Merry Christmas

Ho! Ho! Ho!

The Koo's Family wish everyone a Happy Merry Christmas and a Merry Happy New Year!




Yeah, time to reveal Christmas presents !!

Made in China

I hereby introduce another super value for money product from China.

"Super Energy Saving LED Bulb" - able to last 20,000 hours and cost only a few ringgit. A product strongly recommended by my father.

I thereby conduct experiments by compare it with an ordinary bulb worth 50 cents. For more accurate and persistent results, I installed up to three bulb for comparison.

In about two months later - final result: Super Power Saver LED Bulb 0 - 3 Ordinary cheap bulb.

All Super Power Saver LED Bulb are dead whilst the cheap bulb is still running strong.

Another great product made in China :)

100 days

My baby will be 100 days old in two days time. Although I did not manage to hold a 100 days party for him, I will ensure a 1 year party to be a success. These hundred days consist of sensational and tension moments and expect many more to come. With less than 100 days old, he has already attended three wedding dinners, and surprise many with his mature look. Many claims he looks like me although I don’t see much remembrance. Do people just say for the sake of saying or they can really tell I wonder.

Wine for Asia 2011

An interesting three days two nights trip for us. Plenty of great and good wine for tasting. Some of the top wines we have tasted include:

Bordeaux Blanc
Smith Haut Lafit Blanc 2008 (My rating 90 points)
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2007 (My rating 93)

Bordeaux Red
Domaine de Chevalier Rouge 2007 (My rating 91)
Chateau Figeac 2007 (My rating 91)
Leoville Barton 2007 (My rating 92)
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 08 (My rating 90)
Smith Haut Lafit Rouge 2008 (My rating 90)
Chateau Beycheville 2008 (My rating 90)

Desert
Ch Surudaut 2008 (My rating 92)
Ch Climen 2008 (My rating 92)

Burgundy
Puligny Montrachet, Champ Gain, Bouchard Pere et Fils 08 (My rating: 88)
Aloxe Corton, Les Valozieres, Domaine Claude Chevalier et Fils 08 (My rating: 88)

The champion goes to

Domaine Rene Cacheux et Fils Vosne-Romanee "Les Suchots" Premier Cru 2008
(Cotes de Nuits, Burgundy, France) – (My rating 95 points)

Expert review:
93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine (2007 vintage):
“Elegantly wrought, with strawberry, raspberry and floral aromas and flavors permeating the gossamer texture. This is pure and long, with a firm base of tannins, bright acidity and a lingering aftertaste of berry, spice and mineral. Best from 2012 through 2024. 175 cases made." –BS (2010)

Portrait Mode

Using the portrait mode in one of the camera’s function, we can smoothen one’s face to look like supermodel. The following two photos clearly indicate the before and after. Nonetheless, baby is super cute in either photo :)

Aperture and Focus

With the purchase of my new camera, I am gaining some basic knowledge in camera shooting. The following two photos are my rookie shots, same angle but different focal point using the function of aperture and focus. Interesting.

Draft versus bottle

During the years in the liquor industry, I frequently being asked if draft beers are better than bottle (and can beer) and why. Well, even my seven weeks baby knows that draft milk (breastfeeding) taste better than bottle milk. I am sure us adults can do better than the seven weeks old.

Doctor

This is the doctor who deliver baby Hong-Yi, therefore the first person Hong-Yi ever seen in his life (although I do see his hair before the doctor does).

Dooodolls Snapshot competition

We have submitted this photo for best dooodolls snap shot competition. Please vote for Baby Hong Yi and his dooodolls "Siao Bing" at http://apps.facebook.com/snapyourdooodolls

Welcome baby

The baby is too anxious to meet us and decided to greet us 13 days in advance. August 15th is the date and we are not quite prepared but welcome him with great happiness. I am very amazed with (1) the delivery process, which is much faster than I anticipated (2) the baby can open his eyes in ten minutes after born and (3) his eyes expression that is so similar to mine and I thought mine is rather unique.

D-day minus 18

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D day as in Daddy day count down. 18 days, assuming the expected day being accurate. The doctor said that based on his experience, 30% is early, 65% is late and only 5% being punctual, however, I received way too many comments that it is more likely to be early than late. Nonetheless, we are always happy to received great news in advance, aren’t we.

