between 7 and 9

Yu Sheng

2012-02-05T00:34:00.010+08:00

I had forgotten that chinese new year is celebrated over a period of 15 days. So this weekend, it was dinner at my aunt Linda's. Happy weekend everyone!

Wednesday

2012-02-01T21:45:00.003+08:00

Missing quiet times.

Saturday night

2012-01-28T23:50:00.004+08:00

Tonight we took the last of the fudge chocolate banana cake at Old School Delights.

Thursday

2012-01-26T20:45:00.001+08:00

Nothing much. Just pots.

Monday

2012-01-23T21:48:00.009+08:00

The chinese new year's celebrations are finally winding down and it's been good catching up with family I wouldn't otherwise see much of during the year. I think we should have long weekends every month!

One more day

2012-01-20T22:24:00.005+08:00

Have a good weekend and gong xi fa cai to all celebrating the Chinese Lunar new year!

Evening light

2012-01-17T22:35:00.000+08:00

Relish

2012-01-14T18:37:00.003+08:00

We chanced upon this cafe today and we wished we didn't have lunch already. So we had dessert instead. Another weekend visit for sure. Happy Saturday to you all.

Tis the season

2012-01-13T22:36:00.008+08:00

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and you just can't miss the reds and pinks everywhere!

Things around the house

2012-01-12T21:10:00.005+08:00

Hoping for a different view this weekend.

Weekend walk

2012-01-08T14:49:00.004+08:00

Happy weekend to you all.

Thursday

2012-01-05T21:21:00.003+08:00

The cookie making has not stopped. Neither has the eating. There goes one of my new year's resolution.

Warmth

2012-01-03T20:09:00.002+08:00

This weekend was filled with sunlight and lots of soft bread.

Hello 2012

2012-01-01T17:16:00.004+08:00

Happy new year dear friends.

Goodbye 2011!

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000+08:00

Fruitcake

2011-12-30T21:55:00.003+08:00

I'm told this is really good fruit cake. My aunt baked it for my mom. I don't eat fruitcake. I don't know why. But i am fascinated that they can keep for years.

This one's open

2011-12-28T08:25:00.007+08:00

We had the most pleasant evening at Books Actually yesterday. It's tucked in a corner of Tiong Bahru Road and you probably need a whole day or more to comb through the selection of books some you wouldn't find elsewhere so says my husband the reader. He was rather dismayed when Borders closed and now Page One. You know the little kid who wails when his ice cream falls off the cone? That's him everytime a bookstore closes down. I suppose it's a different experience when you're actually at a bookstore- the simple act of walking, stopping, picking a book out from the shelf, being surrounded completely by books and more books and then some more, and in some, amidst a treasure trove of memorabilia complete with the bookstore cat. We walked, stopped, looked, oohed and ahhed and fought the urge to hug the cat who was more interested in getting his dinner.

Next time.

Tea and the sniffles

2011-12-27T11:27:00.008+08:00

Tis the season to be recovering from flu. It was not fun coming down with a temperature on Christmas Eve and missing out on the celebrations but I'm just glad the worst is over. It's true what they say about good health being the ony thing you'd wish for when you don't have it. Of course when you do, you think about other things having tea with family and friends and possibly having a coffee maker in the kitchen.

lately

2011-12-26T08:04:00.010+08:00

[afterword: I have finally figured out how to make my pictures bigger on blogger without driving myself completely insane! Seeing things bigger here still needs some getting used to though. Thank you all for visiting and taking the time to write your greetings it always add a little sparkle to my week.]

merry christmas and happy holidays!

2011-12-24T09:35:00.002+08:00

the week in black and white

2011-12-22T13:59:00.005+08:00

it's been nice taking some time off before christmas and just doing the things i wouln't otherwise be doing. christmas is town is really lively but the crowd just makes me want to stay home. hope your week's looking good.

maybe knitting

2011-12-11T21:53:00.004+08:00

i woke up this morning looking for these knitting needles. it took me the whole day. in the process, i discovered things i had in my cupboards and dresser that i forgotten i ever had them. then of course, this led to having the need to organize my cupboards and dusting shelves and dropping by the mall to look for boxes to organize my stuff and i mean all kinds of stuff. by then, it was evening time and then i remembered why i was looking for these knitting needles. last night, i had seen a picture of some lovely yarn in a magazine and thought of taking up knitting again. maybe another day.

how's your weekend?

wednesday

2011-11-30T21:44:00.007+08:00

on some days i wish the world was simpler as black and white.

