The First Goodbye

 They say goodbyes are such sweet sorrows.

I will have a lot of goodbyes in the next few days.

I confess my old heart is not taking it very well; not when it means leaving people and the school you love.

 Thursday last saw some old students coming back to bid their farewell as they leave for overseas studies. They are good children; not forgetting their Alma mater and teachers who have taught them. Their respect for us is well received.

 A red velvet cup cake to brighten my day. A sweet bread to fill my stomach.

 Kaelan and Vey Lyn are both leaving us for the UK. Both have done extremely well and are now ready to spread their wings to the land of their choice for their choice of course. Kaelan; the courageous and bright one is going to conquer the financial arena in LSE. 

I have long told many that when you join St John's Club you end up in the medical line. 

So, I was right.

 Vey Lyn is going to Leicester to do her medical studies.

 Congratulations and may the best follow you both wherever you go.

Vey Lyn is daughter to Puan Ung.She told me yesterday that tonight will be a difficult one for the family as they bid her goodbye. The tears will pour and fill the tank; she already said it would happen. 

Parting is indeed such sweet sorrow especially when you are reminded of the absence as you peep into an empty room. But take heart; you will get used to it, dear. Soon, she will be back for holidays and before long she will be the doctor of the house. Then, you may have to cry again when she when she leaves the house to set up her own family. 

Let's remember the good things.

So, goodbye children. Take care.

The Season

 It's time for itchy fingers and creativity again.

It has been a relaxing weekend with Sara.

She took me off mind-boggling questions and knocked some sense into me; encouraging me to be more interested in other things around me and insisted I drove her around town to shop for baking ingredients.She is ready for the season; mooncakes.

As we shared; she reminded me of how I scorned at her in her first interest in baking them in her undergraduate days. She told me she could not forget that and it challenged her greatly. But today we are friends; she has proved me wrong. I concede to a wrong judgement and I look at her with joy; to know the unknown is not unachievable with a mental strength that is right.

 She began the night before by soaking red beans. She wanted to prepare the paste herself.

Trust me; it is good to make it yourself.

 Then when softened, it was brought to the boil.

Then flour is weighed; peanut oil; rose syrup and sugar are all ready for the concoction of the skin.

She added some lime to the mixture and all poured into the flour.

The mixture is smooth but need to be put aside for a couple of hours before use.

Meanwhile the red beans are grinded to a paste and then stirred to a stiffness for use.

 Well stirred and now ready for use.

Now the dough is weighed to correct size and the red bean paste will be wrapped in them.

 The mould is taken out and here it goes; beautiful moon cakes.

 I salute to her diligence, determination and dedication.

 All these values will be invaluable to carry her through her vocation and life-living skills.

Occasionally she lamented that she should be doing the desire of her heart; to open a cake shop and bake to her heart's desire. But yet at the same time; she longs to fight the battle of the law. I told her the money is in the cakes; the cause and value in the law. In life you always have to choose. If you choose to live for yourself; you live alone. But when you do a little for others just like the way Puan Loy coaches the form 3 students at this last minute, you forget about yourself while others remember your good deed forever. Many form 6 students will have Cik Goh etched in their memories eternally. She knows no bounds in rendering timely assistance to her students. Ask her about her strength; it comes with helping her protege. I admire them tremendously.

The cakes are baked in the oven for 10 minutes.

 Believe me, they are really first class.

I only eat hers after she started the recipe.

Why, you may ask.

It's clean and worth the eating.

Happy Moon cake festival time.