NEED: Roti canai & fried chicken

Craving. Hankering. Jonesing. Longing. Wanting. Itching. Demanding. Looking. Needing!

Tengok sana! Tu' Auckland War Museum

Ignore N. Sky Tower!

Sometimes I just need a chicken fix.

Raccoon-like, deep socketed eyes embedded in skull. X

Sunday Painters

As I'm currently home bound, I thought..what better way to catch up on some reading, writing and all the while resting. I'm taking extra precaution post-this surgery. This morning, I finally crawled out of my fleecy sheepy pjs and started on some house chores. Getting restless with all the resting and I'm determined not to sleep today. Can't over exert though. Yucks, don't like feeling sick and weak.

I'm also thinking of burgers and all kinds of food that requires the widening of my jaw to consume it. Going a little nuts here. Hah. The closest I'll come to that for now is the reminisce of past meals and catch ups.

A few stormy Saturday's ago, Nath and I caught up with some old friends, Si and Mich. We used to meet for meals, the four of us a couple of years ago. Si was even in Singy for a couple of months working so it was nice to all be together again. Nice to see how we're all still together, changed and unchanged. 

I wanted something intimate for this catch up- lively yet minus the hussle and bussle. Some research on, I found Sunday Painters and happily made a reservation. The place is endearingly quaint, with hand painted walls and simple table set ups. The ambience was perfect too, with the stormy weather outside. We arrived early, took our seats and scanned the menu. Smoked Lambs Brains. Ooo interesting. I was very tempted but no one else was so I decided it would be for another time. I liked it, there was no pretence that sometimes you feel in a fine dining restaurant. I guess I would categorise this under a sort of relaxed fine dining. The food was sublime and I must admit that I didn't capture it so. Sometimes, when I don't feel very comfortable snapping away, I don't.  I got some however hehe. 

The very obliging, Nath.

For a start, I had a stuffed courgette flower.

Some fish and clams for a main. Yummy.

Dessert of celery hahah. No, rhubarb etc. 

Sweet and simple. A definite recommend! The evening was a splendid catch up. Now, some of us are owners of property, some of us have risen in careers, some of us have moved back for 'us'. A lot of our priorities have changed and it feels so wonderful to know how well everyone is doing. We've grown and continue to do so. A great way to end a Saturday is to be reminded of how far you've come and how well you are doing (:

Got them wisdoms out for GOOD

Who know, if that dentist back home hadn't carelessness left a non-dissolvable stitch in my mouth, I would never have fussed about 'something' being there in the back where I had oral surgery... Nath would never have called me a hypercondriac only to take me to the dentist to find out we were right about the left behind stitch and to find out that about a quarter/ third of said removed wisdom tooth was left behind in the now relatively healed wound space. 

In a way, I suppose I am lucky for her damned double whammy. 

Yesterday, I had intravenous sedation. I laid on my back, had a velvet blanket warm me and watched Adele at a concert (?) from a screen above me while I drifted in and out of reality. What was really 45 minutes seemed like 5 to me and it was, dare I say it.. a pleasant and smooth experience. Thank God! I need to get over this experience already. Think I've said that ten thousand times now. 

Nath took a half day cause I needed someone to take care of me for at least eight hours after. We agreed that I can only milk this woe for a week and he learned that making jokes about my whale-like face was too early on day 1. Although, if you look at day 2 pictures... you'll see I've really swollen up! I even have all the teeth they took out but I'll spare you that. Hmmm, so where that partial tooth was left behind had caused an infection, naturally. It got treated and I should be fine. This would have been quite grave if it weren't for that left behind stitch hint. Sigh.

Overall, amazing dental care here so far. While I wouldn't disregard any future dental care from home, I guess I'll always be touchy and sensitive about my teeth. A tad paranoid. ): If only circumstances were different and my usual dentist was free, perhaps none of this would be. Oh well! It has passed. Onwards. Enjoy the laugh!

DAY 1: In full grandma garb <3 Oo and food too?

In the 'recovery room'.

Homemade: tomato soup, stewed apple & custard. Yup. Spoiled.

DAY 2: I could be one of those fishes that protects all her babies by hiding them in her mouth, no?

Trying hard to smile hah.

Happy Wednesday!

