2 Dec 2024 – Hello December

Fri:  TGIF for this last Nov2024Fri – Happy 18Bday to #3 from a lovely cool wet SIN morning. A few more blinks and he will be graduating HighSchool and joining #1@UofSC. What I like most on days like these is having the sidewalks to myself!

Basic health screening for hearing&sightS$2@Blk15MT – a new experience but will probably be the first&last…

Thankful to Gel for getting me to try oysters@Fairprice/PPS$17.50 – nice way to start the festive holiday mood after getting the overseas snailmail out and great for me with hardly any crowds despite it being a Fri.

1st time in a Scoop/PP, delighted to discover that they do have CacaoNibsS$4.90/100gr

Sat: appreciations for gifts&DIY PopiahS$28 薄餅+LaksaS$41 辣 沙 Such fun to be able to make your own Popiah and have only the fillings you wish to eat. FortuneFoods do a decent job with deliveryS$18 for both these set and it is worth the total of S$87 for min stress on me to get all the shopping&preparations.

By choice just had to get more prawns(not enough for me in the sets!)+fresh BeanSprouts,LaksaLeaf,Lettuce. Made Tiramisu for dessert and pleased to see&taste that am still able to do a good one, been a while ago since the last one made! Served most of the food in disposable tableware including BananaLeaf for placemats – min washing up.

One of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with the special people in your life – Obama

Sun: 1stSunday of Advent – as we enter into the holiday season, remember to stay healthy&safe and take time to give yourself some quiet peaceful moments to get away from the rush&stress, also a reminder to all that we may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, etc but we all belong to one human race

CCF+Congee-Bfast@MT Market with Helen.

BananaCakeDessert and introducing her to the Chocolate+ThankfulAdventCalendar and figs wrapped with ParmaHam.

Thank you for scrumptious dinner w 6medical doctors – definitely in good hands if medical attention is needed, hahaha! Delighted to meet LeLeAung from Myanmar to discover we have common friends in SierraLeone/Africa and that she is a classmate of YasmineFadluDeen who I babysat in the 1960s, Dublin/Ireland – small world! DeepFriedFlyingFish gets the presentation attention and lived up to its name. My humble starter contribution of a western style smoked salmon…

Being in ImperialTreasureSuperPekingDuck/Paragon, the duck is a must and consumed in 3different ways.

Short walk on OrchardRd to catch the bus36 getting the front seat instead of MRT to get into the mood for this festive holiday month which does not get easier as time goes by.

Mon: stomach needs to rest for a day before more festive foods ahead…

24 Nov 2024 – Frank Vs God

Thu: this is rather concerning to read, but there are also much happening in the news which are upsetting to hear or read and as I am writing now with the lovely melody by ChalieChaplin’s Smile@Symphony924; appropriate lyrics by J.Turner&G.Parsons went thru’ the mind in time to pull me out of the dark thoughts.

Speaking at a conference at the National Institute of International Finance, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that a global conflict involving nuclear powers is imminent.

World War III has already begun. Battles are already being fought on the ground and are being coordinated across multiple countries,” Dimon said at the annual event in Washington, D.C., on October 24. Pix downloaded.

America’s largest bank warns: “World War III has already begun”

‘World War 3 has begun,’ Ukraine’s former military chief warns

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time
You must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Fri: morning coffee at KithCafe/MilleniaWalk – really! S$7+for a regular Cappuccino, just goes to show how seldom I go for a cuppa at a cafe, S$1.60 for a cuppa at the local market.

2024-BoutiqueFairS$6@F1PitBdg – beautiful white CallaLilies looked too perfect to be real, looks can be deceiving and was rewarded one for trying to touch it, for real in all ways.

What a feast for the eyes but not for the budget!

Tkx to Audrey for yummy pastry.

Mushroom lunch.

Foods from OldChangKee(first outlet)&LE CafeConfectionery&Pastry@MackenzieRd.

Belated Bday celebrations for Chris & Sam and welcome Calvin back to SIN.

