Fairprice - supermarkets in Singapore and worldwide selling clothes as well as groceries.

Jolly red underwear from Fairprice. The label says S$4.90 FREE SIZE. Brand name beauty (all in small letters, not my error). Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Here is my birthday present to myself. Red ladies pants. From Fairprice. The big branch of Fairprice, in Nex shopping mall, beside Serangoon MRT. It is up on level 3. (Unlike Bukit Panjang where Fairprice is in the basement.)

I was surprised and delighted to find a complete range of underwear. First I saw ladies knickers, panties or men's pants.   (In British English outwear is called trousers whilst underwear is called pants. The Americans say pants for outwear and underpants for undergarments.)

A lot of the stuff looks really cheap. Plastic shoes and sandals. I see my face in a mirror and notice I am wearing my surprised and slightly disgusted mouth turned down expression.

However, those red items are just what I was looking for. Anything in large? One size. Brand Beauty. Never heard of them. (A small Triumph boutique underwear only shop is out in the mall. But pricier.)

Next day I try on the underwear and I am delighted. It fits! No pulling. Not uncomfortable. 

What about the price. It cost 4.90 Sing dollars. I should have been able to get a pack of three in London for that price. Should I phone my family? Nope. Easier just to buy and try myself.

My family in Singapore frequent the Fairprice supermarket in Bukit Panjang in the north of Singapore. Our supplementary supermarkets are Coldstorage (our local is the one near Hillview MRT station, two stops along the line, slightly nearer into the city than end of the line Bukit Panjang.  I believe is merged under the same ownership but retains its identity of having slightly more expensive food and a slightly wider range of Western style foods and brands and imported products. My husband tends to alternate trips in order to get the full range of what is on our shopping list.

The UK and Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

Some time within the last ten years supermarkets in the UK and worldwide got bigger, emulating the French Carrefour, and started stocking clothes and seasonal items, more back to school stationery in the autumn. 

Summer-Winter Clothes

Down under in Australia the seasons are reversed. If you travel across the time zones and seasonal lines, that means less opportunity to buy the usual seasonal stuff, but more opportunity to buy novelties. One year we travelled via Singapore on a round trip ticket UK to New Zealand and back, leaving the UK in summer, arriving in New Zealand in winter. I could not buy clothes for the cold weather in London before I left, and could not afford the pricier and small selection or styles and sizes at the destination ski resort. 

Charity Shops

I had to resort to shopping in a New Zealand charity shop. I spent most of the first afternoon while my husband and son were doing their exploratory tour of the ring of ski slopes to check snow conditions for skiing and compare lift prices and whole week or family ticket discounts. 

While they were away, by early evening, as the sky darkened and the shop assistant warned me she would be closing. I had gone through the rails and boxes of jumble in the charity and second hand shop three times. I finally, forced to end my eternal browsing, surprising the assistant by actually making a decision. I bought a jacket, hat and gloves. On seepacond thoughts, I bought another cheap jacket, not what I wanted, but it was cheap. 

I also bought, after some thought, and bargaining, a one piece outfit with a tear and a stain. How to repair it? 

Another trip around the shops eventually revealed a stockist of sewing items. A shop selling clothes, offering repairs, had, hidden at the back, and under the desk, a stock of DIY sewing stuff. It wasn't on display because they only had one kind of needles. Okay. The threads were only three colours. I bought one of each. And only two styles of patches. Sigh.  

Charity Shops

If you are looking for charity shops, they have different brands and different generic names in each country. It is handy to know the name of the cheapest supermarkets in each country (as well as the dearer ones). The same goes for fast food.

Morrisons

I love shopping for clothes in Morrisons (Hatch End) and Sainsbury's (Stanmore). Whilst I could not justify clothes shopping, I might sneak a set of underwear or another tee-shirt into the basket of brocery shopping without causing my husband to compalin, 'but you have so many clothes!' 

One UK supermarket decided to go back to food stuff. 

