Tooth Broke!

Yesterday, while eating roast pork for lunch, my pre-molar broke!  The skin of the KL roast pork was tough.  My teeth is quite weak after repair for several times.  I went to 2 dentists for assessment right away and there is a way to temporarily patch or get a crown which cost more than a thousand bucks!!  Unfortunately, I will need to pay up as what will be life without ability to eat all kinds of food?

The treatment nowaday is quite advanced.  There is a milling machine that will make my crown and my teeth can be fixed in a single day unlike old technology which will take a week.  Price is a lot dearer.

Fish Farm Disaster!

I had 2 kim bak lo or Asian Seabass in my fish tank.  Unfortunately, I had electric shocks two days ago.  I tried rewiring and it did not work.  So I took off the water pump.  Unfortunately, my seabass did not do well.  One was dying.  So I freeze both.  They are still quite small.  Together, they weighs 480 grams.  Anyway, we will have to eat it now that it is in the freezer. 

I spent lot of time troubleshooting and was unable to solve the problem of leaking electricity.  So I have been busy with rewiring a couple of times and clearing up the garden.  Hence, I have not be updating my blog.

Today, I google the problem and one electrical engineer ground the water and it works for him.  I tried the same solution and it works!  So now, my saltwater tank is grounded, I no longer get electric shock from it.  The problem is all the fishes have died.  So I will have to put in fresh fishes and see how it go.

Beautiful Sunday

It is a quiet morning.  The whole estate is waking up late.  My family wakes up late.  So it is me and the birds chirping.  The garden cum cleaner is out and about doing his chores.  I have trim off my honey melon to focus the growth on the main branch.  So far, I have two melons and hoping to get a couple more.

My barramundi are alive and well.  The small fishes are diminishing in numbers.  Soon they will run out of live fishes and I have to get lucky to catch more fishes.  It is quite hard to have good fishing days with clean water.  I hope the pollution will go away and fishes will love to come to the shore.

Excitement of Opposition Winning

The excitement of opposition winning in Malaysia is over.  Now it seems to be business as usual.  I hope the conditions in Malaysia improve for the citizens.  They have been suffering for long time and ringgit has devalued.

I hope the opposition will continue their ideals and work hard to improve the economy and the life of a regular Malaysian.  I enjoyed my trips to Malaysia but the safety is always a concern.  Once petty crimes are taken care of, it will be one of the best country to live in in Asia.

Lucky Luke!

I am envious.  It is so nice to live in another country that is 6 hours away.  My good friend and fellow blogger is now living in Japan with his in-laws.  He loves Japanese food and is now putting out the sights and natural beauty of Japan.  He does not life winter but it is really mild there.  If I have the chance, I can only go to Canada.  It is 26 hours and the winter is 6 month with a few episodes of -20 degress celcius!!  It is easy for him to travel back to Singapore whereas Canada is a long long flight and cost a lot more.  Boh Tong probably has free flights for his retirement benefits.  However, even if not free, the budget airlines are far more pocket friendly vs the long flights which no budget carriers are ready to touch.

Even now with B2 in Canada for school and mum is there, I also think very hard for visit.  It is exhausting travel to say the least.  So yes, the best long term visit is another country within Asia where flight time is reasonable.

B2 Homecoming

B2 has checked in to his flight in Tokyo.  He went there for short holiday before returning home.  He will be home this evening as he has a transit in Hong Kong airport. 

I think he misses his hawker food which he must have told his mummy.  I am glad we will be a full team again tonight.  He will spend his summer here and maybe take a couple of exchange courses in NTU.  His baby brother will have to go back to sharing room with him.

I met an old classmate who suffered a stroke and he seems to have recovered well.  I am very happy to see him in good shape.  This is the first time I met him since Sec 2!  He is now working in a Christian organisation.  He has 5 kids, 2 girls, a boy, girl and the last is another boy.  Baby boy is in Temasek IP program.  All his kids do not have tuition.  So the kids are doing extremely well indeed!  2nd girl is in NTU doing her PhD program in Biomedical  researching on superbugs.

First grandchild is coming along.  Always with the eldest being a girl becoming grandparents will be earlier than peers with boys.

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.