.: I'm A Sherlock Holmes In The Making :.

Courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures, 60 Nuffnangers with their guests will be able to catch Sherlock Holmes 2 days before its release date in Malaysia! To win yourself a pair of invites to watch the brilliant detective on the big screen, you’ll first have to prove your wit.

We’ve scattered a mystery Sherlock Holmes image shown above in 2 bloggers’ blogs at their sidebar.

All you need to do is:

1. Track them down and take a screenshot from their blogs (just from one particular blog is good enough) and post the picture in your blog with the title “I’m a Sherlock Holmes in the Making”.

2. Send an email to sherlockholmes@nuffnang.com with your full name and blog URL

Now you must be waiting for the clues to which 2 blogs in Malaysia have we hidden the mystery Sherlock Holmes image, right? They are hidden in..

a) The Land of Cheeser Dot Com (mix it a little to find the answer)

b) KYCakap Dot Com (a little translation might help)

No brainer right? :)

Red Box #04 (Ben's selection)

I'm bringing sexy back

Them other boys don't know how to act

Come let me make up for the things you lack

Cause your burning up I gotta get it fast

-Justine Timberlake:Sexy Back-

.: Fringe Benefits :.

After much contemplation, I finally decided to go ahead with bangs! :)

Red Box #03 (Yin's selection)

It starts in my soul

And I lose all control

When you kiss my nose

The feelin shows

Cause you make me smile

Baby just take your time now

Holdin me tight

-Colbie Caillat:Bubbly-

.: Bacon, Mushroom & Cheese Scones :.

I heart scones. There's just something bout scones that are so addictive that I just wanna bake 'em, bake 'em and bake 'em.

And since I was itching to try savoury scones, I finally manage to bake these lovely babies on Friday.

The recipe is very simple, a slight modification from my earlier Buttermilk Scones recipe.

Ingredient A
10 oz (285 grams) all-purpose flour
2 tbs baking powder
dash of salt

Ingredient B
2.5 oz (70 grams) butter (room temperature)
2.5 oz (70 grams) margarine (room temperature)
125 ml buttermilk

Ingredient C
100 grams of bacon, cut into small bits
1 can of button/straw mushroom, cut into small bits
1 large yellow onion, cut finely
Herbs
Chili flakes

Topping
Cheddar cheese
A lil bit of buttermilk

Method:
1) Fry bacon until crisp. Put aside.
2) Fry yellow onion and straw mushroom in butter, until yellow onion turns golden brown. Add salt, pepper & herbs* to taste. Put aside and keep cool.
3) Mix ingredient A. Add ingrediant B & C. Mix well, but remember not to overmix.
4) Shape scone batter into round-flattish shape and place onto tray (or cupcake sheets if you like).
5) Brush the top of scones with some buttermilk. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top of the scones.
6) Put into preheated oven at 220 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

* You can put in whatever herbs you like - thyme, basil, oregano, etc. Or you can just dump in mixed dried herbs like I did.

For Ingredient C, you can use other alternatives such as ham, cooked chicken meat, spinach, bell pepper, tomatoes, etc. It's really your preference.

Red Box #02 (Ben's selection)

You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be but we lost it
All of our memories so close to me just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending

-Avril Lavigne:My Happy Ending-

.: Red Box :.

Kath : Dear; Yin, Ben & I will be goin for karaoke tomorrow morning
JC : Ok, I will remember to bring an umbrella then!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woke up early today, so that the brother, the cousin and I could sing our hearts out and to certain songs, scream out lungs out.

Went to Red Box @ The Curve! :)

We have vowed that are song choices would be extremely emo or extremely chio songs.

I got the list of the 30 songs we sang in 2 hours.... It will be posted in the form of lyrics at the end of all my post, starting from this one! :)

Red Box #01 (Yin's selection)

From the bottom of my broken heart

Even though time may find me somebody new

You were my real love, I never knew love

'Til there was you

From the bottom of my broken heart

-Britney Spears : From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart-

.: Purse Hook :.

I know I promised Cynthia pictures of my purse hook. Sorry Cynth, I have not find time to camwhore with my DSLR. Gimme a lil more time :)

.: New Moon :.

