24 Sep 2026 – Safe Journeys

Mon: bought this BrassGlassMiniCabinet in 1990 during one of the trips in Mexico and have filled it with mini-perfumes in the 1990s – consequently, it has been referred to as MexicoBox ever since! It represents the sole item of consistent presence upon the vanity throu’out the span of 30+decades, today it will be packed and ready to head to it’s new home in Norway.

May has expressed her appreciation for the MexicoBox, recalling certain fragrances that she and Linn have previously purchased as Bday&Xmas gifts over the years for me when we were living in USA.

Sep1990: trip to Mexico, ie before blogging days when the hair was still completely black then – hahaha!

 Thoughts of the Maya civilization surface everytime I think of Mexico!

Maya cities reached their highest state of development during the Classic period/app 250-900AD and continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish. Maya centers of the southern lowlands went into decline during the 8th&9th centuries and were abandoned shortly thereafter. This decline was coupled with a cessation of monumental inscriptions and large-scale architectural construction. There is no universally accepted theory to explain this collapse but there are many questions without answers.

In the stars, we read our destiny; in the earth, we find our roots – KingK’inic Janaab’ Pakal of Palenque

Tue: a decade ago today when Norway’s KingHaraldV permitted the showing of this movie Kongens nei/King’s Choice at Slottsparken – may he now RIP. https://amylamsg.com/2016/09/22/kongens-nei/

Raining cats&dogs on the way to T1/ChangiAirport and looks like this suitcase is seeing its last lap to Norway – had to wrapped itS$50 to protect its contents from a cracked. Decent ChickenRice@FoodRepublic/Jewel for May while my usual BeefTendonSoup hit the spot for me. Safe journeys to her and hope that the suitcase can protect&survive its last trip, where the MexicoBox and this MoonCakes+Box are packed within…

Wed: cleaning&laundry morning. Tkx Seb for our regular BeefHorFun,Chcken+veggie dinner, next round must try this new seafood stall AlvinSeafoodBuddy@MT-market-food.

Was pleasantly surprised with live entertainment@MrsKuan/MP-MRT-Underpass-Linkway – stopped for a cuppa there to enjoy the moment.

Seb&I shared the KayaToast and checking out the menu…

It is encouraging to observe that this underground area has increased activity&vitality.

Thu: a highly venomous black spitting cobra has been spotted near MeiHwanDrive/SerangoonGardens area, but searches have so far failed to locate it. Wildlife management at NParks, said that the agency activated contractors after each reported sighting. Not going anywhere near that area or anywhere today – pix downloaded.

20 Sep 2026 – Asian Glossy Starlings

Thu: Bus36 getting off@OrchardRd on route to CairnhillRd where such intense birds chirpings from BidefordRd drowning out all traffic&construction noise on that stretch of road at dusk. Hitchcock’s The Birds comes to mind and wondering how many hundreds of these AsianGlossyStarlings(Aplonis panayensis) are gathered here at dust; small&black easily identified by their red eyes and one of the most common birds in SIN known for gathering in noisy flock. Will definitely stay away from any of these trees – pix downloaded.  https://www.tiktok.com/@justkeepthinking/video/7389579666345954576

The Birds could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made – Alfred Hitchcock

Fri: haircut and running errands@PP walking to&fro taking about 3,000+step both ways. Candies from CS for #6 and gifts from&made in SIN. These new delicious YaKunKayaButter-cookiesS$4.50+the 2bottles of KayaS$8.80 are perfect gifts for ppl living overseas.

Will try this new Amacha@PP someday – a modern take traditional herbal drinks. Today SoyaBeanMilk&MrCoconut/both without sugar were my drinks choices.

.

Met Clement for lunch for him to pass some online shopping for May. He lucked out on getting the last plate but Otak was sold out from this D’AuthenticNasiLemak stall@MP-CentralMarket&FoodCentre before 12n – must be good, but was not in the mood for NasiLemak today, will get here earlier to try another day.

