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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Recipe : Lamingtons Cake

This is a free recipe : Lamingtons Cake, which I got from buying one of Lamington Baking tray :

Cake Mix Ingredients :
125g butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 milk (approx)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Chocolate Icing Ingredients :
30g butter
1/2 cup boiling water (approx.)
3 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups dessicated coconut

Cake Mix Method :
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition
3. Sift flour and salt
4. Add alternatively with milk to mixture
5. Add vanilla essence
6. Blend well, but do not over beat
7. Add a little more milk if necessary, to form a soft dropping consistency
8. Spread evenly onto tray
9. Bake in a moderate oven (180deg C/350 deg F) for 25-35 minutes, or until cooked
10. Turn out and cooled on a cake rack
11. Cut into 30 squares
12. Dip each square into chocolate icing and roll in coconut

Chocolate Icing Method :
1. Melt butter in 1/4 cup boiling water
2. Sift icing sugar with cocoa
3. Add liquid, mixing well
4. Add vanilla essence
5. The icing must be thin so that squares of cake can be readily coated
6. Add sufficient boiling water to form this consistency

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Convection Oven

I have been hunting around for a Convection Oven recently. And finally got one.

Here I am going to share some info that I had gathered during this hunting period :

How do you choose a Convection Oven? First of all, you need to understand what are your cooking needs. Do you need the oven more for Baking, Roasting, Grilling or others? Different oven work best for different needs.

However following are what an oven should have, no matter what are your cooking needs :
  • Top heating coil
  • Bottom heating coil
  • Fan
  • Glass door wide enough to see the food inside the oven
  • Glass door that is able to maintain coolness while cooking for safety precaution - can be a double layer glass door
  • Rack(s)
  • Baking tray
  • Independent Lighting
  • Digital timer (better if have increments of 5 degrees)
  • Door that can be keep ajar at an angle (when testing the food inside)

Now I'll list out which oven function to use for different cooking purpose :

1. Traditional baking
- Top + Bottom Coil Heating (eg. cookies)

2. Pastry Baking
- Fan Heating (eg. rising bread, meringue, choux pastry, sponge cake)
- Top + Bottom Coil + Fan Heating (eg. satay, fish, meat, cookies)

3. Barbeque
- Top Coil Heating (eg. grilling)

4. Gratin
- Top Coil + Fan Heating (eg. grill, sear, brown, crisp chicken)

5. Pizza
- Bottom Coil + Fan Heating (eg. pizza, quiche)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

MIA again!

Hey I am back and alive again! (after my usual act of MIA - Missing in Action) ;)

What have I been doing all this while? I have been busy doing research. Research on how to be a successful homemaker without much effort. Gotcha ...

I have actually been busy doing experiments on food and cooking. Trying different methods and different mix of morsel bits to come out with unusual (in better words, creative) dishes.

Some come out great and some come out disasters. Of course the one who suffers from these is my dear hubby :)

Monday, July 6, 2009

60 Uses of Salt

Following are the 60 uses of Salt apart for seasoning :

1. If you drop a whole egg on the floor, pour salt all over the egg, let it sit for awhile, then use dustpan, the egg will come right up,
without all that mess.

2. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.

3. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.

4. Soak fish in salt water before decaling; the scales will come off easier.

5. Put a few grains of rice in your saltshaker for easier pouring.

6. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.

7. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink;bad ones float.

8. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.

9. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.

10. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.

11. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.

12. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.

13. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

14. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.

15. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.

16. Boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.

17. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour

18. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.

19. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.

20. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.

21. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.

22. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.

23. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make stiff putty.

24. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.

25. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.

26. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.

27. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.

28. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

29. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.

30. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for a while.

31. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.

32. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.

33. Soak your clothesline in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.

34. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.

35. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

36. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.

37. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.

38. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.

39. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.

40. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.

41. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.

42. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.

43. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.

44. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
*
45. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.

46. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.

47. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.

48. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.

49. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odour.

50. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.

51. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.

52. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.

53. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.

54. Remove offensive odours from stove with salt and cinnamon.

55. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.

56. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.

57. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.

58. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.

59. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.

60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

McCoy BIOCERA Laundry Ball

My hubby had just passed to me a flyer about McCoy BIOCERA Laundry Ball. What is this?? Never heard before. That's my response.

In the flyer, it is stated the advantages are :
1. replaces detergent and softener
2. save water, space, electricity, time and money
3. deodorant,anti-bacteria & hypo-allergenic. Good for sensitive skin and babies.
4. no harmful chemicals in water after laundry
(I summarised the long winded descriptions in the flyer)

Out of curiosity, I google for this product and here is what I found



Have anyone used this before? Can advise whether this is really affective for doing laundry washing? If yes, I might go get some too :)

Please leave your comments, if any. Thanks ya!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

H1N1 Flu Outbreak : A Lesson to be Learnt

As I was reading yesterday's papers, I came across an article on the rise of H1N1 flu outbreak cases may signal community break. And my mind kept wandering back to an incident that happened on my flight back from Bangkok to Singapore.

On that flight, I wore a facial mask as a preventive measures even though I was perfectly healthy. In my mind, I thought that I was doing some socially-responsible act. However, the two passengers who were sitting next to me starting to feel uncomfortable the moment they see me coming in wearing a mask. Immediately, they started to converse in Hokkien among themselves and also with a group of friends which were sitting in the same row across the aisle.

"Yuck, how can they (the air crew) let sick people boarding the train? Dunno how serious is her condition. Very scared later I got affected with H1N1 too"...


This is a part of their conversations. All along, they kept condemning me and the staff's irresponsibility for letting me into the aircraft. Sometimes, they even show their smirking faces. Sometimes, I even wonder whether they purposely converse in loud voices so that I could hear them.

After that, they started switching to other empty seats and left me alone in that row for the whole flight journey.

All this while, I just sit there listening and doing my own stuffs, ignoring their antics, even though I speak the same language as them. All the while, I was thinking to myself ...


1. Don't they know that twearing face mask in flu outbreak is a preventive measure to curb infection and spreading of virus?

