I asked Adeline to write a bit about her English lunch. Well here goes...enjoy....
"The Restaurant: Zest, George Street, Derby.
Known for: Relaxing lunches.
For starters, I had a smoked haddock fishcake and David had sweet potato soup.
For mains, I had a cottage pie while David had pan-fried sea bass fillets.
For dessert, we shared a blueberry cake.
Total Cost: GBP 21.90.
The fishcake was really good, as was the blueberry cake. The rest was okay. David's soup was a bit too creamy. The presentation of the food was very good.
Besides two businessmen trying to negotiate a deal, the chef's wife and their son, David and I were the only ones in the restaurant.
It was very nice and relaxing and the price was very reasonable too.
After that, we took a stroll down to the RSPCA and paid a visit to the dogs, cats, rats, parrot, and rabbits there. Some of them were so kesian. There was a German Shepherd eagerly holding a ball, waiting for someone to play with it, a funny looking Jack Russell who was shivering, a polite Siberian Husky, and an Akita that kept barking.
Also, the cats were very friendly. There was a cheeky tuxedo cat named Charles who kept pawing at David and his more aloof partner, Elizabeth, whom I liked very much."
Note: Hopefully Adeline will send some photos for our family blog next entry!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Celebrating our silver anniversary with the less fortunate
25 years ago we got married. That makes Sept 15 our silver anniversary!
So the silver Myvi seems most apt. It marks our silver anniversary. Last year we did not have any celebration. It just came and gone without us even knowing it!
This is probably because Sept is an important month of celebration. The celebration is Amanda's birthday on Sept 21 which is more important than our wedding anniversary (or so I think) as no one else in the family remembers except me!
So this year being our silver anniversary we celebrated our anniversary in a most meaningful way. Together with 14 of our life group members from church and another 3 from another group we made our way to Crisis Home.
We have been visiting the Home for the past 3 years. Each time we are blessed and touched by what God is doing in their lives. When we first came some of them did not look too well. But each year they seem to be glowing and growing in health! In fact I think some of the HIV residents look younger than us!
When we first came, all of them did not have jobs. This time we were told by Ps Isaac that almost all are working, some holding good jobs too! God is good to them.
Another brother had to walk with crutches as he had one of his legs below the knee amputated. The last time we came in July he did not have crutches. He got an artificial leg! This time when we came he was not in as he had to go to work.
Another blind brother (blinded because of HIV) could only recite a few chapters of Psalm. This time he could recite from Ps 1 to Ps 28! Amazingly he did it without any Braille Bible! Ps Isaac said he only had people read the Bible to him, that's how he memorized the chapters!
Wow...We brought the most delicious nasi lemak in KL for them and they enjoyed the food and the fellowship. There will always be leftovers for their dinner too!
We then had a cake cut to celebrate the birthdays of those born in July, Aug & Sept.
What a meaningful celebration of our silver wedding anniversary!
Tomorrow we will have another great celebration at the Stadium when we celebrate Malaysia's Jubilee (50 years)!
Tonight we are going out for a simple steamboat dinner with Amanda, Joseph and Samuel.
So the silver Myvi seems most apt. It marks our silver anniversary. Last year we did not have any celebration. It just came and gone without us even knowing it!
This is probably because Sept is an important month of celebration. The celebration is Amanda's birthday on Sept 21 which is more important than our wedding anniversary (or so I think) as no one else in the family remembers except me!
So this year being our silver anniversary we celebrated our anniversary in a most meaningful way. Together with 14 of our life group members from church and another 3 from another group we made our way to Crisis Home.
We have been visiting the Home for the past 3 years. Each time we are blessed and touched by what God is doing in their lives. When we first came some of them did not look too well. But each year they seem to be glowing and growing in health! In fact I think some of the HIV residents look younger than us!
When we first came, all of them did not have jobs. This time we were told by Ps Isaac that almost all are working, some holding good jobs too! God is good to them.
Another brother had to walk with crutches as he had one of his legs below the knee amputated. The last time we came in July he did not have crutches. He got an artificial leg! This time when we came he was not in as he had to go to work.
