THE KING

I do not like to wait.  I hate standing in line even more.  But Dad had been craving for his favourite soy sauce chicken for the longest time. Funny how Singaporeans tend to make a beeline for the food places that has the longest queue. Like that darn fish porridge in Maxwell, for instance. Or the rojak in HDB Hub.  Anyway, The King has spoken and his subjects must oblige.

And so I stood in line for exactly one hour in Chinatown Market while my mother made herself comfortable and munched on Harm Chim Bang (咸煎饼). After that we queued for fish porridge, then again for you tiao (油条) before hastily making our way home.  Heads will roll should the king not be served his lunch by 12 noon.

Sure enough, my phone rang not long after we boarded the bus.  It was The King demanding our whereabouts.

忙

又是圣诞。虽说是放假12天 但在家也绝非闲着。

母亲最近皮肤敏感，昨天陪她到 National Skin Centre 一趟； 跟了母亲近十年的煤气炉最近常闹变扭，所以下午就去订了台新的；明天得跟老爸到 polyclinic 复诊；星期六有wedding lunch；母亲要我星期天和她一起去牛车水买东西；母亲还说：趁你放假找一天我们去Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre 办干货！

实在忙碌得很。

想吃 McNuggets，又不爱跑快餐店，要吃”麦金鸡”只好自己动手啦。

自己下厨其实一点也不会麻烦。把鲜鸡柳切成小块，用海盐、mirin、橄榄油调味，放进冰箱两小时。炸前依序为鸡块均勻抹上面粉、沾上蛋汁、接著再裹一层面包削。因为母亲爱干净，怕油烟所以我没下太多的油，用半煎炸的方式把鸡块煮熟。从为鸡块沾上面粉至鸡熟，过程若20分钟。不但吃得安心也很有成就感。

连续几个下午都下雨，今天难得阳光普照，照片拍得特别的好看。

雨天 | 午餐

公司里的“女儿” 向我撒娇，说好久没吃到我做的Mac 'n Cheese。说G 是女儿是因为某天她提及要给自己的父亲庆生，我好奇问她父亲的年龄。原来他比我小一岁，我心想：我有女儿的话，她会和G年纪差不多吧？ 

就做了简单的 Mac 'n Cheese。觉得有点 guilty，为了图方便所用的材料都是ready food。用罐头浓汤、罐头蘑菇、还有冷藏的mixed vegetable。 

只预备了3份，怎知其他的同事看到了Mac 'n Cheese觉得“似乎很好吃的样子”，也吵着要尝尝。外面下着雨，我们五、六人挤进 pantry 一口接一口地。看着大家吃得乐呼呼 我心里暖洋洋。

“女儿”自告奋勇弄的 double toasted ham and cheese sandwiches。 很美味！

SLIP-RESISTANT BATHROOMS

At the advice of the Home Assessment team on Nov 28, I applied for EASE (Enhancement for Active Seniors) with HDB.  It was a Saturday morning when I submitted the online application and they called me in under two hours to acknowledge it.

EASE offers three types of improvement items to make the flat more friendly for senior citizens:

- Grab bars within the flat (up to 14 pieces x 45cm)

- Slip resistant treatment to the floor tiles of two bathrooms

- Ramps for wheelchair (up to 5 in each flat)

Government subsidies makes everything affordable.

Understandably, Dad was keen to start on applying slip-resistant treatment right away.  He also wanted grab bars installed around the flat.  But as soon as the appointment had been made, he decided he wants to hold off the work, saying he wasn't ready. After a short argument and some coaxing he finally agreed to give the non-slip treatment a go.

An appointment was then confirmed for today, between 3 and 6PM.  At 3:20PM, when the contractors hadn't showed up Dad started pacing the living room floor mumbling, "They cannot locate our place, surely they are lost!"

Then it had began to rain heavily.  The contractors hasn't turned up still by 4:30PM and Dad's face was growing darker by the minute.  "They said 3PM!" Again I had to redefine the meaning of "Between 3 to 6PM".  In fact I had to repeat it several times until the contractors finally appeared at 6:05PM.  By then Dad was visibly upset and was rude to the workers.