2. I wasn't even coughing or having flu. What makes them think I was sick?

3. Yes, they have the right of speech, but not to the extend of slandering and condemning others without a valid reason.

4. They look like in their 20-30s yet their thoughts were not mature enough to handle this kind of situation. They could first verify with me, prior to making such a silly assumption as scared themselves to death.

5. And their remarks were so unfounded and targetted at the wrong party. Why should the aircrew be condemned in this case?



Well, initially I was annoyed by their ignoramus behaviour but after some time, I feel it is no use being affected by their shallow minds.


So my message to all of you here is :

If you happened to see someone in face mask, DO NOT IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO CONCLUSION that the wearer is suffering from H1N1 flu. Verify first by noticing whether the wearer is really unwell or just wearing for prevention. Even if the wearer is really infected, please spare those smirking remarks and just go away from him/her quietly.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Early Signs Of Pregnancy Symptoms Checklist

I have been wondering what are the early signs of pregnancy symptoms. So I have done some googling and this is what I found from Women's Health website :

Early signs of pregnancy: #1

Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you've missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy is often what causes women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms.

Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. You might not experience any of the pregnancy signs listed below until around the time you notice you've missed your monthly cycle.

Early signs of pregnancy: #2

Just "Feeling" Pregnant

This early pregnancy symptom may be the reason why you are checking this list right now. Many women believe they have an intuition about pregnancy signs. Their intuition is often proven correct.

Maybe you just feel different; tired, moody, queasy, lightheaded. You may also have heartburn, constipation, or find yourself making more frequent trips to the restroom. Perhaps you feel a dull ache or stiffness in your lower back, you have sore breasts or they seem overly sensitive, or you are simply not feeling like your usual self.

Early signs of pregnancy: #3

Breast Tenderness

One of the very noticeable early signs of pregnancy is tender, swollen, somewhat sore breasts. You may notice this pregnancy sign at bedtime when you are trying to get comfortable and go to sleep, when exercising or showering, or when getting dressed.

When you become pregnant, your body begins preparing your breasts for producing milk and breastfeeding. Hormones start increasing. In addition to breast tenderness and swelling, your nipples may feel sore or extra sensitive. Some women notice their nipples darken in color.

Your breasts play an important role in childbirth. They are naturally sensitive and become far more so when pregnant. This is one of the most obvious early symptoms of pregnancy.

Early signs of pregnancy: #4

Fatigue

One of the earliest pregnancy signs for some women may be fatigue and exhaustion. You may start going to bed sooner, or find it harder than usual to get out of bed in the morning. If you are working, by noon you may feel like you need to lie down. Exercising seems like too much effort. A simple activity like shopping may leave you feeling wiped out and lightheaded. This early pregnancy symptom is caused by all of the changes that your body is going through, plus the increasing levels of hormones.

If you know you are pregnant, try to take frequent rests or naps of 15 minutes to a half-hour whenever possible. Explain to your family, friends and coworkers that you need these naps. Ask for their help in blocking out rest times for you.

Early signs of pregnancy: #5

Frequent Urination

An early symptom of pregnancy that others may notice you experiencing is frequent trips to the restroom. Your family or friends may comment that you seem to be going off to the ladies room quite often lately. One cause of this pregnancy symptom is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder.

Also, pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. That means more trips to the restroom. Sorry to have to say this, but this symptom of pregnancy may remain constant for nine months.

Early signs of pregnancy: #6

Nausea

One of these pregnancy signs of queasiness, nausea and vomiting can take you by surprise when you least expect it. These early pregnancy symptoms may come as soon as a week into the pregnancy. Many women experience nausea in the morning when they have coffee and/or eat something on an empty stomach. This is known as morning sickness (see below). Other women notice nausea in the afternoon or evening. Others feel queasy all day.

This pregnancy symptom may often be helped by eating smaller, more frequent snack size meals. Many women say saltine crackers and milk seem to be helpful. This is an early symptom of pregnancy that seems to show up about a month after pregnancy has begun. It tends to level off once you are into your second trimester and your body adjusts to all the many changes it is going through.

Early signs of pregnancy: #7

Dizziness and/or Fainting

One of the more surprising pregnancy signs is dizziness and/or fainting. Going up stairs, standing up suddenly after sitting for a time, or just having to stand in line at the grocery store can make you feel light headed. You might even faint. As the uterus swells it compresses arteries in your legs. This can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy.

A common early sign of pregnancy is that you may feel faint when you have gone a while without eating. This is due to low blood sugar, because that is your baby's main source of food. You want to eat frequent, healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar up. Stock up on portable lunch box foods you can take with you. Such as apples, bananas, grapes, yogurt cups, carrots and celery, cheese and crackers, small cartons of milk, juice boxes, granola bars, boxes of raisins, etc.

Early signs of pregnancy: #8

Food Cravings, or Aversions to Foods

A well-known cliché is the pregnancy sign-symptom of craving certain foods or unusual combinations of foods. For example, one woman said she craved midnight snacks of warm peach pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Everyone has a funny story about food cravings.

Taking a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and a pure fish oil capsule may ease some cravings and help prevent extra weight gain (see below) ... and of course it is doctor recommended for the health of your baby.

Less well known but equally common pregnancy signs are aversions to certain foods. You may find that some foods you previously enjoyed are no longer appetizing. One woman told us she had always liked pizza, but couldn't stand it at all while she was expecting. Just the smell of it made her feel nausea. This problem may come and go for some women. For others it could last throughout pregnancy.

Early signs of pregnancy: #9

Sensitivity to Aromas

Another related early symptom of pregnancy is a heightened sensitivity to aromas. Even a favorite aroma, such as the smell of a food or perfume, can make you gag. The smell of fresh mowed grass, the smell of a gas station, smells of various foods, household cleaners, perfumes, cigarette smoke, etc., can all cause you to feel nauseated (see nausea symptom above). This is thought to be yet another side effect of the estrogen that is flooding your body.

