I've always been bad with my History. I might have been the only person in my school to fail History in 4th Grade on multiple choice tests. I don't know how I made it through the classes. All the way to the 9th Grade, History has been the one bane in my curiculum. When I had the opportunity, I chucked History as a subject.
People tell me that History is just story telling. But the thing with me is, if I'm not interested in that particular topic, it's going to be very difficult to absorb anything, really, I'm not kidding. For me to learn something I'd have to be the one asking the questions, that's how my brain works.
Anyways, I was watching the History channel this arvo and I don't even know why I didn't change the channel when the remote was right next to me. Instead I watched the whole episode. Maybe it's because it was a morbid subject. It was about torture. For those of you who are squirmy, you're going to need to stop reading here.
On top of the usual stretching someone as a form of torture (I learnt that the pain from stretching is intense as your limbs start to come apart at the joints!), the part that I remember most vividly is an instrument which looks like a hand held lemon juicer (I'll never be able to look at a hand held lemon juicer the same way) which goes into the victim's mouth, knocking out the two front teeth. The instrument is then slowly expanded and teeth are moved, not broken. Our teeth are connected to many, many nerves and if you've worn braces before, you'll know the kind of torture having your teeth moved is, excruciating...
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Of Gadgets and Games
StarCraft 2 was launch in Singapore a couple of days ago... or was it only yesterday? THRONGS of people gathered in front of Funan The Digital mall before it was opened just to be the first few people to get their hands on the game which has been 12 years in the making. The hubs plays it... it used to be BIG, 12 years ago. I'm sure he'll get a copy this weekend.
The much hyped, anticipated iPhone 4 has finally arrived in Singapore. Earlier today, at precisely midnight, the three telcos here opened their flagship stores (SingTel took out a convention centre at Marina Bay) to sell the gadget to the throngs of people eagerly waiting to get their hands on one or two units. I can't wait to check out the number of people with this new gadget on the train come Monday!
The iPad arrived last week, but not all the units were snapped up. I still see no point in getting it.
But I really have to hand it to Apple's marketing and design team. They really deserve all acknowledgments, bonuses and pay raises. What will they come up with next?!
The much hyped, anticipated iPhone 4 has finally arrived in Singapore. Earlier today, at precisely midnight, the three telcos here opened their flagship stores (SingTel took out a convention centre at Marina Bay) to sell the gadget to the throngs of people eagerly waiting to get their hands on one or two units. I can't wait to check out the number of people with this new gadget on the train come Monday!
The iPad arrived last week, but not all the units were snapped up. I still see no point in getting it.
But I really have to hand it to Apple's marketing and design team. They really deserve all acknowledgments, bonuses and pay raises. What will they come up with next?!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hatch Day
My baby brother turns thirty-something today and the strange thing about it is that his age/aging doesn't bother me anymore. For the past 10 years, it used to bother me. Not that it meant that I'm getting older (I get that reminder when it's my birthday) but just the fact that he's getting older. I mean, he's my baby brother. I still remember a lot of the times we spent growing up together. All the weird but cute things he used to do. He'll always be my baby brother.
But as we got older, we started living our separate lives, especially now when we're not even living in the same country. I think it'll start to bother me again when he starts hitting the forties.
I'm the middle child in my family. My older brother getting older didn't used to bother me, but last year, it did, only because he hit the big four-oh. All of a sudden, he's old. I mean, he's always been older than me, a lot older than me, but hitting forty is like ancient, no?
But as we got older, we started living our separate lives, especially now when we're not even living in the same country. I think it'll start to bother me again when he starts hitting the forties.
I'm the middle child in my family. My older brother getting older didn't used to bother me, but last year, it did, only because he hit the big four-oh. All of a sudden, he's old. I mean, he's always been older than me, a lot older than me, but hitting forty is like ancient, no?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Of Durians and Mangosteens
I'm not sure if it's the rain or something else, but last night, while driving back along Napier Road towards Holland Village, we took a detour to finally patronise a makeshift Durian stall. Placed at the edge of a never full public car park (where you might find more lorries and private buses parking), this makeshift stall has been here for the longest time. It's at least as old as I've been living in this country, and I just celebrated my 11th year!
The dude who runs this stall opens whenever it's Durian season, which these days looks to be more than 4 times a year. He guarantees that the fruit is ripe and free of worms. If you do not want the hassle of opening the fruit yourself, the owner will open and pack them into takeaway boxes and if any of the fruit is unripe or spoilt, he'll replace them.
The stall is still in its original setting. Wooden planks make up some shelves to display the fruit, a motor generator rattles in the background for light, rattan baskets filled with discarded skin on the side and tables with stools for patrons who want to eat the fruit there and then. It's such a weird concept to have tables for instant Durian consumption.
When I was young, I grew up eating the D24 variety which is literally bitter-sweet and very creamy. These days, there are all sorts of Durian variety that I don't remember it all. I think the D series itself has grown to over 50 types. Anyways, this stall sells the garden variety, D24s and (Mau Sang Wong) Cat Mountain King which are the epitome of Durians. We bought 3 fruits, had them packed in takeaway boxes and a net of mangosteens. It's been a while since I last ate mangosteens without any yellow sac within the fruit.
The dude who runs this stall opens whenever it's Durian season, which these days looks to be more than 4 times a year. He guarantees that the fruit is ripe and free of worms. If you do not want the hassle of opening the fruit yourself, the owner will open and pack them into takeaway boxes and if any of the fruit is unripe or spoilt, he'll replace them.
The stall is still in its original setting. Wooden planks make up some shelves to display the fruit, a motor generator rattles in the background for light, rattan baskets filled with discarded skin on the side and tables with stools for patrons who want to eat the fruit there and then. It's such a weird concept to have tables for instant Durian consumption.
