We were back from our Singapore trip in January 2010 & read about the changes in Medicare rebate for management fee of Obstetrician. Our Ob charges $3,500 for management fee, while the consultation fee is bulk-billed. Based on the changes, we would only get $200-400 from Medicare for management fee. It made me consider of changing Ob & started doing some research of other Obs & their reviews.
My friend suggested Dr Chua as her friend used his service before and she was satisfied. His management fee is lower, $1800, and since I was not exactly happy with my old Ob, I didn't mind taking the risk of trying a new Ob.
At the same time, I decided to try a new place for the 20week ultrasound (Morphology) that my friend recommened as it is bulk-billed. Again, it is partly due to effort to cut cost so I tried Castlereagh Imaging. It was not bad though the service & machine was not as good as the previous ultrasound my old Ob recommended (not bulk-billed). The sonographer couldn't see the sex of the baby but I told her that my old Ob said (based on her scan) that it could be a girl and her response was "Then it is 60% chance of a girl". Hmm... should I rush and buy all things pink now?
Our first appt with the new Ob went alright. It was during lunch time so hubby could accompany me. We had to see the midwife first and she did all the prep work (filling the form, checking blood pressure, etc) before we went to see Ob. His first reaction after calling my name: "Apa kabar?" & I knew right away he would be either a Malaysian or a Singaporean. He's Malaysian & he commented on the similar size he & hubby have (tall & big). He talks a lot, in my opinion, to the point that I started to doubt what he says hehehe... the way I doubt what my hubby or my FIL said each time they talked too much. Maybe it's the Malaysian thingy.
He advised me to buy Saxa iodised salt as the supplement I am taking (Elevit) doesn't contain iodine. He said that the salt would be more helpful as I could use it in my cooking (if I cook!) and I would need iodine during the breastfeeding period so it's better to include it in our daily food. During the scan, he measured the baby to be 15cm head-to-rump, but he couldn't see the sex too. He said we could find out later when the baby is bigger.
In the meantime, I told my parents that the baby could be a girl and my mom's reaction was "Don't tell your FIL yet" hehe.... My FIL is making a bet with me that it would be a boy and he would buy me more presents if the baby is a boy. Of course it created a light argumentation with me as I prefer a girl and I don't support his favouritism attitude. Now, it would be fun to tell him that the baby would be a girl hehheehe... I just like to tease him so much. My hubby and MIL are the diplomats, they say they have no preference as long as it is healthy.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Trimester -1
My hubby is sick & sleeping now so I don't want to make so much noise. It seems like a good time to update this blog.
Trying to recall the 1st trimester that had passed, praise God that it was uneventful. I was originally reassured by my cousins, my nieces & my mom that our side of family don't usually experience any morning sickness. It was not exactly true! While I didn't vomit, I experienced food aversion. It started when my MIL made a big chunk of grilled salmon for me, I just couldn't finish the big portion. The next day, my good friend/neighbour gave me cooked fish again. From then on, I stopped eating fish and started to feel disturbed by the smell of garlic & soya sauce my MIL used in her daily cooking. Poor her, I didn't mean to hurt her feelings by not eating her cooking.
It was even more miserable when my PIL went back to Malaysia. What's worse than smelling chinese cooking is having nothing to eat for lunch at all. I wanted to eat food with no smell/fragrant, mainly bread, burgers and especially Vietnamese hot bread. I made some pasta until I was sick of pasta too. My lovely hubby gave me some money so I could go down to the Italian restaurant for lunch every day but it cost around $20 each meal & I wanted us to save money since I wasn't working then.
Our trip back to Singapore in December happened to be just right after the end of 1st Trimester. All my friends were so worried & advised us not to fly within the 1st Trimester, but we bought the tickets half a year before & as long as my Ob didn't say anything against it, we would fly.
We didn't really enjoy our trip back this time though. Partly because we didn't plan enough so we have days when we didn't know what we wanted to do. Partly because of the weather, the heat brought the worst of us hehehe... We felt irritated & we didn't have any appetite to eat. But I had durian & that was all I needed to be satisfied.
We got to celebrate my dad's birthday too! My mom made me buy a shirt for him for his present, which is really nice and thoughtful of her. I didn't plan to buy anything for him since we're paying for the dinner. We went to eat chilli crab at Jumbo with my PIL, my brother & family & my dad's friends. I think we keep going to Jumbo for special occasions involving both parents hehehe.... I was personally happy for my brother's helper (Maria) who got the chance to eat good food. She is a good helper, chatty, honest & young, and thank God she's not a fussy eater (though she can't eat pork) that she could enjoy the crabs as well.
