As we come into the final stretch of our trip to Malaysia, now starting to ponder critical questions like how much Jobbie we might be able to take back with us to New Zealand! www.jobbienutbutter.com

Have to say thank you to Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds and Sunderland their contributions to a most excellent New Year.

Happy New Year! Selamat Tahun Baru! All the best for 2026 from Kuala Lumpur.

Discovered the place we're staying at has a greenscreen "digital creation" studio, alongside gym, meditation area and co-working spaces on the floor above us. Might be a great place to join the New Year Zoom from!

This article about Trump being spotted with an image of himself as his phone lock screen includes a comment from someone saying “Lots of people do that, no?” The words of Sandor Clegane come immediately to mind :-) www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/donald-...

At the Cameron Lavender Mansion with @aeshna.bsky.social up in Cameron Highlands/Tanah Rata for a few days. Accommodation looks entertaining!

At IKEA Damansara with @aeshna.bsky.social. We do what we must because we can.

@aeshna.bsky.social has just noted that Rick Astley needs to do a cover of Last Christmas! #whamrolling

Merry Christmas, Selamat Hari Natal and Meri Kirihimete, everyone!

But not the one after?

So, how long before OG becomes Arsenal's top scorer again? From a corner too! Got to feel sorry for Maxence Lacroix though: conceded the Own Goal *and* had his penalty saved to concede the match. Talk about a bad day at the office! www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Maxis is joining whoever designed the UI for the MDAC application website on my shitlist. According to the guy in the Maxis store, their tourist SIM includes unlimited data and calls but no SMSes *and* has no way to add SMS till the current plan expires which is after we leave the country! WTAF?!

Finally made it to a Kenny Rogers Roasters outlet. It's OK but suspect this may be a one-off. Definitely more of a fold 'em or know when to walk away than a hold 'em or know when to run.

On the one hand, found a Charles Tyrwhitt store at Suria KLCC. OTOH, only one, white double-cuffed shirt design, everything else is single-cuffed. WTAF?!! Must be some sort fraudulent scammer clone! ;-)

Yesterday, we were at 1 Utama mall and heard the Star Wars Imperial March on bagpipes. Sadly, they finished that number by the time we got over there but got to hear them playing various Christmas songs (including Last Christmas!)! Love the idea of a Malaysian bagpipe band playing Christmas songs!

From what I can see, Arsenal's goal vs Everton wasn't strictly an Own Goal but jumping up at the ball in your own box with both arms up has to come pretty close to one.

Looks like the Klang River crossing between KL Eco City and the Gardens Mall is a favoured hangout for monitor lizards and crows!

Something I did not expect to see in KL yesterday! According to a sign inside, CeX now has locations in UK, Spain (knew about that) Ireland, Mexico, Australia, Portugal, India, Poland, Italy and, of course, Malaysia!

At Boat Noodle at the Gardens Mall. Pretty sure this is Will Smith's favourite Thai eating place in KL.

At Ipoh Ipoh Cafe with @aeshna.bsky.social, parents and aunt. It would appear "We've only just had breakfast" didn't register!

At Syarikat Hon Kee. Have eschewed the standard inclusive breakfast for the classic Malaysian kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs breakfast combo and je ne regrette rien.

So, that other post I did where I said something about warning signs tending to be reactive? Hmm...

At MidValley Mall. Excellent Nasi Pandan with curry chicken at Sepiring. Had to resist the temptation to head for A&W to try the Rendang Burger!

Visited the National Monument/Tugu Negara with @aeshna.bsky.social earlier. Judging from the number of high level red portals here, Ingress players do not visit the Tugu Negara very often!

Having another Malaysian delicacy, an A&W Root Beer Float, to de-stress. I see the menu now includes a Rendang Burger. May have to try that at some point.

Various people over the years have said that warning signs tend to be reactive.

First cendol of the trip but highly unlikely to be the last. Pretty much my only grumble about Malaysian food in Wellington is my inability to find anywhere that serves cendol!

Checked in at Societe Hartamas, home for the next 22 days, according to the breakfast vouchers. Nice view.

Hey, @clanwilliam.bsky.social, Ireland's Potato may be gone but the Emerald Isle is still represented among Kuala Lumpur's exotic foreign restaurants!

At Wellington Airport with @aeshna.bsky.social, embarking for KL. I swear the Wellington Phoenix Christmas tree here is getting more time on the ball than the men's team is!

Off to KL tomorrow night. Flights were booked via Expedia. Emails saying we could not withstanding, not been able to check-in online. Based on calls to Jetstar and Malaysian, this is apparently due to them being booked via a third party. Guess I shan't be using Expedia again in a hurry.

From Tolu Arokodare in BBC coverage of Arsenal-Wolves match: "We have to score more, we haven't scored a lot of goals in the last few games." To be fair, Wolves scored all 3 in this game, they just need to get better at scoring them in the right goal...

Well, that Arsenal-Wolves match sounded like a vintage Arsenal performance - dismal most of the way through, late miracles and drama driving my heart rate up, and top scorer being OG. Just like old times...

After games where I played as a fox (Spirit of the North 1 and 2), cat (Stray) and dog (Farewell North), looks like next my animal game will be Toroa: Skycall, an NZ-developed game where you "fly as an albatross," in a "game grounded in the Māori world." store.steampowered.com/app/2003490/...

Heard on a Times Radio video talking about possible US invasion of Venezuela - "We do not do well against people that fight in flip-flops"!

Oh yeah, succumbed to Whammageddon yesterday just after the 6am news. Thanks, Breeze Wellington...

Company Christmas party. Bit of a contrast to the first one I attended 6 years ago at Hataitai Bowling Club!

Guess I'm really not visiting the US anytime soon!

So, yesterday was 6th anniversary of our arrival in New Zealand. Man, where have the last 6 years gone? Feels paradoxically both like only yesterday *and* a lifetime ago! Has to be said, it's all gone way better than we could have hoped. Almost worryingly so!

To be fair, this announcement doesn't significantly *reduce* my desire to visit the United States... www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...

I can only assume this is Popin Photos, rather than Pop-In Photos?

Last night was Phoenix SF Quiz Night. Seems I am now a named individual who is prohibited from being on the same team as certain other named individuals. Er.... Yay?

Thanks to a combination KMart and AliExpress, I now have a Mahjong-themed mechanical keyboard!

Well, I suppose drawing with a 10-man team is better than losing to one... Or, indeed, losing to an 11-man team...

Too nice a day to be in the office...

Turned up in my YouTube feed! When I first arrived in the UK in 1978, I was astonished to learn it had only moved to decimal currency in 1971 - I thought it had happened shortly after the end of World War II, along with ending conscription and rationing! www.youtube.com/watch?v=dip8...

New guilty pleasure is watching YouTube football reaction videos. I am amused to note there is a Korean Spurs streamer who displays her heart rate on screen!

The Stars Are Nearly Come Right! At Odlins Plaza at the IKEA pop-up shop with @aeshna.bsky.social. We have our free blue bags! Shed 22 appears to be joining in the fun too.

At Khandallah Scout Hall for Watch The Stars, a megagame which appears to be based on the Mass Effect setting which is, of course, on my games backlog... I seem to have been appointed Human leader so I am decked out in my UN gear. Even brought my UNIT beret!

Respect to Steam for the '* admittedly loose use of the term "holiday"' part!