Just a quick note to say that I’m now back in Melbourne and to thank one and all who have made my stay in S’pore most fun and pleasant. My apologies to those who couldn’t fit into my schedule – I can only hope that another opportunity will present itself.
To the many SHC members I’ve met, please accept my heartfelt thanks for your kind and generous hospitality. I am not mentioning any names here because I have met so many of you and I fear that I may miss out someone. But you know who you are, so please accept this as my personal “thank you”. I hope to repay your hospitality some day in the not too distant future.
My observation while in S’pore has been that you have a great club in SHC. I have jokingly said that this is a “second childhood club”. And after joining the bike ride last Saturday, I feel the remark is actually quite apt. For example, those of us who didn’t have a chance to learn to ride a bike when we were younger are now able to do so. Members who can ride are helping members who can’t. Learners share their embarrassment and others encourage the learners. It all adds up to a lot of fun and camaraderie. This can only be healthy as our silver hairs get more silver (or in my case, the silver hairs fall off).
The D&D was such great fun. Who would think that people regarded as “over the hill” can enjoy themselves so much. The games at the D&D prove this point. And the members who took part in the games – you have to agree that they are ready to laugh at themselves and not afraid of people laughing at them. Again, this is all healthy.
There is so much more to write about but I’ll leave it at this point for now – holiday over lah, got work to do mah! I’ll share some more of my observations as we exchange and discuss in this thread.
Again, thanks very much everyone.
Haha Dolly,
Ron-Oz ay Sling-hok tok gong. Very chu bee.
Alamak, paiseh paiseh, c hor.. bu par tu hor.. Ok Nor Sayang, u can learn swimming frm Ron-Oz even if u swim like a mermaid, kay si kay si dun noe lor.. ai sai bo?
Wow-wow, ur Sling-hok lagi tok kong den me leh.. bo ho lei.. but hor, I welcome u 2 our group of lau yea ang mo pie.. ho bo??
Nor: “apa itu continue episode ah?… ” Ron had answered u on my b 1/2. Pls refer #16..para 2. Thanks Ron.
Ron: “So next episode will be Geylang (I presume).” Ya, y not? It’s a very interesting place and a lot of excitement.
Btw, Caroline n I “did not laugh at your attempt with “My Way” and “Ginny Come
Lately”, we did not pengsan, rite?
Hope 2 c u soon.
Cheers, Dennis W
Hey Dolly, u like dat noe good one u noe … my bizness not yet start you drive all the customers away.
I agree with you “eek pai par sen” … so serious chor mi!
Nor sayang, by d time, Ron-Oz come 2 SG again, i tin hor, u maybe can swim like mermaid liao.. still nid 2 attend swimming lesson meh.. tio bo?
Harnor, Sue, chin chai la, here use Singlish.. there.. simi lish oso can leh.. like dat more fun meh.. so serious chor mi leh..
Susan: My mind is still agile enough to allow me to switch from Singlish to Strine quite easily. Strine is Aussie slang. Example, in Singlish we may so “ho say liao”. The Strine version will be “you bloody ripper” or “you bloody bewdy”. You get the idea.
My kids won’t be able to understand me at all if I speak Singlish. The only Singlish my kids know is “Cannot lah”, which they picked up many years ago while on holiday in S’pore.
Caroline: Phew! So my karaoke is like your cycling, right? Then, you improve your cycling and I improve my karaoke before we meet again.
Grace: It was great that we could meet. Enjoy your ride in Pengerang.
Nor: Then you must sign up for my swim class lah!
RonOzz@25..ya lah i remembered…that’s so kind of you to give yr seat for the lady.Our Spore men shud learn the Ozzy way lor..told u, most of them wud just pretend donno!
Oh u ks abt yr leg…itu bukan ks but take great care what?
@27..yes,remind me of my snorkling adventure at Great Barrier Reef!..i just grap the angmoh nearby me when felt like drowning!..so malu actually I have a float, mana will drown?..hahaha,so funny!
