The Bakery

Hello, I'm back! It's been almost 3 weeks since I last blogged. Yes, it's the usual boring excuse - I've been busy with work.

I've also been busy 'baking' lately...Perhaps you'd like to savour some of these yummy baked goods while we chat?


What do you normally have for breakfast? As I'm always rushing for time in the morning, mine would usually be cakes, breads or any snacks that I can eat without much fuss. My favourites are pandan cakes, swiss rolls & Chwee Kueh (水粿).


Croissant
Length: 3.6cm

I like to eat these with tuna, tomato & lettuce.



Anpan
Diameter: 2.2cm

Don't eat much of these but my favourite Anpan would be this burnt one - "Kogepan". :)



Star Bun
Diameter: 2.2cm

Chocolate or custard?



Bunny Bun
Diameter: 2.2cm

Not sure if they have such buns in real bakeries but they sure exist in my virtual one...



Notice that Star Bun on top row 2nd from left in photo below?

I believe it's a tad over-stuffed. But if it's a real bun, I'll definitely pick this one as it's bursting with custard, filled with all those yummy goodness. :9...


There's no coffee & tea served at this moment as it's only a bakery now. Will try to get that ready so you may enjoy these freshly baked goods at my Cafe then.


Till then, enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Bro #3!

Greetings to another birthday boy in this month of August. Happy Birthday to you, Bro #3!

Here's your birthday treat but I don't know how you like your hotdog so I prepared all 4 types. Take your pick:

Plain:


With mustard only:


With chilli only:


With chilli & mustard:



I like mine plain or with chilli only. What's your pick?

Happy Birthday!


*This mini hotdog is about 3cm long.*

Happy Birthday, Bro #2!

生日快乐!!

Rather than sing you the English birthday song, how do you like this Cantonese version?




"祝寿歌"
恭祝你　福寿与天齐　庆贺你生辰快乐
年年都有今日 岁岁都有今朝
恭喜你 恭喜你


(粤)系唔系觉得好'老饼'啊? 哈哈...

Anyway, not forgetting your present - a handmade dog charm for you:

Food For Thought / Calico Bunny

A few weeks back I was asked to prepare a guide & if possible, conduct training to share with the supervisors & line managers on how to counsel & discipline problematic employees in the workplace.


This evening when my eldest brother came to visit, he asked if my car pool problem was resolved (see my previous post, "A Chicken's Dilemma"). I told him that I had spoken to that colleague & she had also agreed to keep to our schedule from now on. I then told my brother that I shall observe her for a period of time & if there's no improvement shown, I shall proceed to arrange my own transport thereafter.


This conversation with my brother just made me realised that talking to that colleague about her tardiness problem, making her see the problem she had caused me, getting her to agree to make an effort to keep to the schedule & taking the decision to observe her over a period of time to ensure that the problem is not repeated - by doing all these, haven't I just conducted some kind of counselling/disciplinary procedure though on a personal front? Haha...I have always believed that things happen for a reason. Now I can finally see the link - perhaps the work assignment was given to indirectly help me deal with this personal problem I was facing? A very good opportunity for me to put theory into practice, isn't it?


This calico bunny has got nothing to do with what I wrote about today. I sewed this over the weekend & just wanted to show it to you....Or maybe there's a link somewhere afterall, waiting for me to discover?...:D

A Chicken's Dilemma

Which category do you fall into? Are you normally:

(i) early or on-time for appointments; or
(ii) late for appointments?


I'm in category (i). Unfortunately, most of the people I'm supposed to meet fall into category (ii).

I have never been late for work, not until recently...


My colleague (who's staying a few blocks away) & I share a cab to work every morning. We're supposed to meet at 8am & will normally reach the office in about 10 mins, leaving us 20 mins to settle in before work starts officially at 8.30am. This arrangement had worked well so far until problems began surfacing a few weeks ago.

Recently this colleague's son started to take lifts from us as his new school's located somewhere near our office. I do not mind giving him a lift except that they have caused me to be late for work 3 times in the past few weeks already! Not only do they show up at our meeting point as late as 8.20am, they took their time to stroll down with absolutely no sense of urgency knowing very well that by the time we detour to drop her son off, we will be at least 15-20 mins late for work!

What would you have done if you were in my shoes? Would you tell her frankly about how you feel & risk causing unhappiness or adopt the mentality that 'if you can't beat them, join them' & be late for work as well?


I don't like to be late and really don't like being passively forced into making it a habit. I guess it's time to have a talk with her & if need be, stop sharing a cab if our schedules & habits no longer jive but I would have to tell her tactfully so as not to jeopardise our working relationship...


Whatever it is, I will not be a chicken...

Have Been Busy...

...Reading...


I noticed that whatever I do depends very much on my mood. On days when the bookworm pays me a visit, I could read book after book for days & weeks. But sometimes when I'm not in the mood for reading, I will leave my books & not touch them for months. Same goes for crafting. Are you like that too?


...Searching...

Recently I've lost both my dentist & hairdresser. No no, not lost forever as I believe they are very much alive (thank heavens) but that they have both left their respective practices. My favourite dentist has decided to be a stay-at-home mum while the hairdresser, well I don't know what happened to her as her colleagues & boss at the salon did not say much except that she'll not be back anytime soon in the near future :(.


Now, I have to go scout around for a new dentist & hairdresser which is absolutely distressing for me! While I understand that change is a constant thing, the problem is, I am a person of habits. After I got comfortable with say, patronising a certain store or following a certain routine which I think works for me, I am quite reluctant to change. Moreover, it takes time (& possibly luck) to find another whose skills & presence I can trust & enjoy. Are you like that too?

To all those who provide services to the public, you have absolutely no idea how important you are to this habitual creature...


Meanwhile, though distressed, I'm still in the mood for reading...

A Little Girl - Nicole

Meet Nicole.


This poor girl's suffering from a bad hair year and had to hold down her unruly mob of hair with a red hair band.


But I'm trying my best to rectify the situation for her...


...Shall I cut it into a bob? Perhaps layer it? Or maybe rebonding will do the trick?...

Fabric Doll - Mandy

This is my first fabric doll. I named her Mandy, which means "Lovable". Hope it's befitting!?


Mandy's sewn from the patchwork fabric scraps I bought from Daiso recently.


Here's Mandy sitting on the tiny sofa I made sometime back:




Sewing this fabric doll can be quite enjoyable & addictive! Can't wait to make some more friends for Mandy...

It's Just My Imagination

What's this?...


Have I just entered the Twilight Zone?





Is this an E.T.?




......
...........
...................
......



Nah...it's only a snail...

Happy Birthday, Brother #1

♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♫♪ Happy Birthday to Bro#1 ♫♪ Happy Birthday to you! ♫♪


It's your big day today!

I didn't 'bake' you a cake this time. Thought I'd make you something else this year...

How about a crocheted slice of birthday pizza? Hope you like it.







生日快乐! Here's wishing you good health & happiness always!