Lately I have been drinking Horlicks in the evening before bed. Mmmm. It's hot and comforting : perfect for cold winter nights. When friends found out they were amused because Horlicks is an "old persons drink" in England. Funny, because in Brunei, it's a children's breakfast drink.
I asked Mr K-E what English children drink with their breakfast. Nothing, he said, unless they are on TV, in which case they will have orange juice. How strange.....
Here's something else I find very strange. Mr K-E calls his Aunties and Uncles by their christian names...eg Sam and Mary (not their real names, obviously). It's quite common apparently.
I call Mr K-E's parent "Mum and Dad" as I am a well brought-up young woman. All my English colleagues think that I am weird, especially the younger ones. Mr K-E calls my parents "Mum and Dad" too. There is no way that I would let him call them by their given names....it would be like a personal insult. As my Dad once said, we are humans, not dogs and cats who only have given names. We know how to respect our parents, our elders and our friends.
I wonder how I will bring up my kids (when I have them) - eg will I teach them to take off their shoes inside the house? Our flat is a no-shoe flat and it still feels weird when friends come round and they just walk around with their shoes on everywhere....even upstairs....eek. I still think it's "dirty" especially as the whole flat is carpeted. Of course, I wouldn't dream of asking them to take off their shoes....when in Rome....
Mr K-E says - if you teach our kids to take off their shoes indoors, all their friends will think they are " weirdos" because English kids wear their shoes indoors/outdoors/everywhere. Hmmm. We will see.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Sunday
I thought it would be good idea to have a luxurious breakfast today. So we had scrambled eggs on brown toast with smoked salmon. Yummy.
It was a cold sunny morning. (You can see the eggs steaming.)
We spent the rest of the day doing DIY. We've decided to start out DIY efforts in Bedroom 2, which means everything from Bedroom 2 is now stacked up in our bedroom. There is no room to move and I have move the piles of assorted junk from our bed before we can sleep tonight. It's 11:30...help.... Saturday, January 27, 2007
65 random questions
OK, I got tagged by Jewelle.
1. Are your parents married or divorced?
Married.
2. Are you a vegetarian?
No.
3. Do you believe in heaven?
Yes.
4. Have you ever come close to dying?
I don't know. How do you know?
5. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
Diamond cross on a platinum chain, Tag watch, wedding ring, diamond solitaire engagement ring.
6. Favourite time of day?
Bedtime.
7. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yes.
8. Do you wear make-up?
Yes.
9. Ever have plastic surgery?
No.
10. Do you colour your hair?
No, but I have done in the past.
11. What do you wear in bed?
PJs.
12. Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yes.
13.Can you roll your tongue?
Yes.
Girl: Paris Britney Madonna Lindsay. Boy: Romeo Caesar Cadillac Justin.
No. Except Barney in winter.
Don't understand this question. How can you have a least favourite anything? My favourite food this week is spagetti and meatballs.
1. Are your parents married or divorced?
Married.
2. Are you a vegetarian?
No.
3. Do you believe in heaven?
Yes.
4. Have you ever come close to dying?
I don't know. How do you know?
5. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
Diamond cross on a platinum chain, Tag watch, wedding ring, diamond solitaire engagement ring.
6. Favourite time of day?
Bedtime.
7. Do you eat the stems of broccoli?
Yes.
8. Do you wear make-up?
Yes.
9. Ever have plastic surgery?
No.
10. Do you colour your hair?
No, but I have done in the past.
11. What do you wear in bed?
PJs.
12. Have you ever done anything illegal?
Yes.
13.Can you roll your tongue?
Yes.
14. Do you tweeze your eyebrows?
Yes.
15. What kind of sneakers?
New Balance.
16. Do you believe in abortions?
I'm pro-choice but don't think it should be encouraged as a form of birth control. Everyone should have full access to safe, effective contraception and be educated about their rights and obligations.
17. What is your hair color?
Black.
Girl: Paris Britney Madonna Lindsay. Boy: Romeo Caesar Cadillac Justin.
19. Do you snore?
Yes. (Poor Mr K-E)
20. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina. Or Brunei. sniff.
