Join the STRAVA Analogue Challenge!

Yo!

Now this is a challenge that I really did. Not too difficult. Just go out, run or ride, but don't be constantly looking at your device to check the stats, there is time for that when you get home.

This way you just enjoy the ride or run, listen to your body to decide whether to increase or decrease the speed or pace.

It is a very Zen way of enjoying fitness.

Serious.

And thanks to LA VELOCITA for their satirical blog that inspired this Strava Challenge.

The Chinese Helicopter has landed - everyone offended

SINGAPORE 6 JUNE; You would not think that a dictionary update would capture the attention of the masses, but, alas, yes, that's just what has happened.

My Big Fat Asian Wedding

Here are some memories thanks to my camera and selfie-stick that made a lot of photos when I got married last time.

The event planner and caterer were there to make sure everything in the contract was delivered. Here the caterer is reminding the event planner that when she was married her ex-boyfriend peed in the fruit punch.

Talk about a bad hair day and my stylist had MERS so she wore my mask. Good thing she gave it back to me afterwards.

Anyway my hair would not stay up and I lost my mask.

Our wedding was accidently double-booked with an office team building exercise. They were so drunk that we took their smart phones and they didn't notice.

We found a place outside to hide the smartphones. We will go back and collect them on Thursday.

This is the tree where we first met. It is near a road and several cars have crashed into it. Dozens have died in the accidents. Very spooky.

A few in the team building group became upset when they could not find their smartphones.

This is the tree where a friend of ours hung herself. That was before the dessert.

I was telling my parents that my HIV test was negative. My friend is positive.

This is our friend who hung himself before even trying the dessert.

My husband's brother went to the wrong party, but was amused by the Christmas decorations on the door.

I hypnotised my husband. He thought he was a shoe salesman.

He was so happy selling shoes that he celebrated with the team building group and Eric Estrada.

While he was partying I married his sister.

Eric Estrada introduced us to his daughter.

For team building group participation games we played strip poker. I lost.

Eric Estrada finally left and everyone was happy.

No one knows who that woman is, but my husband acted very friendly towards her. Weird.

I said to him not to drop my ring, so he held it firmly.

For the rehearsal we used our stand-ins. My father watched in silence, wishing that mother could have been there.

One of our guests was so excited she peed all over the floor! I looked away in despair pretending not to know them.

Remember, it is not too late to drop your wedding gifts at our place. You can leave them with security.

Hugs!

Baby Sunbirds: Inside the nest

Sunbirds, often confused with humming birds, are very common in Singapore.

In our garden we've had a pair build a nest and the chicks recently hatched.

This is the nest:

Taking photos of what's happening inside is no easy task. It is dark in there while everything outside is brightly illuminated by the sun, and there is nothing to focus on, so focusing is based on going slightly beyond what is at the opening of the nest.

Then it takes some photo processing to see what was captured.

This is what I got today;

Baby bird wings;

Baby bird beak;

The two baby bird siblings waiting for their next meal;

And one profile shot in which one eye can be seen (the white blob. I mean, what else could it possibly be?);

So that was the result of today's 'shooting'.

There are pictures of the nest-building and inhabitation on my Flickr stream 

Experts at Jurong Bird Park informed me that this is a Thick-billed Spider Hunter, belonging to the Nectarinidae Family of Sunbirds.

As the chicks get older they should become more photogenic, poking their heads out of the nest looking for Mom and Dad bringing the next meals. If I can catch them doing this I'll be posting additional photos.

DIY Swediporean Lasagne Bolognaise

Tonight's menu: Lasagne Bolognaise, as seen in the photo.

How to do it in a few easy steps;

Get a Singaporean friend who marries a Swede.

When they are in Sweden, they will bake lots of really good lasagne, and they will freeze it.

Sometimes when they visit Singapore, they will bring along a few, and give you some.

If they give you some, keep it in the freezer until you are ready to eat it.

Now, when it is time to eat it, read the instructions on your combi-oven.

This may require opening some red wine.

This Spanish red worked just fine.

Once you figure out how to bake the lasagne, put it in the oven, take it out, and place it on the table like this;

This lasagne got the micro-grill setting at 600W for 16 minutes - it was my first try, so must have been beginners' luck.

Now, put the lasagne on a couple of plates like this;

After that, eat it, drink the red wine, savour the moment, and wash the dishes & load the dishwasher.

Can or not?

Coney Island, Singapore's new park

On 20 December 2015 we took our first look behind the fence.

Of course, had to have Starbucks breakfast first.

Starbucks at White Sands

Coney Island has been designed well. There are both gravel paths and cement paths.

Gravel Path

Gravel Path

Gravel Path

Gravel Path

Gravel Path

Cement Path

The Northern coast features a long beach 

Kids playing on the beach

Visitors posing with Pulau Ubin in the background

Kayakers tacking a break

Looks like a private beach with Malaysia in the background

Kayakers passing by with Pulau Ubin in the background

Some kids use the beach to artistically express themselves.

Family time

Any kind of bike can handle the paths, however as some of the paths are uneven, rocky and sandy, mountain bikes and hybrids are best suited for Coney Island. Fat bike owners would also be able to enjoy bicycling along the long sandy beaches. 

Mountain bikes having a rest in the shade

There are many picturesque spots for posers.

Say cheese

There are also plenty of places to sit for a rest, in rain shelters and beachside.

Far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life on natural wooden benches

From Coney Island there are new views of Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin's North-western tip

After a tour of Coney Island, a visit to nearby Punggol Settlement offers rest and replenishment.

Mountain bikes resting while the bikers enjoy lunch

The famous Sembawang white beehoon

Some tips for Coney Island visits;

• Bring water and sunblock
• There can be sand flies so use insect repellant and wear long sleeve shirts and long trousers if you want to be extra protected. The day we were there there were not many sand flies.
• Toilets are available on the island

The official island map

Our route

The official sand fly advice

Enjoy the park and please apply park etiquette, basically: 
Don't take anything except photos, and
Don't leave anything behind except footprints (or bike tyre tracks)

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