The Run

The 10k shape run for me is true test of perseverance. This time, I put in slightly more effort to train and prepare for the run.


1) did at least once a week of at least 5km run
2) swam 10 laps every week
3) slept early before the run
4) drank chicken essence, a banana for carbo, a snack bar and drank a glass of water in the morning of the run
5) put on sun block

In comparison to that very unprepared SAAB 5k run a month ago, I felt more confident toward finishing the 10km.


However, it was not easy when I was in the midst doing it. Although, it had never occur to me to give up midway... there was a good deal of pain I felt :

- at about 2.5km, the area around my gastic tensed up.. I had to slow down to eased it.
- at 3km, my mental was drifting to walk .. to walk..
- at 3.5km, I relented and walked - it was brisk walk, run, walk, run, brisk walk, run.. for the next few km.
- at 4plus km, seeing some at 6km was a bit of a struggle.
- at 6plus km, I realised that there were much more people behind me.
- at 8km, my left knee hurts and I felt like I was limping. I was wearing knee guard only for the right knee and though I had a surge of inspiration to run all the way but couldn't.
-I did a dash at the last 100m and since I didn't set a goal to the timing, I thought 1 hour 15 mins was pretty poor.
- my hubby who was kind enough to support me at the finishing line.......
...... But poured comments like how come someone who was in tudung came in earlier than me - at 1 hour 6 mins.
*gah* could there be anything more comforting than that, huh, huh?!


Although, it was hard to swallow that comment, I felt it was somewhat true. But I didn't take that defeatedly. In fact, I was proud of myself - finishing the this maiden attempt of 10km and at a personal best time.

My pained look at the finishing line.

with Cheryl who did the fun 5k. check out her number

Vigin/Maiden attempts

I attempted a few firsts in a span of 2 weeks! Boy, I think these injections of excitement give healthy adrenaline to my bod and brain.

1. First attempt cooking Ramen

I suspect that my family (yes, children inclusive) love for Ramen starts from watching Japan hour. The travelogue is always full of wonderful soup base with noodles that has that amazing texture. When we visited Japan last year, we had our share of excellent Ramen with bad ones. Yes, bad ones exists. At least for me. If the noodles has that alkaline taste, which will also affect the soup, it's bad. The other ingredients will not matter anymore.

Then inspiration hits me when I saw a book on Hokkaido (left around by my sisIL since she's heading there this month). But instead of char siew ramen, I did prepared their all time fav - fried breaded pork chop with Hokkaido inspired Ramen.

.Runny egg with hard boil white - it's an art

.fresh sweet corn at the side

. soup base - pork bone, chicken bone, corn core and sea salt

.add a small slice of butter

Most of you know how to make pork chop. But for me, a perfect pork chop comes with these little tricks...

. set the breaded pork chop aside for 10 mins before frying

. the vegetable oil must be very hot

. since I use frozen pork slice, I will drip the pork dry before using.

2. I did a brave act on my own - met blogger Karen and did the DTKC...

There is always this urge to go out there to see that "blue, blue sky" instead of facing my "lemon tree" inside of me. However, I've been rather selfish - always tagging someone along. If not my sister, it'd be my family. Quite terrible, eh. It's just that I've always wanted my kids to be a bit more sociable.

Anyways, this time, it's gotta be just moi.... erm, I did try to chio my sis but it wasn't successful :P

I had imagined it to be awkward and lonely. But as it turns out, it was pretty alright. Karen was really nice (and pretty - needless to say) and it was a great event to witness.

Pretty and very slim KAren posing the DTKC at Indochine

Since I was with no one I really knew, I went off early and met Kingsley on the way at the exit. What a nice surprise.

3. I stormed up 3 supper dishes in one hour!

There are several recipes I kept from various people. To whip up the dishes will mean that my family will grow fat in no time. So, when the Wans couldn't open their home for BS, I volunteered to host the BS since they could jolly well be my tasters (aka GP).

Initial worries of needing to spend too long a time on preparing and cooking diminished. I spent only an hour! What a treat!

Nigella's lime cheesecake. 3 boxes of Philly cream cheese in here! I love this!

Mee suah kueh - with chinese mushroom, red pepper, carrot, mince pork, prawn, garlic and large onion

Brazillian chicken drums..

