Previously I tested some products in relation to my allergies. I guess to understand the full extent of my allergies, I’d have to start right from the beginning.
See, I discovered in 2004 that I was allergic to rockmelon. I’d break out in hives by eating it. Then I realised I’d break out in hives by just touching the juice. So therefore I stayed away from rockmelon ever since. It’s not the most common allergy, but I guess you can be allergic to fruit.
So then sometime this year I found our that I was allergic to both red and white wine. I’m not bummed about the red, but I sure am bummed about being allergic to white wine. I do love my sweet whites.
I found this out when I drank white wine one night and went off to shower and started breaking out in rashes. I thought it was cause it was hot (this was in summer this year) and I was just sweaty. So I had wine again another night and again I showered and was itchy. Only then did my aunty put 2 and 2 together, that I might have an allergy to white wine. So we experimented again. I drank white wine and lo and behold I broke out in rashes.
Fine. I tried red wine and same result. Thing is, I’ve drank before and haven’t broken out in hives yet.
So one day we were at dinner at a Chinese restaurant and they typically serve fruit at the end of the meal. And the fruit would usually be rockmelon amongst other things. Thankfully since rockmelon was out of season, they swerved honey dew. So I, being confident, claimed that I’m not allergic to honey dew as I’ve eaten it before.
I came home and voila! I broke out in itches. I don’t know how or why either.
Fine, so another day I came home and had to go to cell group one night and I figured I’d shower first cause I won’t have time to shower after I come back. So off I went to shower and then I came out and happened to wear a low back shirt and I found that I had broken out in hives for no apparent reason. I have no idea why and I showed my aunty. I didn’t not have wine, rockmelon or honey dew any time recently. That was when we kinda figured it might be the shower gel I was using.
Lo and behold, I think it is. Up to this day I’m breaking out in rashes each time I shower. I’ve tried many products, Neutrogena, QV, Sorbelene, Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson’s to no avail. Sorbelene was the only one with any hope but it feels strange to be showering with body lotion.
This was when we figured it might be my shampoo &/or conditioner.
This is what I look like typically almost every night after a shower:
Forgive the Power Puff Girls shirt. I was in PJs 
Quite frankly, I’ve given up trying to find products that work. Like my dad says, “Just eat (or in this case) use it till you’re desensitised”. I wonder how long that will take.
The desensitisation of wine is going to be a costly process 
Just yesterday Gen, Michelle and I were at Myers in the city when I overheard a mother arguing with her daughter. I was picking out some tights as I’ve only got one tatty pair which is about to be thrown out and Myer was having a sale.
So I was happily going about picking out the cheapest pairs of tights (since it was buy 2 pairs and get 20% off, buy 3 pairs and get 30% off) when this mother and daughter were arguing about leggings. See there are basically two types of leggings, opaque and non-opaque. Opaque ones are the nearly solid ones where it looks like pants but is thinner than pants. Basically don’t wear a T-shirt with that as you’d be exposing yourself to the entire world. Non-opaque ones are even thinner and are meant to be worn with over size T-shirts or dresses that do not expose your crotch area to the world. Oh, and for all you guys reading, leggings are stockings without feet. Think a pair of think pants.
So back to the story. So the daughter was trying to convince the mother that the pair of leggings at Myers aren’t the ones to be worn for dancing as it was see-through. But the mother was telling the daughter “well this is opaque ones and it is the one you need for dancing”. The poor daughter tried to explain that with leggings there are leggings that are meant to be used for dancing and others that are just for fashion. But the mother was so stubborn that she refused to listen to what the daughter was saying instead she said, “this is the right one. You just don’t want to get these cause you want to go to the special dance shop and the the ones for twice the price”.
I was so tempted to walk up to them and tell the mother that her daughter was actually right. I was actually wearing the leggings which I used for dancing and I was sorely tempted to show the mother what the daughter was talking about. The mother got so angry she retorted to the daughter, “well what did we come to town for if these aren’t the tights? That’s it. We’re leaving”. And so the mother stormed off with the poor daughter trying to get the mother to look at the proper tights. After they left, I looked to the section that they were browsing and checked out the leggings there. Lo and behold if you look at the picture properly, the opaque leggings indeed show the model wearing the leggings and you can see the colour of the skin through the leggings. I felt so sorry for the girl, cause all she wants is a pair of leggings that would not cause her to flash her undies to everyone. Hell I was so close to telling the pair to go to Supre cause that’s where I got my pair of leggings from.
