糖水without the 糖

The long weekend, I boiled 糖水 without the 糖, but happy as everyone like it :D

the yellow, orange & purple sweet potatoes + ginger

all into the pot with lots of pandan leaves...simmer with slow fire

my daily dose of vitamin N

I guess I'm not cut out to be a city girl aunty

I think I have vitamin N deficiency & need high daily dose of vitamin N(ature) for me to function well, else I'll feel lethargic and fatigue all day long.

But it's kinda not-that-easy to find a decent spot that can offer genuine vitamin N, so sometimes I just make do with whatever-I-can-find or placebo vitamin N.

Making full use of the 'solo' time of 15-20 minutes of time before start work (if I arrive early) to 'sit down & relax' before the start of another hectic day.

So here I'm hanging out on to the last available dosage of vitamin N within my reach. 

Here, trying to avoid those concrete jungle sky scrappers getting into the picture, but futile attempt

A rare glimpse to boost vitamin N effeciency

Here, trying to cheat with some 'placebo' 

To add salt to injury, reading a naturopathy book that emphasize on the importance of vitamin N

At least, this is a consolation, enjoying a custard apple from my backyard for breakfast

一位父亲的故事

About 2 moons ago, we met schoolmates' father (Uncle A) at a nearby coffee shop.
Uncle has just came from a dentist appointment at the klinik pergigian (government dental clinic).
Uncle mentioned nowadays after retiring, everything better go to kerajaan, cheaper.
As we talked, most naturally stories of children and parents were brought up.
Uncle asked about my husband's parents and updated us about his children (DA and SA).
DA is married and living with his wife in UK.
SA is married with 4 children living with her husband in Singapore.

Uncle mentioned her daughter's husband is very good. takes good care & spend time with family. and even they are living far away, he gets to meet his grandchildren online.
Meanwhile his son has a not-so-even tempered wife and is controlling his son.
Then he looked at me and said, in his religion, the man should be the pillar of the home, the man should be the decision maker, the wife can give opinion and support.

It was what uncle A said towards the end of conversation pains my heart.
"I just ask for 70£ out of his 5, 6k pay, that's like less than 2% of his pay but just the other day, he just email me to say he no longer can afford to give me. 
He doesn't even bother to explain. 
Uncle say he don't understand."
Uncle sounded and looked sad. I couldn't bear to bring myself to look at him.

That was about the last words we heard from him before he left the coffee shop.

I told myself never to judge, for I do not know what others are going through each day.
I myself have my fair share of problems too.

feeling serai (read : sir-ray-ee)

For a person who do not have green fingers, nothing beats the satisfaction of harvesting own fruits roots of labour.

Capturing the mess, the grass and the roots of serai (lemongrass)

The end product which distributed among relatives, neighbours and colleagues

9 years already

Mi,

I've always wonder what it is like if you are still around. 

I know I shouldn't think too much ... but I couldn't help it.

Yesterday, when I told your grandchildren how much I love them, 

I couldn't help to add : I love you very very very much just like how I love popo.

Life for your husband and children has its fair share of ups and downs.

Some we managed to pull through, some we are pulling through.

wherever you are, take care mi,

don't worry about us 

I love you forever

story of cosmetics and personal care products

It's a choice we can make
Just sharing, no offense really

been there?

Many at times, we just need a little more awareness ..

RTHK breastfeeding awareness campaign

http://programme.rthk.hk/rthk/tv/programme.php?name=tv%2Fwomanwithdreams5&d=2016-05-21&p=7174&e=357925&m=episode#

the 'soon-to-be's ...

Off late I tend to appreciate present more 

present as in 'this moment' 

because for the 1st few months of 2016, I've encountered countless occasions where things just changed when I blinked.

*So much so that I dare not sleep much because that means catching 40 winks* =p

there are things that heavily concerned me (which I am feeling burdened but couldn't share)

there are things that partially concerned me 

there are things that doesn't really concern me ... ie. will be relocated to be seated right in front of office door  

(my tolerance level just got better eh)  

all of which I'm trying my best to solve and overcome those 'bumps on the road'

sometimes when I find myself start to ask 'why me?', 'why so many life tests?' 

I pulled myself back and say 'it could be worse' so don't complain and face it like a (wo)man.

One thing for sure, I need to 'love me more'

so that I can go on ...  

 

why i like buying clothes for children?

why i like buying clothes for children?

I think subconsciously it has to be the guilt of not being able to be with them most of the time, if not all the time.

