$5 Adams Nasi Lemak

This morning, B1 has an exams in school and we offered to send him to Bukit Timah campus.  It was like an hour before the exams start time but his classmates were there.  Several other parents dropped their kids as well. 

Since Adams Road hawker center is nearby, we go there for breakfast and to read the newspapers.  We have our nasi lemak from our favorite stall No. 1.  I ordered the Adam's Special which is $5 per plate.  This is the only set with mutton.  This is the most expensive set.  I realised it is half the price in a resturant.  But since we do not go there often, I always go for this set as it has chicken wing, achar, ikan bilis, peanuts and fried egg.   I also have my favorite beverage - teh halia from my favorite stall in the corner. 

Since I shared the nasi lemak with my wife, I was still feeling hungry and I tried the mutton soup with tripe and gizzards.  The soup is even more expensive at $6!  The gizzard is tough.  The soup is tasty and a little sweet.  The mutton is fine but the tripe is too fatty.

I love to eat even when I am full.  This Live to Eat lifestyle is killing me slowly...

Frying Pan

This is the last week for the WMF pots and pans at special price in Fairprice using accumulated points.  I collected 20points and go to the AMK Hub to buy 24cm frying pan.  There are a couple of aunties there choosing their pots.  And like fellow travellers, they are very helpful and I managed to get one with no visible scratches.  I love to cook using non-stick.  It is easy with eggs as well as roti prata.  A little oil helps.  So my cooking is healthy but not so tasty with less oil.  I am happy to get a branded pan for twenty bucks.

Thanksgiving Holiday

It is Thanksgiving in US now.  My headoffice is closed as everyone goes back to their hometown to be with their families.  It is like our Chinese New Year reunion dinners.  So the West has similar traditions.  Family is a universal value.  The kids grew up and flew the coop but returns annually to have 3 generations togetherness.  We are using up a lot of carbon but family value is critical for the survival of our human race. 

We are lucky that we have a tradition of having dinners as a family.  Then there is rule that we cannot quarrel or use the phone or watch tv.  So it is conversation.  Pure simple old fashion talking to each other.  It is wonderful to share stories and events for the day.

Rain Pattern

I noticed the rain pattern is different from previous years.  It is our rainy season but we do not get rain everyday or rain all day long anymore.  We get heavy shower or downpour for a couple of hours then it stops.  I wonder if the change is permanent.  I feel like it is a real change in season when it rained daily.  Now it is like any other time.  So we lost our rainy season.

B1's Birthday

Today is B1's birthday.  So it is Mango Cake time!!  We went to Compass Point as B3 is very keen to get free kisses from Kiss 92 FM.  80 boxes of kisses given free at Watson at 6 pm.  We were there at 5:30pm, so he queued while we buy the cake from Prima Deli.  B1 is 21 today and he has to study for his exams this Saturday.  He is so stressed and working all day long.  Seems like Law is not easy course to read.

Heaving a Sigh of Relief!

Mum has send in the selection.  We have decided on Chinese Gentleman for first and second choice - Integrated Program and "O" level Program.  3rd and 4th choice is English Gentleman i.e. International Baccalaurate and "O" level.  Final two choices are the neighbourhood "good" school.  With the submission of our choices, I am relief.  It is a harrowing challenge to make so many choices and trying to predict the best outcomes for the results B3 had.  Many parents in the KiasuParents.com are not happy with their kids results even though some of them are in my mind fabulous.  Parents are not satisfied.  Singapore is a hugely competitive and driven society. 

The PAP government drives Singaporeans relentlessly.  The speeches and talks say one thing but the policies are designed to make sure it is the survival of the fittest.  One example is "Teach Less Learn More".  So syllabus is cut by 30% but examinations still test you on the 30% not taught.  So the teaching is transferred to tuition centers and tuition teachers.  The scholarships by PSC is another example.  The students are all top scorers in exams.  They are put on pedestals so the message to the rest of the parents and students is you are a loser when you did not score "A"s consistently throughout your academic career.

Choosing School

It is very challenging to choose secondary school.  Everyone has a dream school and dream remains as dreams.  So it is more realistic choice but still many unknowns.  However with the same points will choose the school we chose.  What is the chance?  How can we assure we get in?  Who are our competitors?  How many competitors are there?  Which school is better fit?  One that makes a
"Chinese Gentleman" or one that makes "English-like Gentleman".  One school that produces scholars but timid in character or the other school who has no scholars listed but has a President.  Strict or easy going.

