Fully air-conditioned

What a relief! We installed three new air-conditioning units a few days before Gawai ...the weather was just too hot and humid! The kids were and all of us were restless ...and most of the time seeking refuge in the only air-conditioned room i.e. my bedroom ...but, we finally added three more units - one for the living room, and one each in the other two bedroom

Al checking the newly installed unit ...and probably wondering why we moved the sofa!

so, now - it is more bearable ... i guess it it all due to the current heat wave that we are experiencing ....our electricity bill is going to be higher this month ...but, we cannot bear the hot weather without these air conditioning units ....i guess it is a trade-off ...

the kids are happier ..sleep longer and less restless ...especially adik! and when adik is happy, mummy and daddy are happy, mama is happy, and the grandparents are beaming with joy ...hehehehe ...

This costs me RM700

I had to repair my car earlier this month ...overheated was the diagnosis ..and all because of this:

a hole in the water pipe to the engine ..it was rusty, and according to the mechanic - this has been leaking for a long time (by looking at the rust!) ..my dad never saw it before coz it is located at a place that is slightly hidden ..as for myself, it never crosses my mind to check any of it ..plus i won't know what I was supposed to look at!


so, I (or rather, the mechanic) had to do what he called "top-overhaul" ...honestly, i do not know what it meant! He replaced the water pipe etc etc ...and had to change the motor oil (which had already burst from its place and spread all over the engine when it happened) ...

plus I had to pay a little extra for the towing service!

and all that costs me RM700 ...which is equivalent to 3 new Hush Puppies shoes ...or 2 GUESS handbags ...but, i am thankful that my car is up and running again ...as good as new ..and i don't have to replace it with a newer model (Read: I am still rational ....)

Day trip to Betong

I took a day off last Tuesday ...so that I can go with the family to Betong, I mean sending my SIL and Al to Betong ...Al and mummy is spending a few weeks in Betong, while adik is coming back with us....why this separate arrangement? because adik cannot adapt there ...he is not used to the environment and that side of his families ...he misses my parents and his surrounding in Kuching ...so, they all took pity on him, and mummy and daddy, and both neneks decided that adik should not be separated from nenek Kuching...at least, till the times come when he can adapts ...

So, all of us pack into my car last Tuesday and headed off at about 9.00 am ...hehehe the plan was to take off at 7.00 am hehehehe ....and 2 hours later, stopped for brunch ....

Al, as usual is not eating - coz the fried noodles is a bit blackish ....he doesn't eat anything that is black ...like soy sauce etc ..as he pressumed that all black things are dirty! Adik, on the other hand, doesn't want to sit still ...he insisted on walking round that shop with my mum ...he prefered to walk than to eat!

It is hard when taking the kids for an outing ...more hands are needed to handle them, particularly if the kid is as active and as loud (as in wailing sound) as adik ...he refuses to sit still and would cry his eyes out if you force him ...our system was to get someone with him first, and take turn eating ....and always, always bring his toys in our carryall ....that helps in pacifying him ...heheheh ...

we took off straight after brunch, and arrived in Betong two hours later ....

Al: feeling at home at nenek's house (photo taken before we took off to Kuching)

Airell's first out at McDonald

Yeayyyyy ...it was adik's first outing to McDonald ....he didn't eat anything, just happily playing there ....in fact, he only had his milk when were we there ....

few shots of Airell ...after all it is a historic moment! hehehehe ....

showing his teeth ...

Airell dear, fear not - you'll come to McD a thousand more times after this ...coz this is mama's fav fastfood outlet! Mark my words ....

short break at the village

We spent a few days in the village unexpectedly a few weeks a go ...courtesy of my car ...coz my car was being repaired, we had to stay longer at the village ....so more time exploring the area ...meeting relatives ...and pottering round the house ....a little bit of gardening and clearing the bushes etc ...

Dad and his brush cutter - said it is a form of exercise :-)

The boys seemed to have a lot of fun ...especially in late afternoon when they were allowed to play outside the house ....my dad, of course, really enjoyed spending time with his grandkids ...

One evening, my mom and I saw Al sneaking outside ....coz he saw my dad was still doing some gardening ...Al has already taken his bath at the time, and had his PJ on ....but he still wanted to play outside ....i guess the environment was different from what he is used to ....no gates ...no barriers ....more greeneries, less concrete ...hehehehe ...

I love this place ...it is quiet and peaceful ...this is a place that we all love ...our official kampung home ...

Banana Teabread Recipe

I was suddenly in a mood to do some baking yesterday ...highly encouraged by my sister-in-law ....and since she loves banana cakes, i decided to bake this really simple banana teabread ...i got this recipe from a friend when I was a student way back in Newcastle ....here goes:

what you need is:

one part of self raising flour,
one part of castor sugar
one part butter
bananas (depending on sizes) - mashed
one teaspoon of vanilla essence

Mixed everything together ....

flour, butter & sugar mix

mashed bananas

and put in a greased loaf tin ...bake for 40-50 minutes in a preheated over - Gas Mark 3.

the finish product ....

Camel Meat

My sister in law brought back fresh camel meat for us ...I was surprised coz I thought that it will not pass the immigration and custom check! By, it did indeed ....

Al cannot wait to see what was inside the box

When my dad saw this, he told my SIL that the main dish for Gawai this year will be camel meat ...hehehe and he'll be cooking it himself! They all said that the meat is tender - in fact more tender than beef ...but I'm afraid I cannot attest to that statement co I didn't taste it ....the thought of camel smiley faces just put me off!