Round 3: Success!

Since Round 2 didn't happen last weekend, I was determined that Round 3 be a success. After the disappointment of Round 2, I got sick! As I said in my previous entry, I'd already started to have a scratchy throat and sniffles. Well...all that graduated into a full blown fever and cold attack. I went to work on Monday despite feeling sluggish and by Tuesday, I was bedridden. My head was heavy, my body was hot and my nose was leaking. I was on MC on Tuesday and Wednesday. All I did was stay home, lie in bed, drank lots of water and slept.

I had to drag myself back to work on Thursday as I had some important stuff to finish and send off to the printers. My poor colleague who shares my office room had to deal with my coughing, sneezing and sniffling for two days.

Saturday came fast enough, thanks to my two-day bed rest. As this was the last weekend I had before all my crazy meetings begin, Round 3 HAD to be a success. So the whole of yesterday morning and afternoon was spent in Little India. We managed to find our outfits and also a top for dad (although when he tried it on later, it was a tad too tight!!). We also got all the cookies and other tidbits (read: Indian sweets/candies, black donuts etc).

We also bought muruku flour and the whole of today morning was spent on that. There was a slight problem at the beginning as we couldn't get the right consistency for the dough to be pressed and shaped. It was too dry and it kept breaking. It just wouldn't hold its circular shape. After numerous attempts of salvaging the dough, a quick call to my grand-ma fixed the problem! Oh well...that's where experience comes in.

And so...after about 2.5 hours of kneading, pressing and frying, we managed to make 173 murukus (minus the broken bits and pieces). Not bad!! Right after all the washing up was done, mum, sis and I fell asleep!! Lol!

The house smells of ghee and right now...I'm in no mood to eat the muruku...just yet. A bit jelak for the moment. But I guess as the days pass and Deepavali approaches, I'll find myself reaching into the tin for a muruku or two.

It's back to work and meetings for the next two weeks. THANK GOD the last meeting ends just before Deepavali!

:-)

Round 2

Round 2 of Deepavali shopping did not happen last weekend. Sis was sick, mum didn't want to go...

So that leaves me with this weekend to shop for our clothes, make muruku (if we are doing it!!) and buy the rest of the give-aways (read: cookies, cake etc). At the rate things are going, I doubt that shopping this weekend will push through.

My sis was/is sick; runny nose, cough and fever. I used to be able to withstand any sickness thanks to my high antibody. However now, I find myself getting sick after one family member gets sick. Could be that we are all under one roof and there's no where else for the germs to attack; could be that I'm getting older and my body's resistance is weakening. Whatever it is, I think I'm about to fall ill.

I've already got the signs: scratchy throat, dry cough, headache. It's just a matter of time, although I'm going to do my very best to avoid getting a full-blown cough and cold. That means, lots of vitamin C and water.

My new, red, L-shaped sofa has arrived by the way!! I'm so happy!! Although my sis and I are trying ur best not to sit on it so much for fear that it'll start to sink or wear out! Haha!

Deepavali shopping: Round 1

So my sis, mum and I went on our 1st round of Deepavali shopping last night and it was such a disappointment. After having our dinner at Ananda Bahwan, we went from shop to shop looking for our (read: my sis and I) Deepavali outfits. Not only were the prices of the outfits outrageous, there were simply none that caught our eye. The trend this year seems to be the crumpled-looking Punjabi suits. There were 2 or 3 that were nice but the price was also “nice”. RM477 was printed on one of the price tags. But don’t worry…everything was on “discount”, 50%, which means the outfit still cost more than RM200 which is more than what I’d set aside for one person!!

After a few disappointing rounds in about 5 shops, mum started to insist that we get “normal” clothes this year instead of traditional clothes. But of course, my sis and I disagreed. After all, this is the one time in the year that we get to buy Punjabi suits. Granted, that besides Deepavali, we only wear Punjabi suits either to temples, during Thaipusam or weddings, but nonetheless, it’s DEEPAVALI!!

