“I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands. To speak when words are needed, and to share the silence when they are not. To agree to disagree on red velvet cake, and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.”

God knows how badly I wish August to be here right now.

Happy 73rd. x

This is the kind of time when I really wished the our long distance relationship is over. Will it please get easier?

Three more months to go.

Of rain & sunshine x Other words, random days

Bangkok, Thailand 2012

Analogue photography can be so beautiful, despite the fact that I still have got at least 50% of my photos out of focus due to my terrible distance judgement. Light leaks, surprises, and the fact that it refreshes memory of places/moments that I don’t remember experiencing. And I never noticed that light leaks can be this beautiful too. ☺ Finding all the movtivation to stock up more films and have the LC-A+ has a default camera in my bag to snap down random moments, because developing the negatives few months later always, always brings me surprises.

Let’s just hope that my skills in analogue cameras improves over time. (Still terribly upset that quite a fair bit of photos are actually out of focus. ☹) *cross fingers*

This year is the year I’ve been looking forward to after so long. After years of countless separations and reunions, we are at the last phase of our long distance relationship. In just a few months time, we’d be back in each other’s arms for good, slogging our hearts out together for the future we wanted. Together.

After all these years, and I still hold you as my biggest living pride. Why do I love you? I love how selfless you are. And it just makes me amaze at how humble one can be despite all that you have in life, even though there are times when you annoy me with your ego. It just makes me feel exceptionally blessed – blessed that everything about us have fallen in place so easily and perfectly, right from the very beginning. And it seemed like no obstacle was too difficult when we are both together. You’ve no idea how safe I feel when you are right beside me.

For the past few days, despite how crazy work has been flowing through my daily life, your morning calls to start my day and goodnight calls to round my night makes me feel nothing less than a bird flying through cloud nine. The chemistry we have for each other is something nobody can understand, and no words can explain. All we need to do is to keep our silence, and we’d see us laughing and smiling at each other.

Six years of happiness and hardship together, and many more to come. But that’s alright, because there is nothing stronger than my desire for you and our future together. Our future is nothing but bright. x

Happy Anniversary April’s Fool Sweetheart.

We are such a fool for each other. ♥

Last first monthsary of our entire long distance relationship, and I am so proud of us my sweetheart. All that we are working towards is right ahead of us. The fact that we are such an old couple, we no longer just call each other sweet names and whisper sweet nothings to each other. We’d step on each other’s foot, wrestle in bed, give each other silly names and do unglam acts on each other. Only because we are so comfortable with each other, and we just know that is probably what we love about us – nothing to hide. Just us being us.

I wish I could be a lot more than what I actually am. To learn how to cook up a proper Chinese meal to feed your hungry tummy after a long day from work. To give you a relaxing massage on your back while hearing you talk about your achievements and complains for the day. To put you in bed as you get tired from sharing. To make you a hearty breakfast to kick start your day right. And the cycle goes.

All these are all that I wish that I can be for you. For our future family. Only if my work gives me more time to learn these, I believe this would be the top priority.

On the contrary, you – as the man – cooks better, and have a much better home organization skills than I do. Which absolutely puts me to shame. But that is okay because I will work on that. The fact that how everyone actually agrees that you are such a keeper I feel absolutely undeserving of you. Humans are selfish in nature, and that explains why I am never gonna be letting you go anywhere away from me.

At least four more months till we meet again. Study hard baby, and I will see you really soon. I love you so much more than you’d know.

Happy 5 years and 11 months darling. ♡

Tuesday was spent with me rolling around in bed waiting for the boyfriend to pick me up from my place before heading out on an excursion together. It made me really upset when it started pouring because we were suppose to go somewhere out in the sun, and there would not be any plan B if it rained. Thank God the sun came out after an hour, but the gloomy skies stayed. Drove to somewhere the both of us isn’t familiar with, and it took us a few drives to find the place. Stopped by the road side, starting take pictures, looking at army boys marching pass us, took pictures before the weather turned for the worse. If only it was a bright and sunny day, we would have more . ☹ And we shared a set of Carls Junior for dinner – where we actually went together for our very first date years back. But all I really enjoyed was the fact was the boyfriend’s company in the car ride with music playing in the background, trying to figure out where we should be going, and the patience of the boyfriend who was determined to bring us there when I was actually the one who wanted this whole thing. Some times I just question, what have I done so well in my past life to deserve this man? ♥

On a side note, Jon and I just came back from a dinner with both of our folks and brothers together and it was an absolutely enjoyable dinner over a simple chinese cuisine. Not the first time that both our families gathered together, but it still makes me really happy and I constantly remind myself at how blessed I am to have two families to call my very own this way. I am extremely blessed, I don’t even know how to use words to describe my gratitude and happiness that explodes within me.

