Singapore National Day Sunday August 9th 2020 - Be Prepared To See, Sing, Eat and Drink Singapore Style

The Official National Day Celebrations period lasts from July 1st to September 30th. Three months! That covers most of the UK summer holiday period for families, schools and universities.

When I first came to Singapore I was impressed by all the flags and wondered where they came from. Now that I am a Permanent Resident I know. This year the government gave every household a pack in a handy fabric tote bag, containing a large flag with two tapes so you can tie the flag onto the railings of your balcony.

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Inside the bag was another smaller flag you could hold in your hand and wave.

Red represents universal brotherhood and equality of man.

White represents purity and virtue.

The crescent moon represents a young nation in the ascendant.

The five white stars represent, democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. The stars are arranged in a circle in the red upper half of the flag.

This year, 2020, for the first time, we were given masks and a thermometer. So, if we go out to watch, we will not be spreading germs.

The day's events start at 10.20 am.

You can expect:

A speech by the VIP.

A fly-past.

A parade of the national organizations, the armed forces, the emergency forces, all ages.

In the afternoon there's more.

Fireworks.

Nowadays no need to leave home. Watch it all on your screen.

If you want to join in or understand what they are singing. Here's the national anthem.

The Story Of The Anthem

"Majulah Singapura" is the national anthem of Singapore. It was written and composed by Singaporean musician Zubir Said in 1958. Seven years later, the anthem was adopted. This song must be sung in Malay, although there are translations provided in the country's three other official languages—English, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil.

Singaporeans are encouraged to sing the national anthem during times of national celebration or at important national events such as at the National Day Parade, at National Day observance ceremonies held by government departments and educational institutions such as schools and universities, and at sports events that Singapore teams take part in.

Since everybody else will be singing in Malay, you might as well practise at least the opening and ending, better still all of it.

Rumi	IPA transcription
Mari kita rakyat Singapura Sama-sama menuju bahagia Cita-cita kita yang mulia Berjaya Singapura. Marilah kita bersatu Dengan semangat yang baru Semua kita berseru 𝄆 Majulah Singapura! 𝄇[1]	[ma.ri ki.ta raʔ.jat̚ si.ŋa.pu.ra] [sa.ma sa.ma mə.nu.dʒu ba.ha.gi.a] [tʃi.ta tʃi.ta ki.ta jaŋ mu.li.a] [bə(r).dʒa.ja si.ŋa.pu.ra] [ma.ri.la(h) ki.ta bə(r).sa.tu] [də.ŋan sə.ma.ŋat̚ jaŋ ba.ru] [sə.mu.a ki.ta bə(r).se.ru] 𝄆 [ma.dʒu.la(h) si.ŋa.pu.ra] 𝄇

 Here is the Chinese (Mandarin)

Singaporean Mandarin	Hanyu Pinyin
来吧，新加坡人民， 让我们共同向幸福迈进； 我们崇高的理想， 要使新加坡成功。 来吧，让我们以新的精神， 团结在一起； 我们齐声欢呼： 𝄆 前进吧，新加坡！ 𝄇	Lái ba, Xīnjiāpō rénmín, Ràng wǒmen gòngtóng xiàng xìngfú màijìn; Wǒmen chónggāo de lǐxiǎng, Yào shǐ Xīnjiāpō chénggōng. Lái ba, ràng wǒmen yǐ xīn de jīngshén, Tuánjié zài yīqǐ; Wǒmen qí shēng huānhū: 𝄆 Qiánjìn ba, Xīnjiāpō! 𝄇

Singable English version (unofficial)

Come, fellow Singaporean people,

With joy aglow we shall as one progress;

May our yearning so noble

Bring Singapore great success.

 Come, let us unite together,

All of us with a new vigour;

Let our voices soar:

Onward! Oh, Singapore! 

I would like a more universal theme, with everyday language, whilst retaining the same syllable count and beat or intonation.

Here's my fist effort:

Come, friends, join Singaporean peoples

Bring smiles and plans, in teams we'll progress

May dreams build towns tall as steeples

Spread Singapore's great success.

Join us, we'll work and plan together

Young, old, rich, poor, in all weather

Bring health, wealth, calm, love, laughs, more

Garden home, Singapore.

You may also have seen versions of a popular song.

What food could you eat? 

Singaporean favourite foods include:

Fish and Chips

Scones (Make your own or buy from Four Leaves in shopping malls such as Bukit Panjang)

Chinese

Chicken rice

Duck rice

Indian

Fish head curry (From restaurants in Little India in Singapore)

Roti Prata (Flat bread made by rolled out in fat fingers of dough like making spaghetti, roughly spiralled and jumbled and pressed together and cooked like a pancake.)

To drink Singaporean Style

Tiger Beer

Some factory tours may be available. Check current situation from their website.

Check the quality of your nearest branch as they are franchises.

Malay

Kaya toast for breakfast (Buy kaya jam in jars)

Kaya is coconut jam, yellow colour, made from coconut cream, eggs sugar, and sometimes added pandan leaf (pale green faintly flavoured)

Add coconut cream or coconut to savoury dishes or desserts

Durian (strong smelling sulphorous fresh fruit or fruit puree on other dishes or more delicate flavour on cake or ice cream like a cross between banana and chestnut)

Useful Websites

National Anthem in Malay, Chinese, English and other languages

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majulah_Singapura

Road Closures

https://www.ndp.gov.sg/traffic-advisories/

Tiger Beer

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

Kaya toast

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

CHICKEN RICE RECIPE

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hainanese_chicken_rice

https://www.facebook.com/NDPeeps

Author

Angela Lansbury

Please share your favourite posts. Join me on Facebook, LinkedIn.

