my ajumma notes

Out of burning curiosity, I drove round Toa Payoh Lor 8 this morning. I have to say that the place looks alright to me, contrary to what was implied by some media reports. I am aware that driving around to take a look is different from actually living there. But then, the same could be said for any other street in S'pore. So. Please note that I do not express any affiliation/support/criticism to/for/against any party whatsoever with this post. I'm just stating that what I saw was different from what I read. And I wish media reports would focus more on what really matters . Anyway, I'm a scaredy-cat, and you will not find very exciting comments of a political nature here.

What do you know, there's another naming contest on now, to name Orchard Road's latest soon-to-be-built mall, which will be where Glutton's Square used to be (opposite Centrepoint). Given the names decided upon for a couple of other places, you might just want to try getting your hands on the $8,888 prize money . If you remember, Marina Bay was very creatively re-named Marina Bay , and the budget terminal , well, Budget Terminal . I remember a contest official explaining that they chose Budget Terminal because most entries contained the word ' budget '. So, just make a guess as to which word is likely to appear in most of the entries, e.g. 'glutton', 'Orchard', 'Somerset', 'Killiney', etc, and you might just find yourself a lot richer than the boy who won $1,200 and a 3G phone for coming up with Budget Terminal . That is, if you can get into the Far East Organisation website, which I couldn't get into for some reason. Anyway, I ...

I'm no big-time women's rights lobbyist or anything but there was this letter in yesterday's Sunday Times that has brought out the feminist in me. The writer took exception to the suggestion that there be ladies-only MRT carriages to prevent molestation, etc, when the train is crowded. Apparently there was also a suggestion that women be asked for their views on this and the writer similarly objected to the idea, because it was unfair to men! Oh, please! Of course it is unfair, but it should be. The whole point is that molest victims are generally female, and the perpetrators are generally male (isn't that unfair??), and actually, even if molest victims were (the rare) male, the perpetrators are also generally male (fair??) anyway. It's not about fairness or whatever; it's about protection for the vulnerable. Just like how the law protects females and young persons differently from how it does males and older persons. Because they need it more than the males an...

The ST tells us today that a Sports Council survey shows that we are 'more sporty' than we were five years ago. I would agree that exercising for health or for fun is infinitely more important than all that 'sports excellence' stuff. But more people jogging or doing yoga is one thing; sporting achievement is another. So we shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking that we can really make it on the world sporting scene. Anyway, we are also told that 'Sports TV viewership slips 9%'. Should that be a surprise to anyone? The main TV channels are down to almost zero for sports coverage and everyone knows that not everyone subscribes to cable sports channels. And this guy said this about the swim meet I mentioned in my last post : 'During the Asia Swimming Championships, most of the finals were held between 5.30pm and 8pm. And being at Woodlands, it made it tough for people to be out there.' Hmmm... what's wrong with 5.30-8pm? And if sports spectators c...

I am not so hopeful at this point. It took quite a bit of hoo-ha and stepping in of higher authorities to ensure that we have coverage of the Commonwealth Games on telly. That's really, really pathetic. Anyway, just over a week ago, we went for the final day of the 7th Asia Swimming Championship that was held at the Sports School. The turnout was pathetic, too. There are hordes of Singaporean youngsters who pack our swimming pools for lessons/training daily and here was a high level meet right in their own backyard, with tickets priced very cheaply ( When I watch any of the tennis grand slams on TV, or even the less major tournaments, the stands are packed. People are willing to take time off work or whatever, fly across the country and pay for expensive tickets. Sadly, we'll never get that here. I hear that even our national football team does not play for full capacity crowds these days. Having been to two World Swimming Championships (that's like the World Cup for the aq...

Article for the day: 'Why some things never change' in TODAY. Can't find the link. Summary of article (quoted verb atim ): 1. Opposition parties will have no ground to complain that they aren't given enough time to ready themselves... This is because the signals for the next polls have been coming thick and fast for many months. 2. What the Opposition can take comfort in is that there is always support for them... Given this, if I were part of the opposition... I would seize whatever diaphanous support there is out there, and try and weave it into something more solid. 3. But to do so, I must climb what are effectively the Mt Ophir and Mt Everest of S'pore politics - the election deposit of $13,500 and finding 84 Singaporeans of good moral character, bright and committed enough to stand as opposition candidiates. 4. The real Everest is who will volunteer to be Opposition candidates... If cyberspace were any indication, there are many Opposition wannabes in Singapore...

The senior journalist who covered the story of the gold-plated office tap was recently assigned to do one on the best shopping cities in Asia. Wow, she gets to do pretty exciting stuff, doesn't she? I didn't actually read all the articles because they were so long but I know that at the end of it, she ranked Hong Kong #1, followed by Singapore (which rather surprised me), then Bangkok. Since I didn't read everything she wrote, I'm not sure why she didn't cover cities such as Tokyo and Seoul, but I just want to have my two cents' worth here, since it's about shopping . The BEST shopping cities I've been to are in Japan. Great variety, quality, service, etc. And also very fashionable, trendy stuff, as well as conservative stuff if you want. The best part of it is the prices aren't as high as you think they would be, although the cost of living overall is rather incredible. For example, electronic products might even be cheaper there, but the catch is t...

I am looking at the 'At Your Leisure' section of the Classifieds because the boy has finally agreed to go to a kids' bake class (encouraged by me, sis-in-law, male cousin, female cousin). But only baking chocolate things, he said. Well, there isn't anything in today's that would be suitable. And I'd say that some of the courses in 'At Your Leisure' are surely not suitable for anyone's leisure. It says: Most of us are so caught up in the rat race that making time for leisure pursuits is increasingly difficult. However, a little time out really helps us recharge. Here are some courses that will give you a little 'time out' from the rat race and help you recharge : J A centre for 'inspiring confidence' in your children ( 4 -14 years old) Courses available: Total Brain Development Training, Mental Arithmetic Ya, sure, 4-year-olds need total brain development training and mental arithmetic!! J The Education Doctor Courses available: G...

I am so sad to learn that the little girl was found dead. May she rest in peace. Little girls and boys are not supposed to be abused, killed, locked up, or trafficked, or made to walk the streets, fight in armies or work in sweatshops. They should laugh, play, be happy, be loved, learn and eventually grow up .

More stuff on this today, not from me, not from Sam Soon , but from the queen of romantic comedy herself, Ms Jane Austen . "Lizzy,'' s aid her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse any thing, which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior..." Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, ...