Archive for Chit Chats & Stories

Oh no…I have a large stone detected in my gall bladder! I’m trying out a natural remedy to remove the gallstones…

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Two images of my gallbladder (the round dark shape) from my ultrasound scan taken on 20 April, 2009. The white crescenton the left image with two X’s is the gallstone measuring 2.23 cm inside the gall bladder. The one on the right is my gallstone  from another view.

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Home remedy for removing gallstones prescribed by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

(Please read the comments below for my detailed experience and outcome of trying out Dr. Lai’s method)

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Good afternoon, dear friends :D

Last night, I suddenly had severe gastric pains and my husband had to take me to the hospital. After some examinations and an ultrasound scan, it was confirmed that I have a large gall stone in my gall bladder – it is 2.2 cm or 2/3 inch long. :shock:

After further consultations with the gastro surgeon, I was told to go for surgery to remove my gall bladder. He said this was the only solution as the gall stone is too big. I have never liked the idea of surgery and my only times spent overnight at the hospital were when I delivered my four children. :roll:

Nevertheless, this sudden development in my health has got me really all shaken up and I am really terrified of this surgery. My husband and I have yet to set a date for this proposed surgery as we want to find out more information on gall stones and the repercussions of have my gall bladder removed.

We did asked the surgeon what will happen to me when I don’t have a gall bladder…he didn’t give a satisfying reply and we are now under the impression that he just wants to make some money out of this surgery. :roll:

In a short while, I am going back to the hospital (it is a private hospital) to have a gastro scope done of my stomach…the surgeon wanted to be sure that my stomach is ulcer free and check for some bacteria there.

In the meantime, I have spoken to a few people – Master atan, my healer friends Yoong Cheh and Chimmal – and thus far, they have all suggested that I delay the surgery to remove my gall stone first and in the meantime, I can follow some proven natural remedies to get rid of my gallstones. They have some friends who had carried the natural remedies successfully….

So, I am going to try this Natural Remedy of Removing Gallstones for about 3 rounds (I was told the second round is even better in getting rid of gall stones)……hope you can wish me luck and success in doing this and I don’t have to go for surgery.

I will keep you posted of my gallstone elimination development following the Natural Method here and if it works (no, I should stay positive and tell myself “IT WILL WORK”), you would know this is indeed a good and effective way of removing gall stones.

I have copied my earlier post of this natural remedy of removing gall stones here for your easy reference…it uses Apple Juice (can add fresh apples also), Epsom Salt and Olive Oil..

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Good afternoon, dear friends :D

Yesterday, Master atan, a retired healer and fengshui Master, posted at his Dhealing forum HERE a way of removing gallstones that is safe, natural and tested – without going for any surgery. I was very impressed by this method and thought I would share it here with you as I’m sure many people will benefit from this technique.

Master atan said that gall bladder stones today can be easily removed by operation and the so called laparoscopy, a process using laser to remove the gall bladder stones. But there are still ways we can take other than to undergo these expensive treatments, surgeries and medicines to help you cured of gall stones.

Master atan had tried this method himself and has recommended it to many people to follow, advising that this is good and safe.

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan -

Gallstones may not be everyone’s concern but may lead to cancer. We all have them (big or small, many or few). “Cancer is never the 1st illness. There are a lot of other problems leading to cancer. I came across some materials stating that people with cancer usually had stones,” said Dr Lai of  China.

One symptom of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal as if you can’t digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area.”

Dr Lai offers the apple juice treatment which is good for those with a weak liver. Liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

1) Drink 1 glass (250ml) 100% apple juice 4 times a day for 5 days. 1 glass at breakfast, 1 glass at lunch, 1 glass at dinner & 1 glass before going to bed. It softens the gallstones. Eat normally.

