2 tablespoons of maple syrup

Right after I graduated from university, I went on an extended trip to Australia. This graduation trip lasted 3 months which was the when and how I fell in love with Jester pies and Anzac biscuits. Although not as impossible to find as Jester pies, I hardly find Anzac biscuits being sold in Singapore. I am almost certain to buy one whenever I see one!

 Thus, when I saw the Anzac Biscuit Mix being sold at The Source Bulk Foods, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Lucky me was even offered a bottle (shelf life almost up) that was 50% off at the cashier! Definitely meant to be. Thankfully the instructions were simple enough. The mixture only required 3 additional ingredients of which the only item I did not have on hand was maple syrup.

 

So, I definitely can afford to buy myself some maple syrup but it is most certainly not a staple in my household and I do not wish to buy even the smallest bottle only to find it forgotten and expired months down the road. What to do??

 

Scratchbac to the rescue!! It appears to be not as well known as SG Assist and somehow I had the mistaken idea that it is only available to some estates?!?! But the objective is similar. Anyway, I finally got on it recently and I actually prefer the Telegram interface of Scratchbac compared to SG Assist app. 

This was only my second time using Scratchbac and after having no response via Olio, I was not hopeful... But I received not one but three offers to help! The very first respondent also happened to stay in the same condo as I do! So we met up the very same night with me receiving a carefully measured portion of maple syrup and her receiving some snacks from me just steps away from the comfort of our homes. 

 

I am just in awe by how technology has enabled the Chinese saying of 远亲不如近邻. Especially for someone like me who is relatively new to this estate; this is a pretty good way to connect with my new community! And I get to enjoy a batch of freshly baked Anzac biscuits... 🤤I do so love the taste! Shall be delivering a couple of them to my newfound friend in the estate too!! Thanks for scratching my back with the maple syrup!?!?!

 

Dates of Significance and Significant Days

I pay an extraordinary amount of attention to dates for some unknown reason. I remember birthdays, special days and commemorative dates quite well and often feel the need to acknowledge or celebrate such dates of significance so they can truly become significant days. 

Case in point, the birthdays of most of my close friends' are pretty deeply etched in my mind. I also notice patterns in these dates too, especially when co-related with horoscopes. Just recently, I pointed out to two of my gal pals this mysterious pattern in our birthdays.

                      24 Jan        24 01

                      14 Feb        14 02

                       4 Mar        04 03

So you can expect that I remember anniversary dates pretty well and most definitely expect my partners (current and past) to do so as well! And when any of these dates roll by, I think of that special someone and give thanks that our paths had crossed and for all the lessons gained. 

Then there are the national and international days which are so numerous and not always personally significant. But there are quite a few United Nations Observances that fall in this month of March which are pretty close to heart. 

• International Women's Day is easy to remember especially if you first learnt about it in Chinese. 三八妇女节 is also what I often use to help my Physics students memorise the speed of light. 
• Also due to my teaching background, I really enjoy having a pie on Pi Day which PM Lee also commemorated (here and here)! 
• I also particularly appreciate the existence of International Day of Happiness since happiness and joy really eluded me for a period of time. 
• Just yesterday, I found out the existence of World Wildlife Day, International Day of Forests and World Water Day which I think are not having the right level of attention to their significance in our current state of environmental crisis. 

However, the most significant day of this month has to be my wedding anniversary. A date I specifically picked to coincide with the day I first met my husband. And celebrate we did! With a relatively extravagant staycation at The Capitol Kempinski. This short getaway from home when borders are closed had been a great change of scene and a real pampering treat too!

Well, there is still one more (heartwrenching) date of significance for me coming up this month. I wonder if the tears will fall again when I think of Mr LKY.

More than raincoats..

Sometimes, I get really amazed how blind we can be to the things happening around us. To be perfectly honest (and guiltily so), the migrant workers in our country had been practically invisible to me for most of my life. I had been better at noticing the development in a construction site, the improvements to estate facilities, the beautification of a garden, the clearance of garbage and litter without once sparing a thought for the people who made those things happen. 

 

It takes a special person to notice that some in our society have become forgotten and in need of a voice and actually do something about it. Dipa Swaminathan is truly an inspiration and I have been following up on the blossoming of ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR). There is no denying the incredible work she and her team have been putting in to make a difference to the lives of our migrant brothers and sisters. So many times, reading the stories and viewing the photos of how lives have been positively impacted brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat.

Thus, I literally jumped at the opportunity to contribute in a way I can when the MADWISH call for teachers came to my notice. Since the Circuit Breaker in April 2020, I have been teaching English to a migrant worker via Whatsapp. More than just imparting knowledge, our interaction has led to a friendship which I would never have had if not for this programme.

