Seeking opinion

First Case - My ex-colleague, a Senior Engineer when I was in the same Company with her, mentioned her hubby is out of Singapore and her daughter is in Hospital, need to do MRI, after deducting Medisave, she doesn't have enough and approach me to lend $300. Reply her that I have my difficulties and not able to lend her.

Second Case - Also an ex-colleague, we are now not in that organization anymore.  She approach me for financial help to help her son and she will sign an IOU.  Reply her, I am tight also as my expenses has increase.

Third Case - This morning, a neighbour approach me to lend her $750, which I reply her, I have my own difficulties, then she said what about $500, which I then told her, I need money too for my mum's expenses.

Seeking opinion - will you lend money if you were approach?

Book review - A dog's way home

A Dog's Way Home by W. Brune Cameron.

It's about this guy Lucas Ray who found an adorable puppy in the den where there are cats inside the den which he pass by every day.

He's staying at an apartment which he shares with his mum and the apartment doesn't allow dogs, but he can't resist bringing the puppy whom he name Bella home. 

Bella is inexplicably drawn to Lucas.  When it becomes difficult to hide Bella from the neighbour, Lucas has to sneak Bella into his workplace.

As Bella is a pit bulls, it's being ban in Denver where Lucas luves.  Left with no choice, Lucas has to send Bella to a foster home till he can figure out what to do.  

Bella, distraught at the separation, set off on it's own to make her way back to find Lucas.

Week 16 (Part 4)

21st Apr (Sat)

As usual, after service, was at Bukit Merah Central.  This round, my mum wants to go to the other coffeeshop.

My mum had wu xiang @ $5

I had lo mai kai @ $1.40 and two siew mai @ $0.60.

As my mum throw a bit of tantrum this morning, so she only took breakfast and not lunch.  So she still wants something to eat.  She wants mixed rice, but not much variety, so ends up ordering a plate of chicken rice @ $3.

My luncheon meat bread $1.40

22nd Apr (Sun)

Zone 2 RC Senior Friendship Circle is on the 4th Sunday of every month.

Dessert - green bean soup

Breakfast - tang hoon with egg and ngoh hiang.

Yesterday night, WhatsApp Wenn who is in Singapore, what time is her flight back to Ipoh.  Her flight is evening time, the timing is right for me, so arrange to meet her in the airport.

Usually I will take a bus to Eunos, then from there take MRT to Airport.

Saw a banner in Eunos area a new stall selling Western foods, though wanna go try the spaghetti, but the stall was not open.  

End up at the market.

Had pork porridge @ $2.80

Told them I do not want lean meat, so only liver

and minced meat which I thought they will make into meatball, but it's not.  Overall, nothing to shout about.

As I was early, thought I will go for a cup of coffee, saw they do sell chwee kueh, the other day, my mum had chwee kueh at the Day Care Centre makes me crave for it, so order chwee kueh.  4 pieces of chwee kueh with a cup of coffee @ $3.  The chwee kueh, so so only.

When I met Wenn, she mention she has not eaten yet, didn't know she has not taken her lunch, as the day before when I WhatsApp her, she mention she will take her lunch with her daughter before going to the airport.  If know she hasn't eaten, I will not eat and can eat together with her.

We did chat for about an hour before I bid goodbye to her.

Week 16 (Part 3)

20th Apr (Fri)

Usually my mum is early in going down to wait for the transport to the Day Care Centre.  When bringing my mum down, this elderly auntie, I will not write grandmother story about it, is already sitting there.  Wanting to avoid her, I let my mum sit there while I walk to PPHCSC. 

As usual, bee hoon

putu mayam

When I walk back wanting to ensure my mum boards the transport, oh no, my mum is not there, I started to get panic.  Guess the staff has pick up my mum already.

I didn't call the staff to check as, firstly, the handphone is her personal handphone.  Secondly, she's driving, I do not want to disturb her.  Thirdly, she has a noisy client in the transport.

So I walk to the Day Care Centre to ensure my mum is there.  It so happen, when I reach, the transport just arrive, guess the staff pick my mum first then pick the rest.

