BBQ at Labrador Park

It was a long weekend...... 27 - 29 Nov. Gerald has organised for a BBQ on 28 Nov. Raymond managed to book a pit at Labrador Park. I volunteered to marinate pork, my specialty.

After some logistics arrangement, Gerald come to pick me up at 3:30pm and then we went to Queenstown MRT to pick up Raymond and Small Ben. There were lots of stuff in the car. After arriving at the car park, we found that the pit was quite far..the last pit.

When we were about to set up the place, it started to drizzle. We had to quickly keep most of the stuff and took shelter. The rain came and soon went away. Gerald has gone to fetch Ivan and Willy and we had extra help to quickly set up the BBQ

After some time, we managed to get the fire going and started to cook the raw meat. We had pork, otah, check wings, sausages, prawns, fish, corn, sweet potatoes and even Marshmallow and grapes for dessert! There's a lot of food....for 11 people!

Jeff, Sunny, Kelvin, Alan, Thomas and Andrew came to join in the BBQ. We had lots of fun chatting and BBQing the food! The food was great and the Company was excellent!

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Back To Before.......

Would it be possible to go back to the life before....before you have had something or someone, etc.....

Few months ago, my aircon broke down. I tried sleeping with the fan on....but it was just impossible to sleep! I ended up staying 'somewhere' for a few nights! Before we had aircon, we only had fan.... and we slept through many years. Now, no air con.....its a torture! How to live without aircon????!!!!!!!

I have friends who are still living with only fan and they managed.......I don't think I could go back to those days with fan.......

The last few months, I had the company of a good friend..... we did many things together....lots of meals, shopping and movies... Recently, that friend was no long 'available'.... After spending a lot of time together, I really miss it. Places that I went brought back memories of the time spent... at those places.

I thought... I have a life before I spent time with that special friend...now that special friend is no long 'free', I should be able to go back to that life I had before. I could.......but it was not easy.....

Life goes on as it always will. My life goes on as usual..... memories stay for a long time......

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Gym

Gym??????!!!!!! yes. I went to the gym!

I was with SAFRA Megagym in the past...then I stopped going for a long while....have decided to make a comeback and I did.... except that I came back a few months back already!

Need to make a point to go to the gym regularly.....the main idea is to keep fit n healthy.

Ganbatte!


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Uncle Ben

Yes, that's me! I am the UNCLE BEN to many people.......

A few dear friends have advised me to drop that name....... "Stop being Uncle Ben! Stop letting others take advantage of you!".........

I know often I have been taken for granted but I guessed I asked for it.

I should listen to good advice.....

I am Benjamin ..........


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Wine Party - 14 Nov

RSVP and reminders and finally, it's the day of the wine party!

Went to supermarket to buy the stuff and found that No Gas for that day! There was a written notice about supply cut on 14Nov but my maid forgot to tell me! Had to have a change of plan....... Thankfully,the gas supply came back quite soon and the day was saved!

The party was at Wong's place....probably for the last time . They are moving in Dec to a condo! Wow, another party coming up - house warming party!

Anyway, Gerald gave me a lift and we arrived before the rest..Had to sort out the dishes/snacks and aslo the drinks. The rest started to come after 7pm...All late! The food finally arrived but not the wines! Well, Derrick finally arrived and the party was well on its way.

As usual, there's lots to eat and drink....white & red wines, and also Vodka! Let see... Gerald cooked Thunder Tea....and also sausages; I brought BakKwa, made sandwiches, potato salad and also made japanese Jelly; Albert brought chicken wings n sth else (forgot) ; Raymond brought tim sum and wong had drinks and soon/rice kueh and also fruits! So much food for only about 11 people!

Tasty snack/dishes, good wines, silly game and great Company...what more can you ask for????!!!!!! By the time we left the place, it was already past midnight....

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BUSY OCTOBER

Oct has indeed been a busy month for me.

Bobby arrived at the beginning of Oct for training. Derrick, Raymond and I met up with him for dinner. Most the time during his trip was busy with work but we met up again for dinner before his went back to Tokyo.

Jeff came and talked about going in to JB and I agreed. Raymond came along. We had to take the 2nd Link as it was jam packed at Woodlands. Went behind Sutera Mall for body massage. Well, it was more of a 'torture'! Drove to Tampoi for lunch - the usual place famous for boiled fish. The fish was delicious! We manged to do some shopping before we rushed back to Singapore and met up with Alan for dinner.

Wallace and Frankie came in the middle of the month with 2 other friends. Busy few days! Met up with them on Friday for dinner and drinks; Saturday started with morning walk at the Southern Ridges and then lunch at Vicocity. Went to Katong to have Katong Laksa and also the Teochew Soon Kueh. Then its back to Chinatown and let them loose for a coupe of hours
before meeting them and bringing them to Joo Chiat area for pepper crabs! After dinner, we went back to the hotel (Fullerton) and had a wonderful time chatting and talking about each other's experience!
Sunday was a shopping day at Orchard and then followed with dinner at Katong ....steamboat! since it was the last night,w e decided to go back to the hotel for another chit-chat session. It was really fun and we had Derrick and Raymond with us!

The week after, Daddy and Win arrived. This time they stayed at Ibis Singapore (Bugis). With them, its always makan and more makan. We had dinner on their arrival on Friday with Derrick. Saturday was lunch at Orchard and then let loose at Chinatown. Dinner was at with many people....a restaurant near Kembangan MRT. Gerald, Wong, Tony, Yas, Derrick, Raymond, Joseph, me and the Thais!
After dinner, we went to the Cheesecake Cafe and had cheesecake!
Met up with them on Sunday for lunch at Vivocity and also ice cream at Ben & Jerry before bidding farewell.

