* transfer • delete • transfer • delete *

And here I am again desperately clearing photos which I haven’t got the time to do so.

Although I must admit this time round I’m not under tremendous pressure having to cope with itinerary planning, houseworks, clearing pics. I left this holiday to the man, 带我去卖我也不知道😂。

I notice a pattern, I’m always in urgency to delete whenever I am going on a trip. On normal days when I can find the time, I will delete but I do them slowly. I wouldn’t know when is the next time I can find the time to delete photos again. How about the albums with the photos I need for iMovie? Currently I have 2 albums where it’s ready for video editing when and IF I can find the time to do so. Most times the project is left in the app. 

Sigh……. I’m not joking when I say I need a time away from home in a hotel on an island perhaps with no distraction and I’ll probably finish up my iMovies. Bring my laptop and hard disk to transfer all my pics. I need wifi tho! 

TB to 22nd Dec 2019

Desperately clearing photos in phone and came across these photos taken in Desert Hot Springs, CA. 

The day we arrived in hotel late coz we drove long distance + many many breaks in between to stretch out legs etc.. 

Hubby came back to the car after checking-in. “Guess what? They ran out of rooms. And guess what they gave us a suite now.” 

I laughed at us eating our packed dinner from Stater Bros. Macam like trying to act rich and post in Instagram, but behind doors 很可怜 must eat cheap cheap food 😂 

 

汤圆汤圆吃汤圆

Singapore’s latitude at 1.3521 *N makes us in the northern hemisphere 😂, so by right we should be experiencing winter ☃️❄️ Winter solstice is an astronomical event making the shortest day and longest night of the year in the hemisphere. We still get 12 hrs of day and night just coz 1+ *N makes no difference. 😂

Chinese communities globally eat 汤圆. Key Reasons for the Tradition are : 

1) Symbol of Reunion: The roundness of the balls signifies the family coming together, just as the sun begins its return after the longest night.

• 2) Completeness: Eating them signifies a complete and harmonious year ahead.
• 3) "Gaining a Year": Eating tangyuan marks the end of the year and symbolically adds one year to your age, preparing you for the new cycle.
• 4) Homophone for Reunion: The word tangyuan(湯圓) sounds like tuanyuan (團圓), meaning reunion, reinforcing the family theme.

I’m using ginger paste coz I don’t have any ginger in the kitchen 😬

The girls like theirs plain. Bought the riceballs late so there’s no peanut or sesame fillings 🤨

Currywurst

Finally ate the bratwurst today! 😂

To think that I was craving for this so badly 3 months ago in September. Delayed going down to buy the items in October. Finally only eating this in December. I guess the craving wasn’t that strong.

KIV more ah-soh things from JPN?

Azuma Sm@rt777 Smart Bathtub Washing FM telescopic handle brush with magnetic storage. 

　¥2980

Should I ask che-che to help me buy since she’s going there soon? 

When it’s rainy

Cooling weather at this time of the year means the towels in the bathroom can’t seem to dry properly. Today’s humidity level in the house is 82% . OMG! 

Thankfully the heated drying rack not only help me expedite my laundry but also a quick rescue mission like this today.

Brought the towels out under the heater as I was drying the floor mats

soupe à l'oignon gratinée

Soupe à l'oignon gratinée was the first soup I drank in the now no-longer-exist The French Stall. I can still remember how I had to pull the cheese. French onion soup is usually quite difficult to find in some western food restaurants ( it’s always the cream of mushroom or cream of chicken) in SIN, so if I do come across it in the menu I would order. 

10th Dec (Wed)

Shopping for ingredients. I’m lost for choices in the wines section. I’m glad they have small bottles of wines for sale. 

Bought this Shiraz Cabernet 

15th Dec (Mon)

Saya tak boleh tahan the onions. I menangis when I was cutting them. 😂

Transferred the soup into this pot coz I needed Ms Thermie to cook dinner. One regret as I looked into this pot, I should have put the thyme in a stock bag so I don’t have to deal with the bits and pieces floating in the soup and risked having the girls fussing about and not drinking.yup! They’re that irritating fussy! Next time their kids will do the same to them, just like I did to my mom 😂. It runs in da family …..

RECIPE USED :

It was a crazy mix of cooking today. Cooked angmoh soup, and cooked the Chinese dishes for our dinner 😂. Lil’ one drank some soup although she said it tastes different. I feel it tastes the same just that it’s oily. 

Time to pack the soup. I can’t remember when and where (online) I bought these silicone tray. I have another one tray which is probably 150ml?? 

