Gearing Up for Tomorrow

PCN is busy with all the contractors setting up the speaker system and temporary toilets.  A huge 40 feet lorry is unloading canoes for tomorrow's event.  It will be huge as 10,000 people expected to attend tomorrow accord to Yam Ah Mee.

So if you are going to PCN for your regular exercise tomorrow, forget it.  It will be close.  However, public is welcome to join the celebrations.  Our government is spending money to build cohesiveness through National Events like this.  It is a week of competitive games I believe.

I hope it does not rain tomorrow afternoon.

Accurate Forecast

I was on the way to drink tea at the AMK Ave 10 market.  On the FM90.5, Brian Richmond was giving the weather forecast that it is going to rain in several places this morning.  The sky was clear when he announced the rain forecast.  True enough, it actually rained an hour later.  Our weather forecast has improved compare to the general "isolated rain" many years ago and the rain did not come many times.  I remember my school teacher telling us that if it rains, the forecast is right and if it did not rain, the forecast is still right!  He did not think highly of the Meteorological Dept of Singapore.

This morning, I would say our Meterological Dept if it is still going by this name has redeem themselves.

Expensive Parking at Shangri-la

I reached Shangri-la this morning slightly after 8am.  I had a meeting at 8:45pm.  My meeting finished 10:10 am.   The privilege of two hours parking is $10.  Really expensive.  I was kicking myself for forgetting to get complimentary car park.  Whenever I have meetings in the hotels outside Singapore, I always remember to ask my guests if they need to get the carpark tickets stamped.  The problem is in Singapore there is no ticket as our parking system uses cashcards.  So it is easy to forget.

Shangri-la considering the age of the hotel is still very nice.  I like the ambient.  It is also an oasis of calm and nature right at the heart of the city.  I like the hotel.  It is elegant!

Home

It is good to be home.  The boys are happy.  Then we had a fight.  B2 was saying he was starving and I said must make sure dinner is always cooked.  B1 told the maid not to cook.  As I write, I just realise our helper is the root cause of us getting into fights.  She will keep asking what to cook and we have to provide her with answers.  She says we are not eating her food and therefore she does not know what to cook.  So I realised that instead of thinking of how to improve she send put the monkey on our back.  This cause us to be responsible for her cooking. 

Come to think of it, since she arrived, she has cause a number of fights between our family members.  It is an interesting phenomenon.  A new addition can disrupt the family harmony.

Bad Traffic

The traffic is Bangkok is still unpredictable.  My meeting today is late for half an hour because the traffic comes to a standstill.    So my customer says it is better to take train as the timing is more predictable.  Taking a cab, there is always a risk if there is an accident or traffic get stopped for no apparent reason.

I think the traffic has improved but bad traffic conditions still happens frequently.  The mass rapid system did help in reducing the infamous traffic jams of Bangkok.  I love Bangkok.  The food is good and the streets are always full of hawkers selling everything mostly clothings, a cut-fruits stall here and there and many snacks stalls.  There is always a stench of rotting matter.  The city is vibrant and full of life.  I love this place.  Especially good food at reasonable price.

Bangkok

I arrived in this wonderful capital of Thailand yesterday.  The airport rail is now working and it is so easy to get to the city.  No traffic jams!  Can you believe it?  It actually take about an hour to travel with the required changing of a different line to get the final destination.  So taxi is still a good option.

I had a meeting immediately after checking in.  There are plenty of tourists and I would say tourism is back in.  The streets are busy and traffic is still very heavy.  It seems the city has recovered from the effects of the severe floods a few months ago. 

On the lift, a passing conversation with a woman here on business.  She says there are so many opportunities here.  Business climate in Thailand seems to be better than what is reported in the main stream newspapers.  The market is very competitive for my products as the domestic manufacturers dominate.

Travel Deals

Today is the last day of Natas.  We heard from our neighbour the deals are good.  So we decided to go to Expo to check it out.  The crowd was huge and queue long.  Many have bought packages as they wheel back "free" luggages to their cars. 

