Big college concert night at the Conference Hall. I'm no big fan of sit-down symphonic music but it helped that the band played lively, upbeat, familiar tunes that kept the mood light and happy. The concert combined the strings of the traditional guzheng with European wind and percussion instruments for something of a fusion performance. It wasn't entirely perfect, a bit more rehearsal time would have helped smoothen out the blend better. Nevertheless, it was a credible enough show for me to be absorbed into the music and enjoy the evening.

'Peter and the Wolf' turned out amazingly cute, as I'd expected. The props makers spared no effort in creating a huge cardboard set comprising a massive tree, a reed bank to represent the edge of a pond, a working gate and a little farmhouse, all cut and painted from old packing crates. The cast's enthusiasm in playing their characters won over the crowd, particularly the bird who kept flitting and flapping almost right through the entire piece, wowing us with her endurance and stamina. It was a nice touch to introduce colour and movement to the concert, and we did appreciate the variety.

Among the audience was this bunch from x17 who, like everyone else, was busy taking photos after the concert was over. Well, I had my camera with me too, so I guess I was no different.

Oh, before the concert, Mel, Wayne and I quite confirmed that around Shenton Way on Saturday evening, there's practically nothing to eat. All potential eateries have closed and it's easy to starve on the street there and then.

Fortunately, we stumbled upon Honjin Japanese Restaurant, still open for business on Robinson Road. For its location, the prices aren't too bad, between $18-28 for a teishoku bento.

The decor is entirely Jap, right down to the wait staff dressed in yukata. The illusion ends there, though, 'cos they don't walk at all Japanese, and while polite, their accents betray a more local, heartland origin.

But who cares? The food is good (yummy, juicy sukiyaki beef) with a generous array of sides, chawanmushi inclusive. Yay! One more place to eat at!

Unplanned double date at Izakaya Nijumaru where we shared a table with Jamie (June's colleague), and bf. The first thing we saw as we entered was the sushi bar, the second was a friendly hand waving at us to make up a foursome.

Located at Cuppage Centre, the premises are rustic Japanese with bamboo highlights. Furniture is rough and ready, and the place overall looks more robust than fine in the way we think Jap cuisine should be.

The house teishoku featured saba, pork stew and a prawn tempura. I sampled some of the saba and pork from June's set. Both tasted as strong as they were chunky, fish oil mixing with pork fat sent my tastebuds into overload. Not subtle, but a working man's meal that was. Definitely too strong for miladies' delicate constitutions, they didn't have very good things to say about it.

I was conservative and opted for the sashimi set. Three thick slices each of tuna, maguro and yellowtail(?); a side of French beans fried in egg; rice and miso. No complaints from me about what I ordered. As long as the fish is fresh and the wasabi sings in my ears, I'm good to go. Besides, I was hungry.

Price: reasonable. Two sets and a chawanmushi set me back $42 plus tax.

Edit 01:
Oops. Blinded by optimism, I misinterpreted the tournement bowling scores. It was an even draw between us and our opponents, sharing 10 points each. Our overall scratch pinfalls actually dropped and we've been knocked off the top-3 high scratch series score. We've not improved our position on the league table either. BUT we actually drew with the current fifth place team, so there's still hope yet to finish this year about mid-table.

All I ask at the end of this day is rest. And after a long day of switching hats every other hour -- such is my schedule on Wednesday -- that's exactly what I'm doing. Absolutely nothing. Perhaps except contemplating which game to play on Mr L33t until my eyes bug out. And then I'll probably be too lazy to even slot in the requisite CD-ROM and instead go to sleep. Hey, I deserve it.

Asthma or no, when duty calls, el capitain must still show up at the lanes and bowl his set. Team comprising me, Ton_y and Andy did ok today. Our opponents were pretty evenly matched with us, but they got tired at the last game. We have a chance of earning some decent points and climbing out of the depths we've begun in.

My average dropped a bit to 157 over four games, but it looks more realistic now. Overall, our total pinfalls is better than our last game's, improving by about a hundred. As usual, official results should be out by late Thursday.

Follow up visit with Doc Toh was inconclusive. Can't establish much else other than that the drugs are working and I'm still breathing (though, he says, at 85-90%). Advised to continue pill-popping regimen while my supplies last, and just keep monitoring. I suppose in this case, no news is good news.

Breathing difficulties have resurfaced after a year, especially bad today. Doc Toh is concerned, and mystified, as am I about the cause. He's decided to treat the symptoms as adult-onset asthma. Gave me a whole bunch of pills to take, mostly anti-inflammatories and a steroid to keep the airways open. Review again with him tomorrow evening. This isn't funny.