Passive Income, I want...

Time for a weekly dose of my 'pretty much nothing'. Yesterday, I visited this interesting blog and read the article about financial planning for retirement. This is a timely article as I had been having nagging thoughts about planning for our retirement for awhile. The entry talks about passive income as opposed to saving an amount of money for retirement. I basically understand passive income as getting money while not working. Renting properties is one type of passive income and he also suggested REIT. I also know from MLM people that their scheme is a passive income too and can be so for a few generations! But I am not an MLM capable person, that's for sure. I will need to look for other avenues.

The blogger recommends 2 books to be read, both by Robert Kiyosaki, “Rich Dad Poor Dad” and “Cashflow Quadrant”. We have the 1st one but never finished it and don’t know where we put it. But I am determined to find it and finished it… before the end of the year!

I must admit, I am bad at finances but since my hubby is no better, we both have to work together on this no matter how much we dread it. I know it’s going to be of ultimate importance when we are too old to work anymore. We cannot rely on the hope that our kids can afford to take care of us financially. Gosh, I cringe thinking about this and I hope it’s not too late to start doing something about it. God help those who help themselves....

Good Friday and Easter

Today I would like to post a sign that I find ironic and yet funny. This is from a chinese/taiwanese restaurant that has a sign that says Pork Free (and not Free Pork which is probably better). The ironic thing is, it has a picture of a Chef Piggy running away from something. How did the owner come up with that? Your guess is as good as mine! Incidentally, the shop seems to not be doing so well, it is closed most of the time I pass by it and I pass by it alot. I also have to confess, I never ventured into the shop before. Not because of the ironic sign but because I do not go into a restaurant where there aren't many patrons inside, that's a kaisu mentality. If no one eats there, chances are the things are not nice.

Meat is probably not apt for today's post since I am vegetarian today cause it's Friday. And it is also Good Friday, my hubby and I are off for the day. After a morning of running errands, we are resting with the kids at home while my eldest is in school. We will be attending mass in the evening where the congregation will be following the ritual of the stations of the cross to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. On Sunday we will celebrate Easter, celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. As a new Catholic family, we have done enough to observe the Lent season. I have got to be more committed and passionate about deepening my faith, Lord help me. To end this post, I recommend this beautiful song by Michael W. Smith entitled Above All, so beautiful that it brings me close to tears everytime I hear it. Have a blessed Easter!

Palm Sunday and Cheng Beng

The past weekend saw some interesting events. We celebrated Palm Sunday and in church, we brought along some palm leaves to join in the blessing of the palms. While on the way to attend the Sunset mass Saturday, we had to go collect some palm leaves. I asked my hubby to get from one of the neighbours decorative palm trees but my hubby was too shy, so I went down to try to retrieve from leaves but it was harder than it looked. I gave up since I didn't have any scissors or knives. We ended up driving to my in-law's house and got a few leaves from her African palm. These leaves were thorny and sharp, we got pricked and pricked others too in church. Gosh. I am going to buy a few decorative palm trees so that come next year, it will be a breeze to get the palm leaves.

The reason why we went for the sunset mass instead of out usual Sunday mass was because my in-laws and some relatives need to go to Nirvana park to pay respect to my children's great grandmother on Sunday morning. She died a few years ago in her nineties. She was a dear old lady, very kind towards me and loved my sons dearly. My hubby was her favourite grandson too. When my hubby told me that he needed to fetch these folks to his grandmother's grave, I told him I want to come along too. I have not been to her grave to pay respect, had always wanted to go. So we set off at about 8am and it was a major traffic jam. It took us more than an hour to get there which would normally take maybe 20 mintues. We went in 2 cars and parking was also big hassle there. The relatives did their offering burnings. My family put on some incense on her grave and prayed to Out Father for mercy for great grandmother's soul. Every year a few weeks before Cheng Beng Semenyih will see major traffic jams on weekends because the famous burial sites. Supposedly, you will be lucky if your ancestors are buried well and Semenyih seems to be the prime burial site. In fact my hubby said that it is the most expensive real estate, a small plot cost you easily RM20K to 40K. Chinese are very superstitious and customary people.

Lastly, a bit into politics. MCA had a re-election on Sunday and Dr Chua won. Was not what I expected but oh well, it's not going to mean much to me anyways. I am all for non-race based political parties and politicians. I hope to live to see the day when this becomes a reality in our beloved Malaysia.

About balloons and bread

This Saturday morning, my hubby promised the kids to bring them to see the hot air balloons in Putrajaya. We woke just before 8am and together with the in-laws, we drove to Putrajaya. I believe the balloons set off at 8am. When we reached, the only balloons left are the ones meant for show. Nevertheless, we are still happy to be able to see them.

