@llie's @ttic

Early Valentine's Celebration

2012-02-11T18:40:00.003+08:00

M is gonna be away on Valentine's Day. So, we celebrated it tonight with him cooking dinner for us. A rare treat! Kurabota pork, baby potatoes with creamy Parmesan sauce and a side of salad. My contribution... Champagne! Heh!!!

Hear! Hear!

2012-02-11T17:22:00.002+08:00

M thought that Sumiko Tan and I are secretly close friends and that I've instigated her to write the article on sharksfin soup. I was saying the exact same things to him just a few weeks ago.

And yes, I totally understand what she meant when she wrote "What gets my goat is when ethical consumers adopt a holier-than-thou attitude and hector anyone who is not like them." Frankly, I get that all the time. I do really think that people should just respect difference in our food choice whether it is about sharksfin, blue fin tuna, foie gras, beef or even being a vegan.

I'm not for the idea to eradicate sharksfin soup totally. I grew up in the generation where drinking sharksfin soup is simply part of a Chinese celebratory tradition. It will be sad if the next Chinese generations to come deny this tradition of ours.

Here's the article that has caused quite a stir:

You're What You Eat
Sumiko Tan Straits Times
5 Feb 12;

I won't order shark's fin soup myself. But if I'm served a bowl, I'll take it because it's rude not to.

I've never regarded shark's fin soup as a delicacy because I was force-fed it as a child.

My father, you see, didn't believe in half-measures. When he was interested in something, he'd go the whole hog.

For a while in the 1960s, his dream was to create the most beautiful black orchid in Singapore, so for years he and my mother mixed tiny seeds in bottles of agar-agar culture to come up with new orchid hybrids.

He then got into cultivating bonsai, which he turned into a business.

Another time, he was seized with the idea that there was a market for old typewriters, and so imported dozens from Sri Lanka. He had to sell them for a song when this business idea came to naught.

Shark's fin soup was another of his life-long obsessions.

He loved it and wanted to eat it every day, so he got my mother to learn to cook the dish, which is usually served on special occasions in restaurants and is expensive.

He would set off before dawn to the then-Kangkar wholesale fish market in Upper Serangoon where he got our supply of fish and, when the craze hit him, shark's fin.

Making the soup was painstaking work.

If the fins hadn't come already cleaned, my mother would have to do this, and carefully, for you didn't want any of those precious slithery strands to slip down the sink.

She'd then line a bamboo basket with raw pig's skin and place the fins in the middle. Chinese wine and lots of coriander were added and the pig's skin folded over to form a sort of giant samosa.

On top of that bundle she'd arrange fresh pig's trotters and chunks of chicken. All this was put into a steamer and slowly cooked for hours.

The shark's fin - softened and rid of the fishy smell - was then set aside while the rest of the by-now gelatinous ingredients were mixed with Chinese ham, crab meat and soya sauce to form a tasty broth.

Growing up, I had shark's fin soup coming out of my ears. At any one time, we'd have pots of it in the fridge where it would have turned into jelly and had to be heated up.

My father believed shark's fin was nutritious and would make us strong, and so he forced us to eat it.

While I didn't dislike the dish - the fins are tasteless but the soup is flavourful - I developed something of a phobia for it.

Those days, no one batted an eyelid about eating shark's fin soup. The Chinese have for centuries revered shark's fin as a delicacy and it was served as a treat - a symbol of respect, honour and prosperity.

Today, no one can escape the bad press surrounding it.

Anti-shark's fin soup advocates cite two main reasons the dish should be banned.

One is cruelty. Fishermen, they say, perform 'finning' where the coveted fins of the sharks are hacked off and the rest of the fish, sometimes still alive, thrown back into the sea to sink and die.

The other is the environment. They say the killing of sharks for their fins is depleting the world's shark population with some species almost extinct, and this has dire effects on the ocean's eco-system.

I would never order a bowl of shark's fin soup for myself.

But this is not so much because of the anti-shark's fin lobby, although I am sympathetic to its argument about protecting the environment. It is because I'm still tired of it, given how much I'd consumed when I was young.

But if I am served a bowl of shark's fin - like at my recent Chinese New Year's Eve reunion dinner - I will take it.

I'll take it because it is there.

I'll take it because the soup is tasty.

I'll take it because it will be a sheer waste of money to leave it untouched to be then thrown away.

Mostly, though, I'll take it because it will be rude to my host if I don't.

If someone had honoured me by serving the treasured dish, I don't believe I should be so ungracious as to reject it, and in front of other people too. Why make him lose face?

A friend said he so dislikes people who give others a hard time at wedding dinners that serve shark's fin soup that he'll deliberately eat extra portions.

'If they're really all that compassionate, they should stop eating meat too. Killing cows and chickens is also cruel,' he said.

Indeed, where does one draw the line as an 'ethical consumer'?

At shark's fin? But what about shark meat? It's been used in the West for fish and chips and such.

Is it okay for sharks to be killed for their meat but not their fins? Isn't any form of 'killing' traumatic to the animal? Why limit it to finning?

How about foie gras? It must be horrible to be a goose and force-fed just so that your liver becomes enlarged and deliciously fatty and buttery when eaten.

Feedlot cattle? Can't be nice to be packed in a pen with thousands of others, fattened up with an unnatural diet, then killed for food.

Factory-farmed chicken that have been debeaked? Same thing.

Bluefin tuna? They're becoming endangered because of over-fishing.

My sister tries to eat only 'humanely raised' and 'humanely killed' animals. She feels less bad if they had been killed in as least a painful method as possible.

But she admits it's not all altruistic. She believes animals that are highly stressed have stress hormones and their meat isn't healthy to the human body.

But isn't 'humanely killed' a contradiction?

In my world view, animals - unless they have been domesticated - were created to be killed by humans for food.

And if you've watched documentaries, you'll know animals in the wild are vicious. They rip apart and kill each other all the time, whether for food or to protect themselves or their young.

It's all part of nature and the cycle of life, so why are some people so hung up about what animals might be 'feeling'?

A friend, who reviews food, describes herself as an 'equal opportunity eater'. She eats almost anything as it is her job to do so, and because she doesn't think one species deserves more sympathy than another.

She recently had dinner and was served a roast piglet. She showed me an iPhone photo of it and, my goodness, we both agreed, it was the cutest little piggy ever.

It had been roasted to a rosy hue, had a round little head and its eyes were closed, as if it were sleeping. Totally angelic.

She ate it.

It's a pig.

It's meant to be eaten.

There are some things I would never eat - dog meat, snake, frog, turtle, pigeon, oysters, chicken feet, insects and gooey stuff such as sea cucumber.

But this has more to do with how they make my stomach turn than with ethical reasons.

To each his own, I always say.

We are ultimately what we eat, or don't eat, and we live with our conscience.

What gets my goat is when ethical consumers adopt a holier-than-thou attitude and hector anyone who is not like them.

And so, at the risk of receiving their vitriol, I'll admit it again: If served shark's fin soup, I'll eat it.

Maybe, as a friend pointed out, I also represent a generational divide.

I straddle my father's generation that regarded shark's fin as a cultural and culinary treasure, and today's young that thinks the dish is barbaric.

I have good memories of it and want to remain loyal to it, yet I also don't want to be flamed for not hating it. It is an uncomfortable position.

But if I have to choose between ranting about cruelty to sharks and hurting the feelings of someone who had served me the dish because he wanted only the best for me, I will keep quiet and eat up my shark's fin soup, anytime.

2 Pots of Gold Awaiting

2012-01-21T20:36:00.000+08:00

I was alone at M's when I caught sight of 2 rainbows in the sky. One was fading away and the other one was so vibrant. A magical moment! This rainbow was seen by many from all over Singapore. There were so many rainbow postings on Facebook during in that half an hour.

Wedding Poem by Carrie Bradshaw

2012-01-15T22:04:00.003+08:00

I'm a huge fan of Sex And The City. Not many people can say they have watched the series 10 times over. I did just that... Over a period of 6 years.

As I was reading the Sex And The City Kiss and Tell book, I came across the poem which Carrie Bradshaw read in the episode of "The Chicken Dance".

The Wedding Poem

His ‘hello’ was the end of her endings.
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle.
His hand would be hers to hold forever.
His forever was as simple as her smile.

An ocean couldn't prevent it.
A New York minute wouldn't let it pass.
Does the Universe decide for us
Which love will fade and which will last?

He said she was what was missing.
She said instantly she knew.
She was a question to be answered.
And his answer was “I do”.

小说剧场 - 烂泥

2012-01-15T16:26:00.003+08:00

Back when I was a teenager, I loved acting. I was in the school's drama club doing mostly English plays. Then in 1997, after my O Levels examinations, I stumbled onto an opportunity to act for a TV show. I took that chance even though it was a role in a Chinese TV show and I was terrible in that language. It was a huge struggle. Acting on stage and in front of the camera were totally different. It wasn't as easy as I thought. And the worst part was me having to put on a hideous wig for most of the scenes!

And when the show was aired a year later, I was embarrassed. I wanted to hide from my new classmates in my new school. No thanks to my terrible acting skills and bad wig. I tried to put this whole nightmare behind me.

At 30 years old, looking back, everything seems different now. Yes, it wasn't a very glamorous role and yes, I might have made a fool out of myself, but still it was quite an interesting experience. Not many people can say they have done that before and to get the chance to be one of the leads.

So, when I found the script for the TV show in my cupboard while spring cleaning, I was delighted. I flipped through the script reminiscing my acting days.

Scene: My teacher reprimanding me.
Former TV Host and Newscaster Wang Yanqing acted as my teacher.

Ermenegildo Zegna Tuxedo

2012-01-14T16:58:00.000+08:00

We were shopping at Ion Orchard and found ourselves in Ermenegildo Zegna store. I just wanted to see M in their famous tuxedo.

And, my oh my!!! He looks so sharp in it! Took my breath away. :)

Now, if only I can find a way to afford this. Hmmm...

Goodbye 2011

2012-01-01T09:33:00.004+08:00

2011, wow, what a year it has been.

Last year, my new year resolutions included:
- Start exercising
- Cook more frequently
- Wear colours other than black
- Wear the clothes and shoes I bought (I tend to keep them in the cupboard or in their paperbags with tags still on... and then forget about them)

M and I took up yoga classes at Pure Yoga since March, and we have been attending lessons. We're still not as flexible as most of the people in the class but I must admit, it does bring along a certain calmness to my stressful life.

As for cooking, well, I think I've done pretty ok despite my busy schedule. I made breakfast on some weekends and tried making bak kut teh, Korean soy sprouts cold dish and spicy top shell appetizers. Ok, the last 2 dishes don't quite count, since no actual cooking is required. Just preparations. But so far, M seems happy with my cooking skills.

