Weekly Family Exercise

B1, my eldest organised a weekly family exercise since his mum was hospitalised.  He heard from his colleagues in his internship that some had mums who had similar symptons and it is due to lack of exercise.  So it is a good start.  Mummy is getting on with the program.  My ENT doctor says the same thing as it is the inner ears needed to exercise to the point that both are equal in functioning capability.  So now I am waiting for the rest of family to wake up.  I sleep earlier and wake up earlier than them. 

This exercise routine is good family bonding.

Dinner at My Eldest Sister

My eldest sister invited her siblings to her home for dinner.  She caters food in.  Two carbos - fried rice and fried bee hoon, sweet sour fish, curry vegetables, deep fried tempura prawn and fried soya chicken.  The dessert was a mix of canned fruits in ice.  It is canned longans, mixed fruit cocktail, sea coconut and nata coco.

The food is not bad for catering.  I have no complaint other than canned fruits for desserts.  We were quite noisy and had a good time.   I love family gatherings.

Fixing up Light

The light in our kitchen bathroom was not working.  I tried to fix it but could not.  This morning, I bought the replacement bulb holders and changed them.  The wires are very sharp and prick into my thumb.  Also I may have step onto a fragment as well because my sole had a sharp pain.  I rub it thinking I got rid of it but it still give sharp at certain angle of my foot step.  Anyway, after replacing the porcelain light bulb holder, it works.  I am pleased that I can do handy work.  Total cost of repair is $3.50.

Cockles

Today in the market, the blood cockles are open and lively.  The female boss saw me looking at them.  Actually, I like to play with them by touching and watching them clammed up.  Since now I am an uncle, I had no choice.  It is only $3 per kilo and I decided to buy it.  I missed eating it.  I had it when I was a boy at my grandma's home.  My aunt would pour hot boiling water to the cockles and we will pry open the shells and dipped in homemade chillies.  I remembered it tasted heavenly.  I do it the same way for dinner.  After about 20, I felt I had enough especially with my wife besides me keeping harping on how dangerous and how could I eat it bloody and risk of hepatitis like a corrupted MP3 file.  Actually, my first 15 or so was fine as I ate alone. 

So we have the rest shelled and cooked.  She like it as it was plump and juicy.

Worker's Party Concert 2013

My brother sent me a video.  It was an Indian singing Hokkien song.  Looks a bit familiar especially the person on the background.  When the females started singing and camera was angled to them that I recognise Sylvia Lim.  Then Low Thia Kiang sang the last bit.  It was pretty good.  So I go to check it out on the internet and found out that it was a concert held in Jan 2013 by Worker's Party for funding raising.  I check further and found the Headquarters is now in Syed Alwi Road and there is a food establishment below.  So I guess their fundraising was successful as LTK was interviewed and he wanted to raise $1.5million to buy a two-storey shophouse and have the ground floor for rent and upper floor for their office.

I am pretty amazed that they have to work so hard with so little meanwhile the fat cats ruling us has no clue what hardship is like.  No wonder they are losing touch.

Working Elders

I was reading on the comments section of a study done on elderlys working past 65 years old.  One commentor said it is their choice to work, otherwise they will be bored.  Frankly, I am not sure if an elderly would work at physically hard and challenging job if they have other options.  The commentator cite one conversation with an elderly worker and use that against every other comments who were lamenting, cursing or blaming our government for such putting our elderly through such hardship.

Our government gave a lot of scholarships to foreigners, China, ASEAN and Indians.  Our government pays for tuition fees, lodging and meals for the students.  Meanwhile, our poor Singaporeans have to prove many times over before they can get a pittance called bursary.  This must be the policy of meritocracy.  If you have good academic results you are showered with gold, if God forbids you are not the top scorer, then you have to pay yourself and if you are too poor, you must show documented proof.

This is the survival of the best academic results. 

So if you are illiterate elder, you are out of luck if you live here.  In Canada, all seniors are ensured to have housing and subsistence level of living.  Here we have one of the world largest sovereign fund, we gave money to foreigners but a tightwad to our poor citizens.

First World to Third?

Our per capita GDP is one of the highest in the world, our Gini Coefficient is also the highest in the world.  The foreign population percentage is also high up on the rank maybe with exception of Brunei and other oil producing countries.

