I love Dim Sum!

Had a strange encounter this morning...
Went jogging with Xiong at ECP. It was early... a super long wkend and I made him fetch me at 7am!

It was ok, i only managed to do abt 11km...
I havent planned on where to eat BF but thot of dimsum... i dare not suggest cos I duno whereabout dim sum is nice, esp in the east (cos it's easier for him to drop me off). Then when he asked me to suggest where to eat, I told him tat i am not sure, but thot of having dim sum... duno where's dim sum is good though.

He turned ard and looked at me, then he say :
" 哇！你不要吓我leh！我知道我们很像but 不会吧! 我在想要不要吃dim sum 也是lor!"
* "Wau, you dun scare me leh! I know we are very similar but abit too much right?! I am also thinking of eating dim sum!"

Hmm... this can be quite scary!
Anyway, we pigged out at HoKee along Geylang!

Did we over order again?!

YUMMMY! I love dim sum!

Follow up on scam....

This is a follow up from the scam call i got last night.
This David did sms me in the end. I think his guilt conscious made him immediately state that the hp number he is using is a "spv hp" (whatever it means man?).

Screenshot from my Hp:

This is the content of his sms:

"Hi Jessie, David here, i'm using my spv hp. The location is 123 Penang Rd. Regency Office Tower. #03-12. From Dhoby Ghaut Mrt station, exit B. Cross over to Parkmall, turn right. Walk following the traffic flow. Pass PARKMALL, Singapore Shopping center. Cross Clemenceu ave. University of Chicago Booth. VisionCrest Commercial building. Next to it is Regency. 

see u later for the exhibition & collection at 2pm. altogether 4 items for

your collection. I'll fully elaborate the gifts to u when u're there and highlight the company and rates as well." 

 

And my reply to him?

No reply from him thereafter.

I guessed as much too.

I think i can close this case now. =)

Super Vexed by Phone scam !

Super Vexed by Phone scam ! WTF! I am actually so vexed that I bothered to make a Police Report at the NPP and "wasted" a good 45mins there!

Number is 68367537.
Address is Regency Tower Level 3.

Google these, I will give u a shortcut on the most interesting ones:
1) How can one have such luck
2) Airplane Tickets and Hotel Scam

This is my post on their entries:

------------
"Hi,
I received the call today. And I made a police report already after googling abt it and found it a scam.

Details as follows:
-Calls himself David from IPG Travel (Tel: 68367537). -Everything is similar to all those mentioned.
-Promised to not be a timeshare sales talk etc.
-Mentioned the 3 free door gifts.
-Has all my personal particulars already - which is scary. -Some mini NATAS travel exhibit also, about 90mins to browse and for him to explain to me.

After I said I'll go down, he asked his supervisor to give speak to me as a verification. Supervisor (which I highly suspect is a bogus, prob a colleague) Melvin spoke to me, also stressed that actually is David's off day, ask him to come back specially for me.

I forewarned David that I am a Self-employed investor(which he actually already have this information), plus formally educated in the Tourism industry. I will read n gather the travel information, dun need him to go thru with me, plus I am in the investment industry - will not take sales gimmicks as investment.

David offered to sms me the full address with postal code, but did not. I tried calling back the number, no answer. Googled the telephone number and "Regency Tower 03-15" and found it's a scam, made police report at nearest NPP.
But since I didnt go down, I have not lost "suffered any losses", the policy will only keep the report for record purposes. DAMN IT! Those who did went down, Please go and make a police report and make sure an investigation is going on! I have had enough of these scams!!! I actually bother to spend 45mins infront of the officer on duty to draft my report, please also do a gd deed and report these pple.

I have a good feel to go down tmr and see the place. Then I can make a proper report again, but I am not free lah!
30 April 2011 - 2pm at Regency Tower Level 3."
-------------

WTF! I superb vexed now! This is not the first time I have received a scam call, but I actually wasted 15mins with this David guy. Superb pissed off now. I hope he calls me tmr, I will tell him I have made a police report already.

Apparently, the company's name has been changed many times, same as telephone number.

Legally, they will still give you some small voucher for your time, hence it's not legally binding them and not a scam. But it's time to put an end to this.

Hmm... maybe I should ask the MPs during their GE rally sessions, why the SPF refused to even start investigating into this particular company since complaints has been lodged already. How many lambs need to be slained before the authorities will finally take action....?

Those who experienced something like this, dun sit on it!

You love ones could be the next lamb they slaughter...

Documentary *Why Are Thin People Not Fat?* + Pre-Diet Photos

Catch this BBC Horizon's production:
*Why Are Thin People Not Fat?*
The world is affected by an obesity epidemic, but why is it that not everyone is succumbing? Medical science has been obsessed with this subject and is coming up with some unexpected answers. As it turns out, it is not all about exercise and diet. At the centre of this programme is a controversial overeating experiment that aims to identify exactly what it is about some people that makes it hard for them to bulk up.

