Accidental Foodie

I'm Back!!!


The crazed Foodie... more pictures of my gluttony and novice food photography

Feature: Dim Sum or Yum cha in Aussie



A piggy look at my sister with the array of food before her heheh...

Above left: 烧猪肉 on pancake Below right:小笼包

Below: Succulent scallop encased in a crispy taro shell

Favourite local fare with Mum as the model... She's my eating partner in Singapore, I'm often the blame for weight gain everytime I go back to Singapore for a visit. =)

Mum and I at Yishun hawker centre. She had kambing soup with kiam chye be (salted vegetables) and rice.

Me nasi lemak!









Other Hawker favourites!


Duck noodles & duck rice

Personal favourite, bak chor mee..

Laksa!

Hor Fun

A day out with Mum and little B for Japanese food




Look at the Bento box, tempura... Little B looks pretty happy with what she's having...


Mumsy and her soba, I got hungry so I started tasting.. hmm
poor little B..

But nothing beats the home-cooked food that mum makes... shes' the queen, steamed white promfret is my personal favourite.. can't really get that here in Sydney .. I'll really have to search far and wide.



The fantastic spread Mum cooked up. Stir fried vegetables, sambal prawns, steamed promfret, chicken soup and TAU YEW bak. Mmmmmmm






Tau yew bak....









Food glorious food... what am I still doing in Sydney???
Perhaps being away forces the mastery of the skills required to produce such fine cuisine..BUT heeh sorry Little B and lili.. I'm stealing mum for the week..

She's coming this Friday!! Woohoo.. I can't wait..

Dum Dee Dum

Dum Dee Dum

I'm looking through my journal and my ibook while waiting for Johanna, Rena and Honey to come over for dinner.. Just felt like musing..

Musing about God's grace and leading, how close He is and how incredible the Holy Spirit leads us and convicts us of leading a life holy and pleasing to Him. I rejoice because He is in every aspect of my life, concerned about every little detail. Wow.

Watched "Love actually" on Monday. It was described as a feel good movie for Christmas time and yes it makes me feel good and allows me to muse at the writer's different aspects of Love in our world and approaches to Love at different stages, cultures and statuses even!
Love between Husband and wife, between a man and woman speaking two different languages, Love for a sibling, love for a son, Love for a best friend.

Next I LOVE Bridget Jones, maybe cos I relate to her classic statement of which I've mastered imitating,
"But I embarass you and Yes I'll always be a little bit too FAT..."

Her little antics, stupidity, often times foot-in-the mouth statements and yes weight... I can so relate. And yet she finds herself loved by the most dashing, chivalrous, intelligent "he's too good for me" kind of guy.. who loves her 'just as she is.."
Sigh.... That's the girly chick in me. Can't escape that, yes even matured age, post-grad, mummy/careleader me. To have a love who loves you just as you are.. To me, its represented in Christ.. who doesn't mind my silly songs, funny dances, fat legs, chubby face, flabby arms, big mouth.

God defines it best in the famous 1Corinthians13 verse of what Love is, here goes

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. "
- 1Cor13:4-7

The Love of God never fails..
Thank You for protecting me and for the rainbow this afternoon.
Yes the storm has passed.

None but Jesus

Its one of those days today... Murphy's law? If anything can go wrong it will

1) Crazily busy day at work today, had to run like 42 samples which is equivalent to14 runs on the analysis machine = 3-4 hours in the cold room. Kept on air-condition cos they're afraid the machine would overheat and stuff.
Machine stuffed up many times, printer kept chewing up my results, I gave up, may just copy it off the monitor by hand and rerun dodgy samples.

2) Tried to write my CV for this dietitian job at Prince of wales hospital but all I could think about was Timor. Would it then be a half-hearted attempt to try for this job that would require clinical work and geriatric care. COS I had to be itchy hand and check the SITE>> WHY??!
AVI (Australian volunteers international) posted up a new position over the weekend that required a nutrition educator over in Timor for 10months working with malnutrition.. once again a result of warfare used against the timorese. 10months? leaving in May ... God...not another carrot..

3) Supposed to go running today but weather was superly duperly cold... and cos I came back late ate late lunch and was so ravenous by 3pm that I think I've become a glutton. I think I've been insatiable this week... blame it on PMS? my FAT cells are SCREAMING...

