Last Fri evening, while I was doing my usual exercise, I saw this heavily preggy lady trying really hard to push a stroller as her 3 year old daughter was on it.
Without any hesitation, I went up to her to offer to help her push the stroller as we're heading towards the same direction.
She told me that she's of Thai nationality while her husband is British and they used to live in HK before moving to SG.
Then her husband called to inform that he'd be arriving soon and would be able to pick her & kiddo up.
As we were nearing the shop house of eateries, her angmoh hubby appeared to take over from me.
The husband was really thankful towards me for rendering a helping hand when the preggy wife was in need.
I felt really happy with what I did.
Its a wonderful feeling to be able to help ..........
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Antioxidants Vs Fertility
Seems like female should not take antioxidants supplement as it may affect ovulation but male should take more .......
Female related:
Antioxidants lead to fertility problems
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Antioxidants-lead-to-fertility-problems/articleshow/7319930.cms
Male related:
Antioxidants May Boost Baby Making
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/antioxidants-increase-male-fertility/story?id=12641649&page=1
Female related:
Antioxidants lead to fertility problems
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Antioxidants-lead-to-fertility-problems/articleshow/7319930.cms
Male related:
Antioxidants May Boost Baby Making
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/antioxidants-increase-male-fertility/story?id=12641649&page=1
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I'm sorry, my love ........
I'm remorseful and regretted the harsh words I've told RY during one of our recent fight.
How could I say those words to hurt him?
Well he did use some mean words on me but I shouldn't have retaliated ........
I guess when you're in a fit of anger, you'll say mean words to hurt each other.
I'm feeling really terrible and wish that I didnt say it at all.
I shall remember this painful experience and not to repeat the same mistake again!
When you love somebody, you should not hurt him/ her.
How could I say those words to hurt him?
Well he did use some mean words on me but I shouldn't have retaliated ........
I guess when you're in a fit of anger, you'll say mean words to hurt each other.
I'm feeling really terrible and wish that I didnt say it at all.
I shall remember this painful experience and not to repeat the same mistake again!
When you love somebody, you should not hurt him/ her.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Singapore fertility rate falls to record low
Ummn, why am I not surprised to know about the falling birth rate in SG?
It seems like the govt is not doing enought to make SG a conducive place to have baby ............
Extracts of the newspaper reporting:
SINGAPORE: Preliminary estimates show that Singapore's total fertility rate has dropped to a record low of 1.16 last year. This is even lower than the 1.22 in 2009, and well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said the number of new Permanent Residents in 2010, was halved from a year ago.
Mr Wong, who heads the newly formed National Population and Talent Division, revealed the numbers as he laid out the country's long-term strategy for managing population growth.
After an influx of foreigners during the boom years, the government took steps to mitigate their inflow in 2010. Criteria for PR status were tightened, while more was done to integrate new citizens.
The move comes amid growing discomfort among Singaporeans over the increased presence of foreigners in the country.
29,265 foreigners became permanent residents last year, a sharp drop from the 59,460 in 2009, and 79,200 in 2008.
The country's aging population and low fertility rate means that the government will need to tap on immigration to augment the population.
Singapore is still facing the problem of having not enough babies. Mr Wong said the government will continue to support couples' decision to get married and have children. He added authorities will aim for a pro-family environment but he also acknowledged that boosting fertility will take time.
In a speech on "Inclusive Growth", Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng reiterated that citizens' interests will always come first.
Growing the population, Mr Wong explained, provides the critical mass to attract investors and grow domestic markets.
The key is in attracting the right kind of people.
"Singapore's population story is still evolving. Looking ahead, continual refinements will need to be made at appropriate junctures to ensure that Singapore will remain our best home. Like other countries around the world, we must continue to welcome suitably qualified people to work and live in Singapore and contribute to our society," said Mr Wong.
Mr Wong described these "suitably qualified people" as an "improvement in the quality of new PRs".
According to the latest population census, PRs in Singapore tend to be better educated. Almost half of the PR population last year were degree holders, compared with 18 per cent of citizens.
The number of new citizens remained relatively steady at 18, 758 in 2010, compared to 19,928 for 2009.
According to Mr Wong, the new Population and Talent Division will formulate, coordinate and review whole of Government policies. In doing so, Mr Wong said the focus is on achieving a "sustainable population profile".
Three principles will guide this effort - to preserve and uphold what is distinctive and unique about Singapore, to ensure growth and change benefit Singaporeans, and to remain nimble and prepared as well as make adjustments along the way.
Mr Wong said what is unique about Singapore is that its people "value hard work, thrift and honesty".
Singapore has also made multi-ethnic diversity work for it.
So in managing the population, Mr Wong said the government will "always be guided by the need to preserve a strong citizen core" and to "maintain stability" in the ethnic mix.
Observers say the latest figures on new immigrants will go some way in addressing Singaporeans' concerns.
Dr Leong Chan Hoong, a Research Fellow with the Institute of Policy Studies, said: "There is a very reassuring effect for Singaporeans and certainly I think this will help assure Singaporeans that the policy makers have their interests as a priority."
