Just so you know...

My uncle

2012-01-29T22:59:00.001+08:00

He died
I cried
Devastated

When death comes, it reminds me of how short life is. 10, 20 years can pass by with a blink of an eye. But we tend to forget that age matters and most of the time, only think about our own selfish needs... Family matters.

Roadtrip

2012-01-27T10:10:00.001+08:00

To Ipoh

When we start working...

2012-01-24T23:33:00.001+08:00

Make-up seems to be the one thing thats vital when we enter the working world. They say first impression makes a lasting one.

At Harrods in UK, the first thing they insist upon is make-up everyday at work if not you will not be hired.

Being a student, it isnt a must to have make up unless you want to be vain. I never saw the purpose on
Splurging on cosmetics. It is expensive. My money was always used on books, electronics and food. I'd really rather spend on food;) But opportunity came to spend some of my 'highest' income earned when i worked for boots.. Furthermore, i get a discount shopping at boots, so it was an even better opportunity to buy expensive stuff like cosmetics.... Shopped i did...

Few days back i took out my 'toys' and played with it. The pic shows one eye bigger than the other, if u look closely. Its because one eye had full eye liner while the other was half oO ... After all, i was just experimenting:) definitely looked different n better whatmore with iphone apps picture effects..

Make up were from estee lauder, clarins and bare mineral.. Some were given to me for free back when i was in USA...

Yee sang, cny

2012-01-21T11:59:00.001+08:00

I had my first plate of yee sang while getting my nails done. I am craving for more:)

Fukuya, Japanese restaurant

2012-01-20T11:17:00.001+08:00

Fukuya is one of the higher end jpanese restaurant. Stepping into the restaurant's compound feels different than other places. It has a resort-like feeling to it. I did not take any pictures of the surroundings as I went there for dinner.

We sat in a private room.

Fukuya was the place where I had my first taste of fish sperm. It was definitely an experience I do not think I will crave for again.

We also had hamachi, yellowtail. The one I had in USA wad better.

Of course, what makes this restaurant stand out is the generous portion of sashimi and it tastes really fresh. We had an assorted basket of sashimi which was tastefully decorated. Tuna, salmon, toro, white fish and uni were the sashimi served.

Another must try was their roll, which was unagi with cili padi inside. Thankfully, I have the habit of reading food reviews before going to a restaurant. Hence, I was prepared for this cili padi roll. The cili padi was too much till it made one of the male diner walk out of the room, tearing. So, becarefully with this roll. It did taste good.

We had some other dishes like fried ebi and shrimp tempura, which I think Octopus restaurant does better.

For dessert, I had this japanese
Melon. Tasted like honey dew. A few other diners ordered sesame ice cream, green tea and raspberry ice cream. I had a taste of the raspberry ice cream, and it tasted like heaven. It was simply irrisistable that I had to place one order for myself. So, two desserts for the night.

All in all, the dining experience was fantastic. It is priced above average, but definitely should go there at least once.

3.18am

2012-01-17T03:21:00.001+08:00

The effects of drinking chinese tea during dinner = INSOMNIA

This happened so many times already, but how can I resist not having cupS of chinese tea with my dinner...

Bah, I don't even need to try coffee...

New Year Resolution: No drinking chinese tea after 4pm

Golden Globes 2012

2012-01-16T23:13:00.001+08:00

Vavavoom lol.. This time round, the theme for the Golden Globes was bridal gowns... N they all looked amazing!

My top two favourites would be Nicole Kidman's and Angelina Jolie's dress.
Brad pitt n angelina looked like Ken n Barbie ;)

Heres the link to the other trend setters for the night: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2087278/Golden-Globes-2012-dresses-You-dont-married-wear-wedding-dress--bridal-chic-hottest-red-carpet-trend.html

Its never too early to plan your wedding dress design.... :)

Bento sets @ Octopus Sushi & Thai, Festival City

2012-01-10T08:55:00.001+08:00

There is a new mall in town. Its located at Jalan Genting Klang, Setapak. It is called Festival City. Eversince it opened, i looked forward to going to this mall everytime because:
1) parking is cheaper than KLCC, Pavillion, Sungei Wang...
2) it is nearer to my house compared to KLCC, Pavillion, Times Square
3) things are much more affordable in festival city ie: a decent place for the middle class people ie: no gucci, prada, etc here
4) no worries about TRAFFIC JAM
5) finally, theres plenty to do here. Theres MBO cinemas opening soon, and really good choices of restaurants to dine.....

I just had a bento set in Octopus. This restaurant beats sushi teh, sushi zanmai and sakae sushi BIG TIME! I have been patronising Octopus since it started in Ampang Point. They have been recently opening branches elsewhere. As with many of the restaurants that became franchises, food quality deteriorates... Fortunately, Octopus still maintains its quality and service.

The first bento i had was tempura and soft shell crab bento box. The bento box comes with salad, tempura, soft shell crab roll, soba and chawanmushi. The chawanmushi was good. It had prawn, mushroom, crabstick n meat inside.
On my next visit, I had the bento with dragon roll, and the third time with unagi roll.... I am enjoying every meal there.. Comes with a free drink too!

Octopus sushi n thai restuarant, Festival City mall

2012-01-08T14:27:00.001+08:00

Sitting at the sushi bar in Octopus while drooling at the amazing sushi. No more sushi zanmai and sakae sushi for me. I highly recommend Octopus sushi....

Dragon year

2012-01-08T12:25:00.001+08:00

Ushering the year of the dragon at klcc

Fish sperm

2012-01-04T13:38:00.001+08:00

I had fish sperms for dinner at a japanese restaurant in kl. Its not something everyone gets to eat lol

One bite of the chunk of sperms causes milky juice to squirt out and it has this gooey, slimey texture on the inside but a bit rubbery on the outside...

I know sup turpedo made of bull's penis are good for men, but i have no idea about fish sperms.

The Malaysian loo

2012-01-03T21:23:00.001+08:00

Malaysian loos are famous for being wet.... Very very wet till sometimes it floods.. Last time it happens in every loo, but now times have changed, probably due to plenty of complaints over the years.. So, now in most malls, there will be a cleaning lady holding a mop, waiting, watching eaching cubicle to make sure the loo floor is always dry. There are also some malls that dont put hose in their cubicles. I also love the malls which have queuing system in the loos...

There's a new toilet trend now in malls. They put up signs on each cubicle door to indicate what kind of toilet seat it is aka squatting or sitting... That saves us ladies at least a few seconds in the toilet so we dont have to keep on opening every cubicle door to find our preferred toilet seat. Also, ang mohs who have never seen squatting toilet before will not be so shocked when seeing one in this country anymore. My american cousins once entered a squatting cubicle and ended up rushing out while laughing, asking me how to use it!

Hooray for toilet improvements in this country...at least in sooomee places~~

Rain scene

2011-12-28T17:00:00.001+08:00

When i came home today, i looked out my window and saw this:

Rain on one side and clear skies on the other....

After a few more minutes, the rain subsided...

Its not everyday i get to see that. Its like a tale of two cities...

Hahaha

2011-12-27T22:45:00.001+08:00

Me in a costume for a play, back in standard 1.

