Zooming In

Walking back after lunch, caught this still busy having his.

M for Magnum

Clarke Quay on a saturday night a buzzing with life. The cool breeze and the many events taking place there. The Food fest on the bridge selling all the favourite local fare and the flea market. A place for youngsters to show off their creativity and also to sell them. As we strolled down the stalls, something caught our eye and made a U turn back. According to the young entrepreneur, she handmade this. After scanning through her delicate/intricate ware, I too picked up a dangling swarovski earring.

FallingTrees

After all the reports in the papers, I shudder everytime I'm caught driving in torrential rain. Of sudden floods. Of falling branches and uprooted trees. For the past few weeks, there have been reports of branches falling on cars with one death when a tree uprooted and fell on a moving vehicle. This morning, along my area, I see the NEA/NPark not only prunning the brances but also chain sawing the whole tree up and removing those tall thick trees along the road. Planting new scrawny tree sapling in it's place. Preparing for more foul weather in the weeks ahead.

ToothyIssue

A board full of thank you notes. She is soft spoken and never fails to patiently explains to me each time I visit her, where and how to place the toothbrush correctly to get rid of that plaque. So much have changed. 20 years ago, if it's cracked, broken or loose, it's gotta go. Now, soothing background music to calm the nerves. The local anesthetic works wonders. Every possible means and ways to prevent the tooth from being extracted and if that is not possible, implanting is now recommended. And so faithfully I visit her every half yearly. It's Dentist day Today.

Food For thought

Recently had dinner at a Little Peranakan restaurant near my home. Ordered most of the all time popular peranakan dishes and waited in anticipation. Then, I glanced into the kitchen opening and I noticed. Just two kitchen staff inside preparing. No sound of the chef tossing his wok nor any sound of a bustling kitchen. Then I realised. Most of the items on the menu were dishes which need only to be heated up. Babi ponteh, ayam buah keluak, ayam rendang to name a few. The vegetable offered were either sayur lodek, sambal timun or rojak chinchang. In other words, no cooking needed. I found this disturbing. Startled when the food arrived in petite portion. Seems like we are being served in a restaurant, paying restaurant price, with reheated food. Will not be going there again.

DivaDrama

Drop Dead Diva. My latest wanna watch series. Comedy-drama, taking a refreshing perspective on some everyday issues. Been catching snippets of this series always missing the ending as I doze off during commercial breaks.

BpSahmYan

An invitation to tea on a friday afternoon? With friends I've come to know while reading each others' writes? A rare opportunity especially when one is back from the States, the other flew in from Sarawak while one made specially arrangement just for this meet. I could not refuse. After the initial introduction, there was no stopping. Chatting, laughing, talking and listening. Amazing how writing could bring us together. SAHM, the ever thoughtful one, even bought us a huge yumyum kueh lapis.Thank You Girls for the wonderful time.

Garden Fest

Amongst the huge collection of creatively displayed plants, this caught my attention. A pitcher plant so nicely nestled in the damp of the mossy log.

Garden Fest

The Singapore garden festival returns. Visited the exhibition on it's opening day today at the Suntec Convention Centre level 6 & 4. From the previous visit, the flowers and plants can only look fresh and perky for only 3 to 4 days in the week long festival. The varieties of exotic blooms, creative decoration and presentation was just awesome especially the wild orchids and flowers from Australia.

Cycling@EastCoast

On impulse, we rented a tandem and two bicycles and off we went. Cycling along the east coast park on a lovely cool sunday evening. Been a long time since we last came here to cycle. Youngsters cycling and blading, little ones running, dogs walking, famillies and friends barbecuing, it's Saturday!

After two hours and 16km later, we had to no qualms on going for a well-deserved dinner at the nearby restaurant. Our next family cycling trip will be in 4 weeks time.

Milo Truck

Youngest saw the truck and instantly moved towards it. Yes, a cup of Milo from the Milo Truck. A once a year treat for the students. On Sports Day. In Penang too, I remember as we patiently queue under the scorching sun, for that cool cool cup of thirst quenching sweet Milo. Only one cup per coupon . How we wished we could get just one more. According to youngest, The Milo truck makes the best cup, as she helped herself with another cup. The Milo truck, parked at the Health and Wellness exhibition at Suntec convention centre until tomorrow.

Land of Pickles and mantou

Didn't feel like the 4 hours and 20mins in the air had taken me far from where I can from. The only difference is, the people are passionate about their politics and their produces(after spending 5 days listening to our guide). Walking around downtown, above ground, it's either the cigarette smoke or fumes from the cars that you breathe. Every other person here puffs. Well-groomed toy dogs some dressed to their nines can be found in cafes, restaurants and malls. Breakfast of porridge with pickle and bun is a tradition. The latest trendy drink, white bitter gourd with honey. First impression on my maiden visit to Taipei, Taiwan.

Caring Is.....

After weeks of browsing the website, making calls, emails and asking around, we found a volunteer, two doors away. She is a year older than youngest. This would be her first time caring for a pet. Her mum does not like having pets(mothers have this uncanny intuition that finally it becomes mum's charge) but felt this would be good, short course on animal caring, for her daughter. Came over this morning to get acquainted with our fur ball and to handle him. There should be a Rent-A-Pet service in s'pore, for families who cannot decide if they're ready for long term responsibility. Maybe then there'll be less abandon animals. This site says it all.

MissingMobile

While on an outing with her friends, youngest lost her mobile. Through sheer carelessness and complacence. Devastated and clearly upset as it was her first mobile and only 6 months old. Son upon hearing her plight when up to his room and gave her his old mobile. Touched by his gesture.

C for Pet

This is 8 human year old Henry. A pet to a dutch lady who also share her home with 5 cats and 2 dogs. Henry does not like to mingle with others especially hens. Every evening he would sit beside the dutch lady watching the telly together. Came to know about Henry when SIL animal-sat for the owner.

Art on Wheels

When someone found the letterBox graffitied, it was instantly reported. Turns out, it was a publicity stunt by SingPost. Not surprising then, when the, professionally graffitied MRT when about it's journey, everyone gave no notice. It could have been an advertisment or another publicity stunt. If I had seen it, I wouldn't have thought anything about it too.

IceKacang

They don't make IceKacang like they used to. And so my other half, who has a very sweet tooth, decided to make it his way. A huge bowl of shave ice, generous drizzle of rose syrup and carnation milk, dollops of sweet corns and red beans. Give it a good mix. Enjoy.

9pm@theFoodCourt

9pm at the food court on a wednesday night. Bustling with patrons. Some on wheel chairs. Still in their attire and tag having a meal with the family members. Across from the foodcourt, there's Starbuck, Delifrance, Mr Bean and 7-11. Looks like any ordinary office/mall but it's not. It's at the 1st level of TTSHospital. Eating with family is an asian way of bonding. "Have you eaten" that's how the older generation greets one another. A chance, a reason to spend time with loved ones.

When mum's not cooking

Sound homely so we walked in. My mum's cuisine. Since it's a peranakan n hainanese cuisine, we ordered the buah keluk chicken and the hainanese pork chop. Youngest loved it while eldest though it odd to be eating rice with french fries that came with the pork chop. Had their speciality hainanese chap chye. I enjoyed it. Going back for the yam nest. If that's what it's call.

HolidayHeadache

We're going for a short holiday on the last week of June and once again, I'm stuck with this question. Where is Fluffy going? Didn't I say we can't have a pet. going away.