My balik kampung, outings and Food

Assalamualaikum...
Loosing words and mood to write... enjoying the new fad.. Instagram....are you not peeps? It's simple, using the phone to connect to your followers... like facebook, kann.. just insert photos and write a few lines..senang dowh!
That does not mean I'm closing this blog. Oh tidakk!  love this blog..it's my space to express my excitement and untuk tatapan kawan2 yg setia menjenguk. Insyallah, I will always update when I have the time.
Was occupied with my play house *sedap sikit bunyinya..kann* yang tak habis2 tu..Hmm, setakat ni still loving it.. and the activities with Hb and my friends..ada ada aje. I missed a few of my Cootoo gatherings but my sweet friends made an attempt to pay back what I'd missed...love you girls, muah!!

At  Upstairs Cafe...

Buulatttnya muka ku!!

This outing was on last Friday 18th January. The planned was breakfast at 'Bawang Merah' and Coffee/dessert at 'Upstairs'. AT Upstairs we were told that Friday close at 12.30pm for Friday prayer.  We then moved on to Subang Parade at Coffee Bean... three eating places in one day. Special treat by our Stephanie...thank you!!

With Mala

Stefh..what's so funny??

 The three ladies of Leisure..

Saturday..19th, January 'Balik Kampung'

I went back  to my Hometown for three days and of course you can imagine the clothes brought back from the 3 days plus the one in the house...mengunung! Stress? hmm..I took my sweet time to finish it...tak payah nak kalut... tak ada siapa nak marah....hmm, taking a deep breathe...phew!!
Some pictures from my balik kampung.

The first night, Saturday, we slept at my eldest sister Teh's house.  We had promised her a few times  but never had the chance. This time we made an afford to spend at least a night. Thank you Abang Din and my sister for being such a good host. The hospitality you had given us macam 5 stars Hotel..betoi!
We didn't had much time together actually, I arrived late around 7 pm and left after breakfast the next day.

She had plenty of potted plants and flowers..that's typical of us..who loves gardening and making ourselves busy.
We can easily adapt to our surroundings...  another word.. tak suka goyang kaki duduk saja2. She loves sewing and cooking like I do. As age is catching up everything is rather slow...interest still ada kekuatan saja yang kurang.

Bleeding Heart

Her orchids are so healthy, I was inspired...can't wait to be back and take good care of my neglected plants since a month ago.

Green Velvet Caladium

That night they took us for dinner at Koh Samui Thai food. The throbbing  headache did not turn me on tho how delicious the food was... we enjoyed the crowd with my nephew Taqi happened to be around.

The three days and two nights were quite hectic for the three of us, Hb, Fifa and me.. visiting not only mine but Hb's family too...through and fro from one place to another. A small price to pay after all what matter most is to visit our parents.... how we wish to visit them often. Even though it took us months to pay our respects, we never miss calling them as often as we can.
Sedih..bila tengok keadaan berubah..they're getting old and frail each time we see them. We thank God for giving them good life.. somebody reliable to watch over them and Alhamdullillah, their needs are taken care of....both our Parents.

The weather that was so so hot and humid making my migraine throbbing to the maximum..it did spoil my stay. 

Then.

I hate to disappoint anybody especially family members. I was obligated but at the same time honored on the insistence of my sister Intan to visit her 'River Cottage'. Bearing in mind of our busy schedules and my Hb's condition... I could not be pleasing everyone..I hope they understand us..am sure they do. And I cannot say NO to my sister Intan for inviting us.. it's been years we have not stepped our feet at her 'River Cottage'... a complete change.
The environment with Flora and Fauna that you will love to go again and again.

Life has slightly change .. trying his best to fit in like he used to.. Picture above, Hb resting at the balcony in one of the houses at River Cottage. I did not encourage him to move about unattended. He might stumble upon the tree roots or uneven ground.

Luffah or petola can be seen hanging as you passed thru the cottages.
And other kind of vegetables planted everywhere on the ground for the
guest and source of food for her two care takers.

 It's so inviting...time did not permit us to dip and splash in the water..
just singgah for a short while before we drove off to KL.

..yet, she could not resist dipping her feet in to test how cold and soothing the water was.