Trying to recall the 1st trimester that had passed, praise God that it was uneventful. I was originally reassured by my cousins, my nieces & my mom that our side of family don't usually experience any morning sickness. It was not exactly true! While I didn't vomit, I experienced food aversion. It started when my MIL made a big chunk of grilled salmon for me, I just couldn't finish the big portion. The next day, my good friend/neighbour gave me cooked fish again. From then on, I stopped eating fish and started to feel disturbed by the smell of garlic & soya sauce my MIL used in her daily cooking. Poor her, I didn't mean to hurt her feelings by not eating her cooking.
It was even more miserable when my PIL went back to Malaysia. What's worse than smelling chinese cooking is having nothing to eat for lunch at all. I wanted to eat food with no smell/fragrant, mainly bread, burgers and especially Vietnamese hot bread. I made some pasta until I was sick of pasta too. My lovely hubby gave me some money so I could go down to the Italian restaurant for lunch every day but it cost around $20 each meal & I wanted us to save money since I wasn't working then.
Our trip back to Singapore in December happened to be just right after the end of 1st Trimester. All my friends were so worried & advised us not to fly within the 1st Trimester, but we bought the tickets half a year before & as long as my Ob didn't say anything against it, we would fly.
We didn't really enjoy our trip back this time though. Partly because we didn't plan enough so we have days when we didn't know what we wanted to do. Partly because of the weather, the heat brought the worst of us hehehe... We felt irritated & we didn't have any appetite to eat. But I had durian & that was all I needed to be satisfied.
We got to celebrate my dad's birthday too! My mom made me buy a shirt for him for his present, which is really nice and thoughtful of her. I didn't plan to buy anything for him since we're paying for the dinner. We went to eat chilli crab at Jumbo with my PIL, my brother & family & my dad's friends. I think we keep going to Jumbo for special occasions involving both parents hehehe.... I was personally happy for my brother's helper (Maria) who got the chance to eat good food. She is a good helper, chatty, honest & young, and thank God she's not a fussy eater (though she can't eat pork) that she could enjoy the crabs as well.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
IVF, pregnancy, egg donor and adoption
Wow, it's been more than half a year since my last post. I was distracted with Facebook & was more active there since then.
Since my last post on us trying IUI in June, we subsequently found out that it was negative. We then went on to try IVF #1 in Aug-09 and we got 10 eggs from it (based on low dosage of Puregon) but only 2 of them made it to day 5 (blastocyst). We put 1 back into my womb and froze the other one. Still, we got a negative result from the fresh embryo we put back and we contemplated trying a new cycle of IVF #2 while leaving the frozen embryo for future use (since IVF costs were to increase in 2010).
During a discussion with our IVF doctor, we expressed our plan to start a new cycle and he agreeed to it. But subsequently the conversation evaluated the possibility of using the frozen embryo and we agreed to it! Only after I stepped out of his office that I realised that we are not doing what we planned to do! I felt a bit confused why we agreed to use the frozen embryo but we decided to just stick with it (and I was too lazy to call the doctor). Looking back, I think it is God's way of telling us that His way was better than our way (Isiah 55:8-9 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts"). I was pregnant from the frozen embryo I didn't plan to put back.
After our failed IVF #1 (before we started the frozen embryo transfer), we thought of giving this baby project our 100% our best since each cycle cost a lot, monetarily & maybe emotionally, and we're not getting any younger (my eggs were 34yrs old!). We decided that I would not work since my hours were long and & it could be quite stressful. So I told my boss in September and I was to serve my notification period until October. Only a few days before my last day that we got the BFP (big fat positive) results. It was great coz I got to tell the good news to my colleagues & boss, especially those who knew about my IVF journey (I was quite open and discuss about IVF with those who asked me about it). So I was pregnant & unemployed! The only drawback is that we have to postpone our plan to buy a house, probably until 2011 or 2012, since our financial position may change with baby onboard.
I planned to have an egg donation late 2010 too, probably a few months after giving birth. I saw an ads for egg donor request in Sep-09 and wanted to help her. We exchanged a few messages and I told her that if I'm not pregnant by June-2010 I would donate my eggs to her & moved on to adoption plan. But since I was pregnant subsequently, we postpone it until after birth & breastfeeding period. I felt guilty about planning to cut short the breastfeeding period but I think formula-fed would be a good alternative as well since a few friends formula-fed their babies.
