#10 Hanc Saga: Bottoms Up

Chicky
Current mood: Happy
Current action: Waiting for his turn (haircut from ma ma)



Porky
Current mood: Very happy
Current action: Getting his haircut and happily splashing water


Oh no! I think my memory stick got corrupted with virus. I can't transfer any of the pics taken on the boys. Stupid stupid stupid * *

Need to wait for Dolzer to come home and solve this mystery. Already scan the computer and there's no virus. What's the prob? ~

I was researching some time back on Hanc Saga medieval township shoo~ and I got sidetracked by an unexpected finding of this painting called A Harlot's Progress. Actually it's a series of 6 paintings which tells a story of a young woman, Moll who falls from grace.

What intrigue me was the way the story being told from each painting, set during the early 18th century - an early form of comic as of today. I hope to share it with my readers.

A Harlot's Progress by William Hogarth (1697-1764)

Plate 01

The story begins with Moll arriving in London to seek employment as a seamstress but a pox-ridden procuress and brothel keeper deceives her in the prospect of a more profitable occupation. In the background, a notorious rake and his pimp watches with anticipation.

Visual clues:

• Moll carries a scissors and pincushion on her arm
• The clergyman on horseback fails to notice his horse upsetting a stack of pans or Moll's plight
• Londoners ignorance
• The inn sign of a bell, may refer to 'belle', French for beautiful woman
• Dead goose and teetering pans foreshadows Moll's imminent 'fall'

Plate 02

Moll became a mistress of a wealthy Jewish merchant. He came home unexpectedly and she overturns the table to distract his attention while her clandestine lover tiptoes out.

Visual clues:

• It is shown the merchant's corrupted state through his exotic possessions: the young female servant, the tea set, the mahogany table, a mask from masquerades, paintings, the monkey and the black houseboy - mostly derived from colonial trade

Plate 03

Moll has gone from kept woman to a common prostitute with an old, pox-ridden maid to serve her. In the background, the magistrate and 3 armed bailiffs coming through the door to arrest her for her activities. A scantily dressed Moll who is holding a watch, is unaware of their presence. The magistrate is fixed upon the items hung on the wall.

Visual clues:

• Cat pose suggests Moll's new posture
• The witch hat and birch rod suggest black magic or role-playing sadomasochism

Plate 04

Moll beating hemp (plant fiber: cannabis) for hangman's nooses at Bridewell Prison under a threatening jailer who points her to the task. The jailer's wife steal Moll's clothings and winking from behind.

Visual clues:

• A man with his hands chained under the sign "Better to Work/than Stand thus", apparently refused to work
• The man standing next to Moll may have cheated in card games since a card fallen out on the floor
• The prisoners from left to right are in order of decreasing wealth ( a black woman at the end)
• Moll's servant trying on her shoes

Plate 05

Moll is out of prison, reduced to poverty and dying of syphilis. Her maid try to stop the doctors from arguing on their medical methods which appear to be a choice of bleeding. Another woman, possibly the landlady going through Moll's possessions in order to make up for the rent.

Visual clues:

• A hungry child, presumably Moll's, attempting to cook but being ignored by everyone in the room
• Several bottles of medicines litter on the floor

Plate 06

The plate on Moll's coffin indicates she died at the age of 23. At her funeral, a gathering of all the scavengers, it was a grotesque mixture of grief fueled by alcohol and indifference. Moll's son plays innocently, oblivious about his surrounding.

Visual clues:

• A distracted cleric spills his brandy as he sat next to his female companion
• Moll's maid is the only one upset the way the funeral is being conducted
  
• Another prostitute steals the undertaker's hankerchief while he playfully pulls on her glove
• All the prostitutes that gather at Moll's wake are pox-ridden

Finally I get to post it up. Been saving it for the longest time. Then I took some pics on my very first drawing (back in 1986) when my dad gave me a diary book.

My old diary (First Diary)

Update on my old room: Already cleared up 2/3 and donated most of my old clothes and items away.

Title: School girls

I think my teacher in kindy organized a role-playing game: customers(us)/vendor(teacher) using fake money and empty bottles/boxes/cans. Dolzer asks how my cans can stack in such way.

Title: Princess of the univers

Princess of the universe with the missing "e". I remember fondly I couldn't draw the feet properly. The feet area almost had a torn hole (can't see clearly) due to excess rubbing. My dad helped me with it.

Title: Barbie doll stall

I had my first Barbie in that year as well. Mum bought it from Ipoh's Super Kinta Departmental Stores. Every year from then onwards, I would get to buy a special toy for my birthday and it would be BARBIE .

Played Barbie up to my mid-secondary years ~

Title: Dancer's from Paris

Dolzer uses his finger to measure the length of the arms and legs to see how proportional it is to each other.

Title: Snow White

A painting of a dwarf on the wall. Looks more like an occult practice.

Title: Mermaid & Merman, Make-up Room & Flowers, Gold & Diamond, Drinks & Food, Dancing & Swimming

My parents first introduced me to the Little Mermaid's story which inspired this drawing. It has a tragic ending unlike the Disney version and I Mermaid's story from all other fairytales I watched/read.