One of the five cottages

My sister Intan

Another attraction... the Livestock... there are many types of ducks, chickens and goats.
Back to Nature peeps..

The home coming this time I only spoke to my dear sister Leeza on the phone...insyallah we will meet sometime in KL.

Like always tak sah without showing pictures of my food.

 A simple Pasta for lunch today

 Varieties in one plate

Pasta Salad with fried chicken

 My very own Coney Dog...with Old De Paso Chili powdered added to the filling..

The weather is kinda chilly tonight and it had been like this for several days already.
It rained heavily during the day and keeping us indoor most of the time..tho it's cold outside but my inner body temperature panass membara, sore throat is on the way..
Night everyone, nothing is better than to be wrapped under the Duvet.
Adios..

Love is in the air....

Asalamualaikum...
Love is in the air ...that's the feeling I should be having. Look around.. you see Love is everywhere...your love ones and the things you appreciate. Those are valuable to our lives... make them happy the best you can. We have make our life the way we want...should not regret what was done and what does not go according to the plan. All you need is to be pleased with the provision of Allah.

Cranberry and Raisins Scones

Love is everywhere, should be with smile on your face. Do things with love in our hearts will ease the strain on the body, mind and soul. Trying to be a little relax with no hurry burry like I used to be.

Sunday... full of energy, cooked rice and enjoyed the food very much

At the same time Love is blind and also painful... take that as spice in our life.
And there's something I have to believe that love is not there forever..except for Love to our  Almighty Allah Subhanawataala. Wake up each day with thankful for another life and you are given another chance.

 Laksa for lunch on Suturday.

Because love in the air..Reminding myself hundred times to take a deep breath whenever I was about to get completely absorbed/excited/over with something. Breathing exercise is difinitely good.
I am the Madame..I don't need to be under pressure.

When love is in the air....Baking Peach Pie tasted so good like a Pro..*wink* And that's for a special  friend on Friday evening and of course one for us.

Peach Pie.. not too sweet just suitable for our liking..
 for Tea on Saturday

Love is everywhere...Be a loving wife and loving mother to the kids. Nevertheless, things has been simpler..nothing more than to be with Hb dearest and serve him. Thanking him for giving me the choice to cook or not to cook..I who decides.

and..

 Having this kind of food, not only simple but healthy *skip the sausage*

Our dinner on Friday

...my kids would normally come home with full tummy or they would call me in advance if I need to prepare them food.

Love is everywhere.. even the teacups new look...vibrant color at Secret Recipe..

Coffee and Cakes at Subang Parade.

Love is in the air... knowing my daughter's class for this semester, only two days in a week... Ahask!  more plans outing with friends...only with Hb's consent.

Thank you friend for the order.

Love is in the air.. for life has offered me so much and thanking Allah most of the time.
Remember..everything bad comes something good.
Everything bad is good for something...

Strong determination shall overcome and can make us stronger and a better person..

Last but not least...
With my neighborhood friends at Habibah's Get together...Potluck dinner.
Friday night 11.1.13

Bibah in pink scarf.

With love peeps.. and may you have a productive week and remain healthy all the time.
Adios..

The Getaway..

Assalamualaikum..
We were back 3 days ago from our short Getaway.. since then.. busy with the load of clothes from the trip and what's left from the house..mengunung tinggi..
My house is still in one piece the time I left and came back. What's important.. my plants are still  alive...they watered them well. Since young I had taught my kids to clean their plates and mugs after used..no dirty dishes left anywhere. But,..never go near or enter their rooms... Woh!...bagai ribut melanda. I am  please anyway.. they took care of the house...thank you boys!

We have not been flying anywhere since Hb recuperating. We need to get away... at the same time testing Hb's endurance, especially the pressure and the hours being in the flight..then maybe sometime later insyallah, we could think of going a little further.
So... Singapore was the destination....less than an hour and alhamdullillah, Hb was comfortably okay with the journey. Like always my daughter was with us as our Chaperone *wink*.. who got the privilege to make choices for us..terseksa hati ku.

