4 Jul 2020 – Happy 4th From SIN

Thu: good time to reflect&review with the cultures&foods of the countries lived in the past 7decades. It is amazing how I do now&then miss a good burger, IrishStew&IrishCoffee and Norwegian fresh fish when back in SIN for a long period. Without food we will not survive and since we have to eat, might as well eat as healthy as possible but also to enjoy what we eat. We eat to live, and living to eat makes a full circle!

Having worked&lived in these countries, Ireland (10yrs), Norway (11yrs), USA (15yrs), today in SIN, but still consider Ireland, Norway&US as my home too.

A House is made of bricks&beams
A home is not a place – its a feeling
Home for me is where the Heart is no matter where in the world I am

Fri: appreciations to HS&Boon for lovely co&yummy dinner@GuanHoeSoon Restaurant – started in 1953 by Yap CheeKuee@185 Joo Chiat Road, GuanHoeSoon (named after his three sons, KowGuan, KawHoe&KowSoon, is the oldest Peranakan restaurant in SIN and LKYs favourite.

Sat: Happy 4th to all celebrating – pix of 4Jul past, 1988US-CrossCountyDrive, 2005ATthru’Hike, 2013OSL/Norway&2018SC/USA.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness – Martin Luther King Jr.

American Independence Day on 4Jul, a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of USA (1776) as an independent nation which solidified the American colonies’ resolution to fight for their independence from Britain. Memories of L&Js dog Gator who would hide in the corner of the inner bathroom whenever the fireworks started, poor doggie, may she RIP. Hope that Zuno is not so afraid of the fireworks.

American Cuisine – have heard some ppl saying that USA has no culture or cuisine, I totally disagree. Have enjoyed different culture&cuisine from the various states I have lived or visited. Burgers can be tasted in all 50states, my favourite being where I can order as to how I wish the meat to be cooked (medium) and what I want with it (LowCarb, ie no bun) – Fuddruckers when in SC. Too many other foods to mention here (check below link), picking my favourite top3.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/american-food-dishes/index.html

KeyLimePie (Florida/FL) – the official state pie of Florida, this sassy tart has made herself a worldwide reputation, which started in the FL Keys, from whence come the tiny limes that gave the pie its name. 

SheCrabSoup (SouthCarolina/SC) – a rich creamy soup, made of crab or fish stock&cream, AtlanticBlueCrab meat, and traditionally crab roe, and a small amount of dry sherry added. It may also include such seasonings as shallots or onions – a bowl of this can be a meal for me, so will usually go for a small cup as a starter, even then it is enough for me.

Jambalaya, Cajun&Creole (Louisiana/LA) – the root of the word has many proposed origins: maybe it comes from the Provençal word jambalaia, which meant a mishmash or mixture. Maybe it comes from the Spanish jamon for ham, with paella (a popular Spanish rice dish). 

Pix of Les+his whole family from Devon’s 8Bday last month. Tonight’s dinner@Les&Ivy to celebrate the 4th – a seldom pix of just bro&sis, tkx to Kat. Took me sometime, but finally manage to locate the US flag with the red,white&blue decorations for a mini RedVelvet Cheesecake from Twelve CupCakes to mark the day.

Nice to catch up with Kat&family, here dining on delicious roast lamb prepared by Les with a bottle of Cristal champagne, forgot to check the year, but be assure that any Cristal champagne is good and 1994 Chateau Mouton Rothschild – in wine paradise every time I get wines here. For me this is the life, family, good friends, delicious food accompany with wines like these.

A successful gift from JaniceWong, edible chocolate crayons+rice paper – have always wanted to write my own secret message and eat it up. Devon&Eliot have grown and will soon think these kind of gifts are cheesy, but for now, this moment just hit the spot. 

If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself ― George Orwell

1 Jul 2020 – SIN – A Food Paradise 

People’s Action Party flags seen at Marine Terrace on June 27, 2020. A total of ten flags were seen in the vicinity on Saturday. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

Mon: what do I see this morning but this large pix of my back!!! Had no idea that this was taken of me taking this pix yesterday, appreciations to Leonard for sharing. 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/not-campaign-period-yet-so-laws-display-party-flags-ge-dont-apply-eld?fbclid=IwAR1RAaflbdaErfEGdqCVobXDOmUH_9aIQpsGkFrEJ1tz-tfwbyfRHDIMF8A

Only in SIN can you eat decent&good world-wide ethnic foods on an area of 721.5Km²(279.6SqMi ) island – Chinese (8different cuisine), Eurasian, EasternEU, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Mexician, MiddleEasten, Peranakan, Russian, Thailand, Vietnamese, Western. 

