28 Dec 2025 – Who Are U; Who Am I?

Fri: on the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves

HappyBoxingDay/StStephen’sDay/WrenDay on this 2ndDay of Christmas – BoxingDay comes from a tradition of gifting boxed gifts to the ppl who might need them more. What a nice way to share gifts received and giving away things not needed or in used any longer+a day to acknowledge with appreciations&gratefulness for greetings&gifts&kindness received. ChristmasCrackers loot from yesterday’s lunch that would otherwise have gone to waste but the grandchildren might appreciate them for the CNY.

Sat: on the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens

Appreciations with thanks to Henry for HorFun+Chicken dinner, no FrenchHens

but a pleasant surprise of a life-music-performance@MT-MarketSquare on this 3rd Day of Christmas, again no FrenchHens but a very attentive&discipline audience…

Sun: on the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four Calling Birds

Grandniece Isabelle asked – what do u think being yourself means? such a profound question from a teenager! What kind of an answer does she expect or hope from this grand-auntie? The simple answer – depending on what stage in life, U are what U are and every stage has its charms with their ups&downs.

Cogito, ergo sum – René Descartes 

Quiet days are important  –   ie a day doing nothing…

Might or might not be any or some of whatever above descriptions but by asking Who Are U; Who Am I occassionaly helps to reconnect with core values, fostering self-awareness and personal growth. Totally blessed, so far for intact mental&physical health to be able to still live financially independently making my own choices (without intentions to hurt oneself or others) and not what others expect or say but to accept the consquences moving forward to continue learning with time for each&every change at the different stages in this life journey.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken – OscarWilde

We are living in a world where people demand explanations for everything — your choices, your silence, your growth. But what if silence is not weakness… but evolution?

Never explain yourself to those who live in the WORLD you have already surpassed — Yuval Harari

ThankU to broLeslie&Ivy for another delicious SundayDinner@Rochalie – nice to have some time with nieceKat, grandniecesDevon,Eliot&Kiera and pleasant surprise to catch up with nieceJessica from Canada, was not even aware that she is back visiting.

25 Dec 2025 – Tanglin Club

Aug 2022: new completely mesh-HelinoxSunset/4th!Helinox 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.

Mon: شكراً shukran/Arabic – delivered Helinox chair to CC for repairs, was hoping that it would lasted longer than 3+yrs. With appreciations to Chris who will be fixing it. In the meanwhile despite it being heavier to move around, will just be content with IKEA’sPoäng from Linn when she got it to nurse #3John, ie 19yrs ago when he was born here! Do desperately need new cover(Cushion,Knisa-light beigeS$50), not feeling the best with a slight temp, will wait with an IKEA trip until feeling better.

Tue: takk/Norwegian – taking an easy day before tonight’s dinner. Have not been to this YMCA/StevensRd since cousinDavid’s days with his HI/USA students, another life-time ago! Instead of the direct MRT-TEL from MT-StevensSta, will take Bus16 changing at either DhobyGhaut or Somerset to Bus190 or 970 factoring in that there is always traffic jam at OrchardTurn taking me StevensRd and crossing the road to the Y. More time on transportation but less walking, need to preserve the energy for family dinner.

Appreciations to nieceJudy who now works at this YMCA for this delicious ChristmasSpread – have to really pace myself during these seasonal feasts and not eating like there is no tomorrow or there will not be a tomorrow…

Wed: thankU for this julaften/ChristmasEve and for all online,snailmail greetings&gifts – with fond memories&thoughts of loved ones, family&friends, near&far.

Good of KK to include the mini-homemade-chocolate-wreath in his Minimalist Tree in a Maximalist House.

Thu: kept this card made 20yrs ago when working@H&H and has never failed to keep me sane giving me a good laugh every year especially in my HDB-suroundings. Will be sharing this for the next 12days of Christmas so be patient to read it until the last day – hahaha

On this first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

https://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/twelvedays.html

Tusen hjertelige takk=thousand heartly thanks to broLeslie&Ivy for our annual Christmas family lunch@TanglinClub, still one of the better Christmas-Lunch-Buffet here in Singapore. This year there is an addition of the WinterVillage with the trains – nice touch.

