Once Upon A Time........ [Part 1]

This phrase 'Once Upon A Time' which is most popular in fairy tale stories, is something which we've learned and heard when we are a young child, be it from story books or stories told by our elders.

Being such, how many do give it a thought of implying the phrase to our real life???? I believe that each of us have our story to tell - fond memories which will forever lingers in our minds and hearts. I am sharing some of my own "Once Upon A Time' down memory lane stories with all my dear friends out there..........

"Once upon a time, roughly forty-seven years ago, when I was just a little girl of four years old, our family was staying in a farm house, built solely by my late father and assisted by my mum, situated at 13 1/2 miles, Kuching/Simanggang Road. As my late father was busy with his shift work at the 7th Mile Mental Hospital as a Hospital Assistant which is commonly known as 'Dresser' at that time, my mum was seen busy attending to our daily needs as well as her endless chores - carrying of water from the stream nearby for both washing and household consumption; cutting of some kinds of plants nearby and cooking it for feeding the herd of pigs which was reared by my parents; planting of several varieties of vegetables for own consumption and many other chores which at the present era is being made easier through modern technologies such as washing machines, refrigerators, water and electricity supply direct to the comfort of our home, etc....etc......

One very fearful incident which I can still recall was the sudden arrival of a big group of European (Angmo) soldiers with big tankers in the middle of the night while we were sound asleep. We were awaken by the loud sounds of the tankers, which also broke the gravel bridge which my dad built that leads to our house and the knocking of our door informing us of their intention of using our land as their base station for their soldiers. I remember my parent's advice to us siblings "don't make too much noise", so, most of the time we tried to be as quiet as possible. What I can recall during these short period of time are : sirens for the curfews; canned foods given to us by the 'Angmo' soldiers, which are deliciously nice (as we've only tasted our local canned foods); the huge tankers which goes in and out of our compound and the soldiers in uniforms!

From our farm house, we then moved to Nanas Road West, the residence of my grandparents. It's a big wooden house with a big huge stairs going up to our sitting room, and with a big wooden door to close up the stairs in the night time - the type of stairs with doors which we couldn't find it in today's modern houses. Another smaller stairs is leading from our back door direct to our kitchen, which is situated on the ground floor.

Surrounding our house are plants, flowers, fruit trees, rubber trees, durian trees and some other huge big old trees - it is as if we are living in the middle of a small jungle! Something interesting to remind me of those good, old, young days are: me and my siblings used to play 'Hide and Seek'; marbles (goolees); skipping ropes; catching small fishes in the drain; cooking using earth, plants, water and even light real fire, which at one time the fire gets out of control; climbing of fruit tress to pluck its fruits and off course not forgetting enjoyed cycling through roots of trees - this is when we all learn to cycle. Recalling those moments, we are like dwarfs (as we are short and small, as kids) paddling the big bicycles for the man (with a metal across) and mind you, the wheels are without tyres, but bare - only the metal wheel frame. These are the very old bicycles of my grandfather, father and uncles.

Some black and white photos, which have slightly turned yellow, taken during Christmas to share.......

to be continued.......

Love, Peace, Joy and Merriment.......

The season of Love, Peace, Joy and Merriment is just round the corner, roughly in about seven short weeks to come. Well, this season of the year is the most welcome of all, especially for all Christians throughout the world as we will be celebrating CHRISTMAS!

Year end is also the best time for families to go for long holidays - both parents and children will spend their quality family time together, embracing family love and peace, as throughout the year most families are busy with their work and school schedules, young and old alike!

Who could have imagine that the Year of The Rabbit flew by like lightning, soon we will be ushering the new Year 2012, which is the Year of The Dragon. Till then, let us all enjoy the best of the remaining of this great year.

Before I sign off my post, here's a bouquet of November Flowers (thanks to Free Greetings 123) for all my readers and friends, wherever you all may be. God's blessings upon each and everyone and may we all be blessed with good health and God's Love, Peace & Joy! Cheers!!!

Five years ago......

Hmmm..... I couldn't have imagine that I've left working life five years ago. Just to recap - in the final week of October, year 2006, I received the approval letter from the management for my VSS application, which I've applied since first week of August 2006. Come 1st November 2006, the day whereby most people will be busy with their early morning preparing to go to office but as for me enjoying my beauty sleep in my cozy warm bed in the comfort of my 'home sweet home'. That is one great feeling which I will never forget - free from all the hassle and bustle of waking up early, get to office in time to start the day's stressful work environment, and only to be back home when the sun nearly sets whereas on every Tuesday and Friday, when most people are already sleeping!