Aiyah, both my wife and I are getting exhausted in determining which school to choose.  After submitting our choice, we will be gnashing our teeth for the next four weeks until the results are send via sms.  Then if we did not get our choice, we will need to appeal.  What a nightmare for parents and students.  This is bringing up kids in Singapore. 

Lunch Party

My sister-in-law invited my family to a lunch party with plenty of prizes.  Unfortunately, we did not get any good prize.  However, everyone leave with a small prize.  So the party has a feel good factor.  The compere or host was good.  He is entertaining and funny.  Although some of the jokes borders crude.  He is good at dancing and imitating different accents - British, Philippino, Indian and Malay.  Pretty awesome actually.  He is actually quite skilled in Malay and Chinese.  Overall, I would rate him high.

The standard of food is pretty good since it is Mandarin Hotel, famous for Chicken Rice.  Laksa was not bad and dessert is tao suan, glass jelly and assorted cakes. 

After the party, we adjorned to Bras Basah Complex as B1 needed a law workbook from Popular.  Since it is quite late, we decides to eat out at Chin Chin for dinner.  We had a good family day.  All 3 boys are with us all day today.

Mad Rush to Visit Schools

It is a mad rush to visit Secondary Schools with open house.  We went to Catholic High and Victoria School.   SJI is not open today.  Sigh!  Why is it so challenging and tiring for choosing the school.  The PSLE results is supposed to help but the Principal will tell you the cutoff points depends on demand.  As parents, we do not know how other parents will choose and how many kids in the same points as our kid.  So many unknown and they do not know how the computer system or algorithm work in the decision tree for posting.  So it is a stab in the dark.  Hence stress for us as parents.

Post PSLE Activities

Now that our high anxiety state is over, we are looking at Secondary School.  It is really challenging that we have 3 days to pick Secondary Schools.  And we have to have 6 choices.  Anyway, mummy is talking to other mums to get more information and share opinions.  I am more disinterested and calm.  I am of the opinion that what will be will be.

Today, we went to St. Joseph at Malcom Road.  The program looks interesting especially the IB which emphasize on thinking skills.  Tomorrow is Catholic High.  Then it is decision time.

D Day!

It is D Day tomorrow!!!  B3 is getting his PSLE results.  Our last baby and our last hope for the best secondary school.  What will be will be.  So all we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.  Many parents will be in high anxiety state tonight. 

I am feeling sleepy and tired.  Will go to bed early and be ready for excitement tomorrow...

Fishing at Punggol Jetty

B3 tried fishing again.  This time at Punggol Jetty.  We saw a guy who set up two lines using a small fish which he wrapped completely with a string.  Beside the bait fish is a foot long fishnet.  I was wondering what he was catching.  When he caught a crab that I realised why the fish is completely wrapped.  It is there just to attract the crab and not to be eaten.  The crab was trapped on the net and could not get out even when he reeled in the line.  Meanwhile we have no luck using artificial lure and chicken hotdog.  We had fun even though we did not catch anything.

It is so easy to just cycle to Punggol Point for fishing.  We just need to learn how to fish properly.

Arab Street

Going to Arab Street is like visiting another world.  Lebanese and Middle East resturants seem exotic.  I ordered Arabian Black Tea and found it is actually Earl Grey tea.  The food is atypical of Singaporean food.  Indian food is popular as they are served in Kopitiam style rather than resturant and therefore priced a lot lower.

Before lunch, we went to Beach Road to get more hooks and artificial lures to fish.  We tried fishing at the Punggol beach but no luck.  It is not easy to fish with artificial lures.  B3 is tired after the fishing expedition.

B3 tries Fishing

B3 is keen to do fishing out of the blue.  He insisted on trying it out with bread as baits.  We went to the spot behind Seletar Spring Condo but no luck.  It was difficult as the rubbish catcher caught the hook.  So we cycle to the opposite bank to try.  Still no bite.  It may be the baits.  Seems like the fishes there are no interested in eating bread.  We may have to try using other baits like prawns or earthworms. 

