1962-65 CHIJ Classmates

15 Feb 2025 – HIghPoint

Wed: 15CNY ChapGohMei/Hokkien also ChineseValentine’sDay or LanternDay YuanXiaoJie/Mandarin 元宵節 for some ppl but being Cantonese, do not have recollections about these celebrations from my childhood besides being the end of CNY celebrations正月十五and today CNY-deco will be taken down in my 4-walls.

What is Chap Goh Mei and why is it celebrated?

Thu: the luxury of having practically MT-Hawker+Market to myself with the beautiful company of a full moon – grocery done, washed by 0700hrs. FreshProduceS$4.50,WaterMelonS$6,Otak/2pcsS$2.40

A seldom unhealthy Doughnut+IceCoffeeS$2.80 before getting grocery+CNY-deco stored and before busy few days ahead!

Nice view from the kitchen window – have watched these flowering trees Xanthostemon chrysanthus/GoldenPenda黄花树(introduced to SIN in 1982 from Cairns/Australia) since they were planted on the rooftop garden/~2005!? and usually bloom around this time of the year. If lucky there are 2yellow birds who sometimes visit and lovely to see them, need all the calming effects possible with more attention&concertation to keep breathing!

Fri: Happy Valentine’s/Heart’s Day. The origins of V-Day is a pagan festival, Lupercalia in ancient Rome – not as romantic as you would imagine! According to Hallmark ~145million cards are sold in USA and ~250million stems of flowers on this day!

At my age, an affair of the heart is a bypass – Joan Rivers

Would be interesting to see what new shops will take the place of those leaving? Walking on MP-Rd with the progress of MP-CommunityCentre/JCT-StillRd construction. Not much @M&S despite that some of the food items are discounted.  TheLensMen was among the first shops to open here in 1983 but moved to 83MarineParadeCentral opp the Hawkers’FoodMarket after rents were raised in 2019 – pix downloaded

Several Parkway Parade mall tenants leave or downsize amid rising rents | The Straits Times

A new study suggests Intermittent fasting may help in slowing or even reversing the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Tried doing that a few times a year ago without difficulties and did feel a difference then, will take it up again, especially considering how I am feeling recently! It’s not a diet but more an eating pattern – will try both these below method:

Scientists find link between intermittent fasting and Alzheimer’s

  • The 16/8 method: Also called the Leangains protocol, this involves an 8-hour eating period and a 16-hour fasting period. Some people do this by skipping breakfast, but you can also do the reverse and skip dinner or eat early.
  • Eat-stop-eat: This involves fasting for 24 hours once or twice per week. Because this is a slightly more advanced version of fasting, you should only try this if you’re pretty comfortable with the practice.

Intermittent Fasting 101 — The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

Neurologist reveals five 2-minute tests to reveal signs of dementia:

https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/neurologist-reveals-five-2-minute-tests-to-reveal-signs-of-dementia/ar-AA1v3N3W

Sat: MRT-TEL-NapierSta  – nice ceiling and shaded walk to traffic nights across SBG, no was not going there, just exploring since at the bus stop to catch Bus105 to ScottsRd  walking by GoodwoodPk-YorkHotel-MtE.Rd.

View from HighPoint@MtE-rd.

Tkx to Lynne for hosting lunch gathering from 1962-65CHIJ-classmates (clockwise Angela, Magdeline, Evelyn, Shirley, Lynne, Caroline, Rebecca, Penny&I) for Chicken&SotongCurries, Satay,SayuLodeh, TauhuTeloh and Angela’s beautiful&nice textured fish – 年年有餘 NinNinYauYu/Cantonese– Surplus Year After Year to us all and appreciations for good company&scrumptious food.

While my classmates were reading their textbooks, I drew in the margins – Rauschenberg

Super Memory

11 Feb 2025 – And Super Bowl

Sat: on this 11-CNY-Day 正月十一BallCourt downstairs covered with tentage ready for the 2025CNY-Annual-Dinner tonight. Will be a good excuse to shut the windows&door with the AC&headphones, too tired to do anything, not even to watch the LionDance. The past few days have been rough coughing with some pulled-muscles and lack of sleep – thank goodness it was quiet by 2200hrs, hopefully a better night sleep tonight.

Sun: saying hi and having a bite with Jeff who is on transit from USA to BBK,CNX/Thailand for his conference – 18yrs ago was the last time he visited and next week he will be here for a night on his way back to the USA.

