LIVE . LOVE . HURT . HOPE

Moved! Yes...again

2009-06-16T22:10:00.002+08:00

My apologies....... after a lot of house-keeping and careful consideration, I have transferred this blog over to Wordpress. All previous posts have been exported over. My (few) loyal followers, please do re-map this blog to the link below:

www.beingliq.wordpress.com

See you there!

The Newbie

2009-06-15T19:26:00.003+08:00

As usual, when Hubby is away I will always do or buy something new for the garden. Stumbled upon this chilli plant at the nursery. I think it is kinda cute...

And re-arranged some of the potted planst. I thought it is a good idea to place the two heliconias outside the slim windows... so when we are inside looking out, there is always something green, something blooming :)

All By Myself

2009-06-08T20:15:00.003+08:00

Hubby is now in the Netherlands attending a 5-week course, while yours truly is home-sitting again.
June is going to be a very busy month at work, so at least I will have plenty to do for most of the days, and maybe weekends. Meanwhile, I suppose I can fill the quiet weekends reading and doing little bits of home stuff e.g. like throwing out 2-year old goodness-knows-what from the fridge. Sounds like a splendid idea. And the two dogs will always enjoy a few cuddles from time to time :)

Counting down the days till my mom and dad arrive in Miri to keep me company later this month....

On the Road

2009-06-07T09:50:00.009+08:00

We started the road trip on a wonderful morning, bright sunshine, blue skies... but then it started to get real hot and no fun anymore after that :( I drove the first part of the journey up till Sipitang - a small seaside town in Sabah, and hubby took over from there. It was 2pm. I started driving at 7am. Overall it was an enjoyable road trip; passing the little towns, driving along the Crocker range, ferry trips across rivers and oh, not forgetting the hour we got lost at Lamunin in Brunei. Well, we decided to take the road less travelled... and I suppose it is less travelled for a good reason. We ended up driving in circles for a while. Oh well, at least we got some view of the Bruneian countryside... not much of it anyway. Very thankful indeed we had a safe and enjoyable journey. Kota Kinabalu was scorching hot and we spent most of the two days there eating, window shopping and watching movies. And I also caught up with an old college friend there, who was visiting KK for the first time with her husband. Here are some pictures, not many but we snapped some for the heck of it.

Yay! We have reached Limbang! Out of Brunei, into Sarawak again.

Limbang old airport - air strip actually. This is the old airport 'building'

Old Limbang air strip...just alongside the trunk road

Ferry service across the river after Limbang. RM8 per vehicle for a 15-seconds ride I think... I gotta buy me some shares in this company. It is making a lot of money
What?? RM8 and we have to fight for life jackets?

Optional : if you drive REALLY fast your car might be able to fly across this river

Hmm at least they didn't increase the price for the past 5 years...

Suspension bridge across Sungai Lawas. What a pretty river

Immigration checkpoint at Lawas/Brunei border. A shoplot...

Pretty green scenary along the road

Tune Hotel 1Borneo Kota Kinabalu - "pay only what you need" bed, aircon and room only. Ok at least the sheets, water and toilet paper were free

What? We have to pay for the bedside bulbs too??

Much awaited seafood dinner in KK. This is Luyang Seafood recommended by a friend's father. Our fish, prawns, seafood noodles, vegetables and drinks for two came up to RM59

Local Barley

2009-06-06T19:49:00.002+08:00

Look what I found at the "tamu" (local market) recently.... Barley!!! Grown just outside Miri! Fancy THAT! Well, doesn't look like the usual barley that I get from the grocery store though. But it has a slightly fragrant smell and tastes.... odd, but in a good way. I like that it is not starchy like the normal barley. This is going to go real nice with 'leng chee kang' I think.

A Cool Change

2009-06-03T09:57:00.002+08:00

It is finally raining !! OMG it is raining !! At least for today, no more steamy weather or eye-piercing sunlight !

For those not in Miri at the moment, you are probably thinking...

"What the....?"

But mother nature turning the temperature down a wee bit is a blessing indeed !

Selamat Hari Gawai!

2009-06-01T11:59:00.002+08:00

Selamat Hari Gawai and Hari Kaamatan to all in Sarawak and Sabah, respectively.

We're back from our road trip and spending Gawai lounging at home. I am going to work occasionally and then catch up on some reading. Too lazy to upload road trip pictures now lah!

Road Trip: Two Days to go...

2009-05-26T21:12:00.006+08:00

The past few weeks had been good. Work was good, I had a couple of good things done and the holiday week of Gawai is coming up very soon! Gawai is the harvest festival, celebrated in Sarawak in early June every year. It really is a huge thing here, much like how Hari Raya or Chinese New Year is celebrated in West Malaysia. But over here, cities just shut down for about a week and a half and everything just goes quiet. Similarly, our office will be closed for a week, it is a compulsory holiday. Much better than Hari Raya or CNY huh... :P

I am already feeling festive! And gearing up for our road trip. We will start early on Thursday morning and planning to get to Kota Kinabalu by late afternoon; while planning to stop by lunch in Lawas by noon or so. The total driving time is anticipated to be six to seven hours or so, with multiple stops along the way for immigration and customs check. Why multiple?

Because the journey goes like this:

Miri (Sarawak) ---> Kuala Belait and Tutong (Brunei)
Tutong (Brunei) ---> Kuala Lurah (Brunei) ---> Limbang (Sarawak)
Limbang (Sarawak) ---> Temburong (Brunei)
Temburong (Brunei) ---> Trusan (Sarawak)
Trusan (Sarawak) to Lawas (Sarawak) to Merapok (Sarawak) ---> Sidumin (Sabah)

Click on the above map for a clearer picture of our route.

Every crossing from Sarawak (Msia) into Brunei and back into Sarawak and then to Sabah will require a stamping on the passport. So yup... no worries about not having enough rest stops. From Sidumin, it will be all the way through Sabah passing a few more small towns like Beufort and Sipitang. One of my favorite part of the journey is the route by the Crocker mountain range, where we drive by the endless green mountains until we reach Kota Kinabalu, sitting beneath the watchful peaks of Mount Kinabalu.

One more working day to go tomorrow... then we're ON THE ROAD! La la la!

Paris or Prague ?....

2009-05-18T22:45:00.002+08:00

Neither. Hubby's training is now postponed to June (he will be leaving in 3 weeks) and in the end we decided to just cancel the whole trip. No particular reason. We both got caught up with work and various other things that it turned out better to just stay at home and enjoy each other's company instead. In all honesty, I was more excited about having him at home in February till June rather than me being alone that month (I was still emotionally recovering from the miscarriage and Grandma's passing then).

From that, I realized that what matters most is being together. Whether it is in Paris, Prague or just Miri. :)

The Little Things

2009-05-18T22:29:00.003+08:00

I came across these few short clips on the importance of family while watching a movie in Singapore and thought that this is well worth sharing...it made me cry in the cinema.