The chemical treatment was applied to the floor tiles of both our bathrooms.  The entire job took exactly 20 minutes.

HOME ASSESSMENT

Since our first meeting with Dr. Rani, she and her team has been looking into the reason/s why my father fell.  Dad himself doesn't know the reason, "I just fell that's all."

So Dr. Rani ordered blood tests, chest x-ray, physiotherapy, an MRI for the brain, and a meeting with General Surgery. 

At her recommendation someone from Home Assessment to come over to the house this morning to provide advice on fall risks.

Dad finally agreed to have anti-slip treatment done to our bathrooms.

DAY OUT: BLUE ZOO

Took a day off work on Friday to be with Dad for his hospital appointment.  Because of his fall in mid-September, we've been referred to Dr. Rani at TTSH's Central for Geriatric Medicine.  She's doing a great job investigating into the reason/s that he fell.  After subjecting him to some light physical assessment, Dr. Ravi confirms that Dad's limbs are very strong for a 85-year old so she is sure it isn't because of weak legs.  Dad was sure he wasn't feeling dizzy, nor did he trip.  "I just fell," he said repeatedly.

Since then, he has blood tests, x-rays done to his head and chest, and a physiotherapy session.  This morning we had two appointments - a brain scan (MRT) at 7AM, followed by a meeting with General Surgery.  The team there recommended a colonoscopy done but Dad was reluctant.  He now has a year to think about it.

Life at home can be tough at times but every day I'm touched by the kindness of human beings.  Some weeks ago a co-worker, Pei Ee, offered me a special price ticket to the SEA Aquarium in Sentosa.  She observed that I've had to cancel my vacation because of Dad's fall and hoped that I could at least take a day off for myself.  

"Come closer baby, so I can  kiss you" 

The one thing I enjoyed watching most were the jellyfish!  Quite hypnotising. Btw, did you know that the jellyfish poop through it's mouth?

Jellyfish Invasion!

This is Grouch the Garouper - my father frequently takes on the same facial expression at home.

好吃的饭粿

昨天到住家附近买早餐。是因为迟去的关系吗？（我是先跟母亲在超市购物后才过去的。）抵摊时食物已卖得七七八八，炒米粉、面类已经卖完了!

只好捧两个饭粿回家。粿小得可怜，里面的馅很少 又淡而无味，感觉连小洋葱也省略了。厚厚的皮裹着一团烂饭，两三条切得幼幼的冬菇丝，和一些疑似花生的颗粒。越吃越不是滋味。母亲叹息：唉！好久没吃到了赛玲做的饭粿好了，她做得特别好吃！我也有同感。

赛玲是父亲的老朋友，煮食的手艺好得很，对食材、步骤苛刻。手工凤梨塔里的馅是她自己慢慢熬煮的。年轻时做功夫菜，快又多；年纪大了做 achar 光是切果菜就得花上半天的时间，但她一样不马虎。

似乎是感应到母亲的碎碎念，晚饭后赛玲真的携了十多个饭粿在出现我家耶！就是有那么巧的事情，好不好？ 母亲见到她，一整晚笑得合不弄咀。

赛玲做的饭粿跟外面买的真的有天渊之别！瞧，粿皮超薄，内有米饭、虾米、香菇和青葱 - 馅多得把皮都挤破了！今天午餐时我一口气吃了两个，味道非同凡响（打嗝！）

其实光吃一个就很满足咯!

哈哈。。。真的是超开心的。

DAY OUT: ZOO DAY

There was sunny weather.  And giant pandas.  And enormous fishes.  And exquisite floral.  

Oh, and a PICNIC BASKET!  Who visits the zoo without a picnic basket?!

