I've been neglecting this blog. Shame on me. When I started this way back in January of 2010, I told myself however busy I got, I would still find time to write and not let it fizzle out by year end. Fizzling out is something I am frequently guilty of....
When I was much much younger, I had a foray into ballet - before you can say "Tu Tu", my swan lake ended before it even began. It signalled the beginning of many unfinished ventures. Piano died at Grade 6. In my own defense, I did sort of get tricked into it. My sister and brother started taking lessons and silly old me got lured by the tinkling of the ivory keys...No one said anything about the torturous exams I had to take! Theory exams came with migraines and oral exams nearly induced heart-attacks. Practicing scales was excruciating and my confused mind could only remember "Andante" and "Allegro" - don't ask me anything else....please.
Life after secondary school was filled with fleeting "romances" of the same kind.....Tai Chi? Yup - swooping crane and all... Yoga? Check! No one could surpass the perfection of my Corpse pose.... Latin dancing? Even managed to complete 3 exams, but there just weren't enough tall, dark handsome Latino partners to keep the enthusiasm up. My paper crafting hobby burned brightly for a while, and then died a natural death. Determined to learn Mandarin, I invested in a huge dictionary and several children's workbooks, only to have them sit in my bookshelf gathering dust....the list goes on but I guess you get the picture by now.
This analysis of my pitiful history has made me renew my determination - especially to work at the original goals of my quest to find purpose, passion and pleasure. So I'm going keep at it - this blog, my baking and cooking, my erhu, my fitness, my reading, my time with family and friends... anything and everything that will keep me optimistic and happy for my future. And here's wishing you would be able to keep your flame alive too - it's a little late into the year, but have a amazing 2011 everyone!
Showing posts with label quest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quest. Show all posts
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Next JK Rowling???
I suck at contests. I just can't seem to win anything, not even measly consolation prizes like coupons. All those mind-numbing nights I slaved over the Star Crossword Puzzle contest, dreaming of winning big bucks and brand new cars....All those painful hours I pored over articles for answers to questions in the Star Power of 9 contest.... All those brain-draining decisions I had to make to select the right photos for the MAS Let's Go Now contest....My blood relations have laughed at my futile efforts before. Mum even said that I was not destined to have any "wang choy" - the kind of luck where riches literally just fall into your lap. Instead, I would have to slog hard for my money. It really does takes a strong woman to soldier on in the contest arena....
So, you can imagine my shock and disbelief when I received a sms from my sister proclaiming that we had actually WON a children's picture book contest!! My sister, who was even more pessimistic than me on our chances, told me to check my email and see if it was a hoax. But it wasn't!! The publisher's website, OneRedFlower Press, carried the same announcement as the email! http://1redflower.wordpress.com/
It was a long bout of "Ka..Ka..Ka.." and "Oh My Gods" between my sister and I. She asked me if she was in the Matrix and whether Morpheus would soon turn up with the red and blue pills, while I was couldn’t help thinking of the dreamworld in Inception. What if Leonardo was just messing with my head??? I think part of the shock was due to how innocently the whole thing started, how the idea for the story came about and how we ended up submitting the entries. Never in a million years did we expect to win! Life certainly works in mysterious ways....
I am now really excited and looking forward to what's going to happen next. Our winning story is to be published and we are now initiating discussions with the publisher. I am already being propositioned by wannabe agents who think we’re going to be as big as JK Rowlings. Personally, I am happy if the book even gets made! Getting published will be one of the best prizes ever – of course, if it turned out to be the only contest I ever win in this lifetime, then it becomes THE best prize ever. An important lesson I’ve learnt from this is to always give things a try - you really never know what can happen! Onwards to the next contest!!
So, you can imagine my shock and disbelief when I received a sms from my sister proclaiming that we had actually WON a children's picture book contest!! My sister, who was even more pessimistic than me on our chances, told me to check my email and see if it was a hoax. But it wasn't!! The publisher's website, OneRedFlower Press, carried the same announcement as the email! http://1redflower.wordpress.com/
It was a long bout of "Ka..Ka..Ka.." and "Oh My Gods" between my sister and I. She asked me if she was in the Matrix and whether Morpheus would soon turn up with the red and blue pills, while I was couldn’t help thinking of the dreamworld in Inception. What if Leonardo was just messing with my head??? I think part of the shock was due to how innocently the whole thing started, how the idea for the story came about and how we ended up submitting the entries. Never in a million years did we expect to win! Life certainly works in mysterious ways....
I am now really excited and looking forward to what's going to happen next. Our winning story is to be published and we are now initiating discussions with the publisher. I am already being propositioned by wannabe agents who think we’re going to be as big as JK Rowlings. Personally, I am happy if the book even gets made! Getting published will be one of the best prizes ever – of course, if it turned out to be the only contest I ever win in this lifetime, then it becomes THE best prize ever. An important lesson I’ve learnt from this is to always give things a try - you really never know what can happen! Onwards to the next contest!!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
SweeTooth Strikes Back....
