Outdoor Patio / Deck Ideas

These are all the ideas I would simply love to incorporate in to my future home. Unfortunately, to make the below come true, it is going to burn a gaping hole in my pocket. Hence, I foresee it will be a work in progress spreading out over 10 years! Lol.

Hmmmm... so, what would be a must have at my outdoor entertainment area??

#1 A deck / patio where I can invite friends and family over for a BBQ session (it's a pretty big thing in Aussie that families do a 'barbie' even on a casual week night dinner).

#2 Nice long table with ample seating to fit the many guests.

#3 A lovely garden that just oozes with peace and tranquility and beautiful plants with colourful flowers (oh yeah, a pear and orange tree, too!).

#4 Definitely a pond teeming with gold fish.

#6 A swing / egg shelled chair for lounging and reading books.

#7 Now that I think about it, I would like to have a round table to enjoy drinking Chinese tea the proper way with some Chinese looking chairs, the antique wooden sort with ivory etchings.

#8 Not forgetting a herb garden filled with basil, coriander, chives, tomatoes which are the main ingredients we usually use.

#9 Quirky Melburnian (yes, that's how you spell the word!) hanging lights.

#10 Fan for hot summer days and good lighting for nights. Blinds to keep out the gusty wind on Korean BBQ and steamboat nights.

Enjoy the endless possibilities. Extracted the pictures just by Google. Reckon they are mainly American  type of houses.

La Roche in St Kilda

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The Sunday we brought our two friends to Brighton Bathing Boxes, Ackland Street in St Kilda was our meeting point. Mr. C and I arrived before hand where else the two ladies were inconveniently delayed by tram works. We were famished and settled on La Roche as we reminisce the last time we had chicken parma there.

To date, it's the biggest parma we have had served and it is extremely delish! Oh yeah, Aussies love to shorten words and tend to end with 'o' or 'ie'. In this case, delish meaning delicious.

I was swayed to try the nachos after having a glance of the proud portion sitting on a patron's table as we walked past into the cosy atmosphere.

And you know what?

No regrets. 

The Nachos were simply finger licking good! Definitely too huge a portion to be consumed by one person. Good to share with 2-4 people as an entree. It was simply oozing with calories - chips topped with cheese and beef accompanied by dips - sour cream, guacamole and tomato salsa!

Nachos with beef $16.50

Chicken Parmagiana $26.50 (On Special $15)

Not sure if the picture does the Chicken Parma justice. The plate IS huge! And the parma literally covers 85% of the plate on top of a bed of fries! Oh glorious parma! Chicken schnitzel topped with napoli sauce and mozarella cheese.

Yum, yum, yum!

Unfortunately, we went on a non-special timing, hence, we paid full price at $26.50. If you go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays (after 6pm), it will only cost you $15 which is pretty decent for the taste and portion. It's actually very generous!

So, if you are ever in St Kilda, definitely head to La Roche and have their parma and nachos!! You won't
regret it!

If you do, tell yourself to stop whinging and be grateful you have money to buy food. ;p

 

Colourful Brighton Beach House

One of Melbourne's popular icon or must visit place would definitely be the Brighton Bath House aka Brighton Beach House aka Brighton Boat House. 

After a quick research, the right description would be BRIGHTON BATHING BOXES!

Many couples (mainly Malaysians that I know of) choose this place for one of their pre-wedding shoot location as it is picturesque and quirky - 82 colourful, vibrant bathing houses all lined up in a row by the beach.

Mr. C and I brought our two friends there two Saturdays ago. One year ago, we met this two adventurous ladies. One of them was my ex-KPMG colleague's sister-in-law. What makes them special or unique? Well, these gutsy ladies resigned from their steady jobs as lawyers in Malaysia to make their way into unexplored territory in Australia via work travel visa!

