HDB is offering 3,032 flats for sale. This is the largest supply of flats in a single launch this year. Home buyers will have a wide variety of flats to choose from, as this launch includes the Sale of Balance Flats exercise for flats located across 10 towns.

It comprises: 1,408 new flats in Yishun under the Build-to-Order (BTO) system; and 1,624 balance flats spread over 10 non-mature towns/estates under the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise.

With this launch, HDB would have offered 12,876 flats for sale since the start of 2010.

Yishun Riverwalk will have 1,408 standard flats comprising 254 units of Studio Apartments, 250 units of 3-room, 652 units of 4-room and 252 units of 5-room flats. Facilities provided in this development include an eating house, a mini-mart, two shops, a child care centre and a Residents’ Committee Centre.

Sale Of Balance Flats (SBF) Exercise

SBF exercises are conducted when HDB accumulates enough balance units from previous exercises. 1,624 flats located across 10 towns are being offered for sale in this exercise. They comprise 55 units of 2-room flats; 53 units of 3-room standard flats; 8 units of 3-room premium flats; 1,081 units of 4-room flats; 338 units of 5-room flats and 89 units of Executive (EF) flats.

Pricing of new BTO flats at YiShun riverwalk and balance flats under SBF

Yishun Riverwalk

• $63,000 to $87,000 for a Studio Apartment;
• $141,000 to $181,000 for a 3-room flat
• $214,000 to $268,000 for a 4-room flat; and
• $287,000 to $350,000 for a 5-room flat

Sale of Balance Flats

• $104,000 to $126,000 for a 2-room flat;
• $164,000 to $237,000 for a 3-room flat
• $190,000 to $380,000 for a 4-room flat;
• $281,000 to $496,000 for a 5-room flat; and
• $354,000 to $482,000 for an Executive flat

HDB will continue to provide an adequate supply of new flats to meet housing demand. HDB will increase the total new flat supply to more than 16,000 new flats in 2010.

BTO projects slated for the rest of 2010 include areas such as Bukit Panjang, Punggol, Sengkang and Woodlands. The next launch in Sep 10 will offer about 1,320 flats in Woodlands. More details will be provided at the launch.

Find out more at HDB.

Read also: HDB BTO: Montreal Dale, Segar Grove, SkyVille @ Dawson, SkyTerrace @ Dawson

The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and The Regent Singapore, organisers of Singapore’s original charity run for cancer research, the “Run for Hope 2010”, officially launched its registration website today at www.runforhopesingapore.org.

Now into its 18th year, Run for Hope is the longest running fundraiser in Singapore, that aims to draw more than 8,000 runners to this year’s event. This annual event is a spin-off from the ‘Terry Fox Run’ which Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts became the first corporate sponsor to support in 1980 and has been committed to throughout its 85 properties in 35 countries.

Since its inception in 1993, over 80,000 runners have pounded the tarmac for a good cause, raising more than S$3.5 million in the process. All the proceeds have gone into developing an array of basic, translational and clinical research programmes for cancer, providing holistic care and multidisciplinary-based treatment for cancer patients.

Early Bird Registration – Now till September 15, 2010

• Individual Adult S$35
• Individual Youth S$20
• Groups above 8 will receive a 10% off the above rates

Normal Registration – From September 16 to October 31, 2010

• Individual Adult $40
• Individual Youth $25
• Groups above 8 will receive a 10% off the above rates

Participants who register during the Early Bird period stand a chance to win S$100 worth of Club 21 vouchers.  There will also be a chance for children to win $100 Kids 21 Vouchers and $50 Forum Shopping Mall vouchers at the kids’ playground during the day of the run.

This year the Four Seasons Group will be conducting an online charity auction. Registered run participants will be allowed to bid for amazing stays at various Four Seasons Hotels around the world including a seven-night dream stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives which includes a luxury cruise onboard the hotels signature yacht, The Explorer valued at S$14,000.

