30 May 2019 – Bye-Bye May 2019

Mon: Memorial Day in the US, somehow these days are slipping out of the mind the longer I am away from the US, but one must not forget those who served&died for their countries! Confusion with Lawrence’s logistics for NUH – tkx for dinner@Les&Ivy to straighten up the situation after all morning on the phone which is something used mainly for emergency or necessity – chatting on the phone is one of my pet-peeves!

Tue: picked up info@NUH with Lawrence and saw him off to KL@T4 – such is life even if the heart is working on OT, it is still beating. Tkx to Clem for dinner@IKEA and for letting me huff&puff venting my frustrations to him.

Wed: Les&Ivy were concerned and had tests done on me, but after a good night rest, things are more or less back to normal for this week! Am blessed to have such caring bro&sis-in-law. First time getting tests done in his new clinic@FarrerPark.

Somehow the apple sculpture got me thinking about the situation with US&China 🙂 funny as it may seemed in this joke, but the consequences are not going to be funny 🙁

Since in the area, decide to have lunch in FoodRepublic and do some shopping@CitySquareMall. With thoughts of the grandchildren’s Bdays ahead, pick up a whole bunch of things@Diaso which are small&light enough to be AirMail.

Always looking with envy at this 4-storey-playground – the heart is sooo willing, but the head is saying otherwise…

https://www.airzone.sg/csmyourvisit

Decided to venture on to the top-floor to take pix and happily discovered SIN Sustainability Academy/SSA which has been built to highest energy efficiency and green building standards and will serve as the city-state’s sustainability learning and collaboration hub.

The rooms on the roof-top-level (hot hot hot outdoors) were closed, but there are info on the walls on the 6Level.

When will these power talking-heads get into their heads that ClimateChange is for real and not FakeNews??? May not live to see it, but my children&grandchildren will.

Been many moons ago since I last caught up with Gerald, tkx for dropping by to get ideas&to check out on what a 3-room-HDB can look like after renovations!

Thu: the old with the new on Coleman St.

Premiere screening of Remembrances, People, Places, Events@OldhamTheatre here in this newly renovated NationalArchives. Was there 2decades ago and it is quite a change, including how far movie&media are now. 1930s-clip of a Peranakan Wedding, 1959-SIN Scene, 1966-NationalDayParade, 1976-Talent-time GrandFinal.

Malay language movie Cinta Kaseh Sayang (1965)/Love&Affection (with English subtitles). Tkx to Bryan for the title, movie poster downloaded. If I were doing the translation for this title, it would have been Love&Lust – LOL 🙂

Nice theatre, was there early to take pix! but was quite packed when the show started. Do remember to have a jacket with you!

The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mix tape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life ― Rob Sheffield,

26 May 2019 – Lawrence In SIN

Thu: T4 to meet Lawrence. Lunched with Les&Ivy@LocalFreshSeasonal downstairs from FarrerPark Hospital. The Ayam Kalio (Indonesian Wet Chicken Rendang) – chicken cooked in aromatic spices&herbs was quite tasty.  Nice colours for the bread selection.

A new experience to NationalUniversityHospital/NHU to discover that KenRidge MRT Station connects to this place. Delighted that this little grasshopper wanted to be part of the shot which does not hurt! Appreciations to SengYee for seeing us with such short notice. Tkx for home-cooked dinner@Les&Ivy.

Fri: VivoCity – HokkienMee but the prawns were not fresh, considering that it is prepared indoors in a complete AC environment the taste would not be quite of that to@Lorong29. At HabourFront MRT to connect to KenRidge.

Take-away treat for myself to a GuzmanYGomez’s Burrito-Bowl with side order of guacamole@OrchardCentral, liked that I can help myself to the condiments of jalapeno, onions&coriander.

My top favourite cheese-cake – a perfect tasty quiet dinner to calm the mind&nerves before all the socials for the weekend.

