Lunch with Jan

Jan took half a day leave to have a leisure lunch with me. We often have such escapades for the past many years. We went to Traders Hotel, Cafebiz for lunch.

We reached there about 12:30pm. We were left with 2 hours to eat. Therefore, it was quite rush ... did not take a lot of photos.





Christmas decorations in front of Tanglin Mall. Christmas tree made from recycled CDs.


More traditional and heart-warming Christmas decorations ...


A rare picture taken together with Jan.

We browsed around Orchard Road and Tangs. I was quite disappointed with the decorations this year. There is not much decorations except hanging lights that line the roads. I missed those Christmas decorations when we were much younger.

Different sections of the road have different coloured lightings. I must say they looked beautiful at night.


Outside Tangs ... colourful decorations.


Just these few photos taken in a rush with my hands full !

Lunch with Tiang

Tiang and myself met at Marina Hans.


Tiang ordered Dory fish which was pretty nice.


I ordered peppered chicken chop which was not too bad. Still prefer Tiang's dory fish.


Our food at a glance. Hee, Tiang, no doubt it was quite a short time but good session to meet up. Thank you for putting my camera gear in your office so that I could shop without any burdens !

I lunged my camera and tripod thinking that I will proceed to Orchard Road to take some night scene. Unfortunately, that did not happened. Firstly, I was too tired walking around the Marina Square and Suntec for hours. Secondly, it started to drizzle which might as well.

I met Jan in Marina Square soon after Tiang went back to her office! She called me at around 5pm to see if I was still within Marina area. We met up to have a cup of tea before we departed.

Brunch with BC (11.11.10)

BC and myself have an early lunch. Well, it was considered as a brunch to me as I have not taken my breakfast. IN fact, Secret Recipe was not ready for business at 10:30am.

Therefore, we were the first customers yesterday !

The both of us loved to bake and often share recipes. I am glad that BC got a proper oven as a Birthday from Dean this year ! Now, she can continue her passion for baking to a higher heights !

We talked throughout and we were pretty emotional when we talked of certain things that were close to our hearts. We have a lot to chat but time was too short when topics kept flowing in. In fact, we met for almost close to 2 hours before BC rushed back to work. A lady to lady talk indeed ...


We asked the waitress to take a photo for us before we ate the food served.


CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
Boneless chicken chop stuffed with chicken ham and cheese. Served with french fries and fresh garden salad : BC's food order


IRISH LAMB STEW (Award Winning)
Tender lamb shank slow cooked with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs. Serves with baked mashed potatoes : My food order


GARDEN SALAD : We shared the Garden salad & the cake ! To finish the meal with tea and coffee.


We have a heart-warming sharing session @ Plaza Singapura. After BC left, I browsed around Plaza Singapura before heading to mum's house.

Lunch with Tiong Xiang & dinner with Esther (10.11.2010)

Another great day with my friends.


I met LL, m Tong Xiang at Uncle Sam's Claypot @ Robinson Road. (Tong Xiang because her surname is also "Tai". It is very rare that I can find someone with the same surname as me ! We might be relatives 500 years ago !)On the way there, my cousin Sharon spotted me ! Chatted like only 1 minute as she was with her colleagues who were rushing to view an equipment. It turned out that both LL and her are working in the same office tower. What a coincident ! This LL is becoming so chic wearing her office clothing. Looks feminine !


We chatted for about an hour ... another great time spent. Very satisfying! If only LL's lunch time is 2 hours ! But cannot complain lah, quality time spent is more important.


These were the food we ordered. Very full from eating them ! Burp ! (But we won't recommended the Nong Hiang)






















I needed to use the washroom, so after buying fruits, we proceeded to her 24th floor office tower.

Nice office ! This is the entrance area before you reached the cubicles ... looks very inviting and artistic. I like the chairs. Wishing my current office looks this way ! U know, after visiting my friends who worked in CBD area, I have some urge to work in these areas as well. Somehow, you feel that you are really working .. like an executive !


The metal spiral stair case to another company under the same boss.


The white-washed pantry with a view of the skyscrapers ! I might skive here if I work there ! My boss will probably find me retreating to the pantry room very often !


That's LL's office. Thanks to her friendly colleague for taking this photo of us. LL, thanks for letting me use your office private washroom ! And sending me all the way down to the building lobby to take my train !


After departing LL's office, I took a train to Eunos to meet Esther. Her flat is just a 3 minute walk from the MRT station. How convenient !


This is Eunos Courts. This is a rather special cluster of flats. The flats consists of 4 different units. They are studio, 3 bedroom, 4 bedroom & 5 bedroom flat types. Personally, I think this is a well-mixed of old and young people. It promotes the well-being of old people to mix with normal family. The younger family might also look out for these single old folks in case they needed help.


This cluster of studio units is managed by Tembusu which is a Charity Organisation.


