ManicMarch

March has indeed been one consequential and anxious month. The 1st week saw eldest & family going through an apprehensive waiting game. Waiting for that friday for the release of her much awaited result. Then, for the next 2 weeks, frantically going through the pages, calls and webs checking for information before application begins. Going to the various instituitions to seek and clarify. Just when things seems to be looking up, eldest had to be rushed to A&E for an acute appendictis operation. This week, going to the various drop boxes for application submission. The timely visit from mum brought some relief. Visited the hospital again today. This time, dad's regular check up with the nephrologist.

Appendicitis

A dull stomach pain around 11 am on tues. Eldest thinking it must be her gastric working up, drank a glass of milk. By lunch time she was doubling up but, still swallowed down her lunch. At 2.3opm the GP assured us that eldest was just suffering from a gastroenteritis as she had no other symptoms. No fever. When eldest started doubling up and rolling on the floor in pain, we sought a 2nd opnion. When eldest cried out in pain as Dr Chan gently pressed on the lower right abdomen, he confirmed. Acute appendicitis. Immediately, he wrote a letter and insisted eldest be admitted to the A&E ASAP.

Finally, after waited 2hours for the blood test, a CT scan and 4 hours later, she was finally wheeled into the OT at 5.30 in the morning.

Quite an experience for the family. Eldest, the 1st time being operated on. The excruciating pain left her too weak to protest to all the jabbing needles. Discharged two days later still in pain. Wound pain. Suddently the realisation that even laughing uses the stomach muscles.

What troubled me most was the fact the surgeon took so long to confirm eldest's condition even thought the GP had wrote a letter. At every stage, I had repeated to the Doctors, that she was taking Dhatracin antibiotics. Could that have suppressed the fever?

EarthHour

Writing my thoughts in darkness as youngest insisted that the lights, and lights only be turned off at 8.3o for an hour. Earth Hour So visiting grandpa and grandma too had to sit in darkness watching the telly and eldest holding a torch to keep herself visible to others. To keep all from accidentally touch her airing stitches. She has been having a belly exposed as the stitching tread ends are giving her unnecessary discomfort as it rubs against the clothing.

FunAlley

Never mind the bruised thumb and broken thumb nail. Last week's 4 hour lesson organised by the school really taught youngest a few tips on how to bowl. Spend thursday afternoon at the Bowling alley. A first in a long while. Both of us had a gutter start before hitting any pins. Apprehensive but then realised that no one was interested in our scores. We warmed up. A strike each after two games. Next to us was a young family of 5 and a maid. Took two lanes and when the one year old was sleeping the maid joined in the fun. Mother very heavily pregnant still managed a few strikes. Another avenue of wholesome family fun. Will be there again.

FoodSample

There people who loves sampling food then politely smile compliment and walk away. Then there are people who would sample the food, politely ask a few questions, then leave, armed with a packet or three. I fall into latter. So it's quite impossible to visit the supermarket at the basement of Isetan@ Shaw Centre without walking off with more than intended to purchase. At anytime of the week, it's teeming with some japanese food fair with fresh fruits, savoury seafood, japanese snacks all directly flown from japan. Complete with japanese personnel manning and local sale ladies, encouraging everyone to sample. The seasalt sundried sardines were heavenly and healthy, but at S$19 for a pack of 7? I had to drag youngest away. The very refreshing sweet lemon at S$5.40 for one? I bought the kumquat at S$11.50 for a pack of 12! The lady serving me was just so enthuasiatic even though I had hesitation written all over me. Asking me to try try try the assortment of all the fresh fresh fruits. I just could not walk away without buying after I had eaten slices of lemons, kumquats and pomelos on her encouragement.

StiffUpperLip

Eldest has decided not to attend any of the open houses conducted by the three universities today and tomorrow. From past experience, attending open house of secondary schools and Junior colleges, it's a showcase of all the CCAs and the impressive marketing talks by principals. With such stiff competition, it's a matter of being accepted into a course. Most frustrated was eldest classmate, scoring 7 straight 'A' trying to apply for the A* scholarship. She was told, they are only considering those who have taken all the subjects in H3 level. All she wanted was to be bonded so she could do her research and not have to worry about not being employed. She WANTS to be bonded.

BowlOver

After 9 weeks of enrichment @ the classrooms, it's fun time. At the bowling alley for many who opted in the week long game feista organised by the school. Here across 30 lanes, the instructor patiently guided, the mostly 1st time bowlers the dos & don'ts, the stand & movement of a bowler. Youngest came home with a very very tired left arm and a gleeful gleam in her eye.

MissedRide

Finally at the most crucial stage of the race, the engine choked and so missed the last express ride to continue on the smooth journey. What next? With a huge load of baggages and no contigency plans it's going to be confusion, riding ahead into the tunnel.

