the pattissier

the pattisier

Whenever my boss head down to the URA (some government bldg) at Maxwell Road, he would often come back with a box of goodies from The Pattisier.

Goodies - in this case, will be at least 4 varieties of cake slices.

Okay, those 4 SLICES of cakes are actually for his wife, my collegue and myself. Yes, the THREE of us shared that.

Pathetic, you say?

Have you any idea how rich those cakes are? How orgasmic every bite is? How much calories those little devils pack?

And well... not to mention EXPENSIVE (some cakes cost $40 for HALF kg). You can't imagine how much each SLICE cost.

Those cakes are uber, uber delicious, la. Both my collegue and myself felt darn sleepy after consuming them. So rich, they are.

I was told that the shop looks pretty inhibited. Who would have guessed that a place with a shopfront like this -











the branch at 18, Ann Siang Road

... serves THIS -->










Passion Fruit Meringue (the bestseller, I think)

Double Chocolate Pralines (richer, darker taste of Ferrero Rocher in cake form)

Cocoa Cheesecake

And.. ermm...
Don't say I didn't warn you about the price...!

They have another branch at Mohd Sultan Road.

random things..

random....

location: a pedestrian crossing near home
scene: with your dad, heading somewhere for dinner.

You're having a converstion with your dad. You look across and check out the people standing at the other side.

You spot a guy befitting your 'personal taste' (in this case, casually decked in khaki bermudas & black polo tee - nicely kept hair a definite plus).

Keep your eye on him. Hey, you're ACROSS the road. And should he notice, just pretend to look BEYOND him. Just keep the conversation with your dad going.

Light turns green. Walk steadily across.

Time your steps such that you'll pass him midway at the crossing. Okayyy.... He's passing by you. Oh, he's close!

Now look at him. *Erk!* Shoot! You just met his gaze! Shoot! Shoot!

Okay, you will BRUSH past him.. - Wait! Wait...! What were you thinking??!

Did you just SIDESTEP away from him?!

You are > THIS < close to brushing past this cute guy from across the street and u sidestepped him??! That's right. Grimace. You should.

Look back. OOoops. Did he just looked back too? Sheesh!
------------------------------------------------------------

No, this ain't a scene from some cheesy novel.

Just what happened last night. Can somebody slap me?! Geez!

chocolates for dad

chocolates for dad

He had asked for a cup of hot chinese tea with "a bit" of sugar.

We've never put sugar in our tea. So I stirred in "a bit" only.

Later, he complained about the persistent "giddy spells" and asked for a chocolate. I was wondering if it's a case of "low blood/sugar" (all those words are really scaring me, okay?).

Being the muddle-head that I am, I quickly assumed that a more 'expensive' chocolate might work better and gave him a Ferrero Rocher (no, there's no Godiva at home).

10mins later, he told me the giddiness has dissipated. *phew!*

1/2 hour later, he woke up due to a coughing fit. I FORGOT! That chocolate has nuts!

I got him the cough syrup. "What is it that I ate wrong?" he remarked.

Ermmmm...... *guilty look*

THAT'S IT. Only plain, milk chocolate for my dad.

Gotta stock that up first. I dislike those variety of chocolates and those really plain ones are of the dark variety. Totally defeat the purpose, eh?

That and some sweets for him to bring along everywhere.

He sure is ageing... I'm scared.

Puteri Gunung Ledang

pee-gee-elle
Puteri Gunung Ledang Musical
Esplanade Theatre - 25112006

That Saturday evening saw us stuck in the frenetic jam at the Rochor exit of ECP, with the hampering drizzle for company.

I was only trying to avoid the much streotyped Malay trait of tardiness. What more when going to a musical. Hell freezes over should I be one of those who crept in after the show starts.

Anyway, boy am I glad I wore a sweater there. Konon nak feeling2x macam negeri sejuk. Memang sejuk pon.

