Behind the Scenes: Making Sushi for the Pot-Luck

Fillings for the sushi: Shitake mushrooms, cucumber, peppers in 3 colours, (not in picture) smoked salmon and rolled egg


Topic 1: Target Readers
Alarmingly, an increasing number of my work mates are starting to become aware of my blog and worryingly, some are starting to read it.

Yesterday during lunch time, a colleague came up to me saying she has been reading my blog, especially the "pink shirt" post. She said she was anticipating what I'd write next. My team mates are also aware of my blog, although, I doubt they'll read it regularly. At least, I'm very happy they consented to their pictures being posted. Infact, today they even suggested a few posts based on the jokes they were making! Unfortunately, due to the inappropriate nature of the joke, I think it's probably not suitable for Itchiness (Sorry guys! I may rethink and post it up later). Some are even promoting the blog to other people working in the hospital, something I really want to discourage.

Anyway, what I'm getting at is that, it's disconcerting knowing people you know at work are reading what you are thinking and writing. I used to think my blog would be the place that I could write about anything and everything I feel like (and at times moan about people you work with). Being aware of my colleagues reading this post makes me feel like holding back on what I really want to say. We'll see how it goes. Probably if I have to write about something personal, I'll switch to another language. However, I've just realised how appalling my written Malay language/Bahasa Malaysia/Bahasa Melayu (what is the correct term nowadays?) is, huuu;( My BM certainly would not be fit for writing on this blog (but please don't mock it! I got excellent grades for BM in SPM. My written BM is just "rusty" that's all).

And if you are someone from work reading this: do leave comments, I really enjoy reading them :)

Topic 2: Wisecracks
I'm still being teased at work! My colleagues are still teasing me about "past things" but they were also creating things on the go and teasing me about having a blog. I know, they probably don't mean what they say, but most times I find it hard to come up with clever things to parry the insults with.

Last night at the potluck, my team mates were saying; the fact that I only smile and keep quiet makes it seem as if I am validating what people are saying about me, and that I should retaliate to keep negative ideas at bay. They also helped me come up with retorts and I appreciate it. Thanks team.

To be honest, I don't really mind being teased, as long as it's on a subject I approve. Some people DO go overboard, and may create the wrong idea in people listening. The second kind of teasing would be the kind I have to curb.

Topic 3: Flat Sushi
Now to the main topic. I really wanted to share my experiences with the Pot-Luck last night.

I finished work at 5pm, and for the pot-luck I was planning to make sushi. Infact, over the weekend I had been practising to make sure my abilities have not dulled. The Pot-Luck was at 7.30pm, and the SHO was going to pick us up. That meant I had to prepare the sushi within a tight timeframe!

I was quite worried:

1. As Mama Sarah had hinted on her blog, it takes me hours to prepare sushi (but the weekend shouldn't count, I was blogging while cooking, something I find extremely difficult due to my lack of multitasking talent).
2. I was cooking in my flat, without the non-stick pan, the non-stick rice cooker, without salt, sugar nor the proper utensils.
3. I didn't know whether my friends would like sushi or not.

As you could imagine, cooking in the flat was quite a disaster! My rolled egg got burnt, I slightly overestimated the amount of water to go with the rice and I didn't have any salt. I also forgot to bring soy sauce.

I cooked in the flat with all the windows WIDE open (hoping not to set off the alarm, and not to annoy my flatmate). I also had my laptop in the kitchen to entertain me. I don't know how I did it, but the 2 hours we were allowed was enough. Everything was ready just in time.

Thank goodness my friends who probably have never tasted home made sushi yet alone know what a poor rendition of my sushi tasted like were totally oblivious to the fact that the sushi was a slight disaster. Infact, they seemed to really enjoy eating it.

I was extremely relieved.

Umaku ikimashita shi, totemo yokatta desu.