2) On the 6th day, skip dinner. At 6pm, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. At 8 PM, repeat the same for purging purpose. It helps to flush out all solid stuff. It also opens the gallbladder ducts. At 10 PM, drink half a glass of olive oil mixed with half a glass of lemon juice. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage. Lemon juice helps to extract the stones out from gallbladder ducts.

Soon you will purge again. This time you can find greenish stuff floating in your toilet bowl, if you have gallstones. “You may want to count them. I have had people who passed out 40, 50 or up to 100 stones.” as told by Dr Lee. “Even if you don’t have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It’s always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up every now and then.”

Something more to share by Master atan -

“Dr Lai Chiu Nan’s “6 Days Apple Juice Treatment” works wonderfully to remove gallstones in a natural way. I came to know this more than 10 years ago and many of my friends had benefited from this treatment without going for operation.

Mr AT almost had his gallbladder operated in the hospital in 1996. When we met up just a few days before his operation appointment, he gave it a try when I told him about this apple juice treatment. The doctor was surprised of the disappearance of gallstones when Mr AT went to the hospital for a re-examination. He passed on this good news to his friends and relatives so much so that whenever a person wanted to buy Epsom salt from the pharmacy in that town, straight away the sales personnel at the pharmacy knew that it’s for the removal of gallstones treatment.

Mr LMK also drank the apple juice and passed out the gallstones. Mr AY called me and asked for the apple juice treatment for his Indonesian worker who refused to go for operation. According to Mr AY, his worker suffered great pain and could hardly walk. One week later, Alan called again saying that his worker still suffered the pain. I told him to bring his worker to see Mr LMK who could give a testimonial to him so that he would repeat the 6 Days treatment one more time. Later I received good news from Mr AY that his worker was able to walk without pain after passing out the gallstones. No operation was required. Mr LMK also told me that the worker thanked him many times whenever they met each other in town for the encouragement and confidence given to him.”

Master atan said that in order for it to be more effective, drink green apple juice. You can buy 100% pure apple juice from supermarket in 2 liters packing. The treatment needs 6 liters only (4 x 250ml = 1 liter per day). Nevertheless, do include apple juice as one of your daily drinks. It’s good for you, he said.

There you have it – a really safe and natural way of removing any gallstones. I’m going to try this out to see for myself and then get my husband to do it also. A word of caution though, I believe we should be aware of the high sugar content of consuming so much apple juice over the 6 days and it is best to cut off all other sources of sugar intake during this treatment period. Also, since it is spanned over 6 days and we are expected to purge a few times on the 6th day, it is best to start this treatment on a Monday or Tuesday…leaving the weekend free to be spending more time in the toilet.

I wish you all good health always,

choesf :D


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You are cordially invited to Happyhomemaker88’s new Web Store! :D

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Konnyaku Jelly Starter Pack now available at my Web Store

Good afternoon from a rainy Kuala Lumpur, dear friends :D

Phew! Finally, my “Happyhomemaker88’s Web Store” is up and running…something that was long overdue. :D

I know some of you have been curious as to what I will be selling and have been waiting since I mentioned that I was going to start my online store at the beginning of last year. For the past few months, I was researching into the viability and practically of those products that I will be offering.

After conducting a few trial runs in packaging and sending some of these items overseas,  now  I am pleased to announce that this cute Konnyaku Jelly Starter Pack  (in picture above)  will launch my Web Store.

Soon, I will be adding on more products there like  the unique, delicious signature brand of  MalaysianAik Cheong Coffee (in satchets),  Healing Chinese Herbal Teabags, etc. Currently, I am thinking of how to put together a package of various Chinese herbs,  healing teas and traditional medicine especially for ladies’ health as well as for  ”confinement women” (to rejuvenate their health within one month after delivering babies).

All products available are my favourite brands that my family use or consume all the time in my home,  and I source them from my reputable and reliable suppliers. Therefore, the quality of these products are assured by me.

