HKG-MacLehose-Thru’-Hike 100km/62m (2-6Mar2012)

10 May 2026 –  Special Mother’s Day Post

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

Various online sites and maps downloaded from some sites.
Hiker’s Guide to Hong Kong: Pete Spurrier
Maclehose Trail: Richard Peace

2Mar2012 – Day1 Sections 10, 9 and parts of 8

Fri2Mar: overnight Thu1Mar@TinShuiWai to be nearer the trail. Caught the first LightRail, connecting to MTR to TuenMun and took us ~1+hr to find the trail head due to constructions in the area!! This section starts thru’ some poverty&slum, quite a sad sight. No, do not wish to go further or document this in pix but the sun was shinning and let that be the happy start of this 100km hike.

Continued to hard and concrete trails with views of TaiLamChungWaterCatchment area (interesting Marble cake looking rock formation), views of CastlePeak and WongNgaiTunReservoir. Got off track for quite a bit day-dreaming in the heat. Had to back-track and fortunately found the markings at a junction by the portable toilets. Thank goodness for excellent markings, posted nearly every 500meters/M001-M200. Hilo-pad sighted,  in case of emergency, indeed very civilized way to hike.

The old abandoned house M179 (stated in Hiker’sGuide) is now a shrine and one can light candles or joss-sticks, but the matches and lighter there did not worked! Left the coins so as to lighten weight in daypack. A nice camping ground@RouteTwist. Heading to TaiMoShan 957m 3,140ft (HKG highest peak) on hard surface-road uphill and a side road to the SzeLokYuenYouthHostel. The sunset was one of the most beautiful ones experienced. That made up for the run-down hostel costing HK$65 per night for members. Such a pity, what a spectacular location.

Day 1 started 0600 from hotel. On the trail 0930hrs, in hostel 1830hrs
28.5km/18mi. Sections 10, 9 and parts of 8 M200-M143

3Mar 2012 – Day2 Sections 8, 7 and parts of 6

Sat3Mar: started later thinking that it was a 14km day, later to discover it should be 17km. Up up up to TaiMoShan 957m/3,140ft (BigHatMt). Mispronounced that slightly and it will be BigMistyMt! Some photographers were waiting for the weather to clear but unfortunately for them, no such luck. Showed them the sunset pix, best shots in this hike ie can say so now that the hike is completed

Continued on hard surface road. Met LokMan & his pal- both fit, handsome young men on their bicycles. Nice to chat and exchanged contacts. Above pix credits to him. Grace’s friend Ben joined us here.

Pass M143 

Misty and treacherous ups & downs Grassy 647m/2,123ft & NeedleHills/532m/1,745ft M130. Knees are aching. Down to road where the WilsonTrail crosses@PineappleDam.

A monkey grabbed my ice-cream cone@ShingMunCountryPark M125

M123 Pilboxes and trenches from war days. Towards GoldenHillRd and down to TaiPoRd M115. Grace messaged to warn about the monkeys. Got her to pick me in a cab at that stretch. No other hikers – was totally alone and this human does not deal, get involved or near monkey business! 14km as originally calculated is correct for me. Cab 2-3km from MonkeyAlley to main road!

Took another cab from the main road connecting with the MTR for accommodations@NewPekingGuestHouse/TsimShaTsui. HK$210pp

Day 2: started 0800 from hostel. Trail 0815hrs. Cab 1700hrs
17km/10.6mi. Sections 8, 7 and parts of 6 M143-M115

4Mar 2012 – Day3 Sections 6, 5 and parts of 4

Sun 4 Mar: 0600hrs MTR to ShamShuiPo and cab back to TaiPoRd. Ascended from LionRockCountryPark M115 and this location was infested by monkeys. Graceful Grace took the lead and we were safely back on to the no-monkey-trail! Taking a short break in a wooden shelter.

 

 

 

 

Another misty day like yesterday with no view@BeaconHill. Nearly mid-point + high point! a cafe serving noodles and a pix of ChowYuenFatt@ShatinPass M101. A bowl of hot noodle hits the spot and continuing uphill to the mid-point M100.

Ups & downs muddy and slippery paths whole afternoon. Concentrating on every step. Planning to do 23km today, but hiking in these conditions and in the dark is too risky. Instead of hiking to KeiLingHa M069, decided to hike down from the deserted MauPingVillage M085 to PakKong. Got a cab HK$70 to LadyMacLehoseHolidayVillage/LMHV HK$20 per night for senior and HK$21 dinner with 5 dishes. A wise and good decision

Day 3: 0600 from TsimShaTsui . Trail 0700hrs. Cab 1700hrs
15km/9.3mi. Sections 6, 5 and parts of 4 M115-M085

5Mar 2012 – Day4 Sections 4 & 3

Mon5Mar:  0630hrs bus & cab to PakKong, hiked up back to the deserted MauPingVillage M085. Continued to MaOnShan 702m/2,303ft and down hard surface road to KeiLingHa where toilets and a welcoming vending machine are located. Muddy, misty, slippery and time-consuming hike.