Preoccupied

2011-12-25T05:13:00.001+08:00

A switch in my head just clicked and i realised how preoccupied i was with one thing and completely neglected things i used to enjoy doing, like taking pictures...

Sometimes focussing on only one thing brings dire consequences. Maybe it was the interest and the desire to make it work, blossom and bloom. But, after months, dissapointment still seeps through, dejected, the feeling of not being stable, just brings me down. The hype is dwindling.

I look back at the past few months, yes, i was preoccupied. Silly me to put aside everything that was me. I'm slowly bringing myself back while that one distraction fades away.

CNY is coming!!! I am happy to see many people smiling while chomping on my homemade peanut cookies.. It is peanuty and melts in your mouth!

Phone love

2011-11-17T00:05:00.000+08:00

Nokia lumia 800 in pink is hubba hubba;)
Shoo iphone..

Swimming

2011-11-09T01:36:00.000+08:00

Swimming makes me a happier person.
I have finally found the strength to head to the gym but after 30minutes of threadmill running, i did not feel satisfied.
But, 25laps in the pool made be a jolly person for the rest of the day.
Looks like water is my thing....

Free gym n huge pool n new mix of ppl.... I have entered a whole new world!

I will(must) get around to update more often. Unfortunately, Iphone blogger doesnt allow photo uploads. Whats a blog without photosss...

Massage

2011-10-16T21:59:00.000+08:00

What i need right now is a good massage. Would love one from Clarins...

What is this year about for me?
A year of new adventures.
A year where i don't need negativity.
A year where the family comes closer together than ever before.

You know its really best to ask the source rather than make your own assumptions and judgements. Rumours are easily made, and the stupid will listen.

Pica

2011-09-27T08:05:00.000+08:00

Pica, a disorder characterised by an appetite for non-nutritive substances such as rocks, sticks, bricks, house plants or light bulbs.

Recently it has been reported that a three year old girl has this disorder.

While her favourite delicacies are rocks and sticks, Natalie has been known to wolf down almost a whole brick, 'like it was a chocolate chip cookie'.

Her mother Colleen, 31, says every day is a constant battle of wills as she tries to stop her daughter eating something that could kill her.

Colleen said: 'She doesn't try to eat glass so much since it hurt her, but she will try and eat rocks and sticks she finds in the garden.

'I have had to call this poison helpline so many times that it's on my speed dial. You name it Natty's tried to eat it.

Scotland's healthcare

2011-08-18T19:34:00.001+08:00

I just came back from the GP. The last time I visited the GP was in January. I worked in England for two months and piled up all my ailments because I was unwilling to pay 7.40pounds per prescription there. When I came back to Glasgow, I delayed going to the GP because I was reluctant to pay 3 pounds for prescription. Today, the GP told me that everyone in Scotland gets free prescriptions starting March 2011. That was amazing news. My jaw dropped. Medications are FREE! It got me thinking about the recent amount of cough medicines I bought from Boots, I could have gotten it for free by seeing a GP here.... Hmm, I don't think everyone knew about the change in policy. From paying 3pounds to ZERO pounds. And we have the people in England fuming even more because they pay high tax and higher prescription charges... Very encouraging for people to see their GP more than a pharmacist.

What else is fantastic about Glasgow in August:
I have an awesome view from my room window!
The weather has been fantastic! Even better than rainy England..
Lastly, George Square and the surrounding is being transformed into Philly for two weeks because....
BRAD PITT is in Glasgow filming a movie less than 10mins from where I stay!!

Happiness

2011-08-07T03:00:00.000+08:00

is when at first you worry that your luggage weighs more than 20kg,
but it isn't after you've weighed it :)

Goodies!

2011-08-02T05:03:00.002+08:00

A gift for being nice...

I can't help but gush about Benefit's lip gloss. Once applied, it gives a tingly minty feeling! I've been using it for four years now :)

Elizabeth Arden's goodies.........allows a female to play make-up...

Cosmetics changes looks

The Elizabeth Arden goodie bag given to me by my colleague

Definitely a day worth smiling for!

American Idiot

2011-08-01T08:26:00.000+08:00

Below is a fav performance by American Idiot. Phenomenal!

Heading to Bristol again :):)
South West England is the best place to be everrr!

U r the nicest thing....

2011-07-27T04:43:00.000+08:00

Besotted

2011-07-21T02:51:00.000+08:00

Grins like a besotted female because you just can't help it...

Out on a gorgeous weather in WSM

Elderly

2011-07-20T07:55:00.000+08:00

I might think I know the world, yet, there is an entirely different part of life I see here. Back home, I've done charity for the hospice children, children with HIV, abused children and orphans. To think that the sufferings of children was the worst thing ever, I was wrong.
BEING OLD is the worst thing ever.
Being old AND lonely is as good as death.

You know what I see on a daily basis?
The elderly on their disable machines, some with jittery hands trying their best to grip the pen to sign their prescription, some with Parkisons, some with dementia, some with poor eye sight..... and so much more.

- A 63 year old male patient with back pain in need of a heat rub:
"Sir, do you have anyone to apply the ointment onto your back?"
"No, I live alone." He already uses two walking sticks to walk.

- An elderly man with hearing disability wanting to collect his Rx:
"Sir, may I have your surname please?"
"WHAT! I don't want any cream!"
He yells at me and gets a burst of laughter from the other customers behind him who did not see his hearing aid.

- Yesterday, I had an interesting encounter. A lady in her sixties came to the pharmacy to collect her Rx. After that, my colleague told me to walk her to Mark's and Spencers which was situated opposite my pharmacy. It usually takes a couple of minutes to get to M & S, but with this lady, it took a good 10 minutes.

Every step she made, she paused suddenly when she sensed someone else was nearby.
"Hold onto me, dear and don't let go. Other people walk too fast and I am afraid they will knock me down"

One time, there was a slide bump on the street and she panicked.
"No, No, I am very afraid to walk on it" And she pulls me to a dustbin, puts just one finger on it and say, "There, you see, I just need to put one finger here for balance, and I am fine to cross."

I had a chance to have a little chat with her while on this 'trip'.
"Do you have family here, maam?"
"No, I live alone here. That's why I go to M&S because they know me and will take care of me until my taxi arrives to go home." She continues, "I have friends in Weston, but it is not nice to bother them."

After the past 5 weeks of working, I just feel that the elderly were definitely more fragile than the unfortunate children. Also, two is better than one. Your partner may have jittery hands or stutter when he speaks, but at least he knows there is always someone standing next to him to help.

I must say, What an experience!

Welcome to Weston-Super-Mare!

Secrets

2011-07-18T05:18:00.000+08:00

Fears
Troubles
Nobody knows
Keep coming back like a Boomerang

I just wish I didn't know

The juggler

2011-07-01T05:24:00.002+08:00

What does a 9-6 job, five days a week do to me?
It makes me too tired to do anything afer that because:
- The feet hurts from standing too much. So all I wanna do is sit.
- After all the dispensing and mind boggling problems to solve, I just want to be brainless after work.
- I couldn't be bothered about what I have been eating. So, adding more kg.
- Question myself when I get home: Did I give the correct drug to the patient? I hope so *prays*

On my days off, I just want to rot at home and do minimal walking.

