Based on the novel, Step by Wicked Step, by Anne Fine, the character that I feel has changed due to certain occurrences that have taken place in his life is Colin. Colin used to enjoy his life with his stepfather. He cherished and remembers every little detail about his stepfather. After Colin's mother brought Colin to move with her, Colin's character changed gradually.
Firstly, Colin changed into a very upset and lonely boy. He enrolled in a new school where everyone had their preexisting friends already. He had to go through a horrible experience in his new school, he got ignored by the students. Nobody bothered with me. His mother, however, found a new job and was constantly busy that she forgotten to care about Colin. This made Colin miss his stepfather terribly, because he used to look for Jack about his troubles. It wasn't how it used to be with Dad. It is apparent that Colin had transformed from a loving boy to a very lonely boy after the move.
Secondly, Colin became a dreamy boy, which caused him to easily drift off in school which resulted his results to dropped drastically. The prime reason for this was simply because he misses his stepfather dearly. Every night, he would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow. Colin would then pretend that Jack was still by his side, ready to listen to his rant of the day. He would hum his and Jack's favourite song and stay awake for hours talking to his dad,whom he pretended was there.
In a nutshell, Colin couldn't adapt well to the changes in his life. He became a sad, sensitve and moody person. This caused him to make a bold decision to search for his stepfather. His love andlonging for his dad motivated him to become optimistic in his search for his dad.
Saturday, 29 August 2015
Literature - Comparing Two Characters.
Based on the novel, Step by Wicked Step, authored by Anne Fine, there are two characters that have distinct differences as well as similarities. I will compare those two characters, which are Richard and Colin.
Firstly, I spotted a similarity in Richard and Colin's love which is their love for their respective dads. They both yearned for their father's presence However, in Richard's case, he had lost his father forever as his father had already perished. Colin merely lost contact with his father after he moved away with his mother without leaving any clues for his father to search for them. While Richard had no way to get in touch with his father again, Colin was still searching for his stepfather. Colin saves up every single possible penny to assist his search for his stepfather. I keep practically every penny that comes my way. Colin is determined to search for his stepfather when he is old enough. As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off. Clearly, Richard and Colin are unable to let go of their love for their dads.
Secondly, Richard and Colin were ignored by their mothers. They did not get enough tender loving care from their mothers. Richard felt that his mother, Lilith, ignored him when she married Mr. Coldstone despite his obvious dissatisfaction for Mr Coldstone. His mother turned a blind eye when Mr. Coldstone's treated him badly and brushed it off saying everything he does is for your own good. All his mother did was to lower her eyes. As for Colin, his mother was not aware of how much he missed his stepfather, Jack, because she is too occupied working at the canteen and doing household chores. I think Mum thinks that I've forgotten him. Undoubtfully, Richard and Colin did not recieve their mothers' love.
Thirdly, Richard and Colin thought of running away to make ends meet. They could only think that as their one and only solution to their misery. Richard ran away from home in hope that he could reduce the burden for everyone. Without me, the three of them would get on well enough. Colin however, was planning to run away to find his stepfather. Both of them have their differences as Richard realized that running away does not solve any problems. This is rather obvious when he had to face the music after all the while. Colin, on the other hand, was still stucked in a deep dilemma on the idea to search for his stepfather. He even does three paper rounds in an effort to accumulate more money for the search.
To conclude, these two characters suffered a great amount of sorrow as no one cares for their well-beings. They had no one to fall back to when facing problems.However, Richard has learnt that lesson, but Colin has yet to encounter that problem. Undoubtfully, we need to think twice before making any decision in life.
Firstly, I spotted a similarity in Richard and Colin's love which is their love for their respective dads. They both yearned for their father's presence However, in Richard's case, he had lost his father forever as his father had already perished. Colin merely lost contact with his father after he moved away with his mother without leaving any clues for his father to search for them. While Richard had no way to get in touch with his father again, Colin was still searching for his stepfather. Colin saves up every single possible penny to assist his search for his stepfather. I keep practically every penny that comes my way. Colin is determined to search for his stepfather when he is old enough. As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off. Clearly, Richard and Colin are unable to let go of their love for their dads.
Secondly, Richard and Colin were ignored by their mothers. They did not get enough tender loving care from their mothers. Richard felt that his mother, Lilith, ignored him when she married Mr. Coldstone despite his obvious dissatisfaction for Mr Coldstone. His mother turned a blind eye when Mr. Coldstone's treated him badly and brushed it off saying everything he does is for your own good. All his mother did was to lower her eyes. As for Colin, his mother was not aware of how much he missed his stepfather, Jack, because she is too occupied working at the canteen and doing household chores. I think Mum thinks that I've forgotten him. Undoubtfully, Richard and Colin did not recieve their mothers' love.
Thirdly, Richard and Colin thought of running away to make ends meet. They could only think that as their one and only solution to their misery. Richard ran away from home in hope that he could reduce the burden for everyone. Without me, the three of them would get on well enough. Colin however, was planning to run away to find his stepfather. Both of them have their differences as Richard realized that running away does not solve any problems. This is rather obvious when he had to face the music after all the while. Colin, on the other hand, was still stucked in a deep dilemma on the idea to search for his stepfather. He even does three paper rounds in an effort to accumulate more money for the search.
To conclude, these two characters suffered a great amount of sorrow as no one cares for their well-beings. They had no one to fall back to when facing problems.However, Richard has learnt that lesson, but Colin has yet to encounter that problem. Undoubtfully, we need to think twice before making any decision in life.
Nutella Cookies.
Nutella cookies. What? Yes, you heard me. Nutella is a world-renowned chocolate hazelnut spread, commonly seen in every household. To me, nutella is an essential item to sustain my life. I'm just a nutella freak, don't mind me. So, stumbling upon this recipe is a true blessing! Thank you Laura Vitale.
Makes About 3 Dozen
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
½ cup of Unsalted Butter at room temperature
½ cup of Brown Sugar
½ cup of Granulated Sugar
1 cup of Nutella
2 Eggs
1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
2 cups of All Purpose Flour
1 tsp of Baking Soda
¼ tsp of Salt
1 Tbsp of Cacao Powder
Process,
1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, line a few baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2) In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, cocoa powder and baking soda, set aside.
3) In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and both kinds of sugar. Add the egg, vanilla and nutella and mix to incorporate well.
4) Add the dry ingredients and mix everything together until your dough comes together.
5) Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out the cookie dough on your prepared baking sheets a few inches apart.
6) Bake them for about 10 minutes.(they will look very puffy as they bake but they will flatten as they cool)
7) Let them cool completely
Adapted from http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/nutella-cookies/
Makes About 3 Dozen
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
½ cup of Unsalted Butter at room temperature
½ cup of Brown Sugar
½ cup of Granulated Sugar
1 cup of Nutella
2 Eggs
1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
2 cups of All Purpose Flour
1 tsp of Baking Soda
¼ tsp of Salt
1 Tbsp of Cacao Powder
Process,
1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, line a few baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2) In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, cocoa powder and baking soda, set aside.
3) In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and both kinds of sugar. Add the egg, vanilla and nutella and mix to incorporate well.
4) Add the dry ingredients and mix everything together until your dough comes together.
5) Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out the cookie dough on your prepared baking sheets a few inches apart.
6) Bake them for about 10 minutes.(they will look very puffy as they bake but they will flatten as they cool)
7) Let them cool completely
Adapted from http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/nutella-cookies/
Brownies, anyone?
Brownies. Yes, brownies! Who doesn't love 'em? Definitely listed as one's comfort food. Simple to make and turning that frown upside down. Follow these following steps.
Makes 16 brownies
Prep time: 2 hrs 25 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Ingredients:
For the brownies:
1/2 cup of Unsalted Butter, softened at room temperature
10 oz of semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup of Granulated Sugar
1/4 tsp of Salt
2 eggs
1 cup of Flour
2-1/2 Tbsp of Cocoa powder
1/2 tsp of Instant Espresso Powder
For the Glaze:
2 Tbsp of Milk
2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
1 cup of Confectioner Sugar
1 Tbsp of room temperature, unsalted butter
Small Pinch of salt
Process,
To make the brownies:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8” square baking pan with parchment paper, making sure it comes up the sides a bit, set aside.
2) In a large saucepan, add the butter and chocolate chips and melt them over medium-low heat.
3) In a large bowl, add the sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt and melted chocolate mixture. Mix everything together well.
4) Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan, bake them for 40 minutes, allow them to cool completely before glazing.
5) To make the glaze, in a bowl mix together the sugar, cocoa powder and salt, work in the butter and then start adding the milk slowly while mixing the whole time until the glaze reaches the consistency you like.
6)Spread the glaze evenly over the top, allow it to set for a while (I stick mine in the fridge because I love cold dense brownies and they set quicker this way) cut into desired shape and size and enjoy!
Recipe By: Laura Vitale. Adapted from http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/glazed-chewy-brownies/
Makes 16 brownies
Prep time: 2 hrs 25 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Ingredients:
For the brownies:
1/2 cup of Unsalted Butter, softened at room temperature
10 oz of semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup of Granulated Sugar
1/4 tsp of Salt
2 eggs
1 cup of Flour
2-1/2 Tbsp of Cocoa powder
1/2 tsp of Instant Espresso Powder
For the Glaze:
2 Tbsp of Milk
2 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder
1 cup of Confectioner Sugar
1 Tbsp of room temperature, unsalted butter
Small Pinch of salt
Process,
To make the brownies:
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8” square baking pan with parchment paper, making sure it comes up the sides a bit, set aside.
2) In a large saucepan, add the butter and chocolate chips and melt them over medium-low heat.
3) In a large bowl, add the sugar, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt and melted chocolate mixture. Mix everything together well.
4) Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan, bake them for 40 minutes, allow them to cool completely before glazing.
5) To make the glaze, in a bowl mix together the sugar, cocoa powder and salt, work in the butter and then start adding the milk slowly while mixing the whole time until the glaze reaches the consistency you like.
6)Spread the glaze evenly over the top, allow it to set for a while (I stick mine in the fridge because I love cold dense brownies and they set quicker this way) cut into desired shape and size and enjoy!
Recipe By: Laura Vitale. Adapted from http://www.laurainthekitchen.com/recipes/glazed-chewy-brownies/
The River & Two Uncles.
Several years ago, I was standing in the market place of the small South Lincolnshire town where I was born and grew up. It was Thursday, market day, though it was no longer possible for a relaxed sociable crowd to meander through the stalls. Only a few traders still tried to sell their wares in side streets. The piled-up local produce to be auctioned, the ironmonger’s stack of hardware, the cakes and bread, poultry and rabbits in cages, fish from Boston, plants, second-hand books, even a fortune teller sometimes, had given way to lumbering foreign lorries spewing fumes and grinding gears. No one lingered.
I was disquieted and disappointed. The sense of not belonging to a place where I had always been recognised and felt welcome was both new and vivid. Then, too, a great deal that was otherwise fundamentally important to me there had been blocked or destroyed or made ugly. All the grassy openings between houses had gone. There were no ways that led to ponds and water meadows. In their stead were acres of absurdly over-priced houses, some grimly substantial, fenced with high iron railings and accessed only by speaking into a metal box. Commuters and capitalism had moved in. John Clare, born just a few miles away, would have wept.
