DAS Shutdown in our estate (potentially no electricity)

Our estate is switching over to a Demand Aggregation Scheme which will lower our estate's electricity bills in the long run. This was approved at an AGM and the MA is preparing us for the switchover.

What that means however is that for our blocks, there may be a time when there's no electricity. They have posted this info on the notice boards and in the lift areas but here's that info too...

1. Shutdown on 30 August 2021 (Monday).
2. On that day, from 9am to 1pm, Blocks A to D might be affected.
3. Common facilities (gym, function room, management office) might be affected from 9am to 4pm.
4. Common facilities such as lifts, door magnetic locks, intercom will NOT be affected at all.
5. All facility bookings are cancelled for this day.

The actual situation will depend on that day itself. There might not be any loss in electricity or there might be, I guess. But best be prepared. 

• Charge any electrical items that you need for the morning especially.
• Switch off all electrical appliances before the 9am start in case there are any power spikes that might affect your electrical items.
• Fridge/freezer - generally for the 4 hours or so, it should be okay for your items if the doors are closed but good idea to reduce the food in the fridge/freezer just in case.

Some residents have fish tanks and are worried about the loss of electricity. I did a quick search (caveat, these are not based on anything other than a google search) and found that this company provides 1 day rentals of Uninterrupted Power Supplies - 400w for $80 a day. Might be a useful backup, but I'm not sure what kind of power you'll need.

Disclaimer: I'm not associated with this company. You should do your own googling to find alternatives...

https://gorental.sg/collections/battery-solar-generators

Good luck! (I'm going to be in the office that morning haha)

Have feedback on estate? Use iPrivilege App

 For residents of Viz, our current Managing Agent (to be confirmed if they will remain with us for next year) has an app that is used for various functions including the booking of facilities. Called iPrivilege (yeah I know, sounds atas), it can be found on both Apple and Android app stores and you do need to log in using your unit information. Once in, there are a number of important sections:

1. Announcements - Regular updates from the estate are found here, and of course on our estate's notice boards. 
2. Facility Booking - To book our facilities such as tennis course and gym. This is important now because of the new restrictions via the vaccination-differentiation measures. Gym users must be vaccinated.
3. My Feedback - Use this to take photos of areas that the Managing Agent needs to attend to, such as oil slicks, litter, faulty lighting etc. 

The Managing Agent has been fairly responsive to the feedback that I've been spamming via the iPrivilege app, and you can see whether the case is closed or still ongoing etc. Useful!

Dead Built-in Combi Oven? Yeah, that sucks.

 It's going to happen some day. The wonderful, quite expensive, De Dietrich Built-in Oven kaputs. And the problem is there's no more spare parts or repairs possible for it because it's, well, a really old model by now.

This happened to quite a few residents and I had to do some research on the oven and look for replacement ovens. The problem with our De Dietrich oven - the DME499XE1 - is the height. 

(You can check the model number by opening the oven and looking at the right side frame where there should be a metal label with the model no)

The manual, which you can find here ( just enter "dme499xe1" and download the MULTI manual) shows the following specifications (click on image to expand):

(I can provide a link to the manual below but it'll be a link to my dropbox manual..)

The built in size is 380 (H) x 560 (W) x 550 (D). Most built in ovens have a width of about 590-595 x depth of about 550mm. But their height tends to be tall - about 500mm or more. With our oven, it's stuntedly short at 380mm or 395 fitted. So you need to find a replacement oven that fits into the cubby hole with some slight modifications.

It turns out that De Dietrich has a new model - DMG7129X - that has a built in dimension of 380(H) x 560 (W) x 550 (D), which fits in perfectly with the older DME499XE1 model. I'm not sure if the DMG7129X is available in SG though. 

Searched through Harvey Norman's online site, and Courts, and found this Techno TMW58BI that I suspect fits because it has dimensions of 592 (W) x 330 (H) x 550 (D). 

Disclaimer here: I have not confirmed it nor have I purchased and installed it.. just that the dimensions seem like it could fit. Best is to show the specifications outlined above to the vendor and ask them to confirm if it is possible to replace your old oven with the new one.

