I'm back

YAY!!!

Now I have an extra 100GB worth of disc space thanks to good ol Dad who got me a new external hard disc drive formatted for my ibook..

More food pictures and of Mr Broc my disgruntled model..

Bavarian Bier Cafe

Every girl needs a foodie friend.. Mine Sue lyn, known dearly to me as little Stick.

Today we have another Monday lunch date, forsaking the "Let's do lunch", unimpressed by the choices of the October good food month special of $35 lunches at select restaurants.

We make our selection. The Bavarian Bier Cafe on York St in the CBD.

Lil'Stick and I arrive there famished at 2pm...

Our orders and gluttonous faces

First up, we both order a bier, $6.70 each for a 300mL bier. Lil Stick went for mango bier, me limonata... both yummy.. and not too sweet. We were glad we didn't go for the ladies bier which came in flavours of lychee, pineapple and raspberry.
Lunches: For $24.50 , Lil stick got a big veal snitzel drowning in mushrooms and sauce with mash and rocket salad. I went for my German colleagues recommendation, veal strips cooked in white wine and mushroom sauce with potato rosti.Definitely not disappointed.. the rosti was nice and crunchy unlike the huge soggy mound you usually get like in Una's or back home a Marche restaurant.. I was wondering why they gave me a spoon til I saw the amount of sauce the veal was swimming in.. there was enough meat in there to feed 3 of me I think.. I had to ask Lil' stick to help me finish them..


Last but not least the apple strudel.. Fiona told me I had to get them... The filo pastry was surprisingly crunchy and we were delighted to find slivers of almonds under them though we both would have preferred ice-cream instead of the whipped cream that it came with..

7pm and I was still full...

Next place.. we've decided Spice I am.. Yes every girl needs a foodie friend.

Walk across the Room

Mr Broc and our Glebe park walk on Wednesday
Read chapter 2 of our new book

"Just walk across the room" by Bill Hybels about Christ-followers pointing people to faith.

We loved the way Bill Hybels writes about sharing life with people, the sincerity of caring and loving someone that does not always have to end with a check next to the "lead to pray the sinners prayer" though ultimately we hope to see them on the heaven side of things. Its really liberating and hence a lot more natural to talk and share without the nagging thought to have to share the 4 spiritual laws... The objective is no longer to contrive ways to get someone saved...But to work in cooperation with the Spirit of God to act, speak, listen, love and serve to point someone to God.

Mr Broc and I read this prayer and we prayed it together.

"My life is in your hands, God. Use me to point someone toward you today- I promise to cooperate in anyway I can. If you want me to say a word for you today, I'll do that. IF you want me to keep quiet but demonstrate love and servanthood, by your Spirit's power I will. I'm fully available to you today, so guide me by your Spirit."

17th Month

This post is for quiet little Joanne who says she reads my blog daily and wonders why there isn't no recent posts! This month's feature, the gap bay walk featuring the Macquarie lighthouse and the Sydney Harbour National park.


















Beautiful sights along the way, Dave and I thought how Irving would have enjoyed it with his powerful camera and his love for photography.. My little Exilim hardly does it justice.Mr Broc at the park entrance

Check out his fantastic photo-taking skills... sighz..

Took a break, didn't realise that we had walked to through the National park to the gap bluff centre until left. They were setting up for an afternoon wedding and Mr Broc and I settle down for a quick break on the grass to admire the scenery while sharing a favourite! Almond croissant.






My dear Mr broc putting on my socks and shoes after our break from walking. How often do you find a guy who would put your shoes on for u?? We stop at Doyle's Seafood for fish and chips.. I couldn't resist.. and yummy yummy for $11.80 you get 2 big slabs of fat and chunky deep fried fish fillets with hot chips that you could actually taste the potato ! A bit of trivial next to Doyle's, same name as one of my housemates who would indulge me with coffee drinking! She was happy when she saw this photo.
Admiring the beauty of the Macquarie lighthouse, trivia: it was the first and longest operating lighthouse ever built in Australia... Sydney is truly beautiful..

CG outing

Oh man.. its been ages since I've posted.

Firstly.. I've been super duper busy that I don't even know where to start!

