MY LIFE, MY OBSESSION, MY THINGS

'REAL' Winter Comes To Den Haag

2009-12-22T10:30:00.004+01:00

His "iceman" LOL!!

Konigswinter & Cologne, Germany

2009-12-14T12:55:00.008+01:00

Yesterday, the Malaysian Ladies Association organized a visit Cologne, Germany. On the way to Cologne, we stopped at a place called Konigswinter. Situated at the right bank of the Rhine River, makes its scenery so beautiful and calm. The agenda was to visit the famous castle on Drachenfels (translation: Dragon's Rock) Mountain and to stroll around Konigswinter Town itself. But we were about 1 hour behind the schedule (due to searching for parking lot for bus) so we just had time to choose one activity. So we separated into 2 groups. One group mount the Drachenfles, towards the ruined castle and another just wandered off to the town. I chose to be in the first group tho. :-)
Here are some pictures at Mount Drachenfels.

After that, off we went to Cologne City. As the name implies, Cologne is where 'cologne' come from. I bought my husband a small cologne from 4711 brand. It is one of the first eau de cologne ever been produced. But now, the word "cologne" has become the generic term for perfume/eau de toilette.

There, the program was to visit a chocolate museum in the center of the Cologne City and to see what 'Christmas Market' is (Germany is well known for its christmas market - it's everywhere throughout Germany and it ends on christmas eve - just like Bazaar Ramadhan).

Photos inside the museum:

The tour guide:

The museum from across the street:

This porcelain has something to do with chocolate. The tag said: "Porcelain for chocolate". Whatever... I like it because it's cute!

This museum isn't Lindt's. But Lindt is everywhere in the museum because Lindt is the biggest contributor/donor.

The lady above was making these:

What the museum's store has got to offer:

I bought one of these for my husband LOL.

No photo was taken at the christmas market. Not even one. In spite of the day was getting darker, another reason was there was a great ruck of people... It was so crowded and it wasn't possible for me to stop and taking photo.

Cologne Dom

Sleepless Night

2009-12-04T00:35:00.000+01:00

It's getting late here and my eyes are barely can open but I can't sleep.
I'm not a night owl, so, 12am is very late for me. I usually sleep early but at times, (some times like this)
i can't put myself to sleep. For no reason. It's not healthy because I'll be grumpy.
Not only babies, adults'll get grumpy as well if they don't have enough sleep LOL.

I'm yawning again n again but am tired trying to get some sleep. They say the harder you try to stay awake, the easier you fall asleep.
I wanted to tell you about my day but i have no mood no more. This is annoying huk huk huk.

Suddenly feel hungry but it is too late to eat, although for a fruit.
May be i'll just drink some water.

I think i better try to get some sleep again because i start to feel head-ache now.
I'm gonna have eyebag tomorrow....great.... Sigh....

Just Letting U All Know...

2009-11-26T14:27:00.002+01:00

That I have a few friends staying over right now. I've been going out past few days, I'll be baking on the Aidil Adha's Eve and the feast itself wont allow me to sit peacefully in front of pc. So.. that's why there was no update.

Anyway, I'm using this opportunity to wish u Eid Mubarak. Don't eat too much meat ok peeps?

Dawdling Day

2009-11-18T10:31:00.006+01:00

Been busy this 2 weeks, a little jet lag, thus it takes sometimes fot tuning to my normal routines. Plus, there were some events I had to attend.

As for today I choose to just stay at home, because I had enough of rushing around. I can't not do nothing because there's always something I need to do, housework of course, but at least I can take my own sweet time today. So while my washing machine is spinning in the laundry room and a pile of cleaned clothes need to be folded are sitting behind me, I wish to update my blog whilst bloghopping and surfing at the same time. Actually I somehow am trying to stay away from my computer, not completely staying away from it, because I still need it to reconnect with friends and get some infos and entertainment but I'm trying to do other things rather than sitting in front of the computer all day. Surfing the internet is taking much of my time because my butt seems glued to my computer chair once I sit on it. Bad time management actually. LOL.

