Jen Jen’s Place

Another lazy weekend

2011-09-25T21:51:00.000+08:00

Super duper tired today. Never known a person can be that tired. But I am not gonna bore you with the ache and groan here (that is for another blog related to the reason I am feeling so tired). Anyway, the weekend was a fruitful one.

We took half day off on Friday to settle a few things which need both of us to be there and sign. Will be extremely glad when we finally got this settled.

Saturday, babe and I woke up at 9am and had a lazy slow morning to get ready to go out for our 10am appointment at a nursery for our baby. After that, sent babe uniform to the laundrette for ironing and proceed to the gynea for my check up appointment. We also got the letter from the doctor for my company to state my EDD (estimated due date for those of you that do not know what the mean :P). After that, we finally went for our brunch ( more like lunch since it was 1.30pm by the time we had our food).

After that babe was planning to go to the aquarium in Shah Alam but changed our mind since it was starting to rain rather heavily. Instead, we decided to go back home. I slept from 4pm till 8pm!! haha! And babe I think he went to bed around 6pm till 9pm. And we had our dinner at 10pm! HAHA! Anyway, the main reason we took afternoon nap was because babe wanted to watch football match at 12.30am. So, I decided to accompany him. In order for me to be able to do that nowadays instead of dropping in exhaustion would be to make up for it by sleeping a few hours first.

But still, by 230pm, I am basically a zombie walking on stick....

Sunday, again, we woke up naturally around 9am eventhough we set the alarm at 10am because am meeting our friend, Tif for dim sum at Damansara Uptown. We arrived at the HK Dim Sum place at 11am and waited for a table till roughly 11.30am but it was worth it. The 2 boys (my hubby and her hubby) was being typical boys and complaint about having to wait for something that they have to pay for. But we gals stick together and got our own way (GRIN!). I am glad we did because the food was pretty good. (Sorry, too good til forgot to take any photos at all!! :P)

Then we went to 1U hoping to be 2pm ticket for Johny English but by the time we were there, only 3 seats left and we decided that it is not worth to strain our neck and pay for it! Instead, we took a leisure walk around the mall. Babe wanted to buy a soft lugage bag so that it is easier for him to bring with him on board the plane when we go back and he comes to visit us in the next few months in Kuching. The bag is pretty nice and cheap, RM49.90 and I think the quality is not too bad. Should be able to last pretty long.

I bought myself a nice dress and 2 huge pajamas pants at FOS. Bought three layer pork too at Jusco to cook dinner. I was actually hunting for Golden Churn butter spread but seems they totally remove the stock from the shelves. Too bad because its truly is one of the best butter in the market. But at least now we understand why the butter is so fragrant and yummy! HAHA!

We finally got home around 5pm and gave Ginger a bath but dinner was at 9pm lor! Now, watching Astro channel 551 on some lone ranger terorist attack....I am planning to sleep go to bed soon..cannot tahan la!!!! haha....

Lazy weekend

2011-09-18T14:03:00.000+08:00

2.5 months on the job. I am being optimistic and so far, things are looking up abit. The team is starting to trust me and 'remember' to involve me in their daily work activities. The AM is still trying her best to mess with me but I just ignore it. As long as things move, I refuse to play what she is playing, too bad then if she dont go with the flow. After all, she is still reporting to me and I am her boss! HAHA!~ *EVIL LAUGH???*

Nothing much happening in my life nowadays. Public holiday on Friday for Malaysia day. Didnt do much. Babe and I went to IKEA after our breakfast of tomato kueh teow at Alex stall. Was hoping to buy the baby's mattress pad but it is still out of stock. Guess hubby will need to go there on his own when I am back in Kuching next month.

Saturday, hubby had to go work half day. So, I did my usual Saturday thing when hubby had to work, i.e. send his uniforms to laundrette to iron, breakfast and home to cook lunch for us. But Saturday I didnt cook this Saturday. Instead, packed his favourite mixed pork porridge and bought half roasted chicken for babe since I had late breakfast, i.e. brunch! After lunch, we just laze around basically doing nothing and went to the night market at around 530pm to find fresh chicken wings for dinner. Deep fried those and that is what we had for dinner :)

Sunday, I am sweating all over actually. Hubby has taken the initiative to vacuum the floor without me nagging. So, me being me, cant just sit on my butt and let him the work, went around and help him pick up the things and tidying them. So, end up, I am now sweaty and hot eventhough it is going to rain soon. I woke up around 11am this morning and babe slept till almost 1pm.

I cooked fried rice, heat up yesterday chicken mushroom soup and wah lah, LUNCH! HAHA! My 4-legged monkey, aka Ginger also had her lunch and now she is lying down in front of the door to sleep as well as making sure that we dont slip out of the house without her knowing. All in in all, it is going to be a lazy Sunday I think.

We do plan to go out later though after the rain stopped to drive around and see if we can find any baby nursery near here or my work place. Only around 1 month left before I go back to Kuching....time flies...

I must be a superwoman!

2011-08-16T21:33:00.001+08:00

Yup! After all, in just 1.5mths since I join the company, I have been stabbed by my own subordinate and being accused (hinted anyway) by my boss that I am playing office politics and 'groups'! I never know people perceived me to be so terror and terrifying that from the get-go, they must 'hit' me immediately. If I am not the receiving end here, it would be funny lor!

But I think, in all this, I did make a judgement error and hope that it will not come back to bite me in my butt later. Anyway, like the famous saying goes, it is no use crying over spilt milk. Best is to make the best of the situation and move on. This really got me looking forward to my maternity leave. I am pending my MD to approved additional 30days of maternity leave/sick leave/ or whatever they want to call it on top of the normal 60days. Although, I guess they do not want to create a precedent unless they intend to make it policy to have 90days maternity leave across the board.

In the last 2 days, I have never feel so stressed in my entire work life! Normally, when starting a new job, I will be the happy go lucky one and is happy to wait till my boss give me further instruction. In the meantime, I will explore and learn on my own where I can. But it seems that here, it will be learning on my own all the way especially since the person that you thought will be assisting you and subordinate engage me in a power struggle. Well, too bad then because I am here and am here to stay. So, she need to get over it and work with me else be left behind at this status quo.

I also made up my mind that I will just do my work to the best the I can, keep straightline and follow procedures and instructions from my boss. I rather not play this game. So much simpler and happier this way. I have always been a believer in good honest performance will be rewarded in the end. Got blindsided recently! ANYWAY, ALL THE BEST TO MYSELF!
Good thing it is public holiday tomorrow! So, can stay at home, sleep and do NOTHING! LOLZ! But hubby is asking, what we having tomorrow? On the happy note, the one-size-fit reusable diapers will be delivered to my office by Thursday! Cant wait to see it. Hope it is as cute as the photos in the website. Definitely will take some photos and post it in my baby blog!

Lord..Give me strength and wisdom..

2011-06-22T16:26:00.001+08:00

Feeling super upset & depressed since yesterday after got the shocking news from my brother. I know I, as the elder sister, cannot do much except advice because ultimately, this is his life and he needs to do his own growing up. And if this is a mistake (no matter how big it is), then perhaps it is a mistake that he will have to learn on his own instead of being sheltered by my overprotective parents that spoil him to bits simply because they can now and he is staying at home. I just wish that this news of his does not have to affect my parents. Because I know that my dad will be first be upset, then sad, then worry…. Knowing my dad, he will in the end let my bro make his own decision too because to him, we are all grown ups (although sometimes I feel my bro still act super irresponsible!).

I can only try to shield and prevent unwanted things from happening and cause more pain to my parents in the future. I wish I have the means and ability to move my parents and handicap sister to KL with me, away from all this mess. Maybe the maternal instinct in me is kicking into overdrive.

But you can’t blame me because it is really hard for me to believe that someone will willingly sacrifice so much and family is as generous as this. Not without hidden agenda or intention. My bro might think he is being noble and be responsible, but to me, little did he know, he is being manipulated and some how, some way, I need to stop this manipulation from spreading to my parents…somehow……………….Lord give me the wisdom and power to be wise and do the right thing….

Dream Home...

2011-06-16T16:49:00.002+08:00

Since we back from Kuching, I silently tell babe that perhaps we should slowly look around for suitable houses to buy instead of rushing since the bank interest rate has already gone up. Initially, when we start house hunting, the agents were telling us that we better hurry because the rates going to go up 2^nd half of the year. But seems the rates went up earlier than anticipated. So, there is no rush now as long as the landlord does not push us out of the house because he is selling it. If he does and we have not found a house that we want, then I guess we will just rent a smaller place first.

We are still hoping to find something in the area that we stayed in previously. Not sure why but both of us just love the environment and ambience the place radiate I guess. Not so sure how to explain this. It is not as if the place is super grand. In fact, it is an aged housing area or people call it matured housing area. I guess we were just feeling comfortable & safe and this is the most important factor especially with the wee-one coming end of the year. Also, we want a landed property because there is simply no other way for us since we are both dog-lover. Also, I will always remember what my mom told me when she was here with dad and sis previously to visit us when we were staying in an apartment. She said dad told her feel like staying in a prison! HAHA! I guess them being from Kuching and never stayed in a apartment or condo before, the place is abit restrictive with no balcony or porch.

We have actually done our surveying and the price really scares us. For simple single storey terrace or link house it can range from RM400K to RM450K. Double storey can cost almost double of that. There is also town house which ranges from RM500K onwards. The price of the single storey house can purchase TWO of my parents place in Kuching!

There is another area which we are looking at. A few of babe’s friends are actually staying either in the same area or nearby. It is also pretty near to the IOI Mall and Jusco at Equine park. Houses here are double storey terrace or link house and the price ranges from RM280K-300K which is still rather reasonable. But we are still reluctant to commit because the place is rather far away from any highway to make it convenient. Else, we could just put a deposit at anytime for the house we are happy with and start from there. I know some of you might be telling me that being a distant from highway is good but if you have the drive at least 15-20min from your house to the highway that you need to take to get to work, then another 20-30min vs just 5min from home to highway and still have the same 20-30min, which would you choose?

Anyway, we are still looking around for our dream house and will take our time I guess especially since I cant help babe move if we do move before the baby comes along…

I am ALIVE! ^_^

2011-06-13T15:39:00.000+08:00

Hi! Now that I have time on my hand, time to start updating this place again..well, at least for the next few weeks till I start at my new place *grin*. For those that know me personally, yes yes yes, I am a grasshopper hopping yet again to a new place. But seriously, if you are in my position, you would be doing the same thing. Never in my 10years+ of working life, just after 2 months in a new work environment, I am throwing in the towel and makes be wonder if it is worth taking this job up simply for better pay and benefits. A friend of mine (SK) was actually telling me that it is my hormones making me feel this way and I should fight it. No offense my friend, I have tried to fight it for last 2 months but after being stabbed repeated at the back by colleagues that you thought are your friends (all in the space of 2 months), I decided I do not have the tolerance to play this advance level of game that is being played here. EVERYTHING and I do mean everything is about position & office politics here!

And to make matter worse (and confirmed my decision), people are actually spreading rumors (again, from someone that I assumed is a friend) that I am resigning because I am asked to by my manager. Seriously, I do not know what such rumor will benefit the person but I guess maybe the person felt all powerful and mighty? If someone can shed light on this, please, feel free to enlighten me.

So, today, I will be calling my boss @ 5pm to re-confirm that I have not changed my mind about the resignation and to ask him to let me know how he wants me to proceed with the passdown. We spent about 45minutes last Friday to discuss my resignation. Most time was him trying to convince me the prospect of working in the company, i.e. financial and career path. No doubt, if the economy continues to boom, the financial return will be good too. As for career path, I seriously do not see beyond where I am now. So, yes, I admit very frankly (admitted to the interviewer as well) that I made a mistake by tendering from my previous company which offers me immediate promotion upon receiving my resignation and clear career path to top management.

But, looking back, every move I made enrich my knowledge and experience. Except while in this company, I never have any regret leaving my previous companies because each decisions was made with careful deliberation and sound judgments. The lesson I learned? Never resign simply for financial benefits because I believe if money is the motivator, most of the time, the job will not motivate you. Take me for example, by joining this company, my salary actually increase leaps and bounds, the benefits were so much better and job scope (on paper, theoretically) sounds so much simpler. But I overlooked the work culture in the company which is totally different from my tolerance level.

Anyway, last day will be 30 Jun. CANT WAIT! HAHAHA!!

Daydreaming on a Saturday....

2011-04-02T09:08:00.003+08:00

Not doing much today. Just rushing around trying to clean this bigggg house that we renting just for babe, me and Ginger. Thinking back, I really dont know what we were thinking other than we love this house and the space! But never thought of the cleaning up and especially clutter that babe like to accumulate. Yar, he still dont put things back to where he got them from! End up, every other day, we will be 'hunting' around the house for 1 thing or another that he misplaced. If there is such a thing as misplace! I mean, if you put it there, how can it be misplaced? Hmmpff... Anyway, the landlord's agent's partner is bringing potential buyer to view the house. I been saying no so many times because I got irritated because: 1. Call and say 5min later will bring someone to view the house. He think we got nothing better to do? 2. Call at 11pm-ish to say next morning want to bring someone to view the house. Idiot, dont they know that late calls are for emergencies only! 3. Say want to come at 10.30am next day. 2 hours later sms say 11am then another 2 hours, at 11.30am. I basically told him, its 11am or I am out by 11.30am. I dont care. It should be at our convenience... Anyway, this basically mean that we are actively finding house of our own too. Everything everywhere is so freaking expensive! But I am keeping my hope high that we are able to find a place that we both like at the price that we can afford. Sooooo, hopefully by 2nd half of this year, will be able to move into our own place lar. A place that we can finally put down our roots after 3 years in KL! Can imagine already. I told babe, I want laminated floor EVERYWHERE! And I want fully equiped kitchen. Oh Ginger get her own lil room too and we might even get her a little friend after that. ARGGHH...day dreaming! HAHA

Eat Wind (Makan Angin)

2011-03-30T20:55:00.002+08:00

Nowadays babe and Ginger just luv to go car ride. Sometimes, when I am too lazy or came home too late to go for walks, we will bring Ginger for a car ride and she really seems to enjoy it very much. So much so that sometimes she dont even want to come out of the car after the ride. We either have to coax her or pretend to leave her outside the house before she will willingly get out of the car on her own.

Life is Jackpot...

2011-03-30T12:14:00.002+08:00

Wow.. I thought I will never ever be in the mood to do this again. Things has been moving at a crazy speed nowadays. Maybe I am growing old but sure makes me wish that I can find some way to slow down and yet still making the same (or more) mullah monthly. H...A...I....which leads me to dream of winning the jackpot! Crazy gal I know but I can dream right???? Imagining if I do win millions, what would I do? Of course, first thing, QUIT my job immediately! Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against the company, colleagues or boss and so on but I just need a long long long break without stress! Even now, on MC and I have actually been working from home since 7am with 2 hours cat nap in between. Was just too worried to sleep well.. Hubby coming back in while for lunch. Hopefully, can continue my sleep after that. Need to send out the updated report at 7pm later tonight. Hhmm..maybe I can get my gal to send it out. Just items left..should be pretty straightforward...

Headache..real actual Headache AFTER shopping

2010-12-22T22:41:00.002+08:00

Just got back from 1U to get some stuffs to bring back to Kch on Friday. After walking less than 3 hours, I am already feeling tired and having a headache. Stamina is just not like what it used to be! Tmrw evening will be going out again. Have some errands to run before going back hometown and also need to send Ginger to the kernel. Poor gal, she is gonna be there for 10 days! Hope she wont be siaw dog when we finally come and get her on 2 Jan.

So, seems my days are all planned out for my Kch trip.

24 Dec - Arrive Kch around 11.30am! What to do first??????????

25 Dec to 27 Dec - Go sri Aman.

27 Dec, PM - Dinner with the gals @ The Junk.

28 Dec-29 Dec - Gonna stay @ parents place and let myself spoiled silly!Knowing dad, he will most probably get the both of us up and go to bak kut teh that his son-in-law likes...sigh..

29 Dec,PM - Our wedding anniversary..Wonder babe got anything planned this year or not :)

30 Dec to 31 Dec - Planning to sleep 2 parents place again and my turn to spoil them :P

31 Dec, PM - Should be going to babe's friend's house for bbq, same as every year. Almost a tradition already.

1 Jan - Go back to KL lor..

Hhmm..feel like not enough time ler...

Ginger Ginger Ginger.....

2010-12-20T20:45:00.002+08:00

hhmm..523post. And nothing in almost 2 months. Gosh, I am getting really lousy at this updating my blog stuff ever since I changed to my job (over a year ago). Too much things to be pre-occupied with after work and during the weekend, just too lazy to do much. Let me see, what have I been doing in the last few weeks.

To be frank, nothing much happened that I can blog about. Maybe that is what tamed my blogging addiction? Or maybe because of the new baby Ginger that is taking up alot of my time? But I really didnt mind because let me tell you, all the tiredness and stress from work just dissappeared when you see unconditional love leaping up & down at you as if she has not seen you for months when in fact, only lunch time you came back to feed her and let her out to wee-wee.

But she is the closest to my babe. When babe comes back, it is as if she sees God coming home! HAHA! That is the only way I can described how Ginger acted. Even now, she is sleeping next to babe napping. When babe is at the computer playin game, she will go to the door and sleep there. But the moment babe stopped with the computer and comes to the living room area, she will walk over and plop herself down next to babe. AND part of her body must touch part of babe. Does not matter whether its her paw touching babe's finger or wat.

Just touching would be enough to make her sleep like a baby. I guess she just feel safe with hubby? But but but.. I am the one that feed her ler! AND she bullies me! Yarp, will bite my fingers if I dont give her what she wants but with babe, she will lick him no matter what! GGRR! HAHAHA!~

Ooops...babe just tip-toe away to play his computer. She is still sleeping. Must be extremely exhausted because she has not sleep the whole day! :P

Oh did I also tell you that she is extremely intelligent. For the right reward (FOOD la what else), she can learn sit and shake hand within 2 days. And cant trick her ler. She will know if got any treats or not. If got treats, just soft request for her to sit and shake hand is enough. But if nothing, tell her till pengsan also she pretend not to hear until she decided to pity you and do what you ask.

Now we are trying to teach her lie down & stay. Need to get her new treats first because that is the only thing that works.

Okay la..enough about Ginger. Dont want to bore you all! :P

Chocolate Cake

2010-11-20T21:40:00.001+08:00

Chocolate Cake (from Delicious Asian Food) :-

Ingredients
10 oz. Butter
10 oz. Castor Sugar
7 ½ oz. Flour
1 oz. Cocoa Powder
8 Eggs (separate egg yolks from egg whites)
2 ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder

Method

Beat butter and sugar for 8 minutes (or until white).

Add egg yolks one by one and continue beating for another 10 minutes.

Fold in flour sifted with cocoa powder and baking powder (sifted 2 to 3 times).

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff and add it to the butter mixture.

Pour mixture onto a baking tray (8″ inch, square tin)

Bake in a 300°F (or 150°C) oven for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

All ALONE

2010-11-20T19:49:00.002+08:00

Geez..I really never thought I will ever say this but being home alone SUCKS!! Sigh..

Babe is back in Sri Aman because his Grandpa just left us yesterday. He left on the 955pm flight last night and my emotion has been on a roller coaster down-ward ever since. No idea why because I used to love the idea of having the house to myself because then I can do anything I want. But instead, I am counting down the days and trying to occupied myself with something so that I wont cry myself silly! I wonder if this is what they call hormones!

Anyway, what I did today? Hmm.. woke up at 7.30am- let Ginger out for her morning business. (She has been very good a holding it till we let her out so far) and then I put her back to her cage at 8am and proceed upstairs to continue sleeping till 11am. Came down, feed Ginger her lunch (Babe, I feed her your cornbif fried rice leftover! :P)

I made my own brunch - cornbif sandwish. Then it was tv and tv and more tv. I think even Ginger is missing him because she keep going to the stairs and the door as if waiting to see babe coming down or home. She even stop eating halfway and rush to the door because she heard motorbike passing. I think she thought it was babe coming back.

Anyway, finally I cant stand seeing her sulking around the house waiting for babe, so I brought her for car ride. She was much more happier after that but after awhile, she start to sulk and wait at the door again. It was more tv for me after that. And I fed her dinner at around 6.30pm and I went out.

Went to the new Burger King joint that just opened near here and had my dinner with my book. Havent done that for awhile because babe was never much into reading or sitting at cafe to read. So, this is a treat actually for me. I was having a hard time to decide between Starbuck and Burger King actually but in the end it was those beefy burger for me. I am starting to remember to switch my soft drink to either Milo or juice. HEHE!

Anyway, now I am home..thinking if I should go out again to go to the night market 10min from here. I need a new pair of slippers since Ginger destroyed mine yet again. But the idea of walking in humid human infested place just for a lousy slipper...lazy la. Maybe next week when babe is back we can go? But we will be going to Genting next Saturday for one night. Maybe I should just go. It would be good way to make the time fly faster? SHEESH!

My name is Ginger

2010-09-04T23:28:00.003+08:00

FINALLY!!! My lil girl is home! Aint she the cutest thing you ever see????

You can check out more photos of her in Ginger's Own blog here.

Cant waittttttttt

2010-08-29T11:10:00.003+08:00

We are getting more and more excited about our new pup coming home next week. Well hopefully can be next week because we are still worried that maybe 6 weeks is still too small for her to be separated from her mom. But we will see.

We have bought her bowl, prepare her place to sleep and her pen. Now, just need to get her lightweight leash, collar and dog food. Babe is even more excited. Already talking about getting another type of pup, blue eye siberian husky. I been checking the net for him but super expensive la those pup. Minimum RM1000.

I myself am looking at australia silky terrier! So damn cute and tiny but also damn expensive. Also around RM800-1000 depending on how pure and with cert or not. I dont care about the cert but I do want healthy dog. Sme places, they keep dogs in the cage 24hours and almost never let them out. No love...no purpose except for breeding. Should get the sspca on them!

ANYWAY, I can foresee that there will be more doggies being added to the family. HAHA~! Okay la..sharing some super cute photos of the labrador puppies online. Mine have the same coloring and cuteness! :P

New family coming....

2010-08-24T20:21:00.002+08:00

YAHOOO!!! Cant wait! Going to go collect her in 2 weeks! YAHOOOO!!!!!!! Wonder if we should bring her brother back too. Still debating if we can coup! But either way... YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!! Just smiling away thinking of the little gal...she is going to be so cute and great addition to the family. Hehehe... babe is already talking about where to put her and that she will definitely be staying indoor! Will upload photos of her when we get her later. Babe can teset his camera skill on moving object for a change :P hahahaahahah

Short talk: Sneaky Lunch

2010-08-18T20:46:00.002+08:00

Was being naughty today. Decided to snuck off for lunch break on my own with my book at KFC. I used to do that at my old job when the office was just next to a mall but since starting this job that is far far far away from everything, pretty hard to go sneaking lunch on my own with a book. I know, sound rather lonely and introvert? But to me, sometimes this is the best way to take time out and unwind.

