Thomas & Friends

Updated Post 5 March 2009, 7 April 2009, 1 May 2009, 9 December 2009

This is my first Thomas & Friends die-cast vehicles.
I used to read their stories when I was a kid.
But I can't seemed to find my storybooks now!
Chances of finding them is like zero as I've not seen them ever since I shifted house at age 12.
I wonder how many Thomas & Friends vehicles are there???
When was Thomas the train designed?
Who's who...etc.
When I find out more infos about Thomas and friends, I'll post them in this post.
So, if anyone do like Thomas and friends too, please do drop back on this post.

Thomas & Friends : Toby, Thomas, Percy
Theme : Steamies Gift Pack - Limited Metallic Engines
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008


Metallic Toby


Metallic Thomas and Metallic Percy


Here's also wishing you all who are visiting my blog now a very " HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!"
Hope you all have a wonderful day with your love ones, friends and family.

Post Additions on 5th March 2009:
Thomas & Friends - Bertie
Make : Ertl
Year : 1988
This carnival movie car contains 18 different slides from "Percy and the Carnival".
Slide the yellow side door to view different images.



Post Additions on 7 April 2009 :

Thomas & Friends - Bertie
Make : Ertl
Year : 1988



Thomas & Friends - Thomas Anniversary
Make : Ertl - Limited Edition
Year : 1995



Thomas & Friends - Henry
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Thomas & Friends - James
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Thomas & Friends - Harold
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Post Additions on 1 May 2009:

Thomas & Friends - Spencer
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Thomas & Friends - Wooden Metallic Blue Thomas
Make : Learning Curve
Theme : Celebrating 60 years Thomas
Year : 2005
Type : Wood



Thomas & Friends - Duncan
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Thomas & Friends - Thomas
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Thomas & Friends - Trevor
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008



Post Additions on 9 December 2009:

Thomas & Friends - Rheneas & the Dinosaur
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008





Thomas & Friends - Zoo Cars
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008




Thomas & Friends - Lady
Make : Learning Curve
Year : 2008

Frances Yip 葉麗儀

I was at Chinatown Point this afternoon to catch a glimpse of Frances Yip.
She performed her famous track - Shanghai Beach (上海灘).
I was glad to be able to get an autograph from her.
She has one of the most beautiful voice and I enjoy listening to her english songs.
She will be holding a concert in Singapore Indoor Stadium tomorrow on Valentine's Day night.
Here's wishing Frances Yip to have a successful and wonderful concert night!



Singer : Frances Yip 叶丽仪/葉麗儀
Born : 1947 - Hong Kong
Released Albums : 80 albums (English, Mandarin, Cantonese)



My autographed Frances Yip Poster.



Song Title : If you go away - Frances Yip
YouTube Video Credit : zhanggr

Cherry Shrimps

This is my cherry shrimps tank.
I brought some additonal plants yesterday and re-do the landscaping.
There are approximately about 50-60 cherry shrimps inside.
I would give an estimate count of this little shrimps daily.
To check on them and if the count seems much lesser, something must be wrong with the water conditions, ph level...etc.
I had my entire tank of shrimps "Wipe Out" a few times too.
Sometimes, added new plants into the tank can be fatal too.
Now, whenever I buy new plants, I soaked them into another pail of de-chlorinated water for few hours or overnight, before introducing them into the tank.
Shrimps are also very sensitive to sudden water temp. and PH changes.
They like colder water.
I've tried Blue shrimps, Crystal shrimps, Tiger Shrimps, Green Shrimps, Bee Shrimps...
Sadly, all died!
These shrimps needs a chiller because they require a water temp at about 25°C.
My water temp is about 29-31°C.
So far, only cherry shrimps is able to survive in my environment as I do not have a chiller.





A young cherry shrimp. this cherry shrimp is only 1.5cm in length.

Cherry Shrimp on a moss ball.