Well! Well!! I am indeed glad that all those stressful days are history to me. It is something which I won't want to give it a try as it will brings chills from the tip of my ears to the tip of my toes!!!

Those five years of my non-working life gets on fine for me and is enjoying every single day of it! Though I have all the time I need to do whatever I want but I am always keeping myself occupied with many things which I've missed out during those 25 over years of my working life.

Recently, with the coming of a grandson into our family, I believe that with a little adjustments here and there, everything will be in positions and life will gets on as normal. Grand parenting is something which I am now looking forward to and is the path which everyone will travel, be it now, tomorrow or in the near future!

Something interesting about Gingko Nuts

I have always been confused with Gingko Nuts and Lotus Seeds!! Though I have cooked this dessert which is popularly known as 'Tong Sui' for quite a number of times but I still tend to have difficulties differentiating the two. At certain times I'll used both these two ingredients when preparing this dessert, while at times I'll be using only one, it all depends!!

Speaking of Gingko Nuts, it is interesting to learn that we can cook it wholly without having to split it into two and yet able to get rid of the small membrane at the inner core which is bitter in taste. This new technique which I've just learned is worth sharing....... here's to share in pictures!!

The fresh nuts

Crack the nuts

The seeds inside with the skin

After removing the skin

The bitter membrane is removed using toothpick

The unwanted shells & skin

A bowl of 'Tong Sui' Dessert!

From the OVEN......

The word OVEN reminds me of my Secondary school days, roughly thirty-eight years ago!  Home Science or Cookery Class is the much look-forward lesson for us girls at that time.  I always remember anxiously waiting for our teacher, the late Mrs. Tan to walk into class and imparting her cooking experiences and knowledge to us, which I personally trust that it will be of great use in the years to come.  True indeed, as today whenever I do cooking or baking I always recall many of her useful tips which she have shared with us young girls 'once upon a time!'

I love baking, be it cakes, biscuits, pies, quiche or chicken dishes.  A comment by my dear friend Janet who also loves baking "if you start baking you can't stop!" is true indeed!  Once we are in the baking mood we will continue one after the other and it's really a fun thing to do!!

Recently I've landed myself into this 'baking mood' again and here's to share (in pictures) with everyone out there.......

Chocolate with M&Ms

Pizza

Rainbow Cake

Butter & Cornflour Biscuits

Brownies

Light Cheese Cupcakes

Sorry readers for the pictures which are not in proper order as I am not used to the new updated blog format.  Hope to keep up with it soon, esp. with the pictures!

Prawns, a popular seafood dish!

Prawns is one of the popular seafood dish which is easily available everywhere throughout the world. Being a tasty seafood dish, prawns can be cooked in variety of ways - steamed, boiled, grilled or stir-fried and it is either cooked with shell on or off. Another great thing about this favourite seafood of many is that, it can either be cooked as a dish on its on or as an ingredient to compliment another dish.

This seafood is a favourite of all in my family and here's an album of my home cooking on Prawns to share......

Something CRISPY & TASTY!

This biscuits reminds me of 2 things: first of all, my late Uncle Arthur who never fail to make this nice, crispy biscuits and secondly, get to eat it once a year during the Chinese Lunar New Year, either given by my late uncle or get to taste the freshly made ones when we visit him during the CNY celebration.......

Though we can now purchase this biscuits from some traders outside but it doesn't taste that well, it's either too hard, less crispy or not so tasty. Recently, I've come across a bakery at 3rd Mile "D' Loaf" which sells them, and just to recommend to all that it's crispy and tasty. It's indeed worth buying!! Will be back for more soon........ Yummy!!!

Something to brush-off my boredom!

Travelling alone is one thing, but being alone and yet being stuck at the airport due to the 're-time' of our flight is something which most people hated!!!

If the information came in earlier before our check-in then the situation would be fine. We would have just drove back home. But, this time round, all the passengers are already waiting in line, queuing to board the plane and its just a matter of twenty minutes before flight time, that an announcement came saying that the plane from another destination is not arriving due to some problems, so the flight have to be re-time to two and a half hours later. Where could we go????? No where as we are all in the departure hall!

The waiting time is always the hardest, though I manage to make new friends and off course something to munch and a cup of Cappucino to help me stay alert!

Article for sharing - HABIT! [Final]

A New Outlook Needed

Changing bad habits often demands living different patterns of life. It usually requires a totally different outlook on life, a sharp redefining of what is most important in life.

Breaking damaging habits means seriously asking, perhaps for the first time, "What is the true purpose of life?" You will need to understand what character really is and its importance in successful living.

