Catching up

Have been looking forward to this dinner where I could catch up with 2 of my ex-colleagues- one has left the service while the other has gone onto another school. Its not only the catching up, but I also looking forward to the food and the thought of just having a girls' night out thrills me!

This is probably one aspect what I like about being a woman..that we hang out together to talk, eat nice food and shop.

Anyway, we met up with Clarke Quay MRT station where we walked to Robertson Quay for dinner at "The Hannibals".

We all shared the food. Had pizza

Had Grissini Al Proscuitto which is basically hand rolled bread sticks wrapped in Parma ham.

Then a Spring Chicken, beef burger and finally Osaado, Chardonnay White wine from San Juan, Argentina

There's the 4 of us (clockwise direction from me: Wendy, Sham and Elene)

Coincidentally, during dinner, met my ex-NIE friend, Seow Cheong and CT's colleague, Anthony and Salynn. What a small world.

After dinner, we shared a cab home..had a wonderful time!

Elective Programme for Students

There's an elective programme every year organised for the Normal Technical students on practical skills to learn. So they get to choose what they want to do. This year, they have an option of photography, fitness and cooking. So they will undergo lessons and finally, they will showcase what they have learnt to the teachers.

So, I signed up for it in support of their hard work where I get to see what they have learnt and to taste their cooking!!

In the morning, I was pretty excited already. So I dropped by the kitchen to check it out and support them.

Here's Ian, our sous chef!

All of them hard at work

Before our sumptuous lunch, the group that chose fitness displayed a muay thai performance with music.

Then when we entered the room to eat, we had to do glamour shots first by the photography students.

Then there was the cocktail counter for us to get our drinks. Of course, they were non-alcoholic.

Here's me and the fitness gals.

And our servers, all waiting to usher and serve the teachers with their big smiles!

Check out our lunch menu!

The food was delicious!!

For appetiser, we had prawn with mango salsa

Then, wild mushroom soup with squid ink baguette

Then lemongrass drink with mint as a palate cleaner before our main dish. How refreshing!

For the mains, we had a choice of teriyaki chicken or seafood baked rice.

I chose the seafood baked rice as I love seafood and I was glad I ordered it as the mussels were huge! Worth it!!

And lastly, our dessert- 4 different kinds. You can imagine how full I was!

We had a really great time. Coincidentally, my lunch colleagues were all ex-TJC students!! haha..so it was a mini gathering!

There's Edmund Tham, who happens to know my cousin from TJC. Small World. Then my form teacher, Mr Lim Meng Thong whom I have the pleasure of working with for 2 years as we took the form class 3E3 (2011) and 4E3 (2012). Despite him being promoted to IT HOD, he still carried on form teachership to help me and we had a great time working together as the things he liked to do, I dont like and vice versa. Then on my left is my dear Personal Assistant, Shu Xian who is a really good and efficient teacher and my secretary who sits beside me, answering my phone calls, leaving messages for me when I am not around and reminding me of appointments or things I might forget!

Thanks guys for your hard work to make this day such a success and for the wonderful food! With great food by students and great company, I am truly blessed!

New Paper Big Walk 2012

If ever I told my friends I went for the New Paper Big Walk, nobody would believe me, especially when they know that you have to pay to participate.

That was my reaction when CT first approach me and asked me if I was interested. A BIG FAT NO! I couldn't understand why people pay to exercise when they can always do that anytime of the week on their own.

After I found that CT mentioned it because his company organised to go for it, I immediately said OF COURSE! As a wife, I always feel that my job is to support my husband and be there for him...especially when it comes to his work. Moreover, I will want to get to know his colleagues and to understand CT's work better if there's any opportunity for me to.

I must say, I enjoyed the walk because we were walking places where I have never been to or seen things that were new to me.

We started off at The Central, Clarke Quay.

As expected, it was very crowded. Just for us to walk to the STARTING POINT, took us almost an hour!

The views sighted were beautiful..

We walked from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay Sands and then to Marina Barrage.

