Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis, also known as the Nothern Lights is a luminous phenomenon in the night sky consisting of overlapping curtains of greenish-white light, sometimes fringed with pink, appearing in the ionosphere of high latitudes. It is caused by the emission of light by atoms and molecules that are excited by beams of electrons generated by a complex interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s atmosphere.
To see it in real life is one of my missions in life. I used to say that when I grow up, I would go to Alaska and see aurora. Now I'm grown up - am I? - and I still haven't gone. Since a visit to Alaska is one of the most expensive trips, perhaps it won't be soon. Also, apparently a lot of it is based on luck - it's not everyday that you see aurora.
Fiery Red
Greenish
Multi-colored
Bluish
Okay. Back to Radiology.
Evelyn Bakes Chocolate Stuff
Woke up at about 11 today and concluded that I didn't want to do any work during the afternoon because I didn't have the mood. To fill in time, I ate lunch,
went back to sleep and woke up with nothing better to do. Incidentally, I have developed this technique of sleeping without actually sleeping. Like, even if I've slept 10 hours the night before I can
still just sleep for the sake of it to pass time.
Anyway, woke up and decided to bake a couple of things. Since ingredients in my house was rather limited I settled for an After Eight Chocolate Cake (recipe given to me by my aunt. It's one of my favourite chocolate cakes in the world) and double chocolate muffins.
Double Chocolate Muffins - Chocolate muffins with chocolate chips, essentially. Very happy how it turned out. I detest it when the muffin doesn't rise and form a big bulbous crust and just kind of looks a bit dome-shaped without overflowing. The theory of course is to just overfill the cups. Yay!
After 8 Chocolate Cake - It's basically a very rich chocolate cake topped with peppermint icing and chocolate sprinkles. Have yet to sink my teeth into this.
All in all, quite a productive day in the kitchen, and not so productive day in relation to my studies. Must persevere!
1 plate fried noodles = 700 calories
1 plate creamy chicken & mushroom pasta = 700 calories
1 slice bread = 150 calories
2 mandarin oranges = 120 calories
Total = 1670 calories
Magic Mushrooms
My favourite ingredient at the current moment is mushrooms. I suddenly developed a love for it - not that I hated it before, I just like it more now. I was searching for more mushroom recipes and I found out that
1 cup of mushrooms contains 20 calories.
Mushrooms contain anti-carcinogens and have anti-aging benefits
Mushrooms contain tons of vitamins and minerals which I can't be bothered to list here
Mushrooms promote a healthy immune system, lowers blood pressure and promotes weight lost.
Therefore, I'm concluding that I should eat more mushrooms.
Shitake Mushrooms - I grew up eating these with steamed fish. Well, when I was young enough and still liked seafood anyway.
Straw Mushrooms - Yummy in stir-fried vegetables.
Porcini Mushrooms - Used a lot in Italian cooking, especially risotto.
Button Mushrooms - What I usually eat now.
Enoki Mushrooms - The only time I actually eat these is when I eat steam boat, where I usually starve for the night because the only things I can eat are meatballs, mushrooms and egg.
Quick and easy mushroom recipes can be found here
Louis Vuitton Agendas
It's exactly one week before my exams start, and exactly 2 and a half weeks before it's all over. However, I must say that the exam period is actually one of my favourite periods. This is because all you have to do is study - no classes, no external stress. Just you, the notes and the desk.
And some internet browsing. It's been about two months since my Burberry stint (links at end of post) and it's truly a high time that I come up with something else to obsess over. I found it yesterday - LV Agendas.
Yes, I know it's
ridiculous to pay that kind of money for a piece of leather that doesn't actually do anything, as opposed to a bag which...er... well, doesn't actually do anything either. Especially when Melbourne University actually
gives you a yearly planner for free at the beginning of the year. Which is why I'm still hesitating and considering if this is worth
my the money.
Blue Epi Leather - The Blue is gorgeous, the Mandarin is gorgeous. Did I mention that their New Red is gorgeous too? *swoon*
White Monogram Multicolore - Very nice, but keeping it white would be a nightmare.
