Starting of the week

23rd Jul (Mon)

Since there's still a bit of time before my mum comes back, the other day, while having coffee in a halal eatery place in JEM, saw customer eating kueh lopes , I bookmark it as I didn't eat it for a while already.

Kueh lopes @ $1.60, after that, have to quickly take a bus back to wait for my mum's transport back.

Since I didn't eat burger over the weekends, this round, I took a double fish burger back, lucky, got my mum to share with me.

24th Jul (Tue)

Check with Mr Choo younger son whether Mrs Choo has been discharge from hospital, only to learn about her latest condition and the son ask me to help to inform Pastor to pray for Mrs Choo.  The ball, throw to Chinese Ministry Pastor of PPH Brethren Church.

Don't feel like having burger and no appetite, only want something light.

Salmon avacodo handroll @ $2.40

25th Jul (Wed)

I thought of having yong tau foo at the food court at my work place there, but was busy that I knock off a bit later, so no yong tau foo for me.

Tabao a packet of mixed rice from the interchange back to makan before starting on my Bible Study Fellowship homework.  Mixed rice @ $3.80.  

Pre weekend to weekend

20th Jul (Fri)

After my mum boards the transport, I thought I will go PPHCSC for the weekly Friday breakfast (a very quick one).  When I open the door, the queue was long, PPHCSC weekly Friday breakfast has more than 100 people every week.  No thank you, I do not have the ample time to wait, otherwise, I'll be late for work.

I must learn from Uncle Choo, save money, so I had the meal provided.  Tender grilled chicken.

21st Jul (Sat)

My mum didn't go church, so I just sit anywhere.  Was chatting with an elderly and I ask her about her age.  She ask me to guess, guess she's 70 plus, she then said at this age, will go anytime.

Halfway through the service, saw another elderly, seem not feeling well, only after the service that I got to know that she's having back problem.  Busybody mode on, tell her I accompany her home.  She insist that she's ok and refuse to let me accompany her home.  So we go on our own way.

Went Bukit Merah View Kim San Leng coffeeshop and eat at the usual stall.

Porridge

Pig liver

Vegetable

Silver fish? (if I am not wrong), total : $4

22nd Jul (Sun)

My mum doesn't wants to go to Zone 2 Senior Friendship Circle.  Told her, I have register for her, if she doesn't go, I have to pay for it.

While at the Senior Friendship Circle, my mum throw tantrum that those in the same table with her look at her and I was so embarrassed that I have to apologize to one of the auntie for my mum's action.  Previously, she have never throw tantrum during the Senior Friendship Circle she went, this is the first time this thing has happen.

After the Senior Friendship Circle, was at the nearby coffeeshop wanting to eat the sliced fish mee sua, but the stall was not open, so makan kway teow mee with luncheon meat and an egg @ $3.

After visiting a friend at the Community Hospital, had a cup of mocha at the nearby cafe @ $4.

Mid-week

17th Jul (Tue)

Ask my mum, does she wants me to cook dinner for her or she wants to eat burger.  Her reply is that everyday, she eats rice at the Day Care Centre, so eat burger is ok for her.

My mum's dinner, maybe I should learn from Uncle Choo, every day eat the meal provided which is free, can save a meal, save money.

While on my way to Bible Study Fellowship, receive a message from Mr and Mrs Choo younger son that Mrs Choo is still in hospital, too bad, now I do not have the luxury to suka suka anytime go hospital visitation.  So, what to do, send the message to PPH Brethren Church Chinese Ministry Pastor.

18th Jul (Wed)

Bump into auntie and her daughter when bring my mum to wait for the transport.  Auntie children has hire a helper to take care of auntie and the helper will follow auntie to Senior's Club.  Auntie daughter main concern is that auntie chase away the helper, as auntie children has ever hire a person to take care of auntie, but auntie chase the person away.

This round, my mum comment that the chicken patty is hard for her to swallow and she doesn't want to eat it.  As I had to do homework for Bible Study Fellowship, so didn't prepare dinner but cook a packet of maggie mee for my mum.  Then ask her, next day, you still want burger or rice or porridge, she then tell me, don't want burger, want porridge.

