Laughter Amid Uncertain Times

These are uncertain times. So much depressing news everywhere. The Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire across the globe, claiming many lives along the way. The numbers are adding up very quickly. Towns, cities and whole countries are on lockdown. How did it get so bad so quickly? It is surreal, like a scene out of Stephen King's novel, or a horror movie.

No doubt, these will all pass, and all will be well again. Meanwhile, if you are having problems keeping cheerful, here are some memes/jokes/humour to help lift your spirit, even if for a moment. Afterall, with the virus raging around you, one way of protecting yourself is to boost your immune system. And what better way than a strong sense of humour.

Life has to go on despite all the unpleasantness. We just have to be a bit more mindful and vigilant. Keep in mind to wash your hands regularly. Keep them away from your face, and keep your hands to yourself as much as possible. Keep away from crowded places. Stay home for the time being unless you have urgent errands to run. Apply these common sense steps, and you should be safe from the virus. The virus is contagious, but not deadly - unless you have a weak immune system. Just relax, take care and keep well. May the virus run its course soon.

The following memes/jokes/humour are from all over the web and whatsapp messages from friends and family. Enjoy them.

On Love

We have all loved, and been in love at some point in our lives. Was it as beautiful, as wonderful as we expected and imagined? Probably only briefly. As with everything else, love loses its magic after a while. And if lovers do not keep rekindling the fire, love will die.

Love is an emotion, and emotions can be controlled. Rein in your emotions. A sensible, practical attitude, and approach will allow you to enjoy this warm, fuzzy feeling call love, be it in giving or receiving – again and again.

Loving someone who doesn’t love you is like waiting for a ship at the airport. - Unknown

Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love. - George Eliot

One can still be in love at an old age without being ridiculous. It is at this age that one most needs one’s heart warmed up again. - Unknown

Never leave things unsaid with the one you love because you will never know if you will ever have another chance to say them. - Unknown

There is no feeling more comforting and consoling than knowing you are right next to the one you love. - Oscar Wilde

Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost. - Khalil Gibran

Maybe love isn’t what we’ve been told. Maybe it’s not all romance or attraction. Maybe love is a friend. Someone who understands you. Someone who’ll be there for you… even at your worst. - R. M. Drake

When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory of hours when we loved not enough. - Maurice Maeterlinck

Just because two people argue, it does not mean they do not love each other. And just because they do not argue, it does not mean they do. - Jiddu Krishnamurti

When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain. - Mark Twain

It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Love is the free exercise of choice. Two people love each other only when they are quite capable of living without each other but choose to live with each other. - M. Scott Peck

Thoughts on LIfe

Life is hard, tough and difficult. That is a fact. We must learn to see life for what it is. Once we can understand life for what it is, we will be able to accept the reality of it. And we will not be bothered by the fact that life is difficult. We would have understood that the joy, tears, pain, difficulties… they are all part and parcel of life, that is what life is all about.

Life is…

Complicated… Over the years you get to see what a struggle life is for most people, how tough it is, how easy it is to be judgmental and criticise and stand outside of situations and impart your wisdom and judgment. Well, it is not so easy. There’s a lot of mystery and suffering and complication. Everybody’s out there trying to do the best they can. And it's not such an easy business. - Woody Allen

Dull... Most of life is so dull it is not worth discussing, and it is dull at all ages. When we change our brand of cigarette, move to a new neighbourhood, subscribe to a different newspaper, fall in and out of love, we are protesting in ways both frivolous and deep against the not to be diluted dullness of day-to-day living. - Truman Capote

Life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret. - Tony Robbins

Life is distressing insomuch as we give exaggerated importance to altogether unimportant matters. Drifting along, I have observed that we men and women disturb ourselves about trifles, overlooking in the needless excitement the innumerable beauties which wait upon the way. Every ripple is not a wave, every wind is not a hurricane. Why worry whilst we are still upon the stream? It will be time enough to trouble when we meet the sea. - Charles Edward Jerningham

Life is always speaking to us at every moment. The subtle whispers, cues, and nudges are there as guideposts, to gently carry the humble listener along the path back to the source and the true self. Always choose to trust yourself and your ability to listen. - Bryant McGill

That's Life

Sometimes, Life makes little sense. And that’s how it is. That’s Life.

