NOTHING LIKE HOMEMADE

Other than arthritis of the neck, Dad has weakness in the legs which means that he would have to undergo physiotherapy to strengthen those muscles. Basically he is deemed Fall Risk and there's no telling whether he would fall again at home so he will have to remain in the hospital for another week or so.  When I visited him last evening the staff informed me that Dad was caught trying to sneak into the washroom unsupervised. Bad boy! 

The hospital ward came alive with visitors yesterday.  Even his brother came, family in tow.  I'v never seen Dad smiled so much.  Like a kid, Dad loves being fussed over.

Some weeks ago I brought home a small butter loaf from a neighbourhood bakery.  According to Mum, Dad ate it over a span of several days, saving whatever he could not finish in the fridge. He even commented that the cake remained “smooth as silk” throughout.  That got me worried about what actually went into that cake!  

Nothing compares to homemade. At least I know what's in it!  I baked this for Dad who is still in the hospital.

POUND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

The Pound Cake refers to a type of cake traditionally made with a pound each of four ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, and sugar.  The French call it "Quatre quarts" (literally "4 fourths"), which again reflects the equal amounts of the 4 ingredients.  

I used a 14-cm (5-1/2 inch) mini Bundt pan (chanced upon it while shopping in Taipei some years ago) but a foil loaf pan that measures 20.5cm x 10cm at the rim would also work.  You can find it in SKP. 

100 grams all-purpose flour 

2/3 teaspoon baking powder 

100 grams egg 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

100 grams salted butter 

100 grams caster sugar 

50 grams semi-sweet chocolate chips 

Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat the oven at 180 degrees C. 

Lightly butter and flour a 2-cup (14-cm) Bundt pan. Have all ingredients at room temperature. 

Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Set aside. 

In a small bowl, lightly beat together the egg and vanilla extract. 

In a mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy and smooth then add sugar. Continue to beat until the mixture is very light in colour and texture. Add the egg very slowly, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until mixture is fluffy and pale ivory in colour. Add flour mixture in 3 - 4 additions, then stir in the chocolate chips. 

Spoon the batter into prepared pan, and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake the cake until the top springs back when pressed lightly and a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out free of batter, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 10 – 15 minutes before turning the cake out of the pan. 

Enjoy it with black coffee.

ANOTHER TUMBLE

Poor Dad, he took another tumble today.  Back in the hospital again.

Just two days ago he lost his balance while stepping out of the bathroom into his bedroom and bruised a toe. 

This is the third time that Dad lost his balance since his fall in September. Dr. Rani from Geriatric did warn that Dad has arthritis in the left side of his neck caused by degeneration of the bones in the neck (cervical spine) as he ages. Patients with arthritis of the neck often complain about weakness in the legs or loss of balance. Maybe that's the reason why Dad falls on his right side all the time, always cutting his right brow, right elbow and left thumb. 

Today we once again seek the help of paramedics who whisked Dad to TTSH in an ambulance. I now know my way around the ER very well indeed. Dad received a head scan, then admitted for observation. 

We had originally reserved a table in Putien for Reunion Dinner this evening. I know Mum was really looking forward to it because the Kitchener Road branch used to be her favourite restaurant and we hadn't been back there in ages!  This morning, however, Mum and I noticed that Dad had trouble getting around with a bruised toe. So we decided that we would eat at home instead of going out.

Then Dad took a tumble and plans had to change once more.

While I was with Dad in TTSH, Mum was busy at home with Lorie (a very nice Filipino lady whom we hired to help Mum with Spring cleaning).  Lorie was in my bedroom, atop a ladder trying to unscrew the ceiling lamp for cleaning.  Just as she removed the last screw the lamp split cleanly into two - right into her palms!  She checked the ground for any tiny pieces of glass that might have fallen but there were none.  That spooked Lorie a bit.  She deduced that the lamp somehow absorbed Dad's bad luck. "Your father will be fine now," she assured me when I got home.

MY FIVE MINUTES OF FAME

Went on location to shoot a short clip for a client today.  I played a kiasu Auntie.  Have absolutely no idea why I was casted in the role in the first place.  Perhaps because #iAMAuntie.

My co-workers came around in the beginning of the week to say they desperately needed folks in the office to cast in a SG50 clip.  I initially declined but then my co-workers whimpered "please please please", assured me I had no line to read and basically needed to "be dramatic".  

The project isn't some big time television commercial so no overwhelming casts and crew were involved.  We "actors" took care of our own make-up and wardrobe.  My character wore clothing with bold prints.  The crew consisted of one director and one camera man.  Our very own interns and staff who took up the parts of assistant director, production assistant, kalefe ...  Being on camera for the first time was very exciting.  The filming of my two scenes lasted about three hours as it took several re-takes to get it each right.  

Thoroughly enjoyed my first filming experience. I surprised myself by jumping right into character.  No camera-shyness, no awkwardness.  My co-workers felt I did quite well for a first-timer. *self pat on back*   I only hope the client is happy with the end product because I had so much fun making it!