The Fault in Our Stars

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

Worth reading: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)

Reason: Hot-seller book and now a major motion picture, so how could you miss it?

I feel glad that I finally have the time to set my mind down and read a nice book.

I know this book through a famous blogger, Daphne's blog. And I decided to read it is because she just couldn't stop recommend this book in her blog and I am curious about how nice this book can be.

I read.

There are some quotes I found meaningful:

1) "The world is not a wish-granting factory."

2) "Without pain, how could we know joy?"

3) "It's a metaphor, see: You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing."

The words that the author used in the novel is simple but meaningful. I think one have to read between the lines. I suck. So to be honest, I couldn't understand everything thoroughly because my English ain't really really good. Those who recommended this book might be touched by the words and the meaning inside, but I am actually touched by the story line itself. I found the characters in the story are all so pity.

This book is about two teenagers, Hazel and Augustus, who are having cancer, falling in love.
I really love Augustus, such a sweet guy who tried his best to fulfill Hazel's hope to visit Peter, the author of their favourite book, An Imperial Affliction in Amsterdam though he is already quite sick that time.
The way he talked, the action he done are so so sweet.
*I love reading the flirting part. Girls being girls huh!*

I keep thinking that Hazel would be the one who died first in the end of the story actually since she is so ill. She is the grenade. She got to use the machine to maintain her breathing. So I was really shocked when Augustus told her 'I lit up like a Christmas tree, Hazel Grace. The lining of my chest, my left hip, my liver, everywhere.' It means Augustus is the grenade now. I thought I misunderstood the meaning and reread for twice. I was like why such a lovely guy would get this type of sickness? Ain't he is already cancer free after having one leg amputated?
A lot of Why and W-H-Y in my mind.
I was so down.
I thought he will be alright since there is 80% survival rate for osteosarcoma and maybe the author will give us reader a happy ending, who knows right?
But, as I said there is no miracle in this world.
Ya, Augustus died at last.
*Down down down*

The story line is simple, no really thrilling and exciting part. The tone of the whole book is merely SAD.
What it catches your eyes is the story did connect well.
You would like to know the love story between the little couple in the beginning.
You would like to know whether Hazel did pay a visit to Peter the author in Amsterdam and how is it when they meet.
*The characteristic of Peter the author did shock me too. I thought he is a nice nice man but it turned out to be the opposite.*
And when you still immerse in the romance of Hazel and Gus in Amsterdam, you will be informed that Augustus is badly ill. You just can't let go the book because you would like to know more about what happened to him. And lastly you would like to know whether Hazel could find the last letter from Augustus and what's inside.
In a nutshell, you would have no chance to give up reading this book finding it is boring or what in the middle.

So, I done reading it within 4 nights time.
Don't ask me why didn't I finish it one day, well, I just couldn't and no why alright.
I will definitely entering the cinema when this movie is out!
:)

New book for tomorrow!
:D

Holidays and Target.

Glad to tell that my Semester 5 had officially came to the end!
I couldn't tell how fast the time flies.
Another one and a half year, I am going to graduate.
I can't wait for the next practicum, seriously!
I miss the contented life like that. Busy yet satisfying.

Well, speaking of holidays.
I got a one month holiday this time.
Anybody there? I am free to date!
:D
A holiday that I got no much drama to watch.
Sad about that but it also means that I can use my time doing more meaningful activities.
People usually use their holidays in relaxing and do nothing, but I always want my holidays to be fully used.
*though it always ended up doing nothing also, shameful me*

TARGET:

• 300 pieces of Chun Lian
• 2-3 English novels
• Daily exercising
• 11pm - 9am perfect sleep
• Restart one day one normal meal principle
• Learn cooking and making breads

Let's see what I could achieve.
Happy Holidays!!
xx

A letter to my idol my uncle. :")

Dear my idol Da Pek Pek,

I know you may not have the chance to read this yourself, but I believe you will definitely know how much I love and respect you from the core of my heart. 

I was so scared of you every time you came back during Chinese New Year when I was small because aunties would start telling me 'Behave yourself, Da Pek Pek is coming back!' I couldn't talk to you like I chatted with other aunties and uncles because I couldn't talk in English. I was too small and I couldn't understand you. Though I felt scare of you, I was looking forward your come back. I would wait for your car in the garden in the evening before we went for the Eve's dinner. I was the one shouting 'Da Pek Pek coming back, Da Pek Pek coming back!!' I didn't know I was actually respect you but not scare of you. I scared you laugh at my lousy English and so I reluctant to speak.

