no.15 bored bored bored

k, now i'm bored and bothered. i am agonizing over a pile of work and nothing seems to be getting done!! about 11 hours ago via web

@elusivehearts impossible deadlines are the everyday peeves... and i'm utterly bored with that. bored bored bored lol about 13 hours ago via web in reply to elusivehearts

i'm bored. and irritated. and tired. but i'm bored first. lol about 14 hours ago via web




7/2/2011
omg look at howie!! wtf is he thinking??!! LOL

 

photoshopped howie

 

VS

 

 

"normal" howie lol 

no.14 Home Cooked Meals & Cravings!!!

EXPLODING YUMMINESS!!!


food diary 5 May 2011
peranakan mee siam! with assam kuah, prawn sambal... my childhood favourite!!

pic: alow's mee siam recipe & mama's traditional bowl - best of my 2 grandma's!!

food diary 12 April 2011
simple home cooked meals - rice with sambal goreng (tempe, tau kua & long beans), whitebait omelette, fried fish coated with kunyit stuffed with pounded chillis... wow

food diary 22 Jan 2011
suddenly, i just felt like having liver (felt horribly tired on the day - forgot to take a pic).


pork liver sliced thinly & marinade with: 
oyster sauce, 
light/dark soya, 
white pepper, 
chinese wine, 
pinch of cornflour

prep: 
sliced garlic
sliced ginger
sliced chillis
sliced spring onions
sliced corriander 

wok fry garlic, ginger, chillis (large fire). add marinaded pork. add water if gravy wanted. finish with spring onions and corriander. serve hot with steamed rice. wow. :D


today it was lamb chops seasoned with salt, pepper pinch of herbs, then pan fry. since i had mini portabella mushrooms, they were fried with salt & pepper, some onions, garlic and a bit of tomatoes. simple dish, lots of flavour... but now, i'm thinking of my pork liver again :)

also love teochew style pig's trotter stew in black soya sauce to go with fragrant steamed white rice... very interesting how cultures can just mix - this dish is either enjoyed with the authentic teochew sng-me-chou (chilli, raw garlic & white vinegar mix) or with my peranakan balachan chilli (chilli, balachan, limau purut & lime juice)!

chicken wings are a hot favourite! wings with beer batter (should have shaken off excess flour, but then...)

food diary 12 Sept 2010 Sun
never underestimate a simple dish that looks a little bit squeeshy :) fried brinjal with good salted fish, garlic, seasoned with soya, salt, white pepper and a touch of sugar goes a long long way with hot steamed rice! add minced pork, chopped spring onions, sliced chillis and the dish is complete as a meal with plain steamed rice! can't wait to have it again!!



food diary 4 Sept 2010 Sat
my daddy's birthday and we went for a restaurant meal.
the biggest and crispiest dish... the suckling pig!!! YUM








food diary 22 August 2010 Wed
soup and rice - this is the all-time family favourite meal... soup soup soup - steamboat, chicken macaroni soup, kiam chye soup, hae mee soup (prawn soup with pork rib and kuey teow), ayam soto, chye huei soup (bek chye soup with her pior), bakwan kepeting...

been cooking bakwan kepeting for years - once a year every year for the past 10 years or so, only during chinese new year - then, there's only me enjoying the soup and meatballs with belachan and steamed rice. i'll be enjoying it for reunion dinner (mama's version), at mommy's dining table (alow's "tennis balls") and at home (my own version) - since everyone cooks them only during CNY!

and then, this year, the kids suddenly LOVE it!! yay! so i get to eat it more often than once-a-year during the CNY... and now, it's so much easier to cook when i use frozen crab meat hehehe... beats having a crab cut on my finger when peeling crabs!




food diary 11 August 2010 Wed
tried a recipe over the weekend - one dish i haven't had for about 20 years... alow's siamese curry... made 2 mistakes >> used packet coconut milk (YUCK!) and too much assam pueh :(
other than that, the recipe is sooooo easy.

ah ha! look at my lovely seasoned wok!!


food diary 5 August 2010 Thu
omg... just look at my nasi lemak breakfast (below)...


food diary 30 july 2010 saturday
today i had cravings for alow's laksa lemak with chicken... so got it cooked right from scratch...


last week i fried rice with ham and egg... so incredibly simple and satisfying!!!! yummm...