分享

上週日做了简单的double chocolate muffin，备受好评。马来族同事Zan向我讨食谱，她看不懂中文，我把书中的食谱译成英文，让她也可以做出适合自己口味的点心。能与朋友分享好事物，往往胜过独自拥有。

 

小时候家中不富裕，生日时母亲不曾为我煮面线鸡蛋，更别想买蛋糕了。有一年母亲竟然带了个蛋糕回来，那是一个圆形的牛油蛋糕，直径6、7寸左右吧，上面有几颗 红色的glaced cherries 点缀。没插上蜡烛，也没有特别喜庆的感觉。

今天从书里翻出marble pound cake 的食谱，回忆当年那段朴实的庆生。40年后的今天，所用的材料比从前讲究多了。日本面粉、法国奶油、Valrhona 巧克力、来自Madagascar的香草精、有机鸡蛋一一随手可取。蛋糕不论在味道还是外观都比从前更具魅力。

吃大理石蛋糕能同时享受两种口味，你会与谁分享？

THE WEEK'S RUNDOWN

Oct 6 Monday 

The office is closed in lieu of Hari Raya Haji holiday. Mum dragged me to the Chinatown wet market. Somehow we forgot that the stalls in the wet market do not operate on Mondays! We also  ran out of luck at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre because when we arrived we found a note stuck to the gate indicating that they are closed until October 15th!

Mum then decided to da bao from Zhen Zhen Porridge. What’s so great about the porridge I really don't have the answer. I’d avoid the long queue at all cost but Dad loves the fish porridge so I stood in line for 35 minutes. 

Oct 7 Tuesday 

The chocolate muffins I made on Sunday turned out to be a hit with my co-workers. I made 11 muffins in all. (Think the recipe would yield 12 but I do like to top my muffin tins to the brim.) We ate 3 at home, leaving 8 for the office. Everyone marvelled at how moist the muffins were.  Two people asked for the recipe. I guess this means it is a keeper! 

Had lunch with Winifred. Her last day with the company is on Thursday. Funny how we’re seated so close yet we manage to eat with each other only when she decides to leave. Sorry, Winnie! 

Oct 8 Wednesday 

Zan is excited for the Blood Moon at 6:52pm. This is a photo that I snapped from our office rooftop just before I made my way home. The sun is a beautiful orange globe. Were we supposed to be watching out for Blood Sun, or Blood Moon? Arrived home just a little before 6:50pm and gazed expectantly into the sky but all I could see was the haze. Chey! 

Oct 9 Thursday
Mum and I went out for our morning walk early this morning.  What do you know?  The moon is indeed crimson!  Too bad I didn't have my camera with me ...

Oct 10 Friday 

Took a day off to accompany Dad to the TTSH. This is a follow-up appointment made with the neurologist due to his fall last month. All is well! No fracture in the skull, no internal bleeding.  Dad has been officially discharged. It doesn't mean that Dad is off the hook.  There's still an appointment to come with Geriatric.  Who know what we're in for next?  A step at a time, is what I always say.

For now everything is beautiful.

简单就是幸福

昨天应朋友MS 邀请到她家里小聚。因工作的关系MS的先生将在今年低携着一家四口到印尼生活一段时期。

天气持续闷热好多天，前晚拜托老天爷赐点雨水。昨天早上当真下起豪雨， 只好撑伞出门。走在湿答答的路上心里直埋冤：雨就不能聚餐后才下吗？忽然不知怎的 脚下一滑，回过神来已是四脚朝天地躺在行人道上！是老天爷在骂我：没雨水的时候你 complain；雨下了你又嫌下的早啦，到底是想怎样?!

今天是 bank holiday，所以明天（週一）不用去上班 ，真的好开心喔!  将上个週日晚秤好的材料从冰箱里取出，做简单的 double chocolate muffin。能和年迈的父母围着餐桌，看着他们品尝着我亲手做的小点心，也算是一种幸福吧？

HARI RAYA HAJI

Today is Hari Raya Haji, otherwise known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”. 

Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, it honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to God's command.  God then intervened to provide Ibrahim with a lamb to sacrifice instead. 

The same story is told in the Old Testament, God had called Abraham to embark on a three day journey (Genesis 22) to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Issac. 

There are several similarities between the bible and the koran. Perhaps if we're willing to believe that there is only one God and that we each honour Him in different ways, we can live side by side in harmony.