Saturday, June 30, 2007

Night of the Gamers

Those who knows Moi, knows I love playing games and more games. So was so excited and happy when twinny arranged the night of games. WEEEEEEEE!!! \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/

Went down to the Settler's Cafe near the Central. It was a litte hard so my advise is to exit from clark quay mrt EXIT A, cross the traffic light along North Canal Road, then turn yourself to the right, walk down some dim lighted pubs and shop houses and you will see the Settler's Cafe. Twinny was late and so I was giving her the above same instructions over the phone... But minutes passed and the charpoh is still not here yet.

Twin 1 : Where are you now?

Twin 2 : cannot find leh... I am now at XYZ.

Twin 1 : You go sala, oreddy, lah! I said turn right, why you walk straight?

Twin 2 : Har. Turn right? Sure or not? Over there dark dark leh...got cafe meh?

So Boys and Girls, Listen to Moi hor. Dun be so blur Sotong like my Twin 2. =d

So for 2 hours and 6 pax, we had...


Game 1 : First hands

First Hand is a wild and fast hand-twisting game fot 2-8 players ages 6 and up. A card is turned over and as quickly as possible, all players imitate the hand position depicted on it. The slowest player loses. There are also some boogo cards that it's not possible to perform any hand signs so one need to be fast in both eyes and hands. It was a good warm-up game for us.


Game 2 : TransAmerica

This mine and Twinny's favourite. Kekeke! I won 2 rounds. =d A very simple railway game. Each player has a set of 5 cities strung across the US that need to be connected by rail. Players place either 1 or 2 rails each turn. The player who can make the best use of the other players' networks is generally victorious.


Game 3 : Dragon Delta

The object of the game is to move your pawn over a system of bridge-like planks to other side of the board. To accomplish this, players simultaneously select five cards from an equal set of actions. The actions allow players to place plank foundations, place planks, move their pawns, cancel other players' actions, or remove planks or foundation stones. As can be expected for a game with simultaneous action selection, the game is rather chaotic. And it's quite fustrating cause the five cards were selected at the start and so it means many a times, we have to get into the water and swim back to our island. RESTART. We stopped after a while cause all of others are getting rather fustrated. Contrary, this game actually won the 2000 Concours International de Créateurs de Jeux de Société and 5th Place 2000 Hippodice Spieleautorenwettbewerb. The judges must be boring people. hahahahaha!


Game 4 : Pig Pile

Pig Pile is an extremely light card (and punny) game. The cards have illustrations of pigs (naturally) and you can be "hog tied" or have a "hog wash". Players start with 3 face down cards (called "Slop"). And a hand of 6 cards. At the start you place 3 of of cards on top of the slop cards leaving you hand of three cards. Each turn you must play to the "Pig Pile" one or more cards of the same value that equal to or greater than the top card of the Pig Pile. If you fail to do so, you must take the entire Pig Pile into your hand. Certain cards have special effects:
- Hog Wild: Wild card which can be played at any time and allows any card to played on it next turn.
- Hog Tied (4's): The next player loses his turn.
- Hog Wash (8's): The Pig Pile is discarded out of the game and you get another turn. (A Hog Wash also happens if 3 cards of the same value are played in succession by one or more players.)
- Ewe Turn (11's): (I know ewe's are not pigs, well.) Reverse order of play.

Each turn you draw back to 3 cards until the deck runs out. If you have no cards in your hand (which can only happen after the deck runs out), you must play a face up card (a card that you laid aside at start) or if those are gone, a slop card. (Slop cards are played blind, so you could be really screwed.) The object is be first or second to get rid of all of your cards (including the slop.) Each player is awarded a number of pigs. Most pigs after 5 hands wins. This is also quite a tiring and long game with many "repeats".


Game 5 : Slamwich



Game 5 : Slamwich

Another of our favourite, Slamwich is a fast condition-recognition game. The cards are die-cut to resemble slices of bread topped with sandwich stuffings, sandwich thieves, and sandwich munchers. Flip and stack this clever loaf of cards to build slamwiches and double deckers.

Tomato, tomato (2 same cards)... slap! Slamwich.

Tomato, lettuce, tomato (2 same cards with a different card in btw)... slap! Double deckers.

Get there first and win the pile. But watch out - you'll have to catch the thief and stop the muncher from stealing a stack of cards by ...slap "catch the thief". When you're out of cards, you're out of the game. The first player to collect all the cards wins.

Well for so much energy and brain draining games, we need some "fuel", right?


Sotong balls, Chicken nuggets, Chicken sandwich

We had lots of fun and I would say the servers can understand the different types of games very well and are able to recommend suitable games to us... ER.....except the food menu and promotion and pricing. We wasted a lot of time just clarifying with the servers about the food and the promotion and waiting for the server jostling to-and-fro to ask his 'friend'.

