9 Jan 2015 – A Host Of Angels

Happy Birthdays to niece Judy and nephew Lee

Tue: watched 4 movies downloaded and tkx to Clem. What If***Love Is Strange***The One I Love***& Calvary***All quite good and probably will not remember any of them soon! Read in some list that these were out of the 25 others that one should watch. There are 2 more – Force Majeure and Elaine Stitch/Shoot Me, but Clem did not manage to find them to download.

Wed: tkx to Sue for my latest collection of angels. My host of small angels are even older than the stone collection. This year decided to have all the 20 of them out together. Somehow the latest fluorite one is not quite happy being stuck on by double-sided tape. It kept falling away from the host. Decided to take the tape off and it did not fall. Sounds like me, not liking to being stuck – looks like we will get along great 🙂

Finally found some black sesame paste at Meidi-Ya/Liang Ct. Not the usual brand I am used to but better than none. They had the white sesame paste in tubes there but not the black ones!

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby***One couple’s story as they try to reclaim the life and love they once knew and pick up the pieces of a past that may be too far gone. Was thinking about the Beatles Eleanor Rigby but the movie has got nothing to do with it besides the name…

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Appreciations to Jo for dinner and also when the news of the Paris shooting appeared on the TV screen. Earlier was happy seeing somebody running to assist an elderly man to cross the road at a bus-stop. And sad to end the day with this kind of news 🙁

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102316759

Thu: more blood tests at Mt E and with some minor changes for the blood thinner meds –  more or less back on track again! Movie Theory of Everything****an extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde. Once a healthy, active young man, Hawking received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work…

We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet – Stephen Hawking

Tkx for dinner Hong and nice to meet Boon who both just returned from a whole month in EU checking out all the wonderful concerts. What a nice way to spent a month. The black pepper crab at Eng Seng Restaurant****is delicious. They are known for their black pepper crabs and mee goreng/fried noodles. Good to discover a new location on Still Rd

5 Jan 2015 – Away With The Decorations

Fri: tkx to Henry for bringing yummy dinner. Too lazy to go out. Like this unpolished 2in1 stone from him to add to my collection. The big one weighing 2+kg with something looking like a modern art of a person lifting the universal in the air! was found on the W coast of Ireland/2004. Quite amazing and even paid overweight for the checked-in baggage to get it back… for real!

Sat: 10 Day of Christmas, delivered gift basket to Carmel and made pasta and Tiramisu for CC. Still within the 12 days of Christmas frame of celebrations and gifts! These colourful coconut candies are from KohSamui/Coconut Island. If only they knew how to market these, packaging & coordinating the colours with festivals and seasons for gifts!

Sun: tkx to Clem for having me at his place to catch up with some of his downloaded movies. Nice relaxing afternoon. Appreciations to Daisy for including me to dinner at Bukit Merah/Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant*** Their signature dish is cold crab which was not too fresh!  Happy Belated Birthday Darryl who turned 16yrs Fri 2 Jan.

Mon: Serena***an American drama film based on the novel of the same name by Ron Rash. Set in NC/USA during the Depression era, it tells the story of George Pemberton and wife’s life during the time. Pemberton is a businessman struggling to maintain his timber empire, whose life gets complicated when he finds out that his wife Serena is unable to bear children. Was hoping to see some sceneries of the AT…

12 Day of Christmas and time to take down decorations. Before putting them away would like to share first-born Linn&family/USA and god-daughter Guri&family/Norway 2014 greetings. This is the best way to remind me who is who with their names & ages as my own age gets on 🙂 Thank you Linn & Guri for their considerations to us in the grand generation!

A trip to Temenggong Rd returning a piece of broken concrete slab!!! Happy Birthdays to Gerald and Leonard.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths – Walt Disney

1 Jan 2015 – Peace and Good Health

The four official languages in SIN + the two countries where I lived for many years many moons ago!

English: A Happy, Healthy & Wealthy 2015

Malaya: Bahagi, Sehat & Kaya 2015

Chinese: 一個快樂，健康和富有2015

Tamil: एक खुश, स्वस्थ और धनी 2015

Irish: Sásta, Sláintiúil & saibhir 2015

Norwegian: En lykkelig, sunt og rik 2015

The new year usually gets me started with these thoughts and this year, I will write them down so that I can share them before I see the last daylight!

If the whole world could do away with all their so-called weapons of defence and stop putting firework shows, but instead use the money for education and medical, can there be PEACE then? Of course it is not probable nor is it unrealistic – Imagine by John Lennon pops up more often in the mind as time is getting shorter!