3)I need so badly to talk to you today to vent, so tempted but I'll have to go to the throne of grace to boldly ask for mercy and grace in time of need...

I feel bloated...
Argh emotions who needs them anyway. BAH.

" In the chaos, in confusion I know You're sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness, You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won't delay, this is my song through all my days
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope
All of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord, forevermore" - Brooke Fraser: None but Jesus

Ahhh much better... thank God for blogs to open the vent

Purification

Just when u think u're there, something happens to realise you're not all that ready, not all that strong, not all confident .. that there's still so much to learn... Its so sobering when u realise, you're not there yet, that u need God ALL THE TIME...

Had one of those moments.. it was like a slap in the face, sharp, sobering and it woke me up with the pain it inflicted.

"So here I am again, willing to be opened up and broken like a flower in the rain
Tell me what if I to do, to die and then be raised, to reach beyond the pain
Like the flower in the rain" - Jaci Valequez, flower in the rain

God you're sifting my heart.

" No man is worthy of me who cares more for father or mother than for me; no man is worthy of me who cares more for a son or a daughter; no man is worthy of me who does not take up his cross and walk in my footsteps.
By gaining his life a man will lose it, by losing his life for my sake, he will gain it.."

I want to do what's right.
I want to glorify Him.
I want to be taught.
I want to trust
I want to surrender
and most of all.. I want to be close.

So Satisfied

John Piper wrote
" God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. "

Thought about that... What does this mean? I've always thought about that question... what does it mean to glorify God? What is glory?

Dutch Sheets' intercessory prayer writes that:
"The greek word for glory, doxa involves the concept of recognition. It is that which causes something or someone to be recognized for what it really is. When we read in scripture that humankind is the glory of God (1Cor11:7) , it is telling us God was recognized in humans. Why? So humans could accurately represent Him.. "

Linking back to what John Piper wrote.. Glory i.e means that God is most represented in us when we are most satisfied in Him..

* smile *

Hehe.. I think I've been giving God glory then... its funny how I've been so so so so happy to live my life. It means that I can exalt god by trusting in Him and desiring Him above anything else in my life. And when I live my life in satisfaction in Him it speaks a whole lot louder than words that He is more fulfilling than career, relationship, positions, popularity etc..

Recently I laid upon His altar something very precious to me, after much thought and time in prayer as an offering. Only the best for my God. God asked me to Trust Him.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of Your heart.
Commit Your way to the Lord.
Trust also in him, And He shall bring it to pass. " - Psalm 37: 3-5

He shall bring it to pass. I just have to trust and commit everything I do to Him. O to tame these unruly affections as Elisabeth Elliot puts it. A deep commitment to God. He's making it easier for me by daily speaking to me, its funny how close I feel to God. His Spirit speaking to mine, and me spontaneously praying and talking to Him in the midst of my everyday activities. Hope no one thinks I'm MAD!?! haha do I care? not really I'll say!

I love having little secrets between us... Things that I only share with Jesus and no one else. Secrets that God whispers to me when I pray. The perks of being an intercessor, when u pray for others, God reveals things about praying for urself more effectively too. Its like a VIP card.

His instruction to me this season.

"Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the Lord our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered." - 2 Chronicles 14:7

The land before me is my caregroup. Vineyard. I love them more than I can express. To build the solid foundation in Christ in all of them. If only I could tell them, to share with them this experience of intimacy with God that can't be compared with anything in this world.

NOW for the little things I thank Him for.

For the song HE put in my heart when I was doing my sample analysis on Monday. Spontaneously singing in the machine room while running the samples.

"You mean everything to me, Lord you are so faithful.
Where I want to be is in Your presence.
That's where I belong where Your Spirit's falling on me.
That's where I feel strong where Your grace is upon me.
You've given me a song and now I want to worship in Your presence
And I only want to live for You. Giving You glory in all that I do.." - Parachute Band

For a resolved conflict with a friend and sister.. I thank Him for wisdom and love.

For a silly mood and cutting my fringe ridiculously short!

For my honey from Melbourne. Sue Lee..

