A Date Back In Time

The Year is 2014.

I was born in the 1970s, which must be the coolest ERA of all.

That prompts me want to do an entry different from my usual food blog.

Why, you may be questioning.

That's because from the 70s to to-date, we have experienced the most changes in technology and lifestyles and perhaps, I can call this a tribute to time and perhaps all those "old" things that have ever crossed our lifes at one stage or another.

For a start, this is how our first TV set in my home looks like and best of all it was black and white.

"This is how my first TV set looks like"

The TV set must only be like 16" or no more than 18" at most but boy, but mind you, it was cutting edge technology and you can see "little" people running around in a box.

Just to add, the TV channels were also limited, you have like one channel for each of the respectively languages group - English, Mandarin, Malay and India.

The best part of all is that the TV channels will closed by 12 am midnight and on will come the Singapore national anthem, which I doubt many kids today realised since we must have over 100s of channels to choose from today as long as you are have subscribed to cable.

After the national anthem finished, you will soon be greeted by a similar screen as below with an ignoring buzzing sound.

Today, you can also have anything technologically possible on your TV.

You name it and you will have it as long as your pocket is deep enough.

"The ladies are not included in purchase of the television if you are just wondering"

From internet, 3D, LED, LCD, Plasma with the largest television as shown above at 110 inch.

If you wanted something different from your neighbours house, you can also opted to purchase the largest curve screen television.

Curved Television at 105 inch, do we need it ? But I WANT IT !!!

Next up, pager... aka mobile phone.

People in the much younger generation like those born in 1990s or 2000 onwards, probably has never seen a pager or even heard about it.

For those that has never been exposed to one, this is how it looks like.

Motorola was probably one of the most popular brands for pagers if my memory does not fails me.

One could only use your house line to page and wait for your caller to returns call at his/her conveniences of when he/she is able to locate a pay phone.

Shortly, after a few years, we had our first mobile phone which looks something like this.

Which shortly evolves to become like this.

And This,

By today standards, everyone will have a smart phone like this


 Just imagine how times and technology passes us by.

Of course, pager dead a quiet death without much people missing it or paying tribute.

Not to mentioned, mobile phones are integrated as part of us today, which we cannot live without anymore and being unconnectable is unimaginable.

Before there was laptop or tablets, we have...

For those that has been walking on this face of the earth long enough, we have Typewrtier.

Can you imagine, I used to have a typewriter that is very similar to the above and one will need to change the ribbon when its runs out of ink.

After typing out a letter, and the fastest way was to fax it across a machine that will look something like this.

But soon in the late 1980s and early 1990s, human being created what we know as PC, and for those who doesn't know, PC = Personal Computer.

Believe it or not, the PC has only one color, and that was the color green with only texts and no graphic display, if this "old" man remembers proper.

The first ever game made on a PC was something like this as shown below, 2D and it was black and white, but boy, could I spend hours on it.

Soon comes the first laptop, as people wanted to be more mobile such as the case of a mobile phone.

Today, I bet you will find these instead on the shelves.

Take a moment and reflect.

Just how far have we come to.

One wise man ever said that "Change is the only constant"

Before I end this post, there is something very close to my heart, which are toys from my generation to what is available today.

The reason is that we just welcomed a new addition to my family, our little one "Asher Tan" aka AT.

Boys from my era must have played with some of the below toys.

Don't you miss these plastic toy soliders

 Toy soldiers that cost almost nothing as compared to the toys kids buy today.

You will set up your battle ground and just imagine how the war will play out, like some will say, it is all in your HEAD and it was.

The child will have to imagine, missiles bombing, air strike, one on one combat, etc...

Next Toy was given by father earth, and it was fighting spider.

I have mine and you have yours and may the fearless battle begins.

 

 I doubt any of the children today ever attempt to keep this kampong spirit alive any more.

Before kids today have iPad, back then we have View Master... that comes in a slide show format and you can finish a movie or show in 5 minutes, tops.

Did we enjoy it, HELL YES.

At that time, this was consider cutting edge.

Toys today are mostly electronic...
 

 

 

I am glad and grateful to be born and rise in the 70s and have a childhood to remember by.

Hopefully, I too can recreate a childhood for our little AT now.

Keep well and will be back when I am back.