So to make up, I got them something that would able to

hug them

touch them

protect them all the time

Did I also mentioned that I also especially like to buy pyjama?

that's because it's the most comfortable piece of clothes and worn during the most relaxing time of the day.

talking about quirky habits..

ironing + listening to radio = not that bad

Let's be honest

Ironing is not something I like to do .. 

• the heat coming from the iron in this hot weather
• the technique of getting the best angle to iron in the least steps / flips
• the traditional chinese medicine theory of not standing with direct contacts of bare feet to the ground and not touching water after ironing (so the dampness / wind cannot go inside body)
• how restricted and repetitive the action of ironing can be
• how thirsty I'll become

Yet, almost every weekend / alternate weekend, the ironing need to be done.

So I derived a way to mellow down my 'not something I like to do'

I choose to see it as 'the time I get to listen to radio without disruption' 

and I found it's not that bad

I'm too busy singing along or listening to what the DJ / lyrics have to say that I iron on an auto pilot mode.

So far the result ok, no attire holed / burnt...hehe =p

ps. now it's time to get outside to cut grass ... enjoy the morning dew and air.

Have a nice day!

洋蔥

(KTV)-洋蔥

Nice song, sharing a male & female version

Grounds for our ground

Gone were the days when I have to be thick-skinned to ask major coffee joints for grounded coffee bean. Read about history here
Cause now they are providing it for free ... and it's so accessible.
Love Starbucks for their corporate responsibility initiative ... at least the waste is put to good use and not wasted

I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you

English song is not something I listen to frequently.
Somehow I just couldn't figure the full lyrics of the song while listening to it (blame it on my half baked English)
However, this song stands out.
I just fall in love with it the 1st moment I heard it.
I never found out the name of the song but when my eldest asked me what song do I want to listen to on youtube.
I told him "I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you"
and I added "This is one of mama's favourite song"
So they will get excited and exclaim that is 'mama's favourite song' each time we heard it played somewhere sometime.

Then today, something got into me that I went searching for the lyrics
and you got it right
It even got better and more meaningful.
Here to share a beautiful song (also to have it archived due to my deteoriating memory) 

Meghan Trainor Ft John Legend Like I'm Gonna Lose You Lyric

separating waste

Despite a tumultous 2015 with all the *bs* from the leaders 

if you asked me is there still a tinge of hope ... 

I would say, for 2015, that 1 thing that I think we somehow got the right direction is 

'separating waste'

I know I know

what's the use of separating waste when we can't even get our education system right?

ps. I suspect I could be environmentalist in my previous lives, else why do I always have a weak spot for the environment?... haha

The absence of presence or is it the presence of absence

I have to admit ...

I'm sometimes having this syndrome @ work 

the syndrome of 'the absence of presence or is it the presence of absence'

(Let's hope my bosses doesn't stumble upon this post)

I'm not sure if you do experience it as well?

In chinese we call it 心不在现

Sometimes I find myself thinking about the other 1001 things I need to do / achieve personally instead of what needs to be done at work.

I do feel guilty but it can't be help.

You can say I'm selfish but I'm just human.

At the end of the day, I just need to ensure I get my work done & deliver accordingly.

Come to think of it, no wonder I'm never on the ''to-be-promoted' list.

I just don't have that 'oomph' 

how safe is our personal care product?

I know this is like a little extreme ... I've been using them for decades
But sometimes it's good to know, at least we have the freedom to choose.

Your skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients from nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic chemicals found in personal care products. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being.

<img src="http://media.mercola.com/assets/images/infographic/personal-care-products.jpg" alt="personal care products" border="0" style="max-width:100%; min-width:300px; margin: 0 auto 20px auto; display:block;"><p style="max-width:800px; min-width:300px; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;">Your skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients from nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic chemicals found in 

<a href="http://www.mercola.com/infographics/personal-care-products.htm"><strong>personal care products</strong></a>. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being. </p>

Hello 2016 Goodbye 2015

Years and again, there will be this loooooong overdue new year post
(despite years of resolutions to overcome procrastination!)

So here we are 18 days after we step into 2016.
Had a few new beginnings this year especially for our children.

this year these will be my objectives : 

• Living the moment 
• Presence as present

For the crossover (and till now), glad we have been doing some great home improvements. 

Nothing major nothing drastic, just some serious decluttering, rearrangements and 

most importantly adding more 'warmth' to our home sweet home.

Most likely to be busy till the lunar new year come. 
Till then, take care & have a good year everyone! =)

source : google image