Healing food

 ROYCE chocolate, have you tried it yet??

Ultimate satisfaction guaranteed.

I am SO addicted to it.

I would do ANYTHING to get my hands on that one little rectangle piece of absolute heaven. '

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm....*moan in closed eyes*

Swimming lessons for them

These past few months, the kids has been taking swimming lessons every Sunday for an hour, unless it was raining.

The coach, albeit comes with a steep learning fee, is very good and takes his students in a different approach. He outlines what he's going to teach them and stresses from day one that his is not competitive swimming, but all about techniques and survival skills in dangerous conditions. And one thing that stands out from other swim coaches is he doesn't take forever and guarantees the students he takes in learns all the things he outlines in his course. Now, that was something that I was looking for.

The kids had always been swimming breast stroke all this while and most of the time would just splash around in our pool, without much swimming laps or learning some other strokes. From the first day the coach access them, he feedback to me that their basics is very good already *ahem* and they should be pretty fast learners.

I have to admit, we do have quite fun Sunday evenings at the pool. Sometimes, I would sneak out to have a tete-a-tete with a friend or two, sometimes I would just go and swim some laps myself too. After several months now, about 2-3, minus off the rainy no lessons days, they are coming to the tail end of their course and I feel a bit sayang with this routine indeed.

Watching them swimming proper and in other strokes as well, I just can't help feeling bloated with a sense of pride. Now they swim the back stroke, gliding breast stroke, squid and free style wonderfully (at least to me). The coach taught them about spinning back and forth, and just last week, on diving as well. I listened with intent and tried it out, omigod, I feel so happy that I know how to dive too! Last lesson would be in the deep pool and *sob* I think I wanna find somewhere to have some real swimming exercise for everyone other than just the splish splashing around the pool. It's so fun!

Wrecked Saturdays

Oh boy, Saturdays schedules are becoming crazier. I have changed the mandarin tuition from Friday to Saturday, well because of two reasons, one being tutor was frustrated with those crazy jams happening every Fridays and the other being the kids normally behave more proper after a night sleep. Guess its just too tiring for them to be concentrating on the lesson after a long day at school.

After their tuition which is at home, fortunately, then right after we have to rush off to their BM tuition which was changed because didi has football lessons to go to at their previous BM slot.

Then korkor would be home from school and after lunch, we march the boys off to their piano classes at let's say, place A. Then, we zoom over back to the BM tuition which is at place B. Then we zoom back to somewhere near A for didi's football. And back to B to pick korkor, and back to A to pick didi. And by that time it will be 7pm and we can finally breathe. *let out a big sigh*

Crazy not?

I was thinking to cut off one out, but the kids need their BM lessons, and no way I wanna find trouble myself to drive around during the weekdays. The BM tutor scared me out of my wits saying korkor BM, tsk tsk, *shake head* very char. The piano lessons, well, korkor is almost at the end of the whole course, so it's only logical we don't quit so easily and conveniently, right? The football lessons are FREE!! Bawl!!!,

Well, I console myself that this won't be carrying on forever, so just bear with it, until the lessons run out of their course.

Saturday family time is ruined for the time being, that's for sure.

New temporary member in our family.

Recently, I've offered my home a room to stay for one of my hub's cousin, she being the fresh graduate making her first bucks. Initially, she hesitated, probably thinking it's not a good idea to be intruding into our private little family's nest or maybe get stuck into a meddling affair of some sorts.

I urged her to take up my offer, without any room rental or even utilities fees (if it's not too big a difference), simply because I just believe in helping in whatever ways I can. It's not a bad thing because we never know, sometime in the future, my kids might just need her help or favor in return, as their age gap reminds me when I was just out working, they were only kids at the age where mine are right now.

It's a cycle. I used to stay with my 3rd Aunt before and I am forever in debt. I like to pay it forward. It's a wonderful feeling. Hope she enjoys her stay here, and that we have mutual benefits from this arrangement.

Different perspective from different generations

This school holiday, we had the chance to get together with my 2nd bro's family back in Ipoh and in Genting.