Quite pleased with OMMA’s GinsengChickenSoupS$7.80 with a decent amount of chicken.

Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens and refines the appetite – Auguste Escoffier

First visit to iMall and shared the last piece of this yummy KopiCake@ToastBox – looks like this building has limited eateries but understandably when there are abundance of them at PP and the market just a few steps away – https://imall.com.sg/

Sat: new playground is now completed – remembering the time we had to lift #6 to the old MonkeyBars during his first visit here. By his visit in 2025, he was able to swing independently from the first to the last bar. Embracing change does not imply that you forget your history. Progressing does not mean you overlook the past. You are simply evolving…

Appreciations w tkx for dinner@Stella with decent food,

perfect ambience but terrible music. https://www.stella.com.sg/

Walked EC-Pk~1+hr on the less crowded AreaG passing GlampingCity,SailingClub,OutwardBound to Bus36 by BougainvilleaGd

Previous time around this area was 2022 with USA-flock  – https://amylamsg.com/2022/07/20/family-visit-from-sc-usa-2/

Jul2022: a big thankU to AuntieAnna/82then,(may she now RIP) with the most seniority, related thru’ paternal grandmother CHAN branch of the family from KCH/Sarawak and cousin Karen, being here with champagne to celebrate. CousinChengEn/Roy with cupcakes; to nieceSue for all her help+foods. 4generations represented, sitting Anna,Ivy, standing from L-R Karen,Sue,Sophie,me,John,Linn,Kiera,Patricia,Leslie.

Sun: need to rest…

16 Sep 2026 – Unhealthy PSI Readings in SIN

Sun: MRT-TEL-GreatWorld-sta and took the exit for RiverValleyRd and could not recognise where I was when surfaced from the underground! Thank goodness for May that we headed in the correct direction of RiverValleyRd or might have ended up in the direction towards UE-Sq, not where we wanted to be! Early lunch@BoonTongKee文東記/RiverValleyRd, ~20yrs ago since last here.

Still good signature ChickenRice with all the trimming&sauces+decent CrispyBeancurd,CoffeeSpareRibs-pix downloaded+veggies and IndoPacficScampi/Prawns – forgot to take pix and unable to find any to download!

Bus to UE-Sq and now with Clement&Leonard w no worries about what directions or bus to take. Could not help admiring these beautiful&colourful sari.

Grandchildren are too old to be on this HappyBus but grandmother still enjoys to be on it  – pix credits to Leonard and tkx to him for allowing a grandmother to enjoy her moments – hahaha!

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing – GeorgeBernard Shaw

Discovered that I can get Tina-Norwegian-Brown-Cheese@TheCheeseShope – not a fan of this cheese but excellent for enchancing sauces in gamey dishes. Gjetost/Brunost=GoatCheese/BrownCheese is unique that it is sweet and is light brown in colour. Some versions are made only from whey; others are made from a mix of whey, milk, and cream or can be made from only goat’s milk or from a blend of goat and cow’s milk by slowly cooking the milk until it’s caramelized. There is not a huge flavor difference between all these versions.

Surprising good BlackSesameTofuGelato, first time tasting this tkx to the guys while May was working. Appreciations to Clement for letting us chill at his place before dinner later.

Bus132 from BkMerah-OrchardRd was a shorter distance than from the EastSide. Tkx broLes&Ivy and to nieceMay&Albert for a scrumptious dinner@CloudMills.

A newly opened restaurant(2 weeks)featuring one of the most stunning&unique ceilings ever seen, accompanied by champagne and wine like these – forgot food pictures, too captivated by the 9-course dinner+4 desserts. Not sure what’s up w me today to forget to take any food pix for lunch or dinner?? One might attribute this phenomenon to the haze, or alternatively, one may have been genuinely impressed by those two bottles.