Cherry Shrimp Data :
Scientific Name : Neocaridina denticulata Sinensis / Neocaridina Heteropoda
Max. Adult Size : 1.5 inch (4 cm)
Sex : Females slightly larger
Longevity : 1 - 2 years
Food : They may look small, but they do eat alot. Loves algae.
Sensitive : Copper, aquarium medications, ammonia
Water Temp : 25 to 27 degrees celcius
Ph Level : 6.2 to 7.0
Origin : Taiwan
Behaviour : Non-aggressive, very social
Housing : Strive better in planted tank. Not suitable to be kept with other fishes.
Breeding :
When the female is ready to lay the eggs, she will releases pheromones into the water to signal the male shrimp. The male shrimp will start to become agitated, swimming actively to search for the source of the pheromones. After mating, the female lays her eggs and affixes them to her swimmerettes.
Eggs can be seen developing in the female's overies.
Young hatches are very tiny, about 1mm in size. They usually spent your first few days hiding among plants and moss.



Feeding on sinking tablet food.
Feeding time is also good for doing a the shrimps count.


Shrimps are great acrobatics, very flexible body!




I've been keeping shrimps for about 2 years now and still enjoy looking at them.
They always seem busy. Leaping here and jumping there.
Looking for food and scraping for alage.
Rather active little ones.
I've noticed that they seemed to enjoy playing near the outlet of the water pump.
They'll swim near the water outlet and go with the flow of the water.
Let the flow bring them to another part of the tank and then they would swim back to the pump outlet, again..
This will go on and on for a few times, till they grew tired of it.
Cherry shrimps are more tolerance and hardy as compared to other shrimps.
It's also a joy when the shrimps breed and gave births.
The baby are so tiny and transparent, it's fun when I managed to spot them after almost sticking my face on the aquarium glass.
If anyone is interested in starting a shrimp keeping hobby, I would recommend to start with cherry shrimps.
They are very interesting and will keep you amused everytime you look at them.

A visit to the dentist

2 days ago, monday, I went to the dentist to have my toothache examine.
It was my upper left wisdom tooth.
There are good news and bad news.
Bad news is that my tooth is beyond repair...
Fillings can't be done as only less than half of the tooth is left.
Good news is that I don't have to pluck it immediately, which means I still have a choice...
But ultimately, it needs an extraction.
So, I said "Ok...do it today!"
Sounds brave huh?
But in the next one minute, when I was lying on the dental chair.
My hands started shaking.
It was embrassing, so I folded my arms.
But the experienced dentist noticed and asked if I was scared.
I replied "a little"...which I lied. I was very scared!
Never did I ever felt this way before.
I was never afraid of visiting dental and I had had my teeth extracted before.
Often visit the dentist for regular washing and fillings too.
But maybe, this time was different as it's my wisdom tooth.
Heard many awful stories about people extracting wisdom tooth.
To think that I've had 4 wisdom tooth, this fall into the list one of my biggest fears - Extracting Wisdom Tooth.
I was like worried for about 15 years and the day arrived!

After 2 injection and about 15 minutes later, my gums started to feel numb.
My dentist came into the room.
By now, I've become more calm and my hands aren't shaking already.
He started pulling my tooth...
Arrggguuuugghhh... it was very painful.
So I raised my hand and stopped the dentist.
100 times worse pain than my toothache.
At the moment, I really regret the extraction.
I could well live with my toothache, I thought.
Then the dentist gave me another injection.
He said he was only shaking the teeth earlier.
I just nodded.
Inside, I was thinking, Shaking only... already so pain.
I'll probably faint from the extraction then!
About 2 minutes later, he started to extract my wisdom tooth.
My heart started to beat faster...
But this time, it's was ok.
The pain was bearable and before I knew it, my wisdom tooth was out.
He said, "Ok, can rinse your mouth."
Those were like magical words.
Finally it's OVER!
A visit to the dentist wasn't what I imagined to be so terrifying after all.
To think I was only in the dental room for less than half an hour but had fear it for 15 years.
As compared, my mind fear is more toturing.