10 Sep 2024 – An Unforgettable Fishy Tale

Sat: thank you NUS-TravelResearch for FairPriceS$10voucher+S$12cash for participating in their research.

Sun: discovered how delightfully nice&quiet to walk to PP via MTstn-MPstn on an early Sun-morning. This will be an alternative walk for me on Sundays than on EC-Pk which is crowded on Sundays.

After getting out@MTstnExit3, there is this old concrete fence which is about to see its last days and someone has a cat-house outside the fence of some condo…

Appreciations to Leonard for setting up the iPhone(tkx to Clement) ready to be used. Thank you to Les&Ivy for one of my favourite fish Empurau prepared to perfection. WangPuLiao 忘不了=Unforgettable is one of the most expensive fresh-water-fish feeding on wild fruits is prized for its sweet, tender flesh and smooth texture, not often do I get to eat this delicious fish. Also got to taste MoonCakes and still like the plain lotus more than any of the others I have so far tasted over the years…

Going down memory lane with Unforgettable and looks like I have got to taste this fish 4-5times over the decade!

Oct2016: besides his mussels and Empurau/WangPuLiao/忘不了 fish dish (pix from previous postings), my bro Les makes the best Kampot Black-peppered Crab (pix credits to David). Good to catch up with Ivy’s cousin, Irene & family – David and Cindy. Sorry that SoakKoon is missing this.

Oct2013: tkx to Les&Ivy for delicious dinner at Crystal Jade/Paragon**** Yummy celebrations with niece Kat&family back from NY and Patricia’s Bday. Top of the menu was the Empura /WangPuLiao/忘不了 and only Les could have pull this thru’ bringing his own fish and telling the chef how he wants it prepared! Being a fish lover, this is still one of the best tasting fish for me! Fresh water fish from the rivers in Borneo with a diet of fresh fruits is one of the most expensive fish in this region.

FREELITTLEBRAIN: Empurau – the most expensive fish in Sarawak

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid – Einstein

Mon: thanks for visit Gel – always nice to catch up with her and we go back to the days when working together@NetBall in the early 2000s!

Tue: grocery day and yeah favourite CCF&Congee stall is back after being away 4+months in China for holidays for the owners – can now tell friends to meet there again. Wow! nowadays hawker stall owners are able to take 4+months holidays and according to our man 4+months not enough!!

Sharing&recommending my favourite CCF stall – 50A MarineTerrace YongHuatDelight’s CheeCheongFun (RiceNoodleRoll) 豬腸粉

 https://www.misstamchiak.com/yong-huat-delight/

Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together — Guy Fieri

6 Sep 2024 – Happy Birthdays May and Olai

Tue: neighbour has started renovation works, the noise is too much to stay in my 4-walls and they are only doing minor works. Just imagine what it was like when all my interior walls(except for one!) and floor were hacked away 25yrs ago! hate to be any of my neighbours then!!

IKEA/TampinesS$176 – the free shuttle from Bedok goes every hour starting starting at 11.00hrs but did not want to deal with the crowd there in addition that the smaller shuttles are unable to sometimes fit everyone. Being a SeniorCitizen, there is no extra charges on bus fares for 2transfers Bus196-BedokInterC-Bus168 to TampinesAve10 crossing overhead bridge to discover a new bus stop in front of IKEA where Bus296 goes to TampinesInterC.

SBS Transit Feeder Bus Service 296 | Land Transport Guru

Gravlaks+veggie brunch and managed to check out some of the new things. Had enough around the time when the free shuttle went, tried my luck and got on the 14.45hrs back to BedokInterC connecting with Bus196.

Too tired to go out again despite Les’s fresh seafood catch but do appreciate the invite. Made my own Gravlaks with dill bought from Mustafa yesterday, hopefully enough treats gotten from IKEA too.

Wed: today StElisabeth in Tromsø/Norway is a hotel, but in 1978 it was a hospital with a maternity ward. Was there 46yrs ago today and as quoted in the poster – With screams and tears the greatest joy is born – pix downloaded. Happy 46Bday to my dearest 2ndBorn May. Adorable toddle&teenager and just as adorable today when&where it is permissible for mothers&grandmothers to say&think that their offsprings are the best – hahaha!