Character is coming to know right from wrong, good from bad. It means admitting when you are wrong and turning from the wrong. It means determining, despite all difficult circumstances, to do the right instead of the wrong. That means a person must mobilize all available resources to conquer a bad habit. Overcoming bad habits is one of life's supreme challenges!

You have to ask yourself squarely, "Is being a slave to a bad habit--damaging my mental or physical health?"

Some might say, "But my bad habits are not my fault!" Perhaps that is true, particularly if patterns started in early years of life under wrong influences or from ignorance.

But the fact is, there was a time when habits were within our control, but we permitted them to reach a point where they became out of control. In other words, we caused them to develop; conversely we can cause them to disappear.

There are many kinds of annoying habits. Perhaps not all are necessarily great faults, but then again, maybe they could be. Such could be chewing food with one's mouth open or talking with food in one's mouth. Frequent body odor in social situations from not enough bathing reveals a lack of sense of decorum or lack of concern for oneself or others. Certain individuals develop the habit of lying, of exaggerating or cursing.

A mature person realizes humans are creatures of habits--good habits, bad habits. He never condones bad habits. He knows he cannot change anyone who does not want to change them. He will, however, try to set an example by overcoming bad habits in his own life. He will encourage others who are trying to change bad habits in their lives, realizing given similar circumstances or experiences he could have similar problems.

What kind of habits do you instill in your life???

Article for sharing - HABIT [Part 3]

Overcoming wrong Habits

Who hasn't been a slave to bad habits? Who hasn't carelessly allowed bad habits to take deeper and deeper root in his or her mind and emotions?

Improving your life--physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually--is largely a matter of changing or overcoming bad habits. It is a matter of developing new, better and more dominating habit patterns of thinking, acting and feeling.

There are absolutely fundamental requirements and essential steps that must be applied to replace a bad habit with a good one. Many lose sight of such essential steps because of heavy demands on their minds or time or because of discouragement from past failures to overcome some nagging habit or vice.

The first law of changing any wrong habit is:

1. ADMIT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, OR THINKING OR FEELING IS WRONG AND HARMFUL. It is impossible to change without taking this step. So many fail because they never, deep down in their minds, squarely determine or admit what they are doing or thinking is wrong. They will not admit to themselves that they eat too much, or drink too much or are addicted in a damaging way to some practice or thinking. They justify their present ways and refuse to see any damage they are causing to themselves or others--until serious consequences strike them.

You--not someone else--must be convinced you should change! You must want to change a bad habit!

After this critical step is taken, other essential steps are required. You must then:

2. POWERFULLY RESOLVE TO CHANGE AND QUIT THE WRONG HABIT IMMEDIATELY. Don't put off a decision. You cannot expect success with a halfhearted or weak effort. You must be strongly motivated to change. Grasp the consequences or potential consequences if you don't change.

3. DEVELOP A CHANGE-OF-BEHAVIOR PLAN. This means:
Understand the influences or situations that spark old habit patterns and avoid them whenever possible.

Develop right and positive habits or thought patterns to replace the old damaging patterns. Repeat right patterns as often as you can. These soon replace the wrong pattern of acting or feeling. You can do this if the new pattern has some great value or reward, or if failure to do so means an unwanted result.

Don't try to taper off from a bad habit. (Only a few situations might dictate differently. For instance, some physically addicting drugs could cause serious bodily harm or even death if suddenly quit. Some serious problems need the assistance and guidance of properly qualified and knowledgeable persons.) Occasionally, giving in increases rather than decreases the persistence of an old habit. Recognize and control self-defeating thought or reasoning patterns. Such thinking may be, "It'll be OK, just this once!" or, "He does it, why can't I?" or, "Why deprive myself when there are so few pleasures in life?" Resolve not to start a pattern of giving way to pressures from friends or others. This is one of the toughest challenges in habit breaking. Keep your eyes on your goal.

Don't give in to your old habit--even once. You'll refire the old habit and get hooked again. Permissive thoughts and actions do count; it is like rewelding and energizing the old cables of habit. Yet if you do slip, don't get discouraged. It is difficult to break habits, to give up entrenched sins. Most people slip from time to time in the process of struggling against a bad habit. Get started again. Failure is certain only if you give up.

4. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF NECESSARY TO OVERCOME PHYSICAL HABITS. It is not possible for this article to properly cover all the various kinds of damaging habits humans can fall prey to, and to cover the special considerations that may be necessary to deal with them. Sound health and financial, ministerial or other help may be needed. Various pamphlets or books dealing with specific kinds of physical problems are available and helpful.