28Jan2021Edited: congratulations to Kari&Sylwin and the very best for their married life ahead. Karl is the son of Ann, my first Irish girlfriend and we have been friends since 1965.
Thu: Brendan Smialowski, a photojournalist for Agence France-Presse, shot the image of a bundled Mr. Sanders that spawned a multitude of memes on Inauguration Day. This picture went viral – being&liking the outdoor nature person, this was one my favourites and then when you thought you have seen them all until Terry shared this from TheAlaskanLife which put a big smile on my face.
Anything to a good cause is worthwhile mentioning&writing about, especially when raising money for reputable charities. This has helped to raise $1.8 million in the last 5days for charitable organizations in Sanders’ home state of VT. Besides Where is Waldo, it is now Where is Bernie – hahaha.
Fri: tkx to Aileen for gift&lunch@PP basement food-court. Grocery shopping@the new fancy FairPriceXtra replacing where Giant used to be. Such a feast to the eyes with the CNY presentations of goodies, etc. Not sure I really know my bananas here!
PostOffice – getting the new stamps for my home-made CNY cards from old recycled red packages to be snail-mailed by Mon, 2Greetings in one – CNY&Valentine’s Day! (12&14Feb).
Sat: appreciations to nieces, nephew&grandnephews for food-tasting starting with
Breakfast@HouseDownstairs(fusion), located@UluPandanCC – good sandwich, so-so other food! Took me 1hr30min with one change on the bus to get there and doubtful if I will return for another meal here!
Lunch@GhimMohFoodCentre(local). My father used to like the food here when he was living in HollandGroveLane many moons ago.
Coffee&T at DutchColonyCoffeeCo@Fusionopolis, alien to me but a familiar area to Daisy and Stanley as they both work in this hood.
Dinner@Nana/GoldenMile(Thai). Is this what it is like to be in FoodHeaven for a day?
Sun: good Sunday morning from the kitchen window’s MoonSet this early morning – enjoy your last Jan2021Sunday. Tkx to Calvin for this juicy box of Mandarin oranges delivered by Chris who picked me at the bus-stop last night to send me back to my 4-walls – counting every blessing in life to keep reminding how wonderful life is.
~1+hr on the Bus16, MRT (Circle/orange changing to NE/purple-Line) and LRT to Layar, which is taken only for my annual visit to Inessa@Fernvale. Thanks for pot-luck lunch, looking forward to tasting Philip’s Shepherd, but this year it was slightly different in that he did not have the hint of curry in it, but was still yummy.
Good to meet with TC who drives a vintage Mercedes (last time I was in on of those was 1964-65) and also a collector of AsianLPs – would be interesting to see his collection. Tkx to Philip for the ride which took ~30mins!
Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some ― Charles Dickens
31Jan 2021: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:
SIN/pop 5.6+mil in an area of 721SqKm – 29 SC/USA/pop 5+mil in an area of 82, 932SqKm – 6,941 Norway/pop 5.3+mil in an area of 365,268SqKm – 564
Sun: belated Bday lunch for Leonard (50). Wanted to try this Mexican joint LowerEastSide on EC Rd as the owner told me that it is not Tex-Mex, maybe he has not tasted real Mexican food or maybe my taste bud has lost the taste of Tex-Mex at this stage in life! Still want to try one of these Norwegian Salmon ATM someday.
Hjem til jul=Home for Christmas – filmed in Røros, one of Norway’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Norwegian TV-series 2S 12E. Entertaining and keeping my Norwegian up to par by not having the subtitles on. Had to turn it on when someone spoke in Danish and or Swedish to not get too lost in translation, especially when a young handsome Swedish dude who can get someone 10+yrs his senior to climax 5times+baking bread, making smoothies, etc so as to let her sleep in – who can resist or not be turned on by such a character?? Pix downloaded
Another well-worth watching Hindu film – Is LoveNot Enough? Sir: a man from a wealthy family falls for his live-in domestic widowed helper. Although he seems to have it all, she can sense that he has given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost. On the other hand, she who seems to have nothing, is full of hope and works determinedly towards her dream. As these two worlds collide and the 2individuals connect, the barriers between them seem only more overwhelming. Pix downloaded.