I was driving on the way to work yesterday, and over the radio, Hitz.FM two radio DJ, Ian and JJ, were discussing about the big fuss over New Moon; a movie due to launch in Malaysia today.
And there were callers who have called, in high-pitch squeaky voices and full of enthusiasm trying to ‘convert’ this two DJs to like the movie.

There was one caller who even begged to be given a free movie ticket to watch the premier last night.

And here I am, having a pair of tickets to watch New Moon (courtesy of Nuffnang – thank to Yin too).

And to be honest, after watching the first of Twilight saga – Twilight, I didn’t really enjoyed it. In fact, I resent it soooo much, that me and my cousins have decided to use the word ‘twilight’ as an adjective in our Couzzietionary.

Anyways, here is my absolutely BLUNT, HONEST and BRUTAL review of New Moon – The Twilight Saga.

Good news: It was not AS BAD AS Twilight!

Bad news: It was still BAD!

Sorry to all you screaming Twilight fans (did you know that there’s a group of people going around calling themselves Twilighter? Like WTH?) out there.

I did not gasp or hyperventilate when Edward Cullen first appearance on screen in this movie (many did!)

I did not sob or moved to tears at any ‘so-called’ touching moments between Edward and Belle (many did!)

And no, I did not felt anything when *spoiler alert* Edward proposed to Belle at the end of the movie (many was gasping, oohhh-ing and awww-ing!)

The only consolation was that there was an eye candy for me spelt J-A-C-O-B! *wolf whistle*



Now, not only did his hawt body caught my attention, but there was a hint of chemistry or at least some form of emotion between him and Belle. Unlike scenes between Edward and Belle, where I felt no electricity or sparks flying whatsoever, at least with Jacob, I could ‘feel’ his love for Belle.



Well, no points for guessing which team I am on.

Go TEAM JACOB! :)

Having said that, based on my discussion with many others, I believe that the book by Stephanie Meyer would be much better read that watching the movie itself.

So anyone to loan me the whole series? :)

.: Mandarin :.

My brother is into the first week of his Mandarin class.

A few nights ago, I asked him what he learnt there thus far, and he opened his book, referred to some phrases he wrote down, and started saying a few words.

Now, I am a banana, and my Mandarin is half-past-six, but it’s not as bad as him, who can’t even distinguish between Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien. So when he said some of the phrases, I could not really understand what he was tryin to say. I asked for the English translation – and when he gave them to me, I was like “Nooooo… it’s suppose to be pronounced as such-and-such.”

He insisted that his pronunciation was correct and endorsed by his Mandarin teacher, so I did the only thing I could think off at 11pm that night – I called Tammie. And of course, I was thinking to myself, I shouldn’t be selfish and be the ONLY one amused and entertained by my brother attempts to speak Mandarin.

I made my brother said a phrase to Tammie – he struggled a few times, and Tammie could not understand. And so he passed the phone to me, and I said the same phrase. She could perfectly understand me.

So there we were, humoring ourselves as Ben tried to say “mother scolding horse” (a tongue twister in Mandarin), and silly lil things like that.

Well Tam, hope you had a great laugh over the incident! I know I did! :)

.: Load Of BullJit :.

Jit Murad’s back! And it’s smooth and waxed!

Reknowned playwright, raconteur, actor, aspiring balloon-boy and lover, Jit Murad takes the stage and the house hostage to foist anecdotal musings on love, life, toothpaste and a whole lot of bull.

Come and catch this award-winning playwright in one of his rare live performances. Seven shows only. Don’t miss a great night out!

TICKET PRICES: Evening Shows - RM 65 and RM 55, Matinee show - RM 55 and RM 45
STUDENT TICKETS: Student tickets are at RM38 for students with valid IDs.
SENIOR CITIZEN: Senior Citizen tickets are at RM 38 with ID.

All Prices are included RM 2.20 TicketCharge Fee. For making payment using credit card, there will be additional charges of 2.70% on every each ticket sold, also for purchasing tickets through internet in TicketCharge, there will be additional charges of RM 1 on every each ticket sold.

CHARITY PREVIEW: 24 Nov, all proceeds go to Nur Salam Children’s Home. Call Kimmy on 019-6712938. Pre show food and drink start at 7.00pm.

