27 August, 2007

Pink of Health?


Something I did today - went for my health check. Everything seems to be in working order :P.

Body Mass Index: 17.4 [<18.5, considered underweight]
Body Fat Analysis: 20.4% [norm = 17% - 24%]
Waist Hip Ratio: 0.70 [norm = < 0.8]
Pee tests: pH value 8 [can't really tell, but nurse said it's norm]
Blood Pressure: 111/67 [norm = <120/<80]
Blood Cholestorol: 177mg/dl [desirable = <200]
Blood Glucose: 87mg/dl [ desirable = <140]

Since my body fat is right smack in the normal range, it is concluded the low BMI might be due to me having bone density problems (further tests required). If not now, then as i A-G-E. Supplements are suggested...

Hmpf. Osteoporosis, here I come!

21 August, 2007

Reflections


Anyone who have been at the receiving end of my tales of relationship ups and downs would probably think that by now, I would have experienced every joy and every hurt possible. Well, they would at most be half right.

When you get hurt, people would tell u a)time will heal, and if they are not so kind, then b)you should be used to it and can handle it. I had friends, and those I thought were good friends, tell me all sorts of things when I was down. I am grateful, for the time they put in, for the words they still say even though they know it will fall on deaf ears.

Only after some time, that I realised that when your life is constantly on the spiral down, you will eventually lose friends who had hoped you will get better. Seriously, who am I to judge, when in my worst times, how much of a friend have I been? I leaned on them, but have I been well long enough to let anyone lean on me?

I have had much time to reflect on why my life in the past 10 years had gone so awry. Some of it, I think are very much out of my control. But most of it was because I was never comfortable in my own skin. I never outgrew my teenage self-consciousness, which over the years developed into major inferiority complex. That affected me in every aspect of my life. My jobs, my interaction with friends and new acquaintances, and of course my relationships. I always felt I would be judged, and I always do get judged, because my insecurity made me act out in ways that would make me cringe now.

No one is obliged to be nice to you. But if they are, accept, and reciprocate. I wasn't able to accept, thus I never did reciprocate. Not that I consciously did it. I always thought I 'gave my all'. In my past relationships, I always prided myself in being the "giver" instead of the "taker". But it wasn't true. I met much struggles because I was trying so hard to be in the driver's seat, but I didn't like being one. I thought I had to keep everything intact, keep everything going, or else all hell will break lose.

Why was I such a control freak? Because I always felt "different", not snootily different, but misfit-different. I wanted to keep everything and everyone close, so that they won't stray so far that I would end up with nothing.

Realisation did not come overnight. Late it was, but better than never. I did not do it alone. Someone came into my life, with much patience, with much love, and also ever-increasing understanding, and helped me finally be at peace with myself. Whether he did it consciously, or unknowingly, I do not know. Some things words cannot express. He somehow knew where I hurt, how I hurt, and he nursed it well. At first I retaliated, furiously. Eventually, bit by bit, I learnt to let go.

When I was 19, a friend told me I was holding on to a knife by the blade, refusing to let go because it hurts too much to move a muscle. When someone tried to pull it away, I screamed and kicked, not understanding that if I don't let go, I will bleed to death. I thought I understood that analogy then, but didn't accept it. Now 10 years later, I finally knew what it means.

Despite the lost years and the lost friends, I am so blessed. If the clouds had not lifted, I would probably lose a very good partner. He indulges me in my every whim; wherever I wanna go, whatever I wanna do, no day is a bad day. He hugs me, kisses me, just because he feels like it. Whenever we are abroad, it's so cute the way he behaves like a bodyguard, with his eyes "bing!" wide open always on the lookout for danger, like I always tease him. He rubs my feet whenever they are tired due to my weakness for heels.

Don't be mistaken though. He takes no shit from me. If I unload a ton of insecurity like a brat without restraint, he never fails to tell me off. And he doesn't mince words.

People say, love makes two person seem like one. Now I know, two can never be one, so please don't try =). Instead, when two persons feel as one, perhaps now, this is finally the road leading home.



19 August, 2007

Bursts of Joy


Even though there are fireworks displays every year during the National Day celebrations, this is the first time i'm seeing fireworks up close. It was literally breath-taking. Bringing you the fireworks on both 17th & 18th Aug, from One Fullerton, next to Marina Bay.




















Touristy Pics -.-








Not very touristy -.-'''




It was a mix of festivity, sardined-packed chaos, child-like wonder, and joy. Yeah it was fun =)

15 August, 2007

Sweetie Pie


Home-Made Apple Pie - Our Latest Experiment

Ingredients
200gm Plain Flour
50gm Self Raising Flour
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/4 stick salted butter

4 red apples, 4 green apples
3 cups sugar (or to taste)
1 egg yolk for glazing
cold / ice water

Apple-Filling
1) Peel and cut the apples into thin slices of abt 0.5cm thick. Soak in water with a tablespoon of salt.
2) Put sugar into pot and place just enough water to cover the sugar. Heat until sugar has caramelized and turned very lightly transparent brown.
3) Drain apples and pour into pot. Stir well to ensure they are coated with sugar.
4) Leave to boil. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
5) The apples are ready when they have turned a dark translucent yellow. Remove from heat.

Preparing the Dough
1) Stir salt into flour mixture.
2) Cut butter into small pieces and drop into flour.
3) Rub the butter into the flour until resemble breadcrumbs.
4) Add in ice water slowly and knead to form a dough.
5) Cover dough and set aside to let it rise for at least 30 mins.

Making the Pie
1) Half the dough
2) Knead slightly and roll into sheet of thickness not more than 0.5cm.
3) Grease pie pan lightly with butter and transfer pastry sheet onto it.
4) Press the pastry along the edges of the pan and use a fork to poke some holes on it.
5) Leave it to bake at 180 degC until the edges start to turn slightly brown.

6) Remove from oven. Pour the cooked apples into pan.
7) Make the top pastry the same way as before, and cover the pie with it.
8) Pinch and fold the edges of the pastry together, trimming away any excess pastry with a knife. Poke holes on the top pastry as before.
9) Place in oven to bake for 30 mins or until the edges start to turn slightly brown.
10) Glaze with egg yolk and bake for another 15 mins.

End Product

Taa DaAaa!!



12 August, 2007

National Holiday & Celebrations


I have the pics from our latest spree! Photoshop has gone nutz on me.. so i cant edit them =(((

now going u noe?


Mercure's room




My Sleep Partner


okok.. dinner time.. let's go


WallArt at Godiva Cafe


World's Best Donuts




Heavenly Body Scrub


..and sOmE of our loot




a very tired darling


Oops forgot to update. Dear's mum's birthday was on 29th Jul. Here's some pics and of her cutting her fav durian cake =D


Dear & his dad lighting the candles


Smile!


Jin Happy! LOL!