Independent living has done wonders for my domestic skills. During the past month I have been so anxious about running the flat--which isn't in the best shape to begin with--properly, but now I'm finding it easier to relax when washing my clothes or preparing meals or cleaning the bathroom. And while doing household chores remains at the bottom of my activities-that-bring-me-happiness list, I am proud to report that it can be enjoyable in small, irregular doses.I'm always looking forward to doing my laundry, something that usually happens on weekends. I like it because much of it involves doing something else: eating Nutella sandwiches like a pig, drinking beer, catching up on my non-business-related reading, or watching Euromaxx/Japan Hour/I Do, Let's Eat/Money Matters on TV. As soon as I hear the electronic music made by the washing machine, I mosey over to the laundry area to hang my clothes for drying.
My favorite domestic duty is going to the grocery to hoard household items of the important and the unimportant sort. I don't make a shopping list as I like to trust my impulses more. I have stopped annoying myself with the whole currency conversion bit--I want just my wants and needs as the main basis of every
purchase. I'll just keep my friends posted when I wind up being a taong grasa in this city.To my relief, every meal I've prepared so far has been fit for human consumption. Well, maybe with the exception of the culinary delight I created this morning, the Unintentionally Toasted Sunny Side Up (which reminded me of this dish I prepared for the ENTA people during a Baguio trip a few years ago, Scrambled Eggs That Taste Like Crap).
(The photos above were taken during the Chinese New Year lunch with colleagues. The lady wearing a Ramones shirt is Yvonne, whose mother prepared traditional Cantonese fare such as Steamed Chicken with Chinese Wine and Rice Cake with Prawns and Mushrooms. Yvonne is the only other writer in the office and is also my favorite Singaporean. Anyway, I believe I will always associate that afternoon with Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks" and Elliott Smith's "Baby Britain" [juskoday, high school days!] because those songs were part of the playlist we listened to nonstop. If only I could whistle.)
