Designer Slacks

We were in luck ! The posh mall Salam which imports designer wares is having a season sale, everything was on 50% or more discounts. I managed to score some couture jeans at really reasonable prices from 200-400 riyals (USD 80-150). The prices were slashed from their previous thousands so even though I didn't need 3 pairs of jeans, I bought them anyway.

In my defense, they were in different styles.

A pair of washed grey Marc Cain boot-leg jeans.

I like the flair that starts from the tapered dart that you can see he's detailed with a small metallic stud.

Here is a second pair from Diesel this time, also in grey but softer in tones and has a grunge look with its torn detailing and very subtle black sequinned trim down the sides.

The last pair is from See by Chloe and is a cream cropped 3-quartered length. Simple but fitted me so well.

So see, all 3 are different.

T came away with just one pair of denim but found some great shirts and a pair of shoes from Paul Smith. I rummaged through the mens section and stopped in my tracks when I saw this scarf also from PS.

Love love love the medley of Autumn hues and it was cashmere. Such a brillant find.

Retail therapy ! Doesn't get better than that !

Project ID

I signed up for a course at a college here. One of the really fortunate things about Doha is that there are some really prestigious universities here like Georgetown. If I don't start working in the next year, I am considering doing a full time course, on what, I'm not sure yet.

For now, VCU which is the Virginia Community University offers spring classes on languages, art, jewellery making ... I scanned the courses and found the ID one to my delight.

What fun, a course on designing your home. The syllabus covers lighting, space management and colours among other aspects of ID. The course is bi-weekly and will be for 2 months. I have so far attended 2 classes and tonight, is Class 3.

Manju, our teacher is a designer and has been teaching for several years now. She is expecting us to produce 3D dioramas of our work by the end of the course and the best one will be showcased at an exhibition.

The class only had 12 students and there was a Egyptian housewife, some students, a real estate guy, a French interior designer and me. During the second class we were told to flip through magazines and pick 4-5 images that captured our attention. We then had to explain why they were meaningful to us and develop a concept from these images.

I sort of had a idea from the magazines, but then when I was at home one day having coffee and surfing the net, I came across something else that drew my attention and I have since built a concept around it.

This is a series of 4 commercials from EF (Education First)





I loved the cinematography and the typography.

I took this and have developed it further. This ad is for learning a new language but why stop there? Learning is a lifetime process and to be inspired to keep learning everyday whether it is reading about a new topic or finding your inner Picasso, is a noble idea. They say a keen mind lengthens life.

Keep Learning. That's my concept for the room.

Will post more but gotta run for my class tonight. Have a lovely evening.

Such a sweetie !

No need for words here...

Have a sweet week you guys.

Pull!

What do you do when you are bored in the desert?

Go shooting. Right in the centre of town, next to the police training grounds and the North Atlantic College, was the Doha shooting range. The grounds were very basic and was nothing more than a sandy pit.

75 riyals for a box of ammo and the chap gave us some ear phones before giving us some instructions on using the shotgun. He had a handheld remote that controlled the targets that come flying out about 10 metres from us into the dusty arena. The targets were small red discs and so hard to aim at but I managed to hit one! Pure chance anyway, I think I had both my eyes closed at some point. the blast was so loud and the recoil against my shoulder made it sore only after a few tries.

Still, not a bad way to spend an afternoon with some mates. Good to release some stress, just imagine your nemesis and fire away !

(pics from here)

Eye on Turkey

One of my fav. bloggers, Luxirare posted her travels in Istanbul recently. Her photos are just phenomenal and I could not resist not mentioning it today.

She captured the dusting of pistachios on the honeyed drenched donuts magically. You must visit here to see the rest of her photos.

Footie for Tots

I have been busy over the past week doing some design work besides watching the incredible events unfolding in the Mid-East. D, my good friend from KL is over to cover the events for the channel and we have been spending much time catching up and playing with the little boy during free afternoons.

