11 Sep 2015 – Happy Bdays to bro Steven and May Yung-Lam

Thu: Det kongelige slott/ The Royal Palace in Oslo was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the French King Charles III of Sweden, who reigned as king of Norway and Sweden. The palace is the official residence of the present Norwegian monarch.

During the reign and residence of King Olav V from 1957 to 1991, there was no money for renovation, something the poor build quality of the original structure direly needed. After Norway mutated from Scandinavia’s poor house to its most wealthy member, the current monarch, King Harald V, could start a comprehensive renovation project.

He was criticized because of the amount of money needed to bring the Palace up to a satisfactory state even if much of this went to rectify construction deficits from a century and a half ago. Since public tours began in 2002, the general public has been able to view and appreciate the renovation and splendour that the palace now boasts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace,_Oslo

The palace itself is not what I find so interesting, but that there are no fences and hardly any security in the palace grounds and park is what gets my attention. This really does confirm that PEACE can be not only visited but truly found in this kingdom of trolls and vikings 🙂

The front of the palace commands a full view of Karl Johans gata, the main street in OSL. Even on a beautiful day like today, these were the few people I saw and looks like one of them was having a good nap 🙂 🙂

The park around is delightful to be in. Lush greenery and beautiful tall trees giving pleasant shade on a sunny day.

At the edge of the park by the road are some nice flowers…

Fri: 11 Sep 2001 – the destruction and tragic terrorist attacks will never be forgotten. Cannot figure why SIN chose this day to be their General Election Day?

Fri: edited – http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34226003

At least 107 people died and more than 230 people were injured when a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia

It is also the last day of the Hungry Ghost Festival and LKY did say that –  ‘Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me to the grave and I feel that something is going wrong, I will get up.’ But he was cremated and being practical as he was, will not be wasting space taking up a grave…

‘C’est sera sera’ – whatever will be will be. TGIF and a wonderful weekend to all.

10 Sep 2105 – Annual Visit

Mon: a safe Labor Day to family and friends in the US. Tkx Kari for meeting at Majorstuen, where the Holomenkollen SkiJump stands clearly and proudly in the background. Cheers for our annual meeting.

Pleasant weather and stroll along the fashionable Bogstadvei with the most colourful 7-11 and an unusual car.

Lorry dates back from 1870s is one of the older restaurants is especially known for the many artists who have visited the place and an assortment of more than a hundred beers.

Slottsparken/The Palace Park is a public park in the center of Oslo surrounding the Royal Palace. It is 22 hectares/54 acres.

Tue: stayed home with Olai who has a runny nose. Dinner at Tåsen with Ingrid&HansK. Tåsen is a neighborhood of Oslo, about four 4km/2.5mi north of the city centre. The name origins from the norse name Tásvin.

Wed: heaven is certainly a place on earth. Some quiet playtime and then a yummy cookie with hot chocolate at Starbucks with Olai before sending him off to daycare. He is such good company and I am enjoying every second of it.

What a glorious and beautiful day for a walk about town around tasteful Scandinavian designs.

A new OSLO sign made of wood by the National Theater.The fountain on Karl Johan Gt seems to be spraying higher than when I was first here in 1967.

Only in Norway can PEACE can be visited 🙂 After 4hrs walk in the fresh clean air had to take a nap before dinner. Just read from FB friends that in SIN the PSI readings are: 163 in the East and 169 in the North, sure glad that I am not there…

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people – Franklin D. Roosevelt

7 Sep 2015 – A Weekend of Birthdays Celebrations

Fri: May is 37 today and how is it possible when it seems like yesterday that she was born. Happy Bday to my beautiful second-born. Took Olai to his day care thinking he would be quite excited as they will be celebrating his Bday there today since the daycare will be closed for the weekend.

On the door there was a sign wishing him a Happy Bday and the flag was out. Alas he was quite unhappy telling everyone clearly that it was NOT his Bday today but it was his mother’s Bday. This sweet child definitely has a thoughtful disposition and how I just wanted to give him the biggest hug…

Moved on to do some grocery and flower shopping. All’s well that ends well. May picked him up at daycare and they decided to celebrate his day on Mon which will make a wonderful long weekend of celebrations for my youngest grandchild.

Sat: happy 4Bday to my youngest grandchild who is now bi-lingual and really wonderful to hear him speaking Norwegian to his father and then turning around to speak English to May.