Eh first time masok the theatre, you! Slalu lepak kat luar aje. Jakun lah sikit. At last I'm at THE OTHER part of Esplanade!

The theater was.. erm... smaller than expected. I guess the pics I saw online were taken at an angle that somewhat lengthen the interior. But all's well. Smaller space means better acoustic and our 7th-row-from-the-front seats are nearer that expected, too. Near enough to see the faces of the cast and far enough to avoid the (very loud) orchestra in front.

I seriously didn't expect the late-comers to be let in despite it being 15mins into the show. And they sat IN FRONT, in the MIDDLE. Of all places!

But I guess THAT'S WHY they were let in. Must be some blardee v.i.p. Pfft.

The interior of the Esplanade Theatre.

My dad reading the booklet.

Sue, Natra & my dad.

Me & Sue.

I'll be lying if I say that I'm very much a happy-camper after watching the show. From what I see, AC Mizal doesn't really live up to his role. Gawd, I can speak better Javanese than he does. And what's with that posture? So wayang kulit! But he's good also, la. His angry scenes had me really scared, liao (the sound effects, helped, somewhat)!

I spotted those moments when Tiara and Stephen faltered on their lines but their overall spectacular performance made up for those glitches.

If previously I wasn't really a fan of Adlin (Sultan Mahmud), now I am. The lyrics he wrote showed a different side of him. And unlike his speech vocals (esp. in the movie version), his singing vocals are not bad, actually.

And that part when he did "the cabaret" is simply AWESOME! Sue was cackling like some hysterical maniac and I had to slap her thighs many times to warn her of that scary laugh of hers.

Tiara's singing sounds much much better in the high range and Stephen Rahman Hughes singing induced some goosebumps-popping moments. Superb! Like a hindi movie liddat.

Datin Tiara does deserve that standing ovation. All of them, actually.

Kudos, y'all!

The round-up of the cast at the end of the show. *applause*

PS: I can't help realising that I end up reading the subtitles all the way, during the musical. It's interesting to see how the literature-malay language is being translated to English.

Brings me back to those moments when watching Malay dramas on tv and reading the subtitles instead, despite understanding the spoken language. Weird!

cheesecake cafe

cheesecake cafe

I still have Kai's cd (he loves it and I'd been keeping it for the whole month!).

And the day before, Fadhil, an old old schoolmate called, asking that I inform him when I'm meeting the guys. Cos' he need to pass us his wedding invites.

Now Kai works office hours *wowee!*. And it was Khama's off day.

And Kai mentioned Cheesecake Cafe (he's always mentioned it). But the thing is, he called it Chezcake HOUSE. So was it any surprise that I can't find it thru' Google?

I recalled driving by the area 2 days back and saw a 'Cheesecake' place. Now there can't be THAT many places in Siglap being named 'Cheesecake' right??



Khama & Kai
(oh! oh! see that cake there? that's the chocolate-banana cake. very VERY sinful.*yum!*)






Strawberry-Oreo Cheesecake, Chocolate Cheesecake & Chocolate-Banana Cake.
(sorry to say that in our excitement to sample the cakes, the pic was only taken after we've taken a bite from every one of them. pardon me if they no longer look appealing..)


I've heard about their famed Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate Banana Cake. Seeing that Kai had ordered the cheesecake, I ordered the latter. The server actually told me, "Just to inform you, that's not a cheesecake."

I guess that'll only happen when the place is called CHEESECAKE Cafe. Any non-cheesecake orders had to be forewarened.

The cakes, as I found out, ARE as just as how they are raved to be. Smooth and creamy texture/taste. Some even called them "the best cheesecakes in Singapore." I dunno bout' that. It's not like I've tried cheesecakes from all over the island to be able to compare.

The ambience is superb, be it indoor or al-fresco. Price?? Erm... Well, unless you come here too often, you won't really burn a hole in your pocket.

