31 Aug 2022 – ByeBye Aug

Sat: T-time with home-made TexMexWraps to share with staff&friend@CC. Took a different route there changing to bus960@VictoriaSt in front of CHIJMES – such a contrast now with clean clear road where it once used to be parked with cars dropping or picking us up from school in this area in the 1950s-60s – heading to BkTimahRd with constructions and the rains approaching.

Appreciations&tkx for yummy black-pepper+chilli crab dinner – finger-good-licking food where no conversation is needed, lol.

There is a saying in Baltimore that crabs may be prepared in fifty ways and that all of them are good – Mencken

New completely mesh-HelinoxSunset(my 4th)chairS$200 added to the collection – cooling&perfect for relaxing with a book or watching movies. The other more solid mesh-office-chair(2021X’mas-gift) with the supporting back is better for when having to type&work on the laptop.

Sun: feeling totally decadent-hahaha watching a bunch of old cheesy movies in the new chair with a WhiskySour nightcap is the way to go for me today.

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn – Gone with the Wind (1939)

Mon: from today, masks are optional in most indoor settings here, but I take the bus most times, so will be keeping my mask on; also for crowded in or outdoors if I ever find myself there in those undesirable and unplanned seldom times! A good week ahead to all with or without masks.

Tkx to IreneH for this share from ItchyFeetComic by artist MalachiRayRempen, first time seeing it and enjoying how the differences of cultures, language, etc are done with good tasteful humour – can so relate to Finland+Nordic countries. https://thelanguagenerds.com/2022/30-hilarious-comics-that-illustrate-the-differences-between-cultures-and-languages/

Tue: Happy for 1stBorn that she is back to teaching ElementarySchool(Chapin,SC,USA). Do remember how good she was at it when she was teaching in OK,USA(2002). When I visited then, the kids told me not to mess with their teacher, the CroachingTiger who scales the walls with her claws – left pix credits to 1stBorn. Cute to see these cute pre-schoolers enjoying some outdoor activities downstairs and NO thoughts or wish to go back to teaching no matter how adorable they are!

A Historic day for the Embassy of Ireland, Singapore as our first female and 7th Irish Ambassador to Singapore, Ambassador Sarah McGrath presented her credentials to the first female President of Singapore, President Halimah Yacob – IrishEmbassy,SIN.

https://amylamsg.com/2014/05/11/irish-ambassadors-in-sin/

A nice quiet night in Chinatown to soak in the Mid-Autumn lights before more procedures&tests@SGH next week. Pix to be posted for the night of the festival Sat10Sep when I consume the Mooncake. A simple dinner@HawkerChan to start the evening and ending with dessert@MeiHongYuen.

Wed: 🇲🇾Happy National Day🇲🇾to family&friends in Malaysia. Tkx to Gel for lunch and for the intro to this joint@64JooChiatPlace. Unlike the typical SIN–rojak, this sauce is of a runnier consistency with just a hint of prawn paste taste and you-tiao on the crispier side.

If you like fresh fruits in your rojak, this is it. My preference is still for the traditional just VeggieRojak with TorchGingerFlower+calamansi and the thicker prawnpaste sauce.

Always fun to walk around JooChiat area to always discover something new, enjoying this last day for Aug2022.

Tkx for this BrieWTruffles – do like Brie and also Truffles and this is an interesting combination, 1st time tasting this combination and will take a few more bites to get use to this.

TheCheeseShop where there is a good selection of cheese and teas.

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev who literally brought down the IronCurtain dies at 91. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/30/europe/mikhail-gorbachev-dies-intl/index.html

31Aug2022: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:

26 Aug 2022 – Condolences to the 12thBranch of LAMs in HI,USA

Tue: woke up to this message from a dear niece Kelly in HI,USA – Hi Aunty Amy, my mom informed me that Grandma Winnie passed away peacefully, in her sleep, on Sunday morning (21/8/2022) around 12:45 AM (Hawaii time). My Uncle David was there when she passed. Her condition began to deteriorate rapidly on Friday. We don’t know when the memorial or the internment of her ashes will take place yet. If you want to contact David or other family members that are in Hawaii, I can forward your message to them.

