the winner takes it all

i've watched the movie mamma mia! and gosh was it absolutely fabulous. something no one should miss. the abba classics sang by an awesome cast that includes meryl streep, julie walters and pierce brosnan. filmed on a several greek islands, the breathtaking scenery and backdrop gave the show a beautiful setting.

the scene that left the greatest impression was when streep sang "the winner takes it all", with such emotions and power it was her best song in the show. the lyrics and meaning reflecting her role and situation in the show really well.

you have to catch the show cause it's super trouper wonderful, how can you resist.

coffee and a novel

when the rain falls for days and the ground becomes a mirror reflecting the heavens above, the track is hidden but the train rolls on as though gliding on the water surface. and when the rain falls no more, all is still and the skies meet on the horizon like twins facing the other. on nights like this the cresent moon shines in the cloudless sky dusted with stars. magnifique.

these days the kitchen comes to a halt as i laze around listening to the crickets cry under the scorching sun. and in the midst of the comfortless heat, i came to enjoy swimming. a temporary escape in the cool of the waters with the breeze bringing moments of relief. yawns, and i am feeling sleepy already.

whats for lunch

soups in the afternoon seems kinda weird but oh well, i needed the day light for the photographs. but anyway i have been yearning to make myself a pot of clam chowder since months ago and my can of pacific clams have been sitting the kitchen cabinet waiting for a good old sunday when the ingredients are gathered.

well you see i have been looking high and low for a soup bowl that is pretty enough for my clam chowder, i refused to use the normal porcelain as the soup is already creamed coloured. hence the delay in making the soup. but the delay was a good thing though, i found a recipe that can pair off with the chowder.

a shell made of grated potato baked till crisp and golden brown, a dollop of mashed egg with mayonnaise made pretty with some arugula and luxurious with a slice of smoked salmon. the recipe called for alfalfa leaves, those larger kinds but i couldnt find any in the supermarket hence the salad green.

enthrallment

i've gotten my hands on a copy of izakaya and i gave in to my gastronomic desires, absorbing every photo in the book page after page. as i move from one photo to another, i made small notes in my mind which ones i am so gonna attempt first, then comes the reading of the descriptions and glancing of the recipes.

The last of which i have yet to do, is to read the interesting story of each izakaya and what differenciates them. all at the same time increasing my desire to hop on a plane and visit these izakayas, the only thing stopping me is the consequence of burning a never ending hole in my wallet.

a waltz to jason's at paragon will make my sunday scrumptiously exciting.

cuisine a la japonaise

Lately i have been pretty exhilarated about the art of preparing japanese eats. And yes i wanna get my hands on Izakaya, a cookbook that features dishes from japanese pubs. imagine those red lanterns hanging outside and barrels of sake, not forgeting the alluring aroma of grilled meat that perfumes the air and draws people like me in.

ahhh but yes, the book is somewhat expensive and up till today i have never really invested in cookbooks. well there's always a first in everything so they say and it's fundamentally crucial to get your first footing right. the book is gonna make me part with forty three dollars and seventy cents, so someone buy the book for me please.

i apologise about the missing dessert entry on sunday as i was or rather i seemed to be in the mystical world of japanese cuisine. i couldnt decide what i wanna bake and i got off to a bad start on the weekends. the ingredients lacking and the thought of going out to get them kinda made me all lazy and and i guess excuses are not gonna work this time.

so i got myself two pretty bowls, japanese inspired design and i am already having a whale of a time thinking what delicious eats i can put in them and let my camera snap away. i have long wanted to make kurigohan, for those of you who's shouting "english pls" it means chestnut rice. and i have yet to find an ideal side dish to go with it. think autumn.

one thing i must say is that japanese cuisine is really something to be respected and i am gonna invest in a whole set of japanese tableware. makes the photos more kirei des ne. oh my it's only monday, i simply look forward to the weekends. no wait, i look forward to thursdays and fridays as they're shop for ingredient days too. beams.

a gathering at the crossroads

as we move on in life friends naturally come and go like the flipping of the calender pages, then there's the small groups of friends that we usually hang out with. however due to my vacation module i met a whole group of people from different courses. people who if not for the event of study, i will never have known.

its like a gathering of people for a sole common purpose, people from different walks of life with different interest and surprise surprise, we've become friends after meeting at a crossroad in life. and just yesterday i met up with some friends for dinner, some of them i have not seen for over a year or since we parted ways when the module ended.

the catching up and crazy discussions about everything over dinner, i so look forward to gatherings like this. a memorable evening of laughter and happy voices made the a wonderful end for the business week. and yes we caught wall e at night and although some of them had to leave after dinner.

as friends come and go in life, it's always a delight to meet up again over a meal. and this i hold onto dearly for the many crossroads in life only happen once.

let the rain fall

i love the rain when it falls for the feeling and atmosphere it brings to the city is simply unique. you know those mornings when you awake to the thundering sky and peltering drops of rain that makes everything seemed hidden by the veil of rain drops. i adore those mornings. it makes the lights spilling out into the dark so warm and welcoming.

and when you get to school, those warm lights beckon you in and then, the voices of your friends makes everything merry as the thunder and lightning continue to have it their way, outside in the grey. but now when the rain falls there's no laughter from the classroom, the warm lights have flown away and suddenly the grey outside seems inviting.

all i have is my solitude to enjoy the rainy days. everytime i hope and pray for that little attention you'll give me, the distance between us a hundred meter sprint. sometimes the simple pretense i detest, for the act is shattering. thus for now i pray, for the rain to fall and let the tatter of the rain drops on my window to give me a feeling of warmth.