Much To Be Thankful For

Gray and Baby.

There's much to be thankful for today.  Let me start by telling you about  Gray, a five-year-old German Shepherd, and 10-month-old Baby, a cross between a Beagle and a Cocker Spaniel or a Duschand, I'm not so sure.

No one wanted Baby so my big-hearted aunty took her in.  She is part of the family now.  Both Gray and Baby get along fine.

While Shella's busy in the kitchen helping my aunt prepare lunch, I was playing with the dogs in the living room.  Really thankful for this moment.

Finally, lunch is ready.  Can't play no more.  My aunt has given me the recipes for "chicken rendang" and "sambal".  Thank you for that and the hearty meal with my aunt and uncle.  I am definitely going to try to make the sambal when I get home.  Shella can handle the chicken rendang.

My aunt also shared with me a sad story about my other aunt, who is her sister.  My other aunt is a widow.  She is suffering from dementia and is living alone. Let us all do all the good that we can now, and pray that we do not end up in such a sad state.

I have yet to say what I am most thankful for today.  While I was on my way to my aunt's house, the wheel of a black four-wheel drive in front of my car suddenly came off.  I saw smoke coming out of the tyre and the driver lost control of the vehicle just a little bit before coming to an abrupt stop.

I was very calm at the time, and the car following behind also managed to stop in time. That's why Never Never Never tailgate another car.

Drive safe everyone, stay positive and do all the good that you can. 

Bulge Concealer

I've been practising the "halfway house between the 2-3 quarters" pose where you don't stand straight for the camera. This pose is said to hide the bulge.

striking a pose at the Renaissance Johor Bahru

Normally, I don't like to pose.  I just stand straight, smile and wait for the shutter to click.  I must have been in a crazy mood when this picture was taken.  A tourmate once told me, if you don't strike a pose for the camera then you won't get to look at the pictures and laugh.

As for the bulge, I don't know if it was the thick vest or the pose that did the trick.  (NOTE: The vest, which I had bought from Suzhou, China, was not made from real fur).

No animal should be killed for its skin or fur.

outside a silk factory in Suzhou, China

This was taken in November 2012.  That's Sally, a really cool and beautiful lady.  I was just standing and looking into the camera when she came over and showed me how to strike a pose.

Back to the issue of the pot belly,  another way to conceal or reduce it is to take a deep breath and hold it in until you hear the shutter click.

Another trick that I can think of is to crop any image from the waist down.

Me, Shella, Dian Atiqah Zuraimi and Rospawati Huri..

Any other suggestions?

Bigger Feet or Shoes Have Shrunk?

I need to lose weight.  I can't wear my new shoes.

I didn't know our feet will also grow when we gain weight.

I bought two pairs of new shoes about two months before the Chinese New Year.  When I put them on recently, I had to force my feet in.  I don't think I would've bought them if they had been so tight.  Did I buy the shoes in the morning?  I can't remember.  It was two months ago.

I admit I couldn't keep my hands off the pineapple tarts, almond cookies and love letters these past few days coupled with ginger ale to drown my sorrows and it's making me more pear-shaped than ever.

with Nona Shella and Rospawati Huri at City Square Johor Bahru.

It was nice to meet up with my best friend, Rospawati, from secondary school.   We are still as blur as ever, just like the good old days.

At the Galleria@Kotaraya in Johor Bahru enjoying donuts with Rospawati, her husband Zuraimi Aine and their very lovely daughter, Dian Atiqah Zuraimi.

They just arrived from across the Causeway.  I grew up in Singapore but things are not like what it used to be anymore in the republic.  Nowadays, if you were to throw a stone in the street you will likely hit a foreigner with it.

Both Zuraimi and Rospawati are currently undergoing a six-month long leadership course in order to remain competitive in the fast-paced city.

What they love most about Johor Baru?  The traditional Malay cuisines, kuih-muih and pepes ayam/ikan. Rospawati also loves to go to the pasar tani for perishables every once in a while.

It was a fun-filled day.  But news of the Mount Sinabung volcano eruption in Indonesia took away some of the fun. Please send prayers to the victims and their loved ones.

I need to watch my diet and exercise.  I love my new shoes.   

Mahjong Queen.... yeah right

Three blur-blur rounds of mahjong

Even with two FLY tiles I still did not win the game. Luck was not on my side.  Played three rounds, all lost.  The only lucky thing was we didn't use money or I'd be broke.  It was all for fun, and the other two players were like me --- all novices.  Sama sama blur.

After three rounds, I found that Mahjong is not for someone whose math sucks.  I'd rather read a good book or play with dogs and cats.

Posing only.  No one plays mahjong like this lah.

This is one-year-old Melodi Nalani Wibowo.  She is such a cute little tyke.  She came to my house with her parents, Andri and Ulik, and sister Jehan Simfonia Wibowo, who is 2+

Gong Xi Fa Cai

This family, from Jakarta, Indonesia, have been in Johor for 5 years now. 

On the 1st Day of the CNY

I woke up and saw messages on my handphone.   Some were on FB, some on whatsapp, some were via sms. Thank you for all the beautiful festive greetings.  It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

with (from left) Mary Victoria Dass, Loshini Priya and Mary's Mom

The Dass family were my first guests for the day and they brought along a pink dolphin as a gift.  That's so sweet.  I love my pink dolphin.

with Shella, MK Ong and Beryl Kua

In the evening, I went over to MK's house for a sumptuous home cooked meal. It was a family gathering but MK regards me and Beryl as part of the family.

Feeling so blessed ...

My CNY Reunion Dinner Dishes

Meatball soup

This dish was among the dishes for Chinese New Year reunion dinner.  It tasted nothing like the meatball soup that my late mother used to make.  Need to fine-tune the recipe.

The chicken cuts were blended and then mixed with corn flour, plain flour and an egg.

Here are the meatballs of an amateur cook.


The Chinese also love to eat fish during the Chinese New Year as it symbolises  年年有余 (Nian Nian You Yu) which translates to "Abundance Throughout The Year."

Garnishing and food presentation is very important.  However, I think I may have over presented.

Ahh... my favourite "jiu hu char".  But today's dish was seriously lacking in salt.  Nevermind, can repair later.  The ingredients include shredded cuttlefish, turnip, mushrooms, carrots and chicken.

 

This dish is a mystery to me.  I have no idea what it is.  A fusion maybe.   "Sotong sumbat", perhaps?  Definitely not a Chinese New Year traditional dish, but it's 2014.  Anything goes...