We also managed to travel around London, Oxford, Cheltenham, Manchester, Paris and Beaune in April. 15 days vacation. That was quite a holiday. It was my first time in London, first time traveling with someone for so many days consecutively. And we had so much fun! I even caught my first ever football match in Manchester.

Remember in November 2010, M and I spotted a shooting star in Bintan and I made a wish? Well, the wish came true! M got down on one knee and proposed to me on June 2 2011 in Bali. So, I got engaged on my first trip to Bali (yes, I've never been there before). Many firsts in 2011.

On November 11 2011, I celebrated my 30th birthday with close friends at M's place. We had quite a feast and had lots of champagne to drink. It was how i wanted it to be... amongst close friends who matter. I received many fabulous gifts but the most wonderful gift of all is the key to M's place. :)

Throughout the year, I've also Enjoyed several fabulous champagne dinners by the Confrerie du Sabre d'Or. I've also contributed my time acting as the secretariat to the Confrerie. But after a term of service, I've decided to step down in the next year. Also, in 2011, as a School Advisory Committee member of my secondary school, I did a little contribution by giving a talk to some students (in hope to inspire them).

On December 18 2011, my best friend got married and I was picked as the Maid of Honor. Another first for me. But it was lovely to be able to participate in my best friend's wedding.

Work wise, it has been pretty hectic all year round. But I've tried hard to balance it out so that I can have time with M. It seems I've to try harder now since I'll be getting married soon. I can't work like I'm single with nobody to go home to. It's definitely a struggle for me because the work load just keep piling and there are more projects added to my portfolio in 2012.

So yes, 2012 will be even more exciting and there will be more challenges and opportunities. There's a big wedding to plan and a life with M to create.

May 2012 bring more happiness, luck and prosperity to all! Happy New Year!!!

Tatsuya with M

2011-12-31T11:34:00.003+08:00

Last Thursday, when both of us were on leave, I decided to bring my man out for a little treat. Off we went to Tatsuya for lunch.

Besides the sushi bento, which I highly recommend, there's the umeshu jelly (not in the dessert menu) that one should try.

Lunch at Tatsuya is still as good as ever. I'm happy that M was pretty satisfied with his meal. :)

My Most Expensive Pair of Shoes

2011-12-31T11:27:00.001+08:00

For my fairy tale wedding.

Do You Have These in Size 35?

2011-12-29T22:54:00.005+08:00

Who would have thought buying a pair of wedding shoes could be so difficult?!

I love shoes. It has always been my thing. Some women like bags, I like shoes... and clutch purses. I am also very particular about the type of shoes I wear. I refrain from buying shoes that are made from terrible material or lousy quality that bites my feet. My work shoes are from Nine West and Enzo Angiolini. All my flats are from Steve Madden. And since I'm a creature of habit (I call that loyalty to brands), I always go back to the same brand names to get my shoes.

But for my wedding, I've decided to splurge a little... Ok ok, it's more like a lot more! I went into Christian Louboutin, On Pedder and Jimmy Choo boutiques for a change. And we're no longer talking about hundreds dollars for a pair. We're looking at 4-digit figure. Even if I'm ready to spend some hard earned money on a pair, it may not be available in my size. That's because these brands only bring in one pair per size per design. It can get very stressful and frustrating. Just when you thought you have found THE pair of shoes you like, you may be disappointed to know that someone else with the same feet size has bought it before you (leaving you none).

So, I learnt that shopping for high end designer shoes requires a strategy. You need to be the first to preview the collection so that you can be the first to "chope" the pair you like in the right size that fits. Alternatively, make friends with the shop assistant, gain access to the inner circle and be listed in her speed dial, so that you can be contacted when there are new arrivals.

And here we are going to such great lengths for a pair of shoes. The men will never get it.

Infidelity in Facebook Era

2011-12-28T09:18:00.004+08:00

I woke up this morning with a question in my mind. What is the definition of infidelity in this Facebook era?

With Facebook, it is so easy for a guy to have access to any of his female friend's facebook profile, photos and have real time updates about their lives. Most men I know don't usually check their Facebook often. But let's say you're dating one that does. And he has a penchant for checking other ladies Facebook pages. While it is perfectly alright behavior when one is single, but isn't it wrong to be interested in checking out other women, albeit just photos, when one is attached? And that being so, doesn't it constitute as a cheating behaviour? Then again, one can argue that it's almost like a man buying FHM magazines to check out the pictures of women. Even if that doesn't count as cheating, surely it can lead to that if one continues to be interested in photos and the life of another woman and have access to that any time of the day. What's worse is that these women are actually his friends and not some stranger on the cover of the magazine that he will not possibly meet. Honestly, who would check out women that he finds plain or dull?! There has to be some interests of sorts for him to want to look.

At this point, I believe what I've said have made my male readers think I'm just being crazy to conjure up rubbish statements like that. But this debate has been going on for years hasn't it - does mind cheating means you're being unfaithful to your partner? And in most cases, the men wouldn't have considered that behavior anything close to cheating, which by the way, doesn't make it ok for men to do that.

Let me then bring you back to the definition of infidelity, ie A breach of trust. And trust me, no girlfriends or wives would think it is ok for their partners to be interested in another woman's life or photos (in some cases, the guy's mother gets the exception).

Anyway, that's just some food for thought.

Christmas Gift for the Fiancé

2011-12-25T11:39:00.002+08:00

I spent months looking for the ideal set for him. There wasn't any that I liked in Singapore, so I had to order the Poker chips set online from US. 500 pieces of 12G Monte Carlo Coin Inlay Casino Chips in aluminium storage case.

I'm glad he liked the gift. :) That's all that matters.

My Bestfriend's Wedding

2011-12-24T11:31:00.003+08:00

It started with the gate crashing. As the maid of honor, I had to make sure that the groom goes through some acceptable level (i.e. tolerable) of obstacles before he enters the house to fetch the bride. Why are such obstacles needed? From my research, gate crashing session is to challenge the groom's sincerity and love for the bride and the door blocking tradition demonstrates her family's reluctance to marry her off because of the their love for her. I love such traditions! They carry so much meaning.

So, two other bridesmaids and I carried out the gate crashing session in style - complete with lemon juice (酸 sour) in champagne flutes, HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate KISSES (甜 sweet), bittergourd (苦 bitter) and wasabi filled corn chips (辣 spicy). The groom had to finish what we have prepared. This shows his willingness to go through the sour, sweet, bitter and spicy times ahead with his bride (i.e. for better or worse).

My bestfriend looked gorgeous, especially in her Christian Louboutin heels. And her red evening gown was stunning! Congratulations, Yanling and Arnaud!

Gifts from Colleagues

2011-12-24T10:48:00.005+08:00

The last few days were interesting. Besides being extremely busy at work (yes, even at this time of the year), I was surprised with a desk full of gifts every morning. The gifts come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And each morning, I'll spend a few minutes unwrapping the gifts at my desk.

One of the gifts I received was a gorgeous pen in pearl white and it was filled with sparkling crystals. This was from Mich. She wanted me to use this pen when I sign on the approvals for her requests. Haha! But this doesn't mean I'll easily approve everything she gives me.

Another very chic gift was this jounral designed by the Parisian couture house Christian Lacroix. And this was given to me by one of the guys. I wasn't expecting this from Edmund at all. A really pleasant surprise indeed.

Ibu Amanda gave me a really classy looking cream white Samsonite passport cover, which is something I needed. My old cover was tattered and torn. This was the perfect replacement.

The cutest gift was from Dan Chan. It was a little pink ribbon iPhone ear cap plug. Puts a smile on my face each time I look down at my iPhone. So so cute!
My boss's gift to me was a Ogawa Massage Cushion. His wife picked this gift for me. Guess it's my reward for all the long hours I've spent working from my over sized office chair (most chairs are too big for asians). Heh!

Where's allie?

2011-12-20T23:00:00.001+08:00

This photo was taken at a recent corporate dinner event. I really do need to put on some weight soon.

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head

2011-12-13T11:14:00.002+08:00

My family's favorite haunt for Teochew steamed fish has got to be in the West side of Singapore. And it's not just because I'm moving to the West, but this place seriously deserves the props! Zai Shun Curry Fish Head is located in Jurong East Street 24 and the stall specializes in steamed fish. My recommendations are the Teochew steamed pomfret with sour plum and salted vegetables and the red snapper / grouper and also not forgetting the braised trotters in soya sauce.

Just thinking about the fish makes me drool. It's so fresh, delicious and more importantly, affordable! We're talking about less than S$40 (about $35) for a fairly huge fish. A price you can't get at any restaurants. And quality above most restaurants I know.

2 visits ago, KF Seetoh was sitting beside my table and taking photographs of the place. Even though I don't think this place needs any more publicity, but hey, it might just get even more crowded. So, go try it, before the masses come.

Zai Shun Curry Fish Head
Blk 253 Jurong East Street 24
#01-205
Singapore 600253
Tel: +65 6560 8594

Yum Factor: 8.5/10

旗袍 (Qí Páo)

2011-12-11T10:52:00.000+08:00

I just bought a 旗袍 online. I'll have to wait a few days for it to arrive to know if it fits. This will be my get-up for Chinese New Year. Yes, I do plan ahead... that's just me.

It all started during Manchu rule (the Qing Dynasty), the Banner (Qí) System was established. The group was called 旗人 (Qí Rén). It was a structure for organizing all Manchu families into administrative divisions. The traditional dress that Manchu women wore became known as the 旗袍, banner gown (Qí Páo).

Did you know that the original Qí Páo was wide and baggy, unlike the modern fitted ones we see these days. The old Qí Páo a one-piece dress made of silk and featured intricate embroidery, with a high neck and straight skirt or flared slightly in an A-line. It covered all of a woman’s body except for her head, hands, and toes.

It was later modified into a stylish and often tight-fitting Qí Páo. This version of the dress was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and was made fashionable by socialites and upperclass women.

T'is the Season...

2011-12-04T21:50:00.003+08:00

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." ~W.T. Ellis

It's December! And it's time for us to put up the Christmas tree.

Simple Breakfast For Two

2011-11-26T11:15:00.005+08:00

I'm no chef, but I can whip up a simple breakfast of pancakes, egg, bacon and coffee. It's a wonderful feeling to be able to make breakfast for the one I adore.

♥ Tiffany, New York City ♥

2011-11-24T23:49:00.000+08:00

My bestfriend of 17 years handed me a Tiffany paperbag. It contained my birthday gift, which came in the signature Tiffany Blue Box®, tied perfectly with a white satin ribbon. It looked so pretty! There's something very magical about receiving a gift from Tiffany. It evokes a special kind of emotion, which is undescribable.

