I haven't been ranting for a long time

I wasn't very happy with things that is going on at the moment. Truely that the world will be a better place if people can be nicer and less political. It can be much better for that person who enjoys the kick of throwing the weight around, making life difficult for people but not exactly make it easier for that person either.


i just have to pray that things will turn around and work out right.

All over again

I re-start my Atkins after 3 wks' break and is happy to say that I had not gain any weight in the 3 wkss. I had lost 1kg this week since re-start. This time round, I ammoe familiar and prepared. I zip through the 1st wk with ease and had not suffered any craving. It is much easier than th very 1st wk I had in Oct.

I am abit way off schedule as I aimed to lost a total of 10 - 12 kgs by Jan 2008. I had only lose 5kgs in the 1st round and now minus another 1 kg, that had make me fall short of another 4 - 6 kgs. Considering having only aout 4 wks in Dec and at this rate, I may well be able to lose about Kgs if I am wrking hard on it. That will put my target at 62kg by end Dec.

Wish me luck.

Thanksgiving

It is really a day, month, year to count our blessing and thank our creator. We had always take things for granted. I am so thankful that my family, friends and I are safe. So much tragedy going on and the current terrorist situation in Mumbai.

My prayers of comfort to those who have their love one in Mumbai. Those who are anxious, stranded in Bangkok that is not able to make it home for thanksgiving.

Start again

 

I was complaining that my weight goes down too slow when I was on Atkins. 3kgs in 1 month comparing with some than loses more than that.  I have nothing to complaint now.  I wasn’t feeling well the 1^st 2 wks of Nov and had thus stop my Atkins for that period. I know I shouldn’t stop but I do not want to make it too difficult for myself. I am going to be on this way of eating for a long time and there is no way to make it seem so bad that I wouldn’t want to do it next time.  

 

I was eating simple bland food for the week that I have fever coming and going. Than 2^nd week, I am eating normal but still try not to eat too much rice. I had some desserts and pretty happy with the baguette that I was craving for. I had mee siam on 1 of the wkend and Laksa on another.  This is simply too sinful to think about.  All the while still watching the scale.  I had rest enough and ate enough of carbs. I embark on my diet again yesterday. It is a bit easier than when I first started on this diet. I had to make sure I stay on this till CNY.  I am pleasantly surprised that I had not gain any weight during these 3 wks in Nov. Perhaps that is the benefit of losing it slow, gaining it slow or nothing.

I fell and pick myself up again.

I had not updated my progress for awhile.  I just drop another 1 kg and is happy about the weightloss. I am now at 66kg. The thing is, I had 2 dresses that I bought 2 years+ ago when I am also at 66kg.  That is when I had lost weight due to my gastric problem.  I tried wearing the dress but the dress is tight and my tummy is still awfully flabby.  Hiaz.  That is so much weight I gained in my tummy area.  My pants are getting loose but my midriff still has so much to lose.  Our body shape altered and changed as we put on, lose and put on etc.  I might need to rid of another 2 kg to fit in the dress nicely.

 

On a side note, I have to confess…. I lost control over the weekend. I had mee siam!!!!  Oh well, instead of crying over spilled milk.  I get on my feet and gotta start all over again. What I learn thru this “cheat” is, I realised I didn’t miss the food so much when I actually eat it.  It is really all in my head. I got back on to read the Atkins Book and found some useful encouragement from this Forum

 

BTW, its day 31 for me today.

How strange

Just when I am ranting about my weight being stall and no sign of it dropping on the 3rd wk... guess what? I drop 1 kg again tdy. Alright, I need to get a better digital weighing scale that I can see it to the grams.

I am working extra hard with my exercise this wk. I hope to see some good results by end of this month. Hanging on!

What happen? Stall

I first started Atkins worrying that I may end up becoming fatter if it didn’t work. Imagine the type of food you eat on this diet.  Well, it took about 2 kgs off me the 1^st 2 wks.

I am done with the 3^rd wk by now and my scale had not tip a single bit. No way I hit a plateau so soon or had eaten anything to stall the progress.   

 

I will continue till end of this month and finalise the result.  If I am losing 2 kgs this Oct which is the same as Sep, then I don’t think the effort I put in for Atkins is worth it.  It is a good experience to try out a diet that works.  But in comparison, Sep’s diet was a lot easier than this.  I have higher expectation for the weightloss since I had to sacrifice a lot more.  It probably work better for the very overweight person. I am moderately overweight thus the result may not be as amazing as those who are heavier.

 

I hope I can update with better news soon.

 

I'm losing

It was tough, really tough the 1^st week when I’m on Atkins.  How fast time flies, it is my 15^th day on Atkins today.  I had never been so determine in my whole life except that time when I manage to get to 58.  I have the same intention of reaching that goal.  I had gotten the book last week and had done some reading and got some understanding. What is the concept, medical research behind all this.  You got to read it for yourself.

 

I started worrying the “what if”.  I worry that if this plan fails, I will pile on more weight as so many around told me this way of eating sure become fat.  I am surprised that I did not gain weight but loses.  It is slow but better than none at all. I had tried so hard to lose weight last year basically eating rabbit food but when I lose about 1/2kg, I suay suay will fall sick.  Until a colleague told me that she notice that when I am on the salad 3 times a wk lunch, I will fall sick soon. I notice too.  So I’ll lose about 1/2kg…. stall and then goes back to original weight.  So far, this round the result is pretty encouraging.

 

I am now considering if I should extend my phase 1 before moving into phase 2. Then I begin to worry if what I lose now is going to bounce back. Hiaz… so many worries….

 

Crossing Busy HCMC Roads

Had been wanting to post the crazy road condition in HCMC but had not had time to edit and get the video uploaded until now. This is one of the road that is widest and busiest in the 4 days we are there. Not all road have traffic lights. Even if there's traffic light, the cars and bikes still head straight at you. We are clueless about their traffic rule except to cross the road slowly and cautiously and no running please. They know how to avoid you when you walk slowly but if you race across, they may hit you due to your sudden movement. Hope this prepares you what to expect in HCMC.

Weekend!!!

I love wkends. Not for now if we are talking about food choices.  I am not exactly the type that will whipped up a meal in the Chinese condiment kitchen. I make fantastic beef stew wif sinful portion of carbs such as potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and lots of herbs and spices. I can make buffalo wings drizzle wif the most sour and sweet sauce awfully tasty dipped in blue cheese.  What’s going on??? I dun hv a recipe for the no carb versions and I do not have the luxury of cooking for 1 pathetic me. I had to buy food that will see me through the wkends if I am not going out. I am so freaking scared of the sight of chicken leg now.hahahaha.

