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.





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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.

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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…





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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.

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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.

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Letting My Baby Go

27 Feb

It is inevitable. M1 turned 18 early this year and it is college-bound year. Hubby and I have decided for her to go overseas for a four-year course, letting her go early instead of doing a year or so locally. She leaves in three weeks.

In short, we have to learn to let our baby (and Humphrey) go off, on her own (but with Humphrey), to college as a freshman and learn to be independent and be an adult.

Sob, sniffle and bawl…

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Let’s Eat!

26 Feb

Although I have been mindful of my weight, I would not give last night’s dinner occasion a miss. It was a gathering with my old school friends. And when I say old, our friendship goes back to the dinosaur era when we were 7 years old. Told you we are dinosaurs.

Since it’s still Chinese New Year, all the more reason to meet up, chatter to catch up, enjoy a good meal and exchange Angpows (red packets) for the children! We took the opportunity to have the ‘Yee Sang’ for prosperity with all the good wishes recited poetically by the waitress and also had the ‘Poon Choy’ dish, which roughly translates to a bowl of everything. Very filling despite it being just one bowl.

Dinner gatherings with old school friends are unlike dinners with golf friends but both are always enjoyable. I only wish the school friends would do it as often as the golf friends. Friendship prevails when we make the effort.

Maybe after the festivity is over, we will prioritize meeting up more often, like hubby and his (and also my) friends with our Tuesday Food Club. After all, we have to eat. And why not eat with good old friends?





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But I Sucked the Tummy In!

24 Feb

I knew I gained some weight when we took Chinese New Year family pictures because looking at myself in the group shots, on both sides of the family, I cringe with disdain at how I looked. And both times, I sucked my tummy in but I guess it didn’t work.

Gosh, is that really me? I gotta stop eating despite the gaping hole in my molar!

When we got home on Saturday after a nine hours and 45 minutes journey (yes, traffic was horrendous), I stood on the bathroom scale and cringed again.

The scale must be lying! I can’t be this heavy. Ooohh… with Chinese New Year being celebrated for 15 days and just about everyday, there is a big meal because it is a celebration, I better do something about the weight gain than just sucking the tummy in…

CNY2015(2)

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What! No Wifi?!

23 Feb

The few days we were back in hubby’s hometown was good and tough. Good because we got a chance to see all the elders and hubby’s cousins with their young families, enjoy his aunty’s mouth watering home cooked food and basically have a good time away from the office. The children also had the opportunity to bond with their cousins too.

The tough part was having almost no wifi, hence no connectivity. All of us had our devices but only two phones had data plan, so we were forced to practice limited usage and just learn to live life without internet. It was indeed tough.

Luckily my games could be played offline and I progressed on to Level 829 for Candy Crush, Level 678 for Farm Heroes and Level 208 for Candy Crush Soda during my time there. Otherwise, I think I would rake up my data plan bill!

Thank goodness we are back home (by Saturday) and connected (to the internet) again.

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Eat ’em and Weep

20 Feb

Two days ago, we left our home early for the Reunion Dinner at hubby’s hometown up north. In the early hours of the morning to avoid the anticipated massive jam, we thought this was best to avoid arriving late. All these years we have never left at 6.30am on the day itself, as it is usually a day or two earlier. Typical times when we leave home at this hour are only to catch a flight at the airport or going for a 7.30am tee off golf game.

Anyway, being so early, breakfast had to be on the go. I was chewing on a doughy piece of bread with nuts when suddenly, I felt a sensitiveness at the back of my mouth. Oh dear.

I probed the bottom left side with my tongue and to my horror, discovered a gaping hole in my lower molar! Did I just swallow a portion of my tooth? Or was it the filling? What bread was that that caused the tooth to crack?

Dear, oh dear. Being away for several days without immediate rectification work on it by my dentist, it will be a challenge to savor all the delicacies this reunion has to offer.

And because it’s Chinese New Year and we cannot be rude or not obliging to the family, it’s been an eat ’em and weep experience so far.

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