Rising petrol prices, rising sugar prices, rising LPG, rising everything! Everything's going up except the salary. What's a gal to do in such trying times? Well, one obvious course of action is to try to earn money through other means of course! So, I've resuscitated SweeTooth from my flea market venture way back in February. Had hoped to milk the CNY cash cow back then. Now, I'm ready to milk the Hari Raya cash cow instead. A key production strategy change is to switch to Make-to-Order instead of Make-to-Stock to minimize inventory overruns like what happened at the flea market last time. Another strategy change is to focus on just 2-3 key products instead of doing too many variations. See? I'm finally putting my logistics knowledge acquired from my years in SAP to good use - finally, something fruitful from my years of slogging in SAP projects....ka ka ka...So here goes... my Shortbread Sensation flyer....
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Bread Galore....
I am now a proud holder of an International Certificate of Bread Making, issued by Taylor's College. It is amazing how much more prestigious something sounds when you put the words International and Certificate together. And all I had to do was attend a 2-day workshop held over the weekend. Of course, dishing out RM700 for the course contributes a long way towards getting your name printed on the cert. A week before the course, a friend who had taken the same workshop last year, gave me some discouraging feedback. Apparently most of the dough was prepared in advance, the facilities had roaches and the instructor was average (Chinese and married - somehow, this became critical information to share with me also). Ultraman, (staunch supporter of Google), also did not help matters with his fervent belief that I would not learn anything from the course which I could not learn from Google.
So, it was with some trepidation that I made my way to Taylor's Lakeside campus on that fine Saturday morning. The campus was pretty huge and I had to be picked up like a lost puppy by Anne, Taylor's marketing executive who was in charge of the registration for the course. We collected two more lost souls, and made our way to the kitchen. There was only eight of us in the class, much less than the initial minimum of 15 that Taylor's wanted to run the course. Guess 8 is still better than 0 huh? It was a pretty mixed crowd - Libyan, Nigerian, Malaysian... hmmm, maybe that's why it is an International certificate? But the best part came when a young, single Frenchie by the name of Francois introduced himself as our instructor. I suppose my friend must have really expressed her disappointment to Anne last time. I had to rub it in and sent her a text message on the spot... Ka Ka Ka.
Over the next two days, Chef Francois took us through the joys of baking bread. We made quite a variety of bread, ranging from soft rolls, wholemeal loafs, multi-grain, baguettes, brioche, fougasse, etc. It is amazing how different breads can be churned out by just tweaking the proportion of practically the same ingredients. I learned different shaping techniques like how to round the dough into small balls...
...how to handle really wet dough like ciabatta....
...how to shape and cut a fougasse...
Of course, you can always be creative...
I was looking forward to the making of the brioche since I nearly "killed" my dough on my first attempt baking it at home. It did sooth the ego when Francois made a batch of failed brioche dough and had to re-do it. Guess I was not doing that badly after all. The brioche turned out great in the end - really tasty and soft.
I also learnt a traditional kneading method where you basically slam the dough onto the counter, fold it, lift it with your fingertips and slam it again. It was tough work. The idea was to minimize handling of the dough with your hands to keep the temperature cool. And I learnt how to tell whether the gluten in the dough has properly developed by doing a window test. Basically, you stretch a small piece of dough out between your fingers to see how elastic and clear the "window" is, and whether it breaks easily.
Overall, I had a fun time in class. I was fortunate I had a small class of 8 where the nice, helpful Chef Francois and his assistants could spend time answering all our inane questions. I doubt he would have been able to do that with a class of 18, which was the max number of participants for the class. The participants were also a fun and varied lot ranging from engineering managers to lecturers. It is always nice to mingle with people enjoying the same interests.
While there was definitely room for improvement in terms of organizing the sessions such that the students can execute the whole process beginning with measurements all the way to baking and cooling, and getting rid of the roaches (yes, they were running around - luckily just saw the small ones and no roach bread got made. To their credit, Chef Francois did say they tried many times with various methods to get rid of the pests but they keep coming back), I was glad my fears were generally unfounded. So was the experience worth the RM700? New knowledge, new friends, an International certificate and access to a young French chef who gave away his email address? ...I certainly wouldn't complain if they could lower the price but it was good enough for me. Who knows, my quest could certainly end in a bakery! Till my next Patiserrie adventure then....
So, it was with some trepidation that I made my way to Taylor's Lakeside campus on that fine Saturday morning. The campus was pretty huge and I had to be picked up like a lost puppy by Anne, Taylor's marketing executive who was in charge of the registration for the course. We collected two more lost souls, and made our way to the kitchen. There was only eight of us in the class, much less than the initial minimum of 15 that Taylor's wanted to run the course. Guess 8 is still better than 0 huh? It was a pretty mixed crowd - Libyan, Nigerian, Malaysian... hmmm, maybe that's why it is an International certificate? But the best part came when a young, single Frenchie by the name of Francois introduced himself as our instructor. I suppose my friend must have really expressed her disappointment to Anne last time. I had to rub it in and sent her a text message on the spot... Ka Ka Ka.
Over the next two days, Chef Francois took us through the joys of baking bread. We made quite a variety of bread, ranging from soft rolls, wholemeal loafs, multi-grain, baguettes, brioche, fougasse, etc. It is amazing how different breads can be churned out by just tweaking the proportion of practically the same ingredients. I learned different shaping techniques like how to round the dough into small balls...
Rounding, rounding, rounding - Pic courtesy of new friend Nava
Finished product - Yummy soft buns with red bean filling
...how to shape loafs that look like stalks of wheat which has the Frenchie name of Epi de Ble.
