20 Jan 2010 – Safe & happy in CAE

Over 32hrs and 13hrs time difference in 5 different airports, it is amazing any normal person can feel normal! Left SIN Mon 0550hrs and arrived CAE Mon 2345hrs (the only airport I know of with white rocking chairs). Felt like a zombie Tue and starting slowly to function today, Wed 20 Jan (Thu 21 Jan in SIN).

The devastating consequences of the earthquake in Haiti and freezing temperatures in many regions have been headline news the past week. Reuniting with the family and seeing them all healthy and thriving helps me not to think too much about the sad news and also a reminder again about how fortunate I am, so far! Was so touched to receive 60th Bday greetings and presents from Norway, Canada and the USA. Will do my snail mail acknowledgements when back in SIN. Too much going on here at present.

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future – Alex Haley

17 Jan 2010 – 5 Airports in 30hrs!

Fri: thanks to Leonard SHOH for lunch at Bugis Junction. There was no Barney at the whole of Bugis but there is a recycled Christmas tree with Valentine’s decorations. Also thanks for being such a good sport to help me find the only Barney at Toys R Us in Suntec where the CNY decorations are up… Raise the Red Lantern 🙂

There is a new signpost at SAM. A country with courtesy & smiling campaigns and now Flirting Point signpost… what kind of message is this? Some years ago, there was this incident when my grand children (Katy was 5 and Ellie 2 then) were visiting and they got wet playing at the fountains… Linn & I decided to take off their wet clothes and just let them continue enjoying the fountains in their underwear. Some passer-by commented to her child, shame shame. I had hoped that my grand-daughters did not hear that. This might explain why my fellow SIN are the way they are or perhaps it is me who is unable to relate to this mentality?

Sat: Isabelle 2nd Bday party@The Rivervale function room… such an adoreable child and how she cuddled Barney made the search effort worth the while. Thanks to Lee & Adeline for including this grand-auntie. Apologies that I was not able to be the photographer as my pictures will not justify the function.

Flight will be leaving for the USA 0550hrs Mon 18 Jan and this will be a tiring journey. SIN-NRT 6hrs 50mins, NRT layover 1hr 10mins. NRT-MSP 10hrs 50mins, MSP layover 3hrs 35mins. MSP-DTW 1hr45mins, DTW layover 5hrs. DTW-CAE 1hr 45mins. About 22hrs flying time and 10hrs of layover time before I arrive to my destination, Columbia South Carolina! Ouch. .. how many more of these trips will I be able to survive!!

The trouble with our age is that it is all signpost and no destination – Louis Kronenberger

16 Jan 2010 – Memories

Christmas 1968, you only 18, arrived in our house in Langnesbakken in Tromsø. I can still hear all the laughters, jokes and many nice moments. I remember us driving in the Renault 4 across North Norway, fishing at Hella, skiing in the mountains, picking gresslok and adding it to the bujong togehter with garlic powder. I remember your sweet and sour dish, together with slightly raw fish, very good!  I can hear you asking:  what is “kattunga”?   As I think about these nice memories I can not believe it is more than 40 years ago – Morten Hald

Photo credits to Morten HALD. These were taken between 1968-1970 and it is I who should thank Morten for the fond memories which I will always cherish.

15 Jan 2010 – 60 years behind!

Washington Irving said that after a man passes 60, his mischief is mainly in his head, so thank goodness I am a woman 🙂

Thank you Kenson for his charming company and for yummy dinner at Amoy Street’s Huat Kee**** He said that 60 is an important age for the Chinese as from now on, one is supposed to be wise and respected! My comments-

Older definitely wiser – perhaps  respected… hmmm

Today I received a most touching email from Morten HALD (Linn & May‘s uncle in Norway) and that stirred my emotions that he remembered and took the time to write such kind compassionate words. He was only 15 when I first met him and today he is a renowned geology professor at the world’s most northern university, U of Tromsø. Thank you Morten for what you were and are. So blessed to know him and my children are lucky to have him as their uncle. Thank you everyone for all your greetings.

Today also marks the completion of 60 years of life. Will be flying to Columbia SC, USA to be with Linn & family. May will also be there from Norway. We will all be together for Katy‘s 8th Bday, Sophie‘s baptism and to mark my 60th Bday. Now if that is not CELEBRATIONS then what is?

Happy Bdays to Angie SOSA/USA and Snow, a well-trained, well-groomed and beautiful Samoyed. Samoyed are nomadic reindeer herders and was used for sledding, herding, guarding and keeping their owners warm, thus good natured. Do feel sorry for SNOW as his habitat is not in the tropics, but he is throughly compensated for by his owner, Angie LIM’s loving care and attention.

