So Much For A SWATCH......

I never believe that time could stand me up, but sure enough it did. Last Saturday, we woke up late, after breakfast, we all got ready to go for our first outing to the south, this is because we wanted to try the Metro Mall, which we never knew existed before.

When we left the house I was very sure my watch read 1130 hours, I was on the scooter, while the other two happily walking behind me, it did not take us too much of a hustle to find the place that we wanted to go to. And immediately I forget that the outside world exists when I am going from one shelf to the other in the mall.

We only left when we were so hungry, since we could not find a place to eat, we decided to go home and have a quick late lunch before exiting to our next hop.

I was so sure it was 1330 hours on my watch when we left to the next hop, I was so excited to go experiment this place, but only to be disappointed to find that it was already closed. Took a quick look at my watch and again it was still 1330 hours, how can they close so early, maybe we were at the wrong entrance.

Seeing the frustration on my face, hubby took out his phone and to my dismay the time on my watch stood me up, as the correct time was nearly 1800 hours.

So much for a SWATCH…………… puhhhh

Before You Judge Me

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the ChildhoodI've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates and adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
Have you seen my Childhood?
People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
It's been my fate to compensate,
For the Childhood I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
The dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me.
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my Childhood....

Chef Diva Is 20

Happy 20th Birthday Sweetheart. There is nothing more that I could wish for but only the best for you today and your whole life through. Enjoy the gift of growing up as well as the gift that came in the box. You can never be alone with a friend like that. Enjoy!

This Old Lady

See this picture perfect of an old lady alone, yeah she caught my attention while we were all waiting outside the doctor’s room. So petite and neat and alone and confident, she seat there in deep thought, eyes never wondering with curiosity.

Funny, this little neat old lady suddenly has a resemblance to one of my nieces, I saw my niece in her, I closed my eyes and tried very much to be distracted by other patients, but the old lady was the center of my concentration.

When a nurse came to assist her, she politely declined the help and walked the distance to the doctor’s room on her own. Such is life you walk the path of the world alone, in contrary to our cultural believe that you brought your children up, so that they will be destined to be your care taker when you are old.

I hope there will be many more old people in this world that will not be afraid to be on their own, no matter how many kids you have, they should not be burdened by you.

Broken Pieces

From a very young age I watched the broken pieces, it was strange but I have neither avenue nor an open door to peak into at the broken pieces. Why were these pieces too brittle to be together without being shaken time after time to its broken state again?

As I grew up I became involved as pieces of the broken pieces, slowly I began to understand why togetherness is not possible to keep the broken pieces together. I realized that the pivotal point of the broken pieces was the factor to the continuation of the pieces being broken.

There were times when an effort is taken by a couple of the pieces to come close and erase the lines of disintegration, I was happy, however, the effort was always a waste, as the break in the pieces seem too deep to be put together again, ironically it reminded me of Humpty Dumpty who sits on the wall.

Could it have been any difference if we were a box of jigsaw puzzle instead of a big piece of glass? May be like the jigsaw we will sit together to try and solve the puzzle, the possibility of a single piece being lost is quite slim, but then a jigsaw we are not.

I sit, I ponder but I wonder no more at the broken pieces.

This is Amal's Story 4

Went to the hospital with my little angel again today, they took another x-ray before the consultation. We were hoping that the prognosis would be good, hence, she will be allowed half cast. However, that was not the case, my little angel's arm was again in full cast.

What Makes You Tick?

When you are being taken for granted too often, and also being assumed the janitor of the department, is it possible to go on cleaning, while holding a broad smile on your face? Janitors can be smart too, you clean what you are paid for, and if more is being forced down your throat, do not hesitate to place a dead rat in one of the hidden drawers, and let them go figure how to get rid of the stench.

Bosses (most of the time) are full of balls, they talk rubbish, speak bullshit and breath stupidity. You have to be strong to stand above them, but be smart enough not to be a subordinate, in life you just have to be tick; it does not matter how, but just put your chin up and move on.

