KC and I have attended at least 3 marriage courses and read numerous books on healthy marriage etc etc. Every guru of marriage says the same thing...take time off to date once a week. Well, we tried but after a while we get so overwhelmed by our busy life that we forget about it.
Today was another attempt after being inspired by a fellow colleague who goes with her hubby on his big bike to places like Genting, Melaka, PD for breakfast every Saturday morning.
Eating is not so good....too much food will make me rounder. So KC decided we should paktoh ala USM days. I packed my Bible and the lent meditations and we set off to CityPark.
When we were in USM, we would meet once a week to date armed with the book which we intended to study together. We did quite many book studies from The Lord's Prayer to marriage. We explored places all over Penang and even reached Bukit Mertajam. I remembered two places clearly; the Christian cemetary at Youth Park and a Jewish cemetary somewhere in town. I like the Jewish cemetary.
Today's effort was really good. So much better than going to restaurants to eat and bore each other with small talks. Being in CityPark by the lake and watching the fishes and tortoises swimming around helped me to relax. Reading the Bible and doing the lent meditation together was really like the old days and enabled us to focus better. We made quite a few decisions and shook hands to a partnership in our service in church (KC thinks I should partner him in that area of service).
We have made an appointment to meet here again next month. Weekly is definitely impossible...this is a good start for the year anyway.
Friday, February 26, 2010
FRESH BREAD
I have a new toy today!!! Bought myself a new bread machine. The old one konk off after serving me for maybe 8 years? It's a Kenwood and costs RM450.00. The price has dropped compared to last year.
Lyn and I were so excited. We took out the Betty Crocker book which EE got for us. I wanted to bake cinnamon raisin bread but replace the raisins with cranberry. Unfortunately the cinnamon expired 2008. So we tried the above recipe instead; replacing the walnut with nibbed almond because Harp Key has run out of walnut due to the festive season.
The machine kneading the dough. So much excitement. Every now and then Dan would climb on the kitchen stool to peep into it.
After waiting for more than 3hours, finally the loaf of chocolate almond bread is done. The smell that wafts through the whole house is heavenly. All of us love bread....whatmore freshly baked ones.
The top seems to sink in a bit after it cools. But the texture is wonderful. The bread is really soft and nice. It would definitely be nicer with walnuts. Must get them soon.
This is just the beginning of our bread baking. The job of baking the bread is Lyn's. It will be like those days when we return home from school and she starts preparing so that the bread would be done by 8pm and have time to cool before we go to bed.
Now that we have the Betty Crocker book; probably we will have a lot more varieties. I have noted down the various nuts and seeds and herbs that I need to pick up; not forgetting cheese. Yummy!!!!
I wonder how long this machine will last.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Why do we work?
I took mother to the government clinic yesterday for her regular checkup and to collect her medication. The young doctor was so impatient. It was written all over her face and shown through her action and voice. Why on earth does she want to be a doctor then if she has no patience with the patients?
Answer:
a. She is overworked in a government clinic. The patients waiting for her attention are endless. On top of it, being of different colour and young, she is bullied by the little napoleons at the registrar who keep pushing patients to her but give lesser patients to their kind. (We who sit around and watch have eyes to see, we are not stupid).
b. She thinks being a doctor means earning big bucks (which may come true eventually) but in the process of reaching that goal, she forgot what she learnt in her Pendidikan Moral classes.
c. She was probably having her PMS or had a fight with her boyfriend or it was just not her day.
In the ancient chinese social hierachy, one of the level is made up of the farmers, artisans and merchants. When I took a vote from the class on who wants to be in one of the above category, none wanted to be farmer. Why? To them farmers don't earn much money and it is almost like hard labour. Majority chose to be merchants (business people earn lots of money).
But the most honorable job is the farmer. Without farmers, the nation will have no food. Without food, there will be no nation! The farmers were the core of the economy of the nation that time. The young people do not see it that way anymore; if they don't get material wealth from it, it's just not a good job.
