Hong Kong!

This is one of my shortest trip worktrip ever I think. But on my first night, I've already spent SGD$230. Haha...so what did I buy?

SKII and Biotherm and My Beautiful Diary products. There are tons of cosmetics shops here and all of them are selling products at cheaper prices compared to Singapore. There are 2 or 3 major chain stores like Bonjour, Colour Mix and SaSa. Why doesn't Singapore have alot of these stores ah? Hmm...

Anyway, I arrived at the hotel in Hong Kong island at 330pm, literally just dumped my bags and went for a Yum Cha session with some of my friends here. Went back to my hotel after that, grabbed my jacket and then headed across to Mongkok at the Kowloon side for shopping followed by dinner.

Came back exhausted but uber happy with the nice wonton mee I had and with my purchases haha. Took a quick shower and called K (who was enjoying himself with his friends) and then voila here, I am blogging little.

Am gonna do some work now before sleeping. I've an early morning meeting/discussion with my boss too....Jiayou to me!

sigh

I forsee busy times ahead.

- Business trip end this week
- Cousin getting married in early March and I am her main coordinator (I'm a little nervous about this actually)
- Board meeting in the second week of March
- Another week-long business trip in March as well
- Big project to be launched in June
- International event to be hosted in June for 1500 - 1700 pax

Cereal Mushrooms!

I tried cooking "Cereal Mushrooms" on Monday. It's essentially a dish that is the same as cereal prawns, except that the prawns are now substituted by mushrooms.

I first had this dish in a vegetarian restaurant, Naive, in Katong. It contained big pieces of monkey head mushroom fried together with cereal. For my dish, I used buna shimeiji mushrooms instead. I couldn't find other mushrooms which I felt were suitable haha.

The cereal was nice after the initial frying. I didn't put in curry leaves and fresh chilli because I was lazy to buy them haha. Also, there's no point buying a whole packet when I am just cooking for myself right? But after I mixed the mushrooms in, the cereal turned out a little clumpy in the end. I suspect it was because the mushrooms gave out water and made the dish wetter than it should have been.

Still edible but presentation was a failure haha.

Nevermind, I will try again! Maybe this time with prawns instead haha.

Du Shen

I had a few opportunities to gamble during CNY.

Hmm ...my overall P&L statement is not too exciting though.

- Won $2.50 at mahjong on the 3rd day of CNY(played a $0.50 and $1.00 game)
- Broke even after 2-over hours of playing blackjack. (absolutely no ROI on my time and effort leh!!!)
- Won $0.80 at mahjong on the 11th day of CNY (played a $0.20 and $0.40 game)

Won $3.30 overall.

OMG.
Lol.....It’s not even enough to buy me a plate of chicken rice at Suntec’s foodcourt!!!

Black Swan

I watched Black Swan last Friday at Tampines Mall. I was alone and it had been a long day. I was feeling a little down at work and had hoped that the movie would bring me some welcome respite from the humdrum of the working week.

I had originally wanted to watch The King’s Speech but it wasn’t showing at Tampines and so…I ended up with the other critically-acclaimed Best Picture nominee Black Swan.

Bad choice for a Friday night.

I don’t mean to slight the show. It was good in a way, very different. And Natalie Portman was brilliant in the show.

But it was too disturbing. Creepy at times. Dark and sinister. Shocking at times too, much like how a horror show would freak you out at times with things suddenly popping out or a loud clang of music suddenly bursting in your eardrums.

I had already had a tense day and watching the show made me even more tense thereafter. I’ve never screamed in a theatre before, but that night, I actually uttered a small cry during one of the shocking moments. Good thing was, everyone was equally shocked and I also heard some shocked cries from other parts of the theatre as well. Many a time during the show I found myself holding my breath.

I walked home after the movie. With heavy feet, a fast-beating heart and very tense shoulders.

I can now understand why it was nominated for Best Picture. Black Swan builds up its suspense slowly, without you even realizing it. You feel as if you’re going insane in the same way the main character’s mind distorts reality and fucks itself up. Sexual nuances are not pared down, hence the M18 rating. The attention to details are note-worthy and kudos to Natalie Portman too for having endured many long sessions dancing and acting out her ballet sequences.

run, ran, running

I went for a run last night. Hmm. Maybe it turned out to be only a brisk walk session. Considering how slowly I moved my leaden legs.