Hi RonOz,
Indeed it was a pleasure to meet you and glad that you enjoyed the Peranakan lunch. Do take care and will catch up again.
Kind regards,
Grace Kok
Haha of course you pass your karaoke Ron. Must do this again when you next visit.
Like your Singlish. I think you give Dolly a run for her money.
Dont worry, can make kueh tart etc but most importantly must take you to eat durians.
#23
Lina, that’s what I thought too. RonOz becoming like 1 of us after spending 1 week here..ha.ha..
RonOz, don’t you think you feel more at home if you use Singlish ?..ha.ha… but your profession won’t allow that I am sure… so better get back to your downunder slang. :)
Does your daughter understand what you’re trying to tell her when you got home?
Take this 1 week break to improve your English ya?..ha.ha..
Hi Douglas
Many people thought I tore my muscle from cycling because I was reminding the cyclists to warm up and do stretching exercises before starting their rides. Warm-up and stretching exercises are important before any strenuous activity, especially for people of our vintage. I even do stretching exercises before my swims.
After our ride last Saturday, some of us adjourned to Caroline’s place to use her spa. I actually swam four laps in her pool before relaxing in Caroline’s spa.
Oh goodie, I will have at least one student if I start swimming classes. I broke out laughing when I read what you wrote about a drowning man. The converse is also true — a drowning girl will also grab anything and everything!
I hope you have good weather for the Pengerang ride and I look forward to reading about it here.
Hi Ron #3
So the torn muscle was not really caused by cycling, phew.
If u conduct the swimming class here, I will sign up hor, I only float a little while and than I sink, with you around, I feel much safer than with gals becos a drowning man will grab anything and everything.
take care and regards
Nor: You remember wat. After dinner with Lina, we caught the MRT. I gave up my seat for this pregnant lady and we talked on the train with me standing up and you sitting down.
I kiasu about my kaki lor. Cannot get instant cure, so must have physio treatment and also acupuncture … hoping for faster recovery mah.
Lina: I know, I know! Why you also must embarrass me like this. Now everyone know I talk only, but never follow my own advice. Haha.
Aiyah, Melbourne boast about being a cosmopolitan and multicultural city, so if I use Singlish in the newspaper, it will promote more multiculturalism wat!
Eh, next time I come back you must make some more apple crumble ok. Also must ask Caroline to make kueh tart, carrot cake, curry chicken, etc, etc.
AndrewK: All good wishes to you and yours too.
Dear Ron
It was good we met during the 2nd D & D.
All the best.
See you next time
Cheers,
Hi Ron,
Your muscles must be torn like mine from playing badminton a few months ago. And when I was telling you about my problem you said must warm up first, and yet you did not. Naughty! Naughty!
When you go back to work, please use proper English for your newspaper, hor. Don’t use, meh, hor, ya lor and lah, OK. Your boss will think that your many years of excellent English went down the drain after spending a week in Singapore!! ha..ha..ha. Take care and come back soon.
Ron..
Then u kiasu pasal apa?
ya lah..some ppl very ks, not shy?they buat bodoh & pretend close eyes like sleeping beauty!
Ok lah..i beta don cakap so much..must balek rumah oredi.
U take care & hv a good rest:)
Caroline: I was joking lah. I know you and Dennis will be too polite to laugh. Don’t forget that without your help to sing in the right key, Dennis would have really pengsan. So my karaoke “is the can”?
Nor: Cannot be kiasu in public places lah … not good. I am always very conscious, especially on public transport, to be looking out for elderly, pregnant and disabled passengers.
Hi Ron OZ,
…after nine days in S’pore I’ve also learned to be kiasu!!
It is not just kiasu but kiasi and kia bo too.
Wish u a speedy recovery.
Ok.I will share with you the recipe to cook herbal tong sat fish under the food the cooking category.
Hey Ron
We did not laugh at your attempt with “My Way” and “Ginny Come Lately” ok.
