First in class

JE was an average student at her primary Chinese school.  Hence she was streamed into an average class in secondary school.  However, she has since pulled up her socks, worked harder at her studies and steadily moved up.  Then finally for Form2 last year, FIRST in class!

Certificate and plaque

Mummy is so proud. :)

Drinks

I'm generally more willing to spend on the kids than on myself.  But I draw the line at things which aren't worth it.  Such as overpriced drinks at restaurants.  Say RM40 on food, fine.  When it comes to RM16 on a drink... we can buy half a meal already, this doesn't even fill the tummy, here I have brought water from home if you are thirsty HAHAHA.  Which doesn't sit well with JE as somehow drinks are the first thing she looks for on the menu.

Went out without hubby recently to a relatively-expensive place.  JE pointed to drinks, I said no.  Cue JE being moody for rest of meal.  Sigh.  I did consider giving in, but really didn't want her to take things like overpriced drinks for granted.  Maybe as a treat then ok.

*Grumpy

Anyway she can always order a drink if hubby is around - hubby would order them himself anyway.

Heh heh me gots a drink

Sip sip sip heh heh

Told her we can make 10 drinks like this at home for the same price. HAHAHA.

EDIT: Realised JE is wearing the same shirt on both occasions!

Radiotherapy

Since hubby's tumours grew again so soon, doctors recommended radiotherapy to kill off any cells which might develop into new tumours. It's a precautionary "better-to-have" step without any guarantee of success. The course would be 30 daily sessions with some associated side effects. Cost would be about 25k.  So this would be not simple, not pleasant, not cheap. What to do... evaluated the options and decided that doctors would know best.

Hubby had planned to take Grab for the sessions once our maid returned.  Since she didn't... I am taking him there even though the prospect of fighting traffic for 30 days straight was daunting.  I don't want to use up all my annual leave.  Luckily the timing is in the evening (5-8pm) so I leave work at 530pm and make up for the time at night. 

We have just passed the halfway mark. So far, it is going well.  I'm managing to get him there on time.  Even though half the time, the technician will call asking where he is and whether he will be coming HAHAHA. 

Waiting

Ok his turn now

On hubby's side, he feels fatigue after the session and his right arm/leg would be stiff.  Also having headaches and dizziness.  But he is holding up fine.

Workers

Been a while since the last post since (obviously) I have been busy.

The mode was previously just to survive a month until our helper returned, with cooked food stocked up. . Fending for ourselves knowing she was never returning is a different kettle of fish.  Yes yes I know, first world problems.  :)  Well, we had to adjust.  

The initial focus was on the essentials - cooking, cleaning, laundry.  We are slowly making inroads into other areas like keeping the garden tidy and looking into what the kitchen cupboards hold.

Worker #2 with mop

(Worker #1 chose to sweep the floor and was done)

Aloft Staycation

We didn't go anywhere the first school holidays after hubby's surgery.  These second holidays, we did.  :)  Just a staycation at Aloft in Nu Sentral.  I was apprehensive that at RM500+ a night for bed and breakfast, quality would be low.  Maybe room would be el cheapo?  Maybe breakfast would be simple one only?  

Reached at 4pm, our room wasn't ready.  We left our bags with the hotel and walked over to the nearby mall.  Not too interesting - still, a decent selection of shops.

All raring to eat

The room was nice, 2 double beds for us.  One worry down.

Room, ok

The next morning... breakfast was buffet-style with lots of variety!  Err no pictures because too busy hehe.  So yay, we can totally recommend this hotel!

Our plan was to take MRT to TRX mall since we'd never been there.  But when hubby decided to come along (initally planned to just stay in the room), I changed transport mode to Grab.  No regrets - definitely more convenient and actually cheaper than 4 MRT tickets.

The largest Apple store

MPH still lives!

Artsy

The mall wasn't as high-tech as I'd expected (I had worked at the building some years back before the mall was up, and the lifts/toilets were super advanced even then) but it was nice and there were shops different from the malls we normally frequent.  We had an early dinner then took Grab back to the hotel.  Supper that night rounded up our day.

The next, buffet again for breakfast before checking out.  I'm already thinking of doing this same staycation later in the year and checking out a different mall!  

Hubby's first pick

We continue our weekend routine of going out for lunch.  It had been me, JE and SE taking turns since hubby always says 'up to you' when asked to choose.  Surprise surprise.... now he wants a turn as well.  Asked him about the places he was considering, turned out I liked all of them and so decision was made that he gets a turn now haha.

His maiden pick: Palbok Korean BBQ.

