14 Sep 2017 – What On Earth Will It Take…

Do watch thru’ this youtube with an open mind. It makes sense and is educational. You will be surprised what you can learn from it eventhough it is an older and a longish video!

Wake up and see the whole pix! Has the head been so long in the sand that the eyes are blinded or maybe the subconscious is also still buried in the sand??

Have forgotten that the Ghost Festival is still on-going and the last day will be 19Sep.  That means that the gate of hell is still opened, allowing the ghosts and spirits to go back to the living world. Since neither of my parents believed nor practiced these rituals, it will not be disrespectful of me to not do anything about it. My sentiments about these rituals have not changed from the below posting from 2011.

https://amylamsg.com/2011/08/22/if-religion-is-a-thing/

Mon: Happy Bdays to bro Steven and MayY

Whats with 11Sep?? 2001 and now 2017 with Irma. So far all FL friends have updated about their safety, but many have lost power. After OSL-3+hrs in the air to IST-2+hrs layover, another 10+hrs in the air, arr safely in SIN after uneventful and nearly full on-time flights. Watched so many movies and have forgotten most of them except The Illusionist****(2006) starring Edward Norton who I am a fan of.

Tue: the duct-taped suitcase survived and will keep doing so to see how long it will last? unpacking, laundry and getting back to SIN mode&time. Above 3pix in this posting are the only ones from my camera, even-though they are not from this month! The rest of the images are downloaded – camera like the owner needs to rest 🙂

Wed: Madam Halimah Yacob was declared SIN President-elect today after her nomination papers were found to be in order.

She will be SIN 1st female President and the first Malay head of state in 47 years – Selected, not elected…

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41237318?

Edited with camera back in action.

Thu: dark&early to the wet market for fresh produce for less than S$20 – watercress, lemongrass, mint, pandan, purple-sweet potatoes, lemon, jicma (豆薯), pumpkin, ginger, bananas, water chestnut, garlic, onion and blueberries. Congee stall closed today, got ChaiTowKway菜头粿=fried carrot cake S$3.50 and kopi-peng=ice coffee S$1.20 to go in my own containers so that I can garnish my food and eat in the comforts of the AC. Welcome back to SIN$ 🙂 Feeling less of a zombie.

Toiletry bags from Qatar&Turkish airlines and the purple one? was when upgraded to BusinessClass on Qatar. Such a waste on me as I usually have my own toiletries, would have prefer to pay less for air-fares! Love this pix of #6 with eye-shades he wanted – compliments from QatarAir! Going to be a good start for today, tkx for making my day, May and pix credits of sleeping child to her.

Both body&mind too tired to do anything, especially thinking. Vegetating, drifting into LaLaLane and keeping the head in the sand for the time being – Aesop’s fable on the Grasshopper and the Ants came to mind…

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

‘Why not come and chat with me,’ said the Grasshopper, ‘instead of toiling and moiling in that way?’

‘I am helping to lay up food for the winter,’ said the Ant, ‘and recommend you to do the same.’

‘Why bother about winter?’ said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present.’ But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

10 Sep 2017 – Visitor Bidding Goodbye

Fri: TGIF and elections are on-going with ppl in line to vote. Shopping at the sales@XXL Majorstua. 

Not a good Friday for ppl in the path of Irma or the recent earthquake in Mexico. Take care to those in these areas and thoughts are with all my FL friends and their families.

Alonza, Jan, Jackie, Amanda, Gayle, Peter, Tom&Janice, Terry&Dee, Jim&Angela, Jacqueline, Allison, Cheryl, Mary, Hank, Carol, Shirley, Debbie, Cee, Judy, Kathie, Nancy, Helen, Ramona, Jeff, James, Francisco and apologies to whoever not in FB whom I might have omitted. Be safe and out of harm’s way.

Quick trip into town with M to check out bunad=traditional Norwegian costume and some traditional hand-made Norwegian gifts – expensive shop!

Sat: a visitor (must have scented flowers bought from neighbourhood flower-shop) to bid goodbye to summer 2017 and to the OSL trip this time round.