Sat: TanjongPagar Terminals are no longer filled with containers – things change and move fast here in SIN.  Fortunate to sight a cruise-ship

Taking the bus to LabradorPark MRT Station – been there, done that and today is not about hiking, but going the opposite direction from the trails.

Crossing the overpass to AlexandraRd and it surprised me that the flowers here are heliconia and not bougainvillea which are what is usually planted on the overpasses.

Have not been into the PSA Building since 2decades ago when Greta was the HR-person there – now the first 2levels are filled with all kinds of eateries.

Good to catch-up with god-sister Pat/88 who goes a long way back when our parents were old family friends. Lawrence/85 used to play with her when they were kids! Fond memories of SengYee when he was just a sweet little boy, now he is a Professor&SrConsultant@NUHS, NUH&NUS, still sweet but not so little any more! Tkx to Les&Ivy for lunch&wines@CantonParadise and for dinner at home with Jo&Michael, a small family gathering in support of Lawrence.

One Good Thing After Another makes One Good Life.

Appreciations to CC management&staff for Visit Canberra talk&refreshments. Admiring Dennis’s new shoes in my new hat (hat pix credits to Yoshie).

Sun: glad that I finally got to meet with Kathleen&family from NY. Have been postponing this meeting due to family situation. A quick walk down WaterlooSt+a cuppa with them before their Sunday-Mass@Good Shepherd. Kathleen, who is the widowed sis-in-law of BroJoseph McNally and indeed a very brave lady to make this long trip with her 5children – Aidan(27), Conor(23), Tara(22), Grace(16)&Joseph(13). Pix credits of McNallySt&family to Kathleen.

Need to take the remainder of the day to get laundry, etc done and to rest before another week of hospital visits ahead.

Keep yourself busy if you want to avoid depression. For me, inactivity is the enemy – Matt Lucas

20 May 2019 – And No Religion Too

Sat: helping out one more day@CC. Nice to have Calvin&Sam are back. Will be pleasantly surprised if these shelves with glasses&bottles will look like these after this week! The ropes as vibrantly colourful as they are do need some tiding up.

Exciting walk on Mackenzie Rd near the Istana where we saw 3Hornbills, tkx to Lenord good eyes. Quite an unexpected delightful sight in a city. Moments like this is when a more sophisticated camera would do justice to these beautiful birds.

Discovering OldChangKee first outlet. Like the giant display of my favourite curry-puff on the building.

Yummy fusion dinner@EasyNoodle in the JalanBesar area.

Preparations for VesakDay at full-force crowding around Thekchen Choling 大乘禅寺 

Named after the monastery of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, it houses one of the biggest collections of mantra wheels in SIN.

Stumbled upon some wall-mural painter on the way to DoubleDurian – the Smelliest Cafe in Lavender, for my favourite DurianSmoothie. Appreciations to Leonard who seems to know where my interest&taste with both food&places.

Sun: day to rest and get things done within the 4-walls. Tkx to Audrey for helping out with some Cantonese sentences.

Mon: somebody in FB posted this brilliant post. If only all these power-heads can Imagine to John Lennon’s lyrics Imagine, there might be a chance for peace on earth. This is so worth sharing (do remember to turn the vol up) on this Mon public holiday in SIN – have a good week ahead and keep imagining. Can never get enough of John Lennon’s Imagine – 

It was indeed a hot day and seems even hotter in the shade while passing by the stalls in the ArabSt area. Being the fasting time, many of the stalls are closed in the day. Looking forward to seeing the lights@GeylangSerai, hopefully sometime this week or latest next week.

Can never get enough of these old against new background scenes.

Finding my way to Cicheti@KandaharSt and was amazed to see these 2ppl having a picnic in this heat. At first sight, thought they were statues but on closer look to discover that they are real ppl unlike those on the RSVP field.

Appreciations to Ivy&Les for yummy VesakDay lunch. The beef was tender&tasty and so were the other 6dishes at this charming place with excellent service. No time to take pix of the dishes as they were consumed quite immediately upon placing on the table. One of the dishes was on house, tkx to Angie and wines were brought by Les. Today’s foods&wines was good enough even to the angels’ delight.