Another blind brother (blinded because of HIV) could only recite a few chapters of Psalm. This time he could recite from Ps 1 to Ps 28! Amazingly he did it without any Braille Bible! Ps Isaac said he only had people read the Bible to him, that's how he memorized the chapters!
Wow...We brought the most delicious nasi lemak in KL for them and they enjoyed the food and the fellowship. There will always be leftovers for their dinner too!
We then had a cake cut to celebrate the birthdays of those born in July, Aug & Sept.
What a meaningful celebration of our silver wedding anniversary!
Tomorrow we will have another great celebration at the Stadium when we celebrate Malaysia's Jubilee (50 years)!
Tonight we are going out for a simple steamboat dinner with Amanda, Joseph and Samuel.
Friday, September 14, 2012
A new addition to the family
Well...I did it. I bought a Myvi today as our family's third car for Amanda...
After months of 'nagging', 'grumbling' and 'complaining' that she is the most deprived in the family because:
1. She was the oldest in the family to learn driving (hey...how about me? I learn to drive in my 30s...!)
2. She had to use her hard-earned money @ Uniclo to pay for her driving lessons (hey...I thought it was me who paid for the lessons in the end...!)
3. She has to give way to her brother when it comes to using the wira
4. Her father told her that he could afford to buy a 3rd car (hmm...when did I hear that?)
5. She is the only one in her Uni who has to take public transport
6. As she stays in Uni she has to carry many things home for the weekend, thus she is in need of a car
7. She goes out with J during the weekends and they need a car (of course J has his own car too)!
Finally I gave in...sigh...the things mums will do for their children...
I think the clincher was when Tim told me that he would be unable to get comprehensive coverage for insurance for his 20 year old wira because its just too old. Without adequate insurance anyone else driving the car would not be covered if there was an accident. As the wira is driven by my son and he is summons or accident prone(thank God that these days there are no mysterious summons & surprise police notices) Tim felt that it would not be wise for anyone in the family to drive the wira except him.
So I agreed because of all the above....(sounds 'legal'...)
But I think I just wanted to enjoy my car loan benefit for the last time. With 3 more years to go (I am 52) the bank says that I cannot take more than a 2-year loan. Well that's fine with me.
With a RM40k loan, I only pay RM800 extra at the rate of 2.5% p.a with monthly rests. If I take a loan from another bank I would have to pay RM12k more at the rate of 3.3 % p.a. with yearly rest for a loan of 5 years!
Its the years of working as a banker that has taught me that its just not cost effective to borrow. Borrowing actually doubles the loan at the end of the tenure and it is actually not worth it at all.
Everyone is excited about Myvi especially Amanda. She is saying that it is her birthday gift (born 21/9). Now I am not so sure about this though cos Sept 15 is also my wedding anniversary....:)
After months of 'nagging', 'grumbling' and 'complaining' that she is the most deprived in the family because:
1. She was the oldest in the family to learn driving (hey...how about me? I learn to drive in my 30s...!)
2. She had to use her hard-earned money @ Uniclo to pay for her driving lessons (hey...I thought it was me who paid for the lessons in the end...!)
3. She has to give way to her brother when it comes to using the wira
4. Her father told her that he could afford to buy a 3rd car (hmm...when did I hear that?)
5. She is the only one in her Uni who has to take public transport
6. As she stays in Uni she has to carry many things home for the weekend, thus she is in need of a car
7. She goes out with J during the weekends and they need a car (of course J has his own car too)!
Finally I gave in...sigh...the things mums will do for their children...
I think the clincher was when Tim told me that he would be unable to get comprehensive coverage for insurance for his 20 year old wira because its just too old. Without adequate insurance anyone else driving the car would not be covered if there was an accident. As the wira is driven by my son and he is summons or accident prone(thank God that these days there are no mysterious summons & surprise police notices) Tim felt that it would not be wise for anyone in the family to drive the wira except him.
So I agreed because of all the above....(sounds 'legal'...)
But I think I just wanted to enjoy my car loan benefit for the last time. With 3 more years to go (I am 52) the bank says that I cannot take more than a 2-year loan. Well that's fine with me.