Yanling wanted me to open my gift infront of her. She told me she liked it so much that she's contemplating getting one for herself. I was very excited. And I got even more excited when I finally saw what it is.

It's a round jewelry box with icons of New York City! That's just fabulous and very "ME"! You know how much I ♥ NYC and this gift is simply apt.

A Touch of Elegance

2011-11-23T23:27:00.000+08:00

Just us.

Hair / Make up: Kelly Lau

The Iron Lady

2011-11-20T19:04:00.003+08:00

Ironing is often a dreaded household chore for many. I know a number of people around me who simply hate ironing clothes.

Honestly, I have not been doing much ironing in the past. I used to iron my school uniform when I was growing up, but that was pretty much it. My mum does most of the ironing at home. It was until I started spending more time at M's and started doing the household chores at his place that I actually begin doing some serious ironing.

I never knew a man can wear that many tee-shirts and shirts in a week! I have never ironed so many pieces of clothes in a single day before. It was tough at first, but I'm getting the hang of it. And I'm kinda enjoying it (as long as nobody's rushing me). Ironing can take hours. I reckoned since I've to spend so much time doing a task, I might as well enjoy the process. The previous time, I switched on my favorite jazz music while I'm at it. Today, I set up the ironing board infront of the tv set, so I can be entertained. Heh!

So far, nothing's been burnt and he hasn't complained. So, yeah... I guess I'm doing something right. ;)

The Key To Giving

2011-11-19T18:02:00.000+08:00

At 30, you don't really expect birthday gifts. But it still feels awesome to be receiving them. I got a really cool looking FOREVER 21 skirt (Ha!!!), a classy looking pair of Tiffany earrings, some spa and massage vouchers (from my colleagues and boss), accessories, wine decanter, wine glasses and also a Polaroid camera (that I've always wanted).

M surprised me with a few items, but the biggest gift from him came in a small box. There was a keychain with Aigner logo on it (which is an "A"). And hanging on the keychain was the key to his house! :) This was a huge moment for me... well, I think it was a huge step for him, too.

It Takes All Kinds of People

2011-11-18T10:04:00.004+08:00

In the last few months of my blog-free life, I've had quite a few experiences. I've met some really nice people in Penang and also saw some not-so-nice people in my circle.

Just a while back, M brought me to Penang for a short vacation. He was armed with a list of makan places and was determined to visit all of them. We had an awesome time there. We took the public bus and went around Penang looking for Char Kway Teow, Laksa, Rojak & Ice Kacang... And while looking for The Straits Quay, we got lost. We alighted one stop too early and ended up in the wrong mall. We asked around and one young man (who was working at the mall) offered to give us a lift to our destination. He insisted it was on the way, since he was intending to drive out to buy dinner. We were surprised by his offer but also cautious. We didn't know what his REAL intentions were and what if he was going to kidnap us?! But of course, that didn't happen. This kind young soul dropped us at exactly where we wanted. A reminder that there are still nice people out there.

On the flip side, back in Singapore... I chanced upon people who are just plain rude. They are often those who are younger and appear overly confident of themselves. And may I add, PRETENTIOUS! Gosh!!! These people really need to grow up! When someone asks you how are you doing, please have the decency to look at the person who is talking to you and answer the question. Have some manners!

It seems you meet all kinds in your life. Even amongst "friends", there are also all sorts. There are good friends who would send me birthday wishes at the stroke of midnight, there are many who took a few seconds to type me a short message on facebook, and there are also others who were once close but nothing came from them on 11.11.11. And those who are close would know that I'm a person who values my birthday. I wasn't expecting a fan-fare or even a gift. When not even a call or a message or even a belated one came, it only meant that I didn't matter to them or they're too self-absorbed to know what date it is! Well, I guess this is one way to send their message across (without actually sending any). So, we are definitely not in each other's friend's list any more.

I do keep scores. In my view, we shouldn't waste our precious time on people who don't matter. This way, our time and attention can be spent on people whom we truly care about i.e. family and good friends (not fair-weather ones). As a scorpio, I believe in passion and loyalty, but only a very selected few will get to see that side of me.

Thanks to the kind Penang chap, that we get to see this beautiful place - Straits Quay.

My Favorite Breakfast in the West

2011-11-13T10:16:00.002+08:00

It's simple, cheap and so delicious!

11.11.11

2011-11-12T14:23:00.008+08:00

I'm officially 30! I can't quite believe it but here I am. No longer a twenty-something. It has been an amazing decade. My 20s was filled with loads of ups and downs, laughter and pain, achievments and disappointments. I learnt alot. And what I've had experienced has prepared me to take on the 30s. I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life with new and exciting experiences.

So, on the 11th day of November in the year of 2011, I threw a party at M's place (which is going to be our home soon). It was the best party ever! I had 11 fabulous friends over and we had wines, champagne and all my favorite food - Jamón ibérico, chicken wings from our favorite Thai restaurant in the West, pork knuckles bee hoon from Brauhaus Restaurant & Pub, assorted sushi & sashimi from Sakuraya, caviar, cherry tomatoes from Culina, strawberries with icing sugar, cupcakes from Twelve Cupcakes. We had so much fun just catching up, drinking and eating. I couldn't have asked for more.

A great start to my 30s and I'm sure it's just gonna get better...

Happy Birthday to Me!

Fisher and Paykel 5 Kg Dryer

2011-09-18T22:03:00.002+08:00

Everyone needs one - A clothes rryer with reverse tumble, auto sensing, easy clean filter and auto cool down.

M and I have been shopping quite a bit. I'm trying to create a home for the both of us, equipping his house with more functional (and much required) electrical appliances. Heh! Next item on the list, an induction cooker.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

2011-09-18T21:56:00.003+08:00

M wanted to watch this movie. I went along with his plan (without much expectation).

I must say that Steve Carell and Julianne Moore had such great chemistry acting as a couple. They are both very talented. And wow, Ryan Gosling! Seriously!? It's like he has been "photoshopped"! Haha! This guy is hot.

The movie made me laugh and there were moments when I was touched to tears. Yeap, an excellent movie for a date. Go catch it if you need a romantic comedy.

Marriage Tip

2011-09-10T20:10:00.003+08:00

"The best gift you can give to your kids is a great marriage, experts say.
So, put your spouse first."

After going through the pre-marriage preparation counseling sessions, I do think that there is alot of truth in the above statement. It's amazing how our parent's marriage affects our lives. So, for my children's future, I will do my very best to make my husband happy.

Cuisine & Wine Asia

2011-09-10T19:58:00.003+08:00

Cuisine & Wine Asia did a feature on the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or Delamotte Champagne event held at My Humble House on 29 June 2011. My Humble House was named in 2007 as one of the best 100 restaurants in the world by UK-based magazine, Restaurant. Chef Ken Ling, who has cooked for celebrities showcased some of his creations during the event.

In the latest issue of Cuisine & Wine Asia, Karen, M and I were featured. Heh!

W O R K

2011-09-06T13:18:00.004+08:00

I am home at 1pm on a Tuesday. Drowsy with antibiotics. Thanks to my mum's iPad, I'm able to blog from my bed.

I've been rather overwhelmed by work lately and frankly, I do need this break to rest. With Mich on leave, I'm shorthanded. Even with her back, the amount of work we have is outrageous.

I often look at friends around me who are able to have dinners by 7pm or be home by that time, and I can't help but wonder what's wrong with myself. Why can't I do that?! Some say I need to pay my dues to climb the corporate ladder, but hey, I've been doing this for more than 10years now and it doesn't look like it's gonna change any time soon. Working late everyday, feeling guilty if I leave office before 7pm. Unable to finish my work because I'm bombarded with urgent stuff everyday and hundreds of emails to clear. I can't just shove them aside.

It's starting to feel like I'm being taken for granted... It's starting to wear me down. I'm not even looking forward to my birthday, which is happening in about 2 months time.

Because of my workload and health, I've also decided to resign from the position of secretariat of the Confrerie du Sabre d'Or come December when I finished my first term.

It's sad to know that I'm unable to do things that I like because of my work commitments. And perhaps the only way for me to enjoy life a little more is when I choose a job base on my own terms. But with my wedding coming up and a honeymoon trip to pay for, I'll still need to work hard for my money.

However, I'm glad to have M beside me when times get rough. He has been extremely patient with me and I appreciate that.

Confrérie du Sabre d'Or - BBQ at Conrad

2011-09-03T23:08:00.001+08:00

Had a great evening at the BBQ event held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore poolside featuring Champagne Pierre Paillard.

Did a round of sabrage and glad I didn't make any sabrage faux pas. Roland came up with a new term to describe adorable Sabreurs - "sabredorable". Heh!

Tony - Maître des Ecritures (Membership) & Edwin - Ambassade (Ambassador)

Chef Wolfgang Ranner & Peter Knipp (Deputy Ambassador)

Me - Maître des Ecritures (Secretariat) & Irene - Maitre Festivités (Events)

Spicy Top Shell

2011-08-30T18:38:00.003+08:00

In preparation for my new role as the wonderful wife, I've been experimenting with cooking lately. I want M to look forward to coming home for dinner. Heh!

In one of my experiments, I stumbled onto this recipe - spicy top shell. I've always liked the spicy top shell dish which I'd order from Thai restaurants or local pubs, and M thinks it makes for an excellent appetizer.

So, we went to the supermarket at Clementi and bought a can of top shell, plum sauce, some onions, chilli padi and lime. I was determined to replicate this tasty dish! And you'd be amazed how simple it is to re-create this simple yet delicious appetizer. Go try it! We loved it!!!

Ingredients

1. 1 big piece of top shell (normally 2 pieces in a can)
2. 1 large onion, sliced
3. 6 chilli padi, cut into small pieces
4. 2 tablespoons of plum sauce
5. 8 pieces of lime

Directions

1. Squeeze 6 pieces of lime. Cut 2 of them into quarters for garnishing.
2. Cut the top shell into bite size pieces to your desire.
3. Add in all the ingredients; top shell, plum sauce, sliced onions, chilli padi and lime juice.
4. Mix thoroughly.
5. Refrigerate. Best serve chilled. Top with cut lime when serving.

Pam & Baby Kate

2011-08-21T22:06:00.002+08:00

Can't believe it has been so many years. Pam left for Australia about 10 years ago to further her studies and now she's a mother of three (but still looking fabulous)! Look how adorable is Kate! Soooo cute!

