Fresh Cream Cake with Pineapple and Bananas

Ta-daa... Fresh Cream Cake with pineapple and bananas. It's for my aunt's birthday. Will upload the picture of the interior of the cake pretty soon but kinda feel lazy now. Anyways this is just a simple sponge cake with loads of whipped cream and tropical fruits. haha. But one of the reasons this is a nice cake is because it is light and not too sweet. Will definitely still need to work on the appearance of my fresh cream cakes in the future though.

[Added: These pictures have just been added in]

The interior of the cake.

I have a test tomorrow. Somehow I wonder whether this is a whole new me that has emerged. I dont feel stressed? Well, at least not yet. It's kinda bad. 'Cause I dont feel that urge to study. Somebody kick me!

Anyways, till then. Holidays flew by before my eyes. Didnt think it would go so fast. Seriously will need to plan my holidays better if I dont want to waste anymore precious time.

Paws Mission Training Crew

My past few posts have been a lot about dogs. Well, this will be another one if you dont mind. Just like how my holiday was filled with baking and cakes, my current free time is spent a lot on dogs. For those who are not aware, Paws Mission is an animal shelter along Old Klang Road (you can ask me for directions!) that was set up by volunteers. The shelter practises a no-kill policy so all strays that are sent here are either adopted or continue to live their lives at the shelter. Currently they have 100+ dogs of various sizes, breeds and temperaments. But all are equally special and adorable in their own way.

The past five weeks have been an uforgettable journey. I stepped into this not expecting anything but an opportunity to handle strays but I gained so much more than that. I met lots of lovely people who seem to have the same goal and love for dogs as me, I have learnt so much from the training, and more so, it has coloured my life in such a beautiful way that I would not have gotten this experience anywhere else.

On the first week, TJ(he trains us to train our dogs) got everyone to pick a dog. One that we would like to train. There was one dog that caught my eye from the first time i saw him. The one TJ pointed out as the pack leader. Haha.. I didnt choose him because he was the pack leader but more of because he looked really cool and there was something about the way he carried himself that attracted me. Lemme introduce you to.. Serdang.

Me posing with Serdang

We started our training after that. We went through the basic commands but on most sessions, we emphasised on "Sit" and "Heel". The beautiful thing about the sessions was that.. the training wasnt just about the dogs. It was about how we projected ourselves to the world too, including the dogs. Very often, it was pointed out by TJ that all the dogs I am in charged of like to use their paw to step on my foot. I used to like it when Metta did it to me and thought it normal. In fact, I thought it was kind of a way for him to express his affection towards me. Maybe something like "Hey, you're mine". Lol. Little did I know that it meant that the dog is being dominant over you. oh wow.

So anyways, my five week stint with Serdang ended. At the end of it, he was more laid-back and as for me, I learnt on how I could improve on myself. And somehow, I seem to have gotten attached to him. Although he can really push my buttons sometimes by acting so cool and he absolutely LOVES marking his territory by pee-ing everywhere, including me, I have grown fond of how calm he is compared to the other dogs. He is also very good-looking and most important of all, he recognises me! He runs over to me everytime i visit his kennel. Very touching right? :')

I now have a new dog to train. Elisa. That's me with her in the picture below. Isnt she pretty with her doe-like eyes? She has an almost similar attitude to Serdang but no one can really replace Serdang in my heart. And Elisa tends to give shocking yelps when she doesnt like something i make her do. Makes me look like the evil bully. :( Perhaps it is the first day so we need getting used to.

Picture above, from left: Elise, Yoyo (Elise's 2nd dog), Yi Hou, Chocolate (Yi Hou's 2nd dog), me, Elisa, Crystal, Rosie (Crystal's 2nd dog), TJ, Aaron, and Ruinmo (Aaron's 2nd dog).

Picture below, from top left to right: Aaron, TJ, auntie from the shelter, Taikor(pack leader of area in front of temple), uncle from the shelter, and Yi Hou

From bottom left to right: Flower (elise's first dog), Elise, me, Serdang (my first dog), uncle from shelter, Sasa (Crystal's first dog), and Crystal.

