27 Mar 2020 – Mandai Crematorium&Columbarium

Wed: usually would take the bus changing to MRT and then another bus to MandaiRd to get to the crematorium.  Now with the construction, to discover that it was easier and faster on bus966, changing to 171 taking 1+hr to MandaiAve. And all these years I have been taking the longer route – learn something new. 

Paying respect to my parents and they are going to get new neighbours when the constructions are completed. Looks like a few other ppl are here to do their ChingMing(4Apr) duties in advance too so as to avoid the crowds.

An easy 1min walk from the Columbarium Complex to the stairs down to the car-park and up the escalators to the Crematorium. By now I can find my way blind-folded as I usually will pay respect to my parents when I am here to bid farewell to anyone to be cremated.

Now to bid final farewell to 10thAuntie LAM PohChee/Emily(97), may she RIP. Here is an example of social distancing with 8family members +3non-family members. Pix credits to cousin Jason.

1st visit to cousin John who has been living in this neighbourhood for the past 50yrs! He sure has a green-thumb (anyone who can get air-plant to flower has green-thumb!), and not surprising for someone who majored in agriculture. If my memory serves me correctly, he used to have an orchid farm and was also one of the first supplies to KFC and later also one of the first to rear black chickens.

Today his farm is in JB across the causeway, and Malaysia being on lockdown, he is unable to go there.

Have not had this Kedondong (Spondias dulcis, known commonly as ambarella) juice since my last trip to KCH in Jan2019. Tkx to cousin John, these came from his garden here, enough to juice for the week. (cut-fruit pix downloaded) Healthy diet with CH&Ting’s farm produce+this juice, the immune system should be strong enough to fight COVID-19, but hopefully it will stay far far away.

Thu: glad that my duties for ChingMing was done yesterday. Today in the news – 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/covid-19-all-govt-run-columbaria-be-closed-weekends-public-holidays-until-april-26

Eat tasty&healthy to boost the immune system – dinner tonight and one of my favourite ways to prepare a simple&yummy steam halibut (min bones!) with ginger+these and garnish with plenty of fresh herbs. Bon Appetit.

Fri: at the local post office to mail Easter gifts to the grandchildren. There social distancing is truly enforced, only 2ppl were allowed in and the rest had to wait outside. Continued to WaterlooSt to pick up some red melon seeds and some other dried goods. First time to seeing KwanImThong temple closed in daylight and hardly anyone around – does this mean that even the Goddess of Mercy has given up?

Had my Guiling Gao 龟苓膏=herbal Jelly@KoongWohTong. What is this herbal jelly about, too long to explain but wikipedia will tell you all about it. Not sure if I believe about the benefits, but I do like the bitter taste and will always have it without honey.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilinggao

Now that I have stock-up for a few weeks, will isolate myself if necessary, but am still missing ice-cream which I have to have – hahaha

24 Mar 2020 – RIP 10thAuntie BG10LAM PohChee/Emily(1923-2020)

Fri: M1 was here to put this up this FOC Home Access Programme, but the old one works perfectly and I was ensured that there was not much difference, but would have to change password if I change, and knowing me, I will forget the new password! Decided against changing, so whoever wants this brand-new (still sealed in the box) Wi-Fi Router, plx message me either on WhatsApp, FB or my hotmail.

Have to get this gift ready by tomorrow and get it delivered, so burning the midnight oil. Is this really for real as I have not read the book??? Psychic Sylvia Browne did make some startling predictions in her book End of Days published in 2008 – pp312. Must try to get hold of a copy of this book@the library

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1256553/Coronavirus-Sylvia-Browne-prediction-COVID19-prophecy-pneumonia

Sat: today my dear brother Les&sis-in-law Ivy got married 50yrs ago@Tam O’Shanter’, MorehamptonRd, Dublin/Ireland (no longer there today). Happy Golden Anniversary and many more ahead – cheers to them.

