11 July 2019 – A Granny-Spy

Mon: appreciations to Gel&Yusoff Abdul Latiff with his lovely sketch about what I thought yesterday was a ruin, but was a Bali gateway probably erected by a Bali-themed restaurant cafe (Little Bali) that was demolished nearby. During its heyday the restaurant setting was well-landscaped like in Bali. I think they even brought in volcanic soil and lots of heliconia and water features. We painted there several times. We felt like in Bali. Its a pity that the landscaping was demolished when the cafe closed and the whole of Gilman Barracks was revamped.

I knew it reminded me of somewhere recently and checked my previous postings, of course, the new Sang Nila Utama Garden@FortCanning. That goes to show how recent memory goes faster that memory from 50-60yrs ago!!

https://amylamsg.com/2019/06/05/hello-jun-2019/

Tue: feeling lost (like the sculpture of VanGogh by Catalano in the lobby!) trying to find my way to the PostOffice@Ion. Got side-tracked@OperaGallery as the guard looked so real that I had to in and check him out! Am glad I went in as there are two Chagall (one of my favourite painters of that era) paintings inside. No photography allowed inside…

SIN Straits Emporium/underpass from OrchardMRT-Tangs,

https://amylamsg.com/2014/07/10/ode-to-durians/

amazing place with all kind of goodies made from durian except the real fruit, I wonder why?? 🙂 No did not buy any as my preference for durians are the fresh fruits, and at present staying away from them as I am coughing till my diaphragm hurts.

The Penang trip was the 1st time I tasted RedPrawn/Hong Xia, Ang Hay – sticky with a sweet aftertaste, from the states of Pahang&Johor/Malaysia.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hail-the-king-of-fruit-10-types-of-durians-from-malaysia

Welcome back to SIN Richard&Judy from Sydney. Good to catch up with them both+HS, childhood family friends from the 1950s-60s.

Food Republic, ShawCentre/Scotts enjoying our get together and as usual, much to talk about and too much eat on our annual meeting. There is a decent selection of food here, especially their WarungPadang. Was not hungry then, but after the movies had Assam fish+2sorts of veggie (S$8+).

Movie Red Joan@Lido – inspired by an extraordinary true story and unlike the Rotten Tomatoes+others’ reviews, personally I thought it a brilliant movie. Based loosely on real life granny spy Melita Norwood, (1912-2005) and what was so intriguing was that my thoughts in the beginning of the movie were completely changed at the end of it. Highly recommended.

It got me to reflect&rethink at what price does one have to go thru’ for idealism and the balance of peace, even if&when treason may play a part in it?

I did what I did, not to make money, but to help prevent the defeat of a new system which had, at great cost, given ordinary people food and fares which they could afford, a good education and a health service – Melita Norwood

https://spartacus-educational.com/Melita_Norwood.htm

Wed: reading The Hills of SIN where Farnham draws on the real-life historical personalities of the time, mixing fact and fiction to paint a rich portrait of love and loss in mid-nineteenth century SIN, at a time when triads, piracy and crime were rife and life in colonial SE Asia was anything but safe.

Interesting read about SIN&KCH then, both locations that are close&familiar to me. Need some time away from reality to stay sane and to calm the nerves&stress before heading back to the Western world.

Everything wise and true and old was Chinese, but everything new, everything useful for commerce, came from the West…

Thu: neighbour downstairs (6floor) is again complaining about the AC and seeming she is also complaining about her downstairs neighbour (5floor) that their AC is blowing too much cold-air up on her floor and she is unable to find a spot to kneel for a her prayers!

Another complain letter (2nd) will be in my mail, so will have to find a solution – if a 3rd letter has to be sent out, there will be legal actions!!

Appreciations to Gel for dropping by and updating her visions for vOOk. The very best to her and her new ventures.

7 Jul 2019 – Lunch&Dinner

Thu: unpacking the few things bought in Penang – soaps looking&smelling like they are good enough to eat, coconut candies (both the soft chewy&hard ones) and an attractive irresistible tiny goldfish pewter I could not take my eyes off just before leaving the hotel for the airport!

Marking 4th July over time – 2005 on the AT/USA, 2013 in OSL/Norway, 2015&2018 SC/ USA. Happy 4th to all celebrating. Appreciations for dinner@Jo’s.