Enjoyable day@Sporveismusett=Tram-Museum&Library with #6.

A good place to be on a wet rainy day where one can explore and climb into most of these trams – some of them excellently refurbished to get the feeling of the good old days. Well-worth NOK50 S$9

Appreciations to M&B for my favourtie Norwegian lamb dish – får-i-kål=lamb in cabbage, ie lamb&cabbage stew.

Sun: packed, duct-taped the cracked suitcase! and ready to head to the airport. Hope that the suitcase will see us thru’ this trip and that the heaven above will just stop with the rains for a few mins while I get on the bus and then changing to the subway to catch the airport Xpress train. Best of luck to O-home Bday party where he will only be having ppl not from his school!

Congratulations to nephew LAM YinChun&Francesca for being awarded Datuk&Datin by Sultan Muhammad V (KL/Malaysia). Chun is the 1st-born of bro Lawrence&Mabel. For the benefits of my overseas friends – Datuk is a traditional Malay honorific title commonly used in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Its variant is Dato and its equivalent is Datu Sadja in the Philippines.

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude – ― Alfred Whitehead

7 Sep 2017 – Calm Before The Storm

Mon: Happy Bday M and good luck to her last year in her 30s! This glass-painting from her godfather is absolutely and beautifully delicate. The question is – where to hang it? M is home with a cough and B with a flu, not a good start for the week and not a good day to have to get things done for a class-party! C’est la vie and things have to be done as life goes on.

Tue: Happy 6Bday to #6, youngest grandchild Olai. How can 6yrs have gone by so quickly?? Seems like yesterday when I carrying him in a baby carrier backpack for walks around Majorstuen! So true for this proverb – Time & Tide wait for none. 

Now the MagniFicent 6 are all in school with #1 driving (pix credits to L) and #5&6 in 1stGrade.

The day started with gifts and a doughnut before school. Tkx to Clem, Sue & Aileen for all the Pokémon stuff and nightlights from me brought over from SIN. Bday or no bday, it is still a school-day today and off to school he must.

Tkx to Kris&Mette for taking time to meet. Always fun to catch up with a cuppa@Bicks.

Mette tells me that they want to close down Feiringklinikken – the hospital where I had my heart ablation, hope not as it is a good hospital.

https://amylamsg.com/2017/02/01/lhl-klinikkene-feiring/

Have signed the petition, hope and pray that it will remain open.

http://www.underskrift.no/vis/6778/

Got all the stuff and set-up into the school before 1700hrs and looks like 20kids from Class1A had a blast. Thank you to all for your well wishes. After organizing, setting up and cleaning his class-party at the school, both parents, including myself are completely wiped out. But all worth it to hear him say – this is the best Bday ever.

Not being used to such a big group of kids, was overwhelmed with them+gifts and a minor incident. Had to take a short stroll around the hood at Damplassen. How did I ever manage to raise 2kids??

Lovely evening and no doubt that Fall is in the air with some of the birches turning yellow. It is a blessing to be able to feel at ease and secure in all these places I have lived and still enjoying them.

Wed: grey wet day, and the forecast will be such for the rest of the week – good days to mend O jeans (2down, 1more to go) and cook. The basil-plants by the kitchen window are perfect for today’s spaghetti-sauce dinner.

Thu: have been on a go since my arrival. Need to calm down for a few days before shopping and packing back for SIN. Be safe, especially to those who are in the areas where Hurricane Irma is heading – thoughts are with all my friends in FL. Pix credits CNN: parts of the Caribbean island of St. Martin are left flooded after Irma hit.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/06/us/hurricane-irma-puerto-rico-florida/index.html

Rain, whose soft architectural hands have power to cut stones, and chisel to shapes of grandeur the very mountains –  Henry Ward Beecher

4 Sep 2017 – Happy Bday May

Fri: Selamat Hari Raya Haji to those celebrating and to all, enjoy the long weekend. TGIF with a feeling like the first day of Fall is here in OSL and safe journeys to Bjørn.

