AND POOF! CNY IS OVER

我希望我会永远童心未泯。

Another year older.  

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami once said, "People don't grow old gradually, but in an instant." Growing old doesn't begin with the first wrinkle or the first gray hair, but with the moment you give up on yourself; only those who don't give up on themselves can live a life that "never grows old."  日本作家村上春树曾说：「人不是慢慢变老的，而是一瞬变老的。」人变老，不是从第一道皱纹、第一根白发开始，而是从放弃自己那一刻开始；只有对自己不放弃的人，才能活成「不会老」。

Fri 27 February.  Had zhi char dinner with Mian and gang.  Susan is back from New York for CNY so she got invited too!  I haven't seen her in years!  Always nice to catch up with good people.

Tue 3 March.  Chew Ling had whatsapp'd me the day before: Yo! Tomorrow is the last day of CNY and we haven't met up!  Free for tea tomorrow afternoon?

And so we met at Han's.  Chew Ling and I always have way too much to talk about.  Scary!

Wed 4 March.  Vivien and Ollie are in town!  I haven't seen them for at least year and a half.  I wanted to take them to Kok Sen for claypot yong tofu but they were left with just outdoor seating when I called.  It had been raining late afternoon so we didn't want to take the risk.  So we opted for Thai food at Fourgather, which is hidden within a temple, just 2-minute walk from where they were staying.  

The restaurant is inside the Amoy Hotel.

The hotel entrance is a temple.  The restaurant is behind this.

Sat 7 March 2026.  Roamed around Ang Mo Kio Hub with Eunice.  She insisted on buying me dinner, claiming that I had taken care of the bill for this and that the last time with met.  I remember none of that.  #aging

So here we are at A-One Signature.

Mon 9 March.  A frightful blood test is upon me.  Is it too late to start morning walking?

Wed 10 March.  Today's morning walk ended at the wet market.  Our fridge is close to empty so I bought a large bagful of fresh veggies.  Spotted a new variety of cabbage.  The vendor tells me it is from Taiwan.

Apperently, pointed cabbages have been "in" for some time.  I just need to get out more. :)

HALF-DAY OUT WITH MUM

Today I managed to coax my mother out of our apartment!  Our neighbours living three floors above us has some renovation work going and there has been tons of sawing and drilling.  The work started last Thursday, continuing on Friday.  Today, the racket started again and was louder than it was before.  Mum finally acknowledged that she needed to leave the comfort of her couch for a few hours.

So Nana and I placed her into her wheelchair and off we went.  We took the elevator downstairs and sat on a public bench, just chatting and enjoying the quiet breeze.  Then we moved to the outdoor gym for Mum to do some pedalling.  

Mum wanted ban mian for lunch but changed her mind when she saw someone at the next table eating lor mee. "I want laksa," she pointed.  

"That's lor mee, not laksa.  Do you want lor mee?"

"It's laksa," she said stubbornly.  

"It's lor mee," I corrected her.  "So do you want ban mian or lor mee?"  She chose lor mee.

Mum avoids going out because her legs are getting weak.  We bought a wheelchair but she doesn't want to be seen in it.  Today it is as if traditions are broken.  I think she secretly feels proud of herself.

"We go again tomorrow," she told Nana.  We shall see about that.

***

I still have about $200 worth of CDC vouchers which expires in two days.  Today, I spent half of it on bak kwa and pork floss. Nana gets her own small pack of chicken floss.  Mum loves bak kwa but we buy them only once a year.  Are you aware that traditional bak kwa has 32 grams of sugar per slice? (gulp!)

I bought both the original pork floss and crispy pork floss.  Mum once told me she doesn't like the crispy ones, claiming they are too dry.  Today, she tells me that the the crispy ones are the best.  If you think this is just her dementia talking, you haven't read my post about boiling potatoes.  

I'll be spending 5 nights in Taipei with a couple of friends at the end of January.  Today Mum tells me that it is going to RAIN on those days for sure. What she really wants to say is, "I wish you all the very worst." :D

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE

It's Christmas Eve but it's just a day like any other here at home.

I like it that the social calendar is empty and I could spend a good two hours on calligraphy.  I don't suppose I can call it calligraphy because I do it so badly (LOL).

This morning I told Nana (our domestic helper) that we'll be making a Shepherd's Pie for dinner.  She has never had sheperd's pie and her eyes lit up when I described it: you take a can of cream of chicken soup ... diced chicken ... top with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes ... bake until golden brown. "It's going to be really good!" she said enthusiastically.

I thought my mother would love Shepherd's Pie because it's moist and soft, making it easy to eat.  I even added the dried Italian herbs that she loves so much.  Nana and I tasted the gravy repeatedly to make sure it isn't overly salty.  Sadly, Mum wasn't a fan.

No matter, Nana and I both ate heartily.  She thinks it's the best meal and even took photos to share with her friends.  What I didn't explain to her was it isn't really a Shepherd's Pie because it hasn't got mutton in it.

FIRST CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY LESSON

Just an awesome day in the life of a crab!

