3 Apr 2025 – Happy 88Bday Sis Jo
Mon: SelamatHariRaya to those celebrating&marking this public holiday here in SIN. Happy 88Bday sis Jo who is now the eldest of our GreenGen – appreciations with thanks for a scrumptious homemade lunch@Pat&David’s with Luxas/17 and Beth/13.
Tasteful&pretty presentation StrawberryLimeBdayCake by JaniceWong, a SIN artist,chocolatier,chef,and entrepreneur who has won multiple awards for her pastry&edible art – the artist’s palette and the chef’s kitchen are both a playground for creativity.
4Jul2020: do remember one of the most successful gifts was from JaniceWong, edible chocolate crayons+rice paper. Have always wanted to write my own secret message and eat it up. Devon&Eliot have grown and will soon think these kind of gifts are cheesy, but for now, this moment just hit the spot.
If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself ―
Tue: Spring has definitely sprung in the NorthernHemisphere. Pleased to see the Clematis I got for Linn last summer in the US is blooming again. May’s HoneyPlant/HoyaCarnosa is also in bloom/Norway, and somehow despite of the cold winters she manages to get the most amazing results with her GreenThumb – pix credits to Linn&May – not sure if
Linn’s memories are just as intact as mine! with this Mar1978 pix with the HoneyPlant/HoyaCarnosa in the background, remembering having to clean off the honey dripping on the windowsill then! Plant pix downloaded, used to have one like this around the window but not that many blooms, a cutting from EmmaHald, L&M paternal-great-grand-mother. Also known as wax plant, porcelain flower, and honey plant, is a climbing or trailing perennial of the dogbane and milkweed family. It is native to Eastern Asia and Australia. The plant has attractive waxy, oval-shaped leaves and vines that grow 2–4 feet long. Flowers are fragrant and have a white or cream hue. The plant is typically grown as a houseplant and is perfect for both indoor and outdoor settings.
Hoya carnosa (Wax Plant): All You Need To Know
While here am delighted to be able to enjoy the communal MarineCresentKitchenGarden.
Impressive how every living plant is so well-kept – might even be inspired to volunteer to helping!
No April Fool but another appt@NDC for real. Lunch with Clement@IKEA – the festive MiniOndehCake for the RayaSeason hit the spot today. Tasted one of the best coconut flakes covered moist sponge cakes with creamy layers of GulaMelaka/PalmSugar for real – highly recommended if they are still serving this festive cake in is part of the world!
Wed: 07.15hrs – a sudden strong gust of wind gave these shots despite lasting only for a minute before the first refreshing April rain shower. Expecting&preparing for a muggy&hot afternoon but turned out to be a glorious day.
Lunch with Henry and a serene breezy walk ending with fruits&sundaes@McD/EC-Pk.
Thu: 26yrs ago today bought ~700sqf/69sqm resale-HDB-3room and still content&satisfied with a place to chill&unwind in this 4-walls renovated-studio-apt today!
1999-2000: at a resale price S$175,000/market price S$155,000 and with a 1st-time buyer grant+loan+down-payment, bought it not as an investment but a place as a base to stay in between other places and to keep my stuff here no matter where life will lead…
Unless in financial difficulties, hopefully this will be the final one&only property needed. Now can also sell it back to HDB, not a good deal, but better than no choice – today’s going price is~S$500,000-600,000.
| Block No. & Address: | Blk 46 Marine Crescent S(440046) |
| Completion Year: | 1975 |
| No. of Floors: | 12/109units (65-70sqm) |
| HDB Tenure: | 99-year Leasehold |
2000-2005: renovation works were done to this 3-room (ie 2bedrooms, hall/kitchen&bathroom – total floor-area of slightly under 65sqm) slowly but surely as to my taste within my budget. The floor&walls (the only wall is the kitchen-fire-wall which is against regulations to be removed) were the first to be hacked away to make it into a one-room studio apt.
2001-2005: upgrading administrations&works with utility room added, losing one kitchen-window but gaining an extra room. 2005 done with 9-5jobs! and hiking the AT-Thru’Hike was achieved. Today this is a useful store+laundry-room and if necessary can be converted to an extra bedroom
2005-2024: have been away from SIN from 3-6months every year except during Covid and that has worked well for me. 2025 no plans to travel so far…
Happy AprBdays to family&friends
2 Apr – NEO EngHuat
4 Apr – KHOO Amy, MayaH, RichardY
8 Apr – TorillW
10Apr – LAM Danielle
12Apr – PeggyT
13Apr – LAU Yvette
15Apr – LynneO, AileenK
17Apr – LAM Sara, AnneS, SharonK,
19Apr – KLUSMAN Claire
22Apr – BOROWSKI Ike
29Apr – LAM Stanley