Plain, plain L.A.Z.Y

Haven't been updating anything since a month ago...have been taking pictures, just not posting them here, haha. :P

I do have intention of posting the pix when i took them, but it jus never happen. Just being plain lazy lor. I did see it coming before I started this blog, which is why I didn't start one in the first place. I was "persuaded" to start one for "A CAUSE" but ended up being my own cuz nobody else updates lor..."helloooo where r e rest of e ppl??" n so this resulted in a rarely updated blog...so boorrring...*yawn*

Feeling a little bit guilty...so decided to come in n do a post, jus to show tt there's still some life around here. :p

Life's pretty eventful recently: birthdays, Great Eastern Run (my first run since 2.4KM loooong time ago),Zhihan & Hwee Yee's wedding, learning I-Ching, attending Mind of a Millionaire Seminar, n upcoming, a trip to HKG.

The Mind of a Millionaire Seminar is a pretty interesting event, definitely an eye-opener to me. It's interesting to observe how the speakers hype everyone up n sell their ideas. It's amazing they get people grabbing their tickets at minimum S$250 per seat to hear them sell. Though i think most of the stuff taught can be found in the book itself, I do gain quite a bit in this event. At the very least, everyone's motivation level gets pumped up quite a bit while having some fun. That, in itself, is a good thing. :) Gotta get up real early tomorrow to attend the final day of this seminar - even earlier than when i go to work lor....(obviously I'm not very motivated by them...haha) Hope I will gain some insights on how to become a MM - multi-millionaire...wahahhahah

A "Crappy" Dinner

Met JY, JL n Henry for the 2nd time tis week, having crab for dinner. Weather was wet and it was drizzling when we met, felt like a good day to take sth peppery, warm and soupy. Crabs were finger-licking good. Had e famous crab beehoon soup too....but no pictures, cuz was already digging into the black pepper crab when it came ....couldn't wait animore..... =p
With JY around, it was a crappy dinner, no less.

Mooncake Fest Celebrations - Part 2

Went for a stroll along ECP on 25 SEPT, Mid-Autumn Fest itself, a Tuesday nite lor.....真是有雅性 !







My cuppa at McCafe after the stroll, pretty! The conversation wasn't exactly cool though.....It was a silly brain-storming session by JY - to think of silly names for us. We ended up as "tonky boon", "dump-ling", "pimp-ong" ??!!

Mooncake Congress 2007

Event: Mooncake Congress 2007
Venue: Sunplaza Park
Official Car: Lamborgini :p
Date: One bo-liao Saturday nite just before Mid-autumn Festival
Attendees: One bo-liao group of people with "arsonistic" tendencies (pls see proof: http://www.cynamie.blogspot.com/)

Attendees were told to bring along a lantern and JUST ONE mooncake but response was overwhelming! Almost everyone bought ONE BOX so there was waaaay too many mooncakes for just about 12 people! Faintz..... Event was graced by many highly acclaimed n renowned brands with the likes of Goodwood Park,Intercontinental, Fullerton, Bakerzin, and not to mention, some lesser known but equally yummy brands like Marc & Leonard - courtesy of Mr & Mrs Sim.

Finishin ALL the mooncake was mission impossible but we did try to sample all the flavours. I think among us, we had each taken about one mooncake each, with all the different flavours combined....scary sia....So it was a good thing we had a BIG POT of TEA to aid in digestion. (sorry, forgot to take pix of the BIG POT of TEA)









The event was most successful, with its primary objective (to burn lanterns) well met - see ghostly pix of burning lanterns below:


Next time this thing is going to happen - nobody should be bringing mooncakes other than the organiser. Overdosage on mooncakes is not fun at all.

Look out for the next up-coming event: BBQ @ PA Holiday Flats......

Eski-cream!

Checked out JY's Friend's ice-cream palour after dinner cuz Henry wanted to give us a treat. Business seemed quite good for a Thursday nite at 10pm. Ice-cream were home-made and the flavours were quite interesting.....nutella, horlicks, banana coffee, jasmine, milo, tiramisu, green tea with red bean, teh tarik, black sesame n was there chempadek?....etc.



Verdict - nt bad. Fav were the banana coffee and horlicks. Price is rather reasonable too, wif a 8-scoop deal at 17.90. Think we were greedy and ordered too many scoops for just 5 of us. Dat's y I felt i didn;t realli enjoyed the icecream - didn;t do justice to it, guilty man. Shall go back again.

