18 Jan 2014 – And KittyEU from Sierra Leone/Africa

Tue: dentists are not my favourite visits even though I am fond of my dentist cousin Ken 🙂 Somehow is it not easy to talk when the mouth is packed with instruments 🙂 🙂 Managed to take an easy and lazy day dosing and reading, but then have to be careful not to doze too much or unable to sleep at night! Created a plate of wing-bean salad but had to dump it into the soup to soften it, usually prefer it fresh and crunchy… alas not this time!!

Above pix from 1954, 1956 at the old Island Club and Christmas 1961 or 62?

Thank you to my dearest parents for this blessed life. Two pix from 1950 & 1963 good memories of mother. She passed on in her early 50s/1965. Tomorrow it will be 64yrs ago she gave birth to me, the youngest of her 7 children!

Still remember the 1963 pix, the first day of CNY and she was rushing to sew my dress the night before. She was a fantastic seamstress and sewn most of her’s & the family’s clothes.

Wed: Happy Bdays to Angie/USA and me. Nice to hear from family and friends and such beautiful cake pix on FB. Thank you everyone for their kind and thoughtful greetings. Watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty***a timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams who embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing…

Appreciations to sis Jo for dinner, thank you for her family’s  company. Lucas & Beth love blowing out candles and I am still paranoid about it…

Thu: what a lovely surprise to hear that KittyEUFadlu-Deen is visiting her mom for the CNY. Met up for breakfast and later had the pleasure to meet with her mom, Mrs Eu, en elegant and remarkable 92yr lady. Kitty was one of my music teachers in Dublin/Ireland. Looking forward to meeting up with Yasmin  (Kitty’s daughter) who I baby sat in the 1970s. She too will be visiting for the CNY.

Fri: at the airport to meet with cousin Anna who was lucky to get out of Toronto the day when all the arrival flights were cancelled. She wants her independence and has booked herself a non-refundable hotel room! Great to catch up at the airport, saw her off to the hotel, had lunch and left her to explore. SIN is a safe and easy place to move about if one is adventurous and go with an open mind. Have learnt that for S$20 will give you unlimited rides on the buses and MRTs for 3 days/tourist pass.

One of my best Bday gifts, Katy made it into the Honors Orchestra. Looking sooo forward to hearing her play again. Yeah, way to go #1 grandchild!

14 Jan 2014 – What We locals Call Wet Market/WetM

WetM is a must-see attraction for a true cultural experience of SIN. WetM are fresh food markets and named due to using water to clean the floors for different reasons like ice-melting, fish-cleaning and veggie-washing. These markets are operated with the lively sounds of good old-fashioned commerce. Some people will suppose that wet markets are wet and dirty, but the fact is that they are clean, colourful and vibrant…

http://www.thebestsingapore.com/best-shopping/the-best-5-wet-markets-in-singapore/

There are two sections in a typical WetM, the wet and dry area. Products such as meat, fish are constantly sold at the wet area while dry area is the place for selling sacks of herbs, spices, rice, dried noodles, dried seafood, and beans.

The best time to explore WetM is in the early morning. Most of them open at 0500hrs or earlier and close before noon to keep the freshness for the products.

Sun: usually do my shopping at the MT WetM on the weekends, especially the weekend just passed, Made a big pot of soup to be ready by Mon to go on a liquid diet due to a tooth extraction!! There was a promotion on this electric lunch box. Being a fan of cooking and kitchen-ware gadget, bought this for S$50 and found it useful for steaming, and a healthy way to cook!

The pros about wetM are that the prices are cheaper than supermarket ( a local 24hrs Giant just around the corner from the WetM) and  can buy in small quantity, 1 carrot or 1 stalk of celery, etc. A large pot of soup (should last for 2-3 days) with 1kg+ of pork bones & meat, 1 large carrot, potato & onion, garlic & ginger for seasoning and green onions & cilantro for garish will cost about S$10.

Fresh flowers usually orchid or Heliconia or any of the ginger flower family for S$4-5, these local flower can last up to 2 weeks.

