Real Love Works for Elderly Couples - WW

Mr and Mrs Ho celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary on 23rd March '09!

Marriage Central turns a mundane activity like shopping for groceries into fun couple races for senior citizens at Tampines Mall NTUC FairPrice Supermarket this evening.

NTUC FairPrice is the leading supermarket retailer in Singapore with a network of over 225 stores island-wide. On Tuesdays, there is a 2 per cent Senior Citizen discount.

What will the couple buy with a S$10 voucher?

The couples were given 10 minutes to shop with a S$10 voucher. This participant chose milk powder for his wife while she bought low-fat 3-in-1 coffee for her hubby. awww.... so sweet to see them caring for each other.

Mr and Mrs Yeo looking for things purple

Mr and Mrs Yeo have been married since 1965. Their eldest granddaughter just got married! They had to shop for as many purple things as they could with S$10. They picked snacks for their grandchildren. Such doting grandparents!

The couple with the most number of purple items won vouchers worth S$30. All participants received goody bags.

Couples won supermarket vouchers and had fun!

Tomorrow evening - Ang Mo Kio Hub NTUC Fairprice. Good luck to all couples!

24 March 2009, Tue
Venue: Tampines Mall, NTUC FairPrice Supermarket
Time: 6 – 8pm
Address: 4, Tampines Central 5, #B1-12, Tampines Mall, Singapore 529510



Wordless Wednesday

Chinese Wedding Must Have Red Colours - RT

A nephew had his wedding on 21st March which was the start of Spring, the season of love! We are Chinese with many elderly relatives in our family clan. Traditionally for the Chinese, there are many customs to observe and follow, but this young couple decided to celebrate the most important day of their life, their own way.

The parents and relatives of both families have no say over this wedding. They were told to 'just be present'. :)

Imagine the horrified looks on the faces of the elders when they stepped into the elegant wedding banquet room.

BLACK colour was predominantly every where!!

The tables and chairs were black. The menu was black. The napkin was black. And there were white candles and flowers every where. The elders shook their heads.

*For the Chinese, white and black are colours of mourning.*

Luckily the restaurant had scattered lots of red rose petals on the tables and floor. The relatives were arranged to sit at round tables (signify togetherness) while friends and colleagues of the newly-wed couple were seated at long tables.

The dishes were beautifully presented and tasted good. It cost almost S$100 per guest.

I asked my only son if he would do this to me ...... have a black wedding.

"Nooooo!" he assured me with a hug of my shoulders.

I was very comforted to hear that.

"I'll elope."

*faints*

First Commenter - Writing in Faith

Love is In the Air! - WS

Balloons carrying the love declarations of couples released into the air

I joined hundreds of couples renewing their marriage vows yesterday evening at the Marina Barrage. There was a mass releasing of love balloons as we rededicate our love for each other. This event created yet another romantic shared memory in our married life. I hope the other couples have the same feeling.

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and wife rededicating their love for each other

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports as well as Second Minister for Trade and Industry, was on stage with his wife and youngest son to renew their marriage vow too.

Ms Anita Fam (left) and hubby.

Earlier in the day, it was raining cats and dogs. Luckily it stopped, just in time, for this event. :) The comfy evening breeze, cool weather and romantic purple and pink colours everywhere put visitors in a mood for love. Head of Marriage Central Advisory Board, Ms Anita Fam and her other half looked ecstatic.

Couples left their love declarations on this huge message board.

Couples, young and old, reaffirmed their love and commitment to their other half. There were many elderly couples with their extended families. It was heartening to see such a huge turnout at this record-breaking mass commitment of love.

Balloons carrying Love messages dotted the skyline

I couldn't stay long as I had to rush to my nephew's wedding at the Esplanade.

Real Love Works @ Marina Barrage
Saturday, 21 March 2009
5 pm to 8 pm




weekend-snapshot

First Commenter - Dora

'Judge' EastCoastLife's Day in Court - WS

' Judge' EastCoastLife

The public queuing to get in.

A first in Singapore, visitors queued for a hot seat in the courts.

A packed court room

Big Bad Wolf taking his oath.

Huh!? What's going on!? What's wacky ECL up to this time?

***************** ooOoo ****************

The Supreme Court of Singapore opens its doors to visitors for The Living Courthouse, a programme which, through informative, interactive and fun-filled activities, lets visitors learn about court proceedings and more. This is the first time the Supreme Court has organised a public event since its move to the new building in year 2005.

Here’s a chance to see what happens in court without being sued, summoned or subpoenaed. :)

The Living Courthouse
14 & 15 March 2009
10:00 am to 6:00pm

The Supreme Courts
1 Supreme Court Lane

Admission is FREE…………

Note :
Due to the huge crowds, I spent a good part of the day queuing just to visit all the 3 exhibitions and 2 court proceedings. It was worth it as I had so much fun! Go early to avoid disappointment.

Several refreshment stalls have been set up outside the Supreme Court where visitors can buy snacks and beverages, but have a good meal before you go. I was so engrossed in the activities that I had my brunch at 4 pm.

It should be very crowded on the last day. For those who could not visit this event. I'll post my interesting adventures in the next few posts. :)



weekend-snapshot

First Commenter - Gagay

Horse Watching at Riders Cafe - WW

Ready for a ride

Magnificent manes flying in the wind, the horses look a picture of grace when they gallop. These pictures were taken in Singapore.

After reading my Horse Grass post, a friend invited me to his club. He owns 2 horses. *faints* It costs much more to own a horse in Singapore than a car!

