Noodle Crazy

I watched my first French Horror Movie yesterday. It is kinda like those Hong Kong ghost movies where there are scenes of ghost dressed as brides who appear in front of your car at night. I sure was freaked out a bit. I had to control myself from not screaming and scare the other people in the cinema. I must act professional as a steward. After the movie I walked as fast as I could home only to realise halfway I left my specs at the Arts Center. So I ran back to get it, cursing myself at the same time for being so blur. Oh man, what a night and I didn't sleep well at all. Thats why I try my best not to watch a horor movie if I can help it. I don't even understand why people like watching horor movies.

Back to more food rant. I love noodles. More than I love rice. My favourite at home is 'Mee Poh' (the medium thick Chinese noodles). Anyway, I don't have 'mee poh' at the moment so to satisfy my longing for noodles I have to be content with spagetti. Spagetti with Pasta sauce is something we students eat all the time. I decided to be adventurous and try something different. So I syok sendiri. I made sweet potato and mushroom tempura to eat with my garlic and herb spagetti.

The spagetti was a bit too dry. I should have made a sauce for it but I was too lazy. All I did with the spagetti was to tossed some mixed herbs, salt, pepper and a tablespoon of ready chopped garlic with chilli. Gosh how lazy have I become. The tempura was yummy. So easy to make. The proportion for the batter is 2 tablespoon flour with 3 tablespoon of cold water (apparently cold water makes it crispier) plus a pinch of salt. Soda water would be better to make it crispier but I didn't have any.

The dry spagetti failed to satisfy my noodle crazy craving. So today I cooked spagetti ala Chinese with chinese leaf and chinese mushroom. It is kinda like those 'mee hailam' at home without any seafood (PJ is a poor student. Actually more of a lazy bum who couldn't be bothered to go get her groceries.). 101 ways to eat spagetti..

I thought today was my free day but I actually have to hop off to work soon. Cause I stupidly thought I was free, I happily made Kuih Keria. Sweet potato donut (without the sugar coating on top because I want to reduce the unhealthiness of the deep frying.). I love it, maybe next time I will try baking it. Taste a bit like yu cha kueh pulak. I don't know if I am tired or if I am just a bit crazy today. It taste different from those at homes probably cause I substitute yam flour with normal flour. Can see also from the pic my sloppy donuts (esp the one on the most left) and the donut got bigger and bigger because I was worried I will be late for work so I rushed like mad even multi-tasking ( eating my diner and making the donuts at the same time.). All the rushing for nothing, now I have an hour to spare before hoping off to the Arts Center.

Currently reading The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan. I was looking for The Joy Luck Club but couldn't find it at the library. This is another very typical story of American Chinese settling into America and reflecting on their Chinese roots. I love these kinda books. It makes me think of my roots too. I guess even though my grandpa is from China (My grandma is Malaysian. She always proudly tells me she is born in Malaysia and not China. She is one loyal and proud Malaysian.), I feel ashamed sometimes that I can't read or write Mandarin. But I am glad that my parents sent me to Convent Primary/Secondary School (a Malay/English school) cause otherwise I wouldn't have met all you wonderful people. 11 most wondeful years !!

This book is also centered around the relationship between a modern American Born Chinese lady with her very conservative and traditional mother. I thought about my relationship with my mum. I was always closer to my dad as a kid. I couldn never see eye to eye with my mother in my teens. I just want to go against anything she said even though it doesn't make sense sometimes. But over the years I have grown to understand her more, I have grown to admire her for the things she do, for her strength, for her faith in God. I have grown to love her more and more for her understanding, for her faith in me, for always being there, and for just being her. I told her how much I miss her on the phone the other day and guess what she said..

'Aiyo, dun miss me lah. Go get a boyfriend then you won't miss me.'

What the.....

She does this to me all the time. Its like de ja vu every time. It makes me laugh every single time. Love her so so much.

'Ki Kohk'

One word about Korean Dramas....
'Ki Kohk'!
This word is a new word I learnt from Vicky at school. If I am not wrong it should mean frustrating, annoying, heartbreaking, and anything along those lines. I am not sure what language it is cause no one seems to have heard that word before except Vicky and of course her friends.

Back to Korean dramas. Jin, Shu and I watched Winter Sonata from about 11pm to 7am.

7 hours! Of course with 'Indo Mee Goreng' and 'Milo' breaks. Food is also very important for an all nighter. One Cd after another and we didn't even realise that the sun had risen. That was when we all decide to get some beauty sleep even though I secretly wanted to finish up all the 10 Cds left. Tonight tonight.... I am not going to sleep until I watch the final Cd.

