Malacca Trip

Last Thursday night, mum, sis and I travelled to JB and on Friday we drove to Malacca. Sis and I had dinner at this quaint little cafe called Stolen Cup along Jonker Street while mum rested at Pines Hotel at night. The next morning, I had food poisoning from the buffet breakfast. I got a jab from the nearby clinic to stop my vomitting. Also, I rested in the hotel for the rest of the day, while mum and sis went to visit my 90+ year old aunty. That evening we caught a spectacular performance of Encore Melaka, Impression Series. That was a real visual feast. By Sunday, we had to travel back to JB and on Monday, return to Singapore. I caught up with Ee Leng at Regent Hotel for an afternoon tea to have a belated birthday celebration with her.

In another week's time or so, I am planning to go to Malacca with mum again, to run some errands.

Korea and Shanghai Holidays

Two weeks ago at this time, sis and I have just touched down at Jeju Island for the first time of our lives. It has been a memorable trip to Korea and Shanghai for sis and I. We viewed beautiful autumn colours in the mountains, made kimchi and Ginseng chicken together. We also went to one day Red Ginseng Spa which was loads of fun. At Jeju itself, the most delightful visit was to Joanne Bear Museum. We also visited the theme park called Everland and there were beautiful flowers there. It has been over fifteen years ago since I last visited Shanghai. The cityscape of Shanghai has changed. A lot more skyscrapers have shot up. We even went up to the 100 storeys high Shanghai World Financial Center. The night view was stunning from up there. I'm truly grateful for my friends who prayed for my sis and I during the trip. We got along well enough and had minimal conflicts throughout the trip. Praise God.

1st Post in October

My 29th Baptism Anniversary on 7 October went by rather uneventfully. It was a Monday and I was in JB. I managed to get the car fixed up - re-filled the air-conditioning coolant and sprayed painted parts of the car that had scratches here and there. RM140 for the air-con coolant thingy and RM250 for the paint. Total damage was RM390. Converted to SGD would be around $130. Upkeep of a car is no joke but definitely cheaper to do so in JB methinks.

I had lunch with mum at the Penang Cendol restaurant in Mid Valley in JB that day and did some errands getting some blueberries jams and eyedrops. Tuesday was again rather uneventful, except for homecooked dinner at Bishan. Mum cooked some yummy pigs trotters I think. Wednesday was when Alice, ST and the girls (Elsa and Illary) and I met up at the Chicken Rice Restaurant at Thomson Road for dinner - Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant. This restaurant is one that I have frequented since I was a child, like Illary's age or even younger. It must have been around for 30+ to 40+ years. I was glad to share the yummy childhood authentic hainanese dishes there with them.

After the dinner, we adjourned to Alice's hotel room at JEN hotel, at Tanglin Mall. It was a fun time while the girls played with their new Nintendo game which Alice bought for them.

Oh, I forgot to mentioned that my family had a lovely birthday celebration for my nephew Josh last Saturday on 5 October 2019. It was his 6th birthday and EH ordered a really adorable bear-shaped birthday cake for him which we all adored. B booked a chalet apartment at Changi Village Civil Service Club and we had the cake there. We also had a sumptuous dinner at The Coastal Settlement restaurant nearby.

Last night, I had a long chat on the phone with Charis. It was nice to just catch-up with her on the phone. D's stint at Subway has ended. Next Tuesday, Uncle L, Aik Ghee and Chin Hong will be having a farewell lunch for Chin Hong at Manle - a Teochew Porridge Buffet lunch - looking forward to that.

Also, looking forward to autumn tour in Korea with sis coming up end of the month from 24 Oct to 2 Nov.

Evening Post on 10 Sep

Today is the tenth day of September. September is my sister's (2nd Sep) and my nephew Sam's birthday (20th Sep) month. Today is cch's birthday and tomorrow, 9/11 is Imel's birthday. I have quite a number of friends who are September babies. Stella Leong (4th Sep), Sng Lee Lee (5th Sep), Chew Li Ping (18th Sep) and I think Meirong's daughter Peace (18th Sep), Uda and her twin sister Ude, Pat and her twin sister Iris, and JC classmates Gayle and Margaret too. I think my colleages Karen and Aik Ghee, and an alumni Htike as well. What a lot of September babies I know.

During lunchtime today, I visited SGX Centre for the first time. Attended a seminar on Blockchain and enjoyed a free buffet lunch there with B. There was free flow coffee and tea too. B has a new nick today - Snorlax. That is because of the strong resemblance between them.

Michele from Perth sent me news that the pots which I have stored for her in JB are now considered mine. They are gifts from her as she does not see herself returning to this part of Asia anytime soon.

My sis' birthday was celebrated with a sumptuous birthday lunch at Xi Yan, along Maxwell Road, on 1 Sep. On the actual day, mum, sis and I went to Mid Valley in JB from morning till late afternoon and enjoyed a makan trail there. In fact, each of us got a new piece of clothing too. And sis treated herself to hair treatment at the salon in SOGO. Dinner was had at Prego, in Raffles City, next to Fairmont Hotel. It was a lovely birthday celebration for sis without any occurrence of major tiffs or arguments. Peaceful and joyful. Much to thank the Lord for.