With a RM40k loan, I only pay RM800 extra at the rate of 2.5% p.a with monthly rests. If I take a loan from another bank I would have to pay RM12k more at the rate of 3.3 % p.a. with yearly rest for a loan of 5 years!
Its the years of working as a banker that has taught me that its just not cost effective to borrow. Borrowing actually doubles the loan at the end of the tenure and it is actually not worth it at all.
Everyone is excited about Myvi especially Amanda. She is saying that it is her birthday gift (born 21/9). Now I am not so sure about this though cos Sept 15 is also my wedding anniversary....:)
Climbing up Lose Hill, Mam Tor & Back Tor in the Peak District, England
Read about the more 'English' things that Adeline & David did in England....sigh...how I wish I was there too!
"We did the Great Ridge in the Peak District, which involved us climbing up three peaks: Lose Hill, Mam Tor, and Back Tor. We only managed Lose Hill before our feet gave way (we weren't wearing adequate shoes). And it was very challenging!
Anyway, this is item number two of the Very British things we have done. The first was visit the country fair which was also a very British thing.
"We did the Great Ridge in the Peak District, which involved us climbing up three peaks: Lose Hill, Mam Tor, and Back Tor. We only managed Lose Hill before our feet gave way (we weren't wearing adequate shoes). And it was very challenging!
Anyway, this is item number two of the Very British things we have done. The first was visit the country fair which was also a very British thing.
The countryside was beautiful but I started feeling a bit hemmed in by all the hills and valleys after a while. Will take the rugged Northumberland coast over rolling hills any day. Also, I have an intense fear of heights which did not serve me well on my descent of Lose Hill.
There were also many sheep some more crafty than others. On our arrival at the summit of Lose Hill, two rams were waiting to be fed by the travellers who rested there. And they left 'presents' everywhere (sheep manure).
Our walk began at the village of Hope. We took the difficult path, climbing up the hill, going through a horse pasture, and many sheep pastures, before beginning the ascent towards the summit of Lose Hill. We started our journey from Derby train station at 10 am. Met a group of Morris dancers and Sheffield, and it seemed that many people were going on this walk as well, as it is quite popular.
The walkers would nod and greet us as we passed and David called this the 'traveller bond' because when you are out there in the 'wild' humans need to rely on each other. We reached the summit at one. After that we continued walking, and decided halfway that we needed to break at the mid-point, a village called Castleton. We began our descent at around 2:30 and reached Castleton about an hour later. It was a very difficult descent as the path was not that well laid out.
We then chanced upon a farm advertising its 'Peak District' ice cream. Lured by the promise of fresh creamy ice cream, we entered and to our joy discovered a quaint shop with various farm animals up for feeding, a place to wash our hands and a place to sit to eat our packed lunches. We had ice cream while an inquisitive hen was poking around looking for food and later, a curious tabby cat came and sat next to David. Guinea pigs were chirping away near our lunch table, an indication that they were extremely contented. The farm lady pointed the way back to Hope and we took the path back (the easy way this time). Took about one hour to reach. Then the train to Sheffield, an on to Derby. What a day!
The walkers would nod and greet us as we passed and David called this the 'traveller bond' because when you are out there in the 'wild' humans need to rely on each other. We reached the summit at one. After that we continued walking, and decided halfway that we needed to break at the mid-point, a village called Castleton. We began our descent at around 2:30 and reached Castleton about an hour later. It was a very difficult descent as the path was not that well laid out.
We then chanced upon a farm advertising its 'Peak District' ice cream. Lured by the promise of fresh creamy ice cream, we entered and to our joy discovered a quaint shop with various farm animals up for feeding, a place to wash our hands and a place to sit to eat our packed lunches. We had ice cream while an inquisitive hen was poking around looking for food and later, a curious tabby cat came and sat next to David. Guinea pigs were chirping away near our lunch table, an indication that they were extremely contented. The farm lady pointed the way back to Hope and we took the path back (the easy way this time). Took about one hour to reach. Then the train to Sheffield, an on to Derby. What a day!
People of all ages were walking... Old people, young people, little children. There were even parents carrying little babies around... this was a really difficult walk.. so this just shows how enthusiastic some Brits are about their countryside. Walking is a national British pasttime. Very healthy too."