The Get away was planned... for relaxation, leisure walks, and to pick some titbits or minor shopping spree. As for a start with Hb's condition we would rather be in the urban area. Maybe next time with good health, time and money permit us, we will go somewhere quiet with nice scenery.. maybe Perth. Perth was the earlier place we thought...but as we know the heat wave at this time of the year is unbearable for Hb. Instead of sight seeing we might end up staying in our room...and it will be  torturing not only for my girl but for me, too.

The rate exchange is rather high 2.5 in Singapore. Some things if you know what to shop are selling much cheaper compared to KL. What amazed me most was the systematic roads and the convenient to the shopping arcade. Everywhere is so near by using the underground pass way.

We flew to Singapore on Wednesday and reached sometime at 2.30 pm at Royal Plaza on Scotts. Three nights stay and walking distance to the famous Orchard Rd. We had been to the Hotel some years ago *just the two of us* we love the place and the food in the Hotel is Halal.

Guess what happened when I stepped my feet out of the cab? Huhuhu..it was a shameful thing to remember. We took a cab to the Hotel, after paying the driver he took off ...I really thought I had left my purse in the cab. I was horrified and totally forgot where I was...calling out loud while running like orang gila towards the cab.  One of the Hotel potter *quite an elderly man, who did not look fit enough to chase after the cab...but he did with all his might. Only then, I realized my purse was placed in the other hand luggage. Looking at the man breathing hard and panting after the havoc I caused, I was so guilty...what else when he praised Allah *menadah tangan* many times. I would never forgive myself if anything happen to him. And each time I saw him again .. I wish to hide myself behind Hb..

Was the salad plate worth having when you know the breakfast was

 too expensive? Hmm.. anak ku.. told her to eat and fill her tummy full
and eat what you think it's worth the price...makan salad laa pulak.

And this too...

We also had Nasi Padang and other halal food at Far East Shopping complex just across the road.

Don't be surprise, I bought groceries at the supermarket, for as long as you know what are the things that are cheap. But not Clothes, like at Zara or MNG.. no matter how cheap the discount was, when convert it's still cheaper in Malaysia. Things like Perfumes are way cheaper than here. Our favorite, The International Roast Coffee is selling here at 25.60rm but in Mustaffa only $6.95, and Takashimaya 7.50 about 17.35 to 19.00 rm...see the difference. The Old Del Paso Chili, used to buy at Cold storage.. now, no sign of Chili but like Tacos and the rest still can be found in all Grocer.


Mustaffa is really big and everything is there..*mak dengan bapak yang tak ada tau* Remember Yardly brand? Yes, it used to be on our shelves many years ago..and you can get it in Mustaffa with label made in England..cool huh! So that's for souvenirs back home.

No kidding... the things we bought with good prices was there in front of our eyes..we cannot resist. Glad that we went to Mustaffa..was told by friends a place must go. I bought Mum Ice De Cologne 4711, this has been her favorite since she was younger.
Transportation by cab at any stop will take you anywhere you wish to go...no cheating by the cab driver as you can ask for the receipt and CCTV everywhere. Yes, everywhere even at any back lanes. What do you expect ya..it's a small Country.
No sight seeing as Hb preffered to be in air conditioning place...that suits me well!

Hb seemed to be enjoying his walk.. He was even stronger than me and kept pursuading us walk further ...alhamdullillah!
We had coffee at Starbucks a few times....it's only less than 5 minutes walk from the Hotel.
We Wandered around the shopping arcade looking at things and also comparing prices...macam laa dekat Europe. I never stopped thanking to the Almighty for giving the strength to my Hb the luxury of having the long walk around the City.

At *Fika* Swiss halal Cafe Arab Street

At Galeria..Oh..don't look down when you're on the exclator.

They both has the same passion..ice cream..
Look at them...always hugging.. leaving me behind.

Yes, that's the right women..

Enjoying the night lights..

Back to the Hotel to get rest..
Boy! he sure look tired, but when you asked him..
his answer was always 'I'm okay' 

And making coffee anytime we like.

My legs were extremely painful but I don't understand why the two people still strong especially that Hb of mine...hehe

The Holiday was over like a split second and we finally flew back to our beloved Malaysia where my sons were waiting for us. Tired...but lots to remember..

Till we meet again..insyallah.
Adios...