jaCKY777

- THKS 4 e info. - btw, how abt Property Tax? - jus received a letter frm IRAS, ask mi pay property tax 4 my 79 flat. - olso, how abt e TC conservency charges huh? - after e 1st 3 mths (paid on day 1), how i gona pay e subsequent mth if i not using GIRO? - dun reply 'his' post. - ignore his post. - he is lonely or he does not need 2 cum in here gif unconstructive remarks. - ok, noted olso. - i olso jus received it. - wonder how they compute? - mi gota pay $100.47 by 23aug08.

- hope i'm wrong. - hope ur contractor can find e solution. - pls update mi then.

- same probm s another kakis here. - i was talkin 2 her e other day. She had her WC replaced several times but stil e 'foul smell' is there. - told her, she gota live with it. - base on my limited knowledge, e probm lies in e 'Model' of e WC. Not e sanitary soil & waste discharge stack (vertical pipe). - e discharge stacks r sealed, no foul air wil escape frm within. - e only accessible pts r e 'rodding eye' which r located at e bottom of e 'S'-trap (s-shape piping inside ur concealed duct above). - dis 'rodding eye' r there for clearing of chockage & r tightly screwed. - inside e WC, there is olso dis 'S-trap' thingy. - it works by means of a siphonic action. - e 'S' at e trap is designed in such a way dat e soil/waste water at e bottom wil fil up 2 e top of e 'S'. - dis 'trapped water' acts s a seal 4 foul air 2b kept within e piping. - unlike traditional type of sanitary discharge system, there is an additional small diameter ventilation pipe attached 2 e soil pipe. - dis vent pipe wil eventually vent out at e roof-top. - newer flats no more such vent pipe liao although its e best system. - in ur case, i belief its becos e water in e 'S-trap' is insufficient, dats y e foul air wil escape. - Dunoe u understand wat i meant anot. Its kinda technical. - Mayb i shd go sell WC.

- - aniway, no matter wat, i stil find it its a must 2 report 2 TC. - imagine, 1 day e window pane shatter (touch-wood). How? - who gona bear e replacement cost? - at least end of e day, there is a record at TC dat u'd reported but TC had not taken any precaution or remedy actions. Flats owners shdn't bear e replacement cost fully. - pix lei? - wher u buy? - so cheap, u buy a few more, gif 2 neighbours s hse-warming or door gif lah. - aniway, it wld b perfect if it is extendable. - my aircon ledge kinda long, unless i climb out 2 clear e rubbish. - kitchen ledge? Definitely CANOT climb out. - did u replace ur existing WC 2 a NEW WC?

Poem of e day -> Expensive Doesn't Mean Good. Cheap Doesn't Mean No Good, Got Warranty Doesn't Mean Good, No Warranty Doesn't Mean No Good. Reno Progress Fast Doesn't Mean Good, Reno Progress Slow Doesnt Mean No Good.

Hey Hana79, - i did sumthing quite similar. - i squeeze e water frm e towel then use a broom 2 sweep. - but i did it during raining day. - u volunteer 2 write? - ur 'angmo' beli e chim, wait TC read ur gondola request, read til 'gong gong' - 4 e exterior of our units, dat means e common areas, i'd check with hdb service centre, their reply was --> after all e 79 units r fully occupied, they wil then thoroughly clear e rubbish, touch-up watever defects. - i gues dis gona takes at least 1 more yr. - aircon ledge is part of our purchase area, we gota maintain on our own. But this ledge is solely 4 aircon condenser only, not 4 other purposes. - i'd seen some units put pots of plants, majong table, ladder on e ledge. - aniway, let mi noe wen u need my signature. Home Theatre System

- main entrance door laminated c/w ABS trimmings? - i think its e 1st in 79. - u mean e existing lockset canot b used? - so how's e overall workmanship?

