Can’t believe that today is the second last Sunday of January 2024. This means February and CNY are upon me very soon. And this means that Haru’s going to be separated from me soon. I have two months to prep myself mentally for Haru’s first ever boarding and I’ve been praying hard that all will go well for my precious kitty.
On a more positive note, I can’t wait to be back in Ipoh to have reunion meals with my family. My eldest brother’s family from Singapore will be back too. I’ve not seen his 3 kids since CNY 2020, the year the pandemic started. The last time we saw the twins, they were still toddlers. Now they’re in primary one, which means I won’t be able to carry them anymore. They’re no longer babies. Where did all the time go?
Today we had lunch at Seoul Korea again. This is our top favorite restaurant for authentic Korean food as the restaurant is run by a family of South Koreans. Dining at Seoul Korea always gives us 100% satisfaction, so much that we even buy their delicious banchan (appetizers) back.
Our favorite boiled pork. The pork has zero seasoning yet the natural taste of pork belly is very flavorful with melt-in-the-mouth flesh.Cold noodles with pear.Ox tail soup.Delectable BBQ beef and pork. Someone rushing to complete her assignment. She’s drawing a building plan here.So proud of this girl for earning a place on the Dean’s List in her first semester. Praying that she’ll do as well in her subsequent semester exams to earn a scholarship from the university.
As the pages of time turn swiftly, my two older daughters find themselves embarking on different chapters of their university lives. Alycia, my eldest, is gearing up for her fourth and final year which will commence in September this year, while Sherilyn, my middle child, eagerly anticipates the commencement of her degree studies after she completes the Foundation in Natural and Built Environments in August this year.
Alycia: A Transition to Internship and Beyond
Alycia, on the brink of turning 21 in December, stands at the cusp of a significant transition. With her fourth year in university approaching, the prospect of internships looms on the horizon. Conversations with her now involve discussions about the corporate world and makeup—an aspect she finds more of a necessity/chore than a pleasure. The carefree days of primary school seem like a recent memory to me, and yet, the responsibilities of adulthood beckon. As she reluctantly put on a light touch of makeup for a friend’s birthday party just now, the realization of soon entering the professional realm begins to dawn.
Alycia’s recent assignment from her Strategic Advertising class – a postcard to create awareness on diabetes in Malaysia. She did this postcard from scratch, from the design to the text, caption, to sourcing for a printing shop to have the postcard printed.
The back of the postcard, which even comes with a QR code.
Sherilyn: Dance, Dreams, and Degree Studies
Starting her first year of degree studies in September this year, Sherilyn passionately returns to her love for dance. A few months’ hiatus recently due to a foot injury hasn’t deterred her spirit. Balancing academia and her devotion to dance, Sherilyn actively attends classes at two different studios—one near her university in Subang and another closer to home. Dance remains her first love, and while she dreams of pursuing a degree in performing arts, my old-school convictions nudge me towards a more conventional path. I am still of the opinion that one cannot make a comfortable living being a dancer / dance teacher / entertainer in Malaysia. Correct me if I’m wrong to have this opinion.
Throwback photo of Sherilyn’s lunch box of ramen with unagi, air-fried chicken chop, avocado and seaweed. She still brings a bento box to uni on most days. She complains that the food sold on campus is too expensive (like over RM15 for a simple plate of economy rice), so she brings food from home. Another throwback photo of Sherilyn’s lunch box to uni – boiled pork + chives dumplings made by a Taiwanese housewife.
My hopes echo a universal sentiment: that whatever career path my daughters choose, it will bring them joy, a stress-free life, and the means to live comfortably.
As a parent, my aspirations for my daughters extend beyond academic achievements. Their pursuit of happiness and fulfillment in their chosen paths takes precedence. The pages of my two older daughters’ university journey turn, and I, as their mother and cheerleader, eagerly await the chapters that unfold, praying and hoping that they will make right choices in life.
