Before slept, they spotted a lizard in the room.
Biggie was terrified. She asked smallie to get rid of it.
Smallie agreed by chasing it with the broom. Eventually the insect freed.
Came dedication and blessing before sleep.
I recited the usual "May i be well and happy. May my daddy and mummy be well and happy. May the Buddha Dhamma and Sangha blessed me with peace and happiness....."
Before i finished the verse, smallie chipped in with this "May the lizard come back to find JE."
What a cheeky bun!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Missing pinafore
I have someone complaining from her wardrobe on where have all her pinafores gone. She sounded so certain that they were lost. I ignored the qualms while continuing with my routine ironing job on weekend night.
A week passed and she started the same story about missing pinafores again.
Then out of sudden, she said she know where were all the pinafores.
She has mistaken the pinafores as little sister ones.
She thought she has grown up and they looked too small for her.
I stared at her and almost wanted to laugh my heart out.
Retelling this to the dad, he laughed out loud in the washroom.
Well......time to get those passdowns out and wash them now.
A week passed and she started the same story about missing pinafores again.
Then out of sudden, she said she know where were all the pinafores.
She has mistaken the pinafores as little sister ones.
She thought she has grown up and they looked too small for her.
I stared at her and almost wanted to laugh my heart out.
Retelling this to the dad, he laughed out loud in the washroom.
Well......time to get those passdowns out and wash them now.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
家庭主妇
柔：妈咪，你到底是家庭主妇吗？家庭主妇是不是都是在家的，没有出去的？
不知一次被她这样问，尤其是在填写学校的妈妈的职业一栏时，为了方便，也为了很难找到一个圆满的答案。而她总是要一个肯定的答案。可是我的多重角色，交替的半职业，我实在不懂要如何才能说出我的职业。有点像WAHM，可是有时又是SAHM。
不知一次被她这样问，尤其是在填写学校的妈妈的职业一栏时，为了方便，也为了很难找到一个圆满的答案。而她总是要一个肯定的答案。可是我的多重角色，交替的半职业，我实在不懂要如何才能说出我的职业。有点像WAHM，可是有时又是SAHM。
Sunday, February 16, 2014
On teaching maths to young kids
One of the useful method that i have used to teach addition is:
1. teach her playing 3 cards三张牌
2. then ask her to count the total of car plate numbers while travelling to/back from school.(eg: car plate no.: 3346 = 3+3+4+6 = 13， then slowly progress to choose more complicated numbers like 8896 = 8+8+9+6=31, teach her to take out numbers that can form 10) .
Playing cards will do wonders coz u can pick card 8 and card9, use card 9 to cover 1 point of card 8, then u can easily spot 10+7, which then forms 17.
All the best!
1. teach her playing 3 cards三张牌
2. then ask her to count the total of car plate numbers while travelling to/back from school.(eg: car plate no.: 3346 = 3+3+4+6 = 13， then slowly progress to choose more complicated numbers like 8896 = 8+8+9+6=31, teach her to take out numbers that can form 10) .
Playing cards will do wonders coz u can pick card 8 and card9, use card 9 to cover 1 point of card 8, then u can easily spot 10+7, which then forms 17.
All the best!
My rambling thoughts on education......again.
