To all my friends

Have you ever wondered why you are friends with your friends? Or how you became fast friends? It got me thinking during MT's wedding last Wed. Not that i was so bored that got me wondering. In fact, MT's wedding was one of the most special i've been to. i like the duet sang by the couple and the montage delicated to their parents and of course, the tearing bride and groom during the solemnisation. The people at my table were asking how did we get acquainted. And so we started tracing who got to know who from whom, etc. i knew MT through YZ but when or under what circumstance we can't recollect. It might be when i visited YZ's room (i think i did) cos MT and YZ were hallmates or it might be after graduation when we started going to the gym. The verdict was, both YZ and i could not remember. We just know that it is through her.

Next, we (YZ, XX and i) started asking how did we know each other. One thing for sure, it was during Year 2 at CSE. Cos we were from different classes in the common 1st year. XX had got to know YZ during Year 1 cos YZ's room mate was in her class. So how did i got to know them? i vaguely remembered being allocated classes for Year 2 first semester. i did not have a common class with most people. Most of my tutorials are with random people but i remembered being in the same class as another guy which was why we pretty much hanged around for most of the semester. YZ said we happened to sit next to each other in lecture one day and so we started talking. She had thought me and that guy were an item. i remembered she told me that. And the reason why she remembered me was because she insisted that i had asked her if she was attached after knowing her for a few days. WHAT!? i don't remember that at all! And i don't think it is in me to ask someone i just know that. But she strongly believed i probably did. Come to think of it, if at that time if she had asked if that guy and i were together, i might had returned the question back to her... oh whatever....

Well, the issue is, what i really want to say is, it is fascinating how relationships branch and grow. And how they can wither and die too. i've lost almost all regular contact with my primary, secondary and probably even JC friends and ex-colleagues. Strictly speaking, i have their contact numbers so it isn't really lost contact. But we don't hang out like during that particular stage in life when we were really close. People come and go out of our lives so fast, it is hard to keep up. It's kinda sad whenever i think of the "lost" friendships. People change and in new stages of life, we make new friends and some friends drift apart naturally when they have different priorities in life, especially when they settle down. But the reality is, no matter how much we drift apart, i always cherish the times we had together and the gatherings that we have now even though they might not be frequent. i love you all, my dear friends.

The Marmalade Pantry

This is my first and might be my last visit to this restaurant at Ion Orchard.

Ate the Crabmeat Linguini - taste ok.
Shared the Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding (taste and look very much like fa gao but taste not bad), Pumpkin Creme Brulee (too sweet) and the Caramelised Pear & Salted Caramel Bread Pudding (this is nicest of all if you don't eat the pear which has a weird bleach smell)

Prices are not cheap considering it is at the atas level 3 at Ion. But the reason for my (and friends included) non-patronising is their seemingly policy of "no smiling". All the staff looks as if the whole world owes them money. Service is non-existence. Even though there are more than enough waitresses, it is very hard to get their attention. Glasses are refilled after 3 requests. Menus are very expensive here too. You only get 1 set per table. We were thinking perhaps it is just our table. But sadly, the only consolation is that they treat everyone equally. Bad, that is.

3 Pet Peeves!

There are some habits that i really can't stand. If you happen to be guilty of these habits and you've heard it from me, it simply means that i care about you enough to tell you that. (especially the top 1 - i've only told this to one person. :p). Or i'm really offended by it that i simply have to correct you! Some might be doing this unconsciously but i do think that a conscious effort can be made to undo them.

1. Chewing food with mouth open. i don't need to see that you are chewing your food properly before swallowing it. Spare me from the noise too. It's not just plain rude but it's real UGLY!

2. Girls in skirts sitting on the train with legs wide open. This is just senseless! Don't their teachers ever tell them how a girl should sit?!?!

