Yummy Christmas Feast

Last year I spent a cool Christmas in Australia. The temperature was around 24 degree during the day and dropped to 18 degree around later afternoon. The occasional light breeze really sends a chilled down your spine!

Our family celebrates Christmas every year even though we are not Christian. We usually have a small family gathering with some gifts exchange but the highlight of the day is always the cooking up a big feast for everyone to enjoy.

Last Christmas feast included a 5.78kg turkey, bacons, sausages, egg-stuffing, bake potatoes, salad, cherries, a chocolate cookie, a cheese cake and a bottle of red wine. Yummy, the taste is still fresh in mind!

My Childhood Dream Come True

When I was young, I'm always fascinated about steam locomotives. I have watched lots of movies and documentaries that featured steam locomotives and I have played with model steam locomotives but I have never ride on one. I have been to many places and I have rode on many type of trains but never on a steam locomotive.

On my recent trip to Australia to visit my cousin, I told my cousin that I must take a ride on Puffing Billy to experience what it is like to ride on a steam locomotive and to satisfy my childhood desire. Puffing Billy is a tourist attraction in Melbourne. The rail road is 15 miles or 24km long and there are many stops along the way. The steam locomotive that we boarded was built in America in 1905 and shipped to Australia. We planned to alight at Emerald Lake for a walk; it is about half-way along the rail route, and then takes another train back at a later time.

It was pouring heavily on the morning of our train ride but it did not dampen my spirit to realise my childhood dream! Luckily when we reach Emerald Lake, the sun has re-appeared and driven away the dark clouds. We have a relaxing walk around the lake and treat ourselves to a good afternoon tea before boarding the home ward bounce train. I'm glad that after yearning for so many years, I finally get to ride on a steam locomotive!

Dangerous bend

To all drivers out there, I would like to share with you a slight yet very dangerous road bend in front of Toa Payoh Block 159. If you are travelling from Jalan Toa Payoh turning towards Toa Payoh Central it is likely that you will pass by this bend.

The bend does not look very curve but please do slow down when approaching this bend, especially when it is drizzling or raining because the road can get very slippery. I know because my uncle lives in the block and his house is facing the bend. I have personally witnessed many motor-cycles and cars skidded when manoeuvring this bend during rainy days. Those who are speeding along may result in more serious injuries!

On 9th of December 2007, I was in my uncle house watching television programme and suddenly I heard a loud bang coming from the main road. It was raining and I know immediately another car must have skidded along the bend. When I look outside, true enough a car had skidded and mounted the curve facing in the oncoming traffic direction! It was very unlucky that a man in the front seat had knocked his head against the front windscreen and his fore-head was bleeding from a deep cut but thanks GOD it was not very serious. The front left hand side of the car was quite badly damaged. The European lady was the driver and the man is her friend. They have just finished doing a charity work and it was very unlucky that the accident happened. I hope the man had fully recovered.

Enclosed are some pictures I took with my cousin's Sony digital camera to share with you. Do be careful and reduce speed if you are driving along this bend. To all drivers, drive carefully and have a safe journey always!

Happy New Year

Hello everyone,

Happy New Year! May the year 2008 brings to you good-health, good-fortune, and best of everything to all of you. May all of your dreams come true too!

Warmest regards to all my friends and acquaintance.