Hospitals - Having a baby in Spain

Last night my daughter gave birth to her second child in the hospital in Denia. On the 45 minute drive to the hospital which is our nearest, I wondered how on earth emergencies make it on time. I was later reminded of a recent case where a British guy living in the Jalon Valley had phoned for an ambulance and was told there was a delay and he would have to drive himself. He got ten minutes down the road to Alcalali and had a massive heart attack at the wheel of his car.

On arrival at the hospital, an hour later than my daughter Coral and her boyfriend Ylli, we were told in A&E that we couldn’t go through to the maternity unit. Whilst loitering about wondering what to do, we happened to spot Ylli further up the corridor who told us how to get round to the unit. However, he too had been denied access and had no idea what was happening inside. The unit itself is behind a locked door, meaning you have to wait until someone comes out to be able to make an enquiry about anyone inside.

Coral does not speak much Spanish, so I knew how anxious she would be feeling on her own in there, especially as her labour was quite advanced when she arrived. An hour or so later, a midwife informed us that one of us could go in and see her. She was sitting upright on a chair at a desk, still in t-shirt and trainers with a sheet wrapped round her waist, whilst the doctor informed us that they didn’t have her notes and would have to repeat urine and blood tests that had been taken only three days before. They then gave her a scan, all the while telling her ‘tranquila’ (calm down). Once the tests were complete, we were told to walk down the corridor to a spare room where she could lie down. In this advanced stage, and still with no pain relief, I requested a wheelchair as Coral was convinced she couldn’t walk, but our request was greeted with a withering look that said ‘what a fuss you are making’ – we had to walk.

Once Coral was settled on the bed, I was told I had to leave, as only the father could be present from then on. Although we understood that only one person could be in the room at any given time, we had intended to take turns as both her brother and sister were also there to support her. Very different from the birth of her son in the UK, where there were five of us in the room during labour, and my own births – none of which had less than three present.

Whilst waiting in the most boring corridor on earth, we saw other couples arrive, but only the women were admitted to the unit whilst the men waited outside. I suppose it was like this in Britain many years ago, but we have been brought up in a time and a country where families, and even friends, are involved in the birth of a child.

During the next five hours, no-one came out to let us know what was happening. We tried knocking on the door a couple of times but were either ignored, or told to go away. We were unable to leave the ‘waiting corridor’ to go to the drinks machine or to have a cigarette, as there were so many people lying on gurneys on the way to the exit, that we were told we would disturb them and would be unable to get back in.

Then we heard the screams and knew that a baby was being born. Two Spanish women waiting near us complained about the noise, we told them to shut up. An hour later the baby was bought to the door of the unit but was quickly taken away again. We were told that if we waited another hour, Coral and the baby would be taken to a room on the ward and we could see them. An hour and half later we were informed that it was too late and that we should come back at 9am. When we left the hospital after 3am, we had no idea how Coral was, how much the baby weighed or where they had been taken. I have photos taken at, and directly after the births of all of mine, and my first grandson, but not this one.

This morning Coral phoned and although all is well, informs me that she will never have another baby in Spain. Despite requesting and being denied pain relief, she was told shut up, stop crying and calm down during labour and birth, was made to walk from the labour room to the delivery room 10 minutes before giving birth, and felt that she was treated very badly by unsympathetic midwives and doctors.

Had we been born in a different country, we may well have found the treatment of both Coral and ourselves acceptable. Spain is supposedly a family orientated country, but in this instance the family were treated like bothersome nuisances. Maybe we have been spoilt in Britain, but having had three births of my own, and attended two of others, I am used to a very different attitude. I know there are reports of NHS hospitals leaving people in corridors on gurneys, but I have never seen it for myself. Some of these poor souls were hooked up to monitors and ventilators, and had just been left haphazardly in passageways all over the hospital.