Early signs of pregnancy: #10

Morning Sickness

This pregnancy symptom is well known, and it is related to the nausea symptom. It can be caused by a variety of factors. Your body is craving food and you have not eaten all night so your tummy feels queasy. Your body has way more hormones coursing through it than normal and this can . You are sensitive to aromas and foods, so your morning coffee may not agree with you. The usual breakfast you typically have may not settle well in your stomach during this time. One woman usually had a scone along with a coffee late' for breakfast, but found that during pregnancy it made her feel sick. She changed to tea and toast and that worked well for her. Each woman is different and will have different foods that may or may not contribute to morning sickness.

Early signs of pregnancy: #11

Heartburn and/or Constipation

This pregnancy symptom is caused by the uterus starting to swell and pushing against the stomach and other organs as it grows. Also, increasing levels of hormones may slow down digestion and bowel functions to allow the body to absorb as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible from foods. Taking a quality prenatal multi-vitamin-mineral supplement is important to help your body get the nutrients it needs for your growing baby.

The slower emptying of the stomach may also cause the release of increased stomach acid to aid digestion, leading to a feeling of heartburn. Soda crackers and sparkling water can help. Smaller more frequent meals are easier to digest. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits, vegetables and perhaps some raisin and bran cereal to help regularity. Some daily vitamin formulas also contain digestive enzymes (from pineapple and papaya fruits). These can help with digestion.

Ask your doctor before taking any kind of antacids as some contain aluminum and should be avoided. These two pregnancy symptoms can last throughout your term.

Early signs of pregnancy: #12

Mood Swings and Irritability

With all of these symptoms of pregnancy to deal with, along with raging hormones, is it any wonder you may experience some mood swings and irritability? There is also the emotional adjustment period to your new responsibility. Your world has changed. Even when your pregnancy is carefully planned, it is normal for your mind to suddenly be filled with questions about the timing, your career, finances, insurance, labor and delivery, motherhood, even the future costs of college.

It is perfectly normal to feel mixed emotions, excitement and depression, joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. Your partner may be very confused by this and may not seem to be supportive. Explain that your mood swings are very normal signs of pregnancy and that you need support and understanding.

You are the one doing all the hard work here and it is not asking too much for your partner to be patient, loving and to have plenty of hugs and kind words of support ready when you need them. Most fathers-to-be want very much to be supportive, they just need instructions. No one has ever told them anything about pregnancy symptoms. It is all a mystery to them.

We encourage you to email or print-out this early symptom of pregnancy checklist so your partner can read it too.

This early symptom of pregnancy may decrease in the second trimester. Meanwhile get plenty of sleep, eat right, take your prenatal vitamins and get some moderate exercise by taking short walks.

Early signs of pregnancy: #13

Higher body temperature

One of the pregnancy symptoms that takes a while to gauge is higher than usual body temperature. You may have been feeling a little bit warm lately and wondered if you are coming down with a cold or something. Take your temperature and see if it is higher than it normally would be.

If you've been trying to conceive and hoping to get pregnant (it's a tough job but somebody has to do it), your doctor may already have suggested that you keep a record of your body temperature every day. If your temperature is higher than usual and it stays high for two weeks in a row, something is obviously going on with your body. You may be pregnant (or you may have a low grade fever). Prolonged periods of increased temperature are a cause to seek your doctor's opinion.

Early signs of pregnancy: #14

Low Back Pain

Early pregnancy symptoms of low back pain can be “a real pain,” literally. This low back pain is caused by several factors. First is your weight change. You gain some weight because you are pregnant, your uterus gets bigger, and your baby grows larger every week. Next, your posture and torso are thrown out of alignment. This weight is mostly in the front of your torso, which pulls on your back. It is like wearing a backpack on your front instead of your back. This changes your posture and puts a strain on your back.

Lack of your typical night’s sleep is another factor. You may be laying on your side and trying to get comfortable. The weight of your womb is pulling on your back muscles as you lay there too. Get a maternity pillow as that can help make you more comfortable.

Finally, your hormones and body changes have some effect too. Your body is getting ready for birth and so some of your joints and ligaments are loosening up to make delivery possible. All of these changes added together can cause the early pregnancy symptoms of low back pain. It is estimated that about half of all women will experience this pregnancy symptom.

Early signs of pregnancy: #15

Implantation Bleeding

One of the less known pregnancy symptoms is the slight bleeding and spotting that can be caused when the fertilized egg begins to implant itself into the uterus. This is known as "implantation bleeding" and it usually takes place between 3 to 6 days after fertilization.

Once the egg becomes implanted in the uterus - congratulations, you are no longer wondering about pregnancy symptoms, you are indeed pregnant. At this point you might notice a little bit of red or pink spotting. Not all women experience implantation bleeding so it is not considered one of the most obvious pregnancy signs.

Early signs of pregnancy: #16

A Positive Pregnancy Test

If you are worrying about possible early symptoms of pregnancy, you can put your mind at ease with a pregnancy test. More than just a pregnancy symptom, this is scientific proof positive of whether you are expecting a baby or not.

Pregnancy tests work best if you wait to take them until at least a day or two after you miss your period. Even if the pregnancy test result is negative you should try it again a few days later to be sure. The best pregnancy tests are the ones done by your doctor or medical clinic. However there are some very high quality at home tests available too.

Early signs of pregnancy symptoms: #17

Bloating and Weight Gain

Yes some unavoidable weight gain is also a sign. Your clothes are getting tighter, you are feeling bloated, the weight showing on the scale is going up... you are getting bigger and that is simply part of being pregnant.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Coming back from Bangkok

Ho Ho Ho .... I am BACK HOME !!!

Yup, I have been to Bangkok recently and really enjoyed myself there ;D

Actually this is the first time of me going there, even though it is so close to Singapore and lots of Singaporean travel to Bangkok for short trips.

Well, contrary for me, I didn't get to do as much shopping as I wanted, as I spent most of my time going from here to there to do sight-seeings. And I wasn't dissappointed ;)

First, I like the historical sights such as Ayutthaya, Railway of the Death and Bridge over River Kwai. Second, I like the prettier-than-original-naturally-made ah-kwas (tranvestites). Thirdly, of course, the shoppings !!