As an ex Maths
teacher i hv nvr expected my kids to be
excellent in Maths, they dont hv too, coz they are not me. my elder daughter
since std 1 she didnt know how to do increment and decrement 逆序顺序，my std answer
was: dont worry, this year u dont how to do, next yr u will know. now at std 6
she can comprehend questions like 13,19,x,31,37. i am repeating this to my 2nd
daughter who is now in std 3 coz i know questions like this may not be quite
suitable for 9 yr old. although i know there is education system to put blame
on, but in front of them, i wont blame the system, i will only tell them this
is just a challenge, there are many things in life that we may not be ready to
take up but we can always get ready and observe.. my elder daughter since std 1 she didnt know how to do
increment and decrement 逆序顺序，my std answer
was: dont worry, this year u dont how to do, next yr u will know. now at std 6
she can comprehend questions like 13,19,x,31,37. i am repeating this to my 2nd
daughter who is now in std 3 coz i know questions like this may not be quite
suitable for 9 yr old. although i know there is education system to put blame
on, but in front of them, i wont blame the system, i will only tell them this
is just a challenge, there are many things in life that we may not be ready to
take up but we can always get ready and observe. 把一个教育制度的盲点变成我们作为老师父母的生命和生活教育，这是我们可以给孩子最好的礼物。
我们很多时候喜欢断章取义，我们是可以向犹太人芬兰人美国人等等吸取宝贵的经验，但是there is also a reason why we are born
chinese and bred in a multi racial/culture community，有原因的，凡事都有因有缘呵。we may be adapting sth but we have stayed dogmatic
and we always thought 'this is good n that is bad'. 每个族群有自己的进行方式，诚如每个家庭都有自己的家风，我们不能说什么是好什么不好，只有最适合的。考试制度也一样，有些人因为没有考试而怠惰，所以重点不在考试本身，而是方式。但是方式也因人而异。有些人因为老师的谩骂而进步回来感激万分，所以重点又不一定是方式，而是这个人的福报到哪里。有些人因为老师一句话的而跳楼了，可是我们要看到的是，这句话只是一个triggering point， 不是主因，如果要追究为什么我们不说如果早知道我就好好装备一个孩子的耐力，如果早知道我们就让孩子在小时候累积多多的福报，让他以后的生命旅程中，有更多的善知识来引导他。每个时代都有每个时代的挑战,我常常记起一个西藏上师在讲解心经时这么说:dont get fantasy by the idea of 'the
good old days', there has never been.
Friday, February 14, 2014
假钱
19年才一次的元宵节撞情人节。
载了从美国回来的心亿一起去观音寺和开宝师父拜年。
是元宵，当然小孩还有机会收红包啦。
心亿踏了junior David的车回去。
回家路上，小瓜拆了红包封，两个都嚷着，妈咪你的朋友给我们一张假钱。
不是吧？难道我的朋友是有印刷机？
拿了过来看，才知道原来那是美金1元。
唉，有了金，还以为是草。
后来，9岁那个还问，妈咪你的朋友去那里买哪个钱？
小孩对钱的概念，原来就是这样单纯。
载了从美国回来的心亿一起去观音寺和开宝师父拜年。
是元宵，当然小孩还有机会收红包啦。
心亿踏了junior David的车回去。
回家路上，小瓜拆了红包封，两个都嚷着，妈咪你的朋友给我们一张假钱。
不是吧？难道我的朋友是有印刷机？
拿了过来看，才知道原来那是美金1元。
唉，有了金，还以为是草。
后来，9岁那个还问，妈咪你的朋友去那里买哪个钱？
小孩对钱的概念，原来就是这样单纯。
Friday, October 18, 2013
On teaching and education
Recording down what i was saying to a mother cum teacher on the frustration about the education system and the working environment in a FB group:
Dear xxxxx,
I have been teaching till end of last year. Prior to teaching, I was in the electronic industry.
Never think of leaving a profession just because we think we don't like it. I can understand your frustration. Meeting up with positive and energetic friends are important. Stay away from friends who keep on complaining. Sometimes pouring out our grouses among colleagues can be quite damaging to ourselves.
I am available to talk over the phone too....am just another kepo being.
I think there are basically 2 objectives of education,
1.to impart knowledge 教书,
2. to educate a being教人.
At any time, when obj #1 is unachieveable, then we have to focus on obj #2.
Very often when the school work starts to trigger a teacher, it is also got to do with our internal family issues. How have you been coping with your family life lately? I hope i am not offending your privacy.
Once a great master who taught Heart Sutra told me, dont get fantasied by the idea that there has been 'the good old days'. It has never been.
Looking at the students who opt for expensive private schools, are we really sure that they are getting the best education system? Are we not seeing a lot of spoilt brats spending lavishly on parents money?
The best moment is the present moment. The best education comes from within our own minds. Just my personal opinion.
There are also some 'so-so' teachers whom by the standard of many parents may not to be up to their expectations. These are the lots that really really need your encouragement. Not everyone landed in teaching profession due to their passion in educating.
But putting the same belief system that everyone needs more love and care, we as parents can always do this: 信己无私 信人有爱(To trust that we have selflessness in ourselves , to believe that everyone has love in his or her heart.). I have seen many school teachers whom after attending Tzu Chi teacher training class, turned into more compassionate teachers.
