Bread ends never tasted this good!

I love to eat the end of a bread loaf because I like the tough texture of the bread crust. Interestingly, most people do not like it although I know that some locals like to buy french loaves to dip in curry. French loaves are tough, just like the ends of a typical bread loaf.

In the place where I work, we collect the bread ends and crust when we prepare sandwiches to sell. We usually discard a few bags of these at the end of the day or someone will come to collect them, either to sell to farms or use as fish food etc...

One day, I decided to take some of these home to make french toast. I have eaten french toast made with sliced bread  but never with the end of the bread. This would be my first experiment!

That day when I got home, I excited prepared some eggs and made about six slices of these "french toast". When done, I realised that they tasted wonderful... better than those made with normal bread. I normally eat two slices but this time I ate three and left three for my sister to eat when she comes home late a night! Maybe this is an opportunity for me to save some money too... afterall, these bread ends are thrown away most of the time.

Maybe her putting on weight was indeed my fault after all... I used to prepare food for her to eat and she sleeps immediately after eating!

Will you help me to make this blog more popular?

There were a few reasons for me to want to put my thoughts on the internet. Firstly, I would like to keep a record of my adventures, as if it is a diary. Secondly, my friends, both here and at home, can read and enjoy our adventures here. Thirdly, I just want people all over (and particularly in Singapore) to know the real life of a migrant worker, including the sufferings and joy we go through.

Last but not least, I was also attracted to the idea that I may be able to make some money out of this whole exercise. Not something I can depend on, but at least something.

I think I'm pretty happy with 1. and 2. but I am not sure about 3. and 4. As for 3. you'd have to tell me if you enjoy and learn something about the life of a migrant worker from China. Interestingly, when I first intended to write this blog, I had lots of unpleasant stories to tell. However, the more I write, the more they became like pleasant stories and the unpleasant ones just starts to fade away. I get encouraged by positive reader's comments and I made many new friends too.

Finally, the truth about 4 is that I had not been making much. To date, it's rather pathetic as you can see.

If you like what you are reading, will you help me increase the popularity of this blog by sending out the web address, http://www.chinalass.blogspot.com/ to 5 friends each, create a link in your own blog, or like my post on your facebook? Also, you can help me make some money if you browse some of the ads on my blog if you find it interesting.

I thank you in advance for your help.

Finally decided to cut my hair!

I've not cut my hair in years... since my school days. It's grown to my waist line and since my hair has some natural curls in it, it may not look as long. OK, this post came a little late as you can see from my birthday posting, my hair was already cut! So this event was really just the weekend before my birthday!

I remember when I first came to Singapore and found that it was so difficult to up keep my long hair. The weather was hot and humid and shampoo was expensive in Singapore, compared to back home. I go through a bottle of shampoo bottle quite quickly with my long hair. There was once I wanted to get it cut and went to a local salon to check the price. I walked out almost immediately as a hair cut cost more than SGD40 here.... and with wash and blow etc... it is even more! How could I even afford this?

Recently I got to know a local Chinese friend who works in a salon through my friend in Punggol, Wen Wen. He said he will cut my hair and straighten it for a much lower sum than the salon charges. Sounds like a good deal!

I made arrangements to have my hair done last weekend before Singapore's National Day. My friend brought his tools of the trade and we finally set about cutting my hair! I was a little apprehensive as to how it will turn out, but then... I think it will be worth the effort as I will feel cooler and it will be less costly to maintan!

So here is the outcome! Finally, I am outfitted to conquer the hot weather in Singapore! Not quite short but still, a lot shorter than before!

My Birthday today!

Today is my birthday! However, for the whole of this week, I had been having a wonderful time from well wishers and friends who wants to share this joyful day with me. So this year, I turn 29... and it's my last year of celebration before I hit the big 30! I am afraid... for they say in my hometown in China, that if a woman hits 30, she will be left on the "shelf" and nobody will want her ever! Scary thought!

