Thoughts and Memories

Storage

2008-04-20T23:48:00.008+08:00

Before choir practise today, we had to run some errands to prepare for our upcoming trip. So after a short afternoon nap, we headed to Marine Parade to do some shopping.

First, we went to Kim Choo at Katong to get those bottled nonya sauces for the family back in Ont. We have always love this particular brand of red curry sauce which we had bought in Malacca. It goes really well when fried with petai and prawn. We discovered later from Mrs Lim that it is also sold here at Kim Choo.

After purchasing the sauces, we headed for the MP Mall which we haven't been for some years. While searching for souvenirs, we found the HSW store which specialises in storage and organisation for the home. So glad to have discovered the store, which apparently has been around for 3 yrs already...

I love to organise my stuff in proper storage, especially since we are living in a small space. So within half an hour in the store, we bought a hanging jewellery organiser and a plastic laptop/breakfast tray. I'm so pleased with our purchase, especially the laptop tray which has side pocket for addition storage and cost us only $13+. We have been looking for one that we could use on our bed, as that's our regular computer workstation. We used to just make do with putting a pillow on our lap. Now, this laptop tray is lightweight, durable, waterproof, good height and I no longer feel the heat from the laptop on my thighs. :)

But of course, we have to be discerning to know if the things are value for money when shopping at HSW, as some of the items are a tad expensive. If we have not been short of time, I think we would have bought more stuff. It's kind of like a mini Ikea, with excellant storage ideas.

Facebook

2008-04-19T23:37:00.002+08:00

It's increasingly difficult and annoying trying to access the FB site. It's overly popular and everyone's jamming the network. FB team better do something about it fast before I give up on it!

Old Schoolmates

2008-04-19T22:24:00.005+08:00

Yesterday, I met up with some old schoolmates from my HR course. It's been a few years since we last met. Some looked different while others still look the same. I have put on that extra kilos over the years and could not recognise myself in the class photo. We were also trying to put a name to the face.

We have Eileen to thank for organising the gathering. Our topics were mostly about the lessons and the lecturers, and the impression they have made on us. And the one person no one could recall was the lecturer who taught us C&B. His class was so boring that we wondered if we even took that module.

Most of the class are not practising HR despite taking the course. But it did help us gain some useful knowledge to apply in the corporate world.

I was a little hesitant to meet up but am glad that I did. Unfortunately, we have lost touch with two of the members in my project group. I'm sure they are faring well in life.

Well, at least this has reunited some of us, and they are thinking of keeping in touch through facebook instead of our yahoo group. Thank God for technology!

We Will Rock You

2008-04-18T09:05:00.018+08:00

Last week, we attended the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You'. Queen is Sam's all time favourite band, after the Beatles.

Well, the storyline was rather disappointing, and the second half of the musical was better than the first. They sang many familiar hits like 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', 'Another One Bites the Dust', 'Under Pressure', 'Radio Ga Ga' and so on. Of course, they left the most popular hits 'We will Rock you' and 'We are the Champions' for the finale.

Just while I was expressing my disappointment that they did not sing the hit song 'Bohemian Rhapsody', they cheekily flashed on the wide screen asking 'Do you want Bohemian Rhapsody?'. That led to thunderous roar for the encore performance. They performed that song really well to standing ovation. The 8-piece band, especially the drummer and leading electric guitarist rock!

Too bad they did not perform Sam's favorite song 'Love of my life'. He tried to serenade that song to me decades back, and even influenced his niece to learn that song.

Personally, I prefer the 'Mama Mia' musical as the storyline was more interesting. Also, I didn't like one part of the performance cause it was a little blasphemous. They had a guy in a kneeling position with his arms widespread, and someone placed a wreath made of colorful lighted bulbs on his head, resembling the crown of thorns. It was a brief scene with the lights deeming out, but it caught my attention.

Well, apart from the darkness of the lyrics and the influences behind Queen, the musical performance was great! They added some local flavor to the script injecting words like 'lahs', 'bugis street' and 'PCK'. Some parts of the show was funny though forgettable. I did enjoy the evening despite having a stiff neck and not being able to rock to the music and clapping like a moron...

On a separate note, I think this season's top 10 American Idol Michael Johns performed songs from Queen really well. Too bad he's out of the race.

High Definition

2008-04-17T23:35:00.006+08:00

On Tuesday, Sam very excitedly came home with a HD Set-top Box. He has exchanged the very old black box with this one at a promotional price of $48.15 plus free 3 months HD Plus for 1 yr contract. The recommended retail price for the box is $300+ without contract. He also had to purchase a special cable for the connection. And of course he subscribed to the additional sports channel.

After fixing it up, we channel surfed and realised that they have opened up all channels for our preview. There are more than 100 channels to surf. How exciting! Didn't know that there's more than 1 HBO channel. We also came across an interesting channel 70 called Discovery Home and Health, which offers content on health, beauty, pregnancy, parenting etc.

I like the additional feature we get with the new set-top box. There's on-screen TV Guide & Reminders and of course HD pictures. That's enough for us. Now we will be busy channel surfing for the next few days before they remove the preview channels. Anyway, we wouldn't have time to spend on the goggle box.

Crowning

2008-04-17T19:39:00.023+08:00

Well, one of the most stressful thing in life for me is to visit the dentist. But instead of suffering any worse consequences, I decided to pluck up some courage to do my half-yearly check, albeit after much procrastination.

So I braved the thunderstorm and went for my check up last Sat. I would have chickened out but I have already postponed the appointment 3 times. It makes me nervous just thinking about the visit.

Within minutes of sitting on the dental chair, Dr Lim quickly determined that I have a hairline crack across my two left upper molars. According to her, there are 2 reasons for the hairline crack. Firstly, I already have a big filling in those teeth. And secondly, there's not enough calcium going to the teeth. It's normal that ladies loose more calcium as we age.

Dr Lim advised that it may crack someday and I would have to pull them out! So the proposed solution is to do a crown which will cost me S$700 and 2 more visits. I conceded as I had a horrible experience pulling out a upper right premolar that cost me lots of money, pain, tears and blood!

I had to make sure that I time the visits well as I will be travelling end of the month, and the treatment needs to be completed before the travel. So I visited her today, and the first thing she had to do was the long needle injection to numb the gums. I was begging her not to give the injection, but she said "Don't worry, I will help you along". I think those words did some comfort, though it may sound like something she would routinely say. She then told me to take a deep breath and gently poked the gums with the needle. The deep breath helped! She did numerouos impressions of my teeth and I could feel substantial amount of bleeding during the drilling to remove the old fillings.

Fortunately it was over in less than half an hour. And I was told that there will be no injection the next time round. Yeah! And coward me survived another round of treatment! Thank God!

Now, I need to deal with the pain when the numbness goes off...

The Greenhouse

2008-04-14T22:50:00.006+08:00

I'm supposed to be on a diet, or at least watch my diet cause I've not done anything about the 5 kg I'm supposed to loose since ... 3 yrs back?

Well, one of my bro decided to buy parents dinner for his birthday and a job promotion. He invited us to tag along but go on dutch. And so we did...

It was my first time at the Greenhouse at the Ritz. And no, it's not in a Greenhouse. Boy, am I blown away by the sumptuous and wide buffet spread, a haven for seafood aficionados. There's fresh scallops, oysters, slipper lobster, shashimi, chilli crab, cold crab, drunken prawn, stir-fry prawn etc just to name a few. There goes my diet...

For dessert, there's creme brulee, nice and warm chocolate souffle that melts in your mouth, assorted chocolate pralines, chocolate mousse cake and variety of other fruits and dessert. I only managed to indulge in half of the buffet spread.

The dinner cost us a pretty penny, but it's all worth it. It's been a few days, and I'm still thinking about the food... so yes, it's that good.

After dropping the folks off after dinner, we decided to take a stroll along Clarke Quay. Well, it's just our feeble attempt to get the food down our digestive system instead of up to our brains ...

The Lull

2008-03-19T17:50:00.006+08:00

Yes, I've not been blogging. There's just so many things to update but too lazy to blog. Now where shall I start?

Living Things At Home

2008-02-12T23:46:00.000+08:00

It's amazing how our Frangipani (or Plumeria) has bloomed a few weeks after we brought it home. Well, initially it withered and there was only one miserable leaf left on the stem... and still one leaf. So we decided to place the pot on top of our A/C condenser outside the kitchen, where it gets the most sun. Then one morning we noticed one partially bloomed yellow flower among the many flower buds. And when we got home that evening, we were delighted to find that more flowers have bloomed. Thanks to Aunt D who donated a stem from her Frangipani tree :) It's one of my fav plant.

While waiting for the Frangipani to be revived, we bought a Periwinkle from the nursery just to add some colors to our balcony. Turned out it is still doing well too!

Our Basil plant is also doing fine though a little bald and sad looking. But when we need herbs for cooking, we just reached out of the window to pluck some leaves :) It has survived our ill treatment after being left in a small pot and shady area for a long time.

We will next get a Citronella plant to repel mosquitoes as they seemed to be quite a nuisance lately.

Busy-ness

2008-01-24T17:55:00.000+08:00

Been busy with work and other activities. And in a short span of 1 week, mum's eldest bro passed on, followed by dad's eldest bro. Time flies and we are getting old...

Been attending the keyboard class once a week. And while I thought I belong to the beginners group, the instructor recommended that I take the WDI class instead since I have classical training. Glad that they are flexible to allow us to transfer class just like that, otherwise I will still be learning basics in identifying the black keys (chopsticks and forks!).

