Year End Reflections

As the year draws to a close with the new year just hours away, no better time than to slow down, be still and give thanks for another year gone by.  I really don’t know where all that time has gone.  2013 went by too fast, I wished I had more time to savour more of those special moments.  We celebrated several milestones this year but could also have done better in other areas.  

As a mother, the highlight of my 2013 has to be seeing how Jules’ speech and cognitive abilities have developed.  I guess for the next 5 years, the highlight of my year will somehow be linked to her milestones.  From the tiny being that could only let out helpless cries to her jabbering at 8 months to her early mono words at one year, she just started stringing words together so naturally around 18 months.  The next thing we knew, she was speaking in complete sentences and using words that we never intentionally taught her like “again”, “also” etc appropriately.  She even knows how to begin her answer with “because” whenever we ask her “why?”.  I love it that I’m actually having conversations with my 2-year old today and how she adds so much joy and laughter to the family with the funniest things she says.  Like how when the little aunt took a spoon of her chicken porridge the other day and she loudly exclaimed “Eh no, cannot eat Juju’s porridge.  Spit it out!”.  I’m overwhelmed with a sense of mummy-pride every time Jules hits these developmental milestones or when she shows maturity beyond her age.  She knows it when we’re angry (with her usually), or when we’re in pain (like when I stub my toe against the door) or when we’re unwell and will that to say “sorry” followed by the stroking of our hands to show she’s sorry or she’ll come wipe our faces and say “Mama, no cry” (most of the time, I’m just pretending to cry).  It’s like all the early months of caring for her, she’s now doing the same to me.  I hope she’ll continue to wipe away my tears when she’s 21.   

As a couple we weathered through some rough days coping with a month of one sickness after another.  From cough to HFMD to stomach flu.  The month of April was such a nightmare.  I appreciated how the husband was able to find more balance with his work this year to shoulder some of those days with me by staying home with Jules while I had to attend to urgent matters at work.  He also had a few bonding days with his little girl when I had to attend work functions on weekends.  I thought that did both of them good.  There was a period last year when Jules refused her Dada (it still happens once and a while today, but at least the husband is next in line when Mama isn’t around).  It made our parenting journey stronger and it felt more like the way it should be – a partnership – unlike last year when I was shouldering most of the duty of caring for Jules while the husband adjusted to his new post at work. 

As a family, we went on our first family holiday with the kiddos all in toll and inhaled the yummy Penang food!  I cannot be more thankful for family, for their endless support, for home cook meals at the table every day, for taking such wonderful care of their grand-daughter and loving her as they love me, for occasional indulgence even when I'm 34 and for daily chit-chats that keeps as connected.  It is because of them I come back to a home and not house. 

As an individual, I found more time to myself, now that Jules is older.  I managed a few dinners with my girlfriends, had a little gathering for my cell group kids (our first since I had Jules) and went on the occasional pampering at the eye lash bar and mani pedi when the occasion called for it.  I continued to expand my capacity to love and would like to think that in my roles as mother, wife, daughter and sister, I've given of my very best.  I wish I could contribute more in the area of Ministry but haven't been able to, something I hope to do more of in the new year once we move to the new church and settle in.    

The new year brings new hope and wishes.  We of course have some of our own which we can only but commit to God, whose grace and providence brought us through yet another year.  I enter the new year with the confidence of knowing that God is in control and that it is from Him that all blessings flow.  

Wishing you and yours, a blessed New Year filled with God's grace and manifold blessings!

In Christ Alone

May this song give you the faith and renewal hope as we welcome the New Year. 

2013 in Review

Praise God from whom

All blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures

Here below

Praise Him above

Ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

*****

Made in through another year by the grace of God, with daily prayers, with His word that gave hope in times of despair, that brought peace in times of anxiety, healing in times of pain and the constant assurance of His love and grace. I give thanks.

In January, we welcomed a new member into the family when my cousin got married.  It was the very first wedding Jules attending. 