The cousins who rarely meet, were awkward with each other in the beginning, but gradually they did warm up, much to my happiness. But that night at my mom's, the kids were playing iPads each on their own, maybe sometimes glancing over at the other's shoulder to see how the game was going along. How pathetic.

In the car, korkor lamented that his grandma (my mil) has such a pathetic life, only playing mahjong for the whole weekend. That kicked off a lecture on how different everyone's perspective is.

We told him that we and the older generation feel that they are the pathetic ones who only know how to play the computer games or the gadgets we have. I went on a lengthy long winded grandma story of how my cousins and neighbors' kids played, without toys, without tv, both outdoors and indoors, all day all night long. We would just think about silly games and make up silly rules and had fun, without feeling bored at all. How could we have such imagination really is beyond me.

And most importantly of all, we did not need to ask our moms what do we do next. Argh!!! that irky question when I banned their computers or tv or gadgets, "what do we do now?", can't you think for yourself??? This new technology stuffs really kill their creative cells!

Well, of course, after all that's been said, I don't deny parents play a vital role too. We should take those away from them, but really, I'm imposing some few hours banned from those stuffs, they are already hating me to ends. Sometimes, I just tell myself, just let them hate me. It sure feels sick to be the bad cop.

With just sharing some wanton wraps, I get more than I bargained for!

One day I made too many wanton wraps with fish paste and I passed on some to 2 of my neighbors.

One of them reciprocated with 2 loaves of bread and it was absolutely mind blowing!

It was so soft and fluffy, I thought it wasn't possible that it was homemade.

I then asked her how she made it and that she MUST teach me!

She then sent me a link to this secret ingredient to making soft fluffy bread/ buns. I was so eager to try on it, that I did, but it turned out not so amazing as hers. So I wondered what went wrong. When I searched through the blog, I learned that it wasn't good enough to estimate the amount of ingredients used and it's best to invest in a digital kitchen scale for absolute accurate measurements.

I went high and low to search for it and lo and behold, it doesn't come cheap. Spent over 100 bucks for that kitchen tool, but it did turned out very useful indeed. Not only measurements was done accurately, tasks were also done faster and easier. I am a happy camper.

And the bread? Turned out absolutely fantastic!

I think the bread maker is the next best thing in a kitchen, apart from blender, the 4-in-1 oven and the pressure cooker. Go get one if you haven't yet and try this absolutely awesome recipe I'm sharing now with you....

Partying with my high school friends

Last Saturday evening, I had a gathering with my high school friends, mainly to welcome home 2 of them who were back from US.

We had such a fabulous time that we didn't want to go home, until it was 1.30am. My oh my, when was the last time I partied till early hours of the morning? I was a bit terrified to go home that late, with all the crimes we often hear happening around town. But fortunately, one of them whom homecoming was the celebrated occasion, followed me home to stay for the night or two.

After which we continued our chatting till 4.30am! Holy moly! I know I would be getting the payback time the hard way for the week after.

True enough, it had been, what, like 5 days now, and I feel like I'm not getting any better! I feel exhausted, lethargic, pain even, in my whole system from head to back to toes. Argh! This is so not good. Next time, if I wish to take a day off, I'd better take the whole week off!

As for the family, hubs took the kids to dinner, and apparently, they had McD. They happily told me how awesome that what-what burger which they wanted to try for the longest time (but mommy always say no to McD) is! Ahh... glad that they had a good time with their papa. Me thinks I ought to go out like this more often!

Saturdays are for movie nights.

During the mid year 2 weeks long break this year, we watched quite some nice movies at home together. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Superman (the 1978 first ever which was .... urgh... painful to watch!), Jack the Giant Slayer, oh, that was such a fun movie to watch with them. I think it was even more fun to watch them watching it, cos they were too engrossed and kancheong as the movie rolled.

After the school resumed, some of the Saturdays were spent on a movie night as well, and meimei once (well maybe not only once) just fell asleep on the couch halfway through. I suggested to her that perhaps we could bring the TV up to our room, get all snuggled up in our PJs and watch on our beds and mattresses so it doesn't matter if she falls asleep anytime. She LOVES that idea.