Thats why there seems to be a lack of photos.
I haven't brought out my camera once to take pictures of this place eventhough I have been here for a month already.

On a brighter note,
Pictures will start popping real soon...like in two weeks time....
The job needs stamina, but its really like being in heaven, working with angels to shoot arrows at the earthlings to give them life... well, at least a longer life to live XD

Im only a student. Looking at the real pharmacist working, time will never be enough to finish everything daily because the pharmacist is needed at the front counter, the dispensary, the admin work, the shop floor, the private consultations, the services, CD reg, stock check.... n so on...

In conclusion, the right answer to this question will be:
Why do you want to be a pharmacist?

Because I am a professional multitasker :)

Baby me

2011-06-22T02:40:00.000+08:00

I was always the fat one AND chubby, with sugarcane arms.

Also the first to get bitten by mosquitoes... up till now.

Good thing is: I haven't lost the smile :D

Marry you/ I want you

2011-06-19T04:12:00.007+08:00

From him:

To him:

The Twang

2011-06-18T05:50:00.001+08:00

My tutor, the pharmacist tells me, "You occasionally have a Scottish twang when you speak."

I must say, my accent is completely Rojak now.. A little bit American due to the months spent there, Malaysian, Scottish and now, British - the west side.
Jumbled indeed!

First week at Boots was an eye-opening experience. It was definitely a lifetime opportunity to work with them and to learn things I would never learn if I were return to my homeland. A bonus for me would be the two pharmacist in charge, the dispensers and healthcare assistants, who were really dedicated to their job and passionate about helping others.

One thing though:
I used to work in a restaurant 7 days a week and I swore I would never want to be a waitress ever again as I don't see myself standing on my feet for the entire day FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. Lol behold, I am entering a profession where standing is the only way to get the job done!

The four modules to qualify as a home carer

The cert I received from passing the test

Maybe one week is too early to say much, but so far I AM SATISFIED :)

Whats up next week:
The first e-test, Having to read up on all the inhalers as I'm going to counsel patients on how to use it, and more dispensing.

I'm living the dream

2011-06-14T03:27:00.000+08:00

The end of the first week in WSM, Somerset. I'm loving it.

Today marks the first day I am a Boots employee. I travelled two hours to reach the Boots Divisional Office in Bristol. It was a 10am till 4pm training session. We get paid for attending training! My division had two very enthusiastic male staff, giving us training tips n introducing us to the world of Boots! Aim: To make us Legendary Pharmacists!

I was told it was boring. But, NO, it was FANTASTIC! I learned so much that I look forward to start work and can't wait for the 8th week to meet up with my fellow West division people again. In addition to that, there was free flow of hot chocolate, coffee and tea and there were brunch, lunch and tea breaks which allowed us time to mingle with the other West division students. Majority of them were from Bath Uni. We also had plenty of group discussions and presentations during the day.

S.T.E.Ps to impress:

Smile
Tone of voice
Eye contact
Posture

Smiling has not been a problem of late. Everyone around me has been helpful from the bus driver to the train ticket counter lady to the passengers to the housemates and even to the people on the streets. I love it MUCH more than Glasgow.

Day one at the pharmacy begins tomorrow. The staff and my tutor were lovely when I dropped by to say hi.

A good reason to get a Mac

2011-06-02T04:51:00.000+08:00

READ

World's Greatest Dad

2011-05-28T06:43:00.000+08:00

This movie came out in Aug'09. I had it in my ext hard drive for so long but only watched it today. Great movie and nice soundtracks.

Bullseye

2011-05-26T06:43:00.000+08:00

Astrology at its best!

Heave

2011-05-23T05:41:00.000+08:00

You don't get do-overs in life. You just have to move forward..

Starbucks 50% off

2011-05-14T09:23:00.003+08:00

If you haven't already heard, Starbucks is currently having 50% off for their drinks. It is a pretty good deal for people who can't afford Starbucks as it is a luxury to many. I heard the offer was worldwide!

It was my first time patronising the Starbucks in Glasgow. I've been to Starbucks in USA, Malaysia, and now, Glasgow. They are all similar be it the interior or the aromatic smell of coffee surrounding the place once the front door opens.

The Starbucks logo is the same everywhere but with one exception being a Starbucks in Seattle. Seattle has plenty of Starbucks. But, this particular one stands out as it had a different logo and it was always packed with plenty of visitors. If you haven't heard the story, well, its because Starbucks originated from Seattle and that particular store was the first Starbucks ever.

Me in front of the first ever Starbucks in Seattle.
Look at the crowd (lining up till outside) and the different Starbucks logo behind.

I do not drink coffee. So, I'd usually order a hot chocolate or ice blended chocolate and top it up with a biscotti. Starbucks biscottis are the best!

Well, a first visit to a Starbucks in Glasgow is definitely something blogable :)

12th of May: Nanakusa, Yates - Food for thought

2011-05-14T02:50:00.001+08:00

When exams end, the cravings kicks in.
My hands were also itching and tingling to cook something since exams forbid me from enhancing my cullinary skills.

Egg tarts! Homemade! 5th try! I think I have perfected it!

After spreading the egg tart love around, a bunch of us headed out for lunch at Nanakusa, a japanese restaurant. Being deprived from Japanese food for 9 months made a spoon of rice at Nanakusa, tasted like heaven. We all had the lunch sets. Although the portions were small, it was definitely worth while to drown my tastebuds with Japanese food. Everything tasted good!

Edamame, Sashimi, Sushi, Maki

Katsu

Karaage

Salad

Yakitori

Tempura

Like I mentioned earlier, it was a day to indulge! So, after lunch, we headed to Yates for some desserts. It was "Buy 2 for the price of 1". We had four plates of desserts. Three out of four were sinfully rich with chocolate. Delicious, nonetheless.

Caramel Chocolate pudding

Rocky Road Choclate cheesecake

Warm Chocolate brownie + ice cream

Warm chocolate melt + Ice cream

The aftermath of being sugar high:-

After Yates, the next stop was home to prepare dinner.

Filling chef: GC; Wrapping chef: GC + Alex; Fryer: Amy .. FRIED TO PERFECTION!

Alex made sambal dried prawns, while I made sambal ikan bilis.

Fried anchovies

My version of sambal ikan bilis

Alex's creation: Sambal dried prawn

My dinner for the night besides samosa and sambal:

Honey chicken and vege

The one bowl of uber spicy Alex's sambal was finished by mostly by him and Amy.

a huge bowl of sambal

samosa topped with sambal dried prawns

After much chatter with the lovely bunch, we were suppose to watch ANTM. Unfortunately, it wasn't loaded online. With plenty of free time, Choo Wei and Alex decided to make oatmeal raisin cookies. So, cookies for supper :)

Oh, what a day.

We craved,
We indulged,
We satisfied.... the tummy =D

1.10am!

2011-05-12T08:10:00.000+08:00

I am still awake....
Yesterday, after the second paper was completed, all I needed was a bed to lie on because it was rather draining. I figured after the third paper today, I should be dead tired. Alas, it didn't happen as expected!
After the exam, I was chatting with some lovely bunch of people, then headed to Tesco for a wee shopping (wasn't suppose to be wee, but there really wasn't much to buy!).

