Gong Hei! Gong Hei!

CNY is just a few days away. I have done most of my shopping for new kids clothes and they have been pre-washed and are drying now. I couldn't find any nice cookies on sale this year, no colleagues were selling. So I finally decided to make some. For the last 2 nights, I have been slogging to bake my peanut cookies and green pea cookies. I will continue for one more night to make the ever so easy, cornflake + honey cookies and then I am done for this year. At least my MIL and my mother will have a few types of cookies from me. I still have some more shopping to do, buy mandarin oranges, buy bak kua (dried BBQ meat) and prawn crackers, part of the gifts to my MIL and mother. I do this every year... Angpow money is not prepared yet, I have yet to go to the bank to withdraw enough cash for all the angpows.

I will be going back to hometown again for CNY and probably stay 4 days while my hubby will come back earlier since he has to start work on the 3rd day of CNY, pathetic :(. Anyways, the boys are always super excited to go to their grandma's and are planning on getting more guppies home. Half the ones we brought home the last time have gone to heaven. And they want more....poor guppies.

Would most probably be too busy these few days for any blogging, so I take this opportunity to wish all of you out there a Happy and Prosperous New Year of the Dragon, "Long Ma Cheng San" and "Gong Hei! Gong Hei!"

Chugging into 2012

Oh wow, it's yet another week and it's Friday the 13th today. Not that it is particularly significant but supposedly it is when creepy things happen. Oh well, I highly suspect nothing spectacular will be happening tonight. We must probably will call it a night early since the boys will need to rise early for a one day 'camp' organised by my hubby's company. Already I am pretty tired and it's just 8.30pm.

Anwar addressing supporters after his acquittal on 9th Jan 2012.

Let's do a recap as of happenings these 2 weeks before we start chugging into 2012. We have the very unexpected news about DSAI's acquittal last Monday. I had a feeling that he would be acquitted but most people predicted that he would be jailed! Anyway, it's happy news for the country as it finally made some sense. Not that I think our judiciary suddenly become independent but rather that the ruling government realised that jailing will be worse off for them.  Last I heard, the prosecutors would be appealing but has yet to be approved by the AG. I would think dropping the appeal altogether would be wiser move. Else any possible good vibes that was obtained from DSAI's acquittal will be nullified. I hope that all the drama and nonsense will be chucked away once and for all. Let the people decide on real issues affecting the well being of the people and the country instead of such trivial and disgusting matters.


Apart from that, the last I heard is that the poll will be not be as soon as we have thought. I would think that the PM will be wiser to call for election sooner rather than later since the positive effects from the BR1M money and DSAI's acquital are still fresh on people's minds. It would make very little difference to average Janes or Joes like us, I guess. Anyway, most people have got who they want to vote for already etched in their mind. Nothing will change their minds. It would be the fence sitters that both sides need to fight for. The fence sitters could very well tip the scales for either sides.


Enough of politics. Had Christmas cum CNY dinner with my colleagues yesterday at Fish Village in Semenyih. I think the food there was ok but not spectacular. The fishes were pretty nice and we ordered 3 styles. The bill came up to over RM21/pax, which is also oklah. I would hesistate to recommend to friends for the food alone but if they are looking for a different environment, it's pretty nice there with lakes all around. 


It's less then 2 weeks before CNY. I have got some new clothes for my daughter but haven't got anything for the boys yet. So will need more shopping within this period. No time for cookie making this year, probably just buy some. So much to do so little time. Need to do some serious shopping this weekend! I will stop for this entry, getting sleepy, nighty night.

My Prawnie Cravings Fulfilled!

Recently, I suddenly felt like eating Shang Har Meen (Fresh Water Prawn noodle). Blame it on the baby in my womb! A friend suggested to go to Pan Heong in Batu Caves and looking at the great reviews on the net, it must be really nice. I remember going to Green View Restaurant some years back and had this unforgettable Shang Har Meen. Well, me being the less adventurous type when it comes to food hunting, prefer somewhere nearer and more familiar. So finally last Saturday, my cravings was fulfilled. My hubby, daughter and my brother-in-law went to Green View Restaurant in SS2 for dinner especially on my request. My sister was kind enough to bring my boys and her own kids to McD for their dinner because I had promised the boys that we were going to McD that evening. With that arrangement, the rest of us happily proceeded for dinner escapade. 

The bill was a bit hefty. A plate of Shang Har Meen for 2 was RM78! There were 2 huge fresh water prawns, each sliced into 2 vertically. Plus my BIL's recommendation of fried baby squid and a plate of vege, the whole bill was RM136.53 for 3 adults. Well, it is not always that I can have such a treat, so it's ok. Here is a pic of the plate of mee.

