Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

Ian loves spinach, but not Isabel. I found it very difficult to make Isabel eat more vegetables. She only take that little bit. So, I have been trying to camouflage veggies into other dishes that she likes.

For example, I would grate carrots (what Isabel hates most) and put into fish paste and make into her favorite fish balls. When cooking porridge for her, I would also add the same. It is so easy to do this with carrots, but not so successfully with greens.

I then remembered kids love anything that they can dip. So, I tried this. I bought some tortilla chips (healthier version would be using carrot or cucumber sticks), and made some spinach dips…

They fought for it, until the last drop!!! Of course, I also suspect that they love the tortilla chips instead of the dip. I told them the chips cannot be eaten on its own, must eat with the dip. LOL! Well, this is actually the first time I let them eat chips, so they must find it very interesting!

Hmm… well, I was impressed at one time, then got disappointed at one time, then got impressed again… Cheh!

Okay, last Friday I went to the Tesco to buy some ingredient for the fried rice, then side tracked to get other groceries. I stood for at least 10 min in front of the toilet roll section, comparing price and specifications. Honestly, I hate buying toilet rolls. I can never get it right. Too expensive I would feel stupid, too cheap very likely get those that can thorn too easily and dissolved before it even reached your that part. Tried 3-ply, very happy, but felt a bit too non-environmental friendly, so went for 2-ply, but each roll finished within few days, shockingly fast.

Today, spending so long staring at them, then only realized that so many things to consider – 2 or 3-ply, 200 sheets or 160 sheets of 240 sheets or 360 sheets or 400 sheets per roll, etc. Finally I made up my mind, but between the 2 brands, one has missing price, so I took the one with price, it was RM25.99 for 20 rolls of 240 sheets each, 3-ply.

Then, I saw 2 executive looking guys walking along the aisles, pointing and discussing, picking up things on the floor, etc. Then they stopped by the brand without price, one told the other to look into it. I KPC said, “Ya, I was looking for this price too, but the price checker is just too far away, so I don’t bother…” Then this guy quickly took the product to scan for me.

The other guy (a bit more senior lah), introduced to me that he is the MD (not sure if I got him right) and the other guy is the Store Manager. Then he asked me my opinion and my experience of the store when the SM checked the price for me. I praised them lah, of course, saying that I was impressed with their consistent layout and providing a very good customer experience lah, etc.

Mana tahu, after that, when I paid, the RM25.99 became RM28.99. Well, I got to go to the service counter to check. Okay, they refunded me immediately, but I found out many products are like that! At the counter, many people are disputing the price as well. Geez, you got to really check your bill, and got to remember what they are supposed to be. If buying a lot would be quite challenging ler.

The lady said, “Oh, kita ni stor baru, banyak belum lagi update…” Cheh! Even store lama also got to have daily update on this kind of thing lah. So, after all, it is not perfect. LOL!

BTW, I am soooooo free that I can spend more than 10 min in front of the toilet roll. Kekekeke!

Yesterday I finally went to the newly opened Tesco (not very new already, 3 weeks old). Been rejecting it because there were so many people. But I think the crowd has subsided, so I went yesterday.

My first impression was – Hey, I know this place!

Yes, its layout is exactly the same as the Tesco Mutiara. EXACTLY! Where the trolleys are placed, where the products are categorized and placed, they are all consistent.

I like it, because I don’t have to relearn where to find the stuff that I want.

Talking about Customer Experience, I think banks (and other supermarkets/hypermarkets) should learn from them! As a customer, my experience was so great.

I am loving it more and more now…

This is so ridiculous. I tried to book movie tickets online for the family. I went to check out 3D Shrek from GSC website. Wanted to buy 2 adults and 2 children tickets. Adults ticket costs RM13 per pax and kids RM6 per pax. Sounds reasonable.

But look at this:

The booking fee is RM2, and the surcharge is RM20. So, in total, I have to pay RM60 for 2 adults and 2 kids. I wonder, if this is applicable for online only or what?

Why Malaysia system is always going backwards compared to our neighboring countries?

About 10 years ago, when I worked in Singapore, they tried to encourage the usage of Touch-N-Go alike in the other merchandisers including car park. They make you save, if you do that.

Over here, you have to pay 10% more, if you do that. For the ‘convenience fee’

When you book movie tickets online, you have to pay RM1 extra, for online processing. It is like trying to discourage people from making online purchase.

There is rarely any incentives for you to use your Touch N Go elsewhere, and rarely any incentives for you to purchase (and make payment!) online.

Stupid Malaysia system. And I am part of it, so sad!

On the last Christmas Eve, I went for Christmas shopping and bought quite a lot of good value stuff for the kids. Since there were sales then, I bought extra, to be kept for so and so’s birthday later.

So, I bought 3-4 extra airplane toys, and 2 extra girls watches with Barbie prints. I kept them till Ian’s birthday, I gave one to Isabel (I always give out presents to the birthday boy/girl and the other siblings, even for my friends children).

When she happily unwrapped it, she got so disappointed, coz the battery was flat. Nothing shown on the LCD.

Not to disappoint her, I went to the watch shop, trying to replace the battery, but after opening up… THERE ISN’T A BATTERY TO BE REPLACED! So, what to do?

I unwrapped the second watch, and found it to be in the same fate!

They were bought from Jusco, but I didn’t keep the receipt, I have no proof of purchase, and that is like few months ago, I knew it is hard to put up a case.

I was so disappointed, and didn’t know what to do with the watches (one was still in its original packaging). Isabel was alright, but kept asking me to ‘change the battery’, which I couldn’t.

I was upset, then went Googled for the manufacturer’s contact. Finally, found an email to write in. I told them how disappointed I am with their products, and that my daughter was extremely upset, bla-bla-bla. I wanted to know how to fix the watches. But I also did not have any high expectations, most of the emails are just put up for show, there is hardly real people reading…

To my surprise! Next day, I had a reply from IntekToys (the manufacturer), directly from Argentina! Without asking me anything, they straight away offered a replacement. I just have to send them my address, and they would ship the watch over.

I was surprised with this good service, but still a bit skeptical. So I took the photo above and sent over (just to prove my case), and used my office address.

And… yesterday, the day before Isabel’s birthday… I received this parcel on my desk!

Opened up, inside contains watches of exactly both the designs that I have bought!

I gave the orange colored design to Isabel this morning, on her birthday. It really made her day! She was so happy this morning, finally having her first (working) watch.

In the past her grandma also bought a cheap watch from pasar malam, which doesn’t work. So, this is really her first working watch. She is so happy.

IntekToys really made her day! Thank you IntekToys!!