I will try to blog. Still grieving over Grandma’s death. I couldn’t bring myself to return to my routine. I felt like hibernating. I am not sure how to express my sadness by crying aloud. I have not been crying a loud since I was in primary school. Something just stopped me at that time.
Her gifts - box of beads, cranes and mandarin duck embroidery, though have gone, shall remain in my memory as the most precious skills and gifts.
On the final night
Waited on burning incense
Lighting one after another
In the early morning
Dark calm starless sky
As if it is mourning
She laid inside
Like in deep sleep
Resting peacefully
Why does sunlight
Rose so soon?
It broke my heart
She is going from
This home of ours
To her final destination
Morning light felt
Warm and serene
Soothing cool air
Is HE here?
Is HE with us?
Is she with HIM?
Rusty metal box
Used to store chocolates
Now filled up with colourful beads
White piece of paper
Folded neatly and precisely
That forms an elegant white crane
Leading the way
Followed by threads
To form a pair of mandarin ducks
These were Grandma gifts
Though she did not have much
My treasures
Breathing great difficulty
Not responding at all
Liquid oozing from mouth
There was nothing
Anyone could do
Only HE could help her
Finally after hours
Had her last breathe
Eyes did not close
I can feel that moment
Still breaking my heart
That she had left
Not in happiness
Nor in peace
But with sadness
And tears
She went away
That was the moment
My heart shattered
Knees dropped on to floor
Called out to her
For the last time
But she was gone
Tonight
Grandma passed away
After suffering for some time
She is no longer in difficulty nor pain
She has gone to be with Grandpa
Looking back
Grandpa was alive
Grandma fought against her illness
He was afraid
She may be gone before him
He called out to her
Not to leave before him
He was afraid his beloved
Who was frail and fragile
May leave him and go to her God
Then
Grandpa died
Left Grandma stood at his funeral
She was heart broken
Though quiet and strong
Now
They are together
Like when they were alive
Through thick and thin
Through quarrels and sorrow
Through happiness and joy
Joined rest of the deceased
Family and friends
Food at Hakka restaurant - Ying Ge Lou set this establishment in its own direction, ethnic chinese food. Fluffy and hot brown rice. Omellete in chinese wine soup which almost knock me off. I am a lousy drinker. Good claypot dishes.
Price $$$ Food 3/5 Ambience 4/5
I like to stay at the beginning of Orchard Road which is more accessible by all means of transport, especially to River Valley, Chinatown, Little India and City Hall. There is also a bus #36 to Changi airport.
Preferred accomodation
*Hotel Rendezvous
4-star hotel. If you don’t like to walk to much, this is a nice location. Map
*Hangout Hotel
No Frills like Air Asia. Book online-it’s cheaper. Map
*YMCA Hostel
Youth hostel. Map
My most feared and worried task. Spring clean once for Christmas, Will’s birthday and Chinese New Year. I am in dilemma what to do first ever since I had 2 kids. Before the kids, spring cleaning was therapy to chase away stress. I will try to list down what’s to be done first…..
Steamed pumpkin flesh mixed with rice porridge that is still cooking with dried fig. Add a dash of soy sauce. Kids favourite. Today’s thick porridge is cooked by my other half with these instructions. So easy and tasty vegetarian porridge. Forgot to snap photos. Next time…
Attended E-Publishing talk for writers wannabe like me (I’m into food porn writing LOL). One important lesson learnt from today’s talk.. I can go into food porn comic too… LOL again. Japanese e-publisher www.popls.co.jp have been into self publishing for independent comic artist since 1972. Popls can deliver books, cd, merchandise and anything related to your comic work within few days and simple price structure. Rediscover www.lulu.com and http://www.iuniverse.com/ . Seems like iuniverse could be a problem if you are not in USA. A Singaporean got taxed coz iuniverse ‘export’ his book to him. Other than that problem iuniverse did an excellent job for the writer.
See MPH event details at http://www.mph.com.my/promotions/promotions.cfm#mega.
I had some 2-inch thick manuals digitally printed by a Nilai printer using Fuji Xerox inline printing machine that does binding as well. The results are excellent although price was high. My clients were pleased and I am happy.
Another digital printing exprience was with www.pixart.com.my for family Chinese New Year photo collection. Very good quality linen hard cover. Limited products offerred.
I discovered I-Mac shops also do digital printing for their clients. I will try to find time to make an album. Calendar(can put your face on your birth date), post cards, mini photo album for gifts, medium sized albums. Though the sample album at the shop is not of impressive quality, I will try to get a mini photo album done with them. Interesting pricing.
My next door neighbour-his wife is an excellent cook. Tonight she gave us 2 cute little - palm sized rice dumplings.. Hainanese style. I have never seen though I am a Hainanese. My husband and sons (including myself) were so in love with her rice dumpling… Let the pictures do the talking.
I want to give it a French name coz of its’ size. Hainanese little rice dumpling will be….
http://www.freetranslation.com/ result: la petite boulette de pâte de riz de Hainanese and retranslate to English as The small dough pellet of rice of Hainanese.
http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr result: Hainanese peu de boulette de riz and back to English as Hainanese little rice pellet.
Quite a mouthful in French… phew…
I assigned my other half to Jusco member day war and he came back with 2 x 2 feet loaves of Gion Danish Bread (RM18 each) without the geishas. Very crispy when warmed up in a toaster oven and also good right from the bag. Good news for Penang bread lovers - it is going to be sold in Jusco Penang.
Gion Danish Bread: Leaflet
Gion Danish Bread: Directions for Consumption
Gion Danish Bread: Sales Outlets
Went to Penang by car from Kuala Lumpur for 2 days of work. I took all the oppurtunities available to eat, eat and eat. Especially had most of the Ais Kacang I craved. Visited one shop recommended by Flavours Magazine to shop for tableware. I am soooooooo happy. Like haven’t been ’home’ for 2 years. I love you Penang!!!!
Lorong Selamat: Yummy Oyster Omelette
Lorong Selamat: Prawn Noodle
Lorong Selamat: Air Batu Campur with creamy ice cream and great beans.
Swatow Lane: Air Batu Campur
Lorong 100 Tahun: Curry Noodle
Lorong 100 Tahun: Local coffee is GOOD too…
Penang Chee Cheong Fun or Penang Steamed Rice Noodle
Kek Seng: Our first order - Durian Ice Cream
Kek Seng: Pie Tee or Top Hats
Kek Seng: Asam Laksa
Kek Seng: Penang Lor Bak and Air Batu Campur
Kek Seng: Air Batu Campur close up
I love the result but hates sweet taste and overwhelming orange flavour. I baked about 200 mini muffins in the smallest cupcake casing for my faithful baking fan.
Close up of orange poppy seed mini muffins.
My little fan
I did not have enough ingredients to make souffle but there are some for this ready mixed muffin. Yucks… this is how my muffins looks like and they are all sticky. I’ll do some muffin research to find out why muffins are sticky. The blueberries are fantastic!!!
I have not been taking pictures of cooking lately. Busy reading books I bought over the months. I bought Shanghai Sisters out of curiousity - author’s name Miranda Eu. I guessed she is from the famous Eu Yan Sang chinese medical hall family. Yep she is, married into the Eu family. Don’t misunderstand that this book is about Eu but about the Miranda’s family. Miranda’s maiden family name is Loo. Her grandparents are Hardoon (the Grandpa-a Jewish) and Loo (the Grandma-a half Chinese) are rich and famous before WWII in Shanghai. This books reveals what money can do good and also damage a family. Good read if you are a Shanghai city fan.