How not to lose a friend

• Dun bicker with him over $1. The price of friendship is worth much more, you idiot! Juz pay up, eat the chai tow kway, and be thankful for the ultra-cheap food. Because there'll be no "next time".
  
  
• Dun itchy backside and put up a post on "Reasons why I dun wanna fren u oredi". You make people around you suspicious and wondering if you're talking about them. If you had done it, take it down. If you have not, dun start.
  
  
• Dragons and monkeys are extremely vain creatures. NEVER EVER mess with their faces Avatar, dammit, especially so when you lack the balls to put up an Avatar of your own. And stop boasting that you have balls the size of coconut, becos you obviously do not.
  
  
• You win some; you lose some. Let him win sometimes, but stand firm 95% of the time.
  
  
• Dun ever accuse him of skiving. High achievers in the office DO NOT SKIVE, okay? They are smart, and they work smart, too.
  
  
• If you dun appreciate his jokes, be frank about it and tell him to his face. Dun nudge him or leave comments in his blog suggesting that you're unhappy. How is he to know that you're goofing off or being serious?
  
  
• Lastly, recognise that we are all built differently - some with dimples and others with pimples. 人有长短，也有大小。Mutual respect and honesty are keys to a friendship that will stand the test of time.
  

Category: Musings

Mini chicken pies that look extra mini

Surely, food is one of man's passions. I love people who love their food, and who are creative with food. This calls to mind the self-confessed foodie in California, Tigerfish. I've been salivating non-stop since the day I visited her blog, hungry over her mouth-watering buffet spread of delicious and extremely delectable looking home-cooked meals and snacks. Here's a lady whose passion in her food and cooking (Tigerfish confessed she's not much of a baker, though) simply shines through her blog.

Indeed, one of the snacks that caught my fancy was her mini chicken pies which I read (and which I feasted on virtually) months ago. The pies remind me very much of those being sold at Cottage Pie, a little cake shop here in Singapore. The shop charges three mini pies for $2.50 (I think). Pretty expensive, huh? So, I decided to rip the recipe off Tigerfish's blog and make some at home today for my guinea pigs family. Not copy-righted one right, Tigerfish? Haha.

Truth is, it took me some efforts making these mini pies. I was looking for the pastry puff sheet in Phoon Huat, a rather famous shop selling bakery stuff but was told they do not sell them. Thanks to ECL, she told me to try my luck at Cold-Storage and I managed to get it. Then I went back to Phoon Huat for a muffin pan, and was told that they were sold out! By then, my mood for baking had all but disappeared. Then yesterday, while having breafast at Haig Road, I chanced upon a shop selling muffin pans and so I bought it. After so much trouble, the pies had better be good!

Well, you've seen the slides. The pies may look yummy here but believe me, they pale in comparison to those found in Tigerfish's blog. I'm almost shy to hyperlink hers here... heheh

And the verdict of my pies? Well, something juz didn't seem quite right. First, the circular pastry that I cut out was a little too small. I ended up having some problem trying to seal them after stuffing them with the fillings. The end result was that the mini pies looked extra-mini. Heheh.

Second, because the muffin pan that I bought only have room for six pies at one go, I had to wait until these pies are fully baked (about 40 minutes) before I could bake the 2nd lot. The result? The 2nd batch of pies tasted much harder than the first, probably because of prolong exposure to the air. I should have used a damp cloth to cover up the pastry.

Third, I din adhere strictly to Tigerfish's recipe for the fillings. I omitted the hard-boiled egg and instead of using cornstarch, I used Mayo sauce. My kids dun fancy green peas and corns; so I juz use boiled carrot and potato, and shredded chicken, of course. I also din stir-fry the fillings, much less used olive oil. As a result, the fillings was a wee bit dry and lack moisture.

The smell of the pies, while baking, was really good, though. Junior kept asking if they were ready. Oh, I also left out the salt since there was sodium in the Mayo. The pies tasted a little bland at first bite. But the taste sort of grew on you. How else do you explain the verdict by Junior? He gave me 73% for the first pie he ate. Half an hour later, he asked for seconds, and went on to award me 84%. Not bad wat, from Band2 to Band1, I told him. All in all, he polished off four mini chicken pies! I told him not to tell Mummy I made this. Maybe she would think I bought it from Cottage Pie? He commented nonchalantly, "Professional chicken pies where got like that one?" Despite giving me high marks, I guess my pies still didn't quite make the cut. Sigh.

