Cassandra – HEALTH FREAK MOMMY

Wednesday, 21 February 2024 ~ Cass’ HPV Vaccination & Excursion At The Exchange TRX

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health has been giving the HPV immunization for free for all girls in Form 1 (aged 13). However, the HPV vaccination program in schools was suspended since 2021 due to the lack of global vaccine supply. Thankfully this year, the supply has been replenished and the free vaccination program can be resumed.

The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV.

Today I accompanied Cass to a government clinic for her first dose of government-sponsored HPV vaccination. Little did we know that what started as a walk-in medical appointment would turn into a memorable adventure exploring the newest lifestyle hub in Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX.

Our journey to the government clinic at Jalan Hang Tuah was not without its hiccups. It took us almost an hour to reach the clinic, even though it wasn’t very far from us. After encountering a canceled Grab ride and a Grab driver who lost his way, we arrived just in time, breathing a sigh of relief as we beat the lunchtime rush.

At Klinik Ibu Dan Anak Hang Tuah for Cass’ free HPV vaccine.

Surprisingly, the vaccination process was super swift, with almost zilch wait time. Everything was done within 10 minutes, plus a 15-minute observation period post-vaccination. However, I couldn’t help but question the logic behind filling out a detailed form as a parent when it’s the child receiving the vaccine. The form required me to answer questions such as whether I have any diseases, allergies, depression and easily get upset. Shouldn’t it be the child who has to answer these questions instead of the parent? 😂

Post-vaccination, Cass eagerly suggested a trip to Petaling Street aka Chinatown, but my concerns about the scorching heat (as Cass had just taken a jab which I wasn’t sure would have any adverse reaction) led us to The Exchange TRX instead.

Our first stop was the food court, where Cass was drawn to a Yong Tau Fu stall displaying a wide assortment of fish balls, noodles, tofu, mushrooms, etc. Despite the hefty bill of RM42.40 for just the two of us and lackluster taste, we pressed on, determined to make the most of our outing. We didn’t finish the Yong Tau Fu as some of the items were sour and tasted funky.

Our RM42.40 bowl of Yong Tau Fu liu, which tasted MEH. The items that were supposed to be fried were not fried. They were just blanched and added into a bland tasting chicken soup.

Fortunately, our spirits were lifted by indulging in Hey Tea’s strawberry jasmine tea and All About Chew’s heavenly chocolate cookie. Despite the steep prices, the delectable treats made it worth every penny. The Big Ass Softy (BAS) dark chocolate cookie at RM15 per piece was so divine that despite the hefty price tag, I bought another piece to bring home for Alycia and Sherilyn to try. The Big Ass cookie was love at first bite for both Cass and me. It has everything that we look for in a cookie.

The Big Ass Softy (BAS) chocolate cookie (RM15/piece) was da bomb – soft chewy buttery cookie with bits of dark chocolate and walnuts.

We waited for almost half an hour for our jasmine tea strawberry drink. According to Alycia that night, Heytea (a China tea chain) is the newest tea craze amongst Gen Zs. Her friends waited for 1-2 hours for their tea.
Heytea opened its first store in Malaysia at the Exchange TRX shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur in late 2023.

Energized, we ventured to TRX City Park, a verdant oasis atop the mall, braving the sweltering heat for a glimpse of nature in the heart of the city. With its array of attractions including playgrounds, water features, cave play, and alfresco dining, clean walking treks, TRX City Park offers a welcome respite from the urban hustle. After exploring the park and satisfying Cass’s curiosity at Kinokuniya bookstore, we headed home, cherishing the memories made during our impromptu adventure.

The Exchange TRX is a blend of unexpected twists and delightful discoveries. While the mall itself offers a typical shopping experience, its rooftop park provides a refreshing escape.

SEIBU, the luxury department store from Japan, has made its debut in Malaysia for the first time at The Exchange TRX.

Zones at TRX City Park. Very nice park for people of all ages. Would be enjoyable to stroll at the park when the weather is cooler in the early mornings or evenings.

Many eateries, cafes and restaurants with alfresco dining at the park.

No. of times viewed = 32

Tracking Cass With Life360

As a parent, ensuring the safety of our children is always a top priority. With the rapid advancement of technology, we now have access to innovative solutions that can provide us with peace of mind even when our children are out and about. One such tool is the Life360 app, which my friend Barb introduced to me recently. She uses this app to track her daughter’s whereabouts too.

When Cass recently expressed her desire to go to the skating rink alone as her figure skating classes and practices are getting more frequent now, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of excitement for her independence and concern for her safety. However, instead of forbidding her from going, I decided to leverage the power of technology to keep an eye on her without intruding on her freedom.

The Life360 app, which is a comprehensive family locator tool designed to enhance safety and communication among family members seems like the perfect solution to alleviate my concerns and allow Cass to explore her newfound independence while still providing me with real-time updates on her whereabouts.

Tracking Cass on the Life360 app on my android phone.

Yesterday was the first time that Cass embarked on her solo trip to the skating rink. After she got into the Grab car, which she booked using the app on her phone, she shared the ride details with me. I immediately started tracking her journey through the Life360 app on my phone. Simultaneously, I could also view the car’s location through the Grab life tracking system, giving me an additional layer of security. Being able to monitor her route and progress in real time offered me reassurance, as I knew I could quickly respond in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

Tracking the Grab car that Cass was in using the Grab app real-time updates on my desktop PC. It was pouring heavily at that time.

