Up and above

Something about this area that looks like a ghost town. 

Lunch today

My dearest friend who insisted on accompanying me to help me out with the house because maybe she took pity on me after seeing my condition yesterday made a bento for our lunch. 

How I love her. 

And now

I mean wow!! 

I have been so exhausted these couple days. 

Up and down innumerable times hauling boxes, emptying boxes. It's been so overwhelmingly exhausting and I have climbed a total of a fucking high rise. 

Phew damn! 

Food finds

Who me? 

Ordering food at a Muslim noodle shop eerily similar to one near my house. 

Maybe this is a good sign. :) 

Update

Three hours later I have finished the kitchen. 

Now for a spot of lunch and then to the bathrooms.

Begin

Start!! 

Another thing

Also, my demon slayer mask in question 

Lunch hearts

How long has it been since I actually had a proper meal of this kind. 

I think after Friday night today is the day. 

Here we have some salmon with Indian spices over a bed of salad and yes I know my salad phase isn't ending but how does it when it always turns out so delicious. 

Soon

This was once my house. 

My home 

My casa 

More views

It's a pipeline of some sorts running through my new garden and I wish to keep it I disturbed but yeah.. it's a big place innit? 

I don't know what I want to do with the parasol and the broken table. 

New garden

These trees are a part of my garden as I view it from the kitchen and there's a bench too. 

A little bit of this a little bit of that

Phew!! What a day.
I left around 11:00 in the morning and came back just now to see a house full of very hungry cats one of whom had rolled about in fertiliser and smelled strongly of something I wish had never existed.
Now finally I have made a small cup of coffee and I sit to browse a bit of tubes before doing a bit of pottering about in the kitchen.
Today my has been massive.
There was a spot of lunch at a restaurant which I have generally favoured positively for its food but today its service sucked in the way they tackled their antipasti buffet. I have a strong mind to write a shitty review.
After that was a bit of shopping and then miscellaneous things which included going down to the subway station to one of my favourite bakeries to pick up a couple curry breads which I have now eaten and then homewards and then cat stuff.
Did I tell you about the cat that was abandoned who has now found refuge in my house and is living under the dining table much to my hope's chagrin.
I am still at a loss as to what to do about him.
I've spoken to many people but no one wants to adopt an older cat. Everyone wants kittens.

Apart from that I have no idea what to cook for dinner today.
Pasta?
Also tomorrow is another early day as I shift some stuff to my new house .
I think I'll click some good pictures and take some measurements as well.
Right then!
To the tubes

Make it make sense

This is a conversation from last night with my idiot neighbour upstairs who is just not ready to take any responsibility for an animal she has abandoned. For gods sake I don't get it. 

I'm telling he that instead of completely living him to his fate why doesn't she keep him as a small part of her life by letting him in her house fur a bit everyday and feeding him. 

This way ge will know where yo come for food but also get used to staying outside. 

But no! 

Cat talks

As you can see this issue is really heating up because the poor Cheshire looking cat has no home and he's not used to living outside. This is a new area for him and he feels very lost and scared.

In fact the last couple days he's been living inside my house. 

I am trying the upstairs neighbour to see some sense and make her understand that an animal she has nurtured and nourished for 8 years can't just be abandoned but she doesn't get it. 

I was talking to my dear friend the mother of all cats here and she had some very harsh words for her regarding this problem .

Miseries and memories

12:23 and I am not sleeping yet.
Sleep is totally elusive and I don't like it not least because I have to be out with a friend tomorrow.

Also the misses are fucking strong
What's a girl to do if not reminisce?

Yikes and yippee

So I finished 'wall of ascension' and can I just say that the last 40 minutes of the book were not just awesome but totally kickass and absolutely made up for the somewhat slow dullness I previously felt in the books.
Here's hoping for the third one to unravel and spiral into delicious chaotic madness.

And now cooking dinner and listening to the second book in 'death before dragons'
Right then!
Onwards and so forth

Lunch platter

From not eating anything yesterday to being ravenous as fuck today. 

Thursday come at me. 

