Off to see Old Pals

I've been missing my friends back home quite a bit, since reality cannot be stronger that every day I spend here, I lose one on the other side. So when the chance came for me to visit the only old pals I have on this continent, I did jump at the chance, even if it meant travelling 6+6 hours.

It was really great meeting Tert and Jan, and my first time seeing toddler Timmy. Enroute to Canberra, we stopped by at Milawa, which is made famous by the Brown Brothers winery, as well as its cheeses and mustards. My 'aperitif' was quite lovely, since I had the whole cellar tasting to myself, and happily sipped all available cellar-door only varieties. By the time I left, I was in a happy pinkish glow. The weather was fantastic, and I had enough sun tan on my left cheek and left arm for a good 6 hours. Lunch was at the Milawa cheesery, and I was fully satisfied with touring along this gourmet region of north-east victoria.

Back to my dear friends at Canberra, I realised how I missed my pals just sitting down to talk. After putting Timmy to sleep at 8pm every night, we'll mull around the lounge room, wine and cheese, or strawberries, or even Jan's freshly made warm chocolate cake, we will talk till late. In the daytime, I'll always ambled out to see little timmy playing with his toys, and staring right at me, it reminded me that visits to friends will soon be less 'rowdy' as age catches up.

The daytime is usually spent at some tourist attraction, like the Parliament, the Memorial, the lakes, and even a deep space observatory. We went to visit Tidbinbilla National Park for walks, just in time to spot grassloads of free ranging wallabies frolicking around. We also had a BBQ the day before we left, and seriously, it was good company and wine that will make me adequately happy. Tert was the BBQ man after Jan played chef to us for the past few days.

I know people gasp at the idea of spending 5 (actually more so 3, since 2 was spent on driving) good days in Canberra, but I must say I was never bored. And if you come back with a certain epiphany about some rethinking some priorities in life, the trip really cannot be that bad. Missss you guys at Canberra! Come reaaaaally soon!

Graduation Ceremony

It came and it went. I did ponder if I should go for this, knowing that all the fuss will result in 5 seconds fame, but frens were saying that it doesn't hurt to go, or at least I wouldn't regret not going.

I wanted to make it a small affair, just friends who are friends. I didn't want to send out a mass email and invite people who might feel obligated to come. Not many people journeyed with me through my uni days, since friends like Cindy have already gone home. I think I made a good choice with those tickets, and am quite pleased to have it in cozy proportion.

The good thing that come out of the ceremony is that I did manage to sit around people I know. Saul and Winnie were directly beside me, and Deena was on the other side. Kristian and Jay were in front. It was as good as it gets in terms of sitting arrangment, since it is no fun sitting next to a stranger for 1.5 hours dressed in stuffy oversized gown and balancing a mortar board on your head.

In the end, I caught up with those I want to catch up, and it was a nice finish, not the kind you get at high school graduation, but after all the projects and classroom bantering, you know who are the people you did share more than just a hi-bye with.


Clara and me 

With Daiz, who bought me a nice bunch of flowers! 

With all my lovely guests 

With Willie  

Weekend Getaway at Lakes Entrance

Even though I had to sit for my IELTS test on Saturday, we decided that it'll be good to join the rest at Lakes Entrance for a lazy weekend getaway. Lakes Entrance is about 4 hours drive southeast from Melbourne, in the Gippsland region. I did what was the most appropriate, watch The Lakehouse at the Lakes, while the people who have gone earlier were out fishing.

Had a great supper of fresh caught fish and noodles. Yums! The holiday park we stayed at reminded me of the ones I stayed in 9 years back doing the Boomerang Coast. I was getting tired from the test answering questions such as:
1)Do you like flowers? When are flowers given in as a gift in your country? (duh!)
2)Do you enjoy studying (this one i can't resist rolling my eyes)..
At the end of the 'speaking test', the moment the recorder was turned off, the truth came pouring out with me and the examiner agreeing some of the questions are just silly.

Back to the trip...

The next day, we went full swing into fishing. Chartered a boat, packed 15 hamburgers, 4 fishing rods, and a variety of smelly baits. We caught mainly Luderick because the snapper and australia salmon were just too small to be legally caught. I caught 2, but was sad to see them die. So I resigned to just sitting on the boat, enjoying the scenary, watching 5 dolphins around us frolick and black swans gracefully swimming.

And if the lakes didn't offer us enough, we went on to Metung at dusk to continue fishing. By the time we packed and left, all of us were dead tired. Had a nice round of pub food at Bairnsdale, and it was paramount that we kept the drivers of the 2 cars awake for the 4 hours drive back.

Dead tired when I reached home. Collasped and slept like never did.

