Is it October already?
Work has been pouncing on me so often I have completely lost track of time. I go into office everyday and open up my calendar to see what meetings I have for that day and the next. I do foresee busier weeks ahead but at the same time, I am trying to enjoy what I am doing.
A good thing that came out of work is that I get to play badminton with most of my colleagues twice a week - which is a saviour actually. Bonding is there, work gets done faster and communication is just smoother. Am glad that we all found a sport that old and young like and can afford to attend after office hours.
Till then, I'm gonna be working my ass off and hopes Tex understands! It's his last week before his thesis submission and I pray for greater motivation and strength for and from the both of us.
加油!!
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Monday, October 07, 2013
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
A Target Impossible To Achieve?
I have spoken to several persons regarding Tex and my new home's renovations. Ours is a 3-room flat and yes, the budget for that can afford to be smaller but many were sceptical about the budget we set for ourselves.
$10,000.
All in with furniture, electrical appliances and what-nots.
Too little? We'll see. It's a challenge we are quite entertained by - sourcing the cheapest and most value for money alternative to what the masses think. True, we may not be staying in the house for long hence that affected our budget (can afford to use lousier stuff). BUT, do you really need that 42 inch TV instead of a 32 inch one? Shrugs.
This is a project to see how bare we can live with (and without). This is also a project to see if we can still live comfortably without those things that we thought we couldn't live without. I'm testing my limits as well. Tex proposed last week that we should not have a water heater in the house. I was speechless. If any one needs me, I will be in my bed, face-palming.
But if you think about it, the weather in Singapore does not need you to have a water heater. It's a want VS a need. I want a water heater. I don't need a water heater. This week, he said that we should be able to afford one. Needless to say, I was relieved. However, I also realised by then, that, I think I can live without a water heater. That was surprising. His earlier proposition made me re-think about all the things I thought I couldn't live without. And made me appreciate them more.
This is Version 1 of the house - a budget challenge. We're pretty sure we are gonna renovate the house again in five years' time. That will be a space challenge.
We'll see.
$10,000.
All in with furniture, electrical appliances and what-nots.
Too little? We'll see. It's a challenge we are quite entertained by - sourcing the cheapest and most value for money alternative to what the masses think. True, we may not be staying in the house for long hence that affected our budget (can afford to use lousier stuff). BUT, do you really need that 42 inch TV instead of a 32 inch one? Shrugs.
This is a project to see how bare we can live with (and without). This is also a project to see if we can still live comfortably without those things that we thought we couldn't live without. I'm testing my limits as well. Tex proposed last week that we should not have a water heater in the house. I was speechless. If any one needs me, I will be in my bed, face-palming.
But if you think about it, the weather in Singapore does not need you to have a water heater. It's a want VS a need. I want a water heater. I don't need a water heater. This week, he said that we should be able to afford one. Needless to say, I was relieved. However, I also realised by then, that, I think I can live without a water heater. That was surprising. His earlier proposition made me re-think about all the things I thought I couldn't live without. And made me appreciate them more.
This is Version 1 of the house - a budget challenge. We're pretty sure we are gonna renovate the house again in five years' time. That will be a space challenge.
We'll see.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Re-united
Unapologetic for the lack of updates because Tex is back and spending time with him is paramount to me.
Everything else can wait.
Precisely because of this 'notion', my regular life in Singapore has been thrown off the rocks. I'm not complaining. Alright, I am.
Splurging on cab fares because our schedules are tight - we wanna go to every place together and spend as much time as we can, eat as much food as we can, before we part again. Sleeping late because we end up holding hands under the blanket and talk about anything before either of us not answer 'cos one of us fell asleep and the other one then decided to close his/her eyes. Sudden influx of people to meet, activities to do, appointments to attend. Not exercising because food is more important. Period.
He is leaving in three days. T.T As busy as I was, I have been sooooo happy for the past week. :)
Everything else can wait.
Precisely because of this 'notion', my regular life in Singapore has been thrown off the rocks. I'm not complaining. Alright, I am.
Splurging on cab fares because our schedules are tight - we wanna go to every place together and spend as much time as we can, eat as much food as we can, before we part again. Sleeping late because we end up holding hands under the blanket and talk about anything before either of us not answer 'cos one of us fell asleep and the other one then decided to close his/her eyes. Sudden influx of people to meet, activities to do, appointments to attend. Not exercising because food is more important. Period.
He is leaving in three days. T.T As busy as I was, I have been sooooo happy for the past week. :)
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Parenting the Nordic Way
I was first introduced to Finland by my Mom who only knew the Scandinavian country by its Chinese name, 芬蘭. (Pardon the traditional Chinese strokes, I am in love with it.)
I was taught that was where Santa Claus lived and came from and only knew that it is a very, very cold country. My knowledge of that remained that way because I am not a very curious person and I am very lazy, until Tex and I visited Helsinki last autumn.
It was clean.. and simple. I tried so hard to think of an adjective to describe but "simple" hits me hard. I'm not going deep into their social structure because I'm no expert to comment but I'll just describe what I saw, as a traveller.
