15 Nov 2018 – Shopping Spree Mood

Mon: 33rdASEAN Summit here in SIN started, so avoid the Suntec area unless you want to be stuck with the road closures, traffic delays, etc etc. Chaired by SIN PM Lee HsienLoong for 10ASEAN countries, heads of 8 key partner nations of ASEAN, security has to be really tight!

https://www.asean2018.sg/About/ASEAN-2018

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. (If only the US President knew this quote, he might have dressed appropriately and have some decency!) Let the experienced staff Campers’Corner help your upcoming holidays to be a good one. Fantastic sale ending Sun18Nov on the 1st-floor@51WaterlooSt.

Could not resist these deals and I thought I have all the outdoor&sports gears I needed! 5thCharco sandals but 1stChaco bag!!

Many tkx for a beautiful and surprised gift from my bro, Les – a golden pearl which I never knew existed! Golden South Sea pearls typically come in sizes larger than most other types of saltwater pearls. They come from the largest pearl-producing oysters on the planet. Once the saltwater oysters are bead-nucleated, it can take up to 2-4 years for them to fully form, so they are quite rare. All of these factors make it possible for the hosts to produce very large pearls – 

https://www.thepearlsource.com/golden-south-sea-pearls.php

Bought tickets for SIN-KCH-SIN (S$68) on AirAsia for mid-Jan2019. Looking forward to catching up with family&friends and eating the local foods there.

Tue: appreciations to Faith for a productive shopping day@Giant&IKEA. Thrilled to be able to use my IKEApoints for Gravlaks&SiewMai brunch – 1,000pts+S$3.

Wed: had to get some materials, etc for sewing and Spotlight was offering 30%off for members tonight; 50%off@Watsons. PlazaSIN has 300+shops and services for your choices. Made time to watch my 1st Tagalog (must be the influence of the ASEAN on-goings) movie First Love – Nick gets attracted to a photographer with a congenital heart disease who is waiting to be selected for a heart transplant. Soon, the two become each other’s inspiration to live life to the fullest. Beautiful scenes from Vancouver/Canada.

Nice to see this SIN showcase of Instagram photography by the National Youth Council NYC.

Enjoyed watching a young artist in the making.

Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter – OscarWilde

Tkx Clement for dinner company. Looks like PlazaSIN is ready for the Christmas and I am far from ready! No excuse now that I have much of the shopping done – just need get out of the lazy mood and into the creative one!! Will try and pick a location on OrchardRd to share the Christmas lighting on FB starting this Sun2Dec, first Sun of Advent.

Thu: Happy 40Bday Chris who is a father to 3kids, still looks like a kid himself and easily mistaken to be a bro of his own kids…

11 Nov 2018 – My Favourite Coffee-Coffee Ice-Cream

Wed: strange to see this location so empty. The moving of TPT (opened 1972 and was SE-Asia’s first container terminal then) to the future Tuas mega-port is in progress. Very unlikely to see the new TuasTerminal which will not be ready until 2040!

With real estate needs changing rapidly along with consumer and business trends, it could make sense for land use planning to evolve more flexibly ahead of changing needs – MsTan. 

5 Weddings – an American journalist travels to India to do a magazine feature on Bollywood weddings. To add to her issues, her mother asks her to track her father, who left them when Shanaya was a little girl and deliver a parcel to him. There she overcomes her own prejudices about the culture, the people and discovers more than she had hoped to. Entertaining and an enjoyable way to pass 1+hr. Must be the Festival of the Lights attracting me to these Indian foods&movie…

Finally found my favourtie CoffeeCoffee ice-cream here in SIN@VivoCity. Will be back!

Have always wanted to try this KCH KoloMee – will definitely not be back!!

Thu: after a good 10hrs sleep on a wet and storming night last night, ready to fix things around the 4-walls and mending clothes – still do mend clothes and darn socks!

