Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve, Mt Eliza Regional Park, Victoria

Jo (our ex volunteer for the exercise study program) email me few days back had asked me if I want to come along with her going to Mt. Eliza and try find places where we could take pictures. It sounds good. Immediately I call her and let her know to count me in. :-)

She fetched me at South Yarra train station at about 11.30 am then a way we go. We stop at Mordialloc, for a coffee and discuss where we want to go after JO completed her task. Finally we decided to go to Moorooduc Quarry.

Moorooduc Quarry is a reserve flora and founa of Mt Eliza. The Quarry is a little bit isolated though. I thought it was a bit spooky, out of no where there is a place for picnic, children playground and some other thing.

It occupies approximately 27 hectares of land and about 3 km walking track to enjoy and mesmerising the nature. We met a lady with her dog, praising how lovely the place is. Climbuing up the hill was not so bad at all, they have made trail and stairs to reach certain part of a higher level of the mountain.

Initially i didn't realise it, but Jo saw first. "Don't you want to take picture of Mushrooms?". :-) Then I started looking down and found more mushrooms.

There are more than 4 types of Mushrooms we found.

Finally we reached our last destination, the quarry lake. History wise The Moorooduc quarry was established in 1887.

Frankston Beach, Victoria

Stop at Frankston Beach to have lunch. I might say we (Me and Jo) were having late lunch after a long 'forest' trail/tracking. I was a little bit 'hypo' but fortunately Jo brought her home made orange cake. It was really nice. Thanks Jo.

I ordered Marinara Pizza, Large size only cost me AUD 7.90. Like it so so much, the base was really crispy. I couldn't finish it by myself, Jo had one piece and the balance I brought it back home. Second time had the same pizza, first time had it last year with Zul.

Meanwhile Jo had a nice fish and chips and cappuccino. It was a nice weather today, it was a sunny day on the beach. Enjoying our late lunch on the beach while the scavengers eagerly waiting for us to give some food.

It was not really cold. Not windy and the sea was really calm. Thought of walking along the beach but bit tired after climbing Mt. Eliza regional park earlier.

While enjoy entertaining the scavangers suddenly we saw one of them has one foot.

Cooking Therapy

Busy and stressful week.
Want to do something which will make me relax a little bit.
Watched Master chef , really inspired me.
They show how to make scones, hmm why not I make myself a scone
Jump of the couch and went to Safeway to get all the ingredients.
Completed making and baked the scones less than 30 minutes.
Nice..
At least I have something for breakfast tomorrow.

Winter Light Festival, Melbourne

Saturday, 2o June 2009
Time: 5.00 pm till 8.00 pm
Location: Federation Square

Almost went back home that day. Then we decided to just go and have a look at Federation Sguare on Saturday evening. Then we saw a group of people worn traditional costumes, two stage preparing for an activity that night and few stalls.

A multicultural show for Light Winter festival.

Opening ceremony start at about 5.30pm . Performance after performance from different cultural background. The best part was we have to walk and change stage to see the performance at different stage or stall.

Punjabi Cultural performance

The turkish cultural performance

The Burmese cultural performance

Not buying anymore bread/bun

Thanks to Jo (one of the volunteer who came for the exercise study program) gave me 3 recipes of Soft Bun. For the past 3 weekend, I have been making the bun with one of the recipe, get use to it and my bun dough getting softer. The results was really good. Last night I made again the bun and I am really happy with it. I just spent less than 30 minutes to mixed it and kneed the dough leave it until it rise into double size then baked it between 12 - 15 minutes. Since last week I don't buy any more buns coz I can make them myself. Again thanks Jo for the recipe. Next I will make my own bread.

Menu for today

The last remaining Pumpkin in the refrigerator. I made 'Labu masak lemak' , 'sambal belacan' and 'goreng ikan masin' for my lunch.

While for dinner, I had something light; Grill Salmon with Salad.