All their tram platforms were level to their tram carriages. It was practically effortless to wheel a pram into the tram. Adults who had season tickets need not whip out their cards to tap that often - only during their first leg of the journey. The fare that they pay initially would sustain for, say, about one and a half hours? So even if you are changing trams, just alight and board again, no more tapping. Don't find fault with my accuracies, I'm just saying it's rather hassle-free to take public transport. Besides, being cheapo Singaporeans, we winged our way through and forgot to pay for many trips. I don't think at Helsinki, anyone worried about not having enough space in a tram to bring a pram, much less to collapse a pram before you can hurl it onto the tram.
Ask a parent to wake his/her sleeping child up. The last time I did that to my niece, I got a cold hard stare from my sister that could turn me into stone and was made to babysit my niece for the next four hours. Let's just say I will never do it again.
Collapsing a pram before you board a bus? Not as easy as you think, CEOs of bus operators. Wake a child up, carry him, carry the bags, collapse a pram, board and squeeze into the bus with many other commuters and THEN fish out your EZ-link? I'd like to see the CEOs do that. Of course, it's not like there isn't a choice. We can also adapt and make do with the cards that we are dealt with. Hence many resorted to buying cars and.. the rest is history.
I've digressed. Truly a Singaporean at heart while I complain happily away. I just wanted to demonstrate how EASY Helsinki made commuting for parents. Even with my super big bagpack then, we had little trouble entering and exiting the trams and subways.
Then I came across this little article - Why Finnish Babies Sleep In Boxes. Apparently, "for 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates." Every year, mothers look forward to receiving The Box as the rest were left curious about the contents of the box. It was easy to know what year the babies were born in as the design of clothes changes a little every year. Well, to me, that sounded a lot more like checking out what your NDP goodies bag contained this year. Same same but different, you get the idea.
Now, isn't this AWESOME?! Talk about meaningful gifts, it's like someone from the government cares. So I gave this link to Tex, thinking he would enjoy it tremendously. And so he did. He countered me with this even awesome-r article - The Babies Who Nap In Sub-zero Temperatures. We finished the article with one common memory - there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.
As you can see, I am deeply fascinated with the Nordic way of parenting. Resilience to them is in-built right from a very very young age and in many aspects. Leaving the kids to nap outdoors? I think I like that idea already.
Erm, not in this haze lah.
I was taught that was where Santa Claus lived and came from and only knew that it is a very, very cold country. My knowledge of that remained that way because I am not a very curious person and I am very lazy, until Tex and I visited Helsinki last autumn.
It was clean.. and simple. I tried so hard to think of an adjective to describe but "simple" hits me hard. I'm not going deep into their social structure because I'm no expert to comment but I'll just describe what I saw, as a traveller.
All their tram platforms were level to their tram carriages. It was practically effortless to wheel a pram into the tram. Adults who had season tickets need not whip out their cards to tap that often - only during their first leg of the journey. The fare that they pay initially would sustain for, say, about one and a half hours? So even if you are changing trams, just alight and board again, no more tapping. Don't find fault with my accuracies, I'm just saying it's rather hassle-free to take public transport. Besides, being cheapo Singaporeans, we winged our way through and forgot to pay for many trips. I don't think at Helsinki, anyone worried about not having enough space in a tram to bring a pram, much less to collapse a pram before you can hurl it onto the tram.
Ask a parent to wake his/her sleeping child up. The last time I did that to my niece, I got a cold hard stare from my sister that could turn me into stone and was made to babysit my niece for the next four hours. Let's just say I will never do it again.
Collapsing a pram before you board a bus? Not as easy as you think, CEOs of bus operators. Wake a child up, carry him, carry the bags, collapse a pram, board and squeeze into the bus with many other commuters and THEN fish out your EZ-link? I'd like to see the CEOs do that. Of course, it's not like there isn't a choice. We can also adapt and make do with the cards that we are dealt with. Hence many resorted to buying cars and.. the rest is history.
I've digressed. Truly a Singaporean at heart while I complain happily away. I just wanted to demonstrate how EASY Helsinki made commuting for parents. Even with my super big bagpack then, we had little trouble entering and exiting the trams and subways.
Then I came across this little article - Why Finnish Babies Sleep In Boxes. Apparently, "for 75 years, Finland's expectant mothers have been given a box by the state. It's like a starter kit of clothes, sheets and toys that can even be used as a bed. And some say it helped Finland achieve one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates." Every year, mothers look forward to receiving The Box as the rest were left curious about the contents of the box. It was easy to know what year the babies were born in as the design of clothes changes a little every year. Well, to me, that sounded a lot more like checking out what your NDP goodies bag contained this year. Same same but different, you get the idea.
Now, isn't this AWESOME?! Talk about meaningful gifts, it's like someone from the government cares. So I gave this link to Tex, thinking he would enjoy it tremendously. And so he did. He countered me with this even awesome-r article - The Babies Who Nap In Sub-zero Temperatures. We finished the article with one common memory - there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.
As you can see, I am deeply fascinated with the Nordic way of parenting. Resilience to them is in-built right from a very very young age and in many aspects. Leaving the kids to nap outdoors? I think I like that idea already.
Erm, not in this haze lah.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
NEA Publishes Incorrect PSI
Seriously, does it really matter?
Does it matter to you that NEA publishes the wrong index as for example, 105 if it was 118? I was just musing over it that people are complaining that the index was inaccurate and were complaining about it.
