Father's Day

We celebrated with my father last weekend. An early Father's Day and I'm sure those with in laws will understand why. There's the father, the father in law and the hubs. 3 fathers and there's only 1 Father's Day.

My family celebrated earlier as they know we will make a trip back to hubs hometown to celebrate with his dad. We took FIL out for dinner, at 'New Lagoon Restaurant' Melaka Raya, currently the family favourite. Their coconut pudding rocks !!  No pics to show, lazy a** me always always forgets my camera and even if I do remember the camera, I forget to take pics. *eat first, shoot later*.. sigh..

I sneaked in a card and gift for hubs. Sneaked sometime to get Amber to scribble up lots of 'I LOVE YOU' in the card. She kept her lips zipped throughout the weekend and gave hubs the card early Sunday morning, and so, it's a surprise. Hubs is a very easy father to please.

We came back home after lunch yesterday, didn't want to get caught in the crazy KL-Seremban jam. Hubs wanted to watch Green Latern and since it's Father's Day, the father calls the shot. Had dinner at TGIF (again, lazy and forgot my camera). Hubs had bacon burger and I had grilled lamb, shared with Amber. The portion was so small and lamb, dry but Amber finished 80% of it. We also had complimentary buffalo wings, my favourite and I whacked it all. I'd very much prefer Hard Rock Cafe and American Chilli's over TGIF. I went to Hard Rock recently with a friend and the food really rocks !

Then it was popcorn and coke during the movie.. Amber kept her eyes closed and ears shut at some parts of the movie. Green Latern was good but some scenes were rather loud, I'd say and the little one couldn't take the excitement but she behaved and didn't annoy other patrons.  This is the 4th movie we've watched this month and the hubs and the kiddo is keeping tabs on all DC and Marvel movies. They're really movie buffs and honestly I'd rather spend the 2 hour shopping alone :)

That was, Father's Day for us. :)  How was yours ?

Family Trip to Malacca - 24 April 2011

Backdated post - 24 April 2011.. 

We made a daytrip to Malacca, the Tan family. A very rare occasion to holiday with Father, so, this is an occasion to treasure.

Big Brother was back visiting with his family. This trip, he's a little bit more adventurous, took the kids to Sunway Lagoon and climbed up Batu Caves with his friend. (Shame !!! I've never been to Batu Caves and it's just a short drive from our home. shame ! shame ! A to-do in 2011 for us)

We left KL early Sunday morning, with an empty tummy. First stop was the chicken rice balls at Jalan Tun Sri Lanang. 

Adults congregation :

 Not so adult (yet, not so kiddo) congregation of the cousins :

Next, Jonker's Street. Got a decent car park opposite the to-be opened boutique hotel  - Casa del Rio Melaka. Uhh.... I think the hotel is opened now that my post is 2 months late.

Next stop : Makan again.. Cendol at Donalds and Lily's. I think father had a shock, his children and grandchildren can really eat !!

Walking down Jonker's Street, sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Amber had the best view, this spoilt brat was on Papa's shoulder's.

Hats, umbrellas, sunnies and sunblocks, we were ready to tackle Jonker's Street

 Quaint and interesting places ...

We were ready to tackle St Paul's Hill to check out the ruins of St Paul's Church, Christchurch and A Famosa fort. Father and hubs rested at San Shu Gong. There's no way father's gonna walk up the hill and down. Too strenuos and hot for him. Amber insisted on coming along and I know she cannot complete the whole walking journey of going up the hill to the ruins and coming down at A Famosa fort. Oh well !!!

Lots of energy running up the hill... but her battery went flat short after.. :(

 Statue of St Francis Xavier in front of St Paul's Church. This is a-must for holiday keepsakes.

 

The cousins ..

Her lovely cheh-cheh cousins from Melbourne

 

They left for Krabi and Singapore before flying back to Ozzieland the following week.

Looking forward to have you here again (or better still, if hubs can take a week off, we'll be at your place soon !!!.. )

CNY Reunions and such

My friends commented I have a very 'happening' and 'busy' CNY. Busy it is, and yes, it's happening too. No excessive drinking, binging or gambling - pua kiaw BUT... we try to catch up with family, relatives and friends as much as possible. Nothing could be more important than family ties and friendship rekindled in this festive season over a glass of wine or two. Most of us let's busy-ness dictate our daily routines and CNY is the time to take a deep breath and put our holds down, for a glass of wine.. or two :)

The in laws, nieces and nephews came over on Saturday night for another reunion. We can hardly count the number of times in a year that we actually get together so a gathering at our place makes it a reunion. Although the nieces were late, they made it nonetheless. One niece had to attend a wedding dinner and another niece runs a mobile phone shop and Saturday is a busy day. By the time they wrap up the business for the day and rush over to our home, it's almost midnight. Again, better than never and sincerity counts. We welcome them with open arms. I cooked da usual jazz - hokkien noodle, waxed meat rice, curry chicken and guai ling koa for all.