You can catch it here!
How I wished I am one of those who will never put on weight irregardless of how much they eat!
Gosh....

Still, aiming for 6 packs abs is already a far fetched dream... i am still not waking up!
Btw, These are the photos I took this morning (before watching the documentary). Note that this is Day5 of controlled diet already.

BEFORE:

-My non-existence abs

I need to trim off at least......:

Seee! Tell me I'm dreaming! *Faint*

Special Diet for 2months

The truth is out... I need to go on a diet...

I am finally rather sick of my Minah (Mi-Nah, nickname me and a few friends gave to my tummy more than 5yrs ago)! I wanna rid of it and gain a 6-packs.... ok, it has never happened b4.... The closest I got was only 2 packs...

So... Pinky has agreed to help me with Project Durian-6.
She insisted that it's all abt the diet to trim the fats... then abs exercise to tone the muscle(once the layer of fats is gone). So her advise was to try out a light diet for the next 2 months.

I can eat normally, just stay away from sauces, condiments, gravies, cheese, milk(yoghurt is fine). everything else is fine, like rice, bread, potato etc. 2hrs b4 sleep time - no food!!

So far I find it easier to stick to soup based diet like Yong Tau Foo (with no fried stuff), Slice fish soup (not fried ones and no milk), fish ball noodle soup. best is not to consume the soup also - too much MSG. Oh, i have to sacrifice my Teh Siew Dai... best is Teh O Ko-Song.... argh! Unless it's earl grey or chamomile... Kopitiam Teh O is CMI without Sugar!!?!!

Anyway, I made somemore yoghurt the other day and tried to make some Orange Lassi!

Ice Blended Apple

Orange Lassi 

I finally baked some pumpkin i bot the other day... i LOVE Pumpkin! So subtly sweet and rich in fibre! The preparation took some time as it's rather hard to remove the hard skin + chopping them. Buy some salt, pepper, olive oil, herbs - pop it in the oven at 220C for 15mins!

VIOLA!

Healthy Baked Pumpkin!

Also, I cooked my own dinner today... just that I notice I am not very gd at estimating the amount to cook for one pax, i always end up with a 2 persons' portion... bleah... i hate to waste food, so I really overeat for dinner today. Gd news is that all rather healthy stuff...

YUMMY Sumptous Dinner!

- Tomato sauce pasta, Broached Cabbaged,

Grilled Salmon, Sunny Side up!

Btw, I finally jogged a continuous 10km yest... almost killed myself...

I really duno how to attempt ADIDAS SUNDOWN this coming May end...

The 42km will be claiming my life... bleah

 

Luckily this didnt happen to me...Phew

Today's Norm:

--------------
3 weeks ago, I brought Nugget to the vet. He has got a mysterious bald patch near his where his scrotum should have been, if I havent deprived him of his chance to be a father. I swear the bald patch just appear for no obvious reasons, he wasnt licking/grooming the area excessively, no straining when pee, diet is as per normal and he is still as "highly strung" (used to describe cats that are so what crazy and zooms ard the house up and down for no apparent reasons).

Dr.Handsome did some skin scrapping, pulled some fur from the area and planned to grow them in the lab, some stem cell growing/test they call it. Need to see if it's ringworm or some other skin diesease. Results out in two weeks. Meanwhile, he suggested that the nagging built up of dirt in Nugget's left ear could be due to yeast infection. This ear problem has been with him ever since i first got him and rid his ears of ear mites problem. Obviously it's not just wax built up like what many vets had suggested (including Dr.Handsome), cos it seemed to hurt when I tried to clean THAT particular side of the ear. I am willing to give it a shot to clear him permanently of the pain, also, it's quite painful to clean his ears every other day, he hates it and I hate it that he hates it!

So.... armed with yet another assortment of ear drops and cream, the bill came up to $160. gosh... it's really expensive + i'll have to go back to him in 2 weeks' time.

During the two weeks before the return for lab test results, it's like fighting a war with Nugget.
--------------------
Morning:
-Catch n chase him, apply Cream on bum.
-Catch n chase him, Attempt to clean ears, Pin him down to put ear drops.
-Play with him for the next 15mins at least so he is distracted from licking his medication off.

Thruout the day:
-Try to Prevent him from licking his bum area. I didnt wann put an Elizabeth collar on him as cats are known to like Free&Easy when eating, drinking + he needs to groom this other areas too!

Evening:
-Catch n chase him, apply Cream on bum.
-Play with him for the next 15mins at least so he is distracted from licking his medication off.
------------
It's really shag... but worse is the Heart Wretching Meow he has... very pitiful kind... Btw, he Meows like that and even worse when u say and wave Bye Bye to him...

