Cheeky Duck... Straits Quay

This came all the way from Newcastle cos their other restaurant is in Newcastle. It's started by a Hongkie. So from the West to the East and not the other way round... this Asian kitchen and bar.

You can see ducks, chicken and part of porky hanging from the glass window at one of the walls from the outside, I guess as a way to 'enticing' people with the sumptuous looks.

The interior is nice and big. But the place looked kinda empty when we were there... maybe cos wasn't quite dinner time yet, it was more like tea-time actually. We wanted to grab a bite before going back so that we needn't stop for dinner anywhere. 8)

Appetizers... simple but makes one feel hungry after a few bites. I think it's pickled with sum-boi (sour plum). We had to take some time to go through their menu which was rather extensive.

Broccoli fried with garlic. It got cold very fast in the air-con. But taste wise it was okay.

3 types of meat.. siu-bak (roast meat), char-siew (barbecued meat) and siu-ak (roast duck) in one plate. We got the impression that the portions should be quite big but it wasn't as what we anticipated. But it was just enough for the 4 of us.

Cheeky Duck is pricey. All the above, with one iced latte (the rest had iced water) came up to almost RM80. For that kind of money, one could just take a drive to one of the many makan places in the Tanjung Tokong or Gurney areas and eat yourself silly with just as nice or nicer meats. But then again... how often do you also get a bar well stocked with all kinds of liquor in an establishment that sells chicken/duck rice.

However, this is Straits Quay, where the rich stay and play. This time around, construction was ongoing for the yachts parking lot. This is where the yachts will be berthed... I guess the idea is get down from your condo or house and hop into your yacht or boat and off you go for a cruise or run, ride.. whatever they call it. I guess the next time we have our meals here, there might be a few of those rich people's toys berthed here.

One more 'treasure trove' we discovered there was this - smidapaper; a shop selling all kinds of papers for scrapbooking and other craft goodies. The downside is the price though. I went to check online for some of their products which I was interested in and the price difference was quite a lot! I am so tempted to go back and get one of their 'crafty' tools.

Card Making During the Hols...

This was one of the other projects that kept me busy during the last 2 weeks....

Mini mass production of wedding invitation cards! This is the second time we're (Other Half and I) doing this. I wouldn't dream of doing this if Other Half does not pitch in and help. Designing is his forte.... We did our first batch last year, for another friend's son's wedding. This time around, our Little One pitched in to help and offer ideas ever so willingly. Our boy on the other hand had to be persuaded to help. Kids! I've one on each side of the spectrum. One who wants to spend as much time as possible with us and the other, who seems happy to be in his own world (which includes his FB) and oblivious to us.

And it's also a time when all the tools that I've amassed over the years come into good use; plus it's also good excuse to get some more. 8)

One thing about handmade cards is you never get identical ones. Even the choice of paper changed mid-way. I saw this 2-tone card with some glitter when I was scouting around to replenish my paper supply. Must say that the end result was quite nice. And all the stash of unique papers that I kept through the years also came in really handy... that's one hoard that came to good use. LOL!

These days, with the computer to aid with the design and printers, a bulk of process is sped up. So in between SUPA Camp, house clearing, classes for the kids, we managed to make more than 100 of these cards. It's nice to be able to do it....

Incidentally, I was making the cards when Other Half phoned me to take a peek of the sky. He was at the pool with our gal. Literally, one sky, two halfs... one looked as though it was going to engulf the other. But in the end, after 15 minutes or so, the fiery golden hue disappeared... and was replaced by the gray of dusk.

Banner Collection @ Random Shots 3

Currently on display:
(11th May, 2009)

Bulatan Teluk Wanjah at dusk. At the roundabout is a fountain built to commemorate the silver jubilee of the present Sultan's reign. We see the fountain working more often these days. There was one time when it hardly worked. Last year we celebrated HRH's Golden Jubilee. Not too far away is the Telekom Tower. Standing at almost 165.5 metres, it's the second tallest tower in Malaysia. There's an observation deck where you can see the whole of Alor Setar.
(7th May, 2009)

Black is the theme for today... thinking of my home state, Perak. Locked in a tussle for power. And the circus called politics.... circus tent is the State Assembly premise; the players - our supposedly respectable Datuks, Yang Berhormat... those very people whom we lay out red carpets each time they grace a function. Aiyo-yo... politics turn people into comics!

And now to see their antics... Where is their dignity?

