Monthly Archives: January 2008
My nephew turns 4
My darling little nephew turns 4 today. The eldest grandchild in the family is going to be a grown-up boy. 4 years ago, it was a day before we left Malaysia for Netherlands and the day our little Owen came into this world. He was my dearest youngest brother’s first son.
Happy birthday Owen ~ Jwayne~
Happy birthday Honey
Gefeliciteerd Schat. May all your dreams will come true.
We will make it happen honey.
Happy birthday to you, my darling.
My Readings
On the second week of my stay-in-bed at home, I managed to finish reading 5 pocket books of Regency-era Romance novel in 6 days. (The main reason why I was not blogging.)
Sin and Sensibility by Suzanne Enoch (Very nice plot and chemistry)
For The Love of A Pirate by Edith Layton (The writing style is not my taste)
and the trilogy by Barbara Metzger:
Ace of Hearts (about the elder son),
Jack of Clubs (about the younger son) and
Queen of Diamonds (about the missing daughter, the boys half-sister)
- I like Barbara Metzger as an author. She is witty, clever and writes good stories in most of her books.
I’ll be back for the review.
Back to Work on Last Friday
After about 2 weeks staying in bed without taking a walk even for 5 minutes, I realised that my cramp-legs on Saturday morning (yesterday) was the consequence for staying in bed too long and suddenly had to walk more than necessary on Friday. I was back to work on Friday.
Since my job-hunting process is taking its time, I decided to put my CV on MB website on Wednesday night. The result was good. I received a lots of phone calls from recruiter agencies. So, my first appointment was in The Hague. Which means lots of walking apart from taking the train.
At work, I had got many things that are given for free or sold with the lowest price by my company to us. So, hubby came to Rotterdam to fetch all these stuff home: plant (EUR5), 15-inch flat screen monitor for my FIL (EUR5, yes, very low price), binders, paper trays and stationery cases, wine glasses (about 30), frisdrank glasses (about 30), tea/coffee cups and mugs (also about 30), bowls (about 15), food containers, dustbins, big photo frames and other things. They all are free. Since no one wanted all these stuff small stuff except photo frames, I told the office manager that I would take them all for the poor people or for the church. So, I got them. There are more such as a fan and papers but perhaps I will think about it next time. Our car was already full and now one corner of our house is full with all these stuff. I just need to bring them to the church and to the poor people.
So, Saturday I almost couldn’t walk.
Book Festival in Ahoy Rotterdam
The boekenfestijn (book festival) in Ahoy Rotterdam started on Thursday the 17th and lasted on Sunday the 20th. This book festival is held a few times a year in Netherlands and Belgium. For Rotterdam, it’s held in January annually.
The books are pretty cheap because of the huge discount, up to 90%. The festival is so big and so many variations and categories. Visitors are from kids to adults who are looking for books, cards, things for scrapbooking, for arts, and even toys. Those are not the only good things about this festival, the entry is free and most of the time one can have a book for free.
In 2004, when I started collecting books, I also started going to fairs as far as in Belgium. Last year I stopped going to all fairs but only selected the places that I would like to go such as in Utrecht or Rotterdam. This year I might start to collect more books again.
Since this year, I am not able to go to Ahoy, Rotterdam, my friend, Sam, has been very very sweet to get me some Historical Romance books. She ended up buying 17 books for me after having me on the phone. The price was from EUR0.95 to EUR2.95 per book and the total price is only EUR33.80. Very very cheap compare to buying from the book store or internet which costs from EUR5.75 to EUR7.95 or the English ones are more expensive.
In 2005 and 2006, I spent more than EUR100 per order from internet and ensure that I ordered at least once per month. It was a crazy purchase and I stopped doing it. Now, I just wait for the fair.
Visit From The Versteeg
I was not alone today. Woke up at half past 11am, took shower and got ready for my guests. After 12 noon, my beloved mami Molly, her hubby Danny and their granddaughter Zumaia rang the bell. It was so nice to see these faces again. They brought fried noodles with fried chicken wings for our lunch. They brought a beautiful orchid and gifts for me. I was so touched with this attention. I didn’t even have anything for them. Well, they warned me not to do anything, not even to prepare food. Have I said that I am a guest in my own home and they were my host? LOL
Yep, I like being pampered. Dear hubby likes to do the same, doesn’t matter I’m sick or not. My cup of tea or hot chocolate or cafe latte is always ready for me regardless what I do as long as he is at home. Otherwise I have to prepare myself. 
Anyway, they didn’t stay long. They left at quarter to 3 to let me have my sleeping beauty again (sweet of them) and go back to Amsterdam to send little Zumi to her parents.
Mi and Dan, thanks for clearing my dustbin and the papers. Love you both…
Let’s Pray
Today we shall pray for the late Madam Evangeline Matanjun and dear brother in Christ Aaron Tan who have left the world and further their journey to God’s side.
May their soul rest in peace.
Our Father
Our Father,Who art in heaven,hallowed be Thy name;Thy kingdom come;Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespassesas we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.Blessed art thou amongst women,and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God,pray for us sinners,now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father,and to the Son,and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning,is now, and ever shall be,world without end. Amen.
Malaysia Mee Laksa
I was looking for a photo in this machine but all I found was this mee laksa. I took this picture when my parents were here. I brought them to a Wok restaurant and I had this mee from the place, my mom and dad had chao mien and extra wonton soup for them.
It does not 100% taste laksa but at least it’s in the neighbourhood. So, being in a different country, this would be the best to me. It’s spicy and it’s lekker. The only thing missing is the sambal belacan ala Malaysia.
This costs me EUR 8.50.
