Red Joan

11 July 2019 – A Granny-Spy

Mon: appreciations to Gel&Yusoff Abdul Latiff with his lovely sketch about what I thought yesterday was a ruin, but was a Bali gateway probably erected by a Bali-themed restaurant cafe (Little Bali) that was demolished nearby. During its heyday the restaurant setting was well-landscaped like in Bali. I think they even brought in volcanic soil and lots of heliconia and water features. We painted there several times. We felt like in Bali. Its a pity that the landscaping was demolished when the cafe closed and the whole of Gilman Barracks was revamped.

I knew it reminded me of somewhere recently and checked my previous postings, of course, the new Sang Nila Utama Garden@FortCanning. That goes to show how recent memory goes faster that memory from 50-60yrs ago!!

https://amylamsg.com/2019/06/05/hello-jun-2019/

Tue: feeling lost (like the sculpture of VanGogh by Catalano in the lobby!) trying to find my way to the PostOffice@Ion. Got side-tracked@OperaGallery as the guard looked so real that I had to in and check him out! Am glad I went in as there are two Chagall (one of my favourite painters of that era) paintings inside. No photography allowed inside…

SIN Straits Emporium/underpass from OrchardMRT-Tangs,

https://amylamsg.com/2014/07/10/ode-to-durians/

amazing place with all kind of goodies made from durian except the real fruit, I wonder why?? 🙂 No did not buy any as my preference for durians are the fresh fruits, and at present staying away from them as I am coughing till my diaphragm hurts.

The Penang trip was the 1st time I tasted RedPrawn/Hong Xia, Ang Hay – sticky with a sweet aftertaste, from the states of Pahang&Johor/Malaysia.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hail-the-king-of-fruit-10-types-of-durians-from-malaysia

Welcome back to SIN Richard&Judy from Sydney. Good to catch up with them both+HS, childhood family friends from the 1950s-60s.

Food Republic, ShawCentre/Scotts enjoying our get together and as usual, much to talk about and too much eat on our annual meeting. There is a decent selection of food here, especially their WarungPadang. Was not hungry then, but after the movies had Assam fish+2sorts of veggie (S$8+).

Movie Red Joan@Lido – inspired by an extraordinary true story and unlike the Rotten Tomatoes+others’ reviews, personally I thought it a brilliant movie. Based loosely on real life granny spy Melita Norwood, (1912-2005) and what was so intriguing was that my thoughts in the beginning of the movie were completely changed at the end of it. Highly recommended.

It got me to reflect&rethink at what price does one have to go thru’ for idealism and the balance of peace, even if&when treason may play a part in it?

I did what I did, not to make money, but to help prevent the defeat of a new system which had, at great cost, given ordinary people food and fares which they could afford, a good education and a health service – Melita Norwood

https://spartacus-educational.com/Melita_Norwood.htm

Wed: reading The Hills of SIN where Farnham draws on the real-life historical personalities of the time, mixing fact and fiction to paint a rich portrait of love and loss in mid-nineteenth century SIN, at a time when triads, piracy and crime were rife and life in colonial SE Asia was anything but safe.

Interesting read about SIN&KCH then, both locations that are close&familiar to me. Need some time away from reality to stay sane and to calm the nerves&stress before heading back to the Western world.

Everything wise and true and old was Chinese, but everything new, everything useful for commerce, came from the West…

Thu: neighbour downstairs (6floor) is again complaining about the AC and seeming she is also complaining about her downstairs neighbour (5floor) that their AC is blowing too much cold-air up on her floor and she is unable to find a spot to kneel for a her prayers!