One of the toughest things about renovation is colour-scheme selection. Initially, both Hb and I thought we like earthly tones... i.e. brown, black and white which is also the colour scheme for our KS weekend home now. So when we went to shop for downlights, we immediately picked the only dark colour available; 4-inch glossy chrome casing with frosted glass.

The rationale was simple (or so we thought at that point in time):

• White may turn yellowish over time
• Chrome will make an interesting contrast to the white plaster ceiling
• Wires are visible if glass panel is non frosted
• 4-inch is just nice, any larger, very "cho lor"
• Warm light cos white light is harsh
• Energy saving bulb for obvious reasons
• Fans; we're likely getting chrome ones vs. the white ones...

And so we proceed to buy 56 units! Why 56?

• 4 x Living Room
• 6 x Dry Kitchen
• 8 x Wet Kitchen
• 2 x Toilet 3
• 4 x Room 4
• 6 x Master Bedroom
• 4 x Walk In Wardrobe
• 4 x Family Hall
• 4 x Corridor Upstairs
• 4 x Room 2
• 4 x Room 3
• 6 x Porch

Note that for Living and Dining area, there will be ceiling mounted fluorescent lights concealed along the plaster ceilings. Hence the minimum number of downlights required in these areas.

The chrome coloured downlight that we selected was slightly more expensive than the plain coloured ones. But then because this guy is my bro's wife's friend's husband, the discount was better than other shops we surveyed:

• RM14.00 Casing
• RM13.00 Energy Saving Bulb
• RM27.00 Each

Grand Total = RM1,500.00 (Paid in Cash on 27-Oct-2012)


So we happily bought them all and loaded them onto our car. 6 full boxes of them! End of story? No! Cos ONE MONTH LATER... we began to doubt our selection. Why?

• The ID we consulted said any colour is fine... as long as it's not the glossy finish type cos any imperfections, dent etc will be super visible...
• Google said... stay away from chrome, it may rusts...
• Family said... the contrast is so weird... the chrome coloured downlights will be jarring...

In actual fact, one man's meat is another man's poison i.e. doesn't matter what others say, so long as we like them, different people has different taste and preference. However, the part where it may rusts and that dents are super visible... made us think twice. Afterall, we are not exactly experts in lighting. So we decided to heed the advise from the experts (the ID we consulted and my brother; an architect). We went back to the shop and asked if we could change the casing. Lucky thing, they said OK... So this time round, after much deliberations, we said OK let's go with the white one... But then even with white, there are 2 options:

• White with opening in the middle (top row, 3rd from left but in matt white)
• White border without opening (top row, 2nd from left)

After another round of discussion; with opening (where dusts tend to gather around the opening gaps) vs. without opening (we felt that it's not exactly hard to pry the casing from the plaster ceiling), we went with the 2nd option i.e. white border without opening. Oh and the part about it turning yellowish, we said, we will not smoke in the house, so it should be fine!

So OK, happily thought there will be sufficient balance for us to get other lighting from the same shop since we still need:

• 1 x Pendant Light for the Altar Area
• 1 x Pendant Light for Dining Area
• 1 x Pendant Light for Breakfast Table
• 6 x Wall Light for Toilet
• 2 x Outdoor Light for Porch Pillar

But when the recalculations were made, to our disappointment, there isn't much difference cos apparently, the one we selected earlier were on promotion, the one we are selecting now is not:

• RM12.50 Casing
• RM13.00 Energy Saving Bulb
• RM25.50 Each

Grand Total = RM1,428.00 (Exchanged on 25-Nov-2012)
Balance = RM84.00

Nevertheless, we have returned the chrome casings and will collect the new ones once they are ready (need to order it seemed). Honestly, the entire experience made us felt so 'bodoh'. Like we can't even decide on such a simple item! But then Hb said because the stakes are so high i.e. this entire renovation will cost us a bomb, we can't afford to make mistakes so it is only natural that we are unsure or maybe even afraid to make our choices. I say, we're indecisive, hehe. The only consolation is perhaps we're both in this together!