I could just imagine our lovely Saturdays family time movie night would be a lovely memorable childhood for them, just like how I reminisced spending some of the evenings with my parents and brothers in the living room all sprawled on the floor, sleeping on mattresses, lights were off, watching those TVB drama series or special events like Miss HK Pagean together.

When I asked hubs to get a smaller TV for our room, he then said he's planning to buy a 55" smart tv to replace the one in our living room, and bring the current 42" up to our room. And today he saw a promo for that said TV for RM8k! My goodness! I still maintain that it's a lot of money to be spent on an idiot box never mind it's called smart tv. That's what he always does... spending money unnecessarily on the wants and not the needs. I gave him my smart advice, if price is 3-4k, it's a good buy, nothing more than 5k, that's really quite the max he should be going for. Argh! Men!

Playtime kids happy, mommies happy.

I have to admit, life without exams is so fun. Though I preach about assessment results is really not THAT an important aspect in our lives, but really, who are we kidding? What kind of lesson do I impart on the kids if I don't instill the habit of putting your best foot forward, doing the best you can, be prepared and challenge yourself when exam is near? Certainly I have to make them read, do and learn most of the schooldays, made intensive come exams time and frankly speaking, I don't like the days too much myself.

So much of homework time, tuition time and revision time. Sien.

After the last day of the exam was over, I could breathe with more relief. What better way to spend an evening at the playground with some other kids? And to top it all up with a pleasant home cooked dinner by a WONDERFUL friend.

There! I blogged about it, happy?

Post mortem GE13

The excitement came and gone. Life's back to the normal grind. Everything remains the same (so far) albeit people still encouraging each other to never give up and keep on fighting. Which I think, makes me even more confused and desperate. There's also something about false hope that could brings damaging effect. I don't know, I'm a very simple person, I just want to do what I am capable of doing and making the best out of what we do have. If I can't even do that, how would I even think of fighting for a greater cause?

So, back to basics, bring the children up with values of kindness, compassion, manners and etiquette, consideration for others, and I believe happiness will follow them where they go, and they will make their own bright future never mind what the circumstances are.

A new photo editor I found.

It's not a bad thing to change a little bit from our usual habits or routines.

I absolutely loved Photoshop to edit my pictures all the time, but because of the Windows update lately, all the programs need to be reinstalled and I hadn't have the time to find the installation file for the Photoshop for as long as I could remember.

Last night, I just did a random search on some free downloads and came across this new photo editor software and it's just wonderful. It can do batch processing, normally for re-sizing my pictures for easier downloading and uploading, which is just awesome great! Gone will be the days I do the exhaustive work picture by picture, one by one. Ha! I just had to kick myself in the butt for not discovering this earlier!

It has other so many features to play with also and it's so easy to use. But the laptop is still running pretty slow, usually after some lapse of time I am away from it. Anyone has any clues?

Then again, as I mentioned, changes is good. People usually resists change, we are habit creatures who loves to stay in the comfort zone, but it's always good to challenge ourselves, learn some new stuffs, explore the whole world and be inspired once again.

So, coming 5th May, let's hope there are some big changes for a better future.

Thoughts on qing ming.

On the topic of filial piety, qing ming, knowing your roots, ancestors and keeping the tradition of tomb cleaning and gathering the whole family up, everyone has different thoughts on this.

Mine is such an opposite from my hubs. He thinks that it's very important that this tradition is kept alive for generations to come and that it's a good opportunity for the whole clan to come gather together to keep the family bond intact.

For me, it's really in the heart. If you love someone or miss someone deeply, you don't need a specific day to clean the tomb or do the whole works.

Korkor asked me that day when we were crawling slowly in a traffic standstill to his great grandparents grave, how I would like to be handled after I die. I told him it's entirely up to him, he could keep my ashes or put it in a columbarium or scatter it in the sea, depending how he wants to keep me in his memory or how much hassle he wants to undertake. I asked him if he would miss me, he said of course he would. Then I said, that's enough said, keeping me in his heart forever sounds great for me already.

