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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

Wishing all of you guys a very very fruitful and exceptional year!

In less than a month, i will be flying back to Sydney. Part of me can’t wait to return and part of me don’t want to as well. But..Oh Well!

Our family has a habit of visiting all the temples where our ancestors are “living” now. I made a promise to myself and i made fish promise me that IF we ever get married, the first day “chu yi” of chinese new year we must definitely visit “guang ming san” where my grandma and granddad is.

Today is the second/third day of chinese new year – i hope you guys all enjoy the rest of chinese new year.

P.S. My post seems a little incoherent doesn’t it. That’s cause i’m watching “ji gong” while typing this post. HeHe.. =)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Little Kid

Yesterday was a really happy day for me. I went out for dinner with Eleen, Shan Fu, Eng Tian, Jasper, Vincent and Pei Qi. It’s been so long so so long. They guys were so funny, i laughed till i got stitches. HaHa…

Yesterday was also the first time in 21 years that i stayed out late. I reached home around 11+. How liberating it felt. The bus was still packed with people, to me, time did not seem to make a difference.

Sometimes, i feel my parents still treat me like a kid. Maybe because we have 2 other little ones so somehow we all get lumped together.

I will be 22 this year and yet i socialize so little. I have been to BBQs but they will also pick me up at night. I have been to chalets but never stayed over – only once – last year. I have a curfew at 10pm. I understand that girls should stay home and all those crap but whilst on one hand my mum wants me to socialize and network and know more friends, she restricts it.

Think about it. Your friend calls you up for dinner – to meet at 7pm. The whole tiring process starts. You have to call your mum with trepidation, not knowing if her mood is good so that she will allow you to go out or not. Then if she allows, you think of the curfew next, meet at 7pm, you have to leave by 9pm to get home in time at 10pm. (What a damper) Doesn’t make much sense to go out does it? When it takes an hour to prepare to go out for something that lasts less than 2 hours.

I’m not a kid. Bad things might have happened to be in the past but that’s all over. I know how to take care of myself. I am not an idiot. Neither am i 15.

That’s why i like Australia so much sometimes. I get to go out whenever i want. I get to stay home and stew all day if i wanted. I go out and have dinner and enjoy myself without worrying that i have to get home before a certain time. (For your info: I never got home after 12 in Oz)  The only bad thing is that i don’t have much friends to go out with. What an ironic situation.

I really don’t know what they’re worried about. A girl’s reputation? Why let others bother you. As long as i know i’m not doing anything wrong there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I obviously don’t do drugs. I don’t mix with the wrong crowd – even if i did, i had enough sense not to be dragged into it. (I had a bad girl who smokes, tattos and all in sec 2, she was my best friend somemore – have i turned into her?!) I don’t go clubbing, i don’t go pubs, clubs, whatever. I don’t like the clubbing scene. Even if i were to go somewhere like that – i still don’t know what it’s called (pub/club) – it will those quiet ones with a pianist playing melodies on the piano.

I need to leave. It’s stifling. But yet i am so dependent on them – not like Eleen – she’s so independent – i don’t know if i can do it.

I can’t wait for valentine’s day to come – so that i can have a temporary retreat from this insanity.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Passport

I submitted an online application for a new passport 2 days ago on the 14th Jan. Guess what? I received an email this morning stating that my passport application is successful and i can collect it on 19th. You are even able to make an appointment online to ensure that you don’t have to wait too long to receive your passport.

This is what i like about Singapore. Our efficiency. The website writes that they require a minimum of 3 days but ours only took 2 – maybe it’s not the peak period now – but still, i can’t stand it when i send an email and i don’t receive a reply the next day. I think customer service should be prompt and efficient.

Australia really really lacks this area. I once sent an email to the gas and electricity company and the first let down was that they stated that they would take 5 working days to get back to me – that is essentially A WEEK!

So, i sent the email on the 5th Nov – Guess when i received a reply? 21st Nov!

That was way way way way way way way too long. They also take forever to send bills. So i’m not paying for those that they have not sent me since i have already left the apartment. I know their geographical area is huge but it’s not like they are the only company servicing the whole country. It’s a free country, they have so many competitors. If they are unable to provide proper service, then i don’t think they should be taking care of a few states at a time.

That’s why i still like Singapore cause i’m so used to the fast paced lifestyle. I love communicating through email – i hate phone calls though.

Hai.

Back to the original topic. So, i made an appointment to collect our( me and hui) passport on the 19th (Mon) at 10am. After which we might need to go down to the Australian embassy to transfer our visas. Since the implementation of the new biometric passports means that we now have an extra number to remember. I really like it when our IC and passport numbers are the same. Easy and convenient to remember.

Wee!

NTUC & Phoon Huat

Yesterday, i decided that it was time to go buy the ingredients for me to bake my almond cookies and brownies.