Tkx to Leonard to taking videos of me for audition to send to Birdmandog Pte Ltd who is producing a new TV show. Speaking in Hokkein is not my dialect or mother-tongue, even just 3sentences by a supposedly a sick grandma. Learnt something new by just trying and whatever will be will be!

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera sera – Doris Day who died last week aged 97, may she RIP.

18 May 2019 – Survivor-Kit

Mon&Tue: letters off to HDB, NEA&Polymer Technologies.

An easy meal but the best when hungry and to top it all by dinning under billions of stars. Do drop by and can help you choose your menu. Will be at CC until Sat to help with your outdoors adventures. It is a good idea to have some of these things in your store-room.

When living in Florida/USA always had a basic-box for survivor purposes incase of hurricanes. That box is checked regularly replacing outdated stuff. Now this will be the future survivor-kid with the luxury of a 3-course-meal vs the basic survivor-kid for a few days if all hell breaks lose. Would be wise to package a basic survivor-kid, but more fun with to do a grading&pricing of them from 5* to 1*

Wed: got a cake to celebrated PengHann’s belated Bday. Many new faces including Freddy who I got to know better than the others. Missing Calvin, Sam (overseas), Glen&Moses (NovenaSq)+other ex-CC staff.

Thank you Alvin for his video. The Root-Beer Float was special for his request as a joke and we do NOT serve that at CC, but it is getting popular with the staff to make themselves a pick-me-up treat.

Thai food dinner across the road and it is quite decent. Do not know why Calvin&Co do not think much of the food? After 2100hrs, the scene was quite a different story. am not sure what is going on, but interesting to witness! When in the area, will return for the food another day.

Thu&Fri: hurra for 17mai. Have dressed CC’s window to mark the day, but being a long weekend, ppl are away. Introduced Aquavit & skål to Freddie&Caleb (poor innocent boys corrupted by this grandmother!) PengHann has tried it.

The last time I celebrated 17May with Linn&May was 2012 in OSL.

https://amylamsg.com/2012/05/17/two-daughters/

Sooo missing Trail Days this year with AT-Hiking Buddies and the drive with MoFo to&from Trail Days. Enjoy and be safe to those who are heading there this weekend. Wiggs&HiHills will not be there either. Pix credits to MoFo&Pokey.

Sad to learn about this recent murder on the AT.

Ronald “Stronghold” Sanchez, the victim from the recent fatal stabbing on the Appalachian Trail. There is no silver lining to this story- but it’s only right that we honor Stronghold’s memory, a veteran who sought the outdoors to help him overcome his depression and PTSD. You are in the thoughts and hearts of all of us in the trail community. We will continue down the trail in your honor. Rest In Peace – FB The Trek: Appalachian Trail

https://www.outsideonline.com/2396603/appalachian-trail-murder-ron-sanchez

Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar; invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast – Samuel Johnson

12 May 2019 – Happy Mother’s Day To All Mothers

Fri – TGIF and what a privilege to be painted by a talented artist and being captured by a brilliant photographer. Thank you Alvin Mark Tan and Dennis Quek, the other pix credits to Yani. This must be the first I am sitting for an artist!

Sat: sky opened up on the bus en-route to RafflesPlace for breakfast. Thank goodness for the covered OUE-Link from the bus-stop across CollyerQuay to the basement food-court@CliffordCentre.

First time here, tkx to Clement for the introduction and it is a huge with many choices – could imagine how packed it can be in the weekdays, so do not expect to find me here on weekdays! Was informed about the waterspout when we were enjoying our breakfast.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/large-waterspout-spotted-near-tanjong-pagar-terminal-on-saturday-morning

National Gallery NgeeAnnKongsi Auditorium – appreciations for fresh-baked goods and blackcurrant juice, and tkx for the bottle with good memories of those years with the Auroras.