 

The kids only started playing fireworks at 1am !!

 

 The bottles we uncorked :

We are blessed with  a long break this CNY and the time is well spent with what matters most - our family members and dear friends :)

BFF

Her cousin sister is her best friend. She was looking forward so much to going back to the in laws for the CNY because she'll have her cousin sister for company for days. These 2 girls create a ruckus at home, running up and down, all about the house, around the living room, jumping on the trampoline, ransacking their BIL's room but they bring lots of joy to the family. Of course, there's fights and bickerings  too but kids are kids..they forgive and forget easily.

 

Partners in crime, they hijack BIL's iPhone.

 

Bff, they are..

 Sharing their favorite toys and gadgets..

and doing naughty things .. like drawing each other hands.

Her Yuen Wen cheh cheh is her best friend.. she been asking silly questions like why Yuen Wen cheh cheh has to live in Cheras and not near our home, why cheh cheh cannot go to same school as her or why she cannot stay in the same house as cheh cheh !

Doing What Adults Do

Some kids thrive on schedule, some are flexible. Mine thrives on schedule but I'm sorry I can't afford to stick to a schedule that's best for her. We have our never ending list of things to do and she has to fit in on weekends. I'd rather she be with us than pay the childminder extra to take care of her. Amber knows a whole lot of stuff that we do, like why her daddy needs to meet the client and who we are meeting.

I can't put her to bed by 9pm coz I have the housework to do. If I do try to put her to bed, I'll most likely waste about an hour or more getting her to sleep and fall asleep too. There goes the piled dishes and laundry.

After our maid left, she was a free and easy kid. No fixed meal times, bed times or shower times. Last Saturday was quite a long day. She woke up late, we dashed out of the house and came back past 9pm and she's already asleep. She missed her shower ! Terrible me but what to do ? She's my best accesory that I carry around with on weekends, be it marketing, meeting clients or running errands.

She even konk-ed out while having dinner and hubs had to carry her like a soft toy. We got quite a few funny stares too but we're used to it :)

Hubs relishing his Duck King noodles !! 

Saliva dripping down.... tsk tsk tsk.

Bits and Bops - Pre Christmas :)

It's not too late to wish stopovers here a very Merry Christmas. There's 12 days of Christmas and today is only the 3rd.. and so what did my true love gave to me ? 

**nothing**

lololololol.........

Well, I feel I should post up all my backdated post before the New Year starts, just like Annie. Let's see if I can get it done. I have say... 4 days left and so here's starting my blog diarrhea with what we did pre Christmas that I had not blog about before : 

was busy baking fruitcakes for my sales.. business has been good :) I'm really fussy and made sure the fruits has to be well macerated.

 then repeat orders came in last minute... in blocks of 4 or 6... ***help***.. on some days, I was baking till 1am in the morning. I thank god for the blessings endowed on me. 

rezeki jangan ditolak, betul tak ?

I truly apologize for orders that came in right before Christmas that I had it to turn down. I don't believe in shortchanging my customers and taking shortcuts just to get business.

I had fruitcakes stuffed everywhere, my home and office. No grocery shopping as there isn't space for any.  The hubs volunteered his wine chiller for storage and I shall keep that in mind next year :)

then... I baked gingerbread man for my clients and friends. For everything I bake, I had to bake an egg-free, dairy-free version for Amber, I can't be possibly excluding her from the fun and yummy stuff.

One some crazy nights, I baked 3 batches of gingerbread man.

My sis and niece was in town. I was juggling between baking time and shopping time with her. Their visit is a blessing, I roped in my niece, Li, to help with the gingerbread man decorations. She's way way more creative than me :)

these are the allergy free ones. Made them with margarine and egg replacer but somehow I couldn't get the royal icing right, lack of volume and texture but nevertheless, she loved them to bits :

 

My niece, Li, the very creative one, amongst us, came up with different designs for each gingerbread man and I only had to copy one which I liked :)

  

My sis, gave up decorating after few failed attempts.. blame it on 'lou far' , she said but she's a great help in packing up the gingies.

Amidst all the baking and busy-ness, we found some time hit the malls to absorb all things Christmassy

Amber's cousin sister, Li, was in town and she's of great help in distracting Amber away from me. Amber only wants Li Li cheh cheh.. she insists on seated next to her, insist on holding her hand.. etc etc.  much to my delight !

 More coming up....

On the third day of Christmas, My true love gave to me, Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves,

....... and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Bao Xiang @ Pavilion

Yesterday, we had to bring my father to town to run some errands and we took him to Pavilion for lunch.

I had in mind to try out Bao Xiang bak kut teh.. upon hearing good reviews about this place and Amber likes bkt, at least her lunch is settled if we go for bkt.

The place is pretty neat and clean. All bkt comes in standard size and you can choose which part of meat, ribs and offals that you want. Being a piggie bkt lover, we each chose one and another 2 to be shared. Between the 4 of us, we chose 6 portions. The price is standard, around RM13-RM14 per portion. Funny tho, when they showed us the menu, the pricing wasn't there. I only got to see the pricing at the cashiers when I paid.

