Food & Drinks, Jibber Jabber

Endives & Gold

I have spent the past two days making endive croquettes, endive salad, and a big pot of vegetable dump soup with loads of … endives. March is usually when we hit peak endives.

This evening, D has a meet up in Ghent. I promptly signed-up to a webinar to know more about investments in gold and precious metals. Never a dull moment here… πŸ˜‰

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Flashbacks, Malaysia

Yiyima

Today is a sad day…

My mother’s second sister has passed away after going into a coma a few days ago. I remember her fondly as a tall, soft-spoken, alert and kind-hearted auntie who will only call me and my siblings by our given Chinese names.

Because of my yiyima, I received money and newspaper mentions for scholastic achievements every year. She made sure that my mother apply for these from δΈ­ε±±ε…¬ζœƒ.

The last time I saw yiyima was eight years ago, when my parents and I went back to Sabah to attend grandma’s funeral.

Rest in peace, 二姨εͺ½.

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Belgium, Malaysia, Wealth & Creativity

A Good Start

This morning, I was informed that my new passport is ready for pick up. Wow, it only took two weeks! I know someone who had to wait for two months.

Later in the day, I received a message from my uncle that he has sent off my mother’s new SIM card by registered mail. It might take up to ten days to get here. Fingers crossed…

This afternoon, I went for a walk to buy a loaf of fresh bread from the baker. I also dropped by the grocery store to buy a few discounted food items. This is a small action on my part to help reduce food waste, and it is also good for my food budget. Whatever I cannot consume today, I put in the freezer.

It is my good fortune to know people who can assist me in matters near and far. It is a luxury to have had adapted to this new life and to know how to take advantage of the benefits that cross my path.

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Simplify

Moss

The backyard is covered with patches of moss here and there. I do not see it as a problem because these will disappear on their own during the summer months. In fact, I find the moss patches rather lovely, reminiscent of a Japanese garden.

I have seen garden birds tilting the moss when they forage for food, and some birds use moss as building material or lining for their nests. So what is there to dislike?

Today, I pulled up handfuls of moss and placed these in my terrarium. When life gives you moss… πŸ˜›

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Belgium, Simplify, Wealth & Creativity

Mondays & Tuesdays

Starting this month, I have made some adjustments to my routine on Mondays and Tuesdays. On top of having to do the laundry, ironing and running the dishwasher, I have grocery shopping and buying bread added to my list of things to do on these two days.

This Tuesday has been particularly productive because I swept the walkway, raked the vegetable patch, and sow some early pumpkin and peas seeds.

Today, dinner will have to be prepared a bit earlier because D has a meeting to attend. Household waste will be going out to the curb in the evening, and I have a chat session with mom and dad. Busy busy indeed…

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Jibber Jabber

Weekend Errands

The weekends have been busier for D and I. We now spend some time on Saturdays and Sundays doing groceries, visiting the parents, or run miscellaneous errands which require the use of the car.

Yesterday, I went with D’s mom to the open-door-day at the garden centre. We had free pancakes and drinks. And then, I did it one more time on Sunday, this time with D.

Today, I received an email reply from someone whom I was in contact with as regards to some administrative services. My many years of living in the US and Belgium made receiving a reply on a Sunday felt really weird. Someone in Malaysia was working on a weekend…

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Belgium, Malaysia, Numbers

Strange Sums

About three weeks ago, I put in a request for an administrative service by a legal office. First, I was informally given a probable sum, which I found agreeable. Then, I received a quotation for the service, more than double the initially stated fee. What, why?! This prompted me to pause the process, put a hold on the request, while I explore other possibilities. A week later, today, I received an email of an amended quotation. The cost for the service has dropped back down to the sum quoted to me the first time. What the heck?!

Meanwhile, lesson of the day on the Belgian front: It is more costly to defame the wrong people, than to knowingly torture and accidentally kill another human being.

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Simplify

A Bucket Per Day

Before it started raining this afternoon, I picked up a small bucket worth of yard waste in the front of the house. Actually, I started this activity yesterday, filling a bucket with fallen leaves and dug up weed from the backyard. I shall try to make this a daily routine. Some fresh air, a bit of moving and gradually a tidier front and backyard.

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