Fridtjof NANSEN believed that the use of sled dogs was the only effective way to explore the north and used Samoyeds on his polar expeditions. Roald AMUNDSEN used a team of sled dogs led by a Samoyed on the first expedition to reach the South Pole. And I shared my Bday cake with a Samoyed! Angie, thanks for the delicious cheesecake and appreciation to Adeline & SunSun (Isabelle’s nickname and she will be 2years 18 Jan) for organising a picnic at the SIN Botanic Gardens.

Life is like a dog sled team.  If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes – Lewis Grizzard

13 Jan 2010 – Jan Movies

It’s complicated, hear me, not without you mother 🙂

It’s Complicated*** Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin have a delightful chemistry on this script. This story is an antidote to all the stupid stuff that’s being shoveled out of Hollywood. Steve Martin plays a great foil to Baldwin’s character. Streep has a genuine dilemma of riches with these two. If she would have to choose, how could she? In different ways, equally appealing, these guys wear their hearts on their sleeves. A humorous movie that won’t bring you down nor insult your intelligence. It’s refreshing in what some of my favourite actors can do when all the ingredients are there.

Hear Me*** about Yang, who single-handedly takes care of her sister, Peng, a swimmer-in-training for the Deaflympics. Yang meets Tian Kuo, who delivers lunch boxes to the swimming pool where Peng trains for the upcoming Deaflympics. Although Yang and Tian Kuo communicate only through sign language, their love for each other transcends the gap through voiceless communication, creating a light-hearted romantic comedy about life and its possibilities.

Not Without You*** Black & white movie based on a true story in Taiwan about a father’s sincere love for his daughter but did not have legal rights over her.  The law in Taiwan doesn’t permit the biological father of a child to be legally registered as the parent if they were not married to the mother. Even though Mei’s mother disappeared long ago, Mei’s father, Wu-hsiung cannot be legally recognised as Mei’s guardian. The portrayal of the bureaucracy is very realistic. Quite a touching movie and one cannot help feeling sorry for Wu-hsiung who was portrayed as a good loving father.

Mother** Korean flick about a widow, Hye-ja and her obsessive love for her son who is mentally incapacitated on some level, which she seems to ignore. In the aftermath of a terrible murder, the son becomes the prime suspect. Hye-ja, distraught and convinced he is innocent, searches for the real killer, uncovering many secrets from the townspeople… with a twist to the ending.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you – Kahlil Gibran

11 Jan 2010 – Last weekend before turning 60!

The tarot is a pack of 78 cards used from the mid 15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games. From the late 18th century until the present days, the Tarot has also found use by mystics as a map of mental and spiritual pathways. There are different styles of tarot decks and designs. Many popular decks have modified the traditional symbolism to reflect the esoteric beliefs of their creators.

The deck in my possession is Rider-Waite-Smith and I have had it since the early 1980s but have not taken it out until Sat! Have forgotten the meanings of most of the cards but fortunately there is a book to explain the cards. Met up with a group of novice readers to discover that there are some dim memories of the time when I used to do readings for fun in Norway. The owner of Tarot Chaos, Istari Nox is a good reader. Thanks Ann CHUA for the introduction and would like to see her Shakespearean Tarot deck which she cannot relate to.

Thanks Les & Ivy for lunch in Tiong Bahru’s famous Ah Peng Bak Kut Teh***/pork ribs soup, Jo for making dinner at Sentosa Cove and SueLynn for the delicious chocolate cake. A nice relaxing day in Sentosa watching TV & reading the papers with the serene of the sea in front of the living room. The sunset with the constructions in the background from the back bedroom are signs that development is still on-going. Not surprising considering that non-SIN citizens are able to buy property on this island but not across the bridge in SIN!

Good luck to Les‘ new toy, a white Porsche and always drive safely. Safe journeys to Jo & family who will all be heading for their holidays to Perth/Australia.

The setting sun, and music at the close,
As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last,
Writ in remembrance more than things long past – Shakespeare

7 Jan 2010 – ACM

For me, it will never be the same at the Asian Civilizations Museum/ACM now that Kenson KWOK has retired. He was the main reason I was introduced to this museum and do remember attending the opening in 2003! He has built and developed two of SIN museums into world-class museums SIN can be proud about.

All my overseas’ family & friends are totally impressed whenever I take them to the Peranakan Museum or ACM. One of my English friends who used to visit SIN yearly would never miss out visiting ACM. And I am always happy to let them know that if not for my oldest pal and godfather to second daughter May HALD, these museums would not have existed!

1954/55 pix of the Kwoks, Leungs and some of the Lams. Thanks Kenson for his being, for his long-time friendship and to have done such a wonderful job for SIN. It will be ACM’s loss but he can now travel to the places he wants to visit and have time to enjoy with family & friends. Happy Retirement. Looking forward to seeing more of him 🙂

Official Openings of ACM at Armenian Street/1997 and Empress Place/2006

The Egawa Donation will be officially opened tonight by Guest-of-Honour Mr George Yeo. This collection of Japanese & Chinese ceramics explores the interactions between East Asia & Europe on ceramic art. Will surely miss Kenson’s opening speech and his presence.