I guess why I’m retelling this is cause I couldn’t help but think how stubborn that mother is and how I’m thankful my parents aren’t like that but instead they’ll hear me out. I’m missing my family, but only another 7 months till they land in Perth
Oh, I must tell you another story. We had a J-Life Leader’s meeting out at PJ’s house in Aubin Grove on Saturday. To cut a long story short, I was driving Joe home and I missed the turning on Hackett Drive to his place so I took Bruce Street home. Then I see flashing lights, a cop car right in front. I was scared for no logical reason (cops and authority scare me) and kinda panicked and went at 40 km/h. Haha. Yes, I’m an aunty when cops are around. When they don’t look, I drive a tad faster. But anyways, so I dropped Joe home and came back down Bruce Street to go home and the cops were still there. I thought to myself, never mind just drive with both hands on the wheel (which I didn’t do the first time passing them till Joe pointed it out :P).
So the next morning I was driving down Broadway to get to church and there was another cop car the corner of my street and Broadway. I didn’t give it much thought at all. I recounted the experience to the Gen, Michelle, Evan and John while driving back from the city yesterday. One of them jokingly said, “who knows, it might be a sign cause you’re a ‘zhua-ster” (zhua-ster = someone who likes to tekan minyak. Tekan minyak = accelerate like mad or literally translated means press oil :P)
So then this morning, I was recounting to my aunty about how I saw so many cop cars in the past 2 days. She made a remark, “they need to raise revenue due to the downturn, they’re losing money”. I didn’t think much about it, but wasn’t even sure why I had brought up that subject with her. I went to work and coming home this evening, I was driving on Mounts Bay and going at 60km/h on my cruise control. I ended up following some really slow cars and having been on the road the whole day (my car has clocked 5000km already in 4 months! Yay!) I was keen to go home and have a shower. I was about to cut into the fast lane, but somehow I didn’t cause I didn’t feel like cutting. Driving up the usual speed camera location, I was glad I didn’t. There in broad daylight was the speed camera. Amazing how so many signs pointed me to drive slowly today. I’m still amazed actually.
After driving for 50km today, I think I need to be in the office tomorrow and catch up with my paperwork. I’ve got a long week ahead but its pay week, so I’m marginally happier this week
Well, if you are my Facebook friend you would have been following my updates about my allergies. On Friday, for no apparent reason after my shower I broke out in horrible rashes all over my back and my neck. That was when the question whether I might be allergic to my shower gel came up. I refused to believe it and kept using it. Come Saturday I still had mild rashes after showering. See, I’ve been using the shower gel for a while and I think it might have aggravated my other allergies.
Thus, I came up with the theory that I might be allergic to my shower gel. So on Sunday night, I switched shower gels. I used to use Johnson & Johnson’s Oat Milk & Almond Oil. So on Sunday after my other allergy to champagne surfaced (more about that soon), I decided to try the Palmolive Shower Gel I bought a while ago. some green colour bottle.
Same result, I broke out in hives albeit a bit milder.
So on Monday I tried Natural Instinct Shower Gel. Which proved a bit better, less rashes but still itchy. I refused to take anti histamines last night after the shower, so I’d just ride it out.
So tonight I’m trying out Neutrogena’s Soap. Let’s just see what happens. Fingers crossed.
EDIT: Looks like I’m still allergic to the hypoallergenic stuff. The way I see it there are only 3 options.
Option 1: Don’t shower. I doubt I’d have any friends after this.
Option 2: Just keep using the shower gels I have and live with the stupid itching. Its expensive to keep testing stuff out.
Option 3: Use talcum powder. Result would probably be similar to option 1.
So its kinda obvious I’m going to be picking option 2. Unless some kind soul wants to donate hypoallergenic shower gels/soaps for me to try out before I buy
Just the other night, my aunty was talking about how so many people we know are getting engaged, married or having kids at such a young age (in their late teens and early 20s).
I then realised she knew quite a lot of people and their ex boy friends and ex girlfriends.
