Procrastination is the Root of all evil

I know i've ranted like a gazzilion times about the process of writing my thesis. Right now it's absolutely unbearable. U know that feeling like you know u gotta do something but you just can't seem to do it even if u know that you absolutely have to? And semua perasaan campur aduk because I've just realised that I dont know what to do at all in the following year (2007) and it's driving me nuts. One thing I know is that I'm not coming back to University to do the PhD that Trevor had assigned for me. Agh.. But if i told my parents that I dont want to do the PhD, they're get so pissed and gonna interogasi gua berjam2 tanya wat it is i want to do with my life and what's gonna happen to my career. Kyaaa... And then seeing other people are doing so well and so steady towards their life, it frustrates me even more. And the last thing is I hate having no motivation to do anything, I've never had any form of motivation. I dont know why. Trully, I'm really worried for the coming years..I feel like I'm stuck in this moment for as long as i know, but still I havent found a way out. Gr.. i hate this feeling...


Mood: Agitated

The Trip to the Vet

"ELMO HALIM" - newest member of the family

So this was the last day that we took elmo for her daily antibiotic injection - today was the third. Since tomorrow is Sunday and Monday my mum is working till late, we dont can't take her to the vet to finish off her antibiotics treatment, so I came to learn how to inject the antibiotics myself. It wasn't that hard and I learnt pretty quickly. Elmo is healing up very well..she ain't peeing blood today but the vet said that if she still pees blood, we have to desex her. Anyway, when we were leaving the vetenary, the vet gave me this pack consisting of elmo's two last injections. And.. I looked at the packet... and it had elmo's name.. but they called her "ELMO HALIM". L O L! i was so shocked!!! now elmo took up our last name!! L O L!!!! L O L!!! it was so funny I couldn't stop laughing... LoL!!!!!! Why would a rabbit have a last name?!!! Aneh2 ajahhh!!!! L O L!!!

I hope you like it, auntie..

Yesterday and the days before yesterday, I've been really really really pressurised in getting the draft of my thesis done since my supervisors are going away today to Buenos Aires for conference and my main supervisor is going on a cruise holiday with his wife and wont be back till the hand in time of my thesis. So lately I've been sleeping till 4 o'clock in the morning trying to finish off the draft and I was quite stressed. hehehe..so to unwind, i bought a small bottle of Coruba at a little liquor shop in Upper Queen St and i got it for a cheaper price than other places. Anyway, since i knew it was gb's mum's birthday, i decided to bake her the cake... it's chocolate sponge cake brushed with the coruba and filled with creamcheese and strawberries, then it's washed with white chocolate and Dark Chocolate gratings. For the sides.. I made marbled effect white chocolate which I learnt from this basic chocolate technique VCD (It's by Yonki Gunawan - if any of you are interested, there were 5 volumes). It took me the whole day to make - i mean, i had to buy the ingredients to the mall, walk around and look for the matching ingredients.. and so voila! I came out with this!! ^^ I'm pretty impressed myself... i hope it doesnt taste bad.

Elmo is sick...

My rabbit is sick... :( I'm so sad... :( I feel so hopeless like there is nothing I can do to help her.. :( She's been peeing blood for a week now, but she's still as active and eating properly.. but she's just peeing blood.. :( I'm so saddd :( Huaaaaaaaaaaa elmo... :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

GoodBye..

Hey, just recently heard that a good friend i knew from long ago.. is leaving NZ for good. We had our vacuum in friendship for quite sometime and it's just sad to know that someone is leaving. Even my other friend Leo is also thinking of an early goodbye - for he is reaching his dream job in Japan, teaching english - and also to find a beautiful japanese (or whatever nationality may she be) wife. It just reminds me that it's really sad to say goobye to a group of friends you've been close to for a good period of time, or say goodbye to the person you love the most which you spend 4 out of 7 days of your week with, or even to your parents (if you're still living with them)..even when you know you're leaving them for something that's gonna do your life some good, but it's still hard. It's like moving on to a different phase of your life - quite daunting i think. Anyway... I just want to say, you gotta cherish your friendships and your relationships.. b/c one day we'll realise it's the most important thing in our lives, the only thing that makes our lives beautiful. - *Sigh* I'm so bad in goodbyes... :(

The Triple C (Cheese Chiffone Cake)

Two butterflies

Sometimes I think we're like two butterflies.
Two trully unique and beautiful creatures yet similar in many ways.
Although it's hard, but one day we'll have to part to reach our dreams.
I hope it's not forever because I'll always wait for you in my heart.

Spiral Chocolate Buns

Hmm Yumm Yummm

Hmm... when you're hungry.. and craving for something that can tickle your sweet tooth, you can try making this pretty and cute spiral chocolate buns :)

You'll need:

Mixture A
500 g of high grade flour
1 packet of active yeast
75g of sugar
220 of cold water
1 tablespoon of milk powder
2 eggs

Mixture B
60 g of butter
a pinch of salt

Mix everything to make mixture A and then when all well mixed, add mixture B. Keep mixing until everything is well incorporated and the dough becomes elastic and no longer sticky.

Then, divide the dough into 10 pieces and let them rest for 5 minutes

Flatten each dough lengthwise and fill with chocolate chips and sesame seeds. Then roll again to make a long tube with chocolate in the middle - then form a spiral which will then resemble the picture above. Let rest for 15 minutes - bake for 15 minutes at 175C

untitled

paling sedih deh klo misalnya kita udah kerja keras buat sesuatu, udah peres keringet dan banyak tidur yg ngak tenang.. eh terus.. ternyata hasil itu mengecewakan. males banget yakh.. gua barusan kae gini nih... pokoknya singkat cerita gua mo ada presentation, terus gua udah work hard banget banget banget, latian setiap hari.. terus.. hasil yg gua dapet itu ngak sebanding sama usaha gua. hm.. bete juga! Hikx Hikx Hikx.. mgkn lain kali ngak usah usaha aja dah.. biar gak usah kecewa.