SPA Hotel Tromsø | St. Elisabeth Hotel & Spa in Tromsø, Norway (entertromso.no)

Enjoying the welcoming morning rains to relief the past few days of intense heat and also thank goodness for no reno-work ongoing at the neighbour’s today. Glad to be chilling in my own 4-walls with thoughts of my flock after the past 2days being on the hectic side.

Thu: tkx for yummy WontonMee brunch@BukitMerahView to mark the day that the youngest #6 of my flock is now a teenager – looking much forward to celebrating later in the month.  Strange to no longer have elementary school grandchildren! Happy Birthday Olai

Heredity is what sets the parents of a teenager wondering about each other – Laurence J. Peter

Making a list of what is in my mind to perhaps get at IKEA for delivery and this might take years and there are many lists around over the years – hahaha! This time round@IKEA/AlexandraS$8

CitySquareMall checking out the newly revamp FairPrice/B1 bringing in some HeartLand ambience and decent looking ready-packed BentoSet meals ranging from S$3-8

 

FoodRepublic/B3 – nostalgia retro atmosphere for delicious AssamFish&Acar@HJH Maimunah NasiPadangS$8 Many of the other stores at the upper levels are closed with hoardings for on-going renovations – byebye Airzone! Glad to have been able to be with Olai,Devon&Eliot when it was…

Oct2022: AirZone@CitySqMall was a great success for #6 but mormor was walking up&down the escalators this time round after learning from the last round with grandnieces,Devon&Eliot in Jan2022 that walking on these nets was not a good idea at this stage in life!! Glad to be able to use up the last of the 4tickets.

Jan2021: World’s 1st indoor-atrium-net-playground opened in 2018 and have been wanting to try this playground that span over levels 2-6@CitySquareMall. With nets connecting one level to the next and slides to get down it was no problems getting up&down holding on to the nets on both sides. Yes, did enquire about the age limit and with Les’s clinic just around the corner@FarrerPkMedicalCentre, it should be OK incase of emergency – hahaha!

Finally an excuse to play here, tkx to grandneices Devon&Eliot who are such a spot, but not easy to take pix trying to balance when there are 12others moving about (max 15). https://airzone.sg/

To be&stay in&on this playground, I had to look forward or upward and NOT down. And like life, live your moments looking forward&upward! And when I was down, it was not easy to get up again to look for Wally lol – surrounded by balls pix credit tkx to one of the younger crews who could stand and take this pix!

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing – George Bernard Shaw

City Square Mall 2021 – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

2021: AIRZONE-Indoor-Atrium-Net-Playground suspended over 3-storeys.

City Square Mall undergoing S$50 million facelift, will have more retail & F&B options by 2025 – Mothership.SG – News from Singapore, Asia and around the world

Fri: PekingDuck+++dinner at ImperialTreasure SuperPekingDuckRestaurant/Paragon. Theresa is the only one I know of who manages to get the chef to serve the remainder duck with glass-noodle and it is just as delicious as with noodles.

Most scrumptious BakedCrab on the shell, Braised-Abalone/Sea-cucumber/Broccoli, Sweet&SourPork + champagn&wine and dessert – what feast for the palate, thank you. My contribution was Gravlaks as a starter.

2 Sep 2024 – Montfort Care Goodlife Makan

Fri: morning coffee@local market to be reminded by my regular stall that its school holiday week and Happy Teachers’Day today in SIN. Tkx to Clement for the info but despite these good sales, will stay away from places where there might be too many ppl, also am trying to declutter and rid stuff in my 4-walls!

Sat: tkx to Hannah for visiting and for getting me out to discover this wonderful concept by MontfortCare – GoodLifeMakan,SeniorActivityCentre@52MarineTerrace#01-198(Designer: DP-ArchitectsPteLtd) where a group of elderly residents comes by daily to voluntarily prepare meals for one another. Good luck to Hannah for bike-trip in Oct and hike in Dec, will live veraciously thru’her&Heiko from their exciting adventures.