Geranium Suhali Leather - I
love this series, which happens to be the most expensive (why am I not surprised).
Burberry Posts:
Bargain With Self
Blueberry Burberry
Scarred face at 18
When I moved into my new room I noticed the the light in my room was a little bit dim. I didn't bother opening the covering to see what was going on and therefore decided to just deal with the dimness.
Making myself blinder in the process. Anyway, this evening the lightbulb decided that it had had enough of serving me and decided to die off.
I climbed up, and with much difficulty managed to open the cover and found out that there was only
one lightbulb installed, even though there were
two sockets. Can't believe I've been suffering in twilight-like state for the past 4 months needlessly.
And I left the lid off. This is because when I was 18 (3 weeks before coming to Australia), I was sitting down in the study room in my house with my mother when suddenly what seemed like a shower of glass rained down and the next thing I felt was hot liquid running down my face. For a moment I was dazed and didn't understand what had happened but my mom next to me was going into hysterics, screaming for my dad to come
now and deal with the situation.
Amusingly, my dad was watching TV at that time and didn't see what the fuss was about. He had innocently
presumed that my mom had dropped a plate down the stairs and was just dramatising the situation. What was the big deal? After a few more moments of frantic shrieks and increasing hysteria, he finally concluded he better come check it out. That was when he started panicking too.
Turns out the glass covering of the light that happened to be right over my mom's head had somehow come lose and fell down, hit her head and shattered - all the pieces raining down on me. A piece of skin about 2cm long was almost sliced off my forehead and I had a deep gash at the side of my nose from my nose rest of my
glasses, presumably because a piece of glass weighed it down and it pressed into my skin. Obviously, I was bleeding as if my whole face had been slashed up by some psycho killer and my dad was frantically trying to decide what to do.
Him: It's 11pm at night how are we supposed to find a plastic surgeon?! (Yes, my father thought it was serious enough to warrant plastic surgery. Remember that this is me at 18 with perfect skin with the danger of living with a potentially maimed face forever).
Mom: What?!
Him: Arggh...I'll just do it myself. *stressed*
He brought me to his clinic, stitched up the gash at the side of my nose, gingerly placed back the skin that was partially sliced (it was hanging on by about 3mm worth of skin, so my dad hoped that it would manage to stick back) and brought me home.
All through this time they didn't let me look into the mirror. All I could do was cry. And cry. And cry. In my entire life, I have never cried so much. Every time I thought about it for about up to a week after the incident, I cried. I cried to the point where I had no tears left, when all that was left in me was just hacking gasps.
I cried because I it was my
face. At 18. I know some people might not realise why I took it so seriously. Some people may even think that I should just get over myself and stop being a drama queen. But this was 3 weeks before I came to Australia, desiring to make a good impresson on new friends and start a new life. At 18. When 18 is supposed to be the best year of any girl's life. Also the potential of having a scar forever was something I could not face - did not want to face. I did the only thing I could do - which was to cry.
I came to Australia with a bandage on my forehead and on my nose - which my dad warned me that I should leave on if I ever wanted my scars to heal without discoloration etc. I religiously left them on - I'm sure those who went to Trinity with me would remember. I did not want to leave them off anyway - the scars were unsightly. The bandages naturally did not make me Ms Popular either.
A few months after my hard work paid off - the scars were almost invisible. Now, three and a half years later, unless I point it out, nobody knows. But I do. However, this minor accident (in the grand scheme of things, I concede that it's minor I
suppose) prepared me for what was to come - a major accident, which I may blog about sometime in the future.
Sometimes I look at my scars and wonder what would it be like if I never went through those two ordeals, if my first impression I made on people was not ,' Why do you have a bandage on your forehead?'. Yes, this sounds shallow, but it is the truth. However, I know I won't be who I am today - and I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. I guess time will tell.