As a sign of appreciation of my gratitude for you who have been supporting my blog and making it a success here, I would like to send you a surprise gift together with your orders from my Happyhomemaker88 Webstore! :wink:

See you there! :D

With peace and joy,

choesf :D

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Vote EARTH – Switch off your lights & join the WORLD for EARTH HOUR 2009!

 

Good afternoon, dear friends :D

This year, Earth Hour is being taken to the higher level, with a goal of 1 billion people worldwide switching off their lights as part of a global vote for our beloved Earth, against global warming.  This year, my family will be taking part in this global event and wherever you are, do join us and switch off your lights at -

8.30pm (your local time),  Saturday, 28 March 2009.

During Earth Hour, switching off our lights means we are voting for Earth, and leaving our lights on means we are supporting Global Warming. I have read that the ice caps will all have melted in 60 years time,  and it is a scary thought indeed to imagine how that will contribute to the rising sea waters in the world. Also, the weather climate will be terribly affected. I don’t know about your country, but here in Malaysia, we are experiencing unusually higher than normal rainfalls during this period, when we should have dry, hot weather. There are floods happening all over and many people are down with coughs and colds, caused by the hot and rainy weather. 

Gather some loved ones, friends or organise a little event at home to make this even fun.  Spread the news around about Earth Hour and make more people aware that here is an opportunity to do our part and say our piece over protecting Mother Earth and reduce global warming.

I will be making some finger foods and  ice-cold lemonade for this event, and we will have have a little picnic in our garden … practically in the dark during Earth hour.  It will be fun! :lol:  

Happy Earth Hour 2009! :D

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Happy Valentine’s Day to you, dear friends ! :D

Ah, Valentine’s Day brings to me lovely memories of the time when I met my husband and we fell in love. Both of us were only teenagers then and we were each other’s first love.

Here’s a favourite song of mine, “Crush”, sung by David Archuleta and I’m sure this beautiful song brings back many fond memories of love for you as it does me! :D

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Crush – by David Archuleta

I hung up the phone tonight
Something happened for the first time deep inside
It was a rush, what a rush

‘Cause the possibility
That you would ever feel the same way about me
It’s just too much, just too much

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I’ve just got to know

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Has it ever crossed your mind
When we’re hanging, spending time girl, are we just friends?
Is there more, is there more?

See it’s a chance we’ve gotta take
‘Cause I believe that we can make this into something that will last
Last forever, forever

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

Why do I keep running from the truth?
All I ever think about is you
You got me hypnotized, so mesmerized
And I’ve just got to know

Do you ever think when you’re all alone
All that we can be, where this thing can go?
Am I crazy or falling in love?
Is it real or just another crush?

Do you catch a breath when I look at you?
Are you holding back like the way I do?
‘Cause I’m trying and trying to walk away
But I know this crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
This crush ain’t goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy
Goin’ away-ay-ay-ay-ayy

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I’m Back! What A Fantastic Chinese New Year :D

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Offerings to the Jade Emperor of Heaven at 11pm of the 8th CNY day – a Hokkien Chinese New Year. More details below …

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Good evening, dear friends :D

Wow, I have been absent for a long time from my virtual home here – a belated Happy Chinese New Year or Gong Xi Fa Cai to you. :D

So many things have happened since I last posted here and this Chinese New Year (CNY) has turned out very different from all my previous CNYs. Tomorrow, is the last day of the CNY celebration and what I thought was going to be a horrible CNY turned out to be a fantastic one! :lol:

Here are the reasons why this year’s CNY was so different (there were many “firsts” -

1) for the first time, I was sick with a persistent bad cough right before the CNY until today. It was very difficult cooking the Family Reunion Dinner butmy 4 children were very sporting and they helped me a lot in the kitchen. Previously, the cooking was a solo affair. My 8-course dinner was cut down to 6 dishes cooked at home, and my brother-in-law gave me a slab of Crispy Roast Pork/Siew Yoke for the first time. :D

