V is for...

VICTORY TARTS!

Managed to cajole my reluctant mom into making her pineapple tarts this year. Despite her protests about lack of time and energy, she eventually gave in when I promised to help her.



Step 0 was to procure and prepare the necessary ingredients. Mind you, these wholesome, homemade tarts are made from scratch - no ready-made, preservative-laden pineapple paste was used in the process. I had some wild idea to incorporate cinnamon into the pineapple jam but mom desisted.

Step 1, dice and process pineapples into rough puree. Then add brown sugar and cook in wok till sufficiently but not overly dry and sweet - tarts taste best when tart :)



Next, sift flour to introduce air for ultimate pastry fluffiness, then dump in yolks/butter and mix. For a guy, I'm pretty ginger with the dough mix.

"Why so slow? By the time you finish, it's daylight already lah," Mom chided.

Mom informed me tt during her very first lesson in making pineapple tarts in class, each student was given only a few spoonfuls of flour to make a couple of tarts. I asked her whether her school's still around.

"Why, yes. De Ming is a very good school, you know. That's why I got kicked out when I failed English. Back then, girls weren't encouraged to study anyway. Instead they said tt a girl only needed to find a rich husband."

Operation Playdough completed around 2300hrs.



Day 2: True enough, I couldn't run away from my domestic duties when I wanted to go swimming instead. Was therefore summoned to return for homebody obligations. Maybe I should have fibbed that I had a date arranged...

Mom was already halfway preparing the tart bases and was in a bit of a temper. Ignored me when I asked her to go eat dinner first.

In typical mom fashion, when I asked what she needs me to do, she retorted, "Can't you see what's missing?"

Quick-thinking Ed gets straight down to filling the tarts with the paste, except he didn't know how. Mom practically grunts, except she didn't.

After dinner, mom cum supervisor pops by to inspect. "Why so slow? By the time you finish, it's daylight already lah."



I notice mom topping the tarts with a "V" and after 26years, it only just occurred to me to ask why. "Because it means victory!"

Wow, my mom should join the motivational industry.

Ed-with-itchy-fingers couldn't resist a slight modification to the "V".

"What you doing? So ugly!" Mom exclaimed.

While I added the finishing touches of glazing the exposed pastry with egg white, mom washed up. As she dried her traditional Chinese matrimony tray, she pointed out tt it's 1 year older than I am.

When I ask her whether she regrets not having any daughters, she says yes, because a daughter would keep her company. *scratch head*

Operation Victory Tarts was a success, although we only had 1 tupperware full.

When I asked dad who happened to be in the kitchen to check whether the tarts had cooled and to store them, he promptly popped one into his mouth. Mom and me promptly protested.

Happy Chinese new year, all!

View slideshow here.

V is for...

VICTOR'S SECRETS



Pardon the questionable sub-title. Chuckling CK jokingly offered tt discussion about what to offer on our web portal.

Incidentally, I caught Victoria's Secrets on TV. Commented to Lucid Maxima tt the models with their svelte figures and golden blonde locks look like barbie doll clones of Heather Graham. Except for Her Royal Well-Endowment, Tyra Banks.

Very well put-together fashion show, I must say :)

I, Geek

D, cellgroup mate, blurts while I sheltered her across the road with my trusty umbrella "Don't worry, I won't fall for you, 'cause I don't like geeks."

"Erm, I'll take that as a compliment."

Stars

Switchfoot

Maybe I've been the problem
Maybe I'm the one to blame
But even when I turn it off and blame myself
The outcome feels the same

I've been thinkin' maybe I've been partly cloudy
Maybe I'm the chance of rain
And maybe I'm overcast and maybe
All my luck's washed down the drain

I've been thinkin' 'bout everyone, everyone you look so lonely
But when I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars
I see someone else
When I look at the stars, the stars
I feel like myself

Stars looking at our planet,
Watching entropy and pain
And maybe startin' to wonder
How the chaos in our lives could pass as sane

I've been thinkin' 'bout the meaning of resistance
Of a hope beyond our own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent
Began to look like home

I've been thinkin' 'bout everyone, everyone you look so empty
But when I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars
I see someone else
When I look at the stars, the stars
I feel like myself

Everyone, everyone you feel so lonely
Everyone, ya everyone you feel so empty
When I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars,
When I look at the stars
I feel like myself
When I look at the stars, the stars
I see someone

Something New, Something Exciting

Everyone keeps telling me how fit I am. But to paraphrase today's cellgroup message: excellence is relative. I'm no Ben Pulham, that's for sure (btw he's only 25). Well, running's just running - pure, physical exercise.

