Room With A View

In contrast to its Carpenter Street digs, much better ventilation at Room With A View’s (facebook) new space at Alexandra Retail Centre. But the photography gallery is gone. In its place, a quote from Lucille Ball.

The spicy prawn lakes pesto and basil and grilled chicken pesto with pine nuts were both tasty.

Its popular carrot cake was moist as usual though the same couldn’t be said of the chocolate banana slice. Coffee from special blend of Columbia beans was alright.

In speaking of the E. M. Foster novel, we realised that we had started to confuse the plot details with Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. Alright, said someone, in the second novel, the butler doesn’t get the girl; in the first, they ride off into the sunset.

But can this really be what true love is – something based on feelings and passion, proved true when it defies social conventions?

Where are the other novels describing how this concept of true love leads also to the end of marriages – when passion flags, and one party finds the “courage” to defy societal expectations to shack up with another love?

Have been chatting with someone about her impending divorce. I wonder if a strict morality is the straitjacket suggested by writers over the last century, or, if Creator-ordained, in fact a protection from deep hurt.

Public Garden Flea Market, The Beasties by Kinetic Theatre Company, An Umbrella for 2, Songbird, They Only Come Out At Night: Pandemic at the Singapore Arts Festival 2012

Much of fun of the Singapore Arts Festival 2012 lay in the casual interactivity and natural augmented reality (somewhat) in many of events/activities.

At the Public Garden Flea Market at the Singapore Arts Festival 2012, under the Esplanade Bridge, it was good to see that this wasn’t just another pasar malam (same same but different); aside from cute stalls, on one weekend, a barber and an enterprising ice-cream uncle co-existed happily in the available free space. A good initiative to encourage and leverage on pre-existing interest groups (like Public Garden, Urban Sketchers) rather than attempting to implement similar ideas specifically for this event.

On the second evening, a little way down from Esplanade Bridge, a sizeable crowd had gathered around a young man seeking empathy from the audience for parental objection to his aspirations, probably one of the events at the Esplanade‘s Flipside 2012 (in conjunction with the Singapore Arts Festival, thanks no doubt to Esplanade Theatres On The Bay sharing CEO Benson Puah with the National Arts Council).

And still further on, there were excited children chasing after what was, on closer inspection, a giant moving turd.

Quirky animal-like creations penned up in a petting zoo of sorts, the Beasties were endlessly fascinating in their eccentricities. “I love this,” I said to a zookeeper in a red jumpsuit,”just good fun and the Beasties don’t try to push you a message.” “Ah,” said the zookeep from Kinetic Theatre Company sagely,”the Beasties will try to tell you things, and you shouldn’t believe them of course. But the giant turd there? He is old and he is wise…”

Later we saw this lady walking around with a bridal veil and a sash that said “The Future Mrs W___”. With all the quirkiness going around, no one batted an eyelid, though perhaps we should have congratulated her.

An Umbrella For 2 by Espaces Sonores was a soundwalk through the Raffles City/Marina Square area, with your senses augmented by contextual music and running commentary by several people speaking through headphones jacked into an mp3 player under a shared brolly. (This proved to be a security concern as we walked through the Citylink Mall. The guards told us to lower the big black umbrella (listening chamber), or else…) Aside from the obvious excitement of the adventure of following signposts, not knowing where they were taking you, it was lovely to get fresh perspectives on the usual landmarks and public space, condensed chatter coming from blind people pointing out the deficiencies of the tactiles in the MRT station, others discussing the loss of kampongs in Singapore quite reasonably etc. Much fun, not too marred by the narrative on “qi” in a way that seemed more of an imposition of Western idea of what the exotic oriental Singaporeans would think about things.

Songbird, described as Singapore’s first interactive iPhone play, was conceptualised by Tara Tan under creative collective Studio Now & Then, with app development by Tinker Tanker – a technology and education firm, . The fun wasn’t in the storyline (I can’t even remember the resolution to the mysterious disappearance of a budding songwriter, Songbird), but in scanning QR codes embedded with videos, “SMSes”, instructions, and seeing your own movement on a map. It wasn’t interactive in a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure way either – that would take quite a bit of work!, but we enjoyed the complimentary ice-cream from an itinerant ice-cream cart, a visit to a limousine, and the set up of the “press conference” at the Arts House (complete with press pass).

This was of great interest to me since i’m planning something similar for the wide game for an upcoming youth camp. The experience at camp isn’t meant to be as autonomous as this though.

Having had to don headphones for 3 events at this year’s Singapore Arts Festival, I wonder what theatre will look like in a few years – will it be a trend that the experience be directed at the individual rather than the collective audience? Or is this all about the novelty of it? It is at least obvious that this reflects the way society interacts (or not) in the present. One wonders how pedagogical approaches to communicating the Truth would have to evolve in the next decade.

(Perhaps the reason why They Only Come Out At Night: Pandemic didn’t quite impress locals was that Slung Low Theatre Company failed to consider the modern Asian mindset – the typical Singaporean is fairly tech-savvy and has his mobile surgically attached, so the sight of headphones raised expectations: while in line to enter Chester Rickwood‘s commune/hideout at Old School on Mount Emily, complete strangers were discussing whether the 100 of us would be given different instructions and be forced to separate once in the building. Sadly, the headphones merely sorted out the logistics of delivering the sound without having to set up speakers all around the venue. Also, having been weaned on all sorts of horror movies and ghost stories and Haw Par Villa, the typical Singaporean has a high threshold for fear but at the same time relishes the thought of being frightened half to death. After the first 20 minutes of being sweatily herded from one room to another like tour of a haunted house at a funfair, and another 20 minutes of characters bickering in the humidity and heat, repetitive use of silhouettes of pointy fingers that people didn’t think fictional vampires usually had, everyone was feeling quite let-down and not in the mood to run to the safehouse auditorium. Plus we were possibly too distracted by disappointment to have gotten the purported message of the theatrical experience about the foreigners in our midst.)

Salt Tapas & Bar, Foodbar Dada. Worries and Talking To God.

Only a small-plates dinner venue would cater to both the ravenous and the only-slightly-peckish. Which is how we ended up at Salt Tapas & Bar by Luke Mangan (Raffles City Shopping Centre).

Lovely feel to it. We supposed the juxtaposition of usual industrial-chic x warm brick walls x authentic Spanish tiles meant to mirror the casual “modern Spanish with an Australian twist” tapas.