When I was young, I grew up eating the D24 variety which is literally bitter-sweet and very creamy. These days, there are all sorts of Durian variety that I don't remember it all. I think the D series itself has grown to over 50 types. Anyways, this stall sells the garden variety, D24s and (Mau Sang Wong) Cat Mountain King which are the epitome of Durians. We bought 3 fruits, had them packed in takeaway boxes and a net of mangosteens. It's been a while since I last ate mangosteens without any yellow sac within the fruit.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Singapore's Public Transport ~ MRT
The public transport in Singapore is considered quite efficient, so efficient that when something bad happens everyone and I mean EveryOne gets upset, including yours truly. It's unfortunately sad, but I have to admit it.
Yesterday, with a slight pitter-patter of rain, I thought it was a good idea to get an earlier train. Approaching the platform, I could sense that something was wrong with the current train docked as the train doors wouldn't open. For at least a couple of minutes, not to mention for the minutes the train arrived before I got onto the platform, people started to fill the platform and gather right in front of the train doors, impatiently waiting for them to open. When the doors finally opened, people rushed in only to be told to evacuate the train. Everyone on the train had to vacate it. This is not good for morning rush hour, not good at all. Can you imagine how crowded the platform was? Not to mention dangerous as there are no safety guards between the platform and the train track.
Less than a minute later, another train approaches. Everyone wanted to get back onto this train especially the ones who managed to get a seat on the vacated train. It was vicious. Some even took the train from the next station in order to get onto a train. And it's not if you stand closest to the edge of the platform that you'll gain entry onto the train. And yet there were people not standing behind the yellow line.
The upcoming trains were whistling in warning. Lovely sound, one of the rare times I hear the train whistle! Anyways, it took me three trains later to get onto a train, each at 30 seconds apart. A good service recovery in my books.
Yesterday, with a slight pitter-patter of rain, I thought it was a good idea to get an earlier train. Approaching the platform, I could sense that something was wrong with the current train docked as the train doors wouldn't open. For at least a couple of minutes, not to mention for the minutes the train arrived before I got onto the platform, people started to fill the platform and gather right in front of the train doors, impatiently waiting for them to open. When the doors finally opened, people rushed in only to be told to evacuate the train. Everyone on the train had to vacate it. This is not good for morning rush hour, not good at all. Can you imagine how crowded the platform was? Not to mention dangerous as there are no safety guards between the platform and the train track.
Less than a minute later, another train approaches. Everyone wanted to get back onto this train especially the ones who managed to get a seat on the vacated train. It was vicious. Some even took the train from the next station in order to get onto a train. And it's not if you stand closest to the edge of the platform that you'll gain entry onto the train. And yet there were people not standing behind the yellow line.
The upcoming trains were whistling in warning. Lovely sound, one of the rare times I hear the train whistle! Anyways, it took me three trains later to get onto a train, each at 30 seconds apart. A good service recovery in my books.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Inception
The hubs and I finally went down to the cinema to watch Inception. The reservation over the internet was done on Saturday and we were supposed to watch it yesterday, but tickets were so hot at all the possible cinemas throughout the day that we decided to book it for tonight. So many good reviews for this show, if you haven't seen it, you've got to watch it, on the big screen. Not only for the cinematography but the story makes you think. Not disappointed at all!
The story revolves around the concept of dream manipulation. It's not technically explained in the show, you'll just have to think of it as possible and that it works. Imagine someone drugging you to sleep, plug a needle in your arm which is connected to a machine that injects a serum which makes you dream on an exclusively made up platform. The people who follow you into the dream will not impose their subconsciousness, else you'll retaliate and harass them. Are you still confused?
Anyways, the point is, it makes you think. The possibility of altering the world as you see it and in such a safe environment. Unlike the Matrix, if you die in the Matrix, you die and pain is relative. But in the dreamworld, if you die, you just wake up and pain is really, really painful.
And time, of course, is different in the dreamworld. It could be 10 seconds in real life, but you've lived 50 years in the forth or fifth layer of dreamworld.
I'm sure there will be a sequel to this as the ending leaves you hanging with a HUH?! And given the opportunity, I'd watch it again, sweet dreams!
The story revolves around the concept of dream manipulation. It's not technically explained in the show, you'll just have to think of it as possible and that it works. Imagine someone drugging you to sleep, plug a needle in your arm which is connected to a machine that injects a serum which makes you dream on an exclusively made up platform. The people who follow you into the dream will not impose their subconsciousness, else you'll retaliate and harass them. Are you still confused?
Anyways, the point is, it makes you think. The possibility of altering the world as you see it and in such a safe environment. Unlike the Matrix, if you die in the Matrix, you die and pain is relative. But in the dreamworld, if you die, you just wake up and pain is really, really painful.
And time, of course, is different in the dreamworld. It could be 10 seconds in real life, but you've lived 50 years in the forth or fifth layer of dreamworld.
I'm sure there will be a sequel to this as the ending leaves you hanging with a HUH?! And given the opportunity, I'd watch it again, sweet dreams!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Of Fried Chicken Wings & Meat balls
Ikea is better known as a furniture mega store.
They used to carry really nice pieces of furniture, design-wise and variety, not so much these days.
These days, we go to feast on their deep fried chicken wings and meat balls with gravy and ligonberry jam.
Have you noticed that their meat balls have shrunk in size?
They used to carry really nice pieces of furniture, design-wise and variety, not so much these days.
These days, we go to feast on their deep fried chicken wings and meat balls with gravy and ligonberry jam.