Condolences to our LAM-family in HI,USA, thoughts&prayers are with them. Met with auntieWinnie both times during her visits Nov2010 and Dec2018 was the last time she visited SIN – respect to her for taking that long flight HNL-SIN at the age of 90 then – may she RIP. https://amylamsg.com/2018/12/16/tis-the-season/

Memories of auntieWinnie(1928-2022)go far back as she moved to TemenggongRd after she married 12uncleJohn in the 1950s and it must have been quite a challenge for her to be married into a traditional Chinese family. Pix of their wedding in the 1950s and the wedding dinner with my parents, the Oliveros(auntie Winnie’s parents), grandmother+#10&9aunties.

Strangely enough I have been watching a bunch of cheesy movies starring TrevorDonovan, quite an eye-candy in my eyes! was just finished with AlohaWithLove where there was a death of an elderly aunt in HI – pix downloaded. And then woke up to the news of auntieWinnie’s passing.

Uncomfortable&unpleasant evening with bowel prep by consuming 2litres of water mixed with this synthetic laxative powder from 1800-2000hrs, same procedure tomorrow morning with another 2litres from 0500-0700hrs for bowel cleansing before colonoscopy. Confirming from previous post, Aging is not for sissies…

Malaysia ex-PM Najib begins 12yrs jail sentence – pix downloaded, below historical graffiti by FahmiReza located@REXKL,Malayisa, now protected by an anti vandal bulletproof screen folks!

The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws ― Tacitu

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-ex-pm-najib-to-serve-jail-sentence-after-failing-to-overturn-final-1mdb-appeal

Wed: after a day of colonoscopy@SGH without feeling any pains, can finally teat myself to some cakes(to last me for a couple of days!). An insignificant small polyp was removed for further testing, but seems to be of not importance according to the dr. Let’s hope that he is correct as young as he looks who graciously tries to humour me by saying that it is probably just my sensitive gut and I replied that as age takes over, things can get irritable&sensitive, hahaha – 2procedures down&2more to go.

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. –  Bombeck

Sadly and today after 6months on this National Day for Ukraine 24Aug, the war still continues. Both my FBcover&profile pix will remain until Peace can be restored in Ukraine – pix uploaded.

Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime — Hemingway

Thu: T5 Changi Airport – now vs the future

https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2022/08/singapore-key-projects-changi-airport-t5/index.html?nlblurb

Fri: TGIF – pix from 5yrs ago @SIN NightFest. Aug2017/18 was in Canada&Norway, then a 2yrs hiatus 2020/21(Covid) and now back in the highlights! No energy&mood to be in crowds, but do enjoy the last weekend of this if you are going and will live vicariously thru’ everybody’s pix in FB+this link:  https://thesmartlocal.com/read/singapore-night-festival-2022/

Thank you to Theresa&CJ for yummy steak dinner.

22 Aug 2022 – There Is No Meaning – Just Live And Do Your Best

Fri: tkx to Terry for reminding me with the US-schools systems and which grades our common grandchildren are at. Not having been there for nearly 3yrs does take the toll on the aging memory! Schools there have resumed since 13Aug and at this stage, not easy to get them all with just one shot. #2 drives them to the HighSchool, #4&5 walk across the street to the MiddleSchool. #4 looks like a high schooler and competes in varsity cross country. 1st weekend of school@Lexington,SC,USA – pix credits to 1st-born

#1(20)UofSC/3rdYear
#2(18)HighSchool/Senior
#3(15)HighSchool/Sophomore
#4(13)MiddelSchool/8Grade
#5(11)MIddleSchool/6Grade
#6(11)in Norway and not sure what grade he is in as again another different schooling system.

Sat: thank you Wendy for these beautiful tropical blooms – made my day despite of the rains&health issues! For those not aware, the pink EtlingeraElatior/TorchGinger/BungaKantan when in its bud stage is delicious chopped finely into salads,Rojak&NasiUlam and all these foods I like will have to be put on hold for a few weeks!

Live simple, love well, and take time to smell the flowers along the way — Mark Twain

Sun: for the next 3days will have to be on a low residue diet for the colonoscopy on Wed – that means tea with just sugar, clear soups, plain white bread or toast, fish or chicken porridge. As it is the appetite is not great for now, so no problems but will miss fresh produces. To age gracefully for me means commitment to self-care, having an adventurous spirit, a playful&positive attitude, a grateful heart, living&loving life without regrets! There is no meaning, just live and do your best.

