为什么又让我带着难过的心情睡觉。
眼泪直流好累。也不是什么天大的事情，我是怎么搞的。
为什么就不能安抚我才放电话嘛，我快被折磨死了。
我怎么会有一天是不想见你的，你难道还不知道吗。

我不是乱发小姐脾气。对不起是我错了吗。
你真的听懂我所感受的吗？

Braised Eefu Noodles

Inspired by the eefu noodles we had in Genting, the one which is so gravy-ish and not so much chive, I tried cooking it!

The first attempt:

I took reference from noobcook's recipe for the first time but I didn't follow it exactly. I used 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce and some pepper to make the gravy. I did not add the chicken stock but I added cornflour to make the gravy thicker. The result is okay but my bf said that my noodles is salty enough but not tasty. It is nice, but the content of the gravy is not rich in flavour.

The second attempt:

My second reference is from Pig Pig's Corner. I realized that the mistake was that I added too much dark soy sauce [therefore salty] instead of something more flavourful like oyster sauce. So here's my ingredients, and portion is determined according to my feel.

>> 

Mains
2 servings ee fu noodles
Some garlic
1 large can straw mushroom
300gm enoki mushroom
200gm beansprout

Gravy
1/4 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
Pinch of sugar
Dash of white ground pepper
1.5 bowl hot water
Approx 2.5 tbsp cornflour

>>

1) Cook the noodles in a pot of boiling water. Once the noodles has spread out, drain the hot water away and leave it aside. For the straw mushroom, cut them into smaller pieces. For the enoki mushroom, cut the whole bunch into half. Chop the garlic into tiny bits. 

Plucking the roots away is tiring

2) Heat up the oil in a wok. Once hot, add in garlic, followed by the mushrooms and the beansprout. Stir fry for a bit.

3) Add in the sauces and spices for the gravy. For the cornflour, mix some water with the flour before adding into the dish slowly. Add more sauces or cornflour according to your taste. Mix well.

4) Submerge the noodles in the gravy and let it simmer for about 2 minutes. 

5) Taste, edit if required, and serve. 

Noodles:

I guess you can skip the cooking of noodles in water step since the noodles would be simmering anyway. Generally, noodles are spread out first to ensure that it won't get soggy in the next step if cooked too long. It is also easier to submerge the noodles in the gravy because it's no longer two fat blocks. 

Ingredients:

Note that the quantity of my ingredients is actually quite a lot. The amount of mushroom and beansprout exceeded the amount of noodles. I would recommend 150-200gm of enoki instead but if you prefer more noodles than ingredients, you would need to reduce further. 

Gravy:

Initially, I only used 2 tbsp of oyster sauce but given the mountain of ingredients, I had to add more water to cover them adequately. Hence, the gravy turned bland and required more taste. The same goes for the cornflour. The more water you add, the more cornflour you need to attain the thick consistency you want.

Have a fun time trying this!

Experience of a Noob Jogger

I have been a regular jogger for quite a while now [few years?]. During my time with the first job, I couldn't find time to jog due to the working hours. Yes, that is definitely an excuse, but I prefer jogging in the evening really. As a result, I realized that I have grown in size! The amount of time sitting in the office might also be part of the reason.

Hence, I dedicated this break to exercise. Okay, it is not as noble as it sounds like but I do jog almost everyday. It can range from a short 10 minutes to 25 minutes [yes still rather short a time]. My stamina is still bad, even after so long. No matter what, I just thought of sharing my jogging experience and how I coped with it.

-To start off-

Convenience

Exercising is tiring. I hated running because it makes me so breathless. But I sill choose it because I can just change to my sports attire and head to the canal nearby for a fast jog. I don't like so much hassle when it comes to exercising. It is always easier to go jogging than to go swimming, badminton [so windy, unless you book a court, which is always booked by others], yoga classes and etc. This is called lazy exercising. You identify what works best for you.

To be alone or not

Linked to above point, jogging alone is definitely more convenient because you don't have to accommodate to anyone's schedule. Anytime you feel the adrenaline rush, you go for it. Jogging alone also enables you to run at your own pace. And have a myself time to think and reflect.

Think of it as a lifestyle

Rather than dreading the day you have to go exercise, think of it as an opportunity to get some fresh air. It is a continuous process of keeping your body fit and healthy. It should not be fulfilling some kind of duty or obligation. Therefore, my goal is no longer to lose weight through jogging because I never seem to lose any. It is to improve my health, my body and my self esteem. People can't see the changes because they are not obvious. But I really feel the improvements. 

Body posture

The body posture is very important during the run. Always keep your body straight from the start as your lungs can receive air better that way. When people get tired, they sometimes drag their feet while pushing themselves forward. I always remind myself to always have full control of my feet so that I won't fall. The path is not always even, and without full control of your feet, you might trip easily.