European Film Festival – The Wave, hosted by Norwegian Embassy to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in SIN. Was it really nearly 4yrs ago I saw this movie in Norway? An appropriate time with a SIN waterspout to a Norwegian tsunami 🙂

Bølgen=The Wave – even though awaited, no-one is really ready when the mountain pass of Åkneset above the scenic narrow Norwegian fjord Geiranger falls out and creates a 85 meter high violent tsunami. A geologist is one of those caught in the middle of it. Amanda Prize for Best Norwegian Film, Visual Effects  and Sound Design.

http://bolgen.tight.no/

An epic tale based on the 1934 tsunami which killed 40ppl in Norway’s Tafjord. The disaster was triggered when a mountainside collapsed, causing huge damage and casualties in a number of villages along Norway’s fjords. Geologists believe Norway may be overdue for another such natural catastrophe!!!!

Busy day@CC. Alvin dropped by to pick up the portrait to take it to his studio for his signature and to give it a protection layer. Looking forward to the 2nd edition of La Kopi+other works. His favourite painting from the 1st edition is in my neighbourhood. The ink-sketch is from previous CC location which will be updated to the new location in the new edition where you will find me this week.

Dinner@Tekka with Judy&Roy.

Sun:  to raise children to be decent adults is a challenge. For me it has been&still is the most difficult, but most rewarding path of my life’s journey. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. 愛 = Love in Chinese but what is so very amazing to my eyes is that I see this Chinese character with some Arabic calligraphy, mother&child+KuanYin showing that a mother’s love has no boundaries. Credits to a nun@Maris Stella who used recycled CDs to make this. https://amylamsg.com/2016/07/28/dempsey-hill/

But kids don’t stay with you if you do it right. It’s the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run ― Barbara Kingsolver

Time for laundry and letter-writing to HDB again, glad that 2016 HDB-correspondence are filed&organized; keeping fingers crossed that the system will not crash! Now with some minor edit but to a different person! Wonder if this is going to happen when ever there is a change of a new HDB officer in that department?

Tkx to Jo for dinner tonight.

9 May 2019 – AC Leaking Again?

Sun: met with 2beautiful feathered-friends sun tanning after their baths on my way by foot to the grocery. Exit11B on the ECP is full of life&activities, good to see ppl enjoying their Sunday and I will be making pasta for lunch-guests. Thank you Thomas&Fannie for the PinkKiwi – sweet&delicious and looks like a usual kiwi from the outside. You Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover is quite appropriate here. Dinner with HKG visitor.

Much talking is the cause of danger. Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune. The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage. Other birds, without speech, fly freely about – 

While #1 was@Prom, #4 (6th place 4th grade girl)&#5@RunHard 5K; #2@State Qualifier Track Meet (rained out); #3@orchestra field trip to Atlanta. Busy times for the Fabulous5 in the USA. Pix&info credits to Linn. #6 in Norway who is camera-shy will be 8 in Sep.

Do remember how busy it was when I was in the US around this time of the year the past few years. This year, just too tired for another long-distance flight for now – taking a break for a few months to rest up after the HI trip.

For those who are abstaining from eating, drinking, etc for the Ramadan month ahead, may these beautiful inspiring lights guide&help them thru’ by staying healthy&strong. Am considering (just considering!!) to abstain from eating until sundown 19.08hrs when in CC with Suriani Muhd for the next 2weeks – die die with a T for a foodie 🙂

Tue: called contractor Vincent about the leaking AC – have to think about this is new suggested tray to make sure that the water will flow in my absence.

This happened exactly 3yrs ago and again will ask the same question, what if there are derbies caught in the outlet of the tube? Water will not flow out then!! Will need to check out this concept thoroughly before it becomes a permanent fixture.

https://amylamsg.com/2016/04/18/hot-hot-hot/

At least this time round, the younger HBD person, Cao Zhiyuan was courteous&respectful with his answers to my questions who hard&soft copy me the above info as requested by me.