I have to warn you that this place gets pretty packed on weekends and at night. Finding parking space then can be a tedious affair. They DO have a (small) makeshift parking space for their customers but the space is tight. VERY TIGHT.

The Cheesecake Cafe
685 East Coast Road (Siglap area)
Singapore 459054
Tel: 64487725
Fax: 64487226
Hours:
Mon - Tues : Closed
Wed - Thur : 4.30pm - 12am Fri : 4.30pm - 12.30am
Sat : 3.30pm - 12.30am Sun : 3.30pm - 12am

awfully chocolate ice-cream

awfully chocolate-y ice-cream




















All ladies out there may agree, nothing beats rounding up a good meal with a great dessert.

Those who've tried the cakes from Awfully Chocolate (and love it) would have already tried their ice-cream.

It IS as sinful as their cakes. Awfully sinful!

They've now opened up many more branches islandwide - Katong Mall, Republic Plaza, Cluny Court & Sembawang Hills.

Check out the fancy boxes and leaf-shaped spoons! It's best that you get their double scoop @ $5 rather than a single scoop @ $3. Cos' one scoop is not enough, that's why.

Then you go on a diet for the next 3 days.

Singapore Motorshow

singapore motorshow 2006
17112006 - suntec city

My brother 'bubbled' on me. Only when I realised that he can't accompany me that he finally admitted that he dun really fancy cars. What a bummer!

Then again, I realised that I DO have a car-lover in my midst. And THANK goodness he agreed. I can't imagine missing out on the biennale motorshow this time (I won't go alone! No fun!) . Thanks, Bas (my buddy o' pal) for the company. And for those cool shots. That's the good thing about having a photographer for a friend. I dun trust my shaky hands, you see. Heh.

When I caught sight of the Ferraris I was like, "What the...? So soon...?" It's true right, that when you already viewed the nicest of things, all the others look pretty... well... sub-standard??

When Bas was like, "Let's go there!" I was apprehensive cos' I thought of 'saving the best for last' (yeeah rite!). Well, that's until my sight fell on the Lamborghinis.

"Oh my goodness! My babies! They're here!! Let's go!" (note the exclamation marks. maximum.adrenalin.rush. Period).

About the other cars losing their novelty after drooling over those gorgeous beings?? Well, that's SOO true. But the both of us has this belief that we actually paid 10 buckeroos just to see the Ferraris & Lambos. The others are just a bonus. Heh.

Anyway, while Bas tot my camera around, I can't resist taking some shots of my own. Fished out my 2mp Nokia. Heck the picture quality. At least the cars look good in the phone.

When I upload the pics, I realised that we have taken over 100++ pics.

We must have been SOO excited. *Sweet dreams are made of this....*

Lamborghini Murcielago

MUCH more pics located

h . e . r . e

Rain in SG

I'm referring to the Korean R&B superstar, NOT the weather.

HE's performing here! *shrieks*

Oh, wait... wait. Just how much do you say the tickets cost???

. . . S$488, S$388, S$288, S$188.

Erkkk?! What the??? So expensiveeee!

If like that, I'd rather go for a holiday and just buy his DVD. No way in hell I'm going to pay such exorbitant amount for somebody I like from afar.

But I do want to see him perform!!! His slick dance moves, his hot bod.... Oh yeahhhhh....










With a body like that, he should forget about wearing tops and just perform topless.

Really.

Just a reminder...

Just a reminder...
(just something I read somewhere...)

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she's blind.

She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He's always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend. One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she can see everything, including her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend is blind too, and refused to marry him.

Her boyfriend walked away and later wrote a letter to her saying, "Just take care of my eyes dear."

This is how human mental thoughts changes when their status changed. Only few remember what life was before, and who's always been there even in the most painful situations.

Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word,
Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food,
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife,
Think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life,
Think of someone who died too early .