Tamil movie House Owner – the story revolves around a rainy day in the lives of an elderly couple who has made Chennai their home since quite some time. Vasu, who has retired from the Army, has been suffering from Alzheimer’s and Radha has a tough time dealing with her husband’s adamant and child-like behaviour. Somehow, it was a touching movie in some ways and sad in another ways, ie too close to home!

Do not think I have ever been to this cinema@Carnival Shaw Tower on Beach Rd, which shows mainly Indian moves – and if I have, it must have been under another name!

Fri: TGIF this beautiful flower tree is blooming outside my 7floor kitchen window and it is absolutely magnificent. I remember it a tiny tree 20yrs ago when I moved here, before the parking garage with a roof-top garden was built (2005).

Auditioning as a grandma for some NTUC-film. Keeping my fingers crossed this time round. Trying something new when the opportunity arises is a good way to live life!

Appreciations to HS&friends for a lovely Fri evening of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants with a delightful&entertaining program@VCH. Cellist Qin Li-Wei’s performance was outstanding. Supper@our usual Vietnamese joint, LongPhung, JooChiatRd

Sat: after 1hr+bus+MRT+bus, had a few minutes for a cuppa@BukitBatok market and to check out the area before heading on to the Church of St Mary of the Angels (church pix downloaded).

Aileen, the mother of the bride glowing radiantly as she gives instructions to her soon to be son-in-law, Amber. Also spending some moments with her youngest, Chloe and husband, Alan before they give blessings to their eldest girl’s Alex and before being parents-in-law!

Jeremy, their dashing first-born is busy checking that things are going smoothly. Yulis&family in time before we got seated. Where has all these years gone??? Aileen, Yulis&I met when we worked together 20yrs ago@H&H, then in MarinaHouse/ShentonWay (next to MSAbuilding)

Yulis&Chiew have 2 lovely girls, Sophie(5)&Frances(2mo) dressed alike just like what I did to L&M who are also nearly 5yrs apart, Sophie is the cutest 5yrs with me today. Somehow we were accidentally placed on the groom-side, but it was good as we could see Aileen&family clearly.

The charming couple were blessed by their parents as they both vowed to love&honour each other the rest of their life. Congratulations to the new Mr&Mrs Teo and the very best to their life ahead.

Father of the bride sang beautifully and gave a touching speed as to how he will miss that good-night kiss. Lovely reception with yummy food and had a bite of everything and ate every morsel. Good to catch up with Peggy, Carol, Dennis, Aisha, old H&H faces.

Alex’s stunning bridal gown was tailor-designed with different layers of elegant white lace and really befitting to her graceful&innocent personality. It was cute to see Sophie so taken in with the bride that it reminded me how Olai was to his cousin Ellie during Linn’s 40thBday in 2014.

And it is not over yet until the dinner tomorrow night.

Sun: Gillman Barracks former British Army barracks, the cluster of buildings now play host to an eclectic mix of Art. The last time here was in 2016 for Steve McCurry’s ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.

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

Took a few mins today to walk around the area to only discover this ruin this time round.

Fully restored classic black & white bungalow built in 1935 by the British Army and surrounded by greenery, Masons has a unique colonial charm with good food.

I like the idea of a small portions so that there is room to taste everything and again ate every bit.

Too many ppl to get decent shots tonight and there are many profession photographers who will no doubt put together a good wedding album. Nice wedding cake.

Aileen’s mother, brother&his family+her 2best friends Patricia&Michelle, godmothers to her children on the same table. Managed to get a quick shot while the wedding couple&their parents were posing. The missing girlfriend of Jeremy’s as she was could not attend yesterday’s ceremony. Looking forward for them to tie their knots too! These kids are fortunate to have good examples&roles to learn from.

Blessed to be including in these joyous ceremonies and meeting with her family&friends after hearing&listening about them for 20yrs! Congratulations to Aileen&Alan who have raised a lovely family. The secret to a long-lasting marriage is to fall in love many times, always with the same person.

3 Jul 2019 – Byebye Jun Hello Jul

Fri: TGIF on this lovey early morning. Besides a robot cleaner, also bumped into Sharon@T2 who is flying on the same plane as us to Penang! Byebye SIN for now.

Safe&sound in Penang, delighted to catch up with nephew John&Fran+WanAnn (flatmate&friend from Dublin school days) for the most scrumptious plate of Penang ChowKuehTeow on Jalan DatokKeramat.

Can’t seem to get enough of this beautiful magnificent huge tree@ShangriLa RasaSayang Resort where we will be for the next 4nights.

How to holiday in style, tkx to Les.

