2007

Its been a while…

Had a week off for xmas and told myself that I will not go to the office and work no matter what. No internet at home which means no blogging for a while.

Xmas pics…

The sexiest Christmas tree ever…
It is the result of me really wanting to have a xmas tree and being kinda cheapo and also practical. Got this from Muji for a bargain. It is the sexiest tree ever. It doesn’t drop its leaves for me to clean up. It is foldable, so I can fold it up and escape with it if I need to.

My first ever glamorous Christmas party.

Ok everyone else was glamorous and I felt a little out of place. Thanks Grace for the company. It would have been really scary going alone. And it is always great to catch up with Miss Grace who was a star herself. She was absolutely fabulous on stage! And also I saw Derren Brown in action and the finale act was absolutely brilliant. I know it’s all pure psychology but I am still very much impressed.

My first light fruit loaf.
Nothing to boast about but it is my first ever and I am really proud of it.

Light Fruit Loaf
250g self raising flour
150g sugar
175g margarine
4 medium eggs
60g mixed fruits
1 tbsp milk powder
1 tsp vanilla flavour

Preheat oven 170 C.
Soak mixed fruits in warm water for 10 mins. Drain and dust lightly in flour.
Cream margarine, flour and milk powder until it becomes a paste.
Whip sugar and eggs until spongy and fluffy. Add mixture gradually into paste. Add vanilla flavour.
Pour in mixed fruits and mixed until properly dispersed.
Pour into cake pan and bake for 45 – 50 minutes until cooked.

My first biscottis. This is dedicated to Miss Stella for the many lovely biscottis that she made.

Almond Biscottis
4oz ground almonds
4oz blanched almonds
2 medium eggs
1 medium egg yolk
4oz icing sugar
8oz plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven 180C.
Toast ground almonds and blanched almonds for 5-10 mins, stir occasionally.
Beat eggs and icing sugar until thick.
Beat in flour, baking powder and salt.
Add ground almonds and blanched almonds to form slightly sticky dough.
Turn dough into lightly floured surface and using lightly floured hands, form into log of about 12 inches long.
Place on baking tray and bake for 20 mins.
Remove from over and cut log diagonally into 1 inch slices.
Return to bake for further 10-15 mins. Turning after 10 mins.
Leave to cool on rack and store in airtight container.

Told my mum I made curry cause I was really craving for her speciality. Looks good but still far from mum’s but it is from scratch, unless people actually make their own turmeric or cumin powder. Ya I didn’t use curry powder or mixes but I simply mix all the spices until they taste kinda like curry. Oh and I added banana. I didn’t make this up. I actually was inspired by this Indian recipe I saw. It was actually quite nice kinda like eating roti pisang.

I took a week off for Christmas and it feels weird to have nothing to do at all. Very weird indeed. Ok I was kinda bored with nothing to do. I know I shouldn’t be complaining. Thanks to Ferny and Geong Sen for coming all the way here to spend xmas with me. At least I keep myself occupied with good company and food of course. Thanks for the lovely ‘honey joy’ cornflakes, chocolates and presents. Christmas would have been extra boring without you guys. It is already boring as it is.

I don’t know if it is just me. But as I get older Christmas day feels more and more boring. As a kid there would be the anticipation of Santa Claus leaving presents (of course I know its my dad and mum who pays.), putting up the Christmas tree and also watching all the Christmas cartoons. Maybe I really am ooold and losing the child in me to enjoy Christmas anymore. I was extremely homesick on Christmas day. I can’t help but ask myself what really is Christmas to me. I realised that to me Christmas is a day to be thankful, a day to be spent with family. Hopefully next year my folks will be able to make it here and perhaps if lucky get to spend a white Christmas.

I didn’t go shopping on Boxing Day. So proud of myself. I stayed in to finish off the books I borrowed from the library. I know I am the ‘nerdiest’ person in the world ever.

I finally finished reading the Curious Incident of The Dog in Night Time by Mark Haddon. It is a brilliant book. Have not read anything quite like that.