I managed to take the pics of the leftovers since I was zipping around for other errands after doing up the supper. Oh, I am still thinking of my next cheesecake project.

Nigella taught me that leftovers does not neccessarily mean that my food wasn't up to mark. Whenever she does her show, she will always go to fridge in the night and dig her leftovers. This is just one subtle message I learn from her cook show and for that she tops my list on learning how to bake and cook.

There are just so many things happening and so much work at work too. God is good all the time!

weekend, continue...

We woke up at 6.15am and got ready to set off for the SAAB duathlon. I run the 5K, they support. This race was against all odds. It's a relay - 5K run/20K cycle/2.5k run. I wanted to join the Saucony run instead but due to the pressure that this is a company sponsored (not main) so the marketing group is rallying to have the most numbers of participants. So I was the first leg, a guy (HT) was the cyclist, then a lady (A) colleague will do the last leg.

HT decided to pull out during registration, I think it's cos he feels he'd lose out as the rest of the members are girls.

So I told the organiser to see if there are any "loose" participants and if we can form a team, I will join. And they did.

On Sunday morning, I saw a message from the cyclist (R) injured his ankle from a minor car accident on Sat and is unable to join. The one who was suppose to do the 2.5k pulled out too cos there will be no cyclist to pass the baton to her.

I still went ahead. Just so to complete my own desire to get that run out of my system. It was tough, the runners are all darn pro!!! As I run, everyone seems to be passing by me and before 1k is done, I looked back and I was the LAST! whoa. It was demoralising. But I persevere... and came in 30mins and was the last 4th. Lesson learnt, definitely not to underestimate corporate runs and MUST practice.

coming in last 5.. ;P

then we roam around the area since it's still pretty early.

SAAB convert

Tiam Hock Keng temple?

Nostalgic breakfast at Chinatown

A totally different weekend

We broke aways from the norm this weekend and it was fulfilling.

Our usual children activities packed weekend started with a leisure Sat morning at my sister's place. Nathan and Tasha is at church camp the whole day.
We played with Isaac, exchange DVD dramas, update on things and watch Nigella's cooking.

Breakfast was in simple western style and a few nice laughs. Isaac (Z) Ong on my legs

We got home to rest, watch some LEGENDS episodes and napped. Then it's time to work on the pot bless I am suppose to bring over for FIL's birthday party.

Fried Sotong balls and my signature carbonara penne pasta (with Japanese sausage and pan fried salmon fillet pieces.

I changed and decided to take some nice pics. Nigella always does this before her party :) ok, okay, I took a few shots before reaching this one I like

then at the party.... the usual, there's mahjong, there's boredom, there's DVD watching... .... and camera, action, take.

My unmarried (read: alot of money to spend) sisters in law are into getting premium cakes. This time, they got it from The Patissier. It's really something the cake.

The hazelnut biscuit base made to the snap slightly between your lips, the cream is light yet still has that sweet, slightly sappy sour taste of passionfruit. The sponge is tightly wrapped vertically with that cream.. thumbs up.

Happy birthday to you.. and he's 69 still going strong!

(L-R) top: Si Hao, Nathan, Gong Gong, Por Por, Natasah, Si Hui (aka Mr Bean), Si Han.
(L-R) bottom: Jun Jie, Jing Heng, Jun Xiang, Si Hong
All nine of the grandchildren. The eldest 17 years old, youngest 8.

can you spot them when they are younger? The youngest in the latter pic is 2 years old - that a not long 6 years ago :)

update of sunday activity tomorrow...

For memories sake

I have to start doing this more often since I don't remember things that happen years ago. I've been reading some archives of some LJ friends and also mine.
- I found out that I am still not that huge on uploading pics - which often is the common draw for others to read your entries.
- I realised that my pet dog is 5yrs old already.
- that I went on more holidays than I remembered.

Anyways, the husband intentionally forgot our wedding anniversary day. He lost money on the stock market again and this time, *sigh*. But he tried to make it up but in his usual way...
the things he gets for me, he will get to enjoy too.

Action 1
He borrowed The Legend from his colleague and said it was a special favor for me. When I was not too overjoyed about it, it baffled him - until he watched it till past 2am - I slept at 12am, cannot tahan midnites nowadays. I pointed out the obvious, he denied.

