dimsum satisfaction

one of our new finds in soho area.

we have our usual favourites but it was a saturday where London seem to have grown thrice in tourist population,so we decided to try their dimsum.

at Leong's Legend


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waiting for our number 11 red bus;-)

the date and i;-)

8 meat dumpling..;-) (adrian had a plateful each)

2 orders of prawn and chive dumpling...and pork shiu bun

pork belly wrap;-)

the lady in question

the prawn siomai (Adrian and i had one plateful each: our fave).. and Leong's braised belly (just like my Mama's humba, i swear im going back for this)

Adrian's special fried rice;-)

my egg fried rice;-)

King prawn steamed in oyster sauce

we were there just half past 1pm..lesser people, and not too embarassing to take pics

the restaurant;-) (whoever is coming to visit me in the UK should remind me to take them there)

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after a hearty lunch, we did some shopping in Oxford street, and ended up in Selfridges..

we headed home around 7 pm;-)

at night, on the way home..

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truly, the lunch was worth the day;-)

living the dream

I have always dreamt and wanted to live in the countryside. and here we are. living it. best of all, i get paid to live here.

its what we wanted and more.

A...for awesome.

the view from the sitting room..

the holes in the grass are caused by the rabbits who dug out the seeds for the grass to grow.

adrian was annoyed while i found it funny.

Adrian looks like he is bigger than the house..thats perspective for you,lol

the castle on the hill

our little gingerbread cottage from the bottom of the garden

surveying the land

the neighbour's semi detached properties

just came from work so excuse the extra-haggard face;-)

i told him to suck his guts in,hahaha;-)such a trooper,my husband;-)

a little bit wild still..but we like it like that;-)

such a big plot for a tiny cottage..;-)

"excuse me, while i get back to work--look"

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my lazy update for y'all...;-)

this new life

today was quite hectic. just like the last few days since i started in this new life.

after work, adrian picked me up at the hospital to make it home and have some cup of tea before we head out for my dentist's appointment. it was quite unusual for me to be able to walk to the dentist's clinic and not have to drive. and for the dentist to chat with me and said,we have the same Lord for a landlord. it was supposed to be fun,if only i didn't have to be poked and prodded like a piece of meat and have my mouth open that wide for a very long time.

after the dentist, we decided to have a meal in the pub. i always suggest the pub because they're one of the few restaurants that cook a variety of meals (which has also some asian fare apart from the usual british food). Adrian had some savoury pie (gammon and sausage cream cheese potato topping) and i had my prawn curry (complete with naan bread and poppadoms). I love that they get the rice done right, so unusual in a British restaurant.


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just last week, i was told i could not take my annual leave in one go. unlike the previous hospital where i worked,i could a month's leave in one full sweep. but because where i am, i am doing a rotation of sorts, i can only take a two-week leave tops in one go. i had to break the leave in bits and not in chunks. plus, because of the time i came in, i got the worst time schedules for a holiday. oh well, being in Norfolk is like being on holiday for me (for now).

saying that, this made me sad because i have (almost) 3 weeks annual leave left before April (which is another term of annual leave dates,which gives me another set of 5 weeks). now, Adrian and i are thinking where we could use this little bits of time to spend somewhere. its a shame to spend only a short time to travel long haul to cebu where fare costs an arm and a leg. portugal? paris? new york? (daydreaming of course!).

maybe our old home. i miss it,too!


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on saturday, i was excited. i had whole day in London to spend money for the day. (my birthday money was spent on that day,finally). i bought myself new shoes (work shoes,though) and i also bought Adrian a pair (for his daily use).

i also bought some cosmetics (my Nars eye-primer is on its last pat), and a liquid liner from Nars,too. i went crazy, i also bought my current fave (D&G's The ONE parfum), and a Michael Kors Bag.

To think i was only there to buy the work shoes.

I hurriedly rushed home to entertain guests who needed to be fed. Crazy. Thats what happens if youre only at home in a very short time on a weekend.


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here is Adrian. he is now a 'house-husband'. he is supposed to be retiring but it seems retiring is out of his agenda at the moment. he is busier than ever, and to top it all,he needs to drive me to/from work, and do the domestic works needed in the house (curtains,etc). thats part of his job description now and he also works from home doing teaching packages for two colleges and the Open University. when i got home, there were stacks of paper getting marked on the dining table.

but look at him. he looks more relaxed and happier here. he said,he cant wait for spring when he can start seeing some bulbs growing.

i hope i made the right decision. i keep asking myself uprooting my life here to Norfolk (for two years) is a big step worth enough for some lifestyle change. so far, so good. i wish it continues long.

right now

..my mind is brimming with alot of stories to share, and a lot of photographs to take (and to share)..

...chicken passata is cooking over the hob, while Adrian is watching the news, and im getting excited typing my life away hurriedly while thinking of checking whether the newly installed roller-blinds at the upstairs bathroom works fine.

..fawns (baby deers), partridges and rabbits are hopping in our garden.

..im just glad im alive and healthy...

i miss you, blog.

i miss writing down and documenting the little reflections of my life.

how has life been to you?xx



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photo taken from the upstairs landing this morning at 7am.

the peace and beauty of this village is priceless. i feel like im on holiday everyday..;-)

birthday 'thank you' post

i am another year older.

apart from another birthday it is the start of a new job in a new place,so it will be a crazy day for me, as i am moving a different county, a new job, and staying in a hotel for a whole week.

just in case i am unable to due to the crazy schedule, i would write this now and say my birthday 'thank you's' for the lovely messages over at Facebook/Twitter/Skype/Multiply/private messages


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i had great laugh reading a birthday blog dedicated to me from my family.


here is the blog


some photos that made me feel the love..judging from the photos you would think that our family has some screws missing..(yes,they are really like that in person, wacky and 'kengkoy').

even the little girl has the same personality,hahaha;-)

my super 'game' mama;-)

my cousin by blood,but my sister in love;-)

my sister Mayel,and niece Dominique

B1

and B2

i know, they're all weird..but lovely..and i love them to bits..

theyre very creative on sending their love to me every birthday..last year was a video..this year was mugshot messages..i wonder what's for next year??



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my birthday started early. on saturday my friends gathered online for skype and wished me a happy birthday.

they sang for me too.

and had a birthday cake for me (and candle too).

they are my friends since we were teenagers ..we missed one of our barkada, but we knew she was in the middle of vacationing in Seattle ;-)

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on saturday i also received a wonderful birthday loot from bestfriend, Kharla.

i still am trying to get over receiving kropek over the mail..one of my long-time misses.

wonderful lovely messages from auntie/uncle and cousins...and lovely handwritten message from Simone (my goddaughter and niece)..

and some tear-enducing message from kharla..

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and some nice time with Ana and Dominique today;-)

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i thank the Lord each day for such wonderful amazing people that surround me..;-)

thank you too for dropping by this space and leaving some lovely thoughts,too;-)xxx