Have you noticed that their meat balls have shrunk in size?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wonton Noodles
I had the worst dry wonton noodle experience today. Growing up in Malaysia, more specifically Paramount Garden in Petaling Jaya saw plenty of encounters with the dry wonton noodle. With the encounters you tend to have a fixed idea of what a plate of dry wonton noodle should be. I generally do not like the way dry wonton noodle is cooked in Singapore, as they use heavily alkalined thin egg noodles. I don't like the way Hong Kong do their dry wonton noodles either, they use oyster sauce... such a no-no.
For those of you who are not familiar with the dry wonton noodle, it's a plate of thick egg noodles, cooked in boiling water, rinsed in cold water and plunged back into the boiling water for a few more seconds, dished out with dark soy sauce and sesame oil, barbequed pork and wrapped minced meat (dumplings). The noodles have to be springy, crunchy and not clumped, the thinly sliced barbeque pork well marinated, juicy with bits of fat and the dumplings must contain a hint of fresh water chestnut.
Anyways, it's been a while since we ventured to the Tiong Bahru food centre and market and spotting a wonton noodle shop with a queue, I decided to try it. People always say that where there's a queue, the food can't be all that bad. After 15 minutes of queuing, which didn't bring me closer to placing my order and the lack of enthusiasm orders were taken, I decided to find another shop. This one, specialising in Cantonese meats, had no queue, but they were just starting out. The water to cook the noodles in wasn't even boiled, so even as I was the first to place an order, I had to wait another 8 minutes. Suffice to say, I won't be heading to this food centre anytime soon, the noodles were 'lembek', the pork was dry but the wontons were alright.
For those of you who are not familiar with the dry wonton noodle, it's a plate of thick egg noodles, cooked in boiling water, rinsed in cold water and plunged back into the boiling water for a few more seconds, dished out with dark soy sauce and sesame oil, barbequed pork and wrapped minced meat (dumplings). The noodles have to be springy, crunchy and not clumped, the thinly sliced barbeque pork well marinated, juicy with bits of fat and the dumplings must contain a hint of fresh water chestnut.
Anyways, it's been a while since we ventured to the Tiong Bahru food centre and market and spotting a wonton noodle shop with a queue, I decided to try it. People always say that where there's a queue, the food can't be all that bad. After 15 minutes of queuing, which didn't bring me closer to placing my order and the lack of enthusiasm orders were taken, I decided to find another shop. This one, specialising in Cantonese meats, had no queue, but they were just starting out. The water to cook the noodles in wasn't even boiled, so even as I was the first to place an order, I had to wait another 8 minutes. Suffice to say, I won't be heading to this food centre anytime soon, the noodles were 'lembek', the pork was dry but the wontons were alright.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Uprooted trees
Another tree got uprooted today and crushed a car containing 3 passengers. Luckily no one was hurt.
I wonder what make of car they were in.
A couple of days ago, another tree got uprooted due to the strong winds and rain which has been hitting Singapore for the past week. This was only 1.6kms away from today's incident.
Unfortunately the person in that car was crushed to death.
Now people are looking to bring class actions to the group who takes care of the trees here.
Who do you blame for acts of nature? You obviously can't sue nature... can you?
I wonder what make of car they were in.
A couple of days ago, another tree got uprooted due to the strong winds and rain which has been hitting Singapore for the past week. This was only 1.6kms away from today's incident.
Unfortunately the person in that car was crushed to death.
Now people are looking to bring class actions to the group who takes care of the trees here.
Who do you blame for acts of nature? You obviously can't sue nature... can you?
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The iPad is almost here!
The iPad will finally arrive in Singapore tomorrow.
Will you get one?
Me? I still love my Macbook, so probably not.
Besides, it's not as comprehensive as a Macbook, right?
It's just a glorified/bigger version of the iPod touch or iPhone, right?
Will you get one?
Me? I still love my Macbook, so probably not.
Besides, it's not as comprehensive as a Macbook, right?
It's just a glorified/bigger version of the iPod touch or iPhone, right?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Gear Box
Recently we had to change our 7-year-old car's gear box. We have a semi-automatic transmission, which means we could drive the car manually changing the gears or let the auto transmission do it for us. Most of the time, we let the auto transmission take care of it.
The problem started when it didn't want to go into first gear in the mornings or when the car is started for the first time after a long (which is usually more than 8 hours) time. It's not cold here... but it needed some time to warm up and even then, the car would jerk forward, bringing back memories of my early manual driving days. Anyways, for those of you who are able to handle a stick shift, you'll know that if the car is stationary, there's no way it'll move if the first gear's not working. Do we treat the car badly? No, we don't think so. Singapore roads are fairly smooth and we don't go around crashing into things, neither do things come by to crash into us, nor do we run over a speed hump testing its shock absorbers.
And what's this about changing the gear box?! Brought back a memory of a 6 footer I knew in high school who owned a mini cooper, one of the original ones, reversed it over a front gate holder which was sticking out from the ground and lost the gear box. Yes, that would be a reason to change your gear box...
Maybe it was just time, but 7 years is rather a young age, isn't it? The 'new' gear box is a second hand one. Our mechanic told us that a new one would cost 3 to 4 times more. I don't want to know why the car this gear box came from didn't need it and hope that it'll last us another 3 years before we have to change the car, as do most people who live here do.
The problem started when it didn't want to go into first gear in the mornings or when the car is started for the first time after a long (which is usually more than 8 hours) time. It's not cold here... but it needed some time to warm up and even then, the car would jerk forward, bringing back memories of my early manual driving days. Anyways, for those of you who are able to handle a stick shift, you'll know that if the car is stationary, there's no way it'll move if the first gear's not working. Do we treat the car badly? No, we don't think so. Singapore roads are fairly smooth and we don't go around crashing into things, neither do things come by to crash into us, nor do we run over a speed hump testing its shock absorbers.
