Kawaii Kittens

My 'grandsons' are 19 days old. Must plan the red eggs and cupcakes for their 'Man Yue' celebrations. Don't worry, I don't use my mom's old weighing scale, which I weigh them in to measure the ingredients. It was a surprise to find that Wayan, who looks smaller is only 5gm lighter than the fat boy. Wayan is now 16cm while the fat boy is 18cm and weighs in at 18cm. He just has a big and fluffy posterior. I have to be careful since I have some of my students reading my blog.This is what happens when you forget and put your blog URL as your MSN nick.



The cute ratio has officially started. They are soft, fluffy and responsive now that the eyes are open. Made is starting to get himself into trouble; got himself stuck under my CPU trolley. Aiyoh. Wayan will be the SNAK (sensitive,new age kitten); he sat next to me when I was bawling my eyes out last night over my frustrations and stuff. Either ways, them little kitty-kats are really cute.

Finally, a note to my students, past and present, if you happen to be reading my blog.

Please DO NOT write or spell like I do in my blog, EVER, in your English or Combined Humanities essays.

Frustrated

I am having a particularly bad day. My back has been bothering since yesterday and the stomach has been bugging me for 3 weeks. My surgeon says no biggy but if it isn't any biggy,why do I feel so icky and extremely bloated and obese?

First, I had to deal with a couple of difficult customers today. Though they were not rude, they did not make my job any easier at all. Please don't give me the excuse that I chose retail for this reincarnation of my sorry existence. It doesn't give anyone else any excuse to be rude to anyone, even if the customer is king. Neither does it give any sales person an excuse to treat a customer poorly. It's a vicious cycle I tell you!

Next, I feel so harassed by the obligations piled onto me by a certain few family members of sorts, whose names or designation in my family I shall not divulge. In a bit, I feel I have been taken for granted, my feelings ignored and really been treated like *&$#@! Even though I am a fairly independent person who could probably move to some remote island and be a hermit (which I have done), it doesn't mean I aM a doormat. Neither does it mean that you raise your voice at me and turn the tables around and make me feel REAL bad. When it wasn't my fault to begin with.

So I shall just turn my cell phone off for the next couple of days and go into hiding. Or at least to these people, until they get it through their thick craniums that I am not particularly pleased by how I am being taken for granted. GGGGGGGGRRRRR!!!!

Pasir Panjang Heritage Trail - 21 July

Though it's been a year since I left my old job in heritage, I do miss most elements of my past life. I must say one of the best rewards from that job were getting to know the gang at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, NUS, as well as the many colleagues at my old establishment; hence the earlier post before this one.

After 2 missed attempts as a Pasir Panjang Heritage Guide in Feb and May, I FINALLY got my chance to guide this morning. Had to miss Feb walk coz someone had that complication from the operation and May, I had that nasty flu. I have to admit, I had the shakes last night as I could not keep awake after a long day at school and SAM and dozed off while revising my notes. In excitement, I got up at 5am and dozed off, waking up at 7:10AM (horror, horror...sure kena scolding by Otterman later for my tardiness. No breakfast, a quick shower and off to RMBR, NUS. A chirpy Oi Yee greeted me and jump started my batteries.I had to skip Spinelli's, my usual stop before I head to RMBR and guide the walk on an empty tummy. Met Ruo Yu, RMBR's interns and 2 student volunteers from NUS High. The group was way smaller this year - less than 20 participants and as usual started a little off 8am to wait for the lost sheep.

After the session of RMBR's Public Gallery, the lucky participants were treated to freshly brewed Spinelli's coffee. And then we set off, cutting through the back of the Science and Medical faculties to head up the Ridge. This was a steep climb and I must admit I was huffing a little at the top, though I had to act gung-ho and garang to encourage the participants. A few more of such climbs and I can get back to my lithe self in no time. Glad to have Oi Yee and Wendy as the main nature guides as Oi Yee especially is a treasure trove of information for a non-sciencesy person like me.