This year's Lunar New Year was extra special - it was the first with my elder sis in 10 years! Jules was also more aware of all the bustling activities going around since she was all but 3 months old when she celebrated her first Lunar New Year last year.  She could even do the "Gong Xi Gong Xi" action. 

March was a big milestone for Jules.  She started playschool in a wonderful Montessori that she has came to love today.  She made good friends - Timmy and Hannah and adore her teachers - Teachers M and Z.  I'm really grateful for the patience the teachers have in helping her adjust to school and truly admire their endless tireless dedication on the job.  She has a few months left with the school before going to Kindy and we'll be treasuring the last few months with them. 

Oh April - it was a horrible month!  Jules and I were sick for an entire month.  It started with her first cough then HFMD and a bout of really bad stomach flu.  I would like to erase every memory I have of that dreadful month and pray that it never repeats itself.  We were nonetheless thankful that through each of the sickness, Jules didn't need to be hospitalised (which was something our paed said we had to be prepared for if she became dehydrated) and her HFMD was considerably mild which she bravely got better within a day.  Only by God's grace. 

The sun came out in May and we all recovered in time for our first family holiday in years with the kids in toll!! Our last family holiday was before Jules arrived when we visited my sis in Ann Arbor.  Sophie was also all by 16 months old.  We ate our way through Penang and it was on the trip that Jules also started talking beyond her usual mono-words. 

June was quiet.  We spent out weekends lazing at home, waddling in the pool.  We also celebrated Fathers' Day and Jules made this for her Dada ....

July saw me taking on a new portfolio at work.  One that is more challenging but certainly also more meaningful.  As part of my work, I get to help ex-offenders, undischarged bankrupts, women back to work.  It makes work fulfilling and purposeful, I'm thankful for the opportunity to help these worker segments. 

It was birthday galore in August!! There was Sophie's Lorax birthday, then my dad turned 64. Sean also celebrated his 4th birthday.  We ended all that birthday partying with Mum's towards the end of the month. Imagine the amount of cakes I ate that month - my waistline wasn't happy. 

We kept with traditions and celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival in September with mooncakes and chinese tea.  We brought the kids on their little walk around the estate and also had a wonderful time at the Mid Autumn celebrations the school threw for the kids and families.  It was nice meeting her friends and their parents as we went on the lantern parade. 

October was the start of one event after another till the end of the year.  Starting with the hub's birthday.  I baked him a strawberry shortcake hoping to recreate it for Jule's birthday.  But it didn't turn out so well so we shelved those plans. 

In November, Jules turned 2!!! My little bunny was baby no more as she proudly embraced toddlerhood (and the Terrible Twos at the same time).  We celebrated her birthday in school and threw her a little party at home!! She was a truly a happy happy girl.  

We wrapped up the year seeing our daughter put up her very first performance in school - as a monkey!  I was so proud of her when she took to the stage, shook that tiny butt of hers and took the bow at the end.  

Then there was our family trip to Sydney where Jules finally got to see her kangaroos and koalas! We had a lovely lovely time there and it was a great way to bring the busy year to a close. 

Looking forward to what 2014 has in store and committing all our hopes and plans to God so that we can embrace the new year with even stronger faith to trust God for His providence and blessings. 

Sydney - What We Ate ....

WARNING: Do not continue reading this post if hungry.

No Koh holiday is complete without good food.  So an essential part of any holiday itinerary is to make sure there’s good food to keep the Dad happy.It isn’t difficult to find good food in Sydney.  One reason why my folks were so keen to come back is also cos they love the food here – the Chinese food to be specific.  Their yum-cha and Chinese seafood ranks high on my mum’s must-eat list (and that says a lot) cos Mummy is usually very easy with food. 

Our daughter is also pretty much an Asian kid so I tried to make sure that everyday, we had a good mix of Asian and Aussie food.  Here’re a list of places we dined at and our humble reviews …

Café Sydney came highly recommended on some the reviews I read online but it turned out to be the least favoured amongst the meals we had.  The food wasn’t bad but the service turned us off.  Yes the ambience was nice and all but they made us feel like all throughout dinner, they just couldn’t wait to get rid of us Asian tourist diners.  Unless you really must dine with the view of the Sydney bridge in sight, I don’t recommend coming here despite what the reviews say.