You know what, I'm learning swimming now! One of the officers who is working at the same office with my husband is kind enough to teach me how to swim! It's free and she doesn't want anything in return but I've a plan. I'll treat her lunch or buy something for her or her daughter if I'd become a swimmer to express thank you. Although it is not a formal swimming lesson but it is a proper one. She has her way of teaching and mind you, she got a life-saver license. It has been only two times I follow her swimming and I can already glide in water! Although my legs and arms movements are still not synchronized, but at least I can swim for like 4-5 meters already! Well, I certainly need more practice to swim further and I'm planning to go practicing on weekdays with my friend, while my swimming instructor is working at the office!

I have another story to share but, I think I should put in another entry. otherwise, I couldn't post newer entry than this because every anecdote already included in this one. It's just an excuse by the way..I need to unglued my butt and off to hang my clothes. Oh, don't be frustrated there's no picture in this entry. I don't believe that a good post needs one unless it's a photoblog. LOL. See ya!!!

I'm Home...

2009-11-04T10:28:00.003+01:00

It's good to be home. Although this is completely not my motherland, but this is my home. This is where I should be for the time being, and it feels so good, comfy, bliss and pleasant to be in my own place. I feel so sheltered (despites the cold autumn weather). Autumn in the Netherlands is not that nice. Well, the scenery is beautiful but the weather is nasty. It has been raining and pouring since the day I came back.

I haven't had the opportunity to update much during my hols in Malaysia. Oh, mind you, I wouldn't call it a hols anyway, as hols should be time for us to leisure. I would call going back to Malaysia is for carrying out our responsibilities to the family. Plus, it is so different now, all sorts of thing is expensive, everything costs a bomb. Life in Malaysia is so hectic everyone in a rush (except those who are lucky ones). I miss my activities and my lady-of-leisure-wannabe life. But on the top of that, I was happy because I could see my mother and be with her for a while. For those who was asking about her and prayed for her health, I only could express my thanks for your concern and Allah will do the rest. Talked to her on the phone twice since I came back and she said she feels better now.

I've been back for a week but I kinda lost my track. For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do, other than doing my housework, I kinda miss doing it maybe (*giggles*) and I don't feel like surfing the internet neither updating this blog, I don't feel like playing any games. I don't know what's going on with me...but I did go to the "Monday rituals" (mengaji) and badminton, for the sake of seeing my friends. I really miss them. It's not that I don't miss my old friends in Malaysia...but they were not there when I went back because they were busy working everywhere in the country. That's why I felt so bored and had nothing else to do other than watching TV.

But now I'm here, back to my normal life, ready for some action! LOL.
I'm breathing the dutch air again and feels like going dutch with some friends! Let's???

A year Older...

2009-10-23T09:51:00.001+02:00

and hoping for a year wiser!!

A Lil' Update

2009-10-13T09:35:00.002+02:00

First and foremost, Selamat Hari Raya. Aidilfitri, I didn't have the opportunity to wish all of you during the feast because I was extremely busy.

I should have been back in Holland by now but I'm still in Malaysia, my mother is sick and I have to look after her for a while and trying to get the doctor change her medicament. Metaprolol (Metoprolol)doesn't suit her. A doctor said that is the first thing he'll throw away. It's not a good drug. It makes your heartbeat very slow. My mother was unconscious a few seconds and it happened a few times; apart from being unwell, malaise, giddy, losing appetite and so forth.

The day I suppose to fly back to Holland, Oct the 9th it is, I felt feverish after sending my husband flying alone. I thot it was whether mild fever or H1N1. To my surprise, it turned out to be something uncommon to an adult. I've got HFM disease. Thank God it is not so serious (no blisters, only red buttons, no ulcers in my mouth but only sore throat and fever was gone in just a day) but right now the red buttons are still on my feet and it makes me not easy to mobile myself. I really pray that I will be ok soon enough because I don't have time to be sick. I have to take care of my mom.

A short one

2009-09-09T16:46:00.002+02:00

I'm busy these days with packing and gardening...in my virtual farm in FB..LOL
There are so many thing happens.. I finally collected my French certificate from the institute. I'm so happy when I had it in my hand. I couldn't enroll the course for this coming term because I would miss 4 out of 10 classes. So i better wait for next session.