This has been one of the most frustrating and infuriating episodes of my life, and for the first time in four years I wonder what the hell I’m doing here. Despite being the only hospital in the area, it is in need of modernisation, more beds, more human resources - and the staff should be injected with a dose of ‘bedside manner’ - even the ambulances parked outside seem to have only the most basic necessities inside. I now dread the thought of myself or my children becoming ill and needing a hospital. NI, or ‘Autonomo’ contributions are compulsory for self employed workers at 226 Euros per month, which covers health care and hospital treatment, private medical is approximately 550 per year. In order to avoid the likes of Denia hospital, I know which way I’ll be going in future.

missent

to jakarta. it got so lost. haha! so here's my loooonngg-awaited package from amy in malaysia! hee.. just kiddin' amy

i absolutely adored everything, one of the biggest reasons being, they're all green in color! my favorite color! green! woopppee! which apparently is her fav too! ^_~ great taste in color you have.. heee.. thanksss amy! super adorable chut chut is amy's original creation (for her new label ubermojo which is still in the works, you've to watch out for it!) which she crocheted, and her little pouch has a very nifty thread design! and she was so kind and sweet to have bought me a handmade necklace earring set from her holiday trip to bali... come to think of it, maybe "it" was trying to make its way back to indonesia huh.. lol

hope my chut chut loves her? his? (haven't decided yet) new home... ^o^ kisses

time to breathe and be merry

i'm TRYING my best to take it easy this entire week, doing nothing, gaining nutrition, and catching up with some very neglected pals. So if you're getting delayed replies, well, you know why... :p and if you're still waiting for your treelings or brooches etc.. well... yeah, wait abit more... *evil!* muahahhaha! hey, waiting abit more is better than if i won't be able to ever sew again yah?? :ppp


and here's my cute gingerbread man, gift from denise! she's so sweet! just one of the many cute little things she prepared for me in her surprise care package! ^.^ i hope you're able to get warm-n-fuzzy up soon!


and the most fantastically designed items from my swap with oneye from netherlands, in exchange for this! i love them so much! she was so generous and her plush is bigger than i thought they were - i got piet, who likes english culture, loves historic buildings, high tea, harry potter movies, fashion and of course britpop. haha! and fabulous gift tags, stickers, a keychain and postcard, all nicely designed and of great quality! piet is now one of my many sleeping buds, we're sort of alike, other than the english culture and britpop thing... hee...

and sat was great! even though our plans to mos (ministry of sound) didn't work out. shit. you should've seen those crazy people queueing up, it was soooooo fucking long! 1km snake long queue... one of my friends queued of 3 hrs before nearing the entrance... that's crazzzyy... plus we were mostly put off by the large bunch of first-timers and "kids" queueing and crowding around there... it was so unglamourous, like m.sultan all over again ppffttt

luckily our plan b to attica went great! dj danny rampling was awesome as usual. b and i went with a new bunch of people (from my side), because we were sick and tired of the we-love-drinking-too-much-and-puking-lots merry bunch of dudes we used to hang-out with (mostly from his side haha)... this time, it's with a bunch of super fun and spontaneous we-love-to-dance-til-we-drop bunch, which was definitely so much better, and healthy for the sick-and-still-recovering me ^.^

it's funny that i got the most presents this year, because this year's holiday is quite a sad one without all my best pals who're no longer staying in singapore...

we don't celebrate x'mas like it should be celebrated (other than treating it as a holiday off work! lol), except for my dad who's christian and goes to church and whatever else he does. but i did prepare a full 3 course meal for him and b, shrimp salad, black pepper steak, spicy tomato pasta, and portobello soup, and apple crumble pie (which i bought, cos... that's just wayy out of my league), and i managed to keep my dad smiling the whole evening, til today! phew. and there's usually very little gift-exchanging unless imposed upon by the company you work at or if you're a christian or something (i'm agnostic, and most of my friends are free-thinkers) or just for the fun of it! which brings me to the next point - i've always loved the warm x'mas feeling i get in and everything superficial associated with x'mas (i'm sorry to admit) - you know, with the lights and decorated streets in town, x'mas trees, x'mas songs, white color, snow, santa claus, rudolph, gifts...

thanks mao! for the huggee stash of vintage fabrics!! you know me best girl *wink* got other cool presents from mel, michelle, lana, jb, shan, meredith and tash *hugsss!* the coolest triple 5 soul purse, a cute little diesel pouch, a vintage necklace, some kinky stuff (??), a luxurious bubble bath set, and a ton of the cutest little items! and my b got me too many things (so did i! hee), but my fav is obviously my new tommy big-ass shades!! hee! smuacks! hope all of ya loved yours too... ^_^

that's too much for now i think... we're off to the pool at my mum's place! hope you're all having a wonderful time too!!

bye!

