Saturday, July 12, 2008
Since it is Rachel's last week staying with us before she moves to her hostel, we decided to bring her to ski resort for some snow this weekend. After looking through the internet, the nearest ski resort we can think of is Lake Mountain. However, due to the limited time we have on Saturday (which is just half a day) and the expensive entrance fee, Rachel was struggling to make up her mind whether to go or not. Thus, we decided to search again for another near ski resort which charge cheaper entrance fee. After an hour on the internet, finally we found out a national park nearby for snow play - Mt Dona Buong.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Why do I need to go on such a special diet? Well, blames to my stomach. I have been having unexplained stomach discomfort for the past two weeks. It drives me crazy. I was hungry but whenever I eat, I will feel indigestion, bloating and even vomit. Even after taking the pill from the doctor, it doesn’t seem to help much. While consulting my friend who is a pharmacist, she suggested me to go for breath test to test out whether I am intolerance to certain food. Certain food intolerance can caused similar stomach discomfort. She sent me the whole list of detail information about this breath test. It was quite impressive how they test out the intolerance but it is extremely expensive! One test costs $65 and if I choose to do the full test, it will be 4 tests all together, means $260!!! The worse thing it, it is not cover my Medicare, which means I can’t claim even a cent from Medicare!!!!! After much consideration and Selwyn’s insistence, I booked with the pathology to do 4 tests and the first test was done this morning.
After one day of fasting with special diet and half a day of water fasting (during the test), I was starving for good food! I went straight to the restaurant for nice Korean Mento with Selwyn after the test. After lunch, I had some bans too and guess what; I even invited our friends over for Nasi Lemak that night (top up with Krispy Kreme as desert!) Yes yes yes, all the “good food” to make up the lost on Friday…hahahah. The result – satisfy, happy but with bloated stomach (again)! However, as a Chinese, life without good food like worse than having bloated stomach at least, hehe.
Nasi lemak with sambal prawn, rendang, fried sardine and sambal ikan bilis
Monday, June 23, 2008
A month ago, I asked Shirley for the recipe of the strawberry mousse cheesecake. However, for the past few weeks, I can't even find time to try out this recipe until last Saturday when I was thinking of what to bring to life group. It is a very simple recipe and the instruction given is pretty easy as well. I went to shop for the ingredients and started to do it on Saturday. Rachel taught me to make my own strawberry puree - it is just the bend of pure strawberry, it is that easy! The whole process of making the cheesecake didn't take me more than 2 hours though!
After chilled overnight, I brought the cheesecake to the life group. Rachel helped me to take out the cake from the baking pan. It looked pretty alright. Too bad there are two pregnant ladies in the group that are unable to eat cheesecake. However, I have the rest of the group to be my Gennie pig! The result? Of course they like it!!! (if not I won't have blog it, he he). I am glad that it turns out well, even though it was not as nice as the one in Shirley's blog. Hope next time I can do a better cheesecake! Anyway, I really need to thank Shirley for her recipe! Thank you sis!!
look from top before pouring the gelatine
Final result...look a bit ugly and weird
Sunday, June 15, 2008
After this series, I started to find other series to watch and this time I found a Taiwanese series. However, it was over 30 episodes! As I am a very impatient person, I randomly selected a few episodes - starting from the last few episodes (just to know whether the ending is good or not. I only watch series with good ending ^_^). Well, it was a good ending! Moreover, this series is also another romantic comedy, so I decided to download the series and and watch. This time, I am not only hocked but also addicted to it! Nearly every night I will be infront of my laptop "chasing after" the series. Ended up I watched the series till midnight everyday!!!! How scary is the power of movies to a person, at least to me! I forgo my devotion, study and sleep because of the series. Gosh, I really need to practice self-control when watch the series. Time for discipline!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Since the time I bought a fruit cocktail cake for Selwyn's birthday, I started to fall in love with this cake. I don't know why, maybe because of the nice fresh cream and the tenderness of the spounge cake.
Friday, June 13, 2008
2 week ago, Uncle Bernard and his family came to Melbourne for their PR first entry. We had the honour to host them for 17 days while they were here. We had a great time and fellowship together and of course GOOD FOOD everyday!
As I promised to make some birthday cupcakes for my boss’s daughter, I took this opportunity to ask the Ooi’s girls – Rachel & Carin whether they want to join me for this cupcakes session. They jumped with joys. They told me finally they are able to make their own cupcakes!