The Grab app showing me that Cass was dropped off at her destination. Once she arrived at the skating rink, she sent me a photo of herself in the location, which is my requirement.

The combination of Life360 and the Grab life tracking system provided me with unparalleled peace of mind. I could view Cass’s location, estimated arrival time, and even get notified when she arrived safely at her destination. The sense of security that came from knowing her exact whereabouts was incredibly comforting, especially during those few hours when she was out of my direct supervision.

While tracking Cass’s movements may seem like an overbearing act, I firmly believe that it is crucial to balance our children’s freedom with their safety. By using Life360 and the Grab life tracking system, I was able to strike this balance. Cass felt empowered to explore the world on her own, knowing that I was just a click away if she needed me. This experience allowed her to build a sense of responsibility while giving me the confidence to gradually expand her boundaries.

Tracking our children should never replace open communication and trust. It is essential to have conversations with them about safety, independence, and responsible decision-making. The Life360 app and similar tracking tools serve as a supplement to these conversations, providing an additional layer of security and facilitating open dialogue about our concerns and their experiences.

The Life360 app, combined with the Grab life tracking system, has become an invaluable tool for me as a parent. It allows me to give my teenage daughter more freedom while still keeping a watchful eye on her well-being. By embracing technology responsibly, we can foster independence, responsibility, and trust, all while maintaining the peace of mind that comes with knowing our loved ones are safe.

No. of times viewed = 56

My Life In Photos The Past Week

This past week has been an eventful one in our household as we rallied around our youngest daughter, Cass, who has been tirelessly preparing for her mid-year exam. Her commitment to her studies was unparalleled as she immersed herself in rigorous preparation. Late nights became a norm as she burned the midnight oil, going above and beyond to revise every topic thoroughly.

Witnessing her unwavering dedication was truly inspiring. One of my sacrifices was to ensure that the house was silent as Cass is one who finds it hard to focus when there’s noise. Her sisters and I had to talk softly 🙄 and I had to turn off the radio the entire day. Music is life to me and being in silence throughout the day was hard on me.

The intensity of Cass’s exam preparation led to sacrifices that were both humbling and heartwarming. We had planned a pre-Father’s Day dinner on Saturday, but Cass chose to stay home and prioritize her studies instead. It was a selfless act that showcased her determination and the seriousness she attached to her academic goals.

On Friday night, Alycia accompanied Cass to the skating rink at Pavillion Bukit Jalil for her class. While Cass practiced her movements, Alycia diligently worked on her own assignments on her laptop at Starbucks.

Studying for hours on end can be mentally exhausting, and Cass understood the importance of taking short breaks to rejuvenate. During these breaks, she would engage in her passion for figure skating, practicing her movements with precision. Additionally, she would play her favorite pieces on the piano and found solace and relaxation in the company of Haru, our lockdown cat. These moments of respite allowed Cass to unwind, destress, and return to her studies with renewed focus.

As Cass’s mid-year exam journey unfolded, it became apparent that her perseverance and commitment were unwavering. From her late-night study sessions to her sacrifices showcased the strength and determination of a young student driven to succeed. I am sure Cass’ hard work will pay off.

Not one who would eat breakfast before going to school, today Cass requested to have oats with milk, a banana, and chicken essence at 6.30 in the morning. She believes in a satiated tummy for the brain power to unleash. In her lunchbox for recess today were four pieces of Auntie Anne’s cheese-stuffed nuggets / pretzels.

Sunday lunch with hubby at Chatterbox @ Bangsar Village. Just the both of us as everyone else had their own activities and Alycia was at her weekend part-time job.

After lunch at Chatterbox, we went to Tan Boon Meng (lower ground floor of Bangsar Village) to shop. Hubs bought an air conditioner and stand fan for his office and kitchen. And I got a new toy too – a juice extractor!

I used to have this classic Panasonic juice extractor more than two decades ago and loved how it served me for many years. The new model comes with slightly enhanced features and only costs a little more than RM200. I bought this juicer so that I can make my own carrot milk at home.

A recent incident I witnessed while ordering carrot juice with milk left me deeply concerned and compelled me to reevaluate the importance of personal food preparation.

As I approached the drinks counter at the coffee shop to order my usual carrot juice with milk, I couldn’t help but notice the foreign worker handling the preparation. It quickly became evident that hygiene was not a top priority. To my disbelief, she retrieved two carrots from the fridge, gave them a cursory rinse in a large basin of water without bothering to remove the carrot skin, and proceeded to feed them into the juice extractor.

My concern heightened when one of the carrots slipped from her hand and landed on the dirty and wet floor. To my astonishment, instead of washing the carrot thoroughly, she nonchalantly retrieved it, dipped it back into the same basin of dirty water, and then proceeded to add it to the juicer. This blatant disregard for hygiene shocked me to the core.