*sniff sniff*

my holiday sampler

i was a good girl! woohoo!

i love 'em all! but it's sooo obvious which is my favorite! now, to save up for my japan / chicago / new york / europe holiday so that i can use my fabulous pretty new hat by the very talented pimientanegra! hee! how can you ever want to put on one of those boring ugly mass-produced winter hats when you can get yourself one of these!

happy holidays!

HAPPY HOLIDAYSS!

and i got packagesss! yippeee! will share pics soon!

thanks so much for all your concern and well wishes! i'm much better now than a few days ago, after 2 days of 8 hour sleep, some tonic soup, and not being near the computer or sewing machine for much

haha, the joke is, I do have extra help - sewing help - 2 in fact, but i shan't comment too much about the situation, except to say... such help in singapore, good ones, are very very very hard to find. no one skilled would want to work like that, unless they were in some kind of financial difficulty or some older retired homemaker or blah... of course, unless you pay a million dollars per hour or something... no one is willing to sew, or even then, sew for 8 hours straight a day, or at least complete 3 bags a day, or do part-time administrative work (unless again, you're paying a million dollars per hour) blah blah blah.... if not, they would have their own sewing method and would not be willing to learn anything new, saying that it's too difficult etc. (unless you pay... you get the picture...)

so! i'll be making a few calls here and there after the new year, and hopefully am able to get NEW and BETTER extra helpers... we'll see... (fingers crossed) b's mum has actually volunteered to help, but seriously, how can i make her help me sew when she's not in the best of health and she's also helping his sister to do some work (she's also doing something similar, but not quite, long story) and of course, i'm not her daughter but she is, so... no, i can't... unless again, i pay her a million dollars... hahahaha... ok i'll stop

so! i was thinking, some fairies and elves would be good... friends... nay... none of my friends can sew! i think i may have mentioned this before... but yeah, they can help me do post office stuff, but no sewing... plus, all of them have full-time 9-hour-work-days busy jobs with the more than occasional overtime etc. and would rather party and have some drinks or etc. after a hard days' of work than anything else... NOT even if i pay them a million dollars... seriously.. not everyone's like b or mao, who's not here in singapore anymore... sobs

anyways.... hope you're all having the most wonderful holiday time! time-off work! quality rest! parties! drinks! presents! woohoo! and cheers to a fantastic new year ahead! for the world, and us! ^o^

delays

i just got back from the hospital - i've been "out-of-service" for the past 2 days with arrhythmia, dizziness, and sudden lose of breath and strength in my limbs, and have not been able to reply all work emails, if not for my super helpful b, who has been replying many of them for me...

orders from monday and tuesday were just mailed out this afternoon, so that's like a minor 1-2 days delay, sorry ya all... and orders made today will be mailed out only on friday, after which there will be no shipping until x'mas is over!

i've to learn to slow down and watch my temper, you won't ever get to see me fuming about stuff, but yeah, i'm one of those who boil internally and have problems expressing unhappiness etc. so for now i guess, it's just heart palpitations induced by

too little rest
+
too much caffeine and stress

i've to learn to not want to please everyone, i've to first please my own body! wise advice by mao.... i somehow feel that i need to run extra fast to catch up for lost time, for whatever reason, like i'm gonna die anytime soon.. hmm.. i'm still thinking of partying hard this weekend... and there's the new mos too! i must go see! and then there're those wholesale orders still waiting... you see... that's why... i just wanna do it all... so slap me, i'm greedy this way... i'm sorry to have worried you mummee...

