longsuffering spurs fan

Nadal is out of wimbledon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8085394.stm

Now all fed needs to do is win it and he'll be number one in the world again!

We checked in to the InterContinental this evening... shiok! They were nice enough to give us a better room 'cos it's our celebration weekend, and it really is quite lovely! The view from the room isn't quite as good as marina mandarin/pan pacific, but the location is brilliant!

Su Linn booked dinner at garibaldi's so that's where we ended up after freshening up after work - our tables weren't quite ready though so we had 1/2 dozen oysters and cocktails at the bar. The oysters are close to the best I've ever tasted! shiok man... my basil capirinha was solid also - very yummy! I was going do describe dinner in detail but i found the menu online so...

This is what we both had - the degustation menu. I guess they've adjusted their prices somewhat, 'cos the last time we had a similar degustation menu, i think it was $110 each. Anyway I opted for the lamb while Su Linn got the prawns. Best of both worlds!

We each had a champagne to go with our celebratory mood, before getting a white for Su Linn and a red for my lamb. The champagne was shiok, and so was the red wine in particular - gotta hunt for that wine to see if we can get more bottles for my dad.

And now we're tipsily prepared for bed and gonna crash.. .can't wait for breakfast tomorrow! :)

Menu Degustazione ______________________________________________________________

TARTARA DI TONNO CON ARANCE E BOTTARGA Tuna Tartare with Orange and Grey Mullet Roe CAPESANTA GRATINATA Scallop Gratin with Celery and Tomato BIGOLI ALL` ANATRA Home Made Spinach Noodles with Braised Chalon Duck GAMBERI ALLA GRIGLIA Grilled Jumbo Prawns with Garlic, Lemon & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Or MILANESE D' AGNELLO  Breaded Lamb Chop with Mesclun Salad, Ricotta Cheese and Tomato Concasse` FRUTTI DI BOSCO E ZABAIONE AL MARSALA Wild Berries with Marsala Wine Sabayon and Pistachio Gelato   IL SERVIZIO DEL CAFFE' Coffee or Tea S$88 All Prices Subject to 10% Service Charge and Prevailing Government Tax

Check this out. It's good! :)

nasi goreng chicken rice
bak kut teh cheesy fries
roti prata kaya toast!

sunglasses tennis racket
miniskirt denim jacket
barbecues at east coast!

these are my favourite things

get ready get set
just put it on nets
the things that make life great!

- you can totally see that i'm psyching myself up for next thursday morning's dial in... :)

http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/ED...-LOH-KIAH-MUAN
Online Only - MP had no empathy
Letter from LAWRENCE LOH KIAH MUAN
Updated 10:07 PM May 13, 2009


It started with Member of Parliament (MP) Seng Han Thong being set on fire. Then came MP Denise Phua who was threatened by a rag-and-bone man. Recently, MP Cynthia Phua was subjected to a display of violence by a constituent.

Although these incidents are disturbing and a cause for concern, I wonder whether the constituents are solely to be blamed.

Allow me to relate my personal experience.

In February 2001, my older son died in a naval accident whilst serving National Service. In that year, my younger son was due for enlistment. A friend, a very active grassroots member, suggested that I approach my MP, for help in exploring the possibility of getting an exemption for my younger son. I was reluctant but he went ahead to fix an appointment for me at the Meet-The-People Session (MPS). I subsequently relented and he accompanied me there. It was in March 2001. That was my first appearance at a MPS, and it was to be my last.

I waited until midnight before I could meet the MP. Prior to this, he was given the case paper which detailed the objective of the meeting and the circumstances of my case.

When I entered the room, his first remark was “Yes, what can I do for you?”. There was no attempt at offering a word of sympathy or condolence. I then related my situation and said that both my wife and I were very traumatised.

His next remark “What traumatic, after two months, you won’t be traumatic?”. With that, I decided to end the meeting. And with that, my respect for him hit ground zero. I was too stunned and grief-stricken to react. Someone who was less-controlled and less-measured than me could have flown into a rage and become violent.

MPs are elected or appointed to serve the constituents. People who attend the MPS are those who have real problems and need help. In a lot of instances, they are stressed, distressed and troubled. What they need is a caring soul, a helping hand, a gentle voice, and words of hope and encouragement. To dispense these, MPs need good interpersonal skills and a high EQ. Arrogance, a patronizing, chiding and belittling attitude, aloofness and lack of empathy will only trigger acts of rashness and violence. Many of our politicians have a high IQ, some are scholars. However, a high IQ is not the only attribute needed in a political career. A high EQ is equally, if not more critical, especially when it comes to dealing with the constituents.

In my case, I would have felt good if my MP could have been a warm and caring person. If he could have been empathetic, consoling and helpful. All these qualities can only come from the heart, not from the mind.

How many of our MPs can stand up and be counted for this?

 Does anyone notice the resemblance?



vs.



teehee!

oh btw that's the newly crowned MSU2009, who was a new paper new face finalist in 2007. *grin*

Today we tried the CAB that costs $5.59/100g and the verdict is - worth every penny. SOLID steaks with minimal effort - even when i slightly overestimated the time on the stove, the steaks were still absolutely delish! :)

Heard this song on class 95 fm during the lazy saturday morning. I love the chord progression on this one and the harmonies on the bridge. :)

In other news - spurs are looking up! 11th spot on the table now and climbing - wheeeee!