All proceeds from Run for Hope 2010 will go into funding cancer research with the hope that more lives can be improved or saved in the near future.

Read also: Run for Hope 2009 on Nov 22 – Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Cure

The Top 5 winners of Miss Universe 2010 are Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps on the second runner up, Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell on the third runner up who also received the Miss Congeniality award, and the crowd’s favorite Miss Philippines Venus Raj on the fourth runner up.

Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarette is the winner of Miss Universe 2010,  will receive several benefits and amenities. Aside from her diamond crown and salary, she will also have access to a luxurious apartment in New York, a set of jewelries, and a one-year scholarship grant to the New York Film Academy plus housing after her reign ends.

Video: Miss Universe 2010 Top 5

Read also: Miss Universe 2009: Winner & Results

SingTel Grid Girls were introduced to the public for the first time at the Fullerton Bay Hotel yesterday. The top 12 SingTel Grid Girls were chosen out of 300 who will represent SingTel and Singapore F1 night race.

The top three SingTel grid girls, who will be judged based on SMS and online votes, as well as challenges  will walk away with a total of $18,000 in cash prizes.

The Gird Gils in 2009 travelled around the world to many exciting F1™ race locations, where they shopped, partied, sampled exotic local foods, and revelled in the attention from world media.

The Gird Gils also met F1™ drivers, and learnt how to be hosts in exclusive celebrity workshops. The top Grid Girl had the honour of carrying the Singapore flag during race day.

The race is less than 40 days away!

Meet these hot SingTel Grid Girls here!

Read also: SingTel Unveiled F1 Simulators & SingTel Grid Girls

Qixi Festival, also known as Magpie Festival or Chinese Valentine’s Day, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar; thus its name.

It also inspired Tanabata (aka. Shichiseki [七夕]) in Japan, Chilseok (칠석) in Korea, and vi:Thất Tịch in Vietnam.

Young girls traditionally demonstrate their domestic arts, especially melon carving, on this day and make wishes for a good husband.

Read the story behind Chinese Valentine’s Day here.

Qixi / Chinese Valentine’s Day Traditions

On Qi Xi, a festoon is placed in the yard and the single or newly married women in the household make an offering to Niulang and Zhinü consisting of fruit, flowers, tea, and facial powder (makeup). After finishing the offering, half of the facial powder is thrown on the roof and the other half divided among the young women of the household. It is believed that by doing this, the women are bound in beauty with Zhinü.

Another tradition is for young girls to throw a sewing needle into a bowl full of water on the night of Qi Xi as a test of embroidery skills. If the needle floats on top of the water instead of sinking, it proves the girl is a skilled embroideress.

Read also: Chinese Valentine’s Day! The Story Behind & Celebrations [festival]

With Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li. A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator.

THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal.

With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger the men struggle with an even tougher challenge, one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

The Expendables will be available from August 18 2010 in Singapore.

The Expendables Trailer

Read also: Princess and the Frog movie with Trailer

HDB is launching two new BTO projects today – Senja Gateway in Bukit Panjang and Corporation Tiara in Jurong West.

A total of 1,016 flats will be offered, comprising 254 units of Studio Apartments (SA), 484 units of 4-room and 278 units of 5-room flats. 95% of the public supply of 4- and 5-room flats will be set aside for First-Timers.

SENJA GATEWAY

3 Senja Gateway, located at the junction of Kranji Expressway and Woodlands Road, will have 741 standard flats, comprising 254 units of Studio Apartments, 313 units of 4-room and 174 units of 5-room flats.

Facilities in this development include a mini-mart, eating house and shops. Residents of Bukit Panjang are well-served by the LRT system, which links to Choa Chu Kang MRT station. Commuting will be further enhanced with the future Downtown Line 2. Bukit Panjang Plaza, Greenridge Shopping Centre and Fajar Shopping Centre are within easy reach. There are also primary and secondary schools in the area.