JC is bringin me to watch this stand-up comedian this Saturday! :)

.: A Movie Date! :.

Ring-ring....ring-ring....

Mr.F : Hello?
K : Hello, urm Uncle, it's K here. Was wondering if I can ask B out tonight for a movie?
Mr.F : Oh, what time is the movie? And what time will you bring B back?
K*still sweating* : Movie starts at 9pm, should end about 11pm. B will be back before 12.
Mr.F : Before your car turns into a pumpkin?
K*nervous laugh* : Yeah, before my car turns to a pumpkin.
Mr.F : Ok, I will need to ask Mrs.F first, and I will message you back.
K : Ok, thanks Uncle!

On MSN :

K : Called for dad, butttttttttttttttt he needs to check with your mom first.
B : Lol. Then we have to wait!

Minutes later

Beep-beep.....beep-beep....

You have (1) new message

*holds breath as K reads the message*

Mr.F : Ok, approved!

On MSN

K : Ok, your dad approved!
B : Lol. OK!

I never knew it could be so nerve-wreaking to ask someone out on a date.

Oh, btw, K is me and B is Benedict. And Mr.F is Uncle Freddy, Benedict's dad.

On MSN

K : Gosh, feels like im a guy askin sumone's daughter out for a date!
B : Now you know how guys have to ask girl out!

P/S : Many thanks Nuffnang for the Ninja Assassin tickets! See you fellow Nuffnangers there tonight!

.: Focus :.

DSLR Lesson on Focus

Now you see me.....


... now you don't!

.: From A Grumpy Pot To A Vain Pot :.

My cousin Tammie, send me a sms with just one word "SOS!"

Thinking what cruel fate might befall on this cousin of mine, I immediately called her back.

I asked her what was wrong, and she said "This morning I woke up and I looked into the mirror and saw....."

Before she completed her sentence, I interrupted to say "Don't tell me you saw a pimple? Is this your SOS?!"

To which she replied "No!" (thankfully, or I will strangle her for callin this an SOS)

"I have a red dot in my eye. And I am worried."

Since I have no idea what a red dot is doing in her eye, I googled it and explained to her from the info I got online that it is known as a subconjuntival hemorrhage and it is not as serious as it sounds and will eventually go away.

But, she was still so concern, and asked me if I am sure that it's only temporary and eventually go away. I assured her a couple of times, and to a point I got an epiphany, and asked her "Are you concern because of vanity reasons of because of health reasons"

And she replied, without a pause " 59% because of vanity!".

And that is my cousin, Tammie, for you.

Note : Her nickname when she was a tiny tot was Grumpy Pot coz (obviously) she was really a grumpy baby! Now, she's just a Vain Pot!

.: Introvert :.

Given that I am an introvert by nature, I just get nervous and all jittery doing with people/in front of people, whom I have not known for a long time/met before.

The first and second time I taught Sunday School, I was a nervous wreck!

The first and second time I gave a speech (once my Biology teacher invited me to give a speech to all the pure science Form 5 students in SMDJ and the other was my Sunway talk), I was nervous like crazy!

Now, I got another 'opportunity' to give another speech at Sunway's Open Day........ should I, or should I not?

Hmmmmmm......

.: All I Want For Christmas :.

All I want for Christmas is......

YOU to click on my Nuffnang adverts. Please, please, please!

.: (I Feel The Rolling Thunder To) My Fingertips :.

I like working here. My colleagues (including my bosses) are absolute jokers.

When we work, we really work.

When we laugh, we laugh out loud (till you may think that we are some high school kids playing a prank on each other).

It’s a good working environment; everyone is so polite and pleasant, including the tea lady and office boy. I mean, I never had the tea lady or the office boy greet me good morning everyday til I came here.

All is good, all in all....

And my boss Speedy (we named him so coz he walks fast, talks fast, and thinks fast - so if you want to be at the top of the game, you have to be like him) is a nice boss to work with too.

Just that there are some time where Speedy comes up to me with a 'Hey Shan, just wanna ask you......' and give a scenario of possible structures and expects me to know at my fingertip on the accounting treatment for these scenarios. [Yes, my boss calls me Shan, which makes me a tad bit uncomfortable, coz it's what my close friends call me!]