This girl has inspired me since day1, I knew her before I came to know Jesus and now as when we've both grown in God in separate cities we still are able to share our lives as openly as before.
She's truly someone I admire, leader of this group called Street life in Melbourne where they go in a team to pick up bread from Bakeries and distribute them in the commission flats. Last year they ran a local version of Operation Christmas child where they linked the giving hearts of their church community to pack shoe boxes of gifts for the children living in commission flats... The impact? wow..
Her passion amazes me.. Everytime I think of her it reminds me of the song "testify to love". Her life is a testimony.


And of course to top it off !!!! I finally got my Keds shoes today!! yay.. =) * beam*
my turquoise floral skimmers

ARGH!!!!

I'm frustrated!
I hate having to live up to expectations.. I am but dust, I am but human

I hate to have to appear perfect to always do what's right...

don't stumble this person, that person. Do this do that
Be careful. Be aware. BLAHBLAH

You're a leader, you're supposed to..
Why did u do that?
ARGH!!!

I am not perfect
I just want to be normal
I just want to love God and live happily ever after...

Let me off please world..
Good-bye my love......

Crushed dandelions

Being bombarded with thoughts of prayer and intercession... for those who pray "God I want to know Your heart, I want to hear Your voice, I want to see miracles happen.." hehe you are going to be an intercessor. What an intercessory? Someone who prays, the one who connects with God's purpose and prays for them to be fulfilled in the physical realm.

" I will offer Him my prayers, my sighs. I will pour out my heart to Him. Even their distractions, inconsistency, and deficiency, I can be confident that my prayers rise to Him like incense. He receives my imperfect prayers like a mother receives the crushed dandelions, as gifts made perfect in love. Besides, He Himself has been praying for me all along: "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" - Hebrews 7:25 "

- Elisabeth Elliot BE STILL MY SOUL

I thank God that He always receivese my crushed dandelions...

Still mystified

4am.

I'm thinking again, to put together Words God has been speaking to me this week vs what I have seen what I have heard...

Earlier this week a good friend sent me an article about the cruelty inflicted on the east Timorese by the Indonesians military during the invasion of East Timor. Evidence presented in a report that Timorese President Xanana Gusmao would hand to UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan. I couldn't believe pain and burden that struck my heart when I read the article, I don't understand why but I knew it broke something within me. I dont' know why the past weeks I've had this coldness in my heart, going through the motions of duty and responsibility but my heart was numb. I inquired, silence. I wonder God why?

PRAY.
Prayed til the burden lifted. Why God? did u offer me the carrot of going there to help with malnutrition as a result of starvation used as a weapon of warfare, then take it away? is it to increase my burden to pray? AND yet something broke. Deeper level of intercession.

This time home, I look at reality. Its a different world. With what do we measure success, what is the measure of one's worth? The question of: What should we have achieved by this age, by this stage in life? By what standards do we measure ourselves again?

God knows what is going to be battling in my mind. I started to wonder and waver.
Was the tithe of one year in my life worth it when most people are out there climbing the corporate ladder. I'm 25 going to to be 26 this year.... did I waste a year? NO WAY!

PRAY.

" Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. "
- 2 Cor4:16-18

What does God value? People. What can u take with you to heaven? People " Naked I entered this world, naked I should leave".

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour us not in vain in the Lord"
- 1 Cor 15:58

What am I doing? What am I to do in 2006. Time to live for myself. I want my way!!

PRAY.
Submission
" For the love of Christ who compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. "
- 2 Cor5:14-15

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work "- 2 Cor9:8

I marvel at this thing called PRAYER

Sometimes it seems like meaningless mutterings into space, u wonder if anyone hears if its a vent of ur frustration or what u really feel that no one else in the who wide world could take and still look at you the same way.

Yet its powerful beyond measure. Able to change circumstances, break strongholds, change mindsets.

God, You use the foolish things of this world to put to shame that which is wise, You use the base things of this world to put to shame that which is proud.

You use the easiest thing to do to tear down what is impossible to achieve by the most eloquent of speech, more powerful of weaponry and what riches cannot buy. Yet sometimes its the hardest thing that we would do even the last thing? Why? perhaps its humbling to ask for help, perhaps we don't think much of getting on our knees and making out problems known to what seems to be air in a quiet room. I think its a spiritual thing too that it can be a struggle cos darkness knows its the most powerful thing to call upon the name of Jesus, that which he has no chance of victory over.