Other interesting facts to note:
1. Some people actually nicknamed me 'Nelly' when I came because of my face bandages.
2. My then
brand new iBook (love of my life) was also involved in the saga. The glass scratched the screen and nicked the computer as well. When I realised that I got even
more hysterical, if that was possible. Up to now, the battlescars are present.
3. I have a phobia for all covered lights now. Unsurprisingly.
1 slice bread and peanut butter = 150 calories
1 bun = 100 calories
1 bowl sukiyaki udon = 700 calories
1 plate fried rice = 700 calories
Total = 1650 calories
Simmering
I admit that I'm not the best person in the world. My faults are plentiful.
This weekend has been one of reflection over my past couple of years and strangely, as often is the case - my memories flash to the unpleasant scenes, not the pleasant ones.
One of the things that I always berrate myself over is the fact that I never stand up for myself. Whenever somebody does something to me that annoys me, I simmer, but I never confront the person and give them a piece of my mind. Never. Then I kick myself every time I think of the incident for not having any backbone.
Of course, there's always factors to consider, like is it
nice to behave badly. Also, is it a good idea to lash out at a friend's best friend/boyfriend, knowing your friend is going to side the other party no matter whose fault is it.
Somehow I feel like I'm at the losing end of this game. And a horrible person.
4 mandarin oranges = 240 calories
1 plate fried rice = 600 calories
5 slices bread = 700 calories
1 bowl cereal = 200 calories
Total = 1740 calories
Evelyn is a Pale Listless Blue
For the past week I've been sleeping more than 10 hours a day in the hope that I will be energized and motivated when I get up. Not. Happening.
I'm not sure why. Maybe because this semester is 15 weeks instead of the usual 12 weeks that we're used to. Or maybe because there's more stress in each week trying to meet denture deadlines and the adrenaline rush of treating real life patients.
I've been procrastinating a lot. It takes me at least 3 procrastinating episodes to get things done - sometimes much more than that. My motivation has been stolen... and I don't know what to do.
Maybe I should bake a cake.
Obsessive Calorie Counting
So, I ate a footlong sub yesterday and did my homework - partially. Apparently it's 370 calories per 6 inch - which I naively believed. However, after I chowed down the whole foot of it (the human stomach is amazing), I concluded that I
can't possibly have eaten only 740 calories. It felt more than that. Yes, I can actually guess how many calories I've eaten just by how I feel. So I went to research it properly.
I found out that a 370 calorie 6-inch chicken teriyaki subway...
1. Is made with white bread. I chose honey oat bread - therefore making it 60 calories more fattening.
2. Has no cheese. I had 4 slices of cheese - additional 100 calories there.
3. Has no
sauce. Seriously, they want me to eat a subway with vegetables, dried chicken and no sauce and no cheese?! Sauce set me back another 40 calories.
Which means that my footlong sub comes up to a shocking grand total of
1140 calories. with 1140 calories, I can go to KFC, pig out on 6 wicked wings, 2 regular chips
and still have 140 calories to spare.
I feel so cheated.
1 regular fries from KFC = 250 calories
3 KFC Wicked Wings = 250 calories
1 slice bread with butter = 150 calories
1 slice bread with jam = 150 calories
4 mandarin oranges = 240 calories
1 plate pasta carbonara = 700 calories
Total = 1740 calories (at least I'm satisfied)
Amazing Grand Pianos
Ever since I moved to Australia I never had the chance to play as much piano as I would like to have, thanks to the fact that I don't have one in my apartment. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to buy a piano when I move every year or so. Also, my parents said that when I finally settle down and everything they would send the piano I have at home now here instead of leaving it to rot pianistless at home.
You know what I always wanted to do? I always wanted to take off the lid of my piano at home and put in a glass lid instead, so that when I play the piano I can see the mechanism moving. Can you imagine a glass lid raised? I think it would look lovely. My music teacher actually told me that it was possible but my parents told me to focus on practicing instead of cultivating nonsensical ideas. Anyway, my idea is
not nonsensical. I actually found such a piano online! And many others as well.
1.
Steinway & Sons Black Ebony. Starting with the standard dream of every pianist. *sigh* I visited one last year and the price tag was a whopping AUD150 000. I don't want to know what the special ones cost.
