Short & sweet escape

Now that I am recovering from my homesickness, I am ready to reminisce on the root of my homesickness.

It is a comfort to know that there are some things in life which don't change - family.

Like how YiMa still can sleep just anywhere, anytime.

Like how Grandma's appetite is still impressive.

Like how Grandma still is the lady boss.

Like how Grandma is as fashion savvy as ever.

Like how Grandma also can sleep anywhere, anytime.

And especially how Grandma LOVES chocolates.

The presence of family puts a hint of specialty in everything

The slice of blueberry heaven from Lindt Cafe.

The anticipation to meet someone you've been thinking of.

Even the city of Melbourne seems sunnier :)

Being reunited with your family especially on a holiday together really makes life seem like a beach.

We spent a good week in Brisbane, moving around Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

Picture here taken at Noosa National Park.

Some highlights from my relaxing stay in Brisbane :-

Like finally being able to catch up with one of my besties again and to see him slimmed down~

To sleep facing this wall every night for a week :)

To share a sashimi platter with Yima who doesn't eat ikura and Grandma who doesn't eat sashimi muahaha.

The rich and creamy cheese fondue with bread.

The birthday surprise for two very special people.

And of course there is finally being able to spend time with Mr Tan.

Cheesy grins in cars we never get tired of.

Lazy mornings breakfasts.

A stroll along the beach.

Finally of course lots and lots of camera action with my loved ones.

Ok darn, I am getting homesick again.

'Give-Loretta-A-Japanese-Spitz' fund

It all started with the scary screams all the way from the backyard to my Grandma's house's compound to the stumbling into the front door which saw my cute baby sister of age 10+ being chased by a cute puppy of age 2 months/size of less than 25 cm.

So I have never had a puppy before in my life.

For those who have me on MSN (and realise that I am on their list) would have noticed that I have been going Dog/Puppy-crazy.

I have always been oogling at puppies at pet stores. Complete with the 'awwww's, 'ooooh's, and 'so cute(!!!)'s.

And then I fell in love.

Never have I seen a creature so adorable, so precious and so charming.

Isn't that a white fluff of joy? This is a Japanese Spitz puppy.

Ever since that day, I have been going to the pet store every time I visit Chaddy to repeat the combo of 'awww', 'oooh' and 'so cute(!!!)'. I also started googling about everything dog - how to take care, how to train, how to get free dogs, etc.

Oh, did I hear you ask why I did not get the puppy? Well, it just costs $1800, that's all. Sniff. Sniff.

A friend of mine was nice enough to give me the privilege of dog-sitting for her while she was busy. Of course, I screamed, 'Yes!'. It was so much fun!

I have always had big mean looking dogs at my Grandma's place. The un-huggable, snarling, shoe-biting, chicken-killing (it killed a chicken right in front of my 12-year-old friends on my birthday!) and fighting-scars-bearing dogs. I would fawn over the dogs while they were puppies with innocent-looking eyes before distancing myself once they approach my height *ahem*

I must say the experience with a small dog is entirely different. Given my short stature, yeah, the difference was big.

Introducing Scooby. He is a cute little Bichon x Shih Tzu.

Not only did he not snarl at me, he sat at on my feet and watched me as I preparing to cook.

Not only did he not chase anyone, he crept up to Mr Tan's side and read with him.

Not only is he not taller than me, he is just as tall as my waist when he stands up and dances.

And most important of all - look at those innocent little teddy bear eyes *awwww*

I have gotten mixed reactions when I conveyed this childhood dream of mine to friends and family.

Me: I want a puppy!

Dad: Har? Erm...... Oh..... Mmmm.....

Me: ....Just kidding har har.

Dad: Oh, you were just kidding!!

Me: I want a puppy!

Mum: Why? There will be a lot to do, cleaning, taking care. It is like a small human... (went on for another 15 mins)

Me: Kidding kidding. . .

Mum: I know you were not kidding!!!

