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!

3 Aug 2024 – Food Poisoning

Wed: strangely enough as bus196 was passing this building on ShentonWay on Mon was wondering why there was this ByteDance(with dance in my thoughts??) in the middle of the CBD not knowing then that it was TikTokHQ, now I know – pix downloaded.

CNA Explains: Why was the ByteDance mass food poisoning case so severe, and how does it compare to previous incidents? – CNA (channelnewsasia.com)

Food poisoning outbreak was traced to NihonbashiUnagiIsesada, a popular eel establishment@Keikyu department store in Yokohama/Japan’s second most populous metropolis – pix downloaded

Woman dies, about 150 people in Japan fall ill in Yokohama food poisoning bout | The Straits Times

Thu: food poisoning is indeed very unpleasant, even worse when travelling! All it takes is one bite – memory from 2009 TopSpotFoodCourt/KCH,Sarawak.

Serenity in Leslie & Ivy’s Garden – Here-There-Everywhere – This-That-Everything (amylamsg.com)

After the food poisoning from 15yrs ago, have been consuming shell-fish with caution. Blog posting from 15Jan2019 where everything looked so good and Lawrence chose the biggest lobster for my Bday then – was OK with no upset stomach problems.

15Jan2019 – dinner@TopSpot with many kinds of seafood and fresh produces.

Somehow there is this strong feeling that there was some kind of food poisoning involved a few weeks ago@Swensen’sT2 but with an asthma attack on top was difficult to determine what trigger what??? At this stage in my life journey, must have limitation to raw seafood&shellfish no matter of cravings, life happens…

Fri: appreciations with thanks for these 3books from KeithW, first Anglo-Irish male friend from early 1970s student days in Dublin/Ireland. Looking much forward to reading them – the last time we met was in Etourvy/FranceAug2012, another lifetime ago – https://amylamsg.com/2012/08/21/etourvy/

Wonder why he did not use his Citron2CV for The Accidental Accountant’s cover? https://amylamsg.com/2012/08/24/citron-2cv/

Fate or not, our lives are still the results of our choices ― TJReid

Had to watch movie TwisterS$4.50/Senior% on big screen@ShawLido/Orchard to see the effects of how dangerous&distructive tornados can be. Since in the neighbourhood, picked up takeaway food@Istan&FoodRepublic.

Sat: BeefHorFun lunch with Clement@MT-FoodCentre&Market walking from Exit2-Exit6@MT-MRTsta to discover that it is ~0.5k/500meters walk with an interesting before&now pix of StPatrick’sSchool and parking for bicycles.

WhitneyFleming author to You’re Not a Failure, My Teen Doesn’t Like Me Either and Loving Hard When They’re Hard to Love. Parents who have to raise teenagers will be able to relate, good reads+below article – pix downloaded.

Sometimes, the world needs a Simone Biles to blow us away with raw talent, and sometimes, we need someone like Stephen Nedoroscik to remind us that a nerdy (his words), bespectacled engineer who can solve a Rubik’sCube in under 10 seconds can be a hero (Spoiler alert if you haven’t watched the Men’s gymnastics final yet.) I love his story.

There is no one way to success, there is no one way to do this life, and there is no one way to find your purpose. Be unapologetically and unabashedly you in every way possible, and you might end up the hero of your story as well. Every member of the team had a role today, and they all delivered.

Congrats to the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team and to Stephen Nedoroscik. Well done.

2Aug– Happy Bday LAM ChengEn
9Aug – 59th SIN National Day
10Aug – Happy Bday LAM JenWee&Alvin NG. 12Aug – Happy 2ndBday Anna ANG
21Aug – Happy Bday LIM SiewChin
26Aug – Happy Bday Cindy LAM
29Aug – Happy Bday Sean KENNEDY
30Aug – Happy Bday Michelle ANG

30 Jul 2024 – Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy

27Jul2013: With cousin Amy Lam in St. Bees. It was great to catch up and share family stories. Merle loved speaking Cantonese with you. Good luck with the Coast to Coast Walk. We look forward to joining you for one leg of it next week. Yes I blinked!! First meeting with these 2 beautiful nieces, Merle&Mei when cousin YatSoon&Helen met me@StBeesUKc2c Thru’Hike 309k/192m in 16days 11yrs ago today.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/07/27/milton-keynes-manchester/

Food is not just fuel. Food is about family, food is about community, food is about identity. And we nourish all those things when we eat well — Michael Pollan

Mon: follow up appt@SGH, Bus196 instead of the MRT despite taking a longer time and more walking outdoors. Getting off on NewBridgeRd just after BlairRd crossing NewBridgeRd&EuTongSenSt-HospitalDr and stopping@Starbucks for a cuppa before walking thru’ OutramCommunityHospital to Blk3. Preference is still to walk under the shaded outdoor walkways than to be walking underground in crowded stuffy connections@OutramMRT. Shuttles from the bus-stops to the hospital buildings are usually too crowded for me!

Downloaded above pix shows the VIP orchids named after politicians&dignitaries @SingaporeBotanicGardens’ NationalOrchidGarden. From top L-R: Dendrobium Duke Duchess of Cornwall, Dendrobium Barack&Michelle Obama, Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher. Center L-R: Dendrobium Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana, Dendrobium Narendra Modi. Bottom L-R: Dendrobium Malcolm&Lucy Turnbull, Dendrobium Masako Kotaishi Hidenka and Dendrobium Joaquim Alberto Chissano. 

Tue: Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy – book features stories behind 60 hybrids named after world leaders – the first-ever book on the nation’s use of orchids for diplomacy was launched on Jul 29. The Foreign Affairs Ministry and National Parks Board say the book also marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence in 2025. The book features the stories of 60 orchids hybridised by Singapore, then presented to world leaders and international organisations. Looking forward to this book – flora,fauna&food are some of the best ways to bring good will to ppl peacefully.

Like a lovely orchid, or anything else that’s nurtured, marriage prospers and grows, but if it’s ignored, it withers — Michael Douglas

Flower Power – Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy: Hybridisation, Conservation, and the Vanda Miss Joaquim (youtube.com)

Flower Power: Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy (nlb.gov.sg)

26 Jul 2024 – Condolences to Cousin Karen

Tue: condolences with prayers&thoughts to cousin Karen&her family for the passing of their mother,m-i-l,grandmother AuntieNgor in KCH,Sarawak/Malaysia.

Did not think that the Nov2023 visit to KCH would be the last time with her – RIP gracious lady. First time meeting with this beautiful elegant lady was in the early 1960s when she&her mother(paternal grandmother CHAN SweeNgor’s sister) visited with us@5TemengongRd and my parents&I took them to SBG.

Happy 13thBday to #5 JamesMagnus HALL and what an amazing cake baked by #2, finally now I understand why they have 2dogs – hahaha!

Appreciations to Gel for catching despite of some misunderstanding as to where we were supposed to be meeting! Did not realize that 132TraditionalTeochewNoodles has now moved to the MT-Market&FoodCentre and no longer@Blk59-coffee shop.

Bought a new bunch of fresh Eucalyptus leaf+orchidsS$16, the last fresh batch was from Alex&Amber’s wedding in Jul2019! now all dried but still with a slight bit of fragrance when crushed.

What a lovely surprise to receive Earl Lu – A Rediscovery of His Art in the mail. Appreciations&thanks to CT TAN – looking forward to reading it. They are not long, the days of wine&roses, so enjoy every moment to the fullest.

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted – Henri Matisse

Fri: Stadium-MRT-station with its stunning design has been my favourite MRT stations since 2011. Now with all these new must see list, will have to explore to check out if this will still my favourite?