 

It’s the 12^th day I am on Atkins today.  I am not losing much and I am still pressing on. I want to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt so deprived of sweet stuff that I almost try to remember how it taste. Hmmmm…. Not a good move as it may trigger huge craving.  I hates it that my family is feasting on my forbidden food right in front of me. Parties to go but no alcohol of any sorts is allowed.  Not that I like boozing but just a matter of having my evian while others are “punching” and “wining”.

 

I may bust my budget wif all the type of food I need to get for lunch and dinner. But I must say…. Results are WORTH IT!  I’ll be there… my targeted weight.

Regrets

One day a friend asked me about recent regrets. We do not want to talk about those historical events of our life, so we just kinda talk only about recent happenings.

I told her that it had been difficult year for me from 2006 – 2007. Things were getting very well from end 2007 until now. I had been swamped in good vibes and had forgotten to be cautious.  Too much good things happen and had to have one lousy one to drag me back to reality.  

 

Then I tell my friend what are my regrets. Very simple, one is, I regret being too nice to people who don’t deserve it. Two, I regret being not nice to people who deserve being nice to. Irony isn’t it. I need to strike a balance and open my eye widely to see. Nevertheless, a lesson learnt.  Though I had complaint that I won’t not be nice to anyone anymore but then it is not what the Lord teaches us.  I need to continue to be happy and helpful, don’t let some insignificant person rob me of my joy and gladness.

 

Thank you my friends

I am going through a tiny episode of my life that I see the ugliness of people whom I help and the bright side of peple who are caring and supportive. In very very short period, I see 2 extreme.

The person whom I help had been evicted by the police. If you had read my earlier post, you would have know the incident. She had been going around spouting rumours and lies about me.
Some acquaintance may believe her story. I am not affected, I am glad that all the friends I care about do not believe a single word she says. She was found to be staying overnite at a ex-coll hse on the nite she made a fuss to say I disallowed her to come home at 7am. Al I ask of her is to come home a little later so I can catch my sleep. She escalate the whole matter and all she wants is compensation. It is the only thing she had been asking for. Greed is the root of this problem. I had return her her deposit and Oct rental. Other than that, no compensation. How do I compensate a person who has no roof over her top and I had let out a room to her wif a minimal rent?

I had received so many comforting and caring words from friends. I am so glad that the Lord had turn the situation into one for me to see who my real friends are.

I had tolerated her nonsense since I know she need to vent her anger and fustration. She is in the wrong and nothing she can do but spread rumours about me. She is very good wif this as I had heard some of her lies and almost believe her.

Dog that bites the hand that feed

There's lots of description for this type of people. Chinese says 过河拆桥。 Cantonese says 吃碗面反碗底。

I've just encountered such a person.

This person was in distress and was evicted by her previous landlord due to some reason which she phrased it as the wrong doing of the landlord. She is a acquaintance and since she is a foreigner and had send sms to most of the people she know to help her find a place urgently.

I had been living alone and will be a big sacrifice to open my house to another person but since it is to help a friend, I asked her to come take a look at the place and see if she wants to put up temporary.

The room has some items belonging to my sister and that will leave her with ¾ of the room. She can use the common area, light cooking etc. Only request to keep the place clean and clean the common area once a week. I don't think it is too much to ask for. Other general house rules as I had asked around my friends are no visitation of friend of boyfriend. She is happy, AGREEABLE and also told me she is afraid of cold and will hardly use the aircon. Even if she use it, she will turn it off in the middle of night coz she will be cold.

Of coz the reality is opposite. Her usage of aircon and washing machine was "extra ordinary." A LOT. I had to tell her I can't absorb her utility since it is a minimal rent I asked of her. All went well, she is AGREEABLE but negotiated to have her friends come to see her room (for what? HDB room is room) and also for her bf to come. I refused her friend, who knows what tom dick harry. I agree to let her bf come by only on wkends when I am not around and not staying overnite. She is AGREEABLE.

Recently, she said she is staying overnite outside and won't be coming back. I cfm with her and she change her mind. She wants to stay out becoz she do not want to pay the extra midnite charge for taxi but wants to come home at 7am on a Public Holiday. I told her I will be waken by her coz my dog will bark when she returns. I will not be able to go back to sleep as I had mentioned to her I had insomnia and those who read my blog knows of my insomnia. I ask if she can come back later. SHE IS AGREEABLE and even sms to tell me hope I dun mind her staying out.

Then this person say I am a Bloody Landlady to an acquaintance we both knew but she didn't realized I get to know about it. I ask her what I did to deserve this.

She told me, I am selfish not allowing her to come back at 7am. I don't care about other people but myself. HELLO…. She wants to save a few bucks and imply I must be waken by her at 7am. Who is selfish? Furthermore she agree to come back later. And that is MY HOUSE!

She says I treat her like she is staying at my place for free and have to clean the house. I think she had amnesia. She AGREES wif sharing housechores since she uses common area and kitchen. She can jolly well disagree and scram to her room. All my friends said I am crazy to take only $300 rent from her when my room can fetch $600 - $800. I told my friend that my intention was to help my an acquaintance and not for profit making. She still think I charge her an arm and a leg. She should be laughing in her sleep at such a steal she had.

I did not charge her the 1^st few days she stayed at my place. I didn't charge her utility the 1^st month. 2nd month the bill was $29 for her utility because SP overcharge my gas becoz they cant check the meter for a long time and there were some rebates, so she enjoy the rebates since I only request her to pay the excess from my standard usage. 3^rd month, bill was $45 for her and she start asking if SP overcharge my electric. She compare my bill wif her bf. Told her there is a meter recording usage, SP can't overcharge if they get to check the meter. I know she wasn;t happy but there's nothing I can do.

*A short update. The fuss tat this tenant made about me asking her to return home later in the morning is due to her willfulness. Heard from someone that she had stayed overnight at an ex-coll place with a whole lot of other ex-coll to celebrate their last day in the company. She had a place to sleep, a roof over her top. She just want to make things difficult for me just because I said no to her request. What’s wrong wif these people?!?!

My breakfast today

Trying to be as creative as possible with simple ingredients

pork sausage

romaine lettuce
cheese

easy right?

Counting down to say goodbye

Tomorrow will be one of the sadest day for a lot of us at work. One of the dept will be closed. We will be saying goodbye to almost 30 colleagues. This dept had been very significant and the customer service cases they handled is very unique. Part of my headcount is this dept and all these years, alot of my work evolve around them. I will say goodbye to them and also the type of work I had been doing. There will be new responsibility and task waiting for me in Oct.

I do not knoow what the future may hold but will take on the new challenge. I'll take it as new things to learn.

Will try to cherish the day tmrw with some of the colleagues that I am close to. We will keep in touch, here or in FB.

