8 May 2021 – Esplanade Bus-Stop

Wed: to friends&ppl in Mexico, prayers&thoughts are out to those who are effected by railway bridge collapses, no way to celebrate CincoDeMayo, but they do not celebrate that in Mexico!  Karin&Guillermo, pray that all their family&friends are safe there, but they are now in the US where they do celebrate CincoDeMayo!!

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/05/04/world/mexico-train-metro-crash

Thu: SGH appointments are not always that boring&dreaded if moods&physically conditions are up to taking the mind off the health issues to focus on the surroundings. If I take bus36, will change to bus75@StopID:02061-Esplanade where I have good views of the Flyer and StamfordRd ahead.

And if taking bus196, will change to bus75@StopID:03019–OUE Bayfront, another stop tastefully designed to fit in to the surroundings.

Not only Dale Chihuly’s PaintBrush Tower (not sure this will be a new permanent feature added here or just temporary?) can be seen within a mins walk from this bus stop recently – a stop I would sometimes choose to change at for the CBD scenes. Also a bus stop where I can enjoy wandering just within a few steps to check out the arts&surroundings to see what is new.

Pembungaan=Blossoming in Malay, bronze mural (2011) by KumariNahappan. Rodin (1840-1917) The Thinker (1902) is where I think, therefore I am!

TóngLè’sPrivateDining – revolving restaurant with views serving traditional Chinese fare at OUE-Tower. AscottRafflesPlace – luxury serviced apartments.

Bus75 stops@StopID:06011 on OutramRd where the FOCshuttle (good regular service) there will take me into the hospital grounds. The stop&it’s surroundings now are under much construction at present, but do look forward to when this is completed.

It ought to be plain how little you gain by getting excited and vexed. You’ll always be late for the previous train/bus and always on time for the next – Piet Hein.

Fri: tkx to Clem for downloading: My Father – Hopkins’s brilliant portrayal of dementia father where it ends with him saying that he is losing his leaves! Sad&depressing, but the reality of life for caregivers with dementia relatives&patients.

This film received 6 nominations in total including the 93rd AcademyAwards, he won Best Actor; Zeller&Hampton won Best Adapted Screenplay.

Sat: looking forward to another family dinner tonight.

From Garry5May: Trip around the block #10. I wrote a post on Anzac Day while off-line with an assurance from Mr FB that it would be posted when I was next online. Did not happen and it has wafted into the either. Mine you, I have been out of range for 10 days.. So a few catch up pics.

Was getting concerned without any of his DownUnder–OutBack pix or words for so many days, and the 1st pix he sent me was this map-drinkcoaster after 10-MIA-days! Heading north from Alice its impossible to miss these statues of an Aboriginal woman and child, and the man on the hill.

Devils Marbles – Much of this area is of cultural significance, especially to Aboriginal women and photos are not allowed. These pics are from the areas allowed to pe photographed.

Every roadhouse has a claim to something

Daly Waters pub ready for a big Anzac Day

Many petrol stops now have these above ground shi]ing container-like petrol storage

What else do you do with a crashed helicopter? And now the road east toward the gulf.

4 May 2021: Closing of Abercrombie & Fitch 

Sat: 2attractions@GardensByTheBay to look forward to without having to travel – Dale Chihuly Glass in Bloom and Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express, taking into consideration to avoid being there during weekends, public holidays (12&26May), school holidays (29May-27Jun). Need to register in advance, and if possible to also arrange either lunch or T to spoil myself.

One of my bucket list items is to be on the OrientExpress from Paris-Istanbul. It is good to have something to plan&look forward to in this life journey, but do remember to use your brains&common sense to enjoy this life’s journey.

We seek the truth within, not without – HerculePoirot/Murder on the OrientExpress

Hopefully the ppl&leaders here are able to control this raising COVID-19 cases. According to PM Lee, SIN has to tighten Covid-19 measures promptly if needed to curb spread, avoid second circuit breaker.

