lynettetan blogs

To all our Friends of Symphony 92.4FM,

Here’s a video of my experience at Kim Robinson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuUC88a_7e0

Enjoy and I hope to see you there soon!

It’s not everyday that big opera stars like Andrea Bocelli and Sumi Jo grace the stages of Singapore.  But over the last week or so I had the privilege and honour of being up close and personal to not one… but two of my favourite singers.

It was my first time watching Andrea Bocelli. I mean… I knew about him. In fact, I knew all about how he always had problems with his eyesight even as a kid and how after an accident at a soccer game, he lost his sight completely to congenital glaucoma. Here was a man who had overcome insurmountable odds to be where he is today. I was familiar with the music he sang although I never saw him live in concert. I could even recognise his distinct voice anytime but when he was first led on stage by conductor, Eugene Kohn… my heart went out to him. I thought I knew what it meant to be visually handicapped but for the first time I understood the limitations that he had to face…everyday. Even getting on and off-stage was a challenge for him and he had to rely on people to guide him. He always had to feel for the mic stand with his hand and he would feel for the microphone with his face to ascertain its position before breaking into a bashfully, sweet smile. The smile that would indicate to the conductor that he’s ready to sing.

It’s amazing too that despite not being able to interact with the conductor and orchestra through body language and eye contact, there was such connectedness and synergy between Bocelli and the orchestra that it was obvious they were following closely and complementing every nuance of his performance bringing it to its complete glory. Singing famous opera arias to crossover pop music, every note that Bocelli sang was heartfelt.

He may not be able to see the audience with his eyes;  he certainly did so with his heart.

 
Heartfelt too was the phone interview I had with Sumi Jo during midweek. I’ve always watched and admired her from afar. She was the beautiful, glamourous and amazingly talented singer the world has ever known and here she was talking with me, over the phone, like a good ol’ friend. I relished every moment. We had a great time chatting about Korean and Singaporean food and how she would stay away from spicy food just before a performance. She also said that she loved looking glamourous on stage for all her performances but deep down, she’s just a girl-next-door who loves wearing jeans and no make-up. Well, that was quite hard to imagine especially when I think Sumi Jo, I usually think of her dressed to the nines in her splendid array of picture perfect outfits.

12 May 2010. 7.10, 7.25,  7.50… 8pm. Time was crawling… as I watched the clock… I wanted so much to catch a glimpse of Sumi Jo’s gala performance.  And so immediately after my shift, I zoomed over to the Esplanade Concert Hall only to learn that I had missed the intermission, was denied access and had to watch the rest of the concert from the viewing gallery. But even that was pleasurable. I was the only one there. I was most amused and entertained by Sumi Jo’s rendition of The Doll Song from Tales of Hoffman. And so were the audience. Admittedly, hers was a much better performance than some others I’ve seen. The usher who was assigned to accompany me in the viewing gallery must have found my giggling somewhat unnerving.

Sumi Jo ended the evening with the memorable encore piece O mio babbino caro (Oh my dear papa) an aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi (1918), by Giacomo Puccini.

I’ve always thought that music has powerful effects on one’s mind, mood, memory and energy level. In fact, can you recall a time when a song actually stirred within you really strong emotions? Well, I’m a firm believer that good classical music (like those played on Symphony 92.4FM) not only soothes the soul, it can also: 

a. Improve memory
b. Control pain
c. Reduce anxiety
d. Boost IQ
e. Enhance creativity
f. Increase motivation

Below is a list of classical tunes that could accompany you on your next cardmaking and scrapbooking adventure…

Chopin: Nocturne No. 1
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17, finale
JS Bach: Prelude & Fugue No. 1
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, 4th mvt.
Haydn: final movement from The Creation
Holst: “Mars, the Bringer of War” from the Planets
Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faun
Schubert: Ave Maria
Wagner: “Ride of the Valkyries” from the Valkyrie
Bizet: “March of the Toreadors” from Carmen

Enjoy! And by the way, have you ever wondered what you get to see in our Symphony conty?

