Day 10 of Home Improvement Plan (7th Oct)

Finally it has come to the last day of the Home Improvement Plan.  Went down to the Food Centre to makan before the worker come.

My mum had minced meat with century egg porridge @ $2.50.

I had wanton mee @ $2.50

One worker came, do water test for bathroom/toilet.  After some times, me high tide, since they are doing water test, I could not use the toilet, I went to PPHCSC to borrow the toilet and to read newspaper.  When I was back, my mum is around, but not the worker.  Not too sure how long the water test will take, and also they will come and install the grab bar in the afternoon, they didn't give a specific time.   Called the office wanting to check the timing, but could not get hold of the lady.  Thought of going get fruit, but I was worried, if I step out of the house, if there's anything, my phone will ring and I have to rush back, so drop the idea.

Another worker came around 1.30pm to settle the water test, ask him what time will the person doing the grab bar come, he said he's doing the grab bar.  He went off and came back around 1 hour later with the tools and the grab bar to do the installation.  Total 8 grab bar to be install.  The office lady came to handover the key to the metal gate and also I have to sign some document.  The guy completed the grab bar installation at around 4 plus.  And that marks the completion of the Home Improvement Plan.

While they are doing the grab bar, I ask my mum if she wants to do downstairs eat dinner after they finish with the grab bar.  At first she said ok.  After the guy left, she said she's not very hungry, so we settle on cup noodle.

And now my turn to be busy, doing the cleaning up and then laundry. 

Day 9 of Home Improvement Plan (6th Oct)

Ask my mum whether she wants to go PPHCSC for breakfast session after the workers arrived or go Food Centre eat before the workers arrived.  Her decision, eat at the Food Centre before the workers arrived.

She had Yong Tau Foo @ $3

Bump into Aunty Mary at the Food Centre as she's buying breakfast for her grandson before her grandson goes to school.

She said she's not going for the breakfast session at PPHCSC as the people there seem not happy with her and also she's not going church anymore.

After the workers arrived, since my mum not going, I went PPHCSC for the breakfast session.  Bee hoon and mee with dumplings made by a resident.

Same question I get, is the HIP free, have to repeat, no, it's not free, I have to pay for it, can use CPF to pay, heavily subsidy by Government.

The Chinese Ministry Pastor is there, mention to him about what Auntie Mary mention.

After the breakfast session, went back, the plumper is there doing the installation of the wash hand basin, pedestal pan, sanitary fitting, etc. 

They are also doing the reinstatement of water heater, etc.  The guy was asking me mirror, since my mirror is an old one, went to get a new one and also to get a shower hose that is needed to be connected to the tap. 

Then is staying at home to make sure the installation is in order and also to make sure the things are okay, no leaking, etc.

The Social Worker is coming at 4pm to visit my mum.  So I thought I will go for an early dinner (I didn't eat anything after the breakfast session at PPHCSC), I had roasted chicken rice @ $3.  It so happen the electrical guy is at my place doing the installation of the toilet/bathroom lighting and there are some problem and I got a call from the HIP office about it.

When the Social Worker came, he told my mum she looks good in the new hairstyle.  My mum reply him, i don't want to cut, they force me to cut my hair.

The soup which I find something different from the usual chicken rice stall I eat before.  It had peppery taste and a bit of the caggage inside.  Too bad it's only a small bowl.

The workers finish at around 6pm.  Was relieve that I am able to use the bathroom/toilet instead of the portable toilet where it's so cramp that I am not able to have a good shower.

Since it's already evening and one more day to go, I only did a bit of cleaning up, the rest, till it's completely over.

After that, had a shiok shower before calling it a day.

Day 8 of Home Improvement Plan (5th Oct)

On the 8th day of Home Improvement Plan.

My mum had fish ball kway teow @ $2.50 at the Food Centre near our place.

Ask my mum if she wanted to go PPHCSC drink Milo, at first, she hesitate, but she still go in the end. It so happen they have a free hair cut for the elderly (pre-register is required) from 10am to 1pm. 

