14 May 2026 – Tanglin Mall

Mon: a few days of catch up here being away from the laptop. Many tkx with appreciation for Mother’sDayDinner Sunday night to Theresa&CJ at my favourite PekingDuck location, ImperialTreasure/Paragon. Usually after such a scrumptious meal with four other cantonese dishes&dessert will need to fast for a few days, but not this time, keeping company with s-i-l@Rochalie while bro is away.

Woke up bright&early to a different scene this morning and feeding these coloutful&forever hungry koi has convinced me again that having the responsibility of any other life besides my own, ie person,pet or plant, is not for me…

Since in the area, took Ivy to the OSSEA-OrchidShow@TanglinMall. Was impressed with this year’s display tastefully done with lovely local batik motives complementing these exquiste blooms – highly recommended for all orchid admirers.  https://www.ossea.org.sg/

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished — the orchid blooms in its own season – Lao Tzu

Trying to convince Ivy to grow orchids since they have the help,space&time and also to keep the family histroy as 12Uncle JohnLAM(1926-1990) was one of the pioneers of the OrchidSociety in the 1950s before he&his family emigrated to HI/USA.

Have been helping out OSSEA with their MOR publication from 1999-2009 and setting up with their 2003 first show The Singapore Orchid Festival@SBG, then the first festival held@SBG in the UNESCO’s/World Heritage List. For me it was and still is my favourite orchid festival&show ever.

New@TanglinMall: #5&6 would liked this new CandyStall but so-so Ramen@Hototogisu – nowdays most outside foods are either too salty or too sweet for the aging palate!

Tue: not the usual early morning scene heading from Rochalie to TEL-MRT-OrchardBlvdSta to learn about the latest for this line.

No worries despite getting caught in the rush-hour, a handsome-kind-young gentleman offered his seat allowing interesting ppl watching. And for real, every single one has their eyes on their screen. After passing ShentonWaySta had the train practically to myself with the company of this cute cleaning robot upon reaching ExitB. Back to the 4-walls in time for the morning meds and grocery shopping before it gets too hot.

Face this world. Learn its ways, watch it, be careful of too hasty guesses at its meaning. In the end you will find clues to it all = HG Wells

Wed&Thu: saving some energy before a busy weekend. Looking forward for these 3MRT-stations to be completed in Jul.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/keppel-cantonment-prince-edward-road-mrt-stations-on-circle-line-to-open-on-july-12

10 May 2026 –  Special Mother’s Day Post

Sun10May2026: Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers with special memories to my own mother TSENG MayLan(1911-1965)and to my 2beautiful daughters Linn&May who made me an appreciataive mother&grandmother of 6.

In Memory of my mother TSENG MayLan (1911-1965) who was from HongKong/HKG

The MacLehoseTrail 麥理浩徑 opened 26 Oct 1979, is a hiking trail starting PaTamChung 北潭涌/SaiKungE-CountryPark 西貢東郊野公園. 100km, marked by distance posts at 500m intervals along the path. It is named after CrawfordMurrayMacLehose, the longest-serving HKG-governor (1971-1982) who established the Country Parks and was himself an enthusiastic hiker. This Scotsman did what he thought was best for HKG at that time and he did much good for HKG too.

Starting@TuenMun屯門/TaiLamCountryPark大欖郊野公園 was by choice so as to end this hike@SaiKung in more cheerful&pleasant surroundings.

Acknowledgements

Gratitude with thanks to Grace for her companion&protection all the way. Appreciations for advices&help to HKG-friends Chanel,JohnC,Johnny,Harry,Henry,Henrietta&Francis,Richard and to all who contributed and crossing my path here, especially to CampersCorner/SIN friends,staff&management. Grateful for Mar2012 blog postings making this ~1,000+words posting possible.

References

8 May 2026 – The Mentalist

Tue: Cinco de Mayo=Fifth of May, commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla (1861-1867). Will try to get some TexMex food sometime soon…

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo

Used to celebrate this occasion when living in the USA with food from south of the border, refreshing frozen Margaritas, yummy tacos,guacamole and salsa. Also another good reason is to expose the children to different cultures and taste of foods.

From May2016: above 3food pix downloaded from various sites – having similar food except not that kind of presentation, just how I would like it to look but the below food pix is the reality – hahaha!

With 5kids the Margaritas will be VirginMargaritas. Not a fan of Margaritas, so had BlueFlour made these and my plate of TacoSalad minus the shells and cheese.

