Mooncake

Mooncake - I know it's too early to talk and even make one now, but I had made it.

Learning from my special's sister, I had learnt how to make Traditional Lotus Mooncake and Walnut Lotus Mookcakes during National Day. The ingredient is not cheap and we spend few hours to do 38 number of mooncakes using the total of 3kgs of lotus and of course flour and egg yolks.

It's very nice taste, and I already got order from my sister to make more. Guess I will learn to do it again in weeks time. Will take more photos when making mooncake in future.

Our Christmas Log Cake

We don't celebrate this festival but do enjoy the joys that was brought by Christmas.


This log cake was given by special friend's sister, which specially 'order' to add less sugar and more rich chocolate. No wonder so yummy......... And we cut the cake at 12am sharp when our neighbour counting down to their MERRY CHRISTMAS in the party.

Secret Friend Gift Exchange

Christmas is round the corner and I believe a lot of workplaces are organising Christmas lunch or dinner for little celebration, to enjoy the holiday season.

My department is organising lunch on the 19th Dec (initially we wanted to be a dinner affair but some of my colleagues are not able to make it, so idea was given up) and I suggested the 'Secret Friend Gift Exchange' game to the organising committee, which I guess this is not so common here. I first experienced this game when I was 1st year in Brazil. Now come to think of the past, I do enjoyed that moment and I really miss my Brazilian colleagues. They are really so fun-loving and passionate.

This idea sounds great so the committees are keen in doing it. The game starts like this: -

1) Every participate will need to write down their wish list provided, with the budget given of course.
2) Drop individual wish list into a box and draw one list after everyone have given their list.
3) To buy the gift accordingly to the list.
4) On the day of the game, one person will start the ball rolling by introducing his/her secret friend, base on his/her expression, everyone presence will then guess who that person is. With the right guess, that person will present his/her gift to the secret friend. And this goes on till the last person got the gift.

Funny thing is, some people still have negative thinking on this idea (I wonder why) and ask why can't we just have the normal gift exchange, mean to have a number on each gift and have the lucky draw for it. I dont quite like the idea cos it is so difficult to buy a gift without knowing who will 'pick up' your present. That's why chocolate and photo frame become so common during this season.

Company National Day Goodies Bag

For our 42th anniversary, 2007

CNY = Fighting Against Virus

One thing that commonly happens each year during CNY, other than the traditional foods and culture, is the 'Germs Spreading'.

Coughing can be heard here and there. My work place, the public places and even my house. Too much of heaty food stuff and change of the weather are the main reason of the sickness, I guess. I had been drinking a lot of water (more than I usually did) just to prevent myself from fallen sick as I can feel my body is fighting against the virus now.

So my friend, do take care of your health. Drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetable (especially during CNY)

Chingay 2007

Photo courtesy of channelnewsasia

At the end, I didn’t go down to Orchard to watch Chingay which I thought I very much wanted to go. Watching LIVE from TV while playing mahjong (which playing M.J is only a yearly issue to me). Of course, I ended up seeing nothing cos my back is facing the TV.

And four of us had little conversation over this Chingay.

My sis: ‘Aiyo, why goes there since you can watch from the TV? See, so crowded and it is so hot.’

Her friend: ‘Well you can enjoy the whole atmosphere and have fun with all the people there.’

Me: ‘Right, you can enjoy this kind of harmony together with your country. Moreover, there will be party after the Chingay, hmmmm, it will be real fun. I remembered I went to the first Singapore Street Party when I was young. We enjoyed a lot of fun.'

When the little firework began…………..

My sis: ‘Wow, they even have this, must costs a lot’.

Her friend: ‘I wonder how much they need to spend…..?’

My sis: ‘Why they have this twice a year, CNY and National day, waste of money’

Me: ‘In order to celebrate, you will have to spend $$$ for sure, but most importantly is we still can enjoy this kind of ‘celebration’ now. Sis, you remember you use to bring us to watch this Chingay when we were young (P.S my sis is much elderly than me, so I am almost the same generation with her children. She treats me more like her kid than younger sis). So we should feel proud that we still can have this Chingay for so many years.’

My friend just shakes his head. Meaning he will never wants to go such crowded place.

Me: ‘If I have kakis to go there, I will join them for sure.’

Well, perhaps so. We can’t have the 100% people be there to watch the Chingay. And we do able to enjoy watching from TV too.

Singapore River Hong Bao 2007

Went to Singapore River Hong Bao after the movie to feel the peace and happy Chinese New Year atmosphere. Frankly speaking, nothing much special for me to continue walking under this hot weather, so I give up after a short walk there and headed to the nearest air-con shopping center.

Dinner on CNY Eve

No steamboat for this year, just a simple meal (but enough to keep my sister busy preparing) - split ino vegetarian and non-vege. It is really a simple one.....but importantly, we all had great time as we seldom have meal together.

We even had a round of mahjong game after dinner.