We were expecting to pengsan with your singing but you surprised us and we nodded to each other our approval.
Enjoyed your rendition of both songs. Thanks for the memories.
Caroline Gee
Wah!..Ron-Oz, u learn kiasuism so fast ah?..like what ah?..choping the makan seat or rushing for the train?..or just the makan2 sutra!
Next time round..bring yr daughter..she must be so sweet & pretty..send us some photos thru our emails lah..
Steven: It wasn’t due to the cycling. I was having a hit on the tennis court with my daughter after I got back to Melbourne. I was showing off — I wasn’t going to let a 19yo girl beat a 57yo ah pek!
I am not familiar with the herbal concoctions you mentioned. Anyway, I’m having physio AND acupuncture treatment for faster healing … after nine days in S’pore I’ve also learned to be kiasu!!
Dennis: Thanks for spending time with me during my stay in S’pore. I feel honoured and appreciate it. However, not so sure if I should thank you and Caroline for the good laugh at my karaoke effort. Anyway, it was fun. If nothing else, it should at least make Norlinda envious.
Nor: Dennis showed me what had happened to my old haunts — Roxy Theatre, Wonderland Snack Bar, etc. And he also took me for a wander through Paramount. So next episode will be Geylang (I presume).
Ah Nee: Ya lor, now I understand what Cyndi Lauper meant when she sang “Gila girls just wannna have fun”. Thanks very much, it was really, really nice meeting most of you and the credit for my funtastic holidays goes to all of you.
If I win tonight’s Oz Lotto $A20 million jackpot, I’ll be back there next week!
You all take care too and enjoy all your activities, which I know you will!!
Hi Ron Oz at ,
…physio treatment for my torn calf muscle.
Oh No! V.sorry to hear that. Must be the 36 km cycling and u overstretch your muscles.
Take good care and cook more herbal sung yi or tong sat for quicker recuperation.
It was so good to have u around in Spore.
So FAR yet so near.
Kenneth: If my sentence about life is for living didn’t quite make sense, it’s because I was in a hurry to go for my physio treatment for my torn calf muscle.
I was trying to say that as we approach the horizon in the twilight, we should make the most of what precious little time is left.
Hello Ron-Oz
After spending about 8 days here in Singapore your writing also got “lah” & “mah”. This is what you write: (“holiday over lah, got work to do mah!”). he…he…he….must be influenced by all the “gila” gals here. Hope you have enjoyed yourself during your stay here and meeting all of us. Take care and wish you a speedy recovery….must go back to work mah!…he…he…he….. :)
Ah Nee
Kenneth: Sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet … maybe another time.
Re the “Singapore Sling” (ooops, “Singapore Slang”), the saying about taking the boy out of the country holds true regardless. As for being a fun guy, hey, life is for living … so as we approach the horizon in the twilight, make the most of what waste precious little time is left.
IMPORTANT: JetStar budget fares aren’t what they seem. After adding taxes, the fares are maybe $100 to $200 cheaper than “normal” fares. Then, it’s NOT a direct flight to Melbourne. You stop over in Darwin for two hours, making a one-way journey 10 hours (compared with a 7.5-hour direct flight). All that inconvenience to save a couple of hundred dollars? To each his own.
Dennis…
apa itu continue episode ah?…
wei!wei!..we all knew u two always together when we girls not around rite?..ada something happen ka?..tell leh…promise i keep top secret!..hahaha!
Hi Oi Cheng,
It’s my pleasure..after all, what are friends for..to make..(dont think crooked) a better friend.
Cheers, Dennis
Dear Ron,
Nice to hear you have reached home safely and probably straight to the waiting arms of your daughter.
We had good laugh, fun and singing at the karaoke lounge and not forgetting the makan at other places.
Sorry to hear about your torn muscle. Get well soon and come back here and continue with our episode..ha! ha!
Hope to see you again in the near future.