The first one celebrated here was when Kiera was in a baby-carrier/2months, now she is 22 and here with babyKai’s 1stXmas – welcome back to SIN Kat,Devon/under the weather,Eliot&Kiera. Clement is also under the weather and not here today and to be honest, am not feeling my best took 2Panadols+CoughMixture this morning and will try to talk less for today.

We first introduced these party poppers here when they were first produced nearly ~2decades ago and have kept the tradition since despite the dismay of the servers – hahaha but they are compensated with good tips. David&family are away celebrating with his family in Perth/Australia, Sue took family pix with his camera and those will be updated here when he gets back. This fancy group-pix is taken by the club but not with just the family.

5Jan: edited with appreciations and thanks to nieceSue and nephewDavid.

Special thanks for this seldom pix with my only brother left and BabyKai’sFirstChristmas.

God Jul🎄og Godt Nyttår🎉til deg og dine.

Merry Christmas🎄and a Healthy&Safe 2026🎉to each and everyone.

Seaaon’s Greetings🎄and a Healthy&Safe 2026🎉to each and everyone.

21 Dec 2025 – A Time For Everything

Thu: kiitos/Finnish – condolences to Claire/Norway, to Gel/SIN for the recent passings of their fathers and to Inga/USA for her mother, may they RIP. The circle of life with a time for everything starting with birth until when death marks the end of a physcial life. Always sad&painful when your beloved family&friends die but hopefully some good memories to remember them by.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal – From an Irish headstone

Fri: danke/German – productive Fri-morning walking to run errands, looks like widening of the sidewalk@StillRd. Always delighted to see grown-ups spending time with kids outdoors.

TheLensMan is now located in another new location no longer opp the food stalls, now nearer the WhiteOctopus but still within the MP-Promenade. PP is now ready with TangsXmasMarket in the basement. A quick ride on Bus36-RafflesCity/Nespresso with heavy traffic@Stamford&NBridgeRds junction and back to the EastSide on Bus16 within less than an hour.

FullertonHotel inside-out elegantly&fully decked&dressed ready for this Season. Nowadays when snailmail is no longer the main mode of communication, it is easily forgotten that this location was once the GeneralPostOffice/GPO.

Thankful for SG-CulturePass/S$100, including SisticFeesS$104 – appreciations to Leo for helping with the booking. Has been a long while ago since the last life-performance of any opera and now an enjoyable Mozart’sDieZauberflöte/MagicFlute by the SIN-LyricOpera@VictoriaTheatre. Do know this opera well with ~7min Overture and the beautiful&difficult ~3mins aria Der hölle Rache – complete opera ~2+hrs including 20mins intermission. Photos&video not allowed during performance.

Good enthusiatic audience, pleased with RowBSeat27 and probably the only empty seat26 next to me! No problems being by the timpani when not a full orchestra – an easy get away from the crowds directly by the door with a pleasant short walk across SIN-River to the FullertonBusStop for Bus196 with hardly any traffic&ppl on or off at stops and was back to my 4-walls before 23.00hrs.

https://www.singaporeopera.com.sg/slomagicflute1225

Sat: cпасибо spasibo/Russian – thankU KK for homemade fish-soup (on the fishy-side)+tea that has an amazing aroma for my smell but he does not know what kind of flowers, looks like some family of the Daisyflower – will brew it next week and see if the taste will give me a hint…

Interesting analogy, tkx to KarenSB for the share. Despite not being a car person but do know that Volvo is Swedish-made and Ferrari,Italian. For one who has lived&worked in both Norway&USA for many years would agree that Volvo is sitll one of the safest cars and Ferrari an iconic luxury sports car. Both good cars but does depend on who you really want to be your driver but who knows what will happen when more driverless cars hit the roads…

Sun: mahalo/Hawaiian – to get dessert for tonight’s dinner@Clement on this 4AdventSunday/3days to Xmas. Recycled&decorated these commerical bags&boxes to be given away for this season. Waste Not,Want Not – Proverb

Also Winter Solstice/Dongzhi冬至 on the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere. ThankU for yummy local feast with GadoGado,MeeSiam,Rojak,Satay+Kueys for dessert.