But sad to say, I don't have it all at my fingertips. In fact *look at my fingertips* I don't think I have anything at all. *laughs*

I think it's bout time me and TLT spend the weekend together, most likely in bed. TLT (Tan Liong Tong) is the I-Ching textbook of consolidation, not some hot hunky guy *too bad*!

Sigh.

It's for your own good Kath! :)

p/s : a prize to someone who can tell me what song the title above is from? no cheating, do not google!

.: Loan Application : Round 2 :.

Stressness! Lord, please give me the wisdom and patience to deal with this whole loan negotiation thing!

Sigh

.: My Howse :.

My lunch time is now filled with finding the best financing rates for my current apartment. So many things I need to enquire on, so many negotiation on tryin to get the BEST rates. And then of course there's drafting of the S&P.

Gosh, at times like this, I am so thankful for Daddy's help....

Stressness!

.: I Can Have My Emo Moments Too :.

I.hate.milestones.coz.it.makes.me.emo.....

I.got.emo.after.my.SPM.results.

I.got.emo.after.my.ACCA.results.

I.got.emo.when.I.turned.21.

I.got.emo.after.winning.a.world.prize.for.ICAEW.and.after.completing.my.final.paper.

I.got.emo.after.getting.an.early.promotion.this.year.

I.got.emo.after.signing.the.agreement.to.purchase.my.apartment.unit.

I.am.emo.now.after.getting.my.DSLR.

As.always,I.feel.like.I.am.unworthy.and.undeserving.of.all.this!

Don't.ask.me.why.I.am.just.like.this.for.the.longest.time....

.: Battle Of The DSLR - And The Winner Is... :.

Oct 19 : The battle of Nikon vs Canon.....

Round One. *ting*

Nov 17 : Well, guess what? After much thought and research, I finally settle for this!







So more beautiful pictures coming up! Once I learn the 101 on DSLR camera first! Haha :)

Now since I have done so much research, let me share with you that if your interested to get a D5000 Nikon, please remember to check if it's under the recall list (due to some power switch problem). For the Serial Number Check, please refer to this website here!

.: STPM :.

Dearest Tammie,

All the best in your STPM examination this coming Thursday! May the Lord bless you with infinite wisdom, calmness & serenity as well as good health during the whole examination period.

Lotsa big sister lurve,
Jie
XoXo

P/s: can’t wait to spend a whole load of fun time with you guys after your exams! :)

.: Give A Gift :.

When the Lord told me to give ALL of my first month’s salary, I gave, whole-heartedly.

When the Lord asked me to bless a sister in Christ, I blessed, whole-heartedly.

God has been speaking to me audibly these past few months, and it has always been about giving.

Give and you shall receive.
Bless and you shall be blessed.

It is not easy for someone like me who’s frugal with my spending (except for the occasional impulsive buys and splurges) to be asked to give. But I obediently obey.

My first key lesson was TRUST.
Now, its OBEDIENCE.

.: Another Milestone :.

I bought an apartment. Just signed the deal with the agent last Saturday. Not those high-class, expensive ones, but a small, medium-cost apartment in Sri Damansara.

Cash outflow : Approximately RM700 per month
Cash inflow (from rental) : Approximately RM600 per month (that's the existing rate for the existing tenancy agreement)

So effectively I will be paying RM100 per month and at the end of the day I get to own an apartment. Not that bad a deal I suppose.

Still haven't figure out if I should move in there, or keep it for investment purpose (i.e. collect rental).

Anyhows, its another other milestone of my life.....

.: Recipe : Buttermilk Scones :.

"Taste like the ones they have in Equatorial" all three of my colleagues commented. I brought four pieces, one of my colleague was on leave today, so one of the 'tam chiak'(greedy) colleague of the three took two pieces. Tsktsktsk!

I am so glad that the scones turned out well.

Actually, I was quite skeptical as when I mixed all the ingredient, it turned out more 'watery' that 'doughy'. Hence, I didn't use a cutter but rather used my hands to lump it into a freestyle, organic-looking scones.