Witnessing this incident left me feeling deeply disgusted and concerned about the lack of hygiene standards at coffee shops. It was a wakeup call, prompting me to reflect on the potential risks associated with consuming food prepared in unsanitary conditions. With this experience fresh in my mind, I made a vow to prepare my carrot juice with milk at home, ensuring cleanliness and safety in every step of the process.

Thus, I got a cheap and good fruit extractor, just to prep carrot milk and beet root juice 😁. I still prefer to eat fruits like apple and orange as it is or made into smoothie using our Blendtec where the fiber is eaten as well.

No. of times viewed = 49

Cassandra’s 15th Birthday

9 April 2023

Cass turns 15 today! This girl has come a long way to where she is today. Cass’ journey has not been easy from day 1, as she’s born with a rare congenital disorder in her urinary tract but she has persevered through countless hurdles along her way. I credit her strength, resilience and stubbornness to her unwavering determination, optimism, and unbreakable spirit.

Hubs surprised both the birthday girl and me with a hotpot dinner at Haidilao Hot Pot @ Bangsar Village 3 today, just the three of us – hubs, Cass and me. Alycia and Sherilyn are in Ipoh with my parents and the mil is currently in Hong Kong.

As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the friendly staff who welcomed us and led us to our table. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, with cozy seating arrangements and tasteful decor. The menu offered a wide selection of hotpot ingredients, including meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles, all of which were fresh and of high quality. While patrons wait for their tables, packet snacks, titbits and drinks are available in abundance at the entrance of the restaurant for patrons to munch.

Our dining experience began with a selection of dipping sauces and condiments, including peanut sauce, sesame sauce, and spicy sauce and a wide selection of condiments such as spring onions, parsley, chopped raw garlic, fried minced beef, etc, These sauces added an extra dimension of flavor to our yummy meal and were the perfect accompaniment to the hotpot ingredients.

As we waited for our hotpot to arrive, we enjoyed a variety of appetizers, such as wakame seaweed and fried peanuts. For the two choices of soup for our hotpot, hubs chose golden fish maw soup (RM47) and peppery pig stomach + chicken soup (RM20).

Part way through the meal was show-time for us (and for every table as well). A noodle performer came to our table and showcased his skill in the art of noodle-making while dancing. A minute into throwing the flying noodles, a part of the dough touched the floor and the performer quickly went into the kitchen and brought out a new wedge of dough and started the performance again. After the noodles were churned out by hand, the staff gently placed them into our hotpot of two variety of soups.

What really came as a big surprise to Cass and me was when the Haidilao staff came out with a slice of birthday cake, along with a birthday banner and lo and behold, sang ‘Happy Birthday’, vociferously with clappings and all!

Cass who doesn’t like to be in the limelight, have her photos taken, or people singing birthday song to her in public was gobsmacked, stunned, embarrassed, and yet happy all at once 🤣

The delicious food, exceptional service, warm atmosphere and loads of freebies made for a perfect evening of enjoyment and birthday celebration.

Golden fish maw soup and peppery pig stomach + chicken soup.

Counter for sauces, condiments and desserts.

Appetite whetting appetizers – pickled turnip and carrot, wakame seaweed and fried peanuts.

My glorious bowl of condiments for the hotpot, composed of dry fried minced beef, loads of raw minced garlic, spring onions, coriander, toasted sesame seeds and peanut sauce.

Trays of hotpot ingredients were brought to our table by robots.

Potato strings. We were too stuffed to eat this and doggy-bagged this home.

Freshly made noodles gently placed into the soups.

Soy pudding for dessert. There was red bean sweet dessert as well but I forgot all about taking it from the counter.

Free to take from the drawer at our table – wet wipes for lenses (for phones & eye glasses), hair ties, disposable gloves, sweets and chopsticks. Chopsticks are for dining use only, yeah.

More freebies in the washroom – lens wet wipes, hair combs and cotton buds. You can even dry your hair with a hair dryer here and clean your eye glasses in a special glasses cleaning box.

I have no freaking idea how to use this thingy. I suppose it’s to disinfect your eye glasses.

Cass was super awkward coz a troupe of staffers came over and sang her a birthday song vociferously with clappings and all. All eyes were on us 🤣. It was hilarious to see the mixed reaction on her face.

As there was still a LOT of soup left in both the pots, we had the soup doggy-bagged home, which the staff gladly helped us to pack and seal in thick plastic bags. We also doggy-bagged several plates of unfinished food. We can now have 1 more round of hot pot at home, when Sherilyn comes back to KL!

To cap off the meal, we were given complimentary chilled Roselle drinks, which was very refreshing and soothing for the throat after a hot meal.

Luckily we went early as when we left the restaurant, there was a long queue outside.

After our hotpot dinner, hubs brought the birthday girl to get Häagen-Dazs ice-cream for dessert.

Then we went to Sports Direct @ Bangsar Village 3 for Cass to get her birthday pressie from her dad, which is a hoodie sweater for her to wear at the skating rink.

No. of times viewed = 55

Sunday, 5 March 2023

My Sundays for the past one month has been like this – lunch with hubs and Alycia, just the three of us while Cass attended her figure skating lessons at the skating rink, the mil has her own activities on Sundays and the SPM girl stayed home to study. Our life was pretty much like this about 20 years ago when Alycia was just a baby and there was only the three of us, with a live-in maid. Everywhere that we went, it was just the three of us and the live-in maid.

