Yesterday I had a mild fever and this morning I woke up to find that there were pimple-like little bumps on my body and face. Oh no! Yassin’s chicken pox has got to me! You see, Yassin was infected with chicken pox two days ago from his cousin, Djohan. Djohan has actually passed the chicken pox not only to Yassin, but also to his siblings (3 of them) and his mother (my sister).

I am using Yassin’s calamine lotion that we got from the doctor the other day and took some Panadol for the mild fever. Have asked my husband to buy us coconut juice on his way home from work. Will probably ask him pick some mambu (neem) leaves from Yassin’s teacher’s house tomorrow. My mother said the leaves are good for chicken pox. I don’t really believe her so I searched more information about Neem. It turns out to be she is so right! Terima kasih emak! Mothers, they seem to know everything!

Neem tree is generally considered to be an air purifier and preventive against malarial fever and cholera. All parts of the tree possess medicinal properties. The leaves are useful in relieving flatulence, promoting the removal of catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes, and in increasing secretion and discharge of urine. They also acts act as an insecticide. The bark is a bitter tonic and a stimulant. It arrests secretion and bleeding besides counter acting any spasmodic disorders.

The leaves are very useful in skin diseases. They are especially beneficial in the treatment of acne, pimples, boils, chronic ulcers, eruptions of small pox, swelling and wounds. An ointment prepared from Neem leaves is very effective in healing ulcers, diabetes, bed sore and wounds.

I hope Yassin and me will recover soon! Ok, I’m off to have a bed rest or maybe not; I actually am working on my painted totes!

* Neem source: http://www.allayurveda.com/herb_month_october2005.htm

Malaysia’s largest post graduate education fair is back for the 11th consecutive year! The Post Graduate Education Fair 2009 (PGEF) will be at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur from 16 to 18 January 2009. PGEF2009, together with the concurrent Malaysia Career & Training Fair (renamed JobStreet.com MCTF this year) will be taking over the entire Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur with more than 60 exhibitors from various countries including Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, India and of course, Malaysia.

Whether you are searching for a Post Graduate degree from local or foreign countries, PGEF2009 has it all under one roof. PGEF2009 is set to connect the bridges and move you one step further in your lives by providing professional advice on specific subject areas and future career path opportunities. There will be designed workshop to equip you with comprehensive information and you will be able to meet representatives from all sorts of educational institutions such as universities, business schools, and vocational training colleges.

Be spoilt with choice and here are the list of participating universities and colleges:

Malaysia
- Asia Europe Institute
- Business & Advanced Technology Centre, Universiti Teknologi Mara
- Centre for Advanced Software Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- Centre for Postgraduate Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia
- Graduate School of Business, Universiti Malaya
- International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- Institute of Graduate Studies, Universiti Malaya
- KDU College
- Malaysia University of Science & Technology
- Management & Science University
- METEOR Sdn Bhd
- Multimedia University
- Olympia College
- Open Universiti Malaysia
- PMI Education Sdn Bhd
- Raffles International College
- SGS, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- SEGI University College
- Stamford College
- Graduate School of Management, Universiti Industri Selangor
- Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Universiti Kuala Lumpur
- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang
- Universiti Malaysia Perlis
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah
- Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
- Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
- Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris
- Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
- Universiti Teknologi Petronas
- Universiti Tenaga Nasional
- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn
- Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
- Universiti Utara Malaysia
- Wawasan Open University

International
- DAAD - Studying In Germany
- Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore
- Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
- German Institute of Science and Technology, Germany
- James Cook University, Australia
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
- Kyung Hee University, South Korea
- National Chiao Tung University of Science, Taiwan
- National Chi Nan University, Taiwan
- National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
- National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan
- SP Jain Center of Management, Singapore
- Tunghai University, Taiwan
- Universitas Ciputra, Indonesia
- Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
- Universitas Tarumanagara, Indonesia
- Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
- University of Teesside, United Kingdom
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
… and many more!

There will be over RM500,00 worth of scholarships and study grants so make sure you’ll be there!

Robin | Watercolor on Watercolor paper
9″ x 9″

Although I have to work hard for compositions, I resolve that watercolor is the medium for me. I feel at ease using them. But acrylic is not bad too. I am having the thought of reproducing acrylic drawings from last year’s moleskine to canvas and maybe put them up for sale. What say you?

1st commentator
Genie Princess

Citibank is currently having a promotion for their Citibank Shell Credit Cards and key features of the card include:
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This offer ends 28 February 2009, so you better hurry up! You can apply online here: Citibank Shell Credit Cards and if you’re unable to leave your details online, try SMS-ing ‘Shell No’ to 36700.

50 pages to go

I think this flower is in the family Campanulaceae with the common name bellflower; which takes its name from the bell-shaped flowers—campanula is Latin for “little bell”. So I thought naming it Belle is appropriate!

My mother has this sweet scented flower in her garden for several years already. Besides this one, she also has other scented flowers such as Gardenia, Champaca (both in the family of Magnoliaceae) and Roses.

1st commentator
TH

51 pages to go

Drawn directly from nature.

I’m not really satisfied with it; something amiss… i dunno. Maybe it’s the coloring near the red lines; it was supposed to be just red and not layered with the green.

The white spots were masked using masking fluid; rubbed out after the green paint dried. Red spots was painted later.

I had fun these few days spending times with my watercolor paints; it was like being reunited with my long lost friends. We ‘talked’ for hours.

1st commentator
Nessa

I don’t know what to write, so enjoy the watercolor flower done earlier today.

52 pages to go.

1st commentator
LensaLily

53 pages to go

As you can see, the characteristic of this Seamoth or Dragon Fish makes it a bit hard for me to draw. Took me 4 hours to complete. I didn’t get into actual tiny details but basically main features are there. I must say that this is one unique fish; amazing God’s creature.

This drawing is based on my husband’s photo, taken at the KL Aquaria few years back.

1st commentator
TH