Breakfast is fun!

I don't know about you but recently, I realised how fun breakfast can actually be! There's just so many variations that you can eat during breakfast that I love this meal the best! I used to skip breakfast almost every morning but have learnt to appreciate it and enjoy it! (though I still get lazy once in a while and skip about 2-3 times a week)

Why I say breakfast is fun is because there's so many kinds of breakfast food that I simply LOVEEEE! I love eating the Chinatown Complex Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Foo and glutinous rice there. My family's favourite haunt when I was studying in NUS. My whole family would go there for breakfast by 7am. Then my mum would drive dad to work while my brother and I would go NUS together.

Then I also love eating chee cheong fun. The kind I like would be the ones without the sweet sauce. Instead, I prefer to just add sesame oil and soya sauce. Here's the one which I usually eat for my breakfast as I would drop by to buy and bring to my school at 630am. I like this stall as they would add chai poh to it and its very near my school.

Then at times, my colleagues would also treat me to breakfast- another of my favourite....Vegetarian Bee Hoon!

I also like to eat bee hoon with luncheon meat, fish cake and fried egg with runny yolk! Oooo...drooling already. Then at times, I would eat nasi lemak..another of my favourite! Especially with the sambal chilli.

Another to die for breakfast is this!! Pork Porridge (with egg), you tiao (dough fritters) and raw fish!!

Then of course, there would be chee kway which is usually my side dish for breakfast.

Sometimes, for breakfast, I would cook glutinous rice for my colleagues' breakfast to just brighten up their day and show my love and appreciation for them.

Then in the past, I would go marketing in the morning with my mother-in-law at Bedok and we would have Bak Chor Mee (Soup) for breakfast! That is also very yummy.

And also Char Siew Wantan Mee

I also like eating char siew pau or da pau for breakfast, as well as siew mai. Then, there's this which I love! Very sinful but delicious!

Another kind of breakfast which I love to cook for the family is bacon and eggs!

The food list just goes on and on...

I guess I found interest in breakfast recently when my colleagues and I now usually meet for breakfast around the table at our staff pantry by 645am. We would eat together and share breakfast, as well as talk about anything and everything. So with great company, comes great food! This is so Singaporean...

Here's our breakfast club..(missing Mr Choo in the picture as he was away on course)

Anyway, let's all learn to appreciate the things around us and that includes friendship and food! ;p

Lai Huat Sambal Fish Restaurant

The famous Lai Huat Sambal Balacan Fish Restaurant just opened another branch in Siglap , just outside my mum's place. So, went there to check it out with my parents. Moreover, the chef/owner belongs to their friend.

Its our 2nd time visiting the place and so far, we have enjoyed the food!

We ordered Emporer's chicken which the kids love (must order), deep fried sambal balacan white pomfret (must order- but ordered the sole fish this time round to try the difference. Still prefer the white pomfret one), fried toufu with chai poh, fried mee sua which looked plain but it was very tasty and light, nai bai veggies (Must order- love the crispy fish bits on top), ordered clams too.

Be sure to visit the place if you stay in the East or happen to be nearby the area!

Lai Huat Sambal Fish Restaurant 17 Upper East Coast Road S(455208) (Opposite Shell Station, next to Royal's Cafe, at junction of Jalan Tua Kong and Upp East Coast Road)

Proud to be a Punggolian

This morning, Punggol Waterway was featured in the Sunday Straits Times and I was interviewed and gave my comments about it. For those of you who have been following my post, you would know that I have always been proud of where I stay. Its akin to the Americans who are proud of the state that they live in. I will get a little put off by people who pass negative comments about my place.

Anyway, putting that aside, I really love the Punggol Waterway. It's rustic and scenic. Great place for Caleb and Danielle to run about as well!

I have stayed here for about 8 years and the joy of seeing stuff sprouting out has been pretty exciting...things like the driving range, fast food restaurants, Japanese restaurants, seafood restaurants, prawn fishing, the waterway

However, I am not sure if I would stay here for long as my dream has always been wanting to get a bigger place and practically, to be near my children's primary school as Caleb would be in Primary One in 2 years time. Its scary just thinking about it but yet, exciting as its another phase in their life and I would probably be all emotional about it when I see him don on his primary school uniform. But for now, its toying with the idea of a good school which will cause me to uproot myself from Punggol or a neighbourhood school and continue staying in Punggol.