I am so happy upon knowing that bellydance class will only be started after i camback from Malaysia..so i won't miss any class!

I will be busy tomorrow because I still have to do some chores before having a long hols.. :-). Freezer need to be defrosted, because I want to switch it off. Fridge need to be wiped, kitchen floor need to be mopped. Kitchen towels need to be washed. Toilet and bathroom need to be cleaned. I want to leave my house in clean mode. Luckily I already do some laundry and ironed piles of clothes.

Luggages are ready, stuffed with things that we want to bring along with us. Wish us a safe journey! I hope to update during the hols though..

Tag: Angry

2009-08-27T12:13:00.002+02:00

This tag is from a dear friend, Yatie, aka Yatiespeed. I drafted this since lat week but I didn't finisht it. Now that I completed it, I think I should publish it...just for fun, not that I'm angry right now!

1. What would you do if you are angry?
Depends on how cross am I at that time. If I'm really angry, I would take a deep breath but I would feel my face's burning at the same time. I could be cross if I accidentally hit something in the kitchen (because of my clumsiness- which happens very often) and I would hit the thing back. I also cannot resist if somebody scratch my utensils, my non-stick pan for example. Also if somebody flip my story books. You know, some people would flip the page they're reading, me in the other hand would use book mark or anything else that wouldn't need me to flip the page. And, I would really found myself pissed off if people didn't take care of my books they borrowed from me.

2. If you are shocked, could you possibly feel angry?
I think so, but I've never be in the situation where I'm really shocked.

3. How long will you feel angry?
Not that long.

4. What do you do to blow the ill-temper away?
There are a few method I use to channel my anger. One of them is imagination. I would imagine myself throwing plates in the kitchen, sometimes I would imagine myself confronting and showing my tantrum to the person I am mad with. Sometimes I would go near to cool places, wash myself or wudhuk.

5. How often do you think you make others angry?
I don't know. Not if they don't show it. When I was a little girl, I think I've made my parents angry from time to time :-P

6. How frequent you do feel angry?
Not that frequent but I sulk a lot with my husband..haihh..not healthy! LOL

7. Who do you want to tag? If they don't complete the tag, would you be cross?
Since this is Ramadhan, I don't want to make others angry by bugging them with this tag, LOL. But anyone who feels like doing it are most welcome!

Tentative Ramadhan Menu

2009-08-23T11:54:00.004+02:00

I created a list of foods I want to prepare during Ramadhan, so that i don't have to blow my mind during fasting by thinking what to cook for break fasting. This is only 'tentative' list, any suggestion are most welcomed... Please suggest your favorite meals!

Here goes the list:

***********************
1. Meals: White rice, oxtail stew, omelet, sambal belacan and ulam. Dessert: Banana split. Drinks: Grass jelly soy milk (soya cincau)

2. Meals: White rice, lamb shoarma, hati ayam goreng, kangkung goreng belacan. Dessert: Bubur biji nangka. Drinks: soya cincau

