Top 8 highlights of 2013

8. I'm still loving my job.

Since I returned to the FutureGov Editorial team in August, I've been going to work with a renewed joy, eager to find out what exciting news I'm going to write. Best of all, I now have two great teammates and we - the Powerpuff Girls - really do rock!

7. Crossed Western USA off my list of places to go

Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, San Francisco - checked! Went crazy shopping at Kate Spade outlet stores, took my virgin helicopter ride, watched a circus for the first time and had more bowls of clam chowder than ever. Special thanks to my two travel buddies - Daniel and Rain. Read all about it here. 

6. Took two months break from work

I didn't work at a cafe this time. Instead, took a real good break just catching up on sleep, meeting friends and travelling. Feels great being able to watch movie, go shopping or visit SEA Aquarium and Adventure Cove on weekdays to beat the crowd.  

5. Discovered Pandora

Inspired by my colleague Melissa, I decided to invest in a starter bracelet, and thanks to Ivy, Adelene, Zhihui, KC, and Becky, my Pandora bracelet is looking real fine now. 

4. Become qualified Cafe Hunters

Armed with newspaper and laptop, we conquered cafe after cafe - from the most popular to the least accessible. My favourite so far still has to be Carpenter and Cook, which I believe has the perfect mix - quaint, interesting furniture, antiques with a lot of character, superlicious home-made desserts. 

3. Celebrated 30 years of amazing friendship

My bestie since 1983. Ivy is always curious about my life, ready to support me when I'm in doubt, remembering me through little gifts, and forgiving when I'm insensitive. I can't ask for a better bestie. Looking forward to celebrating 31 years in August!

2. We got engaged!

Exactly two years at the very spot we got together, he got on one knee and promised to take care of me for the rest of our lives. Since then, I've been having a blast planning for our big day. 

1. Bought our first home

Chances were slim - 900 units, 3,000 applicants - but we got it! We got to wait till 2018 before we can move in, so we can spend the next three to four years dreaming big on how we would like our future home to be. 

I'm Grounded

Don't ask me how I got my bosses to approve two and a half months of leave. I don't know too, but I'm super thankful they did. Yes, I could have gone backpacking again (Eastern Europe, USA, Laos and more still unexplored), but my boyfriend wasn't able to take time off work and definitely wasn't going to unleash me into the world alone.

A few searches on JobsDB, couple of emails, and a quick interview after, I secured my vacation job - service crew at The Ground Cafe & Bar, a newly opened indie cafe along Tanjong Katong Road.

My Many Firsts 

The menu reached my inbox a week before my first day. I'm glad it did because I had so much to learn! The Ground has great coffee and craft beers; I drank neither and knew close to nothing about either. So I spent afternoons memorising the tasting notes, watching YouTube videos on Beer101, and Googling everything that was unfamiliar. I can't say I'm an expert now, but at least enough under my belt to sustain a conversation.

Left: Introducing craft beer to customers
Right: I love my red gloves! 

My mommy complains all the time about how dirty my bedroom and bathroom is, so you can tell I'm not much of a cleaner. At The Ground, I swept, mopped, wiped, disinfected, washed, and more. I picked up the broom for the first time in over 20 years, I went on my knees and scrubbed the sink with bleach, and I washed more dishes and cups than in my entire life at home. But Adriel will tell you that I'm notorious for not washing them clean enough.

The Boss

Returning to Singapore after seven years of medical research and PHD studies, Adriel missed the great coffee culture he was used to in Melbourne. Armed with his passion for good coffee and beer, and a wealth of F&B and business experience from his family, he started The Ground Cafe & Bar.

Adriel (centre) really knows his beers

In his early thirties, Adriel is a cool boss; level-headed and not easily stressed. He is great in art, so if you see any cool drawing or handwriting in the cafe, he is the likely culprit. He also has a love for crazily expensive watches, when you next pop by, ask him to show you his collection of catalogues.

Aldric The Pizza Master

Aldric, Adriel's younger brother, rocks the kitchen which churns out all the amazing food The Ground serves. Ask Aldric to show you our super cool Electronic Darts Room on Level 2, it's perfect for parties, except for certain Thursdays when Aldric's team (The Ground Darters) uses the room for the local dart tournament.