God, Your ways are a mystery.

Mystery: anything beyond the possibility of full explanation.

Back HOME!

I got it I got it !!!
Finally I got my new laptop, what did I get??


An ibook G4 12 inch, its small, colours are gorgeous and cute and etc... ok guys don't groan.. this is a typical rave from a female.. =)











I think the laptop bag is made by crumpler.. its got all the trademarks.. ok I know these are little things but yah simple things make me happy =)

Now to get the non-techy brain to get used to using a mac instead of PC.. I reckon I'll get the hang of it soon... hopefully ay

Hehe..
People ask me what I've been up to since being back? MUCKING Around.. what do u expect.. its a holiday..
Nah its like the HongKong ad, "eating and shopping" i.e Mai dong xi, Chi dong xi.. (mandarin)

FOOD... I love food in Singapore.. Just some photos, trying not to embarass my family or friends eating with me, taking pictures like a tourist.. can't help it.. those who have been out with me know the scenario " STOP... can't eat yet.. I need to take picture..." thanks for putting up with me

Lunch today... Duck rice and noodles just outside my place..
So blessed to live here, we've got an air-conditioned prata place & only the best duck noodles in Singapore and no one can make Teh-Bing like this kopi-tiam aunty. =)

No David I didn't make ducks extinct in Singapore..
I shared this with mum and my sister..
Yummy..



This is at Lei garden, dim sum plus all other chinese delicacies.. our family EK family.. mum said more like EAT family.. haha so much choice so little calories to spare but in the words of Arnie & little stick.. : AH dunt KAaRE...






Look at my sister get into it.. (she needs it to maintain those strong biceps for handball, softball, basketball and all other ball games that she plays)


















But most importantly time with Family
Upon arrival home I was greeted with a 46inch LCD TV in the family living room.. reports from Mum is that its Dad's new best friend, pretty much a surprise especially since he's not take much of a TV person but apparently has been spending a daily 4 hr bonding session on TVB drama serials..

I got involved over the weekend... ARGH.. well lying on Dad's belly was pretty comfy and playing with this "jiggle your Fat" gadget UZAP that mum and my sister got recently on my thighs with the hope of ridding cellulite and compensating for the food while slopping in front of a giant TV screen.. talk about decadence and oxymoron. haha

And over FOOD again.. hehe maybe that's why I'm in this job. Interest cultivated from young, a father who's adventurous about food and will go all out to satisfy his taste buds.. I hope we're not getting into the gluttony category..

Dad & Mum Ekers..

Kiddy Ekers, Lister, Me and Little B (yes we will play smashing soon)
Yah we don't really look alike, that's what everyone says.. =)









Other stuff? Fiona aka ONG SEE MUN/GIRL GIRL/AUNTY ONG/MISS WHO CALL YOU came down for the weekend and PET and I took her around a bit, but Saturday is a BAD day for shopping in Singapore.. this is wat we ended up doing, playing with innovative japanese kitchen wear/ware ok.. PET took it literally but well the ones we picked out are traditional stuff. Poor Justin had to be our photographer embarassing outselves, had to remember that we're not in SYDNEY!















Ok 'Nuff for now.. til my next raid in the 2nd week featuring shopping!! and of course more food hehe.... its an obsession..

Vote the best dancer

A long-procrastinated POLL to vote the best dancer.

How the story goes: Two Sundays ago we had a farewell dinner for one of the core leaders in church, one of his loves was to go ballroom dancing so he decided that he should commemorate his farewell by getting everyone in church into the action !

After much hilarity and action, 3 boys I mean MEN stood confident in their dancing poweress and went around asking the maidens to pick the best partner out of the three:

Introducing the judges for the night: The Maidens
Back row: Stacey, Fiona, Pet & ME
Front row: Julie, Jane & Sindy

Head Judge: Mrs Lisa Rhodes!

The Three Finalists

1) Groovin' Rockstar Paul Rhodes

2) The Cuteyest Wabbit Petar Rhodes

3) Mafia Boss David Rhodes

The results as of that night now-withstanding:

Paul: 4 votes

Peter: 2 votes

David: 1 vote (from the head judge nonetheless!)