Action 2
717 durian imported some "mao shan wang" and he knew these days, I am either mao shan wang or nothing. He got a shock when 2 of that buggers made him 80bucks poorer (the last time we ate it, I paid). So he insisted that it was for my sakes.
Although the whole family got it eat it, I am pretty okay and satisfied. Good things are meant to be shared with the loved ones anyway.

All I can feel now is that I have to give it to him for having the intentions to do it right.

Work woes...

I wish I had some other ways to keep up to the living standards in Sg.
Especially now when I am feeling all time low in my career. To put into analogy how I am feeling now...

It's so easy to have credit cards in Sg. As long as you earn 30K per annum, you are invited to the whole spread of cards from all sorts of bank - ABN Ambro, StanChart, DBS, UOB, AMEX, Citi, HSBC... each carries their merits so if they keep waiving the annual fee, I continue to oblige having them - all the cards I name will give me ways to get discounts, special deals, VIP invites etc. Some many years ago, I applied for a card name Manhattan. From the start, so far, I have only used it once and felt it was really pointless to carry it. They kept auto waiving my subscription but I felt that it was useless and one point, insisted that they terminate it. It has no value to me, just taking up space in my wallet. Come to think of it, my other StanChart card is never used before either... Back to the Manhattan card - I feel totally like the card now. I wonder if it's my depression mood acting up by blogging this down...

Like the card, I feel shiny and bright. Full of hope to be use for the purpose to be convenient. However, it's pale in comparison to other equally shiny cards because of the value of it. As much as the owner tries, there is no point.
I think my boss and the people I support make me feel that way.

I kept thinking of the next steps - should I continue to peservere in this path or should I find another job and perhaps (and hopefully) fit like a glove?

Is this a test of submission from God? I am so confuse and sad...

is that light at the end of the tunnel

The past couple of months had actually been the hardest. Last year, work though was challenging, it was manageable. In fact it was fun.

- My mum claims (yes claims) that she is very sick. She've seen at least a dozen of doctors and insists that none of them wants to tell her or pay attention to what problem she has. I learnt through siblings and herself that she is also turning to whatever religion there is to "save" her from her situation. So I officially proclaim her MENTAL.
Now, isn't that a nasty situation?
- Tasha, well has been rather an issue and that was in my previous blog
- Domestic helper. Not sure if it was her fault or is it my expectations. Or if we simply don't have the chemistry.
- 2 kids going for exams at the same time. And the going gets rougher as they progress.
- I was told to swop role and I wasn't prepared nor comfortable. I don't know what lies ahead. All I can hope for is that it'd a blessings in disguise.
- I was terribly sick and that made me feel depress for a while.
- My hubby dropped me the bomb that he owes quite a bit of money because of speculation.

Things are soooooooooooooooooooooooo much better now. Especially when I've learnt a few precious lessons.
- how to praise God in painful times.
- how to rely in God's steering and not get overly stressed over it.

there are other lessons I should learn but the defiant nature of mine does not allow that to happen. But I am sure when I commit my weakness to HIM, I will overcome.

for records

It's holiday. Nathan and Tasha expressed it loud and clear by singing "What time is it?" from HSM Wii last night : "It's our vacation. What time is it? Party time. That's right, say it loud!" haha. We've all been too pressured to do well for their exams... yes, I wrote it correctly, WE. not THEY.
get it?

Nathan did pretty okay, I think he (and I) had very high expectations but I was please with his results - although his Maths went from the 90/100 percentile to the 80/90 as I find the exam paper challenging myself.

It wasn't the results that he got a earful from me. It was his attitude for not doing post mortem learning, he sorta realised that he should put in more effort in the learning process than focusing on just getting the marks right.

When I went on my company's KL trip, he went for his P5 camp. On Sat, when he came back at noon, I asked if he called home during his camp. He said : mum, no news is good news. Urh, okay.. so this guy is talking smart alecky. I learnt from my nephew that he won the best male camper. whoa. I questioned why he didn't tell me himself, his reply was that there was a gift and he wanted to tell (and surprise) me when he open his prize.

