I live, like the 70%, in a HDB flat.
Everynight, I reach home by taking a lift to my floor and turn left to 2 doors after the lift doors open.
One was always opened and the other is always closed.
An old lady would sit in her sofa watching TV. When she caught my eye occasionally, we would chat. Most of the time, she would be dozing, watching TV or be somwhere in the flat.
I often see her alone most of the time and in the night when I come home. Her TV was always on and quiet. It had somehow became the norm to be greeted by the welcoming opened door behind the closed gate while the only sounds which disturbed the peace was my clumsy attempt to quieten the clanging and banging when I open my door.
One day, while the door still stood opened, the TV was off, with unfamiliar shoes and slippers outside the flat.
The next day, the TV was still off and yet the door still stood opened. The flat somehow became more silent than before.
Now, when I come home, that door seemed forever closed, the silent TV no longer allowed to display anything and the slippers all gone. Opening my door feels louder than before.
Rest in peace.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Beef Daube @ Coffee Club IMM
I could not order hot chocolate as they had ran out. It was 7:45pm and the crowd was still there.
My wife and I found a centre seat. The shop is in fact located in the center of a mall and any seat is the centre seat.
While I could not describe her food, I sure could describe mine.
They are the expert in coffee and so serving dishes may not be their forte.
My wife and I found a centre seat. The shop is in fact located in the center of a mall and any seat is the centre seat.
While I could not describe her food, I sure could describe mine.
They are the expert in coffee and so serving dishes may not be their forte.
Beef Daube. Sounds like a french dish. It is about $12.
It did not take long for them to serve us our dishes. Mine looked like a pile-up with black goo poured on top. The bottom layer was the plain mashed potato. On top of it were strips of long beans, I think. And on top of the vegetable, was the mixture of beef cubes and (shiitake??) mushroom. Then the sauce covered everything.
I could not discern the difference between the mushroom and the meat as they were both dark brown and the visibility was marred by the semi-transparent, strachy, gooie, black speckled sauce.
The sauce had a taste of mushroom. It was still watery although the gooie-ness was there. Not to degrade the dish, but for discription only, the sauce look like mucus. The taste was strong enough to overwhelm the taste buds at the first encounter. When the toungue got use to the taste, everyting seemed fine. To make such texture, one has to mix a teaspoon of starch to a large mug of warm water.
The meat was fiberous. Having bitten into one cube, the meat broke off into strands much like dried meat. Although the salty taste of dried meat was absent, the feel did feel the same. Some of the 'fiber' serve an immediate double role of flossing your teeth. The meat seemed like it was cut into cubes, dried to the core, then re-hydrated. As the meat is not readily water absorbant and the cells having died the second time round, the meat would feel wet but would break off in strands along the fault lines between (cellular) tissues.
The mushroom was, well like mushroom.
To add crunchiness to the dish, the long beans, at least 10cm each, were added. The vegetable looked steamed just enough to retain its crunchiness and colour. I could not taste the vegetable but to feel it as the sauce did a good job.
The plain mashed potato was to add the fuzz to the feel. Perhaps to provide the carbohydrates.
Fist Look:
The dish placed itself appropriately in the region of stew and japanese curry rice.
Feel:
It can be broken down into parts that were put together without blending of feel for the chomping teeth.
1) springy feel of the mushroom
2) 'fiberous' feel of the meat
3) crunchiness of the vegetable
4) soft fuzzy, cotton like feel of the mashed potato
5) gooie feel of the sauce
Taste:
A unified taste could be the call of the dish
It did not take long for them to serve us our dishes. Mine looked like a pile-up with black goo poured on top. The bottom layer was the plain mashed potato. On top of it were strips of long beans, I think. And on top of the vegetable, was the mixture of beef cubes and (shiitake??) mushroom. Then the sauce covered everything.
I could not discern the difference between the mushroom and the meat as they were both dark brown and the visibility was marred by the semi-transparent, strachy, gooie, black speckled sauce.
The sauce had a taste of mushroom. It was still watery although the gooie-ness was there. Not to degrade the dish, but for discription only, the sauce look like mucus. The taste was strong enough to overwhelm the taste buds at the first encounter. When the toungue got use to the taste, everyting seemed fine. To make such texture, one has to mix a teaspoon of starch to a large mug of warm water.
