I am truly a master procrastinator. I can't believe I put of submitting the defects form for K.u.c.h.a.i A.v.e.n.u.e for close to 3 months! If it wasn't cos' my parents lectured me, I would've still taken my own sweet time. Tsk tsk tsk, quite the hopeless.

Prior to keys collection, I had to pay 6 months worth of maintenance fee and deposits for electricity and water bill which I promptly did on 07-May-2010. Thereafter, an appointment has to be made for keys collection. I collected the keys to my condo on 11-June-2010. But then there's really no use cos' for as long as CF is not obtained, renovation cannot begin. It was during that period that home owners are supposed to inspect the house properly and submit the defects form.

In my mind, it was ok to delay la, CF not obtained yet what. But "timji" on 01-August-2010, I got a letter from the developer stating that the CF is now obtained. And that got me scrambling to submit my defects form after my parents lectured me in M-16 mode. So ok lor, today I took a day off work to properly go through the unit for possible defects with my parents.

Lucky thing, the defects were fairly minimal; I think. And upon checking with condo management, was told we can proceed with our kitchen and yard reno as it doesn't affect the rest of the defects-affected area. Here's the list of defects I submitted:

• Wavy wall with some part protruding and some part with paints falling off
• Skirting for the entire house not nailed in, leaving huge gaps between walls & the skirting
• Visible gaps all around the master bedroom window frame
• Master bedroom toilet bowl leaks when flushed
• Hose for the 2nd bathroom connecting the water heater was missing
• Window handles for the 3rd bedroom was missing

And that was it! Walla! Can't believe I took so long in submitting a stupid piece of paper. What the fuck is wrong with me man. Sigh. Now I have to wait for at least another month before I can rent it out. I really really cannot believe that it's been close to 3 months since I last collected keys! Time passed so quickly one???!!!

And oh, collected the access cards today too. Tomorrow onwards, one will need an access card before they can use the lift. There are another 2 points - think the lift lobby on my floor and to the car park. Which reminds me, I can't even remember my car park lot no. (better find out before my parents lecture me again!).

The 2 units we bought are located just behind the S.e.t.i.a A.l.a.m W.e.l.c.o.m.e C.e.n.t.e.r - highlighted with a red star. Some key selling points on the S.e.t.i.a A.l.a.m township taken off S.e.t.i.a A.l.a.m website. More on this later...

Single Entry to Every Neighbourhood
Every neighbourhood which consists of approx 300 units will share a single entry point. This will facilitate the control of vehicles coming into and leaving the neighbourhood.

North-South Oriented
All units are north-south oriented, therefore not exposed to the evening sun.

Village Green
Village green houses playgrounds, tadika and Pusat Rukun Tetangga for 'Neighbourhood Watch'.

Green Fingers
Each residence is not more than one street away to Village Green via Green Fingers.

Wide Roads
Internal roads are 50 feet wide.

Natural Barriers
Plants and water bodies for security.

Environment-friendly Development
MASMA (Manual Saliran Mesra Alam Malaysia) requirement where huge dangerous concrete drains will be replaced with wide gentle sloping and meandering earth drains and retention ponds which will be turfed and landscaped for recreational purpose.

Security Features
Free patrolling for the first 2 years provided by our in - house Security Division.

Green Street Concept
All the utility services, eg. electricity and telephone cablings and drainage systems are concealed underground.

Home Alarm System
Every home comes with built-in security alarm system connected to a local CMS.

36 Months Home Warranty
Additional 12 months warranty on top of the standard 24-months Defect Liability Period (DLP) set out in the statutory Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). 

Industrial-Free Zone Development
Self-explanatory.

Unlike most couples with "normal" relationships, Hb and I have been in semi-LDR ever since we started our courtship. So while it took us 12 years of courtship before we tied the knot, in actual fact our courtship was only 5 years ++ if we discount the days we spent apart. But yala, quality over quantity! So anyway, even after we got married, we continued living apart on weekdays due to our work commitments. This post documents our journey in making ourselves a nesting place... a place we can both call home.

3 years ago; I bought a service residence called Kuchai Avenue. It was supposed to be ready early 2010 but was delayed and hence our plan of making it our weekday home too was affected. The only consolation is perhaps the escalating prices over the years that saw the property increase over 35% in value. The market rental rate too was pretty high at RM1,200 for a basic unit. At that rental rate, it is more than enough to cover my monthly installment and maintenance so the decision to rent it out was an easy one.