We didn’t get far down the menu, having only the rocket, parmesan, caramelised walnut and pear salad; and the tagine of snapper and octopus, chickpeas, silverbeet, date and lemon (liked this – good mix of flavours: Middle Eastern references, octopus not rubbery) before heading off in search of bartenders mixologists from the sadly defunct Klee Bar.

One was rumoured to mix at Foodbar Dada (facebook, 60 Roberston Quay), so off we went. Behind a nondescript exterior next to Smitten Coffee & Tea Bar, a small-seater with industrial salvage wood retro setup.

The dude on duty didn’t look familiar, but we were pleased with the food: the Spanish omelette with prawns and asparagus was already sitting on the bar waiting to be sliced, Dada croquettes accompanied by moro miso?, Josper squid with egg (the bread was unnecessary),

Escalivada Pintxo – roasted eggplant, specially-imported anchovies, dehydrated olives, roasted red pepper mousse, and much fun watching the tapas being assembled at the counter.

Everything seemed so natural (the selling point of the joint being that the daily menu depends on what Spanish chef Manel Valero finds at the wet market that morning) that it was somewhat of a surprise to spot cans of Albert and Ferran Adria’s Texturas overhead. Would dearly love to play with the emulsifiers and the spherification stuff.

“Bespoke” cocktails didn’t turn out too bad. In the same vein as Klee, the customer is to tell the mixologist preferred flavours/textures and he’ll do something appropriately tasty with fresh fruit (juice).

Unfortunately, while anxieties may have their edge temporarily dulled by good food and drink and company though, they merely retreat into the background to rear their worrisome heads when you’re alone in the darker reaches of the night.

The day before, we were doing the chapter on “Talking to God” in Matthias Media‘s Back To Basics. The verse was Philippians 4:6-7:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Q: So why not be anxious about anything?

• It is not about being holier-than-thou and claiming that nothing fazes us; we are titanium etc. It is human to worry about things. After all, we are not in complete control of our future, and it is foolish to think that we are. The rich man who told his soul to rest and relax on the basis of good revenue in agricultural produce that year was called a fool by God because his life would be demanded of him that day (Luke 12:16:-20). So life does not consist in the abundance of one’s possession and so we can’t find security in them.
  
• We worry because we can’t see what’s in the future, we are not sure that we will get what we want, we are afraid of what might come upon us.
• But worrying is pointless since no one can even add a single hour to their span of life. If we can’t even do a small thing like that, why worry about the rest? (Luke 12:26)

Q: Why present our requests to God?

• because God knows how to take care of us and knows our needs – if he can feed the ravens who neither sow nor reap, and grow the lilies even though they neither toil nor spin, and clothe the grass that has only a brief life, he will certainly know what we need and give them to us if our lives are not focused on these things but on God’s kingdom (Luke 12:22-34);
• because God is in control of everything in this universe down to the most minor detail – each of the sparrows that are sold five for two pennies in the market, and the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:4-7);
• because not only does God have the knowledge of our needs and ability to fulfil them, it is his good pleasure to do so now and more in the next life (Luke 12:32). If even human fathers, who are self-centred and self-worshipping, will not give their child a serpent when he asks for a fish, how much more will the heavenly Father give good things (in this case the Holy Spirit) to those who ask him (Luke 11:5-13)?

Q: What outcome should we expect from our bringing our requests to God?

• There is no promise that our requests will definitely be granted (therefore, no promise that we will be healed or that we will get the job or husband/wife/house/dog/cat/car we want, even if we had “faith”); rather, the promise is that the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
• This peace of God cannot refer to the reasoning used by some to back up their decisions, that “I’m sure this is God’s will for me because i felt such peace in my heart when i decided”. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane wasn’t feeling particularly at peace with what he knew to be God’s will that he should die on the cross for the sins of the world, but he decided to be obedient to God.
• In the context of the passage, this peace is probably the opposite of being anxious, that is, this is the peace that trusts that God is in control, God knows our needs, and will always act for the good of those who love him. This preserves and protects us to keep on going in Christ, because we understand that he is still trustworthy.

Whisky Live Singapore 2012

Whisky Live Singapore 2012 was a dram-atic way of starting the work week. Was pleased to meet familiar faces at St. Regis Hotel, and we set to work immediately.

My favourite tastings at this sampling session were both sherry casks at the La Maison Du Whisky station (also the host for this rendition of Whisky Live in Singapore): a Bunnahabhain from Islay distilled in 2001 for the Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) (57.70%) after being aged in sherry butt for 10 years, and a Strathisla distilled in 1965 and bottled in 2011 for La Maison Du Whisky (80 Mohamed Sultan Road, facebook).

Other bottles at the station (Glenfarclas Private Reserve 2003, a Ballechin No.6 Bourbon Cask Matured), including some LMDW exclusives.

Nikka Whisky: single malts – Yoichi 12 years, Miyagikyo 12 years. Blend – Taketsuru 21 years. A bit too lite for my taste, but then i eat sashimi mostly to provide legitimate for a wasabi high.

The Glendronach Distillery (Highlands) x kilts: Glendronach Moscatel Finish 15 Years, Glendronach Revival 15 Years, Glendronach Allardice 15 Years, Glendronach Parliament.

Tullibardine Highland Single Malt Whiskies (the 34 yo wasn’t half bad – spicy, stone fruits) and The Benriach Distillery, Spreyside.

American whiskies were represented by House of Bourbon (Maker’s Malt etc) and Jailers Tennessee Whiskey. At the Jailers masterclass (replete with cheeky Jack Daniels put-downs), we were told that the composition of mash for the Jailers Whiskey was terribly Canadian, but there was much American pride in the Breakout Rye which was 100% American rye. The Forbidden Secret Dark Mocha American Cream Liqueur was a hit with more than the usual Bailey’s crowd. Will be available in Singapore come July, said the representative.

