Restrictions may have eased up, but that’s not stopping us from staying in to indulge in a good book, watch online storytelling and sip on sparkling English wines. Cheers!
DRINK
Sparkling wine bundle
Nyetimber
English winemakers like Nyetimber continue to celebrate English Wine Week (June 19–27) with a special four-bottle bundle deal on its delicious sparkling wines. From now till June 29, enjoy the MV Nyetimber Rosé, MV Nyetimber Cuvee Chérie, MV Nyetimber Classic Cuvée and Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs for $360, available online at Analogue Wine Merchant.
A pioneer of English sparkling wine since 1988, Nyetimber is England’s leading producer of sparkling wine specialising in three grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
Nyetimber uses only its own grapes from its own vineyards, each of which was deliberately selected to be south-facing with either sandy or chalk soils. All of its vineyards across the south of England are situated to have ideal conditions for growing its grape varieties.
FOOD
Everyday Italiano
Gastronomia
Da Paolo Gastronomia wants you to enjoy Italian comfort food at home with its precooked meals, baked goods and desserts, all prepared fresh without any preservatives.
Comprising everything gastronomically Italian — including their handmade pasta, fresh pasta sauces and ready-to-bake pizza — the selection ranges from starters to mains. Sourdough bread, pastries and their signature tiramisu, cakes and gelato can also be ordered and sent to your home at a click.
The café-deli concept from Da Paolo Group, with eight stores in Singapore, delivers islandwide through its online gourmet grocery shop. Enjoy free delivery for purchases over $150. If you are a new customer, you can enjoy $10 off your first online order with the code “NEWTENOFF”.
BOOKGet to know a local centenarianSoul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100
What is it like to be a centenarian living in Singapore? Just ask artist Lim Tze Peng, who at 100 — and is the oldest living local-born artist — is still breaking new ground on the canvas with his unique brand of hutuzi or muddled calligraphy.
Read all about his life and work in his biography, Soul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100. Authored by Woon Tai Ho (previously from Channel NewsAsia) and published by World Scientific, the book traces the lean beginnings of Lim’s early years during World War II as a farmer, teacher and principal, and artist who faced controversy with his innovative spin on Chinese calligraphy.
As a young man, Lim experimented with watercolour and oil-based paints, but he was most drawn to Chinese ink, which became the medium he is most famous for. His art, which could be described as the art of perseverance, has won him several accolades: a special prize at the Commonwealth Art Competition in 1977, Cultural Medallion in 2003, and Meritorious Service Medal in 2016.
Throughout the book, attention is paid to Lim the man, the foundation of everything that is admirable about Lim the artist. It looks at the man behind the art, and how art has given life to him and his family. “This is a story of steely perseverance. His belief in himself defeats societal norms about age and deepens his resolve to achieve and surprise,” says Woon.
Soul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100 will be available at all major bookstores including Kinokuniya, Times the Bookstore, and Popular and retails at S$56 (hardcover) and S$28 (paperback).
FESTIVAL
Fun through storytelling
Storyfest 2021
The fifth edition of Storyfest 2021, presented by The Storytelling Centre and The Arts House, returns in a digital format to entertain audiences through a series of storytelling performances, workshops and lectures, available online from now till 11 July.
This year’s theme “ReStory” invites you to reconnect with familiar routines, faces and places and be inspired to reimagine new stories for your next chapter. Don’t miss local commissions featuring storytellers and spoken word artists from Singapore, and young emerging talents in multidisciplinary performances. Families can also look forward to interactive storytelling sessions with plenty of songs, movement and talking animals, including workshops to discover new ways to help those with special needs connect with stories.
Whether you’re an artist hoping to improve your storytelling skills, an educator or caregiver interested in using storytelling as a teaching and therapeutic tool, or an individual who wants to use storytelling for organisational crisis, “ReStory” has something entertaining for everyone.
Tickets to Storyfest 2021 start from $10 for Zoom workshops to $25 for on-demand storytelling packages at storyfest.peatix.com
MOVIE
Judie Dench wows again
Six Minutes to Midnight
The very talented Judi Dench teams up with Eddie Izzard to star in Six Minutes to Midnight. This thriller centres on the Augusta Victoria College, a finishing school for daughters and god-daughters of the Nazi elite on the south coast of England. The school comes under scrutiny after the mysterious disappearance of a teacher who is replaced by teacher Thomas Miller (Izzard). School governess, Miss Rocholl (Dench), hired Thomas to help prepare the girls for the Anglo-German fellowship. As the movie unfolds, Thomas comes under suspicion when a murder takes place. It is worth watching just for the lead actors, and period dramas never fail to intrigue. Check online for screen timings.