Forgot about getting TongYuen/湯圓

17 Dec 2025 – Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Sun: ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါသည် kyaayyjuutainparsai/Burmese/myanmar language – with CC-friends welcoming BillC, one more Sunday/10days to Xmas. Nice to catch up for early local Bfast@MT-Market/my favourite CheeCheongFunCCF-Stall/猪肠粉a steamed rice noodle roll originated from GuangDong/China. A Cantonese dish made of thin layer rice flour batter, steamed and rolled up to resemble pig intestine (as the name implies CheeCheong=PorkIntestine, Fun=Flour) pix credits to Calvin and Helen.

Pleasant short stroll and not too crowded with ppl fishing&napping@EC-Pk/SiglapCanal,AreaC before the predicted afternoon rains. Iyas cycled 18k from his home and now has to push his bike with us while Calvin has gone to do his test for a valid motor-bike licence – pix credits to Helen.

Gentle snores were heard while preparing for a light lunch – should it be a compliment that they are so comfortable&relax enough to nap within my 4-walls? or an insult about my company? hahaha!

Cheese&FruitsLunch after a brief nap.

Congratulations to Calvin for passing his tests – pix credits to Iyas & Helen.

ThankU for yummy chocolate from Switzerland with our Xchange of gifts on this 3rd AdventSunday.

Appreications with thanks for favourite homemade rich&creamy LobsterBisque indulgence, scrumptious SteakRochalie, etc by broLeslie for Sunday dinner with wine&whisky to die for.

Blessed to be able to taste such perfectly-cooked food with sensational spirits. 2015VegaSiciliaÚnicoReservaEspecial isn’t a single-vintage wine but a special release (NV) blending iconic older vintages. ÒirLeòmhann a SIN-based Scotch whisky brand, but a specific 35-year aged whisky does not appear to be a standard or current product in their lineup based on available information. The brand is known for limited and rare releases with specific age statements…

https://www.millesima.sg/vega-sicilia-unico-2015.html

Mon: dakon/Esperanto – on this cool wet day but depressing to hear&read about these shootings at a HanukkahCelebration in Australia Sydney’s/BondiBeach and USA/BrownU@RhodeIsland over the weekend. Speechless without words but with sadness for the situations and to all affected – pix downloaded.

Only with gun violence do we respond to repeated tragedies by saying that mourning is acceptable but discussing how to prevent more tragedies is not. But that’s unacceptable. As others have observed, talking about how to stop a mass shooting in the aftermath of a string of mass shootings isn’t too soon. It’s much too late — Klein

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-14/what-we-know-bondi-beach-shooting/106141672

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/14/us/benjamin-erickson-brown-university-shooting

Downhearted to learn that one of my favourite Hollywood movie directors RobReiner&wife were murdered by their mentally distrubed son, Nick/32 – feeling of helplessness with such undesirable and turbulent Monday news.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/15/us/rob-michele-reiner-dead

Tue: grazie/Italian – was planning HorFunDinner@MT-market but was closed for cleaning. Seb had Korean-food while I tried out the OK dishes at the newly renovated ChangChengMeeWah@MarineT, S$9Clams,ChickenFeet,Fish w Rice.

Wed: go raibh maith agat/GaelicIrish –  a very wet perfect day to be indoors. Finally managed to watch parts of the famous WinterSonata/KoreanDrama from 2002. Heard so much about it when first returned back to SIN in the early 2000s but did not have the time or interest for dramas and still no interest especially after discovering that there are 20episodes. Watched part of episode1 and fast forward to episode20 with some reading to get the jist of what the big hooha was about. What a cheesy-tear-jerker-chick-flick but PrettyBoy/EyeCandy BAE YongJoon was worth that few minutes to understand what the hype – hahaha.

https://www.kdramalove.com/wintersonata.html

All the time in the world can’t erase my memories. A person you bury in your heart, you can never forget.

