27 Feb 2025 – Arab Street

24Feb2015: 10yrs ago CC@WaterlooSt and still in his 50s then!

More 2015 CNY Celebrations – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

Mon: now in his 60s@BukitTimahRd preparing for CC-NextLevel. Happy Birthday and Good Luck to Calvin – looking forward to be a part of it.

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest – Larry Lorenzoni

No not flying off anywhere but to meet. Living ~20mins(closer&faster than having to go downtown!) by a direct bus ride to the airport makes it easy to get to&fro to catch up or meet ppl arriving or on transit. This time to meet May who will be here to work for the week.

Despite it being World’s 4th busiest airport, do not feel too lost there! Every flight begins and ends at an airport…

Tue: nice to start the day with ~5,000steps before sunrise and best with hardly anyone in sight or in my way!

Enjoying the lovely breezy afternoon&evening watching an old EdwardNorton movie TheIllusionist/2006, remembering how I enjoyed it but forgot the ending, always like happy ending movies – good to be in LaLa Land, hahaha

From the moment we enter this life we are in the flow of it. We measure it and we mark it, but we cannot defy it. We cannot even speed it up or slow it down. Or can we? Have we not each experienced the sensation that a beautiful moment seemed to pass to quickly, and wished that we could make it linger? Or felt time slow on a dull day, and wished that we could speed things up a bit

Wed: regular coffee stall@MT-Market not opened on Wed, so no walk today! Yummy 3rd&last day of leftovers as salads from Sunday’sDIY-PopiahS$98 lunch for 5ppl+3lunches for one is well worth it and especially with most ingredients prepared&delivered – supplemented with lettuce&prawns~S$15.

Thu: 4yrs ago took my 1stCOVID-19Vaccine and where the lungs are concerned today, it’s not been the same since, have been tested COVID+ twice over 4yrs!

Has been a long while ago since last in this area and today the corner of ArabSt&NorthBridgeRd was packed with annoying tourists who were just standing&blocking the way at the traffic lights. Glad to discover that Yip has a mural here.

IslamicRestaurant/1921, 745 NorthBridgeRd – a restaurant with history, personality and decent food.

Islamic Restaurant – Beryani Restaurant with 98 Years of History – Hungry Ghost

Appreciations with tkx to Lynne for suggesting to lunch here.

Weather has been pleasantly breezy in the evenings and if possible, would have liked to hang a hammock outside to sleep overnight!

23 Feb 2025 – Chinggay 2025

Thu: appreciations with thanks to KK for Peranakan lunch@Godmama,ParkwayParade/MarineParade-decent Otak&SayurLodeh, do like the BuahKeluakPasta.

It is my aging-taste-buds? but food here seems to taste different from that@Funan?? Have always like the taste of BuahKeluak/PangiumEdule 黑果 must get myself a packet to try for chicken dishes too. Note: seeds of PangiumEdule contain hydrogen cyanide, a deadly toxin. They must be fermented or processed to remove the toxin before consumption.

Exploring Buah Keluak: The Black Diamond of Peranakan Cuisine – Nyonyalite

The first time@Godmama but was at the Funan/Sep2023 with Leonear&Chuan who was visiting from KCH then – @GodmamaPeranaken/Funan, good OtakOtak&NgohHiang(pork& prawn rolls).

The difference between herbs&spices is which part of the plant each comes from. Herbs eg,basil&thyme are the leaf of the plant. Spices are the plant’s buds,bark,roots&seeds, eg, cloves,cinnamon,ginger…

19 Feb 2025 – THE EYES=THEY SEE

Sun: no this is not Zuno as he is on holidays at the kennel in the USA while his owner is here in SIN on transit back to collect him. Thank goodness no drug bust@T4/Arrival

Jeff was supposed to stay the night but due to some changes, had to be on the evening United-flight heading back to the USA.

Thanks to Lee we managed to have dinner together@T2/DepartureHall.

Mon: even as we age the eyesight may deteriorate but do remember that humour does not need to deteriorate! Got to thinking to this anagram – THE EYES – THEY SEE but what do they see and what it really is…

This is such an amazing downloaded image – at first glance, it seems like someone’s reading in the water, but when you zoom in, you realize there’s no person, no book, no study, just an illusion. The other pix taken years ago@HongLeongBldg/ShentonWay when the pink camera was still intact -being there at the right angel and right time. Life is much the same with illusions and finding the balance with reality is important even when it is not always easy, such is the irony of life!

Definition of illusion:  misleading image presented to the vision, something that deceives or misleads intellectually, perception of something objectively existing in such a way as to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature.

Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed – Friedrich Nietzsche

Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live ― Mark Twain

Tue: productive shopping day@Giant/TampinesS$291.61 with delivery when at least S$200 is spent, Dec last year was when the last delivery was done. Needed a new ironing-boardS$40 as the 20+yrs old one is about to see its last days. With CDCS$150,Sen4%S$12.16,PromoS$19.13,total paidS$141.51.

Could not resist these colourful ButterCookiesS$20! but looks can be deceiving when not make with good butter! Do miss AuntieKwok’sCNY-ButterCookies where they can practically melt in your mouth with the taste quite out of this world. IKEA-Valentine’Cake/ChocolateCreameuxS$4.50 is pretty&decent with a cuppa while waiting for the free shuttle back to Bedok. Appreciations for the AssurancePackageSeniors’BonusS$300 to enable today’s treat.

Wed: CT-Scan@SGH – where the totalS$801.40 was completely absorbed by subsidies, cannot afford to be unhealthy with bills like these. CT-Scan pix downloaded, photography not permitted there.

Heart disease and diabetes, which account for more deaths in the U.S. and worldwide than everything else combined, are completely preventable by making comprehensive lifestyle changes. Without drugs or surgery – Dean Ornish

Think about it: what to do about those who do not listen but continue to contribute to their unhealthy lifestyle???

15 Feb 2025 – HIghPoint

Wed: 15CNY ChapGohMei/Hokkien also ChineseValentine’sDay or LanternDay YuanXiaoJie/Mandarin 元宵節 for some ppl but being Cantonese, do not have recollections about these celebrations from my childhood besides being the end of CNY celebrations正月十五and today CNY-deco will be taken down in my 4-walls.

What is Chap Goh Mei and why is it celebrated?

Thu: the luxury of having practically MT-Hawker+Market to myself with the beautiful company of a full moon – grocery done, washed by 0700hrs. FreshProduceS$4.50,WaterMelonS$6,Otak/2pcsS$2.40

A seldom unhealthy Doughnut+IceCoffeeS$2.80 before getting grocery+CNY-deco stored and before busy few days ahead!

Nice view from the kitchen window – have watched these flowering trees Xanthostemon chrysanthus/GoldenPenda黄花树(introduced to SIN in 1982 from Cairns/Australia) since they were planted on the rooftop garden/~2005!? and usually bloom around this time of the year. If lucky there are 2yellow birds who sometimes visit and lovely to see them, need all the calming effects possible with more attention&concertation to keep breathing!

Fri: Happy Valentine’s/Heart’s Day. The origins of V-Day is a pagan festival, Lupercalia in ancient Rome – not as romantic as you would imagine! According to Hallmark ~145million cards are sold in USA and ~250million stems of flowers on this day!

At my age, an affair of the heart is a bypass – Joan Rivers

Would be interesting to see what new shops will take the place of those leaving? Walking on MP-Rd with the progress of MP-CommunityCentre/JCT-StillRd construction. Not much @M&S despite that some of the food items are discounted.  TheLensMen was among the first shops to open here in 1983 but moved to 83MarineParadeCentral opp the Hawkers’FoodMarket after rents were raised in 2019 – pix downloaded

Several Parkway Parade mall tenants leave or downsize amid rising rents | The Straits Times

A new study suggests Intermittent fasting may help in slowing or even reversing the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Tried doing that a few times a year ago without difficulties and did feel a difference then, will take it up again, especially considering how I am feeling recently! It’s not a diet but more an eating pattern – will try both these below method:

Scientists find link between intermittent fasting and Alzheimer’s

• The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, this involves an 8-hour eating period and a 16-hour fasting period. Some people do this by skipping breakfast, but you can also do the reverse and skip dinner or eat early.
• Eat-stop-eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours once or twice per week. Because this is a slightly more advanced version of fasting, you should only try this if you’re pretty comfortable with the practice.

Intermittent Fasting 101 — The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

Neurologist reveals five 2-minute tests to reveal signs of dementia:

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/neurologist-reveals-five-2-minute-tests-to-reveal-signs-of-dementia/ar-AA1v3N3W

Sat: MRT-TEL-NapierSta  – nice ceiling and shaded walk to traffic nights across SBG, no was not going there, just exploring since at the bus stop to catch Bus105 to ScottsRd  walking by GoodwoodPk-YorkHotel-MtE.Rd.

View from HighPoint@MtE-rd.

Tkx to Lynne for hosting lunch gathering from 1962-65CHIJ-classmates (clockwise Angela, Magdeline, Evelyn, Shirley, Lynne, Caroline, Rebecca, Penny&I) for Chicken&SotongCurries, Satay,SayuLodeh, TauhuTeloh and Angela’s beautiful&nice textured fish – 年年有餘 NinNinYauYu/Cantonese– Surplus Year After Year to us all and appreciations for good company&scrumptious food.