It turned out really moist and soft - my bro, JC and later on my three colleagues gave the seal of approval.

So here's there recipe for me to share :

Ingredient A
10 oz (285 grams) all-purpose flour
2 oz (60 grams) brown sugar [if you are using white sugar, I suggest you cut down slightly, but then again, its really your preference how sweet you want your scones to be]
2 tbs baking powder
dash of salt

Ingredient B
2.5 oz (70 grams) butter (room temperature)
2.5 oz (70 grams) margarine (room temperature)
125 ml buttermilk + a few drops of vanilla essence

55 grams of raisins [or more, depending on your preference]

Step 1 : Sieve Ingredient A together in a mixing bowl

Step 2 : Add in Ingredient B and give it a mix with a spatula. Apparently, the key to making good, light, fluffy scones, is not to overdo with the mixing. Hence, slow and big hand movements. Electric mixer is not recommended.

Step 3 : Add raisins

Step 4 : Shape scone batter into round-flattish shape and place onto tray (or cupcake sheets if you like).*

Step 5 : Brush the top of scones with some buttermilk.

Step 6 : Put into preheated oven at 220 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

*For my case, the batter was too soft to be cut with a round cookie cutter, hence I just shaped it with my hand. The original recipe calls this step. Pls note. Pat dough into a 2cm-3cm thick round. Using a round cutter (or a cup), cut dough into rounds and place them on a pre-greesed tray.

Oh, this recipe yields about 6-8 generous sized scones. So be prepare to double or triple it should you want more! :)

Updated : I've tried making scones again today, but it didn't turn out as good as the first batch. Could be due to 3 reasons.

1) It was a successful mistake, albeit measured the ingredient wrongly, but it tasted great.
2) I used a different brand of flour - could it have caused the second batch to be not as milky as the first?
3) For the second batch, I used white sugar instead of brown sugar.

Well, good news is, if it's 2) & 3), I will be able to tell when I use the same brand as I did for the first batch. But bad news is, if it's 1) it's gonna take alot of trial and error before I get it 'right'

That means (for now) I can't get my 'Equatorial Scones' anymore! *big sobs*

Nevermind, I will not give up. I am gonna get it right! Till then, bear with me for a while.

.: My Prayer :.

Lord,

I pray that You’d bless this next big step that I am going to make. Pray that everything will transact smoothly in accordance with Your timing and Your will. Pray that You’d grant me the wisdom to see the whole deal through and favor from the people I deal with.

Amen.

.: Teacher, Teacher :.

I guess at one point or another, someone has at one point in life, stated somewhere or another, that their ambition to be a teacher. I remember one of my very first BM karangan, I wrote “ Cita-cita saya menjadi guru” (translated : my ambition is to be a teacher).

But of course that was before I know that accountancy is where all the ca$h is hence, I am where I am today. *laughs*

Jokes aside, I have always felt that my calling lies with teaching. And until yesterday, it finally daunts me that I have been a ‘teacher’ all my life.

Although I don’t have a class of student that stands everytime I walk into class to greet me “Se..la…matttt…se….jahhh…te….raaaa, cik……guuuuuuuuu….” or kids running up to me and call me “teacher, teacher” (tho occasionally when the Sunday School kids I teach gets overly excited and decides that ‘teacher, teacher’ is more easily to call than ‘jie-jie shan lyn’), I am unofficially a teacher at every point in my life.

When I was about 2, my brother, Ben, came into the world. And subsequently, he became my ‘student’ as he mimics whatever I do. You know la, kids – they are like a sponge, absorbed everything you say and do.

And then later, there was Yin.

And Tamie.

And Shyang.

And Kevin.

And it was when I was 16, that I started to teach my brother maths. It was brain-wrecking I tell you, coz firstly, you have to have a patience of a saint, and secondly, my brother was one heck of a stubborn guy and all he was interested in was the answer in itself, not the way to derive the answer. As long as the answer matched with the answer behind the workbook, he’s happy, until the next similar question comes along; and he scratch his head, stomp his feet, curse the author of the workbook, and then comes to me to say ‘Jie, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do this question!’ And when I teach him how to derive to the answer, he look at me and say ‘OH!’ and goes on happily to the next question. And the cycle repeats itself.