The wiser mind mourns less for what age takes away than what it leaves behind – Wordsworth

Lunch is served every last Sat of the month and will try to be there to try different things the next time to give my support – sales go to keeping this location afloat! First time tasting this unusual DryLontong, dish made of compressed RiceCake,etc and this version is something new for me. TaiwanGrassJelly, again something new with a combination of grassjelly,beans,some kind of sweet potatoes,etc. UncleMeng’s(in his 90s)ButterCake – all decent including the MocktailDrinks for 2ppS$30.

A Senior’s Recipe For a Good Life: Food, Friends, and Dignity (ricemedia.co)

Community Kitchen for Stay Alone Seniors – Montfort Care

Sun: simple Bfast@local market and later to coincidently discover that nephew had the same except that coffee here was just plain but according to him the milk foam actually goes well with the you tiao. Need to find somewhere that does that with fresh crispy YouTiao to try together as local market coffee stalls do not froth the milk but where fresh crispy YouTiao can be found!

Hello September – Happy Autum for those in the N-Hemisphere, Happy Spring in the S-Hemisphere, while we who are around the equator have Summer all year round! But wherever we are, just be healthy&safe.

For one it’s the change of seasons, for another, it’s the season of change – William Blake

Mon: doing my best to pack&gather stuff to fit into bag, no matter how big or small whenever this flyer for doorstep collection appears. At Mustafa and CitySquareMall but much of it was under renovations – so no more AirZone? reno-works everywhere including the neighbour.

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new – Socrates

Tkx for these images from Linn about the progress of the tomato plant – perhaps I can be a farmer in my next life, hahaha!

Sep Family’s Bdays

29 Aug 2024 – Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us

Mon: less travelling by choice for the rest of this year, nice to have these memories prompted by FB to remind me! No regrets about blogging or would have forgotten many of these adventures&trips over the years! Time&place for everything and each to their own as long as done without premeditated ill intentions or malice.

2023: a year ago with these were the amazing sky pix from PEI-Hike/Canada and was sure glad to get into our accommodations @Siren’sBeachMotel/NorthLake before the sky opened up.

PEI-Tip-Tip-Confederation Trail/CT-3 – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

2021: 3yrs ago – bought this neck-fan, tested it out with a fully charged battery running on medium speed (3speeds) and it lasted for 7hrs, for real! And today 3yrs later it is still working and still in use!

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful! ― Mae West

2019: 5yrs ago tkx Claire&Stein,Tromsø/Norway for their hospitality and sadly also my last meeting with Ellen,L&M paternal Norwegian grandmother.

Fjellheisen/Cable-Car – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

2016: 8yrs ago solo hike to&fro Trolltunga=TrollTongue/Norway nearly put me in the bucket on my bucket list! Been there, done it now with NO intentions of repeat!

Trolltunga – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

2013: 11yrs ago tkx to cousins Lock&May,SaultSteMarie/Canada for their hospitality and road trip to the LeelanauDistrictMI/USA.

Hello Saultites Cousins – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

2012: 12yrs ago tkx to KeithW for his hospitality and for getting me totally high for a week in the charming champagne area@their beautiful home in Etourvy/France.

Citron 2CV – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

Tue: elebroate&noisy wake downstairs – beautifully paper-handmade car,building,etc which must have taken days to make going up in flame to ashes within a couple of minutes and could even feel the heat outside my 4walls on the 7floor! The issue for me is the environment, so again the never-ending of beliefs,faith,hopes,rituals,etc triumph over logic&reality. Our humanness makes us vulnerable, and we all seek solace in different ways. I suppose it depends on the devils that haunt one from life’s experiences that determine what manner of solace we choose.

Meet My Joss Paper House Builder Ho Kwang Han – My Community Festival 2024

Wed: T2ChangiAirport with MeiPin to see Kat+Devon&Eliot back to NYC/USA – safe trips to them, in-flight pix credits to Kat. If I had to be delayed or transit in any airport, this is one of the few I do not mind being in…

It can hardly be a coincidence that no language on earth has ever produced the expression, “As pretty as an airport” – Douglas Adams

Thu: neighbour must be quite a hoarder, her relatives are still here clearing, and this is only a tiny fraction of what has already cleared since Mon! Hello 16&18aunties and cousins+nephew George from family-tree branches 13,16,17,18. Welcome back to SIN for cousin Fiona from Japan. Doubt that there will be time for her to catch up despite having not met since her marriage over 2decades ago – pix credits to ChengEn. Trying to stay in touch with the extended family for the renovations of the AncestralHall&House.