Tkx for dinner with the doctors@ImperialTreasureSuperPekingDuck/Paragon – always appreciative for such scrumptious food and

amazing service with the manager wishing us a Happy CNY singing in Cantonese.

Congratulations&welcome Glady&Shawn to parenthood and welcome Baby on Norway’s Mother’sDay. Good luck to them for this new chapter in their life. Motherhood for me was the most challenging and still is challenging but also most rewarding in my life journey. Most if not all parents would want&will to do the best for their children by giving them unconditional love but to raise them with the roots of deceny&responsibility and the wings of independence is not easy!

Mon: feeling more human after a good night sleep! Super Bowl – while millions watch the big game, did you know that it would take ~32,228.5 football fields length to fit the mileage of the AT/3,540k/2,200m – tkx for this trivial info from ATC.

Its Mon morning here while this game is on and not being a football fan, have no idea as to When Where Who Why What is happening besides updates from NewsMedia&FB-friends – tkx to Linn&#2 for their pix from who is watching!

Super Bowl squares results 2025: First quarter, halftime, third quarter, final scores

Monkeys are the cause of blackout in SriLanka – besides being attacked by them in the 1950s-Days@SBG/SIN, having to fend them off with a walking stick in early 2000sVisits@MandaiCemetorium and snatching my icecream @Mar2012MacLehoseThru-Hike/HKG more reasons why monkeys are not in my wildlife-fan-list and also why wildlife&animals do not belong in cities – pix downloaded.

Monkey causes nationwide blackout in Sri Lanka – CNA

Would like to check out this new Rainforest/Mandai someday but will definitely go with a walking stick and after the teething issues – pix downloaded.

Rainforest Wild Asia in Mandai opens on March 12; visitors can opt for guided adventure tours | The Straits Times

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town – George Carlin

Tue: tkx to JeromeLIM/Long&WindingRd for his posting of TheBigSplash bringing back fun memories from a visit here in 1979(we were living in Norway then) with May then 1 on my lap and Linn then 5 sliding down – despite having a 2-piece swimsuit, managed to keep both pieces on then – hahaha.

Happy Thaipusam to those celebrating&marking the Hindu festival today. Tkx to Clement for the loan of extra MRT-card and for meeting@PlazaSIN. Forgot that the devotees walk 4k from SriSrinivasaPerumalTemple/SerangoonRdSriThendayuthapani Temple/TankRd – passing by OrchardRd, thus heavy with ppl&traffic, pix downloaded. Was also caught in this last year but it was evening then!

What Is Meant To Be Will Be – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

All’s well that ends well, had an early lunch@Kopitiam with the comfort food, Watercress+PorkribsSoup西洋菜湯SaiYongChoyTong&SteamMinceMeat+PreservedVeg梅菜蒸肉餅MuiChoyJinCheeYok both typical Cantonese dishes from childhood.

With the ongoing sales&discounts did some shopping@SpotLight,ColdStorage,Diaso – Linn should be pleased for the chocolates.

7-CNY-day 人日 2025

7 Feb 2025 – Happy Bdays To All

Tue: for many ppl, Bdays occur on a day that is unique to each individual. In Chinese culture though, 人日 is believed to be the common Bday of humankind. Happy Birthdays to Everyone on this 7thCNY-day traditionally known as 人日 YanYat(Cantonese)=Human Day/literally translated! Chinese legend&mythology has it that 女媧 NüWa who created the earth also created humans on this day!!

Appreciations with tkx for dinner@sisJo&family – Lucas is now doing his InternationalBaccalaureateDiplomaProgramme/IBDP+A-Levels@SJI and Beth in Sec1@CHIJ/Katong just down the road from me.

From BlueGen/BG/LAM TinYue’s branch:
My siblings&I/GreenGen/GG
Our children/OrangeGen/OG
Grandchildren/PurpleGen/PG – youngest in PGDOYLE Ayden(Nov2022)
PGLAM SuiChang(1989) who will soon be a father and
PGANG KeeYang(1989) is already a father with
GreatGrandChildren/BrownGen/BrG-ANG Anna(Aug2022), 1stGreatGrandNiece

In memory of dearest broLawrence who would have been 91 today – miss him dearly and visiting KCH,Sarawak/Malaysia without him is not the same. 2012 where this backpack would have been perfect for me caught my eyes but did not get it! ~55km from KCH is the border town Serikin/Bau ~200 stalls of both fresh produce and stuff where the traders cross into Sarawak from Indonesia to sell their goods – enjoyed the few times there tkx to Lawrence.

