Just for old times sake!!

This morning Mathilde and myself went to the market to stock up on our fruit and veg. The stalls were full of fresher than fresh tangerines - or naartjies as my girls say. We took half a bag full of plump orange fruits with their bright green leaves intact. Mathilde also wanted cherries so two handfuls worth of cherries for her.

We went to 'our' stationery shop to stock up on coloured card, sparkles, felt cutouts - whatever a little girls heart desires is available in this shop to create, stick and most importantly make pretty things.
What do we see, christmas decorations.

I'm not talking  tasteful decorations.

I'm talking the accordion style decorations we used to hang from the ceilings when I was a wee one and well before. The place was full of them. I haven't seen these things in donkeys years. I was overly excited!! I wanted and wanted lots!!!

I couldn't resist!!! I had to have some. God only knows what hubby is going to say tonight. Mind you, when it comes to christmas decorations, he's given up. No use fighting a battle you can't win.

On the bus ride home, we shared a few naartjies, the sun was shining in. It was warm inside even though outside there was a slight chill.
Mathilde was making her yum, yum noises that she makes when she's thoroughly enjoying something. I could see she was happy as she asked 'more please' and stuffed the tangerine segment into her little mouth.

I cherished this ride home and felt genuinely happy and blessed!!!

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.

Please put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny,  a  ha'penny will do.
If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you!

And Oh my are a lot of pennies spent for christmas!!!

With christmas just around the corner , I'm determined to get all of the gifts in now, rather than later. I'm always full of good intentions but before I know it, I'm running around with 1 week to go and sometimes less.

I'm a sucker for christmas, so its always very over the top. Something which my French husband doesn't really understand but he just goes a long with it otherwise he'll get a lump of coal in his stocking!

I've been umming and aahing over whether or not to get little Mathilde a LeapPad Explorer. She loves her sisters DSi but she is too young to have her own - so I think -  so I think this LeapPad Explorer could do the trick. I think I'll take her in to a shop to try and if she can use it.... done and one for under the christmas tree and a pink one of-course.  I'm sure she'll be able to use as she is quite the pro on the DSi. It also seems to be educational with games for recognising numbers, letters of the alphabet and stories all wrapped up in one kiddie size package thats perfect for inquisitive little minds.

Olivia tried it out at the Toys r us Carnival over the week-end and she loved it. If she could, she would have had them all.
Mathilde would also like her very own bike that she can ride all by herself - as she would say. Along with books, puzzles and arty things.

Olivia, well thats a bit more tricky. I think we'll get her a new camera, board games which she loves but then we have to play with her. Then a few stocking fillers. 

My sister and her husband will be joining us this year in Hong Kong, so it will be a real family affair. We'll do all the sights and just enjoy the time together as a family.

As for the menu.....
I found some fresh fois gras which I'll buy next week and make a terrine. The usual turkey with all the trimmings and for dessert, I must still decide.
Of course they'll be mince pies, christmas cake and a buche de noel.

I better get cracking, looks like I've got my work cut out for me!!!

Toys r us Lai Kwai Fong parade.

Yesterday was the last day to go and meet Spongebob at the Toys r us Carnival at Lai Kwai Fong. So, as promised we hopped on a bus and off we trot. I didn't take Mathildes pushchair because like any kids event , I knew it would be swarming.
Mathilde on my hip and Olivia asking every 20 seconds 'where is it?' I started to seriously dread this outing and we hadn't even hit the kid filled street, filled with excited children and some equally excited parents who were just as eager to pose with the Jelly bean man and other cartoon characters!!!

 We bypassed one street as anyone who has been to Central on a Sunday knows that it is jam packed with all the helpers who are busy packing up large cardboard boxes filled with everything and anything  to send over to their families - mostly in the Phillipines. We headed up an empty, dirty, stinky alleyway and the words that came from my Olivias mouth just cracked me up.
She said ' uh where are we? This is the dirtiest and smelliest place I've ever seen in my whole life!! And it really does stink!!
This alleyway all of a sudden felt even longer and dirtier with the 2 of them blocking their noses and gasping for fresh air, which lets face it they aren't going to find in Central. Finally out from 'the dirtiest street in Hong Kong' according to Olivia and up to Lai Kwai Fong.
The girls had a blast, they didn't get to see Spongebob but Mathilde got to see Dora. Mathilde was a bit disappointed  that Dora couldn't see her and didn't wave back.

