Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
TV debut!
Phil was interviewed by Channel NewsAsia at London Book Fair and the segment aired in Singapore on Monday night and Tuesday morning. It even played on the TVs carried on Singapore's bus network! Fame at last! At least among the commuting crowd. A surprising number of friends caught it. We didn't see it, of course, 'cos our TV remote has been broken for two years (probably out of batteries!) and we're too lazy to get up to switch channels.
Following is the transcript of the TV segment...
Channel NewsAsia
March 13, 2006 Monday 11:50 AM GMT
Strong showing of Southeast Asian publishers at London Book Fair
SECTION: ASIA PACIFIC
LENGTH: 410 words
DATELINE: SINGAPORE
There was a strong showing of Southeast Asian literature, and even some of its erotica, at this year's London Book Fair. Apart from established Singapore publishers, there were also first time exhibitors from Thailand and Malaysia. The London Book Fair is not the largest in the world but it is growing in importance. This year, quite a few companies travelled from Southeast Asia to attend. Nearly 2,000 companies from 59 countries gathered for this annual event.Nine Singaporean companies were present, including the established publisher Marshall Cavendish.Well-known for its educational material across Southeast Asia, it sees the show as a chance to attract a wider clientele."We are located in very strategic location and we can get access to authentic Asian content. Right now, many people are interested in China and India. And because our office is located in some of the Southeast Asian territories, it means that authors in this part of the world can get immediate access to our channels in Asia as well," said Elsa Tan, corporate general manage of Marshall Cavendish.Singapore publisher Monsoon was only created two and a half years ago but is doing well and is now hoping to spread the word about Southeast Asia literature."Look at popularity of Indian literary fiction, written in English; it's huge in Britain and in America. That's been going on for ten years now and I think it's time to shift from India to further east, to Southeast Asia," said Philip Tatham, a publisher at Monsoon Books."There's plenty of good literature coming out of Southeast Asia, written in English and written in vernacular languages. What we need is to be given more exposure. Maybe that means starting off in Asia but it'll go to England and America eventually," he said.Monsoon's stable of books includes some erotica, which Mr Tatham says is garnering much interest from other parts of the world.Many specialist publishers came to showcase their wares.Diving into this exhibition for the first time is Thailand, from where eleven companies travelled.The Thai organisers are hopeful that their books on cookery, philosophy and children's section will prove popular because of the West's interest in all things eastern.Also here for the first time is Malaysian company Edutool which says it has got some good orders already.All the companies we spoke to said they could foresee returning to the London Book Fair in future years, after a very busy but productive show.
Following is the transcript of the TV segment...
Channel NewsAsia
March 13, 2006 Monday 11:50 AM GMT
Strong showing of Southeast Asian publishers at London Book Fair
SECTION: ASIA PACIFIC
LENGTH: 410 words
DATELINE: SINGAPORE
There was a strong showing of Southeast Asian literature, and even some of its erotica, at this year's London Book Fair. Apart from established Singapore publishers, there were also first time exhibitors from Thailand and Malaysia. The London Book Fair is not the largest in the world but it is growing in importance. This year, quite a few companies travelled from Southeast Asia to attend. Nearly 2,000 companies from 59 countries gathered for this annual event.Nine Singaporean companies were present, including the established publisher Marshall Cavendish.Well-known for its educational material across Southeast Asia, it sees the show as a chance to attract a wider clientele."We are located in very strategic location and we can get access to authentic Asian content. Right now, many people are interested in China and India. And because our office is located in some of the Southeast Asian territories, it means that authors in this part of the world can get immediate access to our channels in Asia as well," said Elsa Tan, corporate general manage of Marshall Cavendish.Singapore publisher Monsoon was only created two and a half years ago but is doing well and is now hoping to spread the word about Southeast Asia literature."Look at popularity of Indian literary fiction, written in English; it's huge in Britain and in America. That's been going on for ten years now and I think it's time to shift from India to further east, to Southeast Asia," said Philip Tatham, a publisher at Monsoon Books."There's plenty of good literature coming out of Southeast Asia, written in English and written in vernacular languages. What we need is to be given more exposure. Maybe that means starting off in Asia but it'll go to England and America eventually," he said.Monsoon's stable of books includes some erotica, which Mr Tatham says is garnering much interest from other parts of the world.Many specialist publishers came to showcase their wares.Diving into this exhibition for the first time is Thailand, from where eleven companies travelled.The Thai organisers are hopeful that their books on cookery, philosophy and children's section will prove popular because of the West's interest in all things eastern.Also here for the first time is Malaysian company Edutool which says it has got some good orders already.All the companies we spoke to said they could foresee returning to the London Book Fair in future years, after a very busy but productive show.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Birds spotted in England
Birds spotted in England:
None
Birds eaten in England:
Guinea Fowl - 1/2 a bird
Wood Pigeon - 1 bird
Chicken - multiple bodyparts
None
Birds eaten in England:
Guinea Fowl - 1/2 a bird
Wood Pigeon - 1 bird
Chicken - multiple bodyparts
Eating in London
Moroccan dinner at Peter & Renate's in London ... from the left: Mum, Harry, Dad
Peter & Renate ...
