Escapade | East Coast

Last day of the long weekend of relaxation and day dreaming before coming back to the real world.

East Coast Beach Park is this family's last stop before the next weekend and holidays.

It was a cloudy day, so the sun played hide and seek for the rest of the days until sun down. Have some colour on my pale body after the "on-off" tanning session, but oh, such a good feeling to feel the sun on my skin, soaking the clean sea breeze and immerse the wide open sea view.

So refreshing to my senses. All 3 of us are energized as the long weekend draws to an end. Me back to work, my son back to school and wife to the chores before she starts her kiosk business again.

This little breaks from my mundance, daily routines keeps me sane for my own good. Click photo for more.

Abode | Morning Song

Was awakened this morning by a wonderful song. A bird song in particular.

Still early in the morning of a public holiday. All was quiet and not a-stirring. No noise to pollute the morning heaven, just songs, songs from the birds.

I stood by my bedroom window listening to its happy tune for quite a long while. I felt calm, intrigued almost because that was the first time I ever heard a song like that from a bird that I could not see amongst the trees.

It reminded me of the time we were in Queensland, Australia on our vacation. Nature surrounded us. Pure heaven. I felt that this morning. Click photo for more.

Escapade | Dinner Out

Every Chinese New Year you will be limited by choice of cooked food available from the stalls as the Food Courts in the neighbourhood and Food Courts in the shopping centres are closed.

The closest bet to finding good food would be to places where many Malays or Indian food stalls are located.

These are the only places left open for business these few days. We had a choice of either Bedok Walk or Changi Village.

We chose Changi Village because we can unwind after dinner which was going to be like a mad house.. well hawker centre that is, with the many people having family outings and dining out. Click photo for more.

Family | Peanuts Character

While surfing, I landed on one interesting website via links from FFMB Member's blog.

My old time favourite cartoon - Peanuts was characterising anyone who wishes to take the test by answering a few questions.

Just be honest when answering the questions so that you will get your true Peanuts character for yourself.

I asked my son and wife to take the test and we finally are Peanuts! The picture depicts our family, minus Snoopy though, we have our own adopted "part-time" hamster Puffy in place of the dog. Click photo for more.

Escapade | Blogs Galore

Left home alone, nothing good on TV, I had to turn to my PC.

Never in my life have I surfed to so many blog sites in one sitting, and never have I been so liberal on giving comments to the sites I visited, thoughts I read and so much urge to wanting to leave a message.

Yes, I am lonely without my family for even one evening. Hopeless me.

I have linked most of the FFMB members to my blog and made my first banner, well poster is more likely of my blog. Enjoy the many thoughts and the many witty comments with my hours of surfing.

Good way of learning from other people's experiences and opinions though they are miles apart across the globe. Click photo for more.

Escapade | Long Weekend!

After what it seems an arduous and kind of depressing month of January, the weekend is just around the corner.

What is sweet is the two days of public holiday following right after the weekend. A total of 4 days off work is so needed. A long weekend finally here.

Have been waiting for this break for sometime now and it took the bus advertisement to re-ignite my "holiday spirits" back into me, pumping my blood of excitement as I will spend it all with my family.

No surprises as we are going camping, but which beach now? Oh and the weather has not been predictable for some two months now, what if it rains? Click photo for more

Escapade | Weird Day

Ever had a weird day? I had my share today.

Woke up late for work and had to fork an extra S$4.00 on top of the normal fare for calling for a cab which came late for mistakenly saw the address as Pasir Ris instead of Tampines.

Sneaked into work with a straight face but stuck out like a sore thumb.

Coming back home was an even greater challenge. After 4 buses passed me by, I finally get to board one. Not before witnessing a weird antics of a woman gone mad over the long wait for the bus, or was it? Transportation can sure drive one crazy! Click photo for more.

Family | Our Hamsters

We have an addition to our family unit. We have "adopted" part-time two adorable hamsters.

My son returned home from school one day with two hamsters in a cage. He was entrusted to be the first pupil in his class to take care of these animals for the weekend.

We had so much fun taking care of them. Our world revolved around them for the whole weekend. So much attention given to our new members of the family even though it was only for the weekend.

My wife even named the two after we got to know each of their temperaments. All was great with a few hiccups here and there, but the inevitable happened that made my son cried and I regretted that my memory failed me. We love you Sandy. Click photo for more.