Where Chinese cuisine is concerned, it is so diverse that even I have not tasted all the 8regions. Living with grandparents&parents from Kwangchow 廣州 region for the first 15yrs of this life, thus Cantonese food was my staple diet then. Most overseas Chinese eateries are based from this region – DimSum being the easiest for most taste-buds around the world, something I know that I can introduce to all my oversea visitors and they will like it.
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-food/eight-cuisine.htm

Have asked the younger ppl here what they considered is the real SIN-dish that all from or living in SIN know off – Chicken Rice, followed by BaKutTeh  肉骨茶 which translates from the Hokkien dialect to MeatBoneTea, and like many foods, the variety and the taste can be slightly different depending on what one is used to or like.

Peranakan/Nyonya Cuisine (uniquely SIN) – descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled around this area combining their foods from the Chinese, Malay, Javanese and other influences, which can be tasted only around this part of the world – Popiah (SpringRolls, not deep-fried) being my favourite.

https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/is-culinary-cultural-appropriation-a-thing-in-singapore-12869162?fbclid=IwAR0uuevV4417gWycEx9MaNtfdIxrDmuYj2L69bexTbU_Wgd7XKRQ8q-kZBI

Malaysian Cuisine – where all of their dishes are Halal with some of their dishes intertwine with the Peranakans, but with differences. Satay is another dish that most oversea visitors like. 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/malaysian-food/index.html

Thai Cuisine – their dessert buffet@ThanyingRestaurant/Amara Hotel is as colourful&tasty as it looks. Do enjoy the TomYum soups, as long as it is not too spicy. OliveFriedRice and GreenCurry with BabyEggPlant (look like green-peas, a must for me!).

https://www.thespruceeats.com/thai-food-and-culture-3217393#:~:text=A%20typical%20Thai%20meal%20includes,noodle%20dish%2C%20and%20possibly%20soup.

Vietnamese Cuisine – favourties being Pho with plenty of fresh basil and GoiCuon (RicePaper Shrimp Rolls) preference is with Nước chấm (FishSauce), not the peanut, but with plenty of fresh basil again. This must be the most healthy diet from all my favourites, not oily and nothing fried.

https://www.itourvn.com/blog/diverse-vietnam-food-culture

Let’s eat what we enjoy, cook the food of other cultures and share them as widely as possible. The only pre-requisite for said enjoyment is respect, and to learn from our differences.

Tue: body is still struggling to adjust without a gallbladder. Grocery Senior%Day (today’s saving 0.60c) – with a cuppa first as it will take the whole morning to wash&package the fruits& fresh produce after purchase to last thru’ the week. A small packet of Calamanis, and a teasp is enough for a dish to enhance some of the local foods to my taste. Bye-bye Jun, amazing how half a year has passed up. The above 3pix+ThanyingRestaurant are the only ones from me in this posting, most are all downloaded. Have not had much opportunity to wander around to take pix, and also it is soon time for a new camera!

Wed: HKG Special Administrative Region EstablishmentDay. Establishment Day, formally the HKG Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Chinese: 香港特別行政區成立紀念日), is celebrated annually on 1Jul in HKG China since 1997. With today’s situation, do wonder about what the future will be for this One country, Two system???

While here in SIN, the battle now begins today as we head into General Election campaigning post NominationDay. All 93seats to be contested 10Jul2020 election; 192candidates from 11parties file papers on NominationDay.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/ge2020-singapore-general-election-pap-wp-psp-sdp-vote-grc-smc-12886382

Hello Jul – 6months without any travel, and so far have survived thru’ COVID-19, CB, 2traumatic hospital stays. A day of errands@PlazaSIN to ArtFriend, ColdStorage, Daiso, Spotlight, all conveniently located under one roof with the bus-stop (only bus stop I know of with AC units!) directly outside and DhobyGhautMRTstation in the basement. 

