YowCH & Grace

The Vigi MT-12 car video camera is dying after 3+ years, the internal battery is not holding charge, hence the last video file is not able to be saved on the SD card. Normally, that is the most critical file, hence it is time to change.

After a little internet search, we decided on a 1/2-HD camera (cheaper) but with wider view angle and clearer images under low light. We got the Thinkware Clair2 for $328 and installed it at the Shell Station of Bukit Timah Road near KK Hospital.

The camera is small and sleek, but it comes with 3M double sided tape mount rather than suction mount, so it is now stuck to the windscreen film. It actually has 24 hour recording function including saving 20 secs of videos before and after shocks to the car (parking surveillance) but we didn’t opt to have that.

Here are some images of videos from the cam:
Normal day time driving:

100% crop of the above:

Normal night time driving:

100% crop of the above:

Night time on a dark road with dim street lights and headlights off:

Night time comparing with and without headlights on:

Overall, the Clair2 is very nice compared to the older standard definition Vigi MT-12.

Tags: General // 2 Comments »

Today, David and Joseph played in friendly matches against Bukit Batok East View and Ayer Rajah. Here they were briefed and were getting ready.

The coaches met for game arrangements, rules and other arrangements.

Here are the teams (green = BB East View, orange = Ayer Rajah):

David played goal keeper very well (although he still let in a few goals) and Joseph was mostly just standing there.

Tags: David, Joseph // Add Comment »

Friday’s busyness started on Thursday, after the normal work hours, YowCH went for the ACES YPC meeting and then the Choa Chu Kang site for launching of the pre-cast sewer bridge over the existing MRT line, which can only be done between 1:30am and 4:30am.

After the successful bridge launching and sending his colleagues home, YowCH got home at 5:30am and took a short 2 hours nap. By 9:00am, we left home for SEA Aquarium at Resort World Sentosa.

We reached the Aquarium at 9:45am, and enjoyed it until 1:30pm. Click on the photos below for the page.



After the Aquarium, we took a fast lunch at Tunglok Signatures at Vivocity, and then sent Esther to school at 2:50pm for her choir performance at SGH. The rest went home where YowCH and Grace took a short nap.

At 6:30pm, we left home to get Esther from SGH, and then got to Church for the 100% Praise at 7:30pm.

After a night of powerful worship and praise, we had supper at The Cheese Prata Shop (Clementi Road) from 10:30pm until 11:15pm.

We then got home and slept at 12:00 midnight.

Tags: Church, Family, YowCH's work // Add Comment »

Another routine check-up and scan, everything is fine, praise the Lord. Scan done, 2 images updated in Baby 4′s page.

Tags: Grace // Add Comment »

Firstly, we did some improvements to Esther’s room, the start of Phase 5 (preparations for the new baby). To save space, we stacked the two low shelves we built in 2010 (also over National Day holiday) into a tall shelf. To link them safely, we drilled pegs into the side walls (much like IKEA shelves). Then we added a backing link plywood planks behind to ensure that the top half stays in place safely (image 4 below).

The finished shelf being reloaded with books.

Then, the terrapins got new lights. YowCH bought 2 light holders for $2.00 each, and mounted them on a left-over plank. Now, both UV-A and UV-B runs together. To reduce brightness and to focus the light, aluminium foil is used to form lamp hoods. We can now sell off the $40.00 reptile-light-hood.

The wiring and lighting system looks much neater now. The yellow light is not on timer, we will turn on every now and then for terrapins to bask.

We got a new board game made by Singaporeans called Regimen – the Lions of Bukit Chandu (some news here in their blog) at Harbourfront after lunch today. Interesting cooperative game to relive the Japanese invasion experience. By cooperative means that the players will play against the ‘luck of the dice’ representing the enemy. We got an introductory 10% discount, a free T-shirt and 2 extra game cards!

Tags: Family // Add Comment »

YowCH and Grace went for the third run of The Phantom of the Opera in Singapore, this time at the Grand Theatre of Marina Bay Sands.

All dressed up for the event, the show started at 8:15pm and ended at 10:45pm (with 15 minutes break).

The seat was not at the centre, but the view still quite good. With the aisle in front, we were not blocked (the camera is low-angled, we can comfortably enjoy the show over the guy in front).

This is the ‘pro’ photo taken for $10 (Canon donates all income from photo to Singapore Cancer Society).

Tags: Grace, YowCH // Add Comment »

With a $50 voucher from a 3M road-show, YowCH took the Isis to TTS Carcare (they are also Fiat’s service centre) at Sin Ming and paid $230 ($280 before voucher) for an overall polish and grooming.

The car was cleaned and polished outside and inside, including engine compartment. The external was given paint protection, too.

Super shiny now, looks new apart from the dents and scratches!

Tags: General // Add Comment »

Our neighbour, Steven, has many fish tanks, and a few extras, and after a polite request from David, he gave an unused one to us. This is now the upgrade from HDB studio apartment to landed property for the terrapins. We washed, set-up and transferred the terrapins all in 1.5 hours this morning.

The complete set-up at the corner of our living room.

To separate the food (smelly and dirty) from the pond water, there are turtle feeding tanks available for $50. We did it at home instead with an egg tart cup and a take-away container.

Here’s a look inside the new tank. The terrapins will climb up and dip their heads into the feeding pond it seems (we have not seen it happen).

Next is to set up the lights system properly.

Tags: Family // 2 Comments »

Today, Joseph had eye check-up and then dental again. Eye check-up shows that his sight is fine.

At NUH, he ran straight to the dentist’s room. But today’s extraction wasn’t so smooth as the tooth was rather decayed and there was damage to the nerve (very painful) and Joseph cried a little. But he sat still throughout and the tooth was extracted. Another 2 teeth were patched. He had chicken porridge with raw fish for lunch right after the extraction.

This is the X-ray which was shot about 1 month ago in the first appointment, photo taken off the computer screen.

Tags: Joseph // 1 Comment »

We bought 2 new terrapins on Friday night, and we found one of the new ones dead on Sunday morning. Sad. The living two other are in the left of the photo under the “horse”.

But this guy seems to be not too active from the start and not eating well. There was some skin hanging from the eye, which might make it blind, too, hence it couldn’t see the food to eat.

Tags: Family // Add Comment »