Sabby Says..

Some Updates!

2018-04-03T21:57:00.001-07:00

Hi there!

I know I haven't been blogging for quite awhile, but I am back, with gonna fill this blog up with more content on a personal level, with reviews coming your way too!

In the meantime, I am still trying to spruce up this webpage, hopefully, it will serve you guys better!

Cheers!

The Syrian Rescue Project

2014-06-15T09:04:00.004-07:00

Hello guys!

I know its been a long time since i have posted anything Hamster-ish. Well as you guys know, i no longer keep hamsters :( as i found that i am allergic to them.

But!! In recent times, my interest grew when so happened this appeared on Facebook :

HOW CUTE IS THIS???!!!!!!

After clicking around, i found this page:

These guys were rehoming syrians. My first few hamsters were syrians, and i enjoy their company the most! Cuddly, and warm little creatures!!

So..... i found more cute pictures :

HOW CUTEEEEE!!!!!! Simply adorable!!!!! Till i wanna squueeezeeee them!

They were even featured in our local pets magazine!

So far, all their babies have been rehomed to many open hearts :) In fact, i am considering to adopt one if there are any rescues! So if you have space for another, and reside in Singapore, do give them a hand, and if you can afford it, please give these guys another second chance in life :) Im sure these little creatures would love to have a more loving heart :)

Check them out at : https://www.facebook.com/TheSyrianRescueProject?fref=ts

Love,
Sabby

Trick Training for Birds 101- Turn Around

2014-06-15T08:40:00.001-07:00

Hello! People have been asking me how i was able to train Biko to do tricks like this : ( seriously AMMAAZZZED by the view counts and comments.

Well, as for starters, here are some rules you need to follow to ensure the health and safety of your pet bird.

Never ever. ever. ever starve your parrot. I cannot emphasize this enough, as i have heard some stories of it actually happening. Please refer to this web for good parrot weights. http://www.avianweb.com/AverageBirdWeights.htm
Check your bird's weight often, its good as if a sudden weight loss, its a sheer sign that your bird is sick, as birds are fantastic at hiding their sickness.
10 mins per session is good enough, as birds have very short attention span.
Make the sessions daily till no treats are needed.
Always do training just before meal time. It helps alot for the motivation
Even if you want to cut the amount, maximum amount should only be 3/4
Training time is also bonding time with your parrot too!
Make sure all windows and doors are closed to prevent unnecessary accidents.
Have ample space for training

Now that you have read through the rules, we shall begin!

Tip: my parrot's diets have very little sunflower seeds, so i use sunflower seeds for training. But of course, if you parrot loves other stuff, you can use that for training too! It is good to observe what your parrots like. Its usually the first thing that the parrot goes for when fed. Other alternatives include millet spray, and baked treats that you can find or make too.

1. Start by using the seed to let the bird follow the direction of your hand. Note : ( VERY IMPORTANT : DO NOT FEED THE SEED UNTIL THE TRICK HAS BEEN DONE) Close enough for the bird to reach, do not feed the seed till the whole trick has been done. This is to ensure that the bird knows that it will be rewarded only if done correctly.

2. Generally if you find that the bird is not really following through, break it down by progress,. Once the bird has made progress, reward. then gradually increase the duration.

3. if the bird is pretty unmotivated, try giving a good reward ( more seeds at one time) so the bird knows he is making progress.

4. Dont give up! Trick training cannot be perfected in just 1 day. It takes a while for the bird to master it fully. Have lots of patience and love for your bird ( although sometimes they cannot do it and you will be so mad you wanna strangle it, but please dont!!!!)

5. continue to practice practice.

6. If you find it hard to train on your finger, a perch that has good grip ( wooden branch) will be easier.

Good Luck!!

I had a great day today!

2013-08-06T05:59:00.001-07:00

Finally I managed to go to the gym today to pump up those muscles going after 2-3 weeks of being unable to do so!

I seriously felt so lazy cuz I didn't even go to the gym, probably also felt that my energy levels have dwindled alot. I felt super awesome after gym!!!

Well the rest of the day was spent typing the lit review.. Zzz I really need more time to read my articles! I still have so much more to cover I swear!!!

But that doesn't mean that I got less time to do what I love though! Still managed to squeeze sometime to cook dinner and make a small portion of froyo!!! It's still in the freezer, hope it will taste nice!

Will post up pictures of the froyo and te recipe if y'all want! :)

Sabby.

Dementia and Cognitive Impairment.. a heartfelt experience.

