The Rabbit Hole

Celebrated WTC's birthday last Friday. This year, she wanted us to bring her somewhere 'hip' and 'trendy' (girls only). Much has been said about The White Rabbit @ Dempsey so we gave it a try. It's a chapel converted restaurant and bar with quite 'hip' and classy interior design. The ambience is nice especially the outside lounging area for before/after- dinner drinks. BUT I must say the food is nothing to be raved about. Mains that we ordered included oxtail, scallop linguine, lobster thermido, kurobuta pork neck, black cod.... all were average only...

If not for our self-entertainment with jokes, gossips, good news, laughter and funny ice-breaking game (despite knowing each other for 10+ years), we would have 'overpaid' for the venue...

Little joys

In my once-in-a-blue-moon workstation spring cleaning exercise, I found a post-it-note from my boss, commenting on my 1st report in 2006. It reads: “Generally okay! The points are there. Good!”

Everyone likes a little compliment. Everyone aches for a little acknowledgement and encouragement here and there. We yearn to be noticed (subconsciously).

The next time your maid finished weeding or changed your new sheets, tell her “Good job”. Noticed someone with a new outfit, a new bag, a new watch, a new hair cut? Compliment them (genuinely). Tell them you like it.

Who looks sad? Stop and ask them if they are ok. Who just started a new job, send a SMS to find out how their colleagues are or send a card to the new office. Who lost a job? Send some cookies to his/her house. The next time you buy yourself some after-lunch snacks or fruits, buy one for your stressed-out colleague sitted next to you, with a smiley face post-it-note. Compliment your friend for the child who recently learnt how to write or read, or participated in a sport/game.

There are so many little gestures (genuine I re-emphasized) that we can do that make one’s heart sing. It maybe short-lived but at least it sings…You’ll never know how much joy you could give a person by showing that you notice.

Woman: "You just winked at a very plain looking woman”
Man: "Yes, I know," "And, if she's a school teacher, her class will be in for a fantastic day."

Just for laughs

Shih asked me to be one of the models for her professsional make-up artist thesis. Don't worry, I'm DEFINITELY sticking to my day job!

Rejuvenation program

You would think that the term 'Staff rejuvenation program' is along the line of spa/massage promotions. No, it's not. It's a fancier expression to allow staff to take no pay leave from 1-6 months with position guaranteed... It's catered for "staff who have been consistently working relentlessly over the past few years and in need of a break from work, to spend time with families, attend to personal needs or travel". I like how it's being phrased...

Very tempting but I wonder if anyone will take up the offer...

Masochist

Call me a masochist because I patronised Wasabi Tei 2 days in a row!

For those who are not familiar, it's a small (16 seats) Japanese sushi-bar-like restaurant at level 5 Far East Plaza. It's run by a couple who are perpetually grumpy but serves cheap and good food. A few 'unspoken' rules that regular patrons obligingly abide:-

• Prepare to queue
• Don't complain
• Don't talk too loud
• The owner is always RIGHT
• Place all your orders in 1 shot, 2nd order will be charged 20% more
• NO special requests

Having said that, the must*trys are:-

• Chirashi set S$20 - big pieces of fresh sashimi
• Claypot cod fish S$18 - nice to have on a rainy day. My personal favourite is the chilli dipping sauce!
• Chawan mushi
• The grilled saba/fish look nice though I haven't tried

From the 2 consecutive days that I was there, I sort of figured out the "sweet spot" when there is NO queue or short wait - 1.05pm OR 2pm. So if you have a half-day off or long lunch , go and get tortured! It's like an Oliver Twist experience :)

PS: Will update when I figure out the sweet spot for dinner...

Rain or shine

Anti-aging tip # 2: Find a passion in life.

Aglio-oglio our way

Aglio-oglio Singaporean-style with chilli padi and shrimps. Thanks chef TM!