All games and no talk... how can that be.... jalan down to the nearest starbucks for some catchup.. and chatty. Save the two slow coaches, Bub and Blossom that took ages to join us. Kekeke. This time round the one who seems more sleepy was Buttercup instead of Bub. kekekeke! We exchanged latest updates of each other and our views and opinions on the various issues discussed. Bub shared a sad incident of a sudden death of a close friend. Moi and Twinny knows and understands how it feels...since we did lose someone very dearly suddenly and took a loooooong time to get over and end with a closure. I believe Bub's friend's family will be extremely affected and so I wished they will be strong and pull themselves together soon. But never disminish the importance of taking one's time to mull and mourn over it. Such things take time...even if it takes years or decades.... At times when I think and miss him, I get into a panic and fear...fear that I might forget the memories we share, fear that I might not remember his face and touch again... Those who left never really left, they will always in our hearts. And eventually we all be united together again...

Well we ordered a mango frappuccino, a moca freeze and a cup of green tea. Blossoms and Twinny share about marriage life and realistic expectations of a husband and a wife team... i suppose it's never easy to be in a relationship what's more a committment that is that heavy. Well, one can never fully be ready for such things... I dunno how ready I would be when my time comes.. But at this moment, I think I am better off being my usual selfish, wilful and sassy girl. *wink* Well, as the saying goes, if it comes, it comes. So Moi isn't worrying. Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be, will be.... The future's not ours, to see. Que Sera, Sera. What will be, will be.... And Blossom, here special for you, sweetie. You know no matter what happens, your family and the PowerPuff gals and Wonder Twins power will always be behind you.


Source
1. Board Game Geek

Settler's Cafe
Settler's@Central
39 North Canal Road (Clarke Quay MRT Exit A)
Tel: 6535-0435
Website: http://sg.settlerscafe.com/

Opening hours
Tue - Thurs & Sun, 2pm - 11pm
Fri - Sat, 2pm - 1:30am
Eve of Public Holdiay, Extended hours till 1:30am
Closed on Monday

Dream Comes True

To be Transformed

I can't wait... so I went to watch it today...

Digital resolution.

Superb Animation.

Wonderful.

can't help thinking about them... the Autobots : Optimus Prime, BumbleBee, Jazz, Truck,...

But Moi is a little disappointed with the combat part...the story was so-so but the combat... it was less animated and exciting like the cartoons. Megatron was too easier destroy... too easier defeated... Exasperated...GRRRRRRR!!!

But on the whole, still nice lah.... Heehee!

Going to sleep now to dream about my Optimus Prime... Muackz... =)

Mrs Teacup

Had lunch with Teacup today. It's been long... Teacup has mellow down so much after being a mother. Not that she has become less stronger or softer...in actual fact, I would think she become an even stronger lady after becoming a mother. She gave up her 5-digit salary to become a full-time mother to be there for her little baby. After 5 years, she is back into the financial industry on freelance basis, going strong, taking her ACCA, juggling between roles as a business woman, a student, a house keeper, a mother and a wife. She takes good care of her husband and her son. No man can be luckier than her husband. She never fails to inspire me being the always focus, determined and strong-will lady that she always been since varsity days. I admire her for her courage and her passion in whatever things she does. She will never give up till it's accomplished.

So many of us living in life, not knowing what we want...OR even knowing what we want but do not have the courage to go for it. We are always complaining about our job, our environment, our salary but we did have the courage to do something about it, to take a step forward to make the change and to live through that change. We are always just complaining and yet complacent about the present, so fearful of changes. And so wondering and lost about what we want...

How many of us can take that courage to move forward and to seek for your own dream and realise it.....

Strike

Other than stuffing ourselves with food during Snoopy and Woodstock's visit, we did go and have some fun, chats,etc. Snoopy loves bowling..in fact he is crazy about. He even made sure he did much stretches and took ample rest before our bowling sessions. Yup yup!! Snoopy is "crazy". hahahaha!! So it's no wonder, he (K) is No. 1 on the list.... ^_-)


Guess who's the last...?=P



6 movements to good bowling

Friday, June 29, 2007

50 km/hr

Going to recee the running route for this 26th August SAFRA run that Moi is participating... Part of the segment include a part of the ECP Expressway so was checking with Suse, a habitual runner, about running on the expressway....

Me : Can people run on ECP or not?

Suse : Cannot run on ECP Expressway.

Me : How you know? I think got a pathway, right?

Suse : You maybe stop by traffice police. Anything < 50 km per hr should not be on the expressway.

Me : How you know i run so slow leh ? Maybe I run > 50km/hr hor. =P

So Moi did a quick check on the internet to find out what is the fastest human speed....