The day before today

So the last two weeks have been a real buckle down for me. Essay writing, essay struggling and the lot. When I get into the groove of things, it sometimes shuts down all other aspects of life. Thankfully, I have a little someone here. In between various deadlines and classes, we caught some comedy acts and hey, it makes a cool combination of work and play. I sit there, not think about work and just laugh!

Anyway, I handed in my last piece of work for the semester on Monday. Then, I met Fran for lunch at Fort St. Union. The waitress, Minnie (I'm assuming this is how it's spelt) told us to shout her name if we wanted something. I wish I did but it reminded me too much of the "Fu Yuan" calling in China and instead, we opted for the raising of hands. Usually, when I meet someone for a meal, we take ages to decide! We always jump right into catching up. This time though, us hungry souls decided on three mains between us. Hah! That's right, three! I excused our piggery by mentioning my impending oral surgery of two and a half wisdom teeth tomorrow (yesterday now). Yeah, she gave me that face too, in want of further explanation. I just sighed and said... long story!

Over our meal, Fran discussed her law thesis on commercial surrogacy for Nz and we talked about opinions, sign language and moments of peace. It was a nice break from student life (although one never really escapes it till you've graduated). Together we ate and ate!

Ceviche with wasabi peas and bean sprouts. In the background, some teriyaki chicken thingy (was yum!)

Seared tuna with poached egg on a whole lot of rocket salad.

Fran herself (:

Bathtub plant?

Yup! So I wanted to make the most of the day. Cleaned the house thoroughly and invited Evan over for dinner. Been perusing my Jamie Oliver cook book for a while now wanting to try his salmon en croûte... Tadaa. One trip to Nosh (fancy pants supermarket) and there... my personalised cut of salmon hah. The dish was delish and real simple to make too. Basically, it's all about assembly.

The final product even looked like the one in the cook book. *pat on the shoulder* Lately, when it comes to table settings, I've gone the more practical route (: 

After dinz, we bundled ourselves up for The Importance of Being Earnest. Always a ball of laughter with wit and satire!

Nath's handmade deconstructed apple crumble (: noms...

And some Lucrezia before bed. 

Yes, a day I needed to calm me for surgery.

So it grows

Ahoy!

Some twenty minutes ago, I added some nails to the wall. It was a tad of a hassle this one. Screwed nails in, tied wired string and picked up the hammer. Yes, that's right.. I've got me some new frames. Hoorah! 

On the way to yum char earlier today, to as a friend suggested, 'a trial double date' (otherwise another guy would be chosen for future double dates hahaha that was funny), we stopped by a frame shop and just our luck! SALE... In a few minutes, I had 3 frames, 3 'fillers' (?) and 4 prints. Fun! Expansion? Hello!

Yeah, it looks messy. It looks unorganised. Maybe even cluttered. Was it intended for such? Well, all I know is that I went into it with a no-plan kinda attitude that was purposeful. So yes, I love it! Just playing around... my wall playground (:

Love that colourfully masked face. A favourite Yinka Shinobare.

Momma hangs, inadvertently next to Sigmund Freud (:

With the weather getting colder, layering is key! Mismatching can be doom and gloom sometimes. Honestly, I've had lots of booboos but I like to try. It's fun!

Before you know it, the day is up! Start the day with breakfast and end it with cheeeeese!

An Amalgamation

Something's cooking in the kitchen, it perfumes even in the bedroom. No door or window can hold it in, soup is here raining in. 

When it's wet outside and you're toasty in the car. When you're on the wait, hey.. you get creative (:

Tried desperately to glue my fingers to those keys. Get work done. Get work done!

This carrot salad is so healthy you can afford to skip the gym. Just substitute it with a serving of orange goodness.

Chicken dumpling noms. Soup for when you feel poorly or find yourself missing home. Aw.

De-stressing kinda cooking. Nothing solves problems like a roast!

Lemon tarts are my new fav! Especially this one from the cafe around the corner. Blissful even before lunch!

Fleecy sheepy pyjamas. Oh yeah!

Thank you <3

I carefully treaded out in the sprinkle and retrieved this from the mail box.

The boy with tape on his face: More tape. 

Best comedy festival show! Hands down!

Rotoiti's last hang out before dispersing. Wayan's Brothers were hilarious!