5mins walk to Ullevål Skole – built in 1926, downloaded B/Wpix on the right is from the 1930s. This neighbourhood’s elementary school is where #6 youngest grandchild, a 1stGrader now. Seems like yesterday when I took walks with him in a stroller or a baby-carrier!

A young enthusiastic teacher and a new principle for #6 to start school. Mette told me that the school was green inn colour 60yrs ago and that there were not so many bikes then and they had to take bike-tests. Only kids 12yrs&above who passed their tests were allowed to bike to school. Would not hurt to have those tests back…

Sat: busy day starting with dropping #6 off at AstrupFearnleyMuseum Children’s Art Club RASMUS with their monthly program where they explore different artworks – today is Chinese Summer.

A brief walk around some exhibits and lunched@VingenBar, NOK230 S$40 for duck salad&soda, no joke!

Lovely day to be strolling about AkerBrygge&Tjuvholmen; nice to see ppl taking advantage of the weather and the weekend.

Tjuvtittne The Sneak Peak – lookout tower (54m high) with a glass elevator and on a beautiful day like today, it is worth NOK20 S$3.50pp to have a view of the city, OSL fjord, boats and hills from a whole new angle.

Being part of #6 early bday present, he was as keen as I was to try this glass elevator 🙂

Sun: The American Lutheran Congregation is the largest English-speaking church in OSL. Sunday-school here so that #6 can have a dialog communicating in English as well as getting some American culture in a safe environment.

Despicable Me3***@Colosseum, another early bday present, NOK118 S$20/child and NOK148 S$25/adult+drinks and popcorn! – far from the cost of my senior movie ticket in SIN!! Visited Ellen at Nesøya who will be 93 next month, amazing lady who can still discuss about Ibsen’s plays with me.

Thus ends the visit of MooseEgil with #6 for this weekend and hopefully there will be plenty to tell at school tomorrow! MooseEgil is a 1stGrade class project where it gets to go home with a different student every Fri and the students share their activities with the class on Mon. Good idea and fun way to share.Good Indian-takeout dinner from Diamond Indian Cuisine***NOK485 S$85 for 2adults+1child. O likes mild curry.

Best wishes to an awesome XC season to #s1&2 (705-4), CoachHall and the whole IrmoHigh XC-Team – pix credits to Linn.

Happy Labour Weekend from Norway to all celebrating – fire up the grills, let the games begin (Go Gators), enjoy and be safe. Unusual clouds and sky over the ski-jump.

A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor – Victor Hugo

1 Sep 2017 – ByeBye Aug 2017

Mon: took off early to the airport hoping to take a peep in T4, but was told that it was not yet opened to the public! Oh well, another time. At T3, the reflection of the airport CrownPlazaHotel on to the opp building gives an interesting perspective of this image; the colours of SIN National Day displays are still on-going.

After 3airports – SIN, IST with 2+hrs layover, time goes faster admiring the sunrise, exploring the gift-shops and taking shots.

Tue: arr OSL on time after 14+hrs on 2planes, full plane all the way and despite of the delay of baggage arrival (1+hrs), was happy to reunite with family.

Discovered a crack in the suitcase just before checking-in, thus had to be shrink-wrapped in SIN (S$26). This is the suitcase that survived the CAE house-fire 4yrs ago.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/10/06/lost-for-words/

An afternoon at Skøyen gourmet-food shopping@Maschmanns. 

Checking out Sigdal, the kitchen designer specialist, have always been a fan of Scandinavian designs. Unusual chairs at some lobby to an office building@Keranslyst Allé 26, tkx to Ulrik for the exact location, he used to work there!

Wed: an absolutely beautiful day, one of those days feeling that I can walk the whole day. The garden’s blooms with flowers&fruits are such a delight.

Healthy and yummy shrimp salad@BakerHansen at UllevaalStadion. Walking pass Eventyrveien=Fairytale Rd, another favourtie road name besides Sorgenfrigata=Free of Sorrow Rd near M&B previous home. Like that they live near roads with these names. Should have a road name LaLaLane for me –  lol 🙂

Sogn hagekoloni is a garden colony (a British concept) just down the road. It has 204 cabins of different standard.