from the left: Peter, Nel, Justin, Ru (hidden), Phil
Dinner at St John's on Junction Road in North London ... what a great place. Living in soulless Singapore, you forget how much character restaurants in London (and presumably everywhere outside of Singapore!) have. This is a trendy but very down-to-earth gastropub with high ceilings, one long wall full of artwork, entertaining waitstaff and great food. The pub, which is connected to the dining area looks equally fun.
Straining to read the menu on the back wall. We opted for guinea fowl and cabbage (Phil, Nel, Charlotte), scallops (Dad), liver (Mum) and kingfish (Holly).
Guinea fowl and cabbage ... delicious!
Peter & Renate ...
from the left: Peter, Nel, Justin, Ru (hidden), Phil
Dinner at St John's on Junction Road in North London ... what a great place. Living in soulless Singapore, you forget how much character restaurants in London (and presumably everywhere outside of Singapore!) have. This is a trendy but very down-to-earth gastropub with high ceilings, one long wall full of artwork, entertaining waitstaff and great food. The pub, which is connected to the dining area looks equally fun.
Straining to read the menu on the back wall. We opted for guinea fowl and cabbage (Phil, Nel, Charlotte), scallops (Dad), liver (Mum) and kingfish (Holly).
Guinea fowl and cabbage ... delicious!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The Adventures of George (contd.)
Despite being the only dog in the world who needs a life-jacket to stay afloat, George bravely takes to the pool for his first swimming lesson ...
After half a lap, George clings on for dear life and hopes the swimming instructor doesn't hear him wheezing in the shallow end ...
Totally shagged, George retires to his bedroom to plan his next adventure ...
After half a lap, George clings on for dear life and hopes the swimming instructor doesn't hear him wheezing in the shallow end ...
Totally shagged, George retires to his bedroom to plan his next adventure ...
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Phil's 21st birthday
I awoke from an afternoon siesta to find birthday balloons floating outside our 1st floor window!!
Thank you Steve and Katrina for a fantastic surprise. And for the delicious birthday cake!
Thank you Steve and Katrina for a fantastic surprise. And for the delicious birthday cake!
soooo cute!
Our new neighbour Thalia is soooo cute! She's growing so fast she's almost as big as Janie (see next post) ...
Janie drunk
Janie the cat lives with Katrina, Steve and Thalia in the flat downstairs. Here she is enjoying some of Steve's homebrew ...
feeling a little squiffy ...
and she's out.
And she wonders why she has a beer belly ...
feeling a little squiffy ...
and she's out.
And she wonders why she has a beer belly ...
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Valentine's Day
No overpriced roses this year, just a surprise 'lormantic' picnic dinner on the beach courtesy of Chef Tatham with a little help from Da Paolo Gastronomia in Holland Village.
Starters of mushroom tart, dried sausage and goat's cheese. And the cheapest bottle of bubbly I could find: Jacob's Creek Sparkling Pinot Noir.
I force-fed a loaf of Italian bread to make a colourful and equally tasty pane farcito. I managed to squeeze in roast red capsicum and eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, fresh basil, rocket, artichoke hearts, spring onions, prosciutto and honey tomatoes. It almost exploded.
Strawberries and coconut macaroons for dessert.
Oh, how cute. That's Valentine's Day done for another year.
Starters of mushroom tart, dried sausage and goat's cheese. And the cheapest bottle of bubbly I could find: Jacob's Creek Sparkling Pinot Noir.