No. Except Barney in winter.
22. If you won the lottery, what would you do first?
Tell Mr K-E.
23. Gold or silver?
Platinum, baby.
24. Hamburger or hot dog?
Bacon double cheese burger.
25. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bacon double cheese burger? Smoked salmon? Laksa? This is an impossible question.
26. City, beach or country?
City. After 3 days in the country I'm bored out of my brain. Ditto for beach.
27. What was the last thing you touched?
My nose.
28. Where did you eat last?
On my sofa. A Horlicks with two chocolate biscuits, if you are interested.
29. When’s the last time you cried?
Probably when reading one of my trashy novels.
30. Do you read blogs?
Yes.
31. Would you ever go out dressed like the opposite sex?
Errr. I wear trousers to work nearly every day. Does that count?
32. Ever been involved with the police?
No.
33. What’s your favourite shampoo conditioner and soap?
I use Clairol Herbal Essence all the time. But I covet the really expensive stuff, like Origins or Jo Malone.
34. Do you talk in your sleep?
Only when I have bad dreams.
35. Ocean or pool?
Olympic sized open air pool like the one in Anggerek Desa. It's one of the things I miss most in Brunei.
36. Window seat or aisle?
Aisle, so I can get to the toilet or stretch my legs without any hassle.
36. Ever met anyone famous?
No.
37. Do you feel that you’ve had a truly successful life?
I have no complaints so far. There's still a long way to go though. (I hope)
38. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
Twirl.
39. Ricki Lake or Oprah Winfrey?
Go Ricki, go Ricki, go!
40. Basketball or Football?
Football.
41. How long do your showers last?
Shower 15 minutes. Bath 30 minutes (minimum)
42. Automatic or do you drive a stick?
I'm a crap driver. Automatic, please.
43. Cake or ice cream?
Cake and ice-cream. Both are good.
44. Are you self-conscious?
Not overly.
45. Have you ever drank so much you threw up?
Yes.
46. Have you ever given money to a beggar?
Yes. But I usually don't. I'm much more generous to buskers.
47. Have you been in love?
I am deeply in love.
48. Where do you wish you were?
Eating Kolo Mee in Brunei.
49. Are you wearing socks?
Yes. Sometimes, in the winter, I even wear double socks.
50. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance?
No.
51. Can you tango?
No.
52. Last gift you received?
Cheque from mother-in-law for my birthday.
53. Last sport you played?(Mr K-E sniggers) Does martial arts count as a sport? If so, about two years ago.
54. Things you spend a lot of money on?
Handbags. Shoes. Books. Magazines.
55. Where do you live?
London.
56. Where were you born?
Miri hospital.
57. Last wedding attended?
A friend from University got married in Sudbury. We stayed in a hotel which used to be a mill.
58. Most hated food(s)?
Sweetcorn.
Don't understand this question. How can you have a least favourite anything? My favourite food this week is spagetti and meatballs.
60. Can you sing?
Of course. It doesn't matter how good I am...I just sing my little heart out....
61. Last person you instant messaged?
Mr K-E.
62. Last place you went on holiday?
Rome.
63. Favourite regular drink?
Orange juice and lemonade.
64. Tag 3 friends: I don't have friends. Only dustballs.
65. Current Song?
I've had the same jeans on for four days now. I'm going to go to a disco in the middle of the town. everybodys dressing up, I'm dressing down.....The View : Same Jeans.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Snow Snow Snow
I still get a buzz when it snows.
Look at that grey wintry sky.
It was about a quarter to eight in the morning; not yet fully light.
It was about a quarter to eight in the morning; not yet fully light.
Our garden.Mr K-E took these photos for me this morning (making him late for work). Thanks Honey.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Sunday night
We had a seafoodey dinner tonight. To start, prawn cocktail .
Mr K-E was amused that we had a starter. Especially a 70s style one.
