Hols and Festivities

I finally finally got my Japan stuff all straightened out. After some procrastination, I have came up with a rough plan for the upcoming trip. I read up about the place, bought the necessary stuff and now I am ready to go.

Somehow this trip feels different. I am surprised how much interest I had when I started reading up about the country. I was hugely curious about the history and so I bought a book about Japan's history and I am halfway through the book. I never had any interests in history when I was in school. I was so bad they had to put me in a Geography class. Somehow as I grew older, I had a interest that I never had in History. History finally I find, can be interesting.

Anyhow......

After hearing many many horror stories about how I could get lost in that huge metropolis that is Tokyo and how difficult it is to navigate your way around, not just because of the lack (or very bad) of city planning, I took up a Japanese as well. I always wanted to take up a third language. I can't decide between French, Spanish and Japanese. This became sort of the decisive factor I suppose. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I will continue when I am back from Japan. Maybe if I were to go to South America one day, I may pick up Spanish again. It seems easier than the other two. I tried learning a little on my own, I seem to pick up quite a bit. But French sounds better leh. I love how it sounds. But French is tough, like Japanese. Japanese has wacky wacky grammar. I need to go memorise those Katakana characters before I go.

I am so looking forward to seeing Kyoto!
I guess I will need to start looking for tour packages for the next trip soon. Next trip's going to be in February, during Chinese New Year. I am hoping there are still vacancies since it is a hot time to travel. This will be my first time travelling during CNY. I like being at home during that time of the year. Isn't it about being with the family and loved ones? I suppose in Singapore, it isn't much of the issue, especially in my family, since everybody is home and not overseas, and we do see each other very often, there isn't much fuss. But I do do do miss having the reunion dinner with them! As long as I see them often, I am happy.

I was just at my friend's place for Hari Raya last Saturday and he broke such a happy piece of news! That was the happiest thing that I heard from him so far! I am thrilled and so so excited for him! Perhaps happily-sad. Since it may also mark the end of a decade old tradition. But we can always carry out the tradition somewhere else!

In 2 months, it will be Christmas! I missed Christmas at home last year, since I was in China, high up on a mountain, stuck with a chinese Santa Claus. So this year, we will have dinner at home. Maybe I should plan a dinner at home for everyone, thought mum will have to roast the turkey... I can buy the bird though!
The last leg of the year are always abuzz with dinners and holidays and parties and what nots.There are especially a lot more weddings too! Why do people like getting married end of the year? I got married in December too. But it was more of a timing thing than anything. We got married on the day we met, and that was some kind of coincidence. So far, I have 3 weddings to attend. Not a lot, some of my friends have more invites! Ouch for the wallet!

First Year

It has been a year since I moved in on my own. No maid to clean after me, no mother to brew me coffee. I guess despite that, I think I am doing pretty fine.

It is as though it wasn't long ago that I just did my renovation. Somehow, the place still seems pretty new to me. Maybe it is because there are still empty shelves in the kitchen, and shelves that are taken up, they are not choked full of stuff yet. The shelves in the study though, that is a different story. They are all full! That is one reason why I am not buying as many books as before and that has prevented me from renewing my kinokuniya member card. I wanted full length custom made book shelves but decided against it, since we might use it for someone else in the future.

The place still feels a little sparse, with not a lot of stuff lying around. These things take time you know, filling up a place TAKES TIME and patience. I want to buy things that reflects a little of us (so so so cliche!) or at least things that we really really love. Usually things that we really really love, cost an obscene amount of mola, so have to save up and buy, or just fantasize!
I am happy with how most things went. I might have changed a thing or two, like being fussy with the soddy, poor excuse of a window job, the curtains - I would very much want black iron wrought railings. The towel racks were a disaster.

I am still pushing and pulling my furniture about trying to get them looking prefect. I am glad that I didn't have much things fixed permanently since I can be so fickle! Apart from the kitchen cabinets and the bedroom wardrobe, nothing much is unmovable.

So after a year, I am still thinking about how to make things look better, I am still trying to keep the place as spanking clean as my mum's (an almost impossible task, since she mops the freaking executive flat TWICE a day! Executive leh, how the hell she do it? And what the heck for? Once a day not enough meh?). This is like my never ending task for me to organise and reorganise stuff. As strange as it sounds, I love to organise! Basically, I love working with my hands, crafts to fix- its to cleaning to DIYs.

My flat is one big project.

Bakes

I can't remember the last time I really bake something sweet. I mean, I bake quite a bit, using the oven more for dinners than sweets. The last time was just last week, baking a little pumpkin. Love roasted pumpkins! They are packed with super duper stuff like antioxidants and vitamin A. Such an awfullly wholesome thing it is. Makes me feel like it is fall, jumping into glorious amber coloured piles of leaves. Yeah, I know, there is only 2 seasons in Singapore, nonetheless let me just pretend and indulge in my overactive imagination ok?

