A B2 ward in SGH

There is a common saying that there are only 2 things that are certain; death and tax. I would like to modify and say; only death and sick are certain.

Taxes can be minimized or even reduced to zero. All living things grow old and die. So passing on is just a matter of time. Falling sick is also certain.

One of my family members was warded in Singapore General Hospital. My family members take turn to visit her whenever is possible.

She is staying in B2 ward where she shares a big room with 5 other patients. There is no tv and washroom in her ward. There is only a ceiling fan for each bed. 

I have been visiting her for the past four days. I find that the "living" condition is still fine. The air-con is not necessary. Patients usually have a weaker immune system and tend to feel cold easily. So having an air-con blowing day and night, may not be good for the patients.

The shared washroom is just outside the ward. If the patient can move around even with some help, it is always good to take the chance to go to washroom to move around. I don't think it is healthy to lie on the bed day and night.

As for the tv, the patient is supposed to get ample rest. The tv is not necessary for the patients at all. In fact, there is a common air-conditioned room with a large flat-screen tv. Both the patients and visitors can watch tv programmes together.

Falling sick is already miserable, the most important is to receive quality medical care to recover fast and leave the hospital without worrying much on the size of the medical bills.

My Beloved BB

BB is a male shih tzu.

I came into contact with him since he was a puppy. I admit that I was a lousy and irresponsible owner. I did not train BB well. As a result, he was not well toilet trained. He can be quite fierce with strangers. He is stubborn but fiercely loyal as he guides my empty flat when I am busy with my job.

My neighbours are unhappy with BB because he has very sensitive ears. He barks when he hears any noise outside the main door. They complained that he was such a noisy dog and have gotten the relevant authority to get rid of him.

After about 2 years of such struggling, BB goes to SPCA today. Before leaving my house, BB knew. Unlike other days when the main door was opened and he would dashed out to sniff around, he was hiding under the sofa. He was unwilling to come out at all.

I weeped at SPCA. I weeped for BB. I was very angry with myself that I could not even protect him. I blamed myself for his ill-fate. I was responsible for his life. Look what I have done!

Any pet-owners here? Please take good care of your pets. Their lifes are in your hands. You can have many things but your pet has none. You are what your pet have.

BB,
I am truly sorry and please forgive me. I love you forever and ever.

Expect little respite from the heat

Temperatures set to climb as May and June are traditionally the hottest months here

By Diana Othman

IF THE weather has been sweltering lately, it is because May is on record as the second-hottest month of the year here. The fortnightly weather forecast by the National Environment Agency (NEA) indicates that up till the middle of this month, higher-than-average daily temperatures can be expected. There will be little relief from rain, and winds will be too light to cool things down. To top it off, a slight haze is also expected on some days between now and May 15. In the first five days of this month, the mercury hit 34.1 deg C at its highest. The average daily temperature for those five days was 29.3 deg C, slightly higher than the average daily temperature of 28.3 deg C in May in past years. Expect temperatures to climb still higher - perhaps to 38 deg C - heading into June, traditionally the hottest month here. Associate Professor Matthias Roth from the Department of Geography at the National University of Singapore listed factors such as lower-than-usual humidity, dryness of the air and clearer skies for pushing temperatures up. He explained: 'Humidity actually absorbs heat from the sun's radiation. It has been less humid lately and, together with clearer skies, more intense sunlight is shining down on us.' The NEA also noted that April and May were 'inter-monsoonal months' - the period between the end of the December-to-March north-east monsoon and the start of the south-west monsoon, which prevails from June to September. April and May are marked by relatively strong solar heating and light, variable winds, it added. Although widespread thundery showers will fall between now and mid-May, they will be brief squalls that bring little respite. Several people The Straits Times spoke to have been taking measures to keep cool in the last week or two. Insurance agent Jessie Tan, 49, had the air-conditioners in the three bedrooms of her Jurong home cleaned to optimise the cooling effect. 'All along I felt that the air-conditioners made the rooms cool enough but, lately, I don't feel the cool air as strongly,' she said. Although her 14th-floor condominium unit is usually windy, the breezes seem to have died down. 'My daughter wants me to switch on the aircon every day now,' she said. Over in Bedok Reservoir, 67-year-old retiree Larry Chong usually throws open the windows and turns on the fan. But that has not seemed enough lately, so the air-conditioners have come on more often. 'If I don't, my house will feel like an oven,' he said. source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_234706.html

My comments: 

My utility bill for water and electricity is going to rise.