Too many people can be bought with empty promises, thus they don’t mind sticking their tongue where the ass needs to be cleaned, you are not one of those, you are better if not the best. I admire your perseverance, though you have to swim in the same ocean with them, but you are not one of the drowning clowns. You walk on; you move on, you are just too tick already to be an imbecile or a dolt like them.

Be strong, be happy and grow old wisely………………………

A Day In Spring - Picture Story 4

Man without feet, a familiar sight in the market

Latest fashion for spring

PAS followers of different color

Paint a greeting, it is cheaper then sending a card

So,you see this is the PrayStation

When hungry, please break glass

Parking without meter

This Is Amal's Story 3

Still rollerblading despite a broken arm

Went for her 3rd appointment today, another X-ray was done. The prognosis was good and I am glad, however, she will have to make another trip to the hospital to have her POP changed. This time round I hope, they will give her half a POP instead of this one now. It is so painful to see her struggling with everyday chores this way.

Thank Lord For Beautiful Spring

I ditched the trams and the trains too
I walked all the distance to my destination
I ditched the elevators and the escalators too
I climbed the flight of stairs to my destination
Thank you Lord for beautiful spring

I ignored the ignorant and the arrogant too
I laughed at the past and tears shed on it too
I smiled and welcomed the honesty of a child
I went on my knees in praised of the Almighty only
Thank you Lord for beautiful spring

I thought of today and forgot what was yesterday
I counted the blessing and not the misgivings
I breathed in the freshness and smelled the flowers
Thank you Lord for beautiful spring

Hush A Bye Baby - Picture Story 3

This I can tell you is better than a five star hotel

I dreamt I was reading the newspaper

Even a beggar falls asleep in this untimely atmosphere of credit crunch
The shopping will be deposited soon, but boy do I need to ZZZZZZ

Where Do I Begin? - Picture Story 2

Can this be the beginning?
In a bed of Daffodils
Before the first date

The first whisper

The first bouquet

and The first walk together

So In Love - Picture Story 1

It's me

It's you

It's us

Together
So In Love

In Our Own World

Looking at the Future in Spring

Pizza After Three Months

After more than three months here, we have not had any pizza, reason being the ones they sell look so dehydrated, so thin, so not attractive, and so stale.

Suddenly I had the craving for pizza, real homemade pizza, hubby of course was delighted, while my little angel agreed but reluctantly, as she still loves the Asian or `kampung’ dishes, so two against one…………. Ahh we won and it will be pizza for dinner today. I have also decided to try my hand at Apple Strudel for desert.

Topping for the pizza, was everything that I could gather from my tiny refrigerator, so it was homemade tomato sauce, fresh salmon, lots of mushrooms, fresh sliced tomato, and lots of mozzarella. The end result was just marvelous, and we cleaned the pizza in no time.

I was of the opinion that the Apple Strudel will stay till the next day, boy was I wrong, everything was gone at dinner time, and we humbly said may be we were all super hunger …………….. *smile*.

Next pizza appointment ………………… soon!!!

You STINK!!!!!!!!

At some stage of the day today, I decided to go get some groceries, with the hope that the walk will do me good again. With my little angel on tow, we went out to be surprised by the cold strong wind, so instead of walking, we have to take the tram.

I for one love this shop, I can never get bored looking and reading the labels of each product on the shelf, and I could go round and round the same aisle till I am satisfied. However, with my little angel by my side today I could not spend more than the required time, as her plastered arm seemed too heavy for her.

We were standing in queue at the cashier when suddenly there was a very foul smell very close by, I felt like puking immediately, and we started analyzing where the smell could be generating from.

To our horror the smell was from a man behind me, the smell was so bad, it was a mixture of total lack of shower, as well as a filthy dirty ass from not being cleaned for God knows how long. We moved fast yet could not be too far from him, so we have to endure the nightmare till we were done with the cashier.

You stinkers out there! PLEASE be considerate of other people will you?

Will You Ever Change?

Waiting outside the doctors’ room, I can’t help but notice the efficient paramedics rolling in patient after patient, in their bright orange uniform. It was nice to see how young these people were, and how committed too, each holding an electronic palm, which automatically will churn out the report as they deposit the patients.

