4 years and many more

Got married to my kampung boy 4 years ago today. Had a wedding of my dreams - a garden poolside wedding.

4 years on - we have 2 kids and a very hectic life. But God has been good to us and we thank Him for that. I wonder what it would it be like six years from now - on our tenth annivesary.

15 May 2009

We celebrated John's birthday at home with a krispy kreme doughnut cake. Arielle enjoyed the blowing of candles and cutting of the cake the most.

Never Knew

I never knew I can shout so loud until kids came along. I used to kesian my neighbour's kids as always get shouted at but now I understand. I feel its actually not good for them, they get frightened but sometimes can't really help it. I tried not to shout for few weeks already but was back again last weekend. Arielle is getting really really naughty and cheeky. Don't want to eat, don't want to take medication, want this, want that, don't want this, don't want that..sigh. I told myself a few weeks ago that I will try reasoning with her instead of shouting...as mentioned, only lasted for a few weeks. When I shout and I see her tiny body jump, I really feel sorry for her.

I will try again my utmost best not to shout but to reason properly. See how long I can last. :(

Saturdays

Ah i dun look forward to Saturdays. Its my most busiest day of the week. My day starts at about 6 a.m. with expressing milk, putting the clothes to wash, sweeping and mopping downstairs, preparing for lunch, then taking Arielle to musickarten class, grocery shopping, cooking lunch, bathing the kids,putting them to sleep, cleaning upstairs, preparing for dinner and if got time in between,do some accounting work or ironing. If at night got stuff on I'll feel more stress trying to get all the things done. If Jon needs to work even more stress have to jaga two..cannot do any thing. But at the end of the day, I feel a great sense of satisfaction.

Flood Waters

The weather was terrible in Marudi. When it rains it just pours. The few days before our return to KL, it rained continuously. I was a bit worried as we had to take the small flight out to Miri International Airport. Flood waters kept rising and at the time when we were leaving, Jon’s brother took out the boat in case, vehicles and the chooks were moved to higher ground, as the water level reached the tip of the driveway.

From the balcony

From the tip of the driveway

Jon's mum trying to salvage some wood

Jon, Arielle, and Hui Hui, Jon's niece
on the boat parked at the side of the driveway



Flooded chicken coop

The drowning beans

When we arrived home, updates from Marudi revealed that the water level continued to rise until Jon's house living room. They had made preparations by propping up all the furniture by 1 feet. Thank God the rain did finally stop and the water started to subside within a week. I was worried the water was going to destroy MIL's noodle machines but all turned out well. Now I know how much havoc flooding can cause.

Homegrown

Jon’s mum is one very tough entrepreneur and that’s probably where Jon inherited his entrepreneurial instincts. She runs her own noodle business, rears chooks and vegetables for sale as well as for own consumption. Here are some pics of her produce. Her kampong chooks are really tasty though the meat can be quite tough.

Petola

Some kind of melon for soup

yummy chooks

Long Beans

French Beans

Delicacies

Each year there would be something strange to eat when we are back at Marudi. Last year we had barbequed wild boar on arrival. It was tough but quite yummy with chilli of course. Arielle had frog porridge. My MIL put it in her porridge so that she can move fast. She sure can…she runs not walk!

This year on arrival we had turtle soup for dinner and a few days later had wild bats cooked with ginger and black sauce. Yucks eh? Jon’s brother hunts and shot a couple of wild bats. Tasted like mutton but the thought of eating the furry creatures just irks me so I did not touch the dish much. Here is a pic of the bat dish..din take the turtle one..