Life and work may take its toll on me, but I guess this is the energy that drives me on every single time. x

We all know how comercialized Valentine’s Day actually is, and it was really just like any other day for Babs and I. No huge bouquet of flowers or bears for the other half; but the boy did get me a toy rose (which he calls the 百年玫瑰 – hundred year rose) then said that I wouldn’t be receiving any more flowers for the next hundred years. But I guess I would seriously be a lot happier to receive a bouquet of roses on any random day than on Valentine’s Day itself. I actually bought all the scrapbooking materials just one day before, because I was feeling diligent about making a handmade gift for Babs since I haven’t done so in quite a while.  He was so happy when he saw the gift I made for him, he kept staring at it for a long time before the both of us decided to hit the sack that night. ☺

For the past few days Babs has been nothing less than the sweetest thing. Well not that he isn’t on usual days, but I can see that he has been putting in so much effort into his work. The job that he actually chose over what he could have been doing because he believes that this is what that can give both of us a better future. How I actually ache a little – like an overprotective mother to his toddler who is trying to learn how to walk - every time I see him only in the morning and would only return late at night. And when I actually asked him about it, he said he enjoys what he is doing because Hardwork equates Success. And apparently, I am the reason that motivates him to his success. ☺

Thank you Babs, for making me feel that all we have in our future is nothing but bright. x

AMUSE BOUCHE
Ocean Trout, Mayonnaise, Salmon Roe Caviar

FOIE GRAS ANGLAISE
Goose liver custard, duck confit, ginko beans, truffle salsa, parmesan foam

BEEF CARPACCIO
200 days grain fed Black Angus Beef tenderloin, poached eggs, chives, vine cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella

BLACK & WHITE SNOW COD
Squid ink infused and iberico ham wrapped snow cod, aerated potato creme. globe artichoke, parsley, squid ink crumble

MUSHROOM GNOCCHI
Creamed seasonal mushrooms, potato gnocchi, thyme, parmesan

The boyfriend made a reservation for the both of us at Novus to celebrate our seventieth month together. He found a gem in a quite corner by the Singapore National Museum, and we enjoyed our dining experience there.

I had the Foie Gras Anglaise which really came as a surprise to me because I’ve never eaten foie gras in the form of custard – made with duck consommé (clear broth), goose liver parfait, ginkgo nuts and duck confit. And the foam had a taste to it, which kinda made me opened my eyes when I placed it in my mouth. Babs had Black Angus Carpaccio – fine slices of raw beef tenderloin – and we were tried something called the buffalo mozzarella for the very first time. Quoting the introductory cards place for us when our dish was served, it says “It’s a cheese made from the milk of a domestic water buffalo rather than from cow’s milk. A fresh, stringy textured cheese in porcelain-white, it has an extremely thin rind and delicate taste. When cut, it produces a white watery fluid with the aroma of milk enzyme.” It just burst like a balloon filled with water in my mouth. Mushroom gnocchi was savory, but I kind of regretted ordering it because it made me feel so bloated even before I could finish half of what I was given. I loved Jon’s Black & Snow Cod because I love Cod fish and probably would just love any way it is being cooked, and loved it more when they actually wrapped it up with Iberico Ham that is cured for 48 months.

The mind blowing food aside, thank you sweetheart for giving me the best 70 months of my life. Thank you for all the things you have done, big or small, even though I may be the most oblivious girl in the world but you still do it any way because you have me in your heart. For being the most tolerant person to my flaws and still be as loving as you can ever be – you’re definitely the sweetest thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, and will always do. ♥

After 70 months, I still like the direction that we are heading towards.