Takeaway ChickenBriyaniS$10 here, their single portion adding an extra piece of chicken is enough to last me for 4meals/TekkaMk + CitronellaIncenseSticksS$5 from LittleIndia on Bus48 back to the EastSide in heavy downpours – delightful day despite of the afternoon rains.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather — John Ruskin

Sat&Sun: RY has a point regarding the above quote – No such thing as Bad Weather? Such BS… has that guy ever heard of hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons and torrential rain? IDIOT His comment got me thinking about the movie FrankVsGod… not going to start on that to open another can of worms but KristyB has a good point regarding religion with the below link – pix downloaded

Bible lessons in Texas schools to get final vote | khou.com

The Bible belongs in private homes, in churches, and in Sunday schools, where learning it is a choice. Not in public classrooms, where it becomes compulsory – KristyB

20 Nov 2024 – And to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Sun: Eligible S’poreans to get cash payouts and MediSave, CPF top-ups in December – let’s hope that I am one of those eligible adults, time will show – pix&table downloaded.

4.Under the enhanced AP, about 2.9 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2025 will receive $200 to $600 in cash in December 2024.

6.Under the Majulah Package – MediSave Bonus, about 1.6 million Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a one-time MediSave top-up of$1,250 or $2,000in December 2024.

8.As part of the Majulah Package, about 800,000 eligible Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a one-time Retirement Savings Bonus of $1,000 or $1,500 in their CPF, depending on the amount of CPF retirement savings they have.

9.The range of benefits that adult Singaporeans will receive in December 2024 is summarised in the table.

2.9m S’poreans to receive $200-$600 in cash in December , Latest Singapore News – The New Paper

Enhanced Support for Adult Singaporeans in December 2024 | Ministry of Health

Mon: productive day with ~10,000steps taken, started walking-PP to compare prices in search for a new hand-mixer – so far prices are ranging~$S28++onwards from FairPrice,JapanHouse&BestD.

Lunched at one of my favourite ChickenRice(best clear soup for my taste and they always give me seconds when I ask for more)@MP-Food&HawkerCentre~S$7 including a GrassJelly dessert. Fruit&snacks~S$28, paper-plates, masking-tapes, RoseBuds~S$10, 2024Season’sGreetings (10ColouredCopies) + PassportPix/MugShot! S$30.

Tue: 0500hrs@local market for FreshProduceS$15+PorkBone+meatS$5 for stock, CCF-Bfast+coffeeS$5.60 – peaceful&quiet this lovely wet cool morning when it is only a handful of ppl around then possible to eat at the location, otherwise would take-away unless with company!

SuperGiant/Tampines, delighted with the price of this S$13.90PowerPack–ElectricalMixer paid a total of ~S$57 including the ~S$12Promo+SS for all these goodies,dried-food+flowers, now ending the search for a mixer! Let’s hope it will last thru’ this life journey and will never have to get another one…

Celebrated with GravLaksLunch~S$14@IKEA+yummy mini ChocolateChristmasLog with some shopping~S$34 done there too! Just heard on the news that King CarlXVI Gustaf of Sweden will be visiting SIN – wonder if he has ever been to any of the IKEAs? It was another lifetime ago when memory recalled that he married Silvia whom he met at the 1972Olympics when she was hosting for Germany, a fairytale where Cinderella got her prince and lived happily ever after! Pix downloaded.

(Ooh, ooh) ooh, you can dance, you can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh-ooh, ooh, see that girl, watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen – ABBA

State Visit of his Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, 19 to 21 November 2024

Wed: favourite CKT-Lunch with Aileen@ZionRd ~30+mins in line but worth the wait when only here 1-3times annually and not in a rush for anything or anywhere. Stomach not too happy at this stage of life with extra hum/BloodCockles but this will not be the first nor last time – hahaha.

Hum/BloodCrockles 血蚶 Tegillarca granosa/Anadara granosa is a species of ark clam known as the blood cockle or blood clam due to the red haemoglobin liquid inside the soft tissues – delicious

Gluttony and Lust are the only sins that abuse something that is essential to our survival – Henry Fairlie

16 Nov 2024 – Thanks For 20+yrs!

Wed: started the day looking forward to an outing in Changi for the afternoon but as it turned out, started the morning by spilling coffee over some paperwork but thank goodness nothing too important; then to discover that the tour by HS for ChangiChapel is at 1100 not 1400hrs and would have taken~1+hr to get there, thus too late to go. Oh well! such is life, enjoying sipping teas on this lovely cool wet afternoon in such circumstances.

