29.03.2010

it has been sunny since chinese new year..erm, i think even before that.. there was no rain..not even a drop of water.. green grass became brown. even the water is hot (without the help of water-heater), early in the morning..

one of the bush-fire on our way to menumbok

there were lots of bush-fire..a small cigarette-butt can ignite fire and burn the whole bush. there was smoke. everywhere.
last friday, on our way back to Menumbok, there was another bush fire.


but, today..a good cool day. it rain! finally. the rain put smiles on everybody's face.. and the after-the-rain smell, smells so good! =)

28.03.2010

we had our extended-family gathering in menumbok yesterday. and it was a good one. at least we achieved some of the objectives, to get to know the family members. although not all families were able to join, but it was good to have those who were there. =)


a brief history about my ancestors (which just got to know in detail, recently). Teo Bu Yu (my great-great grandpa, four generations ahead of me) was originally from China, who sailed and arrived in the land of Borneo, specifically in Kuala Penyu. he got married to a local lady, a Dusun named Nuak Bandari Pasar and moved to Menumbok to settle there..that's where i got my Dusun blood. they had Teo Geok Kew (my great grandpa) and other children but i'm not sure how many are there because it was a little too complicated. according to ah ma, Teo Bu Yu went back to China once, with his son and left the child there..and no one knows what happened.
Teo Geok Kew was married to Tan Kee Chee and had 5 children, of which my grandpa was the first child. by the way, Tan Kee Chee was born of a chinese-dusun parents too. My grandpa was married to my ah ma, Tan Ah Yu, and my dad was the firstborn. =) and here i am today..born 25 years ago, 6 years after my dad married to my mom. :D

and today is also dad and mom's 32nd wedding anniversary. =) happy anniversary mom & dad!

15.03.2010

in my opinion, the happiest thing for a teacher, is to know that his/her students excel and doing well in studies as well as in their lives.

Clinton is my one and only boy student. i taught him Chemistry and Maths. he can understand with just one-time explanation. YES, he is a smart boy. but it's not easy to teach him or to make sure he does his homework. it's just that he needs constant reminder and do not have the initiative to do his own revision.

there were times when i had to drag myself for my sessions with him..and i'll feel good when he had to cancel classes..there was once, i let him waste his time and my time by doing ONLY 8 simple questions in one and a half hour..i almost gave up.. ok, perhaps i'm not a good teacher =|

well, he changed his attitude two months (if i'm not wrong..) before the exam, and i can see his changes and i know he wants a good results for a better future..although it's a last-minute preparation, but at least he did it.

last thursday, when i got to know his SPM results whereby he got an A for his Maths and B for his Chemistry (he never do well in his Chemistry, and the only exam he got credit was the first one, in Form4), i was so proud of him ..and i knew his parents, especially his mom is proud of him too. =)

soon, he will pursue his studies in audio engineering and i hope the best for him.

19.02.2010

GONG XI FA CAI!

i guess it's not too late for me to wish all of you happy chinese new year, because it will be celebrated for the whole 15 days until Chap Goh Mei. my new year was great (except for the black-outs) and wishing you a blessed new year too!

as usual, our reunion dinner was home. this year, i happily volunteered myself to prepare the soup of the day ;) because mom will prepare pak cham kai and i can have the chicken broth for the soup.. and that's easy.

these are the ingredients i prepared for the soup:

japanese tofu, cut into small pieces..cut them just like how you cut leong foon

black fungus, cut into thin slices

grated carrot

filament stick, also cut into thin slices

first, heat the chicken soup, put in the carrot and black fungus. bring the soup to boil to soften the carrot and black fungus. then put all the salt, sugar or any extra seasonings for the taste before putting in the tofu. when the tofu is in, stir the soup slowly and pour in corn flour mixed with water to thicken the soup. after getting the perfect consistency, pour in beaten eggs to make it more presentable.

the soup of the day :)

we had our yee sang which consist of seaweed, carrot, stripes of cuttlefish snack, filament stick, cucumber, jelly fish and raw salmon, pumpkin seeds all over them, sesame seeds on the jelly fish and sweet and sour sauce..

for dinner, we had:

pak cham kai

stuffed mushrooms with broccoli

fried prawn

khiu nyuk

fried pork with sweet and sour sauce

fresh seaweed salad

chu kiok (pork leg cooked with dark soy sauce)

it was also roddy's birthday, on that day, so we bought 3 small slices of cakes as a surprise for him..

Blessed Birthday! :)

17.02.2010

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Season where it is also the time to reflect upon my life, spiritually..wholly..

it's a time to fast and abstain. for me, it is not merely to fast or abstain, but it is also a challenge for me to fight temptation, and it's food (meat) to begin with, where i can be easily fall for (and some other things)..other than that, it is also a promise i made to myself and i know i can go through this with God's help.
yes, in normal days, it would not be easy, but i believe, if i WANT, and with God to strengthen me, i CAN do it.

Happy Fasting!

"..when you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do; they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. i tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. but when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.." Matt 6: 16-18

to bunie: we did it last year, and surely we can do it again this time..jia you! jia you! ;o)

12.02.2010

i made some cookies this new year..they are anzac biscuits and pineapple tarts..

however, i did not make my own pineapple jam because.....hehe, i do not know how to make my own jam and i think it will be much much more easy if you buy from the shop. i got mine from Bake with Me at only RM6.80/kg..and it's thai pineapple! ok, i dont know how good thai pineapple is, but for sure, it's hakuna matata! ;)

let me share my pastry dough recipe with you so that you can make your own pineapple tarts next year..

125 g butter, cut into small cubes
250 g flour
50 g milk powder
20 g custard powder
15 g corn flour
100 g castor sugar
an egg, lightly beaten

1. mix all the flour, milk powder, custard powder, corn flour and sugar in a mixing bowl
2. add in the butter cubes and mix it into the flour mixture to form bread-crumb like. i recommend you to use your hand, instead of the electronic mixer, because electronic mixer will cause the mixture to be very very soft, and end up you have to add in more flour. oh ya, make sure you wash and dry your hand and also make sure your finger nails are short and clean :)
3. add the beaten egg into the mixture to form dough. and at this stage, you need to have kneading skill..aisey..usually it will be very wet, so you have to prepare extra flour (not too much and not too little) to make sure that the dough is perfect to be rolled or shaped.

i made a total of 9 containers of pineapple tarts and 2 containers of anzac..ok, only now i realized i made that much of cookies! hehe..

and as for the anzac biscuits, you can get the recipe by clicking on the picture below :)

09.02.2010

it was the best and the longest conversation i had (i think)..and i enjoyed every moment of it. =)
even though the outcome was not a positive one, but at least i poured my heart out *wink* i believe God has His plan and His plan is always the best for us.

May the Lord reveal His plan for you and you'll have the courage to face any challenges that may come. Amen.

i'll keep you in my prayer =)