In fact, my mom told me before of her wishes when that day comes she breathes her last. She said she wished her ashes to be scattered over the sea so her soul could travel around the 4 oceans. She said she didn't want it to be a burden for the younger generation to make an exodus home and subject to unnecessary risks on the road just for her, who would be already not in this world anyway. What is the need to celebrate if the celebration of life is not done when one is alive anyway?

I truly echoes her words of wisdom, guess maybe as a daughter, I am more inclined to follow my mother's footsteps and thoughts, especially when it seems to be more logical and selfless.

But my hubs said no way. It's vital that his sons come and pray for him just like what's he's doing, what his grandparents are doing right now, and not only that, they should pray for their grandparents' and their great grandparents' (current one we go to during qingming) bringing their whole family, children and grandchildren too!! My gawd! Such a BIG task to undertake! I'd say, good luck to you, hubs!

Only Time Will Tell

I just finished reading a book that had been lying around for some time on the table in my living room.

It's really something catching up a good read. Before the last page of the book, all I could think of most of the time of the day would be to open the book from where I left off and excitedly uncovers the plot and before you know it, it was several hours away and damn, you need to put it away to do something else that can't be put off to a later time, like take a shower, or go to sleep.

It could be so frustrating that it wasn't the ending yet, but yet, when the ending came, the emptiness that envelopes the whole being, oh, so unbearable. Suddenly life bores no meaning, no direction and sit not, stand also not. What to do now?

Lucky it's just the first book of a saga of 5. But the 3rd one was only released just this month alone. The big question is, do I go get the 2nd book now? By the rate the books are being released, the 3rd book would be done reading even before the 4th is out, and I would be pining for it. Damn, this author really had us conned.

Guess maybe I watch the 4th series of Big Bang Theory first. Equally addictive.

One of my motherly roles.

Don't you think this pic looked nostalgia like that? Machiam yin-chei-leong-mou spending a quiet moment with a butt naked son in the olden days in the laundry area.

For many years now, I have been cutting their hair, both korkor and didi's. Meimei's too, but since she can keep longer hair, I cut for her less. The boys' hair grow real fast, like every 2 months, it would be "rock" hairstyle.

When I start learning this task, it was tough. Really not so easy as it seemed to be. You see those hairstylists snip snip snip in no time? I thought I could do that too, but you never know until you try it. Those days it could take more than an hour to get the job done. Now, after all the practice, they are good to go in half an hour's time, depending how long it is.

I'd say, this cutting hair exercise is pretty fun, but cleaning up is a bitch. See I put something on the floor? It's the old plastic shower screen but that didn't help much either. Lots of hair still lie around.

For 10 bucks at the Carrefour, we can get the hair cut now, hassle free. So, I think I will be leaving this job to the experts soon. Then again, I think I cut nicer than them at times. *ahem*

Oh yeah, I cut their nails too, and I don't know why... I enjoy it!

Ending 2012 beginning 2013

Where was I?

So long didn't blog, I also don't know what to blog liao.

But the 2012 had a very good ending, we enjoyed ourselves A LOT (except for an inconsiderate bitch person), ate A LOT of mouth watering food, had 3 wonderful meetings with friends, spent a wonderful evening with my elder brother and his family, watched "Wreck it, Ralph" with my 2 boys, which was a very hilarious movie, went up Kledang Hill with my parents early one morning and revisited many heartwarming childhood memories and played games with my 3 monkeys.

And then, on the last day of the year, I dropped my phone into the toilet bowl full of s**t! BAWLLLLLL!!!!

Anyway, we spent a quiet new year's eve together at home, watching fireworks from our balcony and just simply counting my blessings having them beside me.

Wishing myself another blessed new year ahead. And you too! *cheers*

2013, we are ready for ya!

Been planning and finalizing some little changes in our routine for next year.

Korkor going to a new school, we are going to wake up even earlier during weekdays so I could still send korkor to school enroute to the younger ones'. Though it's a CHORE to be stuck in the traffic crawl early early morning to school, but truth be told, I do feel it's a blessing being able to send the kids off to school everyday.

