29 May 2014 – Food Food Food

Usually avoid going out in the weekends and last weekend was no exception – the only exceptions are if there are family gatherings! Sat & Sun: marketing early before sunrise and made a large pot of soup. Trips to the library around dinner time to catch up with loan of books and newspaper readings in a comfortable cool reading environment.

Mon early mornings are the best time for errands like banking and post office; late morning for department stores, malls and movies.

Tue: why is Nasi Ulam not known to me? It is delicious. Discovered it at Pera Makan****Tangs Market and Food Court located in the basement. The old-timers might remember the CK Tang in the 1950s, now they even have their own brand of canned food.

Might try the Petaling St KL Hokkien Mee another time – was told that it was over cooked by those eating there. A cup of coffee and some kaya toast at Ya Kun****never disappoint.

Appreciations to KK, PP and H&H (Aileen. Aisha & Ray) for gifts and it is not even my birthday. Margaret River Dark and Coffee Chocolate is out of this world and only available in Perth and the Margaret River in Australia. Thanks to PP for carrying them all the way. The beautiful  printed card of SIN National Flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim/卓錦萬代蘭 is painted by Peggy Tan (MD of H&H), and you can purchase them thru’ H&H (Island Republic) or RISIS shop at SBG.

Wed: was at Plaza SIN to buy some sewing stuff and to my surprise there was NO line at Tim Ho Wan****where people were in lines for hours when it first opened in Apr 2013. Decided to try their dim-sum which is of Michelin standard. Many have told me that it is only OK, but just had to try for myself, and they are more than OK. Will certainly eat there again as long as there are no lines 🙂

Food glorious food – life would be so boring if we eat only to live! Good food makes eating experiences enjoyable and eat we all have to do…

An interesting and good advice from Bill Murray on travel and love – Michelle, a tour consultant suggested this:  Wanna Get Married? Book a yr long vacation 1st!! My comment: offer remote and off the beaten paths itineraries. Sure way to discover if you are still in love after a year and more affordable than divorce 🙂 🙂

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20140527-bill-murrays-advice-on-travel-and-love

Love is like a pineapple; Sweet and undefinable – Piet Hein

25 May 2014 – Is Really Not Affordable to me!

Grace of Monaco is focused on the personal story of former Hollywood star Grace Kelly during a dispute between Monaco’s Prince Rainier III, and France’s Charles De Gaulle over tax laws in the early 1960s. Nicole Kidman stars as Grace Kelly with Tim Roth as Prince Rainier III and both did not convince me enough to me keep the mind from wandering…

Thu: appreciations to Sue for dinner with Ivy at Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant/Dempsey Hill, my third time there and food is still good. We had 5 dishes of tapas including the Calamari Fritos and Garlic Prawns and a small Paella Especial Don Quijote with a good amount of fresh seafood but somehow something lacking in the rice! Shared a jug of red sangria which compliments the food.

NO NO NO to bullfights but YES to good Spanish foods and wines. 1973 – 1st trip to Spain with father who wanted to watch a bullfight. Young, idealistic and completely ignorant then, agreed to go along not knowing what it was about. Father was so embarrassed with me. Felt so sad and sorry for the bull that all I could do was just cried and shouted boo thru’ out the fight.

Spain’s Catalonia region bans centuries-old bullfighting. So let’s hope and pray that it will also be banned from the rest of the world…

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/22/world/europe/spain-bullfighting/index.html?hpt=hp_mid

Fri: a grey and drizzly day, good for walking. Thanks to Clem for the Affordable Art Fair located at the F1 Pit Building (next to the SIN Flyer), happy to be in a new area to explore. Most of the art there did not really talk to me but art is a personal thing and this Affordable Art Fair is really not so affordable as you need to buy a ticket to get in! Contemporary Art Fair will be more appropriate! And again affordable is relative and so are most things in life… 🙂

Alison Pullen/Quantum Contemporary Art: her interiors are achieved by painting onto magazine pages of interiors. The result is an image of the room which is dominant, but coexists with a foundation, the photographs of totally different rooms beneath.