The size of the cabins varies, but the maximum size is 30m²+storage space of 2m². The size of the land is on average 300m² and are rented by the municipality of OSL, while the cabins are owned by the individual colonist. How charming, even a stabbur (building on Norwegian farm for storing food) birdhouse.

First time walking here and it is like walking into a secret garden – made my day. Passed by it a couple of times since M&B moved to this area; first time walking into the colony and was excited to see these tiny cabins with such amazing gardens. There is a block of students’ apt next to this colony and it will be a reason to go back to school here if I can get to live in one of those apts 🙂 

Ppl ask why I prefer to be Off the Beaten Path – this link is the answer. Have been to some of these touristy places in the 1960&70s and they were already crowded enough for me then, not to say now!! Above 2pix downloaded from below link.

http://www.architecturendesign.net/travel-expectations-vs-reality/

Sir David Tang, a larger-than-life Hong Kong-born entrepreneur, style guru and bon viveur, has died at the age of 63. Article written in 2016, he told Telegraph Travel his tips for travelling with style and grace. Interesting read and agree with him fully.

Condolences to his family&friends and may he RIP.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/sir-david-tang-tips-on-travel-etiquette/

Thu: safe journeys to May on this grey and wet day&evening. Appreciations to Ingrid&HansK for a delicious dinner@their lovely home, so good to catch up with them. She is such a wonderful cook and her apple cake topped with meringue served with ice-cream is out of this world.

4 Sep – Happy Bdays MayH & Vince

5 Sep – Happy 5th Bday Olai

8 Sep – Happy 70th Alfred

11 Sep – Happy Bdays Steven & MayY

15 Sep – Happy Bday Ting Ting

16 Sep – Happy Bdays Ivy & Edith

20 Sep – Happy Bday AmyR

21 Sep – Happy Bday Greg

23 Sep – Happy Bdays Joyce & Klaus

24 Sep – Happy Bday Yun

25 Sep – HappyBday Kat

30 Sep Happy Bday Mabel, DaisyL & Valerie

28 Aug 2017 – Lion Dancing

Sat: this is what I stumbled upon while trying to do some last minute shopping@Parkway before travelling. The opening of a new Harvey Norman Superstore – always excited to see Lion Dance, but those drums can be deafening, especially in a small enclosed area! Good to have them as such for once, getting my best shots of Lion Dancing, so far 🙂

Was planning for a dinner at the riverboat but as it turned out, the lovely breeze was a touch bit stronger and even though how pleasant, wanted to make sure that the dinner stayed in the stomach! First time@MarinaSouthPier MRT station, impressive with not a speck of dust, dirt, garbage, etc to be seen. An 80sqm mural SIN Tapestry by Prvachi celebrates life in SIN with its diversity, colours, and united in aspiration.

TanjongPagarCentre, also known as GuocoTower, a S$3.2 billion mixed-use development located in TanjongPagar. Tonight’s outdoor weather was just like being in 7thHeaven, no crowds and the beautiful breeze added to a perfect evening outside the JapaneseRailCafe (must try) with some some background live-music from some pubs+entertainment for the younger generation with Pokémon hunt!

Good dinner@IndoChili***tasty Indonesian cuisine but the staff could do with better service and training!

Coffee@MarmaladePantry (Oasia Hotel Downtown). This piece of meringue lemon cake looks interesting&tempting, but if I had it, it would be hell and not 7thHeaven; as it is at present, seems like the whole body is unhappy with me 🙁

Sun: a lovely evening walk with Clem (the only one of nieces and nephew who will walk these long walks) from EC Pk-Sports Hub, app 10k. Needed this walk before getting stuck in airplanes and airports. Cute kiddie’s mini circus tent by the sea! The sun was gone by the time we were nearer to Garden by the Bay (East). Wanted to check out this eatery when I was walking by the last time.

Tkx to Clem for dinner@Kontiki***decent grilled chicken salad Caesar Salad&Blooming Onion. He had the Fish&Chips.

Has been over a decade ago since I last crossed the TanjongRhu suspension pedestrian bridge! Do not usually take this route. By the time we got to the stadium, it was peaceful and quiet and that this how I like my walks. Crossing the overhead bridge to get the bus and got just before midnight.