Uncle Choo is there as he has register for the hair cut.  Ask him if his wife has discharge from hospital, yes, his wife has been discharge from the hospital on Wednesday.  He's not able to go for the hair cut due to some problem in his head.  Staff from PPHCSC help him to make appointment at the polyclinic to see doctor.

My mum hair is long and staff of PPHCSC ask her if she wants to cut hair since there's a slot, she insist on not cutting it.  So the staff ask me to cut first then persuade her to cut.  After cutting, told her I already cut my hair and it's her turn.  After a bit of coating, she finally cut her hair.

After coming back from PPHCSC, it's time for me to go  makan.  

My first initial plan was to eat zi char, but passed by Ministry of Ribs , change my mind as I have yet to try their foods, I did not go for Ribs as cutting down on eating pork.  Instead I had wild mushroom chicken @ $9.90.  Two side dishes to choose from in which I choose pasta and mashed potato.  When the foods arrived, I was wondering, how come the chicken is dark, but not bad lah, only that I didn't see any mushroom.  When I made payment, was surprise they do not charge service charge and GST.

The two workers finish the job at around 5.10pm, so I thought everything finish, I close the door. In a while, someone knock on the door, was told he's taking measurements for the bathroom/toilet door. Just when he left, I thought I will go to the HIP office to make some enquiry.  When I was back, 2 guys were outside, they are coming to do the refuse chute.  Ask my mum how come she didn't open the door for them, her reply I do not know who are they.

Day 7 of Home Improvement Plan (4th Oct)

Time flies, one week has passed, Home Improvement Plan Day 7 already.

My mum starts the day with bee hoon, add a piece of hash brown and luncheon meat for her, cost $2.70.

After the workers arrived, I went Fairprice X'tra to buy a new heater, since the old one, there's some problems, and the workers from the Home Improvement Plan Team will be coming on Friday (6th Oct) morning (that's what I was told) to do the installation, I need to get it ready by Thursday (5th Oct).   They sell different models of heater, not too sure which one to choose, so ask the staff for help.  He recommends the Panasonic brand and mention a lot of people under the Home Improvement Plan bought it.  The stock they have now is new one and just arrived.  Since Fairprice X'tra do not sell LED lights for bathroom/toilet,  I thought I will bring the heater and pack food for my mum before I go and get the LED light.  The staff from Fairprice X'tra told me, IMM got sell, but it will be expensive, go neighborhood shop buy, will be cheaper.

After bringing the heater and food back, rest for a while, called one of the Grassroots Leader (her house has already completed the HIP) to ask her about the LED light.  She told me nearby our place there, got sell.  I walk to the shop there, the staffs seem like not sure about the product and also not very helpful, forget it, I didn't buy, just in case I buy wrongly.

I decided to go Jurong West 400 plus there to see if they do sell it, if not, I will go 500 plus there to see.

While at Jurong West 400 plus, went in to a shop, a helpful Uncle attend to me, do not have what I want. 

Then another shop, yes, they do have what I want.  The boss is very helpful and knowledgeable, he's able to answer whatever I ask him.  I told him, I saw a LED light at another place, I won't mention where I saw it, the price is more expensive than the one he's selling.  He was telling me, toilet/bathroom, you won't be inside there for long, only doing business, bathing, so not necessary to get a good one.

So I bought from him.  I will go back again to his shop if I need any items in future.

After buying what I need to buy, thought I want to go Jurong Point eat something I have in mind, 2nd thought, I have to carry the things, take bus there, might as well I go another day when I go buy grocery.

Earlier on, I pass by a coffeeshop and saw some office workers eating the claypot rice.  So I thought I will try it out, $7 for 1 person portion with ingredients chicken, chinese sausage, chinese liver sausage, salted fish.