And what's this about changing the gear box?! Brought back a memory of a 6 footer I knew in high school who owned a mini cooper, one of the original ones, reversed it over a front gate holder which was sticking out from the ground and lost the gear box. Yes, that would be a reason to change your gear box...
Maybe it was just time, but 7 years is rather a young age, isn't it? The 'new' gear box is a second hand one. Our mechanic told us that a new one would cost 3 to 4 times more. I don't want to know why the car this gear box came from didn't need it and hope that it'll last us another 3 years before we have to change the car, as do most people who live here do.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
HD TV is sooooo sharp!
The hubs finally got around to 'upgrading' a component, in order for the received pictures to be viewed in High Definition (HD), on our telly. We've had this HD ready telly for a year and a half now and previously, a separate box was needed in order to convert the received images to HD. We didn't end up getting that box, it was just not necessary.
Anyways, we upgraded our cable box which included some channels in HD, the ability to record and it came with the convertible image box. OMG! Everything's really sharp! You can spot every pothole, mole, hair on someone's face! We're currently watching the Travel & Adventure channel and some scenes look almost surreal. It's like having 21/21 vision!
Anyways, we upgraded our cable box which included some channels in HD, the ability to record and it came with the convertible image box. OMG! Everything's really sharp! You can spot every pothole, mole, hair on someone's face! We're currently watching the Travel & Adventure channel and some scenes look almost surreal. It's like having 21/21 vision!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Evening Swim
I finally did it!
After a hiatus of more than 6 months, I'm getting back into the possibility of swimming three times a week, just to get my weekly dose of exercise and maybe be a fitter person.
Leaving work on the dot might not be ideal, but it takes me 50 minutes from door to door to get back. By the time I change and head down to the pool, the sun has set and it's a little difficult to see the end of the pool when you're short sighted.
Ah, but it was all worth it! It's true when people say that you feel great after a good workout, even if it's just swimming for a half hour.
After a hiatus of more than 6 months, I'm getting back into the possibility of swimming three times a week, just to get my weekly dose of exercise and maybe be a fitter person.
Leaving work on the dot might not be ideal, but it takes me 50 minutes from door to door to get back. By the time I change and head down to the pool, the sun has set and it's a little difficult to see the end of the pool when you're short sighted.
Ah, but it was all worth it! It's true when people say that you feel great after a good workout, even if it's just swimming for a half hour.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Loving the cold
It's rare that the weekend that you're not working is pleasant like this weekend is. I wouldn't call it balmy weather, but rather refreshing. It has been raining all weekend... heavily in some areas but where we live, in the west, the rain has been mediocre. Sometimes when we get rains like this, the aftermath is pretty bad because the humidity and muckiness kicks in and you're wondering why you welcomed the rain in the first place.
But not this weekend. This weekend has been a gorgeous weekend. It rained early in the morning yesterday, causing some areas to flood, but thanking our lucky stars that our area wasn't, and the hubs and I managed to sleep through the morning (we literally woke up after noon!) We went on to attend a barbeque in the evening and didn't sweat a drop! Cool breeze was blowing through the barbeque pit from out of nowhere and coupled with the mellow catch up session and great food, all was good.
Today, I wanted to go for a swim (it has been ages since I last went... I suppose it's close to 5 or 6 months) seeing that the sun wasn't out and there was a cool breeze, but after doing the ironing, it rained. Now as I sit writing this blog, it's still raining, the soft cooling kind. I guess there will be no swimming today.
But not this weekend. This weekend has been a gorgeous weekend. It rained early in the morning yesterday, causing some areas to flood, but thanking our lucky stars that our area wasn't, and the hubs and I managed to sleep through the morning (we literally woke up after noon!) We went on to attend a barbeque in the evening and didn't sweat a drop! Cool breeze was blowing through the barbeque pit from out of nowhere and coupled with the mellow catch up session and great food, all was good.
Today, I wanted to go for a swim (it has been ages since I last went... I suppose it's close to 5 or 6 months) seeing that the sun wasn't out and there was a cool breeze, but after doing the ironing, it rained. Now as I sit writing this blog, it's still raining, the soft cooling kind. I guess there will be no swimming today.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Asian Barbeques
Barbeques in Asian countries sounds a little off, only because, well, for me at least, barbeques are meant to be done when the weather is cold. On the menu easy comfort food such as sausages, mushrooms, onions, bread, salad, sweet corn, crisps and potato.
In Asia, we have barbeques with a twist. I haven't attended or hosted one with the above fare where yummy sausages are predominantly the meat. The barbeques here have the following must haves : Chicken wings, satay, sambal stingray, cocktail sausages and sweet corn. We're usually the seafood kebab providers but I don't know why we didn't think of it for the barbie that we attended tonight. Instead, we volunteered to purchase some fried kuay teow done Penang style. We're also the marshmallow providers. Where there are kids, marshmallows are always welcomed.
Anyways, the place where the kuay teow was to be cooked decided to close early on weekends, thus we became the junk food provider. For a total of about 35 people including kids, 5 packets of junk food disappeared amidst all the fried bee hoon, fried rice, pasta, salad, beef kebabs, prawn sticks, satay, whole duck, mutton curry, sushi and chicken wings. All that was left were the fruits. Trips to the toilet will be interesting tomorrow.
