Another Birthday!!

It has been a year since my first entry on this blog!! The year
went by quickly, and I guess it is a good sign. That probably means it had been a good year!!

Some months ago, I planned to spend this year's birthday on a holiday, and so on 5th October, I went to Melbourne. For the ten days there, being Spring time, the weather was really, really good.

Cloudehill Garden, Dandenongs

Beach in Frankston

Tessellar Tulip Festival

Took some lovely walks in the parks, gardens and visited a few wildlife parks.  Went to Phillip Island Wildlife Park and the Nobbies. Saw some pelicans, seal lions, kangaroos, emus, koalas, kookaburas and many more animals, unique to Australia.


 
 
 

Pelican feeding in San Remo





Koala  at Phillip Island Wildlife Park

  On my birthday, I had lunch with Tony and Zumi, at an Italian restaurant, Mercadante at Lygon. We had pizza, lasagne and leek soup....and an unusual dessert, chocolate pizza!! Continued to have more desserts.....gelato, of 'cos. Then we walked to a nearby park and then to the Fitzroy Gardens. Visited the Conservatory, Captain Cook's Cottage, The Tudor Village and the Fairy Tree.

Birthday lunch at Mercadante, Lygon

II Dolce Freddo, Lygon

Chocolate Pizza at Mercadante, Lygon

The next day, we had more desserts.....pavlova, apple pie and more gelato!!! This time, at Sophia along Burke Road, Camberwell.

Pavlova and Gelato at Sophia, Burke Road

As you can see, I had a WONDERFUL birthday week in Melbourne!!!!

Baby Kiern

This is the latest addition in the family, Kiern Chin. When Kiern arrived on 18-08-10, it was really an exciting and thrilling day for all of us. No wonder they refer to a newborn as 'a bundle of joy'. He was exactly that!!  He arrived at 2.18 pm, weighing 3.23kg and was 54 cm long. He brought us immense joy.

Inspite of many sleepless nights and hours of adjusting to his feeding schedule ( breast-feeding ), we enjoyed every moment with him. It was, indeed a trying time for his new Mummy and Daddy ( and not forgetting all of us). Nevertheless,
the minute we held him, everything was forgotten.

We would watch in awe - his every yawn, every cry and even every twitch!!  My favourite moments .......are his bath times. These moments are my 'bonding time' with him.

Some nights, he gets 'colicky' and  Mummy will be trying all sorts of ways to calm him down, pacifying him, massaging his belly with oil and even letting him suckle to sleep.

On my part, when Kiern gets 'colicky',  I would prop him up on my shoulders and pat him. He thinks I am a walking cushion and then very often, he is contented,  looking like this!






We celebrated Kiern's full-moon with  red eggs and 'angku', roasted pork and a dinner party.  Friends and family came from near and far to celebrate with us.

 We are so blessed, and everytime, I look at Kiern, I am reminded of, yet another of God's wonderful creation!!

My Yummy Weekend!! (Part 3)

Desserts? Off to Nusa Dusun, near Linggi to get some nangkas and starfruits......

Another short drive to Masjid Tanah, to taste the wonderful, unforgettable Cendol.....

Very soon, it was dinner time again, back to Malacca.....to Pak Putra. Tandoori Chicken, Naan.........

Almost end of weekend.....sigh...

An old-fashioned breakfast at an old coffee shop........getting ready to face the Monday Blues.......

A few more cuppa (s) will do the trick!!
What a splendid weekend!!

My Yummy Weekend!! (Part 2)

Next, a short drive to Pengkalan Balak, a hide-out.....just by the seaside....under a tree...you find authentic Malay kampung food.....

Best eaten with your bare hands.......

The main dish......Assam Pedas!!

And to top it all.........enjoy the local coconut juice!!

My Yummy Weekend!! (Part 1)

Fried Calamari....and Chicken Wings....

Grilled Aubergines, nothing much to look at.....but wait till you sink your teeth in one of these!!!

And Devil's Curry or Debel's Curry or Kari Hantu....or whatever you call it.....you must try this Portuguese dish!!

Ikan Bakar....
Food!!! Food Excites Me..........All these made me drive up to Malacca one weekend........

Just look at this!! What more, with the beautiful scenery, just by the Straits.....awesome!!

And a glass of Mango Juice to complete this meal...................

All these at Sea Terrace, The Portuguese Settlement in Malacca!!

Chinese New Year 2010

For me, making Pineapple tarts is a 'must-do' a few days before Chinese New Year to make sure my guests savour them... nice and fresh.

Then the night before, preparing the angpows is another 'must-do'. Making sure we get the crispy new notes sometimes mean queueing up at the banks a week before the Big Day. Also, getting the the new angpow packets from every bank in town seems to be the craze a few weeks before!

Here, the 'Yee Sang' at Reunion Dinner.....is really looking good... it REALLY is good!! This dish is another 'must-eat'
........

But before you begin, you have to 'Loh-hei', meaning to toss the dish, while uttering some nice-sounding blessings. I haven't learn how to say them in authentic Cantonese, but I will learn to do so...next year.

Not only nice-sounding blessings...but also the dishes have nice-sounding names. This one, 'Hoi See Fatt Choy'...means ' Good Things and Prosperity Come Your Way' and.....

another one, 'Stuffed Sea Cucumber'.....i guess it means that 'The Year Will Be Filled With Rich Blessings'....

Mama is looking very happy here. She must be very pleased with the food....but most importantly, that everyone came back for the Reunion Dinner, all 30 of us.

Another thing.....red clothes! Next morning, the children get ready to receive lots and lots of Angpows!!

In our family, we begin the 'Angpow Ceremony' by having everyone, from the youngest to the eldest receiving angpows and in exchange, we offer blessings and best wishes to Mama.

Having fun time with cousins  on the hammock in the garden!!

Luckily for Skype, Vito and Jae-lynn were able to join in the merry-making. We were also able to'exchange greetings and mandarin oranges'.

Together with the fireworks around the neighbourhood and the Lion Dance, and having everyone back home, it really was a great Chinese New Year!!!

The Angels in my Life

Someone once told me, that God sends us angels when He knows we cannot cope, when we need help. Here are my angels who help me cope with my everyday chores.

Sixteen years ago, Zumi came into my life. She was only a 14-year girl then. First time away from home (a kampung in Kalimantan), she must have felt very afraid!!

Today, she is a very confident lady, very efficient in her work and speaks almost perfect English. She cannot write nor read, but she can do banking and help me run my business.
She also cooks and bakes very well.
Actually, she practically runs my whole household!!

This is Wiji. 5 years ago, she came from Indonesia to work. Frail-looking then, and speaking an unfamiliar language, we managed to get by together.

She is a marvellous person! She looks after my mother day and night and is able to manage everything around the house. And like I always tell everyone, she does the work of 3 persons. She can handle all my mother's need although my mother is wheelchair-bound.

What more!! She is always happy and smiling.

This angel is Emma. Emma lives next door to me. Every afternoon, she keeps my mother company -  telling stories, laughing while watching TV but most of all...... Mum loves it when Emma gives her an hour-long whole body massage!!

Masnor used to cycle pass my house every evening after work. After some time, he will call out and wave to me, and is always cheerful.

God must have sent him to me, seeing all the work around the house. Masnor sees to all the little jobs. Some days, he repairs the faulty lightbulbs. Other days, he repairs my broken furniture. Some Sundays when he is free, he will call out to me to ask if I have any work for him.

Last Sunday. he helped with the garden, he helped trimmed off some large branches and even
helped me with my vegetable patch!!


How truly Blessed I am!!