The evil thing about Korean dramas is they are always so sad and so addictive. You get hooked and absorbed with it. And they are typical. There is always 4 main characters. There is one ultimate bitch, one ultimate bastard and then there is this two person who love each other so deep but can never get together because of all the obstacles that makes the whole drama so 'ki kohk'. Very dramatic and tragic. But you still want to watch it because it is sad and we all need to watch a sad drama once in a while. And it is so easy to fall in love with the lead actors. They are always like the perfect sweet, gentleman, sensitive, romantic guy. Now this makes Korean dramas unrealistic cause these type of guys don't exist in the real world or at least I have yet to meet one like that. I guess God didn't make us to be perfect but to be perfect for each other.

Looking forward to another 'ki kohk' night of Winter Sonata.

Nasi

Nasi means rice in Malay and at home we can eat it for breakfast, lunch and diner. A typical Malaysian who loves to eat would start his day with Nasi Lemak ( Coconut Rice) with Teh Tarik ( Pulled Tea). For a typical office person, lunch will normally be Nasi Campur (Mix Rice) or if my Dad, it will be Nasi Ayam ( Chicken Rice) and diner could be anything Nasi like Nasi Tomato, Nasi Kari, Nasi Paprik, Nasi Goreng Cina (Chinese Fried Rice), Nasi Beriyani and the list goes on.

Actually I am more of a noodle person than a rice person just like I am a tea person and not a coffee person. If I go out to eat at home and have a choice, I would order noodles instead of rice. But after coming here, I will miss Nasi a lot if I don't eat it for a few days cause we eat it everyday x3 at home.


Introducing Nasi Campur which is basically rice with 'whatever' you fancy. I made an onion-mushroom-ommelette plus stir fry veg of carrots-Chinese Leaf with chopped garlic. Voila plus 3 cherry tomatoes salvaged from a box of 12 that almost all had gone bad. I love cherry tomatoes but they go bad so quick.
Next up is Nasi Pattaya ie Spicy Fried Rice wrapped in thin ommelette. This is the first time my ommellete is not broken! I didn't cook it too spicy though, cause I have not been well for the past few days. Throat feels really dry and lips are swollen and bleeding and am developing some kinda rash too. Maybe it is the eating cereals without milk (was Milkless for a week but still needed to satisfy my craving with cereals.) and not drinking enough water taking effect now. Back to Nasi Pattaya. I think the tip to making a good omellete is all about controlling the temperature of the fire. Cook at high heat first then when it looks almost cooked, reduce to low heat. And a good non-stick pan helps too. Oh ya and not too much oil too. Thin but not too thin cos it will break. I know it is vague description. Try it, feel it and you will know it!

There won't be any Nasi entry till I get my ass to get some Rice. PJ is Ricelesss now.

Coming up next - Kuih Keria (Sweet Potato Donut) inspired by Vicky!

Let It Come.

Is it really? Is it really that spring is here?
First sighting of spring...

The flowers bloom once more...

More work rant..
I really like the movie Sabah ( http://www.sabahthemovie.com/ ). It is another of those happily ever after, feel good movie. I guess in real life things would have been more complicated. And it is not too long. The length of the movie is just perfect for me.

On the other hand I found Syriana (http://syrianamovie.warnerbros.com/) a bit too heavy for me. George Clooney put on so much weight for the movie and looked really different. I guess I found the movie hard to follow because there were like 3 or 4 paralel stories going on at the same time. Different characters with entirely different lifes yet at the end they were all indirectly connected. I guess all these oil and politics stuff is not really my cup of tea.

The jazz singer Jane Siberry was just a very weird performance. She kinda made her stuffs up as she went along. I was totally lost throughout the performance. Everyone agreed that the opening gig by Griffin House was good. I thought it was alright.

After the many unhealthy buttery food I have been eating, I decided to detox with a super healthy balanced soup of chick peas, carrots, sea weed, cabbage, and potatoes. Just dump everything and boil for an hour or so. Add salt or if you want stock.

Now I am going to 'Stamp It Out' some pent up emotions. So you can actually stop reading here because some of you might find the following rude.

Some people think it is unethical to bitch about people on blogs. I don't normally do also unless the other party is absolutely shit. Some people say 'Hey it is dangerous to bitch about people on your blog. What if they stumble onto it and find it?' For that I don't care cause this is my blog and I blog as I like. If you are not happy with me you can bitch about me too. I don't care.

Gonna 'Stamp it Out' now and let it go...

I am annoyed by snobs. People who are arrogant. I encountered like a whole lot of them at badminton yesterday. People who are super good are arrogant cos they are good. People who are fucking average (but think they are damn great) also fucking act arrogant! I used to really enjoy going to badminton club but now I no longer feel as much for it anymore. When I first joined everyone was really nice and friendly. I guess all the nice people have graduated and left. I guess it hurts even more when people you thought are nice and are your friends act like a snob on court. It hurts so much sometimes. I asked myself yesterday if I want to continue to be subjected to such hurt and torture. I know getting angry is stupid because a wise person once told me that 'Getting angry is torturing yourself over other people's faults.' As I let go of this hurt, I made up my mind to stop going for badminton club. It is a difficult decision and I am not sure also if I can do it cause I really enjoy playing and really hope to improve but it is getting too emotional for me to handle.

