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

30 Jan 2025 The Year of The Snake

Mon: so starts the mass migration of millions of ppl travelling within China where they have 8days public holidays just before the start of the Chinese/Lunar New Year CNY春運SpringFestival(28Jan-4Feb). Seeing these downloaded pix is enough to make me feel soo blessed where I am in SIN despite of another lovely cool wet day!  一路平安 be safe to those travelling.

China kicks off Lunar New Year travel rush, expects record 9 billion trips | Reuters

Chunyun, 2025 Spring Festival Travel Rush in China

Thank you, Gel for her homemade-Kimchi – looking forward to this fermented Korean dish that is nutrient-dense, contains probiotics, and may help support the immune system&reduce inflammation. Dinner@PalmDr to catch up with sisJo – tkx for Kedondong 沙梨 (SpondiasDulcis), she&cousinJohn are the only ppl I know of who have these trees&fruits in their gardens. Need them to ripe(YellowSkin) if for eating, otherwise too sour. If juicing can be done when still unripe(GreenSkin) but will add dried SteviaLeaf.

9 Surprising Benefits of Kimchi

Wadd – The Many Wonders And Health Benefits of June Plum aka Buah Kedondong

Tue: thoughts on this CNY’sEve before the Dragon puffs out and the Snake hisses&slithers its way in – doubtful if this life journey will see another DragonYear but the Snake seems to have a promising forecast for Oxen, as it shares a harmonious connection with TaiSui/GuardianDeity. With excellent opportunities for collaboration, wealth, and personal growth, 2025 is shaping up to be a fruitful year. Your strong interpersonal connections will open doors to new ventures and success – time will show! Goodbye&puffing out the Dragon-Year today, making a list of the things to do like cleaning+getting the grocery&laundry done before the Snake hisses&slithers in tomorrow…

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again – Buddha

Ox Horoscope 2025: Wealth, Career, Love, Health Predictions

A gentle reminder that horoscope is for entertaining and NOT to be taken seriously.

Wed: welcome to the Year of the Snake and these are the Cantonese phrases heard&taught to say thru’out growing up days&CNY@TemenggongRd.
恭喜發財 Gong Hei Faat Choy – Wishing you Wealth&Prosperity
身體健康 Sun Tai Gin Hong – Good Health
出入平安 Chut Yup Ping On – Peace&Safe Wherever You May Be
大吉大利 Dai Gut Dai Lei – Good Luck&May Things Go Smoothly
年年有餘 Nin Nin Yau Yu – Surplus Year After Year

Chinese New Year Schedule 2025: Day-by-Day Festivity Preparation

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2025: 15 Days Celebration of Lunar New Year

Thanks to Les&Ivy

for another wonderful scrumptious spread, especially his homemade Lamb/MuttonCurry which is as yummy as his SteakRochalie. Missing David’s photography’s skills and delighted to have caught up with our amazing 94yrsGodSister PatLIM who lives in JB/Malaysia. Glad to finally meet Greg, Theresa&CJ’s son who is only here for 3days visiting from Japan, did not have time for pix of him as too busy talking&getting to know him – hahaha!

Appreciations to KK for the invite to his annual LionDance. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power&wisdom and a tradition in CNY – performed to bring prosperity&good luck for the upcoming year, also a wonderful way to create a festive atmosphere&mood.

If the lion knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him — Thomas More

Thu: after yesterday’s festivities need today to recover before more socials and appreciations for these yummy CNYgoodies.  When would an apple be not an apple? When it’s a pineapple – cheesy as this might sound, I like the pun – hahaha.

Why we eat pineapple tarts during CNY and the meanings behind other goodies

26 Jan 2025 – Lamps&SpiceWheel From 1970s-80s

Thu: SpiceWheel&Lamps that have been in storage for the past~25+yrs. Cousin Karen mentioned that she is interested to have them and glad to find a home for these which hopefully will give some joy to others as they have to me over many years in FL/USA. Shipped them here when the decision to move back to SIN but did not find an appropriate spot for them within the 4walls.

One of the lamps needed repair and perhaps some SuperGlue might do the trick – missing bottle on the SpiceWheel solved!

Pix of HangingLamp&SpiceWheel in the backgrounds from 1989 FL/USA once upon a time ago with Hustads visiting from Norway!