It could've been me on her position, since we were struggling to have a baby too, like her. The fact that I am blessed with the experience of being pregnant makes me want to do my part to help her, knowing that I would wish somebody would help me too if I were in her position. I hope we would get to know each other during this period and maintain an open relationship after the donation. I would love to get to know the baby we're making (my egg, her womb and her husband's sperm) and would treat the baby as my close friend's baby or even my niece/nephew. It would be as if I have an adopted sister in Melbourne, that'd be nice!
After we buy a house, I hope to be able to lodge my adoption paper so it would be processed as early as possible. Hopefully we would get an addition by the time this baby turns 7 years. I have not researched too much about any restriction, but I would not mind trying another one (without IVF) during the 7 years' wait for the adoption. But I would need to check if it is allowed or if it would push back the waiting period even longer.
Now, I'm filling my time doing nothing much, which is good! I was planning to find a short-time contract job between now and May but it won't be easy as nobody wants to hire a pregnant staff. My friends advise me to enjoy the freedom now before baby arrives, so I would do just that. I'm thankful for my friends who gave me books to read about involving God in the pregnancy & birth period. Those books made me realise that I am a very pessimistic person and I felt undeserved of this baby, this life He's entrusting me to love & care. It's really hard to rely on faith alone and to trust that He has great plan for me. I always take the other way, preparing for any bad things that could happen to me so I won't blame God.
Since my last post on us trying IUI in June, we subsequently found out that it was negative. We then went on to try IVF #1 in Aug-09 and we got 10 eggs from it (based on low dosage of Puregon) but only 2 of them made it to day 5 (blastocyst). We put 1 back into my womb and froze the other one. Still, we got a negative result from the fresh embryo we put back and we contemplated trying a new cycle of IVF #2 while leaving the frozen embryo for future use (since IVF costs were to increase in 2010).
During a discussion with our IVF doctor, we expressed our plan to start a new cycle and he agreeed to it. But subsequently the conversation evaluated the possibility of using the frozen embryo and we agreed to it! Only after I stepped out of his office that I realised that we are not doing what we planned to do! I felt a bit confused why we agreed to use the frozen embryo but we decided to just stick with it (and I was too lazy to call the doctor). Looking back, I think it is God's way of telling us that His way was better than our way (Isiah 55:8-9 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts"). I was pregnant from the frozen embryo I didn't plan to put back.
After our failed IVF #1 (before we started the frozen embryo transfer), we thought of giving this baby project our 100% our best since each cycle cost a lot, monetarily & maybe emotionally, and we're not getting any younger (my eggs were 34yrs old!). We decided that I would not work since my hours were long and & it could be quite stressful. So I told my boss in September and I was to serve my notification period until October. Only a few days before my last day that we got the BFP (big fat positive) results. It was great coz I got to tell the good news to my colleagues & boss, especially those who knew about my IVF journey (I was quite open and discuss about IVF with those who asked me about it). So I was pregnant & unemployed! The only drawback is that we have to postpone our plan to buy a house, probably until 2011 or 2012, since our financial position may change with baby onboard.
I planned to have an egg donation late 2010 too, probably a few months after giving birth. I saw an ads for egg donor request in Sep-09 and wanted to help her. We exchanged a few messages and I told her that if I'm not pregnant by June-2010 I would donate my eggs to her & moved on to adoption plan. But since I was pregnant subsequently, we postpone it until after birth & breastfeeding period. I felt guilty about planning to cut short the breastfeeding period but I think formula-fed would be a good alternative as well since a few friends formula-fed their babies.
It could've been me on her position, since we were struggling to have a baby too, like her. The fact that I am blessed with the experience of being pregnant makes me want to do my part to help her, knowing that I would wish somebody would help me too if I were in her position. I hope we would get to know each other during this period and maintain an open relationship after the donation. I would love to get to know the baby we're making (my egg, her womb and her husband's sperm) and would treat the baby as my close friend's baby or even my niece/nephew. It would be as if I have an adopted sister in Melbourne, that'd be nice!
After we buy a house, I hope to be able to lodge my adoption paper so it would be processed as early as possible. Hopefully we would get an addition by the time this baby turns 7 years. I have not researched too much about any restriction, but I would not mind trying another one (without IVF) during the 7 years' wait for the adoption. But I would need to check if it is allowed or if it would push back the waiting period even longer.