The Food 

Of course I'm biased but come and try these for yourself and judge. The menu is pretty extensive, and is regularly updated, but these classics are my absolute favourite:

• Baby Back Ribs - super tender pork ribs glazed with in-house smokey bbq sauce, I like it more than those from Tony Romas!
• Caesar Salad - crispy romaine lettuce tossed in authentic caesar dressing with generous topping of bacon bits, buttered herbs cheese croutons and egg
• French Fries - I don't know how Aldric and his crew make it so crispy. Aldric tells me it's the oil but I think they are keeping something from me.
• Pizzas - my personal favourite is Meat Lovers!

The Ground's Signature Baby Back Ribs

The Drinks

The only coffee I know is Starbucks' Mocha Fruppaccino so you can guess I know nothing about coffee. But The Boyfriend can attest to the quality of The Ground's coffee, and so can many of our regulars. Two ladies come by at least once a week specially for our iced lattes. And many order a second coffee in one sitting because they love it so much.

The Ground now sells a whooping 58 types of craft beer, and Adriel is not stopping any time soon. You can imagine the most exciting bit is the tasting! I love the training sessions with Corrine, founder of The Drinking Partners, when we learn about the basics of brewing beer, origin and taste of some of the beers.

From one of our tasting sessions

The Customers

Since I couldn't travel, I wanted a job in a hostel so I could still meet other travellers. I tried applying to hostels initially but none would take me for such a short stint. To my surprise, I managed to meet and befriend a good number of people at The Ground. Unlike my time at Billy Bombers (a decade ago), the cosy and slightly slower pace at The Ground gave me more opportunities to chat with customers. Just to name a few new friends:

• Uncle Patrick who is 'conquering' our beer list by trying at least four beers every time he drops by
• Kargolov, Russian bodyguard and martial arts coach, who is easily thrice my size. He spelt his name for me but I misplaced it. 
• Jeremy Tordjman, French guitarist making his name at the major Asian music festivals
• Royston, Randy, Sharon and friends who we have given the honorary title of "The Tower Guys"
• Chance, the Hollywood scriptwriter and martial arts coach, who gave very generous tips 
• Father and son, who are having fun in Disneyland Hong Kong this week
• Charmaine and Pear, and the entire sales and marketing team from St Regis Hotel - an absolutely fun bunch 
• and many other great and friendly customers who I didn't managed to get their names

Adriel and Aldric with Uncle Harry, Uncle Patrick and Friends

Charmaine, Pear and the Sales & Marketing Team from St Regis

The Support
And all the love I got from my friends who came to visit - thank you!

• The Fun Gang - Jalene, Kevin, Jaso, Adele, Thomas, Siew Huey, Keith, Yvonne, Daniel, Alex, Jerrain, Jayson
• Wendy & parents
• Daniel & Roy
• Dunman High friends - Yvonne, Ninart, Osborn, WeiKai & Bernice, Vivien & Alan 
• BTPC - Kengyi & Dorcas
• Friends from work - Richard, Winnie, Mike, Lisa, Timothy, Dan 
• Family - Mommy, Sheh Li, Yujia, The Boyfriend, Bestie Ivy & Ben

Celebrating Jaso's birthday

Wendy and parents

Daniel, the second customer to try the BrewDogTokyo

Kengyi & Dorcas

Ninart and Yvonne

Meeting up with Osborn after 15 years

Hanging out on a Friday evening

I didn't want to tell you this but...

...but the journalist in me can't resist a scoop.

And I try to convince myself that such a great place won't stay a secret for long anyway. So I'd rather take the credit of telling the world about it.

Mirage Resort sits on the beach front of Pulau Besar, which is 20 minutes away by speed boat from Mersing Jetty. With a capacity of 40 guests, it is a boutique resort with a rocking service crew who are extremely attentive and friendly.

Compared to its more publicised neighbours - D'Coconut and Asiana - this resort does not fare well on first impression, without a pool and wall-papered rooms.

My seven friends and I took the plunge, or rather we were pushed off the edge, simply because all other resorts were full. And we were undeservedly rewarded with an amazing weekend.