Saturdays are the only days that Sherilyn can laze on her bed and sleep in. She’ll watch some dramas, dance videos and then work on her assignments on her laptop. It won’t be until noon that she gets down from the bed and drags her feet to the dining table to look for food.
Sherilyn’s perfect rest day — watching a K-drama with Haru next to her on the bed.
The longest that Haru can stay in bed with her human is around 5-10 minutes before she starts plotting a way to escape from her cat-napper 😁
Sherilyn had to cat-nap Haru and restrain her gently coz this kitty is unlike other kitties. She doesn’t like to snuggle up with us humans. She doesn’t even like us to carry or hug her. 🥺
When Haru was a kitten, I had the vision of her being the perfect cat who would be very ‘manja’ with us and likes hugs and kisses. But no, she likes none of these and prefers to be alone, except when it’s nearing her meal time. That’s when she will stalk me and follows me everywhere.
Sherilyn’s health has been a significant focus of attention recently due to a foot injury suffered three weeks ago. This week we’ve seen a small victory in her ongoing battle against the injured foot. The swelling on her left foot has receded somewhat, and she doesn’t need the crutches to walk around anymore. However, she is still hobbling and walking very slowly. She says she walks like a penguin now. It’s been a relief to see her regain her mobility albeit slowly, enabling her to head to college for a test on Wednesday.
Sherilyn’s educational path has led her to embark on a journey into the challenging world of architecture. The dedication she has exhibited towards her studies is remarkable, but it has also raised some concerns about her well-being.
In the past few days, Sherilyn’s laptop has become her constant companion. As soon as she returns from college, she dives headfirst into her assignments. Her intense focus has led her to lose track of time, forgetting essential elements like hydration, meals, and even rest. I have to keep reminding her to eat her meals, and fruits, drink enough water, shower, and sleep. I don’t know if she even slept the past three days as she was rushing out several assignments for submission.
The sight of Sherilyn’s unrelenting dedication to her studies has left me contemplating the balance between academic aspirations and personal well-being. It’s natural to be concerned about her health and the toll her rigorous schedule may be taking.
I still wonder if Sherilyn’s chosen path aligns with her overall well-being. While her zeal for learning is admirable, it’s equally essential to maintain a balance that nurtures both her academic journey and her health. This is just the tip of the iceberg as she’s only pursuing a Foundation course now. When she dives into the real essence of architectural studies next year, things will only get harder and assignments will be more complicated.
I’ll continue to support Sherilyn’s educational aspirations, offering guidance on finding that equilibrium that fosters a successful and sustainable academic career. I hope that Sherilyn will somehow find the right harmony in her academic journey and well-being while cherishing her health first.
Another simple meal that I cooked for the girls – spinach noodles with braised minced pork and broccoli.A big pot of vegetable soup (carrots, sweet potato, sweet corn, big onions, tomatoes and celery), chicken feet, and chicken drumsticks enough for two days.
With no improvement on Sherilyn’s injured left foot, we went back to SJMC last Friday. We first went back to the A&E Dept, saw the doctor on duty and got referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
The orthopedic took a look at Sherilyn’s foot and after asking her some questions, told us that an MRI wasn’t really necessary yet. All that was needed was for Sherilyn to rest her foot, which meant that she had no choice but to take a one-to-two week-break from going to college. The doctor was confident that the swelling will subside and the foot will take its time to heal with proper rest. She has to prop her foot up to restrict too much blood from flowing to the ankle.
Sherilyn was prescribed with another 5 days of anti-swelling medication, a topical gel and a foot splint/brace. The splint has to be worn when she walks.
We spent almost 6 hours at SJMC. It would have been much longer if we took the government hospital route. The damage this time was over RM700. I hope our insurer will approve the bulk of the bills incurred. But the foot splint that costs almost RM300 is not covered.