Since Hb has his own home in KS all to himself (his parents lived 2 min away), we decided to make it our weekend home. In our quest to change the bachelor pad into a homely home, we embarked on a home improvement project that lasted close to 6 months where we changed every single piece of furniture! The project was truly a FUN one that somewhat strengthened our bond as husband and wife for it heightened our anticipation of going home every week. I leave office 6 sharp every Friday and Hb will already be waiting for me at my parents home to fetch me back. Though tiring, this has been our routine for the past 7 months.

In the same period also, Hb and I have been hunting high and low for a landed property with my parents & brother as we intended to get 2 units in the same garden. So one fine day, all of us went to Setia Alam with the intention of checking out a sub-sale unit which was newly completed with CF but not occupied yet. Unfortunately, there was only 1 unit where we liked. On our way back, we stopped by the Setia Alam Welcome Center and looked at the model of a previously sold-out soft launch. Coincidentally, there were 2 units available due to loan rejections and both units are on the same row; 6 houses apart. To cut the long story short, that was how we ended up placing the deposits for both units!

And last week was truly an EXCELLENT week! Loan for the landed property was approved and CF for the service residence was finally out after months of waiting! Definitely more on this later. :-)

Yesterday I went back for my monthly appointment with my dentist. The thing is, I felt that my dentist is no longer as personable and nice and gentle as before. You see... my dentist is one of those who's who in the errrr... dentistry industry. The minute you step into his clinic, you'll see his certifications pasted on nearly every inch of the walls and trophies decorating his numerous cabinets and shelves.

He used to be pretty punctual in meeting his appointment time but the past few months, I had to wait over an hour past my scheduled appointment. And my appointments are nearly always rescheduled cos he has to go overseas to give a talk (give a talk ya... not just attending one). He used to be gentle and takes the time to explain the works he's gonna do for me before he starts but now... he just gets on with it and boot me out of the room. At times, I have to ask him my progress and he'd say: "GOOD". And when I asked him how long more, he laughed and said "DUNNO". Sigh...

So this time round, when I went back, he let out a little sigh and said "Wire broke huh..." (fcuk la cos' I was supposed to go back earlier but HE rescheduled my appointment). Then proceeded to change the upper teeth wires, added strong rubber loops and removed the bite blocks. At the end of it when I asked him, he told me he's trying to reduce the curve of my jaw (whatever that means) and proceeded to ignore me. Like totally wtf man... I know he's busy la cos there were other patients outside; who were either nodding off, complaining on the phone about the slip of appointment time or watching TV but really lor, whatever happened to the dentist I used to know leh... It's like he has changed to a new person altogether! So sad!!!

16-03-2008: $1,100 [Deposit, X-Rays, Photos & Moulding]
30-03-2008: $ 870 [Deposit & Upper Braces Fitting]
20-04-2008: $ 423 [Extraction & Medication]
18-05-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change]
17-08-2008: $ 325 [Bottom Braces Fitting]
14-09-2008: $ 764 [Extraction, Frenectomy & Medication]
25-10-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Scaling]
23-11-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change & Scaling]
24-12-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
24-01-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
21-02-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
28-02-2009: $ 714 [Loose Bracket, 2 Screws, 4 Springs and 4 Crisscrossed Wires]
21-03-2009: $ 325 [Springs & Crisscrossed Wires Adjustment]
30-04-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Wires Change]
30-05-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Mini Wires Removal, Thicker Crisscrossed Wires]
04-07-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Springs Adjustment, 8-Ring Rubber Loops]
01-08-2009: $ 275 [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
22-08-2009: F.O.C [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
07-09-2009: $ 510 [X-Ray, Braces Removal, Scaling]
08-09-2009: $ 70 [Solubles for Retainer x 4 boxes + Plastic Case for Retainer]
26-05-2010: F.O.C [Upper & Lower Braces Fitting + 2 x Bite Blocks]
23-06-2010: F.O.C [Loose Bracket + Wire Change for Lower Teeth]
03-08-2010: F.O.C [Removed Bite Blocks + Wire Change & Rubber Loops] 


YTD Spent: $8,421.00

I have never been a football fan nor have I ever watched any matches from beginning till the end before this. To me, football is weird because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out the fun in watching 10 grown men behaving like kids (all the pulling and tugging coupled with dramatic acting) trying to chase after 1 ball. The only plus point that I could think of was watching sweaty, good-looking men, running around; in shorts... hehehe. But all these changed this year. I worked on a project at work that exposed to me some of the hottest players in WC that somewhat increased my awareness of football a little. The first match I watched was Germany vs. England that totally changed my perception of football.