More recently, the brainchild of one IRR volunteer came to fruition and Singaporeans can now (till 8th March 2021) donate their SingapoReDiscovers vouchers and sponsor a migrant worker to similarly enjoy our beautiful country! Although guiding steps are provided, the process might still be overwhelming for some - if so, ask me! More than willing to help.. :)

Today being the final (fifteenth) day of CNY (元宵节快乐!), another simple way to show care for our migrant workers is to donate your unopened and unexpired goodies to them. As the Chinese would say, 吃在嘴裡甜在心裡. Let's bring a taste of sweetness (regardless the goodie you are donating) to the lives of our migrant friends!

There really is so much more that we can do. If you like to contribute in other ways, check here for all their current campaigns. These tiny actions may seem insignificant, but the message they send out to not just the migrant workers but all Singaporeans in general is that we can make a positive difference. An individual effort may be small but each of us is capable of showing compassion. When one person sows that seed of loving-kindness, amazing things happen. Look what this Kampong Kaki is doing!

Chinese New Year Festivity

In 2021, to use the term "festivity" sounds like an overkill. Especially with the restrictions imposed on visiting due to the Covid-19 situation. For once, I have zero plans for the second day of the Niu (homophone to "new" which refers to the oxen year we are welcoming) year when this itinerary had been fixed since I can ever remember.

But Chinese New Year (CNY) had really changed in terms of its significance for me. From the carefree childhood when it was all about angbaos to vainer times when I spent time and money to find new clothes and shoes to now when all my grandparents had passed and I no longer buy in to that "necessity" to get everything new. I had expected this CNY to be subdued.

Unless marketing delicious CNY goodies can count as part of the festivity, I had not intended to do more than sending out bright cheery CNY cards (from MFPA) to all the relatives I cannot visit this year. 

However, I was unexpectedly gifted with a CNY plant that is gorgeously decked out in red. 😍 It immediately brought in the CNY atmosphere at home.

Then, I received a surprise CNY goodie bag of mandarin oranges and pineapple tarts from the tuition centre I am teaching at. I was so touched by this gesture (never realised till now how much I missed similar gestures by all the schools I had taught at!) that I was inspired to DIY some angbao lanterns to help enhance the CNY ambience at the centre. I really wanted to make this beautiful flower ball but square angbao envelopes are so rare!

Seven Star Lantern

Easiest Lantern Ever!

Lucky Star Lantern - great for students in a tuition centre!

Finally, in a rather out-of-character fashion, we ordered drinks by the carton because they were on sale. 👉👈  I was just eyeing my favourite Sparkling Fuji Apple and maybe some beer but the hubby added on for future drinking sessions! The cheap deal and free delivery are hard to resist! 😝

So if you are similarly free during this CNY, my house has drinks, Bee Cheng Hiang bak kwa (another gift received by hubby), pineapple tarts and a more livened than usual CNY ambience to welcome you! There is also mahjong, Harry Potter scrabble and Netflix available for entertainment 😆 Or for a healthier option, Bukit Timah Hill is a stone's throw away!

Oh! And to really add on to the festivity, here's a CNY song by MICappella!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

Li NaiNai is my Ah Bo!

Disclaimer: I am the self-proclaimed artistic director of this marketing strategy and I have been commissioned to put up this post. But, I am also one of the family members who have been tasting these goodies for nearly 40 years and I can personally attest to the claims here!

Leave a comment or dm me for enquiries!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Li NaiNai is an undiscovered genius homebaker who is finally selling her bakes this year! She has been baking her tasty CNY goodies for more than 4 decades. What used to be the exclusive enjoyment of her family and friends can now be yours as well! With more than 40 years of experience, honing skills, gathering feedback and experimenting ingredients, Li NaiNai is confident that her mouthwatering bites made of the best ingredients will be second to none. Try them for yourself!

 

李奶奶是一位有天赋的家庭糕点师, 她烘烤美味的新年糕点已有40多年了。今年她终于开始售卖自己烤制的产品了！曾经是她的家人和朋友的独家享受，现在也可以成为您的乐趣。

40多年来，李奶奶不间断的磨练技巧，听取意见并且试验不同的食材。她坚信，她以最佳食材制成的创作是垂涎欲滴又首屈一指的。您快来试试看吧！

 

Homemade and handmade with love, Li NaiNai will only be able to churn out a limited quantity, order yours today to avoid disappointment!

李奶奶坚持制饼工序必须亲力亲为，这样糕饼就会充满爱意，因此将只能限量发售以下三种糕饼。今天就订购您的，以免向隅！ 欢迎来电咨询！

 

Cornflake Biscuits *玉米片糕饼*

This bitesize biscuit is dainty, crispy and super addictive! 

You will never be able to stop at one as you listen to the crunch with each bite. 

Great on its own and elevated when paired with your favourite coffee or tea.

 

这小巧玲珑的糕饼非常美味，酥脆并且超级上瘾！ 
 

一口接著一口您将停不下来！

与您最喜欢的咖啡或奶茶搭配时更提升口感。

 

 

Burnt Butter Cookies  *焦黄油饼干* 

There is only one way to describe how this cookie melts in your mouth – heavenly! 