Mon: not a good day, it is the 13th but not a Fri! First the alarm did go but luckily managed to rescheduled the dental app. On the way home, could not find my keys and with a groggy mind, just headed to the door so that I can figure out what the next step will be. Joy to discover that the keys were still in the pad-lock! Thank goodness no one else noticed!! Feeling the discomfort after saying goodbye to one of my teeth who has been with me for nearly 60yrs 🙁 even the yummy home-made soup is no comfort but then also it is time to lose weight 🙂

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig;
Home again, home again,jiggety jig.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
To market, to market, to buy a fine hog;
Home  again, home again, joggety jog –

10 Jan 2014 – How I Dread Clearing Paperwork!

Thu: amazing that niece Judy is 50 today and she does not look more than a day older than 30! Nephew Lee is 40 today too and it seems like yesterday that I pulled him up from the swimming pool where he was swallowing a lot of water then! Happy Birthdays to both and having a niece who is 50 sure does make me feel like life has gone by like a blink of an eye 😉

Nice pot-luck dinner and lots of laughter and fun at Lynne’s with the CHIJ ladies from 1962 (except for Mary). Clockwise: Shirley, Penny, Sylvia, myself, Mary, Evelyn, Rebecca, Lydia, Pat, Angela and Lynne. Thank you Lynne and her husband David for hosting this so that we can feel young again 🙂 Looking forward to her next trip back to SIN and safe journeys back to the UK.

Fri: Happy 25th Bday to grand-nephew Ang Kee Yang. Now this really makes me feel my age!!

The desk and files desperately need to be cleared and paperwork updated. Shredding papers from 2002-2012 is quite a job! These few days are when time is with me to get this done before arrival of more guest and the CNY ahead.  Will try to be disciplined to get this done before dental surgery next week… more to dread 🙁

Checking into some of my complain list and the last complain made regarding a dangerous taxi driver was in Apr 2010. Was asked then if I would testify to suspense the taxi driver’s licence. Replied that I am not here to break anyone’s rice bowl but would appreciate that he gets a warming. Impressed that the matter was promptly taken care of.

http://amylamsg.com/2010/04/20/taxi-driver-from-sin/

http://amylamsg.com/2010/05/21/follow-up-taxi-driver-from-sin/

Wrote in again a week ago regarding a car obstructing traffic by the bus stop and attaching pix with this complain. Not the first time with inconsiderate drivers but this time it was not just a quick load off or on. Was still there even after I had to cross the road to shop and crossed back. Hope that a solution can result from constructive complains.

Have a great weekend y’all…

8 Jan 2014 – Chinatown’s Horses getting ready for their Year!

After May sent this link, wanted to shoot some pix for her:

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/singapore_takes_the_lead_in_green_building_in_asia/2720/

By encouraging the adoption of innovative architectural design and energy-saving technologies, Singapore has emerged as a model of green building in Asia…

Across town, a new hotel, Parkroyal on Pickering, displays its green credentials in the form of an artfully tiered façade dotted with tropical ferns and creeping vines. Along with an efficient cooling system, its green perks include rainwater harvesting, lighting sensors, and high performance window glass and hot water pumps. Entering the wood-paneled lobby, which has a wall of tropical mosses, a visitor is reminded of a rainforest — no matter that the building lies in the heart of the banking capital of Southeast Asia.

In Singapore everything is driven by the economy – Ng Eng Kiong, president of the Singapore Green Building Council.

 Thus, a future economic downturn as serious as the 2008 financial crisis could potentially reverse some of Singapore’s green-building gains. The BCA reports that some of the city-state’s older buildings have a lifespan of just 10 to 15 years — a fact that could further deter long-term investments in sustainability.

The above well-written and interesting article is by Mike Ives. Was trying to go there for a buffet but was side-track to a local chicken noddle instead. Still would like to try the buffet another time. If really observant, one could see that some of the interior vertical gardens do need maintenance. Some of the views from certain rooms are not too scenic, ie facing Chinatown’s HDB/public housing where laundry are hung out to dry!

Tue: belated yummy birthday lunch (chicken in black sauce with noodles) for Leonard in Chinatown. Appreciations to him for guiding me thru’ some of the shops. Always such fun with Leonard (besides being my computer guru)  as he knows where the latest good local eating and shopping joints are.