2) it rained and rained almost everyday with heavy thunderstorms during the Chinese New Year…never before experienced before. Only today, did the weather felt like the traditional CNY weather – extremely hot and dry. :roll:

3) a few days before the CNY, my husband and I had to attend a funeral – my husband’s colleague’s father had passed away. Usually, the Chinese do not like to attend “white occasions” (white means mourning or sad occasions) so close to the CNY, but we thought we should pay our last respects anyway at the funeral. Wow, it turned out that the funeral was a “red occasion”, a celebration, because the deceased passed away at a very ripe old age of 101 years! :shock:

So, instead of the usual funeral decorations of white cloth everywhere, there were red table cloths, red chairs, lanterns with red lettering instead of black lettering. For the Chinese, if a person passes away at or after the age of 100, he or she is considered to be very lucky to reach such an old age and therefore, the funeral is a celebration instead. The living family members are not allowed to cry during the funeral.

4) On the eve of CNY, I found out my neighbours had given birth to their first son…and I quickly give them a big angpow for their baby to celebrate this joyous occasion – their being parents for the first time. Again, the Chinese don’t quite like to visit the newborn and their mother within the first 30 days of the birth, because they are considered “not clean” until the baby’s first month’s birthday and the CNY was so close. Well, I decided not to dwell too much on that belief and instead, just participated in the joyous arrival of the newborn baby boy.

5) For the first time in many years (actually since I stopped working in 2000), we invited guests over for a party on the night of the 8th day of CNY for the Hokkien Chinese New Year celebration. On that night, the Hokkien Chinese celebrate the CNY in a big way….offerings are made in thanks to the Jade Emperor of Heaven. Please see the picture above … my family had a simple offering consisting of a whole Roast Duck, 2 large slabs of Crispy Roast Pork/Siew Yoke, a whole Steamed Chicken, some sweets, and fruits. After the prayers, we ate the meats together with rice porridge.

According to the Hokkien legend, in the ancient times, there were demonic forces on Earth and the Hokkien Chinese had to go hiding among the tall sugar cane plants and they couldn’t celebrate CNY. On the 9th day of CNY, the Jade Emperor of Heaven came to Earth to chase away the demons and the humans could come out of their hiding and then only did they celebrate the CNY. So, these days, it is a lavish affair indeed where crates of drinks, piles of sweets/kuihs, a whole Roast Pig…and much more being offered as thanks to the Jade Emperor of Heaven.

6) this year, I had a shorter CNY rest as my Feng Shui online store was receiving orders from the rest of the world and I was busy packing and sending things off…good news for me though, it has been 8 years since I stopped working and at least now, I can help to contribute to the family’s income again! :D

7) the most auspicious and happiest occasion for me was last night, when my husband and I attended a double 80th Birthday Dinner of a lovely couple that is my late mother-in-law’s neighbours. How wonderful and auspicious indeed…to be of the same age and able to celebrate the 80th birthday together. To the Chinese, the 80th Birthday is considered “Tai Sou” or a “Grand Birthday”. :D

The children of these couple held a lavish 10-course dinner at a Chinese restaurant and towards the end of the dinner, each guest was given a gift of 2 “Tai Sou” Chinese Rice Bowls and 2 pairs of Red Chinese Chopsticks….a symbolic, auspicious gesture that the birthday couple is giving to the guests in return ample food to be had always with those rice bowl and chopsticks. How beautiful! :D

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A gift from the “Tai Sou” or 80th Big Birthday couple to the dinner guests – 2 “Sou” Chinese Rice Bowls and 2 pairs of Red Chopsticks

So, in the end, my Chinese New Year turned out to be such a fantastic one with so many auspicious occasions!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

With peace and joy,

choesf :D

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My Chinese New Year 2009 Preparations – Part 1