At the A&E department. Both Sherilyn and Cass have low blood pressure, just like me. This explains why Sherilyn always complains of seeing black whenever she stands up from a squatting position 😵💫We waited for over an hour at the Rehab Centre to see a therapist and to purchase a foot splint.The therapist teaching Sherilyn how to wear the foot splint.Lunch at The Chicken Rice Shop at SJMC. There aren’t many options for food at SJMC, unlike Sunway Medical Center and Pantai Medical Center.The food was meh…. 😑
I got home with pins and needles on both my hands as a result of gripping on the wheelchair handles for too long. The repetitive motion of clutching on the handles for hours triggered the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my hands 😪
Today is Day 13 since Sherilyn injured her foot while doing an Architecture Site Analysis at a park. After a week on oral meds to reduce swelling and two sessions of physiotherapy, there’s been no sight of any improvement. It’s gotten worse. The foot is still swollen and she complains that it’s still very painful.
When she went for physiotherapy yesterday, the therapist advised Sherilyn to go back to the doctor (MO at the A&E) who first attended to her to get a referral to see an orthopedic doctor.
So we’ll be going back to SJMC tomorrow morning. If an MRI is recommended, Sherilyn will most likely be warded for a day and hopefully we can get our insurer to pay for it. An MRI done privately ain’t cheap and if Sherilyn needs admission, the bill will be in the thousands.
It’s going to be a long day at the hospital tomorrow. And Cass will have to settle her lunch herself when she comes home from school as there’ll be no one at home. I really dread spending hours on end at the hospital. Well, at least SJMC is a 5-star hospital and I can have my meals there or enjoy a cuppa at a cafe. And I get to sit down. At HKL (Urology & Nephrology Unit), it’s a totally different scenario and most times, Cass and I had to stand for half a day in a crowded hallway to wait for her turn to see the doctor.
It’s exactly a week since Sherilyn fell into a concealed hole on the ground at a park while doing an architectural site analysis of the park located near her college. The lateral ankle sprain that she sustained was pretty bad. The entire left foot was so swollen that it looked like a balloon filled to the brim with water and about to explode. She had to take medicines to reduce the swelling and inflammation for a week.
But nothing will stop this gung-ho girl from moving about. The next day, despite my advice against her attending a music fest in her college, she still went – hobbling while holding on to a pair of crutches. One foot had sneakers on and the other had slipper.
And the following Monday, Sherilyn went to college. I was very worried about how she’d get up and down the stairs with a laptop in her backpack on her back while hobbling with crutches. But she managed to do it, albeit with a lot of difficulties. When she came home, she told me that she couldn’t feel both her palms as she overused them on the handle of the crutches. The injured foot was still very bloated and she said she felt pulsating sensations. The medicines also caused her gastric pain and she had to skip college for two days.
As for me, I’ve been Sherilyn’s personal maid the past week. I cook her food, bring the food to her, bring the dirty dishes to the wet kitchen and then wash them, serve her drinks, cut fruits for her (and repeatedly nag her to eat them), open the door for her when she comes home, then pull a couple of wet wipes for her to wipe her crutches, hand her dry tissues to dry the crutches before she hobbles inside.
Sherilyn’s very swollen foot.
Sherilyn went for a session of physiotherapy on Friday and will go for another session next Monday. I hope the bills incurred on the physiotherapy will be claimable from our insurance company as they’re pretty costly.
Sherilyn will have to take a hiatus from dancing for at least 2-3 months for her foot to heal completely. This girl is very prone to injuries on her feet and ankles. She’s had three X-rays done on her feet since she was 11 years old caused by falls and multiple falls / lateral ankle sprains that didn’t require X-ray but needed phsyiotherapy or acupuncture and blood letting. As she’s a dare devil, headstrong and impulsive by nature, she’s very prone to accidents since she was a toddler. And because of that, I got an accident insurance for her since she was a year old 🙄
People say that life has its own mysterious ways of communicating with us through subtle signs and whispers of intuition. I have this peculiar connection – one that involves my eyelids which have the uncanny ability to forewarn me of impending misfortunes, especially when it concerns myself and the well-being of my loved ones. Call it superstition or intuition, but when my eyelids twitch, I can’t help but worry, and my maternal instincts kick into high gear.