Toa Payoh pics Observation/viewing Gallery - roof top of blk 53 lor 5. - i suppose it was e 1st viewing gallery in TPY. - i remember i ever heard it was a viewing gallery, s i was stil very young then, din pay much attention abt it. Only by chance recently, i cum across dis pic. - e unique part abt dis blk is dat it is e only blk in TPY 2b in 'Y' shape if look frm top. - it is stil around but upgraded. - its surrounding neighbourhood shops had since closed or relocated due 2 poor business. - well, TPY is a ageing town, many post 65ers had moved out wen they got married & get a bigger hdb flat elsewher. - TPY is e 1st satelite town & 2nd housing estate in SG during e 1960s wen public housing was 1st started. - many of e flats were 1, 2 & 3rm units. Toa Payoh Lor 3 - wet market in e centre, 4 storey dwelling units with shops at 1st storey, living quarters at 2nd storey, surrounding e wet market. - pic shown is during 1960s. - e open surface carpark was a probm of insuffiecient lots, it is replaced with a mscp. - e surounding tall blks had olso been upgraded Toa Payoh Central Fountain - dis is e infamous fountain of TPY. - s mentioned earlier, it had since been replaced. - during e nite, there r lighting effect & water fountains within e pool. - its really a central of attraction in TPY. Something like e 'musical fountain' in Sentosa. - e building on e left was 'Kong Chian' cinema. It had since been closed dn & replaced by a arcade then a kopitiam then a food court again at e 1st storey. - stil remember e cinema was olways packed during e nites, esp wkends. - & e 'kacan putei' @ <$1 (4goten how many cents liao), & e ticket 2 e show was abt $2.50/pax normal seats, circle/couple seats which were at e 2nd storey were abt $4.50/pax. - within e same building, current tenants r Macdonalds, 'Happy' restaurant, 'shop & save' supermarket etc. - dis Macdonalds was e 1st in TPY or mayb 1st in housing estate in e late 1980s. So can u gues how many yrs dis Mac oulet had been existence? - stil remember my sec class mate used 2work partime there, i'd tried 2 get some free meal wenever i wen looking 4 him. hehe - dis 'Happy' restaurant was oleady there wen i was born. Las time used 2 b called 'Lucky' restaurant. - mayb i shall post e pics but meantime check out e fountain pic. Toa Payoh Roundabout - dis is e infamous roundabout in TPY. - it used 2b at e current cross-junction b4 TPY flyover. (frm hdbhub, travelling 2wards Jln Toa Payoh or Balestier Rd). - on e top rite of e pix is e old bus interchange. It is now replaced by HDBHub. - i stil remember, 'younger days', njoys riding my bike round & round e round abt. Haha. Write-up on Toa Payoh frm wikipedia Toa Payoh Walkabout write-up in yr 2000

- Sunday Gathering, of cos can go, jus dat no food 4 u loh. - think u shd go, go check out see how they organize, mayb u wana follow 2. Haha, u noe wat i mean. Olso can find out how 2 go abt booking e desire venue. - my reno? => T-Blog : Less Is More, More Is Less - $350 to laminate e main door which is a fire rated door, is worth it base on my pt of view.

- main entrance view.

Toa Payoh Town in 1990s (Picture reference from National Archives of Singapore) Toa Payoh Lor 1 - SCDF Emergency Exercise in 1994. - e blk had since been torn dn & replaced with 4 & 5 rm purchase flats. Toa Payoh Lor 6 - 1st hdb upgrading works in Singapore in 1995. - part front view. - part rear view. Toa Payoh Central - VIP frm overseas visit Toa Payoh Town. - e single storey building on e left had since been torn dn & rebuilt 2 form part of e current hdbhub. - there were 2 staircases in e building dat leads 2 e MRT station & underpass below. - 1 is e current 1 outside 'old chang kee' currypuff, e other 1 no more liao. - dis single storey building used 2 hav e 1st aircon foodcourt in Singapore in 1980s. - i stil can remember it was called 'Silver Stream'. - drinking buddies would drink in there then go out 2 hav a puff then bak in 2 drink again. - e feeling kinda weird but wat 2 do? Its a aircon foodcourt. - e loc where e 1st car was is e current hdbhub atrium. - on e rite is e current hdbhub. - e 4 storey mscp is stil around. - its e 1st mscp in TPY. - e biggest books & stationery shop used 2b at 3rd storey. - many students wld go 'shopping' there & 'hang around' at KFC below or e bus interchange etc. Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery - Shuang Lin temple undergoing upgrading works in 1997.

Toa Payoh MRT Station - Opening Day for train service frm TPY 2 Yio Chu Kang in 1987. - if every min. e crowd in mrt station is like dat, i wonder how it feels like? - if there were no mrt since day 1, i olso wonder how it feels like wen taking bus? - e yellow colour roof is e roof of e old Bus Interchange. - frm e mrt stn's escalator up, e passageway wil now leads 2 hdbhub. - along dis pasageway, there r retail shops. Such s 'bodyshop' & 'sookee'. - viewing panel above TPY mrt station. - it had since been slab over & covered up liao during e construction of hdbhub.

