I still love Howl's Moving Castle

Hubby finally got me the full movie for Howl's Moving Castle which I was totally smitten with the first time I watched it.

I insisted that he watch it with me. He said it was OK lar... haiz.

Here is a clip on the behind the scenes for the Disney english dub:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=D36IoAAWapg

And now you know how Bale does that angry sexy 'Batman' voice.

So have I managed to convince you to watch it yet?

Garden update

I'm sure mum is eager to hear some updates on our gardening activity.

On Sunday we went to a nearby nursery to scout around for plants and other garden ideas.

Here are some of the plants that I liked so far:

Bronze Baby Flax - love the rich red tones

I like the dual green and red tones of the leaves... but we were told that it flowered bright pink flowers, I need to think twice about this one

This will grow to a tall elegant tree-like plant

Something for our side garden beds?

In the end we decided to start with four of these Japanese shrubs... hubby bought some manure to plant them in. Will show you the pics when they are planted in.

I'm not 100% good

Posted in response to Sam's comment:


(I guess there is always room for improvement)

^_^

It's started...

Hubby hogging the TV to play computer games... *SOB!*

(He says more shiok to play games on the big screen)

Howl's sexy voice

Last night as I was channel surfing, I happened to flick to SBS when this anime film Howl's Moving Castle was playing.

The Movie Info described it as a film about a love story between a 18 year old girl who had a spell put on her turning her into an old woman, and a powerful wizard named Howl. Very bare details, but intriguing nevertheless.

After a few minutes of non-commital and nonchalant viewing, I thought it seemed pretty cute... and since I was on holiday, might as well give myself a treat to stay up and watch it.

Within 15 minutes, I was totally hooked. It is SUCH a good film. I'm not really into anime, but this is such a clever cute little movie. The theme of the movie revolves around magic and wizardry... and it's also a very sweet love story.

When the credits started rolling at the end, I was so sad that it had to end (I know it eventually had to... but not so soon).


And here's another funny thing:

When I was watching the movie, I thought the voice playing the character of Howl was incredibly sultry and sexy (you watch the movie first before you laugh at me!). And I kept trying to figure out which actor could be playing the voice.

Was it Keanu Reeves? He does try to put on that husky voice, but he's not a very good actor... so I didn't think it could be Keanu Reeves... who? who? who??? Sounds sooooo familiar.... I KNOW that voice...

So this morning, I did some Googling to solve the mystery.

Guess who's voice is it??? (I was so pleased to find out who it was!)
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CHRISTIAN BALE!!!

OMG!!! I know I'm already an old married woman, but till today I still go completely juvenile over Christian Bale. You can see what a fan I am, although I didn’t see his face, just his voice alone is enough to intrigue me.

But the movie itself is very good. If you're looking for something different and fun to watch (sometimes you can be just not in the mood to watch another mind boggling, emotionally draining or blood gory movie)... watch Howl's Moving Castle. I think many of you will like it.

Here's the trailer to peak your interest a bit more...



I've been pestering hubby all day to get the full movie for me.

If you're still laughing at me about Howl's sexy voice, watch for yourself



Howl is the third man on the scene, wearing the cloak (rescuing the girl from those soldiers)

Please ignore the subtitles in the clip.

Have I been a good girl this year???

We didn't expect to receive many presents this Christmas. But a few people here and there have been generous enough to grace our Christmas tree with some pressies. So no need to wrap up 'pretend' empty boxes with wrapping paper to cover the bareness of the metal tree legs.



Among the lovely presents we received this year included...


House warming gift cards - always a good thing to have


Solar Lights for our garden... very nice!


A very chic wine glass holder... (I like your style, Audz)


A bohemian looking vase (thanks Secret Santa!)


And one of my top favourites: The coveted Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker!!!


I must have been a very good girl this year. But more likely, I'm simply surrounded by very very good friends!

Christmas Reflections

I recently came across this funny rendition of 1 Corinthians 13 on chanlilian's blog. In the midst of all the Christmas activities, it was an amusing reminder that made me pause for a moment to reflect the real meaning of Christmas...

So since we're kinda still in the Christmas season, I guess it's still not too late yet to share this:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Christmas Parties

Random snapshots of some of the Christmas celebrations that have been happening this holiday season:


YA Christmas Sundowner


Company Christmas Lunch


Cell Christmas Dinner


Kevin carving my Christmas Ham

Ming Hsien making the gravy

Dessert: Mini Trifles

O2 Youth Christmas Party

Pressies for Chris Kringle

With Audrey and Darren


Roast Lamb by Darren

There were many others... I'm feeling so full now just thinking of the amount of food I have been consuming over the past couple of days. All thanks to loving friends who choose to make us part of their Christmas festivities and celebrations.

