Irfan loves his burger

Iftar at Some Place Fancy

We rarely ate out for iftar this year. So we thought we’d go to the Kluang Station restaurant before Ramadhan was over. The Kluang Station restaurant was nearby and not in Kluang; though I’ve been to the Kluang Station restaurant in Kluang. Ain headed there after work to get some groceries. Irfan and I rendezvoused with her there after Maghrib for dinner after breaking our fast first. It took a while for the special iftar buffet to end before we could order ala carte. I got some seafood broth and Ain had nasi lemak. Irfan had a burger. Irfan loved that burger.

Continue reading

A Return to Bread

So it has been a very long time since I baked bread. My old toy‘s motor died in 2007 or early 2008 (after 3 years of weekly bread baking). Despite looking around for a handyman or an appliance repairer, we were unable to find one who would work on my poor mixer. Apparently, people no longer repair small appliances, they just go out and buy a new one! And then we were distracted by the arrival of a certain cantankerous addition to our home, and then another. So there was never any time to actually bake bread. But now that the baby is two years old, and his sister is a toastivore, we decided it was time to go back to baking our own bread. And, since we couldn’t get the old mixer fixed (I am still sad about that), we got a replacement for it. [[image:2014_breadjanfeb01.jpg:Unpacking the box together:center:0]] […]

Continue reading

Ain’s Birthday Dinner

Ain levelled up yesterday. She’s gained a year, so we thought we’d splurge a bit on a proper birthday dinner. It would be a proper dinner with proper food, namely burgers. Meanwhile Irfan made his specialty ice cream cheese cake. [[image:2014-ain-birthday-01.jpg:Mixed flavour of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry:center:0]] That evening we went to this burger restaurant at the Ampang Waterfront. It seemed to be a great place to dine on burgers. If I were to go out and have burgers for dinner, this would be the place I’d go to. [[image:2014-ain-birthday-02.jpg:Wish I could do this for Ain every year… can’t even buy her a present:center:0]] Irfan and his Cik Su scour the menu for consumables. Irfan is happy with stuff smeared with tons of cheese. [[image:2014-ain-birthday-03.jpg:As I write this I hear ‘ass thrusters’ coming from the TV:center:0]] A fried egg (or perhaps the interstellar neural parasite that killed Jim Kirk’s brother […]

Continue reading
Cake too

13th Anniversary and Raya Haji in KL

It was Sitiawan’s turn for balik kampung Aidiladha this year. But I did not get paid for a work I invoiced so we could not gas up to go anywhere far. So Atok and Opah travelled from Sitiawan to Kuala Lumpur for the holiday. Also, Irfan’s exam week was looming. Coincidentally, Aidiladha was also the 13th wedding anniversary of Ain and I. So we decided to scrape up something for the day. 13 years through… a lot of things. Amazing things. Not so amazing things. Unbelievably inspirational events. Events that would destroy the spirit of anyone not prepared. Things I do not mention even in this blog. I owe a lot of people a lot of things. My parents. Sila and Vin. But without Ain to prop against and support my weight in the worst of times, it would have been a different world today. After solat Aidiladha, we took […]

Continue reading
Roll for melee combat

Irfan’s Eleven

Irfan’s eleven now! It started when we thought about inviting Emma’s forthcoming family-in-law for dinner. It just so happened that it was on Irfan’s weekend’s birthday! So unlike other years, Irfan had more people over for his birthday than before, including the aforementioned forthcoming family-in-law of Farid’s, Irfan’s cousin Aiman and Zara, and his schoolmate Fikri our neighbour from the next tower (but the same arcology – so to speak). Irfan sliced up his cake using his melee weapons skill. I got a photo of Ain with Irfan. But because everyone was busy with guests, no photo of me was taken. Irfan taught Aiman and Fikri to play Small World! If they had more time, Irfan would have also taught them Ascension and Star Wars The Card Game. In the meantime, Zara was practising her piano skills. Irfan got a cool totebag for his books from Cik Su and an […]

Continue reading
avocado-sandwich01

Avocado Sandwich

When we balik kampung a couple of weekends ago, we bumped into our old neighbours in Sitiawan, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ling, who lives near Atok and Opah’s house. Ain and I had a brief chat with them about the good old days, and they gave us some freshly-picked avocados from their yard. Removing the flesh from the pit by twisting the fruit was novel, I thought. Then I cut up the flesh into slices because I am a sociopath who does not care about cutting up fruits.   Boom.

