Activation of my blog.
I was too lazy to blog and this blog was then left to linger until today. 02 August 2015.
This was because of another blog, I created for the Singapore Airlines Pioneers Club. The present committee requested that I delete the said blog. Frankly I am unable too, as I am not sure of the process to delete an inactive blog.
Coming back to the present, on 18 November 2014, I had cervical spondylitis operation to remove two of my vertebrae disks, as the slipped disks were pressing on my spinal cord. This caused me to drag my right foot and falls were quite common. The danger is that if I do not do an operation, I may become paralyze from the neck down. The operation was in Tan Tock Seng's Neurology Operating theatre. It was a 2 over hours operation, but after it I was make to wait another four over hours before an ICC room was available for me.
Because of the long 2 hours lying on the operation table, I was later to discover that the skin at my back has died. It was to take some time before the skin rejuvenate itself.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Monday, August 25, 2008
Neo Seow Cheng's final home in the Columbrium
Alice's niece, Neo Seow Cheng died on 22 August 2008 after a long battle with nose cancer, which later developed into a brain tumour. The brain tumour robbed her of her hearing and eyesight. When it was diagnosed, the oncologist suggested that she goes for treatment and operate to remove the tumour. She refused, and chose to accept that it will be her fate. Despite that she sought alternative treatment and even asked her church's pastor (supposedly good at accupuncture) to treat her. But alas it was a big bluff. Her condition worsen day by day. Her tumour and nose cancer meant that blood dripped out of her nose and she was a sorry sight.
As she become blind, her family decided to sent her to a hospic to wait for the final moment. But four months dragged by and she was still alive. The St. Assisi Hospic asked that she be moved back to her home, which was her wish. On 18 August 2008 she finally went home. By then she was already very weak and have to be carried out of the ambulance to her room.
The family engaged an Indonesian maid to look after her. It was only five days after her return that she succumbed to the disease. On 22 August morning, she asked her younger brother to carry her downstair. But her younger brother said that if he does that, then when it is in the evening, he will still be working and no one will be around to carry her back to her room.
Not long after that conversation with her brother, she breathed her last. Her younger brother checked her breathing and realised that she was gone.
We were informed later in the evening by Ah Sim, her second brother. We actually arranged to visit the family that night, but was told that they will sent her body to Singapore Casket at Lavender Street. It will only be on Saturday evening when we attend the wake.
I decided to inform Fifth Brother's family via his younger daughter, Chai Ling. Chai Ling informed her brothers and sisters.
At the wake, the whole family was there. I was happy that they all bother to make their way there even though they stay in Bukit Batok area.
We left about 11 pm that night ( 23 August 08) and I told Ah Hong, Chai Ling's elder sister that they do not need to come on the day of the funeral, which is on 24 August.
On 24 August, at 09:15 AM, Alice and I were already at the Singapore Casket. I managed to park my car just behind the building.
At about 10:40AM, we all boarded the bus to go to Mandai Crematorium. The Neo's cousins, Ah Seng, Ah Wai, and their older brother were there to sent Seow Cheng off on her final journey.
At Mandai Crematorium, Ah Hong and her husband, Kelvin joined us. They drove directly to the place to take part in the final sent off for Seow Cheng.
After the long prayer session and singing of gospel songs, we were ushered to the Viewing room for Hall 2. Meanwhile, the crematorium's attendants wheeled her coffin to the furnace. At the viewing room, we saw her coffin with all the flowers we put on and her photo were put on top of a motorised vehicle. The vehicle slowly moved the body to the furnace. One stalk of flower dropped to the floor. It was a yellow colour flower. The flowers, Alice and I put on her coffin was orange in colour.
The automated vehicle slowly rise her coffin to the furnace door. Then the main door was closed and we were all ushered out.
During the whole process, Seow Eng and Elsie Neo (her younger sister) cried. I also noticed that Ah Hong was sniffing away. On the way out, I handed Ah Hong my tissue paper. She only took one. Later on in the bus, I gave the rest to Elsie, who was also crying.
Today, I sent Ah Sim, Ah Lim (her younger brother) and Elsie to Singapore Casket to collect her ashes. After the collection, on the way to All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim told Elsie that Seow Cheng's bones are blackish because of the drugs she took.
At the columbarium at All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, her ashes were put into Hall 2, Room 6, niche 255. Finally her long journey ended and she should rest in peace now. Her suffering is ended and she most probably can see and hear now.
After the paper work was done, we went to Upper Serangoon Road for lunch It was about 11:05 AM. We had teochew porridge. Not a very good meal. I ordered a trotter, one fish (cod), dou kua, two vegetables and a piece of otah. I do not know the cost, as it was paid for by Ah Sim.