For nearly three weeks, my right eyelid had been delivering an unsettling message, one that stirred my maternal instincts and heightened my awareness. It twitched persistently, a subtle but undeniable signal that something was amiss. Each day, I couldn’t shake the feeling of impending trouble, prompting me to caution my daughters and myself to exercise extra care in our daily routines.
This morning at around 9 a.m., I received a call from Sherilyn. My heart skipped a beat as I heard her voice, for I had a premonition that my eyelids had been trying to convey. She had fallen into a hole in the park while conducting an architectural site analysis of the park located near her college. An area in the park had holes in the ground and tall weeds were concealing the holes.
Sherilyn, along with four of her team members, had been visiting the park multiple times, gathering data and insights for their assignments. Today was different, as they had scheduled an early morning visit to collect data. As she walked through a grassy area with tall weeds, disaster struck. Hidden amidst the foliage were several concealed holes, and Sherilyn, unable to spot the holes, fell into one, twisted her ankle, and landed in agonizing pain. She had a lateral ankle sprain.
Her classmate who drove them to the park promptly drove her to the nearest private hospital, SJMC to receive medical attention without delay. The entire group stood by her side, offering their assistance and solace until her dad arrived at the hospital.
An X-ray was performed, and we received a moment of relief as we learned that there was no fracture. However, the doctor noted soft tissue injuries and the possibility of a torn ligament. Although the doctor suggested an MRI for a more comprehensive assessment, hubs decided to bring Sherilyn to his trusted physiotherapist first, as the absence of a fracture eased our immediate concerns.
Swollen ankle
Hubs was super relief that there was no fracture on Sherilyn’s legs and no hospitalization was needed. Just last month, Sherilyn was hospitalized for a day for a bad attack of hives and he had to pay the hospital several thousand Ringgit upon her discharge. The amount was only reimbursed to him more than a month later by our insurance company, with me chasing our insurance agent persistently.
Sherilyn is now using crutches to move around in the house. Her grandaunt bought the crutches a few years ago when she had a fall and fractured her leg. While Sherilyn sits comfortably on the couch with her leg propped up on a cushion, I am like her personal servant attending to her every need. Every half an hour, she asks me to bring her fresh ice packs from the freezer each time the one that she’s using turns to room temperature. I serve her food, bring her dirty dishes to the kitchen and wash them, and even serve her water and fruits; like she’s a queen!
My eyelids, though annoying whenever they twitch persistently, continue to be my silent messenger, offering forewarnings that I can’t fully comprehend. But they remind me of the importance of vigilance and prepare me mentally for the unforeseen.
Often times, appearances can be deceiving, especially when it comes to food. While I was away in Ipoh with Cass recently, Sherilyn whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and left it in the fridge. When I returned, the first thing that caught my eye in the fridge was a tray of chilled cookie dough. To put it bluntly, it didn’t look appetizing at all. In fact, it bore a striking resemblance to something far less palatable – let’s just say it resembled poop 💩
The color and even the texture of the dough left much to be desired. However, as the saying goes, “Never judge a cookie by its dough!” And I was about to witness a transformation.
With a sense of curiosity and a dash of skepticism, I watched as Sherilyn baked the “poop-like” cookie dough in the oven. When the cookies emerged from the oven, they looked nothing like the unappetizing dough I had seen earlier. Instead, they were golden brown, adorned with gooey chocolate chips, and exuded a delightful aroma of butter and chocolate. And they looked like cookies from some fancy cafes.
The true magic happened when I took a bite. These cookies were a revelation! They were chocolaty, rich, and had the perfect balance of sweetness. It was as though the unassuming dough had undergone a magical transformation in the oven.
These don’t look appetizing eh? But they do 🤤. Sorry, there are no photos of the baked cookies to show as I had forgotten to snap the pix and someone ate them all before I remembered about snapping the pix.