- haha. - though i grew up in TPY, had witnessed many 'great' events, its a pity i dun hav those memorable pics. - its part of 'growing-up' for mi & those TPY-grown. - it'l b jus a brief intro on some of Toa Payoh past events. - then my actual reno progress & pics wil cum.

Toa Payoh MRT Station - Toa Payoh MRTC topping-up ceremony in 1985. - presentation model of e MRT station.

Toa Payoh Town in 1980s (Picture reference from National Archives of Singapore) Toa Payoh Town Garden - Open Air Art Competition For The Youth in 1980. - one of drawings is mine but i did not win this round. - i stil remember wat i drew. It was a las min rush kinda of work cos run out of ideas. haha. Shuang Lin Temple - main entrance view. - inner podium front view. Toa Payoh Swimming Complex - SEA games in 1983. - award ceremony for Singapore's swimmer. - ready, on-your-mark, get-set, GOooo..

Hey howlupjac, - u r rite. - 'tina' & 'tarpin' r contractors' slang. - 'thinner' is stronger, works better s a paint removal. - turpentine is less stronger, works s a paint mixer. - 2 remove paint stain, use 'thinner' lah. - depends on e severity of e paint stain, u can scrape it off by finger nail or scraper. - scraper can use 2 scrape off paint & white plaster stain on any smooth surface, such s tile flooring & glass panel. - scraper beli useful, got few sizes in terms of width, get e medium 1 wil do. Hardware shop got sell, few dollars only. Hey, - tot there r quite a nos. of motorbike lots at e upper decks? - nobody wil snatch ur favourite lot at e upper decks but its kinda secluded.

Hey Jessie, - haha, i manage 2 find u in Hougang. - now u stil residing in some part of TPY, parents' hm? - frm ur nick, i'd gues u used 2 live in e old 79 in tpy wen u r stil a kid. - Hougang EM is ur new hm after ROM?

- Haha. Here's another pix 4 u. Toa Payoh Community Library - e old fountain during its hayday. - it had since been demolished due 2 high maintenance in 1990s. - it is now a Stingray design, teflon roofing amphitheatre. - flags were raised during e South East Asia Peninsular games in 1973. Toa Payoh Stadium - many events were held there in 1970s. - many may not noe, e stadium had since held a nos. of our National Day Parades. Toa Payoh Bus Terminus - e buses & e control rm canot b found any more. - it is now a mixed development which consists of aircon Bus Interchange, MRT Station, offices, retail shops, atrium etc. - commonly known as HDBHub. Toa Payoh Lorong 5 - many events had taken place in 1970s. - 1 of e events is my birthday. - dis is e place wher i grew up.

Toa Payoh Town in 1970s (Picture reference from National Archives of Singapore) Toa Payoh Community Centre - beside blk79, this original design cant b seen anymore, it had since been torn dn & rebuilt. - e 2-rm hdb rental flats behind were olso torn dn in 1980s, replaced by 4 & 5-rm purchase flats. Church Of The Risen Christ - beside the new CC. It is still around & is as active as b4. - e 2-rm hdb rental flats on e rite of pix, were torn dn in 1980s. - e old blk79 part rear view can b seen on e left side of e pix. Toa Payoh Town Garden - e old blk79 in e background, long curve blk. - e 2 taller blks r blk85A & 85B. - e pt blk is blk179, with viewing gallery at 25th storey, for VIPs. - e viewing tower of Toa Payoh Garden is still around after yrs of urbanization. - it is still e logo of Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council. - now u noe y e tower was not torn dn? - yah, many things will b affected if e Tower is no more in existence. - not 2 mention sweet & sour memories of many a couple. Viewing Gallery at Blk179 - e old blk79 can b seen in botom rite side of pix, curve blk with open surface carpark infront. - e viewing gallery is at e 25th sty of blk179, its still there but it was subsequently replaced by higher level & better venue for viewing. - eg. blk80B, then e new 40sty over at lor 1, now e new blk79 has taken over liao. - cos all high level units in e new blk79 have million $$$ view.

Hey guys, - my reno? yah, starting liao... - no. Dat blk is blk 52 at lor 5. - in 1960s, blk79 havnt built yet. - blk 79 correct loc is on e pcs of empty land above e 1st letter 'e' in 'Reference'.