At the Church in Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim wanted to give me a red packet for helping them. I declined as my help was not for monetary gain. I finally accepted the red paper and asked them to take the money back. I told them it will be an insult to me, if they insisted that I take the money. I told this to Alice, who agreed with me.
After sending Elsie to Kovan Heartland Mall, I sent Ah Lim to Tampines Post Office and then sent Ah Sim to his home directly.
After dropping Ah Sim, I was thinking of where to tank up, as my petrol was rather low. As I was passing the Court Megamarket, I decided to pop in to buy some blank dvds. I need them to record the shows for Andrew, so that I can free the space in the hard disk for other recording.
I bought 25 blank dvds and as I got the Court's Guest card, I was given a 5% discount.
On the way home, I stopped at the Esso Petrol kiosk just after Kovan Heartland Mall to tank up on my petrol. It cost me $82.10 before 5% discount.
At home, I parked the car in the drive way and took the blank dvds up. At about 4:30PM, I drove the car out of the drive way and parked it along the road.
As she become blind, her family decided to sent her to a hospic to wait for the final moment. But four months dragged by and she was still alive. The St. Assisi Hospic asked that she be moved back to her home, which was her wish. On 18 August 2008 she finally went home. By then she was already very weak and have to be carried out of the ambulance to her room.
The family engaged an Indonesian maid to look after her. It was only five days after her return that she succumbed to the disease. On 22 August morning, she asked her younger brother to carry her downstair. But her younger brother said that if he does that, then when it is in the evening, he will still be working and no one will be around to carry her back to her room.
Not long after that conversation with her brother, she breathed her last. Her younger brother checked her breathing and realised that she was gone.
We were informed later in the evening by Ah Sim, her second brother. We actually arranged to visit the family that night, but was told that they will sent her body to Singapore Casket at Lavender Street. It will only be on Saturday evening when we attend the wake.
I decided to inform Fifth Brother's family via his younger daughter, Chai Ling. Chai Ling informed her brothers and sisters.
At the wake, the whole family was there. I was happy that they all bother to make their way there even though they stay in Bukit Batok area.
We left about 11 pm that night ( 23 August 08) and I told Ah Hong, Chai Ling's elder sister that they do not need to come on the day of the funeral, which is on 24 August.
On 24 August, at 09:15 AM, Alice and I were already at the Singapore Casket. I managed to park my car just behind the building.
At about 10:40AM, we all boarded the bus to go to Mandai Crematorium. The Neo's cousins, Ah Seng, Ah Wai, and their older brother were there to sent Seow Cheng off on her final journey.
At Mandai Crematorium, Ah Hong and her husband, Kelvin joined us. They drove directly to the place to take part in the final sent off for Seow Cheng.
After the long prayer session and singing of gospel songs, we were ushered to the Viewing room for Hall 2. Meanwhile, the crematorium's attendants wheeled her coffin to the furnace. At the viewing room, we saw her coffin with all the flowers we put on and her photo were put on top of a motorised vehicle. The vehicle slowly moved the body to the furnace. One stalk of flower dropped to the floor. It was a yellow colour flower. The flowers, Alice and I put on her coffin was orange in colour.
The automated vehicle slowly rise her coffin to the furnace door. Then the main door was closed and we were all ushered out.
During the whole process, Seow Eng and Elsie Neo (her younger sister) cried. I also noticed that Ah Hong was sniffing away. On the way out, I handed Ah Hong my tissue paper. She only took one. Later on in the bus, I gave the rest to Elsie, who was also crying.
Today, I sent Ah Sim, Ah Lim (her younger brother) and Elsie to Singapore Casket to collect her ashes. After the collection, on the way to All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim told Elsie that Seow Cheng's bones are blackish because of the drugs she took.
At the columbarium at All Saints Church at Poh Huat Road, her ashes were put into Hall 2, Room 6, niche 255. Finally her long journey ended and she should rest in peace now. Her suffering is ended and she most probably can see and hear now.
After the paper work was done, we went to Upper Serangoon Road for lunch It was about 11:05 AM. We had teochew porridge. Not a very good meal. I ordered a trotter, one fish (cod), dou kua, two vegetables and a piece of otah. I do not know the cost, as it was paid for by Ah Sim.
At the Church in Poh Huat Road, Ah Sim wanted to give me a red packet for helping them. I declined as my help was not for monetary gain. I finally accepted the red paper and asked them to take the money back. I told them it will be an insult to me, if they insisted that I take the money. I told this to Alice, who agreed with me.
