Kok Sen restaurant

So, for Dad's 60th birthday, we brought him to kok sen restaurant (I'd very much like to call it KOPITIAM) for tze char.
Nothing fanciful and that's how we like it.
6 people, 6 dishes and $106.
Why didn't I think of buying 4D numbers?

Before you judge and cringe at my photos, please note that I used the Samsung Note 2 for it.
Dear bf forgot to bring his DSLR out, but it's ok, I still love him.

I'd suggest calling them for reservation, because it was crowded when we head there on a Saturday (6pm).
Luckily, we managed to get a seat, but man, it was hot!
Also take note if you're driving, getting a parking lot is a killer.
Don't say I didn't warn you.

Alright, the first dish was amazing.
I'm very sure my photos don't do justice to it, but this tofu was so good with the rice.

My dad loves the curry fish very much. In his words, the fish was one of the freshest he has ever eaten.
Me? Not a fan of curry fish, excuse moi

Typical kangkong - not as nice as what my mom cooks

Bitter gourd pork was average to me.

This last dish was recommended by the lady boss who said their roasted chicken is a special on weekends. 

I really love the crispy skin but not much about the meat. This is just passable.

Overall, a decent dinner which is really affordable.
However, I very much prefer Keng Eng Kee which I'd been patronising since young.

Work reflection: the 6th month

I just had a chat with my boss about my performance so far.

This is confidential, but I feel like I need to pen down some thoughts for future reference.

I'm not sure if I'm performing ok.

My boss didnt have negative comments of me, but I doubt he was pleased either.

I don't know if it's the "perfectionist" in me, to hope that people to see me as "the best".

I do think I set rather high standards for myself. I always do, but I mostly dwell in sorrow thereafter.

I don't think the discussion was really bad.

But it wasn't very positive, I felt?

Or maybe because my boss is a man, and man seldom give praises?

He mentioned that my performance is expected, for a fresh grad.

Don't think I like what he had said. It really means I'm average.

Some things to note for my future reference is that, I need to be more specific, I need to give more details.

That's what my boss said.

Okay, fine, I'll take that.

I'm eager to learn, and eager to do things.

But I guess I'm kinda careless?

Probably not conscientious enough?

Work life kinda sucks.

It's like a more cruel kind of school, where the teachers/evaluators are your boss, and your work performance will be reflected in the "report book".

As with the academic report book, the performance report is for life - well unless you make a switch somewhere else and it won't affect you.

In school, your results are based on luck, or maybe, you really did study very hard.

In the workplace, it's about luck as well. Who your colleagues and your boss are, how is the culture in your workplace, and the job scope you're handling. Of course, if you work really hard (OT more, maybe?), check and replies your emails efficiently during weekends....probably that will get you into good books.

It's all about achieving results.

I know I have a long way to go, but sometimes I wonder how long I can go.

Sadly, we all need to work to survive in this insanely-expensive world. 

I'm trying to re-love what I'm doing.

I applied for the job because I had interest.

But interest can only be sustained if there are cooperative people around, willing to guide you, be less selfish, more friendly, and....make you feel that you're not alone.

Till next time.

Gift for Dad: 60th birthday - OSIM uRelax, uPebble, uCozy

Disclaimer: this is not an advertorial

My dad's 60th birthday is coming soon and we've been cracking our heads on what to get him.

Shirt? We get it for him every CNY.

Just treat him to good food? I suppose he won't mind, but we just felt a gift would be better.

If the gift is useful for all of us, it would be even better!

One day, my brother checked out OSIM massage chairs and concluded that we should get a set for dad.

But, no way am I paying $3000+ for the massage chair.

I don't wanna eat grass, and I don't feel the need for such extravagance.

My brother saw this bundle deal on OSIM web, which had the urelax and ucozy for $269.

Sounds pretty good.

Anyway, since we lack a decent massager at home (my dad got conned into buying some stupid china product marketed by his friend, and the plug wasn't even a three-pin one! It was meant for use in China. wtf, damn pissed that my dad would buy such a thing. Plus there wasn't even any safety certification!), we decided on massagers.

Combed through the 3 different stores - Ogawa, Osim and OTO - at NEX.

In the end, we were contemplating on the first 2 stores.

We finalised on OSIM because the deal was the most value for money.

But, I didnt want to get my stuffs from Osim @ NEX, because the STAFF SERVICE SUCKS.

When we said we'd consider getting the items, the cheena staff gave us this fked-up look and was so unhappy.

Seriously, no way am I letting you have the commission - check your service attitude pls.

We travelled all the way to Plaza Singapura because I had extra capland vouchers.

I won't say the service there was excellent because the moment we went in, they knew I was buying.

But, the male staff was rather patient in explaining some of the functions of the massagers.

In the end, we went home with the following items:

1. uCozy

2. uPebble

3. uRelax

All for $298.

I won't say it is cheap, but it is definitely more affordable than getting a $3k massage chair; and cheaper getting it as a bundle rather than separate items.

The price may drop in the near future, but at the very least, my parents are utilising it now.

When we came home with the items (mind you, "we" had to lug them back - poor bf and bro, I didnt have to lift an inch hehe), my dad complained that we were wasting money.

Major roll eyes.

But bf said my parents would be secretly pleased that I bought these for them.

It's just a small gesture on my part - I believe these are useful for them especially since they're growing old, with weaker bones and stiffer muscles.

