登鹳雀楼 王之涣
白日依山尽，黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。
白日依山尽，黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Parents-meet-Parents
Last night WW and his parents dropped by my place for the very first parents-meet-parents session! It was an impromptu announcement to my apa ama but good thing they were keen. They chatted for close to half an hour then left as it was getting late. Heng apa didn't say his usual valgarities, hee hee.
Been meeting ww for the past 6 days and now that we didn't meet today, I'm missing him quite terribly!
Been meeting ww for the past 6 days and now that we didn't meet today, I'm missing him quite terribly!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Am enjoying my break!
Making use of the two public holidays, I've gone on leave from 20-25 Dec and am enjoying my full six days of break! Have been going out with WW for the past two days. We had lunch at Amoy, tried out 汉纪fish soup and had ah balling for the 冬至。We walked from Amoy to Liang Court then to jushilin temple. We had bread and orange pekoe tea at one of my favourite bakeries - Simply Bread. We tried the authentic Japanese Ramen at Sapporo Ramen Miharu. It's great that we still go out exploring parts of Singapore, doing what we like to do.
And WW gave me a set of lovely and cute present for Christmas (on top of the Baby Belling oven)!
And WW gave me a set of lovely and cute present for Christmas (on top of the Baby Belling oven)!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Great weekend!
WW and I attended Tong & Ying Jun's wedding last night at Safra, Telok Blangah Way. Didn't manage to take photos of the bride and groom, but shall wait for Tong to send the digital ones over soon!
Back at my place, we took photos of ourselves before I washed off my curls specially made for the occasion.
Back at my place, we took photos of ourselves before I washed off my curls specially made for the occasion.
Earlier this afternoon we met up with Stephie & family (XZ & baby Josh), Sophia & family (Vincent & baby Ian), Huifang and Huiling. We had fun time with the kids at MINT cafe along Seah Street. Baby Josh is getting quite naughty but can run around pretty fast! Baby Ian is getting active with his jumping (aided by Vincent). Both are so cute!
WW and me reached early so we checked out the place and menu first.
Baby Josh still a little dazed from his sleep.
Me carrying Baby Ian. A little heavy and he's dripping saliva! Heh
Stephie with both babies. Ian's expression was so much like his dad's!
WW and me reached early so we checked out the place and menu first.
Baby Josh still a little dazed from his sleep.
Me carrying Baby Ian. A little heavy and he's dripping saliva! Heh
Stephie with both babies. Ian's expression was so much like his dad's!Later in the afternoon WW and I went over to Upper Pierce Reservoir for a short stroll since the weather was good. It has been raining for the past few days and glad that there wasn't any earlier today. 
An AM volunteered to take photo for us. And he was quick to add on "10 bucks pls" after the shot. Haha.
Me enjoying the dou feng. Wind and sun on my face. Wee~
A happy week ahead! It's gonna be short, just 3 working days!! Yippie.
An AM volunteered to take photo for us. And he was quick to add on "10 bucks pls" after the shot. Haha.
Me enjoying the dou feng. Wind and sun on my face. Wee~
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Dream is here, or yet, to be?
WW accompanied me to an open house cum talk at at-sunrice, Fort Canning Centre. I am interested in the Diploma in Pastry & Baking Arts offered by the culinary academy school. It offers the science of baking, teaching the fundamentals of measurements, kneading, proofing, mixing and the proper steps of baking. The instructor of the diploma class, chef Frederic Deshayes, is a French chef who has worked in Paris, Korea before and Singapore now. The CEO of the school, chef Christophe Megel, is also a French chef. He is a renowned one (I suppose) who has worked six years for the world-famous chef Alain Ducasse previously.
We took a spice walk in the spice garden, toured the kitchens & class room and had a hands-on session in piping the french cookies prepared by Frederic. After which, chef Megel gave us a 40-minutes presentation and Q&A session to address the many questions the audience had. His presentation was so inspirational that it got WW interested in the other diploma, Diploma in Culinary Craft & Service Excellence. Well, if there's no current commitment and a strong resolve, we might have just chose to lead our lives in another path.