The mood for a small bowl of Vietnamese beef Pho hit the spot@NamNam/PlazaSIN. They were out of the Prawn RicePaper Rolls, so an ice-cream cone from McD for dessert ended a perfect evening. Appreciations to Clement for company&dinner.

4 Jul – Happy 4th
14 Jul – Happy Bday Keith and Happy Bastille Day/France
17 Jul – Happy Bday Nancy Bowman
19 Jul – Happy 22nd Anniversary Linn&Jeff
20 Jul – Happy Bday David Yeoh
21 Jul – Happy Bday Albert Chua
22 Jun – Happy Anniversary Dike&Mark
23 Jun – Happy Bdays Lucas&James

28 Jun 2020 – EmeritusSeniorMinister Goh ChokTong,

Thu: Happy Dragon Boat Festival 端午节Blog-posting from 10yrs ago explains the legend with an edit of zongzi (China) bak-zhang (SIN) added to the posting – enjoy your bak-zhang. Fond memories of the 3grandmothers+househelp making these from scratch, including the bamboo leaves from our backyard – good old days from the 1950s.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/06/17/dragon-boat-water-water/

Unfortunately no personal old pix to document, but will have to rely on the memory and hopefully this will stay intact as long as there is life in this body. The ingredients can&may vary from different dialects, families, villages, etc.  4above pix downloaded.

https://www.herworld.com/solutions/bak-chang-101-whats-difference-between-various-dialect-groups-rice-dumplings/

https://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/dragon-boat-festival/

Today is 2weeks ago when the gallbladder+stones were removed – the first day off AntiB since then. The body needs to now adjust to be healthy enough to fight off bacteria naturally and to slowly get rid of the toxic from all the drugs pumped into the body intravenous or orally.

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/ge2020-emeritus-senior-minister-goh-chok-tong-to-retire-from-politics-after-44-years-as-mp

Fri: TGIF – Happy retirement to former SIN PrimeMinister (1990-2004), EmeritusSeniorMinister Goh ChokTong 79, is retiring from politics after 44yrs as a Member of Parliament. Dr Tan SeeLeng will succeed Mr Goh as PAP MarineParadeBranch chairman. Mr Goh will be missed by many in the MPcommunity, including myself. Welcome Dr Tan.

Sat: tkx Leonard for checking on my laptop and phones – should be ready to Zoom, but first to my favourite food joints on EC Rd. Take-away BakZhang/KimChoo KuehChang, PrawnMee lunch@BeachRoad PrawnNoodleHouse and take-away HokkienMee/Lor29 HokkienMee. My first sit-down meal with one real person since CB started.

Walking up TelokKurauRd taking time to appreciate all these wild flowers&weeds before they have to be cut down. Returning back to the flags fluttering in the light breeze, all ready&up for the upcoming elections.

Emily of Emerald Hill by StellaKon – online screening here starring MargaretChan from SIN ArtsFestival 2010. Have always enjoyed a good performance of this one woman-play where it journeys through human consciousness&through time. IvanHeng is another performer who also does a good Emily that I like.

The significance of this play lies in the linkage it provides for the postcolonial past toward a history of the vanishing present – Max Le Blond 

Sun: Brunch@PeachGarden at HotelMiramar to celebrate these Bdays – John, Clement, Huang(25Jun), Jeff, John/MoFo(today). Yummy dim-sum with beautiful&delicious cakes from Antoniette which sadly will be closing for good – savouring the last of it. Appreciations to Pat&David for tasty home-made MeeSuah+banana-bread delivered for dinner. What a feast for the weekend. Thank you thank you.

24 Jun 2020 – Post-Surgery Follow-Up

Snail-mail from the US post-marked 29May2020 finally arrived sometime last week while being hospitalized – 2+weeks which is more or less getting back to normal.

Sat: these chickens were excited for the opening of CB Phase2, they were seen in the OutramMRTstation – such an uplifting story to put a smile on the face over the weekend.

https://mothership.sg/2020/06/chickens-take-mrt/

Even chickens are smart enough to social distance, and here are some ppl who should learn from chickens! British Indian Curry Hut was ordered to close today – URA, the restaurant will only be allowed to do takeaways next week and open for dining in from 29Jun, provided it has shown that it is able to implement safe management measures for its customers. Quite rightly so!