One of places we discovered on this trip that won our hearts though was a little Italian trattoria – A Tavola.  It was a last minute decision to have some Italian pasta for dinner so I just googled it and took the chance with the lovely reviews I read.  They were so warm over the phone and gladly took in our reservations even though they were actually running full.  You know, when you dine with a toddler who’s just embracing the Terrible Twos, all you really pray for is for wonderful waitresses who’ll put up with spills on the floor and Disney cartoons playing in the background.  And the folks at A Tavola, they made Jules feel so welcome, I was most thankful!! They offered to bring her to the kitchen to watch the chefs in action so that we could take some time to enjoy the meal, one of them saw her watching Monsters’ Inc on the ipad and even told Jules how that too was her favourite cartoon!! Almost every wait staff came by our table just to entertain Jules and even attempted to teach her an Italian or two – “Ciao Julianne”!! When you get good service AND good food – that’s like a dream!! The food was simple, fresh and wholesome!! That panfried salami with polenta – crazy good!! And that simple tagliatelle tossed in olive oil and mushrooms – 

died and gone to heaven!! Easily our best meal in Sydney!!

So I raved so much about Chinese food in Sydney – we were so unadventurous we stuck with the same Chinese restaurant we visited 10 years ago and went back twice during the trip.  The food standard at Golden Century is still as good as it was 10 years ago.  We ended our last night in Sydney with a yummy lobster noodle dinner there.  It’s hard to find good lobster noodle where the lobsters is fresh and the noodles nicely braised and infused with all the juices and goodness of the lobster.  My favourite by far is the one served up at the Mandarin Kitchen in London’s Queensway.  But this one comes a close second.  Jules was 

lapping up the noodles too!!

Another Asian meal we had was at Sokyo – a fusion Japanese restaurant serving up delectable Japanese dishes such as their fish carpaccio and light and crunchy tempuras.  That wagyu beef sirloin that we ordered was also beautifully done.  They didn’t have anything for Jules on the menu though but my Asian daughter didn’t complain that all I fed her was japanese rice and miso soup that night.   Maybe it was some fancy rice grain they 

used. 

If you’re familiar with celebrity chefs in Sydney, then you would have heard of Bills.  Bills have become a Sydney institution and the place to go for a quintessential Aussie brekkie. I have a couple of his cookbooks and one of his recipe that is on repeat in my kitchen is his banana choc chip loaf.  So breakfast at Bills – really, there are scramble eggs and there are Bills’ scramble eggs.  Tried as I have, I cannot recreate that dish at home. Maybe they just don’t work with our local eggs.  They also serve some mean ricotta hotcakes.  I don’t know how they do it but the hotcakes were so fluffy and light, like eating clouds (not that I’ve tasted clouds but, just saying).    

We had a 4pm flight to catch and wrapped up our Sydney holiday with a visit to a lovely café – The Grounds of Alexandria – in the suburb of Alexandria.  It’s a café cum roaster cum florist cum farm all in one and it’s a lovely lovely place to visit.  It came at the little sis’s recommendation when she visited the place earlier in June.  That saffron pasta with prawns that we ordered – oh my – if I didn’t put a stop to it, Jules would have finished the entire plate by herself!!

And that wraps up eat-our-way-through-Sydney and our holiday posts.  We’re headed to Disneyland in about 2 months for our next holiday.  Till then, have an awesome end to 2013!!  

*********************

Cafe Sydney

Level 5/31 Alfred St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

A Tavola

348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia

Bills 

359 Crown Street, Surrey Hills, NSW 2010, Australia 

With outlets across the city

Grounds of Alexandria

7A, No.2 Huntley Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015, Australia

Golden Century

393-399 Sussex St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia

Sokyo

Level G, The Star, 80 Pyrmont Street, NSW 2009, Australia

Sydney 2013 - What We Did ....