2.
Schimmel Transparent Grand Piano. Not only the
lid is transparent, the whole entire piano is. Not sure if I like it this way....it's probably more tasteful with just a glass lid rather than the whole piano. Definitely no ordinary piano though.
3.
Steinway & Sons Marbleized. Not much to say except it's er... marbleized.
4.
Steinway & Sons Louis XV. This just makes me think of scenes in Jane Austen novels where the ladies sit in the drawing room and entertain themselves playing the piano and sit around eating tea. A plain white grand piano has always been one of my pet favourites though.
5.
Steinway & Sons Summertime. This is amazing, I don't know how would you match it in your house, but I insist it is amazing. It looks almost like a toy piano. Serious work of art.
Only 2 weeks to my exams and this is what I'm doing - looking at pianos on the web! Just my way of destressing.
1 slice of bread with chicken = 200 calories
1 foot long Subway sweet onion chicken teriyaki = 800 calories
2 mandarin oranges = 120 calories
Total = 1120 (perhaps Subway is the key)
Good Chick Lit
This semester I've been reading more than that I have ever had ever since I came to Melbourne. Reading has always been my hobby, although many people are surprised when they hear it. I find it difficult to fall asleep at night if I don't read at least a chapter or two to calm my mind. Sort of like a ritual. Anyway, here's a few light reads that I particularly like.
1.
Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. It's about this big time lawyer who screws up, runs away and ends up a housekeeper in the country. Very unrealistic but good happy ending anyway.
2.
Spellbound by Jane Green. Just finished reading it a couple of days ago. It's more meaningful than Undomestic Goddess because I think it's more realistic with a lot of issues that many girls really face out there. Happy ending as well. Come to think of it, all the books I read have happy endings.
3.
Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. Same author who wrote
Ella Enchanted, which is also a brilliant book. If you watched the movie and didn't read the book I highly recommend it. Very nice fairy-tale like feel to it. I know it's recommended for children but I think it's a good read even if you're older.
4.
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery. One of my favourite authors of all time. About an old maid who thought she only had 6 months to live and decided to do all she didn't do when she was young. I cried reading it.
5.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. You won't regret it.
2 chicken sandwiches = 600 calories
1 double chocolate muffin = 300 calories
1 instant pasta = 450 calories
3 mandarin oranges = 180 calories
Total = 1530 calories (not bad)
Chocolate Boutique 1
I've been looking back at all my photos from ages ago that I have not put up because of my non-existent/lousy internet connection. Now that my internet is semi-restored (I say semi because whenever I get comfortable, it acts up again), I shall attempt to put these up.
Also because there's nothing new and exciting happening in my life right now.Anyway, these pictures are from Cacao, which is a chocolate boutique in St Kilda. They were taken in
February, which is ages ago. On my birthday, actually. But they still look delicious so who cares. They sell other stuff besides chocolate like pastries and cakes, but I don't have the photos of them.
A few pieces of their chocolate range. Particularly like their packaging because they put the chocolate into wooden boxes. They
almost won me over from my Koko Black fantasy - more on that when I talk about Koko Black next time.
Chocolate Eiffel Tower. Yum yum!
Chocolate Chess Set. Tons of motivation to win.
One of the desserts. Can't remember what it is.
Ending on a completely irrelevant note. Found an article about the Hermes Birkin in one of the magazines they had there. How much would
I pay? Not enough.
1 chocolate frog = 200 calories
1 pack instant pasta = 450 calories
A few M&Ms = 50 calories
1 mandarin orange = 60 calories (my token fruit of the day)
1 chicken sandwich = 400 calories
Total = 1170 (it's a start)
Why Raising Funds Is A Nightmare
I was given half a box of chocolate (24 pieces) to sell to raise funds for the Dental Faculty for one of the functions. I thought it wouldn't be too difficult - worse come to the worse I'll just buy them myself right? However, I've concluded that raising funds is a thankless task - so thankless that I hope I don't have to do it again, and I have newfound respect for all those people who collect money in the streets for Breast Cancer and AIDS and etc.
