Canton Paradise AMK

Canton Paradise give 20% discount for birthday month.  Since it is the last day of May, we go there for dim sum lunch.  The meal is fairly expensive.  About $25 per head.  We also get hungry very quickly as dim sums do not stay in the stomach for long!  I like the crispy bbq pork buns and the char siew pastry.  The crispy fish skin is not bad when eaten with congee.  The sharkfin dumpling soup is ok, I feel Imperial Treasure's tasted better.  Also the fried cheong is not as good as Imperial Treasure. 

Canton Paradise is a good place for meal nearby when there is not time to travel to Takashimaya.  I miss the Tian Xiao Er as they served my favorite roast duck.

Big Sister's Bad Knee

My eldest sister came by last night to pick up something mum sent back to her.  She was struggling to get up the stair.  Her right knee is painful.  I feel sorry that she is not in the complete physical shape.  My wife think it may be the spine as it is possible that an adjustment can reduce the pain.  She had this experience before.  Anyway, I just called my sister and she has no interest in trying out a chiropractor.  So that's that.  No point trying to convince her as she had an injection that solved her problem before.  What she does not realise is the injection masked her symptons and did not cure her knee problem.  Chiropractor may not solve her problem either but it is good to eliminate this as a possibility.

Nanyang Poly's Graduation

Today is Graduation Day for Nanyang Poly.  B2 is the Master of Ceremony as he belongs to the MC Club.  He is quite happy with his performance.  He was nervous at one point as the whole auditorium goes dark and the spotlight is on him and the rostrum.  His friends all said he did ok.  I am glad he does well in public speaking even though it is all scripted.

Although he had dinner, he is still hungry and ate up the snacks I bought for him including two egg tarts, yam ball, big bao, banana and cut mango.  He is a growing boy and needs lot of food to keep him going.  I am glad that I have food for him.  Men and boys are always hungry.

Anderson Secondary School

It is Anderson Secondary Open House.  We drop by for a quick visit.  The cutoff point is 245.  It is not bad but B3 did not like this school as one of his classmate may be going to this school.  He is quite sold by Dunman Secondary School presentation.  The school is very small but the kids seems fine.  The councillor who took us is quite bright and articulate.  She is a Sec 3 Malay girl and is reading 8 subjects for "O" level.

Anderson Secondary is near our home.  So it is an option.  However, we do hope B3 will do better and go to a better school.  It is quite tough but he has improved his standing.  Most importantly, his Chinese has improved.  The Chinese marks improvement help in his overall score and now his total result is better than his best friend.  He always behind the best friend.  Hopefully, he continue his trend of improvements.  It is tough going as the PSLE will be in a couple of months.

Otters at Puggol PCN

I was cycling at the PCN as usual and was surprise to see a group of animals in the water.  I get closer and manage to capture videos of them.

Sunday at Fu Lu Shou

This morning we go to Fu Lu Shou for meal.  It is more like brunch.  B2 and B3 ate the nasi lemak stall.  B3 loved the easy to eat but totally unhealthy set.  The set contains egg, hot dog and deep fried cuttlefish.  B2 is not better either.  His set contains french fries, chicken nuggets and egg.  I had the famous Indian rojak.  Somehow the rojak does not taste as good as the main store.  I have to go back to the main store to eat it again.

Mummy is at Wan Lin for her therapeutic massage.  So we kill time in Sim Lim Tower and Sim Lim Square.  There are so many gadgets and many cheap tablets on display.  I like to get a radio again for my bike.  The digital radio cost $28 and I am still thinking about it.  I worry that it dropped out when I hit bumpy areas and break again. 

Queens Street is always busy on the weekend.  The temple is also full of devotees.  Everywhere we go, it is crowded.  The population is in Singapore is too high.

Giving Lift

This morning, I went to Beste in Tagore Lane to collect my repaired water floss.  The pump was damaged after not used for a few months.  The toothbrush battery is also dead but irreparable.  I have to "trade-in". Total cost of repair and replacement is $138 plus $10 inspection fee.  This is half the price of a new set which cost $299.