Lunch was a little special today. Instead of the usual Mediacorp canteen food. I opted to scoot down to my favourite haunt – Junior de Artist, for a mid-day respite. Well, it’s a respite for me because it’s away from the usual humdrum. Junior de Artist is my favourite craft shop not only because it’s near my workplace but largely because they are well-stocked with Hero Art stamps, Quickutz dies and every kind of cardstock imaginable.

It wasn’t so when I first stepped into the shop in 2000. They were just starting out with craft punches and limited supply of craft paper. Ten years on, still tucked away in that same little corner at Novena Square, this unassuming craft shop has been given a facelift in the range of supplies they carry, the shop layout, and the level of clientele they have.

Most scrapbooking enthusiasts go back to the same shop for their purchases for largely personal reasons. What’s mine then, for becoming a regular at Junior de Artist? You could say that the staff here are really helpful and personable. There are no airs about them, and you can risk appearing silly asking about the most basic questions on scrapbooking. They will gladly make time for you, do some demonstrations, and provide practical solutions to your scrapbooking problems. Even the boss himself, Mr Freddy Yip (a down-to-earth, scrapbooking enthusiast who knows his business well and has his techniques right down to the jot) takes time to sit you through a quick session on how to maximise your scrapbooking efforts to amazingly creative ends! I’ve come to realise the distinction between shops that provide scrapbooking solutions and those that sell scrapbooking supplies. I’ve made my choice. How about you?

Well, one of the items Freddy carries at Junior de Artist is probably the most ingenious inventions of the scrapbooking world. The Cricut Expression is really an automated die-cut machine that gives you perfect shapes from your 12″ x 24″ paper minus the human effort. Just power up, slot in the cartridge, press the right keys out of the 98, and watch that baby go!

Along with the paper leaf that’ll look really great against a contrasting backdrop, Freddy showed me some other pieces he produced using the Cricut Expression. Have a look at these and imagine how they can easily be a part of your collection of paper scraps for artistic creations!

This entire process will take a lot less effort than if you were to do it manually. The Chinese have a saying for this: 事半功倍 which when translated really means minimum input for maximum output . And yes, Freddy has been so kind as to have sponsored one of these babies (worth about one grand and comes with two free cartridges) as the top prize for this week’s contest on My Favourite Things!

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t been tuning into My Favourite Things on weekdays 5-8pm, do it now and give yourself an opportunity to win prizes from Junior de Artist!

First and foremost, allow me to congratulate all lucky winners of the $50 Kim Robinson vouchers. I’m very sure you’re going to have a fantabulous time at Kim Robinson’s! I know I did.

Truth is, Kim Robinson is anything but your run-of-the-mill three-in-one coffee brewed out of convenience. Everything here is unabashedly swanky, like having to lift up your little pinky when sipping your devonshire tea. By the way, don’t even think of calling Kim or any of his staff “hairdressers” or worse still, “barbers”.  That’s anathema. “Hairstylists” won’t cut it either. In fact, that would really be quite an insult to them. So, how do we refer to them? Taking a leaf out of the master himself, “hairartists” would best explain their job description. Splitting the hair over semantics, you say? Well, maybe. But once you’ve spent enough time at Kim Robinson’s, you’ll realise that they boast a quality of service that makes them deserving of a good name.

The Kim Robinson experience is in a class of its own. Once you get past the savvy and rather foreboding exterior (the immediate question for most of us is the price of a haircut), you would be so warmly welcomed by really hospitable staff, a posh interior, and holistic hair consultation that retreating becomes a non-option. On the contrary, I find every hair treatment session quite a retreat. Just sitting there and allowing the hairartists to fuss over your hair is a good feeling. For me, this is probably pampering at its best. Of course, spa treatments are not bad either, but with the recent spa-te of events, bubble hairwashes, deep scalp massages, and designer hair treatment will still be my number one choice of respite.

Being the internationally-acclaimed hairartist that he is, Kim Robinson is painstaking about creating the right atmosphere at his hairstudios. In fact, if you were to look closely enough, you’ll realise that the oil paintings dotting the corridoors and personal treatment rooms are done by the man himself! And as I stood there, admiring the quality of his art pieces, I couldn’t help but think that he’s probably the happiest man alive to be able to marry his two passions in life – hairart and oil paintings. What better way to work than to enjoy it as a personal past time?