When my wife told her mother the incident of my bicycle parts were stolen, she says this is a huge problems in her flat where bicycles parked below were stolen or have parts stolen.  We have a social problem of petty thefts.  Our country, our home is infested with petty thieves.

Are we moving from First World to Third?  I am sure the statistics will prove that Singapore is the safest in the world and petty thefts is low compared to other countries.  So our Government have big National Priorities to work on and have no time for petty thefts.

Have our Government heard of "broken window syndrome"?

Stripped!

Yesterday, I blogged that my bike tyre punctured and I was pushing it until the rear wheel seized and locked.  So I locked the bicycle on the PCN and go home thinking of collecting it the next day.  This afternoon when we went there, the bicycle was stripped of everything that can be removed.  We were shocked!  The bicycle seat, two water bottle holders, cellphone holder, torchlight holder, even the paddles that need spanner were removed!!

I am very sad.  I heard that this happens in Malaysia.  However, I did not expect it to happen in my hometown.  There are plenty of construction right at the PCN.  You will need Allen keys to remove the water bottle holders.  I am very sorry that our country considered very safe is becoming a cowboy town.

What a Day!

This morning, I decided to test my scooter for endurance since it is fully charged.  I ride it all the way to Lorong Halus.  The chain connecting the motor to the wheel drop out twice.  So I fixed it back.  On the way back from Lorong Halus, the chain broke completely.  I have to call for emergency service(The Wife) to pick me up.  She was all stressed up and worried thinking I may have an accident.

This evening, I rode my bike to Punggol Point and right at the traffic crossing outside Punggol Marina, the rear wheel became bumpy.  The tyre is completedly punctured!  I thought I will push my bike to Sengkang Community Club where I can get it repaired and pay them at a later time.  As I push, the rear seized up.  I have to lock it to a fence and come back for it. 

In one day, two equipment failure.  It is a terrible day indeed.

Bad Breath After Nose Operation!

Smells terrible! was my wife's exclamation for the last few days.  She thinks I did not have good dental hygiene or did not shower myself clean.  Today, she figures out it smells like rotten meat.  I know how terrible this smell is.  It is putrefaction.  I suspect the blood clots in my turbinate is decomposing.  Although I keep using nose lavage, there are cavities in my sinsus that I cannot clean.  I also feel that there are blood inside my nose.

As the inside of my nose is healing ever slowly, I now noticed the sound of my breathing while sleeping.  I used to snore loudly but never hear them as I was too deep asleep.  My ENT surgeon told me it will take 100 days to heal completely.  So all I can do is to wait for time to pass so that I no longer smells like rotten meat.

Bad Omen

The Wife insisted I wear helmet while riding.  As I wear my shoes, I was thinking I may be jinxed.  So I send a prayer just to make sure that my ride will be as usual.  Unfortunately, on the way home, I brake to take a drink and went off balance and fell off the bike.  I skinned my knee and hurt my palms breaking my fall.  Worse of all I landed on the grass full of ants.  They are crawling all over me in a heartbeat!  I took my time to recover from the shock of the fall.  My right knee was quite painful as some skin came off.  One patch is bleeding and another patch is all white(fat layer).  What bad luck I have this morning.

Anyway, the fishes I bought were fine.  I put 3 in a small tank and unfortunately the water quality must be bad and they died.  These fishes cost $2 each.  What a loss.  My arowana has $6 worth of food in one meal!!

National Day Rally

PM used the stories format for his speech.  He recognised the work of pioneer generation.  The tangible recognition is the Red Card.  It is $10 cheaper.  I am disappointed.  Why must an old folk use a Red Card instead of his or her IC.  Everything in the system are computerised.  So why must an aged citizen remember to bring this all important card to enjoy a $10 discount.

PM also talk about career success with lower education.  He got his examples from Keppel Corp.  It is very clear Singapore largest employer, the Government do not have examples where you can achieve career success when you do not have a degree.  There are always examples of people achieving success without formal degrees.  However, he did not show the percentage of successful careers of non-graduates to percentage of successful careers of graduates.  I bet you the numbers will show clearly graduates outperforms non-graduates by a huge margin.   While non-graduates can be successful, the ones that achieve career success are like those who strike lotteries. 