Retire from work, but not from life – MK Soni

6 Jan 2010 – New passport

Mon: at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority/ICA on Kallang Rd before 0800hrs to collect my new passport. When I got there, the line snaked around the building and there were about 200 others in front of me (asked the guard with a clicker counting). Was considering abandoning the collection until another day but the guard ensured me that it will be fast and he was right! The doors opened at 0800hrs sharp, unlike most SIN citizens as the word- punctual does not exist in their vocabulary 🙂 Believe it or not but was out of the building with my new passport by 0815hrs. The new passport’s number differs from the IC number and it is valid for 5 years instead of 10… most impressed with their efficiency.

Was expecting to be waiting for at least an hour. It was a pleasant morning after the rains and decided to walk around the area to take some pictures. Random pictures from Victoria Street, Jalan Sultan and North Bridge Rd.

Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo – Al Gore

3 Jan 2010 – Family weekend

Amazing what the sun plus a whole day walk can do. After the Changi walk on Fri, I went to sleep before 2300hrs and did not get up until 0900hrs the next morning. Can certainly feel that the energy-level is not as it used to be! To think that only 5 years ago, I hiked the whole Appalachian Trail. Cousin David WONG (who returned to Hawaii yesterday), asked if that was equivalent hiking from SIN to Pahang/Malaysia? How about 350 times around SIN island or nearly from SIN to Shanghai if that helps to give him a perceptive of the distant!

Sat: Thanks to brother Les & Ivy for the lunch-buffet spread*** at the Traders Hotel, great to catch up with niece Kat & Greg who will be flying back to New York today. And to nephew Vincent LAM & Ann, thanks for Darryl NEO’s (Daisy LAM’s son) 11th Bday dinner and the yummy chocolate cake (which also means I have been back in SIN for 11 years). How wonderful that I can get a picture of brother LAM Kwok Ping’s family with all his children & grandchildren present (the generations arranged accordingly- green, orange & purple in the picture).

Visits from family overseas have been fun and now that another holiday season is closing, I can look forward to the next occasion, when we can meet again. For the LAM Heritage- the never-ending family tree and trail, am still working and trying to put together a format so that family members can provide me the info. Will be sending an email about that and hope for the cooperation from everyone. In this way, less errors and less work for me!

2 Jan – Happy Bday Darryl NEO

4 Jan – Happy Bday Desmond LAM

5 Jan – Happy Bday Leonard SHOH

6 Jan – Happy Bday Cindy HALL

9 Jan – Happy Bdays Judy LAM & Lee Wang AMEEN

10 Jan – Happy Bday ANG Kee Yang

15 Jan – Happy Bdays Angie SOSA, SNOW & Me onwards to my 6th decade 🙂

18 Jan – Happy Bday Isabelle AMEEN

22 Jan – Happy Bday Katy HALL

24 Jan – Happy Bday Ole Kristian HUSTAD

Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow – Shakespeare

A Happy, Healthy & Wealthy 2010 – the year of the Tiger
Godt Nytt År
季節問候

1 Jan 2010 – Start the year with high spirits!

Started the year walking in Changi Village with Sebastian CHOW who wanted to photograph the area. Fond memories from the 1950s (14 Sep/Time & Tide wait for no one & 15 Sep 2009/Ignorance of childhood- post search). Today, as I was taking pictures, thoughts from 2006 of Linn & family came to mind. Was checking out lodgings for her & her family then, as they were on transit to Banda Aceh and they had to be in SIN at the Changi area to attend daily briefings before heading on to BA.

By chance I stumbled upon Changi Commando Barracks/Roberts Barracks @Fairy Point Hill then. Unfortunately, did not have a camera with me (pictures downloaded from http://sgforums.com), but do remember roaming into the building to where it must have been a ballroom at one-time. People dancing and making merry flashed across me, and even the big band music was quite vivid for a split-second. Was it just my imagination? Just then, a snake slithered on the ground in front of me and really freaked me out. Took off like a bullet and have not given any thoughts about the incident until today.

The history and stories connected with this barracks and this area can literally stir your emotions and make your hairs stand. Have heard or read about the paranormal investigations for the old hospital and prison, but I had no knowledge about this barracks until after the snake encounter. The surrounding grounds are now under construction. According to the project title, the barracks on the hill-top will be conserved with additions and alterations. Can look forward to seeing real people making merry in the ballroom!

Appreciations to Sebastian for his company and patience with the havoc auntie 🙂 Looking forward to receiving his pictures.

Met another hobby photographer and he was shooting with more sophisticated equipments and a tripod. Refreshing to see people out enjoying nature on this sunny day; delighted to have stopped to chat. Thank you TEO Soon Haur for emailing the lovely parrot picture. My idiot-proof camera could never do justice to this beautiful bird.

There is no refuge from memory and remorse in this world. The spirits of our foolish deeds haunt us, with or without repentance – Gilbert Parker