Left with this amount of red wine

16th Dec (Tue) 

@ 2+ took these out and started packing them. First time I’m doing this kind of packing at 50yrs old 😉. I love it when I see the soup all frozen in perfect cubes. Then the saddest thing happened. Although I was diligent to just take one tray out from the freezer at a time, and trying to work as fast as I can. My first two packs didn’t have perfect cuboid shape the moment I vacumn seal them. Somehow there are some liquid soup and it got vacumned and dirtied my sealer. Weather too hot? I need to do this kind of job in a huge chiller? My last pack, yes with saving grace, turns out well. Yah coz while I was grouching over the imperfect packing for the two I put the tray back in the freezer for a while 

Ps. I just learnt that a chamber vacumn sealer works well for those with liquid. Machine is huge!

I left the last tray of two cubes untouched coz I wanted to try the soup in the evening.

I love how the cubes come out so beautiful.

Slightly less than 200ml will fill up this bowl to this height, a manageable portion I would say. I don’t have baguette so used the Low GI multigrain bread we have at home 

While looking for recipes I came across recipes asking for one thing or the other. The following will be those doubtful questions I have. 

研究过的食谱

Why some recipes ask for bay leaf and some don’t? Why some ask for white wine and others ask for red wine? Lastly why some recipes ask for butter and some don’t? 

Question 1 : What does Bay leaf do? 

Bay leaves add a subtle, earthy, slightly minty, and complex background aroma to French onion soup, enhancing the sweet caramelized onions and savory broth without

overpowering them, creating a deeper "je ne sais quoi" flavor that is key to the soup's comforting profile, often alongside thyme. They infuse the broth slowly during simmering but must be removed before serving as they are tough and bitter if eaten.

What it does

• Adds depth: Infuses a savory, woodsy, herbal note that complements the onions and beef broth.
• Enhances other flavors: Acts as a flavor enhancer, making the overall taste more complex and less one-dimensional.
• Provides aroma: Contributes to the rich, comforting smell of the soup as it simmers. 

How to use it

• Add early: Place whole bay leaves in the broth as it simmers for a long time to extract flavor.
• Remove before serving: Always take out the leaves before ladling the soup into bowls, as they don't soften and can be unpleasant.
• Use sparingly: One or two leaves are usually enough; too many can make the soup bitter.

Question 2 : Does using olive oil only, butter only or both makes any difference to the soup? 

It is not strictly necessary to use olive oil for French onion soup, but some form of fat is required to caramelize the onions. Traditionally, butter is the primary fat used for its flavor, though a blend of butter and olive oil is common in modern recipes. 

Why Fat is Needed

The fat is crucial for the foundational step of the soup: caramelizing the onions. This process develops the rich, sweet, and deep flavor that defines French onion soup. Without fat, the onions would burn or steam rather than brown. 

Options for Cooking Fat

• Butter (Traditional): Many classic and authentic recipes use all butter for its distinct rich flavor.

• Butter and Olive Oil Blend (Common): This is a popular approach in modern cooking because the olive oil helps raise the smoke point of the butter, preventing it from burning during the long caramelization process. This is a great option for balancing flavor and ease of cooking.
• Olive Oil Only: You can use only olive oil, which makes the soup a bit lighter and dairy-free/vegan if using vegetable stock. High-quality extra virgin olive oil can add a unique, peppery or fruity flavor complexity to the dish.
• Other Fats: Duck fat is another rich option used by some chefs, which can be skimmed off later. 

In conclusion, while olive oil provides benefits like a higher smoke point and health benefits, butter is generally considered more traditional. A blend is often the best compromise for flavor and ease of preparation.

One thing that I left SQ without the skills is the ability to taste wines. Yah! We had to try the wines and say it’s fruity or floral bouquet. 我实在太烂了 I can’t tell. Simi full bodied and what nots, all I taste is the horrible taste. To Mr John Chua, the sommelier and CCE/T whom I met while I was working in the bank 我领你太失望了。

Difference between Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon offers structured dark fruit (blackcurrant, cherry) with earthy notes (mint, cedar, graphite) and firm tannins, while Shiraz (Syrah) is bolder, fruitier (blackberry,plum, spice), often with peppery, smoky, or meaty undertones, and generally smoother tannins, making Cab more age-worthy and Shiraz more approachable young, though blends offer a mix. 

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Flavors: Blackcurrant, black cherry, blackberry, often with mint, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, or chocolate notes from oak.

• Structure: Full-bodied, high tannins, firm acidity, creating a complex, dry finish.

• Profile: Elegant, structured, great for aging. 

Shiraz (Syrah)

• Flavors: Ripe blackberry, plum, sweet red fruit, with distinct black pepper, spice, smoke, or meaty notes.