After sending Elsie to Kovan Heartland Mall, I sent Ah Lim to Tampines Post Office and then sent Ah Sim to his home directly.
After dropping Ah Sim, I was thinking of where to tank up, as my petrol was rather low. As I was passing the Court Megamarket, I decided to pop in to buy some blank dvds. I need them to record the shows for Andrew, so that I can free the space in the hard disk for other recording.
I bought 25 blank dvds and as I got the Court's Guest card, I was given a 5% discount.
On the way home, I stopped at the Esso Petrol kiosk just after Kovan Heartland Mall to tank up on my petrol. It cost me $82.10 before 5% discount.
At home, I parked the car in the drive way and took the blank dvds up. At about 4:30PM, I drove the car out of the drive way and parked it along the road.
The Jigsaw Puzzle - Bob the Builder
My grandson, Andrew Tan Yeh Shern is only two years and 22 days old today, yet he can easily put together a jigsaw puzzle. I watch him do it in front of me. After putting the puzzle together he left the puzzle on the floor, while I rewarded him by allowing him to watch his favourite children show, Bob the Builder.
After watching the shows, he asked for milk, (usually a signal that he is about to sleep). After drinking the milk, he lie beside me and fell asleep. He slept for about one hour now (5:00 pm now) and Alice is going to wake him up. But the little boy is still fast asleep and is unwilling to wake up.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Henderson Wave 31 July 2008
On 31st July 2008, a group of us met at HarbourFront MRT station at 5:00PM. Led by Ivy Cheong, we walk
length of Henderson Wave and the Tree Top Walk up to Alexandra Road. From Alexandra Road, we took SBS 57
to Vivo City, where we have our dinner at Food Republic. Too expensive there.
Participants are: Ivan Ong (myself), Ong Wee Kiat, Sim Tiow Seng, Goy Soong Ngee, Cheong Ai Bee, Johnny Kwek, Suzanne See, Stanley Yeo and Tan Bee KokThursday, July 24, 2008
Wo Peng Restaurant's menu, chef's profile
Chef Julian Tam's Profile(Click on image to enlarge)
Poon Choy(Click on image to enlarge)
Menu Sample(Click on image to enlarge)
In my last posting, I mentioned that I will be putting up some images about Wo Peng Restaurant. Due to my fatigue, I saved the images as pdf and thus the files cannot be uploaded to the blog. I have corrected the problem. Here are the pictures of the Chef's profile in Mandarin and English and sample of the menu.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wo Peng Restaurant at 476 Macpherson Road.
This restaurant is the new kid on the block along MacPherson Road, joining SWA Gardens, and Meng Kee Seafood Restaurant. These three restaurants are the Chinese cuisine restaurants I have patronized.
Wo Peng Restaurant is owned by the chef, Julian Tam, who was formerly a chef in Furama Hotel. Originally from Hong Kong, Mr. Tam migrated to Toronto, Canada, where he was the chef in a small restaurant in the city. He later came to Singapore and worked for Furama Hotel, before deciding to set up his own restaurant. Being the owner/chef, Mr. Tam make it a point to gather feedback from his customers about the quality of his creation and the taste.
Below are images of the restaurant menu, and sample list of the dishes available in the menu.
His specialty is Pung Choy, which is a dish make famous in China. It seem that when the Emperor visited the south during his incognito tour of the region, the people of this particular village was unable to offer any special food to the emperor. So, each family contribute whatever they can afford and the food was then cooked in a basin (Pung - Cantonese for basin).
Wo Peng Restaurant is owned by the chef, Julian Tam, who was formerly a chef in Furama Hotel. Originally from Hong Kong, Mr. Tam migrated to Toronto, Canada, where he was the chef in a small restaurant in the city. He later came to Singapore and worked for Furama Hotel, before deciding to set up his own restaurant. Being the owner/chef, Mr. Tam make it a point to gather feedback from his customers about the quality of his creation and the taste.
Below are images of the restaurant menu, and sample list of the dishes available in the menu.
His specialty is Pung Choy, which is a dish make famous in China. It seem that when the Emperor visited the south during his incognito tour of the region, the people of this particular village was unable to offer any special food to the emperor. So, each family contribute whatever they can afford and the food was then cooked in a basin (Pung - Cantonese for basin).
Thursday, July 17, 2008
15 July 2008 -- Celebrating Richard Lau's Birthday
Richard Lau's birthday proper is 14 July. We celebrate it with him on 15 July instead.
What happens today?