Wacky Humour

Life would be dull, and gloomy if people did not have a sense of humour, if there were no laughter. It is through humour, and laughter, that we soften some of life’s demand on us. And once we can find laughter, no matter how painful the situation might be, we can survive it. Cultivate, and develop your sense of humour because it is when things are not going well that we need our humour most.

Have a great weekend. May it be filled with laughter.

Always keep several ‘Get Well’ cards on the mantelpiece. That way, if unexpected guests arrive, they’ll think you've been sick and unable to clean. - Aunty Acid

One doesn’t generally look into mirrors when one is especially angry; one has better things to do, like pace the floor or throw things. - Robin McKinley

I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam. I looked into the soul of the boy next to me. - Woody Allen

Women love when you kiss their neck … just not when they’re driving and when you’re in the backseat. And they don’t know you. - Unknown

A man loses his sense of direction after four drinks; A woman loses hers after four kisses. - H. L. Mencken

I once wore a peekaboo blouse. People would peek and then they'd boo. - Phyllis Diller

A man in love is like a clipped coupon - it's time to cash in. - Mae West

I retired early for health reasons – my company was sick of me and I was sick of them. - Unknown

A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, 'At my age, I don't even buy green bananas'. - Claude Pepper

Once in a while our school has half days, and the teachers spend the afternoon ‘in service,’ which I think must be a group therapy for having to deal with us. - Neal Shusterman

At Christmas, many of us sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of our socks. - Unknown

After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say, “I want to see the manager.” - William S. Burroughs

Collin's Gastro Dining

Collin's Gastro Dining is a local award-winning F&B Brand. They have some 25 outlets in Singapore.

My friend and I had lunch at their branch in Funan Lifestyle Mall recently. The restaurant is trendy, and unpretentious. There are partitions between adjacent tables giving guests some privacy. I like this. The seating arrangement are designed to accomodate families or small groups.

I like their open kitchen concept.

This is the bar.

They had a 'special deals' for lunch. An order of main course comes with three side dishes - a selection of any three side dishes, or two side dishes with a drink.

I went for their Signature Roasted BBQ Pork RIbs., served with Skinny Cajun Fries, Corn Cob, Mesclun Salad and Coleslaw. For the sides, I had onion rings, Caesar salad and ice-lemon tea.

My friend ordered the Argentine Angus Ribeye Prime steak served with Sauteed Edamame, White Bean, vegetables, mushrooms, Potato Au Gratin, Pesto Sauce and Black pepper Sauce.

His sides were Caesar Salad and Mash potatoes.

I enjoyed the ribs. I think Roasted BBQ pork ribs is my favourite western dish. That's what I usually go for. So, I have enough of BBQ ribs to say, this restaurant serve one of the better ones.

My friend's steak was, to quote him, "For this sort of price, I can't complain."

So, all things considered, for a restaurant in a prime location which is newly redeveloped, serving good food, their prices are very affordable indeed.

They have a display of aged beef, and a wine rack right at the entrance. This is something I have never seen in other restaurants.

Collin's Gastro Dining
107 North Bridge Rd, #01-15 Singapore 179105
Hours: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm

Life's Little Lessons

Our lives might not have come with a manual, or an instruction booklet to tell us what to do, or how to live our lives. But if we are willing to listen to our elders, to learn from the sages and wise men before us, we will be able to get a pretty good start on life, avoiding all the portholes that are dotted along life’s journey.

The tests of life are to make, not break us. To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist. - Gail Sheehy

No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their mistakes, you will be alone in this world. So judge less and love more. - Unknown

A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. - Benjamin Franklin

Look at the world through a child’s eyes and see if that would not bring a little zest for living back into your life. - Unknown

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves. - William Arthur Ward

A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means. - William Hazlitt

The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget. - Thomas Szasz

When the well is dry, we know the worth of water. - Benjamin Franklin

What is more mortifying than to feel that you have missed the plum for want of courage to shake the tree? - Logan Pearsall Smith

There are two ways to get enough: one is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less. - G K Chesterton

Blaming your faults on your nature does not change the nature of your faults. - Thomas Lake Harris

A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit. - Francois Rabelais

Sakura Matsuri

Sakura Matsuri - loosely translated, is 'Cherry blossom festival'. Matsuri being a solemn festival celebrated periodically at Shinto shrines in Japan.