Food animation thoughts

I'd watched the first season of food wars after having read the manga sometime previously and also because food manga's usually captivate me.
I enjoyed it quite a bit but I'm not too fond of that animation style and so after the first season I didn't pick it up not least because as much as I enjoy food genre manga's I don't enjoy their anime counterpart as such.
In fact I'd enjoyed the movie 'flavors of youth' far more than most food anime shows.
In fact also I enjoy food series even more than animations like 'samurai gourmet' and 'midnight diner'.
I don't know something about food, to me looks far better in books or live action form.

Speaking of live action I have gotten addicted to the live action version of 'the way of the househusband'. How is it so good?

^ø

My house messy
My packing unfinished
My mood cranky

Issues

I don't know how but somehow this cat has started coming to my house looking for a home and his mommy isn't taking any responsibility for him cuz she's abandoned him and now I'm at a loss what to do? 

How will he get self sufficient. I'm trying to get her to train him to come outside her house to be fed but I think she's already got enough on her plate and this is a bit of a situation now .

Soar up and down

Here's the thing
I am angry, annoyed and totally under the weather.
My entire body feel alike it's been stuffed with straws and I can't stress enough how exhausted I feel. But on the other hand I had a whole lot of time to my drawing because my body absolutely refused to do any manual labour today and I am almost done with the spaceship.

Also I have to rant about how the neighbour dealt with chicken today. Like she touched raw chicken and simply washed her hands with water and went about touching other things with not a sense of salmonella urgency.
Like how does one chop chicken and then wash hand simply with some water and then handle other kitchen things, phone, coffee mug, computer, face?!!?
It gave me so much paranoia !
Like I was inwardly recoiling so hard I almost hit my backbone.
I mean what?!
I'd have sanitized my entire house ten times were she to ever do this in my home.
I mean wtf!

Also she let me hold her baby and he was a cute little fuck and I don't know why I wanted to cry for a second and in the same breath felt relieved I had my period.
I don't know what is up with my system, my head, my internal wirings .
Also did I tell you I'm drunk?!
Not least because I ate nothing all day save a couple bananas and a slice of toast and tea and now people ordered some pizza looking at my dead body and gave me some beer to cheer me up, and I'll tell you one thing darling. Drinking beer on a body that's not eaten much is something of a revelation.
I mean I am drunk and I had just two small glasses.

Downswing and other things

Who me?
Just got back home after teaching my neighbour chicken curry which turned out to be pretty delicious.
She loved it.
Also she was perplexed why I was more worried about her cat than she herself which in turn perplexed me as to how was she not attached to that animal that had lived with her for 8 long years.

She wants to become a yoga instructor but doesn't know anything about yoga.
How does that happen?

Also the summer heat is at an unbearable peak today and my entire house is warm.

I still haven't eaten much since morning except a few fruits and a couple slices of bread .
Ugh!
I'm so not feeling anything. Why am I so fatigued and out of it?

To the drawing then!

Ho hum

Who me?
Not working out today even though I'd a lower body workout planned.
Somehow I don't find myself in that mental place, moreover my body feels a bit tired. My back is hurting and I'm feeling kind ugh.
Probably that time of the month is almost here.
I know that's hardly an excuse but I can't get myself to do it. I mean I've been discussing this with myself and my body is just not ready today.

Right then, today includes going to my neighbour's house to cook chicken curry.

Can I get done with today already?
I'm not even hungry today. In no mood for lunch.
Everything feels kind of dreadful.

Loaf

I've taken a bite out of it already but here's the bread from yesterday in question. Made with 70% hydration dough. 

~\

Wednesday morning and emptiness stands beside me waiting for me to get done with today and rush into her headlong.

Yes please

My absolutely stunning bread in question. 

Lunch on a roll

Kimbap for lunch because why not? 

These rolls here are filled with tuna, some ham and cucumbers+carrots. 

I didn't make a smoothie because I was feeling a bit lazy and I don't know.. not in the mood but I think this will fill me up for a while. I hope. 

And phew

A bit of hell before heaven arrives 

Teeny tiny

Monday already?!
Let's see I went out on Friday night and spent the next two days packing up a storm.
My house looks like a warehouse and I have somehow managed to not only clean but also wax my floors to make them look sparkly because I need sparkly at the moment.

My cats are away as the weather is finally sunny and I am dressed for today's workout though I feel ugh for some reason. I know the reason but I can't bail out now until such time as the yucks visit.
I have made preparations for lunch however lunch isn't as such on my mind right now cuz ugh.