Stiliana Alexieva/Quantum Contemporary Art: her unusual highly textured mixed oil on aluminium panels give a striking illumine effect for the sky and sunrays. Also the waves in the sea are quite beautiful with a 3D look.

These few pieces are pleasing to my eyes are not within the budget – 6K and above!

Some fun cheerful and colourful designs too…

Took a lovely breezy stroll around the water front by SIN Flyer area and SIN Food Trail which provides pretty affordable 🙂 decent local food.

Was contemplating a walk to the Marina Barrage via Shears Bridge and the golf course. Decided against it as the staircase up to the bridge had barricades around due to constructions. Instead just enjoyed the views of the dragon boats out for their practice.

We believe that the Dragon Boat Challenge is an excellent opportunity to promote involvement, teambuilding arts and recreation –

22 May 2014 – Babies are Perfect

Mon: Grand Piano**Tom Selznick, a talented pianist stopped performing in public because of his stage fright. Years after a catastrophic performance, he reappears in public in a long-awaited concert. In a packed theater, in front of the expectant audience, Tom finds a message written on the score: ‘Play one wrong note and you die.’ Am wondering what is the motive of this drama??

Thanks to Jo & family for yummy dinner at Lai Huat Sambal Restaurant/Geylang Branch***Good to see the Lucas and Beth who are no longer babies or toddlers but little boy and girl. How time flies, who knows when I get to hug and carry another baby (the most innocent stage in life’s journey) in the family?

Tue: pleasant bus ride to NDC for dentist appointment. This driver so far has been the best, driving with awareness and consideration to the passengers and surroundings. Appreciations to Daisy for a yummy raw fish salad at Tiong Shian****Keong Siak Rd, Chinatown. Checked out the new food street there too.

Walked up Ann Siang Hill. Have passed by PS Café Ann Siang a couple of times over the years and first time stepping in to quench my thirst on this hot afternoon. Nice ambience but food critics did not think much of the food there. Daisy later told me they serve a heavenly pecan pie there, so will probably try that someday!

Ann Siang Hill 安详山 is a charming little quiet spot connecting Chinatown to the Business district. Always like walking thru’ here. The local cherry-tree is still standing, now fenced up, probably from people like me – used to pick the cherry if in the area 🙂 Hopefully the greens around this area will stay… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Siang_Hill

Decided to get off at a much earlier bus stop to take pix of the new SIN Sports Hub under construction. Would have been neat with a sunrise or sunset background like the previous pix, but then who with a right-frame of mind would be working on that dome at those hours 🙂

Wed: Marine Terrace Blk 59 Food Court****is in business again after the fire early Mar. Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong was present after the fire and when it reopened. Had an early noodle lunch there to start a long day ahead. For a HDB Food Court, the food is good here.

Bus stop on MP Rd opp a new condo – HDB permits laundry to be hung out on poles but not private condos, so if one wants to dry clothes in the sun, is this it?  Keeping my indoor, not knowing what else might be air from above,

Bus 135 to AMK Terminal takes about an hour, connecting to bus 138 to Mandai Crematorium, another 30mins. Journey to pay respects to my parents usually takes app 4hrs to and fro. Unfortunately not many bus drivers are like yesterday’s!

Visit with Yulis&Chiew in their lovely new home with a new baby Sophie who is perfect and adorable like all my grandchildren. Welcome baby Sophie and my Sophie is not longer a baby as she has just completed her last day of pre-school! Appreciations to Y&C and for Sophie’s first sunset walk to the bus stop. Welcome Y&C to parenthood.