-In the midst-

Focus on everything other than the actual activity

I guess one of the good things about jogging is that you don't really need concentration [on say catching a ball]. You can admire the scenery, you can listen to music, or you can have a brainstorm session. Whatever it is, just don't keep thinking "oh I am running now, I need to run till that end point..". Forget that you are jogging and feeling tired, distract yourself. For me, I like to observe other runners and look at the environment. With the music playing, I focus on the lyrics to keep me going. Sad songs may make you move further. Titanic related music always helps me.

Find your motivation

When I get really tired,  I find myself some form of motivation to keep me going. Well, if you run with friends, you can get motivation from them. Otherwise, like me, I find random strangers with similar running speed and run behind them! Just keep that person as the focus point. Or sometimes, I pretend that people are looking at me and so I have to perform well haha. After jogging for the past few years, I can already recognize many familiar faces and I feel they might recognize me too. 

Short term goals are more effective

I find myself being able to fulfill short term goals better than long term ones. Hence, instead of telling myself to run from this end to that end, I look at the points on the ground. Let that leaf be my target, and once I reached the leaf, I change my target to the next stone. This method works until I eventually reach my end point. A person is more likely to fulfill goals which seem more attainable.

-The after-

Rest is important

I realized I might be jogging too much. Even though the distance I cover is considered short, it is still bad to not let the body rest. 3 times a week should be the optimum. 

Always remember that your health is your responsibility. So, let's all be disciplined and motivated!

Genting Trip April 2015

20 April- 22 April 2015

My bf went Genting in March and attended its 50th anniversary dinner. He won free tickets for a two night stay in First World Hotel [superior deluxe] and a 2-way coach ride with Transtar Travel [premium]! So here we go!

I stayed over at my bf's place as our bus would be leaving Tampines at 5.30am, but I was unable to sleep the whole night. We were the first passengers to get picked up before the bus headed to other locations. The agency then called us to inform us that our seats were 5/6. Just a few moments after that, two women came up to us and said that we were sitting at their seats because they had booked the front seats. After another conversation with the agency, we were pushed to seats 21/22. But it was still okay as nobody was rude and demanding. The premium bus has adequate space for our legs and the seats can be adjusted so that we can lie down. Two bottles of mineral water were also provided for us. It was a comfortable bus ride and I slept most of the time. I have eaten some motion sickness pills beforehand just in case, as I wasn't very well the last two times I travelled in a coach. We stopped at Yong Peng for toilet and lunch break. The yong tau foo noodles not bad sia! After you order from a specific store, you have to pay at the cashier before you collect the food.

You just don't want to give up, but you are too afraid to continue trying.
Because everytime you try, fear overwhelms you.
Because everytime you try, you need to find that courage.
Because everytime you try, you undergo immerse stress.
And words continue to make you feel lousy and demoralised.

But your heart still doesn't want to give up.

Muah Chee

After I know that Muah Chee is actually very easy to make, I wanted to try it! The most common way should be panfrying the batter on a non-stick pan but I shall take the easier way out- Microwaving!

1st Attempt

120g Glutinous rice flour

180g water

2 tbsp oil

2 packets Macdonald's sugar

Grounded peanut

I took reference from Twice as Delicious. Similarly, I used 120g glutinous rice flour, 180g water and 2 tablespoon of oil to make the mixture. After stirring the batter until evenly mixed in a glass container, I left it in the microwave, mid-low, for 3 minutes. The outcome was a lump of white stuff, boing boing. However, I found it too soft and I can't cut into pieces properly. I stirred it together with the sugar and peanut chunks. For the sugar, I had breakfast at Macs so sun bian la :P. The original muah chee uses powdered peanut but I bought the wrong one. As the peanut pieces are too big, it doesn't fully cover the white spaces. The muah chee got slightly harder after it cooled down but it was still nice.

2nd Attempt

120g Glutinous rice flour
120g water
2 tbsp oil
2.5 packets Macdonald's sugar
Grounded peanut

I considered my first attempt as failed because I really don't like my muah chee being too soft. Hence, I googled for the answer and found out that 1:1 flour water ratio is recommended. 1:3/4 is the recommended flour water ratio for a more chewy texture. I decided to try the 1:1 ratio first. After microwaving, it looked rather dry on the surface but it was more elastic when I poke poke it. The taste is just nice for me, chewy but not so hard. I don't have to try the other ratio anymore as it would probably be too chewy for the teeth.

By the way, I used grounded peanut instead of peanut powder because my mum bought that instead. The result is that your teeth will get tired from all the biting and chewing of the chunks of peanut. However, having some texture is good and you may want to mix the powdered [you can grind the chunks or something] and grounded forms together. The packaging of the grounded peanut states that it is good for muah chee though. 

Enjoy!

Update: Tried pounding the peanut chunks in a bowl with a glass bottle (hahaha my genius mum). The result taste the same. I guess powdered peanut would be better afterall. 