Here are ten reasons why Mirage Pulau Besar should make top three in your next list of weekend getaway destinations:

10. High staff to guest ratio means your every need is attended to.
9. Mancoral, one of the staff, gives free pool lessons and makes a mean dish of sweet and sour prawns.
8. If you gather a party of 35-40 people, you can book the entire resort!
7. You don't have to fight for a good spot on the beach.
6. Their BBQ lamb is wicked!
5. The in house Pirates Bar dishes out free beer if you get the party going.
4. Your friends and you can sit by the sea, around the camp fire, and under the stars.
3. With a simple email, Chris books everything you need - mini-bus, boat, rooms, food, and activities!
2. Are you not sick of Batam, Bintan, Tioman, Redang, and the other touristy beach spots?
1. At that price, it's a real steal.

For the entire weekend (Saturday morning to Monday evening), I spent:

• Accommodation and most meals at Mirage Resort RM 340
• Mini-van from Eunos MRT to Mersing Jetty and back SGD 45

the perfect garden picnic

I didn't have the $347 Laura Ashley picnic basket set, but I had awesome weather, lovely garden setting, and a birthday boy to grace the occasion.

Picnic Menu

• Fresh rocket salad with goat cheese, baby tomatoes, salted cashew, and smoked salmon
• Bread sticks and honey crisps with pink creamy caviar dip
• German bratwurst, spicy Italian and English Cumberland sausages
• Italian strawberry mini custard tart
• Fresh watermelon cubes and chilled fruit juice

Fortunately both of us survived the food which I prepared, and made it to the Lion King musical in the evening. So no birthday boy was hurt in the production of this picnic.

the food critic, back by popular demand

I successfully sold the idea of a second food review video to Mommy by telling her how much my friends enjoyed the first one (I'm telling the truth!).

Watch till the end and see how many stars - out of five - my mum gave to Jack's Place's roasted turkey breast with chicken ham.

Nerds and leather go together

My boss, James, knows I have a soft spot for nerds. And it’s sort of true. He is a nerd with a leather… bible!

The conversation was a little more succinct this time, concluding outstanding issues raised last Friday and taking the last opportunity to clarify doubts. He has spoken to Pastor and I have discussed with Kengyi.

• How are Christian relationships different?
• Are we ready to make sacrifices for the other person?
• Where do we go from here?

We were on the same page (I think) on most issues. For the rest, we will have to work at it along the way. I foresee it is going to be ‘long-suffering’ for him because of all my weaknesses and stubborness.

He pointed me to Ephesians 5. The guy leads in the relationship and ‘lays down his life’ for her as Christ did for the church. “He wears a crown of thorns,” he said.

Speechless and impressed.

He is such a bully

Satan claims that Job worships God because of how God has blessed him. God allows Satan to prove Him wrong by taking everything – children, friends, status, wealth and health – away from Job.

Job cries out to God but receives no answer. He is a righteous and godly guy – so why is he suffering?

God answers at the end of the book. Who are you to question me?

I know that God has the authority and power to do all things and he judges what is right and wrong.

But doesn’t that make him a little of a bully?

(Answer to come soon)

exciting job

My work at Alphabet Media is pretty exhilarating, but what I'm really thinking about is the book of Job.

It has kept me wanting.

When the train approaches my destination and I have to keep my bible, my heart screams out in anguish for Job: "God, how can you remain silent and let your righteous child suffer and be maligned?!"

I know He has an answer, I just cannot see it right now.

(Soon though, I'm already at Chapter 31!)

will you be my girlfriend?

It was at least an hour long chat. And at the end of it, I don't think he even asked it in such simple words.

The conversation was a mash of a sermon, bible study and interrogation. Ok, I'm exaggerating (but only a little).

I had to display understanding of:

• Why we should be contented as singles
• What is the purpose of marriage
• Why no relationships are flawless
• How do children fit into the plan
  

He presented a case of why he thinks we are compatible and justified the question, which was qualified so much I can't repeat it for my life. And I will not be surprised if he can't too.

In this way, he is different, but in a good way. That is why I said yes.

(Great materials on Christian relationships: Four talks on Love, Sex and Marriage by Matthias Media, Joshua Harris' I Kiss Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl, and of course the Bible!)

mee and mee

It's noodles day with grandma!

What I'm having:
Wanton noodles with roasted pork meat $3.50

What grandma's having:
Vegetarian fishball noodles $2.50

me: pimp-my-bedroom

Presenting my new pink room....



Special thanks to Mommy who not only helped to move the furniture, but practically redesigned my new room. What can I possibly do without her.

skipping church

We missed service today, but not fellowship.