I have my own gauge - from the view of my house, if I can see Marina Bay Sands, PSI is good. If I can't see beyond Suntec City, the PSI is not bad. If I can't see the Oscar-like building near Bugis Junction, the PSI is bad. If I can't see the blocks behind beyond those opposite my house, the PSI is fucking unhealthy. So just drink your water and wish for the best. Does it matter if it is 105 or 118? What do the numbers do for you?
Adapt to find your gauge or are we too pampered to just rely on governmental statistics that we have lost our own bearings? Unfortunately, I kaopei-kaobu now but I just checked on CPF website how much money I have in my OA. My money, they don't say, I don't know. Sad.
I don't give a fuck about how many degrees it is in Singapore. It's just hot to me. I don't check if it rains today. There's an umbrella in my bag everyday.
Surprisingly, as I was drafting this post, I came across one post from one of my favourite bloggers, A Singaporean Son. He doesn't label himself as a blogger, but fuck yes, he blogs. Nearly same sentiments over there, bro.
Does it matter to you that NEA publishes the wrong index as for example, 105 if it was 118? I was just musing over it that people are complaining that the index was inaccurate and were complaining about it.
I have my own gauge - from the view of my house, if I can see Marina Bay Sands, PSI is good. If I can't see beyond Suntec City, the PSI is not bad. If I can't see the Oscar-like building near Bugis Junction, the PSI is bad. If I can't see the blocks behind beyond those opposite my house, the PSI is fucking unhealthy. So just drink your water and wish for the best. Does it matter if it is 105 or 118? What do the numbers do for you?
Adapt to find your gauge or are we too pampered to just rely on governmental statistics that we have lost our own bearings? Unfortunately, I kaopei-kaobu now but I just checked on CPF website how much money I have in my OA. My money, they don't say, I don't know. Sad.
I don't give a fuck about how many degrees it is in Singapore. It's just hot to me. I don't check if it rains today. There's an umbrella in my bag everyday.
Surprisingly, as I was drafting this post, I came across one post from one of my favourite bloggers, A Singaporean Son. He doesn't label himself as a blogger, but fuck yes, he blogs. Nearly same sentiments over there, bro.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Dealing With His Departure
It does take a while for me to recognise that Tex is no longer playing an active role in my life in Singapore right now. For the past two and a half years, I could call him up and he could appear at my doorstep in fifteen minutes. Now, it takes a phone call and shit loads of communication to update each other about our daily lives.
We used to go café-hunting together to have quality time all by ourselves. And then we realised that brunches and cafes were really expensive dates that we could hardly upkeep, coupled with the fact that we enjoyed hawker food so so so much more and they were cheaper. In spite of all these, be it café-dating, hawker-binging, sun-walking, every single little thing reminds me of Tex and his life here. Even taking a lift ride up to my place reminds me of the little last-minute chats we have before we say our goodbyes to each other.
There are still many cafes and hawker centres in Singapore that I would very much like to visit with him, so many experiences I would like to share, so many moments I need him to be beside me. BUT, it's about time I recognise that these are stuffs that I need to do on my own and we are trying our best to start our couple life somewhere else. No complaints, no whys, just start doing it. Six years ago, I've done it before, I can do it again.
A phrase he always, always tells me, "I know I'm not there, I just want you to know that you're on my mind."
With that, I will soldier on.
Our peculiar love and dreams keeps me fighting.
We used to go café-hunting together to have quality time all by ourselves. And then we realised that brunches and cafes were really expensive dates that we could hardly upkeep, coupled with the fact that we enjoyed hawker food so so so much more and they were cheaper. In spite of all these, be it café-dating, hawker-binging, sun-walking, every single little thing reminds me of Tex and his life here. Even taking a lift ride up to my place reminds me of the little last-minute chats we have before we say our goodbyes to each other.
There are still many cafes and hawker centres in Singapore that I would very much like to visit with him, so many experiences I would like to share, so many moments I need him to be beside me. BUT, it's about time I recognise that these are stuffs that I need to do on my own and we are trying our best to start our couple life somewhere else. No complaints, no whys, just start doing it. Six years ago, I've done it before, I can do it again.
A phrase he always, always tells me, "I know I'm not there, I just want you to know that you're on my mind."
With that, I will soldier on.
Our peculiar love and dreams keeps me fighting.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Our Little Hole
I'm very happy to announce that we have just entered yet another phase in our lives - getting a flat!
Our dating/family building sequence is slightly different from the couples in Singapore where they ballot for a flat first before considering marriage. I revise - that was a slightly sweeping statement. They briefly consider marriage before balloting for a flat.
I see balloting or applying for a flat a very serious issue - no room or money for mistakes. Tex is with me on this, hence we did it our way, with him initiating to propose, got registered before we decided to get a flat.
I see it like our little act of defiance against the strict regulations of Singapore government where citizens are so drawn into the movement of getting a house hence the registration of marriage. I don't think our little act can make a difference but it sure makes a difference to our insights and lives and that is enough. As Tex aptly puts it, "Yesterday I was clever so, I thought I could change the world. Today I am wise so, I will change myself."