Not that I even had to do much. I managed to get rid of the bulk of it by just persuading my housemates and people that I know well to buy some off me. After that it was just uphill work. I think it has to do with my personality. I do not like asking for favours, and this experience almost left me feeling as if I was begging, like it was a personal favour and I
needed their help.
Acquaintance: Give me one good reason why I should buy chocolate from
you.
Me:
Yeah, exactly. Why the hell am I even asking you? *in head* Because I'm raising funds.
Acquaintance: You're a dentist yeah? Why are you selling chocolates? Trying to get more business in the future?
Decided to just buy the rest from myself. I don't need to humiliate myself further.
1 bag potato chips = 1250 calories (not joking)
1 plate instant pasta = 600 calories
1 plate penne matriciana = 500 calories
Total = 2350 calories (I promise I'm going on a veg and fruit diet tomorrow. I think.)
Lost And Found
It's a well-known fact that I invariably leave my possessions in restaurants, libraries, the dental school and most recently - the clinic. I can't help it. There's just so many things going on in my mind I can't be responsible
and unforgetful at the same time
all the time. There's bound to be a few slip ups once in a while. Right?
Anyway, I had the best session I ever had in clinic on Friday afternoon and came home and did nothing the entire weekend until this morning, when I woke up and decided I should study today before I fail everything. I got up, took my notes out and searched for my pencil case. And searched. And searched.
Finally I concluded it wasn't in my apartment and that I probably left it in the clinic. Rushed down to the dental school (thank goodness I only stay 1 minute away) and got the security guard to bring me up to the undergraduate clinic to get it. He was naturally not impressed with my irresponsible act (You should always check everything before leaving the clinic. Not only that, you shouldn't be using pens like these!). I just mumbled my thanks and walked home.
The discomfiting part of this entire scenario is that I only realized my pencil case was missing 2 days later. That's how little I study.
1/2 pack chips = 600 calories
2 Krispy Kremes = 400 calories
1 pack instant pasta = 450 calories
Total = 1450 calories
Evelyn Loves Nila
Just got back from my friend's 21st birthday. Tired, grumpy and exhausted. I just want to start studying so that I don't fail.
Interesting facts I learnt:
1. The word '
nila' which means blue is originally Sanskrit. Never knew that - always thought it was Malay. I still remember where I learnt that word from - from the Malay proverb 'Kerana setitik nila, rosak susu sebelanga' which loosely translated means ' Because of a drop of blue dye, an entire jug of milk is ruined'.
2. If possible babysit, a 3-tiered birthday cake at the backseat of the car instead of putting it into the boot. And always put on truffles at the last minute.
Me and the birthday cake. Just
had to take another photo with it.
3. When you think the past is the past and nothing will come back to haunt you again - it comes back.
1 slice birthday cake = 300 calories
1/2 bag Sweet Chilli Smith's Potato Chips = 600 calories
1 slice ice cream cake = 600 calories
Random bits of food at party = 500? 700??
Alcoholic Beverages = 300? 3000??
Total calories = Too much! *sob*
3 Things To Lust For
Suddenly realised my blog is starting to turn into a food blog if I don't talk about other things - so here's a short list of things that I wouldn't mind owning that caught my eye lately. There's actually more but I thought I'd do those separately in their own categories rather than to try to cram it all in.
1.
Mont Blanc Starwalker Pen - Not just
any Mont Blanc that you see on the shelf, but a limited edition one produced for their 100th anniversary. There's actually a six pointed star-shaped (my Archilles heel) diamond set that the crown of it instead of the traditional signature plain star. Sigh...
2.
Loius Vuitton Shirley - It's been around for quite some time but I just thought I'd just mention it again. Great bag for a clutch.
3.
Apple MacBook - I know the MacBook Pro is nicer, faster, better etc but it's also more expensive, and I'm not a very demanding girl (well, not as demanding as to insist that it's the MacBook
Pro or
nothing like what my friend did). Anyway, a 13-inch widescreen is definitely good enough and compared to my current iBook G3 (yes,
3! *sob*) this is heaven. I'll be satisfied.