The meat was fiberous. Having bitten into one cube, the meat broke off into strands much like dried meat. Although the salty taste of dried meat was absent, the feel did feel the same. Some of the 'fiber' serve an immediate double role of flossing your teeth. The meat seemed like it was cut into cubes, dried to the core, then re-hydrated. As the meat is not readily water absorbant and the cells having died the second time round, the meat would feel wet but would break off in strands along the fault lines between (cellular) tissues.
The mushroom was, well like mushroom.
To add crunchiness to the dish, the long beans, at least 10cm each, were added. The vegetable looked steamed just enough to retain its crunchiness and colour. I could not taste the vegetable but to feel it as the sauce did a good job.
The plain mashed potato was to add the fuzz to the feel. Perhaps to provide the carbohydrates.
Fist Look:
The dish placed itself appropriately in the region of stew and japanese curry rice.
Feel:
It can be broken down into parts that were put together without blending of feel for the chomping teeth.
1) springy feel of the mushroom
2) 'fiberous' feel of the meat
3) crunchiness of the vegetable
4) soft fuzzy, cotton like feel of the mashed potato
5) gooie feel of the sauce
Taste:
A unified taste could be the call of the dish
Friday, October 10, 2008
BeefBaconCheese&Egg @ Saussage House
It is a small place in at the basement of Square 2. Only 4 high seats facing the counter. The cooking area is large enough to stand 3 adults. 6 if they are not cooking.
I had Beef Bacon Cheese and Egg burger. (non-halal)
Just as it is, except for the additional slice of tomato and a small piece of lettuce, you can see the bun, beef patty, one piece of becon, a slice of cheese and egg cooked in a circular block.
It is served in a paper tray. The presenation (as in the picture) is quite humble.
The patty is made of minced meat. Though grainy to the touch, it crumbles away quite easily. It is cooked well done but the juice is still dripping. By lifting the burger and, while it is still in the hands, tilting it with all the pieces perpendicular to the ground, the juice freely pour out onto the tray. I get a small puddle of about a teaspoon.
As the burger is juicy, the piece of lettuce is soggy. It has lost its crunchyness. It has the feel of a piece of soggy piece of tissue draped on the bun. Since it is fiberus, it does does not get sheered easily by the snapping teeth bit pieces of 'strands' still pulls.
The cheese is placed on the patty. While it is still hot, it fuses with the surface of the patty. As with hot cheese, there are the deliteful strands when pulled. So biting off part of the burger will have you pulling on cheese strands and lettuce. While the cheese is fun, the lettuce is not.
If there's a chance that a small piece of patty should drop off. You can see a very slow bungee jump, with the strand getting thinner as the piece falls further away.
Then there is the egg on top of the cheese.
Finally, slotted in between the top bun and the egg, well hidden, is the bacon. It is soft and not cruncy.
On the whole, the burger is not crunchy at all. The bun is lightly fried to give the steam bun a very (really very) slight crisp cover while the rest of the components are soft to the bite. It is soft enough to eat it without dentures.
Taste: The presence of the egg give the burger the egg taste. It completly drowns the whole burger. The piece of bacon does not taste salty at all. Having the fat from the bacon and cheese, one does not feel it taste too oily. The egg has the drying effect on the juicyness of the bite.
Feel: It can be quite messy without utensil as none is given. But it wouldn't be fun or proper if one eats a burger with tools, would it?
Health: Considering the generous portion of fat and salt, it is advisable to go on a steam vegetable diet for the next 2 days. If the generous portions are removed, then it would be like it should be.
"What tastes good is bad for your body; what is good for your body may not taste nice."
Take care.
I had Beef Bacon Cheese and Egg burger. (non-halal)
Just as it is, except for the additional slice of tomato and a small piece of lettuce, you can see the bun, beef patty, one piece of becon, a slice of cheese and egg cooked in a circular block.
It is served in a paper tray. The presenation (as in the picture) is quite humble.