Biathlon training update: Right after cellgroup today, I zipped off to SAFRA Yishun & swam 22 continuous laps. Woohoo! 8 more to go, to pass SG biathlon swimming trial. But after ZH pointed out the finer points of the challenges a biathlon presents, am still apprehensive. One month more before I decide whether to sign up or not.

Spotted the 25m wall, proudly standing in Yishun sub-urbania. It beckoned to me and so did the sports climbing gear shop. Checked out the climbing shoes, tried to ask for recommendation for reasonably priced one - the cheapest was $100. But am determined to pick up this sport.

This year, I resolve to do something new, something different, something exciting. The rest of you can either just stand aside and watch or come along for the thrill. WOOT! :)

Questions & OB Markers

In yesterday's Straits Times (20 Jan, Review section), I thought Catherine Lim presented a rather honest & perceptive commentary about Singapore as a political state. Particularly, "The Experiment" with which she ended her exposition, while superficially amusing, struck home in me what feels like a sense of dread.

Now, I'm no lunchtime political critic, but am definitely discerning enough to notice the invisible but undeniably-existent blanket of fear which Catherine Lim describes. Including acknowledging that I myself is guilty of the apathy and ignorance most Singaporeans are accused of.

Just the other day, a colleague spotted my "I Love Singapore" decal stuck on my cubicle window and then dug at me, "What? You love Singapore?" To which, I non-hesitatingly smiled and replied, "Yes, I really do." For the next hour, internal ripples of self-questioning follow - what do I really love about Singapore? Immediately, political stability and economic prosperity came to mind - didn't bring much comfort though.

Much credit has been given to LKY for bringing Singapore thus far, most saliently, in terms of economic success and a determined political will (readTime magazine: The man who saw it all, Economist.com: suggested readings about Singapore). And much has been said: that Singapore, a small island state with limited resources, can ill afford to ignore the winds of change, blowing hard.

While surfing for info, I stumbled upon this article Singapore: Life is NOT a bed of roses. Courtesy of ThinkCentre.org, "the internet portal of Think Centre, an independent, multi-partisan political non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Singapore. First registered as a business (RCB) on 16 Jul 1999 and today as a society (under ROS) on 20 Oct 2001, the Centre aims to critically examine issues related to political development, democracy, rule of law, human rights and civil society. Think Centre's activities include research, publishing, organising events and networking."

Playing the Cash Flow game last night did make me realize the meaning of being caught in a rat race and making ends meet. Now what does life in Singapore truly hold for me and what dreams to pursue?

Questions, questions, but G's zipping over to pick me up for lunch. Till next time...

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Wait

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me, finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 8:34-35 NASB)

Running, Seeking, Waiting

Right after I reached home, I zipped out for a run in the light rain, hoping it would clear my muddled mind.

It didn't. The same thoughts just kept running through my head.

Where's the assurance I had just a few days ago? Has faith been overtaken by doubt and uncertainty?

Tried praying but can't find the peace I so desparately need.

Wait. That's all I can do.

Online Feedback

After hearing about them, finally visited these websites:


http://www.feedback.gov.sg: Not much activity and nothing interesting caught my eye.

 

Ice Red: Colleague claimed to have found meaningful discussions, esp. abt SG politics. But couldn't find.

uZap, iZap

Courtesy of Kenny Sia.

Wart the?

Saw my friend's foot wart yesterday - suffice to say tt just looking at this illustration already gives me the shivers. Brrrr! And to think there I was, feeling sorry for myself for a minor case of foot fungus.

But still swimming on! Albeit with slippers in the swimming pool toilet now.

Almost Crushed, Miffed, Still Hopeful

While I was washing the dishes, mom suddenly blurted, "This Chinese New Year's eve, we'll be having our own reunion dinner. Because Grandma's not celebrating her birthday this year." (in chinese)

HUH?!? I was crushed. Almost. "How come??"

To cut the long story short, my grandparents must be taking yet another step towards ultra-legalism in not partaking of traditions & customs deemed as non-christian - that's right, no birthday, no CNY, no family reunion.

My mom, being only the messenger, couldn't answer my insistent queries. I immediately sought my dad out, who seemed nonchalant about it. "Yup, this year not celebrating."

Year after year, our entire extended family (ah kong had 10 children, so go figure) comes together on CNY's eve for a reunion lunch a la steamboat, with red wine (& accompanying teasing about folks who turn red easily) being a recent welcomed addition. I even got a colleague to get me a Malbec on his recent trip and I've been eager to let everyone try it.

