Sweet Sophia

Zonked out after Charlotte’s Web play

Elaine — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:54:46 +0000

Good thing I fished out the manduca carrier before leaving home. I was surprised that, even though towards the end she told me she seemed restless, she concluded that she enjoyed it and wanted to go for more.

Towards the end she told me she was tired and wanted to sleep on her “own bed, not on mama.” Yar, right, before I walked 50 metres with the carrier she was sound asleep.

Oh and she’s getting quite adamant that “I’m not a baby”. Said that to 2 waitresses who called her baby.

Ice cream

Elaine — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:35:23 +0000

I bought a cuisinart ice cream maker from the US along with a voltage transformer. Guess what, the first time I used it I broke the paddle and cover, and the second time I blew the fuse. Yep, its gone, the internal bits are all melted. The good thing is that the first time I made delicious strawberry ice cream that was a little too watery for the daddy’s taste but nevertheless delicious. The second time I made divine chocolate gelato. Both times churning by hand so it was a tremendous effort and it felt like great recipes should be shared. The best thing is that the ingredients are things we almost always have in our fridge.

Chocolate Gelato Recipe

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder

Bring 1 cup milk to a boil and take off heat.
Pour milk into mixture of dry ingredients and stir constantly.
Let mixture cool and add remaining cup of milk.
Churn in ice cream maker.

Gelato’s ready and the best thing is its ready to eat immediately unlike homemade ice cream which needs to be frozen for another couple of hours.

Enjoy!

Happy Mother’s Day weekend

Elaine — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:17:25 +0000

Time to start wakeboarding again!

Elaine — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:40:18 +0000

I was just talking about wakeboarding with my colleague and lo and behold, I see this on a friend’s facebook page:

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/this-7-month-old-waterskiing-baby-is-beyond-epic-video/

Guess who’e joining me on my next wakeboard trip – not!

Hours of fun with just bowls and plates

Elaine — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:12:28 +0000

Department stores are her favourite places, but not for the toys, at least not in the traditional sense of the word.

Look what mischief the little one was up to when I was away

Elaine — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:37:59 +0000

Tourist cheats don’t just exist in certain Asian countries though we may so believe.

Elaine — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:56:05 +0000

Halfway enroute to Dulles international airport, I realise that, instead of being on a taxi, as I’ve instructed the concierge to arrange, I’m on some private car driven by a probably unlicensed and strange guy who’s driving in the opposite direction of a one way lane and telling me that he has a friend who does all kinds of business in Singapore, is so rich that he can buy Singapore if he wanted to, and has all sorts of connections with the president and prime minister. Sure.

I’m just hoping he just rips me off at the airport and doesn’t bring me to some deserted area to rob me. Not expecting this from Washington DC!

Not looking forward to the 24h journey but…

Elaine — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:34:56 +0000

Yay! Tomorrow I start on my journey home and will be able to see Sophia very soon.

DC was a great place and I wouldn’t mind bringing Sophie here someday. I have no idea why people tell me I’ll be bored stiff in DC and should go to New York. Apart from broadway, there is no aspect of NY that I like better than DC. I can’t get enough of the museums and there are so many more I haven’t visited/completed.

Bye bye DC, it was great being here.

View from the washington office

Elaine — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:53:25 +0000

Pretty impressive. The new extension in the office was designed by a famous architect and the view is fantastic, with the capitol building and part of the mall.

Hello DC, and back to Krisflyer

Elaine — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:49:11 +0000

I was irritated how Krisflyer’s fuel surcharge for an award ticket was more expensive than a full budget airline non promotional ticket, so I thought I’ll switch to United Airline’s MilagePlus. Didn’t work! Can’t input my points. So looks like its back to trusty old krisflyer.

Another work trip so soon and late work day just before the flight. Sophia already told grandpa “cannot see mama and grandaunt” before she slept. Grandaunt was also travelling. Guess she knows we’re away. Now I regret extending the business trip for travel. I should have just rushed back to see my baby while she needs me.