Wed: nice wet&cool morning and tkx to 2ndBorn, finally received this annual calendar mailed from Norway on 23Jan where SnailMail again lives up to its reputation – 2weeks by AIRMAIL! Cute illustrations from #6. Have been using these calendars ever since KIWI/NorwegianGrocery started giving them FOC and like that the whole year can be easily seen with dates,days,weeks&months spread over 2SidedA4.

Thu: got the MamaOwlS$19.90 night-light 8yrs ago as my older night-light gave up on me after 22yrs then! Saw this BabyOwlS$9.90 5yrs ago and could not resist it – had to get it to keep mama company, giving more light to avoid more falls&learning to be as wise as 2owls. Up to today they are still around but not sure if the owner is any wiser today despite without falls – hahaha.

Fri: 10thLunarDay of the first lunar month 正月初十 and the irony of life with thoughts one of my favourite commercials for the benefits of travelling in groups despite that preference being a solo traveler but do have to share all kinds of public transportations with others. As it is, the thought of travelling sounds too stressful&tiring, still waiting for some invention that can beam me to wherever I need to be…

If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone – Maxwell Maltz

Benefits Of Traveling In Groups – Creative Advertising By Bus Company

Hello February 2025

3 Feb 2025 – Bye-bye January

Fri: 3ppl aboard a US Army helicopter SikorskyH-60BlackHawk that took off from FortBelvoir,VA/USA belonging to B-Company,12thAviationBattalion and an AmericanAirlines-Flight5342 from ICT,KS with 64ppl aboard collided last night over the PotomacRiver where the boundary is between WashingtonDC and VA near ReaganWashingtonNationalAirport/DCA,VA. All 67ppl were killed in this collision – condolences to all affected.

D.C. plane crash live updates: Families mourn 67 killed in American Airlines jet and helicopter collision

Would have visited 2ndSIL&family in the Kranji area today but she is recovering from her ribs fracture after a recent fall in the bathroom – a speedy recovery to her and will try and visit her sometime before the Snake slithers away! Have to always be careful for every step taken and at this stage in our life journey, need to take the steps slower with extra care. There are 6hand-railings in my only bathroom within this 4walls – for real…

img_4221img_4222img_4230

8yrs ago in 2017 since a non-invasive CardiacAblation@Feiringklinikken/Norway – a private cardiac hospital with my own hospital-hotel room&bathroom which is no longer today! But the ticker is still here ticking today…

LHL-klinikkene Feiring – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

Sat: lunch with Henry@MT-market but forgot to take pix! Tkx to him for sharing his LightFestival pix, enjoying living vicariously thru’ these younger ppl at this stage of life with the feeling of been there done that and happy to have done so – this is the first since back here in 1999 that the being was not there for the CNY-lights in Chinatown but content to see pix shared and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully those who still have the energy&mood will be able to enjoy&live their moments to the fullest in their life journeys.

As long as there are memories, yesterday remains. As long as there is hope, tomorrow awaits. As long as there is friendship, today is beautiful = Billy Joel

Sun: tkx for lunch@Rochalie and nice to catch up with the eldest nephew JenMun&family – exciting to hear that JenMun&SiewKing will be grandparents to the first LAM for the BrownGen in Jun2025 ie SuiChang&JiaLing are expecting. That will make a great-grand-auntie of me for the second time, the first being niece JenLing’s grandaughter AnnaANG

Mon: did not get on to these MRT lines or carriages – pix downloaded. Some MRT stations have been specially decorated with murals showing CNY festivities and MarineParade is one of them. Will take a walk to the MP-sta to check it out next week before they are gone.

Trains, buses and MRT stations decorated with grinning snakes, festive murals for Year of the Snake | The Straits Times

Yesterday/1965 by the Beatles my favourite is one of the most covered songs in history, with at least 2,200 versions recorded by other artists.

