Type of gooseberry that grow by themselves in my house compound

The one that grow in my house compound is Physalis minima [1]. It is hard to distinguish between Physalis peruviana [2] and Physalis angulata [3] as they have similar looking fruits and came from same Genus that is Physalis [3].

This is from 1 tree that I move near the drain area opposite of my house

The fruit that contains lots of Vitamin C [1]

A fruitful tree

This one I move it to the land area near drain in front of my house. Seems like it is bearing more fruit here than the one that I leave in my house compound. Hoping to grow more of them so that later I would be able to make nice jam out of the bountiful fruits.
It is also feel nice to be able to harvest the fruits when the tree originally was just happens to grow by themselves in my house compound. Talk about me being lucky.

The gooseberry tree with fruit

Close up on the fruit

Many that grow themselves in my house compound

I found that the one that I leave to grow in my house compound bear less fruit and the tree is taller since they have to compete with the weeds that grew below them. Well, at least now I do know which area and environment that is more suitable for their growth.

Regardless the seed is free since it grow by themselves, I still give attention and affection to them. In order for it to grow consistent fruits for my daily consumption.

This tree have plenty of medicinal benefit. However, I only focus on the fruits for Vitamin C supplement.

References:
[1] http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Physalis+minima
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_peruviana
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_angulata
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis

My hire purchase grant of my first vehicle

I finish pay for my hire purchase in July 2015. But just manage to retrieve the original hire purchase grant today from CIMB Nusa Bistari branch. Almost 1 year from the date I finish my payment. This is due to the process to transfer my document to Hire Purchase CIMB in Johor Bahru from Hire Purchase CIMB in Menara UAB, Kg. Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

I bought my car last time in July 2008. I only took 7 years loan tenure after consulting few of my relatives and friends.

The best part is, I manage to finish paying it up not long after I start paying for my house. People would normally say "What a coincidence". As a professional engineer, I prefer to say all thanks to good planning and good timing.

First page of my hire purchase grant

Second page of my hire purchase grant

It is really a relief to only need to pay for my house only at this moment. With the increasing cost of living and daily expenses. I am really getting good timing and opportunity to have my own house in a gated guarded area with a really good price at that time. If not, I do not know and cannot guarantee the safety of my car even when it is parked at home in the porch.

For those who is taking loan tenure more than 7 years, I wish good luck in endevouring the coming years to get your original hire purchase grant.

Till then, have a good day ahead.

Ideas on gardening in small house with no land area or high rise building

I talk about gardening this with one of my foreign friends. Who is currently unemployed. He even asked me what that he could grow at home since he is living in apartment. Well, considering his origin, no wonder he asked me such question.

For me who already in saving mode as I have 5 cats to feed, force me to be creative to think ways to survive. That is why I have started to try and grew as much as I could in my land area where the size is only 10" x 70". Especially now where the groceries price hike up.

Now I already have tomatoes, yam, papaya, Sabah snake grass, Cat Whiskers, sugar cane, pineapple, mango. Trying to grow potatoes, ginger, turmeric, chilies, pumpkin for next attempt.

I did read in this article about  how a model turn her 1200 sqft loft to be fill with almost 500 plants. She is also a writer, businesswoman, chef and an ecologist [1].

She even have pineapple, cucumber, rosemary, squash, lemongrass, micro greens, lemon balm, curry, fig, a lemon tree and numerous other edibles growing in her apartment [1].

I am totally impressed with her gardening effort since such work requires a lot of effort and dedication. Even me who have land area size 10"x 70" still cannot compete with her plant collections which reach 500 plants.

Further in the article did mention that since small she loves to bring outdoor into indoor. She even bring moss in her room and raise insects there.

What makes me envious is she grew more plants than I do at home on my land area.

Basically, there is no excuse from not growing anything for your own consumption. All depends on the individual themselves.

[1] https://www.6sqft.com/my-1200sqft-inside-model-summer-rayne-oakes-williamsburg-oasis-filled-with-500-plants/

Process of changing voting address took less than 5 minutes

To change voting address, you will need to go to post office yourself. As the form need to be signed by you and the post office personnel once it is filled. The filling in form process took less than 5 minutes. But the longest part is waiting for your turn in the post office.

The registration system will take 3 months for validation process. You are able to check your application status online [1].