HUNGRY now!!! but don't think i should eat... restrain nette :(
masak uppa tomorrow ah?

no.13 PIG, HAM, BACON: COME! (http://www.omfisaan.org)

Story: Pig, Ham, Bacon: Come!
ref: http://www.omfisaan.org/?p=381#more-381
(http:///www.omfisaan.org)

Thai people have beautiful names. Only they are seldomly used. They are written in documents and said at official occasions. But in everyday life, only the nickname is used.

To outsiders, the nicknames can have a funny ring. ‘Bird’ is the most common name, followed by ‘Small one’. From a western perspective, that is quite accurate to describe most Thai, yet something doesn’t seem quite all right when a sturdy guy with a beer belly is called ‘Small one’. Yet it is as common as hearing a teeny-weeny woman being addressed as ‘Fatty’.


Nowadays, often English names are used. These names don’t necessarily need to be words that are fitting names to western ears. ‘Bank’ is the most common name. It sounds nice, and it clearly shows where the priorities of the family are. A while ago I met ‘Dollar’. For, his father explained to me, he had to work abroad to be able to pay the bride price, so he called his first child ‘Dollar’.

The English vocabulary of most Thai however is fairly limited. To keep it simple, common names within one family are A, B, and C. It starts to become a bit more confusing when English names are combined with Thai tone jokes. (Thai is a tonal language.) What are the names of your sons? Joe, Joe, and Joe. For a while I didn’t look too intelligent, but slowly it dawned. Every Joe had his own tone. But which tone belonged to which Joe never became quite clear to me.

The funniest combination I heard from a colleague. She was shopping when she heard a mother call her children: Moo! Come! So far, so good. ‘Moo’ means ‘Pig’, which hardly is a complimentary name in my book, but still cracks the top-10 of popular names in Thailand. But next came: Ham! Come! Bacon! Come! And there they came, running to their mother. She went home with her car full of meats.

My Comments:

hello Marten! hope you're well! love the website and stories... and what a lovely house without glass!

when i was young and lived near a local village in singapore, many chinese people were officially named after animals. one lady, who used to cycle by our home 2 hours every morning to help my grandma with housework, was called "Ah Zhu" (means "pig" in hokkein, a chinese dialect). another popular name was "Ah Gao" (dog). i've heard that the story behind naming children after animals was that the parents needed to protect their babies from being taken away by evil spirits. by calling out animal names, they hope that the evil spirits will be fooled into thinking that there are no children around... well, that's how the saying goes. anyway, i always thought it was rude to greet "Aunty Pig", even if it was really her name and she accepted it pretty gracefully.

sets me thinking about parents who will do anything to protect their children, even if it meant selling them or giving them away (this is very common in singapore too - but more in the past when people had debts and no money to feed their children - my own grandmother was one of these children who was "given away" - usually a girl is given away so that she can be of help around the house of the adopted family).

so back to my thoughts on parenthood - think it must be a huge comfort when any parent can understand and appreciate how our God is like a protecting, loving father, and that everything He plans and does for us are always in our best interest, even if it's a painful experience...

was just sharing with my 2 boys about how Jesus taught the Lord's prayer - Jesus starts the prayer as "Our Father," and not "My Father"... this helps me realize how wonderful it is to be given (a Gift) the privilege of being a child of God - not by good works, or by good behaviour, or by being born to a christian/catholic family...

i found it funny that the boys then ask me who they should consider their real father - Andrew or God? hmmm... got stuck there! lol anyway, my answer was simply this - Andrew is their "earth father" and God is their "heavenly father" - now they have 2 fathers caring for them at the same time, 2 fathers to run to for anything...

keep writing!! it's lovely reading the blogs and learning more about your experiences!