By the time I came home from Tesco, it was dinner time.

I then decided to look through the bunch of movies that my bro saved into my hard disk like two years ago! Had a Speed Movie-thon. Loved the fast forwarding button. 4 movies in 2 hours!

Now its 1.10am.
What happens at 1.10am?

I. GET. HUNGRY.

Homemade Honey chicken

I cooked 2 pieces of honey chicken during dinnertime n it was actually suppose to be eaten tmr. Irresistable :) It was fab that I craved for more.. n there is one more piece in the fridge... but i must refrain myself

..... and after a satisfied tummy comes the sleepiness.... Great way to start off a holiday eh ;)

Whats the word

2011-05-06T20:39:00.001+08:00

Ain't sunny no more.
Gone were those sunny days.
Now it pours and gloomy skies are ahead.

3 days to go till D day.
6 days to go till the End of it.

I need "Something Borrowed" ;)

Hunks in it makes me yearn for it even more!

Question: What happened to the dream?
Perceptions change over time. The grass always looks greener on the other end.
But after listening to this song, I still heart this one special place where memories were everlasting~~

Whats the word? PERSEVERE

The stench

2011-05-01T08:21:00.000+08:00

Luxembourg has a vast amount of farmland and about 1500 farmers. So, there were plenty of sheeps, cows, and pigs. I learnt a lot about being a farmer when I was in Luxembourg. A couple of things I never knew till then:
1. There is such a thing as Farmer's School (high school for kids who want to be farmers) - A four year course.
2. A lot of mental work is required because its a business - A farmer has an office full of files and paperwork to be done.
3. They have to be wary of pests like mice and foxes.
4. A farmer's job is a full time job. Its not a 9-5 job where they can take off on the weekends.
5. They hope for rain everytime so their crops will grow.

Since Luxembourg has plenty of farms, when the wind blows, some areas of Luxembourg smells bad. The bad smell is due to the pigs fart. Most farms have 200 pigs or much more.

Irony:
I tell the farmer I can't stand the smell of the countryside due to the pigs.
He tells me he can't stand living in the city because its smelly.

The locals were immune to the stench too!
"Can you smell that?"
"Huh? What smell. I don't smell anything"

XD

445th Post

2011-04-29T04:20:00.002+08:00

Means the previous post was the 444th post -Like a curse!

But all is still well...
Sometimes when Im having the worst moments ever, then things suddenly take a turn of events....
Life is like a yo-yo!

I received an airflight itenary through email and the agent said:
"Please print and fly"

LOL

On another note, Ms. Felice, my pp3 lecturer is always so cheerful.. The Energiser Bunny I like :)
She always uses words like "Brilliant!" "Fab!" "Good!" "Well done!"

Spot the Energiser Bunny :)

Just what every student needs to hear~~

Ducking the Limelight

2011-04-27T18:59:00.001+08:00

I can't help but gush at how cute and adorable these ducklings look!

According to the ARTICLE these ducks were only three years old and the photographer attempted to line them up in a row to take a 'family photoshoot'. But, one duck decided to avoid the 'limelight'. So, just as the photo was about to be taken, the duck turns his back to the camera! It ended up with a picture, which in my opinion, was special!

Then, that particular duck decided to move along the branch and ended up toppling his other siblings....

I soooo wanna have a chance to capture moments like that!! :)

Strength

2011-04-27T17:18:00.000+08:00

We laugh, We cry. We share. We love.

Regardless of the obstacles we face
No matter what lies ahead,
You will ALWAYS have me backing you all the way.

Cinemagraphs

2011-04-27T05:18:00.000+08:00

Photography is amazing when you can capture HUGE WAVES.

But it is fantastic to be able to create a new kind of photograph - The one that moves!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

and HERE!

Gee

2011-04-27T01:53:00.000+08:00

Going DOWNnnnnnn..

Needs a bucket load of ice cream to Cheer me UP!

Ten rules for a Happy Ever After

2011-04-24T17:04:00.000+08:00

Sometimes we know whats right, but there are times we lose ourselves and get a little side-tracked. Here's a little help: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1378115/Relationships--Ten-rules-happy-after.html

Picnic on Easter Day!

2011-04-23T21:54:00.000+08:00

A bunch of us headed outside on Easter day for a picnic. It was a glorious weather with some occasional wind.

One of the laughable moment was during the jump shot. There were a few who told me not to jump so near the slope for fear I might go tumbling down. Alas, it wasn't me who did a 'Jack n Jill", but my pretty white sandals! The camera caught the moment my sandal was off. Definitely had a good laugh and thanks to Alex who sacrificed his neck and bones to roll down the slope to retrieve back my sandal ;)

Now you see it...

Now you don't!

Choice of food prepared by the chefs were two thumbs up!

Too many photos taken.....:)

Lastly, every Malaysian needs to end the day with photoshoots. The posers:

Uninvited creatures

2011-04-23T16:27:00.002+08:00

Spring is here and so the bugs come out to play. Not exactly ideal for me living here, in a room which depends on the outside air to cool the fan-less room. Hence, it is necessary to open the room window if not I will be almost baking inside.
I've had a bee coming into my room, spider, a ladybug and other tiny insects.
The bee comes in, I run out.
The ladybug comes in, I let it crawl on a piece of paper and I fling the bug outside the window *too cute to kill*
The creepy crawly bug, I cover it with a container n let it suffocate to death.
Yesterday, there was a spider dangling right in front of my nose! The only way was to squish it to death ASAP before it ran away.

Today, there was an insect on the window, I didn't want to squash anymore insects which would result in a messy murder scene. So, I had a prescription label, which is a sticker, so its sticky. I just lightly pressed the sticky part onto the insect. Voila~~ It gets stuck on the sticker, I don't need to kill it. I just dump it into the bin and yea, it will die there but no mess in my room!

MY MORNING CATCH: Say Hello to the little thing.

Soldiers

2011-04-22T02:55:00.002+08:00

The Royal Wedding is coming soon. The heat is on. The weather is hot too. So, when a soldier on duty faints, it should be done like this:

I also READ they are not allowed toilet breaks. So if they need to pee, they would have to pee in their pants and their wool trousers would at least camouflage it... Interesting~~

Energy saving lightbulbs

2011-04-21T05:09:00.001+08:00

Knowing too much is REALLY not nice. It leads to paronoia. The last time was about 'freshly' baked bread, which made me stop buying those kind of bread. Doughnuts don't seem so appealing anymore.. Now its about energy saving light bulbs!

It is said to emit cancer causing chemicals and it should not be kept near to the head or used for long hours. I look at my table lamp, the bulb shining oh so brightly.. it looked like an energy saving lightbulb... it could be... I should go ask the village office tmr... Should I turn off the lamp now and not use it till I confirm it doesn't cause cancer?

OMG... its always definitely near my head because I use it for studying.

These lightbulbs emit Mercury if broken and when it is switched on, it releases carcinogenic chemicals....

The report on German television forced the country’s environmental protection agency to issue a warning against 'public hysteria'.