Maybe it is time to do other stuffs like swimming and jogging since spring has arrived.

It is nice to be able to open the window and breath in the crisps air of spring.

Pancakes

Pancakes!
My mum's style with no egg. Basically it is just flour then add water until it feels right. Plus a pinch of salt. Thats what she told me when I asked her on the phone. At home normally we would have pancakes when mum makes 'goreng pisang' (banana fritters). She would make it with the left over batter and dad would be over the moon to eat it with sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. I normally just eat it plain. Today I spread it with peanut butter and realise I didn't like it. Maybe it is the peanut butter problem. Then I spread it with honey and then I thought I will melt some chocolate and spread it with chocolate. So voila...

Its the weekend! Not that it makes any difference really now that it is holiday. Everyday feels like a Saturday. Except with the triple amount of work than a normal Saturday. When I stare into the wall which is full of post it notes, all I see is reminder of datelines, exams and all that crap. Maybe I should put reminders of other happier stuffs like.... erm... shit can't think of any!

I am so distracted. Miss Saigon The Musical is coming to Birmingham and I want to go but I really should not spend that money but I should make the most of my NUS card while I am still a student. To spend or not to spend...

Another trivial question. To go or not to go... Its still freezzing and I have been milkless and fruitless for a few days now. Couldn't be arsed to go to Tesco, making the weather as the excuse.

Aah... the trivial life of PJ...

My Heritage

I had so much fun here http://www.myheritage.com/

Realised I actually am not much of a camera whore cause when I browse my pics in my computer, I hardly have any pics of just my chubby face. So I had to use one with me and Effy. Sorry to drag you into this Ef.

Guess guess...
Ef's result is Gong Li.


And me.. Jang Nara!!!

Happy for a bit until I tried it with other pics like this pic of my brother.

He got Michael Owen. Erm....

Hey guys try try and tell me who you get.

On a totally unrelated note....some work rant. Did seat move at the Arts Center again. In addition to the normal 8 x 24 seats on the floor. We had to do extra work of fixing the barriers which was as heavy if not heavier than me. A 30 mins - 1 hour job ended up more than 2 hours. Operations Manager Mr C was really nice. He wanted to pay us double (16 pounds) seeing the hard work we did. All was well until Duty Manager Miss Em came in. Mr C told her the hard work we did and she said 'Oh give them 10 pounds.' How can anyone not be annoyed by this. Then Mr C said 'Can we give them a bit more they really deserve it.' Miss Em said 'OK give them 12.' She wasn't even there and she gave all that crap. Such treatment makes me not want to do seat move again after this.

Only regret is not taking a pic of what we did as proof to show my dad and bro of the job that they would never had imagine little PJ to do.

Dressing Up The Plate

So fun to arrange it like some posh French cuisine. Wannabe PJ. Oh ya note also the white plate effect. Brings out the colour of the food.

It is baked potato with chilli mushrooms and beans. Easy to make. First boil the beans with the potatoes (+ salt) and at the same time stir fry the mushrooms with butter, chilli, onions, soy sauce and pepper. Then lightly shallow fry the potatoes with butter until slighltly golden. Then bake it with a dash of herbs on top ( can add cheese too). Very yummy cos very unhealthy with lots of butter. And I didn't just eat that meagre amount in the pic. I had double of that. Feeling guilty after that, so I drank like a whole pot of Chinese Tea that dad gave me last summer.

I also tried making ommellette wrap with tooona and seaweed. I 'pandai-pandai' (tried to be clever when in fact it was silly.) decided to cook the omellete without oil which my little Tefal pan is capable off but yuck! The omelette tasted like plastic. Will try to do it properly next time with oil.

This is the wood near my hall of residence. I love reflections and the ripple effect.

Things to look forward today: 4.30pm Ready Steady Cook on TV.

Minus 4

It was a freaking Negative 4 degrees tonight and the walk back from the Arts Center felt like forever. My lips are now totally cracked and swollen. All I wanted when I got back was a cuppa Milo. ( is it MeLoh or MyLoh ? I call it MeLoh all the time but apparently it is MyLoh. I think I am right cos if you sing Do Re Mi, it is do re Me not do re My. hah!)