Decent Hainanese home-cook style dinner around the corner from the resort – quite a contrast from our accommodations.

3UCD medical grads Les&Ivy+WanAnn whose cousin, SiewLing, also another doctor, but from Trinity. Left Dublin by the time he arrived in 1975, thus my first meeting with him here, and of course in an Irish-Pub for a pint. Never enjoyed these crowded noisy pub-scene even in my youth, and less so now, yes, up in age but not yet deaf!

Said hi to all in the pub and took a slow away from the noise, but within the mall. Unlike SIN, do not feel that safe wondering about in Malaysia.

Sat: up bright&early to check out the breakfast-spread which has a good decent selection but only took just a few pix, more interested in the street-food.

Had a cup of coffee&some fruits as I wanted to spend the day with Chon&Fran who I hardly get to see!

A personal tour on wheels for today – along Gurney Dr and Esplanade Rd, City&Town Halls, Fort Cornwalls.

Interesting overhead bridge, road sign and round-about – could not have guess what is on top of this around-about, can you?

On to the famous Penang-Street-Food – starting with PrawnMee, a broth to die for. The owner has been selling this dish since age 17 and now he is into his 70-80s.

Ernest Zacharevic’s The children on the bicycle on Armenian Street is one of the most famous murals and done in 2012, it is one of the 1st street art here.  Old Chinese Temple, Acheen St Mosque, St. George’s AnglicanChurch.

A snack@Hong Kee Wan Thun Mee 鸿记(廣式) 竹昇云吞面Campbell Street before more touring, mee here looks good but no space for a full meal. The line was for TohSoon Cafe 多春茶室, thank goodness as the heat was quite unbearable to be standing in line!

Re-visit to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Those who remember The Little Nyonya 小娘惹, a SIN 2008 drama serial, might recognize some of the scenes filmed here. Again the ornate architecture and interior never fail to fascinate me.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/05/19/the-island-of-penang/

Fried oysters were OK, but not my favourite. The other dish LokBak is new to me, tasty and so was this 3LayersT, highly recommended.

Like this painting of the location.

ChinaHouse – 3Heritage shop-houses linked by an open-air courtyard converted into many spaces –

comprising of shops, cafes, restaurant, galleries and bakery with 80varieties of baked goods!

Qu’ils mangent de la brioche

Appreciations to SiewLay&Elise for dinner@BeachCorner. Elise told the story as to how& why their daughter chose to work in SIN. She offered jobs both in KL&SIN some years ago and decided for in KL at first. When she was there to sort out matters, was then pick-pocketed and after that she decided to accept the job in SIN and has been there ever since.

SpringRolls, Duck with Yam, AssamFish

Fried Chicken, Squid, local crabs, fresh ingredients and very tasty.

Sun: lunch@BayviewHotel and what a good idea with that dome to keep food warm as well as nice presentation.

It was a lovely Conferring Ceremony for this 2019Class. Congratulations to all.

Good to see Drs Manning&Halpin (UCDs Chancellor&Registrar) again. The last time we met was when Les received an NUI Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine/honoris causa.

https://amylamsg.com/2014/06/20/degree-of-doctor-or-medicine/

Last night’s dinner was good enough for another night at the same location, but with a few change of dishes. So thrilled&pleased with this, must be the best sunset shot I will ever capture. A case of being in the right place at the right time. Alone we walk striving to understand the meaning of the small role we play in this magnificent creation – tkx to MichaelBrown’s comment.

Mon: back to PrawnMee for Les&Ivy to try and was lucky enough to get his few last bowls. So it was meant to be…

Food shopping and here Ivy&Fran managed to fight the crowds and got what they wanted hahaha while Les sat outside, Chon on the phone outside and I taking pix outside lol.

Standing on a hilltop at Air-Itam, near PenangHill, KekLokSi is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. You can also get a great view of the town from there. The clouds might have looked threatening here, but only got a few drops of rain.

Market in Air-Itam

Have never been a fan of Penang-Laksa until I tasted this and could not get enough of the broth which complimented the rosella drink with a delicious fruit to finish this lunch. For my oversea friends – Laksa is a spicy noodle soup popular in Peranakan cuisine of SE Asia, and it will take me a day to list out the various varieties of Laksa!!! Safe journeys to Chon&Fran who will be flying off after lunch. Good to have caught up.

