Frog Porridge !!!

Tucked at the side of People's Park Complex is a small shop known as the "Good Old Frog Porridge" restaurant that specialised in FROG PORRIDGE (What else !!!). Stream of patrons waited in line for their turn to have their share of the "little jumping thing", cooked in claypot and served bubbling hot.

On this rare Sunday afternoon, a couple of poor frogs became meal to the family. Cooked in 3 separate ways (Black sauce & spring onions, rice wine and a little spicy one with dried red chilly), we indulged together with 2 claypots of hot porridge and some greens.
The contents of the 3 claypots were quickly emptied and what's left were piles of bones that used to be "little jumping things".

Prawn Mee delight

After weeks (maybe months) of not attacking the Prawn Mee stall at the Carlton Restaurant, Serangoon Gardens, Clarissa-Anne finally had her wish. The newly acquired skill of "bargaining with the alarm clock and winning" saw her missing her choir session for the 0700 hrs morning mass ... as Dad (duty driver) refused to wake up (basically ignored the wake-up call).

After the wonderful bowl of "prawn mee" was placed in front of her (and after the photograph was taken) ... INDULGED !!! Yummy !! Yummy !! Not too bad a start for the Sunday morning.

KPC "Live" Chicken

KPC (Kensington Park Condo)Chicken .... or more rightfully termed KPC Rooster .... patrols the fence between Blk 6 and the Serangoon Garden Secondary School (SGSS) in the morning. Watching housewives going to the market and goodness-knows-who (maybe some "chicks") doing their morning runs, the lone rooster happily "cock-a-dooing" away, to wake-up the residents of KPC. If only this rooster could be trained to SMS (Its the only way to way up the children !!!). Looks like KPC residents now have some form of "emergency ration" (along the fence !!!)

Fireworks ... in the car !!!

It was just an evening where nothing went right. It started with the confirmation from Henry that the car was not ready for collection thus have to bare with the old, stand-in HONDA ACCORD that rattles when it hits the 60 km/hr speed mark (... with FASTEN SEAT BELT & NO SMOKING SIGN) coming on. The weather and slow traffic contributed to the dampening effects. After picking up Clarissa from Sengkang, CTE creeping traffic added more fuel to the blood pressure machine.

Finally, when off the Marina Bay area, we were greeted with lots of CAR PARK FULL signs and police/security guards simply waved cars off their entrances. What's more, the fuel indicator was at "E" (Enough !!!) and the orange light was shinning brightly. Decided to drop Sarah, Jared and Clarissa off first, top up petrol and return to join them. That of course did not materialised. More congestions along Shenton Way and crawling traffic and impatient taxis did not help to calm the nerves. Suddenly, the whole evening looked like everyone else was also having an empty petrol tank (... or just celebrating the GREAT FUEL SHORTAGE DAY. !!!) There was another long queue of cars waiting to get into the petrol station.

With $10 worth of petrol (no point filling more as have to return the car the next day). Joined the many other cars to participate in the Great Robinson Road jam. (There just have to be a traffic accident ahead !!!). After a few detours, it was ridiculously difficult to get back into the Marina Bay area for a 2nd attempt. (The heart may not be able to take it !!!) Called it "QUITS !!! ", returned to Serangoon Gardens Market, indulged in a bow of Bak-Chor mee and ended the day.

A weekend (11-12 Aug) at Tanjong Pinang

Owing to the Saturday crowd, missed the 1st ferry (Falcon 3 at 0850H) to Tanjong Pinang, Indonesia thus failed to meet up with Thomas Pang and Gan. Finally met them at Pelangi Hotel with their group of church friends who were there to distribute bread to some villagers at Kawai (near Tikora Beach). With Erny's assistance, proceeded with the routine shopping at the pier/market for traditional foodstuff (fulfilled KPI#1). As usual, indulged the Pelangi's home cooked dinner (KPI #2) with the Group (all-in-all, 10 pax with MAJ Lee Boon Eng in the group) followed by a late supper of Mee Goreng, Kopi-O and Otak-otak with Thomas and Gan (Interesting conversation dating back to life at Kangkar-Upper Serangoon Road. Realised that we almost grew up in the same teochew speaking neighbourhood and probably climbed the same rambutan tree). Ended the day with another order of 100 sticks of otak for Thomas.

As Pelangi is always very accommodating, they mobilised more staff for the otak-otak preparations the next morning. Staff in traditional dress were seen darting to & fro carrying otak-otak to ensure that they are all packed in time for us to board the 1000G (Falcon 3 Ferry). Lina, the restaurant superviser, personally packed the otak sticks in pack of 50, all ready for the trip to Singaproe. Made it to the ferry terminal just in time and was back to TMFT with 300 sticks of yummy otak-otak (KPI #3 fulfilled). Good break for the weekend.

No NDP tickets, downgraded to 3rd class seats

After many years of watching NDP at the Stadium/Padang, the time finally came to join the remaining Singaporeans to watch NDP from TVs, road sides, tall buildings or just anywhere to get a view of aircraft and fireworks. Armed with a mat, 2 folderable chairs and some snacks, the family was off to One Fullerton to "choop" mat space to await the start of the parade. Dressed in tradtional "red & white", daughter No #1 was ready for the kill .... with a badge reading "I LOVE ME" to match her dress.

With a little luck, arrived at One Fullerton to find a the few remaining parking space hidden at basement 2. Though it was about 1530 hrs then, the choice "mat space" seats were already overwhelmly taken by families who were there much much earlier (they were probably there for breakfast as well). Some were equipped with 2 days ration and radios, whilst others had logistic support pouring in as the time gets nearer to the start of the parade. Before long, the Police has closed the area as it was over-crowded. Albert, Shawnna & family had to find another venue as it was impossible to squeeze anymore space without conquering it from someone else.

