We finally went to the beach for the first time in months. It was really nice! There's less of a crowd though it was the weekend. Guess everyone is really staying at home (or in the malls, lol). This picture looks really idyllic, does it not? But if you zoom in, you'll see the garbage man in a little beach jeep, clearing the bags of rubbish lining the beach. It's crazy how much trash we generate x_x

Recently I learnt that recycling in Singapore sometimes meant sending the items to overseas facilities to be processed... and if the recycled materials have nowhere to go, they still get incinerated. Worse, the energy used to recycle the product can sometimes be more than the energy required to produce the product. Yikes. All the good intentions from recycling are dashed in an instant. How heartbreaking. It seems like the best way to go is truly to reduce consumption.

In other news, I had another hornbill sighting. I always feel so blessed when they grace us with their presence. Recently I dreamt of a hornbill and its babies perched on a branch. A good omen I hope.


TRIPPY no? The water surface was really like a mirror. Gorgeous!

We also visited Changi Beach and enjoyed the Coastal Walk.


Spotted some boats with interesting names.

"Chilli Padi"

"Mistress 2" Haha, who is mistress 1 then?!

Lastly, I spotted a mulberry from a tree downstairs so I plucked one to have a taste. I love pronouncing the berry in a 'Chinese' way - like 猫-berry (mao/cat berry). It amuses me.

Heyoo!

Recently I made up a recipe on the fly, just wanted to share it here! Pardon the lack of measurements, I tend to eyeball stuff.

Creamy Baked Pasta with Otah

Ingredients you need:

• Otah cut into small pieces
• Pasta of your choice - we used Fusili
• Cooking Cream (I use Nestle's 170g cream)
• Minced Garlic (2 small cloves)
• Butter or oil
• Chicken stock (soup/powder)
• Herbs (oregano/ basil
• Black Pepper
• Shredded Mozarella

Hey guys! Just wanted to share some excerpts and thoughts after reading this book by Cherian George.

Here's the content page of essays in this collection so you can see at a glance if there's any topic that interests you!

• Sintercom, an early online community. 

As much as newspapers are dying out, they still retain their importance despite the growth of other online sources of information. I look forward to a day where we have fearless, but objective, thought provoking journalism in our papers.

I really enjoyed this book and the discussions, insight and analyses that it provides. It's not every day we have such commentary in Singapore... or at least I have not come across many. I'll continue to keep my eyes peeled. 👀  

One function of books is as a memory deposit. Sometimes things can fade quickly from public memory, but a record like this, together with some context and intepretation, helps us to gain some valuable lessons and insight. I'm a strong believer of learning from history.

The book tackles some topics that most Singaporeans shun discussing in public due to fear, and it definitely helped me have a better understanding of how our country is run.

I have been trying to read more about Singapore politics and this book was recommended by Nicole Seah on her IG livestream, so I gave it a go! I'll probably read The First Wave, and also Tall Order (The Goh Chok Tong Story) next! Yes, I try to read different viewpoints - I find that this helps me paint a fuller picture of things, especially since perspectives can be so subjective.

(For more books on Singapore (non-fiction) - check out my Singapore bookshelf on Goodreads)

Where to read:
I borrowed my e-copy from NLB. Mark it as To Read on your Goodreads~
You can also purchase the book from Ethos Books.
Wrapping up this post with a testimonial of this book from Teo You Yenn:


Enjoy!

Skye

P.S. It was an exceptionally hot day today and it really brought to mind how LKY said air-con was really important in Singapore. In the stifling heat, I must agree that the temperature really affects productivity.  Haha!

The outlet opens at 11am, but at 10.40am there was already a queue forming! We went on a Sunday. Glad to be one of the first batch of customers to enter the restaurant as we were ravenous!

Heya guys!

I finally had the chance to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's a book that I have seen being recommended a lot online. My copy is an e-book from my library.

This book is a self-help book which "teaches you how to form good habits and break bad ones." For me, it was a great reminder on how to stay motivated and be consistent in the things I set out to do. I found the ideas simple to understand and follow, and overall found the book to be useful. I'll just be sharing some parts of the book I collected in this post! I do recommend you to read it too especially if you feel exceptionally unmotivated. My thoughts and comments in bold.

We do a little bit, and then expect too much too soon. Therefore, we reach the Valley of Disappointment and perhaps sometimes stay mired there, or even giving up completely.



But this is a good reminder. We need to be more patient because our outcomes do not come instantly - they lag behind.




Upon reflection,  I found that I often seek comfort or relief from some things I do. For example: I like soft, fluffy things. Hugs. A comfortable bed. Shelter. Warmth. 

Another example: My friend seeks sweet things as a reward or comfort after a difficult day. After reading this, perhaps it is not so much that we crave the chocolate itself  but instead, we crave the idea of comfort it brings.




An idea on how you can approach changing our behaviour via three layers. The first layer is via our outcomes ie. our goals. Many of us just set goals or change them. The second layer is our process. However, it seems like the third layer, where we change our identity, is where the real change can happen. I've been giving this a try. I tell myself that I'm 'fit and stylish'.
From James Clear's website, which is more, ahem, clear in articulating this.


How habits can COMPOUND, for you, or against you. Beware the power of habits, and learn how to use them to your advantage.



I like this idea about how mastering skills can free up brain space for new skills!


The bit about how outrage compounds is reflective of societies today - riots and mass movements don't happen overnight- they are merely manifestations of problems that have already taken root a long time before.
Since we all have the same goals, who deserves to win? The goal is the not problem. 


Well, these are just some of the interesting ideas of the book that I collected! You should definitely read the book if you prefer more overall coherence, ideas and examples. I only provide bits and pieces of excerpts here!

Yes, it's yet another self-help book but I find that I need reminders like these to keep me on track and to motivate me. I think I can only grow if I reflect often and press on for self-improvement. There's always room to improve to be a better person, don't you think?

Till next time!
Skye

Taste and texture was pretty good, though I remember the original is be better! I heard that the brownie improves after a night in the fridge, so I'll try that and update again.

Okay yo I gotta go tune in the election results, it's getting EXCITING now that the sample counts are out.

Ciao!!!

lol the egg white looks so yellow in the photo. I also forgot to place my cocoa powder in this photo!

Once again, we had to whisk egg whites to become a meringue with stiff peaks! Been doing this so often lately (see: japanese souffle pancakes). 

I tried to cheer myself up by making freshly squeezed orange juice. I also took a picture of the sky and posted this lil reminder.

The good times and bad times don't last - let them flow like water.

To my utter surprise, Phase 2 was announced that very evening! Wow! It was really exciting. I didn't know what to do with myself for the rest of the day haha. I'm really glad to be able to work properly and meet everyone in the flesh. Virtual hangouts are nice but nothing beats face to face conversations!