Love Singapore Sandals

Whatever you call them - sandals, jandals or flip flops - they still look great on your feet!

Love Singapore Flip Flops (Sandals)
Get a pair here.

Two New Prints - Clouds, Bugs and Goats

Cloud Bug
Roger Smith, 2013
Buy a print here

Cloud Bug (framed)
Roger Smith, 2013

Apocalypse 2
Roger Smith, 2013
Buy a print here

"Back Through The Gates" - A Boarders Memoir Published

Back Through The Gates by Roger Smith

I have finally put pen to paper and recorded some of the hijinks I go up to at boarding school in New Plymouth!

A direct link to the book can be found here.

Thoughts On Durian Wine

I was always brought up the belief that wine was "fruit of the vine", although clearly now it "grows on trees".  I can't really comment on the pros and cons of a good vintage, durian wine as I have yet to sample it.

Fruit wines though are hardly a new idea and I can't see why durian would be any different.  The British have a long tradition of making fruit wines and I remember as a youngster trying to make some out of plums (we had a tree at the time that was over-burdened with fruit).

Despite the fact of my mother gives me generous support the result was a syrupy mess that was completely undrinkable.  The pet dog was kennelled in the same shed and whined to get out - that's how bad the smell of the vintage actually was!

In New Zealand there is a South Canterbury company called Barkers and although they are today better known for their fruit jams, chutneys and syrups, it is fruit wine that made them a national icon.

Blackcurrants grow very well in Canterbury and it was this fruit that Barkers has been exploiting.  My grandparents who lived in Dyers Pass Road in the Port Hills of Christchurch had a large patch of blackcurrant bushes and I have fond memoires of fresh blackcurrant jam during my infrequent visits from the North Island.

So will the NUS graduates students who created durian wine no branch out and produce a mangosteen cuvee? One would hope they give it a try.

Singapore in 1962

Credit: Michael Rogge

Kees Renard filmed with his 8mm camera Singapore in 1962 when his freighter ss 'Straat Johore' called on the city.

Google's Singapore Haze Map

This map map from Google shows Singapore and Malaysia air quality in near real-time.  The original site can be found here.

Be It Ever So 'Umble

Queens - Stirling Road, Singapore

My home in Singapore (highlighted in yellow).  I spent almost four years in this condo and miss it still, especially the large pool which you can see in the centre of the photograph.

This image is taken by a friend and former colleague who lives in the high rise HDB ForFar Heights across the road.  Note the haze from Indonesia!

Queens - Commonwealath Avenue Entrance

Trapped - new winter photograph

Trapped
Photograph - Roger Smith 2013

I came across this winter leaf trapped in a web and appreciated the natural balance of the composition.
Copies of this print are available here.