PUMPKIN PASTA

A new recipe I invented last nite since I had lots of pumpkin on standby... so clever rite?

Pumpkin is very nutritious and high fibre. I used my leftover pumpkin soup to make this pasta for extra flavour, some cut up pumpkin (pre-boiled), zucchini, onions, ham and garlic +2 tbsp of thickened cream - 2 teaspoons of curry powder for a mild spicy taste...

garnish with egg and salad leaves - viola a quick and easy meal for the evening....

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

I don't know about other public schools, guess most schools would have this at the beginning of every school year to arrange for the parents to meet the teachers. Today, went for a Parent meet Teachers meeting which is considered standard practice at Varsity College for all grades up till year 6-7, maybe. They gave a short debrief on what to expect for the term on study materials and things to watch out for in homework, books, activities, etc. I heard that his class and 4 Melbourne, the partner class are one of the few that got fitted out for air-conditioning so that is a nice bonus for summer.

While talking to his teacher, I couldn't believe I actually heard myself volunteering to give a talk on Chinese New Year next week! What did I just get myself into? She was so excited and asked if the other class adjoined could sit in as well... yikes! 50 pairs of young eyes -have not done public speaking for a long time. Their project theme this term is called 'We're all in this together' which is a study on multicultural differences.

So, now here I am putting together something that is hopefully presentable for next Friday...Jordie said he might get a little embarrassed-he's at the age when he doesnt like questions from other children about his parents. I told him I would withdraw if he didn't like it. He said, okay, okay...he sorta liked it, guess didn't quite know what to expect about situations like these... oh well! I just thought it would be nice to lend a bit of support to the teachers' effort in doing the cultural exchange theme for this term - A bit of PR, if you like, doesn't hurt too these days. Plus, I wanted Jordan to be proud of his heritage and background, lest he forgets he's actually a chinese.

DEAL OF THE CENTURY

Few people know much about Clive Palmer the man. But after the weekend deal of a century the Gold Coaster is truly standing in the international spotlight.

Mr Palmer and Premier Anna Bligh announced a $69billion deal to export coal to China, which the Broadbeach Waters resident says will create thousands of jobs in Queensland and likely restore the state's AAA credit rating. His company Resourcehouse will supply 30 million tonnes a year to China for 20 years.

The coal will be mined from the Galilee Basin region near Alpha, west of Emerald. A private 495km rail line will be built and new jetties and ports erected at Abbott Point, near Bowen. The royalties from the sales are expected to tip more than $700 million into the State Government's coffers each year from 2014, while creating 7500 direct jobs and 50,000 to 60,000 indirect jobs across the state. Mr Palmer, a life member of the state opposition Liberal National Party and a former state director of the National Party, said the Export-Import Bank of China had financed a $6 billion loan but emphasised the project was 100 per cent Australian-owned. The man who turns 56 next month wakes up millions of dollars richer every day. He studied journalism at university but opted for Gold Coast property investment as a career instead. Mr Palmer's biggest break came in the mid-1980s when he took over the assets of two US mining companies in the Pilbara region.

They were exiting Australia and Mr Palmer was just about to become one of the richest men in the land, riding on the commodities boom, an understanding of how to do business with China and a relentless work ethic. Exactly how much he is worth, no one is sure. It has been estimated that his fortune lies between $1.5billion and $6.5 billion, but that was before Saturday's $60 billion deal.

His fortune has been built with two key men beside him Clive Mensink and Geoff Smith directors of Mineralogy and Gold Coast United and more among the dozens that Mr Palmer controls.

The China deal through Resourcehouse features former Opposition leader Alexander Downer as a director along with Domenic Martino, Mr Mensink, Baohua Bai and Zhengrong Chi, of Beijing, Peter Lynch, of NSW, American John Elmore and former Briton Derek Payne. - excerpt from goldcoast.com.au (dated 8 Feb, 2010)

EPISODE 40: STEPPING INTO 'DESTINY'

We had prayed about changing churches last year and around Christmas time was the turning point of our decision. So, today, was officially our 1st time there as new members of Destiny Church even though it was not the 1st time we had been there. (we visited twice last year before coming to this decision) Genesis was a good spiritual home for us in our 1st phase of this Gold Coast journey, but we felt we needed to move on and are very excited about our next phase in Destiny Church. I joke about it often but perhaps there is some meaning in all of this... we start our phase of journey in Australia in 'Genesis' and we move on now to 'Destiny' . The church is led by Pastor Sue Baynes and her husband Roger Baynes as well as Dean Taylor.

It was pouring heavily this morning but some friendly ushers were there ready with umbrellas. Not bad at all... I thought. So blessed to have some shelter from the rain. Today, Faylene Sparks who heads her own prophetic ministry and church was preaching and ministering. It was inspiring listening to her and the atmosphere was just so charged up with the flow of God's words and worship. Today, was by far, the most spiritually saturated Sunday I had experienced since I got on the Gold Coast. How can I express it? I felt that I had eaten and was satisfied. I loved the way the music flowed all throughout the ministering. The keyboardist and his band never left their post and kept the worship going all throughout. This was one of the main things that drew us to Destiny - the worship and prophetic flow which was so full of life. What inspired me was also the way the youths and youngsters served in the music team with dedication and worshipful spirit.

