Weekend #29

I have been (and probably still) feeling low. I sort of know the reason yet at the same time, unwilling to pull myself 100% out of this crazy emotional state of mind. I have been reminded to stay positive so here goes.

The weekend came and went by quickly. Yet there were many moments that I relished:

1. I was glad I rounded up my besties to kickstart the weekend with omakase on Friday night. I could have called it a night when my original plan flopped (my dinner mate forgot she had made a conflicting appointment). But these girls are a source of respite for me. I don't always tell them how I feel and they never ask but always know I am not 'right' and they detract me from stray thoughts. We went to Kaiho Sushi (Cuppage Plaza, #03-01) by the way and had a great dinner.

2. Came Saturday, I started the day early baking sticky date puddings for an inaugural "cuzzies only" dinner potluck. They turned out great and made my day.

3. Swung by ECP for a few minutes of light cycling and enjoying the sea breeze before popping by the Big Bad Wolf, a new bistro/cafe at 226 Tanjong Katong for a bite. The hot day made the peach fruit beer and mussels with white wine cream sauce perfect for an ideal lunch. The beer tasted like a cider / Jolly Shandy, waaay easy to drink. Thanks EL, for introducing it to me. Well, I am not a green-lipped mussels fan, but choices were limited so I gave them a shot. For $10, I wouldn't expect fresh ones and at BBW, they were admittedly frozen. BUUUT they were cooked beautifully, tender and with the cream sauce not too heavy. A flufflier bread would have been lovely to soak up the sauce.

4. Caught up with an ex-colleague of mine and despite the wrong choice of venue, our conversation was thoughtful and deep. He might be young and irritating, but he does throw out a few gems once in a while.

5. Saturday prolonged when I convinced one of the besties to visit Bar Stories for a drink. Her HK colleague was in town anyway and she needed to entertain him. Had a most delicious melon saketini as well as a lemongrass-ginger saketini. The creamy note from the unfiltered sake did the trick. I would have to tell them to tone down on the sugar syrup in future though. Tip to you readers: Never go with the first drink the staff recommends. Ask for something special that no one else is drinking.

6. Sunday was simply good because I visited my friend's church and the sermon spoke to me. You wouldn't know but it has been a while.

7. That was followed by a pig-out lunch at Ikoi (Miramar Hotel) for Japanese ala carte buffet. I avoid buffets like I would avoid an accident, but sometimes, life is about give-and-take. That Sunday time, I decided to give. The one dish I always looked forward to was the salmon head nitsuke. It was smaller than usual but with no competitor vying for it, it was all mine.

8. I even managed to sneak a short catch up with the Haute One while she was at work. Happy she found something she's happy to do.

9. The weather remained perfect (i.e. warm and dry) the whole weekend. In fact, it was scorching. That hot, burning sensation from the sun's rays made me feel like I was being burned. But it made me feel alive. For that, I am oddly grateful.