Was wondering in Jun what these leaf will look like when they open? Here they are taking nearly 2months to unfold – the heart-folded-shape to me is more symbolic of innocence and the unfolded leaf the loss of innocence!

Maybe I don’t really want to know what’s going on. Maybe I’d rather not know. Maybe I couldn’t bear to know ― Margaret Atwood

Mon: NDR 2022 Govt here in SIN will repeal Section 377A, a Singaporean law introduced under British colonial rule that criminalises sex between consenting male adults. It was added to the Penal Code in 1938 by the colonial government. The Government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage or these policies.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ndr-2022-govt-will-repeal-section-377a-decriminalise-sex-between-men

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-btRzxJvYOc

Here are wise words regarding GayRights from LKY(1923-2015) was one of the most brilliant statesmen of this world and the only politician who I highly admire&respect.

18 Aug 2022 – Salman Rushdie & the Satanic Verses 

Mon: appreciations to 2nd-born in Norway for the progress of her GreenThumb. Can practically smell the fragrance of those beautiful roses, and tkx to Mette, also from Norway for her white roses.

Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts — Sigmund Freud

Some blooms on the citrus but am told that the avocado apparently take yrs before it fruits. So with some luck perhaps can be there to see&taste what home-grown avocado can be like! Read that if you are growing from a seed, it can take anywhere from 5-13yrs before the tree is mature enough to set fruit, so even if the tree survives to fruit, will I?

To another GreenThumb, niece JenLeng who manages to get AirPlant to bloom. All these plants bringing back memories of the JadePlant that needed a truck to be moved from CarmelByTheLake,Casselberry,FL,USA back to the family who first gave me this plant!

Jul 2015: Thank you to Jan & Al for putting me up in their beautiful homes in Orlando and Ormond By The Sea. Appreciations to those who took time to meet. JadePlant with a couple of leafs was given to me by Alonzo (Jan’s father) when I first moved to FL in the late 1980s. Gave it to Jan when I left FL in the late 1990s and today it is still thriving and growing.

Tue: oh! the irony of a good eg of cancel culture backfiring and still have an old publication from 1989 hard copy of the book. Today it leaps to top Amazon bestseller lists, 547pp written over 5yrs, considered a speculative-friction, will have to reread and as far as my memory can recall do remember it being well-written and if questioning Islam is blasphemy, then I too must be blasphemic as I do question every 4,200religions! Here again to never judge a book by its cover or title! Thoughts of then&now might not be the same and with my eyesight nowadays, will go for the audiobook –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g1v7vlbAks

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/08/14/rushdie-reportedly-off-ventilator/10322506002/

May2018: good&interesting talk – SalmanRushdie with KrishnanGuruMurthy 30yrs on from the controversial publication of TheSatanicVerses and after listening to this talk where he commented that many have probably not even read this book which is so true considering the ignorance of fanatics&masses and how dangerous&destructive they can be  – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-63CYNxY6c

Wed: to all celebrating and marking today Happy Indonesia Day – in Indonesian (SIN’s neighbour with the same flag-colours minus crescentMoon+5stars!), this day is known as HariUlangTahunKemerdekaanRepublikIndonesia/HUT RI, or simply HariKemerdekaan, and colloquially referred by the ppl as Tujuhbelasan=the 17th.

Started the day at 0500hrs catching the first 196bus@0545hrs, changing to bus75 arr@SGH early enough to calm down for views of the art&greenery from another angle&another level before being scoped! With the Endoscopey done, ready for Colonoscopy next week – in at one end and out at the other hahaha!

Thu: sometimes just breathing can be such a luxury.

14 Aug 2022 – SGH & Sentose

Wed: trying to find an extensive image+list of tropical fruits – plx help to share if you have any images of any of the tropical fruits not listed here in this downloaded image. Tkx so far to Johnny,CK,Soo for adding on with

Banana,Ciku,

Dragonfruit,DukuLangsat,

Lychee,Mamey,Tamarind,

Siniguelas,StarApple,Starfruit…

Thu: SGH consultation appts today&tomorrow with more referrals to be scoped the following weeks.