Atkins

I was doing too much too soon. It will be very normal for any healthy person to be on the elliptical for 30mins and not have much problem. They could increase to 45mins. I am having pain when walking downstairs the 2^nd wk onwards. I check and found info such as tendonitis or perhaps patella problem. Anyway, I will have to do some quap strenghthening exercise before proceeding with more exercise on the elliptical.

I am starting my Atkins today. I gave it a lengthy thought on Sun while still enjoy some of the carbs laden food. No bingeing but I had 2 Yuzu sweets, Rice for dinner and had a Tau Sau biscuit my Sil bought from Malaysia. That’s it for now.

Just a note, I am now 70kg. See how much I can get rid of in one month and subsequent months.

Rocky Road

I am not referring to the Dreyers ice cream.  I am not well again within a month.  1^st was flu which I had to slow down on my exercise and now backache.  I had not been exercising for 2 days already.  The pain killer and muscle relaxer I was given irritates my stomach and makes me hungry. I did not eat enough carbs yesterday and was having giddy spell.  After a sweet tasty milo, I felt slightly better.

 

Not very well achieve this month for my weighloss plan, losing only 1.5 – 2 kg.  My scale is fluctuating and is fustrating as I am unable to see positive results.

 

Yup, just grumbling.  I will push on.

You are what you eat

I didn’t realized how much I had consumed in the past 1 – 2 years to gain approx 6Kg. Some days, I will have a cup of milk tea or coffee during the afternoon break with colleagues and that is about 100cal for a sweetened drink like this.  If I were to have bee hoon with fried egg for breakfast with cuppa coffee, that will be around 600cal.  Char siew rice for lunch will add another 600cal. A piece of fruit another 50cal. A few squares of chocolate eaten mindlessly while working will be around 150 – 300cal. Dinner of rice and dishes may be 600cal and munching on the donut after dinner another 300cal + coffee 100cal.  WOW…. That is approx 2350cal for a person with sedentary lifestyle who needs only 1500cal.

 

This may not be the usual meal you have daily but anything around this, will lead you to Fat-dom. With me watching and estimate counting all those stuff that I gobble down my throat.  It is not difficult to realized that I had eaten way way too much. I am trying my best to keep my food intake at 1500cal daily which is a realistic goal.  Reducing too much intake suddenly may fool our body into thinking that we are starving and begin to store fats.

 

Rome is not build in one day… my 6kg is not gained in 1 day but over a span of 1 year.  I should try to lose them over a period of 6 – 12 mths.

 

Food that I will missed and only gets to eat them once in a blue moon from now on. Mee Siam, Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Cheesecake, Sesame paste, Almond paste.  Arrrghhhh the forbidden food list may go on. I better stop here before I miss them too much.

Watching another kg peeled off

I was abit dishearten when my weight get stuck at 71. It has been 2 wks and no sign of reduction despite my exercise. I so happen to speak to a friend and she gave me a tip and ask me to try if it works. I tried her method and continue to exercise. Oh well, I think it works coz whenI finally weigh in tdy, I drop 1 kg.

I will continue to work hard twds my goal. If I am seeing better result in the next 1 or 2 wks, I will share the useful tips here.

Electricity is so EXPENSIVE

The recent electric bill partly due to the increase of oil prices had rocketed so high. Just asked a few of my frens and all complaining expensive. Well, all those who complaint expensive are thosse who uses the aircon alot ;p

I found this useful guide on consumption on SP Services and would like to share with those who wanna figure out what appliances use most energy.

Go to this site and click Tips on energy saving
http://services.spservices.sg/

Aircon approx 18.80cts per hour
T.V approx 5.01cts per hour
Fan approx 1.88cts per hour
Fridge approx 5.01cts per hour
Washing machine 7.52cts per hour

This would means if you turn on the aircon 8hrs/day, it will be approx $45 per month.
Watch the T.V for 4 hrs/day, it will be $6 per month. PC should be around the same as T.V.

My first dinner w/o rice

Dinner on Fri

Dinner on Sat

Results not very encouraging

Though I had continue to watch what I eat and exercise but I don’t see any dip in my weight at all. I am getting inpatient and upset. Then a thought strike me that we do not put on weight within a month.  The weight creep on silently, undetected over a period of time. We do not have to watch what we eat to gain weight but have to watch it while we try to lose it.  We are more conscious of what’s going on during this period.  During the time when we put on weight, we eat whenever someone offer us and we are eating when we are not hungry. Now it is difficult to try to eat only when we are hungry. I dunno why I keep having a “hungry” signal going off.  Partly due to my lack of sleep, I kind of lack the important hormone that rules and tell us when we are really hungry and needing food.

 

I cannot give up. I am going to stick to this.  

Wk 2

Tracking my progress for the 2^nd wk.  Very unfortunate that I didn’t lose a single kg this wk despite my diligent exercising. It’s usually this part that gets me dishearten but goodness me, it’s just the 2^nd wk! and I seem to be hitting a pleateau??!!  No way, something is wrong somewhere. I might have still been eating too much. I had manage to get Vivian’s book and found some time to read it over the wkend.  I do not know if she is 100% true about what she did. There is very little food she can eat each day.  I usually think that those diet that makes you eat very little, tho you can lose weight but they tend to rebound very soon.  Another note is, she had only put on weight this 5 years and had been slim before.  As for me, I had always been plump.  When I was hospitalized for 4 months when I am 11, I lost weight and the doctor gave me lots of supplements that suppose to plump me up. From what my mum told me, that is when I became fat and had always been that plump ever. (don’t ever let me find out who that Doc is!!!!!)

 

I am telling myself not to be disheartened for this wk’s poor result.  I might have been too anxious after losing 1 kg the 1^st wk. I know my friends will continue to be supportive.  Ok ok… more exercise, lesser food.

 

Useful local weightloss webby

Saw this on newspaper and I just registered to see how well it works.  There’s meals suggestion, fitness tips etc. You too can check it out for some useful info.

 

Myhealth

30% discount on Beauty Pdts at Acmamall

I was searching for books and pet products on Acma Mall and saw their current promotion. Don’t say I didn’t tell you. Acma Mall launched their beauty product shopping and is giving 30% off major brand such as Dior, Chanel, Clarins, L’Occitane etc. Offers for a limited period only. Please read up the terms and condition yourself.  Use your good judgement when making online purchase. Happy Shopping. I do not work for them and will not be liable for any mishap or problem that arises. But if you are a regular customer with Acma, then you should know their service yourself.

 

First week.

I’ve made it for the 1^st wk of my weightloss with not too bad result. That is mostly from the exercise that I had done. I am still eating the same amount of food as I had not gone hungry. However, I am more careful with food choices as to not select those fattening ones. I know it is too early to expect if my regimes works but I believe that even my eating plan fails, I have my exercise to back me up. Just that when it reaches the plateau, I will need more effort.