It was a relief to slip though a pub yard and come out into the shelter and quiet of space between a Queen Anne house and the Abbey Church. This space could not be altered and spoilt because it contained the town’s river. I stepped on to the low parapet that edged the river, and, prompted by the familiarity of this movement from long ago, my thoughts turned upstream, where the flow had been strong and deep and where, as a boy, I’d fished, sailed a homemade raft and, once, was lucky not to drown. I can still recall the pain of the underwater pressure and the huge struggling heaviness as I was dragged upwards to the sky and sun, and I can still see the uncle who, without doubt, saved my life. His white miller’s clothes were clinging to him and his face was working with distress and rage. “That bloody boy! That bloody boy!” he kept shouting. At any moment, he was going to let me know how foolish I’d been by whopping me with his sodden hat, but his younger brother whisked me up, tucked me under his arm and, positioning me so that I was face down and coughing, rode me home on his bicycle. It was said that he could do the same trick with a young calf. No doubt, he’d be whistling at the same time.
Such men are essential to a boy’s education. That must be so because the same uncle not only always knew where the best birds’ nests were but also got the maggots for fishing, unearthed skates from the loft when the pond froze and let me collect the hens’ eggs and drive the piglets round the mill yard. Yet neither he nor his brother had the reputation for being especially perfect. In fact, members of the local Methodist church used to refer to them very disapprovingly.
Well, perhaps these uncles did sometimes take a drink or three and they did laugh rather too raucously and they did put too much money on too many slow racehorses, but, when people needed help, it was often these uncles who were called upon. They rescued Aunt Kate Sandal’s cat from the top of a fir tree, drowned unwanted kittens, helped to manhandle a grand piano into Sir Raymond May’s drawing room, put up the big marquee for the church garden fete, acted as bearers at funerals and bounced my father’s old Austin Princess straight when he got it stuck askew in our garage. Also, far fewer of our itinerant Irish labourers would have gone home singing had it not been for the go-easy generosity of these uncles. Prudes and puritans would no doubt demur. The two men were certainly not devoted to laying up treasure in heaven or anywhere else for that matter.
Perhaps the most exacting memory of them comes back from late one November evening. We were recovering from the usual big helpings of ham and eggs followed by apple pie and custard when there was frantic knocking at the front door. No one seemed inclined to see who was there. My uncles, who had been at work in the mill since 6 a.m., were sprawled in two deep leather chairs. The fire was banked up and glowing. The room was intoxicatingly drowsy. But eventually the call had to be answered. I let in an elderly woman, a member of the Mays family who had always lived not far away along the waterside. The shocked pallor of her face stood out against her lividly dyed red hair. She kept her hands in the pockets of her long coat, but I could see that the material was shaking. Both men immediately stood up to receive her. They said comforting things when she told them that her sister had gone missing again and that she was afraid that she had wandered into the river.
The wanderer, Edith, had always been a stirring figure in my imagination. She lived alone in a small elegant Georgian house near the mill and was said to be mad. Like Boo Radley in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, she rarely ‘came out’, though I had once met her face to face along a narrow pathway called Coggles Causeway. It was a bitter cold early December evening. Intense moonlight gave the scene a hard clarity in which it was only too startlingly apparent that time, season and temperature were of no consequence to her. She was wearing a thin summer dress and a round straw hat. She was carrying an empty shopping basket. Her face was puffy and every few steps she paused as if the mind needed to wait until it could engage the movement it required. Her lips moved soundlessly, but she nodded as if to agree with what she was saying inside her head. At a loss, feeling tense and embarrassed, I stood aside to let her pass. I didn’t speak because I didn’t want to disturb her.
Our search that night was fruitless. We shouted for her and held our storm lanterns high. We poked in the reeds and let our voices echo under bridges. We continued until we could hardly feel the sticks that we were carrying, but all that we saw were our shadows and occasional reflected glimpses of the moon. We were very tired trudging back along the riverbank. Edith hadn’t drowned that night though, but when I was older, I learned that it was about that time that she had finally ‘gone under’ into silence and stillness. When we got home, both of my uncles were very quiet and every now and then one of them went out to look into the millrace.
Of course, it is difficult to find a conclusion for these men, but I can say that it is highly unlikely that either of them made it to heaven. In any case, heaven would have embarrassed them. They couldn’t have worn their working clothes up there. Nor would they have been allowed to tell their jokes. Yet, if the eternal sun does shine beyond the reproving gaze of the strictest Nonconformist angels, I’d wish these uncles a place where they can be themselves, where they can be pleased when the swallows come back to the barn in spring, where they can hear the soughing of the great wing beats as they watch the swans come in to land on the river and where they can still dive cleanly into one of the deeper pools upstream.
Hear David Day reading The River and Two Uncles at the launch of The Real Story project on October 19, 2011 at The Deaf Institute, Manchester:
I was disquieted and disappointed. The sense of not belonging to a place where I had always been recognised and felt welcome was both new and vivid. Then, too, a great deal that was otherwise fundamentally important to me there had been blocked or destroyed or made ugly. All the grassy openings between houses had gone. There were no ways that led to ponds and water meadows. In their stead were acres of absurdly over-priced houses, some grimly substantial, fenced with high iron railings and accessed only by speaking into a metal box. Commuters and capitalism had moved in. John Clare, born just a few miles away, would have wept.
It was a relief to slip though a pub yard and come out into the shelter and quiet of space between a Queen Anne house and the Abbey Church. This space could not be altered and spoilt because it contained the town’s river. I stepped on to the low parapet that edged the river, and, prompted by the familiarity of this movement from long ago, my thoughts turned upstream, where the flow had been strong and deep and where, as a boy, I’d fished, sailed a homemade raft and, once, was lucky not to drown. I can still recall the pain of the underwater pressure and the huge struggling heaviness as I was dragged upwards to the sky and sun, and I can still see the uncle who, without doubt, saved my life. His white miller’s clothes were clinging to him and his face was working with distress and rage. “That bloody boy! That bloody boy!” he kept shouting. At any moment, he was going to let me know how foolish I’d been by whopping me with his sodden hat, but his younger brother whisked me up, tucked me under his arm and, positioning me so that I was face down and coughing, rode me home on his bicycle. It was said that he could do the same trick with a young calf. No doubt, he’d be whistling at the same time.
Such men are essential to a boy’s education. That must be so because the same uncle not only always knew where the best birds’ nests were but also got the maggots for fishing, unearthed skates from the loft when the pond froze and let me collect the hens’ eggs and drive the piglets round the mill yard. Yet neither he nor his brother had the reputation for being especially perfect. In fact, members of the local Methodist church used to refer to them very disapprovingly.
Well, perhaps these uncles did sometimes take a drink or three and they did laugh rather too raucously and they did put too much money on too many slow racehorses, but, when people needed help, it was often these uncles who were called upon. They rescued Aunt Kate Sandal’s cat from the top of a fir tree, drowned unwanted kittens, helped to manhandle a grand piano into Sir Raymond May’s drawing room, put up the big marquee for the church garden fete, acted as bearers at funerals and bounced my father’s old Austin Princess straight when he got it stuck askew in our garage. Also, far fewer of our itinerant Irish labourers would have gone home singing had it not been for the go-easy generosity of these uncles. Prudes and puritans would no doubt demur. The two men were certainly not devoted to laying up treasure in heaven or anywhere else for that matter.
Perhaps the most exacting memory of them comes back from late one November evening. We were recovering from the usual big helpings of ham and eggs followed by apple pie and custard when there was frantic knocking at the front door. No one seemed inclined to see who was there. My uncles, who had been at work in the mill since 6 a.m., were sprawled in two deep leather chairs. The fire was banked up and glowing. The room was intoxicatingly drowsy. But eventually the call had to be answered. I let in an elderly woman, a member of the Mays family who had always lived not far away along the waterside. The shocked pallor of her face stood out against her lividly dyed red hair. She kept her hands in the pockets of her long coat, but I could see that the material was shaking. Both men immediately stood up to receive her. They said comforting things when she told them that her sister had gone missing again and that she was afraid that she had wandered into the river.
The wanderer, Edith, had always been a stirring figure in my imagination. She lived alone in a small elegant Georgian house near the mill and was said to be mad. Like Boo Radley in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, she rarely ‘came out’, though I had once met her face to face along a narrow pathway called Coggles Causeway. It was a bitter cold early December evening. Intense moonlight gave the scene a hard clarity in which it was only too startlingly apparent that time, season and temperature were of no consequence to her. She was wearing a thin summer dress and a round straw hat. She was carrying an empty shopping basket. Her face was puffy and every few steps she paused as if the mind needed to wait until it could engage the movement it required. Her lips moved soundlessly, but she nodded as if to agree with what she was saying inside her head. At a loss, feeling tense and embarrassed, I stood aside to let her pass. I didn’t speak because I didn’t want to disturb her.
Our search that night was fruitless. We shouted for her and held our storm lanterns high. We poked in the reeds and let our voices echo under bridges. We continued until we could hardly feel the sticks that we were carrying, but all that we saw were our shadows and occasional reflected glimpses of the moon. We were very tired trudging back along the riverbank. Edith hadn’t drowned that night though, but when I was older, I learned that it was about that time that she had finally ‘gone under’ into silence and stillness. When we got home, both of my uncles were very quiet and every now and then one of them went out to look into the millrace.
Of course, it is difficult to find a conclusion for these men, but I can say that it is highly unlikely that either of them made it to heaven. In any case, heaven would have embarrassed them. They couldn’t have worn their working clothes up there. Nor would they have been allowed to tell their jokes. Yet, if the eternal sun does shine beyond the reproving gaze of the strictest Nonconformist angels, I’d wish these uncles a place where they can be themselves, where they can be pleased when the swallows come back to the barn in spring, where they can hear the soughing of the great wing beats as they watch the swans come in to land on the river and where they can still dive cleanly into one of the deeper pools upstream.
Hear David Day reading The River and Two Uncles at the launch of The Real Story project on October 19, 2011 at The Deaf Institute, Manchester:
Literature - The Part I like the most.
Question 2011 - The part I like the most.
The magnificently written novel, 'Step by Wicked Step' written by Anne Fine, has its ups and down throughout the story that instantly enraptured me and earned my liking for it, I personally think that the most outstanding part in this novel is the tear-inducing sentimental moment in Richard's story. I have mixed feelings about this part, because there are certain sentences in the letter that has the potential to make me chuckle with glee but also tear up.
Firstly, I was elated at the part when Charlotte mentioned in her letter that Mr.Coldstone died of fury when he found out that Richard is the owner of Old Harwick Hall. I felt that Mr.Coldstone did not deserve the title of the owner of Old Hardwick Hall, because he only married Richard's mother for her wealth and not sincere love. He knew Richard's mother was lonely and needed a shoulder to lean on so he took advantage of her during her point of weakness to marry her. Like Richard had said, 'the black, black bat crept up on my mother and trapped her as surely as if he'd thrown a net on her (PG19 P1) Mr.Coldstone was unwilling to spend another penny of his fortune in the search for Richard and demanded Lilith to fork out money double the figure he loaned her. His harsh words still linger in Charlotte's mind as she illustrated her letter forwarded to Richard. 'Lilith! Waste more of your dwindling fortune on this folly and I will make you pay it for twice over!' (PG 27 P2)
In my most humble opinion, I personally feel emotionally stirred by the plot where the writer revealed that Richard Clayton Hardwick returned to his home twice. “I stood like a trespasser in the shadow of the lime walk and watched the house. (PG 26, P1) He had the golden opportunity to return home and make up for lost time but he chose to escape reality once again. By doing so, he would forever be alone. This was the price he paid for running away. “I crept away, back to sea where fortune shone on me even through storms and shipwrecks.(PG 26, P4) He faced the dilemma of having to choose his path in life after reading the letter. “I have to choose whether to stay and face the damage I have done”. As an avid reader, I had expected him to return home and save his mother and sister from their misery, but his unexpected decision proved my expectations wrong. This extreme plot twist was heart rending and tugged at my heartstrings.
