31 Jan 2026 – ByeBye Jan2026

Thu: 2017 – 9yrs ago since the procedure for Non-InvasiveHeartAblation@Feiringklinikken located in Kjerkebygda down by LakeMjøsa,Feiring, Eidsvoll municipality in Akershus county/Norway. Formerly Norway’s only patient-dedicated hospital for heart patients and for me the best hospital stay ever. Now 9yrs later hopefully the tired and worn-out ticker will pull me thru’ the next 3months of travels – pix downloaded.

https://amylamsg.com/2017/02/01/lhl-klinikkene-feiring/

Safe flight PP back to Perth/Australia until we meet again – not related by blood but she is like a sister to me, my first friend and still a good friend after over 70decades. The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life – a sister may not be a friend, but a friend will always be a sister.

We’ll be Friends Forever, won’t we, Pooh?’ asked Piglet. Even longer,’ Pooh answered – A. A. Milne

Considering that I have been in the OrchardRd area the past few days as PP’s accommodations is there and walking by this Adidas shop just yesterday but thankfully not at the time when this happened – pix downloaded.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/orchard-road-accident-13-injured-hospital-scdf-police-5890061

AC maintenance S$129 total cleaning for 3unitsS$18per unit+Gas-Top-UpS$75 with MRL AirConServicing – poor foreign-worker not his fault that there was some misunderstanding quoted from another guy and of course have that all in B/W to back me up – all’s well that ends well and hopefully will last till the end of the year before the next cleaning. Always makes me nervous to see those safety harness fastened to the frail window frame and hope&pray nothing serious will ever happen here…

Fri:&Sat: with this ongoing haze, best to stay indoors. Packing a box filled with CurrySauces+CNY goodies and will payS$160 for checking it in on flight.

 

Cook and Share a Pot of Curry:  to share and to celebrate the diversities of cultures&foods, an event is created by 8 people to bring awareness of an incident from 2011 and have been cooking&sharing a pot of curry with family&friends in Norway&USA since then.

https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/21/variety/

Variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavour – William Cowper

This incident was a dispute between two neighbours over the cooking of curry in SIN! Do like a good curry but this in not really about liking curry or not; more about respect, tolerance to the different cultures,understanding&fighting against xenophobia when living in a multi-cultured environment. In this case, it was a complain from a PRC family about the cooking odour of their Indian neighbours – the audacity and cheek of them, should have stayed put in China!

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=bcea3bb0-06d7-4ca6-8d9e-37a8bea0e1f3

28 Jan 2026 – Fear Of Crowds

Sun&Mon: appreciations for pix from ppl who are at those places – the contrast of an aerial view of one taken with the ArcticAurora in Lofoten/Norway. And the others taken at Geylang,OrchardRd,LittleIndia,Chinatown/SIN when Sunday is the only day some of these foreign workers have a day off to meet their fellow-country-ppl. Personally would prefer to be snowbound than crowdbound and at present contently bliss to be within my 4-walls. All above pix downloaded but have seen&been in those scenes for real and will do whatever possible to avoid them – enochlophobia/fear of crowds, just discovered that there is even a word for it!

/

Body&soul are telling me to chill&rest to recharge&reset before another busy week ahead. Taking a breather to unwind to just chill out, letting go of the stress&relax the mind. Whether it’s with some soothing music,a good book or simply kicking back giving myself permission to chill. Life’s too short to be constantly on the go, so take this moment to pause&breathe to enjoy the present. A little chill time can do wonders for the mood&well-being. Putting the feet up,taking deep breaths and let the chill vibes in.

Just breathing can be such a luxury sometimes – Walter Kir

Lacking energy thus had to cancel Sunday’s dinner&Monday’s lunch, hopefully able to make Tuesday’s lunch.

Take care to be warm and safe for those in the way of WinterStormFern/USA, a significant winter weather event effecting ~200+millions bringing heavy snow,ice and widespread disruptions. Have no problems to be snowbond bringing back fond memories of the 1970s days in Tromsø/Norway above the AcrticCircle where it was home to me then – pix downloaded.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/live-updates-winter-storm-fern-100940075.html

Some humour despite of Fern – Snowman by IKEA – hahaha!

Tue: tkx for lunch with first friends KK&PP@DinTaiFung/Paragon, Olai’s favourite place for 小籠包 XiaoLongBao=SmallBasketBun – family record from him 23pieces beating his cousin Kiera 21! PP first experience walking SIN only glass overhead bridge@OrchardGateway across OrchardRd. Was hoping to take PP up to the rooftop@OrchardCentral by the outer esclators but could not find the way with one of the outer esclators under maintenance.