So yeah, today our proxy has selected a small little hole for us and we are very happy to have finally closed in on one flat for our future! It's a 3-room premium flat, yes I know the popular choice nowadays is the 4-room flat and like much people who have suggested that we should have gotten a 4-room, Tex and I had our little discussions NUMEROUS times and still, we decided on a 3-room flat.
We thank all who have given their two-cents worth and I assure everyone we have seriously considered all your suggestions (hence the internal struggles 3-room or 4-room? TIMES 100 times). We weighed in on all possibilities and options, trust me, we even used up statistics options to help us reach a decision and I believe, this decision will serve us really well in future, in consideration of our lifestyle choices.
To infinity and beyond.
Our dating/family building sequence is slightly different from the couples in Singapore where they ballot for a flat first before considering marriage. I revise - that was a slightly sweeping statement. They briefly consider marriage before balloting for a flat.
I see balloting or applying for a flat a very serious issue - no room or money for mistakes. Tex is with me on this, hence we did it our way, with him initiating to propose, got registered before we decided to get a flat.
I see it like our little act of defiance against the strict regulations of Singapore government where citizens are so drawn into the movement of getting a house hence the registration of marriage. I don't think our little act can make a difference but it sure makes a difference to our insights and lives and that is enough. As Tex aptly puts it, "Yesterday I was clever so, I thought I could change the world. Today I am wise so, I will change myself."
So yeah, today our proxy has selected a small little hole for us and we are very happy to have finally closed in on one flat for our future! It's a 3-room premium flat, yes I know the popular choice nowadays is the 4-room flat and like much people who have suggested that we should have gotten a 4-room, Tex and I had our little discussions NUMEROUS times and still, we decided on a 3-room flat.
We thank all who have given their two-cents worth and I assure everyone we have seriously considered all your suggestions (hence the internal struggles 3-room or 4-room? TIMES 100 times). We weighed in on all possibilities and options, trust me, we even used up statistics options to help us reach a decision and I believe, this decision will serve us really well in future, in consideration of our lifestyle choices.
To infinity and beyond.
Monday, February 04, 2013
Meet-The-Parents Dinner!
I would love to blog about our solemnisation but I thought this dinner was very meaningful to me and I would like to keep this event in virtual memory. :)
This was the first time both our parents came together for dinner and Tex and I were kinda nervous and apprehensive about it. Yes, no doubt, my parents visited Tex's Mom (now my mother-in-law) in Perth (and we even went on road trips together) and travelled together with Tex's Dad (obviously now my father-in-law) to Malacca, to meet all of them in one sitting can be quite nerve-wrecking.
Thankfully it turned out well. With my mother-in-law around, she is the topic-shooter who never, ever, runs out of things to say. I'm sure it was because of her, my parents felt more at ease and we, the younger generation, also felt less apprehensive and enjoyed the dinner tremendously.
Venue for dinner was Tex's pick - Beng Thin Hoon Kee (nope, not cigarette) Hokkien Restaurant as I really wanted to try authentic Hokkien fare, even though I am a true blue Teochew. I must say, all our picks the dishes turned out to be awesome!
We were so full from all the food even though the set was for 6 pax and there were 7 of us! What goes on during a meet-the-parents session is subjective. Some may see it as a chance to meet up each others' parents before the wedding day and familiarise with each other since they are going to become relatives. For my family, my parents are slightly more traditional where they would like Tex's parents to give them a '交待' as to asking for my hand in marriage even though Tex has already asked them. =X
For that, I thank Tex's parents as they were very understanding and accomodating. And Tex's mum even went super old-school and asked "我的德順可以娶你的Melvina嗎?"
I think the moment she asked that, everyone was super embarrassed. Hahahaha!
Although they were all slightly awkward during the first few dishes, it was still nice to see them chatting away at the end of the dinner.
Thankful for the opportunity that both sets of parents managed to mingle before the solemnisation! The ambience for the solemnisation definitely wasn't strange and everybody were already friends! :)
This was the first time both our parents came together for dinner and Tex and I were kinda nervous and apprehensive about it. Yes, no doubt, my parents visited Tex's Mom (now my mother-in-law) in Perth (and we even went on road trips together) and travelled together with Tex's Dad (obviously now my father-in-law) to Malacca, to meet all of them in one sitting can be quite nerve-wrecking.
Thankfully it turned out well. With my mother-in-law around, she is the topic-shooter who never, ever, runs out of things to say. I'm sure it was because of her, my parents felt more at ease and we, the younger generation, also felt less apprehensive and enjoyed the dinner tremendously.
Venue for dinner was Tex's pick - Beng Thin Hoon Kee (nope, not cigarette) Hokkien Restaurant as I really wanted to try authentic Hokkien fare, even though I am a true blue Teochew. I must say, all our picks the dishes turned out to be awesome!
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| Steamed Fish |
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| Fish Maw Soup - Those who know me well who know I have a constant struggle with Sharks' Fin broth so this is the best compromise :) |
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| Roast Chicken |
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| Orh Luak! |
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| Spinach with Wolfberries |
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| Kong Ba Pau |
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| Duck Salad |
We were so full from all the food even though the set was for 6 pax and there were 7 of us! What goes on during a meet-the-parents session is subjective. Some may see it as a chance to meet up each others' parents before the wedding day and familiarise with each other since they are going to become relatives. For my family, my parents are slightly more traditional where they would like Tex's parents to give them a '交待' as to asking for my hand in marriage even though Tex has already asked them. =X
For that, I thank Tex's parents as they were very understanding and accomodating. And Tex's mum even went super old-school and asked "我的德順可以娶你的Melvina嗎?"