1.   WildNorthernAmebiCarpaccio
2.   BluefinTunaTartare
3.   ChallansDuckRillettest+FoieGrasTerrine
4.   CherrywoodSmokesShioKombuEdamame
5.   Grilled BlackTruffle+MochiRiceChickenWings 
6.   WhiteGrapeCaesarSalad
7.   SukiyakiWagyuMakiRoll
8.   GrainfedSirloin+AkazakeSauce
9.   Sakura-Dai SeaBreamRamen
10. SmokedVanillaIceCream+BurntMarshmallow
11. BurntBleuCheeseCake+WildflowerHoney
12. RoastedBlackSesameTiramisu
13. TofuIceCream

ChrisL, the owner decided on the dishes for us before he took off for his holiday. Need to try out the baked-goods but have been told that there are long lines and are sold out quickly, so will wait till he gets back.

https://www.makancentral.com/news/cloudmills-bakery-claymore-drive-orchard-2026

Mon:  after such a weekend, will not need food for the week! Walking to PP to run some errands crossing the overhead bridge on Still Rd at 11a. PSI reading in central-SIN was 102 at 12n hitting into the unhealthy range and despite here on the EastSide being ~79-91, visibility is poor and the breathing feels more labored. Planning on staying indoors the next few days. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/air-quality-in-singapores-central-region-back-in-unhealthy-range-as-psi-hits-102?

Tue&Wed: there is no necessity to more groceries today as sufficient provisions are available in both the fridge&freezer to sustain myself thru’out the week; however, the bed linens must be hung outdoors for a brief duration despite the atmospheric haze that has reached unhealthy air quality levels. air quality in all of 5SIN-regions for first time since 2019 – pix downloaded. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/air-quality-in-all-5-regions-of-singapore-in-the-unhealthy-range?

If I want to tune everybody out, I just take off my glasses and enjoy the haze – Paul Desmond

Wed: today marks MalaysiaDay and the day SIN joined Malaysia in 1963 (my first passport was a Malaysian passport!). In memory of LKY, SIN first PM who was born on this day in 1923, and also Happy Bday to a dearest sis-in-law Ivy – pix downloaded.

Appreciations with tkx to KK for a delicious wholesome comfort homemade dinner – it is indeed very agreeable to find oneself within a residential setting rather than in a dining establishment.

12 Sep 2026 – Norway’s King HaraldV Funeral

Wed: Norway’s KingHaraldV funeral in OSL/Norway procession on a beautiful day. It was heartwarming to witness the pavements from Slottet-KarlJohnan’sGt-Domkirke-Akerhus packed with ppl – countless times on this route by foot over the years! Might have even attempt to be there to pay my respects if I were in OSL today! Thus concludes an era where my respects for the British and Norwegian monarchies will likely come to an end as well, but it remains uncertain what the forthcoming era may entail? Pix downloaded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlqbpRwuM80

Thu: staying indoors with this haze and keeing busy with altering May’s clothes(no, she is not at the funeral but most of her clothes are black!), satisfied with the new sewing cabinet, audiobooks and screentime. Thankful to be experiencing life vicariously thro’ this interesting link, and who knows, there may be an opportunity for one final adventure before time elapses! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzPXYKdL1No

Living vicariously is much faster and cheaper than actual living – hahaha!

The unique shapes&patterns+geological features of these natural landforms truly captivate&inspire my desire to travel. Numerous locations are situated away from primary travel routes, where their seclusion&natural conditions have safeguarded the landscapes from crowds, which are significant attractions and the wonders of the world for me/WOW. 1-4pix on the list downloaded.

