12 Aug 2014 – Buffet Lunch@ParkRoyal Post NDP

Tue: condolences to Robin Williams family and friends and may he RIP. The last movie I watched with him in it was ‘The Angriest Man in Brooklyn’ and he was the only reason I went to watch the movie just last month. The news of his suicide has somehow saddened and upset me more than usual 🙁

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28749702

‘But oh, to be free. Not to have to go – Poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need? Poof! What do you need? TO BE MY OWN MASTER. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.

But what am I talking about? Let’s get real here, that’s never gonna happen. Genie, wake up and smell the hummus’ – Robin Williams as the Genie from Aladdin (1992)

You are free now, Genie, RIP

Sun: what a spread and unlimited bubbles 🙂 The way to spend a Sun brunch from 12n to 17hrs at one of my favourite eco buildings in Chinatown. Lime*****ParkRoyal Hotel in Chinatown. Had to take a nap and even with a late nap, slept soundly for over 8hrs Sun night.

Mon: so much wonderful bubbles yesterday that I could not resist returning to the hotel but not for more bubbles, this time to pick up the precious camera which was forgotten and floating in yesterday’s bubbles 🙂 🙂

Being in the same area, decided to check out the completed Skyline of SIN by the British artist Stephen Wiltshire who was recently here. Was informed that it will only be at the Urban Redevelopment Authority/URA Centre from Sep. Interesting wooden DREAM. The impressive model of SIN where Block 46 Marine Crescent can be seen (have marked with a red* here!).

As it is, do enjoy visiting this location and always something new to discover, learn and see. Today it is the Heritage ShopHouses which are amazing.

Walked to check out the new revamped La Pa Sat=Old Market. Formerly known as Telok Ayer Market, the iconic 120yrs old market turned food centre in the heart of the CBD is managed by foodcourt operator Kopitiam. Its $4-million revamp took 9months, improving ventilation with eight industrial ceiling fans and adding extra seating for 2,500 diners now, up from about 2,000 before. 

There are now 54 stalls and 14 mini restaurants

This heritage cast-iron building is worth the time to visit. Even the clock tower chimes correctly in time reminding me to enjoy every minute of the short time left in this life’s journey. Also to take the bus before the rush-hour…

From a NDP floating platform to a brunch with unlimited of bubbles should be enough to put me on the DREAM stool to stay afloat for the time being 🙂 🙂 🙂

Time and tide waits for no man –

10 Aug 2014 – Admiration & Respect to LKY

Sat: lunch with Henry at Riverview Tandoor*** 2nd level at SIN Flyer. OK food, a decent place with a view in the comfort of AC to get ready, and only a few minutes to walk to the parade location.

40 lines of security checks running efficiently and smoothly

The area leading to The Float@Marina Bay where the NDP is held.

2014 Goodie Bags, 3 above pix credits to various sites.

The crowds and the heat!

Salute to LKY who turned SIN from a 3rd world to 1st world nation that I feel proud to be in. He has not missed a NDP since the 1stNDP in 1966. Just being there whole-heartedly to salute to one of the very few politicians I admire and respect.

And the show must go on…

Fireworks never fail to impress and pix credits for the most beautiful NDP shot to Athena TAN who is a profession photographer and one of the best in SIN.

Post NDP: Sunday

Appreciations to bro Les for informing me and to Gel for posting it in FB. Usually read the news online and read the papers in the library later in the evenings. Looks like I have been spotted by the press, The Sunday Times in what Garry mentioned as my outrageously outfit but all in good spirit and fun. Doubtful if I will attend another NDP in this life’s journey.

Thanks to everyone in FB for liking the outrageous disguise. Rather surprised that I was recognized 🙂 🙂

Thank you dear niece JenLeng for sharing another pix from NDPeeps’s photo. Would have not known if not for her. Seems like the press are on to me for being a good citizen 🙂 🙂 🙂

Edited 14 Sep – many thanks to Aileen for the attachment from the Army News. Looked like the media could not get enough of this grandmother celebrating her 1stNDP to the fullest and probably the last NDP that she will go out so whole heartedly as the heart grows weaker everyday – hahaha!

One must understand human nature. I have always thought that humanity was animal-like. The Confucian theory was man could be improved, but I’m not sure he can be. He can be trained, he can be disciplined – LKY

8 Aug 2014 – SIN 49th Birthday

Thu: sad and most unexpected from the sleepy town of KCH in Sarawak/E Malaysia on the island of Borneo. My heart goes out to the families and friends of these 2 young medical British students. Not just to Brits, alcohol and drugs in a mix can be toxic for many. Whatever said and done do not justify murder (nothing justify murder). These 2 young Brits walked away from whatever argument but were pursued by 4 others in a car – according to BBC and above 3 pix credits to BBC.