Capote ( http://www.sonyclassics.com/capote/ ) lived up to all the hype even though the poster didn't really appeal to me much and I didn't even realise that I was going to work for an Academy Award movie. So I guess when you have no expectations about something, the overall experience is better. No expectations, better experience. Philip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant as Truman. Now I so want to read In Cold Blood by Truman and also To Kill A Mocking Bird by Nelle Harper Lee ( I always thought this classic was written by a male. How ignorant). I love watching movies that are actually true. It gives a sense of realism to it. The movie goes to show that people are selfish, and manipulative. But at the end of the day, it will get back to you. Sometimes I feel so scared that I will turn into a selfish bitch living in an environment which is such. Doing what I don't want to do and not doing what I want to do. The environment changes you so subtly that you won't even realise it. Scary.

The Matador (http://www.matadorthemovie.com/) is a very light movie if compared to Capote. It is not a 'must see' movie or a movie that I will want to watch again. But at least it didn't make me fall asleep. Pierce Brosnan looked really old in that movie. Feels so different from his usual Mr Bond persona.

Up and coming movies this week that I will be working: Sabah, Syriana, and La Neuvaine. Fingers cross they don't have long credits or audiences who stay till the credits finish rolling.

The girl I worked with actually went to do work at the Grid after the movies. I feel like super slacker cause all I wanted to do was to watch the Commonwealth Highlights on TV but housemates dating in the kitchen. I will just have to make do with my book or the internet.

Prima Facie

Blogspot is cranky. It just put my current post 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' as a Sunday post.

BTW, 'prima facie' is a latin word for 'at first glance'. Just like the sound of that law phrase.

Totally knackered after badminton. Ef is teaching me how to switch my hand grip for a back hand and a forehand. I tried so hard to change when I finally change I end up missing the shuttle. It is so difficult. It is like asking a right hander to start using left hand to write! But I am not going to give up yet. I will, I will get it one day!

Food-Fel-Food-Friends

Mi Hun Kueh ( Malaysian Pasta)... Two pots for 10 people...

Fel in her not so normal camera pose. It was great to see this dear girl again after so long (a week.). Thanks for the cosy evening. Nice teeth by the way..

My very own Syok Sendiri Curry Bean Rice. It tasted quite nice but not good enough to share with everyone. Need to improve first.

Feeling nostalgic after speaking to an old friend yesterday. Thanks so much my dear. My secondary school DIF 7 gang (this is the few pic with all of us in it, very blur old pic.) . I am the one at the most front on the right. Still look the same after 5 years. Most girls grow up to be prettier except PJ. Damn. Spot the one that is always always trying to be different in her prefect uniform. Kidding. We were all prefects. We were the Cabinet.

Lesson of the day: you know some things will always be the same when you can talk non-stop on the phone with an old friend. And you can continue talking and talking if it wasn't because dinner/supper time.

Who Doesn''t Want To Be A Billionaire?

Check this out...
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/Worth_1.html

Nowadays having one million is no big deal. There are so many millionaires out there. Someone told me those hawker Uncles back home who sweat and sell food in the hot sun are millionaires. We are talking about billions now. In a few years time it will be zillion. Where and how the hell do all these people make so much money? Most of the Forbes list are from US. But I guess the place does not matter these days. All you need is a big big idea, risk it all and go for it. Or maybe a small small idea that no one bother to look into. Most of these people are drop outs with Big big ideas. My dad will kill me if I even think of dropping out of Warwick.

I just finish reading When Corporations Rule The World by David Korten. According to him there is a Money Illusion. Apparently if All the people who have savings in the banks were to withdraw their saving on the Same day, the banks will not be able to pay Everyone cause wealth is created with issuing Debt and more debt. You put money in the bank. They lent it to other people. Simple as that.

Who doesn't want to be a Billionaire? Some people say Money is the root of all evil and Money is not everything. Money is not everything but if you don't have money how the hell are you going to survive in a world where you have to pay for everything! You will starve to death if you have no money. It is not being money minded but just being realistic that money is important and essential to live.

If I had a million pounds, I would pay off my study loan, bring my family on a holiday round the world.... and then I will be back to square one. One million pounds is not enough.... Perhaps I should use the leftovers to make more money. Non-satiation rule, more is always better....

Buses and Train

By Bachelor Girl

Hey Mom
Why didn't you tell me
Why didn't you teach me a thing or two
You just let me go
Out into the World
You never thought to share what you knew

So I walked under a bus
I got hit by a train
Keep falling in love
Which is kinda the same
I've sunk out at sea
Crashed my car, gone insane
And it felt so good
I want to do it again

Hey Mom
Why didn't you warn me
Coz about boys is something i should have known
They're like chocolate cake
Like cigarettes
I know they're bad for me
But I just can't leave 'em alone

I wanna do it again
Oh, felt so good

Hey Mom
Since we're talking
What was it like when you were young
Has the world changed
Or is it still the same
A man can kill and still be the sweetest fun.

This is for a very dear friend. Will e-mail you the song when the internet connection gets better. Stay the amazing girl that you are! Love you heaps and heaps.

Procrastinator

Procrastinating device number 101 : Read blogs.
Procrastinating device number 101 : Read the links on other people blog.