 

I had never been serious with slimming at all but now, it is important since my weight could be affecting my health and possibly partly the cause of my insomnia. I hoep that I will soon see a healthier me and my sleeping problem improved.

 

I’ve updated my weight tracker but it’s a bit wacko and I can only see the weight in lbs and not Kg even when I select it in metric. Anyway, as long as it helps me monitor my progress, it’s ok.  I hope to find a better tracker eventually and will update it again.

 

Clarins Facial Lifting Wrap

I must rave about this product fro Clarins that I just tried.  It’s really amazing!!! I had used the Facial lift before and the result is not so immediate.  I tried other product, those that say they will slim your face but also can’t see much difference. BUT this product had wow me. It’s a mask and the effect was immediate when I look into the mirror, my face was obviously less puffy and looks more define.  I asked my mum, sisters just to be very sure my eyes ain’t playing tricks on me and all said my face looks smaller.  It is not bad for a product that cost S$70.  

 

You can drop by any Clarins counter and asked for a sample to try.  You should see the result yourself.

 

Day 7

Some people put on weight and wonder where went wrong. They had proper 3 meals, doesn't snack.... it will help when you start to keep a food diary. You will discover, what you unconsciously had eaten & drank.

Still nursing myself back to health from the flu bug. I also found info on tummy toning. Try tapping, slapping your tummy with your hands for 15mins. I know, it will be easier using one of those uZap, Oto etc but this is manual work. You are suppose to beat around your tummy area with both hands continuously. You will feel the ache on both arms. This way, you tone both your tummy and arms.

I had eaten my share of super sweet, fatty aand yummy mooncake ydy. I decide that I sud eat a little to satisfy my crave then being deprive of it. A long term weightloss plan sud be something you can live with.

Also to share that, over my many years of trying to lose weight, the only time I succeeded was many years back when I lose from 70 to 58 kg by jogging. It is the fastest way to lose and took a long time for yr weight to rebound. I had not persisted with exercise and the weight creep back. I am unable to do such exercise now due to health reason, so I can only do light ones and lose my excess weight slowly. I tried other ways such as diet, diet pills, slimming tea, medicine from doctors. Some work for a short period but gives me health problem or some are just a waste of money. There is no easy or lazy way to weightloss, the only way will be exercise and watch what you eat.

Mid Autumn festival - sweet......trap

I love sweet desserts. My putting on weight is also attributed to the past one year of donuts, sesame paste, almond paste etc etc. Just into 1 wk of my plan, tdy mum mention abt buying mooncake. Oh no!!! Those typical teochew mooncakes made with lard, yummy champagne truffles snowskin.... control... self control.

I will still have a bit of the mooncake as not to deprive myself. Afterall, weightloss should be long term, I am not expecting to lose alot within a short period. Gotta work harder on the exercise to burn burb burn those calories and fats.

Day 6

Now suffering the full blown effect of my flu. Stuffy and running nose. Tired and drowsy. Was thinking what I should have for my meals today since I may not be able to exercise tdy. It will be for 2 days that I have not ex and I have to be very careful that my weight loss is not temporary. I weigh in tdy and is please to see that my weight have drop to 71 for wk 1.

I had hardboil egg, curry vege and 2 tbsp of rice for lunch, a hard boiled egg for snack. Stomach still feel pretty empty but not hungry. I am drinking lots of fluid.

I'm gonna go search and read more for tips. I will try to share whatever I found and hopefully they can be helpful.

Gotta say this again "It's not how strenous your exercise is, it's how regular you do it"

薇薇安的的減肥3祕技

Found more info on webby and consolidate her tips


1. 戒除宵夜＋斷食法常錄影到三更半夜，以前總會吃點宵夜、啃幾個麵包，為了減肥已經完全戒除，肚子餓到不行時，才喝杯牛奶。

現在只有早餐才吃澱粉食物，1星期中有1整天會只喝流質斷食清腸，或連續2天晚上斷食。斷食期間只吃水果或蔬菜湯。薇薇安的減肥早餐...吃奶蛋素的薇薇安，總是9點以前吃早餐，超級豐盛，有時候是麥當勞早餐，有時候是自製鬆餅，大約吃掉500-600卡。

薇薇安的減肥午餐...工作時，製作單位會準備素便當，但她認為外賣的真是太糟了，既油膩也不能算全素，還加一大堆調味料，她一定將青菜過水，澱粉也挑掉不吃。如果在家，就DIY做個涼拌蒟蒻麵或椰果蒟蒻沙拉。超愛吃咖哩的她，也會用超市買的即溶咖哩塊，加點花菜和菇類，但也是不配飯的喔！

薇薇安的減肥晚餐...通常只喝熱湯（像是香菇蘿蔔湯，以清湯為底，加入些竹筍、豆腐、香菇、花椰菜），冬天喝超舒服。或吃蘋果、芭樂等水果，也可能只吃很有飽足感的蒟蒻乾。因為中午吃得少，晚上又要斷食，所以她在下午3點前會吃顆起士球，補充蛋白質，或1小塊巧克力磚維持能量，以免工作無力。

薇薇安的1日斷食法...如果當天沒有工作可以斷得徹底，那麼整天就只喝流質，如蔬菜湯、牛奶、果汁、水，再搭配上蘆薈汁，有助於排便。或者早餐吃蔬菜沙拉，中午喝熱可可，下午吃片巧克力磚，晚上喝碗濃湯也可。

薇薇安最常DIY的湯品就是香菇蘿蔔湯，以清湯為底，別用高湯，加入些竹筍、豆腐、香菇、花椰菜，冬天喝超舒服。

2. 每週上健身房運動3次工作滿檔的薇薇安，實在很想挑自己喜歡的課程來運動，譬如她就很想從頭到尾好好學一次瑜珈或皮拉提斯。

但因為時間根本無法控制，只好一有空就往健身房衝，看到有課就趕快跟著跳，不過即使再忙，她仍維持1週上健身房3次的習慣。早上沒通告時，薇薇安也愛去游泳，1次游個2小時，可是從小就建立起的運動習慣。

3. 每天泡澡1小時薇薇安每天回家時間幾乎都超過晚上10點，但她仍堅持一定要泡澡1小時，她說：「泡澡對於瘦下半身特別有效，我還特別去萬華那邊買藥浴包，回家熬煮後再浸泡，另外再加些薑汁進去，還能幫助發汗、促進代謝。」她說，別認為泡澡很浪費時間，趁著這1小時順便敷面膜、看書、準備明天的講稿...，能做的事可多著呢！

薇薇安半年勁減17公斤必瘦祕技 (1)

Now, I am tempted to buy this book. Gotta check where is it available. Tis is another real life example that we see. Just hope that she didnt do with with "tech". Heard radio program having a talk about how some star who endorse for slimming ctr, some went for lipo etc. Of coz they didnt mention names la.

