Wonderful Bapsang Korean Resturant on Saturday

We brought B1 and B3 to Wonderful Bapsang.  This time we had the hotpot with beef and the fried chicken.  The free flow kimchi is change with steamed eggs, green vegetable(baby bok choy), a root vegetable that looked like ginseng but not and eggplants.  The kimchi are very good. I like the root vegetable, eggplant and the steamed eggs.  This time the bill is about $70 or $17.50 per head.  It is a weekend, so the price is much higher and also there are less people. 

Steamed rice is $2 per bowl which is quite dear.  Otherwise, I think it is pretty good value especially during weekday lunch.

Prices are up at Nanbantei

I decided to eat my favorite yakitori resturant again after long time.  I used to go very regularly.  After they changed their menu with much higher price, I had stopped patronising this resturant.  Today, I check their lunch menu and the old favorites are back albeit at much higher price.  The standard bento set is now $15.80 instead of $12.80 but at least it is back.  I guess many regulars may have stopped patronising with the new menu.  The problem is the standard bento set now do not have any dessert and also the shredded cabbage do not come with a slice of lemon either.  Not only price is up, the serving is less.

Wonderful Bapsang Korean Resturant in Suntec City

Wonderful Bapsang is beside DBS Bank in Suntec.  We were attracted by the kimchi for sales.  I have a weakness for cucumber and the cucumber kimchi looks delicious.  So I decided to check it out.  I am not hungry during lunchtime.  So I decided to try the lunch menu of ginseng chicken.  Half a chicken and soup with no sticky rice cost $10.80 plus tax come to $14.  Regular white rice comes with the soup.  Kimchi is free flow.  So I get to enjoy 5 different types - radish roots, chinese cabbage, fried tofu and cucumber.  It is pretty good deal.

Nanyang Seaview Aquarium is Closed

My favorite aquarium Nanyang Seaview is closed since April 2.  It is my favorite as the range of aquarium products is pretty good and it is only 3 mins drive from my home.  The moving notice states it is going be be in 8 Lor Chencharu but it is just a dilapilated building there.  So I have to go to Yishun Central to buy my fishing net.  Unfortunately, it did not have the large size type.  So I have to buy the smaller alternativ 10" which is too soft for fast violent scoops.

Hair Cut

My last haircut was before Chinese New Year.  It is more than a month and it is uncomfortable especially when I cycle with a cap on.  The trapped heat cause my head to sweat and my hair becomes unmanageable and smelly.  So I have to shampoo twice a day.

Yesterday, I went to my regular barber in AMK central.  Now I feel so much lighter.  The airflow through my hair is so nice and I feel light!

Specific Anaesthesia to my Nerve

This morning I was at Khoo Teck Puat to have anaesthesia injected directly into one of the nerves to see if it can stop the pain.  However, I was just suffering from numbness and not pain.  So the injection is not having it effect so far.

Have a wait for a few weeks to see my surgeon and see what else he recommends.

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP

Yesterday, I went for my 2nd injection of my own platelets.  It was injected into my right knee and both side of my low back at L4 L5 region.  The PRP is supposed to help the muscle and ligaments heal.  After the first injection, I actually has less pain for my right knee but 2 days later, the pain is back and is more intense.  Today, after the 2nd injection, my right knee seems to improve but I get sporadic episodes of sharper pain.  However, it is no longer a continuous pain.  I hope the pain will reduce, if not I may have to go for mensicus cleanup.

Good Friday Morning

I am up at 5am.  It is a public holiday and no school yet I am up early.  My boy need to go to school for his PW or project work in late morning.  He was so tired last night that he fell asleep on the sofa and did not wake up to go to his bed.  He is still in his school uniform.

I think his social life is taking up much time.  The amount of texting and watching his and his friends photos, videos and messages dominates and I am a little worried he does not spend much time on his school work.