Evelyn Bakes A Birthday Cake
When my friend invited me to his 21st birthday, my first thought was that I wanted to make the cake. I'm addicted to decorating - so this presented a good opportunity for me to practice my baking skills. When he told me that there would be around 40 people there, I concluded that I would make a tiered cake - specifically, 3 tiers.
This is definitely the most elaborate cake I have ever made to date and I cannot deny that I am proud of it. Could have been nicer but for a first attempt, I think I'm satisfied. The cake is half pound cake and half chocolate cake, filled with white and dark chocolate ganache and covered with sugar paste, decorated with royal icing and lastly, topped with truffles.
Feeling very happy.
12 truffles = 600 calories
1 slice bread and butter = 200 calories
1 packet instant pasta = 450 calories
Total = 1250 calories (not bad)
Dessert Buffet
I went to this dessert buffet about 2 weeks ago in the Conservatory in Crown Casino. I know this is a little late to post it but I just got the photos off my friend today. This is the reason why I am not skinny. Here are a few photos of the stuff:
1.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries - Not a big fan of these. I prefer it with chocolate fondue rather than a hard crust around the strawberry - wasn't very easy to eat.
2.
Chocolate Brownies - It was alright...felt like I was eating solid chocolate actually.
3.
Chocolate Mousse with Orange Sauce - That wasn't the exact name but it was two weeks ago, I can't remember everything! Didn't like it. I don't think chocolate and orange go very well.
4.
Chocolate Something with Mango Puree - Well, I don't like mango. So I didn't even bother trying it. Looks nice though.
5.
Something That's A Bit Like Chocolate Meringue - I forgot the name. The texture was quite nice. Yum yum.
6.
Monte Cristo - It's tastes something like a very very smooth tiramisu with a sponge cake - this was the thing I enjoyed the most, although it doesn't look very impressive in this photo.
They had quite a few other things as well such as a few savoury things so that we wouldn't get sugared out, waffles, a few other desserts that I didn't photograph because they had already been cut to pieces (I forgot to take photos until the end). Oh, and I had the best scones I had ever eaten in my life here too.
Needless to say I enjoyed myself.
Cake crumbs = 500 calories
1 chicken sandwich =400 calories
1 packet of instant pasta = 450 calories
1 plate chicken and mushroom risotto = 700 calories
Total = 2050 (Why do I bake for fun? Why?!)
3 Things Trapped In Evelyn's Mind
1.
Moon RiverMoon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.2.
Cake Decorating - Seriously, this is definitely my latest obsession. Why can't my obsession be studying? Why?!
3.
Dentistry - Dreading my next appointment. Supposed to do a subgingival restoration. Absolutely no idea how to do it - never did it before in my life, not even on a model. Praying I don't kill my patient.
1 chocolate frog = 200 calories
2 slices chocolate cake = 600 calories
4 slices bread with shredded chicken = 900 calories
Total calories = 1700 calories (no improvement)
Contact Lenses Part II
Complained a few posts ago about my missing contact lenses that just disappeared when I dropped them. Well, it happened to me again today. I can't believe it - something that I had never done in my life happening
twice in the span of two weeks.
Contact lenses don't like me.
2 chicken sandwiches = 600 calories
1 plate risotto = 700 calories
2 Summer Rolls = 400 calories
Total = 1700 (number creeping up again)
Horoscopes
I like reading my horoscope whenever I have the chance. It's entertaining. I choose only to believe the good forecasts of my week and ignore the bad. After all, it's probably not true but I my as well get something positive out of it right?
I'm an Aquarian, which supposedly means that I live in the future and happen to be impulsive. I don't know about living in the future but my impulsiveness has probably been proven countless times. I'm also supposed to be independent. Not sure about that. Don't people become independent when they have nothing to depend on? It's more an environmental factor kind of thing right?
