Tuesday Combat at MML

No inspiration for a creative blog title. So. If I repeat my gym schedule next week, I will run out of blog title next Monday.

By Stan asking if I were going to be at MML, I wrongly assumed that he was planning for the same destination too. Shen text earlier to say that she's too tired for the class, more so her younger daughter not feeling well. I was hoping that perhaps Steve will be there otherwise the class might be too quiet like last week, so I read.

Well, my hope was promising when I spotted Steve outside the studio.

I had scheduled for MML this week mainly because Shen might be joining this class. Then this was for the convenience of passing little bro the bread puddings since he was there for pump before my combat. Lastly, this is one of those class with earlier commencement time, means I can finish early and off to home early. Which eventually means I would be able to get more sleep because I should be going to bed early. Which is eventually and obviously not happening since I'm still here blogging - while doing other stuff: multi-tasking.

Surprisingly, the class was quite empty. Not empty, empty no members, but empty by norm of Master C's classes. Could waive our arms around frantically and still not hit any one's face. Got myself a spot near to Steve (I was also standing close to Master C's dad and Donatello just beside me) so I can be inspired by his energetic force field. With him jumping twice as high during muay thai was such an encouragement for me to jump as well. Which reminded me of Carebear's MSN remarks this morning saying that she could see me but just my bandanna. Perhaps if I'd jumped as high as Steve she could have seen more of me.

Today I officially hated track 5 (thanks LadyN for guidelines on the basic 1-2-3 of combat tracks). Loved the So What track and loved the Sexy track on behalf of Shen. Cool down track was the same as last night but the conditioning track was at least different. Oh, there were, if I recall correctly, no mixing up of left and right today. Not sure if there were test on remembering-the-choreo cuz half of the time I was day-dreaming and mechanically did the moves. Drinking breaks were not given as regular as last week at Axis, but quite generous I'd say.

Shouting wise, not as great as last night, but at least there were some good moments, good enough to release all work stress. Now, I really should get some sleep.

Monday Combat at TC

I seldom blog on Monday because I normally come back late. But since I've dropped my 8.30pm pump lately, I supposed I could afford a bit of time blogging before going to bed - I'm seriously lacking sleep, I read an article saying that ideally, we should be getting no less than 5 hours sleep everyday (and not more than 9 hours else you might be at risk to get heart diseases, not to mention potential of growing fat - or is it not enough sleep that you grow fat? Must check back tomorrow)

Didn't need to rush to gym today, no last minute discussion and no additional task given just before I left office. Arrived at B2 car park at TC and notice that BJC was no where near our favorite parking spot. And owner not seen in BJ class when I walked pass. In fact, can't see any familiar faces (body, since we can't really see the "faces" from the back of the class) in BJ. Diha and LadyN only arrived when I was changing. And so I took the opportunity to pass LadyN her belated "birthday present" (I know my present sucks... I'm sure I can do better the next time). Eli was no where to be found too. I was quite confident to think that she never missed this class.

As usual, the class was like Hong Kong's MRT during peak hours. Don't know why we still attend Master C's series of combat although knowing that the workout space will be limited, with all kinds of potential "dangers", spot tests, mixing up of left and right etc etc. I guess we like the crowd, I mean the combat master.

Tonight, the crowd was great and shouting was satisfying. In fact, not sure if LadyN was encouraging me to shout or was she trying to gossip something with me (in the middle of a class? why not?), only know she tried to mouth something to me. Shouting is fun when you've got good company.

I like most of the tracks tonight, except for the box-upper-cut-track (I don't know what track # lah, never able to describe track sequence). That track always makes my head spin, hate the loosing balance feeling. And, I normally hate the track where you have to split the class (which track? no idea lah) but today's track was ok, perhaps one of the best of track #??. My only other complaint would be the conditioning track. It's not about the track being tough, gym classes are supposed to be tough and torturing, we are there to workout anyways. But hey, been doing that the whole of last week (actually I am assuming, since it's the same last Monday and Thursday, I would guess it was the same whole of last week) - I'm bored with that track lah. And this is me-only-attended-2-classes-last-week talking, imagine those who went from Monday to Sunday? Or perhaps familiarity is a comfort?

Should members actually be grumbling about instructors' track selection? Shouldn't we just workout and mind our own business?

On my way out, I saw Carebear conducting her class, or at least her chest track, in great style - there were two assitance, one of which was her usual pump caddie aka Wookie, busying near the sound system; and another guy, I suppose the team teaching instructor, holding her aero-mic. Very grand... and err... Queenly.

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

White chocolate bread and butter pudding. Made from croissants with loads of raisins. Loads of raisins only by my definition, my auntie goes for extreme raisins.

Was invited to Meen's (ex-colleague) open house. Since most of my ex-colleagues were going to be there, and since they were the confirmed gang of the bread pudding supporters - who were also the original guinea pigs of this item - I made this on Friday night, so I could bring this to the open house... was really sleepy by the time I took the pudding out from the oven. It took me more time because I also made some mini pudding pots.