Hard at work on my Epi de Ble - Pic courtesy of new friend Nava
Finished product - Stalks of Wheat
...how to handle really wet dough like ciabatta....
Cutting ciabatta dough
...how to shape and cut a fougasse...
Finished product - Onion Fougasse
Of course, you can always be creative...
My Happy Face Onion Fougasse
Beautiful Brioche in Traditional Shape
Taste test for the brioche - Excellent!
I also learnt a traditional kneading method where you basically slam the dough onto the counter, fold it, lift it with your fingertips and slam it again. It was tough work. The idea was to minimize handling of the dough with your hands to keep the temperature cool. And I learnt how to tell whether the gluten in the dough has properly developed by doing a window test. Basically, you stretch a small piece of dough out between your fingers to see how elastic and clear the "window" is, and whether it breaks easily.
Overall, I had a fun time in class. I was fortunate I had a small class of 8 where the nice, helpful Chef Francois and his assistants could spend time answering all our inane questions. I doubt he would have been able to do that with a class of 18, which was the max number of participants for the class. The participants were also a fun and varied lot ranging from engineering managers to lecturers. It is always nice to mingle with people enjoying the same interests.
Model students
While there was definitely room for improvement in terms of organizing the sessions such that the students can execute the whole process beginning with measurements all the way to baking and cooling, and getting rid of the roaches (yes, they were running around - luckily just saw the small ones and no roach bread got made. To their credit, Chef Francois did say they tried many times with various methods to get rid of the pests but they keep coming back), I was glad my fears were generally unfounded. So was the experience worth the RM700? New knowledge, new friends, an International certificate and access to a young French chef who gave away his email address? ...I certainly wouldn't complain if they could lower the price but it was good enough for me. Who knows, my quest could certainly end in a bakery! Till my next Patiserrie adventure then....
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Working Gal...
It's been a while since I posted an entry. The previous weekend was basically a whirlwind of disgusting housework to get the house presentable enough when Mum came back from her trip. Then last weekend was another whirlwind of activities involving some treetop escapades (more about that later). Guess all these whirlwinds are forming over my weekends because I am now officially back at working a 5 day week. So, goodbye to all the lovely spare time I had for blogging, baking, playing erhu, swimming, reading and all those frivoulous little pleasures of life. Boo hoo. Of couse, my dastardly sisters are revelling in the fact that I have to work a full week now, pretty much a slave like them....Where's the sisterly love??
Well, I'm into my third week now and man, it has been a challenge getting my brains up to working speed again. It doesn't help that I have to now travel to KLCC, smack in the center of town. The thought of driving through the daily snarl was enough reason to tempt me to say "No" to my boss when he informed me of the assignment. And it definitely does not help that the client starts work at 8am! It has been a daily struggle to open bleary eyes and heave myself out of bed every morning to get to work on time. And even then, I am only getting to work at 8.30am on average now. Well, since I have not officially started my project, guess I still have some flexibility with the start time. But I am trying to slowly train myself to be up earlier now so that it's not a shock to my system when I really have to start reporting to work by 8am.
Since I chickened out of driving and decided to do the LRT thing for now, it all boils down to precision timing. Too late, and I'll need to be ready to really muscle my way into the cabin else I'll have to watch many many trains whiz by before I get a chance to even place my toe on the doorway. Too early, and I basically end up like a zombie the rest of the day due to that 15 crucial minutes of sleep I had been deprived of. Also, flat shoes are essential tools to survive the ride and the kilometers I have to walk from the KLCC stop to my actual workplace. Tottering in high heels crushed in the LRT without anything to grab on to is definitely going to induce major injuries to the feet. Flat, FLAT shoes, my friend. Now, I have to carry a shoe bag with some heels to slip into once I reach the office (I really GOT to get a multi-tasking pair soon).
An umbrella is an absolute MUST-HAVE item for rain-prone KL. Unless you don't mind staying late in the office staring mind numbingly into the computer. It's not like you can just watch TV while you wait for the rain to stop, can you? Another essential item is wrinkle free, breathable clothes. Believe me, traipsing around with a heavy laptop bag is no walk in the park in this humid, unforgivably hot weather. I see all these pretty young things walking alongside me from the LRT station to almost the same final destination. They don't even break a sweat while I always appear in the office looking like I just ran a marathon. What kind of anti-perspirant do these ladies use????
Moving down the list....let's see. Working downtown also means you have to bring lots of extra money. It is darn expensive eating around KLCC, I tell you. Unless I want to look like I ran another marathon and walk some distance to some "cheaper" eateries, I am consigned to the fact that I'll be spending a minimum of RM10 to RM12 everyday for lunch. Last but certainly not least, it's important to develop some muscle and leg power. Loading the laptop bag with all the essentials like umbrella, water bottle, shoe bags, etc. and heaving them around, can certainly rival Mr. Schwarzenegger's workout routine. Since, there is little time to spend on proper exercise now what with being mentally exhausted by the time you get home, it is good to incorporate a little fitness routine into your day. Taking the stairs instead of the escalator when running for that train, opting for the slightly longer walk to the station - preferably in the evenings when the sun is not squeezing all the moisture out of you of course.