Now our big baby girl is an adult and will turn 20 in December. But she’s still very much like a little girl in our eyes and still behaves like one 😁.

We first had a light lunch at Dai Cha Dim, a Chinese restaurant that serves a variety of delicious cha-chaan-teng (or Hong Kong style café) delights. Hubs wanted to eat sushi and sashimi but I want Dai Cha Dim (again). So we had lunch at both a Chinese restaurant, and then later at Koi Sushi.

After lunch at Dai Cha Dim, we went shopping at Uniqlo. Both mom and daughter bought cropped bra tops coz cropped tops are in vogue now.

After shopping at Uniqlo, we had our second round of lunch at Sushi Koi.

Very fresh sashimi – hubs was very pleased and satisfied. He commented that this is even better than the sashimi at Rakuzen.

Delish spider roll sushi (soft shell crabs).

Someone caught her paparazzi mom stealing a snapshot of her at the skating rink and wasn’t too pleased.

This week will be Cass’ last lesson on a Sunday. Effective next week, her figure skating class will be on a Friday night. It’s going to be a new routine for us, more hectic for Cass when she returns to school with CoCo activities back in full swing this year and a UEC exam to sit for this year. She still wants to compete in figure skating competitions this year but I told her that she’ll have to wait until next year.

No. of times viewed = 44

Sunday, 19 February 2023

Cass sat for her first figure skating test today. It’s the Basic Level Test (Pre-Alpha).

She had to be at the skating rink by 7.45 a.m. for two hours of lessons from her coach before the test at 10 a.m. Her dad sent her to the skating rink.

Off the skating rink, Cass has been practising and training really hard. She goes to the gym every day, does running, does lots of stretch exercises and off-skating rink exercises. She even takes part in online figure skating classes provided for free by some European figure skaters.

Besides watching figure skating competitions on You Tube, Cass has been reading up and researching quite a bit on this sport. She even eats like a sportswoman.

And the damage for this test? RM225 for a 2-hour pre-test lesson by her coach, RM65 for the test fee and RM200 for a 2-year membership fee at the Ice Skating Institute Asia.

This is only the first test and there will be a few more tests coming up this year! Cass is even gamed to compete but I told her that this year is not for competing yet. As it is, her classes and tests are already very costly and it’s going to cost even more with competitions.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is jpfCEKM.jpg — A light snack during her break at the skating rink. This is what Cass usually packs in her tiny lunch box every Sunday – a banana and some walnuts and almonds. She eats rice with dishes or a sandwich at home before leaving for the skating rink. She skates for 3-4 hours on Sundays and begs for more hours on the ice each time.

Cass’ lunch box for school. She packs her own lunch box. It’s usually filled with fruits, sweet potato, some nuts and her homemade energy balls.

Cass even makes her own energy balls and it’s low in carbs. The ingredients are organic instant oats, some butter, vanilla essence, bananas, peanut butter and nuts.

Our lunch at Money’s Corner Food Court @ Brickfields after hubs sent Cass to the skating rink.

No. of times viewed = 39

One Month End-Of-Academic-Year School Holidays Begins

But it ain’t no holiday for me. Not at all as Sherilyn will be sitting for her SPM exam for the entire month during the school holidays. I still have to wake up at 5 a.m. and leave the house by 7 a.m. My Grab duties have to continue 😭.

And I’ll be stuck with Cass at home for the entire month. This brat can really annoy me till I’m on the verge of tearing my hair out and pack my bags, walk out of the door and never return.

My younger brother’s condo (just a few minutes’ walk from ours) will be ready soon and he’ll be moving in this year. I’ll ask him to reserve a room for me for my refuge! 😜

Just today, the brat’s sass made me go apeshit and I almost spanked her but I tried so hard to control my hands.

The brat tells me that for the next one month, I can drop her off at the skating rink in the morning and fetch her back at night. She’ll be too pleased to spend all her time at the skating rink the entire school holidays so that I can have some peace at home. She knows that she irritates me to the bones. I think I may do just that to get some sanity. I’ll get hubs to be in charge of Cass as I’ll be a full-time Grab driver for Sherilyn for the next one month.

When the brat is in a good mood, she can nonetheless be pretty loving. She would peel and cut a persimmon or an apple and stuff it into my mouth when I’m too busy to eat. She would feed me with my favorite dark chocolate or snacks when she sees me busy mopping the floor.

That’s what parenting is like, right? A love hate relationship with your children, a completely ying-yang experience. The hatred and anger can be so intense it actually burns.

Cass air-fried a slice of bread and spread it with peanut butter and blackcurrant jam for me when I got home from the gynae’s office two Sundays ago.

No. of times viewed = 43

Cass Finally Sold Her Shopkins Collection

When she was about seven, Cass was obsessed with Shopkins. These cute little toys are a range of tiny, collectibles manufactured by Moose Toys. Based on grocery store items, each plastic figure has a recognizable face and unique name. They also have special finishes like translucent, glitter, or squishy. Shopkins were a rage with little kids back then.

