*Cloyce was first coined by Cammy a few months ago cos it was just so much easier then typing ‘clem and joyce’ on our group messages all the time ๐
After the first Xmas dinner party we threw on the 17th, we did another one two days before Christmas where i accidentally over-invited up to 17 people. Was a bit panicky at first till we borrowed additional stools from my dad so not everyone would have to SIT ON THE FLOOR.
I decided to plunge into cooking my first turkey and brined it for a day (2 days would have been better) in apple & cranberry juice and spices. I blogged about the prep *here*.
Throwing all the spices in to mix was super fun! It’s like playing masak-masak… but IRL. Cos it IS real life Joyce -_-
Nigella said to brine the turkey in a pail but the only pail i had was the one we use to mop the floor with. No. I wasn’t so bad as to feed people food done that way, and mentally slapped myself after my subconscious considered it for a supermininanosecond. So i stuffed it as best i could into my biggest soup pot.
Never saw my fridge so packed before.
All the recipes i used that day are from Nigella’s Christmas book Tina gave me for Xmas. It’s superb and i totally recommend it to anyone! EVERYTHING turns out the way you hope it to!
On the day of the dinner party i did my LAST Christmas gift run in the morning at Mid Valley. What a mistake. I mean, it was great that there were so many shops to buy presents from, but when i left at 2:30pm i almost cried. It was so jammed i kept on counting the minutes to when i could put my turkey in the oven, not to mention all the other dishes that had be queued up for at least an hour each after that.
I reached home at 4pm. That gave me 4 hours to cook dinner for 19 people. I meant to start at 2pm latest so it would be relaxing!
Threw all my shopping down and ran straight to the kitchen to start. Clem got home 10 minutes after me and i was shrieking that he help me set up the new food processor i’d bought that day. His face went slightly black and i was so annoyed as to WHY setting up a food processor is so difficult, when he moodily admitted that he had bought me one for Christmas too. Oops.
Anyway, we managed to pull together a whole turkey, turkey sauce, pumpkin & goat’s cheese lasagna, goose fat potatoes, ham, beef, salad, and array of sauces for the food.
In the middle of all the flurry, the Guinness PR called me and said they were at my office trying to personally pass me this cardboard wreath i tweeted about wanting a week earlier, but whoops they didn’t know i was on leave. In the end the poor girl (Kavitha?) drove through Friday evening traffic to deliver this to our door!
Oli and JP arrived first, then these haiwans arrived after.
At this part in my blogpost, i would have liked to put pictures of the food i served. But i was SO BUSY I FORGOT TO TAKE ANY PICTURES!!! Was too involved with getting everything hot and on the table for everyone to eat.
I didn’t even get to take a picture of the first turkey i’ve cooked in my life. All i got was this:
The carcass of the turkey. I guess that’s a good sign right.
Other good signs. I was so scared there wouldn’t be enough food to feed these monsters that there were extra trays of potatoes and lasagna hidden in the kitchen.
Damn i forgot to take pictures of any dessert -_- I told everyone that they could bring drinks and dessert cos i tak larat to cook dessert as well as dinner. 2 people said they were bringing dessert… more showed up with desserts, each enough for 10 people. I think we had a total amount enough for 60 people! No one complained and some happily doggy-bagged their favourite ones home.
JP & Oli brought a magnificent chic ice cream cake. Tania baked Nutella bread and butter pudding. Hoe Yin came with a massive BOX of Just Heavenly cakes.
Hoe Yin was telling me how he brought chocolate durian cakes and i laughed. After 5 minutes i realized he was serious and said, “You brought DURIAN into a white man’s house?!” and laughed even harder. Didn’t mention it to Clem at all and thought i’d wait and see what happened.
A little while later, Clem walked around the dining area with his face scrunched up, thinking there was a gas leak in the house. Someone pointed at the durian cake on the table and said: “Durian.”
It was immediately banished to the balcony table.
I have to say tho, that Just Heavenly choc durian cake is addictive… it’s not like the durian is processed in the making, but you can literally taste the flesh and feel the duriany texture while eating it!
Love Ming’s Christmas suit! After that it was too hot so he took it off.
Kubz got his beard shaved like that for a costume party the day before. He liked it so much he let it be.
Kevin, Ming, Jess
Durian-hater
Dhanya
Clouds tried on Kubz’ wig and i thought she looked so cute, like an Asian Annie. Till she downed a shot in my face and the image went away. Asian Annie don’t drink like that…ย I caught a picture of Dhanya eating and not realizing i was watching her. This is one of her MANY expressions that flicker on her face the nanosecond before food goes into her mouth.
