fuchsia fragments

Catching up with friends and family is always fun, lighthearted and is likely to involve good food.

I felt quite special this week turning another year older - I'd still like to argue that I'm in my mid-20s. Thank you to every single one of the lovely souls who made it happen.

From the coffee guy shouting me a free coffee to the colleagues who offered to buy me one, my boss telling me to leave as early as I can, to those who came to the short lunch despite the rain and cold and my favourite lawyer baking me an incredible Guinness Dark Chocolate cake at 4 AM... thank you so much. It really made my busy day less stressful and more enjoyable. Thank you for the messages an the smiles.

I've been lucky enough this year to catch up with so many people in July.

From PR who I had sushi with on Thursday evening (and we exchanged birthday gifts), to my two favourite blondes and party ladies and an amazing night at The Butler to my nearest and dearest cousin, sister and Albert at Apollo tonight, thank you for the laughs. And the epic Catan game (my sister cheated to win...). And the 3/3 star spotting in Potts Points. Yes... 3 celebrities! Matt Moran was at our restaurant with an actor (but did not know name... so it's really a half point there) and SBS veteran Lee Lin Chin. *starstruck... not!

Walked by a block of toilets with thick black smoke coming out of it and the brigade there and as we drove into the Cross, there was a truck decorated as a fire truck with teenage girls bopping up and down. It was hilarious... definitely a lot of funnies tonight!

Got a week of cakes, bakes, work and events coming up... super excited and what a way to start another year!

Not sure how it happened but the other 2 ladies in my team managed to both have a week off this past week. And boy, was I hammered or was I hammered? Working late, taking work home and for a quiet period, working on the weekend... a lot. :-(

It helps to have the day broken up or extended. Such as a super quick Tuesday wine with Sarah. Just to check up on her and make sure she's doing ok. A lot's been going on in her life these past two months and thought some baked goods wouldn't go awry.

Then we had a little celebration for Donna's whopping (I kid) 27th birthday. Belly bao,.. amazing A-MAZING fried chicken and yummy cocktails. I personally did not taste any alcohol. We were discussing engagement rings... funny right? I even managed to fit in an overdue grocery shop after this event.

Attended a funeral on Friday. Always the emotional one... think I cry more with age? I haven't been to very many of these (and one who hope that you don't at this age) but it was a lady who was pretty much my mum's mom-away-from-home. But some of the stuff that happened during and after the service.... you'd think you only see it happen in movies / soapies / tv. Still trying to figure out why.

I was always pretty drained by Friday afternoon but there was so much more work to do. And baking... not sure what happened. The last couple of days have been a bit of a blur.

If I wasn't on my laptop I was in the kitchen and I think last night, was up until about 1 a.m. reviewing quotes. Reminds me of uni days and cramming. Haha! But I get paid for it now...

Dropped off a cake to Randwick.. literally around the corner from UNSW. Ahh nostalgia. I also wished I lived in the area. Needs RICH HUBBY AND HIGH PAYING JOB!!! Finally have a little time to ... unwind. That sounds so good.

Last two weeks of quarter (yes, I have come to the realisation that I live my life in quarters) and do not have anything extra planned. Minimal orders, no outings, every additional second and moment of my time is devoted to my trusty lenovo laptop which connects me to this thing called work. This quarter, it wasn't necessary. There's plenty of time during the usual work hours of 8-6 that I am cruising.

However, I still have been really tired. I take my time with things now that I know that there is time. Like making little Ethan's cake. Took my time indeed.

We had a fun afternoon yesterday at Ethan's first birthday party. Even if we were put in charge of the kids games. So tiring but so funny... (TOTALLY NOT RIGGED!!! NOT!)

And omg the food was sooooo nomnomnomnom. Andrew's dad use to be the head dim sum chef at Emperor's Garden or something in Chinatown. And he made char siu bao, siu mai, spring rolls, singapore noodles, fish balls, fried chicken wings. I WISH I HAD A BOX!!!! Epic awesome.

