BIRD CAGE? PRISON CELL? BALCONY?

It had been long a common complaint among estate neighbours - their own balcony is being treated as a dumping ground, intentionally or accidentally by the upstairs units.

From cigarettes, papers, tissues, toys, clothing everything except money!  The design of the estate's balconies simply cannot make it!  Some big, some small, some long & narrow.  Some are lucky to be sheltered by the bigger balcony and escape being littered.

Homeowners who has regular balcony throughout the floors already faces such problem - what's worse, the design of our estate's makes it more easy for littler bugs who simply opt to fling their stuff out of the window.

We use that limited amount of space to dry our laundry, to park our bicycles, to grown some green, a small outdoor area for the kids to play, yet there are people who throw all sorts of sort out of the windows without sparing a thought for others.  Parents are ignorant of kids throwing down books, stickers even toys - the maids cant be bothered to with their mischief.

Parents worried for their kids safety put up grills like the first pix from the top on your left.  Even putting up window grills also caused some ridiculous  hoo-haa at some properties.  READ REPORT HERE

Those who wants safety but hate those bulky metal rods, can go for invisible grills, like the 2nd pix from the top on your left.  The unit below mine has a big balcony, and they did invisible grill.

I guess they are simply fed up with all the nonsense found on their wood-deck balcony so here's what they did recently.

Simply add a "roof" to it!

Is the additional approved by the authorities? I'm not sure and I'm not going ask them.  After all, they have spent money putting it up to protect their own space... do you expect them to tear it down?

Quoting an estate's neighbour - in the first place "they" never put it in writing that there's a plan to incorporate a eatery among the void deck, now "they" are going ahead with it despite some opposing the idea.

So... last time cannot put up the 'roof' b'cos it will spoil the outlook of the estate, but now because of increase littering problem, so house owners are allow to take things into his own hands?

I first posted the "Roof Added" in our estate facebook page but similar to the equally sensitive issue of having the eatery, it was later taken down.

Now, my personal blog space, doesnt mean to bring trouble to any neighbours, not mean to stir any trouble, just wanted post some happening around the house - can I or cannot publish this post?  Or post first delete later?

BRING IT TO THE PRESS

The above pix was posted in our estate facebook's page - therefore it's not mine.

The words maybe small but the heading sure says it all - but by bringing it to public attentions... 有用吗?

THANKS. BUT NO THANKS

This morning, the estate FB's page was flooded with a picture posted more than 11 hrs ago.  By the time I completed this entry, it has attracted more than 90 comments!

Thought it's not directly under my block, but I cannot help but to think of those affected.  

Everything has it's 2 side.  For some, they welcome it since it's convenient.  But from the FB's comment, including myself, i see more unpleasantness than positive.

Three years ago, when we collect our keys, they should have anticipated our needs.  Why wait till now to disturb us?

Call us a batch of ungrateful residents, as if we care but we did survive well all this while without the 'amenities' while waiting for businesses to set up at Regalia. Soon,Topaz will be opened for business, the Waterfront Mall will be ready by Q4 2015, not forgetting, the opening of a minimart and clinic at Emerald last December.  

SO, WHY NOW?  There's was no indication in the master plan when we purchased our flats.  If it wasnt there 3 years back, do we really need it 3 years later??

Well, probably to cater for the growing population of rats and roaches.

YOU SHOOT ME, I SHOOT YOU

The first time I saw her, was in November 2014 after the "mop saga".  She was here early about 10am on a SUNDAY morning.  Walking around the roof top garden, looking around, presumably at people's balcony, service yards... taking pictures of 'foreign objects' that SHOULDNT be place on the window ledge.

I dont mean to be kaypoh, but since my unit is facing the garden, and I spent most of my time in the kitchen, so I decided to see what she's up to. (Be wary of suspicious character right?)

First, she walk around, see here, look there.

Notice she's aiming her DSLR

Following her angle, this is what I saw.

After photo taking, she took some notes.

Mops on the laundry racks.  Stuff on the air con ledge.  I understand.  But these folks are just trying to sun their beddings ... what danger would it pose??  I wonder if they get a 'warning' notice as well?? 

If sunning of beddings at our own unit window is also consider a danger, if sunning of bedding in common area will get you stomp... then... where can we sun our bedding?? Should we stop sunning our bedding altogether?

