FEELINGS心情日记: 疑问

大概1年前，我从母亲口中听见一个令我觉得不可思议的事情-一个十四岁的女生未婚产子，而她的家人竟是在她临盆时才惊觉此事！我很难想象那个女生如何得以隐瞒一起生活的家人，她的家人如何无法察觉那随着日子一天天大起来的肚子，乳臭未干的小情侣怎么做得出这回事，还有，才十四岁的他们要如何开始过着为材米油盐奶粉尿布而烦的生活，如何相厮相守一辈子。

从这几个问题，我已经分不清楚这个世界，这个年代，这个社会了。人与人的关系到底是更密切了，还是疏远了。母亲说我们现代人真好命，有什么MSN，3G录像手机和其他高科技产品，就算分隔两地，也可以轻易地和爱人联系，哪像她和老爸以前只有耗时一星期才收到的书信和几个月一次的通电。可是我只发现，如今住宅区里不管白天或黑夜，家家户户都大门深锁，不见人影。儿时记忆中，主妇们一边下厨，一边和邻居谈天，大家的孩子们一同在院子里嬉戏。只要是同一条街的，都念得出对方的名字。这些情景，我几乎没有再看过了。

我听说以前的父母生活艰巨，养家已成问题，自然无暇啰嗦，不会嘘寒问暖。孩子们要是闹脾气，不听话，很简单，藤条就搞定了。可当年在这种我们现代人觉得不‘文明’的家教下长大的小孩，依然十分尊敬疼爱父母。现在的父母生活安定了，教育水平提升了，大家提倡爱的教育，亲子沟通。但是依我看来，安老院是越来越多了，青少年问题是越来越严重了。

八字辈的我，遇见现在的中学生时，总是觉得格格不入。男的顶着发胶满满的刺猬头，女的都是离子烫或玉米须，大家手里一架金光闪闪的手机，肩上时髦的背包，在放学后留连快餐店咖啡屋，也不难看见当中有许多小情侣们正卿卿我我。不知道这是不是我们应该引以为荣的一番新气息。是我思想守旧吧，因为我那个年代（请记得我是八字辈），大家都是一身简单朴素的造型，手里抱着作业簿子，肩上背着帆布大书包，放学后飞奔回家吃妈妈煮的菜。

我的公公婆婆们都不曾谈恋爱，结婚对象都是媒人的安排，父母的决定。对我来说，这十分可怕。嫁错郎事大，和一个没有爱情基础的人共枕更是难以接受！现代人有了主宰自己命运，决定自己幸福的机会，照理说，大家都应该海枯石烂，天长地久。但事与愿违，有的搞婚外情，有的搞离婚，再不然就一哭二闹三上吊。爱情和婚姻什么时候变成这么不堪一击啊。

根据达尔西的进化论，人猿是人类的前身。我在想，人类还会再进化下去吗？数十个世纪后，这个世界是否会面目全非，变成一个你我都无法想象的样貌。

BEAUTY美丽日记: Get ‘Phweet’ with Veet

This has been my companion, and also savior for the past 6 years. Back in secondary school, I started to hate how my legs look like, they are hairy! Not those short and tiny, merely invisible hair, but long and coarse, plus curly hair! However, I did not take any action to solve this back then, due to lack of information, motivation and determination.

So, when my girl friends in university saw my legs, they were like “Oww! You are so hairy!” Yes, I am a million-hair, inherited from my father. Luckily, they are very helpful, introducing me to wax strip and shaving cream from Veet, encouraging me to face and solve the problem that has troubled me for years. Since then, I use this regularly, as part of my beauty and grooming routine.

After trying both wax strip and shaving cream, I definitely prefer wax strip. Shaving cream just make your hair softer and allows you to shave them without blade, hence the re-growth is fast. On the other hand, wax strip removes the roots and follicles, which slows down the re-growth, up to weeks or even months. For my case, the re-growth takes about 2 weeks, but I only wax once a month and avoid wearing shorts/skirts when the hair are obviously visible.

Just follow the instruction on the packet and you will have smooth and shiny legs. Wipes are provided with the wax strips to clean your legs after waxing. [TIPS: Wax does not dissolve in water. If you run out of the wipes, use baby oil or olive oil to remove the wax residue.] Tiny red spots visible at the removed hair roots are normal, but remember not to apply any chemical products such as lotion, scrub, cream, perfume & etc. on legs within 24 hours after waxing.

There are few scent available – original, strawberry and aloe vera for different type of skin. I choose aloe vera since it is moisturizing. And, yes, you have to endure the pain but believe me, after a few strips you will get used to it. [TIPS: Missed out few hairs on your legs during waxing? Don’t waste another wax strip! Instead, rub your finger with some sticky wax from the used strip and pluck out the left-out hair.]

Warning: Disgusting pictures coming! No pictures of me waxing my legs though, it’ll be too obscene. LOL

KITCHEN厨房日记: Masterchef Competition Party

I never thought words will really turn into action, well it’s a good thing isn’t it. Cooking has been one of the topic among friends of mine (in this case, his actually). And so, when cooking + Masterchef + birthday party came across our conversation, we were like ‘OK! Let’s do it!’. We planned 3 weeks ago, and finally, that day has come, and we enjoyed it much.