I am pretty sure if I go out on my own in Kuching with my book, people will sure think I am crazy or pity me because they think I am lonely.....but I dont care. I still do it anyway...hehehehe

Under the Bridge Bak Kut Teh

2010-08-15T19:58:00.007+08:00

Saturday morning, babe and I actually woke up at 9.30am eventhough we only went to bed around 2.30am. Guess we just excited about our plan for the morning. The previous weekend, when we were going to Jusco at Bukit Tinggi, we happen to see the signboard for the famous bak kut teh under the bridge, as it is so well known for. We were caught in a jam while crossing the bridge and that is the first time we noticed it. Hence, you might say it is a blessing in disguise.

We arrived around 11.30am. Yah, I know entire 2 hours but not because the place is that far but rather because babe likes to take his sweet time during weekend morning to drink his coffee first, check the internet before we go out from the house. (oh, not forgetting his toilet business!) WAHAHA!

Anyway, not sure how to order, we looked around and decided to try 2 bowl first, i.e. medium lean meat with small intestine (big) and pork knuckle (small) with 2 plate of red onion rice. We are abit surprised because this is the first time we have bak kut teh that is served in bowl instead of claypot. Babe really love the taste because he say the soup tasted almost like the one we had in Kuching. We end up ordering another big bowl of pork knuckle with large intestine because the portion is rather small. Babe ordered extra serving of rice and also yau cha kueh.

The medium fatty pork with small intestine. Lots of meaty part and the small intestine have those yummy insides.

Pork knuckles - Super soft and the tendon have just right consistency

Pork knuckles with big intestine - err..or what is left of it! :P

Big big big thigh bone...err..actually not on our table..we didn't order this because I don't know how to order it. This is the bone from our neighbour table. I curi-curi take photos and then zoom in..kekekekekeke

This are the bones left by babe!

The bridge we are sitting under... Babe say the Red Chilli Pepper was here at the Bak Kut Teh, that is why the name of the shop is called 'Under the Bridge' (ROLL MY EYES!)

See the cook... big big banner everywhere that tells everyone the shop is in business for 70 years already and is apparently the first bak kut teh shop in Klang.

In case you are interested, the opening hours and telephone contact

The famous people that been here

Jason.....

Total paid RM29.80, not inclusive of tea because I brought my own. All in all, the bak kut teh was okay la. I tasted better ones I think. Only thing slack is it is not hot enough after a while because its in a bowl. Also, really alot of msg!! Was really really really thirsty the WHOLE day eventhough I drank gallons of water. So, will I go back again? Probably not. Got equally nice bak kut teh ( or better) near where I am staying now.

Definition of TIME MANAGEMENT

2010-08-13T23:57:00.002+08:00

YAWN! So bored. Babe downloaded UFC from the internet and is watching it on the tv. Never liked watching bloody sport like that. I am actually surfing jobstreet! hahaha! Yar yar, I know, I am a JOBFROG. Hubby also complaining how come I am looking for new job after just 1 year. As usual la, he will have lots of comment la. But seriously, I am not the only one thinking of changing okay.

I mean people that have working at the company since it started was also leaving. Turnover in the company is so high now that the HR hiring person is so busy all the time. Lots of interview and even new hire left after just a month or two and some even just after a few weeks. The worse is when one of our colleague just suddenly dont turn up for work and not contactable at all.

I was asking my colleague today, what is the definition of time management because whenever we cant find time to finish our work (because we are OVERLOADED) and when we explained to our boss we simply couldnt find the time, he will say manage your time or learn to manage your time. So, my question to you all is what is the definition of time managed? Does managing time mean that working till 10pm or 11pm everyday? Or doing work that requires 20 hours in 10hours?

I mean, okay, we have 24 hours in a day but does that mean that I am suppose to send 20 hours of it to finish the work EVERYDAY? If this is just occassionally in order to finished up urgent work or handle crisis, then I can understand. But here, it is almost everyday. And to make matter worse, the list of responsibilities keep piling up. I realised that in this organisation, the more efficient you are, you are not being rewarded in kind. Instead, the boss will make sure to give you more responsibilities because you have idle time now!

When in actual fact, there is not idle time because there are other daily activities on top of the extra projects that we need to complete.

Anyway, time to get out or else I will become the most inefficient person and start to make sil unexplainable mistakes simply because we are rushing for time.

1 day only? GAWD!

2010-06-27T01:19:00.003+08:00

Oh dear! It seems that everytime I update my blog nowadays, I start with apologizing for the infrequent update nowadays. Simply too lazy to do it. Sometimes, I do have the sudden inkling to want to share my current life with everyone but somehow, the urge just passed by. It seems to be much simpler to just type a few words in the facebook to let friends and families know what I been up to nowadays. But once in awhile, mind you, very occassionally, I do just am able to sit my butt down in front of a laptop or PC to type one of my super duper long posting.

So, let me what has been happening first. After the trip to Jakarta, my next trip was actually to the Batam Island for a day trip via Singapore! Yah, you read right, DAY TRIP. Basically, what this means is me waking up at ungodly hour of 5am and left the house on a taxi at 5.30am to go to LCCT. Catch my flight to Singapore and from Changi Airport, fight my way (err..not really fight la but it does feel like a battle when venturing into unknown alone)..fight my way to the Habourway Jetty to take my ferry across to Batam Island.

I, of course, thinking to safe company some money (and with great sense of adventure), decided to take the train from the airport to the jetty! Thank god at the airport, there is the traveller center where there are friendly people to provide maps and precise instruction which train to get on, station to get off and reboard on another train and where the final stop. I had to change train twice (!!) before finally on the right train bound for the jetty.

At the jetty, unknown to me, the counters are actually in a shopping mall and so is the departure counter AND custom since I am basically going out of Singapore into Indonesia. Anyway, I landed at Singapore airport at around 9.30am and only finally reached the jetty departure hall at 11am, i.e. 1/5hours later. (Later, I found out that if I have taken the taxi, I would have been at the place in 30min!!)

Jetty took 1hour to reach Batam Island(Left at 11.30am Singapore time, reached at 11.30am Indonesia-time. Cool huh? But my bodyclock all screwed up!! HAHA!). Despite the heavy downpour, the ferry was relatively smooth ride. Reached Batam jetty, my colleague and customer picked me up and we went for lunch before going to the customer office (NOTE: Lunch in Indonesia). The meeting was until 2.30pm and we race back to the jetty so that I can catch the 3.30pm ferry back to Singapore so that I can get to the airport on time to catch my flight back to KL.

I reached Singapore jetty at 5.30pm (I lost 1 hour due to time zone difference) and decided to walk around the shopping center for awhile to see if anything interesting. Then feeling super tired, follow the sign to the taxi stand at 6pm. I finally reached the airport at 6.45pm because it is the traffic peak time in Singapore and traffic jam (but trust me, the jam is nothing compared to the one in Jakarta!)

Checked in and then my silly stomach complained rather loudly. I remember a sign pointing to foodcourt when I was walking around like an idiot this morning looking for help to get to the jetty. Anyway, I found it and am super duper happy! Why? Because it is non-halal!! And I also found pork bun in a bakery! WAHAHAHAHA! A big big big happy thing for non-muslim Malaysian because basically almost EVERYWHERE here is halal food!

I finally home at around 11.30pm that day. And as I described my trip to hubby, I suddenly realised that I had my breakfast in Malaysia, lunch in Indonesia and dinner in Singapore. All in less than 20hours! This is definitely something that I wont ever forget.

Next trip? 29-30 Jun will be in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. 17-21 Jul will be in Kuching (Yeahhh!!!). 5 Jul on leave because want to clear the leave in lieu (we are awarded 1 day off for public holidays that fall on Saturday but we need to clear it within 1 month from the holiday date or else burn). 9-11 Jul will be at a camp half way up Genting for teambuilding. 2 Jul will be having dinner at KLCC for the customer appreciation nite organise by Sales and Marketing. 7 Jul is dad's birthday. And I think I am suppose to arrange a trip to either Surabaya or Medan (or both!) in Jul too.

Not sure if I can survive it but I sure hope my new staff will be on board soon. I am up to my brain with all the work. DROWNING DROWNING!!!! Ashame to say that lots of work behind schedule but I just cant find the time. I mean, at the end of day, by 8pm, after having worked for more than 10hours, how the hell want to think and concentrate ah??

MY GAWD! The long posting and it is only talking about 1 day trip! Wait till y about I post my 2 or 3 days trips! HAHAHAHA!!

p/s: They finally remembered not yet give me my confirmation letter and I am expecting to receive it from HR anytime soon. Frankly, I dont know if this is good news or not because it means that once receiving the confirmation letter, I will need to provide 3 months notice if I ever got a better offer elsewhere vs the 2 weeks now :P

My weekend.......

2010-06-10T20:38:00.003+08:00

AIYEHH!! The Jakarta air must really not ngam with me la. Been sick since I was back. My flight delayed 2hrs and I only finally reached home at 3am on Friday morning. And the very next morning, I start to feel unwell and sms my boss and tell him I dont think I can come in today. Went to the doctor that evening with running nose, sorethroat and slight fever. Oh, and sweating like crazy. Was worried that it could be H1N1 but the doctor take one look down my throat and told me my tonsils are both swollen and red!

Infection! PHEW! That mean just need to take antibiotics and lots of rest. Hopefully it will go away in a day or 2. The doctor did say in case fever continue after finishing the antibiotic, go straight to the hospital to be tested. Glad that it was not H1N1 (and even happier I got my MC), went home, took the medicine and within 5min, I was dozing on the living room floor. The flu medication was super super strong.

Next day, not feeling much better but not worse either. That evening, babe was planning for a catch up Gawai BBQ gathering at our place. So, we woke up around 9.30am to go market (Actually, babe woke me up instead of the other way round. that was my body telling me to slow down?). Anyway, bought 4kg of three layer pork slab and 3 pcs of pork knuckle. Went home, marinate the three layer pork and left it in the fridge to dry the skin slightly. And start cooking the soya sauce pork leg soup with bitter gourd.

By the time everything is done, its already 4pm-ish. Watch movie and some astro. Then went out to look for ice cube for the drinks in the coolerbox. Feeling abit sad because my geng cant make it. Hence, just babe's geng. Being Gawai, they brought some tuak (rice wine). One of the rice wine was 12years old and it is FANTASTIC! Super smooth and delicious.

The other is from Taee and was informed that there were no sugar added to it. Could have fooled me because it is really nice and smooth. Was informed the sweetness comes from the special yeast that is available only in Taee. Hhmm...I wonder if the next time I go back and purchase the yeast, can I make my own tuak here? HAHA!

Anyway, by around 12.30am, I decided to go for a shower. After shower, suddenly, I just feel extremely tired and exhausted. Again, I guess my body is telling something huh? Anyway, lay in bed for awhile and decided to go down. Told babe I need to sleep and he asked me 'The things how to keep'...can slap him or not? I ask him he cannot keep meh? He must have realised I am ready to collapse and say okay, go sleep. SHEESH! Still want to slap him or not?

So, I went up and guess what? I CANT SLEEP! I just lie in bed and just wouldnt fall asleep! Eventually, at around 3am, I decided to get up and check if everyone has gone home. It seems that I got up just in time to see the last of our guest left. And pleasantly surprised to see the leftover food and kept properly. Just a few last things to keep. Apparently, babe told me the next day that fren's mother help to keep most of the stuff.

By then babe is already tipsy and decided to crash in the living room floor, drunk! Kept the last of the leftovers and managed to pursuade babe to wake up to go sleep upstairs. Suddenly, after going upstairs, babe went to the toilet outside and start to VOMIT! EWWWWWW!!!!!! All the 'cocktail' liquor that goes into his not so young body is making him pay. It is disgusting to see him vomit but kinda funny because he keep telling me to go away because smelly! He even wanted to sleep in the toilet or the spare bedroom because he say he is smelly.Hehe!

Sunday, both of us only woke up around 12noon. Went out for brunch and then came back. Watch a movie and then babe sleep from 3pm till 7pm. Then we went out to ss15 for dinner with his friend and family because they plan to go I-city after that. Both want to play with their camera and was told that the light display at I-city is really pretty.

When we got there, the jam was at least 1.5km away and we had to park at least 1km away because the parking space are all full. All I can say is it is DISSAPPOINTING! Nothing much. Just a place the size of football field with trees made out of lights and some other animal shape made out of lights. Totally boring!! Not worth going and definitely wont go there again! But at least we got 2km walk out of it! HAHA!

P/s: Today is Thursday and I am still have some running nose and cough. My voice is still different but getting more myself. AND dont go to Klinik Araa at Setia Alam, SUPER EXPENSIVE. Just antibiotic, flu medicine and lorenzo cost RM65! CRAZY!

Day 1 & 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia

2010-06-02T22:15:00.004+08:00

(WARNING: This is a loooooooooooooooong post. Dont say I didnt warn you yar!)

Today is 2nd day in Jakarta. Arrived yesterday at around 12noon Malaysia time, or rather to be exact, my plane landed at 12noon and I finally step outside the airport at 1.30pm! Yah, took almost 1.5hrs to get thru the custom! I guess it is really my luck for the day because a few planes from different countries landed at the same time as mine. So, of cos, everyone of us need to go thru the custom.

Imagine hundreds and hundreds of people of different color and language queue at 8 custom counters waiting to be scanned through. Well, okay, not exactly scanned but did had my face taken. So, the Jakarta/Indonesia custom have my face in their database somewhere.

Pity my colleague that is meeting me at the airport to go customer together though. He waited for almost an hour! Anyway, once we got me out of there, went straight for our appointment with the customer. That is where I was informed that everywhere in Jakarta, takes an hour if there is no traffic jam.

I tell you, after seeing the jam in Jakarta, I will never again complaint about our Malaysian jam. Gosh! I take my hat off (if I have one) to all the Jakarta driver! It really amaze me that there is hardly any accident at all! I mean, the way they drive, you would have thought something really seriously bad would have happen right in front of your eyes. I come to the conclusion that Jakarta driver are actually more skilled than us in Malaysia...better drivers!

Let me give you some examples:
1. A small mini van without any door but with small wooden seats inside, suddenly stopped in the middle of the street with cars in all direction and people start coming out from the mini van onto the middle of wherever the mini van parked and casually walked to the side. Again, let me emphasize, MIDDLE of a three lane road! Right where I dont know how many motorbikes and cars are trying to squeeze through.

2. A big huge truck in front of me, painted yellow stopped on the right side of the three lane road, and I see 3 primary school boys climb down and proceed to cross the road to the sidewalk! Again, with lots of cars and bikes squeezing thru each other.

3. Stopped at a traffic light, suddenly see a man with a plastic bottle (like the cola bottle la) going to a big truck in front of us and proceed to open the side gas cover of the truck. I was innocently thinking that the fella is cleaning the gas cover in hope of getting some payment from the driver. Guess what he is actually doing? Stealing gas from the big truck!! The area we are at is actually just a few km from the port. So, imagine how many of those trucks that goes up and down a day. Just a liter from each truck....wah lau. By the way, not much the driver can do because it will turn ugly if he tries to stop them..

4. Parking are hard to come by in Jakarta. So, there is basically not much choice but to park in such a way that the car will blocked other cars that is parked in the parking space. Guess what you are suppose to do if you parked your cars blocking others? Leave your phone number on the windshield so the people will call you to move car? WRONG!! Leave the car in neutral so that if you blocked anyone that wants to leave, they will just push your car away!! HAHA! I heard about it but seeing it in action was really something.

5. At every other traffic light especially those under a flyover, you would see really 'pretty' ladies shaking a small containers filled with coins going from car to car to collect coins. I understand from my colleague that it is better to just give the few rupiah than trying to do anything..

6. At almost every traffic light, there will be people selling something, mineral water, newspaper, magazine, keropok and so on. Also, really pitiful to see, at one traffic light, pregnant mother and a little boy (I think no more than 10y.o) carrying a baby walking from car to car begging for money.

7. Understand that kids/children also sit on top of the train (no need to pay bah) to get from place to place. Previously, some of them were really badly injured but there is not much can be done because even after the security tried to stop them, they will climb on the train the moment their backs are turned.

Really eye opener and makes me appreciate what I have more. I understand those lower income group earn only around RM300-400 per month. If I only earn that, I really dont know how to survive. I must be thankful for what I have and dont grumble too much about difficulties at work. (But that does not mean that I will not look for better opportunities la)

Of cos, there are wonder things to say about Jakarta as well. The people that I have met so far, really really polite, gentle and friendly. The place I am staying now, people are super polite. I dont know whether it is because I am a foreign gal travelling alone and hence, they try to make my stay as pleasant as possible. Or maybe it is just how the service of this hotel is. It is a 3-star hotel but the service I got, it felt much better.

Food...gosh...let me tell you about the food. I kinda regret not having thicker skin and just whip out the camera and snap the food! Lunch yesterday was simple noodles with wantan but (and I am sure its difficult to get this in Malaysia), the noodles so so so so delicious because it is mixed with pork oil! HAHA!! Yar yar, anything with pork is good? My colleague had mixed rice which turn out to be crispy pork, char siu and a few more pork meat.

Then dinner, my colleague, his wife and daughter brought me to have nasi uduk which is basically rice wrapped in banana leaf and lots of other food that is wrapped in banana leaf parcel and steamed. My most favourite is the tempe here. It really taste super different than the one we have in Malaysia. If I can, I would really like to buy frozen ones and tapau it back!

Breakfast this morning was in the hotel as breakfast was included as part of the room package (by the way, room is about RM200+). That is pretty normal hotel breakfast. So, no comment.

Lunch was nasi padang. Again, the tempe. 3 of us, 2 plates of rice with tempe, vege and fried whole chicken leg. We shared a packet of deep fried beef skin. I had ice water and the other 2 had orange juice. Total damage = Rp45,000 (which is roughly RM18). Ok considering the portion! By the way, the deep fried beef skin is super addictive. Not as oily as pork deep fried skin. In fact, super light, fluffy and crunchy.

Dinner, I decided after 2 long days, the ppor guy, my colleague need a break from me. So, I told him that I would take care of my own dinner. Frankly speaking, I feel paiseh la because they wont let me pay for anything!

So, after much thought either to go out, eat at the coffee house downstairs or room service, I decided to have dinner at the coffee house. I am glad that I did because for RM48 buffet inclusive of tax & service charge, I have a selection of tender super juicy medium rare beef slices with mushroom sauce, bbq chicken, fish kebab & beef sausage, a variety of local dishes, salad spread, fruits and super rich tiramisu and chocolate cake selection. Back home, this would have cost me easily at least RM55 excluding tax!

So, here I am now, contented & full, almost 11pm Msia-time (10pm Indo-time), comtemplating what I want to do next. Watch one of the 30 channels available, read my book in bed, surf internet some more or sleep.... hehehe.. Dont you envy me? :P Haiyaa..dont lar. Exhausting okay business trip. At least, for vacation, the brain dont have to work much. Business trip is exhausting not just physically but mentally......

Ooops..okay, enough. Really long post already. I must develop really thick skin tomorrow and whip out the camera even in the car and snap more photos. Babe will be laughing because I carry his camera around but only capture photos of the hotel room! HAHA! OKEEE.. NITE NITE!!! MUCKS PPL!

Short talk: Business Idea....

2010-05-30T21:07:00.002+08:00

Just a short one.. Babe said something really getting to my head since then. Got me thinking seriously about things but at the same time still climb that career ladder. Oh, before I continue babbling, let me tell you what babe said. As usual, we were thinking of where to have our dinner after window shopping at the new mall near Subang Parade. We were talking about German Pork Knuckle for awhile and we were thinking of going for it last night. But after driving around and not knowing where we can find one near Subang, babe said: Dont know what to eat. We can do nicer at home on our own.

I went: HUH? Oh, so you mean the food I make is nicer than most people?

HAHAHA! That is really nice compliment coming from your husband dont you think?

Anyway, got me thinking, perhaps I should start selling the Special Crispy Pork Log and German Pork Knuckle online. Then I only make to order. The person can then collect or deliver for a small price. Just thinking how to go about doing this.

If I am still in my old company, I can just bring some to office and share but current office, 90% are Muslim (and I am the only Chinese in my department), so, that idea is definitely out! Maybe facebook????? Any1 have any ideas?

STOP IT! STOP CRUELTY TO ANIMALS!

2010-05-28T12:11:00.003+08:00

Just look at this animal cruelty! I was almost in tears when I watch the u-tube! How can people be so sick? The beautiful magnificent creature...

Who they trying to cheat when the Formasa representative, Eric Ong, responded by saying the tiger was simply “lazy” and that it was in the tiger’s “nature” to behave inertly. He also denied any possibility that the tiger was sedated.

Do they think we are so stupid that we can't see?

Video : http://bit.ly/bMoRcm

Go join the Facebook Page “Stop Animal Abuse at A' Famosa!” that is created by concerned Malaysian to raise public awareness.

These concerned Malaysians are planning a “Public Awareness Campaign” day-trip to A ‘Famosa Resort on 29 May 2010 at 10:30am to advocate better treatment for wildlife living in captivity. They strongly believe that the livelihood and dignity of wildlife living in captivity is the collective responsibility of all Malaysians.

Page : http://bit.ly/agMMXu
Event : http://bit.ly/ch8Rmb

Go to the 'Famosa Resort' this weekend and support the Public Awareness Campaign. If you cant make it, blog about it in your blog. Tell the world about the animal cruelty that is going on. Every little bit counts!

What to do today?????????

2010-05-28T11:35:00.002+08:00

zzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZzzzzzz!!! YAWN!!!! Sleepy but not sleepy. Hmm.. I guess that sounds more like bored than sleepy huh? Woke up around 10am today and just lying around the living room not doing much. Watched some tv and then babe came downstairs too about half hour later. That means time to move the butt and makes some breakfast for the 2 of us. Simple stuff today, coffee & half boiled eggs. Now he is sitting at his computer and me at my office laptop, each doing our own stuff. The Astro is on to channel 735.

We been asking each other the same question since he is awake. The same famous question everytime weekend is here or any public holiday. The question: WHERE WANNA GO TODAY? Never seem to get answered somehow because either we have no idea what we want to do or one of us is feeling lazy and wants to stay at home. Last weekend were movie-catch-up marathon at home. So, not so sure what to do this long weekend.

The thing is, babe had to work half day tomorrow. So, we cant go anywhere far. Was hoping to pursuade him to go Penang initially but as I said, that is not possible la. So, need to think of another to do. I wonder if babe wanna have a gathering at our place since its Gawai (Harvest Festival) 1 Jun. But that would involve money, money that I really should be saving up in case I need them for my business trips this month.

So, basically, we need to decide where to go for window shopping/ people watching. Or would we rather stay at home and watch movies again. Or is there anything that he need to get from anywhere. I am tempted to bake something but babe as usual, throw cold water at me and told me not to do it la because there is only 2 of us and for sure we can never finish the cake.

Last time, when I bake, I know I can bring some to the office to share because the geng would enjoy them. But it is kinda hard to do that now because, well, for one thing, most of my colleagues are Malay and I really am not sure if they would eat the food I cook/bake because they might feel that it is not halal. Sometimes I got this feeling that they eat the home bake I bring just so as not to upset me? So, no joy in sharing there.

