Reminiscing 2016

This is the last post for 2016.

So much has happened this year. The good, the bad and ugly. Bittersweet year but we survive and thank God for his guidance.

January

Schools reopened; my eldest in Primary 4 while the 2nd child started his primary school.

Febuary

CNY was a great and wonderful for us; a time of family and friends come together.

March

Hubby has his relocation to a Sri Aman and would not know when he would be able to be transferred back home.

April

My princess is turning 10 and we had a simple lunch celebration for her. An eventful month for Jan and Jay as they had their first repertoire, enrolled in new tuition centre, and entered a colouring competition.

May

We spent a short family holiday in Sri Aman during the school holiday.

June

We caught up with our friends over a lunch, my almost 5-years old freezer had a problem and I went for a follow-up check-up and everything was fine.

July

My beloved uncle passed on and was in a better place. And check out on how we celebrated our first Sarawak Independence Day

August

A birthday month for me and Jay but it was also a sickness month. Everyone in family was not well and hit by viruses.

We had a simple Chinese dinner with my mil, sil and bil to celebrate our birthday.

September

The youngest turned 3 in September. No big celebration. And my sil safely delivered a healthy baby girl.

October

Passing of a relative and my little niece admitted in hospital for lung infection.

November

A very busy month. Exam, not 100% well. Kids did well in their final exam. And my blog is officially 9 years old.

December

A quiet month with premature empty nest syndrome for me!! 2 older kids were off on a 3-weeks long holiday and I had that loneliness feeling. Thankfully I have one young kid to hold on to and accompany me through the quiet weeks. And not much Christmas celebration this year. What we did on Christmas Day? Attended morning mass, had afternoon siesta and a wedding reception to attend to in the evening.

That wrapped up my 2016 calendar.

Wishing everyone "Happy New Year" and hope everyone has a wonderful, happy and blessed year ahead. See you all in 2017!

Where cool wheels and good food

This cool cafe has been in business for quite sometime now but I only got chance to visit it sometime middle of the month.

"Feast & Furious" is the name of this cafe with cool wheels and good food to offer you with. 

Very manly and sporty touch if you asked me but I do like the interior. Something different and unique.

Located in forever busy Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (in the same building with The Upper Room and SIB Grace), this cafe serves both Western and local cuisine. Pork-free.

This first thing you see when you open the glass door would be this cool bike greeting you and right in front of it is this under-the-ground glass display of colourful helmets.

Many cool collectibles as well as motorbikes, motorcars and vehicles are displayed in here. 

I would like to sit in one of these bikes. *wink*

After aaaawwwing and ooooohing over those cool wheels, our food just came at the right time to feed our hungry tummies.

Oh, forgot to tell you that I went with my sis on a Saturday. It was after 1pm but the cafe wasn't packed so our food came to our table pretty fast.

My sis had Fish & Chips (RM22) which was nice. They used dory and the batter was good. A classic rendition of deep-fried battered dory that is crispy outside while still moist and juicy inside. 

I tried the turmeric chicken chop (RM23), which is something unusual from the classic chicken chop that I would usually have. This boneless chicken chop was burst with flavours from marinade of turmeric, ginger and garlic. Generous helping of fries and fresh vegetables while accompanied by mushroom sauce dipping.

Of course I needed something to cool myself down so I had this big bowl of glass jelly sarsi (RM6). Shaved ice with generous glass jelly and sarsi syrup. 

A satisfying lunch with my sis. Thanks to her for recommending this cafe. I wouldn't mind coming here again to try its other food on the menu.

This cafe is where you could find cool wheels and good food together in Kuching.

Business hours are Monday to Sunday from 730am to 1130pm. Pork-free but they serve beers.

Second time to the house

Our first visit to The House Cafe was in September. It has been more than 2 months since then and when hubby was on leave sometime middle this month, we came back for the second time.

The House Cafe

This time, I did not have the Sarawak laksa which was good. Hubby had his dose of yummylicious that morning where as I went for the Muslim stall.

Sarawak laksa RM6

A girlfriend recommended its Mee Jawa from the Muslim stall which was perfect and fit her tastebuds.

I were convinced to try Mee Jawa ayam that morning for my breakfast.

Mee Jawa ayam RM6

True to her words, the gravy was delicious and flavourful but not too sweet. Just right consistency and thickness.

I love the cucur that they added in the mee jawa. Couldn't get enough of it.

Mee Jawa daging RM6

Hubby tasted the gravy and he immediately ordered a pack of Mee Jawa daging for lunch.

Look at the chunky beef!! Irresistible, right??