The second masterclass by Glenmorangie was facilitated by a Frenchman, because the distillery had been acquired by LVMH. But the whisky was all still made by the Scottish, he was quick to emphasise. Though not chill-filtered, giraffe still (with a neck longer than normal stills) removed some of the oiliness from the alcohol. In terms of smokiness, Glenmorganie was usually just 2ppm cf. Ardberg’s 50ppm. From what i can make of my scribbles: Original – 10 years in ex-bourbon, 40%, vanilla, sweet, roasted ground nuts; La Santa extra-mature – 46%, spicy, caramel, dates, raisins, walnuts; Quinta Ruban – cask used is obvious, dry, dark chocolate, minty, floral; Nectar D’Or – Sauternes finish, light, sweet, lemon, honey; 18yo – 15 years in ex-bourbon and 3 years in oloroso, roasted groundnuts; Signet – roasted malt, very light, new oak + ex-bourbon + ex-sherry. The representative was remarkably patient with two Indian men who, having no knowledge of whisky, asked if they added flavouring to the alcohol to give all the different flavours, and also with a young man who asked was a ruby was. Good form to desire to educate the public, i thought, in comparison with some other representatives i would meet later.

Also featured were single malts from non-traditional countries like India (Amrut) and Tasmania (Sullivan’s Cove). Detected the presence of some sulphur derivative (mercaptan?) in one of the bottles. Tried to get to the bottom of it but unfortunately the female representative at the table didn’t understand what non-chill-filtered was, and claimed that the seemingly off-taste was because the beverage was just to strong for me because i had used the spittoon. Her colleague joked that i must have eaten garlic for dinner and asked if i wanted to taste their other bottle which would taste of onion. Google was a better teacher – wonder if it was the anaerobically grown brewer’s yeast used together with distiller’s yeast that caused the surfeit of sulphur (Whisky Science)? Or inadequate distillation in copper (Scientific Societies, “Origins of Flavour in Whiskies and a Revised Flavour Wheel: A Review“)? Intriguing.

The Connoisseur Table – bottles to be admired, not drunk. City Nomads’ blind tasting experience.

Great fun was derived from how the organisers really went to town with the whiskies, having stations for:

whisky cocktails at the Bar Essentials bar and gin cocktails at The Monkey Bar;

whisky and cheese pairings (with artisan Compass Box Whisky and cheese brought in by Aequitas) – Compass Box Great King Street or Asyla with St. Nectaire Fermier, Compass Box Hedonism with Vieux Comte, Compass Box Oak Cross with Ossau Iraty Fermier, Compass Box Spice Tree with Mimolette Mitee, Compass Box Peat Monster with Roqueforte Artisanal. Most people only had a coupon for a single tasting so there were some good-hearted arguments about getting more cheese (and while the servers were distracted, others engineered a guerrilla flank attack);

whisky pastries. They were made specially for Whisky Live Singapore 2012 by Wong Joon Kit, the pastry chef for St. Regis Singapore, and they were excellent; delicate flavours with the textures were done all right. We spent a good amount of time here, err, for dessert.

Other spirits of the alcoholic variety were also present: Eastory Rums brought along Rhum RM made from sugar cane juice, and LMDW’s Fine Spirits – Monkey 47 Gin from Germany.

Constantly amazed by the amount of enjoyment we can get from permutations and derivatives of a fixed number of agricultural products. If this creation’s amazing stuff, the next can only be mind-bogglingly better.

The Brandery Asia, Blueprint Emporium, A Wedding

After necessary visit to the dentist at Ngee Ann City, passed leggy blonde models taking a break from rehearsals for the Audi Fashion Festival Singapore 2012 (facebook) outside the Tent@Orchard downstairs, on the way to

BLUEPRINT Emporium (facebook) and the co-located The Brandery Asia at Suntec Convention Centre to grab a few things and chat with old friends there about life and the local fashion scene.

General public milling about, some deliberating over the complimentary beverage and Magnum ice-cream.

Just because i pointed out Feiyue shoes* (a confused PRC worker, staring at the exhibits, requested my assistance in reading the price tags. Could it really be S$89 for 一双童鞋? Yeah mate, curious innit.), Etiquette Clothiers socks*, Femmex accessories (“Hey isn’t this very Alexander McQueen (RIP)?” “At least they have the decency to sell it for a proper price unlike a certain Alexander Wang-inspired bag at the Emporium.” Same owner as Flesh Imp.), Baggu and Pointer footwear (both distributed by Rockstar by Soon Lee) at The Brandery;

Ling Wu python bags*, Fabrix bags, Mc5 bags, Modeco bags, Mystic Vintage specs,
Ong Shunmugam cheong sam-ishness, Fave By Kennyli,

and the organic forms in accessories/jewellery from Carrie K (facebook), Choo Yilin Artisan Jewellery**, Saprang (facebook), Tulola at BLUEPRINT, i am apparently a staid stick-in-the-mud. As if this wasn’t already incredibly obvious. But hey, who can resist that rose gold bowtie!

While it was fun to observe the result of the adventures of those for whom “wardrobe staples” is a bad word (and to mess around with bits of their clothes),
it was even better to be present at the celebration of the beginning of an even more wonderful adventure for two people: a wedding at Food For Thought at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Design blog-worthy decor, a wonderful feast (David Heng’s team did an excellent job in the kitchen and front-of-house), fun stations (including photo booth) aside, their “self-written” vows (read from handmade books)

and that the first thing they did after publicly declaring their promises to each other was to take the Lord’s Supper together signalled their commitment to the submission of their exclusive relationship as husband and wife to God.

[Cue: screaming, running away?]

Which is why the friends, who once knew me well, reacted in mock horror when i mentioned this: you? Going for a wedding?! Actually lending encouragement to the old ball-and-chain and overpopulation of human beings? Pandering to societal expectations?

I guess the reason why attending weddings is lovely (and not just in wedding photog capacity) is that they will always remind me not just that the concept of marriage is of creational not societal design (that is, that God created man first to work the garden and take care of it, and then woman to be his helper, which is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and be one flesh (Genesis 2)), but that marriage now looks forward to the day of consummation of the most intimate relationship ever created – the relationship between God and his people (Revelation 21). And so every wedding celebration is in fact a teaser for that Day, something that (despite the occasional occurrences of bridezilla-ness, pretension, and inter-familial conflict) one just can’t tire of watching.

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*Properly useful discounts were happening (many probably on samples): eg. Feiyue Shoes were going at a 30% discount for 2 pairs, Etiquette Clothiers socks – 20% off, Ling Wu bags – 20% off too (for the new Fall/Winter 2012 collection i think). Many tradespeople were only accepting cash payments.