We try to see if we can get a deal on Club Med as it is all inclusive pack.  The problem with the deals is the dates are not friendly to B2's availability.  So we gave up as the dates we can travel is at the highest price.  So in order to enjoy the deal, B2 may have to skip class. He may be exams or presentation.  It was just too difficult or it is not a deal at all.

We spent $12 to go in and see all the travel companies under one roof competing for customers.  The prices advertised are so attractive.  However, when we dig further, we are unable to enjoy the fabulous prices.  Sigh....we left the place wiser.  Natas is not for our family.

Yam Ah Mee

Before going to PCN, I reminded B2 to exercise and he says he will join me in ride.  So it is a father and son ride this afternoon.  B2 was happy to chat away about his business and his interest in billard.  We cycled until we reach the water curtain.  There we saw Yam Ah Mee.  There will be an event next Saturday.  This is a rehearsal and Yam Ah Mee was there.  B2 was a little excited and he wanted a picture with him.  So he got his iPhone ready and the we approach Yam Ah Mee.  I reminded him to ask Mr. Yam if he could take a picture with him.  Yam Ah Mee was very nice and obliges.  I told a couple of photos for them. 

B2 was excited and told mummy when mummy called.  Then tell his brother when he called.  He is very happy!

Thanks a bunch, Mr. Yam! for making my boy happy.

Mount Alvernia Doctor Stitching Up the Wound

Finally, I manage to upload the video of B3's wound.  Above is the video of the doctor stitching up the wound.

Hari Raya Visitings

My neighbour has visitors for Hari Raya.  They are teenagers and looked like the classmates of daughter who is studying in Ngee Ann Poly.  All of them dressed in new brightly coloured clothes.  They look very happy grinning from ear to ear.  Some are on the swing in the front yard.  I can see the kids are enjoying themselves and looking very happy to be in the house. 

Just seeing the visitors so happy makes me happy and glad to be living here.  It is a nice home - spacious with a swimming pool.  I am quite sure the teenagers are a little envious of all the kids playing in the pool.  Actually, the younger brother of the host is in the pool with other neighbours' boys.

I came back home and tell my wife about it.  It is nice that people appreciate our homes.

Indian Food Fest!

I have been going for nasi bryani recently.  I had it for lunch and dinner today.  Yesterday, was naan and roti.  My wife now has craving for local hawker food.  She thinks it is due to the overdose of Indian food in the last few days.  I went bersek after making my in-laws happy with Mustapha outing.  So it is my Indian food festival for my family for the past few days. 

Basmati rice has low GI or glycemic index.  So bryani rice may be healthier.  However, the mutton curry will cause the cholesterol to go off the scale.  I do know this for a fact!!!  I had the nasi bryani in a medical conference in Islamabad.  I was exhibiting and we have plenty of time to kill during the conference.  Our busy periods was tea breaks and lunch. Next to my booth was supplier of cholesterol measuring machine.  Lunch was mutton bryani and it was so so good.  Being bored, we kind to teach each other on our machines.  I tested my blood and I never forget it was so high that it passes the maximum limit of the machine.  It was so delicious and so unhealthy.

Food intake affects the results blood tests.  This is why we told not to take any drinks or food for 8 hours before our blood is drawn for testing.

Continuing on the topic of food, Takashimaya has temporary tenant who sell the Amy Yip Pao.  This Pao is the size of Amy Yip's "pao".  It has pork, chicken, mushroom and chinese sausage.  It is very tasty.  Also quite good value at $3.50.  A meal by itself!

New Neighbours

We have new neighbours from France.  Our neighbourhood is 20% French!  The French school has an impact on where French expats like to live.  My son is trying to learn a little French as well.  It is good intermixing.  It is also good cultural exchange for my youngest.  He enjoys making new friends.

Today, the container with all their household furniture arrived.  I guess they are happy to have all their barang barang (things).  The garage has bicycles.  So they are all set to explore the PCN.

Meanwhile, it is life as usual for our family.  After the accident B3 had and showing off his stitches, he is back to studying for his mid-term.  Luckily, his mummy has a good way to make him do his work.  He is very happy when she says good things about him.  When I say the same things he says I am sarcastic.  I have no idea why he believes his mummy and does not believe me. 