2013-07-31T07:08:00.000-07:00

as part of my thesis, working in a clinic was one of the requirements, and throughout the countless sessions of "role-play" with my colleagues about the assessments that are being used, today i finally understand that what was practiced cannot prepare you for the actual thing.

A simple assessment for cognitive impairment, can be extremely difficult for them, even the knowledge of simple items and basic tasks can be very difficult for them. The role of the caregiver is constantly tested and tried with every decline.

When i saw an actual example today, it totally hit me off guard while my cantonese language was tested ( and as usual its so so so so badddddddd!!) After i have completed my assessment, my heart wrenched so bad, and imagine a short simple test like this was already so difficult, then how about daily tasks? in my heart i really wanted to tell the caregiver how much i felt for him, and i cant imagine how much difficulty has had to go through everyday, having to prepare himself that the person is caring for will one day forget who he is one day.

It is shocking to see how something so common and minor can make such a big impact in other people's lives. So, start early today, will be the best prevention.

To prevent dementia here are some tips:

1. Eat more fish ( Omega-3's )
2. Memory Excercises ( Majong, puzzle games, for mental stimulation)
3. Green Tea
4. Tumeric Powder ( Found in Curry)

and those who are facing these issues, i feel for you! But always remember that there are support groups available for you, and small groups for people facing the same issues. Always remember that you are not alone in this fight. Take it as a challenge for yourself, as studies have shown that there are still positive outcomes in not-so-good situations! Be positive and u will get it through!

Chan Brothers Fair 2013

2013-07-29T07:01:00.001-07:00

It's the yearly affair and once a year to make people happy!!

It's a some-what-a-part time job that I feel honoured and blessed to bring joy to people's faces every year. :)

The group this year!

It's always so fun cause our job is to keep kids entertained and give out goodies to make people happy while they are waiting for their turn.

Group photo! Photos courtesy of ZY :)

We were all crazy people and all over the place! To me when I wave at people or do weird stuff I don't usually do in public, like jumping, dancing posing randomly, and when I finally see the smile on people's faces, just makes my day, and not matter how hot the suit was, it was all super super worth it :)

There was even this cute little boy that stayed for half an hour to dance and hug us, he even knew how to dance gangam style! He was such an adorable cutie, his parents and ah ma was telling him to go home already. But he was reluctant to go! He kept laughing and dancing and hugging us. This little boy is such a bundle of joy, his parents mush be really proud of this sweet little boy! It's to the extent my BFF wanted to bing him home!

Well that was all in a day's work! I'm gonna end this post with a post of the cute koala!

That's me for the day! So cuuuute right?!!

Hello! Welcome to a Slightly...

2013-07-26T21:16:00.001-07:00

Revamped page!

I decided that the old template was kinda boring, and the links were hard to see also. I hope you guys like it! I know its pretty common to see this template, but i think its good enough for me :)

Let me know what you guys think? Cheers!

Sabby.

China Glaze Hologram Holographic 2013 Swatch for Infra Red

2013-01-26T18:59:00.001-08:00

Hello! I know this is pretty random, but I realise there isn't any swatches on the Internet, so I guess I will share with you guys.

I only bought 1 colour as that is my favourite out of the lot. The first few pictures are indoor under normal lighting. The holo specks are very light, very difficult to capture under a camera.

As u can see, the holo is more obvious under direct sunlight in the last few pictures

The swatches on display looked nice, but what came out in the bottle looks very disappointing as compared to the older collection. The older collection, the holo specks were more obvious in the bottle, but this time you can't really see it at all! Maybe that's why it isn't so pretty. The pictures are with 2 coats, and top coat. Ok, nuff said, lets present the swatches! ( and sorry if the painting is real bad, im just an noob nail polish addict)

Puzzling me alot :(

2012-01-28T09:44:00.001-08:00

Almond my winder white seems to be suffering from major fur loss and keloid formation.. The more she bites it the larger it becomes! But the funny thing is peanut is totally imune to it!

It really makes me wonder if it's applicable in the genes of the hamster, and the general health.

I have tried I was with saline water ( those sterile for washing soft contact lenses) but it still doesn't help.

I also changed the diet to a balanced one, I see improvement in fat boy, not not in almond. I feel sad, cuz if I were to send her to the vet, I know they won't be able to help, and even make the situation more painful than it already is. Well, almond is considered pretty old already, so I have decided to let her be, but of course with a double dose of multi-vitamins to strengthen her :)

Biko being naughty again!

2012-01-28T09:37:00.001-08:00

Biko has been moulting, so his weight is a little high therefore being very mischievous in his old ways!

