GOING A BIT FURTHER WITH MY PASSION

I went a bit further on my passion for cakes.
I attended a crash course on cake decorating.
Instead of a normal sunday spent, it was more of an educational, 'costly' ( I kept buying baking 'stuffs' in between..) but fun day spent at Annie's cooking studio.
I had enrolled for the class about a month ago after forgoing one which I had wanted to take in KK. The class's dates unforfunately did not match with the 'timing' when Andrew would be there.
I was therefore all thrills when by chance, Annie's studio offered the same course a week apart right here in Sandakan.
The course was just a practical run to what I was already doing but I felt I needed a supervisor's approval to boost my confidence .....plus the certificate I suppose.
It was a small class of 15 students. So small that my 'neighbour' was one of my church member.
Most kept to themselves but I did managed to make new friends which I hope to meet again on other classes.
I heard them talking of next's month menu already....fresh cream decoration.
Hhmm... will have to see my next month's budget first.


Coating the cake with fondant icing....

Cakes in a row... blue is my colour

...plus the box to carry home..with my name attached :)

Aha...the certificate.... nothing really 'special'.. seems so easy to duplicate :)

A LITTLE LOVE FOR MY 'WHEELS'

I was already wide awake before my alarm sound this morning .I went to bed a few hours early the night before than I normally do thus prompting me to wake up earlier.
As it was saturday, I knew the maid would not be coming in thefore didn't waste the time laying around waiting for it to finally sound.
Doing with the normal pet 'problems' was my priority. Plus feeding them.
I had done the laundry the night before and was doing only minor 'touch up' to what the maid would normally do.
By seven thirty, me and the girls were all ready for church.
Not a minute too soon as dad came by the house exactly around that.
I had asked Andrew to pick us up as soon as sabbath school ends..... his normal routine each week.
We had lunch together ( our family's quality time as usual) at a shop nearby the bowling alley before sending the girls for their training.

We didn't stay on till they finish as usual because we had made plans earlier to send my car for 'servicing'.
i.e.... to change a 'dead' fuse which disfunction my auto adjust side mirrors,
to change my back wiper blade,
to change the engine oil,
the brake oil,
the filter RM260
car wash RM 12
full tank petrol RM 72

he he he.....I did not have to spend a cent as Andrew was driving

PAINTING

I woke up early as usual as Lydia is having A school day as usual. Unlike Yona who was taking her second day 'self cuti' in a row. It'll be a third by tomorrow as tomorrow is Prophet Mohamad's birthday in accordance to the muslim calander and here it is celebrated as a public holiday.
Done the normal routine (....feeding the cats...picking the 'poops'...moping the 'she she'...) before starting yet again on my unfinish 'project' with the fence.

I have started painting them yesterday but with a half heartedly mood as it rained before I even got to start. When it was finally dried enough to start, it was already past three ...( partly because I bake a cake and I logged into Facebook..he he).
Other interference ..( my mom's visit plus the girls' training night).
By the looks of it, I can guarantee you they won't be complete for days to come.

The main reason for repainting was to cover up the patched of 'chipped' paint on the wall.There were patches of painted and unpainted spots all over. Running new paints on them gave uneven shades.... thus my problem.
The fact that I'm changing the colour tone doesn't help much.

In between the painting , I also did some cleaning on the rabbits' cages....something I should have done weeks ago.

This was how it looked....for months!!

A coat of paint over...... no difference yet

Three coats done and I could still see uneven shades.
Hhmm... guess I'm gonna have to spend a little more on paints than I initially thought.

BAKE DAY

It was as one of those ordinary days when 'baking mood' sets in.
This time it was tigger by the bunch of bananas that I bought the day earlier after stopping over at Sim Sim's market for some 'Ikan bakar' for dinner.
This was a first time effort for this Coffee Banana cake. A success I would say although the filling was a little bit on the soft side at the time of cutting it.
It would have been 'perfect' should Yona allow it to 'stand' for awhile in the fridge instead of cutting it the moment I finished covering it with fresh cream.
It didn't survive the night too...

BRUISED AGAIN

It seem to become a regular habbit for me to bruise my tight ...... posting it online seems to be that too :) showoff!
I got this 'mark' trying to cross the fence I have put up at my bedroom door.
Yone said I shouted as if I was dying. Lydia referred the bruise just as that.....
'yang bikin mami teriak macam mau mati'...eeehhhhhhhhh these girls.
It was THAT painful!

GONG XI FA CHAI/HAPPY VALENTINE

I don't quite remember what I time I went to bed last night but I remembered my eyes were not looking their best the whole day.
This year the eve of chinese new year comes together with the eve of valentine's day. I was certain all the chinese eatery would be close by the afternoon. Andrew had other thoughts. He had invited Rocky to have dinner at one of our regular restaurant.

