WAIT! God is speaking to me!

WAIT! God is speaking to me!
Originally uploaded by dezzo.

I was going to tie my hair! But yes the caption makes for a more interesting/ridiculous moment. Thanks ah Dezzo. Tsk

This is our Land

I am very happy with the direction that the Singapore government is taking in terms of education, as Singapore gears up for a population of 6 million and beyond. I was very impressed with their decision to start up a small culinary school to train up chefs as the majority of our talented ones are being shanghaied overseas with better career advancement and pay prospects. Yes I suppose one could argue that this is purely a consequence of the lack of a well rounded, all encompassing education system, one that purely focused on academia and the honing of specific occupations (like the oversaturation of engineers in the market now). Yes we may have been that way for many many years, but I am glad that they are doing something about it. Better late than never.

What I would give to be a child of the 21st century, with the assortment of various courses available, the 2 big local design outfits, the 3 major universities, the plethora of distance learning institutions and renowned offshore universities like UNSW and DUKE setting up shop on our tiny island. This is truly becoming a land of opportunities, and I used to think that one could not make it big in Singapore simply by working hard. I am begining to see that that may no longer be the case. With programmes to help people upgrade their skills, and opportunities to return to school if you so choose to, our options are limitless.

Let us stop winging about the lack of opportunities and how life is difficult on our island and fully exploit the choices that have been laid before us. Never take no for an answer, never look back with regret and excel to your fullest potential. Because honestly, this is the one shot we have at living (well, that's if you don't believe in reincarnation, if not one could pray to lead the perfect life as a cat in the next life) the one shot at leaving your mark, at changing the world/people around you. If you are like me and are in your late twenties, we have another good 30 odd years to work, live and learn. Think about it. Would you want to lie on your death bed and say... I was mediocre?

Stress Induced Actions

Whenever it is the height of exam season (which is very often with this accelerated programme), I'll take a pair of scissors and crudely chop off my fringe, obviously in a fit of uncalculated frustration. I often fail to see the asthetic consequences of my actions during the cutting, and suffer for the next few post exam weeks when personal preening, make-up and clothes matter once again. Of course this barbaric act is downright obscene to my prim and proper cheongsam wearing mother, but she has learnt to realise that grades and mental well-being matter more than an unhappy daughter having to deal with revision and one of the 3 fringe related senarios:
1) The flipping and holding of fringe away from eyes with one hand while the other flips pages
2) Stray bits of fringe that miraculously unravel their bastard selves from under the pins to flick about on one's forehead when the fan flows
3) The headache generated from the wearing of hairbands no matter how loose the hair accessory is. Senario 3 also includes the same stray bits of bastard hair.

Miraculosly, when I permed my hair 2 years ago, I seldom had these fringe problems, because the hairstylist had cleverly flicked and permed the fringe away from my eyes. Very Farah Fawcett I know, but hey, whatever works! I think it's time to dig deep into my angpow stash and get this sorted. Then again, having money for good food vs fussing with hair, that's always been the issue hasn't it?

Ah. Maybe I should just do a Britney Spears.

In an effort to remember birthdays this year...

Happy Birthday Belle!
May maturity never dampen your trusting and pure of heart nature.

Next up, the beautiful mother Hoon :)

Welcome Home

We were invited to Ed's, Jen's and Brighton's spanking new pad for dinner and games. Food was smashing and the pad is shaping up beautifully, especially the opulent boudoir. Very scarlet hotel :)

The beginning of the end looks a little like thisAnd progresses to this
All because of this
Chef Tung
Brighton takes a peek
Duck Pasta for Starters (I didn't get a shot of the scallops in ginger sauce which we had to go with this!)
Steak. We love our cow
Mash
Brighton pulls the doe eyed look
The fantastic magic ice cream factory churns black sesame flavoured goodness
Brighton kicks back
Proud parents
Thanks guys!


PS: Pictures are up in 'Dinner Pals'

Little Shop of Oddities

Sometimes I think I will perish alone with nothing but my little shop of oddities, each deep in their own raucous soliloquies.

Girls Day Out

No prizes for guessing our favourite lazy weekday footwear
The boiling of food is a lengthy affair

Post Valentine's

Nikolai Jr. acts all nonchalnt after being caught tossing in the lilies.

Nikolai the Nordic

Check this out! Dezzo's take on the Nordic look. I'm really impressed! Complete with light globes and sunlight streaming in! Explains why he's the creative and I'm not. Heh.

Nikolai

We went to Style Nordic yesterday because I had only just recently seen their christmas collection and spied pointy hats among the rudolfs and mistletoe. The friendly shop guy was made to rummage though the store room to look for our Nordic friends, much to his amusement. "It's a Christmas Novelty thing!" he chuckled.
"I'll remember today!"
"Why? Cause we made you rummage through your storeroom?"
"No cause someone actually wants gnomes at this time of the year!"
So with that, Dezzo solved his valentine's day gift (although he says that's not it) and I walked away welcoming Nikolai and his Jr.s into our family.

Nikolai Jr.s hanging out