It was a nice day, not too hot or humid. It was also my first time doing the walk from Science Park. Past 2 years, I picked the participants up from Harbourfront and spent the trails running around as photographer, logistics, runner or what the army calls lobo. But almost as usual, Wendy and I heard the distant rumble of thunder at the start of the pond and we prompted Oi Yee to hasten the pace. Of course, we did not speed things up too much that participants missed out anything. Luckily we did, coz once we got to the top of the hill, the rain hit. At first it was gentle drizzles and then it poured. Big time. We sought shelter at our usual contingency point, the toilets on the lower lookout point. That's where we carried on our commentaries. Think we picked up some curious members of the public who had just come out of the gents too! Thank goodness, the wind blew the clouds southwards towards the Western Anchorage so we didn't have to wait too long.

The participants were pleasant and the beauty of smaller groups is that we got to interact with them. Of course, teacher that I am, I couldn't resist ticking off the names on the list Eileen had emailed us. I find that helps me get to know the names of the participants; it always works well if we know their names. That personal touch is so important when we work in such settings. Kiah Shen, who was extremely dry I might add, had caught up with us by the time we hit the Tembusu Grove. We made it to Canopy Walk and then ushered them quickly to Reflections at Bukit Chandu. It was threatening to rain again.

Of course, it was like deja vu to stand on the porch and greet everyone. This time it got cut short as Salim announced that he had walk-in visitors waiting for the Sounds of Battle to start. Could not say our good byes as we had planned then so we hung around for the 15 minutes that it took for Sounds to be over. Then Wendy and I went up to tell the folks bye and how to get out of RBC. We left after that for a well-deserved meal at Holland Drive.

So how did it go? Well, I miss having to take photos but at least I have broken the jinx of not being able to guide the PP Heritage Trail. Like any other skill I've picked up along the way, guiding also takes practice and I must not lay off it for too long.

Don't know if I should 'advertise' it but if you haven't had the chance to check out Pasir Panjang the way I have in the past 3 years, do join my kakis for next Saturday's trail. I won't be guiding; I am emcee at 2 back-to-back culture 101 talks but you'll be in good hands with my kawans. Click on Otterman speaks link on this blog for more info.

Singapore Heritage Festival - Culture 101 Talks

I am barely awake...I have had a long week and over active small intestines. So while I take a break from thinking up wild marketing schemes for the PURE EARTH label and minding the menswear outlet (sorry Rashmi if you happen to be reading this!), I thought I may as well blog about what I'm up to. Anyway, if I don't I may fall asleep by the time I get home AND forget what I want to say. Heheh.

Draks has taken his aunt and 2 cute cousins from the USA for ramen at Miharu at the Gallery Hotel. I have to miss this treat as I am running the shop today and the whole of tomorrow. Miharu...I could just wax lyrical over the noodles there. Anyway, I better not harp about it coz I hear my tummy rumbling.

I spent yesterday evening being emcee and moderator for the Culture 101 talks on Art Appreciation at the Singapore Art Museum. Why do I always end up being emcee? It's the first of the few sessions that I have asked to help out at. These talks are held as part of the National Heritage Board's annual Singapore Heritage Festival. My old friends at NHB's Public Education Division had asked for help and I could not refuse them. For more details, check out http://heritagefest.org.sg/2007/official/index.php.

Yesterday's talk was by Low Sze Wee, Assistant Director (Collections) and he gave an introduction to Southeast Asian Art. I did fine and visual art modules during my freshmen year at UWA and as a history major, can appreciate even more what he lectured about last night. I almost thought of architecture as a major back then. Would have made more dough than in my impoverished life now if I had. The crowd was pretty good, almost a hundred people. Some had followed their friends and significant other but the majority had come due to their interest in arts and heritage. A promising sign I must say. I may have left a certain establishment but it doesn't mean I have given up in heritage promotion. Dad instilled that passion in me. Of course, there were some familiar faces on the crowd, people I often see at other heritage events. Oh and I even got a compliment on the latest PURE EARTH dress that came in our last shipment from India. Hope the persons comes in to peruse our wears! (pardon the pun!)