**speaking of Singapore jewellery designers, we’re still missing the death and decay of (Lee Ker) Shing’s Argentum.

The Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Twelfth Night, Ciudades Paralelas, Singapore Arts Festival 2012

Some questions raised after tonight’s viewing of Lola Arias‘ Ciudades Paralelas (Parallel Cities) Hotel – Hotel Maids installation made me think about the consumption of the arts and the motives for such feeding.

The Singapore Repertory Theatre‘s production of Twelfth Night, in its somewhat annual line-up of outdoor plays, was delightful. Except for one or two rather painful fake accents from minor characters, the comedy was well-suited for the convivial atmosphere of picnicking at Fort Canning (even under a light drizzle).

The motive for attending a Shakespeare In The Park-type play then would definitely be partly social. It’s not the sort of thing you’d lug a picnic basket to by your lonesome.

Queue to get into Twelfth Night

What’s attractive about the offerings at Singapore Arts Festival 2012 is what seems to be a palpable eagerness to engage the general public at eye-level with loads of free and intriguing activities in and around the Festival Village:

the Bridge Cafe is at a lovely spot by the Singapore River. The rooftop seats offer a wonderful view of Marina Bay while nursing a cold beer or a Coldstone Creamery Waffle Cup. At night, dancing oyajis and youths come out

 to dance while serving you your Tully Coffee beverage or Coldstone Creamery ice-cream as part of the Bridge Café Project,

(no dancing at the Festival Bar though)

the roving horse or “centaur” of Théâtre du Centaure’s Flux,

Espaces Sonores‘ An Umbrella For 2 soundwalk,

Polygot Theatre’s Tangle visual art installation etc. Much accessible fun. And the ticketed items aren’t the usual pretentious attention-seeking stuff made by people who complain that their creativity has been stifled by the oppressive regime of the Singapore government (which suggests that they must not have been creative enough then!), nor do they seem to be the sort of half-baked stuff one feels obliged to take a bite of merely to “support local art”. A plus is the easily-navigated Singapore Arts Fest website that details the activities available on each day.

At Lola Arias‘ Ciudades Paralelas (Parallel Cities) Hotel – Hotel Maids installation at Hotel ibis Singapore Novena, only one person was admitted at each time, in 10 minute intervals. The hour went by quite quickly. Though the experiential theatre platform of hotel rooms used minimal props, the varied and effective methods of telling the stories of hotel maids from different countries caused the observer/intruder to feel such a connection with representatives of a group commonly ignored that i almost hugged “Max” when he appeared at the door of the last room to take me on a tour of the unseen portions of the hotel.

And the writing for Platform Campus – Circle Line (edited/mentored by Chong Tze Chien, Ben Slater, and Kaylene Tan) wasn’t too shabby either. It did get me away from my “Apple device” to observe each of my fellow passengers on the Circle Line train and consider their human-ness, their stories, their hopes and dreams, their disappointments and regrets. Somewhat like the angel of Wim Wender‘s Wings of Desire, standing far above the crowd and listening to the thought murmurs of the human inhabitants of Berlin (though in this case, only able to wonder at stories and in any event, unable to comfort anyone). A good way, perhaps, to address the current climate of xenophobia and lack of graciousness, and force the heart to understand what the mind already knows from Scripture: that each human life must not be taken lightly, and therefore the horror of murder (either in word or deed).

It is in this proper use of the opportunity/skills to stir emotions and the fire up the mind, i think, that the arts can make a useful contribution both for the good of society and the humanity of the individual.

The Value of Lo-fi Analogue Vintage Pre-loved Re-purposed Specialty Bespoke Handmade Stuff

Much like the lo-fi photography movement that celebrates imperfect pictures full of light streaks and the gunk from dirty lenses, or the artisan food (bread-making, cake-baking) and beverage (micro/home-brewery, Third Wave coffee) trend, printing too has been going specialty/analogue with the rise of the craft or hobbyist letterpress. The cottage vs mass production thumb-on-the-nose at the Industrial Revolution, ironically inspired by the wedding invites featured on the decidedly mainstream Martha Stewart.

To the layperson, this seemed to be the sequence of events: in 2006, the year Jim Lahey’s No Knead Bread recipe arguably started to spawn the artisanal bread renaissance and attendant micro-bakeries, there arrived, opposite Thian Hock Kheng Temple on Telok Ayer Street, Kenny and Karen and Books Actually (now at Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru Estate).

They sold second-hand (and new) books for what seemed an exorbitant amount for those of us who still trawled Bras Basah Complex and lo-fi hand-printed and/or hand-stitched ephemera (postcards, bookmarks, journals, cahiers) that would eventually be parked under the “Birds & Co.” label. The price tag signalled to customers that this was not a thrift shop and at the same time elevated old stuff to objects of desire. The unique quirkiness of the space was enhanced by a series of plastic green soldiers along the stairway to the shop on the second storey, a dunce cap on an olive chair in the corner outside the shop, and retro decor within (including not-for-sale old Polaroid cameras).

Hundredth monkey theory validity aside, a Lomography shop set up before or about the same time on Smith Street before wearing large plastic frames was in fashion.

Then The Little Drom Store, Cat Socrates, and vintage rag and bric-a-brac shops (that somehow also encompass the tchotchke, handmade independent labels etc that inevitably accompany granny’s clothes):

• C K Collection (not Calvin Klein. 586 Serangoon Road),
• David Antiques (215 Rangoon Road),
• Deja Vu Vintage,
• Dulcetfig (facebook),
• Dinky Di’s (Golden Landmark Shopping Complex),
• Dust Bunny Vintage,
• Five Stones Vintage,
  
  
  
  
• Flea & Trees (facebook),
• Granny’s Day Out,
  
  
  
• Nana & Bird,

• Oakham Market,
• Past Image (#03-08 Excelsior Shopping Centre),
• The Attic Lifestyle Shop (04-146A Far East Plaza),
• The Heritage Shop (93 Jalan Sultan),
• Trippies (42 Bussorah Street),
• Salvation Army Thrift Store(s),
• Stevie’s General Store.

