Bruises

Earlier last week, I had bruises on my right upper arm. I didn't bother much about it, thought I must have bumped into something, yet I wasn't aware much of. 

So, after few days later, another bruise developed. This time on my left side. And then the other side. Then I started to take notices of the bruises. 

Till Friday, I have 5 bruises in total on both arms (4 on right side) that I told my mil on them. She advised I consult doctor. So I did that last Saturday. Either I carry too heavy stuff or I bump myself or something else, she took blood sample to test that morning. 

 Fingers cross, that it isn't anything serious. 

My blood

I did mentioned that I went to do my blood test in April and the result wasn't desirable as my hemoglobin count was very low. Other result such as liver and kidney function, cholesterol and hepatitis were alright. Doctor was concerned on my very low hemoglobin count which was 5.3 (normal is 11.5-16.5). So I was advised to take iron folic tablets which I bought from pharmacy. 

Recommended by pharmacist, I took this Maltofer Fol for a month plus. And then this month when the shop was closed for rest day, I went for my 2nd blood test. And again, the result came back undesirable. After much nagging from doctor, I had to increase my iron folic to twice a day, instead of one tablet. 

Not only that, I also take this drink consisting of red date, dried longan and wolfberries almost every day. 

This nourishing drink reminded me much of my confinement where I had to drink longan drink for a month!! Luckily I like longan, red dates and wolfberries, so I don't mind this drink. Other than drink it, I also consume the ingredients. Don't want to waste them. 

When my parents knew of my condition, they went to consult Chinese medicine hall and got this medicine for me. 

RM10 per sachet. My parents bought 7 sachets for me to take for a week. It is in fluid form so I just throw the fluid into my mouth and swallow. Tasted good, luckily no bitter Chinese herbs or medicine in it. I am taking one sachet every day with my iron folic. 

Now my mil will cook amaranth (bayam), pork and chicken soup more to replenish my blood. Of course the family also get to take them as well but I needed to increase my intake more than them. 

As during the weekend when my man is around, I will have to take few slices of liver and its soup as he would order liver soup with his noodle from the kolo mee stall in our shop. 

Hopefully after all those dietary plans, my result would turn out good if my doctor request for another blood test in few months time. 

Flood and I Love Yoo!

 

Photo credit to my brother. Taken after rain has ceased at Jalan Batu Lintang traffic light

Kuching was hit by flash flood last Saturday. The rain started in the morning and just so suddenly it turned into a thunderstorm and soon, most parts were submerged in water.  

3rd mile Underpass turned into a river!

The flood caught everyone by surprise I think. The famous 3rd Mile Underpass with rising water turned it instantly into a river. 2 cars spotted submerged in water. 

Jalan Green when we were on the way to school

If not because that Jan needed to go to her school to collect her Form 5 textbooks (SPM finished on that Monday and ex-Form 5 students returning books the next day), we wouldn't be witnessing the chaos and caught in the jam.  

We dropped her off at school and then headed home to pass the boys their breakfast. That time the rain wasn't heavy, and the route was alright. It was around 730am. And when it was about time to pick her up at 9am, the rain suddenly poured so heavy that we hardly could drive and see anything in front of us. Visibility was really poor. We used hubby's 4WD to pick her. By then, the traffic was getting heavy as some cars stuck, or unable or reluctant to pass through. More cars pulled at the roadside, and some did illegal driving (U-turn and reversing) to avoid the water. We managed to pick her up after all the manoeuvre, and since everywhere was jammed and chaotic, we decided to stop by Aeon Mall. Just to get away from the traffic and flood for the time being. I think other cars also did the same, because soon the Aeon car park was packed!! Everyone seemed to find a breather in the carpark!!

We waited for 10 am when the mall was opened and we went to this snack outlet for brunch. I Love Yoo!!

It has been a while since we last tasted its yue tiaw. We used to buy from the Boulevard Mall outlet but it has since closed down.  

Now mostly selling yue tiaw, unlike we remember it sold other snacks as well. Only one staff working at this outlet so it took sometime for our order to come. 

Freshly made yue tiaw by the staff. We waited for him to do and fry the snack before serving us and few other customers. 

The yue tiaw after they were done!!! Now I can't wait to enjoy them. Lol. 

Hubby's set RM10.90 of dry scallop porridge and 1 yue tiaw and 1 fresh soya milk. The porridge not to our liking. Felt like baby food. Lol. 

Jan and I went for 2 sets of RM7 (1 fresh soya milk and 1 yue tiaw). 

We also bought 2 sets of similar order for the boys. Total bill was around RM34. 

After we were done with our brunch, we braving the road again. The rain has stopped, only drizzle but the jam was still on-going. We used 3rd Mile roundabout to go home as we were worried on the flood at Stapok area. Anyway, we reached home safely regardless of the jam and chaotic moment in 3rd Mile area. And the rain did ceased around noon time. Thank God for that!!