And yes, it has been an amazing journey in just a few weeks as I finally figured out what are the '4' and '2' suspended notes, why use suspended notes, how to play the Maj7, Min7 and Dom7 chords on a keyboard, and the common type of chord progression. The instructor has been great, very encouraging and able to multi-task well! She taught us to play the keyboard and worship meaningfully at the same time. But I am still far from being able to play by ear, so that will take time to master...

Been watching Korean drama lately :p We didn't catch the Korean wave in the past couple of years, and thought we shouldn't even try in case we get hooked. But one day while channel surfing, I came across this show 'Coffee Prince' and we were instantly hooked. It's a comedy cum romance, makes you laugh and love at the same time. The characters in the show are loveable and I fell in love with the soundtrack too. The set (coffee house) where they film the show has become a tourist attraction. And check out the black Mini Cooper Convertible driven by the protagonist ... my kind of car! :)

Music and Me

2008-01-07T17:11:00.000+08:00

Since young, I have always thought that I should serve in the Music ministry. But as the years went by, I realised that I am far from being like my gifted friends who are able to play the keyboard by ear, improvise and compose music so effortlessly. I do not have a dynamic controlled voice to sing like the others. So I almost gave up...

I was in the school choir from elementary school all the way to college. I was in the worship team in SG and TO, and also part of a small singing group with fellow MYFers - Just Us. Those were the days, eons ago :) Over the years, I have been with the church choir and now with V choir. I joined the V choir as I found meaning in the choir's vision, which is to raise funds and reach out through songs. And on top of that, I have been chosen to serve in the committee this year.

As there is a need for pianist at LS service, I still play the piano saved by the hymnal with music notes. And thanks to Ser who donated her lovely keyboard, I could practise the songs at home. So somehow I think God is still leading me to serve in the area of Music, and despite feeling so limited in many ways, He has opened doors.

So starting tomorrow, I will be attending a beginners keyboard class at Believer Music. Ser took the course some years back and recommended it, but I just never got around to it. I pray that I will be able to express myself better after taking the course, and hopefully play by ear some day!

The Choir Gathering

2008-01-06T19:14:00.000+08:00

Last evening we attended LS choir gathering at Aunt D's house. It was a potluck dinner so we brought flan and sweet potato soup which we thought would be safe for everyone to consume :p

We were never really committed in this choir as the practises coincide with our Sun Sch time. So we sing on an ad hoc basis and are not that close to the members. The gathering was a good time for us to get to know some of them better.

Uncle KH took the opportunity to discuss with the group the individual duties, expectations/ rules, events and activities for the year. Flo is now responsible for our new choir maroon robes which we have to don with dignity and uniformity (e.g. no long pants for ladies, and proper display of shirt collars for gents). Jas is in-charge of communication, V&J responsible for fellowship and TK for the songbooks. There are many activities lined up for the year. I'm pretty amazed and pleased that the choir has become more organised! Good job!

There was so much food and we had a great time of fellowship. And having been to Aunt D's place numerous times, we never fail to be fascinated by their collection of antiques and the rustic charm of the house. But we always question in our mind how do they keep up with the cleaning!

Ushering In the New Year

2008-01-03T23:24:00.001+08:00

Had a relaxing 31st Dec, with great anticipation for the new year. Didn't set any new year resolution as I haven't been able to keep any :p But we certainly look forward to a more fruitful and fulfilling year, with greater joy and surrender to God's purpose for us in our lives.

Attended a count down 'party' at PL school hall organised by church. It's different from the usual watchnight service as this was an outreach event. We were entertained by the youths who put up interesting performance of songs and mime. Many youths attended the party and at times it felt like a rock concert with all that screaming and cheering! The pantomimist did an excellent job depicting a modern story of Christ's crucifixion for our sins. We had a roaring good time counting down with the help of free party packs. The best part of the event was a line dance item performed by our pastoral team. It's priceless cause I bet you won't catch our pastors shaking and dancing to country music again! :)

We are glad that we chose to spend our New Year's eve at PL instead of some exciting countdown party or watching spectacular fireworks with crowd of strangers. We have found meaning in spending such special time to reflect on God's love, and with fellow bro and sis-in-Christ. Blessed New Year!

The Gifts

2007-12-26T15:59:00.001+08:00

This is what I got for Christmas cum Anniversary present. Thank God for the gift and the giver. :) There'll be more artistic and beautiful photos to come...

We also bought for ourselves a thermal pot as it was on sale at OG. And Aunt D helped us to purchase it with her privilege membership, and even got it gift wrapped! Let's hope we will be having more healthy and soupy cooked food next year!

Christmas Carolling

2007-12-25T16:38:00.001+08:00

Christmas eve was spent carolling with LS folks and the family. I love carolling as it's a great time to get to know fellow carollers, and at the same time we bring cheer to the families we visit! I have attended carolling since school days, and still found much joy and pleasure in it.

The first house we visited was in the east with a young couple who are not regular church goers. They had lost their first child to cancer. There were guests at the gathering and I think they enjoyed our singing. The hosts had prepared a variety of delicious food. As I have declined the packet dinner prepared earlier for carollers, I was able to indulge in the feast at the houses we visited. :)

The 2nd house was the Ang's residence located in the east. As we walked into the apartment, we could immediately smell the strong pine scent from the live Noble Fir Christmas tree. It really brought back memories of Christmas in Winter in Canada. We sang carols before John shared with the young children the true meaning of Christmas. He is such an eloquent speaker and I hope the kids understood the message. It was also great to see that his children had returned from overseas to spend Christmas with the family. Later on Dorcas left them to clear up while she joined us for the rest of the evening. She proudly proclaimed that she has never missed carolling in her life!

Next we visited GL's residence. Her aged mum was delighted to have us visit. She sang and clapped along as we sang carols. GL's neighbours were also invited to witness the fun and that brought smiles to their faces. GL's house is pretty big for a 4 room apt. I don't think my place can house so many of us without being confined to their spot.

The next visit was to Steven L's residence. The house is huge and beautiful located in the west. It was there where we congregated with the MS carollers according to plan. He had a number of visitors as well. His young and charming son who had performed on his flute during our carolling 2 years back is all grown up now. It seems he's become a renown musician with the Youth Orchestra and is jet-setting for his performance. How times flies, and we have aged!

The 5th house we visited was Joycelyn's residence in Bishan. She is holding up well years after her husband passed away. As usual, the owner of a large food manufacturer arranged a sumptuous spread of buffet for us. But I was too full by then to stuff myself further. And it was already approaching midnight!

We arrived at the final house slightly after midnight, and after the bus driver had much difficulty manoeuvring the big bus through the TKG estate. The Ang sisters' residence is sparkling white and clean. They have a lovely mini grand piano and beautiful wall paintings. They spoilt us with delicious homemade turkey porridge, samosa, curry puff, fruitcake, almond chocolate, biscotti etc. Despite being stuffed, I just had to eat because of the love and effort that went into preparing the food. Many of us had 2nd and 3rd helpings of the yummy turkey porridge. At our request, the elderly Mrs Ang also entertained us in music using her valued antique harmonica.

We had so much fun and arrived home past 2 am. Imagine still having to get up early the next day to present our choir anthem at the combine Christmas service ...

Simple Gifts

2007-12-25T16:37:00.001+08:00

Last Friday evening we attended a Christmas concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall. 'Simple Gifts' was performed by the SG Lyric Opera chorus as well as guests soprano, musicians, and combine choir with ACJC choir, YJ choir and Amadeus Chorus.

The first part of the concert was performed by the SLO Children's Choir accompanied by a harpist. For the 2nd half of the concert, the combine choir presented John Rutter's 'Magnificat' accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra was great and the conductor very charming! The concert ended with a sing along session of popular Christmas carols with Orchestra accompaniment.

It's been a long time since we attended any concert other than our own! The 150 strong choir were dressed in all black and their voices harmonised well. Sam thinks that their basses are weak and our choir is better! Can't comment cause we were seated on the right side of the concert hall, and probably can't hear the basses as well as they were facing the left side of the concert hall.

Anniversary Dinner

2007-12-25T16:36:00.000+08:00

It's our 10th Wedding Anniversary on Dec 26! We celebrated it earlier on Sat night with a nice dinner at ilLido at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Sam made reservation in advance for the alfresco dining. The view from the restaurant was lovely as we could see the ships sailing in the reflection from the moon. The weather was cool as it had drizzled earlier in the day.

The restaurant serves fine italian cuisine. Sam ordered the festive set and we shared the entree consisting of blue swimmer crab salad with avocado, and homemade tagliolini pasta with gooseliver, pears and marsala wine sauce. He had chilean seabass with porcini mushroom for the main, and traditional italian pudding for dessert. I had fettuccine with crab and sicilian pachino tomatoes as the main course. We also had red wine for our drink, but can't remember what it's called!

There were a number of guests at the restaurant. Seems popular despite it being pricey. Anyway, we enjoyed the evening, a nice end to a quiet Sat.

Choir Christmas Party

2007-12-20T11:52:00.001+08:00

Last Sunday evening our choir had the AGM cum Christmas cum Durian Party. There were more than 60 people in attendance held at AH's enbloc-ed residence which has just been vacated.

The gathering began with the AGM where committee members were being nominated and elected to stand in office next year. Despite much protest, we were overruled and both of us will have to serve in different capacity. Looks like we will be busier next year.

After the AGM, we proceeded to have a sumptuous buffet spread. At the same time, we had AH and some friends who entertained us with their line dance moves. We then sang some Christmas Carols and Songs of Praise, before Mr Ong declared that it was AH and P's 20th Wedding Anniversary. There were roars of laughter when they were made to recount their courtship, and to pretend to walk down the aisle to the Wedding March and kiss each other.

Finally we had the much anticipated durian party courtesy of Rev K. Imagine everyone rolling up their sleeves, sat on the floor with newspaper strewn all over and digging into their favourite fruit. An amusing sight indeed.