Moving forward, we will make sure we weigh the pros and cons properly before making our final decision.

OMG, so stressful!!!

So intrigued by the first chapter I downloaded on The Last Eunuch of China. Unfortunately only 1 chapter was available for download. Thought of buying the book but major local bookstores do not seemed to carry this book! Only Times Bookstore Online has but itupun it was out of stock and it cost over RM400!!!

I then proceeded to google forums and such to find out how to get this book here and that was how I stumbled upon Purple Culture website. Paid RM85.44 for the book to be shipped from Hong Kong!!! Hopefully I get it in the next 5 - 10 days!!! :))

Remembered wanting a Furby in the 90s where the toy that resembled a Gremlin was on almost every kid's wishlist. Some 14 years later, finally got 1 from Toys R Us at RM269... no not for myself though I was really tempted to, hahaha... but for my niece as an early birthday present! :))

Oh forgot to mention that I am on my final Invisalign refinement sets. 5 sets in total which meant only another 10 more weeks to go!

Honestly, Invisalign was the best decision ever! But then considering the total amount I've spent so far (on my teeth that is), one does wonder if it's worth it.

Rough calculation sums up to over 15k; 8.4k for conventional braces then 6.4k for Invisalign (heavily discounted somemore). Have not even counted the add hoc works like scaling, filling, extractions etc etc.

Anyway, am just glad that I'm finally on the last 10 weeks of refinement!!!

P.S. Dr. How said I MUST get my final 2 wisdom tooth to be extracted. That's another 800 bucks and several days of swelling. So am putting it off for now... Hate extractions!!!

Well... it's been awhile since I last posted anything here. And yup it was because I had been extremely busy with both my personal and work life. Today's topic will be on my personal life.

Hb and I, we rarely have arguments. Friends told us that when they were planning for their weddings, they had the most disagreements and fights. But when Hb and I looked back at our wedding planning, it was one of the happiest moments of our lives. We didn't argue a single bit. Every single decision was made collectively either through consensus or compromises. It was simple, enjoyable n pleasant.

However things changed when we started renovating our house! We argued day and night and quarrel about anything and everything. From the type and brand of appliances to buy to the layout of rooms to lightings to furniture to reno details. Basically every damn thing!

It has been truly exhausting and tiring. One day we decided that we need to stop getting on each other's nerves or at the very least try to consciously steer away from arguing. The rationale was a simple and straightforward one. In future when we look back at the memories of building our dream home together, would we want to remember all the fights, arguments, irritations and annoyance with one another or would we rather have a great pleasant memory like our wedding planning before?

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know which one we opted for. It is true that marriage needs compromise and lots of work from both parties in order to keep it healthy. Am glad we somewhat came to our senses early enough before it leaves a dent in our marriage.

These days we learn to hear each other out first and to discuss every single detail calmly without being overly emo over our personal preferences. So far, it has been working for us. Fingers crossed that we will be able to complete building our dream home peacefully! :))

The IPO that gives you insomnia... boohoo...

Found this post sitting in my drafts. It was done last year after visiting the "Ten Courts of Hell" in Singapore. Thought it'd be good to capture it here to remind oneself that there is karma in life... Happy reading!

The "Ten Courts of Hell" is dedicated to the teaching of ethics and morality.

The Origin of the "Ten Courts of Hell" is believed to be based on the Indian Buddhist legend of the "World of Sufferings" where one would be punished in 'Hell' for sins committed in one's present life. The Buddhist concepts of 'Hell' and 'Yama' had spread to China during the late Tang Dynasty. Over the centuries, the Chinese had adopted and integrated these ideas into their own belief systems.

