World Cup a-frenzy

Some people think it's silly watching 22 men chasing after a ball for 90 mins. But apparently there are many others who think otherwise. Or else why is the World Cup the most widely viewed sporting event in the world?

I can't recall from my sketchy memory when I began watching football. But growing up with the many uncles around me must have effected that influence on the then impressionable young me. While other girls were playing dressing up with their dolls, I was out dribbling football with the uncles. This skinny tanned little niece was undoubtly quite a tomboy in their eyes.

I do not usually follow the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, or the Bundesliga but I certainly would not miss the World Cup.

The World Cup final in 1994 etched deeply in my memory. Like many Singaporeans, I was up in the wee hours to catch the match between Italy and Brazil. The game was scoreless through extra time. During the penalty shoot out, my fave footballer, Roberto Baggio, alas missed the final penalty kick which made Brazil the winner that year.

As Baggio hung his head with Brazil celebrating behind him, a dull heartache got hold of me and I laid sleepless that night. I couldn't get over the loss for days. It was as if I got dumped by a boyfriend!

I wondered then, 'How does one live with that?'

He answered that in his autobiography years later, '...it affected me for years. It's the worst moment of my career. I still dream about it. If I could erase a moment from my career, it would be that one.'

Well, that's football...

4 years ago, I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when Germany hosted the World Cup. Though it was just the tiny Stuttgart city, the vibes were electrifying! A huge screen was erected in the park. German fans turned up in full force to support their country in one of the matches. Basking in the cheerful sunny weather with beer in our hands, the mood was a relax one. And when Germany won that match, all hell broke loose! Fans lined and blocked the streets singing, dancing and chanting, 'Berlin, Berlin, wir fahren nach Berlin!' The festive mood was absolutely infectious. No matter we were stuck in the car with tons of happy fans literally pushing the car from side to side, almost causing a concussion among us! We simply giggled merrily away! We were united as one that day because of our support for Germany. It was an incredible first for me.

In the Germany-Argentina match, the heart almost stood still when both teams went into penalty shoot out. The hands were clammy and the breathing shallow. We were in a sport hall with hundreds of fans. The silence in the hall was deafening. That changed minutes later when Germany won. The hall erupted into loud triumphant cheers and I was jumping up and down in joy, hugging the man and the friends. We were all sooo thrilled!!!! 'Is Germany unbeatable?', we couldn't help questioning ourselves silently that day.

But as Italy sealed our defeat with a second goal in the semi-final, the sheer disppointment was ringing loud and clear in our ears. Tears were shed. Including mine. The dull heartache returned. Once again for days, I couldn't get over the loss.

Well, that's football...

The heart hasn't been throbbing too much during this World Cup. Yet. In a few days, Germany and Argentina will meet again for a face off. I will be holding my breath.

Maiden Attempt

Seeing that the present will not be in time for the man's birthday and loathing to have him empty-handed (at least from me) on his special day, I resolved to *surprise surprise* bake him a cake.

I came across a simple butter cake recipe one day and thought it's high time to challenge myself in this unfamiliar territory.

The first undertaking wasn't without its hiccups though. Despite the bright and clear weather, the dark force lingered on.

Lazy to dig out the proper stand mixer the in-laws got me, I made-do with a handheld mixer. Not a very brilliant idea. First, I used the wrong whisks and within seconds, chucks of butter stuck onto them. The whisks refused to move thereafter, no matter how much I persisted on. With a sigh, I reluctantly changed the whisks to another pair of whips.

Was happily creaming the butter and sugar when I noticed wisps of smoke churning out from somewhere. I told myself it must be from the pre-heated oven. I was in denial and I was just too lazy.

The whirl of smoke became too intense to ignore that I had to finally concede the smoke came from the rubbish mixer which I had used less than 5 times.

Resigned, I hastened to dig out the other mixer from its forgotten dusty corner. The cake must be done before the man comes home!!!

