Process of cutting md2 pineapple for consumption

This is taken on the noon of 27 February 2025. Where I managed to cut 1 from 3 unit md2 pineapple. Which I bought yesterday evening.

A light snack before lunch.

The process of cutting md2 pineapple for consumption.

I start by sharpening the used knife with whetstone. Then I washed both whetstone and knife after finished sharpening process. Then the knife smoothly cut the md2 pineapple skin like butter. Worth time spend in sharpening the knife before used.

Until then, have fun in cutting md2 pineapple for consumption.

🥚 Morning Meal Prep: Egg Sandwiches & Accidental Generosity

This was my cozy morning routine on 24 February 2025, when I prepared a quick and satisfying breakfast. Which is homemade egg sandwiches and a rich cup of DIY coffee with cocoa powder.

🍳 The Process:

I started by washing 5 eggs to steam them into hard-boiled perfection. Once peeled, the total weight of 4 eggs came to 202.4 grams (yes, I measured it!). 

Self made coffee drink that I add cocoa powder.

The weight of 4 hard boiled eggs.

I then mixed in 35.4 grams of Thousand Island sauce for a creamy, tangy twist.

While there was an online discussion happening next door in the lab, I quietly mashed the eggs outside the VECAD pantry. As I do not want to cause any disruption.

🥪 The Egg Sandwich Outcome:

The sandwiches turned out wonderfully. Soft, flavorful, and perfectly satisfying. But here’s the funny part: I had planned to eat just two sandwiches. But accidentally ate three! I blame multitasking and hunger, the curse of eating while busy.

I did manage to share one with a fellow PhD student, and the remaining two were eagerly accepted by a colleague whose lunch order had been mixed up (he ordered chicken rice but got nasi ayam penyet instead).

☕ Final Thoughts:

This breakfast was unexpectedly fulfilling, not just for me but for the people around me too. And it led to a spontaneous tea break later when we returned to the shop to fix the lunch order!

Until then, may your mornings be filled with simple joys, shared food, and egg sandwiches worth waking up for.

Reminder why important to check D flip-flop polarity before you solder!

This is an important reminder as per today, 22 December 2025. Please double-check the polarity of the D flip-flop before soldering it onto the board.

Why it matters: Soldering it with the wrong polarity can damage other parts of the board. It could burn out the voltage regulator, cause the electrolytic capacitors to fail, or worst of all, end up fry the main Black Pill microcontroller.

Where to look: The correct placement is shown on Page 51 of the guide. Based on the position marking on the PCB, the chip should be placed at the bottom of its footprint.

Common mistake: Do not place the position marking up near the 1 kΩ SMD resistor. That is the wrong spot and polarity.

Final reference: Always compare your work with the picture of the fully assembled board on Page 5 to make sure everything is in the right place.

Taking one minute to check this now can save hours of troubleshooting and repairing damage later.

At the end of the day, there’s no point in blaming components or the PCB. Sometimes the culprit has been holding the soldering iron all along.

Better safe than sorry is the best practice here.

🔌 Testing a 100W USB-C Cable for Phone & Laptop Charging

Taken on the afternoon of 17 June 2025, I finally got to deliver the 3-meter 100W USB-C cable to my customer for a live test. We wanted to confirm if it could handle both super-fast phone charging and laptop power delivery. And it didn’t disappoint!

The results were impressive:

✅ When connected to a 65W fast charger, it successfully delivered super-fast charging to his phone.

💻 It also able to charged his Lenovo ThinkBook laptop without any hiccups.

The customer was clearly happy. Not just with the cable's performance but with the convenience of getting the right cable delivered and tested on the spot.

If you're in the market for a reliable long cable that handles both your phone and laptop, a certified 100W USB-C cable is definitely worth it.

Until next time, have fun choosing the right tech accessories that keep your devices powered up! ⚡✨

Additional 2 items for my make up set

This is taken on the evening of 29 April 2025. Where I managed to take pictures of the received 2 items. 1 of them is pink lip crayon. Another is eyebrow gel in code chocolate. 

Love both of them.

Until then, have fun adding new items to your make up collection.

Nice fit of 80 pieces kitchen cleaning wipes into this plastic bag

This is taken in the morning of 6 March 2025. Where I managed to remember to take pictures of the used plastic bag to store 80 pieces kitchen cleaning wipes. 

I discover this method after more than 2 packs of dried wet wipes. Even when the wet wipes have lid on its package. 

One thing I noticed is the wet tissue never dried up after using this method. Which saves me a whole lot for a long run.

Until then, have fun in using good plastic bag for your wet wipes storage.

Seeking dental care for my teeth

Captured on the morning of 14 March 2025, this photo marks my visit to the dental clinic to seek care after noticing hairline cracks on both of my upper front teeth, with the right one showing a small chip at the bottom.