i've lost weight again, so gotta fatten myself up this few holiday weeks.. we're planning yet another short getaway.. when? i donno!! arrgghh.. soon, a very soon one i hope... oh! chinese new year is coming early next year too! so another chance to do some fattening, the healthy way of course... i've been losing my appetite these few weeks, so hope a good quality rest will do the trick

i'm happy that i've 9 presents to open under my x'mas tree now ^_^ still more to come i hope!!! mao - i know what you sent, cos the paper is kinda translucent silly girl :p hahaha

forestprints.com in lucky magazine

for some reason, i was surprised and happy to see the singapore flag

10 mins ago

i just uploaded the one last treeling i had only by chance, because it was of a color a pre-order customer did not want, and 10 mins later, poof! it was bye-bye

are you guys serious??? and i was just going to email a few others who had asked to be informed when i'm going to have anymore at all... i'm really sorry... the last week of january i guess... :/

yes, x'mas shoppers ARE CRAZyyyyy... lol

London Realizes Improvements

Some of the initiatives that London has implemented to improve the lives of its residents and visitors should be recognized and lauded, especially their efforts to reduce congestion and improve air quality. A fee system called Congestion Charging has significantly reduced traffic congestion in Central London since being put in place two years ago and the retirement of the iconic red Routemaster double-decker buses aims towards reducing noxious emissions.

London will look dramatically different without the Routemaster and I, of course, lament the passing of these well-known symbols, but I won’t miss the unpleasant respiratory distress that frequently gripped me in there – runny nose, shortness of breath and sooty deposits in Kleenex. Those charming Routemasters, many dating from the early 1960s, were perhaps the worst polluters in London. You’d smile to see one approach until you were engulfed in a noxious cloud of haze as it passed.

In the end air quality wasn’t the only reason they are being retired. Another important factor is that their design isn’t very accessible for disabled passengers. New buses are lower to the ground, have wider aisles and accommodate wheelchairs far better. Transport for London is phasing out all Routemaster buses by the end of 2005 except on two so-called Heritage Routes that are convenient for tourists. The Heritage buses will be equipped with costly particulate air filters to significantly reduce emissions.

I recommend that all visitors seek out these rolling landmarks. If you want to experience the Routemaster buses on the Heritage Routes, one operates between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill, and the other between the Royal Albert Hall and Aldwych.

While the improvements brought by the retirement of the Routemaster buses are yet to be fully realized, another dramatic initiative has already transformed London.

Congestion Charging for vehicles driving in Central London during the business week was championed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone. Citing studies showing London had the worst vehicle congestion in Europe and that drivers in Central London spent half their time stuck in traffic, local government pushed through the technology-based scheme.

Thousand of cameras in Central London record the license plate numbers of every car that drives in the designated Congestion Charging zone each day. Drivers must pay a £8 daily fee by 10:00 p.m. for the privilege of driving in the zone. Drivers may pay online, by phone, by mail, text message or at gas stations and parking garages; if they wait ’til after 10:00, a £2 penalty is added. After midnight the penalty is increased to £100, which they will kindly reduce by half if you pay within two weeks. If you delay another two weeks, they add £50.

As you may imagine, this makes people think long and hard about driving in Central London. With the excellent public transport network that includes buses, underground rail, light rail, boats and taxis, there are plenty of alternatives to driving. Because of this, traffic has been greatly reduced and public support for the program is so strong that London is considering expanding the zone to include Kensington and Knightsbridge.

I’ve seen that these changes are making London even more enjoyable for my clients. One particular benefit that I’m advising them to take advantage is to indulge in one of my favorite London experiences: the best taxis and taxi drivers in the world. The improved traffic flow makes them much more affordable because you’re much less likely to be paying for being stuck in traffic.

plush rush shoppe

buy gifts for your loved ones from plush rush artists at the plush rush shoppe!
they will be available for sale until 21 jan 2006 only!

http://plushrush.com/shop.shtml

also for sale are the very cool make your own plush kits!

and if you're near by, be sure to visit the show at the acme art company, at 1230 courtland ave, columbus, ohio, before it ends this friday 17 dec! (mon-sat 6-9pm)

i think my 3 treelings are all sold, because i can't find them listed for sale there...

1-half person operation... sucks

"how can you run a shop with half of your stock sold out? that really sucks."

:(

"i want my order to reach before christmas. please do something about it."

:(((

what i got in the email today, 11 days away from Christmas

thanks! ^_^

Thimble
http://www.thimble.ca/
Check out her online shoppe of handmade goodness too!

