Progress!

Finally, I made some progress with learning computer programming.  I decided to give up Vagrant and stick to Python.  I now can work with Geany and Scite editor and type the commands as spelled out in the books and the programs behave as they should i.e. I can get output.  Right, I am still at print lists e.g. Hello World and manipulating list such as deleting words in the list.  I feel so much better!

Down with Sore Throat

I am feeling weak and bones are aching at the joints.  I am also feeling feverish.  So I take it easy today and no fishing.  I just drink Berocca and taking Panadol.  It is great to just rest and relax.  To past time, we went to Toastbox and sit there for almost an hour waiting for B3 to finish school.  I wonder if I fall sick because I was caught in the rain and then continue to fish for almost 3 hours.  I am no longer like before.  I should not try to be tough it out like my younger days.

Lunch Time Fishing

High tide was lunch time.  I managed to catch 2 fairly big rabbit fishes.  The smaller one, I release.  I give both fishes to my fellow fisherman who is a regular.  He caught one too.  But both mine are larger than the one he caught by line.  I feel so proud.  He eats the fishes he caught.  I was totally sunburned!  This morning after sending B3 to school, I went to the hawker center and there I met a good friend.  She is having breakfast with her son before sending him to school.  The boy is same age as B3 and is doing his "O" level as well.  She noticed I am very dark.  She thought I have been golfing.  I told her it is fishing and cycling.    Too much sun can make a person tired and lethargic.  I have less sleep as well since I have get up early to go to school:)

YaYoi Resturant and Tuna Cutting in Liang Court

B3 has been working hard on school work in preparation for "O" level.  So we asked him what he like to eat for lunch.  He chose Liang Court for Japanese meal.  We reached there past noon and the carpark is full.  So we have to wait for someone to leave before getting a carpark space.  He surveyed all the different resturants and foodcourt stalls and decided on a new resturant just opposite Meida Supermarket, Yayoi.  The food is good and reasonable in price.  We order 3 sets and upgrade a soup to clam soup from the miso.  B3 says it is the best karaage he has tasted.  The tonkatsu was crispy outside and tender inside.  The gravy of the mixed set with egg is delicious!  The meal for 3 comes to $60.

So my good friend and fellow Rafflesian, Boh Tong, this is one resturant I highly recommend.  You should try it.

After our very pleasant meal, we pass time in Meida Supermarket.  We plan to buy grocery for steamboat.  While browsing, there is a huge Tuna on display.  The Tuna is 68kg which B3 gets a kick that it is even heavier than him.  The announcement on the PA mentioned that there will be a tuna cutting at 2pm.  So we delay our purchase for the show.  It is the first time for my wife and boy.  I had seen it in Tokyo when my Japanese colleague caught a huge tuna in his fishing trip and gave it to the resturant.  In return, the whole office have a sashimi dinner and I happened to be there on a working trip.  The cutting took a long time.  In Liang Court it took less than 15 mins.  The difference is in the resturant, the chef cuts the whole fish by himself.  In Liang Court, the cutting is removing the head, slicing the collar and cutting the main body into 4 pieces.  Then an army of cutters take over to slice the fish into smaller portion for sale.

We had a very pleasant afternoon!

Fishing with B1

B1 do not have any classes today.  So he goes fishing with me.  There were many fishes and caught a lot of mullets.  However, even though I had a few chance for rainbow rabbit fishes, I was unable to net them.  I did not throw far enough or it is too rocky and they managed to escape.  We release the bigger mullets and brought the rest home for the tank.  Our arowana has a big feast.  I am happy with a big mudskipper I caught yesterday.  It is quite active.

It is nice to get something and feel good about the catch.  Best to release some back as well.

Curry Hor Fun

I accompanied my wife to Suntec as she has an errand to run.  So while waiting for her, I went around the mall to check the resturants and food courts.  Plenty choices.  I was hoping to go to my favorite Tony Romas.  The only problem is last order is 2:30pm and my wife is done at about 3:15pm.  So I settle for Kopitiam's Ipoh Hor Fun.  It offers something different, curry hor fun.  The food is fine.  I will not go for it again.  The pork chop looks fresh and appetitizing.  However, the oil use to deep fry it is stale.  So it is not good.

While I was killing time, I met an ex-colleague.  We had a short conversation.  She is not so nice to talk as she only want information from me but is very secretive about herself or her son.  So it is hi and goodbye encounter.

