Archive | March, 2015

Where Do Chickens Come From?

16 Mar

When the girls were younger, I must admit I used to deflect their query of where do chickens come from. I wouldn’t call it a lie but an art of deflection because it was far too complicated to explain. Plus there were far too many ‘whys’ at that young age, it was tough to answer the non-stop queries. You know, when you thought you gave a satisfactory answer, they’d counter back with a ‘why?’ and it goes on to frustrate the daylights out of you.

So I told them, when they were young, that chickens came from the supermarket. Every time when we were at grocery store, the chicken was right there, at the meat section to justify my answer. So simple. No further explanations required.

Last Friday, we brought the girls to a real chicken farm and the old explanation of chickens coming from the supermarket was finally squashed.

It was a little self-run chicken farm managed by a retired engineer. The farm was very clean; there was no foul (pun intended) odor in the air nor any droppings on the ground. The girls were fascinated and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, even when the alpha goose chased them.

On top of rearing chickens, the engineer also has an al fresco area for dining on what else but chicken dishes! Curry chicken, rendang chicken, fried chicken and salt baked chicken.

It was the healthiest of chicken dishes and one dining experience that M1 will remember for sometime. The good host made her promise to do well at university and when she comes back for her holidays, he will give her a free chicken, flavor of choice, to savor. How nice.



Getting Humphrey Ready

13 Mar

Humphrey is so old that it has lost weight and its shine. No more the plump purple cow that it was during its heydays with me when I was in college, Humphrey needs a skin job to look good again and be ready for university with M1 this time around.

Over the years, the fabric on its body has faded and has become brittle. So much so, every now and then, I have to fix it up; I usually call this duty, giving Humphrey a skin grafting treatment. And because I couldn’t find a fabric that matched the original purple, I resorted to using hubby’s old Geoffrey Beene pink work shirt.

On top of this new outer look, we needed to plump him up as well for the journey. Similar to a lipocram treatment, I bought stuffing and stuffed him up to a nice plump huggable friend again. And with the whole body just about patched up, it’s quite safe then to say the new Humphrey is ready, inside and outside.

I have been kept busy doing the final few surgeries on Humphrey before they fly off together next week.

Humphrey looking good in a onesie!



Here, Try This!

12 Mar

When you know you are leaving home for university, you tend to be on a roll to eat as many things as possible. Things that you never eat all this while in your whole life, suddenly pops up on the ‘To Eat’ list. Having said that, we have been going all out with M1 to eat to the hearts’ content; doing exactly as what my mom and dad did with me prior to my leaving, back in the dinosaur era. (I know, my scale cringes at me every time I walk into the bathroom). It’s a funny belief, then and now, that when one goes off to college, one will miss all the good food especially the home flavors.

So far we have checked off most of the local delicacies, along with some other Asian food. Yesterday, we feasted on Korean food and today, M1 goes off to enjoy a farewell meal with her friends. Days when there is nothing scheduled, we will just eat at home. But come Saturday, chicken rice ball is on the agenda, followed by Japanese food on Sunday. Next up, authentic Chinese cuisine on Tuesday with an aunt and cousin, followed by a home-cooked meal by my friends for her next Friday!

So much to eat, so little time left.



These are just the condiments!



Everything is here except the fish!



Humphrey

10 Mar

What or who is Humphrey, you may ask? Well, when I first got it, I thought it was a hippo, hence the name Humphrey the Hippo. But after years of being associated as a hippo, I came to realize Humphrey is actually a cow. It came as a free gift with the purchase of a carton of milk from the supermarket, and it makes more sense for milk companies to give away cows rather than hippos with their milk products, no?

Humphrey has traveled the world much. It has been to Australia, college and the Big Apple with me. It also came along with us when we did our Great Adventure Roadtrip to the US back in 2012. A rather amusing moment when we were getting ready for inspection prior to boarding at HKIA. He was stashed in M1’s backpack and during security inspection, the officer dutifully unzipped the bag only to be taken aback when unexpectedly, a pair of huge unblinking eyes stared right back at him. Unable to hide his amusement, he grinned back at Humphrey’s big innocent eyes and cleared us.

We all love Humphrey, the confidante, the friend and equally a member of the family. Humphrey will accompany M1 to college.



Can you spot the purple Humphrey? Pic was during my college days.



