Land Of Ozz

8 May 2016 ~ Happy Mother's Day

2016-05-08T17:24:00.000+08:00

Wishing all mothers, step-moms, carers, grand mothers, single moms and dads .... and all those who love to mother others, a Happy Mother's Day.

I had lovely surprises waiting for me in my study.

The day was perfect. The weather was cool and dry. All moms received a special blessing from the Parish Priest during Mass. By the time Mass ended, we were ready for Part 2: DIM SUM!

This is just part of the food we ordered. There were heaps more.... all were busy tucking in instead of taking photos.

My kids..... my life.

13 March 2016 ~ Welcome To The Golden Club!

2016-03-14T05:58:00.002+08:00

Guess who turned the big five-oh?

Derrick celebrated this milestone at the Crown Atrium, with family and close friends.

To be honest, the birthday boy had no idea what was planned for him for the day.... and neither did Bryan. I couldn't risk telling him earlier cos he's not exactly a great secret keeper.

The day started with a birthday blessing from Father Chien, followed by a lazy afternoon and plans for "a sushi platter from Woolies and a bucket of KFC dinner" as per Golden Boy. (Poor man thought he was going to have a quiet non-birthday 50th birthday celebration).

Here are some random photos taken at the Atrium. Enjoy!

With Philina, the genius behind all the fabulous cakes featured in this blog.

14 February 2016 ~ Lunar New Year's Ren Ri and Valentine's Day Celebrations at the Sng's

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I'd like to wish my family and friends, far and near, a happy Lunar New Year. May the year of the Monkey bring you prosperity, good luck and good fortune.

May this coming year also bring you sparkles of fun, joy, love, lots of delicious food and closer friends and family ties.

A heartfelt "Thank you" to Helen and Andrew, for opening their lovely home to us, hosting their annual Lunar New Year celebration. The food were cooked to perfection, as always.

A bevy of beauties dressed up in red and traditional dresses.

A wefie before entering the Sng's palacious residence.

Preparation of 4 dishes of Loh Hei in progress! A mammoth task indeed!

Buffet taking shape.

The lady of the house in action.... in cheongsam and all.....

........while some feed mozzies at the alfresco.

Rev. Fr. Anibal blessed the food.

The Year of the Monkey Cake made by Philina. Look at how cute those little hand-crafted monkeys and hearts are.

25 December 2015 ~ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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To my family and friends, far and near,

May your Christmas be filled with love, joy, prosperity and hope, surrounded by family, friends and lotsa good food.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

21 December 2015 ~ RSAMU PartAY!

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Another year has passed and I am truly blessed to be given the opportunity to work alongside such brilliant minds, awesome friends and dependable colleagues.

Here's to another (un)eventful and fruitful year ahead.

Below are some photos taken during the Ward party. Enjoy! Please tag those who aren't so that they can see them.

Yoohoo! Guess whoooo!! It's jolly ol' St. Nick!

St. Nick arrived on his iron horse.

Keep still, PJ!

10th December 2015 ~ Kris Kringle at Dragon Palace, Cockburn Central, WA

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It's THAT time of the year again to get together and share our mutual love for food.......... and receiving pressies!
This time the stars and Mars aligned which teed up our rosters perfectly.
Before the year ends, we looked back on 2015 and shared our ups and downs. One thing for sure, there were more ups than downs, judging by the laughter we shared. One thing that is certain, we'll be planning for another gathering to usher in the Lunar New Year next year. In the mean time, have a safe and wonderful Christmas!

Such a beautiful Lazy Susan!

19 Nov 2015 ~ Another Year of Fun, Laughter, Love and Most Importantly, Sisterhood

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Before you know it, it's almost Christmas again!

There's no other better time for an Awesome Foursome get together than tonight.

What's in the bags!!!!!!!

Sista Bam's all smiles with a biiiiig bag!

Sista Kath with her Goldie.....

Sista Tanz' all smiles with hers!

Dinner isn't complete without yummy desserts... and a nice hot cuppa tea!

With our busy work schedules, it's sometimes truly impossible to tee-up our work rosters but the stars and moon aligned tonight and here we are, once again, the Awesome Foursome.

With inevitable changes on the horizon, we wish you, Sista, all the best. We KNOW you'll knock em' off of their feet! We will miss you.

It's not "goodbye:, it's "see you later!"

Love you lot lots!

25 October 2015 ~ Bryan Matthew's Confirmation

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My boy! All scrubbed up and looking dapper! Bryan received the Sacrament of Confirmation today at St. Emilie Catholic Church. I'm one proud mama!