Anyway, some time 1 week into this process, my brother called me out of the blue and spoke in his most stoccato manner:
"Girl! Ur vet called me and say something abt Nugget, I dont understand what he's saying! U better call them back now!!!!"
He gave me the shock! I quickly called the vet only to discover that they merely wanted to knw how is his condition (ear n skin), lab results will be out only when we visit them again after the 2 weeks!

So imagine the scare if it's dreadful results for eg: "Ur cat has Skin cancer!"
I'll faint on the spot man! **Btw, Skin cancer is quite common for white cats who dun realised that sunbathing is not exactly the best way to look tan n beautiful!

Well, luckily it didnt happen to me... 
in fact, i am rather pleased this time... though it's quite a bomb (the 2nd vet visit cost me $60. that's $220 for this matter). Nugget's ears are turning for the better, FINALLY!!! In fact this is the one time his ears are not dirty and he doesnt whine that much anymore... the tonality of his Meowing is almost the same as cleaning his Good ear already! kekek! Less Pain, means yeast infection Gone!! WOOOOOHOOOO! PLus, there's nothing to worry abt the bald patch on his bum, the fur have since grown back slightly, no ringworms or whatever parasites can be detect from the lab test - it's just another case of idiosyncrasy.

Btw, this is done by Stella:

Cute iPhone App....*SmileCat* + Today's Horoscope is XYZ...

I downloaded this iphone app some time back but havent really explore it until recently.
I remb seeing some cute pictures and lovely borders to beautify our photo and recommended it to Starry Stella.

This was created by stella:

 This is the lovely App:

*p.s:I only got the free one for the moment.

Paying Xmas version:  

I thot it's really sweet and nicee!

----------------

Btw, this is my attempt to explore this app with my Horoscope for today!

Very interesting predictions!

Cute isnt it!?!

Funny Briefs....

I chanced upon this interesting inventory at a mega-super-mart recently!

I find it an interesting product!

More interestingly, the huge discount that comes with it...

for something supposed to be so beneficial to health, it ought to cost a bomb, but mayb sales has been alittle on the slow side - hence the Huge discount off!

Have bicycle, will Travel...

It's truly that! Have Bike, Will Travel!

I have the luxury to do many things over the past 1.5hrs I have been self employed. Of cos I go thru a emotional roller coaster coping with uncertainty in life, bank balance and responsibilities laden on my shoulders... but recently, I have been able to sit back and reflect on this sabbatical period of my life...

I have always read about pple who travel on one form of transport (bicycle, motorbike, sailing boat, camper van etc) to see the world... i have never really really given a deep thought about it. But I actually managed to do a little expedition to test out my interest in this area.

On Thursday, with the help of my Pinky friend, who runs an Outdoor Company (specialising in cycling expeditions for groups/school/companies), we decided to explore some parts of Singapore on wheels.

Together with another friend, YY, we met up and unloaded the bicycles from the company van at Queenstown library carpark. We set off around 10.30am and travelled thru the newly launched Alexander Linear Canal (Park Connector).

Route as such:
Queenstown - Alexander Linear Canal - Kim Seng Road/Great World City - Robertson Quay - Clarke Quay - Boat Quay - Esplanade - Marina Bay Sands - Helix Bridge - Return

Lunch at Zion Road Hawker - Back to Queenstown (Start point). We ended ard 2pm.

It was really fun! We lingered at the Linear Canal Project that collects water and cleans it naturally thru sedimentation method and drains to the marina barrage. We read the signage and the explanation for the interesting n innovation process!

We also cycled past many Atas eateries along Robertson Quay serving yummy Continental Breakfast! Nice places to have brunch with the newspaper and lappy! Just like the Sunny Side ups, easily done and runny! One of the days, I should go visit these cafes again!

We stopped for ice cream at near IndoChine (Victoria Concert Hall/Asian Civilisation Museum). It was abt 12pm then and we could see the office crowd just emerging out from the UOB buildings and offices nearby. From the river bank opposite, it's quite a sight when all similarly dressed office workers rushed to get their lunch fixes! We were busy waving one hand at the tourists on the bumboats transiting along Boat Quay, the other hand holding our ice cream cones! It's a rather nice feeling to people watch the office workers on a Thursday morning while we were chilling out and exploring the city sights like tourists!

We headed for Esplanade and rested there for a while...a magnificent sight I must say.... this is the one time I really wished I have very good photography skills man! And I so regret not bringing a side pouch to put my hp so i can stop and take pictures whenever i wan!

See! Have Bike, Will Travel! 

Must do this again! YAY!  

Cat Model for TV

I think my Creamie girl can be a model for the TV...
Taglines: Svelte, elegance, upper class

"Even your cat wants it..."

Childhood memories

Recently I had the chance to eat 1 of my fav childhood snacks... u may remember this too! It was usually sold in a Cone shaped container from some red paper and wrapped in a clear plastic. I remb buying these from the bakery/ confectionary usually. These days, they come in air tight sealed packets...