Showing Off

B3 is excited about showing of his stitches when he go to school today.  He want to make sure his classmates and friends saw the stitches.  He is happy the girls "EEEEE!" away.  A little disappointed that the boys' reactions are more muted.  The wound is healing well.  It has dry up and there is a scab forming.  He no longer take painkiller as it does not bother him much now.  It is still sore and sensitive to touch.  Kids recover fast!

B1 was having sore abdomen.  He has been taking yakult and lacteol fort religiously.  Mummy thought it is intestinal issue and asked him to take lacteol fort.  Lacteol fort contains probiotics bacteria.  He went to the dentist for scaling and cleaning this morning.  According to the dentist, his teeth were quite dirty.  He has to see him every 6 months.  After his dental appointment, he went to the medical center to see the MO (medical officer).  The MO test his urine using strip test and found white blood cells.  This is indication of Urinary Tract Infection or UTI.  MO decide to send his urine to the lab for a full test.  I hope he will be treated for the infection soon.

My Niece

I was cycling in Punggol PCN as usual.  Today is Hari Raya holiday, so it is quite pack with merry makers and weekend joggers and cyclists.  I have my portable speakers on rather loudly to let people know my presence.  I love to listen to books and songs.  It is a little "loud" and drawing attention as well.  I was passing a couple when I heard "che che!"  My middle niece was jogging with her boyfriend.  I feel good with her calling me so loudly.  So I cycled slowly to keep pace with her.  Her boyfriend took off at a higher speed.  We did not talk much as I do not want her to be breathless since it is hard to talk and run at the same time.

This middle niece has much higher EQ and is better at building relationships.  I wished we had more time with them when they are growing up.  Anyway, we have regular gatherings nowaday.  I am happy to see my nieces.  They are the daughters of our family.

Review of Past Medical Records

I was not feeling good recently.  Thought I may have undiagnosed heart disease or time's up.  This may be due to my brother and father-in-law open heart operation.  It also may be the death of a young ex-colleague.  I just reviewed my past medical check up.  It is good that I kept all the records. Seems like I am healthy as a bear.  I do have some minor ailment like fatty liver or high LDL.  I also had calcium scoring and stress ECG both indicate my risk of heart attack or coronary heart disease is low.

After reviewing my medical records for the past 4 years, it looked like I need not worry so much.  I should be worrying about business and earning money to sustain life in a city.  Wish I can live like Robinson Crusoe as the Australian did on today's Sunday Times.  He has a dog and solar powered internet access.  No savages or Friday to keep him company.  However, he does get occasional visitors like his son.  It is lonely but he has peace.  I wonder how if he is sick.  Maybe he is not likely as he has healthy lifestyle.

Family Outing

It is Hari Raya today.  My wife want to bring her parents out for meal.  She did not like my suggestion on the place.  My in-laws are vegetarians.  So in order to eat out with them, it is only vegetarian food.  There is only one vegetarian food I really like.  It is in a hawker center.  I like the stall as it has zichar.  I love the deep fried crispy dishes.  The problem is my wife does not the environment.  The hawker center is hot and quite messy.  The seats can be dirty. 

My father-in-law is looking for a pair of sneakers.  So we brought them to Mustapha, the store that has literally everything under the sun.  After purchasing the sneakers, we went to Hillman Resturant for lunch.  We requested two specially cooked dishes which is free of meat, onions or garlic.  I ordered our favorites - deep fried pork, paper chicken, claypot tofu and sambal kangkong.  My boys and in-laws loved the food.  I been to this resturant since I was a small boy.  There is a picture of the resturant of Queen Elisabeth visiting it in 1965. 

After our scrumptious lunch, we went back to Mustapha just to pass time and shop.  We bought some frozen roti prata and naans.  The brands are different from Fairprice.  We had the roti for dinner and they tasted good. 

It is a good to bring my in-laws to Mustapha.  Amazingly, it is a totally new experience for them.  They have not been to Mustapha before.  B1 also find the place different.  What he did not realise is the new wing makes the place bright, clean and upmarket.

