I just can't stand it anymore.....

After hundreds of tormenting nites dreaming about food that I'm missing back home, I decided to end it...at least for now... I have always love fried kuey teow....and until this weekend, I long for a good plate of char kuey teow..so I went online surfing for recipe for a good char kuey teow but yet a simple one, and I got from a blog which I am truly grateful for...so on Staurday, we had char kuey teow for dinner and fried mee hoon for breakfast the day after.....I know it's not as good as the one from a stall in Uptown but it was enough for me.... If I can't have the best, I'd settle for the next best thing......

And talking about the next best thing, how I wish I could have a plate full of rojak pasembor.. I asked around if anybody would know how to make one and would teach me how to....but to no success....so I decided to do it on my own... thanks to the technology, I was able to locate a few recipes for good rojak...and when hubby doozed off for a nap, I was helping myself in the kitchen trying to cook rojak pasembor, well, close enuff....not the quite right ingredients but as I was saying, if you can't have the best, just settle for the next best thing...some may not agree with me with this but, on this matter I'm sure it's the best that I can have at the moment.. whatla crap i'm talking about, rite????

Anyway, I'm very happy that hubby enjoyed the rojak as I did..........Char kuey teow TICK!
Rojak pasembor TICK! KFC? Waaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! Well, I'm still waiting for a friend to get back to me with the recipe for the gravy for mashed potatoes.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Waaaaaa!!!!

I had a bad dream last nite...i woke up with the hunger for KFC....especially the mashed potatoes, I can't get it here in Uk as they serve baked beans instead....arrgghhhh!!!!!!
This acutally started a few days back where I would imagine myself eating mixed rice during lunch time... walaweh!!!! I could use anice ikan bakar, kuah asam and some ulam now.. I did make some last week and of course without the ulam, but it's not the same without the hint of belacan!!!!! I also started to crave for rojak pasembur....I went to some website to look for the recipe... but I know it won't be the same like the one at the stall nearby my previous workplace...Oh!!!!! I miss the food backhome!!!!!!!! I've told hubby and he said I'm not alone.....he also missed all those yummy food...but it's not the same!!! I'm pregnant!!! It's different!!! Is is not????? I

surfed the net and found this website http://www.friedchillies.com/ a good website for food guide. It makes me even homesick...how I wish I could have all the luxury of food back home now!!!!! Oooo I envy you people back home!!!! I know, why look into these stuff if it makes me feel even worse....I can't help it!!!!!! I want to eat but all the stuff I want is not here!!!!!!!! 13 hours away!!!!! waaaaaaa!!!!!!! I am so fed up with cooking but I guess I have to do my duty as a wife to cook for my darling husband ( which I have not done for 2 nites in a row, we did takeaway!) I wish I have a maid who would cook for me now... no wait... I wish my mum is here, so she could cook for me... not that she's the maid but I really miss her cooking.... a simple meal from her would do....waaaaaaaa!!!!!
Know what? I could kill for a popiah now........ My auntie, makes good popiah...I wish there's somebody here who knows how to make good popiah basah.....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!
I'm so very depressed!!!!!

Happy Merdeka Day....

Tanggal tiga puluh satu bulan lapan lima puluh tujuh.... Merdeka..Merdeka..Merdeka!
I wish all Malaysians wherever you are, Happy Merdeka Day...Merdekakah Anda?

Nothing much...

Well, it has been quite some time since my last entry.. reason? well, I could list a number...First and foremost, simply laziness.. as always, just spend my time infront of the computer and play all time favorite, Solitaire..few things happen in the past 3 months....Mum-in-law finally visited us...it went ok, i guess..I hope she enjoyed her stay.. I'm not that quite a mum-in-law friendly person, but who is? There may be a lot out there but it's a bit weird but nice experience.. I think she came not at the right time as i'm just at early stage of pregnancy and tend to be more selfish...I don't eat that much and after 2 days staying, she took over the kitchen which I'm more than happy to as I hate cooking as the smell makes me sick...at first, it all went well, she cook good food but it's just not to my tastebuds. I prefer waffle and kaya...Yummy! I ended up not eating her cooking which is a bit of a shame..not that I didn'y try...Nai Nai, Dui Bu Chi..

Well, the we were busy packing and looking for house to rent. It's a good thing that hubby's next job is not that far from our previous place so it's not a stressfull move.. looking for house to rent is a nightmare...we were unlucky as we couldn't get a place in the hospital accomodation and only were told at the very last minute..at last, we rent a nice house, brand new detached house in a new housing area near the hospital.. so it's not so bad...We have to wait a while before the phone line is finally installed and get the internet up and running...