Well, as I am now suffering from the after-effect of travelling in Bangkok... so can't stay too long on my computer at this moment. Will post the photos when they are ready ;)

Monday, June 1, 2009

I am back...but will be travelling again!

Yeah I am back again. This time just return from Malaysia. Will be off to Thailand again in the next few days ....

In fact I have been thinking whether I have to cancel my Thailand trip due to current spreading of H1N1 virus. But as I have not been to Thailand before, and I had long booked my air ticket, I think my travel bug triumph in the end. Just need to get some precaution measures ready.

So I'll be going to Thailand soon and now am thinking thinking thinking very hard what to buy and see over there ;P

Thursday, May 21, 2009

A Touching True Story : WHAT GRUDGES CAN DO....

I received this forwarded email and I liked the story so much that I wanna put this up onto this post for sharing. Beware if you are reading this post while at work. The content may cause some red swollen eyes at the end ...

This is for all the single, married, divorced, separated, widowed individuals, who take life for granted. Please I BEG YOU, read this story until the end, it is such an opener. You will never know…………………….!

Just two years after our marriage, hubby brought up the idea of asking Mother to move from the rural hometown and spend her remaining years with us. Hubby's father passed away while he was still very young.

Mother endured much hardship and struggled all on her own to provide for him, see him through to a university degree. You could say that she suffered a great deal and did everything you could expect of a woman to bring hubby to where he is today.

I immediately agreed and started packing the spare room, which has a balcony facing the South to let her enjoy the sunshine and plant greenery. Hubby stood in the bright room, and suddenly just picked me up and started spinning round and round. As I begged him to put me down, he said: "Lets go fetch mother." Hubby is tall and big sized and I love to rest on his chest and enjoy the feeling that he could pick me up at any moment put the tiny me into his pockets.

Whenever we have an argument and both refuses to back down, he would pick me up and spin me over his head continuously until I surrender and beg for mercy. I became addicted to this kind of panic-joy feeling.

Mother brought along her countryside habits and lifestyle with her.

For example; I am so used to buying flowers to decorate the living room, she could not stand it and would comment: "I do not know how you young people spend your money, why do you buy flowers for? You also can't eat flowers!" I smiled and said: "Mum, with flowers in the house, our mood will also become better." Mother continues to grumble away, and hubby smiled: "Mum, this is a city-people's habit; slowly you will get use to it."

Mother stopped saying anything. But every time thereafter, whenever I came home with flowers, she would ask me how much it costs. I told her and she would shake her head and express displeasure.

Sometimes, when I come home with lots of shopping bags, she would ask each and every item how much they cost, I would tell her honestly and she would get even more upset about it. Hubby playfully pinched my nose and said: "You little fool, just don't tell her the full price of everything would solve it."

There begins the friction to our otherwise happy lifestyle.

Mother hates it most when hubby wakes up early to prepare the breakfast. In your view, how could the man of the house cook for the wife? At the breakfast table, mother facial expression is always like the dark clouds before a thunderstorm and I would pretend not to notice. She would use her chopsticks and make a lot of noise with it as her silent protest.

As I am a dance teacher in the Children's Palace and am exhausted from a long day of dancing around, I do not wish to give up the luxury of that additional few minutes in the comfort of my bed and hence I turned a deaf ear to all the protest mother makes.

From time to time, mother would help out with some housework, but soon her help created additional work for me. For example: she would keep all kinds of plastic bags accumulating them so that she sell them later on, and resulted in our house being filled with all the trash bags; she would scrimp on dish washing detergent when helping to wash the dishes and so as not to hurt her feelings, I would quietly wash them again.

One day, late at night, mother saw me quietly washing the dishes, and "Bam" she slams her bedroom door and cried very loudly in her room. Hubby was placed in a difficult position, and after that, he did not speak to me for that entire night.

I pretended to be a spoilt child, tried acting cute, but he totally ignored me.... I got mad and asked him:
"What did I do wrong?" Hubby stared at me and said: "Can't you just give in to her once? We couldn't possibly die eating from a bowl however unclean it is, right?" After that incident, for a long period of time, mother did not speak to me and you can feel that there is a very awkward feeling hanging in the house. During that period of cold war, hubby was caught in dilemma as to who to please.

In order to stop her son from having to prepare breakfast, mother took on the "all important" task of preparing breakfast without any prompting. At the breakfast table, mother would look at hubby happily eating his breakfast and cast that reprimanding stare at me for having failed to perform my duty as a wife. To avoid the embarrassing breakfast situation, I resorted to buying my own breakfast on my way to work.

That night, while in bed, hubby was a little upset and asked me: "LD, is it because you think that mum's cooking is not clean that's why you chose not to eat at home?" He then turned his back on me and left me alone in tears as feeling of unfairness overwhelmed me. After some time, hubby sighed: "LD, just for me, can you have breakfast at home?" I am left with no choice but to return to the breakfast table.

The next morning, I was having porridge prepared by mother and I felt a sudden churn in my stomach and everything inside seem to be rushing up my throat. I tried to suppress the urge to throw up but I could not. I threw down the bowl, rushed into the washroom, and vomited everything out.

Just as I was catching my breath, I saw mother crying and grumbling very loudly in her dialect, hubby was standing at the washroom doorway staring at me with fire burning in his eyes.. I opened my mouth but no words came out of it, I really did not mean it.

We had our very first big fight that day; mother took a look at us, then stood up and slowly made her way out of the house. Hubby gave me a final stare in the eye and followed mother down the stairs. For three days, hubby did not return home, not even a phone call.

I was so furious, since mother arrived; I had been trying my best and putting up with her, what else do you want me to do? For no reason, I keep having the feeling to throw up and I simply have not appetite for food, coupled with all the events happening at home, I was at then low point in my life.

Finally, a colleague said: "LD, you look terrible; you should go and see a doctor." The doctor confirmed that I am pregnant.
Now it became clear to me why I threw up that fateful morning, a sense of sadness floated through that otherwise happy news. Why didn't hubby, and mother who had been through this before, thought of the possibility of this being the reason that day?

