Going to cure my heart ✈

Going to be MIA for 3 weeks. I have precisely 24 blog posts to do. 50% sure I'm gonna forget what I'm gonna write for them. Probs need to learn how to revamp this blog since I've had this layout for ages. Also, might actually start doing travel posts...I see how I go after I catch up on all those food posts...

I think even in 50 years time when I am probably retired, I'll still think back to what happened. Within the past month I guess I've been more preoccupied and dragged myself out of the house rather than sulking. Initially I had to either get dropped off at work or catch the frikken bus because I couldn't trust myself to drive...I think these things will die down but a tiny part of me won't forget. Probably a reason why I hoard so much stuff and take too many photos...

I would be lying if I said I'm fully over it now. Feel better but I guess still angry.

Thanks to those for reaching out the past few weeks-you know who you are! I normally just rant here because it's easy to do, and I don't care who reads it on the receiving end. Talking to people does help put things into perspective, and many insightful convos. Just simple gestures of kindness does help you feel not as down.

Travel to cure my heart. Probably not going to do a spontaneous trip in the future, but holiday planning with a bit of stress helps to ease the pain and make the days go by faster. Even though I'm going to blow my savings, I don't think you can put a price on life experiences to help not feel so low, and hopefully come back more refreshed.

I have a sore throat and leaving tomorrow. Please get better in one night...⛛⛫Time to escape the summer heat.

KFD 2017: Cave Quest

Another year of Kids Fun Days completed. I wasn't originally going to help, but you all know what happened...so I was free this week to help out. Since I volunteered pretty last minute, wasn't a crew leader this year, but helped at a 'station' where the kids watched a movie and helped lead discussions. It's actually a bit less tiring since you don't have to follow the group of kids the whole day. Glow in the dark paint also exists, which made the walls pretty cool. 

Main hall

 

 

They had so many left that day...(they made like 10 boxes of these...)

Friday Feast

There was less children compared to previous years, so more manageable. The songs were more upbeat and faster this year as well. The kids learnt that: Jesus gives us hope, Jesus gives us courage, Jesus gives us direction, Jesus gives us hope, Jesus gives us power. 

It's the 7th year our church has run this program, and it's so strange to see how back when I first helped out, those kids our now helping out. I feel so old 😔

Yulli's

As much as I love a good piece of steak, pork crackling and my fav protein duck, I also love my veggies. I actually have vegetarian stuff for breakfast and lunch normally. From greek yogurt, granola, almond milk etc to my jam packed salads with avo sandwiches. I thought dinner vegetarian places would be hard to find, but thanks to Dandelion, there is an impressive list out there!

Made a booking on the day, but didn't realise they were so busy. We had to give up our table by 8:15pm, but the timing turned out to be alright and not too rushed. It's not very big, but almost all tables were filled. We got seated at the back in the courtyard, and there was natural lighting through the awning. Definitely felt very 'hipster' like.

glass bottles used for candles and plants


Kale and cabbage salad w/ puffed brown rice, tofu, konjac, fresh mint, black fungus, smoked mozzarella and a sesame dressing (small plate)-$15.50

That was one good slightly creamy sesame dressing, with good texture throughout. Flavours balanced well. 

 
San choy bow w/ five spice tofu, lotus root, beans, baby corn, lily flowers, peanuts and coriander (medium)-$16.50

The flavours are a bit more salty and sweet in this one, and more lettuce would have been nice, but a good twist on the traditional san choy bow. One of the favourites amongst the table.

Baked zucchini and roasted Summer vegetable w/ balsamic-glazed bok choy, parmesan, chèvre, finished w/ cranberry and Shiraz compote and almond flakes (large)-$18.50

That cranberry and Shiraz compote was so delicious, definitely tied the whole dish together. There wasn't much zucchini or other veggies on this, but I just loved the slight sweetness the cranberry gave to the whole dish. Another favourite from the table.

Pan-fried haloumi w/ ginger and lemongrass sauce, fennel, shaved rockmelon, pickled beetroot and endive (medium)-$15.50

Haloumi is very salty on its own, but with the rockmelon and bitter greens, the whole dish balanced perfectly. Couldn't really taste the pickled-ness in the beetroot, just tasted less beetrooty- which is a good thing for someone like me who doesn't really like beetroot.

 
Roast pumpkin w/ cauliflower and kimchi, crispy capers, cashew cream and pea tendril-$16.50

Another super smooth cream here smeared on the plate.Pumpkin cooked well, and kimchi wasn't spicy but wasn't sure of what this did to the dish. 

 

Definitely recommend this place even if you're not vegetarian. So inspired by all the dishes here, and proves vegetarian food can be both delicious and filling.

2017: Charcoal Grey

The theme of my year.

For those who've seen my Kikki-K diaries, I just wanted to point out each diary colour foreshadows my year. This year is bleak af. Not completely black because that's where holidays to try cure the heart comes in. The inevitable doom was not 100 but 1000% confirmed. Actually, it was even worse than I expected in terms of what I can and can't do. Typical of them to give only 3 days notice or less for stuff. What do people do if they don't study or work full time? Even hobbies, exercise, cooking etc all cost some for of money...I'm really scared about my brain going to rot, and my clinic skills are definitely going to go down the drain. All that hard work for nothing, and is just pushing us towards another step of failure before the final yr of placements hits. i.e. it's all rigged against the couple of us.

The fireworks looked pretty good on tv, if you exclude the super crap broadcast and forgetting the countdown, the lag and some bad quality cameras. Really loved how the colours and shapes of the fireworks was so in sync with the music. Sort of made me want to see it in person, but ceebs crowds.

Thanks Dandelion and Happy Apple for dropping by yesterday! Really appreciate your thoughtfulness, and yay muffins :) (Soz, didn't take a photo of them).

I have somehow lost heart to finish all these draft food posts...