No End In Sight

The US economy is still getting worse, even as Washington's policy makers scramble to find the formula that will revitalize credit markets and consumer spending - Apr 09

Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen says the US has entered its sixth quarter of recession, with no end on the immediate horizon - Apr 09

A new wave of foreclosures could hit the house market if the US economy remains mired in a recession, said Cynthia Kroll, senior regional economist - Apr 09

The PSA cranes in the distance

Such grim forecast and yet there are queues to buy overpriced HDB flats and private condos.
Perhaps these buyers know something I don't. Anyway I will stick to the trusted barometer, the PSA cranes. They don't lie.

Crane Recovery at Ardmore Park

The Sumatra squall that swept through Singapore Wednesday causing the collapse of a tower crane could cost the contractor dearly. The insurance may not be covered citing an act of God.
A 700 ton and a 800 ton cranes were deployed for 3 days finally finishes Sunday 26 April.



The 800 ton crane in operation

The cost to rent the cranes ? $200,000.00. Easily. And this exclude the top kit replacement for the damaged tower crane and labour cost.



A similair crane elsewhere on earth

Eye Test

There is this optometry centre inside the West Coast Community Centre opposite West Coast Plaza (former Ginza Plaza) run by Singapore Polytechnic.
It offers a comprehensive eyes test for $5.00.





Although being attended to by students, the centre is well equipped.
There is also a shop stocked with frames in the latest designs.
But I find the procedures of one and half hour too lengthly.

While driving out to West Coast Road, saw this worker sitting
at the junction having some shut eye. A most silly and dangerous
place to do so.



Silly position

Ginza Plaza used to cater to the Japanese community and is now transformed into a sparkling mall with mostly new shops such as New York New York.



New York New York @ West Coast Plaza

A New Day

A new day, a new Lunar month. The sun dutifully rises and lit up the Orchard Road skyline.
The building on the extreme left is where the crane was blown over by the Sumatra squall on Wednesday.



Sun is directly above Mandarin Hotel

On this day, as usual the faithfuls made their way to temples,
one of which is at Telok Blangah / Henderson Road built in
1880 - over 120 years of history !



Ban Siew San Temple

And the daily cuppa at the neighbourhood kopitiam is a must
irregardless of the state of the economy.



Heartland version of Starbucks

Venus

Dawn woke up in time to snap this pic of Venus and the moon, both rising in tandem over the eastern sky.



Venus and moon, HDB apartments lights at bottom right

Too bad Singapore is not able to witness the Venus occultation.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20090421/sc_space/moontohidevenuswednesdaymorning

Also Wed, before midnight a sudden storm with very strong wind hit, sending flower pots scattering all over the corridor. A crane has its jib blown over and collapse at Ardmore Park, causing road closure around the area.


The jib dangling after strong wind cause collapse

Food Fever

Coming to a MRT stn near you, more food.
Remember the Queenstown Test Centre ? Then it became a Police Centre ?
Now it is a commercial school with a 24 hr kopitiam and with the stn at its doorstep !


Kopitiam under renovation

If this is not enough, the MRT stn itself also have newly opened shops. 7-11 is there with 2 units into one.




Mr Bean too, and Cake History is first to open its door.
Mr Bean now having promotion till end May...
Pearly Soya Milk $1.50 (reg $2.00)
Super Beancurd $1.00 (reg $1.20)




Times are still bad, perhaps I'll stick to the Ghim Moh HC for my fix of tau huay at 0.60 cents per serving.

Enbloc Fever

Many old buildings are being demolished, and in their places are newer and taller ones.
The adopted practice is using excavators fitted with concrete breakers tearing from top down, floor by floor.

Breaking in progress

Most of these demolitions are done by Malaysians who are known to make good money, live in JB, ignoring the daily hassle of the causeway jams.



The awarding of such contract is the reverse for other tenders. In this case, the contractor has to pay the building owner a tendered sum of money, in return for the rights to deposed of recovered materials such as steel.


Note the bundles of steel recovered