Found this info... wonder if this is avail in SG

【別再叫我肥肥安：薇薇安半年勁減17公斤必瘦祕技！】

Must get my friend to help me source this book thru her Taiwan contact...hehehe

More info from the book :-

不知不覺口訣一： 少吃一口肉，兩個月減4公斤！很每1克脂肪約9千卡熱量，與脂肪相比，碳水化合物和蛋白質每克所含熱量要低得多，約4千卡。因此要減肥不必少吃東西，可以以新鮮的蔬菜、水果、五穀代替每日所食用的脂肪食物，如果做到每天只吃20～40克脂肪，可以在兩個月內減輕體重4公斤！

Cut down on meat, just 1 mouthful lesser, u can lose up to 4kgs in 2 mths. You dun hv to reduce on food intake, just replace food with higher fat content with vege, legumes and fruits. If you can eat fewer by 20-40gms of fats, you can lose 4 kgs in 2 mths.

不知不覺口訣二： 菜吃一半，體重減半！要想減輕體重，不用放棄喜愛的食物，重要的是「控制」！建議要減肥的人在廚房或臥室裡放個體重計，隨時量一下體重，你會更有毅力地執行瘦身計畫喔！

Eat half portion, reduce your weight by half too. U dun hv to give up on your fave, just exercise self control. Place a weighing scale in your kitchen or bedroom and monitor your weight frequently. It will boost your determination.

不知不覺口訣三： 每天一餐吃流質，四個月少4公斤！國外專家統計，如果每天吃一餐流質食物例如新鮮果汁，可以在四個月內減少4公斤！但是要確保所選擇的食物能提供身體所需的營養素和蛋白質，而且每天都一定要吃三餐喔！

Make 1 of your meal each day a liquid meal, lost 4kgs in 4 mths! Foreign expert analyse that if you replace a meal each day with e.g fruit juice, you can lost up to 4kgs in 4 mths. To make sure you have sufficient and required protein and nutrients, you still have to make sure you have 3 meals a day.

不知不覺口訣四： 每天走路45分鐘，半年少5公斤！如果每周有5天，每天一次在45分鐘內走5公里路，可在六個月內減去5公斤！若在45分鐘內走6.5公里，體重則下降得更快。

Lose up to 5 kgs in 6mths by simply taking a daily 45mins walk.

不知不覺口訣五：每週運動3～5天，一輩子都是瘦子！每周3～5天進行運動，不但可以減輕體重、增加肌肉、精力充沛，同時對健康也很有幫助。只要選擇自己喜歡且不會覺得無聊的運動，每週3～5天就可以輕鬆瘦身囉！

If you exercise 3-5 times wkly, you will destined to be a slim person. Exercise not only help you lose weight, increase muscle and vitality too.

不知不覺口訣六：少吃＋走路，瘦子就是你！ 這是一個比較不花錢又簡單的方法，如果你實在做不到每天抽出45分鐘走路，也不想少吃太多食物，不妨試試這一招喔！每天少吃20克肉或脂肪，再走個20分鐘的路（比之前的45分鐘少很多了），每周進行3次，可以在三個月內瘦3公斤喔！

Eat lesser, walk more. You can choose to cut down on 20gms of meat or fats and take 20mins walk 3 times wkly. This way, you can also lose up to 3kgs in 3 mths.

咪咪別走！棄「肥」保「胸」有一套！ Lose weight w/o losing your bust.
我從65公斤瘦到48公斤，胸部卻還有E罩杯喔！反而是小副乳和邊邊肉不見了，胸型看起來真美。想知道要怎麼減肥卻依然保有海咪咪、深乳溝嗎？現在就來跟我一起研究一番吧！減肥容易造成營養不良、身體消瘦，最恐怖的就是導致乳房變小，大大降低美感。所以在減肥期間應該特別注意飲食，減肥的同時也別忘了補補胸喔！

動作一：托高海咪咪張開右手虎口，將虎口插在左邊胸部的下凹槽處，然後一邊往上做托起的動作，一邊輕輕收攏虎口。向上、收攏，重複10次，隨後再換左手按摩右邊的胸部，同樣重複10次。這個動作可以托高胸部、防止下垂。

動作二：創造深乳溝張開右手五個手指，不要併攏喔，否則很難用力。將四指放在左胸的外側，大拇指放在胸部上部，也就是一手掌握你的胸部啦！抓住咪咪，往內推，重複10次，換邊再做10次。

動作三：副乳不要來打開拇指，將右手覆蓋在左胸上面，由外向裡打圈按摩。注意！動作要輕柔，並且必須整個胸部都有按摩到的感覺，兩邊各10次，可以增加咪咪的血液循環喔！

Day 5

I am down with flu again. Yup again. I had a very bad one in Aug that I had 2 days mc to rest with a 5 days course of antibiotic. I didn’t get better after the course of antibiotic and was sick again. Another 1 day mc and a 7 days course of antibiotic. I had not really got well and then now, sick again.

After reading from some fitness tips and analyzing how I felt, I went ahead with my 30mins regime. I did it at a less competitive momentum. I feel good after the light walking exercise. I will be missing a day’s exercise tmrw as I have something to attend to and will be home late.

I will have to do some research on Atkins diet or other similar low or no carbs diet that suit our local lifestyle and food accessibility. I also find Shape being a good magazine with ideas, tips and testimony of people who had made it thru their weightloss. I also found some useful tools on their website,

Based on your height, the suggested Ideal Weight for a small, medium or large frame. I need to be a 58kgs to be in the medium frame range. I will be small if I am 53kgs and a large at 64kgs.

You can also check out your BMI here.

How much calories can you burn based on your weight and type of activity.

I am not an automatic door!

I don't understand why some commuters think that the person seated on the aisle seat in the bus will auto detect movement and hence turn aside to let one go into the window seat. All you need to do is open your golden mouth and say "excuse me". You scared once your mouth open, the golden teeth will drop out izzit?

Also for those people who like to take pix on the bus of people who don't give up their seat for a older or younger passenger. Who are you to judge? Lucky me, I haven't appear on stomp as one who doesn't give up seat. Let me tell you this, there are young adults who is weaker or have medical conditions that they need the seat more than the older healthier person. I had read SPH Forum that 1 such man who is down with flu, groggly and unwell was accused and made to give up his seat. Yes, I am not that strong....worst than my mum hahahaha, she carry heavier grocery bags than me. Ok... I am doing my part to "beef" up my strength and health. And for those who like to snap pix, do have some compassion. There's always 2 side of a coin. So pls dun any old how snap pix. Just wait and when opportunity comes, give up yr seat to the old ok.