When I was a secondary school girl, I learnt more English. I felt happy when I finally understood what you were talking about. I felt proud of myself. But still, I reluctant to speak. You asked me to speak in English and so I would purposely change all my 'so', 'after that', 'and then' to 'ran-hou', 'suo-yi' (pure Mandarin) to pretend I didn't know how to speak. I was so bad that time. I disliked you although I knew your advice bring benefits to me. I was so rebellious. But you know what, I respect you and secretly admire you. I just felt annoying all my uncles and aunties purposely changed their talking style and listened to everything you tell. 

When I grew bigger and bigger, I face myself. I felt envy my uncles and aunties can interact well with you. Your daughter dared to beat you touch you massage you. I not dare. I was so timid to talk to you. Everytime when you adviced me, you would see me turn and go away. It was not because I disliked you, it was because I shed tears behind. I found what you tell each time was so beneficial. You asked to be take Medical after Spm but I refused. You told me the most useless and unambitious job is to be a teacher but I determined to do so. You supported me at last but you told me to maintain my Chinese and must not throw away English because both language are very important. I accepted this time.

You know I read so many English novels is to prepare myself to have a nice conversation with you one day. You know I type my blog in English is in case you read. You know I study so hard is because I want you to attend my convocation and I want you to be proud of me. You once said it is useless to be a teacher so I want to prove you how useful and how smart I am! You know I harbour the hope to get PhD is because I want to be like you one day. But there is no more chance for me to prove to you again. I just want to prove to you: I can! Why don't you give me this chance? Why?

I know you love me actually.

I don't think there is any uncle who would give RM100 for their niece and nephews for each A they get in public examinations. You are the one and only. RM700 for 7As in UPSR, RM800 for 8As in PMR and RM1000 for 10As in SPM. You are never a stingy uncle no matter what. You share every knowledge that you know to us. You always guide us and help us in solving problems. You always consult us and teach us how to make money haha. I still planned to request for your help and guidance when I write my thesis next year but... I got to depend on myself now. I planned to ask for your opinion when I wanna further my studies but... I think I have to decide myself now. How sad.

You knew there wasn't any nice restaurant or new thing in Muar. So, you would bring us to a nice place to try new thing everytime we visited you in KL. You are the one who gave me my first scoop of Baskin Robin, who treated me the first glass of smoothies and first piece of Crepe, who brought me to Dragon-i and treated me first xiao-long-bao. I remembered every piece of the memories. I really do. You knew Dunkin Donuts and Tim Tam are my all time favourite. So, you would buy one box of Dunkin Donuts everytime you back to Muar and you would bring back a few packages of Tim Tam when you back from Australia for me.

You don't know Chinese. Since you know I didn't want to talk to you in English, you talk to me in your broken Mandarin. It was so weird. You came to a calligraphy competition which was held in KL just to support me when I was 12. You don't even know calligraphy but you asked me to fold my paper nicely and picked for me. How funny. I knew you don't know but still I accepted your opinion. I won the first place at last. You were so happy and proud, I could see it from your face, I knew it.

You emailed me to give me opinion when I was at the T-junction in picking my way to go after my SPM. You cared of my life and I promised you I would study hard to get 4 flat during my matriculation. You corrected my grammar mistakes in those email. I always so scare of being corrected by you. And so today I am so regret I didn't learn enough knowledge from you.

I am really regret I seldom talk to you just because of my stupid timid coward not sociable not confident. Those silly attitudes I must get rid of. I wanna prepare myself and prove to you in the future that I am a smart girl and I can speak English fluently, I nearly completed the task now but you couldn't see it again. You can see it maybe but I couldn't see how proud you are of me again.

I miss you. How much I hope you could recover from cancer and correct me again, in both studies and my attitude. I know there is plenty plenty of grammar mistakes in this blog post. You must be scolding me for making all these silly mistakes huh? I don't mind you scold me now. I just want you to recover and back to normal!!

Though every time you came also I seldom talk to you, I still feel good to look at you at the side and listen to all your advices. Thankfully I did muster all my courage to take a photo with you when I attended your birthday dinner last year. You hold my shoulder so tight. You hold my hand so so tight when I leave and told me to take care and study hard as usual. I remembered all of them well. All of your advices. I will keep the memories nicely in my mind.

You are my idol! I know you are in pain but you fight. I know you really fight. I will remember you forever and ever, every words you said and every advices you gave. I promised to maintain my Chinese and improve my English! I will continue reading English novels. I promised to get into Dean list and be a good teacher in the future! You know my students like me and enjoy my lessons so much. They said they miss me after I left. I promised I will do well in my studies and get my PhD! I promised to smile more often because you always said I looked very cool! I promised to look after our family because you always told us "Take Care!" every time you left!

The Tay's family will always unite as one, don't worry. Okay?

2005 dinner with ah gong and yi-po 

2008 The three fathers celebrating Fathers' Day together for the first time and last time.

Because two of the fathers were gone now.

