10 Laps

When I stepped out from the last meeting of the day, it was still bright and humid. I was glad. After that torrential downpour in the morning, it'd be nice to hit the pool.

I'm quite happy that I blew off a work associate for the dinner appointment. I've had lunch with him last week and the colleagues, separately, had already bought him another lunch and a dinner. There isn't a need for me to eat with him this evening. I can have some quality me-time.

The water was surprisingly not cold at all. There were two persons in the pool, all evenly stroking laps. Another two were getting ready and putting on swim caps and goggles. I grinned at the scene. Everyone looked so serious.

After my warm-up laps, somehow the five of us hit one end at the same time. We've met at the pool a couple of times. We usually just nod and smile in acknowledgment. Today, we kinda looked at one another and sensed this unspoken humor. We gave a thumbs-up and kicked off to some friendly competition.

Well, I guess everyone was in the mood for some serious workout. Man, did I work those arms. Today has got to be the fastest 10 laps I've ever swam.

《星期二特写: 一房世界》

我一向来都嘲笑八频道的连续剧。对于它的综艺节目，更是加以讽刺。但在编剧制作方面，有一项节目值得赞扬，举起双手支持。至四月七日，我都按时把八频道播出的 《星期二特写: 一房世界》 (Tuesday Report: Life In A One-Room Flat) 录下， 等晚上迟点或隔天才看。

我国一房式政府组屋居者大多数是老人家或低收入家庭。居者都缴廉价租金给建屋发展局。说实话，很多人对一房式组屋没有什么认识，更不知道这些组屋区在这小岛的哪一个角落。我做家访时也常去一房式组屋陪独居的乐岭人士。但对其他扇门后的人与事就不过问了。《一房世界》给予一房式政府组屋居者脸孔，描述了居者的生活，嗜好等，让电视机前的观众了解一下。

这《星期二特写》系列已经有好多年的制作历史了。 三十分钟的片段反映了新加坡的另一面。每一系列的主题随着时代而变迁，从个人经历和社会关注的人与事题材- 未婚妈妈，残障人士，问题少年，毒品等等。共同点是，拍摄和编导都没有花容玉貌，就献上真实故事教育民众，开阔眼线。想看的话，除了坐在电视机前， 也可以从mobtv.sg下载。（当然要付钱咯。）

（编导：郑乔荭） 昨晚特写了70几岁的麦老先生和麦老太太是芽龙巴鲁大牌62座附近一带出了名的恩爱夫妻。他们苦恋8年才结婚，结婚时已经高龄40几。去年，他们庆祝结婚30周年，由于没有子女，他们更加珍惜对方。风雨同舟30年，看他们如何在一房世界里维系一段美满的婚姻。

《一房世界》每一系列每一集叙说的人和事都不同。私人感想也不一样。这系列值得我花时间看，启发一点反省作用。今时，若没有某方面的提醒，我只会以自己为中心，将会忘了身边其他人。

Anchovy Pasta

I kept raving about the awesome natural saltiness of this anchovy pasta from a certain stall. The man is skeptical as to how good this pasta can taste. He also thought it a little overpriced at S$17. I shrugged. Since I cannot cook, I will have to pay for my food.

On my way back to office after lunch in town the other day, I received a text from him. I had to laugh. He had driven across town and zoomed to the said stall to ta-pau the pasta back to his office to try.

That night, he promptly went out to shop for ingredients to make anchovy pasta. Over the week, he cooked this pasta not once, but thrice. He tested out the flavors with different sorts of anchovies (bottled in oil or in salt) as well with added anchovy paste. He wasn't fond of using pickled anchovies in it at all. Finally satisfied, he announced that he could do this pasta better than said stall. "You'll see." He said smugly.

The next morning, he got up at 6.45am, busied himself in the kitchen and packed me a heavy lunchbox. Then he sent me to work with strict instructions to heat up the food before consumption.

Curiosity got better of me. Plus I didn't have a microwave oven easily accessible at the office. So at 10.45am, I had to check out the still-warm content of the lunchbox. Anchovy pasta!!! I dug into it rather gleefully.

My my. The man's experiment resulted in a creation that is wayy better than the pasta I raved about. Hmmmm. I didn't know he's got such a competitive streak. Heh.

All At Kome

We went to Kome to celebrate the good friend's birthday with an evening of good food, whisky and to the club after for more single malts and ridiculously complex vintage 55 y.o cigars.