Secondly.. Due to over-enthusiastic photo-taking, Dave would say its food pictures and my sisters will say "Jie do u really need 5 pictures of the same dish?" hehe I do! In order to pick the best one of course! To cut the long story short-er my disc drive is full and I'm tossing between waiting til mid-November for Ah kor to help carry over an external hard drive from Dad or get one here.. Meanwhile, thank God for Adrian who sent me nice pictures of our CG trip and these I shall post..

6th October trip to the Royal National Park. After our 1hr hike down Lady Carrington drive, picnic lunch at Wattamolla beach, we headed to the highlight of the day, boating at Audley!

4 of us in a boat, little stick, Me(I look weird here, closing my eyes cos Dave was splashing water around), Dave and BB. We paid $20/hr to play this.. its actually quite hard to steer the thing, only Dave seemed to handle it well!
No wonder we kept going round and round.. our oarsmen were both looking different ways.. poor suelyn and I had twigs and branches poking us each time we crashed a shore.

Me and little stick.. thankful to have survived.. I was lazy to put on life jacket..ended up that terence used it as a "missile" to throw at other boats.

more soon I hope

Discipline

Book study...
I'm studying again... my own reading and studying that is in a field I have absolutely no inkling about
But first always the word of God first.

Breakdown of the Greek words for discipline:
Sophron (to be of a sound mind)

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" - 2Tim1:7

Enkrateia(power over oneself)

"fruit if the Spirit is.. self-control" - Gal5:23

Gymnazo (train)
"exercise youself toward godliness" - 1Tim4:7

To apply these things in my study and in taking care of what God has entrusted into my care.

What is my dream? to be a vessel for the Kingdom of God.. whether in the form of work or money..

To open a cafe and make the best coffee and cookies for the work of the Kingdom.

Keep on Keeping on

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" - Phil 2:13

I will not give up! It is what You have called me to do and no matter what happens, I just have to faithfully plant and water.. You give the growth. I choose this because You love them and therefore I love what You love because I love You.

Love this prayer for Hannah Whitall Smith.

"Here, Lord, I abandon myself to thee. I have tried in every way I think of to manage myself, and to make myself what I know I ought to be, but have always failed. Now I give it up to thee. Do thou take entire possession of me. Work in me all the good pleasure of thy will. Mold and fashion me into such a vessel as seemeth good to thee. I leave myself in thy hands, and I believe thou wilt, according to thy promise, make me into a vessel unto thy own honour, 'sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

14th Month

14th months together.. this man has learnt after the teasing and the responses I've had from family and friends in regards to a certain "plate". This month our gift exchange.. The first time he's given me jewellery.. I was half expecting a teapot/coffee pot though! =)
Very proud of his good taste I must say and smart observations about the things I like.. pearl texture, pale pink coloured heart on a silver chain, with another little silver heart and 2 pearls (a small pink and a larger white one). He made a simple but cute card with a wooden ladybird on it!
Gift exchange, I found the cute mug that little B got from work and got one for Mr Broc's desk when he starts his new job and...a very special home-made voucher booklet/card thing


Mr Broc rocks up at my place at 130pm on Saturday and proceeds to open my cupboard throwing my swimmers, shorts, towel into a bag.. "We're going swimming!" he announces cheekily...Then scares me in the car that he's taking me swimming in a creek/swamp! Check out the "swamp"....
Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre...wow... The water is nice and heated.. Mr Broc and I decided to go the jacuzzi first before hitting the main pool doing 10 laps.. then we HAD to try the slide!! Mr Broc looking cute and us after our swim. Where to next?? Confession!
I found out that he had booked this place called "little Snail" through menu-log (online restaurant booking service) accidentally cos he was using my laptop to check his email and left it on so I found out that he had made reservations at a cozy french place near darling harbour... Man is this man getting better and better and being "romantic" .. hehe
The interior of little snail from where we were sitting. We had a nice view of the restaurant from here. He had made reservations for the dinner special. Entree, main and desserts for $48.50/person. We were here also cos Mr Broc thought I wanted to try snail! escargot..nooo oh well, I've never tried it before so we thought it'll be fun to include that as one of our entree choices




Snails (one dozen) in the shell, garlic butter








How to Eat Escargot by Mr Broc Step1 : Hold clip like tong in right hand... exercise your hand muscles by threatening to clip your companion.











Step2: When warmed up or when companion threatens to take over.. pay attention to snail. Clip shell of snail and use mini fork given to stab flesh.