At the hospital entrance, I saw my hubby standing there. It had only been three days, but he looked haggard. I had wanted to turn and leave, but one look at him and my heart soften, I couldn't resist and called out to him. He followed my voice and finally found me but he pretended that he doesn't know me; he has that disgusted look in his eyes that cut right through my heart. I told myself not to look at him anymore, and hail a cab.

At that moment, I have such a strong urge inside me to shout to my hubby: "Darling, I am having your baby!" and have him lift me up and spin me around in circles of joy. What I wanted didn't happen and as I sat in the cab, my tears started rolling down. Why? Why our love couldn't even withstand the test of one fight?

Back home, I lay on the bed thinking about my hubby, and the disgusted look in his eyes. I cried and wet the corner of the blanket. That night, sound of the drawers opening woke me up. I switched on the lights and I saw hubby with tears rolling down his face. He was removing the money. I stared at him in silence; he ignored me, took the bank deposit book and some money and left the house.

Maybe he really intends to leave me for good.. What a rational man, so clear-cut in love and money matters. I gave a few dried laugh and tears starting streaming down again. The next day, I did not go to work. I wanted to clear this out and have a good talk with hubby. I reached his office and his secretary gave me a weird look and said: "Mr. Tan's mother had a traffic accident and is now in the hospital."

I stood there in shock. I rushed to the hospital and by the time I found hubby, mother had already passed away. Hubby did not look at me, his face was expressionless. I looked at mother's pale white and thin face and I couldn't control the tears in my eyes. My God, how could this happen?

Throughout the funeral, hubby did not say a single word to me, with only the occasional disgusted stare at me. I only managed to find out brief facts about the accident from other people. That day, after mother left the house, she walked in dazed toward the bus stop, apparently intending to go back to her old house back in the countryside.

As hubby ran after her, she tried to walk faster and as she tried to cross the street, a public bus came and hit her... I finally understood how much hubby must hate me, if I had not thrown up that morning, if we had not quarreled, if....In his heart, I am indirectly the killer of his mother..

Hubby moved into mother's room and came home every night with a strong liquor smell on him. And me, I am buried under the guilt and self-pity and could hardly breathe. I wanted to explain to him, tell him that we are going to have our baby soon, but each time, I saw the dead look in his eyes, all the words I have at the brink of my mouth just fell back in.

I had rather he hit me real hard or give me a big and thorough scolding though none of these events happening had been my fault at all. Many days of suffocating silence went by and as the days went by, hubby came home later and later. The deadlock between us continues, we were living together like strangers who don't know each other. I am like the dead knot in his heart.

One day, I passed by a western restaurant, looking into the glass window, I saw hubby and a girl sitting facing each other and he very lightly brushed her hair for her, I understood what it meant. After recovering from that moment of shock, I entered the restaurant, stood in front of my hubby and stared hard at him, not a tear in my eyes. I have nothing to say to him, and there is no need to say anything. The girl looked at me, looks at hubby, stands up and wanted to go, hubby stretched out his hand and stopped her. He stared back at me, challenging me. I can only hear my slow heart beat, beating, one by one as if at the brink of death.

I eventually backed down, if I had stood that any longer, I will collapse together with the baby inside me.. That night, he did not come home; he had chosen to use that as a way to indicate to me:
Following mother's death so did our love for each other...

He did not come home anymore after that. Sometimes, when I returned home from work, I can tell that the cupboard had been touched - he had returned to take some of his stuff. I no longer wish to call him; the initial desire to explain everything to him vanished.

I lived alone; I go for my medical checkups alone, my heart breaks again and again every time I see a guy carefully helping his wife through the physical examination. My office colleagues hinted to me to consider aborting the baby, I told them No, I will not.. I insisted on having to this baby, perhaps it is my way of repaying mother for causing her death.

One day, I came home and I saw hubby sitting in the living room. The whole house was filled with cigarette smoke. On the coffee table, there was this piece of paper. I know what it is all about without even looking at it. In the two months plus of living alone, I have gradually learned to find peace within myself. I looked at him, removed my hat and said: "You wait a while, I will sign." He looked at me, mixed feelings in his eyes, just like mine.

As I hang up my coat, I keep repeating to myself "You cannot cry, you cannot cry..." my eyes hurt terribly, but I refused to let tears come out from there.
After I hung up my coat, hubby's eyes stared fixed at my bulging tummy. I smiled, walked over to the coffee table and pulled the paper towards me. Without even looking at what it says, I signed my name on it and pushed the paper to him. "LD, are you pregnant?" Since mother's accident, this is the first time he spoke to me. I could not control my tears any further and they fell like raindrops. I said: "Yes, but its ok, you can leave now." He did not go, in the dark, we sat, facing each other.

Hubby slowly moved over me, his tears wet the blanket. In my heart, everything seems so far away, so far that even if I sprint, I could never reach them. I cannot remember how many times he repeated "sorry" to me. I had originally thought that I would forgive him, but now I can't. In the western restaurant, in front of that girl, that cold look in his eyes, I will never forget, ever.

We have drawn such deep scars in each other's heart. For me, it's unintentional; for him, totally intentional. I had been waiting for this moment of reconciliation, but I realized now, what had gone past is gone forever and could not repeated.

Other than the thought of the baby inside me that would bring some warmth to my heart, I am totally cold towards him, I no longer eat anything he buys for me, I don't take any presents from him and I stopped talking to him..

From the moment I signed on that piece of paper, marriage and love had vanished from my heart. Sometimes, hubby will try to come into the bedroom, but when he walks in, I will walk out to the living room.

He had no choice but to sleep in mother's room. At night, from his room, I can hear light sounds of groaning, I kept quiet. This used to be his trick; last time, whenever I ignore him, he would fake illness and I will surrender and find out what is wrong with him, he would then grab me and laugh.

He has forgotten that last time I cared for him and am concerned because there was love, but now, what is there between us? Hubby's groaning came on and off continuing but I continuously ignored him.