Little did we know that we'd run into more friends at the restaurant. So it came to pass that there was a counter-ful of people yakking away and enjoying a long dinner.

Last night, Chef Lawrence was quite royally drunk. But he was still making his rounds at the tables to say hi and have a drink. It wasn't easy deciphering his words through the slur. So I really wasn't sure if he could even appreciate the full flavored notes of our bottle of Highland Park 25 y.o.

The other 2 chefs held fort for the evening. But it was obvious they were already tired out by the afternoon event. Still, they soldiered on and didn't compromise on the quality of our food. We thanked them warmly for their dedication.

The tai shirako in citrus sauce served this round was quite tasty. This time, the kitchen brought out a whole isaki (grunt fish) for each. No sharing. That fish was spectacular. It was simply grilled with sea salt and nothing else. Although it was rather sizeable, it didn't take tremendous effort to clean out the fish, leaving only the bones. There were some grilled dishes which I didn't particularly care for. Especially the sharksfin and crab egg custard.

Aside from fish, I'm really not fond of grilled/fried/cooked/steamed food in my omakase meals. I tend to get very very grouchy if the chef insists on serving me cooked food. By now, the chefs at my usual restaurants are rather ginger each time they ask if I'd like something cooked. But at Kome last night, I understood that the chefs needed a breather to serve the others at the counter too. The restaurant was packed out at the counter and on the floor. Plus I did have a great sushi lunch earlier. (Better don't complain so much!) Oh well. I passed the steamed items down the line to the friends to finish up.

I was significantly happier when the merry pieces of sushi were served.

Kome Japanese Dining
No. 10, Bukit Chermin Road, The Keppel Club
Singapore 109918
T: +65 6273 0118 F: +65 6273 0868
Email: komedining [at] yahoo [dot] com

Members Only

An evening at the theatre with Members Only was a welcome way to chill with the friends.

Produced by Nathalie Ribette and directed by Tracie Pang, the play was fast paced and witty, the script was tight. At 90 minutes without intermission, this wasn't an easy play to be carried off with no set changes and just 2 actors. The lines would have to be incredibly pointed and humorous.

When these actors were Lim Yu Beng and Daniel Jenkins, we were assured of a good evening. Daniel Jenkins' Bernard reminded us so much of neurotic friends and often, sides of ourselves. At so many points, we just wanted to throttle him and stuff him into a garbage bin.

By the end of it, it wasn't so much about the power dynamics of the friendship between 2 men. We went away knowing that it applied to both men and women- the need for control and emotional security in our relationship with anyone who was remotely important to us. And we mustn't let this need drive our demons and make us into monsters.

The play explored deep emotional issues but was kept light-hearted. There was much laughter over the nuances in the play. We left the theatre happy and hungry.

Making A Playlist

I just discovered that Journey's Separate Ways is an awesome song to kickbox to when training with a standing bag.

The pace of the song matches the speed of my strikes and sweeps perfectly.

And strangely, some songs from The Who work too. It stirs up images from CSI. That provides great inspiration.

Now I'm quite determined to scroll through itunes to find rock oldies to make up a kickass kickboxing playlist.

I Must Ask Why

The drama at AWARE has degenerated into almost 'name-calling'. Soon, it'll become seditious.

I really feel that this fight shouldn't be about religion. Yet, the facts and statements plus historical baggage that have tumbled out prove that it seems to be so. Should I care? I honestly don't give two hoots about what goes on in AWARE. If the organization's vision and actions align to mine, then I support it. If it doesn't, I ignore it. Ha. That's apathy isn't it?

But I am bothered about the messages that AWARE is publicly signalling at this moment. AWARE has been a respected and credible NGO all these years. What happened? As an NGO, AWARE must remain secular. It must not lean over to any side. No matter how, the religion and personal values of the an organization's Exco will come into play.

I have no vested interest in AWARE. I'm not gay. My friends are. I don't see a problem with that. So don't you dare throw the Bible at me. I'd like to see you try dying and refusing aid from a gay dude, preferring to wait and probably die before the straight guy gets to you. These friends stand loyal and brilliant to our friendship. These are friends I have trust my tuglines to and they stood by me throughout. I have no problem with people who are homophobic. But I have a problem with people who condemn and openly denounce gays when all they've seen, unfortunately, is the promiscuity of a general few.