Sun: appreciations to my IT savvy computer guru friend Leonard, for helping me to make bookings&reservations using the S$100 worth of SingapoRediscoversVouchers/SRV for both the above attractions. https://singaporediscovers.life.gov.sg/

Sadly Abercrombie&Fitch closed its only outlet here today. Has nearly 10yrs gone by so quickly when many of us were drooling over these handsome young men on their Dec2011 opening? Coincidently, bumped into two of them@SBG the next day when they had on their tops!

Who can forget those faces&figures unless you are blind or suffering from dementia?! https://amylamsg.com/2011/12/13/drool-drool-drool/ https://amylamsg.com/2011/12/14/more-drooling/

Tkx to Les&Ivy with the Chuas for dinner, nice to be able to get out of the 4-walls and have a good variety of home-cooked foods with the family. Enjoyed an excellent night-cap before getting on the Grab-cab

Mon: post-surgery check-up@SGH, since out&about, had dinner@IKEA (AlexandraRd) with Clement&Leonard. Managed my share of both the marinated&cooked salmon+shrimps! Also some snacks&food shopping for the 17Mai (Norway’s National day) done there. Was told that there is a new branch IKEA@Jurong, now with 3-IKEAs on this tiny island! Do remember my first time@IKEA in Olso/Norway late 1960s which was their 1st store opened outside of Sweden – 445stores around the world now!

https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-first-store-history-in-sweden-in-1958-2019-9#today-ikea-has-come-a-long-way-from-its-humble-beginnings-operating-430-stores-in-more-than-50-markets-18

Started in 1943, this Swedish furniture store has come a long way, has built its largest branch in ManilaBay’s Mall of Asia – IKEA PasayCity spans 65,000+sqM=150basketball courts (pix downloaded).

Tue: CT-scan@SGH, not a good time to be in or near any hospitals at present, but as long as it is not in Tan Tock Seng Hospital/TTSH where the recent cluster started! Late Tue grocery shopping@Giant/Tampines S$117.21/S$3.62SenSav.

While changing bus@OUE Bayfront stop, decided to delay getting on the next bus, walked to welcome one of the many pieces by ‘Dale Chihuly’. This one is PaintBrush Tower (2014) – looking forward to seeing the others.

Current news with restrictions and updates in SIN for the COVID-19 measures starting from Sat8May: return to Phase 2: Cap on gathering size, daily number of visitors per household to be reduced from 8 to 5.

Effectively … the measures will bring us back to Phase Two for a few weeks. Minister Lawrence Wong outlines the tighter measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, adding that this is not a circuit breaker. https://cna.asia/3tcGOAB

Not good news for those celebrating Mother’s Day, Eid al-Fitr&Vesak Day for this month.

1 May – Happy May Day
5 May – Happy Cinco De Mayo
6 May – Happy Bdays WONG Wai Kit & Jan SOSA
9 May – Happy Mother’s Day
10 May – Happy Bday Andrew LAM
13 May – Happy Bday Susannah LAM 
16 May – Happy Bday LAM JenWen
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 2021 – But Be Prepared For the Worst

Tue-Thu: 1st 2021SuperMoon seen from the concrete-jungle of a public-housing estate. Tkx for all the shares of this beautiful moon around the world from everyone. Plx do remember to be humble as we are all under the same sky, looking at the same moon. Time for healing, resting, reflecting with high hopes for the best.

Hoping for the best, but be prepared for the worst has been ingrained in me by my father ever since I can remember, and with this in me, have managed to survive OK so far, tkx dad.

Saddened with the news from India, but what I really am not able to understand is why in these pandemic circumstances are ppl permitted to gather in 100s&1,000s for whatever elections, events, functions, etc???