Seems like this is a common problem as the Deputy Principal and other school leaders talk about making the students drop CCA in J2 if their results is not up to par in J1's final common test.  B3 is quite engaged making new friends and trying out the CCAs he enjoys.  He is experiencing the time of his life.  I do not recall B1 being so enthusiastic in JC.  B1 did well as he was pretty focused on his work.

I had my morning coffee and breakfast at the poolside as I do not want to disturb B3.  It is nice we can go outside when the living room is occupied.

Now that the sky is bright, I am back in my home office just to blog.  It is going to be a beautiful day.

Happy Easter!!

Free Books

I am downloading free books to my Kindle or rather B2's Kindle.  It is fun to read fairy tales.  I feel like I am in Primary School again.  This time I am reading the Folk Tales from Japan. 

Although I have the Kindle for sometimes now that B2 is studying in Canada, I did not use it much.  I have asked him to buy Kobo Aura One.  It has bigger screen at 7.8" and has lighting and so can be read in the dark.  I am looking forward to more reading as it is quite convenient to bring around.

Still I like physical books.  The smell, the thickness and the feel of the paper.  It is something I loved so much growing up.

Red Cross Youth Charity Night 2018

B3 is in Street Dance CCA in school.  This is the first time he is learning dancing from a coach and for free!  Nowadays, the schools engaged CCA instructors who are specialised in their field of expertise unlike during my school days where a teacher takes on additional duties even though he or she is not trained for it.

Last night, the Street Dance group performed in the Red Cross Event.  Considering he is just a couple of months into this program, I am quite proud of his achievement! 

Chong Pang Nasi Lemak

Today is tiring.  We have to do special delivery for B1.  So we go to 5 different locations. From Sin Ming to final location of Woodlands.  It took us about 2 and half hours.  We finish just after quarter past 4 and go from Gambas Avenue to Yishun.  On the way, mummy thought of the famous Nasi Lemak that the boss' son lost millions of dollars in the local casino.  We reached there at 4:30pm.  The store is open and cooking but it is not ready for business.  It start selling at 5pm.  So we kill time by walking to the Northpoint Nasi Bryani shop and buy a takeaway. 

Then go to Gin Thye to buy authentic Teochew peanut candy.  We go back to wait and the nasi lemak store start serving at 5 on the dot!  There are a number of people waiting and the queue formed quickly.  The service is quite slow.  We have to wait for 10mins even though there are only 3 persons ahead of us.

We bought 2 takeaways and one dine-in to share.  The rice has good coconut flavor!  The dishes for quite good.  The total cost is $14 for 3 sets.  Quite reasonable compared to the Punggol Nasi Lemak in Kovan.  The food also taste better.

Monday Morning!

I have not sit down at my workstation for a week!  I noticed my last blog entry was a week ago Sunday!!

It is the start of a brand new week.  Soon I have to send my boy to school.  Then I go fishing.  May have some errands to do.

I also need to consult a doctor on PRP.  PRP is platelet rich plasma.  I have check it out on the internet.  It could help in my healing my sciatica. Or at least reduce the pain.

Home made Yakitori

Last night, my eldest sister came to visit and I invited her for dinner.  I was preparing to cook yakitori.  Early in the morning, I bought a large naked neck chicken.  I deboned the chicken following the youtube video on 1 Michellin star yakitori resturant in San Francisco.  I am quite happy with the results.

I made quite big sticks and my meat pieces are in big chunks.  So it is harder to grill.  I also follow the Japanese way i.e. no seasoning, only salt during grilling.  When the chicken is about cooked, apply the teriyaki sauce.  I managed to reproduce the smoky chargrilled taste and it is so similar to those in a yakitori resturant rather than the Tori-Q which is very sweet and heavily flavored.

It is the first time I used the portable high heat torch to light the charcoal and while disengaging the torch from butane cannister, I burned my pinkie.  Now I am sporting a huge blister.  I will need to pay attention when dealing with high temperature metal devices.