Continue reading
Spaghetti consumer

A Decade of Irfan

Once upon a time, this baby thought it’d be a good idea to come live with us. Ten years later to the day – last night, he’s celebrating his birthday with his parents and aunt by having dinner at a restaurant. He’s been wanting spaghetti and meatballs for some time now. We thought we’d put a candle on a slice of cake. The restaurant provided the cake, but no one had a match or a functioning lighter. To tell you the truth, I could do without lighted candles on cake. Many thanks to Cik Emma for treating us all at Secret Recipe. I had the chicken salad and Ain had the black pepper chicken with corn by the way. After reaching home, Irfan opened up his presents. He now has a microscope set – along with prepared and empty slides – because SCIENCE! Thanks to Atok and Opah Irfan for […]

Continue reading
Weapon and shield

Birthday Cake Transforms Into…

Well, the birthday cake was transformed into digested matter submerged in digestive fluids in our stomachs. However, the box with which the cake was transported was transformed into… …Captain America’s shield, after an unscheduled crafting session. The Nerf gun was the one he bought from Richard Chua’s booth during the Kids’ Fair exhibition earlier this year. I did not take a lot of photos myself, and was unable to transfer files that Atok Irfan had in his camera because of a malfunctioning card reader. The above is one of the few photos I took of Irfan posing as his grandfather takes his photo. Click here to see Irfan playing with the birthday present his grandparents gave him.

Continue reading

Salam Aidilfitri from… uh, Ipoh?

That weekend we tagged along Abang Ngah’s engagement convoy from Kampung Permatang all the way to Ipoh, or more precisely near Simpang Pulai. As usual the adventuring party that was formed by the family was a fun and boisterous one – despite the inordinately hot day we had. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-ipoh-01.jpg:Atok and Opah at the kenduri:center:0]] One thing’s for sure: the food prepared by the other family was very delicious. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-ipoh-02.jpg:Negotiations:center:0]] The adults negotiate the terms of the future wedding as the rest of us kids play. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-ipoh-03.jpg:Abang Ngah and fiancee:center:0]] Abang Ngah and his fiancee posed for photographers after the negotiations are done. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-ipoh-04.jpg::center:0]] Abang Ngah’s brother Abang Long with his younger son awaits outside. Once upon a time, Abang Long’s wedding was also featured in this blog!

Continue reading

Best ABC This Side of the Euphrates

When we balik kampung to Sitiawan, we try to drop by at Ain’s favourite ais batu campur (ABC) restaurant, which just happens to be at the Lumut Esplanade, overlooking where the Dindings River meets the sea. Most times we arrive, there is an festival-like air to the area which has a food court by the water as well as a children’s playground. Anyways, here’s the ABC: [[image:aidilfitri-2011-abc-01.jpg:ABC:center:0]] That evening, there was a TLDM (Royal Malaysian Navy) warship docked right in front of the food court. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-abc-02.jpg:Some warship:center:0]] Alas, we did not have a lot of time. So, we only had the ABC. [[image:aidilfitri-2011-abc-03.jpg:This photo is here because Ain looks so pretty in this shot:center:0]]

Continue reading
Some Kryptonian symbol

After Eight Years, Irfan Reaches Eight

Irfan’s eighth birthday occurred when Alya, Vin and Sila were visiting at the Tenth Floor. I was happy they were around for the birthday bash, seeing that they don’t usually have a direct train or bus line from Ohio to come regularly. We ordered a cake that was in a shape of the number 8, because having a cake in the shape of the number 9 would make absolutely no sense. Moments after this photo was taken, Alya joined Irfan and they both held the knife together (under supervision) to further cut the cake. Irfan and Alya showed off their still-wrapped presents from Atok and Opah. Irfan was really into unwrapping his presents, though he needed some adult help to take apart the wrappings and open the boxes. Alya played with the wrapping ribbons. Atok and Opah got Irfan a chess set. What does Irfan have to say about chess? […]