In Asia, we have barbeques with a twist. I haven't attended or hosted one with the above fare where yummy sausages are predominantly the meat. The barbeques here have the following must haves : Chicken wings, satay, sambal stingray, cocktail sausages and sweet corn. We're usually the seafood kebab providers but I don't know why we didn't think of it for the barbie that we attended tonight. Instead, we volunteered to purchase some fried kuay teow done Penang style. We're also the marshmallow providers. Where there are kids, marshmallows are always welcomed.
Anyways, the place where the kuay teow was to be cooked decided to close early on weekends, thus we became the junk food provider. For a total of about 35 people including kids, 5 packets of junk food disappeared amidst all the fried bee hoon, fried rice, pasta, salad, beef kebabs, prawn sticks, satay, whole duck, mutton curry, sushi and chicken wings. All that was left were the fruits. Trips to the toilet will be interesting tomorrow.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The iPhone...
... a one stop gadget for all your needs.
It's slowly starting to grow on me, the concept of the iPhone.
I've been a Nokia user all my mobile phone life and can't imagine using another brand as a mobile device, only because I'm so used to the operating system which Nokia has. But these days, I've been thinking of merging my mobile device with the mp3 player and my time passer gadget which is the iPod touch.
The current model that's out in the market is the iPhone 4.0. One would think that after all these years, Apple would have finally made a gadget that's complete. Yes, when the iPhone first came out, video wasn't included. When the second generation was born, video was included. The third generation came with a faster processor plus longer battery life as users were multitasking and putting the gadget through its paces. Now that it's on it's 4th generation, maybe it's time to upgrade my 2 year old mobile and 'sync' my gadgets, lightening my handbag.
It's slowly starting to grow on me, the concept of the iPhone.
I've been a Nokia user all my mobile phone life and can't imagine using another brand as a mobile device, only because I'm so used to the operating system which Nokia has. But these days, I've been thinking of merging my mobile device with the mp3 player and my time passer gadget which is the iPod touch.
The current model that's out in the market is the iPhone 4.0. One would think that after all these years, Apple would have finally made a gadget that's complete. Yes, when the iPhone first came out, video wasn't included. When the second generation was born, video was included. The third generation came with a faster processor plus longer battery life as users were multitasking and putting the gadget through its paces. Now that it's on it's 4th generation, maybe it's time to upgrade my 2 year old mobile and 'sync' my gadgets, lightening my handbag.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Brown Carpet
I finally found a carpet for the living room, again. I've missed walking on carpet in my home. Not that I've been doing that for all my life. Come to think of it, I love the combination of having a marble tiled floor, some parquet tiled floor and some carpeted floor. That's the extent of the experiences of my feet.
Growing up in Malaysia, we used to have a carpet in our living room. It wasn't a soft carpet, come to think of it, I only remember it to be a coarse short haired carpet which could be swept with a broom. Maybe it was soft in the beginning but got coarse throughout the years from the abuse of three kids and heaps of adults trampling all over it. The rest of the house on the ground floor was marble tiled which made it cool to the feet in the hot humid weather the day brought, the kitchen was mosaic tiled and the second level was parquet tiled. My feet learnt of a new experience when we moved to Australia as most homes are carpeted.
Moving over to Singapore and setting up home with the hubs, my feet are back to the marble-parquet-mosaic tiled experience and all it was missing was the carpet in the living room. Sometimes, walking on hard floor for an extended period of time makes the balls of your feet painful, especially after being on your feet the whole day in a pair of high heels.
So off I went to find a comfortable plush carpet. Our first was from Ikea. A bright red circular carpet with strategically placed swirls. It looked great hanging on the wall, as how it was displayed in the Ikea store, and it only lasted a few years in our home as it was plush, but poorly made. Each time the carpet was vacuumed, it would shed. It was almost like having a pet in the home.
The current carpet is short haired, brown in background colour with flower motifs and was purchased from a Persian carpet shop. Made in Belgium, and on sale, it was the un-gaudy-est, soft to the touch carpet in the shop. It sports an interesting two tone view, light from one side and dark and rich from the other. I hope it lasts for the next ten years.
Growing up in Malaysia, we used to have a carpet in our living room. It wasn't a soft carpet, come to think of it, I only remember it to be a coarse short haired carpet which could be swept with a broom. Maybe it was soft in the beginning but got coarse throughout the years from the abuse of three kids and heaps of adults trampling all over it. The rest of the house on the ground floor was marble tiled which made it cool to the feet in the hot humid weather the day brought, the kitchen was mosaic tiled and the second level was parquet tiled. My feet learnt of a new experience when we moved to Australia as most homes are carpeted.
Moving over to Singapore and setting up home with the hubs, my feet are back to the marble-parquet-mosaic tiled experience and all it was missing was the carpet in the living room. Sometimes, walking on hard floor for an extended period of time makes the balls of your feet painful, especially after being on your feet the whole day in a pair of high heels.
So off I went to find a comfortable plush carpet. Our first was from Ikea. A bright red circular carpet with strategically placed swirls. It looked great hanging on the wall, as how it was displayed in the Ikea store, and it only lasted a few years in our home as it was plush, but poorly made. Each time the carpet was vacuumed, it would shed. It was almost like having a pet in the home.
The current carpet is short haired, brown in background colour with flower motifs and was purchased from a Persian carpet shop. Made in Belgium, and on sale, it was the un-gaudy-est, soft to the touch carpet in the shop. It sports an interesting two tone view, light from one side and dark and rich from the other. I hope it lasts for the next ten years.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Engrish dot com
www.engrish.com
Do you think that English translators in foreign countries try their very best to come up with translations that people can remember? I mean, you don't see sites coming up on perfect translations, that's just expected. But the more lost in the translation it is, the more it's wanted and found especially funny. And do they realise that they've done a lost in translation?Anyways, I had a good laugh browsing through the above website and it brought back some memories, especially of the times I was traipsing through a country whose national language is not English.
