A song I love to sing to my cat, for all people with kitties!
GRACE
(spoken)
Tempura . . .
(sings)
The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Tempura, Tempura, Tempura, Tempura . . .
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word . .
Tempura, Tempura, Tempura, Tempura . . .
Tempura!
I’ve just met a cat named Tempura,
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same
To me.
Tempura!
I’ve just kissed a girl named Tempura,
And suddenly I’ve found
How wonderful a sound
Can be!
Tempura!
Say it loud and there’s music playing,
Say it soft and it’s almost like praying.
Feel like calling you again Beansprouts. Meh, I miss you so much this week hmm?
My dreams are so hazardous. I am always doing things I will never do in real life. And I have all kinds of cross history traditional characters in them. Last night there was even a bearded guy reciting Chinese poetry.
I want the exams to be over quickly so I can go to an artificial beach and walk around the whole day with ice cream in hand for day and pinot noir in hand for night. Dizzy thoughts. Fall asleep on a deck chair with a book in hand. Visit strange museums like the Shanghai Toy Museum which apparently exists (why Beansprouts, do I seem to want to visit places that parents actually bring their children to? I am going to be surrounded by crowds of squealing kids again, standing out like a gawky tourist… XD)
I was also contemplating Turtle and Tortoise museum. Or something of which it was called. To see if they paint Monet’s water lilies on their backs too, ha ha.
Are there any places (food and shopping places don’t count) you go to in Hong Kong, Beansprouts?
You must tell me about these tonight. Or tomorrow. Somehow, meh. Exams are next week.
“A joker is a little fool who is different from everyone else. He’s not a club, diamond, heart, or spade. He’s not an eight or a nine, a king or a jack. He is an outsider. He is placed in the same pack as the other cards, but he doesn’t belong there. Therefore, he can be removed without anybody missing him.”
— Jostein Gaarder (The Solitaire Mystery)
“It’s not a silly question if you can’t answer it.” — Jostein Gaarder (Sophie’s World)
“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning, day after day.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)
I haven’t been updating for awhile, and have been raging and musing through pages of criminal law articles- still haven’t managed to tell between the array of colourful Singapore case title names, though the law is straightforward enough. I like it more than my previous textbook, Sullivan, definitely, but possibly because of scope I am thinking things too simple. Ah well.
As I told Beansprouts, had my work assessment on Friday! It was one of the most straightforward and enjoyable work assessments I have ever done, and I really appreciate my boss’s meticulous coverage of points and his endeavour to really hone our team to become a group of seasoned and experienced investigators. I think my past several working experiences have been beneficial for me, working with people who have an eye for detail, for it encourages the discipline of turning every stone over, and always keeping an eye out to finish things within the allocated time. I think my main weakness is my impulsiveness- as I like to get things done quickly, I sometimes overlook the tiny details. At the same time, I have a tendency to lounge on hours of inefficient research (something which is a boon to law school and a bane to working life).
And the big boss bought all of us cinnamon buns! *haha I was so happy to see one- I had no idea they existed in Singapore? I remember the days walking down soft evening streets, holding on to a bag of my favourite salmon sushi (what was the name of the style I liked it in again, Beansprouts?) and munching on a perfect cinnamon bun.
There is a story to the cinnamon buns, for one time when I was out with ST- in Piccadilly Circus no less, after exiting the arcade…ST was on his way back and I started to miss ST already…do you understand it, the last minutes of longing for someone just as he departs? On our way running towards train stations (strangely, our meetings tend to end that way haha, the unforgettable running to catch last trains) , it is as though a thought entered his mind, and he entered a cinnamon bun shop, bought one, and thrusted one into my hand, with I, protesting that I did not have a liking for such confectionaries.
