17 Oct 2013 – Hello CA Cousins

Tue 8 Oct:  the last time here was in the late 1980s when Linda & Alfred TAY moved into their lovely villa. 36mins flying time from CAE to ATL with a 2+hrs layover in ATL and 4+hrs from ATL to SNA ( John Wayne Airport-Orange County/LA). Thank you L&A for meeting me at the airport.

Wed 9 Oct: what a luxury to be staying in their 8,500sq ft villa with pool, tennis court and fruit trees orchard. Lunched at China Gardens*** and dinner at Sam Woo*** in Irvine. Appreciations to uncle Yat Meng/Richard, auntie Helen, cousins Amy & Andrew for taking time  to meet and for taking us for dinner. Amy will be getting married in Feb and Andrew in May 2014. Trying to be there in May 2014 after Linn’s big 40th and the Boston Marathon!

Thu 10 Oct: interesting to catch up with family gossips, stories and news. Auntie Keng (father’s cousin and Linda’s mom), 101yrs has a good memory and still in decent health. How wonderful! Auntie Keng and mother used to play mah-jong when Linda and I were in our childhood bliss 🙂

Fri 11Oct: first time meeting with cousin Colleen, Linda’s only and youngest sister. Appreciations to L&A for their graciaous hospitality and for driving me to LAX via Long Beach! Uneventful 17+hrs flights to SIN via Manila (2hrs layover) on Philippines Airline.

Arrived SIN Sun 13 Oct, rested for a couple of days and finally got my act together to get a new laptop with the help of Sebastian. Thanks bro! More about the Acer Aspire S7 in the next posting, too tired and frustrated now to go into it 🙂 🙂

Whoever said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks has a point 🙂 🙂 🙂

Oct’s Special Dates

3 Happy Bday CHONG Siong Yin

4 Happy Bday Berit Lisbet EGGEN

6 Happy Bday David WONG

7 Happy 70th Bday Leslie LAM

8 Happy Bdays Larry LAM, Audrey WONG and KONG Heng Sun

12 Happy Bday Karen SCAF-BENHAM

13 Happy Bday David YUNG

16 Happy Bday Patricia LAM

21 Happy Bdays Steve LAM & Dee HALL

27 Happy Bday Ellen HALD sr

29 Happy Bdays LAM Kwok Lock & Kiera CHUA

31 Happy Bdays Adeline LEE, Mark BOROWSKY and Happy Halloween

6 Oct 2013 – Smoke gets in the eyes

2 above pix credits to Irmo News 26 Sep 2013

To watch your house burning down is a nightmare. The feeling of helplessness is overwhelming. Woken Fri 20 Sep fateful morning by the alarm and smell the smoke. First thought was, did one of the kids forget to turn off the toaster as Fri morning is Pop Tarts day?

Pix from 2012

As I was staying above the garage, the stairs lead me to the kitchen, away from the other rooms of the house (pix from 2012). Ran down stairs to open the door to the kitchen which was full of smoke. Saw out of the kitchen door to see flames engulfing the blinds and the couch in the living room on fire. Ran from the kitchen thru’ the dinning room, shouting for Linn and out of the main entrance to see the rest of the family on the driveway by the mail box. Did a quick headcount to make sure all the kids were there.

The kids were all crying and we hugged each other telling them that everything is OK and that we are all safe and unharmed. Gator was then mentioned and more tears. Ensured the family that I was the last one up to let Gator out to the backyard at 0100hrs as she seemed restless and was pacing up and down in the kitchen. Being a lovely evening out, I let her stay out, so she was not IN the house. Everything was calm and quiet when I was on the back porch then.

As we watched the fire grow, I got the family to move away from the driveway in fear of explosion (gas fireplace in the house). It was 20mins before the fire trucks arrived and that 20mins seemed forever as we saw the house being shallowed by the flames. Clothed with only our PJs and with no footwear, we stood to watch the firemen in action. Kind neighbours came with clothes, footwear and food for us. Nobody could get in or out of the Avalon sub-division that fateful morning.

