More bread exploits!

Sigh...the weekend's almost over...

Last friday, i was silently exclaiming "TGIF" to myself every now and then, and at the moment i'm bemoaning the end of sunday with a large dose of sian-ness...it's been a long time since i loved weekends THAT much. Oh shitshitshitshitshit i gotta keep my levels of enthusiasm and energy up! Argh!

And i've got a slightly pounding headache right now, for some reason...dunno why but when i clench my fists lightly i can also feel my pulse coming from my THUMBS like what the hell.

Anyway yesterday i drove to Parkway without any of my parents sitting in the car! Lol ok like big deal yeah but that's certainly a start. I'm now certified to "drive on my own around the neighbourhood"...Man, how cool is that!!! :D

...:|

Okay moving on...on sunday (meaning today), early afternoon, i was alone at home and feeling rather bored so i went ahead and baked another loaf of bread! Whahaha but i'm not going to bring it to work Angel so you don't have to bother asking me! In any case it was another good learning experience, although this time it felt MUCH better because i wasn't under any pressure for time and the house was all quiet and peaceful.

It was much less messy this time and i didn't get as much dough sticking onto my hands like last week. My clothes were also mostly untouched and the clean-up was fast and efficient (even on my own). Also, my measurement of ingredients went really smoothly, unlike last week, and my shaping and smoothening of the bread dough was, if i may say so myself, EXCELLENT! MAGNIFIQUE! >:D

But then later when i was about to start my fermentation i realised that i'd forgotten to put in the butter. 0_o

So not so magnifique after all.

And adding the butter late on makes it rather difficult 'cos you end up getting "oiled dough" that's very hard to reshape smoothly without adding a bit more flour or perhaps using a rolling pin (which i didn't have). The gluten chains have all formed up so it's pretty difficult to get those layers of dough to stick together smoothly even without the butter standing in the way.

I still managed to get it back to a decent level, but then here's where i learnt something else: I REALLY NEED TO GET A PROPER CONTAINER FOR FERMENTATION!!!

I was trying to make a long, french-loaf-shaped bread today, but i somehow figured that molding it into shape and leaving it on a tray in an enclosed area would be sufficient for fermentation. AND THAT'S COMPLETELY WRONG! How stupid and naive of me. In the end, the bread expanded...and became all nice and FLAT!!!

So in the end i think my bread tastes GREAT...but it's also a little too sticky and the insides are not fluffy enough. Granted, i steamed the bread for the first half of the baking process (because of some random idea i had lol), but i think it's mostly because the dough didn't rise well due to a lack of a proper container.

Well like i said, a good learning experience, and if the bread didn't turn out as expected, i guess i'll just have to try again...next week! :)

My goodness...but when's the next weekend going to come around? Gosh i'm like waiting for it already...:(

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People who tagged on 16th April but haven't heard a reply...LOOK HERE!

Sigh i still can't post on my tagboard...what the heck is going on man. Oh well, here goes...
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@jayo
yep i finished the write-up and the subsequent powerpoint and irene's checking it right now. passed me back a hardcopy of half of it today with a few amendments so i shall get to work on those tomorrow. oh yah her talk starts at around 3.45pm this coming saturday. forgot the place oops, but anyway do u wanna come down?

@Angel
huh? what's that have to do with me? hmph talking random nonsense again, i so totally don't get you...<.<)(>.>

@dory
haha ok i don't know what histology's about. anyway i don't need to tell u to stop cooking so much rite erps. hmm maybe u can pass me recipes the next time we meet up LOL. well so u don't know who she is? man at first i thought she might've been from VJ but when i could check her profile i realised she was just some random person from DETROIT like what the heck. ahwell haiz it's a little rude to remove her from my list so i'll just leave her alone. *tsk tsk* but heys how can u anyhow add people sia? what if one of them's a stalker or fr4nc1s in disguise or something.
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Hmm. Actually i realise that there's an advantage to this; i don't have to worry about overly long "posts" or anything of the sort and i don't need to shorten my language. But i WILL resume posting on the tagboard when i can; it just seems a little unfair that people're restricted by a letter-count and i'm not.

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People who tagged on 15th April but haven't heard a reply...LOOK HERE!

I shall post here since i can't seem to post on my tagboard from my computer. Again. And not only on the computer outside, but the one in my room too. I click the post button, the tiny flooble window pops up, whatever i've written disappears but nothing gets posted. Tried posting a long message or short one and there's no difference in the results. Bleah. I think it's an error with their servers regarding my IP address which won't get resolved till tomorrow perhaps. Anyway...