Almost everyday, he would buy something for the baby, infant products, children products and books that kids like to read. Bags and bags of it stacked inside his room till it is full. I know he is trying to use this to reach out to me, but I am no longer moved by his actions. He has no choice but to lock himself in his room and I can hear his typing away on his computer keyboard, maybe he is now addicted to web surfing but none of that matters to me anymore.

It was sometime towards the end of spring in the following year, one late night, I screamed because of a sudden stomach pain, hubby came rushing into the room, its like he did not change and sleep, and had been waiting for this moment. He carried me and ran down the stairs, stopped a car, holding my hand very tightly and kept wiping the sweat off my brow, throughout the journey to the hospital.

Once we reached the hospital, he carried me and hurried into the delivery suite. Lying on the back of his skinny but warmth body, a thought crossed my mind: In my lifetime, who else would love me as much as he did?

He held the delivery suite door opened and watch me go in; his warm eyes caused me to manage a smile at him despite my contraction pain. Coming out of the delivery room, hubby looked at our son and me, eyes tear with joy and he kept smiling. I reached out and touched his hand.


Hubby looked at me, smiling and then he slowly collapsed onto the floor. I cried out for him in pain... He smiled, but without opening that tired eyes of his... I had thought that I would never shed any tear for him, but the truth is, I have never felt a deeper pain cutting through my body at that moment.

Doctor said that by the time hubby discovered he had liver cancer, it was already in terminal stage and it was a miracle that he managed to last this long. I asked the doctor when he first discovered he had cancer. Doctor said about 5 months ago and consoled me saying: "Prepare for his funeral."

I disregarded the nurse's objection and rushed home, I went into his room and checked his computer, and a suffocating pain hits me.

Hubby's cancer was discovered 5 months ago, his groaning was real, and I had thought that... the computer showed over 200 thousand words he wrote for our son: "Son, just for you, I have persisted, to be able to take a look at you before I fall, is my biggest wish now... I know that in your life, you will have many happiness and maybe some setbacks, if only I can accompany you throughout that journey, how nice would it be. But daddy now no longer has that chance. Daddy has written inside here all the possible difficulties and problems you may encounter during your lifetime, when you meet with these problems, you can refer to daddy's suggestion....

Son, after writing these 200 thousand words, I feel as if I have accompanied you through life journey. To be honest, daddy is very happy. Do love your mother, she has suffered, she is the one who loves you most and also the one who loves me most..."

From play school to primary school, to secondary, university, to work and even in dealing with questions of love, everything big and small was written there.

Hubby has also written a letter for me:

"My dear, to marry you is my biggest happiness, forgive me for the pain I have caused you, forgive me for not telling you my illness, because I want to see you be in a joyful mood waiting for the arrival of our baby...My dear, if you cried, it means that you have forgiven me and I would smile, thank you for loving me...These presents, I'm afraid I cannot give them to our son personally, could you help me to give some of them to him every year, the dates on what to give when are all written on the packaging... "

Going back to the hospital, hubby is still in coma. I brought our son over and place him beside him. I said: "Open your eyes and smile, I want our son to remember being in the warmth of your arms..." He struggled to open his eyes and managed a weak smile. Our son still in his arms was happily waving his tiny hands in the air. I press the button on the camera and the sound of the shutter rang through the air as tears slowly rolled down my face....

A fatal misunderstanding and the person who loves me the most in this world is gone forever..."Cruel misunderstandings one after another disrupted the blissful footsteps to our family. Our originals intend of having Mother enjoy some quiet and peaceful moments in her remaining years with us went terribly wrong as destiny's secret is finally revealed at a price, every thing became too late.".........

This is a true story...
LEARNING POINT - DO NOT EVER HOLD ON TO OFFENCES!!!

I am totally speechless, this story brought tears to my eyes as I read through each line eager to know what would happen next. It truly showed the devastating power of grudges and anger!

Simple humility and communication would have resolved most of the problems in that story, as well as patience....

Communication with your loved ones is THE key.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Busy Week Doing Cleaning

Busy, busy, busy ....

I have been cleaning the house since Monday. Gonna do more cleaning these few days till Friday. Jiayou! ;)

Monday, May 18, 2009

A New Week

Here's the start of another new week. Have been feeling quite guilty as I have not done much housework last week. So this week I am going to dedicate most of my time tidying and cleaning up my house. Jia you !!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Scent of a Woman

I am not going to talk about Scent of a Women : The Movie today. I am actually going to talk about something that we find it disgusting in our daily lives. Guess what I am going to discuss about?


Body odour (did you guess it right?).


This thought came to me yesterday when I found that my whole kitchen was "conquered" by the oily smell after a long struggle whipping up dishes in that small space of mine, even the cooking hood's filtering system had proven useless. And what makes me annoyed was I smelled like my grease-enveloped kitchen too, even after a bath :(

Then I started to ponder. Ever since I have become a full time housewife, I have been frequently surrounded by smells of cooking oil, laundry detergent, cleaning liquid, etc. And these scents started to become part of my "body odour". Yuck, what a gruesome thought !!

No, I cannot let these spoil the olfactory delights of those who stand near me. So I'll go in search for ways to infuse fragrance around me.

Of course, the easiest method is for me to get a daytime wear feminine scent (such as Bob Mackie perfume) which I can easily get it online. I could also get to choose a wide variety of perfumes at any shopping centers.

And another alternative is for me to create my own.

Now, are you starting to think what I am thinking? (*winks*)

How to Pan Fry Salmon Steak with Peppers : 7 Easy Steps Recipe

Yesterday I pan fried a salmon steak and the result is the best up till now in my salmon cooking experience. The fish ended up crispy on the outside but tender and juicy in the inside. Even my hubby gave good review! (this is the first time he give good comment on my cooking so I am very very happy *dancing around in the room*) :D


I like this dish a lot as it is so delicious yet simply too easy to prepare. And I'll share how I did it here with you all.