In a nutshell, Richard’s story stood out the most compared to the rest of the characters in this novel which really grabbed my attention relentlessly. I like that Anne Fine took a risk to write the plot twists in Richard’s story because the risk definitely paid off, although It could either make or break the whole story. Though sad at times, Anne’s brilliantly crafted story managed to pull it off beautifully.
The magnificently written novel, 'Step by Wicked Step' written by Anne Fine, has its ups and down throughout the story that instantly enraptured me and earned my liking for it, I personally think that the most outstanding part in this novel is the tear-inducing sentimental moment in Richard's story. I have mixed feelings about this part, because there are certain sentences in the letter that has the potential to make me chuckle with glee but also tear up.
Firstly, I was elated at the part when Charlotte mentioned in her letter that Mr.Coldstone died of fury when he found out that Richard is the owner of Old Harwick Hall. I felt that Mr.Coldstone did not deserve the title of the owner of Old Hardwick Hall, because he only married Richard's mother for her wealth and not sincere love. He knew Richard's mother was lonely and needed a shoulder to lean on so he took advantage of her during her point of weakness to marry her. Like Richard had said, 'the black, black bat crept up on my mother and trapped her as surely as if he'd thrown a net on her (PG19 P1) Mr.Coldstone was unwilling to spend another penny of his fortune in the search for Richard and demanded Lilith to fork out money double the figure he loaned her. His harsh words still linger in Charlotte's mind as she illustrated her letter forwarded to Richard. 'Lilith! Waste more of your dwindling fortune on this folly and I will make you pay it for twice over!' (PG 27 P2)
In my most humble opinion, I personally feel emotionally stirred by the plot where the writer revealed that Richard Clayton Hardwick returned to his home twice. “I stood like a trespasser in the shadow of the lime walk and watched the house. (PG 26, P1) He had the golden opportunity to return home and make up for lost time but he chose to escape reality once again. By doing so, he would forever be alone. This was the price he paid for running away. “I crept away, back to sea where fortune shone on me even through storms and shipwrecks.(PG 26, P4) He faced the dilemma of having to choose his path in life after reading the letter. “I have to choose whether to stay and face the damage I have done”. As an avid reader, I had expected him to return home and save his mother and sister from their misery, but his unexpected decision proved my expectations wrong. This extreme plot twist was heart rending and tugged at my heartstrings.
In a nutshell, Richard’s story stood out the most compared to the rest of the characters in this novel which really grabbed my attention relentlessly. I like that Anne Fine took a risk to write the plot twists in Richard’s story because the risk definitely paid off, although It could either make or break the whole story. Though sad at times, Anne’s brilliantly crafted story managed to pull it off beautifully.
The Real Sex Maniac
A man has admitted to having sex with up to 100 corpses, some of whom were murder victims, while he was drunk or high on drugs.Kenneth Douglas, 60, worked as a morgue attendant in Ohio, USA, between 1976 and 1992, where he committed the sexual crimes against the dead women while working the night shift.
He admitted to sexually abusing the cadavers of three women between 1991 and 1992, two of which were murder victims, and disclosed in a deposition that he had had sex with up to 100 corpses over a period of 16 years.“I would just get on top of them and pull my pants down,” he is seen telling the court in a deposition video obtained by WCPO.
The former morgue attendant’s crimes have only come to light in their entirety after the families of Douglas’s victims were told they could sue Hamilton County in Ohio by a Federal appeals court.The county now faces a Federal lawsuit and huge legal bills after a panel cited evidence that Douglas’s supervisors knew he was getting drunk and having sex with corpses while on the job.
Kenneth Douglas's testimony is revealed in the video “If I hadn’t had anything to drink when I went into work, it wouldn’t happen,” he said in his deposition. “I would do crack and go in and drink and go in.”His wife said in the deposition that she had attempted to alert the morgue supervisor, claiming that Douglas would return after work smelling like sex and alcohol.
“He said, ‘Whatever happens on county time and on county property is county business’,” she claimed.The county has claimed the abuse of the women were the unknown criminal act of an employee, and that it should not be held liable.
Douglas wasn’t discovered until 2008 when his semen was found on a murder victim, the 19-year-old Karen Range, who was killed by a door-to-door salesman. Her killer, David Steffen, admitted to her murder but denied the rape charge made against him.Douglas admitted to having had sex with Range’s corpse when she died in 1992. Her body had been slashed and she was reportedly nearly decapitated.
In 2012 he also pleaded guilty to having sex with the bodies of April Hicks, a 24-year-old woman who had fallen from a third-story window and who had died from blunt trauma, and to having sex with Charlene Appling on the day she died, between 1991 and 1992. Appling was a 23-year-old woman who was strangled while she was six months pregnant.
All three families sued the County following Douglas’s second conviction in 2012.
Adapted from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/morgue-worker-admits-to-having-sex-with-up-to-100-dead-women-9676200.html
--Based on a true-life story--
He admitted to sexually abusing the cadavers of three women between 1991 and 1992, two of which were murder victims, and disclosed in a deposition that he had had sex with up to 100 corpses over a period of 16 years.“I would just get on top of them and pull my pants down,” he is seen telling the court in a deposition video obtained by WCPO.
The former morgue attendant’s crimes have only come to light in their entirety after the families of Douglas’s victims were told they could sue Hamilton County in Ohio by a Federal appeals court.The county now faces a Federal lawsuit and huge legal bills after a panel cited evidence that Douglas’s supervisors knew he was getting drunk and having sex with corpses while on the job.
Kenneth Douglas's testimony is revealed in the video “If I hadn’t had anything to drink when I went into work, it wouldn’t happen,” he said in his deposition. “I would do crack and go in and drink and go in.”His wife said in the deposition that she had attempted to alert the morgue supervisor, claiming that Douglas would return after work smelling like sex and alcohol.
“He said, ‘Whatever happens on county time and on county property is county business’,” she claimed.The county has claimed the abuse of the women were the unknown criminal act of an employee, and that it should not be held liable.
Douglas wasn’t discovered until 2008 when his semen was found on a murder victim, the 19-year-old Karen Range, who was killed by a door-to-door salesman. Her killer, David Steffen, admitted to her murder but denied the rape charge made against him.Douglas admitted to having had sex with Range’s corpse when she died in 1992. Her body had been slashed and she was reportedly nearly decapitated.
In 2012 he also pleaded guilty to having sex with the bodies of April Hicks, a 24-year-old woman who had fallen from a third-story window and who had died from blunt trauma, and to having sex with Charlene Appling on the day she died, between 1991 and 1992. Appling was a 23-year-old woman who was strangled while she was six months pregnant.
All three families sued the County following Douglas’s second conviction in 2012.
Adapted from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/morgue-worker-admits-to-having-sex-with-up-to-100-dead-women-9676200.html
--Based on a true-life story--
Feels surreal to be alive once again.
After suffering a terrifying health scare at 35, Kelly knew she had to act to change.
Squeals of delight echoed through the park as my eldest daughter, Mickayla, 13, and I headed towards the roller-coaster. 'Let's go, Mum,' she called, pulling me into the line for the ride. I should've been excited, but I was riddled with nerves.Reluctantly taking my seat, the ride assistant suddenly leant down next to me. 'I'm so sorry, I can't get the harness closed,' she whispered. Breathing in as hard as I could, she finally managed to latch it. But I was mortified, and spent the entire ride fighting back tears.
There was no denying the truth anymore. I needed to change. I'd been overweight for as long as I could remember. Naturally chubby, I dealt with constant teasing at school. 'Why stroll when you can roll,' the boys would taunt. When I started high school, I was around 100 kilos. And by year 11, I'd ballooned to 125 kilos. I was desperate. I crash dieted, and got down to 75 kilos, but I became so sick I ended up in hospital.And it was all for nothing. All those kilos piled straight back on. I had only myself to blame.
At 19, I met my husband David, now 43, and although I was highly self-conscious, he wasn't bothered by my size. 'You look beautiful,' he'd always tell me. Marrying four years later, we went on to have Mickayla and Mackenzie, now eight. While I tried different diets, I never stuck with anything long enough to make a difference. For lunch, I'd eat a sandwich with hot chips and tuck into big plates of pasta or potato dishes for dinner. Most days on the way home from work, I'd also stop at the service station for a sneaky ice-cream or chocolate.
Gradually, my weight crept up to 160 kilos. At 172cm tall, I could only just squeeze into size-26 clothing. While I always kept a smile on my face for my family, I was secretly miserable. Whenever we were invited to dinner, I'd check on Google to see what type of chairs the restaurant had. 'I won't fit in the seat,' I would groan to Dave. Pressure on my joints meant I was sore and exhausted. And despite living 10 minutes from the beach, we never went. I felt terrible the girls were missing out, but I couldn't bear to show my body on the sand. I just wanted to hide away from the world.
Then one day, at the preschool where I worked I felt the whole room narrow around me. Laying my head down, I felt tingles in my arm. I went home and slept, but finally called my sister, Megan, 31, who's a paramedic. 'You need to go to the hospital,' she told me. It was there doctors found I'd had a mild stroke and put me on blood pressure medication. While I wore a brave face for my family, I was terrified.At just 35, I'd wake up most mornings surprised to be alive. Then came that moment on the roller-coaster. Although it was mortifying, it was the motivation I needed. If I wanted to live, I had to lose weight. It was that simple.
In May last year, my youngest sister, Katie, 27, and I joined a gym together. With her support, I managed to train every day and was amazed when I lost 20 kilos in the first six months. I could feel the difference, and before long other people noticed the changes too.'You look incredible,' my sister, Sally, 34, beamed. Inspired by my progress, I joined a six-week team weight-loss challenge at the gym. David was always incredibly supportive. 'I'll love you no matter what size you are,' he told me. 'I just want you to be healthy'. It wasn't easy and there were times I felt like giving up. But then I thought of my girls. 'I'm doing this for them,' I'd say. And with each week that passed, I could feel myself getting happier, fitter and stronger.
After the challenge, I'd shed another 15 kilos and was loving exercising. In fact, whenever anyone called the house asking for me, David would tell them I was with my new boyfriend. 'His name is Gym!' he'd joke. My amazing trainer, Phil, also helped me with an eating plan. Instead of starving or gorging on sweets, I ate every three hours. For breakfast, I'd enjoy bran cereal with almond milk before having Greek yoghurt with fruit for snacks and grilled fish with vegies or salad for lunch and dinner.
Today, 18 months after my transformation began, I've managed to shed 85 kilos. Weighing just 75 kilos, I can now fit into size 12 clothing. Having more energy means I can keep up with the girls and hit the beach. In fact, two of my sisters and I have planned a trip to Hawaii this year - something I would never have done before. What's more, I don't have to worry about fitting into a seat again! I just hope sharing my story can give other people the motivation to change. No matter how busy you are, it's never too late to turn your life around. I'm proof of that!
--Based on a true-life story--
Squeals of delight echoed through the park as my eldest daughter, Mickayla, 13, and I headed towards the roller-coaster. 'Let's go, Mum,' she called, pulling me into the line for the ride. I should've been excited, but I was riddled with nerves.Reluctantly taking my seat, the ride assistant suddenly leant down next to me. 'I'm so sorry, I can't get the harness closed,' she whispered. Breathing in as hard as I could, she finally managed to latch it. But I was mortified, and spent the entire ride fighting back tears.