Thus end our early Christmas celebration and fun-filled evening.

Gathering with the Gals

2007-12-20T01:34:00.001+08:00

Last Sat I had a high school class reunion with a small group of pals. It was one of those quarterly get togethers which are hard to come by due to everyone's busy schedule. But lately we have been making more effort to meet up.

Pat hosted dinner this time. We were pleasantly surprised by the elegant table setting she has prepared. There were fresh flowers, tealight candles and wine glasses. For dinner, we had delicious home-made cream of mushroom soup, honey roast chicken wings, veg salad, mushrooms tossed with garlic and olive oil, beef with mozeralla cheese pasta, and Cabernet Sauvignon for our drink. Chris made and decorated the interesting soya dessert.

Well, the only thing missing was nice music accompaniment. We had to compromise with Pat's kids who were watching their disney channels in the living room. :)

It was a lovely meal and memorable time together. We exchanged gifts, hugs and laughters. Too bad Joyce was unable to join us.

Christmas in the Tropics

2007-12-19T17:44:00.000+08:00

I love Dec. I love spending it in SG. The holiday season, the nice cool and sometimes cold weather, the lovely Christmas decor all over town and malls, the Christmas outreach items put up by various churches along Orchard Rd, the gift exchange and surprises...oh yes, and the many public holidays ...

It's the best time for shopaholics needing some retail therapy. For some reason, I have been more decisive and early with the Christmas shopping this year. No last minute wrapping of gifts and sending of greeting cards. Surprisingly, less stress from the usual rush and am able to relish in the festivity.

Have been listening to some lovely Christmas songs being played on radio and in the malls, which is probably politically sensitive if played in other countries. Hence thank God for such pleasures.

I know how some would view all that festivity as being too commercialised and a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas. But I'm soaking in the joyous celebration with a light heart, not forgetting the real reason behind the season.

Looking forward to carolling on Christmas eve, spending it with friends and love ones, and feasting on the Christmas treats. :)

Christmas Carols

2007-12-13T15:14:00.000+08:00

This is one of my fav Christmas carol:

'Christmas Isn't Christmas'
Christmas isn't Christmas, till it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts
So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas, really Christmas, for you

Jesus brings warmth like a winter's fire, the light like a candle's glow
He is waiting now to come inside as He did so long ago.
Jesus brings gifts of truth and life, and makes them bloom and grow
So welcome Him with a song of joy, and when He comes you'll know

Choir Trip to KL

2007-12-11T11:50:00.001+08:00

Past weekend we were away in KL for our choir concert. The purpose of the 3D2N (7-9 Dec) trip was to raise funds for the MCC. There were so many of us that we had to charter 2 coaches for our travel to KL.

We stayed at Royale Bintang, which is conveniently located in the shopping district and near infamous hawker street at Jln Alor. From our room on the 11th floor is a nice view of the KL Tower and Twin Towers. We were able to steal some time off for supper and a little shopping around the hotel, mainly visiting Times Square and the new Pavillion Mall. The Pavillion was nicely decorated with what looks like a white Christmas tree.

Our rehearsal and concert was on Sat afternoon at Sunway University College. A lady approached some of us during intermission and commented that the singing was great, and she liked our small group rendition of 'Angels we have heard on high'. Thank God for that as we were still practising and harmonising to the very last minute. On Sunday we sang an item at a service at one of the churches in PJ.

We were blessed with good weather throughout the trip. However, the group was too big and there were too many distractions (food, shopping etc). There was little opportunity for group fellowship. Nevertheless, thank God for a safe journey and for the short getaway.

Streams of Praise 赞美之泉

2007-12-11T00:11:00.000+08:00

This is one of the few Mandarin songs I have learnt from our choir. I like the tune and the lyrics of the song. It is one of those worship songs that touched my heart.

从天父而来的爱和恩典 , 把我们冰冷的心溶解
让我们献出每个音符 , 把他化为赞美之泉

让我们张开口 , 举起手 , 向永生之主称谢
使赞美之泉流入 , 每个人的心间!

Cycling At EC

2007-12-01T19:11:00.000+08:00

Our favourite day of the week is here again! Finding no excuse not to exercise today, we joined the choir folks for their regular Sat morning routine. They would often go for walks in different parts of SG, and this time round we went cycling at the East Coast Park.

The last time Sam & I did any cycling was 2+ years ago. We had a bad episode at the EC Park then. You see, there was a very heavy downpour when we stopped for our lunch after cycling. Upon returning to the car park, we found the rear of our car badly wrecked. Some reckless driver did not know how to park their car during a downpour, and drove right into a stationary vehicle. Our 5th door and rear lights were badly damaged, and we had to report it as a hit and run. It cost us much inconvenience but fortunately we were able to claim from insurance for the damage.

This morning, we each rented a bike for $5/2 hrs from the bicycle rental near BK. We cycled in the direction of the airport as our goal was to get to the new Terminal 3. But halfway through we abandoned our course as the ladies were not prepared for the sunny weather and rather take shelter! Besides, it will probably take us more than 2 hrs return to get to T3. Surprisingly, the folks cycled pretty fast, way faster than me. :p I was struggling with the uncomfortable hard seat.

For the group, the exercise would have been incomplete without a nice meal. After returning the bike, we went to MP hawker centre for breakfast. As usual everyone ordered lots of food to share, and it became our brunch. We had a great time catching up.

From the moment we started cycling, I could just visualise myself having sore bums and aching feet. True enough, I'm now suffering from the symptoms of someone who hasn't been doing much exercise and still did not bother to do any warm up. :( I'm glad I'm not running the marathon tomorrow!

Delicious Chicken Rice

2007-11-28T16:33:00.000+08:00

One of our favourite venue for dinner is the Sin Kee Chicken Rice stall at Margaret Drive's Queenstown Food Centre. When we can't decide where to go for a nice dinner, this will usually be on our radar screen.

Our usual order are the well-marinated white chicken and stir-fry caixin with oyster sauce. The chicken meat is tender and succulent. The serving is generous and price is reasonable. We would normally share a plate of rice as we would like to think that it helps reduce our carbo intake. The service is also fast despite the crowd. The stall is located on the 2nd level. Do give the chicken rice a try...

Other then chicken rice, there's also a nice poh piah/kway pie tee stall on the ground floor of the food centre facing the parking lot. The char kway teow stall is supposedly quite famous too, as there's always a long queue when we are there. But we found the char kway teow mediocre and dry. We still prefer the yummy chicken rice.

My Thanksgiving

2007-11-24T15:44:00.000+08:00

Well, we don't celebrate thanksgiving here. But I have an item of thanksgiving. Last evening, I had dinner with a colleague at Holland V. We had a great time catching up as we work in different depts and rarely get to meet.

I thank God for her as we could confide in each other on problems we are facing at work and home, and we know that it will stay between us. I cherish this friendship because most of my colleagues are non-believers, and the faith makes a great difference in our views of life and the world. It was through His love that brought us together as friends.
I thank God for giving me a few good friends, enough to help me stay sane in this individualistic corporate world.

The Race

2007-11-24T14:57:00.000+08:00

This morning my co had a team building event. I do not look forward to such event, especially since most of my colleagues were not participating in it.

The meeting point was at West Coast Park. The event turned out to be like the amazing race, where we were given clues to each station. The marshals at each station will then give us tasks to perform before we could get our next clue to proceed to the next station. Accompanying the clues were letters of the alphabets that eventually formed the word 'Motivate'.

There were a total of 8 stations. Some of the stations were in the park itself, while we had to take public transport to other places like the Pasir Panjang wholesale market, the NUS Cultural Centre and Hwa Par Villa. Our team came in a tie for the first place, and eventually lost to the other team in a tongue twister contest.

Well, I did not have as much fun cause I did not know most of my team members. And there was a young punk whom I met for the first time ever who snapped at me a couple of times for whatever reason I have no idea. Sheesh. I'm quite sure I won't have to work with him or see him again. Thank God for that. There are really strange people out there and I hope they won't cross my path ever again! Ever! Yes, yes, love thy neighbour...but God, please just let me love them from afar...

Coincidentally, Sam's office also had a similar sort of race yesterday. The difference is that theirs was a whole day event, but they didn't have to sacrifice their weekend! Anyhow, so glad that it's all over!

Ensemble Practice

2007-11-21T15:57:00.000+08:00

For the past few Wed, we have been gathering at Mr Ong's home for our small group choir practice for the upcoming concert in KL.

Both of us have been arrowed to sing in 2 different ensemble. My group's singing the complicated version of 'Angels We Have Heard On High'. Sam's group is singing 'Christ was born on Christmas Day' in acapella. Both songs are composed by Alice Parker, not that I know who she is. The 'Angels' song is so complicated that if we lose count of the timing, we would have to struggle through the rest of the song and hopefully find our way back somehow. Fortunately there are 2 of us from each of the SATB section, and I have powerful alto P with me! Yeah!

It has been fun gathering with the folks despite the mad rush from work. Mr Ong would painstakingly prepare dinner for the 20 of us and boast of his culinary skills. He is a contractor by profession, the PCK type. :) Occasionally we would bring along some food/fruits to complement the dishes.

Well, we have recently decided that we are confident enough to sing those songs and will only have practices on Sun before the main choir practice. We have certainly enjoyed Mr Ong's hospitality, the time singing and getting to know one another.

I wonder if it would be possible to get the same kind of dedication and commitment from my peers ...

'Tis the Season

2007-11-17T00:21:00.000+08:00

Took a stroll down Orchard Rd today, and managed to do some Christmas shopping.

Shops are getting all decked up with Christmas ornaments. The streets are already lighted with the blue and white lights. And the M&M House is all ready to cash in on the season.

