Anybody has problems wondering what to cook???
I am struggling each day... wondering what to cook. Some days I cheat lah... as in I just buy ready-marinated meats and just chuck them into the oven. Errrr...like yesterday. S1 was like "mmmm...taste nice. Quite different from your normal style"... not realising that it's because mommy didn't make it. My normal style sooooo not nice meh??
And what are we having today?? Just pork chops marinated in some garlic, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gonna pan-fry them and serve over rice with some spinach. Donno how this is gonna turn out.
Why do I find cooking such a chore??? I used to enjoy cooking one wor...
So what's cooking in your kitchen???
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Big Changes Down Under....
What would one expect?
Moving from Asia... to a DEVELOPED COUNTRY. Speaking of DEVELOPED COUNTRY, I should change the write-up about "MYSELF". I am no longer living in a developing country, and no longer an expat wife. I'm sure is still a Nomadic Mom... cause we are still living in a rented home, and we WILL be moving sometime or other!
When are we buying a home here? Donno the answer at this point in time. So don't ask. :-)
So the part where we are living in a rented home (like what we have been doing in all our expat relocations) has NO CHANGE.
So what are the big changes?
For one, I NO LONGER have a driver, and I have since become THE DRIVER. I didn't mind this at all.... until soccer started last week ...IN THE EVENINGS! It's the time that I am usually changed in my ugly, loose and comfy pyjamas and plonked in front of the tv kind of time. So you can imagine the 'inconvenience' of having to pop out to drop and pick-up and hour later. What time? Start times ranging from 6.50 to 7.30 depending on days. 3 days of Soccer (split between the 2 boys) and then there's a day of tennis... and now Saturdays with Archery.
Actually, there's the Sunday for S2's Parkour down at Southbank. But I had to draw a line and ask him to drop it. Tooooooooooooooooooo far a drive, plus the $8 parking is off-putting. And I don't know how to kill 2 hours in the city on my own. Once Twice is okay lah... but every week, cannot tahan. Soccer and Tennis is actually quite close by.... to drive, but not close enough to walk laaaa
What about the other main change? NO MAID? Actually, I didn't have a maid back in Jakarta for awhile... Too much problem. How am I coping? Not too bad lah. Boys help out with the dishes after meals, and they will mop and vaccuum in the weekend. Only once in awhile, I will clean their toilets.... I get them to clean their own toilets weekly. S2 was like "EEWWWWWW" when I showed him their urine stains.. and it was quite funny cause the next day when his friend came, he said "please aim properly cause I have to clean it!". Hahahahha...
Not having a maid in Jakarta was not a problem, cause we could still send out our laundry to the "Laundry Kilo-an" - Laundry done by the kilos. They will wash, iron and fold (ironing not perfect but who cares??). Here... I gotta do the laundry and the ironing. Winter has its perks. Everybody wore their jumpers and NO NEED TO IRON! Now, Spring is here, more of those white shirts are seeing the sunlight... and thus have to iron. Bought myself a terrer super-duper steam iron, which actually made ironing easier. I wouldn't say that ironing is pleasurable, but it sure is easier.
What I find really hard about moving Down Under is COOKING EVERYDAY!!!!!! In Jakarta (or anywhere else in Asia for the matter), going out for a meal is soooooooo easy, convenient and cheap. Australia is blardy expensive. H keeps insisting that the noodles are almost same priced as Jakarta, cause you get double the amount. Yes. Portions are bigger, but still expensive. $$ aside, I find the larger portions also a bit troublesome... cause I would then have to ta-pau the other half, and EAT IT THE NEXT DAY. Yerrrrrr... donwan to eat same thing over and over again wor? But I don't wanna waste it either. SO how? And I find I can't eat what I want. Because of the larger portions, S1 will order what he wants, S2 will order what he wants, and I end up with whatever they cannot finish. Damn sien... It's better if H is around, then he becomes the one that eats everybody's leftovers. Hahahahah
Biggest change? Is not having the other half here with me 50% of the time... cause of the business in Jakarta. Is kinda lonely.... especially after I drop the boys to school, and I come back to an empty house. Really need to get a job of whatever to just get out.... otherwise damn sien and bored. And you know what is worse? EATING WHEN BORED!!! I've put on about 4 kgs since I moved here. How not to? The cheeses, the ice-creams, etc etc....