1.   ManpupunerRock formations,SevenStrongMenRockFormations/Russia
2.   FairyCircles(AridGrass) formations/Africa and Australia
3.   Vinicunca,Winikunka,Montaña de Siete Colores-Cusco/Peru
4.   Racetrack Playa,SailingStones-DeathValleyCA/USA
5.   Haukadalur,Haukadalr/Iceland – https://amylamsg.com/2014/09/09/iceland-days-5-6/
6.   IceVolcano/Kazakhstan
7.   AntelopeCanyon-AZ/USA
8.   Saqatri,Socotra/Yemen
9.   KaindyLake,BirchTreeLake/Kazakhstan
10.  Valley of Balls-Torysh/Kazakhstan
11.  Guelb er Richât,RichatStructure,Eye of Africa-Mauritania/Africa
12.  Penitentes,NievesPenitentes/Argentine and Chile
13.  NaicaCave,GiantCrystalCave-Chihuahua/Mexico
14.  UnderwaterWaterfall/Mauritius
15.  FairyChimneys-Cappadocia/Turkey,Türkiye
16.  PitchLake/Trinidad and Tobago
17.  Sơn ĐoòngCave/Vietnam
18.  Mga Bungtod sa Tsokolate,ChocolateHills/Philippines
19.  Matȟó Thípila,DevilsTower-WY/USA
20.  Kelimutu-FloresIsland/Indonesia – recent earthquake in that area!
21.  VilaFrancaIslet, Ilhéu de VilaFranca do Campo-São Miguel/Portugal
22.  DooieVlei,Deadvlei-Namibia/Africa
23.  Bisti/De-Na-ZinWilderness-NM/USA
24.  MoerakiBoulders,Kaihinaki/NZ
25.  VulcanPoint/Philippines
26.  Tsingy de Bemaraha/Madagascar
27.  Silfra/Iceland
28.  Lake Natron-Tanzania/Africa
29.  GiantCauseway/UK – https://amylamsg.com/2019/09/17/the-giant-causeway/
30.  MtRoraima/Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela

Not in the above list but in my bucket-list – pix downloaded.

1.    CoyoteButtes-AZ,UT/USA
2.    WaitomoGlowwormCaves/NZ

Fri: in memory of 2,996ppl who lost their life in 2001 – pix downloaded.

Sat: 60thCHIJ-reunion – grateful to all and a special tkx to these class-mates who I can still remember their names; sitting-left-right: Shirley,Eve,Penny,Mag,LaiToe,Lynn; standing-left-right: Maria,myself,Peggy. Name tags are good to have especially for those who were not in my class.

Scrumptious buffet spread – appreciations with tkx to Mag,Susan,Irene,Johan,Rosalind&Shirley for organising the event.

Buffets teach us to appreciate the diversity of life’s flavors

Useful momentum+gifts – thankU.

Views from RacineRestaurant/SofitelCityCentreHotel. We might not remember days, but hopefully we remember moments, reunions are the time machine that takes us back to once upon a time…

8 Sep 2026 – Unhealthy PSI-Readings

Sat: air quality in the central region reached unhealthy levels yesterday, with the 24-hour PSI exceeding 100, according to data from the NEA. https://www.haze.gov.sg/ Hotspots from satellite data, staying within my AC – pix downloaded.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/haze-singapore-central-unhealthy-psi-6338721?

Happy 15Bday to #6-Olai/youngest grandchild. Exactly 15yrs ago today was at Ullevål universitetssykehus,Oslo/Norway for his birth – had time to check out the museum then but not sure if it is still there today? https://amylamsg.com/2011/09/09/karma/

Sun: a rare sunset for me! captured on the way to last night’s dinner – it displayed such breathtaking colors, and was fortunate to have taken it as it was descending very quickly…

Appreciations with tkx to bro Leslie’s yummy home-cooked SundayDinner, he makes the best BlackPepper, CrabGuinness, PigTrotter, Soya Chicken, Steak-a-la-Rochalie for my taste. Good to see Kai enjoying his bubbles with his godmother, niece Patricia – hope that he will enjoy these newer finger-puppets as much as my children&grandchildren! Used to have some older ones on my fingers and depending on which puppet will sing songs relating to them – but of course they are all now too grown for that and time to pass these newer ones on. It is such a pleasure to observe children engaging in simple playtime activities without the use of screens!