Inclusive growth has been a buzzword of late, and more recently, it was debated in Parliament. The idea is that no Singaporean is left out even as the country progresses. Observers said this is likely to be a hot button issue at the next general elections due by February
It seems like the govt is not doing enought to make SG a conducive place to have baby ............
Extracts of the newspaper reporting:
SINGAPORE: Preliminary estimates show that Singapore's total fertility rate has dropped to a record low of 1.16 last year. This is even lower than the 1.22 in 2009, and well below the replacement rate of 2.1.
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said the number of new Permanent Residents in 2010, was halved from a year ago.
Mr Wong, who heads the newly formed National Population and Talent Division, revealed the numbers as he laid out the country's long-term strategy for managing population growth.
After an influx of foreigners during the boom years, the government took steps to mitigate their inflow in 2010. Criteria for PR status were tightened, while more was done to integrate new citizens.
The move comes amid growing discomfort among Singaporeans over the increased presence of foreigners in the country.
29,265 foreigners became permanent residents last year, a sharp drop from the 59,460 in 2009, and 79,200 in 2008.
The country's aging population and low fertility rate means that the government will need to tap on immigration to augment the population.
Singapore is still facing the problem of having not enough babies. Mr Wong said the government will continue to support couples' decision to get married and have children. He added authorities will aim for a pro-family environment but he also acknowledged that boosting fertility will take time.
In a speech on "Inclusive Growth", Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng reiterated that citizens' interests will always come first.
Growing the population, Mr Wong explained, provides the critical mass to attract investors and grow domestic markets.
The key is in attracting the right kind of people.
"Singapore's population story is still evolving. Looking ahead, continual refinements will need to be made at appropriate junctures to ensure that Singapore will remain our best home. Like other countries around the world, we must continue to welcome suitably qualified people to work and live in Singapore and contribute to our society," said Mr Wong.
Mr Wong described these "suitably qualified people" as an "improvement in the quality of new PRs".
According to the latest population census, PRs in Singapore tend to be better educated. Almost half of the PR population last year were degree holders, compared with 18 per cent of citizens.
The number of new citizens remained relatively steady at 18, 758 in 2010, compared to 19,928 for 2009.
According to Mr Wong, the new Population and Talent Division will formulate, coordinate and review whole of Government policies. In doing so, Mr Wong said the focus is on achieving a "sustainable population profile".
Three principles will guide this effort - to preserve and uphold what is distinctive and unique about Singapore, to ensure growth and change benefit Singaporeans, and to remain nimble and prepared as well as make adjustments along the way.
Mr Wong said what is unique about Singapore is that its people "value hard work, thrift and honesty".
Singapore has also made multi-ethnic diversity work for it.
So in managing the population, Mr Wong said the government will "always be guided by the need to preserve a strong citizen core" and to "maintain stability" in the ethnic mix.
Observers say the latest figures on new immigrants will go some way in addressing Singaporeans' concerns.
Dr Leong Chan Hoong, a Research Fellow with the Institute of Policy Studies, said: "There is a very reassuring effect for Singaporeans and certainly I think this will help assure Singaporeans that the policy makers have their interests as a priority."
Inclusive growth has been a buzzword of late, and more recently, it was debated in Parliament. The idea is that no Singaporean is left out even as the country progresses. Observers said this is likely to be a hot button issue at the next general elections due by February
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Laughter is the Best Medicine!
This statement is proven by the fertility study that beeing entertained by a clown right after in vitro fertilization could be baby-making gold, according to a study in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility.
The three-year-long study, by doctors at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Zrifin, Israel, involved 219 women. Half of them were treated to a “medical clowning encounter” after having just undergone IVF.
Results showed that 36 percent of women who were treated to a 20-minute routine of jokes, magic tricks and other comedic acts after invitro became pregnant. In contrast, only 20 percent of the women in the group that wasn’t exposed to the routine got pregnant, according to the study.
The findings expand on research done by the study’s principal author, Dr. Shevach Friedler, a graduate of the Jacques Lecoq school of mime and theatre in Paris, France. "My background is in clowning and movement," he told Nature.com in a 2006 interview. "I'm also a physician who works in IVF. I thought we could combine the two," he was quoted as saying.
The study holds promise for women seeking to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization and also identifies comedy as a key de-stressor during what could be, to patients, a harrowing medical procedure, Friedler told Reuters.
"Patients suffering from infertility undergoing IVF are exceptionally stressed. So I thought that this intervention could be beneficial for them at the crucial moments after embryo transfer," he is quoted as saying.
While medical clowns have usually been associated with pediatric care, their use with adult patients is on the rise, according to the website, Aheart4clowning.
The Israeli study concludes that clowning in conjunction with IVF may buoy pregnancy rates and needs further analysis.
The three-year-long study, by doctors at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Zrifin, Israel, involved 219 women. Half of them were treated to a “medical clowning encounter” after having just undergone IVF.
Results showed that 36 percent of women who were treated to a 20-minute routine of jokes, magic tricks and other comedic acts after invitro became pregnant. In contrast, only 20 percent of the women in the group that wasn’t exposed to the routine got pregnant, according to the study.