And now, demand has been such that shops (not along Sungei Road) sell vintage / rehabilitated / re-purposed / restored / pre-loved stuff for stiff prices that might shock a person of that certain era. Well it’s a “free economy”, so furniture that you could once get from garage sales or next to the trash can now be acquired in sanitised settings. Though they may not be considered collectibles or antiques (but when do objects make it over that threshold?), retro (including mid-century which may be considered distinct from specifically Singaporean retro) lust can be assuaged at:

• A Thousand Tales,
• Asher’s Vintage Market (facebook),
• Barossa Furnishings,
• Changi Junk Store (facebook),
• Forår: for wood and vintage,
• Hock Siong & Co. (facebook),
• Jennifer’s Vintage and Antique (facebook),
• Journey East (Tan Boon Liat),
• Junkie’s Corner (94 Jalan Senang),
• Koda‘s Commune,
• Belle and Cheu’s Like That One, Long-longtime Store (facebook),
• Lorgan’s The Retro Store (facebook),
• Mad About Vintage,
• Oddyssey – odds and whatnots (facebook),
• ReStore,
• Room of Woods (facebook),
• Rumah Kita (facebook),
• Second Charm,
• Soon Soon Hong Huat (by Booksactually),
• Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Crafts (acerbic neighbour of The Plain cafe),
• Viewpoint Trading.

If replicas are the barometer of popular taste then it would should be of note that the furniture reproduction business is also booming (though mostly for mid-century -> Modern or vague approximations): Comfort Furniture, Gnee Hong, Lorgan’s The Retro Store, Lush-Lush.

Similarly, if wedding accoutrements are any indication, the healthy rental rates for kombis and old VW beetles should attest to the vintage trend: Kombi Rocks (facebook), Ray’s Vintage Rental, as should recommendations for bespoke invitation cards (see also Ri Stationers, Box In Blue).

So now the letterpress gets its 15 minutes with great excitement being generated about its process and the tactile enjoyment it provides (for more, see Briar Press). Excellent for stationery fetishists:

• Kin Yiap Press – for more commercial design printing,
• Paper Tiger Press – “purveyor of luxuriously tactile paper goods”, “evoking a bygone era of sophisticated correspondence”, “it’s got real soul, but it also isn’t exact”, “subtly unique”,
• PapyPress – 1950s Heidelberg Windmill, “letterpressed print speaks to a bygone era when printing required great skills and the printer regarded as an artist. The result is an art piece that aroused romantic and oftentimes sensual feelings in the beholder”,
• The Gentlemen Press – run by two ladies,
• Perched On A Tree Letterpress (facebook) – when they finally get a space to call their own,
  
• possibly a Bureau Press at The Bureau?

If all else fails, there’s always Jonathan Wright stuff at Strangelets, a design shop next to BooksActually along Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru Estate.

We were talking about the occurrence of this sort of thing at last week’s somewhat secret supper club, “supper clubs” being unique to urban locations where alienated individuals crave some way of connecting with fellow humans. In the same way, the retro zeitgeist seems to have been propelled by city dwellers so desperate for human warmth that they would pay a premium for anything “artisan”, “bespoke” or “handmade” regardless of actual quality (ah, but who determines quality?).

So what is valuable and what isn’t? If one man’s junk is another man’s prized antique, who is right about such attribution of value? Who is to say that the old couple who have hoarded decades-worth of newspapers in their flat have psychological issues? The fruitfly-lifecycle of these trends tell us this much: some fools sell and some fools buy, but the wise man invests in things with objective value. The Eternal One who is in control of the history and future of humankind tells us as much:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:21-27)

The Book Cafe. Real Food Cafe and Grocer.

When home was still on Leonie Hill, i used to hog a seat at The Book Cafe (20 Martin Road), because not only could you do so with good conscience, the mark-up on food and drinks and the whole philosophy of the space expressly encouraged such lounging, reading, and enjoyment of free wifi. We were there again recently to chatter loudly about the fashion sense of art teachers; the UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Lijiang; the ethnic minority of Mosuo – a matriarchal society where serial monogamy is the norm, there are no equivalent words for “murder” or “rape”, and there are no jails; and the swearing in of Israeli soldiers at Masada where they promise that “Masada shall not fall again”, in reference to the successful Roman siege of 73AD.

If only Real Food (110 Killiney Road) had opened their Killiney branch then. The two or three staff are too busy for small talk and leave you well alone, the cafe is generous enough with space and seating so that even if chilling-out isn’t specifically encouraged, you don’t feel like you’re depriving them of paying customers. Plus the food is much more to my taste. Also, there is a certain virtuosity in eating there:

At Real Food, all our meals, dressings and sauces are made from scratch using basic organic ingredients. Absolutely no artificially processed ingredients, preservatives, trans-fats and colouring landing onto your plate and into your stomach.

We know the importance of using quality oil in our cooking. No barrels of processed or recycled cheap oil in our kitchen but organic olive or sunflower oil for cooking and organic extra-virgin olive oil for dressing and finishing.

They’re open from 10am every day. Several groups have taken advantage of the space for large family brunches. The food is fairly tasty, and the relative with a tender conscience is adequately provided for, as is the Hindu, Buddhist, vegetarian and pescetarian.

The grocery section (lovely how they’ve replicated the centrepiece of hanging quotes across the two shops, and mirrored them in this space) sells some organic fresh vegetables, sunflower and wheatgrass and alfafa sprouts, free range eggs, biodynamic juices, organic nuts and chips, grains, toiletries.

The human mind and heart are strange:

• it is possible to be spurred to defend one’s country by the memory of that nation’s defeat at the hands of a group of people who no longer exist as a distinct entity, yet little if any memory remains of their own God who brought their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt into the Promised Land and who dealt with them intimately in the centuries that followed, who warned them that if they did not acknowledge or obey him their whole nation would perish, and who still now lives and is in control, not the Israeli Defence Force, no matter how good their tactics and scary their Krav Maga;
  
• it is possible to make an effort to be careful what goes into our mouths (fresh organic food, macrobiotic diet, no faffing about with animal products), yet we aren’t too alarmed with what comes out of it. Even meticulous (ritual) cleanliness isn’t next to godliness:
  And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15:10-20)

I Am Every Man (II)

Suddenly, in the midst of a cab ride:

Taxi uncle (looking at me in the rear view mirror): 你是中国人啊.

Me: Err, no…

Taxi uncle (insisting): 你几时来新加坡?是来这里读书?

Me: No, 我是新加坡人.

Taxi uncle (slightly perturbed): 真的不是中国人?我刚才看到你,以为你是中国人.

