Baking Day

My second bake for this year. 

And last night was a total failure. I forgot to add my sugar to my flour and in the end, when I added the sugar to my dough last, it became too soggy. Threw away my dough and went to bed disappointed. 

This morning tried again and thank God I didn't make any silly mistake. The scones turned out nice and flavorful. The shape could be improved though. 

Breaking 70

For a long long time, my mass has never gone below the 70 Kg mark. 

Ever since Yoshi shared his secret to his weight loss, I have lost about 4 Kg. His weight loss regime is not as daunting as it seems at first, and I managed to stick to eat for a whole month. 

Weight loss regime:

Cycle 1:

First 3 days, breakfast, lunch and dinner on fruit and water only. Any kind of fruit and only drinking water. 

Next 4 days, breakfast on fruits, lunch and dinner eat normally starting with vegetable first. 

Repeat the cycle for another 3 times. 

After that will be just breakfast fruits and lunch and dinner normal starting we the consumption of vegetable first for each meal. 

Initially, thinking of not having my sinful chinese breakfast with my morning coffee will let me have withdrawal syndrome. However, I manage to survive that. The first week, I felt a little latargic at first then it was manageable until cycle four where I really crave for normal food again. 

I'm not the only living example the this regime works, some of my friends who tried it have lost at least 3 Kg. 

Durian Feast

Kat, the durian queen, organized a durian feast at her one and only durian supplier she goes to. She shared that she has been patronising the same supplier since as a girl. And she doesn't eat any other kind of durian except the "branded" kind, 猫山皇. 

We arrived at 717 Trading, #01-01 Highland Center, 22 Yio Chu Kang Road at about 7pm. There was already a long queue. All the eat in make shift tables along the pavement were occupied. Apparently, there was a company event going on. So we decided to take away and feast at Siew Boon's place instead. 

Kat and I queued for an hour before we managed to get hold of six of the king of fruits. They cost us S$164 @ S$18 per Kg. 

The rest who left earlier had prepared cold coconut juice at home for us. All our six prized possessions turned out good, soft creamy and with shrunk seed. 

I had told Kat that that was my first time queue ing for an hour for food. Before we departed from SB's place, Kat suggested to go for another round of durian at 818 at Telok Kurau, before the durian season ends. 

Durian Feast

Kat, the durian queen, organized a durian feast at her one and only durian supplier she goes to. She shared that she has been patronising the same supplier since as a girl. And she doesn't eat any other kind of durian except the "branded" kind, 猫山皇. 

We arrived at 717 Trading, #01-01 Highland Center, 22 Yio Chu Kang Road at about 7pm. There was already a long queue. All the eat in make shift tables along the pavement were occupied. Apparently, there was a company event going on. So we decided to take away and feast at Siew Boon's place instead. 

Kat and I queued for an hour before we managed to get hold of six of the king of fruits. They cost us S$164 @ S$18 per Kg. 

The rest who left earlier had prepared cold coconut juice at home for us. All our six prized possessions turned out good, soft creamy and with shrunk seed. 

I had told Kat that that was my first time queue ing for an hour for food. Before we departed from SB's place, Kat suggested to go for another round of durian at 818 at Telok Kurau, before the durian season ends. 

Aquarium

This is my first time setting up an aquarium. Knowing nuts about keeping fish in a transparent cuboid tank, I had to ask the store keeper's for advice from step 1 to the end. 

In the end, bought this small glass tank with 12 small fish, complete with a filter and LED illuminating light. 

Hope this little fish tank will give my father some thing to focus on, else void with any hobby and interest, life can be aimless and painful. 

Umeda 11 Jun 2015

I drove down to Umeda. It was a shopping day. 

We met up with Ayumi Chan at Grand Front Osaka, a new shopping complex. 

Rika brought us to The Cosmopolitan Restaurant for lunch. A very hip place, somewhat like fine dining. 

The food was exquisite and tasty. And it just cost us about S$30 per person for the set lunch. So worth!

We did our shopping really unhurriedly. The whole day was just Grand Front Osaka and Lucua. 

Had buffet dinner at almost the same price as lunch. 

Tired out after a day of shopping, though was doing it leisurely. 

Osaka 10 Jun 2015

It was a rest day for Rika and for ourselves. Yoshi left about 10 for his work trip to Tokyo. 

The morning was spent relaxing at home.  Then we went out for lunch at this nice Udon restaurant. 

After lunch was just some casual shopping at Aeon. 

A relaxing "zho-bo" (doing nothing) day

Kobe 9 June

Today, we broke camp, not literally though as we were supposedly on a camping trip. It was raining the whole time the night before and we were glad that we managed to book a cabin for the second night of our camping trip. 

We headed straight to Kobe and was praying in my heart that we would not encounter an earthquake. That night, my friend text me that there were earthquakes in Japan and Greece, Athens. Thank God. 

First stop in Kobe was a restaurant which was converted from a church. Five of us shared three breakfast sets. 

Then it was shopping at Kobe Sannomiya in the afternoon. We went to Tomorrowland and just opposite, there was a building that has a level that sells cloth. And I bought $80 worth of cloth. 

By the time we reached home, it was about eight. Rika cooked us Yoshi's favourite pasta dish - Cod Roe Pasta. It was a simple dish but was delicious. 

Put the cod roe, some butter, a little cream and soy sauce in a big bowl, then put in the boiled linguini into the bowl and mix well. There you go, we have the delicious Cod Roe Pasta. 

Oishi neh!

Awaji Island 8 June

I survived the camp in the tent, waking up with a neck ache and suffering from restless sleep. 