One Big Happy Family

2011-08-21T21:59:00.002+08:00

My fiancé is going to be away on my dad's birthday, so he decided to buy my dad lunch and celebrate his birthday in advance. So glad that my naughty little sister and her boyfriend could join us for lunch. :) Rare to have a photo taken with everyone in it.

Engagement Gift From My Mentor

2011-08-21T21:38:00.005+08:00

After several changes to our lunch appointment, we finally met at Shiraishi @ Ritz Carlton. As usual, she looked amazing. I wonder what's her secret to looking so fabulous despite her hectic schedule. Even my fiancé thinks she's pretty after seeing her photographs in Tan Yoong's catalogue (she had her wedding gowns made there).

The lady I'm referring to is my mentor and she is the Director of Country Marketing of the Local Consumer Bank. It has been an honor to be her mentee.

In our recent catch up session, she gave me an engagement gift. I was so pleasantly surprised! And the gift was really cute!

Bracelet Charm from Thomas Sabo Charm Club

Close Up
The charm is made up of 2 mini rings (one has a little diamond on it).
It's soooo cute!

Pavé The Way for Classic Elegance

2011-08-21T21:34:00.001+08:00

My Engagement Ring

Been A Month

2011-08-10T18:26:00.003+08:00

Been almost a month. Sorry for the absence.

What have I been up to? Have I been sucked into the wedding preparations frenzy? Have I been consumed by work?

Well, not exactly.

I've got 1 year to prepare for the wedding and I'm not planning to have a grand and extravagant one. Went to a bridal gown boutique last week. Tried on a few dresses. It was fun. Going to check out another bridal gown boutique next week. The fiancé has been very involved in the preparations. Am very thankful for that.

Besides that, we've also been attending our weekly pre-marriage counseling sessions at Eagles Mediation & Counselling Centre (Singapore) at Liang Court. Both of us find the sessions to be useful. There were instances where I was touched by the fiancé's answers to the questions. I look forward to our next session which we will be dealing with financial budgeting. I do recommend couples to go through such programs, if possible.

From one of the sessions, the fiancé revealed his wish for me to work less hours and for me to take care of myself (since I've this long history with migraine and gastric problems). I made a promise to him that I'll do that and have since been trying to adjust my hours such that I knock off before 8pm daily and have my dinners before 9:30pm. To some, this may still sound ridiculous, but trust me, it's a vast improvement as far as I am concerned. And hopefully, I can adjust to more decent working hours (to knock off before 7:30pm) in the near future.

Perhaps all these changes are causing my migraines to act up. I've been getting that more frequently. My team has noticed. And today, I was on sickie because of another migraine attack. I am currently considering being on a long term preventive medication, which comes in the form of a anti-depressant pill. Side effects include drowsiness and dry mouth. There are other side effects, but they seem a little scary, so I shall not elaborate further. Also, I'll most definitely be changing my lifestyle and diet. I may need a healthier lifestyle and healthier diet. Alcohol, especially tannins in wine, seems to trigger migraines. So, yes... shocking news, but I may be saying goodbye to my wines and champagnes (reserving them only for special occasions).

It's definitely worth it - the change. I want to be healthier so that Marcus doesn't have to worry so much about me. So that I can enjoy painless days with him.

My Fantastic Team

2011-07-12T22:27:00.003+08:00

Work is enjoyable because of them. :)

Picture taken by my boss using his iPad.

The Time Is Right

2011-07-11T23:19:00.006+08:00

I have been setting aside some money in my bank account knowing that someday I will be using the savings to buy a watch for my man. This day has come. On the 11th day of July 2011, I bought my fiancé a very smart looking watch. It's an IWC Portuguese Automatic 7 days power reserve.

Movement: Automatic, IWC caliber 51011, 21,600 vph, 42 jewels + 2 beryllium bronze bearings
Complications: Date, small seconds, power reserve indicator
Power reserve: 7 Days / 168 hours
Case size: 42.3 mm
Dial: Silver
Numerals: Arabic, yellow gold
Hands: Yellow gold
Strap: Black leather

I'm so happy to have finally realized my dream of getting a nice watch for him. :)

He asked if I was spoiling him too much. Honestly, there's no one else I'd rather spoil. He's everything to me. And seeing him happy, makes me happy.

Some friends asked if there was an occasion while one commented that it was a risky investment. But to me, it feels right. And I don't have to wait for an occasion to give my awesome fiancé a present.

But having said that, after this big purchase, I guess I'd have to forgo my big 30th birthday bash. But I'm sure my friends would understand. Heh! But it's definitely worth it!

First Month of Wedding Preparations

2011-07-02T18:50:00.003+08:00

It has been a month since the proposal. And boy, it has been a busy month! When I'm not working, I'm busy preparing for my wedding. There's a lot to do.

Hired a geomancer to shortlist a few auspicious dates in 2012 for us. From the list of auspicious dates, we picked the ones in July 2012. So, yes, the wedding will be in July 2012 and it will definitely be a saturday.

Next, was a series of email exchanges with the different hotels. Some of the hotels were already booked for July 2012. What's shocking was not the "kiasu-ism" of Singaporeans. It was the price they were charging! We did a preliminary count and decided that we may need be inviting a minimum of 400 guests. After seeing the price these hotels are charging for the dinner banquets, we decided to open a joint savings account to start saving pronto. :S

After numerous emails and much research, it was down to Marriott and Fullerton Hotel. But, we are both pretty set on one of the hotels already. Just waiting for them to respond to some of our requirements and enquiries. We hope to confirm our booking by next week.

Photography will be next on our list. I brought M to my bestie's studio and after seeing some of William's works, he was sold. He requested for William to be our pre-wedding photographer, since William is not willing to be our actual day photographer (a pact we made back in the early days). William was kind enough to make recommendations for our actual day photographer. So, we'll be meeting KC from Tinydot Photography on Monday. :)

Things are coming together pretty nicely. And I'm feeling very happy about this.

Wedding Dates Selection

2011-06-14T22:34:00.002+08:00

A number of my friends have warned me about wedding date selection. They advised that I should get a date as soon as possible so that I can start planning my wedding and more importantly secure my choice venue.

Almost everyone I spoke to shared with me some scary stories about how date selection can turn into an ugly argument between the couple and the future-in-laws. For some, it's a case of too many varied comments and opinions from too many people (gets worse when relatives offer their "advices"). For others, it's about concerned future-in-laws' inability to decide on a date.

Fortunately, I don't think we'll be having this problem. See, our parents are pretty cool. They left it to us to decide on the date. However, it is yours truly who wants to have an auspicious date. So, yes, I'm the superstitious one in the family.

I went around asking and was referred to this geomancer - David Tong. He has a rather impressive website and the best part is, he speaks English! And his response is very prompt (replies within the same day).

Let's hope David will be able to give us some auspicious dates soon! :) *excited*

Social Conduct

2011-06-08T00:55:00.004+08:00

In today's world, it's hard to deny social media. With things like Facebook, one can easily get connected with so many people. It's also tougher to hide one's history especially in our small coummunity in Singapore. Everyone knows everyone. What's annoying is the existence of insensitive souls out there, who don't practise sensorships.

I can't understand why would anyone keep photographs of someone she dated before for public viewing on Facebook when both have clearly moved on. By not removing these photographs, doesn't she know that she may be affecting someone else's relationship (even her own). Maybe such people do know the effect on others. And maybe there's the intention to sabotage. I cannot think of another excuse, really. And I seriously doubt it's ignorance at play.

If left untreated, this could potentially be a ticking time bomb that's gonna explode. By then, the damage can be pretty bad.

His Facebook Announcement

2011-06-06T23:37:00.001+08:00

Paradise

2011-06-06T21:14:00.006+08:00

Alila Villas Uluwatu is now listed at the top in our resorts list. It has the most outstanding service and oceanic views. The villa is out of this world! Had an extremely luxurious experience there.

Before arriving at Alila, I worked with the Alila staff to plan the itinerary. M didn't know about the plan until the night before our flight.

We had a private tour to the local traditional Bali markets, fisherman village and also a cooking class with the Chef. We even visited the beautiful Balangan Beach and had a private picnic there.

M getting his hands dirty in the cooking class.

Our creations.

We also stayed 2 nights at Conrad Bali at Nusa Dua. Conrad was very different from Alila, but we also enjoyed our stay there.

We attended his friend's wedding at Conrad's Infinity Chapel, which looked gorgeous during sunset. I bought a new dress just for the occasion.

We also got a driver to bring us to Ubud to have the famous Babi Guling (roast pig) and Bebek Bengil (crispy duck).

Birthday Message

2011-06-04T14:03:00.005+08:00

To my dearest fiancé,

To me your birthday is a precious day and I hope it brings you joy in every way. It's a wonderful feeling celebrating this special day with you here in Bali.

Happy birthday, my love.

Love, hugs & kisses,
Your fiancée

The Sweetest Dessert

2011-06-03T14:40:00.005+08:00

M brought me to Kisik Bar and Grill at Ayana Resort for dinner on our first night in Bali. We dined on limestone cliffs above the Indian Ocean near Jimbaran Bay. We had grilled Lobster with garlic butter and pan fried swordfish. We chatted under the dark blue sky that was covered with stars, beside the waters where the waves crashed against the rocks.

We talked about our relationship and reminisced about our early days of dating. How we have developed from friendship to being so in love. It was a year plus of friendship and 10 months of dating. It might not have been an awfully long time, but we sure have experienced a lot together in such a short time. We've travelled to so many places (U.S., Bintan, Bangkok, England, France, Bali). We even spent 16 days together in Europe with no major arguments. We both felt that we are good for each other.

When it was time for desserts, the waiter came over with a plate in hand. He placed the plate in the middle of the table and left. The plate had a cloche metal cover on it. I looked over at M, puzzled. I decided to lift up the lid slowly to take a peek, thinking that the waiter had forgotten to remove the lid or that he had served the wrong dish to the wrong table. We didn't order anything to share, we both ordered our own desserts. As I lifted the lid to about an inch high, I saw no desserts, but just words around the plate which read, "Will You Marry Me?"

It took me a few seconds to make sense of what was actually happening. I turned to M and by this time, my eyes were starting to well up with tears. M stood up, walked over and went down on one knee. He reached for the red box which was placed in the centre of the plate (I was too shocked to notice it being there). He took the ring out from the box and placed it on my finger. As he did that, my tears just kept rolling down my cheeks. I was overwhelmed with emotions.

M had it all planned (and I thought I was the only one doing all the planning for this Bali trip as this was supposed to be his birthday gift from me). He had even secretly met my dad before the trip to seek his permission. He knew that I'd prefer it that way. And he was right.