On the hot issue of CPF, he explained the policies and how to monetise your house.  It is clear that he misses the emotional hot button.  The retirees have to rent out their rooms or house.  They have to live with their adult children or invite strangers to live with them on their retirement.  How many old folks will be taken advantage of by strangers? What about the risks of harm?  I feel very sorry for Singaporeans who contribute to our country have to find ways to monetise their homes and open themselves to potential risks with strangers.

There are no perfect solution.  However, spending millions on Gardens by the Bay or 50 years of Independence and at the same time being a tight wad to the citizen poor is a mindset of a Capitalist.  We are living in Singapore, Inc and not Singapore a country.

Zi Char in Alexander Village

B1 wanted to try the zichar stall, Keng Eng Kee.  We tried the other "clean" stall in Alexander village a couple weeks back.  Today, we had deep fried fritters, salted egg prawns, coffee pork ribs, soup and spinach in 3 eggs sauce. The Ming Kee deep fried fritters was not so good.  The rest of the dishes were quite good.  We enjoyed the food.

B3 wanted the claypot tofu but the waitress did not register our order.  Anyway, we were full after the four dishes and decided not to order it.

Alexander Village is a good place for food but you have to go early i.e. before noon to get a carpark.  Otherwise, getting a carpark will not be easy.

Discomfort in my Head

I have an indescribable headache.  I think it is the gum that is causing it.  I feel uncomfortable, drowsy and yet not really painful.  It could also be due my nose operation.  However, this feeling is strong only after my gums were slit open and then sutured back with two exposed capping.  I also saw that the screws were a little rusty.  Maybe it is just blood clot on the surface of the screws but they did not look good at all.

The good thing is my nose is on the mend.  My left nostril seems more patent.  Right side feel clogged usually.  If I dig my nose, so far it is blood clot and not dried mucous.  I hope the improvement will continue.

Alfresco Dinner

Today is the first time we ate at our front yard after moving our outdoor table from roof garden.  We had move the outdoor table for a few months now.  When we first moved in, we used to eat at our roof garden.  It is a chore to move all the plates and cutlery up.  But I enjoys bbqing and eating at the roof garden.  It is cooling and the night sky can be very nice.  It is quite different at the front yard.  There are biting insects and plenty of stray lights from front porch lightings and garden lights surrounding the swimming pool. 

All 3 boys are home tonight and our current maid is quite a good cook.  We had stir fried kailan, sambal sotong, fried chicken drumstick and leftovers dishes from yesterday's dinner.  It is nice to have the space to eat our meals in different location.  I am grateful for Buddha's blessings

Morning After Gums Surgery

My right side is sore after the surgery.  No bleeding (good sign) but I am nursing an uncomfortable feeling in my head.  I am not sure if it is a headache or it is due to my nose operation.  I can tell you one thing.  It is not good to have different part of my head cut even though is it controlled and professionally done.

My breathing is still loud and now I can hear flapping sound as air go in and out of my lungs.  My ENT doctor assures me it will get better as the wound heals.

Capping of my Implant Root

This morning, I visit my dentist and I thought was a simple procedure.  I was surprised that I needed injection of local anesthesia.  My dentisl cut opens my gum and put a cap onto the two implants.  It was a lot more than what I thought it would be.  My cut has to be cut and the implant exposed.  Then the blood has to be suck up to keep the site as dry as possible.  Then the cap was screw on.  After that my gum is stitch up.  I had 3 stitches.

He also gave me strong pain killer for today and tomorrow.  I have to go and have my stitches taken out a week later.  One month later, I have the new crown made.  I guess I will need an impression done and then two crowns made in the lab.

Pursuit of Happiness

I found my last disc of Finding Your Element.  If according to Ken Robinson, if I am in my element even with the risks and uncertainty, I will be happier. 

What is my element?  I still have no idea what my passion is.  I enjoyed reading a lot but how to monetise reading?  Reading is on the expense side of according.  I love projects but have so many half done projects especially electronic projects that I know I am not going to be an inventor.  Teaching and coaching is in my element.  Somehow, I am unable to make money helping others to gain skills and competency.  I tried writing and keeping this blog updated at all time.  So far, the readership is low.  So it will take me 3 years or more to earn $100 from Adsense, the minimum for the check to be cut and sent. 