Read somewhere late last night that many ppl were killed&wounded in a hit-and-run after car plows into crowds at sports center in some Chinese city and thought it to be Spam/false news imagining how it is possible to drive a car and hurt so many ppl? Heard over the news this morning when more awake&alert that it did happen for real in Zhuhai not too far from Jiangmen, LAM AncestralHall&Houses. Last visit to this area was~2 decades ago, but plan to make just one more revisit to Jiangmen in this life journey – map,link&pix downloaded.

35 killed, dozens wounded in south China car ramming – CNA

Spontaneous early dinner with Clement BakKutTeh@SinHeng/JooChiatRd – abb BKT肉骨茶a pork rib dish cooked in broth popularly served in SIN&Malaysia.

The Origins and History of Bak Kut Teh | by Yow Hong Chieh | Medium

Needed to walk after being stuffed&bloated with dinner. KimChoo@EC-Rd for some mini NyonyaBakChang/Zongzi 粽子 sticky rice dumplings to take away – typical SIN to be thinking about the next meal despite being stuffed – hahaha!

Amazing that ppl are asking this kind of $$$$ for the old SargentPepperBeatleLP @KatongSqLifestyleRetro!

Do like these 2paintings – Seasons by Byambajargal/Mongolia and Calm by GraceSoh/SIN exhibited@I12. Ended this lovely evening with Cendoh dessert – shaved iced local dessert that contains droplets of pandan-flavoured green rice flour jelly, coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.

Thinking it would have been a quiet afternoon&evening sipping tea turned to be ~10,000+steps walking and feasting the eyes&stomach, tkx to nephew for getting me out – that’s the unexpected&unplanned beauty&wonders of life. The thought that #1 will be getting married makes OLD! to ANCIENT!! and a reminder that as long as~10,000+steps every other day are still possible, there is still life and time to catch up with ppl.

Thu: appreciations with tkx for 20+yrs to an electrical-mixer that finally gave out when whipping cream. Thank goodness nearly done and only ~a few mins by hand to complete the consistency needed bringing back fond memories of a trip in N-Sweden where after picking wild blueberries+making a pie to discover that there was no electrical mixer in the apt! Was craving for freash-whipped-cream with the pie and hand-whipped for ~30mins to get the cream whipped, for real – what SIN do for food hahaha!

Fri: tkx to Seb & Adrian for dinner, for taking time to visit and walk on EC Pk. Has it really been 6yrs ago since Adrian&I last caught up? Let the Season Begin to ring in the holiday cheers – Fri pix credits to Seb.

The Music Makers – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

Sat: getting 2024 SeasonGreets/snailmail+online ready over the weekend and the coming week to hopefully be done by Thanksgiving to have a more relaxing Dec to prepare for #2 arr.

In November, as the seasons shift, we witness nature’s graceful surrender. It serves as a gentle reminder that life, too, has its seasons, and within each lies its own unique blessings – Amber R. Treeman

Such a good idea a BlockParty+MovieNight – tonight’s LittleMermaid looks like ppl are having a good time – no, did not stay to watch but did pop by to check it out to see what the noise was about and to snap some shots to document. This kind of noise is OK for me as it is for everybody, ie not religious or political.

12 Nov 2024 – Cacao Vs Cocoa

Sat: tkx to Huang for gifts – CacaoNibs were requested as have been out of them since last gifted to me from HI/USA – must find out where it can be purchased here in SIN besides online! Trying to learn more while there is curiosity&time left to keep the mental&physcial being well-balance…

Cocoa beans were first domesticated 5,300 years ago in equatorial South America and introduced to Central America by the Olmecs. They were consumed by pre-Hispanic cultures along the Yucatán, including the Maya, and as far back as Olmeca civilization in spiritual ceremonies – pix downloaded.

Cocoa beans have been a prevalent part of Central American cultures, specifically the Mayan civilization, for hundreds of years The Mayans and Aztecs were the first to plant cacao –pix downloaded.

CacaoNibs are small pieces of crushed cacao beans that have a slightly bitter chocolatey flavour produced from beans derived from the Theobroma/cacao tree, also known as the cocoa tree. CocoaBeans are dried after harvesting, then fermented and cracked to produce small, dark bits — CacaoNibs which are loaded with nutrients ie pure cacao with no preservatives or anything added. also one of the highest antioxidant concentrations of any major food.

What’s so special about antioxidants?

