As the final hours of 2024 tick away, I find myself reflecting on the rollercoaster of a year it has been. While this year brought more challenges than I ever anticipated, it also reinforced the strength and resilience of our family. With 2025 on the horizon, I feel a renewed sense of hope for a better, more smooth-sailing year.
Looking back, 2024 was marked by significant hurdles, particularly in terms of health. Alycia and I became frequent visitors to the hospital. Alycia endured not one but two trips to the operating theatre due to a freak kitchen accident that severed her left ring finger. Meanwhile, I had to undergo laser surgery to remove a viral wart on my left foot. These experiences reminded us of the fragility of health and the importance of care and precaution.
Sherilyn’s health, too, has been a concern this year. Her grueling schedule as an architecture student, combined with late nights and insufficient rest, took a toll on her well-being. As a mother, it’s tough to watch, but I’m proud of her dedication and achievements. My prayer for 2025 is that she prioritizes her self-care and finds a better balance between work and rest.
Despite the trials, there were moments of joy that stood out this festive season. Our Christmas celebration began with a beautiful church service, followed by a delightful dim sum lunch at Ming Room @ BSC. Spending quality time together over good food reminded us of the blessings we still have to cherish.
We also celebrated hubby’s birthday early with a seafood feast at Unique Seafood Restaurant in PJ last Saturday. It’s been over five years since we last dined there, and the meal did not disappoint. From succulent crabs to BBQ fish, clams, and prawns, it was a delicious way to cap off the year. The laughter and warmth shared over the meal were a perfect reminder of the simple joys in life.
As I bid farewell to 2024, my heart is filled with gratitude—for the strength to navigate the challenges and for the small but meaningful moments of happiness along the way. I thank God for carrying us through this tumultuous year and pray for His continued protection and blessings in 2025.
Here’s wishing all my readers a very happy and blessed 2025! May the new year bring you good health, peace, and prosperity. Let’s welcome 2025 with open hearts and renewed hope.
This year’s Christmas Eve was spent indulging in good food and family time. My MIL, Sherilyn, Cass, and I headed to Wagyu More at The Gardens Mall for a delightful hotpot lunch. It was our second visit to this restaurant in December, and it seems to have become a favorite for my MIL. We were there on 5th December to celebrate Alycia’s 21st birthday.
Although the buffet hotpot meal is priced at over RM60 per person, I must admit that it feels like a splurge for small eaters like my MIL and me. With our petite appetites, we can barely make the cost worthwhile. Thankfully, Sherilyn and Cass balance the scales! Both of them, especially Cass, have an impressive capacity for food. Out of the staggering 36 plates of meat we ordered, Cass devoured the lion’s share. Her petite frame makes her appetite all the more astonishing! It’s a good thing she’s so active—her intensive daily exercise regime ensures she burns off all those extra calories.
After our indulgent lunch, we went grocery shopping. Sherilyn and I headed home early as she needed to complete yet another assignment. Cass and her grandmother stayed on, enjoying some shopping time together. Cass was thrilled to get a new swimsuit, a generous gift from her aunt from Hong Kong.
This brought up a lingering worry of mine—Cass’s desire to go swimming. In the past, her swimming sessions often resulted in UTIs (urinary tract infections) due to her abnormal urinary tract. It has made me reluctant to let her swim again, despite her enthusiasm. However, I know I can’t shelter her forever. I’ve laid down some strict rules: if she wants to swim, she can only do so for a maximum of 20 minutes, must get out of the pool immediately afterward, and take a thorough shower.
As a parent, it’s hard to let go of these fears, but I trust that she’ll be mindful of her health. All I can do is pray for her well-being and hope she enjoys her newfound freedom in the pool without any complications.
Our Christmas Eve was a day of good food, love, and a little compromise—an apt reminder of what the holiday season is all about.
🎄 Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and cherished moments with your loved ones! 🎅✨
MIL and I took lots of veggies, which made Cass comment that we shouldn’t be eating so much veggies as we’re paying so much – we should be eating more meat instead. I told her that I’ll take whatever I like to eat and am not that ‘kiasu’. Are you with me or Cass? 😐Cass and Sherilyn ordered many rounds of pork, beef, and fish.Cass had 2 cups of soft serve ice cream with lots of toppings of crushed peanuts, crushed chocolate biscuits, and color sprinklers (this ingredient is forbidden in our house).Complimentary chocolate chip cookies made by special needs kids for every receipt of 4 pax and above.
Last Thursday, on December 5, 2024, we celebrated a significant milestone—Alycia’s 21st birthday! It was a simple yet meaningful day, filled with good food, heartfelt moments, and gratitude for how far she has come.
