Gathering @ Lena's Cafe

Another gathering for 歌之旅 on 11 April 10 (Sunday). Although not everybody was present, it was still a great meet up. This time round, Lian had suggested Lena's Cafe at Bugis. It's next to TCC at Intercontinental Hotel. Quite a nice place. We had ordered a couple of dishes and drinks, talk while we eat.

Guess what's this? :)

Low Output

Sigh, my mind has been out of action and hence, miserable posting numbers. Am still trying to find some pics to post.

Hope to increase output soon! ")

Wonderful evening with the SSO

I have definitely selected the right series. The pieces were all pretty motivating and had a great effect of raising my mood.



I had not been to SSO (Singapore Symphony Orchestra) concerts for years and I was, and still am so glad that the excitement is still there. The feeling was great when I reached the Esplanade.

I had chosen this session partly because of Lan Shui who conducted the evening's programme. I have 'adored' him since he had taken over the Music Directorship of SSO from Lim Yau in 1997. Had been to a few concerts conducted by him and then stopped for a couple of years.

Lan Shui, Conductor

Huseyin Sermet, Pianist



This evening's programme:

FROM THE NEW WORLD

SAMUEL BARBER

Music for a Scene from Shelley, Op. 7 (20min)

FREDERIC CHOPIN

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op 21 (32 min)

(Graced by Huseyin Sermet)

ANTONIN DVORAK

Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. (40 min)

Huseyin's autograph session during the intermission.

Down and depress for last 2 weeks

I wonder why but I have been full of blues of late, starting early last week when my bodyache started. I also wondered what caused the body ache. It seemed like the kind which would be followed by fever, flu, etc, but I had none! I felt feverish at times but there wasn't a fever! But the ache continued.

I believed that played a major part in my mood. It went right down. I felt frustrated, quick tempered and impatient - more so than normal. I was also very exhausted, totally didn't want to move. The hot weather didn't help much too, or rather, made the situation worse.

I didn't want to bear with it anymore so went to the doctor last Thur. He was worried it could be dengue or HFMD but I had none of the symptoms. He said it could be a viral infection. Darn. Was on 2 days MC after that. The pain didn't go off but continued to make me very uncomfortable and cranky and very tired. I didn't even have the mood and motivation to work. I was like a slow coach. Do things slowly, even thinking became more impaired than usual.

Earlier this week, one of my colleagues advised me to get a referral from my GP to see a specialist and do a scan. Body ache for this long is something I may want to be careful of. She said there was an ex-colleague who realised she had cancer after she went for checks because of body aching. :(

Anyway, thank goodness my ache is much better today than the last 2 weeks. It is generally gone except for when I try to strain/straighten my body or turn it in some funny position. Sometimes I also feel uncomfortable while sleeping. Sigh, is this sign of old age?

I am still wondering.

三世因果经（重点）

若问前世因，今生受者是

若问后世果，今生作者是

A different full month item!

My colleague, Bryan has given us each a box of 6-piece 'lovingly crafted' cakes for his son's Mikey's full month. The cakes are from Gobi, from....MONGOLIA (that's what the intro says).

The chocolate cakes are very rich (with choc, of course). Wow, I was tremendously excited after the first bite. It's simple yummy! One finds joy in every bite! Oooosh!

I am going to find the place and get some for myself and perhaps a good gift for some special occasions.

You can check it out at www.gobi.com.sg.

The Jack Neo Saga

Indeed, I am surprised at Jack's involvement in a marital affair which has landed him in such a state today. We do not know if this will be the beginning of his downfall from showbiz but it has definitely made a great impact on him and a big blow to his family.

Sure enough, it's his personal/family matters and should be left to them to resolve it but because of his stature in our local media scene, it has created major storylines by the media, watched and read by fans, and by everyone else. The impact is far greater than anyone else.

Jack has made his comments in his blog. Some have expressed disappointment at his wrongdoing, some have criticised/scolded, some have given their support (not to the affair but to Jack to move on and make amends).

Hopefully in no time, things will cool and the family is given the time and space to continue with the healing process. It will take a while for them to go back to life per normal.

I hope they will be given the space to move on.

Hokkaido Red Bean @ MOF

I thought it was soup, ie watery based, but it still as thick as cream. The menu has warned that it's very sweet. And indeed, it's very very sweet. Too sweet for my comfort.

No doubt very impressive, but I won't go for it the second time cos it's too gelat!