3. Meals: Nasi goreng kampung, fried chicken, keropok ikan. Dessert: Strawberry jelly. Drinks: Sparkling Ribena

4. Meals:White rice, fried sliptong (ikan sebelah), ulam, budu Dessert: Ketupat sotong. Drinks: Bandung cincau

5. Meals: White rice, Ayam percik, sambal goreng jawa, and mix vege. Dessert: Milo jelly (dadih). Drinks:Sirap bandung

6. White rice, steamed sea-bass (siakap), fried calamari, vege soup. Dessert: Watermelon. Drinks: Carrot Juice

7. Meals: Curry mee. Dessert: cekodok ikan bilis and honeydew. Drinks: Sparkling ribena

8. Meals: white rice, ayam masak lemak cili padi, stir fry vegetables. Desset and drinks: Lychee

9. Meals: Set nasi lemak with spicy fried chicken. Dessert: buah melaka Drinks: Apple juice

10. Meals: Nasi tomato, ayam masak merah, dalca sayur, sambal belacan Dessert: Ice cream. Drinks: Rose syrup

11. Meals: White rice, seafood tom yum, omelet, ulam, sambal belacan. Dessert: Bubur kacang hijau Drinks: Fruit punch

12. Meals: White rice, black pepper beef, sayur lodeh. Dessert: Curry-puff. Drinks: Sparkling ribena

13. Meals: Nasi minyak, kerutub daging, acar buah, acar timun. Dessert: Fruits. Drinks:

14. Meals: White rice, fried sea-bass with buttered onions, sambal taucu udang, and stir fry vegetables. Dessert: Some cake, maybe?? Drinks: Float

15. Potluck @ embassy.

16. Meals: White rice, chicken padprik, daging goreng kunyit, ulam, budu. Dessert: Bubur pulut hitam Drinks: Mixed fruit juice

17. Meals: White rice, thai green curry, kerabu sotong. Dessert: cara berlauk. Drinks: Milo cincau

18. Meals: White rice, tilapia sweet sour, stuffed paprika and vege. Dessert: bubur kacang hijau. Drinks: Soya drink.

19. Meals:Fried kueytiau, french or curly fries (subject to availability). Dessert: Bubur pulut hitam. Drinks:Iced lemon tea

20.Meals: White rice, ikan bakar, telur rebus, terung bakar, air asam, ulam, budu Dessert: Vanilla jelly(dadih). Drinks:Iced lemon tea
***********************

My husband likes the suggested menu.

Why only 20 meals?
Answer: we're going to spend the rest 10 days in Malaysia :-)

P/s: Please don't giggle to "budu" listed in so many meals. Bear in mind, both of us are Kelantaneses. LOL

Have a blessed Ramadhan!

The Month Full of Blessings

2009-08-22T00:12:00.003+02:00

Wishing all of you a blessed Ramadhan!

Girls of Riyadh

2009-08-19T09:06:00.003+02:00

I had been reading some books to kill some of my summer time.... including this one.
Bought it a few months ago. Never heard of this book tho'. When I first saw it, the red cover drew my attention to it and I found the title was so appealing. Without hesitation I grabbed it and went to the cashier.

As the the title shows, the book contains stories about girls of Riyadh specifically about 4 upper class besties: Sadeem, Gamrah, Lamees and Michelle (half Saudi half American). The book was released in Arabic "Banat Ar-Riyadh" in 2005. This controversial novel was banned instantly after the publication. The detail contents of love stories of 4 young girls tended to arouse some issues although the plot was only generalized by the author. I got to know all these just after finishing this book. People also symbolized it as Riyadh's version of "Sex and the City".

The story was written in serial emails which is very amusing, and each chapter begin with a poem or Quran verse, if not a beautiful lyrics. The English version was published early last year and the English copy is broadly distributed, including Saudi. Now the book has been to translated in a few other languages; French, Dutch and German

Thumbs up to the author!

Me and My Fragile Self

2009-08-12T09:46:00.004+02:00

Despite being sick last week, I had (and still have) to baby sit a 7 year old boy. My boss' son he is. So, be on the internet, or computer is the last thing I could do.

Besides, I'm not in the mood. I don't know why but I feel very fragile and sensitive these days. I sulk to my husband big time, I cross to almost every thing. I feel.... miserable and gloomy...

My mother is sick. Maybe that's why I feel sad. I'm not there to look after her, to comfort her. She always get sick nowadays, after my father passed away. At first she was okay, because she still didn't get the idea how is her life gonna be without my father. But now, she does feel the difficulty. Early this year, she was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. Which are, not in our family. And then she had a pro-longed fever. And because of that, she had lost 10kg. From 50kg to 40kg. She is not too tall, but not short for Asian women, but certainly taller than me. Just, imagine, how skinny she was! Now she has gained 4kg back. To make the situation worse, after she started recovering from the fever, she's having muscle ache. The diabetes is attacking her leg's nerve. I didn't know that diabetes could attack the nerves. She hardly could walk. She lives all by herself at that time, by the help of a few neighbors, a cousin, my auntie and my sister (she's my father's daughter with his ex-wife) that lives nearby. And then, my sister offered her eldest daughter to stay with my mother,(the cousin who lives next door had move out temporarily from the house because of the renovation.)One of my brothers (all of them are my father's sons - I'm her only child) always offers her to stay with him in KL. But being a typical mother, she refused.