Crowded beaches despite of present circumstances – what’s wrong with these ppl?? These are not the only beaches or places that are crowded, only picking these as I have been there but not in these kind of crowds. I supposed it is difficult for me to relate or understand as I really dislike crowds all my life so far and still continues disliking crowds, and will go out of my way to keep away from them.

https://nypost.com/2020/03/21/australians-keep-crowding-beaches-despite-coronavirus-warnings/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coronavirus-comes-spring-break-locals-close-florida-beaches-after-governor-n1163741

Sun: nice afternoon celebrating another belated Bday – lunch@DIY Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah. Was just there last month and enjoyed it. Dessert@Gobi and in time back to the 4-walls to escape the rains

https://amylamsg.com/2020/02/03/hello-february-2090/

Mon: the year of the Rat has so far not been good and if we keep following the crowds, the consequences will be like this image. Plx be healthy, stay away from crowds&crowded places and remember to practice social distancing. Somehow this story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin keeps popping up in my dreams since CNY, but did not know what to make of it nor how to read it?? Was going to share it, but decided against it, and if you know the history/story or legend of the PiedPiper (leading to deaths!) did not seem appropriate then during the CNY, but now the message is as clear as B/W – above 3pix downloaded.

https://amylamsg.com/2020/01/28/into-the-year-of-the-rat/

Tue: grocery shopping today (seniorTue3%). These are all the passengers on bus196 to Bedok and it only stopped once (out of 10stops) to let off one person on MP Rd from MarineC all the way to Bedok-InterChange.

Looks like ppl are practicing social distancing and everything is well-stocked@Giant/Tampines.

May she RIP, 10th Auntie BG10LAM PohChee/Emily(1923-2020)who passed away today in SIN.

19 Mar 2020 – And Leprechauns

Sun: today in the US she is 15 – Happy Birthday#2, a box of chocolate to her – life is like a box of chocolate with sweet memories from when she was 6 in the house that got burnt down! Sweeter memories of the short week here last month.

Appreciations for yummy home-made dinner@Ivy&Les. Les managed to capture these wonderful shots just when I was entering their gate. Delighted to know that these beautiful Hornbills are around. Saw 3 of them last year on MackenzieRd, but they were not that big…

https://amylamsg.com/2019/05/20/imagine-theres-no-countries/

Mon: getting my never-ending indoor projects and concentrating to gear up the creative mood ready to work on them.  

Tue: Lá Fhéile Pádraig Happy St Patrick’s Day from SIN to all celebrating. Due to present circumstances the parade&reception are cancelled. Same situation in Dublin/Ireland, Chicago&NewYork/USA. Let’s hope&pray that St Patrick can banish COVID-19 like he did with the snakes! Take care, stay healthy&enjoy the day the best you can – sláinte

Thank you Carmel for her thoughtfulness, bringing back memories of boarding school days where&when I first discovered these and found them most additive – looking much forward to tasting. On top of this, Jane/Tasmania posted this and that got me digging into my wardrobe to find my old blazer (1965) from the boarding school I attended in Dublin@Earlsfort Terrace – not that it fits me any longer, but it was my 1st blazer.

Wed: 46yrs ago today, this bundle of joy arrived into my arms in Dublin/Ireland and I have been blessed into motherhood ever since then. Happy Birthday to my beautiful 1st-born Linn and thank you for being. Sometimes I think I am dreaming to have a 46yrs old daughter and if I am, plx do not wake me.

Appreciations to Calvin for this farewell dinner – safe journeys&all the best to Glenn, will miss his smile as he returns to his homeland in the Philippines after a decade with Campers here. Looking forward for him to showing us around his country some day. He recommends this the Batanes Island and after reading about this location, can’t wait until pandemic is over.

How Hup Bbq Seafood 好和海鲜 Whampoa Makan Place, highly recommended – you know that the seafood here is good&fresh when the charming owner James loves fishing.

Fisherman&fish pix credits to Estella and tkx to her for the drinks. Karen/USA commented that she was surprised to see these larger gatherings and my reply – large will be over 12ppl for me, all I know here tonight are in good health and it is an alfresco location.

You see? I know where every single book used to be in the library.’ She pointed to the shelf opposite. ‘Over there was Catch-22, which was a hugely popular fishing book and one of a series, I believe ― Jasper Fforde, Shades of Grey

Thu: woke up after a strange dream – will edit when I can figure out what it is about? Great to catch up with CH&Ting for dinner@MyBriyaniHouse/MarineCove and dessert@PS.Cafe EastCoast Park, 1st time here. For a Thu night and considering the present situation, it was crowded, but glad that I could introduce the KeyLimePie there to CH&Ting. Tkx for these Rocket, Beetcrest&Mizuna, yummy fresh organic produce from her farm. Blessed with the best salads for the weekend – Ting is the supplier for many of the Michelin+5*restaurants here.