To kick off Alycia’s special day, we headed to The Gardens Mall for a beef hotpot buffet lunch at Wagyu More. It was just Alycia, my mother-in-law, and me, as Cass and Sherilyn were at school, and my hubby was busy at work.
The buffet was delightful, offering a wide array of meats, vegetables, fish balls, meatballs, and cooked appetizers. Alycia was in her element, happily devouring plates of tender beef and pork slices, while I enjoyed the lighter offerings. As much as I love buffets, I’ve come to realize that my appetite isn’t what it used to be—hubby and I often reminisce about our younger days when we could indulge in endless rounds of food! Buffet lunches were our weekly affair. Now, I appreciate the company and the experience more than the sheer quantity.
After our hearty hotpot lunch, we made our way to Alexis Bistro to pick up some of their signature sliced cakes. Alycia loves cakes, so it was the perfect little treat to add sweetness to her day.
For dinner, my mother-in-law generously treated us to pizzas and pasta from Bottega Mediterranea, a cozy Italian family-run café-deli. We ordered via Grab Food. The delicious spread was enjoyed at home, making for a relaxed and intimate evening to end Alycia’s special day.
And just like that, my precious baby turned 21! Alycia will always be my miracle precious baby—the one I prayed for and longed for years to hold in my arms. As I watched her celebrate this milestone, my heart was filled with gratitude and pride. I pray that God continues to bless her with a life filled with happiness, good health, and success.
Happy birthday, Alycia—you will always be my precious baby!
Alycia’s friend gifted her this super yummy strawberry cake from Lilian’s Cake House @ Mont Kiara. It’s sponge cake with fresh cream and big juicy strawberries , one of the tastiest strawberry cakes we’ve tasted.
Alycia chose her favorite Tiramisu, Banoffie Pie and Black White chocolate cake from Alexis @ The Gardens Mall.I was too busy eating till I forgot to snap pix of the plates of meat that Alycia ordered. Patrons are only given 2 hours to dine in. I only remembered about taking the pix after we were done eating!Italian pizzas, sandwich, and pasta from Bottega Meditteranea @ Jalan Ceylon, KL.
This week is a momentous occasion for our family (from my side), filled with joy and heartfelt celebrations. Today, my parents are traveling from Ipoh, and my older brother’s family is coming from Singapore to gather in Kuala Lumpur. My younger brother, Roy, drove from KL back to Ipoh yesterday and will be driving our parents down to KL today. The reason for this grand reunion is to celebrate my dad’s 81st birthday, making it a much-anticipated family event since the pandemic.
The last time my parents visited KL was five years ago in 2019. That was before the pandemic gripped the world and changed everything forever. This will be the first time in half a decade that our family celebrates a birthday together in Kuala Lumpur. The anticipation and excitement are palpable as we all prepare for this long-awaited reunion.
My parents and Roy are on their way from Ipoh now. My parents have always been the cornerstone of our family, and their presence makes every gathering special. Roy, always the dependable one, ensured that everything was in place for their trip.
Meanwhile, my older brother’s family is making their way from Singapore. Despite the distance, they have always made it a point to be present for important family events.
The reunion is not just a family gathering; it is a celebration of life, resilience, and togetherness. After five long years, seeing everyone together again is a dream come true. The pandemic has taught us the value of family and the preciousness of moments spent together. This week, we are not just celebrating my dad’s birthday but also cherishing the time we have with each other.
One of the things I am most excited about is the opportunity to catch up with everyone. Life gets busy, and we often get caught up in our routines. This reunion gives us a chance to update each other on our lives, share stories, and reconnect.
This year we celebrated Father’s Day at If Only Restaurant, a striking space of elemental elegance in the city centre. As we did not make prior reservation, we waited for almost half an hour for a table. But the wait was all worth it. We enjoyed the superb food and desserts.
If Only also hosts the second home of Universal Bakehouse for superb Shio Pan, terrific tarts, croissants, cakes, and much more. We especially love the out-of-the-world Shio Pan.
After lunch at If Only, we went to Bray to get a loaf of sourdough bread and other desserts. We got a surprise when we were informed by the staff that fathers could choose a complimentary loaf of sourdough bread in honor of fathers on Father’s Day. We chose a loaf of apple and onion sourdough. As the girls and I are now ‘experts’ in sourdough breads from our frequent purchase at different bakeries, we know what the texture of perfectly baked sourdough breads should be. We all agreed that the sourdough bread that we got from Bray was spot-on. The inside of the bread was bubbly, slightly moist and chewy and the bread had a slightly tangy taste.
The girls surprised their dad with his favorite chocolate – Whittaker’s Almond Gold chocolate bars. Sherilyn bought them from Family Mart after her dance class in the evening.