Escapade | The Bully

Time to confess. Even my parents did not know about this.

Yes, I have been bullied, but I have learned to forgive and have forgotten most of it ever happened, but I can never forget or forgive the bully I was with a girl from kindergarten.

Yes, kindergarten. I was as twisted and as mean as a child could be. To this day, I can never ever erase my mind when I saw here eyes speaking to me... why are you doing this?

I have no idea why I did it, but the guilt stays the same all these years. I though that I have forgotten and I thought the guilt has all subsided, but it stayed. I wish I could turn back time... but I just have to live with it. Click photo for more.

Abode | My Libraries

My son was not feeling too well and had to skip school. I, on the other hand, had to take leave off work.

The flu season is in full gear I guess, when we saw a room full of people having about the same sickness as he had at the doctor's.

The journey to the doctor's was interesting. It traced his visits to the many libraries - from Children's Community in Tampines West, to the Tampines Regional - a neighbourhood library and on to the new and ultra-modern National Library situated in Victoria Street.

All in the bus ride from our home in Street 71 to the doctor's at Street 32. These places have been his eyes to the world and the whole universe if I can say so myself. Click photo for more.

Escapade | Friday 13th

Unlucky day? I am never a believer of such superstition.

Moreover, "Friday the 13th" and the number 13 are more of western superstitions than anything else.

Friday is a holy day of the week for Muslims and any number is just a number, the Almighty decides on everything.

That cleared up and out of the way, I would now like to relate a bad day I had on the 13th day of the new year 2006. The date notwithstanding.

I may get in trouble for this - career wise, but I just have to write this down for my own sanity and conscience. Click photo for more.

Abode | Trishaw Revived

I read with great interest of the possibility of trishaws plying our neighbourhood streets. A dying trade if not for the tourist attraction item.

It would be great to revived it to provide another transport option for the people to get around their estates and between neighbouring estates too.

Defintely a cheaper transport for mothers with their groceries from their nearby markets. A boon to the trishaw men who would be more than happy to have a steady income instead of depending solely on tourist seasons and limited movements.

Just cannot describe the many fond memories I have of trishaw rides home from my early primary school days. Just would a Tourist feel when he or she takes the ride.

This possibility should be explored further to provide the people in the estates another mode of fun but practical transport which will definitely be unique to this part of world, where modern fuses with the old seamlessly. Click photo for more.

Thank you Carol - A Revision for featuring

Abode | Arson Again?

Not a good feeling to think that there was a second fire at the same place again.. the multi-storey carpark Block 730A.

Even more unsettling to think that there maybe a serial arsonist lurking around in our neighbourhood. Not a good start to the new year at all!

Well, we got another round of commotion when the Light Attack Fire Truck came with sirens blasting through the quiet night. There was already a small crowd near the open court beside the carpark.

As kaypoh or busy-body as my son and I were, we went down to the carpark to check what was going on. Did some "investigating" of our own and snapped some photo.

Thanks to our Civil Defence Force for their quick and efficient efforts to avoid the public and property in harms way. Click photo for more.

Escapade | Morning Ride

Most definitely many Singaporeans have had a great countdown to 2006. Most have defintely started work on 3 January, but I had "luxury" to start work a day later.

An interesting journey in a cab to start the new year journey to work happened to me. Never thought of writing someone else's experience other than mine, and never thought of writing it in the Escapade section about anything to do with my work either.

Since I am a sucker for old Kampong days stories, reminiscing about childhood in a village when life was much simpler and more honest was a kind of nice. There were lessons learnt and some trivias about poultry too.

All from the can driver who happened to pass by his village in Punggol. Click photo for more.

Wishes | Happy 2006!

Woke up this morning and another year has past, a new year to look forward to. Full of possibilities. My silent prayer for my love ones.

Bismillah.

To my loving wife Azi,
May you have good health and may your business flourish well, Insyaallah.

To my wonderful son Danish,
May your bright mind sparkle even more dazzling and may you grow up to be a pious son, respectful of his elders and excel in your studies, sports and interests.

To my dear Parents and Siblings,
May this year bring joy and happiness and murah rezeki to you all and may our ties bond even closer together and be emulated by our children.

To my true Friends,
Here and around the world,
Here's wishing you whatever good you wish for will come true.

To the Almighty,
Bless this family and our love ones,
Keep us in Your protection always,

Amin.