Good evening, dear friends :D

Well, I’m back here for a breather after 2 hectic days of preparations for the  Chinese New Year Festival.  The phrase “preparing for Chinese New Year” seems innocuous and simple enough but actually, there a lots to be done every year in anticipation of welcoming good energies and a happy celebration of abundance with the arrival of the Chinese New Year (CNY), which falls on Monday, 26 January, 2009. :D

As in every year and all Chinese households, about 3 weeks before the CNY, we would embark on a decluttering of the whole house – practically every inch of it. Broken things are either repaired or disposed, because they cause negative energy. All cobwebs are vacuumed, dust wiped off, walls given a good washing or repainting, creaky doors are oiled, cabinets/refrigerators and their contents are cleaned, linen cupboards are sorted out, ovens/stove top/cooker hood/windows are cleaned….and the list goes on and on….  :roll:

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My wall of gleaming glass blocks near my kitchen.  I had used a vinegar-water solution to wipe off the dirt easily and effortlessly

Once the whole house is cleaned and decluttered, we can actually feel the “electrifying” chi or energy in the house, because old chi has been removed, new energies have taken its place, and the house’s chi is moving….alive, in a way.

Next is the shopping of CNY stuff – wow, I don’t know where to begin listing them….from yesterday until the eve of CNY, I am shopping for something every day! :lol:

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Mandarin oranges from China..a must during CNY because the word “kam” is a homonym (same sounding, different meanings) for “gold”. Boxes of “kam” are given as gifts to friends, neighbours, relatives as an auspicious and generous gesture.

The cover of the box has an auspicious Chinese character “Fu” or “Luck” in the centre and the red is an auspicious colour to mean a happy celebration. There is a lot of red seen  everywhere at this time of the year…a sure sign that CNY is approaching...

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This is the first batch of my CNY goodies shopping …as you can see, there is a lot of red in the picture!  :lol:   There are jars of traditional CNY cookies like “ribbons”, “loveletters,” “arrowroot or ngaku crisps”, “walnut cookies,” dried Shitake mushrooms, cans of lychee… some of these will go into a CNY goodie bag to be given to friends or relatives that we visit as a gift. This generous act is reciprocated by people who visit us at our home.

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This part of the CNY shopping is my husband’s and sons’ favourite – they get to buy their favourite carbonated drinks, soda pop, flavoured packet drinks…etc.  At the top of the picture are tissue boxes which have auspicous CNY words and are red in colour. I usually do not have such drinks often in my house because of their high sugar content but during the CNY, it is a treat for them to drink these to their hearts’ content! :roll:

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….I’m sorry but I have to stop here for now…my eyes are closing as I am typing this, I better go to bed soon. I will continue writing this tomorrow… :wink:

Good Night!

With peace and joy,

choesf :D



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Getting Into The Chinese New Year Festive Mood..

Good morning, dear friends :D

Wow, the Chinese New Year is just another 8 days away and I am running very behind in my Chinese New Year preparations (don’t I always every year!  :lol: ).

Heheh, I was supposed to have finished  decluttering and cleaning my house by last weekend, but then I thought, my kids are going to get things messy anyway..so, I am deferring some tidying jobs then. :roll:

Next week will be the shopping of Chinese New Year goodies, new clothes/shoes , decorations, prayer stuff, and changing new currency notes at the bank for Ang Pows.

Somehow, the Chinese New Year cheer and festive spirit seem to be a bit mellow this year, probably because many people are cutting back on their spending due to the uncertain economic future.

So, I thought I would set the tone at my blog here to get myself (and you also :lol: ) into some Chinese New Year mood by having some traditional Chinese New Year songs and videos played here. These were copied from YouTube and I have been listening to them since I was a kid…so they do bring back fond memories of my childhood.

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Tomorrow, I will post here my Chinese New Year’s Eve Family Reunion Dinner Menu.