13 Dec 2025 – Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it

Wed: gracias/Spanish – what these ppl are saying are intelligently,logically&objectively expressed for me, but how to prevent WW3? An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 just struck Japan on Mon triggering a tsunami warning. Is MotherNature warning us and will she be able to prevent, slow-down or stop this ongoing conflict?? Keeping fingers crossed hoping&praying for diplomatic dialogue&peaceful consequences  – pix downloaded.

7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, triggers tsunamis

JohnMearsheimer/American Political Scientist – pix downloaded

the tragedy of great power politics is that even security-seeking great powers will nonetheless be forced to engage in competition and conflict with one another.

The Suicide of a Superpower: Walking Blindly into World War III | John Mearsheimer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU_q9RcE89Q

DavidOualaalou/International Geopolitical Consultant – pix downloaded.

Is Japan Picking a Fight it Can’t Win? Geopolitical Trends

KJ Noh/Geopolitical Analyst&Journalist – pix downloaded.

China Would DESTROY U.S. in War Over Taiwan, Trump’s National Security Strategy a FANTASY | KJ Noh

HeniOziCukier/Political Scientist (Recorded at TEDxLisboa on March 15, 2025). Pix downloaded.

Are We Heading Toward World War III? | Heni Ozi Cukier | TED

Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it  – Churchill

Thu: merci/French – one of my favourite US-fastfood chains Chick-Fil-a with my favourite HoneyMustadSauce opens here today Thu11Dec and probably the only location in SIN that will be closed on Sundays.  Good memory when they first opened in 1992FL/USA, was then asking local business to help fund with LHHS-Project-Graduation and they donated many yummy platters.  Hopefully a success here but will not attempt to be there until the school holidays are over – pix downloaded.

https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/singapore-first-chick-fil-a

Fri: ขอบคุณK̄hxbkhuṇ/Thai – Ting&CH, our annual gathering, this time not within my 4walls but another round for OysterNight@Fairprice/PP. Always nice to catch up with them.

Sat:ありがとうArigatou/Japanese – HappyStLucia to those marking the day. Not sure if I can still remember how to bake Luciabrød/Luciaboller? Package mailed 2Dec from USA arr and 10days for snailmail but US$31.15!!! for this small package, honestly must have a serious talk with my flock about snailmailing packages when we next meet. Also what happened to this newspaper from KK cutting in a simple brown envelope to be repacked?

9 Dec 2025 – Christmas Lights

Sat: obrigado/Portuguese – the live-cut TallTutsan after a week despite being told that they have a short-display-span is still looking pretty this early morning with the last of 2025 Super-full-moon ColdMoon amongst the ongoing gift wrapping.

Such a pleasure to have this beautiful full moon for company with delightful lights in the neighbourhood by the market.

The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.

The squalling cat and the squeaking mouse,
The howling dog by the door of the house,
The bat that lies in bed at noon,
All love to be out by the light of the moon.

But all of the things that belong to the day
Cuddle to sleep to be out of her way;
And flowers and children close their eyes
Till up in the morning the sun shall arise – Robert Louis Stevenson

MRT-TEL-MarineT-sta/Exit1; this year the tree is no longer by the market but at the junction of MP-Rd&MarineC just across the road from  MRT-TEL-MarineT-sta/Exit2.

Sun: nandri நன்றி/Tamil – tkx to 2ndBorn who was recently in London/UK and shared my favourite of all favourites ChristmasLights of what I can so far see today! When they are done with such classy-simple-elegance, ie to my taste, no need to change for as long as these eyes still see…

2ndSunday of Advent/7th day on the AdventCalendar – 2 more Sundays/17days to Xmas. FB-Memories from 2014/11yrs ago reminded that the 2ndSunday of Advent was also the 7th day on the AdventCalendar!