For three months

My girl"s school conducted a thalassemia test last month, done by the medical clinic staff. After a week or more, the result was out. However the blood test of my girl wasn't good so school advised her and other students (mostly girls) to consult doctor in the nearby Klinik Kesihatan. Happened to be the one Jamie always visited for his skin problem, so I took the opportunity to take his medication and being Jan to see a doctor.

The lady doctor mentioned that this wasn't a thalassemia marker so we didn't have to be so concerned. Just that the blood shown low iron and folic acid in her blood, so doctor advised to take the following medication for three months before conducting a blood test. 

Geez, looking at her medication, these were the normal prescription for pregnant ladies. Iron and folic acid. 

My girl rarely sick so she isn't fond of taking medicine. The tablets and pills form, even more!! But she has been diligent in taking them every day so the next blood test result would be better.

I advised her to take more meats especially red meats and drink more water to avoid constipation and heatiness. 

Tapau would do

With the current pandemic, we are starting to do without going out and dine-out in our favourite eateries. It is rather depressing as we feel like been confined in our own space without the freedom of going out anymore. But what matters the most now is survival, so we have to sacrifice certain things and make do without them till situation gets better.

Few weeks ago, my kids wanted to taste some fried noodle. It was a weekday, so my hands were quite full with housework and the kids' schoolworks and online classes. So, food ordering was the best option when I was busy on weekdays.

I saw this Riverpark Seafood Restaurant, they offered dishes as well as fried noodles in FoodPanda app. We went there once, last year for my birthday dinner. How time flies, it was a year ago. Never tried its fried noodle so I decided to order it for the kids. I took my brunch of my fried rice that day so I was still full, did not order for myself.

RM6.40 each, without egg. I liked that they specified the ingredients in the noodle on the app  and an additional charge if want to include egg in it.

Jan had fried mee hoon. She liked this more than kway teow. So the boys had fried kway teow instead. Quite a portion, and the noodles were fried nicely.

I tasted a bit of the fried kway teow, it had some wok hei in it. A pack of chilli and dark sauce was included in the order.

Cucuk 💉

My first Covid-19 vaccination was on 28 June. Hubby got his first dose of Sinovac one week earlier at his panel clinic. We were familiar with the doctor so the doctor helped to arrange for mine as well.

Monday came and the clinic called me to ask whether I could make it for 2pm appointment. That VERY same day. Of course I was alright with it since I was free. So my first dose of Sinovac vaccine was administered that afternoon. 

The doctor noticed that I had mild skin allergy before gave me my dose so she advised that I took the allergy medication right after the jab. So once I was out from the doctor room, a nurse passed me a tablet with a cup of water. 

During the 15 minutes observation, I felt thirsty and my left arm was slightly sore. My left arm was sore and I felt lethargic for 2 to 3 days. Super thirsty, throat was dry and I kept on drinking a lot of water for couple of days. Other than that side effects, I was alright and continue with my daily chores. 

That night after the jab, I started to feel sleepy and tired, so I went to bed before 9pm. Yes, you read it correctly. I went to bed before everyone else! And I slept till the next morning and up around 7am. Oh my. Just in time to cook a quick breakfast before getting ready for the boy's online class. 

Three weeks later, yesterday afternoon I completed my 2nd dose of vaccine. 15 minutes observation period and at the same time, the nurse helped to activate the MySejahtera app and in few steps later, my digital certificate was displayed on my phone.

RM3 each, brought from a nearby fruits shop

I was much prepared this round. Bought 2 coconuts in the morning, and cut and drank the juice after I got back from my jab. Coconut juice can help in relieving fever and heatiness, some said. Maybe it did helped me, as I was doing alright yesterday.  No fever or tired. The only side effects I had were dry throat and sore arm (and I still have a mild sore arm when I woke up this morning).  

Stronger 2nd vaccine, so expect stronger side effect (if any), and my doctor advised to drink more fluid. Some people has not side effect at all. Like my man. He utterly didn't feel anything. For me, it was bearable side effect, nothing so serious.

And did anyone try the after-vaccine electromagnetic effect? I did!! Amazingly, it worked on both arms. Magneto's power! 

On good note, I feel great to be in the same book with many Malaysians and others around the world in getting a full vaccination and continue our fight against the pandemic. 

Now my priority is my children. I have registered Jan for her vaccination last month, while waiting for Jay to turn 12 next month to be able to register him. Hope the vaccine will soon be available to younger children so I could get Jamie to do as well. Fingers cross! 

2 soups on a Sunday

It was a raining Sunday, the last Sunday of June. We did not went for our morning walk, so I cooked breakfast at home. Fried rice with Chinese sausage and fried noodle, whichever suit everyone's tastebuds. 