While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins – Rauschenberg

11 Feb 2025 – And Super Bowl

Sat: on this 11-CNY-Day 正月十一BallCourt downstairs covered with tentage ready for the 2025CNY-Annual-Dinner tonight. Will be a good excuse to shut the windows&door with the AC&headphones, too tired to do anything, not even to watch the LionDance. The past few days have been rough coughing with some pulled-muscles and lack of sleep – thank goodness it was quiet by 2200hrs, hopefully a better night sleep tonight.

Sun: saying hi and having a bite with Jeff who is on transit from USA to BBK,CNX/Thailand for his conference – 18yrs ago was the last time he visited and next week he will be here for a night on his way back to the USA.

Tkx for dinner with the doctors@ImperialTreasureSuperPekingDuck/Paragon – always appreciative for such scrumptious food and

amazing service with the manager wishing us a Happy CNY singing in Cantonese.

Congratulations&welcome Glady&Shawn to parenthood and welcome Baby on Norway’s Mother’sDay. Good luck to them for this new chapter in their life. Motherhood for me was the most challenging and still is challenging but also most rewarding in my life journey. Most if not all parents would want&will to do the best for their children by giving them unconditional love but to raise them with the roots of deceny&responsibility and the wings of independence is not easy!

Mon: feeling more human after a good night sleep! Super Bowl – while millions watch the big game, did you know that it would take ~32,228.5 football fields length to fit the mileage of the AT/3,540k/2,200m – tkx for this trivial info from ATC.

Its Mon morning here while this game is on and not being a football fan, have no idea as to When Where Who Why What is happening besides updates from NewsMedia&FB-friends – tkx to Linn&#2 for their pix from who is watching!

Super Bowl squares results 2025: First quarter, halftime, third quarter, final scores

Monkeys are the cause of blackout in SriLanka – besides being attacked by them in the 1950s-Days@SBG/SIN, having to fend them off with a walking stick in early 2000sVisits@MandaiCemetorium and snatching my icecream @Mar2012MacLehoseThru-Hike/HKG more reasons why monkeys are not in my wildlife-fan-list and also why wildlife&animals do not belong in cities – pix downloaded.

Monkey causes nationwide blackout in Sri Lanka – CNA

Would like to check out this new Rainforest/Mandai someday but will definitely go with a walking stick and after the teething issues – pix downloaded.

Rainforest Wild Asia in Mandai opens on March 12; visitors can opt for guided adventure tours | The Straits Times

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town – George Carlin

Tue: tkx to JeromeLIM/Long&WindingRd for his posting of TheBigSplash bringing back fun memories from a visit here in 1979(we were living in Norway then) with May then 1 on my lap and Linn then 5 sliding down – despite having a 2-piece swimsuit, managed to keep both pieces on then – hahaha.

Happy Thaipusam to those celebrating&marking the Hindu festival today. Tkx to Clement for the loan of extra MRT-card and for meeting@PlazaSIN. Forgot that the devotees walk 4k from SriSrinivasaPerumalTemple/SerangoonRd–SriThendayuthapani Temple/TankRd – passing by OrchardRd, thus heavy with ppl&traffic, pix downloaded. Was also caught in this last year but it was evening then!

What Is Meant To Be Will Be – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

All’s well that ends well, had an early lunch@Kopitiam with the comfort food, Watercress+PorkribsSoup西洋菜湯SaiYongChoyTong&SteamMinceMeat+PreservedVeg梅菜蒸肉餅MuiChoyJinCheeYok both typical Cantonese dishes from childhood.

With the ongoing sales&discounts did some shopping@SpotLight,ColdStorage,Diaso – Linn should be pleased for the chocolates.

7 Feb 2025 – Happy Bdays To All

Tue: for many ppl, Bdays occur on a day that is unique to each individual. In Chinese culture though, 人日 is believed to be the common Bday of humankind. Happy Birthdays to Everyone on this 7thCNY-day traditionally known as 人日 YanYat(Cantonese)=Human Day/literally translated! Chinese legend&mythology has it that 女媧 NüWa who created the earth also created humans on this day!!

Appreciations with tkx for dinner@sisJo&family – Lucas is now doing his InternationalBaccalaureateDiplomaProgramme/IBDP+A-Levels@SJI and Beth in Sec1@CHIJ/Katong just down the road from me.