Burgundy Wines

I have the pleasure of consuming the following three Burgundy Wines today.

The Chambole Musigni (mid) is about RM 450, rated 88 points.
The Nuits St George 1er (left) is around RM 350, rated 86 points.
The Bourgogne Rouge vv (right) is about RM 150. Although a village wine but still very good quality (84 points), and by far the most value for money wine for the day.

Double Parking

I hate those idiots who double park their cars. They are selfish and totally inconsiderate. To stop people from doing that to me, I shall double park people first (hahaha..). However, things are not always work out as plan. Alas… here comes triple parking champion (the white vehicle)!! Welcome to Malaysia.

Talking about finishing

It has been 7 days since I last tasted the bottle of Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere 2004 but the sensation feeling still lingered around my palette, nose & memories. The wine, which I rated 92 points compared to Wine Spectator 91 and Robert Parker 91, is not the best wine I have tasted. In terms of pricing, it’s nowhere close to being the most expensive wine I have tasted. In fact, it’s not even half the price of the most expensive wine I have tasted this year alone, at RM 358 retail price. However, having said that, none of the better wines can continue to refresh my memories on its greatness days after the incident. I wonder why.

It refreshes my memories back in the year 2008 when I first tasted the Chateau Cantemerle. I enjoy it so much that I still remember what it tasted like the following morning. Some think I am insane when I share the feeling with them; wait till I tell them about Canon-la-Gaffeliere.

Wine for Father’s bday

I am scratching my head over the wines to be consumed during father’s 70th birthday weekend. Perhaps the following combination is worth consideration:

First up, a Champagne Lombard Brut to celebrate the big event and to get things started. I can imagine it’s not exactly everybody’s favorite as it is not sweet in nature, but hey good sparkling are not meant to be sweet. Next up, a Spanish red wine – Initium, a blend of Tempranillo and Merlot. Good easy to drink wine perhaps suitable to enjoy during the day or with light meals.
A Chilean red – De Martino Shiraz, This 89 pointer wine has a heavier body and is perfect match for red meats. This could make things interesting. An Italian Tua Rita Tuscana 2003 might be chosen. I am longing to taste this interesting bottle of wine. Last but not the least a bottle Prosecco Grappa. A 40% alcohol sparkling wine that bound to makes everybody drunk high. I do wonder if these are sufficient for 8 adults over two nights, however.

Food and Wine Pairing Tips

Food and Wine Pairing Tips 101: Salty Food should pair with High Acidity wine.

We tasted this Western Australia Margaret River wine last night – Semillon 2010. A light body wine, dry and crisp with very strong harsh acidity. Initial rating 69 points. However, using the food and wine pairing tips 101, we were fortunate to be having Salty Baked Chicken (盐炬鸡) for dinner. The combination is excellent, the wine suddenly rates closer to 80 points. Great pairing. Upon finishing the chicken, the wine quickly decline back to its 69 points. That’s unfortunate. :)

Tasting Notes for the wine: Click here

Al Passo 2007

We tasted this bottle of wine last night (father day’s dinner). It’s an interesting bottle that requires a rather long time to decant for the taste to excel. When first open, the smell is rather insignificant. Feeling rather disappointed, I first tasted the wine about 30 minutes after decant and it is rather rough with poor stringent finishing. During the interval of dinner, i.e. 45 – 70 minutes of decant, the wine is good with dark fruits flavor, earthy chocolate flavor and complement our food (pork). After 75 minutes or so, the wine has finally blossom with both smell and taste being intense, rounded and sensational finishing, however, just when the wine reach its prime, the bottle reach its bottom. One must be wondering that they should have bought the magnum size bottle.

Fine Dinning

Our latest ‘fine dinning’ at home turns out to be impressive despite our high expectations. Great quality imported shoulder loin, combined with carefully prepared gravy source, nicely baked potatoes and fried beans. Paired with a 2006 Chateau Loborde from Lalende de Pomerol. Simply delicious. 95 points!

Baby Room

Haven’t done much in the baby room although the expected date is merely 80 plus days. Still need lighting, cupboard, drawers etc. We kind of like the bed though. I see someone is already enjoying the bed happily.