The staff then told me, she will pick my mum first next week onwards then pick the rest of them.

At the Day Care Centre, heard the Malay guy said that the elderly Malay auntie who is sitting in the same table with him is his bodyguard.  So I walk over and ask him, makcik is bodyguard? He then reply me that he has sack me as his bodyguard, now makcik is his bodyguard.

A staff was asking how come my mum's bag seem a bit heavy, so I told her, my mum's bag has a set of extra clothing as per request on the first day when she started Day Care Centre.  I was then told, the extra clothing, can leave it in the locker (the locker, we were not given key to lock), no need to bring in and out everyday.

As I left after ensure that my mum is in the Day Care Centre, I forgot to take out the extra clothing from my mum's bag and leave it in the locker, I went back in the afternoon and left the extra clothing in the locker.

While I was on the way to the Day Care Centre, saw an ambulance, being a busybody, I walk to where the ambulance is to kapoh and then use another route to the Day Care Centre.  Saw a hibiscus.

This round, the Malay guy was saiding my mum is his girlfriend.  Another moment, the Uncle sitting same table with my mum, Uncle and my mum, husband and wife.

The staff who ferry the elderly to the Day Care Centre in the morning is a female, while the staff who ferry them back in the afternoon is a male.  Earlier in the morning, he has mention the male staff toilet washer, in the afternoon, he mention the male staff is gardener.

Tea break for the elderly

Week 16 (Part 2)

18th Apr (Wed)

I need to run errand and after run errand, end up at Bukit Batok West ave 8 having lumch.  There's a coffeeshop there where I like the chap chai fan (mixed rice).

I had porridge

The ingredients I had, total $3.80

shrimp paste chicken

Has been quite sometimes I had it, can't recall what's the name of it.

Steamed egg

Then i have to go Community Centre settle something.  Since Community Centre is next to my mum's Day Care Centre, went there.  The elderly were in the midst of their activities when I were there.

As usual, the Malay guy, same group with my mum.  He mention he's Hulk Hogan.  One of the elderly uncle is grandfather, then one of the elderly auntie is grandmother.  My mum is security woman.  There's another elderly Malay uncle in the same group, he's security guard.  The staff in charge of the activity is office girl.  Me is gardener cum wash long gao (drain).

Tea break for the elderly, a piece of chwee kueh and two piece of biscuit.

TM was asking in an earlier post if the Malay guy gave me a French kiss, this round, before going back, he gave my mum a French kiss.

19th Apr (Thur)

Pass by a Cafe while I was at Bukit Batok West ave 8 yesterday, saw that they sell chicken pie, as I haven taken my lunch, so bought back for my brunch today.

The cafe name is My Grandfather Cafe

Chicken pie @ $4.90

Filing includes potato, mushroom, chicken

* Facebook picture

Evening time, workout time, at first, I thought of not going due to laziness.  But no exercise, cannot lah, so go lor.  Pound Fitness at Science Park 2, free workout by Health Promotion Board.  No regrets as I did sweat out and my t-shirt is all wet after the workout. Will regrets if I don't go.

Week 16 (Part 1)

16th Apr (Mon)

Went to the Day Care Centre in the afternoon.  It so happen the other time, the auntie whom the Malay guy called her darling, was sitting beside him, this round, he was saiding that she's his girlfriend.

My mum is cooker doing the cooking, another elderly is security guard, then another elderly is cleaner doing the cleaning.

My mum tea break - a piece of cake

It has come to the end of the Caregiver-to-caregiver Education Program.  Tonight is the graduation night.  Dinner before program commence.  Buffet dinner is serve, we have to pay for it @ $12 per person.

As usual, we were told not to take picture and video except the official photographer.

The program begins with the introduction of the Executive Director of Caregivers Alliance and two staffs from Ng Teng Foong Hospital whom they thank for letting Caregivers Alliance use their premise for conducting the Caregiver-to-caregiver Education Program.  Then a speech was given by the Executive Director.

As English and Chinese class combine tonight, 3 participants from the English class and 3 participants from the Chinese class share how they got to know about Caregivers Alliance and how they have benefits from the class.

