A twist to it

Do you love to eat (or drink) bubur cha cha? I do! *wink* Bubur cha cha is actually a Nyonya dessert.

This was actually a back-dated post. You know, just managed to sort my photos in the digital camera and transfered and arranged in my pc. So remember this photo of bubur cha cha and before it "aged", I better post it now otherwise I will forget about it again.

Had some leftover glutinous rice flour (pulut) from tang yuen festival, so I used it up for bubur cha cha! Used the normal basic ingredients i.e. coconut milk, sweet potatoes, taro, sago (tapioca pearls)and pandan leaves, and the twist is the coloured rice flour. Added the sweet potatoes, taro and pandan leaves into boiling water. Once the potatoes and taro are soften, you add in the rice flour and sago. Let it cook for about 20 minutes in low heat. Lastly, add sugar to taste and mix well. You can have it chill or hot! Yummy dessert!



What do you add into your bubur cha cha???

My morning drink

I have a habit of taking my supplements early in the morning in empty stomach. Well, people said it is better for absorption, so I follow what people say loh.

Used to take some enzyme drinks but since we have no stock for a month, hubby bought home this health fruit drink last week. Have been drinking for a week now. Taste wise, it is better than the enzyme drink we had. Health wise, the enzyme should be better since the content and benefit are more, but if no "prawns", "fish" also can. Cannot be so demanding right??? I named it my morning elixir. Lol!



This is the first bottle. Hubby bought 2 bottles home, so it would take about a month for both of us (I think).

After Dawn

It took me about a month to sort and save my CNY photos from my camera into pc. A lot of excuses but lazy is the main one for my procrastination. Lol!

I always love to take photographs of food, flowers and scenery besides my two growing kids. Those are the memories that we can treasure as time will not wait for any of us. So, while reminiscing those photographs we taken during CNY, I want to share with you this beautiful photo. Supposed to take the first light of the CNY Eve, but too busy with 3 kids in the car, so I missed out on the dawn. But it was still beautiful to look in the morning sky. Taken slightly before 7am on 22 January. Don't you feel alive looking at the morning light???




Have a great weekend, everyone!

My time

After 3 days of over work in the shop, non-stop for 12 hours a day, I have a whole afternoon off today. All by myself!

As usual, I spend my time doing the normal stuff: do the laundry, clean the room, pick up the kids stuff and toys, do my 5-steps facial treatment, read my magazine, take my much needed nap and lastly fill some blanks in the EA form, all in the comfort of my bedroom accompanied by my favourite radio station. But it is half way done. Still have another hour before picking up the kids and all the quietness broken. And hubby is not around as he is travelling to KL till Sunday, so it will be me and the kids around.

While it is still quiet here, I shall be enjoying my own time. Hush hush!

Blew it up!

Had a major upset in the shop few nights ago. Actually prior to the incident, I already had a bad day. I put the blame on myself, but partly. I have never been so uptight since I started in 2010. I used to be cool, attentive and treat my customers fairly but because of one customer, I lost my cool and gave her a piece of my mind. How dare she questioned my authority??? And end up at home, I raised my voice at my hubby. Sigh!

But fortunately my hubby understand my feeling and instead ask me to relax and cool down. Yeap, should have not bring business matter to home. It is not healthy but it is always easier said than done. And should not divert my anger toward my family too. What else can I do? What is past is past. All I hope is to do better and treat my family better.

A great song to remind me to do right thing and someone is always there no matter what happens:

Lyrics taken from "I Won't Last A Day Without You"

Day after day, I must face a world of strangers
Where I don't belong, I'm not that strong
It's nice to know that there's someone I can turn to
Who will always care, you're always there
When there's no gettin' over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
So many times when the city seems to be
Without a friendly face, a lonely place
It's nice to know that you'll be there if I need you
And you'll always smile, it's all worthwhile- Carpenters

Match-maker

Do you believe in match-making??? Or having your parents introducing a girl or boy to you?? I never did till my brother did! I remember many years ago a male friend of mine told me that if he could not find a good girl, he would not mind going for the Taiwanese tv show of match-making, which was pretty famous that time.

Thank god I do not need to go through match-making because I think it is weird and conservative. I still thinking that arranged marriage is a "no-no".

Back to my brother. He is 5 years younger than me. My brother is a computer geek but he works in an architect firm as a junior architect. He does not socialize much so has only few good male friends. He seldom goes out.

My brother met a nice girl through a friend. Actually this friend is an insurance agent that deal with my dad. Initially my dad wanted to introduce the insurance agent to my brother but ended up been introduced to another girl, the current girl friend who is 2 years younger than him. They have been dated for a year now. And I only found out before CNY!

My brother spent much on Valentine's Day this year so I guess he has really found The Right one. How I know he is this serious?? He asked his Big Sister for advice. Lol!

