Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt.....

...erst brennen 2, dann 3, dann 4,..............dann steht Santa Erich vor der Tuer .......

Ho, ho, ho, ho

What would be the start of advent without a celebration at the Wuerstelstand. And because of the cooler weather we had to have Gluehwein.

Santa Erich (Miraculix the Druid) brewed his secret mixture of wine and herbs

Our chemist Dr. Claus (one of the elves) was Santa Erich's helper

" I hope it doesn't explode.........."
Locals stunned about what's happening now at crazy Ang Moh's kiosk

Santa Erich's elves

Singapore businesses riding on the US election wave

Strolling through Singapore shopping centres you will find some shops trying use the huge interest in the US election for promoting their business. You can bet people are stopping to see what that's all about and taking photos.

Attention that's all these shops want and they got it!

"Sound Of Music" country more than a movie scenery! Get a property there.

Ever dreamed of living surrounded by one of the most beautiful scenery's in the world: The Austrian Alps, featured in hundred of movies besides "The Sound of Music"? Picturesque mountain peaks, mind blowing waterfalls and the rolling hills, that seem to be alive.

In the Austrian state of Salzburg close to the city of Salzburg inexpensive properties are waiting for buyers.

You can full fill your dreams and and get ready for summer activities on 7,200 kilometres (4,500 mi) of hiking paths or ride your bike on : 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of marked cycle paths and 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) of mountain bike trails (including cross-border routes) or swing your clubs on scenic fairways of 13 golf courses.

If your a winter freak as well you will be pleased by 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) of ski slopes and 2,220 kilometres (1,380 mi) cross-country ski trails as well as 14 night slopes and 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) winter hiking paths!

But if you just want to relax you can enjoy magnificent views of the alps with it's highest mountain peak: Grossvenediger — elevation 3,666 metres (12,030 ft) and a national park.

Whatever your desire most of your dreams can become true in this magnificent mountain region. Get your property there for a vacation home or even for retirement.

Check out your future on this website: Wohnen im Lungau (available in English, German and Russian) for more information.

Huge Toxic cloud over India and China

Times are changing, everyone experiences this in one or another way.

Crashing economies, increasing jobless rates and climate changes all over the world. Bad times ahead most would say, however wasn't it our own greed that led to this drastic collapse. Emerging economies (including Pres. Bush's administration) neglecting signs of global warming, belittling UN and other expert reports about economies growing in a pace that would hurt especially our future generations. But who cares we'll be gone anyway by then..........and for now let's make as much money as possible.
Maybe it was about time to get this wake up call, to find some time to breathe and think. Especially our environment will be glad about that slow down in emission production particularly China and India.
Remember how fast Beijing got great results during the Olympics from cutting down the traffic into half?
Check out this frightening report UN report by CNN

I might be late, hopefully not too late to get things back in order.

Best Muffins in Town

The upcoming festive season is one of the sweetest in a calendar year. If you're too busy to bake yourself just get cookies or a variety of muffins from Erich's Backstube. The muffins are moist and tasty and most affordable.

Check out this video:

Filmed by Reinald S.; cut by: Frank N. Furter

ERICH'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES ! ORDER NOW !

Don't forget to order Erich's delicious Xmas cookies!

Order before December 1st and get a 10% discount!

We'll soon post an online order form to make ordering easier for you.

If you're planning to buy bread and/or sausages for your Christmas menu's we recommend to place an order as well. Due to the high demand Erich might be out of stock on Christmas Day.
And we don't want you being disappointed.

IT'S "OFFICIALLY" CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN

The lights are on. This year Singapore is celebrating the sweetest Xmas in the tropics.