Cousin Ivy: Grandma said not to get a puppy.

Me: How did she know about it!

Cousin Ivy: I told her about it haha. She said to take good care of yourself first, before a puppy.

Me: I am taking very good care of myself.

Cousin Ivy: Grandma said, still cannot.

Lowena on my Facebook status about Scooby: Who is Scooby?????? Don't tell me u got a dog, for real OMG. (I am pretty sure if I answered 'yes' or did not reply, the next message would be "I'm telling Mum!!!!!!!!!")

Daniel: You must think about the cost, the responsibility, the on-going commitment.

Me: I know. I will think carefully about it.

Jess: There is a lot of commitment, cost, responsibility but then again, I have always loved dogs and have 4 Shih Tzus at home.

Me: I know. I will think carefully about it.

SueLi: There is a lot of things to consider before getting a dog. Are you prepared etc.

Me: I know. I will think carefully about it.

That's the snapshot there.

But I have been thinking and thinking, craving and craving for a long time now. (All because of my cute sister, cis) I mean, I know it is a big responsibility and everything, but if I keep thinking, won't I be waiting forever?

I do agree that I feel anxious, though. Sigh.

We should all go back to thinking about the hefty price tag. Sigh x 1000.

So I came up with an idea. I am going to start a 'Give-Loretta-A-Japanese-Spitz' fund. This fund will be where all my TRUE and BEST friends 'donate'/'contribute' to fulfilling their TRUE and BEST friend, Loretta's dream in getting a Japanese Spitz puppy.

As simple as that. Simple and pure love and friendship. ;-)

So if you are a TRUE friend of mine, please 'contribute' and enjoy good karma for the rest of your life!

An invitation to Lindt Cafe

Dear readers,

I have just relived the most chocolicious moment of my life. Never have I imagined that the choco-dream I had in Sydney last year would come all the way to Melbourne, and soon enough to Chadstone.

This love affair started since November 2008. While on Sydney soil, we were pushed relentlessly by Miss Glyniss to visit this little cafe no matter how impossibly busy or short our trip was. Being a good friend, of course, I agreed to do so. Being the ever glutton, of course, Mr Tan agreed to do so as well. (Over Hurricane ribs, mind you)

Hence, the fateful meeting with Lindt Cafe.

And the strong bond of 'happiness' (read my T-shirt) between Lindt, Me and Mr Tan.

The Saturday two weeks ago, Mr Tan suggested for all of us to go pay a respectful visit to the Lindt Cafe here in Melbourne. It did not take much persuading or spreading of the news. For some reasons, everyone as excited. The Chocoholics, the non-Chocoholics.

Lindt Cafe here is situated at 271 Collins Street, right next to Tiffany&Co. Chocolates and diamonds are a girl's best friends, mm-mm.

All choco-goodness has a price (in addition to the literal price), so we waited in line for a good 30+ minutes before being seated. Mostly, due to our large group of 7. But we were given free Lindt chocolate squares while waiting in line!

The setting of Lindt Cafe is amazing. Bright white walls. Extensive glass panels. A mini library when you look up. Chandeliers. Did I mention Tiffany&Co being next door?

Let me introduce the stars of the day:

The cakes were impeccable. To a certified-Chocoholic like me, the burst of chocolate-yness, the richness of the accompaniments like caramel and cheese, and the layers of different texture or colour in the cake - made my day a smiley happy lucky day.

But, my all time favourite - one which made me a picky Chocolate-drinker - is: The Iced Dark Chocolate.

The first sip I took, I thought, "I missed you." With a tear in my left eye.

It is great when you go with friends cause you can order more and try more of the variety they have there.

Better still, if they are girlfriends, whom you can spend the time gossipping with.

Given the beautiful setting, one could almost always snap a magazine-cover worthy picture there. As seen below.

When the truth is, there were cakes and drinks and choco-crazy customers all around you!

A date with Lindt Cafe, a date with great company and beautiful chocolates.

