Today @ Misheru's 今日はミシェルで

3rd week back at work

2007-09-08T22:47:00.000+08:00

It's been 2 weeks since I return back to office to work. During these 2 weeks, other than work, nothing else has changed much. Still continue my training with the gym program set out for 2-week personal training when I was on leave. Recently, went for i-RUN. Ran 5km and almost died due to foot cramp. By the time I finished 3km, the foot cramp was unbearable that I had to walk for the rest of the way back to the finishing line. I think I will run 3km in the next i-RUN next Thurs.

I also made some changes to Suzie. I think she also welcomes the new changes which will bring out the best in her.

Hmmm...let's see what else. Oh! Party and karaoke. I haven't gone to ktv for ages. Karaoke used to be such a popular pasttime when I was in my teens more than 20 years back. It was fun croaking into the microphone, trying to read those words on the screen and coordinating with the rhythm of the song.

That's all I have for now. Adios Amigos!

The end of my leave

2007-08-25T21:38:00.000+08:00

Finally my 3-week leave has officially come to an end. It's time to go back and face reality in the working world!!!

During these 3 weeks, other than my department trip to Tioman and subsequently a KL trip, I think I have had a good and proper rest in most of my time in the remaining 2 weeks. I have stopped my baking activities in the kitchen as I realised my spare tyre is more visible than ever. Then I made a firm decision to take up 10 sessions of personal training at the gym. Wow...it was FANTASTIC! Cardio is better now, arms, legs and abs are toner and define now, no more signs of indigestion so often. Isn't it great?!

During the last 2 weeks, I spent time with my grandma, played with my Mini Suzie, gave my Suzie a good makeover inside and outside (Check out my car workshop blog for more exciting details), personal training daily, gone back to office for work or courses, met up with friends, had good rest and et al.

I had a good break. Recharged and all ready for a new year of peak period! Woohoo! (People in office would think I am nuts...must be over-heated). Just kidding. Anyway, although, my happy times are over, I am looking forward to a good start to my work this year.

Good luck to me! がんばります！

Dept Trip to Tioman Island - 4 to 6 Aug 07

2007-08-12T11:00:00.000+08:00

Finally it has come to our annual event of the year - our A3P Dept Trip! This year our wonderful Recreation Team organised a 3-day trip to Tioman Island. Yeah!

We have been arranged to take a coach followed by a ferry to get to the island. We got up bright and early to meet outside DFS Gallery at 6.15am. Here we are getting off at Malaysia customs slightly past 7am. It was a long journey we arrived at the pier to board the ferry. A couple of photos here and there to kill time.

A quick card game or a power nap to re-energise the excited spirit on the island. The ferry ride took over an hour. Terrible ride with a lousy air condition which needed almost an hour repair before the ferry could take off its journey.

Made a few stops along the way to drop off other passengers at other islands. By the time we arrived at Tioman, it's mid-afternoon at 3pm. All of us had afternoon which was a filling late lunch. Our lady boss arrived at Tioman by Berjaya Air - a small propeller plane that carries only around 30-40 passengers. Heard that flight was bad which caused her to throw up as soon as she got off the plane. Upon hearing this, I was scared for my flight to KL as I am not a fan of flying especially with that kind of turbulence.

Anyhow, our first day was free and easy. Some of us had a go at volleyball, some of us decided to cool off the heat in the pool, some of us spent time at the beach to revive our childhood times playing 老鹰抓小鸡 (Eagle catches chick), and some of us decided to cool off the heat in their air-conditioned rooms.

After a lazy afternoon, we had a good dinner (for those who have been to our last dept trip to Sibu Island, you will agree that the food is definitely a whole lot better in Tioman).

After a filling dinner, we adjourned to a small open hut by the sea for our annual games and alcohol session. We played games like 0-0-7-bang!, co-co-nut, mona-lisa. Too bad there aren't any photos to show you how the latter 2 games looks like.

On the 2nd day, our games keepers (Suriati and Melissa) have organised games for us that very morning since our snorkelling trip was only available in the afternoon due to an overwhelming response for the morning trips. We were first divided into groups by colours and started with treasure hunt for a list of missing items.

Each team came up with 3 forfeit ideas. Unfortunately, the losing team with the least number of collected items picked the simplest idea - sing a song. They ended singing a happy birthday song. How uninteresting is that?!