Last there was Nov2016 with cousinYun tourist guiding up stairways to heaven via 3-storey high boots@OrchardCentral. First there was with PuiAh in Nov2010.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/11/12/views-of-the-orchard-area/

Bus16 was packed from OrchardRd-MarineC, had to close my eyes to concentrate on breathing and rewarded myself a cup of fresh OJ where this IJOOZmachine here@MarineC tells me that it is their 168,353,140cups sold also my dinner for today still filled up from lunch.

No wonder nose&throat were irritated the past few days and looks worst here on the EastSide – pix downloaded.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-haze-burnt-smell-hotspots-nea-5884461

Wed: was planning a MtFaber+CableCar for PP but with the haze+coughing will be tempting fate and too close for my travels to end up in hospital. Blessed to spent some time with friends from since we were kids, ie for 70+yrs. Appreciations with thanks to KK&PP for their friendship for 70+yrs. Pix from 2026/SIN,2010/Croatia,1950s/SIN.

Tkx to RY for checking today – looks like there is a promising chance to go for dinner later and tkx to KK for a yummy wholesome homecooked meal.

24 Jan 2026 – Welcome Back Peggy&Family And Tim&Chris

Wed: text message from USAPresidentTrump to NorwayPrimeMinisterStøre on Jan 18 at 16:15hrs. Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7mev35x2lo

NorwegianPM-Støre said he had repeatedly explained to Trump that the NobelPeacePrize is awarded by an independent committee, not by the Norwegian government. Oh dear! am I out of my mind to be heading to Norway&USA? Completely speechless at what is going on and wondering if this is fake news or that my imagination is playing tricks on me??

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/19/europe/trump-norway-nobel-prize-snub-intl

Thu: Happy 24Bday to grandchild #1Katy – graduated with her Masters from UofSC last month, and just like a blink of an eye when I changed her diapers, now here am I getting ready to fly across the ponds for her wedding next month?!

Before you marry a person you should first make them use a computer with slow Internet to see who they really are – Will Ferrell

Welcome Tim(last time we met was in Dublin/Ireland for Lock&May’s wedding/1970?) and his son Chris – tkx for 蝦子麵 HaZiMeen/ShrimpRoeNoddles, one of my favourite noodles. YMCA/OrchardRd, where they are staying downloaded old pix of what was from my childhood days and today – agreeing with Tim’s comment, the old one has more character like us. Good luck to Chris who will be starting a new job here in Mar.

Being in the OrchardRd area was no problem to pick up distilledH20 for PP to drop them off to where she&her family will be staying during their visit and learning the difference between all these waters! Have not been to CentrePt for a while, glad to discover that there are both a grocery&foodcourt conveniently located just around the corner of their accommodations.

Slow but steady walk to&from PlazaSIN finding this bargin dressS$3.90 while walking under the shade by ConcordeHotel and got some sewing accessoriesS$10.50@Spotlight/PlazaSIN. Lucked out at the downstairs CareFridge/FOC for my monthly ration. Today was 18yrs ago since this blog was started and today managed ~10,000steps.

https://amylamsg.com/2008/01/21/about-the-book/

Fri: what a lovely&perfect day catching up with PP. Bfast&MT-Market,stroll on EC-Pk,CoffeeBean&TeaLeaf/MarineCove for refreshments,take-away-lunch from MyBriyaniHouse ending on Bus36 a loop joyride with ~10,000steps for today. Appreciations with thanks for all these yummy gifts.

Sat: introducing to PP Old Bibik’sPeranakanKitchen for one of my favourite dishes there –

AyamBuahKeluak – chicken cooked with the nuts from the kepayang/PangiumEdule, a mangrove tree. The fresh fruit and seeds contain hydrogen cyanide and are deadly poisonous if consumed without prior preparation.  It’s also one of the favorite dishes of SINs founding PM-LKY and his son, LHL.

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-05-16_111918.html

The contents of the nut is dug out and sautéed with aromatics and seasonings, before usually stuffing back into the nuts but today it was not stuffed back into the shell but taste just as delicious. It is one of the most labour-intensive Peranakan dishes to prepare. Peranakan/Nyonya cuisine comes from the Peranakans, descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled in Penang,Malacca,SINIndonesia, inter-marrying with local Malays. This unique cuisine found mainly in this part of the world combines Chinese,Malay,Javanese&other influences.