Mon: SIN-Red-Cross said on that it is stepping up its response to heat&haze by providing air purifiers, support packs&electricity bill assistance to vulnerable seniors& at-risk groups, while its raining cats&dogs in OSL/Norway – pix downloaded. Laundry-day and getting ready for 2ndBorn/May to arr here to work tomorrow – looking forward to having her here and for a late belated Bday celebrations.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-red-cross-heat-haze-response-support-packs-6366371

Tue: grocery shopping was completed before 8:00hrs on tranquil roads during this school holiday week. BeefTendon+SlicedBeef&BeanSprouts SoupDinner at OdeonBeefNoodlesS$12 FoodRepublic/Basement,Jewel  – one of my favourite soups.

Ice cream – one of my favourite ice-creams/ToykoMilkCheeseFactoryS$5.50 for dessert and having 30mins to spare to get to the airport/T1 to meet May as planned.

4 Sep 2026 – Happy 49thBday May

Tue: hello Sep – productive day with grocery-shopping@24hr-Gaint/MTS$32.79 and fresh-produce@MT-wet-marketS$14+ running errands@PP. CocoaNibs@ScoopS$3.86, basket for the Banana-plant@DiasoS$9.60, delighted to find the Black-Squid-Ink pasteS$10@Fairprice. Like doing grocery in the early hours to avoid crowds&heat. Consider myself blessed to still be capable of doing my own grocery shopping and partaking in other activities that help me maintain a healthier and more active lifestyle.

Appreciations with many tkx to cousin KarenL for taking time to catch up with these old B/W pix from the family bank&house from Sarawak/Malaysia(1930s-1970s) – going to be a busy month to sort out&update blog postings – pix credits to her.

Also tkx for some spare-parts for the old Singer-sewing-machine+for her yummy homemade scones, perfect company with the afternoon-tea/

ThankU for introducing this Steamed-Fish-StallS$10@KopitiamS$Basement/PP and glad that she liked her first taste of Tauhu-PokS$6, alternative to the Rojak or Popiah.

Wed: crossing StillRd and looking forward to the library to be opened and for the underpass there to be completed. First day volunterring  SSPV@Katong,MP-MRT-Exit5 – trying to colour-code the clothes at the BargainSection knowing that it will not last, but at least trying to do something constructive. Like that the ceiling is in different colours, easier to explain when giving directions.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others — Audrey Hepburn

Nice catching with Clement for lunch and some shopping@JapanHome/PP which will be closing and selling things at discounted prices – Lysol,shampoo,soaps, all items on my list and if I had my shopping-push-cart would have bought more of these itemsS$13.50. https://www.straitstimes.com/business/japan-home-closing-outlets-staff-say-valu-taking-over-operations

Thu: took ~1week~100+screws,etc to complete setting up this sewing cabinet,

despite of the time taken, pleased that I can still managed to install something like this with my bare hands!

Fri: Happy 48th-Bday to my 2nd-Born-May, the baby.

31 Aug 2026 – Home Is Where The Heart Is

Fri: hvil i fred kjære KongHaraldV(1937-2026), takk for alt han har betydd for Norge, han vil bli dypt savnet. Kondolerer til den norske kongefamilien – pix downloaded. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/norways-king-harald-dies-aged-064137382.html

Sat: following the cortege(the first 16+mins is just waiting for the coffin to be loaded) carrying Norway’s late KingHaraldV from Rikshopitaket/OsloUniversititshospital following his death. Crowds gathered along the wet rainy route to witness the solemn procession and pay their respects as the monarch’s coffin was transported toward the RoyalPalace amid a period of national mourning. When the cortege turned onto Sognsvien passing UllevaalStadion,KiwiTrikkesiøyfa,UllevaalSykehus–Kirkivieien towards Majorstua,turning@McD-Bogstadveien – countless times on this section by car,foot or public transport! Pix downloaded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKl9PnAY8EE

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/all-the-details-on-king-harald-of-norway-s-funeral/ar-AA2b6z06

Skinnerbu 1968: memories of KingOlav’s reluctance to allow his son to marry a commoner in 1968 when working a summer job chambermaiding+bartending at Skinnerbu Høyfjellshotell,Rjukan/Norway then, now Skinnerbu Nasjonalparkhotell. KingHaraldV ascended the throne in 1991 and by that time, had relocated to the US – pix downloaded.