And also I dont want to add to the 'stock' in the fridge now...the fridge is so full of cooked food la. Babe la. Everything also want to eat and ask to cook this and that. When I do, he just eat abit. And sometimes, I try to cook in smaller portion so that we dont have leftovers but babe would ask: How come only cook like that? And he will look as if the food is not enough after we finished eating. SHEESH!

Hhmm..which reminds me, I still have lots kee chang in the fridge too! AIYOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Short talk: NAUGHTY DAY!

2010-05-26T22:19:00.003+08:00

I did something naughty today! HAHA! Should I be telling? Let me think first..HAHA! OK OK! I went to work really late today. I only reached the office at around 11.30am today. Reason, well, I got called for a job interview. SSHHH..

And guess what, I will be going for a 2nd interview on Monday. LOL! Unexpected but something that I did wish for. So, again, LOA is working ^_^

Dun wan to talk too much abt this yet till I got the job offer. So, wish me luck!! ":)

Saturday & Sunday......

2010-05-23T12:49:00.003+08:00

Good morning! Oops, should be good AFTERNOON! HAHA! Didnt realised it is already 1pm. Just finished having brunch with babe and now sitting in front of the tv, me surfing the the internet and updating my blog. Babe busy flipping channels as usual which I sometimes finds really irritating but since I am not watching now, I don't mind ;p

Breakfast was simple American-style: Bacon, egg, sausage & bread with coffee. Yah! Very very very very unhealthy but since we only does this once in a few weekends, then should be ok right? Anyway, we usually had it for brunch, so save us a meal.

Had done lots today actually before babe woke up. I woke up at around 10am. Wish I could have sleep in longer since I went to babe 2.30am this morning. But no matter how, I cannot seem to sleep longer than 8 hours nowadays unless super tired or sick. So, I woke up and look around the messy living room and kitchen, decided to build that Ikea rack that babe and I bought a few weeks ago.

Then, rearrange my kitchen so that the things on the new rack. Now I can display the nice pyrex and bowl on the top rack. 3rd rack is filled with cups and bottles. Then rd rack still empty. Havent decided if I should open the boxes of dinner plates and put it there or just leave it in the box. I think I will just leave them there for easier move in the future (since I doubt we will stay here forever. Aiming to get our own place but still searching for one that allows us NO downpayment! :P)

Still thinking of whether want to go out or not today. Yesterday we went out around 5pm to Carrefour to stock up some can food and stuff since we have not done that for a while. After that we tried to go to makan at the place that my customer brought me the other day but too dark to find. End up, we had crab and tofu near the chinese restaurant near our place.

After dinner, went to the night market because we wanted to get that mop that you can twist at the bottom to dry out the water. Luckily, we were just on cue because it was the last they have with them last night. Rather cheap too, RM10 for one. Almost the same price as the normal mop or it is cheaper than some? (Want to mop the house but I am waiting for babe to vacuum the floor first :P share share marrrrrr)

Oh yar! I also bought bamboo leaves and some glutinous rice. Want to make some kee chang today. The glutinous rice has been soaking whole night and after this, going to go check and see if the bamboo leaves are soft enough to wrap. I am still debating whether to make my version of bak chang or not, i.e. with lots waterchestnut, salted egg yolk, lean pork and mushroom. HHMM....I wonder where I can find salted egg yolk at this time?

I AM A IDIOT!

2010-05-16T00:35:00.002+08:00

Okay okay..I should be more diligent in updating my blog or else people will actually stop reading one day? :P Just that sometimes I do not feel the urge to write as much as last time here anymore. Guess as more and more people know about this space, I am more and more reluctant to put down my personal thoughts and feelings that sometimes are not so nice at all. I know some of you will tell me that this is after all my personal space and I can do whatever I want and say what I feel like. But the deal is, well, I know this is where most of my good friends come to when they want to know what is going on with my life.

SOOOOOOOOOOO, after much thinking and more thinking, I decided I will keep this space and perhaps keep another space for my more personal thoughts and feelings (BABE, dont even bother trying to find it okay because you will never find it :P)

Phew..Glad to have that out of the way.

I actually had been super busy since last Oct2009, yah, ever since I joined the company that I am with now. The work itself is actually not as stressful as the previous job but its all the paperwork and phone calls for last minute demand that took most of my attention. It has always been my passion to find ways either through enhancing the existing system or proposing new ones so that work are more efficient. Sort of like leaving behind a legacy when I am no longer working for the company (yah, I definitely dont expect to stay with a company forever..that is a fact la)

The thing is, my boss keep piling on new responsibilities on top of what I have now. I mean, sometimes it feels that it definitely does not pays to be more efficient or effective that those around me. I am after all hired to handle customer service but recently, the boss has start to ask me to travel and visit customers to build better rapport with them. On top of that, he is expecting me to go visit our sole distributor's dealers.

I mean, that involve alot of traveling and obviously, when I am on the road, in a plane or at the customers' place, I am not able to handle the paperwork required! Okay, so he approved to add headcount to the customer service (and I will say after super long battle) but that takes time. It is never easy to hire people that fits but worse still when the people that the resume HR forwarded to me really SUCKS!

And last Friday, went into his room to inform him of my itinerary for my trip to Jakarta the following week, instead, he told me to sit down. I knew immediately what he will say. I just knew it! And it is extremely frustrating because I never agreed but I am starting to get emails & assignments related to it. I am really not sure how will myself and the CS exec going to able to handle all the additional workload. Inevitably, some of the work will definitely gonna slide and standard drop and I absolute hate that! How to be efficient & effective when at the end of the day, you are simply to tired to think?

Oh, er..I better start from beginning?

When I was on my way back from my daytrip from Singapore last Wednesday (this is another story to tell altogether), while waiting at the airport, I got this sms from the logistics exec that he just tendered his resignation. I found out that he actually told almost everyone in the company. Anyway, at the back of my mind, I was wondering who will be taking over the responsibility of logistics area since the exec has not been confirmed and he only need to give two weeks notice, ie. much much too short a time to actually find a replacement. (come to think of it, since I have not gotten the official confirmation letter, it means that I am also only require 2 weeks notice????)

I guess at the back of my mind, I have already suspected what will happen because either its that or another colleague of mine will be asked to do it and frankly speaking, she is also super bogged down already.

Anyway, after I seat down, boss asked if I know the latest update & news. Of course I knew and I asked him when is the exec last day. AND I also asked my boss what is his plan to replace the vacancy (YAR, idiot right me?). The way he responded to me, I knew he was testing the water especially the way he beat around the bush. Bottomline is, Jen, I need your help to monitor and guide the logistics. 'A' will handle the operations but I need someone to take hold his hand and basically monitor and track to make sure that things go according to plan.

'B' will be sharing this responsibility with you. When 'B' is back, we will have a group discussion on how to share this plan. So, blur to whether I actually agreed and what exactly is the new responsibility, I got out of his office. An hour letter, got an email for the standard operation procedure in logistics for loading flow and processes. Guess who is the person-in-charge???? GGGRRR!!!

Sigh! I keep telling myself to see the positive side. For example, I will be getting a new headcount. So, can pass the paperwork that I am doing now to the new person and concentrate on strategic management of the team. And I am traveling again (LOA works!). Eventually I hope to travel to Paris, Thailand and other sister companies around the world. I am learning more, experience more, seeing more and hence, improving my resume and attractiveness to the headhunter. Very very good chance of promotion very very soon (YAR R, your J buffet coming reality nearer and nearer?).

All, in all, pretty good. I just need to hang in there. Just hope I can do this long enough till something really really good come along for both babe and I....keeping my finger crossed!!! PG PG PG PG!! :)

Am I???????????

2010-04-22T19:55:00.003+08:00

GOSH! All I seem to wanna do recently is SLEEP! I mean I even feel sleepy driving back to work from lunch! Okay, Okay! I know, you guys are thinking, of course la sleepy. Heavy lunch. Well, the thing is, I had only thosai and a cuppa of ice tea. So, definitely NOT a heavy lunch. Already went to the doctor as well because got worried since it has lasted more than 2 weeks already, this tired energy-less feeling.

After I explained my symptom, the first thing that the doc say is, I would like to do a pregnancy test if that is ok with you. I was like, okay, sure. After all, he is the doctor. The test was NEGATIVE but he still insist this could be wrong if it is early stages. So, advised me to come back for 2nd test if I dont get my period on schedule this month. Soooooo....see la. Seriously, I doubt I am pregnant la. I dont have all those other signs such as tender boobs or soreback! Okay, so I am burping alot and nausea but then this could be because of gastric due to stress bah!

So, end of the month, if I dont get my period, mean time to go buy my own pregnancy test kit la. Yar, I discover it is cheaper if I do my own test. I had to fork out extra RM31 to pay for the doctor fee that day. The bill come up to RM71 which RM40 is covered by my company and balance I need to pay my own. IF I didnt do the test, then I dont even have to pay the extra because consultation and medicine is less than RM40! If I get my own kit, it only cost RM20, i.e. saving me RM11 which is enough to pay for McDonald Value meal at lunch time.

This is not call stingy la ok. This is call being money smart! BLUEKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Short talk: More on slob vs sob

2010-04-12T23:02:00.004+08:00

So, I guess most married women (and ladies that stays with their dad and brother) understand what I meant when I said men are slob? HAHA! I thought its just this particular man that I married! To be frank, I NEVER EVER knew he is so messy la! I mean, we date for almost 9 years before we got married. And out of those 9 years, stayed together for almost a year. Although we stayed with a friend, I seriously never ever thought he is a slob.

Reason? Well, for one thing, when I know him in Kuching, he takes more shower than any other guys that I know. Shower when he wake up in the morning, shower before we go out (which can be more than once a day) and shower before going to bed. Err..I only shower in the morning before going to work and at night before bed. So, you can imagine why I think he is a clean-freak.

Oh well... as you all said, just close one eye and pretend not to see (more like close BOTH eyes and become no-eye-see). I just have to keep reminding myself that Love is blind, i.e. blind as in close BOTH eyes to all his faults, weaknesses and bad habits... Sigh!! Just wish some1 told me when I was still single how men are! BLUEK!!!

Okay okay..lets just pretend not see and gaze at the moon below! Hubby took this when we were at Genting that day..time was 4.30pm :)

Slob vs Sob?

2010-04-11T21:00:00.003+08:00

The weather is really really hot here this 2 days. Worse still, it is the weekend with nothing much planned. So, staying home and just sweating myself silly. We actually have 3 fans on in the living room and the air still feel so so so humid and hot. Even sitting in front of the fan is not working because all that does is moving hot air around.

Right about now, looking like the seal in the photo below show looks great! Cacoon in a layer of ice and lying on ice! ARGHH!! Sheer bliss... But other than staying upstairs where the aircon is or sitting in front of the fridge with the door open, guess just have to bite and bear with it...

Have not been blogging much for a few months now. Not that I am abandoning my blog. Its just that, well, with work, work and more work, the only energy I seem to have nowadays after coming back from the office is a stint of facebooking just so that I am up-to-date with every1 progress.

Other than that would be cooking, cleaning up after my slob of a husband and watching whatever that is on Astro. Life is getting pretty tedious and tiring actually. Feeling rather frustrated because I feel so tired at the end of the day. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy doing what I am doing now but I just wish I have more energy and time after work to do something else, baking for example.

Sad to say, I seems to have more time to bake and experiment with cooking when I was back in Kuching. I guess back then, I need not worry about whats for dinner or doing daily routine stuff of keeping the house in order. I just cant imagine how things would be like if (err..when) we have little ones running around. Just makes me sigh in horror imagining cleaning up after 2 slobs instead of just 1...bbrrr...

Sometimes, I am just wondering, am I being too much of perfectionist and controlling freak? Is it wrong for me to want things back to where it suppose to be? I mean, it is so wrong of me to expect the bottle of soya sauce to be on the rack instead of the table NEXT to it? Or am I mean to request for the bottle of syrup to be put back at the original place on the table instead of being left wherever on the table? I dont know...sometimes..I wonder...

No Bake Cheesecake

2010-04-06T21:10:00.003+08:00

Nothing to talk about. Or rather too lazy to talk about anything. Want to watch Leverage new season on AXN. So, I let this cheesecake photo talk for itself :)

The 500th!!

2010-03-24T20:53:00.002+08:00

This is my 500th posting and I AM HAPPY!! YAHOOOO!!!!! MY LEAVE for this Friday has been APPROVED!! YAHOOOO!!!!!!! GO HOLIDAY!!!!!! HAHA

Only 1 blip though, I need to call in at 5pm on Friday for conference call.. but before and after that, I am a free bird! So, I have everything planned out (Cant help it la, I am a planner in my previous life I think or I am borned to be one????). ANYWAY, back to the topic, this is what I have mapped out in my head right now for this long weekend:

Thursday (Yarrr...starts the very night!)
Going to Klang parade right after work to get babe's camera hood (whatever that is)
Go supermarket to get some essentials for the trip (essential: mee-in-mug, sausages, cookies, junkfood & drinks)

Friday
Wake up & go menjalara for dim sum breakfast
Babe want to go to the bank at Sri Damansara after that
Leisure drive up to Genting
Check in and lounge happily in our room

Err...ok, not exactly the whole weekend planned out. Just going to enjoy ourselves, gamble a little, outdoor theme park, walk around, eat, people watching and enjoying the fresh cooling air! Babe going to have fun with his camera and his new lense.

CANT WAITT!!! FRIDAY COME FAST FAST LIAW!!!

10 years!!

2010-03-22T21:51:00.001+08:00

Today is EXACTLY 10 years since babe and I started dating. Yep, it was that long ago! Let me see, that would mean I just turned 23 and he 25! Wah, a decade ago. HAHA! And yes, this is going to be a mushy romantic posting. So, if you are allergic to romance, please turn away now and go no further! I will not be responsible for any heartache due to overdose of lovey doveyness! *GRIN*

As I was saying, today is EXACTLY 10 years since we started out as boyfriend and girlfriend. It is rather funny actually how we started. It all started when I have a self declared God-brother. Those were the days when I was still so young and adventurous. So, when this godbro of mine said he knows someone that his gut is telling him is the one for me, I just couldnt resist. After all, what is the harm? No harm to 'adopt' godbro#2.

Anyway, as much as I like to say that it was love-at-first-sight, well, it of sort. Babe had this really goofy cute panda look at the time. Due to the nature of his job then, he has this panda eyes (nice way of saying puffy dark eye bag la!! :P) So, we chatted and talked. Then chatted some more after I go back.

I remember one really funny incident where he called me super late at night and I must be in my REM sleep because I do not remember it at all the next day until he told me when I complained why he didnt call as he had promised last night. That was we just started to get to know each other. Talk about embarrassing things yah!

Anyway, from then on, we actually went out a few times without my godbro or his friends knowing. (The first few times were godbro bringing me to join them at parties). We of course being sneaky and not everyone else getting a free show from our romance, decided not to tell them until one fateful day. By then, his cousin was suspecting something is up because he would dressed up (well dressed better than usual lar) when going out.

*Smiling & sighing contently* OK OK! Enough la. Later you guys start to vomit from all the sweetness! HAHA! Just want to share my happiness & contentment abit ^_^

JAPANESE FOOD! HERE WE COME!!!

2010-03-20T15:06:00.002+08:00

Not doing much now. Waiting for babe to wake up from his nap. He has to work today, half day. So, I took the opportunity this mornign to sleep and have the bed all to myself!! Maybe I shouldnt be saying this but sometimes it is nice to have that big king size bed all to myself! Not that I dont enjoying having my babe sleeping next to me. In fact, most of the time, if he is not sleeping with me, I just cant sleep. But occassionally, and rarely, I do feel like spreading my arm and throwing my legs all over the bed and have it all to myself! Gals out there, dont tell me you never had this feeling before! *GRIN*

ANYWAY, enough of me babbling about my selfish act. So, here I am, sitting downstairs on my own in the living room while babe is upstairs having his nap in the aircon bedroom. The sky outside is starting to look cloudy and dark. But the air is still hot and humid as it has been the last few weeks. Not sure what the world is turning to because the weather is extremely unpredictable. Hot one moment and then rain like crazy for less than half hour. And then starts to be superhot again! Thank God I do not have to work under the sun like some unfortunate people.

I hope babe will wake up early enough instead of sleeping till 7-8pm. We are suppose to go out for dinner at 1 Utama! Tomorrow is my birthday mar!! So, I told him my wish is to eat at Shogun for our dinner. At first, I thought we will go tomorrow but he say tomorrow have his team playing wor! Basically that mean he will be glued to the tv from dont know what time. And this will also basically mean I will have some time to read my book la! So, I dont really mind.

But but but.. I been thinking of going for Shogun for so so so so long but babe always say dont want to go because it is not worth the money. Normally I would agree but occassionally, need to pamper ourself la. On top of that, babe also love Japanese food. He never like raw fish last time but since he came to KL few years back, he developed a extreme liking to sashimi! Even more than me. He can gulp down raw salmon like it was nothing!

And at Shogun, I happen to think their sashimi are one of the freshest that I tasted. And also the range of choice of Japanese food, sushi, sashimi, tenpayaki, cooked food and so forth, really really really mind boggling. Trust me when I say you will not be able to try everything in 1 sitting :)

The sky is getting darker as I typing and air is slightly cooler now although still humid. I think I will sign off now and concentrate 100% on the tv now. Will post some photos later if we do get to go to Shogun :)

Kolo mee, Sarawak Laksa & Tomato mee in KL

2010-03-16T21:31:00.004+08:00

Sarawakian are always and I do mean ALWAYS in search of Sarawak food when they are not at their hometown. Food like Sarawak laksa, kolo mee, tomato mee/kueh teow and kueh chap, if anyone is able to make it taste like home, then definitely the place will be swamped with Sarawakian and others that tasted Sarawak unforgettable food.

Anyway, a friend of mine from Sarawak actually open a stall here selling Sarawak Laksa & Kolo kueh teow. Until recently, he was not allowed to sell kolo mee because the owner son is selling wantan mee. Guess the owner didnt want any competition for his precious son. Anyway, the shop recently got renovated and the owner increase the rental (yar, no surprise rite) and tells them they can sell anything they want. My friend of course immediately start to sell kolo mee! After all, kolo mee are usually more popular than kueh teow or beehoon.

So, babe being babe, we went the first weekend that our friend sent us the sms informing he is also selling kolo mee now. And guess what, babe actually ate 2 bowls!! HAHA! And as I always say, good things are meant to be shared. Then the weekend after that, we went again and babe had only 1 bowl this time while stealing my share of tomato mee! Oh yar, for those who dunno what is tomato mee (or kueh teow), err..its hard to explain how it taste like only it is REALLY REALLY REALLY good. Go try if you dont believe me.

Frankly speaking, I dont even know why am I excited about kolo mee. When I was in Kch, I will NEVER eat kolo mee. Never like it at all. But since I came to KL, I even purposely go eat kolo mee when I go back for holidays! SHEESH! The power our hometown have on us :)

Alright, alright, time to share where the good stuff are. The shop is at ss24 or famously known as Taman Megah.

TOMATO MEE

THE KOLO MEE!

Picture speaks a thousand words yah?

Lobster anyone??

2010-03-16T21:22:00.003+08:00

Not had much to talk about this few months. I thought what a better way to do it than blogging about food?!?

Was going through some photos and realised that I actually cooked lobster for the very first time a few weeks ago! When I was back in Kch for CNY, bro's friends have some ways of getting lobster for really cheap distributor price. No idea how and not about to ask too many questions. Suffice to say that I asked bro to help get a couple for me to bring it back to KL. Err.. Dont ask me how I manage to 'smuggle' those things into the plane and over the SCC. I only know that I brought so much food back that my bag was actually slightly overweight. Luckily I can take some out and put into my carry on.

Anyway, here is the lobster baked in the toaster oven. First attempt, not too good. In fact, very dry and tasteless! But I have another in the freezer. I think I will cook it another way next.

Boring boring boring me..

2010-02-17T21:17:00.002+08:00

My blog is being updated in longer and longer interval. Hmm...I seem to have lost my taste for blogging. There use to be a time that I cant wait to update my blog everyday. Sometimes, more than once a day! But recently, there are just so much other more important things to do in life compare to blogging. I guess at one point, I might start to get interested again but for now, I rather just enjoy life and only blog when I really have something to say...

This year CNY went by really fast. It was there I was, packing & getting ready to go to airport and the next thing I know, I am at the airport coming back to KL. I went back to Kch last Thursday morning and came back yesterday. Pretty short trip but not that short as well. Just 1 day shy of 1 week break. Will be going back to work tomorrow though.

Initially was thinking of taking this whole week off as well but at the end, decided to just take 1 extra day and go back to work tomorrow and Friday. After all, not much will happen since the customers are mostly still on vacation too. I am looking forward to having some rest and go back at 5.30pm! Alright, that is it for now. If I have more interesting thing to share, I will lar :P

Kek Lapis Cadbury (Cadbury Layer Cake)

2010-02-07T21:12:00.003+08:00

Found this recipe somewhere and planning to try it when I go back to Kch for my CNY holiday but lazy to bring paper..sooo...gonna type the recipe here. Should be good as I found out, any layer cake recipe with horlick or kaya, sure nice!

10 eggs (grade A/ large)
2 cup caster sugar
1 can condensed milk
160z Golden Churn Butter (or any good quality butter)
1 tsp vanilla essense
3 cup Hong Kong flour
1 tbs Van Houten Cocoa Powder (or any good quality cocoa powder)
1 tbs browning
1 cup horlick
1 tbs ovelette
1 pkt cadbury chocolate

1. Separate the egg white & yolk, beat each till fluffy & separately. Set aside.
2. Beat butter & castor sugar & vanilla & ovelette till fluffy. Add condensed milk & mix well.
3. Add the egg & butter mixture together gently.
4. Add HK flour little by little till finish.
5. Divide into 2 portion:
- add horlick litle by little to 1 portion little by little
- add browning & cocoa powder to the other portion
6. Use 8x8 tray. Spoon in the white layer and use the top flame only.
7. Add chocolate layer on top and layer cadburry choc & bake.
8. Repeat till finish.
NOTE: Heat = 170 degree per layer. Adjust timing accordingly.

Please pray...

2010-01-27T21:06:00.002+08:00

Life is really unpredictable and each of us should appreciate and cherish those we love because we never know what can happen the very next minute. The minute when you receive that dreaded phone call with the news that you never ever want to hear. News that you never ever believe can happen to those that you love, of all people. And at that moment, not that we are a mean person but we just wish that it happened to someone else! Anything is better than getting that call...

What am I babbling about? Last Friday, my close friend, someone who is almost like my older brother to K and myself because he is the one turn to when we have any dilemma. He is the strong one among the three of us. Last Friday evening, as R was on his way back to his hometown in Penang, he received the dreaded phone call.. A call to tell him that his 11-year-old son fell down the elevator shaft at the highrise that they stay...