According to the Fact Monster, a high speed human can run up to 44.9 km/hr. HAR?? That's fast? But Moi is faster at 50 km/hr lah. Hahahaha. *wink*

Out of curiosity, Moi also check out the speed of the fastest animal on land and on air,

Peregrine falcon (air) - 322 km/hr
Cheetah (land) - 112 km/hr
Lion - 80.5 km/hr
Dog - 805 km/hr - 96.6 km/hr
Rabbit - 56.35 km/hr
Cat - 48.3 km/hr
Human - 44.9 km/hr

Post Note
Part of the expressway has no pathway and you would need to take a huge detour.... so it's half-half. =P

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Battle of the chicks

I have heard quite a lot about Chin Chin but had yet to been there to try their food though I do patron the opposite Yet Con and Thai First coffeeshop for meals. So last weekend I thought I should really go over and try the chicken rice at Chin Chin as a trial. It is good to break from Moi's usual routine of eating Yet Con's chicken rice.... I would say though I was a fan of Yet Con's chicken rice, Chin Chin's chicken rice stands out because the chicken is more meaty and the rice is less drier and oily. The price also seems to be a little cheaper at Chin Chin compare to that of Yet Con. But alas, Chin Chin is non-air-conditional so it can get pretty sweaty after a meal.


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) steamed chicken (2) Potato leaves (3) Fried Beancurd (4) Fish maw soup from Chin Chin

I understand their signature soup is mutton soup and is only served every thurs, fri, sat and sun. Unfortunately I was not able to try the mutton soup during my visit... =( Directly opposite Chin Chin, is Yet Con. Moi really loves the nostalgia feelings of Yet Con with the entrance showing hung chicken and a man sitting at the cashier to collect payment after each meal. Each table even have a jar containing the traditional hainanese chicken rice chilli and ginger sauce. The receipt was also hand-written on those old fashioned brown paper... Yet con is famous not only for her chicken but also for their roasted meat and old-fashioned steamboat.


Yet Con



In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) steamed chicken (2) Sambal kangkong (3) Chicken Rice (4) Chicken soup from Yet Con



Traditional Hainanese garlic-lime chilli sauce and Ginger Sauce


For the chicken wise, I would prefer Chin chin but if I want old-fashioned steamboat with a generous dollop of nostalgia, then it's Yet Con!

Chin Chin Eating House
19 Purvis Street
Tel: 6337 4640

Yet Con
25 Purvis Street
Tel: 6337 6819

Some Same Places

During Snoopy and Woodstock's stay, brought them to quite a few places that Moi usually patron for makan.... Will be listing some of them here...kekeke.

1) Sin Hoi Sai

We went down there on Father's Day, it was soooooo very crowded and we waited for nearly an hour for our dinner... Tried more dishes this time. Found their fried rice and the recommended dish, Pork Ribs with Guinness stout, quite nice. Woodstock loves the salt vegetable fish soup and Emperor vegetable though. It was first time for me to try the Emperor vegetable and it tastes kind of "soil" and very slimy. But not tooooooo bad...just different from the usual vegetable.


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) Emperor Vegetable + Bean Sprouts (2) Fried Rice (3) Salt vegetable and fish soup (4) Fried omelette (5) Pork Ribs with Guinness stout (6) Diced Chicken With Ginger


2) Tung Lok

Well, the shark fin was served in ONE piece kind...good stuff. *wink* We went to the new outlet of Tung Lok @ The Central. Woodstock was a bit hesitant to eat the fatty looking Dong Po Rou (pork) initially but no regrets. Enjoying Dong Po Rou is to begin to understand the role of fat in making meat taste good. Each bite send the pork melting in one's mouth...YUMMY!!! The dishes are different from their previous outlet at Liang Court Shopping centre. The dishes are more of a fusion kind rather than the traditional chinese dishes. Pros and Cons. But I like both types....


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) Shark fins (2) Clams (3) Dong Bo Rou (Pork) (4) Dessert (5) Crispy Rice with softshell crab (6) fried and steam grouper


3) Farmland Porridge

Well also had porridge steamboat, twinny and her dearie also came along and they found it very unique and nice too. Hmm...next time will bring my whole family here. Kekekeke.


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) Fried roasted pork (2) Sea cucumber + Scallop (3) Beancurd skin + mutton (4) Porridge with egg (5) Porridge steamboat (6) Prawns + Pomfret



Who's that girl??


4) La Cantina in Venezia

During their anniversary, wanted to do something special for Snoopy and Woodstock so brought them to this nice cosy italian restaurant inside the Changi Village Hotel. But we missed the sunset or it will definitely be a very lovely sight. The food is not too bad and in good portion.


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) Seafood platter (2) Lagsane (3) Pizza (4) Spaghetti with cream base


5) Cze Char @ Millie's Coffee Shop

Millie's Coffee shop is just beside the Changi Village hotel. Was a little concern that they might han dum Snoopy cause he is a foreigner... but the bill came up to less than $50, so ok lah. The dishes are not too bad though nothing to WOW about... Just the Mee Goreng is not quite tasty so just dun order Mee Goreng if anyone of you want to drop in for dinner. Reasonable local dishes.


In clockwise starting Top left corner : (1) Coffee Pork Ribs (2) Omelette (3) Hot place tofu (4) Mee Goreng


Tung Lok Signature
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
The Central #02-88
Tel: 6336 6022

La Cantina in Venezia
Changi Village Hotel
1 Netheravon Road
Tel: 6546 9190

Millie's Coffee House
Blk 5 Changi Village Rd