There's a whole lot more of the festival so I do hope everyone will pop by the website and find something to do. You know, we whine all the time and say that Singapore is helluva boring place to live in. But there's actually heaps going on ALL THE TIME...there's many things I am keen on but can't do because it clashes with work or no one wants to go with me. Let's see Sheila Majid concert, Jacky Cheung and Grasshoppers concert, ballroom dancing, batik class......

Will post some links in a later post.

More tales from the kitts

Came home to a major feud between MJ and Halia. Poor MJ got fixed this morning and though the vet says he recovered from the surgery this morning very quickly and well, he came home to a really rude shock. Halia attacked him BIG TIME and has been hissing at him. Wonder if its coz she thinks there's a new female cat who is threatening to take her babies away? He's probably lost his masculine scent after the operation. Poor things but we had to do the responsible thing before we end up being a cattery.'

Anyway, the kitts have opened their eyes more and we have updated my flickr with the pix. Non-cat lovers, you'll have to put up with the kitty updates for a while longer.

With eyes wide open -sort of

As promised...a picture of Woodchuck Wayan! Eyes slowly opening. He can follow our finger movements. Made, the lazy bones has only one eye looking like it's ready to open. Check my Flickr for more Wayan pix.

Kitten Update

The kittens are sure lazy. They have taken more than the week to open their eyes. Draks has to hear me whine about how their eyes haven't opened yet. This morning I woke up and found that Wayan (The older fella) has opened his eyes a little (finally). I am on the road and the photograph is in the other laptop so I'll post the photos later when I get home. If I haven't concussed yet.

Made is a lazy boy - think I should just change his name to lazy boy. He cries A LOT, and for some strange reason, his mouth is really dirty and he isnt't white. It's interesting to see Halia, my baby playing mom to to the 2 little things. She is really very protective over them. Sometimes she launches into a tirade of 'meows', 'rrrrr-rrrrrs' and 'mek mek mek' to her 2 boys. The father is really clueless, spending his days sunning his white belly on either of my balconies. I sure am excited to see what they look like. A few people have asked me to give them up but since they are going to be Halia's only batch of kittens,I think it would be cruel to separate them. Of course, once she stops nursing, they are all going to the vets. I shan't elaborate further but you catch my drift. Check this page tomorrow for kitten photo updates.

Pieces of me

It's been a hectic time since the end of May. Even more hectic since term started. Just what have I been up too? Other than having 2 extra mouths to feed? I am still a bum; I have cut down my hours at school to 3x a week. It means I just have to teach a class of 3NA combined humanities (History & Social Studies) and a class of 1E history. But the marking for English does not go away, I still help 3 of the English teachers mark the assignments of 10 students. I am still clearing back log. And they ask me why I haven't gone back full time to the teaching service.

I also have a 2nd life... helping my friend Rashmi with marketing and promotions at her 3 boutiques, Pure Earth. I blogged about Pure Earth sometime ago. During the June school vacations, I was there almost daily but with school this term, I spend Mondays and Thursdays there, as well as the weekends. I also double up as a 'salesgirl', albeit as pointed out by some of my colleagues at school, an over qualified one.

As for lacks of posts and pictures, well, my 'partner-in-crime' has gone on a much needed vacation and has left me overseeing her fort. I am extremely tired from being in the store all of last weekend, 11am to 8pm. Anyways, I do hope everyone drops by to check what we have at the stores. Back to ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs....