Remembering Grandma and Our Heritage

2009-05-17T13:35:00.006+08:00

During a recent trip to Singapore to visit my brother and sis in law over the Wesak long weekend, my brother passed a collection of DVDs to me of a series called The Little Nyonya. He said that I have to watch it, it will make me realize what I am and what I should be.
It is a local production by Mediacorp TV Singapore on the story of a Peranakan family. Since it is almost unheard of for my brother to actually sit through 34 episodes of chinese drama, I was curious to find out why.
The amount of research on the Baba and Nyonya culture that went into the making of the series was truly remarkable. After sitting through the first episode of the series, I could understand why my brother insisted I watch this. It reminded him so much of our upbringing at home, of our maternal Peranakan side. The daily lives depicted in the series were so real, so familiar. I could not help but feel a slight tightening of the chest, trying to stop the sudden onslaught of emotion.
My brother said, we take who we are so much for granted. We do not realize all the painstaking years Ah Mah and Mom spent trying to bring us up as good Peranakan children. Now, one might wonder, how does that differ from our peers?

I used to feel that I was treated unfairly at home. Why? Because as a child, I was not allowed this, and that. Especially Ah Mah, she would knock my head and tell me;

I must not walk with giant steps
I must not stamp my feet - we lived in a wooden house; when I am walking upstairs I must not make a single sound with my feet
I must not speak too loud
I must never yell
I must never be rude, always be polite and always address the elders correctly - Ee Por, Ah Kor, Ah Chim.... I truly did not understand what all the difference were
I must not ever sit with my legs apart, up on the chair nor crossed my legs on the floor. I must always sit with both legs to one side
I must close doors and not make a single sound. Slamming the door (either by purpose or by accident) will earn me a painful 'cubit' (painful pinch)
I must not hit the wok or any pots/pans with a spoon or any utensil and make a loud clanking noise. It is not ladylike
I must not chew with my mouth opened nor speak with food in my mouth
I must not ever talk back to my elders nor ever raise my voice to them. My parents are considered always right no matter what happens

So I went to school and I saw how other children could run and play and scream their hearts out. Mom and Ah Mah would tell me, it was not lady-like. The good girl in me then would not retaliate or disagree. But the rebel in me looked at things differently and I favored my brother's toys and playing with his friends instead. That was the only way I could 'do things the way I like'.

At last, we grew up, Ah Mah and Mom , did not need to constantly nag at us no more. All the years of rules stuck in my head. It now aggravates me when a door is slammed, or someone chews noisily or I hear a utensil being hit loudly against the wok to remove food that is stuck to its surface. It absolutely isn't acceptable at all when someone noisily moves things around in the kitchen - plates, containers.....
My brother, on the other hand, is probably the most loving of all sons. I am so proud of how he would, without further thought, rush to the family's aid in all situations. Like myself, he is also extremely close to our parents and Ah Mah.
I truly am enjoying watching the Nyonya series. It brings back so many memories, good and bad. It makes me feel a tad guilty for all the good Nyonya recipes that mom had taught me, but I rarely replicate. Sitting next to Hubby watching the show, and him seeing my culture for what it truly is for the first time (he's not Peranakan), I realize just how much I take it for granted.

Well, I think I am going to try my best, again, to be the good Nyonya daughter and grand-daughter that mom and Ah Mah had wanted me to be.

Our family home in Alor Setar, where we grew up
Ceramic water container with dragon motifs; little treasures from our ancestors

Ah Mah and one of our Kor Por

Ah Mah, in her fine Nyonya kebaya and sarung. It was the only outfit she wore daily from as long as I could remember. While the designs were simpler and more plain while at home, she wore exquisite embroidered kebayas when on outings, complete with hair in a perfect chignon and pins.

Road Trip!

2009-05-17T00:04:00.002+08:00

Hubby and I decided to relive our days of road tripping to Kota Kinabalu from Miri this coming Gawai. We'll have a week off from work then, before Hubby flies off for a 5-week course in the Netherlands (boo-hoo!!).

In about 2 weeks, we will be off, this time in a more comfortable ride. The previous two trips we drove my humble little mini car Kelisa. This time, we can take the Vios instead. Yay yay! I am brimming with excitement of what to pack, where to stop and all the quiant towns we will be passing by. It is going to be great... packed meals in the car, the ice box stocked with drinks and stopping by unknown little food shops. Brilliant ! I cannot wait!

Living in Heat

2009-05-02T13:49:00.002+08:00

Contrary to what the title of this post suggests, the situation I am currently in is far from desirable....

The Miri heat wave and haze is back after 2 or more years in hibernation. Oh gosh.. earlier at the beginning of the year, it was the never-ending downpour. And now, the days are so so hot while the nights are stuffy and extremely hazy. One can actually sit and watch smoke swirl underneath the glare of the street lamps!!

I suppose this is what we have to endure living in a place with ample land all around. In normal times, it will be lush green. On the other hand, times like this - a simple flick of a burning cigaratte butt will set a whole area going up in flames. Sigh...when will the next rainy season come....

Random Bits of Info

2009-04-05T11:10:00.002+08:00

1. I have Siamese blood from Grandpa and very proud of it
2. My mom used to be EXTREMELY strict with me as a child (think caning and slapping and pinching) but I think I am a better person because of that
3. I wished I had a sister
4. I have no idea how my parents met or when they got married.
5. I am secretly pleased I have dimples (and hope my children will get them too!)
6. I LOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEE eating carbs - potatoes in particular. How the heck will I be able to stay trim when my metabolism goes downhill ???!
7. I like collecting mugs - for no particular reason
8. Untidiness drives me nuts
9. I still miss my late Grandma. I regret not hugging her during my wedding :(
10. I hate the way my hair grows out of shape within days after a trim
11. I wonder why I have hair like barb wire when mom has such a fine silky mane
12. I have such a wild imagination - I wonder if I am normal
13. I had 4 volumes of personal journals written in coded language when I was 12 ( I have no idea how to read them now )
14. I am unable to sleep with my toes exposed
15. I like small stuffy spaces
16. I shamefully cannot drive a manual car anymore since I got my automatic vehicle
17. I am afraid of my parents aging and I do not know how to live without them
18. I am missing a tooth from my upper right gum
19. I am sometimes terrified that I do not have a career path in my mind!
20. I wish hubby would fold my laundry for me because I hate doing that

...to be continued...

Things to be Thankful For

2009-04-01T15:49:00.002+08:00

I have been miserable sometimes in the current few months of trying (and failing) to conceive. Then yesterday, all of a sudden, it occured to me that beyond that bubble of gloom that I live in occasionally now, I still have so many other things to remind me that my life is still very much blessed.

1. I have a job. And steady income.
2. I have a (more than) comfortable home, and it totally belongs to Hubby and myself.
3. My parents are well, happy and I am able to provide them with the best things in life.
4. I have such a wonderful husband who takes such good care of me.
5. I am living life with no regrets so far.
6. I have so many good friends - from kindergarden, primary school, ex-workplace, current workplace....
7. I have been having good-face days for months - probably from all the junk that I am NOT eating lately
8. I have been to Loch Ness
9. I have an Ipod
10. I actually like (most) people I work with

So, I guess I need to slap myself sometimes, and remind myself not to sulk too much. If one thing does not turn out right (yet), there may be 10-25 others that are worth smiling for.

Earth Hour 2009 - Our Contribution

2009-03-26T19:55:00.003+08:00

28th March, 8.30 pm - For one hour, the world will turn off its lights and embrace Earth Hour. Every little change together, will make the biggest impact. I am pleased to see the media reaching out to the people and turning this event into something 'cool', which returns more pledges from everyone to support this good cause. My company too, has made its pledge to turn off all non-essential lighting for the hour.