It's finally over

It's finally over! Praise the Lord! After 2 weeks of sleepless nights with a grumpy husband and pricky wife, we decided to get another contractor to hack the roof (again). We were exasperated to the extent of flipping through classifieds for a new house. I was even contemplating to move in with our in laws ....

It was a dramatic day! Knocking, hacking, banging just to locate the right spot. Parts of the ceiling were wrongly knocked and broken as a result... sigh.. Low and behold , he found 3 kittens in between the ceiling and the roof ! We had no choice but to call SPCA. Don't worry my cat-lover friend, they promised not to put them to sleep. I'm just so glad it's DONE.

Now, the question is - what happens when the mother cat comes back and can't find the kittens? Will it take revenge on the household?? Oh Lord, please impress upon the cat to have mercy on us... We are only humans who need our sleep...

Stuffed

IF there is anything that I take after my mom (height aside), it would be making sure that the family is well-fed. There's always food on the dining table at home. In fact her fridges are always FULL! There are 2 fridges at home, going on to 3 very soon at the rate she's going.

Though there' no food lying around on my dining table, I tend to OVER ORDER when we dine out, subconsciously worrying that M may not have enough to eat... Sigh, I think I'm partially responsible for his waistline.

Below is a perfect example! I didn't know that Hyang-To-Gol Korean Restaurant (Amara Hotel) is so generous with their Banchan (side dishes). We were already half-full before our mains were served.
I counted, including our mains, we had 22 plates in total for the 2 of us!

Side note: The food was great! I've tagged this place for my favourite Kim Chi soup now. It would have been a value meal if I had not ordered the Chap Jae and Dolsot Bimbimbap...

Sidenote 2: I had flashback of scenes from Korean epic series Jewel in the Palace (Dae Jang Geum). M looked like the emperor (Singapore version) in the show who's perpetually tasting new dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen...

Blissfulness

If I can create my own Happy Family card game set, this would be the first family to be in!

Un bon week-end

This was the original idea of our maiden group picnic and an unusual way to celebrate a birthday. The plan had Champagne, ham, cheese and canapes in its menu with tartan blanket and elegant picnic basket as the backdrop.

... but the actual day's setting turned out to be rather different with our very 'original' Kopi -O, char bee hoon, siew mai, pumpkin cake, char siew bao and soy bean milk on straw and plastic mats (though there was a slight attempt to create the original scene with some Korean strawberries).

But it was good fun!! Perhaps we can save the chi-chi picnic for my birthday ?!

Coconut head part 2

“Oh you’ve cut your hair, don’t worry, it will grow back, I’ve been there… ”
”Cut your hair? so cute!”
“SK! Didn’t notice you, cut hair ah?”
…Some just stared at me and nod with a smile.

After 2 days of such comments, I decided to do the SK thing. I went for a 2nd hair cut, hoping to improve/correct/save my head at Kr+ that guaranteed satisfaction or get the same service for free in 10 days (cant' be that wrong, I thought...).

After I managed to irritate the hairstylist with my indecisiveness, I bit the bullet and ask him to just do it - cut it SHORT!

And of course, doing the SK thing is not complete until M says: "I prefer the previous one".

Legend:
Doing the SK thing = something that SK does that makes SY roll her eyes, other friends shake their head with a soft sigh while M quietly supports.

Note: My new hairstyle resembles the coconut head at 7 (Some say 'trendy').

Under seige

The household is once again being invaded by unwelcomed guests – stray cats.

We’ve not seen them but we know they are there…

One cat comes to the garden and poos in my favourite potted yam plant repeatedly, leaving behind a heavenly scent and guess who has been cleaning the output?? Cat lovers out there – spare your condemnation unless you’re kind enough to offer your cleaning service.

The other mysterious one is hiding in the roof of our bedroom. We can hear it loud and clear especially in the middle of the night, scratching through the ceiling... Tried to ask a contractor to rip the roof to locate the fella but it was a futile exercise. The worst part is – the ceiling is now leaking because of the rip!