As for lunch, I heated up the herbal pork soup that I made the day before. Add in mee suah, and it was our simple lunch. 

And hubby was craving for mutton soup so I cooked that with onion in the slow cooker, let it simmer till dinnertime. 

In my previous post, hubby and I went out to Ye Yan to buy the stinky tofu. While I was  there, I also bought pork belly for RM24 (RM10 for every 100gm) from Pinoy Lechon Baboy stall. 

The lechon baboy was nice, salty and garlicky with crispy skin. 

From Ye Yan, we dropped by a pharmacy in Brighton Square to get Jamie's lotion and an antibiotic cream for myself. 

My index finger got infected when I woke up that morning. Pus-filled swell on left side of the finger, so I got my man to help me. 

After 2 days, the finger was getting better. So happy to be able to use it properly. Don't you think it is a bit troublesome to do housechore with one 'injured' finger?? I felt 'handicap' for 2 days as everytime it touched something, it will be painful. 

Tapau mode

No dine-in since last month, so we have to resort to tapau our food to support our favourite coffee shop. Luckily over here, the ministry allowed business to open from 6am to 8pm, so no problem for those going to market, and tapau breakfast and so forth. 

We also resumed our morning walk since jogging, light exercises are allowed around the neighbourhood. So, one morning last week, after a brief exercise, we walked to the coffee shop. We reached there around 640am. Few people in front of the queue, everyone followed SOP and patiently waited for their breakfast to be ready. And we thought we were early as it was only 6.40am and the coffee shop usually opened after 6am, but someone beat us to it!  Lol!

While waiting for our noodles, I ordered RM2 each of these fritters. It has been a while since I drink teh c, so I tapaued a cup of warm teh c for RM2.40. I forgot to ask for lesser sugar, so my teh c was slightly sweet but at least my craving was satisfied. 

I did not take kolo mee that morning but instead had fried mee hoon (RM5). Jan also requested for fried mee hoon, I guess she was bored with eating kolo mee. 

Hubby took a like in kolo kway teow lately, so I ordered kolo kway teow for him. 

The boys had their usual, kolo mee. RM3.50 each but the kolo noodle costs RM4 from 1 June 2021 onwards. Price-wise, it was at par with other kolo mee shops now. Hardly able to find RM3.50, or RM3 or even lesser than RM3 kolo mee nowadays.

When I saw (ayam pansuh)

My brother sent this photo to me last Thursday. He has been working at home for past week, so he has time to order food and help my mum around the house.

Ayam pansuh and ikan asam pedas from Telang Usan hotel to add to their dishes for lunch. Around RM49 for both, but discounted RM7 from FoodPanda. Both looked good from the photo. My brother commented the fish was nice and creamy, with thick, fresh fillets. The pansuh was nice but not that salty according to my bro's tastebuds. 

When I saw his photo, I had sudden craving for Dayak cuisine especially pansuh. The last time I had pansuh was last Christmas at my Bidayuh cousin's house. She served her homecooked babi pansuh that afternoon.

 

And coincidentally, I saw this post by Kuching Food Heaven (KFH) on a small home-based Dayak food delivery in FB. Somehow, the pansuh was calling to me that day! Thanks to my bro and this FB post!  Lol!

Actually I saw this post for few days but never thought of giving it a try till last Thursday.  So I Whatsapp the operator in the evening, and after a while, I decided to order these food from her for the next day. A day before Sarawak government implemented MCO in the state for 2 weeks.

On Friday morning, I brought my girl to nearby Klinik Kesihatan for her tetanus jab. Supposed to be done in school but due to schools closing, interested students are to go to selected Klinik Kesihatan to take the injection. Luckily our nearby clinic was chosen, so it was convenient to send her over around 8am. At the same time, I collected Jamie's medication from the pharmacy. It was fortunate that the clinic has a special spot for the students from her school to take the jab so less than 10 minutes, Jan was done!! 

Back to my food order, it was around 1130am that I met her outside my guarded residence to take and pay for the food. Supposed to meet at McD's parking but due to BTS promotion, we were concerned on the jam and crowds. A friendly young mum with her young daughter delivered our lunch. She was very courteous, whatsapp me on the taste and preference. 

We had Dayak cuisine for lunch, which consisted of Nasi Ubi Tutok with babui goreng and salted egg (RM8), Nasi hitam with ayam pansuh and salted egg (RM8), and 1 pack of ayam pansuh for RM5. Delivery charges of RM2, so total was RM23, which was reasonable to me.

My understanding was that Nasi Ubi Tutok was rice cooked with tapioca leaves where they grind with mortar and pestle. A Bidayuh dish, which I tasted for the first time last Christmas and I loved it! Tastier and more fragrant.  

