Never thought that we have to be vaccinated at this age with multiple vaccination, boosters and what not. 2021 / 2022 vaccination vaccination....
#wholefamilyhasbeen vaccinated
Did I hear right? MCO has been extended again? Argh...... Such a pain! Makes you long for a country where there is good governance and proper leadership! O Lord, when will you come back again or at the very least, to have your kingdom come on Malaysia as it is in heaven.
Jesus we are waiting for you to come and reign in our nation. Meanwhile, we will not be in despair nor will our faith falter.
In the midst of all the MCO gloom, have also taken time off just to give mum a break and also give myself a break from the laptop and phone screens. So
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| My take on Asam Fish |
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| Din Tai Fung Fried Rice |
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| This is a mix of curry, kapitan, lemon grass, thai combination chicken |
Korean Pork
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| Stir Fry Pork with Chili |
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| Beancurd (Tau Kan) with mushroom and vegetable. Although this is a vegetable dish but I am proud of this dish. Getting the sauce to taste like the restaurant sauce and trying to recreate something that you get at wedding dinners. |
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| A healthier lunch meal. Greensss... reds.... When the body needs a rest from the very rich food. |
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| Hou... The meal he whips up are good! If only they were less deadly. |
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| Celebrating the parent's anniversary with the others dialing in virtually. Is this how life would be if there was only 2 children? Quite sad huh... I am so used to having quite a crowd. Now I experience how it is like if the parents only had 2 children. Quite sad.. hahaha! But I am so so thankful to be able to spend the entire lock down or for that matter the years with the family... Certainly makes life easier. |
The face when he is so busy at work. When the finger comes up, someone is deep in thought or is in work mode.
Took blood and the bruise gets darker with each passing day. Never before have I been bruise as such. :(
And I am most likely taking my vaccination this coming week. So are my parents. Looks like next week will be a vaccination week! Signing out for now till I am motivated to write more.
Another Covid anniversary. I count it a blessing to be able to celebrate my birthday in the comfort of my home. Indeed each additional year is a gift from God. It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting more, achieving more, being more but birthdays are a time to remember what is life on earth about and why life on earth?
It reminds me to reflect on why God made me and what is my purpose here on earth because there will come a time when I won't be able to blow another candle, where I won't be able to contribute, won't be able to move, won't be able to wake up and see the morning rise. My life's motto is to make my life count which is also why I started this blog and how this blog got its name. I want to count in the Kingdom of God, to count to those people around me & to count to the generation after me. This does not mean that life will be rosy nor will life always feel purposeful but it's having a mind that is determined to live a life worthy of His calling.
Just to soak in the blessings that came from family and friends, here's an account of the day.
Woke up and was greeted with 'siu keong' in the bathroom. So glad that mummy was already awake at 5am. Die 'Siu Keong'! You are no match for my mummy...
I am no match for mummy's hug and birthday blessings too before I can head back to bed and snooze more.
Did the usual routine of morning walk with mummy dearest and she cooked the traditional foo chow birthday dish (because she's traditional that way) which I love very much and was blessed to be able to spend virtual time with my one and only. Thank you dear for carving time out to spend time virtually with me. Lastly, my beloved siblings for calling in for a virtual family birthday celebration together.
Signature Market goodies from Mei Chern (International). Mum thought it was from my one and only.
Mummy's effort and love. Yummy....
They symbolic red eggs for Birthdays which symbolizes birth or new start and red which symbolizes prosperity and good fortune.
All the way from Kuching.
Chapatians decided to give me a break from weekend cooking. It lasted us 2 meals plus.
Birthday dinner thanks to Ervinna
And sweet treats to sweeten the day
Some of the goodies that were shipped out to mummy's students because of the abundant food received.
Carrot walnut cake which was filled with walnuts from Santhia (International)
My beloved siblings. May we continue to grow as a family and celebrate each other's life
A proper saint photo of me
From the CG gals and Joshua. Sweet treats!
And from none other than my one and only! Love the song you wrote too my dear. Haven't been able to celebrate my birthday with you since we went official. :( 2 years in a row...
Thankful for the birthday wishes and Levina's Ukulele Birthday dedication song.