Sherilyn shared these cookies with her colleagues at the café and saved some for Cass and me. The consensus was unanimous – these cookies were a triumph. So, never judge a cookie by its dough and always be open to culinary surprises!
The 10th-anniversary edition of the Good Vibes Music Fest in Sepang, slated to be a memorable three-day extravaganza of music, art, and camaraderie, took an unfortunate turn on the first day, leaving thousands of fans, including Sherilyn, utterly disappointed. The festival, which had already seen some amazing performances, was abruptly canceled by the organizers due to an expletive-riddled tirade by Matty Healy, lead singer of the band group 1975, against Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws. Adding to the controversy was a deep, provocative mouth-to-mouth kiss between Matty and bassist Ross MacDonald on stage.
For Sherilyn and thousands of concertgoers, the Good Vibes Music Fest was an eagerly anticipated event, an opportunity to revel in the sounds of their favorite artists and experience the camaraderie of fellow music enthusiasts. As the festival unfolded over the first day, the atmosphere was electric, and the performances were nothing short of spectacular. However, the unforeseen events later in the night would cast a dark shadow over the entire event.
In a bold move of activism, Matty Healy seized the opportunity to address Malaysia’s contentious anti-LGBT laws during his performance at the Good Vibes Music Fest. With emotions running high, he launched into an expletive-filled tirade, expressing his disdain for the discriminatory laws, while smoking and holding a bottle of liquor and drinking from it. He even smashed a drone and spat on stage. Sherilyn, her friends, and concertgoers were left in a state of disbelief and disgust.
Sherilyn took a video of Matty Healy’s onstage outburst and forwarded it to me. It was shocking to hear those expletive words coming out of his mouth while drinking liquor from a bottle. The infamous provocative dirtbag was clearly intoxicated.
What followed Matty’s impassioned speech was an even more provocative act—a deep mouth-to-mouth kiss between Matty Healy and bassist Ross MacDonald. This intimate gesture was meant to be a symbol of love transcending boundaries, but it ignited further controversy and divided opinions among the audience.
Matty is no stranger to causing some controversary while on tour. He had done a similar act while performing in Dubai where he kissed a male fan on stage. At one of his bizarre concerts with crazy stage antics, he chewed on a huge slab of raw steak.
As news of the incident spread like wildfire, the Malaysian government felt compelled to intervene and made the difficult decision to cancel the remaining days of the Good Vibes Music Fest. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on public order and the festival’s adherence to local laws and cultural norms. This decision left Sherilyn, her friends, and thousands of fans crestfallen and frustrated, as they had invested time, money, and emotions into the event.
As the dust settled after the abrupt cancellation, concertgoers were left in limbo, waiting for official announcements from the festival organizers about ticket refunds and further actions. While the disappointment was palpable, there was also an understanding that the decision to cancel was taken to preserve the overall harmony of the community.
Many took to social media to express their shock at the rude antics of Matty Healy and were disappointed that the incident had changed the mood of the festival from “good vibes” to “bad vibes”. For Sherilyn and many others, it was a bitter pill to swallow, as they missed the chance to enjoy their favorite artists and the camaraderie of fellow music lovers.
Allergies can manifest in various ways, sometimes catching us off guard and causing significant discomfort. Last Wednesday, Sherilyn had a harrowing experience with hives, triggered by an allergic reaction. And this happened just two months after my hives attack.
That evening, Sherilyn returned home from her part-time work at a café and had dinner before heading to her dance class. Little did we know that this routine evening would take an unexpected turn. Sherilyn’s dinner consisted of rice with chili prawns and Ayam Kuzi, a delightful meal she had enjoyed before without any issues. However, on her way to the dance class, she began experiencing itchy hives on her limbs, signaling an allergic reaction.
Itchy rashes on her hand.
Sherilyn would occasionally get itchy lips after eating prawns but this allergic reaction does not happen all the time after eating prawns. It’s a hit-and-miss kind of allergy, so we cannot really say that she has an allergy to prawns. But we suspect that she may be allergic to the chemicals used in farmed prawns.