I mean, coming from Malaysia and coupled with Asian background, taking a gap year and/or resigning a job without securing another is a no no. What more to mention, resigning a stable job to go off to uncharted waters for a year of fun and a sea full of uncertainties. 

But they did it and with their parents blessings! Well, sort of and lots of trepidation. One girl's mother wasn't too keen but she just had to seize this opportunity!

The bathing houses are located just beside St Kilda Beach. Not exactly side by side, however, about 5-10 minutes driving distance along the Boulevard.

Location extracted from HERE just for you.

"Dendy Street Beach, Brighton is the home of the Brighton bathing boxes, a popular Bayside icon and cultural asset. It is approximately 13 km south of the City of Melbourne and is accessible by road, rail, bus and sea.

The nearest road intersection is Dendy Street and the Esplanade, Brighton (Melway Greater Melbourne map reference 67 C12/76 C1). Bayside City Council provide a user pay car park."

Pardon the gloomy looking pictures but it was a cloudy day and the skies threatened to cry! We were fortunate except for the strong gusts of wind...

And just like that, a year flew past. This was the end of their awesome journey in Aussie. As I type this, they have already gone home to Malaysia for good, back to all that is familiar and yet, not so anymore.

I really wish them all the very best readjusting back to 'reality' and my fervent wish for them is that the experience wasn't just all fun and games but that they brought home important, life changing experiences that helps them in their next journey in life. Who knows? Be a change in the Malaysian community. All it takes is a spark to spread the fire.

Office prank

{backdated}

My fellow colleague, J from Engineering Department was away on holidays for two weeks. In the past few months, this Malaysian uncle in his 50's have been getting very cheeky with me. He says that I am the office punching bag which is a good thing because it means people like me. 

Say what??!

Hahahahahahaha.... I never knew being a punching bag is a compliment. 

With him being away, I had this awesome brainy idea to prank him - actually his desk. Sort of a way to show how much he is missed in office.

You see, I've received this office email prank in the past where the monitor, keyboard, pen, pencils, mouse were all foil wrapped! There were other crazier ideas such as toilet papering the whole work station and so on. 

I googled some pictures for you to have an idea what was racing in my mind. And the last picture you see would be what I did in the end which is probably a good thing because I wasn't too sure how sporting my colleague would be.

What others did...

What I did...

I was supposed to come in to office earlier but I overslept. How typical of me. And so, plan B was put in motion mid morning when Uncle J goes for his morning tea time with the other senior colleagues.

You would think the other guys (4 Malaysians and 2 Chinese from Estimating and Engineering Department) in my office would be siao (crazy) and join in the fun right? But nope. Straight as sticks, party poopers, that's what they are.

Chinese colleague even commented what a waste making me feel bad that I stopped after foil wrapping four items - spectacles, mouse, calculator and a pen. Gee... I had my mind set on wrapping the monitor and keyboard, too.

Anyways, it was all in the name of fun and J had a good laugh. And I was under the impression that anything worst then that might not have been so well received.

Lol.

The Happy Wok in Bayswater

So, a new eatery has opened fairly nearby to where we live and it's Asian cuisine! 

Woohoo! 

Best part, it's Singaporean Food to boot! 

Ok. I must admit I assumed that Singaporean food is pretty much the same as Malaysian food. 

Well, guess what? It's not.

Yesterday after work, Mr. C and I went to The Happy Wok at Bayswater (less than 10minutes drive from Knox Mall now known as Westfield Knox Shopping Centre) for dinner and it was yum for our first visit! Patronising this shop definitely educates me on what Singaporean cuisine is all about.

Singapore Hokkien Prawn Mee

I was first introduced to this dish in 2008 when I was seconded to Johor to work whilst attached with KPMG Malaysia. I loved it then and I love it now. The best I've had so far is at Malaya Inn in Doncaster and this comes as a close second! :) 

In fact, this is yummier than some I've had in Singapore. 