Appreciations for SundayDinner@Rochalie and tkx for wine – good PopiahS$2.60per-roll from food-court@PP. BabyKai is now 10months who kisses&hugs his mother’s phone when he sees or hears his father’s voice, so adorable&cute – babies are such a nice way to start life with their tiny feet leaving the biggest footprints on our hearts…

Mon: 多謝/doh jeh for gifts, 唔該/m goi for favours&service/CantoneseChinese. Enjoyed catching up with LynneO@PlazaSIN spending an afternoon reminiscing on our early teenage years from CHIJ which seems another lifetime ago. How innocent&naive we were then when a wild party literally meant dancing the night away without any smoking, drinking of alcohol or hanky-panky. 2025ChristmasLightsOrchardRd,

Paragon and Takashimaya.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well
It’s the sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow – M.Willson/1951

Tue: terima kasih/Malay – thankU for prompt reply from VincentC/contractor who got the plumber for the leak from the toilet cistern into the toilet bowl, to be expected from faulty&old gaskets&valves.

Could not even turn off the water supply as the valve was stuck but thank goodness the leak was slow. Google to learn that these components would cost ~S$10 online but could not fix it myself. With 2foreign workers for ~45mins, now replaced new components+valve connection S$150. Hopefully this will be it for 2025-plumbing bills after S$100 for the kitchen sink leak in July.

5 Dec 2025 – Welcome Lynne 

Tue: Ευχαριστώ/Efharistó/Greek –  cool wet&windy morning to hopefully help the mood to get with the snail-mail out today, the very limited last few ones whose online info not found in my contacts. With the local PostOffice@PP now closed+postage upS$1.55 to mail just a card internationally will need to go GREEN in future. Coincidentally bumped into Carmel who informed that the SiglapPostOffice is still opened but in today’s volatile world who knows if it will still be opened in 2026??

I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You’ve got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beating of my own heart. I have mail…

Safest countries in case of World War III

With a global stockpile of around 13,000 nuclear warheads, we all know that a nuclear war would be catastrophic. And while you probably don’t want to think about a nuclear apocalypse, you might wonder which countries are the best to live in when it comes to survival. A study, published in the journal Risk Analysis, has narrowed down a few island nations that could continue to produce enough food to feed their populations after an ‘abrupt sunlight-reducing catastrophe’ such as a nuclear war, super volcano, or asteroid strike – pix downloaded.

SolomonIslands & Vanuatu’s residents will probably survive. Iceland, the only nation in the NorthernHemisphere in the study is also one of the safest nuclear war zones – largely due its remoteness. NewZealand has an efficient food export economy that could feed their population multiple times over just from exports – pix downloaded.

Wed: Teşekkürler/Turkish – lunch+Xchange of season’s greetings&gifts with Aileen. Much changes since my last walk via MP-Rd-AbovegroundShadedWalkway route to PP. Bushes&creepers have really grown, so nice to have more shade from the sun under this covereed walkway. Looks like a well-needed new traffic-light is under constrution at the junction of MC&MP-Rd/ TaoNanSchool&CHIJ/Katong, hopefully ready in time to relief the traffic issue when schools start.

MPCC to be completed sometime in 2026. Crossing StillRd to continue underground – impressive MP-UndergroundSpaces est. time of completion ~2027? now no AC at this section! Do not be deceived by these pix with hardly anyone, being not a fan of crowds will find the time or go out of the way to avoid ppl, and in familiar surroundings would know how&when but might not be like this if found in unfamiliar routes…

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-marine-parade-community-building-that-will-house-towns-library-to-be-ready-by-q1-2026

Thu: Cảm ơn/Vietnamese – tkx to Peggy for the picking some of us from MRT-TEL-KatongPk-Sta, the KatongPk from my childhood days is nothing like what is is today!