Antioxidants work to maintain a healthy balance of free radicals and help prevent oxidative stress – What are antioxidants? | Live Science

Tonight’s noise is nosier than last week’s ChineseTemple anniversary but this time round in the next block, probably for the Deepavali. These noises annoying as they are but seems like some ppl needs their noisy rituals to comfort whatever their beliefs are but why can’t they keep these noisy rituals to their places of worship instead to disturbing other ppl who might not have the same beliefs? Will be more aware of these happenings in future to stay away from my 4-walls when these rituals take place in the neighbourhood!

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn – Gone with the Wind (1939)

Sat12Nov2024 – congratulations on #1Katy’s engagement to Jack with wedding date set for Sun22Feb2026 – pix credits to Linn. Hopefully will be able to see them married and perhaps a chance to be a great-grandmother in this life journey – time will tell…

Sun: nice cool wet morning on this nostalgic movie week in my 4-walls – steamboat dinner@Rochalie, Les is in Thailand.

Roads! Where we’re going we don’t need roads – Back to the Future (1985)

Mon: Catholic priest stabbed over the weekend!! How can this be happening here in SIN? Father Christopher Lee is in stable condition and recovering in the hospital, after surgery – pix downloaded

Priest stabbed during mass at St Joseph’s Church in Upper Bukit Timah, assailant arrested – CNA

Tue: plans for CKT-lunch@ZionRd with Aileen but was not aware that it closes on Tue! Walked on to OldShifuCharcoalPorridge/58SengPohRd on this hot afternoon! to the wonders of my flock as how we are able to eat these hot dishes in this tropical heat?? Spent the afternoon running errands in the AC-mall@PlazaSIN, and a late grocery shopping after getting back from the OrchardRd area. Believe it or not! Xmas lights are up but was told that they are not on yet, and refuse to post any pix with Xmas theme until after the Thanksgiving – pix credits to Aileen.

8 Nov 2024 – Thanks Huang For This Visit

Tue: total of ~18,000steps for today starting 0900hrs with CCF-Bfast@MT-Hawker&Market – glad that DaisyC could join us.

Joy rides on buses16&30 to Hell@HawParVilla 虎豹別墅 the only theme park from childhood days, except that the gruesome depictions of Hell in Chinese mythology and in Buddhism are now housed under one roof as Hell’sMuseum but there is a price to go there without any SeniorDiscount!!

Hell is empty and all the devils are here – Shakespeare

Home – Haw Par Villa

Was here with cousin Yun/Canada 8yrs ago and also 8yrs ago since Pauline&family moved here – nowadays it costS$20 oneway ticket to Hell – hahaha!

Welcome #29 – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything

Walking along the MarinaBayWaterfrontPromenade towards ArtScienceMuseum/lotus-designed built above an appropriate Lotus water feature.  The main difference between the Waterlily and Lotus is that the Lotus leaves and flowers rise above the surface of the water, while those of the water lily float on the surface of the water.

The lotus is a symbol of purity and enlightenment, teaching us that we can rise above adversity – Nhat Hanh

Whenever I see WaterLilies, memories of the last time seeing such beauty in its natural ambiance was during 2005AT-Thru’Hike. Have to now deal with it in man-made surroundings, not quite the same but better than none – pix downloaded!

MBS – HelixBridge – Mustafa and was back at my 4-walls by 18.00hrs, too tired for any more food crashing after a shower.

Wed: 0800hrs BeachRdPawnNoodlesBfast(cousin David’s favourite PrawnNoodles) @PrawnNoodleHouse美芝律大蝦面 370EC-Rd, conveniently located only a few doors away from The SnoozeHotel where Huang is staying.

KineticRain, a moving sculpture T1SIN-Airport was installed in Jul2012. With 1,216droplets spanning an area of 75sqM/810sqFt and a height of 7.3M/24Ft, it has been billed as the world’s largest kinetic sculpture. Nov2013, a woman climbed over a railing and perched on the netting below, damaging the sculpture in the process and was later arrested under the MentalHealthAct. Today, despite one droplet being out of sync, still beautiful&hypnotic to watch – safe onward journeys to Huang.

Kinetic Rain – World’s Largest Kinetic Art Sculpture @ Changi Airport Singapore

Thought can be so seductive and hypnotic that it absorbs your attention totally, so you become your thoughts – Eckhart Tolle

Good job to my USflock in SC and proud of them for doing their parts by voting despite of disappointing results – pix credits to Linn

Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights – Why Voting Is Important

Thu&Fri: need to rest after a lovely visit from Huang and also to recover from the US-election results! Appreciations with respect to JohnBradley who put this so eloquently into words as to how I too feel with concerns for my US-flock and the American people.