The next game required our balancing, coordination, team work, weight distribution (?) and casting all differences, likes and dislikes aside. Don't really know the title to the game. We have to keep the team inside a piece of newspaper after every half-fold. It's crazy but fun!

The losing team has to select 2 guys from their team to kiss the game keepers. Some said it's cruel while some said it's scandalous. Take your stand. No paparazzi photos will be blogged here. So for those who were at the "crime scene" that morning, you have witnessed it "Live!". For those who have missed it, Just too bad! What happened in Tioman, stays in Tioman!

After the morning games, some of us decided to take a quick dip to cool off the heat before lunch while some decided to take shade under the brollies at the deck chairs.

A few of the "big kids" tried to water slide which was meant for 15 and below. Shiok!

After lunch, we headed out to the Marine Recreation Centre for our snorkelling trip - finally! Now we are gearing up everyone - mask, snorkel, life vest. That's about it. Oh, strip to the bare necessities if you don't want tan lines on your arms and thighs.

The sea was shallow and beautiful. Don't expect too much returns on the corals. They were just okay as colours were fading. Saw a number of sea urchins, many fishes. Some freaked out as the school of fishes swam around you when we fed them with left over bread.

After the snorkel, it's back to the pool again for a game of Monkey. The day was simply great. However, the bbq was disappointing. We were not despair as the food is still better than the spread in Sibu. There was a singer group entertaining the diners at the open restaurant. Some of our people had fun. There aren't many photos to show as a lot of them have been captured in Tina's video cam. Scandalous yet again!

After dinner, we adjourned to the same open hut at the beach. Well, that night was a night for our hunks and babes. And of course, yet another game and alcohol session. Presenting our contestants for the night!

I was just covering for Carine just for the cat walk and pose. Mun Keat and I presented the Heaven and Earth Green Tea, Yong Herng and Yih Soon - chips and crackers, Raspal and Jia Yu - plastic cups and bell (?) odd but true, and Pei Wei and Junlin - can't remember - alcohol (?). This was followed by a Q&A session before we select our Hunk and Babe of A3P using yellow post notes. Our winners are...(drum roll...)

Yong Herng and Mun Keat!!! (Applause!)

Yes! Yong Herng has once again retained his title as Babe of A3P. For all A3Pians who were not borned before 7 Aug 2006, Yong Herng won the A3P Babe contest too! (What stays in Sibu, stays in Sibu). This year he has been nominated and voted to be Babe of A3P again. Sadly, this would be his last year keeping this title as he will be leaving us for Shanghai office for ~2 yrs. However, we do hope he would come back and join us for our dept trips during those 2 years. Let's wish him all the best in Shanghai and he will be missed by everyone back here.

As for Mun Keat, he is the up rising Hunk of our dept. A3P Hunk is a new concept introduced by this year's Recreation Committe. Well done Mun Keat!

Back to our games and alcohol. We played 黑白配男生女生配 (actually it's scissors paper stone, followed by pointing your finger L/R/Up/Down and if the loser follows the direction, he/she loses the game). Loser will have to drink. Here is our alcohol mixer and highlights of the game.

Sadly, my team has lost. Other than drinking the last bit of the alcohol, we had to pose a loser sign.

Before we end off the night, a final toast to our dearest colleague - Yong Herng! Yam Seng!!

Some continued with their second round while the others crashed out for the last night in bed.

Our trip has finally reached to an end. It has really been a wonderful time. It's very heart warming to see and feel the bond of our A3P family. Keep up the A3P spirit! Let's worked hard for the coming year and hope to have yet another wonderful unit trip!

Back home at last!

2007-08-03T23:21:00.000+08:00

I have finally returned home from my assignment in HK and finally have access to BLOG! My fellow sister company has blocked the access to msn messenger and blogspot and includes youTube as well. Hence, I only have limited time to write there. Think I had only managed to write one relating to HK when I was spending my first night with my mum while she was still in town.

Anyway, work was alright. Shouldn't really talk about work here - I think. Confidential. Other than work, my colleague brought me to a different place for dinner each time but usually around Causeway Bay.