Under a cherry tree, there are no strangers – Kobayashi Issa

18 May 2014 – And One Restaurant

The Other Woman*after discovering her boyfriend Mark is married, Carly tries to get her ruined life back on track. When she by chance meets the wife he’s been cheating on, she realizes they have much in common, When yet another affair is discovered, all three women team up to plot mutual revenge…

Filial Party**local SIN production about society’s favourite TV reality show. The winner of the TV reality show will be granted $1m to whoever succeeds in portraying the most filial child to their parents. Do enjoy our local productions but they are directed to the locals who are familiar or in with the lingo and life-style.

http://pangdemonium.com/production/the-rise-fall-of-little-voice

The Rise & Fall of Little Voice****story of a shy, reclusive girl named LV – or Little Voice and her boozy, out-of-control mother Mari. Desperately missing her dead father, LV spends her time locked in her bedroom listening to his old record collection and perfecting astonishing impersonations of famous divas…

This production is the Asian Premiere of this very special show, and marks Pangdemonium’s first production set in SIN. Wonderfully directed and performed.

Yes Prime Minister****one of the UK’s most popular TV series ever is now an award-winning stage play is a bitingly funny satire of British politics at work. At the Raffles Jubilee Hall Theatre, an appropriate venue for this brilliantly performed play. Prime Minister Jim Hacker and his Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby deal with the thorny issue of their house guest, the Kumranistani Oil Minister, who wants a wild party at the PM’s residence at Chequers, in exchange for a billion dollar oil contract!

Halia at Raffles Hotel***not much to write home about. So-so food, service with a beautiful smile but lost in translation somewhere in Korea! Maybe one should order their recommended dishes but did not feel like meat!

Sun: appreciations to Clem for getting me to go to these plays over the weekend, otherwise would have been too lazy! Enjoy them thoroughly and time well spent in good company. Today has been just wet wet wet and pleasant to doze zzzz after a lovely wet late-morning walk 🙂

The rains have stopped and it turned into a beautiful  evening. Belated Mother’s Day Celebrations with the Guest of Honour ESM Goh Chok Tong/Grassroots Adviser for MP and live-music blasting downstairs. Looks like I will have to stay awake until it is over, thank goodness for all the afternoon naps today 🙂 🙂

Here in his world she was trapped in an intolerable corner, which seemed to grow tighter and tighter each year… she, too, could become someone else. Eventually. Or she’d told herself all these years… but in the end he didn’t love her enough to fight for her – Nicole Mones/Lost in Translation

14 May 2014 – And Kallang Estate

Tue: Happy Vesak Day to those celebrating. Up bright and early 0400hrs, but considering that I was in la-la-land before 21.00hrs giving me 7hrs in dreamland is getting back towards SIN time 🙂

After breakfast and marketing in Marine Terrace decided to explore the Kallang area which is app 10mins ride when one is on the bus at 0600hrs on this public holiday. Lighting was just beautiful and perfect for pix. Feel enlightened and energised 🙂 🙂

Kallang is an urban planning area and a subdivision located in the southeastern part of SIN. Best known for being the location of the SIN Indoor Stadium & the old National Stadium as well as the new SIN Sports Hub. It is also where SIN first airport was located.

Also this is the area where the family’s favourite homemade pau are found! Somehow and someway food always find a place no matter where or what…

And here is more food again, appreciations to Robert for sharing this graph, rather interesting to associate Nobel Prize with chocolate. Maybe another coincidence that those are also some of the happiest countries to be living in!! CHOCOATE=Nobel Prize and Happy 🙂 🙂 🙂

Switzerland is a place where they don’t like to fight, so they get people to do their fighting for them while they ski and eat chocolate – Larry David

Edited 15 May 2014: negative vibes that are there but have kept it to the minimum and to a balance, but lately they seemed to be unbalance…

Since the missing of MH730, there has been news of other tragic situations like the sinking of the Korean ferry, the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria, countries like Syria, Ukraine, Thailand, Vietnam, China are at turmoil, and now the mine blast in Turkey killing many.

Global warming with drastic climate changes resulting to natural disasters adding to more loss of life. Unfortunately it is not going to be better.

The latest is the MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a viral respiratory illness. MERS is caused by a coronavirus  called ‘Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus’ (MERS-CoV). It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and today it has spread to 18 countries.

Most people who got infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. 30% of them died. It is highly contagious and spreading fast and so far no cure has yet been discovered.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/14/health/mers-outbreak/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

The link below is EXTREMELY disturbing and sad. To quote SIN founding father LKY: ‘I wouldn’t call myself an atheist. I neither deny nor accept that there is a God. So I do not laugh at people who believe in God. But I do not necessarily believe in God — nor deny that there could be one.’

