The One Thing You Should Never Forget at a Doctor’s Appointment

Yesterday, I went for my yearly gynae check-up, which included a Pap smear and ultrasound scans. My husband dropped me off at the clinic, and the plan was for me to call him later to check if he was free to pick me up, or else I would take a Grab home.

As I settled in at the waiting area, I reached into my bag to grab my phone. That’s when I realized—the one thing you should never forget when going to an appointment—I had left my phone in another bag! I must have forgotten to transfer it after running out for takeaway lunch earlier that morning.

I frantically searched my entire bag for over five minutes, hoping that maybe I had just overlooked it. But no, my phone was nowhere to be found. Now, I was stuck waiting for 2-3 hours with nothing to do but stare at the clinic walls. Isn’t that one of the worst things that can happen when you're in a waiting room? No phone meant no entertainment, no distraction, and worst of all—no way to call my husband for a ride home or to order Grab! In the end, I had to ask the clinic staff to help me book a Grab car back. Lesson learned: always double-check that my phone is in my bag before leaving the house!

As for my check-up, the Pap smear was, as usual, very painful for me. I have a very low pain threshold, so this procedure is something I dread every single year. But I know it’s necessary for my health, so I just grit my teeth, take deep breaths, and get through it whether I like it or not.

The ultrasound scans had a mix of good and not-so-good findings. I will only know the full results once I receive the scan report and Pap smear results in about 10 days. If I feel ready, I may share more about it then. For now, I’m just hoping that everything is okay.

This experience has reminded me why so many people avoid medical check-ups and screenings—fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. But at the same time, early detection can be lifesaving. No matter how uncomfortable or stressful it is, prioritizing our health should always come first.

Have you ever forgotten your phone at an appointment? How did you pass the time? Let me know in the comments!

With some leftover boiled sweet potatoes and chickpeas in the fridge, this is what I made - I mashed them up and added a dollop of Lurpak light butter. Yums!

A Taste of Tradition: Hakka Stuffed Oysters for Chinese New Year

Coming from a Hakka family with a large extended family on my father’s side, Chinese New Year always meant a trip to Cameron Highlands. My papa would drive us there to celebrate with my paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was a happy occasion with lots of delicious food, snacks, and playing firecrackers with my cousins.  My paternal grandmother, an excellent cook, would prepare an array of traditional Hakka dishes and snacks. One of the highlights of our CNY feast was her famous Hakka Yong Hou Si—stuffed dried oysters. She would also fry prawn crackers and salted dried tofu crackers and store them in those traditional big biscuit tins for her super large family to enjoy when they all returned to Cameron Highlands.

This Yong Hou Si dish, synonymous with CNY, is both delicious and labor-intensive. My grandmother would prepare it days, sometimes even a week, in advance. With 10 children and their families to feed, she had her hands full. The process involved stuffing fish and pork paste into large dried oysters, and then pan-frying them to golden perfection. The dish was served with a rich 'fatt choy' (black moss) sauce, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. This auspicious dish, known as “Fatt Choy Yong Hou Si,” is a cherished tradition among Hakka families during the festive season.

After my grandmother passed away in the early 2000s (both my paternal grandparents lived into their 90s), my papa took up the mantle. A self-taught and passionate cook, he has faithfully prepared this dish every year since—for more than two decades. He always made extra so I could bring some back to KL and savor it long after the reunion dinner.

This year was no different. Though I couldn’t be in Ipoh for the CNY reunion dinner, my papa made sure I had six pieces of his stuffed oysters with the signature fatt choy sauce to take home. Today, I finally had the chance to indulge in this special dish. My MIL braised pork belly with sea cucumber and fish maw, then added the fried stuffed oysters and sauce. The result was absolutely delicious. Each bite brought back nostalgic memories of those CNY reunion dinners in Cameron Highlands and Ipoh, surrounded by family and laughter.

I hope my papa, who turns 82 this year, continues to cook this beloved dish for many more years. Perhaps one day, I will learn the recipe from him and pass this cherished tradition down to my daughters and future generations, ensuring that the legacy of Hakka Yong Hou Si lives on.

Irvins Salted Egg Fish Skin Snack – Dangerously Addictive!

Alycia’s high school friend recently returned from New Zealand for the Chinese New Year break and gifted her a pack of Irvins Fish Skin snack. She had bought it during her holiday in Singapore, and it was our first time trying this well-known snack made in Singapore.