The unfolding saga at AWARE has riveted the island. It might be the only thing for a long time now that has made people sit up and think, and perhaps be urged to move off the fence. I believe that the voice of civil society must remain strong. When was the last time you believed in a mission or a vision (that is not a work or personal cause) and did something concrete for it? If the controversial AWARE leadership change means this much to voting members, then we must speak, or hold our peace till the next AGM.

No need to tell me why I should vote. I can read. On one hand, I know I can't live with myself if I sit by and giggle over the news reports, make random comments and not do anything. I can't speak my mind on politics in any sort of sphere except the mainstream. That isn't a route I will take. However, it doesn't mean I have to shut up on other issues. I need to be very sure about why I want to vote.

I must dig deep and ask myself, if I attend the May 2 EOGM, what am I truly voting for?

Earth Day

My favorite Google event picture ever.

The man will just wilt in the heat without air-conditioning. I'm okay with heat actually. I don't even bother with fans. Fans that blow directly at the face give me a headache. That said, I confess I enjoy the constant temperature air-conditioning provides.

Be it at home or in hotel rooms, the room temperature is a constant fight between the man and I. I like it warm-ish at 25 degrees (celcius). He likes it at a minimum of 20 degrees. At home, we have separate blankets. Not because I have a tendency to monopolize the quilt if we just have one. It's for a practical reason- we can't agree on the thickness of the blanket. 2 blankets solve all issues! His is a light summer comforter and mine is a heavy duvet.

I've been draconian and increased our room temperature to 25 degrees for the past 2 years. He has given up on this fight. He can't get past the energy-saving argument anyway. It lowers the electrical bills too.

To celebrate Earth Day, we will sleep without air-conditioning for 2 nights. 1 down, 1 more to go. :p

An Evening Of Chamber Music

The girlfriend invited me out for dinner and a wonderful evening with T'ang Quartet and guest Albert Tiu on the piano.

I didn't exactly read up on the pieces to be performed, so I expected a mellow night. When I sat down and scanned the performance pieces, I was quite excited. The second half of the evening with Albert Tiu promised to be sizzling with the chosen pieces from Astor Piazzolla.

The second half completely wowed the audience. I was blown away. When I listen to music, I conjure up dance moves in my mind, be it classical, indie or pop. Tonight, I had entrechat six and grand pas de deux in rhythm to Hadyn's String Quartet in G Major (Op 77 No.1). I was a little lost when Maurice Ravel took stage with his String Quartet in F Major. I'm not completely sure why, but it conjured up images of the Mongolian steppes and Scottish hillside. The girlfriend and I quietly muttered about not being able to understand Impressionist composers. When Tango Ballet came on, I really enjoyed the sound of the piano that emphasized and layered with the strings. I imagined powerful movements of grand échappé sur les pointes and grand jeté en avant intertwined with classic tango.

It was such an enjoyable evening with great company and 2.5 hours (+ 3 encores) of lovely vibrant classical music delivered by musicians of the highest calibre. We had the most yummy dinner at you-know-where. Bread was ordered solely to sample the delectable butter again. Naturally, the night ended with a peaty note on 18.y.o Glenlivet and Macallan.

What's there not to like about this Monday?

A Recipe Book

The man flipped through a couple of books the other day at Chalk. He was enthralled with Giorgio Locatelli's Made In Italy Food And Stories. He had to go out to get himself a copy.

(He's got a trip to London scheduled very soon. So I bet you he's going to Zafferano and Locanda Locatelli.)

As interested as he is about internet recipes, I think he probably also wants to experiment with recipe books. The man always cooks a dish twice. Once to the instructions of the recipe (unless it's crap) and the second to his improvisation.

We haven't done any major dinners for the friends since January. We've been really busy- work trips and a packed social calendar and with the repairs taking up a full month, we've been lazy. I think this book will inspire him. He likes the language used in the book and how the dishes are presented to the readers. Let's see what comes out of his cooking pot after he's done with the new book.

To Sinema

So the Singapore International Film Festival hits us again. We mark the shows we want to watch and clear our schedules to catch them. Obviously Anvil is a hot favorite this year.

On a lovely sunny Saturday morning, the man unceremoniously dragged me out bed, dumped me in the car and drove to Sinema to catch the free screening of 18 Grams of Love.

I hadn't watched this film. Didn't like the sound of it. But the man wanted to watch it. So off I had to go. I only realized it was a Chinese film when the show rolled on. And about romance at that. I was so damn grouchy.