Mr. C is now a fan of this dish that is made up of yellow noodle with vermicelli stir fried prolly with some prawn stock adorn with calamari rings and prawns. You know what makes this dish more awesome? The sambal chilli condiment that accompanies it- adds a kick to the dish and perfect for a brrrrrrr winter night.

Hae Mee is Hokkien dialect translated to mean Prawn Noodle 

Mr. C tried the Hae Mee and wasn't disappointed. It does look a bit different to the ones we were used to as it looked clearer and tastes more cheng (soothing or rather clear soup). The Hae Mee in Malaysia tend to be thicker brothed, murkier and a brighter shade of orange. This dish is a bit different yet tasty. I really enjoyed the melt in the mouth texture of the pork belly that was succulently juicy!

Black Rice Pudding $3.90

To finish off the night, I persuaded the hubby to let me try the Black Rice Pudding otherwise known to the Malaysian community as Orr Chu Bee (Hokkien dialect for Black Rice). I was immensely satisfied with this dessert. Sweet but not too sweet. And the coconut milk complimented the dish so well with its slightly salted flavour. I will definitely be back to have this again!

All in all, this was a pretty satisfactory meal. How can we not come back again for more? The Happy Wok, don't be surprise to see us grace your presence some time soon!

Besides that, the owners and/or people serving us are superbly welcoming and friendly.

I am sure being a new eatery they have room for improvement. So, feel free to add any constructive comments that can be edifying to assist The Happy Wok in lifting the bar higher in the quality of the food served.

10 things to do in 2014

Too many interests leads me to having a thousand and one things I wish to pursue. At this point of time, some of the things listed below has been on the to do list like forever. Perhaps when I reach the end of 2014, I can proudly say I crossed off at least half the list, if not all!

So, here goes...

1) A day barista course - to know how to make ang moh coffee the right way. I have this silly dream in my head to purchase a proper coffee machine for my own home in the future and make awesome coffee for myself, family and visiting friends! Who knows? It might come in handy when I need a second job or when friends finally open their dream cafes.

2) Piano lessons - I have had piano lessons and passed my Grade 8 in theory and practical training under the Trinicty College program. However, my sight reading is atrocious (I only sight read C major well. Only those who know music knows how pathetic that is, especially for a Grade 8 #lol) and I cannot really play by ear. Maybe if I spent hours on the piano just listening to one song and keep playing to get all the notes right, I just might be able to. However, time is limited and I need all the help I can get.

3) Vocal training - I am not tone death but neither do I have a powerful singing voice people would brag about or praise. This is my issue, I seem to be a jack of all trades and master of none person. Sang my vows but was a bit embarrassed by my lackluster performance looking back at my wedding clip - was super pitchy and shaky. I was extremely nervous (more so than saying "I do") especially as I am not a stage nor public performer. It isn't exactly a no.1 priority but I would love to have a stronger voice. I thought of surprising a friend by singing a song at her wedding but put off the idea as I doubt my lack of talent was worthy to grace her momentous occasion. 

4) Tandem Sky Diving - Sometimes, I think I have a bit more testosterone than I should as a woman. Lol. Am a adrenalin junkie as opposed to the hubby. And I really have to do this before I get pregnant, hubby's decree. Once I have a baby, he will not allow me to fly in the sky.

5) Join a cell group - This is my fourth year in Melbourne and I still haven't join a cell group! Malu betul. To be fair, I've never been a part of a cell group growing up. But I thought this would be a good step to get to know more people (normal church service is just too huge to get to know anyone!) and mainly to improve my knowledge about my faith and to grow in my walk with God which tends to dwindle off the path needing redirection.

6) Feel and taste snow (including making snow angels) - This has been on my bucket list like forever! Heard about the awesome, fluffy snow in Queenstown, New Zealand and initially planned a trip for September but had to bow out due to commitments. However, I really hope to at least make it to one of Melbourne's many snowy mountains this year.

