1. Msiagirl: Pey-O!
Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting my first blogger friend from abroad. Msiagirl has been reading my blog for a good while, and me hers, so it’s fantastic that we finally got to meet when she flew in from the UK. Of course, that meant the cat’s out of the bag as far as her secret identity is concerned, as she was one of the featured poets in last month’s “Readings”.
Now you guys all know her as Pey Colborne, but I prefer to call her Pey-O, well, right after I found out that was her nickname anyway during a teabreak at Marmalade, but I’m getting ahead of myself here.
The Saturday of “Readings” I was actually superbly flustered with my house move — last minute packing and all, plus against all sensible conventions, my movers actually came half an hour early instead of half an hour late like I was expecting them to. Eh, I thought they were Malaysian? Kenapa awal pulak?
Thankfully Nisa was at hand with breakfast and emotional support and I got all the stuff transfered to my new place with minimal damage to my soul. 
Then came afternoon and I was graciously picked up by my three Fairy Blogmistresses — Lyrical Lemongrass, spiffy and of course, Msiagirl@Pey herself. With cupcakes from Nigel’s Just Heavenly bakery. Yums…
Off we trotted to Bangsar for “Readings” and man, was I slammed by Pey’s performance. Her poems were spirited, spunky, poignant and very warm of heart. I felt like I was transported to each place she travelled as she moved from one locale to the next.
Mostly I was blitzed and tired from moving and couldn’t have been much of a decent company to the ladies, but I do recall a fun time at Marmalade with much chat and gossip and the true story of how Pey found her Mr. G. Ah, romance is in the air…
P.S. Aromatherapist that she is, she even made a specially-blended bottle of essential oils — my favourite ylang ylang & grapefruit — and labelled it “Kenny B Good.” I’ll try, dear, I’ll try. Many, many thanks — I love it! 
P.P.S. Apparently I was sober enough to take requests from the ladies and read for them each a story from “Broken Mornings”. And then I took a call and accepted an invite to a movie, before putting down the phone and realising I had no clue who it was. Say what?
2. Wedded Bliss: Gosia & Manuel
Near the end of June, one of my best friends Manuel will bring his bride Gosia over to Malaysia for their honeymoon. I am so excited! Haven’t seen either of them in over five years — can’t believe how time flies! One minute we’re running around the streets of Munich displacing bicycles and “liberating” beer mugs from biergartens, the next minute, he’s a married man.
And what a lucky man at that!
These lovebirds are a romance that crosses boundaries. Gosia, from Poland, originally met my Italian buddy when we were studying in Germany. In fact, the first time they really, ahem, saw crossed stars and cupids flying was during a trip to Salzburg. It was a dark and stormy day, but through the rain and the constantly getting soaked these two managed to spark off a love story…
A love story that now culminates in a wedding! They already had their civil ceremony in Milan; their church wedding will be in Poland. (I love the fact one of the wedding blogs is in Polish, the other in Italian!) And of course, the honeymoon would be in Malaysia!
The island-hopping, the East Coast, the rainforests of Taman Negara, they’ve got all that covered. I’m arranging a day trip down to historical Malacca too, my hometown. But I’ve got three more days in Klang Valley to organise and I need suggestions, folks — places to see, places to eat, that sorta thing.
So let’s do a Visit Malaysia 2007 thingy and you guys let me know where I should bring them. Thanks a million! 
Oh my …
You are looking good in that picture
(( yummies! ))
—
I will have to remind myself to wonder what you taste like the next time I see you .…
Sarang Murai should be good.
G,
No idea how one responds to that but, er, thanks?
Leen,
Mana tu Sarang Murai? Don’t tell me it’s up in a tree? LOL
You beat me to it! Now all I have to do is put a link and say this is what I did with my friends! Famouslah, I! I should blush but dunno how and probably shouldn’t pretend
Thanks for coming out with us even though you were so tired from moving. So happy to meet you and eat cake together :d
Manuel and Gosia look so lovely together! My cousin (one of them!) sent me a link to waterfalls http://www.waterfallsofmalaysia.com apparently there are a few nice ones near you. Also is that firefly place not too far away? So romantic but watch out the the nyamuk!
My dear, dear Msiagirl,
Your comments always brighten up my day, or night as it were. You have no idea how big a smile you’ve placed on my weary face.
The times we spend with true friends may not last an eternity; indeed, they may not last long at all, but they mean all the world to me. As it did with Manuel, so it is with you, my angel.