Didi and Dhanya don’t drink alcohol at all. And Chelle… occasionally does? I didn’t even see her drink that night! This is their food buddy handclap watchamacallit. They were just sitting at the dining table screaming about food half the night.
I had to keep chasing Tania out of the kitchen cos she wanted to do the dishes. She said she likes doing the dishes when she’s tipsy but i didn’t want anyone to wash at my party! 4-hour cleaning lady for RM55 hello.
Kevin, Ming snarls, Sarah
Clem thought i was crazy to give everyone a Christmas present. But i had presents for half the people coming and it wouldn’t have been nice to give to just some friends and how could we do that quietly?! So i just got socks for the rest of the men i didn’t know what to give. Socks are easy. And we all need them. Heh.
We gave Clouds & Kevin a puzzle they could spend time playing with together. They sure spent a lot of time trying to read the instructions and getting the game back into the box (ok given they were slightly drunk). So i’m sure they’ll spend a lot of time on it!
FAI
KUBZ
Rahul and his present
Proper perasmian of present picture
This must be the drunkest saddest lion our apartment has ever seen.
I was laughing like crazy when i saw this picture a few days after. Especially when i noticed someone taking a nap on the right.
Erhhh phooo there’s SO many pix i took over last weekend i don’t know where to start! Thought i’d go by day cos it made more sense but i haven’t shifted the hundreds of pix i took from my Pen3, let alone edit them. So daunting. Just gonna start with the instagrams i took then tackle the other photos later slash tomorrow afternoon.
Oli on the huge patio upstairs where we stayed on NYE (the next night Clem and i shifted downstairs)
Fai was super manly and took care of the BBQ all evening
This was on New Year’s Day when the rest headed back to KL, and Clem and i snacked all day on BBQ chicken sandwiches, chips, cheese, salmon, foie gras, sparkling, beers and whatnot. We know how to hit it in the forest.
Some Eckhart Tolle to kick off my reading for 2012. It’s not light reading. And i only got to page 16 throughout the whole weekend.
Zee’s dad/Uncle Awanmulan/Uncle Tengย told us how the former owner used to sit in this very bathtub perched on that hill and drink his beer while watching the sun set. I was quite jealous to be honest. I wish i could do that too!
We had beer and foie gras with Uncle Teng, Zee and his gf while watching the sunset on New Year’s Day.
That night Jess + Tania + Aaron + Johnny arrived. Tania built some props to shade my giraffe without me asking her to. This is one reason i like Tania.
LEAF BUGGGG!!!
I LOVE leaf bugs ever since i saw them on Horton Hears A Who.
LEAF BUGGGGGGGGGG!
This was the biggest leaf bug i EVER saw! About 2 inches long!
Was waiting for Clem to take a shower and too lazy to move from bed (cos i’d already washed my feet) so i took hipstamatics of the mosquito net… before sneaking pictures of him bathing.
Used some comic app to play with the pix i took. I bought the app MONTHS ago and never used it… till now! App-shopping is so danger -_-
Sun was scorching and gorgeous on Monday the 2nd. Clem and i rushed to catch some sun around 11am. Tania came a bit later and caught me crawling on the ground with my head to it and was like, “Joyce, what are you DOING.” “There’s an awesome praying mantis here. And i bet you’ll be doing what i’m doing too.”
Sure enough, after i was done taking pictures, Tania was kissing the ground doing the same.
This mantis is a fighter! He kept on rushing and jumping at the camera. Vid *here* if you really wanna see it.
It really made me think of those aliens in Falling Skies.
I was sitting in my living room talking to Ash and Kanch, and as it sometimes happens, our conversations veer completely off the topic we intended to stay on to blossom into an ironic other. We talked about: the worst Christmas presents we’ve ever received.
Damn. I wish my memory could serve to blog our entire conversation but the gist of it is:
Winner = expired shampoo that had an RM3 price tag on it
So my journey into trying to become a domestic goddess intensified this Christmas. I just felt like i wanted to have as many Christmas dinners as i could physically cook… to make it a super festive season for us. After spending last year’s Christmas in France, it was slightly sad to spend it here (because it’s obviously not as Christmasy as France). But then i thought why wait for someone to invite us for something, why not just DO IT MYSELF. I’m an adult. I can make plans for us and change our Christmases in KL!
The first dinner party we threw was for the Sotongs, and i pushed away any worries about dishes not working out and bought the ingredients to start early on Sat the 17th. I went to IKEA at 9:20am to get more cutlery and glasses (by damn i’m almost 30 years old and refuse to serve guests with plastic and paper utensils!). IKEA was gloriously empty and i got a trolley full of everything i needed in an hour. Then i went to the supermarket to get everything else and started cooking at noon.
Starting early made it more enjoyable… i didn’t rush or stress at all!