5 Jan 2014 – Happy Bdays to Gerald & Leonard!

Fri: experienced the new Marine Coastal Expressway/MCE, by bus#30 heading to VivoCity. The dual five-lane, 5km expressway will support commuters who travel to offices, homes and attractions in the MB area.The 3.6km underground tunnel comprises a 420-meter section that crosses under the MB Channel seabed. The teething problems occurred on the 1st day and today the traffic was light and went like a breeze.

Last dinner together for this trip with David, Mica&Mun and Matt at Pearl Bank. Good to catch up with Matt who is back in SIN for the holidays from his studies in Perth. As I was saying goodbye to David after the Leongs left, realized that camera was overlooked, being too preoccupied with  lively dinner conversations! So, to not forget when we meet again, tonight is KIV!! David’s logic 🙂

Safe journeys back to HI cousin.

Sat: concert at Esplanade with Gil Shaham, Let Fly, concerto for violin and orchestra (SSO) by Bright Sheng who is younger than me. Contemporary fusion of Eastern & Western style music does take getting used to. GS charismatic flawless performance made it easier. His solo encore piece, Bach’s Gavotte in G converted me to a total fan of his but not willing to stand in line for his autograph 🙂 🙂

On the 12th day of Christmas

My true love gave to me

Twelve lords a-leaping

Sun: procrastinating that the decorations have to be cleared and box away until next Christmas. If only there are 12 lords a-leaping to put away the decorations, perhaps then will true love exist… 🙂 🙂 🙂

PasarBella is located at The Grandstand (formerly Turf City). Memories of this location go far back to the 1950s when father had race horses there.

Today it houses trendy seafood market, meat, dairy, fresh produce, wines, craft beers, global cuisines and personal services. Welcome back to SIN, Richard and hope that your stomach is good enough for local food soon…

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday – Don Marquis

3 Jan 2014 – Otto Ristorante****

Wed: thank you to all for starting 2014 with laughter and fun times! Appreciations to Bev for her multi posed shots, food&gifts, Aya for her info on Japan, Ting for the cheese&gifts, KiWi for the Lakka, CH for food&gifts! Made seafood pasta, salad a New Year Punch to kick in 2014 🙂

KiWi was feeling the aftermath from his New Year’s Eve bash but was a good sport with the punching and we finished a bottle of Lakka/Cloudberry liqueur on top of the punch 🙂 🙂 Pix credits to Bev.

Thu: Lawrence arrived from KCH to test drive Les’s new Rolls-Royce, a sleek blue and silver 2 doors fast back. The last time in a Rolls-Royce was in the early 1980s/HKG catching up with Lock&May who were visiting her family then! Congrats with the new car, Les and with a car like that, is a call to another celebration 🙂 🙂 🙂

Thanks for an excellent dinner, fantastic wines (brought from Les cellar), good service at Otto Ristorante**** located in the Red Dot Building at Maxwell.  Tomino cheese (yummy) with Parma ham, Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Crispy Sucking Pig and a little pasta with shavings of White Truffle which was out of this world that pix will not justify the taste! Another die die must try. That is THE way to start a New Year 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Fri: Mica, love The Peanuts: A Year’s Worth of Smiles and Blessings and certainly a smile for today. Thank you!

Truffles – anyone who does not declare himself ready to leave Paradise or Hell for such a treat is not worthy to be born again – Maurice Goudeket,

1 Jan 2014

A Happy, Healthy & Wealthy 2014

Bahagi, Sehat & Kaya 2014

一個快樂，健康和富有2014

एक खुश, स्वस्थ और धनी 2014

Sásta, Sláintiúil & saibhir 2014

En lykkelig, sunt og rik 2014

Jan special dates:

2 – Happy Bday Darryl NEO

3- Happy Bday Richard TANN

5 – Happy Bdays Gerald CHOO & Leonard SHOH

6 – Happy Bday Cindy HALL

9 – Happy Bdays Judy LAM & LW AMEEN

10 – Happy Bday ANG Kee Yang

15 – Happy Bdays Angie SOSA & me!