Mon: @SGH with more appointments ahead – such is life, when there are domino-effects from existing health issues together with a combination of bad genes&aging! Nice stroll to Chinatown to look at the CNY lights, lighted pix to be posted nearer the CNY.
YipYewChong’s wall-mural sure brings back the childhood memory of a similar kitchen@TemenggongRd which I remember so well and also not being welcome there. Kids were told that we get in the way, but it never stop me from going there.
The newly renovated FoodStreet looks nice, but did not have the chance to taste any of the food there. Must ask Victor if he has tried anything there and would he recommend if he has.
HKG chain, TamJaiSamGorMixian/譚仔三哥米缐@ChinatownPoint– a Michelin-approved rice noodles, so the foodie in me had to see what the hype was all about. Had the S$12+bowl with the CharredPepper&SpicesSoup. Tasty soup and the portion was big enough for me to take away for 2more meals (poor Clement, he carried that+desserts the whole evening!!) So if I return in future, will get someone to share with me!! https://www.tjsamgor.com/hk/menu/?lang=en
Decided that we needed to walk after dessert@MeiHeongYuen&after chatting with #6 as he wanted to know what our favourite food is. There were some crew of cameras as we were getting ready to cross from NewBridge-EuTongSenRd. Was told that the guy in yellow is some local celebrity, ChenHanWei, thus took these and actually quite glad that I did as the background lights@YueHwa turned out OK.
The breeze by the river was very pleasant. A new wall-mural (new to me as it has been a long while since walking in this area) at this corner by the bridge of SouthBridgeRd – the 2ppl there are real, just that the pix is not clear! UOB’s artistic OX – looking forward to seeing their red-packages. Let’s hope that this distress looking person will not lock horns with this bull.
A detoured walk to the bus stop stumbling by coincidence to discover that the LightToNightFestival is on and will only last until end of the month! Glad for that detour!
The Arts House
National Gallery
Limited displays but it was such a pleasure not be to in any crowds on this lovely cool evening walk. All the buses I had to be on today were there within a few mins from the moment I stepped onto the stop and had to even change a couple of times too.
Tue: Happy Australia Day to my family&friends DownUnder. Thanks to JohnLim for his message, now I know better – I and many other Australians (the aware ones at least) don’t celebrate “Australia Day” because it is a day of mourning for Indigenous Australians…it represents 233 years of genocide, murder, rape, slavery, forcibly removed children and discrimination (some of which is still happening today) at the hands of the white colonialists/governments. Many of us now refer to it as ‘Invasion Day’.
Tkx to Garry for the reminder that I was so lucky to be there in 1983 to watch this most memorable performance in my life in Sydney. No need to do grocery for a while, leftovers from last night will take care of 1day and still plenty of food in the freezer that need to be emptied to defreeze it and return to Calvin.
Wed: In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro=Everywhere I have sought peace and not found it, except in a corner with a book ― Thomas a Kempis
Wed: Happy HumpDay. This was shared to me by Peggy, a medical doctor friend in Perth/Australia, but do this only when you are far far away into the woods! Funny advice for all males done in good humour – guys, do pay attention. Scenes with the cooler&dryer temperatures and the blooms of fresh spring flowers are tempting me to be a part of them! Pix downloaded.
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more ― Lord Byron
@RafflesHospital to visit an old friend and hospitals seem to be more a frequent place to be visiting lately – just got to show that relatives&friends are also getting on in age and health issues are a part of life! Cannot in the world remember why we pick this font&colour for their logo during my advertising working days@H&H in the early 2000s but do remember that a teddy-bear was featured in some of their first brochures! Pix downloaded
Since in the area, took a short walk to ArabSt to get some fabric to alter some dresses. The selection of fabrics on this street is quite a treat to the eyes for me to sew again, but then the eyes are telling me otherwise everytime I try to thread a needle! Pix downloaded. Tried to stay awake till mid-night to watch the US Inauguration, again the eyes had problems to stay open!!