Emo on a weeknight? Ah, but the heart longs and misses without respite or acknowledgment of the hour. Seeing Manuel & Gosia together, hearing the story of you & Mr. G… I can’t help but wonder when I’ll get there too…
Sometimes these things are simply a matter of good timings and bad timings and being in that exact right place at the exact right time. You are such a sweetheart, Kenny, that I can’t imagine a that something like that won’t happen to you. Meanwhile all your friends are there for you, and that’s a good place to begin. I always said lovers come and go but friends stick round longer than that! probably cos I’m just an old hippie. (get out my guitar now). We miss you (I think all of us — not just me) in Blogland and it’s lovely when you can unchain yourself from desk and chat with us.
Msiagirl,
True that. Friends have always meant the world to me. Another one just invited me to her engagement party today and I can’t help but seeing the seasons turn. All us unhappy, cynical people are suddenly, at the twist of a cycle, contented and blissful.
As am I. What I meant when I said “I can’t help but wonder when I’ll get there too” was that I want that deepness of love, that beautiful commitment that comes from easy hours of fury and fascination, that stable clasp of hands and hearts.
That which comes in time. And I’m willing to wait. Especially when I have something this good and dear to me. When I have my Gosia, my Mr. G too.
For I am smiling still, aren’t I? My heart may long and miss but tonight it also sings. My love is full of song, and I’m one lucky guy.
P.S. Miss you guys muchly too… will return to Blogland one step at a time. Won’t let work kill me, not if I have something to say about it.
Cool, you manage to take some time off to blog! Like you, friends surrounds me…our lives would be really quiet without them. We still have the BP nasi lemak thingy (but you’re further away now). We’ll see when and gather the rest together! Till then.…Have a great life!
oh when are we going to meet up and take picture together then!?
wmw,
Hopefully I’ll have some free time this weekend then I’ll be able to catch up on my blog-reading. Gone without for so long, I don’t even know what it feels like! LOL
And yes, me wants that BP nasi lemak thingy… I’m not too far away lah, worth the drive!
sulee,
Eh, you gotta get us in the same geographic location first, right?
I’m in the tropics, you’re in Canuck-land, aren’t you?
hey some1 is back..left a reply..probably didnt get through..yeap its time you started blogging alr..and yeah..my header..i mean banner..i mean the thing at the top..hahah when do you have time to string a delicious 1 to brighten up my blog?
Joe with lots of cravings,
Yeah sometimes even my own comments get swallowed up; can you believe that? Which is why I’d have to browse through the spam comments but no time to do that these days so I just delete all and pray for the best.
As for the banner, I’ll email you so you can let me know exactly what you want and I’ll figure if I can design something that comes close. Work is killing me but I haven’t done anything remotely design-y in so long I fret I’d lose my touch.
(Not to say I’d much of a “touch” to start with, but still.)
P.S. Hey, guys — where are all the recommendations for places to take Gosia & Manuel? Don’t get distracted by the pretty pics la…
Haw Haw, funnyyyy. Not. Sarang Murai’s in uh, Ulu Yam or Hulu Langat can’t remember which. OK Hulu Langat. It’s in a kampung house so you can have that kampung/Malaysiana experience etc. You can go only via bookings of 10 or more. Book 1 week in advance. Anyway, I believe it’s RM50 per pax (Fried Chillies said RM35 but that was back in 2005) for Malay kampung dishes (10 dishes if I am not mistaken) but I heard she does mean Mediterranean dishes as well.
If you want to make up the nos, you can always drag myself, Ellyne, Nisa, Henny, Nyza and the usual gaggle of people to scare your friends heh heh.
Address: Lot 2258, Batu 18 1/2, Jalan Pangsun
Hulu Langat, Selangor
Tel : 03–90215173 (Aunty Rosnah)
This community service message is brought to you by a very enthusiastic Food Enthusiast, heh.
Dear HotHoochieMama @ Leen Ashburn,
What a fantastic suggestion! Will look into it. And introduce you to Meena @ Lyrical Lemongrass & perhaps other foodbloggers too. We all go makan-makan sama-sama…
RM50? Wow, better be decent food then… And how come everyone knows Fried Chillies? Even Shwu found me again after 5 years through Adly. Brother knows how to network, man. Props to him.
And trust me, my friends? They don’t scare easily… Is this a dare? Hee hee…
Did someone mention my name? Oooh…will do anything for food. Anything.