LAM-Heritage 2009-Present – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

25 Aug 2024 – EC-Pk Areas C-G

Thu: tkx to JanS/USA for the music fun share! Filling in each category with the first song that comes to your mind – tried with classical music but could not think of any music for some of the categories! RY/HKG & I are of the same vintage with these songs! While PaulK/UK had a slightly different fun with music – the Prom ending with Henry Wood’s orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition. A reconstruction of the bells Henry Wood asked for but were bombed in the second WW before he heard them, featured up in the Albert Hall gallery for the finale; Great Gate of Kiev. Conductor Kabuki Yamada encouraging the prommers to join in the cheers at each of the final few bell tolls followed by an eruption of joy as that final, much loved, picture came to an end.

Place – Heaven is a Place on Earth

Animal – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Number- When I am 64

Color – Blue Moon

A Girl’s Name – Barbara Ann

A Boy’s Name – Alfie

Day of the week – Never on a Sunday

Weather – Walking on Sunshine

Fri: started walking later than usual on the EC-Pk to get some daylight shots and to see what is new but had to deal with more ppl@SiglapCanal/AreaC – would usually have this space to myself before sunrise, some tents in AreaD where tents are allowed after the canal.

Do like this new delightful WellnessGarden/AreaD with beautiful tall blossoming tree. Fun timber logs used as balancing beams and materials such as driftwood,rocks&logs are used in this natural playground. KPMG Wellness Garden – KPMG Singapore

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing – GB Shaw

CablePk,WakePk/AreaE SIN only cable-ski-park built in a lagoon has changed since Jeff was last here water skiing then in 2006.

EC-LagoonFoodVillage/AreaE too is not quite the same, now with concrete ground where it used to be sand in this area nearer the sea when cousin David would take his students here.

BeachCastle/AreaE still here and opens in the weekend for the building of sandcastles in this section – some kid must be upset with this kite-eating-tree!

The man who stands firm in order to protect a sandcastle can never be relied upon; for he has given away his common sense – Winston Churchill

Xtreme Skate Pk/AreaF – friendly young male skater who gave me a smile with a respectful Good Morning greeting, so unusual that a reminder to myself that there are exceptions – hahaha.

Too hot in the sun without trees for shading to walk on the BedokJetty/AreaF after sunrise.

The main purpose today was to get some daylight shots of BougainvilleaGardens/AreaF.

Some of the blooms are out but not all and they are amazing as they are – imagine how spectacular this garden can be if ALL the trees&hedges can bloom at the same time!

A flower blossoms for its own joy – Oscar Wilde

Bus36/AreaG – all buses to&fro the airport should be revamped to be able to fit in luggage as there was hardly any standing room, especially during the rush hours! MT-Market&FoodCentre for MeePok late Bfast. Glad to get some daylight shots on EC-Pk but will not be making it a habit to be around too many ppl in this heat on the feet for ~4hrs.

Sat: welcome back to SIN Yasmine&Andrew+Ayden the youngest of the PurpleGen for our LAM TinYue branch. First meeting for me with Ayden and he is adorable – with his energy, I could do an AT-Thru’Run – hahaha. Tkx to Kat for arranging brunch today just before she&her kids head to Krabi/Thailand for a few days. Family,children,grandchildren are the blessings&dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. Tkx to Kat for arranging brunch – enjoying my moments&time with them.

Families are like branches on a tree; we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain one…

Sun: 1stday of grad school@UofSC/Wed, sophomore year@ClemsonU/Thu for #1&2 in SC/US while Kiera heads back to DC/US today for her sophomore year – ending 2024 summer holidays for those in US universities while its exam time in SIN for Lucas,Beth,Isabelle. Neighbour’s sis+husband cleaning&clearing while neighbour, the one who fell when the police,locksmith&ambulance were called 2weeks ago. Not sure if she will return, being neighbourly by helping when&where ever possible. Today showed her relatives foods available@MT-FoodCentre.

