Outfit of the Day - black dress with gold shoulder pads

"I believe that we all have a responsibility to give back. No one becomes successful without lots of hard work, support from others, and a little luck. Giving back creates a virtuous cycle that makes everyone more successful." - Ron Conway

Black dress with gold shoulder-pads and long skirt, suitable for corporate functions, dates, parties, events. .
etc.

Dress: Sixties (SGD$89.90)
Bangle: Hermes

Review: Blood Donation Experience at HSA BloodBank @ Dhoby Ghaut

11 Orchard Road #B1-05 to 09 Dhoby Xchange, Singapore 238826

Tel: 6333 5532

Website: http://www.hsa.gov.sg/content/hsa/en/Blood_Services.html

Alternative website:  http://www.donorweb.org/bloodbanks

Opening Hours:
Mon - Wed, and Fri 12.00pm to 8.00pm

Sat and Sun  10.00am to 5.00pm

Eve of New Year, Chinese New Year and Christmas  9.00am to 2.00pm

Thursdays and Public Holidays:  Closed

Blood donation helps those who need tranfusion due to accidents or diseases and our blood contains many life-saving components that can help to treat different injuries and illnesses. Every day in Singapore, around 15 units of blood are used and more than 100,000 units of blood are required to meet the transfusion needs of patients every year.

I have been wanting to help these group of patients out with sharing of my blood for a while, but could never do so because my weight did not meet the minimum 45kg requirement. Yes, it does not mean that anyone who is healthy wanting to donate can do so - there are quite some determining factors they use to see if you are a suitable donor.   And yes, I gained weight gradually since the food blogging - and the only good thing is that I have reached the minimum mark for blood donation (which means that I better do it now while I can, before the stringent weight loss regime kicks in).

There are 4 permanent Bloodbank stations in Singapore, namely HSA Building @ Outram, Dhoby Ghaut, Woodlands and Westgate. They are all well-furnished in a sleek, clean and bright fashion so that donors feel more relaxed before the session.  There are also mobile bloodbanks at various other spots on daily basis - check out the websites listed above for updated information..

Oh, also, whether you donate through HSA or Red Cross, it is the same Bloodbank stations that serve you.

Okay, basic introduction done, now we go on to the experience itself.  One can either make an appointment online via their website (click here) using SingPass Login, or walk in.  We can also choose to fill up the Health Questionnaires and Declaration Forms online, or at the BloodBank Station itself - it takes only about 15 minutes in all.

Before heading down for the Blood Donation, ensure that you are feeling well, have enough rest, drink enough water and of course, are a healthy donor.   I chose to visit the Dhoby Ghaut outlet since it's closest to home.

At the Bloodbank, we hand over our original NRICs for registration purpose, and are given a Queue number to see the doctors.   The Medical Screening with the doctors take about 10 minutes - where they go through the questionnaire and declaration forms with us in detail, highlighting salient points; and they take our temperature, weight and blood pressure.

After that, we proceed to the station outside the consultation rooms where a Blood Prick test is being done, to test that our iron level is sufficient for blood donation. For females it should fall within the range of 12.5 to 16.5.   At this juncture, if our temperature, blood pressure or iron level fall short, they will still disallow us from donating blood. If the problem is with our iron level, we are given a box of iron tablets to take. We may set an appointment around 4 days later to try again.

If we pass everything, we will be brought into the Donation Room where we lie down and relax while the friendly nurses attend to us - speaking to us to calm us and prepare us, giving us painkillers / anaesthetics to minimize our pain, and then blood withdrawal begins.  It takes about 5 - 10 minutes.   If you have been through thorough healthscreenings before, where your blood is being taken, well, this feels like that - only longer. So yes, there is slight pain and discomfort during the process.

After that, the wound will be secured and we are advised to take a 10 - 15 minutes rest and some refreshments before heading off. They have a rather well-stocked refreshments bar with drinks, snacks, etc that we could help ourselves to.

Once everything is completed, and we feel steady and well, we can leave the Bloodbank already, and go to do whatever we have planned for the day ahead.   It is rather gratifying to see that by evening time, the Bloodbank was filled up with people who were queuing to give blood.

While there is no need for abstinence of any food or activities, it is good to take some "red blood cells producing" food such as pig liver or kidney, red meats, beetroots and other red fruits / veg, and drinking of red date longan tea.