My mother tried everything to make the pain goes away. Modern treatments and injections, massage, traditional remedies... Despite the fact that I know, a person still could get diabetes although she/he watches her/his diet very well, what I don't understand is, her sugar level is not that high. There are so many people with diabetes with higher sugar level, but they seemed very healthy and they can do all activities as usual. But my mother, she said she feels very weak.

To think of this, my heart cries. It's my duty to look after my mom...but yet I'm far away. I cannot simply go back to her right now and now because my husband already booked ticket for us to go back this Raya. I feel bad and so guilty. Useless... What a daughter makes me...

Luxembourg & other places...

2009-07-29T18:55:00.003+02:00

Good day! This entry has been in my draft for 2 days. Only now I manage to publish it..

Just came back from sending my husband's lunch and taking 5 from massive kitchen cleaning (you'd never know how scrubbing and polishing cuisine is like before you tried it! Phewww!)

This entry will be some kind of 'short report' on our trip to Luxembourg, Luxembourg City to be exact(and a few other places) last weekend.

We started off our trip that Friday itself (my husband couldn't wait till the next day LOL) and headed up to Brussels (again??). We spent the night there, at a friend's that we usually stay at if we're there.
The next day, after breakfast and a few smokes (for my husband) we continued to a place where my husband always been dreaming he would visit, Bastogne. Bastogne is a small town located in Belgium. It is one of places that hold historical value of World War II.

Mardasson Memorial/American Memorial

View from Mardasson memorial

One of Mardasson Memorial pillars that tell the history of the place

At the same place, there is a Bastogne Historical Center. It is a very interesting museum because all of the equipments as well as other things bastogne historical center are authentic.Frustratingly, visitor is not allowed to take picture inside the museum.

Before carrying on with our journey to the next destination, we passed by the town center of Bastogne.

The Bastogne town

It has been a commonplace to us, if we want to travel somewhere, I will do the research and homeworks about the very place. What to do, where to stay, which part is the heart of the country. So after Bastogne, it was one of my favorite places. Oh, Anyway, it's already in Luxembourg City, the capital of Luxembourg

Familiar???

I made a reservation at a cheap hotel via telephone. The hotel can't be booked through the internet, LOL and the lady whom I talked to said we needed to check-in after 5pm. But we arrived early so we spent sometimes exhaling the Luxembourg City's air.

Adolphe Bridge from a great distance

It was abaout 3.30pm and it was peak Saturday hour I supposed. We hardly find a parking and decided to try our luck to check in ahead of time. We are lucky! The lady at the reception allowed us to! I think the hotel is a family business and she's the owner of the place because she does most of the job. Cashier, waitress (entertaining us during breakfast). Actually it is a small hotel-restaurant. To my surprise, there are a lot of cheap, small hotel-restaurants in the neighborhood. And there are halal restaurant to be found there! We were so lucky because there's one halal food just in front of the hotel we stayed at.

The waiting are cum the reception cum the restaurant

See how small it is? LOL. Our financial still not prepare to pay for a luxury hotel. LOL. Anyways, who goes to europe to stay in bed, right?

After unloading our things, we commenced our expedition exploring the city. The city is not too big so we concluded that we should discover it by foot.Here are some views from "Chemin de la Corniche". Undoubtedly, it is called "Europe's most beautiful balcony"

Petrusse River traverses the Adolphe Bridge

Looks like a little Venice over there..

Casemate du Bock from afar

inside the casemate

Prison breaker wanna be...LOL

Luxembrough's Notre Dame...

The Red Bridge,the most popular spot for suicidal

The next day, after brakfast, my husband decided we should go to his favorite place ever........
Sadly it was closed...so he had to change his plan....

rerouting...