Wrong place, wrong time and this location had been warned as there was another argument involving 2 young Irish just the previous night…

http://www.tnp.sg/news/two-british-medical-students-stabbed-death-msia

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-28685029

Am usually not in SIN this time of the year, strange to see the flags up so early but nice and colourful. These are pix only from Marine Crescent, so one can imagine what it will be like where the parade will be held.

Have yet to attend a NDP and this will be SIN 49 Independence Day, a young nation with its 1st National day in Aug 1965. Mother passed away Jun 1965 and I left for Dublin/Ireland Jul 1965. Even I am older than SIN 🙂 Was told that it was impossible to get tickets and even if possible, the crowds and heat might give me all kinds of strokes – and with a stroke of luck, there is a ticket.

Rather fun to get all my red and white outfit, accessories etc ready. Thank you to grandniece Kiera for the Rainbow Loom bracket and to niece Sue for the face-tattoo. Running around town like a kid looking for all kinds of gadgets that are available. Certainly enough glow sticks to last for the evening! Could not find the bag in mind, so decided to sew one and quite pleased with it as the flags can be exchanged according to which country’s national day’s celebrations 🙂 🙂

Looking forward to experiencing my birth country’s NDP for the 1st time. Going with intentions to enjoy it to the fullest no matter of crowds or heat, rain or shine. Next posting will be only a pix posting of the NDP, unless something worth mentioning happens!

Patriotism is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit ― Emma Goldman

6 Aug 2014 – Thru’4 Airports & 2 Changes of Planes With 5kids

Sun: hello and goodbye to Garry. Good to catch up for the day. Thank you for stopping by and for the bubbles. Hope that he has now bought enough books stock up for the year! He is heading to Bali and  Darwin/Australia and seemingly both places do not have decent book shops. Thanks to Clem for T at Paul in Takashimaya. The Napoleon cake is no comparison to that of Norway’s. Safe journeys to Garry.

Was reading an old posting from 2011 and thought of my Australian friends… 🙂

http://amylamsg.com/2011/12/16/australian-tourist-board/

Mon: also safe journeys to Linn & family who are traveling from CAE-IAD-FRA-OSL for her Norwegian grandmother’s 90th celebrations. Hats off to Linn&Jeff and they did not even get seats together on Lufthansa from IAD-FRA! Thank goodness for inflight entertainment!

Guess if this mother, mother-in-law and grandmother is concern, staying home all day waiting to hear that they are safe and sound with May & family! Yeah, they have landed safely in OSL and it is bedtime here. Family pix credits to Linn.

Tue: what a lovely breezy early morning and the rains came before 0700hrs, only lasted just for a few minutes. Appointments at Mt E both morning and afternoon. Discovered that one could buy very affordable clothes on the top floor of Lucky Plaza/Flea Party from S$1-5.

Gerald, a man following thru’ his words who so kindly brought goodies from Bewley’s in Ireland. Touched with his kind gestures and thoughts. Appreciations to him for taking the time to lunch at the new Food Republic in the basement of Shaw House…

SIN is getting ready to celebrate its 49yrs of independence this Sat 9Aug. The neighbourhood has colourful and delightful paintings by children decorating the void deck. Nice to see that while waiting for the bus. Looking forward to attending the NDP/National Day Parade which will be the 1st for me. Psychologically gearing up and preparing for the crowds and heat – 2 of the least favourite things in this life’s journey! Found the perfect outfit for the occasion 🙂 🙂

Attending NDP is one of the items to do in the bucket list and at this stage in life, must try not to just consume the bubbles in the bucket but to also live life to the fullest when there are still bubbles 🙂 🙂 🙂

Have you found joy in your life? Has your life brought joy to others? –  The Bucket List movie

2 Aug 2014 – Hello August…

Sat: what was the occasion and where was this life music coming from, We Care@Marine Parade – Project Sunshine Day was the happening at the common area downstairs this morning. Just enough time to take a few pix before taking the bus into town…

Nice and quiet in the CBD on a Sat afternoon. The vertical gardens at Raffles Place needs a trim! With the view from 5th floor One Raffles Place to welcome Leonard Shoh back to SIN. Good to catch up and to hear what he has been up to in Brunei. Was hoping to make a visit there end of the year, but seems like that will not happen. He will be too busy getting his first batch of baby bass into action. Thanks to Clem for T at the Fullerton Hotel.

Fri: more than half of 2014 is over! Started Aug with 2hrs on the dentist chair for a root canal and this is the 2nd and final session! The jaw was stretched to the max! Thanks to niece Daisy for lunch and a ticket to Guardians to the Galaxy****Would not have watch this movie if not for the free ticket and surprising was totally amazed with the effects. Grandnephew Stanley was such a sport to want to watch this with me!

