Rendezvous night with Mina

Have been staying at home for a couple of days and finally decided to go out to town on a Friday last week. My pale and tired face was brighten a little bit with the help of eyeliner and BB cream. About two hours of shopping on my own, I met up with Mina for an unplanned dinner and movie.

Dinner venue was a choice of two - Rice & Noodle Thai Cuisine or Red Pizzeria. Felt like pizza on that day. Here's the website of Red Pizzeria. - http://www.redpizzeria.co.nz

The ice chocolate is a darling!

 The 3 photos below show part of the interior of the restaurant. I am utterly sorry for the low quality of the photos. 

 

We ordered garlic bread as entree and two mains to share 

Garlic bread

Watercress Waldorf Salad (vegetarian) - Watercress, rocket, pear & walnutswith crumbled blue cheese drizzled
lemon & olive oil dressing and
served w\ focaccia

Little Red Hen - Smoked chicken, prosciutto mushrooms,
red onion, mozzarella cheese,
basil pesto & parmesan

Dinner is never complete without dessert! We have always wanted to try Topsail at Onerahi. This restaurant is sure an award winning restaurant! We went there and it was full house. It is indeed true that you need to make a booking beforehand. Surprisingly, it only runs its business for four days a week, from 6pm for dinner. I bet they must be doing really well that they only need to operate on four days for dinner only. Luckily, we told them we were there for dessert only therefore we were given a spot by the corner. Couch was comfortable. Here's the website for the restaurant. - http://www.topsail.co.nz/

I wish for . . .

 

Mina wanted Mille Feuille but due to out of season for blueberries, it was replaced with this instead. The vanilla bean ice cream is the highlight of this dessert. 

 

As usual, I ordered Creme Brulee. Taste was excellent although the caramel top was a bit burned. 

Mina and I made a promise to try the mains! To be honest, this place is not easy to locate in the dark. Lastly, we ended our day with a movie (The Lucky One)at the cinema and chit chat at my place. Fun time.

-The End-

Lunch at Parua Bay Tavern

This is another overdue post. During early March, I paid my Whangarei mama, Helen, a visit at her house. We went out to Parua Bay for lunch. This is about 15-20 minutes drive from Onerahi. Before that, I would like to lead this blog with a cat called Button. She's adopted by my mama from SPCA. Really cute and flirty. The strangest part is she has a thing for shoes. Look at her hugging my flat as if it was hers.

Do not even try to grab it away from me. I bite. Meow~

Helen also has a hyperactive dog called Rosie.

Parua Bay Tavern won an award in hospitality sector this year and had been runners-up for a couple of years. It is a nice restaurant with good food (even though I just tried two on the menu, I heard good review about the food) overlooking the scenic bay.  

This is what I had -

Honey Garlic Chicken Salad (HGC)

Chicken tenders grilled in a garlic, honey and soy marinade on mesclun with cucumber, red onion, tomato and roasted cashew nuts drizzled with garlic aioli and balsamic dressing topped with kumara curls.

I can't remember what mama had >< My memory fails me constantly

For more information, please visit the website : http://www.paruabaytavern.co.nz/

-The End-

Steve's farewell dinner

Wow! I have quite a number of overdue entries that need to be shared here. Have I ever mentioned to you about a colleague that I enjoyed working with the most? Ta daaaa . . . The great Steve! It's true! Everyone enjoyed working with him back in Kensington Pharmacy. Too bad that he has left us for a better position at one of the hospitals in Auckland. Nevertheless, he will always be remembered for his easy going nature, great sense of humour and his super brain! Wonder what has made him into a genius? hmm... So as you can see this post is his farewell party . . . not exactly a party but a dinner @ Red, just across the road from the pharmacy at Kensington. Let photos do the talking!

Jen came after work at 9-ish

JD and Sheree

Yeah, I see potential in him as a model

 

Actually the star of the day was baby Jonathan cos' we just couldn't stop playing with him . . . so adorable!

Have you seen my current flatmate? He's the Asian in this photo ;P

Also thank you Steve for wearing his "sheriff-designed" shirt at one of the conferences up here. I was so bored at that time but luckily I had the pictures on his shirt to keep me company - drew it to kill boredom. Yeah, I was just siting behind him.

Steve! You will be missed!