The rest was uneventful until the baking pan was in the oven. 30 mins later when I stole a peep at the cake, I was greeted with a burnt-crust-cake. The pan was too near to the top of the oven! *groan* I am so anal!!!

But. It was not a total lost cause.

At long last we got to cut the cake. I must say I wasn't disappointed at all by its warm golden hue. And I was especially happy when our teeth sank into its moist softness, buttery goodness and heavenly richness.

I heart my cake!

Oh, did I mention the man was absolutely delighted that I finally baked him a cake?! :D

Fear and Technology

Geroge Falconer in A Single Man:

Let's just talk about fear.
Fear, after all, is our real enemy.
Fear is taking over our world.
Fear is being used as a tool of manipulation in our society.
It's how politicians peddle policy and how Madison Avenue sells us things that we don't need.
Think about it.
Fear that we're going to be attacked, fear that there are communists lurking around every corner, fear that some little Caribbean country that doesn't believe in our way of life poses a threat to us.
Fear that black culture may take over the world.
Fear of Elvis Presley's hips. Well, maybe that one is a real fear.
Fear that our bad breath might ruin our friendships.
Fear of growing old and being alone.
Fear that we're useless and that no one cares what we have to say.

I was quite moved by the sudden outburst during his lecture in the movie and I especially like the last line.

Is that why these days everyone is racing to blog, tweet, post updates, photos, comments on social networking sites like Facebook so that people can hear us, so that they are aware of how intellectual/popular/cool/beautiful/talented/creative we are, so that they are impressed with us, so that we will not be easily forgotten, so that we will never become a yesterday has-been?

Is that why our 'voices' are getting louder? Our photos flashier and our behaviour an outrageous flaunt to boost our self-esteem?

Is that why documenting every single detail and event in our lives has become our utmost priority and obsession?

Oh dear, we are no strangers to fear but now we have fallen prey to technology as well.

I am whining, not!

I am turning into an Oma (granny). Whose robustness is dwindling with the fast-growing and heavy bump.

After breakfast one morning, I went for my routine swim. Followed by a quick bit of grocery shopping before I hurried home to appease my rumbling stomach. Gobbled up the leftover Gong Bao Ji Ding (宫保鸡丁) and rice from the night before and off I went to the gynecologist (who is a 10min-walk away) to collect some medical papers. Thereafter, I walked to the bank for a spot of banking.

By the time I reached home, the breathing was fast and the panting furious. I was desperate for a seat and a chilled drink. Sitting on the gym ball immediately eased the heavy burden on the back.

With no air-conditioning and fan in the pad, the sudden temperature spike obviously didn't help matters. The heat resulted in a sluggishness and a loss of appetite which even the glutton monster had grudgingly succumbed to. Cooking a warm meal was unthinkable. A refreshing salad was thus in order. Accompanied by my very first German rye bread in 4 years and slabs of sea salt butter.

The palate was teased and pleased. The stomach, however, protested hours later.

The now-familiar burning sensation in the chest and throat woke me up in the wee hours. Thinking it was another mild case of acid reflux, I went on to sit upright on the couch and watch some TV. The heartburn would usually ease up after half an hour or so.

Back in bed, I let out an involuntary loud burp and then a surprise wave of nausea washed over me, acid coming up to the throat.

I scrambled for the basin and the stomach juice wasted no time in gushing out from the throat. Imagine the force and the urgency of the gush because not just the pharynx, the nose too was burning from the acidity. The outpouring lasted for many minutes.

When I dragged myself back to bed, the tummy was bloated with gas and the burning throat choke-full with phlegm. Slumber land seemed so far away....

The next day the body was still reeling from the aftermath.

Now. What with the strains of being preggers and all, I can shamelessly justify the not-so-cheap leather diaper bag which I have recently ordered. Any excuse to buy a bag! *grin*

Footnote: 34 weeks and 17kg heavier. Prefer to stay home now due to the heaviness and the heat. Puffy hands and ankles returned. A sense of anticipation and increasing fear of labour.