2024 Oslo/Norway – brilliant reverse-psychology tourism campaign ever – Halfdan is a teacher at #6-Olai’s school who became a legend after this ad – pix downloaded. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhD59ac7nw

Uncertain how to interpret this – was recently at the wake of JimmyLIM. Condolences to the families of HweeLingLIM(pix from 2016StPatrick’sDay) and CheaMingDIONG – Jimmy,HL & CM were members of the IrishGrads/IGAS. Do not have the energy to deal with weekend crowds on public transport to attend another wake. May they RIP – this marks the fifth death within the last 7days including DollyParton.

Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils – Hector Berlioz

Sun: FB-Memories reminds me that 11yrs ago on this day(according to the LunarCalender) was 11th auntie Diana’s 90Bday, so that makes her 101 today Happy Bday to her –  the eldest surviving relative from my father’s generation/BlueGen.

Was not aware of https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/thousands-thrilled-by-mercedes-f1-car-demos-along-orchard-road So this was what the bus diversion was about –  thank goodness they were clearing up by the time I got to Paragon.

Appreciations with thanks to Theresa&CJ for Sunday dinner at my favourite PekingDuck restaurant at ImperialTreasureSuperPekingDuck/Paragon,OrchardRd for some of the most scrumptious PekingDuck, Yam&Scallop, CrabCake,

Abalone+Broccolo+FishMaw,DuckGlassNoodles,MangoPomeloSagoPudding.

Mon: cool&wet yesterday&today early mornings with a beautiful moon last night. Following such a delightful dinner last night, will not require any food for the next few days!

27 Aug 2026 – RIP Dolly Parton

Mon: the haze loomed as the PollutantStandardsIndex/PSI ~98 in the central region inched ever closer to unhealthy levels – no plans of being anywhere near the central today or this week. For weeks, Sumatra&Kalimantan have been ablaze with forest&land fires fuelled by a super El-Nino in addition to also being the HungryGhostMonth鬼月(13Aug-10Sep)with all the ritual-burnings – pix downloaded. https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/22/if-religion-is-a-thing/

Who can affordS$8-13k monthly? All-day dining,hydrotherapy-pool,hair-salon,bus@SIN-first-private-assisted-living project. Prayers&hopes to not see the day to be in a situation when unable to take care of myself – working hard to keep body&mind as healthy and for as long as possible at this stage – pix downloaded

GiantGrocery/MTS$56.10 includingS$2.80Sen+PromoSave. Enjoying the fauna&flora under shaded walk on MP-Rd between TelokKurau&Still-Rds-Jcts. Do not remember going on any field-trips when in Pri-School here but fun memories chaperoring my own kids@their Elementary-School-Fieldtrips in the US.

Crossing StillRd to continue underground@MP-MRT-Exit6 to discover this thrift-shop and decided to vounteer one day a week there for a good cause, being a strong believer for recycling and not for religious intentions or thoughts despite that the profits are donated to The Society of St Vincent de Paul/SSVP.

MrCoconut treat when walking underground here and up above ground@MP-MRT-Exit3 continuing on shaded walkway on JooChiatRd.

GV@I12 to watch We Are All Strangers 我们不是陌生人 and taking time with a mini-rice-bowl late lunch@Guzman Y Gomez to reflect on the movie while enjoying my fast TexMex-Foodfix. The other SE-Asian movie watched this month, DearYou 給阿嬤的情書 and what I liked about both is no action,sex,violent scenes, both letting me know that basic human decency is not dead…

If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. Morals are private. Decency is public — RM-Brown

Thu: delivery from SpotlightS$507.23 with savings of S$215discounts&sales items.

Welcome to this new artificial BananaPlant+2 stalks of Bird of Paradise neither fading nor decaying to replace the 20+yrs old dried-twigs+dried-eucalyptus-leaves. Have given up~20yrs ago having anything alive within my 4walls besides myself, hahaha! Finally the electric-sewing machine has a cover to keep the dust away. Will require a few days to set-up this new sewing cabinet, and subsequently, additional time will be needed to sew the sheer curtains.

