18/05/12 - Celebrated my 26th birthday this past weekend (though it was officially Monday 14th) with my kids in Taman Tun. I decided to make some ice cream cone cakes (left) for the occasion (which my mother made at Easter); some came out a little burnt as my oven is so small as some got too close to the heat bars, but the second batch came out better with some more strategic positioning. Had Tharani help me with icing and decorating the cakes; they turned out to be suprisingly good for my first baking venture.

Went for Pizza Hut on Saturday evening, as my college friend, Liza, had supplied me with some discount coupons; we had two regular pizzas (25% discount), a pitcher of coke (25% discount), and two free kids meals (we managed to pull off Deepa being an 8yo, even though she's 12), all coming to less than RM50 (£10). Sadly my camera couldn't be there for my birthday, as it has a two to four week recovery time, so I decided to use my phone and my mini Nikon camera for the day (my Fujifilm amateur DSLR doesn't want to support my rechargable batteries anymore).

My camera wasn't the only thing missing from my birthday; Udaiya, Kavari, Rooban and Gautham have now moved to live with their mother's, Santha and Shanthi, in Shah Alam. As if that wasn't bad enough, Santha has picked herself (or was picked by) a Nigerian boyfriend. Though it's difficult to keep so many children in such a small house in Taman tun, the conditions they're living in now are little better, and the fact that they're living all the way in Shah Alam makes it harder for me to visit them...

As for gifts on my birthday, I received money from my parents and brother, so I decided to buy myself an electric drill, and some small rice bowls. I'm not sure if I need an electric drill just yet, but I saw one at Econsave for just RM 67 (though it was marked at RM 80), so I thought I'd buy one now whilst it was discounted; I know my housemates want to put some things up, and I wouldn't mind putting up some wall shelves in my room some time. My two rice bowls are actually to be dessert bowls, for my massive stashes of dessert mix (Angel Delight, Crusha etc.).

11/05/12 - Chithirai festival has come around again, though a few weeks later than usual. It was the usual line up of a musical night, giving of milk, house blessings, children's games and Holi (colour throwing), which I was enjoying until a boy threw powder at me, which also hit my camera and seemingly contaminated it, as it later wouldn't turn on. Tharani had warned me to be careful, spiritually, during the festival, so it feels like some kind of spiritual influence broke my camera, having survived to of these festivals previously without any camera problems.

Sent my camera for repairs at Sony Style in KLCC (where I originally bought it); it's inconvienient timing to have my camera taken away as I was planning on properly promoting my photography business. Hopefully I can get it back after my exams, then I can do promotion during my semester break. Took my college friend, Vanajah, along with me to KLCC, where we had a long chat. As I said last week, I went to keep my relationships strong with my diploma friends, especially Vanajah, as they could hopefully turn out to be more meaningful in the future...

04/05/12 - Really been enjoying the company of my kids (left) since returning from UK; I've been pretty busy with college coursework (as the end of the semester is coming) so I've not been able to give them tuition or spend as long as I'd like with them. Managed to feed eight kids veggie tortillas (right) at an expense of just RM4 (£0.80) thanks to some well spotted clearance items. Tharani seems to be pushing herself with her studies, and seems to have a closer bond with me now. Also trying to keep solid friendships with my old friends from my diploma; I've not made any close frienships in my degree so far, but there are not enough locals and too many Nigerians...

20/04/12 - I'm so glad to be back in Malaysia again; it was strange coming back and not having a large todo list in a restricted time frame like all my other journeys to Malaysia have been, I live here now. Been having trouble getting to sleep at the time I want, I usually go to bed around 11-12 and wake up 8-9, but can't kick the 1-10 sleep routine; I seem to be more motivated to do things late at night too. Had lots to do to get back into my normal living routine; two big lots of laundry, lots of shopping and cooking to fill the fridge up again (there's still space amongst all the chocolate), and I've at least tidied away all the things I brought back from UK, but they still need properly organising; I think I need to buy a wall shelf to keep some things.

Trying to catch up with college work, as I missed some classes whilst in UK; given my passport to the college to put my student visa in my new one. Got new housemates in our apartment for this month, some Malay guys and the Somalia couple that stayed with us a couple of days last month, who were apparently quite rowdy when they first moved back in but have settled down. The highlight of this past week though was, of course, seeing my kids again; Dharshaini has instantly turned from baby to toddler since passing her first birthday whilst I was away. I thought Chithirai would have taken place this past weekend, as it usually does mid-April, but they're celebrating at the end of Chithirai month, in the start of May.

13/04/12 - Had the extended family from my mother's side visit on Easter Sunday to meet Rowan for the first time; it was nice to meet everyone again, and was suprised at how much my cousins have grown up over the years... Arrived back in Malaysia, though the flight felt longer and harder than the last time; had to endure a screaming toddler on the first flight, had some European guys behave suspciously round my bag at Doha airport, then my suitcase handle broke as I arrived at KL Sentral. Regardless, I arrived back safely, and so did my massive stash of treats (right)!

So the last me until I can get another stash imported, I have: 15 chocolate eggs, 11.5 bars of chocolate, 6 packs of mini chocolates, 7 chocolate bars, 5 packs of biscuits, milkshake mix, vinegar, 5 tins of dessert (custard and rice pudding), stuffing mix, 6 sachets of rice pudding and 21 sachets of whipped dessert mix; to my knowledge, I think just one pack of mini Creme Eggs 'perished' to the heat on the journey. I'm sure all this will last quite a while, though I'll have to be wary of expiry dates on some things (like chocolate), but I still have a little bit left from the stash my father brought me in November, so I won't be getting through what I got straight away. I'll post an update in six months time to show how much is remaining...