Previously, the question “你是不是中国人?” meant there was doubt in the minds of my fellow countrymen that i was fully Chinese. And i’d thought that since the colour of my hair and pupils had darkened considerably, i would no longer be taken as a foreigner in my own country (cf I Am Every Man (I)). But it seems that the concept of foreigner has changed.

Colleague, upon hearing about this episode: Haha, you really look like nobody.

Gontran Cherrier’s Rye and Red Miso Bread from Tiong Bahru Bakery, Trends, An Unfashionable God

The appearance of bizarre (or fashion forward, depending on individual taste and future fashion) fig-leaves on an old friend reminded us all how, quite some time ago when we could (and would) fit into such clothes and some even model them, we used to hang out at fashion shows dissecting trends and cheering on friends who were trying not to slip and fall off the catwalk. The haute culture trickle-down effect was less obvious then than it is now with Zara, Forever 21, and all sorts of people scouring the web for the latest shows so they can manufacture “inspired” clothes for the masses.

So it was serendipitous to read, in the most recent issue of Lucky Peach, that our plebian treats/trends had also devolved from the food gods. That molten chocolate cake, for instance, had in fact been “inspired” by the haute cuisine of Michel Bras (reinvented by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, pre-invented by Ella Helfrich for a Pillsbury bake-off in 1966, says Lucky Peach).

And perhaps just as the hundredth monkey effect gives birth to fashion trends for the season, so it is for the chefs in haute kitchens? (Though the effect now supposedly discredited due to failure to take into account a rogue coconut-washing monkey who sojourned on the other island.)

Gontran Cherrier‘s rye and red miso bread (from Tiong Bahru Bakery, 56 Eng Hoon Street, Tiong Bahru Estate) is apparently quite trendy, though it hasn’t quite started a trend of its own, perhaps owing to home bread-bakers not being in quite the same supply as home cake-bakers.

The rough + umami make a great pairing and can be used in much the same way as Marmite or Vegemite on toast – lightly toasted with a bit of butter and cut into soldiers to scoop up soft-boiled eggs;

or with nut butters (HT: Chocolate and Zucchini) – this slice with Adam’s 100% Natural Peanut Butter was an excellent pairing;

or as a very good companion to the dumpling soup at Real Food Killiney.

Being mostly umami, it enhances the taste of whatever you put on it or eat it with – like slices of sweet ripe pear and Morbier cheese.

What was obvious from reading Jeremiah with someone on Monday and 2 Samuel with another last night was that the God of the Bible has never been quite fashionable. Where it has always been easy to control gods with offerings of their favourite food or the sacrifice of virgins, the God of the Bible could not be told what to do; he did not need sacrifices of things he created himself; he had his own mind and he set the rules. While the trend has always been for gods to reward their followers with prosperity, good health, loads of children etc., the God of the Bible has been quite different: his main concern since the beginning of the world has always been that they acknowledge him as God and obey him from their heart and therefore would bring judgement on them if they did not.

Basically, a really God-like God.

So when God’s king David despised God’s word and did evil by taking Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and then killing her husband (2 Samuel 12), God declared he would punish his sin by ensuring that his own wives would be taken by his neighbour and that the sword would never leave his own house. This was fulfilled over a number of years as Absalom kills Amnon for taking Tamar, Absalom tries to depose David and takes his 10 concubines, Joab and gang kill Absalom, fighting between the tribes who would later split into Israel and Judah (2 Samuel 13 – 20).

And a few centuries later, when the tribes had already been split into Israel and Judah, and Israel had already been defeated by the Assyrians because of their disobedience to God, God sent Jeremiah to warn Judah that they would be wiped out by the Babylonians if they did not repent and turn back to God. What God wanted was for his own people to repent from despising him and to acknowledge him as God (Jeremiah 1-6); he was not concerned with cheap victories over other nations just to show who was in control. Because the whole world was his, he did not need to keep a nation intact just to show he had power. (Nor did he need to scrounge around for the dreams of random followers, a la the old gods in Neil Gaiman‘s The Sandman.) Yet, despite his omnipotence, he always wooed his people in such a loving and patient manner, which is more than you can of minor dictators these days.

Now, that is a truly a God.

Tiong Bahru Bakery. World-building.

Artisan bakeries have followed in the wake of the Third Wave specialty coffee movement. Representing the Kiwis, Dean Brettschneider’s Baker & Cook, with most of the rest being either French (Paul Bakery), French-Japanese (Maison Kayser), Japanese (Pullman Bakery, DONQ Bakery (facebook)), or French-inspired (The French Bakery, plus some German – Nick Vina, plus “old world technique” – The Bread Project (facebook)). Bread recipes seem to take to the Singapore humidity badly, so foreign bakers have had a tough time putting a rise on quality levels.

Regardless, all these new entrants are great for carb-fiends.

The most recent opening has been Gontran Cherrier’s modestly-named Tiong Bahru Bakery (56 Eng Hoon Street, facebook), another good trend-read by Cynthia Chua and her Spa Esprit Group F&B arm, Food Collective.

Between The Hunger Games (which i had to watch for research purposes – a terrible waste of money and a great disservice to the book(s)) and some messing about with cocktails before meeting The Avengers (why did Tony Stark have the best lines? We loved the silly wisecracks and slapstick so much we kept repeating the one-liners through the night, enough that any mother within earshot would have smacked us), hoofed it to Tiong Bahru for some sustenance.

The main door would be fantastic for a gongfu movie involving clueless baddies standing too near two-way doors, but generally not so good for clueless innocent bystanders lining up past the Synesso machine. Loads of natural light, big bold flower arrangement, requisite retro furniture (+ tables with sharpened legs), IKEA? wooden bowl lampshades, well-trained friendly staff.

Even the toilet was note-worthy, gushed the lady at the next table, insisting that we take a look. The blue glass panes and the biscuit tins as bins were a nice touch.

As were the bread-shaped namecards (not exclusive to toilet).

A good range of breads, viennoiseries, and pastries: olive bread, croissant (plain, chocolate, almond with chocolate), brioche, kouign aman [sic], raisin bun, apple crumble, brownie, tarts, baguette (plain, cereal, curry), squid ink bread, rye and red miso boules.

The samples at the cashier sold many people on loaves they may never have thought to buy. All crusty (but not hard) with soft flavourful interior.

Decent foccacia topped with stuff, though there are probably more interesting breads to try.