A fresh consignment of huge cardboard boxes has just arrived and it's depressing to look at. I have used up almost 60 mts of bubble wrap and I might need more.
Ok then!
To the mat!

Time out

Can I just say phew! 

Spent all day packing and I'm done with the sound of adhesive tape tearing and bubble wrap unfurling for today. 

Sitting down with a glass of rosé in a glass not quite meant for it but this is all I Have after having packed away everything. 

I need to breathe and relax and get going again because I still have the entire kitchen and my closet to pack. 

Tags and such

So I picked up a whole lot of cardboard boxes from the management office which they very kindly volunteered to keep for me for my packing. 

I'm guessing these are the boxes that were given to me instead of sending for recycling and they had been flattened and what not and some of them had some interesting things. 

I think this one is a care package from Japan. 

Hey presto!

You remember my rant about my Parker fountain pen facing a major setback regarding its converter that had got a small tear which made it impossible to suction ink thus rendering it utterly useless. 

I went to all the Parker shops, stores and every pen shop that could help except nothing did and I archived the beautiful vintage golden pen, shedding a tear of sadness that I might never be able to use it again. 

Except! Today while packing I found this little converter from a Pilot fountain pen I don't know about, not even sure it's mine and I stuck it in place of the diseased converter and Lo!! The damn thing works like a charm. 

In fact it started writing like the Parker that it is not a moment after I refilled it with my Lami ink!

To say that I'm thrilled and jumping with joy would be quite the understatement because I am going crazy scribbling my journal with this newly limbed baby! 

I am happy. So fucking happy. 

Cute

This dream had us making regular conversations that was a whole lot of bitching about random people and how animated we were just talking shit about everyone we disliked.
It was such a fun dream cuz we were totally us as we are. Dressed in denims and tee and discussing and laughing like maniacs.
And then suddenly I woke up because I felt the doorbell ring and someone knocking on my door. It was of course a false alarm.
The continuous rainfall was making a din and the noise played with my head shutting out my totally wonderful dream. Bah!

Fryday

I am at my favourite watering hole. My absolutely favourite izakaya and I don't know when next I'll be able to come here after the move. 

Lunch bae

Lunch today is a Buddha bowl. 

Tandoori style fish, Baked broccoli, spiced warm black chickpeas and some raw frisée over a bed of yesterday's pulao. 

It's delicious, warming, filling and such a Friday treat. 

Today is a Kira

Say one thing about today say it's been busy. 

From The moment I woke up I found myself on my feet. It's been one thing after another. Firefighting on many levels. One cat seems to be developing ear mites again and I have to get that in control before it's a full blown situation and one can imagine putting two types of medicines inside a very active cat's ear is not only difficult it's impossible. 

All this including my very long workout today because the next few days will have me busy with things and I'm not sure how often I will be able to give myself time this coming month. 

Photographs couldn't happen today because of course it's overcast and about to rain. My plans are quite messed up right now but I'm trying to take one thing at a time. 

I've still got so much editing work to do and post pics on the food blog and that's getting postponed for some reason. 

Anyway what was I on about? 

Right! 

Today. 

It's barely afternoon and I'm exhausted. 

I need nourishment. 

I need sustenance. 

I need a Buddha bowl. 

Morning a go go

I was looking for my favourite coaster to put my mug on and I remembered that it's packed.
I'm glad to not have chairs and tables to pack cuz that would be something of a reach and maybe I'd have to get movers involved in it.
The mattress is still a problem but I am going to stuff it in the plastic that it came in and shove it atop a truck.
Wait!
What!! This is Friday and a glorious warm morning that begs air conditioning and we are not going to discuss packing right now.

Right!
About to have my large mug of tea in a bit with a crunchy toast burdened with butter and things are looking up.
My cats are fed, two male cats got in a fight which I was unable to resolve so I fed them again and they fought again. So yeah! Life is peaceful.

I'm in the mood for yoga and there's also a sports cardio sort of routine that I want to finish. Let's see how we can manage all that.

Okay!
To my delicious cuppa

Lunch yes

Lunch today was pretty much the same as yesterday except I had two sandwiches and no salad on the side because today is Thursday and the housekeeper gives me anxiety with her moving about the house and so to keep out of her hair I come up with quick lunches and eat in places she isn't cleaning. 

It was delicious! 