Closer to home, Hubby and I have plans for a home-cooked dinner by candle light. That's our little way of showing our support.

Singapore Here I Come!

2009-03-22T12:04:00.002+08:00

Business reasons will put me in the heart of Singapore in 2 weeks. I am excited!Of seeing old colleagues and friends. And of course, the possibility of getting new shoes...... hmmmmmm

Growing Older, But Not Yet Wiser?

2009-03-16T18:26:00.004+08:00

I will be blardy 32 years old this year!

I am using eye cream for wrinkle control that has a 3-digit price tag, I started watching carbohydrate intake (Kill me....) for fear of weight gain due to potentially sloppy metabolism rate, I started thinking about retirement homes (London, French Riviera or Bagan Serai-Penang?) and my aging parents (God please bless them with good health). But for all the grown-up things that I am doing, I fear I still look at the world through adolescent eyes.

I wonder if my reluctance to accept the way of the world will ruin me one day. For instance, at work, I refuse to believe that things cannot be done if one does not dabble in office politics. I acknowledge its existance, as a separate business entity that I may or may not participate in. But I still believe things do work out if one is an honest, hardworking and smart employee. I think being responsible and knowing one's trade will eventually get things through. I do not like pushing blame around. It drives me nuts. I think simply owning up to mistakes and fixing it works better than trying to find a cover up. No? I only recently stood up and submitted the paper for my promotion to the next job level, simply because now I know I deserve it. It makes me uncomfortable when people tell me, I should ask for it because I should. But I couldn't do it if I know I did not deserve it. Yes I know. I am such an idiot.

I still believe good things happen to good people. And every person has a reason, for all the evil things that they do. I cannot remain annoyed with someone simply because it takes up too much effort to be angry. It is more tiring to dislike someone that to like someone. Life is short. Why waste it, hmm? If I do not like something, I must change it. If I cannot, I have to learn to live with it and manipulate it to my advantage. Complaining isn't going to help and will only make me upset. No?

Idealist, they call me. I say I am just happy being me. For as long as I can keep it up. No?

Musical Magic

2009-03-15T14:59:00.004+08:00

My parents started me on music school at Yamaha when I was about 7 years old. My very first teacher was a young lady named Miss Q. I started with playing nursery rhymes, learning about rhythms and tones. She was a good teacher, patient and managed to get me through 3-4 levels of examinations with commendable passing scores. Through those years, music school was something I attended every week as an activity. It was fun, kind of.

Then, Miss Q went off for a short leave and a rugged scruffy looking male teacher became her substitute. He was Mr Christopher. Our disciplined class turned upside down. And that was the day that changed the way I approached music.

Mr Christopher was someone who lived for music. He would whip out our lessons book, turned to the page that we're supposed to be playing for that week and then cast it aside. He then presented sheets of paper containing the same song, but re-arranged by himself to suit our class. He would always make the 5 of us students participate in playing the same song, together. Each person had a part to play - be it the main tune, chorus, in charge of rhythm... something. Together, when we played, it was sheer joy! With him, music was playtime. The tunes hum in our ears long after we left class, and day after day after each class, I practiced dilligently. Playing music became such a passion. It was wonderful. My favorite piece from Mr Christopher was a song originally sung by Sheila Majid - Antara Anyer Dan Jakarta. Again, he re-arranged that for us - five 8-10 year olds, romancing the keys on our organs and pianos; our minds twirling in the magic of the melody we made; euphoric - kinda like puppy love perhaps :)

I went on stage for the first time playing a piece by Christopher. I enjoyed it more than anything. With him, I could play with my eyes closed. He taught us to play La Mer (French tune by Charles Trenet; in English called Beyond the Sea - as in the movie Finding Nemo), he told us to imagine the sea; try to imagine waves lapping at the shores. He taught us how to play with our hearts. Music wasn't something you just read off a score and reproduce on the white and black ivory keys. A piece of music always has its own story - of joy, of a tragic loss or first loves. When I was up there on stage with my two other classmates, all I saw was the three of us, and the beautiful tune we were producing.

Mr Christopher left soon after Miss Q returned from her leave. Music class was never the same after that. It was back to the days of perfecting notes, hitting the right timing blah blah blah. Although I had a beautiful song to play for my final exams, it just was not the same anymore. The classes soon became a chore and I finally managed to convince mom and dad to let me stop. I was thirteen. I never touched the ivory keys since.

My parents probably thought I just lost interest in music, and I should not be forced. But in reality, I loved it. It was indeed the very first thing I found passion in, and my teacher Mr Christopher showed me just how wonderful it could be. Alas, I soon lost that passion when I had to look at it so technically, so very work-like. I always wonder, what if Mr. Christopher had never left? What if I had continued to play under his guidance? Wishful thinking.... but I could've been good?

Whatever it is, despite what others may think of me for stopping music school, I never regretted having had had the chance to learn and play. For now when I listen to a song, it isn't just a song. I can appreciate rhythm, its tune and imagine its story. A song becomes so much more beautiful then.

This post is written in appreciation of Mr Christopher Chan, music teacher at Yamaha Music School Alor Setar, 1980s.

Lovey Dovey Yummy Valentine

2009-02-14T20:01:00.004+08:00

I spent almost all of today working at home. What an uninspiring way to spend Valentine's Day.
But then, past 5pm, hubby and I took a nice evening walk, hand-in-hand, and shared a nice word or two with neighbours who were also taking evening walks along our street. After that, I settled down to wait for our Valentine's dinner. Because.... tonight, I wasn't the one cooking. Instead, hubby whipped up a mouth watering delicious meal of rosemary and garlic seasoned pork chops served with a fresh salad. My hubby... cooking ! That deserved a publication in BOLD.

I think we had a nice cozy Valentine's today (despite the fact I had to write a risk assessment report ! ^%$#%^^%$). Alright now, I want to go put my feet up and enjoy what is left of my Saturday with wonderful hubby. :)

Happy Valentine's Day people! MUAH !

Here It Goes Again

2009-02-04T19:40:00.003+08:00

It is time to return to reality after the festive season. Stress, agitation, heartache and cold sweat from work are back knocking at the door. Oh well, time to keep my chin up and charge ahead then...

Boy, am I glad I like the people I work with ... that keeps me sane day after day. Have a great year everyone !

New Year Shower

2009-01-27T09:54:00.002+08:00

The rain is still steadily pouring, refusing to budge and let some sun out to dry up our soggy muddy garden. Chinese new year is usually steamy hot, and one will wish for snow even. It seems fairly odd to be raining so much.
The global weather is going berserk, I tell you. Must be all the fuel that we burn and the unnecessary air-conditioners that we use even when there is a breeze? (<-- Hubby, are you reading this?). But okay, the sun has gone AWOL for days so Hubby is kind enough to let me open the windows to let in some fresh air, minus the artificially cooled air (if you haven't noticed by now, I kinda don't like being in air-con all the time).
Sigh... what is there to do on a day like this ? I think I might go finish up my book (currently reading Beach Babylon) and then perhaps start on a new one.