God Bless!!
jeannette

no.12 EXPLODED!! rash! rash!! all over me face & body!! wtf!!

omg what happened?!

disgusting skin problem on my foot!! (above)

april
disgusting foot - skin problem on heel (above)
doctor gave fungal cream for disgusting leg - no change
skin got worse again - itchy, dry up, split, bleed, heal
- same cycle every week
finally swollen from infection

end may
doctor gave antibiotics (amoxycillin 500mg+clavulanic 125mg 15tab)
& cream for disgusting leg (swollen1) - got better
skin got worse again - dried, split, bleed, heal
- same cycle every week

end june
disusting leg (swollen2) + rash on shin in early june
- among rash are tiny red dots and some tiny blisters with blood
doctor refers me to skin specialist

7/7/2010 wed
saw the skin specialist

8/7/2010 thu
did swaps, fungal tests, biopsy in 3 areas on leg (pain leh!!)
took antibiotics that night - cephalexin 250mg capsule

9/7/2010 fri - 11/7/2010 sun
rash spreads (tiny dots)

12/7/2010 mon
4pm last dose of antibiotics because...
by 7pm, rash on face flare up - red blotches

13/7/2010 tues
face rash appears (red, blotchy)
eyelids swell, eyes look half closed
body rash all over - except covered areas, hands/palms
doctor says it's eczema.
gives antihistomine (hydroxyzine 10mg)
& enzyme (serratiopeptidase 5mg)

14/7/2010 wed
eyelids swell more - can't drive boys to school
went to skin centre to see proxy doctor
doctor says face rash not the same type as body rash
think drug allergy to antibiotics - cephalexin
tell me to observe if it gets better or worse
blood test for liver function, kidney & full blood test
gives me antihistomine - Loratadine 10mg tab x1 for mornings
evening - i took antihistomine - hydroxyzine

15/7/2010 thu
face and body covered in itchy rashes
3-5pm red and incredibly itchy, hot. better after cold bath
8pm - took chlorpheniramine (ruuny nose med w antihistomine)
10pm - rashes better, took regular pills

16/7/2010 fri EEK!

2am eyes and face swollen bad, slight pain (above)
10am saw doctor. detailed report to doctor.
blood tests for liver & kidney function.
did not take regular pills 1 dose.
2pm saw skin specialist
- 3 skin specialists diagnose bad drug allergy to cephalexin
4pm warded, drank 2-3 jugs of water
all liver function & kidneys, full blood tests are normal (ttsh/nsc)
evening cocktail - steroids (prednisolone 30mg),
chlorpheniramine 4mg (anti itch)
steroid creams, aqua cream for dried face skin
10pm back on regular pills

17/7/2010 sat
2am terrible itch can't sleep
rashes subsided.
4pm doctors agree for discharge
large bag of medicines
10am/10pm regular pills continue

18/7/2010 sun
2am terrible itch on neck and itch on ears
took chlorpheniramine, back to sleep
7am terrible itch on neck still
8am dose of steroids, calcium, gastric pills, chlorpheniramine
10am itch remains but slightly better
10am/10pm stick to regular pills

on the day i got discharged 17/7/2010 (below 3 pix)



WORSE!! help!! 15/7/2010 after seeing ttsh & nsc (below)

14/7/2010 face rash & swollen eyes 9pm-9am :( (below)

13/7/2010 *gasp* rash!!! so damn itchy!! (below)

facing the rash 6-8am: YUCKY YUCK! :( :( (below)

warded 16/7 - 17/7/2010
- TTSH ward 71 bed 27 (below photos)
- lovely lovely room with a view (same as in 2004)

as for hospital food, i quickly opted for muslim meals... somehow, chinese food for hospital patients are always bland and blah... oooh, i was sooooo thrilled when the food came... for dinner was home-cooked asam pedas fish with rice, and for breakfast was a very warm and fuzzy bee hoon ayam soto soup... my my my...