In the Senior's Club, my mum share table with the auntie who always ask, transport come already anot, and another auntie.  My mum was telling me, the auntie who always ask transport come already anot, scold the other auntie.  I was like, oh no, the other time, my mum and I was scolded by her, this round, the other auntie was scolded by her.

19th Jul ( Thur)

When the staff fetch my mum, he was mentioning that he's fetching an auntie, the auntie now in wheelchair.  I was like huh, what happen, I only went to the Day Care Centre starting of the month to make payment for my mum's Day Care Centre fee till now.  He then mention auntie was hospitalized and has a stroke and didn't go to the Day Care Centre for two to three weeks.  Sadden to hear that auntie has a stroke and wheelchair bound.

Sotong me again, i didn't realise that I stop one MRT station earlier while on the way to work, then I was like, how come this place looks different, oh no, wrong station, lol.

This round, since my mum doesn't wants to eat burger, I was not keen to eat burger everyday.  I took the burger and gave to one of PPHCSC staff, whom my mum gave him the nickname take attendance boy, as on every Friday during the breakfast session, he will be busy taking attendance of those who go for the breakfast session.

16th Jul

16th Jul (Mon)

After my shower, I look out of the kitchen window and saw auntie (the auntie who also goes to Day Care Centre, but different centre), so whatsapp her daughter, is it usually auntie goes to the coffeeshop drink kopi first before returning to the void deck to wait for the transport.

She then called me, tell me she called auntie and auntie told her that she just back from the Seniors Club (confusion) and ask me if I could bring my mum down earlier and see if auntie is at the void deck.

Auntie is not there and also not at the coffeeshop.  Get back to auntie daughter and auntie daughter called auntie and auntie saids she will go to the Day Care Centre.

Then the transport arrived, auntie is not down yet, so I becomes a busybody again, went to auntie house and knock on her door.  When she opens the door, she was saiding she doesn't want to go Senior's Club, but forgot to call the centre to tell them she didn't want to go.

Feedback to auntie daughter.  Auntie daughter was saiding she feel paiseh that I leave my mum at the void deck and help to look out for her mum.  It's ok for me, who knows, I might need her help one of the day.

While waiting for my mum to come back, again, bump into the neighbour who the other time said that I am pantang (superstitious), again, she said my mum goes to the old folk home, anyway, I can't be bother to argue with her, she can said what she wants.  Then ask me how much I pay for my mum Day Care Centre fee, for people who are busybody, sorry lah, I am not keen to  share more about it.  Told her, if she wants to know more, can check with the   Centre Day Care.

I was given two burger by one of the staff, I have no plan to eat burger.

This burger - for my mum's dinner

Another burger - for my mum's next day breakfast.

Weekend

15th Jul (Sat)

When I went to enquire at the fast food restaurant if they are hiring and I can only work from this hour to this hour (due to need to wait with her for the transport to fetch my mum and fetch her when she's back from the Day Care Centre), they are ok with that timing, but need to work one weekend, I opt Sunday as Saturday, going Church.

Yesterday, the other Manager (guess he's higher rank as the Manager who hire me, when I ask him certain questions, he reply me have to ask boss) ask me about working on weekends, as they need to plan the schedule.  Ask him, can I work as and when necessary on Sunday as need to take care of my mum.  He mention, if require, he will let me know earlier.

Attend a Caregiver Support Group @ New Horizon centre (Bukit Batok).  Topic is When is the Right Time? - Nursing Home and Other Care Arrangements by Dr Lydia Au (Jurong Health), Director, Senior Consultant, Geriatric Medicine.

One of the caregiver I met during the previous Caregiver Support Group, was there, the other time, she was sharing about her mum's going to the Day Care Centre.  So ask her how's her mum doing at the Day Care Centre.  Manage to exchange contact number with her as I was telling her, I couldn't check with her how's her mum doing as I do not have her contact number, and good to see her again and check with her about it.

Refreshment was serve after the talk.

Was at Bukit Batok East having my dinner and also to collect the working pant which I send for alteration earlier on before I go for the Caregiver Support Group.  Salted fish pork patty rice @ $3.