The findings expand on research done by the study’s principal author, Dr. Shevach Friedler, a graduate of the Jacques Lecoq school of mime and theatre in Paris, France. "My background is in clowning and movement," he told Nature.com in a 2006 interview. "I'm also a physician who works in IVF. I thought we could combine the two," he was quoted as saying.
The study holds promise for women seeking to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization and also identifies comedy as a key de-stressor during what could be, to patients, a harrowing medical procedure, Friedler told Reuters.
"Patients suffering from infertility undergoing IVF are exceptionally stressed. So I thought that this intervention could be beneficial for them at the crucial moments after embryo transfer," he is quoted as saying.
While medical clowns have usually been associated with pediatric care, their use with adult patients is on the rise, according to the website, Aheart4clowning.
The Israeli study concludes that clowning in conjunction with IVF may buoy pregnancy rates and needs further analysis.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Animal Lover
I love Animal and have kept rabbits, tortise, hamster, mice, dog and cats as pets ..........
When I was young, I've dreamt about making lots of money to buy an island and hire workers to keep all the stray dogs/ cats ...........
Of course this dream never come true as I didnt make that much of money nor married a rich husband ........
When making charity donations, I'd make my donation to SPCA or any animal related homes as I think animals are more helpless and need more fincial assistance to maintain their well being.
Naturally, with the free StarHub cable Tv, my favourite channels are National Geographic and Animal Planet!
I'm afraid I may get addicted to the cable TV and may be tempted to subscribe to it long term.
When I was young, I've dreamt about making lots of money to buy an island and hire workers to keep all the stray dogs/ cats ...........
Of course this dream never come true as I didnt make that much of money nor married a rich husband ........
When making charity donations, I'd make my donation to SPCA or any animal related homes as I think animals are more helpless and need more fincial assistance to maintain their well being.
Naturally, with the free StarHub cable Tv, my favourite channels are National Geographic and Animal Planet!
I'm afraid I may get addicted to the cable TV and may be tempted to subscribe to it long term.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
There is Hope!
We just renewed our Starhub broadband subscription for another 2 years.
To make the sign on deal sweeter, Starhub offered 3 months FOC cable TV for our viewing.
Yesterday I watched a documentary - Big Cat Odyssey on National Geographic channel.
http://natgeotv.com/uk/big-cat-odyssey/about
This documentary is about award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert on their 30-year-long quest to document the behaviour of big cats in Botswana, this film brings together three decades worth of material, including extraordinary footage of hunting lions, scavenging hyenas and stealthy leopards.
I was touched by a night scene where an elephant was attacked by a group of 7 lionesses.
At one point, the elephant was almost giviing up and we thought it'd die under the ruthless attack of the lionessess.
Then miracle happened, the poor elephant forced itself up and run for its life.
I was so happy that this elephant managed to survive against all odds!
It has taught us a valuable lesson - Never Give Up as There is HOPE!
To all ladies out there trying to have your miracle baby, pls dont give up!
Yes, there is Hope as long as we dont give up!
To make the sign on deal sweeter, Starhub offered 3 months FOC cable TV for our viewing.
Yesterday I watched a documentary - Big Cat Odyssey on National Geographic channel.
http://natgeotv.com/uk/big-cat-odyssey/about
This documentary is about award-winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert on their 30-year-long quest to document the behaviour of big cats in Botswana, this film brings together three decades worth of material, including extraordinary footage of hunting lions, scavenging hyenas and stealthy leopards.
I was touched by a night scene where an elephant was attacked by a group of 7 lionesses.
At one point, the elephant was almost giviing up and we thought it'd die under the ruthless attack of the lionessess.
Then miracle happened, the poor elephant forced itself up and run for its life.
I was so happy that this elephant managed to survive against all odds!
It has taught us a valuable lesson - Never Give Up as There is HOPE!
To all ladies out there trying to have your miracle baby, pls dont give up!
Yes, there is Hope as long as we dont give up!
Friday, January 7, 2011
New York Tour Research
I've been busy researching on a good & economical USA East Coast Tour and I'm really lucky to find this website call GotoBus.
This is the link to the US East Coast Tours that I'm eyeing .......
It's also interesting to note that this website also sell bus ticket and cover tours in majour USA cities, like Florida Tours , Boston Bus & Tours and Los Angeles Bus & Tours and popular sight seeing spots; like Niagara Falls Tours , Grand Canyon Tours , Yellowstone Tours etc
If I've known about this website earlier, I'd signed up with them for a US West Coast Tours during my last trip to San Franc last year since they also cover Yosemite Tours !
Next trip to USA, I'll deinitely sign up the Las Vegas Bus & Tours !
This is the link to the US East Coast Tours that I'm eyeing .......
It's also interesting to note that this website also sell bus ticket and cover tours in majour USA cities, like Florida Tours , Boston Bus & Tours and Los Angeles Bus & Tours and popular sight seeing spots; like Niagara Falls Tours , Grand Canyon Tours , Yellowstone Tours etc
If I've known about this website earlier, I'd signed up with them for a US West Coast Tours during my last trip to San Franc last year since they also cover Yosemite Tours !
Next trip to USA, I'll deinitely sign up the Las Vegas Bus & Tours !
Sunday, January 2, 2011
2010 Christmas Gifts from Office Colleagues
Every year I'd give something to my colleagues to show appreciation to them.