Today being Tuesday, we joined the walking group to walk in MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
After an absence of 2 months, I felt I am not physically fit and have slowed my pace a bit.
Luckily for me, Goy Soong Ngee wasn't feeling up to speed either, as he has repeated gout attacks. Today, Goy has another gout attack and was unable to join us for the walk. He turns up later to join us for the lunch.
I walked with Bee Kok, Sin Peng, Kong all the way to the Ranger Station. It was a tiring walk for me, for I have not regain my stamina due to the lack of exercise during my two months being away from Singapore.
Upon reaching the Ranger Station, I washed up and drank my water to recover from the loss of fluid during the walk. We were there only for fifteen minutes before we proceed to walk back to the car park.
The return journey I was with Bob Lim, and we reminisced about our time in London in 1971.
On 1st May 1971, seven of us, operators (Myself, Matthew Ho, Jonathan Tan Hiok Khern, Lee Khet Shiong, Joseph Lee Seng Hwee, Peter Neo and James Teong) arrived in Heathrow Airport for our training on the then BOAC's Boadecia Computer centre. We were there for five and half months. The systems programmers were already there and they took care of us on our arrival.
The Systems Programmers were Bob Lim, Andy Leong, Johnny Lim Thean See, Vincent Then and Daniel Ng Hark Chye.
On arrival we were lodged in Hounslow West Hotel, the proprietor being Price. That story later and I will revert back to present days.
By the time, we reached the end of the walk, I was already feeling very tired and unable to move my legs much. At the reservoir, a group of students from an International School were learning to row their canoes along the shores of the reservoir. I took the opportunity to slow down and took a picture of the "canoeist". Bob Lim being fit, walk on ahead.
Slowly and painfully I make my way back to the car park. I freshen up and joined Alice back at the car. Alice was anxious that I will not be able to catch up with the rest of the drivers, who have driven on to Tiong Bahru Hawkers Centre.
Instead of taking the CTE route, I u-turned at Lornie Road, and drove toward Queensway.
I arrived at Tiong Bahru Hawkers Centre at the same time or slightly later than the group.
Today, the people who were walking and joined us for lunch are: Sim Tiow Seng, Sin Peng and his wife Jackie, Young Lee, Ivy Cheong, Bee Kok, Goy Soong Ngee, Johnny Kwek, Lilian Kwok, Harry Tan, Doris Phua, Kong, Boon Chai and his friend Phua, and of course, myself and my wife, Alice. Bob Lim and his wife, Betty did not join us for the lunch.
Goy joined us for the lunch, though he wasn't able to walk due to his gout attack.
After lunch, Alice and I went to the fruits whole seller opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza to buy fruits for our home. I also bought three kgs of rambutans. I am not suppose to eat sweet stuff and rambutans is in the list of no nos, as the fruit is sweet.
We then went to visit Ah Cheng (Alice's niece, who is dying with cancer of the nose and is not expected to last long). Alice went up to her room at St. Assis Home for the Chronically ill.
I did not go up, as I do not wish to look at Ah Cheng again. Her tumour has grown bigger and she is now totally blind and her eye is affected.
I waited at the multi storey car park for Alice and was about to read the papers, when she called.
We then left for Thomson Plaza to buy provision for the home ( a carton of fresh milk, and other products). FairPrice Fines is now in the plaza and is the main anchor tenant. We also bought a coffee cake for Richard Lau's birthday.
At 7:00PM, we drove to pick up Richard. We went via Grange Road and River Valley Road, thus bypassing the ERP gantry in Orchard Road. With Richard in the car on the way to Wo Peng Restaurant at 476, MacPherson Road, we have to pass through only one gantry. This cost me fifty cents to enter Orchard Road area.
Wo Peng Restaurant food was okay and quite reasonable. The chef is Julian Tam and the Restaurant Manager is May. We had two dishes of vegetables ( sweet beans in egg whites and prawns and bak choy in salted eggs and century eggs gravy), noodles with prawn heads, and starter dish was crispy fish skin served with a light gravy.
The chef, Julian Tam is also the owner of the restaurant introduced himself to us and we have a photo taken with him. I also got May's assistant to take a photo of us with Julian Tam. While the candle was lit, Richard makes a wish and I took a photo of him just as he blowed out the candle. During the dinner, Richard brought along a bottle of champagne, and a bottle of red wine. The Neos (Kim Hing and Bee Hong) were invited but they were not able to make it to the dinner. Richard loves wine and intended to share the red wine with Bee Hong and Neo.
After the dinner, I sent Richard home and we went home ourselves for a well deserved good night rest .
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