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/covid-19-india-total-deaths-passes-200-000-mark-14709564

Bloomberg puts SIN, NZ and Australia as the safest places to be in the world. SIN has been ranked as the best place to be during the pandemic. With 61,000 cases, 30 deaths & 20% of the population vaccinated, it has topped Covid-19 resilience ranking.

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4nOlkN09uo 

Not gloating or boasting, not advisable to judge any country with that of another, but sadly the whole world is effected and suffers when a pandemic becomes a pawn to those manipulating for material, political&power gains. The below link, tkx to Jules – a long, but educational&interesting read:

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/28/crime-against-humanity-arundhati-roy-india-covid-catastrophe

Fri: TGIF on the last day of this Apr2021 – a good weekend to all. PP mentioned she don’t think like an elderly person, but body obviously looks it and that our parents acted old in their 50s – how true when the body&mind are not quite in sync! Our parents lived in a different era and I am not sure how or what an elderly person thinks?? All I can do is to be myself as best as I know how to be myself – Cogito, ergo sum

Have submitted 5 of my favourite AT pix for ATC Natural Beauty: 14 States, Unlimited Inspiration (dateline 30Apr). MaxPatch/NC taken on a revisit as the 1st time there in 2005, arrived near mid-night in pitch darkness. CraigCreek/VA

PineKnobLoop/CT, Presidential-Range Franconia-Notch/NH, Mt Washington/NH revisit as1st time round in 2005, could hardly see my hands when they were outstretched!

30Apr2021: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:

SIN/pop 5.6+mil in an area of 721SqKm – 30
SC/USA/pop 5+mil in an area of 82, 932SqKm – 9,495
Norway/pop 5.3+mil in an area of 365,268SqKm – 754

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries

35 including 16new community COVID-19 cases here, highest in more than 9months. Plx do take care and not let down your precautions yet. Have no intentions of being any where in my present state, unless for grocery, ie fresh produce, freezer still has enough food for me to last for another week.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-cases-imported-community-tan-tock-seng-moh-apr-29-14712050

From Garry24Apr: Easy to see who gets right of way on the roads up here! Here size matters! I did pass one (not overtake) that was towing FOUR tanker trailers!

Wow! am glad that I am not the driver or on this road here!! If I have to drive on a road trip, the vehicle will not be larger than the white SUV here and NO trailer.

26 Apr 2021 – Resting And Healing

Fri: continued throwing up in the early morning – the side-effect of the GA to last for ~24hrs! Breakfast – a cup of tea+a few spoons of oatmeal and finally managed to keep that down.

Dr Gerald Tay, an excellent Dr, a Dr with the insight of the patient’s well-being seen from both sides, ie the Dr’s&the patient’s side. Was told that I was well enough to be discharged, but if needed to, just stay on – decided to wait&see how I will feel later.

2cm of this nuisance gland has been removed which has been over producing calcium and now the calcium level is back to normal. Its amazing that a tiny little gland like this can do such damage to the whole system!

https://www.uclahealth.org/endocrine-center/high-calcium

By lunch, managed to keep all my food down (fish, veggie, rice&apple – ate nearly every bite) and also with dinner (beef, veggie, rice&orange – eat every bite). Knowing that I would get a more peaceful&quiet rest in my own 4walls and felt good enough to care for myself, chose to be discharged not wanting to deal with the hospital environment for another night.

Those who were concern about me not staying another night have not experienced a public hospital with 7ppl(C-ward) in a room and there are ~10rooms with only half wall-divisions! Pix downloaded. Was expecting it to be busy&noisy (I think all the rooms were full), had both ear-plugs&eye-blinder packed with my toiletries which came into very good use.

Appreciations to all the Drs, nurses&staff of SGH. Nice colourful paintings looking hopeful on the hospital wall, ie if you can imagine what hope looks like! Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness – Desmond Tutu. Cab-ride/S$17, good taxi-driver, knew exactly how&where to drive, did not try to make conversation and deserved S$3tip. Home by 2000hrs (an extra day charge if discharged after 2000hrs), washed and crashed by 2100hrs.

