beloved bel

Before my Czech holiday becomes a sweet distant memory, I reckon I should quickly blog about it.  It is looking to be a busy summer with some trips planned.  That's what I tell myself - it might be my last summer here so must make the best out of it!  Since getting married and buying our own place, life has become more settled and weekend trips are not as frequent anymore.  Maybe it's age too; I can't do the out-Friday-night-back-Sunday-late-night anymore.  Trips now need to be taken slowly, relaxing… slow strolls, rushing from place to place?  No thanks.  The only hurrying I will do is to hurry to a cafe or restaurant to sit down and have something nice to eat. Back to the Czech Republic… Cesky Krumlov In the summer house So when we opened our eyes at the summer house on that beautiful Saturday morning, it was bright sunshine everywhere.  The house didn't seem as cold anymore.  Outside was boiling and indoors was a constant air...

Before I moved in with K, I was housemates with Marcia and Rebecca if you can recall.  Marcia is from Ireland and Rebecca is from Australia.  It was an interesting mix with 3 of us and there were definitely ups and downs staying together, but now that we are all living apart, we need to make an effort to meet up.  Marce has not been to ours since we moved, and so I suggested a reunion brunch today.  Today is the longest day of the year with sunset at 930pm.  The sun was a'shining and it was a glorious day.  So beautiful that we could sit out in the garden and Marce even needed to put sunscreen on! I love setting up a beautiful table - it makes all the difference.  I think I have been inspired by Pris and her German family.  Whenever I'm there, breakfast is an elaborate thing and I love replicating that. We started at 1130am and each had two rounds of what I served.  I served up this brunch dish which I had at Village East which I r...

Last weekend I spent my long weekend (taking Friday off work) in the Czech Republic with my girl friends.  It was Marketa's birthday and she suggested going home with her to visit Prague and then spending some time near her hometown, at her dad's summer house.  Sounds good already isn't it? If you recall the last time I flew to Prague last year to attend her wedding, K and I missed our flight and it was such a stressful way to get me to attend her wedding reception the next day.  The joke was on me this time, with them asking me not to miss the flight this time round! Our different passports - only the Singaporean passport has some originality in the choice of colours I say ;) Clockwise from top: Singapore, UK, Ecuador, Czech Republic Of course I had to make sure I didn't miss my flight so I left work promptly at 5pm and made my long journey to Heathrow airport.  Met the girls after the security checkpoint and off we went!  We arrived Prague late at...

Saturday bright and early I attended Monica's baby shower all the way in Kent, at Greenhithe.  Well I say "all the way" but to be honest, I live now bordering Kent and Greenhithe is on the same train line so I cannot complain.  Although I have to say that when my alarm sounded at 8am I muttered to K "whoever has a baby shower this early??"  Gabby was to take the train from London Bridge and we arranged to meet on the train, second carriage no less. In the second carriage Monica is one of my first friends here in London.  She is from South Africa and we all used to hang out together with Liandi and Faith back in our good ol' Canada Water days.  Then she and hubby Quentin moved further out to Kent and so we seldom meet up except for birthdays or some milestone celebration dinners. The happy mum to be Mon who is almost 7 months pregnant Group pic Thea (lady in green top) is Monica's friend who kindly opened up her house for this party...