The most famous dish in the Restaurant, this plate cost me RM78!

The neon lights cannot be missed as you turn towards SS2 from Sec. 17.

The restaurant was quite full at about 8 plus pm that night. And I noticed almost every table ordered this famous Shang Har Meen. The taste was very nice but my BIL said it seemed less delicious than normally.  I was stuffed really full because I had 1 whole big prawn (2 sides) and 2 helpings of mee and then I kept eating the fried squid because it was a huge plate. I was worried we wouldn't finish it so my hubby and I kept eating it. Didn't want the hassle of packing it back. The fried squid was slightly spicy so my daughter wouldn't eat it. She also just ate 2 tiny spoon of mee only, she is a picky eater. So basically it was us the adults eating only.

Overall, it was still pretty good for me. My hubby complained of headache the whole night and the next morning too. He has cholesterol problem so the squid and prawn combo could have been really bad for his cholesterol level. I told him that I was having the cravings and not him, he should have just sit and watch me eat! So when my next Shang Har Meen craving comes, we will just go back and order a single serving plate for myself and he can just watch me eat! :P

A Mustard Seed of Faith

Yesterday, while opening my house gate to park my car, an elderly woman and her 16 year old daughter of chinese descent walked past my gate. I acknowledged them because they are from the same church. The elderly woman started talking to me after recalling that I was in the same church as them. She started telling me her sad story. I know some of the stories from other BEC members about this poor family. The husband of the woman passed away about 2 years ago, he had been dealing with long term illness. Since then, I heard that her daughter gave birth to a baby girl at 15, out of wedlock and then the mother ended up owing the loan shark some money because she was helping a friend out, or something. But the lady shocked me by telling me she has converted to Islam.

She related how she needed financial help and went begging some BEC members and also met the priest but was reprimanded instead. Furthermore, some BEC members went around telling bad things about her to everyone. She ended up sourcing the money she needed desperately from a Datuk staying at our Taman and got financial help and groceries from him and some others. Apparently because of that she and her family converted to Islam. Of course I took everything she said with a grain of salt. To be fair, I believe BEC members did try to help her and the priest/s also have advised her and her daughters on their conduct and for missing Mass, etc.. I think the priest and the BEC members did not really believe all her stories and therefore were reluctant to help her. But I still tried to console her by telling her she should ignore those people and place her trust in God alone. I also told her to follow her heart, if she felt that she wants to be a muslim, then she should follow her heart.

I think this happened in the span of about 1 month. I am taken aback and saddened by how easily people can be converted, how little faith they have. I am sorry I didn't manage to help them or show them compassion when they were in need. And I think the BEC and the church could have shown more compassion for the family. However, I hope God will help them in their chosen path and they may be able to have a more stable life.

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you. Luke 17:5-6.

I think Christians should always maintain a personal relationship with God and Jesus through prayers and the Bible, etc. Do not reject Christ because of Christians themselves or how Christians behave or how the church is. Men will always fail you but GOD will never forsake you. God, please plant the mustard seed of faith in us and point the faith to the right direction for all you have called, Amen.

Bye bye 2011 and Hello 2012!

It's less than 2 days before the start of a brand new year, 2012! How did the year 2011 pass by? I am kinda still in a daze how did 2011 come and is almost gone. Let's take a look at what we have done for this year? Hmmm, erhhhh, I cannot really remember anything really significant. Of course everyone in the family is healthy and well, that's the best thing we can really have. Otherwise, everything is pretty normal, I don't really recall anything significant to tell. Hmmm, probably just one thing, that I dragged my hubby to join in the Bersih 2.0 rally, :P. That's a first and hopefully there will be no need to do any more of those.

I ended my last 2 days of work attending St. John's First Aid training, which was organised by the company. That's a cool way to end the year at work ;). Now I am certified to perform 1st aid for the next 3 years! It was a very good training for general knowledge and who knows when you may need those skills and knowledge we learned in the 2 days. It may make a difference to someone's life one day.

Meanwhile, we have no plans on how to celebrate the new year's eve. The girlfriends want to have a meeting at one of their homes but I am not sure if I should join them. Feel bad about leaving my hubby and kids at home on New Year's Eve. Need to check with my hubby first.

Since I have not much to talk about this year, maybe we could say something about next year which is just less than 2 days away.  The school is reopening in a few days. Since none of the kids are going for school for the 1st time, I am pretty sure they will cope fine. Besides, hubby is on leave (fixed company leave) on that day, so I will leave them in his hands. Importantly, a new baby is on the way in April, so that will change MANY things. Probably in mid next year, after my maternity, we will look for alternate arrangements like day care for the 2 elder kids since we have an additional baby in the family. I think I would also need some domestic help, maybe engage cleaners to come once a week to keep the house cleaner. Or even getting an iRobot? Getting a live-in maid is not something we want at all, if we can help it.