Croissant was a winner – crunchy without shattering to little pieces that disappear into your windpipe. Slight butter taste but not lip-balm replacement oily, enhanced by the good butter, Alain Milliat jams and Les Comptoirs de Saint-Malo‘s Caramalo Cafe caramel au beurre salé (oh man!) available on the sideboard.

The croissant chocolat was similarly crisp with chewy interior and well-placed melted chocolate bits. The almond chocolate croissant was apparently quite standout stuff too.

Other viennoiserie (“raisin roll”, “kouign aman”) similarly excellent.

Other breads (eg. “Vienna Chocolate”, “Brioche”) were a bit dry on the inside.

Couldn’t quite appreciate the flan vanilla nor the chocolate mendiant (similar to what one usually expects of confections bearing this name, there’s chocolate and mixed fruit and nuts, but in a tartlet shell).

This was not going to be a destination for coffee, but 40 Hands trained the baristas sufficiently that they didn’t ruin a good brunch/lunch/tea.

Unfortunately, my hair was such a mess that the nice lady at the next table politely enquired if i lived nearby.

No idea how M John Harrison, only one of my favourite authors, keeps his long hair quite so neat because on the best of days, i look like Hagrid…on a bad hair day. But of greater interest, Mike’s views on world-building. My quarrel with movie adaptations of books is precisely that in order to bring them into being, word-building is necessary.

In some sense, it would be like the folly of Jorge Luis Borges’ (another favourite) On Exactitude In Science, itself allegedly based on Lewis Carroll’s Sylvie and Bruno Concluded, in which there is an empire where the study of cartography is so exact that a map of the empire is the size of the empire, and coincides point for point with it.

So it is also my quarrel with those who dismiss the Bible because it does not contain the world. Yes, it does not even contain information that could be found in an encyclopaedia nor a list of answers to FAQs (like: “If God created everything and knows everything before they happen, then why did he create the serpent?” or “Why did God create us if he knew that he would have to send his Son to die for the sins of the world?”), because that is not its nature. The nature of the Scriptures is that of a message, a rather lengthy note; it tells us the danger we are in and how to be saved from this danger; it is both a warning and an offer.

I would not find issue with a Caution sign or an instruction manual just because they failed to mention the existence of dinosaurs (itself a theory we have come to believe, ironically in this context, as gospel truth!).

A Death. Nylon Coffee Roasters.

A strange surreality to the day.

Fell asleep mid-sentence early last night after a few long days of dealing with Indo-China. Was awoken in the early hours by the insistent buzzing of SMSes and whatsapp messages coming in about the demise of Singapore theatre actress (or “actor” as they would insist) Emma Yong, and also from theatre friends suddenly arranging meet-ups. It was like this when a mutual friend committed suicide last year – the seeming need to share stories, to grieve together, to be badly comforted in face of the stark reality that death comes for us all…

And then, life went on. Got some ang ku kueh from Ji Xiang Confectionery (1 Everton Park, #01-33) for the girls at the office who are very fond of the sticky oily stuff.

And since i was in the vicinity, dropped by Nylon Coffee Roasters (4 Everton Park #01-40, tumblr, facebook, current hours: 8.30am to 5.30pm) where Dennis Tang and Lee Jia Min, formerly of Papa Palheta/Loysel’s Toy, set up a micro-roasting shop after a few months of travelling, providing coffee consultancy services, and working mobile coffee stations at weddings and other events. “Nylon” because New York and London figured majorly in their interest in coffee, and the moustache logo because the designer they hired didn’t figure on Jiamin being on the scene?!

A Probat roaster at the back which is put into use every other day. (Go maillard reactions!)

Well-wishes.

They’ve done away with the concept of cappuccinos, flat whites, etc and classify their drinks as either milk-based or non-milk-based.

The El Primero (first) blend was a mix of Brazilian and Peruvian – perky and bright in a way that makes one (or just me and my deluded mind) think of South America.

It’s not a cafe with food or other drinks, but the four chairs inside or the use of your two pegs provide loads of opportunity to chat about what’s central to the whole set-up, so somewhat like how it was with The Steeping Room. Good stuff.

(To affirm their coffee geekery, there was also a pin-up calendar with the barista of month being Tim Wendelboe of Norway (World Barista Champion 2004).)

Now, the day is ending with more buzzing from friends overseas, wanting to confirm the news, to grieve. But to what end all these platitudes of any deceased being “in God’s hands” and “with the angels”? If there was life after death, i would want to be sure that the people i love are really in a better place and are really right with God. i would want to be absolutely sure of seeing them again in happier circumstances. Well-meaning but ultimately superficial Hallmark card condolences are faint comfort to any one…

..nor the songs that we once made up and sang and taught others to sing. Despite all earnest sincerity, no friend can accompany us through death’s door (other than the Friend who has himself gone through it before us):

Dedication
We have shared our morning days,
and gone through all rainy nights,
even in the darkest of nights,
stars still light up our way.

Tomorrow is a beautiful dream,
a dream that could be fulfilled.
Cross the bridge of rainbow,
in search of the gold.

For here we stand,
our dearest friends.
Sincerely from our hearts we wish:
may streams of sunlight shine like rays of hope,
hand in hand we’ll work and strive,
for the best things in life.

Friends
Sometimes I wonder, if I’ve made a wrong step somewhere
and times don’t seem as good as they have been before.
It’s not so hard then, to want to lay down and cry,
but then I hear a chorus of voices calling from the other shore,
“Look up! Look up!”

These are my friends, my friends
just some people walking the same road
with hands joined as one together.
Cross the bridge, see the rainbow
feel the breeze, watch the flowers grow
touch the sky, don’t you know
we can go higher, higher, higher!

And through the years, as generations come and go,
yet still this flame inside burns strong despite the rain.
It’s not so hard then, to stumble and fall.
It’s then I hear a chorus of voices calling from the other shore,
“Look up, look up”

You are my friends, my friends,
just some people walking the same road
with hands joined as one together.
Cross the bridge, see the rainbow,
feel the breeze, watch the flowers grow,
touch the sky, don’t you know,
we can go higher, higher, higher…

My friends…

As One
We were once all strangers
Roaming near and far.
Lost in a world of fantasy
Don’t know who we are. [sic]
Then one day destined we were
To stand together here as one. (lalala)
We’ll be together, together as one.

Day by day our spirits grew
Bonding us with love.
Striving, working, never rest [sic]
Striving for the best.
‘Tis our story, ’tis our song
Filled with joy, spirit strong as one. (lalala)
We’ll be together, together as one.

