#buttercakebaker

On a cold but not so cold July 10th morning, waking up at a luxurious time of 8.16am; to the sounds of the heavens pouring squeezing the rain clouds below it and above us, all the water that it had been absorbing for some time. This water is what we know as rain. – The sponge-like clouds must be drying up as the rain seemed to be slowing down.

The ladies of the family had taken a day off from work to spend quality time as a family on this day, July 10th.

The first order of the day was to get some errands done. After all, it is a normal working day for everyone else. Came home and picked up the younger lady of the house to go grab some breakfast.

As we had a couple more errands in the “SS” area of Subang Jaya (1), I suggested a quick brekkie – a coffee and pastry at Good Ground Bakery (GGB).

Today was a first try for their plain croissants. As my wife Jeannie and I were browsing to see what we should eat, Monique, GGB’s bright and chirpy Public Relations person; suggested to try their plain croissants, just baked and out of the oven. Jeannie ordered it, with butter and strawberry jam to go with it. Jeannie, who is in the food business, said it isn’t easy to make good croissants. It needs to be gotten just right.

The plain croissant can be eaten with almost anything. Here, we asked for butter and strawberry jam to go with it. We tried it on its own. Perfect! Jeannie and I loved it. Then, we ate it with the strawberry jam and butter. It was lovely.

*The croissant, with part of it already cut and eaten. It couldn’t wait for its picture to be taken. 😂*

The big, spicy chicken curry puff, was great, too. GGB is the bakery that you come, expecting delicious pastries with good beverages, hot or cold, always; spending time with family or friends, do some personal work or catch up on some reading. It offers you an experience wanting to come back again for more.

*I just love colours. The colours of yellow, gold and brown makes this chicken curry puff, a work of art.*

*The big chicken curry puff on the left with its light brown, golden accent crust. The croissant perfect, on the right.*

*The blacks look great from an angle. This comes with satsifaction.*

*And another…* *With our daughter, Laura; Jeannie and I.*

I had planned a couple of weeks earlier, to spend a bit of time at Mid-Valley Shopping Centre on this day, my birthday. I thought that there might be some birthday offers if I decided to buy anything. I had in mind to buy a pair of Teva sandals, the model with padded straps and more comfortable to use. I loved the pair that I already had, but since I do a lot of walking, it would be nice to have a more comfortable pair. My good friend, Keith Ganesan once told me that we have to treat our feet royally as they carry our body everywhere. Wise statement.

*“They” tempted me to get this. Looks good. However, it does not appeal to me.*

The drive to Mid Valley met with the usual heavy traffic on the Federal Highway. It was not chockablock. We got there in fairly decent time.

First thing on the agenda a quick kopi-O ais (Malaysian for iced coffee, black) and a currypuff. Jeannie tempted me with the idea of having chicken rendang (2) currypuff, sold at the food court in Aeon departmental store.

We got there in the nick-of-time. There were only three of these currypuffs left. With kopi- o ais, it was a good afternoon snack.

I soon made my way to the Teva store. There was a RM50 (US$10.70) discount on this price range of sandals. I tried them on for size and found it comfortable – ideal for long wear. I got it.

*Trying on the Teva M Terra F1 5 Universal for size. Got it. What do you think? In the foreground, is my current Teva XL@ Hurricane.*

*Looking at the Bellroy Tote bags for Jeannie and Laura, a birthday gift on my birthday, to them.*

I then walked across to The Gardens to get a birthday gift each from me to Jeannie and Laura. The Planet Traveller store has some pretty cool things that the both of them would like. The Bellroy Tote bag is a nice everyday use item that both of them would like . No prizes for guessing what colour Laura chose.

*No prizes for guessing what colour Laura chose.*

We headed home at about 5.00pm, hoping to meet the after work traffic jams. We somehow managed to do that.

We had a fairly late dinner (at least to us, it was; as we usually have dinner around 6.00pm to 7.00pm). I decided on something simple yet fit for a “king”. We ate at Burger King.

Laura was feeling a bit under the weather – she went for fries only. Jeannie went for the Whooper (no not swan. It is the way she pronounces it) set. Mine was like an oblong burger.

My burger reminded me of McD’s prosperity burger, at least the shape of it. Instead of an oblong beef patty like that of McD’s, this came with two small round patties. It tasted nice. The sauces in it, made it all the more nicer. I think this is a new variant. You should try it. They have a choice of either beef or chicken.

*Family bonding at the King.* *I wanted something simple for dinner. And quick, too. I chose Burger King.*

*Laura was feeling a bit under the weather – she went for fries only. Jeannie went for the Whooper (no not swan. It is the way she pronounces it) set. Mine was like a oblong burger.*

Since today only comes once a year (just like every other day. haha), Jeannie bought these packets of chocolate for me. I love chocolate. Perhaps I should write about chocolate. Maybe….will see.

We ended the day by having some birthday cake – buttercake made by the famous buttercake baker, my mum. It was delicious. The cake was soon gone as we started cutting the cake to give to friends and family.

*Buttercake birthday cake made by mum. Awesome! Delicious and even more than before.*

*An inside look of the beautiful and yummy buttercake.*

*The side of the cake. This is absolutely a work of art.*

I met with Su Yin, Jeannie’s colleague and a birthday celebrant, too. Her birthday was July 9th. I see her quite often when I drop Jeannie off at work and pick her up. This was the first time I met her in person. Jeannie says she is a super, super, super wonderful person. From our brief meeting; I totally agree with Jeannie – Su Yin is a super, super, super wonderful person.