And then in Form 4 & Form 5, I had the *cough* pleasure *cough* of teaching my classmate Dinah on Add Maths. Now, this lass can be sweet and all, but again, requires someone which absolutely high patience to teach her (bearing in mind as SPM approaches closer and closer, all of us gets stresser and stresser). So far, the only two veterans left that could stand teaching Dinah was myself & Sue May. Alethea, Jesamine & Qianhui had long fallen out. *lol*

At my workplace, I try my best to be a good mentor/boss rather than one who just throws work at you and expects you to finish the work, without further explanation and rationalization why you are doing this or that. An ex-colleague once told me that he learnt more that me in a few months than he did when in a year under another accountant.

Oh, and then there’s the occasional coaching on Benedict on his maths homework. And I did teach Kevin his algebras (another Ben in-the-making – absolutely horrendous with Maths!). Ah, and then there was teaching at my uncle’s maths center Eureka! in Damansara Uptown for a couple of days.

After I completed my ACCA course, I was giving free consultations to my close family members on their personal tax planning, teaching them the more effective (legal of course) ways to save tax.

And of course, last but not least being a Sunday School teacher – one of the greatest joy in my life!

Sigh.

Sometimes it’s the lil things in life that I recall that just makes me happy :)

.: Cut, Cut, Cut :.

THE controversial P1 Wimax broadband advertisement which repeatedly stressed on the word potong (cut), is now being reviewed by the Malaysian Communications and Multi-media Commission (MCMC). -The Star-

A popular advertisement aired over television and radio is being scrutinised by the Communications and Multimedia Commission for content violation following complaints, deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Senator Heng Saei Kie told the house yesterday. -New Straits Times-

When I heard about this issue being announced on the radio this morning, I can't help but smirk to myself of how PETTY Malaysian politicians are.

I mean like, isn't there bigger issues that they need to resolve instead of a humorous, creative and in my opinion, non-offensive advertisement like this.

I am no Bahasa expert, but I believe that the word potong, simply means cut. And of course, the subtle humour behind this advert may also mean 'circumcise', but no where was it explicitly mentioned. Hence, how can this be offensive?

And what may follow next?

That MCMC also would review 'circumcised ice cream' (ais krim potong)?

Aiyo!

.: Piano Teacher :.

One things for sure..... JC can NEVER be a piano teacher. Or a teacher of anything for that matter. He has the patience of one of the seven dwarfs. No points for guessing which one!

Like seriously!

.: Kids Say The Darndest Things - Part III :.

Joel (my 5 year old Sunday School student) was in the lift with mummy, daddy & JC.

When the lift reached the ground floor, and the lift door opened, mummy said to Joel.

Mummy : Say bye-bye, Joel.
Joel : Bye-bye UNCLE.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahah... *gasps for air* ..hahahahahahahahahahaha

UNCLE JC!

I know it wouldn't be funny when this cruel fate befall me, but til that day comes, I will have my fair share of laughs first!

.: Piano Pressure :.

I don't know why I am easily pressured persuaded to do the things I do not want to do.

Sometimes, it's just so difficult to say a firm NO!

Sigh.

Because of this, I'm gonna play the piano for our Sunday School Christmas presentation - the song here.

First things first, I am NOT GOOD with piano. My tempo is always out. And I always miss some key/chords or another. And it's gonna take plenty, plenty, plenty of practise before I can even play a simple song. And I don't have that plenty, plenty, plenty of time, because...if you haven't already notice...CHRISTMAS IS A MONTH AND THE HALF AWAY!

And did I mention I get stage frights? Ok, fine, so the piano ain't exactly gonna be on stage, but still - performing in front of others........ *shudders*

Even the thought of it scares me!

BRIDGET! PLEASE RESCUE ME! PLEASE TAKE MY PLACE!

.: Honeydew Bubur Cha Cha :.

Awww shoot.

Now I realised what I did wrong with my honeydew sago with coconut. No wonder it taste like bubur cha-cha, which actually taste great for those bubur cha-cha lovers out there, but, sadly, I am no fan of bubur cha-chas.

Back to the drawing board (i.e. kitchen) sometime this week.