I heaved and huffed and puffed. And in the end, I only ran (or brisk-walked?) 2km.

A 2.5 month hiatus was the culprit.

No this cannot be!!! I must persevere.

More updates on this soon.

Wo yao jiayou!!!

*burp*

I am organising a luncheon tomorrow for my local registrars. It will be a day of hello-s and hi-s and how-is-business-going-s? I hope I have the energy to smile, entertain and keep conversations going throughout the 2 hours.

And yes, food again. Lunch will be at Peach Blossoms Restaurant at Marina Mandarin Hotel.
I feel fat just thinking about the venue.

And oh yes, it will be my....hmmm....*counts* 5th time doing the lo-hei...
There will be a 6th time for sure. And a potential 7th or 8th lol.

*Looks down at tummy*
Go away you flabs!! I don't like you!!! Ugh!!

Aunt Agony Emergeth Too

The start of the Rabbit Year seems to have brought me into a few "listening-ear" situations again.

Over the last few days, I unwittingly found myself providing listening ears on three separate occasions.

****
1) A girlfriend, whom I was very close to last time, spent some time talking to me on Saturday night about her almost failing, if not failed, relationship with a guy who is a divorcee with two kids. 3 years spent being there for him and now she may be calling it quits.

Sigh, I guess it really is time to move on, however hard it may be, if you cannot see any future or direction in the relationship. Or if you think you and your partner are just cruising along with nowhere to head to in particular. Or if it turns out to be just a one-sided effort in attempting to grow the relationship further. I hope she finds what she truly deserves in this Rabbit Year....

****
2) I received a call on Monday afternoon. From a friend whom I've not heard from for the last 10-12 months at least. We met up for coffee that same afternoon. He used to be my vendor when I was still working in the Marketing line. We've kept in touch over the last few years and are more like friends now. When we met up, he shared with me the reason for his "disappearing" for so long.

His business was doing very badly. Fledgling. He was "played out" by some clients and partners alike. And by September or October last year, he was quite cash-strapped. Although his wife was working (and still is), they also had two young kids below 5 to look after and his mum was also living with them. At times, he and his wife had to share a packet of chicken rice between themselves for dinner.

Still, he managed to get some references from friends and is currently holding onto 3 jobs now. He also shared with me that he did not know he had the strength and energy to keep on going. He'd work from 9am to 5pm, then go off for sales appointments for another job of his, go home and then try to settle admin matters needed for his sales job and hit the sack at 2am or so. On the weekends, especially in the evenings, he'd be helping to manage an Italian restaurant somewhere in the east side of Singapore.

Though his schedule seems to be jam-packed, I think he still makes the effort to be there for his children and family too....I hope things get brighter for him this year and may he find a suitable solution to better his financial situation.

****
3) A long-time friend, whom I've known for close to 18 years, called me up just now. After the usual pleasantries, he shared with me that things weren't exactly rosy between himself and his wife. Arguments are getting more frequent, his wife seems to be suffering from depression, he's working on shift-work timing now in a new role, his wife's physical health isn't good too and medical bills amount to a few hundred each month...Things are taking a toll on their relationship

Still, he's keeping his head high and trying to work things out little by little...I wish him all the best and hope that things smoothen out eventually for them...

They've been together for about 15 years already and married for the last 3-4 years. I really hope they work things out...

The Nerd Doth Emergeth

Carrefour was having its book sales again. A third of the atrium outside carrefour was occupied by tables with books and books and books piled on them.

I tried.

But.

I could.

Not.

Resist.

And so.

I got myself 5 books. 1 cookbook, 1 novel and 3 classics.

1. Chef At Home, a cookbook featuring mainly Asian dishes which are familiar to all of us and loved by me and K. :) They have buah keluak recipes in there too lol. I couldn't decide whether to get it or not. So I flipped the book page by each tantalising page. And then I was sold. Or rather, my tastebuds worked up a frenzy and convinced my brain to buy the book.
   
2. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffennegger. The same lady who wrote The Time Traveller's Wife, a book which I like alot. And which touched me truly, madly and deeply. I remember feeling very emotionally involved when I was reading the book.
3. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. What can I say? Haha, I read a watered down version of the book when I was a young girl. It was probably less than 50% of the original book but I remember I loved the story nevertheless.
4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. This is another classic book. But I think I have not read it yet. I cannot remember. ;p
5. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Yet another classic novel. Its 500 pages of pages filled to the brim with words of font-size 9 (or 8 hmm....). Looking forward to it!!

And so, the nerd doth emergeth again.

I still have 7 books which I have not read yet, out of which 4 are French books. Coupled with the new 4 novels (the cookbook does not count), that's like 11 books. More than enough to last me for the year I think.

I need to wrap the covers of these books up in plastic!!
Ok, hopefully I can find time this Sunday night...:) Looking forward to it!

I always find joy in wrapping up the covers of my books...It makes them look smart and keeps them clean, tidy and sturdy. Now now, don't go giving me that weird look. I just think that we should all take care of our books and treat them with respect! Dog-eared books with creased and injured spines and tattered pages are a big no-no for me. :)

Excited and happy. :)

Mr Kyler Peck was born into this world to Alison, his beautiful mum and Keith, his proud dad, at 3:10pm today and weighing in at 3.615kg.

He is either sleeping soundly now in a crib at Thomson Medical Centre, or busy having a meal, or busy bonding with his proud parents.

And yours truly will get to see him tomorrow evening! :D

Congrats gal....:)))
Your wish for a rabbit baby came true!

Mama

We celebrated Granny's Chinese birthday today. It's her actual Chinese birthday - the 4th day of the lunar new year.

We gather each year at my aunt's place for lohei and potluck. And this year was no exception of course.

She's 96 this year if you're counting her age the Chinese way. And she's 95 if you're counting it in the Western way.

I don't know if she's had a happy fulfilling life. It's not up for me to say and only she herself can pass that verdict.

She led a harsh life all the way till her 30s or 40s...From being treated like a servant by her mum in a strict, traditional and matriachal Peranakan family. To having lost her husband in the Second World War after having been married for only less than a year and being heavily pregnant at the time. To having to give birth to my father in a tentage amidst the chaos of war in November 1942. To having to struggle to make ends meet and bring up 3 kids all by herself. To having lost her eldest son in a car accident just a few days after he turned 21.....

But I think the Gods have also blessed her and helped her from time to time.

Her late husband's sworn brother helped her out alot during the war and when she was bringing up the kids. All 3 kids grew up to be smart and filial and all became teachers, which was a much coveted for, well-paid and respected job during the 1960s. She's lived long enough to have 5 great-grandchildren now. And though the clarity of her mind comes and goes, she still has fond memories of all those years long gone and of all those people whom she once knew.

I told her this once "I love you Granny". I think it was last year. She just giggled at me and shushed me lol. It was one of her good days where she was quick of mind and was very chatty too haha.

She's been rather subdued lately and also quite confused. She kept calling my brother my father's name today.

I hope she cheers up soon and finds her spritely old self again.

Of wails and beams

And so. The 4 days of CNY holidays have come and are almost gone.

Some relatives have stopped giving me angpow. :( They told me I am big already, I should be getting married quickly, and hence, I shouldn't be getting angpows anymore. *wails*

A cousin said I have an angular face. I thought "angular" was used to describe men?? *wails*

An aunt said I have put on weight compared to last time. She said I have round cheeks. *wails*

My sister-in-law said I have mature looking hands i.e. old looking hands. She said my mum's hands look better than mine. But I moisturise everyday what!!!! *wails*

Oh. But then.

