Week 12 (Part 4)

24th Mar (Sat)

My mum throw tantrum saiding she doesn't wants to go Church.  Manage to sweet talk her to go. 

As usual, after service, went to the usual coffeeshop in Bukit Merah Central.  Only Malay and Indian food and drink stall.  Saw a notice in the fishball stall, move away to another place liao.  The roasted meat, chicken, duck, etc.  also no more liao.  Saw a notice another owner selling also roasted duck, etc. will be starting business on 26th Mar.

My mum had lontong with begedil @ $3.70

Since my mum is around, she can help me with the rice, so I order a fried chicken briyani @ $5.50.  

25th Mar (Sun)

There's a quarterly Mass Senior Friendship Circle in the Community Centre in which I've got a ticket for my mum, but my mum not keen to go.  So I went for my Zumba workout.  Thought wanted to finish up reading the book Love without Limits which I borrowed from the library.  But a friend Dad passed away, so went to the wake at Ang Mo Kio which is quite far from my place.

After attending the wake, went to the nearby Food Centre to have my dinner and to buy food back for my mum.  Not much variety to choose from as most of the stalls are close.  Had kway chap @ $3.50.  Ingredients include tau pork, fishcake, egg, intestines.

The kway

If I didn't remember wrongly, Pine Garden Cake in Ang Mo Kio ave 10 has been feature in TV years back.

Bought a piece of Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch @ $3.20. 

Week 12 (Part 3)

22th Mar (Thur)

Run out of some items need to buy.  End up at Jurong East Blk 200 plus market.

A bowl of porridge @ $3

Had fish porridge

2nd round - glutinous rice @ $1.50

Usually if I am at Jurong East 200 plus there, I will sure goes to the shop selling kuehs, etc.  If I see the steamed pumpkin cake, I will buy it back.  Steamed pumpkin cake @ $3.

While waiting for the transport bringing my mum back.  Bump into a neighbour who ask me if I don't need to pay for the Day Care Centre fee.  I can't figure out what makes them think that don't need to pay for Day Care Centre fee.  Not that I know of, Day Care Centre in Singapore that don't need to pay.  As usual, need to repeat have to pay, got Government subsidy.

23rd Mar (Fri)

While my mum is waiting for the transport, I walk over to PPHCSC, seeing that the Q is not long, Q.

Kway teow has finish, left bee hoon, with youtiao, egg and chicken.  Has to eat first, then walk back to my block to make sure my mum board the transport.  After my mum board the transport, walk back to PPHCSC.

Saw a guy which I didn't see for quite sometimes, he was there with his mum.  He was asking where's my mum.  Reply him my mum is in, the name of the Day Care Centre, it so happen it has a Community Hospital for impatient rehabilitation.  Guess he mistaken my mum to be in the Community Hospital as his mum came over to ask me what happen to my mum, why my mum in hospital.  Reply her, my mum in Day Care Centre, morning go, afternoon come back home.

Went to the Day Care Centre in the afternoon.  The word search book belongs to Uncle Chin.  Bought by his daughter.  I borrow his book while he and my mum was in the afternoon activity.

Tea break for the elderly - steamed pumpkin cake.

Week 12 (Part 2) - Book review

21st Mar (Wed)

I manage to finish reading the book - When God doesn't Fix it.

* Archive photo

This book is about a couple Martin and Laura.  They met at a fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Barely one year into their marriage, Martin has been experiencing unusual symptoms.  Nope of the doctors they saw could determine what was wrong with Martin.

Laura has a new job at a Church as a worship leader.  Her job included choosing music for the congregation, leading volunteers, and developing worshippers. And also the Church is looking for somebody who can write worship songs.

A friend recommended them to a General Practitioner who got Martin to do a CT scan and MRI.  The scan shows that Martin has brain tumor.  It took one year to determine Martin has brain tumor.

Martin went for a surgery, where he was in the hospital for more than two months.  2 1/2 weeks at the original surgery, another 4 weeks in ICU for the repair of the graft and the resulting meningitis, and then 2 more weeks in a regular room.

The Doctor then released him to an impatient rehabilitation facility where he could get the kind of concentrated therapy and life skills he needs to return home.

Life then has never been the same for Martin and Laura.  Martin has to rely on Laura and Laura becomes the sole breadwinner.  Laura has hope to start a family and have kids.  She was blessed with a daughter Josie and twins Ben and Griffin.

In between, had a bowl of tau suan @ $1.50 at a neighbourhood coffeeshop.

Joke of the day

I was at Corporation Place for Healthy Workplace Ecosystem, Zumba workout for the month of March.  When I reach, I saw a guy sitting there, since I was early, I went to sit nearby him.  Usually, the facilitator wears dark blue t-shirt.  It so happen the facilitator is not there yet and the guy sitting there also wearing a dark blue t-shirt.  The instructor for this month suppose to be a female Instructor and usually the Instructor wears orange t-shirt.  So I never expected the guy sitting there to be the Instructor.  We started a conversation.  Halfway through the conversation, I won't write grandmother story about the conversation, then I realise that he's the Instructor and not the facilitator.  So embarrass of me.

