Names

Last Tuesday, I went to the RTA (Road & Traffic Authority), which is similar to JPJ in Malaysia to sit for my driver's knowledge test (yes... I had to go through all the process again just to get the NSW driving licence) Anyway, I was unable to sit for the test that day. I was told that the my family name and given name was mixed up in my visa, hence they cannot allow me to proceed until I get my visa ammended.

Usually I would be so pissed off when things like this happen. But on that day, I was actually pretty cool about it. I couldn't stop laughing because I felt it was so funny - because things like this always happen to me. I have had so many experiences like this when I was doing my masters degree. All my fellow friends did their masters in the same uni and had no problem. But I ended up with hips of problems, one after another. I guess I am now immune to things not going smoothly for me... ha ha ha...

I still find it funny when I was walking towards the car park. So when I walked pass a news agent, I thought I'd buy myself a lottery ticket since I was so "lucky". The lottery ticket is still with me now, has not been drawn yet, so I'm keeping my finger crossed. Who knows... :p

Well...the story continues on Thursday. I went to the Immigration Office to get my visa ammended. When I first told the guy behind the desk (a cute one actually :p) about the problem, he said there's nothing he can do about it. He showed me the database on his computer. Apparently whoever that processed my visa was not sure which is my family name (you see, most chinese have their family name BEFORE their given name, but in our family, we are like the westerners, we have our family name AFTER our given name).

Due to that, they have keyed in my full name under "FAMILY NAME" and left "GIVEN NAME" blank. OMG... don't they read my application forms ?? It was cleary written in my application forms. Anyway, while looking at the database, I saw my previous record in there (the previous record is of a working visa I applied before applying for a PR visa), so I told the cute guy that the data in my previous record is correct and asked if he can do something about it. So he tried some trick and managed to reprint the visa with my name in the correct order (family name first then followed by given name).

phew... that's a relief... :>

My First Cheese Cake

All these while, I have always wanted to have a go at baking cheese cake. I always thought it would be a difficult task based on my perception of how much a cheese cake cost. Well, I must say that my perception is so wrong. Baking a cheese cake is no different from baking a normal cake. Just a little extra work involve in those which uses the hot bath method for baking.

Before I started my quest, as usual I did my research. I realized that in all the cheese cake recipes that I have come acrossed, all of them uses a spring form cake pan, which makes me wonder why ?? I have 3 cake pans but non are spring form type. I was a little reluctant to get another one and wonder if I can get away without having to use the spring form type. But I soon understand that I have no choice but to get one because cheese cake is different from normal cake (I will not be able to get the cake out from the pan as I cannot tip it over).

So off I went shopping with a list of item needed for my cheese cake. I have no problem finding everything except cream cheese. Reason ? Cause I do not have a single clue how cream cheese look like :p

I was standing in front of the cheese aisle, scanning every type of cheese, from block to tub to cube, from cheddar to cottage to ricotta but just failed to spot the one and only cream cheese. For about 10 minutes I repeatedly go through shelf by shelf, eventually I gave up. I ended up asking a nice lady what cream cheese is and how does it look like.

The first thing she told me was: "oh... it's something like philadelphia spread..." Ah... "Philadelphia" is one word I am familiar with and immediately know where to look. True enough, I found the cream cheese. Thanks to the wonderful lady.

****************************************************************************

I baked my cheese cake over the weekend. It took quite a bit of physical strength of me though as I was whisking the mixture manually. I guess it is time for me to invest in an electric whisk/mixer :p

Nonetheless, all the hard work and sweat is worth it. I am now enjoying my deliciously yummy marble cheese cake.

The Cycle

from green they turn into beautiful yellow and red
and as the weather turns colder day by day
they become more vulnerable
barely hanging on

then come the moment
moment for them to let go
they drop gracefully to the ground
dancing along with the wind
they vanish into mother nature

................................
*silence*
..........................................

finally
the feel of warmth sipping through
after days and days of silence and cold
out come the little ones
so fresh and soft and green
popping their little heads towards the warm sun
embracing life as they grow

...and the cycle goes on
over and over again
the cycle of life