1. First, smear some coarsely grounded black peppers onto both sides of salmon steak (flesh side and skin side).
2. Then rub some olive oil all over the salmon.
3. Heat up the frying pan (without adding any oil).
4. When the pan is hot enough, fry the salmon with skin side down.
5. Cover the pan till the salmon is turning pale about 1/3 thick.
6. Turn the salmon to the other face and repeat step 5.
7. Pan fry left and right side of salmon too in order to trap in the fresh salmon juice inside the salmon.

Voila! And here you are. A healthy, tantalizing delicious and easy to cook Pan Fry Salmon Steak with Peppers, a successful creation of CECiL ;D

Thursday, May 14, 2009

My Reproductive Health Diet Plan for This Week

Following will be my plan for my reproductive Health Diet for this week

1. CARBOHYDRATES
Choose : low glycaemic carbohydrates - whole (not refined) grains
Avoid : Sugar and white/refined grain

2. PROTEIN
Need : an average sized serving (equivalent to the palm of your hand) of protein-providing food at least 2x a day before conception

Fish : Salmon
Dairy : Natural Cultured non-flavored yoghurt / Goat's milk
Legumes/Pulses : Tofu
Eggs : Organic
Nuts/Seeds : Juices

3. VEGETABLES
Need : minimum 40% of total food intake
Choose : organic whenever possible. A wide variety, especially dark green leafy, red and orange.
Avoid : Pre-prepared salads

4. FRUITS
Need : 2 - 3 pieces daily as a maximum because of the high sugar content
Choose : organic and low glycaemic whenever possible
Avoid : Dried fruits

5. FATS
Choose : lots of cold-pressed oils on salads (extra virgin olive or flaxseed). These oils are high in beneficial essential fatty acids if never heated. They can be poured over food after cooking, and used on bread as a butter substitute. They should be kept out of light (in dark containers) & in the fridge (except olive). Add lemon/pepper/garlic/herbs to dressing.
Avoid : saturated and trans fats

6. BEVERAGES
Choose : Purified water – drink 8 to 12 glasses daily
Avoid : Alcohol, coffee, tea

7. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Exercise - Yoga (minimum 30 minutes 3-4 times every week)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

How to Repair CD With a Microwave

I came across this Youtube video on How to Repair CDs with a Microwave when I was doing some search on microwave.

Initially I was thinking is this Real or Not? Well, you'll get your answer if you read the Text Comments at the original link.

Enjoy yourself with this :D

Monday, May 11, 2009

Guangzhou (Canton) : Oh, Glorious Food !

Remember I mentioned about me envying the life of people in China in one of my previous posts? In fact one of the cities in China that make me feel most like staying for good is Guangzhou (which is also called Canton). Why?

First of all, there is too much good food around. Guangdong, the province where Guangzhou is located, is famous for the best cuisine and delicacy in China. Thus, people there get to taste mouth-watering spread anywhere and anytime of the day.

And of course I won't let myself be left out of the train when I was there ;)

One of my Dim Sum breakfasts in Guangzhou


Basically I was eating most of the time when I was in Guangzhou (Canton). Every early morning was marked by Dim Sum breakfasts in some of the famous restaurants there. And mind you, I really have to be very early to beat the crowd. So every morning I reach the restaurants at around 7am and thought that I will be able to catch the worms (you see, I never start taking breakfasts so early back when I am in Singapore).

But how wrong was I! The restaurants were fully packed most of the time. And I ended up either waiting for the next available empty table or had to share tables with others.

"Tao Tao Ju"
A famous age old Dim Sum restaurant since Qing Dynasty


The ambience makes me wanna linger on even when I am full

And I had some culture shock! When the locals are having breakfasts at the restaurants, they will be sitting there for hours, sometimes till nearly noon time. This is because most of them are either retrenched or retired. Unlike the elders in Singapore (who are mostly too busy looking after their grandchildren), those in Guangzhou enjoys a leisure life as the ratio of grandparents to kids is 4:1 and the kids are either at nurseries or schools on weekday mornings.

Fully occupied restaurant - with elders and retrenched

There was even one lady in early forties that I came across, who were retrenched and is now living on a pension of more than RMB1,000 per month! For someone who is not working but getting paid that much monthly (in comparison to Chinese living standard), isn't that an envy for those who are caught in the rat race like us?

With good food and relaxed lifestyle, that's why I said the Chinese are enjoying their lives there!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia

Today I read this news that Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia in Channel News Asia and I had actually known it all along.

And I am going to smile gleefully to my hubby and tell him when I see him later

"See, I have always told you that Mas Selamat have been in Malaysia all this while!"

and take this opportunity to add in

"... and you gotta believe me whatever I tell u in future" ;)


And you wonder how come I have known it since the beginning?

It is a no brainer.

Malaysia Customs at Johor Bahru (JB) had always known that Mas Selamat had escaped to Malaysia and the authority had tried to inform Singaporeans but nobody took any action on it.

And you wanna know how I know?

This is because I always notice the banner "SELAMAT DATANG KE MALAYSIA" right after crossing the Causeway !!

(SELAMAT DATANG KE MALAYSIA = Selamat has Come to Malaysia)



PS. Most people thought that it is just a "Welcome to Malaysia" banner, but Malaysia government had to be very discreet in informing us so that this will not alarm Mr Mas Selamat.

Ain't I a clever detective in the making ? ;P

How to Swallow Big Pills?

For the past few weeks I have been consuming some pills ...

.

Some big pills ... !

.

Some very big pills ... !!

.

Some very very big pills !!!


And worse is to take 2 DIFFERENT BIG PILLS together everytime !!! *crying*


PILL 1 - A Big Blood Red Capsule

Pill 2 - A Huge Pinky Tablet

Initially I had difficulty swallowing them down my teeny weeny little throat.

Then I start chewing the Pink Tablet into smaller pieces before gulping them down one by one. But the taste is sooooo unbearable !

Luckily the capsule is not much an event for me as the smooth surface could easily glide down my throat.

Can anyone gimme some tips on how to swallow the pink one easily?


