DURIAN...My favourite local fruit!! =) We've searched everywhere for durians since my arrival back in KL 2 months ago...but coz durian is a seasonal fruit, you can't get it as and when you like. These durians we had were brought back all the way from Penang by Uncle John who knows that I've been craving for these torny fruit!! =) Totally yummylicious!!

FAMILY DINNER...Our family gathered together for dinner last evening to celebrate Guo Tung which is the last event on the Chinese calander for the year. What's for dinner??...Lots and lots of yummy tasting food all prepared and cooked by the best cook ever - my grandpopo!! =) And for dessert we had homemade Tong Yuen and DURIAN!! *yummyyummm*

PLAIN WHITE FLOUR...As you can see from the picture, Aunty Tess is very hard at work preparing the flour for Tong Yuen purposes. I don't know much about preparing the flour, but I do know you'll have to add some water to make the flour stick together like a piece of dough!! Interesting, isn't it?? According to my grandpopo (she says it every year while making these balls), every year after you've eaten Tong Yuen you'll grow one year older, (erm...well, don't ask me why coz I've yet to find out!! :p) and we'll all always respond by saying, "Oh, then please put these Tong Yuen away from me!!" Ahahahhaahha!! =) p/s: It doesn't really work that way, coz we'll be forced to eat anyway!! :p

COLOURFUL FLOUR...All ready to be made into tiny little colourful balls...Tong Yuen usually comes in pink and white, but to show the world our love for colours, we've included yellow and orange as well... ;) Ahahhahaha, speaking of our love for colours, there were years where we made pink, white, green, yellow and blue too!! =)

CHAI TONG YUEN (also known as Sweet Glutinous Ball Soup)...This is an annual event at the Lee's. Every year grandpopo will call every female member of the family at home to help out with making the colourful flour into little balls before boiling them into sweet dessert. I recall as a child, I was always fascinated by the colourful flour and would asked to be given some to play with...the adults at work would usually give me a pinch of the flour that they were working on and I would make pretend cooking them in my own masak-masak set. As I approached my teens, I no longer needed to beg for flour to play with, but instead I was given permission to sit with the adults at work...hahahhahha...and ever since then, I always picked the brightest colour and had an obsession comparing sizes of the little balls!! =)

To me, this Chinese tradition is very important and it knits a family together therefore it should always be practised no matter which part of the world you live in...We, Chinese should always know where our roots come from and should be proud of our heritage. In my opinion, as Westernized as our world is becoming today, events in the Chinese calander should never be neglected because behind every event, there is always great values to it.

TONG YUEN...according to the Chinese calander, today is Guo Tung...a day where family members gather together to ensure the family's togetherness in the coming year. In the Chinese calander, Guo Tung is also the final event wrapping up the year before ushering in the new year. The reason this Chinese dessert was named Tong Yuen is because it sounds like the Chinese word for "togetherness".

MY FIRST CROCHET PROJECT...And to those who thinks I'm better with tools like screwdriver, hammer and nails...ahahhahahha, think again!! ;) Here's my first crochet project...few flowers to be attached to a bag I knitted few months back. I've always wanted to crochet but no one I knew had the knowledge (or patience) to teach me...till I finally pestered aunty Tess hard enough!! =) She went to kidnap a few sheep from the nearby kampung in order to get me some yarn to learn, ahahhahahha, and melted some metal for the crochet needle, ahahahahahhah!! And so here it is...my first ever crochet project!! =) And to those who think I can' t do such girlie stuff...ahahhahah, proven you wrong, haven't I?? =)

CHING CHING...After a long long time...Here's an anklet I've put together...with a pretty hand-painted center piece and glass beads accompanying it...all nicely and neatly tied together to a brown nylon cord. This is a very casual, ragged yet chinese looking piece...I'd wear it everyday!! =)

SHOPPING FRIDAY...Here is another pair of shoes I got today while shopping with Mommy. Ahahhahaha, just as I reminded myself that I should really stop buying more shoes, I got myself another pair!! Ahahhahahha!! Okay, what else did I get besides shoes?? I also got some clothes in preparation for the roaring working world!! Ahahhahaha, speaking of which, I haven't even gone for a single interview but I've started worrying about what to wear when I join the work force!! So far I've got 2 skirts, 4 shirts, 5 knit wear tops, 4 pairs of pants...Hmmm, now no wonder my Daddy says I fall under the "high maintenance" category!! Hahahhahahah!! Haih...actually, I'm really praying that I get a job soon!! Don't really wanna go back to Brissy with nothing to look forward to...And definitely not the casual food court job anymore...it's time to move on from there...