• Structure: Full-bodied, powerful, but often with smoother, more moderate tannins than Cab.

• Profile: Bold, fruit-forward, often enjoyed younger for its vibrancy. ®

Key Differences Summarized

• Fruit vs. Spice: Cab leans to dark, tart fruit; Shiraz to rich, ripe fruit with spicy/peppery hints.

• Tannins: Cab is tannic and structured; Shiraz is smoother, more supple.

• Aging: Cab excels in cellars; Shiraz is great for immediate drinking. 

Question 3 : Is Shiraz Cabernet or Cabernet Sauvignon better for cooking french onion soup?  

** few cooks attest that Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir give food it’s stunning flavour. 

A recipe I came across asked for white wine. Huh? 🤔 Aiyoh! I’m not going to link any websites related to the wines anymore, I need to get this post posted now (a week later and I’m still drafting this post)

Pleasing to the eyes

When I suddenly want to make my food look a little nicer.

#additionalthingstowashnow#

Turned this plain yoghurt

Into this nicer looking serving presentation.

Added some blueberry sauce

Presentation matters

Che-che had to pour her bubble tea back at home coz I think I heard she said it was too sweet (?). She took whatever glass was nearest to her. 

The itchy hand aka borliao me had to bring out the tray and place cookies there.

Totally upped the presentation. 

Jellycat cafe

Rushed to bring lil’ one out this week coz next week a company would like her to do a trial. Meaning she’ll be back working after 4 weeks of break. 

I know this is on her TO-DO list

She’s so happy surrounded by so many plushies.  

Her must have - French onion soup

Biscoff latte jellycat 

Mr K consists of osmanthus, passion fruit & earl grey tea

Classic fish n chips 

Bangers and mash 

She likes this ravioli and was hinting that she wants this on her graduation bouquet. I’m deaf I’m deaf I didn’t hear what she said

Didn’t buy a lot of cakes home. Only bought 2 Xmas special cakes

In the night :

ate this blackforest Swiss roll

*edited on 15/12

Are the matcha pistachio Christmas tree cake

Work Study Diploma

As lil’ one ends her internship and 3 months to graduation we need to know what’s her next step?

a) polytechnic. That was what she wanted, ideally what I wanted too. But … grades. Sad to say everything in SIN is based on merits. 

b) private 

c) work study diploma 

“You wouldn’t know”

Everything is so uncertain, we have no idea if she’ll be successful in her application in Feb after the release of her final results. Her grades isn’t the fantastic kind, that will put her in the ‘you choose what course you want, not the course choose her’ edge. 

We all know COP or GPA for Business related courses are usually much lower (COP) or higher (GPA) as compared to nursing, IT, engineering courses. We just have to be realistic, she was so insistent to concentrate on studying, on polytechnic. I would have preferred her to do that too but if she’s not the theory kind of learner then how? 

For poly application, she was selected to do the entrance test but didn’t get called for interview with Temasek Poly after that so she probably didn’t pass. 🤭

Next intake will be in Feb, but her results isn’t that fantastic. So there’s the worry that she might not make it. 

Application window period for first round : 3rd Nov - 12th Dec. For those who initially didn’t want to apply but decide to, can apply during their second round of application : 5th Jan - 27th Feb. All application is for their April 2026 intake. 

What is work study diploma?

Students in the WSDip programme, introduced in 2018, work full-time and attend courses at ITE concurrently. It typically takes 2½ to three years for an ITE graduate to earn a diploma.Students in the WSDip programme, introduced in 2018, work full-time and attend courses at ITE concurrently. It typically takes 2½ to three years for an ITE graduate to earn a diploma.

Open to mainly ITE graduates, the WSDip programmes partner about 900 companies, which employ the students and provide them with mentorship and work experience.

She did the application on 1st Dec by listing the courses she wants. Actually she only wants to do HR but she couldn’t leave the other 4 blank. Listed option as :

1) Human Resource Mgt [College Central]

2) Event Management [College Central]

3) Customer Experience Management (Aviation Services) [College East]

4) Accountancy [College Central]

5) Hotel & Restaurant Management [College West]

Realised she didn’t update her résumé 🤨 after her recent intern ended. Couldn’t send any attachments coz she has her attachments all over the place 😖🤦🏻‍♀️ something is in pdf, dunno what certificate using the phone scanner. So untidy! Thank goodness we have scanner at home, made her scan the items into the laptop. By the time we finished, I was mentally tired. Next day. We will do the submission next day 

2nd Dec (Tue) 

Once we go into the portal, they listed all the companies for the 5 courses you indicate. She was adamant to only choose HR companies, no event companies no aviation 😂. In the end, she submitted applications to 7 companies.  观音菩萨 please por pi por pi her. 

