Years May Come, Years May Go: August 2006

After Box Hill

After getting the fresh Chicken and some groceries from the Chinese shops, it is time to head for home. Along the way home and if Maureen's brother fancies some spicy food, he will drop into the shop that selling Malay foods.

This shop, Selera Singapura, is ran by a Malay lady from Singapore. Her food is good but I find it is not spicy enough. After this it will straight for home.
However in the last few weeks, Maureen's brother discovered a farm about 10 minutes from our place.

It is operated by a Vietnamese migrant. He is a funny character and many people finds him unfriendly. But still people go to him because his vegetables and flowers are very cheap.

An example is Kai Lan going for a dollar a bunch while the same bunch in the Chinese Grocery shops goes for $1.80 to $2. Flowers are half the price from any flower shops. This man, however is very friendly with Maureen's brother. Don't ask me why. So every week that will be the last stop before home.

PS:
To my Malaysian readers "Happy Merdeka Day".

Favourite Fresh Chicken Stall

In the last blog, I wrote about shopping in Victoria Market. Well, the shopping does not stop there. After Victoria Market, Maureen And her brother will drive to Box Hill Shopping Centre on the way back. They must visit their favourite Chicken stall.
Way back in '87 when we first came, we lived in Mont Albert, a stone throw away from Box Hill. We used to shop regularly at Box Hill and got to know the owner of this stall selling fresh chickens. Even when we have moved to Glen Waverley, Maureen and her brother still continues to patronise this stall. The owner will give them free bags of chicken carcasses which we used for our soup or stock. In the last few years, the chinese traders have moved in and began charging for the chicken carcass but this owner continues to give free chicken carcasses to them. The chinese traders charges for thing that used to be free eg. chicken feet. Pork trotter use to be free or 50 cents a kilo but now they are expensive.
3 to 4 years ago the owner decided to sell up and retire. He sold his business to one of his Chinese hired hand. Because this Chinese fellow has been serving Maureen and her brother over the years, know them as close and good customers. He continues the tradition of giving free chicken carcasses to them. I guess it is the loyalty that continue to bring both of them back to this Chicken Stall.
What else do they do after that? That will be another post. Hehehehhee.

Victoria Market

Yes, I did manage to wake up early on Saturday and went to Victoria market with Maureen and her brother. Every Saturday morning, Maureen and her brother will go to Vic Market without fail whether rain or sunshine. They will leave at 7.30am and back by 10.30am. Vic Market is the place for fresh vegetable, fishes, sea foods, meats and diary products. It is a very happy place to be. It lifts your spirit to see so much plentiful and varieties of food. I would say, yes, Australia is a very lucky country.

Vic market was officially opened on 20^th March 1878 and located on NW of the CBD.

The market is a historic landmark, a tourist’s attraction, a shopping Mecca and an institution for Melbournians. It attracts more than 200,000 shoppers a week. It sells everything from exotic Australian fruits and vegetables, local and imported hardware to gourmet foods, clothing and souvenirs. There are almost 1,000 traders selling their goods in the vast open sided sheds and lofty roofed halls.

The market is divided into 2 – upper and lower. The lower housed the meat hall, selling fish, meat and poultry. The diary hall has delicatessens, poultry shops, bakeries, patisseries and confectioneries. It has also many stall selling ready to eat or go food ranging from sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, pizzas, Indian and Chinese food.

The upper housed fruits and vegetables and general wares. Shopper can buy clothing, leather goods, Manchester, fabrics, fresh flowers, indoor plants, fashion, jewellery, compact disc, handicraft and Australian souvenirs.

While you are shopping there are street buskers to entertain you with a variety of music and songs. If you like their music you can purchase CD collection of their music and bring it home with you.

The lady above hails from Johor. She thinks I am a tourist because I was armed with a camera and was trying hard to sell me chocolate, sweets and Abalone flavoured nuts. Boy! Was she persistence.

For more pictures go here and here

Hay Fever and POETS Day

Friday morning I woke up early and was happy. While making my breakfast I was humming away. Yes, it is POETS day. What? What is POETS Day, you asked? Oh I am sorry; it is “Piss Off Early Tomorrow is Saturday” day.

As I was driving to work, the weatherman came on the radio announcing today and the weekend will be fine. Everything I see looks so bright and beautiful. I was not my usual self. I was extremely happy.

I reached office, put my bag down in my room and went for a cup of tea. As I was walking to my room, wham, suddenly my nose itched and I was sneezing away. My eyes turned watery and itchy. I went what?????? After a while my eyes were red and puffy.

I was suffering from Hay Fever and was miserable the whole day. My nose was block and throbbing. It gives me a headache and makes me sleepy. To keep me awake I was drinking thick Nescafe every hour.

My colleague told me the reason I am having a bad hay fever is because the neighbour office had their lawn mowed early this morning. Arrgh, I was annoyed. I am allergied to Grass pollens.