MY BEADING TOOLS...Here it is...my birthday present from Geri, Dick, Dom, Jing Hui and Siow BenBen!! =) You guys have been awesome...I can't believe you guys are gonna leave me in Brissy and head home so soon!! Whatever it is, you guys are the BEST neighbours ever!! *Certified best neighbours!!* ;) Be sure to keep in touch!! =)

BIRTHDAY DINNER...A (belated) Birthday dinner at Monte's with my parents, Alison and WeiJin...I'm officially 22...!! After 2 cakes, wishes, gifts and love from everyone...I'm a very happy 22 year old!! =)

BEADING TOOLS...I also received a set of professional beading tools via snail mail from Geri, Dick, Jing Hui, Ben Ben and Dom, all the way from Spore...the set came in purple, my favourite colour!! Thanks guys!! I really do appreciate it...!! I will try to come up with more creative ideas...now that I have professional tools, I feel even more motivated than ever!! =)

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS...Purple card from Alison, Pink card from Mommy and Daddy, Watch from Aunty Tess, Angpows from PoPo and KungKung and Mommy and Daddy, Pendent from Uncle Jimmy, Purse from Munn (Thanks Munn, really touched by your sweet gesture!!), Calvin Klien Truth from Mommy, iPoddy from John...Thanks you guys!! =)

GRANDPARENTS...Big AngPow for a BIG GIRL!! Ahahahhahaha!! Thanks PoPo and KungKung!!

SURPRISE...After dinner at Grandpopo's kitchen (curry chicken was for dinner that night...yummyyyyyy!! But didn't do any good for the throat though...nevertheless...yummy!!) I was surprised as Mommy carried a cake out from the kitchen!! *I love surprises!!* ;) No wonder Mommy kept calling and hurrying us back for dinner...now I know...everyone was waiting for the birthday girl!! The yummy chocolate cake was from Aunty Tess...she also got me a Guess? watch too(ha...a new watch for me to start my new 22nd!!)...Thanks Aunty Tess!! ;)

MOMMY'S OFFICE...after lunch we sent Mommy back to work before Alison and I made our way to Times Square.

BIRTHDAY TREAT...Alison treated me to Karaoke session at Neway, Times Square after lunch with my Queen!! ;) We for nearly 4 hours non stop...and as a result?? Sore throat, ahahahhahah!!

BIRTHDAY LUNCH...with 2 very much loved people...Mommy and Alison...enjoying lunch on my special day at the Shangri-La Hotel...

16th NOV...Today I'm officially 22 years and 1 month old...This day one month ago Alison came arriving with a cake at my door step!! =) And at 12 am, she insisted that we cut the cake!! Well, well, what can I say but to express my appreciation to such a great and wonderful friend that I truly treasure!! Actually, the fact that I was able to celebrate my birthday with my family and friends back at home this year was already a good enough gift for me, as for the last 3 years, I have been celebrating my birthday away from home and for most years in the examination hall even!! Thanks to dearest Mommy and Daddy who have shared their love with me all these years...The greatest lesson I've learnt from being lived here for 22 years is to always appreciate our parents for all the sacrifices that they've made for us...I'll never be able to repay every penny and effort spent on me, but the least I can do is to appreciate them and to fulfill my duty as their dear daughter till the very end. I'd also like to thank Jhane, Tse Jea, Wei Jin, Jessie, Ming Kit, Geri, Dick, Jing Hui, Siow Ben Ben, Dom, Vania, Yin Teng, BeeV, Wye, Aaron, Renee, Anita, Belinda, Munn and (especially) John who have sent me birthday wishes/gifts via phone calls, sms, emails, snail mails, msn, friendster, etc...You guys rock!! =)

PONGGY...fractured his arm and broke his leg...(what about bak kut teh with Ponggy?? Muahahhahah!!)

PONGGY...caught the cold and not so well... =(

PONGGY...well, fine and smiling!! =)

STAR CHASE...Presenting to you...Miss Hongkong 1999, Sonija Kwok, 2nd runner up...Myolie Wu, TVB actors, Ron Ng and Raymond Lam...*clap* *clap* Yes, Karen was dragged by me to relive our kiddo days on the 2nd Dec 05 by joining a multitude of TVB fans at Times Square to catch a glimpse of these TVB stars! My favourite among the lot?? Sonija Kwok!! =) She's really gorgeous real life...she's sweet, graceful, lady like and carries herself with poise. Okay, so much about the stars...!! Let me tell you how these fans go really crazy upon their arrival!! I was pushed left and right, front and back and nearly suffocated from each others' perspiration!! So, now you ask will I do this again?!?!? Erm...I think I'll have to think twice before going next time!! Plus while waiting for them to arrive, in the midst of pushing and wobbling among the crowd, my poor camera had a great fall and no it didn't break it's crown but the edges of the poor cammy were gone...*a moment of silence for poor cammy* =( It wasn't all that bad actually...at least Karen and I had fun that evening!! ;)

SHOES...Whoever came up with the statement, "women can never have enough of shoes"...you're right!! This week alone, Karen (my uncle's girlfriend) and I have been roaming shoe shops around KL and have been feeding our feet with pretty pretty shoes!! =)