Guess what he did?! Poke an additional hole in my notes... Zzz

Biko! Mama doesn't need an additional hole in her notes! The holes have already been punched!

Biko having fun with his play gym!

2012-01-28T04:12:00.001-08:00

Biko has been spending alot of time
Lately in his brand new play gym, which I got it to reward him for his 2nd place win in the parrot competition. Looks like he is having alot of fun!

And for those whom in Singapore might be interested, look up birdsprees on facebook! It's a friend account so just add him up! Prices are really affordable and prices are inclusive of shipping from US to SG, but of course, shipping to your house needs to be arranged with the owner :)

Look out for updates on Facebook!

2012-01-21T08:58:00.001-08:00

I will be updating pictures there of Biko!
And with addtional personal posts of Biko and me :P

Something to share :D

2011-08-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

yup thats my hammy =X

When is the right age for hamsters to breed?

2011-02-11T06:19:00.001-08:00

A: well, that depends on the sexual maturity ( or when all their sexual organs are fully developed)

Usually buy its 4-8 week they can already start breeding, but WAIT! It does not mean they are ready to be parents! Hamster mums whom are very young may not have the ability to take care of the babies!

Thus if you are considering to breed, make sure they are at least about 7-8 weeks before breeding them

Additional precautions you can make after she has given birth is to cover one side of the cage to give her that extra privacy

Problems with Glass Tip Drink Water Bottles ( For Hamsters)

2011-01-28T06:52:00.001-08:00

Yup! i also have the same problem though! But i have some solutions!

Glass bottles like this:

Firstly, the black/brownish stuff must be cleared, if not your hammy will drop fur!

2 Solutions :

1. Use a Q-tip/ Cotton Bud to clean out when you wash the bottles

2. Use a water guard: ( i use this, and so far its pretty good!)

Aristopet is pretty good too! It has vitamins which has helped countless of hairless hamsters, and a fab hutch cleaner for small pets!

Another brand which is cheap and good is ALEX! It has affordable ranges of awesome smelling mineral blocks and really quiet hamster running wheels too! Treats are always bought for my hammies too

To end of this post :

TADA!

My super cute darling says HI! <3

New Pictures :)

2010-09-10T21:25:00.001-07:00

Warning: Picture OVERLOAD!

SIN TONG NAM CONFECTIONERY

2010-08-30T21:22:00.001-07:00

Technorati Tags: sin tong nam,sin,tong,nam,zion rd,zion road,confectionery,bakery,mooncake,bean paste

well, this one one of my long time bakery i really loved.

from the green bean paste pastry, to the flough dough pastry, to its yearly mooncakes ( especially snow skin my mother will buy every year)

But sadly, its premises at Zion road has been closed down for good.

According to the owner( which my mum has spoke to) he said he will not be making these pastries anymore, and neither they will be moving.

so sad.

This was its former address:

89 Zion Road
#01-135 Singapore 160089

Pardon me for the randomness! so sad they are not baking anymore. what a loss~

Here is a snippet from this blog about its history as well:

SHOP TALES : LIFESTORIES IN A MOONCAKE
By TY Kwan
02.09.2003

Sin Tong Nam is a family-run confectionery that banks on the annual Mooncake Festival to boost their sales. You'll be surprised how a small shop in a nondescript neighbourhood can command such a respected intake from the sale of its mooncakes and even gained a very loyal customer base over the years. In fact, Sin Tong Nam even boasts many Mediacorp artistes as regulars during the Mooncake Festival.

Decades of Tradition

An age-old recipe in traditional pastries binds the chord of the business and the owner's entire family. Sin Tong Nam Confectionary is a local confectionery that specializes in traditional Cantonese-styled Chinese pastries, western cakes and buns. But it dedicates the entire period of the Mid-Autumn Festival every year to the sale and production of mooncakes.
Started more than 30 years ago by its owner, Mr Tam Weng Tuck, late 60s, Sin Tong Nam owes its existence to the humble side lanes in the old Chinatown area. At that time, there was hardly any shop front to speak off and Mr Tam had to share a small stall with another 'partner', producing traditional pastries to be distributed to other stores.
It was only following the government's move to relocate all these small roadside stalls did Mr Tam acquire a 2-storey shophouse at Kim Tian Road (near Tiong Bahru) in the early '70s. Together with his wife and relatives who worked in the shop, Mr Tam was able to kick-start the business and gradually began to roll in the dough, so to speak.
Today, Sin Tong Nam occupies a ground floor shop space at Blk 89, Zion Road (a 3-room HDB residential block). Traces of the old Kim Tian shop, which it left 8 years ago are all gone due yet again to urban redevelopment, but memories of its long history are deeply entrenched in the pastries and mooncakes they produce year after year. In fact, the Sin Tong Nam name commands a certain level of reputation among old timers in the industry, especially among Chinatown circles and the generation of our parents and grandparent. You could even call it a 'Lao Zi Hao' (old brand name).

