Mini Updates

Exams are coming next week! and after that, I'll be back in Singapore on the 12 Nov, I am looking forward to meeting all my best friends and seeing my family. I miss them so much. I have looked so awful over the past few months, stress over work, over exams, and over job applications! Oh gosh, need some good pampering this summer..

Just some weekend indulgence with z at another nearby suburb (Randwick Junction), our second time there, very nice cakes but so-so coffee. We had 'Vienna Almond Tiramisu', it has honey coated almond toppings and the liquerish taste was quite strong, and 'black forest' cake.

Did I mention Tiramisu is my all time favorite?

Awful looking P

Gorgeous looking z

Vienna Tiramisu & Blackforest

Back to whacking books!!!

Marriage - Commitments

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping.

I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger.

I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions... She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset.

I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time.. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.

Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute.

Then i held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...

I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore. She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more.

Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. I know how her heart could not bear to hear my last words now. I still carried her, my last one...this time with my wretched heart.


The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. If you do, you just might save a marriage.

Last Day on Earth

This is a favourite song of mine currently, her voice is so soothing & she looks angelic

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Lyrics | Kate Miller-Heidke lyrics - The Last Day On Earth lyrics

Spring Graduation 2009

Girls! I have finally graduated, after 3 long years in Perth. The experience has been wonderful, despite it being such a boring city. I am so glad that i made the effort to make new friends, apart from Singaporean students and the locals. My part-time barista job at Neds/Barretts have made me a more interactive person and someone outgoing. My boss and manager has treated me very kindly, despite me being an Asian, i haven't really encountered any racism, the customers are friendly and patient.

I made friends from Taiwan, HK, Britain and also Malaysia. So far, my group projects are usually within done with my singaporean friends, so sorry for being so pushy with the deadlines and all, just wanted the assignment to be done with progress. Sherwin, Mark, Lynette, Zhiqi, Chok, Edmund, we have done projects at least once or twice. It was a good experience working with all of you.

Very thankfully, of the lot i have 3 particularly good friends i wanna mention - Katherine, Laura & Alan.

Thank you Katherine for making working times fun (I know waking up at 4.30 am is a b*tch) and outside work, we get to do very healthy things like hot yoga and gym, very importantly, cafe-ing all the time! You have been of great company, to SKYN trips! haha, that's our secret to flat tummy!

Thank you Laura for exposing me to the British Accent (took 15 mins to understand what she was trying to get at, the first time speaking to her), thank you for not giving up on me! We shared deeep dark secrets..So glad Laura came visiting this weekend. I wonder when would be the next time we will meet each other, please come by travelling ASIA when you got the chance, beg the police officer like Chris did whenever you are in transit at Singapore Airport. Shall post pictures of our outing at a later date.

Thank you Alan for being my Burswood companion! haha, we have the best partnership in BLACKJACK and sometimes BACARRAT! i will certainly miss those days living with you, you have been such a great housemate and cook. Thank you for been my photographer on my graduation day. I hope you like my 'Kk' top! Good luck with the final semester and your job.

Most importantly, all 3 knows that my favorite food in Perth is 'Sweet & Sour Fish' LOL, *faint*

I must say, there were 'politics', alot of it, during my stay in Perth. It was not easy living under one roof with someone other than your family members. You never know what others may think of u, despite that amiable front they put up every day. So, you can never trust anyone too much. Well, i had my fair share of shi*t, but thank god, truth always prevails.

Enjoy my Graduation Pictures, may the pictures motivate those who are still struggling out there with Undergrad & my other brilliant uni friends who are pursuing Postgrad, it's another year or two. Don't Give Up!

Belle - Mark - Me

Me - Timothy

Geoffrey - Alan - Me

Geoffrey - Jiang Shui - Me

Belle - Alan (HK housemate) - Me

Jack - Me - Belle - Alan

Alan - Brandon

Lean Swee

Chok

Johnson

Rodney - Me - Alan

Alvin - Me

Me - Chandan - Lorraine - Alvin

Katherine - Tiffany - Me - Natalie

Pancake Brekky

This morning z made Pancakes, it was much better than the 1st attempt, i like it crispy and thinner, he insist i take pictures and blog abt it! i decide to help him add the magical touch to his pancakes with a dollop of butter and some drizzle maple syrup, haahah! so there you go!

叉烧 rice at Middle St.

my kitchen is about 2 by 4 metres, very very tiny to work with. But in my little kitchen, i am able to do wonders and whip up quick and yummy meals! This is my very first attempt at making Char Siew (叉烧) Rice - Cantonese Style Roast Pork, my dad loves 叉烧 & Roast Pork Combination rice, and for me, things would be perfect if there was roasted duck and spicy spicy chili!

i adapted this version of 'oven-cooked' 叉烧 from this lady's blog - 'MyWokLife'. i have used tons of her recipes and i must say they are fantastic. her blog is one of my favourite as the ingredients involved are inexpensive and most of them would already exist within your household, hence you wouldn't have to go hunting for weird ingredients that you may never have heard of. Cooking and experimenting with all sorts of flavors is how i keep myself from being extremely homesick over these 3 years here, as i could have a taste of local delights from home, it would cost alot more to enjoy such lavish food out. i must say z was pretty impressed with my 叉烧, he wiped out every drop of gravy on his plate!