And then today...

I'm really glad to say that I have dedicated this afternoon to my room though. Cleaning, wiping, throwing things out, donating and rearranging (the books on the bookshelf). It's so much neater and it feels lighter! Not sure that that's possible...

Yawn. I think its past my bedtime...

But let me tell you of the story of a recent Friday afternoon / evening. Where the wine and food flowed. And the wine kept on flowing until around 9 p.m. Yes, for those who are mathematically minded, that is 8 straight hours of drinking. Now, if it was 1 drink per hour, yeah... I would have been fine. No such luck.

It was the widely anticipated Team Thank You for Q2 Lunch that was sponsored by our awesome MD & CFO. Very generous.

And we were chauffeured in a corporate car to one of the old wharfs by Pyrmont to a beautiful restaurant (can you guess which one yet?)... Flying Fish. We had an amazing 3-course lunch and probably about a bottle of wine each in the end. The champagne was flowing, then the whites and then the reds and luckily they served coffee at the end!

I chose Yellowfin Tuna with Pork crackling to start (the sauce was a tad too sweet for me) but the fish was perfect (well, it was raw....)

Followed by a rack of lamb and wilted vegetables and a fried lamb croquette kind of thing. SO YUMMY. But then, everyone else's choices looked really good too!!! This was served with hand cut chip and leaf salad.

And for dessert, it was a Rhubarb Compote with wattle seed and chocolate sorbet, gingerbread dirt and toasted marshmallow. It was sweet and very tart at the same time but the sorbet... BLEW. MY. MIND. I want to re-create it. It was like choc-lately but without the milky texture. But it wasn't sweet. And the wattle seed reminds you of sesame but not as fragrant. But it was so well-balanced. Wow. And about 5 glasses of wine later... we were heading for a very very good afternoon.

So the "non executives" (yeah... they had some excuse of needing to go back to the office...) meaning the rest of the group decided to cab it (we were actually going to be really really classy and get a water taxi until the waiter at the restaurant told us it'd be a 20-25 minute wait for one. We decided that was to long without a drink) to the Opera Bar where we enjoyed the last of the day's sunshine and smashed more 2 more bottles of rose, 1 bottle of red and SHOTS LIKE WE WERE TEENAGERS AGAIN. I didn't even know they still served wet pussys!!! Anyway... I don't know but we ended up with a stash of cash and a collection of borrowed cigarettes (don't worry, I didn't smoke) which became our kitty and pretty much just took turns going up to the bar. . .

All the while, I was actually texting my sister saying it was my last drink and I'll be home for dinner. Nope, didn't make dinner. Wasn't even close.

I think by the 3rd shot, I was pretty sure that there wasn't going to be a "I'll be home soon" ... rather, it was "I'll be home drunk... don't know when. Please leave the porch light on."

GREAT company though. And these drinking sessions are where you find out the real deal behind your colleagues. Who are friends and who aren't. And all the little bits of gossip that is taboo within the confines of the work environment! Who knew that lawyers could drink so much? Or talk so much? Or be so much fun? I don't remember having such an awesome work function in many many years.. would probably need to go back to my GE days to match this!

I think we called it a night around 9-ish. We stopped these tourists and made them take a group photo for us. I'm pretty sure they weren't Japanese but we were yelling random words to then in Japanese. I think they thought we were cray cray.

I vaguely remember us all walking around Circular Quay and making outrageous statements like we owned the place. (One David, Snr Legal Counsel: "I have the title of my property in my pocket. I could easily lose it or double it at the casino right about now.."). Yeah, really really responsible. Saw a flag for Don Giovanni and decided we all wanted to go see it together... A couple of us got cabs and I ended up with a couple of the others at Ho Star Fried Chicken. LOL. The chicken was good but nothing like the chicken in Taipei. Not the same. But we were starving by the time. Something akin to wanted a kebab after a serious drinking sess.