Bo Bo Cha Cha

Bo bo cha cha is a local dessert.  Boiled yam and sweet potatoes in a milky sweet coconut broth.  I bought the roots in Yishun on Thursday.  The yam was rotting.  So we have to cook them.  Steamed the cubed yams and sweet potatoes for 15 mins.  In the pot, boil water with pandan leaves.  Add rock sugar.  When water is boiling turn heat to low and put in the steamed roots.  Add coconut milk.

We get large pack of fresh coconut milk and screwpine aka pandan leaves from Fairprice.  My wife cooks up the bobo chacha and it is really good!  I have to admit I have a sweet tooth.  The yam and sweet potatoes have to be soft yet not mushy.  Coconut milk has to be at the right concentration so that it is rich but now overwhelming.  We used rock sugar instead of refined white sugar for sweetener. 

I had 4 bowls today.  At $1.50 per bowl in Lucky Plaza, it is almost the cost of the ingredient.  So nice and wonderful.  I enjoys it hot and love it cold.  It is a versatile dessert.

Meeting a Friend from Malaysia

My friend called this morning that he is here in Singapore and like to meet up.  So I had tea with him in Mr. Prata on Evans Road.  The prata is so-so.  Teh halia is not bad.  We talk about business and investments.  He is a successful businessman with many properties in Malaysia and Singapore.  He want to invest in a property in Singapore as his properties here will be mortgage free by next year.  He has plenty of dividend stocks.  He collects more than $3,500 Sin monthly from dividend alone.  So I will say he is pretty comfortable.  His daughter is a doctor working in England.  He visited Canada recently and is very happy to invest there.

He is concerned that the business has slowed down and feel it will be worse next year.  So we spend a lot of time discussing about stock.  My portfolio is not big and therefore I do not have as many stocks as him.  Still we have a good time.  I enjoyed my time with him.

Knee Improved!

My knee pain is reduced!  Now I can climb stairs with no difficulty unlike a few days ago.  So the Ebene knee guard works.  I have to bring one to change as it has incomplete sewing in one of the flexible reinforced strips.

I should also try check out if it has a waist band.  This may be helpful for my low back pain....

Ponder

Sometimes, I just ponder what life is about.  There are so much to do.  I have so many books to read but unable to.  Recently, I have been watching Korean dramas.  After a while, I get tired of it.  I was reading thrillers by David Baldacci and this has come to pass as well.  Meanwhile, work to earn income and spend $$$ to look after the family. 

Is there more to life than earning and spending?  Recreation like reading and watching drama gets boring after a while.  Why some have a calling like becoming a monk or preacher.  I wonder how many other professionals have calling.  I enjoys working and doing business, however earning money is not a calling.  Maybe I am wrong.  Enjoying my work means it is a calling.  Seems like a calling means you either become very rich(entreprenuers, surgeons) or very poor(missionaries and social workers).  The rest of us are just worker bees.  Working so that we can live.

Warm Neighbourhood

I loved going to Chong Pang.  I used to live in Yishun and directly opposite Chong Pang was a Malay Kampong.  Small Malay boys will be walking their goats.  There is a small pond.  Life was idyllic.  Unfortunately, they were chased out and the kampong is now part of Sembawang Airbase for helicopter.  I have not been the the hot spring as well.  It is a long way to walk.  There are folks there soaking in the hot water.  Some will bring eggs to cook as well.

Recently, I go to Chong Pang once a week to get my grocery.  The vegetables there is competitive.  I find the people there are warmer.  Strangers make conversations easily.  I like the kampong-like spirit there.  The famous Hup Lee Fried Beehoon is no longer as popular.  The long queues are gone.  The aquariums are gone too.  But some of the old hawkers are still there.  The atmosphere in Chong Pang is warm compared to AMK Ave 10 hawker center near ITE.  Although I go the AMK hawker center almost daily, I did not have any conversation with anyone.  Whereas in Chong Pang, the chance is very high I have a causal conversation with a fellow customer.

Red Cross prefers CASH!

Note: In-kind donations (food, clothes, etc) are not accepted due to logistical considerations. Tax deduction is not applicable for overseas giving.

