Surviving in Singapore

[curiousgeorge]

Well, I finally got my program and a couple of days off over Christmas to plan my attack. Starting on 28th December.

A couple of questions for the Singaporeans please:

1) Diet drinks...I haven't seen anything but diet Coke/Pepsi or Coke Zero in Giant/Cold Storage I go to. Do you know anywhere selling diet sprite/7-up/tonic or anything similar & allowed?
2) Crackers...Salada and Meiji are 2 crackers= 1 serving, right? And Jacob's lo-salt/hi-fibre are 1 cracker= 1 serving, yeah?
3) Anywhere to buy a George Forman grill?! Tangs/Robinsons etc not stocking.

Thanks,

[fornight]

1. The marketplace in Tanglin mall sells Diet 7 up and root beer. I was told the japanese supermarket in Liangs court also sells a wider range of diet fizzy drinks. I did drink diet 7up and rootbeer at one time but I find that my loss seems to be slower that time. It might be only me.

2. Yes, you are right.

3. I can't help you with that.

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks for that Fornight, will head over there later

[sundaymorningstaple]

You can forget George Foreman. I tried and tried, forgeddit. However, if you know somebody in Aus, or who makes trips to Aus, They can buy 220v one there. I think you can also buy from the UK, but shipping from there is a bit much. Also, if you know somebody on Home leave in either place, if they don't mind using a substantial portion of the weight allowance (which now days is at a premium with lots of Airlines now charging for the second bag). I just gave up. You might check CK Tangs (basement). I recollect a couple of months ago seeing a Breville version (very good well know Australian maker) there.

sms

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks for that SMS. Will go looking for Breville. We used to have a sandwich toaster at Uni called Breville.

Funny trying to find one though - every shop it goes like this:

"Hello, do you sell the George Forman Grill?"
"Wah?"
"The George Forman Grill? Do you sell it?"
"A grill? all grills here lah" (They escort me to the grill oven section.)
"No, not one of these, its like a double-sided grill, like a clamshell. Sort of like a sandwich toaster"
"ahh sandwich toasters...here lah" (they escort me to the sandwich toaster section)
"yeah, they're sandwich toasters, not grills..."
"make your mind up, you wan sandwich toaster? Or grill?"
(At this point my head explodes and I have to have a lie down...)

[curiousgeorge]

And Fornight:

I went to Market Place at Tanglin Mall...no joy with diet drinks. Only the coke/pepsi stuff and A&W Diet Root Beer (eugh).

So...still on the hunt for diet sprite/7-Up in Singapore...

[fornight]

They do have diet 7-up but will need time to stock up when it is out. Did you ask the salesperson there? Initially they only have them in cans but I remember they started selling them by box carton (a dozen) since halloween season.

[Harriet Vane]

Originally Posted by curiousgeorge

And Fornight:

I went to Market Place at Tanglin Mall...no joy with diet drinks. Only the coke/pepsi stuff and A&W Diet Root Beer (eugh).

So...still on the hunt for diet sprite/7-Up in Singapore...

I'm so jealous! A&W Diet Root Beer is delicious, but the only place I've found it here in Australia is at a US import store.

Re the George Foreman grill, have you tried shopping online for it?

[Moonbeams]

George, try ebay for the George Forman grill - the whole world will open up for you... and good luck !

[sundaymorningstaple]

The problem with eBay or Amazon is the shipping. I already thought about that as well. Shipping costs as much as the grill does and in some cases more! Most of the online shops in Aus also to not ship internationally, or if they do, it's only to their offshore state of NZ!

Also, you cannot buy from the US or Japan as the voltage is only 115v and not 220-240v like it is here in Singapore. Of course you could always opt for sea freight, you might get it around the time you finish the programme.

[fornight]

I saw the type of grill you are looking for in Takashimaya kitchen ware section. It was not the brand you wanted. It comes in medium and large size and uses electricity. I think the display area only has two sets (medium and large). The medium size is selling at $199.

It is against the wall and right next to the wall display of japanese thermal food flask or lunchboxes.

Hope this helps!

[Future Yummy Mummy]

George: I got a 2 serving GF grill in Tesco a few weeks back (when I was back in the UK). It was less than 20 pounds, and weighed about 2-3kg. Might be worth getting someone to post?

Hope it's going well.

[fornight]

I forgot to mention this. I saw Pepsi Light in Takashimaya's cold Storage supermarket.

[curiousgeorge]

Ooh thanks again everyone.

I did find a grill, almost George Forman-like at CK Tangs yesterday. Makes things like steak, chicken breasts and fish steaks so easy. Snapper last night with a sprinkle of dill and pepper. Set and forget for a few mins then chow down!

Marketplace at paragon has a palette of diet 7-up right now! I brought home 70 cans yesterday

Pre-Cohen's I was a bit of a Coke Zero fiend, so I am trying to fill that void with a better alternative.

[fornight]

I am glad that you found the grill you are looking for.

I was tempted to buy the grill that I found in Takashimaya but I know that I will not be using it often. I prefer stir-fry because I can cook both the proten and veg together to make it one big dish with soupy gravy to fill me up.

Be careful of the fizzy drink! I used to rely on coke zero for sweetness or soda water for the fizziness while on the program. Then I found out that they really bloat me too much and I gas too much. very annoying and embarrassing. In the end, I restrict myself from them and only drink them when I REALLY need it.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Hey fornight, I used Coke Zero both during and even till today. The gassiness & fizziness make me lighter on the scales as gas is lighter than air so gives me a lift and lightens the load!

[fornight]

sms - You better be careful that you don't fly away with the wind like a balloon!!!

[baloo]

Vita-Weat crackers are now back on the shelves at Cold Storage after about a 2 month absence.

Easily for me the most satisfying cracker on the programme.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Whoa! good news that! Did you notice if they had the cracked-pepper ones? The normal ones just remind me of slate tiles for the roof. But I quite like the cracked-pepper and those two, if I remember correctly, were the only two allowed.

[curiousgeorge]

Hmm I might give those a go if I can find them. I am currently eating Jacob's lo-salt hi-fiber crackers as recommended by the clinic. I tried Salada but thought they were horrible.