When we went for lunch that day, he wallopped an adult size spaghetti, kids size meat balls set and a Diam cake - in record time of 15 mins! He must have missed good food :)

It's Tasha's first exam this year since her school implements no P1 exams. I had thought that she might be jittery so my expectations were lower. She managed to pull through and with flying colors! 100% for her chinese paper 2! Not sure if that means she is much stronger in language.

Over the weekend, we took our time to do some of the things we never really get to do for the past few months - RELAX!

We even found time to do the coloring competition at downtown east - walking distant from our place.

their parents brought a portable table for them, now why didn't I think of that?

Although we didn't win anything, it was a good time we spent just doing some of these things outside our norm.

The best part was, we didn't have to eat out. Their daddy stayed home to cook dinner for us :)

it's been some time

Quite a bit of drama in April that I didn't really sat down to think through the moments. I realised that I've been whirled into May 2008.

It's Exam week. I tink I am pretty cool about it. At least I am still at work but pump the poor kids with loads of practice papers. There is no way to do last minute revision and preparation but by them doing up the practice papers, it helps me relax. How evil can I get? haha.

By 14th, I'd be freed up. I can relax for the next couple of months.
The company is doing a short trip to KL at the third week of may but it'd be mostly work.
The family is gonna do a cameron highlands in June, complimentary resort stay by my BIL. Cool and fresh air.


... but I'm thinking beach.

too little time and I worry a tad too much to be able to do that beach break.

Lotus root chips

So I did try it last evening.
I am so game to try out new recipes - those express ones. Since last week, I've tried to do Nigella's few dressings and roast. When I saw vanessafrida's recipe on the chips. I couldn't resist. I just needed to buy the garlic powder and lotus root - I needed something for soup last night anyways.

The kids saw me mix in the garlic powder and thought poorly about it initially. But they whipped up the whole bowl of chips almost as quickly as we did.

For recipe, click here to check it out.

at all time low..

this happened yesterday...
----------------------------------
Natasha's form teacher rang me up - 10 mins ago. Oh urh...

My vibes can never go wrong. Everytime I sense that something is not right (I felt it last night), it'd surface. It's a relief to the hunch because my imagination tends to go wild and I get pretty restless and start picking on things. The last time I got that hunch, I escalated wrong info to the CEO. I digress.

The teacher tells me that Tasha is handing in work either undone or done half way.. the built up of the conversation is to actually let me know that she'd be serving a punishment. I am perfectly okay with punishments - as long as there is a post mortem talk.

To be fair to her teacher, Tasha has a list of issues to start the year with. She lies, forget her homework conveniently, she brings funny things to school, walk out of home in fits of anger (towards maid), slack in practices, hurt herself when she got too mad at her brother ... So I felt really glad that I am getting to know bits and pieces of her school behaviour.

We've done our rounds of talk with this girl. I fetch her to school every Tuesday and talks to her. She bottles up alot of things and she is not telling. Either that or she does not know if she has an issue. Poor darling. Is growing up that tough?

Between Nathan and Tasha, Nathan has low threshold for physical pain but you can push his limit on mental. Tasha is the happy-go-lucky girl who used to be really witty and confident. Her self esteem may have taken a back seat because I kept telling her that she needs to do better (the same were articulated to Nathan).

I feel guilty because things happen when I'm at work. I'm upset with the fact that I am unable to help her. I only got to know that she was having nightmares - about scooby doo's pictures. the Mas selemat's talk also gave her some amount of scare. It's silly but it happens. I am too tough and strong for this so to try to take it seriously and not scoff it took a large amount of internal strength. Although I am not totally blaming myself, I've got to help her out.

Anyways, it's settled. After I collect my bonus in June, I'd stay at home with her. Without a domestic helper but a part time to do the rest of the housechores I am not good at.

For how long - I don't know. 6 months? Is that sufficient for her?
1 year? 8 years. when she finish her teens?

I have my own dreams too. My career, build up my retirement funds.

How do you juggle?

Liar Liar, pants on fire?

Sometime ago, I discussed with some friends that my girl is a "convenient" liar. She tells her teacher one thing and spin an entire different tale to me. Plus, she is very believable. She was not punished but certainly didn't go without getting reprimanded. I had no idea how to deal with her because it hasn't gone on the seriously bad and I hate to be harsh. My son is no angel. But so far, he hadn't been caught lying.