In memory of dearest broLawrence who would have been 91 today – miss him dearly and visiting KCH,Sarawak/Malaysia without him is not the same. 2012 where this backpack would have been perfect for me caught my eyes but did not get it! ~55km from KCH is the border town Serikin/Bau ~200 stalls of both fresh produce and stuff where the traders cross into Sarawak from Indonesia to sell their goods – enjoyed the few times there tkx to Lawrence.

Wed: nice wet&cool morning and tkx to 2ndBorn, finally received this annual calendar mailed from Norway on 23Jan where SnailMail again lives up to its reputation – 2weeks by AIRMAIL! Cute illustrations from #6. Have been using these calendars ever since KIWI/NorwegianGrocery started giving them FOC and like that the whole year can be easily seen with dates,days,weeks&months spread over 2SidedA4.

Thu: got the MamaOwlS$19.90 night-light 8yrs ago as my older night-light gave up on me after 22yrs then! Saw this BabyOwlS$9.90 5yrs ago and could not resist it – had to get it to keep mama company, giving more light to avoid more falls&learning to be as wise as 2owls. Up to today they are still around but not sure if the owner is any wiser today despite without falls – hahaha.

Fri: 10thLunarDay of the first lunar month 正月初十 and the irony of life with thoughts one of my favourite commercials for the benefits of travelling in groups despite that preference being a solo traveler but do have to share all kinds of public transportations with others. As it is, the thought of travelling sounds too stressful&tiring, still waiting for some invention that can beam me to wherever I need to be…

If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone – Maxwell Maltz

Benefits Of Traveling In Groups – Creative Advertising By Bus Company

3 Feb 2025 – Bye-bye January

Fri: 3ppl aboard a US Army helicopter SikorskyH-60BlackHawk that took off from FortBelvoir,VA/USA belonging to B-Company,12thAviationBattalion and an AmericanAirlines-Flight5342 from ICT,KS with 64ppl aboard collided last night over the PotomacRiver where the boundary is between WashingtonDC and VA near ReaganWashingtonNationalAirport/DCA,VA. All 67ppl were killed in this collision – condolences to all affected.

D.C. plane crash live updates: Families mourn 67 killed in American Airlines jet and helicopter collision

Would have visited 2ndSIL&family in the Kranji area today but she is recovering from her ribs fracture after a recent fall in the bathroom – a speedy recovery to her and will try and visit her sometime before the Snake slithers away! Have to always be careful for every step taken and at this stage in our life journey, need to take the steps slower with extra care. There are 6hand-railings in my only bathroom within this 4walls – for real…

8yrs ago in 2017 since a non-invasive CardiacAblation@Feiringklinikken/Norway – a private cardiac hospital with my own hospital-hotel room&bathroom which is no longer today! But the ticker is still here ticking today…

LHL-klinikkene Feiring – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

Sat: lunch with Henry@MT-market but forgot to take pix! Tkx to him for sharing his LightFestival pix, enjoying living vicariously thru’ these younger ppl at this stage of life with the feeling of been there done that and happy to have done so – this is the first since back here in 1999 that the being was not there for the CNY-lights in Chinatown but content to see pix shared and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully those who still have the energy&mood will be able to enjoy&live their moments to the fullest in their life journeys.

As long as there are memories, yesterday remains. As long as there is hope, tomorrow awaits. As long as there is friendship, today is beautiful = Billy Joel

Sun: tkx for lunch@Rochalie and nice to catch up with the eldest nephew JenMun&family – exciting to hear that JenMun&SiewKing will be grandparents to the first LAM for the BrownGen in Jun2025 ie SuiChang&JiaLing are expecting. That will make a great-grand-auntie of me for the second time, the first being niece JenLing’s grandaughter AnnaANG

Mon: did not get on to these MRT lines or carriages – pix downloaded. Some MRT stations have been specially decorated with murals showing CNY festivities and MarineParade is one of them. Will take a walk to the MP-sta to check it out next week before they are gone.

Trains, buses and MRT stations decorated with grinning snakes, festive murals for Year of the Snake | The Straits Times

Yesterday/1965 by the Beatles my favourite is one of the most covered songs in history, with at least 2,200 versions recorded by other artists.

I can’t go back to yesterday – because I was a different person then – Lewis Carroll

The Best Songs Ever Written—According To Data

2 – Happy Bdays Cathrine
4 – Happy Bday Kurt and Lawrence who would have been 91
6 – Happy Bdays Letty and MariaTorres
10 – Happy Bday MeiYEO
12 – Happy Bday SK
14 – ♥ ♥ ♥Happy Valentine’s Day♥ ♥ ♥
15 – Happy Bday Guri
16 – Happy Bday Mike/LOON
20 – Happy Bdays YatSoon, Jay and Henry
24 – Happy Bdays Bjørn and CalvinT
27 – Happy Bday Cleo