Hence, I really, really need to resolute to retire earlier for the night. It's going to kill me having less than 6 hours' sleep. By 11pm, I shall go dream my sweet dreams, and I must make them go to bed before 9. I truly believe that a child without enough rest are not healthy, happy and wouldn't be able to study well.

Korkor going to stay longer hours in school everyday, and his chinese tuition lessons slashed. He is on his own to figure out things he doesn't understand by himself.

The younger two are going to adapt to a new tutor for their chinese lessons. I had been asking those I know for their personal tutors contacts, but to no avail. Then, I looked up from the internet and kept directed to those tuition agents websites. After contacting a few and letdown by their high soaring fees they asked for, I was so happy when finally one seemed to be just the good candidate to replace the tutor. Just when I thought I have settled it, she sent an sms to say she was rejecting my offer.

I was pretty much upset, and went back on the hunt again, and finally, an even better candidate appears. Really, when one door closes, another opens. I made an appointment to meet her before confirming her appointment as their personal tutor, in fact, I met TWO candidates on separate occasions and they are just both wonderful. ~whew~ so happy that I have found someone.

Then, again, I've mentioned this before, meimei's ballet lessons are over, so I do not need to rush on the weekday to send her off for 1 hour anymore. Can't believe that just an hour lesson slashed during the weekday could create so much less stress and relief.

With these little new changes planned for next year, we could all now sit back and enjoy the rest of the holidays, going back to hometown to keep the grandparents' company for a longer duration, relishing on ALL my favorite food in Ipoh, taking the kids' for movies, visiting some friends, then going down south to meet their aunties, uncles and cousins, and finally spend some leisure time at Desaru with the whole gang.

Looking forward to it, IF we could sail through 21 Dec.

Our newest addition in our home

Hubs' extravaganza expenditure thus far on a hobby has finally arrived and settled in our home. 

It's a mighty huge aquarium, custom made to suit our purpose *to be a divider for better fengshui too* and space, fully equipped with the cupboard where the aquarium sits, filter, fan, carbon dioxide and all the necessary soil needed to grow plants in it.

We had been looking around for some time, and finally decided on giving this whole task of setting up the aquarium to an expert, complete with all the designing of what goes inside as well. We were not very confident of buying parts and setting it up ourselves only to find fish and plants dying in it. So not ready to be heartbroken.

 So we paid a deposit and waited anxiously for it to come. Korkor kept asking us every other day and we said it would be here before our trip. Our trip came and gone and it was still not anywhere to be seen.

Finally!

 Seeing for ourselves how they put different layers of soil and nutrients in there. Looks amazing enough.

 Then he buried some rocks inside to make a beautiful landscape.

 And when the water is in, it looked so mysterious. The aquarium guy (which is what we call him behind his back) told us to wait for a few days for the settlement of dust before moving the fish in.

The next day, it cleared up! yay! so happy!

We moved a few fish from the small tank to it first and see if they survive or not, and when they looked pretty active swimming around happily, we moved more in and brought more in to make the place look more enchanting. IT IS ENCHANTING!

The more thrilling thing is that, we had a pregnant guppy some days ago, and then the next day, the bulging belly was gone and we saw a few little baby fish! The kids were so thrilled, especially meimei, I think. She keeps saying how cute the baby fish were, but alas, the next day, all the baby fish seemed to be missing. We believed they either died being sucked into the filter or eaten by the bigger fish. Poor babies.

Can't wait for the plants to grow into a tropical jungle in there and get some little shrimps in too. Yesh, we all have been very delighted watching the aquarium and the activities inside, on and off the whole day. Papa would be straight heading to the tank when he comes home from work to see his babies, and it's also a very pleasant looking decoration indeed in our living room area.

Counting my blessings

The other day, I was browsing the internet for information on a cult society. A gym friend told me her sister in law is a cult member and told me horror stories of their activities *shivers*

And hence, I came across a blog post about someone's experience from this cult's recruitment. Apparently, these kind of movements usually zero in on people who are helpless, depressed, or demotivated in life. The person was saying how at that point in life how miserable and meaningless life is when she was almost drawn to that cult society. But fortunately, something snapped and she felt it wasn't for her.