Fri: walkabout Chinatown starting with a visit to CundhiGong 準提宫@KiongSiakRd burning the joss-sticks,etc as a respect to paternal-grandmother+all the others in the family who practiced these rituals.

Always enjoy walking around this area with much history&personality, especially with Karen who is an architect and used to work&know this area well.

Down CantonmentRd along the row of shophouses where a needed bus-stop under construction has now started.

To where the flock of roosters,hens,chicks and back to KS-St.

Bfast@TongAh which has now moved from the lovely iconic corner building to 35KS-Rd where father used to be for his MahjongClub on Thu evenings. Poor Karen! who is probably tired after walking and now wondering what I am going to come up with next…

The point of the journey is not just healing. It’s also recovering the truest, most spontaneous, joyful, and creative core of ourselves – Gloria Steinem

Decided to show her 5TemenggongRd (the few roads which still looks like time stood still!) where I first met AuntieNgor(Karen’s mother) in the early 1960s. Drove up to the dead-end where the B/W-houses were and still are – as a mischievous kid used to throw stones down to the red roof which still stands!

The future comes slowly, the present flies and the past stands still forever — Friedrich von Schiller

MtFaber and what an amazing public rest room with a view.

First time on a Glass-Bottom-Cable-Car-Ride to&fro Sentosa – highly recommended. Normal CableCar/adultsS$24.50, seniorS$17.50, GlassBottom additionalS$15 and well worth for being above the hustle on Cloud9 embracing the calm, cable-car-rides allow you to see landscapes at different angles with new eyes. Thanks, cousin, for being such a spot and going along with my spontaneous escapes – such a fun day, had a blast despite of the rains.

Singapore Cable Car’s New Futuristic SkyOrb Cabins To Take Guests From March 20

Sat: tkx for including me for reunion dinner@Clement’s with grandnephews Andrew back for his NS and Darrly for the holidays – missing person from GG4BroSteven’s(1938-2024) branch here is Vincent who has to be in Australia to take care of their business.

Sun: appreciations for last night dinner+today’s Bfast reunions before the Snake hisses in. Helen will be off to Japan next week for the CNY – safe journeys to her. Delighted for TorchGinger flowerS$1 and new Coffee/Tea potS$20

22 Jan 2025 – New Washing Machine

Sun: tkx to Elisa for this share – would have considered continuing teaching (my last piano student was in 2000!) if I had students like these playing one of my favourite piano pieces Paganini-Liszt/LaCampanella arranged for 12 hands: (1) Video | Facebook 

Appreciations with tkx to Ivy&Les for delicious early ReunionDinner before Kat takes off. During this LoHeiDinner the most important auspicious sayings –

SafeJourneys 一路平安 to her and

GoodHealth 身体健康+GreatLuck&Prosperity 大吉大利 to all.

Chinese New Year Auspicious Phrases During Yu Sheng (Lo Hei)

Mon: have seen this tree since it was a tiny sapling, ie~20yrs ago. Impresses me how promptly MarinePTC replies to whatever issues addressed to them and how quickly they have taken actions of my concerns&questions since my moved here ~25yrs ago!

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful — Alice Walker

At the junction of MarineT+C by the traffic lights, looks like an elaborated and well-luminated wake to wake even the dead day or night!

財神FortuneDiety/MarineT-Food&Market is up&ready to bring in good fortune, day or night and do like that they are keeping to the colours of gold&red lights, very auspicious&fitting into the CNYcolours.

Welcome to the new IndiaMuslim-FoodStall/AlMeera’s/Blk59MarineT nearer to my end. Thought they packed up after the MRT-constructions but glad it was just under-covers for renovations, now can have ChickenBiryani here without having to go to LittleIndia.

Tkx to Jean for my favourite fresh SugarCane+LemonJuicesS$3.40 to last me for a couple of days – good for 4-8hrs in room-temp, 4-8days in the fridge but usually gone within 3days!

Though sugarcane juice is considered to be healthy, it is high in carbohydrates and sugar. It can spike blood sugar levels and thus should be consumed in moderation.

Overhead sheltered walkways, both under constructions across the JCT- MarineC-T-traffic-lights and on MarineC linking the only 2 bus-stops on MarineC – an eye-sore to some architects but practical to residents.