Loyal workers and old timers

Also, the lives of many working at Sin Tong Nam are interwoven with the history of the shop. Apart from his wife, Mrs Tam, who now pops in only when the shop is shorthanded, three of Mr Tam's children, all in their thirties now, have been helping out in the shop for years. Eldest son, Wing Onn gave up a career in the corporate world to take over the daily operations of the family business. Another son, Wing Fei is involved in production, while youngest daughter, Jenn takes care of the frontline sales. Nevertheless, Old Mr Tam still keeps his hands full every day and is very much in the thick of the action. After his morning yum-cha (tea session) with old friends, he'll be off to work, either to the shop or to talk shop and strengthen ties with suppliers, distributors, etc.

Other workers comprising close relatives are also employed. Interestingly, a sister-in-law of Mr Tam is a true-blue long service worker, who joined ever since it started, has never worked anywhere else except in Sin Tong Nam. Joked Wing Fei about this, "We can't leave out Auntie if we were to talk about Sin Tong Nam!"
As for customers, most are regulars and longstanding patrons. During the heydays at Kim Tian, customers would wait for hours in line to get hold of their boxes of mooncakes. Queues would snake all the way around the block of shop houses, often to the chagrin of neighbouring shop owners. Even when customers were told that everything was sold out for the time being, they would still insist on waiting in line till the next batch of piping hot stuff was baked and ready to be dished out to them, fearing that if they were to return later, they would be disappointed yet again. Thus, shop attendants often had to tell customers not to close the boxes and remember to air the cakes to allow them to cool, otherwise, they will turn bad.

Today, those who have followed the shop to its new location still come back year after year. Many swear by the lovely mooncakes, claiming that they're better than any others they've tasted, even other more reputable brands. Some place orders for hundreds of boxes to be sent as gifts to their business associates or family members (sometimes overseas). Once in a while, you may even find media artistes stepping in to make a purchase. Then, there are also those who were not aware that the shop had shifted away from Kim Tian and somehow chanced upon it one day, were always happy that they have managed to find it again. Wing Onn recalls, "There was a man who came recently. He was so excited that he found us again after these 6 years. Despite all the relocation notices we published in the papers and put up on site plus the cards we sent out, some of our old customers just missed them. This man even thought we were no longer in business! It was almost like a happy reunion after a long separation!"

Big Business during Mid-Autumn
The dawn of the eight lunar month each year always marks the start of a hectic season for all in Sin Tong Nam. Preparation for the mooncake onslaught begins almost 2 month in advance- with the cooking of the lotus paste (which requires a long cooking process, often throughout the night), of course following a time-honoured secret recipe. The paste, perfected by Old Mr Tam, has undergone vigorous quality checks by the relevant authorities and had been given a stamp of approval by them.
Naturally, we can see that Old Mr Tam is a stickler for quality. He firmly believes that the success of his mooncakes lie in its quality.Forget the fancy frills and ingredients.Traditional baked double egg yolk lotus paste mooncakes are the hottest sellers here. What his customers like is the simple yet solid fare, of which Sin Tong Nam maintains to a high standard year in and year out. As a result, people from all walks of lives, professionals like doctors, lawyers, businessmen; taxi drivers; office workers, etc all flock to the shop. And the list grows steadily through word of mouth.
Just for the record, imagine having to fill a few hundred metal drums with lotus paste, tens of thousands of salted eggs, countless paper boxes and a beefed up manpower strength of 20 workers (including at least 6 salespeople occupying a cramped space), just to handle the crowd.
For some years now, part of the mooncake output is also distributed for sale in Chinatown. Look out for the colourful red boxes on display and street hawkers luring customers to buy. But the heat of the action is still at the main shop itself.
So, this year, if you're looking for some authentic traditional mooncakes, why not head down to Sin Tong Nam? Savour a variety of more than 20 different types of mooncakes, including the well-loved lotus paste with yolk ($20 for a box of 4 double egg yolk); red bean ($14 for a box of 4); and assorted seeds ($17.60 for a box of 4). There are also the popular mini snow skin mooncakes. You'll be happy to find the prices much more affordable than others in the market and that they've kept it the same for years (yes, no price increase...). Just follow the drumming tick-tock, tick-tock sound of the wooden mooncake moulds knocking against the tables. This, you'll never get to hear or see when you purchase mooncakes from hotels or restaurants.