Balloons galore and bubbles everywhere Olivia and Mathilde go to claim their prize. Olivia turns the gum ball machine which is filled with orange gum balls,  a few green ones and 2 red ones. Low and behold this lucky little bugger gets a red one. Everyone is ecstatic she's won one of the bigger prizes. The lady shows her this barbie thingy with a magic dress (olivia is not into dolls, especially Barbie) Mathilde on the other hand is the complete opposite. The shinier and pinker it is the more she wants it. I tried to get Olivia to choose the Monopoly but once Mathilde had seen the shiny prink dress and the jewel bodice, she was hooked. The Barbie, the Barbie, take the Barbie!!! She yelled at the top of her voice. So the damn Barbie it was. Mathilde had her turn and got a spongebob cup so of course on came the water works!! Olivia who is ever so kind and a great fan of Spongebob gladly swapped her Barbie for the cup.  So after all that, we had two happy little girls!!

Add to that a big stick full of candy floss each and I had two content and quiet little girls and off we trot all the way home.



 

Chestnuts = found!!

    

After about an hour of walking this afternoon, I found these little beauties. 

I was so happy, but then realised that this moment would have been so much sweeter had I someone to share them with.

 But that didn't stop me from gobbling down a few.

  

            

 At this stall they were cooked in the drum thats behind the chestnuts. It had tiny stone like grains inside that are heated from underneath. The nuts are placed directly inside and are not slit, so nothing gets in. The barrel turns continuously, ensuring an even cooking. 

I'll keep my eyes open for other vendors and maybe some more different cooking methods. 

Here are a few things I past while looking for the chestnuts......

Whole dried fish

Feeling lazy, don't worry, ready peeled tangerines.

Soya in every shape and form.

Central

                                  

The quest for the roasted chestnuts.

As temperatures drop below the 25 degrees there's  a welcome chill thats reminiscent of winter, christmas and all the hype that surrounds this magical time of year.

I was seriously peeded off last week as the halloween decorations in our residence were quickly and quietly disposed of and replaced by an army of men and enormous cardboard boxes. We all knew what would be coming from these boxes and amazingly enough, I wasn't at all excited - proberly because of the sweltering  weather and the thought of having to stare at these -sometimes monstrous -  decorations for a whole 2 months. Not to forget that tiny hands are forbidden to touch, so its all just one big tease!!

But, today all that changed.

The sky was grey (not the polluted grey we normally see around here) and full of fast moving clouds. It was damp with a chill , the chill that normally get me all excited. My girls got to wear leggings and their raincoats. A chill that reminds me of winters in France, China and Switzerland.

I bought the girls advent calendars but as always, these ones won't be the last. They normally go through atleast 1 before christmas. When we lived in South Africa Olivia would go through about 3 before christmas and heaven knows how many Lindt snowmen, santas and reindeer were enjoyed before the 25th.
This year, so far, so good. No lindt  chocolate in the shape or form of any festive figures has past through our door.
 Don't get me wrong, every time we go to the shop up the road in Cyberport,  I'm bombarded with ' I want that gold teddy, snowman, reindeer and santa '
But like I said, so far so good!!

Back to the chestnuts.

This chilly weather has me dreaming of roasted chestnuts.
Not only do these golden little nuggets taste delicious they also serve as winter hand warmers as the paper wrapped nuts warm the frosty fingers.
Sometimes - quite often - giving you burns as you try to pry them open to pop into your mouth.

When we lived in China they would bake the sweet potato in their skins and give them to you in a brown paper bag. These were delicious and quite often another one was bought just for one sole purpose... to warm the hands of a weary shopper!!

In France whenever we're out we always by our little cone of chestnuts and also always buy fresh ones to take home and cook ourselves.

To cook our own....

We go to the forest and pick some bruyere - which is a kind of fynbos. We have a special pan made from cast iron with holes in it and an extra long handle.

In winter there's always a fire roaring in the fireplace and what better place to cook these beauties than on a open flame.

We make a small incision into the rounded part of the chestnut shell - this is to release the steam as they cook otherwise, you guessed it, they explode.

Now for the hard part, you place the nuts in the pan over the fire and cook, tossing and turning so that they don't burn. Adding 'bruyere' every so often so that it burns away. We have tried it without the fynbos and works equally well  (thats my opinion ) but for generations they have used fynbos, so fynbos it is!!

Now for the really hard part .....just sit back while the other slaves over the hot fire and wait. Keep taste testing - not so hard -  and once cooked, pour out onto a sheet of newspaper and wrap. Leave until warm enough to handle - or atleast until you can peel and eat them without scorching the skin off your fingers and tongue.

The last time we were in France for christmas, Alex cooked the chestnuts. Olivia was so excited and so intrigued  by the whole process. After that, the lights were dimmed and we watched old films from when Alex was a wee boy. And not just any TV film, it was projected onto the wall. It was a great memory for my little girl. Everyone  snuggled around, eating, laughing and just being together. Not to mention the funny hairdos everyone had, they caused  squeals of laughter!!!

If you don't have a open fireplace these can also be cooked in the oven in a baking dish. Don't forget to slit the shell otherwise you'll have one hell of a mess to clean!