Mon: a suitcase filled with gifts for May&#6 who will be celebrating their Bdays next week when I am there. Now that the packing is done, can start looking forward, safe journeys to me and all travelling. Watching the news to learn that those in China are celebrating Valentine’s Day today – Happy Valentine’s Day, Qixi Festival七夕節 celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology, pix downloaded.

Appreciations to Gel for dropping by to return a book. Tkx for good lunch company.

When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps – Confucius

25 Aug 2017 – Stay Healthy And Live Smart

Thu: to whoever who has passed on, RIP. The wake downstairs has been going on longer than normal. When the set-up was first noticed, a few days ago, thought it was a wedding judging from the table-clothes with glitters; on-going chanting got me to think otherwise. The lion-dance drumming got me to take these pix, wondering who the deceased was as this certainly is not the usual wakes I have witnessed!

Start right, stay healthy and live smart is SIN PM’s ND2017 Rally Speech. Strangely enough, have download this (Fri 28Jul STpix for KIV) and the other pix from lunch@The Peranakan, both befitting to his speech.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pm-lees-national-day-rally-speech-all-you-need-to-know-in-3-minutes

Appreciations to Calvin&staff@CC for hosting this interesting talk and slide show by QX on the El Capitan via The Nose climb at Yosemite National Park. USA. Not one who will ever scale the mts, not my cup of tea, but just fascinated and enjoying to hear about Qing Xin&Kelly’s (the awesome mt scaling couple) adventures.

A photo sharing session and personal account of the climb on The Nose on El Capitan. Arguably the most famous big wall route in the world which took Warren Harding 47days to put up over months. 6 years after Kelly and I climbed it, we have a 3rd Singaporean ascent on El Capitan via The Nose.  

Lien is my superior back in the Commando days and well known to a duper fit guy. Every man who served under him, raced with him or climbed with him would know he is larger than life. After summiting K2 and Everest, he found himself a new challenge in the vertical world, big wall climbing. 

Since in the area, took a short tour of the Night Festival (10thAnniversary).

Must have been out of my mind to think that I could be here over the weekend. Bad enough with the crowds and heat on a Thu night, so forget even being near here over the last weekend of this fest! Viewing the rest on the screen 🙂

http://www.asiaone.com/multimedia/gallery/what-see-singapore-night-festival-2017

Took refuge into the Vanguard Building (with AC) – the former MPH building on Stamford Road, now a location where the walls and floor are for scribbling ideas.

Off the beaten path of the Night Festival to capture some memories of first Fri masses during schooldays in the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and CHIJ Chapel.

Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart – Mahatma Gandhi.

Fri: TGIF and lots of prayers for today – a day to sort out things for the Norway trip.  Need to do some shopping (which is one of my least favourite things, thus procrastinating!). Packing (the other least favourite thing!!); am dreading all with a vengeance. Ughhh – thoughts of flying and airports (besides SIN airport) 🙁 Tomorrow is another day 🙂

The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays – Søren Kierkegaard.

23 Aug 2017 –  Typhoon Hato In HKG

Mon: welcome back to SIN Carmel; tkx to Ivy for lunch and to Carmel for goodies from Ireland and Ipoh. Good to be able to introduce one of my favourite Peranaka restaurants here in SIN to those who like Peranaka food.

Those who are lucky to be in the path of the total eclipse enjoy and make a wish for me.

Will be fast asleep, maybe can dream about it for 2mins 30secs here in SIN at 0243hrs when it passes over CAE at app 1443hrs EDT. Pix credits to Linn&friends.

Tue: needed the day to prepare contents&slides for the TEDxKeystoneAcademy 2017 presentation – Off The Beaten Path where the focus that AGE should not be an excuse and reason to not challenge oneself wisely from learning new things and living a full life.

Some of my own experiences with long distance hiking will be used.

Wed: first day of the school year for The FaBulous5 now in 10, 7, 5, 4, 1 Graders. Even #6 started first grade last week. This year all the MagniFicent6 are in school, no more pre or nursery kids.  Have to find other babies to cuddle as May has said that she is happy with just Olai! Pix credits to Linn.

