Spymama @ Mamakshop

Years back, I remembered Spypapa was very into the going to the Gym in town. He wanted to cut down on his extra pounds and made 3 trips to the Gym every week. He was recommended a special mix to drink so that he can build muscle fast. Back then too, he paid a high premium for these membership and they had some limitations like how many guests you can bring, and if you signed up during non peak, you are only entitled for those hours. Nowadays, gyms are giving out free trials, 1 plus 1 free membership and cheaper membership with unlimited visits.

Yesterday, driving past the almost-a-decade year old gym, it looked different and very worn. It is not as packed as before and we keep getting flyers posted to us. Business must be declining, because some of the shops nearby had changed owners not once, but twice. I would certainly love to see the buzz back to this gym with some new adrenalin pumping by newer generations. Maybe when the economy picks up?

Restaurant meals are kept to very minimum lately, like when we have a special occasion or festive. We have most of meals at home, cooking simple ones to cut down on the electricity, gas and water bills since the government is now reminding us to save for a rainy day. No harm in doing that. It should be a conscious effort and we should all act responsible.

Then last night, my subconscious awaken Spymama with this yummy looking Prawn Cocktail in her dreams. I had the most delicious old fashion Prawn Cocktail with the most delicious French dressing.. Woke up with an active salivating mouth. So the first thing Spymama did was to run over to the fishmonger and buy that Tiger Prawn.

I was thinking of making the Dream Prawn Cocktail that I had seen in my dream. Will it be the same? Most importantly, will it TASTE the same?

We shall see.

On some days, Spymama feels very chatty. But lately the haze is making Spymama a little edgy. Can feel as if a rash is coming up in these terrible air. I have been taking lots and lots of ice cool drinks and desserts. Spymama misses Chendols from Malaysia terribly and the ones in Singapore aren’t even close. Is it the gula Malacca that is different? Or the way the chendol is made? Of course that doesn’t mean that stops Spymama from ordering it in a food court recently. It looked pretty, in terms of presentation but the taste was just average. Something is missing and that something is what Spymama is craving.

The Pretty but taste so-so Chendol from the food court

The Food that Spymama ate too fast and took the picture after. *Burp!*

An award from Zara. How sweet. She’s always make awards and giving it to her friends. Thanks Zara. Spymama certainly needed something to smile for the week.

With so much news about the economy and financial crisis, Spymama was feeling low the whole week. Not that she had any investments linked to the Lehman Bros and not that she lost anything, but the feeling of recession was just everywhere. Spymama was sitting down at her favourite coffeeshop yesterday morning having a kopi-O with Yew Char Kueh when she overhead two stall tenants complaining how bad business had been lately. They complained how raising prices of the food by 20 cents was a turn-off for customers. Spymama can understand all that uncertainty. We at the end of the consumer wants to save but those doing business are also paying more for their items needed to make that perfect plate of noodles for us. Consumers can say no but these business owners have signed a contract tenancy and the are finding hard to cover their loses. That is so terrible. Some of the favourite stalls that Spymama used to go have also stopped operations, preferring to cease business.

The indian stall that sells spymama’s favourite Roti Prata has decided to cease operations when the tenancy ends this month.. Spymama is terribly sad to see them go. There’s only two weeks left so I think Spymama is going to the shop a little often till the last day of their business. Sob Sob Sob

Spypapa and I went out for dinner at the local eatery. As usual, we would have our favourite BBQ dishes such as the Sambal Sotong or the Sambal Stingray. This time we went to Sambal Sotong and Sambal Belachan Kangkung. I could never resist this two dishes from the stall we patronize. They do not really sell a wide variety of seafood, just a limited few dishes and few other items. This is very different from the normal stall that also does all that frying or noodles and fried rice. This stall just specialize in few items and they are very popular indeed. Just this two dishes, Spypapa and I can have our bowl of rice as a meal.

below: Sambal Belachan Kangkung
(Stirfried ‘Belachan’ Chilly Kangkung)

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below: Sambal Sotong (’Belachan’ Chilly Squids)

A virtual treat to my blogger friends here. Enjoy.

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How time flies! Did you guys made any resolutions during the New Year’s Day beginning of the year? Anything positive came out of it? I was glad that I did. I wanted to be thrifty and I cut down many things at home. From my fanciful floral toilet papers, I have changed it to the bulk ones that cost $4.50 for 40 rolls instead of the previous ones of $4.50 fr only 10 rolls. This is a lot okay??? And I bought a no frills loaf of bread instead of a small loaf. Then I freeze half of it immediately. These are some of the little things but every little bit will make a lot of difference too.

I cooked more often at home than ate out. That meant, Spymama frequent the wet market more too. But no matter how frequent it was, I made only about 3 trips a week only and buy what is necessary.

A tip how not to buy the things that you see at first sight. Don’t use the trolley. Use a basket or just forget the basket. As you shop, you’ll realise how much you have to carry. Then you are bound to just forget the items that are not important and just hold the ones you really need. This way you can cut down on your spending, unless you’re an Octopus and have 8 arms/legs to help carry them all.

This Halloween, there will be less partying and merry making. We are cutting down on wine, spirits and beer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wish any less.

Reports in the newspaper recently has kept Spymama a little worried. That is because it says that Singapore has been confirmed as having entered ‘recession’. In the past years, many things have been on the increased. Flour went up, bread prices went up, our petrol went up terribly high and although it is slightly lower now, this had pushed the prices of other goods up and those have not gone down at all.

So, generally speaking, spreading these increament means we are paying more for lesser items. Property prices in Singapore is going to be bad. In the past year, I’ve also learnt to tighten my belt and not go for products that are too expensive, settling more for house brands instead. You never know, so it’s always a good thing to be thrifty.

Let’s sit down and think about those in poverty too and how little they already had and how blessed we have been. If we put ourselves in their shoes, perhaps having 2 meals a day is luxury, did you know? Let’s all spend a little less, eat a little less (it’s good for us too!) and I think we call all pull through it together.

God Bless.

Received this Butterfly Award from Claire. How pretty and how nice of her.

Once accepted, the rules would be as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog;
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you;
3. Nominate 10 other blogs;
4. Add links to those blogs on yours;
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs;

I would like to give this award to everyone who drops by. I know I have to name blogs but I also do not want to obligate you if you are busy. So feel free to take this because if you are visiting me, you are cool already. Can’t thank you enough for the support. Dedicated this beautiful Butterfly Award to all of you.

How did everyone’s weekend go? For those who had a longer weekend, it must be a dread to be back to routine on a Monday, eh. My weekend was just normal, with Saturday and Sunday spending time with family and going out.

I was in a really old shopping centre recently, that used to be prime in the 70s. I didn’t realise that they still have retail products for children that children in my time used to play. Check out this piano. It comes in two colours, one for each gender, I suppose. I remember tinkering with it since I was young and I saw it in an old shop selling toys for children.

So let me entertain you not just with a visual treat but also for your listening pleasure. Click on the play button and enjoy a piano experience, bloggers. Spymama is having a Piano Recital for you all!!