After that,  certificate of participation was presented and then we took group photo (was not given the group photo, as heard due to confidential) before we call it a day.

17th Apr (Tue)

Usually I will buy my grocery from Fairprice supermarket.  Since I need to buy grocery, I thought I will go Giant IMM to enquire if they do have the Discount Scheme for Immobile Seniors as what Fairprice supermarket has.  Was told Seniors have to be present.

I end up at Ng Teng Foong Hospital Food Court, having yong tau foo, minimum 6 piece. My 6 piece of yong tau foo with kway teow mee @ $4.50 before going Fairprice supermarket at JEM buy grocery.

Before going back, hop over to Westgate to get the rabbit cake which I quite like from 大中 @ $3.20.

Bought a bento set from Isetan supermarket @ $7.80 for my mum's dinner.

Back home, called Giant customer service and check with them, was told they do have the scheme in which they email me the form, but don't think I will apply for it as I hardly buy my grocery from Giant.

Week 15 (Part 4)

14th Apr (Sat)

My mum doesn't wants to go Church, so after service, I was at Bukit Merah View having my early dinner.

Porridge

with curry chicken

half salted egg

french bean

Surprise it only cost $3 as I thought it will come up to around $4.

15th Apr (Sun)

3rd Sunday of the month, Zone 3 Senior Friendship Circle breakfast session.  My mum throw tantrum by saiding she doesn't want to go, want to stay at home.  Have to sweet talk her to go.

nasi lemak

with a packet of kueh

Went to a relative place in the afternoon, as i'm not very hungry, has yam paste with ginkgo nut and pumpkin @ $3.80 before going back.

Week 15 (Part 3)

13th Apr (Fri)

At first, was thinking not going PPHCSC, while my mum was waiting for the transport at the void deck, bump into two aunties staying next block mentioning about going PPHCSC for the breakfast session, so as usual, walk over to PPHCSC for the breakfast session.

As usual, bee hoon with youtiao and egg, which I have to swallow and walk back to make sure my mum board the transport.

When the transport arrive, the Malay guy was mentioning that his wife is darling, the staff driving the elderly to the Day Care Centre is his driver, he gave her $2 for the trip, my mum is security guard, one of the elderly auntie inside the transport is a cooker doing the cooking, the other guy inside the transport is a cleaner doing the cleaning.

After the transport left, walk back to PPHCSC to chit chat.

Since nowaday, for dinner, I don't take carb, I'm lazy to cook rice for my mum's dinner.  I went to pack food for her dinner at the neighbourhood.  Few days back, pass by a bakery shop and saw their 烧包, inside is chicken as they do have Malay customers, I like it, so was back to buy it.  $1.50.

One of the game my mum group play, there are 7 of them in the group, as usual, the noisiest person in the group is the Malay guy.

My mum's tea break - bao, the Uncle sitting next to my mum was saying that the bao is nice.

Went to kajiao Auntie Goh, the auntie who has always been saiding, I want to go home.  She mention during weekend, her daughter brings her go out.  So I kajiao her, auntie, your daughter brings you go out, you bring me can. Her answer is, my daughter brings me out, I cannot bring you out, lol.

All along, I never notice flower in the Community Centre compound, today I walk slowly, then I notice the flower.

Week 15 (Part 2)

11th Apr (Wed)

The other day at the Caregiver Support Group, a lady was mentioning about Fairprice supermarket Discount Scheme for Immobile Seniors.

On Monday and Thursday, Pioneer Generation Card entitle the Pioneers to 3% discount at the Fairprice supermarket, while on Tuesday, Seniors (Singaporean and PR age 60 and above) are entitle to 2% discount.

This discount scheme allow the authorized person to buy on behalf of the Seniors who are immobile  on the day and enjoy the discount.

To apply for the privilege card, I have to attach medical records or doctor memo, etc. with the completed form and summit  to any Fairprice supermarket or at the office in Fairprice Hub.  I was told, if summit at any Fairprice supermarket, it will take longer to process as they need to dispatch to the office at Fairprice Hub, whereby if I summit to the office at Fairprice Hub, will be faster.