Family&friends in HKG – plx take care and stay safe.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2017/08/23/typhoon-hato-approaches-hong-kong.html

Makerspace@XPC participating in a research agency in SIN that is fronting a project on housing concepts for retirees and seniors.

Another new hood for the first time – TaiSeng, an industrial estate occupied by Multinational Corporations. Lunched at the mall where there are more choices than expected.

The Arts House at The Old Parliament – Lee Fook Chee: Son of Singapore, Photographer of Hong Kong. (3Aug-3Sep) The 2015 launch of Lee Fook Chee’s Hong Kong. Dr Charles Yeung, founder of the GS Charity Foundation and book sponsor; to the left, Bernard Charnwut Chan, Foundation Patron; Helmuth Hennig, Foundation Chairman; and to the right, Edward Stokes, Foundation Founder and Publisher. Group pix credits to Ed.

 www.photo-heritage.com

www.edwardstokes.com

Light within Ink (18Aug-18Sep)- SIN photographer and art gallerist Chua SooBin presents more than 50 beautifully intimate portraits of late Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong shot between the mid-1980s to late 2000s.

https://amylamsg.com/2009/04/09/wu-guanzhong/

Being a fan of Wu Guanzhong, had planned to see this exhibition and read about Lee Fook Chee; thought it would be interesting as my maternal family is from HKG. Was talking to a nice gentleman who sat next to me on the bus last week. And as the turn of events, he is the Ed Stokes – small world!

Was thinking of popping into ACM, but as I got into the lobby, it was packed with a field-trip of noisy school-kids. Could not resist this beautiful batik set of 5-stones with a pouch at the museum-shop (S$10). Decided to skip the exhibits for this time round.

When time permits in this area, like to see what is new in the Fullerton Hotel. These fish are sleeping behind the pillar, a seldom time to be able to shoot a pix of them when they are still. A signage to not touch the fish is new!!

Their bakery displays have never disappointed me! Moon-cakes are out and the festival is not until mid-Oct! The set with 15flavours surrounding a big one with 6egg-yorks is a lovely gift idea. For myself, only like the original plain lotus without eggs which is too simple and ordinary to be sold here 🙂

Art for Autism

20 Aug 2017 – And Many Other Activities

Fri: TGIF and not a good start for the weekend where world news are concern. Thoughts and prayers to ppl affected at the Barcelona Terror Attack. A safe weekend to all and stay vigilant.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/aug/17/barcelona-attack-van-driven-into-crowd-in-las-ramblas-district

While re-arranging&tiding up the book shelf, Erich von Däniken’s Chariots of the Gods&Return of the Stars came to mind! 1968 UFreshman, idealist, naive, innocence, etc was intrigued with them. Bought and read the paper-bag publications then. 30yrs later, 1998 read them again, (not so idealist, etc), but still fascinated. Gel’s friends wanted to borrow them, but was unwilling to lend them out. Today (back to being idealist again without the chariots or stars!), but unable to locate them. Would like to read them again and wonder if the 1968 publications front covers were the same as the newer publications??

Tkx for good company – Bev, TingTing&CH. A lovely Fri evening at the Arab Street area in this colourful noisy ambiance, fun once in awhile!

Dinner@Box n Sticks****

Drinks@Blu Jaz – Bali Lane, this location is an interesting if you want a night out for live jazz. Glad that Rit’s flute has been recovered from the KL robbery, hope that it is in decent condition.

Congratulations to Bev’s RPstudents for their Sharella Project, such an excellent idea, especially with the recent downpours – hope that this can spread to more areas. Would leave some of my umbrellas if they had it in my hood.

http://m.todayonline.com/singapore/shared-umbrellas-student-initiative-full-dried-and-tested-ideas

10thAnniversarySINnightFestival 2017 –  starts tonight but too tired to go, some other time.

http://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/photos/bright-lights-big-city-0?xtor=CS1-10

Sat: TiongBahru combines two words Tiong 终=to die (verb) in the Hokkien dialect, and the Malay word Bahru=new, hence new cemetery. TiongBahru estate and the grounds of the SGH and a great deal of the land along TiongBahruRd all the way to LengKeeRd, was once part of a Chinese cemetery.