Though it's summer, it's like Singapore's weather in December, cooling. 

We left the camp site for breakfast at a bakery cafe known as Posche, which serves sumptuous breakfast set at 500 Yen only. The breakfast comprised of toast with ham, mash potato, salad and coffee. We also ordered Ala carte assortment of bread. The bread were soft, chewy and flavorful. I always wonder why bread in Singapore always taste so different from these. 

After breakfast, we met up with Acco san who brought us to this garden. Not all flower beds were blooming with flowers, but the air was cooling and refreshing. 

Most of the afternoon was spent in a home run cafe having lunch and coffee. 

Dinner was good, we went to this supposedly the number one udon restaurant in Awaji. The soup bases were flavorful. We had duck and Yuzi, onion and beef soup and they all tasted different and of course very delicious. We also had 关东煮 and all cost us only 3000 over Yen. Gone are the days that people cry "expensive" in Japan. 

An unpleasant episode happened at the close of the day though, something which I thought will

Not happen in Japan. The beach bar waiter refused to let us use the toilet as we did not purchase anything from the bar. We were trying to avoid using the common toilet at the camp site. I was disappointed and really displease by this incident. 

What a way to close the day!!!

Awaji Island 7 June 2015

Today, we made a trip to Awaji Island. 

Rika has planned a camping trip. We will be putting up in a 5 men tentage by a beach. It was pitch dark at night and the tent was lit by a few oil lamps. 

For lunch, we stopped by a restaurant for Japanese food. 

We also dropped by Seapa Onsen for bath before heading for BBQ beef dinner.

 

6 June 2015 Osaka Day 1

We set off to Osaka today. 

When we arrived at Kansai Airport, it was already 9.15pm and to our shock, there were such a huge crowd at the immigration. 

We had to catch the last bus to meet Yoshi so that he didn't have to come all the way to the airport. 

At first, the queue inched forward as there were not many immigration counters open. But thank God, so more counters were opened and we also managed to be at the queue which cleared faster. 

Once cleared the custom, we dashed towards the luggage collection to grab our luggage and then made a run to the bus stop. 

While looking for an information counter to asked for direction, I spotted bus stops outside the airport. At last, we manage to be at the bus boarding point 15 minutes before time. 

The bus journey too us an hour which was faster than the scheduled duration by half an hour. Yoshi picked us at the station and we went to have supper at the usual Ramen place which served hot and cold Yuzi Ramen. Each bowl was only 800 Yen and the ramen was delicious. 

We slept only at 2 am after presenting our gifts to our ever friendly hosts and catching up a little. 

Birthday Gift #7

Have been eyeing this Olympus Pen 5 since a few months ago. When I last checked the price, it was about $1200. 

Now, Harvey Norman is retailing at $923. So I thought this is a good buy. When it was first launch 2 years ago, it was retailing at $1700. 

The shelf life of an electronic product is about 2 years and prices will be about half. 

Birthday Treat from Bin Keong

Bin Keong brought us to:

The food is delicious and beautifully presented. 

Birthday Gift #6

Thanks Joyce and Lee Shan for this thoughtful experience. 

Birthday Gift #5

Came back to work on Monday and found a box of Rocher on my table. Thanks R for the sweet tots. 

Birthday Lunch

Birthday lunch with JQ and SB at The Missing Pan. 

Birthday Gift #4

A birthday cake from Juliette. 

Birthday Gift #3

Another black Tee from AX. Thanks SB, Adeline and Ah Gean. 

Birthday Gift #2

I feel so blessed to receive so many gifts. 

Thanks YK for being so generous!

Birthday Gift #1

It was really a surprise that I received this. I thought it's too valuable to accept it but IC refused to let me return to her. 

Really appreciate her thoughts! That's enough for me. 

Birthday @ 49

My usual group of khakis celebrated my 49th birthday with me. The Thai food @ Spicy Thai located at Aljunied Ave 2 proofed to be authentic and spicy. 

The place was crowded, thus service was a little slow. 

Cake cutting @ Margate Road to end the celebration. 

My last year in my forties! 

The forbidden supper

Where do you go when you wanna hangout almost at 10pm?

With most cafe closing at about 10.30pm, the golden "M" was undoubtedly the place.

The golden oil-glistened fries and calories filled coke, the notorious crimson duo, found their way to our digestive system amidst the chatters and laughters.

A night-out with friends and the crimson duo, simple life pleasures.

Home cooked Lunch

A home-cooked lunch

the hours of thoughts and efforts

make every mouthful exquisite.

It filled the body with life and energy,

and the soul with the warmth of friendship.

Spring Collections 2015

My Spring 2015 Collections of clutch bags. S$58 each.

Finally ... iPhone 6

I went to Patkway Parade to try my luck on iPhone 6 this morning. The lady at the counter was having her breakfast when I interrupted her with the enquiry. She said no and I was about to leave when she asked me to leave my number and name as the stock would be arriving later.

I guess she decided to be helpful as I was polite to her when I was making the enquiry. So that was how I managed to secure an iPhone 6.

Thank God for that.

2014 New Year Eve

It's the last day of 2014 and the singles decided to have a year end dinner together.

As usual, food is aplenty and we had steamboat dinner. Great food and great company.

Gean also played "One Hundred Foot Journey" from iPad to TV. As such, we totally forgotten that there was a count down programme on channel 5.

When the clock stoke mid night, Martin n I were already in Z monsters land. Nevertheless, we woke up on the cheers from everyone. We also could catch a glimpse of the firework from the balcony.

2015 is here and I'm kind of filled with apprehension. May God bless all of us and our family and friends a year of good health and peace.