Example of the filled voting form - to change address

webpage to check your voting status [1]

Result of my application for change of address

I have change my IC and license in UTC Johor Bahru last time when I renew my license. The experience will be in other entry.

I opt to change voting address as that is the my latest address. Plus, that is the place I currently staying and work. Which is much more sensible for me to cast my vote there instead of my original hometown.

You could also wait for Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) Malaysia [2]  counter to be open near voting season, you might need to queue long.

I have change my voting address last week while went to the post office to buy a post express envelope.

For those who are still not register for voting, please do so in the post office. The registration took less than 5 minutes also. As your vote is important to determine leader of your choice.

Till then, have a good weekend ahead.

[1] http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/DAFTARJ/
[2] http://www.spr.gov.my/

Growth of my papaya tree in my house compound

It was for fun attempt. I just throw the seed from the papaya that I eat into the nursery pots and poly bag in my house. It happens that few of them manage to survive and grow sturdy tree trunk. After the tree reach almost 15 cm height, I start to move the tree to the ground. I did give 2 of them to my friend.

Now I have 9 papaya tree in my house. 3 of them where their height is almost 140 cm and already start producing flower buds. Seems like 3 of them was a female papaya tree. Female papaya tree is the one that produce papaya fruits where the male papaya tree only produce papaya flower [1]. The flower characteristic for female papaya [4] and male papaya is very distinguishable [3].

Male papaya flower [3]

Benefit of Nona or Sri Kaya fruit

This morning I drop by a printing shop to help my friend print advertisement banner for rent/sale usage. Before I start my car engine, I manage to take a glimpse look on my surrounding. I notice there is a nona or sri kaya tree with heaps of fruit dangling in front of shop next door.

I immediately went to the shop and ask the worker there if possible for me to get one piece of the fruit. They were like shocked when I asked such request. Seems like no one ever ask before. But they were very kind to help to choose and pluck the fruit for me.

The fruit size is filling most of my palm area

Diameter of this fruit is almost 6.5 cm

Other name for this fruit is sugar-apple or sweetsop [3].

It have similar texture with soursop [2] fruit. Where it is not a surprise since they are within the same main family tree. Would be ideal to plant in my small land due to the small tree size compare to soursop tree.

The leaves from this plant [1] could be used to repel lice. This is nice to put in my cat cage later on for prevention purpose.

Sugar-apple or nona or sri kaya is high in energy, an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6, and provides vitamin B2, B3 B5, B9, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium [3]. I do find this is very helpful for woman like me especially during menstrual cycle. Since I am heavily affected by my imbalance hormone during such period of time.

Hopefully I am able to germinate the seed from this fruits with high success rate.

Till then, have a good healthy day ahead.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annona_squamosa
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annona_muricata
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple

New addition to my family, a white female cat

This is my new white female cat. I found her end of September 2016 in eatery of Student Union Building (SUB) UTM. She have been around for a while. After asking around people who do business there, I decided to take her home since I could see she have good potential if well groomed.

Picture of her after being captured. I put her temporary in my lab while finishing up work

She was looking around her new surrounding

From the 2 pictures above, can see her tail have losses. Also the condition of her fur is quite bad.

I have bath her few times using a sulfur based cat shampoo. I also gradually feeding her from biscuits to mixed rice with wet cat food that contains herbs. My own recipe for the home made wet cat food.

I happen to have the time to spare this morning after feeding all my cats. I give the opportunity to her to roam around before transferring her to other cage.

She was exploring her new surrounding. Can see the fluffiness of her tail

Love her fluffy tail that is similar to feather duster

Her pose with few of my plants and flower

I am unable to snap front view of her. Since she is busy sniffing and exploring around her short lived freedom.

She still look skinny since she is quite picky on her food. As previously she just feed on biscuits given by kind people in SUB, UTM. I now feed her mixed rice with wet cat food that contains herbs to improve their skin and internal organs.

Hopefully she will grew healthier later on.

Till then, have a good day playing with your beloved cats.

2 influence people that I get to pose with during my convocation day

I was doing housekeeping of some of my old picture and stumble on my degree convocation picture in year 20007 as Computer engineering graduate (below). Think this is the only pictures left. As the picture of me receiving my degree scroll already perish in fire that burn down my Mum's house in August 2013 [1].