Good kitty pals

Responses to pigeon culling

Last Sunday, I had posted regarding the Sunday Time's article about Town Council resorting to poisoning pigeons in response to resident complains about pigeons being dirty and the possibility of the spread of diseases.

There were two responses in today's Forum in the Sunday Times which I am posting here for reading:


Poisoning birds an inhumane method

I refer to last Sunday's article, "Shocked by pigeon culling? Then stop feeding them".

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) shares the views of concerned citizens that poisoning of the birds is an inhumane method of population control. Humane alternatives, such as the bird-proofing techniques pointed out in the article, exist.

However, if poisoning continues to be the preferred choice of the authorities, pest control companies and town councils must ensure that the welfare of the birds remains a high priority.

Under no circumstances should a live bird be placed into a bag for disposal. Even if a bird is exhibiting signs of distress or disorientation, it should not be assumed that the amount of poison ingested is sufficient to kill the animal.

In 2008, the SPCA attended a scene of pigeon poisoning, where we retrieved some birds that were having diffculty flying. After a few days of observation, the birds were back to normal.

Had they been left in their environment, they would have been susceptible to road accidents or been attacked by predators, and they had been disposed of in bags, they would surely have endured much suffering before death.

It is evident that poisoning is an inhumane method which severely compromises the welfare of the birds. We hope the present method can be reviewed as soon as possible to prevent any further suffering.

Leaving dying birds in plain view of the public also serves to desensitise people to the act of killing and the suffering of the animals.

By Deidre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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Life's precious, stop pigeon culling

In last Sunday's article, "Shocked by pigeon culling? Then stop feeding them", Jalan Besar Town Council's senior property manager Ng Cheng Tee referred to complaints received about the birds, including concerns about health hazards to humans.

But the question we need to ask is: Has anyone been really ill as a result of exposure to the pigeons?

Singapore General Hospital's Dr Tan Ai Ling was quoted as saying that all birds, not just pigeons, are potential sources of infection.

If simply by being potential sources of infection, the pigeons are deemed to be cullable, should we not also consider fellow human beings cullable when they are sick and would rank higher in terms of the potential to spread diseases?

The teacher Akiko Ng mentioned in the article is my wife. I found her visibly shaken after witnessing the culling of the pigeons.

It was not too long ago when we found an injured pigeon lying on the pavement across the culling site.

In order to save it, we took it to an animal clinic and were prepared to pay for its treatment.

The vet, Dr Hsu, chose not to charge us for its treatment.

In the end, the pigeon did not survive, but we did our part to try to save a precious life.

What an irony it was to us when the town council decided to engage in the act of mass cilling of the birds.

We would like to urge the authorities to hear our voices and stop the culling.

Lim Lee Nguan

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Kudos, folks!

Are we suppose to kill anything that is a menace?

What a depressing morning!

The moment I picked up the Sunday Times, I saw the heading "Pigeons: A menace but should they be poisoned?"

We are killing cats because people complain, killing crows because they are irritating (and sometimes they attack), killing rats because they are a nuisance (or perhaps they bite, not too sure), now we are including pigeons to the list! Thanks also to people who are so fond of complaining about nuisances because of their low tolerance level. I think they are the major contributors to the killings!

What else are we going to kill? Are we starting a culture that we are to kill anything that appear to be a menace? This is a depressing society.

One of the reasons is because of the bird droppings that people complain about - the mess they leave behind and health hazards. I am just wondering how would you expect birds to 'do their business'. A senior consultant has also commented that all birds, not just pigeons, are potential sources of infection. Well done, shall we now include ALL birds into the killing list? Are we ever ending?

It has come to a point where I am reminded of people of some tyrannic dynastic eras when anything or anyone who came into the way of others (usu the powerful) would be killed/executed.

Yes, we are considered the smartest creature on earth (sometimes I wonder if this is true) but the world is not exclusive to the human kind! Do we have that we are the lords and the rests are just slaves kind of mindset?

Is killing the only way out?

There are also many irritating (to the extend of being menace) people around us who urinate in corridors, void decks, lifts; people who spit like nobody's business; people who spit out food to the floor in hawker centres; people who drip laundry water out of the window. Some of these acts also cause the spread of diseases or irritation.

What are we to do with the above, authorities? Kill also?

It is really very troubling! I would really hate this society and the people in it if this is the way we are going toward. I cry for the creatures that have to suffer at the whims and fancies of the human kind. What a shame!

