Lost and Found (My Handphone!)

 I never thought I would ever misplace my handphone a second time.

The first time I misplaced my handphone was eons ago, more than 10 years ago.

I placed it on the toilet paper roll holder in a cubicle and left without it. When I remembered my handphone, I rushed back and a cleaner told me she gave it to the security guard counter at the management office. I claimed it back without much drama.

After that episode, I told myself this must never happen again. 

Nowadays, all my vital information is in the phone. If I lose it, I lose everything.

Strangely enough, the same thing happened!

I was using a toilet cubicle in the same mall. My hands were busy so I placed my phone on the toilet paper roll holder again. I always remembered that previously, my friend had said it’s very easy for people to forget their handphone after putting it there, so usually I would remember that and would not forget (again).

But I was preoccupied with a little one and was concerned that she could touch the door knob. After that, I washed my hands and left the toilet quickly.

As we left the mall, the sun was scorching so I took out my umbrella from my bag. When I kept the umbrella, I realised that my handphone was missing!

I panicked. I rushed back to the cubicle. There was a queue then but it just so happened that that particular cubicle door was opened. I rushed up to it and was expectedly disappointed. My phone was gone. 

Then a lady called me from behind, “Miss! Miss!”

I turned around and saw this young Indian lady passing me my handphone!

She told me she worked at the mall and was using the cubicle to change into her uniform and found my phone. She was going to pass it to the customer service. 

I was so grateful I thanked her profusely - no shit. You will really thank someone ‘profusely’ when this happens to you. It’s not just a compo gimmick. I felt that she saved my life!

I was so stunned and relieved by my unbelievable good luck that I walked out quite dazed.

Then I returned to the toilet to ask her for her name so that I could write a letter of appreciation to her, to her company.

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Hotel Stay

I used to wonder why people got to have free MBS hotel stay just because their parents went to its casino. 

My fourth sister, the one who resides in Malaysia, started asking us if we would like to stay over at MBS on weekends, with all meals thrown in, since last year.

Until now, I am still not sure how it works, but it seems you need to deposit a certain amount of money at the casino before withdrawing it, in order to be a registered guest of some sort. By gambling at the casino, you get to chalk up points. Whether you lose or win, the points you get when playing at the casino are the points you chalk up. According to my sister, they upgraded her for reasons that she knew not to that of the Paiza status. Such guests have the VIP status and they are offered free stays at Paiza rooms, usually large and luxurious at high levels, at MBS provided they come down personally to MBS to register for the stay.

I have since stayed at the hotel for quite a few times. I always go there with my mother as she loves the hotel stay and goes to the casino.

Last weekend, my sister gave us a 2-day stay, 24 to 26 May. 

Due to my work commitments, I could only joined my mother on Saturday night.

This time, the room was on the 43rd level of Tower 1 building.

It had the most spectacular facing we ever had. It overlooked Garden by the Bay at the bedroom’s full-height windows and the bathtub windows displayed the sights at the Singapore River where the glassy Louis Vuitton flagship store and Arts Science Museum were located. 

I no longer use a DSLR to document my life. I miss the bokeh and the prettier images but iPhone is just too convenient.

We went for breakfast at Paiza Sky Residence which was located on the 55th floor of Tower 2.

We had the choice of dining at Rise restaurant but I had tried the breakfast at Rise once and the experience was not fantastic. We were there past 10 and the staff only told us, after we were seated at 10.15am, that breakfast ended at 10.30am! 

We had to scramble to get our food first before settling down to have our breakfast at 10.30am.

The breakfast was an ordinary continental fare. Nothing worth shouting about. So we revert to the 55th floor’s breakfast from then on.

The food offered there is more curated. For example, the fried rice would be infused with an exotic but pleasant flavour or paired with unusual but palatable ingredients like otah. The danishes would not be your uncreative peach danish. I normally don’t eat the Vietnamese pho but I enjoyed it a lot that morning with tender beef pieces.

Where the staples and meats are

Fried rice with otah

Ramen

Platters of pastries

Honeycomb and bread-and-butter station

Cheeses and salad station which I almost never touch

Japanese station 

Cakes and sweets

Egg tarts

Pancakes and waffles

Ice cream flavours

A limousine, as they call it, sent my mother to church

The first time I took it, I told my sister via text that it was an MPV.

She was shocked and asked me to take a picture for her.

She told me that this is a 'limousine'.

My idea of a limousine remains as a long bodied car with six doors. 

We returned at 3pm for the afternoon tea (2.30-4pm).

The tea set came in a pretty rotatable tier set with warm scones on the side.

I had had it a few times and I always thought MBS served the worst afternoon tea but this time, I was able to eat most of them without having to cringe before eating.

MBS gave two tickets each for the sampan boat ride and the Digital Light Canvas

Booking a 5pm slot would allow you to enjoy the waterfall/fountain upclose

Colour the given templates with crayons provided and pass your coloured image to the staff who would scan it so that it comes alive with the lights.