14 Mar 2020 – One Day At A Time

Mon: belated Bday breakfast for Gel@Beach Road Prawn Mee 美芝律大虾面 at East Coast (one of my favourites in this area and has been posted about many times, thus another pix on EC Rd) which is 5mins walk from me. Located on EC Rd near Telok Kurau junction, it is a no frill clean airy coffee-shop – looking at the prices, you might wonder if you are in a coffee-shop! The eating house has 2 stalls, the prawn noodles stall which also sells drinks, and a ngoh-hiang stall. 

8yrs ago today, back in SIN from Norway (with the whole body aching having cleaned&painted the whole house) after putting my house on the market there! Who could have then predicted that the world would be in such a turmoil today? Still taking one step at a time, not knowing when I will travel again?

https://amylamsg.com/2012/03/30/house-with-panorama-views/

Tue: this is an appropriate read for all days, especially nowadays, considering today’s situation – with a quote that I have worked and still working hard on to apply to my daily life. Taking things day-by-day during the end of days – Scott Gilmore: The markets are tanking, there is a global public health crisis. It’s not the end of the world, it just feels that way.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference

Taking things day-by-day during the end of days

8 Mar 2020 – Keong Saik Road

Thu: was hoping to catch the 0713hrs sunrise walk this morning, but caught sight of a solo swimmer instead. 0745hrs, the sun was struggling with the clouds when I got back. Usually morning walk for me starts in the dark before 0600hrs, done (still in the dark) by 0700hrs before the sunrise, but have seen the sunrise here many times. Was pleased that I am not the only one who swims in these waters or walk here and nice to see an active healthy life-style on this morning.

Taking this grounded time to update the family-tree and would really appreciate help from all.

It is in the roots, not the branches, that a tree’s greatest strength lies ― Matshona Dhliwayo

Fri: has been a while since being in one country for longer than 2months – have not been out of SIN for the past 4+months. With the family here recently, the need to travel is not there and content staying put for now. But also being aware to keep the balance by not becoming too comfortable or complacent. 4-walls here is so organized&cleaned that I am having senior moments where things have been reshuffled to! 1st pix is what living-room&kitchen looked like before I bought over and knocked down most of the walls. With the present COVID-19 situation, am not even sure if I will make it to #1 high-school grad in May/Jun USA. Cross that bridge when&if I get there, but keeping eyes on the air-fares and the cheapest RT fares SIN-CAE-SIN is under US$1000 today.

Am so totally filled with awe&speechless. Amazed&impressed as It was only last month that I posted about my fall and today what do I see on the same path today – coincidence or did someone else fall&complained or did someone with power&action read my blog posting???

https://amylamsg.com/2020/02/11/b-w-challenge-by-cousin-yatsoon/

Sat: understanding Cantonese do bring back memories from childhood days when children were to be seen and not heard was the norm of that era, but it did not stop me from asking questions even since then! Interesting book: 17A Keong Saik Road by Charmaine Leung – an enjoyable dramatised reading on the script for the stage adaptation@ChinatownHeritageCentre. Good turn out and not too crowded (audience pix credits to Woo Hsia Ling).

Father used to go to a club on this street (not quite the red-light district then!) to play mahjong in the 1950s-60s, and if my memory serves me correctly, there was a good yee-sang (raw-fish) place below that club or somewhere near – thus my curiosity about the area. Charmaine is too young to remember, but maybe her mother can shed some lights to my curiosity! 

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day – Albert Einstein

Sun: Happy International Women’s Day with a downloaded pix which I have added text and Chinese characters – have been using this the past few years. Find it fascinating with the Chinese character of woman and the different meanings when combined with more characters.

女 nǚ= woman
安 ānn = peace by adding a roof over a woman
好 hao = good by adding the character child next to a woman

2 more characters using the Chinese characters 女 which were omitted in the poster!
女女 nuan = quarrel by adding 2 women together
姦 jian = adultery by adding 3 women together

The Chinese character女woman together with子child 好=good, So does it mean that I am a peaceful, good good (having 2children) woman- hahaha.