On the way back, another lady who bought the part for a blender asked if I drive.  When I affirmed her question, she asked if I could give her a lift out to the main road.  I asked where she is going and she say to the nearest MRT station.  It is only my way anyway, so I gave her a longer ride.  We chat on our kids.  She has only one son who is 28 and studying in UK.  Her son did not do well academically in school when he was young.  He was bullied by Malays in St Patrick.  The army stint changed him.  Today, he has first class honours in IT and now going for Masters.  His mum is so happy and proud now. 

This lady speaks very well with trace of British accent.  She works for BG or British Gas.  It is all about natural gas now.  I noticed right away how well she speaks.  She noticed about me too.  She says you speak well.  Do you do your own business?  I replied that I am working for an American company.  It is interesting as my Singlish accent is quite strong.  I noticed we both speak in complete sentences without any local words. 

This is a chance encounter.  I happened to go back to the counter after reaching ground floor.  I noticed $10 inspection fee is supposed to be deducted but was not reflected.  I went back to check and found that service fee is supposed to be $15 and I was charged $5 instead.  So it is fine.  Because I walked back to the service counter, I gave this nice lady a ride to the MRT station.  Life is sometime a series of small encounter like this.

Anniversary of Buddha's Enlightenment

Today is the day of Buddha's Enlightenment.  Full moon tonight.  We went to the Queens Street Goddess of Mercy Temple.  It is so crowded.  Throngs for people go to offer their prayers.  Actually, it was B3 who asked are we going to pray before we do our outing last night.  So coming to the temple is our first priority and thing to do.  Judging from the crowd, it is all other Buddhists' first call of the day too!

I like Buddhism.  We just go to the temple to offer our prayers and get our blessings.  This time B2 and B3 donated on their own.  I am happy to donate too.  It is more blessed to give!   After prayers, we have brunch in Food Junction at Bugis Mall.  Then mummy was intrigued by the BHG members only day.  I was tired of buying more stuff and increasing my carbon footprint.  So I go the the coffee shop beside the temple to drink my teh-C.  The vegetarian stall had a huge queue.  Many patrons come and go on the tables beside us(B3 decided to follow me).  I noticed mostly mature women and some young women all eating alone.  There are men who ate veg too but they are far fewer than women folks.  The men are more mature aka 50+.

I am glad to make a trip just to pray even though we go to Bugis every Saturday for B2 and B3's tuition.  Goddess of Mercy has steadfastly help us to go through thick and thin. 

Giant Chicken on Sale!

Cold Storage in Compass Point has Honey Roast Giant Chicken for sale.  Usual price is $22 and for today and next two days, it will be $9.99.  I bought one to try.  It is not bad.  The chicken tastes like the regular smaller oven baked Chicken from Cold Storage.  The chicken is so big that we ate only half the chicken for dinner.  We did not have any carbo either. 

We find Cold Storage oven baked chicken tastes better than Fairprice's.  Price is also higher.  So we always wait for sale before buying.  The other favorites are bbq ribs and smoked duck breasts.  They are convenient and easy.  We just keep them in the fridge and pop them in the toaster oven before eating.  While it is more expensive than cooking, it is less expensive than eating out.  Good compromise for me and my boys who love meats.

Winning

Jack Welch read the book himself.  The book is on leadership Jack Welch style.  I skipped a few chapters as many sounds like Motherhood and Apple Pie.  I listened to the last few audio tracks.  He has a questions and answers.  The final question is interesting.  Will he go to heaven?  He says he was stunned by the question and after a few moments say that is long range planning.  The question refused to let go.  It is about his legacy.  Jack replied it is too arrogant to think of his legacy as he is just a business executive.  His final answer is he hope not so soon as he much work to do and much life to enjoy...

Nothing to Write

I have been struggling with this blank page for a while racking my head on what to write.  I took the MRT train today.  This is unusual for me as I usually drive.  The MRT ride is always interesting to see all the strangers and have a transient meeting with them.  They come and they go.  I come, observe and I go.  The cellphones are ubiquitous.  However, I also saw a woman with a headset but connect to a FM radio.  Old tech still hanging on!