I think the moment she asked that, everyone was super embarrassed. Hahahaha!
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| Look like who leh? (No idea why the photos look so blur) |
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| Tex & YT |
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| The two Mums. |
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| His family! |
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| That's us! |
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| The men. |
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| The women! |
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| Happy to be doing this with you. :) |
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| ♥♥♥ |
Although they were all slightly awkward during the first few dishes, it was still nice to see them chatting away at the end of the dinner.
Thankful for the opportunity that both sets of parents managed to mingle before the solemnisation! The ambience for the solemnisation definitely wasn't strange and everybody were already friends! :)
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Happy Birthday to Yuen Ting!
We celebrated YT's birthday sometime back! Love traditional tze-char restaurants!
Yuen Ting very kindly gave me these products from Rachel K's skincare line to try out! I've started using the cleanser already because the screw-cap was a little faulty. The texture is gel-like and it's a transparent slight greenish in colour. I don't like the fact that it doesn't foam up at all but it sure feels light and clear on my skin after using it. None of the tightness and dry feeling! :)
She also gave me day cream, night cream and serum to try out! Yay to new products! :D
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| Wahhhh, so much delicacies! |
Gim Tim Restaurant
157 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
#01-546
Singapore 560157
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| With candles that sparkles! |
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| Yum yum chocolate cake!!! |
Yuen Ting very kindly gave me these products from Rachel K's skincare line to try out! I've started using the cleanser already because the screw-cap was a little faulty. The texture is gel-like and it's a transparent slight greenish in colour. I don't like the fact that it doesn't foam up at all but it sure feels light and clear on my skin after using it. None of the tightness and dry feeling! :)
She also gave me day cream, night cream and serum to try out! Yay to new products! :D
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Post Birthday Weekend
Long overdue post but I will strive to update cos it's a convenient way for me to remember what I did when I grow old in future.. if Blogger continues to exist then, haha.
Tex came to stay over for the night! We got hungry and decided to fry some eggs. I remember I had a cutter that I got from Daiso in the shape of a heart so we put it to good use. And because egg yolks have more calories than egg whites, Tex offered to eat them! I am not a big fan of egg yolks either. But salted egg yolk is a different story, excuse me. *Cough cough*
Anyway, has anyone had raw egg yolk mixed in Milo before? I recall my cousin used to take that weird concoction before exams. Seems to help with mental strength or something.
Next day, we wanted to have lunch at Fat Boys but when we were changing buses at Novena Ville, The Vines Seafood & Steak Restaurant caught my eye! Decided to have that for lunch!
All of the above and a cup of tea/coffee cost only $13.80++! Quite affordable for a weekend lunch, if I may say so. Set lunches are available daily! Food was alright but not the best. However, if you're looking for something value-for-money to fill your stomach, this might be a good source! I might be back to try their other steaks!
We were there at 11:30AM and it was still quite empty. However, people started streaming in at 12:15PM onwards and even formed queues! Initially wanted to stay and do more research on our trip but decided to give up our seats, seeing that the restaurant was really quite packed. I would suggest you go early! :) Another Hainanese-Western restaurant found. Score!
Tex brought me to ArtScience Museum for the Harry Potter Exhibition! Queued for tickets for a while before we got the admission at 3:00PM. There are hourly entrances but no time limit on the duration that you stay inside the exihibition. Reason for the hourly entrances is because they wanted to treat the museum goers as "first-years" as a group and bring us to the Hogwarts Express!
Singapore citizens enjoy a discount of $4 hence the admission fee was $20 per person! No further discount with PAssion card or any credit cards. :(
You would be able to pull them manually! One of the interactive exhibitions that they provided. We even played Quidditch! Okay, by that I mean, threw the Quaffle through the three hoops erected for public to enjoy!
No photography was allowed in the exhibition but I managed to sneak in some shots. Here's Tex admiring their leather gloves. He has a fetish for gloves, I tell you.
All in all I thought the exhibition has nothing much to rave about. They displayed mainly costumes and props that were used in the movies. The souvenir shops even sold merchandises and replicas of the wands of the famous characters. The prices for these items were horrendous - one wand for SGD$70! What madness. Didn't even purchase Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean as they were sold at SGD$6 for one small box. Though the flavours were rather interesting - like Grass, Sausage, Vomit, Black Pepper, Ear Wax etc. Don't think I'd be happy to eat Vomit though. Would love to try Ear Wax. Hahaha!
Cha!
Tex came to stay over for the night! We got hungry and decided to fry some eggs. I remember I had a cutter that I got from Daiso in the shape of a heart so we put it to good use. And because egg yolks have more calories than egg whites, Tex offered to eat them! I am not a big fan of egg yolks either. But salted egg yolk is a different story, excuse me. *Cough cough*
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| Egg yolks for the man! |
Anyway, has anyone had raw egg yolk mixed in Milo before? I recall my cousin used to take that weird concoction before exams. Seems to help with mental strength or something.