“We have received close to a hundred phonecalls and emails from concerned members of the public, expressing interest to help in one way or another. At this critical time of need, cash donations would allow greater flexibility in our response coordination and immediate relief purchase and distribution,” he added.

I copied the 2 quotes from Yahoo!  Typhoon Haiyan devastated parts of Philippines.  Looks like money is the way to go.  Red Cross I know as a kid and growing up is not the Red Cross of today. 

Money does makes the World go Round!

Ebene Knee Guards

My left knee is hurting when I climbed up the stairs.  It may be due to strenous cycling I did a couple days ago.  Due to the pain, my ability to walk up is compromised.  So my wife insisted I have to go for chiropractor.  I am adamant that this is not going to solve this problem as I know I have meniscus issues due to excessive jogging in my younger days.  So it is a trip to Guardian Pharmacy and we bought a pair of Ebene Knee Guards as one costs $42 and two is $65.  Yes, I am a sucker for deals. 

On the box, it promises to cure my pain in 7 days or money back.  So let's see if they work!

Amazing thing You can do with Samsung Note 3!

Samsung Note 3 has good resolution and quite nice and comfortable to watch tv or movies.  Now, we can watch dramas on our 55" LED TV through screen mirroring.  It is quite easy to connect.  So now DVDs is going the way of dinosaurs as well.  The wonders of technology!

An Uneventful and Thankful Sunday

It is a gloomy morning and I went to the wet market to see if I can buy some goldfishes that the stall some have for feeding.  Unfortunately, not this morning.  Only those with flat tails are available.  So I have to wait till next week and see.  I bought 20 curry puffs from the Malay food stall.  10 potatoes and 10 sardines for 50 cents each.  They are not healthy food as it consist mainly flour deep fried in cheapest cooking oil.  Once in a while, I tell myself.

Late morning, it is grocery shopping at Fairprice in AMK hub.  Christmas spirits are springing up.  Many packaging have red and green with Christmas theme.  I like it.  I love Christmas!  Reminds me of living in Toronto.  The PA system has not put up Christmas music yet.  It will be even better.

We prepared sandwish lunch and sat down for lunch with B2's friend who was over to get his help in preparing a presentation.  After lunch is cycling and watching Korean Drama To the Beautiful You recommended by B3's classmate, Racheal.  It is funny and we have to suspense our beliefs many times.  Right now, I am keeping B3 company while he makes gifts for his classmates.  I can hear B1 and B2 loud guffaws at the living room. 

Today, is coming to an end.  I am thankful for a good day!

Roaring Business at Nanyang Seaview Aquarium

We have to replace our black mollies in the aquarium as the 2nd generation started with 7 is now left with 2.  Nanyang Seaview Aquarium is one of the few aquarium that sells black mollies.  Best of all it is nearby our home. 

We go there after lunch and the place is full of cars.  Now that the road have shifted, the Aquarium is very visible from the main road.  Nanyang Seaview's business has grown dramatically.  It is amazing luck and feng shui.  It was supposed to move and the government decided they no longer needed the land.  Before the new road was built, the place was known only to nearby residents and regulars who went there by words of mouth. 

I have been going to the aquarium regularly since I moved to YCK 8 years ago.  I can see the owner is laughing his way to the bank!!!

Good Japanese Food in Far East Plaza

On level 3 of Far East Plaza in a obscure corner is a Japanese food resturant.  It is not really a resturant but more like the other shops that sell food in a shop lot.  This resturant serves really good Japanese food.  Menu is small but quality and taste are excellent.  I am usually not a Japanese food fan as I do not like seafood and the food is not only expensive, I will go hungry very quickly.  But I will recommend this place.  Unlike food blogs with pictures and address of the resturant, I just blog about my experience.  If you are interested, you can do the treasure hunt.  It will cost about $30 per head.  The place is always full or at the least the two times I am there for lunch.

Be Still and Know the I Within

We are all part of God according to Lobsang Rampa.  If we meditate and cultivate stillness of our minds, we will be able to meet with our "Overself" which is on the 9th dimensions.  We are on the third dimension.  Lobsang Rampa says there are many dimensions and even the bible states "there are many mansions in my father's house".

I tried meditation on and off.  So I am just a regular bloke living life in a blur.