Here's the link to the DME499XE1 manual via a dropbox link.

Good luck!

Dengue warning - Dengue Cluster around Viz Holland

There's now a Red Zone around Viz. A Red Zone is a high risk area with 10 or more cases, and there are now a total of 14 cases, with 3 in the last two weeks in this area. 

Here's the information on the NEA's Dengue portal - dengue.gov.sg. We are Cluster 14 (Holland Hill, Jln Hitam Manis, Jln Kelabu Asap, Jln Puteh Jemeh, Queensway). 

The Preventive Actions for Red Zone areas are:

•  5 Step Mozzie Wipeout

•  Visit a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, headache/backache, muscle pain, rashes or abdominal discomfort

•  Spray aerosol insecticide in dark corners such as underneath the bed, sofa and behind curtains in their homes every day.

•  Those diagnosed with dengue are encouraged to use mosquito nets when sleeping and applying insect repellent (with DEET as an active ingredient) to break the dengue transmission chain

•  Apply insect repellent daily during the day. Alternatively, wear long sleeves and pants.

5 Step Mozzie Wipeout Reminder:

1.	Change water in vases and bowls on alternate days
2.	Remove water from flower pot plates on alternate days
3.	Turn over all water storage containers
4.	Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use
5.	Clear blockages and put BTI insecticide in roof gutters monthly

Good luck everyone and keep safe. 

Food Choices N S E W!

It's been a while since I posted something about the variety of food choices we have around Viz. The post on the Commonwealth Crescent Food Centre is still valid, although precaution should be taken if you intend on using the shortcut. Use the main Queensway road if you intend to go there, for safety reasons.

For newcomers to Singapore or people unfamiliar with the area, we are literally at the crossroads of food delights...

Go North (Farrer Road and beyond) and you will encounter nearby middle- to upper-class Bukit Timah, with food choices ranging from reasonable budget meals to posh restaurants tucked away amongst landed properties.

Go East (Holland Road - Napier Road) and you hit the shopping belt Orchard Road and you'll be seriously spoilt for choices, although there are some good eating places within a 5km range (ish).

Go West (Holland Road - Ulu Pandan Road) and you hit residential condoland before getting to the Clementi Heartland, with pockets of decent food in between.

Go South (Queensway - Alexandra/Portsdown/Bukit Merah) and you get to more dining spots in the HDB estates, including plenty of hidden (decent) finds.

I hope to cover each of these areas soon, highlighting some of my personal favorites (although your taste and preference may of course vary!), choosing food places that are within a short (5-10km) radius so that it's easy for those who drive, or take public transport.

But some recommended sites (links included) for those too eager to begin exploring food choices around the area:

1. Hungrygowhere is a fantastic review-driven site listing out tons of eating spots around Singapore. You can narrow your search to specific areas or cuisine. Give that a spin if you're too hungry (or impatient) to wait for my subsequent suggestions.
2. ieatishotipost is a food blog run by Dr Leslie Tay and has been very popular for its focus on Singaporean foodfare, especially in the hawker centres around Singapore. These are cheap, good, meals.
3. I-S Magazine is available as a free magazine in various cafes in Singapore (eg Coffee Bean) as well as online. Recently, they have an iPad version which you can download their magazine and read on your device. The iPad version is pretty good! They have good recommendations for restaurants, albeit the more hip, happening (and expensive) stuff!
4. Ladyironchef is another food blog which has nice lists for best cafes in Singapore, best brunch in Singapore, best pancakes etc etc.

I'm sure there are more blogs or food sites out there. If you have a good one to recommend, put under comments here!

Be wary of strangers - Molest incident

Just received a letter from our resident manager titled "Incident of Molest at Viz @ Holland" dated 15 November 2012.

There was a recent incident whereby a female resident was molested at the HDB Access Gate on 6 Nov 2012 at about 7pm. A police report has been made and the cops are investigating the matter. The Management is looking into installing additional lighting at both access gates.

