A new place to call HOME

This started since 2019...I got myself a house.

Although it is not a new one, but I like it the way it is.

It was the 8th house I visited before I decided to go for it.

So yea, tadaa!

 Let's start with the nicest part - house warming.

Welcome to my little place.

Little couch for the little me, thanks my cousins and family for this.

Picked a good date for the official ceremony, the 8th of October.

Like finally, it is going to be official~

Simple prayer ceremony for safety, peace and prosperity. 

What you need is to follow some culture and believing, 

just bring a giant pineapple for the ONG.

出入平安，大吉大利 is all I need.

And I think I was pretty smart for using the expensive trolley from IKEA for this.

Carrying the food all the way up.

Tadaa, simple feast for the guests.

Non-meat meal cause I wanted it so.

Family members were invited, I hope they were happy with it

Woof, Jerry the guard dog.

Grandma's first visit to my place.

Red for the ONG as well, haha!

Some view of my kitchen and semi-island counter~

I said it was a busy day for me, trying to make sure all is good for the guests.

Not many photos but this could be a memorable one.

Another side of my family~

Thanks for coming!

Then, another session to welcome my friends,

also their first time visiting!

Hello kiddo~ 

A separate table for them.

We had steamboat this time, 

seem easy but lot's to prepare as well.

Tried to be kids friendly event day, so got them some activities 

as the adults enjoyed chit chatting~

Thank you for visiting!

Some other friends made time to drop by as well~

Primary school friends gathering day~

Form 6 friends afternoon tea~

Thank you so much for coming too!

Ok, end of the nice part.

Let's get to the behind the scene. 

First of all, Few reasons why I picked this unit?

1- It is bright and good view of the hills

2- The size is good and have a balcony

3- It is near where we stay now

4- Affordable price for one person to pay off

5- Good feeling with the nature around

In short, everything is about feeling when I stepped in and how I imagine myself living in it.

The process of surveying for the unit and loans can be quite tiring, 

but it is a good learning opportunity.

And the property agent was quite helpful, easy money to earn from me, haha!

Unfortunately, my first dog passed away on the same day I received the keys.

It was a sad and happy day, mixed feelings.

Here are some views and simple house tour~

Main door and entrance~

Some random corner with deco, a mini hut for the dog but he doesn't like it~

Kitchen is my favourite part, costed me the most~

Very Pinterest kinda kitchen, white and IKEA~

DIY bed and open closet~

Yes I DIY a lot to save money and resources~

Working space corner and dining area~

Back to the white kitchen that mum made gave comments about it~

Do not have luxurious lighting but a simple one will do.

I like it to be more practical than just fancy.

Since February to June, it took around 5 months to finally complete everything.

So I built a kitchen and renewed the toilets so it looks good and functional. 

Now I am happy with how it turned out, at least I wouldn't mind to move in.

The renovation process was really a frustrating part.

I decided to fully renovate it in 2023 and move in so I can cross another item on my to-do list.

That's how I become broke and need to save money, or earn more.

Renovation is a crazy project as I got really impatient and emotional as well.

How to get it done within the budget and it still fits my imagination?

Yea, it took awhile for me to finally engage the company that quoted an affordable price for me.

Totally redo the bathroom for my own sake.

I need a nice hotel-like bathroom.

Planning and imagine the look of kitchen you want, 

within the limited space you have.

Need to really maximise the budget and space and yet getting the effect I want.

Surveyed a lot too in order to get the accessories and items within my budget.

It was not easy.

Nothing is ever easy, but I just wanted it to happen this year.

Too much to hassle for me.

Yea, some behind the scene, ugly and dirty.

Back to the original state before the kitchen is built.

Picking up the right toilet bowl and faucet? 

Nothing is ever right too.

Just follow your heart and feeling.

And your budget, once again.

I got this in the end, small and just nice for the small bathroom.

As it is an old apartment, so need to replace the piping as well.

This was the second time I renovated the place, 

maybe 70% this time, since I got the 30% done earlier.

Nice kitchen wall tiles, I love it.

It was about making decisions most of the time, and I hate it.

Cause I am always undecisive. 

What colour should I go for?

Which lamp is the best?

Which shop provide the best service?

Which? what? who?

Ahhhhh~~~

Anyhow, I got it all done as planned, maybe some delayed.

Finally can focus in other thing for 2024.

