Priss's Birthday - With The 3 Amigos

Priss, the birthday girl, was subtly coerced by Jess and I to go out and celebrate her birthday, being given the excuse that she'll only turn 23 once in her entire lifetime. It worked ^_^

Hidden in the hills of Perth was a restaurant called Le Paris Brest. I strongly suggest you don't say it out loud. Didn't realise how embarrassing it sounded until I started asking for directions.

Food - The Verdict

Duck Risotto - The "Gentle" Size
There was a choice between a "gentle" or "serious" size for the servings. The girls reckoned that since they were gentle and pure, the "gentle" size was the obvious choice... O_o *sweatdrop*

Swordfish - The Fish of the Day
I choked when I saw the size of the plate. Later I almost threw up when I found out the cost - $35 for a slice of fish, (and a char grilled watermelon). Couldn't help but wonder if the plate was included with the meal -_-

Pistachio Cheese Cake
Ahhhh... Absolutely fabulous! ^_^

For a French restaurant with I quote, "the most exquisite selection of food", it was excitingly normal. Other than the pistachio cake, the restaurant loses points for its main courses and its choice of name! =P

Afterwards, we went back to Priss's place at the veterinary hospital and guess who I found???

Ahhh sooo cute!

Later, it scratched me... ^_^
*grrrr*

Chinese New Year Dinner @ Leeming Cell

CNY 07' started off a day early at the ever so anxious Leeming cell, when we all got together to celebrate the Year of the Pig =) Whatever that was supposed to mean I don't have a clue, but we did eat a lot of pork that night though! ^_^

It was planned to be a simple evening, a gathering of a few friends, with nibbles and nonchalant conversations. But nooo... The Chinese in all of us had to take over.

With over 45 people attending and 20 dishes served up, our cell leader's floorboards had to withstand the largest strain test it ever took in its entire existence. o_O

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!
May this year be full of love, joy and peace to you all!

(Finally! There's someone willing to smile at me!)

(Or for the camera... Does it really matter??? O_o)

(Apparently the higher you toss the thing, the better luck you'll have in the year. However they fail to warn you that a lucky guy has to clean up the mess all over the table. Tough luck)

(Why are you guys so camera shy? It's not like the whole world is going to see this photo... It's actually more like half the world ^_^)

(Karen - The ever-so-bubbly organiser of CNY Dinner 07')

My Mangoes!

Is it just me or is there something about the markets that just seems to captivate the senses?

Is it the huge range of sun-ripened seasonal fruits? Or is it the crisp smell of fresh vegetables and produce? Maybe it's the hustle and bustle; the screaming and the shouting; the pushing and the shoving...

Could it be the excitement of trying to get a bargain on what's left before someone else grabs it? (Like the $1 bag of mangoes I got! It's MINE! ^_^) Or maybe it's because you're able to touch, feel and smell what you want to buy...

Whatever the reason, the fact is... The stuff sold there is dirt cheap...

If you haven't been to a fresh produce market before, I suggest you do. If you have... STAY AWAY from my mangoes! ^_^

See you there!

Do your dishes taste dull and uninteresting? Do you wish there was something you could do? Then look no further... For the answer is right here! =)

If you cook at home; or if you're a chilli-loving fire-breathing dragon, then you should have one of these plants by your side. Bearing little bright red beauties every 2-3 weeks, it provides you with an almost endless supply of baby chillies for all your cooking needs (or whatever turns you on) ^_^

It only costs $3 from the local gardenery.

Go get one! =)

And of course... No garden big or small is ever complete without the resident ladybird ^_^

Sometimes I wonder...
I wonder what the Lord has in store for me.

Sometimes I wait...
I wait for the Lord to show me the way.

Sometimes I worry...
I worry if I have the strength to carry on.

Sometimes I hope...
I hope that He'll come and take my problems away.

Sometimes I fear...
I fear that I may make the wrong choices.

Sometimes I realise...
I realise that God can turn the wrong choices into something good.

Sometimes I laugh...
I laugh at the moments when I almost fell.

And sometimes I smile...
I smile when the Lord reminds me of all the times He has picked me up.

All the while I notice...
That things may not go as well as it seems, but

Every time, You're always there for me.


Thank You, Jesus...

This poor guy doesn't realise how cute he is...

To the point that my family back home would even snap pictures of him... While he's sleeping.

^_^

What's For Dinner?

After my online conversation with a friend who's on exchange in Norway a couple of days ago, it occurred to me how difficult it was for people who live alone to cook a decent meal for themselves. I was in the same situation myself when I came to Perth and I admit, a huge part of it goes to the fact that my Mum wasn't there to do the cooking. ^_^

So I did the next best thing... I ate out. But you can only eat so much msg-infused takeaway till hair starts falling out of places you never knew existed.