The More You Know The More You have to Learn

This is something I discover when I read.  In business books, they usually have several ideas from other authors.  So there will be a recommended list at the end of the book.  Books on psychology, occult, how-to, motivation, investment, strategy, basically all non-fiction books have bibliography detailing all the sources.  I usually want to read and learn further.  Now I have so many books that I find that it is impossible to keep up with my reading.  The reading expands exponentially as reading one book will recommend a few others and each of them recommends another few more.

In short, the more I read, the more I have to read.  While it is good to know, I am beginning to realise Francis Bacon's "Knowledge is Power" does not hold true.  Harry Loryane, the memory and mind expert modify it to "Knowledge is Power when put to Use" is better.  However, I read and learning a lot but I am not rich.  Neither are the Professors of the world.  So knowledge is fun and enjoyable to learn but does not really pay well.

He who listens most learns most

Listening is one of the most difficult and challenging skill to master.  For the person who listens will learns about many things.  I am good at listening at work in meetings or with customers.  At home, I need to listen more than dispensing advice to my boys or scolding them.  I am still a novice when it come to being a father and daddy to my boys.  The problem is I read and learn from many leadership and management books, attending seminars and short training courses on business, selling and marketing.  I have only maybe 5 books on bringing kids.  Even then, I only skim through them and did not read them in details.  My behaviour changes at work where I am a skilled trained professional to a novice raising boys to be fine gentlemen.  I wished I spend more time learning to be a father instead of letting nature takes its course through field experience.  I have "Out-of-Sync Child", "Dare to Discipline by James Dobson" and a couple other books.  I do not remember what I am supposed to do, whereas when it come to management, I read hundreds of books.

I need to listen more to my boys.  I will work on this.

The Journey of 1,000 miles begins with a Single Step

Whatever we have to do, however difficult or long, is a journey of a 1,000 miles.  It is daunting.  It is difficult.  It is scary.  All we have to do is to step the first step, then the 2nd step and continue.  Along the way, we may want to give or change direction.  We should not be so obsessed with the goals we set when we were young.  However, it is focus and determination that bring us to our destination.  Let's all keep going on our journeys.

Sitting Sitting the Grass Grows Green

This is one of my favorite Way of Tao poem.  It describes the joys of meditation.  It is the philosophy of Wu Wei, doing nothing.  Letting nature takes is course.  Do not delve on issues or forcing change.  This reminds me of the song lyrics "what will be will be, the future is not for us to see. que sera sera."  The proverb "Man proposes God disposes".  In different ways, we wise up to the greater power beyond us.

Better to light a Candle than to Curse the Darkness

Lobsang Rampa is a Tibetan Monk who wrote about Occult stuff when I was in secondary school.  He has a lot of wise sayings.  I was reading on the pursuit of happiness by Singaporeans who now taught themselves about Positive Psychology through reading and seminars.  One of the interviewees has a blog that put out a wise saying daily.  I do not know how this will make a person happy.  I guess it does.  So this is my wise sayings for today.

Instead of complaining about the situation, do something positive about it.  So lighting a candle to dispel the darkness is the right way to deal with the "darkness".

Internet today has lot of complaining.  But also a lot of interesting details about a lot of things shows up.  Far better than the main stream media which is quite slanted.  I am now reading blogs of people who wrote about social issues and many who try to unearth the truth about Singapore.  It is good to know many Singaporeans are working toward a better country.  I enjoys reading TRE.  It does have alternative views and many different contributors.  Some articles are well researched and opinions are supported by facts and figures.  The site founders and editors do a fabulous job of keeping alternative views available to the public.  So kudos to them!

Beautiful Friday

Early to bed, early to rise.  Makes a man healthy and wise!  I woke up early quarter past five.  I prepared breakfast and food for recess for B3.  Then I wake him up at quarter to six.  He comes down for his breakfast and then I walk him to the school bus.  I did the duty this morning and actually yesterday's morning as well.

The sun was out in the morning, blue sky white cumulus clouds.  Weather is gorgeous.  In the afternoon, it showered, no it poured!  Maybe flash flood again in some parts of Singapore.  Rain is so heavy nowadays.  After the sky opened, it clears again and drizzles lightly.  The PCN was nice and cool.  Due to the rain, hardly anyone was there.  So it was a very nice relaxing ride.

I am grateful for a peaceful day.