4366. Eve of New Year 2025

 1. Morning. Lentor Loop. 

1. Met Siew, a 90-year-old woman with silver hair, slim. Walk without tongkat for short distances. No balance problem. A few missing front teeth. She spoke Mandarin. Unmarried. Her brother's son whom she cared for, asked her to live with him now. He also had his mother-in-law living with him and 2 adult children. "Thïs nephew's mother didn't love him as a child,"she said. "There are mothers like that," I replied. "They don't want the burden of taking care of kids."

Siew had to help her father who ran a laundry shop in Orchard Road. No school attendance. Father preferred to invest his $50,000 savings in a co-operative which closed down and he lost all money. He didn't want to invest in his house in Oxley which would have had made him very rich. "Nowadays, the government ensures co-operatives don't swindle", Siew said. We talked about my children. She was fortunate to have a nephew who asked her to live with him as she is alone.

2. Evan was very gung-ho. Full of energy. Wanted attention. Went to my ground floor room. Leg paddled his tricycle to Fudu Park. Leg paddled furiously at bend in Fudu Park. Fell and handle of triccyoe hit his right face but no injury. Cried. Comforted by Gema. I took a photo. I pushed Owen in his pram. He was quiet and shook his legs as he enjoyed the outing. Put him near a shrub. He touched the leaves. When his legs were brushed by the leaves, he moved his legs away.

Took some photos of purple flowered plants with zoom lens. Blurry.

3. Afternoon. The Barracks. Two suites rented by LP to watch fireworks. I drove. Tiring. Took some photos. Spoke at length to security guard Gopal 69 who said Tamil Naidu had named children "Lee Kuan Yew"and the migrant workers can tolerate sun for long hours unlike the Chinese Nationals and locals. They grew up in such conditions. They would be thrifty - rice, curry and one vegetable so as to save money for home 

 

Had dinner at Trapizza via buggy ride.
Mediacorp beach party. Loud. 

Took photos of half-flowers in Trapizza and The Mess Hall.

Maia suddenly came to say "Happy New Year" to me and grandma as we left The Barracks to go to N2 house. She avoided my hug but hugged grandma. Hugs cannot be forced.

 Night. 
Noisy karaoke night at N2. Adrial made some small chat and left seat. Angie, 83 talked more when asked about Betty who is into health therapies and whose son Adam Khoo did not attend an uncle's gathering in a Dunearn Road house which has a very long hall, accommodating 100 people easily. Owner has events often.

Toh Chin Chye - a physiologist worked with her father-in-law who lectures on physiology to undergraduates. Her husband, E had said that he would catch stray cats and get paid S$5.00 per cat. Ï   

.    Ït is not easy to catch stray cats,"Angie said in her gentle voice. She was able to converse. Her daughter Joel had a scholarship from Ngee Ann Polytechnci  to study disaster managent and sustainability in Newcaste. NAP stopped giving overseas scholarhip (bond 5 years) after her receipt of scholarhips.

   Ariel studies Masters in Music Therapy now. He appeared overwhelmed by loud Karaoke singing and had closed his eyes a few times. His father didn't attend to usher in New Year but came in the afternoon with the family. He had CAP during long cruise, but had excellent appetite. CAP is Community Acquired Pneumonia.     

Such crowded events are not for me.