Previous year, 2009, I gave the ladies musical bear and "christmasy" candies for the men and last year, 2010, I gave everyone a glass coaster individually wrapped by myself.
I've started the sourcing and wrapping in Nov and it's no joke to wrap ~ 100 gifts ......... it took 3 Sundays to complete the wrapping.
This is a pic of what I've gotten from my colleagues for 2010 xmas - the pic is taken in my office.
Yep, this is my room and it is big enough to accomodate a discussion corner where I hold meetings/ discussion with my colleagues/ visitors.
So I layed all the presents on the coffee table for display.
Previous year, 2009, I gave the ladies musical bear and "christmasy" candies for the men and last year, 2010, I gave everyone a glass coaster individually wrapped by myself.
I've started the sourcing and wrapping in Nov and it's no joke to wrap ~ 100 gifts ......... it took 3 Sundays to complete the wrapping.
This is a pic of what I've gotten from my colleagues for 2010 xmas - the pic is taken in my office.
Yep, this is my room and it is big enough to accomodate a discussion corner where I hold meetings/ discussion with my colleagues/ visitors.
So I layed all the presents on the coffee table for display.
Count Down 2011!
It was my 1st live count down in SG's Marina watching fireworks!
I've done it in MY but not my home country.
RY suggested going down to Marina for the count down as he wished to do something different from the usual past few years, i.e. stay at home watch TV and sleep through the year ...........
I was not keen at all since I knew it'd be crowded and traffic would be caotic too!
As he was so keen in going, I've finally relented and we drove down to Marina at 10pm on 31 Dec.
We parked "Volvy" at Conrad Hotel and walked down towards Helix Bridge.
We were pretty disappointed that Helix Bridge was closed at about 11pm and we gotta hang around the pavement between the Helix Bridge and the road.
We just waited patiently and helped some tourists took pictures of themselves with MBS as the background.
When the clock was approaching 12 mid-night and at the last moment towards 12 am, everybody started counting down "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" and then viola - the sky start to light up with beautiful fireworks!
The fireworks lasted 8 mins and once the show was over, we quickly rush to towards Conrad Hotel for Volvy to head back home.
I went to bed at 2am and only wake up at 10am, so I miss receiving the 1st sunrise of the year!
It was a rainy day on 1st Jan 2011 and I didnt manage to do my usual exercise.
Basically, we spent the new year day lazing at home doing nothing and ta pau chicken rice for lunch.
Dinner was a quiet one at Casa Roma - our favourite Italian place along Bt Timah.
So how did you celebrate the New Year Day?
This is a pic taken from my mobile!
I've done it in MY but not my home country.
RY suggested going down to Marina for the count down as he wished to do something different from the usual past few years, i.e. stay at home watch TV and sleep through the year ...........
I was not keen at all since I knew it'd be crowded and traffic would be caotic too!
As he was so keen in going, I've finally relented and we drove down to Marina at 10pm on 31 Dec.
We parked "Volvy" at Conrad Hotel and walked down towards Helix Bridge.
We were pretty disappointed that Helix Bridge was closed at about 11pm and we gotta hang around the pavement between the Helix Bridge and the road.
We just waited patiently and helped some tourists took pictures of themselves with MBS as the background.
When the clock was approaching 12 mid-night and at the last moment towards 12 am, everybody started counting down "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1" and then viola - the sky start to light up with beautiful fireworks!
The fireworks lasted 8 mins and once the show was over, we quickly rush to towards Conrad Hotel for Volvy to head back home.
I went to bed at 2am and only wake up at 10am, so I miss receiving the 1st sunrise of the year!
It was a rainy day on 1st Jan 2011 and I didnt manage to do my usual exercise.
Basically, we spent the new year day lazing at home doing nothing and ta pau chicken rice for lunch.
Dinner was a quiet one at Casa Roma - our favourite Italian place along Bt Timah.
So how did you celebrate the New Year Day?
This is a pic taken from my mobile!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year 2011
Today is the last day of 2010 and I still not sure of what's my new year (2011) resolution ...........
What's yours?
One thing for sure I'd like to do in 2011 is to Reduce Stress espcially work related ones!
I shall not take my work too seriously.
So I may quit my job should I cant stand it anymore ..........
I think money is important but is not the most important, to me, health, family and happiness should be priority!
What's yours?
One thing for sure I'd like to do in 2011 is to Reduce Stress espcially work related ones!
I shall not take my work too seriously.
So I may quit my job should I cant stand it anymore ..........
I think money is important but is not the most important, to me, health, family and happiness should be priority!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Merry X'mas 2010!
Time files and it's Xmas again!
As usual, RY and myself will be heading to Ipoh for the festive holiday tomorrow afternoon.
We cant start the journey early as we still gotta work half day.
We didnt take leave since it's simply not make sense to utilise 1 day of annual leave as company is giving half day off.
You may wonder why we dont just apply half day of annual leave?
Well, the company policy state that if you didnt come to work on X'mas leave, it's assumed that you're taking 1 full day off and 1 day of annual leave will be deducted from your annual leave entitlement.
Do you find this a petty policy which doesnt make sense?