Fri: heavy morning rains was nice. A trip to the OrchardRd area@CathayCineleisureOrchard to discover that it is under renovation and the B1 good chicken-rice stall is no longer. Japanese movie – The Travelling Cat Chronicles is about a kind-warm heart young man who has a cat named Nana, but, due to circumstances, he is unable to take care of Nana. He travels with Nana to find a person who will take care of Nana. During his travels he meets with his childhood friends and his first love. Not a cat person but rather touching with this special bond of man&cat.

Sat: have not been to NUS campus and decided to check it out since I was going to be there for a concert. Just cannot get enough of the greenery there.

Indeed an impressive campus – makes me want to go back to school again. The idea of 1hr30mins on the bus to get from the East-end over to the West-end will change my mind with that thought, unless I can get a room in those high-rise doms!

Looks like there is plenty of on-going activities for the weekend.

Nice covered walkway over AYE linking to the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum Faculty of Science and the Yong Siew Toh YST Conservatory of Music.

The sky opened and poured buckets, but no worries considering all the eateries here! Choice was Foodclinque to feel the fresh cool breeze and yet protected from the heavy downpours.

Appreciations to Yoshie for the delightful evening@YSTCM

A full house enjoying Dohnányi&Dvořák Piano Quintets with the T’ang Quartet-Albert Tiu And Friends. Tkx to Joseph for the ride back to the East-side, saved me an hour on the bus! Group-selfie credits to Yoshie&George.

Sun: introducing Glory’s Popiah&Chendol to Yoshie. Pix credits to Yoshie. Tkx to Les&Ivy for Sun dinner and for an amazing and surprised gift.

6 Nov 2018 – Happy Deepavali/Diwali

Sat: a trip to Little India just before Deepavali – enough Chicken Biryani&crowds to last me for the year, until the CNY 🙂

Some cheerful mural art: 6 pillars of TekkaCentre. Cattleland 2 by EuniceLim. MadanMogra, Jasmine of the City by NadiahAlsagoff, a tribute to the SIN migrant workers.

The name Tekka comes from TehKiaKah or TekKah, a Hokkien name meaning foot of the bamboos, a reference to the many bamboo plants growing along RochorCanal.

Buildings of interest:  House of TanTengNiah – one of the last surviving Chinese villas in the neighbourhood.  SriVeeramakaliamman Temple – one of SIN oldest places of worship, this Hindu temple houses reliefs and statues that survived the bombings of WWII.

Do enjoy the ambiance of the festivities with all the colours, lights, food, flowers, etc as long as I can just take pix and not have to be pushing in the crowds.

Met this young man Martin from Germany who was in SIN for a holiday and liked it so much that he is now here to work for a year. Good for him and hope that his stay here for the year will be filled with good experiences and adventures, have offered to show him around.

Condolences to Audrey&family – it is hard when death is so sudden. At Betty’s wake with Clem. Nice to be able to share a bottle of wine with Jamie&Giovanni@my place and to hear about his hometown in Sicily. They run The Terminal Cafe@Seletar Aerospace Crescent/Airbus Asia Training Centre where we (Betty, Aud, Clem&I) were over a year ago. Must go back there sometime soon – a celebration of life to Betty.

https://amylamsg.com/2017/07/16/from-seletar-aerospace-park/

Sun: did not plan another trip around Little India – as we all know in life, things do not always go as planned. Great to discover this 4-storey-playground@CitySquareMall. Must give it a try on a weekday after the school holidays – a good gift voucher to those with active kids. Sharing food@FoodRepublic and watching the workers busy with the Christmas decorations outside.

https://www.airzone.sg/csmyourvisit

Window-shopping around and tasting foods for Christmas gifts ideas. So far, am delighted&excited over what is in the imagination&mind! Looking forward to starting with them.

Mon: tkx for yummy India food@TanglinClub on the eve of Deepavali. An interesting&valid question was asked regarding my postings&blogging. Some ppl misread that I am unhappy for posting so regularly! Sharing positively and constructively is how I communicate + also for the memory, posting like these do help. Tkx for the concerns – can honestly say that I am not unhappy, but there are certainly ups and downs and not sharing the downs on social media is a choice I made a long time ago.