20 Jan 2026 – Here There&Everywhere in Every Ways

16 Jan 2026 – ThankU For a Wonderful Bday Week

Wed: thankU AK for lovely orchids+Bfast at our usual-haunt@MT-Market catching up with updates. When we first met, was not even a grandmother then, her 2kids were not even in their teens and she was about to expect her #3. Now she is soon to be a grandmother of 2 and my #1grandchild is soon to be married – it is thru’ our decendents who show us how the years have gone by so quickly…

Where has the time gone?
The years have slipped away.
Every time you look around,
There is a brand “new” day.

The old passes on—
Making way for the new.
The new becomes many,
And the old becomes few.

Where has the time gone?
For, longing are the years,
Which brought joy and laughter
And sometimes even tears – Salley

Unusual to see 2Dendrobium/Den blooms fused together and the abnormality is quite stunning, unfortuantely it broke off from the stem, so now individually placed on its own. Den is a genus of mostly epiphytic and lithophytic orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It is a very large genus, ~1,800 species and this one might be DenVictoriae-Reginae, commonly known as the QueenVictoriasDen.

Tkx for BeefRendang,OtakOtak,AyamBuahKeluak,NgorHiang,Popiah-dinner@Godmama/Funan – nice cool evening to dine alfresco despite entertaining issues with the glass-sliding-doors – hahaha!

Thu: 2IKEA-DaisyCussions Bday giftS$30 to myself. Tkx to nieceAdeline for DimSumLunch@CantonParadise/PP where she ordered enough food to take away for another meal for a whole family! What does it feel like to be 76 when the FlowerPower within still rules idealistically&strongly more so now in this troubled-world – flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words ScottMcKenzie’s SanFrancisco still lingers within. Blessed with good food and happy that these feet can still walk everywhere with all my senses intact, more or less – hahaha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bch1_Ep5M1s

Yeah to a needed traffic light@PP/MP-Rd when taking a bus(cousinKaren must be thrilled!), but preference is still to walk around the HDB-estate and today these lovely Queen of the Night cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) on StillRd 昙花 (tánhuā)=fleeting flower reflecting its beauty but brief overnight blooming, often associated with good fortune. Might tempt me to take another midnigt walk if still awake. Tkx for these 2026calendars from Norway took 2weeks for snailmail and with much appreciations for all the gracious well wishes.

Fri: lunch@MT-Market with nieceDaisy, thankU for one of my favourite Cantonese desserts(almond&walnut paste) from one of the better stalls SiyuanDesserts 思源糖水铺, good but still cannot be compared her mother’s homemade almond paste which is greatly missed.

Tkx Gel for bringing us dinner&cake to my 4walls and appreciations to nephewLee for this pix from 2017, 9yrs ago.

9 Jan 2026 – Subli Motion

Tue: XmasDecorations down, so ready to be boxed and put away until next season…

Appreciations for the new S$300CDCS$600PTVS$60

Neighbourhood ready for CNY appropriate&tasteful with just the red&gold lights – time for an ice-cream before the rains, dessert before dinner.

ThankU for dinner with nieceJudy&nephewClement.

5 Jan 2026 – The End of Twelth Days of Christmas

Fri: 1st2026 Friday out with 51more to follow!

1 Jan 2026 – Over & Out with 2025

Mon: On the fifth day of Christmas

My true love gave to me

Five gold rings… enjoy this last 2025Monday.

Why U might feel carsick in an EV—even if U are not usually prone to it – for one like me who has tendency to motion sickness, this is not good for me! https://www.carscoops.com/2025/06/felt-carsick-in-an-ev-science-has-the-explanation/

Japan breaks from US-Alliance: 70yrs pact collapses as Tokyo goes its own way – keep hoping&praying for peaceful consequences… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZEN4rTekkc

Introducing Cendol to ChristopherY who is back for a short visit and this time round his newly wed bride Kate who also happens to be from Jiangmen/China. Discovered that Christopher’s family is also from Jiangmen. Hmmm! do wonder if our ancestors might have know of each other??

With a cabbage in the fridge and since@GeylangSerai was in the mood for lamb/mutton to make Fårikål (Norwegian Lamb & Cabbage Stew), yes Lamb with a B(during student days in Dublin/Ireland, we used to tell ppl how to spell our name, Lam without the B!)and no Goose or Geese –  https://northwildkitchen.com/farikal-norwegian-lamb-cabbage-stew/

Drinks&food@VUE especially the oysters which were fresh&delicious

The crowds were starting to gather@MarineBayPromenade before 23hrs

~30mins of spectacle fireworks display with probably one of the best views possible ending with much smoke but the lungs are grateful&thankful for a breezy night clearing the air quite quickly and ringing 2026 in with a BANG.