I am so bored.....I was thinking of getting a job but don't know if anybody would hire a pregnant lady.. I would do any job... so I applied for some jobs online but no luck so far...maybe I should just rest and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy...But I miss mum's cooking, foods back home...I could kill for a popiah now..infact, not just popiah, I could produce a long list..but I'd rather not to....I don't get much of food craving but I do dream of foods (foods that I love but cannot have) almost every nite and I tell you it's not a good feeling as I always end up not getting to eat them (in my dreams, of course) I envy you people back home!!!!

Went for the anomaly scan last week, saw the baby, she's doing fine but was too shy to show us the face...and we can't tell the sex yet so i have to go for another scan in a month time.. I was worried as I couldn't feel any movement until q few days earlier.. the midwife said it's normal....but i was still worried as I havent been a good mummy.. I popped onto the weighing scale when I went to register with GP the other and yet still no weight gain.. I believe I have eaten quite a lot considering how much I was doing at earlier stage....I hope everything's gonna be fine....not being able to see the face does worry me. Well, maybe I worry too much.. just like any other expectant mother...

Well, I do a lot of stupid things....but my intentions were good...it's just a case of bad decision....I was just trying to help hubby to wash the car and silly me instead of using my nail to srape off the dried birds' droppings, I used a dishwashing sponge instead. Well, I went overboard and used the other side of the sponge...the scouring pad..I thought it was soft enuff to be used on the car as it has been used...I did get the job done but I also kinda damaged the paint. how stupid is that? I wasn't thinking!!! the last time I washed a car was when I was a kid.. Poor hubby..I didn't think he took it that well....That's it!!! I'll never wash the car ever again. I'll just pop into the car wash next time...(if I can drive the car :) ) LG, Dui Bu Chi...

Oh did I break another object in the house? oh yes!!! now it's the vaccum cleaner's turn..all in a week!!! I kinda break the handle and to cover it, I used the cellophane tape trying to seal the crack....hoping that hubby wont realize it.. well of course he did!!!! well, what to do? I really have to stay away from the kitchen department esp. glassware the next time i go shopping... he..he..he.. dont want to burst hubby's wallet, do we?

Oh what a sight....

Hubby and I went for my first dating scan today...I was all so excited like all mothers to-be... I am not really of a slim build....he..he..he.. thanks to all the chips I've savoured all these years...When we were waiting, there was another lady waiting to be seen...SO just to be friendly, I asked her how long has she been pregnant...She said 30 weeks, and also said just like me.. and I was like what????? and explained..No..I'm just 10 weeks..it must be the fat.....How embarrassing was that?? 30 weeks? Maybe it's the way I sit..slouching is bad, man...But I don't blame her... I was looking quite big for a 10 week pregnant lady....So I immediately sit properly and shut my mouth...no further conversation......

We waited for more than 10 minutes before being called..and my bladder was really killing me.. I drank more than 1 liter of water before that....I was desperately need to go.....

So there was she....I can see her clearly..she kickboxed the minute the scanner touched my skin....it was a pretty sight and I didn't feel any need to go to the loo...I was relieved to see her...finally I am convinced!!! But the radiographer said she was too small for a 10 weeks baby.. she tought I was less than 10 weeks..so I was asked to come again after 3 weeks so to have another go...As usual, me being kiasu, I asked for 2 prints of the scan eventhough I will have to come again...

Something happened.....

Something happened yesterday….it scared me a lot…..I am now 10 wks pregnant and handling it not quite well…..the hormones really dominates me. I feel low all the time and certainly my appetite went cuckoo.. I have no appetite to eat (this came as a surprise as I used to be a big eater!!!!) I have been selfish.. my poor baby.. I hope this is only temporary… my midwife did tell me that there are mum-to-be survive only on porridge…so I guess I’m not that bad as I try to compensate with fruits…I now hate veggies.. they make me sick.. At one point, I felt like a little girl being forced to eat her veggies!!!! I cried like a baby!!! Foolish!

