Lion, tigers and bears, oh my

A day at the zoo. Actually, it was the company's family day at River Safari. I wasn't so interested in the pandas, their star exhibit -- who also weren't very interested in receiving visitors. I liked the manatee enclosure, but the rest of the river displays were really fish tanks in a row. So it was all rather underwhelming -- and the boat ride through the Amazon display wasn't operating --  and we were done in two hours. And went next door to the Zoo, where we had a much nicer time.

The only panda I managed to get a picture of was the red panda.

The baboons had their own waterfall.

Is the plural of mongoose mongooses or mongeese?

Kangaroos in the Australian Outback display designed by Steve Irwin, who had a memorial plaque next to the entrance.

Nanuk, the only polar bear born in the tropics. He looked so lonely.

I was very disappointed that I did not get to see Hugh Jackman.

One lazy fellow was lying on his back when another monkey came over,  cursorily removed one tick, then kicked him. Lazy guy rolled over and started grooming his kicker. The other picture that I didn't get because a crowd of laughing tourists were in the way -- two giant tortoises mating. They were loud, very very loud. And he took a really long time. He was still at it when we got bored and moved on. I wonder how she felt.

Eating out today

The diners at the tables around us were taking pictures of their food,  so I thought I would too.

Antipasti plank

Wagyu burger at the far end for L, a bowl of polenta chips to share, and cannelloni for me.

Monday night comfort dinner

Pasta with meatballs and homemade tomato sauce. L was too lazy to skin the tomatoes and grate the cheese (the yellow lumps loosely crumbled on top) but it tasted good anyway.

Breakfast at dinner time

There's something holidayish about having toast, sausage and eggs at an hour that's way later than brekkie time. 

Back to normal programming

The festive curries have come to an end, it's back to L's "patchwork" cooking. Tonight's dinner was meatball soup, made with all sorts of things chucked into the stock pot -- carrots, celery, gingko nuts and even a pork knuckle. It came together nice and meatily, and there's enough soup to last a day or two. It should be good with vermicelli rice noodles tomorrow.

Hari Raya is not over yet

More curry, dhal and biryani rice from the neighbours,

Eating all day

Breakfast

Mutton curry, chicken and sambal prawns from the neighbour's Hari Raya celebration.

Les roasted a chicken for dinner. That sausagey thing is a whole carrot wrapped in a bacon rasher and roasted with the chicken.

Saturday night dinner

Beef stew. Oxtail in Les's bowl, chunks of chuck tender in mine because I don't like fiddly bony bits of meat.

I had mine over ketupat, steamed cakes of pressed rice, left over from a Ramadan break-fast curry meal given to us by a neighbour. She cooked up a storm on the afternoon of the last day of Ramadan, and came over with the food before sundown because she wanted to share with us the specialities that they were having for their last break-fast. We felt more honoured than being invited over for Hari Raya, this was so much more intimate and family-like.

The surgeon is in

The patients. Most got by with minor surgery but one needed an amputation and another was too far gone to save.

The eager assistant. Also the culprit behind the patients' condition. You can tell by the glint in his eyes.

Day out

Played tourist and went to Gardens by the Bay in the late afternoon, and stayed for the sound and light show at dusk. Then walked over to Marina Bay Sands for dinner, and caught their sound and light show by the water.

The remains of the day

I wasn't even going to try and take a beautifully composed food-porn picture of my dinner when all the food bloggers do so much better. I'll just be perverse and take one of what's left on the plate when we're done with roast chicken and coleslaw, and cold cha soba noodles. An East meets West dinner.

Back to posting food pix

Went off my feed for almost 3 weeks when I was ill. Good way to lose weight, I guess. Equally good to come back eating when L has a chicken in the oven. He's a "let's see what we have in the fridge" sort of cook. Hence chicken stuffed with a lemon, and drizzled with more lemon, and draped with bacon rashers, then shoved into the oven to roast. Not found in any recipe book, but hey, that's OK. It was tangy and anything with bacon can't be bad. It had the dogs sitting under the table, patiently waiting.

Dream story

L had a dream about me last night.