Stress

A young girl asked her mummy if there were many people who live past 100 years old. Her mum replied that there were quite a number and this number was quite high in some countries such as Japan.

The little girl asked again for the reasons and her mum said that one of the factors could be the Japanese like to eat fish. 

Yes, besides eating fish, a healthy diet, exercise regularly and control the level of stress are other factors which contribute to longevity. 

In Singapore, where can we get a healthy diet where most of our meals are either instant type or pre-prepared? Do you have some time left to exercise and de-stress in this rat-race society?

Even a child feels the stress when the school examinations are approaching, needless to talk about working adults.

Is Eating Out Becomes A Norm For You ?

Due to the presence of multi-races in our society, we have the chance to taste different dishes prepared by different races. Almost everywhere and anywhere, there would be at least an eatery, servicing many different type of food day and night.

As a result, cooking at home becomes unnecessary as delicious cooked food is readily available at a nominal price. This saves the inconvenience of whipping up a meal, preparing and cutting the vegetables and meat, cleaning and washing the dishes etc. In particular for a modern family where both husband and wife work extremely hard in this rat-race society, cooking at home becomes silly since the time spent on cooking can be used to relax, surf internet, watch tv programmes or with loved family members.

Is this a healthy trend? We are famous in out-sourcing and are we in the process to out-source our home-cooked too?

I welcome any comments on this issue and many thanks.

You're so old. Why are you cleaning toilets?

I have mixed feelings after reading the below article. If a senior citizen is still as fit as a fiddle, then there is absolutely nothing wrong to continue working and earn some money. He or she is actively contributing to the society. If this citizen is working because to make ends meet, then it is really pathetic because in terms of health and strength, a senior can't beat a young.

Why do some people ended up having not enough for retirement when Singapore is said to be one of the countries where citizens having the highest savings rates in the world? Where did the money saved during the working active years gone to?

One of our main sources of retirement funds come from CPF. Over the years, the CPF has undergone evolutions and can be used to fund housing which our citizens deemed very crucial to have a solid roof overhead, to fund children's tertiary education since paper qualification speaks the loudest, to pay for medical bills, to purchase various insurance and investment plans etc

In the end, do we still have much left for CPF? Before we continue to spend our CPF, do consider thrice. Though we don't see this CPF, it does not mean it does not exist and it is mainly meant for our old age.

source: www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_233804.html

How Time Flies

Hi friends and readers,
I apologize for not updating my blog more often and regularly. I have been terribly busy with both work and family.

Today is 2nd May and we are close to middle of year 2008. The second week of May is Mothers' Day. Have you thought of ways to celebrate this special day? I am looking for vegetarian takeaways. If you know any recommended outlets which offer such takeaways meant for say 4 persons at a reasonable price, please let me know.

Early May is for school exam and soon, the one month-long school holidays will start. I am sure many parents have already made plans to go overseas. Please don't forget to get your travel insurance. Nobody wants unplanned and unpleasant situations but accidents do happen when we are least expected.

As for myself, I decided to stay-put during the school holidays. I try to avoid this peak period where air-fares, hotel room rates, coach tickets usually selling at high prices. Maybe I will go to Sentosa and spend a whole day there. I pray for cooling weather as the weather during the past few days has been very unbearable. I am worrying that my electricity (for ceiling fans) and water (for more showers taken daily) bills will be going up again.

regards,
bungerstar