Not eating veggies and eat less finally taking its toll as Over the few days, I have been feeling funny, lightheaded, easily tired.. I blame myself! Worst nightmare a mum-to-be could face (I think) is having to found out that you’re bleeding! I got freaked out and didn’t know what to do.. called my mum but the line was engaged.. don’t want to bother hubby at work.. but the worry was too much for me to bear at that time, so called him and went to the hospital for a check up.. after a while, I thought, there’s nothing to worry about. Just be cool… so urine sample and blood was taken. so we waited for the doctor to come and do a scan on me… he brought a handheld scanner for the baby’s heartbeat… We can can’t hear anything and my eyes started to wet… he comforted me and said there’s nothing to worry about at this point of time and off we went for bigger and more accurate scanner…and there she was… I really can’t see her properly, but my hubby said he saw the heartbeat…so I guess she’s fine…

My first dating scan is scheduled on Monday so I guess, we just have to wait till monday to really see this little person inside me....I really can't wait...

A new life.....

It is a surreal experience for me...In fact, I feel like pinching myself every day and say.Hey! there's someone inside you! You're going to be a mother!!!!! I'm going to be a mother....Woohh...I'm happy that I've been able to give my beloved hubby a child but I really am scared of being a mother... Will I be a good mother? I don;t think I have that maternal instinct... People used to say to me that I'll be a good wife and mother...how can they tell?It's almost the end of my first trimester....but I still don't get the feeling yet... I am a selfish mother..that I can say... this pregnancy has had its effects on me, big time!!!! I used to love food...now I have less desire to eat.. I only eat only I'm hungry... I despise veges..they make me sick, I want to throw up! I dread cooking which I used to love... I am bored!!!!!!! I guess everybody feels the same when they got pregnant.. It's just me who like to complaint alot...
At the earlier stage, I was excited of what to get for the baby, and asked for lots of baby catalouge's which I could put my finger on, then.. the feeling faded away.. what's wrong with me? Am I depressed??????I guess it's only the hormone doing its thing on me...

Blenheim Palace- Lakeview

Blenheim Palace- Garden2

Blenheim Palace- Garden

Blenheim Palace

Trip to Blenheim Palace

Hubby's Auntie came to visit us last week, and we went to Blenheim Palace, the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Siti in action

We were not allowed to take photos in the hall, but hubby managed to snap a few photos at the very last minute before the concert ended. I had so much fun, I am not a big fan of Siti but being kiasu as I am, I wouldn't want to miss this. It's not always you get a chance to see a Malaysian artist performing in Royal Albert Hall....She was great as always but I wished she could give a little bit more effort in communicating with the non-Malaysian audiences.

Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysian No 1 singer in action at the Royal Albert Hall, London

Siti Nurhaliza in Concert

It was a last minute decision to go to the concert. We rushed to the concert and not very much dressed for it as everybody especially fellow Malaysians were all dressed up....
Siti Norhaliza in Concert

View from room

Menkee Barn

After a long search on where to stay, we finally decided to try the Farmhouse B&B, Menkee Barns. It was a pleasant experience for us and the room was comfy and the bathroom was excellent! Margaret was a good host....

Padstow.
After Eden, we went to Padstow with the hope of getting a table at The Seafood Restaurant or the cafe, but we settled for Stein's Fish and Chip as there was no table left that evening for us. I love fish and chips, well judging from my experience that day (..and not to mention the long queue before we can finally have a seat!! Not so happy....), I can say that the best Fish and Chips is definitely Harry Ramsden's!

Rumah Kebun in Eden

Bulb Mania @ Eden!

Aren't they beautiful?

Do you know how ginger plant look like?

I love ginger! I use ginger in most of my cooking, but hubby doesn't really like it sliced thick. I have no idea how the plant looks like before!!!

This could easily be postcard! What say you?
Eden Project Postcard

Eden Project

Trip to Eden Project

It was long time ago that beloved hubby mentioned about this one big greenhouse where you can see the plants that grow in humid and warm climate. So finally, last 2 weeks, off we went. The Eden Project truly is the living theatre of plants, people and places!

The place once a deserted quarry,has been transformed brilliantly into this one gigantic place where people can just enjoy nature as it is. Eden Project (EP) offers 2 biomes for us to treasure, The Humid Tropics (Tropical Islands, Malaysia, West Africa and South America) and Warm Temperate (The Mediterranian, South Africa and California) .