Just as the packaging claims, this snack is truly "dangerously addictive!" From the first bite to the next, it was impossible to stop. The fish skin chips are incredibly crispy and packed with flavor, making them an absolute treat for anyone who loves salted egg snacks. To top it off, they’re also keto-friendly—and I nearly finished the entire bag myself!

I can only imagine how much my cholesterol levels must have spiked after indulging in these chips, but hey, Chinese New Year is a time to relax and enjoy a little snacking. A rare indulgence is totally worth it!

For those interested in trying this irresistible snack, it’s available on Shopee at RM37.50 for a 105g bag. I might just buy a pack for myself one day when there's a discount and free shipping! 😉

So true!

It has MSG, no wonder it's so tasty.  Best to share this with friends and loved ones to minimize your 'sin' and guilt😁

Random Updates on My Three Girls

Today marks the last three days of Cass' month-long school break, and I must say, I am SO relieved that it’s finally coming to an end! I can’t wait for her to go back to school. This girl can be a little devil at times. When dealing with her, I often have to take deep breaths just to keep my composure. She has a way of pushing my buttons like no one else, and sometimes, I feel like I instantly transform into another being.

I often wonder why children these days are so bold, so fearless, and so ambitious—sometimes without even thinking about the consequences. But perhaps this is something positive, a sign of confidence and resilience. Either way, I’m just grateful that she’s heading to the skating rink today, giving me a much-needed breather at home.

Meanwhile, Sherilyn and I are heading to Mid Valley today to celebrate her 20th birthday! She’s been completely absorbed in yet another assignment over the past few days, and it’s consuming her once again. I really hope she manages to get some rest after she submits this one. I’ll share more details about our birthday lunch in a separate post!

As for Alycia, she’s been pretty busy with her interning work and hanging out with her besties (as usual) lately. 

That’s it for now—off to enjoy a little break before the chaos resumes!

Sherilyn's latest assignment 

Haru’s Second Road Trip to Ipoh: A Brave Cat’s Journey

This Chinese New Year, our resilient pandemic cat, Haru, embarked on her second road trip with us to Ipoh to celebrate the festivities at my parents' house. While her first trip last year was unplanned and fraught with challenges, Haru’s progress this year has made me one proud cat mom.

Last year, Haru joined us on the road to Ipoh after a failed cat-boarding experience. She refused to eat, drink, or even relieve herself for two days, so I had no choice but to bring her home and take her along for the trip. It was a stressful ride—she meowed non-stop, and I had to let her out of her carrier and let her sit on my lap throughout the car ride to calm her down. Despite the challenges, Haru survived her first road trip like a champ.

Fast forward to this year, Haru showed significant improvement. She stayed calm and composed in her new astronaut backpack throughout the entire two-hour-plus journey, both to and from Ipoh. There was no incessant meowing or restlessness this time, and I didn’t have to take her out of the bag at all. Her growth in handling the trip was truly remarkable.

Upon arriving at my parents' house, Haru immediately reverted to her cautious nature, hiding under the bed—just like last year. For the first day, she remained in my bedroom, her safe haven. However, we gradually introduced her to family members, helping her get desensitized to new faces and surroundings.

By the second day, Haru started warming up to everyone. Sherilyn even coaxed her onto the couch to sit next to my younger brother, Roy. To our delight, Haru sat there quietly, observing my brother without hissing or retreating. It was a huge milestone for our timid cat.

On the third day in Ipoh, Haru surprised us once again by allowing my twin niece and nephew to touch her. While she didn’t permit anyone to carry her just yet, her willingness to engage with others without hissing or running away marked tremendous progress.

Haru’s adaptability and resilience continue to amaze me. This trip showed how far she’s come since her first road trip last year. I’m optimistic that by next year or our next visit to Ipoh, Haru will feel even more at ease in my parents' house and among my family members.

For now, I’m just proud of my brave little cat for stepping out of her comfort zone and making these small yet meaningful strides. Haru, you’ve come a long way, and I can’t wait to see how much more you’ll blossom in the future!

Outside our house, waiting to be brought to the car.

On our way to Ipoh. I unzipped half the bag for Haru to stick her head out for me to pet, but she remained inside the backpack throughout the car ride.

Haru sat next to my younger brother for almost an hour on the couch without hissing or running away. She just sat there staring at Roy while he watched TV 😂. I think she likes my brother.

A big achievement - Haru allowed my twin niece and nephew to get near her and pet her without hissing.