IT

Baby Asher Special

This is writing in tribute to our baby boy, Asher Tan Jing En.

Prior to his delivery, we thought or at least I thought, it will be no task great enough for us, but I cannot be more wrong.

Fact of life, did you know that a baby need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours, and Asher Tan will kick a BIG BIG BIG fuss if he doesn't get food in his mouth when he is hungry.

Of late, feeding him to his heart contents does not seems to be sufficient anymore, as he expects to be cuddle and carry all the time, and mind you, I can't be sitting down watching TV while carrying him, he needs to be carry and walk around, thought my apartment is no bigger than a shoebox.

This blog will probably give him an idea of the amount of $$$ he owes us.

To start off, his Ferrari as some of them called it.

After being to almost every baby shops in Singapore, and I am not kidding, mommy finally agreed on going with this stroller.

Before this, I would have imagine a reasonably good stroller will cost around S$500 to 600, but we end up paying more than twice that amount.

Here come's missy / mummy justification, it has has to be both front and back facing, it has to be one hand operation, its has to be relatively light weight and ultimately, it has to be "NICE" looking.

So we settled for Bugaboo Bee+ together Andy Warhol flower print canopies cos in the eyes of every new parents, their kid are special and only deserve the best. 

Next come the baby carrier, there are too many brands out there like the strollers and after looking endless at countless model, we have decided to purchase a Norwegian branded carrier, Baby Bjorn, it will be no stranger to lots of parents as it seems that this is very popular.

For those who are not familiar, Bjorn in English stands for Bear.

And to make things more complex, they offer different carrier version from Miracle, Mesh, One, Original, Comfort and the list will continue to go on and on I reckon.

Trust me, these 2 items above will be the cause of a lot of discussion and maybe argument if the shit hits the fence, but being the "GOOD" husband that I am, I just went along with whatever mummy think it is best for the baby.

Oh not forgetting the baby chair, I would have thought going to IKEA was sufficient for something so minor, but obiviously, mummy got different ideas and am I surprise.

We went with Stokke, another Norwegian Company.

From the picture above, you will reckon that the chair can last you throughout your life time, if its does not break, that is.

 

And we have to buy not one but two, maybe that's a sight that missy is considering going for another baby...

As I am working for a Norwegian company, who are traditionally known for their innovation in maritime technology since they have Viking bloodline in them, it somewhat surprise me that they are equally as passionate in developing babies product.

Next, comes the diaper.

Mummy wanted it to be Eco-friendly, so we opted to go for Charlie Banana.

This diaper was suppose to fit the kid up to a certain number of ages (You can count on me to forget such details) and it is supposedly reusable.

What someone forgot to tell mummy was that it was not cash friendly and cost so much more than regular used and throw diapers, I was told that I will make my money back eventually.

We will just have to wait and see.

I can go on and on, but before I call a conclusion.

In summary, you will need to consider all the below as well...

Scroll down at your own risk.

1. Baby Cot Bed

2. Travel Cot

 

Why you ask, because the baby sleep almost every time and any where in the house, so unless you want to just let him/her sleep in the fixed baby cot or have the energy to move it around like E-Man, a travel cot is recommended.

I asked the same dumb question too, and got shot down before you realized it.

3. Breast Pump

 

P.S. This is not a weapon.

4. Milk Formula

 

Trust me, you will need at least one tin can to standby when your new born arrive, just in case the breast milk is insufficient, like in our case.

So the baby was crying all night and we didn't know why, why, why... You get the idea.

It must be one of my stressful night ever.

Nevertheless, I am sure the family will be one fill with endless laughter and plenty of happiness.

Just look at the picture below, I am convinced, so you should be too.

She and he are angels sent by God.

 

A moment of Aww....

Never fails to melts my heart.

However, there are days which is getting too common that the little rascal goes on the wild side and drive me up the wall.

 

Nevertheless, the nurse told me that crying is good for the lung of the baby, so on some days, I just let Asher let go once awhile, but he is simply too adorable to be left alone for too long.

Need some convincing.

 

 Some more you ask...

 Okay, Papa and Mama is tired and this is all for today.

Yours Truly,

Asher Tan 

Sleepless in Singapore

Happy Full Moon in advance on 26 September 2013.