With a portable radio, we guessed what was happening at the NDP site. Tell tales sign of the President's arrival (National Flag flew overhead and 21 gun salute hinted that !!!) and the proceeds of the event just rolled quietly by. Finally, the fireworks blasted the clear sky and with all the woos !! & wahs !!!, it was all over within minutes.

Phase II of the evening then kicks in. The massive hunt for food. Getting out of the car park was a major exercise followed by the avoidance of the convoys of cars and people who all seem to be heading the same direction (thank goodness). Ended up at Quality hotel for S$3.00 bowl of traditional Laksa (Budget cut, after retirement). Sinful but OK-lah !!! If a vote was taken, I don't think the "mat space" chooping exercise will be repeated for NDP 2008.

Scaling greater heights

Exactly a year ago, on National Day 2006, Clarissa-Anne scaled down from THE SERANGOON from the 2nd floor of the building. A year down the line, she moved a level up (to the 3rd floor) to have another go with more confidence and at a faster rate (not due to increase in weight !!!). With matching shoes and helmet, she came down, all ready to pose for a mid-air shot
At ground level, spectators from the annual National Day Observance Ceremony watched as participants made their way down the narrow wall lined by coloured glass panels of the Community Club.(Hopefully, nobody misses and leave a footprint on it !!! That would eradicate the possibility of the 4th floor for National Day 2008)

Just Not My Day !!!

What seem like a normal routine day driving into NOL Building to park the car didn't turn out the way that it should have. Whilst going up the ramp (between level 1 & 2), had to go over the "hump" at the lower end of the ramp. Like in bad sea states, the entire car would "pitch & roll". Came to Speed="0" ... and it also come with some "sound effect". Looked behind ...
and there was a Blue Honda Civic, just at the rear, driven by Ms Irene Goh from NOL. Like all good drivers, exchanged particulars and each went back to the office ... probably trying to recover from the knock. Not a very good way to celebrate the Nation's 42nd birthday, with an accident on the eve of National Day. Certainly a "City of Opportunities" ... for the insurance and the car repair workshop !!!.

Vibrant People, Vibrant Nation

Saturday, 4 August 2007 was a date of mixed feelings. Serangoon celebrates the Nation's 42nd Birthday with a Community Dinner at the Open Field next to Blk 147, Serangoon North Avenue 1. Unlike other years where all that is needed is to don a RED+WHITE combination attire, help out with either ushering or photography and the evening would be over .... NDD 2007 had a differet perspective when one is the Organising Chairman for the event.With a lean Organising Committee and 16 young/vibrant students from the Class of 2007,
Diploma in Business (Corporate Comms elective), Temasek Polytechnic, the NDD 07 organising team managed the evening's event with 202 tables (2020 guests), larger tentage layout/ design and a greater sales target (in terms of $$$$$).
To the tune of the traditional HAPPY BIRTHDAY song, the candles on the cake were blown out and was cut (with a sword) by the Guest-of-Honour, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua. Poppers floated streamers in the air and was followed by the customary 3x YAM SENG !!! What's left after the "Song & Dance" was the final table-to-table toast which ends the months of preparations.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE !!!

3 landings to get to Canberra

The challenge of getting to Aussieland in Winter certainly added a new perspective for my air travel experience. After landing at Sydney airport in the early morning and joining the great immigration queue, I missed the connecting flight to get to Canberra. Tried desperately to SMS/call James who was to meet me at Canberra Airport failed a couple of times owing to weak signal strength. After many attempts, one lone SMS did managed to get through after walking a couple of rounds at the departing hall.
Though the flight to Canberra is only about 50 min, the plane failed to find Canberra Airport's runway at the first go. Cotton wools from the early morning winter fog covered the city. The plane remained airborne for about 40 minutes before making a 2nd attempt. In the meantime, had a 2nd round of muffins (probably from the emergency stock that had to be consumed before its expiry date !!!).

2nd attempt failed (Runway was somehow removed !!!) and the plane had to return to Sydney as she was low on fuel. Had another round of frantic SMS/calls to inform James of the latter delay. It was another test of trying to remain compose and have a more in-depth understanding of the handphone technology (random signal search !!!).
Final count, 4 original passengers from the first flight took the next flight to Canberra. The rest, proceeded to execute Plan B (to have a decent breakfast !!!).
Somehow, the view of Canberra from this flight was very different. It was much much clear. Could actually see land below, compared to the fields of cotton wools and the ocassional tree that stood out of it, like a sore thumb. With some 3+ hours of delays, landed at Canberra, met James, had a quick "light" lunch (a hugh hambuger), checked into the hotel and CRASHED !!! (Could not resist the nice soft bed of Hyatt Hotel, Canberra).

Presentation for the Conference proper was not too badly received. Had a couple of "hard questions" but survived the day !!! The evening programme was somewhat better. Was invited to a home-cooked dinner by Monica. It was simply great compared to the cold sandwiches which the event organiser called "Lunch". Ended with freshly brewed coffee and homemade short cakes. It was GOOD !!! (There is actually decent food in Aussieland !!!)

James provided a quick in-house tour of the Singapore funded house. Nice living room, quiet private study, large garage ... a very orderly layout (Monica probably straightened things out before my arrival ... to ensure that nothing else were on display !!!).

The quick Aussie visit ended with more delays at Sydney Airport before arriving Singapore in time for NDD 2007.