Well, the film was really much better than many big and small screen Singapore Chinese films. This one was quite humorous at some points, not too cheesy and not too mushy.

Still, I don't like this genre of shows. They make the eyeballs roll. I wished I had spent Saturday morning in bed, saved for the yummy lunch we had after. I also cheered up considerably at the clear sky. That heat made for a wonderful mid-afternoon swim session.

The Limit Of The Personal Sphere

As I eagerly catch up on the dramatic proceedings unfold at Aware, I'm rather shocked at the public statement issued by the employer of their new president. The statement is tantamount to a public rebuke.

Papa Smurf makes a very good point in his article. Many members of senior management across private and public sectors are multi-taskers. What's with this one, I wonder privately. What is exactly the conflict of interest? While I'm in no position to speculate about the going-ons behind the scene, I do think the way the new committee has been elected is not nice. It leaves quite an unpleasant taste behind.

I'm also reminded that my employer is also more or less 'involved' in dictating the direction of my personal life somewhat.

I'm sure my employer has no objections to volunteering in the areas of elderly care, rural improvements and micro-financing. They might not take well to my previous work with cats since there's an ongoing quiet epic argument with HDB. But I'm (and the friends too) very very careful to fly under the radar, i.e. no media mentions, no magazine articles, no public statements, nothing of that sort. Since the personal stuff is not linked to major organizations and more on a private group basis, my employer is not likely to know any details of my activities so long they aren't illegal. I most certainly don't bother to seek prior approval before I embark on these activities done on personal time.

I had a visitor who said hi to me at the office the other day. He was at the office for another matter, but he requested to see me. I was puzzled and it was only after we spoke, then I realized a personal friend from Lao had bade him to look me up. The friend and I were acquainted through an ongoing charity collaboration in Luang Prabang and I had stayed there for 4 months. The meeting governed by 2 degrees separation was a scary encounter. I didn't expect my personal life to suddenly mesh with the work sphere.

If I raise awareness for HIV/Aids in rural areas, it would be okay. But you see, if I actively advocate gay rights, not only would I alienate friends into opposing camps, I would also earn a stern admonishment from my employer. My employer is unlike the friends' employers who also accord company privileges to employees' partners, regardless of gender and marriage.

If I ever dabbled in political or human rights campaigns, dubious advocacy agenda, I will definitely be fired.

Graphs Keep The Bills In Check

Every month, I just pay the cellphone bill and be done with it. But sometimes, I just have to click on the tag and stare at the graphical representation of the cellphone bill for the past 6 months. I can't shake off the niggly feeling that I'm paying way too much for the usage.

I grimace at December's bill. The money is definitely spent on acknowledging and rejecting invites rather than accepting them. I distinctly remember partying a fair bit in January. Yet that is the month with the lowest usage charges. Very strange.

I'm not exactly a slave to my phone. My texting volume is nowhere near fiendish. I don't bother talking for more than 10 minutes on the phone to anyone. I'm supposed to get 700 minutes of free calls dammit. I don't bother taking the phone out with me quite often. So I think I'm not exactly getting a correct ratio pegged to the bill.

"IDD calls and texts, my dear." The man wisely reminded me. Right. I always forget to use the telco's budget IDD access code of 019. I simply key in the '+' sign whether I'm at home or overseas.

So when I factor in the IDD calls, it all makes perfect sense. I asked the friends about their phone charges. Many reported phone bills that are triple of mine. Oh well. My monthly phone bill is kept rather low then.

Sake, Secretly

Due to a confluence of factors these two weeks, we had many snacks and bottles of sake lugged home all the way from Japan piled up at the office.

Again, due to unforseen circumstances beyond our control, we had to have a secret gathering where the main aim of attendees was to sip the gift of sweet sake. Erm...after work hours, in the office. Sake is so much easier to drink unchilled than wine.

We rummaged through the food corner for snacks. We weren't starving but something to nibble on would be nice. We eyed another gift of vacuum-sealed dried(?) scallops. The individually packed scallops looked so so gross. But once we popped them into the mouth, the sweet but salty scallops went swimmingly with sweet sake. Happiness.

A Title Is Important

There are just too many junk mails, spam and viruses crawling through msn and emails. The work email is superb at filtering out junk mails. That's great. I don't like having personal emails sent to my work account. I'm quite insistent on friends (and the man) to send personal emails to my personal email accounts. On that front, it can be quite a battle keeping the home laptop and desktop worm-and-virus-free since they will never be as secure as the work laptop. (Thank gawwd for Macs.)