By the time the fire was out, we just stood speechless and not having a watch, had no clue of time. Asked the firemen if there was any chance anything might have survived in the room where I stayed. A ladder was placed to the broken window and in they went. Described exactly where my passport was located (a backpack behind the door in the corner furthest away from the main house (pix from 2012 when I was packing then). Lo and behold, they fish out the backpack and threw down to the ground. The backpack was blackened with soot but all the important documents are in tact…

Sat 5 Oct: walk organised by Avalon Houseowners Association: the kindness and generosity of family, friends, neighbours, community, church, etc are just beyond expectation and imagination. They all touched me to tears. Met with the fire heroes from Irmo Fire Department who put out the fire on that long and sad day and got whatever was salvageable for me. Today they went back into the house to get more, to discover that Linn’s wedding dress sealed in a box is in tact, have not yet opened it. Chances are that it will be black in soot!! Seemed like the family passports, some important documents and some pix may have a chance.

Gator’s (2001-2013/12+dog yrs, 85+human yrs), funeral was last week when we all said goodbye to this loving family pet. RIP sweet dog and she will be missed. Laptop found in the mess, probably has to be buried but in the meanwhile, the IT from the fire department will check it out.

The family is doing well considering the circumstances. They are moving forward in search of a new house. Thank goodness for the full insurance coverage from USAA. Linn said, if you have to go thru’ a house fire, Irmo is the place to do it! Flying off Tue 8 Oct via LAX/CA and visiting with cousins for a couple of days before heading to SIN. Leaving with a very heavy heart and head, but know that they are OK with their positive attitudes, faith and surrounded by wonderful kind people.

Looking forward to seeing the whole family Spring 2014.

There is an art of knowing when, Never try to guess. Toast until it smokes and then twenty seconds less – Piet Hein

12 Sep 2013 – Triggers off Traumatic Memories!

Mon afternoon, nearly all of Irmo’s firefighters, police, emergency vehicles were here to confirm my statement that there is never a dull moment here! It turned out that a stove fire across the street broke out and nobody was at home. The firemen broke in and put it out. Thank goodness no one was hurt.

While watching the action, got a chance to chat with the next door neighbour who told us about when lightning struck one of the houses and burnt it down, and some robbery that happened before Linn & family moved into this neighbourhood. Sometime early this year, Linn witness at least 5 police cars across the street due to some domestic dispute! According to the next door neighbour, this neighbour (where the domestic dispute occurred) is on something or other as she was seen threatening the cable workers with a shotgun at another incident…

Quite some unusual drama in this quiet residential area.

A vivid memory came to mind, robbery at the Bank of America/Bellflower Blvd when we moved to Long Beach/CA in 1985/86. Linn was in 5th Grade and May in 1st at Bixby Elementary. The bank’s front entrance was on the main road but there was back entrance where a car park was located. The building was free-standing with a lane on either side. Left May & Linn sitting in the car knowing that it was going to be just a quick cheque deposit.

Deposit slips were near the front entrance and thus was standing nearer there. Suddenly the word FREEZE nearer the back entrance echoed. First thought, what if May decides to get out of the car to look for me??? Slowly and discreetly, started to head out of the front entrance like nothing happened, but do remember that the heart was pounding hard and heavy. When I got as far as the door, pushed it open slowly and ran for life to the back. Such a relief to see both Linn & May in the car.

The robbers were actually parked next to our car. Linn saw the guys with stockings on their face said, ‘hey May, look robbers’!  When one is age 11 and 7, incidents like these are easily forgotten! The police questioned Linn who could only tell them that the robbers had stockings on their faces.  Our neighbours from Clark Avenue who were standing in line at the cashier near the back entrance to make a deposit (cash in-take from their chocolate store on the Queen Mary), got their money stolen.

There are certain days and incidents that are so stuck in the memory and 9/11 is another one of them…

http://amylamsg.com/2011/09/11/in-memory-of-those-who-perished-on-911/

Here is an interesting article about regarding memory, appreciations to  Martin Williams/HKG for sharing.

http://www.drmartinwilliams.com/science-and-technology/of-mice-and-men-and-memory-plus-the-inception-deception.html

9 Sep 2013 – Library and Movies

Good morning from Columbia/SC and what a lovely sunrise on the deck outside the house. Was at the library a few days ago, have nearly forgotten how nice and pleasant the Irmo Branch Library is. That will be another Sat outing for the grandkids!