21 Aug 2024 – Mr Mrs Mohgan Prata

Sun: appreciations for one of the best cookies tasted(from Japan), tkx for my favourite mini RockitApples. Do like these mini single serving fruits and now with these new mini ChampagnePears too, can be eaten without needing a knife to cut into them, more appetizing&inviting for me to just wash and bite into them.

Proud of myself for not freaking out to brave the crowds@ParkwayParade but kept the mind very focus on the shopping list for fresh bread from BreadTalk, MiniPorkPies&SausageRolls/Marks&Spencer, sausages&cheese/ColdStorage, various cookies&cakes from FamousAmos,BreadTalk,TwelveCupcakes (forgot to take dessert pix!). A very belated (supposedly for end Jun but could not fit in the day&time then) Bday-High-Tea (made English-cucumber sandwiches, bought everything else!) celebration for Clement ended with this beautiful Super-Blue-Full-Moon night.

Mon:  MrMrsMohganPrata located in a coffeeshop at the junction of JooChiat&DunmanRd has one of the best crispy RotiPrata=bread flat made from their own dough. Highly recommended – especially the CoinPrata, these flatbreads are made by flipping the dough into a thin layer, then folding the edges fried over medium heat on a griddle and served with different curries. Tkx to Gel for Mon Bfast here.

Roti Prata (roots.gov.sg)

MRT-TEL-MT-OrchardB-sta(14stations)~35mins(one-way),99Scents(SeniorFare). FrancisW/HKG – an interesting perspective, my reply: interesting the first 5mins but the kids like standing in this area and I usually stay away unless when there is nobody there! He also wondered if the guy in the background is pole-dancing?? I wish, that would certainly make it an entertaining&interesting ride – hahaha!

Welcome back to SIN beautiful niece Kat and grandnieces Devon&Eliot from NY/USA. Appreciations to Les&Ivy for SteamBoat/HotPot dinner – like the idea having my own individual pot. Dinner parties are the gourmet’s canvas.

Tue&Wed: documenting with a 2011 pix from this section of MarineParadeRd/MP when there were tall trees – thank goodness for this beautiful solo tree that is still standing tall&strong today, a remind of what was!

2016 and today 2024 after the completion of the MRT-TEL-line. Sad to no longer see those lovely big trees and hopefully the newly planted ones will grow big&strong one day despite that will probably not see them, but then did not think I would get to see or ride the MRT-TEL from&to MarineTerraceStation!

2015 former RepublicTheatre with the MP-road-sign at the junction of MP-Central.  Today 2024 without the road-sign and some new office building where C&C Chartered Architects is located – to be edited when I find out the name of this building?

He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery – Harold Wilson

While walking underground@MPsta, thoughts were wandering to the consequences of the future generation when witnessing this helper carrying 2backpacks walking behind probably her employer+kids. Also hearing that some parent taking time off work,etc as it is their kids’ exam time – each to their own, not going to open a can of worms here!

Believe It or Not! – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

Spare the rod, spoil the child – Proverbs 13:24

17 Aug 2024 – Nasi Lemak

Wed: lunched with Daisy&Clem@NewHot&SpicyNasiLemak/59MarineTerrace. One of those stalls that serves good NasiLemak but has little to no publicity – has its own followers, like myself and the queue can be pretty long at certain times but fast, nonetheless. Yummy lemak rice and tasty sambal – nice to be able to introduce this neighbourhood stall to the family.

NasiLemak=rice fragrant ناسي لمق‎ is a dish originating in Malay cuisine that usually consists of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk&pandan leaf. Traditionally, it is wrapped&served in banana leaves, added with a hot spicy sauce/sambal and various garnishes,fresh cucumber slices,fried anchovies/IkanBilis,roasted peanuts, and hard-boiled or fried eggs.

Thu: audio book It Ends With Us/~10+hrs and movie ~2hrs. Story of a woman from ME/USA who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. If the book means something to you, then do check out the movie too.