Dry and Hot

It is very dry and hot the last two days.  No heavy rains which will cause the earthworms to come out of the soil.  So no luck in catching them to feed my fishes.  I have put some in my compost bin.  I hope they will survive and thrive. 

With the heatwave, it is nice to have a pool to cool down.  Our communal pool is getting popular.  I wonder how long the heat will continue.  Global warming is getting more and more real.  There are many who still do not believe.  It is also hard to change our lifestyle to be more green.  So I guess we will all face the consequent of our blatant disregard for our Mother Earth.

Slanted Commentaries by Sunday Times?

I am aching all over after therapeutic massage for my fall.  Left shoulder is sore and tight and low back is strained.  So no cycling for today.  It is hot, so I relaxes at the poolside and read the papers.  The Straits and Sunday Times is getting more and more difficult to enjoy.  The contents are no longer interesting.  I think the leadership is not doing a good job of maintaining the standard of the papers.  I did not even bother to read in details the editorials by both the Chief Editor and Managing Editor on the Town Council issue with PAP and WP.

Han Fook something, the managing editor wrote that one blogger put this debate as PAP - 1 and WP - 0.  I am reading a lot on the internet the Town Council and granted there is no way I can read every blogs or comments.  I do not get the impression that the blogsphere put PAP as winning this debate.  Somehow this Han guy managed to put a white rabbit out of the hat.

Sunday Times is like a propaganda machine.  I lose interest in reading further.  I was expecting intelligent and balanced discourse.  Instead it is like reading political party's newspaper.  So sad.  Does the managing editor panda to the interest of his political master?  After all, it is always a minister or ex-minister who is the chairman of SPH.  It is also insulting the intelligence of the readers.  Does the managing editor thinks that Sunday Times readers do not read blogs or cannot think or see for themselves.  I think this is rather pathetic.  So pathetic that it is sad. 

An Evening with B2 and B3

We do not usually go out in the evenings.  Tonight, we have to go to Isetan to check if the glasses The Wife lost has been found in the Lost and Found Dept.  No luck!  So we just wander about.  We had some expensive Japanese snacks - tako balls and egg pancake at thd Japanese food fair in the supermarket.  B2 was still hungry, so we bought sausage at half price as it is almost closing time in Cold Storage.  He remarked that luckily we bought it at half price.  He does not think the sausage is value for money at full price.  This says a lot of the taste and quality of the sausage as B2 is very easy on his food.

Mummy was disappointed not to be able to recover her glasses.  So she needed an ice-cream.  We go to McDonald for the ice-cream fix.  We also try the peri-chicken burger.  It is was salty but taste not bad.  I will not eat it again now that I have tried this new flavor.  We leave Orchard at 10pm. Heavy traffic at CTE.  Most people are just returning home. 

More Baldacci

Waking up early in the morning I listen to The Hour Game.  It is very interesting and even use the internet as example.  Out of curiosity, I tried the same internet search.  I did not get a long list of results like the book says.  However, Teet and Crime did bring out a medical pathologist who murders and even examined and write report on the his victime like the story says.  It is a good story.

Earthworms Galore!

It was raining this morning.  I think the baby eels are out along the PCN.  So I can catch some as food for my arowana.  I cycle to the spot and pass an earthworm along the way but no eels!  Disappointed I thought I will just go back to pick up the earthworm I saw along the way.  I saw it and pick it up.  Then I saw several more along the edge where the grass meet the paved walkway.  I pick them up by hand.  Then I saw there are actually quite a few earthworms out.  I think it is the water that flooded the soil forcing them out in the open.  I am happy to catch so many worms and put most of them in the compost bin.

I gave a few to the arowana and small ones for the goldfishes.  The worms went fast!  The fishes loved the protein.

Niagara Falls

B1 is going to Niagara Falls today.  He will stay over for one night.  He know how to make sure he get to know the place well.  When we lived there, we did not spend any night over.  Just drive there and back.  Mummy says this is the right way to travel and not stingy like me!  I am glad my boy knows how to make full use of his trip there.  I hope he have wonderful memories and fall in love with his birthplace in Toronto.