One link led to another and you soon realise that its a small world after all. Decided to link blogs of people I know ( they might not know or remember me but I remember!) and even those I don't know but their blog amused and inspired me. So there you have it the whole Saturday morning organising my links.

The links on my blogs is actually a chronology of my life in links.

Family - Ferny and her hubby, Geong Sen are my cousins now at Royal Holloway Uni. She watched me grow up from a very spoilt Daddy's girl (still am) and I watched her grow up too. She is like the Big Sister who would pop in Grandma's house to play with me and brother. She is also the ever inspiring pianist in the family. I was also lucky enough to be able to witness the beautiful day when she got married.

Convent Muar - Spent 11 years of my life there! Childhood friends with Pure beautiful friendships. Many shared dreams over 'Rehat' (Break time) where we would be talking about Hong Kong dramas, Singapore dramas, movies, actor, actresses etc. Friends that you know you don't get to see much off now but will always be close to your heart for all the beautiful growing years shared bind us forever.

KUiTTHO - After I finished SPM ( GCSE), I got offered to do Engineering at Kolej University Technology Tun Hussein Onn. It was at this really small town, Parit Raja which is even smaller than my hometown. I was only there for 3 - 4 weeks. It was first time living away from home for a spoilt daddy's girl. It was tough ( I had to learn to handwash my own clothes, there was no washing machine!) but I made some really good friends there. I could still remember eating instant noodles late at night with my roomies and talking about the Big Big life and all that. I got offered a scholarship to do International Baccalaureate and I left. Saying goodbye to new friends that I always wished I had the chance to get to know better.

Kolej MARA Banting - Life was not easy there. I think I rant about it before in my old blog: http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/peilee/entry/college_life/

University of Warwick - I made some really amazing friends that I never thought I would meet. Hopefully the friendship will continue even after we reach the crossroad in July.
3 years almost coming to an end (hope to do a reflection of my 3 years at the very end, which is in 14 weeks time.).

Over the years..

I guess I am No longer the little naive schoolgirl from Convent Muar but still very much the same old me. Nothing much has changed really. A little bit stronger. A little bit more mature. And very much Older... But still has the same principles..

... and the same dreams that one day will come true!

My First Couscous

I made couscous with Tuna ( Read: Toooona) Rougaille (dedicated to Ma Chere Stella, who taught me how to cook it). So I 'syok sendiri' again and ate couscous the PJ way.

Looks good ya. (Maybe it is because of Vi .) Couscous is high protein pasta. Looks like a smaller version of rice but taste like pasta. Love the Rougaille.It is so versatile. Can eat it with couscous. Can eat it with rice. Can eat it with spaggeti noodles. Can eat it with pasta. Can eat it with bread. Any way you fancy.

Forgot to intro... Vi is my new camera. Got it on 49% offer at Amazon. Thought I got a bargain but my bro just told me it is cheaper back home. So 'geram' (angry)! But its ok lah, don't think it makes sense for him to buy and ship it over.

Other works by Vi...

'The Pig Sty'...

'The Bedtime Buddies'

'For The Slacker'

Lastly 'All PJ Wants' to do this weekend is....

Have a bon weekend everyone!

Worst Entry Ever

Please ignore this entry cause it is meaningless.

Want to sleep but can't sleep.
Want to study but can't focus.
Want to go out but no where to go.
Want to chat but there's no one.
Want to open the window but its freaking cold.

Its just one of those sleepless nights again.

If you actually read till here, I am sorry for this worst, meaningless entry ever.

13

Une.. deux... trois...
Raise your guns...
Spin the cilinder..
Encore...(More)
Arrette... (Stop)
Aim!

13 people in a circle Each aiming the other. All eyes on the light bulb. And they shoot when it lights up.

I am so glad, I am home safe and warm. Its freaking cold outside. Spring oh spring where art thou?

Tonight's French movie really made my stomach swirl. It was in black and white. It is about this sadistic game that a group of old mafias play. They bet on the last one standing from their sick game. Sick. Sick. Sick. But I did enjoy the movie, especially picking up bits of French that I could comprehend. Go me!

Have been cooking and experimenting loads but no chance to put up pics. I made a simple mushroom sandwich for lunch and I love it! Coming real soon - Couscous!

Also did more real work today. I did Seat Move at the Arts Center. Basically the job description is to arrange chairs at the hall. Sounds easy. Nooooo way. It is hard work. The chairs are damn heavy and had to get them out of this really dusty room.

But that's life, nothing comes easy.

Here and Now...

Currently reading Island by Aldous Huxley.

Just started reading this book yesterday night. Apparently it is one of the great philosophical novel. I really like how Huxley tried to potray the importance of The Present Moment with a bird that keeps repeating 'Attention. Here and now.'