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses which can cause serious illnesses and death. These viruses cause diseases like HantavirusPulmonarySyndrome/HPS and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome/HFRS. They are spread mainly by rodents – pix downloaded. https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/newshub/media-releases/hantavirus-and-tuberculosis

Fri: the power of the mind is a fascinating subject and with mentalism – a type of performing arts where a mentalist reads their subject’s movements,physical behaviors,other body language,etc using a combination of psychology&suggestion, and misdirection to create mind-bending illusions that challenge our understanding of the mind. While mentalism is only the illusion of telepathy, it has captivated audiences for centuries because it requires years of training and a deep understanding of the human mind.

To assess the quality of thoughts of people, don’t listen to their words, but watch their actions ― Amit Kalantri

Still in awe watching today’s young mentalists/DavidKwong,LiorSuchard&OzPearlman so much so to be wanting to follow

The Mentalist(2008-2015)with 7Seasons/151Episodes! and for one who does not follow with any DramaSeries, it is going to be interesting to see how many episodes these OldFlowerEyes 老花眼 can handle before getting bored – hahaha…

Lao Tzu said that if you search everywhere, yet cannot find what you are seeking, it is because what you seek is already in your possession.

4 May 2026 – Welcome to the Month of May2026

Fri: TGIF and a good&safe long weekend to all – here in SIN is a public holiday to welcome the month of May on this LabourDay. Staying away from any chances of being near a crowd! contentedly catching up with current happenings&headlines around the world inside my 4-walls. Perhaps being from an ex-BritishColony for the first 15yrs of this life journey

https://www.lionheartlanders.com/post/history-of-british-colonial-rule-in-singapore

might be bias and not objective! but here is another speech (besides his grandfather KingGeorgeVI/1938-KingSpeech – pix downloaded) worth remembering

when&where KingCharlesIII delivered a historic address to the US-Congress emphasizing the US-UK alliance, global security+shared democratic values – pix downloaded. So far, the only person from any royal family who I have admiration&respect is QueenElizabethII(1926-2022) – she has done her duties and taken her responsibilities with dignity&grace where actions speak louder than words.

We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language – Oscar Wilde

https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-04-29/read-the-complete-transcript-of-king-charles-iiis-speech-to-congress

While on the subject about ppl I admire&respect from family&friends: my own father LAM TinYue, my childrens’ paternal grandparents JohnHALDIII&EllenPOULSSON; and the only politician LEE KuanYew – so far to be able to count them with just one hand in my over 7+decades in this life journey.

The world will little note nor long remember what you say here, but it can never forget what they did here – Abraham Lincoln

Sat: tkx to FB for a memorable post from Abercrombie&Fitch opening its only outlet here Dec2011 and was there to take pix with these handsome young men: https://amylamsg.com/2011/12/13/drool-drool-drool/ Coincidently, bumped into two of them@SBG the next day when they had their tops on: https://amylamsg.com/2011/12/14/more-drooling/ Now 6yrs after their closing, nice to have those memories but no worries, still smiling&drooling  now that there is Chick-fil-a here in SIN looking forward to tasting it – hahaha…

Comment from AllisonBacotSmith: Dang, girl! My reply: days when actions were louder than words now turns into memoriesso do not forget to live in the moment

Sun: beautiful fullmoon night after delicious dinner@Rochalie – tkx to Glady&Shawn for this yummy Lemon&TiramisuCake.

Mon: just realized that in May2025 postings for family&friends Bdays was neglected, had to go back to May2024 postings for updates, now with Jack added.

1 May –  Happy Bday JackWEGMET, Happy May Day/Labour Day
5 May – Happy Cinco De Mayo
6 May – Happy Bdays WONG WaiKit & Jan SOSA
10 May – Happy Bday Andrew LAM
12 May – Happy Mother’s Day
13 May – Happy Bday Susannah LAM
16 May – Happy Bday LAM JiaWen
17 May – Hurra for 17mai
18 May – Happy Bday Helen VICKERY-YEO
19 May – Happy Bday Paul KRAUSE
23 May – Happy Bday Yasmine AMEEN
27 May – Happy Bdays LAM SuiChang & Karen LIM
28 May – Happy Bday Vanessa LAM
30 May– Happy Bday Hans Kristian HUSTAD

30 Apr 2026 – ByeBye Apr2026

Mon: gathering from previous postings to make into 2 separate postings for the HKG&UK-Thru’Hikes before the memory fades away – printed a hardcopy book for AT-Thru-Hike, so will not do that one. Rather energy&time consuming and tiring for the eyes but good to have those memories to reflect upon.

Glad to have hiked them then – despite how much I set my mind to do it today, might be possible but will also probably end up in the hospital. As it is am struggling to catch my breath even for a short stroll. Will have to be more realistic&practical nowadays doing what I like that are within my ability&capacity. The mind&spirit is willingly but the flesh is weak – not biblically but literally&logically! Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.