We have Mat Rempits cum purse snatchers turn murderers and the police can only give feeble answers on it. Then we have people wearing black as a sign of protest and mourning (???) and the police warns they'll be arrested.... and some were. Police flex their muscles against 'peaceful' demonstrators but seem to relax them against the Mat Rempits. We know the Mat Rempits come out 'to play' every weekend. Yet the police are not seen much in curbing or going after this gatherings of Mat Rempits. We have today's Black Monday and it seems that coffee shop patrons pun jadi OKT (orang kena tahan).

So the world watches... the mockery of our laws and democracy. Of the abuse and lack of transparency. The state constitution has been damned. The process of damning it has shown to us how little regard our politicians have for the sanctity of this document. And also, never before has the news of such an act been beamed to all in such a short time. Pics and detailed accounts some more. We learn about the separation of powers.. no longer are the three bodies separated. Each uses the other for their own means. I am reminded of Zimbabwe at this point of time.

Real problems which affect us, the police don't act enough... real problems which affect certain group of politicians, they over react. *sigh*

(1st May, 2009)

Labour Day... a break from the usual labour. And this is the flavour currently. Taken with the Ixus110IS, Macro mode. No need an expensive DSLR to do the bokeh... this one pun good enough! 8)

(30th March, 2009)

This is a shot taken from the Ampang Jajar Bridge at around 7 something in the morning. The sky is filled with vibrant colours at this time of the year. I've been feasting on that vibrance every morning on my way to work. Can see the difference compared to a couple of weeks ago when it was kinda dull. The sky colours are just awesome some mornings. I supposed it has something to do with the angle of light coming into the sky at this time of the year.

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Currently on display:
(25/3/09)

This was taken somewhere between Juru and Taiping during dusk during the school hols. To commemorate Earth Day 2009 which some say is just a gimmick. Electricity generated actually is already generated. You don't really save anything. But still, it creates an awareness of sorts for Mother Earth.
(20/3/09)

Been more than a month since the banner is changed. Caught up with other things. This is an orchid from my M-I-L's garden; with Sitiawan sky as the backdrop.
(12/2/09)

Other Half trying out new banner style... Kodak moments I call them. Pokok Sena, rubber trees planted on hills. The hills have been named 8888. It's a popular place with the locals as well as people who go all the way from Alor Star, about 15 minutes away. The route has been changed a few times as development ate into the hills and levelled them.

(6/2/09)

Pasir Panjang... the narrow gap before the wide open sea. It is also the seat of the Mohd Nizar, currently the man of the hour in the Perak crisis. Sultan Azlan has ordered him to resign... many feel the State Assembly should be dissolved. It's an idyllic place, peaceful... definitely the opposite of the upheaval and turmoil happening right now. For once, I find myself supporting this PAS candidate because I too think the Sultan has erred in his decision and wonder not so much because PR is booted out but because there seems to a a constitutional crisis here... and also, the words of the Regent sound so hollow. Words... they are cheap.

(4/2/09)

Kg S'wan... it's a place marked by mangrove swamps. Water is still clear. Nice place to go digging for 'ba-li-tong' during low tides, if you don't mind jumping into the muddy river bed. There are many chalets by the river that one can put up the night. Can also go catch crabs at night... Other Half, my bros used to to do while we were growing up. This place still has the nice kampung feel. A good place to unwind and relax.

(18/1/09)

CNY is just around the corner. Wishing everyone a prosperous year ahead... double earth bull.... or is it cow?? Well this cow has a lot of clearing up to do; the mess left behind by the rat. 8(

(6/1/09)

Other Half was working on a brochure for church... an appeal for our mission work in Cambodia. We've helped in the building of a school house which was recently completed and already running. The kids can go to school in their own village now instead of walking for miles. Each year we send 2 teams there.... mid and end. At a time when contributions are drying up because of the current economic crisis, they need assistance more than ever...

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Ladies Saturday Craft Session..

I missed the last couple of meetings. We had one this morning and I went. There were 7 of us, I think.

Tis another session to see how each one is progressing with their masterpieces.. ..this is one which is still in progress. Most are making for their cucu.... but they are many who don't mind getting them as gifts also... Ha! Ha! See, we aren't that different from our grandmothers... the passing of batons... grandma(s), ma(s) used to make these for their children and grandchildren and it's nice to see this tradition still going strong.... I still have a few my grandma made for me... her memory lives on in those patchwork...

A mix of design and patchwork... very colourful. Baby sure gets lots of colourful stimulation from this one. 8)

A bolster with patchwork... Christina drove all the way home just to get it at everyone else's insistence!