Really meaning full post by this korean!

Link to its original post: http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/huangsy88/912787.html?p=1&t=3

Such a pity it had such a long history, but gone so fast. well. my mother is really upset as well! what to do!

New arrival of 2 Baby Sapphires !

2010-08-28T23:08:00.001-07:00

Well, i have been trying to get fat boy to get along with the babies ;D

and i successfully did. so happy~

cute aren’t they?

they are still very young, about 4 weeks old already~ so i prefer to let them get along with other bigger brother to teach them the ropes ;DD

Kiiro’s Third Outing!

2010-08-15T07:59:00.001-07:00

Looks like Kiiro had a great time today! some pics to show you

As i have mentioned, there is a bird gathering @ Serangoon North @ Goodwill Trading every Sunday from 12 – 430pm

Do head down if you are considering to buy birds, I'm sure the bird owners can guide you on buying, keeping training as well ;D

Today’s Update : Bird and famster eating their fav food!

2010-08-10T06:06:00.001-07:00

yup they both can get along really happy they do ;DD

Happy National Day Singapore :)

2010-08-08T22:06:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday Singapore!!

well, i have not been posting, as my hamster has ran off for 2 days, and re-appeared ( thankfully ><), and he was in my sis’s room hiding.

If something happens like that, do bring out food he likes and water out into the open so he will come out when he is hungry. I regretted not doing so, as he was really thirsty when he got back to his cage.

So how will be be spending your national day?

well, my family will be having pizza for dinner, and watching the national day parade, and watching fireworks out the window

Well, i hope u have a wonderful day ahead!

Love ,

Sabby

Hamster Featured on Facebook, and the one getting the most votes will have a photo shoot :)

2010-07-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

here is my post:

Please help to vote, and here's how:

1. Like Chic Magazine @ http://www.facebook.com/chicreaders?ref=ts

2. Then go to this link to "like" this photo : http://www.facebook.com/chicreaders?ref=ts#!/photo.php?pid=6382042&id=96921045375&ref=mf

done~!

here are some pictures to make you more convinced how cute he is :)

Latest Picture with Kiiro and Me :)

2010-07-27T06:48:00.001-07:00

here u go:

Weekly Birdie Gathering !

2010-07-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

Time : 12pm-430pm

Day: Every Sunday

Location: Goodwill Trading @ serangoon north (http://www.gwbirds.com.sg/)

More Info:

http://www.petsfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php/1299-Weekly-parrot-gathering-at-Serangoon-North-Goodwill-Birds-Trading/page3

There will be many birdie friends around to help you with your bird quer

ies too, so do come down and take a look.

For going-to-be owners, this is the best time for you to ask the owners what to do, they will be very willing to help you too.:)

Here is a picture of Kiiro @ the birdie gathering on the 25th July 2010:

And here is a picture of Kiiro's First outing~!

Buying a pet bird for the first time!

2010-06-13T00:07:00.000-07:00

Starter Birds:

-Budgie

-Love Birds

-Cockatiels ( Or also known as Tiels)

These are the 2 birds i would recommend, as they are small in size and easy to handle. Their bites dont draw blood, so no worries!

Budgies:

Small in size, and comes in many colours, and its up to you which colour you like~The wild colour type is bright green and yellow belly. Now there are so many colour mutations you can choose from!

and i picked a mild yellow one!

What you need:

-A Bird Cage (15-18 SGD)

-Cuttle Bone ( For calcium, 2SGD)

-Millet Spray (2 SGD)

-Budgie Food ( get the ones that the bird shop is feeding there, as if there is a sudden change of diet, the bird will fall ill)

-Cement Perch (Optional, but good for keeping their nails filed. And if you don't have this, you will need to trim their nails)

-Bird Toys (optional, unless you are lazy to make toys for the bird!)

I got all my supplies from Goodwill Trading, a famous bird shop at Serangoon Ave 1

They have a wide range of birds, food for the birds, nuts and seeds, bird toys, perches, cages, bird stands etc. Basically a VERY wide range. In fact that area is very popular with bird people; there is so much to choose from, and even for other pets like hamsters, dogs, fish and even chinchillas!

So if you are bored at home and nothing to do, (Esp Sundays) You can head on down to that area, and on Sundays, bird owners will bring their birds to fly around, and interact with people and birds; it will be an interesting sight!