Toa Payoh Town in 1960s (Picture reference from National Archives of Singapore)

- wat's wrong wif ur kitchen cabinet laminates? - glue & stain can b removed by 'thinner'. - 'thinner' can b purchase at DIY shop, cloth where 2 find, u shd noe lah. - mayb u wana try out mildly 1st, then more 'thinner' if necessary. - letter-box spoilt? Complain 2 Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council. - sooner or later, i wil go up & 'chit chat' wif them. - b4 i do dat, i'l go buy a reasonable price ash tray. - i cant control or prevent them 2 smoke. wen i go up, i'l gif excuses like, i'm allergic 2 tabacco, sensitive nose 2 cigarette's smell & nose wil 'run'. Let them win, let them feel dat i m e 'pity' 1. - present them e ash tray gif. Make frnd wif them, let them noe u r givin ash tray 2 e nearby neighbours s door gif. - then observe a few wks. - if ash tray gif is useful & they r thoughtful, the i win liao. - if ash tray gif is useless, then they cant blame mi 2b bad neighbour liao. - i wil then need 2 complain 2 Town Council, say 'upstairs neighbour' olways throw cigarette butts dn frm their window. - Town Council looks at 'Cigarette Butts throwing frm e window' beli seriously. Can b fined $1000 if kana caught. - i dun think she hav moved in. Cos every time i walk along tpy ctrl, can only see ur unit's lights on, hers olways off. - unless, she's e lomantic type or wana cut dn on electrical bill. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - think i'm much lucky than many of u. - everytime i walk along e corridor, 2wards my unit, my neighbour's dog wil greet mi. - e dog wil stick her head out of e metal gate, call out 2 mi loudly til my neighbour ask her 2 stop. - i feels so delighted. - my neighbour olso beli environmental frndly, they'd placed pots of plants along e corridor. - everyday i gota walk pass e puddle of sand/soil/dirty water. - my neighbour olso beli thoughtful, they wil wash e corridor occasionally, sweep e dirty water frm their doorsteps 2 my doorstep & in2 e floortrap outside my main door. - e nicest thing is, there is a floortrap jus outside their unit & their main door & my main door is at least 8 metres apart, while e pots of plants is further down frm their unit. - so, m i lucky than any1 of u?

- my neighbour dog very e irritating/nuisance, although its a small dog but its kinda fierce. - everytime anybody walk pass their door, e dog wil bark, those loud loud type. - their direct neighbour (door 2 door) havnt move in yet. If move in, i wonder how? - got twice, wen e dog was not leased, at e corridor, it dashed 4ward at mi, barked & gif those 'arg arg' sound. i nearly wana kick e dog. - wen all dis happens, e owner simply call out e dog name & pull e dog's tail. - oh, was trying 2 source where can i find photos on e construction stage? Then u refresh our memory. - it was discussed quite sometime ago. - hopefully, e pix can b included in my upcuming blog. - wow. Gd suggestions. - dat 1 is Alister? - din noe, stay higher, get older faster.

- if dis forum can b read in a few days, then i think it can close shop liao. - frm ur qns, i find dat u oleady noes wat r e requirements u r lookin 4 in a Interior Designer or Contractor. - there r countless ID/contractor out there in e market. Frm e better reviews in e forum, shortlist a few ID/contractor. - make appt with them. - 1st appt. -> -- find out more on e co's background & how he/she works. -- let them noe ur requirements on all espects of reno. - 2nd appt. -> -- frm e way he/she follow-up/present 2 u his/her proposal, u wil noe whether is he/she e ID/contractor u r looking 4. --- can or canot click? --- can or canot communicate? --- can or canot b comfortable? --- can or canot b accomodate? --- can or canot meet ur budget? -- frm there, final decide e best among best. - 3rd appt. -> -- sign on e dotted line & start e show liao. ur qns on extra charges -> - 50% true 50% false. - watever propose reno works wil b stated in e Agreement/Reno Contract. - light fixtures, kitchen & bathroom accessories, electrical appliances etc, normally is not stated in e contract. This definitely wil b e unforsee additional cost. - besides dat, along e process of reno, u wana add in 1 small cabinet, then dis wil b e additional cost olso. b'cos it was not stated in e initial contract u sign on day 1. ur qns on tiling -> - under hdb reno rules & regulations, Canot overlay floor tiles over existing floor tiles in living/bedrms. Can overlay laminated flooring over existing floor tiles. - exceptional to bathrooms of new flat. (3 yrs restriction) - resale flat gota hack & dispose existing floor tiles then e new floor tiles cums in. ur qns on breakdn costing -> - resale flat standard reno package shd b abt $20k-$25k. - every co have their own format or method of itemizing their quotation. - s i mentioned earlier, u can make known 2 them ur requirements, frm there, u r able e justify.