So I told her:
Looks like Perth is very small. When I start dating, I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough
To which she replied:
Oh of course. I know everything
I couldn’t help but laugh at that point. Which is very true. Perth is extremely small and news travels around fast. Especially amongst the Asian circle. So kids, beware. Parents actually do know a lot of things.
I was having a conversation with Sam yesterday on MSN. We ended up having quite a bit to talk about.
I was telling her about how I’m left out whether or not in or out of church. In the sense that I’m not exactly part of the ‘in’ crowd. I don’t usually get invited to parties or to lunches or dinners or gatherings. I guess you could probably say I’m used to that by now. I’ve learnt to become a bit more ‘thick skinned’ and ignore it. I’d rather stay home and look after the kids (not mine btw) than drink myself silly.
Then Sam told me, respect is the most important thing of all and that she respected me for being me. I tell you, I was flattered.
I had no idea anybody held any respect for me. You can call me one of the underdogs everywhere I go. I’m usually the silent and shy type where I stray away from socialising. Lone ranger is the term that comes to mind when describing myself.
Even though now that I’m working and have a bit more freedom, I actually don’t know what to do with it. I tend to stay at home even though I can go out. I put it down to the fact that I work crazy hours and that doesn’t leave me with much time to go out, much less time as ‘down time’. Even the times that I’m free, I still stay at home. I think I’m very much a home person.
Anyways, I guess the point of this post was the fact that I was thinking it over while I was in the shower today. What Sam said about respect is very true. I’d rather have people’s respect and be remembered as the girl who has a firm head on her shoulders instead of one that is immature and rash.
Speaking of rash, I broke out in possibly my worst case of hives since I found out about my allergies. And guess what I was doing this time?
I made sure I did not touch the rockmelon that was being cut up. I stood away while it was served.
Within 5 minutes I had a mild itch on my right elbow.
Within 10 minutes I had a mild itch on my left ankle.
My aunty thought it was a psychological thing cause I literally did not make any contact with the fruit.
I went to shower and came out and stared at the mirror.
My neck had red spots and my limbs were itching.
My toes and the soles of my feet were itching.
I pointed this out to my aunty and we both realised I must have come in contact with the dreadful fruit after all. Then I popped an anti histamine tablet. Within 45 minutes the itching stopped.
Though I still have slight red spots on my neck, leftover from that itching frenzy. My allergies are becoming quite bad as time goes along. I honestly hope this isn’t going to get any worse, cause I was already madly scratching like an ape at the stupid spots.
So if you come within 5m of me armed with rock melon, I promise you I’ll make you pay for making me itch like mad. Are we clear with that? 
Well, today is the day I will remember that I sold Blue Lightning. I can only hope it went to a good home.
I shall miss you Blue Lightning.
I’ll miss the times you provided me wheels to places.
I’ll miss the times you brought all of us down to the South West and brought us up safely again.
I’ll miss the twists and turns we went through in the forest on the way to Albany.
I’ll miss the times I had to wash and polish you till you shined in the sun.
I’ll miss the times where you played me music at full blast while I was getting to prac.
I’ll miss the times you provided me a way to get to and from church and cell groups.
Goodbye!
OK, so I’ve stayed away from blogging from a while due to the fact that I was so busy. I blame daylight savings. My advice: if there is anything wrong with your clocks and alarms and mobile phones, it has to be daylight savings.
OK, so here’s my daylight savings disaster of the year. As you all know, Perth has been having a trial of daylight savings for 3 years. So for the previous 3 years, we have been turning our clocks forwards by one hour in the summer and turning it back one hour in autumn. We had a dinner party on Saturday night and had some guests over. After everything, at about midnight I set my alarm at 8.30am to get up in time for church at 9.45am. That would leave me plenty of time to get ready and church is only 5 minutes away.
Or so I thought.
After that, I was about to go to sleep when I thought I’d better change all my clocks back an hour so I don’t need to do it in the morning. And I knew my mobile phone clock was not set on auto update so I had to do it manually. I thought by doing it manually, I don’t get confused and I avoid disaster. By this time, it was already past midnight, so in other words it was Sunday already. I moved my clock back an hour to 11.04pm, Saturday.
I woke up at 7am the new time, which was 8am the old time and I thought to myself, “Oh, its too early. Good, now I’ve got another hour and a half to sleep”. And I proceeded to go back to sleep.