So, there is a ‘Sakura Festival’ at the Flower Dome at the Gardens by the Bay. I went to have a look as I have never seen Cherry blossoms in bloom in real life.

Hanami Experience
Hanami (especially in Japan) is the practice or custom of viewing cherry blossoms when they are in full bloom. People go for picnics, sat under the cherry blossoms and bath in the beauty of the cherry blossoms while sipping Sakura Sake, and Sakura flavoured snacks and green tea.

For a fee, you can experience the whole package of ‘Hanami Experience’ at the Flower Dome.

There’s our Minister for National Development arriving to grace the occasion.

The crowd waiting patiently for the performances to begin. There was a dance, about a battle (as far as I can make out), a drums performance, and some pop singers singing, probably, about Spring. They were in Japanese.

Here are some shots of the Cherry blossoms.

This is what the sign says, in case it is not clear in the picture:

Cherry blossoms refer to the flowers of several trees from the genus Prunus. Said to be native to the Himalayas, they are speculated to have immigrated to Japan several thousand years ago and spread throughout the country prior to the prehistoric age. They are now widely distributed, particularly in the temperate region of the Northern Hemisphere.

A genus of about 400 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees, Prunus belongs to the Rose family (Rosaceae), and includes cherries, plums, peachers, nectarines, apricots and almonds. Cultivated mostly as ornamentals and for fruit, they bear fleshy drupes, each containing a single hard-coated see called a ‘Stone’.

Aphorisms, Axioms, Maxims...

The beauty of axioms and maxims, is that they are simple and easy to understand and yet, they hold so much truth in them. Some of them, you will notice, are simply, factual statements. And yet, if you could speak them at the right moment, it shows the wisdom in you.

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. - Helen Keller

Oil all the wheels on your wagon, not just the squeaky one. - Gladiola Montana

The only certainty is that nothing is certain. - Unknown

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend. - Henry David Thoreau

Enemies’ promises were made to be broken. - Aesop

Be that which you hope to find in others. - Unknown

No one loves the man whom he fears. - Aristotle

The secret to being boring is to say everything. - Voltaire

He who would leap high must take a long run. - Unknown

The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack. - Unknown

Hope anticipates, faith believes, and patience quietly waits. - Unknown

The smaller the mind the greater the conceit. - Aesop

Birthday Dinner

So, another get together birthday/dinner.

As with previous occasions, the mahjong players arrived early and had a game of mahjong. The rest of the gang came as and when they are ready, bearing fruits, titbits and alcohol.

Ernest cooked up another sumptuous meal for us.

Chicken Claypot Rice. Claypot rice with Chicken, salted fish, and sausages with a generous sprinkle of fried onions and chopped spring onions.

Steamed prawns. Prawns painstakingly arranged, lathered with ginger sauce, sprinkled with wolfberries, steamed and garnished with coriander.

Omelette with scallops garnished with coriander.

Braised pork. Strips of belly pork braised to perfection. It might look a bit on the dull side, - it could be because of the colour of the pot, but I assure you the dish was divine – if you are one who appreciates belly pork.

Ernest’s homemade salad. Diced Long beans mixed with diced dried beancurd.

A mixed vegetable dish of mushrooms, spring onions, cabbage, dried soya sticks and glass noodles.

A plate of stir fried noodles with mushrooms and spring onions. (Ernest's version of longevity noodles)

This is roast London duck, contributed by Toon Chian, a new addition to the group, who due to work, and/or family commitment hasn’t been able to join us as frequently.

A group photo. All waiting, impatiently, for it to be over, so we can dig in.

The Birthday cake. Light and absolutely fabulous chocolate mousse cake. Just what we needed after a heavy meal.

And here are the stars of the evening – the birthday boy and birthday girl. Happy Birthday to you both – belated and advanced, and many happy returns of the day!

All in all, another day/evening well spent catching up with friends. Good company, good food, lots of fun and laughter. Everyone’s life should have more of such days!