CORPORATION TIARA

Corporation Tiara, bounded by Corporation Road and Yung Kuang Road, will offer 275 premium flats, comprising 171 units of 4-room and 104 units of 5-room flats.

Besides a child care centre and Residents’ Committee Centre within the development, residents will enjoy the wide range of facilities in the established Taman Jurong estate, such as the Taman Jurong Shopping Centre (an HDB neighbourhood centre), market/food centre and community club. There are also primary and secondary schools in the area. The Ayer Rajah Expressway is a short drive away.

Source: HDB

Read also: HDB BTO: Limbang Green & Buangkok Vale (Photos)

MediaCorp has launched News In Singapore, a news channel on YouTube.

Read also: YouTube EDU: find great education content

HDB is launching three new BTO projects today – Waterway Terraces (水滨台) in Punggol, Fernvale Foliage and Rivervale Arc in Sengkang.

This is the largest number of BTO flats offered in a single launch so far. A total of 2,696 flats will be offered, comprising 238 units of 2-room, 399 units of 3-room, 1,585 units of 4-room and 474 units of 5-room flats. 95% of the public supply will be set aside for First-Timers.

WATERWAY TERRACES (水滨台)

Waterway Terraces (水滨台) is the award-winning “First Waterfront Housing” project designed by Group8asia and Aedas along the Punggol Waterway. It offers 1,072 premium flats, comprising 178 units of 3-room, 588 units of 4-room and 306 units of 5-room flats.

Bounded by Punggol Way, Punggol Central and Punggol Walk, it is near the Punggol MRT, bus interchange and the future Punggol Town Centre. Facilities include a child care centre, student care centre, Residents’ Committee centre, education centre, eating house, supermarket and shops. There are also primary and secondary schools in the area. The Tampines Expressway (TPE), a short drive away, offers good connectivity to the rest of Singapore.

In line with HDB’s plans to develop Punggol as an Eco-Town, Waterway Terraces (水滨台) is designed with eco-friendly features. Waterway Terraces (水滨台) was conferred the Green Mark (Platinum) Award for its eco features which include:

• Façade design which minimises heat gain;
• Use of solar power to supplement lighting needs in common areas;
• Provision of separate recyclable refuse chute for easy recycling;
• On-site compost bin for depositing of garden waste for decomposition; and
• Installation of rain gardens to clean rain and runoff water prior to discharge into the waterway.

Waterway Terraces (水滨台) is an award-winning development that caters to flat buyers who are prepared to pay more for the special designs and the unique experience of eco-friendly living by the waterway. The prices of these premium flats start from $186,000, $300,000 and $374,000 for 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats respectively. This is a unique project intended to provide diversity and to inject character into the area.

FERNVALE FOLIAGE

Fernvale Foliage offers 504 standard flats, comprising 336 units of 4-room and 168 units of 5-room flats. Located along Sengkang West Way, it is conveniently located near Fernvale and Thanggam LRT stations connecting to Sengkang MRT station. The Tampines Expressway (TPE) is also a short drive away. Residents’ daily needs will be met by the wet market, supermarket, and food court at Fernvale Point, and eateries located at Jalan Kayu. There are also schools in the area.

RIVERVALE ARC

Rivervale Arc offers 1,120 standard flats, comprising 238 units of 2-room, 221 units of 3-room and 661 units of 4-room flats. It is located along Rivervale Crescent and Sengkang East Drive, within walking distance from Rumbia LRT Station. The Tampines Expressway (TPE) is a short drive away. The residents’ daily needs are catered for at the Rivervale Mall and Rivervale Plaza. There are also schools in the area.

Flat buyers with lower budgets can consider the standard flats at Fernvale Foliage and Rivervale Arc, where prices start from $68,000, $122,000, $201,000 and $279,000 for 2-room, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats respectively.

Source: HDB

Read also: HDB March BTO: Fernvale Ridge, Sembawang RiverLodge

200 metres above ground, the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark opens to the public on June 24, 2010, and for those who can’t wait to get on top of the roof, you can start booking your tickets now.

