So this is Christmas, and what have you done?

There's nothing more enjoyable than to hear the medleys of Christmas carols in the malls, supermarkets and even while on hold on the phone. Something about them, whether bouncy, upbeat, melancholic or sentimental have this balming property that calms,uplifts and puts me right in the mood of Christmas - probably deserving the credit being one of the precious things that have accompanied me - heard/sung/played every Christmas for the last 26 years wherever it is and whatever it was I was doing.


And as reflections go into full swing in the last month of the year of what's done/undone, what's gained and lost - this is perhaps one of those Christmases that have been more special than others.Being abroad and coming home for Xmas has accentuated certain feelings, with a deeper sense of appreciation,a heightened awareness and sensitivity of own, relationships and places.

That said, I've been experiencing quite a bit of mixed emotions lately. Increasingly, I've acquired this knack of viewing matters in a whole spill of colours, no longer just black/white but lots of grey - so while there's joy, there's also a malaise of regret, pensiveness etc. Nothing wrong about that but i do miss feeling the headiness or even rashness of feeling absolutely certain and strongheaded about things.

Okay, I realised its youth I am hankering after which is clearly not very much on my side now.

Anw,one of my favourite scenes from Love Actually tells it quite nicely.
Merry Christmas dear all- wherever you are and however you are celebrating it.

Back Home

Yup- the eggtarts are really as delicious as touted. Whether the shortcrust or the puff pastry kind, both have radiant yellow egg custard centres made with such consistency as to glide down smoothly in the mouth with that burst of buttery flavour from the crust.

Same too for the dim sum, esp the har gow , char siew pau, siew mai- the only terms I know/picked up in Cantonese with ease. Delicate portions each crafted with intricate folds sealing in the soupy/ savoury/ sweet fillings and flavours such that each mouthful is a pleasant surprise.

But nothing beats...

- Having for breakfast Gardenia raisin bread, Ya Kun's kaya toast and flipping through the papers, mildy amused by the "It's all doom and groom" column in Sunday Times.
- Stepping out of the house assuredly without having to know about the weather or piling on the moisturisers for the chapped hands and feet.
- Buying chicken rice and hokkien prawn mee from the hawker centre with ease without having to resort to gesticulating and accepting watever is being dished out for me.
- Taking public transport without worrying about not getting to the destination due to miscommunication

So yup, excuse me for not blogging/ or being MIA.
Let me soak in this effortless living for a few more days as I catch up with all the food reviews in the past issues of ST pls:)