Ball is the soup seasoning - here it's kimchi 

The crew cooks and not us (yay!) 

Dragon belly - how do they cut it like this??

Happy diners

While it isn't a place for frequent visits, we were all pleased with this choice.  Took home the extra kimchi soup, added meat/tofu and it became another meal for us.

Prep frenzy

With our maid Jane not returning, I had to step up.  Hubby was still having mobility and health problems.  The girls were basically not used to chores and would take time to learn. 

That first shell-shocked weekend, I cooked meals.

Pasta lunch

And I prepped for SE's school lunches.

Beans to add to soups and salads

Slow-cooked soups with meat. Carbs and veg to be added 

Meat for salads, stews, sandwiches

I remarked to hubby that after a lot of effort, I hadn't produced many lots of results.

The food for SE is going further than expected though.  Some days there were additions eg extra food from eating out.  I had earlier prepped a few lots of cooked chicken.  SE has lunch at home on Fridays which means one day less a week.

Inspired by the food list idea, I have set up a spreadsheet to track stocks and usage.  Now to do this for a few months until a replacement maid can arrive.

No more Jane

For the first time in the 9 years she worked with us, our helper Jane did something she had not done before... she let me down.  She did not reply my message in the last week of her holiday whether things were going well there.  She did not respond when asked whether she would be able to take the flight back, or needed to postpone, or would not be returning at all.  The day of her flight... yep she did not board the plane.  She informed my sister's helper that she couldn't return - her mother had suddenly fallen ill and there was nobody to take care of her kids.  

I couldn't believe it.  There had been trying times before but she had always found a solution.  

This particular trip had been the most stressful.  She was set on returning home in April so I had bought the plane ticket to Manila.  However her work permit renewal was in 'awaiting approval' for ages.  I kept calling and writing in, MYEG advised me to submit a cancellation.  Which took ages again.  The permit was finally approved after 1.5 months instead of the usual 2 weeks.  Next was the contract which also encountered hiccups - the authorities weren't happy she was renewing so close to her flight date and initially didn't want to approve.  Documents were ready ONE day before her flight!  We were so relieved.  I bought the return ticket from Manila.

And now... I had to cancel all those hard-obtained documents.  Which hadn't come cheap - the contract RM2000, the permit/insurance/medical over RM1000.  I had to make a police report that she had run away and pay a compound of RM750 to cancel her work permit.  

 

Money was one thing.  Of course we had accumulated various things waiting for her to return and handle.  On top of that, my emotions were all over the place.  She had been part of our lives for so long.  She was my main partner/implementer/enforcer when dealing with SE's eating disorder.  Over the years we had spent many hours chatting.  Everywhere I look in our house or apartment, I am reminded that she was the one who organised that area.  I find it hard to accept that we will never see her again.  I am just SO SAD.

Plant arrangement by Jane

Mother's day

A quick post to pre-empt future queries on 'What did we do for Mother's Day ar??'  We had dinner at Pantai Seafood - ordered a set plus additional dishes.  Food was good and no I didn't take any photos after the first dish.  

BIL provided quality service of bringing food to my parents' plates.  

First dish

Definitely ignore the attention-hogger

This time we remembered to take photos of all of us.

The whole family

And one more at the fish tanks.

Happy Mother's day!

Happy Mother's day to my mother, and the next-generation moms!

SE’s birthday

SE is 13! My little one is officially a teenager (but she will always be my little one!).  She chose this 'lemon jasmine' cake from TK bakery - love how classy it looks!  Yummy too. 

I will do a short comparison with her birthday a year ago.  Back then, the eating disorder meant it was difficult for her to eat something like cake.  This year was better although she actually didn't want any either.  Less persuasion was required and she ate a more respectable slice.  The goal is to be able to enjoy things like this at celebrations, doesn't have to be part of a daily diet.

On her actual birthday, went for a nice dinner at a nearby cafe.  

Nice food and nice person :)

Then Japanese food for lunch over the weekend...

My birthday, my choice of food

And of course a picture with family.

One for the album

Happy 13th birthday!  Kiddo is in a much better position now to take on the world.  :)    

Lunch for SE

SE had not been finishing her lunch at school.  Our helper Jane progressively reduced the amount of food yet leftovers kept coming back. SE said lunch time was only 30mins so she didn't have enough time.  Also... she didn't like the food.  What?!... now that sounded like the root cause!  