We grouped ourselves (5 of us) into 2 teams, where I partnered with him. Each team has to prepare a starter, main course and dessert for everyone. Of course, the birthday boy, Stan will be the judge to pick up his favorite dish for each category, without knowing who prepares them.

* Credits to Kaycee for the photos!

Starter

Shrimp Salad vs. Satay in a Bag

Shrimp salad is easy to make, just boil the prawn till nicely cooked, then toss them with fruit cubes and preferred dressings. [TIPS: Make sure you use fresh prawns, and fruits that don’t oxidized easily.] 

Satay in a Bag is basically BBQ chicken fillet marinated with seasonings (soy sauce, black pepper, lemon and basil), served with honey lemon sauce, greens and chapatti bread. Feel free to eat it in your own way, whether wrap the fillings in the bread, or eat them separately. [TIPS: Starter should taste a little sour or spicy, to spike up one’s appetite.]

Verdict: Satay in a Bag!

Main Course

Pork with Apple Sauce vs. Baked Fish Wrapped in Bacon

Oh, those crunchy and juicy fat of pork! Arrange orange zest, lemon zest and Chinese 5 spice powder on a big and long chunk of pork. Then fold two sides up (in horizontal direction) and secure with bamboo stick. Place it on a baking tray and sprinkle chopped onion, garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme leaves, and salt. Bake in oven for 50 minutes and tada! No one can wait to eat it! [TIPS: Lean pork makes healthier meal than pork belly, but less tender. To improve the tenderness, use a meat tenderizer to break the fiber bond, I think.]

FEELINGS心情日记: 耻

记得小学时，站在校门口，可以见到课室走廊外的墙壁上写着大大个的四个字：礼，义，廉，耻。做人做事，要有礼貌，有道义，要廉洁，和有羞耻心。相信，这也是每个学校，宗教和各个思想所提倡的。

那天和他的家人一起用餐，谈起话来，他姐姐投诉说，气死了，现在的人一点礼貌都没有，最基本的排队也不会。怎么说呢？前一晚，她在麦当劳的雪糕档排队买雪糕给女儿，拍了好久，终于排到队上的第二位了，前面还有一位也是带着孩子的中年妇女。往后一看，人龙长得不得了，可见麦当劳雪糕价廉物美。就在这时，一个‘LALA妹’（穿着奇异的新新人类），不声不响地插队，变成了第一位，忙碌的餐厅员工并没有察觉到这件事。他姐姐火大了，眼看那个‘LALA妹’得逞的样子，前面的中年妇女又不敢出声，也顾不得后果阔出去了。“EXCUSE ME？CAN YOU PLEASE QUEUE UP？”她提高声量，用手指着排队的方向。那个‘LALA妹’还假装无知地傻笑说“哦，啊，嗯”，然后心不甘，情不愿的走去队伍后面。

我也遇过这样的事，排队付钱时，一位约六十岁的安娣，以她庞大的身躯，一个屁股将我推出队外。我从她背后瞪着她，心想如果不是敬老（倚老卖老？），我一定会请她排队。我将自己的经历说出来，他姐姐就说，“马来西亚人就是这样，做错事的人不觉得羞耻，吃亏的人又不敢出声，永远不会进步。”

在巴生谷工作的人都了解，每当从高速大道转进城镇路口时，是最大的头痛。如果不是那些车主插队的话，其实塞车情况可以不会那么严重的。明知道已经要转进大道出口了，就是不要往左边行道排队，而硬是要走到路口尾端才插队。我曾经猛按喇叭，将蠢蠢欲动要插队的车主‘吓走’。我知道这样自己也很失德，但是有没有想过我们几十辆乖乖排队的车主已经等了近20分钟？你赶时间，我们也赶时间啊！

我的上司也认同，很多人没有羞耻之心，做错事不会觉得惭愧，内疚。这样下去，国家社会是不会进步的，永远停留在‘一流设备，三流思想’。

KITCHEN厨房日记: Chinese Dumplings (Wrapped in Leaves)

Great, I totally failed in making these dumplings. I thought I could make it nicely, but it turned out to be a disaster. Wrapping them is extremely difficult, even though it looks easy. Or maybe my hands are just not skillful at all.

His mother makes this dumpling every year during dumpling festival (5^th of May in lunar calendar), which is a Chinese tradition for the remembrance of a patriot – Qu Yuan. Of course, festival means ‘makan-makan’ (eating) session also. This year, I have the chance to observe her doing dumplings and learn from her.

My initial plan was to observe a while, and wrap together to help her. Luckily, she ‘foresees’ the result, and asked me to wrap for the last one, with just glutinous rice in smaller size. She told me, one should practice wrapping with sand/mud or other unimportant ingredients first, until you are confident and skillful enough to wrap dumplings, so that you won’t waste the food. She’s right. Look at what I’ve done to the pity leaves and rice.

It took me more than 10 minutes to come out with this tiny little dumpling. No matter you judge from size, shape or technique, it totally failed. So I did not put it together with other ‘QA passed’ dumplings into the big pot. Don’t feel happy yet when you managed to wrap them, it’s only successful when they do not break/open up after cooking in boiling water for 2-3 hours.