Cass’ dad and I would buy her Shopkins as reward for good exam grades and during birthdays. Cass collected them for about four or five years. Then came the pandemic. During the pandemic, the girls were hooked to their laptops, busy with online classes, watched movies and played games. Life during the long lockdowns was so mundane to the point of depressive and Cass eventually forgot about her precious little babies, all kept in a box under her desk.

While decluttering her space recently, Cass rediscovered her precious gems. They were so precious to her when she was in her early primary school years. But now she had made up her mind to part with her precious Shopkins collectibles as her interest has diverted somewhere else – figure skating! She wanted to get some extra moolah to partially pay for the expensive classes as well as to save up to buy a pair of more advanced skates which cost over RM2k.

Cass took photos of her Shopkins collection and posted the items for sale at Carousell. Cass and Alycia had previously sold some novels pretty quickly at Carousell. This time, her Shopkins were snapped up very quickly too. And that’s because she sold them for a song. The entire collection cost a few hundred Ringgit and she sold them for only RM40 🤭

Cass kept a few Shopkins pieces as keepsakes to remind herself of her childhood craze. I’m surprised that she had the heart to part with something that once meant so much to her.

I still keep my collection of Sanrio items that’s over 40 years old! They include cute Sanrio stickers, pencils, writing pads, envelopes, etc. They are all originals and made in Japan. In those days, there were no made in China copycats. And the quality of these stationery items are still very good even after more than 40 years. Cass brings them out to show me once in a little while and going through these collectibles that grew with me evoke a lot of nostalgia in me. I still keep a Snoopy and Garfield wall decor that my bestie, Ju gave me when she was 13 and 14.

No. of times viewed = 34

Throwback Food Snaps

This aunty here is walking with a spring in her step 😁

Just a moment ago I bumped into my car park neighbor at the basement. We have not crossed path with each other for almost a month due to the school holidays. We greeted each other and chatted. As usual, our conversation is always on our daughters. His younger daughter is in the same high school as Cass. They were classmates two years ago and had swimming lessons together when they were 7 years old (7 years ago). While chatting, he suddenly switched the subject and commented that I never age and wonder why I look even younger now. I told him that I will turn 50 in two months and I have wrinkles on my face – if he were to scrutinize it during the day, he would have spotted those fine lines. But he was in awe and could not believe my age. In my heart, I was really flattered and already walking on air 😆

Ok, coming back to my throwback food snaps!

Year-end holidays are all about food, celebrations and merriment. The photos below were taken from 27 December 2022 through 1 January 2023.

27 December 2022 ~ Dinner at Ramen Mob, a newly opened ramen restaurant in our hood. The restaurant is owned by an ex-pilot. We had dinner at this restaurant on the day that I came back from Ipoh.

29 December 2022 ~ Brunch at Money’s Corner Food Court @ Brickfields. Our favorites from this food court are the Indian rice, pork noodles, Vietnamese food (stall owner is an ertswhile chef at a Pho Viet) and Sarawak Kolok noodles.

Clockwise from top left: Vietnamese noodle salad, curry noodles (mediocre in taste), beef pho and pork noodles.

30 December 2022 ~ Today is hubby’s 51st birthday! We had lunch at Golden Dragon City Seafood Restaurant @ Paramount Garden.
Clockwise from top left: Deep fried super crispy fish (everyone’s favorite), sauteed kailan with garlic, steamed village chicken with Bok Choy and crabmeat soup.

Clockwise from top left: Claypot braised pig’s trotters, pan-fried tiger prawns, longevity noodles and stir-fried assorted vegetables with fried cuttlefish.

31 December 2022 ~ New Year’s Eve dinner at Seng Kee Kitchen, our favorite neighborhood ‘tai chow’ restaurant.

1 January 2023 ~ Our first meal of the new year was at VCR Stacks @ 163 Retail Park, Mont Kiara. Our primary reason for going to this shopping mall is because of Cass. Her doting dad brought her to the the mall for her to practise ice-skating. After dropping her off at the Blue Ice skating rink at 163 Retail Park, we walked across to the Shoplex Plaza to have brunch.

We had three types of toasties – beef, cheese and mushroom.

Cass’ doting dad bought takeaway pizza for her to enjoy it at home. We also got some takeaway food from QingHeGu 청학골 Korean BBQ Restaurant, a Chinese Korean restaurant @ 163 Retail Park.

Blue Ice skating rink @ 163 Retail Park – the smallest skating rink compared with the Blue Ice Snow Park @ Pavillion Bukit Jalil and Sunway Pyramid Ice @ Sunway Pyramid.

Whenever Cass is at the skating rink, she forgets about being hungry and everything else in the world. The ice is her world. Figure skating is her world… for now. And she says it will be her love forever 😁.

No. of times viewed = 36

Sunday, 18 December 2022

We were at Pavillion Bukit Jalil again today as Cass wanted to practise skating. Her figure skating coach is on a holiday and classes will only resume in January 2023.

When we reached the skating rink, there was an on-going figure skating performance in conjunction with the holiday season. Cass didn’t check if the skating rink was available prior to asking her dad to bring her to the mall, thus she couldn’t skate in the session that she wanted. But all was not futile as we both watched a spectacular performance by figure skaters, both amateurs and professional. Cass’ dream is to one day be on that rink doing a dazzling performance too, and even more. With her perfervid passion in figure skating, it’s not impossible to achieve her dreams. I will have to sacrifice all my Sundays to bring her to the skating rink for classes and practice sessions 😳. I’m not sure how long my patience will last though 😐

Photo taken after the performance ended.

