27 Sep 2021 – 3rd COVID -19 Pfizer-Shot 

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Fri: TGIF – have been quite engrossed into audiobooks and time goes by quicker with these interesting reads as the eyes need a break from the screen. The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss read by Anderson Cooper & Gloria Vanderbilt. An amazing heartfelt candid share with the public about their personal life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUB46dh6oGo  Do look forward to watching the HBO production of Nothing Left Unsaid.

When we learn to live well in this life with nothing left unsaid or undone we find peace, freedom and full self-expression. With that, we are capable of anything — Jacqueline Harrison

Sat: more of my favourite local foods (only 1dish~S$5) from outdoor Hawkers/MarketFoodCentres (max 2ppl for now!) in SIN. TiongBahruMarketHawkerCentre, 30 SengPohRoad#02-06, TowKwarPop豆乾薄 (Stuffed Tofu Puffs) S$3. That is the market our family frequented in the 1950-60s, bringing back fond childhood memories, considering that our family used to own the row of houses on 3SengPohRd (now NewCapeInn) – https://amylamsg.com/2010/06/22/3-seng-poh-road/

Some shopping at PP before dinner@Theresa&CJ. Appreciations to yummy foods by both bro Les and Theresa celebrating an early Bday for Les as from next week, SIN will be back to 2ppl for gatherings. What else more can you ask for when a bottle of 1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild is served!

Appreciations to SL for the reminder. To those who are eligable in SIN for these 2boxes of free masks, today 20.00hrs is the last day for collection, but need to check which area still have stock. Also remembering the SP-bill or AC# when collecting. Was lucky to be@BedokMall just before 1100hrs with 2ppl ahead of me. Dinner@Jo’s

Mon: Good Monday morning, a good week to all with the result of the ART-test from early this morning before heading out for my shot – the few times when negative results are good! Efficiently in MPCC at 0800 and out before 0900hrs for my 3rdPfizer-Shot, hopefully without side effects besides the usual sore arm for the week ahead! Another box of free mask and a bottle of water+hand-sanitizer given – must now have enough masks to last me for a lifetime!

There is no consensus among scientists and agencies that 3rd dose is necessary, but many scientists believe that a third dose may help protect the very immune suppressed, transplant and cancer patients. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid19-vaccines-booster-third-shot-what-you-need-know-2136941

With local Covid-19 cases climbing, the authorities will be tightening restrictions again today to prevent daily infections from rising at the current rate – group sizes for social gatherings cut from 5 to 2. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-dining-group-size-two-social-gatherings-reduced-moh-2199456

A nice surprise call from cousin Yeng who has braved the journey in these circumstances and is back in SIN from Canada to spend some time with her parents, 13Aunite&Uncle and to take care of a memorial service for 10Auntie who passed on in Mar2020.

30Sep2021: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:

23 Sep 2021 – mOOn/Lantern Festival

Tue: Happy MidAutumn/mOOn/Lantern Festival. It is not a public holiday here in SIN, but many, including me will be marking the day with mOOnCakes in our menu, enjoy. Fond childhood memories with big family gathering playing with our lanterns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMMU1YJadzE – interesting  and recommendable watch on YouTube for the legend of this festival. Must make a note and remember to post this for JulieR in NC/USA annually as requested by her and being a teacher, also a good link for kids to learn from.

We are going to the moon that is not very far. Man has so much farther to go within himself ― Anaïs Nin

Some downloaded amazing perfectly-timed moon pix.

2 of my favourite moon songs, one in English, Somewhere Out There – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkI-B2JWSZI

and the other in Chinese The Moon Represents My Heart 月亮代表我的心 – Teresa Teng – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B5gAczFJps

Another forgotten item for this festival is what I rememberd to be LingKok, and it was no wonder that we only played with them as kids; it is nearly impossible to crack and when you do manage to do so, the taste reminds me of BrazilNut. Lovely memories of many talks (the flock seemed to like volunteering me during my US-visits!) given @IrmoElementrary SC/USA –  https://amylamsg.com/2012/10/03/the-lady-on-the-moon/

Discovered only recently that these nuts need to be cooked! WaterCaltrops 菱角 pix all downloaded – https://www.thehongkongcookery.com/2014/09/boiled-water-caltrop.html

Had a bite@TiongShian 長城粥品 did not feel like their famous frog-leg congee/porridge; a plate of ChickenFeet S$6 nice&tender, but missing some flavous that use to be! Do miss their raw fish/WolfHerring, must have been 5-6yrs ago since I last tasted it here – https://amylamsg.com/2015/03/05/zuno/ Now no longer permitted (my favourite place for this dish), but such is life when health issues are concerned.

