Sat, 27th Sept 2008

Mum's last evening in Brunei - my turn to cook.

Beef curry

with baby potatoes,

Roast Chicken (look how juicy the breast is), 2 types of vegetables, roast pumpkin and fried sashimo (as starters). (Mum helped me with the fish as I am very impatient and probably will burn them).

And an enormous sunshine fruit salad for dessert.

And had time to panfry a piece of ribeye to medium rare doneness for my kids' sandwiches tomorrow. With mustard mayonnaise... I've kept it tightly covered in the fridge for now. Just noticed that the steak seems to be on the tablecloth but if you look closely, you just may spot the glass plate. Must admit that it did take me aback!

p.s I'm afraid this will be the last post until my picture bank (when oh when) is increased - yup, these un-sized pics have used up every bit of space I had in this blog. (and thank you, Reeds, for helping me yesterday)..

Fri, 26th Sept 2008

Thanks to dear Zeti & family for hosting a great Sungkai dinner. I think you quite like the bag right?? :-P (Note the matching ring, blouse and lipstick - all in pink)!

Mr P's manbag.

Marul's photo of the lamb shanks.

And mine taken just before I left the house.

Thurs, 25th Sept 2008

I had a terrific 36th :-P birthday - thanks to Mum for the birthday feast and little gifts and cake and wine.... :-)

Two very similar shots of the table.

Some octopus with olive oil from a tin which I bought from Sainbury's. I added some crushed black pepper and shredded coriander.

Mum made a lovely braised duck, some brocolli with braised mushrooms, scallops and abalone, meatballs with beancurd and vegs in scallop stock and we bought some roast meat.

Two birthday cakes. And mum made my favourite waterchestnut cake - all trembly and crunchy.

And goodness, how tall they both look in this pic.

The evening ended with a mini yoga session on the living room floor! It was hard going after the meal and wine, and several buttons had to be popped in order to get into some poses.

Fri, 26th Sept 2008

Dear Friends - these are the lamb shanks I will be bringing with me tomorrow ;-)

You like? I added mushrooms after this pic was taken and I have to reduce the sauce slightly tomorrow - the lamb shanks are almost but not quite falling off the bone yet but residual heat will tenderise the meat further and of course, tomorrow on reheating, will make the meat even softer & more tender just barely clinging to the bone and there is marrow inside the bones for those who are partial!!! Keeping it in the fridge overnight will further develop the flavours and marinate the meat right through and through....

p.s I just finished cooking this at 6 pm today 25th Sept.

Thurs, 25th Sept 2008

Please do not read till tomorrow but I don't know how to set delay posts, so here it is but it's meant to be for tomorrow. Don't look!
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And here it is :-)

The box, dustbag, bag, ribbon, receipt, guarantee card and a little note and a tiny circle of the caviar leather.

Front, back and inside.

Another view.

And that's me in my grotty old t-shirt so I've cropped most of myself out.

I hope you like my new GST (Grand Shopping Tote) bought in July in London, used once (but well and truly protected) on the flight back and stored in its original packaging until today. I really love this colour - a salmony dusky pink is the best I can describe it and the caviar leather makes it a bag I can use often without too much fear of it getting scratched.

I hope the ladies reading this like my new bag! :-) :-)

Monday, 22nd Sept 2008

After work I went to the Mall to order some chocs, and went into my fave soto place for a quick fix; with a large glass of teh tarik kurang manis. Like a true Bruneian, I doused my soto with lots of vinegar, soy sauce and chilli paste. Ha, that was good at the end of a strange day when I didn't want to go for yoga, didn't want to go home (kids away visiting their grandparents), didn't want to stay in the office, didn't want to shop, even a cute pleated black strappy top at Carmen's failed to excite me - hmmm - not quite myself.

Z popped in earlier in the afternoon to let me play with her bag - nice? :-)

And 3 more days before I open this....

Sunday, 21st Sept 2008

Surya Yoga at Berakas Forest Reserve.

This is Candy who baked and decorated these cupcakes - look at the cute little flipflops, yoga mats, miniature flowers and tiny shells.

Mark and Hazel trying to out-swing each other.

My lunch at 4 pm - leftover chicken with ginger and rice wine (with a fried egg).

Nice quiet Sunday...

Sunday 21st Sept 2008

Good morning - fruit salads done! I'm out of the door in 5 minutes.

Watermelon, papaya, kiwi, black grapes, orange, apple, pomelo, dragonfruit, longans & mint leaves.

Sat, 20th Sept 2008

*warning - an excessive attention to detail post*

I have packed half of my stuff. Here they are:

I've got me SPF50 UVA UVB sunblock, Aesop rose/bergamot/chamomile spray hydration, Aesop mandarin/rosemary/cedarwood hand balm, Body Shop camomile body mist, OFF, Stingoes gel, large jar Tiger Balm, wet wipes, tissues, Vicks, eye drops. (Anybody going tomo reading this, just ask if you need anything from my basket ok).

I still have to pack: camera, phone (both fully charged but of course), mat, towel, headscarf, hair clip, water, antihistamines (just in case) hat, sunglasses, $, and a change of clothes.

I have to be up by ummm 4 am? tomo to make 25-30 individually packed fruit salads (9 types of fruits ladies and gentlemen, nine), pack them into the eski and I mustn't forget extra ice and spoons and a garbage bag.

Have I forgotten anything?

AND WHERE AM I GOING?

Sunrise yoga Here! And I can't wait so I think its going to a very early night tonight.

Photo from Jac.

See you all on Sunday, 21st Sept.

p.s and I have not decided what to wear...... (dress code: all black or white yoga attire)

Sat, 20th Sept 2008

Tonight I cooked chicken with garlic and dark soy sauce for my children's dinner - we also had some fresh young kangkong with garlic and baby bok choy. And the adults had a huge pot of chicken with rice wine and ginger, Mum added some wood ear for extra texture. The chicken was a freerange cornfed chicken hand/home reared by a home industry chicken keeper.

Fri, 19th Sept 2008

Wanna see someone's Celine Jacquard Logo Boogie Bag - I bought this for Wm in July from Harrods. Nice?