The ‘It Ends With Us’ Cast on Staying True to the Book – Trailers & Videos | Rotten Tomatoes

Fri: 0500hrs from my doorsteps-EC-Pk/AreaC-B, have not taken the time to read in depth about AmberBeaconTower and decided to do so today. Have heard that it was supposedly haunted but of course have not had any sightings, including today in the dark and despite having walked by this tower many times.

The History Behind Haunted Amber Beacon Tower

EC-Pk/AreaA – FortRd metal bridge passing MarinaE-DesalinationPlant.

0700hrs: lights switched off after passing after quiet stretch and was planning to get off around BayEastDr/RhuCross.

Pleasantly surprised to see Yip YC’s digital print on vinyl around the BayEast hoarding.

Looks like there is some school event under the ECP-highway but was not about to go near that crowd to find out what is happening.

On hindsight, the above 3pix should have been shot in panoramic view.

To fulfill your vision, you must have hindsight, insight and foresight – IE Onuoha

Cloudy and not too hot, decided to continue – delighted to discover SkylinePromenade is lined with beautiful blooms most of the way by the river despite of the hoarding for Founders’Memorial construction behind.

Has been a while ago since last walk on this dam crossing on the MarinaChannel – good views towards the city and towards the sea.

Was not even aware that there is a SolaPark@MarinaBarrage.

How convenient with GardensByTheBayMRTsta just around the corner and MarineTerraceMRTsta 5stations away. Nice MRT station(4stations done on my list and 8more to check out) with hanging gardens by the escalators. Took about ~4+hrs~15+k(detours+stops), ~15mins on the MRT to get back to my doorsteps and a whole afternoon to document this walk with enhanced pix and correct captions here!

10 of the most beautiful MRT stations in Singapore | Honeycombers Singapore (thehoneycombers.com)

Sat: today would have been a day to walk under the cool cloudy sky but knowing myself too well will stay away from anywhere with ppl who are not family or friends. Blessed with audiobooks,blogging,reading,sewing,watching movies with music as my refuge which are good positive indoor energy for me…

13 Aug 2024 – Kitefoiling

Nice to wake up seeing SIN on the OlympicMedalTable – never too late even with only a few more days left to the 2024Olympics. France being 6hrs behind SIN, did not read the news until this morning – Maximilian Maeder clinched bronze in the men’s final kitefoiling. Congratulations how appropriate of him to put SIN on the OlympicPodium on our NationalDay First, do not even know what kitefoiling is nor that it is an Olympic event but will find out – all kitefoiling pix downloaded.

It is style of kitesurfing or kiteboarding and occurs when the board lifts above the water on the foil. This allows the kiter to ride with much higher efficiency than if the board were touching the water surface. Kitefoilers can reach speeds of over 70kmh.

https://www.rya.org.uk/blog/kite-foiling-explained

Appreciations with tkx to nieces,nephew&grandnephew for lunch@GreatNayang/CraigRd – was there Oct 2023 but this time round could take the MRT to Maxwell which took ~20mins as compared to bus197 taking ~40mins!

Great Nanyang Heritage Cafe Review: New Kopitiam-Cafe By Yang Ming Seafood Founder | Eatbook.sg

Tea&dessert@TuxedoCafé&Pâtisserie/CityCarltonHotel – do remember passing by this hotel when it was newly opened in 2013 but it’s the first time inside here today.

A cozy wet afternoon with these young ppl – Daisy sharing her recent Switzerland experience and Clement’s Japan trip. The pot of peppermint-tea hit the spot for me with a bite taste of decent CremeBrulee&Tiramisu  – pleasant&serene afternoon listening&living vicariously thru’ them but content&happy not to be traveling for the moment.

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind – Anthony Bourdain

Sun: so proud of #3JohnW HALL now an Eagle Scout – pix credits to Linn. It sounded like a pretty extensive interview when explained to me during US-May/Jun trip but had no doubt that he will make it despite me having to return to SIN when the results are out. Congratulations and sorry for not being with my US-flock for this milestone.