It is a good family outing, a good meal and then just passing time together.

Nasty Deep Gash

My swimming pool is aging.  This afternoon, B3 had a severe and deep cut from the broken tile.  We brought him Mount Alvernia and he needed 3 stitches to close up the wound.  Cost $250!  I tried to get the painkillers so as not to waste time waiting.  I have to pay first!  Singapore, I guess anywhere else on earth, if you do not have money, you do not get treated.  I worry about the future where we are more and more like the US.  If you are not insured or have no money, the hospital will refuse to treat you as healthcare system is private.  No such thing as treat you first and then ask you to pay.
No money, no medicine.  So we will be like the society where you have to work to death.  The moment you cannot contribute to economy or society, your usefulness is gone and you will have to fade away.  Society does not care:(

Funny Feelings

Maybe because I was out for a week.  Maybe I may be sentimental.  I missed my B1 this week.  Every dinner, I wished we are complete as a family.  Tonight, I am glad all three boys are having dinner with us.  We ate all the leftovers.  Toa Payoh pau from this morning, nasi bryani from lunch and other leftovers from previous two dinners.  I wonder why I miss my boy so much.  He is going to be out for University soon and then work.  I think he is likely to work outside Singapore.  It is a matter of time my boys will fly the coop.

Let's talk about the nasi bryani.  Today's Nasi Bryani is from the recommendation of "Gintai" blog.  It is from the coffeeshop at Carpmael Rd and Crane Road junction.  The bryani rice is a little too spicy for my family.  The best banana leaf bryani rice is still the Shami in Yishun.  It is no longer in North Point or rather Koptiam took over the stall although it is serving the food.  I think the owner has foresight and bought a shop on Sembawang Road.  Now, it has control of its own destiny.  I understand it is opening a stall in Woodland mall.

It is hard to express my feelings.  I like Sumiko Tan's article.  I actually saw her in Popular with her sister and her nephew and niece.  When I read her column about the visit, I remember distinctly how bored she looked and she describe the scene so well that I can picture the encounter with her. I have plenty room to go to improve my writing.

Worlds in Collision

I always read about Velikovsky's books since I started to read about psychic subjects in secondary school in early 70's. The books were out of print.  It was impossible to find even in 2nd hand bookstores.  Internet was born and then Amazon dotcom.  Even at Amazon the books were out of print and only old hardcovers are available at an exorbitant prices from their owners.

Recently, new softcover Velikovsky's books are available.  I order them from Amazon and received the books after waiting for more than 3 months as I chose the cheapest freight option.  After waiting for so many years of waiting, what is 3 more months.

Worlds in Collision is the first book.  The first couple of chapters is quite regular.  Then it become interesting.  It is about the stories from the different cultures.  I remember one Chinese lesson about one hero who shot down 8 suns with an arrow.  This story is in the book!  I can recall vividly how my Chinese teacher says it was nonsense as there is only one sun and how can an arrow shoot down a sun.  According to Velikovsky, earth collided with a comet.  The rotation and axis shifted.   The sun stay in the same position for 3 days.  Everything was burning.  People who jumped into the water to cool down was boiled to death when the sea water start to boil.

I shall write more about this as I read further.

Meditation and Happiness

Search Inside Yourself is meditating and improving Emotional Intelligence.  Meditation is a powerful tool.  Something I find hard to do or practise.  There are plenty of exercise and I tried a couple.  It is quite easy to do.  I highly recommend this book.  Google has huge success and this is one of the success factor.

I am listening to Happiness Advantage and it is also quite interesting.  Willpower get used up and the way to change habit.  I am glad to learn more ways to keep happy.

Premature Death of an Ex-colleague

Yesterday morning, an sms from an ex-colleague advising that one of our ex-colleague has passed away.  It is shocking news as he is quite young.  He is a jovial guy who always make jokes.  I went to the wake and get more information on his demise.