By the time Sherilyn’s dance class concluded around 10 pm, the hives had intensified, spreading to her hands, legs, and back, accompanied by severe itching. Alarmed by her discomfort, her dad rushed her to the Accident and Emergency department of the hospital for immediate medical assistance. Sherilyn’s condition worsened as she also experienced slight difficulty talking and body spasms.
At the A&E.
At the A&E, the medical officer administered steroid injections to alleviate the itching and rash. Concerned about Sherilyn’s well-being, the attending medical officer recommended hospitalization for monitoring purposes. The next morning, a physician was assigned to care for Sherilyn. He recommended that Sherilyn stayed in the hospital for another night. However, as her symptoms improved, and with the hospital conveniently located just minutes away from our home, I asked the attending physician if it was OK to discharge Sherilyn. The doctor agreed, emphasizing our responsibility for her continued care at home, and stated that should any untoward incidences happen to Sherilyn at home, the doctor and the hospital would not be held accountable. I agreed.
From the time Sherilyn arrived at the hospital at night to the time she was discharged the next day, she received three steroid injections and was put on a drip to ensure hydration.
Lunch was… meh. Sweet and sour Kembong fish and stir-fried kangkung with chili. And the banana was only half ripened 😒.
Although Sherilyn had experienced occasional itchy lips after eating prawns in the past, this severe reaction was unexpected. Allergies can be unpredictable, and even familiar foods can trigger adverse reactions later in life. You can randomly develop food allergies as an adult.
To manage her condition after her discharge from the hospital, Sherilyn was prescribed oral steroid pills, which she had to take six pills once a day for a week. Additionally, she was given two types of antihistamines – one that causes drowsiness and another that does not. As a precautionary measure, she also has to take an anti-gastric pill to counteract any potential gastric side effects from the steroid medication.
The unexpected hospital stay resulted in a substantial bill of nearly three thousand Ringgit. We hope that Sherilyn’s insurance coverage will help alleviate this financial burden, although claim approvals are subject to their policies and terms.
With effect from July, Sherilyn doesn’t need to work on Saturdays anymore at the cafe. She now works at a bakery @ Gardens Mall on Mondays and Tuesdays and then works at the cafe from Wednesdays to Fridays. July will be the last month that she gets to work part-time as she will begin her pre-U studies in August.
I told Sherilyn to give herself two weeks to settle a ton of things before she goes to college and gets even busier. She’s been super busy since late last year with tuitions to prep for her SPM exam. After her SPM, she has been busy with part-time work and dancing. Because of her busyness, she’s not gone to her dentist to check the progress of her teeth and braces since March this year. She’s supposed to see the dentist every fortnightly but has missed three months of dental appointments despite me nagging her to get an appointment! 🙄
Finally, Sherilyn had the time to whip up something delicious as she now has one free day in the week. Last Friday evening after she got back from work, she cooked a delicious tomato soup using the Thermomix. The next day, she pan-fried sourdough bread with butter and cheese and had it for brunch.
This set probably costs over RM30 at a fancy cafe but is only half the cost or even lesser here. And it’s so delicious!
There’s nothing much to update from me this week, except that it’s been a hot, hot week. It’s so hot that I am always drenched in sweat at home, the moment I move about to do chores. So, this is pretty much a good excuse for me to avoid doing stir-fries and anything that involves cranking up the hot stove 😬
Fortunately I’ve been getting food from hubby’s kitchen almost every day. So all I had to do was to prep a simple green veggie dish by blanching in hot water, or a meat dish grilled in the oven or air-fried. No stir-fries and deep-fries in the sauna cum kitchen.
Sherilyn and I have also started discussing on her tertiary education path as the SPM results will be out soon. Basically, she’s interested in taking A-Levels and then, the shocker, she wants to take a degree in architecture.
Say what? I couldn’t believe her choice.