Details! They really put so much effort in recreating nature. First stop, Humid Biome. The weather is cold outside, so we had jackets on. After a few seconds inside the biome, we can't take it anymore..it's too hot to wear such clothing. So, off the jacket, and off we go feeling at home. Hubby and I were immediately transported back to our homecountry Malaysia, the minute we stepped into the designated area. It's brilliant! The setup for typical traditional farm house or rumah kebun is so real, I felt like as if I was at one of my uncle's hut where we used to gather and savour in delight of durian, the king of all fruits. EP really go into details as you can spot a Honda C70 in front of the house, but I'm not sure of the bicycle though..the make is quite recent, but a big hand to such efforts.

Next stop, Warm temperate offers a different type of greens. Immediately Mediterranean's mood was on as we walked along the route. A colourful display of Tulips really was an eyecatcher, called the Bulb Mania, you are spoilt with different types of tulips. I am no flower enthusiast but I was so excited so I photographed each of the tulips. I don't know what to do with it but hey, not everyday I get to see such beauties!

Yee Sang- After 

Yee Sang-Before

Clockwise: Chinese Chives with Mushroom, Auspicious Scallop, Chicken 'Marrow' Soup, Roast Chicken, Yee Sang

My First Chinese New Year Dinner

Happy Chinese New Year!

We had a great time at dinner tonite, celebrating the food served on the table which we slaved for....It was not that easy as at the very last minute, there has been a little bit change of plan! Instead of 6 dishes, we had 'only' 5...(why am I complaining??? I also don't know. he..he..he..) We nearly cancelled Yee Sang off the menu for some unforseen circumstances, but finally pulled it off!! Hubby has been very helpful...Thank you, Love. Oh ya! the Chicken Marrow Soup is merely of marrow as we accidently bought somethingelse which we thought as marrow.. (the very last minute when the soup is all done, only we have realized this!!! But it was allright! It was a bit of a struggle to finish everything as you can see, the meal could cater for 3-4 persons..We are big eaters!!!! Actually, we had little rice to accomodate the rest of the dishes. So here it is, my first Chinese New Year Dinner!!! I am so happy to see the look on Hubby's face....LG, Gong Xi Fa Cai!

It seems not too long ago....

It's my little sister's birthday today..Well, she is not little anymore...It's her 18th birthday and it seems not too long ago when she was a tiny baby whom I changed the nappy and fed..Time flies!!! But to me she'll always be my little sister.. When I learnt that my mom was pregnant with her, I wasn't too keen as it has always been the 3 of us..my big brother, me and my younger brother...it was a long gap between my younger brother and my younger sister, about 10 years...enuff said.. me being the only girl in the house, was quite annoyed when she has become the centre of attention.. (who doesn't?) Confession: I used to pinch her to make her cry..I gained pleasure from that.. I was so bad and green with envy!!! I was 11!!! I am not proud with myself!!! I don't think myself as a good sister as I am never known for my patience...I have always been over protective of her and the others..I guess it's a nightmare to have a sister like me..I treat her like a little girl.. I guess I just can't come to terms with the fact that she is now not little anymore...(she's now taller and bigger than me) But I do love her..... and I wish her all the best in the world...I'll let her do and learn her own mistakes... Happy Birthday, Hayati!

Yee Sang (but this one a vegetarian)

Countdown...4 days

Hello! It was ages since last time I wrote something in my blog....I wasn't feeling very well in the last few days... It was just a backpain but it was bad, so bad it hurts even when I laughed... and I couldn't walk right, i walked like a robot! I couldn't hardly get up off bed.. Well, after a very TLC by my beloved hubby.. I'm now back!! Poor hubby, he got to cook for us, which he for some time, have been refused to because of past incidents....It was a lovely pasta, Thank you, love!

I am now planning for the next big agenda in my life...It's the Chinese New Year's Dinner. It's my first official CNY and our first time celebrating CNY together as Mr and Mrs. I am so thrilled about it...not just celebrating it but cooking the meals, hoping that it would be a great one.. I am not a good cook (trust me! I just like to experiment and improvise) but Hubby seems to disagree.. It's good as I can get away with anything, be it just a plain ommelette..he..he..he.. but I can't be fooling around with this special dinner which is held on the CNY's eve....It's 4 days to CNY and I am a little bit panic. I hope to cook a decent CNY dishes. I've bought almost all the basic ingredient I need but yet have not finalized of what to cook.. I have searched a few of recipes for CNY but can't quite decide, but I do know for sure what to do with the vege.. and of course, Yee Sang, a raw fish salad, a compulsary dish for CNY... The one way to eat Yee Sang is to toss and mix them with chopsticks high in the air.... I hope all goes well, so that we have a splendid Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Linda, a long time best friend..She has always been there for me...we've been through good and bad days. I have known her since my secondary school back in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia...She's getting married this March and I wish her a blessed and happy life with hubby...