O.o

My Blonde moment

2011-04-19T20:41:00.003+08:00

I think I have toned down on the food craze. It will come back, not now, but eventually. It's probably just the time factor. So, when I don't think of food, my mind does wander of to something else. Given that the weather is getting better and better, my thoughts drift back to the time when I wore long dangly earrings, ladies shoes, skirts and dresses. I've been so deprived of all these throughout winter. I am awaiting the perfect weather to ditch the long pants, sports shoes and t-shirts - things that don't make me feel female enough. I was recently in H & M in Germany and I was told by my aunt to pick any clothes I want. The only thing I had eyes on were dresses and skirts! I did get one dress in the end:) Shopping websites are currently filled with wonderful colours and clothes designs for spring.

On another note, summer is almost here! I'm looking forward to know what England's seaside has to offer while earning there. I'm also going to have to 'tune my ears' again to get use to British English.

Stirling

2011-04-19T01:35:00.000+08:00

My spirits have been high recently. Maybe its due to the weather or maybe the trip to Luxembourg was rejuvenating or meh-be something else ;) Anyway... Stirling trip this Wednesday takes about 1 hour. Its a hospital visit to the Stirling Royal Infirmary. I was told the visit was till 1pm. I'm thinking I should not waste the money I spend getting there by leaving Stirling so early. Should explore at least the town a bit.... But then again, its not to say I'm having ANY free time to waste.... But then again.. I should make use of this trip which cost 11pounds.. Explore, then I can say I have been to Stirling, never go back there again, n move on to another part of UK... I.M.NOT.THAT.FREE...........................:(

Headaches

2011-04-16T06:53:00.001+08:00

The past was great
The present sucks
The future, so uncertain
But, one moment of success makes the past, present and future worth the struggle.

:)

IBS

2011-04-12T16:15:00.000+08:00

Found an article that was pretty informative on IBS.
IBS article

Happiness..

2011-04-09T06:52:00.000+08:00

is when I get to do everything I have wanted to...

Darts tomorrow :)

Historischer Keller Restaurant

2011-04-07T21:07:00.000+08:00

On Day 1, I had my first lunch in Trier Germany in a restaurant serving German food. Im letting the pics do the talking this time.

A moose

Plenty of wildboar heads hanging around the restaurant given that their specialty was wildboar meat

The specials which I cant read but I think I order the first special on the list

The name of the restaurant

The drink I was recommended to try - apple soda

meet my aunt and uncle - the cheerful duo

My meal - wildboar meat with white asparagus and fried mashed potatoes covered with white sauce. it was delicious.

My aunt had salad

Fish and chips

Rice with bolognaise chicken

The interior of the restaurant

My cousin

its customary for European ppl to have a cup of coffee after their meal.

Their theory for drinking cofee was so that the caffeine kicks in and they dont feel so sleepy after lunch.

McD

2011-04-07T04:23:00.003+08:00

McDonalds is still called McDonalds regardless of which part of the world we are in :)

McRibs found in Trier, Germany. A favourite of many people here.

Mouth-watering pork ribs from McDonalds in Trier, Germany and they eat their french fries with Mayonaise

Trier, Germany - The area

2011-04-07T00:36:00.006+08:00

I was brought to Trier in Germany after arriving at Luxembourg. Trier is an older part of Germany. It was a 30minute drive from Luxembourg Airport. It has a University located so high up in the mountains that the people up there hardly needed to travel to other areas as it was like their own little town up there.

I was told that Trier was a shopping haven for most from Luxembourg and surrounding areas as there were plenty to buy and most importantly, reasonably priced. I visited this historic building called Porta Nigra.

Porta Nigra behind me

We also went on a train ride tour around Trier. I fell asleep while sitting in the train as it was really hot. Also, the tour guide was repating everything in three languages - German, Dutch and English. The English explanation was last, so yea.. I had a good nap. Took some pictures which were n ot very good given that the train had really horrible glass windows...

Dictionary required

2011-04-06T16:21:00.000+08:00

Currently in a place where English is not their first nor secod nor third language....
It felt awkward to be the one having to wear the headphones to get everything translated to english.

Also, everything sold on the shelves were not written in english too. Its always either french, luxemburgish, german or sometimes dutch. Needed help choosing a cleanser and buying groceries XD

Went to a milk/cheese/butter/yoghurt making factory and was back to wearing labcoats ;)

Conned by bread

2011-03-28T05:46:00.000+08:00

So, the time changed today - moved one hour forward, meaning I need to adjust my body clock by an hour too... which to me, doesnt make much difference during the night since I've been having horrible sleeping patterns. But yea, it'll be a struggle to wake up for lectures :p Good thing theres only two hours of lectures next week and its the end of semster not including the exams.

The time change makes the sky really bright at 6pm. It was still bright at 8pm! In a way thats good so I can still head to the bus station at 8pm to take 'a journey worth a lifetime' *beams*:):):)

Anyway, the whole purpose of todays post was to share about BREAD sold in supermarket bakery sections. You know sometimes when you are almost at the bakery section (well, sometimes even further), you get to smell the nice aroma of freshly baked bread, cravings for something warm, soft and fluffy comes to mind. So, you quicken your footsteps, push your trolly cart a little faster towards the bakery section in hopes of getting the freshest of the freshest bread/bun that was still steaming hot in its pack.

Alas, like the saying goes, "Sometimes knowing too much is not really a good thing." I read THIS! and it says that usually most of the 'freshly baked bread' were actually kept frozen beforehand and it can be kept that way for a year! The 'fresh warm bread' were actually defrosted food!

It states:

It revealed that ‘fresh’ food had often been heat-treated, part frozen, industrially or chemically altered and stored for weeks on end.
Another large supermarket supplier, Délifrance, which sells French-style baked products, offers thaw-and-serve rustic baguettes, ciabatta loaves, farmhouse rolls, multi-seed buns, cupcakes and croissants. Fresh baked? A freeze and serve policy has been described as a 'con trick' - and consumers have no way of knowing which products really are fresh. These can be stored for months before being defrosted and offered for sale without even being reheated.
One of the company's representatives told an undercover reporter that its thaw-and-serve bakery products had a ‘year's shelf life at frozen, but once defrosted [are] best eaten within a day’.

Well at least it now explains why the expiry date for the doughnuts in Sainsbury were always the next day.

Time and tide waits for no man

2011-03-23T08:07:00.002+08:00

I spent the day trying to check off as many things I could from my to-do list.
I'm happy everything went as planned today.
Sometimes there are so many things to do that I don't know where to start. The lingering uncertainty that I might NOT be able to meet the deadline feels like I'm hanging by a thread. It also feels like its 'neither here nor there'... where I don't want to move on to something else because another item on the list feels more important.. but then again everything is urgently awaiting my attention.. n so... Same priorities in High Demand... whichever way I number the task, it still needs to be done by the deadline....
To solve the problem: I made a list and check it off one by one..
Oh, the joy of seeing the list become shorter *clap, clap*

so glad to get this over with~~

Fire Art

2011-03-22T20:34:00.001+08:00

Taking something so commonly used and turning it into an art is IMPRESSIVE!

The artist says, "The fire represents life, while the burnt part of the match is the past, the smoke means memories and the part untouched by fire is the future."

The artist is not only impressive, but also EXPRESSIVE!
SOURCE

Amazing!