I was in a world of pain by the time I got home. I lay on my bed and it was like a tonne of bricks had crashed down onto my head. This went on for hours. And hours. I barely slept. And when I did, the morning after wasn't so great. I think it went by in a haze.

I somehow managed to get up around 11 to a least try and build and ice a respectable cake for mandy. It barely musters a pass..

And i thank Miss D and Mrs Hoho for coming along to pick me up and driving. It was an interesting party. Korean Variety shows... who would have known. And cooking monja (?). Interesting but I'm not convinced that was how it was supposed to taste! Nevertheless, a quaint little get-together. You get points for trying!

Came home and was itching to make macarons. But alas, most of them failed. I even had them resting for a good period of time. And followed everything to the tee. I think I'm losing my macaron touch. :( More practice required. But such a waste of beautiful ingredients.

Donna stayed and iced her own dome cake. It was really cute! Enjoyed tea and coffee as we planned this year's High Tea. Needing a lot of inspiration this year........!

I went to Tetsuya's last week. But I am not going to rave on about it. If you haven't been, it is worth considering.

Feeling a little spoiled this birthday  - wine, a diamond, a cake that I didn't have to bake!!!, flowers and well wishes. Small things that made my day. Thank you all who contributed... x

Quarter End buzzing. Chocolate Bribes are in and it's a race against the clock to sign those contracts. Lucky for me, only had to stay back until 6 on Friday night.

Which meant I ended up with plenty of time to make my 200 odd, 4 different types of cookies. They smelt good. ANZAC, Chocolate Chip, Macadamia & Cranberry and Peanut Butter, Oats & Choc Chip. After accounting for all the guests and the eat-me-nows, just-because, party favours and thank you gifts, was literally left with about 15 cookies or so. I love it when it doesn't go to the family's waist (clever aren't I?)!

Today turned out awesome too. Finally got to catch up with Joyce at The Chalkboard Cafe in Waterloo. I have to say that the food and coffee were average. Not so bad that you couldn't eat it but nothing inspiring like Room 10 the previous week. But the table we sat as was almost $3000 solid wood and of course, we spilt stuff all over it. Classy. Thanks to two entertainment book cards, we all managed to have a main and 2 drinks for under $20 each so it was a really good deal.

Had to move the proceedings on a little as I wanted to check out IKEA and specifically buy a new bed and grab the $5 step stool bargain. The step stools unfortunately were sold out by the time we got there (mid afternoon on Saturday) and I was convinced by the parents to go for the more expensive bed frame (it was dearer by $80). Again, luck on my side, got the last white bed with the help of a girl who found one lying around in the wrong location. Yay, the trip wasn't for nothing. And even better yet, it fit in the car with both the middle and front seat down (without any passengers in the car). So yes, you can transport a flat pack double (and probably even queen) bed in a medium sized sedan. Good to know for the future I can assure you!

So in between unloading the car and getting the packages upstairs, I managed to dirty ice Ari's birthday cake and set it aside. Dad and I got to work unassembling my old frame and Albert and Wendie were the 'assembling crew'. They took their time but they have built this bed before. I built the storage boxes but Albert and Dad ended up having to do the whole thing again (LOLOLOLOL) and I have basically been barred from future construction projects which suits me just fine. Oh yeah, and thanks Justin who said he was coming at 6 but arrived at 7 to help with the final 2 or 3 steps. Hahaha, if anything, he needs the practice for his own place in a year or so's time!

Pretty buggered by now but still managed to finish Ari's cake and his cupcakes. Cupcakes are average, not really photo worthy but love the cake!!! Happy Birthday Champ, last year in single digits and go team, we got a 10/10 on his latest writing assignment. WOOHOO stoked!

Week 2 in North Sydney... check! It's still as boring as can be. Although did go for a walk one lunch this week... the area is so steep!