StewRoast

A stalk of australian leek, chilli, carrots, radish and mushrooms, it's stew. Stew Roast Pork. With the Sauteed onions the rest of the colourful greens join in till fragrant. Add the chicken stock and simmer. Just as the leek is really soft in goes the roast pork cut in thick cubes and a piece or three of the bone ham. A dash of sweet wine, pepper and salt. 1o min of simmer. Thicken the gravy sprinkle some coriander and it's ready to serve on steaming hot rice. That's what for dinner last night. Hmm...so RachelRay.

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It's when the head is swirling with so much happening, that nothing comes to mind. The northerners bickering when it should unite in these troubled times. The constant constant reminder of the thousands who are and would be jobless. How travel fairs still draws huge crowds and the poor elderlys are reminded that all is not lost. There are the nursing homes across the causeway. The human aggression surfacing with fierce competition to suceed and survive. Finally when the rain arrived on our shores, the lightning struck Merlion smack right on it's head!

CakeDay

In my family, birthdays are normally remembered with a delicious cake with brightly lit candles. In my younger days, mum would bake. Once a horseshoe shape cake with butter icing sprinkled with desiccated coconut and smarties to add colour. Now, it's a visit to the favourite cake shop. With friends, it usually a birthday card, sometimes a surprise present enclosed. Now it's a phone call/sms. I know a friend who would remember family and friends' birthday with a meal. Another would buy something precious to commemorate. Yet another would take a photograph at every birthday to chart the passage of time.

Delicious apom with banana and corn topping, along MacAlister Rd, Pg. Had to give it a miss as someone ahead of me had ordered 40 pcs.

Preserved For a View

Utter repulsion. On watching what goes on behind close doors of the embalming room on the telly. Revulsive on how the lifeless loved one is being violated so nonchalantly. Organs removed, soaked in formalin, the blood suck out to be replaced with more formalin then the organs are bagged and stuffed into the empty body cavity. Sewn up dressed up, made up, to look good for the viewers and to withstand the duly accorded religous rites. Can I say no to embalming?

AloeVera flowering

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Originally uploaded by tlilings
On visiting mum's garden last week, I discovered Aloe Vera flowers. With mum's green green fingers And Tender, Loving care, everything flowers and fruits.

Pride&Ego

Ego, makes you say/do the silliest/darnest while

Pride, stops you from saying/doing the most sensible/humble

It's exasperating.

How Ego & Pride sometimes make or break the zest of life.

Swollen&Angry

When the foot swelled slightly, he thought nothing of it. Water retention maybe. After all was not the first time. By sunday morning, the 4th day, the angry swollen foot had became too painful to touch. Finally at 3.30pm, With hercules effort and pain, he finally arrived at the Casualty of Gleaneagle. On checking, he was running a temperature of 38.9C One look and Dr Leong confirmed. Cellulitis. Warded and put on iv for two antibiotics. My dad's sunday escapade in Penang. Have been back home to keep mum company this week. Lesson: never assume.

TheReason

Every morning, as I drive up this heavily congested road, I see him, a scrawny weather-beaten old man. Laboriously pushing a bicycle load of collected cardboard up the slope during the morning peak hours. Buses gingerly gives him a wide berth as they manoevre the already narrow underconstruction road. He lives with a purpose/reason. And that is why he is still going strong.
This picture was hastily taken at the traffic light junction.

FrenchFries

Unhealthy with high sodium and fats. Cooked in ultra-hot oil which is high in trans fats. Consumming large amount of Potatoes with it's high glycemic index food can increased risk of diabetes. Yet, It's still a favourite/handy snack for many inspite of it all. I see children as young as one, sucking on it slowly savouring the salt. I see elderly contentedly tucking into the packet of pipping hot fries. Every mall has an eatery that serves FenchFries. Yes, I love my Fries too. With or without the chilli sauce. Don't you?

FoodThoughts

Due to other commitments, only met up with her yesterday. Still she remembered. Saved a box of her homemade chocolate nut & cornflake cookies. So thoughtful of her.

Green green grass

In the heart of an old housing estate lies a patch of green. Of late, this turf has gone into hues of brown and yellow, due to the recent dry spell. With shallow root system it just might have dried through and through. Then a sudden shower, two nights ago. This morning, on my walk, lo and behold, the dried turf is slowly coming back to life. Fresh tender green blades emerging from the brown withered centre. There is something to be learnt from nature. Slowly, this patch is turning green once more.

SweetPortion

Dessert in a spoonful. Just the right portion for something so rich, at a recent buffet. A combination of two poisonous food according to a recent documentary, "Dining with death" gingko and taro. Of course, I could not resist the banana fritter. Would have tasted heavenly if only the banana was the ripe pisang raja.