Fishing @ Lakes Entrance 

The fish length ruler, we threw back a dozen of juvenile fishes back. 

The Luderick I caught.. hello fishy! 

Evening (feels like night) fishing @ Metung 

It was getting dark and cold 

My Dream Job

OH.. I FINALLY FOUND A JOB THAT'LL BRING ME PLACES!

Meter Reader

Immediate Start
Work Outdoors
Various locations across Melbourne

Meter Readers Required

Our client, Australia's leading meter reading company is looking for motivated and reliable people to join it’s 700 plus field based employees in becoming meter readers with opportunities in various locations throughout the area of greater Melbourne

Requirements

- maturity and able to deal politely with the public
- able to walk for long periods and bend
- good communication skills
- willing to work outdoors in all types of weather
- able to work by yourself with direct supervision


The positions are full time opportunities and it is preferable that applicants have a current driver’s license and their own transportation.


contact Matthew
Phone 0423 548 150
Email: Please click the 'Apply Now' button below.

Picasso

Daiz had a day off yesterday and we decided to recharge our artistic batteries. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) recently brought in a new exhibition featuring the works of Pablo Picasso and his lover Dora Maar, and it seemed like an exciting place to go on a winter's day.

The exhibition was good- about 350 pieces of original art were featured, and I got to know Picasso (and his woman) better. I would rate NGV as a nice place to go, since it is near the city, yet you feel as if you are suddenly transported to a art gallery in Europe. Very deja vu. We took about 2 hours to finish viewing all the pieces, and I truly felt like a tourist.

For those in Melbourne, you don't need to be an art lover to go. Picasso is a pretty contemporary artist, and you won't be muddled by the cherubims or some abstract artistic concepts. It's an excellent place to go get yourself interested in art.

Picasso: Love and War 

Bread Break

Some facts I have recently discovered:
1)Saving money is an art and science in Australia.
2)Safeway only restock their breads on Wednesday.
3)I do not buy bread on Wednesday, because we eat less of it during the weekend.
4)So if I buy bread on Sunday, I am buying 3-4 day old bread and it will spoil in 1 week before we can finish the whole loaf.
5)Safeway's loaf doesn't go for $1.98 anymore.

Hence the motivation to make my own bread.

Verdict: Don't try making small cutesy breads cos you will only get plenty of crusts and insufficient volume for the airy soft part. Ronald was right about the flour, you HAVE TO (emphasis to the infinity), buy only bread flour. I am not taking about bread-makers, just the plain old in-the-oven type of break making. You don't want your bread to taste like cake. On the other hand, I am deeply satisfied slapping on a slice of Tasmanian Heritage Blue cheese and popping it in the microwave. Heavenly texture... mmm mmmm.....


Bread Break

Deep Winter

Like animals in the enchanted forest, I am now in the stage of hibernating at home during the deep winter. The last week is spend on running around to settle the PR documentation, as well as catching up on hours of lost time for the last few years. However, I must admit that I'm getting a little bored now that I have done most of the things I needed to do. After trying to read the bible in its full glory of the King James version with the thou thee and thys, alternating between Nicky Cruz's Run Baby Run, and savouring bowl of tinned salmon with my own pasta thrown in, I am now the official bummer.

Since last week was about bureacracy, I forgot how well-adapted I was to the Aussie inefficiencies. In fact, I think I've got that factored into my expectations that it doesn't even bug me anymore. The home optus bill was wrongly billed, the house agent took an eternity to fix the door... but with a dash of labourous perserverance, it always straightens out.

Until I got an email reply from the Singapore Police Force. The email came from a real life officer sitting in his office on a Sunday afternoon, and he apologised profusely for taking 4 days to reply my query. I looked at his reply in disblief, and if CID Officer Kumary was standing right in front of me, I'd have told him 'No problem mate.. i wasn't expecting a speedy response, let alone on a Sunday'. So yes, I am techinically impressed that they are one of the first recepients of the 'coveted' (or rather some say a 'farce') Singapore Quality Award.

If I am free later in the week, I'll send him a compliment.

IJ Homecoming

The years in IJ have to be one of the most memorable for me. It's the place where I made my closest friends, where I had the craziest times, and also the best memories.

I would have loved to join Sha and Jing for the IJ homecoming last weekend, but it now takes more than just a dozen MRT stops to reach there. So my dear fren Sha promised me that she'll take a cam there and film all the things I have missed out. I haven't had a chance to see the new school, and best of all, catch up with all my old classmates.

