May

So this is what my life has been revolving around since leaving the army in April.=)

1) Teaching kids at a certain neighbourhood secondary school. The kids aren't too bad really, and some of their antics crack me up. Ask if you want to know the details. I shall not expose myself to the risk of getting fired and being featured on the new paper as has happened to another sad relief teacher.

2) Squash! I met Denise the other day and was reminiscing of how Kevin used to whoop my ass at it. Now that he has died somewhere in Sydney however, the games go something like this: 9-6. 9-5, 9-3, 9-3, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0, 9-4, 9-2, 9-0. Ernest wins Liang Lin. So yes. It gets a little tedious after you master how exactly to get him off his game(or lack thereof) really. Just mention a certain breakfast cereal and the score plummets, as you can see from the listing above.

3) I watched my first movie this year today and it was a pseudo chick-flick. Fortunately, What Happens in Vegas was nothing like the absolutely mind-bogglingly stupid 13 going on 30, where fairy dust magically appears on one's doll house and transforms Jennifer Garner into a 30 year-old.

4) Choir. I am most glad to say that the pieces seem to be coming together.=)

5) I was talking to a certain someone in France and she admitted that she's FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME!! Heartbreak Hotel, that. But i don't mind, long as she DOES spend the 13 days we've got before i leave kinda sorta together with me/us.=p (You, yes, YOU. You know I'm talking about you miss waikiki.-_-)

6) Mother's day is around the corner! Another trip down to Keyaki seems in order. I do miss the robotoyaki.

7) Would anyone want to contribute to Habitat for Humanity?

8) I saw these 2 pairs of shorts today, checked, and approximately 3 inches above the knee. And I am strongly fighting the urge to buy them. They're from zara, so they're kinda generic, but yes i do like them so i don't care.=\ It's highly unfortunate that there are no pictures of them that can be displayed here.

9) Oh and dear mel, I have found your woven belts. Dutti has them, but I think that the guy's collection looks better. As for your need for extra-long ones, heh.=p

Ok that's all for this entry! I'm going to try to lose a little of the tummy before the overseas kids all return and organise sentosa outings and I kinda sorta haveta expose mr bagel here. Toodles!

Designer Pebbles

Now, look at the picture above and tell me what you see. Rocks, pebbles, or what could possibly be the chic-est mp3 player on the market right now. The production of a mp3 player that looked like a pebble would have been fantastical in itself, but the production of one that looks as if Mr Klein himself had a hand in its design? Incredible.

Ok, admittedly, it can only store up to 1 GB of songs, but with looks this chic, really, who cares? The pebble is meant to be seen and admired, not kept in the dark corner of some mould-infested bag. So, whip it out and place it around the house or on the dashboard of the car for all the world to see. Honestly, so what if it ends up not functioning as a mp3 player? At 39 dollars, this sculpture of plastic, metal and scilicon might even be well worth the money spent as a purely decorative item.

Maison Kerlann

Thanks to the folks at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore, Jamie and I were invited guests to Global Kitchen's Burgundy Wine Dinner. With guest chefs coming in all year round and diners who are constantly on the prowl for anything new that might tickle their palate, the restaurant is a dynamic hotbed of innovation in gastronomica.

We were introduced to another lovely couple, Carl and his wife who were excellent conversationalists and to Azlinda and Ann, our Pan Pac marketing and customer relations managers respectively. Mr Herve Kelann, the fifth generation wine owner of Maison Kerlann was there as well, talking to us about his wines and the growth and cultivation of grapes on his vineyard. Executive Chef Joseph Martin proved to be rambunctiously cheeky dinner company as well, with the details of our dinner conversation a tad too explicit to be posted on this space.=p

Splendid company aside, the food prepared by Joseph was exquisite, to say the least. My favourite of the night had to be the citrus-marinated crab. Jamie, on the other hand favoured the foie gras with baby artichokes, which gave the liver a most pleasant sourish tinge that complimented the fat superbly. Ok, enough of the rambling. Here was the menu for the night.

Kerlann Macon Village Blanc 2004

Citrus-marinated White Crab Meat with Salmon Caviar & Sweet Pumpkin Puree

with Kerlann Chablis 2005 (RV)

Foie Gras & baby Artichokes with Candied Peach & Arugula Relish

with Kerlann Pouilly Fuisse Blanc 2005

Pan-seared Scottish Salmon with Lentil Risotto & Morel Mushrooms

with Kerlann Gevrey Chambertin 2004

Veal Tenderloin with Pancetta, roasted Garlic & Truffle Sauce
with Kerlann Vosne Romanee ler Crus Les Suchots 2002

Sorrel Sorbet with Caramelized Pineapple

We had a little competition around the table with all of us guessing the nature of what Sorrel was. I'm glad to say that Jamie and I guessed correctly, being of the opinion that Sorrel was either a root or a herb. Hurray to us!=)

We were served as well, an additional platter of dried fruits and cheese, together with a wine that I think was a pinot noir. They really do know how to encourage customer loyalty!

A picture of us with Mr Joseph Martin, Executive Chef, and the lovely dinner company at the table.

The excellent wine pairings not only complimented the food well, but served to constantly refresh our taste buds, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy each course despite the absolute richness and weight of the food. With dinner starting at 730pm and us leaving almost a good 4 hours later at 11 something or so, without us even noticing how time flew by, it was, beyond a doubt, a delightful dinner with both excellent food and company. Kudos to the hotel and their fantastic customer loyalty programme!=)

M.I.A. Paper Planes

I stumbled upon M.I.A. on Muzak for Cybernetics(the link's on the left!) and boy is her music one huge ball of sarcastic, jaded, politically-indifferent, socially-deviant noise and sound.





I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here,
I make 'em all day I get one down in a second if you wait

Come on now, stop hiding. I see you shaking in that seat!

Lazy Weekday Afternoons

Jamie's on my left and Gina's on my right. They are currently sharing a can of Dutch Lady Coffee and trying desperately to not fall asleep. I have none of those problems whatsoever, considering that one only starts to feel sleepy and lackadaisical when one actually has a NEED to be productive. With BSF out of the way and Adriana Lima beckoning from the cover of this month's GQ, sloth is NOT a trait that i am currently exhibiting.

From Matthew 5 and lesson 4 last week, I learnt that Jesus was tempted at His most vulnerable(after going without food for 40 days). Given that we have the same resources as He did in facing temptation- the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we can be more than fine when we too are tempted!

Ok, enough of BSF and back to Adriana Lima.

Sartorial Sightings

And so, look at what i came across while looking at the Ralph Lauren website just the other day. I think i really do have quite a predilection for brightly-coloured stripes. Yes yes, I know there might be some out there who think of bright stripes as excessively garish, but the aesthetic appeal in nicely matched stripes certainly cannot be denied.

The woven belt is something that I have been looking for for a while now as well. It's quite fascinating how the texture can look both rugged and classy at the same time. Not just stylish or presentable, but one might almost say, chic, a quality that rarely ever comes with ruggedness.

Try and try as I might, I can't seem to find where I might be able to get my hands onto the watch with the brilliant brilliant strap. If anyone does, please do let me know!

Idiocy, Re-affirmed

JP: I was watching Horton the Elephant and I started thinking about you during the bit where Horton started flapping his ears around under water to help him move about.

LL: Hieh hieh hieh (sarcastic laughter followed by the rolling of eyes)

JP: Then he started spraying water through his nose......

With friends like these, who needs to seek entertainment anywhere else?

Oh, and should the unthinkable ever ever happen, I believe we just might be eternally indebted to them for removing the African elephant off the list of endangered species.