So....is working just about money/wealth? What has happened to ideals like service to the society/country? Helping the needy? Influencing the young positively? Being charitable etc etc.
It is interesting how doctors from the private sectors ooze with kindness and patience and tolerance but this is not entirely true in the public sector.
Answer:
a. She is overworked in a government clinic. The patients waiting for her attention are endless. On top of it, being of different colour and young, she is bullied by the little napoleons at the registrar who keep pushing patients to her but give lesser patients to their kind. (We who sit around and watch have eyes to see, we are not stupid).
b. She thinks being a doctor means earning big bucks (which may come true eventually) but in the process of reaching that goal, she forgot what she learnt in her Pendidikan Moral classes.
c. She was probably having her PMS or had a fight with her boyfriend or it was just not her day.
In the ancient chinese social hierachy, one of the level is made up of the farmers, artisans and merchants. When I took a vote from the class on who wants to be in one of the above category, none wanted to be farmer. Why? To them farmers don't earn much money and it is almost like hard labour. Majority chose to be merchants (business people earn lots of money).
But the most honorable job is the farmer. Without farmers, the nation will have no food. Without food, there will be no nation! The farmers were the core of the economy of the nation that time. The young people do not see it that way anymore; if they don't get material wealth from it, it's just not a good job.
So....is working just about money/wealth? What has happened to ideals like service to the society/country? Helping the needy? Influencing the young positively? Being charitable etc etc.
It is interesting how doctors from the private sectors ooze with kindness and patience and tolerance but this is not entirely true in the public sector.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
my little warrior
During the CNY hol back in Sitiawan, the kids spent most of their time playing computer games. I wasn't too pleased with it...never really encourage computer games. When we returned, I was so relieved when Dan came up with this special outfit. His very own armour; consisting of a helmet, breastplate, a sword and an axe. He claimed that the idea is from the computer; thanks to the computer!
Here is the warrior in his outfit minus the axe. It was good to see him running around and sweating in it.
Here is the warrior in his outfit minus the axe. It was good to see him running around and sweating in it.
Practising sword fighting or fencing (as they claim it to be). Pretty violent. I was worried one might get hurt and one did get hurt! Guess who?
Thursday, February 18, 2010
tgif
On our way back south from north, we stopped by Midvalley. Went to Thank God It's Friday for lunch. Wanted to compare it with Chillies.
Iced lemon tea...the waiter keeps refilling it. Very sweet. I had coffee; nothing great. Kids had fruit juice. No refilling for these drinks. At Chillies; there is a refilling bar where you can keep topping up your soft drink.
The appetizer, clam chowder. I like it a lot. Very thick with a tinge of spice...pepper.
Another appetizer; fried mac and cheese. The filling is corn, carrots etc and oozing with cheese. Nice finger food.
Pasta and salmon. OK.
Some friday burger or sandwich. Minced beef in between. Very meaty and not enough salad. Taste wise; only so so. I prefer Chillies'.
Lyn had this burger. I don't know how it tasted but she couldn't finish it. It's quite big. After the appetizer, we were almost full. That was why when the main course came, we had trouble finishing it.
Forgot to take a picture of the shop so have to make do with the serviatte. It's a bit loud and rowdy; like Chillies but there are more people at Chillies compared to this place.
Iced lemon tea...the waiter keeps refilling it. Very sweet. I had coffee; nothing great. Kids had fruit juice. No refilling for these drinks. At Chillies; there is a refilling bar where you can keep topping up your soft drink.
The appetizer, clam chowder. I like it a lot. Very thick with a tinge of spice...pepper.
Another appetizer; fried mac and cheese. The filling is corn, carrots etc and oozing with cheese. Nice finger food.
Pasta and salmon. OK.
Some friday burger or sandwich. Minced beef in between. Very meaty and not enough salad. Taste wise; only so so. I prefer Chillies'.