The following advice are provided to all residents:

• Be alert and mindful of strangers loitering at or near the access gates, especially when you are entering or leaving the estate.
• If you see any suspicious strangers, contact the management office or security staff at 64793143 immediately.
• Do not open or hold the gate for the next person to enter the estate, especially if you are not sure if s/he is a resident or not.

Being a regular visitor to the hawker centre and shops at Commonwealth Crescent, we were really shocked to hear the news. As regular users of the HDB gate will know, the area is not well lit at night, it is a long and narrow pathway from our gate to the stairs leading down to the HDB estate (and the hawker centre), creating a potential 'choke point' where a resident is sandwiched between the gate and the molester. There are also people who like to sit at the metal chairs at the bottom of the stairs.

I know in previous posts I suggested various shortcuts to Holland V (through Chip Bee Gardens). In light of this incident, can I suggest the following as well, to all residents:

• If you need to go to Holland V, use the main road - go onto Queensway, turn left onto Holland Road (at the major road intersection), and you'll hit Holland V quickly. You can cut through Taman Warna if you want. See below.

• If you need to go to the Commonwealth market/hawker centre, go via the main Queensway road and enter Commonwealth Drive and then turn right into Commonwealth Crescent. Again, slightly longer path but much safer as it's along main, well lit, roads with lots of cars. See below. (The crossed line indicates the path that is now potentially unsafe for single female residents.)

• If you have to use the HDB pathway, be especially alert of your surroundings. If someone decides to follow you, if someone who is seated at the metal chairs gets up after you and walks behind you:
• Get out your access card so that you can buzz yourself in quickly,
• Take out your mobile and make sure you have the security number on standby;
• Walk faster/briskly towards the gate, checking behind to see if that person has picked up pace as well. 
• The HDB gate can be heavy, so be prepared to PULL it once it's unlocked, and be prepared to PUSH it hard to close it to prevent the stranger from following you in.
• Wave at the camera that's situated there. A stranger may not be aware of the camera and may think twice about doing anything funny.
• Carry a shrill alarm to call for help or to dissuade him from coming too close. 
• Importantly, do NOT let any stranger into the estate, no matter how 'well dressed' or 'normal' that person is. It's often polite or less embarrassing, if someone is behind you, that you let that person in after you have opened the gate. Don't do that!! If he wants to be let in, tell him sorry but only RESIDENTS can use these access gates. Any visitor must go through the main entrance. If he claims to be a resident but has lost his card, tell him sorry, but he can call the security office and they can let him in. I know it sounds rude, or it may be frustrating to a genuine resident, but given the situation, it might be better to be safe than sorry! 
• The same applies in our lift lobbies! If someone comes in behind you just when you are about to enter your lift lobby, unless you know that person (have seen him before), do not let that person in. IF he pushes himself into the lobby, make sure he gets into the lift first (pretend you're making a call or you forgot something, and let him take the lift by himself). You should wait for the next one. If he doesn't take the lift up, leave the lobby and head to the guard post. Ask a guard to escort you if you don't see him leaving the lobby.

If you have maids who frequent the market/hawker centre, please let them know of this incident and tell them to be alert.

It's a pity we don't allow tasers in the country :( or pepper spray even... but personal alarms should be available, although I'm not sure exactly where to find one in SG!

Please be careful when you're walking alone outside the estate... Times have changed, and it doesn't matter where we stay, some people are getting more daring and crazy!

Antisocial Behaviour

To the owner or person walking the dog this morning...

the DOG that decided to take a DUMP in the lift in Blk C...

Yes, the person who then DID NOT CLEAN UP THE MESS AND LEFT IT IN THE LIFT FOR OTHERS...

You do realise that the security cams will show you bringing the dog into the lift.. right?

I mean, how hard is it to recall the lift when you've obtained a plastic bag, and get rid of your pet's droppings?

*shakes head*

Tags: viz@holland, viz holland, viz @ holland, singapore, queensway, antisocial behaviour, anti-social behaviour