Then we had Jamie Oliver's fish pie with plain boiled broccoli. It's delicious and really rich; the sauce is essentially melted cheese and double cream. I've tried a few fish pie recipes and I think this one is the best. Be warned though: you need to eat it with something plain (eg boiled veg) or else it just gets too heavy.The recipe is here. I don't normally bother to add the spinach. Also where it says "heavy cream", it means double cream. I once used single cream in a fish pie recipe and it "split" while cooking, making the pie look horrible. Tastes OK, but doesn't look appetising.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Questions, or Why are Catholics obsessed with sex?
Jewelle's post about being a lukewarm Catholic inspired me to blog about some "issues" I have with the Catholic Church. Before I start, I should say that I am practising Catholic, and my intention is not to attack the Catholic Church in any way. I can only really talk about Catholicism because I know it intimately, but I am sure that these issues apply to other religions too.
When I was a teenager, it seemed that the church youth leaders would spend a lot of time emphasising things like: no sex outside marriage, no birth control, sex is for procreation and not for pleasure (what???hahaha). Although they had my best interests at heart, it left me with the lasting impression that the "worst" sins were the "sex" sins.
Now that I am older, I wonder why was it given so much emphasis? Is going too far with your boyfriend/girlfriend really that bad? I should explain....
Take for example, Gluttony, i.e. overindulgence with food and drink, which is supposed to be a sin too. But I have never heard a priest or church leader saying that it is sinful to eat too much, that all-you-can-eat-buffets are the devil's temptation or that all fat people are going to Hell. If you really think about it, and how many people don't have enough to eat in this world while we stuff our faces - it is a sin. Consider this - some people in this world have so much to eat that they are constantly trying to diet and lose weight (including me), spending money on diet products, anti-cholesterol medication, gym memberships and plastic surgery. While their maid's family may only eat one meal a day because they have no money to buy food. Don't you think that is a sin??? When you can spend $50 on a meal, but then give your amah a $5 annual pay rise (or no pay rise at all!)
(And before you say - I deserve it because I work so hard, I'm clever etc - isn't Pride a sin too? All blessings come from the Lord, right?)
And what about the sin of Greed? Are people who drive luxury cars going to Hell? If they drove a cheap car, they could give US$50,000 to charity. Just think that one billion people live on less than US$1 a day. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when even the Pope wears Prada shoes! What?? How can he??? When he tells the poorest people in the world that it is wrong to practise birth control? Is this crazy, or am I crazy?
So I guess my question is - why are young Catholics taught that it's wrong to live together without marriage, but nobody talks about how wrong it is to be an obese, bad-tempered, Mercedes-driving, granny-swindling millionaire? Well? What's the answer?
I'm not trying to be some kind of goody-two-shoes, as if I give all my money to charity and live on two beansprouts a day. I want a big big house and to have lots and lots of money. But hey, that's OK right? As long as I don't do the birth control thing? :)
When I was a teenager, it seemed that the church youth leaders would spend a lot of time emphasising things like: no sex outside marriage, no birth control, sex is for procreation and not for pleasure (what???hahaha). Although they had my best interests at heart, it left me with the lasting impression that the "worst" sins were the "sex" sins.
Now that I am older, I wonder why was it given so much emphasis? Is going too far with your boyfriend/girlfriend really that bad? I should explain....
Take for example, Gluttony, i.e. overindulgence with food and drink, which is supposed to be a sin too. But I have never heard a priest or church leader saying that it is sinful to eat too much, that all-you-can-eat-buffets are the devil's temptation or that all fat people are going to Hell. If you really think about it, and how many people don't have enough to eat in this world while we stuff our faces - it is a sin. Consider this - some people in this world have so much to eat that they are constantly trying to diet and lose weight (including me), spending money on diet products, anti-cholesterol medication, gym memberships and plastic surgery. While their maid's family may only eat one meal a day because they have no money to buy food. Don't you think that is a sin??? When you can spend $50 on a meal, but then give your amah a $5 annual pay rise (or no pay rise at all!)
(And before you say - I deserve it because I work so hard, I'm clever etc - isn't Pride a sin too? All blessings come from the Lord, right?)