Now, I'm filling my time doing nothing much, which is good! I was planning to find a short-time contract job between now and May but it won't be easy as nobody wants to hire a pregnant staff. My friends advise me to enjoy the freedom now before baby arrives, so I would do just that. I'm thankful for my friends who gave me books to read about involving God in the pregnancy & birth period. Those books made me realise that I am a very pessimistic person and I felt undeserved of this baby, this life He's entrusting me to love & care. It's really hard to rely on faith alone and to trust that He has great plan for me. I always take the other way, preparing for any bad things that could happen to me so I won't blame God.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The deed is done
After getting over the first needle injection of Puregon, we finally did the IUI today. I know that it was not supposed to hurt but it was still uncomfortable. I wish my hubby would let me go to gym after the IUI, but I guess he doesn't want to take the risk.... and it's always easy to laze around :)
The day didn't start right as we were late for the sperm collection and couldn't find parking. We didn't know that we could park within the building if we get the nurse to give us the code for the parking area. Seriously, the nurse should have told us in advance that we could park inside. The whole thing made him hard to 'concentrate', iykwim. We know now that next time (yes, always be prepared for next time) we'd just do it at home and bring it to the clinic.
Then, off we went to have breakfast at Parramatta Westfield and settle our mailing fiasco with Bankwest. We have changed our address 3-4 times but each time the statements seemed to still go to the old address. Hopefully this time they'll get it right.
Our plan would be to try IUI 2 - 3 times and move to IVF with ICSI. By January 2009, since Medicare subsidy would be less, we would try TCM. Why not, it'd be interesting to try different procedures and see what works and what not. Now, we just need to budget for all these extra costs.
Personally, I couln't find any reason to be excited about conceiving yet. I am neutral about having baby or not having one, but pro-adoption. It will be fantastic if we could beat the odds, probably the same feeling of passing CFA exams knowing 50% of entrants would fail.
The day didn't start right as we were late for the sperm collection and couldn't find parking. We didn't know that we could park within the building if we get the nurse to give us the code for the parking area. Seriously, the nurse should have told us in advance that we could park inside. The whole thing made him hard to 'concentrate', iykwim. We know now that next time (yes, always be prepared for next time) we'd just do it at home and bring it to the clinic.
Then, off we went to have breakfast at Parramatta Westfield and settle our mailing fiasco with Bankwest. We have changed our address 3-4 times but each time the statements seemed to still go to the old address. Hopefully this time they'll get it right.
Our plan would be to try IUI 2 - 3 times and move to IVF with ICSI. By January 2009, since Medicare subsidy would be less, we would try TCM. Why not, it'd be interesting to try different procedures and see what works and what not. Now, we just need to budget for all these extra costs.
Personally, I couln't find any reason to be excited about conceiving yet. I am neutral about having baby or not having one, but pro-adoption. It will be fantastic if we could beat the odds, probably the same feeling of passing CFA exams knowing 50% of entrants would fail.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
We're moving..
Our lease with the current apartment is almost over and we decided to try another apartment nearby for a change.
Personally, I like the unit we're living now and it's fully furnished (nicely done too). I could see that they are putting it up for rent now. My PIL think it is too quiet here and they prefer more interaction with neighbours and more community activities. Oh no, I just realised the pics they put up for rent are mainly the recent pictures taken recently. I could see Bruno's business shirt hanging in the balcony area, FIL's potted plants/flowers (not bad, though) and my textbooks.
The new place we're moving into will be a Waterfront apartment. It is just 3km away from our current place. I personally hope that Bruno and I would start exercising since we'd have indoor heated pool and gym. We might also invite some friends over to play tennis (once we start learning how to play one) or to have barbecue. Dear hubby will not need to send me to nearby train station too as there would be community bus to Strathfield station.
For my PIL, they do regular jogging and walks currently, but now they would be able to use the gym and join the Vitality Club55 Plus for some extra activities. I look forward to seeing my MIL doing "Aquarhythmics" and "Walk & talk"and she's already planning to get to know more people through those activities. She's a brave woman, I don't have her guts to start a conversation with a stranger.