Thu: Joe Biden (78), became the oldest US president in history and a relief to hear, read&see that the ceremony took place peacefully in front of a heavily fortified US Capitol. He takes office at a time of deep national unease, with the country facing 4compounding crises: The pandemic, the economic downtown, climate change and racial inequality. Wishing him&his administration good luck and the very best for their term ahead. Pix downloaded.
Fri: Happy 19Bday to #1 who is now in her 2nd semester into her U-Freshman year. Pix from 2004 – packing up to rent out the condo in FL. 2019 – when I last saw her all dressed up for 2019HomeComing school dance in SC.
The never-ending paperwork to be filed or recycled and found this box of correspondence (1990-1994) from me to my dad when I wrote to him nearly monthly from the US then. Was surprised&touched that he has kept them in this old Godiva chocolate cardboard box together with
his British passport, business cards, B/W pix+the negative for the passport+health-papers.
The new gazebo in Les&Ivy’s garden, looking forward to having his BBQ there. Appreciations for yet another yummy AlaskanKing dinner+other home-cooked dishes in the good company of 4medical doctors (Ivy/GP, Les/cardiologist, ChengJun/gastroenterologist, Theresa/gynecologist who made all these delicious food) who have all had their C-19shots! With the CNY ahead and these new regulations, like Christmas, there will be no big family gathering.
Sat: snoozed for nearly 3hrs to be awake for another feast@CC to start off the CNY. The rains made it easy to doze – tkx to Chris for picking me up. Danson only listened in 2016 (KodakMoment pix credits to Maggie) – today he talks non-stop, such a cutie, soon to be 5yrs who tells me he is no more a baby and has obviously learnt&listened well but did not like my fresh fruit-salad!
19 Jan 2021 – To Accept What The Mind Already Knows
Sat: a powerful earthquake yesterday has rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing many people as rescuers search for survivors. Prayers&thoughts are out to all effected in whatever way. Rescuers search for survivors at the Mitra Manakarra hospital in Mamuju city on Jan 15, 2021, where as many as 20 patients and staff are trapped beneath the rubble after the hospital was flattened when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Sulawesi island. (Photo: AFP/Firdaus)
Today’s Straits Times/ST – proud of my bro Leslie LAM for all his achievements, and for being the first to implant the AngelMedGuardian – a devise designed to warn patients to seek medical attention for AcuteCoronarySyndrome (ACS) including heart attacks. And it is also time for me to take a rest today or the heart will suffer.
The Flower Dome@GardensByTheBay was also featured in today’s ST. Looks nice, but doubt that I want to get enclosed in any crowded area, especially when my immune system is not as strong as it used to be!
Sun: appreciations for lunch@GeylangClaypotRice – Famous GeylangLor33ClaypotRiceShop now@BeachRd. Considered by many as one of the most popular in SIN, GeylangClaypotRice is also the last few ones that still uses charcoal to cook the rice.
Good to catch up with bro Steven’s branch: Judy, Daisy, Clement,Stanley&Darryl – missing Vincent&family who are in Perth/Australia.
Nice ceiling lights at a Halal-French-inspired eatery – The White Label, where we had dessert, but somehow cannot imagine how French-Malayan fusion cuisine, made Halal and infused with local flavours would taste on my palate? Desserts were OK, too heavy&sweet for my taste. Stanley was impressed with the cutlery&tableware, especially the small spoons!
Mon: appreciations to Andrew for the corks, lunch-company&walk to PP to the same hair-cut place where I usually get a cut for S$6. Am glad that he is happy with the results! One of my favourite trees on this walk, looked like the blooms on this tree-trunk are done for this round.
Watched this BritishTVseries Fallen Angle on YouTube. Not only are the Brits best at humour, but brilliant at drama – excellent acting and well choreographed. Portrait of a psychopath with all 3episodes (1+hrX3), consistently disturbing and captured my full attention.