I can’t go back to yesterday – because I was a different person then – Lewis Carroll

The Best Songs Ever Written—According To Data

2 – Happy Bdays Cathrine
4 – Happy Bday Kurt and Lawrence who would have been 91
6 – Happy Bdays Letty and MariaTorres
10 – Happy Bday MeiYEO
12 – Happy Bday SK
14 – ♥ ♥ ♥Happy Valentine’s Day♥ ♥ ♥
15 – Happy Bday Guri
16 – Happy Bday Mike/LOON
20 – Happy Bdays YatSoonJay and Henry
24 – Happy Bdays Bjørn and CalvinT
27 – Happy Bday Cleo

CNY 2025

30 Jan 2025 The Year of The Snake🐍

Mon: so starts the mass migration of millions of ppl travelling within China where they have 8days public holidays just before the start of the Chinese/Lunar New Year CNY春運SpringFestival(28Jan-4Feb). Seeing these downloaded pix is enough to make me feel soo blessed where I am in SIN despite of another lovely cool wet day!  一路平安 be safe to those travelling.

China kicks off Lunar New Year travel rush, expects record 9 billion trips | Reuters

Chunyun, 2025 Spring Festival Travel Rush in China

Thank you, Gel for her homemade-Kimchi – looking forward to this fermented Korean dish that is nutrient-dense, contains probiotics, and may help support the immune system&reduce inflammation. Dinner@PalmDr to catch up with sisJo – tkx for Kedondong 沙梨 (SpondiasDulcis), she&cousinJohn are the only ppl I know of who have these trees&fruits in their gardens. Need them to ripe(YellowSkin) if for eating, otherwise too sour. If juicing can be done when still unripe(GreenSkin) but will add dried SteviaLeaf.

9 Surprising Benefits of Kimchi

Wadd – The Many Wonders And Health Benefits of June Plum aka Buah Kedondong

Tue: thoughts on this CNY’sEve before the Dragon puffs out and the Snake hisses&slithers its way in – doubtful if this life journey will see another DragonYear but the Snake seems to have a promising forecast for Oxen, as it shares a harmonious connection with TaiSui/GuardianDeity. With excellent opportunities for collaboration, wealth, and personal growth, 2025 is shaping up to be a fruitful year. Your strong interpersonal connections will open doors to new ventures and success – time will show! Goodbye&puffing out the Dragon-Year today, making a list of the things to do like cleaning+getting the grocery&laundry done before the Snake hisses&slithers in tomorrow…

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again – Buddha

Ox Horoscope 2025: Wealth, Career, Love, Health Predictions

A gentle reminder that horoscope is for entertaining and NOT to be taken seriously.

Wed: welcome to the Year of the Snake and these are the Cantonese phrases heard&taught to say thru’out growing up days&CNY@TemenggongRd.
恭喜發財 Gong Hei Faat Choy – Wishing you Wealth&Prosperity
身體健康 Sun Tai Gin Hong – Good Health
出入平安 Chut Yup Ping On – Peace&Safe Wherever You May Be
大吉大利 Dai Gut Dai Lei – Good Luck&May Things Go Smoothly
年年有餘 Nin Nin Yau Yu – Surplus Year After Year

Chinese New Year Schedule 2025: Day-by-Day Festivity Preparation

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2025: 15 Days Celebration of Lunar New Year

Thanks to Les&Ivy

for another wonderful scrumptious spread, especially his homemade Lamb/MuttonCurry which is as yummy as his SteakRochalie. Missing David’s photography’s skills and delighted to have caught up with our amazing 94yrsGodSister PatLIM who lives in JB/Malaysia. Glad to finally meet Greg, Theresa&CJ’s son who is only here for 3days visiting from Japan, did not have time for pix of him as too busy talking&getting to know him – hahaha!

Appreciations to KK for the invite to his annual LionDance. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power&wisdom and a tradition in CNY – performed to bring prosperity&good luck for the upcoming year, also a wonderful way to create a festive atmosphere&mood.

If the lion knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him — Thomas More

Thu: after yesterday’s festivities need today to recover before more socials and appreciations for these yummy CNYgoodies.  When would an apple be not an apple? When it’s a pineapple – cheesy as this might sound, I like the pun – hahaha.

Why we eat pineapple tarts during CNY and the meanings behind other goodies

Glass-Bottom-CableCar

26 Jan 2025 – Lamps&SpiceWheel From 1970s-80s

Thu: SpiceWheel&Lamps that have been in storage for the past~25+yrs. Cousin Karen mentioned that she is interested to have them and glad to find a home for these which hopefully will give some joy to others as they have to me over many years in FL/USA. Shipped them here when the decision to move back to SIN but did not find an appropriate spot for them within the 4walls.