It has indeed been such a blessing. Thankful for the opportunity to have a family and also to have friends and close by. And now... to reach out to the unknown and live a life of faith!
Laura Story : Hello Unknown
I am letting go
Of everything I've known
Farewell predictable, oh-oh
No more playing safe
I'll free fall into faith
I'll say goodbye control
Hello unknown
https://open.spotify.com/track/1UDDh8YhurIBKhu4XzKTPM?si=3a8746c75ea346d1
Timeline of the movement restriction in Malaysia
2020
March 16th Announcement by PM on MCO
Phase 1 - Movement Control Order 1.0 (MCO 1.0) from 18th March 2020 till 3rd May 2020
MCO 1.0 - 18 March 2020 to 3 May 2020
(47 Days MCO + 27 Days RMCO =74 Days restriction)
- 5 June Birthday Surprise
CMCO - 4 May to 9 June 2020
Wesak Day 7th May
Nuzul Al-Quran 10th May
Phase 3 - Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) from 10th June till 31st December 2020Hari Raya 25th - 26th May
RMCO started on June 10 onwards. Interstate Restrictions lifted!
(126 days before restriction)
14 October - CMCO with inter-district restriction imposed
(54 days restriction)
Deepawali 14 November
- 10 November - Work Trip to see Audio Systems in Balakong
- 30 November - Drop in to office to do some IT maintenance
Interstate Travel lifted on 7 December
(37 days before next restriction)
Phase 4 – CMCO in the areas with high COVID-19 cases from 14th December 2020 till 31st December 2020Total Restriction in 2020 = 128 days
2021
Phase 5 – RMCO nationwide from 1st January 2021 till 31st March 2021Christmas 25 December & New Year 1 January
Phase 6 - Movement Control Order 2.0 (MCO 2.0) from 13th January 2021 till 4th March 2020
MCO 2.0 : Inter-district and Interstate Travel ban imposed on 13 January 2021
Chinese New Year - 12th - 13th February
- Went to office on 12th of February 2021. Had lunch at Chilis.
- Collected the car on 25 February 2021 and tinted the car on 4th of March 2021
(51 days restriction)
Inter-district restrictions lifted on 5th March 2021
Nuzul Al - Quran -29th April 2021
(62 days before next restriction)
Phase 7 - Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0) from 6th May 2021 (Selangor), 7th May 2021 (Kuala Lumpur), Nationwide (12th May 2021) till on-going
MCO 3.0 starts with Selangor 6th May and KL started MCO on 7th May 2021
Hari Raya - 13th - 15th May 2021
Wesak Day - 26th May 2021
Total Restriction in 2021 (until 27 May 2021) = (51 days + 22 days) = 73 days
Been really blessed that we have managed to spend the last day before restriction together and the first day of lifted restriction together. Thanks for going that extra mile dear. Counting down to restriction-less days.
1 June - 13 June - Full MCO [full or further MCO] :(
14 June - 28 June - Extended MCO
The book of Acts have been one of those books that inspires me and challenges me on. Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday and I was blessed by Pastor Patrick Grant's message. It was a great reminder that without the spirit power there is no chance, absolutely impossible! to be able to do what God wants me to do / live out a missional living.
The past few weeks have been quite crazy and there were several occasions where I feel like 'O my! This is beyond me. I'm not cut out for this.'
1st instance was during the Hari Raya weekend where I was caught between the overseas country, my boss and what I feel. It was a weekend and the country was chasing me for a response, my boss gave his views but I couldn't see how I could word the policy so that it all worked out. Against my usual tendency to respond immediately, I felt the need to press into worship and prayer. Right after that God gave me the words. My boss, the country and the Board approved of it.
2nd instance, I felt like I was being attacked. One incident after another incident, 3 separate matters on the same night. I was all riled up and felt defeated. I concluded that I am not cut out to manage 'politics'. To cut the long story short, God cleared the matter where my other colleagues spoke up on my behalf and the matter was resolved without me doing anything. Truly God's hand.