Thus will stop posting pix of fireworks even when fireworks never fail to awe me…

♥ Peace ♥ Vrede ♥ Paqe ♥ سلام ♥ Свет ♥ Мир ♥ Pau ♥ 平和 ♥ Mir ♥ Fred ♥ Vrede ♥ Rahu ♥ Kapayapaan ♥ Rauha ♥ Paix ♥ Paz ♥ Frieden ♥ Ειρήνη ♥ Lapè ♥ שלום  ♥ शांति ♥ Béke ♥ Friður ♥ Perdamaian ♥ Síochána ♥ Pace ♥ 평화 ♥ Miers ♥ Taikos ♥ Мир ♥ Keamanan ♥ Paċi ♥ صلح ♥ Pokój ♥ Amani ♥ ความ สงบสุข ♥  Barış ♥ Світ ♥ Hòa bình ♥  Heddwch ♥ פרידן ♥

Not enough postings can bring PEACE but will add on new pix as time goes by –

https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/11/may-peace-be-with-you-all/

Jan Bdays

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

This is not a good start to 2015. Hope that cousin ChengEn is safe and sound in Shanghai/China.

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/east-asia/story/china-new-year-stampede-kills-35-shanghai-city-government-20150101

30 Dec 2014 – Welcoming 2015 With Open Arms!

Sat: resting over the last 2014 weekend is the best I could do for myself and on a rainy and wet but enjoying the cool weather. Grateful to people for their thoughts –

Thanks to Linn&family for yummy Dove Chocolate which melts in your mouth and survived the mailing in this lovely tin-box

Quite a masterpiece by youngest grandchild Olai (3) – I see a dove flying for PEACE! May&family for snowflakes which fit perfectly into my ‘Frozen’ theme! Like us, here is to prove that every snowflake is different!

My gifts to Olai who is into swimming. Since Norway is in the midst of winter, it is easier for me to get the ring and goggles, for once I gave a perfect gift 🙂 Am so glad as both Linn&May learnt to swim before they were 5. Was rather particular that they felt safe in the water. May/1983 age 4+ in SIN with 3 different kinds of floats and she managed to learn then…

Appreciations to Les&Ivy for a wonderful trip, lunches, dinners and drinks; Chris (CC), Aileen & Zai (H&H), nieces Sue & Adeline and to Lisa&family (HI/USA) for their thoughtful and lovely gifts.

Sun: body still resting but the mind and heart went out to our neighbours in Malaysia that started the year with the missing MH370, then MH17 shot, the recent floods and now a missing AirAsia QZ8501 from Surabaya/Indonesia to SIN.  This flight normally takes app 2hrs, Surabaya being 1hrs behind SIN. For those who are not aware, AirAsia is a Malaysian budget airline and I have been on it many times! 2 above credits to ST.

Mon: decided to watch 2 movies before new movies take their place. Love On The Cloud***this romantic comedy follows a modern city boy who uses WeChat to make friends in hope of finding a true and sincere romantic relationship. However, he gets involved with a fashionable city girl in a one-night-stand. Despite that, he still searches for a true and pure relationship…

Saint Laurent***is a 2014 biography drama film about French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. It centres on the designer’s life from 1967 to 1976, when his fashion career was at its peak but his personal life was on the other end of the spectrum. This movie is 2.30hrs and can be slow at times but did enjoy the music. Like that opera arias were used for the cat-walk.

Tue: in the CBD area tidying up loose ends, paying bills etc. Change Alley today is totally different from the one in childhood days!

When having to face these bills, I think of Jackie’s mom who just threw all hers on a bed and burnt them. If any of you have read ‘The Burning Bed’ you would want to burn the bed too but that is another entirely different direction of thoughts. Sooo understand Jackie’s mom as I feel the same when ever I see those bills 🙁

Good of Clem to meet for lunch – made my day!

Condolences, prayers and thoughts to the families & friends of the passengers and crew of flight QZ8501

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/airasia-flight-qz8501-debris-and-bodies-are-found-search-bad-weather

One more day of 2014. Please do not let in any more bad and sad news. Has been a rough year in news and my own health. Hospitalized twice which also has swallowed a whole year of my budget! Hoping for a better 2015 and wishing each and every one of you

A Happy Healthy & Wealthy New Year for 2015. The CNY will fall on Thu 19 Feb 2015 and we will be into the year of the Goat/Sheep. Seeming the Chinese consider those the same animals, so now you see why we as Chinese are so screwed up 🙂

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right – Oprah Winfrey

27 Dec 2014 – Starting on Christmas Eve

Wed: thank you to Management and Staff at Hagley & Hoyle for a lovely Christmas Eve lunch and gathering. Am honoured to be invited. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all.

Last moment shopping for wrapping paper, was out of it. Bought a gigantic popper for tomorrow’s lunch.