*Here I am with Su Yin, a birthday celebrant, too. Her birthday was July 9th.*

I dropped by at St. Thomas More Church to give parish priest, Monsignor Patrick Boudeville some birthday cake. He invited me to join him for lunch with his staff in the dining room. I thanked him but said I was in a rush to several other cake delivery stops. “You are always in a rush. At least have a coffee”, he said. So, I did.

*Having coffee with Monsignor Patrick Boudeville at St Thomas More Church in Subang Jaya. He is very witty.*

He is very witty and kept me laughing most of the time. It was a really nice coffee break for me. I was off to make my birthday cake delivery rounds. It has been a great start into my 67th year.

*My mother-in-law made this cute little knitted apple in a keychain for me.*

I received hundreds and hundreds of birthday wishes and they are still coming in as I put this essay together.

Starting from one the earliest messages from my La Salle School classmate, Mohan Singh, followed by a telephone call from him a bit later, to the phone calls from my mum & dad, to all the messages from the various social media platforms, family members staying near & far, my La Salle School alumni year, St. Jude BEC…, on Facebook, Instagram, X, Tik Tok, emails…Whatsapp, Messenger… WOW!

Thank you everyone for a great start into my 67th year.

NOTES:
1. Subang Jaya is a bustling and exciting city in the central peninsula state of Selangor, Malaysia.
2. Rendang is a dry style of curry that is simmered until the gravy thickens. Classic rendang is usually made with beef, but chicken is also popular. Beef Rendang takes twice as long to cook and so Chicken Rendang is a delicious alternative. It is somewhat lighter and “brighter” in taste and appearance. http://www.rotirice.com

It has been quite an eventful last 4 weeks in the Klang → Subang Jaya, Klang → Shah Alam and Klang → Petaling Jaya routes and back. Klang is where Dad and mum live; Subang Jaya is where Malcolm & Uma and Jeannie & I live; Shah Alam is where Malcolm & Uma live and Petaling Jaya is Klang to UMMC hospital.

The best baker of buttercakes, my mum – Philomena Atkinson; was at her usual at age 84 just about to turn 85.

Famous birthday cake with the famous icing. I remember in our younger days, we’d hang around for mum to finish icing the cake and then make a grab for the balance icing. One of those that remember this well is Guy Rozario.

It was one evening, somewhere in the first week of June, I get a call from mum. Oh, by the way, “best baker of buttercakes” has been bestowed upon her by the many. many, many people who have tasted her buttercakes and want more. Everyone keeps pestering her for her secret ingredient. Her “secret” ingredient is an open secret. Why? Because even if you know it, it would be impossible to duplicate. You may come close, but exacting it is not possible. This “secret” ingredient is called “love“.

You will agree with me that it is impossible to duplicate, just like a fingerprint. It belongs to that person. It is also just like colours.

Here, just when you thought the spectrum of colours had 8 – 12 (these were the standard colours in the box of colour pencils we used to take to school)…. The range started growing until smartphones were touting 16 million colours. Then, the “in-thing” phrase “A.I.” or artificial intelligence (don’t know what the big fuss is all about when politicians have been around for the longest time) has become a new buzzword which in turn has created a palette of 1 ber ber billion, yes billion; colours. So, the standard set of 8 -12 colours are now recognized in the different shades, most of which we think we don’t see; they are there. It is just that we don’t recognize them or take it for granted.

Back to mum’s secret ingredient in her buttercakes. It was that one evening…I get a call from her saying that she had a fall. I had just picked Jeannie up from work and was about to head home. She said that she was carrying a freshly baked cake out of the oven when she lost her balance and fell. I think at that time, dad was out on one of his errands. At 90, that man sure has a swagger.

Just in case if you are wondering. No, it is not my birthday…yet. But coming real soon. This was last year’s birthday. The dark chocolate, nyonya kuih, Burger King’s whopper and KFC breakfast was Jeannie’s idea.

Jeannie and I went straight up (or down?) to Klang from P.J.. We reached mum within 45 minutes. Dad was already at home by then. Mum complained about a bad pain in her leg. She was advised by a couple of friends to go for an x-ray at a nearby clinic.. She was hesitant and not quite up to going right there and then.

I called a buddy – childhood friend and classmate, Dr Michael Lee Pillai, up for advice on getting x-rays done. He advised that it was better for mum to get an MRI done at the hospital nearby so that a specialist could assess the issue mum had.

We took mum the next morning to have this done. Results showed no fractures or broken bones.

We celebrated her birthday over the weekend and on June 14th, mum’s actual birthday; Jeannie and I visited them. A few minutes after we left them; dad calls to say mum had another fall. We turned back and headed back to their house. We were less than 10 minutes away at that time.

She was climbing the stairs, with the aide of the prong walking stick; to go to her bedroom. Just after the first step, she fell backwards. We believed what could have happened was that the prong walking stick was not placed firmly on the step, which may have caused her to lose her balance. With a slight bump on the back of her head, she seemed ok. But, she did complain of a pain in her hip joint.

We, again took her for another MRI which showed no fractures or broken bones. She decided to take a break from her cake making and focus on her physical recovery.

A few days ago, dad called to say that mum was back at baking, but taking it at an easy pace. Many people who love her buttercakes expressed a great relief to hear that they can get her buttercakes again. Most common statement from them, “There is no others like your mother’s buttercakes”. Pictures of some of the buttercakes she has made are shown here.

Mum is also well known for her suggee cakes and fruit cakes. She would start preparing for the fruitcakes between 3 to 6 months. This story is for another time.😘

So, yeah! The best of buttercake baker is back!

NOTES: Klang, Subang Jaya, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya are cities in the state of Selangor, Malaysia.

leatherpotato

The future is now. Live it!

WOW! INTO MY EXCITING 67TH

BUTTERCAKE BAKER