i would have stayed one more day just to rest and get away from working at home, but i heard that the dengue cases had shot up and they expected some dengue patients to get warded... so, since i was depriving someone else of proper medical care, i packed and asked to leave this quaint restful sanctuary...

this is... to me, one of my most favourite places in the whole world...

just look at the garden view from by bedside!! (below)

updates - 1 august 2010, sat
i'm still on steroids (prednisolone) since hospital discharge on 17/7/2010 and will take the steroids for the next 7 days. HUNGRY all the time and i've got to eat big and eat lots... nasi lemak with ayam goreng, bergedel and sayur lodeh every morning is just heavenly, just not naturally what i would eat. by 1pm i'm hungry again and have some lunch, and by dinner... boy, the amt of rice i have on my plate scares me...

1st 7 days - 30mg/day (from the day i was warded)
next 7 days - 20mg/day
next 7 days - 10mg/day

today i had cravings for alow's laksa lemak with chicken... so got it cooked right from scratch...


last week i fried rice with ham and egg... so incredibly simple and satisfying!!!! yummm...


HUNGRY now!!! but don't think i should eat... restrain nette :(
masak uppa tomorrow ah?

guess what?
the root of the whole episode of rashes and swollen face... the disgusting skin issue on the leg is starting again, just after i started rubbing cream recommended by the skin specialist! damn!! it was getting better till then... so, stopped the cream application after 2 days. at least the ridiculous itching has stopped for now....

update again soon...
nette

no.11 aidan & jannah's birthday party in pyjamas! (in 2009)

yes! we party in PJs, too!

no.10 celebrating christen's 7th birthday! 29 oct 2009

every year, we celebrate birthdays at home. simple, easy, fun and comfortable :)

no. 9 chinese new year!!! "gong xi fa chai" fun!

no. 8 Explode>>> enough of dealing with yucky pple!!

(rehearsal with contortionists from hunan, china - girls are barely 15 years old!!)

product launch - concept work

"conceptualizing a new product launch - event went so much more smoothly than expected (pessimist speaking), despite all the ridiculous late approvals and the many last minute sudden requests...

it's not the running of the event that scares me, or the last minute demands that is frustrating - we've done so many successful events... this is one that i find utterly unenjoyable... it was that horrendous moment(s) when our nice client and our team have to bear with very unpleasant people (client's own colleagues). so unfortunate... so ugly... uurrrgh!" *DUH*

no. 7 Roadtrip: Perth to South West Region, WA - 26/11/09 to 30/11/09

Most Memorable Quotes on the Road Trip

jannah: "please, can i eat mac and donald's?"

jannah to anyone and everyone: "i don't have a DS :( "

aidan & christen (during car rides): "chicken treat! red rooster! MCDONALDS!"

heath: "WHAT IS THAT F**KING SMELL?!!???!!!"
(it was dinner which was wiped out by rice-deprived travellers lol)

GPS: "turn left... turn left... u-turn when possible..."
jap & nette: "damn u! there's NO bloody road on left, u stoooopid *^#@&*!^&* GPS!"

From Denmark to Warpole's Valley of the Giants


------------------------------------------

we went to all these spots shown on the map...


Day 1: 26/11/09 thu

At the Gap & Natural Bridge (cold!)


Along the Way to Misty Lake Cottage (Country Roads)


route:
perth to albany via albany highway
start: 5.30am
reach: 1.30pm albany
reach: 5.30pm Misty Lake Cottage (BBQ dinner)

visited:
Middleton Beach - lunch 2.30pm (burger & fish&chips)
The Gap and Natural Bridge, Torndirrup National Park
Denmark - BBQ dinner & sleep-over at Misty Lake Cottage 5.30pm
---------------------------------------------

Day 2: 27/11/09 fri

Road leading to Misty Lake Cottage.
simple farmstay where we fed the animals in the morning with farmer Warren.
fed the chooks, goats, brushed the hinny's coat, walked around the farm & lake


Valley of the Giants - Treetop Walk on suspended bridge


Greenspool, Denmark


route:
denmark to warpole to pemberton
start: 11.30am
reach: 6.30pm

visited:
Misty Lake Cottages - Farm - feeding the animals 9-10am; Lake
Greenspool
Valley of the Giants
Pemberton - dinner & sleep-over at Pemberton Breakaway Cottages, Cottage #2
---------------------------------------------

Day 3: 28/11/09 sat

Get Hooked with Trout Fishing!