Continue reading

The one with the two-day party (and more cake)

I know – it’s been over a month and I still haven’t finished Allie’s 2-year birthday blogs. She’s already 25 months old and I’m late posting that blog entry too! At any rate, here is the next installation of the birthday celebrations. This one takes us to Indiana where Vin’s cousin Becky had what was basically a two-day party for both Allie and Vin, and to celebrate Jo being here, as well. We drove to Indiana the day after Allie’s birthday (Friday July 23rd). This is pretty much what Allie did with her cousins for the next two days: [[image:allie753a.jpg:Dancing Machines:center:0]]  * Mouse over the pictures for additional captions We arrived at Becky’s and Allie immediately went to her pile of presents: [[image:allie725a.jpg:Mary, Gabby and Grace help Yaya with her presents:center:0]] Then we swam in the lake: [[image:allie726a.jpg:Gabby and Yaya are ready in their lifejackets:center:0]]  [[image:allie727a.jpg:Let’s go swimming!:center:0]]  [[image:allie728a.jpg:Yaya swims […]

Continue reading
The gang at Pak Ya

Breaking of Fast With Atok and Opah

Most of our breaking of fast at sundown during Ramadhan – known as iftar – were done at home at the dinner table. But once in a while we do go out to dinner, but only after Maghrib. Last weekend, Irfan’s grandparents were also in town a-visiting, so Sunday night we decided to eat out. We tried out Pak Ya’s place at Taman Cempaka, which is to the north of and right next to Pandan Indah. When the food arrived, we came to two conclusions. One, we have to take photos of our orders. Two, we will have to take Ayah Cik, Cik Dik and Yaya to dinner here when they next visit. We didn’t take photos of all the dishes, unfortunately.

Continue reading

Breaking of Fast, Ramadhan 1431

Ramadhan mubarak to everyone! Another year, another fasting month. Ain spent an hour preparing this meal for our first breaking of fast this year. [[image:first-break-fast-2010.jpg:Delicious spicy stuff!:center:0]]  We broke fast with dates, before digging in, dining on rice, with some chicken and fish, and spinach. No fruits, no kuih-muih. We are grateful for the delicious stuff bestowed onto our dinner table!

Continue reading

I Scream You Scream We All Scream

for Graeter’s Ice Cream!!!! Ever since we really explored a local chain of fabulous ice cream (they made Allie’s birthday cakes last year – mmmmmm) we have totally been converted. Eat your heart out Ben & Jerry’s! Take a hike, Cold Stone Creamery! Graeter’s is the greatest!!! This is my favorite flavor: [[image:graeter1.jpg:Chocolate chocolate chip rules:center:0]] And this is why Graeter’s rocks: [[image:graeter2.jpg:Chocolate chip the size of Alaska:center:0]]  The whole bottom half of that pint was literally a mound of chocolate that didn’t get broken up into more “normal” chip-sized pieces. It was aaaaaamazing! So yummy and dark and smooth. Vin’s favorite flavor is coconut chocolate chip but I’m loyal to mine. Here’s another look at said amazingly huge chocolate chip: [[image:graeter3.jpg:Half pint of awesome chocolate anyone?:center:0]]  The best ice cream ever!

Continue reading
Interesting concept. Burgers as finger food

Year Nine Celebratory Dinner

Here we are at Year Nine. That means it’s been a year since this blog entry, which is Year Eight. Instead of relaxing at home, or both of us forgetting about it (which has happened before believe you me) Irfan and I went to pick up Ain after work and headed to Midvalley Megamall for an anniversary dinner. We decided on eating at Secret Recipe. I had no complaints because MPH was right beside us. The smell of books always gives me a good appetite. One more year before we reach the decade-mark!

Continue reading