That is one of the reasons I choose to be in places like SIN, USA or Norway where one is able to hopefully respect, and the freedom to choose to practise different religions and life-styles.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/15/world/africa/sudan-christian-woman-apostasy/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

2014 so far has been rather turbulence including personal health issues but yes we all have to just move ahead with our own life’s journey in our own ways as best as we know how. All the recent sightings of snakes give me creeping and crawling vibes and somehow not a good feeling. But this too shall past…

EAT MORE CHOCOLATE and visit NORWAY more often…

11 May 2014 – Goodbye to Number 4

Fri: thank you to H.E. Ambassador Joe and Mrs Deirdre Hayes for their Farewell Gathering. Appreciations for their time as 4th Irish Ambassador in SIN. Sláinte and Ádh mór ort’ for their next posting. The new location at Peirce Hill is a complete contrast to the previous one.

The 5th Irish Ambassador to SIN will take his posting in Sep.

Above pix (Mick, Brendan Lyons, myself and Ann) from 2004 (before blogging days) at the memorial of Brother Joseph McNally’s (1923-2002) for the Inauguration of Counsellor II in Ireland, CoMayo/Ireland

1. Brendan Lyons 2000-2002, 1st Irish Ambassador to SIN was transferred from KL/Malaysia in 2000 during the days when I just returned to SIN and was the secretariat for IGAS/Irish Graduates of SIN with IGAS logo designed by Bro Joe then. Brendan kindly opened his residence to function many of the IGAS functions. The ambassadorial residence was then a spacious California-style house on Chatsworth Road.

2. Huge Swift 2002-2006, by then the duty of a grandmother was the priority, and was not active with IGAS – thus unable to locate any pix and before blogging days.

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3. Richard 2008-2010 & Bernadette O’Brien, pix from 2008 Paddy’s Day Reception.

4. Joseph Hayes 2010-2014 – searching for pix to sadly discover that folder 2014 is missing. Thank goodness for some of the blog pix, but not all pix are inserted into the blog. Was also confusing here as some pix here were from the previous residence and the farewell gathering was at another. Vaguely remember being informed about the moving of the Ambassador’s residence.

5. Geoffrey Keating 2014-2019, pix from 2017 Paddy’s Day’s Parade&Reception

6. Patrick Bourne 2019-2022, pix from 2019 Irish Film Festival – Fri29Jul2022: Today after 4 years we say farewell to Ambassador Pat Bourne as he departs Singapore for Bangkok to take up his new role as Ireland’s Ambassador-designate to Thailand. During his time as Ambassador to not only Singapore but also Brunei, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau he brought incredible energy and enthusiasm to the role. From the entry into force of the EU-Singapore FTA, to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and finally a visit from the Taoiseach, it has been a busy and unpredictable 4 years in Singapore. 2pix credits to Carmel O’CallaghanTan

https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/singapore/about-us/the-embassys-history/

Wed31Aug2022: a Historic day yesterday for the Embassy of Ireland, Singapore as our first female and 7th Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Sarah McGrath presented her credentials to the first female President of Singapore, President Halimah Yacob – Irish Embassy,SIN.

Thu16Mar2023: nice to meet with the first female and 7th Irish Ambassador to SIN, Sarah McGrath and I have a pix taken with all of them since Brendan Lyons, 1st Irish Ambassador to SIN in 2000.

SatMay2014: thanks to nephew Clem for chicken rice dinner in Sin Swee Kee***

Discovered a new dessert joint Your Very Treatz****with their cakes flown in from Germany. Had the 4 Layer Chocolate Cake and it was heavenly. This location on N Bridge Rd opp the National Library was where the 1st Food for Thought, now at the National Museum, Queen St and SBG.

SunMay2014: Happy Mother’s Day which should be everyday. Those who are mothers will be able to relate to that. To my two wonderful and beautiful daughters, Linn & May, thank you for accepting and respecting me as I am. Blessed to be their mother and now a grandmother too! Happy Mother’s Day to them both.