Be one of the first to see the spectacular views of Singapore from one of the largest gravity-defying cantilevers in the world!

Book your ticket now and receive a commemorative cap when Sands SkyPark Observation Deck at Marina Bay Sands opens on 24 June 2010, 2pm. Only 500 tickets will be available in this exclusive advance ticket sale online – so ensure you act fast!

Take in the breathtaking views as you listen to the audio touchpoints on the Observation Deck. Remember this special occasion by also purchasing the unique Photo Xperience and attractive souvenirs at the Skypark Shop.

Following the Advance sale online, tickets for visiting the Sands SkyPark Observation Deck from 25th June onwards, will only be available at the Box office located within the hotel at Tower 3.

Ticket purchase must be made in person, on the day of use for 25th June onwards.

Book your ticket at Sands.

About Sands SkyPark

The Sands SkyPark is an awe-inspiring engineering wonder. This unique structural masterpiece, designed by visionary architect Moshe Safdie, floats atop the three soaring Marina Bay Sands hotel towers 200m in the sky.

Stretching longer than the Eiffel tower laid down or four and a half A380 Jumbo Jets, with an impressive 12,400 square meters of space, the Sands SkyPark can host up to 3900 people. The gravity-defying cantilever is one of the largest of its kind in the world. From this privileged observation deck, hundreds of visitors at a time can feast their eyes on the unforgettable panorama view.

An absolute paradise in the sky, the Sands SkyPark features idyllic landscaped gardens that are home to 250 types of trees and 650 types of plants. An iridescent swimming pool links across the span of the three hotel towers, with a surreal infinity edge overlooking the city.

Home to luxury rooftop restaurants and lounges, the Sands SkyPark offers exclusive perks to hotel guests and a taste of the good life to lucky visitors. Whether you come for a gourmet meal, a refreshing cocktail, a heavenly dip in the pool, or to simply revel in the unsurpassed views of Singapore and the new national Gardens By The Bay, you will be forever captivated by the spellbinding Sands SkyPark.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Tickets

A. 500 exclusive tickets are priced at S$20 for the first day – June 24th with each ticket holder receiving a commemorative cap. After the sale of the first 500 tickets, the tickets are priced at:

• S$20 for adults
• S$14 for children (aged between 2 – 12 years)
• S$17 for senior citizens (aged 55 years and above)

The Public Observation Deck will be open daily from 10am to 10pm.  All tickets are scheduled and allocated a specific time-frame to ensure all our visitors are able to enjoy the spectacular views from this unique vantage point.

Key Attractions at Sands SkyPark

The Public Observation Deck – which is a ticketed area – will offer very unique experiences. Apart from taking in the stunning views, visitors will learn about the construction of the SkyPark through a complimentary audio guide, which allows visitors to hear commentaries on key commercial and historic parts of Singapore, all of which can be appreciated from this unique vantage point.

Visitors can also enjoy a SkyPark Photo experience, manned by roving photographers, priced at $25. The picture will be inserted in a specially designed photoframe.

SkyPark souvenirs can be purchased from a merchandise booth at the observation deck and from the SkyPark Shop located at the lobby of Tower 2.

Opening on June 24 is also the 150-meter infinity swimming pool, the world’s largest outdoor pool at that height. This facility is available to hotel guests only.

On weekends there will be entertainment for the young and old. These will include appearances by famous magicians from Singapore, Balloon artists and Jugglers.

Read also: Win a night’s stay at Marina Bay Sands

You can start using this distance fares calculator to calculate your public transport journey fares under Distance Fares which takes effect on 3 July 2010.

Simply follow the steps to input your trip details of your journey in the Fare Calculator template on the left to compute your fares.

Distance Fares Calculator

Read also: PublicTransport@SG Mobile: Access Public Transport Info On-the-go

MOE has launched an Internet-based platform called “Kindergarten Link” to facilitate the sharing of best practices among kindergartens.