Looked like a long line for the pharmacy and it even flashed on the screen that the wait is ~30min-1hr wait after getting my queue# and since it was before noon had a cuppa and did some reading(always a book with me for any medical appts!) and time went quickly.

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all – appreciations Les to staff@TheCardicCentre for an ECG-report needed for the following week’s scope. Tkx to Les&Ivy for a lovely evening with drinks&yummy food@Bob’sBar Capella Sentosa.

Do like their minimalistic faun&flora arrangements – calming&relaxing effects for the eyes.

Good night moon and good night everyone on this beautiful full-super-moon night.

InscriptionOfTheIsland@ChangiBeach sunset pix credit to NGHockLee and the last SuperMoon@ECPk for 2022 pix credit to RiaTAN. The next SuperMoon will be 1Aug2023 and who knows where we will all be by then? Hopefully will be able to be on the go again to make more memories and take more pix!

Being on Sentosa brings back cheerful innocent childhood memories where it was the former PulauBlakangMati – there was a Kelong&Pillbox(sadly both long gone) do remember so vividly playing around that part of the island. Pix downloaded.

Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower, we will grieve not; rather find strength in what remains behind. – Wordsworth

Sat: finally some rains to cool down the body, mind&soul. This overworked laptop deserves a new stand with ventilation – have been looking for something like this for a long time. Tkx for this new wheelie, have had a couple of them, but nothing as stable&solid as this one, will come in good use now that backpacking heavy grocery items is getting more a chore. Appreciations for these free self-test-kids delivered in the mailbox.

Sun: a decadent late afternoon tea with yummy Tine-Norwegian butter(tkx to Leng)home-made cucumber, egg, ham&cheese sandwiches Tkx to nephew Clement for ClipperTeaCoTeaPuffs, first time tasting these interesting TeaPuffs – no need for dinner today!

9 Aug 2022 – Kelulut Honey

Fri: was too out of steam to help@CC today. Tkx to Wendy for introducing KelulutHoney bees that are stingless but will bite and their honey is 100% pure nutrient-laden is considered SuperFood that it is immune-boosting, highly anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant-rich. Added some to GingerT or LemonGrassT or PandanT and these teas now taste good&refreshing without any bite or sting in them! Jan tells me that Bees have helped Amanda with her Lyme disease using their stings, BeeTherapy – much of the natural remedy are still not known or proven, but as long as it helps is what counts.

https://vulcanpost.com/742509/kelulut-stingless-bee-honey-farm-malaysia/

Sat: Arc’teryx is a Canadian company based in N Vancouver and they certainly know the definition of comfort&quality. Have a few of their clothing&products – this will be my 2nd Arc’teryx dress and what a perfect outfit to have when packing light, even when backpacking (for real, I had it in my backpack during my hikes).

Calvin, Sam and Yoshie busy with their work.

Young Chris & I in action hanging himself with the rope – hahaha

Sun: a well-needed day to chill&rest and glad to be able to chat with 2nd-born in Norway. Its been a long time since we had the luxury&peace to have a long uninterrupted chat, Bjørn&Olai away in the cabin with B’s family.

Mon: why pay for 5*accommodations when you can be under the whole milky way with1,000million*FOC far away from the maddening crowds! Drop by to check our extensive camping gears including GSI, Marmot, Nanga, Nemo, SOTO, etc, including our CC-store-brand. Stars with Nemo tent pix credits to ShaneBlack bringing back some good memories from

Aug2014 where CC-Booth had their Store-Brand-Tent pitched up by the SuperTrees@SGF/GardenByTheBay. https://amylamsg.com/2014/08/20/2014-garden-festivalsgf/

Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion – Anderson

Jimmy & Wendy dropped by to say hi and the bar-area is now more organized for me to bartend! Today’s drink was WhiskySour with KelulutHoney&Lemon, an excellent drink for my cough which is getting much better. Tkx to Calvin&Sam for dinner@TheHainanStoryChapterOne (HotelBoss)

Tue: a public holiday but we are open@CC. Those attending NPD enjoy and be safe. This year could also be the last time that the NDP is held at the floating platform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXa4jMdVjfQ

Tkx for yummy breakfast at this newly discovered joint@KatongVbasement(formally ParamountHotel) with no GST or service charge added to the menu prices with decent food&good coffee. For those who are driving, it is easy to park just outside the open-air carpark by MarineParadeRd

Appreciations to Calvin for scrumptious NationalDayDinner of mushrooms, avocado&celery-salad with beef&mutton consumed with good appetite by CC-staff&friends.