Lunch was at Tokyo Teppan @ Tokyo Town, Pavillion Bukit Jalil.

After we left the mall, hubs stopped by at our neighborhood supermarket to grab some stuff for his kitchen. Just as we were about to leave the supermarket, rain bucketed down the sky and we had to wait for it to stop. To kill time, we tucked into some croffles and coffee at a cafe.

No. of times viewed = 42

Saturday, 5 November 2022 ~ Cass Got Her New Figure Skates

Cass’ final exam for 2022 was finally over yesterday after 2 long weeks. The next day we went to the skating rink at Sunway Pyramid to get her new figure skates.

I thought that the skates only cost RM850 but they’re actually RM950 and they’re the cheapest pair. And it didn’t stop at the skates. She had to get a pair of blades protector and fluffy skates covers which cost RM55 per accessory. The total damage was over RM1,000!

The skates can only be worn up to a certain level and Cass would need more advanced skates that costs over RM2,000 a pair for competitive skating! 😲

And if Cass is into competitive figure skating, she would need costumes and more accessories. The costliest part would be the skating lessons and time on ice. It would cost at least RM1k a month if she took the competitive skating route and Cass is 100% certain that this is the route that she wants to take 😵.

I am definitely not in agreement with Cass’ decision, mainly because of the cost and also the time that she would need to spend at the skating rink. For a beginner competitive skater, she needs to attend a minimum of two hourly lessons twice a week and another minimum 2 hours of self practise per week at the skating rink.

I cannot imagine myself sending Cass to Pavillion Bukit Jalil or Sunway Pyramid twice – thrice a week after she comes home from school at 4 pm. By the time we reach home, it would be way past my bedtime.

Sangeetha, a Malaysian competitive figure skater who’s 14 (Cass’ age) starts her day at 4am thrice a week. Her dad sends her to Sunway Pyramid to practise at 6am after which she goes to school. She’s currently ranked 8th in Asia.

I am definitely not ready to be doing this. NO way! 🤪

Trying out her new skates @ Sunway Pyramid

Costly figure skates on display at the skates shop.

While Cass had a 2-hour skating session, I walked around Sunway Pyramid, trying to find Wok Hey to get take-out for dinner. We tried the fried rice and fried ramen from Wok Hey once when Alycia bought them for us and everyone liked it.

Wok Hey is a fast-casual, quick, takeaway kiosk concept inspired by Cantonese-style cooking and traditional stir-fry staples in a box that was introduced as Singapore’s finest Asian stir-fry cuisine. With the title of “Singapore’s Best Fried Rice”, Wok Hey has earned the hearts of Singaporeans and now Malaysians.

I had no idea where Wok Hey is as Sunway Pyramid is very huge, with an old wing and new wing. I didn’t manage to use the electronic directory as there were long queues at every directory. So I Whatsapped Alycia to ask her where the stall is but Alycia was working and only replied me many hours later. By the time she Whatsapped me, I had already found the stall and it’s located just a floor above the skating rink! So near yet so far and I wasted 2 hours walking around the mall looking for it 🤣. But it’s ok, it was a great way to exercise and I chalked up over 10k steps just walking at the mall.

After getting takeout from Wok Hey, we segued into Taco Bell as Cass wanted to try it after reading so much about this famous fast food chain.

Great fried rice and fried ramen at affordable prices. We were never disappointed with the food from Wok Hey.

The next day, I took Cass to Pavillion Bukit Jalil for her figure skating lesson. While she skated for 2 hours, I walked around the mall for 2 hours, with nothing in mind to buy and chalked up another 10k steps just at the mall. I cannot imagine myself doing this every Saturday and Sunday for the next few years 😳

No. of times viewed = 41

Wednesday, 26 October 2022

It’s the exam season now. This means that I’m not allowed to turn on the radio at home. And I hear someone purging out her memorized lines throughout the day.

Cass who sits next to me asked me today if she could turn off my radio, to which I said OK. Minutes later when I went to our work area, I heard Joe Hisaishi’s music blasting away from her laptop.

Me – I thought you wanted absolute silence so that you could study in peace?

Cass – But mine is music, without lyrics. Music calms my mind. With songs, my head keeps hearing the lyrics and I can’t focus.

Ok Ok, whatever. I shall sacrifice for a week or two without my favorite songs. I’m so glad that Cass is back to school tomorrow after 5 days of Deepavali holiday. When she’s around, she cooks and messes up the kitchen in the mornings. And I’m deprived of my radio. And she messes up her desk and the surroundings and then gets pissed off when I try to clean up her dirty desk. Next, the ants will invade her space and floor and I can’t put anything too poisonous on the floor to rid the ants or risk getting Haru poisoned again😠

Cass made us overnight oats with chia seeds yesterday. She melted a few squares of my Lindt 90% dark chocolate as topping and sprinkled crushed Oat Crunch biscuits, fresh blueberries and strawberries on top.

Yummy overnight oat and chia, which tastes like a pudding.