Each of the "Ten Courts" is presided over by a 'Yama' taking charge of the various torture chambers to penalize evildoers. These 'Yamas' would decree the different methods and severity of punishments to be meted out based on one's past deeds. The idea of "One Reaps what One's Sow" and "Cause and Effect" is the central tenet that serves to restrain antisocial behavior and determine Chinese ethical and moral core values over the centuries.

1st Court: King Qinguang
In the First Court of Hell, King Qinguang conducts preliminary trials and each prisoner is judged according to his deeds in his past life. The 'good' are distinguished from the 'evil' and the King recommends appropriate reward or punishment. Punishment is often carried out in the various Courts. Those with virtuous conduct in their past life will be led over the "Golden Bridge" to reach paradise. Those whose past good deeds outweigh crimes committed will be sent to "Silver Bridge" to reach paradise. Those whose evil doers in their past life will be sent to repent before the "Mirror of Retribution" and then taken to a subsequent Court of Hell to be punished.

2nd Court: King ChuJiang
Crime: Inflicting physical injury / Conmen / Robbers

Punishment: Thrown into volcanic pit

Crime: Corruption / Stealing / Gambling

Punishment: Frozen into blocks of ice

Crime: Prostitutes

Punishment: Thrown into a pool of blood and drowned

3rd Court: King SongDi
Crime: Ungratefulness / Disrespect to elders / Escape from prison

Punishment: Heart cut-out

Crime: Drug addicts & traffickers / Tomb robbers / Urging people into crime and social unrest

Punishment: Tied to red hot copper pillar and grilled

4th Court: King WuGuan
Crime: Tax dodger / Refusal to pay rent / Business fraud

Punishment: Pounded by stone mallet

Crime: Disobedience to one's siblings / Lack of filial piety

Punishment: Grounded by a large stone

"Wang Si" Town
This accommodates those who are wronged and driven to their death. They would be asked to view how their enemies receive retribution. They would then be judged by their past deeds and given an appropriate punishment.

5th Court: King YanLuo
Crime: Plotted another's death for his property or money / Money lenders with exorbitant interest rates

Punishment: Thrown onto a hill of knives

The "Viewing Home Tower" is for the evildoers to see how their relatives and family are suffering as a result of their wrong-doings.

6th Court: King PianChen
Crime: Cheating / Bad-mouthing others / Slavery

Punishment: Hung on knives tower

Crime: Disrespect books / Store porn / Waste food / Break rules

Punishment: Cut into half without harming the heart and brains where pain can still be felt making it unbearably painful

7th Court: King TaiShan
Crime: Rumour-mongers / Sowing discord among family members

Punishment: Tongue pulled out

Crime: Rapists / Driving someone to their death

Punishment: Thrown into wok of boiling oil

8th Court: King DuShi
Crime: Lack of filial obedience / Causing trouble for parents or family members / Cheating during examinations

Punishment: Intestines and organs pulled out

Crime: Harming others to benefit oneself

Punishment: Body dismembered

9th Court: King PingDeng
Crime: Robbery / Murder / Rape / Any other unlawful conduct

Punishment: Head and arms chopped off

Crime: Neglect of the old and the young

Punishment: Crushed under boulders

10th Court: King ZhuanLun
In the Tenth Court, there is the "Wheel of Reincarnation" and the "Pavilion of Forgetfulness" ("Meng-Po" Pavilion). After serving their sentences, prisoners arrive at the Tenth Court where King ZhuangLun passes final judgement. The prisoners are then brought to "Pavilion of Forgetfulness" where an old lady "Meng-Po" hands them a cup of magic tea which on drinking makes them forget their past lives. They will then go through "Wheel of Reincarnation". Depending on the prisoner's past life, he would either be reborn either as a human or an animal. Some would be reborn into a life of ease and comfort while others into sorrow and suffering.

Samsara
After they have drunk the magic tea, the sinners leave the "Ten Courts of Hell" via one of the six paths of the "Wheel of Reincarnation" or Samsara.