Speaking of jobs... it's not easy.... They stress for 'local experience' blah blah blah. I thought I'll just volunteer for something, but even that seems a bit ma-fan with the hours and days that they want you to commit. No such thing as just go and help out when you are free kind. Know what I mean?
Anyway, See how lah.....
Other than that, I think boys are settling in quite well, and at least I don't have to worry about them. Just somehow ... NO HOMEWORK ONE WORRRRRRRR...
Still so much to update.... maybe tomorrow lah...
Moving from Asia... to a DEVELOPED COUNTRY. Speaking of DEVELOPED COUNTRY, I should change the write-up about "MYSELF". I am no longer living in a developing country, and no longer an expat wife. I'm sure is still a Nomadic Mom... cause we are still living in a rented home, and we WILL be moving sometime or other!
When are we buying a home here? Donno the answer at this point in time. So don't ask. :-)
So the part where we are living in a rented home (like what we have been doing in all our expat relocations) has NO CHANGE.
So what are the big changes?
For one, I NO LONGER have a driver, and I have since become THE DRIVER. I didn't mind this at all.... until soccer started last week ...IN THE EVENINGS! It's the time that I am usually changed in my ugly, loose and comfy pyjamas and plonked in front of the tv kind of time. So you can imagine the 'inconvenience' of having to pop out to drop and pick-up and hour later. What time? Start times ranging from 6.50 to 7.30 depending on days. 3 days of Soccer (split between the 2 boys) and then there's a day of tennis... and now Saturdays with Archery.
Actually, there's the Sunday for S2's Parkour down at Southbank. But I had to draw a line and ask him to drop it. Tooooooooooooooooooo far a drive, plus the $8 parking is off-putting. And I don't know how to kill 2 hours in the city on my own. Once Twice is okay lah... but every week, cannot tahan. Soccer and Tennis is actually quite close by.... to drive, but not close enough to walk laaaa
What about the other main change? NO MAID? Actually, I didn't have a maid back in Jakarta for awhile... Too much problem. How am I coping? Not too bad lah. Boys help out with the dishes after meals, and they will mop and vaccuum in the weekend. Only once in awhile, I will clean their toilets.... I get them to clean their own toilets weekly. S2 was like "EEWWWWWW" when I showed him their urine stains.. and it was quite funny cause the next day when his friend came, he said "please aim properly cause I have to clean it!". Hahahahha...
Not having a maid in Jakarta was not a problem, cause we could still send out our laundry to the "Laundry Kilo-an" - Laundry done by the kilos. They will wash, iron and fold (ironing not perfect but who cares??). Here... I gotta do the laundry and the ironing. Winter has its perks. Everybody wore their jumpers and NO NEED TO IRON! Now, Spring is here, more of those white shirts are seeing the sunlight... and thus have to iron. Bought myself a terrer super-duper steam iron, which actually made ironing easier. I wouldn't say that ironing is pleasurable, but it sure is easier.
What I find really hard about moving Down Under is COOKING EVERYDAY!!!!!! In Jakarta (or anywhere else in Asia for the matter), going out for a meal is soooooooo easy, convenient and cheap. Australia is blardy expensive. H keeps insisting that the noodles are almost same priced as Jakarta, cause you get double the amount. Yes. Portions are bigger, but still expensive. $$ aside, I find the larger portions also a bit troublesome... cause I would then have to ta-pau the other half, and EAT IT THE NEXT DAY. Yerrrrrr... donwan to eat same thing over and over again wor? But I don't wanna waste it either. SO how? And I find I can't eat what I want. Because of the larger portions, S1 will order what he wants, S2 will order what he wants, and I end up with whatever they cannot finish. Damn sien... It's better if H is around, then he becomes the one that eats everybody's leftovers. Hahahahah
Biggest change? Is not having the other half here with me 50% of the time... cause of the business in Jakarta. Is kinda lonely.... especially after I drop the boys to school, and I come back to an empty house. Really need to get a job of whatever to just get out.... otherwise damn sien and bored. And you know what is worse? EATING WHEN BORED!!! I've put on about 4 kgs since I moved here. How not to? The cheeses, the ice-creams, etc etc....