My group of poly mates and I wanted to relive the fun that we had in Kukup two years ago, and arranged for a second trip there. Babs joined us this time round, and it was nothing short of fun! It was a pity that some of them couldn’t make it at the very last minute. Mahjong, in between, blackjack, fireworks, karaoke, feasting like kings and queens because neither do we have to prepare any of our meals nor clean them up. It’s probably the first time how I actually felt exhausted taking photos during our fireworks session because I had to fiddle around with the tripod I actually felt like I was panting. And how funny it was when we had to take our mobiles to find the correct way of writing chinese characters as we were scribbling our wishes on the kong ming deng, just because our chinese is terrible like this. I was so exhausted with all the fun and slept at 4am (probably first to hit the sack), while babs joined my friends and continued playing (having eight persons bunking into a room, coincidentally with 2 couple beds and 4 singles). I could literally hear all of them laughing as they all walked into the room when they finally figured that they were tired.

It really didn’t matter how run down and dirty this place may be because the company really made up for it. And this was really the weekend that I had been looking forward to. ♡

Chai Latte and Sunrise Smoothie of Orange Juice, Banana, Fresh Berries, Yoghurt and Honey

Wild mushroom with truffle oil

Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs with Avocado on Turkish Pide

Marinated Portobello and Halloumi Burger with Caramelized Onions, Cos and Fries

We spent the entire Sunday morning lazying around in bed, listening to music on YouTube before finally getting our lazy selves out of my place for our Sunday date.

Took on a runaway afternoon to Rider’s Cafe for brunch. The sun was burning hot, but thank God that there was breeze and we were under shelter. I loved how the place was so opened that the sun light could just shine through the entire place, and the fact that it wasn’t air conditioned. A little noisy with the crowd on a Sunday afternoon, but that’s okay. I was in the mood for some feasting but thank goodness the more logical side of me (along with the boyfriend’s nagging) won – I was so bloated with all that I had on my plate.

If only every day was a Sunday – even if it means doing nothing and lazing in bed all day, listening to our favourite songs together.

I said, give me the flattest face you can give.

Pre-Lunar New Year walkabout in Chinatown has become a tradition for the both of us. Truth to be told, the boyfriend hates squeezing with the crowd but still willingly agreed to come with me. I really appreciate this little effort from this sweetheart. I am not too sure if it applies to any one of you who are reading this, but walking in Chinatown during this time of the year really brings back loads of fond memories from the younger days. You probably get to see your favourite childhood sweets everywhere, toys (e.g. paper windmill) that you used to play when you were young, and I had a vague memory about my parents bring my brothers and I to walk around until the tradition died off. ☹

Despite the boyfriend complaining a little about how sticky he got with people rubbing their sweaty arms against his, I had fun snapping away with my cameras and enjoying his company by my side.

I am definitely looking forward to one of my favourite festive season of the year with all the goodies that are packed in transparent containers with red lids! x

Work has been exceptionally draining and exhausting with the insane crowd. So much so that I’ve only been almost having just one meal per day for a few weeks already. And this is exactly the reason why I always, always look forward to Saturday nights which marks the start of my weekend.

But this boy. He has just been exceptionally amazing it always lighten up mood. His subconscious little acts never fails to make me feel that the hardship is a little more bearable and easier to get by. I just wish it’d be this easy when he is away.

Thank you sweetheart. For putting a smile on my face with you being you. ♥

Garlic King Prawns

Impromptu supper with the boyfriend at Bukit Timah area, which was the very first time I actually been to this hidden bustling corner of Singapore in the wee hours of the night. Had frog leg porridge, and we ended up buying almost twice of what two persons could have all because the waitress managed to make us think that it’d be more worth it. We slept till late morning the following day, and we started cooking up a simple feast for our poolside picnic. And it was good. Even though we aren’t fantastic cooks, but I do have visions of us spending our weekends through our married life whipping up something new each time. ☺

Later that night, we had dinner at Tatsu Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant. It was the most fancy teppanyaki dinner we’ve ever had, but the chef made our dining experience a really enjoyable one. He was so amiable it makes it difficult not to smile and start having a conversation. We even got short entertainment and cooking stuns from this fella, who at the very same time catered to each of our gastronomic needs. I can’t wait for our next food adventure together. ☺

And this is one of the best weekends I’ve had in a while. ✘♥✘♥