What I couldn't figure out was how he managed to pass the ring to the waiter. All the time, he was with me and we were not even staying at Ayana. I asked him, but he refused to tell. I'm amazed that he managed to plan all these without me knowing. He even got my ring size right (I don't even know my size). And as usual, my man of great taste picked a very lovely ring for me.

This has got to be the sweetest dessert ever served. Thank you, M. You've been such a darling. And remember the shooting star we saw last year during my birthday trip at Bintan? I made a wish and that wish was to be your fiancee by my next birthday. That shooting star did make my wish come true. This is truly magical. Everything seems to be the work of fate right from the start.

Too Busy

2011-05-30T23:14:00.002+08:00

I've been so busy lately. I realized I've been trying to juggle too many things at one time. There's work, my Confrerie du Sabre d'Or secretariat duties, School Advisory Committee (SAC) duties, family and also just trying to be a nice girlfriend to M. How do I do all that? Well, I do the right things at the right time. On days when I don't meet M, I work late (like till 9pm / 10pm). I also try to schedule my Confrerie & SAC meetings on those days that I don't meet the boyfriend. Weekends are strictly for my boyfriend and family. And sometimes, I skip lunch to work on things that I cannot complete.

Since I work so hard, I do try not to hold back when it comes to enjoyment. After all, it's the reason why we work so hard for.

That explains why I drink more champagne than the average person out there. It explains why I travel in comfort (and not on budget) when I go on holiday. It also explains why I am splurging and staying at Alila Villas Uluwatu - a birthday gift for my boyfriend - for my upcoming trip to Bali. I cannot find a better way to spend my hard-earned money on. A romantic stay at a beautiful villa with a special someone.

Yes, we live life only once. We should enjoy while we can and with the person we love.

So, I've been told that I've lost a lot of weight. The usual "What happened? Why are you so skinny?" or the "Why are you losing so much weight?" and the occasional concerned "You better eat more. So skinny!"... yeah, I've been getting a lot of that lately. I'm now currently weighing at 44.5kg. I've probably lost around 4kg in the last 10 months. And no, I've not been on diet. I'm eating (maybe less fancy dinners and not as many drinking sessions). I'm also introducing more healthy eating (salads, fruits, etc) on certain days of the week. So, maybe it's not so much the food intake.

I do admit I'm under more stress. Stress from different areas of my life. And my tendency to over-think and worry about stuff doesn't help. And it also doesn't help that I like to be in control of the situation and I also plan a lot. :S I've also been getting migraines more frequently these days.

So, yes. A Bali trip may do me good. It'll be my first time in Bali. :) I'm glad to be going there with M. This boyfriend of mine has kept me looking forward to everyday ever since he came into my life. :)

A Weekend of Goodness

2011-05-15T23:27:00.004+08:00

It was a good weekend. Both M and I won some money at a mahjong game. We had my favorite Tian Tian Chicken Rice at Maxwell Hawker Center. Manchester United were crowned champions of England for a record 19th time (that made M very happy, we even popped a bottle of bubbly to celebrate). Manchester City broke a 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup (Congratulations Roberto Mancini - to me, he's the most charming football manager). That happened over one weekend. And more importantly, my boyfriend of 9 months finally gave me more closet space. This is a huge step forward in our relationship. I feel more belonged, I won't be feeling like a stranger / guest at his apartment anymore.

While having chicken rice on Saturday afternoon, the boyfriend asked a rather interesting question - "If I were to propose with a ring that you don't like, what would you do? Would you tell me the truth, or would you accept it but make excuses not to wear it?" I paused and grinned. Sensing that I found his question amusing, he added that he was serious. I must say his question caught me by surprise.

I gave the question some thought. That question led me to other questions - what kind of rings do I like and what am I expecting?

I do like colored gems, especially the sapphire ring that Prince William gave to Kate Middleton when he proposed. Unfortunately, as I came to realize that having a huge intricate ring on my finger will be almost impossible because of my tiny fingers. Those vintage rings with 3 stones are also a no go (my fingers are too skinny and the stones span too wide across). I guess I may have to stick to the classic diamond solitaire. Perhaps, it can be dressed with little diamonds at the sides.

Out of curiosity, we went into Tiffany & Co to try on the Lucida diamond ring - a ring which I lusted over for years. It shall remain as a dream because one will have to sell his car and his apartment to get me the ring (as my boyfriend puts it).

I may regret saying this, but the Atelier ring from Gordon Max is really pretty. It is not just your usual solitaire on a band. It has character. I know, I know, it's not even made of real diamonds. But don't you agree the design is classy?! And no, I do not want a simulated diamond ring from Gordon Max. Got to make myself clear, in case the boyfriend is reading this. Heh!

Association de Grands Crus Classés Saint-Émilion Induction

2011-05-06T23:33:00.000+08:00

On May 6 2011, the day after my Champagne dinner and intronization, I had to attend another induction ceremony for the Association des Grands Crus Classés Saint-Émilion. It was an honor to be invited to join the very exclusion association.

The induction was held at The St. Regis Singapore, Decanter Room. And I was told that the induction has always been held in France. It was only recently that they started to have it outside of France and this was their 2nd induction outside of France.

The only female inductee

The induction was followed by dinner at Yan Ting. M was my date, of course. We tasted 14 different St Emilion wines that evening. The chateau owners were also there having dinner with us. It was a very nice experience.

Thank you World Gourmet Summit for everything. Peter, you're the man!

Sabre d’Or Champagne Dinner Featuring Celebrity Chef Michael Ginor

2011-05-05T23:23:00.000+08:00

On May 5 2011, the Confrérie du Sabre d'Or (Singapore Chapter) has its first gala dinner at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa. As the secretariat, I was intronized that evening by the Grand Master (who came all the way from France) and became a Chevalier. I was given my certificate, cape, pin and my importantly, my sabre.

The dinner featured Celebrity Chef Michael Ginor who wowed us with some of his creations. The food was great. And best of all, I had my very good looking boyfriend beside me. My god-pa was also intronized on the same night.

Irene being inducted as Chevalier.

More photos can be found here.

9 April 2011 - 24 April 2011: London / Paris / Beaune / Oxford / Cheltenham / Manchester

2011-05-02T23:47:00.000+08:00

Had a lovely vacation with M. The weather was amazing and we had a fabulous time! After this trip, I'm pretty sure he's the man I want to be with. :)

No doubt we've spent alot of money on this vacation, but I think it's worth every penny. After all the hard work I've put in for so long, it's about time I enjoyed a good break with someone I love.

London

Paris

Beaune / Burgundy

Oxford

Romantic Cotswold

Manchester

Europe 2011

2011-04-08T00:15:00.003+08:00

"Just another one champion sound
Me and you about to get down
Who the hottest in the world right now
Just touched down in London town..."

Heh! I'm so excited. I'll be leaving for London this Saturday. And, it's my first trip to London. M is gonna bring me around. I'll bring him around when we hit Paris. It'll be my longest vacation to date. Oh boy, oh boy! Can't wait!

So, I won't be blogging for the next few weeks until I get back (with pictures and stories). Ta ta!

V By Singapore Turf Club

2011-04-07T23:29:00.002+08:00

Jeremy from Singapore Turf Club invited me and M to the open-house of V (Singapore Turf Club Betting Lounge). I'm definitely curious. And it sounds pretty cool. My friend, Sean, urged me to check it out. So, me and the boyfriend will be going to the event. Celebrity Chef Quentin will be dishing out some food for this event. Heh! Looking forward. Thanks for the invitation, J.

World Gourmet Summit 2011 Opening Reception

2011-04-03T21:17:00.002+08:00

Peter Knipp was so nice to send me an invitation to the opening reception of the World Gourmet Summit event. With Peter's experience and talent, I am sure the WGS 2011 is going to be fabulous. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the opening reception as I will only be flying back from London that evening.

Congratulations, Peter, on the 15th WGS event!

"Girls and boys, here's my story..."

2011-03-30T23:40:00.002+08:00

I took a cab down to my secondary school during lunch time. I was invited to give a talk to the secondary 4 and 5 students during assembly. It was an extremely satisfying experience. When I ended my talk with a little bow and the words "thank you", I was greeted with a loud round of applause. A teacher came up to me and said my talk inspired her. That felt really good.

More importantly, I hope these teens got the message behind my presentation. Even though, the presentation was largely about my life, the aim was to invoke them to think for themselves. It was to give these teens hope that they, too, can be somebody awesome someday. They should not feel less of a person just because they are from a neighborhood school. They need to feel hopeful and confident. They need to know that their biggest competitors are themselves. They have to have a plan (early) and start working towards it. They need to charge forward towards their destination. They should not look back to check out other people in the race, that will just slow them down. They need to stay focus and complain less.

I tried to make my talk candid and dramatic. Just to create a fun and relaxing atmosphere. I didn't want to bore them.

The VP of the school sent me a sms telling me that the students were definitely engaged and they wanted to know more. This was good enough for me. For a first timer, I think I did well. I can't stop smiling after the talk. I was happy. I really do hope that I've made a small difference in some of their lives.

The next talk is happening in July. It'll be a talk for the secondary 3 students. Can't wait!

If We Took A Holiday, Took Some Time to Celebrate!

2011-03-27T21:35:00.004+08:00

Can't believe it's less than 2 weeks away to my long vacation to London, Paris, Beaune and Manchester. And after my return from Europe, there's a line-up of events that M and I will be attending. One of which is the Sabre d’Or Champagne Gala Dinner featuring Celebrity Chef Michael Ginor - Chef Michael Ginor of Hudson Valley Foie Gras in New York and author of Foie Gras. We're flying the chef from New York to cook for us. That's happening on May 5 2011 at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa. As the Maître des Ecritures (Secretariat) of Confrérie du Sabre d'Or in Singapore, I reckoned it will be a busy night for me. The grand masters of Confrérie du Sabre d'Or are coming down from France to join us for the event.

But first, I have to find a dress for the event. My mentor suggested I look for a dress in Knightsbridge, but I highly doubt that I will be able to fit into those off-the-rack designer dresses. And there may not be enough time to do fittings and alterations when I get back. I've not even started thinking about hair and make up.

We'll also be catching Macbeth in Shakespeare by the Park and also Lion King musical at MBS. Yes, very exciting and fun times ahead. :D It's time for the good times! Forget about the bad times, oh yeah!

Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue

2011-03-27T21:29:00.000+08:00

Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue

Mmmm better...mmm better...
Absolutely no one that knows me better
No one that can make me feel sooo goooood
How did we stay so long together?
When everybody, everybody said we never would
And just when I, I start to think they're right
That love has died...