Also a big smoothie with two bananas, a scoop of protein powder and some almond milk. 

Surprises

Found this packet sitting pretty in my house this morning and to my half asleep senses it looked like a Tiffany packet because the blue colour is quite similar and I got both excited and curious as to why people would get me something from Tiffany's, but then I rationalized it might be a new jewellery gift etc. 

on closer inspection I realized it was just some packet with some macaroons in it and a few rice paper wrapped rice pudding called 'Tzongtsi' that are popularly eaten during the dragon boat festival. 

Upon further inquiry I was informed that this packet was actually sitting outside of our house this morning and people are totally mystified as to who kept it. 

There's no note either. 

Lemon ode

My morning mug of warm lemon water that zings through my sleepiness, coursing down my throat a pulsing throb of alkaline shot to stir my mood from dreary to droll.
The modest lemon, which to me is the salt of fruit world. It adds another dimension unknown and I wonder where would we be without this gorgeous yellow salve which can smell so refreshing. It's a quick pick me up that perhaps I couldn't do without.

Plans plans plans

Making tomorrow's workout routine and it's gonna be a scorcher.
Full body weights and Pilates because I miss Pilates and I want to another weight workout before I kill myself with cardio for the coming days.
If everything goes well this Friday by which I mean it doesn't rain then I'll click some pics before packing in everything.

3 of them

My babies in existential crisis. 

Lame

Few things in life I dislike more than packing and here I am.
Ugh!!
So I can live into the new house by 26th.
I think I'll also start shifting stuff from that time.
Cats go last cuz I can't have them getting scared what with the movers and the noise.
They need to be calmed down into their new environment.

Lunch bliss

Lunch today is a superbly scrumptious sandwich made with homemade bread and porchetta alongside a heap of salad with eggs in a thin balsamic vinegar dressing and some pecorino Romano cheese on top and may I just say how fantastically exquisite today's meal is. 

In the next

What is today?
Today is serene as serene as day can be while staring at empty boxes in your living room but I feel calm, happy and content which is quite a feat seeing how I usually don't feel these three things all at the same time.
Could be the weather, could be the impending change in my life that I will soon walk into or could just be that I am particularly happy with the way my bread loaf turned out yesterday and I have been fantasising it as a sandwich for lunch today.

—
Workout today is upper body HIIT and I hope to be as dead as I was yesterday.

Morning song

The stillness in the air is cool yet without a drop of breeze, a precursor to the deluge that's about to begin as overcast skies write a new memo this Wednesday.
With every ending of each word that comes to mind before spilling on this white screen it gets darker. Midnight comes early today.
The air feels weighed with water and I might just as well be dry swimming in my room, without gills.

Brrrread

Some bread this! 

Made with 70% hydration dough. 

It'll be full of holes and what not. 

Plans

I feel like I've applied glue on my skin.
Everything is so sticky.
So yuck.
It's raining senseless and I can't bear it anymore.
The air conditioner will be on once I've cooked dinner and then I'll sit in the comforting coolness and binge watch 'dirty John'

Phew

Coming along well if a bit slow 

of tiny tuesdays and simple needs

 Tuesday and I am ready to call today officially exhausting. It's just now that I have found some time to carve out a few words before getting on with my drawing. yes, I want to draw and not type for a while and not edit stuff on the machine.

I have really missed fiddling with my pens and brushes and very soon I will be that person who has no time on her hands. I look at boxes behind me and the fact that very soon I will have to pack this entire house worries me because it's a whole lot of moving

Ever since I came to this country this is my 5th move and every time it's been hard. There are mixed feelings in that I will miss this place but also happiness from the knowledge that I outgrew this house; each step in life needs to be in a better place than the last and how glad am I to have found that space. 

---

I have just finished the first rising and second kneading of copious amounts of dough which will soon be made into a couple loaves of bread. One for moi and one for my friend who still doesn't know I'm moving and I have to break this news gently to her. 

It's hot and exhaustingly humid and I am beginning to wonder how soon I will end up in a puddle in my shoes. 

Also, why do I feel like another cup of coffee? A dietician once told me that I should 'honour' my cravings and that is a bit of bullshit advice to give especially to people who are dealing with overeating and obesity because can you imagine how they'd honour their cravings for thousands of caories worth of fast food? but to her credit, she told me that she gives this advice to people suffering from eating disorders. I am not suffering from any disorder except coffee craving and I have already had some a while ago, but my lord it was a small cup and hardly justifies coffee needs, so maybe I will make another cup. 