Mummy's note: I can think of more English things...drinking beer standing up (of course I don't drink la), eating fish & chips in newspapers, wearing funny hats, talking about the weather, calling you "luv", taking the tube, watching Shakespeare's in the grounds of a castle, watching plays standing up for at least 2 hours at West End (its the cheapest at GBP 5 la...)........
Mummy's note: I can think of more English things...drinking beer standing up (of course I don't drink la), eating fish & chips in newspapers, wearing funny hats, talking about the weather, calling you "luv", taking the tube, watching Shakespeare's in the grounds of a castle, watching plays standing up for at least 2 hours at West End (its the cheapest at GBP 5 la...)........
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Annual Chatsworth Country Fair (England)
Adeline and David went to the above...read her report:
"Yesterday (Sunday), David and I went to the Annual Chatsworth Country Fair. I think you may have heard of Chatsworth. In 'The Other Queen' by Phillipa Gregory, Chatsworth is the house Betsy Talbot and her husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury inhabit. It was also where they welcomed the Queen.
The entry to the Fair was GBP 20. It was a really big event and tons of British white people were there. David and I were the only few of a small number of Asians who visited. The fair was a showcase of everything country related. Country activities that are popular in Britain include shooting, sheepdog herding, horseriding, falconry, growing your own food, cheese, wine, etc. David really liked the idea of shooting, so I thought it'd be a good idea to go, to get a taste of what a country fair is like and what shooting is like.
There were SO many caravans and people there. Lots and lots of dogs too. Anyway, partaking in country activities is seen as the remit of the upper classes as shooting/hunting/ bringing your hounds out to chase scent/ sending your falcon out to hunt are expensive. It is also not cheap to purchase a house in the beautiful countryside. The fair was located right next to Chatsworth house which is extremely big and beautiful. Chatsworth House and its grounds are located in Peak DIstrict.
So David and I had a range of food stalls to choose from: Venison, bison, ostrich, boar.. in the end we settled for good ol' Angus beef and a chicken wrap. THen we sat on the grass next to a shallow river to eat, in the sun. There were a number of dogs looking wistfully at the water. I bet they wanted to get in very badly, but didn't dare to without their owner's permission. Beside us, an event was going on, wherein a man shoots something out, and orders his dog to fetch it. The test is to see how good the dog is at fetching. In the distant hill, we could also witness a sheepdog trial taking place. A border collie was chasing a small group of three sheep around. These are the kinds of things British people do in the country.
After eating and washing down with a smoothie, we followed our ears and headed in the direction of the firing shots. We soon found the area where the shooting stalls were located. David's inaugural go at a real gun was with a Smith Wesson, and he fired 8 rounds with real bullets. Almost all his bullets hit the target.
I was too scared of the loud noise to try. But I had a go at the crossbow and managed to hit a yellow bullseye (it was not the bullseye that I was aiming for though).
Then I had my own go with a gun. It wasn't shooting out bullets, but metal beads (still lethal enough to kill someone with). Almost all my beads hit the target too. Holding the gun, taking aim, and trying to reload it (it was a very heavy gun and in the end, David had to reload it for me) made me feel very English and country-like. Anyway, I really struggled with reloading my gun. The woman next to me was doing it so smoothly, but I couldn't even get the muzzle to open. I told David 'Luckily this isn't a war'.
After that, we went clay pigeon shooting. Basically a machine shoots a clay disc into the air, you take aim and fire. David was so good, he shot five out of his six clay discs! And it was his first time too. I only got one out of 5. A nearby spectator even commented on how good David was. After that David was so excited because he said he'd finally found his outdoor activity niche- Shooting! I told him that's a rich man's pasttime and he said, Ya I know. I need to be rich in the future.
We then wandered around somewhat aimlessly, took pictures and came across the big, imposing Chatsworth House (mansion more like). Then we found the Birds of Prey stall and had a good time interacting with the falcons/owls/buzzards/hawks. These birds are kept and trained to hunt. When a farmer has a rabbit problem, they sometimes call on these falconers. Falconer comes and releases his bird into the fields and rabbit population decimates. I really liked the falcons and the idea of falconry. Imagine me, with a falcon. I say 'Go Boy' and it goes, catches a rabbit, and brings it back to me for dinner.