There was no denying the truth anymore. I needed to change. I'd been overweight for as long as I could remember. Naturally chubby, I dealt with constant teasing at school. 'Why stroll when you can roll,' the boys would taunt. When I started high school, I was around 100 kilos. And by year 11, I'd ballooned to 125 kilos. I was desperate. I crash dieted, and got down to 75 kilos, but I became so sick I ended up in hospital.And it was all for nothing. All those kilos piled straight back on. I had only myself to blame.
At 19, I met my husband David, now 43, and although I was highly self-conscious, he wasn't bothered by my size. 'You look beautiful,' he'd always tell me. Marrying four years later, we went on to have Mickayla and Mackenzie, now eight. While I tried different diets, I never stuck with anything long enough to make a difference. For lunch, I'd eat a sandwich with hot chips and tuck into big plates of pasta or potato dishes for dinner. Most days on the way home from work, I'd also stop at the service station for a sneaky ice-cream or chocolate.
Gradually, my weight crept up to 160 kilos. At 172cm tall, I could only just squeeze into size-26 clothing. While I always kept a smile on my face for my family, I was secretly miserable. Whenever we were invited to dinner, I'd check on Google to see what type of chairs the restaurant had. 'I won't fit in the seat,' I would groan to Dave. Pressure on my joints meant I was sore and exhausted. And despite living 10 minutes from the beach, we never went. I felt terrible the girls were missing out, but I couldn't bear to show my body on the sand. I just wanted to hide away from the world.
Then one day, at the preschool where I worked I felt the whole room narrow around me. Laying my head down, I felt tingles in my arm. I went home and slept, but finally called my sister, Megan, 31, who's a paramedic. 'You need to go to the hospital,' she told me. It was there doctors found I'd had a mild stroke and put me on blood pressure medication. While I wore a brave face for my family, I was terrified.At just 35, I'd wake up most mornings surprised to be alive. Then came that moment on the roller-coaster. Although it was mortifying, it was the motivation I needed. If I wanted to live, I had to lose weight. It was that simple.
In May last year, my youngest sister, Katie, 27, and I joined a gym together. With her support, I managed to train every day and was amazed when I lost 20 kilos in the first six months. I could feel the difference, and before long other people noticed the changes too.'You look incredible,' my sister, Sally, 34, beamed. Inspired by my progress, I joined a six-week team weight-loss challenge at the gym. David was always incredibly supportive. 'I'll love you no matter what size you are,' he told me. 'I just want you to be healthy'. It wasn't easy and there were times I felt like giving up. But then I thought of my girls. 'I'm doing this for them,' I'd say. And with each week that passed, I could feel myself getting happier, fitter and stronger.
After the challenge, I'd shed another 15 kilos and was loving exercising. In fact, whenever anyone called the house asking for me, David would tell them I was with my new boyfriend. 'His name is Gym!' he'd joke. My amazing trainer, Phil, also helped me with an eating plan. Instead of starving or gorging on sweets, I ate every three hours. For breakfast, I'd enjoy bran cereal with almond milk before having Greek yoghurt with fruit for snacks and grilled fish with vegies or salad for lunch and dinner.
Today, 18 months after my transformation began, I've managed to shed 85 kilos. Weighing just 75 kilos, I can now fit into size 12 clothing. Having more energy means I can keep up with the girls and hit the beach. In fact, two of my sisters and I have planned a trip to Hawaii this year - something I would never have done before. What's more, I don't have to worry about fitting into a seat again! I just hope sharing my story can give other people the motivation to change. No matter how busy you are, it's never too late to turn your life around. I'm proof of that!
--Based on a true-life story--
The Real Heroine.
The mum who catches pedophiles.
Detective Sergeant Kathryn Ford, Brisbane, sitting down at the computer, a message popped up on the screen. It was from a man named Ben*. I'd been introduced to him through someone I'd met online and we were soon chatting for hours. At 33 years old, Ben was friendly and wanted to know all about me. 'Do you want to meet up?' he asked me one night. But this conversation wasn't as it seemed. That's because Ben believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl named Beth*.
As a covert operative working for the Queensland Police Service, it's my job to pose as underage children online to catch paedophiles before they strike. Working with a special group called Taskforce Argos, our team creates online accounts across social media sites and waits for online predators to make contact.
When a woman named Nancy* started talking to my fake persona, Beth, on a social networking site, I was instantly suspicious. Often pedophiles pretend to be women to gain the trust of young females, before gradually introducing a male friend to the conversation. That's exactly what happened in this case. 'You should chat to my friend, Ben', Nancy suggested. Soon, Ben was messaging me - engaging in sexualised chat and urging me to keep what he was saying secret. We're trained to use teenage language to convince offenders they are speaking to a minor.
So when Ben suggested we meet, I was careful to respond as a 14-year-old would. 'Where u live', I typed. 'Near Toowoomba, but I have a car so I could pick u up', he wrote back. Next Ben suggested I wear a skirt so he could 'teach' me things on the way home.
He suggested we meet at a nearby park...Except the next day Beth wasn't there. Instead we had a team of police officers waiting to arrest and charge Ben when he arrived. He served jail time for the offence and I was pleased one more offender was off the streets. But the shocking reality is that this isn't an isolated case.
On any given day I can be chatting with multiple pedophiles on social media and gaming websites. In one case, we were only chatting for an hour before the male offender tried to arrange a meeting. Meanwhile, other cases can go on for months as pedophiles slowly try and lure in 'the child' by building a friendship to gain their trust.
The lengths some of these criminals will go to is stunning - and horrifying. One offender flew from the ACT to Queensland for what he believed was a meeting with a 14-year-old girl. He was apprehended by police at a motel and charged for the offences. As technology becomes more popular with the younger generation, pedophiles are also becoming more skilled at luring their innocent victims online. Some shower their target with gifts such as telephone credit or iPads in exchange for a pledge of secrecy.
Sex offenders are now even using mobile phone applications and online gaming websites with chat capabilities to contact children. As a mum myself, I am determined to make sure these offenders are caught and that the online space is safe for children. But parents need to be doing their part to keep track of their child's activity online. While you might think it could never happen to your family, pedophiles can be lurking in any online space, ready to target your children. That's why we've started a campaign Who's chatting to your kids? to make people aware of the dangers online. Simple things like checking your child's contacts list or changing their privacy settings can make a big difference. Do you know who your kids are talking to?
--Based on a true-life story.--
Detective Sergeant Kathryn Ford, Brisbane, sitting down at the computer, a message popped up on the screen. It was from a man named Ben*. I'd been introduced to him through someone I'd met online and we were soon chatting for hours. At 33 years old, Ben was friendly and wanted to know all about me. 'Do you want to meet up?' he asked me one night. But this conversation wasn't as it seemed. That's because Ben believed he was talking to a 14-year-old girl named Beth*.
As a covert operative working for the Queensland Police Service, it's my job to pose as underage children online to catch paedophiles before they strike. Working with a special group called Taskforce Argos, our team creates online accounts across social media sites and waits for online predators to make contact.
When a woman named Nancy* started talking to my fake persona, Beth, on a social networking site, I was instantly suspicious. Often pedophiles pretend to be women to gain the trust of young females, before gradually introducing a male friend to the conversation. That's exactly what happened in this case. 'You should chat to my friend, Ben', Nancy suggested. Soon, Ben was messaging me - engaging in sexualised chat and urging me to keep what he was saying secret. We're trained to use teenage language to convince offenders they are speaking to a minor.
So when Ben suggested we meet, I was careful to respond as a 14-year-old would. 'Where u live', I typed. 'Near Toowoomba, but I have a car so I could pick u up', he wrote back. Next Ben suggested I wear a skirt so he could 'teach' me things on the way home.
He suggested we meet at a nearby park...Except the next day Beth wasn't there. Instead we had a team of police officers waiting to arrest and charge Ben when he arrived. He served jail time for the offence and I was pleased one more offender was off the streets. But the shocking reality is that this isn't an isolated case.
On any given day I can be chatting with multiple pedophiles on social media and gaming websites. In one case, we were only chatting for an hour before the male offender tried to arrange a meeting. Meanwhile, other cases can go on for months as pedophiles slowly try and lure in 'the child' by building a friendship to gain their trust.
The lengths some of these criminals will go to is stunning - and horrifying. One offender flew from the ACT to Queensland for what he believed was a meeting with a 14-year-old girl. He was apprehended by police at a motel and charged for the offences. As technology becomes more popular with the younger generation, pedophiles are also becoming more skilled at luring their innocent victims online. Some shower their target with gifts such as telephone credit or iPads in exchange for a pledge of secrecy.
Sex offenders are now even using mobile phone applications and online gaming websites with chat capabilities to contact children. As a mum myself, I am determined to make sure these offenders are caught and that the online space is safe for children. But parents need to be doing their part to keep track of their child's activity online. While you might think it could never happen to your family, pedophiles can be lurking in any online space, ready to target your children. That's why we've started a campaign Who's chatting to your kids? to make people aware of the dangers online. Simple things like checking your child's contacts list or changing their privacy settings can make a big difference. Do you know who your kids are talking to?
--Based on a true-life story.--
So, the bride worn a hospital gown?
It was meant to be the happiest day of her life, so how did things go so wrong at Ellie's wedding?
Ellie and her parents.
As the make-up artist swept a brush across my cheek, I should've been excited. With my long, white gown hanging nearby, I was hours away from walking down the aisle to meet my soul mate, Devin, 29. I'd been dreaming of this day since I was a little girl and couldn't wait to say my vows. But now my happiness was being overtaken by nausea and a blinding headache. When I'd started to feel unwell two weeks earlier, I put it down to stress. Between planning the wedding and caring for our nine-month-old son, Jai, I was constantly rushing around. 'I think you've just been overdoing it,' my mum, Bev, said to me. We'd chosen not to have a bridal party and I didn't want to burden anyone else, so I was busy organising everything.
Brushing off my sickness, I soldiered on. But after a week, I was still suffering from a fever, stiff neck, nausea and migraines so I went to the GP.'You've got viral meningitis,' the doctor said, telling me I needed to rest. But after a few days, I felt worse than ever. I'd lost my appetite and my head felt as if it had been run over by a truck whenever I stood up. What was going on? Going to hospital, I was given the same diagnosis and told to take it easy. So I battled on, hoping I'd be better by the wedding day.
We'd chosen the beautiful Murramarang Resort in NSW for a ceremony on the beach followed by a reception in the restaurant. With 80 guests invited, we went down there the night before to set up but I was still feeling miserable. Whenever I moved, the pounding in my head was so painful I could barely open my eyes. Going to bed early, I hardly slept a wink as thoughts swirled in my mind. Would I even make it down the aisle?
Ellie and Devin
When I got up the next morning, I was thrilled the wedding day had arrived. But I felt nauseous and my head was pounding. By lunchtime, things were so bad I had to lie down as my make-up was finished. As I put on my dress, my best friend Mel came to see me. 'We'll get you down that aisle even if we have to put you on a stretcher,' she joked. I giggled, thankful she'd made me smile. It was true, I wouldn't miss my chance to marry Devin for the world. Soon after, Mum and my dad, Brian, were ready to walk me down the aisle.
When the music began and I saw Devin waiting, it was as if all the pain disappeared.I can do this, I thought. The ceremony was beautiful and afterwards we were whisked away for photos on the sand. Making it through dinner, I was starting to feel a little better as I ate my first proper meal in weeks. Then our photographer took us outside for a picture in the sunset. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. But as we made our way to the reception, I felt pins and needles in my right foot. Brushing it off, we headed back. But the second I walked inside, everything went black. Coming to, I realised I was lying on the floor and my brother, Dale, was crying next to me. 'You had a seizure,' he told me. I was dazed as I tried to make sense of it all. 'Don't cry,' I soothed. 'I'll be okay.' But the truth was, I had no idea what was happening.