@jac
lol no it's not greg-pan, it's...singa-pan!! XD ok lame but hey, maybe one day i'll bake a durian bread that even people overseas'll eat! >:D but first i'll need to learn microwave/steaming bread techniques since my oven's really small...i don't mind baking some bread and bringing it over to class, but i can't make any promises.

@dory
erm...nancy is some girl who added me on facebook. and i accepted the request solely on the account that you and andy ang were also on her friends list. and now u don't know who she is haha is that weird or what? 0.0 anyway i've got unknown people adding me on facebook that i haven't accepted too but haven't rejected since they're supposed to be in NUS. yes such a waste of money but i'm sure there're lots of big appetite guys in australia who can help u finish. and what's histo? u can't be studying history over there rite?? could that be some kinda medical term???

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...And i actually baked it.

Gosh. I'm flat out tired right now.

Well, i actually tried to bake that rice-cooker bread yesterday! Quite an interesting experience, where i screwed up twice; firstly, when i added too much milk (like i got my measurement wrong) and secondly, when i added too little flour because i was rushing my measurements as it was getting late. Late meaning 8pm, which IS late because the whole process is supposed to take almost 5 hours. 0.0

But anyway, the instructions said to leave it cooking in the rice-cooker for an hour, but my own rice-cooker had a bit of a problem because it kept switching from "cook" to "warm" every five minutes. So i put a weight down onto the button that pops up when it goes to "warm", so that it'll stay on "cook". Under the watchful eyes of my mother of course, so you can't say that i risked spoiling her rice-cooker without her consent.

So. It was supposed to cook for an hour.

And fifteen minutes after cooking, i was upstairs and started to smell something burning... 0_o

When i rushed down to check on the bread (getting a couple of blisters in the process), the rice-cooker fuse had blown. Like wtf. And the base of the bread was charred black. Amazing. So i guess that when they said one hour, maybe they took into account the "warm" part. Or maybe not...it just doesn't seem to make any sense to me. Maybe japanese rice-cookers are just different or something.

In any case, i flipped the bread over and let it cook on the rice-cooker's residual heat. And it actually worked out! My mum and i tried the bread with a bit of butter. It had a bit of a charred flavour but i felt it wasn't too bad, surprisingly. And i think it'd have been very good if the bottom of the bread wasn't burnt.

So in the end, i made a loaf of burnt bread...at the cost of two loaves AND the repair cost of my mother's rice-cooker (she might just buy a new one though since the rice-cooker's really old already). Not a very good tradeoff, i must say. The only good thing that came out of it was that i spent much less time cooking it than i had expected.

Still, the experience was priceless; the kind of irreplaceable experience that i should've had when i was a kid but didn't because i couldn't be bothered. And i still want to try baking again! Maybe i'll try that rice-cooker bread or some other variation next saturday. Or i'll give croissants a shot. And i'll be sure to WATCH the baking/cooking process this time, so there'd be no charred incidents.

The big problem came after that, however. I just couldn't seem to sleep! I don't know what the reason was...my heart was beating like crazy and i couldn't help it no matter what i did. If it was pressure that i put on myself again because i wanted to get enough sleep before work the next day, then i'd be very ashamed of myself. Although it could be something else...like perhaps because Arsenal had just lost to Manchester United (sigh) or perhaps because the charred smell from the burnt bread had permeated my room (as my door was the only one that was open when i was handling the whole incident) and the smell was getting my hackles up or something lol. Like it was my bringing forth my basic instincts or whatever nonsense. :|

So i'm just feeling literally like shit right now after having failed to get a single wink of sleep. Urgh. I hope i can last till the end of work today, although the situation seems quite bleak at the moment.

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I wanna bake some bread...!

I've been watching an anime called "Yakitate!! Japan" quite a bit these past few days. It's a story about baking bread, in the style of typical sports animes where there're loads of bread-making competitions, etc. And i've got to say...i feel like baking bread right now!

Some people might want to go out and eat some nice bread after watching the show, but i just want to bake a bread that is totally in line with my tastes and preferences...and then eat it, of course. Lol. But hey, the show even teaches you how to make a big loaf of soft, fluffy bread using a freakin RICE COOKER! *Ahhh* do we have flour at home? I think we've got all the other ingredients right? If there's flour at home, i'm so gonna give this rice-cooker-bread a try tomorrow whahaha.

