Asian Tiger

Last week, I took a read of IKEA’s furniture magazine and some some furnitures that could grace my home.  Little did I know, I was soon engrossed at measuring my son’s room and started devising a floor plan.  Actually I wanted only a simple bookshelf costing RM165 but over the weekend, I ended up spending over RM1,200 for 4 bookshelves, a study table, delivery and installation.  Yes, I know we can assemble IKEA’s furniture with ease but for RM50, I rather let the professionals handle it.

My son’s room is now nicely decorated with ample space for his book, his toys, his bags and his other belongings.  After a couple of days admiring my son’s room, I sat down and wondered how I could have spent the extra RM1,000 without even a second thought.  Was I hooked to shopping furnitures like how the girls shopped for shoes?  Was there hypnotic verses in IKEA’s magazine?  I know if I had gone to a local furniture shop, I wouldn’t have spend this much; in fact I wouldn’t have spent anything.

I think the reason is simple.  IKEA makes their furnitures practical and yet can elegantly grace your house.  If you really browse through IKEA’s magazine, with a little creativity and imagination, you can find simple solutions for your home.  If I went to a local furniture shop, the furniture looks all the same, as if the is only one manufacturer.  Furthermore, the selling point was the wood type; nyatoh, merbau, etc.

Looking back, it was worth the money. My son is now excited about his room and spend most of his time there.  From homework to playing toys.  He’s now asking for a computer and TV to complete his “home”…

Anyone out there looking for baby cribs? If you are, read right on as I want to share a couple of tips with you. If you are not looking for cribs but will do so in the near future, read on too. If you are not looking for baby crib tips, share your thoughts with us after you finished reading this post.

First tip: Buy one that is made of solid wood. Yes, those heavy hard wooden cribs. Solid wood cribs are more expensive than that of compressed fiber or some cheapo wood. You know why? Because once your baby grow some teeth, you will notice that she will start gnawing away on the crib. If it was made of compressed fibreboard, before long, your child will turn into a beaver.

Second tip: Get a mattress made of coconut husk. You should probably avoid foam made mattresses. Coconut husk mattresses are generally more hardy and firm. Firmness is good for your baby’s back. Since the mattress is made of fiber, it will be more cooling and airy ; your baby will welcome these characteristics especially on hot days. And because of its fibre-ry nature, it is much more porous than foam, which will be a plus point when your baby decides to soil it.

Even with Johnny Wilkinson being the top scorer in the recent Rugby World Cup 2007, England failed to defend her title in one of the most cautious games ever. The Rugby World Cup is held every 4 years. Where do you head to for world class contact sports? If you are a rugby/football fanatic like a few friends that I have, American football is the next best thing. For the really sports fanatics who prefer live action to televised delays, get your Super Bowl 2008 tickets here.

I have been an England fan for as long as I remember. I watched England lift the World Cup in 2003 and the win was sweet. Really sweet. All the nights of waking up during the ungodly hour, the thirst from cheering, the sweaty palms from tense moments and the experiences of mini heart attacks all seem to have been worth it.

What is it with this rough contact sport that gained fans from all over the world? Is it the show of muscles and braun? Is it the sight and smell of sweaty bodies? Is it the sound of bone-crushing clashes? Or perhaps it’s the sheer delight of the sport?

Well, I don’t know about you but the English fans are the ones that had me glued to the game. Cross my heart, I will be a forever an England fan.

Note: Photos from the Official World Rugby site.