2023, well done to myself.

Funny thing is, there were at least 20 people stayed there for all kind of reasons before I move in.

Home stay, quarantine, vacation...

I am happy to be able to help anyway.

I don't buy this property for my own, but I hope to be able to host guests and provide a shelter for my friends and family if it is needed.

How it looked after the first renovation...

It became a quarantine center for my friends and family, haha!

I did minor renovation for rental at first, but end up it became what it became.

For sure, second renovation is the best as it costed me a lot too.

Started the second renovation right after Chinese New Year this year.

Yes the wall used to be sky blue, very calming and peace.

But then I change it to beige and greyish after the second renovation.

Bathrooms were old-school.

I cannot. 

Before I remove the door and windows....and there was an old sink.

Thanks to my aunt, I got a second hand fridge for use temporary.

Maybe one day I will change a new one.

I hope I can find the first few photos before my first renovation.

That would be a good comparison.

Anyway~~

From nothing to something, now to a place I can call as HOME.

My little space that I can enjoy cooking, practise minimalist lifestyle, and enjoy a full workspace.

Spent all my saving and time to make this thing happen, and yup.

It happen at last.

Will add some deco and finalise the look later when I have more time.

For now, it is one big achievement for 2023, all good for now.

Hello 2023, let's Get the Job Done

My moto for working life in 2023 would be:

Get the job done. 

Simply because, other than work, it is just more work.

We started the year as usual, back to normal life.

And we had a team building with joy and fun.

I said it was a memorable experience and retreat.

We did activities and challenges, not as crazy as when I was in youth camp, 

but for an adult, this is good enough.

2023 started quite tough as one of my colleague went for maternity leaves.

Had to cover her job for 3 months, where Earth Hour, Earth Day and everything happen almost the same time.

Hmm, just had to cope, they said.

 

Earth Day and Earth Hour celebration~

Women' Day celebration by other GLC, we went to support 

and the Zumba was being recorded as Malaysia Book of Record too.

Ahaha!

1st quarter birthday celebration, it was happy and sad at the same time.

Why?

Because my bestie sister left to chase for her dream.

I was sad, but then I know coming and going, being apart from each other is just a part of life.

So I wished her all the best in her new chapter, have no regret in life!

So last day for her huh?

Decorated her space for a good farewell~

Surprises from me and the colleagues~

We made her a journal as a farewell gift, and also a video~

I swear she will be the last person I will put so much effort in for this office.

No more next time.

And of course, she was such a sweetheart too.

Thanks for the thoughtful gift and message.

Good bye desk and chair!

Last clock out, huhu~

Will miss our crazy moments and deep thought sharing once awhile.

You will be missed! 

Good bye Kim, all the best in your new chapter.

Be a big girl!

Tough time when you lose someone you can talk to without filtering much of your thoughts.

But work life goes on because everyone is replaceable. 

May and June also came without knocking my door.

World Environment Day celebration was quite a mess at first.

And have to on duty for roadshows~

Learning and don't stop learning is what we have to do as we work.

So I was lucky to be sent to attend some programs and conference this year.

Thanks for the opportunity!

Energy Asia Conference at KLCC, 

again I was back to this familiar conference hall~

Learning about energy is something I wanted to do,

but I actually do not understand much, it is quite technical and not my scope at all.

But I love the free flow of food and juice.

Good learning for me.

And then yea, August was another achievement or challenge?

I want to go to Japan myself, but apparently it remains a dream.

Being a part of this international program is also not too bad.

Let's forget about the frustrating part and remember the moment when it was completed.

yay~~~

Penang World Cleanup Day happen again this year!

This marked our achievement and sad moment too.

We will never be able to cleanup everything, but we have to start it somewhere.

So stop littering you all!

More roadshows and programs~

Always lose my voice after roadshow cause either I talk too much,

or I always have to fight with the loud speaker.

Urgh~

Marine youth camp is a fun one, I quite enjoyed the session

Me holding a something....

Starfish if I am not mistaken~

And yup, some of the projects managed by me were also completed so far.

But of course, more are coming in new year.

Nope, this will not be my flagship, sorry boss.

Good ESG exposure for the businesses~

Please join next time.

Last but not least, 
a photo with our Chairman, the CM himself!

2023 is another mixed feeling.

I love hate my job.

Who knows what is going to happen in 2024?

Well still, let's get the job done!