Before you complain about your children,
Think of someone who desires
children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep,
Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive,
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job,
Think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another,
Remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one
maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down,
Put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Project Playpack

Project Playpack

Please click on the pictures to view a bigger image to read the posters. Thank you.

Project Storybook Lebanon - A Big Thank You

Project Storybook Lebanon - A Big Thank You

Hi friends,

On behalf of Mercy Relief, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who responded to our call for books. Thanks to your effort , the Project Storybook Lebanon is a success. Due to overwhelming response, MR had to extend the dateline from 5 Nov to 10 Nov to accomodate to those who were unable to make it. MR and some volunteers spent the last two weekends sorting and packing the books. We managed to pack 23 Boxes of 5000 books !















Besides the storybooks, MR is planning to send 10,000 playpacks to Lebanon. We have packed 4000 and will be packing another 6000 probably from24 to 26 Nov. We are currently sourcing for a suitable location.

If you are interested to help out, kindly give me an indicative response to me.However, plse do not proceed to rearranging your schedule ( like taking leave etc). I will inform you once i have more details on the manpower needs.

warmest regards,
Andrew Ang-Mercy Relief.

frens raya outing

frens raya outing

It suddenly dawn on me....

Last time we met was the Hari Raya outing last year








Rufeah, Nadia, Shyba & moi


Nadia & Rufeah, correct me if I'm wrong but do we meet only ONCE a year????

Gee, that's saaaddd....

random pic

random pic




















Doesn't come across as being edible to me....

A. Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain - is he ever coming back down here?

Look at that! Are you envious? Are you?!

Well, I sure am.

Anthony signed THREE of his books and DREW his trademark skull/chef tattoo-embelm on the coat!

This Dylan fella sure is one lucky guy.

He appeared on an episode on the 3rd season of No Reservations, hokay.

Check out his experience on Eat,Drink&BeMerry.

Reading the comments to his post, I was like, "Ditto! Yeah... Ditto that one too!"

I don't understand this: Why pixelate his face when he's gonna appear on national television anyway?

It that was me with Anthony Bourdain right there, I'm sure I would have spoken some sort of gibberish that WILL have the word, "Gastronomical Adventure."

The gibberish is inevitable, what with me having to contain my excitement. But those TWO words are what I have practiced saying over and over, just in case I meet Mr Bourdain himself on the streets (yet another of my fantasy). I MUST say them!

Well, if he come down to Singapore again, that is. Or if I go to the U. S of A. But then again, even other Americans have a hard chance of that happening.... Geez!

Goong (Princess Hours) ending - gripe

Goong (Princess Hours) ending - gripe

Okay, okayyy... Bear with me. This is like the 4th...? 5th...? post on Goong.

I need to let it out of my system.

All those days and days of late nights/early mornings of sleeping at 4++am, watching at least 1 dvd everytime; mind you there're 8 dvds in all - 24 episodes. Most other Korean shows have only 16 episodes, okay?

Anyway, after all that - can't I at least have a more logical ending? Okay okay, reality check - what's so logical about a drama which showed Korea having a non-constitutional monarchy (ala Britain) anyway? But at least give me something that make sense lah!

Don't even mention the story being left hanging. I know that they had expected for the story to continue in Goong II but the way things turn out, they have to totally revamp the story so we're all left with our tongues wagging.

Would so love to list things that I demand an explanation for but it's will only create spoilers for those in Singapore who are still watching the series on Ch U. I shall leave it at that.

I love Chae-Gyeong's dresses. And hair. Everything.

The guys are very, very brave to wear what they wear on that show. Jo Ji Hoon, especially. Polka-dotted shirts? Check. Glaring hues? Check. Ruffles? Check. Ribbons? Check. Bright, tight sweaters? Check.


I know what the sylist had in mind.
Shin (his character) was to be potrayed as a S.N.A.G. Metrosexual. Stylish. I draw a line at the wardrobe worn by Hyun Bin in My Lovely Samsoon.

This...?