Tue: wandering around running errands&catching up with local updates. Looking forward to the completion of these facilities: open fitness-deck&running-track,24-hr-self-help-lounge,community-plaza,food+beverage-outlets,music-rooms,dance-studios,culinary-studio (hopefully very soon!) @MarineParadeCommunityBdg/Library which has been closed since 2022. From my 4-walls, will be able to walk there all the way, crossing MCres by the back of TaoNanSchool. With elavators to cross the overhead StillRd-bridge taking~ 5-10mins(depending on my condition) shaded all the way.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/revamped-marine-parade-community-building-open-first-quarter-2026-5076621

Wed: hair cut@ecoin/MP-Rd and being a member there cost S$5.20 – would usually tip whoever cuts my hairS$2. Last cut was@GreatClips,MurrayLanding,SC/USA~US$20/S$25 and compared to Norway, still affordable. Do not even remember when my last hair-cut in Norway was, usually let it grow until back here! Just read that it can cost anything from ~NOR500+/S$70+

PopiahBfastS$2.80 w SoyaBeanDrinkS$1.80 paid ie paid S$2.60total in cash as CDC min voucherS$2.

DurianSeason has started and with CDCS$10 got me 3boxes are now in freezer. BeefHorFun dinnerCDCS$6@MT-food-market – tkx to CDCvouchers it is more affordable to live here when you know what,where,when to spend.

https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/durian-myths-facts

Thu: reading about these cicadas(Asianopleura fulvigera) and reminded me their sounds from what seems to be a daily&nightly! part of childhood surroundings with fond memory from 5TemenggongRd. Just learnt that they are one of the loudest bugs in the world, with males competing against one another to attract females by amplifying their songs – pix downloaded.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/more-than-7000-cicadas-caught-in-tampines-changkat-by-task-force

26 Apr 2026 – Back on Track with Heat&Humidity

Thu: body still tired with aches&pains but that too shall pass tkx to temporary pains-killers&sleeping-aid. Taking it esay unpacking with appreciations to Kari for another mini glass angel to keep company with her previous angel gift from many years ago.

Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly – Mother Teresa

Slowly but surely getting back on track mentally&physically with the heat&humidity for packaging giftwrapping – Multedrops i Norgesglasset. Most Norwegians will probably know what these are but will have to explain to the non-Norwegian upon presentation – CloudberryCandy in NorgesGlass.

Fri: welcome back to Earth being less of a zombie this morning after 4goodnight sleep. Looks like more constructions&changes around the local MT-market area. Done with week’s fresh produce+take-away-food purchases for the day before the rains. Good to be back with S$prices at wet-markets+hawkers food.

Congee+YouTiaoS$5.20 Otak-OtakS2.40 ChaiTowKwayS$4 IceCoffeeS$1.70. TotalS$13.30 ~S$1 more now! Calamasi,Carrot,Cilantro,Cucumber,Garlic,Ginger,Jicama,Lemon-grass,Pandan-leaf,Pumpkin,PurpleSweetPotato,Scallion,Tomato used to be ~S$15-16 now~S$17-18.

Helen asked if I miss these favourites and I certainly admit that being as greedy as I am, do like good food anywhere. And when back here these are some of it, but when in Norway, the US or anywhere for that matter, do like their good local foods there too, and no, do not miss these when I am there and do not miss my favourite Norwegian or US foods when back here, ie live in the moment.

What day is it? asked Pooh.
It’s today, squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day, said Pooh― A.A. Milne’

Sat: an interesting read – The poor and middle pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the very rich pay lawyers – and the ultra-rich pay politicians…

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/23/catastrophic-climate-event-scientists-atlantic-system-collapse-billionaire-existential-crisis

Sun: pix credits to Linn for Sophie#4PromNight and to Stephanie for Katy&Jack’s pix of his first BostonMarathon.

PopUp@TanglinMall for gift ideas – spoons+hairclips, etc

Appreciations for Sunday dinner@Rochalie – have not had steak since last here and nowadays, the very seldom & few times eating steak, the best&my favourite, Steak-a-al-Rochalie.

Tkx to Glady&Shawn for what looked like FerreroRocher chocolates turned out to be this yummy unusual fresh Kumquat fruit. BabyKai/1yr2mths still adorable is now walking and saying more words.