Sigh, I have to admit, I should really start from wrapping sand first, like how we played ‘mamasak’ (cooking game) during childhood. I promise I will pick up the skill and make dumplings successfully one day, to preserve our tradition and heritage.

FEELINGS心情日记: 一纸婚书

自从工作以后，我竟然必须面对这些问题，“嘿，几时结婚？几时请喝喜酒？”一些长辈甚至语重心长地对我说，如果有了对象，早点结婚较好，不要拖太迟（我才二十多）。噢，我忘了，这是因果循环，以前我时常笑问同辈的亲戚们什么时候结婚，现在轮到我被‘轰炸’了。

上一辈那个年代，结婚都不时兴注册，只有下聘，订婚和摆酒席。到了这二，三十年，人们对于法律保障的认知提升了，婚姻注册这个步骤才变得广泛。除此之外，只要大家稍微注意就不难发现，普遍上结婚年龄已经延迟了，从以前的二十出提高到三十出，甚至是三十五，六岁。我认为现在人们对生活素质和自由空间有了一定的要求，不再像以前那样‘是时候’为了结婚而结婚。我有两位同事，一位早婚生子，一位迟婚生子，他们都不约而同告诉我，早婚迟婚都不时问题，最重要是计划。生活一定要安逸稳定，不能够苦了自己和孩子。当然，要有多少钱才算安定，就看个人的见解了。

提起婚事，我不得不为我的偶像-刘德华捍卫一番。身为大马女婿的他，被不少媒体，民众批评指他隐瞒婚事不诚实，亏待了朱丽倩。但是在我眼里，这何尝不是一种护妻心切的做法。想象一下当刘德华妻子的生活-天王的事业，媒体的追踪，影迷/观众的批评，还有一些红颜知己的绯闻，真的少一份忍耐和坚定都不行。这还不包括家人受到的干扰呢！其实，他们两人相厮相守了二十几年，就是相爱的最好证明，一路走来两人必定经历不少风风雨雨，不是我们旁观者可以体会的。事实上，这些明星结不结婚，和谁结婚干我们啥事？只要是合法的，我们就当着是娱乐喜事一桩并献上祝福就好。

好了，谈会自己。前一阵子和好友见面，有这样的一段对话。

“为什么不要签字（注册婚姻）？”

“啊？这么快？没有想过嘢。。。”

“既然真心相爱，觉得他/她是对的人了，为什么不要现在签字？”

“嗯，还不想啦，不是时候吧。。。”

“如果不是现在这个时候，意思是现在的他/她不是对的人啰？”

“（囧。。。太强词了吧！）不是啦！只是满意于现在的（恋爱）模式，还不想有任何改变，像是个人空间，经济开销...”

“只是签字而已，会有什么改变？还是各自过各自的生活啊！”

“...（如果没有改变，那么一纸婚书有何意义？）”

“你都说了，认定他是另一半，那为什么不要签字？”

“既然认定了彼此，那为什么要以签字来证明对方？”

“我还是不明白，为什么不要签字（回到第一个问题）？”

“... ...”

我一时也回答不了，只好傻笑支吾以对。想起了梁朝伟和刘嘉玲的婚纱照，新郎的笔挺西装，新娘红彤彤的传统嫁裳，丝毫没有巨星的架势。两人二十年走来从不理会外人的眼光和舆论，只随着自己的感觉牵引彼此，最终在世外桃源-不丹王国举行了他们理想中的婚礼。黑人和范范在一起十年，有过欢笑悲伤，潮起潮落，就算还未结婚两人早已融为一体，共置产业，共用电邮户口。直到一次在美国因为暴风雨险遭不测，两人才决定正式结婚，步入教堂携手共度余生。我想，我就是要这样子走下去，当有一天双方都有瞬间闪出的念头时，才作出最重要的决定。这并不是可以因为‘在一起有多久’，‘认定了他/她’或‘年级已经差不多了’受影响的。

KITCHEN厨房日记: Breakfast Pancake

When his sister saw this on the dining table, she asked me, “Wow! They look fluffy! Did you make these?”

“Yes, I did”

She pondered a while, and asked, “You made them out of scratch?”

“Erm…No, I made them with flour, egg, milk and…”

“So you made them out of scratch without using those pancake mixture packet bought from stores?”

Yes, pancake is so easy to make, so don’t buy those expensive mixture packet from stores. I got this recipe from Jamie Oliver Recipes Website. Among many other pancake recipes, this is the one I like most, and it couldn’t be easier to remember the ingredients! One cup of cake flour (self-rising flour), one cup of milk and one egg, that’s it!

Feel free to add some sugar and grated fruit like apple or pear to suit your preference. Fry a scoop of the batter in a non-stick pan. When you see bubbles forming in the pancake, you know it’s time to flip it and fry the other side. [TIPS: Grease the pan with butter for aroma and extra crunchiness on skin. I prefer without it though, for the soft and even skin] Serve with jam, honey, cream, berries, yoghurt or ice-cream. Perfect for kids and ladies for breakfast!