Cavalock and The Eternal Stormcast Eternal Paintjob

I like to think I was terribly busy doing something earthshakingly important but I don't think that's true. What I been busy doing are merely errands that I suspect to be too boring or mundane to write about. And some hobbies such as continuing to paint my Stormcast Eternals figures (see below), playing games and writing stories. In the middle of all that geeky indulgence, I did managed to drop by The Affogato Bar after lunch. Yah, everyone's talking about the joint now. Nicely located next to the Botanic Gardens MRT station. Not bad but I found their coffee a wee bit too bitter for me liking. Be nice if you could choose your coffee or maybe you can? Didn't really asked. I still like me own homemade affogato back in 2009. :)

Oh, I also finally visited the Apple Store at Orchard. I thought the hype has died down but it was still kinda crowded. I know Apple products here are all price controlled and that's why if it comes down to it, I would still rather buy my next iPad at one them Apple retailers at the mall where I can accumulate my CapitalLand Mall points.

Anyway if you didn't know this, the Apple Store conducts these free daily Apple courses upstairs and they are pretty cool. Signed up for a (very) basic Mac course although I didn't really learn anything new as I have already been using the Mac for over a decade, I did managed to ask some other (non-basic) Mac questions that got answered by the staff. I ain't used to using the 'G' word.

Alright! 10 down, 12 more to assemble and paint! 

Cavalock and The Inevitable Return to Warhammer

Hah! Now this is what happens when you take on one too many hobbies. About a month ago, I decided to return to the world of miniature wargaming or the fantasy world of Warhammer to be exact. Actually it's more like the return to painting miniature figures than the gaming aspect cos gawd knows I have been playing all kinds of tabletop miniatures for the better part of my life.

Its been over two decades since I painted any miniatures and back then they were all made of heavy lead, today it's mostly plastic. That green porcelain palette is the same one since those early days of painting in the old family home. And I still suck at painting! Although it is extremely therapeutic but not a cheap hobby. It's really the new Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Skirmish rules that allow you to play a game using only a handful of miniatures that got me back into this British tabletop game. Manoeuvring your army across a terrain-laden table, charging into your opponent's figures then rolling dice to decide the outcome of each fight.

Seriously, why would anyone wanna go to Papa Rich when you can get a better serving of Nasi Lemak at Coconut Club at bout the same price? Been to the Coconut Club more than a couple of times already and the food and service have always been first rate. Introduced the joint to my gaming buddies last week and they loved it. Unfortunately they didn't get a chance to savour their famous chendol as the chef deemed that day's ingredients not worthy enough. But my friend was definitely impressed by their quality control. At least it's another reason to visit the place again with them.

So, really, am I the only guy now who has fond memories of growing up in that neighbourhood? I suppose everyone has heard or read bout the very public spat between siblings over an old house. I grew up in that area and life in the old family home with my late uncles and aunts were the absolute best days of my young life. I have walked past them Gurkha guards numerous times and was once wailing in my aunt's arms cos she wouldn't buy me a chemistry set. I remember one of the brothers would sometimes walk towards River Valley to taboa some food in the afternoon. At night, the road barriers would come down and the guards would change into their black military outfits. I guess back then everyone felt safe in that old neighbourhood.

Cavalock and The Great Corn Collective

What a crazy ass busy couple of weeks. Me Dad was down with a terrible case of food poisoning and I was back in full caregiver mode for an entire week. Daily trips to NUH and all that. Got some writing to do, Lego to build and new boardgame or rather miniatures to play. Oh yah, plus a whole buncha TV shows to catchup, believe it or not, I have yet to watch Iron Fist and last year's American Horror Story and already I'm looking forward to the new season of Fargo. You know Fargo usually has little Easter eggs tied in with previous seasons, well, unfortunately I don't remember much of the previous season anymore. Got to rely on the Internet for that. I'm not ambitious, these days I just got for little pockets of accomplishments or achievements. Hah!

Our regular hangout Suju at Mandarin Gallery is finally done with its renovation and we headed there for dinner after catching Wonder Woman on the big screen (yes, I don't watch every movie on me iPad!). Highlight of that meal has gotta be the Toumorokoshi, a ear of Japanese corn or corn cob done three ways. Grilled, raw and boiled. Raw was the star with its natural sweetness. Amazing.

Me 83-year-old Dad took these shots at Chinese Garden a couple weeks ago. He was there almost every morning staking out the nest. Pretty sure they have all flown the coup by now.