Anyway, everytime I get my hair dry-snipped at Kim Robinson’s, I’m reminded of the story once told of Michaelangelo who saw in every block of stone he sculptured an angel waiting to be released. That really gets me wondering.. what do Kim Robinson hairartists see in my flat, lifeless, boring hair that seems on the verge of baldness.

I’m in the midst of crunching out a Kim Robinson video for all my listeners out there. This will probably be more interesting than what I can put together in words. So, keep a look out for that!

There are some things in life you just can’t get enough of and dim sum is definitely one of them. 

I’ve always had a penchant for dim sum, partly because I enjoy eating fresh, succulent seafood and also because this is the only meal I know that comes neatly bundled in small packages. What’s even better is that you can gently ease everything down with cups of steaming long jing tea in between laughs and your tête-à-tête.

I had the rare treat of spending a relaxing Saturday afternoon at just the right place for dim sum. Nestled on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Orchard Singapore, the Pine Court Chinese Restaurant is well-located at a great vantage point that maintains a comfortable distance from the bustling weekend crowd. And to match the whopping panorama of the cityscape, Pine Court prepared a delectable array of Cantonese dim sum just for me!

It was really quite an experience being able to enjoy a leisurely sip of good chinese tea, sink my teeth into bite-sized portions of freshly steamed ’Shanghai’ dumpling filled with pork and crabmeat and chatting away with Ms Cheyl Chen, Assistant F&B Director at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore. After all, I’m your average working class person who’s got to observe the 9s to 5s.

In between our girly banters, I began to fully appreciate why the chinese often use mealtimes as a good opportunity for striking business deals. It’s really here at the dining table where people are most relaxed to enjoy their hearty meal and are open for an honest exchange. For two hours, time really stood still. Cheryl and I chatted like old friends about life and the virtue of perseverance. In fact, Cheryl shared with me her life story as a hotelier, her work as Assistant F&B Director and the fact she used to be an assistant sous chef having to start from bottom up and as far as Lausanne in Switzerland at her own expense! As I sat there, fully absorbed, I couldn’t suppress the resonance I found in her story. Truly, her life story is inspirational, matched only by the warmth of her hospitality and superb choice of dim sum dishes.

Speaking of which, Cheryl included in the menu the baked barbecued pork pie with cheese which is incidentally Pine Court’s very own signature dish. Locally known as char shao tsu, this mouth-watering morsel came baked to a crisp perfection, with a generous toss of white and black sesame seeds which added to the texture and crunch. This had to be one of my favourites. What’s really good about Pine Court’s version of this flaky treat is the oozing centre of diced roast pork swimming in a rich cheesy barbeque sauce. Definitely a good balance of texture and taste. 

Also equally impressive was the crisp-fried thousand filo with fresh mango and prawns. A friend from Kuwait once told me that Kuwaitis believed in the importance of food looking as good as they taste. I suppose that’s quite universal, given the increasing emphasis on food presentation and styling. I couldn’t agree more as I was served these delicate golden-threaded pillows, quite unwilling to sink my teeth into them because they looked so good. I caved in finally, and there was no regret. The sweetness of the mango really brought out the savoury zing of the prawn and the crisp of the tiny filo weavings like black on white.

Just in case you’re wondering where on earth are the usual (dim sum) suspects? Whenever you go to any respectable dim sum restaurants, what do you usually order as yardsticks of quality? For me, it has to be siew mai (pork and mushroom dumpling) and har kau (shrimp bonnet). Well, unfortunately, I don’t have the photos of the latter. I do, however, have photos of the siew mai , and wait till you see this. It’s surely going to whet your appetites!

The siew mai has somewhat evolved over time, and restaurants have attempted to recreate the siew mai without losing its defining quality: robust flavour and juicy pork-based fillings. Some have tried putting prawns on top of these little pork parcels to add that visual glam to this traditional dim sum but I still like the one done by Pine Court in the customary way.  So, pick up those chopsticks, and roe, roe, roe your siew mais, gently down your oesophagus. Yumz.