Not the best way to start the day, continuing with spilling some super-glue to my index&middle fingers, result from working on a cork-board! Consolation – one of my favourite ChickenBiryani@TekkaMarket for dinner.

Wed: the sky opened up this morning and a quiet day@CC. Book&magazine shelves in place tkx to AhHuat for making the shelves. Coffee machine that steams your cup with one touch and another touch to make your coffee, another level to CC – CozyCorner 🙂

Thu: AC serviced S$90 for 3units and now to wait for a quote to get the tray. Some ppl get cranky during the fasting month and need to take it out on others, so complaining about your neighbour might be a way! Maybe I am mistaken about what Ramadan is about!!

So Nature, Wit, and Sense must blasted fall,
Whilst blooming Ignorance prevails o’er all – James Miller

Quiet day again@CC. Ordered super thin-crust cheese pizza from Pat’s@OwlsBrew and they were yummy.

Another consolation, Green ChickenCurry from The Thai Society. So-so without pea-eggplant, which is a must for me to make good green curry – oh well tomorrow is another day and its Fri.

4 May 2019 – May Day

Mon: a day@Campers to learn&know more about their products, will be there helping out until 18May.

Tue: guiding Kevin&Clay to places of worship and where else could you find a Synagogue, 2Churches, a Buddhist&Hindu Temple all within 2-3mins walking distance from one another on the same street – WaterlooSt which was actually ChurchSt many moons ago, a more appropriate name for this street, but not to confuse with another ChurchSt near RafflesPlace was thus changed.

Maghain Aboth Synagogue (1878). 

Church of Saints Peter and Paul (1870).

Sri Krishnan Temple (1870) & Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (1884). Did not make it to Masjid Bencoolen@BencoolenSt, the next street to WaterlooSt.

Wed: Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to Japan’s Chrysanthemum Throne marking the beginning of the new Reiwa era. Pix downloaded.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japans-new-emperor-naruhito-to-ascend-chrysanthemum-throne

Happy International Labour&May Day to all. Byebye to Apr – April showers bring May flowers.

Helping out@Campers on this public holiday. Good to catch up with Thomas&family+other families with their babies in our new location. A wonderful new start to life by introducing nature&an outdoor lifestyle to the young ones.

Thu: HDB officer here to check about a drip from the AC to the downstairs neighbour’s AC, will need to get that fixed.

Fri: TGIF and a fabulous weekend to all. Tkx for this reminder&share TingTing. Seems like another life time ago and many other fantastic trails&paths have been in this life journey since then. Fond memories from 14yrs ago with Wiggs, T² & Gadget – fellow AT Thru’hikers + others who hike sections with me MoFo, Pokey, Lizard, Sawbuck&Blossom, Coops, Alleghany, Skywalker, HiHills, Loon+many others. Appreciations to Warren for making this hike possible for me and special tkx to fellow hikers who were also our trail angels, including Judy.

Tkx to CC for dinner@Whampo FoodCentre. Traffic was bad getting there due to roadworks. Appreciations to Sam for the ride back to my 4-walls, been a long day on the feet for a no longer SpringChicken, nor do I want to be one 🙂

Nothing makes you look older than attempting to look young. —Karl Lagerfeld, may he RIP.

Sat: as the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, he is also styled as Rama X. Aged 64 at that time, Vajiralongkorn became the oldest Thai monarch to ascend to the throne. Pix downloaded.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/04/asia/gallery/thai-king-coronation/index.html

Two crowning within a week must be a record.

Wow! Prom time for #1 (pix credits to Christie Glen Smith&Angela Bruccoli).

Seems like yesterday when her parents were at Blue&Silver-Ball@LakeHowell High/FL (1993).

1 May – Happy May Day
5 May – Happy Cinco De Mayo
6 May – Happy Bdays WONG Wai Kit & Jan SOSA
10 May – Happy Bday Andrew LAM
13 May – Happy Bday Susannah LAM
17 May – Happy Bday LAM PohChee & hurra for 17 mai
18 May – Happy Bday Helen VICKERY-YEO
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