Camp Woodchuck

What is Camp Woodchuck? It's the makeshift camp created for Halia and her boys. They are a week old and I haven't a chance to take photos coz she won't let me.We had to tilt the carrier case they were sleeping in and use my curtains to create 'Camp Woodchuck'. Don't ask me why I named it Woodchuck, must be the funny noises Halia is making, that reminds me of Woodstock in the Peanuts animated cartoons.

So how are the boys? Made is noticeably FATTER...a lot fatter. He's also a BIG cry baby, crying at every chance he gets when Halia moves away. Wayan, though smaller really is the big brother. He's a little more steady. I promise I will post more pictures when I get time to take it. My schedule has been punishing...3 days at school, 2 days and weekends at the boutiques. Updates later!

New Makan Places

WARNING - LOOOOOOOONG POST AHEAD

Ok, I am taking a break from kitten talk. Discovered some new makan places around the HV/Bukit Timah neighbourhood. No photos yet coz I still haven't plugged up the courage to take photos as we try the new places.

1) Cold Rock at Holland Village

I will put in a separate post on why I am frequently at Holland Village nowadays. Well I always was but I definitely spend at least 1 day a week there now. Long story.Anyways, last Saturday, I tried Cold Rock ice cream. It's at Lorong Mambong, a few shops before NYDC and Cha Cha Cha and a few shops after Hazara (or is it Kinara?). It's a concept brought in from Brisbane and apparently is also popular in the States. How did I know about the new ice cream parlour? Er,shemelessly overheard some one talk about it; well who asked the guy to talk so loudly?

Basically, you pick a flavour of ice cream, sorbet or yoghurt (which *ah-hem* calorie conscious me chose)and choose mix-ins like Malteesers, fruit, Twix, Oreos, nuts and all. The counter folk (for lack of a better word) then take the scoop of whatever, throw it on a slab of marble (hence the rock)that is refrigerated I think and mix in the toppings you chose. I had a yummy Twix and raspberry mix; pity they don't have mint. Only realised they had my favourite Cheey Ripe AFTER I got my yoghurt. Verdict? Yummy though the regular size was a tad pricey for $7 ($6 for base, $1 for each mix-in; though they are throwing in a free mix-in as part of opening specials). For those of you who remember the 'WHIRL-A-WHIP' at the old Yaohan Orchard and Thomson, this is pretty similar.

Read from ieatishootipost about a similar joint over on the East side called Ice Cream Chefs that has a similar concept. Coincidence? Will try it when I venture Eastside.

2) Think Tofu

I have tried this eatery at Bukit Timah Shopping Centre (BTSC) twice. Stumbled on it on a day when I was craving for udon. We had been to lazy to venture downtown. I had
seen the signboards for the place when I pop by the OCBC at BTSC. Honesty, BTSC has seen better days and has always been a bit old and slightly seedy. Was surprised to find Think Tofu, a new cafe above it and a happening Asian furniture shop called Asia Box there. Of course, the cafe is tofu themed but fret not, it isn't a vegetarian place.

Its signature are its hotpots and what we tried on two trips - mushroom and tofu soup and fish maw and seaweed soup were yummy. We really scrapped the bottom of the pot. The meat mains - beef, chicken and pork can be done with a Western Worcester, Sweet&Sour, Black Pepper and Mango (I think)sauce. Being the Anglophile that I am (if you know me well, you know I drink Lea & Perrins, A1 and HP sauce), I had to have the beef and pork with the worcestershire sauce. It tasted like a combination of L&P and A1 sauces. Came with a side of fries with a yummy spicy salt that reminded me of chicken salt which you get at Oz snack bars.

Had the house special but I can't remember the name. It was mashed up tofu with some other bits, fried and then braised in a sauce. Also had the yummy prawns and steamed tofu.I topped it off with the honey lemongrass tea and free PUB gin (available FOC and self serve). Total bill on both occasions was about $24 for two,inclusive of drinks. Found out from the really nice cashier that the restaurant is part of the Yunnan Garden group.