Xiamen 3

2011-11-23T19:46:00.003+08:00

these are the last of the xiamen series. i wish to go off somewhere soon again!

Xiemen 2

2011-11-20T14:59:00.005+08:00

Some pics from Gulangyu, an island off the coast of Xiamen. it's about a 5 min ferry ride. its a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Xiamen 1

2011-11-16T16:12:00.004+08:00

it's been a wonderful 4 days in xiamen which is a major city of China. the purpose of visit was really to catch up with an old friend who's been working there for about 10 years now. i can understand the attraction the place has for her. the lifestyle is alot simpler than home here and the people lead their own lives without much fanfare. there isn't alot of of the pleasantries that one might be used to when you step into the shops but they will help you readily if you had questions or needed help with directions. i saw someone at the hotel tipping the doorman who quietly declined and smiled as he helped him with his luggage.

i loved walking the streets. it comes alive especially over the weekends and the street food is delicious but rather salty. i took alot of food pictures but somehow didn't do a good job of it. many of it with blown out highlights. above are just some pictures of the streets.

arbite

2011-11-05T23:52:00.006+08:00

we had brunch at arbite today. we stumbled upon it in serangoon gardens and i love it not just for the food but for the quiet simplicity of the place. it felt like i was visiting a friend at and i'm sure to go again.

although i'm grateful for the long weekend, it feels like the work week hasn't quite ended yet. lots of possibilties to create change in a new project but yet feeling uncertain and anxious about doing it right. i am though, feeling excited and relaxed about an upcoming holiday trip. i'll tell you all about it soon.

in the meanwhile, i hope the week has been good to you. have a great weekend!

random bits

2011-10-23T21:46:00.004+08:00

happy sunday!

monday

2011-10-10T22:48:00.006+08:00

hope you're having a decent monday. it's rainy and wet today and i would rather be stomping around in bright yellow boots.

sweet saturday

2011-10-08T20:23:00.002+08:00

happy weekend!

just sunday

2011-10-02T17:12:00.001+08:00

Hello. Happy Sunday! I am listening to this at the moment. What's playing on yours?

a little time off

2011-09-26T20:11:00.012+08:00

hello. it's been a while. i hope that you're doing well. i had a chance to unwind in bangkok this weekend and what you see are some random bits. in truth i haven't been inspired much with my pictures and then life just got very very busy. thank you for still dropping by i hope this will get me to start posting more. in the meanwhile i am having a whale of a time visiting you. hope you're having a good weekend.

random bits

2011-07-15T23:09:00.004+08:00

i am planning to read a good read this weekend and go to the post office to send mail to a far-away friend. what are you up to?

tanjong pagar railway station

2011-07-12T20:20:00.004+08:00

singapore's historic train station recently closed much to the sadness of many who travelled often from here to kuala lumpur to penang to bangkok since its operation in 1932. i haven't been on this train or least had no memory of being on one. like many, we tried to get a ticket before the last train ride however they were all snapped up. many wanted to take a last trip down memory lane. the sultan of johor wanted to drive the last train out really badly because of sentimental reasons. and he did. his great grandfather had paved the way for the first train from malaysia into singapore back in 1932. i would have loved to be on that train. it's funny how we take for granted everyday things until it goes away.

an evening of shared joy

2011-07-10T13:32:00.009+08:00

he is from africa who has made a life in australia and she is a friend of more than fifteeen years and a hometown girl who is always contented with the simple things in life. and it was to everyone's delight when she announced that someone special had won her over and to come celebrate the evening with her. amongst close friends and relatives, they exchanged their vows and many tender moments that did not go unnoticed. i think their smiles really said it all. here's to the wonderful couple may you both have a very happy and blessed life ahead.

porridge at balestier

2011-07-03T14:26:00.008+08:00

an evening of comfort food at balestier road. this is the same stretch of road where i go to when i need anything to do with lights and fixtures so it's funny that i forgot that there's really good food here. i must return.

stuck

2011-06-26T21:10:00.006+08:00

i took a walk this evening and spotted this kite stuck on the tree and thought how apt this is to describe my week. a little stuck with work lately, happy but wishing that the winds will shift so that i can have more adventures with my camera. thank you for taking the time to visit and for all your comments. i feel contiually inspired when i visit your sites. have a good evening to all and a good week ahead.