Oh, my big boy loves it too; and so does the Queen at home who told me the taste was juz right even without the salt. But the Slim Lady is never a food critic. To her, most food taste nice, especially those whip out by her hubby (so that she never has to cook?)

Well, I think I can improve on the pies further. Next time, I'd follow Tigerfish's recipe religiously - word for word.

Category: Food

Chivalry is dead. Or is it?

How odd.

Fit, able-body men, many of them executive type, sitting on the MRT seats. They appear oblivious to the sweet young and pretty things (SYPTs), many of them office workers in high-heel shoes, standing and holding on to the hand rail or metal bars, trying hard to keep their balance as the train buzzes along.

Tell me you find this odd, too. What happened to chivalry? Is it really dead?

Now, I dun take public transport very often because I drive to work. But while having a course conducted at the CBD last week, I took the MRT four days in a row because of some policies concerning civil serpents and car ownership which I think I would reserve for another post. So, yeah, I think I know the scene above repeats itself often enough in the rush hours every day, and not juz on the MRT, but on public buses as well.

I'm curious to know if this behaviour is unique to us Singaporean men or is it juz as common in other countries. But, as an able-body man myself, I think I maybe able to offer an explanation for our behaviour, as least as far as Singaporeans are concerned.

See, most of us men really have no hesitation in giving up our seats to these four categories of people:

• The elderly
  
• The physically challenged
  
• The very young kids (excludes those 51 going on 15)
  
• The pregnant ladies (it's ok if they happen to be SYPTs)
  

But when it comes to the SYPTs (the unpregnant kind), trust me, it's not that we men dun wanna give up our seats. It's just that we are afraid that our kind gesture may be misconstrued as an act of "cheekiness", especially so if it comes from a man with the "chikokpek" look (I'm so tempted to do a hyperlink here.... oh never mind... heheh). And we also do not relish the unwanted funny stares from fellow commuters, especially the guys as if they are saying: "Trying your luck, huh, buster? Well, try harder."

So, is chivalry really dead? I think not. If only the SYPGs allow us men to carry them across that puddle of water by the doorway. But I guess not. Many of them would become hysterical if we so much as touch a strand of their hair!

No? Okay then you tell me. Would you accept a seat from a guy on the MRT? And to the gentlemen out there, would you care to offer your seat to a SYPT?

Category: Musings

Reasons why i dun wan to fren you oredi

• You kiss and tell, and talk too much.
  
• You always suck up to the boss; and you've elevated the act of apple-polishing to an art.
  
• You're so loud, your voice can rival that of BBC. Juz that the latter talks more sense.
  
• You always portray yourself as the victim, the damsel in distress.
  
• Sometimes we do lunch, and sometimes we don't. But there's no reason why you can't say "hi".
  
• You got iron teeth, and your skull's thick as the elephant's trunk.
  
• You're only interested in talking; never really bother to listen.
  
• You owe me money. Lots of money!
  
• You always picked the good cherries, and gave me the rotten ones.
  
• You're too clever for your own good. I hate your guts!
  
• You bitch too much. Admit it; say you're bitch.
  

Sure, it's always nice to have a friend than a foe. But if you insist in behaving the way you do, then I dun wan to fren you leow!

Dun ya juz luv those skin parades?

Miss Singapore Universe 2007 Semi-Final

I have a date this evening. Not with one, but a bevy of beauties. I'm referring to the final of Miss Singapore Universe 2007 Pageant that would be telecast on Ch 5 tonight.

I have nothing against beauty pageants. As a matter of fact, I find them rather entertaining (the SYTs, not the pageants). Needless to say, I enjoy the swimwear segment the most. You can't help but notice that the Eye Candies come in different packages;) Well, an object of exquisite beauty, like a piece of art, is meant to be appreciated, is it not?