Lyn had this burger. I don't know how it tasted but she couldn't finish it. It's quite big. After the appetizer, we were almost full. That was why when the main course came, we had trouble finishing it.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
firecrackers
It's the reunion evening. After dinner, we got the kids to play firecracker. Almost every year Ong will buy firecrackers for the kids. This set is from last year's. A few types. There is one in a square box. KC propped it on a tin and placed in the garden. Asked me to get the camera ready. So I got ready to take shots.
I almost jumped out of my skin when the firecracker went off. It was totally wild and loud. I was frightened as there is no water today and the weather is horribly dry. What if a fire starts?
In my bewilderment I still managed to catch this. I wasn't enjoying it at all. It went real high and I was so afraid sparks would land on the roof. Ah Yean was afraid the tin might topple over and the firecracker hit us instead of going upwards.
Finally...after what seemed like a long while it died down. I will never ever allow such a cracker to be lighted in my house again. It is so common in the new villages like Kg Koh New Village; let's just keep it there.
I almost jumped out of my skin when the firecracker went off. It was totally wild and loud. I was frightened as there is no water today and the weather is horribly dry. What if a fire starts?
In my bewilderment I still managed to catch this. I wasn't enjoying it at all. It went real high and I was so afraid sparks would land on the roof. Ah Yean was afraid the tin might topple over and the firecracker hit us instead of going upwards.
Finally...after what seemed like a long while it died down. I will never ever allow such a cracker to be lighted in my house again. It is so common in the new villages like Kg Koh New Village; let's just keep it there.
sticking together
This is called goh hoon. It is eaten for lunch every Chinese New Year eve. I think it is a Hinhwa tradition or could it be Khek? I don't know....but my MIL makes it without fail every year.
This noodle is a mixture of beehoon and meesuah. The meesuah is not the Sitiawan fine type but the Hinhwa rough type. It is cooked with ikan tenggiri and some chinese cabbage. Very sticky. The meaning of this noodle is to stick every member of the family together so that they come home every year for CNY.
I have been drilling this to the kids every year we eat it; they must come home for CNY no matter where they are. This noodle will stick us together as family etc etc.
I have yet to learn to cook this as MIL does it every year. We used to eat at 7R long time ago but after FIL passed on; we would go to KH's house. This year MIL decided to send it to our house as she still wants to spend time in her own kitchen preparing the dishes for tonight.
MIL does have certain traditions which must be followed every year. I must remember to boil some rice afterwards before she comes so she won't have to mention not to leave my ricepot empty.
Friday, February 12, 2010
CNY mood is in the air
The exodus has begun. Ing got a lift from cousin CC who is on her way home to Kampar for CNY. We waited eagerly for them. It was real hot and could feel the heat when they got off the car.
Took them to dinner but forgot to take pictures of the food as we were rather hungry and they were eager to continue their journey. Here is ma and CC and George. CC commented that ma looks rather fair/pale....maybe not enough vitamin D. Must ask her to stand under the sun longer.
The second cousins. Pretty shy. Think this is the third time they met each other.
This is the beginning of the CNY mood. I spent the whole afternoon frying keropok and Lyn baked a cake for nguima to take home. Packed bags and bags of goodies for them to take home.
Blessed Tiger year to everyone.
Took them to dinner but forgot to take pictures of the food as we were rather hungry and they were eager to continue their journey. Here is ma and CC and George. CC commented that ma looks rather fair/pale....maybe not enough vitamin D. Must ask her to stand under the sun longer.
The second cousins. Pretty shy. Think this is the third time they met each other.
This is the beginning of the CNY mood. I spent the whole afternoon frying keropok and Lyn baked a cake for nguima to take home. Packed bags and bags of goodies for them to take home.
Blessed Tiger year to everyone.
Monday, February 8, 2010
beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
I met a real cute girl in 1Alpha today. She is only about 2 feet tall. She sits right in front, with a little stool at her feet as her feet can't touch the floor. This is not the first time I have met such small people in school but she is the smallest of all.