Nothing like ending the morning with a scrumptious dimsum brunch with family and friends.

24 October 2015 ~ Happy 15th Birthday, Caitlyn!

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A truly memorable day for all of us. Firstly, Caitlyn turned 15 today. It has been a roller-coaster year for my first-born.

Caitlyn, for this birthday, I wish you strength, love, kindness and inner peace. You're such a sweet and caring child and I pray that God continues to bless you with happiness and guide you through the good times as well as the stormy times.

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

Phillippians 4:13

The day started with a lovely picnic at East Perth, at the swan-Avon River with Mom's childhood friends whom they've not seen for many years.

After the picnic, we all went back to chill at Aunty Yoke Leng's. The atmosphere can be pretty much summed up in this equation:

(Childhood friends+apart for more than 50years)xLife = Lots of laughter and hours of chinwagging.

Time really flew and before we knew it, it was time to go home... to celebrate Caitlyn's birthday with her favourite.... Sushi, KFC and BaskinRobbin's ice cream cake with Lai Yee and Trooper (Wish you were here, Uncle Sam! Get well soon! There's container loads of ice cream waiting for you!)

Choc chip and vanilla

A truly exhausting day. Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode of "Bryan's Confirmation".

3 October 2015 ~ Catching Up at Tony and Po's

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Thanks Tony for taking the group photo!

A big, heartfelt "Thank you" to Tony and Po for opening up their home & hosting a catch-up for the ward staff. Just like our typical do, there's food, drinks and MORE food. Photos don't do justice to the scrumptious food we were served. A huge thank you to those who spent time cooking and contributed to dinner as well. The food was awesome. Here's looking forward to our next one, at Christmas time.
Po, we still miss you very much at work. Both you and Tony look so relaxed and I'm sure you're both enjoying retirement..... Wanna think about coming back to work casually?

Enjoy the photos!

And that's just part of the Smörgåsbord!

Guess who photobombed the girls?

Ah, my meek and demure sista in crime

7 August 2015 ~ Missing You, Po! (Po's Farewell Part Deux)

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Something's missing. That's sista Bam and I, looking at the empty parking space next to our cars, feeling nostalgic.

So how does sista Bam cope with missing Po? She dons Po's uniform. This way, she'll have Po with her all the time, following her everywhere.... even into the toilet.

5 August 2015 ~ Po's Farewell At Work Part 1

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I'll just let you all enjoy the photos taken by various members of staff. Nope, I didn't take any of these... wasn't even there to experience the whole thing. Wasn't happy about it either, missing the shebang.

See You Later, Fran.... Happy Birthday, Barbs!

2015-07-02T00:05:00.002+08:00

Stole your thunder, Fran.... tonight was not just all about you! Have a great next chapter of your career, Fran. Don't you dare forget us!!

Sista Barbs.... Here's wishing you a happy, wonderful and prosperous year ahead, surrounded by great food, awesome company and loveable friends and family. Have a great holiday next week!

Look! a token white guy.....

Fran: Dude! Mine was like, this big...

Ross: No way, dude! Mine was like, thiiiiiis big!

Spank now.....

Kiss and make-up later and then....

ride 'em, cowboy!

After all that, is that a stain I see?

You know you're in Filipino company when there is karaoke....

One Happy Boy

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Bryan loves his Leavers jacket. I can't believe that my baby will be going to High School next year! This is him adopting a Sumo pose when I said "Let mummy take a picture of you in your new jacket." Incidentally that's how he ripped one of his brand new pants once.

I Felt The Earth Move Under My Feet.....

2015-06-20T19:28:00.002+08:00

One fine day, some smart-ass thought it was a good idea to put that white piece of rigid, chair mat in the garage, SPIKE SIDE UP, I might add, in between our2 cars. Now I won't say who that smart-ass is, but the name rhymes with "cleric".
Normally, when I drive into the garage, I always close the garage door before I get out of the car. Always. So what happens is that it gets really, really dark inside.
So I get out of my car, as usual, walk towards the door, as usual, and then..... you see the corrugated side of the mat? Well, my left foot went under there, my right leg went over it, I tripped, I fell and lost a whole lot of skin as I skidded over the spikes.

Look at my beautifully embroidered knee. If you're familiar with skin tear categories, they're all Category 3s.

Now what would YOU do if this happened to you? Would you:

A) Stay on the ground and assess your wounds?

B) Cry and whimper for a bit?

or C) Grab your phone, dial "cleric" sounding name perpetrator and scccooooooollllllllddddd the living daylights out of him and then send him pictures of said wounds sustained because of his stupidity?

