A Very Special Thank You Received

 The day before National Day, I finally got to visit an ex-colleague, K and her family at their colonial terrace house at Portsdown,  a remote area near Commonwealth and Queenstown district. It is an old neighbourhood where you would get train running behind your backyard, which I had missed waving to bypass trains since the visit is way after the train line had closed.

I brought them a tofu cheesecake with mixed berries compote and we had it for tea. They really enjoyed it and had second helpings, leaving two slices to enjoy the next day. It was a charming afternoon at the nostalgic old house, all the more nicer with the very friendly and hospitable hosts. K's french husband, P, shared with me many nice information and little stories related to baking, cooking, travelling and all the other good things that one can do in the French countryside, with it's abundance fresh quality produce and wonderful scenery.

K and P also showed me the numerous home made stories books which they had created for their daughter when she was younger. Daddy wrote the stories while Mummy did the illustrations. I love all the imaginative stories and the charming water colour illustrations that went with them. What is really special is that the character, Shushana is an Asian girl and the drawings were all drawn in Asian context. They even gave me a set of four story books which got published some years back. They have a blog http://draw4children.blogspot.com/ which shares their inspirations on what motivated them to create these stories books and the books may also be bought through their mail order.

All this while, their daughter, Gaia, was drawing at our table side. When I tried to take a look, she hurriedly covered it up. I thought she was just being shy and left her alone.

The set of lovely story books I received, which was written and illustrated by the couple.

As evening came, K invited me for dinner and also offered to show me how to bake her quick baguette, which was very much enjoyed by her family and has become a staple at their meals. As we set down for dinner at the table, I noticed that Gaia has tucked a piece of folded paper under my napkins. As I picked it up, I realised it was the piece of drawing which she was working on earlier and she had made it into a card for me. As I went through her drawings, my heart felt a touch of warmth and I was deeply moved by this almost 12 years old (she turns 12 by this month end) way of showing her appreciation for the cake I made for her family.

The sequence of drawings on Gaia's Thank You card. I never expected such a heart warming gesture from a child and I was also greatly impressed by her drawing skills and had specially ask her to autograph the card. I also got to know I have been affectionately nicknamed 'Magde-lin' because of the madeleines I baked for them earlier on.

Thank you Gaia! Your little gesture is a great source of encouragement for me to continue working and improve my baking. Thank you too for letting mummy know that you would love a raspberry cake for your upcoming birthday instead of a chocolate one, it is definitely coming your way soon!