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| Egg white for me! Mixed in some yolk cos my egg cracking skill is not good enough. Need to play more Cooking Mama! Hahaha! |
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| Did you know?! |
Next day, we wanted to have lunch at Fat Boys but when we were changing buses at Novena Ville, The Vines Seafood & Steak Restaurant caught my eye! Decided to have that for lunch!
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| Ribeye Steak, Minestrone Soup, Garlic bread and cake |
All of the above and a cup of tea/coffee cost only $13.80++! Quite affordable for a weekend lunch, if I may say so. Set lunches are available daily! Food was alright but not the best. However, if you're looking for something value-for-money to fill your stomach, this might be a good source! I might be back to try their other steaks!
We were there at 11:30AM and it was still quite empty. However, people started streaming in at 12:15PM onwards and even formed queues! Initially wanted to stay and do more research on our trip but decided to give up our seats, seeing that the restaurant was really quite packed. I would suggest you go early! :) Another Hainanese-Western restaurant found. Score!
The Vines Seafood & Steak Restaurant
275 Thomson Road
Singapore 307645
6255 2838
Tex brought me to ArtScience Museum for the Harry Potter Exhibition! Queued for tickets for a while before we got the admission at 3:00PM. There are hourly entrances but no time limit on the duration that you stay inside the exihibition. Reason for the hourly entrances is because they wanted to treat the museum goers as "first-years" as a group and bring us to the Hogwarts Express!
Singapore citizens enjoy a discount of $4 hence the admission fee was $20 per person! No further discount with PAssion card or any credit cards. :(
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| Bring your IC! |
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| The enchanted car that Ron drove |
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| Oh hello. |
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| Proud to say that I watched EVERY movie in the theatres!!! |
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| Hello Mandrakes! |
You would be able to pull them manually! One of the interactive exhibitions that they provided. We even played Quidditch! Okay, by that I mean, threw the Quaffle through the three hoops erected for public to enjoy!
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| Quidditch robes! |
No photography was allowed in the exhibition but I managed to sneak in some shots. Here's Tex admiring their leather gloves. He has a fetish for gloves, I tell you.
All in all I thought the exhibition has nothing much to rave about. They displayed mainly costumes and props that were used in the movies. The souvenir shops even sold merchandises and replicas of the wands of the famous characters. The prices for these items were horrendous - one wand for SGD$70! What madness. Didn't even purchase Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean as they were sold at SGD$6 for one small box. Though the flavours were rather interesting - like Grass, Sausage, Vomit, Black Pepper, Ear Wax etc. Don't think I'd be happy to eat Vomit though. Would love to try Ear Wax. Hahaha!
Cha!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Birthday Lunch With My Girls
We met in 1999 when we were all in Secondary One and it's been 13 years! Oh gosh. One of us is even married AND pregnant. Can absolutely pour my heart out to them and they will never ever judge me. >.<
Every year, they NEVER fail to celebrate my birthday. Haiiii so touched. This year, because I just came back from Malacca, we decided to have lunch! Pei Juan asked me what cuisine I would like to have so I replied "Italian!"
Ask and you shall get. We met at La Nonna at Holland Village. Apparently they have another outlet at Namly Road!
Three dishes for four girls! Absolutely full.
From big cakes to small cakes. We have evolved from a big cake for everyone to eat to just getting a single portion for the birthday girl. We honestly prefer it that way because not all of us are big eaters of cakes and we always hardly finish the entire cake, which is really a big waste of money.
Aaaah, feel so loved with all the care and concern showered on me. Definitely am very blessed to have them in my life! Now, we just all can't wait for Stefie's baby to come into this wonderful world and we booked tickets to Hanoi too! Truly a girls' trip! ♥♥♥
Every year, they NEVER fail to celebrate my birthday. Haiiii so touched. This year, because I just came back from Malacca, we decided to have lunch! Pei Juan asked me what cuisine I would like to have so I replied "Italian!"
Ask and you shall get. We met at La Nonna at Holland Village. Apparently they have another outlet at Namly Road!
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| Crabmeat Linguine, Squid-ink Spaghetti and Calzone, the big big Curry Puff |
Three dishes for four girls! Absolutely full.
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| ♥♥♥♥ |
From big cakes to small cakes. We have evolved from a big cake for everyone to eat to just getting a single portion for the birthday girl. We honestly prefer it that way because not all of us are big eaters of cakes and we always hardly finish the entire cake, which is really a big waste of money.
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| Need some getting used to with my new haircut. :( |
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| Mad love handcraft work!!!! Thank you PJ!!!! |
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| For the lashionista in me! Thank you Stefie!!! |
Aaaah, feel so loved with all the care and concern showered on me. Definitely am very blessed to have them in my life! Now, we just all can't wait for Stefie's baby to come into this wonderful world and we booked tickets to Hanoi too! Truly a girls' trip! ♥♥♥
With My Loved Ones
Saturdays, if not for work, would be my rest times to recharge from the week that drained all my energy. Other than waking up naturally without any alarm clock to blast my ears, spending time with Tex or my little rascals would be of ultimate consolation for me.
I'd do things like.. painting my princess's nails in rainbow colours. Which I deeply regret because she now hounds me for it whenever she comes back from Malacca. And painting nails for a three-year-old isn't exactly the most fun thing to do. It tests my patience to the max!