One of the lamps needed repair and perhaps some SuperGlue might do the trick – missing bottle on the SpiceWheel solved!

Pix of HangingLamp&SpiceWheel in the backgrounds from 1989 FL/USA once upon a time ago with Hustads visiting from Norway!

Fri: walkabout Chinatown starting with a visit to CundhiGong 準提宫@KiongSiakRd burning the joss-sticks,etc as a respect to paternal-grandmother+all the others in the family who practiced these rituals.

Always enjoy walking around this area with much history&personality, especially with Karen who is an architect and used to work&know this area well.

Down CantonmentRd along the row of shophouses where a needed bus-stop under construction has now started.

To where the flock of roosters,hens,chicks and back to KS-St.

Bfast@TongAh which has now moved from the lovely iconic corner building to 35KS-Rd where father used to be for his MahjongClub on Thu evenings. Poor Karen! who is probably tired after walking and now wondering what I am going to come up with next…

The point of the journey is not just healing. It’s also recovering the truest, most spontaneous, joyful, and creative core of ourselves – Gloria Steinem

Decided to show her 5TemenggongRd (the few roads which still looks like time stood still!) where I first met AuntieNgor(Karen’s mother) in the early 1960s. Drove up to the dead-end where the B/W-houses were and still are – as a mischievous kid used to throw stones down to the red roof which still stands!

The future comes slowly, the present flies and the past stands still forever — Friedrich von Schiller

MtFaber and what an amazing public rest room with a view.

First time on a Glass-Bottom-Cable-Car-Ride to&fro Sentosa – highly recommended. Normal CableCar/adultsS$24.50, seniorS$17.50, GlassBottom additionalS$15 and well worth for being above the hustle on Cloud9 embracing the calm, cable-car-rides allow you to see landscapes at different angles with new eyes. Thanks, cousin, for being such a spot and going along with my spontaneous escapes – such a fun day, had a blast despite of the rains.

Singapore Cable Car’s New Futuristic SkyOrb Cabins To Take Guests From March 20

Sat: tkx for including me for reunion dinner@Clement’s with grandnephews Andrew back for his NS and Darrly for the holidays – missing person from GG4BroSteven’s(1938-2024) branch here is Vincent who has to be in Australia to take care of their business.

Sun: appreciations for last night dinner+today’s Bfast reunions before the Snake hisses in. Helen will be off to Japan next week for the CNY – safe journeys to her. Delighted for TorchGinger flowerS$1 and new Coffee/Tea potS$20

New@MarineCrescent/Terrace Jan2025

22 Jan 2025 – New Washing Machine

Sun: tkx to Elisa for this share – would have considered continuing teaching (my last piano student was in 2000!) if I had students like these playing one of my favourite piano pieces Paganini-Liszt/LaCampanella arranged for 12 hands: (1) Video | Facebook 

Appreciations with tkx to Ivy&Les for delicious early ReunionDinner before Kat takes off. During this LoHeiDinner the most important auspicious sayings –
SafeJourneys 一路平安 to her and
GoodHealth 身体健康+GreatLuck&Prosperity 大吉大利 to all.
Mon: have seen this tree since it was a tiny sapling, ie~20yrs ago. Impresses me how promptly MarinePTC replies to whatever issues addressed to them and how quickly they have taken actions of my concerns&questions since my moved here ~25yrs ago!
In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful — Alice Walker
At the junction of MarineT+C by the traffic lights, looks like an elaborated and well-luminated wake to wake even the dead day or night!
財神FortuneDiety/MarineT-Food&Market is up&ready to bring in good fortune, day or night and do like that they are keeping to the colours of gold&red lights, very auspicious&fitting into the CNYcolours.
Welcome to the new IndiaMuslim-FoodStall/AlMeera’s/Blk59MarineT nearer to my end. Thought they packed up after the MRT-constructions but glad it was just under-covers for renovations, now can have ChickenBiryani here without having to go to LittleIndia.
Tkx to Jean for my favourite fresh SugarCane+LemonJuicesS$3.40 to last me for a couple of days – good for 4-8hrs in room-temp, 4-8days in the fridge but usually gone within 3days!
Though sugarcane juice is considered to be healthy, it is high in carbohydrates and sugar. It can spike blood sugar levels and thus should be consumed in moderation.
Overhead sheltered walkways, both under constructions across the JCT- MarineC-T-traffic-lights and on MarineC linking the only 2 bus-stops on MarineC – an eye-sore to some architects but practical to residents.
Tue: byebye to the 15yrs old LG-machine and hello new EuropAce-washing machine.
A long story with running around BestDenki@PP&GWC,  tkx to Clement for dinner and for letting me vent my frustrations of the day! Managed on my own to push the machine further back after dinner and after ~13,000steps of walking today. The delivery guys did not look clearly behind that there was more space next to the outlets and I did not check but took their words that it was not possible to push it back further after the delivery!
All’s well that ends well…