Oh....and for those who doesn't have a heart. When I was walking with my crutches at GWC after my hip surgery and hoembound for 5 months. You just walk without giving way to me who is obviously trying to balance and walk w/o falling. SHAME ON U! You don't even give way and I on crutches have to stand still to let you bastard past 1st. (this is old history in 2002....but I can rant right?)

Day 4

I've diligently done my 3 days worth of 30mins exercise. I am still pushing on. I had not been that well the past 2 days and today, I am under the flu spell with a terrible headache.

I had to perservere, can't stop what I had begin with just becoz of some flu bug. I try to look for a recent photo that will most reflect my current state of fatness. I found it... My sister took this for me at the worst ever angle, she lower the camera instead of at eye level. Did I mention she had no sense of where the camera should be angled to produce the best pix? Oh well, she is sure to produce the worst looking one. I am standing tall infront of her lowered down camera and tilt upwards towards me. My face is horribly puff up like I am having some food allergy. Ok...ok.... I'll only going to post the body. NOT THE FACE!!! Here I go.... hopefully this will be part of my memory and in "history". Oh... I had not mentioned about my weight. hehehe, it is quite as taboo as asking a person's age. Just to keep this as part of my record... I am 72kgs 3 days ago and drop 0.5kg and now weighing 71.5kgs. At this rate... I hope to reach 69 kgs by end of this month.

Lost Friend..... Found! and those that are still Lost!

Firstly, I am glad that I found a long lost friend which I lost contact with since 1999. She moved, change tel#, send me a Christmas card on the day I am leaving for Seoul with my family for a vacation. I misplace the card and couldn't find it. I was hoping that she will contact me all these years. I had my mobile since 1997 and had never changed the number. Just few months ago, she called my mum's place looking for me. That was the only tel# she had and she tried.  We reconciled after 9 years!!!! We had a lot of catching up to do.

 

Just a month or 2 before reconciling with the friend I just mentioned, I also bump into a close ex-colleague, church mate which I also lost contact with. We have yet to meet for lunch, she left her job which is near my office. Must try to contact her again before I lost contact.  Or perhaps… she don't really care.  I am the sentimental one which I will cherish your friendship wherever you are.

 

Just yesterday, I found another friend I lost contact with 4 - 5yrs ago. Yup, she is screaming around in her blog hahahaha.

 

I had another 2 friends I lost contact with and had not been able to locate them.  Oh well… maybe one of this day. Anyway… if you happen to know either of this 2 burger, tell them I am looking for them.  Ms Susan Chua Eng Eng married to Kok Wah (oops…can't remember her hubby's last name) and Andrew Low 刘少煌

Day 3

I doubt I will blog about my progress daily but since I am able to do so, I will record as much as possible. I manage to do my 30mins of exercise last evening. I feel good after the exercise.  This morning, I thought I felt lighter but in reality…. My weight remains the same and my pants is just as tight.  What usually tight pants does? They squeeze flabs on you and I look hideous with the lump under my tees.  Oh well…. This sight I hope will become history.

 

Last night I had half a bowl of rice, some French beans fried with prawns, fish and a bowl of vegetable soup. This morning I had some plain biscuits + coffee.  Anyway, my breakfast in the office is quite the same daily. I love those fried bee hoon or cha siew bao, curry puff for breakfast but they are not allowed.  Bad news is… I had not been eating these stuffs for breakfast. If I had…. I would lose weight faster if they are the cause of my weight. My weight comes from unconscious bingeing….snacking…I didn’t even realized I had eaten those things.

 

Lunch today was quite sinful… I had Pork Katsu + Rice + Miso soup and tiny portion of chawan mushi.  Aftn snack = 2 pieces of papaya. I will not starve myself. The most is keep to my usual 30mins of exercise.  I read in one of the previous issue of Shape and there’s a comment that says “it’s not how strenuous your exercise but how regular that counts”.  I cross my fingers and hope I’m believing in the right thing.

 

 

 

I'm on Vogue

Saw this fun tools on Pam's blog and tried it myself. hehehe. Was kinda fun.

You can try it yourself on this Site

Day 2

It will very well be easy for me to keep track since I start my goal on 1^st Sep and now 2 Sep = 2^nd day.  I have not been able to change my eating habit overnight, not so fast.  I did cut down on rice for last nite’s dinner. I had gasttic problem from Aug 2006 and had been so afraid to have another relapsed coz the last episode I had was a painful experience. I had been in and out of ER for extreme pain. Having on medication for a long while.  When I got better, I went on TCM and had since recovered much as well as gaining a whopping 5 kgs.  Not to mention that I am already plump to begin with but another additional 5 kgs.

 

I had to be careful to eat less but had to eat if my gastric acid is bubbling.  I will not starve myself. I did 30mins of the aero walker which is kind of a elliptical machine. I intend to start with 15mins but what the heck, I feel ok, so I went for 30mins.  By the last 5 mins…. My legs were feeling soooo heavy but I made it.  I had to try to do this daily since I can’t do much exercise but at least I can make an effort to exercise more frequently.  Wish me luck my dear friends that my achy back will be good and my crampy legs remain intact for me to at least get rid of the 5 kgs 1^st.  Let me return to my pre-gastric saga weight.

 

Just a quick re-cap into what I ate today

BF – Jacob wheat biscuit x 4 + cup of coffee with cream and less sugar.

Lunch – Kimchi Chigae + rice.

Snack – 4 pcs of Marie Biscuit + hot green tea (no sugar of coz)

Dinner – Dunno yet. Try to eat less rice.

Supper – will do without if my gastric dun trouble me. If so, will have 4 teaspoon of quaker oats in hot water sweeten with 1 teaspoon raw organic honey.

 

Yup…suppose no supper but forget to mention… all who knew me knows abt my gastric problem and my insomnia. I need to lose weight but not trying to go hungry and not able to sleep.

 

Wish me luck!

Thieves among us again!

In my previous blog, I did mention about colleagues having their money stolen.  There were some precautionary action taken in the office. We no longer have the freedom of leaving our valuable all over the place. I had been in this office for so many years and this only happen this 2 years when there is a big increase of staffs.  Today, I saw that the chocolate bar in my candies bowl was gone.  Although it’s just a small chocolate bar but taking without asking is stealing. Some more, this must be a hard up greedy thief to even steal a tiny bar of choc.  I didn’t wanna eat it and was saving it for days when I am desperate for a choc fix since I am watching my diet now.  I was eyeing it just yesterday so I am very very sure it was there.