Sat: an educational&interesting TiongBahruHeritageTrail by the ITE College West students and Siow Hong (nice surprise, last time we met was over a decade ago@OSSEAfunctions). YipYewChong (TiongPohRoad/Eu ChinStreetBlock 74), you are part of the heritage! Bird Corner and Monkey God Temple.

Market&FoodCentre, 55TiongBahruRd is the first public housing programmes of the SIN Improvement Trust (the colonial predecessor to the HDB), 82TiongPohRd – where 2ppl were injured in a recent fire.

EngWattStreet,  SengPohGarden, LimLiakSt&MohGuanTerrace

http://www.nhb.gov.sg/~/media/nhb/files/places/trails/tiong%20bahru/tiongbahru.pdf?la=en

Art & Painting Group: LowThoSeng@TanjongPagarCC to see Philip’s painting (pix credit to Philip for his painting pix).

The 900-year-old ‘Nidarosdomens Guttekor’ (Nidaros Cathedral Men&Boys Choir) from Norway will be performing in SIN for the first time in OCT – such angelic pure voices, thrilled to get a preview of them@NationalGallery.

http://scandasia.com/events/nidarosdomens-guttekor-esplanade/

Walking across the Padang to catch the bus, managed to capture these. Preparations for some marathon is in full and will certainly not set foot near here tomorrow! Need to rest for a week after these activities the past 2days. Does living like there is no tomorrow means that I do not want to miss out or does it mean that the end is near???

Sun: appreciations to Henry for good lunch company and tkx to Jo for dinner.

17 Aug 2017 – Horizons Of Change

Mon: appreciations to Aileen for her help with copies for the application to a Senior Pass – The National Parks&Federal Recreational Lands in USA, hopefully the notarized copies from a lawyer is acceptable!

Tkx to Sue for the time@her office – will donate Norges Lover 1685-1981 to her for an additional to all the other law books in the conference room! Will certainly make an impression to non-speaking Norwegian clients and to surprise Norwegian clients 🙂

The Marmalade Pantry****(Oasia Hotel Downtown). Yummy Truffles Fries and tasty Minute-Steak Sandwich.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) 市区重建局, the national urban planning authority of SIN where I like to visit whenever in the area and when time permits – highly recommended. Enjoy the regular updates and info of my birth island-city&country. Today there is a new painting at the lobby, Horizons of Change by ChanKerk Tay.

The model of the whole SIN island is so thoroughly well-done that in spite of my aging eye-sight, can still find&see where my accommodations can be located!

See The Big Picture by Stephen Wiltshire is located here on Level2

To the library@Esplanade to collect the reserved MeePokMan DVD and to Spotlight@PlazaSIN to get some sewing accessories. Indeed a very busy&productive Mon!

Tue: grocery shopping around dinner time for reduced items+3%discount can be a decent saving. Also not so crowded and foods like roast-chicken, prawns, pork&salmon are reduced. All that including washing detergent at Giant/Parkway under S$50 with PassionCard points added.

Wed: tkx to Pat for T@Tanglin Club. Nice to catch up with Cecelia who lives half the year in Aus.

Movie The Big Sick****based on the real-life courtship between Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail and Emily, a grad student. What they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life of Kumail whose parents are traditional Muslim.

Thu: so sad to hear about these devastating floods in Sierra Leone (Kitty is safely away at present). Nepal (Deepak, where are you?). Thoughts&prayers are with the ppl affected.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/floods-kill-300-fears-rise-600-missing-170816060837531.html

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/aug/16/floods-and-devastation-in-india-nepal-and-bangladesh-in-pictures

Lunched@Crossings Cafe – tkx to KK. Appreciations to cousin Karen for her delicious home-made Kuching Laksa – pix credits of me to her.

Yummy bread from Asanoya****in good company with lovely cool, wet&rainy weathers.