New member in the family

The house is still in a mess since last week due to the hacking and installing of a new kitchen cabinet. It was a simple job that goes beyond schedule. Even as I wrote this entry, the job is still on going. Thanks to the ‘boh chap’ attitude of the contractor. Every single job need to be supervised or else damage to other installation is imminent. It was so stressful and yet restless, for not being able to leave the house.

Anyway the stress has been broken with the unexpected early arrival of a new member in the family on Monday night. Marisa gave birth to a cute baby girl and I am now a grand daddy. Duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninth Month & Seventh Month

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is a month of heightened devotion. Muslims all around the world will abstain from food and drink, through fasting, from dawn to sunset. In addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to do special prayers, called Tarawih which are held in the mosques every night. In Singapore however, it is not uncommon to see congregation holding this special prayers at void deck as well.

Coincidently, this month being the seventh month of the Chinese calendar is also a month of prayer and festival. Temples and clan association will hold dinner and auction at open fields to raise fund for communal use. This dinner will usually followed by music performance called ‘Getai’

Although the ‘Getai’ may cause noise pollution in the neighborhood and the praying congregation at the void deck may deprive others of the common area, being a cosmopolitan society, the community at large has accepted and tolerated such racial/ religious practice of others. That’s the beauty of living in Singapore.

However, if both activities were held close to each other, it may require a higher level of tolerance. Imagine one party so engrossed performing their prayer and supplication while the other party was having a live concert.

I experienced it last night. A ‘Getai’ live performance was just a 100 meter away from my congregation. When we were about to say ‘Allahu Akbar” I heard the other side said “Jajambo”. Hehehehehe welcome to Singapore

I had a round of golf last Saturday at Daiman with buddies from TRACOM. It was fun to be with them again since my retirement. This will be our last game till the end of Ramadhan.

Wedding at Kampung Kopok Bahru

These pix were taken last weekend at Kampung Kopok Bahru. We were there for a wedding of my cousin’s son.

Me and my uncle from Masai at the wedding reception.

Plucking fruits at my Auntie's house
and the excitement of plucking rambutans (hairy fruits) . hehehe

The harvested fruits. Rambutan, chiku and kedundung.

A short break from worklife

Since 7 July I managed quite a fair bit of activities.
1. Manage to spray lacquer my Back Loaded Horn speaker
2. Spray painted my DIY acoustic panels
3. Rearranged my hifi equipment
4. Re sleeved about 100 pcs of LPs (another 300 pcs on waiting list)
5. Did some shifting of the furniture at home
6. DIY shelving for flower pots (yet to be installed)
7. Archiving pix of UK trips for video slide
8. Twice a week of golfing with buddies
9. Removed that prominent feature
10. Family gathering and khenduri
11. Visit my paternal grandmother’s village in Johor (I mean its vicinity)
12. Replaced my damaged car plate

This ‘own time own target’ will soon end. Meanwhile, I’ll just relax and enjoy the free time.

The fully lacquered Back Loaded Horn speaker with its base.


The set up with the DIY acoustic panel against the rear wall.

13 July 2011 at Palm Villa

18 July 2011 at Daiman 20 July 2011 at Daiman

Family gathering with siblings and cousins on 16 July at Aloha Changi

Yesterday I drove to Kampung Perigi Aceh. It is situated near the Tg Putri Golf Course. Next to this village was once a plantation area called Kampung Kopok where my paternal grandma once lived. Kampung Kopok was demolished in the early 80s to make way for the Tg Langsat Industrial Park and the residents were relocated to a place near Masai renamed Kampung Kopok Bahru. There were about 100 families in the old village and most of them were related to my family.

The pix below were taken at the Kampung Perigi Aceh. The river is about 1 km away from my Grand Ma's house. My dad used to take a boat from Changi to this river in the 50s and walked to my Grand Ma's place

After more then 40 years, finally it was removed

The room was a bit cold and three young nurses were busy preparing equipments for the appointed surgery. There on the bed was me lying motionless with mixed feelings and wild thoughts. What if, why not, why should I, am I doing the right thing and what not.

