We walked

I told you before that I was helping my dad at his shop for time being. A part-time job, to kill my time since I am free in the morning when my kids all are in schools.

My dad's shop is in Green Road. Some day he would ask me to go for breakfast or brunch. We went to few coffee shops that are across from his shop. The furthest we walked was to this coffee shop, opposite Chong Lin condominium.

Even on weekday, we would have to wait for some time for our kolo mee. But worth the wait. 

So satisfying. One of my favourite kolo mee in Kuching.

And as we were waiting for our noodle, we bumped into a friend of mine selling some curry puffs and egg tarts. She has been doing it for few months now, walking along Green road selling pastries. I bought 2 curry puffs from her that morning. In case I was hungry in the afternoon.

RM2 per piece and I had a piece while another went into Jay' s tummy. It was still warm when I ate it around 12. I love potatoes in my curry puff.

Strawberry shandy

Do you fancy Shandy?

I know I do! I don't take beers that often. More of a cocktail and red wine person.

But I have a soft spot for Shandy as I grow up loving it at a very young age. The 1% alcohol lemonade-infused beer was the closest beer we could get at home as my parents don't drink.

I love the chill and refreshing lemonade beer anytime. And to make an even delightful drink, why don't add a bit of fruity flavour of strawberry into the Shandy?

Bought a pack of super nice, super sweet Korea strawberries from a local supermarket not so long ago. I don't remember I ever tasted such sweet strawberry before. Mostly with a tart of sour in the fruit but the Korea strawberries that I bought were so sweet. Wish I bought more packs then.

So that was how my idea of adding strawberries to my Shandy started. All these while I were enjoying a can of Shandy and snacking on some fresh strawberries.

If you don't have Shandy at home, just mix beer of your choice and juice of one lemon (sliced and deseeded). 

Ingredients:

1 cold can of Anglia Shandy beer

A slice of lemon

2 strawberries, quartered

Methods:

1. In a serving glass, add in the strawberry to the shandy. Garnish with lemon or you could add into shandy for more lemony taste. Add some ice (optional) and serve cold

Easter Sunday

It is Easter Monday and the kids have no schools today. So no Monday blues for everyone except hubby who still need to go to work. ;)

Yesterday we went to church for Easter Sunday mass. A longer mass than usual as the holy communion was held as usual on first Sunday of the month.

Before the church mass, we went for breakfast in Thompson Corner in Nanas road. So many choices there but I settled for Sarawak laksa. It was not that great. Just spicy but not flavourful as laksa should be. Mind you, it was RM6 for small size.

Anyway after our breakfast we went to Padungan to buy few stalks of flower for the Easter Sunday. 

The mass went on well with a special part where everyone took turn to place flowers onto the cross.

After the mass was done, we went to Mr. DIY to get something. Ta-da!

My first sewing kit. Wouldn't you believe it? I never owned a sewing kit before. I do have needle and threads at home but not a complete kit. And now I have this, my hubby is expecting me to mend his pants and shirts. ;)

The bridge and beyond

The longest bridge in Sarawak (and 3rd longest in Malaysia) is the Batang Sadong bridge that opened for travellers since October 2016.

I see the bridge!

Last Saturday, we went for a short road trip to the bridge, and covering few villages and small towns beyond it. It wasn't a fabulous day for a road adventure but the green countryside view was worth the drive.

About 2 hours drive to the bridge from Kuching as heavy downpour on us along the way. Beforehand, we had to take a ferry in Kampong Bandong, so that already cost us  some time waiting in line for the ferry across the river.

We passed by so many greens, canals, barrages, farms, banana trees, coconut trees and oil palm trees. I love countryside, the air is fresh and even better, after the rain.

Banana trees on both sides 

Paddy field

One of the few big barrages

Asajaya Canal 2

Down the bridge on way back to Kuching

Over Batang Sadong

Infested with crocs??

We passed by Samarahan to Sadong Jaya, then Asajaya and over the new bridge to Sebangan. After that, we made a stop in Simunjan for a toilet break and lunch before heading home. We did not use the ferry service but took the other road to Semarahan and headed home from there. Overall a 5 hours outing.