beer fest 2011

2011-06-18T23:40:00.006+08:00

zeiss ikon nettar

2011-06-12T19:21:00.004+08:00

this is what my father bought at the flea market. we don't know much about it but i know i need to get me some 120mm film.

chicken rice

2011-06-06T19:30:00.002+08:00

if i could only eat one thing everyday. and it has to be wee nam kee's hainanese chicken rice.

brunch at pete's

2011-06-04T17:02:00.008+08:00

pete's at the basement of hyatt hotel is a cosy italian restaurant and it has one of the best salad bar and soups and pasta. i love the brick wall, checkered table cloth which reminds me of the 70's, but it's a challenge to take pictures with the dim yellow lighting (so if you have any ideas). the ambiance is great though and it feels like a family restaurant 'where everybody knows your name'. happy weekend once again!

quiet sunday

2011-05-29T17:50:00.002+08:00

in good company

2011-05-28T21:30:00.003+08:00

today

2011-05-21T14:30:00.004+08:00

this weekend is filled with a little dusting of coffee moments and catching up with the week's things to do which I didn't get to. not terribly exciting but i hope you're having a good one!

cocette

2011-05-16T21:55:00.003+08:00

located in the wanderlust hotel, this is a french restaurant tucked away in little india with beautiful comfy decor and really good food. there's so many little knick knacks tucked away to make the place oh so homely. but i keep wanting those chairs.

monday

2011-05-09T20:19:00.005+08:00

this weekend i tried the gula melaka pandan cake at cedele's, watched a candy making session and listened to this kid play this cool instrument (i'm still figuring out what it is).

y'all have a great week ahead!

mom

2011-05-08T10:06:00.006+08:00

this is my mom's dresser. there is a piece of story behind everything here. it tells of who she is and a little about how she became who she is today. i like it that i get it. and more importantly i like me. i think that says alot more about her than me. happy mother's day mom.

saturday

2011-05-07T18:05:00.001+08:00

happy weekend!

little random bits

2011-05-04T19:23:00.007+08:00

i had so much fun with the little guys and family this trip that i had neglected to take more pictures of the city. here's some random bits. gotta love the piano music basker with a feather in his cap.

a week with little people

2011-05-02T09:33:00.011+08:00

and this is what i learnt. ask when you need help. belt up otherwise you won't go very far. wash your hands before and after every meal, that way, you won't get worms in your gut, and more importantly you'll get dessert. sing as much as you want. take play seriously. always be kind. unless someone takes away your toy. yell really loud, take it back and then hug and make up. ask questions. lots of them. find something to be amazed at everyday. lollies is the key to happiness. having love in your life is the key to bigger happiness. say you're sorry when you hurt someone. ask for a hug when you need one. dance. love generously. forgive and forget. tomorrow's a brand new day.

sunday bits

2011-04-17T17:09:00.007+08:00

aside from watching the good wife this weekend, i wrapped these up for next weekend where i'll get to spend time with my little nieces in melbourne. the idea is to have them unwrap one pressie for each day of the week while i'm there. these are toys i got from the toy museum and i've got a strong feeling that the grownups are going to enjoy these more. happy weekend to you!

saturday bits

2011-04-16T20:24:00.008+08:00

chocolate

2011-04-09T18:40:00.005+08:00

a whole lot of chocolate and a little retail therapy with mom always help put a different perspective to a really long week. happy weekend everyone.

toy museum

2011-04-03T00:49:00.007+08:00

this is the mint toy museum at seah street. i had fun walking through five storeys of toys and would have played with them if they weren't behind the glass walls. i recognized a few of the toys that brought back fond memories of my early childhood years although most of the time i had wanted to exchange my gifts of dolls and dresses for my brother's toy trains and airplanes, cowboys and horses.

a little distraction

2011-04-01T18:17:00.003+08:00

it's pretty unusual to have a nice little distraction on a weekday afternoon for me. comfort food and great company at lao bejing. hope this coming weekend is filled with the kind of distractions you like.

tuesday

2011-03-29T23:50:00.006+08:00

i miss far away places, cool weather and coffee talks. hope you're off to a good week.

8:30pm

2011-03-26T23:00:00.000+08:00

lights out for earth hour today.

random bits

2011-03-19T13:38:00.020+08:00

this week

2011-03-17T21:13:00.009+08:00

this week, I discovered pencil sculptures, read this short story, sang this in the bathroom, found a way to dress up tuna, and fought the urge to hug this little guy. all in all, a really good week. hope you're having a good one too.