Well, it's certainly going to to take some discipline and focus to get back in working gal mode. As I have shared before, I should give myself another go at this job to see if I still enjoy it. It is one of the challenges in my quest after all. Now, if only I can find out the brand of anti-perspirant, it will make eveything so much easier....
Well, I'm into my third week now and man, it has been a challenge getting my brains up to working speed again. It doesn't help that I have to now travel to KLCC, smack in the center of town. The thought of driving through the daily snarl was enough reason to tempt me to say "No" to my boss when he informed me of the assignment. And it definitely does not help that the client starts work at 8am! It has been a daily struggle to open bleary eyes and heave myself out of bed every morning to get to work on time. And even then, I am only getting to work at 8.30am on average now. Well, since I have not officially started my project, guess I still have some flexibility with the start time. But I am trying to slowly train myself to be up earlier now so that it's not a shock to my system when I really have to start reporting to work by 8am.
Since I chickened out of driving and decided to do the LRT thing for now, it all boils down to precision timing. Too late, and I'll need to be ready to really muscle my way into the cabin else I'll have to watch many many trains whiz by before I get a chance to even place my toe on the doorway. Too early, and I basically end up like a zombie the rest of the day due to that 15 crucial minutes of sleep I had been deprived of. Also, flat shoes are essential tools to survive the ride and the kilometers I have to walk from the KLCC stop to my actual workplace. Tottering in high heels crushed in the LRT without anything to grab on to is definitely going to induce major injuries to the feet. Flat, FLAT shoes, my friend. Now, I have to carry a shoe bag with some heels to slip into once I reach the office (I really GOT to get a multi-tasking pair soon).
An umbrella is an absolute MUST-HAVE item for rain-prone KL. Unless you don't mind staying late in the office staring mind numbingly into the computer. It's not like you can just watch TV while you wait for the rain to stop, can you? Another essential item is wrinkle free, breathable clothes. Believe me, traipsing around with a heavy laptop bag is no walk in the park in this humid, unforgivably hot weather. I see all these pretty young things walking alongside me from the LRT station to almost the same final destination. They don't even break a sweat while I always appear in the office looking like I just ran a marathon. What kind of anti-perspirant do these ladies use????
Moving down the list....let's see. Working downtown also means you have to bring lots of extra money. It is darn expensive eating around KLCC, I tell you. Unless I want to look like I ran another marathon and walk some distance to some "cheaper" eateries, I am consigned to the fact that I'll be spending a minimum of RM10 to RM12 everyday for lunch. Last but certainly not least, it's important to develop some muscle and leg power. Loading the laptop bag with all the essentials like umbrella, water bottle, shoe bags, etc. and heaving them around, can certainly rival Mr. Schwarzenegger's workout routine. Since, there is little time to spend on proper exercise now what with being mentally exhausted by the time you get home, it is good to incorporate a little fitness routine into your day. Taking the stairs instead of the escalator when running for that train, opting for the slightly longer walk to the station - preferably in the evenings when the sun is not squeezing all the moisture out of you of course.
Well, it's certainly going to to take some discipline and focus to get back in working gal mode. As I have shared before, I should give myself another go at this job to see if I still enjoy it. It is one of the challenges in my quest after all. Now, if only I can find out the brand of anti-perspirant, it will make eveything so much easier....
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Pitstop Q1 2010...
It's been a while since I posted an entry. Blame it on the horrendous Streamyx connection which basically died after the massive thunderstorms last week. It has not been resuscitated yet by the equally horrendous Streamyx Customer Service team. Anyway, it has now been 3 months since I started this blog. Which started out with grand visions of me finding the perfect cocktail that will make up my life. So, it's time for a pitstop to see where I am and to refuel for the next leg....
How am I doing in terms of purpose? Hmmmm..... apart from my constant goal of trying to win a gazillion bucks from Magnum 4D or Big Sweep, it has been slow moving in this department. Guess this will be a tough nut to crack. I could choose to live out the remaining half of my life keeping occupied with work and the little pleasures my hobbies give me ... but I am not giving up just yet that somewhere round the bend, I will find "IT"... the "IT" that will make everything seem worthwhile.
And what about passion and pleasure? I think I am faring a little better here. I am still having flashes of me playing the er-hu to an adoring audience. I'm still actively baking and cooking, still learning and enjoying the process. I am also still trying to keep fit and strong enough to run more races. And I am still definitely keeping my eyes and ears out for travel opportunities. It occurs to me that a lot of the activities I am immersing myself in now are more physical in nature compared to the brain sapping tasks of my I.T. job. Perhaps this is an indication of what kind of work I should get into instead?
In summary, for Pitstop Q1 2010....I still have a long way to go in the quest but I'm glad I am able to enjoy such a good mix of everything for now. I just need to keep an open mind and be willing to experiment. It's only a matter of time. Onwards to the next leg!
How am I doing in terms of purpose? Hmmmm..... apart from my constant goal of trying to win a gazillion bucks from Magnum 4D or Big Sweep, it has been slow moving in this department. Guess this will be a tough nut to crack. I could choose to live out the remaining half of my life keeping occupied with work and the little pleasures my hobbies give me ... but I am not giving up just yet that somewhere round the bend, I will find "IT"... the "IT" that will make everything seem worthwhile.
