The Infirmity

The past week has been tough.

It all began when the BF texted me on 3rd July, at 3:13PM, telling me that his grandfather had a stroke and is now in hospital.

When you get a text like that, you freeze and gape, and all that you can think of is "oh shit oh shit.. x10".

So after work, the BF and I rushed to the hospital. To our relief, he was doing fine. Grandpa was able to communicate and move his limbs except for his left arm, which was the stroke infected area.

Thinking that all is well and that he was on the road to recovery, we didn't visit him for the next few days.

However on Saturday, the BF's dad told us that Grandpa's condition took a dip from Tuesday to Thursday. Elaborating further, he mentioned that Grandpa was lost and confused, and he looked as though he couldn't recognize anyone.

Worried and anxious, we visited Grandpa on Saturday evening, and that was the first time I caught a glimpse of a doting grandson.

Despite knowing the BF for 10 years, I didn't know that he was so fond of his Grandpa. Looking at how the BF stood by his Grandpa's side and attending to his Grandpa's needs, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of sorrow and love. I teared.

That night, the BF shared with a heavy heart the interactions he had with his Grandpa when he was a little boy. Though it was an emotional night, it showed me how much love he had for his Grandpa. I teared again.

..

It has been a week since he last admitted to hospital and we thank God for his Grandpa's recovery. As of today, he is able to prop himself up, react to conversations, use hand gestures, and move his limbs much more.

As we look to God in this time of Grandpa's infirmity, we pray that he will be able to recover and / or at least get back his speech so that he can communicate his thoughts and frustrations to us. Meanwhile, if you are a believer, please keep him in prayer. Thank you.


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The Perfect Family Moment

If I could describe the perfect family moment, it would be..

.. A gathering over delicious delicacies and decadent desserts ..

.. While having heartwarming conversations with the people I love. That includes the BF, who was the photographer of this very lovely family portrait.

I don't know about you, but days like these don't come by often for us. Which is why moments like these form the sweetest and most lasting memories.


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The Fruit of Love

In my family, dad not only brings home the bread, but brings home packets or bags of durians as well.

This has been ongoing for many years, until today, when I decided to surprised my folks with their favorite fruit! Mom, who opened the door when I came home, was pleasantly surprised my initiative, and smiled to herself.

So that night, three of us sat at the dining table, savoring the cold, creamy, and sweet durians. Though not much conversations were exchanged, it was nice spending some time with them.


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The Eleventh Chore

Just four days ago, my folks left for church camp, leaving me in an empty house.

And knowing me, I wouldn't be inclined to clean up any part of the house except for the places that I spend most of my time in: my room.

But hours before my folks came back, I decided to be a good daughter, and clean up the house so that mom wouldn't need to do any housework when she comes back.

So I started making the beds, sweeping the floor, washing the floor towels, and at the end of it all, I sat in my chair with perspiration dripping down my forehead, feeling proud of myself for doing something good, something thoughtful.

Hmm.. perhaps I should do this more often!

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The Ship Restaurant (NEX)

My family, dear, and I went to The Ship at NEX to celebrate Mom's advanced birthday today.

The Ship Restaurant (NEX)

Address: 23 Serangoon Central, #01-61/62 NEX Mall, Singapore
Tel: +65 6834 3733

To be honest, I was a little skeptical about The Ship because they don't have a website, which makes it really hard to see what kind of food they serve. Furthermore, The Ship doesn't sound as prestigious as Jack's Place, Pu Tien, or even Swensen's. In short, I have no idea what they had to offer, what kind of ambience they have, and how good they are.

Regardless, I decided to give The Ship a try after reading several reviews by various foodies, who most of which gave two thumbs up for their Escargots, and mentioned that their other food items were as tasty and delicious as well.

Arriving outside The Ship, I was a little apprehensive if I had made the wrong decision. After all, the exterior looks dull, dark and confusing. I mean, who puts Chinese looking chairs outside an English Restaurant? One wouldn't know if it's a Chinese Restaurant or an English Restaurant when they pass by.

I guess they could improve their exterior by making it more in lined with their nautical theme.

Stepping into The Ship and being seated thereafter, I quickly take back my words. Unlike its exterior, The Ship's interior had a very nautical and maritime theme, with decorations such as life buoys, anchors, port windows etc.