Onigiri breakfast set Alycia’s Oden breakfast bowl. The fish cakes are not the typical Family Mart ones but house-made and very delicious.Delicious wagyu burgerHeavenly waffles with ice-cream and caramelized bananas.Flourless orange almond cake (my favorite!), scone, Chemor chocolate tart, and Banoffee croissant with filling of banana cream. Everyone enjoyed the desserts.Takeaway pastries from BrayComplimentary Father’s Day sourdough bread from Bray (costs over RM20 a loaf)The girls’ gift for their dad.
The celebration kicked off on the eve of Mother’s Day with a delightful family dinner. Following our meal, we made our way to Encore, a charming café known for its exquisite tarts and cakes. We savored decadent desserts and tea and captured precious memories with photographs.
Tarts, Éclair, and Black Forest cake at Encore on the eve of Mother’s Day.
In a heartfelt gesture, Alycia whipped up flour-free pancakes for my breakfast. Made with just bananas and eggs, seasoned with vanilla and cinnamon, these pancakes were a delicious and thoughtful treat reminiscent of my favorite Penang apom. It’s a tradition that my thoughtful eldest does every year for me on Mother’s Day – pancakes or French toast along with a handmade card or origami. It’s better than a material gift, coming from someone who doesn’t like cooking but makes an effort to prepare something special for me.
Delicious flour-free banana pancakes pan-fried using reduced-fat Lurpak butter, dished out by Alycia.
Sunday, 12 May 2024: Mother’s Day
On Mother’s Day itself, we went to Man Kee Hong Kong Beef Noodle in Bangsar for brunch. Renowned for its Wagyu beef brisket noodles, we indulged in a gastronomic delight unlike any other. The rich flavors of the beef with melt-in-the-mouth fats, paired with perfectly cooked noodles in a bowl of umami beef broth, left us craving for more. Additionally, we relished half a steamed village chicken, accompanied by tantalizing dipping sauces and bouncy squid balls made with real squid meat.
After our sumptuous lunch, we strolled over to Jaslyn Cakes to satisfy our sweet cravings. Indulging in butter cake, pistachio cake, and chocolate chip cookies, we enjoyed a cozy moment over cups of coffee and lattes. While hubby and Cass sipped on Piccolo latte and matcha latte respectively, I opted to skip caffeine to ensure a restful night’s sleep.
Sherilyn was unable to join us for the celebrations as she had to complete back-to-back assignments and on Sunday, she had an event to attend at her dance studio.
Wagyu beef brisket hor fun.RM60 for half a steamed village chicken. The dipping sauces were da bomb.Very yummy squid balls at RM4 a ball. Pretty expensive but worth spending on as every bite has real squid meat in it.Hong Kong milk tea.Man Kee HK Beef Noodle at Telawi Square, Bangsar. The setting of the eatery is evocative of a typical Hong Kong char chaan teng.RM160.05 for just two bowls of beef noodles and half a steamed chicken is pretty steep. But you’ll be assured of high quality ingredients. The restaurant is air-conditioned.Take this escalator to the first floor where Man Kee HK Beef Noodle is.Butter cake, matcha latte for Cass and Piccolo latte for hubby at Jaslyn Cakes.Pistachio cake at Jaslyn Cakes.Yummeh chocolate chip cookie for our cookie lover.Our busy bee’s latest assignment. She’s been having back-to-back assignments with short deadlines the past week and has been sleep-deprived. She’s currently in the final semester of the Foundation In Natural & Built Environments. She’ll be commencing her first year of BA of Science in Architecture in Sept this year.
It’s been aeons since we last had our CNY Eve dinner at a restaurant. In the years that we were back in Ipoh on CNY eve, dinners were always homecooked by my papa. And in years that we stayed put in KL, the MIL would cook. So this year’s CNY eve dinner was a breeze and stress-free at a Chinese restaurant. The best part is there’s no massive prep, washing and cleaning up after dinner. Totally my kind of reunion dinner 😜
As hubby booked the table only a week earlier, there were no more tables inside the air-conditioned restaurant for us and we had to accept sitting alfresco in the super hot and humid weather, which made the dinner a tad uncomfortable. After our meal, everyone was drenched in sweat 🥵
After dinner, hubby sent the mil and I home as we wanted to pack our bags for our trip to Ipoh. Hubby and his three girls then headed to Mid Valley Megamall for a super last minute shopping for new clothes.
Here’s our CNY Eve set menu dinner, which cost RM1k+. In fact, the restaurant dishes on Chor 1 and Chor 2 in Ipoh were 95% similar to the ones that we had on CNY Eve in KL and we started to get blasé of those dishes on the second day of CNY.
Loh Sang with crispy salmon skin.Shark’s fins (more of fake fins) soup.Braised pork trotters with abalone.Fried prawns on skewerSteamed patin fish.Braised lai park veggie in mock crab meat broth.Lap Mei rice.Dessert.