I’m not really keen in her taking this course as it’s an 8-to-11 year course before one becomes a professional architect! 8-11 years! And the money to fund the studies!! And will she have the perseverance to complete the whole course? I’m now breathing on rarefied air!
She definitely needs a full scholarship or some kind souls to fund her 8-11 years of education from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree.
Anyways, the ultimate decision will depend on her SPM results.
Even Haru is feeling the heat and prefers to sleep on the cool floor with body stretched. Delicious chicken satay with thick peanut sauce and Kuih Talam from hubby’s kitchen.Blanched ‘Yeh Heong Far’ flower veggies from my regular organic veggie seller. I drizzled some olive oil on it and used the satay sauce as dressing.The next day, we had beef satay, Roti Jala and chicken curry from hubby’s shop.Yummy for our tummies 😋 The Roti Jala tasted really good and crispy when air-fried the next day.My wrist splint from China (ordered through Lazada) finally arrived after a week. I’ve been wearing a wrist splint to sleep at night for the past 1.5 years to prevent the discomfort of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from disrupting my sleep. And it works like a charm. China-made wrist splints cost a fraction of the price of branded ones sold at local pharmacies and the quality is good. Just make sure you read the reviews first before ordering.
Sourdough bread has been around for centuries, and its popularity has only grown in recent years. For some, sourdough bread is more than just a loaf of bread; it’s a canvas for culinary creativity. This is true for Sherilyn, who has found a passion in experimenting with sourdough bread recipes and creating new and exciting dishes. Sherilyn doesn’t bake sourdough bread though due to time constraints, but she loves to create quick dishes to pair with the sourdough bread.
Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Sourdough Bread
One of Sherilyn’s favorite creations is pan-fried sourdough bread with butter paired with a super creamy scrambled egg dish, which she can whip up in a jiffy. She usually preps this for breakfast if she has to go out and needs something that can fill her up for at least half a day.
Tomato Salsa and Avocado with Sourdough Bread
Another of Sherilyn’s favorite creations is pan-fried sourdough bread with butter paired with tomato salsa, avocado, cheese, and salad.
Grated Cheese and Avocado with Sourdough Bread
Today she prepped pan-fried sourdough bread with grated cheese and avocado for lunch. To make this dish, she simply pan-fries a slice of sourdough bread in a little bit of butter until it’s golden brown on both sides. She then tops the bread with grated parmesan cheese and slices of avocado for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Cilbir (Turkish Eggs) with Sourdough Bread
Turkish Çılbır, pronouned chil-bir, is basically poached eggs served over a bed of thick, garlicky yogurt and finished with a generous drizzle of warmed butter.
Sherilyn cooked this for dinner yesterday. Turkish eggs are a popular breakfast dish in Turkey. For the yogurt spread, she used Farmers Union 50% lower-fat Greek-style yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, black pepper, cayenne pepper, melted warm butter, and dill for the yogurt spread. The yogurt spread also goes well with crackers, toasted bread, and tortilla chips.
Sherilyn served her Turkish eggs with pan-fried sourdough bread for a hearty and delicious dinner.
On another note, our latest love is Farmers Union 50% lower-fat Greek-style yogurt. It’s very creamy and tastes like cream cheese, yet not overly cloy and starchy like other brands of Greek yogurt. We use this yogurt as salad dressing, for smoothies and mango lassi.
Sourdough bread is more than just a loaf of bread; it’s a canvas for culinary creativity. Sherilyn has found a passion in experimenting with sourdough bread recipes and creating new and exciting dishes. Her pan-fried sourdough bread with cheese and avocado and Turkish eggs with sourdough bread are just two examples of her culinary creativity.
Pan-fried sourdough bread with Turkish Eggs. This tastes as good as it looks.Pan-fried sourdough bread topped with grated parmesan cheese and avocado; Grilled mixed veggies (zucchini, Japanese pumpkin, mushrooms, onions and a bulb of garlic)Today’s hearty lunch. I’m glad that my girls are more of a veggie person than a meat person. They love colorful veggies, green veggies, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and a wide variety of raw veggies.Keeping this for Cass for her breakfast tomorrow.
