Christmas Party

Christmas at Hobbes!

At the start of the party, after explaining the meaning of sharing and giving, the children happily exchanged gifts among themselves. Each and everyone of them also received a present from Hobbes.
The excitement and noise from the games, songs and even during chow time is still ringing away....

Let's pray for this spirit of peace, joy, love and hope to continue in the times ahead.

Colours of Christmas

clockwise from top left  - kunyit fried chicken wings,creamy mash
potatoes, fruit salad, toasted pumpkin soup and chicken curry puff.

Yum yum yum

Tucking in and chit chat chat

Sharing gifts

Teachers and children elated with their presents.

Wheee! See what I have..... 

Ca - Ca- Capati hei!

Ca - ca - CAPATI, hei!

The Indian choice bread -  capati was made by the children under the expert hands of Teacher Asotha during the November school holidays. We learnt that making capatis is simply a mixture of atta flour and wheat flour kneaded with water or milk with a dash of salt. Knead them into smaller balls, roll them out and pan fry until it gets fluffy. It is really that simple.

The children also cleaned up as usual, washing up as well as sweeping and mopping the floor. No compromise on the number of crumbs they picked up and alas the kitchen was spic and span.
Well done, children!

Teacher Asotha's Curry Puff Factory

One of the repeated request was to make the curry puffs again. The children loved the favourite Malaysian snack just as much as making them. 

There was no short cut and Teacher Asotha made sure we started from the scratch, making the pastry, cutting and cooking the potatoes right up to pinching the hems.

Now doesn't that look exactly like a mini factory run by little children in their own wonderland?!

More Friends!

Jacqueline called us up and said she had a group of friends who would like to visit us. They were also from SMK Kota Kemuning on a school project and along they came on a school going day.

Her friends including Benjamin (pleasantly one of my former Sunday School children from Church of St Thomas More), Jeremy and Hemasri dropped by at Hobbes on a cheerful Friday morning.

They started off helping the children out with their homework before embarking on blowing up the balloons for the games. Balloons in whichever form somehow elicit thrills and the party just began with the children amusing themselves in their own dizzy ways.

It was good fun playing charade where Yi Xiang was the unofficial champion, guessing correctly almost for all his group. When it came to Balloon Stamping, there was plenty of action and there was no more shyness as even the girls, Evelyn especially was in her element.

As it was a school day, it was with much reluctance the children resigned to prepare for school. Our new friends joined us for lunch and had to mimicked the children washing up their own utensils. and that was when  it was revealed some of them were actually doing it for the first time. Always a first time.





Happy memories linger on today even as we delight in the chocolates our friends brought. Hoping to see you all one of these days.

With Teen Friends at Park

I received a polite request from Kyle that he and his group of friends from SMK Kota Kemuning have a Moral project and would like to visit Hobbes and interact with the children. After a few exchange of smses, we agreed to meet at the playground on a Wednesday morning.

Klye's gang of about nine 13 year olds and our ten children introduced themselves and after lots of giggling and shy handshakes, the ice was broken. They played various games like Tag and self-styled basketball and volleyball. After all the running, screaming and laughter, they were exhausted and spent but our new friends were very thoughtful and had snacks and drinks for the children. Of course these were finished in a jiffy with none to spare.

Soon, we were making our way back to Hobbes taking the path along the lake. We saw an eagle circling in the lake and vertically swooshed down on its prey fish.
Towards the end of the lake, there were bushes of blue morning glory and yellow trumpet flowers. The girls gleefully picked the vibrant flowers, but they know only to choose the fresh ones fallen on the ground as they don't want to ruin the plant.

After a refreshing shower, all the teens and children huddled into the pantry for their lunch still chatting non stop. After distributing the goody packs to the children, goodbyes were waved on but I am sure we will bump into each other again. Thanks for all the fun -  Kyle, Alison, Wei Ling, Rachel, Shen Ai and the others whom I have missed out!!

Epic Movie Outing

It was during the two weeks break when we decided to go for a movie. In perfect timing, the movie Epic was in town and we got down to action. Booking the transport, buying the tickets online and many strategic plans in case of this and that. Hey, going out with ten active children with ages ranging from 7 - 11 to the busiest mall in town was no mean feat!

With Teacher Feu and my two ranger teenage daughters, we set out and arrived in Sunway Pyramid all hyped up. With a little time to kill, we took the children to Popular Book Store and and a few others to Minitoon. Tickets were collected, popcorn bought and distributed and still we have not stepped into the cinema. Because one of the important rituals  - trip to the washroom  had to be done.One of the parents (name withheld to safeguard child's face) forwarned me that her child will inadvertently request to go to the bathroom at the most exciting part of the movie. And you know what - it happened , except that it was not hers but another:)

The children were sweet as angels in the cinema (also because they have been strictly told they must behave and no talking loudly during the movie) even though I am sure I heard someone along our row made a remark when he saw these bunch of children coming in to sit near them!The children could follow the story pretty well as I hear them laughing (at the correct timing) and someone almost applauded.

Lunch was at Burger King. Joey was apprehensive when served but after the meal, said that she will make her parents bring her again. That was a relief! We walked around the mall for awhile, with the rangers and teachers watching over them like hawks before our very reliable transporter, Encik Zaidi arrived on the spot to take us back. Epic movie, great food and excellent company! We will do it again.

Making Kueh Ketayap



Kueh Ketayap  - mouth-watering in rose and pandan pancakes.



Teacher Feu who is also a great cook, showed us how to make this favourite local dessert which is freshly shaven coconut cooked in gula melaka , rolled in pancakes.

We had rose and pandan pancakes in lovely pinks and greens ready to be rolled. The girls quickly 'booked' the pretty pink ones though the green pancakes were also very inviting with its pandan fragrance. Every child took their turns to choose and roll their kueh. Somehow in their own unique ways, can even identify their craft very accurately.

We all had a great Tea-time and Teacher Feu in the nick of time, managed to save enough kueh ketayaps for moms and dads back home:)