Welcome back to the US and Blockbuster, where it is possible to rent some movies for US$0.99 over 5 days. Time to catch up with the movies missed or repeat those which are worth repeating.

 \

The Bucket List/2007****starring two of my favourites, Jack Nicholson (Edward) and Morgan Freeman (Carter) as the two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. Not good review from the movie critics who are perhaps younger and are unable to relate to mortality! Personally I enjoyed this movie.

Edward last visit with Carter and they share a few moments, wherein Carter reveals with great amusement how the Kopi Luwak (most expensive coffee in the world) Edward enjoys is grown in a Sumatran village, is eaten and defecated by a jungle cat (Asian Palm Civet), and is harvested because of the special aroma of the gastric juices, for real 🙂

Carter crosses off ‘laugh till I cry’ from his bucket list and insists Edward finish the list without him…

Linn received a tiny packet of that coffee from the Sumatra mission group, note the tagline

The Norwegian title translated – Now or Never! Got me thinking what would be in my bucket list??? Laugh till I cry will certainly be one of them 🙂 🙂

According to the above drawings, spoons are used more than bucket!!! When it is time to end life’s journey, it does not matter whether one kicks the bucket or the spoon 🙂 🙂 🙂

Italian romantic comedy Pane e tulipani/Bread And Tulips/2001**** Rosalba misses her bus because she’s stuck in the women’s restroom trying to retrieve her dropped wedding ring from a toilet, how symbolic – marriage down in the toilet!! The courtship of a runaway Italian housewife by a suicidal Icelandic waiter might not sound like the stuff of movie magic — even if it is set against the sensuous, super-romantic backdrop of Venice but is entertaining and a good way to pass an evening.

I don’t have a bucket list because it is my dedication to live every day of my life there. I don’t have a bucket list because I’m doing it that day, I don’t want to go to bed and say, ‘Oh, I wish I had done this’ – Melissa Etheridge

8 Sep 2013 – With 5 Grandchildren Under One Roof!

Fri: Katy’s first school dance and today’s school dance is not what it was! Jeff was joking about if Katy could do the Waltz or the Limbo and guess if he got the rolling eyes from her 🙂 Free dancing is how my first grandchild describes her first school dance 🙂 🙂

2yrs ago the pink pix was posted when Sophie, #4 grandchild was 2 and had the tendency to fall sleep just anywhere as long as she is tired. Linn & I were searching high and low for her then and finally found her in the laundry basket! 2 yrs later and she is now 4, still sleeps anywhere when she is tired. Too big for the laundry basket but no matter of place or position, here she is asleep during their Fri home movie night, for real, but then her dad can sleep standing 🙂 🙂 🙂

While the dance was on, took the chance to window shop at Old Navy, TJ Max , Bed Bath & Beyond and Target (all next to each other!) which are on the way to Katy’s dance location and being in the evening not so hot or crowded. HighSierra bag broke down during the UKc2c hike but managed to get it across the pond. Bought a new one at Ross on Tue senior day (10% off), a grey light weight SamsoniteViewpointe with 10yrs warranty for US$63 S$80 minus 10%. Let’s see how long will this one last! The older hard suitcase, a hard Samsonite is still intact in SIN but too heavy to lug around with these limited baggage weight on the budget travels…

Sat: morning outing with the 4 older grandkids. First to the $Store for them to pick out one item each while I was scouting around for containers for the 3 older and school kids to tidy their stuff on the desk. BubbleTea at the request of all 4. In future, BubbleTea will be for the 2 older ones and something else for the 2 younger ones!

Back to FlightDeck for the afternoon games! This time round, even Superman was not strong enough to help the Gators against Miami. James could not take it and Jeff had to leave with him by half-time; Linn could not handle the last quarter and we took off shortly after James…

Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

4-5 Sep 2013 – May & Olai

4Sep 1978, second daughter born in the land of the midnight sun and northern lights far above the Arctic Circle in the town of Tromsø, Norway. This is where it is dark all winter and bright all summer. Wonders never cease but actually one of my favourite places in Norway where we lived for 5 years from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Getting sentimental with an adorable pix of May when she was the age her son Olai is now! Check out the resemblance… Happy 35th Birthday to May!