Here are a couple of mine found in Singapore recently.
100703 ~ I wonder what they specialise in now
100630 ~ I wonder if they get heaps of plust toys
Do you think that English translators in foreign countries try their very best to come up with translations that people can remember? I mean, you don't see sites coming up on perfect translations, that's just expected. But the more lost in the translation it is, the more it's wanted and found especially funny. And do they realise that they've done a lost in translation?Anyways, I had a good laugh browsing through the above website and it brought back some memories, especially of the times I was traipsing through a country whose national language is not English.
Here are a couple of mine found in Singapore recently.
100703 ~ I wonder what they specialise in now
100630 ~ I wonder if they get heaps of plust toysTuesday, July 13, 2010
The Visible Panty
While I was walking to the train station this morning, I happen to be unfortunate enough to walk behind a person with visible panties and it wasn't a young one too *grin* and to make it even more obvious, the lady had on a pair of white pants.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to be reminded of this incident, but nothing else happened today, thus this topic has been included.
Anyways, the only thought that was going though my head was whether to tell her that her panties was showing. Would you want to know that? I would...
So today's lesson is... white pants and white panties don't really go well, especially if your panties happen to be a pair of 'full' ones. One should always check themselves out in a mirror before stepping out of the house.
Hmm... back to the lady. I don't want to go into too much detail as to what was so very obvious, maybe it was just her subtle incontinence pad showing... because no woman in their right mind would wear a pair of white pants when they're having their periods!
I wasn't sure if I wanted to be reminded of this incident, but nothing else happened today, thus this topic has been included.
Anyways, the only thought that was going though my head was whether to tell her that her panties was showing. Would you want to know that? I would...
So today's lesson is... white pants and white panties don't really go well, especially if your panties happen to be a pair of 'full' ones. One should always check themselves out in a mirror before stepping out of the house.
Hmm... back to the lady. I don't want to go into too much detail as to what was so very obvious, maybe it was just her subtle incontinence pad showing... because no woman in their right mind would wear a pair of white pants when they're having their periods!
Monday, July 12, 2010
World Cup Finals ~ Part 2
I can't believe it's over... finally. Has it really been a month? There have been times when the hype wasn't there. I'm sure it picked up towards the end. All the big mess ups, teams stated to enter the finals never making it to the final 8, boys running around the field chasing a soccer ball.
Grant that I haven't watched a game this past month, I tried staying up this morning (the game was at 0230hrs) but only managed to for the first 45 minutes of the game. All I saw was boys kicking boys. It's not about the ball anymore, it's all about crashing into each other, getting yellow cards (which looks like a warning card to not do that again or you'll be kicked off the field) and making sure that the ball stays in the middle of the field. The goalies looked rather nervous, not wanting to let a ball through. Of course, if they did, their heads would be on the chopping board, similar to those of the coaches whose team didn't make it to the final 8.
Anyways, the game. It was a rather vicious but boring 45 minutes. I found out later from the hubs that the game went into a further 30 minutes after the 90 minutes as neither of the teams had scored. The final goal from Spain came 4 minutes before the end of the 30 minutes. What a longgggg game. I'm glad I didn't stay up.
Grant that I haven't watched a game this past month, I tried staying up this morning (the game was at 0230hrs) but only managed to for the first 45 minutes of the game. All I saw was boys kicking boys. It's not about the ball anymore, it's all about crashing into each other, getting yellow cards (which looks like a warning card to not do that again or you'll be kicked off the field) and making sure that the ball stays in the middle of the field. The goalies looked rather nervous, not wanting to let a ball through. Of course, if they did, their heads would be on the chopping board, similar to those of the coaches whose team didn't make it to the final 8.
Anyways, the game. It was a rather vicious but boring 45 minutes. I found out later from the hubs that the game went into a further 30 minutes after the 90 minutes as neither of the teams had scored. The final goal from Spain came 4 minutes before the end of the 30 minutes. What a longgggg game. I'm glad I didn't stay up.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
World Cup Final
Will you be staying up?
I'm seriously thinking of
It will be my first world cup match this year!
What am I talking about?
It will be my first soccer match since... I don't know when!
As you can see, I'm not much of a soccer fan
Glad that tennis doesn't go on during the oddest hours!
I'm seriously thinking of
It will be my first world cup match this year!
What am I talking about?
It will be my first soccer match since... I don't know when!
As you can see, I'm not much of a soccer fan
Glad that tennis doesn't go on during the oddest hours!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Lazy Saturdays
I love lazy Saturdays.
Today, the hubs and I locked ourselves at home, ate home cooked meals and generally vegged out.
I love lazy Saturdays.
Today, the hubs and I locked ourselves at home, ate home cooked meals and generally vegged out.
I love lazy Saturdays.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Food Blog : Chocolate Wassant
After all the hype has died, I decided to purchase a packet of these from a bakery called Provence. There are 10 pieces in one packet and they cost S$0.60 each. Never mind about the cost, YUMMY they are! I'm glad I didn't know of them earlier as I would have been pigging out on them.
It's a soft bread, rolled with a light chocolate spread and shaped like a croissant, hence the name chocolate wassant. I'll be sure to go back for more now *grin* They also have a custard flavoured one and a kaya flavoured one. I don't think I'll even try the others. Kaya belongs on toasted bread with a slab of butter!
Here I've taken the picture on my newly acquired Kangaroo mug saucer from Max Brenner's.
Chocolate Wassants
It's a soft bread, rolled with a light chocolate spread and shaped like a croissant, hence the name chocolate wassant. I'll be sure to go back for more now *grin* They also have a custard flavoured one and a kaya flavoured one. I don't think I'll even try the others. Kaya belongs on toasted bread with a slab of butter!