VOTE NOW!!!..

OK even if u can't see them in action, we can go based on their dance pose with me the reporter keke..

Not there Yet


Is it fair to say I was lured away?
By endless distractions and lovelier attractions then
Or fairer still, my own free will
Is the better one to blame for this familiar mess I made again

So I would understand, if you were out of patience
And I would understand, if I was out of chances

Your mercies are new every morning
So let me wake with the dawn
When the music is through or so it seems to be
Let me sing a new song, old things gone
Every day it's true, You make all Your mercies new

The distance left between East & West
Is how far You would go to forget the debt I'd owe
And thrown into the sea, the wicked way in me
Will never have a chance to wash back on the sand

So I would understand if you would make me pay
I would understand lying in the bed I made again

Up comes the son on every one of us
Gone, gone, gone the guilt and shame that knew your name.

- Nichole Nordeman-

"Its me again.. "

Time of reckoning this weekend, to be told in the midst of a trying period that u're still failing in certain aspects in an area that u thgt u're doing a pretty good job of handling. Sometimes it makes u wish that u could just ex-communicate urself from community or human contact so that u don't have to be afraid to stumble, offend or distract someone. Perhaps its easier just being a hermit cos what's the point of doing all this the people u're trying to lead see what u SHOULD NOT do a lot more than what u are doing what u should be doing. What's with all the nit-picking ?! Leaders are HUMAN! really... pinch them to try, they'll say ouch!

That was crazy me last night when I contemplated a correction given to me. It made me feel like throwing in the white towel, like " AIYAH! this is too much for me, i think its easier to just go back to the way I used to live, think and act, I feel so SIAN!"

But as I showered (funny how u get revelations in the bathroom) I heard God nudge me in the midst of heated scrubbing, "You're not there yet but you're not what you used to be either.. " At that moment all the feelings of what's the point and condemnation started to evaporate.
Those priceless God moments, its funny how u can think and think for hours but when a fresh revelation or a simple word from God can just stop u at ur tracks and change ur mind completely.

And this morning's dawn at 5am was nontheless awesome as I conversed with God to ask Him to teach me the full lesson and also a chance for me to repent. Forgive me for my stubborness and rebellious attitude.
Truly though this weakness is still there, I would say I've already grown a lot stronger in the area. I'm not there yet but I'm getting there, repentance happens in a moment BUT life transformation and change takes time.

God has blessed me with a leader who is willing to go through the tough love with me watch over me and to correct me when I stray. . I really admire that. Its not easy to be the one to have to be the bearer of correction.
Perhaps that's why though I'm scared of him at times, I have the utmost respect for him.
NOT a HINT. That's the standard, step by step I'm getting there God.

Thank you for being patient with me =)

What makes me happy?

Taking a breather

Write something more ditsy and chick-like instead of the melancholic prose that I tend toward, perhaps a tendency to look at blogging as an venting outlet.

Its been a time of contemplating and thinking but haven't really been voicing it out, just perhaps in my room, with only One who truly understands, furious scribbling in my journal and recently acquired scrapbook an attempt to be creative?

THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

I'm a person that gets easily satisfied with the most simple things. Will start with things instead of people that make me happy or rather a certain small round and cute rodent furiously protested when I proposed writing such an entry.

FIRST UP.... Drum roll please...

COFFEE

This picture features one of the best coffee I've tried, thanks to a new-found music nut and slopping friend since a Brooke Fraser (up& coming christian singer) gig, Miss " I am the best" Belle. We went to this place called the book kitchen in surry hills, 5mins walk from her place that served the BEST Coffee in Sydney beating even CAMPOS coffee in Newtown.

This is my usual: skim flat white, hers? Soy Mocha.. atmosphere perfect, warehouse converted to hippy cafe, shelves stocked with what? COOK BOOKS!!! Food! I'm in heaven, PLUS Belle spotted a certain very attractive gentleman who took our orders.