Anyway, if you fit all the above criteria, and would like to contribute in a meaningful way, do drop by Bloodbank to share a little blood which could potentially save lives! It only takes an hour or less of your time in all.

Sofitel SO Hotel AND L'heure du Thé Singapore 2014 - Hightea Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Foundation

Today, I attended the L'heure de The Singapore 2014 event- hosted by Le Style  - a French Hightea Fundraiser event for the Breast Cancer Foundation, held at Hotel Sofitel SO Singapore (35 Robinson Road) from 3.00 pm - 5.00pm.

The ticket price was SGD$100.00, and I honestly did not know what to expect since this was my first fundraiser hightea event. I thought I would just enjoy the hightea session, watch some performance and talks, and consider myself having done a good deed through the ticket donation.

The theme was French Parisian so I was decked out in my big-pearl black dress and black fur shawl. All the ladies there were well-dressed and friendly.

Anyway, we had to register ourselves upon arriving at the glamorous boutique hotel, and then someone ushered us to our assigned seats. I was seated with two lovely ladies *J and Joreis (I usually use pseudonyms but I have to accredit the latter for some photo credits later).

The place was decorated beautifully, and it was held at a French-themed hotel, so rather befitting I reckon. Each table came with the usual settings and a program card entailing the afternoon's program, as well as a Goodie Bag.  French music was playing in the background as well.

This is the Menu Card and we were served hot tea by TWG - black tea with honey, green tea with lavendar and white tea with something (I cannot recall) but I asked for the Green Tea with Lavender - fabulous flavor!  Oh, we were also served a glass of Champagne each - the one I was holding in photo above.

Then the High Tea set was being served - an assortment of savoury and sweet pastries - by the hotel's very own Xperience Restaurant & Bar.

The first tier consisted of Crab Yuzu & Apple in a small glass cup and Iberico & Aged Parmesan Tartlet.

The next tray contained Foie Gras Paris-Brest and the Smoked Salmon Aumoniere.

Then another tray which comprised of mini Macaroons - I took the right one with the green and brown macaroons.

Last but not least, some Raspberry Financiers and Chocolate Tartlets.

Finally, we had Creamy Berries. The service staff did come around with trays of refills. It was a gorgeous gourmet treat that stretched till the end of the event.

Over our meal, we listened to an introduction by emcee Karri Nicholas and then a short talk by Kerrie Hess, on Paris illustration.

Next, we enjoyed a short Ballet Performance from the soundtrack of Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain, La Valse d'Amelie. I just simply love the graceful beauty of ballet performances.

Following the ballet dance was a speech by Claire-Lise Dautry , the Executive Director of Alliance Francaise de Singapour (the French School at Newton).

There was also a chitchat and photograph session with Kerrie Hess at the end of the session, which I had a lovely chat with her about her innovative designs and had her sign on a poster for me. This is one very friendly and lovely lady!

We got two goodie bags - one from the event organisers comprising of beauty products, perfume capsules, discount voucher from Lauderee etc and another one from Luxola with a variety of beauty product samplers - merci beaucoup!

Besides the wonderful event cum hightea and newly-acquired friendship of the two ladies I was tea-ing with, we were also taken on a short guided tour of Hotel Sofitel SO itself, to see the various rooms and suites of this new boutique hotel situated right in the heart of the CBD district.

Unfortunately, my handphone battery died on me at this point, so below photos of the Hotel Tour are all courtesy of my beautiful new friend Ms Joreis Ong (follow her on Instagram at ojoreis).

This is the lovely doorknocker outside every white door of the hotel - logo of the hotel. Oh, by the way, many of the designs of the hotel are by Karl Lagerfeld the man himself - including the very comfortable bathrobes.

Some rooms, very luxurious looking beds and their super comfortable-looking bathrooms.  Every design and knickknack has a meaning to it, how deep!

Love the painting that gives the illusion of high ceiling and being in Europe when you wake up; and also love the cute clothes hanger in the shape of a hand.

And of course , who would not love a huge, well stocked bar as such?

Finally, the Rooftop Poolside Bar - the tiles are golden so at night it literally looks like a pool of champagne - how magnificent!

Overall, the entire afternoon was simply enriching and euphoric event  - thank you Le Style and Hotel Sofitel SO for the wonderful organisation + arrangement, as well as all the sponsors for the freebies!