For overseas readers who are used to seeing horses in your own country, it is rare to see a real horse in Singapore. And to own one, the owner needs to have quite a bit of dough. :P

Walk a horse

We arranged to meet early one Sunday morning. Bukit Timah Saddle Club off Eng Neo Avenue provides such therapeutic charm. I felt I was in another country.

A kid learning how to ride a pony

I bet many Singaporeans don't know this place. It was my first time. I watched my friend exercise his horses. I did not ask for a ride. Maybe another time.

After their rides, the girls gave their ponies a good wash.

He brought us for breakfast at an idyllic cafe in a colonial clubhouse. It was relaxing to watch the horses trotting past while you bask in fine weather and good food.

Fluffy homemade pancakes

I was recommended the famous fluffy home-made pancakes with berries compote and maple syrup. Chris was offered Norwegian Benedict with generous slices of smoked salmon. The breakfast was very good!

Norwegian Benedict - heavenly breakfast!

You need to make a reservation. It was full-house at all hours and many people who did not have reservations were turned away.

I was told the cafe has a house dessert special called Death by Chocolate Cake, but I had no more room for dessert then. But I'll be back .......

Bukit Timah Saddle Club
51 Fairways Drive
Tel: 6466 9819
Tue - Sun: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Closed on Mondays

Rider's Lodge
108 Turf Club Road
Tel: 64654828

First Commenter - Sue

Vanishing Singaporean Hand-made Sausages - RT

Delicious sliced pork sausage, deep-fried tofu and meat roll with chilli and sweet gooey dip

A prominent businessman brought me to this hawker stall for an afternoon snack after a conference. This stall is famous for its hand-made Hokkien ngoh hiang (5-spice meat roll), liver rolls, egg lard cakes and my favourite pork sausage.

This pork sausage is one traditional Chinese food that is hard to find in urban Singapore. It is too tedious to make. Using lean pork marinated using their secret family recipe, the pork sausage here is tender and super delicious. They even have the special sweet and not so pink gooey dip!

Hip Mr Teo Ho Soon and his uberlicious pork sausage! :D

Owner Mr Teo Ho Soon (age 52) is the 3rd generation in this family business. His wife and son help out at the stall. They have been selling ngoh hiang using his family recipe, which had been passed down from his grandfather, for almost a century.

Hup Kee Wu Xiang Guan Chang

Mr Teo starts preparation at 4 am daily. As the snacks are hand-made the traditional way and cooked from generations-old recipes, they require too much work and time to make. As a result, no one is interested in continuing the business. It could disappear one day. What a pity.


These are the variety of snacks sold at Mr Teo's stall. Ingredients are fresh. Prices are reasonable. Expect to wait as he has many orders. :)

Do remember to try their fried chicken wings too. :)

Hup Kee Wu Xiang Guan Chang
Maxwell Road #01-97
Opens: 11am - 8pm; closed on Mondays

First Commenter - Lina

Fengshui Ice-cream - WS

Talk : How the 5-elements affect our lives

I was invited by multi-talented Director, Ko Kho to his private preview of a 13-part Symphony for Dance Drama, 'Set Sail' (启航) which is about the struggles of the Vietnamese boat people. Many of his guests were from the Arts circle. I have no idea how I ended on the invited list. :P

The event also featured a specially concocted 5-Element Fengshui Ice cream by Ms Sein Chan of Seventh Heaven for this launch. Hopefully the invited guests would receive loads of good luck during this difficult time. :D

One's birth date displays a certain weakness of the person. We were served ice-cream cocktail, followed by their main course. The dishes are concocted in accordance with the 5-Element (五行) philosophy.

Water Element - Sea Salt Black Forest Ice-cream Cocktail

I was recommended the Sea Salt Black Forest Ice-cream. It's the first time I taste a savoury ice-cream. The ice-cream is smooth and saltish. It's unique. I fell in love with their yummy crispy breadsticks dipped in its equally delicious anchovies in virgin olive oil.

Fire - Wild Berries and Hazelnut Ice-cream Cocktail

There were another two more ice-cream but I was too busy tasting the ice-cream and chatting with new-found friends. I forgot to take photos. haha..... *embarrassed*


The main course was a hot Chocolate Lava cake paired with Apricot Liquor Ice-cream. Surprisingly, the milk-based Apricot Village Liquor known as fen jiu (汾酒) and chocolate cake complements the elements of Metal and Water for businessmen in Asia. These are auspicious representations. It will be too long if I explain this fengshui report in this post. :)

Chocolate Lava Cake and Apricot Liquor ice-cream 雪中送炭 温馨(杏)人间

The liquor is too strong if taken on its own. Even though I was sipping it, I was overwhelmed by the strong liquor taste. But when I pour the liquor over the ice-cream, the combination is a fragrant and enjoyable dessert!

Made from Italian Amedei chocolate, the centre of the hot Lava cake is molten chocolate that melts your earthly desires. I was in Seventh Heaven. :)

Seventh Heaven is the first Singapore gourmet retail and events ice-cream company to offer customisation services. Their artisan, gourmet ice-cream is created from scratch by hand. The ice-cream is natural, no flavouring agents or chemicals are added.

Seventh Heaven
10, Raeburn Park #01-24

Mon-Thu 11am-8pm
Fri 11am-11pm
Sat 1pm-11pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

What is your dominant element?

To all ladies :

Happy International Women's Day

weekend-snapshot

First commenter - Laane