To my mother, TSANG May Lan (1911-1965), thank you.

Appreciations and dedications with loving memory to my departed parents. LAM TinYue (1911-1996), TSANG MayLan (1911-1965). Thank you. To the Orange Generation these are your grandparents and to the Purple, your great-grandparents. Pix from 1933, 1955 and 1965, the last of them together when mother was fighting a losing painful battle to cancer.

Seems like there will not be much travels ahead 🙁 Have to go into a major overhaul for both dental and health issues. The realities of life when one gets on in age! The next stage of downhill paths should be ‘a piece of cake’ and hopefully will be able to perform it with grace and gratitude… 🙂

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity – Martin Luther King Jr

9 May 2014 – DOH & SIN Airports

SIN airport certainly deserves the top rankings and ratings in this world. All pix of SIN airport – T1, 2 & 3 are downloaded from various sites. SIA is still one of the best even though it has been awhile ago since I could afford flying on them…

http://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2014/03/27/worlds-best-airports-for-2014/

http://www.businessinsider.sg/worlds-best-airport-awards-2014-3/?op=1#.U2qBZcX2NLM

What does it say when this was in the mail-box upon returning? First have been told by doctors that masks like these are of no help, so what are we supposed to stay prepared for?? The package states to ‘keep this in a safe place, in case of flu or haze’  with wearing instructions! Welcome back to SIN. They certainly deserve an A+ for trying… 🙂 🙂

Appalachian Trail/AT in 2005 and 9yrs later at the Top of Carolina/SC with John/MoFo, AT hiking buddy. Thanks for crossing paths. Enjoy and a safe 335m hike ahead, quite envious! Hiking and camping are not possible this year 🙁

Treats from SC/USA and the best is this miniature whisky bottle with a lovely plantation label and a bag to go with it. Definitely worth the price US$1.79. If only SIN can do similar with the ‘SIN Sling’ at the same cost, they would be perfect gifts…

Thank you Richard for this photo-shop – 歡呼 cheers, jamas, prost, salute, slainte, skål to my future profile pix with this quote added… 🙂 🙂 🙂

7 May 2014 – On US and Qatar Air

Sun: another beautiful day and the family was at church and later swimming. Time has gone by too quickly. The Sunrise Cactus, pre-bloom, full-bloom and now post-bloom, telling me that it is time to pack and move on. Blessed to have had a family reunion, road-trip, Boston Marathon and glad to see that everybody is well and thriving.

Thank you Linn for a yummy dinner, She-Crab Soup, Meat Loaf and Key-Lime Key at Liberty Tap Room on the Lake**** Excellent choice of location for a sunset dinner and until we meet again, take good care of yourself.

Mon: appreciations to Linn for driving me to the airport before her 0530hrs run. CAE airport is nice, clean and not busy; CAE-PHL-DOH-SIN is the route. It is not often that both layovers at PHL and DOH were only 1+hr. Appreciations to Lock & family, Linn & family, May & family and to US friends for a most memorable family reunion. Safe & sound in SIN after countless of unmemorable meals and movies! 23hrs in flight and 4 airports.

It is no wonder that SIN has won the best airport award for many years running and really well-deserved. Always grateful to land at Changi Airport after passing thru’ all the others. Not because of being bias but because SIN is the only airport that delays do not bother me and would even choose to be there way ahead of time.

Arrived into SIN on schedule Tue 1930hrs and was wondering why it was not brighter when on the bus. Again thinking it was morning, decided to stand with the luggage as it would be rush-hour when bus 36 hits MP Rd. Took a few minutes to realize that it was evening! That is what aging with the combination of jet-lag does to one 🙂

Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow – Shakespeare

4 May 2014 – With the Hall Family

Tue: after dinner swim with #1&2  in Lake Murray was refreshing. Met with a charming young gentleman Timothy from #451 who jumped from the dock into the lake to show us that it was safe and deep enough (app 9′). He was fishing and I was concerned with fishing hooks around us. Timothy ensured us that he would stay away from us. Seems like we are blessed to avoid the bad weathers which have caused havoc in some of the SE states.