Tue: byebye to the 15yrs old LG-machine and hello new EuropAce-washing machine.

A long story with running around BestDenki@PP&GWC,  tkx to Clement for dinner and for letting me vent my frustrations of the day! Managed on my own to push the machine further back after dinner and after ~13,000steps of walking today. The delivery guys did not look clearly behind that there was more space next to the outlets and I did not check but took their words that it was not possible to push it back further after the delivery!

All’s well that ends well…

Wed: Happy 23rd Bday #1Katy. Time flies when you’re having fun, that means you must be having a blast because it feels like just yesterday you were born!

Appreciations to cousinKaren for lunch&CNYgift – so nice to catch up spending a delightful afternoon chattiing&shopping@PP 

18 Jan 2925 – With More Dental Works

Wed: Happy Bdays to Angie,Estella,Josh and ¾Century to me – what a way to celebrate a Bday! Dental-bridge broke and under that bridge 3 broken teeth had to be extracted – byebye bridge+teeth. The other alternative sounded like a long painful expensive procedure and at this stage, might not even have enough bone density for it. Thanks to the face mask for helping to cover the gap until dentures are ready. IceCream diet makes it feel better, especially with a splash of Baileys to enhance it now that dentures will be around for the rest of this life journey!

Why are dentures like computers – they both have Hard Drives and Bytes…

Thu: in this case it is some teeth and thank goodness not all yet! but still uncomfortable with a perfect looking set of new upper front dentureS$160/including extractions,treatment,etc after GovtSubsidy+MerdekaGen, otherwiseS$650.

Continued from NDC-FarrerPkMedical to collect meds – convenient with direct line from OutramPk on the MRT-NEL-PurpleLine/Senior0.84c – busy morning at the clinic for bro Leslie.

Tkx with appreciations for one of the most delicious Vietnamese meals in an unusual rustic ambience@LuckySaigon/356TanglinRd within a nursery+chickens,roosters,peacock in the surroundings #5&6 would love it here!

Highly recommended despite eating very slowly and having to pack the rest to take away to enjoy for dinner, especially when the beef is provided by my own bro – the advantage&luxury of eating out with only someone like him where he can bring some of his own ingredients or wines to places where he knows the owners!

Tkx Gel for the first PineappleTarts to start with the CNY goodies – have just ordered from MaruMaru to be delivered. They are perfect well-presented gifts, especially to take overseas and this will be the second year I have ordered them – last year I collected them and got lost! So far one of my favourites is still Sue’s PineappleTarts but unfortunately, she is not making any for sale now.

Fri: appreciations for BelatedBdaysDinner to Leonard and I + early LoHeiDinner before the busy CNYseason at CystalJade/GreatWorldCity. Their LoHei here was not quite the traditional one, ie with more fresh ingredients, good&refreshing and was enjoyed by all.

Thousand thanks for new washing machine to be delivered next week and also first time in Steak&Shake for a milkshake. Came back to another wonderful surprise waiting by the door(this will have to wait for the gums to heal fully!) from Norway, made my day with all these wonderful ppl with me and in my thoughts today. When you past ¾Century in your life’s journey, every day is a celebration while you can still eat,sleep,walk,etc, no matter how slowly – so do enjoy every moment of it to the fullest while there is…

If I can’t suck my milkshake through a straw, it’s not a milkshake, it’s a glass of ice-cream – Bill Maher

Sat: waiting for delivery of Maru Maru  PineappleTarts – each piece is individually packed handcrafted with home-cooked pineapple jam, 2boxes/24pcsS$84 including delivery – pix downloaded

premium ingredients used

no artificial coloring

no preservatives

reduced sugar

Needed to be within 4walls from 1300-2000hrs as was told that they are unable to narrow the timeframe but despite being told tbat, they got here before 1400hrs. No worries when the weather is so comfortable to relax in:

Second monsoon surge from Jan 17 to 19 expected to be less intense: MSS | The Straits Times

14 Jan 2025 – To Stay Healthy

Sat: temp last night dropped to ~21°C after hours of relentless rain since yesterday – do not remembering to ever experience such temp to write about here in the tropics. Would usually be sleeping in just a sarong but needed a thin wrap for last night despite without any AC or fan. To those in affected flooding areas, plx take care to be safe – if this continues for another 40days&night will have to build an ark or move – pix downloaded