[Chorus]
There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time?
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo

I'm stuck on you
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Some days I don't feel like trying
Some days you know I wanna just give up
When it doesn't matter who's right, fight about it all night
Had enough
You give me that look
"I'm sorry baby let's make up"
You do that thing that makes me laugh
And just like that...

[Chorus]
There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo

I'm stuck on you
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh

You almost stay out, too stuck together from the ATL
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh

Feeling kinda sick?
Just a spoon full of sugar make it better real quick

I say
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Whatcha gonna do with that?
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Come on over here with that
Sugar sticky sweet stuff
Come on give me that stuff
Everybody wants some
Melodies that get stuck

Up in your head
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh

Up in your head
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh

Up in your head
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh

Up in your head
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me together, say, it's all I wanna do
I said

[Chorus]
There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo

There you go making my heart beat again,
Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo
I'm stuck on you

Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue

Loysel's Toy

2011-03-20T22:07:00.002+08:00

We've tried some nice quaint cafes over the last few weeks. After Forty Hands and Papa Palheta, we decided to head to Loysel's Toy this weekend. My colleague, SiNing, loves hanging out here. I'm always seeing her checkin' in to this place via Foursquares every weekend.

I had the cappuccino and pork (ham, cheese and green apples) sandwich. M had a cup of latte and beef sandwich. I liked my pork sandwich. But I liked the ambience even more. The cafe is located at a warehouse in the midst of Kampong Bugis, beside Kallang River. Very quaint.

Verdict: We both agreed that we preferred Forty Hands the most. Forty Hands has the best coffee and also location (Tiong Bahru). This was followed by Loysel's Toy. While Papa Palheta has its own character, we didn't enjoy the small space and extremely limited seating. So, we'll probably be dropping by Forty Hands again pretty soon. :)

Side By Side

2011-03-20T22:04:00.002+08:00

Was walking along Booze and spotted our "vintages" standing side by side.
I actually have a bottle of the 1981 (a gift from Irene Ong) in the office.

My Views on Marriage

2011-03-19T08:37:00.006+08:00

Getting married is a wonderful thing. Lately, I've been receiving more news of friends and colleagues getting married. Invitations are being sent via sms and Facebook. Seems like 2011 is a very popular year for couples to settle down.

Planning a wedding is no easy matter. I am getting insights of the drama from the couples around me. It can get a little too much for some of them to handle. At the end of the day it all boils down to expectations. Ladies, if you're one of those who are getting married, try not to overwhelm the poor guy. It is, afterall, a celebration for the BOTH of you. It should be a happy occasion.

Money, sometimes, do get in the way of marriage plans. Especially so when the couple has to pay for the wedding and buy a new house all at the same time. The ladies may find difficulty in accepting the fact that they may not be able to afford their dream wedding or apartment. Some may resort to postponing their wedding to save up a little more. Then again, wedding packages get more and more expensive year on year. So, even if you had more time to save, it may mean you'd have to spend more for the same thing.

And why let money get in the way of a wonderful unity. It shouldn't be the case. There are others out there who struggle to find a partner and some are stuck with the Mr-commitments-not-now type. Some ladies have no idea how lucky they are to be able to snag a guy who'd want to commit and take care of them for the rest of their lives. That should be good enough a reason to be happy. The other material stuff (like size of the rock or house) doesn't matter.

Haha! It is strange how age changes one's perspective. Once upon a time, those material stuff mattered to me big time. But I guessed I'm wiser now. Diamonds and house can be acquired over time with money. To find the right guy who understands and wants to marry me, is the toughest challenge in my life. It is not something that comes easily my way. Perhaps that is the reason why I still find it difficult to attend weddings... even until today.

1996 Billecart Salmon Blanc de Blanc

2011-03-18T21:51:00.000+08:00

Decided to share this bottle of 1996 Billecart Salmon Blanc de Blanc with Timothy from Les Amis and my friend Binnie. We popped the champagne over dinner at Hinoki, the new Japanese restaurant set up by Chef Lawrence & Chef Gary (previously from Kome) located at China Square Central.

Tasting Notes: It is a remarkably elegant and lovely champagne. Wonderful pear aromas accented with bread dough. Gorgeous flavor and finish. Love it! Didn't regret popping it, but definitely no harm keeping it in the cellar for a few more years. :)

We May Only Have Tonight

2011-03-16T23:05:00.004+08:00

Since I was very young, I've always been told that I was impatient and that I tend to rush into things. I was actually convinced by many that it was my weakness. So, for a very long time, I told myself and new people I met that I'm a very impatient person.

I'm starting to realize that this may not be true. I do not rush into things like what the others say. I'm just able to understand situations, judge and plan things faster than most people. For those that couldn't keep up, they started labeling me as impatient and made things seem like it was my problem. And for some smarter ones, they even managed to slow me down to their speed and made me live by their terms. Nice, very nice strategy. To think that all these years, I actually believed that my impatience was the problem when things did not work out. Pfft!

I had often blamed myself when things go wrong, thinking it was my impatience that ruined everything. I was made to wait around for them to be ready, which wasted a lot of my precious time. When I complained, I was immediately told to be more patient. When the wait was too long for me to bear and I bailed out, I was again labeled as too impatient.

But what if I simply had things figured out faster than most others. And what was so wrong about that? Since life is short and extremely unpredictable, isn't it a blessing to have things figured out earlier? I should not have to abide by society's time lines. Ahhh... but that's just being idealistic. Chances are, I won't be happy either. Because, as an Asian girl, if I'd have chosen to go by my own speed and expected others to keep up, I'd find myself living a very lonely life.

Whatever it is, I have since decided to be fair to myself. I shall not describe myself as impatient any more. That's the least I can do.

With so many natural disasters happening in this world today, shouldn't we live life like every day's the last? Life is too short to wait around. And what if we only have tonight...?

Boots from Chocolate Schubar

2011-03-13T23:17:00.003+08:00

Finally found the boots to wear for my upcoming Europe trip. :) I love the ribbons. So cute!

It has got that elusive "je ne sais quoi" attraction.

Best Chendol In Melaka

2011-03-13T23:10:00.002+08:00

Seriously, this has got to be the best chendol in Melaka. Go to Bibik House Chendol (opposite the huge stage at Jonker Walk). They serve the best tasting chendol. I simply love it! Mmm...

Falling in Curls

2011-03-11T22:44:00.000+08:00

My hair stylist was surprised to see my hair length when I visited him. The last time I went to him for a hair cut was in September and in 6 months time, my hair has grown much longer. Long enough for him to suggest a perm.

I was so apprehensive. Didn't know how the perm will look on me. I like my straight long hair, and so did my boyfriend. But somehow my hair stylist convinced me to adopt a new style. I've always trusted him, and I don't see why I should stop trusting him now.

After more than 2 hours at the hair salon, I came out with curls falling on my shoulders.

I like my new look. It added volume to my hair at the ends. My boyfriend likes it... a lot it seems. Because on the day he saw me with my new hair style, he kept telling me how much he loves me. Heh! It was pretty unusual, but hey, I'm not complaining. :)

Awarding One of The Top Wedding Photographers

2011-03-08T23:07:00.005+08:00

Presenting one of the top Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (AG|WPJA) photographers of 2010... None other than my bestie!!! Congratulations!!!

www.agwpja.com

Europ$ Trip 2011

2011-03-02T22:46:00.003+08:00

Next stop, London. Dinner at Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. Then to Paris where I will be having hot chocolate at rue Cler. Ah... Beaune. I'll be tasting those seductive wines as I tour Burgundy. And of course to Manchester where we will be catching a live football match at Old Trafford (wearing my Man United Jersey of course).

I'm excited. Trying hard not to think about the expenses I'll be incurring.

Earlier today, I did the sums in my head and already that made me dizzy. Focus on the happy thoughts and enjoy every moment of the trip I say. Forget about the money. That will work itself out... somehow (I hope).

Something's telling me that I won't be shopping much in this trip.

Summer and the City

2011-03-02T22:42:00.002+08:00

Releasing on April 26 2011
Can't wait to get my hands on it.

Champagne Tasting (Duval Leroy vs Tattinger)

2011-02-27T22:14:00.000+08:00

We attended Epiphany Wines's first Champagne Brunch this afternoon. It was a lovely event organized by Irene Ong was held at Gourmet Plus at 117 Frankel Ave. Had the opportunity to taste champagne from Duval Leroy and Taittinger. We compared the elegant Duval Leroy to the masculine Taittinger. Interesting experience. When paired with food, I prefer Duval Leroy on most counts. Taittinger champagne can definitely stand on its own.

MENU

Iberico Ham on Crispy Toast
Taittinger Reserve Brut NV (RP90 / JR17)

Carpaccio of Hokkaido Scallops
Aged Balsamico Vinegar & Mesclum Salad
Duval Leroy Brut NV (WS93)
Taittinger Reserve Brut NV (RP90 / JR17)

Pan Roasted Duck Breast
Caramelized with Honey & Cumin
Duval Leroy Brut Rose NV (WS91)
Taittinger Reserve Brut Rose NV (RP90)

Taittinger Comtes de Blanc de Blanc Brut 1998, Magnum (RP94/WS95/WE90)
Duval Leroy Authentis Trepail (Chardonnay) 1998 (WD16)

Crispy Strawberry Pie
Champagne Jelly & Vanilla Ice Cream

Birthday Wish For A Very Special Man

2011-02-22T22:33:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday, Godpa!

Lovely Sunday

2011-02-20T22:40:00.003+08:00

We started the day with brunch at Victor's Kitchen. And since we had no activities planned for the day, we took a walk around the vicinity after a delicious dim sum brunch. We ended up at Cathay and he, being a huge fan of Natalie Portman (which guy is not *rolls eyes*), decided that we should catch No Strings Attach. I'm glad we did. I enjoyed the cute romantic show very much. And I can tell that he did, too.

After the movie, we headed to 140 Bukit Timah Road, where Papa Palheta is located. We have both heard so much about it. We had to check it out. He has classified it as "A place where the cool people hangs out", just like Forty Hands at Yong Siak Road. Heh! I guess we'll be back there again.

He's More Precious Than These Pearly Treasures

2011-02-20T22:18:00.005+08:00

M got me something from Hyderabad. I wasn't expecting him to get anything from this business trip, but this sweet and thoughtful boyfriend of mine surprised me with a necklace from the City of Pearls.

I love my gift. It's a timeless classic - 2 strings of pearls with the right length. It is something that I'll definitely wear. :)

M has proven that he has good taste in jewelry yet again. And more importantly, knowing that he had me in his thoughts when he was away, melts my heart. I'm so fortunate to have him.

Thank you for these lovely pearls.