Luscious Lingering Lyrical Lemongrass,
Oh… Anything? Anything?
ooohhh.… welcome back kenny *runs an engulfs in big bear hug*
hahaha… hv missed reading ur blog and zewt’s… work is crazy (dey want me to tie up all my loose ends before i leave) so reading blogs/updating my own is a rare indulgence right now…
will continue reading as long as u & zewt blog (wenever i can steal the time) and also update my own…
*ahem*
so wen’s our
dateer… shopathon? u not chickening out on me eh?Asstha,
*woomphlfs* Wow, that sure is one heckuva bear hug! Not that I’m complaining…
I know what you mean about work. I’m hoping I can steal some time this weekend just to sit down for a couple of hours and catch on my blog-reading and leaving comments (which I so miss doing, knowing how snarky I can get on unsuspecting bloggers, hehehe).
As for our date, er, shopathon… oh I believe I can be found most weekends at The Curve being bounced from one bunch of friends to the next… will email you my number, and we’ll play by ear… Gosh knows I need to start learning how to play dress up and look good for once, instead of looking like the hobo I usually do…
Catcharoundbabe!
Hello Meena/LL! Whatever you hear about me from Kenny — it’s all lies. Unless they’re the good stuffs heh.
Kenny, the reviews I heard and read so far are all gewd, and RM50 for 10 dishes in an idyllic kampung house setting with good nosh, great convo (I promise I wont annoy the others about their best features bit again) away from the mad and bad city, what more can u ask for man?
O Lady Leen,
You know I’d only say good things about ya. Mostly.
RM50 is a bargain now that you’ve expanded on what they are offering. I’ll meet up with Meena tonight for a pow-wow and include this in Gosia & Manuel’s itinerary then.
And no, you won’t be asking us about our best features again, O no you won’t. LOL
Heyy..i think i’ve come to your blog more often today compared to the other days. Definitely cheers me up reading ur comments..which i badly need now..i’ll cya around, kay?
spiffy,
Glad to know that. Meena did say I have this effect on the ladies and, ahem, a certain number of men as well.
What can I say? It’s all part of the patented Kenny charm! *runs and barfs himself*
Seriously though, have a great weekend ahead, go out with some friends and party all night long! (That’s certainly what I intend to do…) Heck, I even know a couple of lads I can introduce to you; I promise they won’t bite… much.
Kenny,
Hahaha…Perasaannya. =P Although, i havta admit, i’m feeling better already. ;o)
Ermm..i’m not the party animal type, if u haven’t know already. Hahah..Introduce away, Kenny! Always happy to meet new guys, *ahem!* friends i mean…i promise i won’t bite too..but arm hitting, can’t guarantee! *winks*
spiffy
Maybe perasan but it does the trick, eh? LOL
Ah yes, Kenny Da Pimp’s first “Candy-Date” for Spiffy would be Mr. Jason Ng! Dashing, young man, also from the great town of Malacca (where all the best bachelors come from, ahem), and has his own business to boot! (Plus his futsal boots, but let’s not go into that yet.)
You can have a peek at him here. And I’m pimping Shannon to Nisa & Henny this weekend. At this rate, I’d be the only one left on the shelf! LOL
Yep, indeed it does the trick my friend. ;o)
Wow, that was fast! LOLzz…! Futsal, eh? kewl kewl..Hahahha…Nahh, no worries Kenny..u wun be the last one on the shelf. There’re loads of girls and *ahem!* guys, waiting to grab you man! Hahahh…
*quickly runs away before Kenny smacks me on the head*
spiffy,
And why would I want to smack you on the head now? It’s not like you were saying anything but the Absolute Truth, right?
*turns and barfs himself again*
*coughs* *squeaks* me?
Leen the Lascivious,
O yes you.
P.S. Just had dinner with Meena to brainstorm some ideas for the newlyweds’ visit and she’s dying to meet you, her foodsoulmate… The two of you would be deadly together, methinks…
Hiya Leen. Kenny’s told me ALL about you. Unfortunately, after all dat brainstorming, I’ve realised that I’ve already made plans for that weekend, so I shall be at dat Sarang Murai place only in spirit!
Kenny, dinner was a pleasure, as always. U’re so sexy in those shorts. How will I ever be able to sleep tonight with that image imprinted in my mind forever? *snigger*
yes i am, and canucks sucks!!!
Oh, Leen can show Meena that blackmail disco pic she has of you and Meena can put up another HSS post hahahaha
Lyrical Lemongrass,
They weren’t shorts… they were sorta three-quarter-pants… is it my fault they make it so low in Malaysia they barely cover my knees?