Tue: Happy Deepavali – enjoy the holiday.

The lights in LittleIndia are one of my favourties at this time of the year.

Attended Betty’s funeral and since@Mandai Columbarium, paid respects to my parents there. Later a visit to 4sis-in-law who now walks with the help of a walker.

A breeze on the bus-ride thru’ the CBD on a public holiday – Anson&Robinson Rds.

Esplanade Dr&Nicoll Highway

May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out ― JRR Tolkien 

2 Nov 2018 – An Oct With Jetlag And The Flu

Tue: LionAir crashed with no survivors. Condolences, prayers and thoughts are out to all affected. Memories of a LionAir flight in 2006/7 when the family was stationed in BandaAceh after the 2004 tsunami and when I also said that I will never fly with this airline again! Considering how much I travel with budget airlines to say some thing like this must mean that I really was not comfortable on that flight!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46042035

Safe flight to cousin back to HI. Grocery&movie day – A Star Is Born with BradleyCooper&LadyGaga performing amazing jobs with their roles. Another reminder what love&stardom can do to different ppl.

A sad ending and for those who are sensitive would blame it on what Rez last said to Jackson. Yes, one is responsible for one’s own action, but no matter what – inflicting guilt on anyone is not compassionate or kind. And even less so when someone is an alcoholic or drug dependent.

Wed: Happy Halloween and a safe Trick or Trick to all. The last time with my USA gang for Halloween was 2012 and the last Halloween celebrated in this house before it was burnt down (Sep2013). Where have all those years gone???

2018 pix credits to Linn – not sure what #1&2 are, but guessing that they are doctors in scrubs?? Love the Viking, Princess and Dinosaur.

Great to catch up with Jeffery for brunch. Happy for the local fruits purchases@the neighbourhood fruit stall. 4different varieties for S$5.80 papaya, pineapple, DukuLangsat (Lansium parasiticum) and Ciku (sapodilla/Manilkara zapota). Used to have these varieties (excluding the Duku) in my childhood home. Heart fruit (人心果) is the Chinese name for this local Ciku and we had 2 Ciku trees on our land. The bats used to visit these trees at night when there were fruits on the trees.

@GH to say my goodbye to Betty after these postings below from AudreyW. Unless a miracle happens, she will be off life support sometime tomorrow. Prayers and thoughts are out to her and the family. Will so miss her cheerful smiles.

Update 2 – The doctors have done what they could. Thank you for your prayers and My mum is on life support now and is Blessed with people around her that came to see her one last time.

Update 1 – situation is pressing and she needs another surgery to ease the pressure on her brain…keep your prayers for her recovery.

Update – My mum is out of surgery but still need to monitor..keep your prayers for her recovery.

Thu: @the Polyclinics – they want me 100% well before any shots or tests and quite rightly so. This flu has been dragging and could only recently smell and taste food properly again. Also the ears finally popped back to normal. A reason to celebrate with foods from Glory.

Fri: TGIF – a good weekend to all.

29 Oct 2018 – A Reminder Of The Good-Old-Days

Sun: how I enjoy any day with the tranquility pitter patter of the rains and today especially when body&soul are still recovering from the past 6months non-stop on the go! Some new purchases to keep me company – the water feature to provide more humidity for a dry cough, tiny stained-glass angel to protect an old delicate hand-blown glass heart♥and ceramic hanging tile.

Appreciations to a dear nephew Clement for a lovely Sat evening where an Old World Charm was brought alive@The English House. This colonial-chic interior decor with good English food (never thought I will say that 🙂 ) is highly recommended.

Restaurant with rooms (rooms are slated to open 2019), low-top marble tables (a reminder of the old coffeeshops), a mix of Terry O’Neill photographs and English carnival-themed sculptures is the dinning ambiance.