When stepping into the mind of a psychopath, you realize that there is something missing in their brain that they do not understand the consequences of their actions, in a sense – Lorraine Toussaint
Tue: hanging these 2plants outside the kitchen window and hope that they will survive without being a danger to anyone! Pick up a few things to start on the CNY mini-bags I make annually to give away. The mandarin oranges will have to wait until next month. Staying indoors to rest, snooze, watch movies and to organize around the 4-walls – amazing that there is always something to organize! Just managed to put away Christmas things and now checking on the CNY stuff.
Tue: as I leave for my grocery this morning in these wet weathers in between short spurts when the clouds were pushed away at BedokMall. Caishen 財神 God/Deity of Wealth kept a watch over me with a nice hot cuppa while waiting for the shuttle to Tampines Giant&IKEA.
Successful trip to Giant where they refunded S$17+ for the items I forgot in Nov2020. Could not resist this T-shirtS$5 as the OX is my year! Was hoping to get some food@IKEA but unfortunately what I needed or wanted are not in stock – bought this unusual little plant instead. Time to get the dying PoinsettiaS$12 (lasted for~a month) out and this succulent MiniJadePortulacaria afra, Elephant BushS$8 on the table for the CNY. Let’s see how long this one will last?
Yummy Dim-Sum Bday lunch@CantonParadise tkx to Audrey, my first co-worker, student & young friend when I returned to SIN in 1999. She tells me now that I am literally her oldest friend – hahaha. Met Audrey when she was in her mid 20s and somehow I cannot imagine she is in her 40s now! Same with some of my nieces&nephews who are now the about the same age as I was when I returned to SIN in 1999 – but then I am now over 70!! A must for my favourite mini-EggTarts here, but had to take away as we were too stuffed for desserts! Looking forward to our next lunch when I am planning to make Mexican!
Wed: doing some errands on this uncharted territory and less wet day.
Looks like they are ready for the CNY.
Delicious TruffleWagyuBowl for dinner tkx to Gel. 1st visit to BedokMarketPlace and looks like there are some interesting eateries to try there besides TheBurningOak where we were.
Thu: many tkx to CC management&staff for a day early combined Bday celebrations for Estella, Sam’s father and I.
Appreciations and many thanks to James for harvesting the fresh&yummy mussels&fish, to Chris for driving me to&fro.
to Estella for excellent Tequila that I sip neat without lime or salt,
to Cece, friend of Estella for this home-made cheese-cake, to Helen for the beautiful roses. Collage credits to Helen and pix credits to all who sent attachments via message or WhatsApp.
SGH the whole morning from 0800-1300hrs on different scans, finally located what they were looking for, Hyperparathryoidism. Managed to dozed in 2 (30minsX2) of the longer scans! Surgery is the next step – nothing too serious but should be done before my metabolism gets more unbalance, as it is there is too much calcium in me discovered thru’ a few blood&urine tests from last year!
Bday dinner@MadameFan (1st visit but will not be my last), where the fish was steamed to perfection and the DrunkenChickenSoup was up to par with my mother’s which I have not tasted since she passed on in 1965. Interesting and a new taste – JasmineTea Smoked-Ribs where the meat practically melts in your mouth. Tasty AugergineTofuClaypotwBlackBean&Chilli and WanTanBlackBean BeefHoFun was a different taste to the regular BeefHoFun.
The former BritanniaClub (1950s) and then the NCO-Club (1970s), now reimaged to present days, but still carrying some nostalgic of the colonial days. Good food&excellent service, the best service experienced so far – highly recommended. One of the waiters must have overheard our conversation about it being my Bday and we were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary plate of Longevity paus 寿桃包
You know you’re getting old when you get that one candle on the cake. It’s like, ‘See if you can blow this out – Jerry Seinfeld
To my family&AT hiking buddies, Glenda&Franklin from NC/USA, thank you for your beautiful flowers, calls&messages to end the week. Am sooo totally blessed&spoilt this week!!