Another aunt said that the older I get, the better I look. *beams*

Another cousin said I am still slim and looking good. *beams*

I had (and will still have!!!) the "zi mo" luck in my mahjong games haha. *beams*

I had the chance to treat my brother's family to dinner. *beams*

Gastronomic Delights

• Pineapple Tarts
• Bak Kwa
• Kueh Lapis
• Heh Bee Hiam
• Cashew Nut Cookies
  
• Cuttlefish Slices
• Coconut Sweets
• Prawn Crackers
• Fish Keropok
• Berlinjau Keropok
• Tapioca Fried Sticks
• Agar Agar
• Fatt Choy
• Yu Sheng
• Fish Maw Soup
• Abalone
• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Mango Cake
• Curry Chicken
• Chrysanthemum Tea
• Buah Keluak
  
• Kong Bah Pow
• Fried Bee Hoon
• Fried Vermicelli
• Sushi
  
• Sashimi
• Chawanmushi
  
• Green Tea
• Chye Tow Kueh
• Salad
• Chap Chye
• Pizza
• KFC
• Cereal Prawns
• Steamed Fish
• Tofu
• Sea coconut with white fungus
• Fried Rice

Um.

Just some of the things which went into my tummy since the eve of CNY.

Heh.

Industrious. Not.

I brought home some work to clear on the eve of CNY. Naively thinking I would have the time and discipline to complete most of it over the long CNY holidays.

Err, I attempted to clear some portions of it.

I. Tried. My. Best. To. Concentrate.

Ok, maybe it wasn't a very good attempt but I think the work which I managed to do is still passable. As for the rest of the work....errrr, they have remained untouched.

It happens every year.

Sheesh. And I don't know why I have not learned lol.

zzz

I couldn't sleep last night.

I was flipping around in bed for a good few hours till 3am.

May tonight bring me my much needed deep beauty sleep.

Good night world.

friends

I suddenly miss having lunch with Kelvin Han. Time flies darn fast.
It's been 1.5years since he left IDA.

We made a good team and took turns organising lunches and birthday gatherings. Even if others had their lunch appointments, most of the time, the two of us would still be the core two people who would go for lunch.

And there would thus be a regular lunch group.

These days...it's a dynamic lunch group...more dispersed..with certain factions forming.
And some rivalries/sensitivities between some people....It gets a little tiring trying to sync everyone up and make everyone happy.

Kel & I spoke a little over MSN this morning. He was working from home and thus could enjoy the luxury of having his MSN switched on while clearing work. We reminisced a little, talked rot a little and made a pact to have a gathering with some of the rest sometime in end March or early April.

I hope the gathering pulls through. It's be nice to get together again with some of those who have left....

:(

The weather is making me feel melancholic.
Cold and damp. Winds blowing. It's bringing my mood down.

I went to visit Gran after work just now. She was supposed to have been discharged but then she had some slight seizures and so had to be kept in the hospital. When I was there two nurses were changing her out of her dirty clothes.

She had wet herself again. Perhaps she's too used to having diapers in the nursing home. Or perhaps it's just old age and a general difficulty in controlling her bowels...Apparently, in the early afternoon, she didn't realise that she had shit on the bed. Dad was there and he told me about it.

When the nurses were done, she was feeling very cold and had huddled under the blanket. She also had on a black cardigan which had little yellow, blue and pink flowers sewn onto the front of the it. Very old-school and quite a nice cardigan actually. Adrian had gotten it for her as a Christmas present some years back. I think it was from Yue Hwa in Chinatown.

Anyway all she wanted to do was sleep and so all I could do was to stroke her head and pat he leg from time to time.

A senior staff nurse came after about 15mins and we both tried to wake her up for her dosage of 7-8 medicine pills, her nightly eye drops (a different type for each eye) and her nightly nasal puff (to aid in breathing and for clearing the airways).

She was grumpy. Fought with the nurse, swatted our hands away and declared that she wanted to sleep. "DON'T DISTURB ME" she growled in Malay. She then pulled the blanket over her head and hid under there, ignoring even me.

The senior staff nurse didn't want to agitate her anymore and left Gran as she was.

I couldn't do anything much and left soon after as well.

I don't know how to describe Granny actually. A feisty frail old lady?
Oxymoron leh..hmm.

Anyway, CNY plans are quite screwed up now. I was looking forward to staying at home and having visitors over on the first day because we were intending to bring Gran home. Adrian, Mei & Marc would go around visiting and representing our family.

Now it seems like the new plan is for the whole family to go out visiting together. All squeezed into one car, Adrian, Mei, Marc, Dad, Mum and myself. Sigh. I didn't get suitable clothes for going out....I bought something quite casual to be worn at home. Sigh. I forsee...a tedious 1st day for CNY.