25 weird animals

Sun Bear


Komondor Dog

Angora Rabbit

Red Panda

Sloth

Emperor Tamarin

White-faced Saki Monkey

Tapir

Hagfish

Star-nosed Mole

Proboscis Monkey

Pink Fairy Armadillo

Axolotl

Aye-aye

Alpaca

Tarsier

Dumbo Octopus

Frill-necked Lizard

Narwhal

Sucker-footed Bat

Pygmy Marmoset

Blobfish

Platypus

Shoebill

Yeti Crab

The midnight intruder

0032 hrs.

It came unannounced, a blurred mass of brown flying in at top speed from the window.

The broom was the first to be used in an attempt to eliminate it. But it was a failure.

Intruder took to the air and went into hiding in the storage room.

Things were moved out of the storage room in order to find its temporary hiding place.

Intruder finally appeared, making a quick landing on the light switch.

A second failed assassination with the newspapers allowed the intruder to make its way to the living room.

A few minutes were spent trying to find its new hiding spot.

Finally, it was found to be squeezed in a gap between the TV set and the TV console.

A third failed execution caused the intruder to make a crash landing in empty slot between the garbage bag and the dustbin.

The stack of newspapers was used to smack desperately at the garbage bag, hoping to kill the intruder this time.

But the intruder managed to escape death for the fourth time, and landed on the ground near the dustbin.

Without wasting any time, the stack of newspapers landed hard on the intruder. Repeatedly.

One! Two! Three!

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The intruder’s back leg gave a little twitch, and it tried to flip itself back on its tiny brown legs.

SMMMMACK!

The lifeless body was removed and disposed into the dead of the night.

0119 hrs.

Quietness and peace finally returned.

Bed time.

Auntie tips (3)

Tip 1:
Stuff grocery bags into those expensive boots and handbags to help them retain their shape while in storage.

Tip 2:
To undo a stubborn knot in your chain necklace : put the necklace on a plate and sprinkle some baby powder over. Then use two needles to work the knot apart. The powder works safely without ruining your jewellery.

Tip 3:
To get rid of small dents and pits in wood furniture, pour some olive oil onto a soft cloth and gently rub the wood surface. The pits will literally disappear. Then just polish the entire piece of furniture with a soft, clean cloth.

Tip 4:
Before you send out letters, create an extra layer of protection over the sender's and receiver's addresses on the envelope by rubbing candle wax over the area. This will prevent the information from smudging in case of rain or accidental spills.

Tip 5:
Remove rust stains on bathroom tiles caused by metal-framed mirrors or shaving cream cans by simply scrubbing the area with a scouring pad. Dry the mirror and shaving cream can, and paint the bottom with clear nail polish to "seal it" and prevent rust from returning.

Tip 6:
Before you send out letters, create an extra layer of protection over the sender's and receiver's addresses on the envelope by rubbing candle wax over the area. This will prevent the information from smudging in case of rain or accidental spills.

Tip 7:
Remove rust stains on bathroom tiles caused by metal-framed mirrors or shaving cream cans by simply scrubbing the area with a scouring pad. Dry the mirror and shaving cream can, and paint the bottom with clear nail polish to "seal it" and prevent rust from returning.

From : The Singapore Women's Weekly - June 2006

12 foods you should eat everyday

1. Yoghurt is our number one food of the year, purely because it's easy to fit into your diet and is packed with so much goodness. The probiotic organisms in the right kind of yoghurt (make sure the packaging says 'live and active cultures') boost the levels of good bacteria in your gut and protect the body against infections and even cancer. Yoghurt is also a great substitute for dairy, and if you think you're consuming too much of the latter then try adding some yoghurt to your breakfast cereal in the morning - we promise you won't regret it.

2. What can we say about tomatoes, except - is there anything they can't do? Preventing cancer, keeping your heart healthy and boosting immunity, this really is one food deserving of the title 'super.' And remember, the redder the better, as this means they contain more lycopene, which is known to fight cancer.