Many years ago, i wrote this letter to my girl class teacher. She may not appear to be a 'loving' teacher, but i really appreciate her great effort in keeping the class in a harmony mode. She may not be that 'hardworking', but in her own ways, she lets students have their own pace of learning. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1874751261081&set=pb.1010163626.-2207520000.1382054125.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F208568_1874751261081_1593175_n.jpg&size=600%2C405
I stopped teaching in school, but i have continued my education journey in one way or another, in a more social mode.
Dear XXX, always remember that once a teacher, always a teacher.
You will get the joy of seeing students growing. Over the years, i cried many times seeing students achieving their dreams.
One of my ex students wrote this, "is not about how much u did to help me.. but to me is a teacher who didn't give up on me such a problematic student. in fact this changed my life. still telling many of my friends without the 2 teachers u n peter tan, i will not be who i am today. would definitely happy to meet u up soon!". All the hard work do pay.
When I was teaching this boy, I was pregnant with my 1st girl, I had a hard time with the fussy HM, I was teaching the first batch of Form 6 class, etc. But today i think i am blessed that i have someone else who are equally loving to cultivate and love my daughters. It was this thought "「以媽媽的心來愛別人的孩子，以菩薩的智慧愛自己的孩子。」"( Love other ppl children with a mother's heart, love your own children with a Bodhissatva's wisdom) that helped me to go through the process.
May all teachers and parents be cherished with peace and love.
YYY responded by saying "I wish you all; good; caring teachers will be in my boys school."
I replied, "no, i think this works. You will have to send out the loving thoughts and loving actions, then only you get loving teachers. i.e. you have got to cultivate it."
ZZZZ rebutted, "But my concern is not so much on students, but the entire "ecology" education system, the whole teaching quality, the system, and when the old retires..Do u really want me to write here? It's almost all parent's frustration."
My replied is, "I think every generation has it's own set of challenge. During our time, financial stability was an issue. Going for music classes has never been such an in thing, but we seldom heard of old folks not having the thinking ability due to lack of MQ, and some more old mothers who didnt go to school can sing lullaby well enough.
We may view that we have overcome this financial stability issue since everyone own a house(no need to rent like those days), but are we really off the issues of finance? Nope. Coz these days we have kids who often felt dissastifaction over what they had in life, from better/branded mechanical pencils to whether able to go for overseas trip in school holidays or not. And I always have a tester: any kids who dont complain and find joy in my old kancil which has poor air cond ventilation will definitely be a more complete human. So the fundamental issue is still back to : OURSELVES, OUR MINDS."
High respected Mdm Teoh Poh Yew too responded, "we are facing crisis in our education system now. Now tell ourselves that we are going to take this opportunity to demonstrate to our children how we overcome this crisis wisely."
Dear xxxxx,
I have been teaching till end of last year. Prior to teaching, I was in the electronic industry.
Never think of leaving a profession just because we think we don't like it. I can understand your frustration. Meeting up with positive and energetic friends are important. Stay away from friends who keep on complaining. Sometimes pouring out our grouses among colleagues can be quite damaging to ourselves.
I am available to talk over the phone too....am just another kepo being.
I think there are basically 2 objectives of education,
1.to impart knowledge 教书,
2. to educate a being教人.
At any time, when obj #1 is unachieveable, then we have to focus on obj #2.
Very often when the school work starts to trigger a teacher, it is also got to do with our internal family issues. How have you been coping with your family life lately? I hope i am not offending your privacy.
Once a great master who taught Heart Sutra told me, dont get fantasied by the idea that there has been 'the good old days'. It has never been.
Looking at the students who opt for expensive private schools, are we really sure that they are getting the best education system? Are we not seeing a lot of spoilt brats spending lavishly on parents money?
The best moment is the present moment. The best education comes from within our own minds. Just my personal opinion.
There are also some 'so-so' teachers whom by the standard of many parents may not to be up to their expectations. These are the lots that really really need your encouragement. Not everyone landed in teaching profession due to their passion in educating.
But putting the same belief system that everyone needs more love and care, we as parents can always do this: 信己无私 信人有爱(To trust that we have selflessness in ourselves , to believe that everyone has love in his or her heart.). I have seen many school teachers whom after attending Tzu Chi teacher training class, turned into more compassionate teachers.