My admiration goes to the patients who were lucky to be attended to ASAP, thus saving them precious times, and my mind railed back home. I remember how when we call for an ambulance, they will make sure that you can afford to pay first before they are willing to come round, not enough they will arrive at critically long delays that it deems hopeless to have called and negotiate with them at all.

There was this one time an ambulance driver lost his way, which was just next to our condo, and out of curiosity we stopped to offer help of direction, we could hear the driver of the ambulance talking to his colleague on the phone, without a care if the patient is gonna be dead or alive. He even ignored our question, what was worse was that he stepped out of the ambulance and started to smoke. I can only imagine how would he feel if the one who was waiting for the ambulance was him.

Will these people ever change in my life time? I don’t know and I sure don’t care anymore.

I do not hope for the world to change, the only change that I am making is in me.

Today I Call In Sick

Got up this morning with a horrible headache, my eyes could hardly focus on anything in view, I was afraid for a moment; wondering what’s going on with me, but being me I weather the situation. I stood up still and try to maneuver the balancing act of me, one second I feel that the whole room was spinning around me, the next I feel that I am slowly losing my sight, and the next I feel that my head was being smashed with a hammer.

My little angel still peacefully snoring on the couch, while hubby is already in the shower. I dragged myself slowly to the kitchen, looking for the magic pill, gulped two tablets down quickly and hoping that the magic will work.

I don’t know how I did it but I managed to prepare hubby’s pack lunch, wait with him while he was having breakfast and waved him goodbye at the door. By now I was feeling nausea, my head was throbbing too much, I could hardly focus.

Throw myself on bed again, my whole body was feeling so cold and I was shivering, I pulled the blanket right over my head, but the shivers persisted, and the magic pills failed me.

What is happening to me? I am so bloody tired body, mind and soul. I was supposed to be doing all my walks but my body feels like I am being trapped in a strip jacket. This can only mean that now I'm wallowing in a dark hole.

There are a lot of things that I wanted to tell, somehow I wish I didn't. Would it have been any different if I were a stronger pack-horse, who could carry on regardless.

Wantan Noodles

Monday, I was planning to catch up on the sleep that I have been so much deprived off, however, we have to take my little angel for her assessment at the hospital, and the appointed time was 0900 hours, this means that we have to leave the house by half past 8 in the morning.

I was pretty sure that I was sleep walking when we actually boarded the tram, I was so disoriented as my eyes kept falling lazy and dozing off, we arrived at the hospital 30 minutes later, by now our stomach was calling for some food, so hubby went down to get some bread, while I waited with my little angel to see the doctor.

We left the hospital about an hour later, and went straight home, as I was really not in the mood to do anything but to go to my sanctuary of peace ASAP. I can’t remember how long I slept, but
I know it was late when I finally woke up, and everyone’s tongue hanging out for food.

To the kitchen I dragged myself, and decided to cook a fast and simple dish of fried wantan noodles. This was the same dish that I had cooked for my little angel’s International evening, and it was a real hit.

Anyone interested here you go:

Ingredients: Dried wantan noodles, lots of garlic and 2 small green chili (pounded together), spring onion, mushroom, carrots (cut into thin strips), fresh shrimps (clean and devein), soya sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, vegetable oil and sesame oil.

Method: In a hot pot of water, boil the wantan noodles for 7 minutes (remove from heat, drain under cold water, and rub in some cooking oil to prevent the noodles from sticking together). Heat a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, fry the pounded ingredients for 3 minutes, add the shrimps, fry till shrimps change color, add the carrot and all the sauces, except the sesame oil. Let it boil for a few minutes, add the wantan noodles, mushroom, spring onion and sesame oil. Mix well, cook for another 5 minutes and remove from heat.

Happy trying Chef Diva………………… 

This is Amal's Story 2

Went back to the Hospital this morning to have her swelling assessed, as well as an Easter Bunny autograph. Next update on This is Amal's Story will be on April 20, 2009

This is Amal's Story

After four consultations, two X-rays, one LA, and tons of tears, this is Amal's story.

Ayam Golek

Hubby was awarded his recognition, I was delighted, thank you Lord for another blessing. Hubby deserved what was given, for the entire good job well done, and all the sincerity put into achieving a mission.