16th Jul (Sun)

I was scheduled to work on Sunday.

At first, I thought there will be no break for me as on Friday, my meal is taken when I knock off work, and if possible, I thought want to bring back for my mum to eat.  But as at first, I was schedule to work for certain hours, and there will be a break, in the end, I was release 1 hour eaelier. As I won't be taking it every day lor, long term everyday eat fast food, won't be good for me.

As I only prepare lunch for my mum, so after work, went to buy dinner for her and manage to make it for Sundays at the Park workout at 5pm.

Honeymoon over

13th Jul (Fri)

My honeymoon is over.  Today marks the first day of my work as a part timer.  Due to my mum's condition, I won't be in a full-time position.

There are some people who was telling me, why don't you put your mum in a nursing home.  Nursing home has never cross my mind unless there comes the day when my mum's condition has deteriorate and I can't cope and do not know how to take care of her.

As I let my mum takes the transport to the Day Care Centre, not easy to get a part-time job which suits the timing.  I have ever consider bringing her in myself, but thinking of her mobility and also the unpredictable weather, if it's rain, my head will be very big.

It so happen that I was enquiring at this fast food chain whether they are hiring part timer and that I can only work from this hour to this hour as I need to bring my mum to wait for the transport and see that she boards the transport before I leave.  And I need to be back before the transport brings her back.

At first, I thought that for me, no meal will be provided as I only work for a few hours, but the manager said have, so I had chicken burger.

After coming back home, I then realise it's the so called Friday the 13th.

Since now I'm no longer in honeymoon mood and not deck bound job, I might not be able to visit blog frequently and might not be updating often.

Blur me

11th Jul (Wed)

Craving for luncheon meat.

Instead of frying it, I steam it

Attend to something, then I was at Bukit Batok Interchange wanting to take feeder bus no. 941 to go St. Luke Hospital visiting a friend.  Halfway through the journey, saw how come the bus turn into a different direction, so I went over to ask the bus captain.  Was then told, 8th July onward, some changes in the route, if I were to go St. Luke Hospital, can cross over the road and take the newly introduce bus service 991 to reach St. Luke Hospital.

Blame it on my blurness, when I was in Bukit Batok Bus Interchange, I saw bus no. 941 and quickly rush and didn't read the poster attached at the interchange wall to see what's the changes in the route.

12th Jul (Thur)

When bringing my mum down to wait for the transport, bump into auntie and her daughter, auntie transport is 20 minutes earlier than my mum's transport.

Auntie has 6 children, all are married, but auntie stays alone as she prefer to stay on her own.  But her children will take turn to come and bring her for dinner and so far, I only know of her this daughter as she will come and stays with her overnight on certain days and come down with auntie to wait for the transport.

Auntie daughter was asking me how many times my mum goes to the toilet each night.  Good question.  I actually do not know how many times my mum goes to the toilet as I was sound asleep.  She then share with me a bit of her mum which I will not write grandmother stories here.

I was in Bukit Batok vinicity and pass by the coffeeshop where Master Tang stall is.

Had porridge, suppose to be sliced fish with minced meat, but I change to century egg.

Sliced fish

with century egg

Start of a new week

9th Jun (Mon)

My mum is so used to going to the Day Care Centre that during weekends, she will ask me, today no Day Care Centre.  The Day Care Centre that my mum goes to, only open from Monday to Friday.  But another Centre, it do opens on Saturday, so thought of checking it out.

So thought of checking it out, was told the centre opens on Saturday from 9am to 3pm.  The things to do on Saturday will be more simple.  But right now, no transport, have to bring in the elderly ownself.

Lunch - porridge @ $4

Sliced fish with minced meat

Coffee @ $1.80

Was darm tired that no workout for me.

10th Jul (Tue)

In the morning, ask my mum, you go down yourself to wait for the transport, her reply, don't know how to go down and wait.  Then ask her, come back, you come up yourself, her reply, wait I go wrong house and open wrong door.

Craving for chee cheong fun, from my place hawker centre @ $1.60 for 2 pc.