The Lantern Books Blog: Olivia Lane
http://www.lanternbooks.com/blog/entry.php?id=84

nice year end

i'm back! recharged with a great weekend party, b's birthday, but now back to work again

- order delivery cock-ups
somehow, the invincible me has managed to fumble on the delivery times for my singapore wholesale orders... long story... but yeah... i hope no grudges or bad marks are born...

- broken down sewing machine
thanks for your kind thoughts! and your offers to help! i'm actually using my old one now, what a joke, i bought a spanking new cool sewing machine to replace my unreliable old one, and now it's this unreliable old one who is helping to save my day...

- production cock-ups
so much hiccups in keeping up with demands and orders! i dreamt that i became a very useful octopus last night... it was kinda freaky but cool... we've been brain storming and discussing about this problem the past week, this can't go on, and there has to be some kind of solution - not mass-produced factory made solution of course! so no worries...

and therefore..

- ill prepared
i had also really underestimated the power of magazine print features.. did i mention? we're in lucky magazine january edition! woohoo! though i haven't seen it yet??? gawd... and also in today's straits times newspaper digital life section! *doing a little ass shakin'* ^_^ more of that later...

- neglected friends complaining
i have been a really lousy and bad friend, and have been unable to be punctual and able to go out for girlfriend dates... i haven't emailed mao for 2 weeks... so sorry babe! have you gotten your package yet?? and i haven't returned steph her tiffin carrier for so long too!!! 5 freaking months! haha, wat a joke, and she stays like 15 mins away from me...

- i cried yesterday
it was actually a pretty funny kinda joke. i just suddenly teared up while talking, just a sudden rush of overwhelming conflicting emotions.. my 3 best pals are all no longer located in singapore... b is a very one-tracked kinda web-coding guy who can't sew, can't cut, can't clean person, and who's just great at coding, giving massages and putting out the trash.. all the manly kinda stuff.. gawd.. haha, and he's left-handed too and all my scissors don't fit him??! wtf man.. i'm sorry for self-pitiance and i already asked him for forgiveness. and of course, all's good.. haha *smuacks*

- congratulations b!
he has climbed up in his career ladder with a climb in very helpful $$ too :p we went shopping for a ton of cool tasteful ties :p because he has to wear one to work everyday and he's feeling like such a grown-up man.. haha

i miss my mum and can't wait to see her during chinese new year... which is soon after x'mas! yippee!

also, i've totally run out of everyone else's promos! every single one! so, send more along my way if you'd like to! ^_^

i promise to update january 2006 with more treelings, wallets, and wooden handle owl totes.. just watch out for them! as you may have already noticed, selected items from us are now available in more stores locally! so singaporeans who dislike buying online, just pop by those locations in town anytime, though i've to tell you first that every store stocks different items from us

overwhelming hard work but overall happy, hope everyone's december is going grreatt!

Telefonica – the bane of my life

I would love to hear from anyone who has a good word to say about them. I used to think it was because we were English, but the Spanish also complain about them. I live in dread of having to phone directory enquiries because I know that my simple request could drag on for days, weeks – or in the case of ADSL – months.

Until recently, when you dialled 1004 for an operator, you waited for the electronic voice to say ‘Diga me’ (meaning ‘tell me’ in Valenciano) upon which time you shout ‘Hablas Ingles’, meaning you want to speak to someone in English. Then you get the awful piped music which has been the same for four years - ‘na na na - na na na - na na na na na na na - na na na - na na na…etc, (I think it was designed in the hopes that people would cut off rather than listen to it ) which you could listen to for 10 minutes – only to be found that you are then cut off and have to start again. They have very few English speakers, so the wait can be long. Now it has been changed to a fully automated system where you press 1 for this, 2 for that – but if you don’t understand what each option is saying you can go round in circles for ever – only to be cut off at the end of it.

ADSL is another matter. Any queries must be directed to the technical department where there are no English speakers. If you have a problem, and you don’t speak very good Spanish, you will need someone to make the call for you – or pay Telefonica 85 Euros to come out and check it. This would be a mistake as 99% of the problems are at their end anyway.