That story brought me back to reflect on my own life. I remember I did feel something like that once a long time ago, on how just meaningless and pointless life was, even though I was already in a relationship who's now my husband. I knew something was missing in life, I wanted to have a family to feel complete and meaningful. I wanted to stop working to care for them and bring them up. 

And yes indeed, I am now living the life I wanted and dreamed of. I always believe, this is the high point of my life, being happy, contented, living the life I wanted. I don't know what the future holds for me when I am old and frail, but at least, I am feeling so so so blessed in life right now. I don't need to go travel the world and see God's creation, I am already living with it. The 3 monkeys I am blessed with are truly God's beautiful creations who makes me jump yet makes me smile all the time. 

For this, I also can't thank my hubs enough for supporting me to live my dream, to take care these three little monkeys myself. Thank you Lord, and thank you, my dear darling hubby (who also makes me jump most of the time too.)

Ming wud gift from the hubs

I love my friends. Especially those who remind me not to think low on myself and that I deserve everything I am having now. *gasp*

More importantly, that I should extort from my hubs once in awhile in some jewelry and stuffs I love.

So, it's very important to have some friends who tell me to go ahead, make him pay for some nice blinking gifts, never mind it's not my birthday, or anniversary or valentine's day. 

There! I pulled him to a roadshow by a jewelry store in a mall and browsed around to see if there's anything I liked. I found a couple piece I like but not uhm, like as in fell in love with them. When I saw this chain, it was love at first sight. I've got to have it, and I wouldn't budge until the hubs paid for it. And he had no choice! tee hee! I was giddy with my sudden windfall.

While we were there, the boys were restless, most certainly. Meimei was thrilled to see all those nice stuffs as well like me, indeed girls are just girls. Her eyes twinkled hopefully like she so longed to have one too but I told her cannot.

I remembered when I was young, I had the same feeling of longing to put on make up, dress up, wear these jewelry stuffs, but my mom wouldn't let me. She never explained and never offered any consolation.

For the kind of longing and hoping I once felt so strongly, I explained to meimei why she can't wear any jewelry. Then I told her not to worry. That when I die one day, everything I own will be hers. All my jewelry and bags would all be hers alone, nothing for the brothers. She smiled (probably thinking when that day will come.... *oh-shit-look!*)

As for the brothers, I will leave them with words of wisdom. One of them is is to learn from their dad on what to look for when finding their other halves. *stick tongue out*

Making our own bread.

My bread making adventure has taken a very long hiatus and gleefully, I'm back to it!

Seriously, I think it has something to do with the kitchen. A conducive workplace is very important for work and pleasure.

Admittedly, it has also something to do with the amount of bread that the kids and I are consuming each day. I have to buy a loaf of bread or a dozen of buns for all 4 of us for just 1 day alone to satisfy the need. When I overlook this task or had no time to get out to the groceries, I would be having split head thinking what to feed them for the day's recess.

It's so easy to give them some pocket money to buy food from the canteen, but I try not to. After all, it's outside food. In any case, commercialized bread is also outside food and my thoughts had been hogged for a long time from all those read ups on how many chemical and other damaging stuffs they put inside the bread.

Hence, I was looking into making homemade bread or buns for the longest time.

Finally the procrastination ended.

I made a loaf of white bread and the kids were so excited, although they keep harping on bringing back the old brands I used to buy. No, I will insist. They are just too used to the softened and sweetness of it. It would just be a matter of time before they like mine.

Today, I made a dough from the bread maker, roll them into buns and baked them in the oven.

It's not a success story, but yeah, the kids still eat them. Guess they reaaaally love bread too much!

Soon, I am going to try making pizza, cha siew pau, kaya pau and other loaves of bread that contains all of our favorite stuffs in, like raisins, banana, pumpkin....just to name a few. I will take pictures of them... when it becomes more enticing to look at!

Healthy stuff, and I'm loving it!