Sun: launching of Alvin’s 2nd edition of La kopi – looking forward to visiting&trying out some of the coffee locations, especially pp74 – hahaha

Appreciations to Jason (Books Actually) for surprised yummy snacks.

Tkx to Clem for KeylimePie@PS Cafe, first time in this branch@TiongBahru; biggest lily bouquet with a strong fragrance for the whole place and a decent selection of gins&wines. All the PS Cafes in SIN serve one of my favourite KeyLime pies, still having a vague memory of the best (to my taste) I tasted in KeyWest many many moons ago, so long ago that I do not even recall the name of the location. Appreciations to Wendy (living in the Keys and would know what real KeyLimes are about!) for her comment about it being so green and reminded me about KeyWest! Pie pix downloaded.

One of the reasons for postings in FB&this blog for me who lives an active life alone is so as not to worry family&friends having to check up on me, thus giving them a peace of mind to know that I am OK where ever I may be or whatever I am up to. Blogging is more for my own documentation by keeping the memory in tact. For those who do not wish to be in social media, do try hard to omit their names, but plx forgive me if senior moments creep up.

Sometimes, I think the things I remember are more real than the things I see ― Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

4 Mar 2020 – Welcome March 2020

Sun: welcome Mar2020 this time round of durian, chilly-crabs, salted-eggs squids, etc to celebrate Calvin’s belated Bday. My heart will give up on me if my diet continues like this, need to take a break from these rich high-cholesterol foods. The fruit stall@MP-Promenade will no longer be selling durian as the season ends now, this is one of the stalls I frequent as the seller is honest enough to throw away the fruits not up to standard upon opening. Sam does not like this fruit – durian pix credits to Helen.

1st time trying out this place in the neighbourhood@Diamond Kitchen 钻石小厨 for the promotion of crabs – interestingly this branch is located in a condo complex. 

Tasty chilli crabs, salted egg squids bringing calamari to another level.

Had 4 of their signature dishes and they did not disappoint, but slightly heavy with the MSG. Will return – they called and have to return tomorrow to pick up my camera which was forgetfully left there tonight – senior moments! 

Mon: good Mon morning, do like the kitchen view of the HDB roof-top garden of a car-park. This sign is posted in some of the estates and hopefully ppl will read it.

SGF OrchidShow cancelled+hot-water tank dripping&plumber not available until tomorrow. Tkx to Calvin for his idea to redirect the water to a bigger container. Not a complain just sharing and documenting to find out that the last time the hot-water heater had to be changed was 8yrs ago (S$380). Have no idea to the life-span of these things, but with 5ppl showering at least twice a day when the family was here probably over-loaded it.

Thank goodness it happened now and not when I am away. All the towels stored there absorbed most of the water and good that it was clean water, just had to hang them out to dry as they were just washed last week. Thought I had to take cold showers after turning if off on Sun, but as it turned out, water was still hot on Sun night and tonight, it is warm.

Tue: tkx to Vincent (contractor/Palmwood Pte Ltd)&Heng (plumber/Inter Plumbing & Reno Pte Ltd), no more dripping hot-water tank. Out with the old (made in China) and in with the new (made in Italy), hopefully free from COVID-19!

What are the chances that both hot-water tanks I have are made where the virus are most prominently found at present?? Let’s hope this (S$500) will last me to the end of my days! Feeling more comfortable with washing dishes in real hot water, especially in the midst of this epidemic.

We can’t predict what a virus we’ve never seen will do – MarcLipsitch

Wed: planning to do some reading&sewing if the eyes are not too tired.

5 Mar – Happy Bday Gel
6 Mar – Happy Bday Linda
9 Mar – Happy Bday Sue Lynn
11 Mar – Happy Bday Ken
14 Mar – Happy Bday Ellie
17 Mar – Happy Bday Pat-Lynn and Beth, Happy St Patrick’s Day
18 Mar – Happy Bdays Linn, Yi Sheng & Al Sosa
19 Mar – Happy Bday Thomas Heggelund
21 Mar – Happy Anniversary to Ivy&Leslie
31 Mar – Happy Bday Josephine