When I took over as SE's 'lunch chef', I first talked to the 'customer'.  SE generally was having rice,  meat and veg for her lunch.  She said the moment she opened the lunchbox, the smell was so strong that she recoils.  Hmm I have experience with this - I brought lunch when I was working in the UK before, and our Asian type of food does smell when cooped up in an container.  My plastic container then never lost its garlicky smell however much detergent was used.  Fine, no garlic or onion for SE's food.  Then she was fed-up of rice.  And she wanted sandwiches, pasta.  OK, requirements gathered.

Some results....

1. Wraps with long bean omelette, tomatoes and sliced meat.  This came out perfect - the amount of filling which I had prepared separately, I was able to roll up the wrap nicely, even her lunch container cooperated by being the right size and shape.  Customer was very pleased with this lunch.

The second time I tried a 2-egg omelette which was too much, so reverted to the 1-egg one. 

Assembly

Finished product

2. Poke-bowl style rice. This took me quite some time to make but it got a thumbs up.   

Poke bowl

3. Baked rice with cheese.  Highest rating from customer.  Layered rice, protein, veggies, mushroom soup and a cheese topping.

In progress

Finished product

Good thing I was working from home, and could find the time to plan and execute.   

Master food list

Before she left, my helper cooked up extra food for freezing.  I asked her to write down what the items are.  From past experience, too often we open up the containers later and are completely mystified what the contents are!  The containers for my parents' place bore their little labels.  For the containers at our home, I also asked her to make a 'master list'.

Master list and 'Lamb in soy sauce'

And this is 'Deboned lamb to eat with bread'

This system worked out very well.  Near the weekend I just pull out the master list, decide on the items and then take it out of the freezer when we got home.  It was like ordering from a restaurant menu hahaha. 

Raya events

Where has the time gone?  :)  Well my helper has gone home for a month and I have been busy.  The last time she went home, hubby and my dad could still help with chores.  Now they are recovering from brain tumour and spine surgery respectively.  At least the girls can step in now.

The girls had their Raya events at school - Raya or traditional attire.  SE went in this kebaya belonging to my mum.  Slightly big for her but I thought she looked very nice.  

Rocking the kebaya!

JE complained she had been going in the same 'Ah mah's kebaya' for 2 years running.  She raided my mum's clothes again and they found this cheongsam.  Also slightly big but still looking good!

Rocking the cheongsam!

SE 'tapau'-ed various food back from her event which was potluck-style.  I love it that she has me in mind - picked items she knew I would like.  As of now, 3 weeks later, I'm still enjoying this jar of coconut Raya cookies she spirited home hehe.

JE's event had very limited food provided by teachers, which most students didn't manage to get to.  Oh well.

Good to have these fun events once in a while.

Sanna mee

We go out for food on weekends, and take turns to pick.  JE ALWAYS picks either Japanese, Korean or Haidilao.  SE has a wider variety of places although recently she tends to want to eat at home (boringggg).  Hubby doesn't get a turn as he will just go with whatever others want.  Also he doesn't eat much for lunch.  Me, I have plenty of places I like.  And I like trying out new places too. 

My recent pick was Young Sanna mee, having driven past it many times. 

Wow a lot of steam

Hoo really sauna!

Steam steam

Blow the steam away

We liked this place and will be back. 

Honeymoon week

Early April was school holiday week and also 'honeymoon week' for me.  The kids and myself have been camping at my parents' house on weekdays since hubby's surgery.  All good, but... no maid services!  

It was nice to be at home where I didn't have to bother about cooking, washing dishes, laundry, cleaning the house etc.  We even had a 'popiah' lunch.  Jane made everything including the popiah skin.

Roll my own

It had been some time since we had gone out, so I took the kids out for Korean food.

Yums

I term this a 'honeymoon' as our maid will be going home for a month.  Timing isn't good with hubby not being independent yet. 

JE's birthday 2025

One tall candle and 5 short ones... JE is 15!  

Happy birthday to me!

She finally got her wish to have her ears pierced.  We went to 1U - a slightly complicated trip with hubby still recovering from surgery.  A wheelchair made it possible.  

Pamm! Done

Lunch was at Haidilao.  JE has a very small list of places she likes - at last count, there are only 3 haha.

Yum yum

She picked her birthday cake from Lavender bakery.  

Make a wish and blow out the candles

Happy birthday to JE!

She had a good day.  Kudos to hubby for making the effort, else we would have stayed home instead.  Happy birthday to our firstborn, always our best wishes for you.  :)

Leg

This girl, must sit in her own way while relaxing.  Lately one or both legs must be extended. I couldn't take a picture as she will quickly move back to a 'normal' position.  Then one day... caught her!

Sitting comfortably

She noticed I was snapping a picture.

Oh what is it?  I'm sitting properly what

Then another day... aha!

*Oblivious