More ups and downs in the mist, KaiKungShan 399m 1,309ft, LuiTaShek 379m 1,243ft, NgauYeeShe Shan. Due to time and conditions, did not stop or take pix as again did not wish to hike in the dark. Wanted to get in to a warm dinner and hot shower back at LMHV.

Even with all the climbing, today’s hike was yet another limited view day, but better misty than too hot. It was one of those days having to concentrate and focusing on every step. Well like everything in life, the ups and downs have to be experienced and that too shall pass.

Day 4:  0630hrs from LMHV.  Trail 0700hrs. Cab 1800hrs.
15km/9.3mi. Sections 4 & 3 M085-M045

6Mar2012 – Day5 Sections 2 & 1

Tue6Mar:  0630hrs bus & cab to PakTamAu M049. Hiking thru’ urban jungle on ups and downs hard concrete. Rather welcoming after days of wet, slippery muddy paths!

Passing the empty village of ChekKeng, mysteriously beautiful in the mist. Stopping to make use of an avant garde designed toilet M043. Passed by two tents and a sleeping body in a sleeping bag outside the tent!

No views from the two pavilions M023 & M025, unlike the last hike with Harry, exposed and sunny! Pleasant along TaiLong and SaiWan enjoying a bowl of dau-fu-fa/soya bean curd with a Swiss fellow hiker. Continuing to LongKeWan, lovely picnic and camping area M020, by a drug rehab centre. Uphill towards the main dam.

The final Section 1 M020 is along the HighlandReservoir, a hard 10km on surface road taking us 2hrs. Must be tired and not focus. Fell on my face but thank goodness on soft grounds topped with dead leaf. Can understand why Harry wanted to take the cab last year thru’ this section to start our hike from Section 2. Was quite done with this section after a quick shot.

Ran (no joke) for the bus which brought us to SaiKung and from there another bus to the MTR. Noticed that other passengers did not sit next to us

Day 5: 0630hrs from LMHV. On Trail 0645hrs. Bus 1700hrs
24.5km/15.3mi. Sections 2 & 1. M048-M001

To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping – Chinese Proverb

Power of the Mind

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.

Fesita Ultimate NachosMargaritas_shutterstockguacamole

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!

IMG_0912IMG_0913IMG_0919

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.

Wed: supposed to meet@EC-Pk yesterday but had to re-schedule as it was pouring buckets then – welcome back Leng and tkx for one of my favourite Peranakan-dishes Ayam-Buah-Keluak lunch@Godmama/Funan. Appreciations to her for taking time off your her busy schedule to catch up. Stay healthy&safe until we meet again.
Thu: welcome Kiera back and what a treat for a Thu-dinner@Rochalie with Kiera and the family’s favourite fish+many other favourites by bro’s cooking.
Hearing news about the Hantavirus a few days ago which may have spread aboard a cruise ship – crusies are not me, so just imagine being stuck on one will be a total nightmare probably enought to kill me! – pix downloaded.
2SIN were on this ship now quarantined@CDA – pix downloaded.

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.

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.

Kings’ Speeches – 1938 & 2026

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 memories😂so 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

Marine Parade Community Centre

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.

A friend mentioned she does not think like an elderly person, but the body obviously looks it and that our parents acted old in their 50s. 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 – Cogito, ergo sum
It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change – Charles Darwin

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

Live In The Moment

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.

So Long For Now Norway 2026

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

Jessheim 2026

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…

Langoustine/Nephrops norvegicus

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…

Cook and Share a Pot of Curry:  to share and to celebrate the diversities of cultures&foods, an event is created by 8 people to bring awareness of an incident from 2011 and have been cooking&sharing a pot of curry with family&friends in Norway&USA since then. Grocery shopping to make the last pot of Curry to share for this trip.

Variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavour – William Cowper

This incident was a dispute between two neighbours over the cooking of curry in SIN! Do like a good curry but this in not really about liking curry or not; more about respect, tolerance to the different cultures,understanding&fighting against xenophobia when living in a multi-cultured environment. In this case, it was a complain from a PRC family about the cooking odour of their Indian neighbours – the audacity and cheek of them, should have stayed put in China!

https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=bcea3bb0-06d7-4ca6-8d9e-37a8bea0e1f3

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…

Tigerstaden=TigerCity, nickname for Oslo/Norway!