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/holland-village-restaurant-ordered-shut-5-persons-fined-flouting-rules-first-day-phase-2

Proud of my first-born and her running dedication. Being a good mother, she has encouraged her flock to follow her footsteps. A healthy&constructive way to keep the young ppl busy&fit and out of mischief. Congratulations for her Masters Women on the Columbia Running Club members on this latest SC Road Race Rankings.

Discovered the joy of audio books again, used to do that during some my drives on the turnpike from Orlando-Miami (FL/USA) when I was working there in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Oh! how delightful to hear those eloquent words, especially now that the eyes are not as they used to be, thus less reading the past decade. Its a refreshing change to let the mind wander with the words again – Austin, Dickens, Dahl, Hemingway, Wilde, etc…

Sun: Happy Father’s Day to all fathers with loving memories for my own father BG1LAM TinYue(1911-1996) who would have been 109yrs a week ago. Most appreciative for the home-made delicious lasagna, Ciabatta&cookies Father’s Day dinner, thank you Pat&David.

Mon: pouring down cats&dogs as I headed out to RafflesHospital/RH for a follow-up. Todays RH is quite a different one from the time when we (H&H) designed their logo and first set of pamphlets in 2002. Before that was BiancoCt where party-goods, wrappings, etc. could be purchased there.

First visit@RafflesSpecialisCentre/2019 added on with a nice food-court in the basement.

Here is the first bite of food sitting down outside the 4-walls since CB started – decent congee (ChinesePorridge)&good HaliaTea (ginger-milk) in a nice uncrowded hospital food-court.

Everything is healing fine so far and bandages came off today, yeah no stitches or staples were used – no more need for any follow-ups unless necessary. Was told that I got to the hospital in time when I did as it was really bad. Thank goodness the hospital bill (nearly S$40K) is absorbed by government’s subsidies+MediSave&MediShield. Paid for today’s consultation (S$50+) which is also subsidized, otherwise S$233.

Convenient location where bus-stop&MRTstation are within 1min walk (no chickens in BugisMRTstation!) – the Green/East-WestLine took me to RafflesCity (1stop) where I could pick up some stuff in a practically empty mall. Best time to shop, no lines when nearly everything is on promotion, but by 1300hrs, it was time to head back to the 4walls for the tired body to rest.

Tue&Wed: more cats&dogs this morning – usually am away from SIN at this time of the year, thus taking time now to enjoy these heavy tropical rains bringing on cleaner&fresh cooler airs. Rain or shine, pressure-cleaning still happened this morning – the sound of heavy rains hitting on the ACmetal&the window-panes are relaxing sounds for me, providing the calm&serenity needed for a full recovery soon. The Secret Garden audio-book (8+hrs) FrancesHodgsonBurnett/1910 narrated by StevenGarnett (real Yorkshire English) with musical interludes of Tchailovsky’s/1892 Waltz of the Flowers hit the spot. The innocence of childhood brings back cheerful memories.

Wed: God SanktHans, Norway Mid-Summer.

Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts – Sigmund Freud

19 June 2020 – It Pours

Tue: having some pains, but hopefully that will pass by tomorrow, and if not will head to the polyclinics.

Wed-Sun: had to call for an ambulance, could barely get to the phone with the worst&excruciating pains ever experienced. Was admitted into RafflesHospital for Laparoscopic keyhole surgery removing gallbladder&nasty infected stone which escaped to the bile-duct/Cholecystitis. One thing lead to another – the heart rate sky-rocketed setting off the pre-existing AF. After 4days in ICU on whatever multi anti-etc drips (lost count), one after another to counter-act each other.

Must have been in such a delirium – had no idea what was going on, but do remember seeing shadows of some clear figure (nothing spooky)+an on-going party in the background, so clear that I asked for a of change room in the ICU. This is what drugs can do to the mind, messes it up completely – the cheek of them to party on disturbing the peace without including or inviting me! This must be the first delirium ever experienced, do not recall or remember of any others.