I left office as soon it was 4.30pm and got home at 5.05. I took my guests to a newly opened Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant for an early dinner outside my place. My wife had Ngou Lam Mein (Beef and Brisket Noodle), BIL had Broken Rice (Broken Rice with Pork Chop, Sunny egg and Steam Egg) and I had Up Thoi Mein (Duck Thigh Noodle). The Duck Thigh Noodle is not the same as Bidor, Perak type. The Bidor, Perak one is much, much nicer. We also had Deep Fried Prawn Spring Rolls.

By 7pm, I was off to bed. My wife asked me as I walked to the bedroom whether I still wanted to follow her to Victoria Market. Earlier in the week I told her I will follow her to Victoria market because I wanted to take some pictures and blog about it.

Did I get to Victoria Market? Come back tomorrow and find out.

Friday's Humour

Knock Out

I had a busy day yesterday and I was completely exhausted. So busy and so tired, I don't feel like posting anything yesterday. It is one of those days.
Came home, had dinner and tried to relax a bit by watching television but the poor eyes refused to keep open. Just dozed off in front of the television.
Though I had an early night, I am still feeling tired today. Feeling sluggish and the weather is not helping either. The last few days were beautiful sunny day but today it is raining and downcast. Kind of make me depress. It seems the weather is tired too.

This morning my cousin sister forwarded me an email. Seems she could read my mind. I am tired but not this tired.

Curry Chicken for Dinner or Headaches?

This morning as I was about to leave the house, my wife told me she will be bringing out the chicken from the freezer to be defrosted.

While driving to work, I was wondering how I should cook the chicken. Roast, stew, stirred fried or chicken curry?

In the end, I decided I will cook Curry Chicken tonight.

Curry is always my favourite dish and I can eat it everyday. Some of my friends who cannot eat spicy food tell me hot spicy food is no good for you. They believe spicy food causes gastric, ulcer, constipation or indigestion. But I hate to disagree.

Whenever I have sore throat, I eat more spicy food and it helps to clear my throat and my cough.

Now, do you know spicy foods also help you to lose weights? It stimulates and increases the body metabolism.

“Spices – especially the ones used in the Indian cuisine – stimulate the body's metabolism and accelerate the process called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis process takes places when the fat from the body is naturally used to produce body heat. The same happens when we go to the gym or other forms of exercising.”

Source

“Perspiring while eating a spicy dinner in front of the TV can also help you shed those calories. The essential ingredients of spicy food actually burn calories. Red chilli pepper, for example, contains capsaicin which gives the pepper its spicy taste and boosts our body’s temperature, therefore burning more energy. Ginger has the same effect, while black pepper and mixed spice boost metabolism. Chillies themselves contain a healthy mix of vitamins B and C and are high in potassium, magnesium and iron.

Source

Now, wait there is more. This was in this morning news.

“EATING curry may be a better cure for headaches than aspirin tablets.

A study funded by Scottish authorities found salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, occurred naturally in Indian food, and that curry could help treat migraines and prevent colon cancers.

Spices such as cumin, turmeric and paprika, all of which are used in curries, were particularly rich sources of salicylic acid, the study showed.”

Source

Recently, one blogger celebrated her birthday and the curry chicken picture she posted look so yummy. I almost licked my LCD screen. If she is reading this, can I have the Chicken Curry recipe, please?

A New Printer

I got a new printer this morning. Big deal, you might say! Yes, it is because I am the only one in the office having a new colour HP laser printer. It is mine, yes, mine alone. No need to share with anyone.

This come about because of some workshop staffs either cannot read or they do not bother to carefully read the specification sheet at all. Therefore they keep missing out items for the jobs. These mistakes are usually picked up by the Quality department or by customers.
The specifications sheet is a standard job sheet and the required items for the job are shown by a tick against the item. Any variations or any important details are emphasised by italics lettering or marked in bold. Yet they continued making mistakes after mistakes.

Frustrated, the boss bought this new printer, so that the ticks, the special requirements are marked and printed in red. This he hopes will solve the problems.

Now all we have to do is to wait and see if this will solve the problems. If not, I guess we need to engage a tutor to teach these people how to read.

Friday's Humour

The Book Man

Well, I do not know what to call him except “The Book Man”. He come to the office every 2 weeks or so and placed some books, CD and toys for sales out in the foyer. Anyone wanting to purchase any of the displayed items would just place his or her name against the item in the form provided. In the next trip back, he checks the form and sells you what you want. It is straight out of his stock in his van.

First I know it is a franchised business. On top of his royalty to the company, his transport expenses, his loan etc. I often wonder how much money he makes. The past 3 years I have been in this company I hardly seen anything been sold. If anything is sold it is never more than $30. I supposed it you have 100 – 200 company to service and each week you sell 100 – 200 items you might make some money.

Most books are cooking books, art and craft, travel novels and children books. Now and then there are some children toys. Sometimes you can get good books and CD’s at a bargain price. I have bought a few cookbooks and CDs in the past few years.