We often get tied down by past hurts and make a fuss out of it when the truth is if you think and reflect deeply... 'what is the fuss? it is all over and done with.'

We often worry about the future when the truth is '... worry and worry for nothing when it is but a vain hope.'

How I wish I had a bird that would remind me with those wise words 'Attention. Here and Now' and to just be in the moment for life is too short to keep looking back to our past and ponder about the future.

So the Mynah said ' Attention. Here and now.'

Blind

I lost my Red Comb a few days back and I frantically search my room for it for a whole day, which ended up me cleaning and tidying up my room in search of my naughty comb. I still couldn't find it. After one day of uncombed hair, I had to get a brand new comb from Tesco.

Guess what happened today? I found my Red Comb. It was in my drawer. I swear I searched my drawer like a hundred times the other day!

Moral of story: Somethings will always be there but why do we not see it ?
..... Cause we are all blind.

Specially For...

This is specially for Vicky...

Recipe taken from mummy's old recipe book with a bit of improvision by PJ.

Raisins Scones Recipe:

Ingredients:
120g/4 oz self raising flour (sieved)
45g/ 1 + 1/2 oz butter/margerine
45g/ 1 + 1/2 oz raisins
1 egg (beaten)
1 + 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1 + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
45g/ 1+1/2 oz sugar ( I only used 1 oz sugar cos I don't like too sweet.)

Method:
1. Preheat Oven at 200 degrees or Gas Mark 6-7.
2. Cut margerine into small pieces and mix well with flour.
3. Add in cream of tartar, raisins and sugar. Mix well.
4. Make a hole in middle and add in egg with vanilla essence.
5. Mix until a dough is form.
6. Divide into 8 parts and put on greased tray.
7. Bake in oven until cooked. ( I forgot how long and no mention in the recipe book. I think its about 15 mins or maybe a bit more. Poke with toothpick to see if cook.)

Hey let me know how long it takes to bake. So I can set timer next time. Oh ya if you feel its too dry can add some milk. Can also add choc chip if you like or even dessicated coconut.

Happy baking scones !

Unbelieveably Easy

I can't believe it is so easy to make scones.
PJ can do it. So can you. It was pretty good but I think I put too much raisins.
Voila,PJ's very own home made scones.

The scones is really yummy with Kaya.

This might actually be the very last picture by my dearest.
Camera dearest has been really ill. He might be dying. It is really sad. He has been faithful with me for 3 years now. We have been through so much together. Rest in peace my dearest.

Now need to hunt for The One New Camera....

List of Things For this Holiday

Things I DREAD doing but I HAVE to do:
1. Research and readings for the 5000 word essay.
2. Writing out the 5000 word essay.
3. Book review, group assignmentssss ...
4. Revision for all 6 exams that I have to do after the holidays.
5. Real Work to earn some money.
6. Flat Hunting in Birmingham. ( PJ hates growing up. PJ you are on your own now, You must be tough!)

Things I WANT to do but I CAN'T do...
1. Travel.
2. Shopping.
3. Go home to be daddy and mummy's spoilt brat.
4. Go home and spend Easter at Home.
5. Go home and see all my old friends.
6. Go home and play scrabble with my brother.
7. Go home and watch TV all day long.
4. Go to WiM.
....because of things I dread to do but I have to do and also don't think I can afford it this time.

On a brighter note....

Things I really really look forward to doing and I am so going to do them....
1. Paint. ( Inspired by the many art galleries I visited during winter hols.)
2. Bake and try new recipes. ( Inspired by all you crazy iron chefs of the world)
3. Get back to playing piano. ( Inspired by Ying Ci.)
4. Get my hands on some good books to be inspired.
5. Badminton Holiday sessions.
6. Just chill and spend time with friends.
7. Book Project. I want to jot down random childhood memories in French before I forget my French and before I lose my memory and remember nothing of my beautiful childhood.

Oh ya gonna end the term with a Mi Hun Kueh (Malaysian soupy Pasta) diner with the rest of the gang. Yay!

Let the hols begin!

Real Work

I did Real Work not Nerd Work in the library or in front of the computer.

Real work for money.

Money is truly difficult to earn.

I actually love working at the Arts Center. The duty managers are really nice. And I get paid for watching good stuffs and maybe some crap ones sometimes. The only thing I really hate is those disgusting litter bugs who leave rubbish all over the place.

I steward the Free Lunchtime Concert. I thought I could actually have a relax time listening to soothing music to destress a little but nooooo.... the guy started playing some really angry piece on the piano about this composer who wrote the music after his best friend dies. It was the most torturing time ever. My head hurt so much after that.

I also worked at the cinema. Walk The Line is pretty awesome although a bit too long. Love the songs. Reminds me of the songs dad used to sing and play on his lousy radio. Oh ya and also him singing in the shower. One of my favourite uncles told me that my dad once sang till the door of the bathroom collapsed. I used to tell my dad that his singing sucks but I actually do miss hearing him singing from his shower. So loud that I bet even the neighbours can hear. He is actually not bad. He sings with loads of passion.