As the final moments of 2023 fade into the past, it’s time to reflect on the year that was—a year marked by swift transitions, unexpected turns, health scares, and a myriad of experiences.
The passing of 2023 seemed almost like a blink of my eye. In the ebb and flow of life, our family encountered moments of triumph and challenges, creating a mosaic of experiences that shaped the year. Despite the ups and downs, the overarching sentiment is one of gratitude. Gratitude for the lessons learned, the strength discovered, and the love that held us together.
Welcoming the first day of 2024, my heart is filled with hope—for brighter days, for new opportunities, and for the chance to create more cherished memories with those I hold dear.
My greatest wish for the new year centers on the cornerstone of well-being—good health and safety. I pray for robust health and safety for myself and all my loved ones. May each day be a gift of vitality, strength, and well-being.
For my husband’s catering business, I wish for its continued success and prosperity. May the coming year bring new opportunities, satisfied clients, and the continued growth of a venture that brings joy to our family and those we serve.
Academic success is a beacon for my three daughters. As they navigate the halls of education, my prayer is for diligence, resilience, and the attainment of academic goals. May the new year be a chapter of learning, growth, and accomplishments for each of them.
I pray for God’s blessings to encompass every aspect of our lives—for guidance in moments of uncertainty, strength in times of weakness, and grace that abounds in both joy and challenges.
As I pen down my reflections and wishes for the new year, I extend the same sentiments to you and your family. May 2024 be adorned with blessings and good health, days filled with joy, and marked by prosperity. May your journey be guided by love, strengthened by resilience, and illuminated by the light of hope and God’s blessings.
In closing, let’s step into 2024 with hearts open to possibilities, minds attuned to gratitude, and spirits anchored in faith. Here’s to a year of abundance, growth, and the unwavering presence of love. Happy New Year to all my readers!
We had our first brunch of the year at UO Shin Japanese Restaurant at Millerz Square today, followed by coffee and desserts at HWC x Quack Quack Bakery.
Christmas 2023 unfolded as a day of joy, reflection, and, of course, indulgence in the finest festive feasts. From morning church service to a heartwarming family dinner, the day was a celebration of love, togetherness, and a culinary feast that left taste buds tingling.
The day kicked off with a Christmas service at 9 a.m. at the Trinity Methodist church. Post-service, our stomachs were treated to a Malaysian classic – catered food by our church comprising of Nasi Lemak and coffee from Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock Kopitiam. Sherilyn and Cass couldn’t resist digging into a plateful of Nasi Lemak crowned with a generously portioned whole fried chicken leg. I opted for a cup of instant 3-in-1 coffee (less sugar) just to try this particular brew from Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock.
Christmas service in churchNasi Lemak and coffee from Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock.
Following the church festivities, we (our family and two of hubby’s aunts) ventured to our favorite haunt, Red Kettle Café, for a sumptuous lunch where we waited for over half-hour wait for a table. Hubby, true to tradition, ordered an array of our preferred dishes, including chicken chop, pork burger, three spaghetti styles, and a special Christmas grilled pork rib dish. Everyone enjoyed the sumptuous lunch at Red Kettle.
Sumptuous lunch at Red Kettle.Lunch at Red Kettle
Dinner was once more at Aunty Wendy’s house for our annual Christmas dinner party. The table was a spectacle of homemade festive indulgence, boasting roast chicken, baked ham, prawn salad, roast potatoes, roast veggies, roast lamb leg, piggy in a blanket, minced pies, Stollen, Panettone, fruit cake, and a delightful addition—Sherilyn’s masterpiece, a Charcuterie board.
Christmas dinnerWe’ve not been able to find frozen turkeys for the last two Christmas, so had to make do with roast chicken.DessertsChristmas dessertsCharcuterie board assembled by Sherilyn.
With so many rich and delectable treats gracing our table throughout the day, the joy of Christmas feasting was undeniable. With Chinese New Year just less than two months away and the excess calories consumed in December, I now have a renewed commitment to exercise even harder 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Christmas dinner came early for us this year. Hubby roasted turkey at his kitchen for us and his staff on 22nd December, on Winter Solstice Festival.
There was a delish accompanying sauce for the roast turkey, made from the turkey oil and innards. My thoughtful hubby even deboned the meat for me to bring home for his girls.I boiled a ginger + pandan leaves + purple sweet potato tong sui to go with the tong yuen.The girls are crazy over this store-bought tong yuen with black sesame filling. I boiled two packets but still there wasn’t enough for everyone. Next time I have to boil three packets.A few days ago, Alycia and her course mates were invited by their Thai classmate to his house for dinner. All the food on the dining table here was cooked by the boy’s Thai mum. Amazing!