Shaped like the sun, each cookie is “burnt” to perfection to make your tastebuds sing and feel your heart warmed. 

The best part is you do not have to stand in long queues to get this!

 

 只有一种方式可以描述这饼干入口即化的感觉 - 赞！ 

形状像太阳，每个饼干都被 “烧” 到完美状态，唤醒您的味蕾并暖和您的心灵。 

最好的是您不必排长队就可以得到它！

  

Pineapple Balls (and XL-balls)  
*菠萝球（和XL球）* 

This hot favourite loved by family members of Li NaiNai is made with a secret-never-to-be-named ingredient and comes in two different sizes for good reason. 

The tasty pastry surrounding the pineapple filling is so sought after that Li NaiNai especially made the XL version so that more of it can be savoured with each serving! 

If you prefer a balance of the tangy filling and buttery pastry then the original Pineapple Ball is exactly what you are looking for!

 

 这是李奶奶家人们的最爱。它采用一个从未被透露的秘密成分制成的，是李奶奶独门精心配方。

为何有大有小? 由于饼皮松脆味道浓郁非常受欢迎，李奶奶特别制作了XL版本，以便每口都能吃到更多饼皮，满足大家的欲望！
 

如果您偏爱在美味黄梨馅和黄油状的饼皮之间取得平衡，那么原版精致的菠萝球绝对是您最棒的选择！

 

 

All the crafty things I did in 2020

I hope the first thing you thought of was nothing deceitful; I am referring to decorative stuff that I DIY!

I do not consider myself to be a creative person. To me, a truly creative artist innovates and produces something out of nothing with pure inspiration. I am not at all that way. Sometimes I really envy the artists I come across and drool over their artwork which seemed to come alive so effortlessly. I am a huge fan of My Modern Met!

That said, I am relatively good at copying, adapting and following the creative works of others which sometimes also produces some aesthetically pleasing pieces. At least in my eyes. 😛 In any case, I do enjoy art and crafts very very much. 

As mentioned previously, I started a BuJo in 2020 and I certainly poured most of my "creative" juice into it throughout the year. Pinterest had been an enormously helpful resource for many pages. I practised both faux calligraphy and brush calligraphy and small little doodles in odd spaces left blank within the pages. However, for the monthly covers, I really tried to plan and "perfect" them. So here is a look at all of them at a go!

Other than using it for my BuJo, Pinterest is also where I found inspiration for the following design I pencilled into this little concrete corner of our newly renovated kitchen! Although it is quite a hidden corner that you don't really notice the white patch but it just feels like the perfect spot to make a home for my non-existent pet rat.

 

 

Another favourite platform of mine is Canva. It is so user-friendly and the best thing is that it has such a treasure trove of templates!! Best for someone like me who is better at modifying than creating. So for the whole year of 2020, my friends received Canva-designed birthday "cards" from me. Hahaha... Besides birthday cards, I often fall back on Canva to create non-copyright version of images I want to use on this blog. Real lifesaver. Here is a sample of other stuff I made, including a work proposal, my birthday invitation and some cheer-up notes for migrant workers.

When Circuit Breaker started, the thought of having to stay home for long hours compelled me to purchase these Diamond Art sets online. I am pretty certain that I had been scammed as they turned out to be much smaller (and therefore blur images) than expected but at least they arrived instead of getting mysteriously lost after payment. However, the environmentally friendly me does not approve of the amount of plastic involved in the production of these sets. More microplastic getting into the stomachs of our fishes. 🙁

      

 

 

 

Finally, just before the year was done, I got down to completing this DIY zero waste craft that I was inspired to do. Upcycled an old and overused but perfectly sized chopping board after scouring through numerous suggestions on Pinterest and deciding on my own preferred design. So spoilt doorbell is now successfully replaced and it will never spoil again.. 😏

So what do you say? Am I creative? Or crafty?

Year End Report Card

Last day of 2020. 

I am very proud to say that I have managed to blog every single day this entire month completing Mothership's 31 Day Reflection Challenge. Considering that I started this blog back in 2012, the total number of posts I put up this year alone (11 for once every month + 31 in the final month) exceeded the total number of posts I put up in previous years. 🙄 Anyway, today's topic is "Free Space" so I had been cracking my brain for a few hours and finally decided that a report card is in order!

So yeah, I only gave myself an overall B grade. I really wanted to give myself an A for frequency this year but once a month blog really doesn't cut it and this December I was relying on external help. Hope to up the game to at least twice a month next year. For points 2 to 4, I think I had tried my best. Every post has at least an image or video. Although to be able to blog everyday, I resorted to blogging from my phone rather than sitting in front of the computer which resulted in rather many ultra short posts and not being able to change the ugly hard-to-read default font.

On value-addedness and usefulness, it is really difficult for me to say. I naturally make it a point to blog about things I would think will value-add and be useful but that really depends on who is reading it, isn't it? Can I get some feedback on this please?!?! Leave me a comment or you can complete a report card for me too!