We had 5 full days in Sydney and about 2 half days (on the day we arrived and departed) so it was pretty good time to do things leisurely and take in as much sights.  But our daughter can't nap outside in her pram which meant that we had to be back in the apartment for at least a few hours every afternoon.  It also gave us some time to rest for a few hours each day - well I mean that's what holidays should be right - relaxing.  

By the time we landed and got our phones connected to the rest of the world and checked in, it was close to 2.30pm.  The rooms were suppose to be ready by 2pm and since they weren't, they gave us a late check-out as part of service recovery.  We spent the rest of the afternoon settling into the apartment while Jules caught up on her sleep so nothing was very much done that day except a nice dinner by the Sydney Harbour. 

We got up on Day 2 refreshed and recharged.  While waiting for Jules to get up, the hubs and dad went to pick up our car.  Jules slept in till 830am just like she does back home despite the 3 hours time difference. We headed for brunch at Bondi beach and spent the rest of the afternoon running away from the fierce waves and getting a sun-burn!! I grab one of those sandpit toys from the nearby convenience store so that Jules could spend some time on the beautiful beach.  Nothing like sand from Aussie beaches!! She had so much fun and it took some cajoling before she reluctantly agreed to leave the beach.  

The next day - Thursday - was the most exciting day for Yiyi Sam!! She was going to meet the love of her life!! Giraffes!!! Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney and winner of numerous NSW Tourism awards.  It came highly recommended by many - even my doctor told us to bring Jules when we took her we were heading to Sydney.  For the past month, Jules has been telling everyone who would listen to her that she was "going holiday, see kank-ger-roo and koala bear".  I've convinced she must have thought her parents were just big fat liars cos one month later, she still never got to see the elusive kangaroo   So today was a big day for her!  We filled up on a hearty breakfast and prepared some sandwiches. My mum cooked Jules lunch of porridge which we brought along cos we were warned that food at the zoo was expensive and bad.  And because the zoo was highly accessible by bus and then ferry, we left the car behind that day, took the free city shuttle bus to Circular Quay where we boarded the ferry that brought us to the zoo in just 12 minutes!! Along the way, we took in the sights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House and even spotted a pirate ship!!! 

Our tickets to the zoo came with the ferry and cable car ride which took us from the pier of zoo to it entrance.  First stop - the Aussie kangaroo !! And what sight to see it hopping!! I don't think I've ever seen a kangaroo actually hopping.  It's really adorable.  The Taronga Zoo is a lot more open with the enclosures housed further apart from each other, unlike our Zoo here (or what I can remember of it since the last I visited our local zoo 10 years ago).  We got up close with Mr Koala and we made sure we stayed on long enough for the little sis to feed the giraffes during the giraffe encounter.  They have a backyard bush area - where the farm animals are housed together with some water features and a playground where Jules made some friends - one of them, a little Aussie girl who lost an eye to cancer.  Jules was really sweet, cos she not only offered her her apple, she also held her hand down the slide.  So the that afternoon was to try to be first in line for the Giraffe Encounter at 1.45pm and make a dash for the cable car ride back to the ferry terminal to catch the 2.05pm ferry back to the city so that we could get back to the apartment for Jules' nap.  The next ferry was 3.15pm which means she would have gotten cranky by the time we got home.  It was that or we gave the giraffe encounter a miss - which would have made the little sis very very sad.  In the end, Jules decided to take things into her own hands by miraculously falling asleep in her stroller after her hearty lunch of Por Por's porridge!! I was using the nursing room when the hubs texted me to say she had fallen asleep! Jules never falls asleep outside or in her pram! I guess she knew how badly her Yiyi Sam wanted to feed those giraffes and figured that there was no way we could have done that and made the 2.05pm ferry.  So to solve the problem, she decided going to nap would have made everyone happy!!  How thoughtful!  She put in a good 1.5hr nap while we continued strolling around the park.  The cool Aussie weather also made all the difference.  Yiyi Sam got to strike off an item on her bucket-list and everyone was a happy camper!! We picked up some souvenirs from the gift shop and called it a day! 