Another staple at dim sum restaurants is the roast pork bun (char siew pao). Admittedly, I am not a big fan of flour-ey things (e.g. bread, buns) but I must admit this char siew pao was just too good to miss, especially when it’s fresh out of the steamer. Another classic done to perfection. 

Another very appetising dish was the steamed shrimps dumpling with chilli sauce. This was yet another visual treat as much as it was a gastronomical delight. Absolutely delish. As with all their other dishes, the freshness at Pine Court is irrefutable. You can bite into the prawn and feel it bounce back about a good 0.02%. The chilli oil that is lavishly doused on the dumpling is a comfortable-spicy and not overpowering at all. For those who can’t take spicy foods, have no fear because this is way too mild to cause a coughing fit. For those who thrive on super-spicy foods, well, it’s time for some natural sweetness. This dish will definitely not disappoint because of the way the chilli oil complements the stuff hidden under the muff.

Cheryl also ordered for me the roast duck and roast pork – two food items I avoid like the plague. Call me an ignoramus if you like, but I just can’t get pass the foul, gamey flavour of these feathered friends and the idea of eating Miss Piggy no matter how hard I tried. This duck dish, however, is different. You have to try it for yourself to know. In fact, I find the duck meat so  immaculately seasoned that there’s hardly the usual nauseating flavour that comes with poorly-seasoned duck meat.  As for the pork, it is beautifully crunchy and goes really with the condiments and sauces, speaking of which, want to make a guess as to what the green stuff is? And by the way, I still prefer not to eat pork.

My dining experience at Pine Court was a really memorable one. The food was stupendous, the company wonderful, and an entire afternoon of nothing else but lingering conversations, quiet spaces and good dim sum is truly the way to go. I went away nourished by the food and refreshed by the exchange I had with an unpretentious conversationalist and food connoisseur. This was truly an extraordinary dim sum experience that left me “pine-ing” for more. But before we go, how about some figs, sea cocunut, aloe vera and tangy sorbet for desserts?

Even though frequent showers can potentially dry out the dog’s skin, much also depends on the type of coat your dog has and also the type of shampoo you use. Our lil’ Piccolo is a shmoodle (shih tzu + maltese + poodle) that really enjoys frollicking in the water, mucking around on the kitchen mat and grass patches in public areas, and getting himself really dirty. This is made worse by the fact that his curly fur traps dirt real easily, thanks to his poodle genes.

Anyway, this is one lil’ dog that enjoys his showers. He shows it by jumping readily into a makeshift, plastic bathtub, tail wagging, eagerly awaiting his scrub-down. He savours every moment of waterplay, the scrubbing, and the hairdrying thereafter. This has become a weekly routine, and it has been working out well for lil’ Piccolo so far.

Earlier, I also talked about the correct choice of shampoos. In reality, one can’t be too sure that the information stated on the labels are reliable and accurate. That said, I guess some things just have to be done by faith. Piccolo uses mild olive shampoo – just enough to get the water into a slight lather for complete-body scrubbing and we’re good to go! And while you’re at it, make doubly sure you don’t get water into the ears because that can result in mites and other ear-related problems. Before every shower, we also apply medicative eardrops to clean out the wax and other unwanted guests. He hates that, but he’s learnt to bear with it or not play with water at all.

As for haircuts, Piccolo does it only once every 3-4 months. Some dog owners we know actually prefer the DIY approach. Well, my hubby and I decided that once every quarter wouldn’t cost a lot, especially after accounting for the trouble in sitting him still and disentangling the knots that completely immobilise the shaver.

So, are they two different dogs or the same lil’ Piccolo in the two pictures?

With the numerous recipes you can easily grab off the web and pet magazines, making your own doggy treats has never been easier!

This particular one stands out for me because lil’ Piccolo has been lapping them all up so far.  We often make use of the kong for his treats for the dual purpose of rewarding his good behaviour and improving his problem-solving skills. It  is amusing just to watch him fling the kong and pry into the little cavity with his tiny paws just to get the treat out. Definitely a good way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.

So, having said so much.. here’s the recipe for Piccolo’s favourite cheesy dog biscuits! Have a real treat!

