If it's Curry night...

it usually means it's Chicken Curry.

and it usually means I wouldn't be cooking it!

Yeay.... off day, well not totally. I become more of the sous chef really. 

I must make sure that all ingredients are laid out, and I have to make sure that all things 

have been chopped by my assistant accordingly.

The executive chef shall then enter the kitchen to do his "thang"... to cook his Special Chicken Curry.

The sauteing of z shallots... with z right amount of spices.

 

Other ingredients all good to go.

Man at work.

Seriously cooking up a storm!

 

Just look at the amount of curry that went into the pot! 

Personally... I wouldn't use that much, that's why I've been banned from cooking chicken curry

 (and I am soooo upset! pfft!).

Taraaa... hubby's Chicken Curry... notice the feet! I shall reserve my thoughts on those!

Your cooking is just fab! How about learning another dish dear??? 

The game for ruffians played by gentlemen... I totally get it!

I was rather worried early on in September when hubby warned me of what's coming between 9th September to 23rd October. There goes my weekends I thought, I'll be stuck at home unable to go anywhere as a family because of Rugby World Cup, hurrah! But then, I realised, it would be nearing the kids' school exam time, we are supposed to be staying in and ensure that they complete their homework and do a bit of revision, thought I'd prepare them early this year. Should be pretty good idea to be at home on weekends after all. So the rugby world began... this means we will try to complete errands in the morning to make sure we are in front of the telly by game time.

If you cannot beat them... watch rugby! Since I am stuck at home, and kids tend to busy themselves with homework, or rather avoiding homework, or playing computer I ended up at the couch accompanying hubby watch the early rugby matches, the potato chips were initially the major pulling factor really. By the 3rd week.... even I check out the official RWC website! Yup, hooked! So which team? It's kind of a given... if your second half studied at Dunedin, New Zealand. Uhuh! Okay... yes I have always known the existence of All Blacks, we've been married for over a decade now, how can I not know All Blacks by now. But I thought without Jonah Lomu... is it worth watching???

Until I was introduced to DC (hubby is still not over the fact that he is out of RWC, truthfully I think it's quite sad too), SBW, Slade, Kahui, Vito, Kaino, Nonu, Winnie the Pooh okay sorry Weepu (this guy sure can kick! next to DC and Sladey of course! oops, not to forget the young Cruden too) and how can I miss McCaw! After weeks of watching ABs play... other teams pale in comparison. All Blacks' gorgeous players play so well!!! Honestly, the fact that they look good while playing the game and those tight tight jerseys... , well it makes the 80 minutes even more exciting. I only watch England because I have a soft spot for the country and I like to see Wilkinson's stance before he kicks. Though I have to say, their black jersey... bad taste. Please stick to the original white why don't you.

As far as the game is concerned and how it's being played, it's difficult for me to explain how I almost get it. Almost! I don't get it totally still and it still amazes me how closely the referee scrutinize whatever that they do and try to achieve in a scrum. I still go... huh! When my hubby goes whoa!!! Now that's a good scrum! Okkkaeee!!!

I almost understand the game, really cause I know when to cheer (though, I did stupidly ask hubby, after a conversion what are we supposed to say? CONVERTED!!! (totally unscreamable word), it's not goal is it???) I understand the scoring system, the need of a try, the satisfaction of a converted try and the not to be proud of drop goals... but much needed penalty kicks when you're playing against team that are trying to play dirty. The players seem to respect the referee's decision and there's no drama and too many fake injuries like in soccer matches. I totally noticed this about rugby. Plus to earn those points... it's not just a matter of getting the ball in between the goal posts. Way more interesting than football. Right, enuff said. I leave it to the sports writers/reporters to explain the intricacies of the game, or just refer to the official RWC website for details or even Wikipedia of the dos and don'ts of Rugby.

However, what I want to share with you if you can appreciate it, this article that I read in our free daily paper that I also found accidentally online:What ruffians can learn from gentlemen. by Bob Holmes. I find it really amusing.

If you cannot appreciate that then ladies out there must be able to appreciate this article: Rugby World Cup: Top 10 World Cup Hunks (+ photos). in the nzherald and All Blacks players ratings: the hunk factor. Ha!ha!ha! Enjoy and don't miss the Semi-Finals this afternoon, you are not too late to catch the blokes in action.

