料理。只不过被上一次的经验吓到了。这次我们是在周末的午餐时间来到热闹的购物中心里，提早吃午餐，避免人潮。

这次我们点的食物都很满意，价钱也较上一回合理。如今想起来还回味无穷。

我们打算日式午餐后再到附近吃西式茶点。说到做到。但午餐后确实饱了肚子，便到处逛。然后又来到另一家店吃。这一天出来的主要任务便是吃！

这下也是朋友带我见识一番。端上来的红茶，有罩垫罩着茶壶以保温。红茶配上蛋糕，只是用眼睛‘吃’这种气氛已经爽呆了！以前只有在电视或杂志上看过，不曾亲身体会。

友人说，闻红茶的清香，喝不加糖的红茶，配上甜的蛋糕才不至于太腻。嗯，对哦！真的搭配得恰到好处。

如今就只有看照片回味的份了。

电话礼仪 (1)

刚踏入社会的新鲜人，确实有太多东西要学。除了工作本身之外，一些小细节也要很留心，尤其是在大机构里工作。

话说电话礼仪便是其中之一。老板每次开会都强调它。我们必须在三声铃声响内要接听电话。问好后，除了介绍自己的称呼，本身部门名称，还要语带笑容的问对方有什么需要帮忙。

当年刚开始注重这种礼仪时，不论部门里的菜鸟或老臣都难以适应。久而久之已成了很自然的习惯了。唯有最后问对方需要什么帮忙的那一项，还是有许多同事有意无意地忽略它，只因即要在对方开口前，一口气快速说完这几句话，又要口齿清晰，所以只好省略它了。

一段时日之后，公司特地设立了一个小组。每个部门在每个月会不定时接到三通神秘电话。这个小组的人员会针对接听者的电话礼仪打分。然后每个月初会公布成绩。我们的部门好几次倒数前三名，老板可紧张万分。成绩是暱名的，所以没多少个人知道这三通电话是谁丢的脸，它只代表整个部门。

再过了一段日子，成绩的公布竟把接听者的号码也一併列出来。人人开始更紧张起来，勤加练习，以免被千夫所指：“原来是你把名次拉低！”

一天，我接听电话时像往常一样，吸口气再一口气说完被指定的句子。对方却沉默不语。过了一阵子，对方称自己是神秘小组成员。我的天哪！我厚着脸皮问他是否听见我之前的问好，免得冤枉地被列入黑名单。还好，他都听到了。我不至于令整个部门丢脸。

就在这一片“礼仪热潮”中，我们的部门有幸一起出游一天一夜。同事K 因找不到同事A，便用手机打个私人电话去找同事A。同事A一接听电话便公私不分地道：“午安。我是xx部门的A小姐。请问有什么事情可以帮您吗？”

下午茶 (1)

一个晴天的星期二下午，出去买些东西却找不到我要的，白跑一趟。肚子有点饿了，让我在附近物色一下吃的吧！

好，沿着这道路，见到有不少车停泊在那看似路边住家，却有卖吃喝的，我也来一试。若不熟悉这里，大概会经过它而没察觉，因为我也几乎错过那入口。不过提起它的店名，恐怕算是在本地远近驰名的。

这里没有冷气设备，只有风扇和自然风。炎热的天气，还算舒服的。 我点了茶点，找了座位后环顾四周，多是叔叔伯伯老板型的顾客在享用下午茶和聊天，大概也同时在谈生意吧！

蛋挞还有余温；面包则没有，却看起来不错。

下午茶当然少不了饮料。这二人份的饮食共RM5。

食物被端上来了。虽没有大城市里名牌连锁店的精致杯碟的搭配，却有小镇朴实的味道。付了钱后便开动了。松软的面包，好香呢。我不能想像若是刚出炉而温热时，香气会是多引人垂涎三尺呢？正想着，我见到一名女侍者提着两袋圆圆的面包递给邻桌的叔叔，大概近二十个外带的面包。我再次猜测，这里的面包该是名不虚传吧？

Coin Pouch

I sewed a coin pouch which can accommodate coins and a library card as per request.

This is the first time I sew a pouch padded with fleece batting. It increases difficulties for me to handle thicker edge. Anyhow, I feel good when I touch and hold it which is padded with batting.

I am glad that the recipient of this pouch likes it too.
I will make more as I enjoy sewing such pouch.