I am the immediate Past President of Braddell Heights Advanced, Toastmasters International speakers' training club. We are a President's Distinguished Club. 

Make a matching and secure bag for when you go travelling .Origami Bag Tutorial with Lining - Easy Market Tote Bag Sewing Project

Secure zip
I would add a zip. that stops thieves. Also stop items falling out. And insects crawling in.

No zip? Add two pieces of ribbon you can tie together in a bow.

Or sew on press studs or hook and eye fasteners.

If you have old, unwanted shoes, such as lace up trainers, you could cut out two edged holes. Used ribbons to tie together the top of the bag opening.

Matching items
If you have leftover material, make a matching headband or belt, or a pin on a fabric rose as a fabric brooch to match the bag.

Security of bags
Add a long ribbon with one end sewn inside and attach your doorkeys so you never leave them behind in the outside of the door or anywhere else.

Lastly. take a photo of your bag so if you ever lose it when travelling you can identify it to lost property or show innsurance what you lost.

Leftover fabric? Tie a ribbon the handle of your black suitcase or carry on bag.
Make a matching pouch for your spectacles when sleeping in a car or on a plane.

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

A rant against bar stools

What have a got agains bar stools? I'll tell you.

I recently had bar stools at Dehesa. I hate bar stools.

I hate heights. I hate climbing. It's as much of a challenge as limbing Mount Everest.

I'm joking. No. For me getting on a bar stool is like getting on a horse. I try to hang on. It tries to bolt.

Or climbing on a Harley Davison motorbike. I straddle it and fall off the other side.

Ranting Against Bar Stools
I did my pole-vaulting impression, perched with the uncertain air of a parrot shifting about on bar, about to speak words everybody waited for. I tried to look agile and nonchalant.

Being on a bar stool put me in a bad mood for the whole meal. Are you sitting comfortably? No. I feel like I am in an airport lounge, exposed to people pushing past. if somebody runs off with my bag or the phone on the table I cannot race after them without doing an impression of an Olympic diver.

I want to cling onto the table with one hand, whilst holding onto my tote bag with the other hand. I am unbalanced, precarious.

I am tense. I fear I might fall. It's like eating a snack of pot noodles on a trapeze.

Bar stools must be designed for drinkers at bars, so they move on quickly to make way for others, and fall off as soon as they have had the second drink; approved by people who want the most uncomfortable chairs in order to get a quick turnover of diners who don't linger.

Did I say any of this? No. My fellow diners were not aware of any problem. (It's our secret!)

Bar stools have only one use. Sitting up high to play electric organs on x shape supports.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Amy Winehouse Camden Trail Campaign

If you are a fan of Amy Winehouse as I am you may already be collecting notes on where she lived and sang and met her friends and family. (I have previous posts on Amy. Read them when you finish reading this.)

Now a campaign is starting to fund a trail around Camden which will include creating artworks. If you contribute money you might be eligible to collect various souvenirs of Amy goodies, such as a limited edition card holder or a tote bag.

I am an avid

collector. I have a book on Amy and periodically go into YouTube to watch and listen to her singing around the world, with her wonderful rhythmic backing group always moving in sync, which is pretty hard, as you will find if you try to sing along or dance along to any kind of jazz.

See the page on Facebook.

Amy Winehouse Camden sights on TripAdvisor starts with Camden Market.


Angela Lansbury, travel writer, photographer, author and speaker.

Squires Garden Centres - Scented Roses, Workshops, Animal Umbrellas, Aquarium, Cafe and toilets

Something for everyone here, bulbs, plants, advice, umbrellas

Outside are plants to buy including fruit trees. I was looking for roses. They had small pots of bush roses and climbing roses and the smaller patio roses like tiny trees.. The taller standard roses ("like lollipops") will be available next month (April). I was looking for fragrant roses. Some roses are lightly scented. That might suit you if you are allergic or don't want strong smells clashing with your perfume or wine tasting. However, I like a rose with a proper rose perfume. 

The aquarium centre has little fish teeming in tanks, as well as these amusing tank decorations which open and shut their mouths.

I bought an umbrella decorated with chickens (£10.99) to match the tote bag of the same design which I had just bought at Wyvales (see previous post).

Squires branches include the large one in Stanmore. 

Travel Jacket or Coat with Pockets - by Scottevest

My best travel jackets? In winter a ski jacket which comes with pockets inside and out, plus a concealed or zip-off hood.
    In summer I like a photographer's jacket which has lots of inside and outside pockets. Enough space for a phone, paper hankies, toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb and lots more. The trick is to have a pocket for every item you use regularly. Or a pocket for the most vital item on that trip. (Such as your Tesco/ supermarket card, gym card, car key, door key, sunglasses, warm gloves.)
   Alternatives are a body belt.
   For those who are handy with a needle and cotton, save pockets from discarded garments and sew them in the seams of other garments, or inside tote bags which don't have enough inside pockets. You can keep a bag or pockets and zips to match up the colours.
   You can also save the linings of old garments. But for those with more money than time, check out the new garment from Scottevest.