3. Carotenoids - the compound which gives red, yellow and orange fruit and vegetables their rich colour - are the key to the mighty power of carrots. These help them to fight cancer and reduce the risk of conditions such as asthma and athritis and, yes, protect your eyesight.

4. It doesn't matter what kind, berries are just so jam-packed with good things that you'd be a fool to miss out on! Rich in fibre and vitamins, berries such as blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are known to boost brain-power, fight cancer, improve your immune system and the health of your heart.

5. Beans are, among other things, great for your heart. The other piece of good news is that there are many varieties to choose from, including black beans (which are thought to also improve your brain), lentils, kidney, fava, lima and peas. So get stuck in.

6. Oats, in the form of porridge, granola or muesli, is known to protect the heart, increase fiber intake and help muscles to grow. Oats are also a fab source of slow-release carbs, meaning you'll stay full for longer and feel full of energy.

7. Everyone knows that oranges, or orange juice, are a great source of vitamin C, something which the human body can't produce on its own. But oranges are also believed to contain phytonutrients and other antioxidants which lower blood pressure and keep the heart healthy.

8. Bran, used to enrich breads and cereals, is an excellent source of dietary fibre, which is known to promote good colorectal health and has also been linked with heart health.

9. Popeye wasn't lying - spinach really is good for your muscles. Full of omega-3s and folate, spinach also prevents against heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Spinach also contains lutein, which is known to fight the ageing process.

10. Walnuts are packed with omega-3, polyphenols and protien, making them healthier than any of the other nuts out there. They help muscles grow, stimulate the brain, fight cancer and keep the heart and immune system healthy.

11. Ever wondered why you always see top athletes, such as tennis players at Wimbledon, wolfing down bananas whenever they get a chance? That's because bananas are full of B vitamins, which give us energy, and potassium, which protects the heart. One banana a day is thought to seriously reduce blood pressure and protect the body against atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty acids in the arteries.

12. Most of us cook with it now anyway, but if you don't, then you should be aware that olive oil is one of the best sources of monounsaturated fatty acids and can protect us from heart disease by controlling levels of 'bad' cholesterol in the body while boosting 'good' cholesterol levels. Olive oil is also known to contain antioxidants.

(Source)
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I know not all of us believe in how the kind of food we eat will affect our health, especially in Singapore, where almost all the good and delicious food are not very healthy. Char kway teow, hokkien mee, roti prata, satay, chilli crabs, murtabak, fried carrot cake, durians, mee goreng, ice kachang, nasi lemak, etc. Hmmm... just writing about them is making my mouth water. And seems like a long time since I had a good plate of char kway teow... yum!

Anyway, saw the above article on the web and decided to share. Not that I'm really that health-conscious, but I've been noticing the extra flab around my waist, some difficulty in getting into my old jeans, comments from relatives and the husband... aaarrrgghhhhhhh!!!! Why can't the bloody extra fats settle a bit further up instead of around the middle? Damn!

The Grillmaster's "Death Row Potatoes"

Yes, the name of the dish sounds a bit strange, and the overall look isn't that appetising. But it tasted good! For those who loves potatoes and cheese... this is a great and simple dish to do. It's done within 45 minutes. You can have it for any meal of the day.

However, I did make a teeny weeny bit of change to the original recipe. I used a mixture of Parmesean and Cheddar cheese to top the potatoes, instead of only the former as stated in the recipe. The Parmesean will only turn brown and melt on wherever you had sprinkled it on. But with the Cheddar, it will melt over to the other potato slices as it baked.

Also, please place a piece of aluminium foil on the baking tray for the potatoes if you do not want to spend half the time scrubbing away the stuck bits at the bottom of the tray. I'm using an oven-toaster so that was what I did. But I'm not sure if the aluminium foil is needed if you are using an actual oven.

The Grillmaster's "Death Row Potatoes" (from : Nigella)

Ingredients:
- 4 spuds (potatoes) peeled and sliced 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick
- 1 cup parmesean cheese
- 5 to 10 cloves garlic minced, depending on desired garlickiness
- 3/4 stick of butter
- salt/pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400.