22 Apr 2026 – 130th Boston Marathon

Sun: tkx to the family for driving to OsloS on this cold wet day – heading to the airport early to get some shopping done. Thought the returned flytoget/AirportExpress ticket was in my pocket to discover it missing when I got to the gate – must have looked quite desperate being the last and only person on the platform trying find the ticket. Explained to the ticket control that a return ticket was purchased upon arr/23Mar but unable to find it… asked if I had to buy another ticket and either they trusted me or felt sorry for an old white-hair lady with a big heavy suticase+backpack! All’s well that ends well with 23kg(heaviest ever!)bag checked in and shopping for gifts done after spending ~NOK1,500/S$200+only on edibles&drinkables! And a CaesarSalad+drink/non alcohlic NOK313~S$43 will certainly not miss this kind of prices! Took off on schedule in the rains to beautiful colours in the sunset-sky.

Mon: safe&sound back after 1+hr flight from OSL/Norway to HEL/Finland with 1+hr layover there and ~12hrs flight to SIN. Only FinnAir serves the best BlueberryJuice and the airport there is not so crazy hectic (yet!)+do like the overhead camera view on flight. Landed in SIN ahead of schedule and even managed to get the 23kg bag on bus36 back to the 4-walls despite at snail-speed! As long as sitll capable, do not feel justify to pay ~S$20 for a cab when it is less than S$1 for Seniors on this distance with the bus. Home used to be where my suitcase was until it went missing onetime, after that home is where my passport is and for now I am home until wherever my passport takes me…

Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo – Al Gore

Tue: a good night sleep does wonders to a drained&tired body&soul and the cool wet day is certainly refreshing&welcoming. Unpacking year’s supply of prescription medications from Norway and supplements+other cosmetics&health supplies from USA.

The only other shopping done was a purseUS16~S$20+a pair of sandalsUS$15~S$19 from the US and 2silicon-ice-cube-trays from Norway – quite proud of myself for hardly any clotthes shopping except for a black-topNOR145~S$20 from H&M needed for a funeral and that is left in Norway.

Wed: yeah for another good night sleep without coughing and hopefully the air should be OK after yesterday’s rains. ~32.288total runners regristered for this year’s 130th BostonMarathon on Mon – Linn’s fifth and Jack’s first. Wonderful memories with my whole Norwegian&US-flock together watching her running her first BostonMarathon in 2014 when we celebrated her 40thBday. https://amylamsg.com/2014/04/24/road-trip3/

This is in #6s confirmation literature Tenk på det/Think About It on gender equality, and hopefully my 2daughters,3grand-daughters and all females not have to experience such discrimation. Kathrine Switzer meldre seg pa Boston Maraton i 1967 med bare forbokstaven,og fikk startnummer som K Switzer. Underveis i løper ble hun oppdaget av arrangøren JockSemple(i dress),som prøvde a stoppe henne og ta fra henne startnummeret. Treneren og kjæresten hennes forhindret Semple fra å få tak i henne, og Kathrine løp fra ham. Hun bli den første kvinnen til a løpe Boston Maraton, og 5 år senere fikk kvinner lov til a delta.

Kathrine Switzer registered for the Boston Marathon in 1967 with only the first letter, and got a starting number as K Switzer. During the race she was discovered by the organizer Jock Semple (in a suit), who tried to stop her and take her race number. The coach and her boyfriend prevented Semple from getting hold of her, and Kathrine ran away from him. She became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, and 5 years later women were allowed to participate.

https://womenofthenortheast.substack.com/p/she-wanted-to-run-how-kathrine-switzer

18 Apr 2026 – Floating 24/7 Saunas

Wed: NAF/Skippergata4 for InternationalDriverPermit, not necessary but like to have despite that my NorwegianDriver’sLicense does not expire until 01-15-2050 and is recognised EU&EEA-countries. Need to set a check&control for myself to stop driving completely when the time comes – at present still OK but not in the dark. Learnt that my Norwegian license which is supposedly to be expired in 2050 will be expired in 2033. This time round there was no charge for my InternationalDriverPermit/NOK320~S$45 as their system was unable to handle the card-payment.

Amazing new changes since last here in the inner Oslo-fjord area! FloatingSauna 24/7 – wow! Must try if I ever get here again during cold weathers. https://norwayexplained.com/floating-saunas-in-oslo/

Short stroll to the train station on a cool breezy morning – such a contrast from when first here in 1967…

Good to get indoors to feel my fingers again and finally a hot-dogNOK39~S$5.30 with both fried&raw onions. Train to Jessheim 36mins NOK122~S$17.50/round-trip ticket for Seniors.