But in the mean time, a good Singaporean girl friend brought me out for ice cream on Monday night. I had a big Coit Tower at Swensens... a little guilty for taking in all that calories but this is just a once a year thing. In all my 29 years, I had never tasted ice cream so good. Back home, due to the cold weather, we never had ice cream. In summer when it is warm, we do have some vendors selling cheap ice cream on the streets but I always had the impression this is more for kids... ha ha, how naive of me.

Nevertheless, this ice cream from Swensens is the best I have tasted in my life... creamy, milky, smooth and tasty!

On Tuesday, I had dinner with another Singaporean friend who brought me out for a good dinner of Chinese noodles. We had dinner at North Point in Yishun, a little far from my home but the dinner was wonderful. In fact, I've never tasted noodles this good either.

I wonder if the food taste better because it is my birthday or is that it's been a long, long time since I have been out for a good meal, other than the hot pot dinner I have every now and then with my Chinese friends. While these hot pot dinners never were that good, they are a great way to have some fun, socialize and even to talk aloud (because everyone speaks loudly at such a place... I wonder why?"

When I arrived for work on this morning, my wonderful Singapore friend, Ah Mei, gave me a beautiful pendent. It's a beautiful gift from a beautiful person.

I have one more dinner to go with my Chinese friends tonight but even before this event, I know this must be my best birthday ever! This is the first time I've had two nights of celebrations for my birthday but it was fun and I really enjoyed it.
I am ever so blessed, despite being in a land so far away from home! Thank you my friends, for giving me such a wonderful birthday... even before it is over!

Will you help him?

This fellow blogger has an interesting site at http://kowtz2012.blogspot.com/. He is asking for help from readers to surf his site and browse his ads. I found this out from a comment he posted on my blog.

I do find his success quotes quite interesting and so decided to share with my readers. Please do extend your help to him. Have a great time surfing!

I finally adopted a name...

Niki and Kiki!

Some time back, I wrote about wanting a christian name, something that is easier for people to remember. I've had many suggestions from kind readers and some of those I considered includes Cleo, Niki and Jean. I finally narrowed it down to Niki and Cleo.

While I like the name Cleo, it sound a little too sophisticated and believe it or not, a little bit difficult for my twisted Chinese tongue to pronounce.

So I guess it's down to Niki. For some while now, I've called my soft toy dog Kiki, so I guess Niki is a good name for me too. It rhymes!

Another one bites the dust!

Just about a week ago, another one of my male colleages decided to call it quits. He's had it! He comes early to work (about 6.30am) and he has to get a host of things done by 8am when people start strolling in for breakfast. This includes boiling water, cooking etc... and most of the time, he is unable to get everything ready on time. I cannot tell if he was given too much to do, or he was slow, but nevertheless, the fact is, he could not always finish his task on time.

There is this older Singaporean auntie who is always on the watch for us migrant workers making mistakes or "slacking" and will complain to the boss. She seems to get a pleasure out of doing that, despite knowing that we work as hard as we can. Fortunately, I have not been in her bad books yet. Anyway, she complained to the boss about this colleague of ours and finally after 4 months, my colleague told the boss that he cannot take it and decided to quit. He still owes a big sum of money from his Agent's fee but he's willing to forego that and just go home. I could tell, it's his last straw, he just cannot take it anymore.

I'm not siding with any one but just laying out the facts from what I see and hear. I know that in my first 4 months when I came, I was not able to work at full effectiveness as I had a tough time adjusting to the different culture, living conditions etc... and I am sure my colleague faces the same. I was fortunate though... receiving few complains.

Last Sunday was his last day so we all went out for dinner. Again we had hot pot. They all drank alot of beer and it cost us SGD30 each. That's alot of money but then, it's a farewell dinner for our colleague.