Next! Presenting Roma Coffee from Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market boasts a variety of goodies to try, I get good loose leaf english breakfast tea from there, no tea bags stuff for me please! The deli an assortment of pesto olive, garlic dips perfect with crostinis and canapes; 100s of cheeses; cold cuts straussberg, salami, pastrami; smoked meats and fish.. and of course coffee stalls.. U have to go there to experience it

Affogato! Italian vanilla gelato topped with fresh-brewed espresso.. where else but Brunetti's in Melbourne, Lygon street, the Italian street of Melbourne

Had many a query in regards to this pict since I used it as an MSN picture as in where to get the affogato =)
Pop over there if, the trip is definitely worth the effort, its not too far =) Lucky Melbourne uni students, only a 10min walk from uni.

Coffee in the neighbourhood? Across the street on Glebe point road..

Skim flat white at Badde Manors (get the pun? unless u read it as Bad day Manos)

Score, not too bad, coffee's pretty strong tasting sometimes a bit bitter, lacks smoothness..

Head there if you're in for the atmosphere or vegetarian organic fare for the matter..

For express chain store coffee, there's none like hudson's coffee.. what's so good about it? Its smooth.. however its a rare sight in Sydney unfortunately, a corner shop near Martin's place and 110 George street parramatta.. Melbourne does a lot better having a scatter of them every where, first touch down to melb during my October trip? Hudson's regular skim flat white with hazelnut syrup.. Yum.. No one to scold me too.. hehe


Coffee makes me happy... but its dehydrating, not too good for the voice. Especially now that I'm supposed to be resting it.

What is my favourite coffee?

Hazelnut flat white with skim milk

Flat white? what's that,its 1/4 espresso topped with 3/4 milk, very little foam. Compared to a latte its 1/4 espresso, 1/2 milk, 1/foam, I don't like foam, Wils and Michael my 2 buddies usually eats it up for me if the barrista does not do it like its supposed to.

No hazelnut syrup? Well 1.5 teaspoon brown sugar will do. IF not I'll have it sugarless.

Man I should be a coffee-critic. Cafe shopping

Next on the list, given my profession as a paid foodie aka Dietitian.

Things that make me happy: FOOD!

I love FOOD, and what better excuse than to make it a life profession.

Hobby: to try out different cafes in Sydney, done plenty of that in Melbourne, recently tried a few great stuff at the book kitchen. Taste, work out the ingredients, condiments and of course TAKE A PICTURE, much to the chagrin of many a lunch companion and most recently I love this: embarass Belle who scolds me for acting like a typical asian tourist at the chic surry hills where the hip-boho people hang out.

Secret ambition: Food journalist (Jack our unit leader did say I left him drooling when I described to him the Book Kitchen)

My masterpieces: Firstly Brunettis: I believe this beauty was called the "Opera", last on the shelf that day when Audrey and I chose it to grace our arvo that day. Its a light flaky filo filled with hazelnut creme and I could taste a tad of grand marnier.. Behind it is a cannoli, cream cheese filled rolled italian pastry with almond flakes and chocolate tipped.

All time favourite: Eggs Benedict

This one is from the Foodstore on Rathdowne street, yes its from melbourne

I love Eggs Benedict, its really fatty from the butter and eggyolk that's used to make the yellow hollandaise sauce but I wouldn't order a normal fry-up just cos I can do it at home, but I go caffe-hopping to find the best eggs benedict and coffee.

This is at Leichardt, Italian suburb of Sydney, I took Munkey my best buddy there for his birthday brekky.

We decided to go for smoked salmon eggs benedict, came with a side of a great salad, simple balsamic vinegar dressing, light on the palate to balance the rich oils of salmon & hollandaise sauce.

The following images are from the Book Kitchen, don't drool. I shall now attempt to describe them with the justice due to them, but that's pretty hard cos u actually have to go and try it for urself!

The first trip with Belle, she had a lamb tenderloin on polenta pancakes. Lamb done medium rare, perfect texture, balanced with a honey mustard like sauce with grilled tomatoes and fennel flakes.

For me, I chose a duck sandwich. What? Peking duck? Nah its a moist roast duck sandwhich on hazelnut and raisin toast with a garlic and herb sauce topped with a mesclun salad.

2 weeks later, we were back !

Check out our fare!