Step3: When successfully removed flesh from snail shell, offer it nicely to your companion avoiding statements like "Hey dear.. I think I can see the snails' eyes.. look, its poking out at you.."








We also order some "serious" food... My entree, Traditional French Bouillabaisse. It had a yabbie, mussels, prawn, salmon smothered in the yummiest tomato sauce served with garlic baguette.. I wish we had more sauce to smother our side of bread with ... Mains:
Grain-Fed Fillet of Beef, with Portabello Mushroom, Rosemary Mash and Red Wine Jus

Slow Roasted Lamb on Ratatouille Mash With Port Glaze

Desserts Rich Chocolate Mudcake, Warm with Ice Cream
Hot Sticky Date Pudding with Toffee Sauce and Ice CreamWe were sharing over dinner how we've grown this month or how each other could improve..
Mr Broc goes "don't be so demanding!"... uh oh.. guess I was griping a bit too much how come he's not "romantic"...
Yet I'm very impressed and touched by him, that though he felt that I was being demanding he was willing to "sacrifice" his opinion in order to make me happy... jewellery, planning the day and yummy dinner (yes food always makes me happy!)
I've observed that in his character and so far.. he's been putting the "demands" of others first even before his own comfort.. Me, his brothers, his mum, his sheep... its amazing.. I've got much to learn from him.
Happy faces of us at Little Snail...Little Snail
http://www.thelittlesnail.com.au
50 Murray Street Pyrmont NSW

Everything in its Time

Everything in its Time - Corrine May

"I just fall on my knees and I try to pray
In the silence I can hear Him say
The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold onto patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its Time "

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

In its time. Its funny how these past 2 days as I was anticipating the return back to Sydney, back to reality/work etc.. wondering God what am I doing with my life..
The first time when I was praying silently under the covers in my sister's bed, Lister put on Corrine May's song, everything in its time. 2nd was in the shower yesterday morning, Little B came home from her morning brekky and put it on...
Journalled about it on the plane.. as I said yet another good-bye to my family.. man I'm getting sick of waving bye to them behind the glass panel, am I waiting for the "sign" from God or am I just afraid to return having left it 8years ago for the great southland.
Perhaps the song was also to prepare me for the disappointment when I got home, amidst my pile of mail, a letter from RPAH, finally the answer after my interview in May for the trainee Food service manager position.
"I regret to advise that in this instance there was another applicant whose overall skills, knowledge and experience more closely matched the position requirements" --- super duper sian man......

Reminding my heart "Everything in its time"

KSM Day 2.5

As we were hunting for adventures in the morning we were drawn the hotel staff setting up chairs and beams, overlaying them with flowers and garlands. A quick question revealed that there was to be a beach wedding at the resort that afternoon. Check out the gorgeous wedding set-up. We lounged by the pool, doing Sudoku. Everyone/busybody tourists like me craned our necks to catch glimpes of the bride once we saw the guests taking their seats. The manager told us the wedding was meant to be at 4pm, and the bride was fashionably late! So me and little B entertained ourselves with balls by the poolside.
Later we managed to capture a glimpse of her as she walked by us kaypoh people at the pool. Only my dad could manage to take such close up photos of the bridal couple!

Unfortunately, it started to rain as predicted by our "thunderstorm" leaf.. Went back to the rooms to try out our bath tub with bath tea and change for yummy dinner at the full moon restaurant.

Ekers at full moon restaurant!

We started with a scallop entree accompanied by a bread and bread stick platter served with 4 different dips. I was fascinated by the roasted garlic in own of the quads and stuck a bread stick inside while little B was telling me its meant to be spread!Next we had a seafood platter, grilled lobster with bacon and scallop skewers on a rosemary stick, calamari rings, hot cut wedges, fish chunks and grilled tiger prawns.
Next, my newest favourite pasta squid ink spaghetti! This one came also with giant scallop skewers in a provencale sauce and squid rings with tartare sauce on the side.















Then linguine seafood hotpot, very generous with seafood, we even lamented that we could do with more pasta!
That was topped off by desserts, Lychee cheesecake and yes there was yummy lychee peices generously distributed through out, chocolate mud sandwich and a trio of thai influenced ice-cream jasmine, lemongrass and coconut. The lemongrass one excelled! Walked back to rooms, tummy truly satisfied