First Job Ends 2

Nine April 2015

Today is the official supposed last day. We went back to visit, to give them some gifts of appreciation, and to join the C team for steamboat after their work. We found out that apparently there's no need to work weekends now because there's only one girl left [and no more sundays!]. See, when we are gone then such plans are implemented.

We had our steamboat supper/dinner at one of the shops in Bugis. It was really nice of them to give us a treat. Just a week ago, we went out with the E team for a Mookata supper too.

Nearing the end of the meal, we were both given a present each! It was really surprising. And then we opened our gift... a polaroid camera + film. Gosh, they bought 3 in fact, for each of us, and that is not really very cheap. Also,  other team members whom we were not so close to also chipped in. I am beyond touched. A farewell meal and a meaningful present. It just amazes me how these people treated us so much better than our own stingy-no-leadership ex-boss. This really says so much about life and the kind of people we might meet. There is always the good and the bad. It is my good fortune to have met these wonderful people through this first job of mine.

I sincerely thank them from the bottom of my heart for making my experience in the company such a memorable one. 

To a new beginning!

First Job Ends

As some of my friends may know, I tendered my resignation for my first job. My last official work day should be on the 9th of April, after serving the one month's notice period. I didn't wanted to quit without securing another job first but it was becoming so unhappy to continue on.

On the evening of the 27th of March, Friday, I received an email from my manager informing me that my last day of work would be on the 6th of April. His name starts with a D, so I shall call him Donkey here. To quote his exact words, he stated that “we have decided to release you earlier on Monday 6 April 2015”. What are we? Prisoners? I do not need you to release me, I did not get fired.

I replied to his email asking whether I would be reimbursed for that three days because my contract stated that the one month’s notice worked both ways. In addition, I raised a concern over the amount of handover work to be done over this short period of time. He only told us so last minute. I had explained to him that certain things are hard to understand in words, and hence we would do our part to communicate well with the last team mate left in the department. But the thing is, much of the handover materials were already done. He was just oblivious of all our efforts. He didn't reply to my email.

On the night of the 29th of March, Sunday, he messaged both my colleague, J, and I to meet him at the office earlier at 10.45am the next day for a quick chat. We thought he wanted to finally tell us what was going on. However, he just thanked us insincerely and informed us that today would be our last day. O.O His face just looked the usual awkward and slightly irritated and angry. He told us to leave our laptops behind, pack up and leave immediately. He added that we did not have to clean up our laptops because the IT team would settle that. Like when we on our laptops wanting to delete the stuff ourselves, he repeated that we did not need to do so. He said that we would still be paid until our last official day and that this decision was made by the management. I don't know who is this "management" he was referring to because for all we know, he may have decided this himself. Humph. 

At that point, we were super shocked that we didn't question him on the reason. While we were packing, he asked us whether we were ready to go because he had to leave the office. I knew he was going to meet the last colleague left to announce the news the her.  Like seriously, why are we being chased out like this. Effectively, we were only given 10 minutes to get our belongings and leave. It was as though we were fired because of some serious mistake at work.

You know other employees get to send out farewell emails to their colleagues on their last day, but we were deprived of this chance. We didn't get to bid farewell to the Singpost uncle we had worked closely with. We did not get the chance to bid farewell to all the retail staff at my branch, who had helped us so much, much more than our own manager. Most importantly, we did not even have to the chance to bid farewell to our own teammate, the last one left. He told us to leave before he announced the news to her. Like can you imagine how she would feel?! So stressed up, so shocked, so cheated, so left out. Of course, she already knew we were leaving before we even tendered [Donkey still ask us to keep it from her la], just didn't know it was suddenly on that very day. Donkey had always emphasized on the “importance of teamwork”, but what kind of team spirit was this? So secretive for what. 

After we left the office and thought about it, we were so angry and upset. I was angry at myself for not questioning or "scolding" him. Is this how a manager is expected to treat his employees? He did not inform us beforehand and we were made to leave within 10 minutes. We barely had enough time to even pack up or find plastic bags or boxes for us to put our stuff. Why do we get such treatment when we had done nothing wrong? It was as if a few more minutes or an extra day in office would kill him. Like as if we would steal some important information from the department if we stay any longer. We had contributed our best during our time spent there, but just because we had decided to leave, we were treated as though we were enemies. He didn't respect us at all and he was unprofessional in the way he handled the situation. As the manager of the team, it seemed as though  that he did not value us and our contributions at all. He claimed that the decision to let us leave earlier is out of goodwill, but it did not seem that way to us.

As our boss, he did not even wish us well or said bye to us. He really don't have any people's skill and he wasn't a good leader at all, and probably will never be. We learnt most of the things by ourselves because he was never there to give us advice and solutions. He merely asked us to check with other people, how convenient. Hence, at some point of time, we didn't even want to consult him in anything anymore. There is no point, explaining so much [because he is clueless] just to solve the issue myself again. 

At the end of day, all the contributions are not appreciated. We were given 10 minutes and out we go. 

This is really a lesson of life.