Pan Mee

It's been a long time since I've taken time out to think.Ever since starting locomotor system,I've only been thinking about waking up early and being on time for sessions with my tutor and registrar.After going on sucessfully for one week,my body just backfired and told me i needed a break.And it happened in the worst way ever.I manage to miss pre-admission clinics where i was suppose to choose a portfolio patient and ward rounds.Ran...just in time to enter surgery,went unprepared for my SSC3 presentation and to make a unsterile error while scrubbing in for another surgery.To cap it all, lost my necklace of 6 years.Nevertheless,there were good times when my serious looking tutor joked about the mallet that flew towards me while the registrar was hammering the artificial joint.All that in one day.

Thank goodness I've had more success with my experimental dinners.For a change, we had salmon with garlic butter rice,reminds me of Manhattan Fishmarket.And my greatest acheivement so far....a proper spongy and springy Pan Mee.

This is actually the same bowl but just with a customised M for Mei..Theo was more adventurous and he tried to make a bear which looked liked like a human figure and a camel/donkey.Who says pan mee has to be the boring thorn or processed long noodles?
Despite the vague origin of the noodle,i came across something interesting while i was googling for the recipe.Pan Mee was originally known as a poor man's dish.It was thought that you could buy a handleful of ikan bilis for a cheap price while the sayur manis harvested form the backyard.No wonder,it's only known in malaysia.It's practically impossible to get ikan bilis or sayur manis here in Edinburgh.

The CNY Project

Tong tong chiang....the year of the OX is coming!!!

To kickstart the CNY mood and kill the longing for home baked cookies, I've decided to bake my very own.To make it even more homely,even the jam was made from scratch, thanks Khek Jian for all the muscle into shredding pineapples.

THE PREPARATION....

Z Pioneer batch
THE FRUITS OF LABOUR..4 hours and after 3 episodes of American Idol.

Ready,Set..Jatuh

The Lesson

Day 2 in Aviemore means we're off skiing in the morning.

We were so ready,Ben was shining throught the jacket.Hehe..mountain mountain here we come

Before we went, we had to get suited up in robocop boots and a bomber jacket.And of course the skis and poles.

So-P and I on the tram upLook at the excited facesEveryone is born to ski but what really matters is if you know how to brake.Putting on our skis itself it's the most trying task.The the angling to place one foot in while trying to lean and not slide makes me sweat.After i got one foot it,there is the problem of the other foot.Thanks to all the Wii experience,bending for a long period of time wasn't a very hard task.Next was learning how to snow plough.Meaning we're suppose to make a V with the skis.I made a V but it didn't stop me from sliding down...I fell pretty much too many times for my instructor to care anymore.He decided not to help me up on my skis after the second time and just watched me slide around in the snow.Meano instructor at first i tot but it proved to be the most useful lesson i had for the 2 hours.Now i dun have to take of the skis to get up yippie...happy to fall anytime.Even after 2 hours,most of us didn't even know how to snow plough and our instructor said bye bye.Darn...While the other left for lunch,my sifu Ivy thought me the theory of snow ploughing and just like magic,i can SKI....anyone up for more ski trips??

The Aviemore Jump

On our way back,we saw a frozen lake....just like from the moviesWent to test the ice...

Aviemore with DRAMA!!

Gonna skip Christmas post since pictures are still waiting to be located.

Well well,my first ever Winter break.What better way to start it off by going skiing?Or so we thought but we got more then we bargained for.

THE ROADTRIP

The plans were already slightly distorted even as Ben.Jackie,Ken and myself headed off to collect the first 2 rented cars in the morning,we were told that a few members of our entourage would be late,not to mention one of our key car renting person.Not everything was bad though,the people at Arnold Clark told me that since it was a busy morning and the smaller cars were going out very well,they decided to upgrade us to a medium size car and I got a new Peugeot 308.Yay..i probably gave Ken the scariest ride of his life,sharp new breaks are not really my thing.

Starting point : Kincaid's Court,Edinburgh

Destination : Aviemore, Cairghorn National Park

Mode of Transport : 3 cars and 1 GPS system

Estimated time : 2 hours and 39 minutes ( according to google map )

Starting time was 4.30pm and since it's Edinburgh,twilight was already settling in.The first 15 minutes was spent getting lost around Carlton Hill area according to the faulty GPS.Okie, to be honest it wasn't the gps,it was us noobs with the gps.Well finally when everyone came to their senses and regrouped in Kincaid's, I decided to whip out my Edinburgh map and with the help of google map directions,we were on out way.Poor Pwassy who was relegated behind due to his notorious driving speed finally had the chance to express himself since i was navigating.Hehe.Everything was going on smoothly and the mood was going up as well,we were finally going somewhere.Damn excited as i saw Fourth Bridge till Yew Wen called and said that we missed a turn.I was honestly shocked cos we were leading, how could it be that we missed a turn???Was my google map not working??After clarification, they had taken an earlier turning according to the instructions per the gps system.Note , the same one we didn't know how to use.Well since we're on the bridge,it was kinda impossible to make a U-turn.The consensus was to take our own routes and meet up in Aviemore.The first hour was pretty nerve wrecking, one car travelling with only the guide of a google map on my little pink Tocco.Every exit was checked to make sure we're still en route.Every correct exit at the roundabout was a sign of relief and finally when we were on the A9 motorway towards Aviemore,gone were the worries.However,travelling with terrible weather conditions was no easy task as well...sudden fogging up of our windowscreen leaving limited view was tricky to drive.Kudos to our wonderful driver Prasad who got us there safely....