This morning, I attended my first Chinese Calligraphy lesson with Singapore Century Calligraphy.  I suck  at writing with a brush but at my age I have no wish to be competitive. 

You know what the best part is?  It was FREE because I used my $100 SG Culture Credits.  

The class was supposed to last only 1.5 hours but it was already 12:30 by the time it ended.  I was SO hungry.  I ate pork basil rice at a little Thai kitchen in Sunshine Plaza.  I rate it "meh".

It rained very hard this evening - - for about 30 minutes.  

7:18PM sky:

GOING SPANISH

Caught up with Winnie and Lilian over lunch.  Got treated to Spanish food @Pura Brasa.  I haven't eaten so much pork in a long time.  Gift exchange.  Had a fab lunchtime.

Winnie and Lilian had jobs to go back to so I called upon Eunice, whose workplace is a stone's throw from the restaurant.  She doesn't need to be in the office every day so today is my lucky day!  We had a spot of tea together.  

Eunice and I hang out once a week.  She's my work buddy-turned-bestie.

Spotted a white chicken.  I'm not wild about having wild chickens roaming our neighbourhoods and, the CBD though I have to say that Singaporean chickens are smart!  I've bumped into one or two crossing the roads at traffic lights.

Tonight, I'll be gift-tagging a few cutsie items that I bought from Melbourne.  Just a couple of Australian brands that are small and easy on the luggage.  I love "all kinds".  Walking into the store made me think of strawberries and bubblegum.

DAYS LIKE THIS

I wish every day is like today - uneventful, unassuming, undisturbed.

The day started off with a yummy breakfast.  The avocados I bought earlier this week have ripened nicely.  They were creamy and buttery.  I ate one on toasted bread, with sea salt and a dash of guacamole spice.  

I'm loving this Guacamole Spice that I bought from Gewurzhaus.  Recently, I discovered that it pairs very well with chickpeas!

I asked my BFF if might like to come with me to buy more avos but she already made other plans. 

Luckily, I'm someone who enjoys my own company.  I went and got avos, ate fries at MOS Burger, bought a couple of popiahs home to share with my mum.  

Our maid was feeling under the weather so I offered to do the dishes.  Was rewarded by  a burst of golden sunlight that came through the kitchen window.  A splendid sunset.  

And that, dear reader, was my day.  

WHERE'S MY 23 DEG C?

Stayed indoors all day today.  Stuck in lousy weather - thunder, heavy downpour, light shower, then rain again.   Temp of at least 30 degrees.

I remember that on October 17th, while having dinner with Mian and gang, a message like the one below had popped up on my mobile phone.  I showed it to Mian and we asked each other, "For real or not?"  I was so looking forward to cooler weather (especially since I had just returned from a lovely spring week in Melbourne!)

I waited and waited for 23 degrees to happen!  Can the Singapore weather forecast be more reliable please?

退休生活

Follow Chilli Crab Kitchen on IG.

退休后，早上都要出们走走。Light grocery shopping，回家交代帮佣午餐为母亲煮点什么。

然后喝上一杯黑咖啡，写字，拍照记录生活小点滴。日日如是。

与朋友小聚 (今天吃的是法式可丽饼) 。她刚从北海道回来，送我一盒“薯条三兄弟”。她说：我知道你喜欢“薯块三姐妹”但我没找到。

姑姑邀我明天到教会主办的 lunch 聚会。我不是信徒，就单纯想陪她到教会，表明她家里有人支持她的选择。

GOING FRENCH - A LOVE LETTER FROM ALSACE

A long catch up with Joycelyn over lunch.  Got treated to French food @La Table D'emma.  As you may (or not) know, I've been eating less dairy over the past year.  However, I think the quality of the food in La Table D'emma is worth every allergy reaction.  LOL. 

My favourite was their Rustic Ratatouille Parmentier. I'm not much of a food writer - all I can say is substantial, hearty and so comforting to eat.  The fact that the stew was piping hot it arrived at the table really brought out the freshness and sweetness of the vegetables.  I think I'll remember this ratatouille for a long time to come.  

Rode the bus home.

Spotted a lost chick.

Dark clouds shielded the sunset.

SEEING CLEARLY

Things that I've discovered after my cataract surgeries are:

1. All colours are richer and more vivid.

2. The pigmentation on my skin is worse than I thought!

3. My black backpack is actually quite dusty!

CATARACT SURGERY II

Had cataract surgery performed on my left eye this morning.  Unlike the last one, I was awake throughout the entire procedure today.  It wasn't scary at all but I'm glad it's all over for both my eyes.  Hurray for ultra HD vision!

I've been relying on my friend and coworker, Donna, to help me out with work while I'm on medical leave.  She is holding the fort marvellously.  Truly cannot ask for a more fantastic colleague.  

Gotta rest my eye.  See you back here in a few days.

CATARACT SURGERY I

During a Team Lunch at the start of 2020, everyone took turns to share their New Year’s Resolution. When it came to my turn, I announced, “I’ve spent a great deal of time taking care of other people - both in my job and my personal life. This year I want to take care of myself.” 