PS. I am not unwell. These pills are just supplements :)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Free Online Calculators

Following are free online calculators that you can use to help manage your home finances :

Savings Calculator :



Credit Card Payments Calculator :



Loan Calculator :



Mortgage Calculator :



Auto Loan Calculator :

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Cheap pseudo Crocs Beach Clogs

Guess what I had done when I was in China? Of course lots of shopping! In the end I ended up buying 2 new luggage bags to fit in all my stuffs to bring back home :)

In fact I had been thinking of getting this Crocs Beach Clog for quite some time. I tried it in one of Crocs' store at Plaza Singapura last month. But the price was around SGD 55 !

Then I found it at a range of USD 18 - 30 at Amazon, as shown below :



But in the end, I found something that looks a bit different but feels about the same in comfort level at one of the city in China for less than SGD 20 per pair!


And of course in the end I bought nearly a dozen of them back in different sizes and colors for relatives ;)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Thoughts on China and Hong Kong

Here I am again after MIA for some long period of time ;)

Just came back from overseas trips, in fact from China and Hong Kong.

Actually this is not the first time of me visiting these two places. But this time, the feeling is very much different from previous trips. In most of the trips before, I was always too preoccupied with business agendas, travelling non stop from one place to another.

As I am able to stroll leisurely at my own pace this time round, I begin to see China and Hong Kong from another different perspectives.

Previously, China to me was a country furiously trying to build its nation via industrialisation and pseudo-capitalism. That was because most of the places I visited previously were more of industrial estates and corporate organisations type of nature. However, China to me now is a buzzing place full of its own culture, history and way of life. Chatting with locals and living their lives open up my eyes on how advance China can be and how some of their people actually enjoy their lives better than us in Singapore, in general. At one point, I was even entertaining the idea of retiring in China. (But I know I won't as I still prefer my own motherland and the place I am in now at this moment) ;P

And Hong Kong sets me thinking in the other direction. As I shun normal hotels this time, I am staying much closer to the real lives of Hong Kongers. I can really feel the stress and hectics of life and crampyness of space. Glad I am not forever living this kind of life. Not that I don't like Hong Kong. It is just that it does not suit my palate in long run. But definitely, I am open to visiting Hong Kong again in future :)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Wedding Bloopers!

Oopss! Dun let these kind of wedding bloopers spoil your Big Day!

(Luckily my Wedding Day went smoothly *wink*)










Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Thoughts of The Day

The following phrases are my thoughts of the day for you to ponder on :

Footnote : Especially when I am your God


Footnote : Instead, they make you too angry to remember to cry


Footnote : So does that means everyone on this earth love me?


Hope the phrases above brings you to the deeper meaning in life and the footnotes gives you a good day's laugh ;)

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Map of Singapore - Bus Interchange and and MRT Stations

I came across this Singapore map specifying the locations of bus interchange and MRT stations map while doing some housekeeping. I think these might have been tucked in my folder for how many donkey years with me totally forgetting them.

So this time, I will keep them here in this blog so that I can get a quick reference when I need them in the future!

Map of Singapore - Bus Interchange

Singapore MRT Stations

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Planning for my Holiday Trips

Well I will be going for holiday trips again soon!

First will be in China. In fact I'll be going to Guangdong Province. Have been there a couple of times before but was for business trips. Now finally I will be there for personal holiday. Can get to savour all those exotic food again!

BTW, contemplating of buying some branded bags and comfy shoes from California, US, this month too. Can anyone advise which brands that I should be considering? Bags will be for investment purpose and shoes will be for my own use ;)

Friday, April 3, 2009

Random Thoughts on Homemaking

Well the past few weeks have been quite busy for me ... and I think it's time for me to have some reflections.

After a few months of becoming a full time homemaker, I think I am starting to get into the daily rhythm of homemaking. And I am definite becoming more and more aunty-like to the extent of me finding myself nagging more and more! (Disclaimer : I do not mean that all aunties nag a lot, just that I am beginning to fall into the category of the nagging type). And the worse is that I am now finding my brain degenerating, maybe due to less thought stimulants around me. I must do something to prevent further deterioration!

Maybe one way of doing it is for me to setup a network of homemakers in Singapore (I believe this will be able to help preventing my little brain and social circle from shrinking further). Is there anyone out there seconding me on this?

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Getting Rid of Conficker Worm

Haven't been blogging for a few days. You know why? It is all because of the Malicious Conficker Worm !!!

For the past few days I have been updating and checking my computer and laptop security system and programs till late last night after receiving some urgent updating messages ...

Anyway for those who aren't aware about Conficker (I think some called it Conflicker too) or have not done anything on it, here I list out the things that I have been doing to my system up till now, and hope it could still able of help to you people out there :)

Please follow the step-by-step guide below :

1. Update or upgrade your Anti-Virus Scanning Program and virus / malware / adware (and whatever ware ...) definition files to the latest version into your system.

2. Scan your whole system using your Anti-Virus Scanning Program (in full scan mode).

3. To be sure that you got a wider coverage, run similar check via this online anti-virus checking website called Housecall.

4. Clean up all found virus and whatever-ware in your system.

5. Run "Windows Update" to update your OS to the latest version.

6. Update your Adobe Reader, Java Runtime and internet browser.

7. Pray hard that your computer / laptop system is safe.

That's all.

For those who have been busy due to Conficker too, hope you can advise further if there are things that I should be doing but is not. Thanks!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Do Not Let This Happen To You !

Learn from the videos below and do not follow their footsteps !





Saturday, March 28, 2009

Top Five Cancer Causing Food

Well I received this via an email. And at the bottom of the email stated that "Pass this to all whom you love and care for". So I think posting it here 100% in its original form also counts :)


The top five cancer-causing foods are :

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1. Hot dogs
Because they are
high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

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2. Processed meats and bacon

Also high in the same
sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.



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3. Doughnuts

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.




4. French fries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process.
They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .



BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS


1. No Breakfast

People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level.
This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.


2. Overeating

It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.


3. Smoking

It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.


4. High Sugar consumption

Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.


5. Air Pollution

The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.


6. Sleep Deprivation

Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.


8. Working your brain during illness

Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.


9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts

Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.


10. Talking Rarely

Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain




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


The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.


We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'
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