CHIJ-1962ClassmatesLunch to welcome Lynne back from UK for a visit. MakkoTeck Neo=AuntLadyBoss/35TelokBlangahRise, affordable & decent Peranakan food. https://teckneo.com/

Appreciations to Eve&Lynne for arranging&getting Penny, Lynne, Evelyn, Peggy, ChengHwa, Angela, Rebecca, Susan, Mary and myself together – a good time was had by all despite of the heavy on&off tropical showers. Tkx to Mary for interesting info on some of the PacificIslands, especially Kiritimati. 

Tkx again Peggy for dropping me@TeoHongRd –  sooo very tempting@99OldTreesDurian but resisted and headed up the stairs to the walking path for a short cool lovely stroll towards The Pinnacle@Duxton for bus196 directly back to the EastSide

Fri:  Toda תודה/Hebrew –  FairPrice/OysterNight with Gel@PP and a delightful walk with a full moon.

1 Dec 2025 – Getting Ready for Season’s Greetings 

Fri: no plans of much decorations but the usual embrodried ChristmasTree with the 24 languages for ThankU – will be inserting in Dec postings starting Mon1-Thu25Dec. Got these lovely festive looking life-berries@MT-Market. PP/Australia asked if they were edible(typical foddie like myself!) – Pl@ntNet identify this TallTutsan/Hypericum x inodorum is a woody shrub known for its clusters of berries that ripen from red to black. While historically used for medicinal purposes, it is now often considered a weed in many regions and is not safe to consume, as the berries can cause gastrointestinal distress – looks can be deceiving! Anyway pretty in my eyes for any table centre-piece. Unlike orchid was told that they have a short-display-span – will experiment to check if they are worth S$10.

Don’t judge a book by its cover – All that glitters is not gold  and First appearance deceives many

Sat: Happy 19thBday to my only grandchild JohnW#3 born in SIN and since he is born here in 2006, will celebrate the last year of his teens! today but will be tomorrow for him in the US. This is what happens when U blink too fast! from an adorable toddle in 2008 at the back yard@AvalonSubdivision to 2025 dashing handsome young man@High-School-Senior-Prom,Irmo,SC/USA.

No matter how much time passes, no matter what takes place in the interim, there are some things we can never assign to oblivion, memories we can never rub away ― Murakami

Annual-Post-Thanksgiving&Pre-ChristmasLunch and this year its Tex-Mex for Clement, Leonard & SL – thankU for gifts. Not sure how much longer hosting within the 4-walls for more than 1person will be possible? Has taken this whole week to pick up grocery, etc and a few days to prepare the food. Have been feeling it the past few years whenever preoarations for a gathering but this year really feeling it more…

Continued with dinner at the newly renovated MingKitchen@ChangChengMeeWah,Blk59-MarineT with still decent food but prices of course have gone up –  3dishes for 3ppl/Sweet&SourPork,Tofu,VeggieS$40

Sun: first Sunday of Advent and only 3more Sundays/24days before Christmas. Appreciations for Sunday’s dinner, made SautéedMushroom to go with Les’s yummy SteakRochalie – a quick bite of fruit+my favourite BengawanSoloKueys before heading for the MRT. With health isues, not wise to tempt fate stayng around 3ppl smoking cigars indoors enclosed in the Dessert&CigarRoom. 

Mon: Dank je wel/Dutch – need to get snailmail Season’s Greetings ready for mailing by midweek, and now with the PostOffice@PP closed, will head to the GeneralPostOffice@PayaLebarSq. Since there picked up some stationary@Popular.

HenriCharpentier another favourite location for cheesecake – could not resist these which will make perfect gifts for the season ahead 5packetsS$87. Took much will-power to not get something for myself…

Nice to see some green-grass on either side of PayaLebarRd with the front of PLQ-Mall and the back of GeylangSeraiCommunityCentre/GSCC – wonder how long this green luxury will last before constructions…

Good to see many Seniors enjoying the GSCC-facilities.