The celebrations, which mark the 25th anniversary this year, are held from Nov 15 to Jan 2 all around Singapore, the main events however take place from Orchard Road all the way to Marina Bay.
The “Sweet Family” who lives in Christmas Town and runs a Sweet Shop will celebrate this joyous season with visitors and locals on the famous shopping belt which has been transformed into a charming and miraculous candy wonderland with dazzling lights and flickering decorations. The light-up was again conceptualized by Singapore’s singer, song writer and Creative Director Dick Lee and features a landscape decorated with colorful gumdrops, candy cane street lamps, delectable cupcake houses and giant doughnuts.
Besides the "official" decorations shopping malls try to follow suit and set up their own
Shaw Centre

Huge colorful Xmas parcels

Tanglin Mall

Healthy Bread Choice: Wheat roll

Get your daily dose of fibres with Erich's new bread.

This crispy wheat roll with it's flavoursome taste, high proportion of fibres and its low Glycemic Index is becoming a hit at Erich's Backstube and Wuerstelstand.

The roll contains a balanced mixture of high-value natural rye and wheat flour and due to the high proportion of bruised grains it also contains about 7% of fibres.

Stop by at Erich's and check it out it's really delicious.

The challenge is over ! We have a winner !

After record breaking 82 hours 12 mins 38 secs, withstanding heavy thunderstorms, monsoon rains, Singapore heat and outlasting 396 contestants GEORE LEE was the last one to take his palm off. George is 29 years old, a Artillery Captain with SAF, a triathlete who took part in many different endurance challenges before. This was his 3rd or 4th time in the Subaru Impreza event.
George 5 min after the start on Saturday

We congratulate the winner of the 8th MediaCorp Subaru Impreza Challenge!



Congratulations also to the runner up Ms Mary Tan (35 yrs young).

Can you believe it?

Streets are being transformed into a candy land dripping with gumdrops, liquorice, candy canes and jelly beans.

Strolling along Orchard Road yesterday many activities there reminded my that the most festive season of the year is just around the corner and 2008 is in its final stage.

I do understand that the Xmas lights on Orchard take some to set up to be ready for the official "light up" on November 15, but is it really necessary for shopping centres to being ready before the official start, already in 1st week of November ? I doubt it!

It seems to become earlier every single year. Are shops that desperate for business or are they just "Kiasu" (as we say here) a Hokkien adjective literally meaning, "afraid of losing" since everyone wants to be first to catch customers attention which will lead into sales.

Ngee Ann City Christmas Tree, already lit up up since last week.

Christmas market in Ngee Ann City.

I hope shops together with Singapore Tourism Board one day will think about the way decorating the city and shop windows, getting away from the boring "same old, same old" and have more artistic decorations instead, "unique" as the Singapore slogan to attract more tourists for Xmas shopping.

I saw a beautiful example from Paris, where the theme is "Nordic fairytale, a world of ice and magical Christmas lights"! Beautiful I must say, and obviously a big hit with tourists - and locals!

PALMS DOWN ! MediaCorp Subaru Impreza Challenge 2008

400 palms are down on 10 Subarus since 1pm this afternoon Saturday, Nov 08. The MediaCorp Radio Subaru Impreza Challenge is back in town.

A new crazy batch of people and some returners from last years event will spend their weekend and some some days of next week standing around cars holding tight their hands on hot metal or glass with breaks every 6 hours only.

They have to withstand not only physical tortures like sun, rain, tiredness, sore feet and arms, hunger but also psychological ones especially during the nights when most viewers have left and it's getting quiet at the Taka square. The reason for this endurance torture is to win a brand new Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5L Manual worth S$80,000.

Or you win SPC petrol vouchers when you're the fastest in a virtual car race.

This competition is held now the 8ths time and last years winners time was unbelievable, astonishing 77 hours 13sec.

One alteration this year are additional competitors from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The next days will show if they can outlast the Singaporeans.

FD, Glenn Ong, Carol from Class 95 and DJ's from Gold 90.5FM and 987 FM are hosting this challenge. Listen to their radio stations and you will get updates live from Ngee Ann City. If you want to check out the situation there click here for the webcam
Supporters and spectators also get chances to win prizes in various games. If you're able to change a car tire in record speed you might walk away with new Continental car tires. More photos: Contestants within the first hour of the challenge still optimistic and fresh.





After one hours already 4 dropped out. 2 of them were from Hong Kong.