Miss my gal

Che-che has gone for a week trip with her school and I’m beginning to miss her. It's not her first time overseas without us, she went for a trip with the school Handbells Ensemble in Primary 5? or was it Primary 4? And then there was overnight trip to Malacca in Primary 6. But this time is different, because she's such a big girl now. She packed her own bag, of course I did help her with the toiletries bag. Still it's different now that she goes through the bag to check that I don't put in unnecessary stuffs for her. The rests is packed by her as she needed to bring some other items for the activities that they're doing there.

She was away from home since 24th Nov and will only touch down tomorrow night. I can't wait for her to share with me what she has done there, I'm sure it's some life-changing experience for her now that she's 17 years 4 days old. And did lil' one miss her sister? She claims not, she didn't tear at the airport, she's happy that she's away from her. Likewise older sister claims she is happy the irritating girl is not with her. But I'm sure despite all these, they do miss each other, the partner-in-crime needs to work together otherwise it's powerless with only one. I'm grateful her teacher helped me with the birthday cake and all there so that she had an unforgettable birthday without her parents. Ahh.... maybe she's happier this way.     

Has Orchard Road lost its charms?

Has Orchard Road lost its charms? Or is it me?

I can't deny that in my younger days, going to Orchard Road is definitely more boastful than when I say I went to Tampines to shop. But with malls springing up in every neighbourhood now and seeing the same shops - Watsons, Giordano etc.. 不去也大不了。

我也不想念  Orchard. Infact, if I needed to shop, I'll shop at Parkway Parade. Chop chop and get all my errands done in one trip. Parkway, Tampines Mall, Hougang Mall have all the things that i  need. And perhaps it's also due to the crowds. I HATE CROWDS!! Orchard Road is one massive mess on weekends. I dread going there, the girls dread it too. We only have to go more often now as their orthodontist is in Orchard. Even when we (family) had to go there for the girls' birthday treat, we made it there quick quick and came back quick quick. Good thing we didn't have to jostle in the train as well.  

So why do I hate crowds so much? Perhaps it was the lifestyle I lead. During SQ days, I have off days when everyone else is working. So even when I window shop or shop, I didn't have to deal with mixing with the crowds. Now as a SAHM, I have free time to shop before lunch time, before the office workers have their lunch.  

Not that I enjoy shopping too. It's really rare as what some friends say "you were a stewardess before, you should love to shop". Not then and not now. Then, I didn't mind shopping overseas so that I won't walk out in the streets and have someone else in the same clothing as I do. Now, I have to think when I shop. I have to think on which to throw away before I shop. I guess I'm living the minimal life now, just have my basic needs and I'm happy.

Orchard Road, though with the many branded stores, don't appeal to me now. Even this LV lover don't shop in LV all the time. I mean, I had some bags which still lasts till now, is there a need for me to shop? I guess not, I'm not a social influencer, I'm not a tai-tai who hangs out with all the other tai-tais that I can't be seen carrying that same bag all over and over again. 

Probably with the youngsters, Orchard is still a hip place to hang out. So move over old lady! It's time for me to hang out in Wan Yang (massage chain) instead. 

Comes Christmas season, we never hung out since the girls were older. We used to bring them out for a walk, not until once when we had party revellers anyhow spray the confettis into the air. It scared me coz' one of the girl was on daddy's shoulder and it would have gotten into her eyes. Anyway, I don't really care about the decorations there now. Seeing the simple decorations overseas is even more refreshing and nice.         

  

A series of cutie food class in 2019 (cute custard bun, cute cookies, cute tangyuan, cute pineapple tart, cute chiffon cake)

30th Aug (Fri)
I was really looking forward to her class as I've been following her Instagram page. And bookings were taken up very fast too. From what I heard she has a faithful string of followers who would attend all her classes whenever she's in SIN. 

I was surprised that my girlfriend also signed up for the class, I never knew she liked all these so now that I know, I'll jio her next time.   

My Sanrio custard steam bao

31st Aug (Sat) 

A long day for me as I have 2 classes. My signed cookie class as well as a makeup class at 8pm. Instructress asked for us to return the next day as 1-2 baos didn't rise up that beautifully. Class ended very late - 3hrs later? 

It's a tiring process to make cute stuffs, one guy commented that initially he wanted to make christmas cookies to sell. Not anymore. Haha! Honestly I wouldn't want to make to sell, very tiring. Yes, people may order few bottles at one go but if there's only one person to make everything - no day no night lor! I'm just happy to make for own and family consumption.     

In the night. 

2nd Sept (Mon)

Nice to see the cuties bobbing up and down in the water

Mine! Cute hor?

With my long time friend, J. Our last lesson together by this instructress

Really yummy. I love black sesame 

9th Nov (Sat) 

There are some things I just figure out how it's done, so must pay money. Judy led us into a fun class. My stomach growled as the buttery smell emitted from the oven. I don't mind pineapple tarts once in a while considering how unhealthy it can be (as if I'm that health conscious!) 

Lil' one tried but didn't like it. Didn't like pineapple. So maybe next time I'll try with chocolates? My girls are so troublesome so fussy!

16th Nov (Sat)

Really hilarious, I didn't know who the instructress was. Until they mentioned her name, Agnes Chii, and her Instagram page. Then realised that I had been following her all these while. I didn't expect to meet the shifu in person. Learnt so much from her  

Hers Vs 

Mine! Disfigured face, not proportionate eyes, chiffon that sank in. 

I never liked the idea of using a chiffon pan to make chiffon cake as heard one need skills to make the cake fall in place nicely. So usually I prefer to make individual cupped chiffon cake, which makes it easy for one to bring out and eat. So now maybe with the idea of knowing how to make cute designs, maybe I can try to do a small figurine (if my big fat fingers can do it that small) and put in on the chiffon cakes. 

That marks the end of baking classes for the year. Time to get busy and continue my holiday itinery planning where I had stopped.