Thanks for the memories by Cecilia Ahern

Basic plot

After a devastating tragedy, Joyce Conway struggles to make sense of her life. Especially since strange things start happening. She can speak Italian and Latin and suddenly becomes an expert on architecture. She also dreams about a life that is definitely not her own. Justin Hitchcock only donated blood to get a date with a cute doctor. What's the point of saving some-one's life anonymously anyway? Somehow their paths manage to cross as weirder and weirder circumstances develop.

What I liked about this book

Even though the premise and plot was predictable, the book kept me hooked with all the 'adventures' the main character had to go through to be together. It was such a funny book, with charming wit and hilarious situations that are very refreshing for a chick-lit. My favourite character was definitely Joyce's dad.

What I disliked about the book

Not much. Except maybe the fact that it will never happen in real life..hehe.

A quote I liked from the book

Perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim. Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.

Rating: 4.5/5 

A & W 7 wonders ice cream

Shar's favourite fast food

Ok ok I was suckered in by the radio commercial! The A&W 7 wonders waffle sounded really nice. Vanilla ice-cream, pineapple, longan, jackfruit, cherry, orange and pandan kaya on a waffle. Sad to say that, it wasn't as good as it sounded. The fruit combination was a bit off and the kaya 'sauce' was too thick, thus the waffle kinda became a bit dry (except when it became soggy with the melted ice cream). We all agreed that the regular waffle with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce is much better.

Dr Mali concentrating on her food

Looks ok

Zil helping me eat it

PS: Sorry folks am swamped with so many things out of my control right now.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Basic plot 

Ronnie (short for Veronica), a typical 17 year old teenager from New York has to spend the entire summer with her estranged father and 10 year old brother Jonah. She's mortified! What can the sleepy Wrightsville Beach North Carolina offer her? Almost immediately, she falls in with the wrong crowd and yet a chance encounter with Will, a beach volleyball playing "pretty" boy, sparks an unexpected summer romance. But things are not all as they seem, when the heartbreaking truth changes not only the summer but the rest of her life.

What I liked about this book

Like all of Nicholas Sparks' books, it was a pleasant and easy read. I finished it in around four hours (not continuously but half an hour here, fifteen minutes there etc). The characters were likable, the romance was sweet and the "big secret" was sad (although somewhat predictable). All in all a good recipe for a relaxing book.

What I disliked about this book

To be honest, the book was probably too young for me (gosh, I'm old). I understand why the movie adaptation stars Miley Cyrus, because the storyline is perfect for teenagers. It didn't have the same depth as some of his other books and the "love story" wasn't an epic one. 

A quote I liked from this book

"Mom says it's because she has PMS" - Jonah 10 yrs old

"Do you even know what that means?" -Steve (his dad)

"I'm not a little kid anymore. It means pissed-at-men syndrome."

Rating: 3.5/5 (A relaxing, sweet romantic book)

Introducing.. the NEW Wondergirl

At the UKM KL Raya function

It's been a bit bland with just the 4 of us me, Shar, Zil and Maz but finally we got a new member! Hehe. She's a dentist and is also pursuing her Masters in pharmacology. She's also our new roomate. So we have had fun getting to know her and taking her to all our favourite places. So far she's adjusting well to our crazy ways. Another plus, she's an avid reader like me so it's great having someone to discuss books with.

Zil 'chupping' our chairs

Alot of food!

So, introducing the new UKM Wondergirl.... *Drumroll please* ..............Dr Mali!

Dr Mali, Shar and Zil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stream vs Lorry

 

Stream vs Lorry

The lorry ran away

Was alone in the car 

Shaken but I'm okay

Stream vs Lorry 

What can I say

Except I will miss you

While you're away

Stream vs Lorry

Am thankful and come what may 

Though bad things happen

I get to live another day

||MOM BLOGGERS PLANET||

Check out my latest post for MBP "Sorry, thank you"

The Street Philosopher by Matthew Plampin

Basic plot 

An art critic turned war correspondent for the London Courier, Kitson, witnessed unspeakable horrors in the Crimean war both on and off the battlefields. Years later, he yearns only for normality and becomes a 'street philosopher', reporting on gossip and the frivilous activities of the Manchaster elite. However, his dreadful past catches up with him and he is thrown once more into a dark abyss of revenge, murder, lust and avarice.

What I liked about the book

The author's research was impressive as he vividly paints the scenes of both the Crimea and Manchaster in the late 1800s. His writing style was very descriptive and I found the need to look up several new words to add to my vocabulary. The plot was interesting and eventhough the book jumps forward and backwards between 2 major events, this did not result in any confusion. Character development was also very good as each person in the book is very well established.

What I disliked about the book

The pace. As with most historical fictions, the story unfolded at somewhat too leisurely pace for me (especially given that I can only read a few chapters a day).

