waitrose packaging never fails to convince us we need to buy something every time we step in.

Dried porcini mushrooms do make for an excellent risotto though. Can’t take the credit for making it (Shawn’s the one who’s an excellent cook), but definitely can take the credit for licking the plate clean.

Start doing & refine.
Start somewhere (even if its not where you want to be) & take it where you want to go.
Start being & not let ideas sit in your imagination lazing.

Stop being so precious, and for heaven’s sake, just start.

My really quick entry to finish up the SYTYCB challenge (part of OurCommunity.sg) : Produce a short 1 min video on what “our community” means to you.

Like the rest of mankind, I started with A, and took my time to dawdle down the alphabet lane.
I’d say they’re a nod to Edward Gorey and Lewis Carroll, but mine are still seedlings to their oaks.

I’ve gotten up to P. Here’re some of my favourites so far:

a is for arthur
who made a quick dash,
tripped over a walrus
& drowned with a splash.

e is for ellie
who liked her weed pie,
gobbled 3 dozen at one shot
& entered heaven all high.

h is for hannah
who played house in a box,
tried being a Hoover,
choked on a striped sock.

n is for nelly
who felt the world was too bright,
bought a bucket of squid soot,
painted herself a nice night.

Was tempted to put this title as “Eye-ee-ay-ee-aayy, I’m your little butterfly / Green, black and blue, make the colours in the sky”. However, I figured not everybody would appreciate my ah-lian DDR (that’s Dance, Dance Revolution for the lucky uninitiated who weren’t sucked into that black frenzied hole) past.  The photo above is not an allusion to my shady yesteryear memories – it’s because I don’t have / forgot to bring a face mirror and had to make do with the iPhone. True story: Last night a SmartPhone Saved My Life.

So it was a long Journey to the West that Sunday afternoon. My Eastie rear was good and sore by the time I hopped off at Boon Lay. Okay, I lie. I definitely was moving too slow to justify “hopped off”. After which I was tossed into a sea of moving bodies – also known as Jurong Point – and promptly got lost.  Had to wave the white flag and unfortunately utilize my helpline – known as Westie friends on speed dial who will laugh at you (loudly) when you proclaim you don’t know your coordinates.

Ah, Frontier CC, you are not easy to find.

(on a side note: Is that Century Gothic I spy with my eye for the sign?)

What is fortunate, is that Ms. Carole Muriel Smith is an excellent speaker who knows exactly what she’s talking about. Made the 1.5 hour trip worth it. There were notes; we were treated to sample eye creams & gels; we learnt how to massage the eye area to alleviate droopy lids; there was a strange vibrating hand-held machine that I’m quite makes eye lotions more effective, and I met one of the other bloggers, William, who’s a lovely guy. He works as a social worker at IMH (impressive) and He’s got much better photos than I do, so pop over to his side to take a look.

Part of the SYTYCB challenge (part of OurCommunity.sg), I went for sushi / mahjong / eye-spa while Nabs went for boxercise/make-up/gourmet cooking classes!

community walk // July 21st

You should have seen my mom’s gleeful face when I told her I was going to rise-and-shine at 7am, to head down for the community walk with her. She must have thought the aliens had abducted me and given her a better version in replacement. A version that was programmed to wake up before noon on Sundays.

A little bit of background on my mother:
She’s been helping out at Changkat CC & RC for as long as I can remember, and is a big supporter of Irene Ng. Yes, the mother has many many white articles of clothing in the closet.

So since half the family was going for the walk, my father ( a natural 7am rise-and-shiner ) decided to come along too. That’s them in the 5th photo. Aren’t they sweet?

Blue skies, sunny clouds, you couldn’t ask for much more. Perhaps less cars as we trundled along the granite pavements, headed for our no-idea-where final destination. Some of our ushers along the way were primary school kids in bright yellow shirts. Awfully cute; realised later that they were siblings of the soccer / kite flying clubs that were there. The latter flies indoor kites and kites in formation. Quite cool. Would have stayed longer, but was due back in the office, so left promptly after cotton-candy and popcorn.

Part of the SYTYCB challenge (part of OurCommunity.sg),  do take a look at Nab’s community walk too. We’re both in the same East area, just different zones.

Played around w a kaleidoscope from childhood one Sunday morning. The iPhone camera lens fits nicely at the eyehole. Recently, Cain passed me an Octoscope, so once the work-storm blows over, I’m going to take it out for a walk.

Kaleidoscopes always make me feel the same way I do when I listen to this The Asteroid Galaxy Tour Song:

Spending part of my childhood in Japan meant that sushi and sashimi were a staple, and I never thought twice about the bento boxes with beautifully presented sushi some classmates brought to class. They were a given.

So when we first returned to Singapore, – back in the days before Sushi Tei existed – I missed the ready availability of sushi boxes and bright colours of ebiko (prawn roe), japanese cucumber, pickles and more. Thankfully, my mom’s pretty good at making home-made sushi, so that’s what we had when we didn’t want to go to the restaurants.

On a side note, my sister recently got happily hitched to her boyfriend of 5 years. He’s one of the sushi chefs at Hide Yamamoto (MBS), so big big smiles and potentially full tummies all around! Good job, Jie. And yes, of course we like him for far more than his sushi-making /octopus-slicing/tempura-frying skills…

Since there are no other sushi experts on the marrying horizon, I figured learning the technique might be the way to go.

Spotted Kendo classes going on at Siglap CC and they have wheelchair-friendly lift too.

Chef Alvin ran the class, assisted by his wife. He used to work at a Japanese restaurant in a hotel. Aren’t you impressed by how many ladies whipped out their phones/cameras the moment the practical portion started?

Next up was the hands-on session, rolling makimono and making gukkan. My all-time favourite sushi is kappa-maki. Cheapest kid on the block, but so good with soya sauce. Chef Alvin’s tip: Always deseed the japanese cucumber, so that there’s no excessive water content when you use the bamboo mat to squeeze the sushi into shape.

This lady had the neatest sushi rolls out of all. Trust me, it was hard to get them the same size and right squarishness.

Met my mom’s friend, Cindy! How brilliant is that.

The lady below rushed down after work to learn how to make the rolls for her 2 sons (5 and 3 years old). She says they clamour for sushi each time, and especially love the ones with ebiko. There are 3 common types of roe used in sushi: ebiko, tobiko (flying fish) and ikura (salmon)

I stopped making sushi after 2 rolls because I probably should have spent more time listening and less time taking pictures. I suspect Chef Alvin looked at my sushi bamboo-mat rolling a little despairingly.  Tempted to choose courses now that I’m better at, but what’s the fun then! Messaged my brother-in-law straight after to proclaim my awe of his talent. He must have been freaked out. We usually only talk during family dinners, even though we get along. Shall ask him for personal remedial lessons soon.

On hindsight,  compared to the earlier childhood photo, this other photo of sakura trees & I prophesies more accurate how my japanese culinary skills were going to turn out.  Wheee.

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Nabs went for the western culinary course with Chef Yong. She’s also part of this SYTYCB challenge (part of OurCommunity.sg),  do vote for her!