With Telefonica the customer is never right. If you complain, they will just cut you off. They have the monopoly and with no competition as yet, they treat their customers very badly. I have worked in a call centre in the UK, where all customer enquiries/complaints are logged, so that anyone else answering a call from the same customer can check the database to see what the enquiry is about and how another operator has tried to assist. Not so with Telefonica, no matter how many times you call, they have no record of any previous calls, or what the enquiry was about. The same enquiry can get you many different answers – none of which are very helpful.

In my business, property sales and rentals, I have to be able to answer enquiries at all times, and have five websites to control, therefore I need an ADSL connection at work and at home. As some areas still do not have telephone lines, even in an established area like the Jalon Valley, I suppose I am lucky that I have it at all, but I have moved home quite a few times in four years and each time the scenario is the same – a bloody nightmare. Now I am moving offices, which probably means I will be unable to work at the new one for the next eight weeks.

First you have to arrange the ‘alta’ and the ‘baja’, disconnection of existing line and reconnection at the new place. You cannot pre-order the ADSL connection, nor can you have a new line until your old one is disconnected. Despite calling 10 days in advance (which is the required time), the line is never disconnected on time, meaning you cannot have a phone line in the new place. You cannot request your ADSL until the new phone line has been installed and switched on (there is a 24 hour delay between installation and a working phone). ADSL then takes 21 days, which in my case has been up to eight weeks each time. Despite the fact that it is a business line, they just take their own sweet time. Meanwhile, you are making endless calls to find out the problem, and each time the operator will give you a different story – it is on, the problem must be your computer – the telephone pole is too far from your house, we can’t install it – we have no record of you ordering it – you cancelled it last week………., the list goes on and on. Meanwhile na na na - na na na, is installed into your dreams and Telefonica brings out the violent side of your nature - even if you don't normally have one.

at the crucial moment...

isn't explaning to your customers, that your sewing machine has broken down, and thus their orders will be delayed, the same as telling your teacher you were late to school, because your alarm clock didn't work?

aarrrgghhh..!

Living in Spain - The Corre Foc

The Corre Foc – Run with fire - Dance of Fire or ‘Night of Hellfire’

Throughout Spain at any time of year there are many firework displays. Far superior to the type of firework displays we are used to in the UK, many thousands of Euros are spent on any given display and they are magnificent. On top of these, no Spaniard needs an excuse to string up a row of firecrackers – a wedding, a funeral, a birth, a holy day – whatever the reason, firecrackers are a way of life. These are not like our British bangers, more like bombs exploding, which cause your insides to shake with each bang. There can be hundreds attached to strips of rope which are hung like garlands across the small village streets. Often you are given no prior warning, and those who have parked beneath them may end up with a few scorch marks!

The Correfoc however is something else. This is a spectacular display which should not be missed by any passing tourist. These fantastic shows are organised by companies who specialise in theatrical fireworks and travel around Spain offering their services at local fiestas.

Not all Corre Foc’s are the same, the quality will depend on the company providing it, and the amount that the individual village or town is willing to pay.

It is difficult to describe to someone who has never been, but imagine packed streets, with masked ‘demons’ running through the crowds throwing fireworks in all directions, specially constructed Dragons with flames exploding from their nostrils and eerie background music and you’re half way there.

Head projection is necessary unless you like bald patches, and old clothes are advised. Whilst we advise our children in the UK not to play with fireworks – the Corre Foc encourages it. Some are far better than others, and one of the best I have seen was in La Xara, Denia. The show begins by a large bull on wheels being set fire to and pulled into the crowd – move or get burnt! Trying to video it whilst running backwards to get away amidst a mass of other people was not a good idea. However, somehow I managed it without getting stampeded by either bull or humans.

Whilst the bull proceeds in one direction, masked men on unicycles with huge spinning umbrellas wielding lit roman candles are coming at you from the other. All the children gather under the umbrellas, and follow the cyclists, with sparks flying all over them. Bangers are thrown into the crowds and masked men run wildly amid the crowds with spinning Catherine wheels fixed to structures attached to their clothing, whilst people are getting drunk and dancing to ‘Chiuaua’.

After a long and spectacular display lasting around 45 minutes, the street lights are turned off and the people go quiet. A stage, built on 3 levels and 20 ft high plays host to the grand finale. Eerie music is projected from speakers all around, and demons and devils appear on each level of the stage. The whole construction is just one big mass of fireworks as the Corre Foc draws to a close at 2am.