Review

It has only been 1 day of use, but I'm not quite complaining.

The massages are quite enjoyable.

The only thing I'm peeved about is that the uRelax has these little strings that came out!

And, there are more appearing as I speak. I've feedback to their customer service, so I hope they'll get back to me regarding this.

Not a major problem, since this is just cosmetically ugly.

Will update again if there're more problems with the 3 items.

After all, we only used it for less than a day! :O

UPDATE:
Their customer service sucks. They did not get back to me on FB although they promised to.
Since it's a minor problem, I'll just ignore this.
Anyway, my family started using less of it. -.-
Talk about law of diminishing "usage"

Spuds & Aprons @ Mount Faber

These days without rain is slowly killing us...and the poor plants.
Grrr, please rain la.
I hope we dont have to ration water lor.

Bf and I went to Spuds & Aprons for brunch because I had a $30 voucher.
Wee~
He drove us there but was complaining along the way haha cause we kinda got lost.
And the parking lots were ambiguous, don't know park where = correct.

That said, I think it was a fun day out here!
I felt like we were at the top of the world (really high lor), and we were blessed that it was a clear day.

Solemnization happening above us, indeed special.

Forget about ordering the Mango smoothie - I didn't like it.

 Other than the drink, the mains were GOOD.
Or maybe it was good because I had the $30 voucher...hehe, anyway, I love the salmon.
It was coated and crisp.
The potatoes and sauce were good as well.
We cleared up all our food while admiring the scenery around us.

 The vongole was done with white wine, and I love it.
But the salmon probably wins this.
Vongole was aplenty so, I guess they were being rather generous!

Good place to dine and take photos.
I may be back!

Total cost for the above was around $60 :X I really am thankful for my $30 voucher

Saigon Lotus @ Marina Square

It's been long since I last stepped into Marina Square
(Note to self: MUST TRY LADY M)
Anyway, it seems like their dining place had been renovated.
The whole place was rather unfamiliar to me, but at the same time, it was exciting to see different new stores.

We headed to Marina after battling a few hours at the IT Fair.
This year's IT Fair at Marina Bay Sands was better than Expo's, IMO - less crowded.

Back to Saigon Lotus.
By the time I had dinner, it was 9pm.
I needed something comforting and soupy.
Vietnamese food is it.
Ever since I tried Nam Nam (http://cherrycheong.blogspot.sg/2013/09/namnam-noodle-bar.html), I was hooked.

I'm more inclined towards Asian cuisines than Western.

We ordered this set menu which costs around $17.
It comes with drinks, main and a side.
Chose Avocado drink although I didnt drink much haha. I should prob have tried their Viet coffee.

The Sliced Beef Pho was really comforting leh.
It tasted a little like the food I had in China (lol?).
I think the portion was rather generous with the slices of beef.
The soup taste somewhat like msg, but heck, it was rather delicious.
The pho to be was pretty good as well, taste like soft hor fun haha

PS: we dumped the below into the beef pho - is that how we're sup to eat? Should be la hor.

Added an additional ala carte dish.

If I'm not wrong, this is the dry Hu Tieu, a Vietnamese Pork Noodles soup with egg noodles.

I think we both preferred the soupy pho.

This taste like.....wanton mee with a little more msg?

It also taste similar to what we had in Bangkok (http://cherrycheong.blogspot.sg/2012/12/the-bangkok-post-1.html); the supposedly "famous" wonton mee there (got so delicious meh)

Not a bad meal.
Price was around $25 for 2.
Reasonable right, especially for a restaurant in Marina Square!

D'good cafe @ Holland Village

Seems like the cafe craze is still ongoing, and more and more cafes are sprouting all over our island.

Just yesterday, bf suggested that we go to some cafes for our meal.

All thanks to some bloggers who arranged the cafes according to location, I pinpointed d'good cafe to bf.

First thing he mentioned was, "so tamade far"; haha pardon the vulgarity; cause he lives in the East.

Anw, the cafe is located is at Holland Village, and you can just alight at the circle line station.

Not difficult to find, in my opinion.

We even walked past Hatched (previously I kept mentioning to him that I wanted to try out Hatched. It was during the initial craze over Eggs Benny, now I kinda hate it).

The cafe was fully packed, but we managed to find 2 seats at the 2nd level.

Goodness, I have no idea how people can sit at outside of the 3rd level. It was scorching hot la!

There was the swing facing the windows at the 2nd level, but too bad we didnt get the chance to sit there.

I had quite high expectations of d'good cafe, judging from the numbers of instagram posts here.

Yeah, I first heard of this place through instagram.

But, the food was rather disappointing. Anw, photos first.

Was expecting some bears latte art leh. In the end, I got this :(

Anyway, the latte was kinda bitter so I had to add a packet of raw sugar.

I can't comment much on their latte because I can't appreciate coffee, so excuse moi.

I had their Homemade Marina meatballs pasta.
Was expecting something delicious since it seems like this is one of their signature dish, but the pasta was disappointing.
Soggy pasta with less than appetising meatballs.
Bad choice, bad choice.

Bf had the eggs benny.
Again, average at best - this probably looks better than it tastes heh.
But we managed to finish everything.

In total, an average meal, but I would give bonus points for the cafe's interior design.

It's a good place to chill, I must say.

$32 for the above.

You decide.