Tell me about yourself

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Angie
Birthday:	4th August 1986
Birthplace:	Jakarta
Current Location:	Auckland - NZ
Eye Color:	Dark Brown
Hair Color:	Brown
Height:	170
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Right handed
Your Heritage:	Chinese Indonesian
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Adidas
Your Weakness:	Getting emotional really quickly and thinking negatively all the time
Your Fears:	Not being able to be an independent and successful person
Your Perfect Pizza:	BBQ chicken, Supreme
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Get First Class Honours
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	mmm lol
Thoughts First Waking Up:	"F*ck, gotta do my thesis"
Your Best Physical Feature:	Legs
Your Bedtime:	1.00 am usually
Your Most Missed Memory:	living in jakarta and being a kid
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Burger King
Single or Group Dates:	Single of course
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Nestea
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Vanilla
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Flat White
Do you Smoke:	hmmmmmm
Do you Swear:	yes
Do you Sing:	yes
Do you Shower Daily:	yes
Have you Been in Love:	yes
Do you want to go to College:	i am in college
Do you want to get Married:	yes
Do you belive in yourself:	when i'm not emotional, yes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	yes
Do you think you are Attractive:	yes
Are you a Health Freak:	used to be, not anymore
Do you get along with your Parents:	sometimes
Do you like Thunderstorms:	yes
Do you play an Instrument:	yes
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	yes
In the past month have you Smoked:	hmmmm
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	hmmmm
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	yes
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	not yet
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	yes
In the past month have you been on Stage:	yes
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no, never
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	hm... dont remember
Ever been Drunk:	not yet
Ever been called a Tease:	what's a tease?
Ever been Beaten up:	nope
Ever Shoplifted:	hm... dont remember
How do you want to Die:	lol, i'd like to die suddenly so i wouldnt know that i'm going to die
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	a millionaire
What country would you most like to Visit:	Japan, America and Europe
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	Hazel
Favourite Hair Color:	black
Short or Long Hair:	short
Height:	taller than me
Weight:	heavier than me
Best Clothing Style:	just not the south east asian style
Number of Drugs I have taken:	i dont think i've tried any
Number of CDs I own:	i dont own any CD
Number of Piercings:	1 pair
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	i havent regretted anything so far
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Fruit Tart (the second)

Hey Hey Hey...Today we went over to Dian's bbq birthday, I got sick b/c of the wind - but it was cool ey! but Evi fell over.. and hurt her back bone.. *poor girl* I hope she gets better sooon... Well when she fell, she kinda cried a little bit - and I kind of felt bad that she fell and that I couldn't do anything. Like, I'm not the type of person that can show so much emotion towards other people in that way. You know like some people can be so openly showing their sympathy in public to someone who is physically or emotionally hurt - but I'm not capable of doing that. Is there something wrong with me? o.O?

Anyway, yesterday Gilburt's mum came over.. so today I made her my famous fruit cake. Since I promised in my previous entry that I would give a better picture once the strawberry season is here.. well.. strawberry season is here!! V^^V yayyy!!! I got this cooking magazine which i lurve and this mooncake thing and lapis legit spices.. yayy! i can make lapis legit! ^^ But i feel like this is just temporary happiness..since I havent started writing my thesis yet!!!! OMG! (>.<)"..... Hmm gonna be a long week this week! but I'll manage! - Have a good week y'all!! Mwah

MoonCake Galore - Part 2

mature mooncake after 3 days "oiling"

minutes after leaving the oven

This time, I made traditional mooncakes which involved using the brown sugar pastry and egg washes.. Hm.. I think it's a pretty good recipe, so for you ladies out there wanting to make your own mooncakes.. please refer to my previous entry (September) to update on how to manage your wooden mooncake moulds. Anyway.. I really enjoyed making it.. ^^! so fUN!! ^^

To make 5 large mooncakes, you will need..

Syrup:
45g peanut oil (equivalent to 50 mL)
110g golden syrum (for NZ: use Chelsea)
1 teaspoon of lye water (air abu)

• Stir under low heat until the golden syrup becomes runny (make sure not to boil!) and set aside to cool until WARM.
  

Pastry:
Cooled Syrup
150 g standard flour
1 tblspn cornflour
a pinch of salt

• Mix all in one using a mixer or your spatula and make sure to knead thoroughly. Set aside for 1 hour under normal temperature
• NOTE: It is important that you follow these steps, especially otherwise, the pastry will become brittle and you wouldnt be able to use it for making your pastry. If everything is done in the right proportion, you'll have a soft pastry dough.
  

Filling:
Lotus, Red Bean, Mung Bean Paste - whatever you like.

• Divide everything into portions: for a large mooncake, Pastry = 80 g, Filling 100g (but you can have more filling and less pastry if you like). Roll into a ball with smooth surface
• Take the Pastry, then flatten a little bit with your hand - then ball of filling and stick it into the middle of the pastry and in cupping motion - wrap the pastry around the filling
  
• Then place into your moulds
  
• Bang mould on each direction (: east, west, south, north) equally to dislodge the mooncake
• Bake for 10 minutes in 175C
• Take out of oven, let stand for 5 minutes
• BRUSH sparingly WITH: (1 eggyolk, 2 tblspoon of water and 1 tspn oil = whisked together).
  
• Let stand for 10 minutes
• Bake again for 10-15 minutes until brown
• Take it out of the oven and cool
  
• DON'T EAT STRAIGHT AWAY: Leave it for 3 days for "oiling" before serving: this will give a nice shine to the cake.