Mosquitoes Game

I have discovered a new game. Put two people inside my house’s downstairs toilet and see who can kill more mosquitoes in five minutes time. Latest results versus my spouse: 5 to 5. Winner to decide next round.

(I have no idea how and when the toilet become a mosquitoes hideout...)

Argument

A wise man once said that you may win an argument, but you lost a relationship. Therefore, one should not argue. On the contrary, my latest encounter has suggested that one should argue more as one can only gain if they fight for something they wish for. The more you argue the more you get. The more of a bad ass you become, the more you will gain. Yes you will lose some relationship, but I am sure we can afford to lose some, particular to those you have no intention to have any connection with. Wise or no wise, ultimate outcome is priority.

Shoes Problem

Both my badminton and basketball shoes breakdown within the same week. My favourite walking shoes that I have been using daily for more than a year is also coming close to end of life time. On the bright side, I have successfully purchased both the badminton and basketball shoes at the first place I shop and at a price well bargain for. Perhaps everything does end for a good reason.

Japan

With the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, our family urgently needs to reconsider on the up and coming July cruise in Japan / Korea. It has taken us more than a year to plan this whole family trip cruise therefore it would be such a waste to forgo this trip (even if we are able to get back most of the money that we have already paid), however, is the risk worth taking? To be continue…

Trilogy

My wife and I have come to the conclusion that the second part of the wedding trilogy, ie. The tea-ceremony unexpectedly appears to be the most meaningful section among the three parts. I wonder if other couples draw the same conclusion as us. It absolutely puzzles us why some would even consider forgoing this ceremony.

Its over finally

The wedding trilogy is finally over. Its far from being perfect, however, given the time frame, resources and man power available, I think I have done as much as I possibly could. Still, I miss out on some friends in invitation (which I don’t know how), I forgot to thank some friends in my speech (terrible mistake), mess up some setting which I usually won’t. It may not be as grand as some anticipated, however, we always struggle to decide if we prefer a grand wedding, a cozy wedding or a happening noisy wedding. Some claims ours are closer to the third one, which is a bit unexpected in a hotel, but perhaps it ain’t that bad either.

Usavich Season 4

Warning! Usavich Season 4 will commence in April this year.

Stories: Flash News

Preview of Season 4: Episode 40

Wedding reception

For those who wonder if their friends will attend my wedding dinner on Sunday, a preliminary list are as follow:

War Heroes: Shyne Loong, Tek Sing (+1), Ken (+2), Dai Fei (+1), SHL

Super-friends: Shereen, Eric, Brent, Eddy, Weng, Leonard, Ming, KC, Eeyln, Gan, Andre, Ray, Kenji, Fook Cheong, Kok Weng, Shann, Jimmy

Others: Association friends, overseas friends & Work friends

Website

I am not good in webpage design but this is a little webpage I have been working on for my upcoming wedding. Please drop a note :)



http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/JohnnyKoo&SachaSeeToi

Bomb

I always wonder what is the most tedious job in sending bombs. Finding targets are never a problem for most. Actual sending of the bombs are time consuming and many are starting to use indirect method. Follow up works have been commented by most to be most difficult job. I, on the other hand, am still in stage 1- getting enough bomb to send out; which I am still seriously lack off with 40 days counting down.

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
Better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Johnny Koo is throwing u bomb!

Last

Being the youngest in the family I was often being neglected in many ways. In fact, ever since I was born when my dad wasn’t even near the hospital. Since then, I was the last in almost everything else. The last to get a driving license, the last to graduate from school, the last to get married and so on. Yes I am always the last in the family and there is often little to be celebrated when there are many similar experiences earlier, however, in my own life experience, everything is first time to me. I guess I just need to learn to celebrate with myself, which is something I fail to do throughout my life. I attended a course some years ago that teaches us to celebrate on every little success, as the more you celebrate, the more success will come. So, let us rejoice!

Winner

It appears that the red hot favourite “Dragon” and second seeded “Snake” might not be able to be able to get it done after all. The surprise winner appears to be “Rabbit”. Well done Putin! (Detail of this blog coming soon)


The Winner