A quote I liked from the book

For what is art after all, he reasoned, but so many objects- objects that men will kill to possess?

Rating: 3/5

||A LITTLE EXTRA||

Alhamdulillah, this little personal blog reached has reached yet another milestone. The 300 follower mark. Thank you to all visitors,  readers, and followers for your continued support. I'm sorry that I can't hold a contest or giveaway to show my appreciation at the moment as I am currently swamped with my day job (blogging is stil just a hobby), maybe InsyaAllah one day when things are less hectic.

Secret Recipe @ Wangsa Walk

Yes! We do live in Wangsa Walk. Hehe. Kidding. We had to make another trip to pick up a pair of sunglasses this time. This time we stopped off at an old favourite haunt that we haven't visited in a while. Secret Recipe.

Shar had her usual Tom Yam but Zil and I decided to brave the Chicken Cordon Bleu. Why brave? We had a bad experience once at another Secret Recipe where the chicken was undercooked. But the Cordon Bleu on a total stranger's plate (who was sitting next to us) looked too delicious to resist.

We also ordered 1 slice of the new Banana Cheese Cake and Choc Cheez cake. The 2 cheese cake lovers loved it. I am still trying to like cheese cake as a species of food.

The Chicken Cordon Bleu was good. Nice and crispy coating, well cooked chicken, loads of gooey melted cheese. I just wish that it was accompanied with some nice mushroom sauce. It seems that Secret Recipe has a "no sauce upon request" policy.

Ate so much (I didn't take a pic of the ice cream dessert..hehe). See you later Wangsa Walk.

|| MY PLAYFUL SIDE||

Alhamdulillah, just noticed (was so busy that I realized a couple of days late) that I won the RM10 prize for My Raya Moments Contest by Eyriqazz for this entry, since it was the 10th entry. Hopefully will get to win one of the Grand Prizes too. :)

Popeye's Louisiana Fried Chicken @ Wangsa Walk

We went o pick up the specs that the girls had ordered the week before. Despite Shar's pleads to eat at A&W, we ended up at Popeye's Lousiana Fried Chicken. Although obviously it was a fast food franchise much like other fried chicken franchises, I wanted to try it since I saw an episode on the asian Food Channel touting the superb flavours of Lousiana style fried chicken.

We ordered 2 chicken meals and 2 maxi meals and 1 large cajun fries. The chicken meal was like the equivalent of a KFC snack plate, with coleslaw and mashed potato plus a biscuit. The maxi meal had 1 piece chicken, 1 tender (a breaded piece of chicken meat) and 1 fish fillet. The fries were like the A&W curly fries (minus the curls). Overall it was quite good. The mashed potato gravy was really nice (tasted like a really good chicken chop gravy) and the coleslaw tasted a bit like the Kenny Roger's coleslaw. The fries were really good and the 'large' portion was very generous. The chicken was a little bit disappointing as I expected more flavour. It was just regular fried chicken (slightly on the dry side). I guess that's fast food for you.

Wonder where the REAL Luisiana fried chicken is? Probably in Louisiana..hehe.

||BOOK CLUB||

Yeay! Aini has finished reading Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Read her review at Hidayah's Book Club now. Want to borrow it next? ;)

More than a pinch of salt

We arrived late for the department's Hari Raya Gathering and were 'banished' to the other side of the room. But Zil and I still managed to secure a table to put our food on. Yeay! Without the other UKM Wondergirls around, it was a bit quiet. 

(Standing)- Me, Zil, Shazlan, En. Imran, Safaa, Nizar  (Sitting)- Dr Azman, Prof Kamsiah

There was quite a spread laid out, lontong, rendang ayam, nasi impit, kuah kacang, emang and mee kari. The lontong and rendang were actually very good. The kuah kacang was a bit on the salty side. But the 'winner' was definitely the mee kari. I think the delivery van must have collided with salt truck on the way to UKM and managed to dump at least 3kg of salt into the curry. It was practically inedible. Thank goodness I'm not a huge mee kari fan (I stuck to having 2 plates of lontong and rendang.. hehe).

Zil smiling before she had the mee kari

Dessert was ice cream and local fruits. Thanks to the contribution of the postgraduates and our (Zil and I) expedition to Chow Kit that morning. We wanted to buy chocolate sauce for the ice cream, but it seems that UO doesn't sell them. Like the salesgirl (when I asked if they sold any) said "Kalau nak akak pergi Sogo lah." Hello? If I had the time to go to Sogo, don't you think that I would? 

We started the ice cream sensation

We left the lunch heavier with our tummies full of food and our hearts a little sad for the newest developments here. Hopefully, the department can survive its newest test. TOP SECRET. (Sometimes I feel like I'm studying in a Malay drama set instead of a university)