My colleague is a single and in her 60s. She is under this HDB scheme whereby she sold back her flat to HDB and she is able to stay in this flat for 30 years. These studio is fully furnished with doors, window grills, kitchen unit, double cold/hot pipings, cupboards etc like private condos. The additional special features include 3 pulley that the old folks can pull if they ran into any trouble at home. The Tembusu volunteers or workers will come to their rescue (see the yellow long pulley on the wall)


The ready-made kitchen ...


Esther's bedroom. Pretty spacious ...


Her living room ...


This board reminded neighbors or passer-by to call Tembusu if any old folks needed assistance.


There are 3 lifts in each block. This particular lift is unique in a way because it can accommodate a bed ! I think there's no need to explain why this is so ...


So much for introducing Esther's cosy home ....
I was glad that I was able to meet up with her. I always wanted to visit her home as it sounded quite interesting to me. I have learnt a lot of where she stays and the newer housing efforts of bringing the old and young together. I was telling Esther that this type of housing might increase in demand in years to come as there are more singles or couples without kids. These studio flats give old people freedom but at the same time a sense of security with all the security features in the flats and an organisation to look after their welfare.



These were our delicious dinner after beancurd and drinks ! Esther told me that she seldom talk and she was getting a sorethroat because she talked so much today ! Lol ..

My calender

My November calender activities ... my indulgence just for this once. (highlighted in yellow are my day off at my own expenses)

Two greedy girls

As what my ex-colleague quoted "Is there a reason to meet up to eat" ? Absolutely NOT ! There is no need for any reason to have a good lunch with a friend. Just relax and enjoy and do some catching up.

Anyway, this lunch took place like months ago and the photos were stored in Iphone. I would normally blog if I have the pictures at the same time. So this blog was kinda late by the time I download the photos from my phone.

This is Shokudo Japanese Coffee House at Bugis.
(http://shokudoconcepts.com.sg/cofeehouse/home.html)

The food portion was huge but pretty nice ! You won't find traditional Japanese food here. It is more like a modern & revolutionary version of international food affair. Below were some of the food we have ordered. You'll be stuffed like a piggie if you ordered these food like us !

Loving all the selections we have made that day. The only set-back was that we couldn't move because we have been too greedy. Or should I said that we innocently ordered too much food ? (It was our first time there and we did not know how big the portions were) Oh, the cake is actually a "Dou Fu cheesecake" ... we thought it was quite interesting. I would love to go back to this coffeehouse again.

Lunch with Ruth ...

We met at China Central Square for lunch. Ruth recommended a famous Yong Tau Fu stall near her working place. I could never find this place. This Yong Tau Fu stall draws a good office crowd by 12:30pm. Luckily, we were there by 12:10m.

Ruth must have known the "ways of reserving" seats there .. using Tissue Papers Packet ! I find this rather hilarious ! U can see packets of tissue packets scattered on the tables. So if you see tissue packets on the table, do not attempt to sit there, you will be probably be clawed by the office ladies' manicured fingers !


My choice of Yong Tau Fu soup ! 8 ingredients in all ... surdap !


Ruth's choice of Yong Tau Fu ... wooo ...


After Yong Tau Fu, we went to a nearby coffeehouse for a cuppa of hot drinks. We were quite impressed by the presentation of the tea. We ordered the same type of tea (Green Tea with Jasmine Flowers). We didn't regretted our choice, this tea is fabulous ! It goes well with the cheesecake !

It was a one and the half hour lunch with Ruth. Nonetheless, we had fun catching up with one another. We parted and I proceeded to Jurong East Central to meet up with my mum.

* no photos of this mysterious friend who dressed to the nines but refused to take a photo .. yes, she told me she wore a very sweet dress bought from Japan for me today ! Wat a pity !

Eat, talk, walk and enjoying sea breeze .. wat a life !!!

My lunch adventures continues ....

This time with Ah Fang. So glad that she has found this fabulous Starz Restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel in Sentosa. We met at 11:30am in VIVO level 3 to take the Sentosa Express to Hard Rock.

Starz Restaurant is having a 1 for 1 buffet offer during weekdays till Dec 10. (not including PH). The contemporary setting in the restaurant is pleasant and pleasing to the eyes. Thanks to Ah Fang, she has requested for a good seat and we got to seat in a comfortable four-seater table next to the buffet table.

We were very early and the restaurant was empty during that time. We were told by the staff that we need to wait for another 10 minutes before we can start on the buffet. What's the best thing to do ? Take photos .. empty restaurant will look good as you can capture the whole restaurant!

Check out the restaurant:



We need the pillows to "hide, hide" ... hide the tummies lah ... hahaha


Food tasted and eaten ... we were so full that we forgotten about the ice-cream:




















Hahaha, I told Fang that "青春已不在" ... nonetheless we still took a couple of shoots !





We took the Sentosa Express back to Vivo to settle our dinner. We invited our partners to join us for dinner. Dinner was filled with laughter and jokes. A very fulfilling day indeed !






A day definitely to remember.