Headed out with Tex for a date at Tiong Bahru Market! Had Tau Kua Pop!
Went to Novena area near my place to look for Vespa bikes! Tex has been wanting to get one for the longest time ever. Still yet to find our perfect ride in the right condition and right price. :(
Then Tex sent me to town to meet bestie for shopping!
Met Tex at night for supper again. Kinda offset my run the day before with all the junk food that I've been putting into my tummy. :(
And I would like to introduce my cousin's collaboration with one of the Japanese food stall owner in the food court of Singapore Post!
My cousin was a chef at Sakae and was based in New York for a year. He also apprenticed at one of the Hokkaido ramen outlets in the city (can't name which) and decided to venture out on his own!
I've given it a taste test and I really like his Shoyu soup base! At $7.50, I'd think it's super worthwhile and affordable for such a big bowl! We all know how ramen at foodcourts taste like right? Well, this is not the sameeeee! Please go try and tell me what you think! ;) We would appreciate all feedback!
For an additional $3, you get another four pieces of cha shu if you think you need more protein! Rahhhhh!!!
That's it. Gotta go eat it again soon! :) Cya guys around!
I'd do things like.. painting my princess's nails in rainbow colours. Which I deeply regret because she now hounds me for it whenever she comes back from Malacca. And painting nails for a three-year-old isn't exactly the most fun thing to do. It tests my patience to the max!
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| Waiting impatiently for her nails to dry. This is the third time I've re-applied the polish for her after she messed up the first two applications. *frowns* |
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| Her make-shift colouring table on my mum's bed while watching teevee. Good life eh! |
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| This is absolutely comfort food by my mum. Ahhhh. |
Headed out with Tex for a date at Tiong Bahru Market! Had Tau Kua Pop!
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| Doesn't it look like a face? |
Went to Novena area near my place to look for Vespa bikes! Tex has been wanting to get one for the longest time ever. Still yet to find our perfect ride in the right condition and right price. :(
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| Men's talk |
Then Tex sent me to town to meet bestie for shopping!
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| Isn't this quite a beauty! |
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| Vroom vroom! |
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| We had 1-for-1 Magnum at all 7-11 stores! Have you had your Magnum today? :) |
Met Tex at night for supper again. Kinda offset my run the day before with all the junk food that I've been putting into my tummy. :(
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| West Coast Mac - must be one of the lousiest in terms of food |
And I would like to introduce my cousin's collaboration with one of the Japanese food stall owner in the food court of Singapore Post!
My cousin was a chef at Sakae and was based in New York for a year. He also apprenticed at one of the Hokkaido ramen outlets in the city (can't name which) and decided to venture out on his own!
I've given it a taste test and I really like his Shoyu soup base! At $7.50, I'd think it's super worthwhile and affordable for such a big bowl! We all know how ramen at foodcourts taste like right? Well, this is not the sameeeee! Please go try and tell me what you think! ;) We would appreciate all feedback!
For an additional $3, you get another four pieces of cha shu if you think you need more protein! Rahhhhh!!!
Singapore Post Centre
10 Eunos Road 8
Singapore 408600
Kopitiam Foodcourt at Basement One
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| Sooooo hungry nowwww. |
That's it. Gotta go eat it again soon! :) Cya guys around!
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Being A Tourist In Your Own Country
On one of the Sundays, we headed out to Rubato which is near Tex's office for brunch buffet! :D The menu changes every week and this was the menu we had on the day we went!
Are you salivating yet? I know I am. It costs $18.23++ per person! Why such a weird pricing, I hear you ask. I guess it's related to their history or something, I'm not sure. Too hungry to ask. Hee.
Oh, and one thing I would like to recommend was their Iced Lemon Tea! No photos of it cos I downed one jug. Okay, we shared. But it was sooooooo good.
Tex always say that I have a goofy smile. I think it's true. Sad max.
Tex said he wanted to buy me my solemnisation dress so we went around Raffles City scouting for it. Didn't see any that I liked and we headed over to Excelsior Shopping Centre and Peninsula Plaza to enquire about tailor-making his suit. I would say prices are relatively close to what we expected.
We strolled on in the afternoon, enjoying each other's company when we reached Armenian Street and decided to check out the Peranakan Museum. Admission is only $3 per person (normal-priced tickets are $6) with Passion Card discount! I swear by the Passion Card, I tell you. $12 for 5-year application and it acts as an EZ-link card, gives you discounts for movie tickets at Shaw and Cathay. I think I have easily saved $100 for the one year that I have owned this card.
Well, if you don't own a Passion Card, you can swing by after work on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm! Admission for this time-frame is $3 too! :)
The beaded piece that you see above? It's a table cloth. A TABLE CLOTH. Painstakingly hand-sewn on by the Nyonyas of the past. I have beaded shoes templates that my granny gave to me when I was younger but this wins hands down. I've never seen anything like it before.
Speaking of which, as I'm reminded of my beaded shoes template. Maybe I can send them to a cobbler to make new shoes already? Now that I'm grown up? Right????? HEHEHEHE.