FIL is already practising his English to an 'angmoh' accent which I find surprisingly good (even better than me, I think). But he has more years fine-tuning his accent since he has been dreaming of living in a western country. We'll just need to get them to drop the "No"s and the 'What"s from their (and our) conversation. Those who live in Singapore and Malaysia would know how to use "what" at the end of the sentence. Eg "You never give me what!" meaning: (It's not my fault, since) You didn't give it to me! As for "no", it's just a habit that my PIL use at the beginning at a sentence when they are giving an additional opinion to the other person (even though they are not disagreeing).
We bought sofa yesterday and blew our budget on a leather 3RR+1RR+1R (if you can guess what those codes mean) so my dear hubby bought a cheaper Sony LCD TV. We bought the TV, washing machine and fridge for $4.5K from Bing Lee and I sorta regret that we didn't bargain hard enough. We got free washing powder and softener as part of the promotion but managed to bargain for 2 extra tickets to watch Swans v Geelong in August. The joke is none of us know or interested in the game! Maybe I could sell them through e-bay...
With a week to go before our move, we have settled most of the essential purchases (matresses, fridge, washing machine, sofa and TV) and now it is the hard part, packing up. I managed to find an excuse that I need to work on Friday and leave all the cleaning and moving to the 3 muskeeters. Too bad, hubby is already planning some chores for me to do on Saturday.
I just found out from my friend that we could use the Post Office service to redirect mail. What a brilliant idea! I spent a couple of days whining to Bruno about the number of organisations that we need to notify each time we move (if we can't find a permanent home yet). On top of it, I would need to do the same for my Singapore address as my brother's moving house too.
Personally, I like the unit we're living now and it's fully furnished (nicely done too). I could see that they are putting it up for rent now. My PIL think it is too quiet here and they prefer more interaction with neighbours and more community activities. Oh no, I just realised the pics they put up for rent are mainly the recent pictures taken recently. I could see Bruno's business shirt hanging in the balcony area, FIL's potted plants/flowers (not bad, though) and my textbooks.
The new place we're moving into will be a Waterfront apartment. It is just 3km away from our current place. I personally hope that Bruno and I would start exercising since we'd have indoor heated pool and gym. We might also invite some friends over to play tennis (once we start learning how to play one) or to have barbecue. Dear hubby will not need to send me to nearby train station too as there would be community bus to Strathfield station.
For my PIL, they do regular jogging and walks currently, but now they would be able to use the gym and join the Vitality Club55 Plus for some extra activities. I look forward to seeing my MIL doing "Aquarhythmics" and "Walk & talk"and she's already planning to get to know more people through those activities. She's a brave woman, I don't have her guts to start a conversation with a stranger.
FIL is already practising his English to an 'angmoh' accent which I find surprisingly good (even better than me, I think). But he has more years fine-tuning his accent since he has been dreaming of living in a western country. We'll just need to get them to drop the "No"s and the 'What"s from their (and our) conversation. Those who live in Singapore and Malaysia would know how to use "what" at the end of the sentence. Eg "You never give me what!" meaning: (It's not my fault, since) You didn't give it to me! As for "no", it's just a habit that my PIL use at the beginning at a sentence when they are giving an additional opinion to the other person (even though they are not disagreeing).
We bought sofa yesterday and blew our budget on a leather 3RR+1RR+1R (if you can guess what those codes mean) so my dear hubby bought a cheaper Sony LCD TV. We bought the TV, washing machine and fridge for $4.5K from Bing Lee and I sorta regret that we didn't bargain hard enough. We got free washing powder and softener as part of the promotion but managed to bargain for 2 extra tickets to watch Swans v Geelong in August. The joke is none of us know or interested in the game! Maybe I could sell them through e-bay...
With a week to go before our move, we have settled most of the essential purchases (matresses, fridge, washing machine, sofa and TV) and now it is the hard part, packing up. I managed to find an excuse that I need to work on Friday and leave all the cleaning and moving to the 3 muskeeters. Too bad, hubby is already planning some chores for me to do on Saturday.
I just found out from my friend that we could use the Post Office service to redirect mail. What a brilliant idea! I spent a couple of days whining to Bruno about the number of organisations that we need to notify each time we move (if we can't find a permanent home yet). On top of it, I would need to do the same for my Singapore address as my brother's moving house too.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Swimming session
I have not been having good night's sleeps, partly because of the sun shining right through the corner of the glass window that's not covered by the blinds. The other reason, I suspect, could be due to the lack of exercise and the weights I have been putting for the last 5 years (to be exact, since I dated Bruno).