Also met up with Wein Dhee, a.k.a. Gorgeous. This was taken on Monday (30/7/07) night over at Victoria Harbour. We met up on Saturday (28/7) and started our day with a 1-hr bus ride on number 15 to Stanley Market, which is near Repulse Bay. Quiet and high-end society for the rich, high profile and even HK stars. Anyway, got quite good deals buying Birkinstock sandals - end up with 2. Would say it is the HK version of Bangkok's Chat-tuk-chat. We did a lot of things, went back down to Central, then to Mongkok to get my Totoro stuff, then walked down their famous long Nathan Road, passing by Yau Ma Tei before reaching Jordan, where my weekend hotel was - Prudential Hotel. Quite decent I should say. After taking a break, we took a walk down to Tsim Sha Tsui ("TST") to check out the HMV store. Along the way, I ended up buying a rockport canvas shoes which I have been eyeing for a long time in SG. The only sad thing in SG is that they brought in funny pink ones.

Later in the evening, we took the Peak tram up to The Peak. We actually experienced technical fault while we were in the tram at at 45 degrees angle. Tiring to stand in that position. By the time we got up to the Peak, it was past 8 pm. We had a quick dinner at Cafe Deco before we proceed to a nice spot to enjoy the view of HK. Below is the view from the Peak.

Ain't this beautiful?

Another beautiful view from the Victoria Harbour over at TST side, or rather the Kowloon side. See below.

This is a view of the Hong Kong Island from Avenue of Stars at TST.

In HK, other than the morning buffet breakfast at the hotel, where I only had toasted bread with butter and jam plus a coffee (waste of money I know), I had mostly either porridge or noodles. Places with good food that my mum introduced and I have personally tasted them are as follows:

DIM SUM => Lok Yu Eating House & Restaurant - along Stanley St [@ Central]
WANTON NOODLES => Mak's Noodles - along Wellington St that is closer to Mid-Levels (where the super long escalator is) [@ Central] or near Regal Hong Kong Hotel [@ Causeway Bay]
LEAN MEAT PORRIDGE & "LING YU" FISHBALL => Lok Fook Kee Porridge - along Queen's Road Central (opposite The Center, after the Mid-Levels escalator and overhead bridge) [@ Central]
GUI LING GAO => Gong He Tang - along Cameron Road [@ Tsim Sha Tsui] or near Times Square [@ Causeway Bay]
ROAST DUCK => Spring Deer Restaurant - along Mody Road [@ Tsim Sha Tsui]
DONUTS => Krispe Kreme - food mall in Times Square [@ Causeway Bay]
DESSERTS => All are okay. Haven't gone to anywhere that is not nice yet.

Here is a picture of WANTON SHUI JIAO NOODLES from Mak's Noodles.

One of weeknights, Gorgeous and myself went down to this open air bar called RED CAR in the roof garden of IFC Mall next to IFC 2. The roof garden oversees the Piers towards Kowloon side. Here is a view of the IFC 2 upwards from the bar.

Artistic, isn't it?

Food is good in HK but the pollution in the country has turned me off. July and August are usually the sale season. During this work cum enjoyment trip, I had many good deals at shopping.

I left HK on Thursday afternoon (2/8/07). Almost late for checking in my baggages.

Mini Me! Mini Suzie!

2007-07-28T01:23:00.001+08:00

Imagine what you can get from a box of parts to this car...

Introducing Mini Me Mini Suzie. A new addition to my life on 23rd July 2007. To find out how she is born, check her out at Today @ Misheru's Car Workshop (http://today-at-misheru-carworkshop.blogspot.com) today!

Business Trip to Hong Kong

2007-07-24T23:01:00.000+08:00

Today is my first day in Hong Kong under a different mode - work. Not leisure. Took a new plane with new interior - green and beige seats, bigger screen, handset is now in front under the screen, wider selection of movies, songs, albums, tables are foldable in half of what they used to be when stowed away, office softwares for words, excel, presentation, PLUS you can now plug in your USB stick, etc. Anyway, I am not really a fan of flight. Hate turbulence, which caused me to have anxiety and racing heart. Think I watched too much of Nat-Geo and Discovery Channel on Seconds to Disasters, Air Crash Investigation, blah blah blah.

