Omg.

I promised myself I'd start scribbling more in 2011 to polish up my writing skills, but it's now nearing the third week of Jan and I've written fuckall except for a halfhearted slightly melancholic draft on NYE, which I'm still debating whether or not to post.

Anyway.

Just back from very late lunch at Hediard with K, who's back for a vacay from Melbourne. K and I went to college together and we were on the same sports team, but we never really spoke much. Fast forward a decade later, we found each other on Facebook and as one would say, the rest is history. Pity he's gay, because he's simply adorable.

Oh and Hediard is simply awesome. It was my first time there and the moment I walked in, it felt like walking into a place where it was eternally Christmas. I knew I would like it straightaway, you know, the same way people feel when they walk into a building or a place and fall in love. There were all these pretty packages and jars of gastronomic ambrosia on dark wooden shelves, and there was jazz music in the background.

Was a wee bit disappointed that they had stopped serving their breakfast offerings, because I had had a craving for Eggs Norwegian, essentially poached eggs with smoked salmon on grilled bread. Instead I settled for country soup i.e. vegetable soup with bacon drizzled with truffle oil and Croq' Germaine i.e. grilled bread with Parma Ham, gruyere cheese, mornay sauce topped with a fried egg. The soup was really tasty and the Croq' Germaine was hands down the best open faced sandwich I've had ever. I've had variations of it before, i.e. Croque Monsieurs and Madams both in SG, New York and Paris, but dang, this was in a league of its own. The combination of the different ingredients made it come together so nicely, yet one could taste the quality of the individual ingredients on their own.

Croq' Germaine at Hediard

Inevitable that my favourite brunch place would be French really. I've always liked the approach the French take to their food, i.e. quality food and slow relaxed dining. French friend once expressed surprise that people eat savoury food for breakfast as they couldn't imagine eating anything but croissants with jam and pain au chocolat to start their day ... on a sweet note like he would explain, but I guess I've always associated eggs and toast with my breakfasts.

“New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.” - James Agate

So NYE was spent thus :

Dinner at Margarita's at Faber Drive with A. Not entirely satisfactory but could think of worse ways to spend a Friday night. Note to self : stick to Margarita's in Dempsey. In a fully booked scenario, brave the crowds and high tail it to El Toro.

Debated whether or not to brave the crowds at Boathouse where S would be spinning with fireworks exploding in the night sky thrown into the mix. Looked longingly at Chuck Season 1.

Half heartedly message friends about their plans. Surprised to learn that although more than 50% have party plans of some sort, most feel inclined to stay home and veg with DVDs. Mull over prospect of getting dressed, putting face on, cabbing to Boathouse, counting down and then coming home to reverse process. Cringe at thought of slim possibility of getting a cab post countdown.

Half hour : Chuck wins.

Midnight : Happy 2011!

OK OK so 2011 was supposed to start on a higher note, say more in the C range than perhaps in the A range. But I don't know, maybe it's age or maybe it's just plain sloth-like behavior, I've been feeling less and less inclined to leave the comforts of my room. New Year's Eve felt like just another feckless Friday, with people desperate to party, to get wasted, to release the inhibitions otherwise kept under a tightly locked little heart shaped box and the tendency to blame all unseemly behavior on alcohol the day after. It all seemed so forced and reeked so strongly of desperation that I felt compelled to run screaming in the opposite direction.

So anyway, nighty night and see ya all in 2011!