Had a pretty easy week to be honest. Everyone was extremely busy with quarter-end (headless chickens...) and well, didn't get as much training time as I wanted. So will have to be extra diligent next week.

Tonight was grandma's 95th birthday dinner! We went to our new-usual in Caringbah. But again, the food took its time coming... almost 4 hours tonight before we finished. Had the usual suspects... pipis, lobster, fish and this awesome fried tofu thing. so good. Perfect for those on a no-carb diet!

Dessert was like a full meal it itself. I think we had a 4-course dessert! So there was my lovely green tea and red bean mousse cake (to which to waiters were like.. "where'd you buy that??"), special birthday steamed buns with lotus paste, fruit and red bean soup. But I couldn't have any of it.

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

I did sneak in a taste of the cake though. It was really good if everyone around me says so. hahaha. modest... the waiters even kept a few pieces for themselves!! (Cause it was a big cake and a few of us didn't make it tonight)

Pretty good night - got to watch the lions vs. wallabies game at the same time. Disappointing finish but can't have everything...

I have to get up early tomorrow. WHO GETS UP EARLY ON A SUNDAY??! To paint the ceiling in my apartment. Why why why why why. Can't hack this being a landlord shiattttt.... hahaha. Would someone rent the place already!!!

On a lighter note, Nick made a deal of not wanting to celebrate his birthday... and well, I wasn't about to let that past!

So Alex and I planned and we got him a bunch of helium balloons with Happy Birthday, 3 & 1. and we fully surprised him when he stepped out. HAHAHA we managed to do it in like 90 seconds WHICH WAS AWESOME. He didn't even know what hit him!

And then... when he thought it was all over...

We did the traditional birthday cake and lights out and candles with the whole office!!! YAY!!!! and we sang extra loudly!!! LOL!!! (he thought he wasn't getting one because he asked Dan not to get a cake - but I told her to get one anyway and picked one for him hehehehe)

That's when he said to all of us we were fired. We laughed back in his face.

And then... when he thought that was over as well...

I EMAILED SINGAPORE AND MELBOURNE TO SHARE THE JOYOUS NEWS...

I think that did it for him because he called me a brat for the rest of the afternoon and i pretty much had to do everything he said. hahaha.

worth it!

where'd the weekend go?!

Lovely lovely saturday.

a mini stgghs reunion at bicentennial park for mandy's birthday. lots of sun and not too much wind although it did get fresh as the afternoon went by.

highlights:
- taking 2 hours to get the hot coals going to cook the food
- donna and i hiking around the grass and finding no waterhole
- not being allowed to go to the bathroom because cake time was in 5 minutes... turned out to be in 20
- wanting to roll down the grassy hill
- parking mine and cherry's car in one and a half spaces. completely boxed myself in!
- really bad coffee from the cafe
- seeing green and not recognising nature...
- being epicly asian and squatting, washing our hands with spring water, scrubbing the bbq with leaves ?!

after we said goodbye, donna and i had planned to go out for dinner. cherry and vivian decided to join so it became a 3-car tag into the city. i am an awesome anchor driver (not my usual place and i'm usually the one in front!)

apparently had my bitchface on. so donna said as she looked at me in the rear view mirror.

anyway, did the two a massive favour since traffic was pretty heavy and me having the balls to cut lanes and let them through and stop all the cars behind us. hahahahaha female asian drivers FTW! (although i still stand by the fact that i am not that much of an asian driver)

we ended up at surry hills:
- cocktails and pork belly meat balls at Mr. Fox. yummmmmmmy and they gave us free popcorn so we stayed a little longer (ok, i lie, we just stayed).
- took some fail instax [cherry]
- and then cherry left
- visited the new kurtosh which is famous for a hungarian style chimney cake. really really good coffee. and they sell their slabs of cakes by weight. interesting concept and i loved the ambience. i even took photos because i want my cafe to one day be similar to this!!!
- stayed there until donna had to go pick up her dad
- came home, was pretty tired...