I decided to try the famous wagyu beef, heard heaps about it but never did try it. Its featured here on an open sandwich, thickly sliced baguette with fresh tomatos on the top, lettuce with olive oil side and a dollop of grain mustard in red wine vinegar..

Verdict of wagyu beef: Perfect texture, melt in your mouth feeling without traces of visible fat

Belle went for the day's special: pan-fried Jewfish on top of white and green asparagus combi, mixed greens & celeriac with a mango chutney on the side.

Others: Sushiten's (melbourne flinders street), chirashi bowl, its a warm rice bowl topped with thick slices of tuna and salmon sashimi, sliced cucumber, a generous serve of roe and a side of sweet "ba Hu" tasting jap meat

Last but not least, Harry Cafe deWheel's pies, my favourite? seafood pie, here you can catch a glimpse of the salmon chunk peeking out... yumz..

Last feature of the day... flowers... I love fresh flowers, been too busy to get them these few weeks but they do change the whole feel of a room. Favourites? can pin-point any really. All of God's creation is beautiful.

ACT/NSW camp !

Finally got down to it, posting some photos of us at Camp!

30th September to 2nd October at Southern Cross Bible College. ARISE a Growing Church

This is us: Vineyard Student Caregroup

First Night: Had the privilege of leading P&W for the opening Night.. it was heaps fun though I was crazily stressed prior trying to prepare my heart, thank God for Thessa who prayed for me, Michelle the crazy one who took me out for coffee at Badde Manors joined by a very stoned Ms Gril Tse and Ah Pet that Saturday and Dave who called me that night to try to teach me to destress!

Opening Night Praise and Worship

L to R: Rindy, Jane (Pet on Keyboard) & Me

Special Item by Hope Sydney! Lead by Fiona our dear ACGL ... so proud of her.. I'm quite sure she's learnt a lot through the experience ! =) Pastor John was so impressed that our students could come up with such an excellent item ..

1) Dance Item: Joyful Joyful

Alex as Aaron who stood in the gap between the living and the dead, Dina lead actress

Fueling up: Check out the great food we had at camp, so happy, so many different types of salads, soft bread and cold cuts, fresh greens are always good...

Some more pictures of us mucking around during recreation time on Saturday and Sunday arvo:

1) Squeeze!!

2) Jesus Angels? --->

Me, Jane and Suelynus e Skinniest... Jane looks pretty happy there.. We had to try many times for this.. Check out Pet in the bottom right (Born free...) hehe

Sunday Service's combined Praise and worship with Hope Newcastle ..
Our Musos: Pet (keyboard), Tato (guitar), Petey (bass) and David (drums)

Newcastle Team: Pastor Chris Skinner leading with his Team of singers

Awesome camp.. Can't believe it went so fast, Now I'm one month back in reality !

New Mercies

Have Your Way

Lead me each day Lord closer to You
I give all I am to You
Hold me each day Lord close to Your heart
I lay down my plans to follow You
I wanna take up my cross
I wanna lay down my dreams to follow after You

Have Your way in my life
Holy Spirit have Your way
Do what You need to
Day by day walk with You
Father let Your will be done, in my heart

You said my steps would be ordered if I walk in Your way
Lead me, Lead me
So lead me on the path to righteous
Come and have Your way in my life

- Phenomena, Youth Alive-

What is it You would have me to do ? Where is it You want me to go?

Camp: Presbytery's prophetic word reveals a separation from friends and family in order that I may inquire of the supernatural wisdom promised. In the last 3 months of my covenant with You Lord, there will be an intensifying of prayer and fasting. To use my mouth, equipped with Your words to rage warfare in the spiritual, a reminder to prophetic intercession again 3 years after a prophet had first released it to me.

And I am back to everyday life, Your finger is on something I need to overcome. You're calling me to trust you a step at a time in ALL matters. You want my undivided heart, I want to give it each day I purpose it 4 u, perhaps the song " have ur way" is in my heart this whole week..

" Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ' The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, ' therefore I hope in Him!' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. "

I'm walking a day at a time... His mercies are new every morning.
I'm naturally boisterous, noisy, yakity yak, impetuous, wanting to be the pro-active one in everything, but God wants me to sit back and let Him work, let Him make things happen. Itchy.. fidgety.. straining to see..

SOUL please wait.