A Hearty Deepavali Lunch and a Frightened Cat at Night

Our Deepavali public holiday this year was spent indulging in food (perhaps a little too much of it!) and comforting our scaredy cat from the fireworks later at night.

Hubby suggested lunch at Happy Mansion @ Section 17, PJ — one of our favourite foodie spots. We had chicken rice for lunch, and just when I thought we were done, we segued to the next café, Dough! Bakery & Café, for what turned out to be a second lunch!

I ordered their breakfast set, which came with a slice of toasted sourdough bread, sautéed mushrooms, scrambled eggs, tomato, and salad — simple yet satisfying. Hubby had sourdough bread with butter and two half-boiled eggs, while Cass went for something sweet: a decadent brownie served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. We also packed two scrumptious pastas for Sherilyn and Cass’s dinner later.

I’ll be honest—my eyes were bigger than my stomach. The combination of two lunches, no matter how delicious, was a shock to my system. I was so full that the feeling lingered well into the night, leading me to skip dinner entirely. My stomach felt genuinely uncomfortable by the evening, and I was just thankful I didn’t throw up!

It’s a familiar dilemma for me. I guess I’m destined to be forever gaunt-looking. My heart is always willing to join the feast, but my stomach just can't, well, stomach the heavy lifting. It’s a classic case of the spirit being willing, but the flesh (and digestive system) being weak!

And Then, There Was Haru…

As with all major festivities in Malaysia, the Deepavali eve and first day were filled with the deafening, celebratory sounds of fireworks. And in our house, that means one thing: our aloof little scaredy-cat, Haru, goes into full lockdown mode.

Haru is not a lap cat. She doesn’t do cuddles on a normal day and values her personal space. But during fireworks? All bets are off. Her survival instinct overrides her aloofness, and she always ends up bunking in with us.

This year was no different. She didn’t just sleep at the foot of our bed. She burrowed right next to our faces and even tried to sneak under the blanket, seeking security from the terrifying booms outside. It’s both heart-melting and a little funny how these loud celebrations turn our independent queen into a cuddly, fearful furball.

Cass always brings her books along with her whenever she follows us out to eat during her exam period.