Now I just hope the diploma course keeps running, perhaps till 2012.
Es war eine wunderbar Tag! (It was a wonderful day!)
Took leave yesterday (Friday) to do the things I like. Yippie!
I woke up two hours later than usual, thus caught up on my beauty sleep. Went marketing with my parents and contributed to their marketing fund. It’s such a joy to give, especially to your loved ones. We – Apa, Ama and I – had breakfast together where one of their friends joined in too. They had a good chat on recent hot topics: HDB resale values, HBD sale deductions for CPF retirement account and about taking care of grandchildren. Though all these topics were quite distant for me, I was pleasantly listening to them and since I have no time pressure at all. Yippie!
I wanted to take the MRT to Phoon Huat confectionery at Geylang Lorong 23 but spent too much time on the computer that I missed the timing. So of course cab was the most convenient option. While lunching on my Nutri plus milk, I made my way to the 1st baking class of my life. (As a MEP student in Secondary school, I didn’t have to attend Home Economics class.)
There, we made 4 cup-sized desserts: tiramisu, mango mousse, crème brulee and cream caramel. The class size was around 30, with women ranging from 18 to 58 (wow!). There was a guy too, tagging with her girlfriend. But the guy seemed like interested too. We split into 3 groups, each with around 10 persons to a chef. In my group there were 4 young girls, likely from Poly. They were particularly friendly and made themselves very much at home, especially with one being very enthusiastic in getting hands-on. She might well be the baker in the group! Not that I minded since I’m more a notes-taker, but those times she pushed me around (unlucky to be beside her) peeved me much. I guess some people don’t know basic courtesy.
At the end of the class, we were able to dapao the desserts back. Each had two cups of each of the four desserts. I went on the buy $35+ worth of X’mas Fruit Cake ingredients. Happily hugged onto my stuff and flagged a cab home.
Afternoon back at home was spent mainly on fruitcake baking preparations. Mixing the flour, mixed fruits, almonds, eggs, butter and essences. Beating the mixture. Quite simple, but as the ingredients spanned up to 20 different ones, I spent close to two hours getting the mixture done, just ready for baking in the oven. However, I didn’t want to let the lousy oven at my house spoil the efforts and thus brought the whole tin of mixture to WW’s place to bake.
The way to WW’s house was a little long (around an hour) but was relaxing. I had to walk about 20 mins, 10 from my house to the bus stop and another 10 from bus stop to WW’s house, and sit in the bus for about 45 mins. Given usual days, I would have taken a cab but it would have been my 3rd cab in the same day. Plus the weather was cooling and I didn’t have the chance to run yesterday.
WW’s colleagues were at his place for mahjong, drinks and simply hanging out. By the time I reached, most of them were nua-ing. After an hour plus, it was time to go home and also the time my cake would be done. However, even after all his friends left, the cake was still moist in the insides though it had been baked for the past hour plus. I thought it would fail. But good thing another 50 mins of higher heat salvaged my efforts and it made a delicious fruitcake after all!
Now I can’t wait for tomorrow morning to try the real taste, after it cools. If successful, I will bake more for family, friends and colleagues!
I woke up two hours later than usual, thus caught up on my beauty sleep. Went marketing with my parents and contributed to their marketing fund. It’s such a joy to give, especially to your loved ones. We – Apa, Ama and I – had breakfast together where one of their friends joined in too. They had a good chat on recent hot topics: HDB resale values, HBD sale deductions for CPF retirement account and about taking care of grandchildren. Though all these topics were quite distant for me, I was pleasantly listening to them and since I have no time pressure at all. Yippie!
I wanted to take the MRT to Phoon Huat confectionery at Geylang Lorong 23 but spent too much time on the computer that I missed the timing. So of course cab was the most convenient option. While lunching on my Nutri plus milk, I made my way to the 1st baking class of my life. (As a MEP student in Secondary school, I didn’t have to attend Home Economics class.)