This afternoon I'm off to Sheung Wan search for my fix.

Let the chestnut hunt begin.

Guess what I'm making???

So ofter our recent vacay, I decided to make my new favourite cocktail.  No rocket science here and only minimal ingredients needed.
Gin being the main one and something we always have on hand.

After not having a G&T in donkeys years , the Gimlet was a nice comeback. Its sweet and fruity and something you can drinks 'sans faim' or should I say 'sans soif'?

Don't you just love my kids ice cubes for such a grown-up drink?

All that was added to the above ingredients was a reduced sugar syrup.

Note to self - if going to make this a regular habit, buy some cocktail glasses as the glass above is more of a pitcher.  But until then, you won't hear me complaining!

Guy Fawks

Its bonfire night tonight. Its been years since I've celebrated Guy Fawkes so I think its about time I introduce this English custom/celebration to my two little girls.

Remember, remember the 5th of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
should ever be forgot.

I remember going down to the bonfire with my dad when I was a little girl. Wrapped up, to be snug as a bug. The thrill of having my own sparkler, with the fear that the sparks might burn me.

Throwing a few potatoes into the fire and then my dad scraping them out with a stick. Peeling back the burnt skin to reveal the hotter than hot floury potato.

Watching the 'guy' being set alight in the middle of the fire and then the fun and awe of watching the different coloured fireworks light up the dark and chilly night sky.

Happy 5th of November!

School photos

I remember my school photo days.

I remember my mom tucking the collar of my school shirt under  my cardigan and me pulling in out as soon as I left the house. I remember her telling us to keep our mouths closed as not to sport our toothless smiles and later on to not flash our gigantic teeth that looked out of place in our little mouths.

Of course all this went out the window and come photo time, teeth and gums were flashed, ties were crooked and hair was a mess.

So yesterday we received a reminder from Mathildes school that the school photos will be taken today. The e-mail read something like this....

Tomorrow will be school photos, please dress your kids smartly - me check.
And please remember to brush their hair - oops, i felt like this was directed at me because of my poor little girls mop of tangled curls.

I myself don't mind the gummy smiles or messy hair, after all they are my girls.

Exercise. Love it or loath it!!

After putting it off for way too long add to that our recent trip to Macau with all the overindulgences, excesses and seeing me in my bikini with my TUMMY...... Sunday morning I woke up and told Alex that I was going out for a run.
He rubbbed his eyes in disbelief as I think he thought he was still sleeping. What, Stacey actually wanting to do some form of exercise??

My hands scurried to the back of my cupboard and I pulled out my leggings and a t-shirt. Dusted off my trainers and I was ready to go.

I started, it felt good.  Ah it wasn't too bad after all. It was early about sevenish so not many people out. I ran down to the little park in front of our residence.  After about 10 minutes I was puffing and snorting and thinking to myself that  this is so not glamourous. How come when I see people jogging they make it look so effortless.
I on the other hand made it look everything but effortless. I had to stop running  to catch my breath and give my little legs a break.  I started a fast paced walk.
I was sure my face was going to be redder than red as my head felt like it wanted to just explode off my shoulders. All this while gasping for air.

Got home, jumped in the shower and this red head just didn't want to go. I felt the aches in my muscles I didn't know I had and I felt like crap. Where's the energy burst you feel after exercising? I felt more tired than when I started.

I lay on the bed, it felt good. I relaxed, it felt even better.

Alex came in and I told him how crappy and tired I felt. He asked ' but when last did you jog?' But in a way like you know you've never jogged, so this is normal.
Its been 18 years since I last jogged, I answered. I sat up, shocked. What 18 years, no that can't be right! Done a quick count in head and fingers,  I was right, 18 long years.
I went on explaining that I'm 33 and when I say I'm 33 years old, its ok, doesn't feel so bad (old). But now that I've said that I haven't run since 18 years, yikes, 18 frikken years is one hell of a long time!

The day went on and I was seriously aching from the stomach down to my ankles. I felt better and the feel good factor kicked in early afternoon.

Monday Olivia was still off , so I went to the gym in our residence and Olivia played in the games room. There was a guy on a stepper thingy and an old chinese lady on this pedal bike thingy. I opted for the old lady and the pedal bike next to her.
Now I'm no gym bunny and all of these machines intimidate the heck out of me. So I sat down, pressed on start, nothing.
Asked the old lady but of course she didn't understand.
I started frantically pressing all the buttons, nothing. She then calls me and makes a circular movement with her hands. Ah ok, pedal first et voila. Lights start flashing, I put it on cross country and we're off. The music is fast paced, so it helps. While pedalling away I was thinking why did I come to sit next to the old lady?? Maybe less intimidating next to an old lady or maybe she made it look easy??      