I only have a discharge summary from the other time my mum was in hospital.  So I thought I will go directly to Fairprice Hub and check if that will be ok.

I was told that the discharge summary is ok and once they have process it, they will mail it to me.

Since I was at Fairprice Hub, not much variety of foods to choose, and I was not keen in fast foods. I was at the food court having a bowl of yong tau foo soup with yee mee @ $4 which I find the price was cheap at food court level with air con.

yee mee

As my mum ask me to go to the Day Care Centre, went in the afternoon.  There were some ITE students there doing some activities with some elderly and the Malay newcomer was one of them.  As I'm a busybody, I was there kaypo-ing.  Overheard him telling the students, he's a Hollywood singer.  And my mum also become his so called "darling".

My kaki Sharon mum passed away at the age of 96 on Monday morning. Went to the wake and on tbe way home, was at Hougang Mall walking one round and also cracking my head on what to buy back for my mum to eat when I saw this place Desserts Story.  So bought the pumpkin cake, carrot cake and yam cake @ $3.80

12th Apr (Thur)

I sign up for the Basic Health Screening at the Community Centre near my house on 11th March.  Was told, if required, we will be inform vis SMS to see doctor and collect report in person from 10th April to 12th May.  There are 3 location in which we can choose the clinic we want to see doctor and collect report, if required.  If the result is normal, the result will be mailed to my address 4 - 5 weeks after the screening event.

I received the sms asking me to see doctor and collect report.  Since the Clinic is near to where my mum Day Care Centre is, after seeing Doctor, went to the Day Care Centre.

My mum's lunch - brown rice with cabbage, chicken, fried tofu.

As for my lunch, grilled chicken chop $5.50 at a nearby eatery shop which I find ok only.

The Chinese Ministry Pastor and volunteers from PPH Brethren Church went in, in the afternoon to entertain the elderly.

They brought over a cake to celebrate the birthday for those born in the month of April.  So, the elderly tea break was a slice of cake and an oneh oneh.

Dessert for the elderly

Week 15 (Part 1)

9th Apr (Mon)

Monday blues, my mum ask me to go to the Day Care Centre, so told her that I will go in, in the afternoon.

There's a newly open yong tau foo stall at a coffeeshop near my place and in my list to try.

yong tau foo soup @ $3

1 pc of chee cheong fun @ $1

While in the Day Care Centre, phew, the Malay guy was sitting in the other table.

There's this, elderly auntie, who mention she's 80 years old, and she's new, just started on 2th April, her children has register for her to go to the Day Care Centre months back and has paid for it, but she doesn't wants to go.  The Day Care Centre has been calling and asking about it.

I like to disturb her.  She has been saying I want to go home, if the transport comes and doesn't see her, the transport left, how huh.

While back, the staff sending my mum back mention he will be sending my mum last as the Malay guy is noisy and he will send him back first.

A cup of yuan yang @ $1.80 before going for the Caregiver-to-caregiver Education Program.  It has comes to the last lesson Advocacy.  Next Monday will be the graduation day.

10th Apr (Tue)

The other day, after the Caregiver Support Group talk by the speaker, while chit chatting during the refreshment, a lady was mentioning about a roasted duck rice stall which her mum's like as the duck meat was not hard and it was soft which make it easy for her mum to chew.  She patron the stall often.  So I ask her where is it, she mention at Yew Tee, after coming out from the Yew Tee MRT gantry gate, turn right and will see the stall.

Since Yew Tee is not very far from my place, there a supermarket at Yew Tee Point which I can buy my grocery, decided to go try out the roasted duck rice.

Had roasted duck rice @ $3.50, thumb up.  Bought a packet of braised duck rice back for my mum's dinner, I tried the braisd duck,  I find that I will prefer the roasted duck.

The chilli is nice that I have to go for second round.

There's a Toast Box there, has been a while I had bo luo yao, after buy grocery, was there for a cup of coffee and bo luo yao @ $3.70.

While home, my mum was telling me, I didn't go to the Day Care Centre as in the morning, she ask me to go to the Day Care Centre.