Sherilyn was one of the dancers of a flash mob dance organized by Universal Music Hong Kong and held at Pavillion Bukit Jalil on Saturday, 25 March 2023. The event was to commemorate the passing of Leslie Cheung 20 years ago on 1 April 2003. Her dance studio, 1119 Dance Studio/1119 Entertainment, was engaged to provide dancers for the flash mob.
The dancers boogied to Leslie’s most popular hits donned in retro clothes of Leslie Cheung’s era/’80s. Sherilyn appeared in the song “Thanksx4 Monica”.
I was there to watch the flash mob and to give moral support to my dancer, while Cass was at the skating rink for figure skating practice. I just couldn’t stop singing along to the song “Thanksx4 Monica” during the flash mob. This song reminds me of my carefree and happy teenage years in the mid 1980s. My elder brother would jam to this song day and night on his mini compo. Leslie’s suicide came as a big shocker to me and to the entire world. He was one of my favorite TVB ‘leng jai’ actors and singers. My friends and I used to swoon over him.
Can you spot Sherilyn? She’s with a bandana and in white attire with a yellow singlet over.You should be able to spot Sherilyn in this photo.
Here’s the video of the flash mob on You Tube. To all the fans of Leslie Cheung, enjoy the dance and songs 💓
Sherilyn took the 8.47 am ETS train to Ipoh today. It’s the first time that she made a trip to Ipoh without her parents and sisters. Her grandaunt followed her back but she’ll be alone when she takes the return trip back to KL. It’s also the first time in 2 years 7 months that she’s gone back to Ipoh to visit her grandparents, no thanks to Covid.
Cass and I are unable to make this trip back to Ipoh as Cass has an MRU (Magnetic Resonance Urography) procedure at HKL on Thursday. MRU is a type of MRI exam that uses contrast material to evaluate and detect blood in the urine, kidney or bladder stones, and cancer in the urinary tract. It’s her third time going through an MRU as the previous two scans didn’t yield 100% crystal clear images. The previous two reports state that there’s likely an ectopic ureter but images of where the said ureter exits to cannot be seen clearly, most likely caused by adhesions from her previous two abdomen surgeries performed when she was a 13-month old baby.
Cass and I went to HKL yesterday to have a pre-admission Covid swab test. It was Cass’ third time going through this unpleasant test and my first experience. I thought that the swab test was only for Cass as she’ll be going into the imaging room but when the staff told me that I had to get the swab test done too since I was accompanying Cass into the ward, I panicked! Oh no no no! I thought I could avoid doing the nasty swab test (since we now have self-test kits) but I couldn’t escape it.
So no choice, do lor 🥶.
The throat swab wasn’t that bad (as the swab wasn’t very deep into my throat) but the nose swab was slightly uncomfortable as the male nurse shoved that long swab deeply into my nostrils, almost making me sneeze.
Cass kept telling me that I don’t have to accompany her at the ward and told me not to do the swab test. These days she prefers to do things alone (without me helping her) to exercise her independence… which makes me feel unwanted but am glad that she can be left alone in the hospital. In fact, she told me that she’s happier without me accompanying her at the ward 😞. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t want her paparazzi mum to snap pix of her. She gets chafed whenever I take her pix and would warn me not to post them on my socials and blogs.
I may go home after Cass is checked into the ward on Thursday. She said that she’ll call me after she’s all done.
Cass commented that the nose swab is worst than a jab and would rather get a jab than do a nose swab 😳
After an entire day in school to attend an SPM camp, she came home and baked a fudgy brownies for her loved ones in Ipoh.Brownies baked with love. It’s gluten-free so that my mom can try it. My mum is gluten intolerant. The brownies is composed of oat flour, Lindt 90% dark chocolate, organic cacao powder, eggs and a little sugar. It’s the perfect fudgy brownies. I love it!