3rd instance, last Friday my boss could not attend the Board meeting and one of my colleague too could not make it for the Board meeting. It was one THE Board meeting that I wish I did not have to attend alone. Somehow, God came through in the meeting. There was one of the initiative that was presented by the Country team and the Country Board was initially not for the initiative, they were not convinced with the benefits. I drew courage to speak up at the meeting and explained the situation, they listened and were a little open but I still sense hesitance, however in a turn of events, one of the issues which was highlighted in the meeting in a different agenda could be resolved with the initiative. There were immediate receptiveness and agreement from the committee.
4th instance, today I finally felt I should go address one of the pressing issues with my colleague. She's almost retiring and her usual response is to 'tai-chi' responsibility to other people. I asked if we could have a discussion which she responded in a hostile manner to me. I dreaded the discussion and prayed, Dal prayed too. Praise God that the discussion went well. We reached an agreement on the way forward of the issue at hand.
Truly we can't do anything on our own strength. It is the Holy Spirit at work in us, if only we let HIM.
Also a big shout out to my prayer partner and my pillar of strength who has been praying for me and with me through it all. Thank you my dear for constantly reminding me that we can always turn to HIM.
Acts 1: 8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
I found out that the mask causes my lips to crack and yeast infection to happened but I am thankful for the adventures and experiences.
Some of my favourite photos from the start of 2021 till to-date
One day before lock down (See it's like lock down after lock down), managed to celebrate his birthday together. Register car number plate was a super long queue but so glad to have him with me and then followed by movie marathon before heading home before lock down is imposed. God is good. Thank God for his timing.
My first time making pau. Baking adventures during the beginning of the year movement restriction
Chinese New Year this year was a low key affair. No house visitation. No friends over. Not the whole fam bam but we still had a good catch up with friends and family over zoom and still had a pretty decent meal.
My stir fry pork. Quite like the crunchiness of the celery. Really strange because I used to hate eating celery. Signs of aging?
Another sign of aging? Don't mind eating these kinda food which in the past would have be a total no no but well vegetarian fast can't complain but it wasn't too bad! I survived and no I did not grow smaller.... :(
When we can go down to KL, who else will I go and meet? Hehehe! We decided to meet at Mid Valley! =) After a near accident, grocery shopping, and trying to find vegetarian food we ended up at KFC eating vegetarian burger because the shops close early during this period... Attending class while chomping down vegetarian burger which wasn't bad at all. Yumsz. even my carnivorous partner approves of it! But he will still choose meat any other day. Hahah... Hou too would go with him.
My version of Kapitan Chicken ... is it Kapitan?
One of my comfort food throughout the vegetarian fast. Curry veg. Really helped with the blend vegetables. So glad that God invented spices and spices are not meat! ;)
Braised tofu. Never thought I would go find tofu since I don't like tofu but it did keep me full throughout the vegetarian fast but glad I don't have to eat tofu to keep myself full now. :P
Okay I look extra weird in this photo. One of the many times that my eyes is not looking at the camera. but thumbs up to Mr Carnivore for trying Simple Life. It was a 'no pass' but still proud that he tried his level best to eat. hahaha...
This on the other hand was also quite a challenge for me. Vital shot but felt like I was losing my vitals consuming it. Pungent but we had a good laugh looking at each other's expression trying to consume this little "Chili Padi"
He was quite happy when he saw "mutton curry or was it rendang" on the menu. Excitement quickly turn to funny faces. hahaha... For a person who can consume a lot of food, he sure eats like a bird when we frequent the vegetarian outlets.
This was yummy and good. A good time of catching up with Daniel too. We took a few photos together too at Bukit Tunku. Rained stopped a bit for us to go wild!
Love moments with my brother but I have to be prepared to face this. Talking to myself while he stares at his phone. Sighz......
Day out at Sekinchan. It was a blistering hot day and boy did I get more than the tan I need. We made 2 new friends and lots of laughter in between. It was quite a rush but still thankful that we could meet up before Grace heads back to Kuching.
More shots at Sekinchan. It was hot and windy which it is testament by the Chinese eyes and the crazy hair blowing.
Guess who we bump into at Mid Valley! Daniel who was doing superhero moves down the escalator. Perhaps we saved him from getting more noise from the security guard who was concerned about the safety of such such a stunt.
When he comes all shaven and bonus when it is straight from a wedding because he will dress better. hahaha...... Love it when he looks so smart looking! ;)
Right from the smart looking we looked like we got up from bed. Outdoor badminton. Not the best but can't be choosy in such times. Love the outdoors, love the sweat sesh, of course love the company. Somehow with him around, Hou will exercise too.