Week 12 (Part 1)

19th Mar (Mon)

I manage to check with a staff from the Head Office of the Day Care Centre.  I was told the Government subsidy my mum gets is funded by Ministry of Health as Day Care Centre is under Ministry of Health.  So I am right.  The subsidy is from Ministry of Health and not Social Welfare.

I run out of certain items and need to get it replenish and end up at one of the coffeeshop at  Bukit Batok East having dumpling noodle @ $4.

Went for a cup of coffee before going for my class, if not, I think I will doze off during the class as not enough sleep.  Lesson 8 already.  4 more lessons to go before I complete the class.

20th Mar (Tue)

Went to the supermarket buy grocery and end up at the Food Court having lunch.

Cold Saba bento set @ $5.90

Cold Saba

Karaage chicken

Fried ebi, crabstick, sweet potato, lady finger.

A bit of vegetable

* Facebook picture

My kaki Sharon didn't message me but another friend C message me and told me she's going to Biopolis as Instructor J will be there and she has not tried Instructor J Zumba before and ask me if I want to join her. Then reply her Instructor J is good but I am not familiar with the place as I have not been there before. She then mention it's walking distance from her place but she had not been there before.

Then the worst part came, it started to rain in the evening, heavy rain.  C message that Biopolis might be cancel as her friend told her it's partial shelter.  She's going IMM, I am not keen at Mall workout as usually Mall workout is crowded.  I prefer Healthy Workplace Ecosystem.  So I went for Piloxing at Icon @ International Business Park.

I used to dislike piloxing, but today piloxing session with the instructor was great.  Although the weather was not that good and cold,  I still feel hot and sweat.

Week 11 (Part 4)

17th Mar (Sat)

My mum throw tantrum by saiding that she doesn't wants to go Church and insisting on staying at home.

I thought of attending English Service on Sunday, but need to bring my mum to Senior Friendship Circle, so drop the idea and attend the Hokkien Service instead.

While on the way to Church, while transferring bus at Bukit Merah Interchange, bump into an auntie who's also attending the Hokkien Service.

She was mentioning about one of her relative who also goes to the Day Care Centre.  Not too sure how many days her relative go, as she mention about the fee being daily basis.  Reply her that not that I know of about daily basis as my mum goes there, Monday to Friday, her fees is monthly basis.  

As I only prepare lunch but not dinner, told my mum I will buy back dinner for her.

Was at Bukit Merah View Kim San Leng coffeeshop having early dinner.  I had porridge.

Vegetable

Fried egg with onion

Steam minced meat with salted fish

Total : $4.60

18th Mar (Sun)

A day before, told my mum I will bring her for the Zone 3 Senior Friendship Circle breakfast session which is on the 3rd Sunday of the Month and also to cut hair.  She did not object.

Saw Auntie Lee coming with a neighbourhood neighbour which I call her cantonese auntie as she's a cantonese.  Auntie Lee mention this is the first time she come for the Senior Friendship Circle breakfast session as she has no idea about this event.  Then she mention she saw my mum and I waiting for the transport to the Day Care Centre at the void deck.  Auntie Lee stays at the opposite block.  She then ask me if my mum goes to the Day Care Centre fron Monday to Friday which i reply yes.  Then full stop.  I was thinking, if she were to ask me need to pay, maybe I should ask her if she knows of any lobang of any Day Care Centre that need not pay money, lol...

Lontong

Kueh

After eating, brought my mum over to the cut hair area.   Uncle Choo wife and her maid is there, ask her about her maid, she told me her maid is call 阿连, then ask me, what's my name, so I reply her, my name is 阿花.  Then we become 莲花. While my mum had her hair cut.  I ask the lady who's cutting my mum hair.  Where is their shop.  Her reply is she's a volunteer, helping to cut hair for the elderly.  Total, there are three of them.  Kudo to them for the volunteering work.

The other time, beside borrowing the book Love without Limits, I also borrow this book, When God Doesn't Fix it.  Spend the afternoon reading the book before going for Sundays at the Park 5pm workout.  Guess I have to extend the books for another 3 weeks as I just started to read this book and the other book, Love without Limits, I have yet to staet reading.

Week 11 (Part 3)

16th Mar (Fri)

Walk over to PPHCSC while my mum is waiting for the transport, seeing that there is a long Q, I walk off.  At first I thought, forget it, thought I won't walk back again.  Second thought, Alan, who used to be the manager of PPHCSC, will be leaving with his wife for Thailand on 19th March.  Heard that he will be station there for 8 years.  If I didn't go and see him, don't know when I will get to see him again.