Fri: evening drinking&snacking in good company@CC. Pink pomelo from MP market was juicy&sweet, appreciations to Desiree for the recommendation. Jan tells me that she can get pomelos in FL/USA. Tkx to Calvin for the Helinox pillow (new item in the shop), perfect gift as I was planning to buy it for my chair. Movie&snooze time in this chair are now tailored to perfection and will not need any other chair.
WilkieEdge, opening of a new restaurant/La Jia, do wonder how they can maintain F&B business in today’s circumstances. This cute cleaning robot got my attention!
Was not there for dinner, but could not stop admiring the all these colourful congratulatory flowers for the opening. Tkx to Henry for the CoffeeCake@Han’s which hit the spot for the sweet tooth. Appreciations to Lisa in HI for her thoughtful gift (received today) to make sure that my teeth are supplied with toothpicks for as long as there are teeth in the mouth.
WilkieEdge on Wilki Rd reminds me of cousin Wilki in HI who always stay@Citadines service apartments next to this building when he visits. It was Nov2019, 1+yr ago he was last here with his bro David+2 of his loyal students from HI, Huang & Kim. Trust my cousin Wilki to pick a place on a road named after him – hahaha
Sat: Thank you to YusoffAbdulLatiff who has featured 5Temenggong Rd in the Jan-Feb 21 issue of Passage, newsletter of the Friends of the Museum. It is quite exciting to see the house where I was born and grew up in here. Looking forward to Henri&Reis’s book&website on TemenggongRd. Just a minor correction, RG1LAM SongKee is my grandfather, not father as stated in the caption.
Tkx to Les&Ivy for scrumptious dinner last night@Angie’s Oyster Bar & Grill – shellfish starters and roast beef done to perfection with wines to match the meal. Both the oysters&mussels were good &fresh, but slightly on the salty side. So if you are like me, do request them to go easy with the salt. Appreciations to Lee&Adeline+Isabella for the ride back to the EastCoast.
Sun: pleasant snoozing weathers last night and still raining today, got ~9hrs sleep, feeling energized for the next event which will start the week of Bday celebrations! ShangriLa Hotel – the Tree Canopy, a ceiling art by HirotoshiSawada (Japan), featuring thousands of metallic leaves. Compressed sculptures of Children Dabbling in the Water were sculpted by YiHwanKwon (Korea). Mistaken them as stools at first-sight – thank goodness I did not sit on them!
Tkx to Clement for HighTea, yummy&pretty-presented food in good company. It has been 7+yrs ago (Dec2013) since I was last in this location with the other AmyLAM! cousin from CA/USA to meet with another cousin, JoyLAM – both from granduncle LAM JeeChiew’s branch.
Mon: receiving early Bday greetings, so might as well start celebrating as tomorrow is promised to no one and who knows what tomorrow will bring! In the meanwhile, let’s eat, drink&be merry. Here is a fun challenge to see how many National Dishes you have tasted –
The timeless in you is aware of life’s timelessness. And knows that yesterday is but today’s memory and tomorrow is today’s dream― Khalil Gibran/The Prophet
Mon: Grenseland/Borderliner – Norwegian crime drama series filmed in OSL. Glad to be able to watch this without subtitles as any other films not in English, subtitles are a must for me!
Tue: grocery day – trying to save on the promotions and bought more than I should have. Trolley-bag on wheels tipped over on the escalator@Bedok Bus-Interchange causing a fall, bruising&scraping the R-knee&elbow. Some kind souls stopped the escalator and helped me pick up my grocery. As my XX-father-in-law, John3, the orthopedic surgeon used say, that too shall pass – do not think any bones got broken, but sore around the R-ribs area and that too will soon heal.