Kindergarten Link, or K-Link, provides all kindergartens with a direct communication link with MOE.

The K-Link is an internet-based computerised system that gives all kindergartens a direct communication link with MOE. The K-Link system provides kindergartens with an array of tools and resources that will enable kindergartens to:

• Manage their kindergarten, teacher and pupil data;
• Apply for training workshops, conferences and learning forums;
• Access up-to-date information to enhance operations.
• Access the latest advisories from MOE

K-Link

Read also: NEA & Microsoft Launched Singapore’s First Mobile Weather Service

Photo Credit: Kuzeytac (Read the interesting write up about Turkish Coffee too.)

A study by British scientists found that caffeine addiction is such a downer that regular coffee drinkers may get no real pick-me-up from their morning cup.

measurements showed that their post-caffeine levels of alertness were actually no higher than the non/low consumers who received a placebo, suggesting caffeine only brings coffee drinkers back up to “normal.”

Source: Reuters

Read also: Ipoh Old Town White Coffee

Singapore’s premier sun-kissed playground, Tanjong Beach Club, had an exclusive soft launch party last week on Vesak Day, May 28th, Friday!

Tanjong Beach Club (TBC), located on Singapore’s best stretch of sand boasts panoramic beach and ocean views. is an all day sun-kissed playground on Singapore’s best strip of sand.

Just 15 meters from the waters edge , Tanjong Beach Club has 9 stunning event spaces that can be booked as a stand alone space or combined spaces to suit weddings, birthday parties, corporate functions, team building events, private or family days.

An amalgamation of restaurant, bar, beach resort and social hot spot, Tanjong Beach Club is the sum of its parts and more. With a diverse range of activities and offerings, as well as distinct areas catering to different needs, it is an urban getaway bringing back the simple pleasures in life.  At TBC, possibilities are limited only by the imagination and the water’s edge.

Tanjong Beach Club Bar Cafe are Open on May 2010, the restaurant are going to Open on August 2010.

Tanjong Beach Club Address

120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa

Read also: Lotus Desaru Beach Resort Promotion at RM160

Woodlands waterfront was launched on Sunday May 23 2010  a new leisure destination in the north.

The playgroud with unique two storey high bridges made of meshed rope, called a “skywald” and a stationary skating system which even adults can use. Although only one-third of the park area has been opened, the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) said the main features are already in place.

The Woodlands Waterfront will also add on to 1.5km of the 150km-Round Island Route, which allows seamless strolling, jogging or cycling around Singapore. Vistors can enjoy a view of Johor Baru from a lookout point in the park and participate in community activities at the event plaza.

When fully completed, the remaining six hectares will include a Cantilevered Promenade, nature area, trails and green spaces and the Woodlands Waterfront will be linked to the nearby Admiralty Park and the park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty West, which by 2015.

A waterfront attraction for multi-generational bonding

Once a laid-back coastal area occupied by warehouses, the area now offers a variety of recreational opportunities for people of all ages that is conducive for multi-generational bonding. Residents in the north can wind down after a hard day’s work and enjoy a stroll along the waterfront promenade to take in the beautiful sea view, or have a picnic by the lush green park beside the promenade. Fitness buffs can jog along the refurbished jetty and catch spectacular view of the sunrise; or simply enjoy some bonding time with family during the sunset hours.

A breezy stroll at the jetty

Overlooking the Straits of Johor, the refurbished jetty is one of the longest in Singapore, measuring about 400m long and about 12m wide. It can accommodate a wide range of activities such as roller blading, sports activities such as jogging, and various community events such as bazaars. An old shed with a pulley system along the jetty has been converted into a sheltered rest point, giving visitors a glimpse into the past when it was a working jetty.