As the years pass us by
In many ways we fly.
But the spirit still remains
It can never die.
‘Tis our story, ’tis our song
Filled with joy, spirit strong as one. (lalala)
We’ll be together, together as one.

Singapore Yacht Show 2012, Chen KeZhan’s Gathering Clouds, Stewardship of Money

Dropped by the Singapore Yacht Show. Calmer feel without the thumping music and yelling children underfoot of Boat Asia 2012. My entry to both shows were complimentary but i think the fee for Boat Asia would have been S$20 and S$50 for SYS.

Loads of people in requisite sailor stripes that’s quite the fashion in stores nowadays. Instead of Audi, the luxury car sponsors were BMW (featuring the nice new BMW M5) and Lamborghini. Not sure why the Chaparral 310 Signature was indoors.

If only Jetsurf would let us have a spin on their jet propelled surf-board and Xtreme Machines had trials for the can-am Spyder and Seadoo!

On water exhibits included vessels from Riva (SportRiva 56), the Singaporean Megaway Engineering (Megaway), Feadship (MY Helix), Palmer Johnson (MY Vantage), Westport (yeah, it’s MY Sea Bear again), Aegean Yachts (SY Montigne – loved the little floating platform with enough space for a folding chair), Lagoon (Lagoon 450 and 620), Azimut (Azimut 45 and 53, and MY Hye Seas II). A good number from brokers Northrop and Johnson and Simpson Marine were on hand.

Wasn’t terribly taken by the vessels on offer. Too much dependence on electronics, too much heavy wood, unnecessarily heavy beds and ceramic basins, why were things on the deck placed so that they were not within easy reach or would clutter up the space too easily?, urgh maintenance of timber decks etc.

After a bit of grumping while checking out the Beneteau Oceanis 37 and Beneteau Sense 50, a patient broker from Simpson Marine diagnosed my problem:”You’re looking for a performance racing boat, but here they are all luxury boats.” Oh yeah, good point. My bad. But it’s got to be something i can use as a live-on-board houseboat too.

The trim size of Tartan Yachts‘ Dream looked promising but didn’t manage to speak to anyone.

Standout pretty powerboats were ones from Donzi and J Craft (La Bambola was at a private event for Rolls Royce).

So, a pleasant stroll to check out the resident boats and facilities.

Then back to mainland to chope a few pieces from Chen KeZhan’s gathering clouds… exhibition at Visual Arts @ Temenggong (VAAT) (Hse 28, 20 and 18, Temenggong Road, Singapore 098775). The artwork was said to “evoke scenes from nature, inspired by the artist’s travels along the Mekong River.” All proceeds from the sale of works were to go towards “funding the Visual Arts @ Temenggong’s international artists in residence programmes that aim to inspire artists from South East Asia and beyond through their experiences of Singapore and its culture. Through their work, they in turn inspire Singaporean artists and enrich the local arts culture.” Happily for the fund, many of his Letters To Myself series had been red dot sticker-ed.

[insert invisible photo here]

28 Temenggong Road had a lovely commanding view of the Harbourfront area, but no photos were allowed within the venue or of the venue “for security reasons”.

(“Art Enclave at Mount Faber”, Business Times, 20 April 2012)

Over the same weekend, someone pointed me to a The Straits Times me & my money feature on Dr. Tan Chi Chiu, mistaking him for my ex-sports doctor, Dr. Ben Tan, of roughly the same era. The Dr. Tan in question stated his belief that money and the means to make money were gifts from God and they ultimately belonged to God. “The Bible instructs Christians to tithe 10 per cent. of their pre-tax income to the Church for the good works of the Church on God’s behalf.”

Not quite what the Scripture seems to say perhaps? Tithing was specifically required of the Israelites in the Old Testament, not of Christians. The reason for tithing was the upkeep of the tribe of Levi (the Levites) who had not been given any land as inheritance in the Promised Land because they were to serve the rest of Israel in the Tent of Meeting (so that the Israelites would not come near the Tent of Meeting, bear sin and die (Numbers 18)) and the tithes were to be their inheritance (Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:24) instead. Tithes were also to be given to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, “so that they may eat within your towns and be filled” (Deuteronomy 26) because the fruit of the good land had been given to them by God and this was what he wanted to be done with the fruit.

So in addition to the physical material good that the tithes wrought, they were also symbolic of one’s worship of God (cf Hebrews 7) by acknowledging that everything came from him and that the best should go to him. They were to say as they laid the first fruits of the agricultural produce that were the subject of tithes in those days before the Levite,”…behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.” And this was why the Levites themselves were to tithe the best of the tithes to God (Numbers 18:26). Not too sure about the ten per cent. or making one’s calculation before tax.

When we get to the New Testament era, it is ultimately Jesus who intercedes for us with God. Therefore there is no longer the need for the office of priest. However, we are to pay pastors and other full-time workers as we would feed the ox and cattle that plow or a labourer who works the field (1 Corinthians 9:3-11, 1 Timothy 5:15-18). And while charity work is well and good, what God is concerned with is really full obedience to him in matters, inter alia, of justice, mercy and faithfulness to God (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42).

However, the point is taken that all we need for life (and any excess!) comes from God. So not just a percentage is due to him. Rather, everything is his and we should only be taking our living expenses. Just like T.T. Durai, the former CEO of the National Kidney Foundation, was not to have allotted only a percentage of NKF funds on kidney patients and spent the rest on gold taps, first class travel and chauffeured cars, so we can’t

So when someone else was expressing his thanks to God for giving him a pay raise and i was alarmed to realise that his new monthly take-home would be equal to my monthly tax payments, it became rather obvious to me that i hadn’t been a good steward of the money God had entrusted to me.

Excess money is quite a responsibility and thus a bit of a burden. And so being a bit of a shirker, i wouldn’t wish for more than my daily bread. If plans go well, perhaps i might have the opposite temptation to sin, since both poverty and riches offer different challenges to loving God, so the inspired Agur prayed:

‘Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
⁸ keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonour the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9)

But there is still the responsibility, even if given just enough to live on, to feed pastors and sponsor the theological education of future churchworkers and help the poor etc. And then there would also be the temptation to self-righteousness and to idolise spreadsheets of one’s savings.

Alas, sinful mind!