Spring cleaning

This was a BIG activity taking many weeks.

First part: After our maid Jane left.  I noticed her room was like a store room, containing boxes of books/toys and luggage bags containing clothes and more bags.  I brought one bag down - hubby's things, which I asked him to check.  He decided to throw some and keep some.  But after this ONE bag, I concluded it would be better to wait for our new maid to arrive before proceeding with the rest.  There would be too much work to clear so many things.

Second part: After hubby suddenly passed away.  I had to find out what was in the house since there was now nobody who would know.  Hubby owned a lot of stuff - he'd always liked buying things and apparently also liked storing them beyond their usefulness.  Strange how items which were important to a person loses much of their value once that person is gone.  I wondered if he was looking at me from somewhere while I went through his personal belongings.  I wished I could brandish items at him and ask what is this, why did you buy this for, why are you keeping this.  I held things thinking he'd touched them before.  Suffice to say this task was emotionally difficult for me. 

Third part: Toys the kids have outgrown.  The decision to be made was whether to keep, donate or throw.  JE generally said to throw everything so her part was over quickly.  SE looked through each item, reminisced on them, set some aside to give to her friends, even wanted to keep some for her future kids hahaha.  

Throw or keep for my own kids? Hmm

We disposed of many items - to charity, to the trash.  Almost there now, only a few more items to go.

Additional birthday meals

As always when birthdays fall on a weekday, the birthday person gets to pick a weekend meal as well.  I remembered this in time to claim my additional pick heh.  Well my original choices were derailed by free birthday stuff from various places - perks of joining loyalty programs.  Wataiwan was offering a free Taiwanese chicken chop - sure, I'll bite!

With said free chicken hehe

JE wanted this milk tea bingsu which I was expected to share.  Quite nice, just that it was a lot for only the two of us.   

This one is yummy

The next weekend happened to be my turn to pick.  Chose 103 coffee which was offering a free slice of cake.  Picked the alcoholic kahlua tiramisu - oh this was very good.

Our lunch spread

Purposely took pictures as I was already planning to post onto my blog.

My birthday 2026

Right after CNY 15th day was my birthday.  I have always been emotional on this day.  The uncertainty whether colleagues would arrange lunch or I would somehow be alone (possible when colleagues happen to be stuck at meetings).  The uneasy anticipation of a birthday cake and when the cake-cutting would happen.  I take leave if possible to avoid that kind of stress and to do whatever I want on my 'special day'.

This year marks my first birthday after hubby passed.  I kept thinking of this day back in 2025 - my disappointment when hubby couldn't be discharged yet from hospital post-surgery, my annoyance that he continually requested things to be done for him until I had to have a dismal dinner due to food having run out at the shop downstairs.  I told myself that it was ok, I would make up for it in 2026.

I never expected 2026 to turn out like this.  No more hubby to pamper me with food, a massage, sometimes presents (I often don't want anything).  I tried, but still spent most of the day in tears.  Walked past CBTL and decided to redeem my birthday cake voucher because why not.  

 

Me with cake

I had considered going out for dinner but our area is predominantly Malay and I figured shops would be packed for Ramadan month.  

That evening, got a text that my parents had decided to go out for my birthday dinner.  I bawled some more.  I am so grateful to have my parents around during this dreadful chapter in my life.  We went to a nearby place which was empty (because food isn't great heh).  

Me with sponsor of dinner

I have much to be grateful for, must pick myself up and continue this journey.  

CNY potluck

The best day for our CNY potluck turned out to be on Chap Goh Meh (15th day of CNY).  Food was a mixture of bought and home-cooked.  My mother prepared many items as usual - the yee sang, her signature bak kien/pork rolls, vinegar pork trotters and punch. 

I refuse to smile

Get ready for yee sang

I had sauce left from my Dragon-i 'poon choy'.  Decided to make our own as it can't be that difficult right?  I made sure it had an even number of ingredients.  Bought fried chicken feet from the market and braised that together with mushrooms - #1 and #2.  #3 pork belly cooked till tender, #4 cooked chicken, #5 prawns and #6 broccoli.  Arrange everything in a pot, pour the sauce over and heat up at the stove.  Tadahh!!  Turned out very well indeed! 

Home-made 'poon choy'

We ate outside this year - good also as the temperature was lower!  (I have to record this in case of any future questions on who/what/where/how haha)

Pause eating short while for camera

We remembered to take a group photo this time.  The first one had my father's tummy showing, that's why the cushion is there as the solution.  We had a good laugh over this!

Much better!

All right, done and dusted for this year's CNY.

Soft cookies

We did make our usual seaweed crackers for CNY but I completely forgot to take photos.  

I finally out why our cookies were burnt last year... basically the oven thermostat is malfunctioning hence it would just get hotter and hotter.  So didn't bother to bake any CNY cookies this year.

After getting an oven thermometer, we can use the oven by manually turning it on and off.  JE made non-CNY soft cookies to eat.

Go flat y'alls

Pat-a-pat

I'm just happy when she gets off her electronic gadgets.

No celebration

In the recent years, we would wear our CNY clothes and head off to a mall to take photos.  This was a 'no-celebration' year in honour of hubby's passing.  Hmm I checked back, we had a 'no-celebration' year in 2018 due to MIL's passing.  8 years difference... such a short time.  MIL had a good long life whilst hubby's ended way too soon.

We were in 1Utama and checked out the deco.  Nothing too fancy.  I asked the girls to follow the poses other people were doing.

Horse butt at the back hehehe

And some fake plum blossoms

At least some red-red colours in my blog to mark the CNY.

CNY Day2

Hubby's side of the family suggested to continue with our usual CNY gatherings at my place.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle it - I was drowning in sorrow and prone to uncontrollable crying.  They used to come to visit him and now his chair would be empty.  He used to be the excited one planning the whole night together with our maid - I would almost be a guest who happened to live in the house!

Anyway I decided to proceed.  This would be a small group who would understand if my grief showed.  This same group were also formally in mourning and not allowed to celebrate CNY or visit people, so might as well we are together for this occasion.

Ordered a 'poon choy' from Dragon-i, added on vegetables and omelette, and guest contributed roast pork.

I was now the eldest in the group and merited a seat.  Erm I was planning to change shirt but didn't get round to it.

The people and the food

JE and SE were tasked with entertaining the younger guests.  Not so easy when people gravitate naturally to their electronic gadgets!  At least the girls played with aquabeads and there was one board game session.

My turn

Hmm the poon choy didn't seem to be worth its price of RM338.  Premium ingredients were only prawns, some dried scallops and oyster.  Next time must look for alternatives. 

Liquor was a 25-year aged single malt whisky from hubby's stash - saw a price of RM1640 from the internet.  Heh yes the liquor price overshadowed the food one for sure!  Alcohol was hubby's passion.

Took a picture of the box for record-keeping the next morning...

I'll just eat my breakfast

Overall the night went ok actually.  I plan to continue this gathering in coming years.