HALF-DAY OUT WITH MUM

Today I managed to coax my mother out of our apartment!  Our neighbours living three floors above us has some renovation work going and there has been tons of sawing and drilling.  The work started last Thursday, continuing on Friday.  Today, the racket started again and was louder than it was before.  Mum finally acknowledged that she needed to leave the comfort of her couch for a few hours.

So Nana and I placed her into her wheelchair and off we went.  We took the elevator downstairs and sat on a public bench, just chatting and enjoying the quiet breeze.  Then we moved to the outdoor gym for Mum to do some pedalling.  

Mum wanted ban mian for lunch but changed her mind when she saw someone at the next table eating lor mee. "I want laksa," she pointed.  

"That's lor mee, not laksa.  Do you want lor mee?"

"It's laksa," she said stubbornly.  

"It's lor mee," I corrected her.  "So do you want ban mian or lor mee?"  She chose lor mee.

Mum avoids going out because her legs are getting weak.  We bought a wheelchair but she doesn't want to be seen in it.  Today it is as if traditions are broken.  I think she secretly feels proud of herself.

"We go again tomorrow," she told Nana.  We shall see about that.

***

I still have about $200 worth of CDC vouchers which expires in two days.  Today, I spent half of it on bak kwa and pork floss. Nana gets her own small pack of chicken floss.  Mum loves bak kwa but we buy them only once a year.  Are you aware that traditional bak kwa has 32 grams of sugar per slice? (gulp!)

I bought both the original pork floss and crispy pork floss.  Mum once told me she doesn't like the crispy ones, claiming they are too dry.  Today, she tells me that the the crispy ones are the best.  If you think this is just her dementia talking, you haven't read my post about boiling potatoes.  

I'll be spending 5 nights in Taipei with a couple of friends at the end of January.  Today Mum tells me that it is going to RAIN on those days for sure. What she really wants to say is, "I wish you all the very worst." :D

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE

It's Christmas Eve but it's just a day like any other here at home.

I like it that the social calendar is empty and I could spend a good two hours on calligraphy.  I don't suppose I can call it calligraphy because I do it so badly (LOL).

This morning I told Nana (our domestic helper) that we'll be making a Shepherd's Pie for dinner.  She has never had sheperd's pie and her eyes lit up when I described it: you take a can of cream of chicken soup ... diced chicken ... top with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes ... bake until golden brown. "It's going to be really good!" she said enthusiastically.

I thought my mother would love Shepherd's Pie because it's moist and soft, making it easy to eat.  I even added the dried Italian herbs that she loves so much.  Nana and I tasted the gravy repeatedly to make sure it isn't overly salty.  Sadly, Mum wasn't a fan.

No matter, Nana and I both ate heartily.  She thinks it's the best meal and even took photos to share with her friends.  What I didn't explain to her was it isn't really a Shepherd's Pie because it hasn't got mutton in it.

CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY - LESSON 2

In the process of re-learning how to write properly.

I feel as if I've gone back in time to when I was three years old and learning to write from my grandmother!

The only way to improve is to keep practising.  No shortcuts.

CHRISTMAS BAKING: ROCK BUNS AGAIN!

Rock Buns are my mother’s favourite cookies.  This year, due to dementia, Mum often looks at many things with new eyes. I was amused to see her face lit up when she saw the cookies today.  “How pretty they are, “she commented, “I don’t think I’ve had these before!”  

I usually make rock buns around Christmas time and have given them out as gifts.  People ask me for the recipe because these cookies are SO GOOD!  Let me share the link.

JOYEUX NOEL

Overnight rain.  I snuggled under the bed covers for an extra 30 minutes this morning.  

Starting the week with lunch at the cozy French restaurant called La Table D'emma.  This is my second visit, and Joanne's first.  We opted the 1-for-1 Festive Set Lunch.

When I first ate here, I fell in love with so many things about this restaurant - the ambience, its menu, the quality of food, even the restaurant logo - and I love everything still.

I hope the chilly weather holds for the next few days!