16 Aug 2016 – From Joseph Schooling

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/joseph-schooling-is/3037512.html

Sat: way to go Joseph Schooling for bringing in the first Olympic gold for SIN. You have made all SIN proud. Congratulations. And a big thank you to his parents, family and friends for the support they have given him to reach that gold. Pix credit to CNA.

A beautiful day with #6 to enjoy a full tent at Dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen-The Animals in HakkebakkeWoods where Mikkel Rev/Mikkel fox did a great job with his part at the tent by The Monolith Plateau@Frognerparken.

Free seating – the line to get in was long but nobody really mind as the weather was glorious, and fortunately we were early enough to get good seats. ‘Sold Out Today’. The heat was uncomfortable in a full tent with spotlights. We left at intermission as it was getting to feel like a sauna inside the tent. 

Took a lovely walk and had our packed lunch watching life goes by with people just enjoying this wonderful weather. A park with 45 hectares is a well known picnic area, popular in the summer for sunbathing, games and relaxation with naked bronze and granite sculptures 🙂 No matter how crowded it is, I can always find a quiet and peaceful spot far-far away from this maddening crowds, especially now when it is so popular with the PRC tourists.

Sun: O wanted this pix of the bird helping itself on his cherry-tree.  He told e that he did not mind them helping themselves to the cherries, what he did not  like is when they help themselves to the eggs of the other birds’ nests. A nice trip out to Nesøya to visit with Ellen. Catherine and one of her girls were also there. Great to catch up with them all. Pleasant drive back comparing with the traffic and weather to Fri! Lovely sunset with the background of the ski-jump.

Mon: a neighbour and a good friend, Torill from once upon a time in mushroom land 🙂 Piggsoppgrenda! meeting up 30+yrs later in the wonderland (without Alice, but never too late!) OSL on a glorious day.

Thanks for company@Steamen***been awhile since I last set my foot in that location – Hotel Continental’s sidewalk cafe in Olav V gate where one sits and watch life goes by on a good weather-day. Appreciation for taking time to catch up on your way to the airport. Congratulations with an adorable granddaughter and welcome Thomas&Synnøve to parenthood.

Another glorious day for a long walk-about with a bunch of Kodak moments when the sky is such. Along Karl Johan Gate towards the castle and Grand Hotel.

A newly renovated Michael Kors

New public restrooms, Spikersuppa – the fountain in the heart of town which turns to a skating rink in the winters, and the Nationaltheatret

My favourtie, Theatercaféen is part of the Hotel Continental – the meeting point for influential members of the Norwegian art and culture scene. Starting from 1924, portraits of well-known guests were made and placed on the walls of the restaurant. The tradition has continued, and the collection now contains 81 portraits of authors, actors, painters, photographers, musicians, and composers, all former or current patrons of the house.he restaurant is listed on the New York Times list of the world’s most famous Vienna-styled cafes. The restaurant, with is characteristic ambiance, is still a gathering place for artists, as well as many members of the business and finance community.

This street comes to life when the sky is blue!

9 Aug 2016 – A Garden Party!

Sun: Olai’s stolen bicycle (red, taken 2015) is now replaced with another one bought 2nd-hand in good condition and light-weight. Will have to get him new accessories for his Bday. Such a coincident and a small world, the ex-owner of that bicycle is Torill’s grandson, Rasmus’s son!!!

Happy Bday to the neighbour’s kid Nora, a garden party in an idyllic fairy-tale setting – even the rains did not seemed to dampen the spirits and moods.

If you are lucky, Olai might show you where the mouse-hole is…

A variety of berries, fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetation can be found in this backyard.

Refreshing evening walk to visit with the Hustads – always such a pleasure to catch up with them. Good Spanish red wine and yummy cheese w the best ham to go with our evening. Appreciations for their continuing friendship which goes back to our Tromsø days when Linn & OleK were in daycare together!

Katy is back on track (after a season with injuries 🙁 ) placing 2nd for her age group in this race. Way to go my #1. And she will be starting High School this month and again the feeling of how could this be???

Pix of #1&2 5yrs ago at the same race!