Olai who now has a very slight resemblance to his father, Bjørn – before his 4th bday I could only see May in him…

Sun: M&B are very brave to have 12 daycare kids over for a 2hrs bday celebrations. Even I stayed away from the backyard and took pix from the balcony!

Blessed with beautiful weather – a good time was had by all on the trampoline, soap-bubbles, chalk-drawing, football. They left happy with stomachs full of hotdogs, marshmallows, cakes, etc. Olai is full of energy and excitement to start his 4th year in his life journey.

And yes, my life revolves around Olai when I am here 🙂 🙂 🙂

We have a good life when we manage to live with both satisfied and unsatisfied needs, when we are not obsessed by what is beyond our reach – Kjell Magne Bondevik

4 Sep 2015 – Happy Birthday May & Vince

Tue: SIN Changi Airport quite amazing with these fun displays, here with my wings ready to fly! Nearly nine metres tall, The Social Tree is an interactive installation. Share and store your photo and video memories of Changi on this avant-garde memory capsule and be part of our history for decades to come…

Wed: uneventful full flight on FinnAir from SIN to HEL 11+hrs arriving in time to discover that there will be nearly 6hrs layover time and realizing that I forgot my adapter in SIN 🙁 Indeed appropriate to be in HEL after SIN 🙂 but only for a change of plane! At first I thought they gave me only 45mins to get on to the plane to OSL and was short of breath being the last one at the gate to board the 0730hrs flight to OSL. Was then told that I was on the 1215hrs flight – being tired and jetlag, the mind can sometimes shut down!

Too short time to go into town. Laptop is low on power here – window shopping is fun eventhough there is not an adapter to be found but got to know this airport very well 🙂

Have always been a fan of Finnish designs and designers.

Found this section of designer chairs which you can sit on. How clever to have the Book Swap here too. You can leave books that you have finished reading and to not want to carry on to the next flight, or you can take a book here to read on your next flight.

Fantastic idea to have at a transit lounge. One was supposed to pay hourly but seems like that did not work out so was able to snooze laying comfortably flat for a few mins

Arrived on schedule in OSL with a grey sky and a wet afternoon. 20mins on the Airport Express train into the city. No worries with the weather when I am together with May & Olai.

Thu: spent some time with Olai before sending him off to daycare. i am in 7th Heaven and please do not wake me!

The next important to do on the list is to make sure that there is money in my DnB account. There is an unusual structure outside the bank and strange that there is no roof for it. Wonder if it will still be there when I leave? SimCard and a new number for the mobile – not sure what to make of a number that starts with 911 which is an emergency number to call in the US…

Checking out the area to see what is new! Mad Fork according to May has received not so good reviews but might try it if and when time permits. Nice autumn footwear but not within my budget.

Good to catch up with Ingrid but not good to learn of her circumstances and situation, especially with HansK’s health. Speedy recovery to him and stay strong Ingrid. Glad to see Ellen sr now 90+ with her memory intact inspite of her hard in hearing.

Thank you EllenSr for the loan of this book about her father – the renown architect Magnus Poulsson by Mark Robert Mansfield.

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer – Helen Hunt Jackson

1 Sep 2015 – Hello September 

Wed: on my feet all day and just crashed when I got to bed.

Thu: appointment at MtE to test that I can be on the GO again 🙂

Fri: another all day on the feet at Novena, and like any job there are nice customers and I-Rated ones! Back to CC to bartender for the Night Festival.

The last time I bartender was in the late 1960s with a summer job at Skinnerbu Hotel in Norway where some Swedish guests then were discussing over the bar-counter if I was 15 but then they managed to figure that I could not be, otherwise I would not be able to serve drinks.

Sat: appreciations to DaisyL for the free viewing to Inside Out****After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.

Was good to be able to relax in the company of nieces, nephews and their families. Back to work for a few hours.

11 Auntie Diana’s 90Bday at TungLok Orchard Parade****Pix with the LAMs from left to right: Justin, Amy, 16auntie, 17uncle, 11auntie, Ken, Ivy and Cynthia.

Appreciations to cousins Ken and Cynthia for a delicious dinner and wines. Thanks to Ivy and Justin for rides to and from the hotel. Glad to be able to catch up with some of the family.

Sun: the end of a week-long successful sale.