It so happen that the topic which I was teaching today is about inner beauty vs physical beauty. I quickly took the opportuinity to drill the lesson into the students' head on the importance of radiating our beauty through good character.
I told little Sofia and the whole class that everyone of them is beautiful to me. Therefore they have to uphold good virtues and values if they intend to continue to be beautiful in my eyes.
This is the weakest Form 1 class that I have and I have already spotted a few bad hats. It will be interesting to see how they progress. I hope I can put something good into them.
Another interesting person I got to know is JW. I had taught two of her sisters before. Unfortunately they did not have good academic records. The eldest left school before SPM (she was pregnant) but returned to sit for the exam. The second (whom I spent a lot of time encouraging and counselling) also stopped schooling when she reached Form 5; her excuse was her mother needed her help. I told JW that I hope she will complete her Form 5.
There are many unfortunate students in the weaker classes. It is always a challenge to help them see how academics can help them get out of the vicious economic and social cycle. The most frustrating part is when they don't see the need to be helped and the need to get out of it.
It so happen that the topic which I was teaching today is about inner beauty vs physical beauty. I quickly took the opportuinity to drill the lesson into the students' head on the importance of radiating our beauty through good character.
I told little Sofia and the whole class that everyone of them is beautiful to me. Therefore they have to uphold good virtues and values if they intend to continue to be beautiful in my eyes.
This is the weakest Form 1 class that I have and I have already spotted a few bad hats. It will be interesting to see how they progress. I hope I can put something good into them.
Another interesting person I got to know is JW. I had taught two of her sisters before. Unfortunately they did not have good academic records. The eldest left school before SPM (she was pregnant) but returned to sit for the exam. The second (whom I spent a lot of time encouraging and counselling) also stopped schooling when she reached Form 5; her excuse was her mother needed her help. I told JW that I hope she will complete her Form 5.
There are many unfortunate students in the weaker classes. It is always a challenge to help them see how academics can help them get out of the vicious economic and social cycle. The most frustrating part is when they don't see the need to be helped and the need to get out of it.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
yee sang
This is the time of the year when this dish comes out...yee sang. I was introduced to this dish when I got married and moved to Seremban to live. It seems to be very popular here. Never seen it in Sitiawan before (but recent years; this dish has reached Sitiawan too).
KC says yee means easy and sang means up. So when you lou yee sang it means you are hoping for your business to go up this new year. For Chinese, we want everything we do to prosper so whatever we eat around the CNY is related to properity.
This is the yee sang dish which we ordered. It has vegetables and fried stuff and sweet sauce to make it sweet. There is raw fish which we drowned in lime juice. If we eat it at home, we would have added liquor to kill whatever germs there are in the raw fish. There is also pomelo. With the lime juice and sweet sauce, this dish has a nice sweet and sour taste and of course the crunch of all the fried stuff.
Here we are 'louing' (tossing) the dish. You toss it high and say all the good stuff you wish for the new year like for us with kids we will bless the kids with may you get all As this year, may your exam be easy all the way etc etc. It's lots of fun when there are lots of people tossing it together.
I love this dish. This is the first for this coming new year and I am definitely going to eat quite a few more rounds of this before the lunar new year celebration comes to an end.
(I wonder if this dish is found in other places. I heard that it originated in Malaysia and has caught up in places like Hong Kong).
KC says yee means easy and sang means up. So when you lou yee sang it means you are hoping for your business to go up this new year. For Chinese, we want everything we do to prosper so whatever we eat around the CNY is related to properity.
This is the yee sang dish which we ordered. It has vegetables and fried stuff and sweet sauce to make it sweet. There is raw fish which we drowned in lime juice. If we eat it at home, we would have added liquor to kill whatever germs there are in the raw fish. There is also pomelo. With the lime juice and sweet sauce, this dish has a nice sweet and sour taste and of course the crunch of all the fried stuff.