Race pix credits to Linn.

Mon: Olai started in a new daycare today. This was funny as M&B were rather concerned as how he would adjust to the new place. B had a chuckle that O was not the least bit upset after delivering him! Some kid was having a Bday and there Popsicle were served after lunch . O had voiced that he did not wished to be picked up until after the Popsicle –  good that the kid has his priorities in the right place 🙂 Will be sticking around nearby in-case of any issues, but very unlikely. Good start.

Tue: Happy 51st Bday to SIN. The first, probably last and only time at a NDP was in 2014 when also coincidentally in SIN. Had the feeling that it would have been LKY’s last NDP and wanted to show my respects by saluting him just one time. Went in full patriotic gears and received some stares from the locals around, interviews from the media, even thought that was not my intentions! Must have started a trend, saw that more people are willing to be more patriotically dressed and equipped last year, hope that the trend will be such this year too! Much more fun to be with it and live fully for every moment 🙂

https://amylamsg.com/2014/08/10/ndp-2014/

Greetings from OSL to SIN. To all in SIN and to those celebrating, enjoy the holiday and be safe. Heard from Gel that there is small groups of our soldiers patrolling in Marine Parade with rifles!

7 Aug 2016 = New Valley

Thu: peaceful day with a mixture of sun and rain. SIN celebrated a 50-yr relationship with USA. The White House State Dinner was decorated with yellow roses and Oncidium Golden Shower – yellow for Friendship. SIN PM LHL & Ho Ching were there to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Here in a charming yellow house, simple yellow flowers and many busy bees with the most adorable company that is more than just friendship! The color yellow is the color of the mind and the intellect!!

Fri: TGIF and another of these sun/rain day. Walked to Forskningsparken T-bane to catch the metro to Nydalen=New Valley, 2 stops away.

2 pix downloaded

The Tunnel of Light is an artistic display of color and sound surrounding the escalator at the station. 1800 fluorescent lamps and 44 speakers are installed behind a layer of glass along the corridor, steadily changing color and mood. There are light and sound combinations for all seasons and all phases of life based on different experiences of travel in time and place.

Had to fill in some forms and deliver some papers to be certified@NAV=welfare administration and was amazed that it took less than an hour, thus giving time to explore the area. Was fortunate with the weather.

BI Norwegian Business School campus has been relocated here from Sandvika since 2005.

Interesting contrast of old and new.

A beautiful day for a picnic lunch and a cup of hot chocolate (had that in the backpack in-case there was a line at NAV, also too expensive to keep eating out too often!) by Akerselva=Akers River.

Sat: a few moments of quiet screen time while the parents are sleeping in…

Lunched at Bicks****excellent duck salad with fresh apple juice – Norway does have the best apple juice in the world. Olai had a cookie and a cup of warm milk, total NOK272 S$43. In addition to the green wooden chair bought for NOK450 S$72.

Some Kodak moments of mother and child enjoying the rains and puddles.

Strange weathers with rains like tropical storms causing chaos and floods on the roads. Had to run some errands and made the best of it while Olai was in 7thHeaven with cakes and goodies at a Bday party 🙂

4 Aug 2016 – Back To Viking Land via The Desert!

Mon: total flying time was 14+hrs with just under 2hrs layover at DOH at the new Hamad International Airport US$ 764 S$1,026. 2yrs ago was at the old airport and was bus out to the planes then.

Was assuming that with the new airport, jet bridges to the planes and would not have to be bus out, but still had to be bus to the planes. Uneventful on schedules flights and if the memory is still good, replied to a constructive feed-back about their service and toilets for 2014 on Qatar. Now with their new planes, the toilets are cleaner and the trash not stuffed over the brim!

https://amylamsg.com/2014/05/09/qatar-airways/

2012 was probably my first on Qatar when SIN-DOH-OSL-DOH-SIN was S$770RT compared to today S$1,026!

https://amylamsg.com/2012/05/05/sin-doh-osl/

Arr OSL on schedule but the the line for the passport control was nearly 2hrs wait 🙁 Then to discovered trains including Airport Express Train (Flytoget) are shut down this week in connection with construction of the new Follo line. Finally happily safe & sound with the family after a beautiful bus ride NOK100 S$16. Tkx May for meeting me at the Oslo bussterminal All that just happened at Gardermoen have passed upon seeing and getting a hug from Olai 🙂

Was more than a zombie by 2000hrs but struggled to stay another hour before crashing.