Writing your name on the image helps to identify your image quickly.

Children love to run around and chase and step on the images to disperse them. They even make friends and play with one another.

The Evening Beverages and Canapes started at 4.30pm and ended at 7pm. I only realised that at 6.25pm! We had to rush back to Paiza Sky Residence and get as much food as we could before commencing to eat.

pho with beef slices and meatball

Lobster sushi, fish and beef cheek

roast meat, chicken chop cute and two other items I can't recall

Chicken chop cube and almond prawn ball

Desserts

This was so pretty I had to take a close-up of it

After dinner past 8, my mother went to the casino till 12.45am. I had fallen asleep by then and couldn't pick her up. She followed a lady who was at the casino back.

The next morning was a Monday. I left the hotel early for work while my 5th sister came at 9am to have breakfast with my mother before they left for home together in a limousine at 12pm again.

My Current Go-To Afternoon Tea

As I age, I realised I don't fancy eating sweets anymore. Not like I was a big fan of sweets when younger, though. Three-tier afternoon tea sets have at least one tier that consists of sweets which is a total waste. I would often pack them back just to throw them away or leave them untouched. I find that savouries on these tiered sets are not enough for me.

So Goodwood Park Afternoon Tea buffet (3pm to 5pm on weekends) is the natural choice for me.

The facade which is under renovation

The hotel seems to be under renovation quite frequently.

 

I don't go there every week but I vaguely remember the side of the hotel was also being renovated on one of my trips here some months ago.

The buffet is a spread of English and European tea items, consisting of mainly savouries. 

Most of the time, I walk in and ask for a one-seater. Today, I was informed that it was fully booked at 2.45pm. I was given the choice of waiting at the hotel lobby which is next to La Expresso till 3.15pm or first take up the outdoor seat overlooking the swimming pool and be transferred to the indoor seating area if a table is available. I took up the latter and was moved to the indoor seat about 10 minutes later.

My first time at Goodwood Park was at the pool area and didn't feel that the table and chairs were too high for an afternoon tea. Now that I am relatively seasoned at afternoon teas, I find the height quite uncomfortable. It feels more like a lunch or dinner table.

I was quite relieved that an indoor seat was quickly available. Never mind that it was at the farthest corner from the buffet table.

I was glad that I missed my breakfast in the morning. I was famished and went straight for my scones and clotted cream. I enjoyed the staff-recommended coffee flavoured scones apart from my safe original scones. While others eat their scones with clotted cream, I eat clotted cream, with scones to go with it.

I was delighted to see cream of mushroom offered as the soup of the day. I always wondered why they couldn't have something common and nice for the soup although pumpkin soup was fine.

My second course: the sandwiches. 

My favourite has to be the lobster croissant. 

I usually have at least two helpings.

Had some fried finger food: 

some cheese-stuffed bite, fish goujon, mexican drumlet and plant-based lasagne

roast beef, meat-lover pizza and lobster croissant again

Last course: (anti-clockwise) apple strudel, cheese croissant, white chocolate eclair and ... get this, 

stone crab salad with avocado & pineapple

Chef's Specials appear in the middle of the afternoon tea and it's not unlimited: Apple Strudel, Wagyu Beef Slider with Foie Gras and Caramelized Onion and Baked Chicken & Pumpkin Filo Pie

You will be informed by the ringing of a bell which some girls seated beside me mistook for an ice-cream bell.

Baked Chicken & Pumpkin Filo Pie

Tried previously. Just a chicken pie lah.

Wagyu Beef Slider with Foie Gras and Caramelized Onion

Tried previously too. A meaty beef burger lor. Didn't taste the foie gras.

The roast beef which I had enjoyed for the previous few times I went. Nowadays I just have a token piece.

The scones rack

I am not a nut person so I have never tried the nut scones. Scones are filling eats so I usually eat two in the spirit of an afternoon tea. The bread pudding at the bottom of the rack was good too.

The bill was $81.55 for one pax. I sat there from 3pm to 5pm, taking my time to eat.

Now I enjoy going to afternoon teas alone. I like eating alone and quietly. Perhaps this is what age does to you. I don't feel self-conscious or uneasy that I am alone at places where people gather for a meet-up anymore. I don't care if people think I am weird or a poor-thing to be at a hotel's afternoon tea alone. I pick up whatever food I like with my fingers and stuff it into my mouth instead of trying to cut the finger food up into even smaller pieces to fit my mouth. I don't feel like engaging in chit-chats nowadays. I think it's noisy if the people at the next table gossip or talk shop and wish I could eat in peace. I am not the most social person and am often awkward with conversations so I usually prefer being alone. In fact, I cannot think of a time I prefer to have company nowadays.

After my divorce, I find that I especially cherish and enjoy me time, alone. I guess it's a luxury I never had for 18 years. I was forced to fight all the time. Had to be ready to fight any time, any day. 

Domestic violence does not need to be proven with bruises.