I feel esp nostalgic abt this snack because of my history of long hair. Yes! I had rather long hair for most of my childhood years! In fact, they were really long, length-till-my-butt kinda long. And my mother would force me to cut/trim my hair every month cos she finds it troublesome to tie my hair for my when i go to school or for washing at night! Everytime I am dragged by my hair (literally!) to the hair salon, I would beg her to let me keep my long hair! The hair salon that we used to go had a confectionary next door. She would then entice me with this Snack (which I called it the KartWheel snack). Alot of time, i usually lose 1-2inches of hair due to my desire to eat the snack! Boo!

I dun have many photos of my long hair thou, these are the longest hair photo I can find.

Me n my elder brother...

i was probably 6yrs old then.

i remb my 1st bike was a present for scoring Perfect score for 听写 and spelling!

So what happened to my long hair? Well, one fine day in Primary four, I decided to snip it off till shoulder length and over the years, it just got shorter! See my svelte body too, see those slender leg calves? Well they are gone too today!

Me and my cousin Bi during one of the Xmas lights viewing!

Do u still remb ur fav childhood snacks? I can name a few!

Your memories refreshed?

Yummm.... the good old days!

Movie *Food Inc.*

Have you watched *FOOD INC. * before? Recently it was airing on OKTO channel but I missed it.
Think *SUPERSIZE ME* . anyway, I caught it & man.... i was Blown away!
You have to watch it n rethink what we are stuffing ourselves with! Gosh!


--------------
*FOOD INC. * Movie Info
Genre:Documentary, Special Interest
Synopsis: In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our... In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. Food, Inc. reveals surprising - and often shocking truths - about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here



--------

Homemade Yogurt anyone?

I had been wanting to try out how to make yogurt from home!
Yogurt are really expensive in the supermarket... frankly, they are just milk that has gone bad!!! Why am i charged so much more for some milk that has turned sour?!

Anyway, Yogurt has long been reputated to be good for our digestive system due to the active/live cultures/bacterias... so finally I got myself a thermometer and start making yogurt for my own consumption!

There are tons of yogurt making receipes online, but i have narrowed down to point form:

----------
Homemade Yoghurt

-1 Litre Fresh Milk (any except UHT milk

-2 tablespoons of starter yoghurt (must be with live cultures)

-Thermometer

-Enough sterilized glass container with screw caps

1) Heat milk to 85C

-stir constantly to avoid burning.

2) Cool to 45C

-can use a cold water bathe to quicken process, stir constantly.

3) Pour into Glass containers n screw tight. 

4) Inoculate live Culture by soaking containers in warm water at 45C in a cooler box. Avoid disturbing the inoculation process.

5) 7hrs minimum. Check on yoghurt, n chill once it curdled. READY!!

Notes: 

-Yoghurt made with Skim milk has thiner consistency. Higher Fat % = thicker n creamier. 

-Starter yoghurt with less Live cultures (usually only 2 types) may take a longer time to inoculate.
-Can keep in fridge for 1-2weeks. But if using this batch a starter yoghurt, make yoghurt again within 5 to 7days (while Live culture is still active). 

------------------------

What u'll need:

1) Thermometer (i had procrastinated making yogurt for the longest time becos I din have a thermometer and was too stingy to buy one. Finally got this from PhoonHuat for abt $14)

2) Clean Glass Bottles (Glass is better, can Sterilise to ensure u are not inoculating other bacteria), Starter Yoghurt (plain) + Fresh milk.

3) A cooler box or something to keep it warm for a long period of time. some recipes suggested a preheated oven but I find it too troublesome to monitor.

Ok, Steps:

1) Heat milk to 85C -stir constantly to avoid burning.

2) Cool to 45C -can use a cold water bathe to quicken process, stir constantly. 

3) Pour into Glass containers n screw tight.

4) Inoculate live Culture by soaking containers

in warm water at 45C in a cooler box.

I know it's tempting to see what happens.

But Avoid disturbing the inoculation process.

Besides, it's really boring.... nothing really happens till about 7hrs later.

The cooler box is very good,

cos it maintained the temperature at 49-50C for 8hrs!

5) 7hrs minimum. Check on yoghurt, n chill once it curdled. READY!!

6) Add some dried cranberries/wolf berries/apricots whatever!!!

Some crackers for crunch! I even tried blending it with some mangoes, leaving some chopped mangoes for texture.... end results a very yummy Lassi (aka yogurt drink) like those we buy from supermarket!

YUMMY! 

I shall do it more often... still trying to find a good starter Yogurt with more live cultures. I read that the brand Dannon is good, but i cant seem to find it in NTUC, NTUC fairest or Cold Storage in Tampines! Mayb those bigger ones in town will have it!

Try it & tell me if u like!