Christmas Eve

33 minutes left till Christmas Day 2008.

My shopping is all done (more or less)... My cookies are all baked... My house is all cleaned (pretty much)... and we're set and ready to get into the holiday mood.

So there's no better time then to wish you all a Blessed and Happy Christmas!!!

Early Christmas Pressies

Hubby and I are not really into buying gifts for each other... e.g. Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries etc. We prefer to do something or go somewhere together... the whole quality time thing, you know.

But since this year, we are furnishing the house and getting settled into it pretty close to Christmas... our household items shopping has been pretty much translated into Christmas shopping, as we fall right into the middle of all the Christmas sales and promotions and festivities.

So we decided to consider the following practical items as this year's Christmas presents to ourselves:

Sony Bravia 40" LCD Full HD TV

Electrolux 520 Litre Fridge

Christmas Cooking

It's that time of the year again where the kitchen starts to smell oh so yummy!

Here are a couple of snippets of Christmas cooking projects I've been up to so far...


Project Numero Uno: The 'cheat' version of elegant fruit cake (only 2 basic ingredients required)

Base ingredient #1: Hubby's Favourite Home Brand Fruit Cake... no need the fancy schancy labels, hubby still likes Home Brand the best. Slice it into small squares (approx 6 pieces)


Base ingredient #2: Ready Mix Fondant Icing. Roll it out flat to a about 2-3mm thickness


Then wrap up the little cakes in the fondant icing... this took a bit of time to perfect it, trimming the edges, smoothing the surfaces etc... but it's quite fun, like playing with play-doh


And for a special touch, add some ribbons for a lovely little pressie!


Hubby liked it very much! He said it was a classy twist to one of his favourite snacks




Project Numero Dos: Honey Glazed Ham (an impressive looking dish which is actually quite easy to prepare)

I bought a half leg of smoked ham (about 3-4 kg). You can get the full leg, but I think the half leg is massive enough already.


Remove the rind (i.e. the brown skin all over the ham) and then score the fatty layer in diamond shapes.


Then stick in whole cloves at each diamond intersection all over the ham.


Now for the glaze: mix together half cup of honey, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of mustard, quarter cup of dry sherry

Glaze the ham with the mixture and then place into a preheated oven at about 150 degrees celcius for 1 hour or so. Glaze the ham about every 20 minutes to make it really nice and shiny.


It really looks much better than the picture. I just don't have a very good camera :(

But rest assured it was a success... how do I know??? No leftovers!!!

Dear Santa...

So now as we are getting settled into our new house... the number one questions we get asked are:

#1. So when is your housewarming???

And...

#2. What else are you getting for your new house?


In response to #1... if you've come up to ask me, you would know my answer already! :)

In response to #2... I usually say something along the lines of "dunno lar..." or "too many things!". But after some pondering and since it's the Christmas season ^_^ here is a working list of 'little' extras I'm looking out for our house:

A Toaster - so I can enjoy my home-made version of yakun kaya toast!


A Cake Mixer - to give hubby's arm a rest from helping me to cream butter and sugar


A Breadmaker - to make homemade bread to toast in my toaster


Because hubby refuses to set up his own blog... he's stealing some of my online space to post his wish list: A HiFi CD player (so he can prove that his integrated house speaker system works)


Also from hubby's wish list: A Barbecue set - so he can use his outdoor gas outlet (and so he can cook dinner for me)


Hmmmm... standard getting a bit high there, let's tone it down a bit...

Next...

Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker (something cool I always wanted in my kitchen)


Jelly Belly 40 - I've been hunting around for this for ages to no avail...... so cute hor?


Realness of Concealness from Benefit cosmetics... been uhm-ing and aah-ing getting this as my Christmas present for a looong while.....hmmmm... should I???

Cut off!!!

We're getting well settled in our new home.

Mum and dad were a big help when they came over helping to make the place cozy and nice.

Haven't had internet connection all this time, which is why there has been NIL updates (sorry readers). I'm now at hubby's office, snatching a few minutes to post on my blog while waiting for him. We're getting our internet connected this coming week. So I'll be able to post up more photos soon!

Mummy and Daddy in Perth

We had a simple but memorable time during mum and dad's recent trip to Perth...

Proof that daddy cooks!!!


Mum, I'm still keeping a lookout for any sale or promotions on your coveted blouse...


And rest assured that we are looking after the precious little baby plants - they're still green and thriving (the earthworms are looking happy too!)


More photos of mum and dad in Perth >>here

More evidence of dad's cooking >>here