Wed: Happy 23rd Bday #1Katy. Time flies when you’re having fun, that means you must be having a blast because it feels like just yesterday you were born!

Appreciations to cousinKaren for lunch&CNYgift – so nice to catch up spending a delightful afternoon chattiing&shopping@PP 

Happy ¾Century

18 Jan 2925 – With More Dental Works

Wed: Happy Bdays to Angie,Estella,Josh and ¾Century to me – what a way to celebrate a Bday! Dental-bridge broke and under that bridge 3 broken teeth had to be extracted – byebye bridge+teeth. The other alternative sounded like a long painful expensive procedure and at this stage, might not even have enough bone density for it. Thanks to the face mask for helping to cover the gap until dentures are ready. IceCream diet makes it feel better, especially with a splash of Baileys to enhance it now that dentures will be around for the rest of this life journey!

Why are dentures like computers – they both have Hard Drives and Bytes…

Thu: in this case it is some teeth and thank goodness not all yet! but still uncomfortable with a perfect looking set of new upper front dentureS$160/including extractions,treatment,etc after GovtSubsidy+MerdekaGen, otherwiseS$650.

Continued from NDC-FarrerPkMedical to collect meds – convenient with direct line from OutramPk on the MRT-NEL-PurpleLine/Senior0.84c – busy morning at the clinic for bro Leslie.

Tkx with appreciations for one of the most delicious Vietnamese meals in an unusual rustic ambience@LuckySaigon/356TanglinRd within a nursery+chickens,roosters,peacock in the surroundings #5&6 would love it here!

Highly recommended despite eating very slowly and having to pack the rest to take away to enjoy for dinner, especially when the beef is provided by my own bro – the advantage&luxury of eating out with only someone like him where he can bring some of his own ingredients or wines to places where he knows the owners!

Tkx Gel for the first PineappleTarts to start with the CNY goodies – have just ordered from MaruMaru to be delivered. They are perfect well-presented gifts, especially to take overseas and this will be the second year I have ordered them – last year I collected them and got lost! So far one of my favourites is still Sue’s PineappleTarts but unfortunately, she is not making any for sale now.

Fri: appreciations for BelatedBdaysDinner to Leonard and I + early LoHeiDinner before the busy CNYseason at CystalJade/GreatWorldCity. Their LoHei here was not quite the traditional one, ie with more fresh ingredients, good&refreshing and was enjoyed by all.

Thousand thanks for new washing machine to be delivered next week and also first time in Steak&Shake for a milkshake. Came back to another wonderful surprise waiting by the door(this will have to wait for the gums to heal fully!) from Norway, made my day with all these wonderful ppl with me and in my thoughts today. When you past ¾Century in your life’s journey, every day is a celebration while you can still eat,sleep,walk,etc, no matter how slowly – so do enjoy every moment of it to the fullest while there is…

If I can’t suck my milkshake through a straw, it’s not a milkshake, it’s a glass of ice-cream – Bill Maher

Sat: waiting for delivery of Maru Maru  PineappleTarts – each piece is individually packed handcrafted with home-cooked pineapple jam, 2boxes/24pcsS$84 including delivery – pix downloaded

🍍premium ingredients used
🍍no artificial coloring
🍍no preservatives
🍍reduced sugar

Needed to be within 4walls from 1300-2000hrs as was told that they are unable to narrow the timeframe but despite being told tbat, they got here before 1400hrs. No worries when the weather is so comfortable to relax in:

Second monsoon surge from Jan 17 to 19 expected to be less intense: MSS | The Straits Times