Thu: picnic with #4&5 in Irmo Community Park and the official opening is on Sat. We decided to try it out before the crowd. Yummy food from Zoe’s Kitchen*** and nice area with well-equipped quality playground at the park surrounded by peaceful nature. Was tempted to try the new junglegym and Linn did..

#1’s Spring concert at CrossRoads Middle School with a cool principal who played the drums with the group. She certainly has improved on the violin and will be traveling to NC this weekend to play and to FL later this month. Did not managed to get L&M playing any music instruments, hope that at least one of the grandchildren will find some joy with an instrument!

Fri: thank you to Debbie for lunch at O’Charley’s***Visited with her and saw that the peach tree has peaches in L&J’s property where the house at Avalon was burnt. Debbie & Rich live next door there and their kindness and help are most appreciated.

Fun Fair 2014 for Irmo Elementary School where#2&3 are attending. #1 was helping and #4&5 were enjoying themselves. Held at the CrossRoads Middle School sports’ ground with space to set up the rides and stalls.

Was not quite up to the loud music. Decided to explore the school grounds to discover some lovely trees planted for shade, a pretty ‘boxelder nymph’ (tkx to Tina for providing the name)and a peaceful sunset.

Sat: #1 headed off bright and early for her fun day at Carowinds; a 398-acre amusement park on the border between NC & SC, in Charlotte and Fort Mill. She will be playing in the orchestra with the CrossRoads Middle School.

Glad that the school organizes these events. Good experience for them and hopefully a memorable time for these pre-teens.

Linn, #2 and I headed the ‘Crawdaddy Dash’ 5k road race where she was top female at 20.08. Believe it or not, here is a seldom pix of me even though it is my back and my shadow taking pix of the finishing 🙂 Thank you to Alex McDonald who has: http://tourdeblueshoes.com/ ‘race reports from a running freak’ a blog on running.

City Roots, an interesting area with a small airport near the industrial side of CAE. Happy to explore the area before and after the race. Discovered Crimson Clovers and thx Stacy Gibson Goddard for providing the name for these pretty lilac ones, wild phlox. There is much beauty in nature, even when they are considered to be weeds… 🙂 🙂

Continued to the Rosewood Crawfish Festival and bought L&J a gift for their outdoor patio wall. Needed a long nap after all these activities… 🙂 🙂 🙂

L&J attended a church function in the early evening, and later there will be 6 kids under one roof as #1 is having her friend Tanvi over to slumber. Never a dull moment with the Halls!

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in – Greek Proverb

1 May 2014 – Happy May Day

Most who know me also know that religions and politics are not part of the blog postings’ agenda. Thoughts and feelings regarding the complications and differences of beliefs, rituals and religions are usually personal and subjective. Unless people can respect, share and learn from the differences, ie objective about personal issues but that  is oxymoron!! So there is no point discussing them until the cows come home!

If one is secure with their beliefs and life-styles, then why is there a need to convince others or even talk about it? For many actions and words do not seem to be in harmony!

‘This is an important reminder, but I do wonder at which point this stopped becoming a ‘common sense’ understanding in multicultural Singapore. The rise of religious fundamentalism and the generally low EQ of certain Singaporeans make for a terrible combination. And the very idea of proselytising in a hospital environment, where people are at their most vulnerable and struggling with their mortality, is distasteful and offensive. It turns doves bearing ‘good news’ into predatory creatures, eager to chalk up a quota of saved’ souls’ – Alfian Sa’at

• grew up in a household with a matriarch grandmother who was practising some form of Chinese Asian beliefs, mother a god-fearing and church goer and father who did not seem to take part in any of those rituals.
• attended a Catholic Convent in SIN until age 15
• Ireland for schooling the next 10yrs
• another 10yrs with the trolls in Norway, those who have seen Frozen can understand 🙂
• USA for 15yrs

Choosing humour above all and without any ulterior motives, blasphemy, derogatory, prejudice or pun intended…