At $5.50 for most dishes, TT does not break the bank and will sure give Prince Taiwan Porridge (my other favourite place for home style Chinese comfort food) a run for its money. It also does not give me that MSG stiff neck I am prone to. Be warned, like Prince, it does not accept NETS or credit cards. No worries though, you have OCBC,POSB & UOB atms spread across the 3 buildings on the block. It's also a nice respite from the busy Cheong Chin Nam Road stretch, which gets pretty crowded during peak makan times.

3) Tah Tan's Table Wine Dine

This 3 month old eatery is located at Royallville, along Bukit Timah Road and Annamalai Avenue. It's tucked in between Ritz Apple Strudel and Salvatore Ferragamo, I mean Pasta Fresca da Salvatore. I had given Drakon a shock when I said Ferragamo. Heheh.

Again, I am currently on a Japanese food craze and have covered quite a few ramen joints in the past month (saving for another post). Too cheapo to pay ERP to go to town. Hanabi's buffet would have been excessive and after the 'barf along Orchard Road' stunt post-Straits Kitchen lunch, I had enough of buffets.

Tah Tan (also TT abbreviated) was quiet and we were the only customers. We were a bit 'iffy' about the place but had apprehensions allayed when Yuko-san (I think that's what the manager called her) walked out of the kitchen and told us about the specials which were not on the regular menu. Drakon's eyes widened (after a night of staying up as midwife) when he saw the ika daikon on the menu and heard that the catch of the day was a saba shio or grilled horse mackerel. I was sad there was no soba or ramen but they did have a miso udon on the daily special. Also had homemade pickles for starters, along with a potato gratin (yum yum)and a grilled iringi mushroom, which was only $3 and EXCELLENT!

Verdict - we paid $57 (including my OJ and a shared cheesecake) BUT will definitely be there for the great food. It's not your traditional Japanese that you get at Waraku but it is a little bit fusion. Ooh and the homemade cheesecake is heavenly, not excessively sweet or rich and topped with homemade rum-ed raisins, which Drakon finished. He was also waxing lyrical and relishing every single bit of the saba. It did smell a little fishy initially to me but after I dug in, I had to agree with him. TT is going to be another hot favourite for us and proof that the Westside is not the food desert Easterners claim it to be.

Photos will follow once I pluck up courage to take pix at makan joints!

Day 2 (or is it Day 3) with Wayan and Made

Hi Ya! I should be on my way to school but my tummy and back is giving me problems again! Must be gastric and IBS setting in from school stress. MUAH-HAHAHAH!I have been up since 3am. Wonder if it's the caffe macchiato I had at Gone Fishing last night.Should try an experiment - a week without after-dinner coffee and see if I sleep through the night. This coming from a person who has been claiming that coffee does not have the 'keep me awake' effect.BUT moi digressing...

It could also be the new kittens causing this insomnia. They survived a day without human supervision. Halia is becoming quite a good mommy. She has started to venture out of her basket and started her usual 'te pau' (manja, cutesy) behaviour, when I get home from work. She even slept in her 2nd favourite spot, under my bad. I'll know she's back to normal when she sleeps on my head again. Drakon says she may just take the boys and all 3 may sleep on my head! Good grief...1 was bad enough but 3 of them? Permanent panda eye for me.

Haven't measured Wayan yet but measured Made, who already is the bigger one right from birth. He's a little easier to handle;big bro is a bit of a whiner. Makes noise at the slightest thing. Wayan has grown a centimetre to 12.5cm. Thank god I bought a new digital kitchen scale; Drakon used my old manual one to weigh them boys. Don't think anyone will want to eat what I bake after they read this.

Halia must be tired; the boys are relentless. They need to be nursed constantly. She moves away to be with me or on her own for just a minute and they start wailing. Poor thing then jumps in to basket and takes care of them. I am just scared that she accidentally sits on them.Especially Made as he has a strange habit of getting sandwiched between her tail and hind legs. Alamak!

