Blogging

it has been a week since my last post and i admit i haven had time to really sit down to sort through the assortment of photos i've taken. Patience my dear friends and photos will come.

Till then, wishing all a happy new year!

Xmas feasting has begun

During this time of the year, feasting is an absolute must or will have if you are not a foodie. My family is the former so the feasting for us began as early as Monday, 17th Dec when we brought our grandparents out for dinner at this Chinese restaurant to eat peking duck. Yummy but too much food.

This was followed by last night's Xmas gathering at my aunt's place where again, food was a highlight. =) of course the company was great and the music and wine was amazing, but what will it be without the food?

Haha. Singaporeans

Photos:
1) Our menu
2) Sharks Fin Soup
3) Peking Duck
4) Honey Chicken
5) Yam Basket
6) Dinner spread at our Xmas Gathering
7) the Beef
8) the gang at the Yang family last night

Baking

The past few days, I have been trying out my mom's new 2nd hand oven, baking shortbread cookies, carrot cake and even baked a pumpkin. It was pretty fun, the only thing i dun like about baking is that there isnt anyone to eat it after that and there is cleaning up to do which is the not so fun part.. =0

Unfortunately, i didnt take any photos of the processes. Too busy baking..

Nothing much going on... few more days to xmas.. more days to me going back to Melbourne. Sigh

Whats up Doc?

Yesterday, a GP in the heartlands of Yio Chu Kang was visited by a fellow doctor in consultation of a queried stomachflu. Upon inspection and observation, it was diagnosed that Doc was had a bout of upper respiratory tract infection. Subsequent medical treatment included a jab of prenisolone and antibiotics BD. Rest was also ordered for today.

The Doc is down.

Side Note:
With the weather we have in Singapore, all you people out there please take care of yourself. Xmas is coming and its the festive time of the year. Dun fall sick and miss out on it all!

Memories of the late TAN KWANG HUNG

This morning, I chanced upon an old photo album. Curious as to what it's contents were I opened it only to be suprised and captured. It was a collection of photos taken 7 years ago at my paternal grandfather's wake, funeral and cremation. My initial thoughts were, 'who the heck thought of taking photos at a funeral?' (and as i wrote this entry, it dawns upon me who the cameraman is). These photos immediately brought back memories of my childhood spent with my paternal grandparents, especially my grandad, who though cantankerous at times was a large part of my growing up years.

Since both my parents worked full time, my sis and I entered the care of our paternal grandparents when we were 7 and 13 respectively. While we never stayed over, most of my daily activities revolved aroud that house. Piano lessons were just 2 houses away, I was picked up for school from that house, my playmates lived in the opposite house.

haha, but life in that house was run with an ironhand. As a unwavering supporter of PAP and a retired Civil Servant, Kong Kong was a no nonsense type of man. He also had a mischevious side to him which was well depicted in my cousin's Mark eulogy.

"Kong Kong's antics often exasperated me. For example, when everyone gave cash for ang pows, he chose to give coins instead (grace: the chinese animal ones? each worth i think 10 or 20 dollars? Useless to any kid looking for cash) Only in the last 2 years when he was too weak to go to the bank, did he stop giving us coins. even then, he had bronze, silver and gold ang pows in varying values. We had to choose which ang pow to pick, always wondering fi we had picked a trick ang pow."

Other adjectives used to describe him included being tight-fisted, grumpy, shrewed, stingy etc. =) He would complain to my mom about how he had to buy me alot of oranges cos i ate like 3-4 oranges a day. but yet, those oranges kept on appearing at home. Yes, he did exasperate us but i guess, i just learnt to, 'one ear in, one ear out'.

Even though my childhood days of living in that house are just memories, little things in life still remind me of it.

DAD
While my dad is not totally like his father, there are some traits of the late TAN KWANG HUNG in him (maybe much to his dismay, who knows). He has the same mischievous trait in him and he can also be quite grouchy at times. But despite the grouchiness, he still offers to pick me up and everything lah (after complaining to my mom of course)

HOUSE
Today, my family has moved into that house. Yes, the house we live in now, 62 Jalan Buloh Perindu is the very house that i grew up in. While it's no longer run in the same way as before, living here will always remind me of my grandfather, the late Mr Tan Kwang Hung.

Would you go this far?

For a free honeymoon trip worth $30,000 to the 'romantic' country of Paris? That's what these couples did. dressed to the nines and makeup artists and photographers in tow, they invaded our country's newest airport terminal in an effort to win that top prize.

