CNY EVE & My First Cupcakes order of the year

All night I kept on waking up . I wondered why I couldn't really sleep. Was is because I worry  I might not finish my task in time the next day or something else.... I'll never know.

Anyhow as morning came I was very fast at my feet with all the chores. As usual when I have 'things' to do , it would most likely be a fast job with the animals.

I had planned to do the batter in half of the 80oz flour that was needed for the 200 hundred cup cakes that was ordered but had to change plan when I realised that the calculation was over estimated.
I only did a quarter on the second time.
Must praised myself that I can work very fast on the mundane stuff prior to the final touches.
I was all done before mid day.
It was Chinese new year's eve and the traffic was at it's worse but I had to get to the wet market to restock my animal's food.
The biscuits was running real low and I had used the last package of chicken for the morning's meal.
Yup....had to otherwish I won't .
Chinese new year here is one of 'the' main celebration that would see the town almost  'dead'.

This year it will fall on the week end plus the last day of January. That would mean it's going to be a long holiday . Three working days and a sunday in all. Having said that...the bank will be one of the busiest place to be.
I needed to bank in some monies to my ASB account too before the new month. Arrrrrrrrrrrr ....totally wrong timing.
Fortunately for me...I was able to do that without having to line up to a long q .

Back on my cupcakes final touches at eight. Wrong timing again I would say because I took more time than I had thought I would. I should have started sooner. - I was watching American idol ok!
Anyhow, underestimating the amount of frosting I needed was another time consuming error.
I had to do the recipe not twice but  trice!  errrrrrrrrr.....

It was already two plus in the morning when I was finally done and satisfied with the end products.
Cleaned up and was in lala land by three...zzzzzzzzzzzzz
- the guys and the girls came home from KK at almost five but I was too tired to get up
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https://www.facebook.com/jean.niyo/media_set?set=a.10152180047339293.1073741837.781119292&type=3
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Jeff had gone to KK with Andrew on Tuesday.
* 30/1/14 -Yona and Atlas arrived in KK from Labuan at around 5pm
                 -Tisha  arrived in KK from Kuching at 10pm

HEY WHAT DO YOU'LL KNOW...IT'S ANOTHER MALAYSIAN!

Looking at this beautiful lady you wouldn't believe the title she holds. Every year for the last three years on the same date as my birthday there is a beauty competition held to select the most beautiful grandma.
Grandma Universe 2014 Pageant was organise by the organiser of Mrs. Universe ”Mrs.Universe LTD” from the 19^th to the 23^rd of January 2014. The Entry is open to Ladies who  have already become grandmas – meaning that they have grandkids. The pageant was held in the timeframe of 5 days – 19^th to 23^rd of January as the final itself was on 21st Jan 2014 in Sofia, Bulgaria. This year there are 25 delegates from around the world take part in the Pageant. The delegates was accommodated  in “St.George Palace” hotel in the city of Sofia. The Pageant was held on the 21^st of January each year because is also the Grandma’s Day in Bulgaria.

This is the official final result :-

GRANDMA UNIVERSE” 2014 – Cynthia Ong – Malaysia 

„Grandma Europe” 2014 – Lolita Alekseyenko – Latvia 

“Grandma Star” 2014 – Lenutsa Burghila – Moldova 

“Grandma Globe” 2014 – Lyudmila Akimova – Ukraine 

“Grandma Business Woman” 2014 – Tatyana Traykova – Bulgaria

 

This was the 3rd edition of the international contest “Grandma Universe”.

The winner Cynthia Ong was crowned by Kapka Amzina – the first titleholder of “Missis Grandma Bulgaria” and host of the international event.

A MOMENT

Such a lazy day to be awaken so early.... it's been raining the whole day and night for the past days.
I was already up before my 5.30am alarm rang

thought of mom found me sobbing in tears while cleaning the cages

...I had a great mom and I loved her very much.