I had a blast hanging out with my bros and sisters;

• Andrew: The silent and assuring big brother made us feel safe in the foreign land and ensured we were all behaving.
• Pih: Poor Pih was running a fever but she was still such a sport and went everywhere we headed and made us laugh like she always does.
• Fang: She showed great patience even though she had to work on a Sunday! Thanks for the cherry chocolate muffin from Starbucks.
• Bel: She was our Operations Director who spoke to the Duty Manager so we get upgraded to a suite.
• Dorcas: It was only my second time hanging out with her but I didn't need more time to tell she is a ball of fun!
• Jenn: He is half the size of Ben but pulled his weight when it was time to finish the food.
• Ben: Our unofficial tour guide who couldn't resist buying anything and everything edible we passed.
• Jerry: We saw a quieter and more serious side of Jerry. Only because he was sick. It was unanimous that we like this Jerry more.

church camp day 4: james the man

We do not work for our salvation. Neither are both faith and works prerequisites for God to accept us.

But faith without works is dead. Real faith naturally and must follow with works. Because while God didn't save us because of good works, we are saved for it.

I pray that He will help me live it out, because by myself, I absolutely suck at it.

church camp day 3: justice mercy grace

Justice: Getting what you deserve
Mercy: Not getting what you deserve
Grace: Getting what you do not deserve

church camp day 2: people watch

I love the time I get to spend with God's family.

I feel like an aspiring singer with a golden pass into the back stage of a mega concert. With direct access into room after room of successful famous singers of all time, observing as they practise and prepare for the show.

The girls gathered in one of the rooms tonight. A sister was describing how she was maligned at work. But at no point did she curse the accuser. Instead, she gave thanks to God for the (little) good that came out of this experience.

There are many more in this family who display God's love in their lives.

I can only pray for God to help me be more like Him.

church camp day 1: i am a slave

I am a slave of Jesus Christ.

That is how James introduces himself in the letter. And that is who I am.

All of myself belongs to God and my chief purpose in life is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

It is not easy to remember, let alone do it. But I pray that God will keep me and His Spirit will help me to work into my identity.

church camp day 0: more to come

The message from last year's church camp has become a little fuzzy. The key lesson I can remember now is that the Holy Spirit works through God's word.

Since then, I have been reading the bible (almost) daily. I thank God for how He has allowed me to know Him more deeply in the past year - to see His grace, righteousness, faithfulness, power and love in the Old Testament. (I'm now at Nehemiah!)

We are studying the book of James at this camp. Having had a quick scan, i know I am going to be deeply challenged.

I will update you as we go along.

how do japanese people dance?

I found that out last night.

Ken dropped by Singapore this weekend. It has been more than four years since I saw him in Toyko so I could not possibly refuse when he said he wanted to check out Zouk.

We had a great time dancing. Ken showed me some of the funniest moves - he was definitely the best dancer last night.

I am convinced I need to go Ho Chi Minh soon and it will be my turn to show him how Singaporeans dance.

my pink room

Not many people have been to my place. So, here is a quick peek at where I retreat into when I am not out with you guys.

I love my pink room, which I have had for ten years. I am a little bored of it now though, so I am going to shift my furniture around.

Check out how it looks like now and look out for a new video once I am done moving stuff around.

the love for wings

My boss has always been amazed by Singaporean's obsession over chicken wings. I don't deny it. I love chicken wings.

People have been raving about the spicy wings at Sunset Grill. Even if it meant we had to travel great distances and wander around in the wilderness for hours, I decided it was worth the effort.

Ok, it was not that tough. I cheated by asking Gek Kia to take me there. He drove, so all I had to do was to pull up the location on Gothere.sg and left it all to him to navigate.

The wings did not blow my mind. We didn't want to be too ambitious so we ordered Level 2 on the spicyness chart. I am glad we did because Gek Kia was complaining that the spicy wings were giving him a headache.

I was pleasantly surprised by the deep fried battered mushrooms, which were really as tasty as they were pretty.

If it is wings you are after, here are my top five spots:
5. Skinny wings from Everything with Fries
4. Kentucky Fried Chicken (although I'd recommend the thigh more than their wings)
3. A&W chicken wings (I don't think you can get this in Singapore)
2. Timbre buffalo wings
1. No. 5 or Ice Cold Beer deep fried wings