Right then. Here we go.

More drawing updates coming up.

400 calories

50 minutes lower body strength with weights with Bands with cats 

‰

My sheets green
My cats asleep
My day lazy

≈

That time of night
when the heart burns bright
with memories of you

Cat place

Sans books 

Giveaway

These aren't trash but I'm not taking them either. Whoever might need them, take them. 

This and that

Today has been such a fucking lull!!
However I have finished with the basic penning and outline of the drawing and all that's left is to render it which is the real deal.
Apart from that lunch was a delicious egg curry which I didn't cook.
Dinner will be something I haven't thought of and now foe a bit of tea.

Also I watched 'nobody' and it's an uncomplicated solid movie full of delicious fight scenes. Most definitely a must watch.

A bit of gripe against the mistborn books and that is what the fuck is happening cuz nothing is happening.
There is a lot of deliberation and conversation and not much besides.
It's not action I'm asking for but some more density to the plot which just isn't happening.
I hope for things to improve soon.

The weather continues to stay shitty and I've been making scenarios and visuals in my head for how I want the new green to be.
I really need to go to the house soon and take a look to see what fits and what doesn't and take some measurements and start with the cleaning up.

Gist as usual

Monday and people are home!
This gets in my nerves somewhat.
When I'm alone by myself lunch is never a problem but today all my ideas have been shot down because people don't want to eat anything I suggested.
So now what?
Eat whatever the fuck you want I said and that's that.
I mean seriously.
One can't just be on an on about this.
Finished an intense 30 minute workout because anything longer with people around gets irritating.
Argh.
Alright inner peace! Do your thing.
I just want today to be gone so that I can enjoy my weekdays as usual.
Right then.
Today needs a bit of editing work for my food blog post.
The last few weeks really had my hurting for time and soon I'll be extremely busy with packing etc again and then busy with house stuff again and gods how am I ever gonna manage everything?
Wow!
Okay!
To the shower!

Paper outs

A bunch of books I'm letting out of my life. 

A few of these belong to people and the rest to me. Mostly a compilation of those that I didn't much like and those which were okay but not worth keeping. 

So then today

Sunday and it feels a bit like Saturday because tomorrow is also a holiday!
Right then.
It's raining. The weather is oppressive and stifling and wet and rains are no help anymore because we have come to the point of summery weather when the rains only exaggerate the yuck instead of mitigating it.
I am drinking tea, looking at things I want to pack and wondering where and how should I start and when.
Well!! Not today perhaps.
What's the scene then today?
Let's see.
Perhaps out and about, some coffee, a bit of dawdling around in the rains and then some.

Drinks

Failed to mention it but last time I had some Ramune and I am happy. 

Incoherent

Saturday evening and this is a long weekend on account of the dragon boat festival.
I don't know what to say except I'm happy. I have found a lovely house and mentally I've been planning all the things I want to do to it, mostly what I want to do to the garden.
I am so excited .
It's gonna have chairs, a small deck, flowers and everything I can think of.
The only issue being that the previous tenants who lived there perhaps never set foot in the garden and it's carpeted with a layer of leaves maybe a few years deep and I'm thinking how am I even going to start.
Not only do the leaves need clearing but the overgrowth, weeds and other plants that have grown out of neglect need to be cleaned to make that place something even remotely resembling a clean space.
But yes. Next month that's where I will be.
In my new house.

Update

The basic penciling is finished. 

Now with the pens. 

Ding ding ding

I think I hit the jackpot. 

This is the house that immediately called out to me. When I visited it yesterday I knew this was it! But would I be so lucky as to have it? Would things work out for me as I want them to? 

And today as I sign the contract I know it! I know it's going to be like from next month. I will live here very soon. 

And the best part of this amazing villa is the garden. Oh the garden. I didn't click a picture because it's strewn with leaves but this property has half a dozen trees and I look forward to every moment here. 

I am happy! Yes I am happy and I know my cats will love it here. 

Ooh

I will say nothing!
I will not jinx it!
I'm gonna talk about it tomorrow.
Whatever happens will happen.

