Making Pizza!

I made my first pizza for M today and would definitely consider it a "success". The process is very simple, in fact so simple that I couldn't believe it when L shared with me. All you need for the dough is self-raising flour, milk, a bit of sugar and salt. My mum suggested that I add a bit of potato to enhance the flavour which I will probably do so the next time.

The joy of making your own pizza lies in being able to choose what you want to place on the dough and the ability to control the amount of oil and butter that you add. This time, I chose to use ham, sausage, lots of onion and tomatoes, corn, green capsicum and zucchini for my toppings. I would love to have pineapples but there was none in my fridge. Cheese is also a MUST for M but I prefer a sparing taste.

The end result was good but I forgot to take a picture and this entry will be "pictureless" again. Must, must take some pictures!

感慨三篇

回到了河内，又有一股莫名的惆怅感。短短的三个星期，我似乎经历了不少。去了一趟台湾同好友叙旧，回国之后却碰上了亲人去世和友人迎接新生命一悲一喜的事。

友人篇（一）

这次的台湾之游，让我同一位好友相聚。认识她是在中学时期，很奇怪，我们性格虽然截然不同，但却十分投机。我便自封为她的干姐姐，担当起保护 她的责任。（说穿了，我只是趁机欺负她罢了。）由于她很内向，又蛮乖巧，我便替她取了个外号叫老鼠。她也不干势弱的叫我水桶（因为我时常喝很多水。）

大学时期，她到英国念书。说真的，当时我很想念她。一想到不能象以往那样容易同她见面和通电话，我忍不住哭得稀里哗啦，还被妈妈训了一顿。后来，她回到台北协助她父亲的家族生意，我们便没机会见面了。只有等她偶尔会新加坡公干，才有机会见面。

这次到台北，并非心血来潮，而是早有预谋。时常都想到那儿看看她和她的生活环境。短短的一个星期里，我仿佛回到学生时代，那时我经常到她家过夜并畅谈一番。别看她似乎很乖，和我斗嘴时可厉害了（但还是不及我啦）。我们就这样闹啊，吵啊，吃啊，玩啊，度过了一个很美好的假期。回国后，突然很想念她。感觉上还有很多话没同她说，也很希望她能够象以前那样离我那么近。我同妈妈说，真的不知道几时才有机会再当面作弄她，同她聊天。

感慨一：好友难求，当你遇上一个能让你无所不谈，并放心倾诉的人，是值得特别珍惜的。

亲人篇

听到我姨丈逝世，我十分震惊。他是在异乡公干时心脏病暴发而离开的，享年五十三岁。由于姨丈长年在外地工作，所以我同他的接触不多。但看见我阿姨和表姐弟伤心欲绝的模样，我忍不住难过。表弟说，姨丈时常不在身边，所以他对爸爸的感情没那么深厚。但他是爱爸爸的。现在没有机会让姨丈亲耳听到这句话，让他非常无奈。

我不知道自己还有多少时间和家人在一起，但我下定决心要时时提醒自己，珍惜和家人相聚的每一分一秒。写到这里，想到远在新加坡的妈妈，我又感到一阵惆怅。

感慨二：人生最大的无奈莫过于死别。

友人篇（二）

在我回到河内的前几天，接到了一个好消息。一位好友顺利的产下了可爱的男宝宝，简称轩仔。之前知道她对怀孕之事非常担心，所以为她感到担忧。一来是未做好准备，二来是怀孕时期身体不适，让她困扰了一阵。但那天看到她开心的模样，我放心多了。我想一旦身为人母，一个人的心态和观念就会随之改变。这就是有身具来的准备力量。我相信我的朋友会是一位很好的妈妈。加油哦！

想到不能参加轩仔的满月酒，我不禁有少许惆怅。我最爱热闹的，特别是有可爱宝宝的地方，更让我开心。但我远在河内，这满月酒是没机会喝了。

感慨三：人不需要刻意改变自己来担当责任。有时，责任会让你无形中改变。

From Hanoi to Taipei (Prelude)

Guess what? Even before I have completed all my blog entries on Italy (I am still working on Venice, with Florence and Rome pending), I will be heading to Taipei on Wednesday! This is my first overseas holiday with my good friend, L, and I will be warmly welcomed by my best friend Mousie, who is a Taiwanese.

We are planning to go to 阿里山 together to watch the sunrise (romantic huh?), and will be making some day trips to 九份，渔人码头，淡水, etc. The night markets also beckon with cheap apparels and delicious street food.

I can't help but look forward already! :)

Happy National Day!

This is the first year I am celebrating National Day overseas and I am super homesick. I just watched Channel Newsasia this morning, a special report on National Day for overseas Singaporeans, and caught a short interview with violinist Lee Hui Min (can't remember how to spell her name). She said something that struck my heart. There are certain things that u take for granted in Singapore. But once you are overseas and these things are not available, they become special to you. My exact sentiments.

But I guess majority of my homesickness also comes from missing my family. We usually "tah paw" some food back for dinner (like sashimi if we are feeling rich or teo chew porridge if we are feeling stuffed!) and spend the evening watching the National Day Parade. It has become part of a routine for us to spend our holiday. Something which I miss greatly.

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Cooking Lesson

My friend, S, invited me to a cooking class today. It's actually a get-together for 5 culinary experts (excluding myself) to experiment on cooking recipes. While I was unable to help much in the preparation (except adding salt?), I contributed by helping to finish the end products. We had a home-cooked 3 course meal comprising of bread, pan fried fish with stewed zucchini and tiramisu. Can you believe this?

Here are the pictures to whet your appetite: Pan fried fish and stewed zucchini (on the bottom left), freshly baked bread out from the oven (on the right) and the bread dough after kneading (on top).

Fabulicious! :)