Rollerblading

The Big One bought a new pair of blades (the 2nd pair) for the Small One a couple of months back. They both started out pretty enthusiastically but the session ended with some scuffling between the two... and the Small One refused to put it on again.

Cut to this morning...... we were walking along the beach when we came to this open space where a group of kids were practising. There was this little girl ( found out later she was the same age ) who was doing really well. She was moving and going Step.Step.Step.Step... The Big One pointed her out to the Small One. He didn't want to look but did when he thought we weren't watching. So we left it at that.

Later, she - a really chatty girl - came over to talk to the Small One. When she went away, the Big One asked... "You want to put your rollerblades on?" A small nod. Off the Big One sped, to retrieve the darn expensive almost discarded blades from the car boot.

It took no more than 5 minutes and with girl chatting away by his side, the Small One is now officially able to move on the blades and go Step.Step.Step.Step.Step...

Pickles

I have home-made pickled carrots, pickled green chillies and pickled cucumber in my fridge... and am making another new batch of pickled green chillies plus trying to pickle something new - small red onions.

It's deliciously easy to make!

Take any glass bottle. I use either recycled jam or pasta sauce bottles. Make sure it's sterilized and dry.

The vinegar preparation: Half fill the bottles with vinegar (I use SW distilled vinegar, about $2.30 from Shop&Save) and match whatever amount of vinegar with sugar i.e half cup vinegar / half cup sugar and then add in 2-3 teaspoon of salt. Shake the bottle vigorously to dissolve the sugar and salt.

For pickled cucumbers, chop it up whatever way you want.. just sprinkle some salt over each layer. Leave for at least 4 hours so that the water content in the cucumber drains out (I lost patience with my previous batch and ended up with soggy cucumber pickles. Not nice!) Rinse with cold water and drain well, then put them in the bottled vinegar. Done.

For pickled carrots or pickled green chillies, I just slice and throw them into the bottled vinegar. ===== The pickled sliced carrots is lovely over any salads while crunchy pickled green chillies are a must for my zhi-char takeaways.

Now for the pickled onions... I haven't decided what to do yet. I did cry over them earlier - uncontrollably in fact! Hmm... Pickle them whole - just dump them into the bottled vinegar? But how am I going to eat whole pickled red onions? Hmm... guess I have to slice, cry a bit more, sprinkle salt over them and wait till tomorrow before throwing them into the bottle.

Honestly, I have no idea what pickled onions go well with. But hey, I find the peeling, chopping and slicing therapeutic... and if ever you come to my place and find one too many bottles of strange pickles in the fridge, check me in.

A tough week

The recession hit me on Tuesday this week and with it, all the gloom and negativity. I guess it's no fun to try to look after myself, my team and at the same time, keep one eye on what's in the future and how best to navigate through these tough times. This week, we distributed bonus statements to everyone and with it, some really really tough discussions. Discussions I would not have had to have, had the darn economy not turn upside down. I'm upset.

Missing Elves!

Everyone has heard of the "Elves and the Shoemaker" story right? Poor shoemaker lays out one pair of cut leather and the elves turned them into exquisite shoes overnight. This went on for days. Eventually, the shoemaker becomes rich. He and his wife stays up late one night to find out who had been helping them and discovered they were the work of a group of naked elves. Filled with gratitude, they made some clothes for them. The elves received them with great joy and then disappeared, never to return.

Point to self #1: Need to find those missing elves.
Point to self #2: Once found, need to make them work for me whilst I sleep.
Point to self #3: Never be tempted to reward them ever.

Chocolate discussion

me: Can you give papa the card?
small: No. I give him after we get the cake.
*pause*
small: What kind of cake are we getting?
me: I don't know. Why don't you ask Papa what kind of cake he wants?
small: Papa, what cake do you want?
big: What cake should I get?
small: You get the chocolate cake ok?
big: Ok
small: Nah!I give you the card!

Was he holding the card hostage so that he could 'exchange' it for the cake he wants?

small: Is it my birthday?
me: No, it's not your birthday. It's Papa's birthday. You are only 4 and a half.
small: So I need a half candle?
???

Later, while eating ice-cream with brownies at Haagen Dazs...

me: (to small) Eh! Remember. Papa's birthday, we eat brownies. [there's a long story behind brownies...but I'd tell that another day] Mummy's birthday, we eat black forest cake. Your birthday?...
Small: CHOCOLATE CAKE!

There, life is fair!

The boy in the striped pajamas

It took me a little less than 2 hours to read this book today. If you do, and want to find out more of what happened on the other side, to the likes of Shmuel (the boy on the wrong side of the fence), I'd recommend you read Primo Levi's 'Moments of Reprieve'.

Empty seat.

Was meant to fly to KL tonight for a meditation retreat. Retreat got cancelled and I forgot about my flight bookings until an hour ago. Checked their site and found out they have a no refund policy. But! I could change the dates! Happily made those changes. All random - why would I want to go to KL by myself on April Fools Day? Anyway, selected random alternative dates, click 'Confirmed' and then whoah! Got slapped with a $50 administrative charge for change(s) plus an additional $10 for payments made via credit cards. That's more than what I paid for originally! Forget it!

Well, I'm sending my imaginary self on that flight tonight... Enjoy!

Lazy blogging continues....

Check out:

http://www.outlawdesignblog.com/
http://www.thecoolhunter.net/

Another funny one...

LMAO

Hilarious!