And what about the sin of Greed? Are people who drive luxury cars going to Hell? If they drove a cheap car, they could give US$50,000 to charity. Just think that one billion people live on less than US$1 a day. I guess I shouldn't be surprised when even the Pope wears Prada shoes! What?? How can he??? When he tells the poorest people in the world that it is wrong to practise birth control? Is this crazy, or am I crazy?
So I guess my question is - why are young Catholics taught that it's wrong to live together without marriage, but nobody talks about how wrong it is to be an obese, bad-tempered, Mercedes-driving, granny-swindling millionaire? Well? What's the answer?
I'm not trying to be some kind of goody-two-shoes, as if I give all my money to charity and live on two beansprouts a day. I want a big big house and to have lots and lots of money. But hey, that's OK right? As long as I don't do the birth control thing? :)
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Life in a Big City
It's been windy today and all the trains are messed up because of trees being uprooted etc etc. Poor Mr K-E had a meeting in Tywford today. I don't know where it is either, but it's far away from London. This morning, Mr K-E had to take a taxi from Newport to Twyford, it cost him £65!!
Anyway, he's home now...hooray.
And the news is full of Shilpa Shetty, Jade Goody, Celebrity Big Brother and racist/non-racist bullying. Everything in the world must be familiar with the Big Brother format now - this year, there is a Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother house. I think she's quite a big star in India, but of course unknown in the UK. Also in the house this year are three stupid young women - Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo (failed S Club singer).
Jade Goody - ex Big Brother contestent. Has been the most successful Big Brother survivor, despite being famous for being stupid.
Danielle Lloyd - Won Miss England contest but lost her title when it came out that she was sleeping with one of the judges, Terry Sheringham. A B-list WAG.
Jo from S Club - failed solo career. Now breeds dogs.
The three meanies have been nasty to Shilpa, who could be slightly annoying I guess. But I must admire her dignity and self control - she doesn't respond to Jade's awful comments eg "your head is far up your own fucking arse you can smell your own shit". Hmmm what a nice woman.
Danielle called Shilpa "a dog" and also said " I wish she would just fuck off home..."
I don't know if the racist element has been blown all out of proportion. I think it's more that they are just from such different backgrounds. Jade and Co obviously feel threatened by Shilpa, I believe part of the problem is that she doesn't fit in with their idea of what an Indian person should be like.
And of course they are doubly suspicious of her because she doesn't drink alcohol. I've worked in the UK for nearly ten years now and I can honestly say that people in England have a strange and complicated relationship with alcohol. It's their main way of socialising, relaxing and establishing social bonds. It's not just about getting roaring drunk and being sick in gutters, it's also about dinner parties, office get togethers and boozy lunchtimes in the pub. If someone asks you if you fancy a drink, he's not just asking you out for an alcoholic beverage - what he's really saying is - I want to be your friend. Not drinking means that you can't be trusted because obviously you are a "control freak", you can't be trusted etc etc.
Whether you agree with drinking alcohol or not, this is a fact of life here. I guess you could compare it to the status of food and eating in Brunei. In Brunei, if you love someone you feed them. You show your love by saving them best morsels from your plate and buying the most expensive food for them to eat. When you ask someone to join you for lunch, it's not just about the eating, is it? It's about the bonding over eating together. And would you ever invite someone round to your house and NOT feed them?
A few years ago I was invited to a party given by one of my (English) friend's parents. I didn't feel like drinking that day, so I stuck to the soft drinks. My hosts obviously didn't feel comfortable with this. I gently explained that it wasn't against my religion and I wasn't pregnant (!!!) but they must have felt that it was a failure for them as hosts. They kept offering me different drinks (wine? beer? port? sherry?) until it got really embarassing. Even my friend stepped in said - look. she's fine. she doesn't want a drink. Finally I had Amaretto (a kind of almond liqueur) just to escape.
But you can imagine something like that happening in Brunei, but with food not drink. You don't like chicken. Okay eat the lamb? How about the beef? Whats wrong, diet ka? You so thin, why don't you eat? Eat. Eat. Do you eat eggs? I can fry some eggs for you if you want eggs......etc etc....