A simple overnight oats and chia with gula Melaka, blueberries and strawberries.

No. of times viewed = 46

Friday, 14 Oct 2022 ~ Cassandra’s Appointment With New Urologist @ HKL

Dr S, the urologist at HKL whom Cass has been seeing since she was 6 years old has retired. Dr S was the head of the Urology Department @ HKL. I was really disappointed that Dr S who had been following Cass’ case is no longer around and a younger doctor has been assigned to take over. Nonetheless, in the event a surgery is required after a diagnosis is made, Dr S willl be called back to perform the surgery as Cass’ case is an extremely complicated one and requires the skillful expertise of an experienced surgeon.

The reason we were at HKL today is for the new urologist (Dr F) to review and explain the MRU report to us. Cass underwent a third MRU last month and unfortunately, the MRU images are also not crystal clear. The previous two MRU scans showed vague images of an ectopic ureter going down south. However, the latest MRU report did not mention anything about the ectopic ureter! Thus, Dr F is baffled as to why the latest MRU report contradicts the previous two reports which suggested an ectopic ureter.

SIGH!! 😪

So here we go again, back to square one. The urology team, the team of radiologists and Dr S will be having an ‘X-Ray Conference’ to deliberate on Cass’ extremely mysterious urinary tract disorder. Our next appointment with Dr F will be in early December 2022.

Dr F commented that they will likely not have a repeat MRU done as it’s not getting us anywhere with unclear images. Moreover, Cass fainted after the latest MRU. He suggested doing another Cystoscopy, which means that Cass will be warded and under GA for the procedure, which will be done in an OT 😰. This will be Cass’ third Cystoscopy. The last Cystoscopy was performed two years ago during the lockdown.

I wonder when Cass and I will see light at the end of the tunnel. All these have caused me sleepless nights and nightmares. Thankfully Cass is not overly antsy and is taking things in stride.

Cass is now more mature mentally and during our consultation with Dr F, she kept asking the doctor questions.

The Urology & Nephrology clinics were teeming with patients today. Cass and I had to stand for over 2 hours with heavy bags strapped on our shoulders before we found a seat. Whenever we have an appointment at HKL, we have to be prepared to camp there for at least half a day. Our bags are filled with water tumblers, her school books, power bank, snacks, sweater and a shawl. When I got home, my legs and shoulders were numbed and I conked out by 9pm.

We spent over 4 hours at the hospital today.

Go calculate how long we had to wait. On average, each patient spends 20 – 30 minutes with the doctor.

Cass brought along her Biology book to do her homework.

Before we finally got a seat after standing for 2 hours, Cass propped her Bio workbook on the wall and did her homework standing up.

This lady was waiting with her infant, whom I think had a urology issue. Looking at her and her baby made me hark back my days with Cass at hospitals when she was an infant and was just diagnosed with Grade III Kidney Reflux and a Duplex Collecting System. Those dark days were the hardest I had gone through in my life. And we’re still riding out this rough journey together.

No. of times viewed = 39

Sunday, 9 October 2022

Today Cass attended her third ice-skating lesson at the Blue Ice Snow Park skating rink @ Pavillion Bukit Jalil. Before the class started, we checked out the new figure skating skates. The skates that she wanted are priced at RM870 and are the cheapest for beginners. Cass has been looking forward to getting these skates as the skates provided by the skating rink are hard and stiff, thus rendering it hard for her to do more advanced movements in them.

Unfortunately the beige colored skates (for ladies) are all sold out. Only the black ones (for men) are in stock. In the event (big IF) Cass takes part in competitions in future, she’s not allowed to wear black skates during competitions. The new stock for the ladies skates will only arrive in December and Cass is very disappointed.

Later that night, I called a friend whose daughters are national figure skaters to ask her where else I can get those figure skates. We had a long chat on ice-skating and the prospects in our country. I found out from my friend that competitive skaters don’t receive cash prize when they win competitions (with the exception of Olympics). A medal is all they get and of course, the glory of winning. That’s it! And I wonder why parents still invest so much money and time in their children’s passion when the rewards are not even rewarding. I’m kiasu like that. I want to see returns in my investment 😬

Figure skating is a very expensive sport and a painful one too when they fall. My friend’s daughter had many falls during her 17 years of figure skating and had even gone for major surgeries to fix the injuries. Thankfully my friend is a physical therapist at a hospital who can help her daughter recover faster. And she’s her daughter’s biggest cheerleader, investing in all her daughters’ overseas competitions and expensive skates. But I guess she didn’t invest in vain as her daughter is now a figure skating coach, as well as a gymnastics coach. Her daughter is extremely disciplined and talented in both the sports. She also obtained a full scholarship to study psychology in a private university with the condition of competing for the university. Her daughter will graduate in a few more months. My friend stopped paying for most of her daughters’ expenses when she turned 18 and started to work as a part-time figure-skating and gymnastics coach.

Trying on the black skates, even though they are not that suitable for her. She can still wear them for practices but not for competitions.

Cass has big dreams in figure skating while I see it as a hobby and sports for her and nothing more than that. While she looks forward to her Sundays now and tells me that she wants to continue learning figure skating FOREVER (O.M.G.!), I am not willing to spend 3-4 hours at Pavillion Bukit Jalil every Sunday for the next 3-4 years! When Cass turns 17 or 18, she can Grab herself to the skating rink without me accompanying her.

