Monday, August 30, 2010

Quote of the Day (20100831) ~ A good enough reason ~

Give yourself a good enough reason and you can get yourself to do whatever must be done. Give yourself a meaningful enough reason why, and it will happen. Make yourself an offer that you can't refuse. Give yourself a reason that you cannot resist. In an instant you can go from apathetic and unmotivated to enthusiastic and energetic. All you have to do is find that raw nerve of authentic desire, and touch it. Allow yourself to want what you really want. Then allow yourself to be driven by that desire. Every possibility is open to you. Latch on to one so positive and compelling that it won't leave you alone until you make it happen. Give yourself a good enough reason and you'll give yourself plenty of motivation. Give yourself a good enough reason and you'll have no trouble moving quickly and decisively forward.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sunset @ MacRitchie Reservoir Park

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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Cute Model @ Bukit Timah Railway Station (KTM)

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Monday, August 23, 2010

それぞれに (各自遠颺) - 中孝介

I like to listen to this song in the early morning...Atari Kousuke, thanks for this fantastic soul song.

Orange Chiffon Cake

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Ingredients:
6 large eggs, separated plus 1 (30 grams) additional egg white
225g sifted cake flour
300g superfine white (castor) sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
120 ml vegetable oil or safflower oil
180 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
10 grams orange zest
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
80g raisins

Steps:
1) Separate the eggs and place the whites in one bowl and the yolks in another. Bring them to room temperature (about 30 minutes).

2) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C) and have ready a 10 inch (25 cm) two piece tube pan(ungreased).

3) In a bowl, place the flour, sugar (260g), baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the egg yolks, oil, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Beat about one minute or until smooth.

4) In a separate bowl, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining 40g of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. With a large rubber spatula or wire whisk, gently fold the egg whites into the batter just until blended.

5) Add in the raisins.

6) Pour the batter into the ungreased tube pan and bake for about 55 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (When lightly pressed the cake will spring back). Immediately upon removing the cake from the oven invert the pan and place on a bottle or flat surface so it is suspended over the counter.

7) Let the cake cool completely before removing from pan (about 1 1/2 - 2 hours).

8) To remove the cake from the pan, run a long metal spatula around the inside of the tube pan and center core. Invert onto a greased wire rack.


Saturday, August 21, 2010

奋发有限公司 Phoon Huat & Co (Pte) Ltd

如果你身在狮城,喜欢 Baking, 想买 Baking ingredients, utensils, 强力推荐 Phoon Huat & Co (Pte) Ltd。

今天去了坐落在Blk 422, Ang Mo Kio Ave 3的Phoon Huat & Co (Pte) Ltd。一踏入店里,就愣了一会儿。里面可以说是应有尽有阿。在这里感谢慧琪介绍Phoon Huat & Co (Pte) Ltd给我。

奋发有限公司

Thursday, August 19, 2010

王洛宾 - 達坂城的姑娘

原来从小就听过的 "達坂城的姑娘" 是新疆的民歌。九月尾去新疆,不懂能不能安排时间到達坂城一游呢?



摘自百度
《达坂城的姑娘》是王洛宾在兰州整理编曲的第一首维吾尔族民歌。也是现代中国第一首汉语译配的维吾尔民歌。1938年,王洛宾所在的抗战剧团组织联欢会,一个头戴小花帽,留着小胡子的维吾尔族司机,唱了一首简短的维吾尔语歌曲。王洛宾敏锐的音乐神经被触动了,他用在学校学习的速记方法很快记下了这支歌的旋律,并请在兰州的维吾尔族商贩对歌词作了简单的翻译。他很快就编配成一首简短流畅的《达坂城的姑娘》。这首歌象一阵风似的吹遍了兰州,后来由著名歌唱家赵启海、赵风将这首歌传唱到重庆、昆明、缅甸、马来西亚及至南洋各国。

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Jogging @ Lower Seletar Reservoir Park

已经有三个星期没有跑步了。之前三个周末都没有在狮城,所以都不能到新加坡的 Park 跑步。

原本打算今早和同事 Hackett到Lower Seletar Reservoir park晨跑,可是昨晚Hackett在半夜一点钟sms我,说他失眠,今早不能和我一起去跑步了。其实我也有了心理准备他会耍约,没关系咯。

早上7点多起来,发现外面正下着雨,身体也有稍许酸痛(昨晚打了两个小时的羽球),便没有去晨跑了。

下午4点多,天气很好,便装备自己,走路到 Ang Mo Kio MRT station,搭 train 到Yio Chu Kang station。 再到mrt station 对面的巴士站搭 851 (也可以搭 852, 853)巴士到Opposite Yishun Sport Hall的车站下车。过了overpass, 大约步行5分钟便看到了 Lower Seletar Reservoir Park的告示牌。

一眼望过去,原来比Upper Seletar Reservoir Park还要小。没关系,范围小就跑多几圈咯,反正是nonstop跑一个小时就行了。

Lower Seletar Reservoir Park和Upper Seletar Reservoir Park一样,也有人到此垂钓。不过这儿的垂钓者寥寥无几。这里也是Kayak爱好者的好去处。也有一些家庭到这儿picnic。这个Reservoir Park比较特别之处是这里还有一个小型的Waterplay Area,水从地面喷出来,小孩们都在那儿尽情玩乐。

由于Lower Seletar Reservoir Park的范围比较小,大概10分钟就跑完一圈了。我跑了6个圈,大概一个小时。So far到过MacRitchie Reservoir Park, Upper Seletar Reservoir Park还有这次的Lower Seletar Reservoir Park,个人还是比较喜欢MacRitchie Reservoir Park。那儿范围很大,且比较多树林。

下个长跑地点将会是Kranji Reservoir Park。好像离Ang Mo Kio比较远,哈哈。

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Getting There
Services: 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 857, 858, 965, 969, 39 and 85 (Alight along Lentor Avenue or Yishun Ave 2).

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Banana-Raisin Butter Cake

1

Ingredients:
250g Butter
230g Caster Sugar
5 Egg
1 Tablespoon Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence
200g Banana (4 Units), Mashed
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
280g Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
3 Bananas, Sliced
80g Raisin

Utensils:
Baking Pan (50 x 250 x 250 mm)

Method:
1) Peel the banana and mash well with a fork.
2) Prepare the rest of the ingredients. The banana is sliced as shown.
3) Cream the butter in a mixing bowl.
4) Beat in the caster sugar until light and fluffy.
5) Add the beaten eggs gradually.
6) Add the milk and vanilla essence.
7) Add the bananas to the cake mixture.
8) Fold in the flour and baking powder with spatula in one direction, either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
9) Add the raisin.
10) Pile the cake mixture into loaf pan. Add the sliced banana on top of mixture as decoration. Bake at 180 degree celcius for 45-50 minutes.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Quote of the Day ~ Filled with opportunities ~

What if the things you thought would hold you back actually were to provide you with new ways to move forward? What if within your greatest annoyances you could find your greatest effectiveness?

Instead of fighting against the perceived obstacles, take a closer look at them. Somewhere within each obstacle is a pathway for moving forward.

Consider that it's not the obstacle itself that's stopping you. What's stopping you is your assumption that you can be stopped.

Yet you can change that assumption. You can choose to find a successful way through the situation, whatever it may be.

The various challenges that come your way can be quite intimidating. Yet when you let go of the intimidation, you'll see that those very same challenges are filled with opportunities.

Embrace those obstacles, embrace those challenges. For they are essential components of your eventual achievement.