Earlier this week, our colleague whom we fondly call "Pastor" because of his sound advise all the time on our Christian faith, said that he seldom corrects his daughter when she lies.
He admitted that he lied about having a remote control airplane at home when he didn't when he was younger.
It kinda blew me off to think that he condone to this sin. Didn't the Bible's commandment say "Thou shalt not lie"???

Coincidently, Cottontimer a.k.a. Hsien put up an article that provide some comfort to us parents who are eager to put our babes in the right track.

So now, this is such a complicated situation. Was I disciplining the wrong things - ALL these time??? And I've made my BP high, my heart beat faster, grow ulcers over teaching them these things that I thought will bring them up to be morally and biblical upright????

Ah.. but the HS prompted and provides with the answer which comforts me.
Why do you fret when you are but a steward over the children. God will guide and teach. It is better to be God righteous than to be self righteous.
Thanks to Him, Nathan and Natasha will turn out alright.

companion

Sweets for my Sweet is a fun show to watch and to get a lot of tips on where to get great desserts around the island.

This Monday, I had dinner else where the hubby and kids saw the programme and recorded the show for my sake.
I watched the recorded piece last night and we exchanged comments about the show.. about Jamie, about Daniel. And at the end of the show he said that watching the programme without me was totally meaningless.

I think that was a nice thing to hear...

Chinese New Year and Valentines

I did feel a bit of a slack starting of this year. Still hoping that a gush of energy will emerge somehow from somewhere.

what's memorable this CNY?
- Constance's red bean soup/paste with HD Hazelnut crunch ice-cream
- short but power catching-up gathering at Jake and Dinah's place.
- Jas's white fungus dessert, though too sweet but worth a try to make.
- the little gambling game with my family. Why didn't we do that when Dad is alive?
- Natasha looks perfectly sweet in her Pink Cheong Sam.
- 5 days straight no work and all nua since I took leave on Monday (the 11th).
- We tortured Nathan to play mahjong with us till past midnight - without realising it.

Valentines?
I started the morning with hubby's love proclaimation and kisses. We went to Swirl to chill out after the usual dinner at home.
Honestly, hubby is not the kind that would gladly drive from Pasir Ris to Bt Timah to have dessert. He obliged to my request just because ... I asked. The gesture he made is way sweeter than flowers.

Cherish

I came home, cherishing the kids. I told them about Canaan and Nathan asked about Celebral Palsy. I pieced a lesson about commiting our weakness to God who will provide everything we need.
In times like this, HE would give us comfort and is our refuge.

ISaiah 40:31 says - but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

My nephew who is staying with us for 2 weeks thought and said that Canaan did not live because he did something bad in his previous life, Natasha and Nathan rebutt immediately that there is no previous life. Life is a gift from God. Nathan added that God has a purpose for this to happen.

Dinah, Canaan's aunt wrote this:
Dearest Canaan,
You came so quickly, you left so soon.
You were so little, yet so big in our hearts.
You were so fragile, yet you fought with such strength.
You spoke no words, yet you taught us so much.
You lived for a little while, yet you live in our hearts forever.
You showed us who we are.
You showed us who God is.
Thank you.
Goodbye, my little nephew.

Gracious Grace

When it comes to death to a close one, there is little comfort other people can provide. All the more a mother losing her newborn. Only God can soothe that deep pain.

Canaan came to the world during Christmas 07 and had his last fight on Monday. Though it all, God was present. I cry for a friend who is hurting that much, I cry for a child who has not had a chance to get to know his love ones better, I cry for Grace who demonstrating true faith, I cry for God's shower of love and blessings though this ordeal, I cry because I remember.

Bye Bye baby Canaan

Canaan joining Jesus

....

On the way to office this morning, I spotted a good looking chap at the lobby. And he is a staff. Fwah, some department finally made some good sense in hiring.

... hmm, life is getting mundane to being caring about trival things eh?

I can only imagine

A source of inspiration for:
- providing good stewardship over my kids
- Do that impossible runs or biathalon or even triathalon

The story of the Hoyt team.

Keeping the goal alive

Got my butt off my comfy sofa and did my practice run with Nathan. I did 2Km in 20mins and he did 1.5km though he walked more than jog.

The air was breezy and cool. We saw vibrant coloured blooms and a blue bird decided to pop by our path!