While Cass was having her lesson at the skating rink, we had lunch at Grand Harbour Restaurant & Banquet.

Dessert of coconut pudding and mango sago pudding.

We went to the supermarket to get my weekly supply of veggies, fruits and ready-to-eat triple washed salads before we left the mall.

My favorite section in The Food Merchant.

I’m always eyeing to grab the 50% off salads. Such a great buy.

My favorite is coleslaw and nutrislaw. I always get 2 packs to last me for a few days. Sherilyn uses the coleslaw to cook veggie omelette for her school lunch box. Cass only likes the green salads.

No. of times viewed = 36

Cassandra’s First Ice-Skating Lesson @ Blue Ice Snow Park, Pavillion Bukit Jalil

Sunday, 25 Sept 2022 ~ Cass’ wish finally materialized today when her dad sent her to her first ice -skating class at the Blue Ice Snow Park skating rink @ Bukit Jalil. And paid for the lessons too. He told her that she could keep the money that she’s saved for years for the lessons!

I told Cass that she’ll have to use the savings to pay for her laptop when she goes to college in another four years 😐

Cass told me that she will use part of the savings to buy her own ice skates as she doesn’t like those common ice skates at the skating rink. The skates chafed the skin of her feet even though she wore thick long socks the first time she skated at the skating rink two weeks ago. Today she wore double socks and this managed to prevent her feet from chaffing.

We’ll be back at the skating rink over the new few weeks for Cass’ lessons. And hubs is happy with this as he gets to indulge in all his favorite foods at his favorite restaurants 😁

There was a Pokanime Planet Cosplay competition held at the Exhibition Centre, just next to the skating rink, thus there was a huge crowd today.

We had a light brunch at Dragon-I before sending Cass to the skating rink.

The food quality at Dragon-I has dropped considerably. Everything that we ate tasted rather insipid. I kept dipping my noodles and pau into the chili sauce and vinegar to get some flavors to my food. Only the smoked fish was good but it didn’t taste like smoked fish at all – it’s more like deep fried sweet and sour fish that you’ll find at ‘tai chow’ stalls.

After Cass’ ice-skating class, we had lunch at Grand Harbour Chinese restaurant. Hubs finally noshed to his heart’s content as he was very satisfied with the food. We couldn’t finish the fried rice and dim sum and had it doggy-bagged for Sherilyn. We dropped off the food for her in school as she had to go back on a Sunday for Library Week preparation.

Love the red bean tong sui with black sesame filled tong yuen.

Yuet Kwong Hor (Moonlight hor fun) was silky smooth, had generous amount of pork slices, pork lard and full of ‘wok hei’. Hubs couldn’t get enough of it and is already planning to order this dish again this Sunday when Cass attends her second ice-skating class.

No. of times viewed = 248

Hospital Tales

On the morning that Cass and I were brought to the ward at the Institute of Urology & Nephrology, there’s this pretty female patient in her mid fifties two beds away from Cass’ bed. Though she was in pain, she tried to make eye contact with me and smiled to me.

Several hours later, she doddered painfully and slowly to Cass’ bed and struck a conversation with me. She asked me the usual questions on why we were here and then told me that she’s just donated one of her kidneys to her daughter.

The Malay lady, seemingly from East Malaysia judging from her facial features, told me that she’s in great pain as she’d just donated one of her kidneys to her 26-year old daughter a few days ago. Her daughter was just wheeled out of the ICU and into a normal ward. Her daughter lost both her kidneys when she was just seven years old and had to be on dialysis. At 19 years old, she finally registered to be on the kidney transplant wait list. However, the wait was for seven years and finally she had to receive her mother’s kidney. I didn’t manage to dig more info from the lady as she was struggling to talk to me due to the pain.

As her daughter had to undergo dialysis thrice a week at a public dialysis center, the only job that she could do was to be her own boss, thus she runs her own restaurant. I was happy to know that her daughter’s body is accepting the new kidney and I hope that there will be no rejection later. Too bad I went home to get Cass’ stuff and didn’t get a chance to say good-bye to that lady. I wish her and her daughter well and hope that there will be brighter and happier days for them.

This Grab driver is by far the oldest Grab driver whom I’ve met. I think he must be in his mid 70s. The half an hour ride on his car made me dizzy and nauseous as the ride was super bumpy and slow. It felt like he was stepping on his brake every few seconds or kept tapping on the accelerator every few seconds, thus jerking the car. And I have bad motion sickness!
He was driving at only 55 km/hr at the SMART Tunnel and I almost blurted out to him to drive a little faster as I was in a hurry. He also kept taking out his face mask to cough. OMG, that was one of the worst Grab rides for me.
The worst ride for me was that morning when I flagged down a cab just to save RM10. Grab fare was RM40 (it was peak period) and the taxi ride only cost RM30. The cab reeked of ciggie smoke and the cab driver who was not wearing a face mask kept coughing and spitting out his phlegm. O.M.G.!! I had to wind down the window to breathe in fresh air, though the hot air outside made me sick. That ride almost made me puke!🤮 🤧

No. of times viewed = 72