Cheong FattTze張弼士Mansion now a boutique hotel won the prestigious UNESCO Conservation&Heritage award in 2000. 1+hrs was not enough time to see this amazing mansion, would have liked to have spent a day there!

Wooden-craved partition and the tile flooring are originals from the end of the 19th century.

The mahjong scene from the movie Crazy Rich Asians+many more movies were filmed here.

Cheong FattTze first introduced grape vineyards in China’s Shandong province, and later brought in Austrian wine-producing experts to improve the ChangYu vineyard in Yantai, Shandong, so the Ingido Bar has quite rightly found a place here.

Twenty Ways You Can Tell You Have Asian Parents. Number one on the list: Your parents never, ever call you just to say hello ― Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians

Tkx Kat for catching up with us and for yummy RedPrawn durians at her lovely house.  First bite for this particular kind of durina and a definite die die must have again!  Dinner was scrumptious at Kat’s neighbourhood, especially the fish&eggplants for me.

Tue: thank you and byebye Penang. Hello SIN – back safe&sound after a smooth uneventful 1+hr flight. Took 6 travalators! (I counted) to get from the gate-immigration, thank goodness the wheelchair was waiting for Ivy upon arrival. Appreciations to Les&Ivy for this delightful trip and it is easy to get used to this style of travelling, but alas the travel from now until Nov will be of a completely different category!

Wed: always content to be back to familiarity until Familiarity Breeds Contempt and then again time to move on, the whole secret to the balance of life…

4 Jul – Happy 4th
14 Jul – Happy Bday Keith and Happy Bastille Day/France
17 Jul – Happy Bday Nancy Bowman
19 Jul – Happy 22nd Anniversary Linn&Jeff
20 Jul – Happy Bday David Yeoh
21 Jul – Happy Bday Albert Chua
22 Jun – Happy Anniversary Dike&Mark
23 Jun – Happy Bdays Lucas&James

27 Jun 2019 – The White Crow

Mon-Tue: @NUH and stressful times with a complicated family situation. Have been more on the MRT than bus the past 2weeks due to convenience&destination to KentRidge/NUH. Fortunately I can choose the time, thus avoiding rush hours. Reading helps to distract the claustrophobic feeling; the cleanliness&safety is impressive.

Am reminded of Goh SiGuim when passing thru’ MainBuilding LobbyB. Told Karen that I see her partner in crime big&clear on the NUH wall and her reply: my claim to fame, well at least she has a claim to fame – hahaha! Hopefully I will not see this wall for a while after today!!

Fame is a fickle food 
Upon a shifting plate, 
Whose table once a Guest, but not 
The second time, is set. 
Whose crumbs the crows inspect, 
And with ironic caw 
Flap past it to the Farmer’s corn; 
Men eat of it and die – Emily Dickinson

Excited about my SG Bicentennial Commemorative S$20 Note.

Chat with Gayle who is a chef in FL/USA : Golden Paste! It gets everywhere and you don’t want to wear something that you don’t mind getting stained. It smells like dirt, but the health benefits are worth it. Boiled turmeric. Then you add coconut oil and black pepper. It’s great for inflammation.

Have been given some in capsule form by bro-in-law, Michael who also believes in the benefits. Doug English – a veterinarian in Australia has been doing studies for decades of the health benefits of turmeric

Not that the stains will put me off, but will wear gloves when skinning&cutting these.  The Chinese call them yellow-ginger when translated from Chinese, Assam is Malay. I add it (fresh) to some of my dishes, especially fish when it compliments the dish, ie to my taste! Nasi Ulam (been a long while since I last made this) is another dish where turmeric enhance the flavour. Have not tried it as as a paste, usually prefer spices&herbs if I can get them fresh.

Birthday greetings to nephews Chon&Clement and the Huang from HI who is somewhere in Thailand or China at present. Except for Chon’s pix the others are taken this year!

Wed-Thu: gathering energy for a Penang trip over the weekend with Les&Ivy+Lawrence meeting Chon to sort out family matters and to have a good time catching up with an old friend&flat-mate from Dublin days, not forgetting Penang food too! As Alonzo said – with Amy, there is always food and at the moment, not just food, but happy thoughts said niece Sue. Movies is a way for me to shift my focus and The White Crow, out today is my way to energize.