Here in this game; the team spirit and dynamism was so apparent with the semi-known Germany players! It really goes to show that there's no limit as to what a team can achieve together when the so called underdog team beat the crap out of England with a 4-1! So what if England is a star-studded team cos' instead of playing the game as a team, England team members seemed more eager to display their own heroism for personal fame and glory!

This was supposed to be a longer post, but I procrastinated for so long that I now am "malas" to write about it anymore. Suffice to say that my Hb was very happy with my new found interest in football and was very eager to explain the rules of the game to me. With his explanation, I find it more and more interesting that I sacrificed my beauty sleep to watch the Finals of Spain vs. Netherlands! Slept only 2 hours and boy was I zombie-fied at work!!! And oh... Paul the Octopus was right once again!!! Cool dude I tell ya!

Yesterday, I went back for my dental appointment. I had a loose bracket that was fixed and Dr. How also changed the wires for my lower teeth with thicker wire. After the session, I asked him how long more will I have to wear my braces... and his answer SHOCKED me!!!

Initially, he said 6 more months... so ok...
Then this time round, he said 9 to 12 more months!!!
Cos apparently, there's a lot more to be fixed!!!

So damn depressing lor... why so long one!!! :(

16-03-2008: $1,100 [Deposit, X-Rays, Photos & Moulding]
30-03-2008: $ 870 [Deposit & Upper Braces Fitting]
20-04-2008: $ 423 [Extraction & Medication]
18-05-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change]
17-08-2008: $ 325 [Bottom Braces Fitting]
14-09-2008: $ 764 [Extraction, Frenectomy & Medication]
25-10-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Scaling]
23-11-2008: $ 385 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change & Scaling]
24-12-2008: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
24-01-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
21-02-2009: $ 325 [Wire Change & Rubber Loops Change]
28-02-2009: $ 714 [Loose Bracket, 2 Screws, 4 Springs and 4 Crisscrossed Wires]
21-03-2009: $ 325 [Springs & Crisscrossed Wires Adjustment]
30-04-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Wires Change]
30-05-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Mini Wires Removal, Thicker Crisscrossed Wires]
04-07-2009: $ 325 [Loose Bracket, Springs Adjustment, 8-Ring Rubber Loops]
01-08-2009: $ 275 [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
22-08-2009: F.O.C [Springs Adjustment, Additional Crisscross Wires, Rubber Loops]
07-09-2009: $ 510 [X-Ray, Braces Removal, Scaling]
08-09-2009: $ 70 [Solubles for Retainer x 4 boxes + Plastic Case for Retainer]
26-05-2010: F.O.C [Upper & Lower Braces Fitting + 2 x Bite Blocks]
23-06-2010: F.O.C [Loose Bracket + Wire Change for Lower Teeth]

YTD Spent: $8,421.00

I've been neglecting this blog of mine because I think I'm bored with the design. Been hunting high and low for a nicer looking one but can't seemed to find any that I like. Enquired about a professional designed blog design and got the shock of my life that a basic one cost SGD$950!!!

So anyway, here's an update on our project; code named HIP (Home Improvement Plan) which Hb and I have been working on.

The latest addition to our home is the dining set from Monzio Italy; full marble piece in white including the base. For chairs, we chose 4 black-coloured chairs and 2-white ones for contrast.

The huge smiling Buddha photo was from Houz Depot... comes with the frame as well which coincidentally matches all our furniture colour. The shaggy black carpet was also from Houz Depot so that the chairs don't move around noisily. And so, our home now has a set of 3 colours at a glance: White, Black & Brown. :-)

We also changed the carpet in the living room to a shiny, furry carpet. Think the lighting made it looked black in this photo but in actual fact it is in shades of brown and is ultra soft!

Next to-do in our list is the guest toilet renovation... :-)