My usual durian-shaved-ice S$5.50 haunt@MeiHeongYuen 味香园甜品 with my new butterfly S$6 (the only thing I bought besides food) and nice to catch up with Linda who I managed to catch as she was just done with work at her family’s dried-goods store next door. Favourite mOOnCake place TaiChongKok 大中国@SagoSt was closed – had no plans to get any, just like that shop, decor and presentation boxes there.

Enjoying the lights on a quiet evening without the hustle&bustle in Chintown – good for me! but not for businesses, feeling sad&sorry for them.

Crossing the overhead pass to the bus-stop! The bus ride with my butterfly was with few pessangers and for once, this bus-driver did his job 100% when he stopped the bus to tell some ppl to not talk on their mobiles, quite rightly so as they were loud&annoying!

Wed: family&friends in Australia (especially in the Melbourne area), and Spain/LaPalmaIsland – praying that you are all safe&well. Appreciations to MOH for these which just arrived in the mail. Will remember to use one of them before going into my 3rd booster shot next week, also will try to remember to pick up the 2boxes of masks before Sep is over. Not good news with 3 more deaths bringing SIN C-19 toll to 65. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/3-singaporean-seniors-aged-62-74-and-83-die-covid-19-complications-death-toll-reaches-65

One beautiful bright full-mOOn outside my maindoor&windows. Tonight’s mOOn is supposedly larger than last night’s, but to me all mOOns are beautiful and when I just concentrate and look up at it, I can dream&imagine myself anywhere I want to be!

Thu: fully-vaccinated Singapore residents can visit 143 countries and territories without quarantine. https://milelion.com/2021/09/22/where-can-vaccinated-singaporeans-travel-without-quarantine/

FAQ: What you need to know about COVID-19 quarantine orders, health risk warnings and alerts.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-quarantine-order-health-risk-warning-alert-faq-moh-2193851

Autumn2021 in the Northern Hemisphere starts today. Will be missing yet another year of the FallColours – pix from 2019 in Norway.

20 Sep 2021: Gate To Heaven!

Fri: PostOffice@PP mailing belated Bday greetings to Norway. FB-account seems OK now, sorry about it being hacked and appreciations to all for their concerns by informing me. Was out all day yesterday and did not get back online until late last night to fix the problem. What a surprise to see these artificial-flowers neon-blinking lighted wreaths, bright enough to wake the dead! This is the first time seeing a such a wake!! Looks like the Gate to Heaven here leads straight up to my floor, but only for 3days and not sure if its my time yet – hahaha

Hell and heaven are within you, both gates are within you. When you are behaving unconsciously there is the gate of hell; when you become alert and conscious, there is the gate of heaven – Rajneesh

For my wake or memorial service (if any), I want ppl to turn up in bright colours, drink pink champagne&cocktails, dancing all night to celebrate a well-lived life, like the one (that was a close call!) I had in my delirium in the ICU-ward@RafflesHospital – but please, NO mahjong and neon lights!!

Sat: more of my favourite local foods (only 1dish~S$5) from outdoor Hawkers/MarketFoodCentres (max 2ppl for now!) in SIN – OldAirportRdFoodCentre, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-98Whitley Road Big Prawn Noodles 威利大蝦麵 S$5.50

Dropped by CC sharing some Mid-Autumn cheers for Chris’s kids – had a bite of this yummy pork-satay tkx to DavidW; to AllanW, might have finally found the bike I would like to have, but will first need to test it out – a Taiwanese-made-foldable 6kg.