Beautiful full moon tonight is such a welcoming sight – will surely sleep well after being on the feet all day. A good night to all and looking forward to the next adventure…

Mon: Happy Merdeka Day to all those celebrating Malaysia Day. Stay safe. Tkx to Mil&Gel for lunch; appreciations for the visit Alan. Cleansing and packing seem to be an ongoing process in this life journey, but then that is life-style I have chosen.

Visited bro Steven in SGH and tkx to Clement for dinner

Tue: heading from SIN-HEL 🙂 tonight – the journeys of life but considering who is waiting in OSL makes the journey all worth the while. Looking forward to have youngest grandchild in my arms again and he will turn 4. How time has gone by!

4 Sep – Happy Bdays MayH & Vince

5 Sep – Happy 4th Bday Olai

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven & MayY

15 Sep – Happy Bday Ting Ting

16 Sep – HappyBdays Ivy & Edith

20 Sep – Happy Bday AmyR

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce & Klaus

24 Sep – Happy Bday Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel & DaisyL

26 Aug 2015 -With Tasmanian Night

Fri: admitted bro Steven into SGH as he fell last night and again this morning. Memories of when Les broke his leg playing soccer in the1950s. Mother and I visited him in SGH then and how time has changed this hospital!  The clock tower is one of the few buildings which I still recognize!

Appreciations to Calvin, staff & friends at CC for a Tasmanian evening to start the SIN Night Festival. Great to see such a good turn-out. Tkx Sebastian and Yoshie for the chats.

Sat: this beautiful piece of tree trunk is located at a walking path by the police station car-park between Neil and New Bridge Rd towards SGH. Another recently chopped down tree not far from the one on the walking path, but on a different and higher wall. Also a tree that is still alive but not sure for how long and what will happen to it since this is on State Land…

Amazing stretch on Neil Rd with 3 different stages of architecture-style – the shop-houses, older and newer HDBs…

Sun: SIN Night Festival is over for now but continues on Fri28 and Sat29 Aug. Another trip to SGH. Somehow hospital visits are quite a downer and to cheer myself by making a wine cork-board at CC. Used up mine and CC’s collection of corks for now and still unable to complete the area needed – to be continued…

Mon: helping out with the CC sales on the ground floor of Velocity@Novena –  a good turn-out for the first day of the week-long sale.

Thank you Thomas for a yummy dinner and good company – quite a name for a kitchen and bar, PIGSFLY***but when you have had enough shots, pigs can certainly fly 🙂

Tue: another good turn-out at Velocity. Had to leave early to meet with Sue, Ting and CH for a movie 7 Letters***SIN most illustrious directors have gathered their creative storytelling and film making talents in a one-of-a-kind project celebrating Singapore’s 50th year.

7 Letters represents seven heartfelt ‘love letters’ to Singapore, capturing each of the directors’ personal and poignant connection with the place they call home. The seven stories tell of our heartland and its people through tales of lost love, identity, inter-generational familial bonds and tensions, unlikely neighbours, and even references to traditional folklore.

21 Aug 2015 – SIN First And Only

Tue: saw Lawrence off at T2 and did some promotional shopping for MoonCakes at BeeChangHiang. The carry-on size bag finally broke down and got a new one that is quite visible 🙂 Always enjoy being in the world’s best airport.

Wed: great with catch up with Gel for a cuppa and good to see that she is better and bought a place of her own. Thx Calvin for dinner at KretaAyerFood Centre****Chinatown complex. Been awhile since I ate fishhead, and the cheeks are my favourtie parts!

Thu: tkx to Yoshie for arranging this exciting preview tour at SIN first and only Musical Box Museum to be opened officially in Sep/Oct.

Appreciations to our gracious host and the founder Mr Naoto ORUI for showing his collection. He has moved his collection from Minamichita Music Box Museum/Japan to SIN this year.

The smallest and most expensive in his collection, a Swiss made app 200yrs old which he exchanged a château in France for this! Absolutely delightful sounds.

One that nearly went on the Titanic and fortunately it did not. And another with an interesting Jude-box style, probably the first Jude-box! The history and stories related to some of these boxes are fascinating –  one with a ring stuck in it and another which was covered with dirt and only after cleaning could one see the semi-precious stones.You will have to go and see it for yourself to enjoy them.

An amazing collection under the roof of the old ChongHock Girls’ School, one of the earliest Hokkien girls’ school in SIN, now a heritage site with the 150+yrs original tiles on the floor and the side of the wall.