Oh, in the exhibition area, they showcased a Peranakan funeral altar with a full-sized coffin in there. Although they did set up signs that warn parents of the visual discussion about death, I still got a little hesitant about viewing the display. I'm quite terrified of these morbid things but they piqued my curiosity to the maxxxxxxx. Everytime I attend a wake or watch documentaries discussing about death, I would have a terrible terrible sleepless night.
No doubt, I had a crazy sleepless night that very night. :S The last time I watched Wong Li Lin's Unexpected Access where the episode was about body embalming, I had panda eyes the next day and still thought about the body dayyyy annnndddd nighttttt.
But it's not like there isn't a cure to it, I just need to hold someone's hand to sleep and I'll be fine. Catch is, I SLEEP ALONE. T.T
Tex had a crazy craving for Filipino food so we took a bus to Lucky Plaza! Turned out that the food was sooooooo oily and disgusting, I had to stop myself from vomitting. I think it's just that stall that we bought from. The food in Boracay and Manila was soooo good! I even had a balut and didn't vomit okay! Plus it was so crowded and many bapoks were burping around, hai. Well, our fault for deciding to visit Lucky Plaza on a SUNDAY.
After that meal, we had to head to our favourite cafe in the city - Provence, to wash our tummies with hot tea and coffee. And a lil' cheese bun, heh.
Anyway, it's the eve of my birthday today! :) Looking forward to a short getaway with Tex and my parents to visit my sister who resides in Malacca! :)))
Made a reservation at 10.30am and there was only a couple in the restaurant when we arrived. Coincidentally we bumped into Tex's colleague, Liren, who was there to have his birthday brunch with his fiancee! Yes, it was his birthday that day! =)
Here's the spread:
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| Bacon Frittata, Rustic Sauteed Vegetables, French Toast, Italian Herb Roasted Chicken |
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| Spaghetti with Pork Ragu, Penne Carbonara, Baked Hash Brown Potatoes, Cold Cuts with Mesclun |
Are you salivating yet? I know I am. It costs $18.23++ per person! Why such a weird pricing, I hear you ask. I guess it's related to their history or something, I'm not sure. Too hungry to ask. Hee.
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| You jelly? |
Oh, and one thing I would like to recommend was their Iced Lemon Tea! No photos of it cos I downed one jug. Okay, we shared. But it was sooooooo good.
Rubato Modern Italian Trattoria
3 Clover Way
Singapore 579078
6252 3200
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| Wah, mad love MAC blusher - Light Year *.* |
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| Pardon my gummy smile but I thought I looked really happy here =D |
Tex always say that I have a goofy smile. I think it's true. Sad max.
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| Me and you, just us two. |
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| "Who, when being loved, is poor?" - Oscar Wilde |
We strolled on in the afternoon, enjoying each other's company when we reached Armenian Street and decided to check out the Peranakan Museum. Admission is only $3 per person (normal-priced tickets are $6) with Passion Card discount! I swear by the Passion Card, I tell you. $12 for 5-year application and it acts as an EZ-link card, gives you discounts for movie tickets at Shaw and Cathay. I think I have easily saved $100 for the one year that I have owned this card.
Well, if you don't own a Passion Card, you can swing by after work on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm! Admission for this time-frame is $3 too! :)
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| 男女授受不親 |
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| Marveling at the art of my ancestors |
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| Such a beautiful piece. |
The beaded piece that you see above? It's a table cloth. A TABLE CLOTH. Painstakingly hand-sewn on by the Nyonyas of the past. I have beaded shoes templates that my granny gave to me when I was younger but this wins hands down. I've never seen anything like it before.
Speaking of which, as I'm reminded of my beaded shoes template. Maybe I can send them to a cobbler to make new shoes already? Now that I'm grown up? Right????? HEHEHEHE.
Oh, in the exhibition area, they showcased a Peranakan funeral altar with a full-sized coffin in there. Although they did set up signs that warn parents of the visual discussion about death, I still got a little hesitant about viewing the display. I'm quite terrified of these morbid things but they piqued my curiosity to the maxxxxxxx. Everytime I attend a wake or watch documentaries discussing about death, I would have a terrible terrible sleepless night.
No doubt, I had a crazy sleepless night that very night. :S The last time I watched Wong Li Lin's Unexpected Access where the episode was about body embalming, I had panda eyes the next day and still thought about the body dayyyy annnndddd nighttttt.
But it's not like there isn't a cure to it, I just need to hold someone's hand to sleep and I'll be fine. Catch is, I SLEEP ALONE. T.T
Tex had a crazy craving for Filipino food so we took a bus to Lucky Plaza! Turned out that the food was sooooooo oily and disgusting, I had to stop myself from vomitting. I think it's just that stall that we bought from. The food in Boracay and Manila was soooo good! I even had a balut and didn't vomit okay! Plus it was so crowded and many bapoks were burping around, hai. Well, our fault for deciding to visit Lucky Plaza on a SUNDAY.
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| So oily, I don't even! |
After that meal, we had to head to our favourite cafe in the city - Provence, to wash our tummies with hot tea and coffee. And a lil' cheese bun, heh.
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| CB! Hahahaha! |
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| Awww, Tex knows me and my coffee habits sooooo well. |
Anyway, it's the eve of my birthday today! :) Looking forward to a short getaway with Tex and my parents to visit my sister who resides in Malacca! :)))
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