Have I reiterated that I hate cats?

I need a wig

25 years go, I cried every single time my aunt cut my hair for me. I hated the coconut-husk shape cut. I worried that friends in school would laugh at my coconut head. But come to think of it, none of them did. Can’t believe after 2.5 decades, I am still doing the same, (it usually happens when I try out new hair-stylist). At times like this, I pity M, who has to bear with my sulky unsatisfactory hair-cut aftermath.

The bad mood will last for a few days and everyday I chant this to myself.-
1. They will grow
2. I am still loved
3. My colleagues wont’ laugh at me
4. It’s much cheaper than the normal hair cut at the other “posher” salon
5. No one will notice, only me

I really wonder if this is a matter of low self-confidence or pure hair-obsession...

Serendipity

Revelation of the week: How life can be serendipitious. Things that are out of our control or unplanned can lead us to a new journey in life. For some, it’s destiny, for me I know it’s God…

-A new job

-A new friend

-A new love

-A new baby

Embrace life and enjoy every single bit of it...

- sk monologues-

Alternative

Scotts Isetan basement is my substitute for Inagiku.

Coupled with a nice BIG bottle of quality Sake, I'm happified.

Daydream #101

A friend suggested that I should start something like Red Ribbon or Red Letter. It’s a company/website that specializes in gifts (tangible and intangible)- spa, afternoon champagne and cupcake affair with shoes, couple portrait photography, just to name a few.

I think I have deep potential. I’m gifted in gifts! I mean, seriously, if $ is not an issue, I can come up with the most creative yet personalised gift idea - luxuriously with style or simple but thoughtful.

I'm day dreaming of my advertisement...-

This may be you:-
-10-year wedding anniversary is 5 days away but you’ve got nothing planned yet
-Bought the ring but not sure how to pop the question (you want it to be special yet not cliché)
-Tired of celebrating birthdays in restaurants
-Worried that you may get the ‘not-so-perfect’ gift for your partner
-Hard pressed for time but still unwilling to surrender to getting a “common” gift
-Mom turns 70, and you want to show your appreciation

Let us help.


Birthdays, planning surprises, hen night, weddings, picnic, baby shower, anniversary, wedding proposals, Christmas, Mothers/Fathers days, saying sorry, thank you, anything under the sun. Leave it to us and we will help you pamper your recipient and let him/her experience the most unforgettable day on this special occasion.

My potential partner (in crime): SL??

SNAP SNAP SNAP! Back to my full time job that foots the bills... Ok, where was I before this? Oh ya, oil price trend...

About a boy

Production title: last minute revision for test
Cast: SK & M

Scene 1 props: Dictionary, text book, notes

SK: J’ai, Tu as, Il a, Nous avons, Vous avez, Ils ont. Ok now your turn
M: J’ai, Tu as, Il a, Nous avons, Vous avez, Ils ont.
SK: Je suis, Tu er, Il est, Nous sommes, Vouz etes, Ils sont. Test me again.
M: …
SK: Je suis, Tu er, Il est, Nous sommes, Vouz etes, Ils sont.

Before we knew it. The attention span is up.

Scene 2 props: Dictionary, text book, notes & helmet??

I’m hoping that our descendants will inherit the nerdy-studious-model student genes from me.

Things are better left unsaid (outloud)

Enough of my series of fatigue-griping-melancholic posts. I started the day determined to blog about something happy or beautiful. Got it! Etsy simple yet lurrvely cards for the tongue tied with messages such as :-

• You’re an amazing human being
• Let’s climb to the roof
• I have lost the right words. Will these do?
• I‘ve been thinking about you
• You are beautiful
• I have a secret to share
• I miss you
• Come on a picnic with me
• I like you
• You’re right, I’m wrong

The last one is my favourite :) Ideas for the romantic-at-heart to slip under a pillow…

I want one for my work- “Sorry. If I had known, I wont' be sitting here."