We have been planning to go for early morning walk but with the cool weather now, it just makes it harder to wake up in the morning from our warm bed and brace the cold air. In the first place, I don't enjoy walking or jogging. So I decided to try swimming today.
My very kind husband was willing to give up his TV time and ignore his hunger to send me to Olympic Aquatic Centre (just 3 mins from our place). We used Entertainment Book voucher for our entry so we only pay $6.60 for 2 (1 person free). Both of us planned to swim initially but my hubby was probably too intimidated by the crowd there he decided to sit around this time.
The centre was nice, better than what I expected. It looked grand, probably because of the high ceiling. There is a pool for everybody, for serious swimmers, for leisure swimmers (me!), for the big kids, for the small kids and for learners. There was an aqua aerobics class going on when we were there. Man, the moves they did were quite tough, I don't mind joining the classes. The whole area reminds me of 'Ancol', sigh.... especially seeing little kids playing around the water playground.
Now, I just need to get me and hubby to learn how to swim :) I could only swim breaststroke and want to learn freestyle. Maybe I will try to call tomorrow to check if they could accomodate us for the adult swimming classes (the term start tomorrow). Can't wait to go back to the pool!
We have been planning to go for early morning walk but with the cool weather now, it just makes it harder to wake up in the morning from our warm bed and brace the cold air. In the first place, I don't enjoy walking or jogging. So I decided to try swimming today.
My very kind husband was willing to give up his TV time and ignore his hunger to send me to Olympic Aquatic Centre (just 3 mins from our place). We used Entertainment Book voucher for our entry so we only pay $6.60 for 2 (1 person free). Both of us planned to swim initially but my hubby was probably too intimidated by the crowd there he decided to sit around this time.
The centre was nice, better than what I expected. It looked grand, probably because of the high ceiling. There is a pool for everybody, for serious swimmers, for leisure swimmers (me!), for the big kids, for the small kids and for learners. There was an aqua aerobics class going on when we were there. Man, the moves they did were quite tough, I don't mind joining the classes. The whole area reminds me of 'Ancol', sigh.... especially seeing little kids playing around the water playground.
Now, I just need to get me and hubby to learn how to swim :) I could only swim breaststroke and want to learn freestyle. Maybe I will try to call tomorrow to check if they could accomodate us for the adult swimming classes (the term start tomorrow). Can't wait to go back to the pool!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Restaurants
This weekend, we ate out 3 times and this is not good! It hurt our already-expanding waist line and we're supposed to save $ towards our house downpayment.
First, hubby wanted to eat out on Friday and I suggested a Japanese Restaurant that my ex-colleagues brought me to last week. I think it's good that he knows other Japanese restaurants as we seem to be going to Miso for Japanese aaaaaallll the time (and also because my PIL like it too). His first reaction when we entered Nazimi was "This place is small..". Yeah, it was 'intimate' :) Overall the food was good and I am adding this to my 'to-bring-PIL-to' list. Next time, we'd order hotpot as it would be cold enough for that. Can't wait for PIL to come, it's really hard to order food for 2, restricted with quantity that we could consume.
Oh, I met one of my ex-colleagues who was also at the dinner the previous week, what a coincidence. She must have thought of showing her boyfriend this new place too.
The next day, I chanced upon the entertainment book we bought last year and decided to try any of the cafes nearby our place. Too bad that both of the places we wanted to visit was closed. So we decided to eat at Bakehouse Korean BBQ, which would never disappoint us. We ordered one beef and one pork meat for BBQ and kimchi soup. We are still struggling with the art of cooking the meat and how to eat it (with the lettuce and...?), and I was a bit self-conscious with the waiters kept coming over to change the hot plate.
Today, we decided to try another restaurant using the Entertainment Book and we went to Ecco in Drummoyne. Again, I was a bit self-conscious about eating in fine-dining restaurants, especially if I don't see any asians there. This place is almost 99% 'angmohs' but we did go ahead. We decided to skip Entree and ordered main course only...... and we realised that the main course too a looooong time to arrive. We came up with a theory that maybe, we SHOULD've ordered entree... and because we didn't, we would still get our main course in the same time it would take if we had ordered it hehehe... Maybe that's the reason they have entree, because the kitchen need that much time to cook the main course.