For today's match, I'll be rooting for France (simply because I love their dark blue jersey, hope they'll be wearing that) but it's pretty tricky if Wales are considered the ABs of the Northern Hemisphere!!! Really? I dunno, I have missed Wales games so far. (as if I can tell!) Ha!ha!ha!

I am more looking forward for the Sunday match... All Blacks vs Wannabes ooops I mean the Wallabies.

The line up:
 All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams. 


Wallabies: Well... we'll know on Sunday won't we?


Good Luck ABs... you can bet my Zaim will be doing the Hakka or is it the Kapa O Pango? with you guys before the start of the match! I'd download the video of Zaim doing the remix version of both combined, but the files too big, pity!

Jab time for Zaim again.

A few weeks back, Zaim was taken to the hospital again for another shot of immunisation that was due since he his 2 ++. As usual, he didn't know what was coming poor boy.

First he was measured - his height.

The circumfrence of his head.

Then Dr. Iean did his thing. Oh oh, Zaim is looking a little nervous there...

Yauza! The jab thing. He screamed a bit, but recovered quite fast.

He!he! We figured it's because he has plenty of fat around the thigh area. Muahaha!

While waiting for the paperwork to be settled, I tried to take a picture of the kids and their dad... but to no avail! Just look at the following shots!

Oh, well better luck next time then.

Quit smoking the easy way.

Are you smoking or you have a spouse who smokes?

Do you yourself wish to stop smoking?

Do you wish your spouse stops smoking?

Do your children wish you or you spouse stops smoking?

.

.

.

.

.

.

Or are you thinking about picking up smoking?

*******

My hubby came home from work a couple of weeks ago, declaring I'm doing this because of you kids! The kids have been bugging him to stop smoking, he has been getting a lot of nagging from them. Here are some of the stuff that he has been getting from Nayli and Zarif:

• Papa, did God ask you to smoke? (Zarif) - must be because he sees his Papa smokes "religiously"!!!
• "Papa, don't you pity me?", Nayli said one day. "Why Nayli?", her father asked. "Well, just think. I will be left on my own with my brothers and Mama is all alone to take care of us. You smoke all the time! My teacher said, ... Smokers have the tendency to die early! Who's gonna take care of us when you're gone?", answered Nayli.

Thanks to them, I don't have to say anything, ha!ha! Well, looks like their nagging works. Hubby bought himself this E-cigarettes. Have you heard of this before? I haven't. Apparently, it looks, feels, tastes like a cigarette but it isn't one! Difficult to believe? I know!

It's supposed to give smokers a real "smoking" experience without the dangerous chemicals, carcinogens, fire, tobacco, tar, carbon monoxide, ash or smell found in real cigarettes. There are no side effects and not detectable by smoke detectors.

I can confirm that yes, I have to agree with the smoke and smell bit. Hubby never smokes when we are in the car with him. However, since the E-Ciggy, he can smoke even without winding down the windows. No smell & smoke, just vapour. It's even safer than Shishas. Amazing!

So ladies, if your hubby is still smoking the conventional ciggys, time to introduce this to him eh? Check out their website at smokerhaven. Just don't get attracted by their Shisha Strawberry and Chocolate Indulgence flavoured catridges though!

Birthday dedication for hubby.

More than a catbird hates a cat,

Or a criminal hates a clue,

Or the Iranians hate the United States,

That's how much I love you.

I love you more than a duck can swim,

And more than a grapefruit squirts,

I love you more than a gin rummy is a bore,

And more than a toothache hurts.

As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea,

Or a juggler hates a shove,

As a hostess detests unexpected guests,

That's how much you I love.

I love you more than a wasp can sting,

And more than the subway jerks,

I love you as much as a beggar needs a crutch,

And more than a hangnail irks.

I swear to you by the stars above,

And below, if such there be,

As the High Court loathes perjurious oathes,

That's how you're loved by me.

My thoughts exactly though beautifully put into words by Ogden Nash.

Happy Birthday to my hubby, may you have a wonderful year ahead. Hope all that you have worked hard and wished for will be yours this year. Looking forward to more birthdays with you and the children.

Yours always, E.