This was and still is actually the view from the house in Tromsø (Kvamstykket 4), where we used lived in. Except that the house was recently torn down!

Today Tromsø city is the seventh largest city in Norway by pop, 69,116. It is the largest city and the largest urban area in Northern Norway. Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the small island of Tromsøya in the county of Troms, 350 km 217mi north of the Arctic Circle. Substantial parts of the urban area are also situated on the mainland to the east, and on parts of Kvaløya—a large island to the west.

Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaløya by the Sandnessund Bridge. The city is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tromsø

5Sep 2011: the birth of youngest grandson Olai in Oslo, Norway. He soooo looks like his mom at the same age, just as adorable but with darker hair. Wish I could be there to see his face when he gets his gift from his parents. This would be the cake for him if I were in Norway now. Happy Happy 2nd Birthday to Olai.

Grandchild #6

3 Sep 2013 – Why in Sep and not 1May

For many countries (more than 80 world wide), Labour Day’ is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers’ Day, which occurs on 1May. It is a celebration of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

In USA  and Canada it is celebrated the first Monday in Sep.

In the USA, this day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in NYC. After the Haymarket Massacre, US President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on 1May could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus, in 1887, it was established as an official holiday in Sep to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.

Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day

Mon: swimming at Murraywood Swim & Racquet Club app 10mins drive from the house. Today is the last day at this pool as it will be closed tomorrow and that officially ends this summer, even though the weather is otherwise!!

Katy & Ellie are good swimmers, enjoying today’s water in their own time. Both in the school swim teams and doing great jobs in competitive swimming.

Sophie, JohnW and James are like fish in the water and good to see them feeling so at home in the pool.

Of course no Labor Day is complete without a cook-out. Delicious grilled corn on the cob, bourbon salmon and ending with s’mores in the backyard. OK, now let the cooler weather fall in…

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence – Martin Luther King

1 Sep 2013 – Football Season

Has it really been a year ago since travels to France, Belgium, Norway, Canada and USA all took place within one month, mid Aug-mid Sep 2012?

Aug 2013 with 23 postings and the only time more than 23 postings was May 2011, with 24 postings. Then it was in just Norway when the house was getting ready to sell!

Wed: Sophie’s 1st day at her class of 4yrs group and have been told not just by family that ‘she is splitting image of grandma Amy’! When the hair turns all white, maybe can colour that blond and then there might be some resemblances 🙂 Thank goodness it is just the image. Sophie is a well-behave child, unlike her grandma 🙂 🙂

Fri: with the other 3 in school and Sophie with in her 4yrs group class., took James to McD in the morning, best time to be there when all the kids are in school and the playground just to us. He was wagging like a dog having the full attention from his mom and grandma, not easy to be the youngest in a family of 5, and he is only 2yrs young! Hahaha talking thru’ experience being the youngest in a family of 7!!!!!!!

Sat: college football and this year a change of location from Carolina Wing & Rib House which closed down. Superman with JellyBelly machines have taken over at Flight Deck in Lexington; a good place for the family where kids can enjoy the games in the arcade while the parents can watch the game. Service was a wee bit slow due to the crowd, to be expected but it was service with a smile. Jeff had to leave early as James had no patience for any games 🙂 🙂 🙂

Shared the table with a nice couple, who also like the outdoor life. Gerine & Bob, hope that you will try to be in SIN someday, if not for work, maybe for a visit!

Today the Gators played Toledo and the final score: 24-6. Go Gators…

Sep specail Bdays:

4 Sep – Happy Bdays May HALD & Vincent LAM

5 Sep – Happy 2nd Bday Olai HALD-HERMANSEN

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven LAM & May YUNG-LAM

15 Sep – Happy Bday ENG Ting Ting

16 Sep – HappyBdays Ivy YAP-LAM & Edith LAM

20 Sep – Happy Bday Amy RASHAP

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg TRIBBE

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce LAM-AMEEN & Klaus LAM

24 Sep – Happy Bday LAM Kah Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat LAM-TRIBBE

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel ONG-LAM & Daisy LAM

If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead – Erma Bombeck