It took me a long time to decide to write this or not because my heart hurt just to think...thinking of what the father and mother went through and is still going through. Even know, while typing this, I can feel tears threaten to start in the corner of my eyes...

Today is Wednesday, hard to believe that it has only been 5 days since K & I got that sms from R to pray for his son. 5 days since I hear R breakdown while talking to me on the phone. The last time I talked to R, which was the day before yesterday, I broked down and cry in babe's lap after I put down the phone.

The raw painful emotion on his voice... I know I will never comprehend or even begin to understand what R & his wife is going through. I hope to God that I will never need to comprehend it anytime in my life. I pray to God for miracles(something that some of my friends have never hear me say). It is just not fair for a 11-year-old to.... GOD, it is really NOT FAIR!

Really wish I can do more but nothing else I can do except to pray to God for a miracle.... Pls..pls...if you are reading this posting, pls...no matter what religion are you, pls, pray for this family.

SIGH!!! God give me strength not to cry when I talk to R later..he is in enough pain and do not need more reminder of it from others....

Overboard

2010-01-22T15:02:00.003+08:00

Row row row your boat
Mary heard a scream
Throw the teacher overboard
Then you hear a scream

hahaha..perverted rewrite of the script! :P

Woke up really early this morning at around 7am this morning and just go back to sleep already after making babe his breakfast. After lazing around in bed till around 7.45am, decided to forget trying to fall back to sleep. At first, I was thinking of mincing the pork that I have in the freezer after it thaw.

But then, was thinking, why not just go to the Klang wet market and buy 'kampung' chicken and cook that packet of Uncle Sun abalone chicken herb soup we bought a couple of weeks ago (damn expensive by the way, 1 pkt for RM9.50 and cook one time only). And since I am at the wet market, might as well just get the mince pork there and save me the trouble of mincing my own (Yaaaaaa, lazy la!!).

I also had a sudden craving. Havent had one in more than 1 month. Last time, while still working at the old place, I would have thosai at least twice a week for breakfast! And sometimes during weekend, even go with babe to the mamak shop nearby for thosai garing. Now, there is simply no nice mamak shop near our place here.

Anyway, had thosai telur and teh tarik and off to the wet market. The wet market was nice! Not as many people compared to during the weekends which makes it a rather pleasant experience, horrible smell aside! Also bought a tray of large eggs for RM9, 5 pieces of tauhu for RM1.20, 1 bundle of chives for RM2 and RM10 worth of minced pork. I find things generally are cheaper in Klang compared to Sri Damansara area.

When I got home, I think I went abit overboard because feel guilty for leaving babe to have lunch alone while I go meet my friends for lunch, I cooked 4 dishes:

Omelette stuffed with minced pork & chives

Tauhu

Steamed minced pork

Abalone chicken soup

But guess what, babe DID NOT come back for lunch eventhough I sms him and told him that I cooked lots of food at home. Sheesh...although not wasted because we can have it for dinner, I was dissappointed lor because I rushed to make sure I cooked them before I go out! Just goes to show that you can plan but...

NOT WORKING TOMORROW!! YAHOO!! HOLIDAY!!

2010-01-21T20:38:00.002+08:00

Lalalalala...Tomorrow not working! Tomorrow not working! No need to check the calender lar. Tomorrow is not weekend, only Friday. Not working because after the follow up with the doctor today, he decided to give me another day off and hence, the whole of 2 weeks not working since last Monday. Last week was no fun at all obviously because of the pain. But I must say, except from the sore back and thigh after walking or sitting for 2 hours or more, I actually had a pretty relaxed week.

On Monday, decided to pick up 'geng' and went for blr (banana leaf rice laaaa, not base lending rate *grin*) for lunch. Had been thinking of it for ages since moving to Setia Alam area. Finally decided not to wait for Friday in case the doctor says I am fit to go back to work on Friday. Normally we will go on Friday because then we can have Indian dessert called payasam. It is an acquired taste. Sort of like a combination between sweet bubur caca and spices. Drooling just thinking about it. I wonder if I can tempt the guys to go there tomorrow..hhmm...

Anywayyyyyyyyyy, let see la. By tomorrow I might not want to have them anyways. Babe has been making subtle hint about my weight. I think he is worried because of my recent tear and slipped disk caused by the 3 level disk degration (sp?) thingy. The thing is, the safest exercise for me now is swimming and I have NO IDEA where is the nearest swimming pool at Setia Alam here! Anyone out there have any idea? I dont mind paying each time I use the pool but I really do not want to join any club membership just to use it. Really a waste of money actually.

The next option would be yoga. Saw a banner near the shops today that there is yoga classes available. Run it through the doctor and he thinks it is actually very good but I need to make sure that the instructor are legit and remember to tell him/her about my back problem so that he/she can guide me on the proper exercise to do. Also, he asked me to looked up on Mckenzie Balkeln exercise (gosh, I hope I have the spelling right. The doctor handwriting *shake head*).

Oh yah, guess what he told me too. No amount of calcium or vitamin D will help with the 3 level disk degration as there are no blood vessel that goes to the disk and hence, no nutrient will go to it. And since it is also not a type of bone, calcium wont help either. However, I will continue to take Anlene though to help ensure that my bones are strong. Damn, I have this vision of hunchback when I turn 60 ~>_<~

On the positive note, I went for a job interview today! I know you will wondering didnt I just start a new job? Well, mind you, I didnt actively hunt for job. Just occassionally glance at the vacancies that jobstreet sent me via email if anything interesting pop up.Other than that, I was pretty intense on making this work and excel. After all, I strongly believe that all industries are really small and words will carry if you are good at things.

So, I actually didnt hunt for any vacancies. It hunted for me! Got a call awhile back regarding a position and was told someone recommended my name to this job agency consultant because the person think very highly of my ability (yeahhh dehh!! bloated ego!). Anyway, today was the first interview and (again bloated ego!), the interviewer (COO of the company) got so excited to get me on their payroll that he wanted to call his boss (the MD) to interview me because he is sure if the MD likes me, HQ will agree too.

He actually took roughly 20minutes to try and search for his boss top and down but unfortunately, was not able to find him. So, he decided to call HQ directly to give me on the spot interview! Yar, insane huh? But rationality must have hit him because he realised it would not be a good idea because HQ did not have my resume yet. HAHA! So, we agreed to reschedule it to another evening to meet the MD.

I left the office after that. After all, what else is there for me to do there? But imagine my surprised because less than 10minutes later, as I was driving through the tol, he called me again and said he located his boss and asked if I am driving. (err..yar, of course la). HE actually tried to pursuade the boss that I should be still nearby and want to ask me to come back and meet the MD for an interview. In the end didnt la because I think the MD have something going on and that was around 1pm already. (LUNCH MAR!!)

So, next Monday going back to work. I was teasing babe, next week might be the week I tender my resignation (again). But we will see how it goes. Hhhmmm...never know I am so GOOD!!!!! WAHAHAHAHAHA! HAiyaaaaaaaa, let me feel proud for awhile la okie :P Ok..more calm liaw and humble.....

Sarawak Layer Cake

2010-01-19T20:55:00.003+08:00

Have not bake anything in more than 2 months! Did the usual cooking for babe & myself but nothing special enough that I want to post here. But looking through Sumuk blog on baking Sarawak cake lapis makes me tempted to bake again. As I was saying, I been tempted to try my hand on those really intricate and artsy layer cake that seems to originated from Sarawak. Dont the photos just tempt you to eat them?!?

I guess I just need to kick my ass and makes myself do it. But the thing is, most of the recipe requires at least 20 eggs to make a 8"x8" square trays. And not the whole of the 20 eggs are used. Some recipe require 20 egg yolk and just 4 egg white. What in the world am I going to do with the remaining 16 egg white? Make the no flour chocolate cake? Hhhmm, that is another thought. Let me sleep on that for a few days. HAHA!

Just this for now...yar..short now..hehe.

Suspense................

2010-01-17T00:08:00.003+08:00

Ok! I have get myself in the I am return mode and start to talk nonsense again ^_^

Have not been to work since Monday last week *snicker & wicked grin*! Why you ask? Am I playing 'ponteng kerja' you ask? Errr...as brave as I am and outspoken sometimes, I am not as brave as putting my livelihood on the line like that. Oh, did I mentioned that I most probably only going to start work this coming Friday if all goes well? Gosh, so that dash the thought that I am on leave to clear my leave does it not? Hehehe..this suspense is fun!

Actually, I am on medical leave till this Thursday and depending on the follow up with the doc this Thursday afternoon, I might or might not be allowed back to work on Friday. Of course, my boss is not happy about that but basically, nothing much he can do because MC is MC (but I do dread to think of my performance appraisal).

Oh, you are asking how come I have not been to office since last Monday yah?? Well, you see, the story is like this:

The weekend after we got back from our 'go-back-hometown' trip, just after New Year day, I suffered a sudden back pain. Went to the clinic nearby and all was well by Tuesday with the painkiller and 1 day of rest on that Monday. Then on last Saturday, while trying to get up, suddenly I was in this really really really horrible pain. I mean, if you sprained anything before, I can tell you, this pain is worse than a sprain!

On Saturday, it was still not too bad. Not too painful unless I bend to far and such. But on Sunday, I basically was in pain all the time, i.e. each step is the biggest torture in my life. Imagine I cant really sit because this would mean my back will send sharp shooting pain to my brain and my butt and leg literally start to feel numb! At one point, I was literally crying in pain and this really got babe attention because he realised it must be really bad. Damn, that really scare me.

That night, walking up the stairs took me 5 minutes because I had to keep stopping! The next morning, first thing was going to the clinic again. This time, doc gave me lots of medicine including painkiller, anti-dizzy pills (because the only painkiller I am not allergic will make me dizzy and feel like vomiting...sigh! Dread to think when I am preggie and I am not allowed any pain reliever because I am allergic to it!! GGRR), muscle relaxant, gastric pills and another one.. I cant remember. Basically, I remember I had to take 5 pills at a time, 3 times a day.

Doc must be really worried too because he wants me to be back at his clinic first thing next morning if the pain is not better because he will give me a letter of referral to a specialist. After another painful medicated drowsy haze, went back to the doctor on Tuesday, got the referral letter and babe took half day and went to the medical center with me. Doc actually tells me, if the pain is too much to bear, go straight to the A&E (accident & emergency). He actually address the letter to: "Orthopedic doctor, A&E".

Now, most of you would have thought this would have been warning enough to me how severe this is. Frankly, babe & I just thought we will see the specialist, got super powerful jab; do either MRI or x-ray and get send back with long MC and bags of super strong painkiller. Never in a million years did we thought I will get admitted! That is when we both realised, GOSH! This is really bad. Well, actually I was more like, oh..great....they can inject me directly to my spine and get me out of this torture!

Needless to say, they didnt do that but I did get a jab in the doctor's office because I cant get up from the examination bed/table! I am not joking. After the doc examined me and told us that he wants to admit me, I tried to get up from the examination table with babe's help but each time babe tries to pull me up, I just had to ask him to stop because I feel as if I am breaking into half at the waist! In the end, doc says refuse to let me get up until he gives me a jab.

Thank god he did too because the admission itself took more than 1 hour! Apparently, there is no 4 bedded room available (that was my request at first because I didnt know I am entitled up to RM200 per night room :P). Then I just cannot stand it anymore and told them to just get me to the 2 bedded room (which cost RM150 per night!). I finally only got properly admitted and in my bed at almost 5pm! (I reached the medical center at 1pm..which means 4 hours of hell...sigh).

Then at 6pm, I got a call to go to the physical therapy and I thought, huh? I have backache and I am gonna do exercise??? How the hell am I going to be able to get thru that without fainting when even lying in bed on my back is painful? Even more apprehensive when the nurse pushed me passed a whole row of equipments you normally see in gym! Then she pushed me through another door passed all the equipments and lo-behold, physical therapy as in infra heat therapy, ultrasound wave therapy and gentle massage therapy...that kind of physical therapy. PHEW!!! (Frankly speaking, I told babe that it feels like going for massage with different rooms and massage bed/table.)

I finally got back to my room where babe is waiting at around 7pm. Dinner is waiting at the table. Oh, I didnt tell you that the patient get complimentary meals? Hehehe! I was too exhausted by then and just had about 1/3 of the meal. Babe helped himself to the rest :)

2nd day, Wed, all alone in the hospital for the whole day. Babe wont be able to come and I told him not to anyways. No point for him to waste his leave just sitting around with me at the hospital and I can call him if something serious happens. So, me, ready to face the uncertainties for the day. Doc came at 8am to check up on me. He arranged for MRI and 2 more physical therapy for the day. By then, I am definitely better than the day before. At least I am able to get up on my own by pulling on the side of the bed railing.

Doc diagnosis from the MRI report shows that I have a tear, buldging & narrowing disc which is caused mainly by the deterioting condition of the disc where the fluid in 3 of the disc are all gone, i.e. dried up. Apparently, this is more and more common for people in my age group although it should only really happen to people in their 40s and above. (DAMN! I am old already!!).

AND the best news, since I am much much better by that afternoon doctor visit, I can go back the next day and recuperate at home! HOORAY! By then, I am very very sick of the place! UGH! Nothing much to do except SLEEP, EAT, PHYSICAL THERAPY and watch TV (Oh did I mention they actually have Star Movie, HBO, AXN and a few other channels. I think about 10-14 channels total).

Seriously, I really had no idea why the doctor admit me to be very frank. I mean, I can basically do my own heat therapy at home with a hot water bottle and take the painkiller at home and sleep and rest at home. Why admit me at all if there is no intention to do more than that? Babe had the same opinion. The doc could have just arrange for a MRI on the initial consultation itself and finds out the exact diagnosis instead of admitting me first.

We suspect it is because the insurance are the one footing the medical expenses incurred. And pretty hefty bill too for 2 nights and 3 days stay at the hospital with 1 MRI, 2 physical therapy & twice a day painkiller equals to RM1800+! Thank god for company insurance!

Anyway, I am home now. Much better. Back pain and right leg only starts when I sit or walk more than 1 hour at a time without lying down to rest my back. RK calls me old lady because of this! (BLUEK!). I also discover that I get tired really fast compare to before the injury. Start to recognise when I break into cold sweats, it mean time to rest. Started taking 2 scope of Anlene starting today. Was told that I should take Vitamin D too to aid the absorption of the calcium. Must find from Chinese physician what herbs I can take to improve my condition. I simply do not believe in the doctor's comment that there is no cure for disc deteriotion such as this! Wish me luck!!!!

I am alive!

2010-01-08T22:21:00.002+08:00

I am here! YAYYY!!! HAHA! Yar, I know..practically disappeared from cyber-world for more than 2 months. Not by choice mind you..had to since I quit my previous job and had to return the super new company laptop and at the same time, my home laptop decided to go die on me. So, I paid for 2months of internet for NOTHING! If you ask how come I dont go online while I am in the office, well..number 1, I am simply too frigging busy to even think of doing any chatting, blogging, surfing or anything that is not related to work...

2ndly, the office network is monitor by the group IT. Hence, never wise to do much blogging especially when this is where I release all my frustration about EVERYTHING! Would not be wise say something like:I am damn bored at work... right? HAHA! But I am not bored at work la. Far from it, I am so busy that I am practically doing overtime almost everyday. Official office hour is 8.30am to 5.30pm. I will usually only leave office at 6.30pm and that is consider as early. Most time, I only leave at 7pm.

I can only thank god that I am staying near enough now that I dont have to fight stupid jam. To be frank, the work itself is a no brainer. Just that there is so much paperwork and baby sitting that so much time are wasted. Imagine, just to get the requisition approved, need approval from the boss on the purchase requisition form and then the procurement have to enter into the system we are using which the boss have to approve another round! To me, so much redundancy work....

There are alot of other areas that I can see is doing similar redudant repeative non value add work and I am trying to slowly reduce the inefficiency but there is only so much that I can do as one person. Can be very frustrating because it is not a simple matter of telling the group the goal but also need to spell out EXACTLY how to reach the goal. Even missing a single step in the process to reach it will mean the whole group will be stucked at the particular item for ages!!! GGGR!!! Anyway, we will just wait & see.

Short one for now. Want to watch tv! :P

30 second Speech

2010-01-08T21:57:00.002+08:00

I cant help but wanting to share this with all of you (after a long long disappearing act :P)

VERY SHORT, MOST EFFECTIVE AND HOW TRUE...

30 second Speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you ' re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back..

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it."

WORK EFFICIENTLY DURING OFFICE HOURS AND LEAVE ON TIME. GIVE THE REQUIRED TIME TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS & HAVE PROPER REST.

I am here!

2009-11-07T22:53:00.002+08:00

Hi! Yah, I am still here. Not abandoning my blogs. Just been really busy since the last one month trying to get use to waking up at 6am and leaving the house by 645am to get to the new place. I think some might remember that the official working hours of the new place is actually 8.30am but they too practice pretty flexi hour. However, since I am currently carpooling with hubby, we need to leave home early so that he can be at his workplace by 8am after sending me off to my office! Yah, that means I am actually at the office by 7.30am and again, way before anyone else there.

Initially, I will send him to work and then reach the office by 8.30am. Then during lunchtime, go and pick him up and he drive me back to work after lunch so that he will have the car and pick me up and go home after work. Then, after a week, we realised that not only it is too much of a rush but also very painful on the petrol cost! So, since one of us had to sacrifice, I decided I rather go to work early than rush around during lunchtime.

As much as I enjoyed the quite time early in the morning at the office, I will be glad when we finally moved to our new place end of the month. Then babe will be using his bike since that is only about 10minutes from the new place. And as for me, I will see if I still want to go to work early:P

Anyway, that is it for now. Super lazy to do much blogging! Maybe when we moved to the new place and have more time...maybe.. :P

October 9, 2009 - HOROSCOPE!

2009-10-10T11:51:00.003+08:00

My horoscope yesterday:

Your horoscope for October 9, 2009
The weightiness of the past few days seems to be lifting, and you will find that there is a slight breeze building up that will help to fuel your fire, Jen Lu. By having built a solid foundation, you have created a reliable launching pad from which to take off. Communicate what you have learned with others. Allow your opinion to be heard. A great deal of useful information will be exchanged.

I must say, this week has been a long but short week. Am I confusing you? Long because it seems that there are so much to learn and short because it seems that there is not enough time. It felt as if it has been decades since I joined this company but in actual fact only been less than 10 days. Well, today would be day-10 to be exact. How was it so far? Well, I can only say now I understand how this company can grow to 209,000 employees in over 60 countries! The group activities not only include business or profit making but also employee social well-being, safety and health as well as social activities.

I am involved in so many things on top of the daily activities that it is making me dizzy just thinking about it. But that alone would not have been a great task, challenging but not impossible to do since there are many guidelines from the group HQ. What irks me is actually despite being part of a big consortium, the processes and things are done, the daily task handling are still so primitive! And I can hear the exec keep sighing and banging her stuff around while going about her work (Not sure if this is for my benefit as the her new superior but definitely need to talk to her about that later).

I wonder if my manager is trying to 'cleanse' the department of oldies that simply cannot cope with the additional more challenging job requirement as part of a group. I seriously do not know but was informed on Tuesday that the prod planning manager is resigning. He has been with the company forever and decided to leave. The rest of us in the department are actually less than 2year-old and most are less than 1-year-old. Knowing my boss, he will most likely look for someone that have the drive and initiative to look for improvement to make things more efficient and effective.

I think we really need it. Looking at he complaints from customer the pass few months this year, some of the complaints are really due to really silly human error that if ever happen, should only happen once and not repeatedly!

Anyway, back to the horoscope, the weightiness lifting yesterday, how true. Because I actually see the light at the end of the tunnel getting brighter and brighter with each passing days because I can see some things that I can do in order to make things more efficient! Yar yar, I know, I am crazy. It just work but friends that knows me will know that I can never just lie still if I can see something challenging but improvement that is within my power or knowledge to do. I think that is why babe sometimes say I am being silly for being so passionate.... hehehe.....

Short talk: New place!

2009-10-06T20:15:00.003+08:00

Just a short one! Too tired to update much. Started work at the new company since 1 Oct. Pretty boring first few days with not much to do. Basically, I am trying to absorb as much as possible from the manager that I am replacing before her last day. Hoping to be able finish the handover by next and then start hands on with her on hand for me to ask her questions if there is anything. Boss is starting to send me stuff to do starting with customer visit next Friday. At this time, I will reserve my comment to myself for now until I learned more because I got this feeling that I will start to recommend changes but I got this feeling that I need to think over carefully how to approach this so that people can accept this.
WISH they will speed up though! SO SLOW!!!!

On the good side, landlady agreed to waive the remainer of the year and let me just give her 2 months notice before vacant the place I am staying now so that we can find a place that is nearer to the my and babe work place now ^_^. Looking forward to move in Dec!! :P

2nd last day

2009-09-29T21:36:00.002+08:00

PHEW! FINALLY, tomorrow is the last day of work at my current company. Immediately after that, Thursday will be my first day. And guess what, I have not start clearing my cubicle. I think I have a couple pair of shoes under my desk and some girlie stuff in the drawers! Oh, and also some containers and cups in the pantry. Hope I wont forget anything. Feeling kind of weird actually because till today, I am STILL doing work and STILL redirecting my colleagues to the new fella taking over the job.

Guess they are still trying to get use to not having JenJen around to ask question that they can get answer to almost instantly. And I can see the new fella is getting really stressed out now with the amount of work that he took on. I think he is already wondering what did he get himself into. I keep hearing him sigh and say "so much to do". All I can say is that I been doing it for more than 1.5 years. Just need some getting use to of course, all the 12 items in the list that our US boss told him he need to make sure he pick up and do.

Anyway, colleagues brought me out for my farewell lunch at Italiannies today. The food was so-so & nothing to shout about but we had great fun laughing and snapping lots of photos. 3 of us brought DSLR cameras and another a G9. We are slightly high and excited with the cameras and it being the 2nd last day for me. I think we were easily the noisiest crowd there. But who cares. We had fun. We can see the waiters and waitress had fun watching us making a fool of ourselves. HEHE!

Then, we walked around 1u for awhile to walk off our lunch and take some more photos. After that, of course back to office. That is where I got bombarded with lots of last minute questions from the guy (I call him puppy because he sit next to me and sharing my desk since the day he arrived from Taiwan like a lil faithful puppy!) and Merv also started to get worried.

Something that he said got me thinking because I was wondering why he is asking me all this questions that puppy should do. Turn out he is worried because they have been taking it for granted that I am here and based in the same office and it a simple matter of walking over to my cubicle if he need any information or do some brainstorming. In order word, took me for granted la! :P HAHA! But I am ok la. At least I know this people will FEEL the lost when I am not around. HEHE!

So, I sent my farewell email too already to the colleagues. Monday was emails to vendors and customers. And since Monday, been getting lots of emails, skype and calls asking me if puppy is taking over my job responsibilities, what is my role now. I think most of them expect either I got a promotion or transferred to another department especially since our co just bought over a company in Taiwan.