8 Jun 2020 – Difference Is The Essence Of Humanity

Received a free Digital Air Purifier (worth $699) delivered to me, the catch – S$168 for the filter. After receiving the machine, within 3 days to activate the one year warranty on the machine, a pix with the machine and copy paste the script below to be posted on my FB-wall sharing with friends. and to paste on FB this message from the sponsor, Eight Stars Pte Ltd

Refresh Your Home with Cleaner Air. I just received a FREE Digital Air Purifier (worth $699) delivered to my home. It is suitable for any family with ASTHMA, SINUS and ALLERGIES issues. This only available for LIMITED participants to tryout in the market… etc

Tkx to S for last night’s dinner from DinTaiFung delivered by Grab to celebrate the graduation. Appreciations for tonight’s dinner home-made BakKutTet by Pat who personally delivered it. Yummy yum yum – enough food for the weekend. Will challenge Lucas&Beth when they have learnt to play 5-stones – hahaha.

Sun: wine delivery from Les to last me until end of the year, thank you thank you, am so absolutely blessed with my family here too. Also mail with postmark dated 23Mar from Norway #6 arr on Fri – better late than never, felt like Christmas this weekend with long due mail received and yummy foods&wines delivered to the door. How lucky and totally blessed I am.

Mon: above 2 pix downloaded which are much more than a thousand words. My titles for these pix – ALL LIVES MATTER. The flower pix is a Japanese Egret Orchid, but I would like to call it DELICATE PEACE, bringing back memories of the FlowerPower&HippyDays from the 1960s.

Pix downloaded – how wonderful It would be if our differences can be respected and bringing us together. We have much to learn from each others differences which can help us all. Seeing what is happening in the world now is rather upsetting, but will keep dreaming, hoping, praying and thinking constructively&positively. My thoughts are exactly with John Hume’s quote.

Anti-Cruelty, Anti-Racism, Anti-Wars, Anti-Violence are important for me, but somehow with a slogan like Black Lives Matter to me  seems to separate than bringing us together. Perhaps its just me, but hoping these world-wide protests will stay peaceful, otherwise they will be in vain. The last Anti-Racism protest in person was 7yrs ago and still will be protesting for this cause as long as there is life in me, but with pix&words due to health issues.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/05/17/greetings-from-malacca-2/

I plan to stand by nonviolence, because I have found it to be a philosophy of life that regulates not only my dealings in the struggle for racial justice, but also my dealings with people, and with my own self – Martin Luther King Jr.

5 Jun 2020 – Senior Proms 1993&2020

Tue:  Easter care-package mailed 27Apr to the US was received today and online purchases from the US ordered&paid around the same time were received today (2+months). Now this really puts the term snail-mail into another dimension. They can open things up on this CB Phase1 today, but I’m still staying put to see what happens to you all first, hahaha. For my overseas family&friends, those travel books’ places are from different areas in SIN. 

This batch of lychees from today’s grocery@Giant/MarineTerrace is sweet, juicy with small seeds. These are from China, S$7.90per kilo – bought 300gms S$1.83 after .50c discount, Senior% from the whole bill .90c savings today. Being alone, best to get just enough to last for day and then shop again to taste the fresh new batch another day, hopefully just as sweet! Its the season, also like them in my martini too – Cheers, YamSeng, Sláinte, Skål.

Wed: ppl who have the power&voices, learn from this sheriff and it is NOT about politics for me.  So very sad with the unrest around the world on top of COVID-19.

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true – Martin Luther King Jr

Late news from Norway: must be traumatic watching your house floating by, stirring back the feelings of despair and helplessness when L&J house burnt down – thankfully no injuries or fatalities reported here and when the house burnt down in Oct2013. As Kiat puts it never underestimate the folly of men building habitats in unstable locations and my reply – there are many of those unstable locations around the world and it is a matter of time where&when Mother nature decides to claim it back..

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-52920766/norway-landslide-buildings-swept-away-in-alta-disaster

Thu: throwback from LHHS/SeniorProm in FL/USA1993 with Gabe(&Jen+6kids), Brandy (&Matt&4kids), Jeff&Linn (+5kids), Matt&Kristy (+2grown-kids) – 27yrs have gone by quickly!

To a different kind of SeniorProm in IHS/SC,USA today. Appreciations to 1st-born for pix of #1, stunning&beautiful inside out like her mom at her SeniorProm. Need these kind of pix more than ever nowadays to focus on happy thoughts – life goes on despite of everything.