Broken tooth from [1]

Initially, I went to my previous dental clinic at Klinik Taman Tun Aminah, 1174, Jalan Pendekar 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, only to find that it had been converted into a Klinik Desa serving mothers and children. After asking the nurse on duty, I was directed to the Skudai Baru Health Clinic (Klinik Kesihatan Skudai Baru), where the dental department is located on the first floor.

This new dental clinic is impressive — a comprehensive facility similar to Pusat Kesihatan Taman Universiti, but with a larger, more modern space. I was even able to park comfortably in the clinic’s own parking lot.

Appointments must be made via the MySejahtera app, as walk-ins are limited to only 20 patients per day, with the queue starting as early as 7.00 am.

I was advised to get an X-ray of my front teeth to assess the extent of the damage and determine if the cracks had reached the nerve layer.

Following the X-ray, the dental officer recommended and administered a fluoride treatment on my upper front teeth. I was advised not to gargle for at least one hour afterward to allow the treatment to take full effect. Effectively replacing my fast that day.

Until then, remember to take good care of your precious teeth. Prevention is always better than treatment.

References:

[1] Broken tooth image https://mynjdentist.com/conditions/broken-tooth/

A Facilitator's Diary: Navigating the SMD Soldering Marathon with 10 Groups

Friday, 5 December 2025, was a marathon. A long, technically demanding, and ultimately rewarding day spent monitoring the SMD soldering work for 10 out of 11 groups in my Microprocessor class. This hands-on assignment is done in PCB lab where theory meets the delicate tip of a soldering iron, and today, our journey began with Component Group 1: the formidable Black Pill board. Started from 8 am to 1 pm. Continued 3 pm to 5 pm.

The Plan: Solder, Check, Blink

The objective was clear, a sequence I meticulously outlined for every group:

1. Solder the Black Pill onto its carrier board.

2. Check every connection under the magnifier for bridges or cold joints.

3. Program it to complete the rite of passage: making the onboard LED blink.

A Late-November Win: Why This Face Oil is a Game-Changer for Mature Skin

What a perfect way to wrap up November! Just before leaving the lab today, I finished an order for two 25 ml bottles of our signature face oil [1]. It’s always so fulfilling to send off a product knowing it’s going to someone who truly loves it.

I’ll admit, there was a small hiccup, my trusty portable printer was gasping for ink by the end! Note to self: figure out how to replenish that ink supply, ASAP.

But that little challenge was well worth it. The best part of this work? Hearing from our wonderful customers, many in their 40s and 50s, who keep coming back. Their feedback is the real proof: they consistently tell me how much this oil helps their mature skin.

And I can personally vouch for that.

As someone with mature skin myself, I’ve seen a huge difference. My skin is noticeably calmer and more resilient. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m immune to breakouts, especially when my hormones decide to go haywire during my cycle or as I navigate perimenopause. Add in a lack of sleep or feeling unwell, and my skin definitely lets me know.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned? The recovery rate for mature skin is at least 50% slower than it was in my 30s. That reality is exactly why a consistent, thoughtful skincare routine is non-negotiable for me.

This commitment paid off in a big way just last week at my convocation. With my skin in a good place, my makeup applied smoothly. I used less product, and it didn’t settle into my fine lines and wrinkles. It was a win!

While people often tell me I have "good skin," what they don't see is the daily effort behind it. Consistency is everything. I’ve learned to listen to my skin and my body, normalizing daily notes and even pictures to track any changes. It’s my way of staying proactive and maintaining my skin’s best condition.

So, if you’re on your own skincare journey, remember to be kind to your skin. Listen to what it needs, and don't underestimate the power of a great face oil.

Until next time, have fun pampering your skin.

Reference:

[1] My face oil https://serinurulbeauty.blogspot.com/2025/05/3rd-batch-of-improvised-face-oil.html

A Surprise Guest: My Mango Tree is Blooming Again!

Talk about a wonderful way to end the day! I got home a little early this evening of 26 November 2025 and decided to have a look at my garden. To my absolute delight, I spotted tiny new flower buds forming on my mango tree!

It feels like it was just yesterday that we were enjoying the last harvest. I checked my notes, and it was actually 17 October 2025 when we picked the final fruit. It’s been such a busy season that I haven't even had the chance to give the tree its usual post-harvest trim.

Yet, here it is, full of ambition and ready for another round, all on its own. Nature’s resilience never ceases to amaze me.

Now, for the hopeful part. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that these little buds will make it all the way to becoming juicy mangoes. The fact that we’re having frequent night-time rains lately it is a quite a hard sign. Fingers crossed for a bountiful season ahead!

Until then, the gentle, rewarding work of tending continues. There’s nothing quite like the quiet joy of watching a tree you care for decide it’s time to bloom.

To all my fellow gardeners out there, have fun tending to your own green companions! You never know what lovely surprise might be waiting for you.