Then, we went to Maastricht, one of interesting places in Netherlands. The centrum was closed on Sunday so we just sightseeing that day

Satisfied peeps?

Today

2009-07-23T15:11:00.005+02:00

Hi all!
Good day! I was bloghopping this morning but I started getting busy not soon after. We're expecting a guest coming over for dinner later in the evening. Hence, I'm busy preparing some dishes. now I'm taking 5, while waiting for husband to come home from work. Still in anniversary mood...

And I have something to tell you guys..we're going for a weekend gateaway this coming Saturday. Just for the weekend. Since the place is just 3-4hours away, we decide to drive there... Made a hotel reservation via telephone this morning, thank God, no hassle and the reservation went smoothly. Can't wait! But the thing I like the most about traveling is packing up the stuff...LOL! Funny isn't it? But I just looove selecting clothes and put them in the baggage. :-)

We haven't travel much this year, for some obvious reasons. We think we have to visit as much place as we can while we're still here...I don't think we will come back again just to visit europe. It cost quite a bomb to travel from our country.

Just in case you're wondering, we're going to a tiny little country named Luxembourg

As you could see, the country bordered to another 3 big countries: Belgium, France and Germany. That's why it often overlooked by most tourist.

Is It Our Anniversary?

2009-07-22T09:45:00.002+02:00

I'm kind of confuse when it comes to our anniversary. I really don't know when is it really. It's not that I don't remember the date but it's kind of confusing. The solemnisation was on July the 22nd, but the wedding reception was on 23rd. So I don't know which one is our anniversary. This issue rose when we were about to celebrate our first anniversary. I asked my husband when is our anniversary. He said 21st July!! It's sooo unacceptable!

The first 2 years we celebrated on 23rd, if not mistaken and another last 2 years we celebrated on 22nd. This year we decide to celebrate it today. We should stick to only one date, I reckon.

Anyhow, it's our 5th year together. How time flies.. I wish to love him as much as we first met..but I couldn't...because I love him MORE...

Feeling Blue...

2009-07-21T09:33:00.006+02:00

Summer is for vacation to the 4 seasons country people. Hence, most of my friends and colleagues (ALMOST ALL OF THEM) are out of the country. All of our activities are also are on hold right now. No other activities, only house chores are remaining. All courses and classes are in holding pattern during summer, until autumn comes. That's the reason u could see me here in blogsephere these 2-3 days. The good side of it is I could update my blog and bloghop as usual but the bad side is... I'm feeling blue..friends are all out of town. Not to do not to mention a friend who is going to leave Nehterlands for good.

We (the Ladies Association) did the farewell party to 2 of our members last Sunday. But one couldn't make it but we carried on with the party. We're sooo going to miss u kak Muna. Keep in touch, all the best and hope to see u again!

For more photos (better quality ones) visit Kak Muna's fotopages.
Ok, I better get going. The carpet in the entire house needs a hoover. And I have to go to the city centre later on to change my husband's shirts. Got token for contributing in Minister of Tourism events last few months so I bought him 2 yesterday but they don't fit him well.

Later.

18th July...

2009-07-20T09:47:00.004+02:00

It was his birthday last Saturday (July the 18th). Nothing special.. I threw a surprise birthday bash to him. I secretly invited a few friends to come over in the morning (not really...it was almost noon!). It was and pouring but despite the gloomy weather the food was easily prepared as he was still asleep.

Thanks for a friend who baked the birthday cake and food and drinks, thanks for the birthday present, thanks for coming and being so sporting! My husband was very gleeful on his birthday although he slightly felt ashamed because according to him, he's too old for a birthday party/surprise...

No balloons nor party hats. Its just a few us but I know my husband was very happy.

I didn't prepare something fancy that day, just one of our exotic kelantanese delicacy... "nasi kerabu". I was too busy to hold my camera...I was only able to snap some piccas when our friends had left.

Oh..I just realized that I forgot to take picture of the presents.

Till later

Month of Love

2009-07-09T11:29:00.003+02:00

If most people chooses February as their month of love, me, in the other hand feel that July is more like it. Just simply because my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary fall in this month. So we're going to celebrate a double-bash.