Well, it so happened that my mum is in town for a few days. Hence, managed to catch up with her tonight for a yummy lean meat congee (HK$19) with "ling yu qiu" (a fishball made out of a hong kong fish which neither my mum or myself know what it is) (HK$10) at Central "Zhong Huan". Afterwhich, we headed back to her wonderful hotel room at Intercontinental - classy, totally comfortable. In fact, I had actually ditched my manager to catch up with my mum. Luckily she is alright about it. (^c^)

Anyhow, will be in town till end of the week. Gonna purchase my favourite Totoro merchandise once again and catch up with an old friend who used to be our colleagues back in office. However, these can only be done over the weekend. In the meantime, it is work. That's what the trip is meant for. Hopefully this trip is fruitful, otherwise, it will be an additional week for me here in HK.

Signing over and out in HK. (^c^)

Suzie is ALIVE!!!

2007-07-20T23:27:00.000+08:00

FINALLY! Suzie is back on tracks!

ER has resolved her problem. Luckily it's not the main electronic board in the engine. It's merely a small white electronic board that is under the steering wheel that is damaged. Thankfully the lady boss of the workshop did not have to pay so much for the damage.

Replacement of the main electronic board would have easily cost more than $1,000, not including workmanship. The small board costed only 1/3 of the main board. Really a double blessing for both Suzie and the lady boss. Of course, both the lady boss and myself can each have a good night rest tonight. Oh, the guys at the workshop too.

After I picked up Suzie from ER, had to feed her with petrol as her orange fuel station has lited. Realised that petrol price has gone up a fair bit. 37 litres of Shell 98 cost me $63!!! Suddenly felt the pinch! Anyhow, I sent her back to the workshop to get my stuff fitted back (excluding the auto timer, which caused all the havoc this week). Now Suzie is running perfectly normal and very healthy and hyperactive!

Suzie is still in ER

2007-07-19T14:02:00.000+08:00

Ever since Monday night, I still have not seen my Suzie. After she was brought to another workshop with better equipment, that workshop was not able to make her better. She has to end up back at the agent Champion Motors ("ER") with higher end facilities for her serious operation. Luckily I was still alright without her the last few days as I have things to work on at home.

I rang up yesterday to find out the status of Suzie. Her electronic board has been damaged and needed a new one. At least they have found the problem. It would be a problem for the workshop who is gonna pay for the repair. I had the impression that I will get the car today. But guess again. I rang up the ER and was told that they have found another serious problem after they have replaced her electronic board. She was still not responding very well. The foreman in the ER have to plough through all the wires to check for damage. They are suspecting that one of the MANY wires might have been cut. The doctor in charge refused to tell me how much this whole operation will cost but just to concentrate on getting her up and running again. Hence, I am car-less again today.

Let's hope the foreman at the ER can find that wire soon. And wish Suzie a speedy recovery.

Today @ Misheru's Music Room 今日は　ミシェルの音楽のルムで Making its Debute Today!

2007-07-18T22:55:00.000+08:00

Today @ Misheru's Music Room has finally made its debute today!

Misheru's Music Room will cover reviews on songs and albums from around the world especially from asia. Songs and albums will be rate out of 5 based on the following icon:

To kick off, I have introduced one mandarin album by the group 五月天 May Day.

To find out more, visit http://today-at-misheru-musicroom.blogspot.com get the listening beat going!

Enjoy listening!

New Recipe added for the week! Chocolate Chiffon Cake

2007-07-17T20:52:00.000+08:00

This week I am on leave, hence have the extra time to experiment yet another recipe. Today I have decided to bake Chocolate Chiffon Cake. The taste of the cake is chocolatie with a pinch of coffee flavour. Sweetness is just about right. Well, even if it does not look like the Bengawan Solo's chiffon cake, at least a cake is born successfully. Knowing how the recipe goes is easier said than done! Practice makes perfect!

For those who worked hard and played hard together with me in office, you will not miss out on tasting the cake. I have some for you. Hopefully someone kind enough will come by my kitchen to pick up. Would appreciate if you could give me your comments on the taste and texture of the cake, if you happen to be the lucky few. It is normal if you taste burnt as I have overbaked the top.

For those baking enthusiasts who wish to give the recipe a try, you can find it at Today at Misheru's Kitchen, just by clicking the link in the column on the left of this blog.

Have lots of fun!