Actually I have somewhat made up my mind (typical female) already but ultimately, I shall remain open to wherever God leads me as He knows best!

Lovely dinner...

Have been looking forward to tonight's dinner as it's my first time being invited to an ex-student's parent's house for a meal. I taught Hilary back in 2007 and 2008 when she was Sec 3 and Sec 4. This was the batch that I was quite close to as I took them for 2 years and moreover, they also saw me getting pregnant twice!

After Hilary graduated, I got in touch with her mum, Jane through Facebook. I have to admit that I was initially uneasy to add parents to my Facebook but then again, I have nothing to hide and my life is meant to be shared with others as I want to be as transparent as I can be just so that maybe somewhere down the road, people can be inspired by my life as that's how I want it to be- to be an inspiration to the people around me. So I added her and since then, Jane has been a source of inspiration to me instead as I saw how she have dates with her children one on one and how they all seem so close to her, including her hubby. When I saw all that updated pictures of her and the family and her status updates on her praise and love for God, I was amazed and inspired by the kind of life she is living and has as that was exactly how I envisioned my role as a wife and mummy when I got married and I first had Caleb. My aim was to have a family that is God-centered, to love and respect my husband, to be best friends with my children and to be a blessing to my friends as I open my house and invite them over for meals.

That was why a few months back, I actually approached Jane through Facebook to be my spiritual and prayer mentor. Anyway, I was so happy that Jane invited my family over to her place for dinner tonight. I have also always wanted to try her cooking as she keeps posting up pictures of her food she cooked in Facebook that I had to try it for myself! Here's what she prepared!

The whole table was practically filled with food! There was braised chicken wings, emporer's chicken, steamed fish, fish ball vegetable soup, braised broccoli with dried mushrooms, egg fu yong. Loved all of it!

Besides Hilary, I was happy to also see Wei Jun (who is dating Hilary) and Josha who were all from the same class. The thing about Jane is that she would always open her house for meals by inviting her children's friends over..so her children's friends automatically becomes her friends and they drop by her place all the time.

Anyway, during dinner, we talked about the past and we all had a great time reminiscing about it and joking around as well. After dinner, Jane still kept feeding us by giving us cakes, tea, ice cream, fruits etc etc..She is so hospitable. Reminds me of my mum. I also had the opportunity to play guitar with Jane's husband, Matthew who used to be a bassist in Riverlife church as well! Jane told me to bring my new Gibson guitar so that Matthew can play with it and so we played together and exchanged pointers. Very fun!

As for my children, they were entertained by the television as Caleb was watching Madagascar. Danielle has yet to enjoy watching TV..so she simply walks around and entertain herself.

It was a very lovely dinner and meaningful time spent with my friends. I feel so blessed to have friends like them who simply lifts your soul!

Day off

I do look forward now to my helper getting off on Sundays as I get to spend quality time with my children and cook for them. Yes, I know I can also do this when she is around, but its kind of different...

I remember the times when taking care of them on my helper's day off was trying and a test of my patience and endurance. But I am glad it gets better as they grow older and mature. It's definitely much easier now that they can entertain themselves by playing together.

Anyway, since it has been a while since I cooked, I prepared dinner for my family tonight. Simple food, straight from my heart..

Cooked black bean pork rib rice as well as fish soup with spinach and fish balls.

Glad everyone enjoyed the food. My little satisfaction I get from watching them finishing up all the food on their plates and bowls. ;)

Visit to Bishan Park

I have no recollection of when I have ever visited Bishan Park but nevertheless, CT brought the family there today and I have to say, it's nothing as I imagined it to be. The landscaping of the park was done up quite nicely. Though it was packed with people, the surroundings were still pleasant enough to enjoy.

Caleb and Danielle had fun running about and playing the sand at the playground.

I not only enjoyed the landscaping of the place, but also the dog park where many dogs gather together to mingle with other dogs. I love just standing there and view the different breed of dogs. So adorable. I was actually amazed how they were actually mingling amicably with one another and no dog was barking. Amazing!