Inspired by the book Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993), it reminded me of another movie – Mao’s Last Dancer, both excellent movies which I would probably watch again.

https://amylamsg.com/2010/04/24/maos-last-dancer/

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world ― J.R.R. Tolkien

23 Jun 2019 – All’s Well That Ends Well

Thu: NUH with Lawrence for his blood test. Lunched with Les&friends@BarBQ-Tonight. Appreciations to Les&Ivy for yummy steam-boat dinner last night to welcome Irene (Ivy’s cousin&her family from KL), David&Cindy back to SIN. Always like the idea here of the individual personal pots for this. Overnight@Rochalie.

Fri: 0700hrs-NUH this time to admit Lawrence for his Embolization procedure this morning and will be visiting the next few days; feel like I can practically find my way around there blind-folded!

Delicious fresh figs from ColdStorage/AnchorPt and these Spanish donut peaches from Isetan/ScottsRd are perfect sizes. The usual preference is for local tropical fruits when back here, but could not resist these when priced reasonably.

Sat: NUH and tkx to Sue for ride from NUH.  A fishy-tale@KEK Seafood Alexandra as to how to eat&enjoy fresh good Red-Grouper 油蒸红斑 to the fullest, hahaha.

Some ppl were wondering if I finished the whole fish – if this was the only dish, no problems to eat every bit&morsel, but we shared 3 dishes+rice&soup for 3ppl, total bill S$109.50. During my Northern Norway days, fresh fish was the normal daily diet then and often free as we did our own fishing, so S$71 is expensive, but was informed that it is reasonable!

This is my 3rd time here and only realized about their Michelin* this time round, thus explaining why it is so crowded.

Sun: was told that the Merdeka Generation (MG) Package has to be collected@MPCC Multi-Purpose Hall in conjunction to a HariRaya Celebration Event. If I knew that one did not have to be physically there to collect the package, would have saved myself a headache waiting in the heat to be registered.

All’s well that ends well as I managed to get these shots, said hello to Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh ChokTong (GOH) and left quite shorty after that. Will now wait patiently for the MG package in the mail.

What an amazing adventure for Karen&co, (pix credits to her) climbing to the roof of Africa – Mt Kilimanjaro 19,340ft/5,895m in 8days. Way to go to my AT hiking buddy, Wiggs – am living vicariously thru’ her! Would have definitely preferred to be in this line anytime than the one in the MPCC!  Jun 2015 – group pix credits to Glenda/HiHills

NUH to check on Lawrence and good that the procedure went as it should. Glad to know that Sue visited yesterday, SiewKing last night and now Clement. Am touched by those who are also trying to do their part even with their overwhelming responsibilities to their own parents+their immediate family&full-time jobs.

Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use; and keep thy friend
Under thy own life’s key: be check’d for silence,
But never tax’d for speech ― William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well

19 Jun 2019 – 1957 To 1961

Wed: going thru’ some old pix trying to recall the primary school days with a 1957pix form St TheresaConvent with Pr1 teacher, Ms Soo&classmates. Me with my forehead&eyes peeping in the background already liking books then and still do! Next to me, Yolanda and in front of me, Kwong YokeHeng. Another 2names I can remember from that class are Elizabeth Chee&Ow, but do not seemed to located them in the pix.

Pr3or4?? Sleeping Beauty play, me being SleepingB (now SleepingGrandmom!), Yolando (prince), YokeHeng(page), Valerie(witch) with Sr Marie, the few nuns who made an impression on me and thought her to be the most beautiful nun I met then, in my mind she still is. Glad that these 2pix are in such good condition considering when they were taken.

Posted these in FB to try and find if ppl can recognized anyone of have info about anybody from that time-frame in my life’s journey. Also did an on-line search and was really excited when I found this site and below pix downloaded from there.

https://chijsttheresasconvent.moe.edu.sg/school-history/heritage-at-stc

Only today Wed 19Jun 2019 did I discover that – A Nun of Royal Descent and a Principal. The history of St. Theresa’s is never complete till the story of the nun of royal descent who later became principal is told. Adopted by a Thai prince, Sr Marie Jombunad left the comforts of her palace for an IJ Convent. Thought she was the most beautiful&elegant nun I can remember. In 1970 Sr Marie was recalled to her native Bangkok to head RuamRudee International School.

Access was via a dirt path and 58 back breaking steps carved out of the hill slope. But education was in demand and all made the sacrifice of a difficult journey. We had to walk thru’ the kampong and crossing some plank-bridges, seeing kids catching fish and hanging around those drains. These downloaded pix brought back memories from those daily walks to&from the school to the car for the 5yrs. At the end of the path by the road was the shaved ice Indian man where I would sometimes buy from.