Mercury dips to 22 deg C as monsoon surge hits Singapore | The Straits Times

Enjoying this cool wet weathers with OldMovie&AudioBooks but do feel for outdoor vendors whose livelihoods depend on the weathers. Walked~7,000steps Underground,Aboveground on MP-Rd/under the shade to&fro Parkway to pick up some groceries that is unavailable in MT-hood and to get one of my favourite take-away ChickenRiceLunchS$7 for a treat on a wet day.

How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and the heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain! – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sun: still raining&wet but not dampening the moods&spirits for another early yummy Crab-Bday-Meal, tkx to Gel,Lynnette&PG. This round is with CNY-decor in the backgound, the combination of IKEA-Mulled-Fruit-Drink+Merlot was quite a hit+homemade Tiramisu for dessert. A lovely time was had by all on this relaxing afternoon with the soothing pitter patter of raindrops. It has been 2yrs ago since we all got together for our first CrabGetTogether – a group-selfie with the same angle as in 2023 to remember by.

You will never make the crab walk straight — Aristophanes

Crab culture and its impact on society

Jan2023: thank you thank you Gel for this early BdayDinner, one of the freshest&delicious crab meal I have had – what a treat.

Mon: Aghhh… alamak not only did my dental bridge break, so did the spin cycle of the washing machine which also happened in 15Apr2009! Time to get dental work done, a new washing machine(hopefully will not need another after this!) and bathroom floor redone. As the saying goes, it never rains but pours is quite literally for today, another wet day. Oh well, can still eat,hear,see,smell,talk,walk,etc, and nothing like a walk with an umbrella by the coast to restart&refresh especially when having most of the path to myself.

Crossed path with the EC-Pk-Rooster and found some SagaSeeds at the section by the DogRun before heading to Parkway.

No matter rain or shine, MarineParadePromenade is ready for the CNY. After a haircut+checking out some washing machines, took the bus back and ~8,000steps was what the body could handle today!

ST Explains: What caused the prolonged rain in Singapore? | The Straits Times

Tue: ~6,000steps and one step at a time starting with dental work@NDCS today.

Researchers have made a lot of interesting discoveries it might be that there actually is something like a mind-body connection when it comes to the immune cells in your gut and your likelihood of feeling depressed. Thus, stress can affect body&brians, so keeping the balance is important.

Researchers have revealed how your body might be affecting your mind

These early-stage findings show that in addition to probiotic supplements, targeting drugs to such types of receptors in the gut immune system may potentially yield novel approaches to prevent and treat stress-induced psychiatric symptoms such as depression…

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving – Albert Einstein ie use it or lose it!

10 Jan 2025 – But Not For All

Tue: finally, a day with enough energy&time to put away ChristmasDecor and the 2Handmade&PaintedGreetings+the handful of snailmail to be stored for updating&replying in Nov with hopes that the memory will still be intact – hahaha!

Bus&MRT fares have gone up .04c – now no longer .99c but S$1.03 for Seniors. This S$60 2024PublicTransportVoucher should cover the increase for the year!

I understand that UK-Seniors can travel free on buses, but not sure if that applies for the subway too? or if anywhere else in the world has free public transportation for their SeniorCitizens besides China&UK? Can anyone enlighten me on this??

Wed: downstairs neighbour’s has complained about some leak and now my bathroom floor is flooded with non-stain-dye looking like some alien bright fluorescent colour to test what&where is causing the leak. After the release of the dye and even after rinsing, looked like the leak is from the join of the toilet-bowl, will have to find someone reliable to repaint&reseal the bathroom floor with attention to that area.

Thu: Happy  Bdays to nieceJudy and nephewLee Due to some SeniorMoments got their dates mixed for earlier dates with them now turning to more than ½ a century. Well better earlier than never and sometimes I’ve reached the age where my train of thought sometimes leaves the station without me – also reminding me to organise some of the old B/W photos while the memory is somehow still there. 1991Pix with father with some of the OrangeG for his 80Bday

Not sure if I will ever make it but in my thoughts&plans for 2026-29, ie before I turn 80! Open for any suggestions and any other links if anyone has more info than what is so far below. Hannah&Heiko my young friends did this with a full pack, NO will NEVER do with a full pack and except for the snakes, looks beautiful & peaceful and most tempting with few ppl. Overland Track is an Australian bushwalking track, traversing CradleMountain-LakeStClair NationalPark, within the TasmanianWildernessWorldHeritageArea.