Title: Big Family

No idea why I drew this and no it's not my dream family . Dolzer said I was being very negligent, leaving all the babies on their own while I watched tv . And there's something disproportion about the size of my head .

That was the last pic for 1986. I couldn't find anymore diaries my dad gave in the subsequent years.

I wonder when Chicky and Porky will start drawing Ultraman for me. ~

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(click on image to enlarge)

As hungry as a horse is, Crow gobbles up the entire barrel of Paco drink without realizing it's actually made from raw fish guts!

Cleansing Express SEBUM

Best purchase of the month:

Make-Up Remover
Cleansing Express SEBUM 300ml for...
RM34.90
(expiry date: *1 bottle should last approx. 1 mth - 1.5 mths if used daily)


What so great?

• CHEAP
• EASY TO USE
  
• CONVINCING SELLING POINT
  

Why CHEAP?
Actually the price varies in different Watson stores:
At Maluri Jusco: RM34.90
At Cheras Tesco: RM30.90 (Only left Cleansing Express MOIST for dry skin)



Why EASY TO USE?

No additional washing required. It basically works like a toner: wipe using facial cotton and dispose. Sometimes I just squeeze a palmful and massage on the face... shoo~ Much faster. However, I still wash my face again with cleanser. The remover is odourless and easy on the skin.

Having two cheeky boys around, putting on makeup is a tedious chore, let alone removing it later. Nowadays, I only apply whenever there is a special occasion (very special occasion) or when I have the energy for it (almost never) or having sudden low self-esteem attack due to old acne scars (all the time).

The previous makeup remover I used was a small Clinique travelling bottle, given by my mom who is an avid Clinique user. So I got my remover for free though it made my skin feels tingly and slightly uncomfortable. Not very good.


Then I found Cleansing Express and thought why not try another brand. Now I'm a proud owner of my very own makeup remover.

CONVINCING SELLING POINT?

I usually read critically on any new product which I never bought before or recommended and all the information given, had me convinced to give it a try.

The part that caught my attention:

• Alcohol FREE (My skin cannot tolerate alcohol)
• Preservative FREE
• 100% Oil FREE (Good)
• Fragrance FREE (Very very good)
• Coloring FREE

The bottle says water base cleanser, hypo-allergenic cleansing water and moisture-retention factor which instantly lifts makeup from deep penetrated pores.

In the small booklet it also says: WILL NOT Cause ACNE (non-comedogenic tested). I still have very bad combination skin so I'm sceptic in using any skin product.

Bottle with safety latch

Heart the bottle ~

p.s. I saw this ad while reading the newspaper last Sat. ~

The Star (27.06.09)

Yum yum

One of my usual daily breakfast in the morning.

For this pregnancy I have cravings for English breakfast bacon and eggs. It would be heaven if I could get my hands on Shepherd's pie or Cottage pie. I saw a "chicken Shepherd's Pie" at Pantai Bangsar Starbucks on my last visit to my ob-gyn on Sat.

Hellzbunny: How can they call Shepherd's Pie if it's chicken.
Dolzer: It's the same once you eat it.
Hellzbunny: No, it's not.
Dolzer: Let's try if it taste the same.
Hellzbunny: Dowan.
Dolzer: Not everyday you see Shepherd's Pie on the menu.
Hellzbunny: It's not the same.
Dolzer: I'm ordering it so you'll stop bugging me for Shepherd's Pie.
Hellzbunny: NOOooooo *drags Dolzer with superhuman strength away from the counter*

So I didn't get to try it. Should have. Next time then.

My morning breakfast comes after I fed Porky's porridge and Chicky's milk. I shop for bacon and beans the day before.

Hash brown

On the pan

Cook the hash brown with a little olive oil.

Bacon, eggs, onion & beans

Other ingredients on the table

• 4 slices of streaky bacon cost RM2.73 from Carrefour
• 2 eggs (one for Chicky)
• 1 medium onion - chopped
• 1 small can of cheesy baked beans

Delicious streaky bacon

Next, the eggs and followed by bacon. Make sure the pan is hot when cooking bacon. Cook till it's golden crispy. Watch the fire (medium high) to prevent burnts because I use back the oil for my onion & beans. Yum ~

Onions

Fry the onions until you can smell the aroma. Then pour the beans.

Glorious beans

For the baked beans, I add a dash of pepper and tomato sauce. Sometimes I would add some loose parmesan cheese to give it a much creamier texture. Today found out cheese finished *sob*

Beans in a bowl

Done. Time spend: less than 15mins.

Tadaa~

Chicky sniffing the bacon

Porky wants to open the can

I thought of trying out this Pokka's chrysanthemum white tea with my breakfast. Not bad. The taste is very mild and not very sweet. The boys love it. Of course my breakfast was shared among all four of us (including Ngau ngau). Soon after ...

Burp~

The breakfast can be improved with

• Home made lemonade
• Toast with butter
• Japanese cucumber or a can of baby corn
• It'd be scrambled eggs or omelette instead of normal fried egg
• Hot dog & ham
  
• Fried mushrooms (Dolzer's favourite )
  

Those of course, can only be done in the weekend when Dolzer is around. So for the time being, I'm satisfied with today's breakfast. Success!