Also during my visit there, I spotted a squirrel on the tree and running on the field.

After our visit to the park, we went to the nearby coffee shop for chicken rice! Had an amazing evening! Guess its more fun now that the kids are older and its much easier to take care of them as they are rather independent. So whenever I know of mothers with babies and young children who still wake up in the middle of the night for feeding or their child is always crying especially at night or when they are out, I tell them to hang on..its just a phase.

Taking the lyrics from a Guns 'N' Roses song, "All we need is just a little patience" ...how true.

Lunch at Peach Garden

Today, went out for lunch with CT's colleagues. I have gotten to know his colleagues since we were together in US for one year in 2005 when CT went there for work. Ever since that trip, CT has changed job a couple of times before returning back to this company, Tate & Lyle. This lunch was arranged so as to meet up with Bill and Cathy Skelding. Both of them have been very dear to us as they invited us to their house in Alabama and when they stayed in Singapore for a while, they also invited us over to their place for a meal. They also came over to my place for dinner before and to attend Caleb's one year old party.

Anyway, lunch was at Peach Garden, OCBC Centre.

We ordered a lot to eat..

The restaurant was located on the 33rd storey. So the view was good.

Definitely a place worth coming back again because of the great food!

Early Valentine's Day in Katong

Went on an early Valentine's date with hubby after work today. Decided to go 112 Katong, the new mall to take a look.

Moreover, since I grew up in that area, I have been looking forward to revisit the familiar surroundings again. Whenever I go Katong, it reminds me of the times I spent growing up in the swimming pool at Chinese Swimming Club, Amber Road. Remember taking the public bus to go for my trainings, going for dinner with my family after trainings, visiting Katong Mall with my mum, eating often along the road etc etc. Great memories...

Katong has this old charm which I am in love with...I am not sure if it is the nostalgic feeling, but it sure feels special visiting the place again and checking out the new mall which has many interesting shops in it!

Had Japanese Pasta and Pizza at Yomenya Goemon for dinner.

Food quite decent but probably wont go back there again as there is nothing too special about it.

After dinner, did some shopping before walking out of the mall for some more food! Bought the famous Katong rice dumplings, Kaya and sambal prawn rice rolls from Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Then we went back to the mall for ice cream at Marble Slab Creamery. Strange enough, the first time that CT and I had ice cream from Marble Slab Creamery was in 2005 when we were staying in Mobile, Alabama. It was near our apartment. So we would walk or drive out at times for it.

Here's the photo taken in 2005!

And here's the one in Singapore in 2012!

Though it was a short date. We had a good time eating and simply spending time together. Will definitely be back again..maybe with our children as they have a water playground on the roof top of the mall!

The next day on Valentine's Day, CT surprised me with this on the bed.

Sweet and simple gift..was very touched as its not about the amount in a gift, but the small gesture and effort that I saw touched me and reminded me once again why I married CT. Thanks dear for being a part of my life. I love you.

Preparing for World Championships!

Having since joined Robotics as my CCA last June, I have been enjoying myself and continue to marvel at how my students could have so much dedication and skills to build a robot and run it. They definitely have my respect. This coming April, I would be going with them for the World Championships in Anaheim, California. Its exciting as I love competitions. It gets my adrenaline pumping especially since I would be competing together with them as a coach in the game.

Right now, we have been preparing for the competitions and the guys have been putting in a lot of effort by building their robots, thinking of ways to improve, and rebuilding them again from scratch whenever we think of something better. The fact that they have to rebuild again and again makes me feel tired for my students but in order to improve and to stretch our students' potential, we cannot be easily satisfied with its current performance and standard.

So far, we have been exposing the students to local competitions so as to help them cope with stress and pressure of the game. However, they did not perform to their potential as the nerves get the better of them. They are too used to practicing in school that when they go to other schools to compete, they fumble. Sigh...

Besides accompanying students for competitions, I have also been overseeing the renovation of our new robotics room. It was tough as they have been many hiccups along the way.

But finally, we are glad its done.

So with this settled, the students are finally able to focus on their construction and training for the upcoming competition in April. Really wish they would do well so that they can be proud of their achievements and their sacrifice would all be worth it!

Here's our world standings to date for robot skills