They look so fragile that I hope they grow up a little bit more so that they are stronger. But remembering how fast Sonic, Muffy and Lia-Lia grew, I don't want them to grow up too fast! Heheh. ZZZZ time before I drag myself down to the GPs for painkillers!


Wayan-g



Madster

And if you are wondering who the clueless daddy is...here he is doing what he does best!

And so I can't sleep again as usual

I know Otterman asked me to go sleep but I have my 3am insomnia again. Was feeling cold but my blanket is in the wash after yesterday's drama and my quilt's at the dry cleaners. As I type this, one of the lil tykes is making a coo-ing noise.

Though they are officially a day old and have a clean bill of health, still praying for the best for them. With newborns, I guess we just gotta be careful. The blur daddy is sleeping on my foot as he usually does every night, still clueless about everything. MJ gets chased away by Halia every time she sees him.

Though the tykes are a day old,I can see signs of sibling rivalry (READ: Trouble for me when they grow up) Even when they are nursing they just have to be at the exact same spot. Wayan is smaller and the noise maker. Made is 'DUH' like dad. Either ways, they spend 90% of their time nursing. Halia is a lil bored but she is an attentive lil mommy, always running back when she sees us hunched over the boys.

By the way, Halia is awake and stuffing her face. She is a brave lil gal and was no trouble during the delivery at all. Vet says she's really young to be a mom;er oops. We are trying to get her to eat so for a special treat as she's nursing, we got her canned IAMs kitten food. MJ went ballistics and tried to eat her food. I am just worried when I am at work. Yesterday I was in most of the time, except when I was getting their new bed and went out for dinner. Drakon assures me Halia will take good care of them. I hope so. K... I need my ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs

Kitty Tales

The kitties have come back from Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre. But not after Drako and I ended up with major scratches and nicks from the new mommy. The vet has given all 3 a clean bill of health (but I am not sure sure about the new daddy's mental state of health though). I was stuck in class with 15 year olds who sure weren't as adorable. Of course, I was riled in the Staff Room about how I need to undergo sexuality education for not taking my wayward cats in hand.

Drakon reports that there were major COOs from the staff and patient/owners at the vet. We have just weighed the tykes and have settled them in a new basket/carrier box in a corner of my room. She had been staking the corner for weeks and now I know why! Cat pre-natal planning..hehe. Wayan weighs in at 60g and 10.5cm while his younger but not smaller bro Made weighs in at 80g and 11 cm. Ah Kong and Ah Ma have been getting 'congratulatory' smses as well as heaps of guffaws from well? meaning friends and relatives. So don't forget the ang pows.

In all the confusion, just realised that they are Independence Day kittens. Maybe I should name them as such

"I Wayan Providence George Sitting Bull Washington" and "I Made (pronounced as 'ma-day' McKinley Fosters Dulles Cherokee".... Hehehehe. Lack of sleep is getting to me. Updates later.

Parental Guidance Advised!

The first photos of the two lil kittens are on my Fliker account. In case younger audiences may get grossed out by the pix, I've not put them here. Mommy seems to be doing fine...will leave school early and take her and the boys to the vet. The blur daddy is hiding in his comfort basket, in denial....

For the time being...for lack of inspiration, I have named them WAYAN and MADE, traditional Balinese way of naming the kids based on position. Updates later...got to go to school....

I am a grandmother!

It's 1:45am Singapore time...it's not my usual insomnia keeping me up. My baby Halia, the munchkin kitten has just delivered 2 kittens. YEAP...my bed has become a delivery zone...I have to change the sheets...enough said...

Will update with pix of the lil ones....wondering if anymore coming...the web pages we consulted say labour MAY carry on for 24 hours....it's going to be a loooooooong morning...when my turn ever comes...it's a C-Section for me....

Halia's a brave little gal...think she'll be more of a friend than a mommy! HAHAHAHA...