so… Hong Kong

I was in HK for training last week, for a week with Talika and it was good to finally meet up with the peeps I communicate daily with online through skype and email for work. at least now, I have a face to match with the names I write to.

yes, if i haven’t mentioned it before, i’m actually working now at home – full time+flexi hour. so this guarantees my hours at home being ‘full-filled’

so, back to Hong Kong. it has great food i can’t deny that, public transport is very efficient, very nice place for a social life as there are so many international people working and living there, and it’s safe; no snatch-theft or ppl breaking your car window to get the bag you left inside – the downside … crazy hectic rush humid small crammy – to  sum it up, if I were to stay for 1 more week, I’d be admitted for having fits or a nervous breakdown. the standard of living is high, like 3times compared to M’sia, living spaces are very small and very expensive, but if you want to live in a bigger place it’ll be far away from town. there are people everywhere from all parts of the world, all walking fast fast; even the escalators in the MTR (subway train) is fast and you’ll have to keep to the right if you don’t plan to walk up so that others can.

view from the office window; narrow skyscrapers

the buildings are all very high and slim coz the inside space is small, so they go upwards instead of sideways. in living quarters, there’s no ceiling fan, just aircon hence the greenhouse effect – super humid climate! in local eateries, the place is small too with MAX 50 heads so when it’s full inside, ppl queue outside waiting for others to leave. our experience of taking the minibus (max 14ppl) was thrilling, if I was single and on the minibus with my boyfriend – it would’ve been a romantic experience. we’ll be hanging onto each other so tightly!

LOL

in one day (Sunday), we got to Stanley Beach, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and had lots and lots of local food and then all the way back to Sai Kung. it was really nice seeing HK in that way, before joining rush hour the next day. because we stayed in Sai Kung, just to get to the office, we had to take 2 buses and 2 trains and walk up a steep steep concrete hill with steps which became our morning exercise. all this in 1half hour… and the same routine going back. I really don’t know how my good buddy can do that every week!!

O.o”

so one week and it was enough for me, I was so ready to head back home – plus I was missing the kids and they were missing me. there’s no place like home…

there’s no place like home.

Still with Mr. Blue Eyes

 

where has the romance gone in the love songs these past decades.

Electric Mosquito Repellants

was checking online to see what harm it does from these devices, and i stumbled upon this site that says:

The Secretary-General of the International Association for food packaging Dong, incense, kill mosquito spray, allethrin, prallethrin which types of commonly used repellent products, from its tianranxing and the degree of influence on the human body, should turn to prallethrin and allethrin impact was relatively small, incense, kill mosquito spray most times.

Because of the killing mosquito spray insecticide ingredients harmful, exhaled after a stroll in the air, in contact with human skin or oral cavity, respiratory and human intake, so try to spray after a while and then into the room; and burning incense by the mosquito volatility components to smoke, the frequency of the nervous system, its concentration is high and sustained release and combustion will produce other substances, it cannot be too close to humans, should not have been discharging during sleep; allethrin or prallethrin’s active ingredient is “deltamethrin”, direct heating, light rays, toxicity and concentration are relatively small, the main role in the mosquito’s oral system.

For the average family, some plant insect repellent method also worth trying, as horseradish, Mugwort, a drop at the gate, or placed in sachet or cloth after the package is placed in the room, is a very good natural mosquito repellent.

(Edit: Justin Lin, internships)

what the heck!? what does it even mean? LOL!

this fails ‘majorly’ ahhahaha….

