The scented full-bloom Sui Mei

The endless effort of my hubby in maintaining his Sui Mei Bonsai generates great rewards. After pruning we always look forward to "blooming".  This particular plant always gives us great pride and satisfaction with endless blooming as well as generating natural scented perfume which fills our garden.

The flower buds are seen sprouting throughout the whole plant and not long after that we gets to see the beautiful "full bloom!"

Few days later the flowers starts to drop... after which the whole process repeats again.

Sharing some other Sui Mei plants after re-potting and pruning from our garden....

Childhood school friends strolling Down Memory Lane....

After completing Form 5, majority of us go our separate ways, except for a few who stay nearby to each other and still keep in contact through phone.  I believe there are those who continue on to Form 6; some started work immediately; won't be surprised some got married; while some went overseas either to further their studies, work or even migrated; but as for myself I just pursued Typewriting and Book Keeping and after that enter the work force and after which settle down in the same birth place, Kuching.

Indeed there are some close schoolmates whom I have lost contact for many long years. However, due to our busy and hectic life, both family and work, time brushes through at great speed.    Now our children have grown up, most are already in their career world, and some got married and have their own children.

One particular dear friend whom I've missed so much and many a times makes my mind wonder... "Where is Linda now? How is she? How I wish I will be able to meet her again one day!"  Finally, after 35 long years we found each other through Facebook, which was five years ago.  

Most recently, she gave me the greatest SURPRISE when she came back to Kuching for a month holiday.  WOW!! my heart really leaps for joy at that very moment!  

On a beautiful Tuesday morning of 11th April, the four school friends planned for a stroll across the Kuching Waterfront on Gambier Street...

Water Taxi

To cut through to India Street from Jalan Gambier we use the passageway, and halfway through there is an Indian Muslim Mosque, hidden away in the middle of the city.  Memories of this passageway flashes through our minds as once upon a time, during our childhood days, our mother used to bring us to ride in buses to the bus terminal, opposite Electra House, walk to Ceko Market for marketing, cut through from Jalan Gambier to India Street through that passageway.  Each of us have the wide-smile expression on our faces as we recall those valuable childhood memories.

After much walking and perspiration we decided to take a rest and grab some "old time yummy food" at Old Rex Cucur Udang Cafe, situated at Rubber Road.

This meet-up is indeed a rare opportunity as our dear friend Linda will be back to her home in a "far away country".  We all really have so much fun together with lots of catching up as, it has been 40 years! 40 long years, but I am glad that we finally gets to meet her again.  See you again soon dear Linda.

The Lunar Year of The Rooster

Both myself and hubby started off earlier than usual preparing for the Lunar Year of The Rooster. Every weekend and on public holidays hubby is busy with house painting which started with the ground floor: living room, dining room and bedroom; after which proceed upstairs: the hallway and another bedroom.  With the Lunar New Year just round the next corner the remaining painting of our master bedroom and another room have to be put on hold.  

With our children all coming home for the celebration hubby decided to put up more decorations....

Grandson Brendan lends a helping hand in the final decorations.  The Red Lantern which we bought from Vietnam during our trip in December 2016 is specially meant for this purpose.

Living room decorations

Decorations at the Car Porch

Night Views with lights on....

As usual, celebrating The Lunar or Chinese New Year in our sweet home in Kuching always means lots of home-cooked food, which have been missed by my children, being away from hometown at work.

Our simple home-cooked reunion lunch in the heart of our sweet home : Sweet and sour fish, stir-fried leeks with arrowroot, ngo hiang/meat rolls, stir-fried mixed vegetables, stir-fried longevity noddles and yee sang, which we bought from Pullman Hotel.

Next, our reunion dinner at Carvery Restaurant, together with the other Kuek siblings and relatives from my hubby's side of the family.....

As usual, after attending The Thanksgiving Mass at St. Peter's Church, Padungan on the first day of the Chinese New Year, we will visit my mum who is staying with my eldest brother and family.

Family photo with my mum

Steamboat on the 2nd day of the CNY....

Other home-cooked dishes includes.....

Lamb Curry with bread

Deep-fried wantons

Cereal Prawns

Stir-fried leek flower with prawns

Steamed fish, mixed vegetables, deep-fried pork ribs, steamed prawns and bamboo clams

We all have an enjoyable celebration, especially grandson Brendan.  This photo of him tells it all.....

Though memories of the celebration is still fresh, which seems just like yesterday, but we are already into the 21st day of the Lunar/Chinese New Year.  Well, time really flies.....

May God bless everyone with a great year ahead and Cheers to all!