Glad that after much push from my dad, he finally found a match. Lol! Maybe my dad is getting worried about marriage prospect so he is looking for nice girl for my brother. No marriage plan yet, maybe give them another year or two. My parents are eager for him to get married but they are not pushing him there yet.

As for my sister who is a year older than my brother, is also single. Did went for a few dates in the past but all failed. She commented either the boys are too young, immature or too shy to make the first move. Sigh! My sister like my brother is a very homey type and does not talk much. You can say I am the most expressive and lively one in the family! Lol! So my father again, does his magic again, match-making her. The last time I heard is my sister got the contact number. Just hope she will be making the first move and give it a try. Hope she finds someone she really like and suit her this time round!

Disrespectful

I am not so sure about you guys but I found that some websites need instead of one password but 2 sets now to write in the comment box. And the 2nd password usually illegible and hard to decipher. However so far I got them correct. Any one feel the same as I do?

More than a year ago I blogged about this customer of mine who eventually become a good friend. Mr H seldom dropped by the shop now. Most of the times he will call and order the stuff he wants and I will deliver to his house which is not far from the shop.

Mr H in his 70s is staying with his youngest son, daugther-in-law and 2 grandchildren. I met the daughter-in-law and son and never like the first impression of the son. The daughter-in-law is the quiet type. I never had a good first impression of people but this time I am right. This son is very fierce looking and his temper is nothing better. One time, I saw he scolding Mr H so loud everyone was looking at them. And poor Mr H can be seen wanting to cry and with his head lowered, walking at the back of the son toward the car. ***Shock** That is definitely not the way to talk to a father! And few weeks ago when I was delivering some stuff over, the son was at home. And he did not talk nicely to me, but grumbling about his father who buys so many supplements and make him sick. **Surprised** I just do what my customer wanted me to do. I did not force him to buy my products. And please be polite when you talk to someone

Last time when Mr H dropped by the shop, he will always complained about his daugther-in-law; about not providing food for him and always not around the house. Bla bla bla. This is family matters, so I would never interrupt and intervene in their affair. I merely listen. You know, old man. At that time, I did not believe that his daugther-in-law is mean to him. Mr H's wife is not staying with him, but in Singapore with another daughter. I knew Mr H is an old grumpy man and he tends to talk and talk and complaining non stop, but for his age, he is still in good health. He needs attention. I believe his son did not give him those attention and love he needs.

Now he seldom came in. The daughter-in-law refused to drive him around. And just a few days ago, my staff met the whole family dinner in SCR. And when my staff told me the story, she was in anger. Why not?? The whole family was dining with many dishes on one corner while leaving the old man eating alone in another corner with a table apart and only having a plate of chicken rice. What the?????

Gosh! My personal message to the family : He may be old and long winded, but he is still your father. Be respectful. Don't treat him bad! You will regret it when he is no longer around

Light headed

It has been a week without my Maxis line. I did not paid my bill, so it has been temporarily suspended till today. Lol! So it means I were without my BB services and internet connection on the road for a week, but I were doing fine. Because I have internet in the shop and I am using another service provider. So I am not without telephone and internet lines all the times! *wink*

Back in January, I told you that I had some dizziness symptom. It all started early January and I dismissed it as hectic schedule and lack of rest that time. I only felt dizzy when I lied down in bed and when I got up. Other times I were doing fine.

It gone after few days and before we drove back to Sibu for CNY I developed the same symptom again. That time, I tested my blood pressure and it read 99/75. Ideal blood pressure according to this chart. Source: http://www.bpassoc.org.uk

But I boosted up on my sugar intake and after a while it gone. So whenever I feel dizzy, I just grab a pack of Ribena (which is very sweet to me) or some sweets and I feel better after that. And when I had my last menstrual end of January, it came back and getting worse but after 2 or 3 days it gone. Hmm, change of hormone is the culprit??

Talking about hormonal changes, I blogged about my dad having a growth near his lymph node more than a year ago. He was under oral medication to maintain his hormonal balances. Since then, he losses a lot of weight and never able to gain weight. Just recently he got the symptom again. He has stopped taking the medication few months ago at advice of doctor to see how the body react but the dizziness came back. So after underwent a blood test, it was confirmed that he has hormonal imbalance. The node either over or under produce, cause him to feel dizzy from time to time. So he is back to his oral medication again. So men, please do not think that you don't have any hormone imbalances. It is pretty common; just that men usually do not discuss it.

And only recently I discovered that my mum, my aunt (mum's sister) and maternal grandma have the same health problem. So it runs in the family. All are skinny, small sized and weight around or less than 50kg. At least I have little to worry about.