Till then, take care and stay healthy
Cheers, Dennis W
Hi guys!!
Although I did not meet Ron Oz, I can see from the postings that he’s a great fun guy and still has the “Singaporean slang”.
Now the good news: JetStar has just annouced budget flights to Melbourne!
And Ron Oz may not be so far away after all!
Dolly: What, I don’t need to say “kam sia” meh; you hor, don’t need to post I can hear you oredi. Lucky I’ve met you and now can joke joke with you like this.
Oi Cheng: So glad to have known you too. The Peranakan lunch with you, Dennis, Grace and Charlie (Dennis’s friend) was great.
What will my boss think? Bo pian lor, like dat what to do? At first I rang my office very early to say I cannot work that day, then my doctor send me for ultrasound scan. When the scan showed the muscle was torn, my doctor gave me MC for the rest of the week. When I called the office again and told them I’m out for whole week, the boss just asked how it happened.
Remember our conversation at Coffee Bean? The doctor’s consultation would have cost about $40 and the ultrasound about $100. But I didn’t pay a cent. But maybe have to pay for physiotherapy treatment.
Nor: So far away … doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore …
Life is like that nowadays lor. Ya, after the noisy gathering I’m now back to the quieter life in Melbourne. So you all “chum siong” and let me know when you ready to invade my home town! But try to give me notice lah … dun last-minute okay!
Take care everyone and I’m sure we’ll meet again … someday, somehow.
Helo RonOzzie!
It is a ‘strange & sad’ feeling that u are now so far away..wish u are here & we can meet up more often in the great many activities SHC creates all the time..I can tell you that since I join,im more busy than ever!..haha
Thanks to my buddy ahnee & susan who dragged me!
The small gathering we had with some others at yr chalet was really fun..we were like in our school days camping..chatting,joking & telling childhood stories..yak so loud,laughed till pengsan..panting for breath!
alas!..its so short..time to balek oredi..sob!sob!
Well…its good that u are now back with yr family, & im sure yr daughter missed u so much!..how’s yr son?..hope he is ok
We hope to see you at yr home town next time we visit Melbourne!perhaps nx yr?..dream first lah..
Maybe we will plan a ‘surprise’ visit when we are ready…so watch out…somewhere,someday..u might just see us around!..sound spooky hor!..hahaha..yes!..that’s us..all the gila gang!
Hi Ron
Sure was glad that I had the opportunity to catch up with you while you were here. Thanks to Dennis.
We look forward to having you with us again and hopefully, you will have a longer holiday then.
BTW, what will your “Boss” think? MC for 1 week after a 9-day holiday.
Rest well and we’ll chat again.
Oi Cheng
Aiyo, dun nid 2 say ‘kam sia’ la, we oso took d opportunity 2 enjoy the ride mah..
We all had a great time and hope to meet up wif u soon lor..
Thank you for encouragement in our coming trip to Pengerang… Cheers.. Dolly
Caroline & Susan
The great friendship made for a fantastic holiday. Suddenly, the “sakit puntat” from the punishing “reservist training” becomes a quite tolerable experience.
Next trip, I wish to follow Douglas’s example and offer swimming lessons to interested members. It would be a good way to pay back for all the kind and generous hospitality and great friendship.
Very best wishes and I know you will all enjoy your ride in Pengerang. How I wish I can join you all …
Hi Ron
Glad you made it back safely, after the long ride with us to CV. Guess you didn’t expect this long overdue reservist training ya..ha.ha..
It was nice of you to share your experiences with us and we look forward to seeing you in Singapore again.. in our next D&D, maybe??
Bye now & may you have a speedy recovery ya !
Take care & see you next time,
Susan
Hi Ron
Glad you had a good time in Singapore.
We are happy you came and return to Oz with good memories of your trip here.
Wishing you speedy recovery so you dont have to be “bai kah” for much longer.
Its good to have some rest after a hectic holiday.
Take care
Warmest Regards
Caroline Gee