10 Apr 2026 – Kirsten Backer(1947-2026)

Tue: exploring the combined Nationaltheatret tog(train)+T-bane(metro) stations while waiting for Kari from Jessheim.

Feels like Spring is finally in the air and what a glorious day to be wandering around town watching ppl taking their moment to enjoy&relax on the public benches or at the alfresco cafes. This amazing village is made of FreiaChocolate – do wonder what special ingredient is in it to prevent melting or perhaps that display is in an enlcosed temperature-controlled glass case.

Edited: posted some pix of Kari&I in FB including the above pix with the benches commenting that Spring is here and guess what? all those pix in that Wed8Apr2026 posting were deleted by FB!! For real…

Kari&I celebrating ~54yrs of friendship with a bite@NIO-House/KarlJohan and an ice cream for dessert. ThankU to my first Norwegian female friend for taking time to catch up on a beautiful afternoon.

Only recently did I have the time to look up at the lamp-posts to observe figures of tigers@FridtjofNansensPlass – why tigers? Never knew that the city’s nickname Tigerstaden(TigerCity)! Now I know!! The name was used by Norwegian poet BjørnstjerneBjørnson.

https://telepensjonistene.no/oslo-tigerstaden/

His poem Sidstesang(LastSong), he wrote about a fight between a horse and a tiger, where the horse represented the countryside, and the tiger represented Oslo. It was meant as a condescending metaphor for the city being dangerous, depleting, and hostile place, but today the name is often used positively, now an exciting and happening place rather than dangerous.

https://johnirons.blogspot.com/2016/02/first-part-of-sidste-sang-by.html

4.5 metre-long bronze tiger made by ElenaEngelsen was a gift to the city of Oslo when it celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2000. The city of Oslo wanted a tiger, and that’s what they got. It has become one of the most photographed sights in Oslo, in bronze, and it’s one of the first things you see when arriving@OsloCentralStation. Of course, we are talking about Oslo’s iconic statue, The Tiger!

Perhaps this is real story – back in the days, when Oslo, or Christiania as it was called back then, went under the name tiggerstaden (city of beggars) by Danes and people from the more affluent western parts of the country due to the city’s quite palpable poverty. The transition from tigger (beggar) to tiger could probably be attributed to some part to the intricacies of Danish pronunciation, or lack thereof. Obviously the good people of Oslo preferred to hear Tiger rather than Beggar and hence the slightly surreal nickname Tiger Town – PeturJP. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 

How similar are the Nordic countries?

KongensGate; GlasMagasinet/Stortorvet one of my favourite places to shop where EmmaHald had shares here in the 1960s-70s and she took me here to get my first vaffeljern=waffleiron/maker: https://glasmagasinet.no/ OsloDomkirke/OsloCathedral was opened and have always like the interior but pix are not allowed inside. Stepped inside for a few mins to light 2candles in memory&respect of my parents and marking ChingMing here in my own way!

https://www.kirken.no/nb-NO/fellesrad/kirkeneioslo/menigheter/oslo-domkirken/

Topped-up my travelcard, thoughts of Katy&Jack on this poster and wondered if they will let their hair grow this long; a giant hammer with a quote by AsbjørnSunde(1909–1985). Det var verd å kjempe for friheten for alle land, for alle klasser, for alle mennesker=It was worth fighting for freedom for all countries, for all classes, for all people.

Wed: another glorious day to walk to Majorstuen for shopping via MarienlystSkole but had to rest on a bench by the sports field – goes to show how short of breath I can be nowadays! Just as well #6 did not have gym class today or he will be totaly embrassed – hahaha…

Thu: coughing most of last night and woke up gasping for air – tkx May for driving me to&fro ER/AkerHospital. Nice new ER and looks like it will be quite a hospital when constructions are completed; efficient good medical staff despite of the interesting patients! Was in at 10.00 and out by 11.45hrs. Nebulizer given+blood taken to be sure that whatever infection going within is not life-threatening! Steroids+Ventoline prescription.

Fri: today will be with a heavy heart out for KirstenBacker’s funeral as she passed a week ago quickly&suddenly. Was hoping to catch up this trip but not meant to be. We first met@PiggsoppgrendaGrenda,Kolsås in the mid 1980s when we were both going thru’difficult&challenaging stages in our life journeys and have been in contact since. Condolences to Karen&family+Geir, she will be missed and may she RIP.