Fri: live-streamed of #1 graduation tonight and an evening with tears of joy streaming down from this grandma! Congratulations to #1 with her siblings&proud parents@Irmo High School Graduation Ceremony at W C Hawkins Stadium.

All the best to the next chapter in her life’s journey@University of South Carolina/UofSC/SC (1801) not to be confused with USC/CA (1880). Looking forward to visiting her there. Pix credits to L&M.

The Courtney Shealy Hart Award, in recognition to the Top Female Senior Athlete who excels in the classroom, community and on the playing fields!

Every person you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them —H Jackson Brown Jr.

1 Jun 2020 – Life Online With Interesting Links

Sat: interesting read and if this link is proven correct, it will not be good for ppl like me if the virus hits me, at this age with pre-existing issues like blood clots&heart issues. Oh well, when it is my time to go, will go with no regrets – such is life

https://elemental.medium.com/coronavirus-may-be-a-blood-vessel-disease-which-explains-everything-2c4032481ab2

Looking at the clock daily, one of those few ppl who still has an analog clock&watch, and would not have realized how amazingly brilliant the analog clock&watch face can be if not for Alan’s FB video posting. Hmmm clock&numbers, is this a sign or too much time on hands?? Not linking this clock video here as it takes up too much space in the posting, but if interested, copy&paste the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/debashish.roy.1232/videos/1546896372141127?t=2         

Have been listening to Ajahn Brahm’s talks again. Do remember what a calming effect they had on me, first introduced to his talks in the late 1990s when I returned to work in SIN. Glad that they still do have the calming effect as that is so needed now. Having some concerns as he now sounds like he is short of breath, but then, I too would probably sound the same to someone who has not heard from me for a decade.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/12/09/simply-this-moment/ 

The Studios Online: A Good Death – hosted by The Studios and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. A palliative care doctor, as she journeys with her patients, opening up to her about their hopes&fears while her own family conflicts over what is best for their ageing parent. Rather depressing, but the reality of life is that we all die; how you lived your life+your attitude will also effect how your face your ending days. Family Duet: a light-hearted multi-generational take on the seldom-asked questions about family life – did not get much of my attention, trying to get the message without success.

But life was taken way too soon from Tori 9yrs ago.

https://amylamsg.com/2011/05/30/in-memory-of-tori-mcgee/

Sun: God Pinse on this last Sun&last day in May to those marking this long weekend in Norway&around the world – tkx to 2nd born in Norway for the reminder of it being a public holiday there on this Christian holiday of Pentecost, which is celebrated the 49day after EasterSun. Reading a gator in the clouds this morning, must have been around too many FL-Gators – hahaha 

http://www.norsk-med-silje.com/blog/2014/6/9/god-pinse-but-what-is-pinse-all-about

Not having lived in SIN from 1965-1999, am not too familiar with the celebrities of that era. For me, the only familiar work from Dick Lee’s Home, which I like and is practically the national anthem here, anyone from SIN would probably know this song. Just discovered from the online concert that he wrote it in the late 1990s having lived sometime in Japan&HKG and was feeling homesick. Here is a touching video where you can hear what it is like to be homesick. 

Sad news from the US, so much unrest with protests, riots, curfews, looters, violence, etc happening there on top of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demonstrators rally has now spread to Europe in solidarity with US protesters – really depressing with all these news. 

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/george-floyd-protests-05-31-20/index.html

Mon: welcome Jun2020 and hopefully there will not be too many increase of cases now that Phase 1 of CB is opening here tomorrow. Going to be a real busy week for the family in SC/USA with #1s PromDinner, graduation and family vacation to GA.

The below link has NOTHING to do with religion for me, its about hopes for PEACE and if prayers help and or work, just do it. Prayers&thoughts are with all in the USA and around the world. For all my life, I have always hoped&prayed for PEACE ON EARTH and will never stop hoping&praying for that. Here is where John Lennon’s Imagine is so needed.

https://cbs12.com/news/local/police-take-a-knee-in-solidarity-prayer-with-protesters-in-coral-gables

Oh no! PP added to list of public places visited by COVID-19 cases (Wed 20May between 1400-1500hrs) while infectious – was last there Fri22May (1100-1400hrs), 10days ago!!

