Sunday morning and The Mitchells vs. the Machines review

This morning after a walk to Bread and hearth, and the Keong Saik Bakery, I watched the Mitchells vs the Machines, that was released in Netflix instead of theatre release due to Covid situation. I like its originality and spirit. The Mitchells is a "weird" family who struggles with father-daughter relationship, with personality that sticks to their originality rather than trying to fit-it. Although it is not trying too hard to depicts the strangeness of the family, the sense I got is that each person in the family was just free to explore their individual passion, and try hard to live life. It also tries to depicts the machine with AI trying to take over the world, although I felt that was just the plot to provide the unifying purpose for the journey the family has undertaken to fix its broken relationships.

It's very therapeutic to do morning walk, and lately the summer wind in Singapore has made the early morning bearable. Perhaps the air is also fresher and clearer without the usual traffic.

Display case at Keong Saik Bakery

Early morning at Chinatown

View of People's Park Centre

Super quiet market during phase 2

Kopi-O Kosong from hawker's coffee the 1950's

Savoury butter croissant perfect breakfast item with coffee

It's a fitting family movie for a sunny Sunday morning.

Selections from the Bread and Hearth and Keong Saik Bakery with black coffee (Kopi-O)

Witches of the Orient

Yesterday I went and watched by myself the movie "The Witches of the Orient" at Oldham Theater, at Asian Film Archive, a new show I just discovered uring the semi-lock down that we are under right now. I woke up to the news that Hong Lim market is being closed for 2 weeks due to emergence of a new Covid19 cluster there... and I recall the romantique film being made by French moviemaker that is unique than Korean, Japanese, or American style of film making. The movie is semi-documentary although the story it depicted is true, about the trial and triumph of the women's volleyball team that went to dominate 1960's culminating in gold in Tokyo Olympics 1964.

Therapist Uncensored

 Recently I love learning podcast, especially some of very interesting one such as Ear Biscuits and Therapist Uncensored. The podcast explored relationship, attachment, and therapy.

The podcast I am listening now is about Attachment Avoidance and Difficulty Opening Up: trauma, avoidance with Robert T. Mueller. It talks about Avoidance as solution and self-deception, as well as how trauma shows up in our relationship, our childhood experiences, and that sometimes multiple trauma system interlocks. With Sue Marriott LCSW, CGP and Ann Kelley PhD. 

Sometimes working it out, while sitting with discomfort, and taking personal risk in safe environment.

I then recall some strong emotion for example, whether in terms on how my parents communicate to each other, or shows disagreement, or resolve conflict. Or in terms on my relationship with my ex-housemates at the end of my university years, and whether I have a lot of unresolved anger and fear in my heart about relationship. Or about my relationship with my ex-boyfriends, or with my ex-colleagues.

Does my past relationship make me just throw past relationship behind, and move on?

First fine dining out meal after June2021 semi-lock down

Finally, after 6 weeks of semi-lock down, I met up with AP for Japanese dinner. Been looking forward to this catch up! Last time we gathered for yakitori & izakaya-theme dinner at Yatagarasu for mine's and Ming's birthday celebration and the country went to lock-down prohibiting dining out when we were going to celebrate AP's birthday.

Sakemaru Artisan sake hideout is a nice place, even nicer now with spacious bubble around each dining group. We chose seats at counter, which is the best as we can see the chef in action! There are humongous display fridges lining up both sides of entrances full of sake selections, each with small accompanying notes.

As part of our mission to elevate the global standards of Saké, the SAKEMARU Artisan Sake Hideout is a concept dining experience to showcase our extensive range of exclusive artisanal Saké alongside modern Japanese Kappo-style cuisine here in Singapore.

The menu is interesting. The opening salvo was a raw-fish-in-season-that-i-forgot-the-name (shult?) that came seared perfectly with brown rich.

Firefly squid as starter: Seasoned well, and seared to perfection, the bite-sized squid came with tomatoes and mushroom all   

The fig mascarpone was unfortunately out of stock, but somehow the chef sent a complimentary order perhaps because detecting our disappointment when the hokkaido corn was also out of stock! Likely, out of his omakase supply :)

The fish somen was exquisite, it's light and the jelly-like broth complement the somen with fresh roe.

The best is ama-ebi which came large size, with raw golden egg yolk with soy-like sauce.

For main, we ordered simmered tender beef tongue. It came with squid-ink sauce, and tongue so tender, I didn't believe it's the body part. Unfortunately the taste is a bit bland, perhaps a bit overcooked?

For sake, we had a charafe of Kasaichiyo casareccio Omachi 50, which I enjoyed a lot. It is perfect as starter sake and has a pleasant floral like aroma. It goes down well especially with sashimi and light dishes.

We then ordered a bottle of Shirakiku Mirror Mirror Muraku Genshu, an Honjozo Junmai. It is a new conceptual sake made of apple yeast and black koji. Thus has a sourish taste, but goes down pleasant and dry. My friend spotted Shuhari which we would like to try - it's rare artisan sake from Okamoto village Yamadashiki Usunigori Nama.

Overall, I remember the chat, gossip with one of my bestest, and wisest friend in the world. We talked about our own blind spot, pacing in life and career, and shared some anecdotes about experiences working in different environment with slower pace, and about enterprise business applications.

Looking forward to next catch up!

A tremendous sense of gratitude for the night out.