After that we saw people parachuting from the sky. Then we went back and saw a flight display by Red Arrows (a kind of plane). Then we took the bus/train/walk home. We had fun being country people for a day."
Note: Adeline's last day at RR was on 31 Dec.
"Yesterday (Sunday), David and I went to the Annual Chatsworth Country Fair. I think you may have heard of Chatsworth. In 'The Other Queen' by Phillipa Gregory, Chatsworth is the house Betsy Talbot and her husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury inhabit. It was also where they welcomed the Queen.
The entry to the Fair was GBP 20. It was a really big event and tons of British white people were there. David and I were the only few of a small number of Asians who visited. The fair was a showcase of everything country related. Country activities that are popular in Britain include shooting, sheepdog herding, horseriding, falconry, growing your own food, cheese, wine, etc. David really liked the idea of shooting, so I thought it'd be a good idea to go, to get a taste of what a country fair is like and what shooting is like.
There were SO many caravans and people there. Lots and lots of dogs too. Anyway, partaking in country activities is seen as the remit of the upper classes as shooting/hunting/ bringing your hounds out to chase scent/ sending your falcon out to hunt are expensive. It is also not cheap to purchase a house in the beautiful countryside. The fair was located right next to Chatsworth house which is extremely big and beautiful. Chatsworth House and its grounds are located in Peak DIstrict.
So David and I had a range of food stalls to choose from: Venison, bison, ostrich, boar.. in the end we settled for good ol' Angus beef and a chicken wrap. THen we sat on the grass next to a shallow river to eat, in the sun. There were a number of dogs looking wistfully at the water. I bet they wanted to get in very badly, but didn't dare to without their owner's permission. Beside us, an event was going on, wherein a man shoots something out, and orders his dog to fetch it. The test is to see how good the dog is at fetching. In the distant hill, we could also witness a sheepdog trial taking place. A border collie was chasing a small group of three sheep around. These are the kinds of things British people do in the country.
After eating and washing down with a smoothie, we followed our ears and headed in the direction of the firing shots. We soon found the area where the shooting stalls were located. David's inaugural go at a real gun was with a Smith Wesson, and he fired 8 rounds with real bullets. Almost all his bullets hit the target.
I was too scared of the loud noise to try. But I had a go at the crossbow and managed to hit a yellow bullseye (it was not the bullseye that I was aiming for though).
Then I had my own go with a gun. It wasn't shooting out bullets, but metal beads (still lethal enough to kill someone with). Almost all my beads hit the target too. Holding the gun, taking aim, and trying to reload it (it was a very heavy gun and in the end, David had to reload it for me) made me feel very English and country-like. Anyway, I really struggled with reloading my gun. The woman next to me was doing it so smoothly, but I couldn't even get the muzzle to open. I told David 'Luckily this isn't a war'.
After that, we went clay pigeon shooting. Basically a machine shoots a clay disc into the air, you take aim and fire. David was so good, he shot five out of his six clay discs! And it was his first time too. I only got one out of 5. A nearby spectator even commented on how good David was. After that David was so excited because he said he'd finally found his outdoor activity niche- Shooting! I told him that's a rich man's pasttime and he said, Ya I know. I need to be rich in the future.
We then wandered around somewhat aimlessly, took pictures and came across the big, imposing Chatsworth House (mansion more like). Then we found the Birds of Prey stall and had a good time interacting with the falcons/owls/buzzards/hawks. These birds are kept and trained to hunt. When a farmer has a rabbit problem, they sometimes call on these falconers. Falconer comes and releases his bird into the fields and rabbit population decimates. I really liked the falcons and the idea of falconry. Imagine me, with a falcon. I say 'Go Boy' and it goes, catches a rabbit, and brings it back to me for dinner.
After that we saw people parachuting from the sky. Then we went back and saw a flight display by Red Arrows (a kind of plane). Then we took the bus/train/walk home. We had fun being country people for a day."
Note: Adeline's last day at RR was on 31 Dec.
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