Grace's farewell dinner at Mid Valley. Ladies meet up.
We looked like we are ready for some battle. It was fun just edging each other on to do more. Of course it was much much more bearable when you are doing it with another person. Interesting, right before this we were both arguing and here in this photo, we are all smiles. That's part and parcel of relationship right? You fight it out, you disagree but at the end of the day, you are a team. We workout and overcome our differences to be the iron that sharpens iron.
More of my cooks.
Trying to make it look photo worthy. The best feeling I have is when I see my family finishes up everything I cook, it is a sign that it is a pass!
Cooking pork curry from scratch. Is this a pass?
Taking mum out for buffet! Well, it was supposed to be an all ladies makan in January but locked down, restricted movement, we could only meet up in April but it was nice catchin up, eating and eating and eating... I want to be free to move around again. Uninhibited with wearing mask, scanning in and keeping my distance from people. When can we come together again? When can we shake hands, hug one another and share the same breathing space without fear of landing up in the ICU?
Sisters for life! We even got matching pendant necklaces and earrings. Woohooo!
Burger boy... does that make me burger girl? But I don't quite fancy burger.... okay some burger still okay but okay okay... to be fair, some days burger, some days some other food choices.
He wanted to watch mortal combat. Thankful for the comfortable chairs otherwise the show will be quite a pain. Every part of me was shaken. Why do people even watch such shows......
Subba's wedding. A time of reunion with colleagues. Sad that we are all masked up
So glad to be able to meet the ladies again. Would be nicer if we could have gone for a cup of coffee but the rising cases is really quite worrisome. Glad that nothing happened and none of us came down with the virus. Friends from HSBC and continued on in UOB but we are still friends even though we are no longer in the same work place. Thank God for all the work experiences and the people He brought into my life.
1st May 2021
First stop of the day! Devotions time together and just about any opportunity to see him. O boy.... I'm quite a fan girl huh? fangirling 🙈 Is this even legal? but... but... but....
Lunch outing with none other than Ms Lim! Strange friend she is but I enjoy every moment spent with her.
We tried the waffles but the fruits were just too sweet for me.
Her usual unimpressed look. And I just love sharing these face with the other gals. Hahaha.... much to her dislike but doesn't she look cute even with this face? ;)
The 2nd dish that we tried. The potato waffles is a winner for me but the chicken breast... hmmmm.... I think maybe a bit dry. Otherwise it is really not too bad a meal. Quite place too and great service from the waiters.
And after all the eating with Levina, it was time to have dinner with the parents. Just us all the way to Klang. Back to the place we used to go together. When we were young, my parents use to take us every weekend for bak kut teh in Klang, now it's my turn to take them here. Down memory lane...
2 May 2021
Finally! Awwwwww...... Village Park Nasi Lemak. The Sunday before lock down. Thankfully it is far away and hard to come by. Very very bad for any diet plans. All diet plans gets chucked at the entrance of the restaurant. Savour all the yummy goodness of the Fried Chicken, Sambal, Coconut rice... Yumsz..
Right before the official MCO 3.0 (5 May 2021) We went for lunch together and I worked from his place and we attended Leadership Conference together. It's been more than a week now since we last met physically and I'm truly thankful that at every MCO, CMCO, God has been really good to let us spend the last few hours together before the lock down happens. Can't wait for the interdistrict travel bans to be lifted and for the pandemic situation to improve drastically. More food adventures...
A mix of Asian and Western food on a platter.
Lemon Crumble Cream Cheese Muffin. It was a first but definitely could improve more. Taste wise is okay but texture needs to be worked on.
Oh how I miss times like this together. Physically would be preferred but I will settle for virtual one too when the situation does not permit. We chat, worship and pray together. While we can try to be logical, rational, and work hard towards building our relationship, it is not possible or sustainable if it is not because of God's grace. Truly it is worship that changes our lenses on relationship. Without God, it would be a meaningless exchange. Christ is the example, our cornerstone which we build our dreams upon. O may we continuously seek HIM till we meet our Saviour face to face at the end of our journey here on earth.