Some Ol Treasure

just last saturday my aunt called me up to ask about some of my stuff back home in Penang, if i still want them as they were clearing up the room where my dad has most of his stuff in. don’t know about you, but there are a few things i have kept with me since i was very young and over the years the things i deem worthy of safe keeping … some of those were my first hardcover story book i got as a gift, soft toys from special people … etc, including some handmade letters from previous significant others

because we’ve shifted a few times, some of these precious things have been thrown out like my very personal diary, my highschool projects (i’ve kept them for quite some time) to give more room for more important stuff. anyways, i didn’t really own a room anymore from our last shift to our current house in Penang, which was in 2001. that was because i was already here in UKM/Bangi/Kajang/KL most of the time for my degree… so, what was left of my stuff since 2001 was just in 1 box. SAD… but now as of today, there is no more box left as it has to be cleared away. it’s good in a way that i’m not there to see what is in the box, i might just decide to keep everything again… hahhaa…

so today i was just putting some stuff into my lil ol kancil’s boot (been a long while since i went there), and i came across this ‘Drakkar Noir’ metal box, couldn’t remember what was in there and when i opened it, there were cassette tapes in there!! oh.my.gosh!! and there was Richard Marx, and Rick Price, and Jars of Clay, and Steven Curtis Chapman and etc… all in the box!! and that box brought me all the way back to 1999! oh sweet memories!!

the treasure box

guess which one i chose to listen to first? of course it’s Rick Price, don’t even have to think. *sheepish* and as i drove the short way to pick up Arielle from school, i can’t begin to describe the nostalgic feeling i was having; was somewhat high or perhaps it’s just mr blue-eyes’ voice ****melts****

mr blue eyes in cassette form

Choc Lava Muffins

just saying the name makes me drool – LOL!

i’m not an expert on baking but i can really vouch that this recipe is the easiest ever! it has NO EGGS and no need for mixer.

Pei Chyi gave me the recipe from joyofbaking. Makes for 12 big muffins, here goes:

1 1/2 cups all purpose FLOUR

1 cup granulated white SUGAR

1/4 cup unsweetened COCOA POWDER, sifted

1 teaspoon BAKING POWDER

1 teaspoon BAKING SODA

1/4 teaspoon SALT

1/3 cup unsalted BUTTER, melted

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon lemon juice (or vinegar) – i ‘optioned’ this out as i didn’t have any on hand

1 teaspoon pure VANILLA extract

Dark choc Kisses/just any chocolate of your preferance

1. Preheat the oven to 180*C.

2. Mix all dry ingredients together and stir.

3. Mix all wet ingredients together and stir.

4. Mix dry and wet ingredients together and stir till well blended.

5. Prep the papercups in the muffin tray. Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter into the papercups and (this is the part that makes the cake delish!) then, put 1 chocolate kiss in the middle of the cup, and spoon some more batter till it’s 3/4 full.

6. When all is done, bake for 20mins in pre-heated oven or till the cake springs back when lightly pressed. i try inserting a toothpick into the cake to check.

it’s so easy, i kinda love making it more than eating it!

** me so proud **

HAPPY BAKING!! 

2011 already!

wow!! it’s already July and i’ve not posted anything for year 2011 as yet! last i checked it was still January. since i’m more relaxed today, which is sooo unusual, thought i’d take this time to quickly write some updates. (also because i was reminded by Claire G when she talked about her new blog that mine’s growing molds now )

my status was changed from SAHM to WAHM (Working At Home Mom) after CNY thanks to a good buddy who was willing to hire me to work online at home as a Customer Service for the company she’s managing. i started right after the hols, and so far, the pay has brought about a whole lot of difference to our monthly budget – in all things, He knows and He provides.

work is easy peasy, just a matter of time – what with housework, cooking and baby-sitting. the last one taking the most of my time. so when the kids nap in the afternoon, that’s my official worktime. and ever since Arielle started going to pre-school (8am – 12pm), i’ve had more quality time with Ashton during the morning hours, and sometimes read a chapter of a book before he gets up. THIS is luxury!!

Ayl has left the Sony family and joined Digi (communications company) in mid-May. he’s had to travel to Shah Alam everyday which makes 2hours of travelling to and fro every working day. sometimes, he gets home only at 8pm and that meant, more time for me with the kids… wwweeeee…. [note the sarcasm].

will write more when i’ve got more interesting things to post other than the boring everyday housewife blabber; though i do wonder if there ever will be anything more exciting than watching Ashton drool *sighs* till then…