I have been struggling with trying to come up with something to say or post this morning and wondering if I should even post anything at all. But after thinking about it all morning, I feel the need to at least say something, even though it might be rambling or scattered. So here goes…

After the 2016 election my predominant feeling was one of anger. I frequently see my Facebook memories from the days and months after the election and man, was I angry. I was angry for a lot of reasons but in part that the “system” had failed and allowed Trump to win when the majority of Americans (I felt) rejected him and what he stood (or stands) for. In short, I felt 2016 was a fluke.

I had hoped after 2020 that we had righted the ship somehow. Boy, was I wrong about that.

Today my predominant feeling is one of great sorrow. This election result can’t be attributed to a broken system. Yesterday’s results from the Presidential race downward reflect exactly who we are. We all know what Trump stands for and what he intends to do and the majority of Americans are ok with that. It makes me sad. I am absolutely gutted to be honest. It breaks my heart. The next 4 years are going to be brutal. There is no way to sugarcoat it.

But. If I can find one thing to be thankful for today and a glimmer of hope today, it’s in my like minded, progressive minded friends, many of whom I have already interacted with today. I share your pains, your anxiety and frustrations. We are outnumbered in this State for sure and in this Country right now but we must continue to fight the fight and maybe one day we will live in the Country we believe in – which is certainly not the country we saw reflected at the polls yesterday and the country we woke up to this morning.

4 Nov 2024: Welcome Huang

Fri: seasonal gift shopping and preparations for the seasonal greetings have started! Steamboat@BukitMerah with the first time trying a tomato-base broth besides the usual chicken broth – not a fan of Western-tomato-soup, but this only has a hint and is quite good and a nice change with this ShrimpPaste, also first taste.

FreshFruitCocktail&FreshWhippedCream for dessert from my kitchen. Tkx for the remainder of the soups to take away to savour or freeze+early gift, will put into good use with the various tea-leaf in storage!

Have been having bad attacks of eczema lately – will need to figure what is going on to trigger these flareups&outbreaks+asthma?? Ppl with these conditions usually get them at a younger age and grow out of it! Over-the-counter-drugs+this ointment have been some help but the most effective are ice-packs so far, which have been a life-saver – this too shall pass, just need to figure out how to prevent triggering off asthma&eczema…

Have so much to be appreciative & grateful for and need to focus on that but now to focus on what is stressing me out to contribute to my well-being. On this journey of life, the priority now is to take care of myself to give my loved ones the peace of mind to live their life. After being in ICU on 3occassions, hopefully and slowly learning to some extend!! how to prevent triggering off whatever discomfort,illness,pain,etc that might land me in hospital again…

The prudent person always studies seriously and thoroughly into the things that make for his own welfare – Buddha

Sat: thank you for Bday’s dinner. HS&I have known each other since the early 1950s with 70+yrs of friendship! Delighted to see that we are still in decent health to enjoy our moments with the younger ppl – pleasure to meet Jiangmei and appreciations to Spencer for the ride back to the EastSide.

People say, ‘But Betty, Facebook is a great way to connect with old friends.’ Well, at my age, if I want to connect with old friends I need an Ouija board – Betty White’

From my kitchen – starter taste bits – Brie, FreshFig-Wrapped-In-Prosciutto, Ladybug on MarinatedSalmon with thoughts to all who have taught and influenced me where food is concerned! Appreciations for Sam&Colin’s helper for her BeefBrisket,Salad,Stir-friedVeggies&Pasta and for the young ppl’s BdayCake imaginative humour/good moist Rose-Lychee-Phallic-Cake – hahaha

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I’m happy. I can’t figure it out. What am I doing right? – Charles Schulz

Sun: US-States participating in daylight saving time turn their clocks back when it officially ends on the first Sun of Nov every year thus gaining an hour of sleep. Daylight savings time-why are they saving it, and where do they keep it and why to adjust the clocks you never look at because you have a phone??