Supermoon

2011-03-22T08:34:00.000+08:00

I focused on the moon. Never have I thought I would have such a profound interest with the moon. The moon will always be up in the sky somewhere at night. It is up the EVERY night, so its not a big deal!
19th March 2011 was an exception because it was the night where a moon called Supermoon can be seen.

I went to the city with a bunch of friends in search of the moon! You know when we want to find something, it somehow never turns up that easily... That was what happened when we were searching for the moon.
Our heads were tilted almost 45 degrees towards the sky as we walked along the streets of Glasgow, looking for the Supermoon.

Unfortunately, we didn't find it so we headed back home - dejected ;p

Thankfully for thin bedroom walls, I heard my neighbour from downstairs saying "So big!" in mandarin... :)
It did take me awhile to comprehend what she meant... I looked out my window and lol behold, the moon was shining oh-so round through my bedroom window...

It was around 9pm. We were suppose to see the Supermoon at 7.10pm.

It was a cloudy night and windy night, so the clouds kept on covering the moon

The moon I captured on a Supermoon night

I envy the photographs taken by other people. SOURCE

If only I get another opportunity to search for the Supermoon again... :)

From Fast Food Pharmacy - Re: Potassium Iodide tablets vs radiation

2011-03-21T06:41:00.000+08:00

Attention Public:

Calling the pharmacy and stopping by the pharmacy will not get you potassium iodide tablets. I do not know what you have heard on the news or read on the internet but potassium iodide will not save you from radiation poisoning. I repeat: Potassium Iodide Tablets Will NOT Save You From Radiation Poisoning!

Potassium iodide is only used to protect the thyroid gland. It does not protect anything else on or in you from radiation and its detrimental effects. In severe cases it will not even be enough to protect the thyroid gland so get over it.

The US government has stated that we (in the US) are in no danger from any radiation coming from Japan. However, there can be environmental consequences that would have widespread ramifications mainly involving sea life, shore life, and water supply contamination.

There is no point in getting yourself worked up over any potential nuclear meltdown. Let's not get all "Lord of the Flies" just yet. If it happens, it happens. We as a planet will deal with the consequences.

FYI

2011-03-21T04:23:00.000+08:00

Talent is not born with. Work hard and have that determination and you might achieve the dream you want. Races and religion has no link to talent, it comes from the decisions u make..

Psycho... logy

2011-03-19T17:07:00.000+08:00

"Religious belief refers to a mental state in which faith is placed in a creed related to the supernatural, sacred, or divine" wiki

It so hard when someone tries to overpower you with their beliefs.Trying to mould you to be what they believe in eventhough you have your own belief.

"Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person of other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected"

They've lost it!

Run away......

Feel

2011-03-14T08:00:00.000+08:00

Close up pictures of the tsunami aftermath in Japan...
PICTURES

and the ground still tremors every few hours....

but there seems to be a glimmer of hope of more survivors after THIS

2011-03-13T07:36:00.000+08:00

Japan's tsunami was so massive that more people are updating on it.

"Government officials revealed the fate of 9,500 people in the north eastern port of Minamisanriku was still unknown almost two days after the double disaster hit. The official death toll stands at 574, but more than 1,700 people are believed to have been buried in the rubble or washed away by the waves."

But now, memories of the very recent flood in Queensland, Australia and the earthquake at Christchurch, New Zealand are coming back. Those two countries are still in the midst of 'cleaning' up.

Which country next?

The much talked about tsunami

2011-03-12T20:14:00.003+08:00

Reading the news about the tsunami which occured in Japan is one thing. But seeing the pictures of the wreckage occured made it extremely heart-wrenching. I sit here, look around, and ponder - If it happens here, what would I do?

Pictures of the aftermath of tsunami in Japan: CLICK HERE

Videos of skyscrappers scraping and terrified people: CLICK HERE
All the scenes are so alike to the ones we see in action movies.

The height of waves from the tsunami as it travelled across the Pacific basin

Yesterday, I also read about some astrologers believing that since the moon is at a point on the orbital which is closest to Earth, hence, there is a strong gravitational pull which is bound to cause earthquakes and other natural disasters around the world on March 19, which is a week from now. They call it "Supermoon".

But of course, science researchers are calling it bull on the supermoon theory.

Scientifically, according to Dr Roger Musson, head of seismic hazard at the British Geological Survey, described the quake, of 8.9-magnitude, as a "truly massive event."
He said: "This earthquake happened because the Pacific Plate, one of the largest of the tectonic plates that make up the crust of the Earth, is plunging deep underneath Japan. It's being pushed down and it can't slide down smoothly so it sticks.

It sticks for tens of years then eventually it breaks and moves very suddenly down, buckling and giving the seabed a sudden kick over areas of hundreds of square kilometres. That displaces an enormous volume of water. That water just races away in the form of this enormous wave in all directions."

Looking at the picture below, it looks like there was a chance Malaysia could have been affected.

Same, different

2011-03-06T00:44:00.002+08:00

Back home in KL, it was weekly dose of teh si with kaya butter toast in Oldtown or X amount of teh tarik when studying in IMU's library.

Coming to Glasgow, no such thing has yet to be found here. Even if I found a cup sold here, it would burn a hole in my pocket to have it on a weekly basis.

But then I was introduced to this Sainsbury Chocolate flavoured milk. Creamy, rich, "less than 2% fat *lol*"... It has been something I've bought every fortnight. It goes well on its own or with cereal or with any other meal :)

Different but at the same time same as teh si/teh tarik...

On another thought, does the Scottish accent have anything to do with the wind? Thats why their accent is like the mumbly kind. Wind + Cold = mouth cramps, frozen tongues, dry lips..?

just.a.thought.... since its windy and cold outside now :/

The past

2011-03-02T03:47:00.001+08:00

Photographs are memories worth a million years. I looked back at some of the old photos and the forgotten past became the present again, memories flooding.

There were some photos which I took with people, who were mere acquantaince at first, but now we became closer years later. We became friends. Looking back at the photos made me go, "Oh, I took a picture with you before!"

So, it is sometimes worthwhile to take pictures with strangers... who knows they might 'click' with you in the future.

Same goes with food that I cook.... :P:P

Mussels

2011-02-28T06:25:00.002+08:00

Hello, Spring!
The weather was bright and sunny, lifting everybody's mood and also enticing people to head out just to be under this glorious weather.

This beautiful weather must have also made my regular fishmonger feel generous that he gave me a bag of mussels and two slices of fish fillets for free.

Mussels - I usually have them in restaurants, but never at home. So, I really had no idea what to do with it.
First thing I did when I reached home was to soak it in salt water, thinking it should be similar to lala..
Unfortunately, I was wrong.
I had this nagging feeling that I was doing something wrong and I had flashbacks of stories about people getting food poisoning after eating shellfish. So, I decided to google "How to cook mussels."

I read through three sites and all three stated that:

mussels should be alive when I cook it;
I should not soak the mussels in water because I will DROWN it!!
I'm suppose to knock the mussel's shell and if it opens and close easily, means it is safe to eat. If not, i should throw it away.
I needed to remove 'something hairy' sticking out of the mussels *It was icky*
I needed to scrub the shell to get rid of the other sea creatures that were stuck to it. *I threw a few mussels away because there were some really 'stubborn creatures'*
Any mussels with a cracked shell should be thrown away,

That's like a whole load of things to do. And I now see how there is always a chance of food poisoning when eating mussels in restaurants. Gotta be careful!

