Honey roasted chicken with potatoes

The first dish that I made with my new oven. Da Da....

It looks yummy? It's yummy! :D

Recipe - Honey Roast Chicken

Ingredients
1 medium Chicken (for roasting)
90 mililiters Water (for roasting)

-- MARINADE --
2 tablespoon Honey
1 tablespoon Lemon juice
1 tablespoon Garlic puree
1 tablespoon Ginger puree
1 teaspoon Salt

Preparation:
Using a sharp knife, make short, deep cuts all over the chicken.

Combine all the marinade ingredients, and mix well.

Rub the marinade all over the chicken, making sure to work it well into the incisions. Save the remaining marinade.

Place the chicken in a roasting dish, cover it with cling film/plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

Remove the chicken from the fridge, and (preferably) allow to achieve room temperature.

Heat the oven to 200C/ 400F
Spread the remaining marinade over the chicken.

Place the chicken in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.

Pour the water into the roasting tin and roast for another 20 minutes.

Baste the chicken and roast for another 10 minutes.

Baste the chicken and roast for an additional 10 minutes.

Baste the chicken again, and roast for a final 5 minutes.

Remove the chicken from oven and transfer it to a serving dish

Pour any remaining roasting juices over the chicken, and serve immediately.

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We have moved in!

We shifted in on 14-Nov. 80% of unpacking completed. The remaining 20% seems harder to complete as we don't seem to have urgent needs on the stuffs which are still inside the cartons. I am wondering if we just throw them away. :p

We still need to buy study table and chair for the study room. I personally need a DVD player, preferably with Karaoke function. As the rooms are not installed with ceiling fan, we need to get standing fans too. Hopefully, all these can be settled before mid Dec. Then, we shall plan for our housewarming party around Christmas or New Year time. :)

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Renovation updates - furnitures

Living hall - sofa & dining table/chairs

Living hall/balcony


Dining area


Guest room


Master room



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Renovation updates - glass backing cracked

During our final QC just now, we discovered a 4-inch length crack mark on the kitchen glass backing. Sigh! I really regret to heed my ID advice to add the glass backing for the kitchen cabinet.

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Renovation updates - wardrobe

Our wardrobe is Australian system. It is mounted directly to the wall, ceiling as the top and floor as the base. One of the door is 8ft height mirror panel. I guess all ladies will love it, like me. However, as darling doesn't like reflective surface in our master room, we have specially made the mirror on the inner track so that we can hide the mirror panel behind the frosted glass panel at night.

Front view - Both doors closed

Left side - drawers & shelves


Right side - hanging bars


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Renovation updates - schedule delayed!

I am totally disappointed with the renovation workmanship and demand for rework from the contractors. Because of this, we got to postpone the delivery of our furnitures and electronic appliances which had been scheduled on 8-Nov. In spite of this, hubby and I still expect to move on 14-Nov as this is the only good day for moving before 20-Nov (end of my current tenancy) according to lunar calendar. Pray hard!

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Renovation updates - dining light

The dining light is finally installed. It doesn't look that great though.

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Renovation updates - hiccups

The position of water tap and basin of the master and common bathrooms were measured wrongly by the carpenter who made the vanity cabinet. They might need to replace the existing solid top and will cause a delay of 1-week for our schedule. Sigh...what a careless mistake! Disappointed...


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Sliding door for kitchen entrance

This is our sliding door for the kitchen entrance. I suppose we should paste decal/sticker on the glass. I can imagine my guests or even ourselves will bang on the door one day if we keep the glass door too clean & clear. :p

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Wardrobe

The wardrobe maker suggested us to build the wardrobe flush with the toilet door. Is that going to be nice? I can't visualize...good thing is they are quite flexible and can let us finalize our decision during installation. Hope the wardrobe can turn out to be great. I love the concept - Australian wardrobe system.

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Renovation updates - granite & solid top

Kitchen cabinet with granite

Common bathroom cabinet with solid top


Master bathroom cabinet with solid top



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Be aggressive not abrasive

In sales line, it's good to be aggressive. However, I discourage salespeople getting abrasive.

Lately, I lost a deal to my team member due to his stealthy trick. Initially, I quoted the customer standard rate package while I knew there was no competition from another bank. Later, I found out from the customer that my colleague claimed that he can offer lower rates than mine. In the end, he won the deal. I seriously felt disheartened after hearing that. For a while, I wondered if I should continue to stay in such a working environment. I realized I could not endure such unhealthy competition. I could not bring myself to love this work atmosphere. Sigh... :(

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Renovation updates - disappointment

I have come to a conclusion. HDB bathrooms can never be classy if you abide by the rules. The dreadful pipes should all be concealed for goodness sake! Look at my bathrooms!! :(

Common bathroom

Master bathroom


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Renovation updates - lights on

The lights are on! :)

Entrance light (love this light...love at first sight!)