Lest Etel accuse me of being humsup (for the record, there's only room for one humsup in the blogosphere), I do find beauty pageants both thought-provoking and steamulating. The SYTs tackle questions on World Peace, HIV, and the underprivileged children in Third World. Why, many of the contestants are undergraduates and graduates. If memory serves, we have a former Ms Singapore who was a lawyer. So, beauty and brain do mix, don't they? And I thought God is fair?

But of course, there are bimbos, and there are himbos. We used to have Manhunt Singapore Pageants in Singapore, too, showcasing beefcakes who were long on brawn but short on brains. But we men juz aren't supposed to be prancing around on stage. I dun think we're designed that way. We're hardly the objects of desire, unlike women. Oh puleezz, nobody in their right mind would want to see a grown man wriggle or shake his bum bum, okay?

Despite the frivolity and triviality of it all, beauty pageants, besides enriching the pageant organisers, sponsors and the winners, do serve as a short respite for us mere mortals, especially so for men whose wives are always complaining of a headache. LOL.

Speaking of beauty queen, have you heard about the faux pas of a former Singapore beauty queen? This is a first hand account, I witnessed it personally on our national TV many years ago. I can't remember if she was Ms Singapore or Ms Chinatown or Tourism; but she was the winner anyway and she was being interviewed by Lance Alexandra, a former 98.7 DJ, in a morning talk show. When the bloke asked the beauty qeen what she thought of people labeling Beauty Pageant as Skin Parade, the hapless airhead answered, "Oh, skin is very important. We must drink lots of water everyday, and eat lots of fruits....” Lance was flabbergasted and speechless. But I was laughing my head off!

I know, I'm nasty, (but please dun flame me hor). But life's a beach, isn't it? Thank God for beauty queens. Wahahaha...


The newly crowned Miss Singapore Universe 2007
Category: Musings

What? I forgot what I was about to blog...

OMG. Tell me this is not happening. Is age catching up with me or what? Or was I simply distracted?

• I arrived at the office, plunked myself in front of my workstation, turned on the computers, and hit the play button of my CD player for some music. About 15 minutes into my job, I suddenly felt the deafening silence. And it dawned on my that I had forgotten to tune up the volume of the CD player. Shucks! I had missed the first track of Madonna's "Confession On A Dance Floor"... Hit the rewind button!
  
  
• I knocked off at 5 pm and was patiently queuing at my favorite chicken rice stall when my phone rang. It was my Mama, and she asked, "Are you on your way already? I told you I'm cooking. Wanna tapau or come here and eat?" Damn! For once, I was happy that the queue was long.
  
  
• I was running some errand, and the Slim Lady told me to pick up a loaf of bread. I said sure, and arrived home empty-handed. No, she didn't make me kneel on durian husks. Heheh. But that night, she complained of a nasty "headache". Arrgghh!
  
  
• I was all set, in my car, ready to drive off to work. But my mind kept wondering, "Did I lock the main door?" I was sure I did, but found myself heading back to my flat again, juz to make sure that the door is indeed locked!
  
  
• A few Sundays ago, I decided to prepare steamboat for my family (maybe I'll blog about this, if I remember, that is... heheh). Everything I needed for the steamboat was ready - prawns, pork, mushroom, crab meat, cockles - everything. "Dinner is served," I announced proudly to my family. Then, the Slim Lady, bowls in her hands, asked, "Where is the rice?" Shucks! I forgot to cook the rice!
  
  
• I forgot where I parked my car.
  
  
• Once, I forgot I was boiling water (on the stove!), and happily left the house to run some errands.
  
  

I know, we've been told that our brain cells die everyday; in fact they start dying the very moment we were born, never to be replaced. But at 42 going on 24, I categorically deny my age is acting up! It has to be those DISTRACTIONS and NUISANCE around me. No doubt about it.

Category: Musings

Another feather to our cap

We Singaporeans are in the news again, and all for the wrong reasons. In a ranking on how much we mere mortals enjoy sex, Singapore was ranked 22nd out of 26 countries surveyed, ahead of Thailand, Hong Kong, France and Japan. Losers! Indeed, juz 1 in 3 Singaporeans surveyed said that he/she was happy with the quality of their sex life. The Nigerians, despite busying themselves with the many financial scams around the globe, surprisingly find time to enjoy sex the most.

