Monday, December 14, 2020

Influencer

 So I had my 5mins of fame just last week.

Glad its all over, although it may become more common.

Just look at my gear that my IT department asked me to take home to use!

I'm turning into an influencer!











Check out my set up at home!



A Good Year

 It's been a good year in the office.

A REALLY good year.

The volatility in the markets, the pandemic, the US elections. Everything's helped us so much.

So decided to treat staff to Luke's for year end appreciation.

The famous cocktail shrimp is still so good!



Paintings

 After a whole year, we've finally hung up out paintings that were done by myself and the kiddos.

So proud of them!

Can you guess who drew what?

Makes me really proud.



Super Long Hair

So I took a poll on whether I ought to cut my super long locks.

Turns out it was 50/50!

A bit sad that I have to chop it off.

Will probably do so after the new year.

:(




Golfing 2020

 The pandemic situation has not been kind to golf enthusiasts.

So I took leave last month with the intention to play golf with Victor and Marcus.

Due to the overwhelming response at many golf clubs, we couldn't secure an 18-hole game.

In the end we had to settle for a morning at the range, followed by three hours at a golf simulator in the city called Clubhouse.

Still really fun though, especially with so much alcohol!




Samurai Burger is Back

 One of my all-time fav from McDonalds.

The samurai burger!



A Day Out To Pulau Ubin

Wanted to visit Chek Jawa, in Pulau Ubin.

The last time we visit was quite some time ago. In fact the last two times I went, I blogged about it here in 2007 and here in 2017. Things have improved even further :)

So we started out bright and early with the kids. They were pretty up for it.

We reached Changi Village and had a quick breakfast and headed to the bumboat terminal. It now costs $4 per person per ride to Pulau Ubin (or back).

Luckily it wasn't so crowded as we were there before 9am.

Once we get there, we start things off with some island coconuts! The kids really love them.

Then we chose one of the bicycle rental kiosks and start testing and choosing our bicycles.

Unlike in 2017 where I shared a tandem bike with Wei, this time around I did the tandem with Xin while the boy had his own bike. The wifey got to ride alone too compared to last time out when she had to babyseat Xin.

We get out bikes and head off. The first run we didn't get far before having to turn back as I felt Wei's bike and our tandem needed air in our bike tyres.

Once that was out of the way, it was one straight ride to Chek Jawa Visitor Centre, 

The major highlight was this area near the bicycle park before Chek Jawa which I dub the 'Monkey Trap', where tens of monkeys were lining the road trying to hijack any unwitting cyclist of pedestrian of their visible food or drinks! It was super scary for the kids and wifey. Many unsuspecting people got a scare too!

Thereafter we parked our bikes at a bike park as they now prohibit bikes from entering the Chek Jawa area. 

It was just a very short hike in and immediately we reached the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre which looked very new. And there was a lookout that stretched far out into the sea, which was very beautiful. 

We ended up doing some jump shots there.

Then there was the boardwalk which we trekked through, and finally back to the bike park. 

On the ride back the muddy paths were slippery and Wei slipped and fell off his bike twice :( Luckily he wasn't injured or anything. I felt he id a great job holding his own with his bike throughout the trip.

We just headed back and returned our bikes and then cleaned up near the jetty. Then we waited for a bumboat to take us back to the mainland.

It was so fun and fulfilling!














Sunday, December 13, 2020

ECP Run

 Always therapeutic when running at East Coast Park.

I love living by the coast.




Shake Shack

 Had Shake Shack at their Suntec outlet a few weeks ago.

Delicious, but quite overrated I feel.

Very sinful.



Thursday, December 10, 2020

My 5mins Of Fame

 6mins+ to be exact.

Appeared on Nasdaq.com for an interview in conjunction with the Singapore Fintech Festival.

Catch the full interview here.



Sunday, November 29, 2020

More Random Food From Siglap

Here's more random food that we eat often around the Siglap area.

This is from Soy Eu Tua.

When I'm not eating it's famous mee pok or chicken rice, I'd eat this recently discovered laksa ($4.50) and carrot cake ($4), which is also ultra delicious. Only challenge as always, is getting a seat in that small coffeeshop.


The other one is the Teo Chew porridge which we tend to eat for dinners after work. This is at the 3838 coffeeshop where I usually eat the famous kway chap or yuan wei yong tau foo. I'm not a big fan of this porridge with different cooked food because the food is normally cold, meaning its been there for hours. Somehow the kids love it though.



Annual Full Body Check Up

This is funny.

This year's shit scoop, or stool container, as they prefer to call it, has grown a lot bigger.

Had some trouble with it, but luckily manage to get some samples.


COVID19 has done a lot of things this year to our lives and the way we live. 

The lockdowns, the WFH setups, the drive towards more exercise, all have contributed to a healthier lifestyle for me and my family.

I was happy to see that the metrics in all my tests were far better than last year's.

Just about everything has improved, some tremendously.

Notably my cholesterol levels have now gone down to high (instead of alarmingly high), my uric acid levels (which gave me gout) have also normalized.

Hopefully this healthy lifestyle continues.

Katong In The Rain

It was one of our weekend enrichment runs for the kids.

Very routine these days. Both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday it is football lessons in the morning followed quickly by math lessons which end around 1pm. 

