家庭日, die Familie, Family Sunday

You'll be amazed at the speed I finished my dinner... I nearly swallowed them than slowly digesting which is said to be bad scientifically as slow chewing means you won't get hungry soon.

Today mum cooked dinner and it hasn't happened very often since she started working and doing her usual weekend mahjong. Fortunately, she decided it should be a domestic Sunday and be at home. So it was somehow far more delicious, though there was nothing special that she made.. We had a steamed fish, broccoli with mushrooms and prawns, bak kut teh, 五香 "wu xiang" (click for viewing a similar picture, it's hard to explain, but it's crispy and crunchy filled with meat/prawn/etc).

Oiishi Hokkaido is here at Tampines Mall, and it's the last day today. It has been here a few times and it's a nightmare going to the fair which is always packed with hundreds of people and long queues for all the good Japanese goodies. I wanted to bring mum to the Metro Closing Down Sale (which is now 50% + further 20%). Erik is right somehow, I am still a "shopaholic", am I not? :( Even though I'm only especially vulnerable during sale, but that doesn't mean I'm not one... sigh.

Mum was very keen to go since I suggested I would bring her... so did Dad (who has been home for years due to joint pain - I think I'm getting part of that, geezz...). They walked so slow and I had to stop/wait/stop/wait. It was a rare occasion that they would come shopping with me as they are never big fans and always complaining about the crowd/heat/legs aching. Imagine they did 3 storeys of Metro with me, amazing, I must praise them now! In the end, mum got a lot of stuff, a new set of bedsheet, a new wallet (I get her one yearly, however it is quickly wearing out due to her frequent use) and chocolate & nougats (definitely not for her, but us - the kids). I think she's certainly very excited and pleased with the purchase.

Anyway I'm sure all of you aren't so keen in my domestic affair... hahahaaa.. which wasn't my point too. I wanted to show you guys many pictures I took at the Hokkaido fair earlier with my old but superb phone. So enjoy... I'll write some captions with them!

HOKKAIDO FAIR from 6 - 15 JULY 2007

Toksuei Seafood Bento

Trueblue Japanese salesman

Butter Manju Cake (hot selling, my sister & I Q-ed damn long for this)

Otaru Marugoto Sweet Potato Cake

Camembert Cheese/Chocolate/Blueberry Yoghurt/etc Cake

Tokachi Rice Cake, Kushi Dango Rice Cake

And of course, those are only less than 50% of what was sold there... It's hella-lotta-guuuuuud-food! But they aren't any cheap I must remind you. Besides those on the pictures, there's also the very popular Eat-in Hakodate Ramen, Mori No Ikameshi (Squid with with rice filling), Takoyaki Octopus Ball, Croquette, Seasoned Salmon Roe, Isobeage Fish Cake, Spicy Cod Roe, Japanese Soft Fresh Ice Cream & Gelato, Rice Hoshinoyume, the Japanese Scallops and Hokkaido Sake & Beer! Those highlighted in colors are hot-selling.