Leo living da loca

Posted in Food and Drinks, Good Things, Places to Eat by

Happy Birthday to myself

I made amends with my dad this year, putting the past behind us. A truce with an older person can sometimes feel monumental, especially when it created an emotional distance between us. Carrying hatred in my heart was tiring. Especially when I was also faced with a similar burden at the workplace. People always seem to think that it’s their right to return the energy to the opposing party, but when they become the receiving end, suddenly everything is toxic. As the 3rd party looking into this matter, I have been called the enabler and too husnuzon by both sides (depending on their narrative).

Putting those thoughts aside, my husband has already started his subspecialty training. Thus, this is one of those birthdays where we will postpone the celebration to another day as he is studying in a different state. Even then, as the type of person who can amuse herself, I got myself good food and a slice of cake.

Initially, I wanted to eat Kacang Pool at Houd Houd Cafe. The opening times were stated as 10 am. Unfortunately, when I went there, it was not yet open. I was so disappointed. So, I drove over to another cafe at Ayer Keroh called Lera a Fusion Cafe. The customer experience with the staff could be better. Thankfully, the food was delicious. I really enjoyed my pesto pasta. So that deserves 4 stars.

Later, I wanted to have a cake from Duchess of Cake. I did not check their IG, and it turns out that they are closed every Wednesday. I let out a deep sigh as I arrived at the store, as I struggled to find parking earlier. Ha ha. Perhaps there’s a silver lining to this experience.

This led me to Secret Recipe. One of the most reliable places to get a delicious slice of cake. This time, I went for the cake with the banana instead of the Indulgence Cake.

Although my husband was away, he gave my daughter strict instructions about when to give my present. I received them promptly in the morning. I have a new pair of baju kurung and a mini massage machine for the neck and shoulders. I am very thankful for the life bestowed upon me by ALLAH. Alhamdulilah.

How to end a relationship

Posted in Ponderings & Personal Development by

Simple. Stop having meals together. Stop celebrating special moments. Relationships require effort. Enjoying food together is one of them.

When you share a meal or a table, you will talk to each other. Or during turbulent moments, you have to brave through the silence. Until someone breaks the ice. If you choose not to participate in a relationship, you eat alone, or you don’t eat at all. Simple, right?

Today is my late mom’s birthday. Before she died, it used to be a time when we, the children, would make time in our busy schedules as young adults to celebrate her. It could be a short weekend lunch at a restaurant or a hotel buffet. Now, it is just a brief moment in our busy lives to pause and recite a doa. The thing is, when we celebrate her birthday, it is not really about her alone. It is also about us coming together as a family to strengthen the relationship as father-son, siblings, mother-son, father-daughter, etc. With her passing, the traditions of celebrating things together somehow died with her. There is still the occasional get-together, but as I’ve mentioned earlier, it takes effort to bring the matter up, discuss and decide on an opening in our life calendar. Guiltily, it is almost always my younger sister, a wonderful mother of 3, an enthusiastic teacher, who is trying to glue all of us together.

So. Yes. That is how we end our relationships between family members, spouses, friends. Stop eating together.

Jipinhe Scones

Posted in Food and Drinks, Places to Eat, Reviews by

Jipinhe Scones is a small outlet at my nearby mall. I was initially intrigued to try their Hot and Sour Rice Noodles. It is said to taste like the noodles in Chongqing. However, it is said to be spicy, and I am not sure if I can tolerate the heat. Thus, I went with the other set option that has the Tomato Noodle Soup and the scone. I opted for the New Orleans Chicken Thigh scone and a jelly dessert.

Truth be told, I really loved everything I ordered. The tangy tomato flavour was strong and flavourful. The scone’s filling was generous too. I was really full after the meal I shared with my daughter. I was watching over my calories.

I am glad that my daughter agreed to try something new. I am inspired to do this from time to time after watching this movie called The Room. There was a part after the mother and her child managed to escape from their kidnappers and live life. They tried everything together so that they would get to know the things they would like, exploring everything from different foods to new activities, which helped strengthen their bond and filled their lives with joy and discovery. This exploration reminded me that, indeed, that is what we should do as well. While being in a comfort zone makes you feel safe, exploring something different can lead to unexpected experiences that enrich our lives, foster creativity, and broaden our perspectives. Embracing the unknown not only brings about personal growth but also teaches us valuable lessons about adaptability.

My daughter is embarking on a new life experience soon. She will be learning a new skill. InsyaAllah.

More than meets the eye

Posted in Good Things, Ponderings & Personal Development by

An experienced photographer would probably have a lot to say about this photo. I always appreciate expert opinion. They are experts because they know more. I took this photo on a bright, sunny evening. It looks dark because it is the reflection of the trees on the river surface. Looking at it closely, you could see the ripples of the water. The image is flipped. I had to wait for a few joggers to pass me by before I whipped out my phone and captured this scenery.

It is normal to perceive something as it is. It takes slightly more effort to understand what is happening underneath. Dealing with human behaviour and emotion is notably tough. We can never be sure of what another person means, despite how literal they wish to portray themselves. There is always another layer within them that they are not comfortable showing the world. Yet, we still make an effort to connect because that is what being human is all about. We learn how to navigate the different personas and difficult conversations. With time, we get better at our soft skills. This set of skills is not limited to communication. It entails emotional intelligence, creativity in decision-making, and body language. I believe there is more to learn as we create a better version of ourselves.

Supporting healthcare professionals

Posted in All in a days work by

In healthcare services today, we need more advocates who care for healthcare professionals. HCPs are human beings who CHOSE to do medicine with one purpose in common: altruism. It is very unfair to say to HCPs

YOU CHOSE TO DO THIS. YOU SHOULD BEAR WITH IT. IF NOT, LEAVE!!!

Yes, we chose to do this. But it doesn’t mean you should treat us like SHIT.

It’s like saying just because we choose to marry someone, it is OK for the spouse to disrespect us, hit us, or abuse us simply because it was you who chose that person to become your partner.