31 Oct 2024 – ByeBye October 2024

Mon: a good week ahead to all. Walking gives you the chance to see things at different angles, give your mind space to ponder – and no, will definitely not try to eat these mushrooms

Tkx to Chih Wey Then a professional journalist photographer for his amazing share of his Bioluminescent mushrooms in Singapore’s Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

And to PaulK for his input on this subject – It’s the underground fungi that are the most important. This book is a good introduction to the importance: https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life

Tue: grocery shopping@Giant&MT-wet-market with appreciations to Jerome’s The Long And Winding Road posting sharing this B/Wpix – my 20+yrs old basket&Tingkat are still in use for grocery shopping&take-aways today tying my best to do my part!

If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us – Suzuki

Nice change to see these tentage temporary stalls both by the MP&MT MRT stations and bus stops – tried both the chicken&beef TurkishKerbab and preference is for the chicken.

Wed: thank you for the invite to the CognitionAwarenessDay2024

@ClinicalScienceBuilding /LKC-Medicine on MandalayRd for the talk+refreshments.

Was here a year ago as a volunteer for the DementiaResearch and since can still remember last year’s Oct appt and have not been called up for another appt this year should be good news – hahaha!

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams – HG Wells

Thu: this last day of Oct is a public holiday here in SIN because of Deepavali – Happy Deepavali to those celebrating and may this festival of lights bring joy&peace to everyone. Will hopefully check out these lights and get into a MRT carriage with this art next week with Huang visiting – pix downloaded

If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. — Chinese proverb

27 Oct 2024: Ostentatious Vs Hypocrisy

Thu: discovered that FairPriceXtra/ParkwayP offers oysters+wine on Fri – must give it a trial one of these Fridays! Today just to catch up with Gel since running errands here to learn that the BasementFoodCourt is closed for reno. Also to walk back&fro from my 4walls to cover ~8,000+steps under shade!

FairPrice Xtra Events | NTUC FairPrice

Picked up ready-made Thai food@MT-Hawker&Market/ChangThaiFoodS$13 for tonight and tomorrow – OK decent food.

Tonight’s downstairs wake rituals must be one of the nosiest&long lasting so far – annoying drumming of cymbals on-going monotonously for ~30mins. Am not usually bother but somehow tonight this was irritating! Had to close door&windows, on the AC and had Symphony92.4 on full blast – did not see any setup cage for burning, at least that is more interesting when there are beautiful paper-made-offerings and according to some other beliefs when ppl upon their death even buried their material goods with them. Who really knows? no one and no reliable sources have been there&back to tell…

When sil who believed&pracitsed these rituals passed, nieces&nephews being a good&filial children paid their respects by burning a paper mansion+whatever that might be needed in her after life! Today nephew jokes about never having to be homeless in his afterlife as he could stay with his mother! the irony of life!!

Most impressive paper mansion downloaded from below site…

A House for My Mother by Brian McDairmant – Brian McDairmant, Cinematographer

Fri&Sat: somehow tonight the noise sounded more for LionDance – turns out to be some anniversary of a temple(was there to ask, but forgot which temple!), maybe that was what Thu night was about too and I probably mistook it for a wake thinking that all the noise,etc will not bring back the dead! Had to go downstairs to find out despite not understanding anything, snap some shots and to be honest and with no knowledge of this culture, find it rather noisy&ostentatious – each to their own but to me ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy…

As far as I’m concerned, I prefer silent vice to ostentatious virtue – Albert Einstein

Appreciations to Seb for the link below – was wondering about why are these young guys were drinking&smoking like there is no tomorrow? So this give them the excuse to be drinking&smoking to be a medium possessed??

The Chinese Spirit-Medium: Ancient Rituals and Practices in a Modern World

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time – Reinhold Niebuhr

Nice to see these young ppl keeping active and good to see that there are some discreet lights up in some neighbours ready for the Deepavali. Never a dull moment when living in public housing – hahaha

Sun: with fond memories&thoughts of a gracious lady, my children’s paternal Norwegian grandmother Ellen Annemor Poulsson Hald(1924-2020) who would have been 100 today.

A thousand thanks for dinner@ImperialTreasure/Ion with speical foods(raw ingredients brought by our hostess for the chef to prepare) fit for ppl who know CantoneseCusine . My humble contribution was a starter-bite of the LadybugOn MarinatedSalmon – has been a long whole ago since last made!

and believe me besides YamPaste With GingkoNuts/Orh Nee 银杏芋泥, the other dishes and wine are not on the menu…