Ambulance
I was forced to miss the rest of my wedding as I was raced to hospital with Devin and my parents while family friends cared for Jai. Doctors ran tests and gave me fluids, but couldn't find any reason for my seizure. So after four days in hospital, I was sent home to rest. But I showed no signs of improvement and after a few days, I'd lost so much weight that I was rushed back to hospital and put in isolation. I wanted nothing more than to be with my husband and son. What was wrong with me?
Sent home again with no answers, I began looking online. That was when I came across information about something called a cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) which is sometimes mistaken for viral meningitis. Though extremely rare, I couldn't help but wonder if it was the answer. So when I was rushed back to hospital again a few days later, I mentioned CSF. It was like a light bulb went on and my doctor sent me for a lumbar puncture. When the results came in, I was shocked. The amount of fluid around my spine and brain was so low it couldn't be measured. My brain was sagging against my skull causing those awful headaches. It also explained why lying down gave me relief. I was terrified but pleased to finally have an answer. Scans showed a cyst on my spine that doctors believed was causing the leak.
Six weeks later, during surgery, they discovered the cyst was connected to nerves, making it too risky to remove. So instead, they patched up the leak with silicon glue and tissue.Thankfully, when I was wheeled into recovery, doctors were confident the op had been a success. After six days lying completely flat, I was gradually allowed to sit up and then move around. Finally, four months after our wedding, I was allowed to go home.
While I'm disappointed I missed most of my wedding, I still consider myself incredibly lucky. I have a fantastic husband who proved he would really be there for me in sickness and in health. We've now welcomed another little boy, Zander, 18 months, and we are planning to renew our vows. Hopefully next time I'll make it through the big day unscathed!
Based on a true-life story.
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Cuppycakes.
Cuppycakes better known as cupcakes, serve as one of the best invention in human's history hands down
Cupcakes are usually filled with cake batter of any desired flavor and baked in paper cups in a preheated oven till perfection! Next, cupcakes are brought to the cooling rack and left to cool for a minimum of 15 minutes. Lastly, they're piped carefully with different types of icing such as cream cheese frosting and chocolate gauche. Let's cut to the chase, I'm just really, really into cupcakes. By now, you probably know that I'm a loyal and hardcore fan of cupcakes especially Wondermilk cupcakes.
So, I would like to share a simple recipe of basic vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing. A simple recipe yet able to lift the mood of different ages!
Serves: 6 person
Cupcakes are usually filled with cake batter of any desired flavor and baked in paper cups in a preheated oven till perfection! Next, cupcakes are brought to the cooling rack and left to cool for a minimum of 15 minutes. Lastly, they're piped carefully with different types of icing such as cream cheese frosting and chocolate gauche. Let's cut to the chase, I'm just really, really into cupcakes. By now, you probably know that I'm a loyal and hardcore fan of cupcakes especially Wondermilk cupcakes.
So, I would like to share a simple recipe of basic vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing. A simple recipe yet able to lift the mood of different ages!
Serves: 6 person
Ingredients:
120 g Flour
140 g Caster Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
40 g Diced Butter
120 ml Milk
1 Egg
250 g Icing Sugar
80 g Unsalted Butter
25 ml Milk
2 Drops Vanilla Essence
Pink Food Colouring (Optional)
Directions:
STEP 1: MAKE THE BATTER
Preheat the oven to 170C. Add 120g flour, 140g caster sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, a pinch of salt and 40g unsalted butter. Mix well for 1-2 minutes using a mixer. Add 13ml whole milk and beat until the milk is incorporated.
STEP 2: ADD THE EGG AND VANILLA
Whisk the egg, the vanilla extract and remaining milk together in a separate bowl, then add the flour mixture and continue beating until it is incorporated. Continue to mix until you have a smooth mixture. Be careful not to overmix.
STEP 3: BAKE THE CAKES
Spoon the mixture into the paper cakes until they are two thirds full and then bake the cakes in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cakes are light golden and the sponge is springy to the touch.
STEP 4: MAKE THE VANILLA FROSTING
Beat the icing sugar and butter together with a hand mixer on medium until the mixture forms together and is well mixed. Turn the mixer down. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl then add to the butter mixture a few tablespoons at a time. Once the milk is entirely incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is really light and fluffy. Spoon over the icing
There you go! A simple and basic recipe adapted from http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-vanilla-cupcakes-2 Go ahead and experiment with different ingredients, do return and let me know your feedback!
There you go! A simple and basic recipe adapted from http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-vanilla-cupcakes-2 Go ahead and experiment with different ingredients, do return and let me know your feedback!
Time to Give Up?
'Never give up'. A very popular phrase which is commonly used or heard among our society today and even centuries ago. Those three simple words definitely ring a much prominent meaning. In this modernized world, people tend to live by the motto 'never give up' to strive for success and survival in workplace, school and many more. Yes, you should never give up, be strong and chase for your dreams no matter what. However, life has its ups and downs and sometimes, it might not always go the way you wished. Sometimes, you just tend to reach your breaking point, be so exhausted and frustrated and giving up is the only way to go.
No, I'm absolutely not encouraging my readers to easily give up whenever failed to overcome any small obstacle in life. My main intention for writing this is to share my point of view which is it's actually okay to give up sometimes. Giving up doesn't simply mean you're weak and fearful but in certain cases, more matured and forgiving as a human. Do not simply change your mindset in order to please the society. Let's just say, I'll consider myself a very determined person all this while and giving up was clearly not an option. Despite this, I've learnt occasionally, we have no choice but to give up as our last resort.
Why do I say so? In my past experiences, I was indeed fierce fighter and yearned to do well for almost everything such as in school or my personal affairs. Unfortunately, it did me no good at all. I was dwelling on the past wishing I could turn back the clock and put things right in order simply because I was not ready to give up. Slowly and gradually, a great amount of anger and hatred slowing swallowing me from the inside. Destroying every ounce of energy and hope left in me For a being a stubborn person I always was, it took me great perseverance and time to finally understand certain matters and to give up completely.
In conclusion, I'm still profoundly passionate and determined person, the fighting spirit never left me not even a single bit. Bottom line is it's alright to give up but of course, only do so as your last resort. So, maybe, just maybe, it's time to give up?
No, I'm absolutely not encouraging my readers to easily give up whenever failed to overcome any small obstacle in life. My main intention for writing this is to share my point of view which is it's actually okay to give up sometimes. Giving up doesn't simply mean you're weak and fearful but in certain cases, more matured and forgiving as a human. Do not simply change your mindset in order to please the society. Let's just say, I'll consider myself a very determined person all this while and giving up was clearly not an option. Despite this, I've learnt occasionally, we have no choice but to give up as our last resort.
Why do I say so? In my past experiences, I was indeed fierce fighter and yearned to do well for almost everything such as in school or my personal affairs. Unfortunately, it did me no good at all. I was dwelling on the past wishing I could turn back the clock and put things right in order simply because I was not ready to give up. Slowly and gradually, a great amount of anger and hatred slowing swallowing me from the inside. Destroying every ounce of energy and hope left in me For a being a stubborn person I always was, it took me great perseverance and time to finally understand certain matters and to give up completely.
In conclusion, I'm still profoundly passionate and determined person, the fighting spirit never left me not even a single bit. Bottom line is it's alright to give up but of course, only do so as your last resort. So, maybe, just maybe, it's time to give up?
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Easy Interview.
What do I need to do before an interview?
Give yourself plenty of time to:
research the role and the organisation;
think about how well your experience, interests and skills fit the job and the organisation;
research current affairs and trends in your job sector;
find out what the prospective employer is actually looking for;
anticipate questions you might be asked, then prepare answers to these questions;
find out what form the interview will take, e.g. single, panel, group etc.
You should also:
plan the day of the interview, especially your journey with an aim to arrive ten minutes early. Take money in case you need to take a taxi or bus unexpectedly; carry an A-Z street map or put the postcode of the organisation into Google maps on your mobile to prevent getting lost;
decide what you will wear and set it out the night before. Suits and business wear are the best option with comfortable, polished shoes;
get an early night - we all perform better when fully awake.
Like the title, if you follow closely to the steps I listed above you can easily say that interview was easy!
Give yourself plenty of time to:
research the role and the organisation;
think about how well your experience, interests and skills fit the job and the organisation;
research current affairs and trends in your job sector;
find out what the prospective employer is actually looking for;
anticipate questions you might be asked, then prepare answers to these questions;
find out what form the interview will take, e.g. single, panel, group etc.
You should also:
plan the day of the interview, especially your journey with an aim to arrive ten minutes early. Take money in case you need to take a taxi or bus unexpectedly; carry an A-Z street map or put the postcode of the organisation into Google maps on your mobile to prevent getting lost;
decide what you will wear and set it out the night before. Suits and business wear are the best option with comfortable, polished shoes;
get an early night - we all perform better when fully awake.
Like the title, if you follow closely to the steps I listed above you can easily say that interview was easy!
Say NO to road bullying!
ROAD bullying has been around since automobiles were invented and roads built to enable people to move around in machines.
But ostensibly, road bullies don’t pick on everyone or even anyone at random. They instinctively pick out and bully the weakest – which is typical pack animal behaviour.
Victims need to learn how to deal with their tormentors. Rather than protection from anyone else, what they need is education to stop being and acting like victims.
According to one study, more than half of all drivers have experienced a surge of road bullying at some point. And a lot of accidents happen each year because of aggressive driving.
Road bullies don’t see the victim as a person. They do what social scientists term as ‘thingify’ the victim – that is viewing their target as a ‘thing’ rather than a person.
According a prominent psychologist, the heavy metal of a car is a safe haven and road ragers don’t think about the consequences or even about other people on the road as real people with real families.
In addition, violent behaviour of road bullies may be due to other factors of his or her life – for instance, stress at home or with a family.
The psychologist says road bullies may also be inflamed by the absent-minded or stupid driving of those talking on cell phones, adding:
“This is quite common since verbal confrontations on the phone can lead to confrontations on the road. It works both ways.”
On the home front, just last year, a motorcyclist was fighting for his life at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan, Pahang, after one of two men in a car stabbed him in the abdomen for unintentionally grazing their car.
The victim was reportedly heading home when his motorcycle grazed the car at a traffic light junction.
An argument was said to have ensued before the two men in the car drove away. Later, the motorcyclist and the duo met again at another traffic light junction and this time, one of the car occupants reportedly alighted and stabbed the victim twice with a knife, critically injuring the him, before speeding off.
The suspect was later picked up near the crime scene and a knife and a machete were also seized from his car.
A former Miss Malaysia also had a terrifying road bully encounter in Kuala Lumpur.
She said although she was safe and thankful she managed to escape unhurt, she realised there were some things that she should not have done.
“Firstly, trust no one! As sad as this is to say, today I really believe it – I didn’t think clearly enough about what I should do in this situation.
“So I share this with you in hope(s) that you will think about what you would do in my situation and hopefully you will be better prepared than I was. Please drive safely, ladies, and beware of your surroundings,” she said.
In a recent case in Selangor, a doctor wrote a letter to a national daily, alleging that police let a road bully (a van driver) off scot-free after he had lodged a report against the latter for ramming into the back of his car. The van driver had also allegedly used abusive language.
Following the doctor’s report, police traced the van based on the vehicle’s number provided in the report. And search for the van driver is on-going.
The police say they are looking at road bullying as a serious offence and there will be no compromise on it.