I can’t imagine why you’d have problems sleeping at night with that image imprinted in your mind. In fact, that’s how I go to bed at night, with a vision of myself in shorts… it’s so calming…
P.S. Leen, I’ll draw up the schedule in Excel and send it to you guys for feedback… so little time, so much for them to see & do!
sulee,
Aww, do they? Maybe your feelings will change once you’re back here. I know miss Germany, but then again, I had a whale of a time when I was living there…
Msiagirl,
Can’t believe you still remember something Leen mentioned in passing. Anyway, the pic (or pics, to be more accurate) aren’t that incriminating, unless Leen has more I’m not aware of.
You don’t, do you, Leen? Do you?
Watch out I remember EVERYTHING. AlWAYS. Hey how come I didn’t get to see you in shorts!
Msiagirl,
They weren’t shorts! Just ridiculously high-rise pants? Okay, that was lame. Yeah, I guess they were shorts. Why would anyone wanna see me in shorts? I got such spindly legs…
And O so do I. Especially the inappropriate bits of knowledge and gossip being passed around like banter, like barter. I retain irresponsible information like a wet sponge. Or do I mean a dry one?
Whatever. I’m quite an airhead on Saturdays. (Already had to deal with a client’s call at 10am on a weekend, ga!)
yummies!! hahahhahahaha
oh my god kennymah shy — dunno how to respond…PRICELESS!
sulee,
Bah, humbung!
Don’t worry it’s just older women pulling his shorts..er..I mean…leg.
A good weekend partying,my friend? Hope you don’t mind me posting Very Serious Looking Picture of you. Sufian said I could.
How anyone could find anything romantic about tha shitty day in Salzburg, I’ll never know. All I remember is being SO cranky and Mike didn’t want to deal with me so he was like, go bitch to Kenny and I said, done and done.
I still have that drawing you made for me from that fateful day.
I have to say though that it makes me feel good that the “liberating” beer mugs and displacing bicycles. I have to say that was definitely one of the most fun weeks in my entire life.
Have you heard from Marco at all? Do you know if he went to the wedding? Or Mr. Stone?
Wow I totally didn’t finish that other thought. It makes me feel good that those are your highlighted memories from Munich and that I was there for them.
*slowly walks back with caution, just in case..*
No need to barf my friend..they are DE absolute truth. Hahahah…
Msiagirl,
No problems, go ahead with the pic, though I think my side profile is really less than charming, haha.
Weekend was wonderful but no partying involved. Just a couple of movies in the theatre, good eating, a workout at the gym, plenty of resting and fantastic company. I’m missing it already…
Shannon,
Yeah, I didn’t want to mention that it was a sorta shitty day for the rest of us, but hey, if it rocked their boat, why da hey not?
I don’t remember you bitching to me though (I don’t remember people bitching to me in general, I think — some form of built-in defense mechanism?), but I do remember having a brilliant time during your entire stay with Mike, with us.
And oh thanks for mailing me those photos of the mugs & bicycle. I have them too, somewhere, but it’s cool just to see them pop out again like that. I bet Marco and Useless McGyver did attend, but I’ll ask Gosia & Manuel when they arrive here all the same.
What an incredible memories, eh?
spiffy,
If you say so. LOL.
P.S. Just saw your sms. Watched Ocean’s Thirteen on Sat. Not as good as the first, but fun all the same. You should definitely go watch.
Okayy..i didn’t catch the 2nd one. Will grab someone to watch the 3rd one with me. LOL… i watched Pirates yesterday. It was purely fun..i’m still scratching my head over the storyline. Haha..;o)
*cough* I still have ‘em pictures.
Kenny, how much you willing to pay for me not to accidentally have it as wallpaper on my laptop (which I lug around) during the makan sesh?
Heh heh.
yo kenny,
i doubt u look like a hobo ler wei… judging from the photos u’ve posted in ur blog… but den again photos can b deceiving hmmm???
at least u dress better den one of my ex…
we’ll play by ear den… i’m still vacant dis sun…
gleefully rubs her hands in anticipation of finally getting the chance to shop for menswear
spiffy
Wahey, I watched Pirates 3 yesterday too — with Nisa, Henny, Jason and Shannon. Good times. Sushi and Big Apple Donuts.
Nothing like a Sunday outing with The Family (Plus One). Especially when you haven’t gone out with each other in ages and have forgotten how much you irritate one another. Or maybe it’s just me and Nisa.