So, i met fish at NTUC and saw that the ingredients there were left with only but a few. There was no more plain flour – the whole shelve was empty. There is other brands that are slightly more expensive – the brands from USA that i don’t think the general aunty public might have realised were on sale.

I needed baking powder and upon seeing that the brand was ‘Red Man’ and could be bought from Phoon Huat, i decided not to buy it then.

So fish came along and we went to Phoon Huat which is a short walk from AMK Hub. The amount of ppl there was stifling. I managed to grab chocolates, 2 plastic containers etc while fish waited in the queue. Over there, i didn’t see the baking powder so i thought that it’s ok, i’ll just buy at NTUC when i return later.

Guess what. When i returned, the whole part of the shelve dedicated to baking powder is EMPTY. People must really need their baking powder.

I bought a new sugar for my brownies. I’m going to try making brownies with the addition of light muscovado sugar which is brown in color and is said to bring a more fudge like texture to the brownies. Can’t wait to try this sugar out!

This is how it was defined on a website:
Unrefined Light Muscovado is the world's finest light brown soft sugar, with a warm honey colour and creamy fudge flavour. It has a richness and depth of flavour which is unmatched by refined light soft brown sugar.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Tired..

Been working for my mum these past few days, the work is ok and all but just not so used to waking up early and sleeping late i guess. So i’m feeling a wee tired yet i refuse to sleep. HaHa.. =)

Chinese New Year is fast approaching and i have said that i wanted to make almond cookies this year. Though, almonds are expensive here as compared to Oz and i can’t seem to find the energy and time. I can actually find time. How big a batch do i make? Hmmmmmm…… I still have to consider and think about that..

I think i will have to make a trip down to Phoon Huat to get containers etc..

Crossing my fingers!

Wee…!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

I LOVE FISH!

N FOGGY TOO!

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

FISH

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FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH 

FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH 

FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH 

FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH FISH 

Hehe..I'm so gonna get killed!

Food, Pretty Pictures and Razer!

Guess what Fish bought me?!

A Razer Moray. It's a gaming brand but still i really like it!

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If you noticed, there is an airplane attachment as well! So i can bring this on the plane to use as well! Yay! Happy Happy!

Fish came over today and we cooked indian food. Butter Chicken and Palak Paneer.

The recipes are not strict and we just kept changing as we went along so i think i won't provide the recipe but if any of you are interested, let me know.

Sorry that the pictures weren't the best - just a tad lazy. =p

Butter Chicken is basically a sauce with tomatoes, spices, cream and butter.

Palak Paneer is a vegetarian dish made up of spinach and paneer (cheese). I made the paneer myself and it was really easy.

Indian cooking requires much much spices and since i didn't want to buy all the different kinds, i bought a mild curry spice from a brand i don't remember =)

They tasted really great and basically really easy to cook - just the spices are a little troublesome to purchase.

A few weeks ago, Fish also came over and for New Year's Eve, we made Mac and Cheese which everyone really loved. This was my 2nd time making this dish, the first was at our place in Sydney.

Beautiful colours yea?

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That's Shi Min putting on the breadcrumb mixture with cheese and that's the final product before going into the oven!

That's the final Mac & Cheese. On the bottom left is deep fried popcorn chicken that we bought frozen from the supermarket. The one at the top is Fish's creation of Cheddar Sausages wrapped with a slice of bacon. It's really rich and good - maybe just a tad too rich. =)

I'm not sure where i placed my recipe but i'll post it once i find it.

I tweaked the recipe by adding Johnsonville Sausages and tomato paste which gives it a slight tangy taste to counteract the creaminess of the original - which can sometimes be too overwhelming and quick to get sick of. This way, everyone can eat more without getting sick of all the cream and cheese. Oh, and the recipe called for parmesan but the supermarket somehow had none of those and so i replaced it with romano which seemed to work perfectly well. 

Okie then..that's all for today. I know i haven been posting regularly - i'll try to do that more often. Can't wait for the day i return to Sydney!

Friday, January 02, 2009

Provence Bakery!

My dad brought me to Provence Bakery in Holland Village. A quaint little place with freshly baked buns and fresh coffee in a cafe-like atmosphere.

I was way too busy eating to take any pictures but i totally will next time. I regretted didn't buying ALOT..because this is my first visit there.

So far, i am loving everything i tried.

I bought their:
- Brazilian Cheese Buns
- Sesame Cream Cheese/
- Walnut Flower
- Milk Bun
- Something i have no idea - i call it "pi gu" (buttocks!) cause it looks just like!
- Banana Muffin/Bread (This is absolutely wonderful!)

The price is reasonable and the buns are great ... but my only only gripe is that Holland V is so far away from my home!

Try it one day and i hope you'll love it too!