Visit to Penang - January 2014

Went back to Penang to visit my parents and have a reunion meal with them, and to catch up with my younger sister who was also visiting from Melbourne with her youngest daughter, Eleisha.

Took Dad to eat his favourite Chicken Curry, Inche Kabin Chicken and Lobak at a Hainanese Restaurant.

 

We also have a small Yu Sheng with him the following day, he enjoyed it.....!

 

Took Dad to see the movie, 47 Ronin . He loves action packed movies.

Dad in front of Gurney Plaza with Chinese New Year decorations.

 

Lai Meng presented Dad with a calligraphy writing that she wrote for him for Chinese New Year celebration.

 

Singapore School of Calligraphy Convention 2014

My dear wife participated in the Singapore School of Calligraphy Convention held on Sunday 12 January 2014.

 

 



Lai Meng with her Teacher.

Lai Meng with her friends cum classmates.

Congratulations and keep up the good work....!!!

My Photos Submission for Basic Photography Class

At the end of my Basic Photography Class that I attended in Dec 2013, I have to submit  6 photos for assessment in order to pass the class.

So far, no news from the instructor yet on my grading of these photos; at least an Overall Pass is required but Passing with Distinction would be ideal.....!

 

 

  The above 2 photos were taken in Botanical Garden during the outdoor class.

This photo was taken outside Tangs Departmental Store, Christmas decorations.

 

This is a close-up of one of the many colourful Hibiscus flowers in my garden.

 

This photo is on the zooming effect on a Transformer toy, taken in front of my garden.

 

 

 This photo was taken when I first took my Canon DSLR camera for a shoot at the Lantern Festival in Clarke Quay, about 2 years ago.

 

Reflections of Year 2013

 Welcome to a New Year in 2014..!!!

What a year and here are some highlights in 2013.

Jason graduated with a Diploma in Human Resource with Psychology from Singapore Polytechnic in May.

The family celebrated his graduation by taking a trip to Japan and we thoroughly enjoyed it as we have no been having such an overseas holiday for a few years due to his studies.

Jason was enlisted and underwent his training in Pulau Tekong like any Singaporean sons and eventually graduated from his Basic Military Training (BMT) in October.

Jason was trained for his vocation as Aviation Materials Specials (AMS) , ie store man cum logistic personnel, and assigned to a F15 jet fighter squadron in Paya Lebar Air Base.

Lai Meng was awarded a Consolation Prize in the Open Category in the Chinese Calligraphy Chinese New Year 2013 competition in Feb.

 

I have been visiting my parents every quarter in Penang and will continue to do so in the New Year.

I over exerted myself re-turfing the garden lawn grass and aggravated it further when I started to paint the car porch and the front of the house early in the year and only realised that it was more than a sprained muscle in my lower back, sometime in Apr.

I have a recurrence of a mild slipped disc and have to undergo some physiotherapy besides taking some anti-inflammation medication. I was in pain for a few months, buttock, hamstring , calf and feet could go numb when the nerve was pinched.

I still can get some pain if I walk or stand for too long but this is much more tolerable than before and my Dr told me that it could take at least 1 year+ to get a full recovery so I need to be very cautious of my condition.

Jack, our Beagle dog, passed away in Aug after being sick from cancer of his spleen.

He was 15 years+ old and have lived longer than an average age of 12 years expected of a dog. We missed him a lot!

To round off the year 2013, I joined the Photography Society of Singapore and stared to attend their classes in Dec.

I completed the first module and here is one of the photos that I took during the class outing in Botanic Garden.

So what are my new year resolutions..?

Last year, I wanted to resume my swimming and do more exercises for better health but due to my mild slipped disc in Apr, I did not manage to achieve it as I ended up in a recovery mode instead and the exercise done was mainly to help my lower back.

My 2014 resolutions are :
- exercise more to stay healthy
- complete the 3 basic modules in Digital Photography, at least
- travel overseas twice besides my regular trips to visit my parents in Penang

So I look forward to another exciting year in 2014 and I hope you do too.....!

Be Happy and Healthy...... take care...!

Merry Christmas 2013

Wishing You a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year in the coming year, 2014.

 

 

We went to Orchard Road to take a few photos on the Xmas decorations at Orchard Ion.

 

 

 

Singapore Street Arts

The same artist, Ernest Zacharevic, best known for the whimsical street art that he created for the Georgetown Festival in Penang last year, painted these in Singapore recently.

He also painted the following in Johor but was not very well received by the Authority there. Someone painted a policeman behind the thief but the Authority still got it painted with white paint over it.

Apparently, someone made a set of sticker of the painting and pasted it back onto the wall......!!!

Jason's National Service(NS) Vocation

Since his graduation from Basic Military Training (BMT), Jas has been assigned to the Air Force and undergoing training for his Aviation Material Specialist (AMS) vocation.

As such, his uniform has been changed from green to lighter shade of blue.

This is what they called a No. 4 uniform.

 

 

Here is a photo of him in his No. 3 uniform, taken on day of his graduation ceremony after completing his AMS training.

 

 

Well, we are proud of his involvement in NS and his AMS vocation.



Penang Trip - Father's Birthday

We went back to Penang to celebrate my father's 86th birthday.

It was also a coincidence that my brother Charles was also visiting Penang too and I was able to catch up with him.

Jas was having his mandatory 1 week leave after his graduation from his BMT so he could join us too to see his grandparents.

Lunch at a Hainanese Restaurant.

 

Jas with grandma in PG home.

Family photo in Pg home.

 

Jas with Grandpa in Gurney Plaza, walking from car park to the shops.

 

Penang Street Art

 

Jason BMT Graduation

Jas was enlisted on 13 August 2013 and we sent him off at Pulau Tekong.
( http://pcwthoughts.blogspot.sg/2013/08/jason-enlistment-to-ns.html )

Two months later, we attended his BMT graduation or Passing Out Ceremony at Sembawang Camp on Thu 10 Oct 2013 evening.

Jas has to march and stand in the rain during the ceremony but we were seated in the tent.

As expected, all the parents were excited and proud of their sons during the ceremony.

We were invited to enter the parade square and help our sons to put on their beret as a sign of graduation from recruit to Private.

 

We are indeed proud of his participation in the National Service (NS) and contribution to our country.

 

 

Jason has been assigned to the Singapore Air Force and will be undergoing another 2 weeks of his vocation training as an Aviation Materials Specialist (AMS); a store man and logistic staff in SAF.

 

 

Congratulations to Jason and all his mates on their graduation...!!!

Calligraphy School Exhibition

Lai Meng has participated in her calligraphy school exhibition for the 4th consecutive year since she started calligraphy 4 years ago.

Congratulations...!!!

 

She with her scroll in the exhibition over the last weekend.

( She also won a consolation prize in a calligraphy competition early this year.
http://pcwthoughts.blogspot.sg/2013_02_01_archive.html )

Keep it up..... we are so proud of your achievements...!!!