Tasty Oxtail Broth En Croute which hit the spot for me.
Beef Tartare (special of the day) – could have done with less salt.

Honey Roast Belly Pork Marco Polo – marinated in honey, it is served with crispy pork skin, HorFun, apple sauce and pan juices – yummy.

Braised Black Angus Beef&Tendon Pie – tender&tasty. Like the broth, the crust of the pie is excellent and that is what the English are good at.

Bread&Butter Pudding (pix credits to The English House), not your usual but was as smooth as valet. The strawberries with meringue&ice-cream was sweet. Had some left overs pork and what good idea to have to sign for it. That way the take-away is at your own risk and that is how it should be.

Made time to even do some food shopping@IKEA later since I had a ride!

Tonight, Sunday’s dinner@House of Peranakan Petit – not hungry but went to catch up with the Wong branch of the family who I have not seen since 4th auntie passed away in 2016. Tkx for including me. Time has really gone by, Josh (19) and the twins Jagger&Jordan (16)!

https://amylamsg.com/2016/02/29/with-fond-memories-dedications/

Was at this venue in 2016 and enjoyed the food here then. Today, the stomach had only room for dessert! SagoGula Melaka – pearl sago pudding drenched in palm sugar and topped with creamy coconut ice cream.

https://amylamsg.com/2016/07/07/back-to-sin-time/

Some good and some sad news:

Congratulations to Irmo High School XCountry for making to States. Pix credits to Elizabeth. Keeping my thoughts&prayers and fingers crossed for Katy&Ellie for a good&safe run and to their Coach Hall for good health and safety somewhere@Sandhills, SC USA on Sat.

Condolences and thoughts&prayers to all affected at the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting/index.html

Mon: catching up with Wilki@Chinatown – even all these murals are new to me.

Appreciations for lunch&foot reflexology massage at our usual hang-outs and tkx to Daisy for good company. Always be good to your feet, they hold you up and take you to where you want to go! So long cousin, for this time round.

27 Oct 2018 – Ticket For A Play In 2019

Mon: apologies to all who have been trying to reach me on my mobile. Did not realize that it had to be ‘reset’ after I returned. Duh, done now and still alive. Tkx for the concerns.

Managed to gather some energy for banking and got the USBstick off to PP. Like to get this kind of errands done while still fresh in the mind. Was glad to discover that the bank is running an incentive, did the TTA online and the transfer fees are waived.

Tue: kept cousin Wilki co@his favourite Indian mutton soup stall@TekkaMarket. Still unable to smell of taste, so will wait with eating all these yummy foods. He is only here for another week and will have to try and get him to all his favourites.

He is the only cousin and actually the only person who spent time outdoors climbing tress, roaming around Temenggong Rd&Mt Faber with me in the 1950s. We have much fun reminiscing our childhood together.

Wed: 16auntie took Wilkie visiting with 10, 11, &13aunties. Another day to to rest up.

Thu: Wilki was at my place and managed to introduce him to the EastCoastPark as he has never been there. The line of ships out on this coast always managed to amaze most ppl. Lunched@HillStreet CoffeeShop/Marine Cove where he had the DryMincedPork Noodles. Appetite still not there, just had a lemon/honey drink.

Dinner@Jo’s. Got to know my cousin better today when he told me about his VietnamWar experiences where he was seriously injured. This was a war with major consequences for those who lived there and those who fought there.

Fri: TGIF and being typical SIN, stood 2hrs in line for a free HPB HeartRate monitoring fitness tracker. This is with conjunction with the National Steps Challenge Season by Health Promotion Board. Good soup dinner@TiongBahru Plaza Kopitiam since I am in the area. Tkx to Clem for meeting up.

https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/37/nsc#roadshow

How exciting for this Fall Orchestra Concert – IrmoMiddle School&IrmoHigh School Orchestras with a VikingCellist (#3, the only grandchild born in SIN) playing in the same concert with his sisters. Pix credits to Linn.