I'm quite anal when it comes to email subject headings. The friends need to be really creative when titling emails to me. Otherwise I usually don't bother reading them. Many times, I've missed out on emails of substance because the friends randomly forward stuff without writing anything in the body of the message or adjusting the heading. I've been scolded quite alot. Then they got wiser. They become ingenious with their subject headings. They personalize the titles so much till it's very obvious that it can't be anything else but a legitimate email or message.

Anything with a "FW:xxxxx", "Can you take a look at this pls?", "Interesting- pls read.", "Invite: Party @ XXXXX" ...... the sort, are automatically deleted even from known senders. On IMs, I flatly ignore pop-ups of links without an additional proper sentence.

Heh. In doing the filtering, it also helps to ensure the quality of forwarded 'jokes'. It almost guarantees that anything the friends send would be satirical or dark. No toilet humor. I refuse to read idiotic-ahahha-blah jokes, or worse, chain emails. If anyone sends me a chain email or a silly, uninvestigated request for blood donation type of messages, I'll write back and hammer them on the head for not using their brains to think it through.

Since I make so many demands on the friends, of course I reciprocate by properly titling the stuff I send over, lest I get an earful for non-compliance!

Have A Blessed Easter!

"And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here." ~ St Augustine

Easter to me has taken on a deeper meaning. Sitting right at the end of the financial year also meant that it's a time of reflection for me. I do these periodic time-outs anyway and Easter happens to coincide with one. If the passing of the year hasn't done much to soothe your soul, may the joy of Easter light new hope and inspiration in your heart.

May this Easter lend us strength to be better humans.

My Thoughts This Easter

There is something deeply healing about what I term as a 'retreat'.

I look forward to 9-hour sleeps, 2 sets of 2-hour pilates sessions, quiet conversation, long walks amidst nature and light meals.

I've had so many polite arguments with humans about yoga and its demonic connotations that I've given up. Of course I tried out yoga here. But I am very clear about reaping the scientific benefits. I don't care about the meditation. I focus on the breathing and try to rationalize yoga precepts to the secular functions of pilates.

There is something awe-inspiring about taking pilates out of the studio and into the mountains. Without the machines, there is still matwork. Stretching out in the middle of the land and the sky lends a balance to the slow beauty of each movement.

My stretches are longer and deeper. I feel as though I can push myself further. The sounds of nature, the silence and that sort of calm, is something I can't even begin to describe. It is the sort of calm that drives away white hair and dark eye circles. I am in touch with myself and God here.

Contrary to what some narrow-minded humans have commented, I believe being in a Buddhist land during Easter does not make me a sinner. (No more than I already am anyway.) This is why between friends, the moment religion is discussed, we are no longer friends. I do not like being told not to read or watch Harry Potter. I do not take kindly to suggestions that Javanese massages will induce demonic matter into my soul and body. I certainly do not appreciate humans telling me they wouldn't visit certain countries because the people are unGodly.

I definitely do not care for the tone of superiority. If you are so morally righteous, why do I not see you bend down to pick up a toilet brush to scrub the cubicles? You certainly don't even have the patience to sit down with old folks to help them with their mail? You carry God on your sleeve, but not in your heart.

It is laughable to see how they speak without thinking and I pity them for their bigoted ways. I believe in purgatory, not just hell and heaven. That will be my cross to bear. I don't see it as anyone else's business.

A Very Good Ad

This is one government agency's ad that I have no objection to viewing and trying to understand its message.

I am not touched by the ad. Too immune to advertising gimmicks. I am, however, in admiration of Yasmin Ahmad's vision and how she can reach out to people's hearts. I'm very impressed by the ad agency's casting of 'talents' and how they found real humans with real emotions to star in this short clip.

Most importantly, it's multi-racial. I like this touch very much. I'm not going to delve into the messages of Funeral. It doesn't quite appeal to me that way. I like to keep it clinical and look at it as an example of what constitutes a successful advertisement.

Following Family, Yasmin Ahmad has given us the beautifully imperfect Funeral.

Bye Bye Vinyls

We finally gave away the huge collection of vinyls that has been languishing at home.

With a graduated interest in another sort of sound system, we no longer have a vinyl player or any further interest in another. However, we are reluctant to simply junk the records just like that. These records are precious. Many of these are first edition releases and autographed records. We prefer to wait till someone who can appreciate them swing along.