10 minutes later the street disco begins and the makeshift street bars open – now its party till dawn!

my favorite order so far!

absolutely gorgeous!! i have to say, although i've been buying quite a number of cute little stuff from the online community of crafty designers, i haven't been impressed enough to mention any of my buys (i'm one critical bitch huh, heee)... but this has to be the best so far!

you definitely have to check out talented sharleen morco's mmm-fruit, if by some unfortunate luck, you haven't already!

i know 2 people who are going to love their presents sooooo much! *wink* don't worry too, they don't ever read blogs, in fact, they hate the internet, so... they won't catch this delicious picture.. hee



the little handsome fruities are so much larger than i'd expected!! now i know why people think that my treelings are tiny... but in fact, they're not!! note to self: must take pics of treelings with hands in them

great friendly service, prompt replies to emails, very fast and efficient international shipping, great packaging (just like real little fruits all nicely and freshly wrapped up!) and freebies too! this was the ONLY TIME i didn't have to wait like a million years for my order to arrive! it took just 1 week! woo!

i've experienced and observed that many of our genre of online boutiques out there, aren't able to handle international orders as well as they could, even though they do accept international orders and cater to them. shipping internationally HAS to be registered or priority mail, as you call it in america. even if it costs more, let it be an option and charge us, the buyers, for it. i'd rather pay just that bit more to ensure that my package arrives safely, or if not, there would be some kind of compensation, so that either party would not lose out on anything...

also, please let us know when it will ship out before we order anything... because who would want to order 1 small item that takes 2 weeks to get done and another 1 week to ship out and another freaking 1 month to arrive... oh man, that's really taking high-tech business (online) done in the low-tech way (slowness) to the max...

it's sad to say that i haven't received 2 orders so far, and the email correspondences to get something done about my missing orders seem to have vaporised into thin air... hmmm... i don't wanna be a bitch and hanker them for it, so... oh well, just my luck i guess?

anyway... i've decided that i just have to keep one of these cuties for meself!! ooohhh which one... help! ms mandarin orange/ ms ponderosa lemon/ baby nana the banana/ ms georgia peach/ mr fuji apple... gosh..

thanks so much sharleen! you've ended my sad day with a cute happy note ^_^

cranky

i had the most fabulous time at attica on saturday night with b, it has been such a long time since we went clubbing and drinking together exclusively (6 months??), without being with a whole group of friends, and it was really nice for a change... and it's b's birthday this coming friday, and i still gotta come up with the surprise gift part II... *blank* oh, we always do gifts in parts, part I, II, III, don't know why, both of us just think this way's more fun... oh, and x'mas gifts.. gawd... *super blank* i'm so busy packing gifts for my customers and yet have yet to do any for my friends... it's so lucky to be my friend huh LOL

other than sat night, it has been the most torturous time, i don't feel like celebrating the whoopping number of sales at all, it's totally weird and screwy. being busy and having lesser sleep is totally making me too unnecessarily sensitive to everything and everyone around me. like my menopausal dad today. the whole situation just pissed me right off to the moon. no rudeness to the elders intended.. but whatever, think what you like. ppfftt..

december has never been so un-december-ish for me... wow, can't wait for 2006...

i believe if someone truly has the intention of helping another person, to the extent of volunteering their help without being asked, they will, should, and must, do it wholeheartedly and 110% willingly and happily. to feel obliged to help, means it is coming mostly from the mind and not the heart. which means you're not doing it to help the other person, you're simply doing it for yourself, to make yourself look and feel good that you've been, technically speaking, "helpful". and that, is fucked up, and that "helpful" person should just stop doing whatever he is doing.

if i've a 100 to spare, i'll spare all 100, if i've 10000 to spare, i'll spare all 10000. don't act around me like some crazy pathetic fool whom i owe my 9 previous lives to. i don't owe anyone any shit, except my wholesale buyers, who have been waiting for their orders, a few favors here and there from some friends, and my mum who gave birth to me.

i'll take refuge in my paradise forest lair in my dreams tonight again... cos the world sucks ass... talking bears are much more fun.

december newsletter

http://www.forestprints.com/HuggItem.aspx?ItemID=A0057