When I first started working in the UK, if I was invited round to colleagues' houses for "drinks", I used to turn up hungry - thinking that I would be fed when I got there. Instead I used to get drunk because there would be lots of alcohol and a bag of Kettle chips. I remember one time, Mr K-E and I were invited by his colleague to visit his flat after work. We went there straight from work and I was starving....he produced two big bags of crisps (there were about ten of us) and some beer. I remember thinking OMG. How could you invite people round and not provide food...especially after work??
Now I know better. Eat first. Then drink orange juice mixed with lemonade. (It's more grown up then Diet Coke)
Anyway, he's home now...hooray.
And the news is full of Shilpa Shetty, Jade Goody, Celebrity Big Brother and racist/non-racist bullying. Everything in the world must be familiar with the Big Brother format now - this year, there is a Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in the Big Brother house. I think she's quite a big star in India, but of course unknown in the UK. Also in the house this year are three stupid young women - Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo (failed S Club singer).
Jade Goody - ex Big Brother contestent. Has been the most successful Big Brother survivor, despite being famous for being stupid.
Danielle Lloyd - Won Miss England contest but lost her title when it came out that she was sleeping with one of the judges, Terry Sheringham. A B-list WAG.
Jo from S Club - failed solo career. Now breeds dogs.
The three meanies have been nasty to Shilpa, who could be slightly annoying I guess. But I must admire her dignity and self control - she doesn't respond to Jade's awful comments eg "your head is far up your own fucking arse you can smell your own shit". Hmmm what a nice woman.
Danielle called Shilpa "a dog" and also said " I wish she would just fuck off home..."
I don't know if the racist element has been blown all out of proportion. I think it's more that they are just from such different backgrounds. Jade and Co obviously feel threatened by Shilpa, I believe part of the problem is that she doesn't fit in with their idea of what an Indian person should be like.
And of course they are doubly suspicious of her because she doesn't drink alcohol. I've worked in the UK for nearly ten years now and I can honestly say that people in England have a strange and complicated relationship with alcohol. It's their main way of socialising, relaxing and establishing social bonds. It's not just about getting roaring drunk and being sick in gutters, it's also about dinner parties, office get togethers and boozy lunchtimes in the pub. If someone asks you if you fancy a drink, he's not just asking you out for an alcoholic beverage - what he's really saying is - I want to be your friend. Not drinking means that you can't be trusted because obviously you are a "control freak", you can't be trusted etc etc.
Whether you agree with drinking alcohol or not, this is a fact of life here. I guess you could compare it to the status of food and eating in Brunei. In Brunei, if you love someone you feed them. You show your love by saving them best morsels from your plate and buying the most expensive food for them to eat. When you ask someone to join you for lunch, it's not just about the eating, is it? It's about the bonding over eating together. And would you ever invite someone round to your house and NOT feed them?
A few years ago I was invited to a party given by one of my (English) friend's parents. I didn't feel like drinking that day, so I stuck to the soft drinks. My hosts obviously didn't feel comfortable with this. I gently explained that it wasn't against my religion and I wasn't pregnant (!!!) but they must have felt that it was a failure for them as hosts. They kept offering me different drinks (wine? beer? port? sherry?) until it got really embarassing. Even my friend stepped in said - look. she's fine. she doesn't want a drink. Finally I had Amaretto (a kind of almond liqueur) just to escape.
But you can imagine something like that happening in Brunei, but with food not drink. You don't like chicken. Okay eat the lamb? How about the beef? Whats wrong, diet ka? You so thin, why don't you eat? Eat. Eat. Do you eat eggs? I can fry some eggs for you if you want eggs......etc etc....
When I first started working in the UK, if I was invited round to colleagues' houses for "drinks", I used to turn up hungry - thinking that I would be fed when I got there. Instead I used to get drunk because there would be lots of alcohol and a bag of Kettle chips. I remember one time, Mr K-E and I were invited by his colleague to visit his flat after work. We went there straight from work and I was starving....he produced two big bags of crisps (there were about ten of us) and some beer. I remember thinking OMG. How could you invite people round and not provide food...especially after work??
Now I know better. Eat first. Then drink orange juice mixed with lemonade. (It's more grown up then Diet Coke)
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