Saturday 25 October 2014

DAY OUT: ZOO DAY




There was sunny weather.  And giant pandas.  And enormous fishes.  And exquisite floral.  

Oh, and a PICNIC BASKET!  Who visits the zoo without a picnic basket?!















Sunday 12 October 2014

分享


上週日做了简单的double chocolate muffin,备受好评。马来族同事Zan向我讨食谱,她看不懂中文,我把中的食谱译成英文,让她也可以做出适合自己口味的点心。能与朋友分享好事物,往往胜过独自拥有。

 

小时候家中不富裕,生日时母亲不曾为我煮面线鸡蛋,更别想买蛋糕了。有一年母亲竟然带了个蛋糕回来,那是一个圆形的牛油蛋糕,直径6、7寸左右吧,上面有几颗 红色的glaced cherries 点缀。没插上蜡烛,也没有特别喜庆的感觉。

今天从里翻出marble pound cake 的食谱,回忆当年那段朴实的庆生。40年后的今天,所用的材料比从前讲究多了。日本面粉、法国奶油、Valrhona 巧克力、来自Madagascar的香草精、有机鸡蛋一一随手可取。蛋糕不论在味道还是外观都比从前更具魅力。


吃大理石蛋糕能同时享受两种口味,你会与谁分享?

Friday 10 October 2014

THE WEEK'S RUNDOWN

Oct 6 Monday 
The office is closed in lieu of Hari Raya Haji holiday. Mum dragged me to the Chinatown wet market. Somehow we forgot that the stalls in the wet market do not operate on Mondays! We also  ran out of luck at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre because when we arrived we found a note stuck to the gate indicating that they are closed until October 15th!

Mum then decided to da bao from Zhen Zhen Porridge. What’s so great about the porridge I really don't have the answer. I’d avoid the long queue at all cost but Dad loves the fish porridge so I stood in line for 35 minutes. 

Oct 7 Tuesday 
The chocolate muffins I made on Sunday turned out to be a hit with my co-workers. I made 11 muffins in all. (Think the recipe would yield 12 but I do like to top my muffin tins to the brim.) We ate 3 at home, leaving 8 for the office. Everyone marvelled at how moist the muffins were.  Two people asked for the recipe. I guess this means it is a keeper! 

Had lunch with Winifred. Her last day with the company is on Thursday. Funny how we’re seated so close yet we manage to eat with each other only when she decides to leave. Sorry, Winnie! 

Oct 8 Wednesday 


Zan is excited for the Blood Moon at 6:52pm. This is a photo that I snapped from our office rooftop just before I made my way home. The sun is a beautiful orange globe. Were we supposed to be watching out for Blood Sun, or Blood Moon? Arrived home just a little before 6:50pm and gazed expectantly into the sky but all I could see was the haze. Chey

Oct 9 Thursday
Mum and I went out for our morning walk early this morning.  What do you know?  The moon is indeed crimson!  Too bad I didn't have my camera with me ...

Oct 10 Friday 
Took a day off to accompany Dad to the TTSH. This is a follow-up appointment made with the neurologist due to his fall last month. All is well! No fracture in the skull, no internal bleeding.  Dad has been officially discharged. It doesn't mean that Dad is off the hook.  There's still an appointment to come with Geriatric.  Who know what we're in for next?  A step at a time, is what I always say.

For now everything is beautiful.





Sunday 5 October 2014

简单就是幸福


昨天应朋友MS 邀请到她家里小聚。因工作的关系MS的先生将在今年低携着一家四口到印尼生活一段时期。

天气持续闷热好多天,前晚拜托老天爷赐点雨水。昨天早上当真下起豪雨, 只好撑伞出门。走在湿答答的路上心里直埋冤:雨就不能聚餐后才下吗?忽然不知怎的 脚下一滑,回过神来已是四脚朝天地躺在行人道上!是老天爷在骂我:没雨水的时候你 complain;雨下了你又嫌下的早啦,到底是想怎样?!


今天是 bank holiday,所以明天(週一)不用去上班 ,真的好开心喔!  将上个週日晚秤好的材料从冰箱里取出,做简单的 double chocolate muffin。能和年迈的父母围着餐桌,看着他们品尝着我亲手做的小点心,也算是一种幸福吧?


HARI RAYA HAJI


Today is Hari Raya Haji, otherwise known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”. 

Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, it honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to God's command.  God then intervened to provide Ibrahim with a lamb to sacrifice instead. 

The same story is told in the Old Testament, God had called Abraham to embark on a three day journey (Genesis 22) to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Issac. 

There are several similarities between the bible and the koran. Perhaps if we're willing to believe that there is only one God and that we each honour Him in different ways, we can live side by side in harmony.




Friday 3 October 2014

OFFICE PARTY - OCT 2014

It's the perfect evening to have a rooftop party - and a great way to start off the long weekend.

I've been in this company for ten years now and this is the first time we're having a joint party with our sister company, who also happens to be our neighbour.  Our offices are divided by a glass wall.  Think I just heard Reagan's ghost:“If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity … tear down this wall!”  

I'm a little confused as to the theme of our party.  So, is the grass greener on the other side?  Or is the glass cleaner on the other side?


 It doesn't matter what the theme is really.  I'm here for the food.  Look at all these deep fried stuff!







Hullo, I think the people over here need more booze.  And one more glass of milk for me please! (hiccup)


  
People are actually enjoying themselves - the crazy bunch!


I haven't come up to our roof top in ages.  Didn't realise the sunset is so stunning.


Should do this often.  Come up to admire the view, I mean.  


AU REVOIR

French Kiss by Huebucket I wish you bluebirds in the spring To give your heart a song to sing And then a kiss, but more than th...