Calling to check on the other's when we arrive gave us quite a shock.They told us they were in some kampung area off the motorway and didn't know where it was.The kan chiongness came back.Luckily they manage to find out the name..a town called Appin.With luck,the lady in the Youth Hostel was also from Appin and informed us that it's all the way in the west coast.For those who are confused on Scottish geography,Edinburgh is on the East coast,Aviemore is in the North.So going west means that they were lost.With many many lucky stars to thank that night and many Samaritans offering directions,they arrived in Aviemore slowly but eventually.I wasn't lost but i could definitely feel the despair from each update.That's what people would really call a roadtrip.

Moral of the story,always research before going on a road trip and download a google map on your phone.Trust me it's the best 1pound you'l ever spend on any day.

Random First's

Musical PLay
Late last month, I decided to join a few friends at a musical.Was quite hesitant at first,i've never been one to be musically inclined but who wouldn't love Mary Poppins rite?Lady flying with an umbrella,totally awesome i soon came to realise.Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!Might make watching musical plays a new interest.If only i had that much cash to spare.Movie Night
Us imu transfer decided to snuggle together and what other better movie to watch then Braveheart.Too bad it was filmed in Ireland but nevertheless meaningful as it spoke of Edinburgh.Hehe.Plus the timing was just right for Sarah's birthday.

Orchestra for Caroling

Accompanied Sarah to a an orchestra belting out Christmas Carols.I have to say they are somewhat different from those back home but i liked it nevertheless.Miss hearing Jem playing 12 days of Christmas.

Beautiful carvings in the church...the last supper

The huge organI've come to realise that Christmas is a big family affair in the UK or more like for the Western civalisation.Everytime i answer a question about my plans for Christmas,there is a look of shock and disbelief that i'm not going home.It's gonna be my first Chirstmas in the land where they actually celebrate Christmas proper.Hopefully it'll be fun with turkey and all.Nevertheless,what is Christmas without the Christmas trees?

At Sarah'sBetween NRIE and Chancellor's Building

Ageing With Grace

Well well it's been ages since i updated my blog.Since i'm not going anywhere after popping paracetamol pills,time to recap on life events

Turned a year older last week, no donuts this year but got a midnight celebration which was quite hilarious to start with.I had for once decided to take an early slumber,ignoring numerous door bell buzzing thinking it was again the irritating prankster/drunk that was early.But no...it's the yummy cake deliveryIt came with this...absolutely adorable.I tried popping it into the mircowave once (not the toy but the beans inside),felt bad for the porccupine but it works people.Thank you so so much,plus those far far away,JJ,Jackie,Siaw,Yew Wen and Hui Lin.Had the best gift from the heavens ever, a white birthday as Poh Peng and I made our way to Livingston for clinic time.

The big jakuns...stepping on snow.Nice and spongy we say.

We had dinner at a place called Mussel and Steak.Wild guess on what we ate?That is what 1kilo of mussels look likeHan Ying and I decided to go for variety..the seafood platter.It reminds me so much of Manhattan's Seafood Platter.Can't wait for the day to dig into those again.

The after party continued at Victoria's Restaurant cos b'day girl,me wanted ice cream more then a flaming hot drink.Hehe.I got myself cheesecake while at it.Super yummiliciousCho Ee got this very interesting looking pudding And now now for the unveiling of the presents...as mum and dad's orders,i got my own birthday present.The nine west bag i've been eyeing since my glasgow trip.Sis,nice or not?The pretty pretty cards i got from everyone,made me feel happy and loved.Especially the ones which travelled thousands of miles to get here.Gotta thank mum and dad for the irritating one which plays the birthday song at the loudest pitch everytime i try to read the content.

Extravagent indulgence thanks to Miss Wei Ling,purple plate and bowls makes a happy girl.Thanks for remembering all the small impulses i've ever had.

First Sight

As i was having my best slumber ever in the whole week,the fire alarm rang for the 4th time this month or so...i lost count.Freaking 3am and on automode,i got my keys and went down.As i open the last door to leave the building..there were white specs of stuff..It's SNOWING people!!!
Been hearing bout light snow every now and then from people but my first encounter was last nite.Great timing.

Here's a view from my room after firealarm cooled down.

Love the big owl shape one..My flatmate Nikki think it's totally amazing that i have never seen snow before (Not very hard considering Malaysia is like summer 365 days a year)When it starts snowing properly, we're so going to build a snowman.Wohoo..