Today, I saw her again. at minutes before 8am.  I just got back after sending the kids to school and that's it!  I decided it's time I put the whole incident  into my entry.

Why is she here again?? I'm not sure.  For all I know, since her last visit, I dont see any more mops sticking out service yard windows.  And the 'storeroom' at the air con ledge has been cleared.  So she's probably here to follow up.

But recently, there's a small hoo-haa in our estate FB's page regarding this post.

Beautiful Punggol Sapphire garden ruined by auntie’s plants

I'm very sure the auntie isnt the irresponsible sort.  In fact, I often see her in the wee morning and early evening tending to the crops, watering, talking to the garden users.

I ever saw pretty bright red tomatoes, cool looking cucumber and prettiest violet brinjal!!! 

Like many supporters who commented, the auntie is probably letting the soil rest before her next planting.  Or that she's away on a holiday and no one else tend to the area? Or worse, she has fallen ill??

Anyway, back to our 'shooter' ...

Yes, she still walk and look around, but today, she's concentrating her focus at the garden instead, so my best bet is related to the above Stomp! post...

Poor auntie, is she going to get a 'warning notice' or the authorities are going to stop her from using the plot??

I grew up in an estate where almost every household stick their mop at the bamboo pole holder.  NO ISSUE.  Yet I got a 'warning notice' to remove my mop from the laundry rack?

I grew up in an estate where air con sits on steel brackets, installers have to risk falling to their death.  SO FAR NO ISSUE.  Now there's an area, that's more than enough for at least 2 air con units that eat into our floor area, yet we the owners CANNOT put other stuff there except air con??? What if I decided not to install air con??  Then it's just wasting precious space in the already tiny mini flat!

I grew up in an estate where aunties and uncles beautifying an empty space just outside the RC with potted plants.  NO ISSUE.  Now this estate auntie got stomp for 'ruining' roof top garden

I grew up in an estate where residents goes about their lives quietly except occasional funerals, weddings and even during CNY, there's only 1 or 2 lion dance troupe visiting.  NO ISSUE.  But here, for 3 years in a row....some inconsiderate residents are shouting, yelling to celebrate New Year's Day!!  

So what's the problem with people these days??  If moving to a new place, new estate pose so many problems, I should have just endure the 'no privacy' of my very big type 4A corridor flat back in Pasir Ris. 

Even those staying in private housing got their woes!! For safety, even installing window grills also got issue!!  Calls for condos to lift ban on safety grilles

I know land is becoming scarce, housings and buildings are built within close proximity, just like Hong Kong... I wonder do residents in Hong Kong face such issues???

SERIOUSLY . TRULY . UNIQUELY.

~ REVISED ~

After posting this entry in the morning, one of my all-time reader suggests that I should just hang my mop in the toilet.  This way, 100% guarantee no complaints from anyone.  But since before moving, even in my old flat, I always hang my mop this way.  No issues what??  Anyway, 讲那么多也讲不赢。。。 不讲了。（Talk so much also no use. ..  waste of breath).

My other reader on the other hand, instead of addressing to the issue, suggest that I should be more tactful on my language.  She point out the recently a poor French blogger got fined by the court because she left a bad review on a restaurant?!  READ ARTICLE HERE

So, conclusion:

1.  I should find a more suitable, place (TO MY LIKING)  for me to hang my mop. At the same time I must please everybody and anybody so as to have NO complaints from any/.whatever issues.

2.  I should immediately edit my post so I dont sound sarcastic and offend anybody and/or everybody.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Since the day I shifted here, I've been doing this.

I'm not sure if my neighbours have any grudges about my action?  The unit directly below mine is empty.  Further more, I would never hang out anything dripping wet outside!  Damp and wet YES, I admit...but water-dripping mats, laundry - NO!  In fact, I simply kept quiet about water dripping from above units, but since it doesnt affect my laundry, therefore, no point kicking up a fuss and spoil relations..

So can you imagine when I got this notice on Tuesday! Since the one ringing/knocking didnt identify himself, there's no reason for me to open the door especially in the evening.  I hate sales personnel!

Issit for safety reason or have I offended my neighbours in anyway?

I'm not angry, but just wondering?  So far, I have no issues with any neighbours, and do not wish for any in future either.

OH, btw, for the many past few years.... new BTOs no longer have the luxury of sticking our laundry out in the sun.  Now what we have is call a "Laundry Rack" and it's permanently fixed in just one position.