A new friend from Russia, ALexey, stop over in Singapore on his way to Bali. Took the morning off to catch up breakfast with him and showed him around Chinatown and Raffles Place vicinity. It was really hot walking around in business attire! At least, he was grateful that I took time off to show him around!

Another friend, from China, called in last weekend. Had dinner at Chinatown and managed to show him Clarke Quay and Boat Quay. The night was made interesting as it was Halloween Night! Many people came in costumes and make-ups!

Every weekend I had friend(s) from overseas and I have to admit that I ain't as young and energetic as I used to me. I have to thank Raymond who was always there to help me take care of them. At least, I am sure he had a great time with them!


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Ming'sTrip to KL & SG

After some last minute flight and hotel reservations, the trip to KL seemed to be confirmed. The arrangement was to meet Ming at the airport when he arrived and proceed to check in for our flight to KL.

27th Aug.
Went to the airport to meet Ming who arrived on SQ flight from Hong Kong. Together, we proceeded to Air Asia counter to check in for our flight to KL. 50 mins' flight and we arrived about 5:15pm into KL. The LCCT has certainly expanded in size since the last time I arrived at the terminal. With the current influx of travellers travelling on budget carriers, business is blooming for Air Asia! Took a cab ride to town which took about 1 hour and cost only M$74! I actually expected the cab fare to be higher!
Arrived at Capitol Hotel - my favourite hotel! Went for dinner with Ben at Jalan Imbi area...had Hokkien noddle, yuen yang, fried beef and vege. The meal was delicious!
Back to the hotel and Nelson came by for a chat.

28th Aug
Did not sleep well ...in fact, hardly slept! Went out for a walk around 1am..... still a lot of people at Bukit Bintang! Went back to hotel and watched video on the MP4 given by Ming. Suddenly heard a loud noise and after checking the room, found leakage from the floor above. Managed to change room, at 4am in the morning! Ming was still half asleep when we moved! Hahahahaha!
Went to McDonald's at 5am for early breakfast - so very early!
Took Ming to the nearby shop for prata. He was surprised to see prata with curry...such a heavy meal for breakfast, he reckoned! We only had 1 prata each!
Showed Ming Starhill gallery (he enjoyed the decors of the various restaurants) and Pavilion (where he bought some charcoal bread, jelly and even jams!)
Back to the hotel where we met up with SP for lunch. Went to The Federal Hotel's Chinese restaurant for tim sum buffet. Well..... don't waste your money!
SP was kind enough to give us a lift to KLCC. From KLCC, we took the MRT to Central Market and from Central Market, we walked to Chinatown and then walked back to Hotel. Ming managed to get some interesting souvenirs from Central Market.
Nelson and Alwin came to fetch us for dinner. Dinner was somewhere in PJ . The restaurant was very crowded but we managed to get a table. The food was not bad! We had salted egg coated crabs and fried pig throttle!
Then, Nelson drove us to Alwin's place to pick up his car and drove us to 65 for drinks. Did not stay long as we did not enjoy the place, anymore.

29th Aug
Ming wanted to have toast for breakfast and we ended up having pancake! After breakfast, we went over to Times Square for a look-see. Took a cab ride (M$25) to Mid Valley and had Leong Tau Foo lunch. Ming is not into fish and some pieces had the fish meat taken out because he did not like the taste! Nelson and Alwin came to fetch us to The Curve and we managed to spend some time walking around the place before we set off to Bangsar for dinner - Korean BBQ!
Dinner was great and the company was wonderful! The owner even gave us some extra dishes!
Dessert was at Sakura.... and then we called it a night.

30 Aug
After breakfast at nearby cafe, went to MetroJaya to do last minute shopping before we went to Jalan Imbi for Bak Kut Teh and then back to hotel to check out and proceeded to airport.
Arrived back at Singapore and checked in to Golden Landmark Hotel. Went home to drop my luggage before bring Ming to Heeren. Ming wanted to check out this shopping Mall. Raymond came to meet us and we then went to meet up with Gerald for dinner. After some discussion, we went to Eng Seng Coffee Shop for Pepper Crab. Raymond commented that it was a good meal! He must have enjoyed the crabs prawns and the noddles!
Gerald drove us to Marina Barrage for a night stroll & view before we ended up at Chinatown for dessert!

31 Aug
Malaysia National Day! Er.... its a working day in Singapore, though! However, I was on leave! Brought Ming for a walking trip around his hotel...Arab street....and then to the Wholesale market, to Albert Court, LaSalle and then to Raffles City Shopping Centre. Unfortunately the shop he wanted to visit already closed down. We had lunch at the food court and he enjoyed the Laksa dish....spicy enough! Walked over to the Art Museum and managed to visit a few galleries FOC (before 2pm)! Then, afternoon tea at The Cathay before I took him to Chinatown and let him 'loose' on his own! Hahahahahaha!
Met up again for dinner. Went to Swissotel Merchant Court for the famous buffet at Cafe Ellenborough. It was a delicious meal - chili crabs, fried fish (big fish), crayfish, sashimi, oysters, lots of desserts, including durians!
Gerald managed to join us for coffee at the end of our meal!

01 Sep
Went to meet Ming at the hotel and helped him checked out. Bade him goodbye and safe trip back to Hong Kong!

These few days have been good for me....it was a good trip to KL. Ming was a great travel companion, fun and easy to get along! Hope he enjoy the trip too!



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