Two Babes and a Baby...

My two best friends! Marcell, Wati n Nabil..

Almost....

Finally the first sign of snow is here...Winter Showers are here in this part of the region.. what a long wait! We didnt have a white Christmas but it's ok...at least the snow is coming....hopefully....The weather has certainly changed... Global Dimming...then Global Warming....what have we done to our own Earth...It's scary!!! It's never too late to do our bits to help, no?

Pretty Cat

As usual, we try to stick to our routine Sunday Walk by the beach.. yesterday was a good sunny day and off we went to the beach. In between what we normally do are looking at other peoples' houses and talk about how our dream house would be and the conversation is dominated by the subject...how we don't want our house to be like that house and no! not green roof, and yes we like that garden and so on...and after a turning, there she was...all so babe and I'm it! She was gorgeous! All grey and fluffy...I fell in love with her the moment I saw her...Bless her..
How I miss my kitty. Back home, my mum kinda breed cats..we have more than 20 cats and sometimes I got confused as most of them are orange in colour. 'Adik' I named my favourite kitty.... My brother found her and her sister in a dump all wet one evening, this was 3 years ago.He was on his way back home and took them in his bag, adding to the big family we originally have. Seeing the cat yesterday really made my day!

Bad Writer

Well, it has been quite along time since the last time I wrote something here....The truth is I am never good at writing....There's one time, I kinda get into trouble with my then Boyfriend for not writing to him, since we're thousands miles apart and can't afford frequent calls...AI am just too lazy to write.. My lame excuse is always that I am a bad writer and there's nothing exciting happening in my life that I could write about....I also kinda 'lost' a dear friend because of my 'laziness'... I can still recall her letter saying "kinda hope to get some sort of a reply"...What a bad friend I am!!! I regret what I did but I still can't help myself to write.. She is still fondly in my thoughts.... When I started to have this blog, I thought I could use it to help me to start writing...well, so far not that much improvement...but still I am hoping that this will change, and deep inside my heart I want to make it up to my dear friend....I did email her but I guess I am a little too late....She's now in Brunei, married and a lecturer.

5 Years Younger

I don't really like winter....I have fine hair and winter has not always been good for me.. No matter what I do, I keep having split ends and my hair feels like straw!!! I dred this and got a hair cut today.. It makes me feel 5 years younger!!!! He..he..he... I have not learned how to transfer picture from my mobile to pc yet.. but when I do I'll paste my latest picture...

Allergic Reaction

Poor Hubby! He had an allergic reaction today..to prawn which he has never. I cooked this succulent prawn in tomato sauce for dinner and after 1 hour he started to scratch! His face was a bit swollen because of it.....Since we live in the hospital compound, we quickly rushed to get some medicine for it!! I felt like suing the retailer from where we bought the prawns...so much of an offer..(Buy 1 free 1!) and then we laughed about the idea of it and this could be one of those Stella Award stories. I dont know what was wrong with prawn, then I went to look for the packaging and found out, they were cultivated....I don't know whether this has to do with the suffering my hubby has to endured or not..I hope the swelling will go away soon......Get well soon, Darling!

Sunday, Sunny Day

It has been a good day.. went for a walk with hubby to a new housing estate nearby (in attempt towards a healthier lifestyle, we ought to walk every weekday but it seems that only during weekends that we manage to) What a lovely winter day....windy but sunny. It's a bless that it's a long weekend..as I have more time to spend with my hubby.. he calls himself a hospital slave. He works very hard and sometimes I do think he works too hard! But I am very proud of him.He's a very dedicated person in no matter what he does. Bless him!

I am a Mrs P now

It was a not so sunny autumn day some time in September 2004 that I took this picture, just after the registration.

New Year Resolutions

The usual question to ask on new year's day...what your resolution for this year? I was asked by a good friend of mine..Hmmm....interesting....I haven't really put much thought about it as every year it's a Classic! To lose weight!!! Who doesn't? Really....That's always the first answer whenever the question pops out....And I never do....So what's yours?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! May it brings Hope, Joy, Love and Peace......

I have been wanting to create my own blog for quite some time..and at last! To start the new year with, I have finally created one! At first, I don't really know what to post but then...hey everybody has one, why don't I? (Even my hubby had one created recently) Never mind if I don't have that much interesting topic....at least I have one! So kiasu! :) Peace........