Dear Shrink,

I’m writing this email to you because well, I’m caught up doing some cleaning at the moment. You know how I used to say that I enjoy cleaning? Well, “enjoy” is really quite the understatement.

I’ve got it bad. It wasn’t always like this. I would never bother about what I use to clean those darn oil stains on my kitchen tiles - just grab the strongest detergent I could get my hands on and that’s it. Spilled food? Just yell “HONEY!”.

But since discovering the Energy Star, I just went ballistic! Suddenly my idea of cleaning completely revolutionized. I started paying attention to labels and discovered that half my cleaning products had the capability of destroying the planet. My honey wasn’t exactly the right tool to clean up messes - he was shoving the job to our pet. But the thing is this - we don’t have a pet.

In order to save energy and get a workout, I did everything the good old fashioned way. I dust, I wipe, I mop and I swept. Sweeping was a nightmare though; there would still be speaks of dust after I was done. So you know what I did? I went out and got me a brand new Dirt Devil AccuCharge. It’s the niftiest thing ever. It’s cordless and the new AccuCharge Stick Vac that I’m using uses 70% less energy. It’s the first cordless cleaning technology to earn Energy Star approval.

I know use it whenever and wherever I can - in corners, under furniture, the balcony, shelving, even the coach and bed is no escape for dirt! I even use it to vacuum the keyboard that I’m typing on now. It’s really my life.

The thing is this - my honey thinks I’m nuts for putting it in our bedroom. He says I’m too attached to my “toy”. He wants me to get rid of it, put it in the basement or garage. Just anywhere but the bedroom. And he wants me to stop cleaning every few hours. He says I’m crazy.

I am not crazy. I’m just…what do those Net junkies call it? Oh yes, I’m a cleaning fanatic. I have to go now. All this blood needs to be cleaned up.

Sincerely,
Your Patient, The Cleaning Fanatic.

In case those of you who follow this blog regularly start thinking that my life is all about the roses and rainbows, well, here’s a little dose of reality.

I’m not being pessimistic or depressive here. Just…practical. If there is anything I’ve learnt over the years of job hunts and trying to live life to the fullest, it is that things don’t always turn out the way you expect it to and sometimes, no, make that most of the time, it is for the best. We may not know it as such but still…

Anyway, I have always been blessed enough to find a job speedily in the past few years but it wasn’t always the case. In Australia, I received more rejections that the worrypot-pressure cooker in me could handle so I reluctantly gave up the idea of working there and came home. Two weeks later, I found a job teaching which lead me onto to good things…good things that I’m grateful for.

So, it would appear that God has a little similar lesson/idea in store for me. Since receiving my permit about two weeks ago, I started sending out resumes and applications. My first rejection came yesterday from Geneva. I had applied for a post as a production editor - something quite similar to what I had been doing last year prior to going back to academia.

There was no reason given; I have written back asking them why though (and naturally thanking them as well) but at least there is a silver lining to the email - they have my resume in their database and would contact me when/if there are any openings.

I guess I’ll just have to continue on and not give up so easily - the temptation is there though. In the meantime, I’m toying with a new idea for the shop (the one I closed off last year) and can take comfort in the fact that I can still earn some money online.

I just wish people back at home (no one specifically) - the media and those in it included - would stop pandering the idea that those of us who migrated abroad have it easy because it’s just not how things are. If anything, it’s harder for us but eventually, we all learn to adapt and cope…like I did.

So yes, here’s to days of lots of prayer(s) and more applications to send out!

While waiting for my home-made blueberry ice cream (recipe and pics to follow) to harden and freeze, I remembered that Zona had tagged me when I was away in France about some of the lifestyle changes I have made since leaving home and Malaysia. Why are these changes in place? Well, they were influenced by a few factors, but namely the cost of living, the emergence of another person in my life as well as the lack of my own income…

So in no apparent order of importance, here is my list…

My environment
* I recycle plastic, glass, paper and anything I can such as coffee powder (it goes to my plants out on the balcony).
* I take the public transport - train or bus - to almost everyone.
* Nil and I use rechargeable batteries for our MP3 players and digital cameras.

My wallet
* I shop only for food and household items once a week, twice for fresh vegetables from the local farmer’s market.
* I buy items when they are on sale or when they are absolutely necessary. This includes Max Havlaar items (Fair Trade).