After that walk, we went to Rendezvous Grand Hotel at the Courtyard for lunch.

CT had the popular fish and chips while I had this salad which was amazing!!! Loved it!every mouth of it!!! Almost wanted to slurp the plate!

Had a very tiring but fun time with CT! It was a great workout cum date. No regrets!

Miss cooking

Whenever I show my love, I would cook. If I have a choice, I would love to invite my family and friends over for meals so that I can cook for them to tell them how much I love them. Not that I am a great cook..but I just find it nice to sit around the same table with your loved ones, sharing a meal and having a drink together. Its a nice and warm feeling.

Anyway, today I squeezed out whatever little time and energy I have to cook for my family on a Sat because I miss cooking for them. Usually for Sat lunches, we would eat something simple to cook. It could be porridge, fried rice, spaghetti or bee hoon. Today, I felt like cooking mac and cheese as it has been a long while since I ate. Its basically quite easy to make.

Here's the steps I took to cook it:

1) Grate the Red Leicester Cheese. This cheese has great depth and richness in its taste. Very good for mac and cheese dishes. Mozzarella Cheese works fine too but as compared to Red Leicester, its too mild.

2) Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celcius. Cook the macaroni at the same time in boiling water.

3) After cooking it, put in glass tray together with evaporated milk, and cheese. Some recipes put eggs and nutmeg in but I didnt cos I forgot to put the eggs and I didnt have nutmeg in my house.

4) So I just simply mix the macaroni with evaporated milk and the cheese I grated. Finally pour the excess cheese on top. I topped it off with breadcrumbs so as to give the mac and cheese and crunchy, crispy texture after its baked.

No need to add salt because the cheese is salty already. I added black pepper to my own portion on my plate as I was afraid the children may not like.

Also ate this dish with grilled chicken. I was glad the children enjoyed the food! Feel accomplished each time my family appreciates the food I prepare when I see them eating so heartily! ;) Small actions like this just touch my heart so easily..

Christmas with friends..

My students, whom I have regarded as friends, came to my house to celebrate Christmas together. To be honest, I find it hard to separate friends and students relationship. To me, as long as I know your name and a little about yourself , I consider you my friend already. That does not mean my students can take things for granted because in any relationship, there has to be mutual respect. So be it a teacher-student relationship or a friendship, I still expect my friends or students to show me respect as I show them the same. But anyway, now that they have graduated, I can safely say that they are my friends. I specially prepared for them a Christmas dinner. I just love inviting people over for a meal and cooking for them. Just wish my house was a little bigger to host more people.

Prepared ham with sauce (compliments from mum), grilled chicken wings, fruit salad, cheese baked pasta or whatever you call it as well as burrito wrap with chicken marinated with mexican rub (self wrap). After that, also treated them to ice cream.

Like to thank them for bringing gifts for me and my children.

But I wondered if it was really for my children or was there some kind of hidden agenda. Hmm..

After lunch, they played boardgames and we went down to play at the rooftop garden playground as well as the ground level playground

Think they had fun playing with my children..

All of us had an enjoyable time. I sincerely wish them all the very best in their next phase of life in tertiary education!

Date with hubby

Always look forward to dates with my hubby as we have similar interests--food and movies. Typical Singaporean stuff. Anyway,because its youth day holiday, we went to Suntec to watch Transformers which I absolutely loved!

I am not sure if its my brother's influence..but since young, I always enjoy guys' stuff like playing computer games, cars, robots, action, super heroes etc.

Anyway, after the show, we went to have lunch at Aston Specialties. I ordered my usual sirloin steak while CT ordered a super burger which was DISGUSTINGLY OILY and FATTENING!



The burger had deep fried onion rings in it. I felt this dish would cause an immediate heart attack after eating it.



Anyway, after lunch, we had dessert at Andersen's of Denmark.



I was stuffed and bloated. Wanted to go home already but CT insisted on getting his free Latte at Spinelli's which I still have no idea why people would pay about $6 for this?!!! It was bitter and yucky! I hate coffee...



Nevertheless, we had a great time together and taking the train home!