Keeping The Balance

14 Jan 2025 – To Stay Healthy

Sat: temp last night dropped to ~21°C after hours of relentless rain since yesterday – do not remembering to ever experience such temp to write about here in the tropics. Would usually be sleeping in just a sarong but needed a thin wrap for last night despite without any AC or fan. To those in affected flooding areas, plx take care to be safe – if this continues for another 40days&night will have to build an ark or move – pix downloaded

Mercury dips to 22 deg C as monsoon surge hits Singapore | The Straits Times

Enjoying this cool wet weathers with OldMovie&AudioBooks but do feel for outdoor vendors whose livelihoods depend on the weathers. Walked~7,000steps Underground,Aboveground on MP-Rd/under the shade to&fro Parkway to pick up some groceries that is unavailable in MT-hood and to get one of my favourite take-away ChickenRiceLunchS$7 for a treat on a wet day.

How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and the heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain! – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Free Public Transportation

10 Jan 2025 – But Not For All

Tue: finally, a day with enough energy&time to put away ChristmasDecor and the 2Handmade&PaintedGreetings+the handful of snailmail to be stored for updating&replying in Nov with hopes that the memory will still be intact – hahaha!

Bus&MRT fares have gone up .04c – now no longer .99c but S$1.03 for Seniors. This S$60 2024PublicTransportVoucher should cover the increase for the year!

I understand that UK-Seniors can travel free on buses, but not sure if that applies for the subway too? or if anywhere else in the world has free public transportation for their SeniorCitizens besides China&UK? Can anyone enlighten me on this??

Wed: downstairs neighbour’s has complained about some leak and now my bathroom floor is flooded with non-stain-dye looking like some alien bright fluorescent colour to test what&where is causing the leak. After the release of the dye and even after rinsing, looked like the leak is from the join of the toilet-bowl, will have to find someone reliable to repaint&reseal the bathroom floor with attention to that area.

Thu: Happy  Bdays to nieceJudy and nephewLee Due to some SeniorMoments got their dates mixed for earlier dates with them now turning to more than ½ a century. Well better earlier than never and sometimes I’ve reached the age where my train of thought sometimes leaves the station without me – also reminding me to organise some of the old B/W photos while the memory is somehow still there. 1991Pix with father with some of the OrangeG for his 80Bday

Not sure if I will ever make it but in my thoughts&plans for 2026-29, ie before I turn 80! Open for any suggestions and any other links if anyone has more info than what is so far below. Hannah&Heiko my young friends did this with a full pack, NO will NEVER do with a full pack and except for the snakes, looks beautiful & peaceful and most tempting with few ppl. Overland Track is an Australian bushwalking track, traversing CradleMountain-LakeStClair NationalPark, within the TasmanianWildernessWorldHeritageArea.

Tkx to Hannah for her share and the below link to one of my bucket list hikes and if health&finance permit would like to do this hike. She&Heiko just did a 6days hike here and as tempting as it looks OverlandTrackDay3: Panorama of the dolerite mountain peaks (from left) Mt Oakleigh, Pelion East, Ossa, Thetis, Achilles, and Pelion West.

OverlandTrackDay4: Beautiful scoparia flowers (alpine wildflowers) just a short walk from Pelion Gap up the side track to Mt Ossa. The peak in the background is Mt Doris – except for OverlandTrackDay6: Tasmanian tiger snake in the bushes. Highly venomous but not aggressive, we saw about 6 of them on the track and they were always moving away from us – caption&pix credits to Hannah

Cradle Mountain: Guided walks on the Overland Track, Tasmania

Fri: a cool lovely wet morning here with no complains here considering what is happening in parts of UK&USA with freezing temps and fires in CA/USA – to those in affected areas, plx stay safe&warm.
When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening…

With the chaos due to the recent unexpected&unpredicted weathers including floods,earthquakes,fires,stampedes,wars,etc am wondering if reading into too much in my last ¼Century? Oh well, life happens! but will still keep living&looking forward to the best&fullest as possible in my present circumstances now that this body will soon be ¾Century in existence on planet Earth – life sounds more exciting when you can measure it by Century hahaha. Here is another interesting link on Youtube:

Why does it feel like the world is falling apart? | Brian Klaas

My social media consumption has shifted away from news and sensationalism to videos that educate or adds to my well-being – Jason