 

A blessing in disguise anyway.  That had caution me not to bring the expensive Vietnamese Lacquer bowl which I intend to use it as a candies bowl at my desk.  I always offer sweets to colleague who pop by my desk and thought it’s nice to have a beautiful art lacquer bowl here. Oh well, not anymore since there’s thief here. 

Embarking in my journey to weightloss

I had been talking about this for so many times and so frequently that I even get sick of hearing it from my own mouth. All I did was talk the talk and not walk the talk. I had to seriously do it this time. I had achieved a couple of things recently and is smiling secretly to myself. Those who knew me well may have heard me mention a few of what I had managed. Ok, now the biggest challenge ever, my weight. I had always been the plump one in the family. Always being tease and make fun of. A period of my life, I had fought it and succeeded. I had friends who are amazed and disbelief the photos I had shown them of myself when I was slimmest at 58Kg. This weight looks quite unattainable at this moment but I at least need to drop some little by little.

Today I declared WAR against my weight.

What had make me wanted so much to lose those flabs.

1. I couldn’t get the prettier Ao Dai when I was in Saigon. The Vietnamese were so tiny. I had to buy 1 that is least favorite but available in my size.


2. I chance upon a very pretty Cheongsam with modern element in a body hugging satin material that I fitted but look horrendous on me.


3. Time to be very careful of my health. Can’t be too complacent and assume I won’t get sick because I am overweight.


4. Sick of getting those dirty looks from people when they see my sisters and I.


5. Hate those loud mouth aunties commenting that I am so fat and that my mum had been feeding me well. (I wonder old ladies their age, do they have any manners at all?!?!)


6. I no longer can go to the beach in my bikini. I don’t even want to go to the public pool in my swim suit!


7. I look 10 years older at this weight!!!! Totally hate it!


8. Fat people sweat more!


9. Because I am vain and I wanna look good


10. I realised clothes that fit me are'nt flattering at all. I can't get nice clothes my size.


11. Pam… I cannot do as much as you but at least I need to get some flabs off me. (Pam you going down to reason 11 but you are still one motivation)

I realised I don;t take that many pictures of myself, maybe I'm fat so I hate taking photos. I found this pix which is a slimmer me! Still look so plumpy. I can't fit in this dress currently. will post a current me once I get it uploaded. Most likely will be one form recent Vietnam trip.

Eye opening vacation

I just came back from my recent vacation to HCMC aka Saigon.  I would love to still call her Saigon as that is how the people there wish it always had been. It was truly an eye opening experience for me.  I had heard about the Vietnam war but had not taken much notice like many of us. The war is too distance and had not in any way affected our daily life. A visit to their Cuchi Tunnel and War Museum had open the history right in front of me and I had taken my share of walk down the history lane.  

 

Returning to Singapore had made me felt safe, loved and contented. In comparison, there is nothing I can complain about. I love my country and how safe and secured it is to live here. Although there are some tough time we need to go through, stressed and high living standard. But most importantly, we have a comfortable home.

Living on a prayer, a few bucks and a humbled soul

A budget conscious girl I may describe myself now. Armed with luxurious purchases which are more or less on impulse. With a lil encouragement from my beloved sis with the sign card loh~. Recent purchases had thrown my budget way off. As of end 2007, I had meant to be cautious with how I spend and vowed to start saving for rainy days but I was so close, so close to fulfilling my mission.  I had been more thrifty and more cautious with how I budget my spending but old habit never die, the “evil” side of me had gotten the best of me and I had in a span of 3 months in a row bought expensive item. Now I am repaying what I had paid using the ever so trusted visa cards. I do not want to snow ball any debts and willed to pay every cent.  I had to struggle through August which I am seeing the end and it had been so tough, so suffocating for not having the normal spending power. I am yet to climb a tougher mountain for Sep.  My perspective had changed this month of Aug and I had been humbled to not to make the same mistake again.  I know that I can make it through when I did a mental calculation before I sign those damn card but mental calculation vs reality…..

 

IT WAS TOUGH!

 

I prayed and thank the Lord for each day that I had a few dollars to spend for my meals. I am thankful for my survival after my crazy purchases. I had learned not to spend on credits. I also see 1 of my purchases is equivalent to approx 332 decent meals I am having now on my pathetic budget.

 

I hope I had finally learned my lesson and blog’ing this is to remind myself!

What goes around, comes around

Sometimes in life, you encounter nasty people. Worst are those who pretend to be real nice to you but had always been backstabbing you whenever possible.  There are those who are loud mouth and you knew is the bitch but most wouldn’t want to mess with her to make your own life miserable. I had the honour of meeting such people in my work life. To some who believe Karma, yes, they do get it.  For those who trust in the Lord will know even better what is going on and how we are shield and protected against their evil plan.  

 

I just want to encourage those who had met such people and is really upset by what they had done to you. Trust in the Lord and He will open your eyes to see. It doesn’t matter if you had been wrong or had to take the rap of bad things you had not done.  Justice will be on your side. Things will be made right no matter how grim things seems to be now. The Lord will remove the oppressor in a way that you can’t imagine. Even lil petty things they did, they will reap what they sow.  So will you.  If you sow goodness, you will reap goodness. Do not do evil like the evil doers. Vengeance will be the Lord for those who had persecuted you.   

Just talk

Was'nt feeling well, down with flu and conjunctivitis. I already had the symptom last week and had been to the company's dr. Told the dr that my eye is very uncomfy and puffy. Felt like a ton weighing down from my eye to my cheek. She simply say I have dry eye and gave me hypo tears drop. Didnt like this "fastfood" chain doctor, esp this current dr which is new at this branch. She took the longest time to see 7 patients. I waited for almost 1.5hrs. Anyway... don't understand why they don't listen or they simply think that every patient that drop by their clinic is to get MC. Oh well, I went to the clinic at around 3pm.. that's a bit "early" to try to get sick leave isn't it?

That is just the eye cooking up some real nasty bacteria and yesterday, I woke up with swollen eyes. I hardly could see my eyes so to say. When I went to the clinic near my place, the dr say my eye is very red and ask if had rub my eyes. Told him I didnt. Thereafter, when he is writing out the Rx, he mumble again to remind me not to rub my eyes. For goodness sake, I am not a kid and had to lie abt if I did rub my eyes or not. I didtnt even realised my eye is red cause I can hardly see my eyes this morning ;p. Being cheeky... I ask the dr if it does make a diff in diagnosis if I did rub my eye vs didnt rub my eye. hahahaha.