Add me on Instagram at WineVenom

Voluntary Work and Marina Barrage Sustainable Singapore Gallery

8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018951

Tel: 6514 5959

We headed for Marina Barrage early, because of a volunteering event. It was my first time coming to Marina Barrage though I have heard of it quite sometime ago. It was airy, huge and place offering lovely views, no doubt about it.

I managed to take some photos, but mainly was with the group I came with. Some introductions, preparation and briefing went underway and then we waited for the people we were taking care of today to arrive. There were families and children, let's call them "our Ward" for the day.

We were divided into different groups to take care of the segregated groups of Wards as well. When they arrived, we introduced ourselves to them and had some ice-breaker games to warm everyone up.

Then we sat around the foyer and gave out the materials for everyone to decorate / design their own kites. Marina Barrage was known for kite-flying, wasn't it?

We went around to our Wards and helped them out while chatting with them about their Dreams, since it was what they were supposed to pain onto their kites. Some of the kids painted really nice pictures, whereas the others had interesting inspirations that piqued further queries from us.

Thankful that the weather was cloudy with no rain or scorching sun, we headed for level 3, the kite-flying level, where many families and kids were already happily chasing their kites that were soaring high in the air.

It was like, the first time I'd flown a kite (no pun intended), and it wasnt easy to maneuver for sure. I'd also learned that the tails by the sides and at the end of the kites are important assets to keeping the kites afloat, as well as ensuring there are no holes in the kites (some kites have holes for easy insertion of the supporting sticks).

Anyway, I took a walk around the vicinity while the Wards were happily flying their kites with the help of some of the volunteers. I didn't beg off my duty, worry not - just heading down to customer service to inquire about the ferry taxi service for one of the Wards.

Marina Barrage is such a serene, halcyon place to be, especially on a fair-weathered day like today.

After the fun of running in the wind and guiding the kites, it was time for a simple catered lunch of Nasi Lemak - omelet, fish cake, chicken karaage, peanuts, ikan bilis and rice cooked in fragrant coconut broth. The Wards enjoyed their lunch, and the experience of eating together with new friends.

Now it was time to get creative so we distributed some materials to the Wards - photo frames, stickers and colored pens etc. While they were busy decorating their simple photo frames and sharing the different sets of stickers, some of us went around taking photographs for the various families, so they could stick their family portraits onto the frames.

Following that, there was a tour organized by the staff at Marina Barrage, for us to view the gallery and understand the 3 Benefits of Marina Barrage, being water supply, flood control and lifestyle attraction.

The tour began at ground floor (level 1) where some history and background information was shared with us. The Wards were given a quiz sheet each to fill in during the course of the tour.

We noted the dams and their structures as the guide patiently explained their uses.

Then we went into the cool, air-conditioned gallery with this organic tree illuminated by three colors (red, green and white), symbolising the uncertain state of our present environment.

This feature wall is made enturely of Newater bottles.

Then we moved into another room where the education continued. It was gratifying to see that most of the Wards were fascinated and paid close attention, some even asking questions pertaining to the tour.

Here we learned the history of all of Singapore's reservoirs.

More impressive screens emphasizing the water supply systems.

Then some history of the flooding that occured in Singapore and the impact.

And how the issues were gradually resolved, through cleaning up of Singapore and Kallang rivers.

We moved along the gallery  through this beautiful that resembled rows of sparkling water drops.

The historical tour was enriching and educational for us, rewinding back into the arms of the past.

Here we overlooked the Pump House. The guide did explain it housed some important stuff but I cannot recall now.

Now we enter into Gallery 3, featuring the Active, Beautiful and Clean waters programme.

We see how the waterways in Singapore are revamped and beautified.

The rejuvenated waterworks bring communities together and forge common need to cherish this precious liquid.

Visitors even have the chance to create their own ideal waterways around their homes.

Gallery 4 showcases the innovative barrage model demonstrating how the Marina Barrage works.

This gallery also details the intricate construction and operations of the dam.

Here at Gallery 5, the careful planning , efforts and thoughts for an environmentally-sustainable country are illustrated.

The sustainable development story unfolds in the five chapters featuring different Singapore locations.

The tour continued up to level 3, The Greenhouse. The last part of our volunteering program concluded with some delectable cupcakes and fruits for the Wards, as well as an awards ceremony where prizes were presented to the winners of the various categories (kites, photoframes, tour quiz etc). My camera battery was flat by then, so no photos.

Anyway, it was a meaningful day well-spent, bringing simple joys to others, and in return feeling the joy ourselves.