Tue: woke up to a glorious morning in M&B new house. Headed into town after dropping Olai to his daycare.

Had to run errands and did so by foot so that I can update pix at different angles and surely to new discovery in town while being sent on a wild-goose to the various NAV offices!! No problems when the weather is just perfect for walking. Must have walked for about 6hrs today and loving it.

Wed: a day in paradise with youngest grandchild #6, Olai at the playgrounds where we had our picnic lunch out in this fantastic weather.

Lego building session for the later afternoon. Thank you May for letting me have him for a day and for getting to know him better.

1 Aug 2016 – Tkx To All For Taking Time To Catch Up

Fri: TGIF and a busy one. Tkx to Hong for Laksa lunch@Tanglin Club. For my overseas reader, it is sensible to have a bib when eating laksa, the spices used in the gravy stains, so use your imagination as to what can happen when eating wet noddles with chopsticks 🙂 Richard had a late breakfast and needed a Margarita to cool down!

Great to catch up with Richard&Judy visiting from AUS – safe journeys back. A pleasure to meet Josephine, SIN Peranakan writer. With Kinokuniya@Orchard (my favourite bookshop in SIN) in the neighbourhood, just had to get it for my trip, starting with Kampong Spirit – the winner of the SIN Lit Prize 2014. Of course when in a bookshop, one book is never enough. Saw this by Erica Jong beginning of the year but did not get it then. Liked her Fear of Flying and now with an intrigue title like Fear of Dying, have to read it. Hope to mange to read these 2 books on this trip.

pix&map downloaded

Happy Anniversary to Yoshie – nice chat over a cuppa@Patties&Wiches, one floor above Kino. Mt Fuji, a different interpretation on the Mont Blanc with chocolate sponge inter-layered with chestnuts, light and superb. Chef Yamashita seldom disappoints with his delicate take on Japanese pastries.Must remember to take a jacket or shawl if I do go again…

Tkx to Clem for family dinner@Chang’s Korean Charcoal BBQ/Dempsey****to celebrate his new job.

Tasty and tender meat because they use charcoal, rather than electric or gas. Decent servings of side dishes.

Sat:  patriotic sighting on my way to dinner – National Day rehearsals!

Appreciations to PT for dinner last night and good to catch up with Juliana and Jonathan (PT’s nephew who teaches at UF). After meeting and talking to Christoph Schuck from Germany & Paola Caselli from Italy, am seeing a dim light on the future 7,000km E1 long-distance walk.

Congratulations to Eriko Oghihara-Schuck who after a two-year search into the life and demise of forgotten SIN poet, Teo Poh Leng, has re-published FMSR (1935).

Sun: congratulations to Zai for the marriage of her son Hariz to A’tugah. What a handsome couple and a lovely wedding. Wishing the newly-weds all the best.

Yummy Malay food and the Soto Ayam (chicken soup) was delicious.

Fort Canning Park is such a lovely place to hold a reception. When I was working in H&H, we did their brochure. Now modified but still using similar map done by Chan. Is it possible that the groom is now a pilot for QatarAir??

Nice to see H&H staff, new and former+families. Sophie is now a cutie age 2+. Appreciations to Aileen&Alan for the ride.

Mon: here we go again SIN-DOH-OSL flying time 14+hrs and layover time in DOH just under 2hrs. Let’s hope no delays from SIN. Strangely people thing I like flying and I tell them that it is not the case, but if I do not do so I do not get to see my children and grandchildren! QatarAir was offering the best deal, otherwise it would not have been my choice!!