There are two Indian workers, two China workers.  The schedule for the day is tiling to bathroom/toilet walls while tiling to bathroom/toilet floors is on Thursday (5th Oct), the floor s tiling, they did it on the same day, so by the time they finish, it's 7 plus before they call it a day.

I'm a bit curious, whether got lorry to ferry the workers back, ask the Indian worker,  was told, head taking MRT back.

Same as what the other day when I ask the worker doing concrete, he's also taking MRT, each day, he was given $5 transport allowance. 

Day 6 of Home Improvement Plan (3th Oct)

Before the workers came, my mum wanted to eat at the Food Centre.  Ordered Yong Tau Foo (didn't take picture) as requested by her.

Ask my mum if she wanted chee cheong fun, she's ok, so order 2 pieces @ $1.60 to share.

The stall selling chee cheong fun, they also sell bee hoon, kway teow, mee, etc. The chicken wings is tempting, can't resist the temptation, bou@ 1.30.

Went Bt. Batok as my fruit has finish and to get fruit, also to have my lunch. 

Had Fried Baby Squid Prawn Mee @ $4

Manage to reach home in time to bring my mum to PPHCSC for the karaoke session.  One of the staff was surprised when she saw us and another staff was asking if the Home Improvement Plan has completed, reply, no, the workers are still in the house doing it. 

Uncle Choo was there reading newspaper.  Ask him about his wife as on Sunday, he mention that his wife might be discharge on Monday.   Nope, his wife is not discharge yet.  He's waiting for his son to come down to visit his wife together.

After the workers left, and read about TM comment  in an earlier post, I decided to mop the floor.

Day 5 of Home Improvement Plan (2th Oct)

My mum wants to go to the Food Centre to eat before the workers arrived.

She had lontong @ $2.50

I had tau sau @ $1.70

The workers arrived at around 8.40am.

The other time, I called up CHAS to check if Pioneer Generation is entitled to subsidy for the MRI scan which she was scheduled on November, the answer I got was for MRI Scan, no subsidy.

This round, I called the hospital to check about it, was told that there will be subsidy.  Confusing, CHAS said no subsidy, hospital said got subsidy.  Hmm, shall check with Pioneer Generation Ambassador about it.

Then I went to the nearby Community Centre near my place, there's a St Luke's Elderly Care there. To enquire about the Centre.  The lady only briefly brief me about the admission.  Was told I have to get a referral, can be from Polyclinic, Hospital, and AICare Link, they have to put up to Ministry of Health. She mention if she were to tell me more, I might not absorb and might confused.

Saw a newly open food stall, try out their red wine chicken @ $4, which I find quite salty.

Rice @ $0.50, opening hours are 11.30am to 8.30pm.

At around 5.10pm, 1 of the worker start sweeping the floor (2 of them that day) and than "disappear".  Thought they are done, so I close the door and then can go for my shower.  On second thought, I better don't go for shower first, just in case they "appear", true enough, they appear 15 minutes later and left only at 6pm.

Day 4 of Home Improvement Plan (30th Sept)

I was asking my mum if she wants to eat at the market near our place or I tabao for her.  She wants to go eat before the workers arrived.  

I had kway chap, told them I do not want 猪皮 and 三层肉, so the ingredients consist of pig intestines, tau kway, hard boiled egg, tau pork.

With the chap, it costs $4

Three workers arrived at 9am, they are doing the metal gate.

Then one more worker came to do the work that is suppose to be done for the day.

Thought that the worker will finish the job at around 5 plus, but this round, he finished at around 6.35pm. 

Day 3 of Home Improvement Plan (29th Sept)

Have to wait for the workers from the HIP to arrive before my mum and I could go for the breakfast session at PPHCSC.  The worker came at 8.30am.  Only 1 worker came, so I ask him, today only you 1 person do all the work.  His answer is no.  Other worker will come later.  As different work, no same boss.  He's doing concrete only.  So I thought I will wait for the other worker to arrive before going down, wait and wait, till no sight of them, so I thought I will proceed with my mum to PPHCSC for the breakfast session.