I cooked a festive ham for the first time! Simmered it for a few hours in cranberry & apple juice with spices and onions.
I never knew what ‘scoring’ the meat was before this. I do now!
Cauliflower cheese in the oven
The Christmas ham turned out moist and perfect! I didn’t even cut it beforehand to check it cos i was busy with the other dishes. Nigella is awesome!
Did two blocks of beef done medium rare
A mountain of goose fat potatoes and salad
Our Christmas tree thru my kaleidoscope
SO MANY PRESENTS WOOHOO!!!
Cammy & Kenny – the Loh Lohs
Clem is still hatin on my reindeer (but i think it’s growing on him)
Tina wrapped her presents BEST out of us lot! I insisted on taking a picture with mine before tearing it open.
Matt, Elicia, Tina Someone gave Cammy this cup… which she drunkardly left in my house! So many people left their presents and belongings in our place across the past two weeks -_- I have a new house rule now: You leave it, it’s MINE. haha
It took 6 tries to get Clem take this normal shot of us -_-
Cammy and Kenny got Matt a toy fishing set cos he loves fishing so much (which is how we coined our random group name, cos we used to go fish for sotongs!)
Serena
Check out the open mouth of concentration…
The drinking got so out of hand, even an Angry Bird was in on it
Then started la… Matt helped himself to my collection of hats and handbags to pose with
Poor Alfred the reindeer is badly traumatized by all the intoxicated manhandling he’s experienced
Tina in this funny lion head set i picked up at IKEA. Thought i might give it to someone for Xmas but we played with it so much ourselves it felt wrong to after.
I look like a baby lion in it. A baby lion that would get eaten up by a giant crow.
Playing around with these party glasses i got from Bangkok
A few years ago, a good friend of mine – Tai Yong – had a great idea for a hang-out night. He suggested we each burn unto a CD songs that represent the soundtrack of our lives and listen to it while explaining why each song was so special. I recall having a hard time putting together the CD… because it’s difficult to choose only 17 tracks from hundreds of songs that represent so many different times of my life to me!
Nevertheless, it was a great way to know someone better, get introduced to new songs, and indulge in listening to music while doing nothing else – a privilege in this multi-tasking generation of ours. The ‘soundtrack of our lives’ activity is slightly different from the list of music i’m posting here today. The former consists of songs that played constantly during particular periods of my life, whereas the latter is going to be songs that i enjoy listening to by myself… alone… whether i’m happy or being emo.
I wanted to put songs from Jack Johnson but i associate all his songs with Clem cos we listen to his albums repeatedly while on every holiday we’ve ever been to.
I wanted to put particular party songs i listen to all the time while driving in the car… but they’re also in my SalahWrong playlist so it felt like i’ve shared those lots of times already.
This list of songs are special because… i associate them with myself. They’re songs i listen to many-a-time while alone and i never tire of them; whether i’m sitting at home alone nibbling on a bar of Dove chocolate staring out into space, burying my feet into the sand at a beach holiday, or reflecting how my day went exploring a foreign city alone.
[You can listen to them by clicking on the playlist that’s on the right sidebar.]
I’m so careful with my songs that i even have aย backupย iPod and x-mini speakers in case one kaputs or runs out of battery during holidays!
The Dove choc bar that’s in the picture are one of the new 80g pack ones. The hazelnut & raisin is my current favourite flavour at the moment. I love coming across the hazelnuts and raisins while going through the extra big bar of chocolate and spending time alone with myself.
The dark chocolate in the series has 66% cacao and is one of the smoothest dark chocolates i’ve had in a while! If you love yourself, i suggest getting a bar of Dove chocolate to enjoy slowly while listening to great Me Time songs. Incredibly therapeutic.
1. By Myself by Mousse T
I haven’t heard anyone or anywhere else play this song except ONE restaurant overseas, where my ears immediately perked up and was so delighted to be hearing it outside. The song was never directed at anyone for me, i just liked the chorus heaps! It’s just so free… like how she literally sings it out. To me its an anthem of independance and being happy to be by yourself. Which is probably why i play it when i’m alone so much – home, beach, holiday, driving. And usually with my arms waving in the air, dancing to it while sitting down and swaying.
2. Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson
I LOVE MJ. I actually cried when he died. This is my ultimate favourite song from him. I play it to myself all the time when i’m traveling and i find myself alone. I played it every other night while sitting on the kitchen counter in London, staring out the window. I played it on the balcony of the 5-star suite i stayed at with Kanch, singing it out loud alone to the skyline of Bangkok after i’ve had a great night out. I played it softly while was perched on the edge of the sailboat i was on in Southern France, watching the calm water lap against the boat’s sides as everyone lay inside asleep.
