Life's little coincidence

It was such a pleasant little surprise when I found that I had my first Muller Thurgau earlier this year in Sep!

随笔

其实我不想离开
你可知道我有多无奈
害怕有天回忆起来
你却早已经不在

More Beer?

How I wish we had all these locally!

Jaan

Had a lovely lunch with GFs - lunch with a view. Had a trio of amuse bouche to start the dining experience

Some amuse bouche to wake up the taste buds

My appetiser of Zucchini with Buffata cheese - loved the combination

Cod with green peas - succulent cod and umami squid. Mmmm

Palate cleanser - Panna Cotta with Blackberry coulis

Cheese Platter - one of the best blue cheeses




Dessert - Macademia Ice cream with some Chocolate which resembled an Opera

 



Petit Fours

 

When we ended with coffee and petit fours, I was totally stuffed. If I had space in my tummy, I'd have cleaned off all the baton bisuits. Included are madaleines, baton biscuits, rosemary ice cream lollipop, dark chocolate truffles, chocolate marshmellows and caramel candy.

I must say they were very generous with the total dining experience. More focus on the flavours and harmony of each dish over quantity, At the end of the meal I was happy. Hope they change the menu constantly. Will be back.

1Q84

Happy to finally lay my hands on this.

And now, to decide when I can start reading it. 

Magical

Summer's come and gone. Leaves are turning into shades of autumn red and yellow.
Well almost.

Love how the ginko leaves scatter on the pavement, fresh from the rain. Rain which fell gently onto my lashes, awakening the lost connection with nature, almost like opening the glass window to see the forest in their real colors, to smell the rain in the atmosphere.

The rest of the magical forest will slowly change their hues from deep greens and dark emeralds to rich vibrant reds and yellows, before they all fall away into the deep winter frost.

Maybe, maybe next year I'll be back to catch a glimpse of spring as they come to life again.

Until then, I will be thinking of making the hike up this massive enchanting Mount Takao.

Little luxuries

Lovely bottle of wine best enjoyed late into the night.

Wandering

I can't sleep.

My mind is active.

I am restless.

I dream more these days.

Maybe it's like an escape hatch.

I wish there was more time.

If there was a way

To buy time

I would. But I can't.

I wish there was more time

To let you know

It needn't be. But I can't

If there was a way

To let you know

Things will change.

I will try.

There is a way

to make things better

Let it pass

Let it heal, let it go

It will happen

When we stop trying to buy time

for time passed

and learn to spend it

for better times ahead

Guilt has two sides : Happiness has two edges

The heart is torn, and the soul is weak

Familiarity

It was a familiar setting. We all long for things familiar.
Familiarity brings comfort, and comfort confidence, to carry on.

It will all change, and we will find courage to tear away from familiarity.

From courage, we will find new confidence, and once again this confidence will bring the comfort we all need.

To continue on.

Practise

Everytime I check into the heated studio, I stare at the mirror at myself. Of late, I find my stare more intent.
Focus on yourself. There is nothing more important than yourself for the 90 min. Out of this room, out of this 90 min, do what you want, what you need. But for now, just focus on the person in the mirror staring back at you.

All your beauty, all your flaws, all you.

Breathe and focus. There is no perfection. Everyday I discover a part of me that I didn't know existed. Every class I discover a pain that never before surfaced. Every time I leave the room, I feel renewed. Renewed with pain. How sadistic. The only way to get rid of pain is to go back again to stretch the painful muscle, the tendon, until the pain goes away. The longer you let it rest, the longer the pain you have to live with.

For now, I need to refocus and refine my practise. To deal with the commotion outside of the studio, outside of the 90 min of 'me' time. One day I will find my renewed strength and grace to deal with the brutal world outside.

Omg. The pain hurts.

I didn't think it would. Hurt. That. Much.

Suddenly my fantasy kicks in and I want to go far far away. Escapism is reassuring. Escapism is protective healing.

Secretly I am still thinking that the Escapade will erase Reality. And Time would reset itself when I return. To the state that i dream of.

Silly me. Ouch.

The news threw me off course.
I knew the signs were all there, what was I trying to deny? How could I still believe in the naïveté of the farce?

Yet I believed. Maybe that's why the news threw me off course. Of course. Who was I trying to kid? Why am I so blind? Or stupid?

The biggest disappointments in life come from the expectations you build upon others.

Moments

My lovely addiction.

Top 10 - World's Best Cities

Taken from Travel and Leisure magazine :


World's Best Cities

1. Bangkok, Thailand

2. Florence, Italy

3. Rome, Italy

4. New York City, USA

5. Istanbul, Turkey

6. Cape Town, South Africa

7. Siem Reap, Cambodia

8. Sydney, Australia

9. Barcelona, Spain

10. Paris, France



Let's see how many we can strike off from this list.
And how many we can add on to this list.
 

Interesting Finds

I especially like the read on what makes a city liveable. I think the community shapes the city. People make the community. Education and culture shape People. The values and perceptions of People that form our community, that shape the City. And so the cycle goes... 

Very cute.

Reflections

Time passes too quickly.

Each year at this juncture I pause and realise I have frivolously used a good half of this year. Usually when I sober up from too many parties at mid year do I get my act together. Time to take stock.

I looked back at my new year resolutions for 2011.

I need to work on points 3 and 4.
And I shall add a point 5 for the last half of the year : I shall read more books.

My mind is dying from malnourishment.

I shall read my Murakami this weekend. And I shall read his 1Q84 when it arrives in Spore.

Counting down

One down. Two more days to go.

Discomfort.

Discomfort.
Disbelief.
Dejection.

2011

Welcome to the new year!

This year I shall
- spend more time with family
- spend more time with friends
- go for more outings with my dogs
- go for more yoga classes

2010 has passed and I have passed my iconic year rather peacefully. Many many years ago I was happy to live to that age - and the year 2010 has passed. For the rest of my time, it really is a bonus to be here, and I will be grateful for each day, each month, each year that passes; for each friend, each moment we share; and for each need, each luxury I am given.

One day when I pass on, I know my friends will be there, and they will drink to celebrate the wonderful times we have shared together. Cheers. To Life. To Love. To Friends. Happy New Year!

Coffee

Hidden away at Bt Timah Road lies Papa Palheta - a very quaint owner-operator set up that retails coffee beans. The place is great, service wonderful and coffee excellent.

Coffee is served free, but there is a tip jar where you pay what you feel is deserving. A guide of $4 per coffee is recommended. The idea is that you taste the coffee and buy the beans. The guy at the bar is careful in explaining what goes behind each coffee brew and how coffee by itself tastes different depending on beans and roasts. He imports and roasts the beans at the store and retails around $13-$14 per 250gm.

I ordered a double shot latte, no sugar. Gosh! It was sweet, fragrant and uplifting all at once. For double shot, no hint of bitterness but pure smooth sweet, yes, sweet coffee. Just pure coffee at its best. Milk was foamed perfectly too.

They serve drip coffee too but I'm a fan of expresso, so found the drip coffee a tad too light but still flavourful. Maybe its the effect of having the drip after the expresso. I never knew coffee could be so tasty! I mean each bean had its own character and taste.

This place makes me wanna go back again!

I hope this place thrives with its system of tip as you like for coffee. The cost of running the coffee bar without charging for coffee may not always work well in Singapore. But the idea is wonderful and I salute the owner for coming up with such a wonderful idea and place. I now know where to get the best beans.