Actually it is really nice to be away from work and to actually have time to read. I know I am such a nerd. This week I have read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s His Last Bow. Apparently it is the last of Sherlock Holmes collection. I always thought Valley of Fear was the last. I have forgotten how much I used to love Sherlock Holmes as a child. And yes I still love him.

Currently reading One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kassey. Will probably need to finish it before I give my verdict.

I said I wasn't going to fall into the post xmas sales shopping trap but I guess thats never going to happen. I bought some bargain stuffs. They were a bargain!! I bought myself a chess set. PJ v PJ and PJ always wins. Chess is a great way to kill time.

Holiday is over. The next holiday will be in mid-February. Going somewhere far far away with Ef. It’s a secret for now. Actually I think I have already let some people into the secret. Ya I am going to Paris. Damn I can't keep secrets.

Excitingness… can’t wait for the next holiday.

Can't believe I am going to kiss 2006 goodbye. Personally 2006 will always be remembered as the year that went too quickly. The year that I felt I aged a lot cause I can't remember much of 2006 except a great final year at Warwick Uni and being sucked into the corporate world.

Looking into the crystal ball, I can feel 2007 is going to be another adventure filled year for me and hopefully a great year for everyone.

22+1

Can no longer tell people I am 22.

I am getting more and more confuse of my age.

I thought I was turning 24 yesterday.

And my dad thought I was only 21.

A big Thank You to all the birthday well wishes. I am extremely touched and guilty for being so rubbish at remembering everyone else's birthdays.

So sorry if I forgot your birthday but you know you guys are always always in my prayers.

Believe Me

I can't believe Fel is no longer a virgin. And she is bragging about it. That show off. And I am so jealous of her new cool shirt. It is the coolest shirt ever. ZS, if you see any cool shirt like that in India, get for me. Come on Christmas present for your only sister. Damn it I said I will never ask for Christmas present from you again but I am doing it again. This is bad. I am actually doing it on my blog. Shame on yourself PJ.

I can't believe I actually finished my exams. It feels really weird to go home and not having to study. It is great but weird. The exams were not hard but quite ambigous. Not sure if what I wrote is what they wanted. Just got to keep my fingers cross and hope for the best. All I want is to pass.

I can't believe another year is almost over. This year has gone by so quickly. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. Older but none the wiser. Still make the same mistakes over and over. Sometimes it feels like much have changed but yet much is still the same.

Potato Boulangere

I attempted to make potato boulangere. Its a recipe from a cookbook.
This is a French dish. Layer an oven dish alternately with slices of potatoes and onions. Then add stock. Dot with some butter on top. Put in oven (200 deg) for 50 minutes. Take it out. Cover with foil and cook for another 10 minutes. Voila

So easy to make. The recipe is to put a piece of lightly fried sea bass on top when you take it out and cook for 10 minutes but I didn’t have any sea bass. It tasted quite nice. A bit like ABC soup (a soup where you put potatoes, carrots etc) probably cause I put too much stock. But it was comforting to have it on a cold winter's day.

Self-Heal
Apologies for the lack of posts. Was sick last weekend. Some stupid viral infection which made my tonsil swell.

They don’t give you antibiotics over here unlike in Malaysia. Sore throat. Self heal advise given. Drink lots of water. Get lots of rests and you will be fine. No need to take medicine.

I think they only give you treatment if you start bleeding and are going to die.

I don’t normally go see a doctor cause I am a believer of self healing too and I am anti medicine (antibiotics is Bad.) but I went this time not because it was very serious but because I have got exams next week and I thought a check up will give me a peace of mind.

But on the contrary, I got this..
‘You have got a swollen tonsil. Don’t worry it will become normal after 2-3 weeks!’

2-3 weeks!!!

Bloody hell.

At least I will be well by Christmas.

Thanks for all the good luck wishes. I got a good luck card which I have no idea who the senders are. It is probably someone from work whom I can't remember. Its really bad I really should make more effort to remember people.

2 more weeks to Christmas! My first Christmas in Birmingham. Excitingness.