The girls were all busy today – Alycia was at her weekend part-time job, Sherilyn was at a dance competition and Cass was out the entire day, so I took over the Christmas gift-wrapping task this year. When Alycia got home from work, she helped a bit. Hubby wasn’t pleased with the gifts that I bought earlier and we made an impromptu plan to shop for new gifts this afternoon 🤨.
Tomorrow will be a long and busy day for me. I’ll be up very early to complete some chores, then leave the house by 8.30am for Christmas service in church. Then we’ll be having lunch, followed by the annual Christmas party at hubby’s aunt Wendy’s house in the evening.
I’d like to wish all my amazing blog readers, friends and loved ones a season of warmth, joy, and happy moments. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Thank you for being a part of my journey ❤️🤟🎄🎅
The past week has been a busy week for our family – busy with celebrations, eating and late nights.
2 December 2023 ~ we attended the wedding of our very good friend’s daughter at Noble Mansion.
7 December 2023 ~ we had an early birthday celebration for the MIL at Ming Room, Bangsar Shopping Centre. MIL’s birthday falls on 9th December but we have a relative’s wedding to attend, thus we celebrated her birthday earlier. My SIL from Hong Kong came back for the celebrations.
8 December 2023 ~ pre-wedding dinner at the groom’s house and the menu’s theme was Hakka dishes. I indulged in all my favorite Hakka dishes from black vinegar pig trotters to rice wine chicken, Hakka braised pork and much more.
The couple registered their marriage in 2020 and the wedding banquet was booked for 2020, but had to be called off for 3 years before it finally materialized, no thanks to Covid. The entire family from New Zealand came back for the wedding banquet. The groom and bride and their super cute 2-YO baby girl flew back from the USA for the celebration.
9 December 2023 ~ We got up early to attend the tea ceremony at the groom’s house. In the evening, we were all dressed up to the nines to attend the grand wedding at the EQ Hotel (previously Equatorial). By the time we got home and showered, we only got into bed at 2 a.m.
10 December 2023 ~ with only 4 hours of sleep, I got up at 6-ish a.m. to do the usual house chores before sending Alycia to the cafe for her weekend part-time job. Before I could even have a short nap, we headed to Ming Room @ BSC again for dim sum lunch with hubby’s cousins from NZ, Taiwan, England and KL. I conked out at 9.30 p.m. and had a good 7 hours of sleep.
Wedding lunch at Noble Mansion on 2 December 2023:
Iberico pork ribs – everyone’s favorite dish. We were given disposable gloves to savor the ribs.Fried fresh prawns noodles. This was so delish but everyone was so stuffed that the dish was hardly touched. We doggy-bagged this home for our lunch the next day 😀Desserts.
MIL’s 78th birthday dinner at Ming Room, BSC on 7 December 2023:
Clockwise from top left: Yakitori, Steamed Soon Hock fish, London style roast duck, and steamed village chicken with minced ginger dipping.Clockwise from top left: Deep fried pumpkin balls with steamed pumpkin and assorted veggies, longevity noodles, pork belly and salted fish in claypot and braised Chinese spinach ‘watt tarn’ style.MIL and her childhood bff of over 70 years. At 78, Aunty Jackie is a super capable lady who still runs a car repair and service workshop. She drives her besties in an MPV to Ipoh regularly.Steamed piggy bun with lotus paste and duck’s egg.The groom is back at his parents’ house for the tea ceremony after the Wedding Gate Crash to receive the bride.
The next gathering of the Yaps will be on Christmas Day for the yearly Xmas dinner at aunty Wendy’s house (just a few floors below ours) for another feast! I’m already 1.5kg heavier! 🤪
There’s a certain magic in revisiting your hometown – a place woven with memories of your past, where every street corner whispers stories of your upbringing. This sentiment came alive as I took a short trip to Ipoh, my hometown, with my youngest daughter, Cass, to celebrate the birthdays of two of the most important people in our lives – my dad and mom. Our journey was filled with cherished moments, delicious treats, and a delightful blend of nostalgia and new experiences.
On Monday, 28 August 2023, Cass and I hopped onto the 3pm ETS train and we arrived just in time for dinner with my parents, setting the tone for a heartwarming reunion.
After dinner, Cass’s craving for ice cream led us to an impromptu decision that turned out to be pure joy. We found ourselves at Inside Scoop, a haven for ice cream enthusiasts like Cass and my papa. It was the perfect way to kick off our celebratory journey.
Cass and I shared this super yummeh Valrhona chocolate ice-cream on cone. Cass and papa choosing their ice-cream flavors.