Sat: after 10+hrs sleep&rest, feeling refreshed with no discomfort or pain on this lovely wet morning, a perfect day with a cuppa&a book to heal&rest. Walk in the Woods/BillBryson is a better read 2nd time round, read it before the hike, but enjoying it better now after the hike!

The scar as it is today will be needing scafs&chokers when out, so as not to scare anyone as it is not Halloween yet!

Sun: condolences to son-in-law for the passing of his step-grandmother Smith (97). Prayers&thoughts are out to Jeff’s stepmother, Dee&family.

Thank you to Carmel, niece&nepehw for visits with all the yummy foods. Am now well-stock with all kinds of food for the week. Tkx for this share from Glenn in the Philippines, reminding him that I am the 1st and only female from SIN who has completed the AT Thru’Hike from 30Apr-3Sep2005, age 55 then!

Mon: a good Monday and week ahead – enjoy this last week for Apr2021. Condolences with prayers&thoughts to all effected in the Indonesian submarine, KRI Nanggala402 now confirmed drowned with all its 53ppl on board.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-missing-submarine-sank-debris-found-kri-nanggala-14685170 

From Garry20Apr: Trip around the block #8. The West Macdonnell Ranges- West of Alice Springs. Like so much of the NT, the landscape is the real attraction. The area overflows with deep gorges, folded mountains, sharp chasms, waterholes, changing rock colors, vegetation (or lack of), and every feature from a high school ‘mountainous landscapes’ study imaginable!

Ellery Creek Big Hole. Cold n deep! Stanley Chasm.

The waterhole at the bottom of Serpentine Gorge is not so great. Believed to be home of a bad snake. No swimming allowed but not inviting anyway. Bushfire sculpture.

From Garry24Apr: Trip around the block #9. West of the settlement of Hermannsburg, best know as the home of Aboriginal watercolour landscape artist Albert Namitjira, and also the large Lutheran mission, is the amazing Palm Valley! Here, on the edge of the Tanami Desert, is a valley dominated by towering Red Cabbage Palms. The steep walls of the gorge are also home to age old cyclads.

Waterhole camp-site. Morning view south

22 Apr 2021 –  Metabolic Imbalance

Tue: picking up heavier stuff like laundry detergent and toilet tissue for next week as I do not know how my condition will be after surgery!

Wed: for those who might not remember about GeorgeFloyd, here is the link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52861726

Justice has now done its job – DerekChauvin guilty in death of GeorgeFloyd: https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/derek-chauvin-trial-04-20-21/index.html

It took the BostonMarathon and the year of Linn’s 40thBday to get all of us from SIN, Norway&USA together and 7yrs ago today since my whole flock & I were gathered together in one country, this is still only pix of us all: https://amylamsg.com/2014/04/24/road-trip3/

Perhaps we can start planning ahead for Linn’s 50th – I will need that to look forward to, especially in today’s circumstances.

Preparing for tomorrow’s surgery and will need to fast tonight, ie no food from midnight until after op. Appreciate gratefully all concerns from family&friends with thanks and will ask for help when&if needed. At such a time, for me personally, would prefer to be alone with a clear mind to deal with my own issues&thoughts without having to take considerations to others feelings, questions&thoughts – have promised to update with text from the hospital whenever I am able to do so.

Reflecting on Jun2020 emergency hospital admittance by ambulance, I do sincerely apologise for causing concerns&worries as the mobile died on me and was out of action&reach!

https://amylamsg.com/2020/06/19/when-it-rains/

Unlike then, this surgery is a minor invasive op by choice&recommendation, and knowing in advance, might help with preparing as how to deal emotionally incase of complications, etc…

Thu: a bouquet of good vibes before I go under the knife this afternoon, and for those who have not gone for their vaccinations, here is a good one that might make y’all reconsider – hahaha.