There was also like a carnival like atmosphere around the area with many stalls and people selling kiddy balloons. But one thing that really caught my attention was a huge pair of balloony pants! Levis Jeans to be exact. Reminded me of "World Wide Pants" and of course my favourite talk show host, David Letterman. My kids also enjoyed themselves. But when we had to go back to where the car was park (a long way away), they started complaining about being hot, tired and hungry. Tomorrow is going to the last day, anyone wanting to go catch all the action got to go pretty earlier, maybe before 7am.

That was how we spent the morning before rushing through breakfast, sending my sons to piano lessons and running other errands. I was back home at 2pm and I already had something in mind to do, to bake a loaf of bread using the Noxxa breadmaker my sister gave me. I am happy to say that after about 3 hours of waiting, the bread was ready. It is a little hard on the outside compared to the gardenia ones but still it was good. I will post a picture of it later, cannot get the card reader to work on my PC at home today.

It's a Fly Day

I did say I will blog once a week, so it's time for another of my ramblings. This week, I have had the 'luxury' to have proper lunch in the company of my dearest colleagues since my hubby can send my son to school (meaning I don't have to rush out during lunch to send my son to school, something I have been doing since he started attending chinese classes offered by his school, outside of his normal time table!). Yesterday, we had Nasi Kandar from Nilai, packed by some of my colleagues who took the trouble to drive there and back. Many thanks to them and the food was indeed good. And many thanks for the good recommendation too, you know who you are.

Today, we went to the club house and this is also one place that serves great food. I had prawn fried rice since it's Friday (no meat day).

But they serve many other delicous food like this great chicken sandwich on homemade bread. Already I am feeling the kilos adding on as I speak about food, I better drop that and talk about something else...

Now on a whole different topic, I was reading this article about Malaysian Schools on the Nut Graph and it made me doubtful again about our choice for school for our sons. Gosh, will they blame us, in 20 years time? You see we (or largely me) decided to place our sons in national schools instead the increasingly popular chinese vernacular schools. I had many reasons, all valid, which I shall not elaborate here. But articles like these are making me real scared.

Why should we have so many types of schools anyway? And the Education systems and the constant policy changes sucks big time. Can they do anything right? Education is so essential in bringing up the next generation to become even more successful then the current one but are we moving in reverse gear or something? My kids are not some lab mice for you to test your policies on! Racial polarsations is so obvoius that they have create NS to try to make amends? But what can a lone parent do? We could home school them but that's like way drastic. Private school, you say? I have 3 kids, not one, cannot afford la...

Meanwhile, I am sorry la son, you have to go through all these but I know you are enjoying the very little homework life you are having as a Year 1 national school kid, compared to the other friends in the Chinese schools. I can only pray that whatever decisions we made for you will not deprive you of a bright future. Mummy loves you...

I will... I will...

Woah, 6 months have passed without an entry, talk about sustainability and will power. I really have none in those departments. Ok, some catching up.

My newest sis-in-law is pregnant and will deliver in May, another addition to our growing extended family. Was on the phone with my mum and heard the scan showed that it will be a boy. Wonderful, but who will ‘take over’ the bags of baby girl stuff I have in my closet? Never mind, I will keep them for the next addition...

Time flies, especially when you are busy. My baby girl just turned 2 last week. Had a busy day cooking and baking for her but all worth the effort to see our guests enjoyed themselves. The very next day was her cousin Ian’s birthday and we had party at Pizza Hut. Lots of eating again and this is Lent. Gosh, I need to tone down but I got another family plan this weekend.

Now for some resolutions, I will read the Bible. I will start exercising. I will clean the house and do the chores on schedule. I will update my blog weekly. I will… I will start soon…

Upcoming Events

My youngest brother is getting married this weekend. My mum has requested that I cook Rendang Ayam to go with her Nasi Briyani for the guests who visit the night before the wedding. I had to do a test run, :). So off I went to the trusty google for a recipe. Once I had that, I had to plan a weekend when I am able to get the ingredients and test it out.

So finally, 2 weeks ago, I tried it out and it tasted good. But we couldn't finish it as my kids don't take spicy food. My in laws had some, the rest went into the fridge. I had it for 2 lunches that week. Then my mum-in-law came on Saturday and threw it away from my fridge, :(. Oh well, will be trying the recipe again this weekend.

Been also shopping for clothes for the kids and me for the wedding. Managed to get some new stuff, trying not to spend too much. Still need to give big angpow to brother. Never mind, all siblings already married, so no more such events in future.