Our second day began with the promise of exploration and new memories. Breakfast at a coffee shop near my parents’ house set the stage, offering a range of sumptuous dishes that satisfied both our taste buds and our souls. Cass’s fancy fizzy drink and my jelly on shaved ice were the cherry on top of a fulfilling meal.
Cass had a hard time choosing a drink as there were too many choices.Our simple yet enjoyable breakfast. The roti tisu and tosei tisu were healthier versions as they were made without sugar and reduced margarin, as per my request to the seller. And they tasted even better as they’re not as cloy as sugar and margarin laden ones.
Our next stop was at Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village. The village’s charm unfolded before us as we stepped into a world where history and nature intertwined seamlessly.
For a nominal entry fee of RM12, we were transported to a place of wonder and serenity. Tandem bicycles, rickshaws, and trishaws awaited, ready to be ridden through the village’s vast expanse. Every corner seemed to hold an Instagram-worthy backdrop, inviting us to capture the essence of this magical place. A journey uphill took us to a street by the hills that mirrored the vintage stores of old Ipoh, evoking nostalgia and a sense of homecoming. I shall write a separate post on our visit to Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village.
As the sun set, we gathered to celebrate my dad’s 80th and mom’s 77th birthdays. Sushi Zento, our favorite Japanese restaurant, hosted this joyful occasion. The table was adorned with a lavish spread, a testament to the love and care we hold for one another. The food was as usual very delish and satisfying. The service was very prompt and top-notch too. Most importantly, the price is very affordable.
Our favorite avocado salad with goma dressing.The truffle fried rice was superb and the truffle adds a very umami flavor to the rice.Salmon teppan.Grilled teriyaki saba fish.Sashimi and tempura set.Very reasonable bill. Cass and her doting granny.Waffle with ice-cream birthday ‘cake’.
After the scrumptious feast, Inside Scoop once again became the highlight of our celebration. A waffle adorned with three scoops of ice cream took center stage, crowned by a cake topper and candles. With smiles that radiated love and happiness, my parents blew out the candles, marking a joint birthday celebration etched in our hearts forever.
May God bless my parents with many more happy birthdays.
As Cass and I departed from Ipoh on Wednesday, 30 August 2023, I held onto the hope of celebrating many more birthdays and creating countless new memories with my parents.
Cass turns 15 today! This girl has come a long way to where she is today. Cass’ journey has not been easy from day 1, as she’s born with a rare congenital disorder in her urinary tract but she has persevered through countless hurdles along her way. I credit her strength, resilience and stubbornness to her unwavering determination, optimism, and unbreakable spirit.
Hubs surprised both the birthday girl and me with a hotpot dinner at Haidilao Hot Pot @ Bangsar Village 3 today, just the three of us – hubs, Cass and me. Alycia and Sherilyn are in Ipoh with my parents and the mil is currently in Hong Kong.
As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the friendly staff who welcomed us and led us to our table. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, with cozy seating arrangements and tasteful decor. The menu offered a wide selection of hotpot ingredients, including meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles, all of which were fresh and of high quality. While patrons wait for their tables, packet snacks, titbits and drinks are available in abundance at the entrance of the restaurant for patrons to munch.
Our dining experience began with a selection of dipping sauces and condiments, including peanut sauce, sesame sauce, and spicy sauce and a wide selection of condiments such as spring onions, parsley, chopped raw garlic, fried minced beef, etc, These sauces added an extra dimension of flavor to our yummy meal and were the perfect accompaniment to the hotpot ingredients.
As we waited for our hotpot to arrive, we enjoyed a variety of appetizers, such as wakame seaweed and fried peanuts. For the two choices of soup for our hotpot, hubs chose golden fish maw soup (RM47) and peppery pig stomach + chicken soup (RM20).
Part way through the meal was show-time for us (and for every table as well). A noodle performer came to our table and showcased his skill in the art of noodle-making while dancing. A minute into throwing the flying noodles, a part of the dough touched the floor and the performer quickly went into the kitchen and brought out a new wedge of dough and started the performance again. After the noodles were churned out by hand, the staff gently placed them into our hotpot of two variety of soups.
What really came as a big surprise to Cass and me was when the Haidilao staff came out with a slice of birthday cake, along with a birthday banner and lo and behold, sang ‘Happy Birthday’, vociferously with clappings and all!
Cass who doesn’t like to be in the limelight, have her photos taken, or people singing birthday song to her in public was gobsmacked, stunned, embarrassed, and yet happy all at once 🤣
The delicious food, exceptional service, warm atmosphere and loads of freebies made for a perfect evening of enjoyment and birthday celebration.