In my last work place, books, toys or CDs went missing from the foyer. It is a public place with customers and staffs moving in and out. If it is missing, it always ended up with the receptionist paying for the lost items. Frustrated having to bear the loss, she would put away the displayed goods into the cupboard. Now if every receptionist does the same thing, I wonder how on earth will there be any sales.

Honestly, if there is money to be made I think this will be a good job. No stress and no worries. But then again, we always think the neighbour grass is greener.

Playing the Piano

I love music and I alway wanted to play the piano but never had a chance to do it. It was partly trying to make a living and money constrainst. But since being in Down Under I get to go home on time and have some free time in the evening. So I decide to try taking up playing the piano. So I got myself a piano, a 2nd hand real McCoy. I was tossing between a digital piano and a standard but wife prefer a standard piano. She like the sound of standard piano over the digital piano.

Well, I began getting lessons to make sure I am doing it right. My piano teacher was a young man recommended by my SIL. Her son had been to him for lessons. After a few lessons with him, I find he is moody and impatient. I think basically brilliant and highly motivated people are moody and impatient. The 2nd lesson he expected me to be able to place my fingers in position and read notes and playing the piano without peeping at the keys. Whoa, he think I am "San Sin". If I peep at the keys, I kena scolding or he will show his displeasure. Pay him monies for lessons lagi kena scolding. I think I sometime a bit "seow". After the first term, I beh tahan, I quit. So I decided to teach myself. They say, you yourself is the best teacher.
But teaching yourself needs great discipline and off course, when a good show come on the telly, piano practice is all forgotten. Morever, I have this problem of putting the hands together... not praying, lah, what I mean is playing with boths hand.
You know the right hand play well alone and as soon the left come in, the right hand go crazy or the left hand just freeze. The poor brain is all so confused and I am trying to train my brain to tell the 2 hands to co-operate. Talking to a friend in KL, she said " there are some people who cannot co-ordinate the 2 hands." But since I play the guitar, I should be able to get the 2 hands to co-ordinate. "Practice, practice, practice lah", she said.
Ok, so to improve, I itchy hand went to the internet and bought myself a piano lesson course. It was on special offer with discounted price, free Gospel Keys 101 and free postage thrown in from USA for US$49.95 The course came yesterday with 300 pages workbook and 2 CDs'. I have read briefly the 1st 60 pages and was impressed with its simple explanation on sight reading, rythmn and major scales. This knowledge can be also used in my guitar playing.

I have not started on the piano because a guest is temporary living in that room where the piano is. I hope to be able to advance and play well. It is time for some disciplines and no distractions. Guess, I have to cut down watching television. Cut down blogging? No, not yet as I am still having fun.
Ok, time to get back to the books. Cheerio and wish me luck!

Dinner for Two

Yesterday my guests went down to the city and won't be back for dinner. So it was dinner for two i.e. me and my wife. Well, I cooked 2 dishes - Stir fried Zucchini with Prawns and Pan Fried Fish with lemon and soya sauce.

It is not hard to cook the dishes but it was messy trying to grab pictures while preparing and cooking.

Stir Fried Zucchini with Prawns

Pan Fried Fish with Lemon and Soya Sauce

Dell's Laptop - Update

Following my earlier post on Dell's Laptop, Dell has now recall batteries in the Laptop.

Dell recalls 4 million batteries

PC maker Dell overnight issued a recall of 4.1 million notebook computer batteries made by Sony in response to concerns about overheating and fire risk.

"Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could cause a risk of fire," Dell said today in a statement.

In recent weeks there have been a number of reports of Dell notebooks catching fire, the most well-known case happening in Osaka, Japan two months ago when a laptop computer was photographed as it burst into flames.

The latest recall affects batteries in certain Inspiron, Latitude, Precision and XPS models and were sold either with the units, or as a service replacement, between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006.
Dell said the identification number for each battery appeared on a white sticker, and Australian customers could contact it on 1300 734 947 to check if their battery was part of the recall. Alternatively, details of the recall have been posted on its site at http://www.dellbatteryprogram.com

Recalled batteries were sold with the following units:

Dell Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810

Inspiron: 6000, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 500m, 510m, 600m, 6400, E1505, 700m, 710m, 9400, E1705

Dell Precision: M20, M60, M70 and M90 mobile workstations

XPS: XPS Gen2, XPS M170 and XPS M1710.

On the Street where I live

Last Saturday, I lost 4 hour sleep. I got up at 5am to get to to the airport to pick up my BIL and his friend's son, KC. KC had just quit his job in Singapore and was migrating to Down Under. Not knowing anyone here and KC's Dad knew my BIL had relatives here, he asked BIL to accompany him here. BIL and KC is staying at our place until he finds a place to move in.
That same afternoon after lunch, I took both of them for an orientation trip around our place and to the shops. At the same time I thought I will bring my camera and shoot some pictures.