So for all you guys out there struggling in the kitchen, get your hands out of the KFC bucket and don your aprons! I hope this simple recipe will help kick start those creative juices lurking in that cooking brain of yours =) Enjoy!

Potato Mash with Chorizos

Ingredients: 2 servings
2 potatoes (~40cents each)
1 onion (~20cents)
1 handful of snow pea sprouts (~20cents)
2 chorizos (~$2 each)

Boil the potatoes till soft. Remove the skin and mash till smooth. You could peel the skin off first then boil, but I reckon it just tastes better boiled with the skin on.

Add a tablespoon of butter to the mash. This gives it an absolutely wonderful flavour and aroma. Feel free to add another spoonful if you like, but go run a mile later to burn it off ^_^

Add cracked pepper and thyme for taste.

Slice the onions and chorizos up into chunky pieces. Chorizo is an Spanish chilli sausage that you can find at most supermarket deli sections.

Heat a pan up with medium heat and add little or even no oil. That's because the chorizos will produce quite a bit of oil after being heated.

Fry the sausages first till brown then throw the onions in. Stir fry together until the onions are almost caramelised. Don't burn the onions because you'll still want some crunchiness to this dish.

Lastly, add the snow pea sprouts in the potato mash and give it a good mix.

Plate and enjoy!



A simple meal for under $3 a serving. Hope you'll like it ^_^

The Multi-Faceted Side of Me


It was hot. The mercury was at a stifling 39 degrees the past 3 days. You could make dried salted fish in half an hour.

Air-conditioner wasn't working. It was blasting away at maximum. The huff and puff apparently wasn't enough.

A shower was inevitable. Any later and I would go crazy. Some might argue that I already am.

I turned the faucet. Out came the water. Cold shower will do the trick I thought. Cold water there wasn't to be.

The water was hot. Did I turn on the hot water instead I thought. Not good. Wanted to hide in the fridge.

After my hot cold shower, it didn't feel that bad anymore. Maybe the heat got to me. Might also be the ice slushie that I gobbled down in 10 seconds. Brain hurts.

Thanks to daylight-savings, there were still 3 more hours of light to go. Out came the camera. I just had too much time.

The multi-faceted side of me...

The Incredibly Long Post That I Didn’t Have Time To Write Earlier...

Woah... Where do I start? ^_^

To all out there who're wondering where on earth I've been, I'm still here in Perth and I'm officially, abeit reluctantly, a full time taxpayer.

Working at the specialist centre has really been great fun. It's really different from the impression you get when you're at uni, where everyone either thinks we'll be running around in scrubs screaming "PATIENT FLATLINING" while flapping our bloodied hands all around the emergency room, or asking a patient to drop their pants and (ermm...) cough. There are moments where everything seems to go nuts, but most of the while life's pretty peachy...


(Not that peachy... ^_^)

Fertility treatment is not a easy thing for patients to handle on a daily basis, so we kinda don't want to make it more difficult as it is by running amok like little flammingoes. Our patients look up to us as a source of support, encouragement and answers, so in a way all of us really have to be good in what we do. Except when the blood immunoassay machine fails... (Oh watch them flammingoes run). Speaking of which...

Everyone... Meet Cleo. Her name means "Father's glory" and this is the baby I get to play with everyday ^_^

She's an automated chemi-luminescence immunoassay system, designed to handle 180 blood samples an hour, with a TTFR (time to first result) of just 15 minutes. She's going to replace the aged, but still very much loved Wilbur. He has been running for 15 years and we think its about time he takes a break. Permanently =)

(Goodbye Wilbur... *sob*) -----> (Hellooo Cleo! *wohoo*)

I'm the only guy at work, which is good because there's no competition. *woohoo!* On the flip side, all the ladies at work are either married, attached or trying to have kids... *dooh!* Looks like I'll remain single for a while longer... ^_^ At least I've got Cleo...


Being the incredibly long post that I supposedly didn't have time for, it's time to recap what's been going on the past 3 months, in a glorious barrage of photos and song! (ok maybe not the song...)

Red Bull Air Race '06

Zion Fellowship's Celebration Lunch - 2 Years On...







Company Dinner @ Caffino's

(What happens when you're really hungry...)

Grace's parking prowess...

(Sorry Grace, I just had to post this! =) Please don't send David to come after me!)


No More Long Trips!

I just moved again and have now settled comfortably in a studio apartment, just a couple of minutes walk from work. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but I will soon ^_^

This time its permanent and I don't think I'll be moving again for quite some time =) Praise the LORD!

Till next time... Toodles! ^_^