Sister Maria Lau was appointed principal on 26 February 1990 and coincidentally enough, Maria here was my classmate in VictoriaSt/CHIJ from 1962-1965. Do not know why I was transferred to VictoriaSt in 1962 for Pr6? but one does not ask too many questions in those days! The transition was not easy&neither were those pre-teen&teenage years. Mother died in 1965 and was then sent to boarding school in Dublin/Ireland – a path that one does not choose, but chosen for you!

On hindsight, I know now that I am blessed to have been given all those experiences to live a full life. Thank you.

St Theresa’s Convent – 1954/69/92 has sure come a long way, but Mt Faber&the foothills surroundings, my childhood playgrounds will always stay deep in the memory.

Nostalgia – the Vice of the Aged.

Believe it or not? This is the first Salmon Vending Machine crossing my path but did not try as the stomach was asking for durians (wonder if there will ever be vending machines for durians – hahaha). Norwegian Salmon too – wonder if there are there such machines in Norway,

18 Jun 2019 – Toy Story 4

Sat: today, 15Jun, 2gentlemen I admire and respect, my father LAM TinYue would have been 108; Linn&May’s paternal grandfather John HALD III 96. They both hold special places in the heart.

A walk on MacKenzieRd to this first OldChangKee outlet to pick up some curry-puffs&sotong-heads.

Thank you to Calvin for yummy oysters&wines – must have ate nearly a dozen and slept a goodnight sleep last night, so must be fresh! 2above pix credits to Helen.

Now at this stage in life, am more careful with raw foods, but oysters are the only few foods where I like them best raw on the shell. Good time was had by all who were there, good to catch up with Lucas.

Sun: Happy Fathers Day to all fathers, with special loving memories&thoughts to my father, LAM TinYue (1911-1996). To the Orange&Purple Generation for this LAM family-branch, this is your grandfather and great-grandfather.

Also Happy Fathers Day to the father (John) of my 2children and to sons-in-law Jeff&Bjørn, fathers to my 6grandchildren. Thank you for my children&grandchildren who are so far the greatest blessings in this life’s journey.

Appreciations to Daisy for ticket to the Premiere for ToyStory4@Lido – still remember ToyStory1 being released in 1995 when we were living in FL but do not remember 2&3! Not to be a spoiler, but watching the ending for 4, doubt that there will be a 5, but you never know…

There is a mini carnival outside Shaw Lido, but the main carnival is at Gardens By The Bay. Do take the kids there during the school holidays for some fun while it last. https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/gardens-come-alive-with-toys

A sea of protesters, most dressed in black and carrying white flowers of mourning, have swept through central Hong Kong to denounce a controversial extradition law and demand that the city’s leader, Carrie Lam, steps down.

The Chinese idiom人山人海 people mountain people sea is most appropriate here.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/16/hong-kong-protests-carrie-lam-china

Mon: catching up with housework, etc and important to have a day like this to put things away and see the big pix! My biggest pix is FOOD – hahaha, j/k! Even when I have a solo meal, will try to take the time to make it look appetizing&pleasing to my eyes!! Often it takes more time to present than eating it!!! Food pix here taken from a magazine for presentation ideas.

The further we go the more we leave behind and sometimes it is important to be away from issues both physically&mentally to see that life is really quite simple as long as you can remember to live with this saying – do onto others as you would like others to do onto you. What others do or say is NOT within my control but what I do or say IS.

Tue: NDC – these young dentist nowadays look like they could be my grandchildren or it is just me getting on in age, hahaha!

14 Jun 2019 – A Cure For Diabetes?

Wed: posted in FB and got my answer as to what we called these SIN-cherries. Used to eat these in my childhood, they were growing wild quite abundantly around. Wish I could still find some. Anyone knows where they can be found now?? If my memory serves me correctly, we used to call them Bocelli and tried to get to them before the birds, but the birds are usually faster!!

Tkx to Zai who has these in her garden, but she lives in Brunei and to Chuan where these grow wildly on the road where he lives in KCH.

Shirley Tong: I believe it’s buah cherry! There was a buah cherry tree opposite our house at Tiverton Lane and as children we used to pick them when they fall or when we can reach them. Super sweet! We didn’t even think of washing them; just popped them into our mouths haha. No one ever complained of diarrhoea! Those were our happy childhood days.