About 25th August

I sent out three birthday greetings on 25th August - I, K and T. I received replies from I and K but heard nothing back from T. I was supporting T financially until I had to pay my own mortgage. I think our friendship/relationship went downhill after my support for him/his family stopped. It is rather unfortunate. My friendship with I and K started in my Uni days in Perth... close to 20 years ago. I has two lovely boys and K two adorable girls. Yesterday, I went to the courts to settle her divorce with J. It was a sad day for her but I hope it is the end of a chapter and the beginning of another good chapter ahead soon.

B's birthday celebration lunch

It was an all you can eat Suki-ya buffet lunch at Bugis + to celebrate Ah B's 52nd birthday. He was wearing his favourite red orchid shirt. It's either his favourite or he must have a few of that similar designs. A and I arrived at about the same time as B. Uncle L went to collect the mango birthday cake from Polar. Uncle C and N came along soon after. What a lot of food we had for lunch. We started off with a birthday blessing from our Alumni Chaplain for B. Part deux of the celebration was back at the EAST office where we had cake and coffee. We lit the cake with five candles using the lighter which we borrowed from the security guard uncle David. Uncle L prayed another birthday blessing upon B before we sang him a Happy Birthday song. :D

I think his lunch and cake celebration has been quite a success. I certainly hope he enjoyed it with our company as much as we did his. B was very kind and generous to give us a treat on his birthday. :D

Late night post on 21 August

Just a year ago, I remember celebrating B's 51st birthday at Pastoral View with a hotpot dinner gathering and a Lana chocolate cake. It was fun and memorable for me. I hope it was so for him too. Tomorrow, I get to have a birthday lunch with B - another hotpot gathering, at Bugis + Suki-ya restaurant this time, together with uncle L, N, A and C. I got him a 3XL Bigfoot made in Blangadesh tee-shirt as a gift. Hope it fits him.

Looking forward to tomorrow's celebration.

On a separate note, my 4S2 class has formed a WhatsApp chat group initiated by S Chen. Fabulous idea and great way for us to keep in touch, get connected and be all prepped to attend Founder's Day Dinner on 25 July 2020 for our class reunion as it will be our 30th anniversary since graduation. Another event to look forward to next year. :D

This afternoon, we had ladies fellowship at Sumire Yakitori Japanese restaurant at Bugis Junction. It was S, K, A and me. We shared about highlights for our week, month and some lessons we would like to pass on to our children, or those closest to us. K shared about her visit with her family to Jewel, A shared about a similar visit too, S shared about her birthday buffet celebration at Jen hotel where the noodles were bland but the desserts were good. I shared about watching the NDP Preview from the grandstand with L's family this year - a first for me, an experience that was truly memorable.

As for life's lessons, K shared about teaching her children to never give up. A shared about teaching about resilience, thrift and creativity. S shared about how life is a learning journey. I shared about how important is it to put God as a priority.

1st Post on 1st August

Seven months have gone by in 2019 and this is the beginning of August. August is my dad's birthday month. If papa is still around, we would be celebrating his 82nd birthday at Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant this Saturday. Nonetheless, the family will still be heading there for a commemorative meal in remembrance of papa's favourite Teochew steamed fish. I gather it will be a rather hectic Saturday for me. There is a 2pm Ordination Service at Immaunuel Christian Church off Alexander Road. I will be getting five hand bouquets and doing the photography for the service. Praying that everything runs smoothly.

Besides August being Papa's birthday, 3rd is also P and R's birthday. 7th is HW. 30th is KW and 31st is N. 22nd is A, B and E. 25th is I & her siblings, K and T. Plus 9th is Singapore's 54th birthday too! What a celebratory month August is.

1st Post of July

Half of July has whizzed us by so so quickly. Today is already 19 July 2019. A new batch of students have started with us at EAST for about a week in our ALEPH program already. Last Saturday, it was such an honour, privilege and fun to go with Lucy's family to the NDP Preview at the Padang as we were given such good seats to view the parade. It was a few rows behind where our Prime Minister Lee would sit on the actual day. We had such a good view of everything! The parade was preceded with a tea reception and followed with a dinner buffet. It made me very happy. :D I was happy to meet Ms Seah and got reacquainted with G from NIECF days.

In the past week, I got to know two of my Meadow Spring neighbours better too - Fiza and Shuyan.

Aunty Siew Lan passed on

Last Friday morning, 21 June, Uncle MW called me early in the morning about 7am to inform me about Aunty Siew Lan's passing. Mum, sis and I made plans to fly into KL by Sunday afternoon.

Uncle Meow Lock held two wake services for her on Saturday and Sunday. The burial service was on Monday. I managed to attend the Sunday wake service and Monday morning service and the precious family time with her prior to the service.

Reply from B

Since the chat group has been dissolved, there was no word from B till today. He texted, "I just back from open sea diving today. No earthly signal for last 7 days... Sigh... [Smiley face]" and so resumes our conversation again.

I do not understand why I get so affected whether I hear back from B or not. The only reason I can think of is that I am somewhat emotionally invested in the friendship we have. To what extent I am invested, I am not sure.