Christmas 2011... Part 5.. (STILL??)

Hi Mates!! 2nd day of the New Year.... again, too fast!! Time really flies TOO fast!!

Yes, I'm STILL on my Christmas entry, just simply because I want to keep all these in memory. I didn't do any entry for last year's Christmas trip to Lawas - Long Beluyu - KK holidays - which now, come to think of it, I should... perhaps I will!

Anyway... we didn't have any open house for Christmas this year, but called in our family for dinner gathering on 25th night.

Finally... I got the chance to use (and to show off) this beautiful fruit platter that a family friend bought for us from KK. It's so so so beautiful!! We saw one equally beautiful in Ikea but since it was too heavy, decided not to buy it. And for all the good reason because soon after, we were blessed with this magnificient Italian designed platter!

One thing that I refused NOT to bring back from Ikea was this beautiful simple serving tier!! As a matter of fact, I carried 2 back... And of course, it was put to good use :) Lower layer was carrot cuppies with cream cheese (which the family didn't fancy! ERK!), 2nd layer - pineapple rolls, christmas tree butter cookies and mum's raisin cake (YUMS!). Top layer - prune pudding... Mom would bake this each year without fail when we had our open house. She'd decorate it even nicer and since I was craving for this last minute, decided to whip this up (thank God for ready pitted prunes!!! - I used to spend hours and hours pitting those prunes back then!) I super love this simple serving tray!

Our "compulsory" Christmas spread - Fried Bihun, Chicken Curry, Satay (beef & chicken), nasi impit, kuah satay. And addition - mango tilapia fish & small oranges - which we went all the way to Kota Semarahan to get (coz they were really cheap there!!)

It seems that everyone knew how to play the guitar!! All 3 guitars taken out that night while waiting for dinner to start.

Oh, and we had steamboat too (pot can be seen on dining table below :)

It was really nice to have everyone around....

Happy New Year 2012!!

Oh Tuhan, Pimpin lah langkahku

Ku tak b'rani jalan sendiri

Sertaku itu lah doaku

Agarku merendahkan diri

Menurut firmanMu 'tiap hari

Jadikan pelita dalam g'lap

Mencari domba yang sesat

Itu lah kerinduan jiwaku

Christmas 2011... Part 4

Noel played the guitar again... for Malam Pra Krismas on the 18th... He did well :)

Christmas 2011... Part 3

Since I've start working in this company, I've never had the chance to join Christmas Party as by 17th or 18th each December, I would have already left for my leave and the crowd likes to keep it to the last working day possible. But this year, since the family is not going anywhere, I did not take leave and could join the party and the gift exchange.

I offered to make carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Bought some cute Christmas deco to put on the "Winter Wonderland" cake :)

The appetiser - Fried Chicken Wing, Karipap. And my coleslaw as always.

Main dish - chicken Spaghetti...

And we had pies and peanut cake from Tom's (a REALLY expensive makan place - I went in once to buy a cake and my eyes popped out!)

Thank God some people were still sane enough to bring some fruit!

But... there was Nasi Minyak and Chicken Curry too!!!

And fried bihun and another healthy dish - mix veg

What's a party without my sandwiches eh? :)

Our event coordinator arranging the gifts for the gift exchange... I got a packet of Kit Kat.

The crowd that day... we've had a great time, great food, thoughtful presents and most of all, great company.

Ain't that what matters most?

Christmas 2011... Part 2

I don't normally get myself a Christmas gift... I find that gift giving is too much over-rated, so I stopped doing it during Uni days.


However, I've been eyeing this mini light for at least a few years. Know what I hate most? Reading the night away and discovering I need to get up to turn off the lights when my eyes can't take it anymore and it's time for dreamland!!! So this year, I decided to get myself this as Christmas gift. At Rm20, I think, it's also a great reminder to be a light wherever I am :)


Yeay!!! No more getting up when reading late at night!!! (now...., I haven't gotten myself the birthday gift I wanted; and need. Pokai already. Cancel.)

Christmas 2011... Part 1

The English Sunday School had Christmas party last Sunday (18th). Huge turnout... I think the main church must have been really empty as most adults were here!

Noel is now not only a guitarist, but also a back up singer...

And an actor (this is a simple skit)


Del was really a champ - he belted out JOY TO THE WORLD so wonderfully loud (at the price of red jelly incentive!)

I helped up with translation because there were about 30 bumi children who were invited too. (see my red knitted top? - I lurve this top walaupun it's been with me for at least 8 years :p)

As a matter of fact, all the teachers were supposed to be in Red... so many shades of red that day! See the masses of red below!

The children were thought to give to the guest too... they each had to bring a gift for the guest... Don't know what's going on here... looks like Del is having a hard time to part with his gift? Haha! (pssttt... see more teachers in red near the wall!)

We made egg mayo sandwich to share that day (potbless kindda refreshment)- nicely cutout with ship, car, aeroplane, mickey mouse, minnie mouse, pooh and tigger faces... but ALAS!!! I forgot to take the photo for this!! [thanks tolong cut cut Aunty Togou!]

Merry Christmas 2011!!

During our Pre-Christmas celebration, the BM sunday school children sang this song. I feel in love with it immediately... how true! YouTube it up...

NATAL DI HATIKU

SEPERTI PALUNGAN

LAYAKKANLAH HATIKU MENYAMBUT-MU TUHAN

SEPERTI EMAS KEMENYAN DAN MUR

BIAR HIDUPKU BERKENAN PADA-MU

c/o: SEBAB NATAL TAK AKAN BERARTI TANPA KASIH-MU

LAHIR DI HATIKU

HANYA BERSAMA-MU YESUS KURASAKAN SELALU

INDAHNYA NATAL DI HATIKU

BERSAMA PADUAN SUARA SURGA KU BERNYANYI

KEMULIAAN DI TEMPAT MAHA TINGGI

DAN DAMAI SEJAHTERA DI ANTARA MANUSIA

YANG HIDUPNYA BERKENAN KEPADA-MU

We thank the Lord for your love, support, care and friendship throughout 2011
God bless you abundantly in 2012 and many more years to come
Merry Christmas from the Labungs!!
Richard, Alice, Desmond, Donny, Deldrie, Diana & Noel

I got this "Chrismas Story" book with figurines from Logos Hope. It was at the 'special offer" corner as some of the figurine lost its stand, but it was going ridiculously cheap - at RM4 and I've always wanted a Nativity Scene at home, so I got it. I am glad I did. It now takes a special place in our living room.