Thank you to Jack who was in HKG for the week and got me a signed copy of Martin’s book. Looking forward to checking into these trails next visit to HKG. Pix credits to Jack.

Sat: Happy 94Bday to Ellen, the best grandmother for L&M and great-grandmother to #1-6. She has recently moved to Tromsø to live with Cathrine. Pix from since she turned 90 and credits to Cathrine

Some exciting news from Norway – Neste sommer blir spennende for denne karen! Med tanke på foreldrenes kulturelle meritter så må vel dette tegnes som en ørliten overraskelse = next summer will be exciting for this guy! In view of the parents’ cultural record (both parents are medical doctors!) this must be a little surprise! Pix credits of Peder to GD.NO 

The last time I saw this little feller was in 2015 with all his siblings&cousins. Looking forward to catching up in 2019.

https://amylamsg.com/2015/09/29/trondelag/

My one&only god-daughter, Guri’s son Peder Kjøs (9) has been chosen to play the role of young Peer Gynt – ordered a ticket (NOR800 S$133) to see the play for 10Aug 2019. Have always wanted to see this outdoor performance of Ibsens Peer Gynt på Gålå.

To live is to war with trolls in heart and woul.
To write is to sit in judgement on oneself – Ibsen’s Peer Gynt

21 Oct 2018 – And The Trip in Italy

Fri: TGIF – being under the weather is the body’s way to react and I will have to listen as there is hardly any energy left with this persistence cough. Just need to rest and now add to the injury, unable to taste of smell anything – good for the diet but not sure if this is the way to die(t) 🙂

Sat: am truly blessed with amazing grandchildren. They made my day and made me a happy&proud grandmother. Katie&Ellie in XCountry RegionChamp (pix credits to IrmoAthletics) with their greatest supporters Linn, Jeff, John, Sophie&James (pix credits to CindyHall).

Congratulations to Ellie for her perfect scores on state testing (pix credits to IrmoMiddleSchool). Will have to start using their names instead of # now that they are ranking in their academic and athletics achievements.

Have rescheduled my weekend plans so that I can fully recover. Was too much on the go the past 6months and did not listen to my body when I should have, now to pay for the consequences!

To my non-SIN family&friends, these are good times to visit SIN so that they can soak in the festivities and get a break from the winter for those in WinterWonderLands. Beautiful lights@LittleIndia, OrchardRd, Chinatown, GeylangSerai to look forward to on this 721,5km² SIN island. The diversities of cultures&foods are highly recommended and can be enjoyed by all for Deepavali/Nov, Christmas/Dec, CNY/Feb&HariRaya. Pix from various years postings.

Sun: still have to settle the accounts with PP and to mail her the USB stick. Also looking forward to receiving hers to update this posting. Highlights from us for the Italy trip.

KK – The Roman Theatre/Puglia. Pix credits to KK.

Ian – Matera drive up the Aegean Coast & Rome. Pix credits to PP&Ian

PP – keeping us alive. Driving up the coast and having lunch on the deck. Pix credits to PP&Ian

Me – meeting Niké Arrighi Borghese&family@Palazzo/Palace Borghese in Artena. 

Thank you for good driving and for getting us all safely thru’out the trip. Not an easy drive thru’ the historic districts in that huge car, would have been easier to drive one of these tiny one on those narrow cobble-stone roads 🙂 No pix of the first car which was not suitable, tried loading the luggage to discover that there was no way to fit them all. Just the licence plate of the next car and finally success with the 3rd car. Forgot to take pix when it was fully loaded.

The ppl you travel with, may they be family, friends or strangers in tour-groups play a big part in the trip’s success. Travelling with my oldest friends is the trip I always look forward to the most. We decided to catch up at different places and our first trip was in WA 2009. Who knows if, or where&when the next will be?

https://amylamsg.com/2009/08/28/applecross-new-norcia/

Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life – and travel – leaves marks on you – Anthony Bourdain