I really felt sorry for him. It's tough to just make ends meet, not to mentioned being the target of complains. Well, I cannot judge if the complains are justified but I do think he has a tough job to do. There is a time constrain to get everything ready. That's a lot of pressure for someone relatively new.

I understand his consequence. The big debt to pay, the shame of going back when others back home expect you to come back "rich and prosperous". It's a sad day but we're tough people, we'll make it somehow!

Prawning 2!

Well, I finally was able to find the time to cook some of the prawns for me and my sister to share. Initially I wasn't sure how I should cook it as I have never tried fresh water prawns! These have a much bigger head, smaller body and comes with two long pincers... like a mini-crab! They can be painful when they get a grip on your tender flesh, as I had experienced during my prawning experience.

I decided to just stir fry the prawns with some black sauce and vegetables. Actually, when it comes to eating them, both freshwater and saltwater prawns taste quite alike, similar texture.

So finally, here is the finished product. I ate about 5 and left 6 for my sister. Quite tasty actually... or is it my cooking??? Ha ha!

Prawning!

My turn to try my luck!

Last Wednesday evening, my teacher friend and some of her friends decided to go prawning. It was not something she had done before although she saw some people doing it. It looks interesting according to her. She asked me along and I told her I will go as long as it is not too costly.

We went to the East Coast Park area to a small prawning place located not too far from McDonalds. They rented a rod for SGD30, split among 4 of us for 3 hours and we had our share of fun. While I find it rather expensive, I decided not to be a spoil sport and just join in the fun.

Our first catch!

Fortunately for us, one of the workers at the place was a Chinese national too. He was here just for ten days and he said he will teach us how to catch prawns. He even was nice enough to hook the bait for us. How sweet! It's nice to meet a friend, wherever you are!

We tried for the first fifteen minutes with no success. Then the Chinese worker came to help us. This time, he brought some worms and told us it will be more effective. True enough, within minutes of hitting the water, the float was bobbing up and down. We all screamed and lifted the rod to land our first big prawn!

Our Chinese "friend"!

About an hour into prawning, a group of guys came by and started talking to us. We were a little wary and did not speak much. Seeing that we had 4 girls fishing with only one rod, they offered to get another one for us but we turned them down. Nevertheless they hung around us for the rest of the night and even offered us drinks.

All through the 3 hours, we landed a total of 15 prawns, not bad for a group of novices. We laughed, anyway, that with SGD30, we could buy alot more prawns from the supermarket! But nevertheless, it was an excellent experience for me and my friends, one which I will cherish but not do again, especially at this price! My friends gave the prawns to me and told me to cook it and share it with them! Ha ha!

Fish for Dinner!

Recently, my sister called me from work and "complained" that she had not had a meat dish for some time. She craved for some meat. I guess it's my fault as for cost reasons, I had resorted to cooking mostly vegetable dishes for her. Also, I always think vegetables are healthier, although after reading some news articles about the amount of pesticides used, I am not so sure these days. Guess it depends on where they come from.

Anyway, my sister has been working so hard, I guess she deserve some good food as well... whatever I can afford!

So the next day, I went to the supermarket across the road to get some meat. The fishes all looked quite good but were quite expensive, so I decided to buy a cheaper freshwater fish for her. This fish was listed as a Red Tilipia and it cost SGD3. Most others cost about SGD4 or more. It's a bit more than what I would like to spend actually, and the truth is, I am not sure of the diffference. I am, afterall, not too familiar with the fishes here, although we do have red tilipia in China.

I think with the right cooking methods, spices and sauce added, any fish will taste good. As the saying goes, it's the cook that counts.

So my sister came back and ate the whole fish all by herself. She told me the next day (via sms) that it tasted good. Well, when you yearn for something bad enough, anything is good. When you are hungry, any food will satisfy you... or is my cooking that good???

I'm glad for her. I think we need to keep happy and healthy by eating good food every now and then. And good food need not necessarily be expensive.

So now she is finally happy!