We planned (well, I was the one who suggested) that we should go somewhere to celebrate our 5th year anniversary (for me, 5 years is as important as 10 years together). I was so happy when were thinking of somewhere romantic this year. I've never been to any 'honeymoon' before...sob..sob..sob.. people always says "you're in honeymoon here in holland.." In MY dictionary, honeymoon is when u go somewhere and stay in other place (definitely not a place you call 'home') that we could withdraw ourselves into solitude, relaxing while having fun at the same time, enjoying the intimacy without having to think of what's cooking? what in the washing machine? what's to clean? etc. But still, unfortunately we can't go anywhere because my passport is being renewed and my husband has to save his 'leave' because we're going back to Malaysia this Raya.

I feel a little frustrated because it's something I always been dreaming of, since I 've become a wife nearly 5 years ago... I know my husband couldn't care less about all this thing... Men.. they only think about sports, their Xbox, Xbox stickers, games, football and "what's cooking today sayang?". Bof!

Series of events

2009-06-26T10:03:00.003+02:00

My last post dated 27th May. Today is 26th June. Yes... a month...and no, i didn't wait for a month to update this blog. Just a coincident. There were so much things happening that kept me busy. I drafted a few post before but still I couldn't manage to publish them.

WHAT HAD KEPT ME OCCUPIED:

1. Curry-puff making by the Malaysian Ladies Association in The Hague.
We planned to make 1000 pieces of curry-puff but we managed to produce

2.Keputeraan Agong Reception and Pantomime Show by Malay Class Children

for these two events I had to make another 300 pieces of curry-puffs.

3. Malaysian Food Fair 2009 (also by Malaysian Ladies Association of The Hague with the help of Embassy of Malaysia in The hague)

The preparation was one thing. The events itself was another thing and the after-event thingy was a different thing. Before the events, series of meetings, coupons making (I was in charge of the coupons making) and what made I had extra work was I myself selling food on that 2 days. I've sell 3 types of laksas... Asam Laksa, Kelantan Laksa/Laksam and Nyonya Laksa. and after the events I (alongside with the committees) had to settle all the money collected and give the percentage to all seller, as I am the treasurer of the association.

4. Claims and claims and claims.

5. Visitors and some will arrive again next week

6. French course and its homeworks.

7.Babysit a boy of 3 and a half year-old. (but it was only one day)

Another big thing that is coming will be this Monday. My french test that is. So I still can't spend my time bloghopping or surfing. I do surf but only french exercise. Wish me luck!!!

Sweet Bun Recipe

2009-05-27T10:08:00.004+02:00

I dedicate this entry especially for a freind, YANA . She has requested this recipe sometimes ago..(but anybody can try out this recipe though)

This is only a simple sweet bun recipe but it taste soooo good. I got the recipe from a friend over here.

SWEET BUN

Ingredients:
1. 500gm flour (if you want the bun to be REALLY nice, use superfine flour. Otherwise it will turn out so-so)
2. 1 tablespoon yeast
3. 50gm butter (you may need more later for kneading)
4. 1 egg (the original recipe use 2 eggs but I only use one because with 2 eggs it didn't turn out really nice)
5. 1 teaspoon bread improver
6. 1 teaspoon dough softener
7. 2 tbsp milk powder (DO NOT put more milk powder, i thought by putting it more would make my bun more tasty but NO, the texture was different before.)
8. 150gm sugar (I usuallu use castor sugar)
9. About 250ml water (depends on your flour. Some flour needs more water, some needs less)

Preparation:
1. Sift flour at least 2 times.
2. Mix sifted flour with yeast and bread improver then crumble them with butter and dough softener
3. Put the egg and sugar, then start kneading (by switching on your mixer/food processor)
4. Add water little by little until the dough is ready (no more excessive flour on the mixing bowl. This recipe produce a really soft and sticky dough, DO NOT add extra flour)
5. Continue kneading with you hand until the dough really elastic.
6. Cover the mixing bowl with a damp towel and let raise until double in size.
7. Knead again to let the gas inside the dough out.
8. Shape the bun into your desired shape and bake (This dough is really soft and sticky. so you need to apply some butter on your hands before start shaping the dough)
9. When the buns is almost done, glaze them with butter.