There’s just something about the song that makes me love it so goddamn much. It makes me appreciate what i have. It makes me want to be a better person. It ignites such HOPE in me that there is so much ahead to have a great life and to do it in a great way.
3. Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Ok this is an emo song for me. It’s something i listen to when i feel slightly sad. I sometimes don’t have a particular thing to be sad about, but once in a blue moon i’d get a bit down. My theory is that maybe cos i don’t often feel sad, sometimes all the little bits of sadness are collected into a few hours i just ALLOW myself to feel sad, just to get it outta my system. I hope i don’t sound whack to you. But trust me, this is a great song to sit down and feel emo to.
4. Sparks by Coldplay
I’m sure a lot of you know this song. It is the most EMO song i listen to all the time (ok i’m sorry i’m on all the emo + slow songs right now, but i promise happier ones come in at the end of the playlist, i wanted it to lift up at the end!) This song was at one point, my ultimate break up song. I’d listen to it and cry to myself in a corner and evaluate the former relationship like a deranged person. For years after that, i couldn’t hear the song outside my house without shedding a tear or two. But as the cliched truth goes, time heals, and i knew i was finally okay when i could listen to the song and feel completely calm and at peace.
5. Seoul by Amiina
This is actually a happy song though it doesn’t seem like it at the start. Okay i shouldn’t describe it as a happy song, it’s a happy lullaby. I discovered its magic while playing the album repeatedly in Bali. And this particular one just stuck out to me. First of all the weird ooh-ing sounds in the middle made me think of whales. And the sea. Then stars twinkling. It’s something i associate with reflection, cos i listen to it when i’ve party-tired myself out and i’d sit somewhere alone, stare out at the sea or grass, and float on it.
6. The Sea by Morcheeba
Oh man i’ve played this song to myself so many nights i can’t keep track anymore. I usually play it before going to bed – it makes me all chill and calm. It makes me feel safe and happy to be in bed. Seriously, try listening to this when you’re drifting off to sleep next time…
7. I Am, I Feel by Alisha’s Attic
Does anyone remember Alisha’s Attic?! The duo disbanded after an album or two, but i remember their music vids that played on MTV when i was 13. Back then music wasn’t as accessible to teens as it is now. We either heard it on the radio, watched it on MTV if we were lucky enough to have Astro in its first year, or listened to it on CDs. And really… as a teenager how many CDs can you afford? I heard this song so many times by myself just because a classmate lent me the single :p And up till now i still like it even though i admit it’s not the most mind-blowing song of the lot.
8. Collarbone by Fujiya & Miyagi
Thanks to Kubhaer for sending out this song on email sometime last year, it’s so deliciously funky that most friends who hear me playing it ask me who it is so they can get it too. My favourite part is at the end when they sing about which bones connect to which one. I always imagine unscary skeletons dancing to this song, teaching me about his bones and to memorize mine too.
9. Fidelity by Regina Spektor
This is my wake up song. I listen to it while i get ready for work, it’s a special melodic song that’s really chirpy. Sometimes i dance to it in the bathroom while i brush my teeth, and i cannot think of a better way to start the day. Doesn’t hurt that it’s fun to sing along to. I think i’ve memorized every note, though my physical singing capabilities can’t keep up with the song :p
10. A-Punk by Vampire Weeekend
THE song that gets me pumped up if i’m feeling a bit zzzz. Rudy introduced it to me a longggg time ago and he got emo i forgot he played it to me first -_- Ever since i saw Vampire Weekend live in UK last year, the song has had even more meaning for me. It reminds me of summer, sunshine, blue skies, kites, funny balloons, happy people dancing crazily… the way i do! ย [i even took a quick vid of the atmosphere there, watch itย *here*]ย I just felt so… elated when this song played live that i think it was one of the HAPPIEST moments in my life.
Ever since then i’ve always told myself that i MUST go back to Europe for summers to relive those emotions that i’ve never managed to experience in Asia! If you’ve not heard this song before, you HAVE to add it to your playlist. It’s the perfect perky song to dance as stupid and mad as you want and CAN.
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I hope you liked my compilation! I know some of the songs are quite emo but hey, that’s the honest stuff i listen to when by myself…
Tell me some of your favourite Me Time songs please! I love discovering new music, and sometimes a real gem to my heart is stumbled upon thanks to word of mouth.
Danny’s like a sneaky photobomber
Clem, Wilson and Clouds.
Clem thought i was crazy to give everyone a Christmas present. But i had presents for half the people coming and it wouldn’t have been nice to give to just some friends and how could we do that quietly?! So i just got socks for the rest of the men i didn’t know what to give. Socks are easy. And we all need them. Heh.