Oh, I actually don't know if my mussels were alive. I knocked it hard, but none of the mussels opened.....
So, I just dunked the scrubbed ones into hot boiling water... *I didn't hear any squeal like how live crabs do* After a few minutes, all the mussels opened up.... And I could feel my salivary glands producing more saliva in my mouth ;9

I made garlic butter mussels.
The mussels tasted really good. I could really tell the difference between those found in supermarkets and these ones. Its softer, juicier and very much less rubbery.

So, the last two rules of cooking mussels were:

Boil till the shell opens. Throw the closed ones away.
Do not boil too long if not it will be too rubbery

Too much of prep work to do for these mussels till I don't think I'd ever purposely buy them eventhough famous chefs say its the best thing to eat as it is fast to cook and absorbs flavours well.

On the bright side, I do love trying out new dishes to cook and watching people enjoy it too :)

One more benefit of doing stuff in the kitchn during spring - I get to wash dishes, look out the kitchen window, and see this:

Hello, spring again!

Pfft

2011-02-20T22:30:00.000+08:00

The daily mail wrote our Agung's name wrongly! They called him Yang Di. lol

They probably thought his full name was Yang Dipertuan Agung.....! Oh well, our Agung did get invited to Prince William and Kate's royal wedding :)

Coloured people

2011-02-20T04:14:00.002+08:00

A black man walks into a cafe one early morning and noticed that he was the only black man there. As he sat down, he noticed a white man behind him. The white man said, "Colored people are not allowed here." The black man turned around and stood up. He then said: "When I was born I was black, " "When I grew up I was black, " "When I'm sick I'm black, " "When I go in the sun I'm black, " "When I'm cold I'm black, " "When I die I'll be black." "But you sir..." "When you're born you're pink, " "When you grow up you're white, " "When you're sick, you're green, " "When you go in the sun you turn red, " "When you're cold you turn blue, " "And when you die you turn purple." "And you have the nerve to call me coloured" The black man then sat back down and the white man walked away...

Fire

2011-02-19T08:26:00.000+08:00

Of late, Glasgow city has had two major building fires.
The first happened on 9th Feb, at one of the three shopping street I usually go to, Sauciehall St. CLICK TO READ THE NEWS.
Reading the article makes me add one more thing to my list of precautions when renting a place: Do not rent a unit above a restaurant.
Rent came to mind because its the time of the year to finalize our rent hunting for our summer placements.

Ten days after that, another fire occured at the East End. A wallpaper shop named Libby Libby was burnt down with the other shops next to it.... looks like a massive lost.
CLICK HERE TO READ

Fires are scary!

More stamps on my passport, please...

2011-02-17T09:51:00.000+08:00

There are things I will always miss and cherish as years go by. I've been fortunate enough to fly to numerous places... see and learn things... dwell on it... I wanna replay it, but there is so much more to see elsewhere....

Even an injury has a story to it to be remembered.

The time is nearing.......

The pile

2011-02-13T04:54:00.000+08:00

The reason for the hiatus: Things just keeps on pilling up!

Reason being 'everything learnt is new' so I can't just go home and throw the books aside, leave it for days and as those days go by, more new things are being taught...... Welcome to my life!

Why pay so much to be put under this incredible amount of pressure?
I guess its the love for a challenge. There's always the tendency to choose a task that is tough...

Going on with this rough ride because I'm halfway through and it is at a point of no return...

"If at first you don't succeed, try and try again."
I've come to love the above phrase because it relates to me and my attempt to make things. There is a perfectionist streak in me. I'll choose a project, and I will work on it repeatedly till it becomes successful. So, when I chose to make egg tarts, it needed to be perfect. Yes, the egg tarts came out perfect only after the fourth attempt.

Believe: There's always room for improvement as long as we persevere, push and aim for it :)

Weather talk, again....

2011-02-04T09:50:00.001+08:00

Treachorous! Thats what it is.

In Malaysia, I wished it was a bit cooler.
Upon arrival in Glasgow, it definitely was cooler.
But there's something called wishful thinking and also, doesn't the grass always look greener on the other side.
Back in September '10, the cool autumn weather didn't last long as I started experiencing raining spells and the occasional STRONG winds. Still BEARABLE!
Then winter came early. It became colder. Snow. Ice. Wet. Slush. After the first snowfall, I wished for no more snow.
Currently, I think it is spring already. Temperatures were good for a week or two. But the good never last long. Raining in Glasgow can be a bitch, but I think adding it with strong winds is ROAR!!

Today's wind+rain was horrid. It was possible to blow people away. I was drenched and pushed in the rain by the gusty wind. People's eye liner's on their face were even washed away. Hair on the head was a mess. WATERPROOF WINDBREAKERS WAS A NECESSITY (and waterproof shoes too)! I've definitely given up on using an umbrella. Basically the current weather makes me drenched, and also freezing cold!

This post came about after I saw tmr's forecast was not going to get better. Note the wind speed. Winter didn't really stopped me from going out, but i think this current weather could :(

Testosterone

2011-01-28T06:42:00.000+08:00

Was finally in a room filled with more males than females. Oh-so-rare since I joined this course. I was shocked. wth... so not use to an environment with higher male population.. At the end of the day, it reminded me of how enjoyable the company of the opposite sex was!

I also.....
Met 'Creepy'. Laughed about 'Creepy' all the way back home.... sigh... creepy

Hell... lp

2011-01-26T07:52:00.000+08:00

The start of a new sem and I'm already up to my neck.
Need a swim tmr.
Longest streak ever of not going swimming.
Blame winter.
Blame exams.
Blame the environment.
Blame MYSELF.

Swim to destress. I forgot about that!

Glasgow Science Center

2011-01-23T06:11:00.000+08:00

Enjoy the present day and all the small joys it has to offer.

Thanks. I had a great time :)

Hickey risk

2011-01-22T06:57:00.000+08:00

You could get a minor stroke when getting a hickey. It happened to a woman recently!
HICKEY STORY

The dream

2011-01-20T11:23:00.000+08:00

U

So, it begins.... again

U

2011-01-18T17:35:00.000+08:00

Neva
Phail
2
Make
Mua
SMILE :)

The Golden Globes 2011- The two bestr dressed, in my opinion

2011-01-18T05:44:00.000+08:00

I had a nap. During that nap I had a dream. A dream which lingered in my memory even when I am awake. Told people about it. Great laughter ensued. It was a bad dream! I hope that dream will never come true......

I am at aw with the dress worn by Natalie Portman and Catherine Zeta Jones during the Golden Globes recently. Both were equally stunning! *Pics from people.com*

Reminder

2011-01-17T04:35:00.000+08:00

In less than 24 hours.... hello ********************* :)

The thought of CNY. The red packet will not be filled with money this time, but it will contain a piece of paper which is the ... EXAM RESULTS! Only happens when studying in UK! sigh...

Anyhow, its a beautiful day today. Found out stuff. Excited. Learnt from it. Loved it. Can't wait. 100% confirmed something. Thank you!