More Bday celebrations with appreciations to Les&Ivy for a lavish-scrumptious BBQdinner under a beautiful fool-moon-lid-sky; tkx to Lee&Adeline for the best chocolate cake (from Jane’sCakeStation) tasted here in SIN with 3generations including Clement and Isebelle who was the only PG here tonight. On the bus heading back to the EastSide, some annoying ppl who was asleep left her alarm on her phone and we all heard a child singing TwinkleTwinkle all the way for me! When I got off at my stop, it was still ongoing, wonder if she woke up and got off her stop??

Sun: looking good there #2&3 at their first cross-country season meet – The MikeMoore LakeMurray Invitational yesterday@CrookedCreekPark in Chapin, SC/USA with their mother being their coach. Do miss cheering for them there, but will always cheer for them in my heart&mind. Has been awhile since I made a steaks, good of Clement and Leonard to take time to share my lunch today.

16 Sep 2021 – COVID-19 Cases In SIN

Mon: a good week ahead to all – missing overseas family&friends, autumn-colours, etc etc. With 520new COVID-19cases yesterday in SIN trying not to gallivant about, thus sharing memories from some of my favourite places on this earth. https://amylamsg.com/2018/09/14/tromso-kvaloya-2018/

Tue: 9/14/2021 07:34hrs ST MorningBriefing – 607 new Covid-19 cases yesterday here in SIN, rather concerning & depressing with 500+ and 600+ cases the past 2days! https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/new-covid-19-cases-sept-13-21

Needed this uplifting, heart-warming pix&write-up to share today!

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/hikers-rescue-dog-wicklow Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen ― Orhan Pamuk. But only very very few know how to listen!

Memories of taking care of Ram, a golden retriever in the late 1970s when we were living in TOS/Norway while the owners (Ellen&JohnSr+Nils&Cathrine) were in UK for 6months. Ram was such a good well-trained dog and gentle with L&M but working part-time and living in a small 2nd storey-house (Anne&Roar were occupying the ground-level), felt guilty&sorry that he could only be outside when one of us had the time to take him out then. Unable to locate the 1977-78pix, the only one with Ram is from 1980 after we all move to OSL/Norway.

Those who do not really know me believe that I do not like dogs and that is such an incorrect observation. Do not like any pets who are not well-trained and really dislike any animals jumping on me or licking me. Feel sorry for dogs being cooped up, especially those living in cities – they should have the space to roam&run around freely. How many can take the responsibilities&time to take their dogs out in the nature to do that??

Wed: https://www.worldnews.easybranches.com/amp/10157377

Oh no! 837new cases in today’s news, need to stop keeping taps with these figures!! The 3above downloaded pix are from a FB-posting Trust Me, I’m Singaporean – maybe at the rates of all these high figures, it might be the way to go on public transport – better safe than sorry!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/837-new-covid-19-cases-in-spore-including-755-community-cases

Bring in the good memories&thoughts now that I should not be roaming around too much and as for travel, that is definitely out of the question at present.

Must be missing Norway to watch this documentary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B25DbSNoyRs Not a fan of cruises but have been on the Hurtigruten a few times on short trips and once from Bergen-Kirkenes before moving away from Norway/1985, it was in my bucket list – really enjoyed&glad that I went on it then.

Revisited a section of it with my oldest friends KK&PP 9yrs ago/Sep2012 – tkx for wonderful memories. Hurtigruten – The coastal highway to the soul of the north. Even I who do not like cruises will go on the Hurtigruten any time – highly recommended.  https://amylamsg.com/2012/09/11/svolvaer-goat/

Å – World’s shortest place name is located on the Moskenes island in Lofoten is the civilization most far-out on the Lofoten islands.

Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it ― L.M. Montgomery

Thu: Happy Bdays sis-in-law Ivy/SIN, cousins Edith/Canada&Wendy/USA. In memory of LKY(1923-2015), SIN1stPM (1959-1990) who would have been 98 today.

Tea with KK before he takes off for UK and appreciations for yummy home-made dinner@Theresa&ChengJun to celebrate Ivy’s Bday in the healthy good company of a cardiologist, gastrologist, gynecologist and a GP!