Arrive at PPHCSC at around 9.20am.  Vegetarian beehoon with you tiao and porridge (didn't take picture of it.

An auntie ask me about the HIP, her block is not affected by HIP, is it free.  No, it's not free, only that it's heavily subsidy by Government, I still have to pay for it and I can use my CPF to pay for it.

Auntie Lee is there, I ask her, how come that day at the Karaoke, she left so fast her reply, oh, I didn't see anybody there, so I left.  I didn't told her what Auntie Mary told me.

Thought I will go Jurong East Library borrow a book to read and to tabao food for my mum.  Anyhow hantam a book.

After borrowing a book, I was not hungry so order a cup of hot chocolate @ $3.80 at the cafe which is located inside the library before tabao food back.

Called Auntie Mary in the afternoon to tell her about what Auntie Lee told me this morning. 

The workers left around 5 plus.

Day 2 of Home Improvement Plan (28th Sept)

On the second day, the workers arrive at 8am.  After the workers settle in the work, I thought I will go AICare Link at Ng Teng Fong Hospital to enquire about Day Care Services.  As the other day, the Medical Social Worker mention that AICare Link will have access to my mum medical record.  I was told by AICare Link that long time ago, they can access the data, but not now due to the Data Protection Act.  If my mum is diagnose with dementia, the doctor can put up a report or use e-service, my mum can apply for Dementia Care Centre, if it's not dementia, my mum will then be Day Care Centre.

After that, went to the Food Court to have my early lunch.  Had Yong Tau Foo, minimum 6 pieces with bee hoon mee @ $4.20.

After that, thought want to go Jurong East Library, but the weather was not that good, beside I have to tabao food for my mum, so went back.

Auntie Mary called me, met her at the market to chit chat with her.  She was telling me, she bump into Auntie Lee and Auntie Lee complain to her that at the karaoke in PPHCSC, I ignore her, she went out of the karaoke area to watch Auntie Alice and friends playing rummy and left a while later.

I was telling Auntie Mary,  she was sitting next to my mum, then it's me. Karaoke is ongoing, how am I going to talk to her.

The Social Worker came around 4.15pm to visit my mum and left 1 hour later.  As on 28th Sept, there are 4 workers, 3 workers doing Sanitary pipes, they left around 12.30pm as they are done with it. 1 worker repair spalling concrete, he left a while after the Social Worker left.  This round, I didn't bother to mob the floor as there are still days to go for HIP.. Will wait till everything is completed then I do the cleanup.

Day 1 of Home Improvement Plan ( 27th Sept)

My house Home Improvement Plan for 10 days is from 27th Sept to 7th Oct (Exclude Sunday).  During the 10 days, I have to eat out, as they are doing the toilet and bathroom, and it is very dusty.

The first day, the workers came at 8.30am, I later went to the Home Improvement Plan office to check if I could get out of the house and go elsewhere, thought I might go somewhere else to tabao food for my mum and also I could eat at other places.  The lady mention a quick one should be ok, as if my mum is alone at home with the workers, she might not be comfortable.

At first, I thought want to go Jurong East Library to borrow books to read and tabao food for my mum, but when I was at the bus stop, I realize I did not bring my ezlink card.  So eat at the coffeeshop near my house.

The pan mee stall and the next stall selling prawn mee, laksa, lot mee, etc, same owner.  Saw the signboard of the pan mee stall, they put pork ribs pan mee, thought of trying that, but was told the pork ribs is from the prawn mee stall, in the end, I choose dry pan mee @ $3.20.  I do not want lean meat, so only minced meat, egg, vegetable, ikan bilis.

The soup

The worst part is no toilet and bathroom for use for the 10 days and on the first day, my auntie decide to pay me a visit.  A portable toilet/bathroom is place for temporary use, but only can be used at night.

After being done on the first day, I only roughly mop the floor, as I thought after everything is done, then I do a cleanup of the whole house.