Aggressive driving and road bullying are on the rise and according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it is one of the top concerns for many drivers today.
Road rage or bullying is defined as an aggressive or angry behaviour by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behaviour might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats.
Most common-law countries prohibit common assault, which could apply to road rage or bullying where the personal safety of the victim is seen to be threatened.
The common law regards assault as both a criminal and civil matter, leading to both public criminal penalties and private civil liabilities.
What is important though is to try and drive with composure even under trying conditions.
Another useful tip is to drive defensive. It’s pointless risking collision with a heavy vehicle even though we know it is being driven on the wrong side of the road.
The consequences are always dire and should best be avoided. Invariably, discretion is the better part of valour when motoring with rogue drivers in our mids
But ostensibly, road bullies don’t pick on everyone or even anyone at random. They instinctively pick out and bully the weakest – which is typical pack animal behaviour.
Victims need to learn how to deal with their tormentors. Rather than protection from anyone else, what they need is education to stop being and acting like victims.
According to one study, more than half of all drivers have experienced a surge of road bullying at some point. And a lot of accidents happen each year because of aggressive driving.
Road bullies don’t see the victim as a person. They do what social scientists term as ‘thingify’ the victim – that is viewing their target as a ‘thing’ rather than a person.
According a prominent psychologist, the heavy metal of a car is a safe haven and road ragers don’t think about the consequences or even about other people on the road as real people with real families.
In addition, violent behaviour of road bullies may be due to other factors of his or her life – for instance, stress at home or with a family.
The psychologist says road bullies may also be inflamed by the absent-minded or stupid driving of those talking on cell phones, adding:
“This is quite common since verbal confrontations on the phone can lead to confrontations on the road. It works both ways.”
On the home front, just last year, a motorcyclist was fighting for his life at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan, Pahang, after one of two men in a car stabbed him in the abdomen for unintentionally grazing their car.
The victim was reportedly heading home when his motorcycle grazed the car at a traffic light junction.
An argument was said to have ensued before the two men in the car drove away. Later, the motorcyclist and the duo met again at another traffic light junction and this time, one of the car occupants reportedly alighted and stabbed the victim twice with a knife, critically injuring the him, before speeding off.
The suspect was later picked up near the crime scene and a knife and a machete were also seized from his car.
A former Miss Malaysia also had a terrifying road bully encounter in Kuala Lumpur.
She said although she was safe and thankful she managed to escape unhurt, she realised there were some things that she should not have done.
“Firstly, trust no one! As sad as this is to say, today I really believe it – I didn’t think clearly enough about what I should do in this situation.
“So I share this with you in hope(s) that you will think about what you would do in my situation and hopefully you will be better prepared than I was. Please drive safely, ladies, and beware of your surroundings,” she said.
In a recent case in Selangor, a doctor wrote a letter to a national daily, alleging that police let a road bully (a van driver) off scot-free after he had lodged a report against the latter for ramming into the back of his car. The van driver had also allegedly used abusive language.
Following the doctor’s report, police traced the van based on the vehicle’s number provided in the report. And search for the van driver is on-going.
The police say they are looking at road bullying as a serious offence and there will be no compromise on it.
Aggressive driving and road bullying are on the rise and according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it is one of the top concerns for many drivers today.
Road rage or bullying is defined as an aggressive or angry behaviour by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behaviour might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats.
Most common-law countries prohibit common assault, which could apply to road rage or bullying where the personal safety of the victim is seen to be threatened.
The common law regards assault as both a criminal and civil matter, leading to both public criminal penalties and private civil liabilities.
What is important though is to try and drive with composure even under trying conditions.
Another useful tip is to drive defensive. It’s pointless risking collision with a heavy vehicle even though we know it is being driven on the wrong side of the road.
The consequences are always dire and should best be avoided. Invariably, discretion is the better part of valour when motoring with rogue drivers in our mids
Motivation.
Learning requires motivation. Whether you are a student trying to learn something, or a teacher helping students learn, you will need to develop strategies to help motivate learning.
Student learning will occur in proportion to the effort that a student puts into learning. Therefore, a key task for the teacher is to encourage and promote student effort. This can be a challenge, even if the teacher creates a supportive learning environment, because many of the factors that influence student learning are affected by the student’s overall attitude, likes and dislikes, feelings about a subject, activity or school in general, and personality.
To improve student motivation, teachers use both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic motivators rely on the value of the content and of learning to the student. Extrinsic motivators rely on the value of reinforcers or rewards to the student.
Internal or intrinsic incentives
There are other incentives primarily within oneself, apart from those already stated. These incentives are mainly connected with the person’s attitude to learning, and therefore, teacher motivation should aim at developing and supporting internal incentives. These incentives can include:
Pride in doing things well – Students can find great satisfaction in a task well done, and gain a valuable sense of competence, which in itself can motivate further effort.
The desire for accomplishment – This can be seen in statements such as "I have done all those" of “I have done that”. The individual gains a sense of satisfaction when a task is accomplished, and others may gain satisfaction from completing a task.
Personal ambition - Some students have a good idea of what they want to achieve later in life, or even just that they do want to achieve and succeed in life. They might value learning as a way of building a future that will bring wealth, prestige, power and other benefits.
Competition with oneself - Students sometimes set their own standards and rate of working. By doing this they are issuing a challenge to themselves and thus providing incentive. They may also measure their success by comparing their achievements or progress to others’.
A sense of control or power – Students can gain a sense of control and power through developing skills and knowledge. A sense of being able to influence their environment is essential to preventing apathy and learned helplessness.
A sense of participation and belonging – Working as part of a group or class can give students a sense of belonging and affiliation.
Personal relationships – Some students are not as interested in belonging to a group as they are in developing positive relations with individuals. Students can be very impressed by a teacher, and be motivated by a desire to be approved of by that teacher and to make that teacher happy. A student might be motivated by having one good friend who is also learning, and will often be motivated to do well in areas that involve that other student, or where the friend is doing well.
Values and ethics - Different students may have different ethics or values regarding learning and education. Some may feel that education is critical to later success and to an individual’s sense of worth and status in society. Others don’t see it as important. Some students are motivated by ethics that include honouring family and respect for adults, whereas others are more motivated by values that stress independence and autonomy.
Student learning will occur in proportion to the effort that a student puts into learning. Therefore, a key task for the teacher is to encourage and promote student effort. This can be a challenge, even if the teacher creates a supportive learning environment, because many of the factors that influence student learning are affected by the student’s overall attitude, likes and dislikes, feelings about a subject, activity or school in general, and personality.
To improve student motivation, teachers use both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators. Intrinsic motivators rely on the value of the content and of learning to the student. Extrinsic motivators rely on the value of reinforcers or rewards to the student.
Internal or intrinsic incentives
There are other incentives primarily within oneself, apart from those already stated. These incentives are mainly connected with the person’s attitude to learning, and therefore, teacher motivation should aim at developing and supporting internal incentives. These incentives can include:
Pride in doing things well – Students can find great satisfaction in a task well done, and gain a valuable sense of competence, which in itself can motivate further effort.
The desire for accomplishment – This can be seen in statements such as "I have done all those" of “I have done that”. The individual gains a sense of satisfaction when a task is accomplished, and others may gain satisfaction from completing a task.
Personal ambition - Some students have a good idea of what they want to achieve later in life, or even just that they do want to achieve and succeed in life. They might value learning as a way of building a future that will bring wealth, prestige, power and other benefits.
Competition with oneself - Students sometimes set their own standards and rate of working. By doing this they are issuing a challenge to themselves and thus providing incentive. They may also measure their success by comparing their achievements or progress to others’.
A sense of control or power – Students can gain a sense of control and power through developing skills and knowledge. A sense of being able to influence their environment is essential to preventing apathy and learned helplessness.
A sense of participation and belonging – Working as part of a group or class can give students a sense of belonging and affiliation.
Personal relationships – Some students are not as interested in belonging to a group as they are in developing positive relations with individuals. Students can be very impressed by a teacher, and be motivated by a desire to be approved of by that teacher and to make that teacher happy. A student might be motivated by having one good friend who is also learning, and will often be motivated to do well in areas that involve that other student, or where the friend is doing well.
Values and ethics - Different students may have different ethics or values regarding learning and education. Some may feel that education is critical to later success and to an individual’s sense of worth and status in society. Others don’t see it as important. Some students are motivated by ethics that include honouring family and respect for adults, whereas others are more motivated by values that stress independence and autonomy.
Discipline.
Discipline. Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.
At times, I feel the importance of discipline is strongly neglected but it helps to shapes and person's behavior. However, thankfully there's this great place called school which stops the issue from deteriorating.
Teachers play an indeed a very important role in igniting great level of discipline in a particular student. Students spent most of their time studying and attending extra co-curriculum activities at school. Disciplinary actions such as caning, counselling sessions and many more can be taken to tackle certain stubborn students. In certain cases where the case goes out of hand, it's best to call their parents to step in and help ease the situation.
However, parents may often push their responsibilities to the teachers at school due to strong commitment to work. This is saddening. Parents should be firm and strict at the very beginning. As they said, everything starts at home! Same goes to discipline in kids. So, parents should work together with teachers to combat any disciplinary problems.
At times, I feel the importance of discipline is strongly neglected but it helps to shapes and person's behavior. However, thankfully there's this great place called school which stops the issue from deteriorating.
Teachers play an indeed a very important role in igniting great level of discipline in a particular student. Students spent most of their time studying and attending extra co-curriculum activities at school. Disciplinary actions such as caning, counselling sessions and many more can be taken to tackle certain stubborn students. In certain cases where the case goes out of hand, it's best to call their parents to step in and help ease the situation.
However, parents may often push their responsibilities to the teachers at school due to strong commitment to work. This is saddening. Parents should be firm and strict at the very beginning. As they said, everything starts at home! Same goes to discipline in kids. So, parents should work together with teachers to combat any disciplinary problems.
Stressful or Stress-free?
Before I start, I know I've a previous stress-related blog post titled - You but this is an assignment from my dear English teacher so bear with me alright!
Stress. Firstly, what is stress? Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.
Stress may be triggered from numerous causes. For instance, stress at work place, school or even due to family problems at home.The group of individuals are most prone to stress is indeed the active and energetic teenagers. Teenage years are described to be one of the best phase in a person's life, is it true? I'm yet to find out but for now, it's just totally stressful for me too and sometimes you tend to reach your breaking point.
Stress may cause drastic change to one's personality and they tend to precept things differently. An outgoing and cheerful person may suddenly transformed into a haggard looking, moody, sensitive and some worst, almost totally unrecognizable.
Personally, I feel stress is totally inevitable in life. We face stress everyday, but the way we combat these stresses greatly portrays our personality whether we're able to adapt to sudden changes in life. Therefore, I strongly stress (not literally) that living your life to the fullest is a way to go. You can't avoid stress but you certainly can choose to push aside and forget them!
Stress. Firstly, what is stress? Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.
Stress may be triggered from numerous causes. For instance, stress at work place, school or even due to family problems at home.The group of individuals are most prone to stress is indeed the active and energetic teenagers. Teenage years are described to be one of the best phase in a person's life, is it true? I'm yet to find out but for now, it's just totally stressful for me too and sometimes you tend to reach your breaking point.
Stress may cause drastic change to one's personality and they tend to precept things differently. An outgoing and cheerful person may suddenly transformed into a haggard looking, moody, sensitive and some worst, almost totally unrecognizable.
Personally, I feel stress is totally inevitable in life. We face stress everyday, but the way we combat these stresses greatly portrays our personality whether we're able to adapt to sudden changes in life. Therefore, I strongly stress (not literally) that living your life to the fullest is a way to go. You can't avoid stress but you certainly can choose to push aside and forget them!