8 Sep 2021 –  Missing My Flock

Sun: Happy 10Bday to #6, the youngest of my flock and today my whole flock counts their age in 2digits! His request was this kransekaker made by his mother, nice that she can use those old rings from me as my baking days are more of less over and also my oven in SIN no longer works. Tkx for dinner@Jo’s 

Mon: Happy Labor Day to US family&friends. Enjoy whatever you are doing and stay safe where ever you are located. My USflock is probably out boating on Lake Murry/SC, missing them all (pix from 2018). This week in SIN is also the school-holidays!

235 new locally transmitted COVID-19 and SIN rolls out measures to slow down spread of COVID-19 community cases by reducing non-essential social activities for next 2weeks. As it is, with the school holidays and the spread at 8different bus-interchanges despite that there has been no evidence of COVID-19 spread to commuters following the detection of COVID-19 clusters at bus interchanges, said Transport Minister S Iswaran on Friday (Sep 3), I would prefer to stay within my own 4-walls, except for my early morning outdoor cycle or walks before sunrise.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/no-evidence-covid-19-spread-commuters-bus-interchange-clusters-mot-2154091

If you’re superstitious, you’ll know that during HungryGhostFestival (8Aug-6Sep2021), ghosts are said to revisit the land of the living. Particularly on 22Aug, when GhostDay hits. So today is the last day before the Gates of Hell closes again for another year. This is the first time I bought this package S$10 for sis Jo as she practices these rituals and I helped her to include a list (~50ppl) of the LAMs&TSANGs we know of in the family who have passed on – I am a total non-believer! Blog posting from a decade ago on this subject and still the same thoughts! https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/22/if-religion-is-a-thing/

Tue: nnnoticed deaths of older people will become more common as the population of over 60s grows – so sad! Next-door neighbour about my age lives alone like I do, but I am blessed to have family&friends to check on me regularly. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the newspaper are no longer delivered to the door, but to the postbox downstairs. Do hear her every morning getting out of her place to go to downstairs, and if I do not hear or see something like the 2above uploaded pix, will report.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3147740/103-year-old-hong-kong-woman-and-elderly-son-found

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/five-cases-of-seniors-who-died-alone-at-home

Wed: really! are we moving backwards to the dark ages???

https://newslogic.in/world-news/a-curtain-divides-male-female-students-as-afghan-universities-reopen/ 

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/texas-abortion-law-will-make-patients-suffer/619997/

Need to stop reading all these depressing news!!

4 Sep 2021 – In With The Lanterns

Wed: looks like it is a good harvest for #6 in Norway with his sunflower even taller than him who will be counting his age with 2digits on Sunday 5Sep.

Dance with the flowers of enlightenment—then watch as your mind and body blossom as you begin to harvest the fruits of self-progression and self-realization ― Natasha Potter

Byebye Aug2021 – in with the lanterns&mooncakes! Mid-Autumn/Moon/Lantern Festival will fall on Tue21 this month. Bought these 3lanterns 2decades ago and they need repair every year when I take them out, but they are absolutely beautiful&mesmerizing when a real candle flame is flicking inside them. Will probably need new ones next year! Looking forward to make a night-trip to the Chihuly exhibitions@GardensByTheBay after sunset with a full moon without rains! Perhaps that is asking for too much, but can always hope!!

Thu: Good Thu morning from a lovely wet cool island of SIN. Too wet to cycle but not too wet for a short stroll feasting the eyes with the pretty in pink flowers –

The Bougainvillea was named after French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville, whose voyage to circumnavigate the globe in the 18th century led to the discovery of the plant in Brazil. Because of its beautiful appearance and showy blooms, the Bougainvillea soon became established around the world as a decorative garden plant. In fact, even though the Bougainvillea originates from South America, its largest breeders and producers today are in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hawaii and Florida! –  NParks

Antigonon leptopus (common names: Coral Creeper, Chain of Love, Hearts on a Chain), a fast-growing climbing vine that holds via tendrils.

MrsGoh@HoltPk told us that the delicate pink flowers can change colours, thus also gained the nick-name False-Heart here in SIN! Actually the flowers will turn dull pink&eventually brown as they age – but that happens to humans too!! and down with the flags when they dry out!