As usual, RY and myself will be heading to Ipoh for the festive holiday tomorrow afternoon.
We cant start the journey early as we still gotta work half day.
We didnt take leave since it's simply not make sense to utilise 1 day of annual leave as company is giving half day off.
You may wonder why we dont just apply half day of annual leave?
Well, the company policy state that if you didnt come to work on X'mas leave, it's assumed that you're taking 1 full day off and 1 day of annual leave will be deducted from your annual leave entitlement.
Do you find this a petty policy which doesnt make sense?
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My Love, Happy Birthday - 22 Dec 2010!
Tomorrow is RY's birthday and we've planned to go eat Tiong Bahru Bao and lunch he'll take me to Swensen for their 1-for-1 lunch deal which also comes with a free Firehouse ice-cream for the birthday boy.
I didnt buy him any gifts but I've told him what he'll get from me for his birthday.
Do you wanna make a guess?
Yep, I told him the land tour in NYC will be his belated birthday gift from me.
I'll research for good land tour and pay for both of us.
I think this is a practical gift to ensure no wastage due to buying unwanted and impractical things.
Dinner will be at my mum's place since it's Dong Zhi 冬至 Festival.
Yep, RY is a 冬至 baby.
Every year, mum will make dumpling for us.
Why dumpling during 冬至?
Here is the story of 冬至:
The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese as well as other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term. The traditional Chinese calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (節氣). Dōngzhì (pīnyīn) or Tōji (rōmaji) (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese: Đông chí; literally: "winter solstice") is the 22nd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 285°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around December 21 (December 22 East Asia time) and ends around January 5th.
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "returning"). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Cantonese; Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Every one in the family receives at least one large Tang Yuan and several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl.
In northern China, people typically eat dumplings on dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing of Han Dynasty. On one cold winter day, he saw the poor suffering from chilblains on their ears. Feeling sympathetic, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, distributed them among the poor to keep them warm. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named it "qǜ hán jiāo ěr tāng" or dumpling soup that expels the cold. From then on it became a tradition passed down to eat dumplings on the day of dongzhi to keep the ears from getting chilblains.
I didnt buy him any gifts but I've told him what he'll get from me for his birthday.
Do you wanna make a guess?
Yep, I told him the land tour in NYC will be his belated birthday gift from me.
I'll research for good land tour and pay for both of us.
I think this is a practical gift to ensure no wastage due to buying unwanted and impractical things.
Dinner will be at my mum's place since it's Dong Zhi 冬至 Festival.
Yep, RY is a 冬至 baby.
Every year, mum will make dumpling for us.
Why dumpling during 冬至?
Here is the story of 冬至:
The Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; Pinyin: dōng zhì; "The Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese as well as other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term. The traditional Chinese calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms (節氣). Dōngzhì (pīnyīn) or Tōji (rōmaji) (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese: Đông chí; literally: "winter solstice") is the 22nd solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 285°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 270°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around December 21 (December 22 East Asia time) and ends around January 5th.
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "returning"). Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Cantonese; Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Every one in the family receives at least one large Tang Yuan and several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl.
In northern China, people typically eat dumplings on dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing of Han Dynasty. On one cold winter day, he saw the poor suffering from chilblains on their ears. Feeling sympathetic, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, distributed them among the poor to keep them warm. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named it "qǜ hán jiāo ěr tāng" or dumpling soup that expels the cold. From then on it became a tradition passed down to eat dumplings on the day of dongzhi to keep the ears from getting chilblains.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
New York New York!
Yep, RY is going to New York on biz trip next Feb and he is bringing me along for holiday prior to his biz meeting commence.
I'm looking forward to this NY holiday.
The last San Franc trip has made me fall in love with USA!
Now I gotta start planning what to do in NY ......... weather should be cold then, ummn so gotta bring winter clothes ...........
I'm looking forward to this NY holiday.
The last San Franc trip has made me fall in love with USA!
Now I gotta start planning what to do in NY ......... weather should be cold then, ummn so gotta bring winter clothes ...........
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Meeting up my Old Friend!
Yesterday I didnt go to work as I was attending training in town.
My ex-secondary school classmate - MyL met me up for lunch as she was on leave.
I've known MyL since sec 1 and we still keep in touch every now and then but more recently as she's preparing her wedding in Feb'11. So I'd give her my opinion on her gown, hand bouquet, make-up artist, photography etc ..........
It was nice meeting up old friends and brought back fond memories of days of being young and wild ........
She was the friend who brought me to pub and disco when I was 18 ........ and I remembered going to her place almost every saturday to dress up for the party and spent the night at her place since she stayed in town. Oh I'd the permission from my parents to spend the night at her place as they knew her pretty well too!
MyL is a interior designer and studied in NAFA after GCE "O" Level while I chose the acadamic route to do JC then University.
She remembered my birthday and wanted to buy me dinner but I rejected and insisted paying as I know she had already spent a fortune in her wedding preparation.
I hope we can continue remain as friends till we grow old ............
My ex-secondary school classmate - MyL met me up for lunch as she was on leave.
I've known MyL since sec 1 and we still keep in touch every now and then but more recently as she's preparing her wedding in Feb'11. So I'd give her my opinion on her gown, hand bouquet, make-up artist, photography etc ..........