An event plaza for mass activities

Adjacent to the jetty by the sea is an event plaza. Large-scale community events, such as mass exercise, line dancing or cultural performances can be held at the plaza. From the lookout point at the rooftop of the amenity building by the plaza, visitors can soak in the panoramic views of the waterfront across the Straits of Johor.

A playground that bonds the community

The playground is equipped with various facilities and fitness equipment for residents of all age groups to interact, and is conducive for inter-generational bonding. The adventurous and the young-at-heart will be fascinated by the two-storey high Sky Walk, an attraction that is the first of its kind in Singapore. Adventurous visitors can enjoy this self-contained ‘meshed bridge’ system, crawling from one tree pod to another.

Phase 2 of Woodlands Waterfront will be completed and opened in the second half of the year. When fully completed, the entire Woodlands Waterfront will be a 1.5km long waterfront promenade, which includes a 9-hectare coastal park to support a variety of recreational activities and community events. It will also be linked to Admiralty Park and the park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and Admiralty Road West in future.

Getting to Woodlands Waterfront

Location of Woodlands Waterfront lies slightly north to the junction of Admiralty Road and Admiralty Road West. Members of the public can take bus service 856 which stops at Admiralty Road and walk the remaining distance to the coastal promenade and park, or drive and park at the Woodlands Waterfront carpark.

Source: URA

Read also: Punggol Park: a park for “Family Leisure”

Does “I need this in an hour” sound familiar to you? Sometimes you do work very hard but still can not manage too many last minute urgent requests from your boss.

“Ian’s Messy Desk” blog shared four tips:

1. Show how much is on your plate
2. Suggest work that can be trade-off
3. Point out any issues that might interfere with finishing a rush job
4. Have a chart of common task times

How to Manage the Rush Jobs

Read also: 6 Tips to You can Work on To Improve Your Memory

Credit: Millzero

Couples preparing for their weddings are now able to obtain comprehensive information on not just traditional wedding customs, but also on how to design an environmentally-friendly wedding and home through a new guidebook that was launched by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Geylang Serai Town Day today.

Entitled “My Green Wedding and My Green Home”, the guidebook was initiated by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and supported by the Geylang Serai Constituency, Marine Parade Town Council and South East Community Development Council.

It aims to provide practical advice and encourage soon-to-be married and newly-weds to make environmentally-friendly choices when planning their weddings, and adopt energy saving measures in their new homes.
The first part of the guidebook provides explanations on traditional wedding customs such as Guo Da Li (过大礼), An Chuang (安床) and Shu Tou (梳头), as well as tips on how couples can be environmentally-friendly in the selection of their wedding rings , venue, catering, flowers and even the wedding gown .

The second part of the guidebook contains information on setting up an energy efficient home. This includes tips on how to choose energy efficient appliances like air-conditioners, washing machines and pressure cookers, as well as how to use them in an energy efficient manner. For example, pressure cookers can not only save energy but also reduce cooking time by up to two thirds. This could help a household reduce electricity consumption by 50-75%.

For a start, 10,000 copies of the guidebook have been produced and they will be distributed at selected Poh Heng Jewellery outlets, libraries and town councils in the South East District on a complimentary basis.

Source: NEA

Read also: How To Lower Utility Bills By Over S$1000

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries

The phrase “working mother” is redundant. ~Jane Sellman

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

If the whole world were put into one scale, and my mother in the other, the whole world would kick the beam. ~Lord Langdale (Henry Bickersteth)

I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ~Pearl S. Buck

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ~Author Unknown

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce

Women’s Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It’s the men who are discriminated against. They can’t bear children. And no one’s likely to do anything about that. ~Golda Meir

The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men – from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his. ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895

He is a poor son whose sonship does not make him desire to serve all men’s mothers. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

Thou art thy mother’s glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime.
~William Shakespeare

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn’t take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

Motherhood is priced
Of God, at price no man may dare
To lessen or misunderstand.
~Helen Hunt Jackson

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle

Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort. ~John Lancaster Spalding