The Fuss Free BBQ

2007-11-12T22:23:00.001+08:00

On Sat, we went ahead with our plan to host a BBQ for the family. I had wanted to call it off after my recent unpleasant encounter, but as usual it went against my nature to harbour ill-feelings or to change what has been planned.

So we spent Friday evening after work grocery-shopping. We had pre-ordered some kuey pie tee from a hawker and BBQ food from a wholesaler, and had asked my bros to picked them up on their way over. Our plan was to have a fuss free BBQ.

The weather was nice as the rain has stopped by mid-day and it was not humid. We laid a small table by the poolside with a disposable table cloth over it. Tealights were placed at strategic location, and we brought along our stereo playing soothing jazz/radio music. We had disposable plates, cups and utensils. The food and drinks were all ready according to plan. We had also bought 2 disposable 'BBQ pit' that consists of special charcoal, wire mesh/grid and aluminium container.

Well, the 'BBQ pit' was a disaster as it took us forever to start the fire which did not last very long and we had to use candle wax to get the fire going. The charcoal burnt out within an hour and we had to make use of the other set of charcoal. We spent a long time BBQing which led bro to suggest that maybe we should just microwave the food! Well, he's also Mr Impatient. And Dad got a little bored after sometime cause we were slow to serve the food, and he was missing his soccer game on tv...

The food was alright, the otah and kuay pie tee were most tasty. We had flan for dessert, specially made by Sam. It was a better 2nd attempt for him, and everyone enjoyed it. It was a long evening but good to be able to spend more time with our nephew whom we rarely get to meet.

We confess, it was a trial BBQ for us so we would know what to expect next time if we were to have another one with 'real' guests. We learnt that it is important to have some cooked food just in case the BBQ fail. And yes, we will definitely buy the conventional charcoal and starter, and not rely on the disposable version. Better still, if someone would bring along their gas grill...

Holiday that came and gone

2007-11-12T21:15:00.000+08:00

Been looking forward to winding down, relaxing and catching up with sleep.

Thur was a public holiday. We spent much of the day doing a thorough house cleaning as we were expecting guests on Sat. It's one of those days when we dished out the most anal side of us to ensure that the house is sparkling clean (almost).

In the evening, we attended the Choos' housewarming party. The party was a simple affair and a gathering of a few very old friends. SW led in the worship. Wilfred gave a short homily and prayed for the family. Indeed, we were reminded that it's not the house that makes the home but the family that lives in it.

For me the meeting of these old friends brought back memories of the MYF days, the much time we spent together serving, and growing in knowledge and fellowship with one another. How time flies. I have certainly changed as I am no longer the gregarious extrovert I used to be, no longer have the energy to keep up with the many friends that have in one subtle way or another made me who I am today.

'Twas quiet holiday that came and gone...

Barclays Open

2007-11-03T21:27:00.000+08:00

This afternoon, we attended the Barclays SG Open at Sentosa Golf Club. When we arrived on the island, the roads were already packed with cars parked along the side streets and car park. We parked our car at the sheltered parking lot at Sentosa Cove and took a free shuttle bus to the golf course.

Our first venue was the WSG hospitality lounge for patrons. We got ourselves a perfect spot inside the air-conditioned marquee, which overlooked the 9th and 18th hole of the Serapong Course. We then helped ourselves to the nice buffet spread consisting of steam cod fish, curry prawns, braised lamb, pasta with sun dried tomatoes, sushi, desserts etc. There were also free flow of soft drinks, beers and wines.

From the lounge, we saw legendary greats like Angel Cabrera, Lee Westwood and Adam Scott (defending champion) doing their 9th hole putts on the green. They played in 3-ball fully escorted by an entourage of caddies, marshalls, spectators and media.

To get closer to the players, we decided to walk down the 18th hole. That's when we caught up with Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and K J Choi at the 17th hole Par 3 course. All 3 players scored a birdie for that hole with ease. Mickelson almost scored a hole-in-one but the ball bounced off the flag. There was a large group of spectators following the threesome and it was almost impossible to get a close-up view of the players and their swing. The last time we watched the Lexus Cup, we were able to get closer to the players like Annika Sorenstam and Grace Park.

On the last teeing box, the players gave their most powerful and accurate swing with the balls landing on the fairway some 280m away, avoiding the many big bunkers and water hazard. How do we know that it was that far? 'Cause we had to trudge a very long way to get to where the ball landed! The group finished the Par 5 with Singh and Choi both scoring a par and Mickelson, a birdie.

It seems that the players didn't do so well today due to the scorching heat and the challenging course. After 3 rounds, Cabrera is leading the game with a -9 to par, with Jin Park in 2nd place (-5) and Westwood in 3rd (-4). Singh and Scott are in 4th position with -3 to par. We shall see who will take home the title and US$634k of the US$4mil prize money tomorrow.

After watching the 3 play, we headed to the VIP lounge hoping to get a close up of the players. The media was stationed outside to interview them, and Quincy Quek (an amateur player from SG) was one of those who gamely obliged to the request. He played pretty well for an amateur.

We caught some players leaving and fans begging for autograph. And all we wanted were closeup shots of them. Were a little disappointed that we did not catch some of them leaving as they went via a different exit, and Cabrera did not stop for autograph and with the bodyguards surrounding him it was impossible to take any pix. How unfriendly!

It was great to re-acquaint with the game and see the world's famous players in action for this world class event. It's unfortunate that we did not get to see Ernie Els play as he didn't make the cut yesterday. He is the World's no. 4 though. I wonder if we would get to see Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia play in SG some day...

Suppertime

2007-11-02T23:48:00.000+08:00

Went out for supper tonight at the Happy Valley HK Cafe at Tiong Bahru. It's open 24 hrs and serves authentic HK food (what else). It is strategically located at a corner of a row of shop houses by the road side visible to all vehicles passing by, which is how we discovered the place.

We have been there a couple of times and the food is interesting if not tasty. But so far the unadventurous me have ordered the same dishes: zhajiang mian and mango pomelo sago dessert. The cafe ambiance does remind me of the HK nightlife. It's worth a try if you have no idea where to go for late-night supper!

Traditional Mindset

2007-11-02T01:07:00.000+08:00

Had a lousy evening.

You see, I come from a family whose parents have very traditional mindset and values. Most people would assume that being the youngest and only girl in the family means that I am a pampered child.

Well, I grew up in a family where only boys get to go out to play, and the girl has to stay home to help with chores. The boys get the freedom while the girl is often under house arrest in the name of 'protecting' her. The girl gets bullied by the boys and treated like a pest. The girl is not expected to excel in her studies or be placed in good schools. At the end of the day, she is to be married off and leave the family.

Unfortunately to this day, I am still confined to such stereotype. Over the week, the boys snapped at me while I was trying to organise a family get together. This evening at mum's place for dinner, she prepared a big feast which we only get to enjoy when the boys are around. Mum announced that a relative's daughter will be getting married. One invitation was addressed to the whole family (parents, the boys and spouse) and another was addressed just to us. And mum affirmed that that is the way it should be, as I have been married off and belonged to a different family. Tears welled in my eyes.

Of late, activists are contending for gay rights and woman rights in society, but gender discrimination is already prevalent at home. Such prejudice is reaching an alarming level in many Asian society, which explains the growing imbalance in gender ratio. Is anything being done to address this?

I often admire those close knitted families, caring doting brothers, and sisterly bond. And I thank God for friends who took their place, and for Sam.

The MacRitchie Walk

2007-10-28T17:18:00.000+08:00

Yesterday morning, we met the choir folks at MacRitchie to attempt the Treetop Walk. Well, the weather forecast did predict showers with thunderstorm in the morning, but that did not deter the enthusiastic walkers.

We met at Venus Dr car park at 7 am. Everyone was punctual, arriving at about the same time. Surprisingly, the gung-ho group are very fast walkers. We tread through the forest and sloppy trail, but did not make it to the Treetop as it began to drizzle about 45 mins into the walk. And since there were many warning signs calling to us to stop our trekking when it rains, we obediently headed back to the car park.

Well, at least we did better than the last week and walked a longer distance at a faster pace. And what else did we do but to end the walk with a hearty breakfast at Casuarina Rd. As we were rather early, only a prata shop was opened. We had a good breakfast and spent much of the time chatting and catching up with one another.

It amazes me that we are actually meeting these folks so regularly. To be precised, we meet 3 times a week: for the walk, Sunday choir practise and Wed ensemble practise at Mr Ong's. Well, it happens that we are all among those chosen for the 2 small group items for our upcoming concert in KL. The funniest thing was that they wanted us to join them for their first line dance lesson today! Well, that's where we draw the line!

Where are all my peers, I frequently wonder...

Spanish Culinary Workshop

2007-10-20T20:14:00.000+08:00

This afternoon we attended a Spanish culinary workshop at Cairnhill CC. It's my first time attending a cooking workshop, apart from the Home Econs class I took in school.

Cooking is not my forte, as I was discouraged after having failed miserably when I tried to replicate at home the 'rock buns' and 'scrambled eggs' I have learnt from school. I did attempt to do some baking now and then, but still lack the motivation. Well that also means that since I'm kitchen incompetent, Sam does most of the cooking. But he enjoys it and does a pretty good job, really. :)

I wanted to learn to cook Spanish cuisine after having really enjoyed the food when we were in Spain. We came across this workshop at one of the Healthy Lifestyle event held at BG recently. So we registered online for our first ever cooking class. It was also our first time to step foot in that CC.

