Randoms from KLCC

Last night we took our Cambodian maid to KLCC, a farewell treat for her. I know she has always wanted to go KLCC and for her finale, we took her there for dinner and hubs brought his DSLR to take some pics of her.

We had dinner at KFC, her favourite (she like ribs, orginal and mashed potatoes, she hates KFC's coleslaw)

Now that she's leaving, I really miss her (or miss someone getting the laundry done and house cleaned up). OK, I have to admit, her final months were much better than her firsts few months. She smiles more, talks more and how I so wished she was like that when she arrived. Our relationship would have been much better. I still remember our first KFC treat for her was on her birthday, 4 months after her arrival. She just quietly relished her snack plate, ignoring Amber and oblivious to her surroundings. Last night she was so different, she asked Amber to quickly eat her meals, help feed her, talked and joked. Haih.. if only she was like that from the start, I would have a better employer-employee relationship with her.

I believe on parting in good terms. I know the bye-bye is final and I'll not hear from her. Somehow, no matter how she has made me angry for her past mistakes (vice versa, I guess ??), I trust her not to steal or take anything from me when she leaves and I hope I am right.

Amber knows Kakak will be leaving soon but she kept asking kakak to come back and visit us. Hubs suggested I bring her to the airport to send kakak off, sort of like to close the chapter and to let her witness kakak waving bye-bye forever.

We took some nice shots of her and Amber and I need to get those photos out before she leaves on Thursday.

Some nice and cute pics of Amber to share first :

Different expressions of a little girl so happy to have a soft drink - 100 Plus Orange .:











We also went to the park and Amber did her little twist, showing off her long and flowing dress



And then she got angry when Papa was taking kakak's photo, ignoring her. She sulked and walked far from us, throwing a tantrum :


The KLCC view from the park :


We hitched a buggy ride to Traders Hotel and got a better view :





My helper for 2 years : Sopheak


We wish her well and success back in Cambodia.

New Year, New Resolutions

We started work today, after a long weekend break (3 weekends in consecutive !).

2010 feels like a promising year, can't explain why but I just feel positive as compared to last year. 2009 was challenging and yet went by in a breeze. A bit of changes for 2010 :

- Amber going kindie on Wednesday. The kindie had scheduled for staggered intake days to accomodate for newcomers getting used to the place. I'm glad I've found a kindie of choice with reasonable rates, a principal I'm comfortable with and low student teacher ration.

- maid leaving this Thursday. I'm beginning to miss her. Can't believe that I actually dreamt of her departure last night and I kept shouting to her please don't go !!
I'll be maidless for some time, we've no intention to get another so soon and I've to make some adjustments to cope with household chores.

- Tuning up our schedules, ie. to bed early, getting home early and waking up early too. No more staying back in office at our leisure to surf the net. Gotta get work done efficiently and fetch Amber home early asap.

- Spend less time online and read more. I've given up FT, cold turkey. I really enjoyed farming but it took up a lot of my time and I can't find a better time to stop than now, as a new 'resolution'.

- Lose weight... looks like this is a 'forever' resolution and never kept. **shame**

- Eat healthily. More roasting, grilling and greens. Less 'wokking' will also keep my kitchen clean.

- Be more patient with Amber and stop to listen instead of shouting to be heard :o

Here's wishing everyone a fantastic year ahead !!

Our Countdown to 2010

Last night, after our dinner, we went to Sharon's house to countdown to 2010. Her house has a very good view to catch the fireworks at KLCC.

Sharon's mom greeted us with Christmas gifts for Amber and snacks. Hubs and I was full up from our dinner at TGIF, we just had beer.

Joanne decorated her cozy house nicely and we took opportunity to take some pictures.

The girls with their Christmas gift.

We brought a cake, supposedly my b'day cake but since TGIF gave us a small surprise, we saved this for the countdown. Hubs got magic candles for the kids.

They had a good time blowing.. candles which will never die off, it was FUN !

Huff, puff and huff and puff..


The girls were so happy, puffed and the candles light up again..

Huffed until the candle completes it's burn.

We had light snacks and pizza

I painted Amber's toes and nails.. One sure way to keep her quiet and still for a while.

Then just before the stroke of midnight, we went out to join the crowd counting down to 2010.

The view was awesome, we could see fireworks from Dataran Merdeka, Bukit Bintang and KLCC and few other spots I cannot recognize where.. LOL !

