After the Feasts

29 Dec 2015 – The Survivour Naps…

Sat: the stomach and body need to rest. Seems like napping is getting to be a norm and good company – hahaha. Could not bring myself out of the comforts of this tiny AC studio-apartment. Time to catch up with the 2015 Season’s Greetings mail and to open gifts.

IMG_7911IMG_7910

Perfect paper napkins for both Christmas and the CNY. The pineapple is recognized as a traditional expression of ‘welcome’ throughout the South and in areas along the Eastern Seaboard of the USA. And for the Chinese – Pineapple (净撨) – wealth, luck, excellent fortune, tkx Linn.

IMG_7892 - Copy+CropIMG_7898

Looks like the Christmas village has to go up again in future now that these lights arrived, tkx May. The piano looks kind of empty without the village for this Christmas!

For 2016 I should be welcoming good fortune and luck with bright starlight.

12262012_BoxingDay13ff1c9193b9d5ad7ebab6548531faecday212dayschristmas

Happy Boxing Day and St Stephen’s Day on this 2nd Day of Christmas when my true love gave to me Two Turtle Doves. Gledelig Jul and not God Jul as L&M paternal great-grand-mother Emma would say after Christmas eve is over.

12390963_1370399619671501_8351074935979779435_nThis share from FB made my day πŸ™‚ Must have given Ferrero Rocher Chocolate to just about everyone for this season – so let the humour in again, and I even like Brussels sprouts.

Comment from Mario, an Irish friend –Β  Ha ha, beautiful !! After a couple of drinks would they even notice. My reply – I learnt to like Brussels sprouts in Ireland and from the Irish I learnt to drink with a humour.

66868_10153500083864024_7196416766338366475_n1934180_10153500083929024_1793911596126786931_n1935799_10153500128109024_48430390681890166_n

Sun: the mind and the stomach are not friends πŸ™ Decided to give it a miss for the Christmas lunch. Apologies Bev, do not usually cancel at the last moment, unless of real ouch! This place looks like it serves good key-lime pie. Sorry to miss Two Bakers, one of the newer faces in Jalan Besar’s cafe scene. The two chefs here are Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained so you can be sure that their food here is of standard. Pix credits to Ting.

A lovely evening catching up with AudreyW, Clem & Sue. Glad that they could swing by to keep company with an old auntie πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

IMG_8009IMG_8010IMG_8008

Mon: Happy Birthday PP. Really enjoy our annual trips together and looking forward to our next. Great to catch up with Grace and tkx for the goodies from Myanmar and Vietnam.

IMG_7915IMG_7916IMG_7918

App 3+K starting from Marine C to Fort Rd, muggy and warm having to stop for some mins for shelter from a rain storm. Continued with a light drizzle to Fort Rd. Glad for the recent completion to cross safely. Another 2+K from there to the Gardens by the Bay/Bay East crossing the Marina Barrage to the domes/Bay South. Tkx for the company Grace, my SIN buddy hiker.

IMG_7923IMG_7929

The best with this location is that cycling or walking on paths without cars – app 5-6K (1 to 2hrs depending on your pace) walk from where I live.

IMG_7945Been wanting to check out the Christmas display and to see the Cloud Forest which is my first experience. Thank goodness the crowds were not at its worst! The usual cost for entry into these 2 cooled conservatories is S$15 for seniors now being SG50 FOC for SIN seniors, note that there are only 3 more days for this offer.

IMG_7935IMG_7934

IMG_7933IMG_7936IMG_7939IMG_7942

A short visit to the Flower Dome to capture and see these displays. Have been there many times, so no need to linger with the crowds.

IMG_7944IMG_7962

IMG_7949IMG_7947IMG_7948IMG_7985

Cloud Forest: quite an experience walking around the Cloud Mountain, accessible by an elevator and descending it via a circular path where a 35-m/15ft waterfall provides refreshing cool air.

IMG_7998IMG_8005

IMG_7988IMG_7989IMG_7992IMG_8003

Bright colourful lights at the Supertrees with music and crowds making merry for the evening. Feeling all the aches in every muscle and joint after 5hrs on the feet, it was time to find the Bayfront MRT station!

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today – Dale Carnegie