Tkx to Hannah for her share and the below link to one of my bucket list hikes and if health&finance permit would like to do this hike. She&Heiko just did a 6days hike here and as tempting as it looks OverlandTrackDay3: Panorama of the dolerite mountain peaks (from left) Mt Oakleigh, Pelion East, Ossa, Thetis, Achilles, and Pelion West.

OverlandTrackDay4: Beautiful scoparia flowers (alpine wildflowers) just a short walk from Pelion Gap up the side track to Mt Ossa. The peak in the background is Mt Doris – except for OverlandTrackDay6: Tasmanian tiger snake in the bushes. Highly venomous but not aggressive, we saw about 6 of them on the track and they were always moving away from us – caption&pix credits to Hannah

Cradle Mountain: Guided walks on the Overland Track, Tasmania

Fri: a cool lovely wet morning here with no complains here considering what is happening in parts of UK&USA with freezing temps and fires in CA/USA – to those in affected areas, plx stay safe&warm.

With the chaos due to the recent unexpected&unpredicted weathers including floods,earthquakes,fires,stampedes,wars,etc am wondering if reading into too much in my last ¼Century? Oh well, life happens! but will still keep living&looking forward to the best&fullest as possible in my present circumstances now that this body will soon be ¾Century in existence on planet Earth – life sounds more exciting when you can measure it by Century hahaha. Here is another interesting link on Youtube:

Why does it feel like the world is falling apart? | Brian Klaas

My social media consumption has shifted away from news and sensationalism to videos that educate or adds to my well-being – Jason

5 Jan 2025 – From Teen Years To Senior Years

SongWithoutEnd/1960 the story of FranzLiszt. Must have watched this movie in my teens but and now again in my 70s – testimony of an amazing pianist with a fantastic musical talent portrayed by the dashing DirkBogarde(somehow do not remember him being so hot! in my teens – hahaha)who is far from any resemblance to the real Liszt! The piano pieces were performed beautifully by the great JorgeBolet. There are obvious discrepancies between this film and the real life of the person involved but this is after all a movie, not a documentary.

Enjoyed reading SomersetMaugham(1874-1965:English writer known for his plays,novels&short stories) in my teens and now still enjoying his works again but thru’ audiobooks on YouTube. Perhaps his lengthy trips to distant places+a long life makes him one of the most prolific writers. One of his short stories about a pearl necklace – MrKnowAll highlights the value of honesty,loyalty,compassion&understanding.

Mr Know All Summary By William Somerset Maugham • English Summary

All the words I use in my stories can be found in the dictionary-it’s just a matter of arranging them into the right sentences. The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit – Maugham 

With a NewYearDraw of ~S$8.2Millions and despite the chances will need to be part of this excitement especially when SingaporePools is at my convivence being just across the street, ie less than 1min walk! If only the QuickPick picked 9 11 24 29 39 46 – ss the Chinese expression for gambling 倒錢 literally means to pour away money and if I could not afford to lose S$10 then should not have played TOTO – hahaha

Sat: walk about around the blocks, finally without any hoardings at Block47 and a new sign, playground,hardcourt at the junction of MarineCres/TaoNanSchool&MarineParadeRd – glad to see how nice&clean Blocks43-47 here are being upkept.

First 2025 of fresh OJ@IJOOZS$2 favourite OJ-juice machines by the public laundry machines at Block47 and for those juice machines this is their 134,987,046cups – do treat myself to one of these ~once a month.

Sun: appreciations for this visit and nice that some ppl can still enjoy the playground+the walk above ground to CCF-Bfast@MT-Market and back via underground.

And many thanks to Calvin&Sam for delicious Japanese lunch@KiTeppan&Rogama/PalaisRenaissance,OrchardRd where the cuisine isn’t just a meal; it’s an art form, a reflection of nature’s bounty+meticulous craftsmanship and Ishindenshin – communication through silent understanding; telepathy of the heart with Helen & Yukie too. Excited to hear about the future plans for CC/SIN&Japan.

