garden.makeover

 you are back to london, but the garden makeover

 starts today!

 meanwhile last weekend you decided to take some photos of your bushy garden

 the red rose will stay, it has been abundance every may to august.

 the white rose will go away

and all these flowers will be removed completely...

by the time you are home next friday the garden will no longer be the same. 

you went to garden center to look for trees and plants, and you are pretty much attracted to the hydrangea even though they are not the priority. now you have pretty much sorted what plants to get once the garden is ready and you are looking forward to welcome the new garden ^^.

girls.night.out

another farewell dinner this week, now to a malaysian friend who is going to post to malaysia for the next 2 years.

it's father's day and it's also the european cup match between portugal and orange. but you have a girls only night out  at scheveningen. the restaurant is quiet for obvious reasons, and your table is probably the loudest and cheerful in the restaurant, not that there are many guests anyway...
you had a five course surprise menu...

 dutch rose shrimp jelly topped with caviar

 lightly cured salmon with crispy bacon

crispy skin talbot fish with mushroom sauce

 chicken mushroom roll with caramel sweet onion

 cod with cauliflower cream and saffron sauce

 a very plain strawberry vanilla ice cream, could have done a little better by adding mint leaves or something to accentuate the color combination.

the food has nothing to shout about but a group of happy laddies with many conversations, giggles and clings on glasses are memorable
sadly a friend has to go but you will be in touch anyhow now that the social network is so advanced, she will not be missed but will be continue to be among you from a distance...

::saturday::

it's good to be home where you can sleep as long as you want in your own bed, wake up to familiar routines

 had your pancake brunch with flat peach, nuts and maple syrup...

and a lighter lunch of japanese soba crossover with dutch fresh new haring. this is what happened when you want to eat so many things yet there's only a weekend at home...

you went to the women in red revival meeting in the afternoon, it's indeed good to be home, be with your spiritual family and learning new things. women in red signify women who are covered by the blood of Jesus. you thanked God for the special revelation and you are thankful that you are not just merely a woman of the outer court but you know deep in your heart the inner court is where you belong...

you long for a home cooked meal, so you didn't stay too long at the church, you left when the dinner is served...

 at home the big bowl of cantonese style oxtail soup is waiting for you

 a simple snap peas and fish balls stir fried...

even a plain broccoli taste so good as a side dish... these are the flavors from home, something that you cannot replicate during the week in london ... 
just feeling very thankful to be home ^^

::religieuse::

a sweet ending to friday!

and i am home sweet home too!

bonda.cafe

you head to west end for a meal, a taste of home. a small restaurant recommended by your friend. it's a simple and humble eat cafe at the basement.

you didn't know what to order and go for your usual malaysian meal - nasi lemak

 it's alright, nothing spectacular but you love the sambal, it gives you the kick at your taste bud.

 and not to forget your green intake, you had a small plate of kangkung belacan...

you noticed many people ordered the nasi goreng kampong.  you ordered a portion to take home, that will be your dinner tomorrow.

on your way back, you stopped by at a park just opposite the underground station, it should be the extended hyde park, you're not sure... it has a very nice italian garden, you took some time to walk around...

take a quick stroll since the weather is finally dry and the temperature is pleasant... it's good to walk off the rice you ate.

this park is actually a good place for jogging, if you ever come back to this place again, you will make sure you come in your jogging attire, had a good run before your well deserved meal.

and then you hopped on to the underground and head "home". it's been awhile since you last "climb" the escalator of this depth...

la.la.la

okay, you must admit you couldn't resist further.you had a long day with no lunch break, working on your presentation since morning, had some bites of sandwich delivered to you by your manager. and you presented your strategy, making an impression, had a lot of questions and discussions before it finally come to an end. the presentation is well received, although there is still much work for you to do.

for now, you just want to enjoy your sweet treat as a reward of your hard work. laduree ispahan eclairs, light and delicate.

the rose scent is a sweet reminder that life is good. you just be thankful for the work you delivered, for you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!
and you are going to take it easy tonight, watching the football match that seems to be almost hopeless for orange to win...

quick.stroll.in.the.city

the rain finally ceased. this evening is dry but chilly. you still have no urge to venture further than the city but will probably do so tomorrow if the weather remains dry. you have a very important presentation to do tomorrow afternoon, it's your first session with the client, you need to make the good impression.

you went out for a stroll, not far, just the radius between the bank and monument underground station.  and there are pleasant discoveries. directly opposite your "home" is this leadenhall market, with many people still drinking in the pub...

 further down as you turn left, you enter cornhill street...

 there are plenty of boutiques, the window displays are great and elegant...

 these shops must be there for the busy bankers who have no time to shop....

and you discover laduree, yes laduree!! literally just by your doorstep, 200m away from you... you don't need to go to green park or harrods for your macaron craves...

 it's really tempting....

and the shop is still open late in the evening... may be you will pick up some macarons on your way home one of these weeks that you are here... after all, there's no hurry when laduree is just by your doorstep...

::rain::

this is london... you couldn't see anything sitting inside the taxi....

the rain literally drizzling non stop all day... and is forecast the same for the remaining of the week...
england played against france today, but you couln't squeeze into any of the british pubs near you...

and you are just not in the mood to check out the wet london. so you just drop by M&S food section, grab some food and heat it up in your kitchenette. yeah, it feels better than staying in the hotel room as you have a living room and a kitchen plus it suits you perfectly as you are just 2 min walk away from your client.

farewell.dinner

weekend come and go...

tonight you join his ex-man care group for a dinner.  a farewell dinner to a dutch brother who is going to depart to the capital city of your home country.

you are going to miss his wife and son especially, but knowing that this is the best decision for the family. and you will have an excuse to stopover kuala lumpur in the your next home trip.

God bless you, brother!

you are going to call it a night, tomorrow is another routine again.

:calla's::

weather is equally bad in the lowland.  you had lunch at calla's a star restaurant in den haag with another couple from your church. you're late but still you have to wait for them who came even later...

 this is a very elegant waiting area with china skill embodied with roses, you could see the open kitchen in operation where the chef carefully crafts every plate before sending them upstairs to the dining area.

 you finally seated and had your drinks served...

 say a little prayer and thanksgiving before the meal

 the nibbles that come with the drink that come in unison color but explosion of taste. different taste.

 amuse-bouche of savory herby cumin scented meringue, light seared tuna and mango jelly, refreshing start ^^

 first course, pretty salad with north sea crab, lobster and lightly marinated duck liver. too pretty to be eaten in your opinion...

this is a plate of beautifully presented art - edible arts with spring flowers, lovely taste both pleasing to the palate and to the eyes...

second course, asparagus with poached egg wrapped in pork belly. the asparagus is fresh, and you are about to forgo the pork, but accidentally had a taste of it and you know, you have to eat the pork to experience the perfect harmony of this dish

 you had a glass of red wine to pair with your main course

beef with spring vegetables and wine sauce, the beef is perfectly medium, smooth, succulent and moist...

 dessert is a plate of strawberry, meringue and  strawberry sorbet with jasmine tea gele... very light and contrasting sweet and salty ending...

 your espresso and the petite four

 chocolate praline, sour yogurt marshmallow, nutty nougat, and a sweet sour apple jelly coated in glittering sugar... 

a extended lunch over the afternoon, a exquisite taste of weekend, with your love ones, nothing you could ask for more...