Checked into SGH ~1130hrs, (the waiting area before op) scheduled surgery ~1430hrs, delayed till 1530hrs. Still alive, but not quite kicking~1800hrs in a daze in between snooze, throwing up everything all evening from the side-effect of the GA.

From Garry18Apr: The trip around the block. In Alice Springs for the last few nights of Parrrtjima – A Festival In Light.

Staged in the wonderful Desert Park 5-6 km out of town, it has echos of Sydney’s Vivid, but is very distinctively local. Instead of lighting up an Opera House or a Customs building, they lit up the Macdonnell Ranges!! Not that my pics captured that bit at all well.

Some of his pix captured bits&pieces of the mt range in the background with a clear night sky where you can see the stars – absolutely mesmerizing.

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present!

19 Apr 2021 – BBQ In Comfort & Style

16 Apr 2021 -Ramadan 2021

Tue: Ramadan starts today lasting until Wed12May. To those marking this time – Salam Ramadhan&Selamat Berpuasa and fast healthy&safely. Should fast too, good to clean&clear  and to rid some of the toxicity in the system! Tkx to TuahBugis/Sarafian for his share of the SultanMosque pix. Blessed&fortunate to be living where the various culture, religion, race, etc are practised and there is much to learn from each other. Looking forward to taking a walk down Geylang Serai to taste the foods when fasting is over!

Appreciations to the 2 Ivys for this lunch. Homemade BambooCharcoalBeancurd with LocalSpinach was a good new taste for my pallet. Crispy PinkSwan YamPuff (WuKok 芋角) where beetroot juice is supposedly used to dye these dumplings is a nice novelty&presentation and the rest of the usual DimSum was OK.

Comment from cousin Yun in Toronto/Canada: we have a fancy restaurant here too that shape dim sum into shapes of animals. They use peasant meat and sharks fin and charge you accordingly. Give me the old lady with the cart any time. I am a sucker for the old tradition. For me: as long as they taste good, it is sometimes a nice change to have a pretty presentation for special occasions.

Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour – WilliamCowper

Thu: walked to AmberRd in the rains and took the underpass to ECPk – these clean&spotless, ie without graffiti&grabage underpass never fail to amaze me. The new shelter walkway here is also another pleasing sight.

The new CoastalPlayGroveAreaB, former BigSplash. Am rather upset, unable to find an old pix of L&M from 1979 when this location was BigSplash. Oh well, will keep looking and hope to find it.

The new revamp area is nicely done with a NaturePlayGarden 

Wading pool&streams with water jets surround the area.

PlayTower – 4-storey vertical net play area called the VerticalChallenge, and slides on the 3rd&4th level.

Views from the top of the tower – towards the airport, spotted an airplane; towards CBD happy to see the sky clearing there.

Views around the grounds from above.

Like the idea of this OutdoorClassroom and glad to see the contribution from SparkleTots@46MarineCres.

These are the eateries including a BK. Tkx to Clement for dinner@OldTownWhiteCoffee. 

Serene&cool stroll towards EC LagoonFood passing by a touching scene of a daughter surprising her father for his 50thBday. Got off at the underpass at AreaE heading for an ice-cream& a drink@BlackPearl ECRd. You are never too old for playgrounds and ice-cream, also never too old to walk 15k.

Fri: TGIF – a good weekend to all and good luck to Clem for his 1stShot this morning. Apr haircut with HelenS at TheRoots@EliasMall (PasirRis), found another way there with shorter rides on public transport. Tkx to Helen who recommended Peggy here.

CC to catch up with Calvin&Sam to learn about these expensive brandname bike+accessories from the younger generation!

Appreciations for scrumptious dinner@WhampoaHawkerCentre where one of my favourite seafood cooks, JYong is – highly recommended. When you are in good company with food like these, that is what life is about.

From Garry 13Apr: After two nights in Arkaroola its off to Maree. Was concerned about all these kids appearing of the scrub so headed off on the Oodnadatta track  .