It was nice meeting up old friends and brought back fond memories of days of being young and wild ........
She was the friend who brought me to pub and disco when I was 18 ........ and I remembered going to her place almost every saturday to dress up for the party and spent the night at her place since she stayed in town. Oh I'd the permission from my parents to spend the night at her place as they knew her pretty well too!
MyL is a interior designer and studied in NAFA after GCE "O" Level while I chose the acadamic route to do JC then University.
She remembered my birthday and wanted to buy me dinner but I rejected and insisted paying as I know she had already spent a fortune in her wedding preparation.
I hope we can continue remain as friends till we grow old ............
Happy Birthday 11 Dec 2010
Today is my birthday ........
Last night we attended my company's function and arrived home at 11.59pm and RY sang me a Happy Birthday song when the clock ticked at 12 mid-night and also handed me a nicely wrapped gift.
Since last month, he had asked me what I want for my birthday and I told him that I want "nothing".
Do you wanna guess what he give me this year?
He wrapped the "item" in a flat box about the size of a A4 size paper and with a diameter of 1cm.
Initially I thought it was a ladies long wallet with key chain set or a jewellery set.
When I opened it up and was disappointed to see a note pad (a paper note book) but, wait ...... when I looked closer in between the pages, something shimmering & glittering fell off.
Yep, it was a Gold Bar!
RY told me that since he didnt know what to get for me, he decided to buy a piece of gold bar from the SG authorised Bank since it is also a form of investment.
This is indeed a very pratical gift which will appreciate in value!
I appreciate the thoughts and efforts he puts in.
He must've spent some time thinking of what to get and how to wrap this small piece of gold bar to surprise me!
This afternoon we'll go for a movie and then have a dinner in town.
Last night we attended my company's function and arrived home at 11.59pm and RY sang me a Happy Birthday song when the clock ticked at 12 mid-night and also handed me a nicely wrapped gift.
Since last month, he had asked me what I want for my birthday and I told him that I want "nothing".
Do you wanna guess what he give me this year?
He wrapped the "item" in a flat box about the size of a A4 size paper and with a diameter of 1cm.
Initially I thought it was a ladies long wallet with key chain set or a jewellery set.
When I opened it up and was disappointed to see a note pad (a paper note book) but, wait ...... when I looked closer in between the pages, something shimmering & glittering fell off.
Yep, it was a Gold Bar!
RY told me that since he didnt know what to get for me, he decided to buy a piece of gold bar from the SG authorised Bank since it is also a form of investment.
This is indeed a very pratical gift which will appreciate in value!
I appreciate the thoughts and efforts he puts in.
He must've spent some time thinking of what to get and how to wrap this small piece of gold bar to surprise me!
This afternoon we'll go for a movie and then have a dinner in town.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Alkaline foods for conception
I recently read about natural food therapy to improve fertility. In such therapy, women eats alkaline rather than acid foods.
In summary, the chemical processes during digestion have an ideal pH at which they are most efficient and the human body functions at a slightly alkaline pH between 7.0 and 8.0. The pH of blood is slightly alkaline and the body has many stores of alkalizing minerals to keep it that way.
Where do we get these minerals? Our food supplies our minerals (not including vitamin and mineral supplements). The total balance of minerals in a particular food is either acid or alkaline. A food is not classed as acid or alkaline by how it tastes. It has everything to do with the residue that remains once the food has been metabolized.
When food is metabolized to produce energy, a residue remains that is either acid, alkaline or neutral. It is important to note that although a food may taste acidic, it may leave an alkaline residue.
Alkaline-forming foods include vegetables, fruits, soybeans, almonds, most legumes, potatoes with skin, bananas, millet and buckwheat. Acid-forming foods include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, most grains and nuts, and peanuts. Neutral foods include fats and oils.
Many diseases and allergic reactions are associated with an over-acid condition of the body fluids. Symptoms such as pain and weakness may indicate that the alkaline reserves of the body are exhausted.
In addition, taking large amounts of Vitamin C especially as synthetic ascorbic acid increases the body’s acidity.
Attaining a healthy PH balance is essential for reproductive health. If cervical mucous becomes too acidic, it can become hostile to sperm and prevent implantation (sperm favor an alkaline existence). For an ideal PH balance, 70-80% of your diet should be from alkaline foods, while 20-30% can come from acidic foods. Saliva is alkaline, so remember to chew your foods well to create an internal environment conducive to fertility.
Highest Alkaline Forming Foods:
String beans, banana, dandelion greens, dates, figs, prunes, raisins and Swiss Chard.
High Alkaline Forming Foods:
Almonds, asparagus, avocado, fresh beans, beets, black-berries, carrot, cranberries, chives, endive, sour grapes, kale, dried peach, persimmon, plum, pomegranate, raspberries, rooibos tea and spinach.
Alkaline Forming Foods:
Agar, alfalfa, apple, fresh apricot, globe artichokes, bamboo shoots, snap beans, sprouted beans, most berries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, cherries, chestnuts, chicory, coconut milk, collards, corn (when fresh), cucumbers, daikon, eggplant, escarole, garlic, ginger root, gooseberry, grapefruit, guava, horseradish (fresh and raw), kelp, kohlrabi, leek, lemon, lettuce, line, loganberry, mango, melons, raw, milk, m millet, acidophilus yogurt and whey.
