Wednesday 30 September 2009

A DAY IN CHURCH

I noted this day for a number of reason.
One of which was, the first time I met the new union president. Looking at him reminded me so much of Atlas.
His mannerism probably... his looks... probably a little of that too.
Secondly it was the first time I had witness someone being 'possessed' react during service prior to being baptised herself.
Thirdly, it has been a long while since I last met some friends that attended the 'pot luck' held after service jointly by the chinese and BM congregations.
The man to remember...Pastor Nelson

Pretty ladies in a row?

New members

'Old' friends..Fred and Annie Gangkai

"older' friend I grew up in church with... Frances Lee

Monday 28 September 2009

A DRIVE AWAY TO TAWAU

What was surpose to be a trip for me and Andrew turned out to include the two younger girls.
It was still the hari raya holidays therefore the girls were free to come along. Tisha on the other hand had made plans with her friends to visit their teacher's open house on the day mentioned therefore had opted to stay home.
The right move too as the maid was on hari raya leave and that would mean no one will be feeding the pets.
Andrew had a meeting to attend to and the only real reason for me to came along was to see my niece's Annie newborn son. She had given birth almost a month ago and we had not seen her since we knew of her pregnancy.
Who would have guess that Alma would be a grandmother at the young age of 35. I have always thought I would be the one amongs us to first see a grandchid.
Not that I'm eager. The word 'grand' seems so 'old' :)
I didn't take any picture of the baby yet as I feel she didn't want him to be shown around yet.

The reason for the girls' to come along

My 'farming's place.....

The Floor we were at.... non smoking level

We missed lunch having had a late breakfast but was already hungry by the time we reach Tawau. Upon checking in, we ordered in.
A plate of fried mamak's mee and fish ham choy mee hoon soup...(was that one of the most sour mee hoon soup I ever had!)

An hour later we met up with Charles and the 'gang' for dinner.
This was the unluck fish that ended on our table. Restaurant was a bit on the expensive side with food that's not really to my taste.

RAMBUTANS!

It's that season again and mom's rambutan tree (used to be two but sadly one died last year) has turned reddish again.
She called earlier in the morning but the girls had dental appointments so we only came in the evening.
I have asked Jo to come along but she did not respond to my sms earlier so I left without her. She was a better 'climber' than I was....especially on the tarap trees.
It was already past five when we got there.
Still visible but the 'nyamuk' was annoying. I had 'geared' up but Tisha (being young and know less .. he he) had a lot of the bites to show.
Yona ( younger but 'smarter) totally stayed away.... until we came back with the 'results'
Looks very tempting.....and 'easy'

haiiiiiiiii... don't have the height

he he.... got a bunch of them

The mosquitoes made us stop with only a plastic full.... which we 'finish up' in less than half an hour

Sunday 27 September 2009

TWO WEDDINGS AND NATIONAL DAY

Two weddings were held days apart of each.
Both brides were nieces of my brother in law Rocky.
Personally, I am not really close to both of them but was around when they were growing up.
It goes to show how time flies seeing those little girls I remembered still in primary school uniforms are now someone's wives.
I had wanted to fly over to Kk but Andrew was around for his medical review (again) so transportation was going over was free.
Renny, the first bride held her wedding at the Stella Maris Tg Aru church.
It was a big turnout as so with the evening reception at a Dewan in Penampang later that night.

The beautiful and much bigger bride..


My sis in law Florence, her daughter Nicole and future son in law Eurice



Amongs the crowd during the night reception


In between the receptions...we went out to have lunch elsewhere. The light refreshments served were not really appealing to my taste.... sorry :)
Now...see how tasty this look



A day apart, it was Sheena's turn. Her wedding reception was held at Kg Limputong, my dad's hometown. I felt more at home here as most of the folks that came were somehow my relative although I don't personally know most of them.
In a village, everyone is related to one another somehow or rather. Anyone and everyone seems to be either my uncle/aunt or cousins... ;)
We had gone the night before for a pre 'look' at the place. The groom had bought a new set of karoake system and Andrew was helping out to put the pieces together.
Including the 'tries out' ( i.e. singing throughout the night) we finally left the place after midnight.


National day was spent at home in KK.
Going home the night before, Andrew's car got into some major problem. We were 'smoking' halfway home. Sensing trouble coming he had asked one of his staff for assistance. We didn't get all the way home when it came to a halt ( luckly not in the middle of the road) somewhere around Bukit Padang.
A six tonne truck had to come for the rescue .
The remaining hours I was in Kk before my flight home the next day was spent either 'farming' or sleeping.

JAPANESE RAMEN?
I was told that it was some sort of that.
We have gone to this eatry a number to times in the past but each time the 'rare'oppurtunity came, it was either almost closing time ( they won't let you in!) or close for the day.
This time around I made a note not to come on a monday ( closed day) and to come in before 10pm.
We managed to beat all that except...... aaaaaaaahhhhhhh...
we came a bit too late for breakfast and a little early for lunch/dinner .
All their breakfast specialities were sold out plus what was for lunch/dinner were not ready.
The sign board


Andrew's order, doesn't look much difference from any other fried mee


If this was it, it's really nothing like the ones I tasted in Hokkaido

Final review... acceptable , nicer if the food was hotter (not chille hot!)

Wednesday 16 September 2009

Another bake...

Yup.... 'line' sucks so I ended up baking again with these dark but delicious chocolate moist cup cakes.
Wrong choice of baking them as cup cakes. The cups get too oily.
Anyhow they tasted much nicer than their looks.
The 'line' came on just as I finished the bake thus leaving behind the icing making part.
They would have tasted much better with icing although they didn't even last a day since the girls brought them to school for sampling amongs their friends.

EATING UP...





Sometimes my 'wants' tends to be a little way over what my tummy can hold.
With my baking 'mood' in .....my love for cakes....aaaahhhh
I want all... yet most of them ended up in the fridge...as always.

Letting my Baking passion sets in.....again

With too many 'this' and 'that' in between the days that I was 'here',
It has really been a while since I last did any baking session.
Now that the 'farming' season is also in full gear it is really getting harder for me to make time for all the other hobbies that I love to do.
'Farming fever' has spread to my best friend Joanna....and her children. So much so that my Tisha was also not spared.
As she is best of friends with Jo's girls, she did not want to be left out. I wouldn't have minded if not for the fact that she rely solely on my help to play the game for her .
Now, Instead of playing for one I had to play for two. Thus taking twice the time for me to oversees them daily.
I got a 'break' the day the 'line' went haywired. It was continously 'on and off' the whole day leaving me frustrated infront of the pc for hours.
To overcome that and calm my anger...... I did some baking.
Wallah...... not at all dissapointed with the results.
Fresh from the oven.....

Piling them up....

Not as nice looking as those at the bakery's but tasted much nicer :)