Love

"In sickness and in health, until death doth parts us"
Mr. and Mrs. L are the pharmacy's regular customers. They nearly always come to the pharmacy together. They stand patiently at the counter whilst I get their medications ready. They would make small talk whilst waiting, the kind that husbands and wives make after being together for a very long time, yet are still very fond of each other. When I go to the counter with their medications, Mr. L signs the scripts and tells Mrs. L to pay for the medications. Mrs. L exclaims in feigned indignation, "Pay with my money? You give me money only to take it away from me?" She proceeds to tell me sotto voce, "That's to make sure that I won't leave him" and she smiles. I then jokingly reply, "Who does the cooking?". Mrs. L says, "I do! I do everything and he does nothing!", to which Mr. L affirms, "I do nothing". They carry on their bantering all the way to the door.
Mr. L, on one occasion of him coming to the pharmacy without Mrs. L, told me that Mrs. L had a bad back. "Goodness knows she has a bad back, with me as her burden all these years, but don't tell her that."
Mr. C is by Mrs. C's bedside every day. She is a shell of her former self, sleeping most the time due to the pain medications given to her. She can no longer talk nor walk from weakness, her eyes lighting up when she has visitors, her eyes the windows of communication when speech fails her. Mr. C sits and watches over her, his love for her is silent but strong, stated not in words but in actions.
They know better than others the meaning of love, love that transcends mere words. I am moved to awe and tears. I hope to begin to understand, if only a fraction at a time, what love is all about.

Love

Dae Han Ming Guk!!!! - Kimchi family trip 2007

8 days and 7 nights in South Korea (16/12/2007 - 22/12/2007) - I am practically addicted to kimchi!!!

It was -3 degrees Celcius when we reached Seoul Incheon Airport at 7:30am 16/12/2007. It was cool, but not too unbearable since it was not windy. We took the tour bus from Incheon to Kimpo Domestic Terminal to catch a flight to Jeju Island, where our South Korea trip officially began.

Jeju Island is nicknamed the Hawaii of South Korea for its beachfront and the fact that Koreans flock Jeju during summertime. The first thing I noticed as we came out of the airport was the palm trees. Hawaii indeed, if not for the cool weather and slightly cloudy sky. The tour guide, Eddy, told us that Jeju is also famous for its tangerines. We saw rows of tangerine trees planted by the roadsides, laden with big fat tangerines. I vaguely recall this Korean TV drama in which the female lead was caught stealing tangerines from a tangerine orchard in Jeju. I wondered if they were sweet.

Jeju is Korea's largest island, composed of volcanic rocks. Not surprisingly, the various rock formations of Jeju is one of the tourist attractions. Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock) was our first destination. Its namesake is due to a large basalt rock resembling a dragon's head protuding out of the sea.

Dae Han Ming Guk!!!! - Kimchi family trip 2007

Facebook

I've finally joined the Facebook crowd... it looks sleeker and more organised than Friendster. I can understand what the hype is all about... it's just a matter how long I can keep up with the hype...

I just realised that I'm thinking like my father... am I that old???

Facebook

Home Sweet Home

I'm back home in Petaling Jaya. It's the first day today. I've been taking it easy... sleeping in, staying up late, eating, making more bracelets. My sister, SX, is back at home for the holidays; she has her JC homework to do, I help her out with Chemistry, I'm just glad that I don't have to study anymore... not obligatory study anyway. :P

It's good to be home. Don't know how else to describe the feeling of being home than feeling a sense of belonging and security. It's good... all good...

Home Sweet Home

Recently

I've been doing a lot of things recently...

I've renewed my bracelet project - making bracelets out of ribbons with bead / embroidery patterns. I'm getting better at the designs and the final products look much more presentable.

I've made a hard cover book from scratch... I'll upload the pictures soon... but for the first try, I'd say that it's a pretty decent book.

I've tried two different recipes of tiramisu. The first one, an oven-baked item, although it looked disgusting in presentation, surprisingly tasted good. I've just tried out the second recipe tonight, I'll only know the result tomorrow. ;)

I also cooked clay pot chicken rice tonight for the very first time. It was a bit wet, but it tasted good, much to my surprise.

I've also fallen in love... with life. There are so many things that I have tried, that I have yet to try... I can't wait to wake up every morning to start something new.

Unless, of course, I have to wake up to work. :P

Recently

Petaling Jaya in Sydney

" ...it felt as if I was back home in Petaling Jaya (PJ)..."

It was a usual Sunday morning. I had choir practice in the morning, after which the choir sang during mass. I enjoyed singing Byrd's Agnus Dei and Ave Verum Corpus, although to my chagrin I sang my part slightly earlier half way through Ave Verum Corpus, and the choir conductor, GP, noticed it, and gave me a knowing smile. He did comment to me after mass that it wouldn't have been noticed by the congregation. I tend to slip up when I get excited... perhaps over-excited.