I felt so disappointed as I walked back to the car. I had really hoped to spot one outfit that I like and buy it, or at least get excited. Mum said that it’s still early and that as time passes, the better ones will emerge. But I beg to differ. After all, it’s only less than a month to Deepavali….plus…I’ve got only two weeks to get everything ready before I drown in my sea of meetings at the end of the month.

Hmmm………..round 2 should be this Saturday. We’ll probably go to Kamdar in Bukit Jambul. Let’s wait and see…..

Less than a month to go

So Deepavali is less than a month away and usually by this time, I’d be all excited. The month before the festival is when all the hype begins. Shopping for new clothes and accessories, making muruku and kulcha, cleaning the house (not that I look forward to it), keeping aside all the 'angpow' packets we get from banks and malls…the list goes on.

This year however, I haven’t begun to feel the excitement. I blame this all on work as from Oct 27 to Nov 3, I’ll be stuck in meetings after meetings after meetings. So there goes my yearly grand-daughter duty of helping my grandma make muruku and kulcha. We usually make them about a week before Deepavali; any earlier and there won’t be any left for the day!! I suppose my sister will have to shoulder the responsibility alone this year.

I have about 2 ½ weeks to do all the shopping I want and knowing what a picky person I am….that’s hardly enough time. I bought my Deepavali outfit at the very last minute last year…if I’m not mistaken just a few days before Deepavali!! I vow not to do the same this year. I don’t have the time anyway.

I’m also looking forward to the “party” or gathering that is supposed to happen the day after Deepavali. A friend is “planning” it i.e. talking about it but so far that’s all I’ve heard of it: TALK. I hope it happens. My brother said he’ll try and make it and I’m sure it’ll be a blast!! :-) That’s the first time we’ll all be drinking together. Hehe…

I also have to get my new sofa for the house. We went scouting for one last weekend and I hope to finally book one this weekend. Hmm…let’s see lah…

Of being greedy

So lately I’ve begun to realize that I am becoming greedy. I find myself wanting things, and the only thing that is keeping me back from getting that stuff is the knowledge that I will suffer in the end if I indulge myself!

I don’t have the usual wants or desires to have the latest shoes, clothes or accessories. I rarely shop which is good for my pocket and bank balance; plus, I’m really picky especially when it comes to shoes. I can go shoe-hunting and still come back empty handed!!

Anyway, back to being greedy, recently, I took a look around my house and decided that my family (read: I) need a new sofa set. Our old sofa set was tearing and breaking, and when my grand-aunt was selling her house stuff away, we bought her two single bed frames and mattresses and used that as “sofas” for our house!! “Brilliant” idea as now…neither my parents nor my sis and I sit. We all lie down!! Pathetic I tell you, considering the fact that my mum had a “rule” to NEVER have a bed in the hall!!! People who came to our house compliment us on our creative idea but I’d bet they would never do the same.

So…having a new sofa set was one thing. Then as I flicked through the various channels on Astro, I decided that I it would be nice to have channels such as BIO, Discovery Health and Living etc. There seems to be more interesting things to watch on those channels. That’s added $$. So for now…I’m still counting to see if I can afford the addition.

Then there’s my sister and me always wanting to eat fast food like McD’s and Pizza Hut which would just burn a hole in our pockets! And it doesn’t help when Burger King is now opening a branch near your house!! Arghhh…

Of course…I always set aside some money whenever I receive my salary. That money either goes for house groceries, car repairs (this year alone there were so many unfortunate incidents with Wednesday being the most recent. My exhaust pipe actually broke into two!!), end of the year car road tax and insurance renewal, Deepavali etc.

Now I’m not complaining about not being able to get what I want. I can easily take money from my “emergency” savings to indulge my greediness but is it worth it?

I can do without the extra Astro channels. As for the sofa set…well…I’m pretty determined to get a set coz I’m beginning to get sick and tired of having a bed and mattress in the living room. It’s just bad feng shui. I’ve got some saved up money…so let’s see if I can find an affordable one.

Hmmm.....