Actually, this survey by Durex, the rubber company, is a no-brainer. Have we forgotten that we Singaporeans came up 2nd from the bottom up on a survey on the frequency of sex? It's precisely we dun enjoy sex, that's why we’re not making love seven days a week, 365 days a year mah...

Stoopid.

Category: Musings

Is Newater really independent of rainwater?

The Environment and Water Resources Minister, Yaccob Ibrahim, in trying to assuage the public the effect of global warming in Singapore, was quoted as saying, and I quote:

Newwater is from your and me. It is independent of rainfall.

Is that a fact? I shall spare you the agony of having to read how Newater is being derived. Shudder. But if we go by the law of physic; what goes up, must surely come down. By the same logic, if there's no input; then where the output? Am I missing something here?

Category: Musings

Holiday at Genting Highland

This post was more than a month late. I brought my family to Genting Highland during the last school holidays. It's been more than a decade since my trip to the mountain resort and what a transformation! Seriously, with a theme park so near our home, why bother with Dream World at Gold Coast, Australia?

Over at Genting, they have both the outdoor and indoor theme park. As usual, the kids love the theme park the best, for the various rides and arcade games. The Slim Lady was busy shopping and having high tea with her sister who also tagged along with her kids. And me? I was left to baby-sit Junior. And she called this a "family holiday"? Sianz...

But I'm quite amazed by the number of restaurants and eateries at Genting. It's almost mind-boggling. Not say I wanna say one. I'm reminded at once of the up-coming IRs in Singapore. I juz wonder how our IRs are gonna measure up. As far as I'm concerned, we've already lost on one score - the weather. The weather over at Genting is so cooling and shiok. Wish I could stay there forever. And here in Singapore? It's hot as hell. We are not called a "Pig's Paradise" for nothing. Hehehe....

Oh, btw I din step into the casino. How to bring Junior inside? Sigh...

P/S: Tigerfish & ECL - Hope you gals dun mind, the slides show is inspired by what I saw in your blogs from slide.com. Cool!

Category: Family

One Earth

Everything, it seems, has a price tag in Singapore these days. Soon, there's gonna be a price tag for plastic bags at Ikea, though it's not the first store in Singapore to do so. And, of course, there's price tag for clean and good governance, or so claimed the gahmen.

Kudos to Ikea. Comes Earth Day 22 Apr 07, Ikea Singapore would be introducing its BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) policy at its chains here. In an advertisement on the ST yesterday, Ikea reported that Singaporeans used up to 2.5 billion plastic bags last year. Plastic is made from Polyethylene which takes up to 1000 years to biodegrade. Most of these plastic bags end up in landfills that emit harmful greenhouse gases such carbon dioxide (CO2). Now, CO2 and other heat-trappping gases are responsible for retaining the heat in our atmosphere and thus, contributing to global warming.

There's no doubt about it. The Earth is sick, very sick. We read about global warming and how it's affecting the earth everyday in the papers. This has effected me enough not to install a multiple split unit AC for my home. I told the Slim Lady we would juz have to bear with the heat (in order not to contribute more heat to our environment). I said if we can't handle it, then we should all sleep in the nude lor. Isn't my strategy cool (no pun intended) or what? Hehehe...

Jokes aside, recent climate change has jolted some world leaders out of their slumber. But what are our authorities in Singapore doing? Is it not time the NEA come up with a blueprint on how Singapore should tackle the effect of global warming? Say, for example, draw up some legislation and impose a legal limit on the amount of industrial CO2 emission? Ooops sorry, I'm no minister and I'm not paid well enough to think up solutions for the gahmen, you know. Of couse, the authorities are juz too busy with other concern to really care about global warming.

But we individuals can do our part. For me, I've decided not to have AC at home. And I've resorted to using hanky instead of tissue papers. I was also thinking of giving up my car. When I told Victor this, he laughed it off and said something to the effect that "I'm just a small voice in the wilderness". The implication is that "I dun make a difference". That's precisely the kinda mentality some environmental activists want to correct. Global warming is here to stay; there's no turning back. But if we, each and every one of us, care enough to be pro-active and make a concerted effort not to choke our Earth further with CO2, I think there's hope yet for mother Earth. Every little gesture, individually or as a whole on the community level, does count and make a DIFFERENCE.