John’s awards, letters of commendation and scouting memorabilia

Eagle Board of Review Guidelines (eaglescout.org)

Created in 1911, Eagle Scout is the highest rank of the Scouts BSA (formerly Boys Scouts of America. Because it takes years of hard work, service, and determination to become an Eagle Scout, this prestigious milestone is recognized across the country and the world.

Eagle Scouts: Merit Beyond the Badge | Boy Scouts of America (scouting.org)

Mon: Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony happened this morning at 0300hrs ending with Tom Cruise descended from the roof of Stade de France to collect the Olympic flag as part of the handover to LA,CA/USA, which will host the 2028Games before departing on a motorcycle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcB7QA5N7CE

Drama from neighbour  –  relatives got the police+the locksmith to get in, looked like she fell, thank goodness still conscious and was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. Have not heard or seen her yesterday or today and was planning to make a police report tomorrow morning on my way to the market.

Tue: as it is, very careful with all my steps when on my foot and now at this stage even more careful before sunrise solo walks especially after the traumatic incident last night! Walking alone with awareness of the depths of inner peace&strength and the profound beauty of simplicity.

Marketing and enjoying the day with all kinds of audio-short-stories on RadioDrana,BBC-SatNightTheater.

Being read to is a really intimate thing: a human connection at a time when a lot of people are feeling isolated ― Duncan Honeyman’

9 Aug 2024 – MRT Marine Terrace/MT To Marine Parade/MP Stations

Wed: delighted to hear&see these little ones singing MajulahSingapura this morning as they are gearing up for the NationalDay while I am heading by foot to do some errands@ParkwayParade/PP.

Documenting walking steps with pix from Blk46MarineCrescent/MC to MRT-MPsta ~1+k/one way as there will surely be new changes as time goes by! Starting from my doorsteps to MRT-MTexit2 undergound to exit3 MP-Rd walking under sheltered sidewalks passing CHIJ/Pri/MCjct.

Still under sheltered sidewalks passing by CHIJ/Pri bus-stop across from TaoNanSchool heading to cross StillRd(only unsheltered section in this walk) to MRT-MPsta/exit5.

Continuing on another long AC,bright&clean corridor to MPsta/exit1. RY calls for a eScooter! after seeing these pix but he is from HKG and not aware that those or bicycles are not permitted here but life is such that someone will probably be riding their 2wheelers in this comfort meant for pedestrians…

The guy who sang out of tune then(for my ears!) is still singing out of tune has now moved to the corner by the lights across from PP – S$1 into his donation box before taking his pix.

According to Hippocrates – walking is a man’s best medicine and Wright – everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. So better make time for walking to avoid the worst medicine!

Thrilled to find this small desktop bladeless fan@JapanHouseS$25 – can now test it out to see if bladeless fan will be worthwhile getting a Dyson bladeless bigger floor model, prices starting from S$300+++where ClimateVouchersS$300 can be used.

Lunch – AssamFish+++S$12/IndonesianPadang@BasementFoodCourt and my favourite KayaToast+coffeeS$6/YaKun@Level1.

Thu: as mentioned yesterday about walking and sure enough was nearly knocked down by some kids riding who I gave an earful to this morning. My mistake for forgetting that today would be a short school day and usually would avoid being out at the time when schools start and end their day. Another irony as passing by the playground with a bunch of boys kicking a ball to hear this auntie, you pretty – for real. Despite being taken by surprised, managed to smile muttering a thank you.

Fri: Happy 59thBirthday SIN

The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous – Frederick Douglass

Posted flyer stated 0800hrs but the loudspeakers downstairs was already blasting ~0730hrs!

Headed to CC to check on the Helinox chairs for PP – nice to see the foreign construction workers having the day off to enjoy&relax. Discovered that it is school holidays in China and CC was packed with customers shopping – good for business but will socialize after their busy season.

Appreciations with thanks from 10yrs ago for my first NDP and probably the only&last NDP attendance for me! Do remember being there early and the last to leave so as to avoid lining up with the crowd. Being enochlophobia need to keep away crowds or might be inviting for another asthma attack!

9Aug2014: 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 first NDP in 1966. Just wanted to be there for once whole-heartedly to salute to one of the very few politicians I admire&respect and just as well as it was his last NDP.