7) Cook and master Char Koay Teow and creme brulee - Ok. It doesn't necessarily have to be those two dishes but I reckon I should learn at least one new dish a month! Or to be realistic, two a year. Lol.

8) Lose weight to 60kg (at least. this is me being realistic) - People who know me are probably sick of this so-called resolution of mine. Yes, I have been uttering this for years. And no, I still haven't lost to my desired weight. I did, however lose 3kgs from last year. And you know what? I am not going to give up and I am going to keep trying till I reach at least 60kg somehow. Losing more would be a bonus! This is how I see it, if I don't lose the weight now, when I do get pregnant (and we know all ladies put on ample weight), I'll forever be a fatty. :(

9) Learn to use Photoshop or Light room and also improve on Photography skills - Photography is also one of my many passions. But just like all my other passions, I tire of it especially when my growth is stagnant and when technical knowledge is involved. Need to work on this.

10) Find a home to call and make my own - Who doesn't dream a home of their own? One that you can have pets and hang stuff on the walls. To decorate and make it all cosy, just the way you like it. A place to look forward to after a hard day's work. A refuge. A happy place.

Futsal Thursday Nights at Springers Leisure Centre

{backdated}

Mr. C plays futsal (indoor soccer) on Thursday evenings at Springers Leisure Centre. 

What I find amazing is every week without fail, Mr. C will ask if I would like to follow him and watch his team play. Even knowing that my answer would 95% of the time be a resounding 'No', he still asks. Not just once on Thursday itself but multiple times throughout a day.

Yes, it can be annoying to a degree but his perseverence just astounds me. And even when I've said, 'no' once in the morning, he might try his luck again on the way home without missing a beat, without being upset with my rejection, without being impatient and asked me hopefully to follow him for futsal.

Sometimes, I'll give in to his hopeful, sad puppy look. Like last night.

The team has come a long way from when it first started last year. At the beginning, it was a mismatch of team members. Some did not know how to play or had never played much but join for the week just to help Mr. C out in filling the numbers to make a team.

However, as the weeks and months passed, he slowly gained a few keen joiners to the team who actually do play futsal as a hobby and passion bringing their skills to the table. Josh, my former Form 4 & 5 classmate was one of them. Then, there is JL, the hubby of my uni mate, Kitt. Both Malaysians who had migrated to Melbourne. 

Then, there is Vboy, a Vietnamese born in Melbourne whom Mr. C met at Springers itself. Somehow they got to talking and he must like Mr. C's friendly demeanor because he joined the team. Gyuri (a nickname) another Aussie (the guy in no.3 jersey in Picture 3 above who shoved his butt in front of my camera just as I clicked the shutter button). Mr. C met him from his Tuesday night futsal matches near home. Once again, it must be Mr. C's pleasant outlook because they got to talking and Gyuri played a couple of matches with Mr. C's team on Thursday nights and eventually became another solid member.

A, PRC colleague has been part of the team from day one. A man of few words, couple of months down the track, he was looking to quit the team. As mentioned earlier, before Josh, JL, Vboy and Gyuri joined, many of the earlier team members were just there as a favour to Mr. C and couldn't really play. Every week, the team was losing consistantly.

I think I will be an Asian mother in future when I have kids 'cos I'll always jokingly tell Mr. C not to come home if he didn't' win the match hoping to spur or motivate him to play better and perhaps score a victory for the team. It is a good thing that Mr. C ignored my joke as they just didn't make it week after week.

But the past season, they have been playing well and it's only a matter of time before they win a medal.

So, lesson learnt, no matter what you do and in everything that you do, persevere and keep forging on. Don't blame life or God or someone or something else when things fail. Failure is part and parcel of life. Everyone goes through failures. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's not a cliche, it's the truth. 

And once you are done sulking about your mishaps, pick yourself up and try again. Keep trying till you succeed. With all the attempts, you are bound to succeed. Chin up and keep on going! :)

Out of sorts

I’ve been feeling out of sorts of late. My handwriting is messy and unattractive. My memory keeps failing me. I used to remember word for word uttered.

