First Times

The best part about having my own home, is getting to do a lot of fun stuff for the first time in the hearth of my home. It gets me so worked up, so excited, and leaves me smiling and laughing  to myself throughout the day! 

So, what have I loved doing for the first time in my own home?

1. Cooking stew for my mom on the kitchen stove for the very first time. 

Just the both of us. I cooked. We ate. I washed. 

Wow... gave me a real sense of feeling an adult in front of my mom for a change. 

2. Cleaning my own house for the first time. 

It was hard work, no doubt. Scrubbing the stains on the tiles, polishing the tiles, cleaning the windows, etc. Vacumming, mopping. All which required much effort. But at the end of the day, the whole house was sparkling. Even the tiles looked like the mirror, reflecting images of every corner of my house. Wow! I suddenly realize that I can clean really well, if I put lots of effort into it. 

3. Cooking for my brother for the first time. 

I am a bad cook. So, when my brother was out working, and I decided to cook up a dish for him, and it was of a funny taste, he persisted in finishing up everything, and even praised my cooking! Loved my brother for that! for finishing up all the food too! 

4. Purchasing a round dining table for the first time.

My whole family was against the idea of replacing the rectangular dining table with a round dining table. Yet, I was insistent. I love round tables. It makes me feel as if my family is united, and not split across the globe. I feel loved at this table. It reminds me of home. The best part is, this table fits perfectly in the dining hall and all of us can watch TV while having our meals! Yes! It's my wisest decision ever! 

5. Buying a TV, Surround sound system and to top it all up, a teak wood wooden TV table top.

Ever since I left home to study, and to work (that amounts to about 9 years), I have lived without watching television on a daily basis. That doesn't mean I don't watch TV, just demonstrates the fact that I don't watch TV regularly. And so, I couldn't understand how my family members felt when I voiced out the fact hat I won't be buying a TV for my new home. 

However, when my family members kicked up a fuss about being in my home all day long, with nothing to do, except cook and clean, reality set in. A TV is part of life's entertainment. It has become a necessity. So, my brother and I bought a TV, equiped with a surround sound system, that creates sound signals so strong that the cupboard glass doors vibrate along with it whenever it's on. Woah. Stunning!

And now, the TV is put on top of a cupboard/table top that's the height of my knees. Just the right height. at Eye level. I'm smiling to myself as I watch the TV... It feels real good! 

6. Inviting friends over to my own place for the first time.

My house is not completely furnished yet. But my friends, like me, are eager to see my new house. To see how it's set up, how comfortable and homely it is ( I presume?) . When I said that I'd invite them over once I bought a wardrobe, since it's the last piece of furniture to complete the house, they said, "No no! We'll come over this week. We'll cook. All you have to do is open up your house to us." 

With such enthusiastic friends, I eagerly nodded passionately.

Upon their arrival, there was such a hype and buzz of activities. First, there was the declined entry to visitors, because the guards did not receive mail about their arrival in advance. ( I informed the management a day earlier, but somehow mis communication occured... wah! such a tiresome task to argue with the guard and insist that I did inform). Thankfully, my friend cast a charm upon the guards, and they let him park his car at the visitor's parking lot after that. 

Then the manual, gas oven was not working, so we resorted to microwav-ing our food. It turned out pretty good! While waiting , another friend bought 'bing pi' moon cakes - my favourites! and rum, and chocolate, eggless, flourless cakes for tea! Wah! Another bonus! I love cakes! regardless of their ingredients! 

Ohhh... and the best part was, we, the four of us, sat there in the hall, after dinner, browsing through pictures, chatting throughout the afternoon, dawn, evening and night. Wow... heavenly! I love having friends over! It makes my home feel lively, boisterous and fun!

7. Having friends cooking for me in my own home for the first time.

My childhood friend, who just moved to KL, wanted desperately to cook spaghetti in my new home. She bought spaghetti noodles, canned tomato paste, button mushrooms, and minced meat. She cooked and served up a delicious dish of spaghetti for the both of us.

It was such an addictive activity, that the very next weekend, she came, and bought more ingredients, and concocted a delicious dish of fried, vermicelli (bee hoon)! She even decorated it with tomato omelettes and chillies! 

Perfect! Perfect! 

8. Cooking for friends who really, really appreciate it. 

I was cooking a nice dish of chicken+mushroom+ginger soup when my friend called to say, "I'm hungry." 

I said, "Why don't you come over? I've lots of food over here! enough to last for 2 days!" 

So, my friend came over, and gobbled up the dish that I cooked ( by then, my cullinary skills had improved tremendously over the past few months.) With ever mouthful she took, my friend kept praising me for cooking such tasty soup and noodles. "Mmm.. Mmm.. yummy! Thank you Jean! I'm so glad I called you today!"

Wow. That was sweet! It certainly made my day!Now I know how it feels to feed a batallion of hungry people. It makes me feel on top of the world! 

9. Having friends over who enjoy each other's company, even if my home is bare and void of furniture.

Before I furnished my home, I invited my interns (who are practically my friends by the end of their internship) to my new home. We ordered pizza, and chatted, and had pillow talk the whole night. It felt great 'coz I could introduce Winnie the Pooh, and his cousin, my Teddy Bear to them.

Few months later, I visited my intern's home to wish her and her family "Happy Hari Raya" , to taste lontong, rendang, and all the delicious cookies, her mom asked me, "When 's your turn to sleepover at my house?" haha.. I was pleasantly surprised! 

It's so inspiring! I'll definitely cook more, and invite more friends ove.! It is such a joyful feeling too!

10. Looking at the moon from my window on a clear, starry night.
I love looking at the moon every night. As I step into the room, it shines, brightly and cheerfully. I love it!