SMALL EATS - A FOOD BLOG

OK, hanging out with people I don't know and don't particularly want to know is killing me. I figured I have to go for five events before I can accurately write about how desperate and depressing it is. Some of these people move from one do to another - breakfast with people you don't know, lunch with people you don't know, movie with people you don't know ... you get the idea. It strikes me as a very odd way to spend a weekend.

The upside is, while the people are really quite boring and nerdy, the locations they choose have been great. Just like that I've discovered St Leonard's Tavern has excellent steaks for $7 so I'm definitely dragging a couple of friends there soon(ish).

I need to get this story over and done with before people get suspicious because my visible boredom and occupation (when I'm asked) is a bit of a giveaway.

I don't know how it is that I can live here forever and not meet any Singaporeans and suddenly, out of the blue, they seem to be everywhere. Met a bloke whom I thought was Malaysian because he was nice and real. As it turns out, he's a Singapore-hating Singaporean. I think John Clang is right about Singaporeans - we are either pro or anti. I am a pro, though because I have numerous criticisms about Singapore, am often thought of, wrongly, as an anti. Here in Australia, I have met plenty of real antis.

As for whether I want to return to Singapore for good in a couple of years, I'm giving that plenty of thought. I will surrender lack of office politics and six-and-a-half weeks annual leave for ... what? ... family, culture (a real Asian culture rather than a pseudo one), and I suppose a sense of familiarity.

And of course, if I do want to move "back", I will have to remain in a big name newsroom rather than move to a small, obscure one I'd been thinking of doing. Too many things to consider.

I should have joined the diplomatic services or ASIO which would allow me to live in lots of places for spurts of period, though in the case of the latter, I may well be dead sooner rather than later.

What I need to do is write a list of pros and cons, though at the end of the day, it may be my heart making the decision and not my head.

Posted by smallpau at 31.5.07 | Permalink

I am member of a somewhat unusual book club in which we're not required to read the same book. Everyone reads their own book, shows up and talks about why they like/dislike it. Having attended one meeting, I definitely see the benefits of uniformly reading a single book. This book club I am in is more like a book recommendation club. It is not so bad because I now have a list of "to read" books.

In any case, I'm dropping out. As far as Sydney book clubs goes, it isn't at all pretentious. But it is pretentious enough to pooh-pooh The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter. I am not interested in literary snobbery. The members of my book club are extremely well-read and literate and can debate all manner of theory. But I'd like to join a book club where members can discuss both Jane Austen and Kathy Lette.

The book I recommended for my first and last meeting was Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France by Fernanda Eberstadt. It was brilliant and I loved it.

Posted by smallpau at 28.5.07 | Permalink

Recently, an English girl whom I'd know for two seconds blurted, "The Chinese people here aren't very well integrated." She looked at me expectantly, as if I owed her an explanation.

I hate people making these "observations" to me. While I share the same skin colour as a Chinese mainlander, I am not responsible for whether they are or are not well integrated.

Because my rudeness to people who deserve it is legendary, I said to her curtly, "And were English people very well integrated in Tanzania when you were living there?"

She looked stung, as if I had slapped her in the face.

Posted by smallpau at 12.5.07 | Permalink

I woke up one morning and decided I no longer wanted to blog about cooking. It has served me well for one year plus but I've simply lost interest in photographing and writing about my kitchen adventures.

It's partly due to my getting bored with it and also because I'm pretty busy doing other things. I have taken on a mega work related project that will take up plenty of my time over the next couple of months.

I've also joined a book club organised by my local library. This French woman just emailed me with the details and get this ... in this club, you don't read the same book. Everybody reads their own books and discusses what they read!?! That is so bizarre. It should be very chaotic. I can't wait!

And in a move that is completely out of character for me, I may be joining the Temasek Club (www.temasekclub.com) - a ... gulp! ... Singaporeans in Sydney group. I am also organising a bunch of young and young(ish) Singaporeans living here to meet up for makan and gossip. Everyone in the mini-Singaporean clique has, in typical Sg style, offered to help with organising and cooking on August 9.

The reason for my sudden ... er ... fondness for Singaporeans is due to the fact that after more than a decade of living in Australia, I am a bit sick of ang mohs. So there.

A couple of friends and I have also kicked off a little eating kaki. They are ang mohs so they have no idea what a kaki is. Anyway, the aim is to eat authentic Asian cuisine in Sydney. Since I'm the one who initiated it, I suppose it's up to me to arrange the first munch event. I already have my eye on a Beijing noodle bar in Chinatown.

Posted by smallpau at 4.5.07 | Permalink

Because it's Anzac Day, I decided to make something Australian. I'd originally planned to do lamingtons which are totally yummy and as Aussie as it gets. However, having a skim though a couple of recipes, I realised I would, under no circumstance, be bothered to hold individual sponge cakes with chopsticks, dip them in chocolate sauce and dip them again in dessicated coconut.

So I settled for the next best thing - Rice Crispies Bars. I followed the recipe on the cereal box and lemme just say that if parents are making these for their kids, this is about the right time to sign them up for Diabetics Anonymous. This is so damn sweet. I may as well have eaten sugar straight off the box. Who actually follows the Rice Bubbles recipe? Probably the sort of people who wear track suit pants everywhere.

Anyway, I think this would be way better. I omitted the sugar altogether.

What

* 5 cups Rice Bubbles

* 1 cup oats

* 1 cup peanut butter (reduced sugar, if you can manage it)

* 1/2 cup honey (as above)

How

* Heat peanut butter and honey on low till smooth

* Remove off stove, add rice Bubbles and oats and mix

* Spread on tin lined with baking paper and refrigerate for an hour

* Cut into squares and store in airtight container in fridge

Happy Anzac Day!

PS I don't know what the fuss is. They went to Turkey. The military strategy was at best non-existent, at worse a complete turkey ... and they were slaughtered. Whatever.

PPS City rudeness. Walking near Martin Square when a stupid woman and I had to sidestep each other to pass. She muttered under her breath cheerily "Piss off" in that singsong manner as if she was saying "hello". I whipped around and snapped, "FAT RUDE BITCH!" She was so shocked. Hahahaha! The expression on her face was priceless. It's the "fat" that did it. Ang mohs are very sensitive about their weight. Which is why they shouldn't be saying "piss off" to complete strangers on the street. They never know what kind of completely deranged Asian chick they may encounter.

Posted by smallpau at 25.4.07 | Permalink

Posted by smallpau at 20.4.07 | Permalink

20km - Drive out of Sydney city with 12 Girls band blasting on speakers.

30km - Pay road toll of $3.40.

50km - Cruise along Hume Hwy listening to 12 Girls Band.

80km - Desperately need to pee.

100km - Stop at BP for loo.

140km - Continue listening to 12 Girls Band; gossip about nothing.

160km - Play spot-the-road-kill; sight several foxes, a roo and one chicken.

200km - Stop for loo (again); follow time honoured tradition of road trips by eating junk food at Hungry Jacks.


230km - Listen to more 12 Girls Band and continue driving.

250km - Thoroughly sick of 12 Girls Band.

300km - Cheer along the Federal Hwy as greeted by a sign that reads "Welcome to Canberra"; unfortunately, zoomed by too fast to get a picture.

310km - In London Circuit! Notice that Canberrans drive at a glacial speed, as if they are lost; stop at side road for stretch; hurl 12 Girls Band into bin.

Posted by smallpau at 15.4.07 | Permalink