We had group photos taken last Saturday because of some promo events coming up. Adoption drives, charity events... oh ya, there will be an adoption drive at the shelter this Sunday. Do drop by if you feel like adopting a handsome dog (hint hint, like Serdang!). I suspect that there might be some dog demo for potential adopters to see as well. Another charity event will be organised on the 19th November. More details will be revealed on Paws Mission's website and facebook page.

This is me holding up a new puppy that just came into the shelter. Got dumped by DBKL, if i am not mistaken.

So that's all from me today. Please remember the two events I mentioned above.

1. The adoption drive this Sunday

2. Wag N Roll (19 November 2011) - charity concert organised for Paws Mission

And before I forget, credits to the two wonderful photographers, Crystal and Elise for the pictures. :)

Some people are worth waiting for a lifetime. But not all. You have to know who is.

On a separate note, I have been consistently taking Metta out for runs everyday since Saturday. The day that TJ came to my house and taught me a few tricks on how to handle my furryball of fluff. Today, I decided to give the bike a rest since I kinda feel like it's a little too exhausting for Metta. Walked him instead. I love Metta to bits right now. The story of 10 Promises to My Dog comes to my mind. When Metta was a puppy, I spent all the time i had with him. Played cops and robbers with him, gave him tummy rubs, taught him how to climb staircases, fed him milk etc. But as he gradually grew bigger and harder to handle, and along with my increasing busy life, I began to neglect him. Even then, Metta never gave up on me. He continued to treat me with just as much love as always and still trusted me enough to give him tummy rubs. And now, 10 years later, after 5 years of secondary school, 2 broken relationships, a year away from home, countless fights and tears.. Metta is still here with me. As forgiving as ever. I promise I wont take you for granted anymore Metta.

haha, now I just hope i dont end up suffocating him with my love. Just as I always do with the people I choose to love.

Metta Can Run! :)

I havent been this happy for so long. Seeing Metta run happily along with a bike... it's so beautiful! Imagine riding a bike, one hand on the steering part and another hand holding onto Metta's leash. Combining two of my favourite things together!!! Didnt know Metta could be so obedient. If i could tell him, I would tell him that I am so proud of him. Gonna try taking him out for a run tomorrow as well. Fingers crossed, I wouldnt be disappointed! :)

The Right Thing To Do

I remember not too long ago, I wrote that there is actually no right or wrong in life. That no matter what you do, you just have to follow your heart. And as long as your heart says its right, it's right. Funny how it's so much easier to give advice to others but not to yourself. Even realising that there is no right or wrong does not help provide me with an answer now.

A person who is special to me will always be special to me. And no one can ever change that fact. But even so, things are still capable of being complicated. I can choose to do whatever i want which would fall in the grey area... but because it is grey, i might view it as something neutral whereas others might view it as wrong. When people face these type of dilemmas, what do they do?

the wind

Everything is constantly changing. Circumstances, emotions, people, responsibilities, rights. You might be at one place at one point in time, and no matter how much you try to stay at that one place, life or rather, the forces in life, will eventually make you move. I like to think of things that way, whenever the going gets tough. At least, I am assured that whatever pain I am going through is temporary only.

You came and you left,

Like the wind,

Strong and hard-on

Leaving me walking to the direction

of your choice

And now,

now that the wind has passed

i am stranded on this lonesome path

a lone stranger

on this journey to nowhere

Each day passes

i'm constantly questioning

the sacrifices i make

I wonder

if everything i am doing

is worth the wait.

The wind is uncertain

it can be cold one day

humid the next

and just nice after that

It comes when it foresees a storm

but disappears when the day is bright

Always dragging me back

only to leave me there standing alone

Is it too much of me to behave the way i did simply because i am afraid of getting hurt?

Maybe one day when i am truly ready to take that leap of faith, i will. And i will not have any fears or regrets after that.

A thousand words even, will not be able to convince you.