Thu: an enjoyable short swim in the training pool, the OCBC Aquatic Centre at the Sports Hub. Will try the competition pool for a longer swim before 17 Aug.

On Lake Murray SC/USA – grandkids #1-5 who will be heading to Norway to join #6 to celebrate their Norwegian  great-grandmother’s 90th birthday. Safe journeys to the Hall family.

Good chicken rice stall at Orchard Cathay basement, Koufu. Packages of tissue on the table is how seats are reserved in SIN! Watched 2 movies as the mood was there to be in front of big screens.

And So It Goes***there are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that’s just the way he likes it. Obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet – until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter…

Feel good movie and a good way to pass an afternoon!

Third Person**three interlocking love stories involving three couples who are not married to each other in three cities: Rome, Paris, and New York. relationships involving betrayal, guilt, incest, lies, sex,  etc etc too much emotions and soapy melodrama for me!

Aug  dates:

2 Aug – Happy 50th Bday to Claire Armstrong, the most wonderful baby-sitter to my children. Pix taken in SIN 1979 and in FL/USA 1989.

4 Aug – Happy Bday Candice Tay

5 Aug – Happy Bday LAM ChengEn

9 Aug – Happy 49th Bday SIN

10 Aug – Happy Bday LAM JenWee

30 Jul 2014 – Free-spanning Dome Roof

Tue: The SIN Sports Hub 新加坡体育城; S$1.33 billion 55,000 seater built on the original site of the National Stadium. Located on a 35-hectare waterfront site, Sports Hub provides a unique ecosystem of sporting, retail and leisure spaces. Ariel pix downloaded.

Just a minute walk from Stadium MRT station, my favourite MRT station and what a view as you exit out of this station.

This largest free-spanning dome roof in the world, covering 310 metres wide incorporates a moving roof, ensuring the stadium is protected from extreme weather conditions. The result is a stadium designed by DP Architect with an integrated bowl cooling system that uses less than 15 per cent of energy as compared to a conventional air-conditioned stadium.

Looked like the roof of the dome was opened in the pouring rains to test the weather but my imagination runs wilder, expecting something or other to be shot out from the opening! Must ask Richard to photoshop 🙂

The hub is also home to a 6,000-capacity indoor aquatic centre with an indoor swimming pool, and water sports centre featuring dragon boating, kayaking and canoeing in the Kallang Basin. 41,000 sq m retail and waterfront area as well as a sports museum and sports library. Free entry to the pool until 17 Aug 2014 and will be testing it out within the next few days when it is still FOC and new 🙂 🙂

Kallang Wave, another mall with all the usual retailers, eateries and a climbing wall which had to be shut down…

http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/cracks-found-above-sports-hub-mall%E2%80%99s-rock-climbing-walls

A lovely roof-top playground with a view still under construction. One comment from a concerned mother and grandmother, the railing and fence there seems to be on the low side. Hopefully it is just an optical illusion as this is taken at a distance. Knowing kids, they will climb anything and anywhere possible!

Appreciations to SiongYin for being such sport to  spent many hours checking out this area with me. This was one of my old working grounds when working at Netball SIN  in the early 2000s. Kallang Theatre and old Indoor Stadium seemed deserted; the building on the river is now demolished.

Leisure Park is still around but quiet. Lunched at Thai Express***the food court is under revamp and did not choose to stand in lines at the new Kallang Wave. The sky poured down buckets but there was no need for umbrella as all the buildings are connected  by roofed-walkways.

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game – Michael Jordan

29 Jul 2014 – My Old School Grounds

Sun: CHIJ Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (圣婴女修院) and convent quarters known as Caldwell House (古德威尔屋), my school grounds from 1962-65 and relocated since 1985. This complex of convent buildings has a Gothic-style chapel. It was used as a Catholic convent for 132 years, with Caldwell House constructed in 1840–1841 and the chapel in 1904.

The chapel, now a multi-purpose hall, is known as CHIJMES Hall (赞美礼堂). Gone are the days where we used to attend masses every 1st Fridays of the month in this location.

 MRT offices have taken over the assembly Hall and the old classrooms near the chapel.

Both the chapel and Caldwell House (now an art gallery), have both been gazetted as national monuments; Caldwell House was where I have been frequently summoned by Rev Mother for climbing the spiral staircases + many other reasons! And those are still my favourite spiral staircases.

The complex has been restored for commercial since the 1980s for purposes as a dining, shopping and entertainment centre with ethnic restaurants, shops and a function hall, providing a backdrop for musicals, recitals, theatrical performances and weddings.

At present CHIJMES is undergoing more revamps and most of the little shops (as you enter from the Gate of Hope) have closed. More eateries and bars have taken over. This was the area where the orphans were and those memories + the memories from the CHIJ days are deep and will need a whole book if words are involved…

B/W pix uploaded from Convent Chronicles by 3 ex-CHIJ/Victoria St girls, Lily Kong, Lee Siew Hua and Jacqueline Yip.