I’ve always been a pet lover since young. Dabbled at keeping fish, hamsters and star tortoises (before they were classified as endangered), I still found dogs more … endearing and huggable.

Other than my family’s Japanese Chin, I’ve got my own beloved furry friend too. Piccolo (or Picco for short) is a Shmoodle. He inherited his boundless energy from his Shih Tzu- Maltese mum and his intelligence from his Poodle dad. Designer dogs like Piccolo are supposed to be stronger than their pedigree peers, due to what some believe to be the operative law of natural selection. Having spent three good years with us, we can confidently say that our lil’ chum has proven to be very hardy and less susceptible to illnesses that commonly plague  other dogs. And he’s a lot smarter too!

Character traits aside, lil’ Piccolo has become such an important part of us that it would difficult to imagine life without him. He’s really a joy to be with, especially when you are greeted by THE TAIL as you step through the door. For those of you who are dog owners, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

My hubby bought him for company through the final semester of my undergrad days with the University of Queensland. This was especially comforting for us since we were in a place where nothing really belonged to us, except for this little bag of fleas. Lil’ Piccolo was all that we could call our own. Now that we’re back, we would recall those days in Australia, and are glad to have brought a little piece of downunder back with us. He has become somewhat an Ebenezer for us – a milestone to remind us of how far God has brought us. 

So, why Piccolo? Well, Piccolo is really “little” in Italian. And boy was Piccolo really little when we first got him. Just a tiny ball of fur with two beady eyes, looking so like a teddy bear! And this lil’ boy had such a way of winning our hearts that we took to him immediately, amongst three other siblings we had to choose from at the breeder’s. So, we did the usual tests of loyalty, alertness, and sound check, and decide then and there that this lil’ shmuck was it! You can say we’re biased (as with any other dog owners), but this lil’ shmuck is probably THE cutest dog ever! By the way, he’s also called Piccolo because he makes such high-pitched sounds when left alone for too long or when he’s not getting our attention enough – like a lil piccolo flute! So, what’s in a name? Plenty, I’d say.

The joys of having your own dog are indescribable. Yes, you would have the hassle of not having much freedom to go for overseas vacations without first finding a nanny for him (mum and dad are good for this!),  but nothing could ever replace the way a dog waits patiently on you,  forgets easily, is completely honest with you, and most of all, loves you unconditionally!

Do you have age spots? Freckles? Uneven skintones, pigmentation or just …dull-looking skin?

Well, almost everyone will experience these kinds of facial skin problems at some point or other. The question is… what do we do about them?

While some go to extensive lengths of trying to mask these imperfections, others use all kinds of harsh chemicals on their delicate skin to try to remove them. Well first of all, these common skin flaws can occur because of age, stress, exposure to environmental elements, and a host of other factors. In fact, some are the result of genetics, viruses, and other causes. It’s always best to check with your own dematologist, however, good skin care practices can help reduce thee appearance of these common flaws, prevent further damage and maintain firm, smooth, and healthy skin.

There are 2 broad types of products that can help brighten and whiten the skin. Brightening products usually contain Vitamin C because it helps to lighten the skin tone for natural looking radiance, reduce age spots, pigmentation and freckles. Vitamin C is vital in skin repair and healing and is required for collagen reproduction especially for aging skin. Vitamin C also regenerates vitamin E in the skin to provide sustained antioxidant protection to suppress free radicals. But, effective though it might be, thee acidic nature of Vitamin C may irritate and dry some sensitive skin types. Also, special care ought be taken when pregnant because the skin is most sensitive then.

Whitening products on thee other hand generally whitens the skin tone where applied. They protect the skin against damage caused by free radicals, and inhibits the formation of melanin pigments. Interestingly, most of the brightening and whitening products at Skinfood are mixed with certain percentage of vitamin C from tomatoes to produce more natural skin tone results.

What’s your particular skin complaint and how have you successfully dealt with it? Share your thoughts with us…

P.S. This week on My Favourite Things @ 7.30pm, win prizes from Skinfood. And from now till 19th April visit any Skinfood store, say “Symphony 92.4″ and receive a sample set absolutely free!