Needless to say, CNY eve family reunion's a deeply meaningful Chinese tradition which upholds love & unity in the family. In our case, it manifests itself in the annual family portrait, with smiling faces immortalised - Uncle Patrick always has to do the same mad dash before the timer goes off while his 3 daughters squeal in shrilly excitement.

Seeing my little cousins get bigger year after year is quite a joy for most of us. Then there's the grapevine-updating about who's doing what. The older men comparing waistlines & diets, with wives following up with mock admonishing. The occasional kid falling accidentally, silently scrunching his/her face before the awful cry for attention...

Suggested to dad tt as an alternative, we ask eldest uncle to open up his house. Dad agreed. But it just won't be the same without my grandparents and the usual birthday cake & song routine.

Miffed, I am. But still hopeful.

Else, Bintan beckons. Or KL, Phuket... whatever.

Brian Gothong Tan

SHM Presents Soul to Soul Remixed by Brian Gothong Tan.

Exhibition till end of Jan, anyone interested?

14 Jan 06

Exactly 2 weeks of 2006 have passed.

Nothing accomplished yet. No good! Shucks...

No matter, for today matters! Must do what matters today :)

Nu Gospel

While surfing for radio channels on BBC, stumble upon this: 1Xtra Vibrations by DJ Fitz, bringing you "the best in nu gospel sounds across the genres".

Couldn't find any write-up about Nu Gospel music, but did find some recommended Gospel albums. But still a fan of Hillsong & Planetshakers :)

I Don't Wanna Grow Up

Videos of top 3 winners of Stop Motion Clay Animation Short Film Contest inspired by W&G.

The Lifebuilder's Creed

Today is the most important day of my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures
is gone forever.

The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.

But I will learn from it and improve my Today.
Today. This moment. NOW.
It is God's gift to me and it is all that I have.

Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and
troubles isn't here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.

Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.
Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.

I will demonstrate the best of me in it -
my character, giftedness, and abilities -
to my family and friends, clients and associates.

I will identify those things that are most important to do Today,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done

I will look back with satisfaction at that
which I have accomplished.

Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
looking to improve upon Today, with God's help.

Then I shall go to sleep in peace . . . content.
~ Dale Witherington

New Social Media?

Read CNN money: Yahoo's new gamble with social media. One up for Internet parlance: Flickrizer.

To Grow Old & Die

Read in today's Sunday Times, Confessions of a new senior citizen by Richard Lim. The article brought on a faintly familiar sentiment, because I used to tell others tt I fear growing old - of a gradually decaying body and all its accompanying ailments till ultimate death.

But it also brought on stiff disagreement - for I've realized this life holds a wonderful future and a hope - and a tinge of sympathy for the writer. Of course, being old & unable to do the things tt one used to enjoy is a state no one desires. But some do age gracefully; my mom once commented how the wife of General Chiang Kai Shek still looked so beautiful even in her later days. More importantly, we can choose to live our lives meaningfully towards an envisioned end state and eagerly anticipating the life after.



Courtesy of BBC News

Google Takes on the World... Again

Read Fosfor Gadgets: The Google Cube & GooOS.

"Imagine Google shipping out millions of cheap, small Google cubes (cost is rumoured to be under $200) - that instantly can be connected to your existing TV, computer, stereo or other systems you might have in your home."

Attachment

*spoiler warning*

Just caught on VCD Birth (2004, directed by Jonathan Glazer). With an interesting twist, the film speaks of the profound emotional attachment that a person can have for another, even when he or she has long passed on.

Thought the accompanying minimalist music - with an identifiable electronic bassline & trinkling sounds - made for a cool soundtrack. Only Kidman, with her screen presence and emotive acting, could have made for such a character with such a believable set of complex emotions.

Most bizarre scene: 10yo kissing full-grown woman.

Cowabunga!

Courtesy of Lucid Maxima

A Belated Pic

b/w

Courtesy of Rhythm Vision

One Must Do Something

On this boring day in the office, one was checking out videos of Capoeira in action - most impressive! One wonders how non-gymnasts & non-break-dancers can actually pick this up - with gutsy determination, one guesses.

Now tt one's colleague's finally leaving, one ponders one's own immediate future. One's projects were awarded certificates for excellent project governance - one chucks aside the certs & continues surfing the web.

One downloads the HTML-Kit to kickstart one's e-commerce dreams. Seeing programming code & cold developers' language, one is suddenly reminded of varsity days spent in the labs, agonizing over Java while sipping cuppa. One wonders how a non-professional can realize one's e-commerce dreams - with quiet courage, one determines!