And what about passion and pleasure? I think I am faring a little better here. I am still having flashes of me playing the er-hu to an adoring audience. I'm still actively baking and cooking, still learning and enjoying the process. I am also still trying to keep fit and strong enough to run more races. And I am still definitely keeping my eyes and ears out for travel opportunities. It occurs to me that a lot of the activities I am immersing myself in now are more physical in nature compared to the brain sapping tasks of my I.T. job. Perhaps this is an indication of what kind of work I should get into instead?
In summary, for Pitstop Q1 2010....I still have a long way to go in the quest but I'm glad I am able to enjoy such a good mix of everything for now. I just need to keep an open mind and be willing to experiment. It's only a matter of time. Onwards to the next leg!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
IF...Part 2
Since my last post, I have been wallowing in self pity for over a week. Dreading that I will be starting a full time project soon, I have been mucking about the house, doing nothing much. Basically, yearning and wishing and dreaming that a billion gazillion bucks will fall out of the sky into my lap. Well, after that depressing period....whaddya know... the client has not decided yet if they want me! Ka Ka Ka!
Anyhow, did you see the news yesterday? Three lucky bastards (pardon the language - it's only out of intense envy) won the 12 million ringgit jackpot by Magnum 4D! I am now infused with renewed determination to keep my eyes and ears open for 4D numbers - any combination which catches my attention, from car plates, birth dates, anniversaries, race bib numbers, numbers from dream sequences.... well anything short of actually going to the cemetery and selling my soul for lucky digits. And I am going to google everything I need to know about how to play to win! Soon, real soon....I will be swimming in a sea of cash! Muaahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...!!!!!
Anyhow, did you see the news yesterday? Three lucky bastards (pardon the language - it's only out of intense envy) won the 12 million ringgit jackpot by Magnum 4D! I am now infused with renewed determination to keep my eyes and ears open for 4D numbers - any combination which catches my attention, from car plates, birth dates, anniversaries, race bib numbers, numbers from dream sequences.... well anything short of actually going to the cemetery and selling my soul for lucky digits. And I am going to google everything I need to know about how to play to win! Soon, real soon....I will be swimming in a sea of cash! Muaahh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...!!!!!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
IF...
,I found out a few days ago that I might have to work full time real soon. Since starting work again in January after a blissful 10 month break, I have been coping pretty well since I only had to commit 3 work days a week. Quite a sweet deal as I still had time to dabble in my other passions. But, as fate would have it, I may get assigned to a project as soon as next week and my big sweep lottery ticket failed to hit the jackpot. So, as I am sucking it up and gearing my mind to be positive about the next 6 months of slaving away at the computer, I am finding small comfort in one of my favourite song. As Simon Cowell in American Idol always advised..."Do your own version of the song..." So here goes...sung to the tune of "If I Were a Rich Man" from the awesome musical, Fiddler on the Roof...
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a BIG fortune?"
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I'd buy a big bungalow with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the Bangsar part of town.
A fine slate roof with real teak floors below.
There would be one long escalator going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
I'd fill my driveway with mercs, audis, porsches, beemers,
For the town to see and hear.
Honking just as noisily as I can.
With each loud "beep" "beep" and "port" "port"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy woman."
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I’d see myself in the mirror, looking like a rich woman
With a genuine Lolek watch.
Dressed to the nines in brands to my heart’s delight.
I see me flying first class, travelling round the world.
Pockets filled with dollars, euros, pounds.
Taking in the sights all day and night.
The important people in my life can count on me
For one free dinner or two,
Heck, I’d even sponsor trips to a tropic paradise (Redang!)
I could give some away to worthy causes
Charities and conservations too
Solving problems that would cross politicians’ eyes!
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
For spa and massages every day.
Or read in my library filled from wall to wall.
And I would bake and dance and sing karaoke,
Play erhu several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy woman!!!
Check out the great original from the movie at this link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a BIG fortune?"
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I'd buy a big bungalow with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the Bangsar part of town.
A fine slate roof with real teak floors below.
There would be one long escalator going up,
And one even longer coming down,
And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
I'd fill my driveway with mercs, audis, porsches, beemers,
For the town to see and hear.
Honking just as noisily as I can.
With each loud "beep" "beep" and "port" "port"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here lives a wealthy woman."
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle woman.
I’d see myself in the mirror, looking like a rich woman
With a genuine Lolek watch.
Dressed to the nines in brands to my heart’s delight.
I see me flying first class, travelling round the world.
Pockets filled with dollars, euros, pounds.
Taking in the sights all day and night.
The important people in my life can count on me
For one free dinner or two,
Heck, I’d even sponsor trips to a tropic paradise (Redang!)
I could give some away to worthy causes
Charities and conservations too
Solving problems that would cross politicians’ eyes!
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
For spa and massages every day.
Or read in my library filled from wall to wall.
And I would bake and dance and sing karaoke,
Play erhu several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
If I were a rich woman,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy woman.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy woman!!!
Check out the great original from the movie at this link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Flea Market Survivor’s Tale – Part 2...
It started out simply enough. The questing knight in me had been contemplating on getting some hands-on retail experience by setting up stall at a flea market. Having worked as an employee for umpteen years, I figured a flea market would be the perfect venue to test my entrepreneurial skills. No long term commitment - just rent the space, set up shop for the day, do your thing, and walk away relatively unscathed due to the minimal investment required. Before procrastination paralysis hit me, I got my sister to be my partner in crime. We went ahead to book a stall for the monthly flea market at Sunway Lagoon Club. Of course, we had no idea what we were going to sell but hey, like what Starship sang “Nothing’s gonna stop us now....”