9Aug2024: glad to find these pix in my blog as somehow unable to locate any 2014pix from storageHD – ouch…

The future is as full of promise as it is fraught with uncertainty ― LKY

National Day Parade/NDP 2014 – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

6 Aug 2024 – With Memories from the Best Setup in 2003

Sun: if energy,health or mood permit, will make it to this year’s SGF2024 supposedly world’s biggest coinciding with the GlobalBotanicGardensCongress 6-9Aug. Appreciations with thx for dinner to sisJo&nieceSue@PalmDr.

Singapore Garden Festival blossoms: Poised to be world’s biggest garden show | The Straits Times

SuntecConvention&ExhibitionCentre,Levels4&6/Raffles Boulevard.
3-11Aug 1000-2200hrs.

Memories of helping to set up many of these festivals including the first one in 2006 when a group of us ~0300hrs had to walk down the circular carpark@Suntec staircase as the whole building was locked. Was so tired checking into then a new Hotel81 on MiddleRd for a shower+few hours of sleep before heading back to complete the setup! One of my all-time favourites where Flora Meets Fashion displayed then SGF 2010@Suntec. The bicentennial SGF 23-31Jul2016@GardensByTheBay.

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL (nparks.gov.sg)

Have been helping out the Orchid Society/OSSEA with their MOR publication from 1999-2009 and setting up with their 2003 first show The Singapore Orchid Festival@SBG, then the first and only festival held@SBG in the UNESCO’s/World Heritage List. For me it was and still is my favourite orchid festival&show ever.

After combining to be SGF, the show has not been the same and has lost some of its personal charm, despite the crowds. Appreciations to PeggyT, ShelleyS and CalvinT for these wonderful experiences from 2006/OSSEA, 2008/OSSEA&SIN Shawl, 2010/IR, 2012/NA, 2014/CC and 2016/OSSEA.

Mon: had to make an attempt for SGF-S$9/Senior as in today’s volatile world situation who knows about when&if there will be another SGF for me? 1000hrs@Suntec with some ppl waiting to get in but hardly a crowd and once inside no trouble to feel plenty of space with hardly anyone in the way blocking when welcomed by TheTropicalOasis by SingaporeBotanicGardens.

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow ― Audrey Hepburn

Feeling the serenity in these beautifully Landscape Gardens – to me they are all winners.  One of the award-winning Dublin/Ireland garden designers AlanRudden – I like to create mostly contemporary-style gardens that are both comfortable and functional with a good balance between the hard elements and planting.

Nice Flora-Table-Tops. Would be fun to do some fauna&flora tabletops for outdoor picnics settings one day!

Something for many of us in SIN who live in high-rise – Balcony Gardens.

Other displays&setups and as far as where Flora Meets Fashion – SGF 2010@Suntec is still my favourite for this category.

MarketPlace – some new vendors, nice that both OSSEA&NeoChengSoonFarm are still there and sorry to miss PeggyT and AhHong who probably will not be here until towards later afternoon&evening.

Good to see ShelleyS, former SingaporeShawl now JoaquimsForever still as youthful and actively promoting – appreciations with tkx for this T-shirt. Will perhaps wear it on SIN’sBDay/Fri and name it Ageless In Singapore – hahaha!

30Mar2009: GetSingapore is to promote locally designed products and to market them both here and abroad. @Vivocity helping with The Singapore Shawl by Shelley Siu – helping to promote in SIN&USA.

9Apr2009: RADM (NS) LuiTuckYew, acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts was the Guest of Honour. The Singapore Shawl has printed some of Wu Guanzhong’s beautiful works on their silk shawls. It is Uniquely Singapore to have a piece of Wu Guanzhong to cover over your shoulders. 13Apr2009: Yu-FooYeeShoon, Minister of Community Development, Youth & Sports was the Guest of Honour to unveil the Wu Guanzhong’s shawls.

Tue: grocery day@GiantS$34.22 with promo+4%SenSave~S$8+using CDC vouchersS$30 paying a totalS$4.22. The irony is that with that savings I spent S$7@the wet market for the corn&purple sweet potatoes – hahaha!