Baby nephew’s in town and that’s very bad.

He totally sent my hormones surging. I wanted to kidnap him so I can rub his Michelin legs and smell his cottony hair all day long.

Babies have the formidable power to make you do crazy things. They are evil like that.


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This may sound odd to some people but the fact is, giving is also a part of the wealth equation. Personally, Aunty Scroogey feels that all she has, is by the grace of other people, and it is therefore important to give back to society. Throughout the years, other people’s actions / money / teachings / advice have benefited her; likewise, she would like her actions / money / teachings / advice to benefit other people as well. One doesn’t need to be filthy rich like Bill Gates in order to make a contribution to charity; there are no hard and fast rules as to how much to contribute so long as it is a comfortable amount to the donor.

Aunty Scroogey has her own set of guidelines when choosing a charity to contribute to. For example, the Aunty doesn’t donate to individual needy persons but prefers to donate to organizations working towards a specific cause to benefit the general public. Of course, you will need to know and feel comfortable with the organization in question on how they handle donations.

Giving back to society also does not stop at just monetary contribution. It could also be in some other forms such as volunteering your time for a cause. Aunty Scroogey’s neighbour – an energetic young girl gifted in photography and design – volunteers her time and skills to design websites for charity groups free of charge. One of the reasons that Aunty Scroogey writes this column is to reach out to people who keep falling onto the wrong side of debt and help them break out of the poverty cycle.

Here’s an exercise: take a moment and reflect, while you are on your financial journey, in what ways (yes, I’m sure there are more than one) are you able to make someone else’s life better?

Am at the airport sending A-gal off to Rio, Brazil.

Yeah what’s up with that ugly carryall A?

For those of us mere mortals who possess the insufferable fate of not being able to go overseas for a proper Christmas break, here’s a few tips to keep you from sinking way deep into the hellholes of misery:

1. Start hating all your friends whom are going/have gone for their holidays. Go on, don’t hold it inside. It’s gratifying.

2. Forget point 1.

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It’s the favourite gastronomical season of many. I love the warm woodiness of gingerbread spices and molasses. It’s a pity gingerbread is often revisited only during the year end holidays. Maybe I should get Mr Brer Rabbit out more often and not just once a year.

This, I promise you is a quick, easy and painfree Gingerbread cupcake recipe. The ingredient list may look long but that’s it. Throwing everything together is not difficult and the end product is definitely worth it if u live for gingerbread. Colleagues loved it so much they are asking if I take orders. If only I have kitchen elves helping me with the washing, then I won’t mind! Any volunteers?

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Wonder if anyone got freaked out by this at night…heeee….

That were not made by meself. I’ve always admired the patience of these cake decorators, and how intricate they can be. My cupcakes are always almost naked and undressed, partly because I’m not a big fan of coloring and sugar paste either.

Nevertheless these were a delightful sight to behold!

I simply cannot get enough of tapioca these days.  D-man loves it, so does the family, the friends, and the neighbours.  So please forgive me while I force you to acknowledge yet another South East Asian tapioca dessert.

Ingredients (makes a 8″ golden yummy cake)
300gm tapioca, grated
100gm coconut, grated & without skin
220ml coconut milk
30gm custard powder
30gm tapioca starch
80ml water
160gm sugar (I used brown)
pinch of sea salt
1 egg yolk for glazing

Lightly grease and line a 8 inch baking tin with paper.
Mix all the ingredients together, except the egg yolk, in a medium bowl.

Pour the mixture into the baking tin and steam on high heat for 30 minutes.

25 minutes after steaming, preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Remove the half cooked tapioca from the steamer and brush the top with beaten egg yolk.

Bake the cake in the oven for 20 minutes.

Now the toughest part. Wait for the cake to cool before cutting into serving pieces.

was an inspiring and refreshing platform which showcased a variety of our very own home-grown talents. Throughout the 2 hour show, we were mesmerized by singers, dancers, musicians and even a theater performing artisan.  The program was well organized without being overly stifling, the MC was captivatingly humourous without being too corny, and even the audience were engaging and spontaneous. The entire set-up was simple, and yet sufficiently charming.

I have to thank Carmen for inviting us there. Her exotic dance stint sent my heart racing and nose bleeding.

I hope D-man didn’t see that.

I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t laughed at this one.

Can any kitty expert teach me how to train them to do this?