Suzie's first sleepover party

2007-07-17T00:17:00.000+08:00

Today is Suzie's first sleepover party. To find out more, click the link on the left to Today @ Misheru's Car Workshop.

2 newly added recipes @ Misheru's Kitchen

2007-07-15T22:19:00.000+08:00

Today I have put up the first 2 recipes:

Chocolate Brownies

Chocolate Cheese Cake

To get the recipes, visit http://today-at-misheru-kitchen.blogspot.com/.

Enjoy! (^c^)/

私の台所　(My Kitchen)

2007-07-15T17:02:00.000+08:00

Welcome to Misheru's Kitchen!

I do not really have my own kitchen unlike Elsie's Kitchen or Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen. It's just a name to signify food that I have cooked out of my home kitchen. Just to share a little about how I started my kitchen. I used to share an apartment at 178 Herring Road with my Korean friend Bora when I was studying in Sydney back in 2001. Unlike hostels where they provide 2 to 3 meals a day, we have to either cook our daily meals or eat out. We have our weekly gatherings sometimes at our apartment or at our friends'. We cooked dinners - Chinese, Western or Korean, desserts, and even make kaya! Since both of us shared the same family name, we ended up calling our kitchen - Lees' Kitchen. We even started labelling bottles of kaya with our kitchen name and apartment address, and gave them to our friends. Those days were so much fun. Very good memories which I cannot forget.

Other than enjoying the taste of the food, cooking is a very good form of stress relief therapy. Moreover, the experiences which you gain can be used as an analogies to situations you faced throughout your life. In addition, cooking and food bring together the bond between friends and families, joy and laughter. At least that is what I have experienced till now.

In this blog, other than my Suzie, I will share the recipes which I have used to cook. Some of you have been my Royal Food Critics since the first time I started cooking back in Sydney. I sincerely thank you for your tasting and feedback. Other than sharing recipes, I will also share my experience in cooking them and the blunders I made.

You can find them at http://today-at-misheru-kitchen.blogspot.com/ for the recipes.

I hope you will enjoy reading my experience and put these recipes to use.

If you have recipes which you would like to recommend, you can email me a photo and the recipe to my email address: liminlee@pacific.net.sg

Bon Appetite!

Finally I am blogging!

2007-07-15T03:12:00.000+08:00

Sunday 15 July 2007 3.18AM. Finally I decided to write about my daily affairs, or rather weekly (given the kind of work schedule I have now). Now that I have just started to blog, the whole world is already doing it! Anyway, it is never too late to do anything.

A very warm welcome to my blog - "Today @ Misheru's". This name came about after weeks of DIY bakery at home. Initially I came up with a name "This week in Misheru's Kitchen" for my messenger to accommodate my weekly bakery affairs. A recent interest in the performance of my car has led me to write and share about the good stuff about it, and consequently, the decision to share some of my interests in life. The name "Today @ Misheru's" is general and would encompass various areas like my life, my car, my kitchen and my kind of music. By the way, "Misheru" is a romanised spelling for katakana characters in Japanese for my name Michelle. Just an added touch of uniqueness to the blog title.

Let's cut to the chase and get this blog going! I hope you will enjoy as much fun reading as I have written my experience. Cheers!

私の車　－　スズキスイフト　(My Car – Suzuki Swift)

2007-07-15T02:55:00.000+08:00

This is my Suzie - Suzuki Swift AT1.5. Came into my life in 20 November 2005.

She has been with me and stood by my daily drive to work very well. Though she is barely 2 years, I have recently decided to improve her performance as her pick up on slopes is deteriorating. I have been wanting to do something for her but always have that reservation whether would those improvements alter her warranty qualification.

So a big thanks to my colleague Carine who has introduced a "poison" magazine to me - Hot Stuff Magazine (available at major bookstores @ $5). Consequently, I ended up scouting these shops advertised in that magazine. Finally, I settled with this workshop called "Chuan Lee Hin Tyres Trading" in Midview Building at Bukit Batok St 23. Suzie has been serviced by this mechanic called Ah Lun for those sessions that I was there. An honest chap who will only introduce stuff that you really need, especially performance. Paying so much for looks doesn't give you the kind of car performance you want - that's what he will always say.

Check her out at http://today-at-misheru-carworkshop.blogspot.com/ for developments.