Author Archives: Minci 先生
Another farewell and new beginnings
A senior colleague is leaving at the end of this month. She is my beloved associate for our designated portfolio – Diabetes and HIV/Hepatitis/STD. I look forward to working closely with her replacement which I do not know yet. We organized a mini farewell party with a yellow-coloured theme. Surprisingly, the male colleagues delivered tremendously in getting drinks for the event. All of us had a cup of Zus Coffee each. My contribution to the event was my mini tanghulu but it did not turn out as nice as how I made them the day before.
I also got her a pearl bracelet as a personal gift. I hope she likes it. I got it from an online retail store that sells supposedly authentic pearls. Unfortunately, I experienced the bad side of customer service as well. They failed to mention that one of my rings was out of stock and what made me so disappointed was the fact that they did not reach out to me first. I WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THE MATTER UP. Can you imagine if I just clicked ‘order received’ if a friend said she had received my parcel? Without knowing that one item was missing?
Putting that matter aside, there are also a few new beginnings happening in my life. Heading towards a possible separation. I have been enrolled in an obesity programme at the clinic. My ultimate reason for obliging is because I wanted to support my colleague’s programme. I know it is hard to believe but I tend to be more committed to doing a task or a role when it is FOR other people and not myself. There are at least 20 of us and we are expected to give our commitment to this programme for six months. The first weigh-in will be in March and the last in September. I am expecting to look great in August for my 41st birthday. I intend to have a celebration of some sort since my 40th birthday seemed so meaningless to say the least.
The ball has also started rolling for my Final Year Project of my Psychology degree. I am late by 1 semester and I honestly do not want to drag it out longer. The kids are growing up and their needs and requirements are also different as compared to when they are toddlers. I wish to set up more avenues for them to excel in their chosen path. My FYP supervisor is Dr Juliana. She is one of the tutors that I have been aiming for since my 2nd year of studies because I love her vibes and spirit. I feel that there is a lot that I can learn from her before I decide on whether I’d like to plunge into the academic world of Masters.
Speaking of children, we just sent our son off on his camping trip today at Seremban. We won’t be able to contact him for at least another 2 weeks as he is there to be part of the screening programme for admissions to UKM Pintar College. I trust that he will be able to learn the ropes with guidance from his seniors although I am sure with much difficulty in the beginning. This is when as a parent, you entrust him in Allah’s care and be rest assured that Allah will look after him.
Tanghulu
Tanghulu, a traditional Chinese snack, has a rich history tracing back to the Song Dynasty. Originally made from hawthorn berries, it was known as “bingtanghulu” and was popular for its sweet and sour taste. Over time, the recipe evolved to include various fruits such as strawberries, grapes, and kiwi, coated in a crispy layer of hardened sugar syrup.
The name “tanghulu” is derived from the Chinese words “tang” meaning sugar and “hulu” meaning bottle gourd, due to the traditional use of long sticks resembling bottle gourds for skewering the fruit. This beloved treat has become an iconic part of Chinese culture, often enjoyed during festive occasions like the Lantern Festival. Its enduring popularity has also led to modern variations, including savoury tanghulu with ingredients like cherry tomatoes and meatballs, ensuring its continuing relevance in today’s culinary landscape.
Perhaps toffee apples are the western version of candied fruits as I first knew about them from the Peter and Jane books.
My daughter requested tanghulu today. So I went on Instagram to find tips on how to make them. The recipe was simple. You need a 2 to 1 ratio of white sugar to water. Then heat it up to a certain temperature but if you don’t have the fancy kitchen thermometer, one Instagrammer suggested dipping a stick into the melted sugar, then put the stick into iced water and see if it creates a nice crust. The boiled sugar should also turn into a beautiful brown. I made a few sticks of mini Tanghulu because they are sweet and my kids would have no self control if I made them too big and too much. My Tanghulu was a success and I plan to bring it to our farewell party this Friday.
Setting priorities
It is only February and I am already exhausted. I need to put some things as a priority as opposed to others. Having said that, I am putting a pause on making YouTube videos for now. It may be effortless for some to churn out lots of videos at one time but for me, I feel that other affairs need my attention right now. I am also not going to update my Facebook. Just like last year out of no apparent reason. Maybe it will be back to it’s usual chronicle spread later in 2025 when Yoongi is back from the military.
I will still blog here because it is part of my life. This is my original venting place.
2024 should be interesting.
Taxi Driver
Vigilante work requires money. A lot of money although this is open to argument depending on what one wants to achieve from their work. That was one of the take-away messages I got from the South Korean series – Taxi.
The other messages I get are;
- You need some form of skills to carry out vigilante work
- It’s a stressful vocation but worthwhile
- There will be a blurring of boundaries on what differentiates a vigilante from a criminal
- Vigilante work requires teamwork for it to be sustainable. Even Batman needs his loyal butler.
- People commit varying levels of crime and evil people do exist.
I have a few more episodes to complete and I aspire to be like Mr Jang. The empathetic yet revengeful one with the money lays down the rules and has a keen eye for talent. I don’t really know how this story will end because my Netflix is down at the moment and I can’t really binge on it overnight.
Minci Moss 