Some were pretty shocked when I said I resigned and last day is on 30 Sep! One vendor even go as far as asking me how come I NEVER mention to her that I am leaving. All I can say is that it is not my decision but my boss requested me not to mention anything to anyone of the vendors and customers yet till Monday. No idea why and not keen to ask as well because I might be shocked by the answer as usual.

A colleague who is the boss of the engineering department even ask if I am really leaving because he heard I resigned but thought I changed my mind because nothing seem to be different! I guess they are shocked because I still go about doing my work till well, today! But no choice. I simply cannot just let go like that la especially when I imagine my poor customers and vendors. Not to mention all the hardwork to pull in deliveries. So, while puppy work hard to download and assimilate all the information, I had to be the temporary firewall. HEHE!

YAR YAR! I am sot already with excitement! WOOHOO!!

Stupid stupid stupid

2009-09-23T21:21:00.004+08:00

It is less than a week to my last day of work in this company and yet the COM still have the ability to irk and makes me feel like screaming at the top of my lung in frustration. Imagine this conversation among all the other members of the team and also a colleague from Taiwan that is going to take over my job scope:

COM: You are not suppose to contact end customer A.
Me: Yar but customer told us that we can contact his end customer A. He gave the authorisation to end customer A to communicate shipment with me.
COM: But this is not acceptable. You are not suppose to deal directly with end customer A. You should only deal with customer.
Me: BUT customer AUTHORISED and gave the permission to communicate on shipments related to this product.
COM: No. Can you guarantee that customer will not refuse to acknowledge the shipping arrangement made by you via the communication with end customer A. Can you be sure customer wont do this?
Me: ****PENGSAN AND 3-LINE". But COM, customer told me via EMAIL cc all the bosses that end customer A can deal directly with me.
COM: There is an email? Does the email cc his boss?
Me: Yes.
COM: Then it is ok.

ARGGH!!!!!

Case2, came meeting, same group of people:

COM: Lets have training 10am to 12noon today for him.
Me: Can we do this after lunch? I need to call customer for urgent shipping matter.
COM: Why do you need to call customer?
Me: Customer requested I call him once I have the final quantity for shipment today so that he can give me the final instruction.
COM: But shouldnt customer have provided you the shipping instruction earlier?
Me: Yes, normally they will but because this shipment is urgent and they need to know the final quantity so that they can make intelligent shipping priority to their end customer.
COM: No, this is not necessary. This is why I want to be in the training so that we can make sure no last minute things like this done. Send customer email to tell him the final quantity and ship tomorrow.

ARGGH!! ARRRRRGGGGGGGGH!!!!! First of all, customer said it is important and I have already promised customer that I will call him to let him know the final shipping quantity so that he can give the correct shipping instruction. Second of all, just because you are the boss does not give you the right to preach one thing and do another thing. What happen to 'think for the customer'???? Third of all, stop be so blardy unprofessional. Just because the candidate that I introduce for this job said that bosses need to be supportive and respect his subordinates AND you felt it is hitting a sharp arrow at you, it does not give you the right to be so idiotic and try to get at me at every opportunity.

I do not have control over what she will or will not say to you during interview. And so what if she said that? It is the TRUTH! BOSSES NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE AND RESPECT HIS PEOPLE! JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT AND FEEL THAT SHARP SHARP ARROW SHOOTING & SHITTING AT YOU, not my PROBLEM!

Thank GOD I did not change my mind about leaving this stupid job. I think I am really stupid to let this get to me like this when my last day is 30 Sep! IF it was not for the benefit of the customers and my team members, do you think I will even bother??? This is not very nice of me BUT I hope whatever bad karma will go to you 100x worse than the way you treat your subordinate! STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!

Crazy Old Man

2009-09-17T21:25:00.006+08:00

I know I will be leaving all this behind in less than two weeks and I should not let it affect me. But it is pretty hard not to feel hurt and unappreciated when I been working hard to make sure that me resigning would not affect the team much. So, it is really upsetting to hear someone said straight to my face in front of other members of the team that he thought I no longer consider myself part of the team. And this is simply because I have not been keeping him in my email loop!

Really hurtful and irritating especially when I have done nothing but THINK of the team! If I do not consider the team, why the world do I bother to push the vendors so hard the last 2 weeks to pull in the deliveries so that it will not clash with the golden week holiday in China early Oct! In fact, in each meeting that we been having, I have been reporting improvement that the vendors were able to make in the delivery schedule after monitoring, pushing, begging and even threatening!

Did he think that the job just get itself done if I dont do anything about it. Did he think that if I do not put any effort to THINK of the team, things will somehow be ok? BLARDY IDIOT COM! And just because someone that I recommended for to replace me said during the interview that a boss need to be supportive and respect his people, I am automatically the prime suspect for such statement. Or perhaps I am the one telling my friend to say that to him? AGAIN, BLARDY SHALLOW COM!

To think that I actually have regrets for resigning from the company last few days. Talking to R about the potential that this company has and the career prospect, it makes me think perhaps I can reconsider my decision. But after today, it has reaffirmed my decision is the right one for me. No more doubt. Just a positive outlook of the next adventure in my career.

Sometimes I wonder, why the hell does the company do not do SOMETHING drastic already. How many more good people need to leave the company before anything will be done? Yar, it is easy to find a replacement but can the company be sure that the replacement will be as good as the person that they are replacing? And even if the person is, will he or she be able to work well in the team as we are now?!?

But I cant help thinking, did they dont even know how lucky they are to have this team? The few things that kept me going when I came home too stoned and tired to even cry is my husband, my friends and my team members! The only few regrets that I have about leaving this job is leaving the guys from my team to suffer. I hope and pray they know when to get out when things get too unbearable and have the strength to fight back. DONT LET THE BLARDY COM BULLY YOU GUYS!

I still cannot understand why God gave me COM though. Perhaps it is to make me look within myself, learn and know when to accept defeat. Perhaps it is to show me how 'unique' a boss can be. Or maybe so that I know myself better and push myself to higher level? Or it is simply to remind me of my goal to climb the career ladder?

Looking at the big picture, I know I have gained more than I lost. I can just imagine, 10 years from now, looking back into this chapter of my life, I will smile at my foolish optimism and naiveity.

Short talk: Desperation

2009-09-16T17:44:00.002+08:00

OMG!!! I am so bored!! SOMEONE please rescue me!! It is not that I have nothing to do. I did all of it per usual but I think it is because I know that I will not be doing it much longer and hence, no challenge to make things better, i.e. now just keeping it at status quo, and hence, no challenge, no stress equals to BOREDOM! Life have no meaning la without aim and goal! I cant wait till it is my last day and I start at my new place!

SIGH!!!! I am actually FB-ing, FV-ing, MW-ing and YV-ing! All the -ing! And oh! BLOGGING! DAMN! Have not done this for awhile already. And I am also eating more than usual because I guess I am filling boredom with food? But even that is not curing it! HOW AH?? HELP!! Another 7 days of workday to go!!!

I know, crazy! Got pressure and stress also complaint. Dun have also complaint! But that is human nature la I guess :P

Short talk: Happy Talk :P

2009-09-16T09:21:00.001+08:00

WeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! CLEAVER! FIGHT!

2009-09-15T23:14:00.002+08:00

Guess what! Guess what!!! Something really exciting (and kinda scary too) happened while babe and I went to have bak kut teh for our dinner. It involves 2 big cleaver, a broom, big stone and a car! Oh, and 2 ladies! The story goes like this, babe and I were happily having our big bowl of bak kut teh at this place in Kepong called Ka Ka Bak Kut Teh (or in Mandarin it was actually Jia Jia Bak Kut Teh).

Half way through our meal, suddenly we hear this really loud honking. When we looked around, we realised that there was this red proton saga parked right in the middle of the road, blocking the other cars that is parking there from leaving. So, being the most natural reaction, the guy who is driving this old model of mercedes honked to get whoever the owner of the car to drive away. I think he must have honked for more than 15minutes and from the sound of the honking that is getting louder and longer, he is getting really impatient.

Suddenly, we hear this loud shouting from the 3rd floor of the shoplot! I think the Indian lady was shouting something about dont bug me. Go talk to the shop owner. And so on. She sound really angry and looks likes someone that has just been woken up from her sleep. That is what babe and I thought anyway, i.e. the long loud honking has woken her from a much needed sleep perhaps or a really bad day? Anyway, the car did stopped honking for a short while. Shocked from being screamed at for no apparent reason. I think he is also worried the crazy woman might just throw something down and damage his car.

But after awhile, he decided to start honking again. This time, the lady that runs the bak kut teh(BKT) shop came out and look around. She then too start shouting and this time from the road up the shop house! Apparently, the red proton saga belongs to the first lady that shouted from the 3rd floor! WOW! NOW we understand why she was shouting. The shouting match begins then and it start to escalate.

Suddenly, we saw the 3rd floor lady coming down the stairs and start to charge at the bkt lady! And to make matter even more dramatic, the bkt lady was carrying TWO big cleaver!The 3rd floor lady actually took some stick and tried to hit the bkt lady with it. I mean, this two women wa really going at it and really did seem as if they are going to hurt each other. The weirdest part it, no one except a Bangladeshie that is working there did anything at all.

By this time, the crowd has gathered, including those from a restaurant nearby! I saw the Bangladeshie made a phone call. And from the chaos, I was able to made out that he called the owner of the bkt shop. From the bits and pieces I heard, it seems that this has happened before! Anyway, after a while, the 3rd floor lady decided to go back to her place and start shouting from the balcony and have shouting match there. Some where, some how, the bkt lady decided to call the police. Shouted rather loudly and tell her kuli to call the mata (police in hokkien la).

The 3rd floor lady of course wont admit defeat. She too want to call the police. In fact, that is exactly what she did and had a loud conversation from her balcony in Manglish (Malay + English), I think for the benefit for the rest of us down here. At some point, she put down her phone and actually shouted at us, the customers and scolding us for supporting the bkt and eating there!

BKT lady got angry and started to shout at her again. And somehow, the thing got so heated that the 3rd floor lady started throwing things down from the balcony in her attempt to hit the bkt lady I guess. By this time, the cars that was being blocked by the red proton saga somehow managed to get out and move their cars away. If not, I am pretty sure those cars will have some dent by now.

Anyway, at first, she only throw those mini empty plastic flower pots. Then, suddenly as the bkt lady walk away, scolding all kinds of things at the 3rd floor lady, something really big and heavy landed at one of the table that is just 10feet away from me! Thank god the table was empty and the stone didnt hit anyone. It was actually a really big piece of broken brick! By then, people have actually left or moved table, leaving one corner of the bkt place empty.

I actually wanted to ask babe to lets go. But babe said she wont hurt anyone la. If she did, when she came down the first time, she would have went amok and hit the bkt lady with the broom or whatever she can grasp her hand on. I guess I agreed with babe on that point but sometimes when people anger boiled over, they might not know what they are doing. Anyway, we kept a pretty close eye on the 3rd floor lady to make sure that she is not throwing anything else that might hit us.

In the end, the reason for such fury was because she felt that because of the bkt doing business there, the customers are 'taking' her parking. In actual fact, since it is a shophouse, there is not reserved parking. I mean, any sane normal person would actually just move the car and parked in the space that was vacanted. No big deal right? If she wanted a reserved parking space, perhaps she should have looked for a higher end place to stay? Anyway, since I do not fully know what is going, I will reserve my judgement to myself. For all I know, something the bkt lady did previously provoked this resentment.

Babe and I certainly had some excitement and our adreneline pumping slightly. The drama and the hot bkt! What a combination :)

LONGG WEEKEND! YAHOO!

2009-09-15T13:59:00.002+08:00

The smurf-song keep playing in my head!!! I cant get it out!! ARGGH!!! It keep on going 'lalalalala' over and over and over again. If you know the smurf-song, you know how irritating this is if that is all the music that keeps on going on like a broken record and you just cant turn it off!! GGRRR! This is all my babe's fault! He was teasing one day by lala-ing the song and since then, whenever I want to lala-ing, automatically this song will pop up!

ANYWAYYYYYYYY, today is Tuesday and it will be the weekend soon! I am going on leave this Friday for the pre-employment medical check up. Been given strict instruction to start fasting from 8pm onwards. Apparently it will be a very complete check up that will start at 9am and most probably only finish around 2pm. And it is at Subang Medical Center. I was told that I must remember to bring the letter from my new company or else I will have to pay RM500+ first and claim later. DEFINITELY will make sure I remember to bring the letter. No way la, RM500! Crazy!

And then it will be the start of a long weekend since Monday and Tuesday next week is public holiday. At first, babe and I thought we should go to Cameron Highland since we never been there before. Maybe for a 2night, 3 days stay. But in the end decided to forget about it because for one thing, it will be peak season and for sure there will be surchange on top of the normal price. For another, it will definitely be super crowded! We both do not like to go for holidays at crowded places.

So, what do we do then? I am thinking of baking up a storm and babe is thinking of bbq (AGAIN!). Babe and his bbq! He is going gaga over bbq-ing. But I dont mind. It mean that I can stock up on my smoked chicken again. Good for making salad. And bbq should be healthier than deep frying right? Anyway, up to him la as long as he clean up the bbq pit and balcony after that. Me, as usual, have to wash up la, what else!

So, I am thinking of baking but not sure if I will or not because might end up being super lazy and just decided to forget it la. I still have some three-layer pork and spare ribs. So might just roast that in the microwave oven again like I did for the Special Crispy Roast Pork. I dont want to grill or roast the sparerib as I think it is tastier if can smoke it on the bbq pit! Oh well, see how la. I guess most important is have fun! :P

Special Crispy Roast Pork

2009-09-12T17:21:00.004+08:00

Remember I said that babe and I went to the market last week and bought one big slap of three-layer-pork because I wanted to try and make the special crispy roast pork? Well, I didnt do it last week because I wanted to look for the string to tie the pork but dont know where to get it. Finally, today, I decided that since I cant find the string, why not use babe's bonsai's wire to tie the pork up. All I need is something that is strong enough to hold the peice of meat together and not melt in the high heat of the oven.

After searching online for tips to make the pork skin crispy, I finally tried to make my first crispy pork using the convention microwave oven. I must say, it did turn out pretty good although there are still some parts of the skin that didnt crackle as well as I want it to be. What really surprised me was that the pork didnt shrink as much compared to when it is layed out flat.

If you want to attempt this, must make sure you get a really good piece of three layer pork with not too much fat or meat. Equal balance will ensure that the taste is superb and light as well. The pork was marinated with just salt, pepper and butter. And I only marinate the meaty part and left the skin untouch. When ready to cook the pork, I run hot water over the skin. You will see the skin actually shrunk slightly. Then pour some vinegar or lemon juice over the skin and rub some salt over the skin.

Bake the pork skin side up at 200 degree celcius for about 2hours. Every half hour, take the pork out and brush some vinegar or lemon juice on the skin and continue baking. As different oven behalf differently, make sure you keep a check on it. If any part of the pork is ready but others not, cover the ready part with aluminium foil (shin to avoid it from getting burn.

So the results to share:

DONT DROOL TOO MUCH OK!! :P

Crazy brazy arazy?

2009-09-10T10:10:00.002+08:00

10.18am and I am done with most of my work for the day! I was actually at the office before 7.30am and started work almost immediately (almost la..make a cuppa thick coffee to jolt me awake first!). I purposely skipped my usual routine of going to the mamak for breakfast before coming in to the office because I want to catch my customer in US before they finish work for their day. And since I was already in the momentum of things, decided to complete other tasks pending for the day too. So, now, I am left hanging with nothing much to do. Guess the coffee turbo charge me more than I know it will! :P

So, now, I am sitting here, counting down to my last day. Today is 10 Sep, mean that another 20days to go out of which only 10days is actual work-day. Others are either weekend, public holidays or me clearing leave. And at the moment, still no news of the replacement. I guess next week must really start handing over and 'training' the rest of my colleagues in my department to take over my work. Hopefully, they will get someone in soon. Pity my colleagues! On top of what they need to do, now added responsibilities but not choice and this is not long term!

I am also excited about the weekend. Already thinking and planning what to cook and bake! Going to try and make the crispy rolled roast pork this Saturday. Cant resist after seeing some really fantastic photos that makes the saliva start drooling even when I just think about it now. Will make sure babe take lots and lots of photo and share it with you all. Make you guys drool too. HEHE!

Babe has also been asking how come I don't bake chocolate cake anymore. EGAD! I thought he was the one that told me dont bake. And then suddenly asked me how come I dont bake anymore. I asked him that and guess what he answered me. "Dont listen to me la" 0_0!!!!!! HAHA! MEN!!! So pretend one! Want to eat, just say la! SHEESH! So, I am planning to bake flourless chocolate cake and also if got time, the rich chocolate cake that I made that time. I have a few bars of dark chocolate and also rum & raisin dark chocolate in the fridge which I purposely bought during bargain time for baking.

Am also tempted to make chicken curry pie. Remember the apple pie that I made a few weeks back? Well babe was saying he likes the crust but not the filling since he is not a fan of baked fruits. He suggested putting canned chicken curry in the crust instead.

But I am thinking, instead of the canned chicken curry, why dont I make my own with chicken, potatoes and some leek? That should taste ok right? Or maybe I shouldnt risk it and just use the canned ones? Or maybe instead of making pie, I should make small pastry puff with the chicken curry? That would be interesting. But not sure babe will agree with me or not. I still prefer apple pie!

I was also exploring the net for making chocolate from cocoa bean at home. Blame it on Astro. I saw this cooking show on Astro Travel & Living channel 703 (cant remember the name of the show). It is the show where this guy is a chocolatier and makes his own chocolate. He actually went and buy his own whole container of cocoa bean to make high quality 100% cocoa chocolate. 100% cocoa chocolate mean that there is nothing else added to the chocolate other than cocoa, no sugar nothing. So, it does not taste like our conventional store-bought chocolate that has sugar mixed it in.

Instead of sweet, the 100% cocoa chocolate is really bitter. He was trying to promote using chocolate in cooking. Yap, not just baking but COOKING! In one of the show that I actually managed to catch, he was coating pigeon with a layer of melted 100% cocoa chocolate and wrap the chicken with streaky bacon. He then bake them in the oven! I know, the idea of chocolate, meat and bacon, weird combination!

But seriously, I think it is pretty cool and am interested to try the idea. But where in the world am I going to find 100% cocoa chocolate!? So far, the highest cocoa contain chocolate that I ever seen is 90%. And I am not so sure this will work because there will be some sweetness in the 90% cocoa chocolate and this is the not the taste that I desired to go with my meat and bacon! Sweet, bitter, meat?

ANYWAY, enough about food for now. I will definitely share photos if I do go crazy with baking and cooking this weekend! ADIOS!

Double Jeopardy!

2009-09-09T08:07:00.003+08:00

YAWN!!!! Wednesday! Thank GOD! I am starting to go out of my mind although today is just the second day of work for this week. Lots of things to do as usual. The one day yesterday actually felt like a few days. But I got 2 happy news yesterday from two different colleagues/friends.

One of the colleague in my department apparently thought I am just 27/28 instead of 32!! HAHA! Well, has been a long time since anyone think that I look younger than my age. I think it has something to do with the stress that I put myself in. (Yar, I am the one that put myself in that stress level because no matter what, emotions and feelings are determined by me la no matter what the external factor that cause it).

Back to the topic, yar, been awhile since anyone thinks that I look younger and dont believe my actual age. I remember when I was working in Kuching, in my late 20s, people always mistaken me for college students. I remember once, when I was in the airport getting ready to fly to KL to meet babe for a holiday, me with my laptop backpack, in jeans and tshirt, queuing up to board the plane. Like everyone else, we sort of feel like kindred spirit after having to wait for hours due to flight delays.

One of the lady queuing in front me with a kid chatted with me. The usual small talk between strangers, i.e. where you going? What you doing there? Where you studying or working? Although for my case, it is always where you studying.... So, when I tell them no-no, I am working and I am in my late 20s, that usually got them looking at me all over and trying to assess if I am bluffing. I will then whipped out my business card and hand it over! That was fun and good old days. So, it just goes to proof my theory, stress and demotivation makes one look older! So, cheerios people! Smile more and be energised!

The second happy news that came was from K. Apparently she was having a private chat in one of the meeting room with her superior and suddenly her boss ask her, Jen resigned? (No idea how he knew but he knew anyways). K confirmed that I hav resigned and he said 'Jen has been handling a lot of things ..and from what I know she is very efficient". WOW!! My nose grow really big with pride! HAHA! Even manager that dont deal with me at all knew that I am efficient! That really boost my confidence!

So, that was yesterday. I wonder what other good news will come my way! :P

Crab Murderer?!?

2009-09-05T19:01:00.003+08:00

Live crab are normally feared by those that have never conquered them before. I think it got something to do with the big sharp claws that once clam down on any part of you, will never let go until it is dead or its claw chopped from its body.

I remembered a lady asking me at the wet market while I waited for the seller to pack my crabs, "Hard to kill?" To which I answered, "No, very easy! Just flip them over and use poke a sharp knife into their belly". The response I got, the most intensely disgusted scared face!

Well, I think that is alot more humane compared to Chef Wan when he showing Bobby Chin how to cook fragrant crab on Astro. He just put on some thick gloves, hold on to the live crab and snap the big claws from the crab. Next, he took a kitchen scissor and cut the legs off. And finally, peel off the shell. All this while the crab is very much ALIVE! I wonder if Astro edited out the shrieking of the crab!

Since we got crabs from the market again today and babe is looking for opportunities to test his new camera, decided to show you guys how I kill and prepare the crabs.

The crabs all tied up by the seller esp the claws! So, no possibility of snapping at you unless you untie it. Flip the crab over on its belly. I use a thong. You can use anything that can help to aid you to turn the crab over and hold on to it. Even a strong spatula is good enough. And if you are really brave, your hands!

Pludge the knife deep into the belly of the crab. That is the softest part of the exterior shell. Usually, if this is done right, it will be dead in less than a minute. (Well, almost dead!)

The murdered crab! You can see very clearly here that their claws are still tied up. I am not taking any chances until I am sure they are fully and truly dead!

Once confirmed its dead, grab the bottom part of the shell and the legs, peel the top and bottom away. With some muscle, it should peel away like the above. It can get 'stucked' abit but dont worry, just pull in opposite direction until the shell gives.

There are some sponge like material on the inside and you need to remove this. Some believe that this part of the crab will cause you food poisoning or worse. I use a rough kitchen scrubber to clean out the last bit that might stick pretty hard to the crab.

You will need to wash and clean the shell with the scrubber as well. Get rid of those 'white' thing in the shell. I usually leave the rest intake as I like the texture but some prefer to just get rid of all the inerts.

Since I have 4 medium size crab, I decided to cook two variety, i.e. (1) Stirfry crab with eggs and (2) Stirfry crab with dry scrimp paste and belacan.

The ingredients

The 2 crab dishes

Stirfry crab with dried scrimp paste and belacan

Stirfry crab with eggs

Who loves you the most?

2009-09-04T08:28:00.002+08:00

Got this very meaningful sms from K today. Cant help but want to share with all of you because it is so true. Hope you are all also as lucky I am

They love you but they are not your lover..
They care for you but they are not from your family..
They are ready to share your pain but they are not in your blood relation..
They are..friends!!