Sunday it is the grueling 2-5pm chinese lessons.

This was lunch near the enrichment center at Katong. One of my faves is still the wanton mee and laksa at Roxy Square. Then we sometimes would walk over to Birds Of Paradise, this new ice cream parlour that is all the rage now. 

We'd cross this old bridge.

And this was in the pouring rain.

I love Katong.



Monday, November 09, 2020

Saxo Logo Change

 So Saxo Markets have now changed their logo once more. 

What I really like about it is that this time around, it is more meaningful and more purposeful.

Also all employees were gifted a water bottle, chocolate and personalized letter about the new Saxo Foundation.



Teapot

 My dad loves collecting old Chinese teapots.

Here's a sample.



Apple Store At Marina Bay Sands

 Went to visit the new Apple store (the third in Singapore) at Marina Bay Sands.

It is probably the most beautiful Apple store in the world right now.

Unfortunately it was so popular that you needed to book a slot to go in to browse. 

And there were no more slots left on the day we went :(

You have to access it via an underground gallery tunnel.

So cool.




Miscellaneous Favourite Lunches

 These are food that I love to have for lunch at Siglap during WFH days.




Window Fix

 There's been a hole in one of our bathroom windows since the ventilator fan broke.

The wifey then went to DIY fix it.




Sunday, October 25, 2020

MIL Satay

The MIL Masterchef process needs no introduction.

Nonetheless tonight she created yet another new dish which surpassed expectations.

She did home-cooked satay with beehoon!

SO DELICIOUS!



Broken Light Switch

 The light switch in the living room has been semi broken for some time already and yesterday afternoon it finally gave way, with the entire switch panel broken off. This meant I couldn't switch the light and fan on at all.

I surveyed around for nearby electricians and since I didn't want to wait till Monday to fix the problem (I'd have to survive through football Saturday and Sunday with no light or fan!), I willingly paid $90 for a handyman to come down quickly to fix it.

The switch broke around 3pm, and by 4.30pm he was here to fix it, which he did in less than 10mins. For me that was money well spent, service was also very prompt and good, even if the electrician said this was one of the easiest jobs he's done. $90 for the quick fix when some quotes were around $40-$50 if I were willing to wait until Monday.

Would strongly recommend using them. They are called LS Electrician Singapore. This is their website. I Googled for electricians and had surveyed the top three and they were most prompt with a reliable quote for my problem.





The Wifey Cooks Once More

 Ever since the pandemic began, the wifey has showed how good a chef she is, learning very well from her mother.

However, as the situation is getting better and better in Singapore and we all head back to work (I'm on alternative WFH/WFO weeks now), she is cooking less.

This makes me miss her cooking.

So last night she whipped up one of my favs, which I appreciate a lot.

Simple yet delicious!



Neptune Dim Sum

 This stall is one of my favourites down at Marine Parade Central hawker centre. 

It serves one of the best and freshest dim sum at a very economical price.

And each time I eat, I'd whack a lot of food.

You can find their review here.






Monday, October 19, 2020

Spurs Bet

 Last month I placed a small $10 punt on Tottenham Hotspurs winning the league this season.

They're leading 3-0 to West Ham as I type this and other than hoping Manchester United would win it, they would be my next choice. 

Both Spurs and Everton look rather impressive this season.

Time to huat!!!



Sunday, October 18, 2020

Newcastle 1 Manchester United 4

 After our last match, I really anticipated the worst.

TBH this season hasn't started well and it really appears like it would be a long season ahead particularly after the crushing 6-1 defeat to Spurs

Last night's win feels like a tiny band-aid over a big crack.

Hopefully I am wrong, but when you are starting EPL games with Fred, Daniel James, and STILL sticking with Maguire, I really have little hope for  strong string of good results. 

We were headed for a draw at 1-1 until the last quarter of the game with the introduction of Donny Van De Beek. Then we got the winning goal followed by two more goals in extra time. 

Is that not a glossy win?

Anyway enough of the negativity.

The next five games are the most testing, starting with PSG in the UCL group stages, followed by Chelsea and then some.

Let's see where we are after this run.

GGMU!!!

MIL Delights

 As with every weekend, the MIL whips up a storm and today was no different.

Delicious!



Mee Pok @ 3838

 This is the mee pok at 3838 coffee shop just beside Siglap Centre.

Apparently they are related to the mee pok at Soy Eu Tua.

Not really as good but its chilli is not bad.



Sin Heng BKT

This is a super favourite place for the wifey. 

Now our standard meal there is just a small bowl of mixed bak kut teh, ma you chicken claypot, baby kai lan, beansprouts.

Shiok.



Thank You Ye Ye

 The boy designed this and it was so nice to see. 

Obviously this was referring to my dad and when I showed him this, he was so happy.

Thankful Grandpa and Grandson have such fond memories.



Monday, October 12, 2020

A Thunderstorm Cometh

 From my balcony, we get to see Batam city center on a clear day.

We also get to see a storm if it is brewing out at sea.

And here you can see like right out of Independence Day the movie.

Majestic and beautiful.



Pizza Feast At Home

 The wifey was in the mood for homemade pizza.

She prepared the dough.

The kids and her each prepared a pizza while I lazed.

Using the power oven I bought, the pizza was created.

So delicious!