Rojak ayam RM5

As for me, I just got to tapau its rojak ayam. Delicious with fried chicken pieces, cucur, beansprouts, cucumber and boiled egg. 

The operator was so generous; gave us 2 big packs of gravy to go with the Mew Jawa and rojak. I wouldn't mind coming back here for their Muslim food anytime.

Hubby is on leave this whole week and the kids are back from their long "sabbatical" holiday. Everyone is back together. Maybe another visit to The Home Cafe is in order sometime this week.

On the eve

Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow is Christmas day. Hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful holiday with your family and loved ones.

We have a relaxing Christmas eve today. Woke up late for brunch in McD's and then we went to catch a movie in MBO. Star Wars movie, what else. *wink*

After the movie, we had our lunch in J & J Cafeteria, Stutong. I tried its Nasi Goreng seafood. Nice, not overloaded with MSG. Served with stir-fried kangkung at the side and a bowl of cilantro soup.

Then we went home to rest before I prepared our Western dinner. Nothing grand, had spaghetti carbonara with grilled chicken and potatoes, and salad.

The way we like it. Spending our Christmas Eve night at home.

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Quiet, Christmas around

Things are pretty quiet lately at home. The two older kids have been holidaying in their hometown for more than two weeks now.  I am not complaining; I have more quiet time at home and Jamie is much more obedient and quieter without those two around.

Before those two left for their long holiday, we set up our Christmas tree together.  It is somehow a family tradition to set up and decorate the tree together every year. The kids were so looking forward to setting up the tree.

Our theme this year? Gold and red.

The kids' presents have been wrapped and placed under the tree. Couldn't wait for Jan and Jay to be home on Boxing Day to open up their presents.

What is our plan for Christmas?? Not much of a celebration, nothing grand. Attending church service in the morning, taking an afternoon siesta and attending a wedding reception in the evening. That is our Christmas plan. Relaxing time and just enjoy the holiday.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What's ho liao

My bro suggested this new cafe in Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim. Same row with Talleywood furniture shop (the row of shop next to the big drain that was a stone throw away from Hock Lee centre). This corner lot cafe is named "Penang Holiao". Holiao means "good food".

As the name suggested, it serves Penang's famous dishes such as prawn noodle, char kway teow and Penang Cendol.

Operating hours are from 6.30am to 3.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and 7.30am to 3.30pm (Sunday) while off day is on every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.

Together with my mum, we went there on one Friday for breakfast. It was around 830am when we reached there. The cafe was empty since it was early. It is an air-con cafe with few seats in front of the cafe for those who prefer outside seat and smoke.

After looking through its menu, mum and I placed our order with a young man. 

Mum had its fried tang hoon (RM6.90) as highly recommended by my bro. Taste-wise it was good and enough wok hei but my mum complained it was getting saltier as she finished up her dish. Lol.

My special char kway teow (RM9.90) was nothing that special other than the 3 big prawns. In the menu, it stated that the special char kway teow consisted of Chinese sausage, duck egg and prawns. I specifically requested no chilli for my kway teow since I were sharing it with my boy. They omitted the cili padi in the noodle for us.

Next time I drop by here, I would like to try the prawn noodle. Not sure when, it definitely would not be any time soon. Somehow it is out of the way unless I specifically go out of the way for it. 

Shopping and food in the mall

Had a sister date few weeks ago when my sister was having her leave. Together with Jamie, we went to Vivacity Mall for a walk and shopping.

Christmas decoration around the mall was simple. Nothing extravagant and merrier compared to the previous year.  I just took the stage decoration in its Atrium. 

Fireplace

Santa in the sleigh

Another corner with a reindeer

Then we went to Parkson Grand and Kaison as my sis wanted to get some Christmas presents for her colleagues. I have never been to Kaison so it took us quite a long time browsing around the aisle. So many things to see.

These small cups are so cute! 12 Chinese zodiacs for collection

I did bought something from Kaison and one of them was this flower pot. So pretty and fit my bar counter well.

We were in Vivacity for almost 2 hours and before we left, we made a stop in Komugi for its acclaimed Hanjuku cheese cake. 

So so delicious. Not overly cheesy and rich, those cheese cakes were so tempting. Couldn't stop eating them.

And another stop was Nando's. I bought 1/4 peri-peri chicken plus Mediterranean rice for RM17.90 for my dinner to be shared with Jamie. 

That was how we spent our day. Went out early in the morning and came home late in the afternoon. Had breakfast, walk in the mall, and spent few hours in my mum's house. No wonder both of us were knocked out and slept early that day.  *wink*