Sha did a nice little video of the new school, but it is not looooooong enongh. More sha! 56secs... you kidding me!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_aIZWN-33k&search=CHIJ

I have to give Jing an award for this... the most shoddy marketing appeal she has ever done in a bathroom. And no, I do not have $80 pure cash to join the Old Girls Association yet. But yes, free gifts are always welcomed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt5xQ0UxOwU&search=CHIJ

Cars- The Movie

Was supposed to watch Poseidon as part of the celebration of the end of my 3/4 papers, adopting some kind of a gradual easing out of exam mode.. but ended up catching Cars instead. Turned out to be pretty cute, I was more impressed by the work that went into rendering the cars so real, the graphics, and best of all, set amidst the backdrop of one of the few places i want to go on my list before i die- Monument Valley. So that made up for the jaunt to watch a few cars talking amongst themselves. I must also be getting old, because I actually like the song 'Find Youself' by Brad Paisley.. and the reason why you never ever heard of him is that he is quite a country crooner (shudders).

Aside from that, I've been sick. Down with a fever and hence blogging. Daiz been sick too, and we've been sitting at the telly just trying to pass time. Except for the time when the books call me, and I had a rather excellent discussion with Kristian this afternoon. We actually went full steam and covered all 6 chapters of Wed's paper. It's also first time in my academic life that I actually attempted the questions behind the chapter. So I'm quite proud of myself right now.

Feeling rather feverish but contented. Hmm....

Cars- The Movie

Puff Madness

I must apologise that food seems to have taken a hold of my recent entries. Since it is exam time and there's nothing less guilty than 'feeding oneself', I have taken comfort in escaping to food land.

The theme of the month would have to be Puff Pastries. The French Iron Chef Arwen did a Blue Cheese Puff, Tuna and Potato Puff (compliments of leftover tuna and mash), Nutella Puff, and the Chinese Iron Chef Daiz whipped out her speciality- Curry Puff, in shapes of gyoza, triangular, traditional, spring-roll... I had 3 of them today, since they make great winter food.

Back to my books... burp!

Daiz's Kickarse Curry Puff

Cheesy and Nutella Puffs

Hair-Raising Business School Ads

I have been enjoying Singapore Idol's Mr Nong Nong Ago and the Campfire in the moonlight as my source of exam relief. But those have some good entertainment value, and it makes me laugh.

But you have to watch this one... not only does it raise eyebrows, it raises ur arm hairs too.

Synopsis Number 1:
(Slightly chessy music playing) Geeky kid brother asks Big Brother:"Eh Khor, so your A level results can get you anywhere you want"... "even the really good ones? you know the ones far far away?... Have you decided?"

Big brother:"eh huh..."...

Voiceover: Preferred around the world by tomorrow's elites- the NUS Business School.

Kid brother: "that's not very far what!"

Synopsis Number 2:
Watch it yourself. Cannot bear to describe and inevitably offend some countryman who might say I'm just being biased.

For the Locals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcJ1GWj02Io&search=

For the Ang Mohs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqkQraNO7w



Did they not offer Marketing class 101 in this prestigious NUS school of Business, not to ever exaggerate your brand to what it is not? Does it not make you wonder why it never occured to the applicants that Insead and UofChicago have their own B-schools in Singapore that have a wider selection of 'cuter guys'?

For My Un-cooked Friends

This one goes to my un-cooked friends... the ones trying to make a meal (deal) for Father's Day.
Try cooking... or rather, pass off cooking if you can't cook. This is quite fool-proof. Recipe is of course, not mine. Credits go soley to Jamie Oliver, my cooking guru. Without him, I'll look like an ignorant singaporean kid.

Sea Bass Baked In A Bag
Yield: 4

Ingredients:
· tin foil
· Fish Fillet (any fish, cod... bass)
· sea salt
· black pepper
· fennel, tops (or any Ang Moh herbs... )
· handful basil (or any Ang Moh herbs.. dried ones if u can't find)
· 1/2 red onion, thinly, sliced
· bay leaf
· olive oil
· 2/3 lemon, juiced
· 2 oz butter (or a knob.. like the size of 2 fishballs)

Directions:
Sea Bass Baked In A Bag
1. Ask your fishmonger to gut and scale your fish. (No need for fillets)
2. Lay out a piece of tin foil and fold in half. Place the sea bass on top of the foil and score the flesh about 2 inches apart on both sides. Rub plenty of salt and pepper into the scores.
3. Lay out the fennel on the foil and place fish on top of the fennel and push to one side of the foil.
4. Cover liberally with the basil, red onion and bay leaves, making sure you tuck some into the slits.
5. Drizzle over plenty of olive oil, lemon juice and knobs of butter. Fold over the left hand half of the foil and seal the 3 sides to gently hug the fish.
6. Place on tray and bake in a preheated 180 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes. (More if ur fish is big). Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 3 to 4 minutes without opening the bag.

Fool Note: Preheat your oven to the temperature before putting it in and counting the time.