I had thought mom would have called by then to invite us for our yearly reunion dinner. When evening came and still no call from her, I gave up the idea and went along with Andrew's.
Perhaps she didn't know yet that we were back in town... :) I didn't make the effort to inform her that we were back home....a day earlier!
I would have but knowing her I know she would have insisted for us to attend church that morning. I have just got home to a house where Andrew had been living in for the past four days ( trust me...you wouldn't want to know), I had five days laundry to do...plus whatever he had soiled while I was gone.
aaahhhh....picking up the 'mess' wasn't that hard but as with everything else ,I like to do them at my own phase .
'I told you so'... rubbing it in. Seems every shop that we went were close.
We ended up at our 'second home'....our regular bowling cafe . They offer valantine's dinner menu but we didn't opt for that.
I have nothing but sweet compliments for the food served. Either I was darn hungry or it was really good .
We clean up everything (too regular that I forgotten to take pictures of them)..we had the curry fish head, mango chicken,japanese tau foo, kangkong,taugeh and the laksa soup.
Just over RM100, it was a meal that everyone enjoyed to the last bit...litterly we really clean up the plates.

Yona asked why I wanted to pose with the rice..... I have no idea too

Simple yet 'meaningful' and delicious mom's home cooked meal

The morning of chinese new year was greeted with yet plenty more fire crakers plus those noisy lion dances ( I said noisy because my EIGHT dogs joined in to their 'music' each time one passes by)
Mom called but the phone was still faulty and I can barely hear what she was saying. I kind of guess what it was about but recomfirmed it with my handphone anywhere.
Yup..we were to have lunch at her place later on.
I went out with Andrew and bought myself two pair of shoes that was on sale.
:) not a necessity but heck it was on sale .

After lunch at mom's , we sent the girls for training. I took this photo for the deco....just a reminder that it was chinese new year.

This is a regular favourite here...white chocolate walnut cake RM7.50/pc

It seems we never could stay at home when food is concern. Worse if Andrew is around.
He has a 'thing' about missing a meal . Me not cooking at home adds up to that.
Valentine night was spent at secret recipe where our meal of 'this and that' billed up to RM260.

We saw a a young couple having it 'all out' with flowers and chocolates at a nearby table. Wonderful gasture on the boy's side I would say but I didn't think the girl appreciate it that much. She was more embarrased than pleased by the looks of it.
My personal view sees that our local socity still have not fully embrace these 'orang putih' traditions. For the more 'open minded' ones....... like me :) yesssssssssss!
but ....but..... but......
:( has my 'time' passed?.. is there an age limit for being mushy mushy romantic?where are the candle light dinners?...the roses?...those chocolates?
HELLOOOOOOOOOO.... anybody?

This is the lamb pie......It tasted exactly like the blackpepper chicken...hot.
A bad choice for someone with 'no teeth' for the meat was sooooooooo hard

The previous trip here we didin't tried this... Dinosaurous curry puff

I should say, this is the only meal that I like here..... chicken blackpepper steak

KK FOR TEN PIN BOWLING -MSSS

This was the movie I wanted to see but didn't

Mothers that came along


What was secheduled on the 2nd turned out to be almost two week later.
My plan to fly over instead of taking the bus did not materialised.
As by the time the dates were comfired, Airasia tickets were sky rocket high.
Jo had no choice but to get Sheryl's as she had a connecting flight to KL on the same day the competition ends. She and Sheryl were going to Istambul the following day. (a much earlier holiday plan).
She also opt for return tickets frm Skn/KK because Sheryl had nausea problem with travelling by land. In all she had to forked out a little more than RM500 just for her tickets.
Lionel was however to take the bus with us.
If I were to fly over I would need to multiply everything by three since there were three of us going.For just a three day event, I just didn't feel that it was worth it.
We might as well bear the 6hr drive sleeping in the bus and spend the money on better stuff or food.
We were after all not alone. Everyone else was also taking the bus.
It was the same with coming home after the game.. bus all the way it was.

No food or accomodation allowance were given to any players for this year's competition. They even have to slash the under 15 catogory inorder to cut cost.
With that catogory gone Yona had to compete along with the under 18 players.
Thank goodness she bowled a good game during the MSSD to list her as the No 4 best player.
Since they only take four best ranking players for the team....she made it.

She came in 5th in the overall under 18. Slightly missing the 4th spot. She would have made the MSSM team if they had the under 15 catogory after coming in at no 2.
News is that they would only know by June...should the catogory be relisted.

SANDAKAN GIRLS
UNDER 18 TEAM

SANDAKAN GIRLS UNDER 12 TEAM
EARLY 'BIRDS' GOING OFF FOR BREAKFAST

NIGHTLY ENTERTAIMENT FOR THE GIRLS
We stayed at Ruby Inn again despite me saying that the last time was to be the last time we would be staying there.
On this trip I said the same lines but knows I meant it .We even made rounds enquiring room rates to all the nearby inns. We did find one that suits to our taste perfectly. ...just right opposite to Ruby.
We were desperate for a change particularly because this time around, the room was less bearable than the last. There was no lines... both internet and phone.
We we totally cut off once we entered the room. The aircond was 'bad' as well as the water heater. There was not a single window to the room which was compensate with a 24hr lights service. There was no way to switch them off as there were no switches at all. The only way to have them off was to either pull out the keys (which switched off the aircond) or take out the bulbs all together.
To add the 'topping'to the 'cake'....the tv set doesn't work!
I wondered why or how we made it all through the three nights we were there.