14 June 2015 ~ Reunion with Friends from Back Home and Meetting New and Inspirational People

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Welcome to Perth, Teng Teng and Wesley aka Chou Chou! Thank you for introducing us to Peter, Lola and young Jac. Truly and inspirational family. So lovely to catch up with Vivi and Kim too.
Many thanks for dear hubby for preparing and cooking up a feast of nasi lemak. I suggested having a steam boat as I worked the weekend but hubby said he'll kau teem (take care of business). Guess who had a little nap after mass on Sunday?

10th May 2015 ~ A Love Letter From Bryan

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Isn't that sweet? A love letter from my son and an added bonus, a little charm. It was a loooooong letter too, written in ink and in his best (yes, that's HIS best) handwriting. I think he's destined to be a doctor o_o

10th May 2015 ~ Happy Mother's Day.... To Me!

2015-05-11T00:00:00.000+08:00

I got woken up by clanging noises coming from the kitchen at 5.15am.... on a Sunday! Bless my firstborn, she woke up to assemble my breakfast with the cupcakes she baked from scratch yesterday. Then the clanging subsided and she went back to her room and I fell back asleep.

This was what I woke up to at 6.30am...

You, Caitlyn, my first offspring, have moved to the top of my list!

10th May 2015 ~ Happy Mother's Day

2015-05-10T06:59:00.002+08:00

To all Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers, Grandfathers, carers and friends who are like Mothers to the ones they love, may you all have a wonderful Mother's Day today.

May The Fourth Be With You all!

2015-05-05T05:50:00.002+08:00

It's always a pleasure to catch up with one of my bridesmaid at least once a year when she and her hubby come for a holiday in Perth. Oh when we catch up, we really DO! Can't wait to see you again at the end of the year!!!

Friends from way back Defence days.. gym buddies back then too! It's a small world after all.

Bryan happy with his good Ol' Fashioned Beer Battered Fish and Chips

Not your typical teenager and her Birnam steak fit for a puma.

Massive dose of chilli mussels!

26 April 2015 ~ Spoilt Rotten by Sharmini

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This.Was.Absolutely.Divine!
Thank you and the boys for opening your home to us. It was great to finally catch up.

Come on, work it girl! The hostess slaving away while I watch on.

Thank you, gorgeous girl! You cooked up a storm for us and we loved every morsel! Bless your beautiful heart, dear Sharm.

Happy 4th Birthday, Iesha!

2015-04-19T19:27:00.001+08:00

Thank you Ibu! For the amazing Nasi Tumpeng and the side dishes, Anna for the roti jala and dumpling and Philina for the all-time favourite rojak.

Too many choices! But pizza wins!

With Uncle Ramu, Aunty Jeya & bestie Roshini.

With mom and dad

Great pic of all the kids.

With Aunty Anna

RAINBOW Cake

Another amazing year has passed and Iesha has turned 4. May the good Lord continue to bless you and shower you with blessings.

With lots of love from Poh Poh, Yee Yee, Yee Cheong, Caitlyn and Bryan.

Er Sir, I Have To Touch Your What?

2015-03-28T22:09:00.004+08:00

So to open that door, I have to put my fingers where?

Friday 13th ~ Derrick's Surprise Birthday Dinner

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One happy boy!

I planned Friday the 13th very carefully and had everything down pat. Fact was, I had only 2 hours to decorate the house, get the food, clear the mess in the house and get present wrapped.... All without Derrick's knowledge.

Nothing like starting the evening with Magic Mic.

Live and Let Diiiiiiieeeeeeee!

I remember less than 5 days before Friday the 13th, I casually asked my gf Philina if she could come up with a "simple cake with a number 49 on it". So when I saw this put on the table, I thought "simple AND beautiful!".

And then she whipped this out....

Holy smoke!

And then she started to assemble the masterpiece.

I am in awe of the Phoenix claw!

Last minute dinner ensemble

Time to whip out the selfie stick, I reckon!

Derrick's 48 years and 13 months' Birthday

2015-03-14T05:47:00.000+08:00

I'd be lying if I said I made this cake.
Not only do I NOT know how to bake, I didn't even know WHAT cake to order for dear hubby. With T minus 4, I pleaded with Philina to help me come up with a "very simple, just a cake with the number 49 can already" cake. She turned up, with this.
Words failed me. I've never seen non-dim sum look so real! Heck even the dim sums from the supermarket DON'T look half like what Phil's made!
Oh by the way, you see the plate holding the dim sum? Yeah, you can eat that too.... if you have the heart to.
We've carefully lifted the top piece and it's now kept for display!