After a eventful day out at the zoo, we took the next day easy, slept in, had a late breakfast at Bills, made a pit stop at the awesome Bourke Street Bakery (oh olive bread, how I miss you) before we headed for the Sydney Fish Market.  The market was packed with tourists – mainly PRCs who weren’t treating the premises very nicely.  Not a very pretty sight.  I didn’t recall it being so touristy when we visited 10 years ago.  The Melbourne Queen Victoria Market is so much nicer, though to be fair, it’s also a market of a different kind.  We didn’t spend very long there, Dad satisfied his greediness with a plate of oysters and we left after picking up our lunch of a 1kg Tasmanian lobster and some cooked tiger prawns.  We headed back to the apartment where we dig into our seafood indulgence in complete comfort!  We did the same thing in Melbourne last year No worries about using our hands and eating unglamorously.  Mum whipped up some fried udon which went perfectly well with our shell fishes!  That afternoon, while Jules napped, I sneaked out with the little sis for some shopping at Queen Victoria Building and the nearby Westfield mall.  Well nothing that we can’t get back home so I just picked up some clothes for Jules from Country Road and my stash of eucalyptus oil and lucus papaw cream from the pharmacy.  

We saved the best of Aussie shopping to the weekends when we visited the various markets.  Spent Saturday morning at the Eveleigh Farmer’s Market where we saw Kylie Kwong in action cooking up her steam wantons!  The vendors sold mainly organic vegetable produce with a couple of stores selling free-range poultry and organic beef.  I was very tempted to buy some free-range chicken to cook Jules’ remaining meals but we still had a few hours out so I had a problem with keeping them chilled.  I did leave with some organic baby carrots though – with its roots all intact.  I think it made the difference cos the stocks I made with those carrots turned out extremely sweet!! 

Watching a children's school band performance

With some time to kill before lunch, the hubs googled for a nearby flea market that we could go to.  That brought us to the Glebe Saturday Market (a mix of handmade and second-hand items, some new, some vintage).  Jules also had her face painted at this market – it was quite a hilarious episode.  They needed Jules to close her eyes so that they could pain on her face, but our daughter didn’t know how to close her eyes without putting her hands over the face!  The fairies manning the store ended up having to draw little fairies on her cheeks instead.  

Showing off the glitter on her face

They were really sweet about it though and even charged us less as they said they usually drew on the entire face! Here’s a little clip of the face painting drama ….

That night, we visited the Darling Harbour precinct.  The plan was to take Jules on her first carousel ride but we got there late and they had closed for the day.  What a bump.  We did spend good time at the playground nearby though which made her a very happy girl.  We were also treated to a wonderful fireworks display by the harbor.  It was a first for Jules and I think she was a little scared in the beginning.  But by the end of the show, she was asking to see it all over again.   

We spent our last full day in the city visiting the Rocks market.  I’m thoroughly impressed by the quality of the handmade goods the vendors sold.  We picked up some lovely charms and colourful tees and a vintage dress for Jules.  We were also blessed with a lovely weather that day after a morning shower which brought temperatures down to a cool 20degC and made the walk around the Rocks area so pleasant.  Oh and if you’re ever there, don’t forget to check out that sweet corn on the cob and lemonade stand! Best corn ever!! We had sprinkled simply with salt and Jules devoured the entire corn (almost)!

Pretending to be cultured 

As you can see, we didn’t pack our days endless must-dos.  Pretty much took it easy with a sight or two a day.  But we got a fair bit covered and also had time to just relax and chill in the apartment.  Everyone had something for them in the itinerary – markets for the sister and mum and playground and open spaces for Jules!! Everyone was a happy camper!!

Sydney – What We Ate, coming right up!!

For More Information
Bondi Beach
Taronga Zoo
Eveleigh Market
Glebe Market
Darling Harbour
The Rocks