Maybe I shall go over to my uncle's house to try out this recipe! :)

.: Portuguese Grilled Fish - First Attempt :.

I attempted to create the PORTUGESE GRILLED FISH (IKAN BAKAR PORTUGIS) that we had in Oasis, the small foodcourt in Midvalley.

After much googling - I manage to get a few recipes and picked one that sounded more promising....

The results are below :

Grilled stingray fish (ikan pari) wrapped in banana leaves

Extra spicy with sprinkle of raw, finely sliced shallots

Mixture of ocra aka ladyfingers (bendi), winged beans aka squared beans (kacang botol) & squid (sotong*)

* I know that cuttlefish = sotong, so what is squid in BM?

Anyways, I woke up like 7am in the morning to go to the market (repeat to myself : I am NOT an AH SOH). I wasn't so sure how much the stingray fish usually cost, so I was really hoping that I did not get cheated by the fishmonger.

When I came home, my mom asked me how much I bought it for. And when I say RM 14, she kept quiet. Which means .... I WASN'T CHEATED *jump for joy*

Coz if I were, there's NO WAY my mom would just keep quiet bout it. In fact, I think I may have even gotten it at a bargain! *wink*

The dish turned out to be okay to my standard. There is still something or another lacking that didn't give it the UMPH! that Oasis had. But if I must say, it taste as good as what you could get a mediocre food stall. But I shall not settle for mediocracy, and vow to perfect this dish. So perhaps in the next attempt or so, I will post up the perfected recipe!

For now, just enjoy the pictures (taken by a phone camera - hence, the squid looks pinkish, but it isn't....trust me!)

.: Recipes To Try :.

Recipes that I must, must, must try out someday (in random order):

- Kuih onde-onde
- Kuih dadar
- Scones (recipe from Bridget? - thanks Bridget for recipe)
- Portuguese grilled fish
- Pavlova (recipe from Su?)
- Molton chocolate cakes
- Honeydew sago in coconut milk
- Kung-po chicken
- Lemon mousse
- Caramel pudding

.: Google Alert :.

I think that it is important for you to be abreast with the media spotlight the organization you work with is getting.

No matter how busy you are and sometimes (for my case : most of the time) do not have the lil extras to read the papers*, you still need to know.

* Note: Well, to be honest, I do have those lil spare times in the morning before work, or during lunch, or after work – but… I rather :
1) catch up on my facebook updates ( read : I am NOT a facebook addict, I just need to check my facebook status every other hour)
2) blogwalking ( read : I love reading interesting blogs)
3) blogshopping ( read : the BESTEST way to shop! Psttt… lookout for updates in Threadbarn! )
4) recipe finding ( read : I love googling for recipes randomly!)
5) update my blog ( read : I need to rant & crap at least once a day!)


Imagine the embarrassment if someone comes up to you and at the mention of your workplace organisation’s name, they go “Oh, that’s great…I read that they are XX.” Or “Wow. So do tell about the YY that they are talking about in The Edge last week” and you go like “Erm, I’ve never heard of XX” or “Huh? Isit? YY? I didn’t know that!”

Hence – to mitigate the odds of being in such predicament, one could use Google Alert!

I used it while I was an auditor.

I am still using it as an accountant in HL.

It’s simple to use: just key in your keywords and any news or articles on the particular keyword that you preset will be emailed to you.

Now you can impress your peers with the up to date news of your org and save precious minutes away from the newspapers and watch Grey’s Anatomy (or Sex and The City or HIMYM or whatever tickles your fancy) instead.

Disclaimer: But if you have no knowledge whatsoever of the issues of OneMalaysia, two Peraks and three MCAs; I am not to be blamed ok? :)

.: DUA PULUH EMPAT :.

In exactly ONE month's time, I will turn TWENTY FOUR!

Sigh..sigh...sigh....

.: Dear Mr Sparks :.

Dear Mr Sparks,

I wanted you to know that I am like one of your greatest, biggest fan. I love how you described the love Noah has for Ellie in The Notebook. I love the words you used in the letter Garrett wrote to Theresa in Message In The Bottle. I love how you brought up the innocent and pure love of Jamie and Landon in A Walk To Remember. I love the ending you unexpectedly created for Wilson and Jane in The Wedding or Jeremy and Lexie in At First Sight. And I did bawled my eyes out reading all of those.