[It's just between you and me]
[I've got something' to say]
[I wanna get it straight]
[Before the sun goes down]

Sorrow is a lonely feeling
Unsettled is a painful place
I've lived with both for far too long now
Since we've parted ways
I've been wrestling with my conscience
And I found myself to blame
If there's to be any resolution
I've got to peel my pride away

(chorus)
Just between you and me
I've got somethin' to say
Wanna get it straight
Before the sun goes down
Just between you and me
Confession needs to be made
Recompense is my way to freedom now
Just between you and me
I've got something to say

( rest of the lyrics here... )

finally a victory after the abject displays of the past weeks! 3-1 to the spurs! Defoe's goal was a beaut, as was modric's dribble for daws' header. Woohoo!

haven't updated here in ages!

this weekend we had pam's birthday party and reunion dinner for my mom's extended family. su linn and i made banoffee pie off nestle.co.uk's recipe:

<tr><th>Ingredients</th><th></tr><tr><td class="Ingredients">

Base:
100g (3½oz) butter
250g (9oz) digestive biscuits, crushed  

Caramel:
175g (6oz) butter
85g (3oz) caster sugar
85g (3oz) dark brown soft sugar
397g can Carnation Condensed Milk  

4 small bananas
284ml carton double cream, lightly whipped
cocoa powder, for dusting

</td><td class="Directions">

Method

In a large saucepan, melt 100g (3½oz) of the butter and stir in the crushed biscuits. Press into the base and partly up the sides of a 19cm (7½in) loose-bottomed cake tin. Place in the fridge to chill while preparing the caramel.  

To make the caramel, place the butter and the sugars in a non-stick saucepan over a low heat, stirring until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Add the condensed milk and, stirring continuously, bring gently to the boil, to make a smooth, golden caramel. Spread the caramel over the biscuit base and chill for about 1½ hours.  

Slice the bananas and arrange most of them over the caramel. Spread with whipped cream. Decorate with the remaining bananas and dust liberally with cocoa powder.

we didn't use enough butter in the base for pam's pies, so the digestive base came apart too easily - i think double the amount of butter (200g) would be just nice, instead of the 100g recommended.

will post pics when i get home! :)

</td></tr>

omg. this is the new "ken lee". ;p

What a matchup! spurs did very well to carve out a few chances and hold out against man utd with a centreback pairing of corluka and dawson. zokora was immense in the rightback role and i though assou-ekoto played his best game at leftback this season. Its a pity we didn't manage to give lennon more chances to run at rafael as he was walking a tight-rope after his first yellow card. modric found plenty of chance on the ball but the final pass or shot was just slightly lacking.

still a great game to watch! :)

"Adams was a Gunner
He'll never be a scummer
Redknapp did a runner
We're the Adams family.
Do-do-do-do (clap clap)..."
Pompey fans, to the tune of the Addams Family. (Jim, England).

to the tune of "oh mandy"... ;p
"Oooh Nani, oooh Nani, you couldn't beat my granny, oooh Nani."
Celtic fans against Man Utd in the Champions League. (Mark, Scotland).

more available here! its great fun. :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/7719618.stm

no frisbee again today... sigh.

watched plenty of tv this weekend though! plus avenue Q on saturday night, dinner at al dente and lots of fun at pam's on friday night! wheeeee!

too bad its over and we go back to work tomorrow... HAIYAH!

check it out here:

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/10/toc-exclusive-agnes-lin-a-victim-of-the-st/

ST misrepresentation? writing the story first then getting quotes to fit? you be the judge... :)

its a good week to be a spurs fan - first the bolton win, the 4-4 draw at the emirates, then beating liverpool at white hart lane!

in the last few games we've seen the best of luka modric and corluka played a blinder at leftback vs. liverpool. i guess assou-ekoto can make his way back to france from now on! hopefully bale gets better with redknapp's coaching too. :)

wheee!

I was looking for the tabs/chords to this new song i'd heard on "Counting on God", the latest album from New Life Church, Colorado Springs and realised that no one on the internet had written them down!

So i spent the last 20 minutes doing it:

Link to the song writer's Myspace; has a sample of the song as well: Mitchel Schiff's Myspace page

- a picture of the blokes at the wedding - caleb (pianist & wedding singer :p - also a singing coach), jon (in the specs, seated, worship leader), pastor mark (solemnizer) and me. :)

I was supposed to be emcee together with Su Linn, but no thanks to the sore throat that i've had since last tuesday, i could hardly speak on saturday. thank God we didn't have to do much shouting during the "tekan" session when we went to pick up selina. photos of the church wedding are found in the picasa album (link below). :)

From Zihan & Selina's Wedding

last night was the wedding dinner itself and Su Linn insisted on dragging my sorry ass upstage to do the emceeing with her - sometimes i'm just amazed at how good/natural/kick-ass she is as an emcee - no wonder she gets paid enough to buy me an xbox360 for a show! :p

anyhow, no more rambling 'cos i really really need to pee... heh!

this made me laugh. :)