(Because you see, such protests are relatively common, for I had always thought I had came to a conclusions of my likes and dislikes at an early stage);
But somehow the first bite made me thoughtful, and combined with the memory I realized I liked it. It was also with ST that I took my first bite of Belgian waffles (in Belgium, no less); my first bite of a mother’s home made sandwich, my first cheese fondue, my first quail and rabbit, my first melba bread (ST’s favourite), my first tea in Dorchester, my first bite into a heavenly scone and seven-hour cooked lamb at the Waldorf…
For a food lover like I am, my food generally relates to experiences. And with ST, somehow the little moments grew to be part of the little confectionary of a cinnamon I bit into in the quiet of the office. Genuine critique wise, it cannot compare to London, but how can you ever compare sitting down with a scone in Singapore to London? Singapore has its own memories, just as some things always fit best in the context of London.
…
On another note, I have started work on making this little keyboard cat! There is a cute little tutorial for it which I found here and though it is quite tricky, I am enamoured by the turning keys that I thought I’ll start. Of course, realistically, I don’t need a keyboard cat, for even poking my cat a little in the tummy already produces keyboard noises like ‘brooong’ and ‘brrrr’ haha! Who needs Rachmaninoff when you can have a kitty!
~~
And no surprise, studying brings out a temptation for online shopping…I got a new AP beret I absolutely adore…
and an ETC ballet pointe-shoe skirt! I adore anything with a pointe shoe print, and have been building up an ETC pointe-shoe collection I always try to get a piece each time they produce this print
I am also in love with this little girl! I think I have been in love with random little girls nowadays haha …but I always listen out for questions which little girls ask their mothers on trains. They tend to have a certain Jostein Gaarder air to them…like… “Mummy…if you fit a giraffe into the MRT (Singapore’s version of the Tube), will its head touch the sky?”
Will write more next time, perhaps…back to the books!
It looks debonair on Beansprouts… everything I own looks debonair on Beansprouts…What can a girl do when her male best friend wears her accessories better than they do on her?…
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Adore the fact that when I walk home in the evenings, the estate seems to be full of tiny kitties who mew like anything! They are ‘adopted’ by kind women and passers-by who stop to pay or start a chat. I think the character of an estate is shown by its cats!
Have been trying to get back to the books, and now in the midst of constitutional law- life and liberties. The exam’s due soon and it is rather intense. The worst- Gossip girl reruns, and how everything else in my life looks dreadfully attractive just at the moment when I collapse into my workchair. I feel like I have been reading the same commission report forever. Plan to stay late in the office tonight so that I will at least be motivated to work. And try not to think of cinnamon buns (and the gray soft evenings in London).
I haven’t been to a strings concert in awhile. I came across an old friend yesterday who plays the violin, and we were discussing Perlman and some of the new-fangled violin pieces we don’t understand. We both agree that on jewish violin pieces, and wish that we could huddle in some part of Jerusalam one day, while I write in my journal and read a blacklisted book, while she plays the violin. The violinist and the shabby writer. James C lived part of my dream.
ST is going to New York soon to take his bar exam and he is not the least excited. I am longing for a bit of New York!
I sold off some of my old AP things and have been into Mars. Incentive to stick to salad a day and soya bean diet just looking at the designs. I have always had a soft spot for Mars’ designs…and heart appliques, haha! I don’t think Beansprouts will like Mars. But I think ST will ; )
Vivi heart applique jacket. I had been searching for this forever, this is love. I got it in navy…
And remember how I like things in pairs? I got the same too for these adorable bow bags…~~
Anyone read any good books lately, finance, literature or otherwise? For the girls, how have you been!
I feel lonely and ancillary. Only the people closest to us can make us feel this way. Particularly ST gets to me, Beansprouts, do you know what I mean?
You are probably expecting a call soon, Beansprouts. But I bet you’re out clubbing with some cute mei mei in some posh HK club again eh?
I remembered that Peanuts video about exam blues again…what was it called?
Had wonderful conversations with Beansprouts on the weekend, nevertheless. Woke up feeling like I had a bad hangover, but then it is worth it to surmise about LED sheep (Mona Baa-lisa!) and randomnalities like Kazuo Ishiguro and a carbonara ending.