First, we were introduced to the wife of the Spanish Ambassador who briefly attended the session with us. Next we had a lady (from the Embassy) who read from a script explaining the Spanish pop culture. Then the time was handed over to the native culinary expert Mireia Castells, who introduced to us 3 Spanish dishes: Gazpacho (cold tomato soup) for starter, Albondigas (meatballs) for main and Flan for dessert. I was sort of expecting it to be a hands-on session, but it turned out to be just a demo. Fine with me as I did not have to make a fool of myself...

Cooking the Gazpacho is easy as it is a matter of chopping up all the ingredients and putting them in a blender, and adding water, salt & pepper and ice (yes, ice) to taste. The Flan requires a few extra steps but is just as simple. It is the Spanish version of crème brûlée and is to be served cold. As for the Albondigas, that requires some hours of cooking and preparation which the class of mostly ladies enthusiastically chipped in to help during the demo.

We got to taste the food at the end of the demo, and it was pretty good. From this class, I learnt culinary terms like 'Bain Marie' and got to see what a colander looks like :p The 3 hrs class was fun, and I am looking forward to Sam trying out those dishes... :)

Morning Workout with the Folks

2007-10-20T18:56:00.000+08:00

This morning, we met some choir folks at 7 am for a workout at the BG. Yes, we woke up earlier than usual just to walk the BG with the folks.

We met at the gate opposite Taman Serasi, and took a leisure walk all the way to the Symphony Stage. There were a few people jogging and some groups doing Taichi. No birds chirping but it was a nice refreshing start to the day... till it started to pour! So after barely half an hour into the walk, we ended up at a make-shift marquee. Fortunately there were chairs around, so the 8 of us sat and chat while waiting for the weather to ease.

Surely I was thinking, how nice it would have been if I was in my cozy bed sleeping with the cool breeze and sound of raindrops in the background. While waiting we had a morning devotion, with Albert sharing a passage from the bible which was meant for his talk with the BB boys later in the morning. As the rain still did not stop after waiting for an hour or so, Sam and Albert decided to walk back to get the car and some brollies for everyone.

Next, we proceeded to Telok Blangah Food Centre for breakfast. It was my first visit to that food centre. We ordered porridge, wanton noodle, dumpling soup, yutiao, carrot cake and pom pom. The food was really delicious. The porridge was smooth and tasty with lots of ingredients and condiments. The wanton noodle was very fine and the prawn in the dumpling tasted fresh. The yutiao was handmade and not oily. Never knew this place existed and will definitely return for the porridge and wanton noodle. Apparently, most of the stalls are closed after lunch and the place is virtually deserted at night.

We parted ways after breakfast. It was another great Sat for us, and another excuse for not quite doing any exercise. :p The folks are planning to conquer the TreeTop walk at Macritchie next Sat. Let's see if it materialise...

Pretzel Pieces

2007-10-19T11:54:00.000+08:00

This was first introduced to me by little Sarah when I was in Taiwan. And I got to like the chunks of Sourdough Hard Pretzels especially the honey mustard and toasted onion flavor. It was not available in SG till recently. These Pretzels from Snyders are now found everywhere in supermarkets like Cold Storage. I like it as a healthier (I think) alternative to chips.

Try it! (Hmm, I should get commission doing this...)

The Red Beaded Lamp

2007-10-18T23:29:00.000+08:00

On Monday night, we were all excited about putting up our new hanging lamp we had bought from Lims on Sunday. The lamp is made of red beads sewn on nylon strings, about 2 ft high, oblong in shape with openings on two ends and some sort of wooden support structure. It is to replace the white plastic lamp in our guest/piano room. We wanted a nicer and heavier lamp that does not sway violently when the wind blows ...

So we rushed home after work when there's still daylight, and took down the old lamp. We obviously have to switch off the main power to do the job. So when it got darker we decided to put our tea light/candles to good use and placed them in every corner of the room. The new lamp went up after 2 hrs, 3 attempts, aching biceps, strained neck muscles, and much perspiration. Sam put his little electrical know-how to use and plugged the wires correctly into the connector. The arduous task that required a few attempts was concealing of the excess wires in the mental holder and screwing the holder securely on the ceiling. I on the other hand was standing on a bench next to the ladder, supporting the heavy lamp above my head while he fiddle with the wires. Arm workout.

Then with great anticipation we turned on the power, only to be flabbergasted when we found the room lighted orangey red! Horrors! What have we purchased? We were so attracted to the pretty lamp and forgot about its functionality. It will probably look pretty in a big house or at a veranda but not in our small room!

Later we figured that if we change the bulb to a cool light instead of the current 60 watt warm bulb, it may help the situation. So with our fingers crossed, we went out for a quick dinner and headed to the 24hr Mustafa to get our cool light bulb.

Well, let's just say that the solution didn't quite work and the room was lighted pinkish then white. Sigh... there goes our money down the drain. We will probably need to put our red lamp for sale in Mocca and put our white lamp back up again this weekend...

Gathering with the Folks

2007-10-15T00:24:00.001+08:00

We had one of those strange weekends where we hung out with people beyond our years :p

One of the choir ladies AH decided to hold a monthly gathering of sorts for fellowship sake. There were about 14 of us that showed up for the first get together at Crystal Court, Killiney on Sat evening. We were the last to arrive as we did not expect the folks to really mean to eat at 6 pm! Well, there is a good variety at the $16 porridge buffet, and it was a simple and enjoyable dinner.

The weird part was when the folks decided on the spur to proceed for Karaoke. So just imagine a group of us treading to Orchard Cineleisure on a Sat night after a good meal. Well, I have to admire the folks for being so gung-ho about walking and for going to a place where only young people would gather!
We arrived at K-Box (yes K-Box) and Eric got us a big room to accommodate the group. And throughout the night we were serenaded with songs that were beyond our years: Mandarin, Hokkien, English oldies and a few Christmas carols. It was also unusual as we had 2 Rev with us, and the oldest is in his 70s. We are ashamed to admit that some of them have inexhaustible energy which we could only envy from afar :p

I think the folks enjoyed themselves despite that it ended close to midnight (there's service the next day) and it cost us a pretty penny. There is supposed to be some sharing which obviously did not transpire. As for us, it was a weird night and I don’t think I will want to go for another Karaoke session again! The last time we went to one was probably a decade ago. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening and have offered our place for the next gathering (No KTV).

And I shudder to think that God is trying to show us how we will live our golden years...

Crowd to Avoid

2007-10-14T23:59:00.000+08:00

Well, it was pouring on Sat morning but was sunny by noontime. We needed our exercise and proceeded with our plan for a walk at BG. Before that we had our lunch at the new Taman Serasi Food Centre. The food was not too bad, surprisingly...

We recall visiting the food centre after the revamp earlier this year and decided to boycott it for some reason which I can't remember. It must have been the price of the food that threw us off, as it is more expensive than the usual food court prices. The popular soursop drink cost us $2.80 for a small little cup with lots of ice, which we could get elsewhere for $2 in a larger cup. My bak cho mee cost $3.80, and Sam's char siew rice and watercrest soup cost $7+. The food was not too bad but little pricey.

After our meal, we went upstairs and were surprised to find many people hanging out at the park. It then occurred to us that it's a public holiday, and people were gathering everywhere having a picnic. It was not the usual crowd and atmosphere that I am used to, very humid. So after a short walk we decided to head back home! No exercise!

Personality Test

2007-10-12T15:15:00.000+08:00

It's been sometime since I did any personality test. The last test was done for work style profiling, and I'm a 'Dove' personality vss the Eagle, Owl or Peacock. The 'Dove' person is amiable. :)

Thanks to Min I tried out a fun quiz and if we go by the Myer Briggs Type Indicator, then I belong to the ENFJ group: Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging.

Sometimes I wonder how accurate are the tests, as I have to truly know myself well enough to answer them correctly. Over the years, my personality has been moulded by my work and life experiences, and as such I could not answer somes questions truthfully. Depending on the situation and who I am with, I may react and respond differently.

So what's your personality type?

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver

You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.
Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.
Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.
You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine.

In love, you are very protective and supporting.
However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous.

At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential.
You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?

Weekend for Errands

2007-10-07T23:45:00.000+08:00

The past weekend was spent running errands and shopping for essentials. There was so much to do we needed a checklist to keep us focus on the task. It was to Vivocity on Sat and Chinatown on Sun.

We like Vivocity as it houses many shops and you can practically find anything that you need under one roof. I managed to find a replacement for my worn out dress shoes. We also bought scents for the car, stationeries, and donuts to fill our stomach. The shopping spree ended when we had to rush home for Sam to catch the Rugby World Cup (Aus vs Eng).

On Sun, we went to my regular seamstress in Chinatown to replace a spoiled zip. People's Park is also where we stock up on our supply of toiletries: shampoo, toothpaste, mothballs, floor wipes, face cleanser, toner and mask. We managed to steal a little time to visit the National Library as I needed some pictorial books to aid in my Sun school lessons, but unfortunately we did not find anything appropriate. As our choir practise has resumed on Sun evenings after a 1 week break, we had to dash to our next destination.

It was a fruitful weekend even though we only managed to cover half of our to-do list ...

Crocs

2007-10-07T23:44:00.000+08:00

I know some people probably think that Crocs are the most hideous shoes ever invented. The imitation alternatives widely sold in the market and commonly sighted in hawker centres have taken away the uniqueness of the design and compromised on its quality.

Nonetheless, we are still enjoying our first pair of foam shoes which has a degree of arch support built-in and non-skid component. If the pricing is better, I am sure these functional originals would attract more followers.

Yesterday, we decided to fancify our Beach Crocs and purchased some accessories from the store at Vivo. We purchased different color stripes and I got myself a pawprint jibbitz. Now we feel like we have a brand new pair of Crocs and are ready to have fun with them!