we decided to plan more events as some will see from fb! good times coming up. <3 p="p">
i made choc chip cookies today. zero effort.

and then procrastinated the rest of my afternoon away thinking about business cards and website designs. wish it was just all done for me...

and then sister got me addicted to the show Cake Boss.

where/when am i supposed to find the time to study?!

started out as a pretty well planned day which turned random but epicly awesome.

mandy's little get together for her birthday at bicentennial park today followed by randon 3 car tag along to surry hills for cocktails, meatballs and kurtosh.

will post details after i get some shut eye.

so much to plan for the upcoming months!

surrounded by so much food and <3 <3 <3<3<3!!!

I can very happily and fulfilled-ly say that i am able to cross off a number of 'go-to' food establishments from my list!


Fratelli Fresh
A quick lunch there on Wednesday with Janice and Jennifer. Had the osso bucco fusili - good but was expecting a little more? Jen's meatballs and linguine looked good too. . . so full afterwards and had to go back to work. zzz... one sleepy afternoon that followed.


The Winery
So not in my nature to be bothered to pick a nice place and do something for my birthday. But so glad that i did! Had a couple of work drinks down at the basement first. Feral cheap sav blanc. . . but it did the job. Then met up with a number of the girls at Central before cabbing it to Surry Hills.


It was a really pretty place... and some really sweet and easy to drink white wine sangria.


The food was okay - i really liked the beetroot salad and pumpkin ravioli and i am so touched that so many people came to help me celebrate! Funny thing was it was actually Joyce's birthday yesterday (black friday!!!) and Sam's birthday today... and mine was still a couple of days away!


Anyway, had a great time :-) and LOVED my presents.

Thank you to Sarah for the earrings.
Thank you to Donna for the pretty forever21 top and cupcake patties (i get the hint... !!)
Thank you to Mon and Sandy for the make up
Thank you to Joyce for the most amazing puppy dog EVER. i will have it on my desk at work so it will be looked at it awe everyday and i will show everyone the little trick.... =D


Quarter Twenty One, Quarter Twenty One Retail Shop & Becasse Bakery
So this morning, whilst i was still in dreamland and definitely still nursing a slightly woozy head, my sister bursts into my room and is like. YOU HAVE TO GO TO BECASSE TODAY FOR ME.

okay, it was slightly less dramatic.

But basically, she read in the news that today was the last trading day for a few of Justin North's establishments in Westfield Sydney and she was given a $200 gift voucher from her friends for her birthday. She had planned to use it in her next mid-sem break but unfortunately the company was unable to keep running despite being in voluntary administration.

And since she had to work, mum and I went in her place instead!

Unfortunately, Becasse was fully booked (sort of expected though) so we were recommended to go to Quarter Twenty One next door. 3 course al-a-carte menu (see below).

It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

The best course was the dessert. Just so... good. Well thought out, well executed and the taste was amazing. But I liked all three of my courses (prawn risotto, steak and creme brulee) and mum was really impressed with her courses too (her fav being the pudding and black sesame ice cream).

We still had money left after lunch so we went to the retail shop and becasse bakery to bring home some goodies to share. nom nom nom. will post pics of pastries soon. So good and such a shame that they are closing. But i do believe that this is temporary and that they will be back!

Dynasty
Grandmother's birthday!!! I made her cake and coconut tarts because i am a very special granddaughter ;)

Lobster, pigeon (? the bird one), all our favourite dishes and spending time with all the family - PRICELESS!!!

Food was average tonight but haven't had a chinese feast in a while so still tasted good.

Baby Justin is so much bigger now. And so restless. He wanted to run away at every chance he got. Chloe looks like she will be a future hairdressed and Brian still naughty as usual!

Found out my coz now works at Boral... hehe, time to ask Bobert what he knows :) :)

and tomorrow...


Wildfire
More semi-fine dining and birthday celebrations. YAY!!!!!!!!