The patty is made of minced meat. Though grainy to the touch, it crumbles away quite easily. It is cooked well done but the juice is still dripping. By lifting the burger and, while it is still in the hands, tilting it with all the pieces perpendicular to the ground, the juice freely pour out onto the tray. I get a small puddle of about a teaspoon.
As the burger is juicy, the piece of lettuce is soggy. It has lost its crunchyness. It has the feel of a piece of soggy piece of tissue draped on the bun. Since it is fiberus, it does does not get sheered easily by the snapping teeth bit pieces of 'strands' still pulls.
The cheese is placed on the patty. While it is still hot, it fuses with the surface of the patty. As with hot cheese, there are the deliteful strands when pulled. So biting off part of the burger will have you pulling on cheese strands and lettuce. While the cheese is fun, the lettuce is not.
If there's a chance that a small piece of patty should drop off. You can see a very slow bungee jump, with the strand getting thinner as the piece falls further away.
Then there is the egg on top of the cheese.
Finally, slotted in between the top bun and the egg, well hidden, is the bacon. It is soft and not cruncy.
On the whole, the burger is not crunchy at all. The bun is lightly fried to give the steam bun a very (really very) slight crisp cover while the rest of the components are soft to the bite. It is soft enough to eat it without dentures.
Taste: The presence of the egg give the burger the egg taste. It completly drowns the whole burger. The piece of bacon does not taste salty at all. Having the fat from the bacon and cheese, one does not feel it taste too oily. The egg has the drying effect on the juicyness of the bite.
Feel: It can be quite messy without utensil as none is given. But it wouldn't be fun or proper if one eats a burger with tools, would it?
Health: Considering the generous portion of fat and salt, it is advisable to go on a steam vegetable diet for the next 2 days. If the generous portions are removed, then it would be like it should be.
"What tastes good is bad for your body; what is good for your body may not taste nice."
Take care.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Ayam Penyet @ Ayam Penyet Ria
Just went to eat at square2 at Novena at 8:30pm. Thinking that the stall would close at 9pm and the food not so wonderful after a whole day, I still decided to eat there.
I was in a rush to go home and took a quick glance at the menu and ordered the first thing that came to sight. Ayam Penyet. (Ask your Malay speaking friends what it means). I also ordered a 'happy soda'. The whole thing set me back 6.50+1.80 = 8.30.
I only remembered to take a picture of it until halfway through. :(
Like some of the fried chicken from the stalls, I expected the chicken to be tough and dry after frying. The first fry (of chicken) would be when they start the day or in the middle of the day when there is an afternoon crowd, or evening for dinner. Then the chicken would be left till closing time. Any customer who comes late, after dinner, would get the leftover chicken. Any meat fried the second time would be dry and tough.To my surprise, the meat gave way with a gentle poke of my fork! I remembered to take a picture of it after wolfing down the vegetable and chili.
Even if it is dry, the chicken is not tough.
The chili burns the lips but that is as far as its power goes. I did make me sweat at the brow. After a while, you'll get use to the spicyness. (The 'happy soda' did help a lot in this case - I suspect the drink is a mixture of starawberry soda and milk. Milk is good for neutralizing the spicyness)
Bits of crumbs of meat (perhaps chicken). It gives it the crunch, the sinful fatty oily taste, just the thing to compliment the chicken which is not performing very much on taste.
First Look: The set dish consist of 1) chicken (it was a thigh), 2) Kang Kong, 3) some cake made of nut (common in Malay dish), 4) chili, 5) plain white rice, 6) bits of crumbs of fried meat generously sprinkled over the meat, 7) one slice of cucumber, 8) fried toufu. Presented on a circular piece of banana leaf, nicely cut, on a circular wooden bowl. (looks like a Medan (Indonesian)dish)
Feel: If you eat with your fingers, 3 fingers by the right hand woould be enough to split to meat into small pieces. The hardness of the chicken is just a wee bit tougher than the fried toufu. This toufu is the watery type which is usually used for "tofu teloh".
