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I bought some medication for flu and allergy yesterday. They are quite costly. I practise self medication instead of going to see the GP because sometimes it is just a few days of pain, aches or feeling unwell. I only see the doc when I know things are getting worst. Medication is very costly now. And seeing the GP is too, especially when you are not working. However, unless you are warded, then you can use the medisave funds set aside for medical costs that cost the earth. In the States too, one can also apply to register for a social security disability insurance so that medical costs are heavily subsided and one is relieved of all that bills that one needs to dig deeper into the pocket. I wonder how many countries besides, Singapore and US practise this?

It feels like years since I last baked. I guess being busy means I get less time to do that. Each time I shop for groceries, my mind is never far from wanting to bake, bake, bake! Each time they put any kind of delicious butter up for a promo, I thought of storing up for my next bake. And each time when I walk past the baking supplier, I can’t help but pop in for a short while just to check out what kind of new paper cups or new decors for baking… I feel so deprived, not baking but what can I do.. I am so exhausted with work and even my off days are burnt with getting supplies, preparation or spending time with my kids’ homework or just having dinner with them, which I enjoy and will not sacrifice any thing for it.

I am lucky to have taken this photo, my last bake in March.. ( I wonder if I will succeed baking another one before the third week of this month). It is because I will be moving, by then. Different place with a new oven but I will miss this current oven (in picture above) having baked so many cakes, desserts, meals, cookies and bread in them? I also dried my tomatoes for homemade sundried tomatoes (which was so delicious). If there is no more last bake, then it’s farewell my little oven.

We are in the new age, aren’t we? Names of people have changed. People get all sorts of names, from Sky to Rain, names of nature.. Sometimes they make me hysterical, sometimes I think deeper to see how can these ‘unique’ names be associated with the person. Just like the Red Indians, they name their off-springs very unique names like Sacred Moon or even Running Water. Then we have clothings like the medical scrubs weren’t very ‘medically inclined’ either. Then the other day, I read about parish clothing, thinking they’d be very much associated with Church wear for the parishers. Then upon surfing around a bit, they ended up to be just a brand of some very fun and cool looking type of clothings! Gosh, things aren’t what we expect them to be now.

Okay, perhaps I’m behind time or perhaps you haven’t seen nor heard of it too. This is really something new and something that I have interest in. A decorative edible gift in the form of bouquet. What is decorative and edible? Cookies, of course!! We always see such product being given during Christmas but we don’t really see them being gathered like a bouquet, right? Wouldn’t it be so much fun giving your friends and relatives something different? Go for a cookie bouquet delivery and I’m sure they will be just as delighted receiving them as you would sending one out! I’m getting out my cookie tins and moulds.. perhaps this is what I’m looking for! Would you want me to send you one too? So many designs one can think of… my mind is working overtime now..

I realised that in the late, there aren’t as many motor-cyclists on the roads in Singapore. In the 80’s you can see many of them and mind you, they aren’t the type who rides the lower CC powered Honda cups like in Malaysia. These bikers rode on larger powered ones like those you see in the television competing in International competition. Many of them are very ‘bike-proud’ and would also wear matching jackets of leather and cool scorpion motorcycle helmets and customize their bikes to look different from the others. Perhaps many people shun motorcycles lately because of the high accident rate on the roads but yet again, one will never be free of danger unless one is a careful person. Would you get those 250CC bikes? I think those are the coolest transportation, regardless of the stereotype perspectives of bikers as hooligans.

Ladies in this generation are getting bolder and bolder. Back then decades ago, a slight peek of bra strap can cause any women of all ages to blush, ladies in this generation would wear them in all shades of colour and coordinates or complements their outer wear for all to see. The only thing that most women hide are the bottom inner wear. Most prefer to have them hidden from all eyes as they are probably more private. Some lingerie stores sell camo panties that is camouflaged easily. They are very innovative and blends very well into our dressing, with lowest or thinnest ever material. It gives a seamless look especially when you are wearing a nice satin smooth pair of pants that sticks like a second skin.

Pasar malams (night markets) are not much exciting nowadays. You see the same old same kind of stuff and the same stalls selling similar food items in every other block. It’s very boring, to be frank. The only latest addition so far are the potato or fries that is cut into a rotating circle but they are sold about $2.50 each, not very value for money, just for the novelty of the way it’s been cut. I sometimes walk through these food stalls without batting an eyelid because once you see one, you see the same thing walking 5 mins away, yet again thereafter. Same corn in a cup, fake shark’s fin soup, all the cordial drinks, kueh tutu, tapioca cakes…etc etc. The only thing that seemed to be much more interesting is the stall with the electric grill or was that charcoal (?) kebab stall that is something different that had infused into the Singapore heartlands culture. Have you tried one of those?

I like iPhone but I really do not know how to fully utilize it yet. There are so many apps one can download for a small fee or free. I am amazed at the default software that it comes in such as the compass that I finally could check which direction my front door is facing. I am totally awed by the many games one can download. My girls pester to upload so many games like the Ant smasher, Office Jerk (so funny, this game), Katy Perry or something in this line… and when you browze through the apps, there are just so many to choose from and yet new ones are being uploaded everyday! You can find utility applications like photo editing ones to games and for hobbyists like golf gps apps, a playable piano or find yourself learning a new language everyday! It’s really cool!

We are waiting for the paperworks to complete in the sale of our home as well as some renovation works in the new place we are renting in. Our landlord is fixing some basic fixtures including grills which I insisted since I have two young kids. Although this is a temporary place until we decide to wait for the market to grow softer, rented homes need to be just as comfy. My kids love the place and they are excited that there is a playground just across the street. If Singapore allows, I’d have preferred to live in a motorhome! I simply adores those I’ve seen in magazines and televisions. I’m sure my kids would like them, but alas, we do not even have enough parking spaces and wide open spaces for parking our cars, so the motorhome dream is definitely out. Otherwise, there’d be a good demand for motorhome accessories as well as a good range of motorhome insurance coverage. I can imagine some arty farty fella who may even dress up a motorhome in the retro era in pastel shades of pink or baby blue and lots of Warhol’s artifacts. And all that accessories one can have.. Wouldn’t that be so much fun?

I am so tied up at work since the part time worker resigned. It is difficult to get people who wants to work in food business. Maybe it is not glamourous and there is no air cond comfort. That means Ah Boy and I will just have to do the jobs ourselves. Dishwashing is a shunned job. Peeling prawns is too. But if you psyche yourself and accept it, you probably don’t feel that it is not all that bad. What can I say, should I put myself in a positive mood or negative mood just to do those jobs? I always come to face to face with things I do not have the interest or fear doing it. But facing it is something I come to eventually. Just like tabulations in financials which I ran away years ago led me to a company where I had to do tons of them. In the end, I became an old hand in what I fear. So now, I guess I shall be able to be a professional dishwasher and prawn peeler. Give me competition, anytime now. I’ll do it.

So because of these jobs, I now skips my meals so frequently that the only meals that can be eaten in peace would be after work, like supper. And pretty soon if I continue this way, I’d have to look for diet pill that works fast because I will be a bottom heavy pear shaped person in the end. I can’t skip any more meals can I? After all, it is the only other meal I take besides my cup of breakfast coffee and toast in the early morning.