Oh well, hubby was very very hungry (though they served us a piece of bread) and when the food arrived, we tried very hard to eat slowly to savour the 'fine' food (I've tried to convince Bruno to eat slowly anyway). I ordered seafood plate ($39), which won some 'it-looks-good' comments from next table, and Bruno ordered a quail dish ($34) with a glass of white wine and a glass of beer. Somehow he was still hungry after the meal (he should've orderd a pasta dish actually) and I felt guilty for not ordering entree, we decided to order dessert and coffee. The waiter actually forgot to bring us the menu! But since we were 'trained' to wait by then, we just sit obediently until the waiter noticed us (that was when Bruno went to the loo and the waiter could then see me).
I realised that most of the people could stay there for hours, ordering drinks first, then entree, then main course and so on... And I'm so used to eat and get out of the place. Maybe we should do this fine-dining stuff more often to get the hang of it hehee... We calculate how much it would cost us if we do this once a month for 4 people. It's probably around $2k.
On another matter, I just watched 'So You Think You Can Dance' and I'm disappointed that Amy didn't win, I like her. I think Amy and Ben are better than the other 2 but maybe they are older. Down at top 2, I was expecting the guy would win (I forgot his name now) as most girls would do the voting than guys. So it was quite a surprise that Thalia won, I was expecting her to be the first one out from the top 4. And what happened to Ben getting emotional on his thank-you speech, he looks so matured and strong and tough...
First, hubby wanted to eat out on Friday and I suggested a Japanese Restaurant that my ex-colleagues brought me to last week. I think it's good that he knows other Japanese restaurants as we seem to be going to Miso for Japanese aaaaaallll the time (and also because my PIL like it too). His first reaction when we entered Nazimi was "This place is small..". Yeah, it was 'intimate' :) Overall the food was good and I am adding this to my 'to-bring-PIL-to' list. Next time, we'd order hotpot as it would be cold enough for that. Can't wait for PIL to come, it's really hard to order food for 2, restricted with quantity that we could consume.
Oh, I met one of my ex-colleagues who was also at the dinner the previous week, what a coincidence. She must have thought of showing her boyfriend this new place too.
The next day, I chanced upon the entertainment book we bought last year and decided to try any of the cafes nearby our place. Too bad that both of the places we wanted to visit was closed. So we decided to eat at Bakehouse Korean BBQ, which would never disappoint us. We ordered one beef and one pork meat for BBQ and kimchi soup. We are still struggling with the art of cooking the meat and how to eat it (with the lettuce and...?), and I was a bit self-conscious with the waiters kept coming over to change the hot plate.
Today, we decided to try another restaurant using the Entertainment Book and we went to Ecco in Drummoyne. Again, I was a bit self-conscious about eating in fine-dining restaurants, especially if I don't see any asians there. This place is almost 99% 'angmohs' but we did go ahead. We decided to skip Entree and ordered main course only...... and we realised that the main course too a looooong time to arrive. We came up with a theory that maybe, we SHOULD've ordered entree... and because we didn't, we would still get our main course in the same time it would take if we had ordered it hehehe... Maybe that's the reason they have entree, because the kitchen need that much time to cook the main course.
Oh well, hubby was very very hungry (though they served us a piece of bread) and when the food arrived, we tried very hard to eat slowly to savour the 'fine' food (I've tried to convince Bruno to eat slowly anyway). I ordered seafood plate ($39), which won some 'it-looks-good' comments from next table, and Bruno ordered a quail dish ($34) with a glass of white wine and a glass of beer. Somehow he was still hungry after the meal (he should've orderd a pasta dish actually) and I felt guilty for not ordering entree, we decided to order dessert and coffee. The waiter actually forgot to bring us the menu! But since we were 'trained' to wait by then, we just sit obediently until the waiter noticed us (that was when Bruno went to the loo and the waiter could then see me).
I realised that most of the people could stay there for hours, ordering drinks first, then entree, then main course and so on... And I'm so used to eat and get out of the place. Maybe we should do this fine-dining stuff more often to get the hang of it hehee... We calculate how much it would cost us if we do this once a month for 4 people. It's probably around $2k.
On another matter, I just watched 'So You Think You Can Dance' and I'm disappointed that Amy didn't win, I like her. I think Amy and Ben are better than the other 2 but maybe they are older. Down at top 2, I was expecting the guy would win (I forgot his name now) as most girls would do the voting than guys. So it was quite a surprise that Thalia won, I was expecting her to be the first one out from the top 4. And what happened to Ben getting emotional on his thank-you speech, he looks so matured and strong and tough...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)