Chong Boon Hawker Center

We had our dinner there. After reading Boh Tong's blog on the oyster omelette, I was cracking my head trying to figure out which stall as I do frequent this food center. after.  It was the carrot cake stall.  The price is pretty reasonable at $4 a plate.  The oysters are plump.  However, I prefer Ah Chuan's as it is more crispy.  Ah Chuan is in Toa Payoh and opens only after lunch hours.

We also had the bak kut the.  The soup is very peppery.  I like the braised pork leg.  It is quite nice.  We only ordered lean pork leg, vegetable and bean curd skins.  The total comes to $11.50 as we have only one rice.  The price in Chong Boon is pretty reasonable.

Quiet

My place is dead quiet save the whirling of the fan.  The sky is cloudy yet, some stars are visible directly overhead.  I am reminded of the clear sky in Reno.  The millions of stars dot the nightsky.  No wonder UFOs are usually sighted in US.  The horizon is not covered by tall buildings.  No clouds, so any moving lights can be easily spotted and video taped.

My throat is quite sore and I feel not so good.  My low back is giving pain.  I am up early.

Now I will wait for day break to send B3 to school. 

Down with Cough

First started with phlegm in the morning.  Then sore throat and now I am down with cough.  I am taking the medication and they makes me tired and sleepy.  With my low back pain, it is difficult to cough as pressure on the abdomen cause shooting pain.

I will need to seek treatment for my lumbar problem.

Fixing Up Additional Lights for B3's Study Table

We moved B3's study table to the visitor's balcony.  There is insufficient lights in that area.  We had spotlight and it is not bright enough for reading and writing.  So we have to figure a way to install additional lights.  This morning, we went to Philips in Toa Payoh to buy a 4ft strip LED light.  This is like a flourescent light but very light and low power consumption.  Cost on $17 and change.  We install the light right away.  It was not easy to fix the wiring as it is in a confined space up in the false ceiling. 

After many tries to connect the wires into a connector, I found a way to put both hands inside the false ceiling through the small opening that is used to put in the recessed light fixture.  What a relief it worked!  I am pretty proud of my handy work:)

Now the study area has bright light and B3 can study in a well lite environment.

Chinese New Year Day 2

It was mad rush to clean up the house during eve and also I got myself into a big project of changing the plunger for the toilet in my boy's room.  The water closet was leaking and I had to change the plunger.  I thought it is just take out the water tank and put in the new plunger.  Boy!, was I mistaken!  The metal that holds the tank to the toilet completely rusted.  It was almost impossible to remove. 

My wife went to Google this problem and the best recommendation is to saw off the part.  Sawing takes more than 2 hours.  The rust is stubborn, the tank is made of porcelain and I had spray the rust liberally with WD40.  First, WD40 is unable to work through the rust.  Then it made the porcelain extremely slippery and the rust is thick.  These combination made it very hard to work in a confine space.  Finally, I manage to remove the rust and fit in the new plunger. 

To add insult to injury, the leakage came back after 2 days.  So it maybe another part I have to replace.  Now the plumbing shop is closed until Feb 23.  So I will have to wait until then to get more parts.

Or I need to remove the tank and look at my installation.  I may have done something wrongly.

Stock Market Correction

Finally, the stock market no longer keeps going up.  The forecast on the stock market crash was on the video for so many years and stopped being produced about mid 2017.  The doom prophets had been proven wrong! 

All the doom prophets say there will be a crash and it will be the biggest ever seen.  But the stock market has been defying the forecast!  Now there is a correction which is 10% drop.  When will the crash happen?

Many people will be affected.  Many will gain.  So like elevators, stock market goes up and down.  The only problem is when it go down, it is so fast. 

Day 2 in JC1

B3 want to go to school early before the 7:30am official time.  I send him at 6:25am and we reached about 6:40am.  I thought the school was going to be empty and boy was I mistaken.  It looked empty but as I go to the Marymount entrance, plenty of students are going in. 

RI JC is a motivated group or maybe because they are taking MRT to school and it is better to be early as the crowd will be massive at the later time.  I can only speculate the reasons for being so early.  I know I was late many times as taking bus making bus skipping stops for overcrowding.