Golden fish maw soup and peppery pig stomach + chicken soup.Counter for sauces, condiments and desserts.Disposable aprons for all the dinersAppetite whetting appetizers – pickled turnip and carrot, wakame seaweed and fried peanuts.My glorious bowl of condiments for the hotpot, composed of dry fried minced beef, loads of raw minced garlic, spring onions, coriander, toasted sesame seeds and peanut sauce.Trays of hotpot ingredients were brought to our table by robots.Potato strings. We were too stuffed to eat this and doggy-bagged this home.Birthday girlWatermelon yoghurt drink.Noodle performerFreshly made noodles gently placed into the soups.Soy pudding for dessert. There was red bean sweet dessert as well but I forgot all about taking it from the counter.Free to take from the drawer at our table – wet wipes for lenses (for phones & eye glasses), hair ties, disposable gloves, sweets and chopsticks. Chopsticks are for dining use only, yeah.More freebies in the washroom – lens wet wipes, hair combs and cotton buds. You can even dry your hair with a hair dryer here and clean your eye glasses in a special glasses cleaning box.I have no freaking idea how to use this thingy. I suppose it’s to disinfect your eye glasses.Cass was super awkward coz a troupe of staffers came over and sang her a birthday song vociferously with clappings and all. All eyes were on us 🤣. It was hilarious to see the mixed reaction on her face.As there was still a LOT of soup left in both the pots, we had the soup doggy-bagged home, which the staff gladly helped us to pack and seal in thick plastic bags. We also doggy-bagged several plates of unfinished food. We can now have 1 more round of hot pot at home, when Sherilyn comes back to KL!
To cap off the meal, we were given complimentary chilled Roselle drinks, which was very refreshing and soothing for the throat after a hot meal.
Luckily we went early as when we left the restaurant, there was a long queue outside.
After our hotpot dinner, hubs brought the birthday girl to get Häagen-Dazs ice-cream for dessert.
Then we went to Sports Direct @ Bangsar Village 3 for Cass to get her birthday pressie from her dad, which is a hoodie sweater for her to wear at the skating rink.
Congratulations to myself on reaching the milestone of being half a decade young! This is certainly an occasion worth celebrating and reflecting upon.
Turning fifty marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. It’s truly a significant moment in my life. I think I have gained a great deal of wisdom and experience over the course of my life thus far.
For the next few decades to come, I hope I can start to travel, take up a new hobby (yoga, here I come!) and eat an even healthier diet. Without having to cook for the girls that often, I can start to cook my kind of simple and healthy meals, which would be a lot of one-pot meals and steamed veggies kind of meal.
The moment the littlest brat turns 18, I will let go of her even more. Being the youngest and born with some health issues which are still unresolved, I’ve not been able to let go of her like how I’d to, like how I’d let go of Alycia and Sherilyn when they were Cass’ age years ago.
Turning 50 is just a number. I still have many years ahead of me to make the most of my life and pursue my dreams. On my 50th birthday, I took some time to celebrate this milestone with my loved ones and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.
Alycia and Sherilyn treated me to a sumptuous lunch at Red Kettle, my favorite fusion restaurant. Too bad Cass couldn’t join us as she was in school.
Oyster blade steak @ RM69.90 for the gourmand hubs.Grilled chicken salad @ RM29.90.Chicken Bakar N Rice @ RM29.90 for me.Tomato Fregola seafood soup @ RM33.90 for SherilynAglio Olio @ RM22.90 for the mil.Cajun prawn pork burger @ RM30.90 for Alycia.Takeaway sourdough bread (Sherilyn, Cass and I love sourdough) and best-in-the-world Portugese egg tarts from Red Kettle. The chocolate tart and orange cake were from another cafe.I only realized after the pix were taken that my Uniqlo floral bra dress matches the 3D flower jelly cake so perfectly 😁3D flower jelly cake from hubby baked by DoneByMeJelly He also gave me an ang pow.Very delicious jelly cake made using coconut milk and jelly.
Two days later, I received a surprise bouquet of flowers!
And I wondered who it was from. I knew it would not be from the hubs.It was from my bestie, Josephine who lives tens of thousands of miles away from me, in another continent. I was touched beyond words. It’s this level of thoughtfulness that really makes a gift special and our 40 years of friendship even more precious. Jo and I used to live in the same neighborhood in Ipoh, we were classmates for many years and now we’re living in different countries but still keep in touch and meet up whenever she’s back from the US.Cass made this simple card for me and it says “Momther, you’re half way THERE” Where is ‘there’, I asked her. There la, heaven’s door. True that 🤪. Cheeky girl.
I hope everyone is enjoying the Chinese New Year holidays with your family and loved ones. And for those of you who dread CNY and can’t wait for it to be over because it’s just so frigging exhausting with non-stop cooking, cleaning up, entertaining (hello nosy and insensitive relatives!), and traveling (darn the traffic congestion), hang in there. It will soon be over.