The Bontanic Gardens

2007-10-06T23:26:00.001+08:00

We had a great start to a Sat morning, visiting the Botanic Gardens (BG) after breakfast at Prata Cafe.

I recalled my first visit to BG with my Godma, Aunt Nancy, Eugene and mum when I was a kid. I ran and climbed trees, all hot and perspiring in my uncomfortable dress as evident in an old photo. At that time I did not know how to appreciate such outings and never went there again till some years later. I realised though that as I age :-( , I began to enjoy the Parks and Gardens more.

We parked our car at the public parking along Tyersall Ave near the Burkhill Gate entrance. The nice thing about the BG is that parking is relatively cheap, and from 11am - 5pm it's free for the first hour.

We strolled through the Ginger Gdn, Orchid Gdn, Palm Valley, Visitor Centre/Shop, Bonsai Gdn, Sun Gdn (succulents) and E.J.H. Corner House (now Au Jadin Les Amis). There were people jogging, walking their dogs, having a picnic, having meals at Halia Rstnt and other cafes, enjoying the greens and admiring the varied spieces of plants and trees. There were also a number of tourists who probably found the heat today a little unbearable. Coincidentally we met Gerald with some friends, discussing work while doing their walks. Now, that's something new... working at the park.

On display at the Sun Gdn is a 'Passing of Knowledge' sculpture by a local sculptor. The sculpture depicts his interpretation of the 4-Way Test, a philosophy embraced by Rotarians worldwide. The 4-Way Test of the things we think, say or do are:

1. Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The BG is huge and we only covered parts of it. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk and hopefully could make this a weekly routine. :-)

TGIF

2007-10-06T00:21:00.001+08:00

The weekend is finally here again! I have been looking forward to this day, again! :-)

For dinner today, we decided to try out the Harvest Thai Restnt at ACS (Barker). It is located by the Olympic-sized Shaw pool where we watched the swimmers do their laps while we dine with Christian music in the background. Not crowded. Nice ambiance.

Sam must have been really hungry as he ordered a lot of food. We had olive fried rice, green curry, a veg dish, seafood salad and a Harvest harmony drink. The food is Thai with some local flavour. They are also pretty generous with their servings and we were really stuffed. We will visit again as it is closed to home, free parking and food is reasonably priced. In the day it is opened as 'Cafe Daily Bread' serving snacks and pastries.

After dinner, we headed for CG at the Choos' new residence at Lor Selangat. It's a lovely terrace cluster housing, 4 stories high consisting of 16 units, ample basement parking, an infinity lap pool and a baby pool. When you enter from the car park there's the maid's room, and on the next level is a big living/dining room and the kitchen/laundry area. The 2nd level houses the master bedroom and a study room. On the topmost level are 2 bedrooms, one belonging to Don (decorated all blue), the other to Laetitia (EVERYTHING in there was her choice color - pink). Each level has a balcony and at least a washroom. It's a very lovely and cosy home, with good choice of wall color and furnishing.

This evening, Sam led us in a comparison study on the story of Zacchaeus and the Rich Young Man. We concluded that the Rich Man was unwilling to give up his earthly wealth to inherit eternal life. The self-righteous man despite living a righteous life, has forgotten to obey the very first commandment "Thou shall have no other Gods before me". These other Gods need not be deities but material things or putting of self before God. It is indeed a good reminder for all to remain humble like Zacchaeus and to seek God first.

Bak Kut Teh

2007-09-30T23:19:00.000+08:00

We had a very late supper tonight at the popular 'Founder Bak Kut Teh Restnt' at Balestier Rd. We patronise the place quite often and would go there late so as to avoid the dinner time queue.

Our regular orders would be the pepperish spare ribs bkt, tang oh chai (not sure the English name for the veg dish), yu tiao and rice. They usually give a generous refill of the tasty bkt soup so we always go home with our stomach filled with the warm pepperish soup. I hope we wouldn't be needing the washroom too often tonight.

Gathering of Old Friends

2007-09-30T17:43:00.000+08:00

After church today, we met up with Min, his wife June, Joyce and little Jun for lunch. It has been some years since we last met Min. He is still pretty much the same, except that he now prefers to read in large prints :p

I came to know Min in 1991 at York. Then, I discovered that he and my bro went to the same school and were classmates. Sam knew Min from MSBC and they were both in the mime team. We had the opportunity to travel together to Florida, whitewater rafting trip to Ottawa and some of the YAM camps.

Min is a very humble, simple and helpful guy. I recall those days in my first year at varsity, when I had to write essays for assignments. At that time, I really have little idea of how to use the computer, let alone MS Word. I only vaguely remember playing computer games on a Commodore via Dos program back home. We didn't have email or MSN back then! So I really struggled to write the essay with my weak command of English and at the same time to learn to use the application. Fortunately for me, Min came to the rescue and spent the whole night teaching me to use the PC and construct my essay in Lillian's rented basement. The essay was due the following day. He pretty much helped pull me through the difficult times and taught me some basic computer skills. Now I have him to thank and have put my technical knowledge into good use and could even design my blog. And he has indeed put his patience and teaching gift to good use too :)

We met for lunch at Botak Jones at TP but I had Japanese instead as I had enough of BJ at the Tuas branch near work. We then adjourned to have dessert at Ben & Jerry's at Dempsey Hill. B&J is a pretty cosy and family friendly place to hang out for dessert. The place was packed but we managed to find a comfortable corner.

It was a wonderful time of catching up, and I am glad to have spent a lazy Sunday afternoon with friends. Thank God for blessing us with good old friends. Thank God also for technology to draw us closer. We could now know how the other person is getting along by reading their blog. How I admire the new generation and what they have been blessed with :)

Faithful to the End

2007-09-30T00:49:00.000+08:00

On Saturday afternoon we attended a talk entitled 'Faithful to the End' (Book of Daniel) by Rev Dr Gordon Wong.

The first 6 chapters are about Daniel who was blessed for his faithfulness to God. He had deliverance and success on earth. Chapter 7-12 talks about suffering and persecution on earth but being honoured after death.

The message of Daniel for life in a troubled world is to be faithful to the end. Do not miss the woods for the trees. Sometimes the idea of prophecy may be thought of as prediction for the future, when prophecy could just mean Word from God. We should be prepared to face the harsh reality of life on earth, which may be ruled by different types of beasts. These beasts are issues, problems and sufferings. But take courage, as God is in control.

Although I was in a half sleepy state after a long Friday night performance and an early morning rise for the 'Beauty' Workshop, Gordon W's very captivating and interesting session helped me to bring home some important lessons. The lessons are to be faithful to the end as God is in control, and to give glory to God in all that you do.

Come Share this Feast of Love

2007-09-29T23:02:00.000+08:00

Last evening, after months of practises VOP performed at yet another concert, this time to raise funds for the St Andrew's Autism Centre. The VCH was about 60% full even though the tickets were all sold out. But it was nice that we have the support of the Archbishop as well as our former DPM and his family.

The choir members were visibly tired from the intense rehersals over the past few weeks, and the rush to the concert after a long day at work. Still, we sang to our hearts' content as we were reminded that it is a time dedicated to worship, not perform. And kudos to Emilia our concert pianist who probably had the most difficult task having to play all the 24 chorales. Luke also accompanied in some of the pieces with his remarkable violin skill. The best moment of the evening was when the audience stood to join in the finale 'How Great Thou Art'. And I love how we ended with the last encore song 'Offertory', my favourite piece.

It was a simple concert with little fanfare. Only a few other volunteers were engaged to help in the event. Apart from singing, Sam was also responsible for the catering. Thank God the caterer arrived just in time to setup for the tea reception meant for the VIPs during intermission. They were half an hour later than the planned delivery time!

VCH does not exactly have a very friendly backstage to house 50+ of us, and we were all exhausted from standing through the night on and off stage. Most of our members are in their 50s and above, so you can imagine the challenges they have to face. As for me, I need to get better shoes! Also, we had to ensure that we drink enough water to clear our throat and at the same time, not drink too much as there are only 2 cubicles in each washroom backstage!

After the concert, some of us headed for supper at Kah Soh at Amoy St and had a great time of fellowship. It was followed by dessert at a Porridge restaurant a few shops down the road when we spotted John and his family on our way home. We finally arrived home around 1 am.

Glad that it is over. And we have again mastered some new chorales and proud to be able to serve in this meaningful manner. Our next project will be for a Christmas cantata in KL this Dec and practise will begin next Sunday. Looking forward to that!

Penang Food

2007-09-25T22:24:00.001+08:00

This evening we decided to have dinner out and wandered our way to Penang Kitchen at Coronation Arcade across from the Shell petrol station. The food was surprisingly delicious though a tad expensive for 'hawker style' menu.

For starter we had the Tue special, lor bak - something akin to ngoh hiang but the stuffing is filled with meaty (as opposed to fatty) pork and the condiment is a sweet brown sauce. For the main, Sam had the Penang char kway teow while I had the assam laksa. The thin and flat kway teow was fried with prawns and eggs the Penang style i.e. without dark sweet sauce. The tasty laksa was made with tamarind for its soup base, and filled with mackerel, lots of he-ko (thick sweet prawn paste), mint, pineapple slices and cut red chilli. It was a little spicy but I still gobbled up the whole bowl. The Penang boy has endorsed its authenticity and I couldn't agree more. For drinks we had ice ginger tea and ice nutmeg with lime juice to help with the digestion.

One thing to note is that there is no service charge or GST. Still, our bill came up to $27. Apart from being a restaurant, they also sell condiments and confectioneries from Penang. They may need to improve on the ambiance though, cause the whole place is painted in bright green! Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meal and will probably revisit soon. Boy, am I stuffed!