At the first stroke of midnight, fireworks starts.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !! May all of us be blessed with a peaceful year ahead !

31st December 2009

I had a very memorable birthday this year. Wishes and pressies came before the actual day.

Very meaningful friends gave me these pressies :

You know who you are ;)

Then on the eve of my b'day, I received a bag of souvenirs from a friend who just returned from Korea. Lots of snacks, face mask and foot scrub.
I couldn't resist trying out this super crispy and yummy seaweed :



and we had just picked up some bargains at Cold Storage wine sale, we opened a selection to celebrate

Suits my palate.. and the next day.. hubs sent me to Cold Storage to get another bottle and I gladly did. I took the morning off, had my breakfast at Nyonya Colours, went shopping on my own.. enjoying myself very much.

Then, I rushed back to KLCC and had lunch with 3 wonderful ladies,, Jacss, Irene and Paik Ling. This is my first time meeting Paik Ling and she's really fun! Jacss will be delivering her bundle of joy very soon and we talked everything from delivery room to epi and confinement ladies over our lunch at CPK.

Then I met hubs for coffee.

Then I went in to office and received a nice surprise from my eldest sister, Tai Kar Cheh. She was so nice to make me this :


Homemade chicken essence, delivered to my office. *sangat tersentuh*.. last time I had such pampering was during my confinement (for services I had to pay, LOL!)

Tai Kar Cheh bottled up the chicken essence for me in this bottle :

Sooo cute.. she's careful to ensure no spillage. I took and relished every single drop of the warm homemade nourishing goodness. YUMZZ !!! Homemade chicken essence is very nourishing and I wanna say a big THANK YOU to her.

Traffic was bad (expected) on the Eve of New Year and I chose a place near home for dinner.

Can you guess where we went ?

TGIF !!!

Selected New Year's Eve Menu

and kids menu too

I ordered fettuccine alfredo for Amber. She didn't like it at first but when I mixed it with tomato sauce, she loved it, finished half a plate (a big feat for my fussy eater)

From white alfredo sauce, we added our own concoction

Hubs had the NY steak while I had the Jack Daniels steak. Not much photo to show, both steaks looks the same, taste was alright but I find the portions here a bit small as compared to Tony Romas.

Then, a little cake (mud pie) for moi :)

Guess who gets to blow the candles ?

A nice evening with my little family......

Her Christmas Pressies !!!

Below are the pressies Amber received this year from Aunt Annie, Aunt Barbara and us :

We finally got her a pair of klik klok shoes (oh.. she was soo...happy).
I like the 'bikini' from Annie. So cute hor,, esp the sexy bikini top.

Looks like we have to make another trip to Langkawi next year.. :)

A Christmas Feast !!

This has to be THE feast to end the year with a BANG !!

On the 27th, me and Barb was very priviledged to be invited by Annie to join her family for a BBQ night. When we arrived, Annie's hubs was working on their very big and 'canggih manggih' BBQ set. Poor him, working all night filling our tummy tum tums, I never saw him eat anything.

Annie's house was nicely decorated with 2 Christmas trees and lots of lighted garlands around the house. I must commend the family for making this a big event, you should have seen the Christmas presents. Coming from a small family, I truly enjoyed this 'big' gathering at the Lee's mansion.

Hubs went goo goo gaa gaa when he saw few big chafing dish of bbq-ed smoky ribs.... this is truly a feast for us and the nearest we could to Tony Romas rib racks ( which is a tad dry). Annie's SIL also cooked 2 bit dish of pasta with lots of bacons and Annie made us delicious fresh mushroom soup and garlic bread.

I am ashamed, I truly am..
With so much nice food.... I forgot to take any nice pics. Luckily Annie took some nice and memorable pics here. I was too engrossed digging in to the delicious food.

This is the only photo I took of the food :

My plate .. clean or not ? Hahahahaaa.. I can't help laughing looking back at this photo !

Annie planned a surprise early bday wish for moi... **blush**. . and her SIL's friend. That was real sweet of her and I told hubs, he had to do better than Annie for my bday !

Amber made some friends and had a good time too .

Annie's family's gift exchange..

Kids had party packs and glowies..

Amber and her gifts from Aunty Barbara, Aunty Annie and us..

Amber and Ashley opening their gifts

Excited !!

Thank you Annie for having us over. It was the best-est BBQ we ever had.. Don't forget us the next round ya ? ;)