Haru slept between us at night. She first slept on her bed on the floor before jumping up to sleep with us. We were just too exhausted to kick her out and let her be for two nights.

One of the things that I dislike the most during CNY every year is the thunderous fireworks every single night for over 15 days, which would continue until the wee hours of the morning, especially on the Eve of CNY and on the Eve of Pai Ti Koong night. As a result, I've been losing sleep. Haru's been hiding in our room on most nights, sleeping on our bed, as she is terrified of the fireworks. 

A Slightly Different Chinese New Year 2025

This year's Chinese New Year (CNY) was slightly different from our usual tradition. Typically, we travel back to Ipoh on CNY Eve or the first day of CNY. However, with my hubby needing to work on the first day, we only made the trip on the second day of CNY. While it felt a little strange not kicking off the new year in Ipoh, the celebrations were still filled with family, food, and treasured moments.

A Vegetarian Tradition

On the first day of CNY, instead of my mother-in-law preparing her customary vegetarian dish at home, this year, my hubby's Aunt Wendy volunteered to host the gathering at her house. Ever since I married into this family, this vegetarian dish has been a cherished part of the first day of CNY. In my own family—the Yong family—we have a similar tradition but with vegetarian fried meehoon. My late paternal grandmother used to make the most delicious version of it (with a soy sauce dipping of fresh shallots, chillies and sand ginger), and ever since she passed away, my papa has carried on the tradition.

While it was lovely to have the gathering with hubby’s family in KL, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic for the times we spent in Ipoh on the Eve and first day of CNY. Hopefully, next year we can revive this tradition, though it will depend on the SPM exam dates since Cass will be sitting for her exams. If the dates fall around CNY, we’ll have to stay put in KL.

Journey to Ipoh on the 2nd Day

We left KL at 8:30 am on the second day of CNY and were grateful for the smooth traffic on the highway. The drive took only 2 hours and 10 minutes, which was a relief. Alycia and Sherilyn opted to take the train instead—Sherilyn, still nursing her backache, preferred the comfort of a train ride over a car journey.

Upon arriving in Ipoh, we dropped off Haru at my parents' house. After setting up her litter box and making sure she was comfortable, we headed straight to the Stadium food court to hunt for brunch. While many stalls were closed for the holidays, we still managed to enjoy a variety of local delights: porridge with pig innards, meehoon in tomato soup with pork chop, fried fish and pork paste, Pai Ti with braised turnip, Tosei, Indian rice with dishes, and refreshing Ice Kacang.

Family Favorites and Reunion Dinner

After brunch, we collected Sherilyn's birthday cake from JJ Swissroll in town. Then we made quick stops at the famous Woong Kee bean curd stall to get takeaway tau fu far and Yoke Fook Moon restaurant for dim sum for those at home. 

Our reunion dinner that evening was at Exquisite Restaurant again (we had it in this restaurant too last year), where we indulged in an 8-course feast, including the traditional Yee Sang toss. Sharing this meal with my parents and brothers was one of my favorite moments of the day. These family meals remind me how precious our time together is, and I cherish the laughter and love shared around the table.

Reflecting on Family and Traditions

CNY 2025 may have been slightly different, but it was still filled with heartwarming traditions, delicious food, and the company of loved ones. I hope for many more such celebrations in the coming years, where I can continue to share meals and memories with my parents, brothers, and my own growing family. Here's to keeping traditions alive while embracing new changes as life evolves. Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyous Year of the Ssssnake! 

Lunch of 'Jai' (vegetarian dish) on Chor 1 at aunt Wendy's house (two units below ours).

From the Stadium food court - Indian Nasi Padang, chicken chop, tosei and Pai Ti. 

From the Stadium Food Court - Ice Kacang, porridge with pig innards, fried fish & pork paste, tomato soup mee hoon with pork chop.

Stadium food court - many stalls, including all of our favorites, were closed.

At the Woong Kee bean curd stall to get takeaway silky smooth tau fu far with tong yuen.
Address: 32-38A, Jalan Ali Pitchay, Taman Jubilee, 30250 Ipoh, Perak

Chor 2 reunion dinner at Exquisite Restaurant - pan-fried big prawns, suckling pig, shark's fins soup and braised chicken in truffle sauce.

Braised abalone with broccoli, fish maw and mushrooms, clay pot lap mei rice and dessert of snow fungus + red dates + dried longan and lotus seeds.