2 Aug – Happy Bday Claire

4 Aug – Happy Bday Candice Tay

5 Aug – Happy Bday LAM ChengEn

9 Aug – Happy 50th Bday SIN

10 Aug – Happy Bday LAM JenWee

28 Jul 2016 – From Little India to The Art Science Of Gems

Tue: running errands@Little India where the ambience and colours there never fail to amaze and fascinate me. Somehow I feel that I am in India without having to travel there. What I really like and enjoy in SIN is that we also have Chinatown, Geylang Serai, Arab St to give a taste of all these cultures. Shopped at Mustafa, the only 24-7 store in the world where you can buy anything and everything under one roof at reasonable prices.

Wed: a morning walk round the Dempsey Hill area to discover new places, but somehow memories of Temenggong Rd crept into mind. Perhaps the presence of old trees and the colonial days buildings do play tricks to the mind! Many of these building are beautifully renovated and now fancy eateries which are way out of my budget!

The White Rabbit/Harding Rd – a 5*restaurant and the former Ebenezer Chapel built in the 1940s for British soldiers. Good food reviews and critics. Looks an interesting place and would like to try it someday! A must try now that Ting told me that she supplies their herb & veggie garden!

The Rabbit Hole specializes in Gin&Tonic, one of my favourite cocktails in these tropical weather. This place is joined to The White Rabbit.

http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/the-white-rabbit-restaurant-dining-review/

Continuing towards Pierce Rd and found the durian place being relocated, but still in the area. Used to have durians here when working at SBG! Heading back to the main Holland Rd to discover that Nparks have an orchid nursery on Pierce Rd. The trees on this road are a joy to see and it feels good to be shaded by big trees.

The reason in this area was to visit the Maris Stella compound, Calvin@CC is donating angels here – met up with Chris, wondering if this was the same location where Catherine visits.

Peaceful and serene surroundings for a Chapel, Convent, Nursery, Kindergarten with fruit and veggie garden. Open and airy walkway towards the chapel, elegant carved-marble angel for holy-water and amazing skyline to the alter.

Thank you to sisters Marjorie and Theresa for showing us around. Sister Mary in action – pix credits to Chris.

Did not have the pleasure to meet sister Mary (90yrs) who is still doing embroidery works, tkx to sister Theresa, managed to capture a pix of her workroom. This is where Catherine visits, small world and also bought some of these creative Chinese character for Love. In my eyes, all the religions seemed connected in this piece of wonderful creation.

http://catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7374:fmm-nuns-to-rebuild-convent&catid=305&Itemid=473

Appreciations to Chris for the ride to MBS and to The Art Science Museum.

Tkx to Yoshie for the ticket. Bling-bling galore@Art & Science of Gems/Van Cleef & Arpels (VC&A), a definite must-see for those who admire gems. Here is where ALL that glitters is GOLD 🙂 Exquisite and spectacular creative workmanship. Last day 14 Aug.

Peacock Box/1950 – Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum collection. Cigarette case with Empress Eugenie surrounded her ladies/1946 – VC&A collection, yellow gold, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds. Hummingbird Box/1938 – VC&A collection, yellow gold, sapphires, rubies and diamonds.

Walska Briolette –  a Phoenix in yellow gold set with yellow and white diamonds, emeralds and sapphires. The fabulous 96.62 carat Briolette is suspended from the bird’s beak but can de detached and worn separately as a pendant. The birds wings also detach and form a pair of earrings and the tail can be transformed into a brooch – bedazzled, speechless and blinded with all these stunning blings!!

None of my pix taken here in the security see-thru’ enclosures do justice to the real thing, but just a reminder of the glamour when senior moments hit 🙂

Walked to the Bayfront MRT, decided to lunch in the MBS Food court – the 2nd time. In future will try to remember that the food here is not good and overpriced!

Luckily the Whirlpool Fountain was splashing as it is not always on. Thoughts of a movie about a guy who makes a living cleaning out coins out in the fountains, do not remember the name! What a busy day, but good to be able to have that energy to enjoy it.

Thu: had my prescriptions@MP Polyclinics refilled before traveling and was done is less than 2hrs, which is quite good. Lunched leisurely at Marine Parade Promenade when the rains started. Was entertained by pleasant live-music and all for $5 (a bowl of mee-pok & grass-jelly dessert)+$2 for the street musicians’ box. Now to the most dreaded chore as the weekend is going to be a hectic one!