Of Chap Goh Meh and Birthday Dinners

9 Mar

Chinese New Year is officially over with Chap Goh Meh celebrated last Thursday; Chap Goh Meh being the 15th day of the Lunar New Year calendar. Mom insisted on feeding the family with a home-cooked meal during the gathering on Thursday, a workday instead of going out for the occasion.

It was a great time and the last time for M1 to savor the home cooking and cherish the times before she goes off to college. And as if this family time together was not enough, my sibling scheduled Sunday to meet again for yet another meal! He wanted to give her a farewell dinner and yesterday was the only window every family member could make it.

The dinner was fancy, at a restaurant in the heart of the city. We had fine Malay food which was really good. It’s not often we make this choice but I think it’s apt. It will be a flavor M1 will miss.

What was even more special was the dessert that came after the meal. M1’s cousin, K1, painstakingly stayed up until the wee hours of the morning the day before to bake it for her. Such love. It was supposed to be a farewell cake. However, when the cake was brought out, the restaurant automatically blared out the standard ‘Happy Birthday’ song! It was hilarious as we all sang along. Heheh…

Such good memories especially for M1. Time is moving too fast.





The Preparations

6 Mar

Unlike the time when I was preparing to leave home for college, the preparations now for M1 are so much easier. With the computer and internet, we can find out just about everything we need to know about the city, the university and its requirements; we can also do everything online so nothing is amiss and on time. We also have the advantage to google up the street level to see the surrounding of her new place or map her walk from the dorm to class! Amazing. None of these available during my time of course as everything was via faxes, snail mail and college prospectus.

And back then, Mom and Dad did not accompany me on my journey simply because Mom said, they wouldn’t know how or what to do to help me. Going along would almost be like a blind leading the blind. But they had faith in me to cope and I did. 

Are we like my parents now and not accompanying M1 on her trip? Well, put it this way, all her needs are taken care of already by the university, what more can we do or offer? Furthermore in this era, I feel we would be suppressing her growth, her journey into adulthood if we went along just to ensure all is fine. She may experience some challenges along the way but didn’t we all? It’s all part of growing up.

Nonetheless, I take comfort of the fact that, unlike before, now with the availability of the mobile phone, we are constantly connected and will be updated 24×7, be it the journey itself or the new life she will lead; and this gives me (and hubby) the assurance that she will cope well. 

Honestly, I do have faith in the young adult that my M1 has grown up to be because if my parents had faith in me when I was at her age, I should be of the same for my child.

Chasing Time

5 Mar

Every weekend some activity is lined up with the girls. We kept the fun family outings to weekends because we wanted to also include M2 who has school during the weekdays. We must not forget we have two girls and only one is going off to university while the other is still going to high school.

Last weekend, we decided to visit Menara KL and have lunch at Atmosphere 360, the revolving restaurant in the tower at 282m high. We opted for the later lunch session of 1.30pm to 3.00pm instead of earlier 11.30am to 1.00pm, otherwise we would have to do high tea or dinner.

The buffet spread was good I must admit and the view quite breathtaking. And the one and a half hour session was just about right for the restaurant to revolve one complete round to see the overall skyline of the city.

We have two more weekends left…





A Very Good Day!

3 Mar

I must admit in between the precious moments with M1 before she leaves, I have been at my games as well. I have made much progress for Candy Crush, Farm Heroes and Candy Crush Soda, at Level 844, Level 701 and Level 223 respectively.

I was stuck at both the candy games for sometime but today proved to be a good day; I finally succeeded for Candy Crush and waiting for tickets now to move on to the next chapter and also for Candy Crush Soda, at Level 225 now.

But the day got even better as we went to school to get M1’s SPM results, released today after the three month wait. I am one proud mama to say that she scored straight ‘A’s for the ten subjects she took! It was tears of joy as I hugged my baby.

A very good and happy day.

Everyday is So Precious

2 Mar

As time ticks away until M1 leaves for college, everyday spent with her is so precious. Suddenly, there is still so much to do, see and eat. Things that we have always taken for granted suddenly has been elevated to become a priority. So we’ve been cramping in as much as we can.

This reminds me of my time when I was leaving for college, dinosaur years ago. Mom and Dad spent as much time as possible with me – taking me to do this, see that and eat just about everything.

Funny how life repeats itself when one becomes a parent and now understand what their parents did for them.