Recently I got a really sweet deal from a laptop roadshow that includes 3GB RAM, 60GB HD space, original Windows Vista, MS Office, and other goodies. It was time for my 3-year old S2020 to move on to a slower-paced life back in Malaysia, as some of the buttons on the keyboard had just died.

I’d like to bring to light a certain ‘feature’ to new users of Windows Vista. Whenever you plug in an external memory device (e.g. thumbdrive, CD-RW, DVD-RW, memory stick, etc), you will most probably encounter a dialog box telling you that your device contains a ‘bad’ file or something and gives you the option to ‘Scan and fix (Recommended)’ or to ‘Continue without scanning’. Here’s what you do: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT click on ‘Scan and fix’!!

I had plugged in my digicam to transfer some rare-to-happen family photos of my Dad while he was in Malaysia. Thinking of the scan and fix feature to be something like a virus scan, I only realized the horrible truth when I discovered that all my pictures were gone when I then clicked to transfer them to the hard drive. There was only some sort of rudimentary file left on the digicam’s memory card. A quick research online through forums and support websites turned into a night-long frantic search for the missing files.

It seems I wasn’t the only one to have a problem like this. However the only responses these people got from tech support were that they could try downloading a few file recovery programs like Recuva (which this person tried with no success, and so did I), and to make sure that you never unplug your devices without ‘Safely Removing Hardware’, as the sudden cut-off will create corrupt files that triggers this ‘Scan and Fix’ dialog box. It’s the big difference between Windows XP and Windows Vista, because most of the time it’s ok to just yank out your external device, on Vista, it’s a HUGE no-no!

However, I have to note that some people have no problems with this feature, and never lose any files after the scan. Weird, huh? I’ll just choose to stick with clicking ‘Continue without scanning’ in the future.

Here are some helpful links from my research for a little bit more detailed explanation.

I’d admit it, he’s cute.

Thanks for the Christmas wishes via text message everyone, with responses ranging from the traditional to the enthusiastic, to the don’t-bloody-care-at-all. Here’s a few great ones:

Alfred: Happy commercial jesus day to you too!

Gerard: Yeah yeah..

Lynn: Wooffffff wwuufffffffffffff! Burp… Hugs. Merry christmasssss!

Jonnie: Who’s this? I’ve lost your contact yo! [lol… damnit Jon…]

Unknown Malaysian number: Merry christmas to u n your loved ones. Bhavani. [um, I don’t recall knowing a Bhavani…]

*shrugs* Eh… spread the love and joy everyone. Have a metal Boxing Day!

To whatever good vibes out there, thanks for turning my life around this year to something I could’ve only dreamed about.

Here’s for taking risks and working for what you believe in — Merry Christmas everyone!

I like fresh apricots. This is my new discovery, as I begin the first of many gastronomical attacks on the fine but funny-looking apricot tree in my backyard.

Mind you, coming from Malaysia, this is a huge novelty. What a freaking sakai I am

I’ve been so used to eating dried apricots and the tiny bits that go into your cereal, I’ve actually forgotten if you eat the fuzzy skin of apricots.

“The hell I’d know…” said my non-fruit-eating boyfriend, when asked. You’re such a big help, honey <3

A quick Google search tells you that you DO eat apricots with their skin intact. So after a few days of letting the apricots fully ripen in the bowl and wondering if I would accidentally ingest a worm in the fruit which would lead an adventure for the toilet… I took the plunge and made a careful dissection of the fruit before eating it…

It looked ok. Next, careful inspection in my tastes buds render the fruit to be ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Not to mention juicy! Mmm Mm MM!

I polished off 7 more within minutes. God I love my apricot tree. I went out to pick somemore.

Not a step out the backdoor before I was reminded of the cute pests that I have to share my apricot tree with, the Rainbow Lorikeet. They flew away before I could take their incriminating photos, but they’ve left plenty of evidence behind:

Oh well… Learn to share, Wolfy. *mumbles*

People, people! It’s alright, the kangaroos didn’t wolfnap me, I’ve just been away sorting out my life. You see, I did arrive in Perth, but I moved to Adelaide two weeks later. In between that time frame was a muddle of being late for uni registration, visits to the Immigration Department, wondering what I was gonna do with life, twice postponed uni registration, deciding to withdraw from uni, and buying a one-way ticket to Adelaide.

Why all this madness, you ask? Well, as close friends and family know, I moved in with WiKKiD, my boyfriend. I switched back to a Tourist Visa for now, and depending on my luck, I’d try getting some work experience here or I’d have to apply for another course for a year’s study soon.

So yeah, that’s me for now. I had one of the most awesome birthdays I’ve had here too. WiKKiD took me down to his parents shack down by the river and we incorporated drinking game rules to table tennis, darts, Uno, movies, and practically anything that’ll give us the excuse to drink. I was so drunk the entire time I spent there I would wake up in the middle of the night to laugh! It was great

I’ve been preoccupied a lot since I got here, but I promise to start taking and posting more photos here soon! Until then, I’ll catch you later, mate.

We’re in the family shack down by the Murray River. WiKKiD and I take Drizzle out for a relaxing walk for me to sight-see.

Mmmm… beautiful and relaxing.

Feeling overwhelmed with different emotions the day before I fly to Adelaide for a new life, Colsy dug me out of Jonno’s swanky Burswood apartment where I’ve crashed for the past few days, for a final hang out.

We decided to spend the day in Freo, as I thought that it’d be a long time before I’d get to savour their famous fish & chips again. We went right on to the chow after posting the rest of my belongings in a flimsy box to WiKKiD’s address to avoid overweight baggage at the airport.

Colsy, not a tool as far as his shirt suggests.

Greasy goodness… one of my rare indulgences.

“Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine…”

Token artsy shot.

Later on, we decided to have fun with a few historical anchors sitting in front of the fish & chips shop.

Kind of a weird pose, isn’t it?

Passing by Little Creatures, we took an extended walk around Freo, away from the busy flea markets and people.

Little Creatures brewery… never short of customers and pale ale.

We walked along the beach and dunes to check out some rather touristy historical stuff.

The Round House Cannon

What it said.

Whaler’s Tunnel

It was a great, typical Perth day. Colsy dropped me home when it started getting dark, and it felt weird that I won’t get to hang out with one of my best mates anymore. But hey, I love everything that is Perth, and I’ll be back one day.