More pieces of patchwork... as you can see the ladies have been very busy. Many have caught this craft bug-lah. Me... as usual I was there to tumpang the food and also the fun. But this time around... we had something new... or rather something old.. another craft work. I was so preoccupied that I didn't take pics of the food.... aisay!!!

Tatting... those funny shaped things are called shuttles. The black one is over thirty years old. The red one is one of those you get from our local stores here but it seems Alor Setar has run out of them. Guess who bought them up! The blue one is imported from Japan...also the same brand. The black one... at 30 years old, it has to be priceless....that's Ah Ho's. She truly hordes her treasures! The blue one costs RM9 and the red one is RM3.50.

Tatting or purling is also known as wrap weaving. It's an old art... an art of knots and loops; making lace is more apt, I think. I'm still trying to figure it out. The shuttles are made of various materials... plastic, ivory, metal, etc., etc.... Imagine! Just with a shuttle and thread, you can make wonderful pieces of art.

So, while the rest were yakking about the different designs of quilts, yours truly was sitting at another corner with PY, trying to tat... well, I can tat now, but only one circle. For some reason, the thread refuses to come to a circle after the first one is done... gets stuck. So, I am still at it.... have spent a couple of hours trying to get it going... with the above set!

Anyway, it was good to get together.... to have something common to gather together.

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Currently on display
(30th December)

Last banner for the year... Happy New Year! Looking ahead into the year.... this was taken in East Coast Park, Singapore as the sun set.....

(22nd December)

Christmas is just 3 days away.... the banner says it all, this is the real meaning of Christmas, reconciliation between God and man, hope becoming reality... will be spending it mostly with friends. Blessed Christmas!

(17th December)

One more banner from my Other Half. I think Christmas is my favourite time of the year. Plenty of reasons I can think of. So, here's wishing everyone a blessed Christmas. May God bless everyone I know. And may we continue to live our lives as we are called to, lives pleasing to God. Blessed Christmas!

(7th December)

Christmas scene at Orchard Rd, S'pore. This year it's sugar and candies...so everywhere you see candies. We get so caught up in the commercialized Christmas these days; presents, festivities...without much thought to the actual essence of Christmas...Christ came so that we may live....the light of the world.

(2nd December)

Tis the time of the year when Christmas comes a-knockin. Reminding us of faith, love, hope, joy......glad tidings, best wishes. 8)

(15th November)

Our own neopolitan...3 in 1 dish; mushroom simmered in dark sauce; bean sprouts braised and served with the same sauce and deep fried chicken feet also in the same sauce. This is one of our favourites.

(25th October)

Water, water everywhere. Not unusual since Kedah is the rice bowl of Malaysia. But these past week has seen more than the usual amount of water everywhere. It is flood season now and the water level has gone beyond the dikes in the paddy field. Surrounding villages are flooded by the water which has breached the river banks.

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A Little Bit of This and That

Woke up this morning and thought I'd start washing the walls outside.... Am planning to do some painting next week. Didn't do any touching up last year... too lazy.. and the walls are crying out to be washed and cleaned.... 8(

Anyway, I was doing fine with the pressure pump until it started 'coughing' in spurts. And then it went dead. The pump sits in the shop now. Man at the shop says maybe 2 days. Aiyah!!! Plan gone awry!!! Rancangan tergendala.

Then lunch with Shin Hui and friend...a little bright spark for the day! Was good to meet up with her again. 8)

Got home and the girls were busy with this.. punching pieces of leaves and sorts for our little project which terbengkalai quite a few weeks already. They had helped themselves with all my punchers and were already busy at work.

The goal is to decorate this photo frame.... there are 4 of them....for Haridas & Prabha, Molly, the girls' family and ours. Each one is supposed to have a different design. If it's anything I enjoy, it's doing stuff (or rather, curi tulang, like now....they are still busy and I am supposed to be looking for nice phrases for the frame) with these 2 ever dependable girls. LOL!!! Already they've sorted all my coloured papers according to colours. Mana mau cari 'helpers' like this.

Anyway, Ling, Daughter and I (maybe their Ma and Aunty Moll) will be going shopping at Alor Star Mall tonight.

Ling has assigned me this puncher.... I'm supposed to punch 80 pieces of this... Hand sure sakit... so if I sit here longer, maybe, just maybe I'd still be able to get away. LOL!!! Sitting down and punching is sure to guarantee you a backache.

2 hands.....Ling has always been darker than me...but after a few rounds of basking under the sun... I am the darker now. Easy to tell also which hand is mine... the older one gets, the more blemishes will appear on the skin. 8( But okay-lah. Must learn to accept 'ageing' gracefully.

