Monday, November 29, 2010

被逼的闲情


重返狮城怀抱,饮食的问题终于能如释重负了。

绝对是那种为了活而吃的人。离开那些让好多狮城儿女魂萦梦牵的南洋风味,投奔饮食文化贫乏的英国,可以毫不留恋,不觉有失。在狮城的这些年来,练就的拿手佳肴是:用滚水泡快熟面。像我这样的懒人,要我用厨具来准备快熟面都是一种麻烦。

在英国的日子,没有廉价物美的咖啡店或食阁,凭我煮快书面的厨艺,在英国也相安无事地度过了首两个年头。旅居法国的Y为了吃而活,可以不惜劳苦地从原材烹调出海南鸡饭。我是宁可在味觉上做出让步,也不肯为吃而大费周章的。

在英国的第三、第四年下来,有一天,突发奇想,想自己动手制作馒头。从面粉开始搓起,一个步骤一个步骤循着制作过程,没有避重就轻,只期能享受完美的成品。也可以不厌其烦地制作步骤繁琐的寿司。到了后来,自制的薄煎饼(pancakes)配上nutella、饼干、茶叶蛋、比萨馅饼、松露巧克力等开始相继上场。每天晚上,也风雨不改地调味出自己喜欢的沙拉酱。

并非本性改变了,而是身体已经到了无法忍受味觉上被亏待的地步,食物的欲望终究战胜自己的惰性,才派生出一番的“闲情雅致”,让自己不辞劳苦地准备食物。

可是,重返狮城怀抱,重返狮城饮食业的繁华与便利,这般闲情也戛然而止了,惰性也原形毕露。别说下厨,甚至是泡快熟面,也甚少动手了。如今回想起来,只觉得自己:死性不改。

Friday, November 19, 2010

微笑


梦境里,我身边相识的人都撒手人间了。令人惶恐。

这不是梦,而是每个活着的人都会面对的一个局面:自己是被留下来的人。
我一直都很害怕这样的一个情景。
害怕的是眼泪会出卖自己。
因为生离死别的眼泪最现实。因为舍不得,曾经的快乐、曾经的一切。会哭,是因为害怕。害怕的是接下来的自己要怎么走下去。会哭,原来不单纯是因你的离去而起,而是因为我更爱我自己。会哭,是因为懦弱。

会不会穷我这一生,都无法学会,微笑着送你离去?
会微笑,是因为爱你更甚于我自己。
这样的人生,才算幸福。

Monday, November 08, 2010

The Longest Distance

Had to meet B for breakfast one particular Sunday in our neighbourhood--3km away from my flat. Decided that walking would be faster than taking the bus, which involves changing from one feeder bus to another.

I plastered myself with sunscreen before I embarked on the walk under the morning sun. The walk, intially meant to be a mode of transport from Point A to Point B, turned out to be a destination itself. It was an excursion for me to this older part of the neighbourhood to which I was born in before I relocated to somewhere else.
(An elavated respite area amidst the growth--photo on the left)



It was a joy to walk pass the old flats with ground units, those with a short staircase leading to the front door as well as the back door, which is very unusal for public flats. Each family has their own way of utilitzing the area in front of their units. Some would plant a "jungle" of potted plants, some would start an "outdoor cafe" with chairs and tables, some would open a bird park with caged birds....I chanced upon a small fenced area of garden with vegetables and plants which was the fruit of a gardening club of the residents in the area. And the wet market which I was to meet B, was bustling with people and life. Stark contrast to the sterilized shopping malls. Hygiene level too, I must say.
(Not the flower but the ripened fruit of a yam plant--photo 2)



This is just at the backyard of where I live and yet, has been undiscovered by me. And it has been so near, yet so far.


After our breakfast, we went for a nature "trail". Unknown to me, there is a mangrove swamp right in the middle of our neighbourhood. Away from the concrete jungle, we stepped into thick growth which was presented in a very Singapore way--planned and organized. The "nature" was relocated, sieved and remodelled to fit around the paths and carparks for humans. Nature, lacking of "humanity" will not be fit for us I am afraid.


(treading on the bridge to take in the mangrove swamp--photo 3)



Arriving at the end of the "nature" area is the coast where one could catch a glimpse of Malaysia. The skyline of Malaysia, or the Johor state to be exact, has been growing vertically and steadily for the last ten years. Could still remember those days when we enjoy to make day trips across the causeway to Johor to eat till our fill, taking full advantage of the weak currency and the price of living in Johor. The most classic of all was me crossing the straits to spend my afternoon at a starbucks.








There used to be a jetty here. Now, this coastal part has been given a facelift and has been recently converted into a recreational area--after 30 years.