7.55am

Today's Murphy's Laws

It is a simple task to make a subject complex but a complex task to make it simple.

Its amazing how nice people are to you when they know you're going away.

When a body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away.

Typos are not noticed until after the "Send" button has been hit.

Never say. "I'm new at this" to a patient.

Lunch at 红锅

Was recommended there by my TCM physician after our consultation with her this morning. Hong Guo is a Yunnan restaurant at the basement of Bugis Junction.

A side dish to accompany our main dish later. This dish is called 椒盐银针鱼 (fried salted silver fish).

Here's our main course, 秀才过桥米线where you need to 'throw' in whatever ingredients presented into the hot chicken soup base. The ingredients include 2 quail eggs, slices of fish, vegetables, fried meat, sichuan vege, etc.

Ready?

GO!!

3.49pm

Today's Murphy's Laws

An exception granted becomes a right expected the next time it is requested.

One is tolerant only of that which does not concern him.

Happy Tiger Year and Happy Valentine's Day

Tomorrow's the first day of the Tiger year.

Wishing one and all a very happy lunar new year. May the Tiger Year (not beer) brings with it happiness, health, courage, strength and joy to those who need them.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

and

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dad ran a high fever

I am not sure if I had passed the flu bug to dad as I was down with flu since last weekend.

Dad wasn't well yesterday and when I came home, he was in bed and was not in the eating mood. After my dinner, we took his temperature (when he mentioned his body was hot) and was shocked to see his temperature at 38.1C. Our GP clinic was closed last night so we went to another night clinic another street away.

The doc took his temp at the clinic and it was 38.5C! No wonder he was complaining about headache and bodyaching all over. The doc said that it was definitely a flu bug and want him to rest a lot so regain his immunity. So he was given med for headaches, fever and flu.

Thank goodness his fever had subsided this morning at 37.1C but his headache and bodyache are still not gone. I told him not to go out today because he may still be weak and the weather isn't too good with the smell of haze lingering in the air.

I took a day off to watch him and run errands for him. Hope dad gets well soon.

9.11am

Today's Murphy's Laws

One should forgive one's enemies, but not before they are hanged.

Two rules for Ultimate Success in Life
1. Never tell everything you know.

If you don't care where you are, you're not lost.

The box containing the most valuable delicate object will be the one dropped.

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

Two wrongs are only the beginning.

There is some advice that is too good - the advice to love your enemies, for example.

7.55am

Dinner at Imperial Herbal Restaurant (6 Feb 10)

Our long-awaited dinner since two weeks ago. Went with hubby once and he liked it so much that he has been wanting to bring our families to try the food.

We had appetizer (the recommended fluffy egg with scallop on potato basket), tonic soups, main dishes and desserts.

Address:
宏仁堂御膳廳
Imperial Restaurant (Imperial Herbal)
Vivocity #03-08 Lobby G
Tel: 6337 0491
www.imperialherbal.com
herbal@pacific.net.sg

Appetizer - Fluffy egg white with scallop

生鱼补汤

虫草苗补汤

鱼翅

梅菜扣肉

Our spread

麦片虾

Assorted desserts

八宝清汤

枸杞山楂

葱油饼

Dinner at Marche

This was long overdue - a dinner on 22 Jan 10 at Marche @ 313 Somerset. This is the latest outlet. The only other time I went to Marche was 10 years ago. For the last 10 years, I have been dreaming of going back - for the ROSTI!!

The moment I stepped into Marche, the feeling was as though I was about to have a buffet, with everything so tempting and wanting to try a bit of everything. That was really a dream.

The above are our main meals of the night. Two soups - mushroom cream (which was really rich with bits of mushrooms) and chicken potato cream. Both were fantastic. The main course were a mushroom crepe and my favourite rosti which seemed quite unhealthy with the amount of oil they used to cook it.

Here's my dining partner.

Our dessert! Yummy. Apologies for the mess as this pic was taken only after each of us had taken a mouthful. Too attractive and we conveniently forgot about snapping.


9.40am

Murphy's Laws for the day

Here are a few Murphy Law's I read today and want to share:

Oien's Observation

The quickest way to find something is to start looking for something else.

Frank's Phone Phenomena

If you have a pen, there's no paper;

If you have a paper, there's no pen;

If you have both, there's no message.

Stockmayer's Theorem

If it looks easy, it's tough;

If it looks tough, it's damn well impossible.

Parking Principle

There is ample parking everywhere except where you want to park.

7.43am