Taste: A wonderful mix of crunchness, hardness, softness, with hotness. As it is mainly a fried dish, you can taste the oil and the nullifying after taste of eating fried stuff. Though not overwhelming, it tries to balance itself with the fiber of the kangkong and freshness of the cucumber. Added to the plain white rice, it can be a good meal. (Forget drink. It drowns out the flavour of the disk)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Wasabi burger @ Mcdonalds
I have just ordered a wasabi burger from a Mcdonals in Shaw Centre.
Noting new but a modified Fillet O Fish burger.
Take away the special sauce and put in vegetables and wasabi sauce and you have a 'new' burger.
Unless you have a problem with sinus or your nose, then this burger is good for you.
The first bite and the wasabi effect will go up your nose totally clogging the flavour of the original fish burger.
You get the bit feeling but the taste is totally gone.
Try it, and you will know.
Noting new but a modified Fillet O Fish burger.
Take away the special sauce and put in vegetables and wasabi sauce and you have a 'new' burger.
Unless you have a problem with sinus or your nose, then this burger is good for you.
The first bite and the wasabi effect will go up your nose totally clogging the flavour of the original fish burger.
You get the bit feeling but the taste is totally gone.
Try it, and you will know.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Observation (Fuel Surcharge)
What is with fuel surcharge?
What does it stand for?
If the cost of fuel increases, then it should be worked out into the fare meter in taxis.
Why is there a need for surcharge. Does it make the fuel cheaper?
Or it is simply a ploy to earn more money?
What does it stand for?
If the cost of fuel increases, then it should be worked out into the fare meter in taxis.
Why is there a need for surcharge. Does it make the fuel cheaper?
Or it is simply a ploy to earn more money?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thinker (mind discriminating use of the senses)
I have often wondered how a person learn.
Perhaps that sensation inhibition is one of the stumbling block for learning.
If the senses are unable to differentiate the stimulus, then it may confuse the brain.
Should there be a way to sensitize the senses, then it may clear the path for the brain to scrutinize the signals and to process it.
Perhaps that sensation inhibition is one of the stumbling block for learning.
If the senses are unable to differentiate the stimulus, then it may confuse the brain.
Should there be a way to sensitize the senses, then it may clear the path for the brain to scrutinize the signals and to process it.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Saving money vie ez-link card
If transfer can actually save money as compared to single trip, then,
2 people work in shifts. One starts work at 8am, the other ends work at 8am.
Both of them work in the same factory or very near each other, and
both of them live together or very near each other.
Say if one takes an ez-link card and goes to work, then pass the card to the other person who is coming back from work. Effectively, that would make a transfer tripon a single card , instead of 2 individual ez-link card which would not have any saving at all.
Should that transfer save 10cents, then for a 5 day week, it would be about 0.1x5x4=$2 saved.
2 people work in shifts. One starts work at 8am, the other ends work at 8am.
Both of them work in the same factory or very near each other, and
both of them live together or very near each other.
Say if one takes an ez-link card and goes to work, then pass the card to the other person who is coming back from work. Effectively, that would make a transfer tripon a single card , instead of 2 individual ez-link card which would not have any saving at all.
Should that transfer save 10cents, then for a 5 day week, it would be about 0.1x5x4=$2 saved.
Thinker (Potential Collaspe of AIG)
The news reported that AIG is facing a collaspe. AIA is a subsiday. Would it be effected?
If it can survive this, then the company's fundamentals are sound. and
2, the government has done well to protect Singaporeans.
If it can survive this, then the company's fundamentals are sound. and
2, the government has done well to protect Singaporeans.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Daily Obeservation (Holland Village Valet)
HDB bans valet parking. Reasons which I'm not so clear. I did not do a follow-up, but let's presume...
To continue:
1. It is entrepunership.
2. There is a demand for it. Poeple want to park their cars and not waste their time waiting for a lot. If someone wants to do the parking for them, and earn from it, why not? It's the risk of the car owner.
3. The valets would move the cars away if the cars are blocking the way of other drivers.
4. Someone is responsible for the safety of the cars.
5. If the customers spend less time waiting for lots, they should be happier in the shop, comparing to customers spending time waiting for lots and may be very unhappy when the step through the doors of the shop. (who wants to wait for lot anyway) Think about hungry kids at the back of the car screaming for food and waiting for lot.