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Discrimination // Freedom Writers
Discrimination is treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit. This includes treatment of an individual or group based on their actual or perceived membership in a certain group or social category, "in a way that is worse than the way people are usually treated". It involves the group's initial reaction or interaction, influencing the individual's actual behavior towards the group or the group leader, restricting members of one group from opportunities or privileges that are available to another group, leading to the exclusion of the individual or entities based on logical or irrational decision making.
My English teacher was kind enough to bring us to the library to watch a movie named Freedoms Writers,In this particular movie, discrimination has been best portrayed by the society that it will soon changes the students' lives.Many of them watched helplessly as their loved one slowly being murdered by gang members.Their ultimate goal in life is to strive to survive. Surviving surpass the age of eighteen is indeed commendable.
The most perceptible injustice that I felt in this movie was the scene where the department chair, Margaret Campbell refuses to allow Erin Gruwell, the fresh new teacher, to teach her students with . She is encouraged to teach them about fundamental of discipline to just buy some time. The school has already acknowledged this particular class of students to be lost cases but Erin refused to think s o and goes beyond her obligations as a teacher to get them the education they deserved .Slowly, the racial barriers begins to ease because of her outstanding efforts to get the students to express themselves to her.. The students successfully graduated high school under her watchful eye, which proves that everyone is given an opportunity to achieve something remarkable which exceeds their current expectations in their lives. It is definitely just a matter of strong willingness and exposure whether we get to obtain that life long dream.
My English teacher was kind enough to bring us to the library to watch a movie named Freedoms Writers,In this particular movie, discrimination has been best portrayed by the society that it will soon changes the students' lives.Many of them watched helplessly as their loved one slowly being murdered by gang members.Their ultimate goal in life is to strive to survive. Surviving surpass the age of eighteen is indeed commendable.
The most perceptible injustice that I felt in this movie was the scene where the department chair, Margaret Campbell refuses to allow Erin Gruwell, the fresh new teacher, to teach her students with . She is encouraged to teach them about fundamental of discipline to just buy some time. The school has already acknowledged this particular class of students to be lost cases but Erin refused to think s o and goes beyond her obligations as a teacher to get them the education they deserved .Slowly, the racial barriers begins to ease because of her outstanding efforts to get the students to express themselves to her.. The students successfully graduated high school under her watchful eye, which proves that everyone is given an opportunity to achieve something remarkable which exceeds their current expectations in their lives. It is definitely just a matter of strong willingness and exposure whether we get to obtain that life long dream.
Depressed.
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of well-being. People with depressed mood can feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, ashamed or restless. They may lose interest in activities that were once pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and may contemplate, attempt or commit suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, aches, pains, digestive problems or reduced energy may also be present.
Adolescents may be especially prone to experiencing depressed mood. Adversity in childhood, such as bereavement, neglect, unequal parental treatment of siblings, physical abuse or sexual abuse, significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing depression over the life course.
Life events and changes that may precipitate depressed mood include childbirth, menopause, financial difficulties, job problems, a medical diagnosis (cancer, HIV, etc.), bullying, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, social isolation, relationship troubles, jealousy, separation, and catastrophic injury.
Depressed mood may not require any professional treatment, and may be a normal reaction to certain life events, a symptom of some medical conditions, or a side effect of some drugs or medical treatments. A prolonged depressed mood, especially in combination with other symptoms, may lead to a diagnosis of a psychiatric or medical condition, e.g. of a mood disorder, which may benefit from treatment. Different sub-divisions of depression have different treatment approaches. In the United States, it has been estimated that two thirds of people with depression do not actively try to receive treatment.
Adolescents may be especially prone to experiencing depressed mood. Adversity in childhood, such as bereavement, neglect, unequal parental treatment of siblings, physical abuse or sexual abuse, significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing depression over the life course.
Life events and changes that may precipitate depressed mood include childbirth, menopause, financial difficulties, job problems, a medical diagnosis (cancer, HIV, etc.), bullying, loss of a loved one, natural disasters, social isolation, relationship troubles, jealousy, separation, and catastrophic injury.
Depressed mood may not require any professional treatment, and may be a normal reaction to certain life events, a symptom of some medical conditions, or a side effect of some drugs or medical treatments. A prolonged depressed mood, especially in combination with other symptoms, may lead to a diagnosis of a psychiatric or medical condition, e.g. of a mood disorder, which may benefit from treatment. Different sub-divisions of depression have different treatment approaches. In the United States, it has been estimated that two thirds of people with depression do not actively try to receive treatment.
Thursday, 9 April 2015
You.
Have you ever wake up in the middle of the night and started tearing? No matter how exhausted you're, you just can't seem to fall back to sleep. Instantly, thoughts flood your mind and you're left starring at the blank ceiling.
If the answer is yes, then continue reading..
Yes, I may not know your story and maybe no one will ever do but let me tell you something. (ps the question is very subjective and the answers may differ)
You're unique in your own ways.
You are stronger than this.
You have to learn to start loving yourself.
You have to put yourself ahead of others.
You have to stop blaming yourself for whatever that happened.
You have your friends & family which really care and love you.
You deserve better.
You have to let go of the past. or else it will haunt you
You're a great individual.
You will get through this.
You have to forgive yourself and others. forgive but don't forget
You have to have some self-respect.
You have to trust yourself.
Start meeting people and make new friends.
Get a makeover if necessary, get a new hair cut and dye it blonde if you wish
Chase your dreams.
Seek help from therapist.
Surround yourself with love ones, never once shut yourself away from others.
Pamper yourself, head to a spa or get a full-body massage
"Everything happens for a reason" A phase commonly used. I know it's easier to be said than done but I truly hope this will help you combat challenges in life. Life is not a bed of roses but the future is uncertain. Life has its ups and downs. Hate to admit this but you really have only yourself to make you feel better so the choice is yours whether to buried yourself in the past or to move on. But most importantly, always keep yourself busy and leave your thoughts behind.
If the answer is yes, then continue reading..
Yes, I may not know your story and maybe no one will ever do but let me tell you something. (ps the question is very subjective and the answers may differ)
You're unique in your own ways.
You are stronger than this.
You have to learn to start loving yourself.
You have to put yourself ahead of others.
You have to stop blaming yourself for whatever that happened.
You have your friends & family which really care and love you.
You deserve better.
You have to let go of the past. or else it will haunt you
You're a great individual.
You will get through this.
You have to forgive yourself and others. forgive but don't forget
You have to have some self-respect.
You have to trust yourself.
Start meeting people and make new friends.
Get a makeover if necessary, get a new hair cut and dye it blonde if you wish
Chase your dreams.
Seek help from therapist.
Surround yourself with love ones, never once shut yourself away from others.
Pamper yourself, head to a spa or get a full-body massage
"Everything happens for a reason" A phase commonly used. I know it's easier to be said than done but I truly hope this will help you combat challenges in life. Life is not a bed of roses but the future is uncertain. Life has its ups and downs. Hate to admit this but you really have only yourself to make you feel better so the choice is yours whether to buried yourself in the past or to move on. But most importantly, always keep yourself busy and leave your thoughts behind.
What will you do?
What will you do if you were given a golden opportunity to go back in time?
--
Take a second and close your eyes. Now, be completely honest and ask yourself. Take as long as you need, open your eyes when you're ready.
To be honest, there are countless things that are running through my mind right now. However, there's one thing in particular I wish I've done it differently.
Let's take a tour down the memory lane. Being a chubby and slightly plump in shape girl, running seem almost impossible. I would never understand how others are able to run at the speed of the light effortlessly. Some even ran without any proper training. I was never a sporty person to begin with. Sports never once excites me as I clearly wasn't good in any. Back in primary school, every student was forced to participate this annual sporting event which requires everyone to sprint 200 meters. I dreaded it, even the thought of it was too much to bear.
The day finally came. Yes, I sprinted and guess what? I was panting like mad and nearly pass out. I recalled my vision instantly became blurry and teachers surrounded me My entire face was pale as a ghost. Fortunately, some kind soul handed me a cup of hot beverage and eventually I started to regain my consciousness. Ever since that traumatic incident, I always avoided running in any form.
Half a decade later, I finally came to realized that I have to put an end to this right away. Personally, I prefer long distance running compared to short distances which is mandatory to sprint. So, I started lacing up my sports shoes and hit the track. Long distances requires a high level of endurance but also, a great amount of determination, passion and will. Then, I participated many competitions but luck was never once on my side.
In a nut shell, I guess it was rather obvious that I was frighten of running. I wish that day would have come much sooner and I wish I pushed myself harder during competitions.
--
Take a second and close your eyes. Now, be completely honest and ask yourself. Take as long as you need, open your eyes when you're ready.
To be honest, there are countless things that are running through my mind right now. However, there's one thing in particular I wish I've done it differently.
Let's take a tour down the memory lane. Being a chubby and slightly plump in shape girl, running seem almost impossible. I would never understand how others are able to run at the speed of the light effortlessly. Some even ran without any proper training. I was never a sporty person to begin with. Sports never once excites me as I clearly wasn't good in any. Back in primary school, every student was forced to participate this annual sporting event which requires everyone to sprint 200 meters. I dreaded it, even the thought of it was too much to bear.
The day finally came. Yes, I sprinted and guess what? I was panting like mad and nearly pass out. I recalled my vision instantly became blurry and teachers surrounded me My entire face was pale as a ghost. Fortunately, some kind soul handed me a cup of hot beverage and eventually I started to regain my consciousness. Ever since that traumatic incident, I always avoided running in any form.
Half a decade later, I finally came to realized that I have to put an end to this right away. Personally, I prefer long distance running compared to short distances which is mandatory to sprint. So, I started lacing up my sports shoes and hit the track. Long distances requires a high level of endurance but also, a great amount of determination, passion and will. Then, I participated many competitions but luck was never once on my side.
In a nut shell, I guess it was rather obvious that I was frighten of running. I wish that day would have come much sooner and I wish I pushed myself harder during competitions.
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Physically worn out.
I remember vividly when the pain first hit me.It was a Sunday. I was just sitting on the floor with my legs folded chatting with a dear friend. It was such an excruciating pain. I had to sit on the couch then to lean my back but the pain remains. The next couple of days were just unbearable and ridiculous. Simple tasks such as squatting and walking briskly became a challenge.I couldn't even sit on a stool or stand for a long period of time. I decided to leave it in hope my condition will improve but it didn't.
Second week- For your information, I enjoy swimming (great way to unwind yourself) very much.I usually swim at least thrice a week at a nearby swimming pool alone. It was rather depressing and demotivating that your hobby became a torture. I was supposed to have a swimming competition that week- MSSS. It's my senior year of high school, in other words, my last swimming competition. The competition is indeed very difficult with many strong competitors. I wouldn't even stand a chance. I was in a deep dilemma, whether to carry on or pull out. But you see, I'm not the type who simply walks away without even trying but eventually, I did. I guessed it was for the best as my body doesn't permits. I've no idea whether I did the right thing or not, for letting such an opportunity, last opportunity to be exact to slip away. I knew I had to stop or at least to take a break from it but I was so stubborn as I have so many upcoming competitions at that point of time. So, I continued exercising as usual despite the pain.
Third week- I was so desperate for help. That weekend, my second brother took me for an acupuncture session. I'm going to be truthful, I was super excited to finally know what's wrong with my back. The lady said it's most probably a muscle sprain and follow-up treatments are required to treat it. She gave me a pack of herbal back patches. I was pretty certain it wasn't my muscles as muscles are placed at the sides and the pain comes from the spine area. In my opinion, that session didn't help at all so I never return for follow-up treatments.