20% done, 30% done, 50% done. My legs are seriously burning but I'm no way getting off this bike before that little old lady, hell no!! The song 'I will survive' comes on, how appropriate, so I pedal faster, she stops. I breath a sigh of relief.  But can't stop just after her so I pedal.
She gets up and.....takes her walking stick and goes for a drink. What the hell, I couldn't believe it and I had to chuckle to myself.
Got to 80% done then I got off, just prayed that my legs wouldn't cave in. They didn't but I did feel a little wobbly on them. The little old lady was still going strong. Pumping iron, well one little bar of iron, but she was still pumping it.

Tuesday , I went out jogging. Olivia took her scooter and she thought it would be good to be the trainer. After reminding me that its been a long time since she's seen me wear my trainers and that I looked kind of funny - nothing like the truth from the mouths of babes to motivate!!
More people were out today, it was sunny and too hot. When I slowed down, Olivia would shout 'mama jog' so I'd up the pace.

So far so good. I'm feeling better and motivated. I haven't attacked the halloween stash of the girls and to be honest, I don't want to.

Today is Wednesday and Olivia is back to school, so I guess I'll hit the gym and see what happens.

Ghouls and Goblins!

Happy Halloween!!

This year the goodie bags have been filled to the brim. The girls had fun trick or treatin' in the residence where we live.
It was good fun and everyone we went to had made an extra effort to decorate the outside of their doors.
The kids were thrilled and lets just say there wasn't any tricking!!

They've been on 'sugar overload ' since Saturday, so I been pumping fruit and veg into them whenever I can.

After an hour and a half of treating, we headed down to the halloween party. We spotted zombies, pirates, witches and ghouls of every sort.

Mathilde was a little scared and said she'd had enough of Halloween and wanted Santa to come now!! Now thats my girl!!

Birthdays

From the month of September, our family is in birthday mode with a birthday each month ending in a big bang for christmas.

October is my husbands birthday and this year its a big one......40!!!!

I still can't believe it! I think I'm taking it harder than him. Luckily we both still feel years younger than what we are.
Its just creeped up on us.

I look at him and I'm ever so grateful for all this time we've shared and been together. We have two gorgeous little girls. And are just plain happy.

Sure I have my days where I've taken all I can take and I erupt like mount Etna. Holding nothing back! But  all couples go through this. We just have to stay true to ourselves and our partners. And I think after all the years spent together, we have to take and make the time for each other. With kids, life and work all getting in the way its so easy to just say I'm tired and not even bother, but it doesn't take much and it does the world of good for the two of you.

I planned a few days away to Macau for the family. Some well deserved family time.

We took the Cotai jet from Hong Kong which is a comfortable one hour ride.

 Stayed at a lavish 5 star hotel.  I had planned to visit quite  a few of the sites but gave in after a brief visit to the ruins of St Pauls as no one was interested.  The only thing that kept them quiet was a Hagen Das ice-cream and even that done more harm than good after five minutes under the Macau sun.  Sweet , sticky drops were dripping all down Mathildes arm and face. They were hot , tired and just wanted to sample the hotel pool that we'd been speaking about since a few weeks.

These almond cookies are found all over Macau. On the Street that leads to St Pauls, shops are packed with dried meats and these cookies. All you hear as you walk is the clicking of the tongs.

Again I was reminded about how your vacations are different when you have small kids. Luckily, mine are, most of the time , happy go lucky little girls. But then again, sometimes not!


Macau was a Portuguese colony and reminders of this past are scattered all over the city. It was beautiful to see the old, colonial style buildings - makes a refreshing change from all the Hong Kong sky scrapers.

Macau is known as the Las Vegas of the East. Gambling is allowed as the portuguese government at the time legalised it.  There's no shortage of casinos and because Chinese people like to gamble and its not authorised in China, there's no shortage of Chinese people. The hotels are packed!!

Here in Hong Kong, I have the occasional stare and question about my little Mathildes hair ' Is it natural  the curls and colour?'  They go completely gaga over her and her hair.
And it started in the ferry, one women was completely besides herself. She couldn't walk past Mathilde without telling her how beautiful she was. And that was just the beginning.
At our hotel, she was an attraction in herself. At first she was all shy but in the end she was posing , looking slightly fed up and even doing the odd 'peace' with her two fingers  just like them.
There was a jester doing magic tricks, who in turn also succumbed to Mathildes charm. Not only was she bringing him a crowd, the people were asking her to pose with them and the jester.
The so called jester who in turn finally couldn't help himself and took out his phone and posed for photo with Mathilde.

We ate , way too much, played , had cocktails and just enjoyed the time together as a family. The girls didn't want to leave and to be honest, neither did I.

Hubby and myself have now decided to do a little break like this atleast once a month. No more putting things off.  Life is way to short so we should take advantage and live life to the fullest!!