Horoscope of the day: Some hot professional prospects demand more time and perhaps more education on your part. Embrace these challenges. You can really go places if you capitalize on these opportunities. Give it your all.
Oh yeah, and I forgot to post up my calorie count of yesterday. I'm getting better at eating less. So proud of myself. Hehe...
1 plate penne carbonara = 700 calories
1 slice bread and butter = 200 calories
1 plate pasta with matriciana sauce = 600 calories
Total = 1500 (not good not bad)
Evelyn Hates Sports
When I was young I just wasn't good at sports. It didn't help that the teachers were skeptical that I could even run, let alone throw a discus or those ball thingamies, whatever you call it. I still remember a particular teacher who was in charge of the day's ball throwing event (whatever you call it).
Teacher: Hm...I see Evelyn is here. Are you sure you can even pick up the ball?
Me: ........
I hardly see that as a positive environment for me to grow to love sports. It only made me hate it more. Oh, I forgot to mention that the reason why the teacher chose to be so bitchy to me was probably because my mom was the afternoon supervisor of my school. Yup, my mom was in the same school as me. I assure you it did not make life easier for me. I could blog for
hours about all the adolescent trauma I endured. But I digress. The only game I play up to now is tennis. No more, no less. That's the only game that captured my fancy.
Anyway, I devised ways to get out of sports practice and especially the annual dreaded event - Sports Day. I disliked the heat, the games, the teachers and just the general atmosphere of it all. Therefore, every year I would weasel my dad into writing a letter for me to get out of that living hell. One of the benefits of being a doctor's daughter, you see.
'This is to certify that
Evelyn should be exempted from all sporting activities for 3 months due to a severely sprained ankle.'
Interestingly, I sprain my ankle at the beginning of the sports season every year. However, my years of cheating has finally come to bite me in the back. Everytime I knead dough, try to cut wire using pliers or have to do anything that requires strength, a small part of me wishes that I tried harder when I was young. Then I wouldn't have to struggle so much now.
Spent the whole afternoon learning how to pipe royal icing in preparation for another upcoming birthday. My entire right arm and fingers are sore. Not sure if it's me, the icing or the bag.
Oww...
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Was walking around in Borders and saw the
Breakfast At Tiffany's DVD on sale, so I decided to buy it. I've heard tons of good things about it and Audrey Hepburn so I thought, why not. Spent the afternoon watching it.
It was quite nice, but didn't really blow my mind away. There were only 3 things that I particularly liked in that movie - her dress, the theme song (Moon River) and the Tiffany & Co store in New York. I
must go there one day. And of course, it had the all important happy ending.
It's Monday again tomorrow. Time flies.
2 slices of coffee cake = 800 calories
1 plate minestrone soup = 250 calories
Total = 1050 calories (omg, I actually did it!)
Evelyn Learns Mahjong
I went to my friend's birthday party yesterday and for the first time, played mahjong and actually won two games! Wohoo!! I have to say I understand why so many people like that game so much. Back home there's a group of tai tais (middle-aged women who have rich husbands with nothing better to do with their time) who play mahjong every single day and from my house I can hear the tiles being mixed periodically. I never understood the fascination. How could you play the
same game every single day without getting sick of it? Well, now I'm starting to understand a little bit more.
Lately, my nights has been troubled with dentistry-related nightmares. Last night I dreamt that I was working as a qualified dentist for the first time with nobody to turn to for a second opinion and the whole night I was just trying to come up with the best treatment plan and the best way to inject the local anaesthetic and so on and so forth. This course is really taking its toll on me.
Going to end on a lighter note with pictures of the stuff I brought to my friend's birthday.
Onde-onde. For those who don't know what this is, it's basically a chewy ball of glutinous rice flour with palm sugar in the middle coated with dessicated coconut. It's supposed to be greener than what the picture shows. Somehow the green didn't manage to shine through. Oh well.
The Birthday Cake - Genoise sponge with a custard layer in the middle topped with white chocolate ganache. The golden stuff on top is caramel. Had a lot of fun baking it.