As for the design stuff, D from Hong Kong is organising a birthday party for her 2 year old. His favourite sport is soccer and his mum has invited his coach in Socotots to attend the party. My job was to design a card and offer up some suggestions for party decor.

The internet as always, had plenty of ideas for a footie party. Ball-inspired icing cookies.

Faux grass centerpiece with miniature tropies as decoration.

Party bags and water bottles with personalized themes and names.

I finally came up with L.W's card and it is a postcard with double sided print.

As part of party favours, D is going to print out some T-shirts for the little ones using the Thomas Cup theme. It would be a cute keepsake and make for some great photos.

I wish that I could be there for the celebration but am sure it will be a roaring success !

Holy Mackerel

Today in Guardian, I read about some of the world's best chefs and their proteges. Heston Blumenthal of Fat Duck talks of Ashley Palmer-Watts' journey in becoming his top chef with fatherly pride. Ashley is now the main chap in Heston's new restaurant Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.

Dinner is not opened yet but they are taking reservations and Heston and Ashley even exposed the recipe of one of the dishes which I thought was quite brave considering how people might now steal his idea but one look at it, made me realise why gourmet meals are gourmet.

Hay-smoked mackerel, lemon salad and gentleman's relish

Come on, it's just salad with some smoked fish and leaves, everyone can do that with eyes closed right?.
I couldn't be more wrong because the recipe reads like a science experiment. This is cooking with OCD precision.

The garlic used in this recipe has to be de-germed first. What does that even mean??

Apparently it means to remove the green sprout bit, I never know my garlic had any.

Anyway here is only an excerpt.

" .......................To make garlic and anchovy sauce, cover garlic with 300ml milk and add a dash of cold water. Bring slowly to a simmer then drain and rinse garlic under cold running water. Return garlic to pan and repeat process three times...." 

"......Weigh garlic and anchovy mix, add 30% of the total weight of mayonnaise, mix well. Refrigerate...."

".....Gut and fillet the mackerel. Run the tip of a sharp filleting knife down either side of the pin bones and bloodline in the centre of each fillet and remove this area by pulling it away with fish tweezers......"

Thanks for the recipe guys but no thanks.

Dress Envy

All the news channels were covering China's visit to the White House but I was only interested in what Michelle Obama was wearing. Her red gown by Alexander McQueen is a showstopper.

The colour is simply arresting and the drapping of the skirt very flattering.  She does have a liking for the bold palette and it suits her.

I came across this photo of her in shocking pink with a elaborate necklace.

The neck candy is by St Erasmus and is adorned with fresh water pearls, swarovski crystals and glass beads.

This piece belongs in Bollywood and it absolutely stunning.

SoSingaporean

I must be missing home when I find myself looking up TalkingCock's website for new updates. They never fail to make me giggle or laugh out loud and admittedly quite homesick.

Today I read the 60 signs that you are a true Singaporean and I am proud to say that I am guilty of these signs:

3. You pat MRT seats to cool them down before you sit down ;


4. At lunch you start discussing what to have for dinner; 


11. You are never completely sure how many times you've sung the second verse of the National Athem;


25. You somehow feel that food tastes better eaten next to a longkang;


31. You always feel oddly hungry at 11pm and are willing to drive to far away places for supper;


36 Pork floss and mayo on bread is a completely natural combination to you;

Floating Art

Z is only 2 months old but I think he is starting to see better and getting more engaged with his surroundings. I am shopping for a mobile that will keep him interested while he lies in his cot but I hate the plastic ones that you get from Toys R Us or any baby shop. They are usually bulky and has ghastly colours. I know he's too young to differentiate styles so I might as well get a mobile that I like. He wouldn't know the difference right?

I am considering these eco- friendly ones from Sevi, an Italian maker of wooden toys.

The colours are much easier on the eye and the designs very charming. I like this circus theme below.

His granny sent a Flensted mobile of elephants and it's floating above Z's changing mat now.

The other alternative is to ignore Z's needs and go with something larger than life. Something massive that will hang in the middle of his room. An art piece more than a playful mobile.