Anyway, as I was just saying, I can't remember the last time I baked something sweet. So this evening, was in the mood. Nice cool and windy, the husband is out meeting his cuz, so the place is nice and quiet, just perfect for baking.

I like baking at night. When all is still and quiet. There is something really comforting in that. Well, it wasn't all that still and quiet since I started at 8pm. At least I was alone. I have a habit of baking alone when my husband's out with friends. It is my downtime. I enjoyed the baking session thoroughly, I almost forgot how nice it is to be baking alone. Must do it again soon!

Donuts

I never really indulge in the nation's favourite past time - queuing. Ok, second favourite past time next to shopping. Ok ok, third favourite past time next to shopping and makaning.
Donut factory has all those things. It is located in a SHOPPING MALL. It has ridiculously LONG QUEUES. Donuts are FOOD.

How more Singaporean can you get? By offering sambal donuts is it?

Anyway, I love donuts. My family adores donuts. And as much as I adore my family, I can't bring myself to queue for them. The queues centipedes its way all the way to Gloria Jean's, which is a good 15 meters at least. It is ludicrous!

But admittedly, I have always been curious about those donuts. One fine saturday afternoon, my sister and my brother decided to go down to and get them bloody donuts.
I tell you, they are great! Especially the glazed ones! I still have some of those at home. Thank you guys!

Putting the Char in Char Siew

Charred that is. Eventually I did out my char (fork) to the siew too.
I attempted making char siew on my own since I had a char siew attack last week, but I hate those orangey looking ones.

I was a little nervous that it might not come out so well, but it did! Well, it wasn't fantastic (but fenntastic loh! hurhur!), but I loved it. It did looked a little too charred, hahahaha, I think I over-glazed it with too much honey. It definately tasted better than it looked. But I like the charred bits best.

Spring Cleaning

You know how some friends just take you for granted? How some just don't put in that little bit of effort to upkeep relationships? You know, these so called friends? Those that ask you out only when there are no other people more interesting and available. Those that make you few like some kind of gap filler.

I think I have wasted enough time and have been pretty patient with them. I had given more than enough chances and benefit of the doubt. I decided that I should put in my energy on people who are genuine. Most of us will have so called friends like that. Those that are interested in you because you are fresh and a little bit of a novelty to these people, like entertainment. You got a sell-by date. So, I am saying adios to these people. I hate having to feel like some kind of
When I think about some friends, it brings a certain warmth to your heart. You will be smiling inside and out. They make you feel all nice and soft and great. I love my friends! I have a close set of friends whom I can talk about anything and nothing at all, whom I know I can run to to whine and complain or just plain gossip. I love them to bits, and I would be so sad if they are not around me anymore. Makes me think about Seinfeld, just less offbeat and kooky. You know that you are important to them without them having to tell you that. They make you feel that. Sometimes, they do the simplest things and that would touched you in the deepest way possible. These friends are hard to come by, and honestly, you don't need that many of these gems in your life.

With that done, I can focus on the things and people that matter most!
Phew!

Comfort Food

My brother highly recommended the triple chocolate cereal, so i bought it. Eat it with chocolate milk, very POWER. At the risk of having nose bleeds, I will just stick to normal low fat milk. I can eat cereals any day of the time. Supper, in front of the TV, afternoon reading the papers. It is one of those comfort food. We are such creature of comforts...

Apple and cinnamon go really well don't you think? I can't think of a better match for apples than cinnamon. It is one of those classic food pairings. Like thyme and chicken or basil and tomatoes. The smell always puts a smile on my face. I love having some really hot apple crumble with vanilla ice cream on a rainy day! One of life's pleasures! I remember Ken and I would always go down to the Black Jack Cafe (when it was still below Hard Rock Cafe and when they were still carrying Kate Spade) for just that after school. Brings back good memories for me.

I love a huge greasy juicy burgers when I am really hungry. I like the satiated feeling I get after I am done wolfing down the burger. Another comfort food of mine.
I love bak changs too, I don't eat it often, usually just on dun wu jie, but I love it no less.
I love love love that chicken rice stall in Ubi Ave! I used to eat it ever so often when I was living there. I still make my way there, braving the horrid Eunos traffic just to have that. It was such a family affair.

The ultimate comfort for me has got to be my mum's chicken curry, very healthy, she uses part coconut milk, part low fat milk, some curry purists will scoff at this, but I ADORE IT! It must be accompanied with her fried bee hoon. Shioka-doo-da-doos! Most times now, she only cooks either items, so when there is curry and no bee hoon, I love eating mee sua drenched in a pool of curry. Heavenly, although bizarre sounding, it is really yummy!