SEM is in!

2011-01-15T03:59:00.001+08:00

It looks like technologies are progressing. Currently, the in thing to do is to take really, really close-up pictures. We tend to want to know what goes beyond the naked eye. One way to do that is through Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM). Interesting shots below: SOURCE

Guitar string

Mascara brush

Salt and ground peppercorns

Teeth Floss: This is what we get on on the floss after flossing

Needle and thread

Clearing the air

2011-01-11T23:30:00.000+08:00

Something which took so much time to be clarified and explained last night came to an end, i hope after this message:
"Over the past 24 hours..... enquiries....perceived inequity....We(lecturers) do not discriminate...Students showing initiative..."
Its just a very, very short summary :P
*Imagine a photograph here labelled 'Secret tutorial' for over a hundred ppl to view*

Coincidentally, my Daily Horoscope says:
"Discussions with those close to you could lead to the discovery of new concepts, perhaps from foreign cultures. You will want to learn more about them, Virgo, as will your friends."

We did, didn't we :)

2011-01-09T23:38:00.000+08:00

Wishing for a Snow Day so that exams will be postphoned? Highly unlikely to happen when the forecast for next week looks like this:

How long ago was it when we had temperatures of 9 or 10 degrees in Glasgow? I can't recall.
A nice weather, but unfortunately we can't go out and play because of the major, mind boggling stressful papers on that week!

True blood

2011-01-07T23:42:00.000+08:00

On Rolling Stone:)

Anticipation

2011-01-05T08:03:00.000+08:00

It is midnight and I am hungry.. I can't wait for the day and hopefully a 'new addition' to my already crowded rooom :)

Pharm Shirts

2011-01-04T18:30:00.000+08:00

A shirt for sale by a pharmacist at US$31.45

Spending crisis

2011-01-03T20:05:00.000+08:00

2011's resolution: Stinge!

As of midnight tonight, VAT increases from 17.5% to 20%. Previously I was penny pinching. As of tomorrow, I'm gonna be Pound pinching extra hard!
Price increament for everything from phone bills, electrical goods, meals, train tickets etc....
Stinge.. stinge.. stinge.... aih...
Looks like the GREAT SALES will never be a good as previous ones ever again....

Whats worse is when retailers are allowed to do this:
"And until February 1, stores are being allowed by the Government to apply the 20 per cent rate by marking up the price paid at the till, rather than on shelf labels."
"It means shoppers will not know the true cost of items until they go through the checkout, raising the prospect of disputes and queues as they come to terms with being asked to pay more."

Need to stinge and...do the math when reading shelf labels.

Scottish food

2011-01-01T18:25:00.000+08:00

The one thing I've always wanted to know was, "What is Scottish's food?" Every Scot I have asked could only name me one - Haggis. Some say soup! Before coming to Glasgow, I've been told to try Haggis too. SOURCE

So, I found a couple more Scottish food.. I could make one of my new year resolution as "To try all the Scottish food!"

Haggis - A Scottish Staple. A bag stuffed with minced heart, liver and lung boiled in lamb stomach.

Roasted Grouse

Abroath Smokie - Scotland's version of salted fish

Scotch eggs - Hardboiled eggs wrapped in minced sausage and coated with breadcrumbs.
This doesn't sound too hard to be eaten or made.

Black pudding - Congealed blood wrapped in intestine, battered and deep fried.

010111

2011-01-01T10:35:00.000+08:00

2010 wasn't too bad. Almost everything I wanted to be done was done. Hoping 2011 will be a better year. Feng Shui master said it will be a good year for those with the Virgo sign. I'd like to believe that :)

I'm not even done with the Christmas posts and New Year is here.
We had a small do at the halls.

Tortilla filled with peanut butter and chocolate spread

neighbours

The ones who helped out with the words :)

The anticipation to look out for fireworks that goes BANG!

A nice finale to 2010 and a great start to 2011!

Salad- The best meal for a busy person

2010-12-31T20:43:00.000+08:00

Easy to prepare, yet delicious, crunchy, juicy and satisfying

The Face of Anorexia

2010-12-30T06:45:00.001+08:00

The latest news is about the death of Isabelle Caro, a french model for anti-aneroxia ads. She was 28 years old. SOURCE

Even a whole cup of tea for her was too much!

It is sad to have a eating disorder. To me, it is almost unfathomable given the unsurmountable feast I have had.

RIP

A youtube video about Isabelle.

Pre-Christmas lunch at Mussel Inn, Glasgow

2010-12-29T06:21:00.001+08:00

Many weeks before Christmas Day, it was decided that the people who were not going to London should have a meal together somewhere fancy and also try something out of the ordinary. Hence, with some scouting and researching, we came to an agreement to give Mussel Inn a try. Their Christmas Menu managed to tantalise our tastebuds and thus, attracting us to said restaurant.

However, we were not able to dine at Mussel Inn on Christmas Day or the Eve of Christmas because Mussel Inn was not open on those days. Therefore, 23rd Dec 2010 marked the day we planned to satisfy our cravings. With the change of plans, some who were going to London the day after were able to dine with us.

Mussel Inn was just a 15 minute walk from the halls. Pretty chilly day to be out walking.

When we arrived at Mussel Inn, the table reserved for us was set up with a present for each person. Inside the wrapper were tiny gifts like mini book keychain, cards, screwdrivers and others.

Ambience wise, I'd say its a great place to wine and dine. It wasn't noisy when the lunch crowd came in. Service was not too shabby either.

Some of us ordered the 2 course meal. A basket of bread and butter was served to us on the house. The bread was refillable which complemented the the Seafood Platter main course.

Appetizers:

TOASTED GOATS CHEESE ON BAGUETTE SLICES WITH CAPER AND BELL PEPPER RELISH

CREAMY SEAFOOD CHOWDER

TEMPURA TIGER PRAWNS SERVED WITH SWEET CHILLI JAM AND CREM FRAICHE

Main Course:

GRILLED SMOKED CHICKEN WITH MELTED MOZZARELLA ON PENNE PASTA, COOKED IN ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

SEAFOOD PLATTER: QUEEN SCALLOPS, SCOTTISH SALMON, COLEY, TIGER PRAWNS AND MUSSELS ALL POACHED IN A RICH SEAFOOD BISQUE TOPPED WITH CHIVE CREME FRAICHE

A third choice which none of us ordered was Grilled Seabass on Lemon and parsley mash with sweet shallot, tomato and crayfish sauce. It didnt sound too bad, but Mussels were definitely the main choice on most of our minds.

We skipped the dessert. The choices were:
Apple cinnamon strudel with vanilla cream and honey
Warm sticky date pudding served with toffee sauce and ice cream
Affogato- Coffee, Ice Cream and a Liquer of your choice.
Coffee or Tea.

The meal was great. A tad bit too rich for some of us who had the chowder and the platter. Nevertheless, it was a good experience which I don't mind repeating if I were to earn in pounds ;)

Christmas gifts - The exchange

2010-12-28T02:26:00.000+08:00

To friends:

Picture taken from Amy coz I didn't take any pic of this.

Pretty christmas chocolates

From friends:
Just pictures of cards and gifts received for Christmas.