Though i shouldn;t be saying this when he treated us the ice-cream but here's Henry tryin to imitate the cute smiles of the eskis on the glass:

Sun With Moon @ Central

Had dinner at Sun With Moon with my colleagues on Thursday. Great food n great company......kinda made up for e crappy times at work these 2 months.

Presentation of the food was really pretty, jus check out the sashimi - simply tastes as good as it looks.



The oysters.....muz try!

Grilled beef with foie gras.....


And how elaborate can chawanmushi get??? Well....actualli if it costs S$7.80 for one serving...it had better looked this way. It's realli realli "slides-down -your-thoat" smooth....


The grilled stuff. Kushi mori, presented like ikebana, with the sticks stuck onto a piece of sweet potato and the wonderful tepanyaki beef tenderloin cubes.



The hokkaido seafood "claypot" rice was nice but u can give the kani (crab) one a miss.....So boring till i stopped once i finished my crab meat which was the only redeeming factor of this dish. And you can give the soba a miss too. Not fantastic.



Desserts didn;t disappoint at all. The tofu cheesecake that came in a birdcage was heavenly. The birdcage was quite an innovative presentation idea. It led us into a brain-storming session of "birdcage ideas" while we finished up the green tea tiramisu and the branded sweet potato tart thingy named "Mont Blanc". Both were nice as well but i liked the cheesecake the most.




Overall it was a truly great place to dine at, especially so when the bill's on company's acccount...haha.

SImple VS Real friend

From Wikipedia:

Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more humans. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism. Their tastes will usually be similar and may converge, and they will share enjoyable activities. They will also engage in mutually helping behavior, such as exchange of advice and the sharing of hardship. A friend is someone who may often demonstrate reciprocating and reflective behaviors. Yet for many, friendship is nothing more than the trust that someone or something will not harm them. Value that is found in friendships is often the result of a friend demonstrating on a consistent basis:
-the tendency to desire what is best for the other,
-sympathy and empathy,
-honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart
-mutual understanding

Have been facing quite a bit of crap at work recently but I am glad to have a wonderful group of colleagues who I can count on. I guess I have always been lucky. :) I found the following posted on http://www.friendship.com.au/writing/simplereal.html and I thought it was rather meaningful:

A simple friend identifies himself when he calls.
A real friend doesn't have to.

A simple friend opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on his life.
A real friend says, "What's new with you?"
A simple friend thinks the problems you whine about are recent.
A real friend says, "You've been whining about the same thing for 14 years. Get off your duff and do something about it."
A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.
A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.
A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.
A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.
A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

So, are you a simple friend or a real friend?

不能说的秘密...............

"Follow the notes upon the journey
At first sight marks one's destiny
When the voyage comes to an end
Return lies within hasty keys"

冷咖啡离开了杯垫
我忍住的情绪在很后面
拼命想挽回的从前
在我脸上依旧清晰可见

最美的不是下雨天
是曾与你躲过雨的屋檐
回忆的画面
在荡著秋千 梦开始不甜

你说把爱渐渐 放下会走更远
又何必去改变 已错过的时间
你用你的指尖 阻止我说再见
想像你在身边 才完全失去之前

你说把爱渐渐 放下会走更远
或许命运的签 只让我们遇见
只让我们相恋 这一季的秋天
飘落后才发现 这幸福的碎片
要我怎麼捡

Good old memories

Sad news received in the middle of this week had me going through a roller-coaster of emotions. Ok, maybe too exaggerated le, but learning of the shocking news also brought back many wonderful memories of the good old days. I miss him and the happy moments all of us shared back then.

Still, I am thankful that all of us are still in touch and tuned to the same frequency, although we are no longer hanging out together as much as we will like to. I believe we will stay this way for many years to come.

Did a run on google and chanced upon some photographs taken during our trial performance at the Esplanade some years back, posted by "Elutris". Here are some of the pictures. You can view the rest at www.pbase.com/elutris/payco . Enjoy.

I think Mr Yeo was an angel sent to earth. He had only kind words for everybody and never owned a temper, always trying to make the people around him happy. We should learn from him, to be nice to the people we care about, so that we will only create beautiful memories for them. And smile more.

Lousy weather thwarts our plans

(PSA giraffe looking at the sad, gloomy sky: when will it stop raining?")