It was during mass when Father John gave his sermon, and I was lost in reverie, that I noticed a bird chirping, its sound resonating through the church, almost as if it was listening to Father John speak and replying fervently. It was then I realised that when one is lost in one's own world, the world is lost upon one. I'm sure the bird was trying to tell me to wake up and pay attention; I have been absorbed into a world of my own lately, and if I could snap out of it, things would be clearer to me.

I had lunch at the Fish Market; I haven't been there for more than a year at least. I sat on grass at Wentworth Park; the feel of slightly damp grass and the sun on my skin is difficult to explain. I feel alive, not just living.

Walking to the bus stop behind World Square to catch the bus back to college, I noticed that it was quite humid, and although the afternoon sun made its exit behind the clouds, it felt as if I was back home in PJ. I do miss home.

Petaling Jaya in Sydney

忘不了 (Cannot Forget)

忘不了 (Cannot Forget)

Good Things Come in Small Packages

I finally bought The Body Shop Cheek Blush in Rose. I've been eyeing it for ages ever since it was featured in Real Living August edition. I was surprised that it came in such a small tube, and I now know why; only a minute amount of the gel is needed (i.e., a pin-point amount) for each cheek. I personally prefer this cheek blush over Revlon's Limited Edition Collection Pinch Me Sheer Gel Blush; it was less runny and much easier to apply. The result is oh-so-natural!

Good Things Come in Small Packages

In Heaven

Panda, a bristle-nosed catfish I bought over a month ago, small, fidgety, is now playing in the garden with Bluey, Radio, Little Strong One, Bow, Girlie, Sushi, and Sashimi, and few of Sushi's brood.

Cookie, a clown loach, active and always on the go, joined them yesterday, too.

Somewhere in the garden is a beautiful little lamb called Samir... eating grass and frolicking happily, sticking his nose into everything, as if he is the authority of all matters.

I'm very sure that they are happy in the garden of Heaven.

In Heaven

Time with CH

I mentioned my special friend CH from Vietnam in one of my earliest blog entries. I talked about fate never ceasing to amaze me; after what I've been through this year, I truly believe that she's back for the reason to guide me through this difficult year. CH, if I didn't tell you this before, I will say it here (for here is where my deepest thoughts live): cám ơn bạn rất nhiều; for everything that you've done for, given to, and shown me.

I've been sleeping over at CH's place quite often. Every time I stay over, she'd cook me yummy Vietnamese dishes. She told me that she wanted to gain weight, and I told her that I wanted to lose weight. Well, she's been maintaining her weight (even losing some), and I think that I'm likely to gain weight from all the good food that she's been feeding me.

Yesterday night, I experimented with a recipe I noted from Jamie Oliver's show - Jamie at Home: the best Caesar Salad in the world. It turned out really well, if I may say so myself. It took me a while to roast the chicken drumsticks and crisp the bacon in the oven, but it was well worth it. Here is the recipe for those who would like to try it out. Credit goes to Jamie Oliver!

Ingredients:
Cos lettuce (one bunch can serve approximately three people)
Chicken drumsticks (6 for three people)
Fresh rosemary
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
Bread
Smoked ham / pancetta (I used bacon just because I didn't have pancetta)
Grated parmesan

For the dressing:
Anchovies (1 can of 45 g) - save the extra virgin olive oil
Garlic (1/4 - 1/2 clove)
Juice from half a lemon (one part)
Three equal parts of extra virgin olive oil
Crème fraîche (I used pure cream just because I didn't know where to get crème fraîche!!!)


Method:

1. Set the oven at 180 degrees Celcius.
2. Marinade the drumsticks with bruised rosemary, salt, and pepper. I added a little honey to the marinade, too. Set aside for about 30 minutes.
3. Tear up bread into big pieces.
4. Wash and drain cos lettuce. Cut / tear up into pieces.
   
5. Grease a baking tray with olive oil. Put the drumsticks on the tray; put the bread pieces onto the tray.
   
6. Put the tray into the oven. At the pre-set temperature, roast for about 30 minutes.
7. Layer the smoked ham / pancetta / bacon onto the chicken. Roast until crispy. When bacon is nearly done, baste bacon and chicken with honey.
   
8. Tear chicken meat into pieces. Cut bacon into small pieces. Cut up croutons into small pieces.

To make dressing:

1. Open up a can of anchovies into a mortar (include the oil).
2. Mash the anchovies in oil into a smooth paste.
3. Add to it 1/4 - 1/2 clove of garlic for flavour. Mash to a smooth paste.
4. Add an equal part of crème fraîche. Mix to a smooth paste.
5. Add the juice of half a lemon and 3 equal parts of extra virgin olive oil.
   
6. Mix until smooth.

Mix lettuce, chicken pieces, bacon, croutons together in a large bowl. Add dressing; top with grated parmesan. Serve. :) (Add salt and black pepper to taste; if desired).

It is so unbelievably simple and yummy. CH thought so, too... I had trouble timing the roast; but with practice... I think I will be ok. ;)

Time with CH