Thrillers

It is very interesting to listen to audio thrillers.  I just finished The Collectors.  Of course the good guys win even though the bad guys did catch the good guys and even the protagonist.  However, the protagonist would be release even though he went through the "waterboarding" torture and tell all that he knows.  Anyway, the good always triumph over evil.  So I like David Baldacci.  The formula is always the same.  The good guy is an ex-CIA who is an extremely well trained and skilled killer turned good.  So many bad guys and they are all well trained and yet have to die in the hands of the good guy.

The story is gripping and I enjoys every min of it.

Hot Hot Hot!

It is so hot today and we are only in May.  Temperature will continue to rise till August.  We will be burning next few months.  My refrigerator ice making machine is not making ice fast enough as my boys and I consume lots of ice.

Luckily, I have a pool to cool down.  Even then I wish I lived beside a mall where I can go for aircond comfort in a low price cafe.  The price of the tea will be worth the cool environment.   I am envious of B1 as he is in a cool Toronto.  In fact it is so cold that he has to stay indoor in the library rather than spending more time at the zoo.

I am also listening to The Collectors by David Baldacci.  It is quite interesting.  I love this story teller.  He makes it sound like America is fill with spys and trained killers.

Mother's Day

It is just a lazy day.  Mother-in-law did not have any program.  So it is just our nuclear family.  We are missing B1 as he is in Canada right now with Grandma.  He called to say he is going to Toronto Zoo.  I have not been to the Toronto Zoo before but knows that it is in Scarborough.  He has bought a pass that allow entries to several of the tourist attractions.  So he is going there by bus.

So together with B2, B3 we have lunch cum dinner at Nan Bei Xiao Zhi.  We had dim sum.  There are still a lot of customers eating but seats for half the resturant are available.  We like Nan Bei or Imperial Treasure at the dim sum is good.  Actually, it is comparable to the one star Michelin in Plaza Singapura.  No need to queue for two or three hours.

After our meal(do not know how to classify as we ate at about 3:30 pm and finished at 5pm), we do mall crawling as it is a lot cooler inside than outside.  Yes, no wonder we are aircond nation.   We use energy to cause the climate to be warmer to keep ourselves cooler.

It is a good day.

To All Mothers

I like to wish all mothers...Happy Mother's Day.  Mothers are the greatest.  B1 is with Grandma and she is happy to have him visiting.

David Baldacci Stories

I borrow more stories by David Baldacci.  I managed to download the first book Wish You Well and was listening to it when I pick up B2 from school.  He had an overnight camp last night and is very tired that he requested I pick him up.  When we reached home, he says what a said story.  We are just at the first few chapters.  It is about a writer and his family.  He is quarrelling with his wife and then during driving he avoid a careless and the car went out of control killing him and his wife becomes a paraplegic with severe head injuries.  It seem like a sad of story injustice, unfairness of life.  However, I will need to finish the book to see.  The author says it is about betrayal, justice and like a life in US.

Relaxed Evening

We have been working hard.  Both at work and at home.  Without a domestic help, we have to do all the chores ourselves.  Our boys are helping out but majority is still done by mum as she holds higher standards and also do all the laundry.  This evening, we decided to take time off and go wandering about the mall and do window shopping, our favorite pastime.  We looked at pots and pans, actually stainless steel woks and not really we.  However, I did look at containers for sugar as she did not allow me to put my dememera sugar into "her" sugar container.  I like brown sugar as it is healthier.  However, calories unfortunately are still the same and therefore do not help in weight loss. 

I also spend some time in Kinokuniya.  I read Stone Cold by Baldacci.  Although I heard the audiobook in full, it is nice to read it in print.  Tomorrow, I shall see if I can borrow more books.  We finished the evening with dinner at the Imperial Teochew Resturant.  This food is quite good.

This morning I fell again as I was so engrossed in listening to the book and trying to wave hi to my neighbour.  I need to be more careful.