Those were the same questions I had on my mind for the past months. But with support from family members, I decided to go ahead with it. Thus, this evening the prominent features I had for more then 40 years was finally removed in less then 20 minutes.
Alhamdulillah. Hopefully I made the right choice.

FINALLY

Yesterday was my last working day and I will be leaving the Force for good after a long 33 years. In effect, my official retirement was in 2008 but I was given a reemployment for a 3 year term which ends tomorrow. Thus, 7 July 2011 will be part of my work life history and it is also a day to be remembered as I was born on this day many years ago....hehehehe.

I will miss the time spent with friends in the Force especially the shared joy when 'missions' are accomplished.

Anyway we have to move on and I am looking forward and preparing to face new challenges in a new environment soon.

24 days count down

Its 24 days count down. All official responsibilities were hand over mid last month before going for my pre retirement leave. It seems rather quiet today as the guys were out for performance. So I guessed this would be the best time to clear stuff in the office. What is left are personal stuff and what not. There were lots of old photographs stacked in the cupboard and drawers taken while at work and on recreation. Lets share some of these before total packing.

1991 in Edinburgh (see the moustachio?)

1987, the combo band members at the Istana with President Wee Kim Wee

1995, leading the combo band at Mandarin Hotel

End of my UK driving tour

Ho ho ho ho I am back here after an “internet blackout” since 2nd June. I thought I was very lucky to have stumbled into someone else network at the B&B in Inverness late one night. Unfortunately in the morning after, my laptop was down. It just refused to start up, lol. Thus for the next 10 days of the trip I was deprived of a computer.

OK lah, cut long story short, I left London Thursday at 6 pm after driving a distance of 1688 miles within 15 days, that’s about 2700 km. Not bad ya……
Route and destinations were carefully planned so that at any one time, traveling distance would not be exceeding 250 miles and each driver should not be driving more then 90 minutes at a stretch. So far this was my furthest distance ever and it was fun. Through out the 15 days more then 500 pix were taken and of course.....many shopping as well.


evening in Inverness




A castle somewhere in Scotland




wifey in Windemmer, Lake District




Warwick Castle in Stratford upon Avon



wifey on a street in Liverpool






An old building near the hotel in Liverpool



Stratford upon Avon






Cardiff Castle


City of Bath


Luggage to London was 45 kgs………back to Singapore was 70 kgs with some clothing left in UK to create space for new items. Among other things, these include 4 clocks…….an American Ansonia regulator, a Dutch Clock, an Enfield Mantel clock and a Napoleon 8 days Mantel. All except one reached home in perfect condition. The Enfield torsion spring was broken. Hope to get a replacement spring from eBay.


American Ansonia


Enfield Mantel


Dutch clock


Napoleon Mantel

5th, 6th and 7th Day Edinburgh and Inverness

Edinburgh was not as crowded as during the festival in August. Though it was a breeze walking along Princess Street and Leith walk it lacks the festive moods Edinburgh is famous with. Royal Mile was quite crowded but not much activities though. Preparation for the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle was still on going.

Wifey at the famous Royal Mile

Preparation for the Royal Edinburgh Military at the Edinburgh Castle

Somewhere near the Edinburgh Castle

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We left Edinburgh this morning and headed for St Andrews. The wind was so strong and temp was a low 9 degrees. There were quite a number of golfers in action and seeing them playing in a sweater and wind breaker. After an hour we left for Dundee.

Driving towards St Andrews

At the Old Course

By the sea of St Andrews

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We spent a short while in Dundee walking in the old city, after which we left for Inverness the highland of Scotland 200 miles up north. The scenery along the way was breath taking with rolling mountains and farmland. After driving for more then 2 hours, we arrived in Inverness at 6pm.

Wifey along the street in Dundee

By the comic character statue, Dundee

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Summer Lee B & B

By the riverside at 8pm in Inverness

Another riverside posing