Sometimes I feel the need to rant about something that has happened or a feeling I am feeling because of an event that occurred but the moment passes and I forget. Or I would feel it's not classy to speak ill of people.

Being with the right company matters. 

If you are with people who whine and complain or gossip and bitch, often than naught, a little bit of the toxic rubs off onto yourself.

And it doesn’t overtake you in an instance or overnight. 

Instead, it festers inside you slowly but surely and before you know it, you are a little bit whinier, a little bit bitchier and that just isn't right.

I thought being in the adultworld, people behave in a more mature fashion. I thought being in Australia, people were more diplomatic, better character etc.

However, that isn’t really the case.

Irregardless the country you are in, there will always be the good and the bad, the hardworking and the lazy.

The friend that shouldn't be

Dear you,

I am unsure why only now I am feeling this anger, this frustration, this... this negative feelings towards you. It happened awhile back but only now, I am feeling this feeling that I can only identify as being hurt. Maybe it's the hormones amplifying the feelings.

Still...

The questions keep popping up one after another. Over and over. If you were my friend, how could you treat me the way you did? Why did you do what you did? What have I done wrong to you to deserve this? The mixed signals. The confusion.

I feel like calling you or texting you to confront you with my questions. But what is the point? I never got my answers all those years ago and I am not holding my breathe that I will be getting any this time.

I am happy for you and where you are at in life but I do not appreciate you stepping into mine and undermining all the hard work I had put in, on my own, to be where I am now. Can't you be happy for me and leave things be? Couldn't you have just kept it all to yourself? And even if you wanted to approach me, keep it simple and sincere with no distractions, no illusions, no mess with my mind actions.

I want to know. I feel I need to know. I wish I know. Maybe that would be my closure but we all know that's not going to happen. You know why? Because you are selfish. You take what doesn't belong to you. You do what you do and somehow come out of it unscathed. Or maybe you do, I just don't know.

Is it a challenge? A joke? A whim? A fancy? What? Does it amuse you so?

If I only knew. If you only divulged what goes on in your super secretive world. What is due to me.

I am not sure if I should ever see you again or keep in touch. Only time will reveal the best course of action.

xoxo,

A frustrated, confused and gloomy me

Hammer and Tong 412 in Fitzroy

On Saturday, Mr. C decided to bring me to Fitzroy to sample the tasty morsel we've heard so much about at Hammer & Tong. Initially, I was worried that the wait would be long but after a short wait or what felt like a short wait despite the crowd, we were seated.

I was pleased.

After browsing the menu, we placed our orders and scanned about our surroundings.

We had our usual drink- him with his latte and mine, a mug of mocha. The froth was really smooth (and that's one of the ways you can tell if your coffee was made right) and the flavour just perfect. For the mocha, the balance between coffee and chocolate was just balance well.

Breakfast Ramen $15

As for food, Mr. C had the Breakfast Ramen. It was ideal for him as he wasn't in the mood for creamy, rich Aussie brekkie. When it arrived, the waitress kindly poured bacon dashi into his bowl of ramen that had 62c hens egg, bacon, oyster mushroom and spring onion. I had a few mouthfuls and it was simply delicious!

Soft Shell Crab Burger $12

I, on the other hand had the famous Soft Shell Crab Burger. It took a looooong while in arriving and when it did, the wait was worth every single bite. Each bite was orgasmic with the flavours bursting in my mouth. The sauce was yum and the crab, crisp! And yes, the burger looked small when first served but for me, I think it was just the right portion together with my mocha filling my tummy.

I admit that describing the flavours and tastes of the food are not my strong suit but then again, what is? Lol.
All I can say is, the Soft Shell Crab Burger and the Breakfast Ramen is definitely a must have!! 

So, what are you waiting for??