You know the weird thing is for all 3 sundays we had been there, it poured, it always poured heavy rain. The outpouring of the spirit - it seems to favour this little place. And all throughout the worship there is this sweet smell of breads. Yes, I know there is a bakery somewhere outside in the complex, but then when you walk out, there are also breads galore on the table, for free takeaways and breads served at the cafeteria. The prophetic word that came this morning was "Destiny, you shall be a house of bread to the nations, a mantle of healing placed upon you and healing shall flow in this place."

God works in parallels, I am starting to see that...in both natural and spiritual outworkings in our lives, he teaches through parallels. And surprisingly Jordan, who has never complained he is hungry, because I always feed him so well, now told me after the service: "I am hungry, I want to eat now..." Now, I am hoping he works up a spiritual appetite as well....

EPISODE 39: Yr 4 @ Varsity College

This year, Jordie goes to Year 4 which is generally for 9 year olds. He was very excited about going back to school to meet new classmates and teachers. So, he didn't even want to miss out on the 1st day of school which was last week. So, when we touched down at the airport flying in from KL, on Wed, Jan 27, I brought him to school a little after 10 am when we'd settled some clearing of stuff in the house and breakfast. At least, he still managed to be at school on the 1st day of the term even though a little tired.

His class is named 4 G, short for 4 Gold Coast. For Year 4's, the classes are named after Australian cities. Aussie schools do not stream the pupils into classes according to performance. They believe in team and group work, and teachers partner up on certain projects to teach their respective classes.

Jordie finds Year 4 challenging, he complains about aching arms from having to write so much. But that's good, I feel. A little challenge never hurts the human spirit. On the 1st day, they had spelling tests for 100 words! No mucking around in Year 4....

DRIED 'WHATCHAMACALLIT' SEAFOOD VARIETY

This TCM (traditional chinese medicine) shop was a curious stopover after a family lunch. On top of the usual, conventional stuff like mushrooms, medicinal herbs, dried prawns, anchovies and scallops, on display were also heaps of weird-looking dried chinese medicines and sea products, some of which I didn't even have names for... here are just a handful of what was available, Most of the stuff sold were known for their medicinal value for health. Dried seahorses -known as a fertility booster.

Dried Seadragons, Shark's fins, sea cucumbers and whatnots..

Oh well, as they say: "The chinese will eat just about anything that lives, breathes, crawls and moves..."

PINEAPPLE TARTS

During the trip to Singapore, my sis decided let's make some pineapple tarts-great for alleviating the boredom of her two girls at home and munching on for the whole family, ..plus it gives my mum an assignment for the day... to transfer her skills. Well, found out if you knead the dough too hard, the pastry actually becomes too hard as well. The trick is to keep pinching the flour and rubbing them with your fingers into the butter...not a skill the impatient will master. My niece complained of sore arms after having to stir the pineapple paste for too long. We were afraid the pineapple filling wasn't enough for the pastry so the 1st few trays were rather stingy on filling. Then too much filling at the end, so my nieces resorted to making 'Dolly partons' to use them up- fillings with generous proportions....

Jordie tried his hand at 'painting' on the egg white coating. He loves those pineapple tarts.

Well, it was a nice girls' bonding session between me, my sis, my mum and my two nieces. The boys were just waiting to gobble them down, that's all.....Sad to say, I don't think I shall attempt this in Australia because it is just too much work and not enough mouths around to enjoy them. Pineapple tarts don't keep very well and get mouldy very quickly especially in humid weather.

REUNION WITH COUSINS, FOLKS AND FRIENDS.. & FOOD.

Enjoyed our short but nice trip bk to KL and Singapore. We spent most of the time catching up with family and some friends. Jordie had the chance to rekindle old bonds with some close friends and cousins from both sides of the family. He has a total of 14 cousins so he found it great fun catching up with all of them, both young and old... with the exception of Matthew and Jonathan, my sis's kids from USA,.. oh well,, maybe next year??

Definitely, food was up on the list of faves this trip. He wanted to taste all the foods he had missed i.e. yau char kwai, Rotiboy's famous coffee buns, Auntie Annie's seaweed pretzel, fishballs, Beard Papa's cream puffs, kuih lapis, wantan mee... & the list is pretty long... but certainly Jordie knows what he prefers..

I was wondering if he could fit in his uniform when school reopens. "All I can say is, I've gotta enjoy all this while I can!" is his favourite quip. When we first arrived in Singapore, I found it hilarious that his cousin Yang was wearing exactly the same shirt that Jordie was wearing... sooo cute-cidental.

Most of his cousins are at least 4 years older than him with the exception of little Isaac & Isabel, kids of his youngest uncle.