Offertory

2007-09-20T11:04:00.000+08:00

One of the songs we are practising for the upcoming concert is entitled 'Offertory' by John Ness Beck taken from the book of Micah 6:6-8. It meaningfully and simply shows God's basic requirements of us, which is to enact justice, embrace kindness and walk humbly with Him.

'With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
Shall I come before Him with yearling calves?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgressions,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O man;
He has shown you what is good
And what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly,
walk humbly with your God'

Serenity Prayer

2007-09-20T11:02:00.001+08:00

God, grant me the
Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can, and
Wisdom to know the difference;
Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it.
Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

~ Reinhold Niebuhr ~

A Simple and Lovely Wedding

2007-09-15T22:29:00.000+08:00

This evening we attended a wedding of an old friend, Wendy and her beau Tomas. It was held at Fort Canning Park. It was a simple wedding, with the solemnisation held outdoor on a lawn and a buffet dinner at Raffles House thereafter.

Tomas is Swede and they met in SG. Wendy has since left for Sweden with him in 2003 and has picked up a fair bit of Swedish. She loves to bake and despite her short visit actually made time to bake cookies for the wedding's pre-dinner reception. Tomas, what a lucky chap! :) Wendy reminds me so much of my late Godma...

Well, I was kind of looking forward to the wedding and to meeting the old friends. But at the same time I was feeling kind of jittery not knowing what to expect and how to react. It's been so many years and I do not know why we drifted apart, or rather why I am no longer in their lives. I do miss those days when we hung out at MYF and Sunday School. How I wish that time had stood still.

Now everyone's found a better half, and have families of their own. But I know one thing we have in common is God's love for us, and our kinship in Christ. Thank God for that.

The Meet-Up

2007-09-11T14:39:00.000+08:00

It was great to meet up with Carol over the weekend. She loves the outdoors and returned this time to participate in the Ironman70.3 Race. She amazes me with her stamina and strong passion for the outdoors.

There are 3 legs to the Aviva Half Ironman race: the swim (1.9km), bike (90.1km) and run (21.1km). The race started at the East Coast Lagoon with the swimming leg, followed by bike race through the Benjamin Sheares Bridge and 4 laps from Raffles Avenue through the Marina Bay area, back to ECP and Nicoll Highway. For the final leg, the athletes have to run 2 laps from the floating platform at Esplanade to the Padang and round to end of Beach Road (Kallang Basin) and return. In other words, it is a long tiring race which took Carol about 6 hours to complete coming in mid pack.

There was certainly a lot of training and preparation work she had to do to get ready for the race. She exercises daily (swim, jog, bike), watches her diet and acclimatises her body to the heat and perspiration. It really takes a lot of discipline to prepare for such a sport. Apart from Triathlon, she also does Backcountry Skiing, Snowshoeing, Mountaineering, and whatever outdoor adventure you can imagine. Oh, and did I mention that she shaved her head for Canadian Cancer Foundation?! Way to go, Carol!

We had a great time catching up over slice fish bee hoon soup in Chinatown, and drove around to Far East Sq, Dempsey Hill and Clark Quay. And of course, we had to stop for our afternoon tea at Dempsey's PS Cafe (I should get a discount card for being a regular patron!)

Strangely indeed, even though we have been apart for so many years and perhaps not there for the ups and downs of life, we could very comfortably catch up from where we left off. And what's more strange is that I hardly meet up with friends who reside in SG but am more in touch with the those in foreign soil... technology has certainly helped to bridge the gap.

As for those outdoor sports, I don't think I will ever be drawn to take part in them other then golfing, swimming and the occasional hiking, snorkelling and skiing. The thought of running brought back memories of those school days when we had to run marathons and the 2.4 km. Most of those times I had to drag my feet through the race, and was always panting for breath. Getting into these sports would mean being discipline, watching my food intake and regular exercises. I would be contented to start with a simple step just to keep fit :p

Gospel Rally

2007-08-26T00:38:00.000+08:00

It's been a long time since I last attended a Gospel Rally. The first time I attended an evangelical meeting was with my grandma and mum, who brought me to the Billy Graham Crusade at the National Stadium in 1978. I wouldn't say that it changed my life, as I was too young to really know what was going on. But I did come out of the stadium feeling really good and covered by God's love, and knew where to lay a firm foundation. It was an amazing turn out and a turning point for many who attended.

Interestingly, I got to meet Billy Graham a second time and it was at the Toronto Sky Dome for an evangelical rally as well. He was already in his 70s then. This time, I got to participate in the combine churches choir that rendered some songs and lead in the worship for the service. I still have the purple polo tee that was given to the choir as the uniform. :)

These 2 nights, our VOP choir is privileged to render some songs at the Chinese Gospel Rally organised by 4 denomination of churches. The rally was entitled 'Who holds tomorrow?' The preacher came from China, and he had with him an influential man who shared his life testimony. James Chu is the man who started the first MacDonald's in Singapore (Liat Tower), Hong Kong and China. He shared about how proud he was of his achievements, his plans, and how he eventually came to accept the Lord as his personal Saviour.

The preaching and testimony moved many to come forward to accept Him as personal Saviour. We were also very touched by the sharing, and there were indeed alot of prayer and effort that went into preparing this event. There were probably more than 2000 people in the hall, and it is the first time that we presentedto such a large audience. We certainly hope that our music has ministered to the people.

Another Year

2007-08-25T01:33:00.000+08:00

We celebrated Sam's birthday (22 Aug) earlier last Saturday. We went to our favourite Dempsey Hill for dinner.

It was our first visit to Chang Korean BBQ Restaurant. We had marinated prime rib, BBQ chicken thigh and Beef broth buckwheat cold noodle. Accompanying them were colourful array of complimentary banchan (Korean side dishes) that consist of protein, vegetables and seafood. The food was tasty, service was good (except for the one who took our order who seemed impatient, soft-spoken and didn't understand us). We had to pay a premium for the meal.

After our dinner, we proceeded to PS Cafe for our dessert and to enjoy the rustic outdoor ambiance. We shared a huge white chocolate coffee cake with mashmallows in between and ice cream on the side. It was sinfully delicious!

On the 22nd itself, we had to attend VOP practise for the performance on Friday, so there was no celebration. But I have had his favourite cheesecake delivered to the office so he could share the special day with his colleagues. :)

International Fireworks

2007-08-25T00:28:00.000+08:00

Last Friday, we were privileged to be given tickets to watch the International Fireworks from the viewing gallery at the Marina Bay Floating Platform. The fireworks display with music accompaniment came from a Spanish company, and was choreographed internationally. The spectacular display spans across the bay area, and one could see the city skyline in the background.

The fireworks lasted for 15 mins. The challenged came when we were stuck in the human and traffic jam. It took us a long time to get out of the car park. And it was equally a challenge looking for parking in the area. Nevertheless, the fireworks display was lovely, and we got to visit the floating platform for the first time!

Simpsons

2007-08-12T00:55:00.000+08:00

This evening, we visited the new Cathay at Handy Rd. Only half of the stores were opened/occupied. Most of the shops seem to cater to the younger crowd, much like the Hereen and Cathay Cineleisure.

We did not catch any movie as we were there only very briefly, but it was nice to meet the Simpsons and their new addition :)

Beancurd

2007-07-26T10:10:00.000+08:00

After picking Sam up from St Andrew's Cathedral last night, we headed to the 'original' Rochor Beancurd stall near Selegie Road. Surprisingly the shop was very packed despite the late hour and we had much difficulty getting parking.

The rival sibling's beancurd stall was just next door but saw fewer patrons. As for me, I don't think I could differentiate the taste as I am not a food connoisseur. The beancurd we had was smooth and light, the yutiao not too oily but the egg tart a little too heavy. But since it's the more popular of the two shops, we went with the crowd :p

Dempsey Hill

2007-07-16T00:00:00.001+08:00

Dempsey Hill has become our favourite haunt of late when we are in a mood to lounge, enjoy the greenery and tranquility. It is also getting more buzz these days as the former British Army barracks is being redeveloped into a latest wine-and-dine scene.

Our first visit to the area was some years back when we went for lunch at Sammy's Curry. In the past Christmases, we also visited the quaint St George's church that sits on the hill. In recent months, we enjoyed a couple of meals at PS Cafe. Lately, new cafes and restaurants have sprouted. There's Harry's bar, Ben & Jerry's, Margarita and Dome cafe (where we went this evening) apart from some high end restaurants and wine bars. In the day time, one could visit the spas, grocers, art gallery and of course the furniture shops.

We are excited about the development especially since it's so close to home. We could not resist the greenery, ambiance and privacy of the location. Thank God for the way our country is developing.

Seafood!

2007-06-26T15:12:00.000+08:00

Got to eat a big feast last Thursday with 3 other colleagues and boss. We went to Owen Seafood Restaurant at Turf City for dinner. What's the special occasion? Well, just a dinner treat from those who received big bonus :)

There was just too much to eat, a King crab on top of the set meal. The set meal consists of crab cooked with salted egg, steam druken prawn, bamboo clam topped with lots of garlic, steamed bean curd with vegetable, Ee-fu Noodle, Bamboo Pith soup, man tou (toast bread) and dessert.

We had chosen the smallest King crab available. But the crab is so huge we have asked to cook them in different style, half chilli crab and half with salted egg. King crab has more meat than Alaskan crab. The pincers are gigantic, each is the size of a palm. Of course, the price of the King crab is also different. That crab alone costs $400+ after a 50% discount.

Boss also brought a bottle of white french wine. The wine definitely tastes different with a nice sumptuous meal. Boss also taught us lessons on wine appreciation, and encouraged us to collect red wines that will appreciate in value and taste.

Well, am thankful for the lovely treat. But... all the cholesterol means I have to work it all out!