After a few trial, I knew that the initial key to a perfect soft buns in KNEADING. Baking a bun is not as easy as eating one, but with practice, it'll eventually come to you.

Rants

2009-05-26T16:55:00.005+02:00

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz bzzzzzzzzzz...

You heard that sound? That's busy bee me..LOL!

You know what can ruin your perfect and tranquil day in Holland?

1. Unpredictable weather.
It rained heavily last night (and still pouring until now). I mean really really heavy last night, big tree's branches were everywhere to be found on the ground, in some area this morning. I was told that some branches had fallen on a beemer (not ours luckily) and some had fallen on a house..

2. Road construction.
Anybody who lives or ever lived in Holland would know what I'm talking about. Dutch lovessss to repair their roads. All over the year...hmmm mabe less during winter time... Don't ask me why, because I don't have the answer.. Those roads are perfect for me, but maybe they have a standard for their roads. It could be obnoxious, really...when you are just 50 meters to reach your house but yet you have to drive around and round your neighborhood, like 1km before you really get there.... oh, I felt like transforming to an incredible hulk sometimes.

3.Bad bank service.
This thing is seldom happens, but now more frequent, I think after they wanted to change (in fact they already changed) the procedure of the transaction...oh, before forgotten, I'm not talking about the bank staff. I'm not talking abot the people. I'm talking about the "geldautomaat" or the automatic teller machine (the ATM machine)as they say in english. The bank avoids any cash transaction at the counter, as they tried to promote the use of the ATM all the time but you know, as a machine, they would be out of order, out of money...sometimes...too bad, there were more than 1 ATM in a branch but all of them couldn't be used (just now!!!!). So I have to go the counter inside the bank instead. To my surprise, the computer system was slower than a snail. I've waited for about 15 minutes but the transaction was still failed. Luckily the bank representative was very nice and warm in the middle of a cold day. So I couldn't care less...

4. PMS

It is VERY NICE of me, ranting in my blog after a long idle. LOL

A Quick One

2009-05-11T15:51:00.006+02:00

It's been soooo long huh? Many many thanks to you guys who keep on coming and checking my blog out while I'm idle. Now I'm back!! But I'm still a busy bee..there's minister visit this week and there will be a "Malaysia Truly Asia" Reception for the dutch to attend, hosting by Ministry of XXXX. I'm still tired, I wish I don't have to be in the big event...due to lack of people (and time) I have to be part of it. Dancing again..what else..but this time not those little kids...I myself will perform..LOL...what on earth!!?!!! If the dance is Joget, I won't find myself freaking out but it's ZAPIN this time... Why Zapin? Why? Why??? WAAAAA!! This is my first time dancing Zapin and I hope this is the last time..LOL...No offense Johorian, this dance is not easy for me..uhuk!

Ok, time is ticking, I can't write much things at this moment...I have to prepare dinner for my husband and get myself ready for the dance practice...Oh, I have toI wish I could write more to you guys...

Before I hit the "PUBLISH" button, check this 2 photos out:

It's so-called professional footballer's (my husband's) upper leg. He got this injury last week while playing football (what else). Horrific isn't it?

My biggest achievement in baking..my sweet bun is perfect now!!!Yippie!!!

A short One

2009-04-11T20:09:00.003+02:00

Just a very short and quick one... My guest is already here. I fetched him from the airport this morning because my husband had a football match at same time. A few more will arrive this late evening (but they will catch a very early flight tomorrow). Another troop will arrive on the 13th, while Mekda & Yazed will come on the 14th. My family (including my mother in law) will arrive from Malaysia the next day in the morning and Mekda will fly back to Ireland later in the evening. My family will stay until the 25th. Only my MIL will stay until 10th of May. I'll be quite busy then! So you wouldn't want to wonder why I don't update this blog.

Leave me a message okay!

Gonna miss you guys!!!