As I review my skills and capability, I wonder what could I be in order to be in my "element".  I loved to be happy.  In fact, happiness is my top priority.  I do the gratitude exercise, I live my life well and I enjoys working.  But it seems hard to reach the level of nirvana or flow or ecstasy which is my new goal as I read Ken Robinson.  Am I setting myself up for failure?

I know one thing for sure.  I will continue to write everyday and reading good books to improve my mind even if happiness eludes me.  Maybe my current routines should generate happiness for me.

Effective Medication - TamiFlu

TamiFlu is very effective.  B3 improvement is dramatic.  He is back to his regular routines.  I am impressed by the quick efficacy.  After one day, his temperature is down and he is no longer lethargic or complains how bad he is feeling.  At $95 for 5 day, it is $10/tablet.  The pharma company must be making a fortune.  Maybe if the price comes down, the volume will go up.

Social Compact

I remembered The Straits Times columnist Chua Mui Hoong wrote about social compact between the government and the governed.  I belong to the governed.  Recently, the little guy who managed to rock Singapore and stirred big shit has caused the government to react and talk a lot giving plenty of assurance and to me full of mambo jumbo as I have no clue what was said except to ensure I am continued to be kept in the dark about CPF.

On the TV, a man dressed as a woman prance and dance as he sings.  It is advertisement for the pioneer package which luckily I am not qualified(means I am young!). Then there is communication on Medishield Life which says "oh it is easy, you just have to fill up God knows how many forms and authorised the hospital to make the claims for you".

Frankly, all this befuddles me.  Why as a citizen, my IC cannot confer automatic rights to healthcare?  Why must I authorized someone to claims from my "insurance"?  Why is it where I live determines the level of subsidies?  A citizen is a citizen is it not??

My youngest boy had fever two days ago.  We gave him extra strength Tyernol but have little effects.  So on National Day, we brought him to Mount Elizabeth Novena for treatment.  A neighbour recommended as it is reasonable price and waiting time is short.  The waiting time is at a reasonable half an hour.   The doctor saw him and did a swab test.  We have to wait for 15mins for the test results.  It was confirmed he has Influenza A.  So the doctor prescribed Tamiflu.

The bill for seeing a doctor for flu is $294!!!  To say we are shocked is an understatement.

Who can afford to visit doctor?  I know it is a private hospital but the bill will be about $150 if we were in a restructured hospital and then we get generic drug and no test will be done or Tamiflu prescribed. 

The leader of our government publicly stated he wants to attract more billionaires to the country.  How will our millions of average wage earning citizens be able to afford healthcare?

National Day

The parade is on.  The same old songs to a new tune.  Not so many flags nowadays during National Day.  I guess when you are not a Singaporean at heart, why would you want to hang National Flag.  The country is now 49.  I also remember the Diet which is the Japanese dominant political holds power for 50 years.  Maybe it is time for change.  Will it change for better?  I do not know.  However, I don't think we can do any worse with the status quo.  So I hope we get some serious change and make Singapore a better home to live in.

Best Thing is Home

It is a long week of going from one place to another.  The Japanese way is to wait until the exact time of appointment.  So we have to kill time somewhere if we arrive too early.  We must make sure we arrived 5 mins before appointment time. 

Tokyo is hot and humid.  This time I did not eat tonkatsu.  I had mostly yakitori and one western meal.  I am also tired because my nose is blocked and I have to breathe through my mouth cause the throat to be dry and sore.

The good thing about home is familarity.  I remember the same joy whenever I returned home in Oakville.  We go for holidays in US.  And it is nice to come back home to Canadian Tire, Miracle Ultramark, Dominion, Loblaws and other landmarks.  Some of the supermarket chains like Miracle no longer exist in Toronto.

Coming home and my family is so happy to see me is a shiok feeling.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

I was hungry and walking out for dinner when the lady who help me get the skincare product saw me and said hi.  So I asked her where to go for dinner.  She recommended yakitori at Kasumigaseki Building.  It is 10 to 15 mins walk.  I asked for help in direction along the way.  Before I reach the yakitori place, I saw Ruth's Chris Steak House.  I saw it in the taxi before but did not realised it is so near the hotel.  While I was hungry, I did not want to spend so much.  So I ordered only crab cakes and chopped salad.  The crab cakes is served in a hot ceramic plate.  It is not bad when hot.  The chopped salad I did not like.  I should have known as the dressing was blue cheese.  I do not like blue cheese. 