Thanks Shirley for her share, that is BuahCherry. Was probably having the singer Bocelli in mind, whose voice is as sweet as those cherries. Shirley Tong:  Haha…quite an apt association with Andrea Bocelli!

All this got stirred up because a student discovered this as a cure for diabetes! Pix downloaded.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/01/19/young-scientist-finds-potential-diabetes-cure-in-aratiles

I thought I saw a familiar face in the news – way to go SengGee who is still sweet&charming as ever, but not so little! Have been told that he is the best liver person here in SIN, glad to have caught up with him recently.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/nuh-study-sees-hepatitis-b-patient-cured-after-stopping-medication?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=STFB&utm_source

Saw Lawrence off to T2, tkx to Lee for driving – ongoing long&complicated family issues! Excise by exploring&gallivanting around are my usual ways to de-stress, but with age catching up and low energy level, reading,walking&watching movies are good alternatives; NetFlix is a good place to be at present!! Just a few, and these too will probably be forgotten soon –  Leap Year/2010, Always Be My Maybe/2016, From Japan To Egypt/2017, Wine Country/2019. Dinner@DIn Tai Fung/Parkway.

As my observant children so appropriately&eloquently said many moons ago – my mom will never have to watch a soap opera as her whole life is one!

Thu: looking forward to receiving my MG/MerdekaGeneration package. Even the envelope&stamp with this note has a nice design and I do like the word Merdeka – wonder how many of us are in this generation? In the LAM family tree, I am 1 out of 34 in the GreenGeneration from LAM SongKee’s branch.

Fri: TGIF- a beautiful&harmonious weekend to all. Re-reading JamesJoyce and what a difference 50yrs make – read some of his works during teenage days but have forgotten most. Also those were the days when I was more impressed with Ibsen’s works, thus read all his plays in English then, and later in Norwegian during my years in Norway.

When you’ve sold yourself once for the sake of others, you don’t do it a second time – Ibsen’s A Doll’s House Act 3

https://amylamsg.com/2011/05/22/dolls-houses/

Could not find the Dubliners HC in the library, so borrowed the audio and was surprised to how I enjoyed these 6CDs, yes I still have a CDplayer and it still works!! Appreciation to the Irish Embassy for hosting Bloomsday Book Club with Richard Barlow’s/NTU introduction to James Joyce’s Dubliners@the Irish Residence.

Someone asked me if the Irish are really so helpful – from one of the stories, Grace, where everyone were so helpful after Mr.Kernan injured himself falling down? As far as the memory goes, yes is the answer for when I was there in the 1960s-70s, but cannot answer for now?

The new SIN Irish Ambassador (#6) is out of town, so did not get to meet him this time round@the new Irish Residence (3rd since 2000), and my first visit here. Appreciations to him for opening his home with drinks&snacks for this book club.

Irish Ambassadors to SIN from 2000-present
1. Brendan Lyons
2. Huge Swift
3. Richard O’Brien
4. Joe Hayes
5. Geoffrey Keating
6. Pat Bourne

https://amylamsg.com/2014/05/11/irish-ambassadors-in-sin/

Ladies group pix credits to Carmel and tkx to Carmel&Noreen for sharing the cab to&fro.

2above pix credits to the Irish Embassy

One by one they were all becoming shades. Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age ― James Joyce, The Dead/Dubliners

11 Jun 2019 – To Discover or Rediscover

Sat: thank you Alvin for the completed framed portrait and for good breakfast company. Good luck to his new ventures, happy sketching and safe travels for his EU trip ahead. Looking forward to catching again up end of the year

Always enjoy visiting the National DesignCentre to check out what is new, it’s been awhile since the last visit. Took the weekend to catch up.

These delightful pix books are wonderful for young&old – creative artwork pleasant to the eyes and stories to get you imagination going.

The book and title that got my attention: The Journey by Francesca Sanna – What is like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey: one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope.

Published by Flying Eye Books in spring 2016, the book has been translated in 14 languages, and has been awarded with the gold medal of the Society of Illustrators (US) and the Premi Llibreter (Spain).

Nice place to have a bite or drink@Tanuki Raw – Lychee Martini with fresh oysters followed by Truffle Yakiniku (pan-seared US-BlackAngus beef, onsen egg, truffle soy-sauce over Tanuki’s signature rice). Bon Appetit.

Long day and was tired, but stayed until interval for this full-house story telling session. Enjoyed Kiran Shah’s Nevertheless, She Persisted where she told passionately her personal story of the progression of arranged marriages in her family.