True friend:
Scolds like a Dad!
Cares like a Mom!
Teases like a Sister!
Irritates like a Brother!
and finally loves you more than a lover...

Do you know the relation between your two eyes?
They blink together,
move together,
see things together,
Sleep together.
Though they never see each other.
Friendship should be just like that.
Life is hell without friends.

Cherish your friends!

I am ever so lucky because I have not 1 but a few good friends! Thank you for caring, loving, sharing, teasing and irritating me! :)

The Night I Got My Friends Pregnant

2009-08-30T14:14:00.006+08:00

Sooooo..long weekend and guess what we decided to do? BBQ Gathering of course! It is actually an annual thing that babe and his friends usually do on the eve of Merdeka Day (Independence Day). When he and his buddies were younger, this were one of the excuses to get together to drink and get really really drunk. But nowadays, with most of them married and with kids, it is more a get-together to catch up, chit chat and see what each other is doing.

And this year, this 31 Aug falls on a Monday, I decided to have one at our place for my friends. It is sort of a semi-potluck thing where everyone bring a little something. (I think the friends are curious to see how in the world do people do bbq in a apartment balcony! HAHA). Anyway, gathering started at around 6.30-7pm but preparation for me actually started much earlier.

We (yahh, babe and I) woke up at 7.30am (again, yah!!! He woke up at 7.30am on Saturday!! HAHAHA!). We went to the market early in hope to buy nice cuts of pork and whole pieces of spare rib for the bbq that night. Also, we wanted to get some crab to cook for lunch. By the time we arrive and parked, it was actually already 8.30am. Unexpectedly, there are actually a big crowd of people! The market was so jam packed that there are actually human traffic jam at some part of the market. Really didnt expect so many people to go early to the market.

Anyway, we did our pork shopping, bought the crab, crab with roe some more! Usually, we discovered that it is really hard to find female crab for sale. What more, those with roe, even much harder to get. So, imagine our surprise that not only there are female crab for sale but it is full of golden orange roe! Simply cant resist it. We got a 1kg (4 crabs) for RM28. We also bought some lectuce to have with the bbq pork tonight.

The previous time I went to the wet market alone, I saw a coffee shop selling dimsum in the heart of the wet market! Imagine, stacks and stacks of steamed dimsum just beside the stall selling roast pork! So, this time since I went with babe, decided to seek out the shop to have our breakfast. That is when we discovered that there are 2 dimsum shops and the one that we went is one of the older better ones (PHEW!).

How they serve? Well, you dont have to go to order. They will actually bring you trays and trays of the steamed dimsum and those more fusion ones on a tray and you choose what you want. Babe and I went a little overboard and actually had 6 dishes at the end of the day. Let me see, deep fried radish cakes (3pieces), yam puff (2pieces), salted egg with pork dim sum(3pieces), hakaw (4pieces), normal pork dimsum (3pieces) and steamed marinated pork rib. Total damage was RM17.90 which is cheap if you ask me because that mean on average, each set is less than RM3? Cheap for KL price la ok!

Restoran Hong Kong Dimsum at Menjalara wet market

The empty dimsum trays! :P

By the time we are done and reached home, it was 10am. Keeping the stuff and do this that and cook the crab, 11am. Babe decided to clean the aquarium since we are having at our place at night. He want to show off his koi! haha! By the time we are done (noticed I say 'we'? Yah, had to help him with the aquarium cleaning...), I took 2 hours nap. Apparently I really 'kong-ed' out because I didnt even know babe came to the room for a nap too!

4pm, woke up and start cleaning the house and set up the balcony for the bbq pit. Went out to buy some ice, charcoal and soft drink for the night too. Friends start arriving at 6.30pm and guess what time the last friend left? 5.30am! Nope, not a typo error. Phew! It was tiring but super great fun! Great success judging from my friends bulging groaning pregnant-looking tummy. And of course, the numbers of empty bottles also great testament of what happened :P

So, the pictures:

Short talk: I DONE IT!!!!

2009-08-25T17:41:00.002+08:00

YAHOO!! I DONE IT! I officially tender my resignation today. And as expected, the bosses did all their best to sweet talk me to change my mind. But as I told them, I do not believe in counter offers or taking back my letter because the decision to tender was not taken lightly. I am not the type to decide to resign for no reason at all or just simply because the job came along. If opportunity did not come knocking, I would not have tendered la. But with the situation here and the good opportunity with the new company, it was a hard but simple and straightforward decision. Let just say that there are more pros to taking up the new position than cons.
YAHOOO!!!!

Homemade Apple Pie

2009-08-22T23:46:00.003+08:00

Have always wanted to bake apple pie but never got around to doing it. Today, finally I happen to have all the ingredient except shortening in the house. So, after dinner, we went to the supermarket and got my shortening. Since babe want to watch football, I decided to bake the apple pie tonight. The crust turned out really nice and yummy. The fillings abit too sweet for my liking so I changed the below recipe to 2/3 cup sugar instead of full 1 cup. Gentle reminder, when making pie crust, always try to keep the crust as cold as possible to ensure fluffy crispy light crust. If for any reason that the crust not bake immediately after being removed from the fridge, then pop them back into the fridge again until ready to use.

Crust
2 cups Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Sugar
6 tbsp Butter
6 tbsp Shortening
6-8 tbsp Iced Water

Fillings
5 Green Apple (Peeled, Cored and sliced soaked in water mixed with lemon juice)
2/3 cup Sugar
2 tbsp Flour
1/ tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tbsp Cider Apple

Method:
1. Preheat the oven 400 degree F.
2. To make crust, mix in large bowl, flour, salt and sugar. Add butter, shortening and ice water. The texture will be slightly crumbly. Make into a ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Keep in fridge for at least 20minutes.
3. Prepare the fillings by combining sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and vinegar.
4. Drain the sliced apple and mixture from #3 to the above. Make sure all apples slices are rubbed with the mixture.
5. Take dough out from fridge and divide dough into 2 equal half.
6. Roll the first half into 1/3inch thick flat pancake. Line the pan.
7. Pour the fillings into the pan.
8. Roll the 2nd half into 1/3inch think flat pancake again. Cover the apples.
9. Bake in the oven at 400 degree F (or 200degree celcius) for 40-45minutes.

You can get a picture instruction from here: http://www.myhomecooking.net/apple-pie/Baking-Apple-Pie.htm

Food Porn

2009-08-21T20:17:00.002+08:00

One day, I was so 'bored' after work that I just had to do something to de-stress or risk going crazy and start jumping around. So, since it was weekday and baking anything will take too much time, I decided to do something different for dinner. Took almost 2 hours to prepare everything and by the time we finally sit down for dinner, already 9pm but nevermind, totally satisfied and babe also enjoy the food very much. So, what I did? Photos to show you and make you drool:

Rice with bacon bits

Vege & Egg Salad

Bacon Cheese Chicken
(This is the one that took me a loooonggg time)

Then one day, an ex-colleague decided to come back to visit and actually bring some souvenier from her hometown. A huge big loaf of bun (as big as a loaf of uncut bread) that the filling is full of chicken curry! Yap, not the dry chicken curry but those with gravy! It even have instruction on how to cut the bun to ensure that the taste is maximise! Good idea if you ask me. I wonder if i can bake something similar..hhmmm....

And on one fine day in the office, one of the colleague decided that she is so stressed that she need to cook and feed us! (Yar yar, we all have the same tendency to cook when we are stress). anyway, this is different because we are in the office and how in the world do you cook in the office???? Well, just go get all the ingredient you need to make maggie goreng and use the microwave to do the job! I must say, the maggie goreng was fantastic! If you dont believe me, look for yourself.

The things that a microwave can do! I think I will try to cook some roast chicken wing and drumstick with bake potatoes next when I ever do get that stress at the office. But then again, how long will I have to be stressed there????? :P hahhahaha

Short talk: BORING! SIEN! BOSAN! ARGGGHH!!!

2009-08-19T08:04:00.001+08:00

I am soooo bored!!! I have lots of work to do at office but I am feeling so damn bored. Well, I guess the more accurate description is I am sick and tired of it. When la will all this end! GGGRR!!!

SOPAPILLAS (Deep fried bread)

2009-08-15T16:34:00.003+08:00

Nothing much happened today since its Saturday. It is one of those Saturday that babe is not working. And I realised that if he is not working on that day, I will for sure wake up early than necessary. Like today, I actually woke up at around 8am and laze on the bed for half hour before deciding that I will not fall back to sleep again. So, got up and went to the living room for some tv-time. Less than half hour later, babe is awake too! Now, that rarely happens ok! Its weekend and babe woke up before 9am?

Anyway, K sms around 9am-ish and said that she is coming to my area with her nephew for breakfast, wondering if I want to join her or not. Bet she didnt think babe would be awake and coming for breakfast too! HAHA! So, we went to this Indian cafe and I had rawa thosai and babe ate the roti telur. We shared a piece of vada and each have a glass of teh tarik kurang manis (pulled tea less sugar). K's nephew sure had lots of fun running around the cafe. Normally, this would not be a good idea but apparently K's sister, i.e. the mother to her nephew goes to the cafe often and the workers there know the kid pretty well. So, he had lots of fun teasing them and they teased him right back! HAHA!

After breakfast, went back and sit around doing nothing much. Had a super lazy Saturday morning, tv on in the background. Me reading my book and babe playing with his computer game. I tried to take nap at around 1pm but somehow, I just couldnt fall asleep! So, decided to go online and search for recipe to make fried bread. The fried bread recipe that I am looking for is actually those bread that is served with the chilli crabs here. But somehow, I cant seem to find it. Perhaps I didnt get the name right or something.

Instead, I came across this recipe for SOPAPILLAS, another version of deep fried bread. With the author promising nice yummy fluffy bread, I decided to try it. After all, the ingredient and methods are so simple. Worst, if it didnt taste right, I will just dump the whole thing away.

But the recipe turned out really great! Very pretty and puffed up. Making it a small parcel that lets you almost anything you desire in them. Babe and I had great time eating it with canned curry. It will go great with tuna, chicken, minced pork or anything that you can think of. This is definitely a recipe that allows creativity!

The ingredient:
4 cup all purpose flour
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 pkt active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1.25cup warm milk
Cooking oil or lard for frying the bread

Method:
1. Combine the dry ingredient, flour+salt+baking powder
2. Add the yeast to the warm milk and water
3. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredient and add the yeast milk water. Mix everything together and start kneading. You will need to knead the dough for about 15-20minutes to ensure that the smooth texture later.
4. Make the dough into a round ball and leave in the bowl and cover with a wet towel for about 15-20minutes
5. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick or slightly thinner. Dust the surface slightly and cut into pieces about 4x6 rectacgles or triangles. Gently put all the cut pieces back into the bowl and cover with the wet towel while heating up the oil.
6. Make sure that the oil is really hot. Place 1 piece of the flatten dough into the hot oil gently. To make sure the dough puff up, hold the dough gently in the oil for awhile. You should have the dough puffing up like magic.
7. Fry till both side are golden brown and remove from oil. Place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Note: You might want to half the recipe if you want smaller quantity. The above batch will allow you to make about 20-25pieces of sopapillas.

And here is what you will get:

Happy trying!! :)

BULL POOP?

2009-08-14T22:45:00.004+08:00

10.45pm, Friday - in the living room and blog hopping while babe sleep on the bamboo mat in the living room and watch Shanghai Noon. Yar, the show that has repeated a thousand times. Ok, no a thousand time but at least a few hundred? Dont know why in the world do they repeat some of this movies so many times! As if we dont know or watch it already.

Anyway, babe is suffering from gout pain on his right feet again! He has been in pain since last Saturday and got abit better on Tuesday when he took some anti-inflamation and painkiller that the doctor gave him on Monday when he went to collect his MC. Dont really know what is the matter. Getting kinda worried because he is getting his gout more often in the pass few months. We have been controlling our food and making sure no beef or lamb (which is why I still have so much lamb slices in the freezer!). Mostly we eat chicken and occassional pork nowadays. And he is taking oat every morning except weekend.

His blood pressure has dropped to pretty normal level but somehow the gout just keep coming. We suspect it is the hand held massager that we got from OTO a few months back. It seems that he will get really bad gout everytime he use the massager on the base on his feet. So, we decided to stop using that and see what happen. But in the meantime, he just had to ride out this gout episode till its over! Sigh....So worried about him la! Trying to make him to go exercise with me more. Maybe yoga but now is not a good time to start and join a new yoga session since we might move soon.

Am thinking of moving nearer to where babe is working now since I will most likely be working somewhere near there too in a couple of months. I am still waiting for the bloody offer letter that I have been expecting since Tuesday! No idea why so long, either too many red tapes with many layer of approval or people are just taking their sweet time. (Although the hiring manager actually told me he needs someone in 'yesterday'). I guess he is the only one sensing the urgency? DRATS!! I just hope I am not going in for another cleaning crew job.

Anyway, if I do get this job and accept it, it would mean the logical and cost saving option would be to move nearer to it. At the moment, babe going to work mean:
1) I had to wake up early and arrived office by 7.30am eventhough my official office hour is 9am-6pm
2) Babe had to drive 45minutes just to get to work
3) Average tol per day to and from work is RM10
4) Average petrol per week to and from work is RM80 (this is after petrol price dropped to current level. When it was at its peak, had to pay a whopping RM120-150 per week)

But moving to the new place although would be great because it will deminish all the above and we can get a proper landed place to rent, it would also mean that we will be far away from everything and everyone we know! Now, whenever I want to, I can just drop by at 1U or Ikea or Curve. All this places just minutes drive from my current apartment/condo. It also mean that it is easy to meet up with Tif whenever we want to for dinner or meals. And on top of that, SS2 and Taman Megah is simple affair.

Moving to the new place would mean learning everything new. It is almost a totally new world. I know that I told the interviewers that distance is not a problem. After all, I flew over South China Sea to KL and work. But frankly, the distance scares me. Would I at the spur of the moment decided to drive to 1u for shopping? Would I have the time? Would I find new short cuts from there to Sunway? Or is there any cool movie places? Of course, Tesco, Giant and Carrefour are there but then again, it would not be the same. ARGHH!! Changes changes! How hard it is to accept changes?

But on the positive note, I will out from the dominating COM (you figure out yourself what COM means ok! ^_^) And I will have a more productive life with manageable stress. At least I will get myself back. Yup, the super confident lady that knows EXACTLY what she want to do with her life. One month ago, about now, I wont be able to tell you what I said 30minutes ago is true if COM just ask me the 'are-you-sure' or 'why-you-do-that' question. I know, I shouldnt have let this affect me but try having those comments that makes you feel stupid thrown at you everyday for 1.5yrs... And then tell me it shouldnt affect me!

Anyway, today, the old akak (some1 in HR la) also dropped me a stupid insensitive skype. I was on mc since Wednesday and turned out she decided she wants to talk to me about the change in reporting structure for me, the day that I was down with really bad sorethroat, running nose, teary eyes, i.e. flu. Short of a fever, I would have believe I have the dreaded H1N1 (Luckily its not or else I would be in hospital?) Thursday, still bad, so still on MC. Friday (today) went back to work, saw the email sent to me on Wed by old akak stating that she wanted to see me but I was on MC again (as if I intentionally go on MC or is it better I just go to work and infect everyone?). Decided to pop in her office to talk to her in my super sexy voice and asked if she want to talk now. She told me that she have an interview at 9.15am and told me she will skype me later once she is done.

I say fine. What else could I say right? So, 11.45am, still no skype from her, we went off to lunch. I got back, skype message received at 11.55am, from old akak of course, apologising not able to meet me today since she need to catch the afternoon flight back to Singapore but she will be here on Monday and will meet me then if I am in! BLARDY BULL POOP! (Yes, Bull poop sounds nicer that BS right?) What does she mean with that? She hear me with my flu-strucked voice. Even the vendors are in shocked that I am in office today.

Another good motivator for me to say sayonara eh? To tell you the truth, if it were not for COM, I wouldnt mind staying at all. At the time where other semiconductor companies are retrenching people, they actually gave us bonus and increment. Company sounds stable despite all the capacity problems with the vendors but finding ways to solve the problems are actually very satisfying. Money was good but then again, money isnt everything especially when it starts to effect health and mental state. It aint worth the pain and suffering no matter how much I love this job! (Pain and suffering = high blood pressure, low immunity, hormone inbalance that cause period delay..just to name a few). So definitely not worth it! Correct or not? COLLEK COLLEK! :P

As I was saying in one of my other post, life changing experience this week and even better one next week. Everyday is a lucky day for me because I am letting it happen. And everyday, something good happen because I believe it will happen no matter what. As one of MelancholyThong said give thanks to God, life is good because I can still afford to rent a good apartment, can afford to go out and buy food from the market, still have friends that truly care for me, know love through babe, still can afford to pay crazy prices just 2 simple slices of nyonya kueh. So, give thanks. Oh! And still have job to go to! :P

Short talk: Tired of waiting

2009-08-13T21:34:00.002+08:00

Getting super tired of waiting for this people to finally call me. Since Tuesday till now still nothing. When I finally called them just now, she said will call me at 5.30pm but end up nothing! I am seriously wondering what is going on and whether I am really going to get it or not. Oh well, I guess I just need to trust the LOA and God. Whatever happen will happen. If nothing happened, then there must be a good reason for the LOA and God to not it happen. And I am pretty sure there are plenty of other stuff around.

Just really short talk because I am actually still on MC today. Since yesterday ler. Got really bad sorethroat and flu. Went to the doctor and since no fever, he dont think it is H1N1. Just asked me to rest and gave me antibiotics for the inflamed throat. Now, throat is better but nose still running and I am super super tired as if I had run 100m dash a few hundred times. Sweating alot but somehow feel like cold sweat. Dont know how to explain. Plan to sleep right after this. Hopefully tomorrow will be well enough to go to work.

Short talk: I DID IT! YAHOO!!!!

2009-08-11T21:38:00.003+08:00

PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY! HAHAHA! Ok...no party but I definitely feel like dancing, jumping, skipping and sing at the top of my voice. Having a really really really hard time to control myself and making sure that I dont just scream at the top of my voice. I can almost hear the music of joy being played by the angels in heaven rejoicing as I am rejoicing! AND I am actually working harder and more efficiently that I did since the beginning of the year.

All I can say is that LOA (Law of Attractions) works! Trust me! Go google it, try it out. I can guarantee you, no regrets! 2 friends introduce this to me when I was at my lowest point of my life! Yar, that is right, LIFE and not just CAREER! So, I thank them for watching out for me and introduce to me this most wonder thing called LOA. So, R and K, thanks!!!!! HUGS!

A Second First Time - Steamed bun

2009-08-08T17:38:00.003+08:00

I bought a packet of pau flour the other day with the intention to make some steamed pork bun this weekend. But today babe is working, so cant go to the market to buy minced pork. Initially thought of going tomorrow but I simply cannot wait. I decided to try and make the steamed bun anyways with different fillings instead. I just want to make sure that I got the recipe for the dough right. Did a little research online and got a few steamed bun recipe. AND it turned out great! The bun was soft and yet chewy. Texture is great! I just cant wait till I get the minced pork tomorrow.

So, to share the recipe for the steamed bun dough:
350ml - Lukewarm water
3 tbsp - white sugar
1/2tsp - salt
2 tsp - instant yeast
1.5 tbsp - cooking oil
600gm - pau Floor

How?
1. Mix the lukewarm water, white sugar and salt together. Add the instant yeast. Let the mixture activate and become slightly frothy (about 10-15minutes).

2. Add oil to the water mixture.

3. In a large bowl, add flour and make a well in the middle. Add liquid and gradually mix in the flour. Knead till dough is elastic, smooth and no longer stick to hand or side of bowl.

4. Make into 2 ball and leave in the bowl. Cover with wet towel and leave the dough to raise to about twice the size (about 30-60minutes).

5. Divide the dough into smaller balls and knead some more. Flatten into a rough circle. Put the filling in the middle and gather the edges. Put on cut parchment (baking paper). Leave to raise for another 20minutes.

6. Steamed for 10-15minutes.

YAHOO! Tomorrow gonna make the steamed pork bun!!

Saturday morning ranting

2009-08-08T11:16:00.002+08:00

YAWN!!! Just woke up 45minutes ago. Well, not really true. I woke up at 6.30 this morning! Yup! Had to la because babe working today. So woke up to make him his oat and milk tea breakfast. And then sit awhile to chat with him before I go back to bed. I think it was roughly 7am by the time my head hit the bed. Wouldnt have woke up if babe's darn handphone didnt make those beeping noise that handphone makes when it running out of battery. SHEESH!

Anyway, I am awake, I look at my kitchen with the intention to clean and re-organise it abit. But then decided, uggh, forget it, breakfast first. So, I am having my coffee with pita bread now while washing Cook's Tour on Astro. I did make myself useful though, I clean whatever 'litter' that babe left around in the living room. Litter= old newspaper, empty ciggie box, empty cups, receipts, old lottery tickets and so on. I am suppose to vacuum and mop the whole place next but for now, I am going to enjoy my breakfast and do a little surfing.

I guess from this moaning and ranting, I HATE housework. I mean, if I have to do it, I will because I cannot stand too long living in a messy house but it just irritating because I didnt know till after living with babe that HE is such a messy person! GGRR!!! I told him pretty much the same thing too and he just gave me his cute smirk and smile. SHEESH! HOW TO get angry at that goofy smile ah? So, in the end, I just decided to clean the house once a week instead of picking up after him everyday. Too tiring la!

Cannot sit!!!!

2009-08-06T21:00:00.003+08:00

ARGHH!! Can hardly sit still since Tuesday. I feel like jumping up and down, dancing, skipping like a little gal. So so so excited because I got this feeling that I will get a life changing event happening latest by next Monday! Dont ask me how. I just know it! I just cant wait! Can someone help me make the time go faster? Can can can can? I will be most grateful! HEHE!!!!!! Hhmm...they might even call me tomorrow yar! hhmm..hahahaha ok ok..enough!

Anyway, was going home yesterday evening and while babe was driving, noticed the sky was really beautiful and the sun wan shinning behind the cloud. I dont know but somehow I just feel so fortunate to be alive! It makes me remember the most important thing in the world. It makes me remember who is the master of my feelings, anger, happy, sad, upset and so on. Each of this emotion, we are the one that control it. We are the one that decides if we want to be angry at the way people is treating us. OR we want to ignore it and take it as a lesson.

I know, it is not easy, no no..let me rephrase, it is DAMN difficult thing to do.But I think the most important thing is to remember that we are the one in control and make a habit out of it. Oh, I am not asking you to be this crazy person that always laugh and smile. I am just asking you not to let emotion overwhelmed you. Life is just too short for that. You never know what will happen next. Look at Yasmin Ahmad...

So, since I decided to cherish what life has to offer, I decided to enjoy the food too! hahaha!! :P

We been to this place called KTZ a few time. In fact, the first I went there was with Tif, a friend of mine and her parents, godmom and aunty. Fun time and super yummy dessert. I ordered peanut with black sesame porridge and trust me, it is SUPERB!!! It is like eating creamy peanut butter mix with black sesame drink. You just need to try it. But bewarned though, the bowl might look small but this is super super filling and rich dessert. Its like having the super rich chocolate cheesecake.