Calm Evening

Beautiful day and beautiful evening in Winter.
I've made a joke with one of the staff at Austin. I told her It is a nice day to go to the beach but it going to be a bit chilly. 'It alright you only need to wear a thick cloth',she replied. 'How about I'll bring the heater to the beach. Portable heater with batteries". Then she laugh. :-)

Pity the sky not as clear as the day before but it was still a nice evening. Calm wind , clear water on the beach. Not many people though may be it weekday still or everybody going for dinner with friends after work on Friday night.

My Work Place

Another week ended. Time flies. Slowly but surely, my patients number increasing, still lot more to go. I am still confident to reach the numbers required for my research study by the end of the year. But sometime I do feel worried. Never lost hope even at time the out come was so disappointed.

Since yesterday I achieved a lot. Called few patients and arrange for their test appointment and today few patients came to research gym for some discussion about the study. I went to diabetic clinic this morning and few patient interested to know more about the study, I need to call them back on Monday and arrange time for further discussion.

I am really hoping for the best and going well for weeks to come.

So far I already have number of patients which come from different background, which is interesting. There are really nice and even some of them help me to recruit some more patients. 'Shukur Alhamdulillah'.

(my working station at the Research Gym, Austin)

I am so fortunate to have 3 work place/working station. One at Victoria Uni and 2 at Austin. It was coincident but It really make my work much more easier and convenient.

My working station at the main Austin Hospital building. All patent's file I need to have it here for security reasons.

Winter Night

I have been trying to avoid going to the city at night during winter but not this time, it was an exceptional.

Zainah and family have never been to south bank at night and watch the flame show. Take the opportunity to spend time for a while in the city at night after visited my place last weekend.

Cardiology Lunch Birthday Gathering

We had a departmental Lunch Birthday gathering yesterday. It was a pot-luck lunch gathering, almost everybody brought something and I brought the Mud Cake given by Greg.

Especially for me from the staff. Thank you very much.

Thorn among the roses, :-) .

(L-R, Jackie,Carol-Lynn Bond, Me, Deidre, Lauren, Jane and Kerrie)

Greek Salad made by Deidre, look so fresh and healthy.

Salmon Keish made by Jackie, mmmm yummy.

The beans salad made my Carol-Lynn Bond. Tasty and yummy too. Jane also brought a loaf of Bread.
Funny, they choose the right birthday card for me. :-) , yup suit well coz most of my patients in the study are elderly.

A box of chocolate. Life is like a box of chocolate (Forrest Gump). Thanks guys, I did enjoy the company yesterday

Mud Cake present

It was nice of Greg to make a mud cake for me. He came in for his usual training session and brought a mud cake on a big tray.


Greg always made nice Mud Cake. The cake was so dense, rich with chocolate and not too sweet. Second time he made and brought us a mud cake. First it was earlier this year and now as a present for my birthday.

After the session, I cut a piece of mud cake and gave it to Ben (post grad student whom helping me training my patients, he's a Samoan). Gregory Woon (mix Irish and Chinese, his a chef) made the cake at his work kitchen on Sunday.

P.S: Still have a lot of Mud Cake at home. Think it will take me weeks to finish it.

Birthday Gift

Presents for Birthday

Chocolate Cake bought and brought by Zainah and Huzaizi for pre-birthday lunch gathering yesterday. Thanks to Zainah and Huzaizi for the cake.

A Present from me to me. Pampered myself with a watch, been admiring the watch for a while.

Like the smells of the perfume. Another pampered gift for myself.

A birthday gift from Zul. Like the smell of this perfume. Nice. Thank you very much Zul.

Pre Birthday Bash

I have decided to have a small 'makan-makan' with few of my closest friends one day before my birthday. Zainah, Huzaizi the kids and Zul came.

I didn't cook as many menu as last time, anyway it only few people. The main menu is 'Opor Ayam'. Indonesian style of 'Lontong with curry'. I had my 'bibik' recipe, had it when I was in Bandung more than 10 years ago. I found the recipe kept in my recipe book.

Since I have a pounder I made Johor style 'Sambal belacan' to spice up 'Opor Ayam'

Vietnam Style Spring Roll.

I purposely bought KFC for the kids, :-) yeah right.

Ashraf, concentrating eating.