Ipoh food trip

In June, SF made a long-talked about food trip to Ipoh come true. He booked the hotel after doing his own homework. I merely dictated how many pieces of clothings each of us could bring.

It was one of the best short car trips we've had! For one, the short drive made it less stressful. Without a pool at the hotel, we wandered out often enough in search of food. And with the hotel smack in town, we traipsed back to the hotel every chance we could for siestas. How wonderful is that?

The food was unbeatable. Dim sum was declared among the best we've had. Bar Hong Kong's, perhaps. The street food at tong sui kai was cheap and super delicious. From the hor fun soup with Ipoh's fat, crunchy bean sprouts to the large fruit-laden ais kacang, we thoroughly had a feast. 

End of an Era

After 20 months of breastfeeding Karen, I stopped expressing. This included 17 months of full breast milk for her. I was aiming for a year to match the length of time Kayrin was on breast milk. Happy that I've been given the chance to express for so long in that office of mine, I'm just grateful that Karen adjusted fast to formula milk. So there we go, among the last two bottles of breast milk. 

Something Sweet

This is for the girls. So that they know what daddy's like and why mommy loves him so. 

I'm not into PDA, and do not idolize the other half. SF, on the other hand, is not the one to profess a lot -- in words or otherwise. 

I love yous are no longer commonly uttered when there's hardly time to even talk.

Last week, however, something was said.

We'd just returned from a trip to Penang. The first in almost 2 1/2 years. The last time we were there, Karen wasn't even conceived yet.

Back home, sitting in the bedroom, I asked if Penang was greatly missed. 

Definitely, for the food, SF said.

Apart from the food, did he really miss Penang, I probed.

A moment in his thoughts, and this came out: I don't miss Penang because you're here with me.

That was the best thing he's ever said to me. Ever. It beats all the I love yous, I'd say.

Too sweet. Simply profound. 

My baby's grown up

Baby Karen has had only one purchase of socks from Mothercare since she was born. When I decided to "upgrade" her socks this week, it made me realize how she's grown.

Writing

Writing is fun. I've always loved to write. Never thought I'd leave the world of journalism. But here I am today, almost two years to the day of joining the corporate world. There's so much to learn here as well. The financial aspect is astounding -- what I thought I knew was just skimming the surface. While I miss writing, the challenge of working in a corporate world has brought me so many new friends too. That I'm very thankful for. 

Valentine's

Eleven years ago, I told SF that having Kayrin was the best Valentine's Day gift ever. Arriving 10 days before the celebration of love, her arrival means there was not enough time to sleep, never mind dinner for two!

Since then, we've never had anything to mark that day when the world is all awash with all that's lovey-dovey.

But this year, there was that opportunity. Not really a celebration on the day itself. But SF and I managed to sit down to lunch with just each other for company. Great dim sum (ok, the har-kau was a bit of a let-down but the egg-yolk dumplings and whatever else we ordered were yummy), beautiful surroundings with just the two of us to a table (and at least a dozen others in the table next to us), we had the rare opportunity not to be interrupted when conversing. To all parents out there, Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Frangipani

The new frangipani tree SF planted a few months back bore flowers for the first time -- both white and pink. Didn't look like there was any grafting though. How odd. 

2013

What has the year just past been like? Nothing too dramatic, and for that, I bow and say a prayer of thanks for an uneventful year.

It brings me near tears, feelings of regret when I think about Woan's passing, pa-ma's split and the family that we no longer were.

Yet, there are also tears of happiness seeing the two girls at home play with each other, seeing little mei-mei emulate jie-jie's dance moves.

Little mei, as jie-jie calls her, turned one and we celebrated with a photo shoot at my favourite studio on that day.

On a personal note, I've re-started yoga after a two-year hiatus, to discover I've lost a lot of core strength and my sense of balance.

KL was "under siege" this year, with the worst haze I've seen, and I definitely do not wish it upon an enemy.

May 2014 be a healthier, cleaner year for us all, and for the gahmen too!