6. Impatient customers may take their business elsewhere.
7. Illegal parking does occur but finding the owner to move the vheicle is next to impossible.
8. Illegal parking does occur but valets can move them away thus clearing the path.
9. It is value add to the businesses in Holland Village and the bosses do not have to pay extra. (win-win except for HDB)
To discontinue:
1. Reserving lots for the gain of the valets.
2. Lesser fines issued because of alert valets.
3. Valets deny fines when the cars are in their charge.
4. Theft.
5. Damage car.
6. If these people pay no income tax- or any tax from the valet parking income, then they have no business running a business.
To continue:
1. It is entrepunership.
2. There is a demand for it. Poeple want to park their cars and not waste their time waiting for a lot. If someone wants to do the parking for them, and earn from it, why not? It's the risk of the car owner.
3. The valets would move the cars away if the cars are blocking the way of other drivers.
4. Someone is responsible for the safety of the cars.
5. If the customers spend less time waiting for lots, they should be happier in the shop, comparing to customers spending time waiting for lots and may be very unhappy when the step through the doors of the shop. (who wants to wait for lot anyway) Think about hungry kids at the back of the car screaming for food and waiting for lot.
6. Impatient customers may take their business elsewhere.
7. Illegal parking does occur but finding the owner to move the vheicle is next to impossible.
8. Illegal parking does occur but valets can move them away thus clearing the path.
9. It is value add to the businesses in Holland Village and the bosses do not have to pay extra. (win-win except for HDB)
To discontinue:
1. Reserving lots for the gain of the valets.
2. Lesser fines issued because of alert valets.
3. Valets deny fines when the cars are in their charge.
4. Theft.
5. Damage car.
6. If these people pay no income tax- or any tax from the valet parking income, then they have no business running a business.
Daily Observation
When I was in a taxi travelling along a certain road, I saw a long queue.
At first I thought it was just an exceptional day.
For the following few days, the queue still exist abit different people forming the queue.
Then I looked at the building and wondered:
The building is pretty large. It covers an area of 1 football field - surely it can accommodate more than 100 people who formed the queue inside the building.
But the people were waiting for something and the counter and the waiting area in front of the counter is large enough for about 10.
Perhaps is did not consider their service important.
Poor people, exposed to the weather.
Perhaps the embassy does not think that forming a queue into another sovereign territory not a matter.
"We queue up in another country to get our paper processed in our own."
It's kind of disrespectful.
At first I thought it was just an exceptional day.
For the following few days, the queue still exist abit different people forming the queue.
Then I looked at the building and wondered:
The building is pretty large. It covers an area of 1 football field - surely it can accommodate more than 100 people who formed the queue inside the building.
But the people were waiting for something and the counter and the waiting area in front of the counter is large enough for about 10.
Perhaps is did not consider their service important.
Poor people, exposed to the weather.
Perhaps the embassy does not think that forming a queue into another sovereign territory not a matter.
"We queue up in another country to get our paper processed in our own."
It's kind of disrespectful.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
My Enviroment I'm in
The cost of living has gone up.
Is it because of oil prices?
Is it because of free market condition effecting eatable commodities?
Is is because of greed and knowleadge?
Is it because of oil prices?
Is it because of free market condition effecting eatable commodities?
Is is because of greed and knowleadge?
Monday, September 08, 2008
On Marriage
Finding love is not an easy thing.
At first it is selfish as one seeks to posess another.
Jealousy, anxiety, uncertainty prevails.
Then come marriage and commitment, giving and compromising. (win-win situation is bullshit. no such thing exist. It's just a business talk)
When came the child, love is self-less.
Love is in fact from within and (insomeways) learnt.
At first it is selfish as one seeks to posess another.
Jealousy, anxiety, uncertainty prevails.
Then come marriage and commitment, giving and compromising. (win-win situation is bullshit. no such thing exist. It's just a business talk)
When came the child, love is self-less.
Love is in fact from within and (insomeways) learnt.
Alternative blog
This blog will soon be revived. please visit http://waverider.multiply.com/ for the current blog or some posting I have contributed over the 2 years on http://nutsaboutbaby.com/
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