Going to Chinese School

My girl will be going to Primary One next January. We are placing her in Chinese school. At least she must learn Chinese for 6 years so she would not be a "banana" like me! Lol!


Brought some Primary One coursebooks for her. Yeap, kiasu mum! Just to prepare her well for the unexpected in Primary One. These 2 are the books I placed in my shop so she can do some revision in the evening. There are so many books to choose from when I went to Popular Book few weeks ago. Took me about a hour to choose but I did not buy many. I also can't choose well since I don't read Chinese. Lol!

And luckily I did not buy a lot because after reading Mumsgather today, I knew there were 2 different syllabuses around. Starting 2012, Primary school students are to use KSSR syllabus. And as my girl is going to Chinese School I would have to search under the SJKC section for her books as again, they have different syllabus compared to National schools.

Sigh! Why are they making it differently?? Can't they standardised everything and why need to have double standard, etc?? *Headache*

Everyday should be Valentine's Day

After we got married, we seldom buy gifts on special occasions. I guess those are some things that grown out once we are married. Not that we forgetting those special days but we are no longer putting much emphasis or priority on them. When we were dating, we celebrated almost every occasions, but once we are married and having kids, those days are like normal days. Nothing special. Except you have good excuses to dine out and spend more on dinners. Lol!

For instance Valentine's Day. My hubby seldom buy me gifts anymore. When we were dating, he bought me diamond earrings, perfumes and flowers. Now the most I have is a candlelight dinner, and my kids tagging along too. We do not have plan for Valentine's Day which fall tomorrow since I need to be at shop. Maybe a late dinner with hubby and kids but if no, I would not be angry or disappointed.

We have been married for more than 7 years and counting. So I personally think that for this marriage to stay alive and longer, it needs more than a special occasion to make it works.

Valentine's Day is so commercialized nowadays, sometimes I wonder whether they know the real meaning or value of Valentine's Day??? Does flowers or gifts symbolize a person's love?? I doubt it. Other things matter.




Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day, darling!! And this song is dedicated to you and to all my dearest friends, readers and bloggers out there.


Christina Perri – A Thousand Years song lyrics
(Verse 1)
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How do be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow


(Pre-chorus)
One step closer


(Chorus)
I have died everyday
waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more


(Verse 2)
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything
Take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this


(Pre-chorus)
One step closer


(Chorus)
I have died everyday
Waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more


And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more


(Pre-chorus x2)
One step closer


One step closer


(Chorus)
I have died everyday
Waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid,
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more


And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I'll love you for a
Thousand more

Plateful

It is hard to find good food and yet affordable. Standard pricing is RM5.00 for almost every food you get over here except Kolok Mee and Laksa, unless you asked for special portion. The Chinese economy rice would cost you about RM4.00 for 2 vege and 1 meat.

Found a nice plate of nasi lemak at 3rd Mile (opposite the Police Station) today. A Malay stall who serves nice Malay food. Its Nasi Lemak Special only costs RM4.00.




My little girl like me, loves to eat nasi lemak minus the sambal of course. She can finished up this plate of rice herself. She has pretty good appetite but only finish up those food that she likes.

On serious tone, it is hard to encourage her to eat more and be more adventurous in eating other food categories. As young, she only want to eat fried food. Anything soupy or not crispy, she would not take! And she does not take egg yolk, do you believe that?? Sometimes I am at my wit end in feeding her. And she will complain to her grandparents that she is always hungry in the morning! Gee! That makes me like a bad parent.

But good thing is that she does not take much snack and sweets. So worry about her lack of nutritions intake I give her Chlorella and Spirulina supplements on alternate days.

So how do you encourage your little picky eaters to eat more???

According to him

Kampua, that is.

The best Kampua in Kuching is located in City Rock Cafe (previously Eastmoore Cafe), Jalan Rock! And my hubby can ate 2 plates of this sinful noodle with a bowl of pork liver soup. Oooooppppss! There goes your waist line, honey.




Sorry to say, I still have dislike of Kampua so I did not taste it myself. But I tried out another Foochow dish, i.e. Chicken Mee Suah and I like it instantly. Sorry, forgot to take a snap of the mee suah. Very tasty, that is all I can say. Lol!

Chap Goh Mei in Siniawan

Thought of having a quiet Chap Goh Mei with family but ended up we drove to Siniawan to see Chinese street parade. Well I have never been to Siniawan so it is an eye opener for me.

Actually baby sitter brought my kids to Siniawan yesterday evening, and after I closed early around 6.30pm, we decided to go there to fetch them. It took us less than 20 minutes from 7th Mile to reach Siniawan which is along the stretch to Bau (used to be a famous gold mining site in Kuching) and Serikin (border of Indonesia). By the time we reached there, it was packed with cars and people witnessing the parade which started at 7pm. We parked our car along the main road and we had to walk for about 10 minutes to reach the old shophouses of Siniawan.