T___T

Everybody was so happy attending your 70 years old birthday gathering. You were happy too!
Nobody would ever imagine that you are going to leave us within one year.

You lost so much weight. Damn cancer I hate you!!!!

Photo with lao-gor, the 3 of us and the 3 grandchildren of yours.

You looked really happy that day.

 I muster all my courage to take photo with you.

Thanks God I did.

You held my shoulder so tight. You smiled till you closed your eyes.

I should ask for one more shot, I should....... :(

 One of the most completed family photo. Taken in 2011 if not mistaken.

Why didn't I ask for one more in your birthday gathering? :(

I love you. You are my idol the person I respect the most. Everlasting.
I knew you heard when I read this letter for you beside your bed side just now. I could see your heartbeat rate increasing everytime I talked to you. I knew you know everything. I really love you and respect you, you are the smartest people I ever met!

Today is Wesak. Everybody said today is a good day. You are so smart that you picked a good day that nobody would forget. You will follow the steps of Buddha. You will follow the light of Buddha. You are going to heaven and lead a happy life no more pain no more worries.

REST IN PEACE. Take care!

Yours truly,
Jing Chan.

小鸟的成长日记 Growth diaries of birds

 Have you ever see a bird baby?

I never see this magical process before until this week.

:)

There were 2 eggs found in the basket of my old bicycle last week according to my aunt. To be honest, I miss it actually.

When I checked it out, the bird babies were already born.

PS: Please leave my blogspot if you are the type who will feel disgusting when you watched any Animal Planet show before 'coz the pictures before are actually a bit unpleasant. 

Day 1:

The botak bald baby birds.

My aunt found they are very disgusting but I found them cute.

I was totally amazed by the nest built by the mother bird. Mother's love is so noble!

How could a human mother go to abortion or throw away her kids? Animal knew how to take care of it's children too. The mommy bird will feed the baby birds twice a day. The daddy bird will just stop at the fence of my house and the mommy bird flew into the basket of my bike. What a pity I didn't capture the moment.

Day 2: 'Blackhead' type of things started to be seen. I forgot to take photo. I'm sorry. :(

Day 3:

Short short feathers on the wings.

Day 4:

You can see how fast the feathers grow!!

More feathers on backbone site.

The baby birds opened their mouth quite often when they were not sleeping.

The mommy birds came more often like maybe 3-5 times to feed the growing baby.

They would continued to sleep soundly after eating. 

Day 5:

More feathers on head.

That's the last photo I could take. The birds were declared missing this morning!

My aunts and I have no idea where they gone. I hope not eaten by the cats since the evidence proved that they wasn't any criminal marks done by the cats. The nest is still nice and no blood stain around.

I think they were brought away by their parents since the present nest is too small for them already. And maybe I visited and kepo too often and the parents bird don't want the baby birds disturbed by me.

My study week back to boredom days without the expectation to see the changes of the birds each morning waking up.

Anyway, I wished that the birds could grow up healthily happily and strong and fly high in the sky soon! 

=D

Study date.

Study week get started.
Well, it only means 'HOLIDAYS IS COMING' for me!
*3 weeks+ from now on*
But before that, I am very grateful to have the chance to study at home NOW.
And today I am having a Study Date with my BFF.

OOTD of a nerdy girl.
*Fiona forced me to take one*
Singlet from FOS + Cardigan from Brands outlet + Jeans shorts
I like nerdy and relaxing attire like this.
It gives me comfy and secure feeling.

The nerdies in Oldtown. XD
Kinda hardworking huh?
Fiona is the one who really paying attention I feel so stress study with her. I am the one who kept pretending. I kept pressing phone after I had done with maybe half a page? And of course most of the study time I am sleeping, if you know me well you will definitely know. =P I always promise myself to change this bad study attitude but I just couldn't. I should study with pro people more.

We then back to Fiona's place to study.
We She really studied so hard until my stomach complained that it had became empty again and we headed to Spice Vaganza to have our high tea session.


Yours truly is here.
:D

The only selca we had for today.

With cutie pie mei mei.

We had these really naise food after focus too much in studies.
Heavenly great food I swear I will bring my maktab babes here when they come to Muar for practicum next semester. I can't wait for the next visit!!

Honey grilled chicken chop @ RM14.80

Signature Chocolate Brownies with ice-cream and crumble @ RM6.90 ONLY!!
It is really really super damn tasty with the cold cold ice cream that melts nicely with the hot brownies and the crispy crumble in your mouth. So nice I wanna fly XD
*Sorry if you feel that I am too over in description but it is really yummylicious*

That's all for the Study Date.
It is a date entitled 'Study' to reduce the guilt.
:)