Many years ago, i wrote this letter to my girl class teacher. She may not appear to be a 'loving' teacher, but i really appreciate her great effort in keeping the class in a harmony mode. She may not be that 'hardworking', but in her own ways, she lets students have their own pace of learning. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1874751261081&set=pb.1010163626.-2207520000.1382054125.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F208568_1874751261081_1593175_n.jpg&size=600%2C405
I stopped teaching in school, but i have continued my education journey in one way or another, in a more social mode.
Dear XXX, always remember that once a teacher, always a teacher.
You will get the joy of seeing students growing. Over the years, i cried many times seeing students achieving their dreams.
One of my ex students wrote this, "is not about how much u did to help me.. but to me is a teacher who didn't give up on me such a problematic student. in fact this changed my life. still telling many of my friends without the 2 teachers u n peter tan, i will not be who i am today. would definitely happy to meet u up soon!". All the hard work do pay.
When I was teaching this boy, I was pregnant with my 1st girl, I had a hard time with the fussy HM, I was teaching the first batch of Form 6 class, etc. But today i think i am blessed that i have someone else who are equally loving to cultivate and love my daughters. It was this thought "「以媽媽的心來愛別人的孩子，以菩薩的智慧愛自己的孩子。」"( Love other ppl children with a mother's heart, love your own children with a Bodhissatva's wisdom) that helped me to go through the process.
May all teachers and parents be cherished with peace and love.
YYY responded by saying "I wish you all; good; caring teachers will be in my boys school."
I replied, "no, i think this works. You will have to send out the loving thoughts and loving actions, then only you get loving teachers. i.e. you have got to cultivate it."
ZZZZ rebutted, "But my concern is not so much on students, but the entire "ecology" education system, the whole teaching quality, the system, and when the old retires..Do u really want me to write here? It's almost all parent's frustration."
My replied is, "I think every generation has it's own set of challenge. During our time, financial stability was an issue. Going for music classes has never been such an in thing, but we seldom heard of old folks not having the thinking ability due to lack of MQ, and some more old mothers who didnt go to school can sing lullaby well enough.
We may view that we have overcome this financial stability issue since everyone own a house(no need to rent like those days), but are we really off the issues of finance? Nope. Coz these days we have kids who often felt dissastifaction over what they had in life, from better/branded mechanical pencils to whether able to go for overseas trip in school holidays or not. And I always have a tester: any kids who dont complain and find joy in my old kancil which has poor air cond ventilation will definitely be a more complete human. So the fundamental issue is still back to : OURSELVES, OUR MINDS."
High respected Mdm Teoh Poh Yew too responded, "we are facing crisis in our education system now. Now tell ourselves that we are going to take this opportunity to demonstrate to our children how we overcome this crisis wisely."
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Liquor free tiramisu cake
For the Syrup:
1 large coffee mug hot water (not boiling!)
1 tb sp milk 1 tb sp Nescafe
1 pack of Kopi O
1 tb sp sugar ( I omited this since the instant coffee has already contained sugar).
For the Creme Filling:
3 tb sp plain flour
1/2 lt milk
2 egg yolks (get rid of the whites!)
1/2 cup sugar
1 pk mascarpone cheese (250 gr)
For the Base: 1 pk shortbread sponge finger type biscuits (i choose to use the traditional type of biscuits for eating with coffee coz it's cheaper and can be eaten alone if i have any leftover). It looks something like this.
.
Get ready the deep dish tray to prepare your tiramisu. Get one extra plate to prepare 2nd layer biscuit. Lay the biscuits flat. Place the base layer in the tray, and the top/second layer on the extra plate. Mix the syrup ingredients in the mug.
1. With a spoon, pour the mixed syrup over the biscuits. Make sure they are moistened well, but you need to be careful not to over do it. :) Remember that you need to pick up each piece and lay it over the base later, so moist enough that the syrup has seeped through the entire biscuit, but not so moist that it melts away. :)) You will know what I mean when you are doing it. It's a very easy recipe! So all biscuits on both plates need to be moistened
2. Now, get a pot and chuck in all the ingredients for the creme filling EXCEPT for the Mascarpone cheese I prefer to mix it with a whisk all throughout the process so there are no clumps in the end. I find that if I use the blender, it becomes too... hmmm, what's the word for it?.. bahhhh I can't remember the exact word, but it doesn't get as thick as it should. So try and avoid the blender if you can. I also put my stove to medium-medium high rather than high.