18 – Happy Bday Isabelle AMEEN

19 – Happy Bday Kari HEGGELUND

21 – Happy Bday Michael LEONG

22 – Happy Bday Katy HALL

24 – Happy Bdays 15th uncle TC LAM and Ole Kristian HUSTAD

The Beatles echo in a distance memory of a naïve teenager 🙂 🙂 🙂

When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?

If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?

Header pix credits to CNN

31 Dec 2013 – on this last day in 2013

Mon: appreciations to Mica&Mun and David for a lovely evening at East Coast Lagoon Food Village. Enjoy this location in the pleasant evening breeze and only about 30mins walk from my place. Thank you Mica&Mun for The Peanuts who have been in my life since teenage times!

Have been dining with cousin David from HI who stays at the Pearl Bank Apts /珍珠苑, a high-rise private residential building on Pearl’s Hill in Outram near Chinatown. Both David and Wilki stay there when they are visiting SIN. 4th aunt LAM PohKow who will be 100yrs in 2014 lives there with her helpers. Pix with Jo, 4th aunt, David and Mica from Dec 2012, 2013 to be uploaded…

As the tallest (37 floors) and densest residential building in SIN when completed in 1976, Pearl Bank Apts was one of SIN pioneers of high-rise, high-density living, and influenced urban development in SIN and other cities in southeast Asia. The views from the top floor are stunning from this horse-shoe shaped apt building.

Aug 2007, Pearl Bank Apts which is located on a 8,000sq m/86,000sq ft, 99-year leasehold site was put up for an en bloc sale.The tender closed on Sep 2007, but fetched no bids. Another tender closed on Feb 2008, failing again, and the collective sale agreement lapsed on Aug 2008. The split-level apts are not too practical for those who are not stable on their feet!

Pearl’s Hill City Park is a city park built around a reservoir on top of Pearl’s Hill Terrace. It is located behind Pearl Bank Apts. Park-goers can experience peace and tranquillity in this 9 hectare corner of Chinatown, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They can also climb the hill, or simply sit back and relax by the tranquil waters in the pond.

Thus making the location of these apts very desirable with both MRT and buses just at the foothills.

If  you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant  trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people – Confucius

28 Dec 2013 – Party and more parties…

Tue: thank you graceful Grace for including me to her interesting group of young friends. Surprised to hear a voice from the past Botanic Gardens days. Good to touch base with Bian and just checked into the date! It was in 2006, 7yrs ago when the 1st SIN Garden Festival had the office downstairs from yours at SBG!

Grace did the honour with the opening ceremony by breaking into a bottle of Korean plum brandy! Interesting gift from a Korean friend of hers. A white hardy bottle packed in porous clay wrapped in plastic netting and one is supposed to use a wooden mallet to crack the clay. Thank goodness she did not break the white bottle otherwise we would not have got to taste this wonderful Korean plum brandy 🙂

Thank you David for all the wonderful family pix. You are now elected to be the cameraman for the family functions. The new ‘popper’ was a success, and even Beth, the youngest of the purple generation is amazed 🙂

Wed: Merry Christmas and appreciations to Les&Ivy for hosting a lovely family (green, orange and purple generations) lunch at Fireplace/Tanglin Club. Was it really 5yrs ago that a Grinch wanted us to dampen our merry spirits? Well we had fun then and now! And this year a new ‘popper’ in the market created more colours…

http://amylamsg.com/2008/12/26/post-christmas/

Dinner: good to catch up with our annual meeting, cousin David from HI who will only be here for a week.

Thu: Boxing Day but not much boxes to rid of this year! Gel & Mil, thanks for bottles and bottles, now can make more cocktails and Chinese Drunken Chicken! Glad to see Gel in cheerful spirits and enjoying the home-made lunch of soup, salmon, salads and sausages. Even with her on-going chemo treatment, her hair has returned with a twist, so lucky to have natural waves.

Thank you for the most useful Christmas gift from youngest grandson, Olai & his parents May&Bjørn. This handy size scale, 10cm/5″ can weigh up to 55kg/121lbs. Perfect for my travels.

L&M will be happy now that I will stop asking them to check the weight of my bags 🙂

Good parties create a temporary youthfulness – Mason Cooley