It’s past midnight now and I am going to bed! Good Night and Sweet Dreams from KL! :D

With peace and joy,

choesf :D



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A Beautiful Story…Merry Christmas to ALL! :D

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Good morning and Merry Christmas, dear friends :D

I received this beautiful story via email from my Reiki Support Group and thought I should share it with you because it is so touching and it shows the wonderful Christmas spirit of love, kindness, compassion and generosity. Although I am a Buddhist, I like to also join in the celebrating all festive occasions with my friends of from different religions. :D

Read on and enjoy …

This story is worth passing on. Santa Claus turns up in many different disguises most times we call it being a good Samaritan. Enjoy the core of this message.

May we all feel the joy of giving at Christmas! I wish you all a Peaceful and Merry Christmas and Joy in the New Year. If only this was the way it was for all…… There wouldn’t be anyone in need if we all did this for one person.

I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way, my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no Santa Claus,” she jeered. “Even dummies know that!”

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that
day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easierwhen swallowed with one of her “world-famous” cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. “No Santa Claus?” she snorted …. “Ridiculous! Don’t believe it! That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let’s go.” “Go? Go where, Grandma?” I asked. I hadn’t even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.

“Where” turned out to be Kerby’s General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors,Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. “Take this money,” she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I’ll wait for you in the car.” Then she turned and walked out of Kerby’s.

I was only eight years old. I’d often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.Pollock’s grade-two class.

Bobby Decker didn’t have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn’t have a cough; he didn’t have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement.

I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.”Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.”Yes, ma’am,” I replied shyly. “It’s for Bobby.” The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn’t get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again,
and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker’s house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa’s helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby’s house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus,” she whispered, “get going.”I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open.Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker’s bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care…And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care…And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

With peace and joy,

choesf :D

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An update on a restructured Dhealing, MY….new forum

Good evening, dear friends :D

Just a little note here to tell those of you who are interested in learning Feng Shui or applying Master atan’s Feng Shui Techniques to improve your life – I had added more information to my Dhealing, Malaysia website…mainly a compilation of my Feng Shui information and techniques.

Most importantly, I have started a forum there with the intention of allowing those who are new to Feng Shui to post any queries they may have and find some answers. . It is brand new and because it is a free website/webstore and forum, I am limited to 25 or 30 members there….so, you have to register early if you want to get a “seat” at the forum there! :lol:

To cater to the requirements of my Dhealing, MY supporters, I have added a second Web Store there, too.

A summary of Dhealing, MY’s homepage index now looks like this -




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A Period Of Festivals & Celebrations

Good evening, dear friends :D

Wow, at this year end, things are getting exciting as we have a number of celebrations and festivals. Come this Sunday, 21 December, 2008, the Chinese all over the world will be celebrating the Winter Solstice Festival. Usually, this festival falls on the 22nd of December every year, but as this year is a leap year with an extra day on the 29th February, we are celebrating it on the 21st instead.

I am now planning my menu for my Winter Solstice Lunch but a sure thing on it will be the “Tong Yuen” or Glutinous Rice Balls, a symbol of this important festival. :D

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A bowl of colourful Tong Yuen or Glutinous Rice Balls in Pandan flavoured sugar syrup

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My 2007 Winter Solstice Dinner spread – clockwise from the top -

  • Breaded Garlic Pork Chops
  • Chicken & Potato Curry
  • Steamed & Salted Chicken
  • Treasure Soup
  • Hokkien Thick Egg Noodles
  • Fuzhou Fishballs, Mushrooms and Broccoli (centre)

For the recipes of these festival dishes, just click HERE.

The celebration of Tung Jit as this festival is called is a joyous one not only because it is celebrating the Winter Solstic…. but it also signals the start of the preparations for the Chinese New Year, which will fall on 26 January, 2009.

During this short period before Chinese New Year, decluttering and cleaning of the whole house is done to remove all old, stale energies, and to welcome new chi into our homes. Then the necessary Feng Shui cures and enhancers are place to ensure a smooth and prosperous year 2009.