-The End-

Chicken and green beans

Finally posted my first entry of this year about 2 hours ago and now this is the second post - about food. This afternoon, I cooked "Chicken and green beans". I got this online and the original recipe was "Chicken and Asparagus" but I couldn't find Asparagus , therefore I substituted it with Green Beans. Also, I added ginger, shaoxing wine and rice wine =) 

 Slices of Chicken Breast, Ginger, Onion, Green Beans, Tomato (instead of cherry tomato)

 Chicken broth with thyme, cornstarch, salt and pepper

Stir fry the chicken until it is almost cooked in a pan over medium-high heat then remove to plate

 Stir fry onion until crisp tender then add green beans 

 Stir chicken broth mixture and add to the pan. Bring to boil. Return chicken to pan and stir fry until the chicken is thoroughly cooked then add tomato

Chicken and green beans. Eat it with rice. *yum* Mine is slightly different from the original recipe with some extra ingredients as well as more gooey.

I find it fairly simple and I dedicate this specifically to Keith Tan so you can cook it over there. Please don't eat too much instant noodles. =)

Please click for original recipe

-The End-

End of 2011, Start of 2012

Happy New Year 2012 to everyone. I should have produced my first entry on the first few days of this jubilant year but instead I waited till now just simply because I have been occupied with work and social networking for the past 3 weeks. As what I have done previous year, I am going to sum up the happenings in 2010 in this post. 

Pharmacy internship was the focus of 2010. I have mentioned that I did my internship at Kensington Phrmacy in Whangarei. Throughout this year, I had learned a lot that range from drug knowledge, working collaboratively with other health care professionals, interactions with people of different backgrounds to acquiring problem solving skill. Kensington Pharmacy is considered a relatively big pharmacy compared to most in NZ. I am glad I did mine here and proudly say I am no longer an intern but a fully registered pharmacist meeting all the requirements of all the seven competence standards set by Pharmacy Council of NZ. Finally, I have made it after 5 years including 4 years of uni. For my success, I want to thank to all those who have supported me including Kensington Staff, families and friends and most importantly, Keith Tan. He was always there for me last year especially when I felt agrieved, and needed an ear. He also stayed awake just to make sure I was up for my oral assessment. So what's next? Currently I am working in the same pharmacy as I have signed a 2-year contract. After that I am going back to Brunei for good. I wish to stay for another year to gain more experience but I don't think I am allowed unless I want to do postgrad. I shall see what God has in His hands for me. 

 Completion of EVOLVE Intern Programme

 Yes! I am competent! 

 My official cert

 I can sell ECP now. Anyone wants some? *heee*

 What's next? Join ENHANCE, PDA, PSNZ, College of Pharmacists = $$

Another highlight of last year was my first meeting with Keith Tan. He touched down in Kiwiland on the festive Christmas Day. After spending 16 days with him physically, skipping all the details, I conclude that it was a pleasant meeting and felt very comfortable with him which is a good sign, taking both of us to another new level. I am really glad that he came over. Thank you so much for coming, poo-poo. I might blog about this in a separate entry in the future.

 At Kerikeri, Bay of Islands

 At Hamilton Garden

It was International Cultural Concert in July. This was based in Dunedin hence I flew over to help out a bit. The best part was I was on the land of snow! It was the heaviest snowfall ever, just absolutely beautiful seeing most of things covered in white snow. Due to the bad weather, I could not fly out of Dunedin in time hence I missed my connecting flight from Auckland to Whangarei. As a result, I stayed overnight in Auckland.

There are 6 parts about this event. Please go to http://aprilariez.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html for the first part

In November, I went for my OZ honeymoon trip with Juang, after our big exams and before the release of our results. Well, Juang knew hers when we were there and yes! She is officially a DOCTOR! *clapclap* Congratulation Chabo! We went to Sydney, Goldcoast and Brisbane in 10 days. I really had fun with her. Where should we go next? ;P (If I have spare time, I will write about this travelogue in more detail) =D 

 At Southbank, Brisbane

Vincent is someone who I want to mention here as well. He has gone back to his hometown for good to practise as a pharmacist. I just want to wish him all the best in his career and every other aspect of his life. He is one of my friends who I hang out with whenever I go to Auckland. Bekah is also another friend who left NZ for good. I knew her when I was in my first year of pharmacy degree and is a lovely friend to have. I also want to say good luck to Esther, Adi and Sam for their passion in obtaining another degree. Of course I won't forget the two amazing ladies who I must find when I am down in the big city - Bea and Jo. Love you two loads. For those who are going to sit for pharmacy assessment in May, GOOD LUCK! To the rest of my friends including those who are in Brunei, may 2012 bring you happiness and good luck in your life. Love all of you to bits =)

 Days before Vincent left

I may not see some of you again. All the best ~<3~

-The End-