Speaking of jobs... it's not easy.... They stress for 'local experience' blah blah blah. I thought I'll just volunteer for something, but even that seems a bit ma-fan with the hours and days that they want you to commit. No such thing as just go and help out when you are free kind. Know what I mean?
Anyway, See how lah.....
Other than that, I think boys are settling in quite well, and at least I don't have to worry about them. Just somehow ... NO HOMEWORK ONE WORRRRRRRR...
Still so much to update.... maybe tomorrow lah...
"Sau Keok Mann"
What does that mean?
Basically, the direct translation is "Hands Legs Slow" and is what it means... that the hands and legs of an individual has gone slow. I guessed this is a phenomena with everyone that is getting older. I find that in me. Not that I can see or feel that I have slowed down physically... but more of that time just whoooooooooshes past. How else can you explain this other than we have slowed down?
Time is relative... and according to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Time seems to have 'speeded up' because we have 'slowed down'.
Makes sense, right?
Basically, the direct translation is "Hands Legs Slow" and is what it means... that the hands and legs of an individual has gone slow. I guessed this is a phenomena with everyone that is getting older. I find that in me. Not that I can see or feel that I have slowed down physically... but more of that time just whoooooooooshes past. How else can you explain this other than we have slowed down?
Time is relative... and according to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, Time seems to have 'speeded up' because we have 'slowed down'.
Makes sense, right?
Friday, September 14, 2012
WALIOW! It's been a long time...
Ya man. It's been ages since I update this blog. Not that anyone missed me... except my dad. He's been complaining that he doesn't know what's been happening to his two grandsons... as nobody tells him anything!
So dad. For your benefit... as well as my mind (errr.. I've been forgetting things/events that had happened), I'm gonna update the blog.
Well.... as you already know... Nomadic Mom has relocated to MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA...
Did I give you the long story why we did this? Another time lah...
For now, I just want to write down this (definitely ONLY for my benefit)
- Wed, 12 Sept 2012: Accident @ Toorak Road. Approx 4 PM.
- Thurs, 13 Sept 2012: Car sent to Workshop/ S1's Social at School
- Fri, 14 Sept 2012: House Inspection by Agent/ Pick up car (?)
Okay.. that's about it for the time being!
So dad. For your benefit... as well as my mind (errr.. I've been forgetting things/events that had happened), I'm gonna update the blog.
Well.... as you already know... Nomadic Mom has relocated to MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA...
Did I give you the long story why we did this? Another time lah...
For now, I just want to write down this (definitely ONLY for my benefit)
- Wed, 12 Sept 2012: Accident @ Toorak Road. Approx 4 PM.
- Thurs, 13 Sept 2012: Car sent to Workshop/ S1's Social at School
- Fri, 14 Sept 2012: House Inspection by Agent/ Pick up car (?)
Okay.. that's about it for the time being!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Transition Mode....
Is this still a rant?
Read and decide.... hehehehe...
My Education Centre was started initially for myself and another partner. It was intended to be a single centre that us two ladies manage.... but somehow, the husbands got involved and suddenly there are plans to go big. And I being one who cannot compartmentalise ... is perpertually stressed about work. Bringing work back home - afterall it is OWN business right?
So work load is one thing...
And then there is the other.... over some silly misunderstanding (actually, not even misunderstanding), my partner decided not to come into work anymore. Basically, she was asking me some questions and I wasn't really forthcoming with my answers as I was busy with some stuff, and she just blew her top, banged the table, screamed at me "you think only you don't want to talk to me? I also don't want to talk to you!" and stormed out of my room. I tell you, I was so shocked by the outburst that I didn't even respond with a retort. You know me.... of course must have last word one!
Anyway, with her not coming in ... I had to be the one managing the day-to-day operations from A to Z including the bookeeping, payroll, HR stuff which she was supposed to be doing. And I have to say that it was taking a toll on me. So stressed and arguing with H almost everyday. I guessed it wasn't just the work load, it was also the emotional aspect of things. Professionally, I could handle my partner just walking off (but still keeping shares), but personally, I felt kinda letdown by a friend. And with me working working working, I have absolutely no social life. I have to say I was a bit depressed. I supposed a bit angry (is this the right word to use) too - or as in Cantonese "mm-tai".... because I own 55% but I do almost 100% of the work - UNPAID work.