We last met in 2023 and that was the final time our paths crossed – Jul2023: lunching with Kirsten&Geir at Løkenhavna@Kolsås and a trip ‘up’ memory lane still finding wild strawberries on the paths…

Death is not the opposite of life, but part of it — Haruki Murakami 

Blessed for all the good times@Kolsås,Jeløya&Melbystølen: https://amylamsg.com/2013/06/28/melbystolen/

Appreciations to her family&friends+all@WøyenGård for an elegant memoiral reception and grateful to Jan-Henrik for driving Mette&I to&fro. It was a great help considering my condition!

Kirsten’s creative talents with weaving@BærumHusflidsforening and picture books are an inspiration – gone but never forgotten, thank you for crossing my path in this life journey.

Regrets that I did not take time to catch up then when here in 9Feb2026 and here with our last FB contact.

Kirsten Backer – Welcome back. Are you staying long?
Reply  –  a few days to rest before heading to US, but will be back in Mar and will catch up then.
Kirsten Baker –  hope you’re ok. I’ve had some problems but is on the mend now. Hopefully ok by then. Look forward to seeing you.
Reply –  hope that whatever health issues we are having to deal with at this stage of life will also pass – enjoy your moments and looking forward to when we can catch up…

Tried to contact her when back this round in Mar and was saddened to learnt of her passing after not getting any response.

2026-Easter In Norway

6 Apr 2026 – ChingMing清明節-TombSweepingFestival

Fri: Langfredag/GoodFriday grey cloudy sky day, another perfect indoor day with these lovely lush plants&deco+audio-book&movie – after yesterday’s mystery&murder had to go for some feel-good movies without having to think who done it

Look! A riddle! Time for fun!
Should we use a rope or gun?
Knives are sharp and gleam so pretty
Poison’s slow, which is a pity
Fire is festive, drowning’s slow
Hanging’s a ropy way to go
A broken head, a nasty fall
A car colliding with a wall
Bombs make a very jolly noise
Such ways to punish naughty boys!
What shall we use? We can’t decide.
Just like you cannot run or hide ― Maureen Johnson, Truly, Devious

Sat: påskeaften/Saturday of easter weekend – woke up to glorious weather with a new layer of snow knowing that it will be gone in a few hours, grocery shopping before they close again for the next 2days. Cold brisk windy short stroll with HolmenkollenSkiJump in the far background on top of the middle lampost.

Birdhouses looking good and ready to be hung despite of the morning frost but when you are on a road named FairyTaleRoad and see the magic on it, everything is possible! hahaha!! Tkx to Mette for wanting to share my påskeaften Soup&BreadLunch – forgot to take pix

Sun: påskedag or første påskedag/EasterSunday. PeristeriaElata National flower to Panama/S-America – commonly referred to as the HolyGhostOrchid,DoveOrchid, or flower of the HolySpirit – FlorDelEspirituSantoin Spanish would have been perfect for today. It is also ChingMing清明節-TombSweepingFestival for those observing this period (4-6Apr) when ancestors are commemorated by visiting their graves, sweeping the tomb, offering food&burning paper goods – pix downloaded. https://amylamsg.com/2022/04/07/beliefs-triumph-over-logic-again/

Have been paying respect to my parents@MandaiCrematorium/SIN over the years when in SIN but have not risk being there after asthma attacks started – pix from 1999-2020 in SIN.

Heavy traffic expected@LandCheckpoints(Tuas&Woodlands/SIN) due to upcoming QingMingFestival and GoodFridayLongWeekend – ica.gov.sg. Sitting in such traffic for me would probably trigger an asthma attack – now glad to be sitting in a quiet kitchen here in OSL/Norway reading&cooking hoping that the family will not get caught in traffic or bad weather on their way back from Oppdal – pix downloaded.

Mon: andre påskedag/EasterMonday and a public holiday here with HolmenkollenSkiJump in the far background. Appreciations to Hazel for sharing this amazing Tromsø pix with StoreBlåmann, Finnlandsfjellet, Kvaløya+UNN,universitetet&GrønnåsenSkiJump in the background. Family off for an EasterBrunch on this beautiful spring day before back to school&work tomorrow –  hopefully no more frost or snow on the ground for the remainder of my stay!

A visit to Hageland/GardenLand with a GreenHouse perfect size for me! feeling that spring is in the air

Could not resist SpringHeatherNOK70 in this T-cup basketNOK150 and these YellowChrysenthemunNOK80 to bring spring indoors too. Tkx to Bjørn for the first 2026 SoftIceCream