It doesn't help that his tall, thin frame made his limbs look almost androgynous.

Look at this.



This pic had one of my guy friends drooling because he thought that it's a sexy lady's back!


And his fingers were to-die-for! For a woman to have, that is.


But the pants he wore in the last episode were the killer, man! My bro and I giggled at the absurdity of the way it's worn. Oh that that uber low-cut top he wore at Bangkok? Puh-Leaseee..!

Oh, I discovered this website which had information regarding the FILMING LOCATIONS of this drama. Good info for those who really thought the sights to be gorgeous and have the moolah to go and visit them.

Tour2Korea.com






The 'Palace' - Duksung University, Unni-dong Campus








The Teddy Bear Museum - where Chae-Gyeong accompanied the Queen Mother to.






Their school is really an arts school - Kaywon High School of Arts







Resort for Lee Yul's Birthday Party - House of the Mind



I really really hope that this is my last post on Goong. This obsession doesn't seem healthy.

goong crazy - family edition

Goong Crazy - family edition

It's crazy; the way this show took control of our lives.

I woke up this morning to the sound of the song, 'Perhaps Love' playing in loops. It sounds strangely like the menu page of the Goong (Princess Hours) dvd. Turns out, my mum was desperately trying to figure out how to play the darn dvd!

What's surprising about that, you ask? Well, my mum NEVER bothered to learn how to use the dvd player (not technologically challenged; more like technologically 'reluctant') and here she was trying to watch one on her own! Her very VERY FIRST attempt! Well, she failed of course. She got the dvd part right but she didn't change the AV channel on the tv.

The past few mornings, either my bro or myself would have played the dvd for her before we left for work. The fact that she couldn't wait for me to wake up shows just how desperate she is to watch the last few episodes. *sigh*

Well that's just my mum. Even the patriarch ain't spared by Chae-Gyeong's cuteness. Personally, I think my dad finds her character adorable.

My mum and I now hoard the main tv because we want to hear the show in Korean, hence my dad had to resort to watching the tv in his room (the main tv used to be his territory after dinner). Now he watched the show with us. You should hear him laugh when it comes to the funny bits. He love it, I tell you! Muakakaka!

And then there's my brother. My 27 year-old elder bro. The same guy who made me watched 3 WHOLE episodes on the wee hours of that particular weekday morning when his shift starts a mere 4 hours later.

The same guy who's watched the ending THRICE. Once, when he can't hold back his curiousity and watched the last episode straight away. Then 2 days ago, he continued watching from where I stopped at the 22nd episode. And yesterday, he was also there when I FINALLY watched the ending. And he never got tired of it.

2 nights ago, he game back and handed me a Poh Kim plastic bag. I looked inside and saw the Goong Original Soundtrack. Yes sir. My bro bought that.



He told me that the video shop near his workplace played the songs over and over and he can't resist purchasing it. I told him that I got all the songs on my mp3 player. He told me that he would like to watch the VIDEO CLIPS when I had already returned the dvds back to my cousin. Okayyyyy......

Well, that's 2 nights ago.

Yesterday, he told me that he's gonna buy the dvd himself. And take a day's leave to watch ALL EIGHT of them at one go. *faints*

Somebody save him. Please.
---------------------------------------

Anyhoo. Saw this pic of Joo Ji Hoon (Lee Shin) & Song Ji Hyo (Min Hyo-Rin) outside of Princess Hours. They look good together, eh?


No, they're not a couple. Just some modelling shots.

instincts

instinct at work.. good job!

When my masseuse called yesterday to confirm the massage appointment for this evening, my heart kinda' sank.

You know when you feel somewhat reluctant to go for something? Yeap, something like that. So I didn't pick up the phone. Then I asked my collegue an absurd question, "You think we have to overtime tomorrow?"

She was taken by surprise. I myself am surprised. Right now the workload ain't much and the mentioned tomorrow is Friday. Who the heck wanna OT on a Friday?