Kitchen - side view


Kitchen - front view


Living/dining hall - side view


Living/dining hall - front view


Balcony


Master bathroom - PD door


Master room feature wall



Master room feature wall - lights on (front view)


Master room feature wall - lights on (side view)


Master room - vanity cabinet (too low?)


Common bathroom - vanity cabinet


Common bathroom - sand-blasted glass door


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Renovation updates

The following works have been completed!!

- Wall painting
- Installation of shower screen in both bathrooms
- Installation of sand blasted glass door for common toilet
- Installation of PD door for master bathroom
- Installation of shower head and hot/cold mixer for both bathrooms
- Installation of vanity cabinet in both bathrooms (without solid top)
- Installation of kitchen cabinet (without granite)
- Installation of sliding glass door for kitchen entrance

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A big step forward

I am glad to see my brother finally making a big step forward to go for a job interview. Though it's not a great job, it's good to know that he's willing to start from low. Let's wish he will be selected for the post and can start working soon. He will then grow up and be more sensible. Bless him.


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The dates are set!

After referring to the Chinese calendar, we have finally set the dates as follows:

8-Nov to 12-Nov - delivery of furnitures & electronic appliances
13-Nov - 安床
14-Nov - 入宅 Officially moving in!! :)

Renovation updates

The painting work has started early this week. Simultaneously, the carpenter has commenced to make our cabinets & feature wall. Next Saturday, it will be installation of lightings & fans.

Meanwhile, we are liaising with the wardrobe contractor for measurement now. They should be able to install the wardrobe after painting.

Besides, we have also arranged the furniture & beds to be delivered on the same day, 8-Nov-2010. As for electronic appliances like fridge, washing machine, TV etc, we will do our shopping later. On the other hand, we will make a trip back to JB to source for curtain maker this coming weekend. Ooh...there are really a lot of hassles when it comes to shifting. I will not wanna move place again within 5 years.

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Fans

Our fans are quite unique.

Left: Colourful baby fan for the study room

Right: Flower petal fan for the living hall

Bed frame

We just chose the following bed frame design in dark grey. Hope it will match well with our feature wall.

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Life can never be perfect

Life can never be perfect!

I want to succeed in my career. At the same time, I hope to be a responsible wife. And, I also wish to be more filial to my parents. How to achieve all these together?

My weekends are almost burnt every week nowadays. I can't go back to JB frequently. I also can't accompany hubby for his basketball matches like previously anymore. Most of my time has been contributed to my work. I feel so unbalanced! I feel angry...angry at myself that I can't finish my work within weekdays...angry that I still can't achieve target even though I have sacrificed so much quality time which I should have spent with my hubby and family!

Darling and I had a talk. He told me to pursue what I want for myself. He would not mind to postpone our baby plan till I am ready. I didn't feel happier when I heard that. Instead, I felt even more stressed. This is never my wish. I actually hope that I can quickly catch up with my new job so that I can devote more time to focus on our baby plan. Well, if life can be this perfect, right?

Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant

We had our family dinner at Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant last night. Here are the dishes we ordered. Among all, I preferred the Kimchi tofu soup and the Saba fish. Ginseng chicken soup was not bad either.

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Renovation updates

The renovation progress:
- Tiling works completed
- Water piping completed
- Living/dining hall air-con installed

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Give me a break

I was helping my brother to look for a job last night. I stayed up to 4:30am to send resume for him. Don't ask me why I need to help him doing this. If he knew how to do it...sigh...I shall never pamper my children like this next time.

I am worried about papa's health. He's been complaining to mama that his heart beats very fast lately yet he refuses to do thorough checkup.

I have been busy with work. I can't seem to finish my job everyday. I find it tough to hit my monthly target. On top of it, I have plenty of bad accounts being flagged out for reviews.

On another hand, our flat is undergoing renovation now. ID keeps chasing me for decisions like paint colours, lamination choices, carpentry drawing approval etc.

Darling is busy with his work and basketball leagues. He is stressed with all the costs incurred for the new flat too. He's been nagging me for spending too much for the flat and unnecessary spendings as well. We had quarrel this morning. I just don't like to be nagged. I am vexed enough! Just give me a break please!

So here I am...hiding in place where nobody is around...

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Master room

Feature wall for our master room.

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Revised kitchen plan - 3rd round

Due to some structural constraints, we have aborted the plan to hack down the wall between kitchen and service balcony. :( This means our kitchen will remain as small as it is. Sigh..

Our ID has come out with his 3rd plan for us.

P.S. The 3D drawing is kind of deceiving because our kitchen is not as spacious in reality.

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