This nasi ubi tutok was nice (not as tasty as my cousin's cooking), accompanied by flavourful with tasty fried pork belly (babui), fried anchovies, sambal dipping, and a fried egg. Jan had it for her lunch. 

On the other hand, I had nasi hitam, chicken pansuh and salted egg. Nasi hitam was more of a brown rice, not black at all.  The ayam pansuh packed in another plastic container. The ayam pansuh was mild in taste, slightly sweet and not too salty. I heated up and add some salt to the soup for dinner in the evening. 

 

For this order, I had 2 packs of pansuh. One to go with the nasi hitam, while another was without rice. I kept 1 pack of ayam pansuh in freezer for future consumption. 

 I don't mind ordering from her again when I feel like having pansuh. It is 1st day of Gawai today in Sarawak so her kitchen and delivery business are close for time being. She may not be sending the food herself due to MCO, instead she may get runners to do it, according to her.  Wish her all the best in her home-based business. 

Wishing all my Dayak friends and family "Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai"

Holding on

 Life goes on.

The MCO, CMCO, RMCO that implemented on us since the beginning of the month. Every day we are bombarded with stats and news of the pandemic, locally and internationally. Indeed life has changed since 2020, and the pandemic does not seemed to slow down. Our fight isn't over yet.

Putting this aside, we also have to brave ourselves with our own problems and dilemma. 

Work-wise, hubby has a new boss to report to this year. More demand, more pressure from this new boss. It isn't easy to work at such dire time.

At home, the kids are holding on well by staying indoor most of 2020. And for the first time in history, 2021 schools are conducted via online classes. So more staying at home for students this year. I don't have much worry for the 2 older kids as they are independent and able to manage their own time and schoolworks.

Jamie on the other hand has been a handful, both in academic and health. He is not so into books and study but I do not pressure him much since he was in Primary 1 last year. Of course there is always concern at the back of my mind on whether he can catch up this year since a lot of hiccups in 2020.

We brought him see Chinese physician last month for his eczema and skin problem. We are at lost of how to treat him as his condition does not seemed to improve lately. 

However thank God that his skin improved few days before schools supposed to reopen. l brought him to skin clinic in nearby government health clinic on 15th. After taking the necessary medicines and applying creams, his skin is getting much better. Follow up early February at the skin clinic. 

This 2 months we have been busy cleaning and clearing up the downstair room for my mother-in-law. We are preparing a room for her when she is coming to stay with us.

The room used to be hubby's study room so many stuff and collection in it. Some we moved to our upstair hall, just outside our bedroom. Others we threw away or gave away.

One Sunday we went to Boulevard mall to hunt for her bed and wardrobe. The kids were at home. We spent some times at Boulevard supermarket and then SSF. After that, a quick lunch in Boulevard restaurant. It has been months since we came here for dim sum breakfast.

But no, both of us did not have dim sum that day. However we did ordered a few for takeaway. Both of us had roasted duck rice instead. Tastewise, it wasn't that good. The rice was tasteless, not fragrant and oily like other places. I prefer the roasted duck rice from Hong Kong Noodle House and Imperial Duck. 

Last night

Last night, we went to Kuching International Airport to pick up my MIL who was flying over from Sibu. 

We were an hour early. Found ourselves a nice parking spot and everyone walked out to the arrival hall. 

The airport looked like a deserted town, with totally no crowds except those waiting. As it was a rainy night, plus with less crowd, the place was rather chilly. It felt like the time has stopped. 

Since we had a lot of time waiting for my MIL, we went to McD's for an early supper. Very early supper as we just had dinner at home an hour ago and it wasn't 8pm yet! 

Kids have supper mostly. I was still full from my dinner. After picked up my MIL, we went home. MIL had McD chicken porridge before she went to sleep. She will be staying with us for a week. The kids will have a short school holiday starting this Thursday, so we have some time spending with her. 

 

Elsewhere

On day 8, hubby was working but shorter working hours. After Day 8, he stayed at home till 31 March. 

After he was off from work around 4pm, he went to Everrise, Green Heights Mall to buy some pork supply. We didn't bought any the previous day in the wet market, so hubby volunteered to go to Everrise to buy them. 

However it was a very long queue as the supermarket implemented control on numbers of customers in the premises. Elsewhere was the same. Banks, supermarkets, pharmacies; more stringent controls now. 

I went to a nearby supermarket the other day and every customers need to wash their hands before allowed in the outlet. One member per household is allowed to enter and shop. 

Hubby not only bought his supply of pork products in Everrise, he also bought some packs of sushi back. We love sushi, and Everrise has a nice selection of sushi. 

We ate the sushi and our dinner started late that day. If I knew he bought sushi home, I wouldn't have cooked so much. But I heated up the leftover beef curry and fried chicken wings the next day for lunch.