Hmm, oh anyway i've confirmed with the law firm's staff that i'm extending my internship with them till the end of May. Which is quite a long time from now. I made a conscious decision between staying here till May and then leaving some time to clear up loose ends, go on holiday and prepare for university...OR leaving the firm at the end of April and trying out another, higher paying job for the next two months. And of course i decided on the former, though my decision's partly due to rather significant pressure from my mum, who wanted me to stay till the end of july like wtf lol. Ahwell...more law firm experience, less cash to earn but more free time afterwards.

Although i really hope i don't regret my decision later on. It's mostly because i'm starting to learn a little less and less at the firm...things are becoming slightly repetitive and the experience less awe-inspiring. In short, there's not much that i can't learn right now by reading on my own at home. No fault of the staff here, of course; i guess it's just one of those things that you can't really help.

And it's not just that. One of the interns - a particularly EMO young lady who denies that she's emo and who is now trying to compare herself to me and my blog haha! XD - just left the firm last week. And the other one - a combative ojou-chan belonging to a more...violent...variety, is leaving either next week or the week after.

Leaving me pretty much...alone. Oh, there're still the lawyers and the rest of the staff, but it just won't be the same. It...pains me to admit it, but the two interns HAVE made life here pretty fun. Without them, life at work would just be about...work. Lol like what the hell.

I suppose all i can do is hope that a new intern appears in the law firm at the end of this month; a beautiful, and most of all compatible girl (with or without the power allure :|) or a hilariously funny and talkative guy (who hopefully shares similar interests with me) and pretty much preferred.

Hey, but of course anyone will do.

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Another day in the family.

A rather funny episode in my family life.


Sometime last week, while we're in the living room watching the American Idol results show...

Dad: Hey Greg, you know i was talking to your sister in the car about that Jason Castro (the American Idol contestant) and i was saying how he should get kicked out, and you know what she said? That he's better than you-know-who?

Me: Who?

Dad: BARRY GIBB!!! (My Dad does a good job of grimacing and laughing at the same time)

Sister: What's wrong??! He IS better, what!

Dad (grimaces some more) Aiyoh! Barry Gibb!! How can? Maybe he looks better lah...

Sister: Not just that what, he sings better too!!

Dad: (laughs and grabs my mum who's sitting beside him) Hahaha! You hear that or not? Better than BARRY GIBB!!

My mother just sits there and laughs without saying a thing. The Bee Gees, by the way, is probably my mum's favourite band. :|


Yesterday, while the contestants were performing again and Jason Castro finishes performing...

Dad: Tsk tsk...i just don't get him, Amanda!

Sister: What?? But he was on-tune what, just that he's very soft. (looks at me) Right??

Dad: (laughs) I can't even hear him...what's so good about him??

Me: Yeah i don't know also...he's very soft lah. Although he IS good looking.

Sister: (laughs) No, you don't know! He just doesn't sound too good on stage, but i heard his American Idol iTunes track was very good! He's got a very recordable voice!!

Me: Really?

Sister: Yah what...at least better than that David Archuletta! Aiyoh that guy's so overrated, don't you think so??

Me: Yah, he is...i don't think David's that big a deal lah. Quite boring.

Mum: (laughs) Well, all the young girls will go for David, then all the slightly older ones would vote for Jason...

Dad: "Better than Barry Gibb"...Hah! (shakes his head and laughs)


This morning, in the car, the song on the CD player is none other than a song by...the Bee Gees...

Me: Haha, that's Barry Gibb's voice huh?

Dad: Yah!! Your sister can say Jason Castro sings better than BARRY GIBB!!! (laughs really loudly)

Sister: But he does what!!

Dad: Aiyoh A-maaanda, what's so great about his voice??

Sister: I didn't say Jason Castro's voice was great, just BETTER than Barry Gibb's!

My dad just keeps laughing...then he starts singing a few lines of the song that is playing...

Sister: You don't need a great voice to be a star anyway what...look at Britney Spears and...(my sister names a few others)...it's the songs and other things that are important. You see John Mayer, and that who's-that-guy...i don't think that they sing THAT well either! Maroon 5's singer wasn't really good during the concert also what!

Me: Yah Chester from Linkin Park goes off-tune when he's live also.

Sister: Yah! You see, it's not important to sing live! At least i never say he's better than XXX and XXX (i put XXX since i forgot what she said lol) or Elvis Presley!