 

Upgrade your brain

 I attended 1.5 days part of the BD Academy in my new company. Day 2 features Jim Kwik, with his interesting delivery about how to upgrade brain and with his 10 tips on morning to upstart your brain. He introduces his concept of FAST (Forget, Active, State, Transcendence).

Forget =:

Our brain is terrible at multi-tasking. Can only function at one cognitive function at a time. 2-3 minutes task switching time.

Active =:

I think this is about our brain remembers more when creating.

State =:

Our brain remembers with emotion i.e. State-dependant.

Transcendence =:

Cross the "trans" - auto functioning. For example, use your other hand to activate focus.

Therapy

 Listening to podcasts of Ear Biscuits by Rhett and Link, I am listening to easy-going chat about Enneagrams, Multi-level marketing, and Therapy.

Therapy is cheaper... just scratching the surface when you start. You start uncovering behavioral pattern, perhaps, coming from your childhood or unconscious brain.

My Golden Life

Sometimes things happen in your life that prompts reflection. This week is the last week before I rejoined the workforce. As I binge-watch the Kdrama My Golden Life from 2018.. I am touched by the struggles of ordinary people, of the feeling of injustice, unfair life, and humiliation of daily struggles when you have to feel struggles every day without the space to breathe. I am also reminded of every day you need to take step forward, at least to try, to be aware of your purpose, remember the passage of time, grow yourself, and seek happiness. Every characters in the drama is depicted in its nuance, not just black-and-white. Everyone is not born perfect, or good in every way. The characters however, like in any good drama, would grow, learn from their mistakes, and tackle with resilience, hard work, and passion.

This week is the last week of my sabbatical. I have come to enjoy the carefree life, and seek happiness in studying and growing my mind, which I discover give me a lot of joy. I am stretching myself in a new role, in a new company, with quite likely a different culture. But I am ready for that. I want to give it my best shot. The best is yet to come!

Update: March 15.

After marathon session, I finally finished up 52 episodes of this family drama. The gripping story lines, as well as some shocking cliff-hanger at the end of each episodes ensure that the audience is hooked. I watched the KBS award show and learnt that the series won many awards including the screenwriter, lead actress, and the lead actors of both the male protagonist and the father. Plus it was nominated for top new actor and other supporting actress as well for the sister and the mother. I do think that the second half of the show was not as good as the first half, possibly contributed or contributing to the health issues that the screenwriter experienced during award show in the new year of 2017. 

I am taking away a lot of the struggles of the standard people. But also the character development shows that people can change, grow, and be happy by realizing and leading their own golden life. The achievement, big company, large salary all contribute to a secure life, however if achieving all these is costing mental sanity, values, as well as family, then it is time to re-examine your life and have a truly heartfelt conversation with people whom might be selfish and hurt you. 

It makes me happy to just watch the simple relationship of the youngest brother and the youngest child of the Choi family versus the complicated and heart-aching relationship that the lead actor and actress have. Although you wholeheartedly support them, and the complexity makes the plot, sometimes simplicity is... well, just simple, pure and enjoyable.

Watching the middle-aged couples, I do crave for the longevity of relationship, when you grow old and hopefully wiser by sharing your lives together. It is not always a guarantee that you will lead a sweet life together, but I think the odds and likelihood of that happening is decidedly higher than when you are single.

Mr Queen

Mr Queen has interesting story lines, memorable characters, and great OST. The main character is feisty, but unfortunately it is showing that the body of Kim So-Young (actress Shin Hye-sun) was possessed by a spirit of a man to be breaking down the tradition and show what a Queen can do. 

Shin Hye-sun and Kim Jung-hyun

I love the outstanding King, played by actor Kim Jung-hyun whom I am championing as I feel a bit sorry for seeing his character as Alberto, in Crash Landing into You met undesirable ending.

Most importantly, the show gave great weight on a King's reputation but showed the steely resolved for people trying their best in the situation that they were in, whether being a puppet king, caring for the suffering of the people, a misplaced lady in weird situation, fighting for survival and love and many memorable characters among them, including the court ladies, prince, special director, friends, cousin and consort. 

Link to video.

Kdrama Alice

 

It's a compelling drama about time-travel and its implications. I like the chemistry and sweetness between the characters Yoon Tae Yi (Kim Hee Seon) and Park Jin Gyeom (Joo Won), as well as other supporting characters such as Reporter Kim (Lee Da In), Alice's agent Yoo Min Hyuk (Kwak Si Yang), the buddy police of Lieutenant (Lee Jae Yoon), and Team Leader Goo (Kim Sang Ho).

It also explores them of mother's love and self-sacrifice. And, of course for a time-travel series, the concept of parallel universe. The series resolve itself in a way, that is poignant although doesn't always make perfect sense. However the concept of space that stores the memories and emotion is a soft and tender way to remind us living in a world of crisis and slower pace.

Nainai's Death Anniversary

 Today in conversation, it came up that today's is Nainai's death anniversary. Nainai is Chinese term for the mother of my father, my grandma from father's side. We also called Nainai, A Ma. It must have been 25 years or so since A Ma's passed on. 

In Hokkien tradition, we call the day "cho ki", or remembrance. Remembering death anniversary normally started when the person passed on. Instead of celebrating the birthday, when the person lived, the tradition is to start "celebrating" the death anniversary as the day to remember the deceased on the day to start the new chapter in circle of life.

I am googling what the tradition normally does on such a day. I remember we would cook a feast and remember the loved one to pass the day.