Artificial intelligence has the same relation to intelligence as artificial flowers have to flowers. — David Parnas

23 Aug 2026 – Spotlight

Thu: appreciations for today’s treat from CareFridge. No TorchGingerFlowerBud(Etlingera elatior)BungaKantan in the MT-local-market. Bus13 to GeylangSeraiMarket and found it there – for me this really enchances my salad and Rojak but should only be taken in its bud-stage. Tkx to Gel for dinner(home-made BourbonHoneySalmon+salad) company and for all the goodies.

Fri: TGIF and a fabulous weekend to all – the first week of school gone by smoothly for USA-flock with Linn/SC & #1/GA as educators, #2/ClemsonU,SC

 #3 in UofSC/SC, #4&5 in IrmoHighSchool/SC – pix credits to Linn

Condolences to Sheila&family for the loss of their husband,father,fil,grandfather, to Jo for her bro and to Jen for her cousin, Jimmy – may he RIP. Both Jo&Jen were my classmates in Alex,Dublin/Ireland 1960s – another lifetime ago! Bus15 changing to Bus58@PasirRisInterchange but walked the wrong direction@TampinesLink and was too hot&lost to walk back ending up taking a GrabS$8 from somwhere@Tampines to be drivened to SIN-FuneralParlour – took 2+hrs to eventually get there.

Since IKEA was 2bus-stops away, bravely ventured there to pick up some curtainsS$5.90 and found 2small bowlsS$4.90 – good to use up points worthS$5 that were going to be expired and was not even aware of that. Pleasantly surprised and pleased to be dinning on delicious gravlaks,kreps+eplesaft for Fri-DinnerS$13.90. Bus168 changing@BedokInterchange to Bus196 back~1hr, has been a long time since on a go for ~7hrs but good to be exhasuted, not out of breath and had a goodnight sleep.

Sat: amazed myself to be@Spotlight/PlazaSIN by 10.00hrs on a Sat! to do some shopping that has been on the list over the years, now taking advantage of their weekend discounts resulting from renovations@PlazaSIN. Met the cutest 3-4yr-old girl smiling at me when I was about to get off the bus, smiled back and gave her a little wave. She then whispered to her mother who told me that she liked my dress! Told her thankU and that she is very pretty in her pink-outfit with pink shades to match – she made my day and it would never cross my mind to touch her!

Spotlight delivery next week and looking forward to receiving and sewing some curtains. Since there, bought childhood-comfort-food to go@Kopitiam 鹹魚蒸肉餅CantoneseSteamedMincedPork w SaltedFish+西洋菜湯 WatercressPorkRibSoupS$12.10 with 10%SeniorDiscount.

Soup not only warms you and is easy to swallow and to digest, it also creates the illusion in the back of your mind that Mother is there – Marlene Dietrich

Getting back to the EastSide by 12.30hrs despite the heavy Sat traffic on JooChiatRd which would have usually taken 5+mins to walk from EC-DunmanRdJct but today Bus16 took ~15+mins and seems like the GPS gave up and started meditating – thank goodness for AC-Buses.

Hahaha! Let’s have a moment of silence for all those who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride stationary bicycles — Tommy Wood

Sun: taking an easy day after 2hectic days but not reading too much into what Surge of Energy is really about – hahaha! Appreciations for SundayDinner@Rochalie and safe trip and good luck to Kiera who heads back to DC/USA for her final year@GeorgeTownU.

Watched the NationalDayRallySpeech w the family and sounds promising for the future generation – impressed how SIN has managed and still managing to reclaime land by extending the smaller islands into more land, have still not ventured into JurongIsland! Will not survive to see LongIsland and just as well, could not imgine looking into those islands when walking on EC-Pk! Pix downloaded.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2026-spore-to-merge-several-outer-islands-to-form-new-western-island

19 Aug 2026 – Biryani And Condiments