Big Cobra at the PCN

I saw a big cobra on the PCN when I cycle this evening.  It is about 6:30pm and the sky was getting dark due to the rain.  I just cycled past the Punggol Point toward the Punggol Seafood.  The lamp position was 266.  I decided to call my friend from NParks to let her know.  I called and she pick up this time.  I sent her pictures of the location.  The cobra is the big about 6 to 7 feet long and quite thick in the body.  As I cycle past, it hurried into a hole in the grass.  This cobra can kill as it is so big.  It is puzzling how the cobra can attain such big size.  There must be enough wildlife for it to grow so big.

B1 Going to Toronto

My big baby is going to Toronto by himself.  He is a little anxious.  He has only travelled with us or tour Taiwan with his girlfriend.  He is still going with his girlfriend but still thinking about the 6 weeks that he will be by himself and grandma.  Grandma is all excited and looking forward to receive him. 

He travelled to many countries since young.  The army stint makes him more mature and confident.    However, he has not independently travelled anywhere.  So it will be part of the growing up process.  For the first time, he is alone to figure out what to do in his birthplace.  Although we visited Toronto a couple of times in the last 12 years, he does not know the system, the way of life there.  Rather he has forgotten his growing up days in Canada. 

Anyway, with grandma there, there shouldn't be any issue as there will be someone to lean on and ask and clarify any question or issue that arises.  As a father, I think it is time for him to learn independence and taking charge of himself.

Awning Installed

Finally we have a new awning.  It is installed today.  The workers also help us install a stainless steel bar to hold mummy's bloom, mop and swiffer.  They also help us install a brush lining at the bottom of our kitchen door to keep out cocroaches.  The workers are very nice.  I offered coffee and cookies for them as well earlier for coffee break.  So it is win-win. 

The sky opens after the awning was installed.  So it helps me to wash up the backyard as there were plenty of debris and concrete dust.  The downpour was intense.  The canal was filled to the brink almost flowing out to the grass patch and the road leading to my house flood to the pedestrian walkway's height i.e. 8"

I wonder if the reservoir is unable to release water fast enough with strong and almost violent influx of rainwater.

B1 Passed his Driving Test

B1 was all excited last night.  He needs to sleep early so that he can be rested and be at a good form for his driving test.  He is very happy to pass his driving test.  This is his second time.  He drives the whole family out to the aquarium so that we can buy baby food for our baby mollies.  We are all tense when he is driving.  He did well.  We are also happy to see if we can bring up our babies.  Unfortunately, one of the baby fish died.  Anyway, we will see how they go with proper baby food.

Baby Mollies

We have been keeping black mollies for a few months now.  We were very excited when we had baby mollies in a few days they arrived.  We thought mollies are plant eaters and did not separate the babies from the adults.  What a mistake!  Over time all the baby mollies disappeared!  This time we are separating the babies from the adults and hopefully, they will grow to spawn the next generation.  After giving birth to live babies, the mother dies.  So if the baby fishes are eaten up, then we have to keep buying new mollies to replenish our tank.

This time I am keeping the babies in a different tank and will watch their growth progress.  It is nice to have fishes that reproduces in our home.

Raw Fish Dinner

We treated my sister-in-law's family to a raw fish dinner.  They chose their favorite raw fish resturant in Liang Court.  The resturant is quite popular.  A lot of Japanese and locals enjoying the sushi.  The plates are $1.80 to $6.80.  The price of the food are in the multiple of the plates.  We ate 50 to 60 plates.  I had the tamago (egg) and innari (sweet bean curd) sushi.  I also had the grilled cuttlefish and tempura.  I did not eat much as fish is something I do not like. 

After dinner, we had coffee in the cafe at ground floor and then bought some meat from Meida to make Yoshinoya type meal which my boys like.  It is a good evening.

Hillman Resturant - Kitchener Road

We were running through all our options for brunch.  Beef noodles in AMK Ave 6, Modesto's for pizza and seafood linguine, Tony Romas for ribs or What A Crack, Skinny Pizza.  As we drive down CTE towards Orchard, I thought of Owen Road Zi Char.  I thought it is not bad as I do like the Pork Rib King.  However, mummy says if you like pork rib, then go to the best which is Hillman.  Since we have not past the Balestier exit, we go to Hillman instead.