25 Jul 2016 – Tanjong Goodman Weekend Market

Formerly the grounds of the Tun Seri Lanang Secondary School from 1962 to 1985, then LASALLE College of the Arts from 1992 to 2007 (renamed to LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts in 1993), followed by School of the Arts (SOTA) from 2007 to 2009, Goodman Arts Centre now houses the National Arts Council alongside a diverse range of tenants from the visual, literary and performing arts.

Sun: all these happenings to the school happened when I was away from SIN. Have wanted to visit the location when Bro Joe was there. Somehow time did not permit and finally took the opportunity to visit the Tanjong Goodman Weekend Market today. Such a good idea to utilize this location in the weekends when there are no classes

When Ting & KiWi were talking about how bad the market is for used containers at present got me to go take pix of Greenfield Modular Studios, or Block O which is constructed out of recycled containers into multi-purpose studios and project studios.

There are so many ways to design and use these metal rectangular blocks if you have creative imagination!

Togetherly Market is located here and the book exchange corner is a good idea. Would have brought some if I knew about it earlier. Thought of Denise at the Book Exchange Corner, where book lovers trade their books for new reads in a quirky fun way. Wrapping service is available for owners of pre-owned books and they may leave a personal note about the book for the next owner. In return, they may pick their preferred books based on these messages left by other owners.

Brilliant and beautiful ways to display air-plants. Happy to have found some gifts here to take to Norway.

Thank you to a charming young Dutchman, Iskander Walen for showing and discussing about some of his interesting works with this straight-forward senior 🙂 who is at present swamped with social functions and packing for my 2+months Norway stay. Unfortunately, unable to make  CAN! exhibition opening but good luck and well wishes to him.

Ceramic Studio, still a working studio where I found a glass stirring stick which I like and would use, also within my budget, $8.

The Great Singapore Garage Sales 7th edition (GSGS), nothing that interest me there but did enjoy the ice-latte outside!

La Barca Ristorante – looks an interesting place to try where there is a kids’corner so that parents can enjoy their meal.

Food Bazaar and Bric-A-Brac Fair – refreshing tea and the gyro kabab was tasty.

Cafe Melba seems to be a popular place which serves wood fired thin crust pizza! Another place to try

Wall mural and the space-bottle are more for the Y-generation! but do like these endless corridors and the 3D painting in La Barca Ristorante.

Never enough with greenery when surrounded by so many concrete buildings.

There is a bus outside here which goes directly to MarineC – very convenient especially when the rain started while waiting for the bus. Many of the overhead passes at the bus-stops here in SIN are with the cheerful bougainvilleas blooming on both sides, delightful to the eyes!

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down – Oprah Winfrey

Mon: congratulations to Kiat who lead SBG to an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 and now CEO@Gardens by the Bay.

Appreciations and tkx to ALL who are participating to make SGF 2016 into another unforgettable event at the Flower Dome,

Market Place and the Meadow. Happy Birthday YuZhang! Do not miss out on these creative and exquisite floral arrangements. Last day to feast your eyes on them – Sun 31July.

Thank you to Calvin@CC for sponsoring these gears for me to test in Norway. A pair of LaSportiva/Gore-Tex (Italian) with the Frixion AT Sole SystemS$280, soft resilient and lightweight rubber, totally non-marking, for road and trail. With both Gore-Tex and CC Ultralight Gaiters$55, the feet should be comfortably dry.

178gms Light weight CC Poncho$85 will hopefully be keeping the body dry. Also to test if it an be used as a wind-breaker without flying away!

Bamboo base-layer$30 to keep warm and as PJ too! Verdicts when I get back.

The Mountains Are Calling, and I Must Go – Muir

23 Jul 2016 – SGF Celebrating 10yrs

Wed: so it is time again to set up for the bicentennial SIN Garden Festival/SGF 23-31Jul 2016@Gardens By The Bay. And one my all time favourite displays so far is from SGF 2010@SuntecCity.