BBQ Marrion @ Aus$55-$65 per kilo


BBQ Trout (the ones we caught)
- our 10 Trout Fishes @$17/kg + BBQ fee @$4 each)


route: Pemberton to Busselton
start: 10am
reach: 5pm

visited:
King Trout & Marron Farm (+lunch on our catch, 10 trouts!)
Mammoth Cave (Lost/Missed)
Busselton - dinner & sleep-over at 300 Marine Dr
-----------------------------------------------

Day 4: 29/11/09 sun

Redgate Beach Lookout Point


Yallingup Sheep Shearer's Shed


Dogs Rounding Up Sheep


route: Busselton to Yallingup to Margaret River to Dunsborough to Busselton
start: 10am
reach: 5pm

visited:
Yallingup Sheep Shearing Shed (lost several times, tx to GPS)
Mammoth Cave (Lost twice. never got there)
Redgate Beach look-out
Margaret River (Lost/Missed)
Dunsborough simmons ice cream factory (meet eugene & family)
Busselton - beach (kids), dinner & sleep-over at 300 Marine Dr
-----------------------------------------------

Day 5: 30/11/09 mon

Jannah driving Kaitlyn and friend at Simmons ice cream - park


table soccer at Busselton Home Stay


route: Busselton to Bunbury to Mandurah to Cottesloe to Perth
start: 10am
reach: 6pm

visited:
Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre (missed dolphins by 2 min)
Mandurah (via new Forrest Hwy)
Cottesloe Beach
Back to Waterford for dinner

---------------------------------------
the whole trip in one phrase: "G'DAYS MATE!!"

no. 6 good old chicken soup!!

(pic - wine + dine = divine!)

one of our projects at STORM Creations Pte Ltd... an illustration for a logo for a client in australia (we're in singapore and it's drawn by hand). love this kinda work!

... but more than that, it really reminds me of how food & company of family & friends will always be the highlight of the day - and i suspect this is same all around the world smile

sharing a simple home-cooked dish made this week - chicken soup chinese style. my 3 kids will slurp down a 10 litre pot of soup in 2 meals - lunch & dinner! while the 2 boys drink straight from the bowl, the youngest uses a straw! lol

My Chicken Soup Recipe


ingredients:
free range chook (whole chicken is best. but pieces are fine too!)
chicken feet (we love these! can be optional. or substitute this with fresh chicken bones.)
ginger - abt 2-3 thumb size knobs
carrots
1 onion
soya sauce
sesame oil
salt to taste
pepper corns, half to full teaspoon - crushed
chopped spring onions and coriander to garnish
option: chinese wine

1. water to the boil in a soup pot
2. add ginger, carrots, onion, 2 tbsp soya sauce, salt & crushed white pepper corns
3. when the water is boiling, add the chicken and chicken feet (or bones), & chinese wine if using.
4. when chicken is cooked (say 15-18 min), dish out to cool. leave soup boiling till chicken feet is soft. ginger & onion can be discarded after soup is done. soup should be clear.
5. season & coat chicken with 5-6 tbsp soya sauce & 2 tbsp sesame oil (and 1 tbsp of chinese wine if using). keep moist with a little soup if too dry. when chicken has cooled, chop into bite sized pieces. make sure the white cooked chicken is coated with soya sauce and sesame oil, and kept moist. garnish with chopped spring onions and coriander.
6. serve soup, season with salt & white pepper, sprinkle some chopped spring onions and coriander
7. serve seasoned chicken on a dish and enjoy with steamed white rice. (i'll also have sliced chilli or chilli padi with soya sauce dip on the side)

very very yum! :D
cheers!
nette