I force-fed a loaf of Italian bread to make a colourful and equally tasty pane farcito. I managed to squeeze in roast red capsicum and eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, fresh basil, rocket, artichoke hearts, spring onions, prosciutto and honey tomatoes. It almost exploded.
Strawberries and coconut macaroons for dessert.
Oh, how cute. That's Valentine's Day done for another year.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
CNY @ Yeoh's place
Chinese New Year gathering at Yeoh & Shannon's place in Singapore. Some kind of fungus spreading on the livingroom wall ...
Yee Sang (Yu Sheng) ... see Chinese New Year post below for more info ...
Yee Sang (Yu Sheng) ... see Chinese New Year post below for more info ...
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Gong Xi Fa Cai
It's goodbye year of the rooster and hello year of the dog. Holly and Sandy went shopping for Chinese New Year food and decorations in Singapore's Chinatown, Sandy is looking for dried fish stomach lining (or swim bladder) to take back for her parents ... oh how delicious ...
Seeing red...
Holly flew back to London to start work at Fresh magazine -- congratulations! -- and Sandy and I headed up to Kuala Lumpur to spend Chinese New Year with Sandy's family.
Getting ready for Reunion Dinner at Sandy's parents' place. every year, on the eve of Chinese New Year, most Chinese people return to the house of the head of the family to eat together and usher in the New Year. Many stay up till midnight to pray to the various gods.
Steamboat ...
Reunion Dinner ...
After dinner we popped in to see Sandy's dad's younger brother, Ah Chek, and his family who live round the corner. It's more usual to visit relatives on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of the 15-day Chinese New Year but since they were driving up to Penang at 4am the next day this was the only chance to say hello.
Clockwise from bottom left: Sandy, Ah Yew, Ah Chim, Ma, Hueh Hueh, Ah Ngae, Pa, Ah Chek, Ah Pao ...
Ah Chek teaching Sandy aerobics ...
On the 1st day of New Year we braved the 37-degree heat to take a look at Tugu Negara (National Monument), built in remembrance of the soldiers who died during the World Wars and during the Emergency Period (fighting the communists).
A certain B.O. Tatham is listed on the memorial ... looks like I'm not the first Tatham here ...
Yee Sang or Yu Sheng is a festive salad of veggies, pickles, pomelo, raw fish slices, crackers, plum sauce and five-spice powder that is only served during Chinese New Year and is it eaten to encourage prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. Tossing the salad as high as possible, while shouting Loh Hei! Loh Hei!, increases one's good fortune so it's usually pretty messy.
Dinner in Jalan Alor, a red-light district of KL, which has some of the best Chinese food in town.
Seeing red...
Holly flew back to London to start work at Fresh magazine -- congratulations! -- and Sandy and I headed up to Kuala Lumpur to spend Chinese New Year with Sandy's family.
Getting ready for Reunion Dinner at Sandy's parents' place. every year, on the eve of Chinese New Year, most Chinese people return to the house of the head of the family to eat together and usher in the New Year. Many stay up till midnight to pray to the various gods.
Steamboat ...
Reunion Dinner ...
After dinner we popped in to see Sandy's dad's younger brother, Ah Chek, and his family who live round the corner. It's more usual to visit relatives on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd days of the 15-day Chinese New Year but since they were driving up to Penang at 4am the next day this was the only chance to say hello.
Clockwise from bottom left: Sandy, Ah Yew, Ah Chim, Ma, Hueh Hueh, Ah Ngae, Pa, Ah Chek, Ah Pao ...
Ah Chek teaching Sandy aerobics ...
On the 1st day of New Year we braved the 37-degree heat to take a look at Tugu Negara (National Monument), built in remembrance of the soldiers who died during the World Wars and during the Emergency Period (fighting the communists).
A certain B.O. Tatham is listed on the memorial ... looks like I'm not the first Tatham here ...
Yee Sang or Yu Sheng is a festive salad of veggies, pickles, pomelo, raw fish slices, crackers, plum sauce and five-spice powder that is only served during Chinese New Year and is it eaten to encourage prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. Tossing the salad as high as possible, while shouting Loh Hei! Loh Hei!, increases one's good fortune so it's usually pretty messy.
Dinner in Jalan Alor, a red-light district of KL, which has some of the best Chinese food in town.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