I divided this cupcake session into 3 days so that we won't be too exhausted. First day, we spent a few hours doing our fondant decoration for the cupcakes. The girls were so excited playing with the sugar-paste and doing flowers with the fondant. Second day is the baking session. I gave them the ingredient and taught them how to mix it up with the mixtures. We did two flavours of cupcakes – Vanilla and Chocolate. It turns up pretty well, although there are some odd looking and overflowing cupcakes. We rested for one day and continued our final session – decorating the cupcakes!!! I made some chocolate ganache and butter cream for the toppings then there starts our decorating session! I started by teaching them some basic pipping skills and leave the rest of decoration to them. The girls are so creative, came out with a lot of very nice decoration with stories on each cupcake, it was so fun looking at them enjoying themselves and they even had stories for each cupcakes design they made! Overall, we had a great cupcakes session. Enjoy the laugher and fun we had together even though it was quite tiring.
After they left, we feel so quiet in the house. Started to miss their presence and accompany, started to miss them. Hope that soon they will be able to move here for good, but of course according to God’s will. Anyway, we will be able to see Rachel in a month’s time as she will be coming here for good for her university. More chance to cook for her and bake with her then!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
It is just the beginning of winter, but Melbourne or rather Victoria has been covered by the thick fog nearly everyday. Sometimes when I walk towards the bus stop in the morning, I barely can see anything beyond 100m. This foggy winter has caused a lot of car accidents on the road and delayed of the flight due to the poor condition to land.
I wonder how cold the winter will be this year. Even in the mid of Autumn, weather already drop down to below 18c, since then I rarely experienced any day above 20c not even 19c. Well, will wait and see, but most of all, have to prepare more clothes for this freezing winter.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
The fun continues…
Sunday after the church service, Uncle Bernard brought us to the Caribbean Market at Scoresby near to church. It was recommended by one of his friend. The market is located at a very beautiful park and there is even Japanese garden in the park. The market is huge; with at least I think 100 stores in it selling all sorts of stuffs from groceries to clothing and the pricing are pretty good. We managed to get some good bargain for the winter clothing. The only set-off point was the weather, it was freezing! However, when we were about to leave the market around 2pm, we finally feel the warm sunshine. We were able to take a short walk at the beautiful park and take some photos before heading for our late lunch. I would want to go back to this market, not to shop, but to spend some relaxing time at the park and perhaps try out the chairlift :)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
This month has been the prawn mee month for us. The first prawn mee we had was I think at least 3 months back? This month we thought of cooking prawn mee and have some fellowship with our friends. Thus, we called on the "Malaysian night" invited our Malaysia friends to come over our place for the prawn mee. It was a great fellowship and thanks to "Richmond" everyone enjoyed their meal. We thought we would only have prawn mee again at least after a few months. However, little that we know, when Uncle Bernard and family came over this week, we cooked prawn mee again just to let them try out the prawn mee paste from Penang that they cannot get it from Penang! (Funny isn't it?)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Even before arriving to Bright, we have been welcomed by the beautiful and colourful trees along the road. It took us 3 hours plus to travel to Bright, however, along the way, we did stop at Brown Brothers’ winery (one of Australia’s famous wine) and Milwana cheese factory. When we arrived at Bright, I was amazed with the scenery. It is better than what I imagine or see in the Internet. We were also pleased with our accommodation. With the rental of $60 per person for 2 nights, fully equipped unit, it is considered a very good deal! Thank God that we managed to find this accommodation last minute.
The highlight of the whole trip is our bicycle ride on the second day. I thought cycling is a leisure and easy “game”. However, when we started to cycle with the rented mountain bike, I realised that it is harder than walking!!! First of all, I am too short even with the lowest seat adjustment, makes it really challenging for me when come to stop! Another challenge is to cycling up and down the hill! Gosh, it was killing! I could feel the soreness of my legs when I was cycling hard to climb up the hill, end up most of the time we pushed the bicycle up the hill instead and everyone suffer "butt ache" after fact! However, it is a great experience on mountain bike. I love the bush bicycle. I was so exciting!!
Last day in Bright and Beechworth was freezing cold. It rained the whole day, makes the weather even colder. I have to wear over 3 clothing to keep myself warm but yet still feel freezing! I think it was less than 8 degree that day. Next day, I read in the newspaper that it was actually snowing at Alpine. No wonder it was freezing cold. But the weather is getting crazy now, it was just the mid of autumn but it snows....this is called Global warming :)
Overall, I enjoyed the trip. Miss the beauty of Bright. I don’t mind going back to Bright again! Actually I don’t mind get a house there though, but of course it will be just the holiday villa (it will only happen in my dream...too bad!!).