His father was there telling stories to my two colleagues who arrived earlier.  He has cancer of the spine, bone marrow, liver and kidney.  He had nose cancer two years ago and he is supposed to be "cured".  He works as an engineer repairing medical equipment.  So I was surprised that he found out about the spread of cancer so late.  He lived for only 3 weeks on discovery the cancer has spread and passed on.  He did not go for regular checkups for cancer screening.

I delved on his stupidity and denial and then realise I am behaving the same way.  I had kidney stones and my urologist who was my classmate in secondary screens me on a yearly basis.  I stopped going to him after 3 years.  I think it is not necessary.  If any kidney stones dislodge and I get urethetric colic, I will just go and see him.  Urethetric colic is the most intense pain I ever experienced.  I needed morphine to relieve the pain.  I remember sweating profusely and unable to move.  It was horrible.

I am sad that some people leave earlier than the natural lifespan.  My ex-colleague has a 16 years old daughter.  I wonder about the serious impact on her "O" level exams she is sitting right now.  Life is unpredictable.

Random Musings

I read the Minister meets with blogger with a tinge of envy.  "Gintai" is a blogger who worked in SMRT and blogged about the Malaysian colleagues who get a better deal working in Singapore then retiring back home with more than $1 million ringgits.  His analysis was thoughtful and reasoned.

Meanwhile my blog is kind of shallow.  It is a diary of my boring, sedate life.  Mostly on food, what I read and where I go.  Sometimes on my extended family.  Yet, when I review my past entries, it is very nice to recall the memories buries deep in my mind.  It is really impossible to remember most events unless we have photos and written records.  I enjoying reading it once in a while walking down memory lane.

No detailed well thought out and crafted analysis.  No sexy photos of food or juicy sexploits.  Just a regular guy with regular activities.  Nothing newsworthy.

Why am I writing everyday?  I am doing so to improve my writings.  I am also keeping a record of my life in cyberspace.  I hope future in case they ever want to know or find out how life is like when their fathers i.e. my three boys are growing up.  Or if any of my boys decide to walk to the memory lane living Singapore.

Search Inside Yourself

I bought this book today at Bugis Junction as Kino has 20% off.  I was just browsing while waiting for B3 to finish his Chinese tuition.  It is light reading and the author is a Singaporean!  He is a Jolly Good Fellow and nobody can deny.  He is the Head of HR in Google.  I think he made Singapore proud to have such a son.

I enjoys reading this book and now I wished I had gone to see him in his promotional tour.  He had a couple of sessions and interview by the media as well.  I know Kino and another bookstore had author signing sessions.

The book is about Emotional Intelligence and teaches meditation techniques and ways to happiness.  It is generously illustrated with comics.  I am looking forward to reading further.

Melbourne!

My niece, P was in Melbourne a few weeks ago.  She walked down memory lane and took a picture of the apartment she lived in for a few months.  So I went to take a picture as well.  It was right in Chinatown!  It is in the heart of the city and RMIT is walking distance.

Eating out is expensive in Australia.  It is just like Canada.  A bowl of noodle $9 Aussie for small.  Also there also a number of beggars on the street.  I am disappointed with the bookshops here.  The selection and choice are quite poor.  Even the largest, Dymocks is not good.  The pho is not as good as in Mississagua, Canada. 

It is quite a nice city and has plenty to do.

Happy for a Short While

B3 was very happy with Trash Pack Series Two and Club Penguin Puffles.  It lasted for a short while and then he is play with the computer.  Happiness is buying things for my boys!  According to psychology research, buying things will keep you happy for a short while.  However, buying things for others and going for concert will keep you happy for longer time.

I am happy my baby is happy.  I am glad to be back home as well.  It is very warm and humid.  Brisbane has fantastic weather.  However, I don't think I can retire in Australia.  Canada, maybe.  Australia is nice as the distance is shorter from Singapore.  However, the discrimination seems to be higher than in Canada according to the taxi drivers.

Overall, I have a good trip in Australia.  Good meetings and had a chance to walk around downtown to get a feel of Brisbane and Melbourne.