Neutral Oils:
Almond, avocado, coconut, cottonseed, linseed (flaxseed), olive, safflower, sesame, sunflower, and walnut.
Highest Acid Forming Foods:
Alcohol, artichoke root, barley, bread, buckwheat, caffeine, coffee, corn (when processed and not fresh), custards, drugs, most flours, ginger preserves, honey, lentils, pate, oatmeal, peanuts rice, rye grain, soy bred, soy noodles, sorghum, spaghetti, and other pastas, sugar cane, raw beets tobacco, walnut, wheat.
Acid Forming Foods:
Dried beans, cashews, coconut, cranberry juice and concentrate, egg yolk, filberts, fruit jellies, (canned jams, sulfured, sugared, dried), grapes, pasteurized milk products, dry peas, pecans, Damson plums, tofu, fries and water chestnuts.
Acid Forming Fats:
Butter, cream, margarine and lard.
In summary, the chemical processes during digestion have an ideal pH at which they are most efficient and the human body functions at a slightly alkaline pH between 7.0 and 8.0. The pH of blood is slightly alkaline and the body has many stores of alkalizing minerals to keep it that way.
Where do we get these minerals? Our food supplies our minerals (not including vitamin and mineral supplements). The total balance of minerals in a particular food is either acid or alkaline. A food is not classed as acid or alkaline by how it tastes. It has everything to do with the residue that remains once the food has been metabolized.
When food is metabolized to produce energy, a residue remains that is either acid, alkaline or neutral. It is important to note that although a food may taste acidic, it may leave an alkaline residue.
Alkaline-forming foods include vegetables, fruits, soybeans, almonds, most legumes, potatoes with skin, bananas, millet and buckwheat. Acid-forming foods include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, most grains and nuts, and peanuts. Neutral foods include fats and oils.
Many diseases and allergic reactions are associated with an over-acid condition of the body fluids. Symptoms such as pain and weakness may indicate that the alkaline reserves of the body are exhausted.
In addition, taking large amounts of Vitamin C especially as synthetic ascorbic acid increases the body’s acidity.
Attaining a healthy PH balance is essential for reproductive health. If cervical mucous becomes too acidic, it can become hostile to sperm and prevent implantation (sperm favor an alkaline existence). For an ideal PH balance, 70-80% of your diet should be from alkaline foods, while 20-30% can come from acidic foods. Saliva is alkaline, so remember to chew your foods well to create an internal environment conducive to fertility.
Highest Alkaline Forming Foods:
String beans, banana, dandelion greens, dates, figs, prunes, raisins and Swiss Chard.
High Alkaline Forming Foods:
Almonds, asparagus, avocado, fresh beans, beets, black-berries, carrot, cranberries, chives, endive, sour grapes, kale, dried peach, persimmon, plum, pomegranate, raspberries, rooibos tea and spinach.
Alkaline Forming Foods:
Agar, alfalfa, apple, fresh apricot, globe artichokes, bamboo shoots, snap beans, sprouted beans, most berries, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, celery, cherries, chestnuts, chicory, coconut milk, collards, corn (when fresh), cucumbers, daikon, eggplant, escarole, garlic, ginger root, gooseberry, grapefruit, guava, horseradish (fresh and raw), kelp, kohlrabi, leek, lemon, lettuce, line, loganberry, mango, melons, raw, milk, m millet, acidophilus yogurt and whey.
Neutral Oils:
Almond, avocado, coconut, cottonseed, linseed (flaxseed), olive, safflower, sesame, sunflower, and walnut.
Highest Acid Forming Foods:
Alcohol, artichoke root, barley, bread, buckwheat, caffeine, coffee, corn (when processed and not fresh), custards, drugs, most flours, ginger preserves, honey, lentils, pate, oatmeal, peanuts rice, rye grain, soy bred, soy noodles, sorghum, spaghetti, and other pastas, sugar cane, raw beets tobacco, walnut, wheat.
Acid Forming Foods:
Dried beans, cashews, coconut, cranberry juice and concentrate, egg yolk, filberts, fruit jellies, (canned jams, sulfured, sugared, dried), grapes, pasteurized milk products, dry peas, pecans, Damson plums, tofu, fries and water chestnuts.
Acid Forming Fats:
Butter, cream, margarine and lard.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Nature giving way to modernisation
I was doing my usual morning exercise passing by the small garden near my house this morning.
I was rather shocked to see trees being chopped down to make way for the new MRT downtown line .........
I was kinda sad and went to touch the lifeless tree bark and branches ..........
The trees used to provide shades during the hot sunny weather for people living near the vincinity when we exercise, play or walked the dogs there.
Now, they just lie on the ground "lifelessly" ........
I hope upon the completion of the MRT downtown line, the govenment can consider planting the trees back.
I was rather shocked to see trees being chopped down to make way for the new MRT downtown line .........
I was kinda sad and went to touch the lifeless tree bark and branches ..........
The trees used to provide shades during the hot sunny weather for people living near the vincinity when we exercise, play or walked the dogs there.
