29+?

Venturing out of our comfortable zone takes a bit of courage and planning. While we used to try out new restaurant every month in the past, we have gradually slowed down to once every two or three months unless for the big guys coming into town.

For my "29+?"-th birthday, Little Prince had to think out of the box, and so made plans to try out Aspasia, not only as an annual celebration of growing old, but also an adventure for both of us to get out of our usual choice. The route through the hotel lobby is still "in process," but the restaurant's decoration has completed and it is nice and cozy. Food menu has a good balance, which gives enough choices for almost everyone. The wine menu was a bit disappointing, especially with the lack of half-bottle. The tasting menu offers the ingredients in season, so no decisions need to be made, tasting menu that is.

After the scallops, the baby squid soup, and the squid-ink pasta (which was the best!), I already felt I had the best deal in town. Even though I am not a seafood person, the freshness of the ingredients, while being served right out of the pan, just made them perfect. Unfortunately, we both went for Wagyu beef for our main where there was no surprise. In hindsight, we should have picked sea bass, considering how well Chef Roland Schuller has handled all the seafood dishes. (As the Chinese saying goes, "rice always smell better at the other table.") Dessert provided Little Prince with an inspiration for a new flavor for his next season's homemade ice-cream, will see if he could make them taste anything like what the chef has demonstrated.

I was so full after dinner that I could not even finish my cappuccino, but it is certainly worth an honorable mention because of the smooth and creamy foam. The other item that deserves an honorable mention is the bread -- fresh out of oven, crunchy outside with soft and warm inside.

Though I didn't have to pay, the bill was more than reasonable. Definitely a steal in town. Have to go again soon before they raise their price.

countdown

In 20 days, I am going to have the first operation (and hopefully the only) in my life. Though I have fully anticipated its coming, and it's not a complicated surgery, the idea of being unconscious for a few hours still bugs me. I guess I am a control freak, and the thought of losing all control is not particularly comforting. While I know I actually don't have any control over life to start with, somehow I feel that I have some control.

The surgeon explained all the risks and all the possible side effects. All of a sudden, I feel like an investor sitting in the meeting room, listening to the risk disclosure and disclaimer of an investment idea. Weird feeling.

Time to be rational again.

Miracles do happen

I saw the son of B at church today, walking along the front row, which almost made me cry. I still vividly remember the day when B told us that his son was born 20 weeks early, and baby was less than 1kg at birth. We were all very worried about the little baby and B's wife who had internal hemmorage (which resulted in the pre-mature birth). He lived in the box, and had tubes all over him. We prayed for the whole family, especially the little one. Seeing him walking today really allows me to get a glimpse of God's power, God's healing, and God's mercy. God is indeed the provider of life, may His name be praised!

Tempo

早餐過後，少爺從袋口拿出Tempo一包，然後開始投訴，原因是我買了大包裝，而根據少爺的計算，小包裝比較『底』。說實話，我從來沒有細心留意價錢，但少爺堅決要小包裝，我也懶得阻撓，他自己到藥房買小包裝Tempo去了。
本著求證精神，我回到家便立即拿出計算機。一pack大包裝Tempo裡頭有30包紙巾，每包有8張，所以共有240張紙巾。一pack小包裝Tempo裡頭有36包紙巾，每包有7張，所以共有252張紙巾。少爺果然厲害，每張紙巾的價錢也計算得清清楚楚，跟少爺生活有時候真的令人我無言以對。唉！

Good-bye!

Today we are saying good-bye to a member of our family, Robosapien.

I was quite excited when he first arrived, with the hope that he can help me with tidying our place. But after I found out that his design was not quite what I expected, I have pretty much given up on him.

Thanks to eBay, we have finally sold him to a kind young man in Singapore who is willing to pay us US$350! When I saw him all wrapped up in bubble-wrap, the least anticipcated thought came to my mind, I actually started to miss him. Fortunately, that thought only lasted for 5 seconds, and in no time, he was being brought to the Post Office.

Good-bye, Robosapien!

On Labor Day

Little Prince spent the whole morning baking muffins, biscuits, making crab cakes and spanish omelette for a brunch get-together with friends. It is a blessing that we could just hang out and share our lives together. It is also a blessing that my husband likes going into the kitchen to make all kinds of food. It is an even bigger blessing when my friends offered to help out with dish-washing.

It was a day full of blessings!