Thanks to Clem for the dinner in the area that lead to this revisit.

That was life condensed in microfilm; every detail intact, and barely remembered – Lee Siew Hua

27 Jul 2014 – Unique Idea From Another Cousin in HI/USA

Thu: a nutty surprise arrived knocking on my door as there was no unit# on the addressed coconut. The postal service here in SIN was probably intrigued by this nut to do a search to find me! So it is true about our nutty cousin Gary LAM in HI/USA. Appreciations from one nutty cousin to another cousin who shares my name – Amy LamCA/USA. This sure got my attention and now I would really like to meet Gary who is located in Molokai, HI/USA. Thanks to Amy for the nut and the pix of the nuts with our cousin Gary.

Link below updated 26Feb 2019:

https://uspsblog.com/mailing-coconut/

With lots of nuts in mind, house repairs have to be done but still have to buy the Jotul epoxy paint. A mask proved to be useful with the scraping and sanding.  Feeling my age with this kind of work but glad that some minor repairs can be achieved. Gone are the days when the painting of the whole house did not seem such a chore then!

MH370 has still to be located and now another MH accident with no surviving passengers…

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/24/opinion/cronin-security-after-mh17-dangers/index.html?hpt=hp_t5

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28460625

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28457657

The 7th or Hungry Ghost Month does not start until this Sun and what is happening??? 3 plane crashes within 3days. Deeply saddened by the news – condolences to all families and friends who have loved ones in theses tragic situations. RIP to those on these flights.

Fri: lunched with Pat at Tangs Basement and she is recovering well from her recent major surgery. Bian Tan gave a good and educational talk on his trip to Raja Ampat & Arfak Mts/West Papua SBG at the Botany Centre which is one of my favourite gardens here in SIN.

Congratulations to Albert nephew-in-law, another family member featured on Channel News Asia after bro Leslie. As asked by one FB friend to another – what is a 2nd Perm Sec and the answer – a very very senior civil service appointment! Visits with him from Jul 1996 in Taipei/Taiwan, Dec 2009 Canberra/Australia and Dec 2012 NYC, NY/USA. He married niece Patricia in Dec 1998.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/two-new-permanent/1282750.html

Sat: Urban Farm & Barn T-Party at Bukit Panjang Hill with Bev, Ting&CH, KiWi&Aya.

An interesting concept to planting your own organic herbs and veggie. Rent a rack for S$50 per month, buy your soil and seeds and plant them here. Your produce will be ready to be harvested in 6-7days later. For more info check out –

https://www.facebook.com/urbanfarmbarn

 www.easigarden.com

Lucas’s Bday party at their new home with one of the most delicious chocolate cakes tasted. Pix not too sharp but difficult to focus with so many children running around or maybe just tired after a whole afternoon outdoors at the farm…

23 Jul 2014 – Crossing this Life’s Journey…

Mon: had to run errands at IKEA and at the same time had dinner with Henry there. They now serve crayfish and not bad for S$5 with 5 of them in a serving. Saw this young lady eating them and when asked, she replied that they are OK. The teeth are not what I should be using to crack the claws with, so made a mess on the table using the handle of the knife to do the job. Good dill favoured.

The chicken wings there are a must!

One thing about IKEA is that even though you have no intentions to buy anything, you usually leave with something or other! Have been eyeing this tray for a while but did not think S$40 was worth it. Today there it was at the As-Is article for S$20. With 2 bunches of dried twigs, 5 silk flowers (thx to Clem for the magnetic vases) and other small purchases standing in line to pay! Was approached by the same young lady (crayfish) to ask if I had a car.

She asked if I could validate a parking voucher for her as she was driving. Did that and she offered to drive me to the bus stop. Parking is NOT cheap at IKEA if you are just there to hang out! S$12 she saved and when she realised that she insisted driving me home. Thus that is how Faith came into my path.

Thank you Faith for the ride and chat.  She does has a slight resemblance to the actress Joan Chen!

Tue: doing some minor repairs like scraping off flaky paint from kitchen ceiling, bathroom floor and filling the gaps in the living room floor with wood filling. Made a smoked trout salad serving on the new tray. Walked to the MP market to buy a durian to reward myself 🙂

Wed: am usually no fan of musicals but after the Broadway version of Jersey Boys, decided to watch the movie. From director Clint Eastwood comes the big-screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys***

The film tells the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in NJ who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons and the music does bring back youthful memories 🙂 🙂

Happy 3rd Birthday to my #5 grandchild, James. One of my favourite pix of him.

Happy 6th Bday grandnephew Lucas. Appreciations to his parents for a delicious dinner at Imperial Treasure at Great World City****

To Faith, here is a quote for her!