And now lunch in an Italian restaurant near the house hunting area. I'm So glad to always have a friend by my side even in such times when I'm would up tight, when I'm annoyed and frustrated because I feel at my wits end there's always a friend volunteering to be with me just because they'd spoken to me over the phone and I sounded tense.
'You don't have to do everything alone by yourself Salama' she'd said and I nodded. Yes that's correct.
And so here we are!!

Too much fur

Yes it's hot. I get it. 

Morning rituals

My absolute favourite time of the day .

Yay!

I whipped out the big thing and grilled. 

Lunch bae

The lighting is terrible cuz I couldn't go out and click pics because the housekeeper was everywhere so here it is. 

A side of handmade tofu with some soy sauce and sweet pickled ginger and a large thing of salad with mangoes and all the fixings and a small serving of chicken thigh. 

Did I mention I grilled today .

I will put a pic. 

Jaconda

Framed! 

Hopalisa 

Thursday sadness

How could I have been so ignorant?
I am all out of bananas and is life even worth living anymore?
I haven't eaten one this morning and already it feels like my day is not the day I wished it would be.
I'm sad.
So sad that I'm actually eating a leftover ghee roti from last night because I am hungry and I don't feel like eating toast and I'm in mourning because my right hand feels sad that it has nothing to peel this morning.
Thursday is going to be harsh on me.

Misses

My fan whirring
My bedsheets beige
My night lonely

oddities that slap and run

 About that odd incident from yesterday.

My friend and I were staring at the handmade tofu aisle yesterday when I noticed a stain on the front of her skirt. Now here is where it gets odd because the stain was exactly like a period stain that dries after a while but one never gets it on the front of their clothing. 

I pointed it to her and we both gasped and screamed in unison when we saw little droplets of blood on the floor and a small trail of blood drops behind us on the same path that we had taken. Thankfully the store was empty and there weren't too many people because we were aghast and worried and scared. 

I thought she had hurt her leg or something when my gaze fell upon her cloth bag which was red on the bottom and leaking blood and I was both relieved and grossed out because the blood in question was leaking from a couple pig livers my friend had purchased for her dogs and it had leaked out of the plastic wraps and somehow made way to the bottom of her bag and hence the mishap. 

Her bag was quite the sight to behold because it had many groceries that were smeared with blood and now we had to bring them all out and place them on a sheet of plastic polybag and wipe them with wet towels and buy another grocery bag that very moment to transfer all the contents and by the time we were done there was a small pile of bloody tissues on our person. 

Once they were all disposed of and we were sanitised, we laughed and purchased some handmade tofu.

It was all most weird and quite a Tuesday.

today till now

 A third-floor house with a steep rent in a compound that was both beautiful and uptight about its visitors and the agent found himself fumbling for words in front of me to apologize because the house that he had called me for to see at sharp 14:00 couldn't be seen.

Apparently, the renters who were inside the house due to leave by next week didn't want anyone coming inside for some reason and the agent couldn't get a word in sideways regarding the same.

I sat for almost an hour in their clubhouse. My driver gave the agent angry glares and told him how unprofessional he has been and the dishonour such tardiness and unprofessionalism brings to his profession and that too in front of a foreigner. How could he waste our time like this..so on and so forth. It was almost a heated argument when I intervened and politely told the agent that we needed to leave because the clubhouse coffee in that compound was rancid and because I didn't wish to sit and wait any longer, in fact, I have blacklisted that house and that compound from my viewing and I told the agent to not show me any more houses in that compound.

The agent was extremely apologetic and thought that he had somehow offended me. Of course, that's not true but he wouldn't believe me when I said so and he kept his head hung low as I left. 

Anyway, that was my day and now home I have eaten a bit and feeling refreshed I'm ready for the day.

I don't wish to crib about this but Shanghai summers are so awfully humid and unbearable. Yes, we have come to that point of weather again when the heat becomes stifling because of the extreme humidity and all I can do is complain. Just sitting here makes me want to switch on all the aircons of this house. 

Tea time

Eating a crunchy toast slathered with butter because why not?! 

I mean I'm home after a long day, things with the house showing didn't pan out and now I'm hungry. 

Hit dirt

Is this not the internet explorer logo? 

Why is it on a truck? 

Don't tell em so company appropriated that logo for themselves. Not that I'd be surprised.