Have been helping out the Orchid Society/OSSEA with their MOR publication from 1999-2009 and setting up with their 2003 1st show The Singapore Orchid Festival@SBG, now the first and only tropical botanic garden on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. For me it was the best orchid show in SIN ever!

After combining to be SGF, the show has not been the same and has lost some of it’s personal charm, despite the crowds. Appreciations to Peggy, Shelly and Calvin for these wonderful experiences and memories – 2006/OSSEA, 2008/OSSEA&SIN Shawl, 2010/IR, 2012/NA, 2014/CC and 2016/OSSEA

Thu: after US moves to seize $1.3b in assets of Malaysian fund, assets worth S$240m seized as part of SIN 1MDB probe…

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/probe-casts-light-on-several-key-players

The contrast to the above situation is me, where I get subsidies 🙂 Live within your means is what my father, the banker taught me!

Fri: TGIF  – Happy Celebrations to family and friends and all who are celebrating –

Mabel&Lawrence, Lily&Danny&fam, Melvin, Karen’s&Eugene’s fam, Chuan&fam, LuLu &fam, Chris’s fam, Ang Jack’s fam – enjoy the day and a good weekend to all.

Hope to visit again before the year is over.

Between Clinton and Trump, who will be the next president and what is going to happen to USA?? Speechless and lost of words about these 2 candidates – time will show.

Belated Bday celebrations for Chee Hoew with Ting Ting, Bev and KeeWhee@Sakunthala’s Food Palace***on Race Course Rd, Little India. Nice wall mural.

Bought a piece of Paan but have not tasted it yet. Had durians, Kings of the Fruits for this season. Tkx to all for this wonderful evening.

Good to see pix of the Amazing6 enjoying their reunion with their Norwegian family in OSL/Norway. Now the FaBulous5 are safely back in CAE, SC/USA. Pix credits to Linn.

Last night at SGF Flower Dome – pix downloaded

Sat: Happy 5th Birthday to #5 James and 8th to grandnephew Lucas.

Today at SGF Market Place where the OSSEA booths had more manpower than needed in tight spaces! Also being located near the door, the heat, noise and traffic there were just too much to deal with. Decided to call it the day.

20 Jul 2016 – Senior Moments 🙂

Sun: such a pleasure showing off this local scene in SIN to people who appreciate it. Below 2 pix credits to Zarina.

Zarina had a field day at the MarineTerrace wet-market, buying nearly the whole market 🙂 Tkx for being an interested guest.

Tkx for dropping by Hannah, sorry that we did not get to the free-market but being outdoors in the crowds all morning was about all I could handle!

Favourite caviar and mussels cooked to perfection by my bro. The Iranian Beluga grey caviar is delicious with blini and all the condiments! Alone without the condiments, it is so-so! Need the blini and condiments to compliment the caviar + a glass of good champagne. Appreciations to the family for another delicious meal.

Mon: tkx to Mr Birch for lunch@Hong Kong Dim Sum Shop***Coffee@YaKun (my favourtie KayaToast place), tkx to Peggy. Introduced Pat to the Heritage Murals@51 Waterloo St.

Tue: how could this have been 19yrs ago??? the day I gained a wonderful son-in-law. Happy Anniversary to L&J

On the bus dark and early to meet with SY who accompanied me to pay respects to my parents@Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex. Was thinking how convenient it will be to have an MRT Sta there. Takes nearly 2hrs by 2 buses (with one change) to get from the EastCoast. Heavy traffic on the highway into town early morning and thank goodness the bus does not take the highway.

Alas to learn that the constructions are indeed for the new Thompson-East Coast Line/TEL, there will not be Mandai Sta but there will be a Marine Terrace Sta which is good news for me.

Tkx to SY for breakfast at the Nanyang Polytechnic canteen. Meals there are subsidized and a decent bowl of noodles there is S$2.

AMK Hub to catch Finding Dory***@Cathay. Senior rates are now up to $5! In future, will try my best to remember to stick with the Lido cinemas as their rates are still $4.

An afternoon meeting with Andrew to hear and listen to their plans for trying to develop a senior activity place@51 Waterloo St. Wondering when and if I will be like Dory, if not already there – lol 🙂