Gosh, the rain just got heavier and it's barely 10 o'clock in the morning....

Lunar New Year 2009

2009-01-25T13:10:00.004+08:00

THAT time of the year again...so soon..??! (This is me, still not over the fact that 2008 is off and gone..)

The lunar new year is yet again a cool, cloudy and extremely wet affair. It is the Chinese New Year eve today and along with dodging the heavy rain that's steadily pounding against the windows, the morning was spent throwing out more stuff we've been hoarding for years, vacuuming the house and making a vegetable and meat broth for our annual new year eve's steamboat tonight. At least the weather is giving us a free auto-cleaning service for the outside of the house.

As a form of respect for Grandma's passing late last year, we are not celebrating Chinese New Year this year, so no decking of the house in shades of red or having a jolly good time. But hubby and I will still have our little intimate steamboat for two. To all my readers of this blog, Chinese or otherwise; wishing everyone a happy and prosperous year of the Golden Ox.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

The Perfect Weekend

2009-01-10T12:26:00.003+08:00

It has been raining throughout the whole of last night and right till now; noon the next day. There is no sun at all and the rain is still steadily beating down on the rooftop. I am lying here on my favourite chair about to read a book, feet up, with a steaming mug of tea by the side. Classical music playing in the background and all the windows flung wide open.

What a perfect way to start the weekend.

My Sexy Job

2009-01-08T20:26:00.003+08:00

My company did such a great job in advertising. I never knew working as an engineer can be so sexy.....hmmm...

I wonder if he works in one of our offices...yummy...heheh...

Alternatively;

Shell Clearing the Air FIlm

TWILIGHT

2009-01-02T21:52:00.005+08:00

Oh goodness! What is it with this book? The moment I started reading the first page, I was transfixed! I am mesmerized by the use of just simple words, but put together to form sentences that create such vivid images and emotions in the reader's mind. I had scoffed at my brother's first attempt to get me to read it, I told him it was teenage chick romance. I am now hooked, and spellbound by this narration of a young girl's entanglement with a vampire (whom the author describes as totally mouth-wateringly gorgeous). Uhuh, I know what you non-readers of Twilight are thinking... what is wrong with me? But I read not only the stories in books, but I read how the authors write as well. The way authors string words to form sentences in an attempt to draw readers into the world of their stories, fascinates me. And THIS book, is charming me right to my toes! I cannot put it down!

A New Year Ahead

2009-01-02T21:23:00.003+08:00

I over-reacted a few days ago. Things are back to normal and I am utterly glad. I even spent new year's eve in a bar with my brother and hubby, and had to drive them two half-drunken men back via the back roads just in case the law enforcers decided to do a road block that night. And oh, did I forget to mention I woke up on January 1st with a slight hang-over? We had THAT much fun....
I have some things to look forward to this new year and I hope it brings good things to my family and myself.
I should get on to having a list of things I would like to achieve in 2009 and beyond, shouldn't I?

The Blues

2008-12-30T10:23:00.002+08:00

Sometimes I feel like superwoman, being able to juggle work and being a wife, daughter and me; all at the same time.
Other times, I do not even know where or how to start or stop. Today I am just drowning in the blues.

...... :(((((((((((((((((

2008-12-24T12:30:00.005+08:00

TO ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY XMAS !

Fabian & Li Quen

Food Processor!

2008-12-23T08:28:00.006+08:00

Eating and cooking at home (even with take-away dinners), sometimes leaves left-overs or scraps. So, what to do with them? Throw them in the bin? No... I got myself a fantastic food processor that can take in and reprocess any... and I do mean ANY kind of left-over food. It is called the CLeo-K9 model. I got it from a friend of mine who had a few of them and thought I could use one. I could give it anything from chicken bones to fruit mush, with the exception of fish bones because those may cause havoc in its internals.

The unit is self-powered, and it stores itself away quite cleverly. Cleaning is an occasional job, but a quick scrub with soap and water is adequate.

It comes in any color or shade, and in all shapes and sizes. Mine is in black and beige, with a nice furry feel (Hehe...). But I am happy with my current model and hope it will last me many many more years! One useful tip though for owners-to-be of this fantastic food processor, shower it with affection and it will love you forever! Cleo (woof!)

It Could Happen, So Please Do Self-Examination

2008-12-22T10:27:00.002+08:00

About three years ago, I had a scare at the clinic. It was a routine update of my compulsory medical checkup for work. The doctor suddenly remarked that I had slight lump in the breast upon doing a physical examination for me, and sent me straight to the specialist hospital for a scan. Geez I was sweating in my shoes for the whole day ! I thought, WHY ME???????????????????? THESE THINGS DO NOT HAPPEN TO ME!!
It turned out that everything was normal and there was not cause for concern. And I was just totally relieved.
Last night, I suddenly felt something was amiss - a strange lump. And headed straight to the clinic first thing today. Doc did another physical check and assured me there wasn't any cause for concern, but advised me to continue with the self-examination. Any odd changes detected, and I am to head straight to her again.
So ladies, always be on the safe side. Self examinations are important.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year..

2008-12-21T11:00:00.001+08:00

Mom and dad arrived last Thursday in Miri to spend the end of the year with us. Next week, on Christmas eve, my brother and sis-in-law will be arriving from Singapore, and that would mean my whole family will be together again. Having everyone together, makes it a most wonderful occasion. :)
We have already planned for home cooked meals and fun activities. I am totally looking forward to it!

Dinner A Week Ago: Easiest Roast Chicken Ever!

2008-12-20T13:16:00.004+08:00

After too much time spent in front of the AsianFoodChannel watching chefs effortlessly create roasts for Christmas luncheons, I decided to give one recipe a try - Jamie Oliver's Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon. My experiences with roasts have been less than perfect... usually they didn't brown nicely enough. But this time, I thought, I should give it another go. I shocked both myself and hubby with the final result - fantabulous!! And the best thing about it was - it was so darn easy to make!!

P/S. Since it was only the two of us, I used two chicken thighs instead of roasting a whole chicken. Worked well too!Jamie Oliver's Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon Ingredients
1 whole free range chicken (abt 1-1.5kg)
1 lemon
5-10 cloves of garlic
A bunch of fresh rosemary or thyme
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil
1-2 kg peeled potatoes, cut into golf-ball sizes
Other vegetables - carrots, onions etc.

Method
Rub chicken inside out with salt and pepper. Season for at least half a day, if possible.
Preheat oven to 190 deg C
Bring a pot of salt water to boil. Boil potatoes with the whole lemon and garlic cloves for 12 mins. Drain and leave to steam for 1 min.
Remove lemon and garlic. Prick the lemon with a fork all over.
While the potatoes are still hot, toss them around in the pot until the surface gets chaffed. This will make them crispy when roasted.
Rub the chicken all over with olive oil. Push the lemon, garlic and herbs into the cavity of the chicken.
Roast the chicken for 45mins.
Remove the chicken after 45mins. Toss the vegetables in the fat that has collected in the baking tray. This will be used as the oil to roast the veges and give them a crisp skin later.
Put the chicken back onto the tray and arrange the vege all around the chicken. Roast for a further 45 mins.
When cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 1-2 minutes before serving.

