The Purple Affair

Slowly but surely, I’m becoming more vain.

祝我生日快乐

我知道伤心不能改变什么
那么让我诚实一点
诚实难免有不能控制的宣泄
只有关上了门不必理谁

一个人坐在空的包厢里面
手机让它休息一夜
难,想切割切掉回忆的画面
眼泪不能流过十二点

生日快乐
我对自己说
蜡烛点了
寂寞亮了
生日快乐
泪也融了
我要谢谢你给的你拿走的一切

还爱你的一点恨
还要时间
才能平衡
热恋伤痕
画面重生
祝我生日快乐

歌手：温岚

___

Somehow, my hatch day this year did not seem like a big event, unlike other years when I would always look forward to it be somewhat cheerier, and have a wish list blogged out. Perhaps it’s me growing a little older, where hatch days now seem just like any other day.

Yet, I was reminded today by the warmth of the people surrounding me. As today is the last day that I’ll see my ward’s Case Manager before he is transferred to the Community Psychiatry team, I decided to make him a cheesecake as a farewell gift to him. Little did I expect him to give me presents as well!

Butterfly: Flutter and explore many areas for experience.
Dog: Guard me with loyalty
Box: To store unspoken anger in it (by writing it down), and let it out only when I’m calmer.

His gesture is greatly appreciated, as we had a nice little chat before we had to run our separate ways, while I tried to hold back my tears. And as if one surprise was not enough, my dear colleagues (Chiuling, Elizabeth, Dorothy and Kay Sing) surprised me with a birthday cake and a mini celebration! Feeling extremely touched, I could not help but start to tear pretty badly. I guess I really never expected moments like these, where simple little actions touch my heart, where I feel loved.

So this is a shout out to everyone out there who remembered my hatch day (be it through celebrations or sms-es), when it seemed just like any other mundane day to me. Thank you for brightening up my day, and made me feel really special and loved =)

Project Botanica

Who would have known that the next time I step into Singapore Botanic Gardens, it would be for work purpose on a weekend?

Healthy Mind, Happy Life – that is the theme for this year’s National Healthy Lifestyle. And with it being held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, us occupational therapists, in partnership with National Parks, were given a booth (above picture) to man, and help educate the public about the benefits of Horticultural Therapy.

And while my colleagues and I fought against the heat and humidity, we were amused by the kids running around the area, fascinated by the dogs present, and amazed by the fun-filled activities being held (which we can do for our patients as well). Thinking about it, I don’t think there is ever a time where we do not stop thinking about work, especially about the variety of activities that we can run for our group…

Work work ~ Warcraft Peon

Mooncakes Galore

As the Mid-Autumn Festival is arriving, so did the craze for mooncakes became wilder. So much so that my colleagues and I decided to sign up for a Snow-skin Mooncake Making Workshop, with the hope of knowing how to make some for ourselves, family and friends, and at the same time, teach our patients how to make as part of our In-Patient therapy sessions.

So off we went to Phoon Huat, as we were greeted with an array of mooncakes, with flavours ranging from Red Wine and Champagne, to Green Tea, Strawberry and Blueberry. For myself, I chose the Tiramisu flavour =)

After 2 long arduous hours of standing and kneading (along with the help of the funny and friendly chefs), we finally completed our task!! Cheers to us OTs!

Here’s a box of my Tiramisu Mooncakes. I actually made slightly more than 5 boxes, so it was shared out between my family and colleagues from both the OT department and the wards I’m covering.

But as always, such handmade mooncakes cannot be compared to those in retail, as my favourite is the one from Raffles.

They actually start to package it up more nicely, in which I do like the box and its cute cheongsam design.

What’s so special about these mooncakes? Well, my favourite has always been the Snow-skin Champagne Mooncake with White Chocolate Truffle (Yellow). But this year, they had new varieties! They include Snow-skin Lychee, Almond and Dark Chocolate Mooncake (Pink), Snow-skin Rum and Raisin Chocolate Truffle Mooncake (White) and Snow-skin Baileys Chocolate Mooncake (Peach)!!! Sounds totally yummilicious!!

While I’m not a fan of the traditional baked mooncake, there is another type which I actually like.

It’s these little baked balls of lotus paste with walnuts. But again, there is a new introduction this year – macadamia nuts! Looks like I’m in for a treat this year =)

Thai Village

With the intention to celebrate the September birthdays (both my Mom’s and mine), the family headed down to the Thai Village restaurant near the vicinity of Goodwood Park Hotel for some sumptuous lunch. And boy were we stuffed! I guess we somehow always have the habit of over-ordering, as we also tried out their famous Braised Superior Sharks Fin with Crab Meat – a meal that everyone will indefinitely order.

Another plus point would be their fast and prompt service, which makes the restaurant a nice place to chill out over a meal. But first, you would have to be prepared to burn some moolah, for it is a pretty dear restaurant to begin with =)