Posts

Mysterious washing machine strikes again!

Oh yes, it happened again: the first laundry after our Butterworth trip failed because the power button didn't work. I tried replugging, and unplugged before plugging it hours later. Both didn't work. I unplugged it and told Ban what happened. I asked him to contact the repairman if it didn't work the next day. Like previously, it did work the next day. So, I'm hoping that by making it a habit to unplug after every use, we could use this machine much longer. I also tested the socket and it worked with my phone charger. I've used another socket for the machine and it didn't work. So, either the machine is faulty...or maybe it's just the plug? Hmmm.

Mysterious washing machine

Recently, our washing machine konked out: nothing happened when I pressed the Power button. Tried like 3 times. Tested the wall socket with two other appliances and it worked.  Based on Google review rating, Ban called a repairman. They said that the malfunction was probably due to spoiled motherboard and asked us to send screenshot of the serial number so that they could quote the price of a new motherboard. Ban did that but they have yet to respond. So the next morning I asked Ban to try another. This repairman ("The Repair Guy" on Google haha) came and as soon as he tried, the machine works again @@ He just started it and observe until the start of the spin cycle and pronounced that the machine behaved itself because the 'doctor' was here :D So, we offered to pay him transport fee, which he quoted as RM 50. Later, my sister told me that this happened to her washing machine, which later on broke down anyway. I guessed we have to be prepared for that scenario. This m

Orthopedic second opinion

After asking our friends for recommendation, we decided to seek second opinion from Dr Tan Chun Ee at Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH). The appointment was 10 days after we l ast consulted Dr Joehaimey .  In my previous blog post, I forgot to mention that Dr Joehaimy replaced the medicine Lyrica with Gabapentin and retained Norgesic. Meanwhile, my mum's leg cramp worsened. My aunt, who used to get cramps too, suggested my mum to get supplement that has calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, which also would help in strengthening bone. The local pharmacist thus recommended Flexical, which has calcium, vitamin D3 and K2, and magnesium. Deficiency in magnesium may cause cramp. Also, a quick check on research papers show that calcium and vitamin D are recommended for people at risk of fracture but "Data on vitamin K2 and magnesium supplementation with regard to bone and muscle health are promising but still inconclusive." Four days before the appointment i.e. 6 days on the above me

Dr. iDevice

Sometime last year, the top right side of Ban's phone started to blacken. It started small but grew gradually to obscure the battery icon. So he decided to get it fixed, in case it became serious. It was quite a good timing too because we were about to go to Australia. We went to Samsung service centre at One Utama. Waited quite sometime, only to be told that they no longer stock spare parts for that phone. After googling and checking its reviews, I suggested Dr. iDevice to him.  Lenise, who was manning the outlet in One Utama, was helpful, friendly and professional. She first checked whether they could get hold of the display part. Then she quoted the fee to Ban and explained the process of fixing it. Due to the circumstances at that time, Ban left his phone with them. They called me the next day to collect it as soon as it was fixed. So, when recently my phone's screen cracked after it dropped onto tarred road (it cracked exactly where the screen protector couldn't protec

Assorted food #4

Image
  The difference between this special sliced beef and the usual one is that the former is marinated with some spices and a sweet sauce. I prefer the normal one because I didn't like the sweetness. Not worth it for me to pay extra for it. This is the dry penang hokkien prawn mee at Masih Kopitiam, Butterworth. I normally shun this dish because of the paltry amount of ingredient but this one had much more. It tasted great too. I loved this set, Salmon Zukushi, at Jyu Raku. Definitely a salmon-lover pleaser :) Someone gave to Ban this dessert. It was surprisingly delicious and filling.

Making better banana smoothie

Me: I find that adding strawberry enhances banana smoothie. Ban: I find that taking out the banana also enhances banana smoothie *laughed* Me: *laughed and smacked him*   Note: Ban doesn't like banana smoothie, no mater what else is mixed inside, even if cocoa powder is mixed in.

Sudden lower body pain

About two weeks ago, my mum developed pain in her pelvic bone, much more on the right side, and squeezing pain in her legs, with occassional spike in pain. She was managing it with paracetamols, 2 tabs three times daily.  Since we didn't know any particular orthopedist in private hospitals (it was only recently that I remember Dr Prashant ), I targeted one at KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital since it's in mainland Penang (instead of on the island). I made appointment for my mum with Dr Joehaimey since he has the earliest suitable date. The moment she walked through his door, he immediately asked her whether the pain from her right side. We were both quite impressed. He was in turn impressed with mum's prepared list of medication that she presented to him on a piece of paper. The key information seems to be the surgery she had back in 2011 to insert titanium plate and screws in her lower spine. He guessed that there's accumalated wear and tear due to aging. So to confirm i