Aldi

However, the bargain supermarket, Aldi, which used to make my late father's bridge partners run to their local Aldi shop in Stanmore on a Thursday to find the just in bargain re-stocking. I recall them enthusing, "You must go first thing on Thursday, like us. The bargains might be gone next day!"

Aldi has just emailed me (March 15 2022) to say that some items are available to pre-order. I looked and saw loads of gardening stuff. No thanks. Then I spotted silk pillowcases. Just wanted for my birthday. My unfavourite colour. Grey. But if Aldi say the product is silk, I trust them more than an unknown shop in China selling a single item at half the price. 

Singapore

This week in Singapore I was in Nex shopping mall above the Serangoon MRT underground railway station.

You can also buy from them online. They make a change for delivery, another for picking and packing.

Useful Websites

Otters in the city of Singapore - are you safe? How to protect otters and yourself

 

Otters are being protected and encouraged to make themselves at home in the city. The water of the Singapore river was cleaned up some time ago.

Neighbours saw otters by the fish ponds in the grounds of Cashew Heights Condominium near Bukit Panjang in the North west of Singapore. The neighbour who took this photo said she could smell the fish. She told the building management. They checked their cameras and found that the otters, which are mammals, had not sneaked in through fencing as had first been thought. The otters had brazenly entered through the front entrance past the security guard. At the time when the guards were changing over at about 8 pm. 

Next morning when I was swimming with my friendly swimming pal, Vee, (from another block), she hailed the management. My neighbour, Vee, told me that after the otters had left, she noticed a strong smell of fish. 

Otters eat only the heads of the fish. Funny, that. Fish head curry is a local delicacy of the Indian restaurants in Singapore.

The otters also left another strong smell because they urinate marking their territory and making it easy to smell their way back. 

They have a strong sense of smell. They had travelled a distance to find the fish.

The otters had not eaten all the fish. The ponds are large and well stocked with fish. Enough to feed the otters again, should they choose to make a return visit. No need to stock up again.

I remember when the Night Safari opened in Singapore, that it was the first in the world and a great novelty. Now it seems the Night Safari is coming to us!

Are you safe?

Keep a safe distance. Especially if they are with young. Don't run up to take a photo. How would  you feel if an unknown animal galloped towards your baby! The otter is anxious as you approach from a distance, then angry and aggressive when you get near. One tourist ran up to them and spooked them. A second approaching slowly, was attacked and badly hurt.

So admire from a safe distance. It is a privilege to see them. 

If another otter attacked anybody, the poor otters might be shot or carted away. To be sure that the otters are not culled or captured and moved away from the city, don't get too near.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal-advisories/otters

Otter crossing sign, Outer Hebrides.

St Patrick's Day Celebrated In Belize, Belikin Beer, and canoeing on the river - Kate & Wills visit soon

 

What else can you do in Belize? All kinds of water sports. Here is a canoe day.

As you see from the pictures, Guinness is available, brewed locally under licence. The local Belize beer is the brand Belikin. You can buy tee-shirts and Belikin bottle openers.

Singapore Dynamic Speakers meets every Friday at 9.30 pm Singapore time, which is early in the morning in Belize. The meeting lasts about two hours. President Edward Young's recent speech was about canoeing in Belize. Birds of Belize. The Barrier reef.

What else to see, caves, waterfall, wildlife, ziplining, Mayan ruins. Health, watch out for malaria and dengue fever. The national dish is riche, chicken and beans.

Belize desserts

Cashew apple wine. Rum raisin bread pudding. White cake. Sweet potato pudding.

Useful Websites

Lonely Planet video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJyqz-pQ398

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belizehttps://caribbeanlifestyle.com/must-try-desserts-to-eat-while-in-belize/

Waterproofing clothes and a waterproof hat

 

Craghoppers are selling a spray on waterproofer. I am a subscriber to their website so they sent me an email.

The wash-in reproofer is thirteen pounds sterling. The spray on version is fifteen pounds sterling.

The wash in version says it provides enough for three washes. I wonder how many garments that covers. On the other hand, handy for a hat, or hood, or two, if it works.