Companies selected :

1) HA @ Kaki Bukit

2) V @ Tampines ✅ 

3) C @ Ubi ✅ 

4) HE @ MacPherson

5) S @ Ubi ✅ 

6) D @ Seletar

7) R @ Changi ✅

3rd Dec (Wed)

We were out and didn’t notice the missed calls. She returned the phonecall at close to 3pm. As we arrived into Funan carpark, told her to check if the phonecall came from any company or scam call 😆. Didn’t want her to return call in the noisy mall, asked her to return call in the car. She didn’t want me to hear the convo and kicked me out of the car 🤣. Aunty ah! Your mother is feeling so hot standing outside k? 

Company R called and wanted to arrange an interview. First round will be online, only selected applicants will be notified and proceed to the second round. She chose the online interview to be conducted on Friday

4th Dec (Thu) 

at 11am received an email / notification from Company S. She has to answer some questions first.  

At 3pm, received a phonecall from Company V to arrange for an interview. They hastily arranged for one the next day. Wah. Heng ah..I didn’t plan to bring her out or made any booking for movie. 

Only did the questions at home in the late afternoon as requested by Company S close to dinner. By the time she submitted it, it was already past office hours. I wonder what impression she left for them for not being prompt in her reply. So does it mean she has to make sure she keeps her phone diligently on ringing tone next to her now? Or should she just stay at home? 

5th Dec (Fri)

10am : in person interview with V. 

Just arrived home not long after (close to 11am) and after she showered aka washed the whole toilet, told me S returned back and asked her to choose the timing for in-person interview on Wed 10th 

2pm : online interview with R

Taped this sign to the door, have to warn just incase we forget or someone opens the door abruptly and asked loudly “Aricia what do you want for dinner?” 

9th Dec (Tue)

I was reading through WSD website and noticed that some companies might want the student to start working earlier, before the school term commences in April. I asked her about it. How was I to know I jinxed mouth 😅 the next day.

10th Dec (Wed)

9am - 9.45am : In person interview with Company S. 

Dropped her off at 8.48am as I wasn’t sure of this whole Ubi place. 

Ulu place, basically no mall nearby to while away my time. Armed with my fans 😂 and stayed in the car. 

That got me thinking, we started with the application rather late. If we had done it when this opens, does it mean the interviews would have been conducted when she was doing her internship? Or do they consolidate all applicants ? How do they select then? When will they inform that the applicant is successful? 

Somehow altho 我心痒痒很想出一个国 (so tempted to go HKG or BKK for food hunting) glad that I didn’t plan to travel in December. But what happens if they inform in Jan when we’re away? Aiyoh! Torlong torlong 观音菩萨 please work your magic and have at least 1-2 companies want her and inform us sooner. We have no idea if competition is tough? But she has the experience and is familiar with most responsibilities indicated in their recruitment page. Please put this cutey girl at an advantage, be top of their list. How many applicants in the company ultimately? 

All done at 9.39am.

Spent $4.36 on parking  for sitting inside the car

As usual would check with her on how the interview went. She was offered to do a trial first. Huh? Naturally I was wondering if the trial was for the company to see where her skills are at and decide whether they want to sponsor her, but she says the trial is for her to see whether she is comfortable with the company. Afterall if she takes up this offer she’ll be stuck in the company for 2.5 years. If she gives up halfway she has to pay back the $$. 😳 Anyway she’s an accounting student with HR internship experience, so I think she has a little more advantage over others. 

Trial starts next week. So soon! I guess coz we’re travelling in early Jan so the next 3 weeks will probably give her a gauge whether she’s comfortable with them. If she confirms to take up the offer, they can settle all the arrangements so that she can enjoy her holiday in peace. 

Why didn’t her internship company didn’t opt for this WSD program? 

I asked her why they’re not in the program. If they are, would it be a good idea for her to go back or should she have a change of environment? The colleagues are very nice there, her supervisor is very good to her.

According to her, it’s a NPO so they will have problem finding funds to sponsor a student. 

12th Dec (Fri)

She received an email from Company C. Another option for her. 

I think will have to give some days after today’s closing application date for them to decide. No sure if she’ll get a third offer somewhere else. I’ll just end my blog for now and get this posted out. 

Qué será,será

Not sure if she’ll continue with this WSD or if she wants to risk her chances in poly application, or ultimately end up being a private student. Really I told her it’s all up to 观音菩萨 to plan everything for her, based on what’s best for her. She’s a hardworking girl so whatever lies ahead of her I’m sure she’ll make good for it.