But Mr Sparks, I must say that The Road To Rodanthe was quite a disappointment. To me, it was just a mediocre novel, and perhaps I have expected much more from you since you’ve set such a high benchmark with all the other novels I have read.

I don’t understand Mr Sparks, how Adrianne and Paul can fall madly and deeply in love, in just a matter of days. As much as I am helplessly romantic at heart and I know that tho it is remotely possible that once you lay eyes on your soulmate, you know that it is them and them alone that you want to spend the rest of your life with, it does happen. But I didn’t felt that chemistry between Adrianne and Paul. I couldn’t feel the intensity and passion of their love, as much as I could feel the way Wilson loved Jane.

And the letters written by Paul is pale in comparison with what Garrett's final letter to Theresa or Noah’s beautiful poetic letters to Allie.

And Mr Sparks, for the second time of the SEVEN novels (The Gurdian being the first) of yours that I have read, I did not shed a single tear.

But no matter what, I am still your greatest fan, and I look forward to reading your other novels such as – Dear John, The Chance, The Lucky One, The Last Song, True Believer......

P/s : I made JC read your novel too Mr Sparks :)

Your greatest fan,

Kathlynn

XoXo

Click here for full post on links of Mr Sparks novel that I have read.

Alt, use the "search this blog" function on the top left and type "Nicholas Sparks"

.: Jodi's Story (Part II) :.

I have finished reading two of Jodi Picoult’s novel which I have picked out from the library a couple of weeks back – The Pact & Vanishing Act.

The Pact - definitely a good read, I must say one of her best novels I have read. But, it can get a lil bit depressing especially when you have at a point in your life dwelled into depression and thoughts of suicide. But kudos Jodi for being able to capture the inexplicable mind and thoughts of a teenager!

Vanishing Act - this book took me like two weeks to read. It wasn't the best of Jodi I would say, and the plots and characters are someone monotonous and just didn't hit the right spot for me I guess. I felt that some of her elaboration are off tandem with the theme of the books, causing myself to very quickly lose interest as the plots seems to have diverged into too many sub-plots.

Again, the problem with reading novels that are written by the same author is that you kinda get bored with the writing styles. Tho Jodi did try very much to change her style in writing across her novels, I seem to notice that after reading 5 of her books, there are really some strong, distinct style of writing that you could almost immediately say – ah-ha, that’s a Jodi novel.

Number 1: The way she loves to describe so much about court cases and prison time. She goes really deep into it, and it is good in the sense that it shows that she has done her research well (or perhaps she has been to prison/involved in a hearing case herself?) but there are some novels that can give a go at all the explicit details.
Novels in which is used : Vanishing Act, The Pact, Perfect Match
Where it was appropriate : The Pact, Perfect Match
Where it wasn’t appropriate : Vanishing Act

Number 2 : Playing with time-zone/flashbacks. How she write about 'now' in one chapter, and then 'flashbacks' in the next chapters. Really worked really well for The Pact, but in my humble opinion, Songs of the Humpback Whale can do without.

Where it was used : The Pact, Songs of The Humpback Whale, Second Glance

Where is was appropriate : The Pact, Second Glance

Where it was not appropriate : Songs of The Humpback Whale

Number 3 : Narration among individual characters of the novel
Novels in which is used : Vanishing Act, Songs of The Humpback Whale

Where it was appropriate : All of the above
Where it wasn’t appropriate : N/A

But what I really do love about her is how she manage to touch sensitive issues - genetic selections and races in Second Glance, teen suicide in The Pact, child sexual molestation in Perfect Match, the right way vs the legal way in Vanishing Act.

Overall, still a brilliant author :)

.: Two Movies :.

Imagine my excitement when I found out I won a pair of movie tickets to watch The Time Traveler’s Wife AND on top of that, the novel itself.

*does a silly dance*

And tomorrow, I will be watching together with fellow Nuffnangers the premiere screening of Thai horror movie Phobia 2 in One Utama.

Oh happy day, oh happy day :)