3. Once it's almost done, this is what it should look like. Nice, thick, and creamy with bubbles plop plop plopping. :) Now, at this stage, I advise you remove the pot from the stove to prevent the creme from sticking to the bottom of the pot, and start emptying the Mascarpone cheese into the pot.
4. Once you have added the Mascarpone cheese, place the pot back onto the stove and probably have your stove down to low at this point, and continue to mix with the whisk for a couple minutes until you see that the cheese has completely blended in to form an even thicker creme.
When that is done, remove the pot from the stove and probably leave it to cool a little bit for approximately 5 minutes. It doesn't need to be cold.
5. Start pouring the creme onto your base. Make sure all the biscuits are covered in the filling.
6. Once you have covered the base with creme, start transferring the biscuits that were moistened on the other plate onto your base. I would recommend that you transfer them with your hands rather than using other utensils, because at this stage they are very prone to breaking. It's ok if they break into two or something, just lay them accordingly. As you can see in the above photo, my middle bikkie broke in half. :)
7. Once you have completed laying the second layer of biscuits, repeat the same process. Cover the entire layer with the remaining creme.
8. so it should look similar to this... depending on the type of plate/tray you use. I prefer to use a deep dish which prevents all the creme from spilling out. You cover your dish with a cover, or wrap with cling wrap. Place in refrigerator for it to set for approximately 2-3 hours. The more it waits, the better it sets and tastes. So I usually make my Tiramisu late at night, and it is ready to serve any time during the day. If you are going to make it for evening guests, make it in the morning, and it will be ready in the afternoon/evening.
9. When it is ready to serve, sprinkle with cocoa powder and some chocolate flakes with your own preference.
modified recipes of : http://hijabtradefashion.blogspot.com/2012/02/step-by-step-alcohol-free-tiramisu.html
1 large coffee mug hot water (not boiling!)
1 tb sp milk 1 tb sp Nescafe
1 pack of Kopi O
1 tb sp sugar ( I omited this since the instant coffee has already contained sugar).
For the Creme Filling:
3 tb sp plain flour
1/2 lt milk
2 egg yolks (get rid of the whites!)
1/2 cup sugar
1 pk mascarpone cheese (250 gr)
For the Base: 1 pk shortbread sponge finger type biscuits (i choose to use the traditional type of biscuits for eating with coffee coz it's cheaper and can be eaten alone if i have any leftover). It looks something like this.
1. With a spoon, pour the mixed syrup over the biscuits. Make sure they are moistened well, but you need to be careful not to over do it. :) Remember that you need to pick up each piece and lay it over the base later, so moist enough that the syrup has seeped through the entire biscuit, but not so moist that it melts away. :)) You will know what I mean when you are doing it. It's a very easy recipe! So all biscuits on both plates need to be moistened
2. Now, get a pot and chuck in all the ingredients for the creme filling EXCEPT for the Mascarpone cheese I prefer to mix it with a whisk all throughout the process so there are no clumps in the end. I find that if I use the blender, it becomes too... hmmm, what's the word for it?.. bahhhh I can't remember the exact word, but it doesn't get as thick as it should. So try and avoid the blender if you can. I also put my stove to medium-medium high rather than high.
3. Once it's almost done, this is what it should look like. Nice, thick, and creamy with bubbles plop plop plopping. :) Now, at this stage, I advise you remove the pot from the stove to prevent the creme from sticking to the bottom of the pot, and start emptying the Mascarpone cheese into the pot.
modified recipes of : http://hijabtradefashion.blogspot.com/2012/02/step-by-step-alcohol-free-tiramisu.html
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Lunch inspiration
As I was having a simple lunch with a well known neurosurgeon, i heard him saying his challenge with the department which involved dealing with the Bumi issues. But as we were about to finish, i realized that he has left his food unfinished, with some rice, egg yolk and some veges. 原来答案就在这里，但我们的生活环境越好时，我们越忘了要惜福，所以自然的一个人就会面对类似这样的事情来考验他。
能够惜福，自然就有很多贵人围绕在我们身边，助我们一臂之力
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