Retail is not doing well in Suntec.  Many shops are gone.  Mostly resturants or food outlets are in business.  We no longer need to buy new stuff from shops.  Internet shopping is much more convenient and prices are way better.  Also we can buy used stuff from other people through Carousell.

Punggol Sea

The strange chemical smell in Punggol pervades the beaches for a week now.  The water bottle which I used to bring the fishes I caught home smell of kerosene.  The news in Malaysia reported fire at a chemical plant.  I suspect it may be a aviation fuel discharge to the sea during the fire.  The pollution in Punggol is high.  The water turned black on a regular basis and when the water is black, there will be no fishes.  If there is heavy rain up North, the water and beaches will be strewn with plastic containers of all kinds - pails, bottles, etc.  Together will tree branches, planks and drum will make a huge flotsam.  I have see mattresses and armchairs as well.

I love the sea and it is quite depressing to see the poor conditions it becomes.

Mid Autumn Festival in Ci Yuan

We decided to go Ci Yuan for dinner.  The carpark is quite easy to get a lot.  However, tonight we were in for a surprise!  We arrive about 7pm and the open hall is full of people.  There is a festival on!  The carpark was full and I decided not to be picky and took a lot that just vacated by another car even though it is a long walk to the lift lobby.  Indeed, I made the right choice.  All the lots were occupied and some cars are waiting.  When we go up, we see that an orchestra going.  It is a band from a Primary School.  The music is popular kind i.e. the type I can appreciate.  So we have an enjoyable meal.

After the band, there are a couple of singers and then a sketch.  We did not stay for the sketch and left for home.

Free Audiobooks

There is a good range of free audiobooks in Gutenburg where free books can be downloaded.  The books are classics or those whose copyrights have expired.  If you are interested in old books read to you while driving go visit Gutenburg.org.

Programming is Tough

As a student, I love programming.  Now, when I try my hands with programming, it is so tough.  I am too impatient and refuse to do the hard work of learning step by step.  So I need to learn to work on the basics and then can learn some programming.  Also it is so much easier to watch Youtube than to spend time figuring out how to get the programs to work. 

The good thing is nowadays there are plenty of program examples in the net and just copy and paste and hey presto!  the programs run.  It is too easy and therefore harder to think and figure how to write programs.

Backache

My low back pain is not improving.  I need to do the exercises to help reduce the pain.  Taking pills alone does not help.  I feel funny whenever I do not feel the pain.  It is not normal as I expect pain all the time.

I have no idea why I do not have the discipline to exercise consistently.  I even know the type of exercise or stretching that works.  So I just need to work them into my routine just like going fishing.

B1 Finally Caught his Fish!

B1 has been fishing with his friends.  He goes to Punggol, then to Bishan pond but has not caught anything even though his friends did get a fish or two.  They goes to fishing pond in Pasir Ris and out of 3, two caught one each the first time.  His rod broke and he goes to Joe's to buy a new rod and reel.  He spent almost $100.  On Wed, with his new rod, reel and line, he caught an Asian Seabass.  It is monster of a fish!  It weighs more than 1.3kg and 50 cm long!! 

He was so happy finally he caught a fish.  Mummy cleaned it up yesterday which is how we get the measurements.  We were very happy for him as well.

Coincident!

It is quite interesting sometimes when coincidence happens.  I get to know Boh Tong and get his help to learn about blogging.  We keep in touch through our blogs.  Many years later, BT start writing about meeting his old schoolmates and I found we are from the same school.  I was also interested in the story of his teacher who lives in Canada.  I lived there myself for a few years.  A year or two ago, a classmate of mine asked me if I want to join the chat group.  He is my Urologist and took out my kidney stone.  I joined and it bring back lots of memories.  I enjoys the daily chats from everyone.  Some more active than others.  I only contribute occasionally by forwarding some interesting videos.

Now BT shares that his classmate is my Principal's son.  I heard he has 2 sons and both are doing extremely well.  My Principal died of cancer around 7 or 8 years after we left school.  He lived a private house which is worth millions today.  His widow died more recently.  All these info come from the chat group.

It is quite interesting that we share a common thread and found out many years later after we know each other.