Love all, trust a few, Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy Rather in power than use; and keep thy friend Under thy own life’s key: be check’d for silence, But never tax’d for speech – All’s Well That Ends Well/Shakespeare
Saved S$4.09/Senior%, but will try and remember to not over-buy in future! Tue usually goes quickly by with grocery shopping and getting foods ready into small packages (enough for one meal) to freeze. Would pick up this amount ~1-2times per month and then will get bits&pieces of fresh produce or whatever I might need as the days go by.
Look what arrived in the mail today – made my day, especially after the fall. #4 is the one who has changed most in these pix. Vivid memories taking care of her first 14days when Linn had to be hospitalized after the birth in 2009. She is the only grandchild I had the pleasure to take care of so fully and such an easy cuddly baby – no complains, just happy as long as she was fed and clean diapers every 4hrs.
Wed: Nollaig na mBan – Little Christmas or Women’s Christmas in certain parts of Ireland. Traditionally the last day for the Christmas tree to be up but also a day when the woman of the house is exempt from all housework! A day/night when women go out and relax, but for me it is time to take down the Christmas decorations.
Thu: putting away the Christmas decorations, 2020 has had the least decorations up ever since the start of decorating for Christmas. Also taking notes for 2021 Season’s Greetings+gifts list – the next celebration will be CNY, 12Feb, the year of the OX.
Of all the greetings, there is only 1 that is hand-painted – do look forward to receiving Inger’s (Sweden) artwork every year. 2019, she did not paint any, commented that I missed her lovely paintings. Also do like all the pix greetings, especially when I can see the difference of how the children have grown. Most of all, really enjoy hearing from each&everyone with their annual updates. Thank you for the gatherings with good company + foods, gifts, and to all who took the time to write. Have been slacking with 2020season’s greetings, but will try to make it up, ie by getting the hard-copy&postage ready to be mailed by 1Dec2021.
We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential― Ellen Goodman
Edited: when will this chaos, evilness&maddness stop??? Pix downloaded.
Fri: Happy New Year&TGIF on this 1st 2021 Friday – a good weekend and a Happier&Healthier 2021 to all.
Back dating one day to yesterday, Thu the last day of 2020. Appreciations to Reis&Henri in good company of Mr&Mrs XiaoXin+HaoHan for a yummy New Year’s Eve dinner last night@Temenggong Rd – 1st visit inside these amazing Artists-In-Residence B/W houses.
Strange to be back in my childhood grounds&surroundings – hoping to hear the blasts from the ships’ fog-horns at midnight, but somehow, things do not go according to the norm lately. According to George, it might be due to the masses of condominiums at the water front area, the ships move further away thus the fog horns can’t be heard. Tkx to the 2gongs, we managed to ring in 2021.
Did not manage to capture clear decent shots, not sure if it was bc of the moonlight or bc of how I was feeling? Focusing to not be nostalgic of times that seem simpler or of memory for long-gone moments. How to keep these memories and not be emotional? The crepitation of the cicadas+with a beautiful full moon playing hide&seek were of no help to calm the mind.
If memory is a lie we tell ourselves in utter honesty, who’s to be trusted?
Knowing that my memories might be somewhat blurred&faded, but they are definitely not false or illusions. And whenever I visit TemenggongRd these words from Wordsworth pop up:
What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower, We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; In the primal sympathy Which having been must ever be; In the soothing thoughts that spring Out of human suffering; In the faith that looks through death, In years that bring the philosophic mind.
Today has been very wet, but a nice cool day, a day to snooze and to reflect.
Sat: another wet&cool day and it has been raining relentlessly the past 2days. How delightful to catch this shot thru’ the kitchen window – a little person who seems to be enjoying the rains, tempting me to get my rain-gears on to join in. Perhaps even more tempting for a swim, hahaha – swimming pix downloaded!
The former BritanniaClub (1950s) and then the NCO-Club (1970s), now reimaged to present days, but still carrying some nostalgic of the colonial days. Good food&excellent service, the best service experienced so far – highly recommended. One of the waiters must have overheard our conversation about it being my Bday and we were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary plate of Longevity paus 寿桃包 