Decided to have a little feasts for our tiny family here, what better than to cook my ever so famous `Ayam Golek’. This recipe was taught to me by sister in law; I was never a fan of this dish till it was done by my sister in law, and ever since it became one of the shared favorite dishes for my own family.

Cooking this dish is very lengthy, but mind you it is worth all the effort, I am sharing here the recipe, but as usual I have no measurements for the ingredients, I just go with my intuition.

Ingredients: 1 medium size chicken (clean, pad dry, marinate with salt and ginger for 30 minutes), fried shallot, spring onion and parsley (chopped into small pieces), 10 -16 pieces candle nuts, 20 shallots, 1 inch ginger, 2 cloves garlic (blended together), 1 packet of `Kurma Powder’, 6 pieces of medium size tomato (chopped into small pieces). Cooking oil, salt and sugar to taste.

Method: In a large wok deep fry the chicken whole, once done remove and let it cool. In another wok, heat some cooking oil, add the blended ingredients, let it fry till fragrant for 8 minutes, add the kurma powder, further fry for 5 minutes, add the chopped tomatoes and fry till they are all disintegrated, add the chopped spring onion, parsley as well as the fried shallot for 10 minutes, finally add the chicken and let it simmer till gravy thickens. Remove from heat, transfer to a baking dish, and bake in the oven at 200 degree for 45 minutes.

Happy trying and enjoy.

Thank God for the Weekend

We did it again, we ran, played the scooter, rollerblading and simply enjoying the wonderful weather. Thank God for the weekend.

Rollerblading And A Broken Heart

Both hubby and my little angel are home today, and I had my breakfast in bed, it was heavenly. I just love it when they are both at home, this mean that I have someone to fight with. However, I was all teary knowing that nastiness still persists.

Hubby was upset too, so we decided to go out, as the day was indeed a wonderful day, and crying indoor is so not on the menu. All got dressed and the three of us went to our favorite street. We decided to walk as both I and hubby need to fine tune our winter hibernating out growing body. It was nice; we were chatting, snooping, laughing, and eating, more eating as we walk to a destination of nowhere.

At some point of time in our life, we will always make a decision that is unplanned, so do we. Today, hubby finally bought the scooter that he had been wanting for a long time, we bought a roller blade for my little angel, while I bought oh ok, I bought a made in God knows where Crock look alike, reason being my Clark was hurting my feet, due to the long walk.

We head off to the park so that they both can go on training and practicing, my heart was feeling with so much love, witnessing how simple things make these two human beings laugh nonstop with joy, enjoying the breeze in their faces, fighting for spaces with the many pigeons, zig zagging among people walking in the park, and showing off who can out-beat who.

We finally got home after 8pm, I prepared a quick dinner, and by 10 pm, my little angel was already in dream land, I was fighting to keep my eyes open to finish watching the dance program on TV, while hubby was at his WOW.

Thank you Lord for the test that you put me through again today, and thank you for giving me the strength to be patient.

If The Pasture is Greener

If the pasture is greener there
Walk on my love
Be proud of your decision
I can only wish you well

If the pasture is greener there
Be a man my love
Don’t ever turn around and walk back
I can only wish you well

If the pasture is greener there
Build your fort and guard it safe my love
Close the door to all your yesterday
I can only wish you well

If the pasture is greener there
Forget my name, and call me stranger my love
Forget this heart that will forever bleed for you
I can only wish you well

If the pasture is greener there
May the Lord protect you my love
May He shower you with tenderness
I can only wish you well

Just Know That

When you hurt her, you are hurting me too
When you make her cry, you are making me cry too
When you smear at her, you are smearing at me too
Just know that

You are like a stranger now
You are a distant too far now
You are too high to look down now
Just know that

Remember that when there is rain, sunshine will come
Remember that when there is sadness, happiness will come
Remember that when there is arrogance, sweetness will come
Just know that

Time waits for no one
Time stands still is just a metaphor
Time may come when you knock on my door
To discover that you were a minute too late
Cuz when I am dead and gone
I listen no more