I also mentioned before about getting the boys to learn swimming, which I have yet to do anything. So in 2012, I must send them for swimming classes. For myself, I had better live healthier and really reduce my weight and encourage my hubby to do the same. We are middle aged people with young kids, we had better maintain a healthier lifestyle so that we can keep going until our kids are grown. Sounds terrifying.

The election will be sometime early next year, I hope some significant change will come to this country. And according to some predictions, Dec 2012 will be end of the world, so that may but most likely will not come true, :P. Well that I leave to the hands of God.

I hope 2012 will be a safe and great year for all of us with plenty of God's blessings upon all of you. However you are planning to usher in the new year, please keep safe. HAPPY NEW 2012.

Christ is Love, have a Blessed Christmas

Christmas is just round corner. I have been busy with lots of other stuff to really prepare myself and the kids for Christmas. We do have some presents for the kids and the Christmas Tree is up. Otherwise, I am ill prepared. I would love to do some more shopping but do not have the time to. My sister and her family would like to come over for lunch on Christmas day so I will need to do some planning for a small party. I am thinking of making roast chicken, mashed potatoes and salad. Hmmmm, or I could just buy a few Ayamas roast chickens. Will think it over.

Christmas is more than just holidays, parties and presents. But as an adult, I am also guilty of no reflecting on the season and remembering what are we celebrating. Caught up by the lights and the fantastic deco in the shopping complexes and the jingles, it is easy to forget. And Christmas is always 5 days away form a brand new year, they are entwined into, basically, whole lot of happy parties and celebrations. And, for the kids, it is all about presents! This article aptly describes how most people deal with the season of celebration, I quote:

"The Christmas season is always a time of endings and beginnings. The sense of time condensing and then unfolding again is palpable. The Advent season begins, blossoms, and passes by, Christmas comes, with its joy, thick with memories, and then Epiphany, and we go on, leaving the Christmas season behind and entering into the new year. And often this entire season is a whirlwind, filled with preparations of all types. We don’t stop.

We ought to. We ought to stop and be still for a moment. We ought to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. What is it?"

The reason for Christmas is no surprise. It is to celebrate the birth of the messiah, Jesus Christ. Was is the most appropriate way to celebrate Christmas then? Definitely not with lots and lots of food or expensive presents. This is what I try to teach my kids, not to expect many gifts. If we are celebrating Jesus' birth then how do we find the real meaning in the celebration? The article linked above gave us the answer, "We find Christ through love." and "So, if we act out of love, we are acting out of the Spirit of Christ."

For Christmas, all followers of Christ should do some act, any act to anyone, whether they are for your loved ones, strangers or any people in need. It doesn't have to cost you a lot of money, but give your time, your energy and your love. Act out of love and that's the best way to celebrate Christmas as Christians. Have a Blessed Christmas to all Christians and Happy Holidays to all! God bless each and everyone of you.

Deliciously Johor

The boys are finally back home with us after two week being away at their Grandparents'. Except for the multiple mosquito bites on their legs and hands, they are fine and enjoyed their stay thoroughly. The boys are already planning to spend 3 weeks next year! But that has not been decided yet, ok boys? (I am typing this because they are watching the screen while I type).

Anyways, we are back home and somethings that the boys remember and miss is the food that Johor has to offer. My eldest now have a new favourite food, Mee Rebus Johor! I have almost forgot what that tasted and my dear father bought us a pack to try while we were there. So now, I am thinking if I should try cooking it sometimes for my son. But the recipes that I can get from the Internet are so surprisingly difficult! I never realised that a seemingly simple plate of mee rebus requires so many ingredients and so much work. Now I am having second thoughts, hmmm, am I up to the challenge or should I go find somewhere in Kajang that serves Mee Rebus Johor Style?! This remains to be seen.

Other than that, our other favourite Johor or specifically BP food are Char Chai Tua Kueh (stir fried radish cakes), 'O' Luak or 'O' Chien (Fried Oyster), Lontong (I love this for breakfast), briyani, duck noodles, etc.. Thanks to their granparents for buying all these nice delicious food for the boys and ourselves. I forgot to take pictures of them, so I only can provide some pics that I can find from the Internet.

Lontong Johor

Mee Rebus Johor

We will be back in BP for CNY next month. Hopefully we get to taste at least some of them then...

Again, the boys would like to thank their Grandparents for taking care of them so well for 2 weeks and they want to remind that they will be back again, next year end!