Here I've taken the picture on my newly acquired Kangaroo mug saucer from Max Brenner's.
Chocolate WassantsThursday, July 8, 2010
Paul the Octopus
What a lovely creature. I can't believe it/he can actually predict the winner of a particular soccer game! As weird as it sounds, it/he predicted that Spain would beat Germany in last night's game. The prediction came out a couple of days before the match, so Germany would've psyched themselves to not believe a silly octopus' preferred box/morsel, especially since the octopus actually belongs to the Germans. Still... a 1-0 game where the goal was scored in the 70-something minute must have crushed the Germans something chronic.
If you've not seen how it/he chooses the winner, go Google it. I'm sure 'paul the octopus' is going to be a number one hit on Google this week.
Anyways, not that the morsel in that particular box is yummier than the other, I think it/he is just attracted to the colours of the flags. It/he correctly predicted the games which Germany won in order to get to this semi-finals stage, so why not the winner. I wonder if they'll get it/him to predict the ultimate World Cup winner.
If you've not seen how it/he chooses the winner, go Google it. I'm sure 'paul the octopus' is going to be a number one hit on Google this week.
Anyways, not that the morsel in that particular box is yummier than the other, I think it/he is just attracted to the colours of the flags. It/he correctly predicted the games which Germany won in order to get to this semi-finals stage, so why not the winner. I wonder if they'll get it/him to predict the ultimate World Cup winner.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Gum Drops
When I was a child, blue was my all time favourite colour. I think I used to like all shades of blue, I don't remember having a specific shade of blue that I liked... hmm... maybe I did. I do have a vague memory of Prussian Blue from my box of water paints running out earlier than Vermilion or Ocher, I'm sure.
But when I moved to Australia, my new all time favourite colour became clear summer sky blue. I don't know the 6 alpha-digit specific of the colour, you'll just have to look up at the sky yourself. Now that I've moved to Singapore and don't get to see much blue skies, I've started to take a liking to the colour lilac. A brief stock take of my current stationery will reveal a lot of purple and lilac influences.
Naturally, the progression towards a lilac nail polish ensued. Scouring through nail polish blogs (you don't realise how many there are until you start looking...) pointed me in some direction and I've narrowed the perfect lilac colour to either OPI's Rumple's Wiggin or Revlon's Gum Drops.
Rumple's Wiggin is part of OPI's Shrek collection and the colour is almost the same as Revlon's Gum Drops. The only difference I guess is the formula and price. I have to admit that Gum Drops is an interesting name for a nail polish. Revlon is slowly trying to break into the odd colours of nail polishes. Their new formulas purport to not bubble, be easy to apply and quick to dry. This particular bottle is supposed to smell like gum drops, after it dries. Do you think people will go around smelling their manicure? Manicure sniffing... the new glue sniffing.
Anyways, for the amount of years that I've been painting my finger nails, I still can't get the application to salon perfection. Why is that? Maybe I'll have to practice once a day for a year and hope that my brain will learn... either that or my nails will fall off my fingers and I won't have to worry about manicures ever again!
But when I moved to Australia, my new all time favourite colour became clear summer sky blue. I don't know the 6 alpha-digit specific of the colour, you'll just have to look up at the sky yourself. Now that I've moved to Singapore and don't get to see much blue skies, I've started to take a liking to the colour lilac. A brief stock take of my current stationery will reveal a lot of purple and lilac influences.
Naturally, the progression towards a lilac nail polish ensued. Scouring through nail polish blogs (you don't realise how many there are until you start looking...) pointed me in some direction and I've narrowed the perfect lilac colour to either OPI's Rumple's Wiggin or Revlon's Gum Drops.
Rumple's Wiggin is part of OPI's Shrek collection and the colour is almost the same as Revlon's Gum Drops. The only difference I guess is the formula and price. I have to admit that Gum Drops is an interesting name for a nail polish. Revlon is slowly trying to break into the odd colours of nail polishes. Their new formulas purport to not bubble, be easy to apply and quick to dry. This particular bottle is supposed to smell like gum drops, after it dries. Do you think people will go around smelling their manicure? Manicure sniffing... the new glue sniffing.
Anyways, for the amount of years that I've been painting my finger nails, I still can't get the application to salon perfection. Why is that? Maybe I'll have to practice once a day for a year and hope that my brain will learn... either that or my nails will fall off my fingers and I won't have to worry about manicures ever again!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The 5 million dollar home
I recently bought myself a Crumpler bag. It was great lugging the hub's one all over Tokyo when I last visited the city in April for a week. It was spacious enough to fit a DSLR, my passport, wallet and a bottle of water. I'm sure the bag was meant to carry an extra lens and flash, but this is me, being able to live with a point and shoot, why would I need another lens, let alone a monstrous flash? As you can tell, I haven't discovered the finer side to using a flash.
Anyways, I was thinking of getting something smaller than what the hubs has, but bearing in mind the things I want to put in it, I ended up getting the same model, albeit a newer design. There are a couple of differences between this and the older design. Firstly, they've managed to add an extra flap to cover some of the velcro which was actually a little painful to use when you're constantly accessing the contents of the bag. Another is the more tapered, slimmer looking design.
I love my new 5 million dollar home and can't wait to fill it! Yes... it's sitting pretty but empty at the moment, waiting for the successor of the D90 to fill it!
Anyways, I was thinking of getting something smaller than what the hubs has, but bearing in mind the things I want to put in it, I ended up getting the same model, albeit a newer design. There are a couple of differences between this and the older design. Firstly, they've managed to add an extra flap to cover some of the velcro which was actually a little painful to use when you're constantly accessing the contents of the bag. Another is the more tapered, slimmer looking design.