I found the article helpful. Their other information was a bit of a clutter. I could not find my way to reproofing so going directly to the article you want is best.

They suggest washing your garment first in case dirt or mud prevents the waterproofing from sticking.

They recommend only one garment in the washing machine. They say the spray on is for people who don't have a washing machine. 

I tried hunting for waterproof spray on Amazon. When I did a price lowest filter I got lots of other waterproof items ranging from plasters to masks. Also a rather nice waterproof cap with neck flap and face mask. Cost about 25 Singapore dollars. Beige. The colour is listed as khaki. The style also comes in what looks to me like a very dark navy blue, but they call it royal blue. It is listed as a fishing hat and has a brim. Brand ASY. I saved it under travel secrets in my Pinterest page.

Useful Website

https://www.craghoppers.com/community/how-to-re-waterproof-a-jacket/

https://www.facebook.com/CraghoppersOfficial/?brand

https://twitter.com/CraghoppersUK?utm_campaign

Green Beer Day In the USA and Green Theme Decor, Drinks and Food

Green beer, USA.

I was looking for photos of green beer, when  discovered that in Miami, Ohio, USA, they have had a green beer day. Yes, it was inspired by St Patrick's Day. With the Spring break dates and St Patrick's Day moving around so that they no longer coincided, somebody came up with the idea of having a green beer day during the spring break. So then, you had two green beer days, St Patrick's Day and the Green Beer day.  

My friend in Singapore enthused about green beer. However, when I read that it turned your tongue green, I went off the idea.

What about the American Green Beer Day. It sounded like innocent fun. Plus a commercial opportunity for selling green clothes. Plus, of course, beer. However, starting at 5 am, under age driving, and an alcohol related death. No way. No wonder there was official concern and interference.

Meanwhile, if you want to wear green and try out green beer at home, on St Patrick's Day, or Green beer day, or as a practice in advance any day, with food as well as drink so you don't drive or get drunk, why not.

By the way, the event started in Miami university, which is not in Florida, but in Oxford, Ohio. (Yes, not Miami, Florida, and not Oxford, England.)

One bar was selling for one US dollar a shot (small drink or addition to a drink or cocktail) of green jello (generic US term for jelly, from the brand Jello) which turns any drink green. 

The US bars seem to have a plentiful supply of food options. What was green?

Bread and Cereals

Rice with green rice (dyed green).

Marbled green bread. 

Vegetables: 

Avocados. Avocado dip. Brussel sprouts. Celery. Cress. Cucumber salad. Pickled cucumber. Cucumber sandwiches. Lettuce. Mange tout. Mint. Green beans. Green olives. Green Pepper. Parsley. Peas. Petits Pois. Spring onions. Wasabi. Watercress.

Fruit: 

Apples. Limes. Pears. Pineapples.

Desserts and Sweets

Green cheesecake. Green macaroons. Green marzipan. Mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Decoration: White Tee shirts with the name of the bar printed in green. (North End bar, Athens, Ohio, USA.)

 Green frosting on the rim of drinking glasses. Mint leaves. Green paper umbrellas decorating cocktails.

Cocktail Ingredients:

Crown Royal Apple Canadian whisky has a green label.

Midori, a Japanese drink, is green.

Captain Morgan Apple Smash.

Melon liqueur. (Midori Melon liqueur.

Pineapple Juice.

Rhinegeist beer from Cincinatti.

Casamigos Tequila.

I have saved several recipes to my Pinterest page. on food and drink.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Beer_Day

https://www.thepostathens.cosgom/article/2022/03/green-beer-day-local-bar-owners-athens-ohio

https://www.instagram.com/northendathens/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midori_(liqueur)

Where and how to celebrate St Patrick's Day - Belize, England, Ireland, Montreal, New York, Singapare

St Patrick's Day. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
 

You can watch the parades in New York and Montreal. Visit the Leprechaun museum in Dublin. (Watch the videos.)

