Author Archives: Valerie Leung

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About Valerie Leung

I ♥ Sydney Swans. Square-eyed from too much television. I don't read enough. You can find me blogging at LibraGirlRules.com, writing about TV, films and books at ArmchairParadise.wordpress.com and occasionally traveloguing at ThursdayHasAView.wordpress.com. I have been known to write fanfic at fanfiction.net (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2660477/) and you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @valshopaholic.

Forty Pearls of Wisdom And Assorted Observations

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In four weeks’ time, I will be celebrating my birthday, and there’s nothing like being reminded that you’re another year older to make you reflect on the little things in life.

Since I am not one to be backwards in coming forwards, so to speak, I thought I’d share with you some of my little “pearls of wisdom”, if you will.  You may not agree with them but that’s OK. I’ve learnt to accept that I can never please everyone 🙂

These are a mish-mash of things that came to mind but are in no particular order, and by no means an exhaustive list.  However, you can probably guess why I have chosen to list forty 🙂

So here goes nothing!

  1. My mother may not always be right, but she always has my interest at heart.
  2. Family always comes first and will always be.
  3. You can choose your friends but not your family, so it’s best to accept them as they are.
  4. Words are mightier than the sword, so choose yours wisely.  The saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” is rubbish.
  5. There will always be idiots doing and saying idiotic things. It’s better to ignore them and walk away. Don’t let them ruin your day.
  6. Choose your battles carefully. Some are just not worth the effort.
  7. Look at the big picture but don’t ignore the details
  8. Common sense is not common, otherwise there would be no such thing as planking or the Darwin Awards
  9. It’s not nice to call someone stupid, no matter how much you want to. People do stupid things. There’s a difference.
  10. I believe in God. Having Faith helps get me through the days – good and bad. Continue reading →

Lazy Much?

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At the start of 2011, I decided to take up the WordPress challenge to post to my blog every week.  For the most part, I have managed to do this although some weeks, I would find myself publishing two or three posts followed by a week of absence.  I usually feel bad when I miss my self-imposed deadline (I decided to post by Saturday every week since I realised readership is highest on weekends) but it is never for lack of trying.  For example, I have four incomplete and one completed posts sitting in “Draft” status right now.  It’s just that, well, some weeks, I am just too lazy to update.  I won’t lie – laziness is to blame.  I wish I could just be Bruno Mars…

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Hakuna Matata

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Sing it with me!

“Hakuna matata, what a wonderful phrase!

Hakuna matata, it’s no passing craze!

It means no worries,

for the rest of your days!

It’s our problem-free philosophy!

Hakuna matata!”

Sounds good, right?  If you are a fan of the Disney cartoon, “The Lion King”, you’ll be more than familiar with this song.  “Hakuna matata” is a Swahili phrase that means “there are no worries”.  I will be the first to admit I am a big-time worrier. I worry about everything – I’m not sure if it is hereditary, but I’m sure when my Mum reads this post she will leave a comment and blame it on my Dad 🙂

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Home Is Where The Heart Is

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On the evening of August 14th, 1982, my parents, my sister and I packed up and left our home in Hong Kong to a country on the other side of the world that none of us had ever been to – permanently.  That was 29 years ago and there is no doubt in my mind that, despite the ups and downs that my family has experienced over those years, and especially when we first arrived, that it was the best decision my parents ever made.

My grandparents seeing us off at the airport

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Dilemmas of a Shopaholic

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Contrary to popular belief, Sophie Kinsella’s best-selling novel “Confessions of a Shopaholic” is not a dramatization of my life, although in view of the fact that Rebecca Bloomwood ended up marrying a millionaire, I wish it was a story about me.

What do you do when you’re a self-confessed shopaholic without a job and running low on cash?  If your answer is to thank whoever the genius was who invented credit cards, then you should be ashamed of yourself!

OK, so I do love my credit cards, but I’m proud to say I have never been their #1 customer because what they love is a customer who spends lots and never makes their repayment in full every month so that they can charge you a lot of interest while they continue to offer you a higher credit limit and more credit cards.  Sorry, Mr Banker (admittedly, I was a Ms Banker in a former life), but you ain’t gonna get your mitts on my hard-earned cash that way! The government already has dibs on that privilege!

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