This old heritage building commands a fantastic skyline of the ThianHockKeng Temple from the upper floors and here is when you can find great contrasts of the old and new – and where East Meets West!

Our gracious host extended his hospitality with lunch where there was enough food to feed an army at JuChunYuan****Located at FarEast Plaza and have not been there for eons. The last time there was quite a fun unforgettable dinner mystery and it was under different management and name then.

Fri: and peace be with y’all for a wonderful weekend.

18 Aug 2015 – Weekend With Family &Friends

This is so so very sad. Prayers and thoughts to all those affected and condolences to those who have lost family and friends.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/16/asia/china-tianjin-explosions/index.html

Fri: at MtE as Lawrence was there for a minor surgery. His immediate family is in KL with Mabel who just had one of her knees operated on. The other one to be done when she has healed from the 1st surgery.

Sat: a lovely time catching up with niece Sue&nephew Clem. Raise the red lanterns, thus starting the Hungry Ghost Festival! Bad enough with the these explosions and bombs, now the mess with food, burning rituals adding to more pollution in the environment 🙁

http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_758_2004-12-16.html

Sun: breakfast & lunch with Lawrence, Les & Ivy. An afternoon at CC to catch up with Calvin&Chris who recently returned from the US with gifts – do appreciate that someone was thinking of both ends of my spectrum 🙂 🙂

All the apologies will not bring back all the life lost from any wars. Why it is that we do not learn from other people’s war and not have more wars??? 🙁

Emperor Akihito struck a more apologetic tone than Mr Abe, with an expression of remorse for the nation’s wartime aggression. ‘I earnestly hope that the ravages of war will never be repeated’ he added.

Don’t we all hope that too but just look and read about all the unrest of today’s world and you too will wonder…

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33943736

The USS Missouri came to mind…

Almost exactly 70yrs since the end of WW2. Allied forces formally accepted the Japanese unconditional surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, signed at 09:04hrs on 2Sep 1945.

https://www.scmp.com/article/433673/frontlines?fbclid=IwAR1FzzCpXn0X-efIXRr4_I4Ku3TAMPM-vhdeDMPwPLtmpJpNCDp2xqClTVI

Late maternal 8th uncle EddieTSENG (1915-1988, may he RIP), was one of a handful of reporters aboard who witnessed the signing and the very first to report the news to the world (because there was only one radio onboard and he drew the short straw!). Thank you nephew AronTSENG for updates and contact. His grandparents were a gracious and charming couple.

USS Missouri was taken out of moth-balls and reconditioned for a good-will trip around the world in Sep-Dec 1986. Was so fortunate to be able to fly around the world to meet this battleship and to enjoy all the receptions on board in HI/USA, Sydney, Tasmania & Perth/AUS, Istanbul/Turkey, Naples/Italy, Palma and Lisbon/Portugal.

The guys & me! had to be transported by tenders to get on land then – pix from Lisbon/Portugal, last port of call. Thanksgivings dinner on board for the 1986 trip. Had food poisoning on land that day felt miserable 🙁 but smiles 🙂 were expected to all the VIPs that evening. All’s well that ends well, flew off to OSL/Norway the next day to meet L&M who were attending the OSL American School there while I was globetrotting. https://amylamsg.com/2021/10/20/uss-missouri-bb63-1986/

Mon: met with Lawrence at MtE to take him to lunch…

As I am writing this post, breaking news of a bomb just went off in BKK with many fatalities. OMG what is happening???

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/explosion-rocks-bangkok-commercial-hub-casualties-seen-afp

You are the strength of the weak. He is not known through burnt offerings and ritual chanting – Sri Guru Granth Sahib

14 Aug 2015 – Is My Way To Relax…

Tue: Mr Holmes****is a new twist on the world’s most famous detective. An aging Sherlock Holmes returns from a journey in 1947 Japan where in search of a rare plant with powerful restorative qualities.

Now, in his remote seaside farmhouse, Holmes faces the end of his days tending to his bees, with only the company of his housekeeper and her young son, Roger. Grappling with the diminishing powers of his mind, Holmes comes to rely upon the boy…

Wed: Madam Bovary**set in Normandy, France, a classic story of Emma Bovary, a young beauty who marries small-town doctor, Charles Bovary, to leave her father’s pig farm far behind. After being introduced to the glamorous world of high society, she soon becomes bored with her husband and mundane life, and seeks prestige and excitement outside the bonds of marriage.