They have this parade every year on Chap Goh Mei. Never knew there were so many people at the parade. I even met a customer and a friend there! Not only Chinese, but other races as well showed up there.

When I saw Baby Jay, he was busy looking at the parade and biting lollipop in the arm of babysitter.


We walked all the way to the end to reach the kids. Siniawan is a small town with 2 rows of old shophouses.


A parade vehicle with elderly singing CNY songs and oldies.


Kuan Yin deity. Other interesting parade is by the Bidayuh community (the majority there) and Indian community who joined in the walk.

A street parade never completed without dragon dance and since it is Year of Dragon this year.


A car hit us from behind when we were on the way home. Gee! Soi (bad luck)! But no major damage, just the car's bumper dented and the other driver offered to pay for the repair. We were saying that must be the fireworks that distracted him and caused him to hit us from behind at a traffic light in Penrissen road. By the time we reached home, it was after 8pm and we had our late dinner. Both kids must be hungry as they finished up their food specially cooked by their uncle. Lol!

Weekend Menu #20: Money Cai Bee Hoon

Happy Chap Goh Mei! Today marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.

I cooked a special dish over the weekend. I called it Money Cai Bee Hoon; a dish that symbolizes prosperity for the year ahead. This is one Hakka dish that I love. Always a mani cai (cangkuk manis or sweet leaves) lover, I love eating this dish. Simple and tasty.



Ingredients:
Bee Hoon (soak in cold water till soften), 3 Eggs, beaten, Dried Prawn (soaked and rinse), Mani Cai (discard the stems, wash and rinse the leaves, break into smaller pieces), salt, light soy sauce, shallots and garlics

Methods:
1. Heat up the wok. Add oil in the wok. Once the oil is heated up, add in chopped shallots and garlics. Once fragrant, add in dried prawns. Stir fry. Once the dried prawns are cooked, push the ingredients to one side.
2. Add in the eggs. Stir fry, push the dried prawns into the centre of the wok, mix well.
3. Add in the bee hoon. Stir fry well. Add a little bit of water from time to time. Add salt and light soy sauce to taste and serve.


As for tonight, after a dinner prepared by my BIL, maybe we are going to finish off the fireworks with the kids or going around the city to watch some firework display, like what we did last year. Hopefully no rain this evening.

Randomly

Have been busy driving between 2 divisions (Kuching and Samarahan) for couple of days. It is about 8km from my shop and took me about 20 minutes to reach the hospital. Luckily for the new bridge and good roads, the driving is smoother.






Thank you to my friends for the concern on both relatives. The girl cousin is still put to sleep and should be out of intensive care by end of the week. As for our uncle, he is still in the ward. Not so sure when it would be his turn for operation, but it is a waiting game in there.

I visited him this morning, and he was in good mood although he complained of boredom. What else to do in there other than sleep, read and watch tv?? My first visit to the hospital. The facilities in the hospital are well equipped and I am impressed by the services. At least our monies are well used in there. *wink*

It has been a very hot week and thanks to a good customer who gave me this bottled tea. I can feel the heatiness in my body, must be those driving and in and out here and there. I even skipped my usual afternoon naps. Lol! Never tasted this bottled tea and I find it very refreshing although a bit sweet for me. What I found interesting is its instructions written on the bottle.




In case you can't read it well (sorry, took picture with BB and it is not so clear), it said ........

1. Get a yestea

2. Shake it

3. Pay first :)....then drink


Lol!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Life is like a coffee

Life is like a shot of freshly brewed coffee. It taste bitter sweet. Happiness is the sweet part of life while sadness and angry is the bitter part. Take the bitter away from coffee, it would be sweet. Like you, I would love to have a sweet life, but life is not like that. It would not be much of a coffee or life if it only have one taste, isn't it?

How ironic of me to describe life in coffee term since I am not pretty much of a coffee drinker. Lol!

If I am being honest, I don't mind suffering at first then enjoy the happiness in the end. But said is always easier than when it does happen.

Look at the brighter side

A cousin of hubby had an operation last week in General Hospital on her tongue as doctor discovered cancerous cells in her tongue. She has been in coma as doctor does not want her to be much awake and talk. Just in case so that her operated tongue would heal well. A very young girl, just in her early 20s.

This morning, I helped hubby to send his uncle to Kuching Heart Specialist Hospital in Kota Samarahan. He is admitted today and schedule to be in operation soon, hopefully this week otherwise next week. Still got many queues in front of him before his turn. I wonder uncle in his 70s has such patience to stay in the ward as he had to stay until his turn and cannot go out.

Hope both will have speedy recovery. Hubby is going to be very busy, visiting both relatives for few weeks ahead.