How Was Your Weekend?

I was asked , so what do you do on a weekend?

My preferred answer was "Nothing, I just let myself free of schedules, follow-ups, the computer and just let my mind ride on the wave of liberation". The reality is very different.

Friday evening should be for chilling out, but when my commitments at work and business call, I make time for them, even then. The end of the week was normally released in catching up with mates working in the central business district, and taking a late train home to the suburbs, but now that I am living outside a capital city, I just make sure I give my inner soul a special treat. Dining out, having drinks, catching a movie or laughing with friends. I think it is important to celebrate the week, to recognise people who do not care for me and more importantly, acknowledge those who do. And then to sleep late, to not be bound by the demands of time and obligation. There is no shopping pressure, as most retail outlets are closed at the same time as offices, and sometimes I wonder how I adjusted to all that lack of shopping pleasure after work.

Living in a regional town and also having a social network in a capital city can be a difficult balancing act. I choose not to see it that way, and appreciate the ability to dart between two worlds, just as I have to sometimes walk a tightrope between two personal cultures. The essential thing for me is to plan ahead - most of my road journeys to a social gathering, a shopping centre or a stint in a lifestyle suburb involves driving about two to three hours all up, when I am not doing it in the Wollongong area. Waking up early in the nippy dawn and coming home late under moonlight does have its advantages - I assure you that it does build character. I like to build a theme around my itnerary for the weekend day and Sydney does offer its varied and diverse personalities to not offer a dull moment. Outdoors, indooors, different age groups, mountain, plains or coast, the setting for my outing can be for brunch, the whole day, walking the dog or chilling out for the evening. At times I choose to go south or west, instead of heading to the Big Smoke. Networking, or having a day's adventure with a mate, adds back things taken away during the week. I used to spend time doing some charity work, but now I have been slack on this.

What I secretly enjoy most on a weekend is to potter around the house and keep things going. The garden plants need culling, pruning or sculpturing. The car needs cleaning and vacuuming. The goldfish deserve a water change in their tank. The carpet feels better after being paid attention to. Nothing beats in contributing to winter cosiness or summer ease than cooking, be it a simple omelette or dabbling in preparing one's own soul food. In my case, I love stirring the pot when I am cooking tender neck pork cuts in soy sauce and garlic, or stir-frying a quick and simple dish of vermicelli with preferred ingredients and then adding garnish.

Sometimes Saturday mornings are reserved for that special trip to comparing products, or visiting the dentist, optometrist and hairstylist. It may also be a special sports meet up with close mates outdoors or a workout in a gym, and to remind myself why I work hard and steadily on weekdays.

One of life's simple pleasures for me is to surf the internet or read magazines or books with a hot drink or cold beverage on hand, and be able at the same time to feel the breeze or bask in the warmth of the sun. Reading restores my inner self. Then I look at my pile of laundry, washed but not ironed. I know then that Monday morning is always at the back of my mind.

The World of the Straits Chinese Maiden

Settings for meals (above)

Inner courtyard (above)

Kitchen long table (above)

Traditional tiffin carrier (below)

Bridal chamber

Working Teams

Davin Gaynes, Kevin Yong and Josh Atkins (above)

Elaine Kow, Theodore Sokolovic, Phil Williams, Chris Mowbray and Chris Perre (above)

Chris Perre, Kevin Yong and Shibani Iyer (below)

Krish De, Josh Atkins and Daniel Redman (above)


Krish De, Josh Atkins and Kevin Yong (above)


John Walter and Daniel Redman (above)

Dancing In the Street

"You can't hurry love, you just have to wait."
"It was only my imagination , running out of the way."
"Twist and shout!"

Human Nature, an Aussie singing group from Sydney's south-west heartland, are better than ever. Not just in showmanship, continuing captivation, audience grabbing attention and building up the crescendo for the fans to be literally dancing in their seats, but also to show a sense of giving back to the community. Having a TV personality, Andrew Denton, introduce to the audience a lady who has endured much deterioration of health, but whose personal wish is to publicly sing with Human Nature and apparently looks fine, may seem to be a publicity stunt by some, but to me, it makes a statement about the heart.

I was privileged to witness the latest tour of this four-man group whose key display tool is their voice box. They can harmonise effectively on a tune without any musical instrument, and yet render their versions of retro songs with dazzling moves and a complementing entourage. The Sandpit in Wollongong's Entertainment Centre by the Tasman Sea encourages a more intimate atmosphere for both performer and audience. The trumpet players jived, the bar stool chairs swivelled and there was not even an intermission to reflect, as the two and a half hours of concert blended into a movie-like experience of a musical journey.

Toby sang solo with "Unforgettable", while I preferred Andrew's falsetto renditions, especially those that mixed well with the female singers Paulini and the Naturales. Andrew's brother Michael is a powerhouse of a performer with his versatile voice and beaming presence. The rotating roundtable stage in the centre is a terrific idea of ensuring that the audience on all sides had their share of being addressed. The Tierney brothers, Andrew and Michael, seemed most down-to-earth. All performers require a good level of physical fitness, but Human Nature also has flair. My only regret was not having a concert programme for them to autograph! The audience wanted to continue dancing on to the streets after, and also in their inner hearts.

Graceful, Grateful Moments

On a cool winter's night, think of cream brulee. Soft melting insides hidden below a thin crispy crust that is neither overdone nor too flimsy, but just with the right texture when you bite into it, savouring the flavour of infused caramel. Combine it with the sour-sweet sensation of fresh dark red raspberries and the nippiness of the evening air seems a distant window away.

The dessert is what you have been saving yourself for, after a light mains of seared scallops, juicy and firm, graced by sweet green long beans and refreshingly slim baby carrots. You recall the savoury cuts of john dory blending into the fettucine on another occasion, with the pasta pesto highlighted by spiced prawns. Tonite, the fettucine would have been too heavy with the cream brulee.

A meal is accentuated with the right company. Individuals whom I feel comfortable with and can relate to without effort. People who make me want to be myself, when politeness is not imposed but spontaneously accompanies relaxation and openness. There is no exertion at making conversation, it just comes naturally and logically, and each one of us at the same table enjoys expresssing what is uppermost in our separate minds. We might not have known each other long, but well enough. The interchange blends in well, with no embarasssment, as effectively as the tasty food served. Such is rare company, such is rare food!