Speaking of Malaysia, here is Jules enjoying pau rendang. We had a short stop at the motorway on our way to KL to get some caffeine into our system and I wanted some snack. Jules was almost jumping up and down when he saw pau rendang as it is almost rendang pie in his eyes.

Nora had pau kaya (coconut jam) and I must have had the traditional red bean pau… I can’t remember but that was on my list of things to eat

Oh… pau is steamed bun… just in case you’re wondering what it is

While we were there, I read some of my old ladybird books to Nora. She loved them so I decided to take some back here with us.

One of the books was the Magic Paintbrush. A tale from China of Liang, a poor boy, who was given a paintbrush and everything he painted comes to live or becomes real.

I was reading it to Nora last night when we got to the page where the Emperor had summoned Liang. Nora pointed to the Emperor’s big belly and asked me if he has a baby in his belly. That brought a giggle to me and I told her no.

When Liang escaped from the Emperor and decided to be a normal painter, he made sure that he doesn’t finish any of his painting as then it would come to life. But on another page, as Liang was carefully painting a bird a man bumped into him.

Again Nora pointed out that the man has a big belly and asked if he has a baby. And I told her no only girls can have babies. She then said that the man looked like he has breasts (pointint to her chest and mine). I burst into laughter. I told her no, it is because he is big. I thought I should drop saying that the man and Emperor were fat incase she’ll point to random people on the street and say that they are fat!

She was wearing her nappy, as I always put her nappy on when we go to people’s places in case of accidents, but lately she has been really good!

When we were driving to St Austell, her nappy was dry the whole way through the journey! She was car sick once, but her nappy was dry throughout. When we stopped at a service station for a spot of lunch, Jules suggested that I should change her nappy before we continue… but when I got to the baby changing room, I discovered that her nappy was dry and she weeweed straight away when I put her on the toilet… not even her potty (as it was in the car)!

We continued our journey and about five miles to Exeter service station, Nora told us she wanted a poopoo. I told her it’s fine we’ll get to the service station soon. As we approached the exit junction, I asked her again if she needed to poopoo and she answered firmly ‘Yes!’

So once we stopped I grabbed her wipes and a clean nappy and took her to the baby changing room. There was a kiddie toilet there and she pointed to it. I checked her nappy and it was clean, so I took it off, put her on the kiddie toilet, and she did her business! After I cleaned her up, she said ‘Wash hands’, how good is that?

Yesterday, for the first time, I took her to Nursery and she had no nappy on. When we got to the Nursery, I reminded her that she has no nappy on so if she needs to weewee or poopoo I asked her what should she do. She pointed to the changing room. As long as she acknowledges where she needs to go, I am happy. I still left some nappies at the Nursery though, for afternoon nap time.

This morning, after Nora had her morning milk, I told her it’s time to get ready for Nursery. I took off her nappy and it was dry! Off we went to her potty… and she weeweed!!

My little girl is growing up.

And in a few hours time… she’ll be restricted for 13 hours in the airplane bound for London.

It’s been good being home… now it’s time to go to our other home.

My mom was laughing and I told Nora to put the chicks back into the basket. So she picked up the chicks by the tail, head, wings etc. and threw them back into the basket. Poor little things.

After two weeks, Nora is now brave enough to pick the chicks… and I also saw her pick up the momma hen by the tail!

Mom took the chicks out for their morning feed and when she was picking them up again to put in the basket, there were only 10 of them instead of 11. Oh dear… I hope it has nothing to do with Nora throwing the chicks about… there are cobras, lizards and eagles about… maybe one of them had a nice hearty breakfast of freerange organic chicken.

We were at my brother’s over the weekend and he took us to the Birds’ Park and the Butterfly Park. I have to say that I’m more impressed with the KL Birds Park than the one in Singapore which we went to last year! It is more spacious (or feels like it is) and greener and the birds seemed happier.

Nora really enjoyed it especially as she has her Auntie showing her a bad example by chasing the peacocks. My brother and I told her, as in my sister, that if she got told off we’re going to say that we do not know who she is!

As for the Butterfly Park, it is lovely… but a bit of a disappointment… due this disillusion that I have that when we walk in the butterflies will descend upon me and flutter about for photos… like you see in advertisements. Of course that didn’t happen. There were loads of butterflies… but they were just too high or to fast to take any photos.

Oh… and thanks big bro for the birthday cake. Do try to make me feel much older next time!

Nora and I have been in Malaysia since Sunday. It was a sudden decision when I found out a week ago that my grandma had a stroke. I was told it was mild but I decided to fly over anyway hoping to spend sometime with my grandma. Unfortunately, it was not mild and she passed away a day before we were due to fly.

But the tickets were booked and as I was hoping to spend sometime with grandma, it was booked for two weeks. I decided to fly anyway and spend sometime with family.

The moment we arrived at my mom’s house, we had a shower and off we went to grandma’s grave and then the her home… where most of the family are still gathered. It was good to see them again and to be embraced into a family atmosphere again. There’s never shortage of my cousins who are willing to entertain Nora. She loved the attention… though she was confused by the crowd of fans surrounding her at first.

Now that we’ve been here a few days, Nora has develop her own routine. She does not say ‘yes’ when I ask her if she wants her morning milk, she says ‘yes’ to ‘Do you want to feed the chickens with Nan?’

She hasn’t watched TV but most of the day she’ll be playing, running in my mom’s house or outside chasing the chickens… like we did about half an hour ago… she forced me to go and chase all the chickens home.

She’s made friends with Julia, the neighbours’ cat and also Norhan, the neighbours grandson. As I’m typing this, she is at the neighbours house… she knows how to head there herself… but my mom did go with her this time.

At night, when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she will ask to go down to Nan’s (my mom’s) room and everytime I tell her off for not sleeping, she’ll go crying to my mom. *sigh*

Everyone we bumped into are so surprised that she understands Malay… and now I am very proud to say that she fits into a ‘kampung’ (even though my mom lives in a city) environment no problem

But she still asks for her daddy everyday…

It is now one of Nora’s favourite song to sing.

She’d be sitting in her car seat and suddenly belt out ‘happy, happy, happy, happy…’

Or she’d be drawing, reading, waiting for me to prepare food for her and she’ll be singing ‘happy, happy, happy…’

So… happy, happy, happy new year to all.

Nora is a trooper. Even when she’s ill she will not stop playing and creating havoc and eat. When she goes all quiet and just sitting down and wants cuddles, and show no interest towards food, especially her snacks, that is when I start to worry.

I’m just glad to have a quiet Christmas at home… yes, my little sister is here… but she’s not intruding at all which is great… so, yes… it is a nice quiet Christmas at home.