E

2011-03-15T22:01:00.000+08:00

we discovered a little place tucked away at dempsey road. E food and wine is the dining arm of john erdos furniture gallery. just follow the E on the big floating white balloon. it is amidst lush greenery and just the feel of quiet make you think that you're somewhere far far away. just what you might need to clear a busy mind and appreciate the simpler things in life.

prayers for japan

2011-03-13T21:24:00.007+08:00

we read this morning's papers in silence. there are no words. only feelings. and quiet prayers that no more be hurt and all survivors found and reunited with their loved ones.

saturday brunch

2011-03-12T22:59:00.007+08:00

here's to a leisurely saturday brunch. hope you're having one too.

of sky sea and fog

2011-03-08T21:38:00.003+08:00

i am fascinated with camera filters on the iphone.

saturday

2011-03-05T20:47:00.012+08:00

i haven't been getting enough sleep this week and if not for my husband getting me out of the house for lunch, i wouldn't have gotten out of bed today. i miss my camera and going to new places. in the meanwhile, i am loving this and wishing someone is secretly planning for one right here.

little addictions

2011-02-27T16:47:00.008+08:00

this my latest. i can't seem to stop. waterthins with nutella, waterthins with cheese, waterthins with tomatoes and waterthins so good you can eat them on their own. what's your latest addiction?

friday

2011-02-25T22:41:00.001+08:00

the weekend's here. have a yippee one y'all!

yesteryears

2011-02-22T21:58:00.008+08:00

do you get excited when you see something that remind you of yesteryears? i took a trip down memory lane when i went by this store called birds and co. by books actually. almost everything there took me to a place and/or person or event that happened a while ago. and they all made me smile. one day, decades later, someone will walk into a store like this and see a macbook, an iphone and say hey, my grandma used to use one just like that.

rockstar

2011-02-19T21:11:00.005+08:00

it has been a long week so i decided to sneak in some time at the end of the day to visit one of my favourite store. i hope you folks get to sneak some time for play this weekend. Have a good one.

tuesday

2011-02-15T22:40:00.003+08:00

happy valentine's day

2011-02-14T21:01:00.003+08:00

friday

2011-02-11T21:39:00.002+08:00

i have this playing on my music list at the moment and i can't keep still. have a great weekend.

rainy day

2011-02-10T20:09:00.003+08:00

these were taken two weeks ago at sentosa. we were hoping to spend a day at the beach but it ended up pouring much to our dismay so we ended up at spa botanica. staying in the indoor heating pool with this playing made up for it.

being human

2011-02-09T22:00:00.011+08:00

i started to watch the bbctv series of being human and was surprised at how i was so drawn to it. if you haven't seen it already, it's about three roommates, a vampire, werewolf and ghost, trying really hard to live a life of normality in a neighbourhood and having to cope with their 'special needs'.

it's a wonderful distraction on a weekday. hope you're all having a good start to the week.

quiet evening

2011-02-06T19:01:00.002+08:00

it's been a wonderful long weekend of celebrations and catching up with loved ones and meeting new acquaintances. i hope you're having a good one too.

scenes from a bookstore

2011-02-05T17:50:00.004+08:00

4 feb

2011-02-04T21:07:00.005+08:00

i love my aunt nancy's home. here are some quiet moments amidst the noise and festivity today.

3 feb

2011-02-03T19:06:00.006+08:00

eve of the chinese new year

2011-02-02T21:41:00.008+08:00

random

2011-01-31T21:46:00.004+08:00

a walk...the museum...and cookie making moments.

cookies on sunday

2011-01-30T15:39:00.000+08:00

all mine *evil laugh*

afternoon tea

2011-01-29T02:05:00.006+08:00

my first attempt at film. my dad laughed at me when he saw me try to load the film in this old (but well cared for) pentax mx which i found in an ad that said 'in search for a home'. last year i tried a friend's film camera only to discover after a few days of shooting that i didn't load it properly. i'm glad some pictures turned out this time but i'm definitely going to need a lot more experience with this camera and film. if you have any tips or stories to share...

have a weekendish weekend everyone!

i feel prickly

2011-01-26T20:05:00.009+08:00

you know that song..

i feel pretty

oh so pretty

i feel pretty and witty and bright!

and i pity

any girl who isn't me tonight!