Wishing all those who are marking today a HappySingaporeNationalDay and celebrating the independence of our nation with the highest of the spirits!

Majulah Singapura

As I soaked in the joy and celebratory spirit of National Day, my eyes and mind wandered to the Marina Bay city scape. Before 1965, Asia Insurance Building, now renamed Ascott Raffles Place, was the tallest building then. Singapore indeed had climbed mountains. We can stand tall. Over now to the present and future generations to keep on building Singapore, not just physically and economically but also its ‘heartware’. — gct/Goh Chok Tong SPMJ is a Singaporean retired politician who served as the second prime minister of Singapore between 1990 and 2004

4 Aug 2022 – UKc2c 9Years Ago

Mon: wow! really 9yrs ago I hiked the UKc2c thru’hike 313km/195m!! Tkx to cousin YatSoon&Helen for taking care of me then. And now 9yrs later, delighted to meet up with them again here SIN. Enjoy your visit in this part of the world dear cousin&family. And also tkx KV&Christine for all their kind hospitality+driving me to MiltonK Station to catch my train to St Bees.

Back to my blog postings to reminisce about it and glad that I did it when I did. Do not think I will have that kind of energy now! If any interested, these blog postings will give an idea about this hike. You can then slowly take your time to find out which section interest you most or do the thru’hike.

Appt@SGH. dropped by to CC, thought that Wendy was joking about moving again – had to check it out and it is for real – nice apt and just down the road from CC, upstairs Owl’s Brew. Found out that CC is short of staff as Shufei will be on leave – offered to help out for the week.

Tue: helping out at CC for the week from 12n-20.00hrs. A new brand in retro-colonial-style Post General – imagine a brass mosquito coil holderS$48 to my decadent taste, if I have a helper to polish it! but it is beautiful. Tkx Leonard for dropping by to help me find the cursor which disappeared from my laptop this morning and with my high-tech knowledge how was I to know that I have pressed a function accidently that turned the cursor off, duh!!

Wed: Chaco the only sandals I have been wearing for the past 30yrs and the only sandals I can walk a whole day on without any issues with my feet. Their straps are created with a durable fabric that runs through the sole of the sandal, allowing you to easily adjust your straps to fit your feet perfectly and they may help to improve body alignment and prevent heel pain, ankle pain, and discomfort from plantar fasciitis. Testing out my newest pair with boarder straps, (7th-pair over 30yrs!) liking them a lot, tkx to Sam. I saw the photo of your sandals and couldn’t help being struck by the fact that our feet look kinda similar, haha…!

Comment for cousin IreneL in CA USA – with the second longer than the first. I inherit mine from my father. Anyway, don’t you think this bears out our Lam family relation?! Decided to find out more and this is what I read – A Morton’s toe is characterized by a longer second toe. Unlike many other foot problems, this is not caused by ill-fitting footwear, injuries or overuse. It’s an inherited trait that you’re born with and affects ~15% of the population. Will try and remember to check out the family’s toes in future, easier here in the tropics as many of us wear open-toes footwear.

Thu: SingingRock provides more comfort when hanging in the harness. Not a climber myself, but as most of our climbers are happy climbers who keep returning to us means that our staff will be able to deal with your needs&questions in that area. Bought LeSportiva climbing shoes here recently for grandniece&grandnephew who informed me that they are pleased with them.

Tkx to Phelia&David for tonight’s Pig’sTrotterVinegar 猪脚醋 one of bro Lawrence’s favourite dishes, bringing back fond memories of him who left us a year ago. And also tkx to Estella for PekingDuck, one of my favourites and #3 discovered that it was his favourite during his recent visit from USA.

1Aug – Happy Bday  TOH ChengHong
2Aug– Happy Bday LAM ChengEn
9Aug – 56th SIN National Day
10Aug – Happy Bday LAM JenWee&Alvin NG
21Aug – Happy Bday LIM SiewChin
26Aug – Happy Bday Cindy LAM
29Aug – Happy Bday Sean KENNEDY
30Aug – Happy Bday Michelle ANG