Haven't watch TV for ages. So yesterday I had to watch TV and I watched About A Boy. I love watching Hugh Grant. I like seeing him raise his brows and eyes. About A Boy is actually a pretty good movie. Typical Hugh Grant feel good movie that never fail to bring a smile.

My head really hurts now, gonna dive into bed and wake up to a brand new morn.

All That Delights.

The best thing ever after coming back half drenched from a group discussion in which half the members didn't turn up is...

...a cup of tea, not ordinary tea but tea with Honey and soya milk

and

toast with 'kaya', which is a coconut custard spread.

I have been craving for 'kaya' for ages. And when Daffy appeared with it yesterday I was so delighted. All I had in my mind was to rip open the bottle and eat it with bread even though I was really full from dinner. I am so gonna try make my own 'kaya' one day cos apparently according to Daffy it is really easy cause she did it with a microwave recipe.

Went to say goodbye to Stella in the morning and she suggested us having a potluck lunch before Daffy goes home. We all thought she is crazy. But it was such a spontaneous brilliant idea that we couldn't resist. So we ended up having a potluck lunch after saying goodbye to Stella. We even gave our dishes names. Not very creative names but heck at least they have an identity.

ok here goes. The creative food we have with porridge.

Daffy's Seafood Delight.

Vegie Delight by Shu.

Daffy's Egg Delight.

And I came up with the ingenius idea of Fake Yu Cha Kueh ( Fried Doughsticks) a.k.a Yorkshire Pudding. Ef was shaking her head in disbelief but Fake Yu Cha Kueh is better than No Yu Cha Kueh.

Stella should be on her flight now one her way home to sunny Mauritius where she can go soak in the sun in her bikini, sipping Malibu and eating DhoolPuri . What a life.

Hey you two have a wicked holiday at home !!!

Remember to bring back some sunshine to UK and always keep your phones safe!

Inspired

I just read a very inspirational blog entry @ http://www.kennysia.com/.
This funny guy from Kuching took on a bet to do the KL Marathon and he did it !
Nothing is impossible if we set our hearts to conquer every other obstacle along the way.
I stumbled onto this guy's blog through various other people's blog by chance and have been hooked on it since. His blog is the ultimate drama of Malaysian life!

All Connected

Yes I finally got the courage to link blogs of friends and strangers onto this little blog. If you don't see your blog on the list, its probably I was blind and forgot to add you ( which is my bad and you better let me know otherwise it will be your bad. ) or you haven't been updating (your bad and you better update soon.). Anyway, I probably did miss out some people. The list will keep multiplying. I will double check soon just to make sure it is complete. Bah, it will never be complete. There are so many awesome blogs out there that I want to put into my list. The list is not in any kind of preference. Just randomness and initially I tried to make it in Alphabetical order but it was too daunting so I gave up.

Shu made porridge for lunch. Porridge as in the real Rice Porridge not the fake oat porridge. We had it with ommelette, sweet dried beancurd and also preserved vegetables. So simple, wholesome and satisfying.

Now for some grandmother porridge stories ( before I get back to trying very very hard to finish my bloody book that I have to report on. ). I used to have porridge for lunch everyday when I stayed with grandma. I actually didn't like the soggy rice (ie porridge). But have to eat it anyway. If it is plain porridge there normally will be fish and veg to eat with or meat. I was a spoilt brat, grandma will take away all the fish bones for me. The fishes in Malaysia are little tiny ones with loads of bones. Grandma used to call me little cat cause like a cat I know it if fish are not fresh and would refuse to eat them.

I remember once I had a very rude argument with grandma when I was 10. After being really rude, I had diner and I choked on a 1 inch long fish bone. I was screaming and crying. Everyone was so scared and worried even the neighbours. I was brought to the emergency unit at the hospital. That was the day I believe in karma, you get what you deserve. Never be rude to your elders or you will get choked. A few years later, after grandma passed away, I realised that I didn't know how to eat fish because all 14 years of my life, grandma has always been around to take away the fish bones for me. All nicely done with her tender love. The only regret I have in life is for always taking her for granted. I guess we never appreciate the blessings we have until we lose it.

Syok Sendiri

"Syok sendiri" is one my fave Malay phrases. It means getting carried away, amusing oneself. Like when someone does something totally 'out', we will say the person 'Syok sendiri.'

PJ made Syok Sendiri cookies for potluck at mass yesterday. She added almonds (because she wants to eat almonds) which is not in the recipe and also reduced the sugar cause she hates most cookies that are overly sweet. Thank God it turn out alright.