2. In a small pan, melt the butter with medium high heat. When it gets hot and slightly bubbly add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, and 1 minute only.

3. Dump the garlic/butter over the spuds and toss. Add 3/4 cup parmesean with salt and pepper and toss with wild abandon.

4. Layer the spuds in a buttered baking dish. Top with the remaining parmesan cheese.

5. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown on top.

Potato salad

Managed to "catch" this very simple potato salad recipe from Jamie Oliver's show. So, I decided to try it out and brought it for the "guinea pigs" since we are going to the boss's place for Hari Raya gathering later. Heh.

It's actually quite easy to make:
Just some bite-sized potatoes, cooked them for about 10 minutes, drained, then toss with fresh dill, olive oil, a few drops of lemon juice, salt, pepper and a handful of capers.

The time-consuming part is to peel the potatoes. Because I bought them in bite-sized, so it's not easy to use the peeler. Instead, I boiled them with their skins on, then transferred them immediately to a pot of cold water. The skin comes off easier this way.

However, I think I bought the wrong type of potato. The ones I bought seem more suitable for mashing. But the end product is still edible... at least the guys have to pretend to enjoy it. Haha.

Oh, by the way, this potato salad is meant to be served hot/warm, not cold.


For those of you who are not sure what are capers (like me when I first heard it), below is the picture. I think it is mostly sold preserved in a bottle. I bought mine from Carrefour.

Irritating factor

1. You thought you can catch some sleep on the bus trip when an ah beng boards the bus with his handphone playing some techno music loud loud. Then he always have to go and sit right at the back... and he will never ever be the one to alight anywhere before you.

2. You try to get on the crowded bus and wants to be considerate to move to the back but this love-sick idiot is standing beside his girlfriend (who is sitting down), refusing to move his bloody ass, without even bothering to look up... like there are only the two of them on the bus.

3. When it is 11p.m. and you are trying to sleep because you got to work the next day, some idiotic youngsters start to loiter around the playground below your flat, and playing music from their handphones. Best part is, it's not only music, the youngsters also talk loud loud like nobody's business.

4. When it is 8 a.m. and you are trying to sleep in because it's the weekend, or because you slept late the night before, some idiot have to start bouncing a basketball at the enclosed area below your flat, with the damn "boong boong boong" echoing so loudly like the stupid ball is just bouncing right in the next room.

5. You try to be friendly by holding onto the lift button for the neighbour, but he/she gets in and out of the lift without sparing you a glance, not to even mention a word of thanks. Hello, I'm invisible?

6. At the supermarket, an auntie holding a basket bangs into your shin. You look up, expecting some kind of apology, but the auntie just "tsk" at you, gives you an irritated glare and walks away. Eh, my fault?

7. When you are hurrying down on the right side of the escalator, but have to stop halfway because this person in front of you (on the right side), is standing there, oblivious to the human queue behind him/her, and is happily chatting with the friend.

8. You want to hold onto the handrail on the train but some idiot is leaning his/her whole body against it.

9. A whole group of people rush past you to be the first to board the LRT, leaving you having to stand so near the door that you are nearly kissing it. Then immediately at the next stop, this same whole group of people are pushing past you trying to alight.

10. Kids running around screaming and shouting like monkeys in the bookshop, restaurant, supermarket, MRT, etc., with the parents looking on without doing anything, even when people all around are giving them dirty looks.

11. The guy/girl behind you in the cinema talking and explaining about the show to his/her companion as the movie goes along. And you can hear every single bloody word clearly.

12. You suddenly hear a high-pitched scream out of nowhere, that will most probably trigger a heart attack if your heart is weak. When you find the source of the scream, it's almost always just a group of highly excited young girls chattering incoherently, holding one another's hands, most probably also bouncing on the spot, and giggling loudly at something their friend has just shown or told them.

Friday laughs

Part 1

Part 2

Those were the days, my friend...

Had a sort of 'flash-back' dream last night. It was back to the days when auntie Koh and I used to take the bus to and from school together. It was a short dream... just the two of us getting onto the bus with the morning crowd and trying to look for seats. Then the dream just ended. But it brought back a feeling of nostalgia. Sigh. Those were the days...