With a chicken wing @ $1.50

Usually after my mum comes back from the Day Care Centre, the first thing she will do is to go to the toilet.

Seeing that she has been in the toilet for a while and not out yet, went to check on her.  She then said she has problem passing motion. So told her, I go to the chinese medical shop and buy the stuff, but you must `co-operate with me.  She manage to pass out a bit before I left for my Bible Study Fellowship.

After coming back from my Bible Study Fellowship, I was already tired, but, my mum dirty the floor and her clothes that I have to clean up the place and quickly wash her dirty clothes before calling it a day.  By then, I am half-dead already.

Pre weekend to weekend

6th Jul (Fri)

TGIF.  As usual, after my mum board the transport, walk over to PPHCSC for the Friday breakfast session.

Vegetarian bee hoon with youtiao, as it's the first Friday of the month, there's birthday celebration for those born in the month of July and also bingo game.

Understand from Uncle Choo that his wife is admitted to the hospital.  Decided to pay her a visit.

After the visit, a cup of kopi @ $2

Can't resist the temptation of chicken wing, so order a chicken wing @ $1.80.

7th Jul (Sat)

The weather is unpredictable, sometimes it will start to rain in the morning.  But today, the weather is extremely hot.

While waiting for the bus after church service at the bus stop, randomly snap a picture.

As usual, Bukit Merah Central and the same coffeeshop.  Order from the chap chai rice stall.

Fish

Egg with tomato

梅菜 with 三辰肉

At first, my mum saids she wants rice

I thought of having porridge, but when my mum saw the porridge, she said she wants the porridge, so I had rice instead.

Total : $9

8th Jul (Sun)

Haiz, constipation problem of my mum again.

Bought the above from the Chinese Medical Shop for her constipation problem.

Ask my mum if she wants to go out and eat, but she doesn't wants to, then tell her, or we go to the eatery in the neighbourhood to eat.  She was asking me to buy back and eat.  Wanted to get her out of the house, so tell her don't want to buy back and eat lah, go out and eat together lah.

She wanted chicken briyani, order an egg to go with the chicken briyani @ $6 to share.

The portion of the briyani rice, if I were to eat it alone, I won't be able to finish it .

An ordinary day

3rd Jul (Tue)

I need to get some items from the supermarket.  Usually I will go to the supermarket in JEM or Jurong Point, lazy to travel there, so buy from the supermarket near my place and also to makan.

Had vegetarian kway teow mee @ $3

And a bak kwa pork floss puff from the neighbourhood bakery shop @ $1.50.

Just when I was getting ready to go down fetch my mum, the staff of the Day Care Centre call and ask me to come down, the transport was 10 minutes earlier than the stated time.

4th Jul (Wed)

As Bible Study Fellowship is a weekly affair on every Tuesday night, so homework is also a weekly affair.

Simple lunch from my place hawker centre @ $2.80.

Ad I need to make a trip to Zone 3 RC, after that, was at the coffeeshop having a tau suan @ $1.50.

From this month onward, the two staff ferrying the elderly rotate.  The male staff will fetch the elderly to the Day Care Centre whereby the female staff will send the elderly back.

Joke of the day - I was wondering will the transport be early again today, so I went down early to wait.  Wait and wait, and 40 minutes from the stated time has pass and no sight of the transport.  I decided to call the Day Care Centre instead of the staff as she's driving, I do not want to disturb her.  The Day Care Centre mention that the transport has left the Day Care Centre, but the transport left a bit late today.

Finally the transport arrive, I was told, the staff forgotten about my mum  (my mum is the first to alight) and didn't turn into my place and instead go straight.  When she realise, too late already, so she send the rest back first and my mum is the last person to alight.

5th Jul (Thur)

It has been a while since I went Bukit Timah Food Centre to find my friend.  So make a trip there before crossing over to  the supermarket at Bukit Timah Plaza to buy grocery.

My lunch is a bak Chang @ $3 and a chee cheong fun @ $0.80.  Total is $3.80.

It so happen while ordering drink from one of the drink stall, saw that they sell white coffee, so order a cup @ $1.10.