We are thrilled that a friend bought a vinyl player and the turntable. He's looking to start up his vinyl collection. So he came by the flat to pick up all the records.

Do not ask why. But I really really like Barbara Streisand. I am sorry to see that record go. Luckily I have it another version of her concert on a blu-ray disc. Although I keep thinking that Coltrane sounds more magical on vinyl than on a cd even on the best of sound systems. Vinyls are all well mastered and sound alot more dynamic. The sound comes through warmer. Of course much depends on how the LP is pressed.

Naturally, we have Pink Floyd on vinyl too.

For A Quiet Weekend

Peeps, Manado in May is out for me. Sekali I'll go there and cry. Or worse, throw a tantrum.

Instead, a destination that's been off my radar for the last 2 years popped into my mind. It probably took seed during the last jaunt to Indonesia.

Remember how we used to party in the chic city, how much more fun it is than Jakarta? Well, I'm not exactly going to be getting drunk there. It's a retreat- a trip to absorb the natural beauty and wonders of the land.

I'm going to the mountains to mope for now, far away from the sea where it won't tug at the heartstrings.

That's it. Amanjiwo.

Staying On Land This Year

I pushed a little harder to do 30 laps in the pool instead of the usual 20 or 25. There were many reasons to just swim and clear the mind. Swimming is about the only thing I can do in the water now.

Well, I guess I'm a little upset. I've completed my medical and gotten pretty okay results. Of course there is a minor 'but'.

The doctor refused to clear me for any sort of diving this year. No deep diving, no 20-metre dives and not even mini freedives of 10 metres. "Haven't you done enough?" He asked. "Stick to snorkelling and frolicking in the water." Puiiiiiii.

What good would I be to the friends, their research and marine conservation without being able to dive and make tangible contributions? I need to mull over this.

In other news, the Tooth Fairy can continue to do her work. She'll be kept busy trying to grow my wisdom tooth out of the gum. The dentist said I didn't need to remove it. Hurrah! Plenty of space for it to grow. Meanwhile, it's going to be a long process of teething. I will have toothaches once in a bit when the Tooth Fairy visits.

Whatever. I wonder if I can ever dive again.

Passover

"And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever." ~ Exodus 12:17

I always wonder why matzo looks so burnt.

Honestly, I don't like it on its own. It doesn't taste very good. Not very many unleavened products taste good. Obviously, I can't slap butter on it to go along. But I can use margarine.

I realized that when you fry matza dough and fish, they go pretty well together. Food on Seder night is very healthy, more symbolic than gourmet.

An Afternoon At The Office

Some guy came down to the office for a presentation on laser tag.

I've never played laser tag. So once he was done with the talking, I grabbed the laser gun and checked it out. Laser tag is best played outdoors in a nature reserve or a park, or a dilapidated building. But in case it rains, we'd have to do that in the office. So I've gotta see how much noise the guns make and its true range!

Well. Whatever. More like my colleagues were benignly indulging me. They were all poised and cool. They simply held their laser guns. I dropped the corporate image and ran around shooting randomly at them. It was so easy to hit another target! Must be all the training from shooting zombies on the Wii. But it's also rather easy to get killed if I don't duck.

HAHA. That was fun. But not as fun as paintball. Direct and tangible hits are just so satisfying.

Too Much Sweets Probably

I tell you, my molar is trying to be funny. It's been fine and dandy. Suddenly, at 3pm, it suddenly started to hurt. Stupid molar. By now, the intensity of the pain's so bad that I can't chew and I kinda gave up on dinner. Cold water soothes it though.

The last X-ray revealed 3 wisdom tooth. 1's fine and grown out. The other 2 on the lower jaw are badly impacted. One doesn't quite hurt. This other one is probably pushing against the molar to find a way out. The wisdom tooth right behind it is struggling to grow, I think. The gums that contain the wisdom tooth usually hurt. But this time, a molar hurts. It indicates pressure on the nerves and maybe something worse.

I think this wisdom tooth would need to be extracted. SIGH. If it has to be removed, I might as well do it in the next 3 weeks. I don't have time next month to deal with annoying and recalcitrant teeth. Shakespeare said, "For there was never yet philosopher that could endure the toothache patiently." If the pain pierces my sleep tonight, I need to get my ass pronto to the dentist at the first available opportunity tomorrow.