Proud of My Bestie

2011-02-19T08:44:00.005+08:00

My bestie's a pretty damn good photographer and it's so nice to know that people around me think so, too. Recently, I found out that a few of my colleagues have engaged him to do overseas pre-wedding shoot. Brisbane, Bali and Prague. He's definitely going places. His schedule for this year seems to leave no room for any catch up session with me. And most of his jobs are bringing him to different parts of the world.

I guess the trend is to have your pre-wedding photos taken out of the country and people are becoming more sophisticated. Consumers are taking more interests in having a good photographer for their wedding. This is of course good news to my bestie.

I'm looking forward to more beautiful pictures taken and more awards from him. If you've not seen his works, do check him out at www.williamchua.com. And if you like his photographs, remember to be a fan of William Chua Photography. :)

Valentine's Cupcakes from Jamie

2011-02-19T08:14:00.002+08:00

My intern, Jamie, baked cupcakes for us on Valentine's Day and she is very good at making cupcakes. I was given 2 pretty cupcakes in the morning. That was definitely not enough for me. I love cupcakes and everyone knows. My team mates who received the cupcakes decided to offer their cupcakes to me. Sweet Jamie brought more cupcakes for me the next day so that I can have more cupcakes for breakfast. :) Thanks Jamie!

Her internship has ended yesterday and I do hope she enjoyed herself as much as we enjoyed her company.

Japan Corner

2011-02-15T21:19:00.003+08:00

This is my little Japan Corner in the office. The pink flower shochu in the round bulb-looking bottle is a gift from a girl in my team (Lea) who has just returned from her Japan vacation. The picture frame beside it is a gift from another colleague of mine (Edison) when he went to Japan last year.

Really nice and thoughtful peeps I have in the office. :)

Our First Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T22:30:00.000+08:00

We made a pact - we agreed not to celebrate Valentine's Day. But both of us went back on our words and surprised each other with roses.

I arranged for a basket of dark red roses and a cute brown bear to be delivered to his office to surprise him. Thanks to my trusted florist, Lynn from My Summer Scents. He revealed that he's not used to receiving flowers but hey, it's a surprise after all yah? ;)

And I received a pretty bouquet of my favorite flower - red roses. :)

Congratulations to My Friends

2011-02-13T23:22:00.003+08:00

Everyone around me is getting married it seems.

My bestfriend from secondary school has recently said YES to her boyfriend's proposal. This man has been so sweet to her. I'm glad he'll be the one taking care of her for the rest of her life. And he spared no expense on the engagement ring. It came with a 2.11 carats emerald cut diamond. A ring that size deserves some air time. :)

And just a couple of days ago, I predicted that someone would be proposing on her 2nd year anniversary. She rejected the idea when I told her about my predictions. But I was spot on! That guy proposed and she said YES. I was so excited when I saw the status message on her boyfriend's facebook page. Ahhh... another happy couple getting married.

M and I will be attending a friend's wedding in Bali on M's birthday. There's also another 3 weddings I heard happening this year. And at least 4 of my colleagues are expecting babies this year. The year of the Rabbit is certainly a great year for couples. :)

Chef M's Creation

2011-02-12T23:07:00.000+08:00

The boyfriend decided to cook for me. He attempted to make us some Carbonara, which did not turn out the way he wanted. Nonetheless, the effort was there and I appreciate it.

It was a simple meal, but I totally enjoyed it. There was parma ham and korean strawberries with icing sugar. I wouldn't want to be going to some fancy restaurant and paying shit loads of money for set dinners. I would rather be home having a home-cooked dinner with him, open a bottle of wine of our choice and our favourite jazz music playing in the background.

You could say that this was our Valentine's Day celebration. But I really think there wasn't a need to celebrate Valentine's Day on the 14th of February because every weekend can be Valentine's Day if we want it to be. We don't have to wait for that one day in a year to show our love for each other. And there's absolutely no need for presents or flowers to be given on that one day. It'll be even more special if those things are given on days when there's no reason or occasion. :)

Pretty Pink Lion

2011-02-11T23:34:00.000+08:00

A Pretty Lion Came Dancing Around My Desk

All In!

2011-02-07T21:19:00.002+08:00

Being in love is pretty much like a game of Texas Hold'em (poker) with no limit You're either ALL IN or you FOLD. You don't CHECK. If both parties check, then the relationship is over. And sometimes you may need to RAISE in order to see if the other party is calling a bluff.

For the longest time, I didn't know the rules and I've been playing the game wrongly. I used to check all the time. This round is different. Both of us started with an ANTE and a clear understanding of the rules. And it seems that we are both enjoying the game so far.

If I'm asked what's my next bet, I can confidently say "ALL IN". And I hope my partner will CALL and do the same.

Happy Lunar New Year

2011-02-03T15:00:00.001+08:00

My mum, me and my boyfriend on the 1st day of lunar new year. :)

Here's wishing everyone a prosperous lunar new year filled with happiness.

Dinner Date with Boyfriend

2011-02-01T23:06:00.001+08:00

"Wine and food tonight was excellent... I'm going to bed a very satisfied man :)" - M

I had been wanting to bring M to the French Bistro L'Entrecôte for some time. I decided to ask him out on a dinner date on 1 February 2011 - 6 months after he asked me out on a date.

I was very excited to bring the meat-loving boyfriend of mine to L'Entrecôte, famed for its steak, secret butter-sauce and frites.

We were greeted with a glass of Kir Royale aperitif of blackcurrant cream liqueur and champagne. For appetizers, I had the escargots de Bourgogne and M had the creamy duck rillettes which was delicious. Over here, the plat du jour never changes. One can only have steak frites (S$29) as their mains. The only choice you have is how you'd like it to be done. And in all traditional Parisian fashion, the waiter marks our doneness selection on the tabletop.

With such a lovely Parisian ambience and good food, I decided to splurge on a bottle of 2006 Domaine de Chevalier (to mark our 06 months of dating). I was so pleased with my pick, as the Bordeaux wine went so well with the steak.

Everything went so well that we didn't even noticed we spent 3 hours at dinner. Good food, good wine, great company and good conversations... life's great!

Now, if you intend to pay this restaurant a visit, you will just need to turn up and hope there's a table available. They do not take phone reservation.

L'Entrecôte
36 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089614

Phone: +65 6238 5700
Opening hours:
Mondays - Fridays 12pm-10pm
Saturdays 6pm-11pm
Closed on Sundays

Sick and Whining

2011-01-31T22:46:00.001+08:00

I've been coughing for more than 2 weeks. The cough gets worse at night, which interrupts my sleep. I wake up each morning feeling tired and weak. I want to get well soon. I don't want to be feeling this way. The cold and wet weather is not helping either.

My office desk is filled with different cough remedies. A relationship manager bought me African Sea Coconut cough mixture, one of the girls from my team got me Ivy Leaf extract cough mixture, I got myself a couple of bottles of cough mixture from the pharmacy. I'm trying everything. I've even completed 2 courses of the doctor's prescription. I feel so drowsy and disoriented all day from the medication. But don't worry, I'm not consuming all at one go.

Getaway to Bangkok

2011-01-25T22:08:00.003+08:00

M was away on business trip for most of last week. I decided to fly up to Bangkok to spend the weekend there with him. I was coughing throughout the trip and in fact the cough got worse on my 2nd night in Bangkok. Still, we managed to do some shopping and covered some grounds. :)

One of the important things I did while I was in Bangkok was to go back to the Four-Face Buddha Temple. 2 years ago, on a trip with some friends (M was there, too), I prayed and asked to have a good man in my life. And, since I have M with me now, I thought it'd be nice to go back there to give thanks.

We went to Chatuchak Weekend Market. It was crowded but we managed to get what we went there for. M was very happy with his purchase.

A friend of ours, we call him the "B-Man", introduced us to North-eastern Thai cuisine by bringing us to this nice restaurant at the basement of Siam Paragon. Yummers!

Unwell

2011-01-21T05:31:00.003+08:00

My throat hurts and I am coughing like crazy. I woke up at 4am to find myself in a coughing fit. Decided to get out of bed before my incessant cough wakes my grouchy little sister up. After brushing my teeth, I went to get salt from the kitchen. Stirred salt into warm water and gargled. I also rubbed some salt on an ulcer which developed at the side. *ouch* When that didn't help, I took a spoon of manuka honey and mixed that into a small cup of water. I downed it. Heard it was supposed to help my throat. Whatever! I am willing to try anything to make myself better. Got a plane to catch in the afternoon.

The previous night, I boiled some chinese medicine (concoction given by Ari - thanks!). His instructions were simple - boil the herbs under low fire for 1 hour and then bottoms up.

I really want to recover fast! Help!!! And I can't sleep.

Conversations Before The Lights Went Out

2011-01-18T21:03:00.003+08:00

My sister and I share the same bedroom. She's normally asleep before me. Either that, or she's engaged in a phone conversation with her boyfriend. We hardly talk to each other unless she needs my opinion or advice on work.

Last night, we found some time to chat before we fell asleep. The topic was about relationships and the focus was on my new relationship with M. As my sister, she has seen me through my past relationships. She felt that I've become a totally different person in this relationship. She commented that I've shifted my focus from work to love and this has never been the case. She's puzzled why I am treating M so nicely. What's different about M that made me this way?

That coming from my sister was pretty surprising. I wasn't expecting her to notice anything since we hardly spend time with each other these days. I do agree with her. I'm guilty as charged. But I don't think it's a bad change at all. I find myself being more mild-mannered, tolerant and understanding around M. I just want to care for him and make him happy. Other things don't matter as much any more. Besides, M has been an amazing boyfriend, too. According to him, he has also become a better boyfriend now. He doesn't lose his temper as easily as before.

"I should have recorded what you said before and hear yourself now. What you said previously was the total opposite of what you're saying now." - Felicia

My sister decided to dish out her "expert advice". She thinks my relationship needs a balance. She feels that it's unhealthy not to quarrel at all and she told me to stop giving in all the time. Truth is, I don't like conflicts or confrontations. I've come to believe that we can resolve things better by being calm and talking about issues. Screaming at each other ain't gonna help. And it's silly to pick a fight for the sake of doing so. Life is tough, and there's no reason to make it any tougher. What matters most is that M and I are happy. We don't have to subscribe to what the society around us deems as "normal". Every couple functions differently. :)

Thanks, Felicia. I know you meant well. You'll probably understand what I'm going through when you get older. Some things cannot be explained in a few words, you need to experience it yourself.

Sexy Sharmaine

2011-01-16T23:51:00.003+08:00

We said goodbye to cute little "Sarah" on December 29 2010. M has gotten himself a new ride and after weeks, we finally found a name.