Healed

I am updating this blog and this remind me that my epigliottis is now healed and I suffer no pain anymore.   The MSG in the food caused me to be so thirsty that I have a drink a lot to cut down my thirst.  The weather in Melbourne is a lot colder than Brisbane.  But it is nice compare to hot and humid weather at home.

Malaysian Meal in Australia

I wander about in Chinatown trying to decide what to eat.  Japanese ramen, Taiwanese street food, Vietnamese pho, Cantonese bbq, and all the regular Chinese resturants.  I walk past Malaysian food place.  Then I decided to walk back to "Petaling Street".  I want to test how Malaysian food taste like in Australia.  I ordered curry noodle and Pork Ribs King together with teh tarik.

I saw the table opposite took pictures of their meal.  So I remember to whip out my trusty iPhone to show you as a picture today still worth a thousand words.  Frankly, it does not taste as good but hey it is great to have home-style food in a foreign land.

Walking Around

I get even get the directions right.  I asked how to go to the mall and when I walked out, I went the opposite direction.  What a boo boo!  I felt like an idiot.  Anyway, I had a good walk and saw a lot of the suburbs and the houses in Brisbane. 

I did get to the downtown finally and explore Queens Mall.  Plenty of immigrants from different countries.  Even my meeting with the office, one is a Syrian, the other has a Dutch father and Indonesian Chinese mother.  The third is an American.  The 7-eleven is staff by a Nepalese.  The receptionist in the hotel is from Lithuania.  It is like Singapore in a certain way i.e. full of immigrants.  Yet different as there is no large crowd of say ethnic Chinese or Nepalese.  They are dispersed evenly throughout the city.

The city shutdowns by 5:30pm.  The downtown basically become a ghost town.  In fact, the whole city just become quiet.  Only a few resturants here and there are open.
It is quite different.  I guess family spends lots of time together as there are plenty of off hours time vs life in Singapore where we have to keep working from kids with tuition and homework and adults who have to work non-stop to earn more money to maintain an increasingly expensive Singapore.

Feeling Sick 40,000 feet High

It is a regular flight.  I had laksa and some fruits for breakfast.  Then took the 7.5 hours flight to Oz.  After the meal service, I felt sick.  I had dizziness and headache as well as sweating.  It must be the food I ate. I suspect it is the longans.  I took 2 panadols and then try to sleep it off.  I woke up feeling slightly better but still having headache.  So I requested for another two more dhamol.  Finally, I feel better. 

Brisbane is a laid back city.  Everything closes by 7pm.  It is nice and easy way of life.  I guess no stress.  With the Aussie dollar so strong, everything seems expensive.   The weather is cool, a nice change from our hot humid home. 

The hotel I stayed in is a boutique hotel.  It is very spartan.  The toilet has not cover, the shower area is just a curtin and there is no place to put my toiletries.  The fridge is right below the cupboard to hang clothes.  There is a tiny work desk integrated with the cupboard.

Sunrise Gardens

Early start in the morning to get grocery to prepare dinner for my brother and sister coming over for dinner.  We have to cook dinner for 12.  We have to decide what to cook and buy the ingredients in our usual supermarket, Fairprice.  We met an ex-neighbour when we lived in Sunrise Gardens.  Their eldest son is now in army and posted to RP or regiment police.  He is very happy to be the "security guard" as it is a day job for National Service.  The second son is in Nanyang Poly and studying Business Intelligence and Analytics.  It is interesting to compare notes.  Seems like eldest sons from both families go to Anderson JC and both second sons go to Nanyang Poly.  Our neighbour's eldest boy has been accepted to NTU school of business for degree in BA.

Looks like life in Singapore is quite similar.  Kids grow up and attend the same kind of schools and probably do the similar work when they join the workforce.

My eldest sister and brother came for dinner with their kids.  It is good to have a gathering once in a while and just talk.  They like the dinner.  We cooked curry chicken, braised pork, ikan bakar and tenderloin.  My sister like my cold dish - cucumber salad.  We enjoyed their visit very much.

What is the best course of action to take?

We are living in a tiny estates of 20 families.  It is like a kampong and not without problems.  Some of the kids play together while other kids are confine to themselves or restricted by their parents from playing with the kids in the estate.