Anyway, I checked out the yakitori after dinner.  It looked like a bar where mostly men drink beer and eating the yakitori.  Let's see tomorrow night....

Italian Dinner

I decided to try the Italian resturant near my hotel.  Between hamburger and sirloin steak, the waiter recommended hamburger even though it is 1000 yen cheaper.  So I tried the hamburger and it is not bad at all.  I also had crispy cuttlefish and it was very good.  The cuttlefish is actually quite small, the batter is light and crunchy on top of a bed of green leafy salad.  The desserts were not attractive and it is good that I did not ingest more calories.  Eating alone mean I spent very little in the resturant.  I complete my meal in less than half an hour and paid for it and take a good stroll around Ropponggi.  It is quite a nice evening. 

Bright Light Streaming In

It is 5am Tokyo time and the sun is up and the light coming through between the opaque curtains and the wall.  I woke up since I have trouble breathing through my nose.  My throat is dry and sore I have been breathing through it during the night.  I look out of the window.  There are few vehicles on the highway.  This is the beauty of summer where day is long and night is short.  Temperature is nice and warm.

I loved living in 4 seasons where clothing type changes. Easy to remember events base on seasons rather than months.

Warm and Humid Tokyo

Summer!  It is really warm and humid. Seems like it is hotter than Singapore.  Although it is humid, it is still a lot more comfortable than home.  Walking about Roppongi, I sweat a little only.  Unlike at home where a short walk will generate a layer of sweat on all exposed skin.

It is late afternoon I landed on Haneda.  I took the Monorail to downtown Hamamatsucho Station.  It is express.  So after I get on, it is non-stop until we reach Hamamatsucho.  Then I took a 1100 yen ride to the hotel.  It is really convenient and fast. 

It is nice to walk in the warm evening and with daylight until 7 plus.  So it is very comfortable.  I finished my walk with yakitori dinner.

Missing Manila

Recently, in Bugis Junction there is a new bakery that focuses on Cinnamon Roll.  B3 was interested and we had an original and another with chocolate coating.  Then in Dunking Doughnut, there is also a cinnamon roll as well which B3 again bought.  I sampled both cinnamon rolls and nothing like Saint Cinnamon, the Candian chain.  I wonder what happen to the Singapore Franchisee.  It probably "died" like Rotiboy from Malaysia.  Since it is a single product offering.

As I was telling B3 how the Canadian Saint Cinnamon is so much better, I missed going to Manila where Saint Cinnamon is still available.  I like food in Manila.  The ensaimada from Gloria Jean or Red Ribbon, Racks the bbq ribs and many fine resturants in Green Belt at affordable prices.  I have not been to Manila for 3 or 4 years now.  Wish I could go again soon.

Working on My Weight

The surgery is a good start for my diet.  I had to fast for 6 hours including water!  I remember water was allowed previously.  The GA or general anesthesia makes me feel very uncomfortable and out-of-sort after waking up.  I needed to pee but unable to.  My body basically do not belong to me!  It is very weird and difficult.  I am glad the recovery is quite fast.  After a couple of hours, I feel more normal and my bodily functions returns.

Due to the aftereffects of the anesthesia, my appetite was down.  And I start having just broth or soup for dinner.  The weight reduction is slow and easy.  I am down by 1kg so far.  I need to travel next week, so my weight may go back up with the dinners with customers.

Nose Bleed!

It must be the swimming.  I swam yesterday and the day before with no issue.  However, this afternoon, my nose bled.  I probably blow too hard tearing the surgical wound and causing blood the flow.  The blood clot is thick and black this time.  I need to make sure I do no further damage so that I can heal up as quickly as possible.

Breathing Improvements

The doctor's visit is good since some of my clots were sucked out.  Even though it is still difficult, at least small amount of air can go through the nose.  My right nose is swollen still.  The left has more radical work done is still bleeding but not so bad now.  The doctor gave me two puffers to help reduce the swellings.  It is good to be able to breathe easier....