Sharing&recommending some of my favourite local foods (only 1dish~S$5) from outdoor Hawkers/MarketFoodCentre (max 2ppl for now!) in SIN. DunmanFoodCentre, 271OnanRd. Say Seng Famous Tau Kwa Pau 正宗生成著名豆干包 S$1.50 per piece/S$5 per plate.

Celebrating the day with nieces Judy&Daisy, nephew Clement and grandnephews Stanley&Darryl. Tkx for yummy ChickenRice delivered by BoonTongKee (been a while now since I have had their ChickenRice), and durians for dessert. 

We were surprised by this flock – Wings of Parrots Community/WOPC with their free-flying parrots on EC Pk. yesterday.

Our birds are our priority and they are born to fly; not caged – WOPC members https://wopc.sg/

Had to brave the crowds to take a short walk after all that eating over the weekend and glad that I did or would not have discovered about these free-flying parrots, no matter how noisy they are!

31 Aug 2021 – Portable NeckFan

Thu: this pix was in last week’s STs TheBigPicture. Rock-Solid Marriage Vows, now that is the best  oxymoron example! This was the hike that landed me in the hospital 5yrs ago! And that was also when I knew that I had to slow down with my hikes!!

Grandniece Vanessa is the only one in the family I know of who has done this hike. So far she is also the only one in the PurpleG who will be a medical doctor when she is done with MedSchool in SIN. https://amylamsg.com/2016/08/25/trolltunga/

Fri: discovered Kinex, a mall with a crocodile on the staircase when view from the above, but is a TingKat+AngelWings when seen from another angle. Just wandering around different levels and looking at things in different angles and you will be surprised what you can see if your mind is open! No need AngelDust – hahaha

Livin life from a whole different angle, only see the road through the wings of an angel – Drake

Had coffee, ginger-ale&soufflé@HoshinoCoffee where they charged only for the drinks as they messed up the soufflé and had to make another one. On top of that they forgot Clement’s SouffléPancake and he got a piece of cm-complimentary cake. Of course they got to hear about my frustration, not that I mind that they messed up as we had the time, but the fact that they kept us waiting without letting us know the situation!

Can’t believe how decadent&spoilt I have turned to be during this COVID pandemic. Bought myself this gadget@IUIGA, a portable neckfan S$50. Tested it out with a fully charged battery running on medium speed (3speeds) and it lasted for 7hrs, for real!

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

Sat: sharing&recommending some of my favourite local foods (only 1dish~S$5) from outdoor Hawkers/MarketFoodCentre (max 2ppl for now!) in SIN. HaigRoadMarket&FoodCentre – 林玉梅 LinYuMei SarawakLaksa&KoloMee S$4

Appreciations for Sat’s dinner (my usual contribution, FruitCocktailSalad) to CC-Management, staff&friends to welcome the BTS X HELINOX new gadgets – do drop in to check&test them out – 2above pix credits to Helen.

I have 3HelinoxChairs+2tables, they are comfortably-stylish, easy to move around or put away for storage. Like the idea that this bag can be opened up to be a ground or picnic mat.

Sun: perfect wet&cool day for snoozing in front of cheesy movies! Dinner@sis Jo. Tropical EdibleGarden harvest – Kedondong(SpondiasDulcis)沙梨 leafs are delicious, tkx to Albert for the tip! TorchGingerBud/BungaKantan(Etlingera Elatior), Calamansi (Citrus x microcarpa) – just a dash of those can really enhance many of the local dishes, I like them in my salads too. And also here is May’s harvest from her UrbanGarden in Norway

Mon: another wet&cool day but no snoozing, today, app@SGH – all is well and back to normal. 16yrs ago when we hiked the AT Thru’Hike in rains for 3days&nights in Maine/USA with the backlash of HurricaneKatrina, but was not aware that there was a hurricane then! Today 16yrs later HurricaneIda has made landfall in Louisiana/USA again – to all in her path, plx take care&stay safe. Tkx to Sam@CC for this Häagen-Dazs StrawberryIceCream – my dinner for tonight!

https://edition.cnn.com/…/hurricane-ida-sunday/index.html

Tue: enjoy this last 2021AugDay – appreciations to Calvin@CC for the loan of this bike&helmet and blessed to be able to test it out on EC-Pk before the rains this morning. Do I sense a tint of autumn@CyclistPark or am I just missing the Fall colours&weathers?