After that, it is shopping and shopping of new year goodies ranging from auspicious sounding foodstuffs, waxed meat imported from China, auspicious Chinese decorations, new clothes and shoes…..and oh, I forgot…there will be lots of baking done for Chinese New Year cookies. Wow, as I am typing this, I am already excited about all these! :lol:

The Chinese gets very excited with the new lunar year because with it, new energies, prosperity and happiness are ushered in for rest of the lunar 2009 year.

Then the next week, we will be having a Christmas Eve dinner with all the trimmings to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the world…wow, another great festival with all the yummy feasting. :D

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My 2007 Christmas Dinner Eve Homecooked Dinner

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My plate of yummy Christmas turkey, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, stuffing and broccoli last year

I will post here later the pictures and recipes for my festivals as we celebrate these joyous occasions! :wink:

Happy Winter Solstice Festiva, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :D

With peace, harmony and joy,

choesf :D

P.S. For those of you overseas who would like to celebrate this Winter Solstice Festival with me and would like to make your own Glutinous Rice Balls from glutinous rice flour, let me know by leaving a comment here and I will post a recipe for you. I buy freshly ground wet glutinous rice from the markets here.

Added on 18  December, 2008 –

I am happy to see there are a few of you who are interested in making your own “Tong Yuen” or Glutinous Rice Balls. Good, we can celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival together. It is a Chinese belief that when we eat the Tong Yuen on that day, it will mean that we are getting one year older! I remember during those few  years when  I was living in the US, I didn’t eat any Tong Yuen and therefore, I should be 5 years younger in my   Chinese age! :roll:

Here is the recipe for Tong Yuen -

Ingredients -

125 gm glutinous rice flour

25 gm rice flour

150 ml boiling water

Method -

1) Combine glutinous rice and rice flours in a mixing bowl.

2) Pour in boiling water.

3) Mix with a pair of chopsticks or a fork.

4) When the mixture is cool enough to handle, knead it for a few minutes until it is well mixed, smooth and pliable. If you find the dough is too dry, then add in a little more water.

5) Divide dough into portions and add in your favourite colours. Traditionally, the Tong Yuen are just in white and pink..but I had added in green and yellow colours just for the fun of it! :lol:

6) Pinch off small portions and roll in small balls, about 1 cm in diameter. While you are doing this, prepare 2 pots of water – one pot is for cooking the rice balls…..and the other pot will contain    your “sweet soup” of sugar syrup.

7) For the sweet soup or sugar syrup, just bring to boil the following ingredients and simmer for about 10 minutes and then turn off the fire : -

  • 1 litre water
  • 200 gms sugar
  • 2 to 3 slices fresh ginger, or 2 pieces of Pandan Leaves or 1 tsp of Pandan Flavour

Traditionally, slices of ginger are added for flavour…so, it is more like a ginger syrup. But because my children don’t like the taste of ginger, I have decided to use a few pandan leaves to flavour the syrup instead of ginger and it is just as aromatic. :wink:

8) To cook the rice balls, put about 20 balls at a time into a pot of boiling water. They will sink to the bottom. Once the balls float to the surface, this means they are cooked.

9) Remove cooked rice balls with a slotted spoon and put them into the pot of  sugar syrup.

Voila! Your very own Tong Yuen are ready to be served as dessert after your Winter Solstice Dinner or just as a tea time “Tong Sui” or “Sugar Water Drink”…a teatime dessert. I usually keep my Tong Yuen in the fridge if there are any leftovers and then just warm up some in the microwave the following day. The rice balls will harden in the fridge.

I hope you like the taste of Tong Yuen. My children gets very excited and will have at least 2 bowls of  this once-a-year Rice Ball Dessert after dinner.

Note – the portion for the recipe here is quite small…..for my family of 6 with huge appetites, I make about 1 kg worth of wet glutinous rice flour. But for those making this for the first time, start small and if you like this, you can always make another batch in a very short time! :wink:





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