We reach the resturant at 11:25am.  It opens at 11:30am but not ready yet as the staff have not eaten their lunch.  However, a few Japanese guests are already inside waiting.  So we go in to wait as well.  As we eat, more Japanese customers come in.  It is so popular with Japanese.  They all ordered the paper chicken.  No one order the Pai Kut Wang like us.  The Japanese loved the fried rice and kangkong with belachan.

We had a good lunch.

Saturday - Housekeeping Day

It is housekeeping day today.  Actually every Saturday.  The Wife do away with the maid.  Now we have to maintain the house ourselves.  This afternoon, it was clearing up the roof garden.  She cut the grass and I rake it.  The potted starfruit tree has an ant's nest.  She sprayed insecticide and pour vinegar solution into the soil.  The ants were all killed I think.  I keep pouring water in to dilute the poison.  Hopefully, my starfruit did not get too stress by this.  There are flowers on the tree.  So I am hoping there will be fruits soon.  Now, it is touch and go.

I have to go and clean the toilet now.  Will continue blogging later...

Arowana

Finally, I kept an Arowana for a long time.  It has grown big.  It eats bread.  It also eats a lot of live fishes.  Because it ate goldfishes and red fishes, it colour has change to red instead of silver.  It is quite fast and always snaps at the food I throw to the pond.  A little scary when I try to pick dead leaves from the netting on top, it actually make sudden move towards my fingers.  My father-in-law knows of friend who was very proud of his prized arowana.  One day his three or four years old son put his hand on top of the tank and it bit off one of his fingers.  The father was so upset that he took his prized arowana to the top of the HDB flat and threw it down.  The son's finger cannot be attached back.

I had tried to keep a few arowanas before.  They all jumped out of the pool and died.  Luckily, they are not the expensive type.  Still, it is $38 a fish.  My current arowana has probably eaten more than $38 worth of small fishes.

Last Minute

B3's Electronic Chinese Dictionary is not working.  He is desperate.  He only found out tonight and his exam is tomorrow.  He was using What's App to check with his friends.  Finally, mummy says go and get him a new dictionary.  We go to Popular right away.  Guess what?  The approved Besta model is out of stock!  We were told to go to the cashier to check if there are other models.  While waiting, we noticed a mother and daughter was serve by a staff with the Creative model.  Obviously, there is another person needing a electronic dictionary at the last minute.   The price is $38 and it took B3 less than 20 secs to say buy.  He is happy to have to model he always used.  Anyway, the exam is tomorrow and without the dictionary he will be challenged to the nth degree. 

May Day at Hong Lim

We have to eat out for dinner.  So I decided to kaypoh and go to Chinatown for dinner.  It is 5:45pm when we go past Hong Lim Park.  It looked quite crowded.  I have to find a place to park and decided to go to the Maxwell Road Hawker Center as there is a car park right beside it.  We had fish beehoon soup, Chinese fritters which is similar to Penang Lok Bak and Fuzhou Oyster Cake.  My boys also like the Sweet Potato fritters which we had for dessert.

After dinner, we walk to Hong Lim Park.  The crowd is quite enthusiatic.  Olivia was speaking when we arrived.  She is a single mum and talk passionately about Singapore for Singaporeans.  After her speech, it was Tan Jee Say.  He talked about gratitude and not servitude.  We heard him for a while and then went off.  We supported the movement by our presence.

Review of Miele S8530 vs S5711

The Wife told me it 45 mins per week for the vacuum cleaner to last 20 years.  She is vacuuming 45 mins a day.  So life span is 20 divide by 7 is 3 years.    The model she bought is S8530 comparing to S5711.  S8530 is 600g lighter than S5711.  It also has an auto function.  She finds the auto function not so useful as it will take a few seconds for the vacuum cleaner to adjust the suction.  Manual adjustment is preferable as you can determine the suction power yourself as you vacuum.

The S5711 is at $499 now in Harvey Norman.  The model will no longer be available once Harvey Norman sold out its inventory.  There is a HEPA filter, so no dust blown out of the exhaust.  The key accessories are inside a compartment in the vacuum.  So it is quite convenient and you will not lose the pieces unlike our Philips model.

Overall her satisfaction level is 4 out of 5 stars.