Nice ride on this neat light-weight Japanese bike, but not a folding one! Too many clouds for the sun to rise above them – not my hammock here, will bring my own on the next ride! Also the portable-neck-fan was effective&useful – very pleased&satisfied with it on this ride.

31Aug2021: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:

SIN/pop 5.6+mil in an area of 721SqKm – 55
SC/USA/pop 5+mil in an area of 82, 932SqKm – 10,562
Norway/pop 5.3+mil in an area of 365,268SqKm – 814

25 Aug 2021 – Ancestral Village In Jiangmen/China

Sat: to those going to the belated NDP today, enjoy&be safe – this will be it for the floating platform for now as it will be closed after today for renovations until 2025. Downloaded pix

84 MarineParadeCentral 

XingLongCookedFood SteamedFish (S$5per piece). Actually S$5per piece is considered not so reasonable as one can get 2veggie-varities+1meat with rice all for less than S$5 at these kind of hawker-stalls! But then fish is not that cheap!

Sun: tkx for home-made PrawnMee dinner at Jo’s and also for the Kedondong (Spondias dulcis) 沙梨. The tree in her garden is packed with fruits and was also recently told by Albert that the leaves are slightly sour and can be added to a salad – that I must try.

Mon: ham cheese egg toast lunch@ToastBox/Esplanade S$7.10 where I could also change my bus here, thus still keep within my transfer fares, ie under S$1 when I can be on another bus by 45mins! Follow-up app@SGH and walked to TiongBahruBakery to take away my favourite almond croissant S$5.35.

Took whatever bus that came first back to the EastEnd and bus33 was it – turned out to be quite a joy ride bringing me along KoonSengRd in the JooChiat area.

Arr Bedok Interchange just before 1700hrs where I managed to pick up a lotus-peanuts/rib soup S$4.10 an a big box of YoléYogurt $21 in BedokMall – would not have gone in if there were any crowds or lines!

Tue: grocery shopping day@Giant/Tampines S$127.16 including SenSav3%S$3.93+PowerPac ElectricClipFan&MEG-MultiCooker, both for S$25. Bought the 3rdFan of the same kind, being satisfied with the other 2 which I paid S$20 for both in Nov2020. Pouring cats&dogs when done with shopping, but no worries, did not even have to open the umbrella, shaded all the way from the bus stops. It was rather comforting to hear the rains hitting down on the corrugated bus-stops roofs as it reminded me of nice memorable hiking days in the humble huts&shelters with these kind of roofs.

I remember from childhood days, ie 1950s-60s! how these road always flooded on heavy rainy days and the traffic was just terrible when there were Sunday races at the SwissClubRd area!

https://mothership.sg/2021/08/bukit-timah-flooded/

Wed: sooo excited&thrilled to hear from a long-lost cousin, IreneLAM (sister of the CoconutPostMaster in HI/USA) – no have never met her or him and really hope that we are able to connect&work something for our family’s ancestral village in Jiangmen/Guangdong Province, China so as to be linked to a neighbouring village (1hr away) which is in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This has always been in my dreams&hopes when I first set foot there in 2009, but kinda given up hope as no one in the family showed any interest when I voiced out my thoughts then!

https://amylamsg.com/2009/05/10/happy-mothers-day/

https://amylamsg.com/2011/02/28/pearl-river/

Edited 5Sep: appreciations to GG-LAM Irene, a cousin from granduncle RG-LAM JeeChiew’s branch (Alfred-Linda Tay is the contact person for this branch) for this interesting link that her father BG-LAM YatYin and bro GG-LAM Michael started. https://lamaviation.com/

Edited 7Sep: hoping&praying that the LAM-Heritage is moving forward in the direction of preservation instead of destruction in the name of progress! As a granddaughter (let’s hope that I can count in this matter) of RG-LAM SongKee, have given the POA to the Cangdong East Culture Heritage Conservation & Development Centre in KaipingCity/China to mange the family’s property&affairs there. http://cangdongproject.org/cangdong-xmgken.asp

20 Aug 2021 – Gastronomical Feasting

Tue: saddened by all the news of many disasters happening around the world – https://disasterphilanthropy.org/our-approach/disasters/

And the consequences of the man-made long history in Afghanistan which brings back memories of

Steve McCurry, one my favourite photographers and where the idiom A picture is worth a thousand words really applies.