Now, they just lie on the ground "lifelessly" ........
I hope upon the completion of the MRT downtown line, the govenment can consider planting the trees back.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Earwax is a Pain!
I was "partially deaf" on left ear for the past 2 weeks due to big lumps of earwax build up that blocked the ear canal.
Being partially deaf was really frustrating since I was not able to hear properly to detect danger while I crossed the road; not able to hear properly during work or in restaurant when my queue nos was called; not able to communicate will with friends/ clleagues during lunch since I can only hear my chewing sound and hardly able to hear them talk when I was eating ............. etc
For the 1st 3 days when the earwax build up erupted, I patiently waited for it to come out by its own.
On the 4th day, I went to the pharmacy to get a off the shelve earwax drip - Tropex and drip the solution into my left ear for > 1 weeks.
I waited with 9 days for the earwax to get soften and was hopeful that it'd flow out of its own.
But it didnt happen.
Yesterday, I finally gave up and went to a GP to get it fix!
The doc extracted a big lump from the outer ear and then flush out the balance lumps.Syringing method.
He made me lie on the bed, pulled the external ear up and back, and aiming the nozzle of the syringe slightly upwards and backwards so that the water flows as a cascade along the roof of the canal. The irrigation solution flows out of the canal along its floor, taking wax and debris with it. The solution used to irrigate the ear canal is usually warm water, normal saline,sodium bicarbonate solution, or a solution of water and vinegar to help prevent secondary infection.
He also checked my right ear and managed to extract a dried huge lump of earwax!
Both my ears are really clean now and I definitly can ear very clearly!
Dont under estimate how the earwax can wreck havock to your daily lives.
Care for your ear and remember to seek professional help if it blocks your ear canal and affect your hearing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwax
Explanation on Earwax from Wikipedia:
Earwax, also known by the medical term cerumen, is a yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and many other mammals. It protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water.[1] Excess or impacted cerumen can press against the eardrum and/or occlude the external auditory canal and impair hearing
Cerumen is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion of the human ear canal. It is a mixture of viscous secretions from sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat glands.[2] The primary components of earwax are shed layers of skin, with 60% of the earwax consisting of keratin, 12–20% saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, squalene and 6–9% cholesterol.[3]
Fear, stress and anxiety result in increased production of earwax from the ceruminous glands
Being partially deaf was really frustrating since I was not able to hear properly to detect danger while I crossed the road; not able to hear properly during work or in restaurant when my queue nos was called; not able to communicate will with friends/ clleagues during lunch since I can only hear my chewing sound and hardly able to hear them talk when I was eating ............. etc
For the 1st 3 days when the earwax build up erupted, I patiently waited for it to come out by its own.
On the 4th day, I went to the pharmacy to get a off the shelve earwax drip - Tropex and drip the solution into my left ear for > 1 weeks.
I waited with 9 days for the earwax to get soften and was hopeful that it'd flow out of its own.
But it didnt happen.
Yesterday, I finally gave up and went to a GP to get it fix!
The doc extracted a big lump from the outer ear and then flush out the balance lumps.Syringing method.
He made me lie on the bed, pulled the external ear up and back, and aiming the nozzle of the syringe slightly upwards and backwards so that the water flows as a cascade along the roof of the canal. The irrigation solution flows out of the canal along its floor, taking wax and debris with it. The solution used to irrigate the ear canal is usually warm water, normal saline,sodium bicarbonate solution, or a solution of water and vinegar to help prevent secondary infection.
He also checked my right ear and managed to extract a dried huge lump of earwax!
Both my ears are really clean now and I definitly can ear very clearly!
Dont under estimate how the earwax can wreck havock to your daily lives.
Care for your ear and remember to seek professional help if it blocks your ear canal and affect your hearing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwax
Explanation on Earwax from Wikipedia:
Earwax, also known by the medical term cerumen, is a yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and many other mammals. It protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water.[1] Excess or impacted cerumen can press against the eardrum and/or occlude the external auditory canal and impair hearing
Cerumen is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion of the human ear canal. It is a mixture of viscous secretions from sebaceous glands and less-viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat glands.[2] The primary components of earwax are shed layers of skin, with 60% of the earwax consisting of keratin, 12–20% saturated and unsaturated long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, squalene and 6–9% cholesterol.[3]
Fear, stress and anxiety result in increased production of earwax from the ceruminous glands
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
What are you doing this X'mas?
Yesterday RY told me he doesnt wanna repeat the same thing again this year, i.e. going back to Ipoh/ KL for the festive celebration.
So today he spent almost the whole day looking for tour which will depart during x'mas period.
Unfortunately, all tours departing during the said period were sold out!
Looks that we'll stay in SG for X'mas and New Year!
But I've a feeling that he may still go back Malaysia to spend X'mas which his parents.........
I shall update nearer to the date.........
So today he spent almost the whole day looking for tour which will depart during x'mas period.
Unfortunately, all tours departing during the said period were sold out!
Looks that we'll stay in SG for X'mas and New Year!
But I've a feeling that he may still go back Malaysia to spend X'mas which his parents.........
I shall update nearer to the date.........
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