If not for my Mum, I won't have the courage to take picture with these 2 influence gentleman

On the left of the picture is the Vice Chancellor at that time, Tan Sri Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd. Zulkifli Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali [2]. He is the 4th Vice Chancellor of UTM (2001- 2008) [2]. When I look back this picture lately, I just notice that on the right of this picture is actually Prof. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang [2]. He is the 5th Vice Chancellor of UTM (2008- Jun 2013) [2].

4th Vice Chancellor of UTM [2]. 

5th Vice Chancellor of UTM [2]. 

Thanks to my Mum, I am able to pose with the above gentlemen

Actually I was forced that time by my Mum to pose with the 4th Vice Chancellor (VC) [2]. Now when looking back at this picture, I am grateful to her for forcing me. Since now the picture worth more than the time it was taken.

So, how about the rest of you?

[1] The look of my Mum's house after burn down in fire last 2013 https://serinurulbeauty.blogspot.my/2015/03/the-loss-of-your-beloved-ones.html

[2] The Past Vice Chancellors http://www.utm.my/office-vc/history-of-the-office/

Wet food herbs for cats

I started to make my own wet food for cats since early 2016. This is because I have plenty of cats and I do find that it is more cost effective making it own my own. Plus, I get to put herbs that suits my cats conditions and needs. Custom solution for me and my cats.

5 packs for my first customer

Chicken flavor. 85 gm per pack

Ingredients for the wet food: chicken, water, carrots, cucumber, ginger, Vitamin C, Vitamin A,  exclusive herbs for kidney health and skin.

Benefits of this wet food herbs:
1) help to increase immune system
2) stimulates urination and helps to keep kidneys healthy
3) improve skin health
4) detoxify the body
5) defend against colds
6) optimize digestion
7) have vitamin C and A

For me personally, this is the the best home made food that my cats loves. Where they tends to eat till their bowl clean and clear. However, I used to mixed rice with the wet food herbs. By doing so, it helps my cats to get full faster and at the same time reduce their food cost. Yet, they still benefit with all the good nutritions and vitamins. I do found that one of my new cat that only consume solely on biscuits, do eat until the food bowl clean on the mixed rice and wet food herbs.

The thoroughly mixed rice with the wet food herbs for my cats meal this morning

My precious baby boy Dell, focus eating the good food mixed without looking elsewhere

I am proud to have my own wet food herbs product because it is free from preservatives. Hopes that my cats will be healthy and have long life span. Moreover, my wet food cat herbs is SALT free. Unlike the existing wet food for cats in the market like this [1]. If there is no salt stated in the ingredient, you have to look for sodium [2], a type of salt. One of more reason why cats that have more tendency to get kidney stones or urinary disease.

Introduction price is RM 2 per 85 gm pack. While stock last.

Till then, have a good day playing with your little ones.

Reference:
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Ray-Nutrish-Natural-Food/dp/B00I2KPNYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1474292460&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=Wet+Cat+Food&psc=1
[2] http://pets.thenest.com/salt-cat-food-good-bad-10443.html

Update 1 on planting green peas at home

This is the first update on my progress in planting the green peas (or actually mung beans). For me, the growth rate were fast. I do think that I shouldn't wait more than 3 days to move the germinated seeds to soil. As I am afraid the survival rate would be lower as there are more nutrition on soil than in the germinated case.

The one circled in the picture is actually the green peas that I put near my green sugar cane on 14 Sept 16

This is the picture of the above green peas after 17 Sept 16. It grew very green tapered leaves after 5 days on soil

This is the green peas that I put in this small pot last 14 Sept 16. Can check the previous picture here

This is 3 green peas that I germinate last 14 Sept 16. The tallest is around 1.5 cm high

This is the green peas after I move it on soil evening of 18 Sept 16. That is 4 days after germinate. See how tall it grew?

My conclusion would be that the green peas that moved within 3 days to soil have shorter sturdy stem and thicker plus greener leaves. The one that moved at the 4th day to soil will have longer thinner stem and shorter thinner leaves.

 

Hopefully the plants will grow healthier and produce more green peas for me. Will post the update here in my blog for easy growth tracking.

For the initial picture of the germinated green peas, could he found in my entry on planting green peas at home.

Till then, be safe while gardening.