This CNY we’re staying put in KL as Sherilyn will be sitting for her SPM exam a few days after the CNY holidays and wishes to spend more time revising.
Alycia had planed to follow her grandaunt back to Ipoh by car on Thursday but on the morning of departure, she was down with food poisoning, fever and cough. She literally camped in the loo the entire night. The previous night Alycia had dinner of Moo Kata with her colleagues and must have eaten something that’s undercooked or contaminated that caused her food poisoning with persistent diarrhea. Thus, she had to cancel her trip back to Ipoh.
This CNY, there’s been quite a bit of ‘massive’ cooking by the mil for three days straight. While she enjoys all the cooking, I certainly don’t enjoy doing all the aftermath-cleaning up, especially the greasy stove, counters and floors 🤪
Our CNY Eve dinner at home. Hubby’s cousin joined us for dinner.Home-made Yee Sang, from a seller who operates from her home in OUG. She makes pretty good Yee Sang and we have been buying from her for years. Sherilyn learned how to prep Yee Sang two years ago during the lockdown, using a variety of healthy fruits and veggies. It’s really delish and fresh. We’re going to get her to prep it again next CNY. Sherilyn has not been cooking much lately as she’s preparing for her SPM exam.The sea cucumbers and abalones were prepped a couple of weeks earlier. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process to rehydrate and cook the dried sea cucumbers and dried abalones. It takes days of soaking and boiling before braising with other ingredients such as pork belly, fish maw and dried scallops.Our customary vegetarian dish on the first day of CNY.Our meatless lunner at Alexis @ The Gardens Mall on the first day of CNY – vegetarian spaghetti, vegetarian pizza, mushroom soup with garlic toast and mushroom risotto. Tiramisu, bitter chocolate mousse cake, pecan pie and flourless orange almond cake.
We invited some close friends over for lunch today (Chor 2) for ‘Hoi Nin Fan’ and it was another massive cooking and cleaning. I was so busy cleaning up the kitchen that I forgot to snap photos of the dishes. On the dining table were fried fish, fried prawns, steamed village chicken, lotus root soup, stir-fried snake beans, beef rendang and leftover vegetarian dish from yesterday.
I’d like to wish everyone a very prosperous year of the Rabbit. May you and your loved ones enjoy the heavenly favors of good health, wealth, and fortune all year through. Happy Chinese New Year!
With 2022 almost in the bag, I want to thank you all for reading my blogs. Some of you have been long-time readers of my blogs. A few of you have been reading my blogs since you were just teens and now are parents yourself. Wow! I really do consider you all friends, even if that’s a little weird, especially if we have never met in person before.
The school holidays are now into the third and last week. I was back in Ipoh with Sherilyn and Cass to celebrate Christmas with my parents. We took the night ETS train on Christmas Eve and arrived Ipoh at close to 10 p.m. It was our first time taking the night ETS. We got back yesterday after spending three glorious days in Ipoh with my parents and younger brother who also made a trip back to Ipoh. Missing our reunion were my eldest brother in Singapore and his family, hubs and Alycia.
Always glued to their phones.
We have an extra seat to put our stuff as the MIL who was supposed to follow us back had high fever and a tummy flu at the eleventh hour. She had packed her bags and dressed up, all ready to go. But her temp was hovering at 38C the entire day and she had a tummy upset, so everyone advised her not to travel.24 December 2022 night ~ Just arrived at Ipoh Station. Cass taking a photo of the train.
On Christmas Day, we had ‘chap fan’ for lunch as the girls woke up late and had a late breakfast of Chrismassy cakes, cookies and pastries. When lunch came, we wanted something light as we were going to have an early dinner. So dad brought us to their favorite economy rice stall to get takeaway ‘chap fan’. The dishes lined up at the stall were all my favorite and looked so very appetizing! I wanted to get like 10 dishes, but chose 4 meat-free dishes. Dinner was at my parents’ favorite restaurant nearby. We didn’t want to venture out to town as the entire Ipoh city was jam-packed with tourists with horrendous traffic jam everywhere.
Our Chrismassy nosh. All the cakes, cookies and bread on the table were homemade.Mum made the gingerbread cookies, mince pies and Panettone. Cake on the foreground is flourless orange cake made by Sherilyn. The two loafs of cakes with red and green cherries are my mum’s signature fruit cakes, matured with rum.Hubs bought these French pastries from Croisserie Artisan Bakery @ Damansara Heights for me to bring back to my parents. End of holiday. Bye-bye Ipoh. Picture taken by my mum, at the Ipoh train station yesterday. Long queue from the entrance of the train station right up to the stairs leading to the platform.At almost 50, I still get a Christmas pressie from my mum, every single year ❤️. Mum is 76 this year.
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