Having appreciated The Ship's cute and interesting decor, we proceeded to order our food.

For starters, we had 1/2 a dozen Escargots. Since I've not tried Escargots before, I can't tell if it taste good or not. All I can say is that the texture taste a bit like Bamboo Clams, and the fried garlic sauce was a nice complement to it.

All of us ordered their combo set which includes a Soup of The Day, Main Course, Coffee / Tea, and Dessert.

So next up, we were served with their Soup of The Day which we could choose from either Cream of Mushroom or Sweet Corn.

For my Main Course, I ordered their Grilled SeaBass with vegetables, potatoes and chicken kebabs.

Frankly, I was little disappointed with the Grilled SeaBass. Though it's soft and juicy, but it's pretty tasteless inside.

Dear had the Lobster with Sirloin Steak which looks much more tantalizing than my Grilled SeaBass. Too bad I didn't get to try any of it.

Once we were down with our Main Course, we were served with our Dessert of the Day which was Strawberry Mousse Cake. Apart from its small portion, I didn't quite like how average it tasted. More accurately, it tasted like normal butter cake with strawberry cream on top.

However, this Strawberry Mousse Cake still taste much better in comparison with the Strawberry Cheese Cake I had at District 10.

Here's a family shot of us before we left The Ship. See, all smiles mean good times isn't it?

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Punggol Promenade Riverside Walk

Since Labour Day (1st May) falls on a Sunday this year, Monday becomes a public holiday, making it a long weekend. With much excitement and anticipation, I planned out a series of activities for dear and I as these were sitting on my "Things-I'd-Like-To-Do-One-Day" list for waaaaaaayy too long.

So, the original plan was actually to visit Changi Boardwalk on Monday morning, following by Punggol Promenade Riverside Walk in the afternoon, before heading to our friend's baby shower at night. However, our plans were ruined by the rain, which lasted all morning, and simmering down to a light drizzle in the afternoon.

Honestly, I was pretty disappointed because I was really looking forward to executing these activities since some time back. Regardless, we heard that my parents wanted to head down to Punggol Promenade as well, so dear and I tagged along.

So four of us - dear, myself, and my parents, took the car as dad drove us to Punggol Promenade.

Unfortunately, getting to Punggol Promenade is really a pain. I had to ask a couple of friends who stays in Punggol for advice else we would have gone around in circles.

Getting to Punggol Promenade:

For those who are interested in paying Punggol Promenade a visit, (depending on which side you are coming from), turn into the road when you see a Chinese Temple at Punggol East Road.

Parking at Punggol Promenade:

You can park at Popeyes, but parking charges will be incurred. Alternatively, you may park along the road leading to Popeyes carpark - which is free of charge.

The Riverside Walk:

Once you've arrived at Popeyes, walk straight ahead (eastwards) and you'll be greeted by the idyllic view of the river. If you are one with poor directions, grab your iPhone (or device if it has maps) and check out the Map app. If this still fails, ask for directions.

Walking down the cemented boardwalk, we saw a bronze building with holes on its side. Upon closer look, we realized that it is actually the toilet.

However, the sinks were not ready yet, so I'd seriously recommend bringing wet tissues or a bottle of water.

Here's a picture of us with the beautiful view of the river. Thank God for the perfect weather. The sun was hidden by the grey clouds, and the weather was cool from the earlier rain.

Walking further, we noticed the red helix-look-alike bridge that linked from Punggol to Lor Halus Wetlands.

Here's a close up picture of the bridge. I heard that it illuminates at night, creating a wonderful night view especially with the reflection of the river.

The Serangoon dam can be easily spotted when one crosses the bridge. However, the path leading to Serangoon dam is filled with gravel, mud, and .. insects.

Here are my folks on the bridge. One of my favorite pictures of them.

Crossing the bridge, we arrived at Lor Halus Wetlands and our nostrils were greeted with the smell of Pandan Leaves almost immediately. That's when I realized, Pandan Leaves are not really favored by my nostrils.

The building in the above picture is what I think is the Visitor Centre for Lor Halus Wetlands. Strange, I wonder why we didn't go in and have a look.