We ended up deciding that we’ll just bake some stuff for our little flea market venture. We figured out the fancy name...we would “brand” ourselves SweeTooth. That’s when the easy part of this whole adventure ended. The subsequent process of selecting what to bake induced several migraines. Having a weakness for acronyms, I came up with the S.M.A.R.T. guidelines to decide what to make :
1. Simple and quick to make – throw in all ingredients, pop in oven and kapow! It’s ready!
2. Marketable – Malaysians are a conservative bunch. Another sister of mine related how she tried a hand at selling ice cream before. She had a bunch of exotic flavours but guess what the best sellers are? Yup, chocolate and vanilla. So, we had to make items which were familiar and yet a bit unique so that people are willing to part with their dough... for some of our dough (ok, ok, bad joke).
3. Ages well – the stuff had to be storable for at least a couple of days...we are ethical business people after all. But without using any added preservatives. After all, being preservative –free was going to be one of our selling points.
4. Real affordable – Pricing was pretty tricky. We couldn’t really push down the costs that low as we had no economies of scale. And we were buying most stuff from the usual supermarkets. So, we had to make sure we kept our prices within range that people are still willing to part with their dough...for some of our dough (not that funny second time round too huh?)
5. Transportable – it would be pretty darn annoying if all the cookies had crumbled by the time we were ready to set up shop...
Our final S.M.A.R.T. selection consisted of cookies, muffins and brownies. I have a confession to make though. I broke the very important S.M.A.R.T rule no 1. I decided to go ahead to make icing-decorated heart-shaped sugar cookies. Due in no small part to my elder’s sister’s advice to do something Valentine related. And also images of lovelorn men queuing up for my cookie was very persuasive too. This was a decision that resulted in many, many, MANY hours of additional back-breaking labour (thanks a lot, sis)....
Four days before the event, I plunged headlong into baking hell. I started out full of steam but became a shrivelled up balloon by day 3. Hellish visions still flash through my mind as I write this....FLASH! That’s me, continuously baking of cookies and muffins till 2 am in the morning... FLASH! That’s me, endlessly icing heart-shaped sugar cookies till 3am...FLASH! Me again, in an never ending cycle of washing up of pots, pans, spoons...FLASH! Whaddya know? Me, packing and re-packing cookies, making sure there were no oily stains on the packing paper...FLASH! Me with the aching feet, spinning head and breaking back...
I could barely walk on flea market day. It was only through great mental strength and will power that I survived. Of course, thoughts of bountiful coffers full of RM didn’t hurt either. Alas! The foot traffic at the flea market was pitiful to say the least. The sparse crowd consisted mostly of harassed parents dropping off kids for swimming, taekwondo, tennis and various Sunday activities. No one came intending to spend money – not after paying up for all those extra-curricular activities for their kids. We tried desperately to make eye contact at everyone who passed. If we were lucky, our victim would feel obliged enough to stop by the stall for a browse. Even launching guerrilla attacks with our sample tray did not work as well as we had hoped. Was it only us or did every other stall have a bad day? It brought relief, albeit a small one, when we noticed sales was pretty poor at all the other stalls too. At the end of the day, we packed up and left...we were in the red. All that hard work for naught...
Before tears start welling up in your eyes, this story does have a happy ending. Friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues digged deep and bought most of our leftover stock, enabling us to make a teeny weeny profit! (very teeny only, guys... I did not rip you off!) . While disheartened that we didn’t become the next big thing after Martha Stewart, we did get some encouraging responses on our products. Some family and friends are now suggesting we try this out a couple more times at busier places – an optimist is even projecting thousands of RM in turnover daily! But can you imagine the amount of baking I’d have to do???? I’m still mulling this over and thinking if my body can withstand another onslaught. On the other hand, as I am pondering this matter, the popular Cantonese saying comes to mind - “Ngo pat yap tei yoke, sui yap tei yoke?”....
We ended up deciding that we’ll just bake some stuff for our little flea market venture. We figured out the fancy name...we would “brand” ourselves SweeTooth. That’s when the easy part of this whole adventure ended. The subsequent process of selecting what to bake induced several migraines. Having a weakness for acronyms, I came up with the S.M.A.R.T. guidelines to decide what to make :
1. Simple and quick to make – throw in all ingredients, pop in oven and kapow! It’s ready!
2. Marketable – Malaysians are a conservative bunch. Another sister of mine related how she tried a hand at selling ice cream before. She had a bunch of exotic flavours but guess what the best sellers are? Yup, chocolate and vanilla. So, we had to make items which were familiar and yet a bit unique so that people are willing to part with their dough... for some of our dough (ok, ok, bad joke).
3. Ages well – the stuff had to be storable for at least a couple of days...we are ethical business people after all. But without using any added preservatives. After all, being preservative –free was going to be one of our selling points.
4. Real affordable – Pricing was pretty tricky. We couldn’t really push down the costs that low as we had no economies of scale. And we were buying most stuff from the usual supermarkets. So, we had to make sure we kept our prices within range that people are still willing to part with their dough...for some of our dough (not that funny second time round too huh?)