Shannon did what everyone does when they first see the Nisa-and-Kenny Act in person and asked why we weren’t a couple. To which we rolled our eyes, George Clooney-style (sorta) and rattled off a hundred and one reasons.
But mostly the best response to that would be, uhm, No. LOL.
Leen,
Oh. Oh. Oh. That’s just plain mean.
(And the blackmail continues.)
asstha,
Yeah, photos can be very deceiving though some of the readers tell me I look better in person? Maybe I’m one of them unphotogenic types. And trust me, I don’t look that much better in person, if at all.
This Sunday @ The Curve sounds like fun, well, as much fun as shopping for clothes could be, since I dread it with a vengeance, but ah, what a difference with a lovely lady to accompany me…
Will call you by Friday to confirm…
[…] So, for once, against all notions of good sense and sobriety, I followed my heart and moved into a place completely my own. A small studio apartment, just for me. Got the best rental rate I could find, and a pretty decent (and pretty) real estate agent, and a week later, I moved in. […]
Kenny,
Morning! Good times they are..but i think it’s just u and Nisa, but it’s fun to irritate one another,no? that’s where the laughters come in..from the rest! Haha…;o)
I think y’all will never stop getting that question from new friends unless either one of you get hooked up. Heheh…I can imagine both of you giving Shannon all the reasons why NOT. LoLzz…
Come on now…introduce some hot looking hunk to Nisa!! At the same time, u can do the same for me. *wink* *wink*
Morning, morning, spiffy!
Ha, you guys may laugh now but I will get the last laugh! And I did introduce one hot looking hunk to Nisa! Last Sunday in fact. Pity she was too busy helping Henny out with some application to notice him.
And what makes ya think neither Nisa nor I are hooked up? We may be not be dating each other; it don’t mean we aren’t dating other people.
Hahaha…nevermind nevermind. There will always be another time for them to meet up. ;o)
R you hinting something to all your readers, Kenny? *grins*
spiffy,
Yeah, planning to arrange another “spontaneous” date between those two but soon. Of course, it might help if I weren’t tagging along, but one has to chaperone and take care of the damsel’s chastity.
By whom I mean Shannon, naturally.
And hinting? What hinting?
What a thoughtful friend you are, being matchmaker and all…=D
I thought your were saying Nisa’s chastity.. Aduiii..LOLzz..
That our eligible bachelor might be off the market..Haha..
spiffy,
Yeah, planning to arrange another “spontaneous” date between those two but soon. Of course, it might help if I weren’t tagging along, but one has to chaperone and take care of the damsel’s chastity.
By whom I mean Shannon, naturally.
And hinting? What hinting?
Ermm..now i’m thinking twice of asking u to introduce some eligible to me. Haha..
Hahaha…i think we all know who i was speaking of. =p
spiffy
At this rate, I’ll run out of friends to introduce to each other! Maybe I should start my own speed dating service like Meena suggested. Me da Pimp Daddy…
You da Matchmaker…nicer ring to it. ;o) maybe maybe..i’ll be glad to assist you. =P
spiffy
Naw, I’ve got it all covered. I’m good. Instead, you can be one of my first victims, er, clients. I’m sure I’ve a good-looking Ipoh lad handy the last time I checked who might just be the sorta guy for ya…
Now just gotta figure out how to persuade him to come down from the White Coffee Town… LOL
Did I hear “speed dating”? Ho ho ho…please enrol me, tq!
Good-looking Ipoh lad is now based in KL, so half your work is done, Kenny.
Helpfully yours,
Meena.
Hmm…we shall see, my dear..we shall see.. ;o)
Babe, helpful you are indeed. Hahah…i was just about to tell Kenny the same thing. ^_^
Lyrical Lemongrass
Indeed you did. Wonder when I’d ever find the time to organise one though…
So, Ipoh Lad is in KL now? Eh, so let’s grab him and Grace and abandon them two for a few hours at some snazzy restaurant and see what comes out of it lah. Might be the start of something with church bells ringing down the road…
(Wah, Kenny, you really think too far lah…)
spiffy
Don’t beat me up ha… Heh heh heh.
Kenny,
You will find out when i see you..=P
OMIGOD. the pey colborne chick is my wife’s old friend and classmate.
fatboybakes
What a small, small, small world we live in, eh?
And I’m sure she’d enjoy being referred to as “the pey colborne chick.”