This is by artist Leah Pellegrini are made from hand blown glass. It is 2 feet by 2.5 feet and cost USD 145.

I am in love with these nature inspired ones from Colorado based artist, Jan Carson. The petals are all made of silk leaves and spans 50 inches.

This is my absolute favourite. The red maple leaf branch at USD 595. How magical to have this just floating in your room don't you think?

You can buy them all and see more designs here. 

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

2010- the year of the Tiger, is no more. It has been a pretty amazing 12 months and looking back, I feel truly blessed for

1. Having baby Z who is totally brilliant in every way ;

2. Leaving KL ( sob sob) , home for almost 5 years, to move to the Middle East and finding it a surprisingly interesting place to live.

3. Winning a legal tustle after almost 3 years of fighting;
4. Breaking ground in Project Lanka

5.  Finally setting up The Write Stuff 

The new year will be a challenging one. Project Lanka is due to be completed by mid year so we will have to furnish it and make it livable.  Project Z will be learning new tricks and definitely be causing much joy and pain to us but mostly joy.

As always, my resolution is to try a new hobby and travel to a new country so 2011 will not be any different.

2010 saw us in Istanbul and for this year, we are planning to visit our neighbour, Oman. The roads there are famous for carving through incredible landscapes.

 

( pics from here )

( pic from here )


Besides that, I have to start discovering more of Doha now that I am more mobile.
Happy New Year!

Another Christmas Gone...

Another Christmas, another year and soon 2010 will be no more. We spent the holidays eating and drinking while managing Z's sleep routines rather successfully. He's so young and so slept through everything. I was able to chill out and enjoy the odd glass of wine or five.

Doha has become so cool even during the day temperatures are never higher than 25 degrees. Perfect weather, as I said to a friend, for slim leather jackets and peep toe stilettos. On Christmas morning, we joined some friends for brunch at La Cigale Traiteur which also boasts an impressive deli.

The cafe offered the usual breakfast options but the deli was in a class of its own. There were miles desserts, cheeses, breads, ice creams and sweets on offer. 

As it is Christmas, the range of log cakes was mind numbing. How does one choose ? Luckily I had dinner invitations tonight, so was "forced"to buy a cake.

 

I finally decided on the cake featured on the left bottom of the photo above. It was a chocolate mousse cake with a rice crispies base. Delish and at QR 180 which was not cheap but totally worth the pennies.

I was tempted with this log cake with the face but changed my mind.

We will be back soon to sample the rest.

Simply wonderful

Mountain biking is not my passion, neither are bike stunts but I enjoyed this bit of film so much.

FRAMED-Andi Wittmann Rider profile from Felix Urbauer on Vimeo.

Happy National Day

2 days ago was Qatar's national day and people were out in throngs celebrating. Road blocks were set up around the corniche where the parade started mid day.

Days before the national day, flags were flown from all the lamp posts lining the streets, people stuck on decals of the emir on their cars and large corporations compete with each other on who could put up the biggest qatari flags.

Ritz Carlton had a massive flag strung up from their hotel. It could be seen from miles away.

The parade along the Corniche featured the military forces, men on horses and camels.

(pics from qatarliving.)


I guess the nationalistic feeling amongst those who live here must have grown since Qatar won the 2022 world cup host bid.

Fantastical Furniture

Smarin  calls these livingstones. Giant foam cushions posing as pebbles. I love the idea, though not quite sure how practical they are as outdoor furniture. Are they waterproof? If so, how comfortable can they be?

What about this fantasty bed frame? The Shawn Lowell Metalworks Tree Bed as seen on ThisNext. It looked like a prop from a fairy tale set.

Stuff that little girls dream of having in their rooms?

My eyes popped out when I saw these creations from Dedon, called nestrests. How absolutely dreamlike. This is what a hammock wants to be when it grows up.

Utterly gorgeous and I want one.

Question - How did he get into it without getting wet ?