Remembrance

Dearest Tong Yeh… it is hard to accept I can never call you by this name again… thank you for showing me how a classy physician should think and act.. and what leadership actually meant… thank you for always being supportive not only to me, but also Stephen and my family…

I miss our small talks and cherish the times when we encouraged each other in recent years... your recognition meant the world to me… you knew it best where I learnt and grew, and whom I’m immensely grateful to…

On the morning when the heartbreaking news was received… you would probably like us to carry on, and care for our patients to the very best… but tears didn’t stop running down my face… until I realised you’re resting peacefully in God’s place… watching us till we meet again… 

God bless your lady Mrs Tong and family… may your legacy and the bittersweet memories, fill their minds with peace and pride…

A piece of his mind

Monsoons… rainy and sunny interchange 

last night I got scolded by yyb (for doing stupid things)! i can hardly recall him giving me any lesson since I got married. Strange enough all I felt was me being super duper fortunate… that my father cares about me and is still a wise person… I totally enjoyed it… so much so there’s an aftertaste of sweetness now that I recall it… dear Lord please keep him around to enlighten me forever! Guess that’s how people feel differently as one ages… 

Losing my patient

truly springtime 

I forgot when was the last time I felt genuinely sad about the passing of a patient… I guess because we’ve been through a lot… I prepped his transplant… and witnessed its failure… and he was in a way the person whom benefited the most from my VA clinic… his never complain attitude, always comes in with a small smile… he’s totally a life fighter… thanks for giving me the reason and strength to stay…  may God bless your soul and your family…

Meet the great grandma

smoggy and misty

Today yungyung moved home after almost a decade and I (finally) introduced G & B to her! It had indeed taken a while... saw her ash today but all I felt was peace in mind... as I have told G... she’s been living in my heart...

childhood summer holidays

sunny and shiny (how sad i'm trapped at work)

eating crisps and drinking cream soda (in the office, now) reminds me of my childhood summer holidays treat... we sat on that old-fashioned straw mat with the fan on, shared a can of cream soda and a pack of shrimp crackers, and watched tv... it literally felt like a treat of the year... pity not a second person could understand what i'm talking about now... i miss you...

just dawn on me how different things are now... i only buy the largest possible cherries for pikabee... hmm...

note to self

what a nice day

it's been so long that i ain't "a physician in training" for ages...

living my myself in a foreign city is not new... living by myself away from pikabee is... it's been a while since i've had some personal time... shopping, i mean "real" shopping has been such a luxury... not to mention cooking, side trips, massage... and i didn't know i enjoy cafe hopping so much!

paid my first visit to new york and las vegas... travelling by myself is actually more comfy than i have imagined... finally had a chance to meet up with some good pals after (a little more than) a decade! biking in a park (on a dual bike) was wonderful... it amazes me how we had grown up together...  i still remember those conversations on our aspirations then... it's all about parenthood now...

what strikes me the most during this whole experience here is leadership, no doubt... i hope this little note will serve as a reminder for the future me... a real leader is different from a boss... the former trusts his team, is focused and foresighted... and one always has to reach out of one's comfort zone to succeed...while the latter is merely a pathetic and scattered control-freak... a loser...

now, i'm all ready to go back to motherhood... how nice if i can have something like this every other year...

Susanna's secret turnip cake recipe

(inspired by the late yungyung)

Dried sausage 3-4
Dried mushrooms
Dried scallop 5 big ones
Dried shrimps 3/4 bowl
Turnip at least 5.5-6 catty
粘米粉600gm 1 pack (三象牌）

Serving: 2 aluminium foil plates

Steps:
1. Blanch mushroom & dry
2. Soak dried shrimps (15mins) & scallops (till soft)
3. Dice everything
4. Shred turnip
5. Steam dried scallop (10 mins)
6. Add shrimp & scallop water into turnip (not mushroom water due to colour)
7. Shallow fry sausage, shrimps then mushroom
8. Heat oil. Cook turnip, add sugar (2 small teaspoons)
9. When turnip boils, add chicken stock (1 cube)
10. When stock melts, add salt to taste
11. Remove excessive fluid if any and save up
12. Off heat and move to cool surface, let the mixture cool a bit
13. Add a bit of ingredients, then pepper & mix well
14. Add flour (in 3 portions) & ingredients including scallops
15. Stir even
16. Grease foil plate
17. Fill container & decorate
18. Steam 45-60mins
19. Put into fridge when completely cool