OK, so for the last 2 days, I went around and took pictures.

LIke this can?

Like that can? 

Empty laundry basket?  Can?

Not 1 but 2! Can? Compared to my version of having the mop stick resting on the ledge and mop head over the rack, this owner has the mop head resting on the rack, but nothing to support the mop stick.

Click to enlarge, see how owner make use the a/c ledge at the unit below.
Not sure like that can or not?

As long as item doesnt roll off or drop when retrieving, a/c ledge is part of property.
So can put right?

Anyway, a/c ledge can put or cannot put also not up to us the owner to say.

Like that can??  The design of this kitchen faces the wall of the stair well and

not very visible from the lift lobby.  

This is a different BTO that faces my unit.  The unit above has a pail.

The unit below has not 1, not 2 but 3 items! Can?

I'm not a difficult person, nor am I being unreasonable.  But it clearly shows that I'm not the only one with an odd item at our laundry rack.  I wonder do they get a "reminder" too?

Simply to say, I suay lor (down on luck)!

If these people are so free, STILL MAKING HOUSE CALL IN THE EVENING, or any other time spying on us, I suggest the go for a walk around the neighbourhood to fix those lighting ONCE & FOR ALL!  I've since sick and tired of reporting faulty lights at the roof top garden!

I report, they fix.  No report = faulty lights??  Welcome lor, this is how we work here lor.  Very typical system.

So now the other way, they complaint about me??  Never mind lor, push a bit, move a bit.

 Dont say I never act on my part.

Dont tell me like that also danger??

Arh neh ay say boh!

这样可以了吗？

Like that can or not?

Ini Boleh? Tak Boleh?

THE MOST UNDER UTILISE CORNER

Yep - that's our balcony.  It's not very big but I wont say it's cramp either.

I used to dry laundry out here in the morning since the we have a unblock view from our right.  But it's the forever ongoing constructions that keep us from our own balcony.  Depending on the load of my laundry, I try not to put anything out here due to the amount of dust that sits there every passing minute.

Two years on, with the surrounding BTOs completing at snail speed ... and with more people coming in - hopefully by end of 2014 I can fully utilise this tiny space of mine.

For the time being, it's home to our very colorful guppies.

A few months back, he gotten the wooden deck a fresh coat of lacquer.  Slowly, we added a fish tank and last weekend, he spent the whole afternoon DIY-ing the cabinet. and beautifying the aquarium.

Slowly, but surely, we maybe adding 2 chairs and a table so we could really sit out and enjoy our afternoon tea.

SAMSUNG KITCHEN

OK, after years of hesitation, the Pay Master finally decided to go ahead and gotten new fridge and washing machine for our (not so new) pigeon hole.

We made use of the Samsung CNY Promotion

My new MADE IN KOREA, 551ltr Side-by-Side fridge,  RSH5SUSL.
My previous fridge was about 380-400ltr?  Not quite remember.

My fridge.

My freezer.

My new Made in Thailand, 8kg washing machine, WA80F5S7.
My previous washer was only 5.5kg.

We were quite worried that the measurements provided, the machine seems quite big for our washer base.  This base was made based on the size of the previous washer.  Luckily it fits nicely.

With this 2 purchases,  we were entitled to grocery vouchers, a microwave and a vacuum cleaner.

This has been with us for years, I bought this brand/model because my mum owns one too.

But the glass plate no longer rotates and Pay Master wanted to give it up.
Luckily, I was able to bless it to someone who doesnt mind the defect.

The new, Made in Malaysia, very futuristic looking microwave,  GE83M.

So futuristic that I cant even see where to press!
Tried it a few times, I'm still trying to develop my feelings to it.

There's also a vacuum cleaner SC5250, yet to be collected from the redemption centre.  Since our vacuum cleaner is working fine, we decided to sell off this new item.

Pic taken from Samsung Website.

From Smartphone, to notebook and tablet, and now a kitchen full of Samsung appliances, Samsung really ought to give me the Royal Fan Trophy.

In case you are wondering what happened to my old fridge and washer... I bless it to the uncle of the electrical shop that sold me the items more than a decade ago.  He ensure that he will not dismantle the items, instead they will be given a proper clean up and to be sold off/donate to foreign workers' dormitory or homes.