12 Apr 2021 – Prince Philip (1912-2021)

Fri: FarrerPkMedical to get BP meds&machine to control the BP before surgery. Appreciations&tkx to Ivy&Les for their help&lunch@Socieaty.

Since in the area, did some food shopping@DDD/CSMall to discover that it was raining cats&dogs when I got above ground to the bus-stop from LittleIndiaMRT – no worries as I will be walking in shaded walkways.

Sat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgIx3OrnixI Condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll & the UK Royal family for the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip (1921-2021) – may he RIP. Pix downloaded. Respect to this handsome gentleman with a sense of humour (not to all, but I enjoyed it) who has loyally served his Queen&Country for 7decades! with confidence and wisdom. 3 other men who I also respect, my own father, xNorwegian father-in-law and LKY(SIN-1stPM).

PrincePhilip visited SIN at least 5times in his life, toured an HDBflat, met with LKY. 

https://mustsharenews.com/prince-philip-singapore/

All these controversies going on regarding MeghanMarkle&PrinceHarry is sad. Besides PiersMorgan and many other similar thoughts on her, here is another interesting conversation with RiverASMR I just discovered:

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

Being born in SIN 1950 when the island was still a crown colony, thus grew up being under the influence of the British. 1950s pix of my mother, cousins&I  in front of RafflesHotel then and RafflesHotel now.

1819-modern SIN was founded by SirStamfordRaffles as a trading post of the British Empire. Pix downloaded.

1867-the colonies in EastAsia were reorganised, SIN came under the direct control of Britain as part of the StraitsSettlements.

1942-2ndWW, SIN was occupied by Japan, but returned to British control as a separate crown colony following Japan’s surrender in 1945. Pix downloaded.

1959-SIN gained self-governance, also the same year when QE-ll&PrincePhilip visited SIN. Pix downloaded.

1963-became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak. Ideological differences led to SIN being expelled from the federation. Pix downloaded.

9Aug1965-an independent country. Left for overseas study in Jul1965 and did not return to live&work until 1999, but did occasionally travelled for short visits to see the family. Pix downloaded.

Sun: not only totally&majorly demophobic also totally&majorly ophidiophobic, am put off with hiking for now upon seeing these signs&pix! Pix downloaded. FairfaxCountyPkL-LaurelHill/VA, BreaksInterstatePk/VA, FrickPk-Pittsburgh/PA. There has been some snake comments from my AT-Group and on top of those signs, my dear #6 sent me this link:

https://people.com/pets/large-snake-found-pittsburgh-park-identified-as-harmless-species/

A snake can change its skin but not its disposition – Persian saying

Mon: appreciations to Gel for breakfast&lunch@our local MT Market with my usual favourite – delighted to discover more good things, fresh ginger drink made from scratch, another stall to frequent! Tkx to Jo for dinner.

From Garry10Apr: Trip around the block continued. Yunta to Arkaroola was 301km of corrugated dirt road. Camped part way along atop a hill at a long abandoned gold mine. Incredible 360• views as far as the eye could see and big big blue sky. Very calming.

From Garry11Apr: Around the block. Today was the day for a five hour walk through Bararranna Gorge in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Part of Arkaroola Sanctuary Reserve. The pics might seem repetitious but I was taken by the landscape, the colors, the rock formations. The lot actually! So easy to see why geologists and others come here to get their rocks off.

8 Apr 2021 – At The Lower East Side

Mon: tkx for FB reminder when QingMing 清明 (Tomb-Sweeping) is now ongoing in this part of the world. In memory of my parents&grandparents – will not be going to the crematorium, but thoughts are with them. Pleased to finally hear&read about the encouragement to do away with these burning of paper offerings, etc. Old traditions die hard, hopefully ppl will understand why the environment has to go green&move with times.  https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219072.shtml