One thing's missing from this place.. yow char kway and tau foo poks. What a waste.



These are some of the bowls of bkt we ordered. Comes with a warmer and soup is kept bubbling hot. Not to my liking and I did burn my tongue a bit. Sheeh...already noon and I'm craving for bkt, the first thing I did was try the soup. Manatau.. so hot.. too hot !


Their rice is flavoured but I'd prefer plain white rice w bak kut teh anytime



and tea is served in tiny teacups.. very much like the Klang style.


It was a very lovely morning to start with, father's errands got settled very quickly, we found a good parking at Pavilion and fast too but .. BUT.. the service at Bao Xiang's got me pissed off, thinking back, I wonder how I let her get away. I should have 'saber tongued' her.


Her, is the Captain.. the waitress that wears a bit different from the rest and so that makes her a captain. She took our order of bla bla bla.. asking us to take bla bla bla and so we ordered bla bla bla.


One of the blaass.. the 'fan cheong' or stuffed intestines, wasn't up to our expectations. Hubs thought it was a tad bitter. I found it bitter too. We called another waitress, with a blur expression on her face. She didn't say a thing and took away the 'fan cheong'.. 10 minutes later, another serving of fan cheong came, which they claimed they changed.


... still bitter..


this time, we called for 'Captain thick make-up actsy face' and told her the second bowl of fan cheong was still bitter. She asked us to change for something else, and we chose 'chue tou' ie; pigs maw. I'm sure the whole pot of fan cheong will be bitter anyway. Captain thick make-up actsy face, with hands behind her back, told us..


some pigs are like that.. .. Ohh kay... I can accept. I've tasted bitter fan cheong before and I don't blame the pigs nor the chef

some porks are good, some are not. some comes not good... Ohhh kay.. this blardy place has no quality control, they just take whateva oinks that's dumped to them..

some pigs are smelly, some are not. Ya, ya, I understand and not blaming you,Miss Captain thick make-up actsy face for a bitter bowl of innards but it's such a mockery.. a place named 'bao xiang' isn't that 'guaranteed fragrant' ? and what's this with a smelly porkies in a 'guaranteed fragrant' place. Hello woman.. think before you speak oh-kay ???

just like human, some human smell more than others right ??


WEI !!! what the monkey is she talking about ? I was shocked with her statement but I saw hubs, father, ah yee happily eating, not paying any attention to her, I held back my tongue.
She's just short of me sabering my tongue at her and aitelyu, don't make me do that or she'll regret !


It was such a lovely morning for us and we are not going to let Captain thick make-up actsy face spoil it !


Amber enjoyed her soft bone.. 'yuen kuat' with rice so much and was happy and smiling, she even wanted to take photos with her Kong-kong.

So, remember if you wanna go Bao Xiang, just order ribs, pai kuat and no innards.. or be prepared.. of their smelly porks !


.... and we headed to The Loaf for coffee and snacks.. .much better deal than Bao Xiang !

Partner in Crime turns 5 !

Amber's best friend and her partner-in-crime is cousin sister Yuen Wen cheh cheh..
Cheh cheh is 10 months older than Amber and since both are about the same age, they get along very well.


Cheh cheh turns 5 today and we'll celebrate with her tonight.

She had asked me to get a Playdoh set for cheh cheh... one that can churn out coffee and ice cream and one which is 'nicer' than her own set..
.. and she also chose a nice dress for cheh cheh.. the best that she liked and then tells me.. 'But Amber wants wor''.. so I bought 2, one for her, and another for cheh cheh.

... such is her generosity for her best friend, aka partner-in-crime.

Amber requested for photos of her and cheh-cheh and I have put up some here for her to enjoy
and recollect the good times spent together.


Both, as toddlers... sharing a 50sen car ride at Tesco Malacca.


sticking it out and comparing.. who has a longer tongue ~



this one.. i think with BIL's phone.. I really dunno what they are up to.. but it's just 'cute'

ohh.. this one.. do you see 'ginko nuts' clipped to their earlobes ?

and making monster faces

asking for a round of fun from hubs. Both of them like to be carried and swung around like an aeroplane flying and swimming in air.. only hubs has the energy to rough play with them..

'siaw mei mei' look

you 'siaw mei mei' me, and I 'siaw mei mei' you back !

Then, they go on holidays together

walking and in hand...

sharing an umbrella, although it's not raining :D

sisterly love ?

having breakfast together..

ransacking BIL's room to play xbox .. and because of this game, they do end up fighting.. :(

Karaoke together.. we need an earplugs for this one..kakakaka !

getting 'married'.. guess who's the bride and groom here.

best friend, partner-in-crime, sister-in-crime, I hope they will remain close and be best friends forever !

Happy Birthday cheh-cheh !