Snow Crab Leg

Dropped by Fisherman's International Market after shopping since I had some time before bus 90 came along.  Oh lucky me or unlucky me, snow crab claws and legs were on sale for $2.99/lb.  I checked out the tank, it was pretty empty so I decided to go for the cooked claws and legs before.  The guy ahead of me bought 4 kg and I took the remaining which was 4.5 kg ($13.50). 

It was a heap (really) and I separated the different part and eventually worked on it the next day.  I was not an easy task to deshell the crab and to get to those yummy meat.  So far, it's crab salad, crab oats and crab n chicken macaroni.  What else, crab pasta, crab burger, crab cake (that's a must), crab cheese on toast.

I will definitely have more crab before I go home.  

2nd Week after Paris Attack

Today marks the 2nd week of Paris Attack.  The mayhem had certainly quiet down after 2 weeks of search and arrest.  130 people has died and many injured.  On the second day, I painted a pic of Eifel Tower to mark a remembrance to the attack.  I thought it was a good piece. 

So the world is jittery over this attack.  Brussels was in lock down a week after the attack, due to security threat, airlines was threaten as well.  It was good that nothing came out of it.  In today's mood, nothing is a good thing.  So missiles upon missiles were dropped in Syria.  The shooting down of a Russian jet by Turkey added more nervous throughout the globe, all wondering if WW3 will eventually come.  

Today is also Black Friday, supposedly a great bargain shopping day.  I really have nothing to buy; well I have things to buy, just no luggage space.  The day before I went to Home Hard Ware and bought a handsome looking Chef Knife as well as an Alligator cutter.  Both are going home with me and I hope it's worth bringing them home.

Sewing Video

I am on a roll now with bags sewing video.  There seems to be so much more video available now.  I have also bought some online classes which is great, I can keep watching it.  I can't wait to go back to Singapore to sew.  I think I have picked up a lot of tips and know what bad habits I need to change. 

The sewing tools are cheaper here and have a list of things to buy before going home. There are many tools I have never seen before and it was definitely a good learning exercise for me.  Will post once I get them. 

I also came across a cutting table which is collapsible.  I have been thinking how best to put a table in Parc Olympia that will allow me to do my sewing and it seems impossible to find space for a big table.  I even though of suspending it from the ceiling.  I will have this custom build since I know of 2 person who do carpentary.  I think I have seen enough to know what I need to modify.  Here is a pic of something close to what I want.  When not use for sewing, the collapsed unit will be used in the kitchen as a extra table space  (island) for cooking.

Death of Joy

It came as a shock when we got a message to pray for Joy as she had a stroke and it was in an area of inoperable part of the brain.  A lot of prayer like sweet fragrance ascended up to the heavenly throne of God most high as her friends round the world prayed.  His divine prerogative had it that Joy be reunited with Him instead.  He has deemed that her work on this earth is done and only eternal joy and rest awaits her.

She joined 3 other GLCC co-workers to be back to heaven since September this year.  Pak Sejati from Indonesia,  Pastor Pabs from Philippines and Dyna Madalag from China.  We can rest in the assurance that God never makes a mistake and His timing is always perfect.

Death for a Christian is but a joy to be with our Lord, the hardest is the family having to come to grasp with the sudden loss of a loved ones.  I think that the hardest part of death, the separation.  So let's seize the moment to live life to the fullest and to make it better for those around us. 

 
    

Painting and Cooking

I have been back for about 2 weeks now and I had been busy, updating my blog with travel and thereafter I was painting, cooking, shopping online, going out once a while but most time was spent indoors.  Weather has been sunny and rainy almost alternating each day but still no snow.  I hope to see snow soon.  What happened if there is no snow.  Can it be so?

Here is my painting update.  I think I am improving after seeing a few online videos on how to paint.  I think I am more bold now in my strokes especially with black. I really enjoy paining, listening to sermons or music.  It can be so serene and tranquil, like the scenery that I am painting.

Giant Causeway, Irenland

Destination Unknow

Blarney Castle, Ireland

Cabot Trail, Summer

Sunset at Cape Spear, New Foundland

 As for gourmet cooking, obviously not in the works.  Just normal every day, mundane food but included a turkey though.  I should have brined it longer and take it out of the oven sooner (a bit overcook and not as moisture as I have done before).  I think cooking it in an oven bag, 2 hours 15 mins will do.  Or better still next time test it with a thermometer.  I have enough turkey meal for 16 meals.

Ireland 22-30 Oct Day 8

As usual and early set off.  This time to another handweaving hill at Avaco then to a Glendalough, the start of early Irish Christianity, to visit an old ruin Abbey.

Then it was back to Dublin and had a nice seafood chowder at Jurys Inn before meeting up with Kim, Nathy and Carlos.  We had a good time at The Bank Restaurant and it was good meeting up after so many years.  I didn't even know they left Singapore in 2009. Nathy and Carlos have become Irish citizen and Carlos is doing well in his job and Nathy is expecting after 15 years of trying. Kim is also doing well and happy teaching English as a foreign language.  It was a very awesome way to end my visit to Ireland. Tomorrow early morning I will be taking the Airport Express for 6 Euro to the airport.

Ireland 22-30 Oct Day 7

It's Day 7, almost end of the trip.  It seems like it has been a long trip, so many miles traveled and so many picture taken.

So where are we off today?.  We headed over the Kerry Mountains into County Cork.  Stop in Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence and a visit to the Blarney Castle with amazing gardens. 

After that it was a visit to Waterford Crystal.  It was a nice tour and I even got myself 2 small glass bowls. 

There after the rest except for me and Edmund went to the pub and we headed back to the Majestic Hotel. This time, my room mate was Cindy. Had a nice bath before spending time at the nice hotel lobby.  Dinner was good and I had the fried brie and the braised pork belly.