My health & diet
* I go for hikes every weekend for at least two to three hours.
* Nil and I go on daily evening walks for at least 30 minutes. Once we get his bike (it was his birthday present), we plan to go on daily and weekend bicycle trips around town. There are plenty of routes everywhere…
* I cook and bake my own meals, opting for salads in the evenings. This includes home-made ice cream (with less sugar and soon, light whipping cream instead of full cream).
* I buy organic or bio-foods which contain less prohormones (or any other), antibodies among other things.

My development
* I spend my free time pottering around in the garden, spinning up new yarn from my small fibre stash, knitting as well as walking around town, snapping pictures (the former(s) more than the latter). If money and resources permit, I hope to pick up weaving soon.
* I’m beginning to use my French more often and am enjoying reading/watching/listening to French media.

I would tag people but really, whoever is interested can just do this on their blog!

…who tells you that he doesn’t mind anything but you still want to “impress” him anyway?

Yes, our 1st year anniversary is coming up (can’t believe it’s been a year already!) and I have absolutely NO IDEA what to get for him. I dabbled with the idea of air tools/power-tools but I can’t really afford the expensive (and more reliable) brands unless I dip into my savings (which I don’t intend to do).

Then there is the usual candlelight dinner with a gorgeous meal and dessert/cake…which is what I plan to do anyway. It just seems weird to put that down as a gift…

Aiiii….

I received this assignment - Mac memory - while I was away on vacation. I went around some parts of France - Limoges, Malzegirard, Molines and Lyon (naturally) - with Nil and my mum. Most of it was for a holiday while some were to visit Nil’s sister and attend a baptism where he was the godfather.

How apt. Did I mention that my computer laptop suddenly gave way on me just as I got busy with Mum’s visit? No, the hard disk is fine…and I think the battery is okay. I suspect it’s the motherboard creating this one big mess.

*sigh*

So yeah, add a laptop to the “To Buy” list. Mac memory? Right now, I need moolah for a lappie!!!!!

Oh, I’m back. Pictures soon. I promise.

Upgrades are in progress or rather, almost done. But if anything is broken, just drop me a buzz, k?

It started off with a simple 125 and then over time, I found myself having to upgrade my computer memory. Why?

Just to play computer games! I’m on Dungeon Siege II now…was installing Neverwinter but I ran into some problems. Dang!

Anyway, since moving to Switzerland, I have left my Damien (the desktop) behind, given it to my mother for her use - I think she goes on it mostly to chat with me on Yahoo. I settled instead for a laptop my brother gave me. The memory is just sufficient (if not quite well) for what I do regularly on this laptop - surf the Net, edit some pictures that I put up on my blog here and chat with people.

Nil’s computer is more “high-tech” than mine and therefore requires higher computer memory, something which he bought back in Malaysia - I think sometimes he still complains it’s too slow anyway. The man’s never satisfied…

Anyway, I’m just rambling…for the sake of it.

…the house smells like garlic now.

Now, it’s not because I ate a boatload of garlic. Neither did I buy ten kilos of the pungent bulbs. It’s just that after making my usual rounds at the balcony, I discovered that my kalanchoe was heavily infested with aphids and then those flying bugs around my ginger and other houseplants which I thought were innocent might actually be flying aphids!!!!

Apparently infestations start off with a couple of flying aphids which will move from plant to plant. The last thing I want is these pests near my roses so after sacrificing my kalanchoe to a massive prune (I had to lob EVERYTHING off. *sob*), I scouted the Net for non-toxic pesticide and discovered that aphids dislike chives, cloves, anise, lavender and hear, hear, garlic. Garlic is used because it contains naturally occurring sulphur which acts as an antibacterial agent and fungus preventative.

Of course there are other alternatives like Orange Spray which uses orange peel and water or Yarrow Tea which utilizes yarrow plant and brewed coffee. But because I don’t really have oranges or yarrow at hand, I settled for the Garlic Spray recipe instead.

One site called for one crushed garlic bulb to be added to two cups of water and the mixture ought to set for a day or two before straining for further usage. Another called for crushed garlic soaked in oil for a day or two before adding some to water and dish washing detergent. My recipe has a slight adjustment to it - I crushed half a bulb of garlic in some water and add some dish washing detergent before spraying all my plants with the stuff.

The results? The house smells a little like garlic but guess what? ALL the flying aphids are dead!!!!!!!!!! HURRAH! What’s next? Orange & Lemon Spray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more information on natural alternatives to pesticides, go here and here.