£miss my mommy much£

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

 

 

 

Birthday Prayer
Thank you, God, for giving me another year of life.
Thank you for all the people who remembered me today
by sending cards, and letters, gifts and good wishes.

Thank you for all the experience of this past year;
for times of success which will always be happy memories,
for times of failure which reminded me of my own weakness and of my need for you,
for times of joy when the sun was shining,
for times of sadness which drove me to you.

Forgive me
for the hours I wasted,
for the chances I failed to take,
for the opportunities I missed this past year.
Help me in the days ahead to make this the best year yet,
and through it to bring good credit to myself,
happiness and pride to my loved ones,
and joy to you. Amen.

Thank you Lord ..for without you, I am nothing

Another year passed and it's my birthday again today....I thank God .
With the passing of my mom it seems another birthday gave me  more reason to be thankful for being alive.
I had lived another  year to see another birthday.

As usual it was Tisha who would send me the first wish.  My precious darling's messages have always warmed my heart.  This is one of those moments that you know you have raised them well for them to remember you with nothing but loving thoughts.
Andrew beat Yona this year... not quite a surprise as she has always been the one with the slowest 'server'. I really couldn't blame her  thou as internet accessibility was limited in her dorm as well as her phone was barred  from making any calls due to some technical problems.

It rained the whole day again today. The weather is so wet for the last months that kind of drag your mood for doing anything .
Today being my birthday, I had a good reason to do some baking. Which I did since last night actually. I had always wanted to try baking the rainbow cake but knows the 'fuss' that involves making one. So with a good reason backing me ....I did it....finally.
Basically on this birthday... 'I make my cake'

I baked six 'layers' of different 'strong' colours cakes

stacking them up resulted in me having two sets of cake. I had used too small size tins which if not devided in two would make it impossible to stack without unwanted 'accident'

 I used creamwell to cover the cakes and butter icing to sandwich them together

 

Taaada!....it's ready

Dinner of my choice was 'ikan bakar' at IJM . Called dad to join us but as always he was 'lazy' to go out at night and asked us to 'tapau' instead.

 

Purposely switched candles

Blowing the candle with my favourite wish...health, love, fulfilment and satisfaction in life

 

Wonderful raimbow colors.....errr... not so used to eat such colourful cake but this butter cake is nothing but 'heaven'. Soft and moist with that strong buttery smell.

 I love it!!

 

I'm the proudest mom today....and I let the 'world' know about it when I shared this on facebook :)

 

 

 

MISS TOURISM INTERNATIONAL 2013

Just when everyone thought that the 2013 pageantry is over, Angeli Dionne Gomez of Cebu made history in Putrajaya, Malaysia by winning Philippines’ third Miss Tourism International crown in an unprecedented manner by achieving a back-to-back feat. This year’s runners-up were Thailand’s Sunidporn Srisuwan, Australia’s Sarah Czarnuch, Dominican Republic’s Michelle Alexis Torres and Malaysia’s Thaarah Ganesan.
Last year’s winner Rizzini Alexis Gomez was not feeling well during the pageant. Hence, she failed to crown her fellow Filipina. Nonetheless, a back-to-back win is something to be proud of. Congratulations and Mabuhay!

 

MISS TOURISM INTERNATIONAL 2013 FULL RESULTS

 Miss Tourism International 2013: Angeli Dione Gomez (Philippines)
Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2013 (1st RUP): Sunidporn Srisuwan (Thailand)
Miss Tourism Metropolitan 2013 (2nd ...RUP): Sarah Czarnuch (Australia)
Miss Tourism Global 2013 (3RD RUP): Michelle Alexis Torres (Dominican Republic)
Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International 2013 (4th RUP): Thaarah Ganesan (MALAYSIA)
Miss South East Asia 2013/2014 (5th RUP): Phang Hoang Thu (Vietnam)