Sunday, April 06, 2008
I have been thinking of sponsoring a child for a while but never really bother to take action. Today in the church the sermon was focusing on mission to the unreached, it reminds me about the sponsor child thingy. After the service, I mentioned it to Selwyn and we decided to find a day and look at any organisation that we can go through to do the sponsor. Who knows in the afternoon while we were shopping in Eastland, we saw a World Vision counter! The pictures of the children that need sponsor are all display on the counter. It melted our heart to see these little ones that do not have enough to eat and no clean water to drink. Our $2 per day can help them to survive for a year!!! We look through all the kids and it is so hard for us to make a decision which one to take...seriously they are all so adorable and all needs help. Finally we managed to choose a 4 year old boy from Mongolia, his name is Nyambayar. He has lost his dad and they can't tray out his mum's detail. Isn't it sad? Such a cute and adorable, innocent child has to go through such a tough life. It also reflects to me how fortunate we are, not only have enough to eat but also enough to buy what our heart desire!
Friday, April 04, 2008
It is another sad week we have to go through, I fail to fall pregnant again this cycle. Doctor told me I should consider IVF since I haven't been managed to fall pregnant from the few cycles via medication. However, we are not too comfortable with IVF.
Now it is the time to make the decision, whether we should go ahead with doctor's advice or give up treatment totally (I thought we wouldn't need to go throuh this). Only God knows what is the best. We are praying and asking Him for the wisdom to make the correct decision.
I came across an article few days ago, it starts with Romans 4:19 "Being not weak in faith, Abraham considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb". In the natural mind, we know it is impossible for Abraham and Sarah to have a child. However, bible told us that Abraham didn't look at the impossible and wavy in His faith but continue to trust in the Lord's promise. Sarah however, took the matter into her hand by given her servant girl to Abraham so that she can gives them a child. She was acting on behalf for God. While going through this article and story of Abraham and Sarah, I started to ask myself whether I am Abraham or Sarah now, whether I am putting part of my faith on the treatment than 100% to the Lord. Now I am put into the situation whether I should give up the "tool" available and trust in the Lord bare handed.
The article continue to say that "the faith that pleases God is born in a place of deadness - deadness of all human possibilities". Thinking about it, it is so true. When we have other human way to get the results, we will rely on it rather than God because it is more visible than God's hands. But is it a real faith that God require?
This sentence in the article strike me "When you feel that the heavens are like brass when you pray, your requests falling to the ground, God's Spirit is actually working to get you to stop considering the impossibilities - to stop looking to human ways and means - to stop trying to think your way out of your situation." God, are you trying to tell me something? I need more confirmation, more words from You.
I wonder what tomorrow will be but I can just say that "being unto me according to Your words" because I know my life is ordained by God who loves me and know the best for me! Even I remain childless, I still have a loving husband and a loving Father in heaven!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Time really flies. It is now 2008. Recall back 2007, there is a lot of happiness yet a lot of tear dropping moment.
Perhaps I am not a contempted person, I tend to remember more of the unhappy things. It is indeed a tough year.
It was the year I experienced the lost of my first child, it was the year I was disappointed with God and nearly want to give up my faith, it was the year I don't know how to trust anymore. Will 2008 be a new beginning for us? Will 2008 be a fruitful year, a year of great abandon? I seriously not dare to put too much hope on it.
Today I was reading a devotion writing online and this poem appears.
It’s sometimes very difficult
for us to understand
the wisdom and the love behind
the things that God has planned.
But we wouldn’t have the rainbow
If we didn’t have the rain;
We wouldn’t know the pleasure
If we never tasted pain.
We wouldn’t love the sunrise
If we hadn’t felt the night;
And we wouldn’t know our weakness
If we hadn’t sensed God’s might.
We couldn’t have the springtime
or the yellow daffodilif
we hadn’t experienced
the winter’s frosty chill.
And though the brilliant sunshine
is something God has made.
He knew too much could parch our souls
so He created shade.
So God’s given us a balance:
Enough joys to keep us glad,
Enough tears to keep us humble,
Enough good to balance bad.