I was walking a husky in a forest in winter. A bear suddenly came out of the forest and started chasing us. After running for a while, I said "eff this", and stopped to hide behind a tree. I told the husky, "You go look for a phone and call 999." The husky looked at me intelligently and ran off.

L has always said that he wanted to take me on a trip back to his beloved Toronto, especially in the winter. I have always demurred, especially the winter bit. This must be where it's all coming from. The loveliest thing though, is that I have a dog, a husky!

Been sick

Had a cough and a high fever that wouldn't abate after two days of antibiotics so the doctor insisted that I take a blood test for dengue. I don't have dengue, but the blood panel indicated something else -- I have thalassemia. In fact, I've had it for almost 50 years without knowing it -- it's genetic and I was born with it.

It's not a medical issue, more physiological, I suppose. And given that I'm not about to breed, I don't need to do anything about it. Otherwise, I'll have to go for genetic counselling.

In other words, life pretty much remains the same. It just feels weird to be told that you've got a condition for almost 50 years. It's like you always thought you are dark haired, and then someone comes along and says you haven't been looking in the mirror properly, and that you're really blonde.

Oh, and the cough and fever went away. It just took a little longer than two days.

Goodbye, friend

Wherever you are, there will be raucous laughter, lots of wine, good food, snazzy shoes, bright hair dye. And lots of animals, especially dogs.

All I have of you now are two dogs, both who came my way via you, one way or the other. I'm thankful for that. Every noselick from them is a like blessing from you. It is like having a little bit of you with us.

Every time you stepped into the house, the welcome that Queeni gave you was the sort that she would reserve for family members. The only other person she treats that way, other than the immediate pack, is my mother. That says so much. That you're more family than friend.

We sent you a card just two days ago, Les made a drawing of the dogs. I'm sad you won't see it. Sad that you were taken away from those who love you.

We will miss you here.

RIP, Christopher.

Children these days

I don't eat children for breakfast. Sometimes, I even get along with them.

Just last week, L and I were out at lunch and had a very nice conversation with an eight year old who was sitting at the next table with his mother. We already had our meal, and L had asked for the menu, trying to decide if he wanted a dessert. The young lad next to us was ordering his meal, and his mother let him decide on his appetiser, mains and dessert, and he was looking at the remains of our plates and working out if he had room for three courses -- maybe if he had a small appetiser and a manageable mains, there would be room for dessert. And then he started to work out what was manageable. L had a discussion with him on the merits of various desserts, and then the two of them made their respective choices. The boy had the gravitas of someone much older in his decision making (all kudos to his mother, who let him work things through on his own), though when his food arrived, he was squirming in his seat with anticipation like someone his age.

We said goodbye when we left, and L jokingly told the boy's mother to let him know if he was ever up for adoption.

"What's adoption?" the boy asked.

"It's when you live with someone else who's not your real mother and father, but they look after you and love you and they become your mother and father," she explained. "Maybe when you're a teenager," she raised her eyebrows at us.

"If I lived with you, you wouldn't be my father. You'd be my grandfather," said the boy, looking at L's white hair.

Touche. I've never seen L silenced by a child before

And then there are other children. The sort that run around and scream. Which was what happened today. When the tyke looked up at me in mid yell, I told him mildly: "You're a horrid little boy."

His reaction was one of astonishment. I don't think he's ever been told that before. I can't think why. But at least he fell silent.

"I don't know you. I don't have to like you. Especially when you're noisy."

His mother could hardly object, not after his public tantrum.

Maybe some children deserve to be eaten.

Didn't cook this weekend

(A frozen pizza doesn't count.)
This was the reason why.
Closest thing to a church on Sunday :)

Baking today

Might as well, the house is clean, the husband is cooking dinner tonight, there's nothing else to do.

Staying in on Saturday night

Udon in chicken and mushroom clear broth is reason enough. The bowl is so full of stuff, betcha you can't even see the udon.

Breakfast at 4pm

Bread and eggs, so it's breakfasty stuff. There's a fancy name for it, but I've long forgotten. I call it bread and egg muffin. You shape a slice of bread into a muffin pan, pour beaten egg into the hollow and stick it in the oven till it sets. Nice change from the usual toast.