Awards:
Miss Proton Elegance Awards - Sara Monica Matias de Silveira (Portugal)
Miss Kinohimitsu Beautiful Skin - Cheryl Desiree Chan (Singapore)
Miss Friendship - Harriet Barbra Nakito (Uganda)
Miss Best Talent Awards - Syuzi Adamya (Armenia)
Miss Tourism International 2013 Great Ambassador: Omi Kwong (Hong Kong)
Miss Best National Costume: Diana Fernandez Gardea (Mexico)
Miss Beverly Wilshire: Kalia Labitha Yudhasoka (Indonesia)
Miss Portrait Queen: Lonella Georgina Postelnicu (Romania)
Miss Focus Point Dazzling: Monika Abramczyk (Poland)
Miss Charity Queen: Noh Kyung Min (Korea)
Miss KL Sogo Trendsetter: Sarah Czarnuch (Australia)
Miss Avant Garde i-City: Thaarah Ganesan (MALAYSIA)
Miss Poh Kong Glamour: Sarah Czarnuch (Australia)

A DAY OF MOURNING

The day didn't begin as one of the saddest day in my life.
It began a little late as I had not been sleeping when I should have. It was already four when we left mom sleeping at her hospital bed after finally she was given the nitro pill to ease her chest pain.
She had been complaining about her pain since the night before.

My alarm rang at six but I switched it off before finally getting out of bed at seven thirty.
Done with the need to do and was on the way to the Hospital to get mom.
Stopped over at dad's house to get her baggage which I had prepaid last night.

What I thought would be just a normal pick up soon turned out not to be. Her condition had gone worse and it seems that she was not able to make the trip. Jeff called me while I hold the car for them to come . He said looks like we were not going to make the trip.
Last minute burst of energy made her change her mind and we were on the way to the airport slightly twenty minutes to departured time.
Booked on the first class seats made the plane wait for them.

I saw mom was pale and weak but was still able to talk with me. I said I love her, hugged and kissed her before saying goodbye ......not knowing those would be the last things I did with her.
I didn't want to upset her more so my last words were briefs although tears were shed.

I went back to the hospital to do her discharged papers. Went to see dad after that  received the good news that they have landed safely at KKIA and was not waiting for the next flight to Penang.
With all seems well I finally went home to wait for further news.
.
Penang SDA Hospital's ambulance went to the airport to await her flight......
She never made it.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/12/13/Kuching-senior-citizen.aspx/

Jeff called around 4pm..which made me think they have landed. Sadly it was not so.
We were told that she passed thirty minutes into the flight.

Dad was in a state of 'denial'  but was accepting the condolences calmly when church members came to the house at night..
So many thing go through my mind that made it so difficult to sleep. I know it must be more difficult for dad.
All I can feel now is the 'hollowness' in my heart now......
I missed my mommy so bad!

Sunday...a day of rest in the hospital for mom

Andrew woke up early so I was up early too.
He left for KK around six thirty. I was up and about doing my morning 'routine' when dad called and asked when I would be going to the hospital.
I had read Daisy's message last night that the Doctors wanted to meet all of us siblings to discuss the next cause of action for mom condition . That was set at 10am today.
I had also read that she was going to see mom earlier...so I had not planned to go there earlier than the 10am appointment.
So typical of her to go back on her words.

We left for the hospital around nine and just made it in time to talk to the Doctor...well Jeff and Dad were the ones that did. Daisy was away taking Dad's medication at the dispensary while I was waiting outside the ward ( on Doctors rounds, visitors were not allowed in the ward)

We all went back while Daisy stayed till her flight to KK this evening.
***
had breakfast with Jeff and Lydia at the coffee shop near Alice's Bakery because I wanted to get some eggs for my baking session planned for today ( unfortunately cancelled due to laziness!!!)

***
another round of hospital visit with dad around seven this evening. Mom seems ok and was very cheerful . She didn't asked for anything specific to eat but was very happy with the bananas we brought her. She complained about not being able pass motion easily.
Marylyn had came earlier and brought her some rice porridge for dinner.

8/12/2013 - mum on a long distant call with Appy and giving the PEACE sign for fb to show us that she's ok