Tkx to Les&Ivy we were 22 for this Christmas family lunch. Les, Jo and their entire family, Joyce with her family minus Yasmine&Andrew who live in L’don and nephew Clem. And of course needless to say that I miss Linn&family and May&family. From our father LAM TinYue’s branch we are a total of 66 at present!

Chickened out about popping the humongous ‘bazooka’ (as described by the nephews!) popper but did the smaller ones 🙂 This year the club supplied the small ones.

First day of Christmas and time for the this book to take over the Advent Calendar

Good to catch  up with Weng Kei&Siew Ngor Chen, cousins from paternal grandmother’s branch who I met when I was visiting Euphemia in Auckland/NZ 2008. They are on transit from NZ to Sibu in Sarawak.  Picked them from their hotel down town and brought them to meet Les&Ivy.

https://amylamsg.com/2008/03/26/honolulu/

Fri: thank you Calvin at Campers Corner for a delightful Boxing Day gathering. The suckling pig was yummy and so were the mussels, prawns, squids, steaks etc. Unable to drink any alcohol this whole holidays, but it does not stop me for enjoying and having fun! Appreciations to chefs Roy & SengTeong  for their delicious cooking and to Sam & Mrs Cheah for all the kitchen chores.

Missed Chris who has visitors and unable to join us.

Sat: This weekend the body and stomach need to rest 🙂

Gluttony and idleness are two of life’s great joys, but they are not honourable – Julie Burchill

20 Dec 2014 – Banyan Tree at KohSamui

Wed: all afternoon at Mt E for tests etc to ensure the body  is able to take a short flight tomorrow. Slowly but surely I can walk even when it is at the speed of a snail. Tkx to Clem for early Christmas dinner at Buko Nero****good food and a glass of wine before going on anti-bio because of the  ‘Helicobacter pylori’ attack causing the serve bleeding ulcer.

Thu: more blood test in the morning, packed and headed to the airport to discover that passport for sis has expired. At this rate life goes, might end up with a heart attack! Jo, had to go home while Lawrence and I checked into BKKAir, first for me! Hopefully things will work out for the best tomorrow and that she can have an extension for her passport and also there is space on the plane.

Glad and relief to discover that the passage sitting next to me is a young handsome cardiologist. 1.30hrs flight flew by with dinner served. Going thru’ immigration at KohSamui/Thailand airport felt nearly as long as the flight – perhaps it would have gone faster if I had Leon to chat with 🙂

Fri: a private jacuzzi and pool to every villa makes life quite comfortable. Indeed a relaxing and beautiful place to be with perfect temperatures with sounds of the waves from the S China Sea to calm body & soul. Appreciations to Les&Ivy.

Lovely breakfast with the family and good to catch up with Kat & family who is back for the holidays from NYC.

Must admit that the Thai are really good at their SPA and massage. Had one this afternoon and it really felt good.

Yummy rock lobster dinner at The Cliff****

Yeah, Jo arrived safely. All’s well that ends well…

Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use; and keep thy friend
Under thy own life’s key: be check’d for silence,
But never tax’d for speech – Shakespeare

15 Dec 2014 – An Unexpected Weekend

Sat: the last 2 movies The Monk and Revivre went to the drains and so were plans for wrapping gifts. Thanks to Les, Drs Ang & Tan and the staff at Mt E, blood transfusion was necessary and hopefully this will keep me going for this life’s journey. A serve bleeding ulcer caused by the HelicobacterPylori is no joke, especially when blood is coming out of both ends, and also when one is on blood-thinner! Looks like a vampire attacked my hands 🙂

Sun: the Third Advent Candle is the Candle of JOY and today, am both joyful and grateful that I survived thanks, to the excellent doctors and dedicated staff at Mt E.

Mon: Martin Place Sydney, Australia – gunman takes hostages in a chocolate café. Of all places Lindt Chocolate, one of my favourite chocolates!! Their demands, an ISIS flag and to talk to the PM Abbott. This ISIS ideology is really getting out of hand. Prayers and thoughts go to all who are affected in this Sydney Seige. Pix credits to BBC.

Gunman holds hostage in Belgium – what in the world is happening and what kind of evil and dark forces are going on??

Only have two wishes, PEACE and GOOD HEALTH. Maybe it is too much to ask for, but one can still dream and hope.

Edited: 16 Dec 2014 – condolences to the families and friends of the 2 hostages in Sydney Siege. Prayers and thoughts are with them. The siege is over but sadly not peacefully. News that 2 hostages and a self gunman did not survive.

This is scary, many times when some dark negative forces take over, my health seems to be affected, including 9-11 and the Bali bombing! Getting totally paranoid. Consolation from KK, ‘There’s always sthg terrible happening in the world….