$3256 for 1 square feet

An apartment at Reflections at Keppel Bay was sold for $11 million which translate to $3256 psf.  I looked down at my room floor tile which each measured 1 by 1 feet. It is something an ordinary folk like me find 'amazing' - paying much for condo with only a 99 year lease.

Then there is this house that is sold at $20.8 million with a floor area around 22,000 sq ft. This one is freehold and going at $959 psf. Surely this is better value investment compare to the condo.

This house is 22  times larger than my HDB flat. Can't imagine needing so much space to live in, though a large garden is a welcoming thought.

STERILE Garden By The Bay

There has been a lot of publicity regarding the latest tourist attraction - Garden by the Bay. It is being promoted as a billion $ garden by S'pore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB), which itself attracted plenty of comments. Some think STPB and our government are so obsess with money that they use a money theme to promote the garden. Truly 'unique' way of garden advertising.

Do we need a billion $ artificial garden ? Well, obviously yes to our govt as they think it will bring in more money for them. The garden is just opposite the casino and is linked by an overhead bridge which span across the express way. Part of the garden is free. But the main attractions which consist of  2 conservatories and the sky bridge charge admission fee.  For a tourist visit all these 3 areas, it will set them back $33. So a family of 4 visiting S'pore it will cost them $132.

For locals, there is some discount. The govt has promised to 'care more' for the citizens after all the noises by locals that they feel like 2nd class citizens in recent years. So now they started this different rate of admission fee for tourist site. A local family of 4 will folk out less than $100 for the garden outing. Such outing to absorb in artificial nature certainly does not come cheap.

All the food eateries sited at the garden are costly. Likely half a day outing at the garden can easily set a family back $200. Better visit Botanic Garden instead. It is 100% more natural with birds, butterflies . ......aplenty.

Garden by the Bay is STERILE.  There are 2 giant metallic dragonflies at the 'lake' but no real dragonflies to be seen. There is some information board about frogs, but ..where are the frogs ? The 'lake' is devoid of life form - no fishes nor water birds, which one is used to seeing in Botanic Garden.

On rare occasion, there is some chipping sound of bird. But again no bird is sighted. Those common birds we have plenty here like the mynas and pigeons are also missing in action. Even the mosquitoes avoided the place. What a difference when one visit Botanic Garden - full of life.

Garden by the Bay - only humans are visible.

Outcome of Stray not given treatment at SPCA

Met Mr O this morning. He told me that he brought the stray cat to a private clinic. The growth on the cat's face was removed surgically without x-ray, blood test...and all the bull shits SPCA vet told us.

Mr O has lost all trust and faith in SPCA. It is a pity that this incident due to one inconsiderate vet in SPCA marred its image and lost the support of a stray caregiver.

What upset me is the vet attitude and lies. Perhaps he does not wish to take on 'difficult' case. Or perhaps minor surgical procedure is not his area of expertise ? He could have referred the case to other vets in SPCA if he could not handle it himself. Instead he kept up his lame excuses for denying the stray treatment.

I need to confirm some facts. I was under the impression that those vets on rotation in SPCA do voluntary work. But Mr O told me they are paid.  What ever it is, it is another area of weakness in SPCA which needs improvement.

SPCA vet making excuses

Stray not given treatment at SPCA Clinic

The reason SPCA vet on duty gave was that SPCA could

not treat cancerous growth. But it is an excuse as there is 

no way the vet could know. So I wrote another email to

appeal to them to help the stray. An extract : 

To my understanding, the vet told Mr O that in order to

confirm if it is cancerous growth, a tissue biopsy test is

needed. Hence,he asked Mr O to bring the cat to a private

clinic.

It is therefore unlikely that the vet on duty is able to

tell from observation if it is a malignant cancer growth

without a biopsy test.

We do not expect a stray cat to receive such 'elaborate'

treatment such as biopsy test and prolong medical attention.

But can SPCA consider giving the stray a chance by removing

the growth surgically? The growth may be non cancerous.

Besides, even if it is cancerous, it could be a benign growth

which could be surgically removed and the stray would be back

to good health.

We plead on the stray behalf to let it have a chance to live.

Can SPCA vet just remove the growth ? 

------------------ 

NO LUCK - this time the excuse given by the vet is that in

order to cut off the growth, they need x-ray machine, blood

test...all of which SPCA cannot provide.

I could not comprehend this as they are able to perform

sterilisation on strays without all these machine and tests.

So I asked a vet in private practice. As expected, SPCA vet

is giving excuses after excuses as there is no need for

x-ray machine. For blood test, it is only done if the animal

is sick.

SPCA should audit their voluntary vets and review or implement

SOP to ensure well being of strays are not compromise due to

individual vet's decision.

Stray Not Given Treatment At SPCA

This post is partial extract from an email I wrote to SPCA regarding a trying to get treatment for a stray cat.

We are an informal small group of stray cats caregiver. On 21/5/12, Mr O bought a stray cat to SPCA clinic at Mt Vernon for treatment as per prior appointment. It has a growth on its face near its mouth and has problem eating.

The cat was not given any treatment and the vet on duty asked Mr O to bring it to a private clinic. According to Mr O, the vet knew him as Mr O is one of his clients in his private vet practice. Likely the vet thought the stray is Mr O’s pet and denied it treatment. This stray is very fat which could have contributed to it being mistaken as a pet. But the stray has clipped ear.

This stray has been hanging around the eateries in housing estate before making the Muslim eatery its regular hangout site, as the Malay community is more tolerant of cat in general. Being fed by many kind hearted souls may have caused its obesity. This could be easily verified by checking with the stall holders at the Muslim eatery.

The cat’s growth is getting larger by the day. SPCA clinic is set up to help strays and encourage strays caregiver to do more than just feed them. We used to be just feeder and this is our first attempt to do more to improve strays well being and it was very discouraging for us. Why deny the stray of treatment just because it is fat and does not look pathetic.

We are appealing to SPCA to review the case. If the condition is treatable, please help the stray. If it is not treatable, please advise if it should be put down.