with every end comes a beginning

i will miss 2008. it has been such an eventful year for me from the completion of my overseas attachment in shanghai to graduating from school and even backpacking to taiwan with my secondary school friends. well the commencement of my national service term definitely has a great impact on my life but what the hell, one step forward one step done.

the year also marks the parting of ways, walking down different paths in life. i guess what's important is that we still meet up regularly if not once in a while to catch up and reminisce the good old days we once had together and at the same time fill one another in on the miserables and happenings of our lifes now. thanks to all my friends and i miss you people.

but life is full of surprises and my oh my how true it is that when we least expect, something comes flying at as at mach two. i believe that taking it in one's stride will probably make life more meaningful and interesting, i mean you only live once so experience it all. gosh, look at my gibberish thoughts that don't even flow smoothly.

in the year 2008 i've traveled thrice and hopefully it will last me through 2009 and some of 2010 as i dont think i will be able to travel while serving. but sigh, how i miss the feeling of travel and those getting lost somewhere moments that makes your heart fly and your feet happy. and for those who get the opportunity to travel, don't even doubt for a second and just grab your passport.

i really have no idea what else to type but i know i've been mean at times and naughty but what the hell, there's times where i am good and kind too and if i've made you angry, my sincere apologies. everyone has a bad day, sometimes. but let's all be forgiving and have a peaceful time cause the year is coming to an end. so happy new year 2009.

where is my christmas

as i am sipping on my tea infused with nutmeg and ginger while looking at pictures of christmas in tokyo on flickr, i thought to myself how i wished to be there now. looking back at home ground, the festive mood is sadly pathetic with the miserable christmas lightings on orchard road and how everyone is everywhere due to whatever reasons and situations.

as the classical pieces from brahm's symphony no.1 to rachmaninov piano concerto no.2 plays on, i'm feeling awefully down almost to the point of being depress. times have change and it's not as simple anymore where i can easily gather people for a christmas dinner. with my up coming posting looming like a grey cloud, i've somehow lost my christmas.

maybe tomorrow maybe friday, i will seek solitude in the lobby of a hotel with a tree all dressed up in the splendors of lights and colours. but then everything simple goes away as i walk out the door, the grey cloud is still in the distance and the lights are still miserable. and the music changes.

imagine a cold raining night along the streets where the christmas lights shine warmly like the thousands of fireflies in the night, and as everyone rushes off with umbrellas in hand with their gaze on the ground; the world suddenly becomes so lonely yet peaceful. i guess it's the cold, warming our hands with our breath but the festive lights seems to bring that calm solitude that you can stare at until the day breaks.

soup rice and sashimi

Its been quite awhile since i cooked something from Izakaya and knowing myself that i dont wanna hassle myself with complicated preparations, i chose Horoyoi styled ochazuke. Our chef used dashi stock in place of freshly brewed green tea and although this variation seems like a normal rice in soup dish, it's nevertheless delicious.

The bits of nori adds flavor to the rice and the black sesame enhances the aromatics and did i mentioned that the par cook slices of maguro and hamachi are exceptionally sweet? I'm gonna play around with ochazuke more and the next time i am gonna be pouring dashi stock over mushroom and shrimp tempura. but anyway i will wanna try the original ochazuke too.

When i woke up in the morning, the heavens above are seemingly dancing to the same music as the rain was falling all afternoon and boy was it chilly in the house; ideal for ochazuke. and how I love days like this as the kitchen gets warmed up from the cooking, providing an aromatic escape from the chill creeping silently around the house.

plum and honey nectarine

it's autumn and a nice warm italian plum and honey nectarine crumble seems ideal for a sunday afternoon. my oven's getting rusty after sleeping for weeks and it has also been awhile since i baked something. inspirations gather as i browse around the supermarket and as i'm a little lazy, making something with cream or even melting butter seems tedious.

the plums are sweet and the nectarines aromatic, with a cinnamon almond crumble i guess there's no way but to laze on my sofa as it bakes in the oven. i love the bubbling of the juices, shades of purple and red as you take them out of the oven. it's a pity non of it overflowed and drip down the sides of the ramekins of it would look even more tempting.

this little number over here is really one simple dessert but oh my what surprises spices bring to desserts. just a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg made it a sinful one. when the feller's baking in the oven , the crumble fills the kitchen with a crisp buttery aroma. and when you take it out the bubbling juices awaken you with the fragrance of the stone fruits.

serve it warm and every spoon is a blissful scoop of happiness. no wonder great things come in small packages.