All in all, the entire River walk was a short one - lasting not more than 2 hours.

But despite it's short length in time, this walk made me appreciate and understand the importance of family time. And though it wasn't as Rah-Rah as the time we had at Universal Studios, I had fun. Really.

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Saboten Sunday

In celebration of dad's belated birthday, we decided to have his birthday dinner at Saboten at Changi Airport Terminal One.

Frankly, I've never been a fan of Japanese or Korean food. But since dad prefers Japanese food this time round, I had to search high and low for a decent Japanese restaurant either in Tampines or somewhere nearby - with the nearest at Simei and the furthest at Changi Airport.

After a few clicks on the internet, I finally settled at Saboten, located at Changi Airport Terminal One.

Saboten

80 Airport Boulevard, #031-004 Departure Check-in Hall Level 3,

Changi Airport Terminal 1, Singapore

Tel: +65 6214 9504

Opening Hours Daily: 8am – 10.30pm

Most of us ordered the set meal, which comes with a large bowl of Cabbage, Main course, Hot tea, Miso soup and Machi ice-cream. The hot japanese tea, Miso soup, and Rice are free flow - perfect for tea-lovers and those who adore carbohydrates.

Anyway, who eats a whole bowl of cabbage? Just cabbage alone with japanese condiments wasn't good enough for my appetizer. But perhaps it's their culture to just have cabbage for salad? I should consult my japanese friend.

For our main courses, dear and I had some Pork katsudon (sorry I really can't recall the name of the dish) which tasted pretty normal, while my parents had Salmon Supreme. Too bad I didn't get a chance to try out the Salmon!

Regardless, I feel that Saboten is quite reasonably priced for it's food. A set meal costs between SGD 19 to SGD 25, with Free flow of Rice, Miso Soup, and Hot Tea.. that's pretty worthwhile! On the downside, their menu selection is small, leaving one with not many choices.

But all in all, it was great time despite it being a simple birthday celebration. I guess it's the coming together of loved ones over a meal, and the conversations that follow that make it a heart-warming time spent. In any case, I hope my dad had a good time, because I sure did.

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Love - The Language of Food

Every Tuesday or Thursday, we get to have home cooked food, and today was no exception. Mom cooked the usual baked salmon, fried eggs, chicken with mushrooms, and soup.

As usual, I had my fill. But this time, what made me even more satisfied and satiated was when I realized that mom cooked 2 separate portions of eggs - one with onions for my parents, and the other without - just for me.

And that's when I realized that the best meal might not necessarily be the tastiest (though hers is truly tasty), but one that is prepared with tender loving care; especially with you in mind.

For that, I am truly filled and full .. of love and food.

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F.I.S.H

It was an impromptu plan to bring my family and dear out for dinner. But since I've received my bonus, my folks owe me a birthday treat, and with my brother in town, I thought that it was a perfect day for a celebration - my treat!

Vaguely recalling of the restaurants that are located in Tampines 1, I decided to check out the stores listing in Tampines 1 online. Glancing upon F.I.S.H, I did a bit more research at www.hungrygowhere.com and decided to have our dinner there.

Tampines One
10 Tampines Central 1 #04-11 / #05-13
Singapore 529536
(65) 6260 0183
Bus services: 3, 8, 10, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38, 39, 65, 67, 69, 72, 81, 168, 291, 292, 293, 553, 969, 2N, NR7
Nearest MRT: Tampines

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10pm daily

We were quickly seated upon arrival at F.I.S.H restaurant. I couldn't help but notice how interesting their design concept is. The place seems small, but the combination of white brick walls and bright lightings help to create a more spacious feel.

I also noticed a staircase at a corner, and thought that it was a part of their interior design. I was wrong! It led to the upper floors!

Anyway, we quickly ordered our food and realized that we are entitled to a free flow of salad at the salad bar for every main course we ordered.

One of the starters that we ordered - Cream of Fish Soup - was their Soup of the Day. Together with a a free beverage, the Cream of Fish Soup is an add-on to the Main Course which costs $5.50.

Here's my portion from the Salad Bar. The Spaghetti was surprisingly tasty! If you have a spicy tongue, you'd definitely gobble this up!