..today i walked past the cactus collection of my neighbour's and the song was ringing in my head except i replaced 'pretty' with 'prickly'. i think i need to get out more often.

hope you're having a good week.

round the corner

2011-01-19T23:02:00.003+08:00

chinese new year's just round the corner. right now every family who celebrates the day is busy spring cleaning the house hoping to sweep away all ill fortunes and to make way for good luck and all things good. on the eve of new year which falls on the second next month, all families will get together to have a feast, more commonly known as the reunion dinner. you see chinese goodies everywhere here and the streets are lined with lanterns and mandarin oranges like these.

lines

2011-01-18T20:32:00.003+08:00

i took these in an old neighbourhood in queenstown. the gate and series of letter boxes are a common sight here.

playground art

2011-01-17T23:32:00.003+08:00

i loved this series of photos of playgrounds around the island. i would have loved to be part of the design team. they bring back memories of when i was a child. i still like visiting these playgrounds and find an excuse to play in them when i take my nieces out.

boston meets tang

2011-01-16T19:20:00.003+08:00

last night we attended a concert by the Boston Brass band and the Tang String Quartet. they played the music of romeo and juliet and later selections from westside story. i never did think about a brass band coming together with the string section before. and it was perfect. i didn't want the music to end. hope you're having a great weekend.

simply soba

2011-01-15T23:14:00.001+08:00

could be

2011-01-12T22:32:00.003+08:00

have you ever had one of those days where you think about what you would do differently if you weren't doing what you were doing now? i do sometimes. today i think of being a seamstress. and sewing clothes for audrey hepburn.

monday

2011-01-10T22:25:00.003+08:00

today is my father's birthday. we had a night out and it was really comforting to hear that if he had to re-live any age of his life, it would be right now at 74. happy birthday papa.

saturday

2011-01-08T14:37:00.002+08:00

wednesday

2011-01-05T20:26:00.008+08:00

i was inspired by robin to think of a word that would sum up my attempts to be this year. i think that word is brave. brave enough to try something without knowing the answer, to be uncertain, to be spontaneous and to finally say it didn't go at all as i planned but boy, what an adventure!

tuesday

2011-01-04T22:13:00.000+08:00

first meal

2011-01-01T10:59:00.003+08:00

i started the year with my favourite food. pasta yeah! only this time i added a few more chilis than i usually do. so by mid way into our meal, my husband and i were sniffling with tears running down our cheeks and refilling our glasses with ice cold orange juice til there weren't any left. my mom-in-law came back with a new potted plant that's suppose to bring us prosperity and i dished her a plate of pasta with a warning rating which she said she was brave enough to try. hope you're having a memorable start to the year.

quiet celebration

2010-12-31T21:07:00.002+08:00

my last post for 2010! happy new year everyone!

christmas eve

2010-12-25T01:31:00.005+08:00

these are some pictures from this morning's christmas eve's party. but it's now past midnight already and officially Christmas! so have a very merry christmas from my family to you and yours, may your christmas stockings be filled with lots of laughter, joy, peace and goodwill towards yourself and others and may you also keep your two front teeth for a really long time!

the french stall

2010-12-22T22:24:00.004+08:00

this evening i had the chance to have dinner with my aunt who took us to The French Stall, a little restaurant tucked away in a neighbourhood that you wouldn't think you would find french food. i'm not quite sure what is good french food but i liked what i ordered.

a detour

2010-12-16T22:43:00.001+08:00

special tree

2010-12-14T22:01:00.004+08:00

i walked past a hotel today and decided to wait in there as i was early for my appointment. i stopped right here and thought about how long it took them to put up this christmas tree. i can still remember the thrill i had when my parents bought a green (plastic) tree when we were kids and we all had fun decorating it. i made sure all the tinsels and other shiny bits were evenly distributed and thought it so clever of mom and dad to have cotton on the tree so that it'll look like snow. my brother and i took turns to put the star at the top each year. and the lights. i loved the blinking lights and would watch them long after my parents fell asleep. what do you remember most?

breakfast

2010-12-11T22:55:00.003+08:00

i haven't felt inspired with my pictures lately but i do enjoy having a leisurely saturday breakfast. here's to more leisurely breakfast days. hope you're having one.

wish

2010-12-08T20:18:00.001+08:00

wouldn't it be great if you blew on a dandelion and your wish came true?