Bored

2008-12-11T13:00:00.002+08:00

For the first time this year, I am bored at work. Yes... B O R E D ! Meaning I do not have tasks whipping me from behind and deadlines that are due 2 weeks ago and over-flowing in-trays! Wowee!
This cannot be right. There must be something odd. This is unheard of !

Dinner Tonight - Sauteed Mushrooms and Stir Fry Fish

2008-12-09T21:23:00.002+08:00

So what does one do when there's nothing else in the fridge but a pack of mushrooms and frozen fish meat in the freezer? Chop up some garlic and toss them in the pan with seasoning, of course!

Sauteed Mushrooms
- Stir fry fresh mushrooms with garlic and seasoning

Stir Fry Fish
- Cut fish meat into bite-sized pieces, season with black pepper, a dash of chinese cooking wine, soya sauce and fish sauce. Add a tsp or two of corn flour.
- Fry garlic and pieces sliced ginger till fragrant. Add in fish meat and fry for a few minutes till partially cooked on medium heat. Add a small amount of water to make a sauce. Bring to boil.
- Finally, toss in some chopped chives or spring onion, stir through to heat and serve.

So... what is the deal with me blogging about my dinner? Well, the real reason is, I am just noting down somewhere recipes that I might recycle later on. I am much too lazy to actually write them down in a book!

More Orchids!

2008-12-08T16:07:00.001+08:00

My (Odd but..) Lovely Christmas Present

2008-12-08T15:55:00.003+08:00

Christmas came early for me this year. While shopping for our couch (yes, it took us two years to finally buy a couch for the living room...), I was suddenly engrossed in a lazy chair that was hidden in a dusty corner of the shop. This was a shop that makes and sells furniture from rattan. Hubby saw the glitter in my eyes, and told Jennifer the shop owner, to include that in our purchase as well. He said "Merry Christmas my dear. Here's something for your endless lazy afternoon readings and hopefully somewhere to cradle our child in next time".

*Grins*

CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN!!!

2008-12-08T13:44:00.002+08:00

I don't know what got into me. I think it must be a swarm of cleaning bug that got to me sometime this weekend.
I have been steadily cleaning up and tidying everything that needs cleaning and tidying. It is as though a wire snapped inside my head, telling me "THIS IS IT! You have to do this NOW!"
Yes, all those months of travelling and then being depressed and work had made me put aside those little things that needed to be done, but just never got done. The junk that was supposed to be thrown out, but never did and I kept cleaning the junk because it's there. But really, it is supposed to be thrown out! But no time! Later, I said. Later. Until today, that is.

i threw out all the rotten shoes, sent newspaper and plastic bottles to the recycling bins
That suitcase that lay unpacked for weeks, I unpacked, laundered and kept
The sheets in the guest room that had not been washed, I washed and are now hanging out to dry
The unused electrical appliances that are supposed to be kept, I kept.
Stacks of unopened bills and useless flyers - now filed or thrown out
Cushion covers for the throw pillows - when was the last time we washed them? - Cleaned now
The soles of the in-house slippers - must have collected so much dust over the months. Cleaned now
Small annoying stains around the rims of the stove that I said I would clean later (for the past year probably) - now cleaned!
The guest pillows that need airing and some sun - all outside now
Food stocked in the refrigerator that were untouched - I have been cooking and eating in for the past week
Crumbs underneath the toaster - cleaned
Water stains on the stainless steel sinks - cleaned
Dead leaves and goodness-knows-what behind the flower pots - swept and thrown out
Old pipes for the aquarium filter - thrown out and changed to new ones
Tiny weeds between the pavement, and little corners in the garden - painstakingly removed. Weeds be gone now!
Emptied my handbag, thrown out useless receipts and dockets

Ah... everything is sparkling now! I wonder if this phase will last. Hmm...

Hari Raya Aidiladha (Hari Raya Haji)

2008-12-08T09:19:00.005+08:00

Today, the Muslim community celebrates Hari Raya Aidiladha. It is a smaller celebration compared to Aidilfitri, but I am sure, not less important.
For all my Muslim readers, Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha.

As for me, I am off to more cleaning and then spending the breezy afternoon curled up on the sofa watching the movie SEPI.

Back Together... SOON!

2008-12-07T21:11:00.002+08:00

Hubby is again offshore, but this is his last trip out. He's due back this coming Thursday and I am looking forward to it :). We can have a more normal day-to-day life at last. I am so tired of being alone at home.

The Many Uninteresting Ways to Fill a Three-Day Weekend

2008-12-07T20:58:00.002+08:00

It is yet another long weekend this weekend-this time it is Hari Raya Haji. I can see my Muslim neighbour's house across the road all lighted up tonight, blinking lights reflecting on my dog's nose :P
Surprisingly I have had hardly any rest nor moments of boredom this time. There are chores to be done, groceries to be bought, weeds to be pulled.... the possibilities are endless ! Mundane... but endless.

Hmmm... I am now reflecting on Whimsical's entry in her blog last week. I, too, am slowly evolving into an Ah-Soh...

Happy Belated Anniversary

2008-12-04T21:19:00.004+08:00

Amidst the recent chaos of work and family emergency, was our little private anniversary celebration on Nov 17th. Hubby and I had a day out in Penang and a cosy dinner at Gurney Plaza.
The best thing about it? He got me a wonderful little present !!! Guess what??!!!!! The Cartier necklace that I was drooling over. :)))

Dinner Tonight - Roast Pork w/ Chives

2008-12-03T20:39:00.002+08:00

I had a bunch of chives left over from dinner yesterday, so lunchtime today I dropped by the neighbourhood chicken rice shop to get some roast pork (Sio bak). Fry that with some garlic and toss in the chives...voila! Dinner in a jiffy. Yummy too.... not on top of the list for healthy but hey... for all the wholegrain bread and bunches of vege I take, a serving of roasted meat can't be too bad.

The Things That Matter

2008-11-30T14:12:00.003+08:00

Almost everyone in the family returned home to Penang for Grandma's funeral and prayers. It was the rare occasion when everyone was in one place - having meals together, going places together - just being together. Now that the children are working elsewhere, we rarely ever meet. Aunties and uncles spend more time with their own expanding family. Mom and dad with us.
I missed those times of being together as one big family. It was almost festive-like last week. Even though the main reason was for a funeral, it was the one thing that brought us all back together. In a way, Grandma had always been the one reason everyone got together. We spoke of all the old days, living in the big kampung house in Alor Setar, of Chinese New Year eves together (we rarely do that nowadays with the family scattered all over the place), 'pai thnee kong' (prayer at midnight on the 8th day of the lunar New Year by Hokkien folks) nights when the kids got to stay up late, yummy dishes Grandma used to cook, the graffitti us kids drew on the walls of the old house and the never ending line of dogs we used to have... those are precious memories.
The kids are all grown up now and earning good lives away from home. But it is not the ability to jetset or buy that latest ridiculous gadget or that new dress that is in season that will give us eternal joy.
The things that really matter are usually free but priceless - and my family is on top of that list.

Dinner Tonight - Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

2008-11-29T19:42:00.001+08:00

Thinking of Grandma....

...and home alone again... sigh...

