Grocery bags

Slowly, gently this blazing red dot is doing it's bit in preserving this big blue planet of ours. Starting with every 1st wednesday of the month, all the supermarkets here are encouraging shoppers to bring their own bags to load the groceries or donate 10 cents for every bag used on that day. Of course, there are those who protest, as now they will have to pay for trash bags. Still others are not too frazzle. Just don't shop on That wednesday.

When will people stop thinking of themselves for once.

Swatow Lane

Just had to nipped down to Swatow Lane to check it out. The ice kacang stall. From the basement of a prewar house to this new spanking concrete stall. The compact pushcarts that could churn up such delicious treats. It's just not the same. That nostalgic feeling of Penang charm. Now it's just another hawker centre.

Olivia

She is coming to perform her maiden concert one night only here in SINGAPORE!!! Seeing her sing would truly be super. One of the few squeaky clean female singer that has weather through the decades and still looking fabulous in her 50s. To see her performing would be sheer nostalgia. Only one problem, the price of the ticket is just too too pricey. I'll have to give this once a lifetime event a miss.

Custard apple

Oh yes, the other favourite in mum's garden. The angmoh nona, custard apple . As usual you'll have to beat the birds to it. Either you pluck it before it's fully ripen from the tree or share with the birds. Must be the delectable sweet scent that wafts the morning air.

Back home, back to nature. Join in the harvesting of jambu air in the garden. The fruit of Mum's dilligence in watering and feeding while dad's patience in wrapping all the buds. Hiding the fruit from the unrelenting insects. Ultimately it's the bats acute sense of smell that never fails to pick out the ripe fruits.

The week that was

The week that was had me everywhere except to be sitting in front of the computer.

In Penang, spending quiet time with mum and dad.

At the stadium as a parent volunteer for the atheletic meet.

At the clinic for my annual medical checkup.

In front of the piles of bills, notices and letters from the schools on the upcoming exam schedules, extra classes and not forgetting the parent meet up.

In the study room. Coaching. Time to tickle the grey matter on Primary 4 mathematical questions. When unsure, stop the urge to use algebra. It's the age of models. Convert the messy question to model and Presto!! answer can be seen.

In a flash we are racing into the middle of year. And I thought my year just began.*sigh*

Oto san

When looking for a book to read, I would like to introduce this book written by Ototake Hirota, to all. Though translate from japanese, it's written in simple but heart warming tone. A book on true grit and fierce optimism in an unforgiving society to these ability people. Recently he is again in the news. This book is available only at Kinokuniya bookshop. Do have a read.

At 67

Zoom...... off I fly to the pearl of orient tomorrow for the weekend. Dad is 67 this sunday. Born and bred in Penang. Into a family of 12 siblings. Going to school meant cycling 9km to Penang Free School. Landed his 1st job a the statistic department in Kuala Lumpur. His 1st car, a Renault number plate BQ719 The first few who foresaw the power of the computer technology. Became a system analyst. The 1st in Malaysia to computerise the billing system for the waterworks department in the 80s. His expertises were sought by the worldbank . Sending him travelling to Vietnam, Nepal,China and Monggolia for consultatiion work. Now a granddad to 5 grandchildren.

Crash!!!

Sun: Argh........the screen went blank while MDD was using it.

Mon:Argh........need to be patience while MDH checks it out.

Tues:Oooh...... must not let my fidgeting fingers shows. Patience.

Wed :Hmm......things are looking positive,MDH concluded tha the mother board need to be Replaced

Thurs:Yipee....it's fixed!!! Now to treat it with caution.

Pointe

Cobble cobble mend my shoe......*sigh*
Jack of all trade master of done.

Red red

The latest craze in town for the frustrated. Cheap thrill for an adrenaline rush. Speeding through Stop Red. May they find their adrenaline rush too in the Siren Red.

Sunday

Suddenly felt like having a bowl of porridge. Savoury. Zipped to the market at 7.25am for some minced meat. Some corianders and spring onions. Ginger and chilli.

Presto my breakfast at 9.00am

Souvenir from Singapore

When asked, what is truly Singapore, Made in Singapore and Only in Singapore, I am lost.

Bak Kwa? Fridge magnet? Risis brooch?

Would these make perfect souvenirs?

When in Japan it's normally the too cute to eat candies

Korea, it's the traditional crafts

In Australia it's the kangaroo and koala

In Singapore? Still thinking hard.

Language stew

Much has been said lately in the blogsphere on being understood.

From day one, our ears have been fed with a mixed and mashed stew of english and chinese. With a couplet or two cantonese from grandpa or a dash of hokkien from grandaunt. Once awhile a soothing teochew from the uncle next door. Not forgetting the treats of hakka from granduncle when he comes avisiting. But most of the time it's english stew of american , aussie and british or chinese flavoured porridge. Of course special occassion a mellow malay from pakcik.

With such a rich language cauldron, it's most difficult to figure out how to make the perfect boring plain porridge or stew.

You say correct or not correct? Hmmm....now should that be in chinese or.......???

Small is blur

The day has finally arrived. I have to admit. I am now long-sighted. I need to remove my spec to read the minute prints. Straighten my arms inconspicuously to read my smses. I have heard horror stories from girlfriends of mine trying very hard to adjust to bifocal. I will not have those urgh..... ..not just yet anyway. Now I truly understand when someone say" You have reach the big 40" And I thought it stood for huge diamonds!!!

For a start, a bigger watch.

What next?

Lasik? Need to build up my courage first.

Bittersweet

It has been a long 22 years interval. Each pursuing our own goals in life. In different parts of the world. Total silence until 2 months ago. Yesterday we met up. All the memories came gushing back. In those 3 short hours we reminisced. Strange, on looking back, it seems like just yesterday but it has indeed been 22 years ago.

Laksa and hokkien mee

Splashed in the papers today, 2 full pages of Penang's most guarded secrets. Yikes!!! and the march holiday is just round the corner!!!

Berry berry

Attired in burberry

holding a blackberry

in a gorgeous mulberry

enjoying a strawberry

sipping a juicy cranberry

listening to Chuck Berry

observing Halle Berry

dining in Barnbury

Bunion

MDD has been on her toes so much that this is what has happened to her right toe. Bunion. Solution, a spacer between the big toe and the 2nd toe and tight bandage. The peril of being a ballerina.

Second opnion

October last year, after suffering a mild bout of tummy flu and headache, FIL's GP suggested he goes for a routine blood test. To his horror, 76 year old FIL's creatinine level was at 300umol. The nephrologist he consulted in Kl suggested that he be prepared for dialysis. At the latest in mid Feb. Otherwise be prepared for the worst. FIL was shocked. His doc friend suggested he seek a second opnion, this time in singapore. The Prof looked through his medical records, ran some tests, had a long talk on FIL's condition and what action he intend to take. FIL is to watch his diet and see him once a week while on his prescribed medication. Dutifully, FIL would take a coach down on tue morning, see the Prof on wed morning then catching the 11 am. coach back to KL. That was early january. Yesterday Prof was satisfied with the progress. Creatinine level has come down. Next appointment with the Prof will be in a months time. FIL has never been so relieved. Come saturday, he is off for a week's golf tourment in Macau/China with the rest of his RSGC buddies. Life is back to normal with some changes. Why the big difference in opnion?