After my mum board the transport to the Day Care Centre, I walk back to PPHCSC.

Same food as last Friday, bee hoon with youtiao.

Lontong prepare by the Director and staff of PPHCSC.

Auntie Lee is there, she was chatting about her favourite topic, money.  This round, about her granddaughter.  She mention about her granddaughter starting Polytechnic next month.  Need to buy laptop, cost around 1000 plus.  Course fee money, transport fee money.  Polytechnic no need to wear uniform, money to buy clothes.

I always see residents playing rummy o, I have observe how they play before, so I roughly know a bit.  It so happen there's an auntie who is also not very familiar, so together with the auntie, we learn from a staff who taught us how to play.

While playing, we were ask whether we still want lontong.  I ask whether I can get for my mum, actually not supposed to tabao as the foods are suppose to be consume inside PPHCSC.  The Director is nice to let me tabao for my mum.  So I make my way to the Day Care Centre after playing a while rummy o.

Lunch was mi tai bak with vegetable and fried fish.  No prize for guessing who has to help my mum finish the food since I bring the lontong over for her.

My dessert, mao shan wang ice cream @ $3.90, @ My Little Ice Cream Shop.

In the afternoon, my mum group activity is sing karaoke.  Tea break after the karaoke session is chwee kueh and a banana muffin made by another group of elderly.

While back, bump into a old neighbour, old as in, the neighbour has been staying there for a long time.  He was asking how much  I pay for the fee for my mum Day Care Centre.  Told him there's subsidy from Government, depending on individual salary.  Then he reply me, social welfare. I was confuse as all the while, I thought the subsidy is funded by Ministry of Health. 

I message the Social Worker who is in charge of Elder Sitting before my mum went to the Day Care Centre in which she's not sure.   Hmmm, gotta find out more about it.

Week 11 (Part 2)

14th Mar (Wed)

When I woke up, told my mum, later shower ya, she then ask me : got to shower which I reply her yes. Then told her I go brush my teeth first then shower for her.  After i'm done with my teeth.  Went to my mum and she start to throw tantrum, saiding why must keep asking her to shower, don't want to shower.  Manage to pacify her to shower.

The other time I saw Phong Hong macaroni, makes me crave for it.  So I was at one of the coffeeshop in Bukit Batok East having the meatball macaroni @ $3.50.

Need to check thing with the staff at the Day Care Centre, so I went in the afternoon.  My mum tea break - yam cake.

15th Mar (Thur)

There's a mixed rice stall inside a coffeeshop at Bukit Batik West ave 6 which I like. 

Had porridge

A lot of varieties to choose from that it takes me a while to choose what I want. Everything I want, but limited stomach space, have to make a choice.

I had something else in mind, but saw a lady in front of me order the above, so follow suit.

Has been quite sometimes since I had salted vegetable, so order it.

Steam egg with minced pork

Total : $4.20

My extra : har kow @ $0.60 and a siew mai @ $0.60.

Week 11 (Part 1)

12th Mar (Mon)

Usually, nowadays, in the morning, I will have fruits as my breakfast.  Carbo like rice, noodle, etc. for lunch.  Dinner will be without carbo except for weekend.  Not too sure if I am eating the right way.  A friend was telling me, eat less, more meal.  If hungry, eat nuts.

My lunch at a neighbourhood coffeeshop.  Mixed rice @ $3.80.

Fish

Vegetables

Baked beans with egg

Went to the Day Care Centre in the afternoon.  Occasionally during the afternoon activity, the staff will ask those who are in the same group with my mum.  Today is what day?  Where is this place? Etc.  Usually my mum answer will be Community Centre (The Day Care Centre is next to the Community Centre).  The staff then told her, this is not Community Centre, Community Centre is next door, this place is Senior's Club (乐龄俱乐部).

Before going for my class, pass by Toast Box and saw that there are empty seats, had a cup of coffee @ $1.90 before going for my class.  How times flies, it's already lesson 7, I have 5 more lessons to go before I complete the Caregivers-to-caregivers Education Program.

13th Mar (Tue)

Call up the Nurse from the Memory Clinic to check if she's available to meet as I have some issues regarding my mum to check with her.

After the meetup with the Nurse, went to 1983 Coffee and Toast as I wanted to try out the curry chicken.

The curry chicken comes with rice or bread.  I choose rice.  The set cost $4.90 which I find is much nicer than the one I had in Bukit Merah View.

My kaki Sharon had WhatsApp me earlier on that she is able to make it for Kickboxing workout at MBC.  Before going for the workout, I was at Alexandra Retail Centre when I pass by a bakery shop and saw a Halloween display, so took picture of it.

Since my kaki Sharon need not go to her mum's place that night and she was craving for Indian foods.  We were at Alexandra Retail Centre, one of the Indian eatery place, she ordered the above set.  I was not hungry, so didn't order any food.

My coffee @ $2.40