I can so relate to the saying The eyes are the windows to the soul here. McCurry’s famous photograph, SharbatGula /Afghan Girl, on the cover of National Geographic Jun 1985. 

https://amylamsg.com/2016/01/23/gillman-barracks/

Wed: at Les’sClinic/FarrerPkMedicalCentre to pick up medications – looks like the clinic girls have green-thumbs and the plants here are thriving at the corner window on the 7floor.

OysterHouse/OwenRd – no mussels, but the clams look good for tonight’s dinner.

Chinese Restaurant JiaHeWanShiXing 家和万事兴 which translates to if the family lives in harmony all affairs will prosper – a nice restaurant conveniently located downstairs from Les’s clinic and serves a well-presented varieties of Cantonese cuisine. Tkx to AiHwee for today’s lunch which started with Pan-fried Bacon wrapped with tomato served with SaladCream, an interesting appetizer that combines sweet cherry tomatoes with smoky bacon, CrispyRoastPork, SilverBait+StiredFriedKaiLan done to my taste with a nice crunch and well presented – good idea to serve the baits separately to keep them crusty fresh.

CrispyHorFun with Seafood&EggSauce – first time for this dish and is best enjoyed immediately, while the HorFun is still crispy.

Good StuffedCrab and excellent DoubleBoilSoup of the day. Delicious DurianDeepFriedSesameBall and mini EggTart for dessert.

Appreciations for the 1stMoonCakesX4 (LotusPaste+MacadamiaNuts) of the season – could not resist this pretty insulated bag to keep future take-away foods warm!

Good to see MartinNg whom we have not seen since father passed away –  an afternoon@Les&Ivy’s catching up with his Dublin days&when he returned to SIN in the early 1960s. He left SIN 1953, before Lawrence, returned in the early 1960s and was our family doctor then.

Stayed on@Les&Ivy’s for dinner since already there – home-made clams done to perfection by Les+foods by ImperialTresures/Paragon from Chris – what an amazing gastronomical feasting day and a lovely evening was enjoyed by all. Nice to meet with Caroline&Alex, Michael and ChrisLim. Appreciations to Michael for sharing his ride back to the EastEnd.

Gastronomy is the greatest form of therapy that anyone can be exposed to – Marco Pierre White

Thu: pouring at~0300hrs, got up to close the windows, continued sleeping soundly with the heavy rains pelting down on the AC-compressor outside the bedroom window; stopped by the time I got up at~0700hrs. Tkx Aileen for brunch company at my favourite CCF@MTmarket and for lovely orchids to add to my weekend red bouquet.

Fri: #1 moved to her apartment to start her sophomore year at UofSC/USA. Mon16Aug2021 was 1stSchoolDay for #2(11th), #3(9th), #4(7th) and #5(5th) grades. These 4 looked thrilled when their mother asked to take their pic!!!! tkx to Linn for the pix.

Can’t believe that #4 is now taller than #2. Could not recognize #3’s voice when I spoke to him – last saw them all 2019summer and in just under 2yrs they all seemed to have grown overnight…

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere – Chinese Proverb

TGIF, a good weekend to all, stay safe&dry on this lovely cool&very wet morning here in SIN. Has been a long long while ago when&where I could walk for ~4hrs and only saw 2ppl walking and others 2cycling. The paths were wet and waves were higher than usual this morning, managed to even pick a handful(46)SagaSeeds on the way.

On the way back stopped@KatongShoppingCentre to pick up a banana pie@DonaManis. Also tried a new flavour@TheHumbleScoop – ORH HAW/HawthornBerry, nice&refreshing.