Asajaya

Simunjan town

Most Simunjan shops have addresses below their trading names

One of the old blocks

Lunch over here

Late lunch

Kolo mee

Economy rice

The only outing that we managed to do over the school holiday.  At least we brought the kids out discovering new places in Sarawak.

The best

One morning after I picked Jay up from his tuition class, we wanted to go to "Yes" Cafe for early lunch before heading home. But it turned out that the shop was closed. Closed on a Tuesday.

Since we were there and I were too lazy to drive to other place, we went to another food court, a stone throw away from Yes Cafe. The Best Corner.

The Best Corner

We had a walk one round to check on the stalls that opened and finally my boy settled for his usual dish, kolok mee.

As for me, I ordered from the fried food stall. Something that I have not eaten for quite sometime.

Cantonese fried kway teow

Cantonese fried kway teow! So generous with egg gravy. So much greens and reasonable ingredients for RM6.

I enjoyed it very much. I think this was the best I have ever tasted so far. The kway teow was full of "wok hei" and I loved the fragrant egg gravy.

It was so comforting to have it. Something I seldom eat and it feels so good to enjoy it once in a while.

I enjoyed my Cantonese kway Teow with a glass of soya bean. My boy had iced Milo and oh boy! A big glass of iced Milo was so expensive. My kids mostly drink Milo at home and yet, they would still want to order iced Milo when we dine outside.

Jude chicken rice stall

We were seated just in front of this Jude chicken rice stall. Yes, the same Jude chicken rice that operate in Open Air Market since 1993. I think the son operating this stall as I saw a young man mending the stall.

I bought a pack of fried chicken rice (RM6) for Jan. Looked good to me. No complaint from my girl so I guess it was good.

Miscellaneous Picture # 77: food craving and numbers

Had Roti Tisu not so long ago with my Jay in Curry House. My sudden craving for this crispy, thin flatbread.

Pizza lunch for the kids- they simply love no-rice meals. Pizza. Kids can't resist it.

I am more of a rice person. Rice with curry chicken and salted mustard were the best meal for me.

Spent some times teaching my Jay multiplication table over the holiday.

How to teach kids division?? My boy has problem understanding the logic of division but not much problem with multiplication. Took me some time to make him understand. I guess practice makes perfect. 

About them

I have not been posting much about my children's update for quite sometime. 

Life with the three is never short of excitement, joy, headaches and pains but at the same time, it is a journey of discovery and bittersweet for me. Every day is a new chapter for me and them.

The eldest has been busy with schools. UPSR is 6 months away. But her 12th birthday is next month. Asked her if she would like a birthday party, she said no. She is not into those big parties or don't want so much trouble for her special day. So maybe a little celebration at home or her favourite meal for her special day.

She loves music and still an avid reader. She likes to stay most of her time in her room, her private place where she is very protective of. I respect her privacy but sometime I do miss chatting to her. Her brothers aren't allowed into her room unless she invites them to.

The second child is a headache as he is getting rebellious at his age (8+). Smart but lazy, he has trouble in school. Average learner. So I spend more time with him, understand him and learn together with him.

However he loves to keep stuff. A young collector, I called him. He is learning to keep his room and stuff clean and tidy. Better in keeping his room cleaner compared to his sister. ;)

The youngest has finally adjust to his full day in kindergarten. No more wailing and excuses whenever I drop him off at the kindergarten compound. He enjoys his time with his friends. Academic-wise, he is learning but need a bit of pushing.

He can write his English name now. Also able to write few Chinese, English and BM words. He still enjoys doodling on papers. I let him doodle, write and draw as it is a way to express himself and encourage him to learn. More talkative and some day I couldn't get him to stop talking for a second!

Life as kid is no longer that fun as 5 years old needs to learn spelling. Not fond of it as I think kids as young as he is, should be enjoying their childhood and learn in a fun way. Education indeed not the same nowadays, unlike my time.

Ok, that's from me for now.