Breakfast at Thomson’s :-)

I’ve never been a fan of oatmeal. Sticky, slightly slimy – the texture wasn’t right for me. But the part that got to me the most was the taste. No matter what I added to it, it made me gag after three spoonfuls. It’s a pity because I know oatmeal is ridiculously good for you so I tried every now and then to strike up the friendship but it just wouldn’t work. Until today.

Now, I’ve always been able to eat oatmeal in cookie form which led me to thinking if I could try and add some of the flours from the cookies to the bowl of porridge instead.  And what motivated me even more was these links that talk about overnight oats in beautiful looking mason jars just waiting to be devoured!

I don’t like fruit with my oats, nuts are fine but no fruit and no raisins! so  obviously the ones that got me were the ones with chocolate and thats the one I tried – and the result? DELICIOUS~

All I used was some almond milk, cocoa, salt, oats and a wee bit of sugar!!! nom nom!!

 

 

Go Morgen!

So, we’re back in Norway for your annual sumner trip and the weather is fantastic and the place is just as beautiful as ever. It’s even better this time because we’ve got the lil scamp along too. His first trip to anywhere really and he’s been an absolute star! Touchwood!

Whenever I’m in Singapore I miss the food in Bombay and whenever I’m in Norway I miss the food in Singapore. Ayam Penyet, Sambal fried rice (though I can make it now), Curry puffs, Thai Basil with rice, Mee Goreng…ah! all deliciously yum food. Norway just doesn’t go down the spice route much.

But what Norway does do right must be mentioned and amongst their bread and milk and cheese and prawns/shrimp/fish/pork being completely fantastic…they also do a mean yoghurt.

This has got to be my absolute favourite yoghurt-ever! Its so so tasty and I wish Singapore made something like this too….why don’t they ever combine nuts with yoghurt? its a combination that works and its healthy too.

So until Im here I intend to eat at least two tubs daily…cannot get enough!:-)

 

Getting My ‘Reading’ Groove Back

Is three months too long to be away from a library? It is for me. Especially when you have one as amazing as the one I frequent 🙂

Finally managed to get some time away from my gorgeous lil boy yesterday only to arrive to closed doors. The library was closed for some staff event. Darn! But I wasn’t going to give up so easily. I was determined to go this week and I did. Made a super quick run this morning, got myself far too many books (very ambitious of me considering I have zero time to read ANY of them) and a couple for the baby too. Love the kids section here – can’t wait till I can bring my lil boy here to share my love of books with him in one of my favourite places in Singapore!

 

No Rain

Singapore is going through a dry spell. It’s a very very long dry spell. In fact it started somewhere towards the end of january – strange because this is supposed to be Singapore’s ‘monsoon’ and yet there’s no rain.

I have to admit, I am a little concerned – the weather should not be changing this drastically and this soon but part of me is rejoicing. Because this weather is fantastic! It’s sunny, but it’s dry and very very windy – what’s not to like about wind eh? (unless you are in Stavanger in January and it’s raining -then it actually stings!)

When it rains, Singapore is green and moist and fresh. But it’s also humid and sticky and hot. I do NOT like humid and sticky. I’d much prefer dry and windy. This weather reminds me so much of Bombay in December, I miss it so!

Took the bus to Orchard the other day and took this pic, looks like Singapore is experiencing Autumn doesn’t it?

Poor trees, glad the powers that be are taking measures to combat this dry spell with watering trucks all over the island. Thirsty trees and grass everywhere!

On a different note, the Husband gets back from Norway tomorrow and I’m thrilled! 🙂

IKEA Strikes Again

Before I got pregnant, the Husband and I would regularly visit IKEA. OK,  it wasn’t so much for the stuff but more for their meatballs and curry puffs (which by the way they discontinued for the longest time and have thankfully restarted again) and whilst there we’d stroll around visualising our future home in every room layout. We do not like their wood. Really poor quality wood IMO and people may argue that it’s cheap but I don’t think so. Not for something I need to assemble and transport myself. I do however love their textiles, kitchen stuff and ideas. The one section we never ever browsed was the baby/kids section (except for the soft toys, we’ve adopted quite a few from there – my favourite being Muji the Hippo)

During this whole pregnancy, we’ve hardly had the time to make the trip. It just didn’t seem worth the effort travelling there. And their loos are horrible. So definitely not a place a pregnant woman wants to spend much time in. Three days ago, when I saw their SALE mailer in my post box I was tempted. So this morning, after feeding the boy, expressing some milk and handing over to my mum I rushed out the door hoping I could make it there and back without disturbing the Boy’s schedule. Gosh, so much has changed! They have the sweetest things for babies. Grobag like sleeping bags, really sweet bed linen, cutlery and changing pads…so much of stuff I’ve never noticed before! And before I knew it I was making plans to come back with the Husband to shop some more. IKEA, you’ve been missed!

(On a small note, I don’t think their meatballs are that awesome anymore and why did they discontinue the offer of a cold drink for family? now we can only get a hot beverage – and I think that’s not really a good move)

…and then there were three!

It never ever crossed my mind when I wrote that last post that I’d be delivering my baby in a few short hours. 🙂

My official due date was 2nd of January so I was least concerned that I’d be going into labour any time soon. But obviously the baby had other plans and at 2258 on the 23rd my beautiful lil boy came into this world.