Dad: Hahahaha! Wah ELVIS summore huh...

Me: (laughs) But still better than Barry Gibb...

Dad: Yah! "Better than Barry Gibb"...How can?? (laughs)

Sister: Haiyoh, that's all you can say!


In the evening, while we were at Shokudo, some Japanese Marche-style restaurant...

Dad: Eh, you know who got kicked out of American Idol today?

Sister: Who??

Me: Err...Christy is it?

Dad: Haha don't tell you! (smirks)

Me: Say lah..! Er... is it a guy or a girl?

Dad: Wah that one confirm cannot say...

Sister: Aiyoh you just want me to think Jason Castro got kicked out right??


My sister leaves after a while to get some sushi and my mother returns...

Me: Oh yah Mum, i haven't heard you say anything officially! So who you think is better?? Jason Castro or Barry Gibb?

Mum: (half-laughs and half-acts shocked that i'm even asking her) What, of course Barry Gibb lah!

Dad: (hollers with laughter) Wah, but your daughter says Jason sings better than him!!

Mum: No lah, she never say that what, just that he looks better than Barry Gibb.

Dad: No, she said he sings better also! She thinks he's better than Barry Gibb overall!


Later, my sister sits back down at the table with her sushi...

Dad: See? Your mum also says Barry Gibb is better!!

Mum: Yah Amanda! How can you say that about my idol??! (everyone laughs)

Sister: What?? I'm not trying be personal or anything!!


Lol i think the whole episode is rather hilarious. I can only wonder what would happen if Jason Castro actually wins...

Anyway the conversation here is not entirely accurate, i admit hahaha. If any family member wants to change anything he/she's free to inform me about it.

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Human Traffic Issues

Raffles Place gets really crowded after working hours are over, and the pathway to the MRTs get really packed at times.

It gets me pretty pissed off. Because people walk really slowly, and some of them would strafe left and right and take up a third of the corridoor! You know what? I think there should be a goddamned RULE for HUMAN TRAFFIC, not just vehicular traffic. Like erm...there should be a one metre spacing between the walls and human-traffickers - wait a sec...that sounds wrong 0.0 - and INDOOR PEDESTRIANS at all times.

If you wish to move about in the empty aisle (one aisle for either direction), you can, of course. Except that you'd better be prepared to RUN. Meaning that only one foot can be touching the ground at any one time. Obviously, you can also skip slowly or just hop from one foot to another or use your hands to walk, smart alecs, but then you'd better be prepared to LOOK STUPID.

And then, to make sure the rule is enforced, there will be nondescript men dressed in casual clothes who're actually police officers. And they'd hang out at crowded shopping centres and alleyways in great numbers for the first two weeks after the rule's announcement and dish out a $100 fine to any offender that WALKS. More money for the government, so the PAP's eyes would open wide, and it might help make Singaporeans healthier too. Yippee!

Okay, so you're probably thinking that a kook like me should NEVER become a leader of Singapore, but relax, i'm not planning to be a "leader of Singapore", and i don't actually mean what i'm...

Hmm actually, to be honest, even though i wanted to declare after all this that i was actually joking...i'm starting to think that my idea's making quite a bit of sense! Like what the hell lol. So i AM a kook haha.

But even if making it a law IS ridiculous, i shall be really, REALLY serious for once. Making it a law IS unfeasible, but i really do think it should be more than just simple courtesy for people to KEEP TO THE LEFT OF THE ESCALATOR IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK DOWN IT!!! (unless there's congestion on the other end lah.)

I mean, it should at least be BASIC courtesy lol. People should stare with much derision and shake their heads in great numbers at rude and insensitive people like these, as if the same person had just spitted on the floor or slapped his/her children in public. Girlfriends should dump those offending boyfriends of theirs on the spot, as if those boys had just cheated on them or told them that they're fat or whatever.

I encountered it twice on the way home today and i get really irritated when i see people not walking down the right side of escalators, especially when there is this HUGE empty space in front of the person and there's no congestion near the escalator's exit.

I get MOST especially irritated if the MRT's arriving in a minute's time and this asshole of a guy decides to be a poser and just stands on the right side with his left arm around his girlfriend while there's nothing in front of him and the rest of the world is BEHIND him, breathing down his neck...and the stupid little sonofabitch is just SO insensitive that he is literally DEAF to the needs of people around him who want to get home quickly to rest up.

Okay maybe it SHOULD be made into a law, after all. :|

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