Good Monday to you. How was your weekend?

We had a rather busy one, with Magikarp Community Day on Pokemon Go on Saturday, the reverse readathon (which started 5pm Friday PST instead of Saturday 5am) as well as a National Day-in-Place, organised by a Singapore group here in the Bay Area.

National Day (August 9) commemorates Singapore’s independence from Malaysia in 1965. In Singapore, this means a huge parade, complete with flypasts, gun salutes, lots of military-related demonstrations, also performances and fireworks. The photos above were taken in during our visit back in 2018 – this was one of several rehearsal performances which come complete with fireworks and also allow for more people to watch – if I’m not wrong every year primary school students of a particular grade get to attend a rehearsal.

In the Bay Area, a party with food and games usually is held, usually at a hotel somewhere, with a few hundred people in attendance.

This year, of course, things were different. Instead of the in-person party, it was a virtual one. But the organisers had arranged for some Singaporean/Malaysian eateries and coordinated with a grocery delivery service so that we could order what we wanted and have it sent to our house. And there was also a Zoom party too.

The food was delicious!

We had satay (came with all the works – ketupat or rice cake, peanut dipping sauce, onions and cucumbers), nonya kueh (steamed desserts), Hokkien mee, ngoh hiang (shrimp, carrots, chestnuts wrapped in tofu skin, steamed, then fried till the skin is crispy). They even threw in some freebies like tote bags and face masks.

Currently…

Reading:

Oh, Tama! – Mieko Kanai

Watching:

Midnight Diner on Netflix

Listening:

I haven’t been doing much audiobook listening lately, so I’m still on this one!

Eating:

I had a toasted bagel with butter for breakfast

 

Drinking:

Coffee – haven’t been sleeping well lately! Maybe it’s been too hot…

Cooking:

The husband wants mushroom pasta tonight. Maybe I’ll add in some bacon. And some skillet cauliflower cheese on the side for vegetables.

Last week:

I read:

Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass – Mariko Tamaki

Pizza Girl – Jean Kyoung Frazier

10 Things I Hate About Pinky – Sandhya Menon

I posted:

Library Loot (August 5 to August 11)

Colourful titles #TopTenTuesday