We actually went there 2-3times already and today, went again. I ordered black sesame with glutonious rice and another colleague of mine ordered bubur kacang. But suprisingly, the dessert actually have little coconut milk in them. Normally, such dessert will be loaded with unhealthy coconut milk! So, at least we dont feel so guilty la.

Ok lar. Now that I have disperse some of my extra hyper energy, I can sit down properly and watch criminal mind on astro :P hahahaha

Penang Trip (Part II) - Food & Places (New Photos added)

2009-08-03T21:44:00.009+08:00

Basically, this trip to Penang is really a makan-trip. From the moment we start from my place, all the way to Penang and back to KL again. On Saturday, K came at 7.45am. Initially, we decided to have breakfast near a Indian cafe near my place. This place serve really mean rawa thosai. But babe complaint and said why want to go so near to eat when we can that anytime of the week. And so we agreed only to have breakfast at Ipoh town. At around 8.30am, we passed the signboard that says 168km, i.e. more than 1.5hours away. Babe got the shock of his life because he thought Ipoh is just about half hour away! HAHA!

He starts to complaint that he is hungry and if he knew its so far, he would have said ok to breakfast at Sri Dsara! HAHAHA! K and I had a good laugh. So, in the end, we stopped at one of the R&R with the intention to see if there is anything to buy but even the buns were not heated yet. So, babe have to settle with a bottle of soya milk. We continued and stopped at the Tapah R&R. Babe ate nasi lemak. K and I had so vada and karipap.

Half hour later, we arrived at Ipoh town. That was around 10.30am. We stopped at a foodcourt and babe ordered wantan mee with soya sauce chicken feet. K and I had something lighter, some dim sum and yam puff.

We finally arrived at Penang and meet up with R (another colleague) and his family for lunch at One World food court. Didn't take any photos since K cant bring down her camera due to super heavy rain (R said we are the rain bringer since Penang has not rained for awhile). The rest of us were just too excited about the food and completely forgotten to take photos. We ordered Curry noodle, persembul, hor fun, chee cheong fun, yam cake, oyster omelette, bubur kacang, bubur cha cha, ABC ice kacang and chang. All this for 2 kids and 5 adults. (Dont ask me how...)

Then, we went off to Keh Lok Si temple (Spelling??) and this are the photos:

Entrance at the top-finally!

Miniature pagoda

Bonsai - dunno how old it is but its about 3-4feet tall and superbly beautiful

Hundreds and thousands of turtles!

I like this photo the most! Look at the cloud behind it...

View from the pagoda and temple

Jade teahouse

Jade moon

Carved pillar

Carved pillar close up

Beautiful carved God

Beautiful lights as offerings

Golden encased buddha

Carving on the ceiling

Arch with beautiful blue flower and wind chime

By the time we are done with the temple and sent R and his family back, only checked in at around 6pm and finally got to our apartment at 6.15pm. Rested and showered. Babe took a short nap and then R called to go for our dinner date- Bak Kut Teh! Super yummy! R ordered the bak kut teh for 6 person. It came in a large claypot and lots of pork meat and spareparts (internal organs), mushroom and beancurd skin. We also ordered 7 bowl of yam rice and 2 plate of steamed iceberg lectuce topped with bak sang (shredded crispy pork). All this was just for RM59! Can you believe it. If in KL, order for 6 person and you will end up paying RM80-100!

After dinner, R sent his kids back and we went off to Bailey's pub for some drinks. After that, we went to Kayu for maggie goreng and teh tarik! HAHAHA! Terrible huh? I told you this is a real eating-trip. We got back to the hotel at around 1am. K went straight to bed. Babe and I stayed in the living room for a shortwhile to unwind and watch a little tv. 1.30am, we went off to bed too. Next morning, R called at 7.45am to make sure that we are awake to get ready for our dim sum breakfast date at 8.30am.

The scene at the dimsum restaurant...only 1 word to summon it: CHAOS! Lots and lots of people queuing/fighting to get a share of the dimsum, which is self-service. They give you this little card where the person will tick when you choose any of the dimsum. Then, later, count everything together. There seem to be every kind of dimsum imaginable. From the original steamed dimsum to fried dimsum to Hong Kong chee cheong fun to porridge! 5 adults and 2 kids, eat ate 30 portion of dimsum (err..not sure what you calling it, types?). Total damage = RM83. I only managed to take round 1 of the dim sum and after that tuck in and eat like nobody's business. The 2 boys/kids were really enjoying and eating too! HEHE!

After breakfast, we decided to go around town. We stopped at one of the many many different surname jetty and walked down this rustic truly first-time experience little jetty. At the end, we can see the sea and more house on stilts! Really rustic and well..wow!
Also stopped at one of the famous temples in Penang. Lots and lots of smoke because of the all the incense and joss stick that were being burned.

After going round the town, since its still early, we decided to drive all the way to Batu Ferringhi just to see and come. We are finally back to the hotel again at 12.30pm. All three of us took an hour nap and check out at 2pm. Went to Kapitan for chicken and mutton bryiani rice for our lunch. The bryiani was really yummy and worth the RM7.50 that they charged us. Even babe who is not really a fan of mamak food was impressed. The only regret was that they didnt serve us in claypot as they are suppose to because they ran out of pot. So, the rice somehow looks less when served on the normal mamak plate with partition.

After lunch, it was around 2.30pm and off we went for the trip back to KL. Did a few pit-stop at some of the R&R but basically we just want to get back to KL fast to rest. Reached my place just before 7pm. K left her car at our place, so she drove home from our place.

All in all, it was a really fun trip but very tiring. I think we try to pack too many activities into the 2 days as if we will never come back to Penang again! Next time, I think we will just concentrate on 1 or 2 activities and other time, we will try to laze around in the nice service apartment and enjoy it more! Also, must try to have more than 1 night! Haiyaa..really sayang lar didnt enjoy the service apartment more! The pool!! HAIYAAAAA!!SIGH!! Nevermind la, there is always next time. For all you know, babe and I might decide to move to Penang and stay there instead.

Penang Trip (Part I) - The Room

2009-08-03T21:32:00.003+08:00

Since we need 2 rooms, we decided to try the Vistana Residence 2-room service apartment. We are happy and regretful with our choice. Happy because it is really a wonder place if you need more than 1 room and this is definitely different from the normal 1-room-hotel. Regretful because we only get to spend one night there and spent so little time in the place!

When you go in, this is what greeted you. The simple and yet cosy living room. Only thing is not enough sofa. Would be good to have another 1 seater sofa too. And then the tv was just the small 21 inch tv. Guess we are spoiled because most hotels now have flat screens! haha. Anyway, still gave a good impression!

Go out the balcony that is behind the sofa, this is what greets you:

From the main door, turn left, you will see:

And look to your left again, you will see this:

There are 3 rooms. The master bedroom has a bathroom attached and king size bed.

The 2nd bedroom has a double size bed.
The final bedroom contain a single bed but was rather surprised because this room has no aircon, just a ceiling fan. Strange since the room is pretty big.

Short talk: First time.....failure!!!!

2009-07-30T22:50:00.002+08:00

SIGH!!! My first ever kueh and failed! Stupid recipe from the Aug09 Women Weekly for chai-tau-kueh lied! The portion is not right somehow and its all wrong. SIGH!!!! ARGH!!!!!!! WASTED! Thank god the ingredient are not expensive or else I will be throwing hard earned money into the dustbin. So, am I going to try again? DEFINITELY! Maybe not chai tau kueh but maybe bingka ubi. Hmm...........................

Time flies!!!

2009-07-29T08:49:00.002+08:00

Feeling happy since last week. All the hardwork and determination and self believe is paying off. I am finally getting feedback and response. At the speed this is going, I might just start to have good news by next week itself! Based on what I see, by end of Aug09, the big change will happen! What am I talking about? Not going to tell you all yet. Have to wait for it to actually happen before telling la.

Anyway, this weekend will be going to Penang with babe and one of my colleague. We will be driving down and intend to stop on the way for breakfast and whack when we in Penang. Going to meet up with another colleague and his family when we are there. So, definitely going to be a makan (eating) expedition. It will be babe first time to Penang! My colleague is even tell me that he will pick me up on Sunday morning to go to the wet market! I dont mind but I doubt babe and the gal colleague want to follow.

I know, I am crazy. Why go wet market. Well, I think it is cool and good way to find more local dishes that cant be found in KL la. Some more, I am also looking to buy some topiaco roots to try my hand at making the nyonya kueh (bingka ubi). We been on nyonya kueh eating spree this 2 weeks and the kueh is not cheap at all. 2 small slices for RM1.80! If make, I think the whole tray will cost less than RM10!!!!!

Sigh...can anyone help me to make the time go faster? Fastforward button remote perhaps!! haha

p/s: How to make the time fly? Throw the watch out of the high building and see time fly! :P

Food Diary

2009-07-25T16:30:00.002+08:00

Thursday, didn't packed food for lunch since went swimming with K on Wednesday night and then dinner at mamak. So, no food to pack to work. Decided to go back to Lam Place to try the other dishes there. I ordered the loh lam mee simply because I can't resist the delicious photo they have pasted on the wall. The noodle came looking EXACTLY like the photo, 2 huge peeled prawn, 2 pieces of pork ball and a sprinkling of shredded meat and parsley, all this swimming in super thick mouth watering sauce. I ordered the set with is for RM12.90 and it came with the Loh Mee, pork ball soup and a cup of warm soya milk. The soya milk is great because unlike other places, it is not sweet and its thick enough that you can actually taste the soya milk instead of sugar water.

On Friday, since the doc gave me MC and told me to stay at home and rest, I decided to ransack the freezer to see what to have for dinner. Decided to cook something rather simple and soupy, pork leg with bittergourd soup. This is one of babe's favourite soup and I learned this from his mom and sister. Basically, it is pork leg (or meat or rib, don't matter which type as long as it is pork!) that is cooked in water filled that is flavoured by Tong Nam soya sauce. The recipe is super simple.

I pan fry the pork on high heat for short while just to make sure the meat don't fall apart after cooking in the soup. Then I add a whole bulb of garlic, 3-4 tablespoon of Tong Nam soya sauce and enough water to cover all the pork meat (if you like more soup, just add more water. No harm). Cook till the pork is almost tender and then add in the roughly cut bittergourd. Once the bittergourd is cooked, add salt and pepper to taste.

I also cooked some egg omelette with onion (or telur dadar in BM) to accompany this for our lunch today.

Then babe start to clean his aquiriam. I felt restless so start to rummage the kitchen to see if there is anything simple that I can cook today. Then decided, hhm..pancakes...even better, milo chocolate pancake!! (Babe didnt like the plain normal pancakes which my dad adore! I miss my dad ~>_<~ ). Anyway, the milo chocolate pancakes, the wonderful chocolatey smell that fill the kitchen, simply cannot descripe. You need to smell to know what I mean!

How to make? Very simple and fast. 3 scoop of flour, 1 scoop milo,2 spoonful cocoa powder, 1 spoon sugar and enough water to mix everything into a slightly watery batter (roughly 1.5cups). Once everything is mixed well, just pour one scoop onto the nonstick pan over small-medium fire. Once you see bubble forming on top, then it is ready to flip it to the other side for a shortwhile just to seal the other side. Then its done! You can have it plain like that or smear chocolate spread or kaya over it! DROOL!!!
Ok...enough liaw. I am going to take my nap now! :P

Breakfast?

2009-07-22T21:26:00.002+08:00

Hhmm..been posting lots of short talk recently here. No choice. Trying to grab every free time available and update the blog here and there. Been super busy since I came back from Kuching. The Friday after I got back was our quarterly staff meeting and as usual, I have lots of slides to prepare but before I can put anything on the slides, have to prepare the background reports first to generate the final numbers. I actually managed to finished everything by Wednesday but boss decided to add and remove some of the items (some a whole slide that took alot of effort to get the final numbers but I guess he is the boss).

Anyway, as I said in one of my previous posting, the quarterly staff meeting actually ends 1 hour earlier than the original schedule. This itself was really amazing because I have attended at least 4 previous such meeting and NONE of them ever end ahead of time (or even on time for that matter). So, I was happy about that and instead of going back, asked one of the colleague to drop me off at 1u so that I can meet up with an old friend, her parents and aunties. Have not seen her parents for a long long time. Used to be when we were in school as well as college, we will drop-by each other house alot and our parents know each other. I guess that is what we call good friends?

Yar, we have that many history together, since primary 1!! That would be roughly 15 years of friendship! WOW!!! Of course, I am always the one that is here again and then off again since my dad used to work for a bank that relocate him here and there to take charge of new branches. In the end, we did settled in Kuching but I was again relocated from Form 1 onwards and only finally back again in Form 4. After secondary school, we drifted apart and go our separate ways. I went for my Diploma in Accounting, LCCI for a year or so. Then fate threw us together again in our college years when I did my degree.

Of course the best time was when we were all in Nilai to finish our final years. Those was the days. Away from parents and doing whatever we wanted. Of course course work and assignments are completed (and with fantastics results for someone that skipped 50% of her classes *smirk* Ya ya..showing off! hahaha). Anyway, after college, we all went back to Kuching to try to search for our first job. Somehow I ended up in the education industry and she went off to KL. Lost touch for awhile (my fault..I admit) and finally got back together again when I came to KL to work. So, that is the long history cut short.

But I have move so far away from my original topic. I was actually going to talked about what I had for breakfast the last few days in the busy-ness of work. Before I gone back to Kuching, I usually will go off to mamak first before starting work since babe usually sent me to the office by 7.30am. (I start work at 9am). So, instead of going straight to work, I went to mamak, have my breakfast and read a good book. Generally taking my sweet time and relax.

But since I got back from Kuching, I have not been to the mamak in the morning. Well, ok, once but that was after I went to the office, did some work and one of the colleague, R did not bring breakfast because we had a loose-agreement the day before that we will go for mamak thosai that morning. So, as I was saying, no breakfast at mamak and too lazy to prepare breakfast from home and just dont feel like taking oat (as I should), I ended up having coffee and whatever cookies that the pantry have at the time. I actually managed to take a shot of my typical breakfast on Monday.

Super thick coffee with coffeemate
3-layer cookie with cream

I am really addicted to coffee! I must have one cup in the morning or else I wont be able to function throughout the day! Recipe to make the best thick coffee: 1 tablespoon coffee, 1.5 tablespoon coffeemate and 0.25 tablespoon sugar! HAHA! YAR, now you understand why I get such a buzz after morning coffee!

Short talk: Morning talk

2009-07-22T08:31:00.002+08:00

SORETHROAT!! It started yesterday morning with a slight tingle in the throat and running nose. Then it progress to a really bad headache. Which leads to being told to drink 6 glasses of water in half hour to detox and get rid of the headache. Of course, this means that every 15 minutes for the next hour or so, I was running to the loo to relieve bladder. The good news was the headache did go away for a few hours. The bad news, well, it came back in the evening! :(

Anyway, this morning it got worse. Swallow also pain and lots of blister in the mouth. Nose are running slightly again too, sneezing too. Hopefully this wont progress to headache and fever. Seems that alot of sick people in the office this few weeks. Must be because of the weather and haze. Even my boss was down for 2 days since Monday. Hopefully I can survive thru today just in case the important call came in for the appointment after work came in. Hhhmm..any miracle cure or not ah??? Fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy....

Short talk: LOA WORKS!

2009-07-21T17:27:00.002+08:00

London bridge is falling down...falling down..falling down..lalalalala..HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!! Why I am happy? NOT TELLING!!!! BLUEK!! HEHE! Sufficient to say that the LOA has been working really well for me. Everything that I tell myself is happening actually happens. Just need to practise more and refine the techniques. Like K say, "Ask and believe, you shall receive". I guess the hardest part is believe that it is happening. Believe that it is possible and attract what you want to happen to you no matter how stupid or impossible it sound. Because the world is energy. You attract the energy of what you concentrate more of your thoughts and effort on. OOpss, do I sound like crazy? Don't matter. No matter what, I am a firm believer of LOA!

Hidden Little Corner

2009-07-20T21:51:00.003+08:00

Found a little place near 1u today that is well hidden behind the Kluang Cafe and Bread Story Bakery. I think the cafe is call Lam Mee Place or something like that. Apparently, they serve the most original authentic lam mee? I have no idea what is that but the pictures they have on the wall was definitely very tempting. (Warning, dont go there with a super hunger or else you might order everything on the menu...er..wall)

Anyway, my colleagues cant stop talking about it because this place apparently serve the meanest nicest Chee Cheong Fan! So, since we are in need of substance and a short break, we walked to the cafe for a short short short short short breakie! We end up ordering not just the Chee Cheong Fan but also Soya Kueh Teow with chicken. And boy oh boy! They were telling me the truth or maybe because they know my taste very well?

The Chee Cheong Fan was smothered in sweet sauce topped with pickled green chillies and fried shallots. The texture, extremely smooth and goes down so wonderfully when you slurp it! Somehow, just cant stop after one mouth! The set comes with a glass of super rich soya bean drink that is mix with minimum sugar. At least they are health conscious and not out to get everyone on high sugar level! It also come with a bowl of soup with 2 meat balls and lo bak! OH MY GOD! I tell you, I do not mind having the soup and meatball without anything else in the future! DROOL!!!!!

he soya kueh teow with chicken, well, nothing to shout about but if you fancy something simple, this is the dish to go. There are other dishes such as curry mee, lam mee, lo mee and many other type of noodle dish. AND for once, I actually remember to snap photos before it got all eaten up!

Oh, we also ordered Royal Milk Tea which is essentially normal milk tea (Teh Chi Peng!) hahaha!! That I forgot to snap until it was too late! HEHE!

Buzzing Hyper Brain

2009-07-20T15:01:00.002+08:00

Trying really hard and not let my mind try to grasp everything in one snap shot. My brain goes into overdrives sometimes when I have lots of things to do. When this happens, I will usually take a step back, breath deeply and attack whatever that is on hand. Of course, sometimes, this does not work and other things sneak into my mind and makes me panic unnecessarily. Then I have to remind myself again to take a deep breath and slow down. So, imagine my surprise when I see what is on my horoscope today from www.astrocenter.com:

Your brain is buzzing around in high gear, dear Aries. Anyone else would get dizzy trying to process even a tenth of the things that filter through your brain in a day. The key for you is to not speak every single thought aloud, but to keep your processing internal. People want to hear your final decision, not the 20-step thought process you went through to reach that decision. You will save everyone a great deal of time when you do.

Hmm...ok...at least I got 5 things done since 8am this morning. Still pending is the ISO - CPAR thingie...sigh! Dun want to do can or not!! HAHAHA! I think R gonna kick me when he see this :P

Chinese Pamela from Baywatch?????

2009-07-19T21:49:00.002+08:00

One weekend, after babe and I did a little shopping at Kepong Carrefour and dinner at one of the many coffee shop there (cant remember what we ate), we finally remember to stopped at this small stall selling pau (steamed bun) at one of the walkway the block after Jusco. We have seen the stall many time but always only remember to stop when it is too late to do so. And as usual, promised ourself that the next time we go to Kepong, must remember to buy some pau from the stall and bring back. After all, based on experience, this kind of stalls selling just pau and siao bee (meat dumpling) are usually really nice!

That weekend, somehow, for once, I remembered to remind babe to slow down and stop right in front of the stall so that we can get some pau for next day breakfast. We initially planned to get two char siu pau (red pork bun) and two bak pau (pork meat bun) but upon reaching the stall, I cannot help noticing something that is really really different. I asked the uncle, what is that. He proceed to tell me that it is the Yek Chi Mei pau. HUH?? I know my spelling is wrong but for those that do not know, she is an actress that was famous for her big boobs. Something like Pamela in Baywatch I guess.

Anyway, I cant help myself and decided to get one char siu pau, one bak pau and one yek chi mei! Total damage was more than RM9. Pretty expensive just for three pau but wait, you will know why the pau is named after some lady assets! Look at the photo below. I placed the bun on a plate and into a pot to heat it up the next day for breakfast. From this photo, it sure looks like any other ordinary steamed bun. Right???

WRONG! Look at the below photo. The one with the red dot is the char siu pau and the other huge gigantic pau is the yek chi mei! Yup, the pau is HUMAGOUS! HUGE!!!! NOW you know why the pau is name that yah! HAHA!

Babe and I shared the pau. When I cut it into half, the inside was so full of meat! I mean if I have a scale then, I think it will be more than a quarter pounder. More like a half or 3/4 pounder. The pau was really soft, smooth and most important, just thick enough to make the meat taste super yummy! And hidden in between all those meat, is half a boiled egg. Really yummy!! (Sorry, forgot to take photo!). This is definitely one pau that I dont mind having again but not for breakfast la..maybe lunch or dinner! (And I will try to remember to take photo next time!! HAHA)

Five Thirty Eight in the Evening

2009-07-19T17:38:00.002+08:00

5.38pm - Doing absolutely nothing except surf the internet. Babe is taking a nap before his tonight outing, dinner with his colleagues. So, yap, I will on my own tonight and no cooking to do. Just need to iron his work shirt and pants for tomorrow but that can wait. Want to do absolutely nothing for awhile and enjoy it! Have not done much during the weekend. Yesterday was nice slow and easy. Except for the homemade American breakfast yesterday, we ate out for lunch and dinner. Lunch was a simple affair at 2pm near the coffee shop near our place.

I have chicken rice while babe at hot plate noodle with pork chop. Then at night, we went to Kepong Carrefour and ate at the food court nearby. Then off we go back home to have a Heroes movie marathon. Watched till almost 4am before we finally decided to stop and sleep. If we have our ways, we would have watch the whole series in one sitting! Err..hang on, I did that before when I was in Kuching! HAHA!

I woke up at 10.30am this morning and just couldnt go back to sleep no matter how much I want to. Decided to cook stir fry beehoon and pan fry salmon for lunch and also so that we both can pack that for our lunch tomorrow. Babe only finally woke up around noon but we only get to eat around 2pm. Then watched 2 more episode of Heroes and now babe is napping till his colleague call him to join them! Apparently suppose to be some where near here.

What am I going to do while he is out? I have absolutely no idea. I am thinking DURIAN! But no car to go out to buy some. Walking is out. No way am I going to take a 20-30minute walk one-way just to buy durian. And even if I did, I wont be able to hide the smell from babe when he get back. HAHA! The thing is, babe is stopping me from eating durian because each time I took some, I will sure be sick the very next day for a few days! Frankly speaking, I dont mind! No office or house work! When else can find that!?!?! HAHA!!

Alright, alright, I am letting my true colors show! Enough for now then. I might log on again later if I really absolutely bored!

SPLATTED CAKE!

2009-07-18T13:38:00.002+08:00

I AM SO UPSET!!!!!! The cake I just baked dropped!! Yes, freshly baked chocolate almond cake dropped to the floor. So wasted!! I took it out of the microwave oven and I have not even take 2 steps when the bottom of the cake gave out and the whole cake dropped to the floor and go SPLAT! DAMN DAMN DAMN! A pretty cake with lots of goody in it too!! ARGH!!! Is this a sign that I shouldn't bake another cake ever again???