Or visit pubs worldwide, in Ireland, England, Singapore, Belize (on the British army base). 

At home you can make your own green beer. You can take a pale beer and add green food colouring. Or use powered green tea (matcha), or spinach. 

You can make bread with a green marble effect using colouring. Or make cupcakes with white icing and green dots. Use food colouring or look for green foods in shops.

Green items to Eat or drink

Artichoke

Avocado pear

Courgettes

cress

cucumber

Food colouring

Gooseberries

Green apples (eg Granny Smiths)

Greengages

Green ice cream (order in advance - in Hatch End England if you make a big order they will do ice cream and an ice cream cake in the colour and flavour of  your choice

Green Icing

Green Marzipan

Green pepper

Kiwi fruit

Ladies Fingers

Lettuce

Limes

Mint

Parsley

Pears

Pistachio nuts

Pistachio ice cream

Spinach

From the New York parade website you can buy packets of pins, from this year or previous years, scarves and ties, all at about 50 dollars, which does not sound cheap to me.

Montreal's parade will be smaller this year, with no floats, although there will be bands. The audience will be asked to space out, social distancing, a small crowd but not crowding.

Useful Websites

Images

https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/saint-patrick.

OUT AND ABOUT NEW YORK

https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/

STAYING HOME

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/easy/videos/a37082/how-to-make-green-beer/

Links from this website to buy green powders from amazon dot com and another source. Matcha green tea is only about 10 dollars.

Spanish words for shopping and eating out in restaurants, simplified with memory aids

 We checked into a parador, one of those wonderful historic hotels in Spain. Next morning we went down to breakfast. We went to reception. We did not know the Spanish word for breakfast. The receptionist knew no English. I tried asking in French. She did not understand. My husband tried German. She did not understand.

I had to go all the way back to the bedroom and hunt through my suitcase until I found my small Spanish dictionary. Desayuno.

The receptionist then reached under the reception desk. She revealed that she had a four-language booking form which included most of the words one might need in a hotel.

I now know the word for breakfast in Spanish. I also know that the word for restaurant is similar in both languages. I could also mime or draw. However, I try to learn a few words of Spanish every day. Finding a link between the letters or ideas is helpful.

In addition to the word for breakfast, it is handy to understand the words for toilet, or ladies and gentlemen. 

My late father made a mistake when he was in the Spanish restaurant, La Giralda, in Pinner Green, London. He went to the toilets and saw the sign Senoras. He assumed that was plural for senor. So he pushed open the door. The lady inside was washing her hands. She was outraged. She complained to the management. The restaurant owner came over to ask us, "A lady customer has just complained that your father walked into the ladies toilet. Can you please explain why?"

When my father explained, we all rolled around in hysterical laughter. The moral is, a little learning is a dangerous thing. Once you have started, keep on learning.

Spanish - English

amo - I love

aires - airs

barato - cheap - (sounds like bargain)

Buenos - good ones (sounds like beautiful and beneficial) 

caro - expensive (my image is the cost of a car)

centro comercial - shopping mall

comprar - to buy

desayuno - breakfast (sounds like day starts, you know)

hotel - hotel

ir - to go 

me gusta - I like (sounds like I eat with gusto)

para ver - to see 

restaurante - restaurant

sandalias - sandals 

sombrero - hat

vino blanco - white wine (sounds like a blank colour, colourless wine)

vino tinto - red wine (sounds like tinted)

visitar - to visit

English - Spanish

airs - aires

breakfast - desayuno

gentlemen - caballeros 

good ones - buenos

hat - sombrero

hotel - hotel

I like - me gusta

I love - amo (sounds like amorous)

I want - quiero (looks like my quest)

I want to buy - quiero comprar

ladies - señoras

restaurant - restaurante

to visit - visitar

red wine - vino tinto

sandals - sandalias

shopping mall - centro comercial

toilet/bathroom - baño (sounds like 'in the bathroom, you know')

white wine - vino blanco

Useful Websites

duolingo.com

earwormslearning.com

translate.google.com