Getting Ready For Chinese New Year 2016.

When we installed the new fencing in our side garden, we also installed iron grille onto our windows. When the contractor installed the grilles, he took off our existing curtain railings. Before we started our spring cleaning for the Chinese New Year celebration, hubby had to fix back the curtain railings to hang the curtains in both my sons' room.

He used an electric drill to drill holes for the fixing of railing in both the rooms.

Both the railings have been fixed and the curtains hung up.

I sewed the curtains with my sewing machine.

Few months ago, we installed the "Heat Shield" sheets below both the roof tiles and the awning to reduce the heat temperature in our house. It did makes a great difference and the temperature has definitely been lowered. Even in the hot season, our home is much cooler now.

We also use these extra sheets to "heat shield" our car's front & back glass screen whenever it is parked under hot sun.

I remembered the 2 packets of prawn crackers that we bought from Sekichan few months ago.

Took them out under the hot sun before frying them as snacks for the festive season. 

 During one of our breakfast outing, dropped by a crockery shop to buy these 3 items.

I needed to get a new whistling kettle. It is more economical than using an electric kettle. 

Bought a new saucepan because due to my forgetfulness, I burnt my old one.

A new knives holder to replace the very old one.

Between the dark blue and brown rubber slipper, my friend and I bought the blue ones for our bathroom/toilet.

Took a break from the spring cleaning job, we came to this restaurant for lunch.

I like the name - Coming Restaurant! They are open for breakfast and lunch.

 Hubby took "economy rice" (chap fun) and I shared these fruits with him.

I was too tired to have any appetite for rice or noodle.

I saw this dual purpose Christmas tree. The Christmas decoration has been removed and replaced with Chinese New Year decoration. 

Lighted oranges on a Christmas tree!

If I had seen this earlier, I wouldn't have kept my Christmas tree so early.

Hope I can remember this for next year. Lol!

 After I came home from my hairdresser, it is time for hubby's hair cut.

And I am the barber!

 Hubby bought this hair clipper for me to cut his hair. He gets free barber service!

 A friend gave me this bundle of orchid plants and due to the change of environment, the leaves started to drop. I then moved it to a more shadier place and new leaves are growing back.

While watering the orchid, I noticed 2 flower buds on the bare stem.

I am feeling excited and looking forward to see the flowers.

One on the left and 2 on the right. Hope to see more buds appearing.

Now, here is a lesson from a fig tree.

When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout,

you know that spring has come.

(Mark 13:28, TLB)

Year End Lunch With Ex-Colleagues.

Today, we (my ex-colleagues and I) gathered for a year end celebration lunch in town. The venue chosen was Restoran Makanan Laut Delight at Jalan Dass, Ipoh. It was a short notice decision to gather for lunch before the Chinese New Year celebration. The first day of Chinese New Year falls on 8th February this year. We have been gathering and celebrating the year end celebration lunch for the last few years.

I totally forgot to snap a photo of the restaurant but I did remember to snap some inside the restaurant. 

 We who are retirees arrived early to order the dishes. Those who are still working will be able to enjoy their lunch the minute they arrived from their office.

 Only 2 tables were occupied when we arrived but by lunch time, there was quite a crowd.

 The cute little container belongs to one of my friend - she brought her own tea leaves. Fried peanuts, stew chicken claws and pickles as appetizers.

 This is really yummy. I am going to make my own pickles.

 Only 4 pieces of chicken claws for the retirees to enjoy. 

 While waiting for the others to arrive, I noticed these attractive wet wipes packings. And also some photos for our sweet memory albums.

 My blogging sifu or teacher.

Cheers!!!

Having some fun with our camera and gadget to pass the time.

 A friend also brought along a bottle of some remaining Johnnie Walker Black Label Whisky.

 We are not great drinkers but just a little bit for the fun of celebration. We are mostly tea drinkers.

 Opening dish was a Chinese salad dish (Yee Sang) with plenty of crunchy crispy & etc. It is only prepared and served once a year during the Chinese New Year celebration season. Now only I remembered that I should have taken a video of our tossing and mixing the salad.

 Chinese Cold Dish with 5 varieties.

 Some of us were commenting on the deep red colouring. Liver sausage, meat sausage, etc wrapped with fatty bacon and then I think barbecued.

 Steamed dish. White silky smooth tofu arranged in a row in the centre with minced meat and one bull's eye egg on both sides.

 Kai Lan veggie or Chinese Kale. The stems were blanched and the leafy part deep fried.

Steamed "wan yu" or fresh water fish with plenty of chopped ginger & garlic, etc.

It was a very hearty, scrumptious lunch for 7 people.

And finally a group photo for our album.

A wonderful gathering of old and young colleagues and friends.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,

not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine,

but to teach what is good.

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands

and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home,

to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,

so that no one will malign the word of God.

(Titus 2:3-5, NIV)

Dinner With Old Friends.

Last month, we had a dinner date with some old friends. Initially, I thought of going to a Chinese restaurant but it is usually very crowded at peak dinner time. So we ended up at Pete Corner in Menglembu. This was the first experience for my friends at this place.

Below were our orders for our dinner.

Russian Chicken - MYR 17 (approx. 4.03 USD)

Mint Lamb - MYR 18 (approx. 4.27 USD)

Herbal Cheese Chicken - MYR 17 (approx. 4.03 USD)

Special Grill Lamb - MYR 18 (approx. 4.27 USD)

Stew Lamb Shank - MYR 26 (approx. 6.17 USD)

Siam Fried Yellow Noodle - MYR 5 (approx. 1.19 USD)

There is a change of business hours.

Today I am joining Tuesday Treasures at Tom's.

I hope the photos below are suitable for linking up with Tuesday Treasures.

This mini portable fan has been with me for more than 38 years.
It was presented to me by my hubby when I was working in Kuala Lumpur.
Now I am still using this fan in my kitchen.

A neglected and abandoned house.

Photos of limestone hill taken from the main road.

Linking to Tuesday Treasures.

In the last days, the mountain of the LORD's house

will be the highest of all - the most important place on earth.

It will be raised above the other hills,

and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.

(Micah 4:1, NLT)