Forth week- I decided to consult an orthopedist before it worsens. Thankfully, I have my elder sister to accompany me to the hospital. The orthopedist seem a little confused but believed that the pain originated from one of my vertebrae of my lumbar region.He said it's rather common in highly active individuals. He recommended simple exercises to improve my lower backaches. He gave me two weeks to monitor my condition. He suggested me to go for a MRI if the pain persists after two weeks but I never did as MRI is highly costly.
Till to date, my condition has improved tremendously but the pain fluctuates. It's been 9 weeks and I'm still clueless on my lower back pain & wish to find out one day.
Second week- For your information, I enjoy swimming (great way to unwind yourself) very much.I usually swim at least thrice a week at a nearby swimming pool alone. It was rather depressing and demotivating that your hobby became a torture. I was supposed to have a swimming competition that week- MSSS. It's my senior year of high school, in other words, my last swimming competition. The competition is indeed very difficult with many strong competitors. I wouldn't even stand a chance. I was in a deep dilemma, whether to carry on or pull out. But you see, I'm not the type who simply walks away without even trying but eventually, I did. I guessed it was for the best as my body doesn't permits. I've no idea whether I did the right thing or not, for letting such an opportunity, last opportunity to be exact to slip away. I knew I had to stop or at least to take a break from it but I was so stubborn as I have so many upcoming competitions at that point of time. So, I continued exercising as usual despite the pain.
Third week- I was so desperate for help. That weekend, my second brother took me for an acupuncture session. I'm going to be truthful, I was super excited to finally know what's wrong with my back. The lady said it's most probably a muscle sprain and follow-up treatments are required to treat it. She gave me a pack of herbal back patches. I was pretty certain it wasn't my muscles as muscles are placed at the sides and the pain comes from the spine area. In my opinion, that session didn't help at all so I never return for follow-up treatments.
Forth week- I decided to consult an orthopedist before it worsens. Thankfully, I have my elder sister to accompany me to the hospital. The orthopedist seem a little confused but believed that the pain originated from one of my vertebrae of my lumbar region.He said it's rather common in highly active individuals. He recommended simple exercises to improve my lower backaches. He gave me two weeks to monitor my condition. He suggested me to go for a MRI if the pain persists after two weeks but I never did as MRI is highly costly.
Till to date, my condition has improved tremendously but the pain fluctuates. It's been 9 weeks and I'm still clueless on my lower back pain & wish to find out one day.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Grab it.
Everyone is bound to make mistakes at some point of their lives, whether it's a minor or major mistake. There are mistakes where one truly regrets even years after.Many of us would turn to God, hoping He would turn back in time so you could rewrite the past but mostly our prayers remain unanswered but through mistakes, we discovered our true selves and the meaning of life.
To me, second chances do exist. A chance to redeem yourself and make amends in your life. For instance, have you experienced that strong pain of agony when you see the girl of your dreams walk down that aisle? You wished that you have told her how much you love her but you were so much of a coward, you just stood by the church door staring blankly. A decade later, you bump into her in the buzzling streets and found out she recently went through a bad divorce. She then told you, you were the primary cause of it cause she is still in love in you all these years. So, here it is- your second chance.
However, be mindful that not everyone is that fortunate to be given a second chance.Some (many) still live with the pain of yesterday, those regrets that haunts us every night of our lives.
It may not happen right away but when it does, grab it.
However, be mindful that not everyone is that fortunate to be given a second chance.Some (many) still live with the pain of yesterday, those regrets that haunts us every night of our lives.
It may not happen right away but when it does, grab it.
The Downsides.
14th February - Valentine's Day also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. A day where love is celebrated in many countries world wide although it's not a public holiday.
In my opinion, Valentine's Day became extremely commercialized. Florists and restaurateurs taking the advantage by marking up their price due to the overwhelming demands. Those store-bought bouquet of roses and fancy candle light dinners have gradually resulting females to be very materialistic.Yes, it's great to be pampered but certain individuals can be overboard and expect too much. To be honest, where's the sincerity and thoughtfulness behind all this?
Secondly, I dislike how insecure and desperate one would be on the days following up to Valentine's Day and the day itself. Even though you're single or probably gone through a bad break up, you need to know that you're always love by someone like your family, friends and of course, God. So, do me a favour and stop flooding your social networking sites with those selfless remarks. Thank you.
Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. A festival I truly look forward for as a child but not anymore. Why?
As I grow older, I realized life isn't a bed of roses and every house hold is bound to have problems of their own. Well, don't get me wrong, I grew up in a very loving environment. However, my uncles and aunts have been ranting about my grandparents about how much of a hassle they are lately. Yes, I understand that elderlies are very long-winded and stubborn but they have gone through so much to provide you the best they could and shower you as much love as you deserved. Those gossiping sessions shouldn't exist at least not in front of my younger cousins. Their minds are not fully matured yet and may be easily brainwashed by the stories being told.
A friendly reminder-
Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day you show affection to your love one. Love should be express all year round.Chinese New Year should be a day filled with happiness where family spend quality times together and leaving the bitter past behind.
In my opinion, Valentine's Day became extremely commercialized. Florists and restaurateurs taking the advantage by marking up their price due to the overwhelming demands. Those store-bought bouquet of roses and fancy candle light dinners have gradually resulting females to be very materialistic.Yes, it's great to be pampered but certain individuals can be overboard and expect too much. To be honest, where's the sincerity and thoughtfulness behind all this?
Secondly, I dislike how insecure and desperate one would be on the days following up to Valentine's Day and the day itself. Even though you're single or probably gone through a bad break up, you need to know that you're always love by someone like your family, friends and of course, God. So, do me a favour and stop flooding your social networking sites with those selfless remarks. Thank you.
Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. A festival I truly look forward for as a child but not anymore. Why?
As I grow older, I realized life isn't a bed of roses and every house hold is bound to have problems of their own. Well, don't get me wrong, I grew up in a very loving environment. However, my uncles and aunts have been ranting about my grandparents about how much of a hassle they are lately. Yes, I understand that elderlies are very long-winded and stubborn but they have gone through so much to provide you the best they could and shower you as much love as you deserved. Those gossiping sessions shouldn't exist at least not in front of my younger cousins. Their minds are not fully matured yet and may be easily brainwashed by the stories being told.
A friendly reminder-
Valentine's Day shouldn't be the only day you show affection to your love one. Love should be express all year round.Chinese New Year should be a day filled with happiness where family spend quality times together and leaving the bitter past behind.
Monday, 9 February 2015
1st of July.
1st of July is an indeed a very special date to me. It was the day I was given birth to a loving and caring family. However now, to me, 1st of July is just like any other ordinary day. Little did I know, many historical moments happened on that day which is long forgotten by the people in this modernized world. Not that I remember anything from that faithful day, well come on I was less than a day old so yes, you probably guessed it I obtained help from the all glorious internet so thank you technology! Let's cut to the chase!
Year 1905- Albert Einstein introduces his theory of relativity
Year 1916 - Honus Wagner, 42, is oldest to hit an inside-the-park HR
1932 - NY Gov FDR nominated for president at Dem Convention in Chicago
1955 - 69th Wimbledon Mens Tennis: Tony Trabert beats Kurt Nielsen (6-3 7-5 6-1)
Year 1905- Albert Einstein introduces his theory of relativity
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| Albert Einstein |
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| Honus Wagner |
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| 32nd US President Franklin D. Roosevelt |
1956 - Elvis Presley wearing a tuxedo appears on Steve Allen Show
Finding the Perfect One.
Okay, you may be wondering why is my post title a little bit irrelevant and ridiculous. When I mentioned about finding the perfect one, I meant finding the perfect word - and not literally finding the "perfect one" like in those fairy tales.
Long story short, I'm just really writing about moods. Let me take two words in comparison, happy and ecstatic. Both words certainly do possess the same definition. For instance, the girl is extremely happy as she passed her results with flying colors or the girl is extremely ecstatic as she passed her results with flying colors?
No doubt the second sentence implied a more significant note. You don't have to be "bombastic" with every single word of yours but the right word at the right place can easily set a different mood to your readers.
Previous English lessons made me realized that my vocabulary is so limited and there are many words to explore in the Thesaurus. From today onward, I vow to utilize the Thesaurus to an attainable level of capacity and enhance my writings. Yes - I will find the perfect one.
Long story short, I'm just really writing about moods. Let me take two words in comparison, happy and ecstatic. Both words certainly do possess the same definition. For instance, the girl is extremely happy as she passed her results with flying colors or the girl is extremely ecstatic as she passed her results with flying colors?
No doubt the second sentence implied a more significant note. You don't have to be "bombastic" with every single word of yours but the right word at the right place can easily set a different mood to your readers.
Previous English lessons made me realized that my vocabulary is so limited and there are many words to explore in the Thesaurus. From today onward, I vow to utilize the Thesaurus to an attainable level of capacity and enhance my writings. Yes - I will find the perfect one.
Coincidence or Fate
Coincidence.What is coincidence? Coincidence is a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstance without apparent casual connection.Some say coincidence doesn't exist and everything happens for a reason. For instance, you bumped into your high school sweetheart thrice a week at the exact cozy little cafe just across town at the same time and day for consecutive weeks. Was it an coincidence or what others called it, fate? You see, God has his own crazy unique ways of informing us what lies in front of us but we, humans often take this "coincidence" too lightly as it seem like a natural phenomenon.To me, life is like a treasure hunt, sometimes we have to search way harder behind those hidden meanings of the clues to outsmart the others to have a head start in the game(life). I strongly urge anyone who is reading this to take a moment and have a second outlook on your surroundings and try to figure out the incident which bounds to happen follow up by those past coincidences.Coincidence is a God's way of remaining anonymous - Albert Einstein. However, you can choose to take my words with a pinch of salt.The decision is yours to decide, so decide wisely.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Backdated
Today, 14th January 2015 marks the birth of my blog. To be frank with you, I've always wanted to start blogging but never really took the initiative to do so. So, a big shout-out to my English teacher, Puan Monica into bringing some innovation into learning. ---
Recently, Malaysia was battling by the nation's worst floods in decades in the eastern states. Water level rises so quickly leaving more than 160,000 people fleeing their homes to higher grounds. Essential items such as stationery, clothes, food etc were washed away.Electricity and water supply were unattainable. Many traditional houses made from woods were swiped away within minutes leaving many families in despair .A handful of houses built from concrete survived but mud stains were seen on the walls. Flood evacuees were rescued to the nearby flood relief centers which consist of schools and community halls by sampans. Thankfully, our nation gathered as one by donating generously in terms of cash and goods such as rice, milk, sugar and the list goes on.Although we may not be there physically, but we're certainly there emotionally by providing moral support to the the flood victims in hope to ease the devastation.
The Aftermath
Recently, Malaysia was battling by the nation's worst floods in decades in the eastern states. Water level rises so quickly leaving more than 160,000 people fleeing their homes to higher grounds. Essential items such as stationery, clothes, food etc were washed away.Electricity and water supply were unattainable. Many traditional houses made from woods were swiped away within minutes leaving many families in despair .A handful of houses built from concrete survived but mud stains were seen on the walls. Flood evacuees were rescued to the nearby flood relief centers which consist of schools and community halls by sampans. Thankfully, our nation gathered as one by donating generously in terms of cash and goods such as rice, milk, sugar and the list goes on.Although we may not be there physically, but we're certainly there emotionally by providing moral support to the the flood victims in hope to ease the devastation.
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