5. Transportable – it would be pretty darn annoying if all the cookies had crumbled by the time we were ready to set up shop...
Our final S.M.A.R.T. selection consisted of cookies, muffins and brownies. I have a confession to make though. I broke the very important S.M.A.R.T rule no 1. I decided to go ahead to make icing-decorated heart-shaped sugar cookies. Due in no small part to my elder’s sister’s advice to do something Valentine related. And also images of lovelorn men queuing up for my cookie was very persuasive too. This was a decision that resulted in many, many, MANY hours of additional back-breaking labour (thanks a lot, sis)....
The Killer Cookies
I could barely walk on flea market day. It was only through great mental strength and will power that I survived. Of course, thoughts of bountiful coffers full of RM didn’t hurt either. Alas! The foot traffic at the flea market was pitiful to say the least. The sparse crowd consisted mostly of harassed parents dropping off kids for swimming, taekwondo, tennis and various Sunday activities. No one came intending to spend money – not after paying up for all those extra-curricular activities for their kids. We tried desperately to make eye contact at everyone who passed. If we were lucky, our victim would feel obliged enough to stop by the stall for a browse. Even launching guerrilla attacks with our sample tray did not work as well as we had hoped. Was it only us or did every other stall have a bad day? It brought relief, albeit a small one, when we noticed sales was pretty poor at all the other stalls too. At the end of the day, we packed up and left...we were in the red. All that hard work for naught...
Before tears start welling up in your eyes, this story does have a happy ending. Friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues digged deep and bought most of our leftover stock, enabling us to make a teeny weeny profit! (very teeny only, guys... I did not rip you off!) . While disheartened that we didn’t become the next big thing after Martha Stewart, we did get some encouraging responses on our products. Some family and friends are now suggesting we try this out a couple more times at busier places – an optimist is even projecting thousands of RM in turnover daily! But can you imagine the amount of baking I’d have to do???? I’m still mulling this over and thinking if my body can withstand another onslaught. On the other hand, as I am pondering this matter, the popular Cantonese saying comes to mind - “Ngo pat yap tei yoke, sui yap tei yoke?”....
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A Flea Market Survivor's Tale - Part 1
I survived the flea market experience. Am totally exhausted. I felt like my brain would not function anymore for the next 10 years. Will let the pics speak for themselves at this point till I recover enough brain power for a proper entry....
Friday, January 15, 2010
Back on the Saddle Again...
Sigh, sigh and sigh again. This is it guys. My 10-month break is officially over. The questing activity needs funds and short of selling blood to the blood bank, that just means one thing. I had to go back to work. Same old line of work. Same old boss even. My work clothes have been hanging in my closet welcoming moths. Now I’ve hauled them out and dusted them down. Even my cheap PVC handbags were rotting already. Of course, all sorts of other insecurities have started playing in my mind. Do I still remember my stuff? Can I still confidently execute my role? Heck, can I even stay awake at work for the minimum 8 hours?? Fuuuuuuuuuuu-aaaaaahhhhhh..... (only Cantonese opera fans will get this one). How can I even begin to express this deep reluctance in my soul???
The greatest underlying fear though is that I will get sucked back into my old lifestyle without making any progress on my quest....work, work, work on week days, then rest on the weekends and get enough energy to work, work, work again the following week. I guess I should be happy with a stable source of income. But would I be truly happy? Would I find purpose in what I am doing? Since I’d be spending a huge period of my productive adult life engaged in this activity called work, it is only natural for me to want to do something I’d enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a world peace campaign to make it worth my while. Sadly though, I realized that I have no other skills whatsoever that could contribute towards my economic well-being. Let’s run through some career options which I had already scratched off the list....
The greatest underlying fear though is that I will get sucked back into my old lifestyle without making any progress on my quest....work, work, work on week days, then rest on the weekends and get enough energy to work, work, work again the following week. I guess I should be happy with a stable source of income. But would I be truly happy? Would I find purpose in what I am doing? Since I’d be spending a huge period of my productive adult life engaged in this activity called work, it is only natural for me to want to do something I’d enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a world peace campaign to make it worth my while. Sadly though, I realized that I have no other skills whatsoever that could contribute towards my economic well-being. Let’s run through some career options which I had already scratched off the list....
- Ballet dancer – First of all, I would have had to spend an extra 2 hours before each dance performance trying to put my tights on right. Second of all, that career went down the drain when I was around 7 or 8 when I stopped going for ballet classes. I figured that I probably don’t want to risk not being able to walk for the rest of my life if I try to do the splits now.
- Tai chi master – I did the moves right but I still couldn’t light up the bulb with my internal energy.
- Pianist – It was excruciating practising scales and I could only correctly describe what Andante and Allegro meant in theory. My voice wobbled during oral exams and my fingers refused to dance lightly over the keys....Enough said.
- Squash player – Alas, flat feet and a wonky toe joint eliminates this option. Not to mention my questionable forehand, aversion to exertion and a slight deficiency of sportsmanship....