For a start, why not BYOB when you're shopping at IKEA or NTUC today? We dun have to wait until Earth Day...

Category: Musings

Shining Happy Workers

Are you happy with your job? No, honestly.

I dare say must of us aren't. The only reason why we are hanging on to our job is mainly because it pays our bills. And for mid-lifers, especially if you do not possess a large piece of "toilet paper", looking for jobs in greener pasture is hardly an option. Of course, the self-employed like Chun See is out of this category. People like him are lucky - they die die also must try to like their job. ROTFL.

So, I was kinda surprised to learn that people who factor high in the Happiness Index in the office aren't really motivated by money. According to a survey conducted by the BBC, the following are what make workers happy:

• Show of appreciation by the bosses and fellow co-workers
  
• Opportunity for training
  
• The social interaction with fellow colleagues
  

Indeed, the survey reveals that the happiest workers in the UK are the hairdressers. Reasons? They have lots of interaction with their clients. They make people look good and beautiful. And they feel appreciated. It's really all about job satisfaction.

According to the survey, the five top professions are:

• Hairdressers
  
• Clergy
  
• Chefs/cooks
  
• Beauticians
  
• Plumbers
  

And the bottom five?

• Social Workers
  
• Architects
  
• Civil Servants (I'll be damned!)
  
• Estate Agents
  
• Secretaries
  

You note, of course, that salary and money do not factor very much in making a worker happy. Hmmmm..... maybe our Ministers should chew on this?

As for me, I lurrve my job, and especially now for obvious reason. But of course, loving something does not necessarily make you happy, or does it? I love the SYT sitting across my desk in the office; but I'm NOT HAPPY because she gives me the cold shoulder all day. Got my drift?

Sigh. Maybe I should be a hairdresser! Got lobang for hairdresser school? I dun aspire to be the next David Gan (God forbid), but I promise not to make you look like the next Fann Wong having a bad hair day .....

LOL.

Category: Musings

My dream holiday?

My.... what's with this meme thingy? When I first heard of this term last year from Evan, a long lost blogofriend, I thot it was mei mei (妹妹). And which hot-blooded male does not want to be "tagged with a 妹妹"? Silly me. Hehehe.....

The energetic EastCoastLife, despite her temporary "handicap", has tagged me (yet again) another meme. This time, on which country I'd love to visit next, or rather, my dream holiday. Gee... I dun travel very much. But it says "Dream Holiday", so I guess I can juz dream, can't I? LOL.

The place I'd like to visit next is ...... Cambodia. Yes, nowhere as exotic as Europe or Bora-Bora (goodness, where on earth is that, and I thot Singapore was pretty obscure considering how some foreigners thought we were part of China).

My pal Moogee made a trip to Cambodia with his other half last year. And boy, was he enthused and enthralled by this war-torn country. Cambodia oozes with a charm like no other city, so Moogee said. The country is filled with breathtaking monuments waiting to be explored. And we haven't even talked about the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat (or rather the ruin of it) yet, a temple built for the Cambodian king in the early 12th century. Moogee also told of the ever-ready smiles of the Cambodian people, especially the kids. Beneath the beautiful Cambodian smiles are poignant stories of hardship and pain for a nation who's never actually recovered from the destructions of years of civil wars. They need the tourist money. And that's why I'm blowing my money there.



And oh, I heard Cambodia is a favorite hideout for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (Brangelina) whenever the madness over at Tinseltown gets into them. We call it escapism. And yes I want my escapism in Cambodia, too. Why, they even adopted a kid from Cambodia they called Maddox who's now about 5 or 6. Maybe Brangelina would adopt me if I run into them in Cambodia? Superstar parents? Who dun want? I know Kennysia wants that, too. I would become famous, living in the lap of luxury. This is what I called the Finer Life.

LOL.

Hey wait .... I'd be darned! I juz learned that it is Vietnam and NOT Cambodia that Brangelina likes to visit. Sigh. But I'd love to visit Cambodia anyway. Maybe I'd run into Madonna instead who recently too adopted a boy. Wait... that was in Africa, right? Hmmm.... what the heck. I dun care anymore. Juz gimme my Dream Holiday!

———START COPYING———

Title : Where Next ?