But I had the appointment pushed to another date anyway. Just don't feel too good.

Look at the time now. . .

Past 9pm and still in the office. Sheesh..!

Project Storybook

Project Storybook

















Mercy Relief is embarking on it's latest humanitarian effort to collect and send english story books (of all ages esp. children) to help out a local South Lebanese community library. As you would recall, South Lebanon was the scene of a devastating war between Israel and Hizbollah forces.

We are starting an appeal for the collection of books from 1 nov to 5 Nov. We hope you could be involved with this engagement by donating a book and also to deseminate this info to your friends and contacts

Date of Collection : 1 nov ( wed) to 3 nov ( friday) 11am to 6pm. 4 nov ( sat) to 5 nov ( sun) 11am to 3pm.
Venue : Mercy Relief office at 11 keng cheow street, Riverside Piazza, #04-10.
Nearest MRT Station : Clarke Quay
Landmark : Ministry of Manpower ( Riverside Piazza is next lane to it)
Tel : 6514 6320

Light A Million Candles

Light A Million Candles















The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.

But you can.

With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.

We do not need your money.

We need you to light a candle of support .

We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.

This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.

They have the power to work together. You have the power to get them to take action.
Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.

Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children.

Kindly inform your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle too.

post-raya

hallo

Raya has been tiring, no?

Tiring for the pockets too. Got my pay early and it deplete even earlier. To think that November just began today. My bank statement makes me think that it's already the 15th. Sheesh!

This year Raya was right smack in the middle of the week and it felt totally weird, when thinking I have yet to go to the homes of my closest relatives.

Weekend had been about welcoming guests to the home, albeit sneaking out early that Sunday morning and rushing back when my relatives insist on coming down when we're still out visiting.

Saturday was really draining. My mum & I managed to meet our masseuse for our massage appointments early that morning; to ease out the exhaustion from Hari Raya and prepare us for the impending crowd later in the day. My dad had fretted, aghast that we're still going to the spa despite expecting visitors.

I know that he's just scared about having to deal with the guests alone. Must have stressed him out terribly. He hit the sack right after we came back. Poor him.

Oh yeah. That Saturday was also soccer-nite. And I have the big tv not unlike the ones at sports bars. So the earlier guests (especially the men) refused to budge while other families kept coming. So my flat was reminiscent of a can of sardines. Free-flowing drinks, jars of snacks & nuts and a big tv. Makes for a good soccer night doesn't it?

And ALL left at the same time. Almost midnight, when the Man U match was FINALLY over. Imagine the queue of kids lining up before my mum, expecting the $$$.... Tsk. But it was fun. We didn't even clean up the mess that night. The whole family was dead-beat.

I think I'm allergic to heat. I mean, I sweat wayyyyy too easily in this climate. That weekend, whenever the anxiety of dealing with the visitors got to me I just snuck into the room and face the fan. Gotta recharge!

I melt in the heat yet I can't stand cold temperatures. How to move to New Zealand like that? Cheyyy...

And my bro is back to his weird ways. He was supposed to collect the car at 1pm yesterday (his off day) after servicing. But he pushed it to the next hour. Then the next AND next. Then he rushed to take a cab to get the car at FOUR pm.

Why?

Cos' he got too engrossed watching THIS:

My 27 year-old elder brother procrastinated collecting the car because he was into Princess Hours! He claimed that the actress is cute. Har!

He watched FOUR dvds of that show yesterday, hokay! Well, that's because I have yet to collect the remaining four from my cousin. And HE'S the one making plans for me to fetch him today just so we can go over to my cousin's to get the remaining dvds. Cos' he wanna watch the rest of the show pronto.

And I tot' I was the one crazy bout' the show.

BTW, despite watching the DVD version, that goondoo brother of mine forgot to on the subtitles. I dunno how he actually tolerated watching 5 hours of Korean drama without subtitles. Geez!