Although the time is not right yet, we had to do it... we decided to sell part of the company. Otherwise I think I will go GILA. Singaporeans bought over a % of the company, and they have control now. New CEO is Singaporean.... I still hold a small share of the company. I will still be managing the academic side of things, overseeing the curriculum, the course concepts, our worksheets etc - to ensure that it is to a respectable standard. They have plans to do so many things. I just hope that they know what they are doing....
Am still managing the day-to-day stuff at the moment...(YES. Still unpaid) until they can find someone to replace me. Hope will be soon.
I hate to admit it but I really don't have the stomach to run my own business. I just cannot compartmentalise and cannot leave work at work. I am constantly thinking and worrying about work. Stressed all the time. If I try to take time off and relax. I can't. I'll feel guilty because of the "own business" notion.
Selling part of the company actually was quite timely too..... because..... I am moving to Australia with my boys. H? He will come too ...but travel back here for work.....
More about Down Under in the next post... and why????
Read and decide.... hehehehe...
My Education Centre was started initially for myself and another partner. It was intended to be a single centre that us two ladies manage.... but somehow, the husbands got involved and suddenly there are plans to go big. And I being one who cannot compartmentalise ... is perpertually stressed about work. Bringing work back home - afterall it is OWN business right?
So work load is one thing...
And then there is the other.... over some silly misunderstanding (actually, not even misunderstanding), my partner decided not to come into work anymore. Basically, she was asking me some questions and I wasn't really forthcoming with my answers as I was busy with some stuff, and she just blew her top, banged the table, screamed at me "you think only you don't want to talk to me? I also don't want to talk to you!" and stormed out of my room. I tell you, I was so shocked by the outburst that I didn't even respond with a retort. You know me.... of course must have last word one!
Anyway, with her not coming in ... I had to be the one managing the day-to-day operations from A to Z including the bookeeping, payroll, HR stuff which she was supposed to be doing. And I have to say that it was taking a toll on me. So stressed and arguing with H almost everyday. I guessed it wasn't just the work load, it was also the emotional aspect of things. Professionally, I could handle my partner just walking off (but still keeping shares), but personally, I felt kinda letdown by a friend. And with me working working working, I have absolutely no social life. I have to say I was a bit depressed. I supposed a bit angry (is this the right word to use) too - or as in Cantonese "mm-tai".... because I own 55% but I do almost 100% of the work - UNPAID work.
Although the time is not right yet, we had to do it... we decided to sell part of the company. Otherwise I think I will go GILA. Singaporeans bought over a % of the company, and they have control now. New CEO is Singaporean.... I still hold a small share of the company. I will still be managing the academic side of things, overseeing the curriculum, the course concepts, our worksheets etc - to ensure that it is to a respectable standard. They have plans to do so many things. I just hope that they know what they are doing....
Am still managing the day-to-day stuff at the moment...(YES. Still unpaid) until they can find someone to replace me. Hope will be soon.
I hate to admit it but I really don't have the stomach to run my own business. I just cannot compartmentalise and cannot leave work at work. I am constantly thinking and worrying about work. Stressed all the time. If I try to take time off and relax. I can't. I'll feel guilty because of the "own business" notion.
Selling part of the company actually was quite timely too..... because..... I am moving to Australia with my boys. H? He will come too ...but travel back here for work.....
More about Down Under in the next post... and why????
Many Things has Happened....
Have I calmed down??
Actually, not yet. So many things to rant about.
You all know that I have opened an Education Centre right?
Waa.... getting good staff is damn hard. And sorry to say, there aren't many good and qualified Indonesians. Even if you think they are qualified and can do the job, and may have a different work ethic because they have studied, lived and worked in the US, you are sooooooooooooooo wrong.
We offered a job to this guy who has post-Masters degree from the US. He signed the employment letter. Two days before he was due to start work, H texted him on two occasions. No reply. And on the day that he was supposed to start work, he didn't turn up. H called him and he "kapp" the call. So blardy unprofessional. How hard is it to pick up the phone and tell us to our faces that our offer sucks and he has decided not to join us?
