Helen Plus Three

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman My rating: 5 of 5 stars It is so seriously funny at times and it's all from the perspective of a very intelligent 7 year old who has grown up in the close company of her very busy, eccentric, courageous grandmother. Elsa translates everyone she knows to a character in the fairy tales of life ( a land to love, mourn, war etc) that her granny wove for her and solves her problems in the real world by those tales. Wikipedia is Elsa's gateway to understanding big words. There's something to be learnt about living life from a 7 year old and a grandmother. There's also some truths that hit close to home, about the conflicts of mothering and having a career and it's impact on one''s child. It's about relationships and wounded experiences and love that happens under one roof among different families, individuals all around Elsa, the kid. " She thought I was a.... a nagging busybody

Quite a few special days over the last couple of months, come and gone.

So I upgraded my tires, technically it's called plus sized my tires to get a new set of fancy rims. Bridgestone tyres are good, I merely followed the advise of MEN in the family.  Better road holding and all that , I never considered there was a downside to plus sizing but there is, after much reading and searching. I think I got a good deal with a trade-in value on my smaller tires (which I'm told are less popular) and new rims (not too bad). So for the next week I'm driving my car and I'm none too comfortable with it. My old car was less bumpy besides the reverberation (old what!), had less side to side wobble and I thought maybe it just takes getting used to. Bu when my son, complained about the very same thing I thought , ok I can't be wrong. I should just go with my gut, expert or not on cars, accessories and tires. I know what it feels to be comfortable in a car. So I lived with it for another week because it's all office hours for servicing S

Punggol Beach looked seriously cleaned up when we were there 2 weekends ago. Is the water clean, I doubt that still as you have the boats and tankers still plying the waterway which is still pretty narrow. Still a lovely sight to behold, a long narrow beach. Lots of rocks added. You have the small mangrove plants along the sides, but tese lovely twiners with the pick flowers were along the path connector edges, although I have no idea of the plant name yet. Bike shack is up for us to take our rides. Haven't gotten to Coney Island yet, although I think it's still called Serangoon island on my map.

We did a drive in the Getz all the way to Malacca and it was smooth all the way. Not bad for an old small car.(thumbs up!!) Let's not talk about the HICCUP getting through the causeway from 5AM. You expect that on a public holiday. Chendol But hey, it was worth it. Managed to get in pereanakan food and Chendol, little bit of shopping, fireworks, firecrackers just after midnight of the CNY. Shops, well mostly closed on CNY Day1 although there were some still opened. Food not an issue, the sights were mostly open. Pony rides at the base on St Paul's Hill...

Still I Rise   You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thig