Life since then has done a total 360 on me. Everyone tells you to sleep when the baby sleeps – that never happens. I have lost the concept of day and night. Christmas came and went, my birthday came and went and all I could think about was sleep, jaundice, expressing milk, sleep, diaper changes, sleep…did I mention sleep? *sigh*

But it’s been joyous too! and wondrous and miraculous and hilarious and completely brilliant! getting to know this brand new lil person who looks a bit like me and his father and a lot like a potato. 🙂

I’d love to write more but it’s feeding time and I can hardly wait!

 

Perfect Christmas Weather!

Today is simply perfect…reminds me of Christmas in Bombay – when we are in the middle of our ‘winter’ and the air is crisp and cool. Of course, Singapore air is rarely ‘crisp’ thanks to the humidity but today it’s definitely cool and I love it!

Can’t believe its less than 48 hours till Christmas – this year has simply flown by! I still remember starting it off in Bombay with that glorious trip to Kerala – and before I knew it it’s december again and January is looming right around the corner.

So the tree is up, decorations are laid, sweets are being made – slowly but surely and christmas shopping is all done. Can’t wait for christmas mass and family time!

Orchard road is all dressed up and I thought I’d post pics of all the trees I’ve managed to capture whilst walking around so here goes 🙂

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

image © beyondbombay

Hobbes!

Who doesn’t love Calvin and Hobbes? I’ve been in love with them for years and this time when it was the Husband’s birthday I thought I’d surprise him with the Complete set of Calvin and Hobbes as a birthday present. Except it was harder to get than I thought.

In Singapore the hardbound edition costs about $300! (at Kinokuniya. Online at singapore sites you can probably get it 50 bucks cheaper) thats crazy when you think that back home the same set costs me just 9000INR! But the problem was getting it here. It weighs about 10 kilos and would be really difficult to ask someone or even my folks to carry. So I thought and thought and thought and then finally got a fantastic offer from Amazon. And with their free shipping to SG for orders over 120$ (I think) it was brilliant! I think I paid just about 70USD for it and threw in a couple of other things I needed and I was set! within a week or so it was delivered home and I was a happy duckie! And the husband was suitably surprised and very very thrilled!

Now to go with that present, I made him a lil something too – a crochet Hobbes.

Loved how it came out! Though next time I want to make a bigger one – but getting your hands on 10 or 12 ply wool in singapore is so so difficult! so until then , this chap will have to do 🙂

Image ©beyondbombay

Crochet Creatures

Picked up my hook after months yesterday. It all started with the most adorable lil Amigurumi elephant we bought in Phuket (at the Indy Market-Limelight Ave, Dibuk Rd open only on thursday and friday after 4pm) – we loved it so much we went back and bought it’s sister too!

After teaching myself and getting hooked onto crochet a few years ago, I never looked back! Made tons of bags, both for myself and as gifts, made basket covers, seat covers, christmas giveaways, scarves (of course!) and hair accessories and then suddenly during the move I had to stop – and after we moved, I just never picked it up again. Until yesterday. That Amigurumi elephant showed me something I’d never tried before in crochet and I was tempted to pick up the hook and try something new. So when my local library posted about a workshop I jumped! Of course I was going to go.

Almost dragging myself out of the house and into the heat on a sunday afternoon – very difficult! but once I stepped into what may be one of my most favorite places in Singapore, I was thrilled! Sitting amongst a group of about 15 mixed adults (yes there were males too! and a couple of young kids as well) with the help of a very nice trainer and her mum, we slowly worked our way through tiny cylindrical woolen objects and converted them into the most adorable lil owls.

I completely loved it! And it never ceases to amaze me just how much the local communities offer in terms of hobbies, educational aids and skills for the public. The workshop was professional, the tools and materials all provided and the venue exceptional. And all this for free! Absolutely brilliant!

Anyway, my pics are a bit dark because I was facing the window and I wouldn’t like to post the faces of my co-attendees anyway but just to give you an idea of what went on – so much fun!

Can’t wait for the next workshop 🙂

Image (c)Minty

Image (c) Minty

Image (c) Minty

Image (c) Minty

Unwinding in Phuket

Right, so we’ve lived in SE Asia for close to 6 years now but I had yet to travel to Thailand. We love travelling (at least I do) but somehow Thailand never made the list. So last week, we set about changing that. We made a trip to Phuket.

Not the Phuket you usually read about – the one with all the beach parties, lady boys and bikini clad women. Not even the one with adventure sports, paragliding, snorkelling or James Bond – we went to a Phuket that had nothing. Nothing but the Andaman sea, a private pool and some fabulous people. And we loved it!

7 days of doing absolutely nothing but swim, sleep, eat repeat. Didn’t know just how much the husband could actually zzz until I saw him do it for like 16 straight hours. It felt good to see him just relax and recharge.

What struck me about Phuket was just how similar it was to my beloved Goa. Right from the women on bikes everywhere, to the way the locals love their dogs, the vibe when walking down the streets to the friendliness of the people you meet, it really really really reminded me of Goa. Except the food. Missed that! though thai food is delicious in it’s own way.

And we both loved how almost everyone there bows and does a lil namaste when they greet or say thanks/goodbye. How beautiful is that! you cant help but reciprocate that lil gesture of respect. I know that when growing up as a kid in Bombay, a lot of people in India would do the same – I wonder why we lost that touch – it’s such a beautiful gesture.

We’re back now, fully recharged and raring to tackle the next few months which have a LOT lined up. But exciting stuff ahead so not complaining 🙂

And the best part about coming home? Our Frangipani baby greets us in full bloom!

Happy Monday 🙂