Pudding pots in glass ramekins

Pudding in foil containers for convenience as gift-aways

Since I was so sleepy, I left the caramelizing to this morning - glazed with apricot jam and caramelized icing sugar top for a crispier finish.

Will be making the vanilla sauce tomorrow - white chocolate vanilla sauce with liquor since I couldn't add liquor to the bread pudding itself.

Saturday Pump at The Curve

"You went all the way to The Curve for just one class?!"



That's what my best GF said while I was having afternoon tea (i.e. homemade kao chi) at her house in Sungai Long - 10 minutes from my house - just now.



Well, yeah, I went to TC for just one class because I couldn't resist the temptation from Carebear, who told me days before that this would be a great fun class with 4 instructors team-teaching. And it was great!



Riyo, Kenny and Jeffrey were the other 3 instructors team-teaching. They were all great and I wonder how it felt tt-ing with your very own personal trainer. Jeffrey, the personal trainer in question for Carebear and Riyo when they first joint. Aren't we all convinced with the "miracle" of PT now?

Riyo started the class and Kenny ended it with Carebear doing the bicep and lunges tracks. The chemistry of those lot was definitely phenomenal. The class had definitely cheered me up a lot, I particularly found myself laughing quite a bit during Kenny's slots... what was it he did again? Something he said. And yes, Carebear, I know you'd followed the usual sequence of leg stretches, but you were the only one doing it the usual way, hence you were the only one stretching differently at one point. But I bet the whole class realized that he'd missed out something since he said "lets stay in this slightly longer..."

I haven't joint a pump class for almost 3 weeks already but I'd tried to slot in at least two free weights train during the pass few weeks. So, I was particularly curious to know how I would fair in pump today... Considering that the tracks were quite tough (were they, though?), the result was not bad, at least I managed to use my usual weights - except for back track.

I was feeling my shoulder muscle pain this morning due to yesterday's yoga, so except for feeling the impact on my shoulder during warm up track - which consisted a lot of shoulder presses, humphhh - I went through warm up ok. My 10kg (Carebear, 13.5kgs??!!) for squat was alright since there were no bottom halves... can you believe that?!

I am very weak with chest press, today's track were so tough with so many bottom halves that before even half way through the track my hands were already shaking and my range was almost only like 1 inch. I had to break the bottom halves although I heard Riyo (was it Riyo?) shouting for us to maintain our bars at the bottom, instead of having a break after four pushes. As a result, I had an extremely sore forearm and I decided to slash down my back track weights to only 7kg (luckily PiC was there so I could borrow her donuts), I was especially determine with my decision after hearing Jeffrey announcing the four-in-a-rows... Oh no, no....

The tricep tracks were the one with loads of pull-overs, loads of agonizing screams. More screams when Carebear took over the bicep track, had to cheat and miss a few curls, really cannot tahan lah! Carebear with her usual 5kg which looked pretty much like plastic toys within her grip.

And I thought there were no bottom halves squat for the day... it appeared during the lunges. Humphhhhh...

PiC was there today, haven't been doing class with her for such a long time, miss those good old days. PiC is a very good partner when it comes to say, doing 4 back-to-back classes. Too bad it was BA after pump, otherwise I wouldn't have resist her invitation to doing another class. I also especially miss MB's company on the stepper, which is most satisfying after a BP class.

Before I left TC, I saw Little Bro with Renee conducting a very energetic BA class... but, sick again little bro? (translated from his sad face pointing to his nose) Which also reminded me something FI said, he said even though LB is sick, but can still jump like a monkey in BA workshop. Heh... Get well soon darling.

Pineapple Tarts

Finally! My pineapple tart blog entry...

Pineapple tarts have always been my favorite, it had used to be my Chinese New Year indulgence. I remember we'd had to source for good pineapple tart "supplier" every year and we always order homemade pineapple tarts, never bought from the supermarket. Last year, I got a special request/ order for pineapple tarts. I thought, why not? Since I love pineapple tarts too. I had my ex-colleagues as my "guinea pigs" then, and although the pineapple jam was a success during the first time, the finalized dough for the tart pastry is the 5th recipe I tried.



Always go for homemade pineapple jam instead of the can or pre-packed ones, those are very "jelly" and you don't taste much of the pineapple, instead, you might be getting the pineapple taste from the pineapple essence and colouring. The best is to keep the ingredient of the pineapple jam to fresh pineapple and sugar only. For those who had done homemade jam before, you know how much effort this is, so don't complain about the price!