Initially, we wanted a sexy Japanese name for this car, but in the end, we decided to call it "Sharmaine". If you view the car from the front, it looks like a shark. Shark is "same" in Japanese, pronounced as "Sar-meh". It sure sounds like Charmaine. We changed the "C" to "S" and wala! We have ... *drum rolls* ... Sexy Sharmaine!

It is a fun ride. M cracks a smile on his face each time he approaches his car. I often teased him about that. Heh! He doesn't even smile like that when he sees me.

I never knew a car can bring him so much joy. :) I'm happy that he's happy.

First Picnic of 2011 at Botanic Gardens

2011-01-16T23:26:00.005+08:00

We woke up early on Sunday morning. Eager to start the day with a picnic at Botanic Gardens. I got a bottle of grower's champagne from Artisan Cellars (Dosnon & Lepage BdB), some Parma ham and caramel chocolate cake from Da Paolo, some honey cherry tomatoes, ham, Hokkaido corn and bread. We packed everything in my pretty picnic basket (a gift from Lea). Heh! I love picnics.

Although the ground was wet from the yesterday's rain, the weather held up for the event today. And to jazz up the occasion, I graced it with my new hat, which was a gift from M (his first online purchase from ASOS).

M enjoying his new ride

M carrying the pretty picnic basket

Dosnon & Lepage Blanc de Blanc
(I think this has minimal dosage, well at least it tasted that way)

Ham sandwich made by Chef M

Check out my lovely hat! M sure has good taste.

It's nice reading papers amidst the greenery

Cheers people!

Champagne Jacques Lassaigne Tasting Party

2011-01-15T09:49:00.002+08:00

Friday evening. Shut down my PC at work and rushed down to Orchard to meet M. We had a Champagne Jacques Lassaigne tasting at Artisan Cellars Showroom to go to. I was pretty excited to bring M along with me. Perhaps, this was how he felt when he got me to watch Manchester United football matches with him. Heh!

It wasn't expecting such a crowd. This was unlike the previous tastings. The turnout was great. I saw a few familiar faces. The usual suspects - a couple of my friends from Moomba (Law & Keith) and TM. Caught up with the man behind Artisan Cellars, Henry Hariyono, he was there in his favourite grey sweater. Got to chat with Tony Teh, the sales manager of Artisan Cellars, and realized that we have similar taste in wines. It was one of the most enjoyable tasting I've been to, because of the people.

We tasted 5 Jacques Lassaign champagne, most of them are made from 100% Chardonnay (with certain and rare exceptions). Natural yeasts are used where possible, along with lower levels of sulphur as well as minimal dosage (less sugar) to let the wines express themselves as clearly as possible.

The Lassaigne estate is located in Montgueux, a large chalky hill whose vineyards produce what many consider to be the finest Chardonnay grapes in the Aube. This place, known as the Montrachet of Champagne, is an island of Chardonnay in a sea of Pinot Noir.

I had very little experience with minimal dosage champagne, so it took me some time to appreciate the palate. Of the 5 champagne, I do like the Rosé de Montgueux, but not enough to buy a bottle as yet. If I had to bring a bottle home, it would be the Le Cotet (as TM predicted). The nose of the Le Cotet is focused and full of ripened citrus fruits, but I'm still not convinced where the palate is concerned (maybe it's the minimal dosage effect). But overall, it was an interesting experience.

Rosé de Montgueux, Extra Brut
Les Vignes de Montgueux, Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
Le Cotet, Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
2004 Millésime, Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs
Les Papilles Insolites, Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs

My Christmas Gift From My Boyfriend

2011-01-11T22:33:00.002+08:00

M and a few friends decided to watch the FA Cup match between Manchester United and Liverpool at The Chamber last Sunday. To show my support to M's favourite football team, I wore the jersey. The jersey that M got me for Christmas.

I was ecstatic when Ryan Giggs scored the penalty goal. I threw my arms in the air and cheered as loudly as the fans. I was beaming with pride because I was wearing the Number 11 jersey. Ryan Giggs is the Number 11 player.

Donning the jersey does indeed make one behave differently. I enjoyed watching the match more than usual. Heh! M, thank you for the gift.

Cupcake Surprise

2011-01-02T23:42:00.004+08:00

I had been planning this for weeks. Just waiting for the right moment to present these lovely cupcakes to my football-loving boyfriend. I placed the order with Oni Cupcakes for collection on new year's eve. It was my surprise to M and I was really hoping he'd like them.

Darling, I hope this brings a smile to your face.

Twenty Eleven

2011-01-01T00:00:00.004+08:00

As I sat opposite my boyfriend just minutes away from the brand new year of 2011, I reflected on my life in 2010. Things definitely took a turn for the better towards the 2nd half of 2010. That was when M came into my life.

New Year's Eve was often a sad day for me. Since 2006, I had been crying on every 31st of December. Not in 2010. Not when I have M with me. And it is gonna be different from now on. I will be looking forward to every great year with him.

2011 has got a lot happening. 2011 marks the 10th year of my working life and I shall celebrate that in May. On November 11 2011 (11.11.11), I'll be turning 30! In fact, I've been planning for my 30th birthday a few years back and I've even prepared my birthday wish a long time back. Heh! So, when I saw the shooting star last November, I knew what my wish was. It may sound silly, but I do hope this wish comes true.

So, yes, 2011 is gonna be exciting. I shall savour every moment of it.

X'mas Gifts

2010-12-28T21:58:00.003+08:00

I've received a number of Christmas gifts from colleagues. My boss (the guy in the photo wearing the F1 jacket) gave me a set of Lady Gaga earphones. Ibu Amanda gave me the hand soap from L'occitane (which I stated in one of my blog entries... heh, she got the hint!), Mich got me a pretty pink shower set from Sephora and Lea got me this really nice picnic basket (as seen below). This basket gives M more excuses to bring me out on picnic dates. ;) Yay!

I got M a portable vacuum cleaner that can be used at home and even in the car (comes with car charger plug). It's a practical gift. More importantly, it fitted the criteria of (1) the gift must be less than S$150 and (2) it must be something that the receiving party has mentioned before that he/she wanted. These were the rules set by our dear legal counsel M. Guess what I got from him. I got a Manchester United jersey with my short name and favorite number printed on it! Hmm... he must have gotten the gift for the wrong girlfriend. I certainly have never mentioned that I wanted a MU jersey. *bleah*

His defense: He ordered my Christmas gift online and it has not arrived from UK. So, this was the other gift he got for me.

Afternoon Tea at Imperial Treasure Nan Bei

2010-12-28T21:08:00.003+08:00

It feels good to be NOT working on a Monday. We decided to go for afternoon tea at Imperial Treasure Nan Bei at Ngee Ann City. Most people do not know that they have a afternoon tea menu there. The set menus are very reasonably priced and pretty yummy. If you like the Hong Kong milk tea and butter + condensed milk toast, then you should try this out.

Oh, and this afternoon tea menu is only available upon request (2:30pm - 5pm). They do not place the menu openly.

M behaving like a busy towkay doing BIG business

Goodbye Sarah

2010-12-28T20:24:00.002+08:00

It wasn't an easy decision for M, but after much considerations, he has decided to say goodbye to cute little Sarah. Before he handed Sarah to her new owner, we took her out for a photo-taking session.

Dinner For Two

2010-12-27T21:47:00.002+08:00

I'm not usually the domestic kind. Sure, I'm homely (that is I like staying at home), but I do not cook or stay in the kitchen much when I am home.

Being in this relationship changed me. When I'm at the boyfriend's (formerly known as Legal Counsel in this blog, but my Godpa said I should give him a more affectionate name) place, I like hanging out at the kitchen. In fact, I like doing the washing and cooking.

Here's a confession. I do not cook very often. I enjoy attending cooking class but I don't cook. Somehow, I have this yearning to cook for the boyfriend. I don't want him to be eating out all the time. That is why, in my list of new year resolutions, I have added "cook regularly" to it.

As I am not one who procrastinates, plus I'm utterly impatient, I suggested cooking dinner at my boyfriend's even before the new year arrives. I went online to search for ideas and recipes on Sunday. Took down notes and went shopping for ingredients on Monday afternoon. I was so glad that my boyfriend helped out with both the shopping and the cooking.

We fumbled a little and yes, the vegetables were over-done and a little too salty, the soup had potential but wasn't as tasty as expected (it would have tasted better if we used pork ribs instead of chicken breast). The best dish was the silken tofu topped with pork floss. Overall, it was a good first attempt. Well, at least the dishes looked decent. :P

I do regret not helping my mum out in the kitchen more often. I'm also more appreciative of home-cooked meals after this. But, I'm even more determined than ever to perfect my cooking so that my boyfriend doesn't have to eat tasteless / overly-salty food.

My boyfriend has been extremely helpful and encouraging and I'm very thankful for that.

Blue Christmas by Chef M and Sommelier allie

2010-12-25T20:45:00.000+08:00

The theme was "Blue Christmas". Our guests had to arrive in something blue. M and I had a great time putting this party together. I compiled some christmas songs for the evening. But boy, there was A LOT of dish washing to do after the party.

Our 1st Christmas Tree

Table Settings

The Food

Chef M needed a drink after all the stress

Chef M slicing the roast lamb
(Oh yes, SQ, don't mess with the chef at work)

Our yummy log cake dessert

My favorite grower's champagne for parties
(Nicolas Maillart Platine available at Artisan Cellars)

Sommelier allie serving champagne

To good health and great wealth

Not forgetting, gifts for the ladies

The Great Invention - Autosol

2010-12-19T23:03:00.002+08:00

My dad's an engineer and also a handyman of the family. He has always been teaching us skills, which I had never appreciated... that is until today.

When I was a little girl, he introduced me to Autosol. For those girls who do not know what's an autosol, it's perfectly fine. Autosol is used for polishing metal. And no, I'm not talking about your silver jewelry. It's an extremely effective polish for metal surfaces like taps and sinks. Squeeze 1 cm of the white cream onto a piece of rag and polish any metal surface. Do not add water when polishing. Keep wiping and polishing till the white cream clears off to reveal a shiny surface. Your taps and sinks will be in showroom condition in no time!

This tube of Autosol costs only a few dollars. Available at most hardware stores.

If you have your own place and intend to show off your new place to your guests during Christmas or Lunar New Year, then get one tube today.

You might just be so amazed by the shine and decide to polish every metal surface you can find in your home. Heh!

- reported by domestic allie.

I ♥ Weekends

2010-12-12T22:42:00.002+08:00

♥ ♥ ♥ These days, I look forward to weekends. ♥ ♥ ♥