Proposition : Where do you want to go Next, OUTSIDE OF YOUR COUNTRY, for tourism, work , study, whatever.

Requirements: Find some info about the place, itinerary etc, pics if possible so you get MORE Traffic coming in, and maybe some people can find somewhere to go to. Excludes your NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOUR, ie Singapore,Malaysia,Brunei, a country that borders yours.You must register for MyBloglog so we can blogwalk ah…..get it?

Quantity : FIVE PEOPLE.

Tag Mode : Chain Link. 15 of them.
You leave 15 people and their DEEP LINK of their Blog Name and TAGGED POST and hit out for five more.

This Singaporean Melayu in Europe aka Azrin going LANSING MICHIGAN. This is a Counter Summon Tag!

Shoppingmum to Europe

Angeleyes off to Bora-Bora

Giddy Tiger snorkelling in The Maldives

Jess to Europe

Mybabybay wants to go Round The World

Samm will go to Japan

Bernard dreams of New Zealand

eastcoastlife of Singapore yearns to go Switzerland.

Chris can't wait to explore the Angkor Wat in Cambodia!

[ADD YOUR ENTRY ABOVE THIS]
**Add in the blog you got the tag from and tagged post.** (In this case, for example, you should add “Chris to explore Angkor Wat in Cambodia“).

Extra Rules: you cannot Tag another person who has performed the Tagging Rights to Travel. Check yr commentators.

Exercise effectiveness: You get about at least 100 back links directly to a max of a few Trillion Multi Linked people Track Backing and tagging at ya. That sure will pull yr alexa and Technorati down alot! (it’s 15 times of 5 to the power of 13). It is sure a way to pull down the numbers as I mentioned earlier.

You MUST PASS this tag within 7 days of receiving it , or loose a days worth of Blog Revenue or $10 to charity. Can?Makes it interesting anyway.So no Lazy Tags running about, and yeah, eventually, there will be less than a 1:3 chance you can’t tag that someone. And pay those people in the list a visit, you never know if you can pinch / recycle some ideas for your next entry!


[Started 25th Mar 2007.Do Not Modify this Line.Originated by Geeks Lair SEO Engineering 101 Project ]

REMEMBER: YOU CANNOT TAG SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY DONE IT.No Cheating.

LAST EXTRA SET OF RULES:
YOU MUST VISIT EVERYONE ON THE LIST!

Your post must have 3 PARAGRAPHS with at least 200 words. FUN eh?
This is to boost everyone’s ALEXA,PageRank and Technorati.

—————-END————

Now, I'm posting the same question to the following blogger frenz.... where's your dream vacation?

Tigerfish
Shilpa
Simply Etel
Peppermint
Victor

*whispering...* do so only if you feel like it or have the time, ya?

Let's get personal

I'm not sure if this piece of news has eluded Victor. But it was reported in the ST several days ago that the gahmen is looking into allowing motorists personalise their car number plates.

Victor must be thrilled to bits! We know how insanely, obscenely and hamsup-ly obsessed he is over the figure 69! In the blogosphere, he has so shamelessly let it known that his car number plate is - what else? - SEX 69 4U.

But let's come back to personalised number plates, also known as vanity plates. Was it not too long ago that the gahmen decided to disallow vowels in our car numbering system to prevent hamsup people from mischief?

So, it seems that our gahmen has proven, yet again, that they are capable of doing U-turns on policies formulated, never mind that there has been some murmurs that this change-about in the numbering policy is largely motivated by money. Of course, a vanity plate would cost you some money; maybe an arm and a leg. We know very well, that anything that is PERSONALISED ain't cheap.

Kudos to the gahmen, nevertheless. We are slowly, but surely transforming from a "fine" city to a crude fun city, are we not? If the number plates below don't draw a smile (maybe a frown, depending on who's actually reading it) on your face , I dunno what will .... hehehe..

• OLD1 E (Oldie, but goodie. Chun See can consider this... hehe)
  
• CHU88 Y (Chubby)
  
• GR800 BS (Great Boobs)
  
• GR01 N (Groin)
  
• PEN15 ES (Penises)
  
• A55 I (Ass one)
  
• FU2 (F-you, too)
  

And, of course SEX69 4U. LOL.

Category: Musings