So excited and crazy am I over this little gem of a store that (I mean Lindt, not Tiffany&Co with no intentions of hinting whatsoever cough cough) I think everyone should go in for a slice of chocolate heaven.

So to any readers out there who:

Are in Melbourne and need some chocolatey-company;
Will be visiting Melbourne and need some chocolatey-memory;
Just wants to be chocolatey-crazy;

You know who to call. I am absolutely happy to.

Sincerely,
Loretta

You have to love DigiCams.

I think Digital Cameras may be one of the best inventions ever this century.



All the shots below would be in the "Waste 'fui-lim' (film)" category should digital cameras not exist. [Exact words are quoted from my Sibuga Grandma in hakka: Sai 'fui-lim'!]





Camwhoring would be impossible without wasting 80% of the fui-lim.

Photos with no faces would be a waste of fui-lim! And don't even start on photos of food!

Pictures of socks, is more waste fui-lim than photos of food.

Upside down photos of 'toothless' moments are not fui-lim worthy.

Two big, squashed faces - fui-lim expensive okay?

Photos with your idol - in the cardboard form - will not be allowed.

Random moments of explosive laughter would normally be passed just in case it turns out bad or blurry or pointless - most importantly, waste of fui-lim.

Picture of your Grandma transforming into a super dumpling with half of your aunt will be given the same 'fui-lim' sentence.

Photos without a visible face even if it was a work of nature will make you a 'fui-lim' criminal as well.

No one would want to take pictures like this, what more print out and save up 4 versions of it.

Precious moments will be harder to capture with the "Did I get it?","Stop her from moving!" and "Don't waste fui-lim!" struggles!

Monkeying around with cameras will be frowned upon ("Waste money waste fui-lim!") rather than snickered upon ("So funny, here also wanna take picture").

A picture of stopping other from taking your picture will not be funny ("Look at your face, it is so cute!") but be expensive ("You wasted one picture, pay the fui-lim cost please").

There will be less pictures showing your real-connection with friends as the days of fui-lims have always seen them used for group pictures where everyone wore their Colgate smile and stood straight.

Pictures like this will be inserted into the family photo album with reluctance ("What were you doing? Fui-lim no need money?") instead of being saved into the computer and published on a blog with joy("Damn Godzilla you").

Pictures which continues to mean nothing would not be stored in my computer for more than 3 years!

Magic moments like this will be so hard to capture or you will not know about it until you get the pictures printed or you will not be able to laugh about it until you get it printed and shared with everyone!

Sleeping pictures, with thumbs in it somemore, will be the highest 'fui-lim' crime!

Close up pictures, especially with 'weird' expressions, will draw instant frowns and then, cold hard stares from others.

Pictures where there is an imbalance of readiness will generate mixed feelings of gladness ("I look prettier than her, yes!!") and annoyance ("Waste my fui-lim only, can't she just stop eating for like 2 seconds?"). When digital, you can either request it to be deleted or chances are, you are so used to this pictures you laugh as soon as you see it.

Pictures of irrelevant objects like cardboards in a foreign country will be a big, big mistake. After all fui-lims are limited and should be used wisely. Reasons like 'the girl in the cardboard in Bangkok looking 100% like your sister' will not help.

Funny pictures of people stoning or unready will not be so funny if they were the ones who bought the fui-lim.

Artistic pictures will be extremely limited no matter how much you want to emulate Jay Chou.

The ones being pictured hold a responsibility too! You don't want to spoil a picture and waste some fui-lim by doing something stupid ON YOUR OWN. Unless it is a group thing!

Random hair moments will have to be memorized instead of immortalized in pictures. One, the person might react fast enough to stop you (not really applicable here, as you see, the person in this picture was basking in the limelight). Two, it is a waste of fui-lim.

And picture like this will be - a death sentence. Funny, but deadly.

Let us all scream this now:

Thanks for all the stupid memories - Digicams! Muaks.