It's scary how wandering aimlessly around in a shopping mall can result in me burning a bigger hole in the pocket without realising it. I really should stay home on weekends. But it was a lousy day for me aniway. If it had not rained, we would not have trapped in a money-sucking shopping mall.

Gains = yummy pizza at modestos n marche + "Life & Beauty" tea that smells rich and beautiful + useful little stuff from Daiso + stylo notebook from Tangs

Loss = $$$$$ + a nicer tan at cafe del mar :(

Red, White & Pure
Beautiful cafe with sentosa view. N wow-wow surprise! It's actually owned by Eu Yang Sang! Check out the website: http://www.redwhitepure.com




The latte is so pretty that I had to take a picture of it.

Life & Beauty tea - with mango and passion fruit. It really taste different from other fruit teas I have tried before. Not sure if it does any wonders for my appearance but it is really nice.
Apple crumble tart with ginger and saffron ice-cream - interesting with a "healthy taste".



Our dinner spread at Marche ViVo, its been a looong time since I ate at Marche.

Tried a pie-like dessert called "waehe"...reminds me of e yummy bread&butter pudding from Fullerton,hmmmmm.....

Afternoon Tea

The origins of Afternoon Tea - the commoner's version:
(salmon quiche at The V-Tea Room...indeed yummy...but expensive too! )

During the second half of the Victorian Period, known as the Industrial Revolution, working families would return home tired and exhausted. The table would be set with any manner of meats, bread, butter, pickles, cheese and of course tea. None of the dainty finger sandwiches, scones and pastries of afternoon tea would have been on the menu. Because it was eaten at a high, dining table rather than the low tea tables, it was termed "high" tea.


The Tai-Tai's version:

According to legend, one of Queen Victoria's (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope (1783-1857), known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of afternoon teatime. Because the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess suffered from "a sinking feeling" at about four o'clock in the afternoon. At first the Duchess had her servants sneak her a pot of tea and a few breadstuffs. Adopting the European tea service format, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o'clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea. This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for "tea and a walking the fields." The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses.


Tea Etiquette:
(Our model having Moroccan Mint Tea. Location: The V-Tea Room)

Pick up your cup and saucer together - holding the saucer in one hand and cup in the other. The best way to hold a tea cup is to slip your index finger through the handle, up to almost the first knuckle, then balance and secure the cup by placing your thumb on the top of the handle and allowing the bottom of the handle to rest on your middle finger. Hold the cup lightly, by the handle - your pinky should not be extended (Contrary to popular belief, the ring and pinkie fingers should not be extended, but should rest by curving gently back toward your wrist). Hold the saucer under your cup while you sip your tea (lest you should spill or dribble).

When stirring your tea, don't make noises by clinking the sides of the cup while stirring. Gently swish the tea back and forth being careful not to touch the sides of your cup if possible. Never leave your spoon in the cup and be sure not to sip your tea from the spoon either. After stirring, place your spoon quietly on the saucer, behind the cup, on the right hand side under the handle.

G.S.S. Starts

Wow...GSS is here before I even knew it.....N i was realli in a good shopping mood...lalala....Did up a "shopping list" before i went out so that I wun overspend - so much. Haha, I supposed it did help a bit. Well, the damage is quite a bit but well, guess i can say it's $$ well spent cuz i'm really pleased wif my buys.But i think i should really stay away from e shopping malls from now on. It's still a long way before THE SALE ends, dangerous sia.

Enjoyed the day...good shopping wif good food. Tried out Changing Appetite for the first time n I will say I rather like it. Food's interesting and "slightly healthier" cuz most dishes had veggies or fruits. Price's reasonable too. :)

This was the dobinmushi i had at Sushi Tei for lunch....its good and so was e salmon mentai sushi......but i was busy eating by then, so no pix. :p







Dinner at Changing Appetites:
My pork steak wif mashed potatoes








Xinyi's dory fish wif rice








Anqi's mango chicken wif melted cheese and nachos...The ultimate comfort food!

Day Dream 240507

Went to visit client at The Berth by The Cove @ Sentosa Cove again. Wat a nice place wif a nice view! Will be nice to own a place there......as a place for a weekend retreat....hmmmmm.....

Le Fantôme de l’Opéra

The Chandelier in The Opera Garnier. The settings were great!





Angels & Babes. Oh, the Phantom's an angel too - "The Angel of Music" =)