Pineapple tarts come in many different shape and design. The very first pineapple tart I had was the nyonya style, flower shape, opened-top type, and there will normally be a "cross" on top of the jam. I personally like the wrapped up type. Not the completely enclosed type though, because you get too much of pastry then. After experimenting a few design last year, I'd finally settled with this particular shape. Didn't had the time to take a picture of the mould, but basically, the same type of mould had got different style for the jagged area so you get slightly different pattern on the surface. So, it's another round of "hard work" for piping individual piece of pastry and carefully wrapping the jam one by one, it's quite a delicate task since the pastry is quite fragile. Again, don't complain about the price!

There you go, 100% pure pineapple jam made from fresh fruit, wrapped in a creamy melt-in-your-mouth pastry.

Do I like being a workaholic?

Dictionary.com says workaholic means "One who has a compulsive and unrelenting need to work".

Wikipedia (my favorite hehe) says "a workaholic is a person who is addicted to work. This phrase does not always imply that the person actually enjoys their work, but rather simply feels compelled to do it. There is no generally accepted medical definition of such a condition, although some forms of stress, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be work-related. Although the term "workaholic" usually has a negative connotation, it is sometimes used by people wishing to express their devotion to one's career in positive terms. The "work" in question is usually associated with a paying job, but it may also refer to independent pursuits such as sports, music, art, or blogging (whoops...).
A "workaholic" in the negative sense is popularly characterized by a neglect of family and other social relations. The term has no clinical definition, however."

"Although "workaholic" is not an official medical or psychological term, it remains in widespread usage to refer to those whose expenditure of time on work and work-related issues leads to the detriment of their bodily health, social lives, family and domestic life, or leisure time."

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I'm still in the office, just finished a discussion, or rather a "lecture" from the "headmaster". Missed combat and it was a good thing that no one had promised to join that class with me. I hope I won't miss my Thursday combat.

I'm totally fine with working late, occasionally. It can be satisfying being a workaholic, sometimes. But you suppose a workaholic can remain a workaholic and not get tired of it? Or perhaps you might not get tired of being a workaholic, but might get tired of the work at hand.

Actually, I've decided. I don't like being a workaholic. I would like to have balance in life, wouldn't everyone? - I want to be totally committed to work but maintain a hardcore workout regimen. I want to be really busy at work but also want to play hard and spend loads of time with family and friends.

... and I want to have time and chance to post by baking stuff on time, i.e. to post my pineapple tart on the blog yesterday instead of tomorrow (can't do now cuz no time to upload the pictures humphhh...). By the way, I've got some extra pineapple tarts for sampling, only 20 odd pieces. Venue: FF Axis. Date: Thursday (18/10). Time: After combat. Do try if you are there k.

Perhaps I should go home now...

Thursday Combat @ Axis

We were too shy to shout cuz we were being assessed...

Well, the combat master was being assessed by Shades, but we were also being "observed" in a way since there was a master of the master, neither focusing in cueing the class nor suffering from the strenuous kicking and punching. So, what other things to do besides observing everyone in the class other than the combat master on the stage? - well, I could be wrong, but that was the kind of illusion I got. So as a result, we were extremely careful to not attracting attention by keeping ourselves as invisible and noiseless as possible.

Nonetheless, one just can't help with the kiahs when it comes to favorite old tracks right? So what??!! Sexy reminded me of Shen, together with Farid, it's about time you gals make your appearance again. Thursday combat is not quite the same during Ramadan.

There is always this thing about taking spot test in Master C's combat classes... you will be tested for memory - must be able to perform some moves on your own without cue from the master during the second set; most commonly, you will be tested for sense of direction - although the combat master points right, you actually HAVE to know that you are supposed to shuffle to your left.

And I've also painstakingly learnt that you must know where to stand in class to avoid potential mishaps - but this is advance level cuz you would never be able to forecast any position change, or additions squeezing in front of, or positioning themselves within close (too close) proximity to you.

I felt like I was a magnet in this recent combat class. It is common to feel like sardines in Master C's class, but it was not about having limited space, it was about people keep "attaching" themselves to you, you know what I mean?

I know it's bad of me to complain since everyone pays membership fees, but I just couldn't stop myself for being in my extreme irritated mood when someone was inconsiderate (blur?) and endangering. Though the sexy track is one of my favorites, I couldn't help being turned-off when I had DangerousMan's feet less than an inch from my face during back kicks (wei I have long legs too what, you don't see me extending my feet to someone else's face), while the owner of the said feet was not even looking back (Hey, it's back kick okay!) to see where he's kicking! Humphhhh...

Lucky enough, was not in peril of anyone kicking me during the conditioning track because DangerousMan did his at the far front corner. I wonder if it was because DangerousMan saw Stan hand-gesturing the far distance between him and me during the later part of the class, when I had tried to position myself in a far safer spot possible. Haha...

After sweating out and burning unwanted calories, I've entertained a few combaters with chocolate cake for the first time. Glad you guys/ gals liked it, though I could see Stan struggling slightly to flush down the cake. Thanks Eli for "taking care" of the extra pieces of cakes. This chocolate cake recipe can be very children-friendly.