I'm hungry though. Very hungrieeeeeeee and can't chew. :(

Dessert

The desserts at Les Saveurs are surprisingly just as good.

It's amazing that we still have space to squeeze in some sweets. They've a really large selection of pastries. We just have to try some.

We took one of each to share. I think it's very obvious that I love chocolate. Every dessert pick is chocolate. Wooohooo!

I normally dislike macarons. Those I've tasted in the commercial shops are really plasticky. The macarons I really love are from Madame Blanchet’s in St Emilion.

The friends declared that these were good, took one rose macaron for each. Then they practically forced me to try a rose macaron. I had to put one in my mouth. My eyes widened. I've got to say that it's beautiful. There are raspberry bits in between to offset the sugar. Maybe it's Chef Frédéric Colin's preference- apparently, the kitchen obtains its rosewater from Syria. That would explain the subtlety in flavor.

I was completely stuffed after mouthfuls of dessert. The only thing I could still stomach was champagne and sparkling water.

Singing Sappy Songs

With all his indie cred, obviously the man doesn't know a single sappy song on the guitars. Well, if given a proper tab, he'd be able to play it for you. But he hasn't been able to play by heart all the easy campfire songs because he doesn't like them! Hummmpf.

Now, there're a couple of sappy songs I commit to memory and try to practise it once in a bit. For those occasions when I do need to sing, then at least I have a repertoire to pick from.

I'm quite a pain in his ass. I'm too lazy to go play it on the piano. I'm not talented that way. I can't sing and play at the same time. It takes enormous effort. The easy way out is to make the man play the guitar for the songs I want to sing. Like tonight.

The man's playing with his PRS SE Custom. It sounded pretty much like an acoustic because its semi-hollow. When he's done with the jazz licks, I made him play Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are".

The man tsk-ed at the online tabs. Although the tabs are in the original D, they don't sound right. D is too low for me anyway. He had to transpose it to F and put a capo on it. Yay! At least I get to sing the song in a proper key! Now, I must remember that this is the key most comfortable for me. :)

Then the man got bored and told me my singing sucks. Then he went back to play very complicated non pentatonic progression chords. Boo.

See How Much I Like Running

I'm doing my biennial thorough medical.

Besides a lung capacity test and the ECG, I'm also required to run on the treadmill.

I hate the running part. I can't run for nuts. The friends all run regularly. Like clocking up 10km easy peasy. There is one particularly annoying woman who after running 10km, can still join me for another 15km on inline wheels.

Anyway, the point is, I don't run, so I don't own a pair of running shoes. No track shoes, no tennis shoes. Nothing. So since I've to huff and puff on the treadmill, I need a pair of shoes right?

One would think I'd finally go out to buy a new pair. Well, I didn't, I'm so nonchalant about it. I ran using a borrowed pair of Asics.

午餐点滴

今天出席了一顿午宴。

客人称我为“小妹妹”。

奇怪了。我看了资料。大家年龄差别不太大。我说我已经34啦。他们立即改口叫“美女”。 o_O

我又不是很美。这一班广东人真幽默。

The Winter's Tale In Singapore

I dislike Shakespeare's major plays simply because I was forced to study them to pass the exams. And studied them well I did. Aced the exams. But so what? A love of the written word is cultivated, but not for Shakespeare. There's a special DISLIKE AND AVOID compartment in my mind for it.

Unfortunately, many friends enjoy the Shakespeare. I've had the 'fortune' to watch many both in Singapore and England. I don't mind Shakespeare's minor plays, especially 'The Winter's Tale' adapted from 'Pandosto'.

Months ago, the don't-live-in-Singapore friends alerted me to the transatlantic The Bridge Project and said that it would be worth watching a US-UK venture. They told me to grab tickets coz all of them would be flying into town to catch this play!

Well, it's Sam Mendes directing this. I couldn't say no. I watched it for Simon Beale and Sinéad Cusack, not Ethan Hawke. Heh. How lucky Singapore is to be the only Asian stop for a world-class Shakespearean play. It is with some excitement that I attended the final night performance of The Winter's Tale in Singapore. Also, was glad to see the friends.

The three-hour play is nothing short of spectacular. My back ached so badly till I had to come home and contort like a candy cane to get the kinks out. Nevertheless, I sat through the play in a half-rapture. I don't particularly like it, but I can appreciate it. Shakespeare's works can be such a pleasure when performed by renowned character actors. The night has been truly truly excellent.