And if you’ll trust in Him
you’ll see
Though yesterday brought sorrow,
The clouds will part and dawn will bring
A happier tomorrow.
It is a very beautiful and encouraging poem, and the most important is it speaks to me. Yes, I wouldn't know what is joy if I never experience sadness, I won't be able to see rainbow if there is no rain. God will give us a balance. A lot of time I just feel that I can't handle it anymore, it is too much for me the hardship from one to another. "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness" Corin 12:9. Bible tells me He will never allow me to go through something beyond my limit. He knows it well what is the best for me. Lord, I remember Your words, but help me to believe, give me strength to go through all these, and most of all, comfort me and let me hear you affirming to me that You are here for me. I know I have to continue to trust in You, to trust and trust and see everything become past and my sorrow will turn into joy. I am waiting for this moment Lord!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Last week, I have an opportunity to try on my “new hobby” for Sue Anne’s birthday. I wasted close to one dozen of eggs, more than 2 kg of icing sugar (yes, high in sugar) and 1kg of flour just to get an “acceptable” cup cake done! The next challenge is icing decoration. Firstly, it is so hard to find a good recipe for the cream (perhaps maybe my requirement is too high). Secondly, I lack of skill in using the piping bag for the decoration. At the end, my icing is either not smooths or design looks lousy. However, I manage to come out a cup-cakes birthday cake for Sue Anne with 2 favours of cakes – chocolate mud cake and vanilla butter cake. The last challenge is to find the box to put the cakes in! I went to the cake accessories shop, but they do not sell the paper box. I found one plastic cake container in Reject Shop but my cake base did not fix into the container. At the end, I decided to go to one of the cake shop that we used to get our birthday and ask the owner to sell us the cake box. She is very kind to sell it to me even though she told me that she is not suppose to do so.
I am still “hunting” for decorating books and good icing piping tools. Hopefully I will be able to get some with a reasonable price and most important I will be able to make a nice and good cup-cake.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Today Selwyn sent the below writing to me. I read through it and thought it is a very sweet writing, especially when it is “dedicated” to me from my hubby.
Does Love need a Reason...??
Once a lady when having a conversation with her lover, asked:
Lady : Why do you like me..? Why do you love me?
Man : I can t tell the reason.. but I really like you..
Lady : You can t even tell me the reason... how can you say you like
me? How can you say you love me?
Man : I really don t know the reason, but I can prove that I loveU.
Lady : Proof? No! I want you to tell me the reason. My friend s
boyfriend can tell her why he loves her but not you!
Man : Ok..ok!!! Erm... because you are beautiful,
because your voice is sweet,
because you are caring,
because you are loving,
because you are thoughtful,
because of your smile,
because of your every movements.
The lady felt very satisfied with the man s answer.
U nfortunately, a few days later, the Lady met with an accident and
went in comma. The Guy then placed a letter by her side,
Here is the content:
Darling,Because of your sweet voice that I love you...Now can you talk?
No! Therefore I cannot love you.
Because of your care and concern that I like you..Now that you cannot
show them, therefore I cannot love you.
Because of your smile,because of your every movements that I love you..
Now can you smile? Now can you move?No, therefore I cannot love you...
If love needs a reason, like now,There is no reason for me to love you anymore.
Does love need a reason?
NO!Therefore, I still LOVE YOU...
"True love never dies for it is lust that fades away. Love bonds for a
lifetime but lust just pushes away"
Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love
says 'I need you because I love you.'
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Today is the last day of the Passionate Marriage advance track. We have learned a lot on building a passionate and Christ intended marriage throughout these 4 weekend from the sharing of couples. However, we admitted that what we lack of is putting all the things we learned from all the marriage courses we attended into practice. We seems to listen and then keep it straight in the closet. This is the time to make a commitment to bring into practice what we have learned.
At the end of the course, we were given a short 3 minutes to reaffirm our vows or rather our love to our spouse with our own words from the heart. For the first time, I said the "vow" without any preparation. However, it was so warm and touching to hear Selwyn affirmed his love to me, telling me that he never regret married me and he loves me a lot. I can say it is more meaningful then the vow we said during our wedding, at least to me. After close to 2 years of marriage, I might already put the vow I said during our wedding back of my mind. This time, with my own words from the heart, to express my love to my husband again and even take the opportunity to express my appreciation towards all the things he has done for me - those that I never express to him before. Believe it or not, I just feel like a newly wed again!