In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Grandmother

2008-11-29T14:12:00.004+08:00

My beloved grandmother (mommy's mother) passed away last Friday. It is such a devastating loss to all of us. Ah Mah had been the centre of all our lives for as long as I could remember. We are still grieving the loss, but hold the memory of her dearly within our hearts. I always consider myself the most fortunate of all grand-daughters to be able to have grown up in the shelter of her abundant love and affection. She was the most generous and kind person, and touched the lives of many many people beyond our own family members.
I will always miss my Ah Mah, and pray that she is now happier and even more blessed.

It's So Hard Sometimes

2008-11-11T18:51:00.002+08:00

It feels as if these few months, fate is trying to test me. First, I had to go through my miscarriage and try to be strong while hubby couldn't come back in time, and now I am feeling so so so crappy, being sick and coughing my guts out - home alone again. It's not that hubby doesn't keep me company, but I just had to fall sick when he already made plans to return home. On top of that, I am really worried about my dear grandma who is now in the ICU in a critical condition, and the earliest I can return home to be with her is on Friday. I am stuck in a situation at work where it is just impossible for me to leave before Friday unless something really really really bad happens. Bad things are just falling on me at all the wrong moments.

Oh gosh... I wish I am not in this place all by myself most of the time. I wish I am closer to my family. I wish I can get away from the demands of this uninspiring job. I wish all these bad days will just go away :((((

TGIF!

2008-11-07T18:24:00.002+08:00

Oh mah goodness! This has been a hectic week at work.. soooooooooooo glad it is finally over and I get to have a nice quiet weekend doing pointless window shopping, eat, sleep and more sleep... he he...
To kick it off, dinner out tonight. Yippee....

Dinner Tonight - Steamed Fish w/ Nyonya Sauce

2008-11-06T19:23:00.003+08:00

With hubby back at home, dinners at home are now longer and less lonely :P. While for two weeks, whenever I ate at home, those were quickie dinners and quieter too. But for the next 3 weeks we can have dinner as a family - just the 2 of us. Tonight, I decided to steam the 'ikan merah' that I bought last week from the market. On work days, nothing beats pre-packed sauces; and tonight I feel like some spicy sour nyonya curry sauce. You can get those from any supermarket and grocery shops, my favorite brands are Uncle Sun's and Good Mum. For that little extra touch of home, I simmered the sauce for a little while with onion wedges, one diced tomato and a stick of lemon grass. Plus, a side vege dish sauteed with garlic and 'ikan bilis' (anchovies). Eating at home sure saves you some money...RM3 for the sauce, RM4 for the fish, RM2 for the vegetables...not even ten bucks!

My Favorite Wedding Moments

2008-11-03T20:21:00.021+08:00

Looking back to a year ago and listening to our wedding song (Two Words by Lea Salonga), the memories came flooding back. Our wedding was held over two days in November last year. One day for the bridal pick up and Chinese tea ceremony, and the dinner over the next evening. Most of the two days went by in a blur, but there are moments that are etched in my memory and they will be there, always

I remember waking up feeling calm and excited all at the same time. And filled to the brim with happiness!

I could hardly sleep the night before, staring at my wedding gown and shoes all ready at the foot of my bed. Then in the morning when sunshine filtered through the window, illuminating the lace, I thought "Gosh! I am getting married today!"

Then, my aunty came through the door, carrying the most beautiful bouquet. She promised me they would be special for me, and they were....every single petal was perfect!

The fresh orchids for my hair! Aunty and I went to get those from the market a day earlier and they bloomed fresh and lovely. Makeup artist Mandy did a great job.

I always liked this picture, of my daddy so tenderly putting up the final touches to my door.

Sharing a moment with my dearest friends

My wonderful family - Daddy, Mommy & Big Brother

My friends had wanted to make the guys eat a whole bag of bananas....

...and ended up eating the bananas themselves! Gee, they gotta really work on their negotiation skills...

Hubby coming in to pick up his bride...

I remember vividly the moment I saw the ballroom for the first time before the banquet. I remember being choked with emotions, and thinking how absolutely beautiful it was! The colors, the flowers... it was amazing. I remember at that exact moment, I thought to myself.. our wedding is going to be perfect!

Our emcees for the night - Angeline and Beng Hooi. Their opening words touched us deeply - thank you, you two!

"It is an honor to have good friends. But when good friends fall in love and decide to spend the rest of their lives together, we feel very priviledged to be apart of that story"

We were grateful for friends who travelled from afar just to share this special day with us

Need I say more? :) My wonderful hubby

My mommy's smile... :)

My daddy's smile... :)

Friends who have been with me since primary school, we share everything..bad times, and good times like this

And at the end of the day, it was the company of family members and good friends that made all the difference

Of course, my most favorite wedding moment....getting married to the most wonderful, kind, understanding, funny and loving person - my husband

Coming Up: Our Wedding Anniversary!

2008-11-02T12:45:00.004+08:00

Our first wedding anniversary is coming up in 2 weeks! Wow... I can hardly believe it is now nearly a year since we tied the knot. And the best thing is, we will be in Penang on that day. What a pleasant coincidence ! Back to where we started....

Girl's Best Friend

2008-11-02T11:08:00.004+08:00

Of course, apart from diamonds, anything pretty and blinky may do too. Or even bags. But let's get back to the main topic here...

When I was in KL this week, Wid and I went engagement ring shopping on behalf of a guy friend of ours who is currently stuck offshore and could not do it on his own. Anyway, with a certain given budget and specifics for the ring (that lucky lucky girl!!), Wid and I found ourselves in Tiffany and Co. and Cartier. While we couldn't deny that Tiffany and Co. had the kind of ring with the BLING factor that he's looking for (slightly over budget but what the heck....), we weren't exactly impressed with their manners and customer service. We were out of there within 20 minutes.

Then we dropped by Cartier just to have a look at their range and found ourselves stuck there for nearly an hour. For starters, the sales person was extremely nice and helpful, and most of all made us feel very comfortable being there (I mean, hey... it is not as if Cartier is our everyday shopping destination!). She gave us options, showed us different ideas for proposal to bring back to our friend and started a friendly chit chat with us. So if you are indeed considering dropping by Cartier KLCC, do look for Maybel.

And then, it caught my eye! It was a necklace with a pendant of two inter-twined rings in 18-carat rose gold. Simple, ridiculously priced... but oh so LOVELY! Sigh.....

I couldn't find an exact picture of it, but it looks somewhat like the 2008 Charity bracelet here, but instead of the red silk loop, the two rings are connected to a gold chain. And both rings are in gold. There are those in white gold too, but I do like the one in yellow or rose gold better. :)

P/S: We decided the engagement ring from Tiffany and Co. would give him that BLING factor that he wanted for the fiancee-to-be (again, luckyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy girll!!!). Cartier KL does not stock engagement rings. One has to order it off a catalogue from Singapore, or drop by Cartier Singapore.

Dinner Tonight - Instant Penang Prawn Mee

2008-11-01T21:45:00.004+08:00

By the time I was done feeding the dogs, watering the garden (it didn't rain all 4 days when I was away) and showering, it was close to 7.30pm. My first thought of dinner was pizza delivery, but only to be disappointed when Pizza Hut said they do not deliver to my area. Hmmph!