If it is not people like this, it is people who can hardly speak English. Their resumes all very well-written but call them up for interview, they cannot even understand simple English. How to tutor in English.
Speaking of English, a lot of people think that just because they speak English, they can tutor Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Aduh! I even have a MODEL that wrote in for a job. And her list of experiences are catwalk modelling here there everywhere. I was sooooooooooooo tempted to call her in for an interview and ask her to do Integration by Parts as part of our recruitment assessment! Don't they ever read the jobs ad PROPERLY?
That's the rant about staff.....
Actually, not yet. So many things to rant about.
You all know that I have opened an Education Centre right?
Waa.... getting good staff is damn hard. And sorry to say, there aren't many good and qualified Indonesians. Even if you think they are qualified and can do the job, and may have a different work ethic because they have studied, lived and worked in the US, you are sooooooooooooooo wrong.
We offered a job to this guy who has post-Masters degree from the US. He signed the employment letter. Two days before he was due to start work, H texted him on two occasions. No reply. And on the day that he was supposed to start work, he didn't turn up. H called him and he "kapp" the call. So blardy unprofessional. How hard is it to pick up the phone and tell us to our faces that our offer sucks and he has decided not to join us?
If it is not people like this, it is people who can hardly speak English. Their resumes all very well-written but call them up for interview, they cannot even understand simple English. How to tutor in English.
Speaking of English, a lot of people think that just because they speak English, they can tutor Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Aduh! I even have a MODEL that wrote in for a job. And her list of experiences are catwalk modelling here there everywhere. I was sooooooooooooo tempted to call her in for an interview and ask her to do Integration by Parts as part of our recruitment assessment! Don't they ever read the jobs ad PROPERLY?
That's the rant about staff.....
Ranting Awayyyyyyy....
I think this is going to be more of a RANTING blog than anything else. I have tonnes to do but I just feel like screaming. Since I can't do that, I'll just tap tap away on my keyboard! I donno lah. Is it me getting old or what? I feel very "mang chang" with every little bit of thing. Am very "mang chang" with H just this morning. Is it me? Or is it him being an @$$?
And all because of "taking photos". Stoooopid right?
He has misplaced my point-and-shoot and I commented that it's easier to use that to take the photos of the stuff we want to sell (yeah... want to sell a LOT of stuff from our apartment - that's another story). Then he went on yapping about "How hard is it to use your iphone blah blah blah". This went on for about 5 minutes and we were still IN bed.
Then when I got up, washed and changed. I took a photo of the Lazy Chair that we want to sell. Waaaa... so many comments from him about drawing and undrawing curtains blah blah blah. Then he went on about me making big things out of small things.
Easy for him to say. Just lying in bed and telling me what to do. Blardy @$$. Don't you just hate men?????
And all because of "taking photos". Stoooopid right?
He has misplaced my point-and-shoot and I commented that it's easier to use that to take the photos of the stuff we want to sell (yeah... want to sell a LOT of stuff from our apartment - that's another story). Then he went on yapping about "How hard is it to use your iphone blah blah blah". This went on for about 5 minutes and we were still IN bed.
Then when I got up, washed and changed. I took a photo of the Lazy Chair that we want to sell. Waaaa... so many comments from him about drawing and undrawing curtains blah blah blah. Then he went on about me making big things out of small things.
Easy for him to say. Just lying in bed and telling me what to do. Blardy @$$. Don't you just hate men?????
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Resurrection
Waaaaaa... Ages since I updated my blog. You guys must be wondering if NomadicMom is still alive. Well, she was gone for awhile but has now been resurrected!
Where shall I begin. To much has happened since my update. Really don't know where to start. How about the fun stuff first? Like I am off to Bangkok this weekend. Nope. No husband. No children. Just little ole me. Meeting Sis No.2 there. She will be flying in from Singapore...
Other current updates... Boys' grandpa is here for a visit. Initially was a babysitting trip because we thought that H had to travel, and with my maid going off for a week and me going to work, we needed an adult at home to be with S2. Out little fella had acute appendicitis which had to be removed on CNY's eve. Talk about timing!!!!
Blog more soon!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