At that point, I had signed up for gym membership and had already completed 8 sessions with a personal trainer. The next thing I did was started the process of having cataract surgery done. My right eye was in bad shape. Surgery was originally scheduled for the Apr 21 but postponed to Jun 9 due to Covid-19.

When I went in for pre-op assessment on the morning Mar 19, my blood pressure reading was 140/xx (cannot remember the lower number). The nurse said gently that it would be good if we can bring the upper number down to 130. I tried to relax and the reading reluctantly snailed to 138, then 135. 

I’d be crazy to let a set digits hold me back from surgery so I went on a diet. On the morning of the surgery, the reading was 128/xx. Still couldn’t figure out the lower number ‘cos I wasn’t wearing my glasses. The two nurses who had been staring intently at the monitor cried out in unison, “VERY GOOD!” and I mentally petted myself on the back. 

A day before surgery, I told Krishnan, “I suppose they’ll need to clamp my right eye open throughout the 20-min surgery. The question is: Do I keep my left eye open, or close?” I needn’t have been concerned because I was given a sedative “to calm down” and I ended up being asleep the entire time. 

Am looking forward to set a date to have surgery on my left eye so I can have UHD vision!

K.O.

Lost a perfectly good tooth to a darn passion fruit seed. Every Dental Health Association around the world should issue an official warning about the danger of the passion fruit seed. 

Had the day all planned out - go to the wet market, come home to prepare a Starter for my bread, go to the gym, lunch with my mother, then spend the afternoon making bread. Didn't happen.  Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. In my case, it is a passion fruit seed. 

Didn't see that one coming. 

#passionfruitphobia #passionfruitissoevil

CHILLCRAB AND ZERO FILLING

某天lunch time 到办公室附近的蛋糕店买点心招待客户。

选点心时听到身后有位customer问店员：请问你们的"Classic Curry Puff"和"Singapore Curry Puff"有什么不一样？店员挂了副像屎一般的脸回答：一个里面是zero, 一个里面是马铃薯。

真的非常好奇那"zero"到底是什么样的馅啊？是代表没有馅的意思吗？好歹也交代一下哪一款是有马铃薯馅的吧？可那位customer没说什么，我就不好意思插嘴。

当我结了账准备离开时，客人终忍不住于发问了："Zero" 到底是什么？

店员没好气地答：是"鸡肉"！

还记得冠头移的故事吗？

DRAMA FROM THE HIGH FLOOR

Sure enough the rainbow was forewarning for stormy days ahead. The day after it appeared Dad became obsessed with dust in our living room. 

“The entire apartment is coated in dust,” he claimed. “It comes in via the kitchen window and the air carries it through the living room.” 

“The walls, furniture and floor are plastered with brown particles!” 

The trouble is, we (our helper, Mum and I) don’t see any dust particles. Mum is OCD.  Dust has zero chance of survival in our home, especially if the dust is as thick as Dad describes it.  What got Dad really upset was when I recommended that we set up an appointment with the eye specialist. 

Explosive tantrums ensued.

On Saturday morning, Dad demanded that I lodge a complaint with HDB.  To appease him, I did.

On Sunday afternoon, under Dad’s watchful supervision, I dragged a vacuum cleaner around the living room for almost an hour, paying close attention to every nook and cranny. 

But Dad wasn’t the least satisfied. On Sunday evening he threw a violent fit. 

Dad: The dust is so thick. It cannot be good for anyone’s health. I just don’t understand how you can say you don’t see it!

Dad: Do you or do you not see it?  Don't lie!  Listen to your own conscience!

Mum: ??

Me: ??

Dad: (hysterical) The entire place is coated with dust!  You keep saying you don't see it!  But I see what I see.  It is there but you say it isn't!!!  All of you - 3 against 1 - conspiring to make me think I'm crazy!

Mum: ...

Me: (inaudible) $#@%*& 

Dad: (very audible) $#@!&*#@&^%$#!>!@#$%^&*!*&%$#@!*&^%#$%^*<!!!!! The place is a mess!  You keep saying you don't see it!  But I see what I see.  It is there but you say it isn't!!!

Dad: (repeats above for 25 minutes)

After 3 dramatic days, I began to see. That perhaps this is the onset of dementia. A friend once advised that a dementia patient often suffers from hallucination. He sees what he sees and truly believes in it. To avoid conflict we must not try to dissuade or show signs of disbelief. Instead it is important to VALIDATE. So if he says he sees mice in the bedroom we should ask “how many?” 

Now we’re doing just that. Our helper, Naw, has been cleaning the living floor twice (sometimes thrice) a day. It seems that the episode has temporarily come to pass. Until the next episode.

For more drama from the high floor, watch this space.

BROKEN

Plagued by a persistent toothache since last Sunday.  I finally checked in with the dentist on Wednesday afternoon after the painkillers stopped working.  Was ushered into root canal procedure today.  

Feeling old, tired and battered.