Over the years, Flaubert’s Madame Bovary has proven an exceedingly difficult novel to film – and this version adds another disappointing entry to the list.

Thu: Pixel*as kids in the 1980s, Sam, Will, Ludlow and Eddie saved the world thousands of times – at 25 cents a game in the video arcades. Now, they’re going to have to do it for real. In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens discover video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth, using the video games as the models for their assaults.

Not a game person, so did not think much of this movie…

Walked by Great World City and saw this amazing tree where the flowers and fruits grow on the trunk  Tkx to the members of Nature Society who helped to ID this and thus able to learn more about it. Couroupita guianensis Cannonball Tree and do watch out for falling cannonballs…

http://scribol.com/environment/the-dangerous-and-dreadful-smells-of-the-cannonball-tree

Thu: great to meet with cousin of cousin (Mike Leong in USA), Zarina and her sons Blake & Jeremy. Satay and PrawnMee dinner at Zion Riverside Food Centre***Stall #18 – the CharKwayTeow (one of the best in town) was unfortunately closed.

A tour around common family grounds at 3 Seng Poh Rd now the New Cape Inn and now TBB Tiong Bahru Bar and Craft Beer Shop where it was Fook Weng Seafood Restaurant 5yrs ago.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/06/22/3-seng-poh-road/

Fri: MtE and this time round to visit!

Do recall Pac-man, Mario and Donkeykong, thought them to be cute but never understood the how to play games!! This youtube posting is really quite fantastic, something I can relate to and appreciate 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bm-_hI5A9A&index=1&list=RD6Bm-_hI5A9A

This quote is for all who like to play arcade and video games.  For me it is the movies that work best to escape the world…
When I put a quarter into an arcade machine or call up an emulated game on my computer, I do it to escape the world that is a slave to the time that makes things fall apart. I have never played these games to occupy my world – D. B. Weiss

11 Aug 2015 – A Trip Down Memory Lane

Land from the sea for the new Marine Parade – the drain marks the old coastline (NAS) from The Long and Winding Road

Thanks to Richard Goh for this aerial view showing what East Coast SIN is now (can even spot the block where I am) – with the reclaimed land from the sea to the marked green neon-line. The dotes on the sea are cargo ships of all sizes waiting to unload their containers on shore

The SIN I grew up with was when the sea front was at the neon green line! Pix of my siblings and I at Katong Park (1950s) with Seaview Hotel in the background!

Fri: a wet and cool Fri and free bus and MRT rides on Fridays until 31Dec for those who have registered their PassionCard/EZlink Reload. Using this free ride today revisiting Haw Par Villa with its 1,000+statues!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haw_Par_Villa

Used to frequent this location with visitors in the 1950s and early 60s, one of the few attractions that is still existing. Now the MRT stops there and believe it or not, there is a Statue of Liberty – for real 🙂

Many will remember The Ten Courts of Hell with statues describing in details the torture and punishment for each sin one commits in a lifetime. This used to be set inside a 60-metre long trail of a Chinese dragon but the dragon has been demolished, so the attraction is now covered by grey stone walls and comes with a warning sign – due to the graphic nature of the exhibits, visitors’ discretion/parental guidance is advised.

http://wheresidewalksend.com/court-of-hell/

Sat: nice to catch up with sis-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnephews this long weekend. Tkx for Japanese dinner at Irodori***Riverview Hotel

An evening stroll down Collyer, Clark and Boat Quay watching merry makers by the SIN River on the eve of SIN 50 Birthday.

Convinced Clement to watch the lights at Fullerton Hotel before taking the last bus just pass midnight hoping that it would have been free! But it was considered still considered the last bus for 8Aug even-though technically it was 9Aug – well no harm asking&trying. And this is the crowd for just watching the Fullerton lights, can imagine the crowd for tomorrow’s NDP.

Sun: Happy 50 Birthday SIN. Was at the 2014NPD (the only NDP attended) to pay my respects to LKY then. Having a real phobia to crowds and the thought of not seeing LKY resulted in watching the whole parade online. Congratulations and thank you for a job well-done to all those involved. Tkx Henry for lovely flowers and lunch company.

Mon: one more day of holiday for the people with jobs. Tkx for lunch company Clement in my new place-mats setting! Must have been tired as I napped for 4+hrs today!

With the SG50 celebrations behind, onwards to tomorrow with thoughts of the 6 grandchildren and whatever will be will be…