Already clad in my 'been-through-100-cycles-in-the-machine' pyjamas, I wasn't in a mood to go change into 'fit-for-public-appearance' clothes. So that leaves what's left in the kitchen larder, which turned out to be instant noodles of some sort. I decided to cook myself instant Penang Prawn Mee from a packet. Relatively good on its own, but better if one makes a little extra effort. For tonight, a fistful of spring onions would do.

To add the extra ummph! to this instant noodles:

Boil some prawns with water. Drain cooked prawns and maintain the prawn stock.

Prepare a stock with pork/chicken ribs and the prawn stock. Better still if you have leftover bak-kut-teh soup.

With stock: Use the stock in place of water to cook the soup (add the seasonings from the instant noodles in the stock)

With bak-kut-teh: Use half portion of bak-kut-teh soup with another half portion of prawn stock. Boil together with the seasoning from the instant noodles.

Serve with cooked kangkung, shelled boiled prawns, sliced meat (pork/chicken) and fried onions. If you get the seasoning right, it tastes almost like the penang prawn noodles (hokkien mee) you get in Penang.

Back Home!

2008-11-01T21:14:00.002+08:00

I spoke too soon in the last entry. Now, as I lie in bed typing this, I AM feeling tired. I have spent almost the whole of today travelling back from KL. Even though it is just a 2 hours and 15 minutes' flight from KL to Miri, my trip started at 11.30am today to KL Sentral, then 28 minutes to KLIA, after which I spent some time waiting for my flight at 2pm. Then, it got delayed to 2.40pm, I was in the air for 90 minutes to Kuching, in transit for 40 minutes, delayed again and finally landed in Miri at 5.40pm. Disembarking, walking out the gate, taxi ride home blah blah blah.... finally closed the door at home behind me at 6.35pm !! And that, in Miri was almost dark.

I cannot believe I have been doing this almost weekly for 5 years...

In Transit

2008-11-01T12:50:00.002+08:00

I am blogging this from the Golden Lounge in KLIA while waiting for my 2pm flight back to Miri. I am excited to be going back to the comfort of my own home, but at the same time had reluctantly said my goodbyes to my friends. We had a nice chatty breakfast of pan mee (the best Szen swears!) at Chow Kit before dropping me off at KL Sentral.

I am surprisingly feeling very fresh and well rested for this trip. Probably the reason is because I spent Friday night bumming at Szen's house instead of running after the 8.40pm flight from KL to Miri - that is almost always delayed and causing me unnecessary mental anguish (from being upset about arriving past midnight at home).

I've had little bits of exciting treats in KL this week. Going to check out the food selection now, blog later.

P/S. Hubby will be back in 2 days! 48 hours! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !

And They Never Judge....

2008-10-28T18:55:00.004+08:00

Playing with the dogs today, I realized just how unconditional their love and affection for us is. They wag their tails without fail, greet me with the widest grin (well, it looks like a grin) and when they look at me with those big brown eyes, it just makes my heart melt. Dogs....they are indeed your best friends when all else fail.

Durian Season is Here!....at the Office ! HA!

2008-10-28T12:46:00.002+08:00

I just had to sneak a quick one in here while I am lunching at my desk in the office. While walking to my car to pick up some things earlier, I saw a pick-up truck parked in our office lots and a whole lot of people crowding around the back. Someone was selling durians at the office carpark! OMG! I suspect that someone is an office staff with an orchard or something...

I thought it was hilarious...! This multinational company... and someone selling fruit in its carpark. Priceless !

Well, I could not snap a pic... for obvious reasons..... Ha ha ha!

KL City Here I Come...AGAIN

2008-10-27T21:32:00.008+08:00

I have been Missing-in-Action from KL since the last Raya long weekend, after which I was on my long medical leave. That makes it err... almost one month! Well, that just means I have to make my way to KL again this week to check up on the consultants. But I'll stay over the weekend this time with girlfriend Szen and go do some girlie things perhaps. Besides, hubby is still away. Perhaps I might even check out the sales as described by Elaine in her recent post. A little window shopping is always good for the soul.

Hotel this week: Traders Kuala Lumpur
Breakfast: Great selection of food. I love the generous size of the mugs for my morning tea, and the widest selection of juices ever!
Room service: So-so only lah...
Sleep points: Top of my list! Most comfy smooth cotton sheets.
Location: Walking distance from KLCC, buggy service available

Dinner Tonight - Tofu w/ Minced Meat Sauce

2008-10-26T20:05:00.010+08:00

Dinner at home again tonight. This time it is tofu with a sauce of minced meat, mushrooms, carrots, onion and garlic. Oh, and topped with home grown spring onions. Yummmmm!

Minced Meat Sauce:
Minced meat (chicken, pork or beef)
Dried shitake mushrooms - soaked
Carrots - diced
Onion and garlic - minced

- Fry onion and garlic until brown, add minced meat and stir fry till half liquid evaporates. Add a dash of fish sauce, oyster sauce, chinese cooking wine, pepper and a pinch of brown sugar. Thicken the sauce with corn starch and pour hot mixture over steamed tofu. Garnish with freshly chopped spring onions.

Travels in Europe

2008-10-26T19:46:00.004+08:00

I am reading this book again because it made me laugh out loud when I read it 2 years ago. It might even help me with the current planning of our Europe trip next year.

Weird

2008-10-26T17:12:00.001+08:00

I just woke up from a weirder than weird dream of being in a spa run by old fairy beings...

....

I Am An Offshore Wife

2008-10-26T12:58:00.004+08:00

It is a lazy Sunday afternoon. While the sky is still overcast, there is some warmth from the sun that is penetrating through the clouds just enough to give a slight glare outside. But looking upwards, the threat of rain is still there.
I am slightly glad the weekend is almost over. Work starts tomorrow and that means from 7am till 5pm, my To-Do list is a no-brainer. And when I knock off from work, there is dinner to cook, the dogs to feed, dishes to wash and it will be time for telly and bed in a blink. Splendid.
Ah the long weekend. Most (if not all) people love it. But for me, it gets too draggy. More so, following events from a few weeks back. I suppose this is the life of an 'offshore wife'. Living in a small city so far away from family and hubby has to be away offshore on a regular basis. I don't even get to ring him because he works night shifts and on a rig, one does not really have the time to hang on the phone with wifey anyway. Sigh... I cannot wait for this year to be over, after which he will be back with a desk job.

*Offshore wife - spouse of a person who works offshore in the oil&gas business.

Monsoon

2008-10-25T18:58:00.002+08:00

The Northeast monsoon season for East Malaysia is finally here. I hardly saw a speck of sunbeam all through today. It was all gray and cold and damp. Right now, I am sitting by my windows on the Easterly side of our home; it is raining hard and the breeze is blowing right in. I wonder if the dogs are dry and warm. Marley is probably crouched somewhere letting the rain beat her face - she's a strange one.

Quiet night again, dinner alone. I wonder if it is raining hard (or harder) offshore where hubby is. Monsoon out in the open seas on a oil rig can't be all that fun. Specially if one is not firmly stuck to the seabed. I know, I was on a work barge before and it totally sux! Good thing I don't get sea sick.

I think I will go sit in bed and watch telly now.

Blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....

2008-10-25T17:47:00.003+08:00

I

AM

SO

B O R E D .....