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/moh-places-visited-covid-19-may-31-parkway-parade-12788566

1 Jun – Happy Bday Morten
2 Jun – Happy Bday KK  & Richard LEE
6 Jun – Happy Bdays Dika & Harry
9 Jun – Happy Bday Sophie
15 Jun – my father LAM TinYue would have been 109. L&M paternal grandfather John HALD III 97 today. Happy Bday AmyJ
21 Jun – Happy Father’s Day
25 Jun – Happy Bdays John/Chon, Clement & Huang
28 Jun – Happy Bdays Jeff & John WILSON
30 Jun – Happy Bdays JenMun & Annie

29 May 2020 – From Gov.sg&MOF To A Flag
Tue: usual grocery shopping day@Giant/MarineTerrace for senior discount – saving app S$3-4 monthly. Not much personal new pix to share, same old same old or older pix, so uploading what is interesting to me from various present happenings&links in this posting. Reflecting with more thoughts&seeing the past&present with yet another angle, that’s for having too much time! Somehow trying hard to not read too much into the news as there is just too much world unrest for the body&mind to digest, but still have to keep updated.

No regrets for being one of the 80,000 who signed. Let’s hope that the NDP organisers will opt-out for those funpacks and put the money to better use.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ndp-organisers-exploring-opt-out-option-for-funpacks-says-mp-govt-seeks-feedback-on-issue

Enjoyed tonight’s The Coronalogues – Silver Lining – hosted by SIN Repertory Theatre, 9local writers, performed by 9local actors.

Wed: eldest of the PG who got married in Jan2020 is 31yrs today. Hopefully will live to be a great-grand auntie to document the 1stBrownGeneration/BG, no pressure there, SuiChang+JiaLing – hahaha.

A good read for anyone with Asia origins living overseas for decades but had to leave home to appreciate the Asian meals from their childhood. Blessed that I am one of those who like all kinds of good cuisines, memories when I first tasted black pudding&shepherd-pie in boarding school/1965 and like it then and still like it, provided when made with good fresh ingredients. 

https://thebolditalic.com/how-i-came-to-respect-chinese-food-and-my-heritage-7a22b2b8ed2a

What is happening in HKG where my maternal side of the family is far from good news.  Sadly&unfortunately do not see an amicable or peaceful outcome of this whole situation. Hopes&prayers to family&friends for their well-being&safety there. 

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/05/26/the-optimistic-case-for-hong-kong-282827

Tonight’s online event: Covid-19 and The Future of Travel – Hosted by The MileLion. Unfortunately the sound system was breaking up and could not hear much, but whatever I heard was not encouraging for International travels – so do not even know when I will be able to see my kids&grand kids again???

Thu: with the enhancements announced, all Singaporeans aged 21yrs&above in 2020 will receive a one-off Care and Support – Cash payout of $900, $600 or $300, depending on income, PAssion Card Top-up, Additional GST Voucher, Service and Conservancy Charges Rebate will be applicable to me, I think.

http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/budget_2020/budget-measures/care-and-support-package

Fri: TGIF on the last Fri of this month. Still alive&walking, in decent health but over-eating&over-thinking. A good weekend to all – count your blessings in these turbulence times. Applied for a flag as the only one I had was given to my sis some years ago. If I am lucky to get it, will hang it outside, but facing the main door instead of facing the road!

That flag is a symbol we attach our emotions to, but it isn’t the emotion itself and it isn’t the thing we really care about. Sometimes we don’t even realize what we really care about, because we get so distracted by the symbols ― Tom Wolfe

https://mustsharenews.com/free-national-flag/

25 May 2020 – Coincidence or Serendipity??

Sat: Rousseau’s Tiger in a Tropical Storm(1891) talks to me this morning. This tiger looks like an unhappy camper, unlike Blake’s Tiger Tiger burning bright(1794), and Tiger-Beer(1932) originated here in my birth country/city/island/state. Tiger(my 2005AT-Trail name) enjoys the wet tropical cool rains in or outdoors.

https://www.change.org/p/ndp-2020-opt-out-from-receiving-ndp-2020-funpack?recruiter=36727303&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium

At a time like this, app 1.4million funpacks (wonder how much that would cost???) could be put to better&constructive than just funpacks! By signing, hopefully not only help with the environment, but perhaps also to put food into some hungry stomachs. Do remember getting that funpack in 2014, the one&only NDP attended and gave it away.

https://amylamsg.com/2014/08/10/ndp-2014/

Mimosa pudica (from Latin: pudica shy, bashful or shrinking; also called sensitive plant, sleepy plant, action plant, Dormilones, touch-me-not, shameplant, zombie plant, or shy plant) is a creeping plant of the pea/legume family, Here it is considered a weed with thorns. Can never resist touching this Shy-Plant (that is what I have always known it as since childhood) to watch the leaf closing and believe me, still do it whenever they cross my path and this one is behind TNschool on my walk to PP. Enjoy playing with them gently, watching them opening again Pa-chow-chou, literally translated from Cantonese shy-grass, my favourite beautiful-calming weed – a good title for a book! The Kid Inside Never Grew Away From This Weed, hahaha

Edited: keep forgetting words like weed&coke can mean otherwise in the US, tkx to Jan for the reminder in FB

Crossing Still Rd on the overpass bridge and so strange to hardly see any cars at this busy junction – usually at this time, it would be bumper to bumper with cars. Enjoying it while it last, can now breath better. Nice to see flowers blooming in these plants placed by Nparks on tree-trunks&branches by the road.

PP is like a ghost-mall, do not remember ever seeing the basement so empty – was running low on toiletries and Watsons is offering 20% member discount for some items, thus saving over S$10 there. Treats from BengawanSolo (the outlet across the road from me is closed) and FourLeaves to celebrate Hari Raya and Memorial Day over this weekend. If not for CB, Mon would be a public holiday here and the US.

World Turtle Day and SIN has a special&important visitor this afternoon – coincidence or serendipity?? One Hawksbill turtle has arrived on our shores at EC Pk to lay eggs in the afternoon, pix credits to NParks, also gives a good idea to my oversea friends about the 180°horizon sea-front here being packed stern to stern with ships – for real, no exaggeration! This by far is the most exciting news for me – now am so glad that the beach, the grass near the beach and all the jetties are closed here. Hopefully this turtle will NOT be disturbed and her hatchlings here will be the one in a 1,000 to survive into adulthood. Mother Nature now finally has a chance to breath and showing us the wonders of nature&what real beauty is. Even Mt Everest can be seen with the naked eyes from Kathmandu.

HAWKSBILL TURTLE SPOTTED LAYING EGGS AT EAST COAST PARK

As I was commenting in my previous posting how I was unable to walk on the grass or beach in the EC Pk to take pix, today I am so happy about that we are not allowed there when I read about the turtle. Just came to mind with the alligator snapping turtle laying eggs on the Virginia Creeper Trail VA/USA 3yrs ago which then brought back of childhood memories from 1950s when I watched the big sea-turtles laying eggs (first&only time) in Kuantan/Malaysia. 14uncle&guards equipped with guns to protect us from the tigers then, as they too, like the poachers hunt for those eggs. Somehow tigers seem to be lurking around today – hahaha.

https://amylamsg.com/2017/05/20/trail-days-2017/

Try to be like the turtle — at ease in your own shell – Bill Copeland

Sun: Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri – peace be upon all – thanks to Mil for the reminder. Nowadays it is not so easy to remember&keep up with these festive days when we are unable to be out celebrating with family&friends with the traditional foods. 

Mon: Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Mon of May (25May 2020), honoring the men and women who died while serving in the US military. Not to be confused with Veterans Day which celebrates the service of all US military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service.

Interesting to know about origins of Memorial Day – https://time.com/5836444/black-memorial-day/

The effects of loss are acute, and unique to each individual. Not everyone mourns in the same way, but everyone mourns ― Goodrich

Marking the day with a steak dinner which I have not made or ate since my last visit to the US, a year ago. Prepared it exactly to my taste. Medium rare, pink inside with all the sides&trimmings – testing to make sure that I can still do it when the family request for steaks again on our next meeting.

After you have witnessed the reality, you can no longer look at a piece of steak, and simply think ‘yum’ ― Wodzak