I couldnt help but wonder, is it worth it? Well, i guess if you were tight in your finances, what's a little trouble like this? But with our horrible weather of heavy rains or sweltering heat, is it bearable? and how do you seriously look blissful and stress-free when you see others like you trying to take that winning picture too?

So yeah, i'm pretty sure you guys know my answer to my question, NAH.

staying healthy

I'm beginning to feel the little signs and symptoms of illness, the tickle of the throat, the watery nose, the dry throat. With my love ones around me coughing and wheezing away, it would be no suprise to me if i do fall sick. these people dun cover their mouths when they cough, plus we are in constant air conditioning.. how to not pass the germs?

Going to drown myself with H20 in the next few days. Shall try not to have too much coffee which will dehydrate and also try to eat healthy. as for those around me who are sick, take your medicine! Drink plenty of water!

Did you know?
The rumor that doctors are the worst type of patients is a fact! =) they usually are the ones who are bad/lazy medication takers.
Geeze...

Central @ Clarke Quay

In true Singaporean fashion, I roamed the streets of shopping malls yesterday with my sis after she knocked off work. Since she never been to Central @ Clarke Quay as well, we decided to give it a shot. Dad joined us for dinner, which was really funny since we never really went out for dinner with him without mum before. Mom chose to stay at home cos of our new helper. Our previous helper went home after 3-4 years of service with us and we got a new Indonesian helper. Since it was only her first day, mom thought better she stay at home.

We went to this Japanese restaurant at Central which only serves 3 types of Ramen. Run by Japanese, my sister said it was really authentic and really yummy. It was yummy but i honestly dun know what'a authentic considering i have never been to JAPAN.
But, all things come with a price. We ordered 2 Ramen with extra toppings and one side dish and it came up to $41 (which gave my dad a shock). =)





























Afterwhich, my dad went home and we continued on our journey, exploring the new clarke quay (really cool!). The Clinic, a bar really captured my attention. Themed as a clinic concept it had wheelchairs as chairs, hospital screens as demarking one table from another and lights that looked like those in the dental clinic. Check out the website.. =) it's really cool. (http://www.theclinic.sg/index.html)

Since there was nothing much to do there, we started walking to Raffles City to do some shopping and for our desert fix at Canele at the Basement. I was actually looking for the sticky rice tuckshop which i read about in some magazine but couldnt find it. Anyway, it was a good alternative. We had two cakes, sour cherry tart and chocolat Classique both extremely yummy. (chek out their website: http://www.canele.com.sg)

The Rain in Singapore

'The Rain in Singapore comes mainly all day long' Yes, not on the plain but all day long. This time round, nature has blessed me with showers. It has been raining ever since i've touched down on Monday night.

Living in Melbourne, rain is a part of m and it doesnt bother me or make me irritated. This rain however is different from the one in MEL. In MEL, it is a drizzle here and a drizzle there, with howling wind. It lasts for maybe half and hour and you are met with clear blue skies.

Here, it goes on forever. the sky is greyish in colour due to the heavy (and dirty) rain clouds. it rains non-stop and comes pouring down like there's no tomorrow. Yet, i prefer it to the rain in MEL cos, THERE's NO WIND! =)

Check out my encounter with the rain yesterday. and HE really didnt beat the traffic light. So any traffic police watching this, he really didnt! =)

Day 1 - Suntec

Yesterday, since Dr Li was on leave, we spent the day together before he returned to the grind. It was alot of fun, just having lunch, talking about mission trip that he went on, stuff that has been happening in Melbourne and singapore. We took alot of crazy photos too! which i need to edit. but here's a few...
1) Me at Suntec
2) Andrew trying out my glasses
3&4) Taking photos at his house

SINGAPORE

I"M HOME! (more later) =)

Baking cookies for Xmas

The Northern Connect was at it again last Friday! Baking cookies and decorating them to be given away during the festive season. Check out the photos.

Tying down stuff for the year

Tying loose ends here and there, going for placement, trying to organise everything at the same time is no mean feat. The past few weeks has been tremendous for me. It's difficult to describe it all, but one statement which has seen me through is this,

'focus on giants - YOU stumble;

focus on God - Your GIANTS tumble'

This phrase was created by Max Lucado in his book . Pretty good book. You guys should have a read of it. This is coming from a non-Max Lucado fan.

I want to write more. But just tired. Tired and no inspiration and too much things on my mind to write.

Signing off for now.