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep

The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown

What are Raphael’s Madonnas but the shadow of a mother’s love, fixed in permanent outline forever? ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune. ~Graycie Harmon

The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests. ~Author Unknown

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine – she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights. ~Terri Guillemets

[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. ~Emily Dickinson

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease. ~Lisa Alther

Now, as always, the most automated appliance in a household is the mother. ~Beverly Jones

Mother’s love is peace.  It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.  ~Erich Fromm

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.
~Ann Taylor

Mother – that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.  ~T. DeWitt Talmage

The precursor of the mirror is the mother’s face.  ~D.W. Winnicott, Playing and Reality, 1971

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.  ~William Makepeace Thackeray

Read also: Quotes for Mother’s Day

HDB is launching two new BTO projects- Boon Lay Grove in Jurong West and Floral Spring in Yishun.

A total of 1,050 flats will be offered, comprising 96 units of Studio Apartments (SA), 564 units of 4-room and 390 units of 5-room flats. 95% of the public supply of 4- and 5-room flats will be set aside for First-Timers.

With today’s launch at Boon Lay Grove and Floral Spring @ Yishun, HDB would have offered for sale to the public a total of 6,132 new BTO flats in the first five months of this year.

BOON LAY GROVE

Boon Lay Grove will have 450 standard flats, comprising 300 units of 4-room and 150 units of 5-room flats. Located along Jurong West Avenue 2, it is well served by a wide spectrum of facilities at the established Boon Lay estate, such as the Boon Lay Shopping Centre, Boon Lay Community Centre, neighbourhood park and schools. The Pan-Island Expressway is also a short 5 minutes drive away.

The selling prices for the flats range from:

• $239,000 to $287,000 for a 4-room flat; and
• $298,000 to $358,000 for a 5-room flat

FLORAL SPRING @ YISHUN

Floral Spring @ Yishun will have 600 standard flats, comprising 96 units of Studio Apartments, 264 units of 4-room and 240 units of 5-room flats. This development, located along Yishun Avenue 11, is well served by nearby facilities such as an HDB neighbourhood centre, a neighbourhood park and schools.

The selling prices for the flats range from:

• $64,000 to $84,000 for a Studio Apartment;
• $219,000 to $262,000 for a 4-room flat; and
• $289,000 to $332,000 for a 5-room flat

In addition to the subsidised selling price, eligible first-timers with a monthly household income of $5,000 or less can also apply for the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) of up to $40,000. The AHG can be used to offset the initial down-payment.

First-time flat buyers are estimated to use 20% to 23% of their monthly household income to meet their monthly loan payments for flats in Boon Lay Grove and Floral Spring @ Yishun (details are in Annex B  (PDF 42KB)). This is well below international affordability benchmarks of 30% – 35%. A 4-room unit priced at $240,000 in Floral Spring @ Yishun requires a monthly mortgage instalment of about $865. A family with a household income of $4,200 will be able to service this mortgage instalment using their CPF contributions without requiring any cash outlay.

With effect from Mar 2010, first-timer households comprising a Singapore Citizen (SC) and a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR), i.e. SC/SPR households, will be required to pay a premium of $10,000 on top of HDB’s selling price.

This withheld subsidy will be restored when the SPR family member takes up citizenship or if the couple has an SC child while still in ownership of that flat. Eligible households can apply to HDB within 6 months of the change in household citizenship status to claim the $10,000 Citizen Top-Up via CPF.

HDB

Read also: HDB New BTO: Boon Lay Meadow & Fernvale Palms

MCYS (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) has launched a free online marriage records search service to allow individuals to search for the marital status of a prospective spouse.

Anyone with a SingPass can conduct an online search. However, the number of free searches will be limited to two per person over a 12-month period. The public can opt for a paid search service providing both online and hardcopy information at $35.

You can access the online service by logging onto Registry of Marriages website or The Registry of Muslim Marriages website.

Read also: Singapore Free Online Street Map