There was no particular excitement to the new year. 2008 seemed to just a better adjusted 2007. I had a lot of reservation and uncertainty when I first joined, albeit the wonderful support system provided. There were times when I jitter at the thought of my boss throwing new challenges or the time he was absent.
He dropped the bomb last Sat telling me he had to report for reservist for 2 weeks, I felt that I could totally handle part of his job. However, I hope that there would be no major hiccups I have to manage.

The only item that makes my adrenaline run faster is more events planning! 1 in Feb, 1 before Summer and the 2 in Nov for USA. There will be stuff to do for Australia and UK in the second half of the year. Although, the pay still suffer that bit in comparison to doing sales. I still don't have the urge to move back.

I had only wanted to do a 10km and really just maybe the 21km for the year end Standard Chartered run. My colleague is tempting me to do a Biathalon - run + bike. KK gave me a wet blanket last night and I was pretty upset though he is right. I have just learn to crawl and now I want to jump over the high pole? I am not defeated by mere words but by the lazy bug in me. It'd mean alot of training with clinics. Can I cope being a person who wants almost everything right - at home and at work. Wiser to handle something I can swallow.

The rain suddenly disrupts my thoughts.. Wendy asks who reads my blog. There was no real answer at that point because I felt I was still a comment whore. Now, these are irrelevant. I write when I have the inspiration, when I read back my blogs, they are pretty meaningful. I thought that my kids at 6 and 2.5 yo back in year 2003 were big, I had wanted to be a SAHM when both are in their primary school (didn't happen afterall), pics had to be scanned, I took photos and uploaded the kids' school projects and achievements... fwah, so much took place in and about our lives. Though firm friendships didn't form, I am still glad I wrote.
And I'd keep writing.

Thank God for always being in and around us.

my last written post in LJ

2007 had been honestly a fruitful year and the months flew a little too fast. Recalling the good bits and achievements of the year. I have short fuse memory for bad things.

Work
- Thank God for a helpful, understanding and can-click mentor/immediate male reporting boss. Thank God for a Christian lady overall boss.
- Given a lot of opportunities to learn and push through some initiatives I suggested.
- Given the flexibility to balance work and family time.
- Strictly no work after work.
- I have a new laptop and it fits my coach hampton bag. woot.

Home
- Nathan and Natasha did well for their school work.
- Thank God for providing great teachers to guide them.
- Tasha achieved honours for Ballet and Distinction for Guzeng. The highest grades, totally impressed with her.
- Nathan's condition did not need any more surgery and schedule to see Dr Hui again Nov/Dec08.
- Nathan displayed several grow up milestones ... ie : finish meal in 10 mins, it used to take him at least 20 to 40 mins. He joins his schools extra activities on his own accord and informs me (not asking me for permission - Thank God they are all healthy and good activities).
- When my domestic helper went on home leave (and didn't come back), they help with simple housechores voluntarily.
- We are hooked on playing board games - Settlers, Queen's Necklace, Blokus.
- We have Wii. hubby is tennis pro, Tasha is a Bowling pro, Nathan and I are Guitar heroes.
- Thank God for good health.
- Nathan performed as part of the Chinese Orchestra for a Mid Autumn festival celebration.
- Nathan performed as a member at a Malay dance for School's carnival.
- Tasha enjoys her P1 tremendously.
- They attended the ARISE camp.
- The old folks at home are reasonably healthy.

Self
- toured Japan (Tokyo, Osaka and Hakone) and USA (New York, Washington, Niagara falls, Lancaster). Somewhat a dream come true?
- obtain PC to play 9 hole golf.
- ran 5km at a GE woman's run.
- won air tickets worth $3K and $20 robinsons vouchers.

What do I want for 2008?

- Good Health for all in family
- good pay increment!
- do a mission trip
- pick up painting or drawing
- do a 10km run
- hubby to take up his Masters (in whatever course).
- Kids to do well for school and ECAs
- hone my golf skills
- Able to take on the job challenges given (more marketing event planning!)
- less verbal fights for us
- good domestic helper
- take up a course or two to improve on Sunday school teaching
- attend a seminar or two for Christian life improvement.
- try not to repeat the bad bits of 2007.

CHEERS to a brand new year!