Dinner at eight

Back home, one of the things The D and I like to do is eat.  (This explains my not-quite-svelte physique.)

I mean, in Singapore, I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like to eat.  We have an unapologetic love affair with our food that most of the world greets with disbelief, and occasionally, disgust.  There are many eateries that stay open 24 hours and they're packed most of the time.  Most places don't close for the break between lunch and dinner because people keep right on going in between as well.  Going to dinner is a huge event, trumped only by the enthusiasm with which a 2am supper is greeted.  And don't even get me started on buffets.

So back home, we continually look out for good new places to try, and since The D is as sartorially um... inclined as I am, we like to get a bit fancy to do it.

When he came to visit, we made sure to hit up new places every.  Single.  Lunch and dinner.  I'm embarrassed to say that at least 50% of the schedule revolved around reservations.  Particularly exciting was the night we met up with five of my classmates/friends to try dinner at the much-hyped Jamie's Italian in the next city.

Top - Primark.  Jean leggings - New Look.  Oxfords - New Look.

Croc clutch - Secondhand vintage.  Earrings - F21.  Bracelet - Fie Japan.  

Rings - Diva.

I'd just bought this bright mustard top from Primark and I love how voluminous and relaxed the fit is.  Aki, a fellow blogger, suggested that there should be a specific category for outfits to eat in (as a Singaporean, I agree) and this definitely fits in that category.

Dhany wore something really cute.  I loved the unusual combination of the hoodie with the more formal collared shirt, but we disagreed on the cap.  I said he should go without, and well, you see how he felt.

I'll open to the floor.  What do you guys think?

PS  Though the food was hit-and-miss, the restaurant was very warm and big.  I wish I'd taken pictures of it, but true to form, I was too busy stuffing my face.

The secret garden

My friend Jon lives in a brick house so lush that we get really excited when we're invited for drinks and snacks.  My favourite part of the house, despite his attic room crammed from floor to ceiling with books, cds and movies, is the garden.  It's one of the first real "English" gardens I've seen here, or at least, the first garden I've seen that complies with all my childhood visions of the English fairytale back yard.

The house opens right out onto the road, so it's a huge surprise when one is led around the sight and into a quiet, scented green tangle, quite tucked away from the rest of the world.

I imagine that if you press back the vines and creepers, the little stone or wought-iron lizards sneaking beneath them will suddenly come to life and flee with flicking tails.

We were invited for a garden party a couple of weeks ago, and I wore a casual, comfortable outfit conducive to stuffing my face.

Tied-waist blouse and brogues - New Look.

Pants - Zara.  Necklace - Made by mother.  Sunnies - Primark.  

Bangle - Vintage.

This summer blouse that ties at the waist is made of the thinnest, smoothest cotton, so light it's like wearing a cloud.  The photos (and my terrible posture) don't do it justice!

Photos of me by Shriya

And of course, what would such a gathering be without the food, artfully put together by Jon and his parents?  We had a hell of a time running in and out of the massive kitchen, complete with a rustic island at one end and an actual iron stove at the other.  At one point, my friends Gruff, Tori, Hilary and I actually gathered round and performed a loud (and squiffy) acapella rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.  There is footage of it, but if I show you, I'll have to kill you.

Despite all the mad laughter, running around and the copious amounts of food...

... even I got a little distracted.

The creek, and the creaking old mill

Does anyone know that old Foster and Allen song, Maggie?  No?  Just me living in the sixties then?  (Foster and Allen sound very old and curmudgeonly when they sing, but every time I hear "All Kinds of Everything", I feel like bursting into tears.)  Somehow, each time I listen to Maggie, I think of the English countryside, the Saxon Mill in particular.

While The D was up visiting, we experienced one day, one!, of intermittent sunshine, and deciding that it was too good to waste, I chivvied him out to the restaurant on the water for drinks and snacks.  I also took advantage of so-called Summer to wear this beautiful pleated midi dress from Primark.  The dress was so eye-catching that at least ten people in the shop were trying it on or buying it when I was there.  I tried to make it my own with a chunky belt, old school necklace and for fun - clashing blue sunnies.  (Though I was only truly able to use them as a sunshield for about 5 minutes in the cloudy day.)

Dress - Primark.  Clogs - H and M.  Necklace - Made by mother. 

Belt - New Look.  Sunglasses - Primark for £1!  Earrings - Portobello.

The above pose is my default setting, and The D had to be all "more ladylike, please!" to get the pictures below.  I'm always classy, yo, just so you know.

My mother made these bracelets with old school beads, pearls and bits of jade I brought her back from Thailand several years ago.  I love how they look as bracelets but I love even more how they make a vintagey, chunky necklace that looks cute with most dresses.

Also cute, these tiny accordion pleats!

The D dressed up in one of his cute smart casual ensembles (love the iron button detail!) and read his Kindle while I powered through a murder mystery.   (If you haven't read Murder on the Orient Express, go right ahead - it's not one of Christie's best works, but the solution is quite novel.)

Shirt - Obey.  Jeans - Yukky Nudies that haven't been washed for three months.

Talking to Dhany about his Nudies is one of our consistent battlegrounds.  

He washes them once a year, if I'm lucky.  Watch - Nooka.  

Sunnies - Paul Frank.  Earrings - Far East Plaza, probably.

And I leave you with Gary Larson face, because I know The D would want it.

My cousin's wedding, part 2: God is in details

I took loads of pictures at my cousin's wedding in Ohio and it was the most beautiful, sunny, picturesque weekend.

I wanted to document it, but I'm always wary of putting pictures of people (and people's children) on the blog who haven't consented to it.  Technically, there aren't any privacy laws where I come from - take that suckers! - but I'd still like to keep all my limbs, thank you very much.  So instead, I thought I'd put up pitchers of some (faceless but lovely) details that I managed to capture.

The delicious Yo! Sushi eggplant salad that I had at the airport while waiting for my flight.  If you haven't been to Yo! Sushi but enjoy conveyor belts, I strongly recommend this eggplant salad, the fried squid and the spicy tuna handroll.  Or that's the lack of Japanese food in my life right now talking.

My aunt's garden and backyard, including the little tree swing for children (is it bad that I wished that I could fit into it?  I mean, I'm practically still a teenager.  Not.) and the table cloth she put on the table out back.  We spent ages sitting under the trees and eating the most amazing dinners.  If you haven't had Haleem, find a way people, stat!  (Haleem is not a person, by the way, though if she were, she would be very hot and wear many bangles.)

A jar of fireflies captured by all my neices and nephews, and string of lights in the trees.  I admit that I had a hand in catching the fireflies, but we let them all go back to their sex lives shortly after, I promise.

Details from the wedding hall - I had a hand in stringing the lights up and putting the flowers together!  If anyone wants to hire me, I'm free and charge a million dollars a day.  By the way, that cake was as amazing as it looks.

My very glittery star and the henna I wore for the wedding.  The lady who came to do the henna did an excellent job, you can see some of the stuff she did on my cousin two posts prior!

Some of the amazing patterns and colours worn that day.  Everyone looked absolutely gorgeous (I know you're obliged to say that but they really did) and all the prints and designs looked so good together.  Anjuly wouldn't want me to say myriad here, so I will.  Myriad.  Also, dig my cousin's beaded pumps.  I know, right.

I hope you guys enjoyed these pictures... it was a relief to be behind the camera and I thought it was a very moving, simple and beautiful wedding, made all the prettier for all the (40 or so!) family hands that went on deck to bring together flowers, decorations and run little errands. Not very elegantly put, but I hope you see what I mean.