Here we are 'louing' (tossing) the dish. You toss it high and say all the good stuff you wish for the new year like for us with kids we will bless the kids with may you get all As this year, may your exam be easy all the way etc etc. It's lots of fun when there are lots of people tossing it together.
I love this dish. This is the first for this coming new year and I am definitely going to eat quite a few more rounds of this before the lunar new year celebration comes to an end.
(I wonder if this dish is found in other places. I heard that it originated in Malaysia and has caught up in places like Hong Kong).
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Discipline again??
I thought I would not be in the Disciplinary Board this year as the job list was distributed more than a month ago and my name wasn't on the list. What shock I had when I saw my name on the list this afternoon. I went to the Staff Room to clean up my table and prepare for Friday...but I left totally disheartened. For a moment I thought I would burst into tears....just couldn't believe my eyes.
I guess this is how hard work and dedication is paid. Since I was so good in the job; they just have to keep me. No matter how I plead and beg...they won't let go of me. I am actually not that good...I am definitely not good at all. Sigh.
I think I am the only teacher who is being retained over and over in the Disciplinary Board and also the longest serving. Let go of me a year; pull me in again.....This is the punishment for working hard.
So what lesson to learn from this? Don't go to school till the MC is over. Don't be too fast and super-efficient. Close both eyes to the faults of the students and smile when they do wrong and say do some more....instead of punishing them.
Anyway, I won't shout or scream at any of the students this year because Joy is less than 6 months and I don't want it scratched like Apple unless KC returns Apple to me and I drive Apple instead. But I don't want Apple scratched again. So??? No need to discipline the students...just smile and be nice to them.
Sigh...work is work...have to do means have to do. I will not shirk from my task but of course have to do a bit of negotiation...wonder if they take any task away from me or is this just an added task?
5.2.10...it was a mistake. Somebody couldn't get my name off her head. What a relief.
I guess this is how hard work and dedication is paid. Since I was so good in the job; they just have to keep me. No matter how I plead and beg...they won't let go of me. I am actually not that good...I am definitely not good at all. Sigh.
I think I am the only teacher who is being retained over and over in the Disciplinary Board and also the longest serving. Let go of me a year; pull me in again.....This is the punishment for working hard.
So what lesson to learn from this? Don't go to school till the MC is over. Don't be too fast and super-efficient. Close both eyes to the faults of the students and smile when they do wrong and say do some more....instead of punishing them.
Anyway, I won't shout or scream at any of the students this year because Joy is less than 6 months and I don't want it scratched like Apple unless KC returns Apple to me and I drive Apple instead. But I don't want Apple scratched again. So??? No need to discipline the students...just smile and be nice to them.
Sigh...work is work...have to do means have to do. I will not shirk from my task but of course have to do a bit of negotiation...wonder if they take any task away from me or is this just an added task?
5.2.10...it was a mistake. Somebody couldn't get my name off her head. What a relief.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
London Almond
This is probably my second attempt making London Almond. The first time was maybe ten years ago, didn't get the accurate recipe; so wasn't good. This time I followed Agnes Chang's cookbook. Fantastic. Really good. Just need a bit more practice and it will look good too. Next time must remember to get the brown papercups; look better.
Ingredients A:
250g butter
120g icing sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla
Ingredients B:
300g plain flour
200g ground almond
250g toasted whole almond
Decoration:
150pcs small paper cups (brown/black colour would be the best)
500g cooking chocolate, melted (use the microwave oven; don't overdo it)
150g toasted nibbed almond
1. Cream A till well-combined. Mix in B to form soft dough. Shape into balls and wrap up almond in it. Place in paper cups. Bake at 180deg for 17 minutes.
2. Cover cookies with melted chocolate and sprinkle some nibbed almond on top (sprinkle the almond before the chocolate hardens). Chill in the fridge to set the chocolate before storing.
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