Another starter - Bruschette Smoked Salmon ($5.95) tasted really good. Though it tastes a tad like garlic bread, the bread itself was really soft yet crispy. The smoked salmon was also a good complement to the crunchy bread. I seriously wouldn't mind ordering this again!

Mom also ordered a starter - Shrimp Egg On Toast Rocket ($6.95) and for an egg love like myself, it immediately appealed to me. Essentially, this dish tasted as it should - egg with bread and shrimp. I would still prefer the Bruschette Smoked Salmon to this.

It took quite a while for my main course - Baked Salmon Balsamic ($21.95) was the last to arrive. Upon having my first bite, I knew immediately, what needs to be improved.

The Salmon was a little dry, and hence one had to rely a lot on the sweet sauce to make it more tasty. What seemed like crispy bread crumbs was also a good garnish, and tasted nice together with the sauce.

Regardless, I really think my friend cooks a much better salmon than this!

Dear and my mom ordered Chargrilled Codfish, but mom changed her creamy sauce to the one that was used for the Salmon. I managed to try a little Codfish, but to be honest, I thought it didn't taste fantastic. I still prefer the Codfish I had at Prive Restaurant; so juicy, soft and succulent!

So we had a widespread of food and our bellies were filled. But for me, it was the satisfaction of seeing my family enjoy a good meal together that was the most fulfilling and lasting. Maybe we should do this more often, but on someone else's treat. Haha!

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RWS 2011: Voyage De La Vie

Despite the gloomy and wet weather, I had the chance to go out with dear and his folks to Resorts World Sentosa, as dear had complimentary tickets to the Voyage De La Vie show.

After a 20min to half an hour bus ride (188R), we finally arrived at Resorts World Sentosa. Like a tour guide, dear started bringing his folks around the compound. It was quite nice to see them enjoying themselves, taking photos, and having fun.

Oh I must thank God because the moment we left the house, the rain stopped miraculously! It only started raining again when we left Resorts World Sentosa! So we fortunate enough to be able to walk around the compound without having the rain dampen our sprits.

As the Voyage De La Vie show starts at 8:30pm, we decided to have dinner earlier. Walking past various restaurants, cafes, and eateries, we finally settled down at Chili's.

Despite my unfavorable food experience at Chili's previously, I decided to give them another chance by ordering their Guiltless Chicken Pasta - Chicken breast lightly seasoned and grilled over penne pasta with marinara sauce. Topped with diced tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese.

To be brutally honest, I was really disappointed. Firstly, the pasta wasn't piping hot. It wasn't even warm enough to melt the cheese! Secondly, the pasta is TASTELESS! I thought my block nose was the cause but hey, dear's mom gave it a try and she agreed with me! Thirdly, the lack of marinara sauce made the pasta so dry. I bet that the Spicy Chicken Aglio at Pastamania tastes much better!

Dear ordered a Full Rack of the Grilled Baby Back Ribs to be shared with him and his dad. I had a chance to try a little and it was pretty ok. Could be juicer though.

A communal dish that's named as Triple Play was ordered. It's actually a combo of our three favourite starters. Generous portions of our Chicken Crispers®, Boneless Buffalo Wings and Southwestern Eggrolls with sauces for dipping.

The Southwestern Eggrolls had a strong pungent smell and taste - someone like some spicy indian food. The Boneless Buffalo Wings were sour and salty, and can possibly destroy your kidney or liver if one takes more than a piece. The Chicken Crispers were pretty average.

Before we ended the sumptuous dinner, we had Molten Chocolate Cake. I thought that the molten cake was a tad too spongey. But that's just my opinion. As long as it's sweet, looks good, my tastebuds will still be satisfied.

After which, we took a slow stroll to the Voyage De La Vie Show. But unlike the Voyage De La Vie show I've watched last year, this one has got a few performances removed. It's a little disappointing but oh well, I guess dear's folks still enjoyed it.

Despite the rainy day, gloomy weather, unsatisfying dinner, I really had a good time. What a fulfilling weekend!

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Say Cheese!

It has been almost 8 months since dear had his convocation, and today, his family and I finally gathered at Serangoon Broadway to take his graduation studio photoshoot.

Contrary to what I imagined or thought, the photoshoot was much more stressful and difficult!

"The lady in white (me), please urge forward a bit."