PRAGUE/VIENNA versus PARIS

2008-10-25T14:55:00.002+08:00

Hmm the more I read about my options on the web, the farther I am getting away from Paris. Do I REEEEALLYY have to see the Louvre ?

New Addition

2008-10-25T10:00:00.003+08:00

This is the new family member in my mini orchid shed. Please be good and try to survive and bloom like your siblings ok?

What a Beautiful Morning

2008-10-25T08:59:00.002+08:00

Woke up today to the sound of raindrops on the roof. The sky is still dull and gray but I am loving it! It is one of those mornings when there is just enough sunlight to light up the day, but not piercing the eyes and there is a cool breeze blowing. I love watching the trees move in the breeze and listen to the leaves rustling.
What a beautiful morning today, and I am enjoying it with a cup of hot tea and buttered toast for breakfast.

Paris or Prague ?

2008-10-24T21:04:00.004+08:00

Hubby and I are planning for a holiday next year - Paris or Prague. He will be in the Netherlands for a course for work, afterwhich I plan to join him there and begin our mini Europe holiday. I am so excited!

But hmmm... Paris or Prague ... ? Anyone ?

Dinner Tonight - Ladies Fingers and Pak Cheng Soup

2008-10-24T19:23:00.006+08:00

It hasn't stop raining since early afternoon, so I decided to stay home and cook myself dinner instead of going out. Besides, my pot of 'pak cheng' soup had been brewing in the slow cooker since last night.I seem to recall reading somewhere and also heard from a friend that this soup of mixed chinese herbs (Dang Gui included) is good for strengthening the body after illness, particularly for women after losing iron in blood from menstruation or childbirth (or miscarriages for this case). So dinner tonight was 'pak cheng' soup with chicken, ladies finger stir-fried with garlic and dried shrimp and rice.Bon Apetit to me!

Fabian Passed His Exams!

2008-10-24T17:18:00.004+08:00

Hubby called from offshore earlier this afternoon and told me the good news that he passed his Round 1 Well Engineering exams. After all those weeks of studying (and myself partially giving up TV surfing), he got his well-deserved results at last.

Congratulations my dear :)

Weekend Plans - Failed So Far...

2008-10-24T17:13:00.004+08:00

Of all the 10 things that I said I had wanted to do for this long weekend, I achieved none. Instead I woke up early for breakfast with John (my colleague), went for a facial treat (to clear off the breakouts from the pregnancy), had a late lunch with Bernice (my ex-Miri friend who is now in KL but back for the weekend) and went shopping for a new orchid plant (and bought 2). It is now past five in the evening and starting to rain. I might as well get started with dinner.

My Orchid Plant Has Flowers!

2008-10-24T09:12:00.004+08:00

I took the plunge into the unknown and scary realm of orchid planting six months ago. I saw how mom could keep hers alive with minimal care and I did some research on it for a while before buying my first plant. So I got myself some and kept my fingers crossed. Dad even made me a nice little orchid hanging corner beside our main door.At long last, one of them plants bloomed! There are now 3 sprays of purple flowers and 2 on the way. I am very happy!

Making the Change

2008-10-23T21:39:00.003+08:00

I have been thinking of asking my boss for a change of in my duties at work for some time now. I have been doing this traveling job for 5 years now and it's been on my mind for a while that I would like to take a break from it for a while to give time for other priorities, namely to start a family and spend more time at home with hubby while he is onshore. But I never did work up enough guts to walk up to the boss to discuss this. In addition to that, pride got in the way. I could never bring myself to put work aside, and admit I cannot be the superwoman who can do it all.

After two weeks of deep thought following the incident, it just hit me. There is no reason to be embarrassed of wanting to put personal reasons ahead of a career. My thoughts are suddenly clear of what I want and how I would like to see my near future commitments to be. If nothing else, at least I broke free of my previous confines of feminist pride.

Filling in the Blanks

2008-10-22T19:29:00.002+08:00

I get back to work tomorrow. But only for a day though, as Friday is a public holiday. I am dreading the long weekend, this time. So I think I will make a list of things I will do to make the hours go by faster:

1.) Put away all the travel things from last weekend's wedding trip
2.) Weed the garden
3.) Get a haircut
4.) Shower the dogs
5.) Clean the aquarium
6.) Research for Paris trip next year
7.) Clean the dust off shoes
8.) Make a list of things to buy for next year
9.) Get groceries for meals over the next 5 days
10.) Search for missing portable disk drive

There, ten tasks for the long weekend. That should keep me busy enough, hopefully.

Plastic is Spastic

2008-10-22T15:51:00.004+08:00

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Week for our company this year decided to bring the attention of staff to focus on little things that we can do for the environment. One of it is to try to reduce our use of plastic bags. Now, I wrote 'reduce' as I know it is not so easy to stop using plastic bags altogether as we still require them for purposes such as the function as garbage bags. But we can always start with declining to use plastic bags when all we need to get from the store is a loaf of bread or a carton of milk. We can do without those small bags.
So how do we carry those little bits of shopping when we need to? Well, this year's HSE Week gift is no longer a theme T-Shirt (thank goodness!!!). It is a reusable shopping bag. Not a bad idea....as the company HSE slogan goes..."Little things....big changes"

Moving the TV

2008-10-22T12:41:00.004+08:00

It gets a little scary sometimes when I am home alone in this big house and Fabian is offshore (which is quite often nowdays). So after dinner, I rarely remain downstairs unless there is something good on telly. So Fabian decided I should have the TV upstairs in our bedroom so I will have the best of both - the comfort (and sense of security) of being in the bedroom and entertainment. We moved the TV upstairs, fixed a separate ASTRO connection there and voila!Only thing is now, on weekends when I spend most of the day at home and in the living room, there is no TV to watch. Hmmm...well, I can't have everything, can I?

The Many Sleeping Positions of Marley

2008-10-22T12:19:00.002+08:00

Mom had always wanted another dog of her own ever since the last of the family dog packed up and went to Canine Heaven after retirement age. So after the break-in at my brother's house at the back, brother decided he should get a dog to watch over the place since our dogs refused to go over.

So that was how we got Marley. She's a really good girl and is now about 7 months old. She is a dashound/terrier mix with the best temperament . Occasionally over the weekend, I would bring her over to snooze on our front porch so she would have some human company.

It's a Life Changing Experience

2008-10-22T11:10:00.000+08:00

The loss of an unborn child changes a person. Even though ours was barely 5 weeks old, she was still a person-to-be and is special to us. I would like it to be a 'she' - for all things unknown are always assigned a feminine gender, and it would've been nice to have a girl. Fabian would have loved a girl.

Throughout the two weeks medical leave, I did nothing much but think. Think and think. I had emotional strength to do nothing else. But one thing for sure, this somehow changed the way I had been before. Things that were important are now no longer of value. Priorities shifted. If it is even possible, the love and respect for my husband grew even stronger. I wanted only Fabian to be with me and help me out of my depression.

I used to worry about work, about the review cycles that might make me look bad.... I don't really care now. And suddenly I have a plan of my career for the next few years. Not for glory, but making sure other important things can take priority.

Yes, sometimes it takes a brief tragedy to change a person's outlook on things. Or perhaps to steer you back to the path you were truly meant for.