And today she syok sendiri again. She was craving for chicken rice, just the rice not the chicken. So she made Vegetarian Chickenless Rice. She added loads of mushroom and Quorn. She even made her own chilli sauce just to make the Fake Chickenless Chicken Rice more Real. According to PJ's papa the thing that makes a good chicken rice really depends on the chilli sauce. Talking about chicken rice brings back so many memories. It is papa's fave food ( I think) cause whenever we go to a Food Court which have like millions of food, he will order chicken rice every single time. Chicken Rice Loyalist he is. Whenever mama is busy and the task of feeding PJ and lil brother falls on papa, he will 'tapau' ( take away) Chicken Rice almost every other time. PJ would secretly pick away the chicken and dump them into brother's plate and eat just the chicken rice with chilli sauce. Just that, Chicken Rice + Chilli sauce - Chicken = Heavenly. Anyway enough of Chicken Rice story for the day. Check out PJ's Syok Sendiri Vegetarian Chickenless Chicken Rice with her very own chilli sauce. Its OK lah for a fake Chicken Rice. On a totally unrelated note, Rendition by the Warwick Dance Societies was awesome! Working for it was so worth it. Ef and I even got super good house seats because we sold programmes. Wishing upon the star that I can dance like those people. PJ's gonna stop dreaming and get back to work.

Right Here Waiting

Spring is late,
How long more should I wait?
For the birds to come home,
And the flowers to blossom.

Winter feels like forever,
How much colder will it be?
For the lonely nights to pass,
And right here waiting for spring.

Operation Frankie

PJ trying to be photographic...

But she failed miserably. Actually it is probably the cranky camera's fault.

Yesterday was another awesome Saturday. Went shopping in Coventry with Stella. It was nice to walk around town. Actually Coventry ain't that bad especially with good company. Also saw some Rev people singing in town. They were awesome as always.

Then had diner with the gang. Yum Yum food. Steamed Fish, BBQ chicken wings, brocolli, fried rice and I made soup with random stuffs as usual.

At the strike of midnight, we tried to break into Claycroft 1. Somehow we managed to get in.

Woke Frankie and his roomie up.

Suprise!

Happy Birthday Frankie!!

Green Tea Cake by Chef Jin. Yummm...

Frankie wearing the scarf that Jin knitted for a year. She is the sweetest ever. I think if anyone ever ever knit me a scarf, I will be touched to tears.

After all the drama, I present to you the actors and actresses of Operation Frankie.

Healthiest Diner for the Week

Have been eating crappy stuff because have been so busy with work that I couldn't be arsed to cook.

Yesterday was the healthiest and best diner I had the whole week.

Stella made Oiless Musroom Salmon Crepes ( Pancakes) with her awesome pan. I am so gonna get a pan like hers one day. I really like her crepes, it was the right texture and moisture. It was so yummy.

Fel made her very own salad. She even made the dressing from scratch. Awesome salad coming from an ex-vegie hater. It was refreshing to eat it with the crepes. Good combo.

I made seaweed soup with 'ke chi'. Its good for the eyes. Brought back nightmares to Fel of when her mum forced her to drink it. Poor girl. Sorry, I didn't know. Will remember not to put it for yours next time.

Diner with Fel and Stella is always so chilled out. Too bad we were one member short as Daffy is in London. I love the good food and more importantly their company. I can sit there with my legs crossed or even seating like those 'trishaw' pullers uncles like my mum always reprimand me for. I can be really honest to them about everything cause its the circle of trust.

Mr Snowman.

As promised, allow me to present Mr Snowman...

And he shrank...

NOOOOOO....must be evil John's doing. Wags finger with disapproving look.

It snowed real heavily yesterday and the boys had fun in the snow with Mr Snowman. PJ was too stressed out by tests. So she stayed in to work. Pooper again. Maybe it will snow again and PJ will be out in the snow with Mr Snowman.

Its been 9am to 5pm back-to-back, non-stop lectures, seminars and tests and group meetings for today. I am bloody tired. But gonna end the day with a Bang, having diner with Stella and Fel. And the weekend is here again! Yay!!

Divided

Just attended the ecumenical mass (Catholic-Anglican-Free Church). It was a really beautiful shared mass until it was time for communion and the different denominations separated for their own communion. I never understood why there is so much division in the church when we all believe in The One God and are all His children. Does this division reflect how Christians should be? Somehow I feel God did not intend for such division but humans created that division. Will there ever be a day when all Christians regardless of denomination come together in Christ's Love to share the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist ? I pray that there will be such a day and I live to witness it.

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the begining of Lent. At mass today, ash was signed onto our foreheads in the sign of the cross. It is a day to remind us that from dust we are created and to dust we will return. I hope this Lenten month will be a time of self reflection to understand what God wants me to do and hopefully I can fight those little little conflicted temptations in me for many times ' I do not understnad what I do. For what I want to do I do not do , but what I hate I do.' (Romans 7:15)