When I woke up to the commotion outside my door, I was wondering why my aunty and cousin were being so noisy so early. I looked at my mobile and it read 9.47am.
I jumped out and raced to the bathroom and I think that is probably the shortest amount of time I’ve taken to get ready in the morning. I brushed my teeth, put my contacts in, threw on a dress and ran out the door.
And I got to church at 10am, which is when service starts. Admitedly I missed prayer but was on time for church. I’m never again going to make the same mistake of changing my clock after midnight. Daylight savings is not good.
VOTE NO FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!
Oh, before I forget I must tell you about my dream. I had a really really weird, albeit nice dream last night. I can’t remember the first part of the dream, but someone was pregnant with their 2nd kid and they were married but not legally married so some random priest had to marry them legally before the 2nd kid arrived. And somehow this is in Jordan and I’m the sister of one of the people to be married, I can’t remember who. I have no idea why I have such weird dreams man.
But anyway, then they were having this lavish wedding ceremony and I was supposed to be involved in it but then this good looking guy (think Justin Timberlake cross with Zac Efron) came and we struck up a conversation and I decided to skip the wedding. I also don’t know why but I went with this guy and we went walking around and started talking and then he started to hold my hand. I think I know where this part came from. Someone was talking about Joe’s “testing water” lecture during lunch yesterday and it probably stuck in my head.
Back to the story, we started talking and then he bought me ice cream. And then I asked him why he’s in Jordan, is it by choice? He said no in a gruff way, and he turned away. So we walked back to the wedding and he lifted by the waist over some table. No idea why but everyone was wearing sarees and dancing.
And then my alarm rang. I woke up feeling refreshed, yet so surprised that I just had such a vivid and weird dream. What a dream. If only some nice guy would buy me an ice cream. LOL. I’m too easy to please.
I’ve indeed had a very interesting week.
On Monday night, I went over to Gen & Evan’s for dinner, which turned out to be a dinner with the with them, Glorz and Justin and Uncle Gilbert and Aunty Aubrey.
Then on Tuesday night, I was busy trying to organise life group (formerly know as cell group) for last week. It was Janet’s birthday on Friday and most of my group was going to attend so we moved the group to Thursday.
Wednesday night was going to Cottesloe beach to plan the life group and logistics of it.
Thursday night was life group at Cottesloe beach, reflecting on things and praying. It was quite a liberating experience I tell you.
Friday night was spent rearranging my room, I moved the bed and revamped my room.
Saturday was spent cooking, laundry, vacuuming, looking after the baby, attending the leaders’ forum at church and more cooking.
Today was spent going to church, having lunch with friends, fixing up the fly screens, cleaning, cooking, looking after the 2 kids (not mine) and more cleaning.
After winding down from the weekend, I just had a random thought. With all the cleaning and cooking and running round after the kids, I’m probably a housewife minus the husband.
Which led me to another scary thought.
I wouldn’t actually mind becoming a housewife should that be the case. The thought of baking, cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and looking after the kids isn’t that bad. At least I know I can cook and clean the house. After 2 years of kindergarten, 6 years of primary school, 5 years of high school, 1 year of college and 4 years of uni, 2.5 months of working and now I want to be a housewife.
Tell me I need a brain reshuffle.
I have a question for you.
Why would anyone put raisins in a packet of muruku?
For those who don’t know, muruku is savoury snack, with things like dried peas, bits of biscuit like things, and nuts. Its a bit hard to explain but try googling it.
I won a Christmas hamper with the Christmas raffle and in it was a packet of muruku. Well, it isn’t called muruku but its called a savoury snack nibbbles by a brand called Majans and the product is actually called Bhuja Original Mix.
I supposed one could ask a few question of this dubious snack. What is a Bhuja Original Mix? In caps as well. Was there a variation from Bhuja? And what is a Bhuja anyway? So many questions, so few answers.
So there you go. That is the question of the day: Who would put raisins in a packet of Bhuja Orginal Mix?
I’ll leave it to you to answer that.
Yes, I am BACK from my hiatus!! Yes, I’m back at my place now. It feels good to be back, though I’m going to miss the 10 minute drive to work. Now I’ve got to get up earlier and get to work on time. I’ve got a 6.30am start next week, which means I’m going to have to leave home at about 6.10am latest. Which means a 5.30am wake up for me. I’m going to be so exhausted from that.
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