Pistachio Grill

My RI classmates recommended to check out this resturant in our group chat.  So for lunch on Wed we just drop by.  The place was empty.  I decided to do what was recommended by my classmate and ask for beef and mutton not in the menu.  The beef rib is not in the menu and cost $60.  Seems a bit pricey for a rib.  Since B1 is with us, we have 3 persons it is ok to try.  We also ordered a salad.  The salad is quite small and the dressing is unique.  It is very tasty.

The beef rib is so so good.  It comes with basmati rice.  We enjoyed our meal so much and rave about it when we pick up B3 from school.  We asked him when is he available to have lunch with us.  He says Friday as his exams finishes at 11:30am.

Come Friday, we went there for lunch and the place was fully booked.  We were shocked and disappointed that B3 may not have a chance to taste the food.  Luckily, a table for 4 is available and we were ushered to sit and they set up the table for us.  Our 2nd disappointment came next when we try to order the beef rib.  It was sold out!  The chef came out to talk to us and recommended we take the mixed grill and lamb shank.  We also order pita and brinjal dip.  The lamb shank was excellent.  There is a sauce as well.  So mummy loved it so much.  Her mother's birthday is coming up.  So she check with the chef if he can make vegetarian food.  The chef told us he was vegetarian for 17 years.

So we booked a table for Sunday for 7 to have lunch celebration.  This is the first time we have eaten at a resturant 3 times in a week!!

The food is fabulous and no service charge.  We did not order drink, so our meal is about $25 per head.  It is very good value indeed!  If you enter the carpark after 12pm, it is free if you leave before 2pm.  It was free for me on Wed but I have to pay $1.60 on Friday as I enter the carpark 10 to noon.

Physiotherapy at KTPH

For my backache, I decided to go KTPH for physio.  This way, I can go to Chong Pang and buy fruits.  The jackfruit is one of the best deal in town.  I also like the food there.  My favorite braised is always a long queue, so I do not eat the duck there.  However, there is a new stall and it seems quite good but not well patronise as the original stall is so popular.

I also like KTPH physio for the therapist from Ireland.  Unfortunately, they are all gone.  One was a tall beautiful girl who massage for my wife.  When it is my turn...sigh!

Another the food and fruits are the main attraction.  I bought 4 mangoes for $8 and one kilo of jackfruit for $6.  So we get our fruit fix:)

Fishing is a Matter of Luck

I went to cast my net during high tide.  Spent an hour not getting anything.  Finally, I decided to go back to the same spot and see if I can catch the mudskippers.  I missed them a couple of times as they managed to run very fast.  Finally, I managed to cast my net and got them inside.  Unfortunately, the holes are too big and both escaped.  So I decided to cast into the muddy water again.  I had tried several time with no joy.  This final throw I caught 4 rabbitfishes.  It is so cool and exciting.  I tried to put the 4 in the tank but they are not doing well.  So I took them out and put them in the freezer.

Too Much Sun

I am feeling tired and have a hard time cycling back home after fishing at Punggol Point.  I was fishing from 3:30pm onwards.  It may be the sun and I felt dehydrated even though I have my water bottle and drink up frequently.   It is nice to fish when the water is clear.  I missed the rabbitfish as they ran away when they saw me.

Too much of a good thing can be bad.  So I should not stay in the sun for too long.

Zatoichi TV series

It is nice to wake up late i.e. 7am.  I simply make my morning coffee and oatmeal.  Then watch Zatoichi show.  It is nice to revisit the show that was very hot when I was a kid.  I remember everyone rushing to the community TV and all the other kids will be shouting "Shintaro, Shintaro".  The TV series is on Youtube and I think it is broadcast in Honolulu.  I loved watching the shows over and over again.  It is Horatio Alger type of story.  Very simple.  Zatoichi is a blind masseur who is fast with his sword.  He is a gifted gambler and fighter.  So he fights the local bosses who bullied the farmers, cheats on gamblers or ill treat prostitutes.  He always kills his opponents in a quick flash.  Even well trained Samurai fell in a single stroke.  After killing all the bad guys, he will leave.

While it is very idealistic and violent i.e. fighting violent with superior killing skills, he always fight for the weak and oppressed.  So, I just enjoys the fantasy of a world where a superior man can right the wrongs that are inflicted on the villagers or a group of people.

RabbitFish

My Fish is Still Alive and Well

On Wednesday, I caught the fish in the picture below.  It is still alive and swimming.  This fish is edible.  I have no idea what it is.  I am happy it is doing well in the tank.  It is spotted and looked like a discus.