Appreciations with tkx to broLeslie&Ivy+family for this evening and safe trip to nieceKat,Devon&Eliot.

Dixcussing with Kiera and not to sound unappeciatative but every NY-Eve, a certain chord in me that has been brewing over the past 4decades! As spectacular(irony) as these NY-Eve-Fireworks around the world are, cannot keep but wondering about more constructive ways to spend these $MultiBillions$ on, like education,medical,etc instead of fireworks,firearms,etc. Senior years are certainly bringing back some idealistic teen years thoughts

Last here when it was then ME@OUE/Apr2016 with KV&family, a location with a view on the roof-top and food to die for…

Squid-InkCroissant – my favourite.

SashimiPlatter,RedLobster/ChiliSauce&ManTou,DarkChocolateMoelleux, best lave-cake tasted.

OUE-Bayfront ground-floor lobby with these sculptures do make me think that DIET is to DIE without the T. Who am I trying to kid? Not only being a glutton but also being greedy&weak for good food,champagnes,wines,whiskeys and not forgetting good-looking men, in that order – hahaha.

Thu: slowly but surely in not too bad crowds finding my way to MRT-TEL-ShentonWaySta by 01.00hrs grateful for the extra late trains (last one 02.30hrs, every 5mins) back to the EastSide by 02.00hrs. Everything went impressively well-controlled&smoothly without any incidents but not sure when the next outing at such a time will ever happen again and only here in SIN would I attempt take the subway alone at this time of the early morning…

Singapore tops the world ranking, with 98% of residents feeling safe walking alone at night. Its low crime rates, strict law enforcement, and social order foster an unparalleled sense of public security – Sources: (Gallup) (Euronews) 

2 – Happy Bday Darryl
5 – Happy Bdays GeraldC & Leonard
6 – Happy Bday CindyH
9 – Happy Bdays Judy & Lee
10 – Happy Bday KeeYang
11 – Happy Bday MickK
15 – Happy Bdays AngieS, Estella, JoshuaL & me!
18 – Happy Bday Isabelle (SunSun)
20 – Happy Bdays DavidLam & Mayven
21 – Happy Bday Michael
22 – Happy Bday Katy
24 – Happy Bdays OleK

28 Dec 2025 – Who Are U; Who Am I?

Fri: on the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves

HappyBoxingDay/StStephen’sDay/WrenDay on this 2ndDay of Christmas – BoxingDay comes from a tradition of gifting boxed gifts to the ppl who might need them more. What a nice way to share gifts received and giving away things not needed or in used any longer+a day to acknowledge with appreciations&gratefulness for greetings&gifts&kindness received. ChristmasCrackers loot from yesterday’s lunch that would otherwise have gone to waste but the grandchildren might appreciate them for the CNY.

Sat: on the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens

Appreciations with thanks to Henry for HorFun+Chicken dinner, no FrenchHens

but a pleasant surprise of a life-music-performance@MT-MarketSquare on this 3rd Day of Christmas, again no FrenchHens but a very attentive&discipline audience…

Sun: on the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four Calling Birds

Grandniece Isabelle asked – what do u think being yourself means? such a profound question from a teenager! What kind of an answer does she expect or hope from this grand-auntie? The simple answer – depending on what stage in life, U are what U are and every stage has its charms with their ups&downs.

Cogito, ergo sum – René Descartes 

Quiet days are important  –   ie a day doing nothing…

Might or might not be any or some of whatever above descriptions but by asking Who Are U; Who Am I occassionaly helps to reconnect with core values, fostering self-awareness and personal growth. Totally blessed, so far for intact mental&physical health to be able to still live financially independently making my own choices (without intentions to hurt oneself or others) and not what others expect or say but to accept the consquences moving forward to continue learning with time for each&every change at the different stages in this life journey.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken – OscarWilde

We are living in a world where people demand explanations for everything — your choices, your silence, your growth. But what if silence is not weakness… but evolution?

Never explain yourself to those who live in the WORLD you have already surpassed — Yuval Harari

ThankU to broLeslie&Ivy for another delicious SundayDinner@Rochalie – nice to have some time with nieceKat, grandniecesDevon,Eliot&Kiera and pleasant surprise to catch up with nieceJessica from Canada, was not even aware that she is back visiting.