View from Kari&Bjørn’s apt; have visited them in every location they have lived since we met in Dublin/Ireland 1968,

including their summer-cabin@Filtvet,Porsgrunn,Hammerfast,Jessheim/Norway in 2 other different homes and now their 3rd home here – a lovely&spacious pensionist-apt with 3-bedrooms+2baths,living&balcony on one level. Appreciations for their friendship over the decades and thank you for good memories.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/09/03/jessheim-filtvet/

A good chuckle reminiscing over their medical-school years(50yrs ago last year since they graduated) when it was once upon a time for me and where Kari&Bjørn are concerned happily ever after do exist – hahaha!

Anyone can have a once-upon-a-time or a happily-ever-after, but it’s the journey between that makes the story worth telling -ChrisColfer

Pleasant train-ride with beautiful clouds – tram NOR23~S$3SingleSenior back before dark. Not long ago would have walked instead of taking bus,tram or subway here! – such is life.

Thu: 10days ago still frost on the ground, today’s picture tells a different story with anticipation&hopes that spring has truly sprung.

That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more springs ― L.M. Montgomery

Glorious day for a short&slow walk with first experience@BakeMeUp by UllevallStadium – quite a selection of baked goods, appetite was not quiet there to taste anything.

Would have liked to walk up to Sognsvann but had to be content to be able to walk on this pedestrian/bicycle bridge, watched the traffic and turned around, first time on foot across this bridge over Ring3.

Fri: tkx to #6 for sharing his book on the confirmation classes he is attending – hopefully he will understand why my presence is not important as long as he knows that my heart is always with him and that he grows up to be the decent man he aspires to be. Tenk på det!/Think about it – Å være perfekt og å være et godt menneske er ikke det samme/To be perfect and to be a good person are not the same.

Sat: meds for the year collected&sorted out. Lunched on the best Mac&Cheese made with 3cheese by #6. Packing&tidying up to catch the train to the airport for FinnAir-flight back to SIN tomorrow after a month on the floor in the basement. Packing is my pet hate and always a nightmare! to me, the most stressfull pat of travelling comes before any of the travelling happens – the suitcase-packing…

14 Apr 2026 – Norwegian Lobster & Cod

Sat: tkx for yummy Langoistine/Nephrops norvegicus, caught in the NE-Atlantic also known as NorwayLobster,DublinBayPrawn,Scampi is a sought after delicacy. Despite that the guys thought it too much work but #6 was happy when his mom peeled them for him and he had it on a toast with MillsRemulade like a LobsterRoll.  What this creature lacks in sociability/hahaha! it makes up for when it features in a recipe. As a nutritious and delicious ingredient, langoustines are a flexible accompaniment to the likes of casseroles, soups and even salads.

https://northerndelights.com/norwegian-seafood/langoustine

Absolutely delicious, especially when baked with butter&herbs. Managed to make ~1+litre broth with the shells+heads and would really taste good for future fish soups!  https://vitalibrary.com/langoustine-health-benefits-nutrition/

Sun: another yummy seafood dinner, RoastPotatoes&Onions with baked NorwegianCod prepared by 2nd-Born&#6 – this mother&son team is turning into some good cooks in the kitchen.

The cod is the very reason people were able to settle this far north, providing vital nutrition to sustain communities throughout our harsh winters. Cod is Norway’s oldest export, dating back to when stockfish provided much needed sustenance for the epic voyages of the Vikings. Leiv Eriksson was said to have supplies of dried cod with him when he discovered America – centuries ahead of Columbus – pix downloaded.

https://www.norwegianseafoodcouncil.com/wildfish/cod/eight-reasons-to-buy-norwegian-cod/

Mon: Kristófer is told by his doctors that he needs to resolve any of his unfinished business, looking at his health condition and 50 years ago, he had a love story which had abruptly ended. He had quit his college, standing by his beliefs and starts working as a dishwasher at a restaurant named Nippon in London. It is run by Takahashi and soon Kristófer falls in love with Takahashi’s daughter Miko. They are the survivors of the Hiroshima attack and Takahashi disapproves Miko being in a relationship. Now 50 years later, Kristófer had led a life of a chef and is a lonely widower. He seeks Miko and travels to Japan. Will he meet Miko and find out the reason why their love story had an abrupt end and what else does he get to know, forms rest of the story.

Excellent and highly recommended(for my generation!)Icelandic romantic movie that spans several decades and continents; Snerting/Touch follows one man’s emotional journey to find his first love who disappeared 50yrs ago, before his time runs out…

Tue: enjoying the time with #6 before his parents return from their work-trips. It’s funny what happens when you are a grandparent. You start to act all goofy and do things you never thought you’d do! Parent-child relationships can be complex&complicated at times but grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love. Kids say the darndest things, which leaves me smiling thru’ all my visits…