Sun: Happy 10th Birthday greetings from SIN to Sophie, #4grandchild – hugs&XXXs to her. She too now joins her 3older siblings with 2digits in her age, but still does not fit into her daddy’s shoes, hahaha! She is the only grandchild I woke up for 2 of her night-feeds for 2weeks of her baby-life. Linn was then hospitalized for Septic Pelvic Thrombophlebitis/SPT and thx to May&Nancy who were also there to help.

Jubilee Photo Studio@National Library – a trip worth the time to view some of these precious old B/W photography to refresh your memories if you are my age 🙂

1st time I took a plane was from here – when/1950s, to where? do not remember?? but do vaguely remember throwing-up!!

https://amylamsg.com/2015/03/13/former-kallang-airport/

This I remember vividly – the night before, we had a big dinner party on the lawn and those wooden tables&chairs were left on the lawn for many days before the catering ppl could collect them.

So glad to come across this as I was actually asking round in Nostalgic Singapore, a FB Group if anyone might have some old pix from the Yang Kit pool with good childhood memories.

Was not aware that this was still happening in the 1980s, left SIN in 1965 and would have thought that by the 1980s, flushed-toilets were the norm. But do remember dreading being caught behind one of those vehicles carrying these buckets in the 1950s-60s!!

Edited – tkx for informative comments from FB-NostalgicSIN: night soil lorry seen here along N-Bridge Rd (1984) – pix credits to ChrisLee. Tng KhinChai: the last place was a house in Lorong LewLian where the family have been paying $3 a month for collection (ST 24Jan 1987/), MohdBakhtiar Anang:  the official title of the job is Night Soil Worker and they are represented by a union. Yusof BinAbdulRahman:  Black Bucket (Tong Hitam) kampong days. We have come a long way looking at this new concept from Japan…

Mon: @Les’s FarrerPk Clinic for Lawrence’s errands. Dinner@Les&Ivy to arrange Lawrence’s trip back to KCH for this round.

My favourite coffee cookies can be found here@Bakerzin/Farrer Park. Interesting novelty with this chocolate dog, have never ate any dog, but might this one!

Tue: need this day to cool my nerves&sanity! The latest news in NYC must trigger off some terrible memories from 9/11 – family&friends all over the world, stay safe.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/manhattan-helicopter-crash-june-2019/index.html

7 Jun 2019 –  Dumpling Festival

Thu: today 6Jun 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day when more than 160,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, to begin the operation that would liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control. D-Day would forever be associated with the invasion of Normandy. Many have come up with meanings for that D including Day of Days or Doomsday. Does it really matter what D meant considering all those life lost?

Happy Bday Dika Lam. 

Another morning@NUH, just too tired to do anything after that. The journey there from the East to the West by bus&MRT takes about an hour. Commuting for 2hrs is OK when you can do so at non rush-hour and can read, but still take abit out of me! After getting off the MRT, need to walk thru’ the Heart Centre with interesting sculpture&art.

Lawrence’s blood tests are still not to the level that the hospital feels comfortable to release him today, that must be a downer but he is dealing with it in such good spirits. Pray&hope that tomorrow he can be discharged. No matter how beautiful&fantastic a hospital is, very few choose to be there!

Fri: TGIF and Happy Dumpling Festival 端午節 Duan Wu Jie  or Dragon Boat Festival. This year’s pix are downloaded, no time to gallivant about to shoot any due to family situation. But the good memories with paternal grandmother making these yummy dumplings from scratch will always be with me. Used to do my own fillings and marked it so that it will not get lost with the rest.

For Jan&other overseas friends, this is what the festival is about

https://amylamsg.com/2010/06/17/dragon-boat-water-water/

Tkx to Sue for the ride this morning, took 30mins instead of an hour by public transport. A long morning waiting@NUH for Lawrence’s paper-works, etc so that he can be discharged. Sent him back to Les&Ivy to recover for a few days before he can head back to Malaysia. Am sooo hospitalized out after 5days there!

Getting out of the hospital is a lot like resigning from a book club. You’re not out of it until the computer says you’re out of it – Erma Bombeck

But discovered these yummy Chews (favourite is the Mint flavour)@NUH pharmacy over the week, rather costly for nearly S$5pp and being me had a whole packet (12) to realize that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect – boy and it sure did!! Now I know to only have just 1, not 12. Tkx to Ivy for the dumpling.

Excessive sorrow laughs. Excessive joy weeps ― William Blake