The reason I talk about kids is we are in a dilemma.  There is a unit empty and the shoes of one neighbours keeping appearing even though no one lives there.   My wife thought it was spooky.  I told her ghosts or spirits have no ability to move physical objects like shoes.  Of course I did not tell her about in the movies, they do. 

We went out after dinner to buy hami melon which B3 requested as it is very sweet and they are on special in Fairprice.  When we returned, a pair of shoes appeared again.  She was sure the shoes were not there when we went out.  I told her we have installed cameras through the car park and so will be able to catch whoever did this mischief.  I want to come to the computer to surf the net and blog.  But my wife is so curious and I have to go with her to review the footage.  We saw the culprit in the act.

My natural instinct is to go the parents to inform them about this mischief.  My wife insisted I should not as I may offend them.  Other neighbours used indirect approach to send message about our kids.  I am not sure if this is the best way as most of the time there is no clear idea what actually happen or if there is a behaviour issue, what it is. 

This neighbour was given the feedback when another neighbour saw her son smoking and spitting into the swimming.  Her reaction was "you must let kids do what they want!"  So the neighbour(I shall called her J) who reported the behaviour to the mum was in a state of shock.  Yes, the boy acquired tattoos all over his body sometimes later.  Now, the younger sister is doing mischief.  I am at loss.  Doing what I consider a good deed may not be viewed by the parents in a friendly manner. 

So it is best to keep quiet about it?  Or should I tell the victim and let the victim take action with the parent of the girl who did the mischief?  Is there other better ways to deal with this situation?  Now, I am not sure what is the best course of action to take?

Shooting Star!

I am very lucky  indeed to see a shooting star the moment I open the door to the night sky.  The shooting star came straight down at the right hand side of the HDB flats in the NE direction. I had not seen a shooting star since I was a young boy.  In the 60's, Singapore is not as developed as today, the stars can be seen clearly.  As a kid, I remember trying to count the stars and gave up as there were too many.   During that time, it was possible to see shooting stars. 

Today, it is highly unlikely as the skyline is full of buildings and city lights. To see the stars, I have to use a pair of binoculars. There are two bright stars in the east and I took the photo of the brighter star using my iPhone below.

Sterile Singapore?

I remember an American magazine called Singapore "sterile" like in an operating theatre.  Today, we have scandals on corruption at high government office using sex as gratification, sex with underage prostitutes, sex with underage boy and more.  Singapore is no longer sterile, boring and a place where everything works like clockwork.

It is spicy and happening place.  It all started with a politician (albeit opposition) with allegations of impropiety.  Since then, the floodgates open and like the saying goes "it does not rain, it pours!".  My wife felt that it is the feng shui and CPIB's fengshui may have change. 

Reading the Straits Times today is like reading weekly tabloids that is right at the checkout counters in the supermarkets in US.  It is interesting reading.  The unfortunate thing is many families are destroyed in the process.  Yep!  Singapore is now a developed country with warts and all.

All Set for OZ

I am more or less set for Australia.  It is quite different to arrange everything on my own.  I am glad to receive help from Down Under.  The weather is cool as it is winter.  I will need to bring some warm clothing.  It will be a nice change from our balmy hometown.

The weather is quite warm lately.  Most people go to the PCN in the late evening and when it is dark.  Many "aunties" are doing their exercise at night.  Everyone is working to keep a healthy life.  NParks does a wonderful job on creating the PCN.  But after a while, the scenery gets a little stale.  I think I may considering moving to another location to have a change of scenery on the PCN. 

I like the food in the East.  So Katong when the price is right will be where I would go.

Epiglotti

Last night, while using the tongue cleaner, I scratch and break the skin on my epiglotti.  It hurts terribly.  I could not sleep well as the pain keep piercing into my conciousness.   Luckily, the bleeding stops by morning.  I have a long white ulcer when I open my mouth to examine in the rearview mirror of my car.  I need the bright sunlight to see into my throat. 

I hope my epiglotti recovers fast.  Its hurts when I swallow.  This is the first time I experienced ulcer right in my epiglotti.