I am Chinese Singaporean

I am Singaporean and I am Chinese too.  Although we are not native Chinese but can't deny the fact that I am a yellow skin Chinese. Maybe I can say I am Asian but my ancestor, after all are native Chinese that had come to Singapore.  There are lots of native Chinese in the early days migrate to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia etc. I don't know why but I dislike hearing another yellow skin person saying bad things about China or rolling their eyes when a product is made in China.  

 

To be fair, every country have nice people and the not so nice people. I also heard about how some Singaporean misbehave overseas and being called Kiasu etc. I had learnt history of China from school and also from dad who likes to watch documentary.  Chinese had gone through lots of hardship from all the past turmoil. They had not given up and continue to persevere. What they had accomplished today is not by sheer luck but hard work.  Sad to say, there are always black sheep like what you see in one of my earlier post… dog butchers!  Also the recent case where some evil business man exported contaminated wheat gluten for pet food manufacturer in USA and caused the death of many pets.  There are also evil business man that made fake milk powder, meat products etc. Perhaps these black sheep had tainted the reputations of China.  

 

Despite these, there are still some good we see. Not to forget, as the Chinese teaching had influence many great man. 从古至今是依然传颂的美德，忠孝礼仪。这四个字足以证明华人是如何注重品行。

Nightmare

What do you consider as nightmare?  Some have scary dream of ghost, bad encounter or being chase by unknown “xxxxx”.  It is now the Hungry Ghost Festival (from 1st – 30th Aug) I had a nightmare last night, not of any of the above kind of dream but dreamt that my Fluffy ran onto the road near the bus-stop and almost hit by coming traffic.  The dream repeated twice!!! It is very disturbing and scary for me to dream twice.  It is almost like it happen once in the dream that Fluffy was at the bus-stop with me but not leashed.  She ran onto the road and I dash onto the road to get her.  Then supposedly another time at the bus-stop on a different day, it happen again.  I didn’t learn my lesson and didn’t leash her the 2^nd time.

 

Maybe recently too many friend’s dog had went to the rainbow bridge and it had affected me.  I remember that I had indeed made such a mistake few years ago when I 1^st went to view Oreo for adoption.  Fluffy did walk quickly, I won’t say she run towards the main road.  I didn’t dare chase, afraid that she will run even faster and dashed onto the road.  Lucky for us all, she step onto the road and froze at the corner of the curb. To her, the oncoming cars and buses are huge huge monster. I quickly picked her up…or was it K that pick her up?  I don’t remember.  I was in shock then.  The dream I had last night seems to repeat this event tho with a different “story”.

 

I do not know how…. How I will be able to deal with losing Fluffy if the day comes.  Oh well, the 2^nd wk she was brought home I thought she might have sneak out the house had already brought thunder storm to my eyes.  I cannot imagine……..

发发唠骚

I felt so wronged and misunderstood last wk.  Anyway, I got over it over the wkend as I usually will after a day or 2.  

 

I had treated a fren well and this fren does not reciprocate. This fren太极小姐  is quite possessive in some way and I dislike it. I can only say sticky!!!

我掏心交朋友却换来一肚子委屈。第三者也难理解我怎么对待之而如何被对待。发发唠骚却被问是否我如何对待那位朋友所以他这样。算了，自己心里明白就好。他只对他的同胞好些。我只是他闲来无聊一起去吃饭的"朋友"。他有饭局没我份。我有饭局没叫上他，他肯定脸黑过木炭。还有一大堆他说了伤人心的话，长篇大论我又不怎么能打中文，又不想太极小姐能看懂， 只能写这些了。

 

怎能事事皆如人意？但求问心无愧。

 

Eve's Goodbye~ "office" lunch

Other than the poor rigid service at lerk thai, we had quite a fun time at lunch.

Today, one of the younger colleague’s last day, the baby in our office. (she is going to protest if I say she is a baby). We arrange to have lunch at Lerk Thai near our office. To beat the crowd and to make sure we have seats, some of the colleague walk over to the restaurant 1st. There were 9 of us and the restaurant cannot set a table for 9. The staff told my colleague that they are too busy to help re-arrange the table. When we reach there, we asked the same thing and this time we were told “THIS IS OUR RESTAURANT POLICY THAT WE CANNOT JOIN THE TABLES”. Oh well, this will be the last time we gonna be eating there. We had to split into 2 table not next to each other but more like like a “T” as in one table adjacent to another.

To make situation worst, we tasted the food and realized it was serve “cold”. When we ask them to change the food as it is cold, they cleared all the bowls of red beef curry from our desk and later returning with the same beef red curry reheated. How on earth we know whose curry is it with each of us already tasted our own food. We had to speak to the manager and she explained that she isn’t aware how the kitchen staff could pour the beef back into the wok to reheat them. I told her how unhygienic this is to pour 4 bowls of red beef curry we had each tasted back into the wok to reheat them and them serve them to us again when all 4 of our saliva all mix into one wok and then pour out in 4 bowls again.

Other than the rigid, cant re-arrange table, this cold food and their “way” of re-heating the food had certainly put me off. Oh well, I won’t go to this restaurant again but the incident had not dampened our spirit. We celebrate the last day of Evelyn…. Ya… we are so happy that she is leaving. (I am kidding). We are happy to send her off to pursue better future.

Another Farewell and more to come....

This picture was taken last year at our company’s D & D. Already 1 out of the pix had left the company and another 2 to go. Colleagues are people you meet each day for about 8 hrs, 5 times a week.  Almost quite the same as when you 1^st became good friend with your classmate in Pri and Sec School. Friends are made but can they withstand time?  Maybe in a few years, we can testify if we are still in touch. Time will tell.

 

All the best to you my friend and your future endeavor.

 

*I wish to hear that too…. Hahhahaha”

More of Beijing Architecture

These lovely pictures are from Yahoo News and Associated Press. I do not know if they are going to be available for a long time but keeping them in my “diary” enable me to look at them as and when I want to and share with my friends who view my blog.

 

 

08.08.08 8pm One World One Dream

First time ever to have Olympic event so close in Asia timing.  It is time we don’t have to keep up with late nights.

 

There had been so many many hiccups prior to this year’s Olympic held in Beijing. Counting down to the day that all Chinese will feel proud.  I love more of the architectural building that is built for this event.

 

I had turn down a dinner appointment for that evening so I can stay home to watch the opening ceremony.  I am game for it… Are you?

 

 

Isaiah 65:24

Something I received in my email and I couldn’t let this pass.  I’ve gotta keep it so I can read again someday.

 

This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa . One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). 'And it is our last hot water bottle!' she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. 'All right,' I said, 'put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.' The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. 'Please, God' she prayed, 'send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.' While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, 'And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?' As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, 'Amen'? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, 'If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!' Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: 'Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?' That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it 'that afternoon'. 'Before they call, I will answer' (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. T here is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one another !