Wonder if I could still fit into my uniform...

Auntie Tips (2)

Tip 1:
To clean, polish and remove stickiness on the ivory keys of keyboard instruments, use an old cotton cloth and some toothpaste.

Tip 2:
Place small pieces of bright-coloured fruits, such as raspberries, strawberries, grapes or lemon, into your ice cube tray. Fill the tray with water as usual and freeze. Serve these fruity ice cubes with plain water or any drink of your choice. Brilliant if you are planning a party or having guests over.

Tip 3:
To make bathroom sinks look polished and white, place a layer of paper towels around the sink and saturate with bleach. Leave for 30 minutes then remove with gloves and rinse the sink well.

Tip 4:
Cut a lemon in half then using whole cloves, cover both lemon halves. Lay on a place and place in a room. It will keep mosquitoes away and make the room smell fresh. The lemon will work for up to one month.

Tip 5:
Wear an old sock on each hand like a glove, slightly damp the socks, then go at dusty surfaces with both hands at once.

From : The Singapore Women's Weekly - April 2006

Relax lah!

Kids nowadays seemed none too nervous about upcoming exams. My tuition kids are all taking it easy while the parents and me are the ones who are worried. Maybe their parents nagged at them too much so whatever I said, or however I threatened, the kids will give me a look, like "I've heard that before" or "You're repeating yourself" or "I'm just pretending to listen to you."

I have two tuition kids. One is taking her PSLE next week, and the other, a boy, is in primary four, with exams just 3 weeks away.

Compared to other tuition kids I had before, this 12-year-old girl is considered one of the better ones. She does all the work I gave her and is not shy to ask questions. However, when it comes to exams, I'm not sure if she's feeling the stress or what, she seems to have some kind of mental block. She will forget the answers to some of the most basic questions. It seems to get worse as the exam date gets closer.

She asked me during last evening's lesson, one week before her Science PSLE... "The Sun rises from the West, right?"

I didn't know if she was trying my patience or genuinely trying to give me a heart attack. The look I gave her must be of complete disbelief and utter horror, that she quickly tried to reassure me,"Ok, ok. Erm... I think not hor? The Sun doesn't rise from the West... er.... right?" But she still didn't sound very confident.

The 10-year-old chubby boy is the classic kind. He's the kid that best represents most of us when we were young... thinks the whole world is evil by forcing him to study and do homework all the time, while all he wants is to play Maple Story and his Pokemon cards, and watch TV.

He strongly feels that students should have the rights to choose when to study, when to have exams, what subjects to study, and also which questions to do in the test papers. He thinks that students should sleep as much, and as late as they want to before they get up and go to school. He also feels that students should not be given so much homework that they do not have time to play computer games and watch TV after they get home.

I arrived one afternoon for his lesson when he had just woke up from a nap. I gave him some time to wash up and then followed by some Math questions. He stared at the questions for a while, then looked at me.

"Can don't do Math? My brain very fizzy... cannot think properly."

Did you ever remember telling your tuition teacher that you didn't feel like doing anything he/she gave you?

He cannot remember which Science chapter his teacher stops at, what is the formula for volume... but he can recite to me the whole conversation between Fann Wong and the clerk (where Fann wants to borrow a fan) from the local movie, Just Follow Law (his favourite show), word for word...

爱情 - 郭富城

Weekend cooking

Can you believe that I actually cooked dinner for two consecutive Sundays? Hmmm... I didn't even think I would that hardworking. But we were at the supermart, and the husband mentioned he wanted to eat xiao bai cai. So we ended up planning for dinner for 3, including BT, who is always the unwilling guinea pig for my cooking. Haha.

Menu for the day :

- stir-fried xiao bai cai (veg)
- eggs with chye poh
- potatoes + carrots + luncheon meat cubes (a favourite dish of ours which grandma used to cook every other day when we were little)
- yellow cucumber (老黄瓜) soup (not in pic... and not so successful, but still drinkable)