LoHei-捞起-dinner@Rochalie for Kiera before she heads back to the US but hopefully will avoid the ArcticBlast as parts of the UK&US are plunged into chaos this weekend after heavy snow&freezing rain that caused widespread travel disruption and power outages.

A snowstorm demonstrates the power of nature and the vulnerability of humankind – Richard Louv

Cold weather: Temperatures drop as arctic air sweeps into UK

Snow travel chaos as roads are closed and flights are cancelled=Major winter storm bears down on America’s midsection, as millions face snow, ice or heavy rain | CNN

Mon: welcome LynneO back to SIN, great to catch up going down 1962-65MemoryLanes and good that she is safely here visiting while her home in the UK is covered with snow.

2 Jan 2025: Happy New Year

Mon: on this 6thDay of Christmas, no six geese a-laying but laundry done&folded, not enough energy or motivation there yet to put them away. Will wait until 12rhDay of Christmas, ie Sun5Jan2025 to put away all the 2024Season’sDeco&Greetings at the same time

Tue: be safe&enjoy this last 2024Day and for 2025Countdown wherever you all may be on this 7thDay of Christmas. Looks like the hood here is ready&decked – so before the clock strikes mid-night tonight, instead of raising your glass, raise your LeftFoot and then you can be sure you will start 2025 on the RightFoot – hahaha

Literally&practically at my doorsteps on the 7thFloor, without any need to be in the crowd, delighted to see ppl gathered for the countdown and in my present situation, there’s nowhere as the comfort of my 4-walls where I want to be – that’s what being at the RightPlace&RightTime on the RightFoot with the RightPerson is about for me!

Wed1Jan2025/12midnight: festive fireworks display and glad that ppl could stay in their heartlands to ring in 2025 despite my personal thoughts about fireworks! but what is most impressive is that everything is cleared&cleaned before daylight to start a bright&clean 2025 after a good night with ~6+hrs sleep.

Happy New Year/新年快樂/Godt nytt år to Each and Every One of You wherever You may be. Starting 2025 on the RightFoot with Gratitude & Hopes that both HealthyFeet will carry us Peacefully & Safely to wherever we belief or choose or dream or hope or want or wish to be…

First 2025meal, yummy Norwegian-style open-face-sandwich of NorwegianButter&SmokedSalmon+ScrambledEgg with SpringOnions to start off the year.

Open-faced sandwiches take risks and live big and smile with all their teeth. These are the people I want to be around — Amy Poehler

Kiritimati Island also known as the Christmas Island and 10 others mostly uninhabited islands of the central Pacific Ocean is the first to ring in 2025. Countries furthest to the west on a British map are the last to celebrate the New Year this means, two uninhabited islands southwest of Hawaii, named Baker Island and Howland Island, will be the last to see the start of 2025.

Who celebrates the new year first and last? It’s complicated.

Tkx with appreciations to CH for this share from JoanWang and so far, the pix that talked to me where fireworks are concerned!

Happy new year 

Somehow the above pix managed to brush a certain chord in me that has been brewing over the past few decades! As spectacular(irony) as these NYE-Fireworks around the world are, cannot keep but wondering about more constructive ways to spend these $MultiBillions$ on, like education,medical,etc instead of fireworks,firearms,etc… senior years are certainly bringing back some idealistic teen years thoughts – hahaha.

Thu: feeling blessed&grateful to be able to catch up with greetings to&from family&friends around the world. Done with AntiB, slowly but surely breathing with less coughing after another goodnight of ~7+hrs sleep.

2 – Happy Bday Darryl
5 – Happy Bdays GeraldC & Leonard
6 – Happy Bday CindyH
9 – Happy Bdays Judy & Lee
10 – Happy Bday KeeYang
11 – Happy Bday MickK
15 – Happy Bdays AngieS, Estella, JoshuaL & me!
18 – Happy Bday Isabelle (SunSun)
20 – Happy Bdays DavidLam & Mayven
21 – Happy Bday Michael
22 – Happy Bday Katy
24 – Happy Bdays OleK