So, indeed...tis a day of a little bit of this and that..... all adding colour to what could have been an otherwise uneventful day. Girls are yelling for me already...so have to stop here before they stop also.... 8)

Update 6.54 pm
Yay!!! Man at the shop called. Pump repaired. Tomorrow I can start washing again. 8)
And I've punched like hundreds of small leaves, flowers...... still bolehlah....to be continued.

Update 10.37 pm
Went out with Alyssa, Ling and her ma. Nope it was not Alor Star Mall they headed. Went to the Pasar Malam near the Mall. Kononnya to buy pins and clothes. LOL! But there was nothing new there. Everything there was more or less the same as the ones in the morning market. One bright spot though, I got to eat my favourite nasi lemak at AS Mall. 8)

Tea, Craft and Sembang-Sembang

First week of the school hols...so Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice organised a get-together at her place. This was Sunday... The purpose??? Patch work, quilt ...... and whatever else ladies do when they get together..... LOL!

This is one the finished pieces...piano cover. That's how these ladies spur each other on...show off their finished pieces to each other; and like wildfire the excitement will spread.

This is another one...conveniently turned into a chair cover. And really beautiful too. Apparently some of them had gone shopping for cloth in the morning. So, they brought their new hoard of cloths. Can set up a stall, I think. So with kaki(s) like that how not be siao. Patchwork can be rather contagious. And when you do it in a group..some more a boisterous one like ours...the effect can be quite, quite infectious!

So what was I doing there? Mainly to kaypoh, 'pacat' on the food and fun. I've set myself the target of sitting down and doing a piece in 10 years time, though 'Sugar N Spice and Everything Beautiful' is trying to speed it up. I figure by that time, I'd have more time as I'd have to cut down on my games....the joints might be a little worn out. LOL!

But as always when a bunch of ladies get together...conversations soon got sesat to how Judas Iscariot died.....from the 'holy' to 'unholy' stuff....big and small things... oh, just about any grandpa and grandma stories that came to mind.

And while the stories morphed and changed...this sweet young thing had to subject her poor ears through our jabberings and guffawing; while trying to pore through her Add Maths. She must be thinking these aunties must be really nutty.

But there were also serious moments, as in this, when they tried to figure out the problems. Patchwork can be quite a challenge...colour matching, type of cloths, putting in the the pieces together.... actually as in everything else, the gathering of minds also bring about an exchange of ideas, which usually results in a better and clearer understanding of going about a problem.

And the tools for cutting cloth. If you use scissors only, the cloth might come out jagged and uneven. So, most of these ladies have moved on to more sophisticated tools...unlike our grandma's days when the trusty scissors was all they had.

An unfinished piece but already quite beautiful... Patchwork has come quite a long way. From using leftovers to actually shopping for cloth for it...but the essence remains, it's still woven from the hearts and like many of us who inherited such pieces from our grandmothers, they'll serve as reminders of those before us to whom we share a bond.

Banner Collection @ Random Shots

Currently on display...

(22nd Oct)
This is at Kuala Kedah. The lil boy is standing on a small hill made up of shells. It's quite a sight to behold as the boats come back from sea with their catch. There'll be this hive of activity associated with this coming back of the boats. Add that to a beautiful sunset....really beautiful. We're going back there to wait for the boats to come in one of these evenings.

(7th Oct)This was taken along Jln Sultanah Sambungan a few evenings ago..we usually see the sun rays filtering through the trees in the jungle. This is the urban version....glimmer of hope of better things to come in the current political and economic turmoils at the home and global fronts.

(1st Oct) For standing up for the little people... even though I may not agree with all the views put forth by RPK, to be silenced using a law meant for subversive elements shows that we are a nation in distress. Selamat Hari Raya! The plants are from my garden. 8)
(18th Sept) Reflecting the times we are now in, remembering the brave souls who are incarcerated for standing up for the truth and also how absolute power can corrupt.
This is also from Lye Huat Stone Garden....of the Japanese Carps. They come in droves when you throw in the fish food. Japanese Carp or Koi or nishinkigoi represents aspirations, perseverance, strength and achievement. So many people keep kois in their homemade ponds...supposed to bring good fortune.This is a shot taken at Lye Huat Stone Park, at KM19.2, North-South Highway. I'd rate it as one of those must-see places if you are up in Kedah, holidaying. These are huts for visitors to rest their weary legs as they walk the park. Made of hardwood, they are really quite beautiful.

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