- Chef – I could pull this off. All I’d have to do is to project the right image and personality and get my own cooking show. Pulling a Gordon Ramsay probably wouldn’t work in Malaysia – besides, I’d have to learn how to swear in three languages or more to cater for the multi-ethnic audience. Channelling Nigela Lawson is also out – not voluptuous enough and my boob size doesn’t quite make the cut. Even if it did, I’d be pixelated on TV. Perhaps the cool, hip Jaimie Oliver personality may work. But then I’d have to get some cool hip friends for me to invite over for dinner at the end of the show.....that could be a problem. Still mulling over this one....
- Food critic – if I couldn’t resolve the Chef personality issue, this could be an alternative. I just need to brush up on my epicurean dictionary and thesaurus. Can’t just declare “Too salty” or “Too sweet” just like that. Will need to be able to construct sentences like “Sublime flavour of sea salt underlying the sweetness of musky truffle...” Or something to that effect. The negative aspect here obviously is the effect eating all that food is going to have on my already ample waistline.
- Travel host/ guide – Love, love, love to travel. Definitely one of my identified passions. The challenge is how make money and not have to get stuck with a bunch of fussy tourists whom I have to wait on hand and foot...
- Er-hu musician – I suspect I may be an unpolished diamond. With the right guidance and enough practice, I could be making an album soon. Now, I just got to learn how to make those “I am totally immersed in the music” kind of expression when I play, then it’s “Eat your heart out Vanessa Mae”!.
- Millionaire – all it takes is the right big sweep ticket bought at the right place at the right time....
Sunday, January 3, 2010
All About The Quest...
Ever heard of “cham”? I’m referring to the drink. If you’re Malaysian, you should know which drink I mean. For the benefit of those not in the know, “cham” is basically a beverage which combines two mighty brews into one. “Cham” is the happy union of the “oomph” (instant rejuvenation!) of coffee and the aaaaah” (blissful sigh...) of tea. Get the sound effects? Good. They are crucial in conveying the feeling that this beverage invokes. The word “Cham” is Cantonese in origin. It also means “mix”, “combine”, “join”,.....you get the idea.
Well, I am on a quest for the perfect cup of “Cham”. Both literally and figuratively. Let me explain. A good cup of “Cham” is darn hard to come by. There are a couple of criteria which you could easily use to ascertain the potential of any cup of “Cham” served to you.
How does this quest for “Cham” also apply to me figuratively? Trudging the usual walk of life would mean going to school, graduating, getting a job, starting a family, growing old... Well, I was about halfway on this walk (in other words, mid-life crisis) and I started to question – is this it? I’ve had some progress in my career. Family ties and friendships are generally in a good state. Health and fitness is not great but I get by (i.e. no heart attack yet). Yet, I was feeling restless and unfulfilled. I had a lot to be grateful for but there I was, mulling about in a layer of discontent. Sigh. Ever had one of those days?
To cut a long story short, I quit my job and took time off to chill out and travel. It’s been 10 months now. The break has been great but I’m still working at shaking off the blues. Should I go back to work and just pick up where I left off? The bank account is screaming “Yes!”. But has anything changed yet? After a bit of soul searching, I’ve decided that like a perfect cup of “Cham”, I want my life to be the right blend and balance of the right “ingredients”. So far, I’ve narrowed down the remedy to three factors. I hope that finding the perfect blend of this trio will let me live a darn good life.
So, my friend, I hope you will join me on this quest and we can figure out things together. After all, what is a knight without a sidekick?
Well, I am on a quest for the perfect cup of “Cham”. Both literally and figuratively. Let me explain. A good cup of “Cham” is darn hard to come by. There are a couple of criteria which you could easily use to ascertain the potential of any cup of “Cham” served to you.
- Colour - Too dark and you can probably expect it to taste like coffee. Too light means too much tea. It’s got to be in that warm brown tea-ish with a dash of coffee colour zone for it to even hold a hint of promise
- Aroma – Whiff of coffee with a subtle note of tea. Sounds like a perfume ad, huh? In short, it shouldn’t smell too strongly of either brew.
- Texture – Thick and smooth, no question about it. This is usually achieved with the right dosage of condensed milk and/or evaporated milk and/or sugar. Too much, and all you get is a milky mess.
To cut a long story short, I quit my job and took time off to chill out and travel. It’s been 10 months now. The break has been great but I’m still working at shaking off the blues. Should I go back to work and just pick up where I left off? The bank account is screaming “Yes!”. But has anything changed yet? After a bit of soul searching, I’ve decided that like a perfect cup of “Cham”, I want my life to be the right blend and balance of the right “ingredients”. So far, I’ve narrowed down the remedy to three factors. I hope that finding the perfect blend of this trio will let me live a darn good life.
- Purpose. This is a huge huge missing piece in my quest but I am determined to find my life’s purpose one day.
- Passion. Even saying the word out loud makes me feel all energized and vibrant already (somehow an image of a matador in a bull ring keeps popping up in my mind as I write this...weird). I love variety in everything – books, music, food, activities, etc. Sadly, this also means I am sorely lacking in passion for anything specific. Passion will be crucial in helping attain purpose.
- Pleasure. Remember Zombieland’s rule #32 ? Enjoy the little things...(great movie by the way – go watch it!) While life certainly has its distasteful moments, at the end of the day...I hope to sit back with a grin and say “It’s been an awesome ride!”
So, my friend, I hope you will join me on this quest and we can figure out things together. After all, what is a knight without a sidekick?
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