Recipe as follow -

Serves 4

Ingredients:
500 gram of long strips pork shoulder cut (could use pork
belly, but that would be toooo guilty..)
1 small cucumber, sliced (as side dish)

Seasoning:
1 teaspoon of ground white pepper
1 teaspoon of light soy sauce 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce (thick soy sauce) 1 tablespoon of honey
5 tablespoon of sugar (add more, if desired)
1 teaspoon of Hua Diao Rice Wine
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
½ teaspoon of Zedoary, ground, or in 3 - 4 small pieces (Chinese translation: 沙姜)
(Or, replace with 1 teaspoon of ginger juice.)

Use oven-baking:
1) Preheat oven to 250ºC.

2) Line baking dish with aluminum foil, and place pork strips on it.

3) Place baking dish in the center of preheated oven.

4) Bake one side for 10 minutes. Turn pork strips over and bake for another 10 min, or until caramelized.

5) Remove from oven. Thinly slice when strips are cooled. Serve with Char Siew sauce, and cucumbers.

Tips: I would cook a side dish of boiled veggies as the amount of pork is a little overwhelming for me.

Also, do not leave the pork in the oven for too long, as it would not keep the meat tender.

Drizzle pork strips with the seasoning mixes during marination to intermingle meat and the sauce further.

I have not added red food coloring to my 叉烧 as i do not really like food addictive, especially with the huge amount of sauces in this recipe, and secondly, i wouldn't be able to use the red coloring any where else, hence decided to go without it!

According to the author, Zedoary (沙姜) is a mild Indian spice, it has benefits of helping food digestion hence i guess it would highly recommend it since this dish is quite meaty.

Good luck trying, and do visit 'MyWokLife' for very healthy and easy-to-cook recipes!

P.S Many thanks to MyWokLife for this wonderful recipe.

First time stepping into a Cinema in Aus

I am not exactly a fan of fiction books, but Jodi Picoult titles has been a rave amongst my friends who does lots of reading. Because of that, i bought 'My Sister's Keeper' about 3 years ago from memory, very heart-wrenching book, that could make you tear. Recently, or not very recently, a movie on this book was filmed. I was very excited when i heard about it and i was wanting to catch it when it was first out but because of schoolwork, i could only catch it this afternoon, it is my first movie in australia over the 3 years i have been living here!

I was a little disappointed after the movie, not that i didn't enjoy it but it felt abit too draggy, maybe it was because i knew where the story line was heading.. Cameron Diaz being the mom of Kate. Cameron looked old on screen, i think it was deliberate to make her look as such, worn-out from her duties of keeping her daughter alive. But still, she played the role well. z treated me to the movie, 28 Aud for student tickets, so expensive isn't it? we could have watched 2 movies if we were in sg! Very much surprising, there was a Max Brenner's at Bondi, just a level below the cinemas! Obviously, i couldn't let that go! by the way, this outlet closes at midnight!!

We're on the bus, heading to Bondi Junction!
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ER'S MAX BRENNER'S MAX BRENNER'S MAX BRE

very popular in Syd, they have over 7 outlets in NSW

Ooooooooh Yeaaaahhhh

Tucked in that little corner is where you could select their house pralines from white to dark chocs, i think they are pretty pricey though

Look at the colorfully painted walls, i am sure the girls will go mad, wanting to take pictures with the nice walls! Reminded me of this all mango dessert stall in Bangkok where they had mango-filled pictures (look below). if i have a cafe one day, i will paint it like that too, How vibrant it brings to the shop!

Mango dessert shop in BKK

The interesting bit, look at the pipes saying 100% chocolate, we had no doubts the pipes were filled with chocolate, and goes all the way into the counter-area where they had this machine that segregates the White, Milk & Dark chocolate..(look below)

Following the pipes....Can you see the chocolate pumps? isn't that so cooool?

Apart from our drinks, we had belgian waffles x 2, drizzled with their milk chocolate sauce

'Drink me' - Dark Chocolate Mocha Frappe, do they have such mugs in singapore?? I didn't see many people having the signature 'Chocolate Suckaos' like they do in Sg, and the weather was pretty warm today..

Mr Belgian Waffles, you're finished.



Presenting you chocolate by Max the 'bald man' , not the one in grey of course..





'i don't invent anything in chocolate, it all exists in people's minds and hearts'
Max Brenner

Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar
Shop 6007, Level 6, Westfield
500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
+61 2 9389008

Bondi Beach

This is a late entry. We went to Bondi Beach 2 weeks back as i wanted to pop by the flea market there, the flea market was packed with people that i couldn't take a picture of how the place was, i bought a very nice piece of jewelery there, will show you soon! The beach is nothing compared to our dearest East Coast Park! I remember it was quite cold that afternoon but there were still so many people surfing and sun-tanning!! Shiverrrr..

Blackforest cake after lunch!