It is not very inspiring to talk to me nowadays nevertheless. I can’t wait till exams are over so that I can actually go out and do something constructive. Like shopping… (haha kidding)
I left out an intriguing point yesterday, Beansprouts. The exams seem to be having a regenerative impact on me despite my panda eyes. Two people have mistaken me for being 17 in the past two days, and one person even asked if I wanted the children’s menu. I was quite tempted to take up that offer.
My cat is like a baby haha…when I left house today she mewed mournfully and tried blocking the door with her little body…(futile)…and I remembered the days when I used to do that with my last maid.
I loved my last maid. She was cool. She taught me things like Guns & Roses and new age modern art. We caught butterflies before coaxed me to let them go. She was so pretty, strange men would preposition her on streets. We went to the library every day and finished eight books a day. Before she left, she started seeing her dead father around the house.
I don’t quite believe that its already almost six months since I started work, and time for my confirmation (a process where I become an official employee)! It feels like the start of a relationship with the nervous first few months haha.
I’m pretty glad I still feel pretty much at home here.
The mid-week depression has mostly dissipated, though still feel down often at moments. I suppose maybe its just a matter of not wanting to return back home, and wishing to travel again, or to endeavour something new. After all, Beansprouts knows I am often restless, even in the moments of a day.
I’ve been enjoying reading Evidence law past few days. I had revised it a few weeks before, and realized I had promptly forgotten almost everything. So picking it up again, attempting the questions, reading the articles, it is a mix of fresh insights and curiosity at the permutation of questions. Yes, I am doing my European law-style weird scenario questions again, which I secretly adore, and Beansprouts must remember all the strange scenarios we thought of, especially since he featured in some of them!
I really enjoy this talk about whether the principles and norms of evidence law. I am not so thrilled with criminal, but evidence is pretty exciting, on figuring out what is admissible and what ought to count as legal professional privilege. I bet Mokal would have ran intellectual circles around these guys.
I feel that not being in law school for sometime has affected my speed and ability to make lateral connections between issues. It used to come pretty naturally, and now I have to put some thought to it. I hope I’m not getting old!
And I did write in to the radio station after all!
Dear Sir,
I happened to come across 96.3fm today (Sat Oct 10) and I was pleasantly surprised – the songs were beautiful, with a mix of jazz/musical/Chopin guitar, violin and saxophone interludes. I don’t know how you all did it, but you just covered my favourite pieces (in a different presentation) for the day.
Thank you.
Yours,
Grace
They wrote back an introductory reply on the station, and for Singaporeans, you might like to check out this station. 🙂 But their French is too advanced for me to understand, haha…
Dear Grace
Thank you very much for your support in XFM96.3. We are glad to know that you’ve been listening to our station, and enjoying the songs on the Music Interlude segments.
If you are new to our station, you may like to know that XFM96.3 is the Expatriate Radio Station. The station provides a variety of content for the expatriate communities in Singapore while redefining the experience of feeling closer to home. First set up in 1998 as an entertainment and info station for the expatriates in Singapore, XFM 96.3 currently offers a range of broadcast programmes in Japanese, French, German, Korean, and Hindi. Of course, not forgetting our well-received Music Interlude segments, which provide a good mix of soothing music at the following timings:
Mon – Fri: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 10:00pm – 6.50am
Sat – Sun: 6:50am – 5:00pm, 8:00pm – 6:50am
For more details on XFM96.3, you could log on to our website at www.xfm963.sg.
Welcome onboard and once again, thank you for your support! 🙂
Regards,
Liong Kit Yeng
Senior Producer-Presenter
Admitably it is a little strange to be listening to an expatriate radio station 0.0 but they do play some nice pieces.
And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:
Would it have been worth while
If one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,
And turning toward the window, should say:
"That is not it at all,
That is not what I meant, at all."
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Penny Sparkle 