*grin*

vivanda, alimento, generi alimentari, alimente

Courtesy of Kuidaore

So Cute Hor?

For the cute-lovers.

Value Life, Act Responsibly

En route to my first church service for 2006, I spied one of these signs at Tanah Merah mrt. Despite my sleepy state, it spoke to me: It's a new beginning, maximise every minute of your life, be accountable to Him.

A great way to start the year, I thought. Thank you, SMRT :P

Over the air: No Doubt - Running

Run
Running all the time
Running to the future
With you right by my side

Me
I'm the one you chose
Out of all the people
You wanted me the most
I'm so sorry that I'm falling
Help me up lets keep on running
Don't let me fall out of love

[Chorus:]
Running, running
As fast as we can
I really hope you make it
(Do you think we'll make it?)
We're running
Keep holding my hand
It's so we don't get separated

Be
Be the one I need
Be the one I trust most
Don't stop inspiring me
Sometimes it's hard to keep on running
We work so much to keep it going
Don't make me want to give up

[repeat chorus]

Inward Looking, Forward Looking

'tis the season for making resolutions - and asking others what theirs are. Against my want for privacy, here's a couple (so ppl can hold me to them!):

1. Pick up the guitar - Yes, i've gone on enough about it, it's time to do something about it - which I did, albeit not enough. Perhaps I should aim to serenade some lucky gal on Valentine's...

2. Finish a biathlon - SG biathlon coming up in end-Mar, subject to work commitments. Meanwhile, brush up on swimming. Recent news on strong swimmers drowning not encouraging.

3. MAYBE pick up something new & exciting - Of late, I was struck by a sense of the mundaneness in my life. Now what would spice it up? Photography? Climbing? Trekking? Become a qualified lifeguard? Go on a mission trip? A new language? Visit Cambodia/India? So much I could do, so little time/money.



"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Bouts of "downtime" aside, it's been a wonderful year - full of little joys and slowly but steadily growing with God. Things haven't been perfect, but I've counted my blessings (not tt it's numerable) and it's time to look forward to a new beginning with renewed resolve.

To you my reader, have a blessed new year :)



On the air: Jamie Cullum - High & Dry

Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that's pretty clever don't you boy.
Flying on your motorcycle, watching all the ground beneath you drop.
You'd kill yourself for recognition; kill yourself to never ever stop.
You broke another mirror; you're turning into something you are not.

Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry

Drying up in conversation, you will be the one who cannot talk.
All your insides fall to pieces, you just sit there wishing you could still make love
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out
They're the ones who'll spit at you. You will be the one screaming out.

Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry

It's the best thing that you've ever had, the best thing that you've ever, ever
had.
It's the best thing that you've ever had; the best thing you've had has gone away.

Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry

Musing

Courtesy of David Fawcett



"Man Going in the Other Direction" - That's often how I feel. Of course, each person's unique as individual... Bah! HUMBUG.



"For God's Sake Put Your Pyjamas On Jeffrey" - No comments.



"High-Powered Executive" - For Martin, remember the stupid commercial I bared all for?? :P



"Family Portrait" - My newfound commitment - my immediate one, mind you.



"I'm Going to Have to Turn the Page in a Minute Ron" - When was the last time you did something stupid or inane?

Extravagant Giving

By Max Lucado

We delight in giving our loved ones extravagant gifts, don't we? Especially at Christmas. Yes, we give gifts throughout the year- birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions-but at Christmas time, we put a little more effort into finding that extra special gift for that special person, or persons, in our lives.

An engagement ring. A family portrait. A special edition leather-bound book. A set of golf clubs. Diamond earrings. A puppy. Whatever the gift might be, we want it to be a bountiful expression of our love.

Maybe it has something to do with the lavishness of the gift that first Christmas morning, the extravagance of love that came in the form of a tiny, helpless newborn. Consider the gift for a moment, what Jesus really did. He swapped a spotless castle for a grimy stable.

He exchanged the worship of angels for the company of killers. He could hold the universe in his palm but gave it up to float in the womb of a maiden.

He humbled himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in the straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary's finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier.

Why? Because that's what love does. It puts the beloved before itself. Your soul was more important than his blood. Your eternal life was more important than his earthly life. Your place in heaven was more important to him than his place in heaven, so he gave up his so you could have yours.

And that's what extravagant giving is all about-love, God's love, a love that knows no limits, no end. The Christmas kind of love. The type of love we are commanded to give to others: "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other" (John 13:34 NLT).