There, we made 4 cup-sized desserts: tiramisu, mango mousse, crème brulee and cream caramel. The class size was around 30, with women ranging from 18 to 58 (wow!). There was a guy too, tagging with her girlfriend. But the guy seemed like interested too. We split into 3 groups, each with around 10 persons to a chef. In my group there were 4 young girls, likely from Poly. They were particularly friendly and made themselves very much at home, especially with one being very enthusiastic in getting hands-on. She might well be the baker in the group! Not that I minded since I’m more a notes-taker, but those times she pushed me around (unlucky to be beside her) peeved me much. I guess some people don’t know basic courtesy.
At the end of the class, we were able to dapao the desserts back. Each had two cups of each of the four desserts. I went on the buy $35+ worth of X’mas Fruit Cake ingredients. Happily hugged onto my stuff and flagged a cab home.
Afternoon back at home was spent mainly on fruitcake baking preparations. Mixing the flour, mixed fruits, almonds, eggs, butter and essences. Beating the mixture. Quite simple, but as the ingredients spanned up to 20 different ones, I spent close to two hours getting the mixture done, just ready for baking in the oven. However, I didn’t want to let the lousy oven at my house spoil the efforts and thus brought the whole tin of mixture to WW’s place to bake.
The way to WW’s house was a little long (around an hour) but was relaxing. I had to walk about 20 mins, 10 from my house to the bus stop and another 10 from bus stop to WW’s house, and sit in the bus for about 45 mins. Given usual days, I would have taken a cab but it would have been my 3rd cab in the same day. Plus the weather was cooling and I didn’t have the chance to run yesterday.
WW’s colleagues were at his place for mahjong, drinks and simply hanging out. By the time I reached, most of them were nua-ing. After an hour plus, it was time to go home and also the time my cake would be done. However, even after all his friends left, the cake was still moist in the insides though it had been baked for the past hour plus. I thought it would fail. But good thing another 50 mins of higher heat salvaged my efforts and it made a delicious fruitcake after all!
Now I can’t wait for tomorrow morning to try the real taste, after it cools. If successful, I will bake more for family, friends and colleagues!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Shaped
When I was just back from NYC about a month ago, I was thinking of having an easier life. Taking things at a more relaxed pace, slowing down to appreciate the finer details around us. That includes adopting a more laid-back approach to work, especially since I've been placed in two teams since April.
However, after slightly more than a month since the return and after soaking in the Singaporean culture again, I'm beginning to feel the KS mentality. Need to pia in work, do my best to exceed expectations and strive to be the best among the rest. (Though I know that can't be done. How to be the best out of such an elitist society?) Work hard (and smart) for a big increment and a fat bonus next year and to own that big car some five years down the road. Go to fancy restaurants, dress up stylishly and own the latest gadget. See what this society does to you?
Then we neglected the poorer ones, surviving on tight-string budget and not having the luxury to enjoy the more-than-little entertainment in life. The forgotten ones living in their world, having a totally different set of worries and priorities. How can we reach out to them? How can they ever break out of the poverty cycle?
I suppose the world is too complex for our complete understanding. I'm just glad I have a relatively simple life to deal with. Simple wants, simple aims.
However, after slightly more than a month since the return and after soaking in the Singaporean culture again, I'm beginning to feel the KS mentality. Need to pia in work, do my best to exceed expectations and strive to be the best among the rest. (Though I know that can't be done. How to be the best out of such an elitist society?) Work hard (and smart) for a big increment and a fat bonus next year and to own that big car some five years down the road. Go to fancy restaurants, dress up stylishly and own the latest gadget. See what this society does to you?
Then we neglected the poorer ones, surviving on tight-string budget and not having the luxury to enjoy the more-than-little entertainment in life. The forgotten ones living in their world, having a totally different set of worries and priorities. How can we reach out to them? How can they ever break out of the poverty cycle?
I suppose the world is too complex for our complete understanding. I'm just glad I have a relatively simple life to deal with. Simple wants, simple aims.
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