"Auntie, chin up please"

"Please cup your hands together"

"Tilt your head a little to the left and smile"

"The graduate (dear), don't need to smile to wide"

Gosh! I guess most of us were just so stiff from posing, staying still, and putting a smile on our face that we were so relieved when the camera man finally said "ok!"

Haha! Nonetheless, it was a fun and interesting experience and I can't wait to see how the photos turn out!

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Over The Dinner Table

I had one of the most happiest day today.

It all began when Mom asked if I wanted to join them (both Dad and Mom) for their anniversary dinner celebration. I agreed to her dinner invite swiftly, and we settled for dinner at Cafe Cartel, Tampines Mall.

That's when it all began.

The conversation we both my folks and I started short and sharp. But slowly, we began chatting about life, work, school, and relationships. Boy it was just a wonderful heartwarming session; one I haven't had with them for a long time.

And though I wasn't pleased with the quality of food in Cafe Cartel, it was the conversations I had with my folks that made the evening a pleasant time.

I'm certainly looking forward to spending more quality time with them!

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On our last day in Festive Hotel, we awoke earlier and headed to Siloso Beach in attempt to try out the Luge and Sky Ride.

Apparently my dad and grandmother tried this yesterday and recommended it to my mom, dear, and I. To be honest, I've seen my friends try this before but never gave it a try (I wonder why). Well, better late than never right?

In order to get to the start of the Luge Circuit, we had to get onto the 4 seater Sky Ride, which scared the hell out of me since I am afraid of heights. Thank God the Sky Ride isn't too fast, else I would have screamed throughout the whole ride.

Any how, dear was the first to finish the whole course (as usual). What can I say, he was happily playing with the corners and drifting.. and grinning throughout!

I was enjoying myself as well, because it the Luge is actually quite fun and easy to maneuver! But of course, I wasn't as adventurous as dear and took my own sweet time to complete the course. That said, Mom was the last one, because she was trying to find out how to control the Luge. Haha!

Soon, it was near noon and we headed back to our hotel to prepare to check out. My heart was a little heavy to leave this place. After all, we really enjoyed our time with the rides, shows, and each other's company. Oh well, at least we can still reminisce the good fun times in our memories!

Regardless, I managed to buy a souvenir for my parents before leaving Resorts World Sentosa, which is actually mini Oscar awards for them being the greatest Husband and Wife. I initially wanted to buy "World's Greatest Mom / Dad", but they ran out of stock for "World Greatest Mom".

Interestingly, my mom bought me a souvenir from the Voyage De La Vie Show - a Charm Bracelet!

She also bought the Gingerbread Man plush from the Universal Studios Gift Shop in the Far Far Away section. Thanks mom!

Ah! Shouldn't life be as such, filled with love and fun and happiness? Indeed, nothing beats having a great time with your family and loved ones. For me, I've enjoyed every minute with them and seeing them enjoy themselves with grins on their faces, I can't help but smile too :D

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The next day, dear and I decided to spend some time walking around Resorts World Sentosa and checking the whole place out.

So we took the Resort Guide, and walked from one hotel to the next, strolled past different shops and checked out various venues.

Of which, we also took many pictures along the way. I especially love the picture above.

Nearing dusk, our family and I gathered to watch the Voyage De La Vie show at Festive Grand Theatre. Apparently, it is the FIRST circus theatre spectacular ever to be created in Singapore and I must say, I am impressed. Dear seems to like it too and for my parents, they left the theatre smiling.

After which, the whole lot of us left for Vivocity via the free Tram Ride (for hotel guests at Resorts World Sentosa) to have dinner as the food in Resorts World Sentosa is pretty pricey.

At Vivocity, I bought Mom a Hello Kitty biscuit since she's a Hello Kitty fan, and bought other pastries for my dad and grandparents as well. Though it's just a small gesture, it's the thought that counts right?

When we finally arrived back at Resorts World Sentosa, we took a slow stroll along the lit landscapes. It was a great post dinner exercise, especially when you have your family around.

Though today was less action packed than the previous day at Universal Studios, we all had a great time watching the show and taking a slow paced walk around the compound. Having said that, I was pretty exhausted by midnight, and slept like a baby through the night.

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