I love my new 5 million dollar home and can't wait to fill it! Yes... it's sitting pretty but empty at the moment, waiting for the successor of the D90 to fill it!
Monday, July 5, 2010
iPhone 4
I am surprised at the amount of flak Apple is getting for their new release, the iPhone 4.
It's not like it's a new gadget... it's the 4th generation!
And this is the funniest/craziest thing, how to hold your phone!
I mean, is there another way to holding it?
Do we really need lessons on how to hold our mobiles while having it pressed to our ear?
Are we supposed to do the Lipton thing?
Crazy!
What WILL they come up with next?!
It's not like it's a new gadget... it's the 4th generation!
And this is the funniest/craziest thing, how to hold your phone!
I mean, is there another way to holding it?
Do we really need lessons on how to hold our mobiles while having it pressed to our ear?
Are we supposed to do the Lipton thing?
Crazy!
What WILL they come up with next?!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
World Cup : The final four
Is it time for another World Cup blog?
One more week.
It's showdown time now.
Uruguay, Holland, Spain and Germany.
Who are you rooting for?
One more week.
It's showdown time now.
Uruguay, Holland, Spain and Germany.
Who are you rooting for?
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Food Blog : Max Brenner
I can't believe, after all these years, there's finally a cocoa cafe in Singapore. I know they have popped up in Australia and everywhere else, but in Singapore, Max Brenner is the first.
So while waiting for dinner, the hubs and I decided to have something for tea. He ordered a cappuccino as he's not very much into the chocolate drink thing and I had a hug mug of milk chocolate.
Firstly, they have the zaniest mugs, glasses and coffee cups. The hot chocolate drinks are served in a hug mug which I found not very user friendly as there's no handle to hold the mug. You're supposed to 'hug' it with both palms, bring it to your mouth to drink the hot choc. I guess it would be ok to have these kind of mugs in cold countries when your fingers are in need of some heating up.
The mug that the cappuccino came in was more interesting. It's called a kangaroo mug and I love the design!
The Kangaroo Mug
As we were waiting for dinner, we didn't end up eating anything, but the description of the waffles was enough to whet my appetite for a return.
So while waiting for dinner, the hubs and I decided to have something for tea. He ordered a cappuccino as he's not very much into the chocolate drink thing and I had a hug mug of milk chocolate.
Firstly, they have the zaniest mugs, glasses and coffee cups. The hot chocolate drinks are served in a hug mug which I found not very user friendly as there's no handle to hold the mug. You're supposed to 'hug' it with both palms, bring it to your mouth to drink the hot choc. I guess it would be ok to have these kind of mugs in cold countries when your fingers are in need of some heating up.
The mug that the cappuccino came in was more interesting. It's called a kangaroo mug and I love the design!
The Kangaroo MugAs we were waiting for dinner, we didn't end up eating anything, but the description of the waffles was enough to whet my appetite for a return.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Steak craving
The hubs and I had dinner at Botak Jones today. It's been a while since we last come up here and I must admit that the standard of this branch has dropped a little.
Grant that it wasn't crowded, but it took me a good 10 minutes to place my order with the cashier, and I wasn't even queuing. We ordered a couple of NZ ribeye's and yes, it came as per medium doneness, but the meat wasn't tender enough and we ended up chewing a lot. At the end of the meal, the both of us had 'unsatisfied' stamped all over our faces *grin*
They've also decided to revamp their customer loyalty card and this has digression written all over it. The current system requires you to produce stamped receipts when you want to make a claim. Who carries receipts these days?
Gone are the days where I couldn't wait to have my monthly dose of steak here. I'll have to look around for a similarly priced steak place.
Grant that it wasn't crowded, but it took me a good 10 minutes to place my order with the cashier, and I wasn't even queuing. We ordered a couple of NZ ribeye's and yes, it came as per medium doneness, but the meat wasn't tender enough and we ended up chewing a lot. At the end of the meal, the both of us had 'unsatisfied' stamped all over our faces *grin*
They've also decided to revamp their customer loyalty card and this has digression written all over it. The current system requires you to produce stamped receipts when you want to make a claim. Who carries receipts these days?
Gone are the days where I couldn't wait to have my monthly dose of steak here. I'll have to look around for a similarly priced steak place.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Flash Floods
It was a dark and gloomy day...
I walked into work this morning and the sky was very, very dark, almost as if I've stayed till past 8 in the night, which I didn't, which threw my brain off for a few minutes.
It has been raining, heavy... pelting... visibility 1 meter kind of rain for the past week, causing flash floods in some parts of the island. Most of it surrounding the Orchard area, an area which houses some expensive cars. Underground parking garages kept filling up with water, floating some Porsche's and Lexus'. Does insurance cover this?
I didn't think about it until now but I'm glad that the drainage that covers the underground subway system is the best and in working order, otherwise I'd hate to be stuck in the train, while everywhere around the outside of the train is filling up with rain water *shudder*
I walked into work this morning and the sky was very, very dark, almost as if I've stayed till past 8 in the night, which I didn't, which threw my brain off for a few minutes.
It has been raining, heavy... pelting... visibility 1 meter kind of rain for the past week, causing flash floods in some parts of the island. Most of it surrounding the Orchard area, an area which houses some expensive cars. Underground parking garages kept filling up with water, floating some Porsche's and Lexus'. Does insurance cover this?
I didn't think about it until now but I'm glad that the drainage that covers the underground subway system is the best and in working order, otherwise I'd hate to be stuck in the train, while everywhere around the outside of the train is filling up with rain water *shudder*
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