The Old Fashioned Taste

Butter Cake

I am afraid I am going to sound terribly old -fashioned again...blame it on my childhood, perspectives of life or even taste buds ! But, of all the many, many, many types of cakes I have tasted in my life time...I truly must say I love butter cakes most ! Butter cakes...or marble butter cakes.

That species of butter cake originates from good old Muar found in most Hainanese coffee shops and they really look humble .

I mean if I were to ask Sara or even any of her contemporaries to attempt the cakes shown above , they will probably give a second thought... a gap between the old and young.

However, if they really, really need to taste butter cake, they would probably choose one that at least looks like that one above. They go for looks. Another gap.

Who will think that the cake above really is my favourite cake? I love the consistency and the butter- after- taste feeling in the mouth.

Yes, I look forward to receiving the cakes when my dear friend from Muar gets it from a particular shop and supplies me...in whatever shape. It makes my day.

Do you know it is the ultimate when I sip Muar Kopi O kau together with the butter cake? A beautiful evening break with my favourites. My girls will laugh at me. "Ma, like that also nice, ah?" Yes, it is the best. The girls do no take coffee like I do...another gap.

Sara received another order from an old classmate for his mum's birthday and baked a chocolate banana cake. She gave me orders ( another gap? I don't give orders to Por Por) to pick up the ingredients whenever convenient and in 2 evenings she invented the new concoction .

Beautiful, isn't it? It tempts the eyes and the taste buds. It will attract many. I am sure it tastes good...I must remember to ask the birthday girl.

But, I still will not trade the world for the coffee and butter cake in the picture above...not even the chocolate banana cake.

I am old fashioned and I must change...but they say tastes die hard.

Happy Birthday, dear Puan Chuah.

On This Earth Hour Day

28th March
8.30 - 9.30 pm - lights off

The girls told me we have to follow the world's appeal - lights off for an hour. So we had a candlelight dinner. Candles of various colours, sizes and shapes accompanied us for the evening. Sometimes it's good to practise team work especially when the girls were so excited about the movement. So we decided to conform for a good cause.

Fearing the lights off phenomenon might disturb our dinner, we decided to take a further step - barbecued our food. Grace was the mastermind and got her fingers and hands burnt in her venture to make sure we had food on the table.

The children took their turns in barbecuing marsh mellows after dinner proper. Try it. You will be surprised how good it tastes.

On this earth hour day, I received many gifts.

A tiramisu from Sara. Notice the chocolate sticks encircling the master piece. We counted and it was 2 short of the years...only 52.

Papa finally read and met my heart's desire - a Tag Heuer- of the right colour.

Of all the gifts, I was most flattered by this bouquet of roses. Roses depict love; love from my friends in school. I love the roses and the hue fitted as a glove on the table cloth. So very flattering as though the flowers were plucked off the table cloth.

Another look at the roses. Oh so lovely...so lovely. Thank you dear friends, they meant a lot to me.

And this is a very special year. My girls are with me. Back from their studies and around for some time , I treasure the minutes and hours they surround me. I know next year, Grace will be in Singapore and Esther and Sara may leave me for studies. So, I savor in every moment with gratitude and joy. They remind me of God's goodness every moment.

On another note, to a dear friend, coincidentally named Rose, Happy Birthday.
We share the same day of birth and you are special.

November Babies

Well, you are always remembered as a baby on your birthday, agreed?

So here's the November babies...

The hardworking ones celebrating their big day together on the last day of the school.

The trio up there are saved by the bell...extended their service to 58...so guess their age. They don't look it, do they?

Happy Birthday and may many, many more come to pass.

And... Happy Hols. Goodbye to 2008.