Babe said I shouldn't buy cheap baking tray because I sometimes will just use those disposable aluminum ones or the metal tray that you can get for less than RM10. But the thing is, this tray is actually cost more than the usual once because it is those removable bottom with non-stick surface! The type that has a clip at the side where you unclip to loosen the side from the bottom and can actually remove the side to reveal the cake. Normally, people use this for delicate cake that you can flip over to take out the cake. I have no idea how come the bottom and the side is so loosely fit now that the bottom can actually give out eventhough I clipped it on properly already.

Sigh! I was thinking to destress by baking something instead end up I feeling upset and lost! Lost in the sense that it is wasted la! Instead of enjoying the fruit of my labour, end up cleaning up the mess made on the floor and the door mat I had in the kitchen. Only about 1/5 of the cake was salvage and the rest goes into the dustbin. I think I must shouted rather loudly too because babe's reaction was rather immediate and he came into the kitchen seeing me frozen in place and staring at the splatted cake on the floor! But come to think of it, it is kinda funny seeing him see me that way! HAHAHA! Ok, I feel much better now :P

So, I am thinking, maybe I should bake some pineapple tart instead? When we came back yesterday, in the walkway, I can actually smell someone cooking or baking something with pineapple jam. Smells really sweet and yummy! I guess that is why I decided to bake something today and since baking a cake is much less time consuming than cookies, I decided to make the chocolate almond cake. ARGGH!!! HMPF! Lesson learned, next time want to use a baking tray that can open at the bottom, must hold the tray at the bottom when carrying it. SHEESH!

Run into a wall and knock my head!

2009-07-17T20:55:00.002+08:00

Anyone have a cure for splitting headache? Sigh! Been having headache since after lunch today. We had our quarterly staff meeting today at the Tropicana Golf Club which starts from 8am and luckily actually ends 45minutes ahead of time. Seems that either we are all getting more efficient at presenting what we did or just too many issues that the boss was in attention throughout last quarter. Either way, it works well for me because I am glad to have valid reason to go home early.

Anyway, the reason I am having a headache, the meeting room was so cold that I actually try to curl up against myself just to keep warm. With the room being so cold, everytime we go out for a breaks and as all meeting of this kind, we have morning break, lunch and afternoon tea but dont worry, I didnt whack much at all. The food was HORRIBLE!SIGH Cost cutting here and there I guess. I have digress, so the room was cold, outside hot, cold and then hot and then cold and then hot, this cycle is definitely not good for those that is prone to being sick. Me, I always thought I will not have a migraine ever again but how wrong of me.

So, if you guys know any cure for headache, I would sure appreciate it. Guess what cure babe gave me to get rid of the headache. (And for those that is thinking of SOMETHING else, NO! It is not THAT!). He told me to run into a wall and knock my head against it!!!!!! And he said that with a goofy smile. So bad lar him! HHMPFF! This husband of mine, sometimes, I really feel like giving him a big kick. Luckily I am in a good mood since the weekend is here or else sure I will show him my silent war face! GGRR!!!

Ok lar for now. I know, my post seemed to be getting shorter and shorter but dont blame me, blame the migraine :(

MUAAAAAAAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAH!

2009-07-14T22:26:00.002+08:00

Cant help it! THIS is too funny not to share!!

Memoirs from the Mental Hospital
Record I
Patient A: "So how.... this book’s not bad ya?"
Patient B: "Excellent! Astounding work. No nonsense shit, sharp and concise to the point. But there's a major flaw in this piece of art too many character names to remember!!!"
Nurse: "Hey! Can the two of you. Put the telephone book back to the original place?"

Record II
One doctor asked a patient: "If I were to cut one of your ears off, what will happen to you?"
Patient: "Then I will not be able to hear..."
Doctor: "Hmm.. that's normal...So if I were to cut your other ear off, what will happen to you?"
Patient: "Then I will not be able to see..."
The doctor became nervous and asked: "Why would you not see then???"
Patient: "Because my spectacles will drop down..."

Record III
IMH has an old lady who wears black everyday, carries a black umbrella and squats @ the entrance to the IMH everyday without fail, rain or shine. The doctor wanted to administer treatment for her and decided to start by understanding her behavior.

So, the doctor also wear black and carries a black umbrella; squatted outside together just next to her, rain or shine, everyday without fail.
So...days goes by... the two of them squatted side-by-side w/o a single exchange of words for one solid month....
One fine day, the old lady finally broke the silence and asked the doctor: "Err...Excuse me! Are you also a mushroom?"

Record IV
A nurse saw a patient writing a letter. . She got curious and went to take a peek... But the patient didn't wanna let her see.
Nurse (unable to contain her curiosity): "Who are you writing to?"
Patient: "I'm writing a letter to myself..."
Her curiosity grew and she thought to herself (Why would someone write a letter to himself?)
So she asked again: "So...what's written inside?"
Patient (got impatient): "You crazy ah? I haven't received the letter, how would I know??"

Record V
Two patients escape from the IMH. They climbed up a tree and one of them fell from the tree and started rolling on the ground.
After a while, the patient rolling shouted to the top: "Hey! How come you are not coming down yet?"
The patient on top replied: "No.. no... I can't...I'm not ripe yet"

Record VI
One patient visited the doctor: "Doc...how? I think I'm a chicken since I was born..."
Doctor: "Woah! that's very serious...Why do you only come and seek treatment now?"
Patient: "Because my family needs me to hatch the eggs..."

Record VII
One truck driver was doing his usual delivery to IMH.
He discovered a flat tyre when he was about to go home after unloading the stuff.
He jacked up the truck and took the flat tyre down.
When he was about to fix on the new tyre, he accidentally dropped all the bolts into the drain.
The truck driver was very sad as he can't fish the bolts up; started to panic.
Coincidentally, one patient walked past and asked the driver what happened.
The driver thought to himself, since there's nothing much he can do; he told the patient the whole incident.
The patient nonchalantly replied: "can't even fix such a simple problem...no wonder you are destined to be a truck driver..." he goes on explaining:
"You just have to take one bolt each from the other 3 tyres and fix it onto this tyre. Drive to the nearest workshop and replace the missing ones"
The driver was very impressed and asked "You're so smart but why do you stay in IMH?

Patient replied: "I stay here because I'm crazy not STUPID! "

Dont even ask if I am Involved!

2009-07-14T22:20:00.001+08:00

10.05pm - Watching the CSI:NY on AXN. It just started. So this is the interesting part when someone somehow died. And then the story goes on.

Today is the 7th day after I got back from Kuching. So, that mean the end of the incubation period for H1N1. This mean that I cannot say every sniffle or cough that I have might me THE flu and need to do self-quarantine. To tell you the truth, the first day I was back I actually did have a rather bad running nose and cough but no fever. Since I was still on leave, decided to wait and see whether it got worse, i.e. fever! Thank god (or too bad!) the running nose and cough got better the next day. So, we assumed that it is just the change from cleaner air in Kuching to super poluted hazy air in KL.

Started work on Friday last week. As usual, after 1week off, tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of work and email to catch up on. I think I have not felt the time fly by so fast since I was in my old company when the customer was making use of me as their personal planner without benefits (not that the customers that I have now is not trying to do the same!). It is great having to work one day and then have two days off during the weekend! I think I never enjoyed my weekend so much since I moved here.

And then it was Monday. As usual, Monday super hectic with all the reports due and on top of this, rushing to prepare the material for our quarterly staff meeting this Friday. Somehow, someway, I always seemed to be involved one way or another either in prepare the presentation for such meetings. Always numbers and data...lots and lots and lots of it! My eyes want to come out of the socket already! Anyway, am glad I got major part of the work done today. So, at least, tmrw when I go for the review meeting with the team, it will be mainly touching up on the slides. Hope boss wont ask to add too many more slides. SIGH!!!

Am looking forward to WEEKEND!!

I am not going AWOL, I am just homesick...

2009-07-12T21:30:00.004+08:00

What in the world am I doing? I have no idea....
A week of doing absolutely NOTHING except eat, sleep and drive slowly without any stress at my hometown has given me a taste of freedom! Yup! Freedom. Which of course (yalar, of course), made me to wish and think again of my dream, to earn enough money doing what I love and working from home! Been throwing ideas around with my friends and colleagues for awhile and I might be able to work something out. I just need to push myself to get it started, i.e. start an online recipe book which will somehow be able to make me some mullah? I got really upset the other day because I realised that some of the recipes that I see in books, newspaper, magazines were similar o some of the recipe that I created for babe to try! Sigh!!!!

Another thing that I have always wanted to do was to write romance novel. I seemed to remember that I do this pretty well too. Well, I am assuming that its good because I get goosebumps when I re-read what I wrote last time. That was when the computer was not a daily household item yet. Yah, writing with long hand and forcing myself to write fast enough to catch up with what is in my mind! And now that I can finally type fast enough to have a good race with my mind, my muse seem to have decided to retired or go into hybernation! DARN! Anyone know how to revive or buy a muse? :P

Anyway, enough nonsense blablablabla from me. Just updating the blog so that everyone know I am alive and well. Just abit lazy to update my blog now. Still going cold-turkey after one week of parent-love at home. Yup, homesick!! I never realised that my parents's place is so homey and welcoming. And the kitchen felt so refreshing and yummy! And fantastic place to cook and create new dishes in! SIGH!!! ~>_<~ Yar, feel like crying! Miss them very much.....how come Kuching cant be like here to Penang? At least I can still drive and see them when I miss them. SIGH! OK lar, enough la..I better stop before I really start crying and babe wonder if I am going into serious depression and send me to the doctors! :P

Short talk: GOING BACK GOING BACK

2009-06-30T13:00:00.000+08:00

Nothing much to report except that I am super super super busy at work and SUPER SLEEPY!! What a combination. Early morning wake up can feel as if my eyes are all swollen from sleepiness. Cant wait till I go back to Kuching on Thursday evening. My aim is to sleep, eat, spend time with parents, meet friends and do absolutely nothing else. Of course, that is just me saying la. Most likely dad and mom will get me to do all the cooking when I am back since they say they miss my cooking (err...) and dont know what other errands that need to be done within that short short time. All the same, I just cant wait. Not even gonna bring my office laptop with me! WAHAHA (EVIL LAUGH)

MJ is dead..so??

2009-06-27T14:00:00.002+08:00

Since babe is working, had to wake up super early again today, 6.30am, to prepare his breakie. Normally I would go right back to bed and doze for another few hours. But today, after tossing & turning for 30minutes, I decided to forget it and just wake up. Good thing too because I finished frying beehoon for our lunch by 8am-ish and cleaned up the kitchen. After that, basically just laze around in the living room with a romance novel.

Nothing interesting on the telly. The only thing on is either rerun of some old sitcom or tribute to Michael Jackson. If I am the one holding the remote, I will not bother to watch la. I know alot people gonna kill (but please dont spam my blog..) but what is the big deal!! Ok, so he is the King of Pop. He changed the face of music or something like that. And he passed away. SO? He is still human right? So death is natural course of road for a human being. As far as I know, no one has found the magic pill of immortality yet.

I am not being mean and God rest his soul but...but.....I really DONT GET IT! I guess I am just tone death as babe always tell me. Ok, so I do admire the fact that he was famous and performing for millions (and making lots of mullah) when most of us don't even know what we want to do the next hour. He did have some songs that I like and think is pretty decent but other than that, all this hype and googoo gaga and insane insane ...ah..I dont even have the word for it.

Anyway, apologies to all Michael Jackson fans that came across this posting of mine today. Not my intention to be mean. Death, no matter whose is always sad. So, I am offering my own prayers, may he RIP.

Ruckus Muckus Fuikus

2009-06-24T22:08:00.002+08:00

The wind has been blowing gently today and I am on MC. Initially, I thought, GREAT! Now I can sleep and take the much needed rest. Somehow I am always tired nowadays and two days ago, I was so tired after work that I actually dropped a bowl when I picked it up. I mean literally dropped the bowl. If anyone taped it, he/she would thought I intentionally drop it. Guess I just didnt know my own strength..erm..weakness. Yesterday night finally just couldnt tahan anymore, so went to bed at 9pm and promptly fall asleep the moment my head hit my pillow. Babe was kinda upset because no one helped him with the laundry but I need to take care of myself first for a chance, you know..

Anyway, as I was saying, MC today, sleep but guess what, it just didnt happen! Sigh!~! The apartment upstairs must be doing some renovation because the banging and drilling started at around 9am and goes on till 5pm! For those staying in apartment or condo will know that the sound is so loud that it is as if the renovation is happening in your own living room! I cannot even hear my tv and the volume is twice its normal level. I just hope that tomorrow, I will have the energy and patience to deal with whatever that God decided to throw my way.

Again, this makes me start to day dream about having financial freedom to just not work and be fulltime housewife. The very thought of being a millionaire. Must get babe to go buy the lottery ticket this weekend! HAHA! Of course, one must have backup plan and mine would be to switch career again from a business planner to something more administrative. Perhaps human resource, customer service or administrative related. Something near to where we are staying now or near to where hubby is working. That would be perfect of course but as we all know, life is never perfect. So, for now, I will visualise, dream...

Boring, Routine, Stress, = SIEN!

2009-06-22T22:22:00.003+08:00

Was just thinking back of what my daily work-day routine is since moving to KL. Have pretty much settled into it and getting used to but this morning, was extremely blur till I even forgot to brush my teeth *BLUSH!* Didnt even realised until around 11am-ish in the office. No wonder I feel weird this morning. Not sure how the heck I can forget! Still trying to digest and so this is my normal daily workday routine:

6.18am - babe alarm goes off
6.20am - my alarm goes off
6.25am - shower, put on my contact lense, brush teeth, get dressed
6.40am - prepare babe's breakfast (oat & tea) and lunch
6.45am - lie down in living room till babe is ready to go
7.05am - Out of the house together with babe (he send me to work first before he goes to his)
7.25am - reach office or mamak depending on my mood
9.00am - work
11.30pm - lunch
1.30pm - work
4.30pm - Teabreak
5.00pm - work
6.00pm - babe pick me from work
6.30pm - reach home
7.30pm - cook dinner/clean kitchen
8.30pm - dinner
9.00pm - finish clean up after dinner & watch tv till bedtime..
(let me see:
Monday - Leverage and House
Tuesday - Ghost Whisperer and CSI/NY
Wednesday - Pua Chu Kang and CSI
Thursday - Bones and Criminal Minds
Friday - Eli Stone, Boston Legal, Stark)
12midnight - sleep

And the routine begins....

Of course weekend is totally different. Which is why I always say 2 days off per week is NEVER enough! Sure wish that we are millionaires! Then no need to do the work that do not like. Only work because I feel like working and enjoy the job. Oh well, I can wish and dream cant I? HAHA!

Short talk: Sick?

2009-06-22T08:40:00.003+08:00

Is it possible to be physically sick just thinking of work and the weekly meeting we will have today? I guess it is or else there wont be stress-related illness such as high/low blood pressure, headache, migraine, fatigue, depression and so on. Actually, I cannot even distinguish between stress related feelings and being really sick anymore. All seems to be jumbled up and mixed up. I am feeling super tired and exhausted but it can be because today is Monday?

Today, my nose are stuffed up and my throat itch. Started last night right after dinner actually. And my head feels heavy. The body is cold but forehead is slightly warm. Can anyone stressed till get fever? Anyway, will see how it goes today. If by lunchtime, still like this, will take MC and go home to sleep.

Chocolate Almond Cake

2009-06-20T13:04:00.002+08:00

Woke up pretty early with Babe today being Saturday and all. Both of us slept pretty early last night, just before 1am and end up waking around 9.30am (Yar, thats early for Saturday when we both not working la:P) Anyway, after having a cuppa each and share a ham sandwich for breakfast, I finally just couldn't sit still and not bake/cook something. Was watching Jamie Oliver Pukka on Astro last night and he was making this really simple looking chocolate almond cake. And since babe also love chocolate cake and I am still experimenting with the microwave oven capability, I decided to check if I have enough stuff around the kitchen to bake the cake.

I must say, the cake turn out SUPERB! Very moist and chocolatey with small chucks of almonds for extra texture. Babe enjoyed it so much he had two slices of it with another cuppa of coffee. Hopefully, there are still some leftover for me to bring to office Monday! HEHE!! Here are the photos:

The Recipe:
200gm butter
200gm Caster Sugar
200gm Flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 eggs
3 tablespoon cocoa powder (disolved in just enough hot water)
100gm smashed almond
100gm smashed chocolate bar

The Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees
2. Cream the butter and caster sugar. Beat till slightly fluffy and pale.
3. Add the flour and baking powder to the butter sugar mixture.
4. Add the eggs and mix well
5. Add in the cocoa mixture and stir.
6. Add both the almond and choclate and mix well.
7. Pour into a well greased 8 inch baking tray and cook in oven for about 30min at 170 degree.

Cake is ready when the toothpick inserted through the middle of the cake comes out clean. To make the topping, just melt 100gm butter, 100gm dark chocolate, 100gm icing sugar and 4 tablespoon milk. Melt over boiling water in a pot. When everything is melted, just pour it over the cake and let the magic work! :)

Consumed...

2009-06-19T08:45:00.002+08:00

Life is full of twist and turns. Sometimes the road is straight and easy. Sometimes, the road is so full of sharp broken glasses that you have to pick your way through them carefully or else risk being cut. But if you are never experience hurt before, then how would you know what being safe mean? If life is always full of goodness, then how would you know exactly what is the definition of goodness. Of course, to me, this is all nonsense because I for one, am willingly bask in the glory of goodness without any complaint at all especially now.

I am at the point where I couldnt care less about what happen anymore. All I want is out or else I will go crazy. Is this wrong for me to give up? Is it wrong for me to call it quit? I am never a quiter but when life throws me so many(too many) sharp glasses that it is seriously affecting my health, then it is wrong for me to call it quit. Cant God just give a little and help me for once? Have I done something wrong and so sinful that I am being thrown into one challenges after another? Or maybe God has turn his face away from me and do not care anymore? Call me crazy but this is what I feel.

My heart was pounding so heart yesterday because of the sadness that I was feeling. My brain simply cannot think at all. I mean, by right, after the 2hours lesson, my brain should be active and think non stop about it. But the truth it, I cannot think and cannot even talk about what happened to anyone until this morning. I dont even have tears to shed even when I tried. And believe me, I tried last night. But no matter how hard I tried, only a single drop heart wrenching was squeezed out of me. And yet, that did not give me any consolation or relieve that I sought after a good cry. I think I am emotionally empty now for anything that is related to this job.

I am not asking for pity. I am not asking for comforting kind words or looks. I am just pouring my feelings the only way I know how effectively, through writtings. I need a solution and need it fast before it start to consume me from the inside out and leaving me an empty husk. Because that is what I will turn into if heartache and anguish do not take me first.

What if....

2009-06-15T09:00:00.002+08:00

Babe and I watched 'I am Legend' last night. Yar, I know, old movie but we only managed to sit down and watch it yesterday. And to tell you the truth, I think it is a big mistake to watch it last night. Not because the movie was not good but on the contrary, the movie was too good that it was actually making me toss and turn in my bed. Keep waking up because I was dreaming of a actual plague that wiped out the entire world! I am in a rather sensitive depressing mood recently. So, maybe that is why this movie have such a great impact on me.

My subsconcious mind must be playing the 'what if' joke on me. I am having a splitting headache and nausea this morning. And extremely tired. All I want to to do is SLEEP! In fact, I actually fell asleep on my desk when I rest my head for a while on my arm. No joke, really slept to the extend of almost REM state. You know, the floaty feeling you get when you were jolted suddenly awake just before you fall into deep sleep, i.e. between conscious and subsconcious.

Too bad I cant take MC or not my own boss. Or else I would have definitely decided to stay at home to sleep today. I almost wanted to tell babe this morning that he can go off to office on his own. I will find my way to mine later at 8.30am, i.e. another 1.5hours of sleep. But the hassle and also remembering I have so much to do at work to catch up with my 2 days half day leave last Thursday and Friday make me cancel that idea. Not keen to get another 'whack' from boss for not being prepared for the 2pm weekly meeting today.

So, my 'what if' question today is, what if some virus wiped out the entire nation with only a few people immune to it. And those that is not immune or dead, is infected in such a way that they turned crazy like dogs with rabies? Will you be able to survive on your own? How long before you get crazy and start talking to a basketball with face painted on it? Just thinking of it makes my stomach sink to the pit and my heart pound loudly! (Or maybe that is just my nausea? sigh)

Butter Cake with Cream cheese cocoa topping

2009-06-13T15:52:00.002+08:00

This is really a back dated post that I should have uploaded a long time ago. Well, I guess better late than never. I was in one of those mood that day to bake something or go absolutely mad! So, I faithfully browse one of the baking book that I purchased recently at a book sale, trying to find a recipe which I have all the ingredient ready at home. Like I said, I will go absolutely mad if I have to wait because I need to go to the hypermarket to get the ingredient. In the end, I found a simple dense butter cake which the recipe promised to be absolutely heaven. Modified it abit by putting some cream cheese topping and cocoa powder on top for that rich heavenly taste.

The result, on the first cut & taste, it was abit disappointing and then I realised this is was of those cake that you have to let it sit overnight in order for the oil to seep out and make the cake absolutely heavy and rich! Glad my colleagues enjoyed them but I dont think I will make this one again. Abit too long to wait to reap the result for my taste. Anyway, the photos to share:

A success story!

2009-06-13T15:39:00.004+08:00

Finally! I made my first ever rice dumpling! I know, I know, the festival is over a few weeks ago but I was travelling then to Penang and chasing after the vendors for my wafers. A couple of days ago, I finally bought the bamboo leaves, glutonious rice and alkaline water to make ki chang ( plain alkaline rice dumpling). Reason for making ki chang and not other chang. Well, for one thing, this is the first time ever I attempt this and I didnt want to waste the ingredient for bak chang in case it didnt work. Second thing was of course ki chang is babe's favourite chang.

Anyway, I am glad to announce that after a few 'talk only', FINALLY got my ki chang done. I started around 10am this morning and get everything ready. Finished wrapping around 25pieces ki chang with 1kg glutonious rice. By the time I am done and ready to boil the chang in he pot, it was already 12noon. Boiling took about 2-2.5hours. So, everything was done at around 2.30pm. The chang is not hanging on the back balcony door to dry out before ready for babe to try. I also melted some gula melaka and coconut milk to go with the ki chang later.

All in all, of the 25 chang, 2 chang was undone while it was boiling and another 2 undone when I lifted the whole bundle out from the pot. So, total 4 damages! Which is not bad for my first attempt I must say! HEHE! So, there are the photos to share my pride and joy!

Did I make you drool yet? My next project would be a Foochow chang, i.e. peanut mixed with the glutinous rice. And next is the bak chang, chang stuffed with soya stew pork, mushroom, chestnut and salted eggs. Anyone interested to help me? YUMMY!!!! Hehehehe!!