Bob the lamb and co.

'Tis the Christmas season, the slaughtering of our lambs, good Christmas bread and ham, old friend, the BBQ and the Christchurch man name Stan.

It was our first time owning lambs, and have them slaughtered by T a few days before Christmas. Dad, Boi and I helped round them up (with one actually tackled rubgy-style by Boi) and T efficiently slaughtered, gutted, hung and skinned them for us. Trust a West Coast Maori to be able to do that for us.

Then the BBQ - the weather was not fantastic as forecasted so the atmosphere was not as great. Plus, there ain't beer/cheese mussels so that took the joy away a little bit. Vowed to do this better next time. However, the gathering of the family was good and Zion enjoyed the bones.

YL was in town for the night last Sunday and boy, we haven't really seen each other for 9 years since I first came to NZ. The night was great catching up with good stories of when we were 14 and young and being school prefects etc.. I think we didn't change much which is good :) Core Assuntarians will always be loud, jovial and straight-to-the-point. These are much missed traits here in ChCh, so thanks YL for the reminder that sincere friendship still exist!

We visited Stan and chatted with him for awhile. A lively old man indeed with a strong love for his wife. Am sure many of the hundreds that has visited his home and lights really appreciated the joy Stan created.

Let us leave the presents, the West Coast trip to the next time round, eh?

In preparation for Christmas...

Featuring food from Auckland - yups, all the Asian food which most of them we can't seem to find in Christchurch PLUS the great snowy durian, first introduced to it by Yean. The soft cold durian with cream are wrapped in powdery rice flour and it just melts in the mouth. Mmmmmm...

Then the preparation, or rather trial for Christmas cookies. Dad got some nice second-hand cookie cutters from the Sunday market, and I baked away. I tried out 3 recipes and decided the first was the best. Anyway, mom and I managed to sneak in a shortbread tranny onto the baking tray and baked that poor thing which turned out yummy.

Then the cockle-picking in Dunedin turned out well. Was there right at the very middle of low tide, hence managed to rummage into the black sand for huge cockles. Thanks to DA and AB for the trip. :) At least this time, it was not as cold as when we went in May.

Nyum, Nyum,

Just a post on some great food - and some bad ones.

Great ones include:

• *ahem - my homemade Apam Balik (from the packet bought in Auckland). All I need to do to this magic mixture is whack them all together with water and eggs, and lala~ fresh hot Apam Balik complete with crushed kacang and all.

• Also *ahem - my waffle complete with French vanilla ice-cream and dad's homemade boysenberry jam.

• The berry tart in Copenhagen Bakery right in town... $4.80 is everything I would pay for this with subtle custard and fresh berries glazed all over. Definitely juicy and it reminded me of all the beautiful tarts I kept eating when I was in Paris. Probably about the same price if you convert the Euros. Double thumbs UP!

• There is also the Tea Salad and the Green Papaya Salad from the famous one and only Burmese restaurant in Christchurch - The Bodhi Tree. Ahhh.. the lentils and the exquisite taste is so hard to describe. Since I was introduced to that place, I have been back 3 times - all with different bunch of friends. However, the portions are entree size and it can be quite a dear place to eat if you are a hungry man. Technique is then to go with half your stomach full, then order the above-mentioned salads, the curry chicken and/or the skewered lamb....Perfecto! The technique works and it would be sufficient if you order 3 dishes among 2 people. Plus rice of course.
  

Then the downside of the food offered to the public in Christchurch overrated restaurant up in Cashmere Hills - Sign of the Takahe. I was there end of Sept for a friend's bday. The setting was wonderful with old stone walls, armoured men, white crisp linen, old wooden tables, fireplace, expansive gardens etc etc.. I ordered the Canterbury lamb which was like shite* - refer to the photo above. On the menu, it stated it would come with red wine jus or something like that. I expect all sauces to be sparingly dribbled onto my meat with extra (if any) at the side. NO - my lamb came drenched in tomato puree-like jus (as opposed to red wine?) with one crude asparagus sticking right across my plate. The taste? Don't even mention. Not wanting to spoil the otherwise pleasant evening, I just silently think to myself I probably will not be a repeat guest of this restaurant.

Giv' me the curls, giv' me, oh giv' me, oh giv' me the curls~

It all started from LN. She mentioned they were giving out free perms to short-haired females in Reuben Blades so that the hairdressing students can pass their assessments. She was going, and heck why not I go along too? I have never seen myself in permed short hair anyway.

Truthfully, I had a shock when the perm was done as it looked so ...wet and stringy....and realllllyy curly.. then I told myself if it is ugly, I shall at least pass it off as "stylish". So I squared up my shoulders, bought myself a takeaway latte and marched back to my office.

It is a "hate it", "like it", "love it" or "get used to it" kinda deal. For me, it was more like a "get used to it" and hopefully it will turn into a "like it" asap.

Boi's first remark "Who are you???"

Castle Hill, Canterbury.

It was a random decision to go Castle Hill especially after seeing Dodiak's photos of that place. So 7 of us (RA, RA, H, C, S, Y and ZL) trooped off - 2 cars - approx. 1 hr drive from Christchurch. It was a great day indeed. In fact, we were still civil to each other even after too much sun and fun, surprisingly non-lumpy egg sandwiches (*ahem), insufficient water and non-stop walking. We had lunch boys arguing who should carry ZE green bag consisting of our lunch, and too much V drink for Y. I will let the photos speak for themselves as there are already too many of them.

*Photos courtesy of Ronald, Roderick, and myself of course.. hehehe