3. Men and women shaking their legs off. What's their problem?? i really don't get it.

TGI Friday's

They're back! i saw a girl in the uniform yesterday. But they changed the uniform though... It's not the same as last time. As i had mentioned in an earlier post, i was a SPG (smiling people greeter) at Friday's when they were at the LOVE there during one of my school vacation. People old enough should know where i'm talking about. :p

Anyway, thinking back, i didn't eat much of their food then. Cos they did not have staff meals. i only remembered the manager was nice enough to treat us once. That was the first time i ate the baby back ribs and drank the oreo speedwagon. Yummy! But that period of time was most memorable cos i was practically sucking fisherman's friend everyday (i'm not a fan btw) cos i had terrible sore throat from talking the whole day. You see, my job as a SPG was to stand at the door and bring guests to their tables. i had to plan the seating arrangement to avoid over-crowding a particular waiter or waitress, else they will start screaming at me cos either they are overworked or under worked which means less tips.

That period of time was also an eye-opener to me. Cos all along i had been leading a very sheltered life (i still am!). Got to know some interesting people and gays and les. They were nice and fun people really, though we didn't keep in touch.

And that was also when i lost my phobia of balloons. My secret fav pastime then was bursting balloons. :p

Talking about uniforms. SPGs had no uniforms. So that was the time that i started to add skirts to my wardrobe. i still have some of the dresses i bought during that period. Classic! :p

Alvin & The Chipmunks

So cute! i like it. :)

Deste

Passed by this confectionery shop at the Mandarin Gallery after the ramen dinner and got drawn to the cakes in the showcase. Looks yummy so we got the Black Forest (below, foreground) and Truffle Cheesecake (below, background) to share.


The black forest is a must-try! Lots of rum/brandy/whatever alcohol. Love the brandied cherries in it. Love the presentation of the cake. We love it so much so that we walked back immediately after eating it at Cineleisure foodcourt to grab the cakes again. Alas, the black forest slices were all sold-out.

They were really nice to re-open the shop cos the shutters were half drawn when we returned. i bought home the Profiteroles and the Champagne & Raspberry delight instead. The Black forest is still undoubtly the nicest! Go after 8.30pm. Cakes are at 40% off! :)

Ippudo

Waited more than 30mins for our table. Tried the shiromaru ramen. Kinda cute. The shiro ramen comes in a shiroi bowl. Aka ramen comes in akai bowl. i wonder what goes into the kuroi bowl... Anyway, the noodles is average but the soup is not bad. Can taste the tonkotsu in it.

Appetisers we shared.

Pork Bun - taste like normal kung bak pao

Lotus root chips - over-fried

Gyoza - these are really mini

Chef's special - some pork and leek breaded and fried. Taste not bad with the special sauce

Love the desserts! Tried the sake sorbet (it's really frozen sake!) and green tea brulee. Yummy!

This is really really tiny! But packs a punch!

Avatar

The 3D visuals is awesome and i like the the glow in the dark forest especially. But the 3D effects was kinda disappointing cos i was waiting for something to happen. You know, like in Disneyland, where the cat would jump out of the screen and the mice run pass your legs kind of effect. So was greatly letdown when there isn't. Overall, can-watch movie since everyone seems to be watching it still. Full-house even after 2-3 weeks of screening. But the plot is quite ordinary.

Marley & Me

Cried lots. Sure to have puffy eyes in the morning. :p

New York New York

Stranded at JP due to the rain. Since we couldn't walk back with all the barang especially the newly bought OTO e-lux massage cushion, we settled dinner here. Papa ate the Devil's Fiery fish and chips, Mummy got some chicken with cheese thing and i ate the BBQ pork ribs. Also got breaded mushrooms to share. i like the breaded mushrooms. Nice and juicy but Papa said it was oily.

Anyway, the portions are huge! Almost couldn't finish. After dinner, we shared one stick of candy floss. It's so fun to eat candy floss. From the expressions on their faces, i think mummy and papa like it alot too. :)

Somehow i think the pork ribs are the nicest at T.G.I.Friday's from years ago when it was at Park Mall. Held special memories for me as i was a SPG (which stands for smiling people greeter) there during Uni Year 1 vacation with my classmate. i read that they are coming back!