Wedding Feast

2007-05-27T18:00:00.001+08:00

We attended a wedding dinner on Sat night at the Four Seasons' Hotel. The ballroom was beautifully decorated in classic white, silver and gold colors, with lots of candles and off-white roses as centrepieces on each of the 30 tables. It was a formal affair with the men dressed in suits and ties, and the ladies in their evening best.

At the pre-dinner reception, instead of serving the usual mix-trail nuts, there were lots of strawberries served on shaved ice plateau and fountains of melted chocolate and brown sugar on the side for your fondue indulgence. The ballroom event began with the bride and groom marching down the aisle onto the stage where they cut the 3-tier wedding cake. A Priest was then invited to say Grace before we partake our dinner.

We were expecting a typical Chinese wedding feast, only to be individually served a 6-course fusion of western and chinese meal. The servings were in small portion much like a fine dining affair in a western setting. On the menu were Peking duck (skin), sharks fins, abalone, cod fish, duck meat and mee sua. There were a good beverage selection of beer (from Brewerks), red wine, white wine, and calamansi, apart from the usual chinese tea and soft drinks. We were all served champagne for the toast. For dessert we had the hazelnut chocolate wedding cake. It was delicious!

Like a western-style wedding, the groom (Sam's colleague) gave a speech followed by the best man and the maid-of-honor. The father of the groom, and some friends also shared on their joy of the union, and the speeches were followed by rounds of toasts. Throughout the evening, the friendly wedding couple went around socialising with their guests and thanking them for gracing the occasion. There were no structured photo sessions, or games to embarrass the young couple other than the rounds of toast to get them in 'high-spirit'. It was an interesting union of a Josephian and a Convent girl.

The highlight of the evening for me was the performance by this talented male jazz pianist cum singer. He sang all my favorite jazz pieces like 'Dream a little dream', 'Someone to watch over you', 'La Vie En Rose', 'The way you look tonite', 'Quanto, quanto' ... just to name a few. He also turned ballads like 'Moon River' and 'Somewhere over the rainbow' into lovely jazz pieces and sang to perfect pitch. You get the idea... it was a wonderful way to end the evening.

Celebration

2007-05-14T10:43:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was just like any other Sunday. In the morning, I taught the kids some craft work for Mother's Day. After church we went out for lunch at a Beef Ball House at Joo Chiat Road. We went home after that to re-charge and left for VOP practice at 6 pm.

While at VOP they celebrated Mother's Day, but not before Mr Ong announced that it was also my birthday, along with another Alto lady Kathleen. So it was nice to have powerful vocals singing their birthday blessings. We had a nice mango cake and ate lots of home-cooked food. :)

Prata

2007-05-14T10:15:00.000+08:00

On Saturday after running some errands, we went to our regular prata shop 'the Prata Cafe' on Evans Rd. We like its good variety of pratas, thosai and indian dishes at reasonable prices.

For our late afternoon tea, we ordered Milo Godzilla (ice milo drink, topped with lots of thick milo powder and vanilla ice-cream), Teh Halia (hot ginger tea), Indian Rojak (fish cakes, fried prawn fritters, eggs covered with flour which has been deep-fried, all served with special peanut sauce) and plain pratas (with curry sauces and sugar).

The best part about this place are its proximity to home and the 'easy' road-side parking :p

Honked

2007-05-11T09:25:00.000+08:00

It all happened yesterday. My colleagues had a whale of a time doing up an artwork for the spare tyre cover at the back of my car. Some also left the office with me in a convoy and took lots of pictures in excitement. They mentioned that the luminious orange sign and glittery flying streamers can be sported from afar! Of course I was oblivious to the prank and drove from the west to central of SG!

There were sporting drivers who honked at me along the way. There was also this car load of people that drove alongside on the highway with their windows wound down screaming and waving hysterically at me. I glanced at them and thought: "Do I know these people??" After picking Sam up, I drove home and parked head in only to realise the gaudy artwork behind the car. Gosh!

We had a good laugh today, but not before I replaced the artwork with 'Go back to work' and kept cool when I got to the office. They thought that I was still unaware of the prank and went to check on the car. I was told that if I had not discovered the sign, they would have replaced it with 'It's my birthday today' instead of 'tomorrow'. Phew! :p

Well, this is a revenge of the prankster, cause we had a similar prank on one of the colleagues 2 years back, though the decor was not so gaudy and elaborated! This reminded me of those IJ days when we used to have lots of tricks up our sleeves.

They ordered in pizza for lunch, had home-made banana shake and raspberry cheesecake today. And they surprised me with a bouquet of flowers too! They had obviously put in much effort into this day. Thank God for fun and thoughtful colleagues! :)

Fine Dining

2007-05-05T23:10:00.000+08:00

Last night, we had a nice European-Asian dinner at Ember Restaurant located in boutique Hotel 1929 at Keong Saik Rd. We had to make reservations one day in advance as it is usually full house.

For appetizer, we ordered crispy tofu with mushroom and foie gras sauce, and pan roasted scallops with vegetable. Love the tofu! Our main course were marinated cod with black miso and herbed potatoes, and roasted lambloin with sauteed baby spinach, fleur de sel. I had the cod which was very nicely marinated and pan fried on the outside. Dessert was a warm banana tart with homemade lavender ice cream. The ice-cream was exquisite. It's a MUST TRY!

The price is considered to be reasonable for such fine cuisine. The dinner was delicious and perfect for special occasion :)

Beetle

2007-05-04T00:06:00.000+08:00

We visited the new VW showroom the other day. Saw the new open top Cabriolet Beetle in pastel yellow on display.

Like the Mini, the Beetle has been regarded as something of a "cult" car since the 60s due to its association with the hippie movement and surf/pop culture. Like its peers, it has the attributes of a unique and quirky design, and has made numerous appearance in films.

These are exactly the reasons why I like both the Beetle and the Mini. :)

Basil Plant

2007-05-01T18:05:00.000+08:00

We bought a Basil Plant today from Cold Storage. A check on the web says that Mediterranean and Indochinese cuisines frequently use basil, the former frequently combining it with tomato.

Basil is one of the main ingredients in pesto (a green Italian oil-and-herb sauce). Chinese also use basils in soups and other foods.

Although basil will grow best outdoors, it can be grown indoors in a pot and should be kept away from extremely cold drafts. Let's see how long it will last :)

Alaskan Crab

2007-05-01T14:30:00.000+08:00

Had a department dinner on Friday with my colleagues at Ah Yat Hunan Restaurant at Turf City. We had seafood dinner and my colleagues ordered one huge Alaskan Crab costing $500 on top of the set menu. It's so expensive that we have to take pictures of it. We also had Geoduck Clam, another expensive dish.

It was a nice treat which I don't think I will order if on my own...

Chiropractor Visit – Fri 23 Mar 07

2007-04-14T03:24:00.000+08:00

I had a pretty nasty neck/back pain since 2 days back and had to visit the Chiropractor on Friday after work.

Had made a call to the one recommended by Wendy but the appointment was full. I decided to call Rev Ho’s son at the Health Club and rushed down to Ngee Ann City after work. It was raining and as usual was caught in the peak hour traffic but managed to get there – not too late.

It was my first visit to a Chiropractor. Luke has absolutely no recollection that we have met at VOP rehearsals. He introduced himself formally, started interviewing me on the symptoms and jotting them down diligently. How did I end up with a sprained neck/back? I have no idea! It could possibly be my sleeping posture and the way I position myself when using the Notebook at work and in bed. Sigh…

After a detailed explanation on how the bone and joints work while twisting and bending the plastic skeleton in the clinic, Luke sat me down on another chair and tested my reflexes with a small hammer. Then he pressed my head with his elbow, and told me to turn my neck left and then right. The pain ran down my upper back each time I turned to face left.

Next, he propped me on a special bench made for Chiropractic use. I lied face down, and he rubbed with strength certain nerve points on my back and neck to help release toxins. Then he operated the bench like a machine and there came all sorts of pumping action from the bench. I guess it was an interesting experience.

When we were done, he remarked that I looked familiar! Well, it finally clicked that I sing in the same choir as his parents. And he knew from the beginning of the interview that I am related to Sam who is also part of choir. Duh!

Anyway, his parting advice to me was to start using the Cold Pack for the next few days, and I have to get an x-ray on my neck after I return from my trip. And the damage came up to a warping $120! :(

Mini Cooper

2007-03-13T18:43:00.000+08:00

We took half day leave today to settle our HDB stuff. Passed by Leng Kee Road and saw loads of nice cars - Jaguar, Lexus, VW etc. Then we saw this very colorful Mini Cooper on display on the 2nd floor of their show room. We decided to make a quick pit stop to find out more about the infamous car.

There is the Mini Convertible, Mini Cooper S and Mini Cooper series. The interior is slick and spacious, more sophisticated than it appears to be. It is a low gravity car, performance is much like a sports car in a cute body. We fell in love with the car and may be tempted to get one when we are retired. :) Indeed an expensive car that makes a statement. Love the fact that every mini is unique! So arty-farty! :)

The Soccer Game

2007-03-12T21:23:00.000+08:00

Sam had his first intra-company soccer match this year. It was held last Saturday at Tanglin Pitch. The best SG team get to go to KL to compete with the other regional teams. The winning team gets to earn some cash award and meet the Man U soccer players in person!

How do you think he fared on his first game? :)

I think we have got to make an appointment with Dr Luke again ...

Plant Miracle

2007-03-10T21:31:00.000+08:00

We came home one night to find our indoor plants withered. Not quite sure if it was the lack of sun (positioning of the pot) or water (dehydration), we decided that perhaps just a little water will help. It made a big difference and within hours the plants came alive! They are living things after all!