Cookies
A plain explanation of the small amount of storage this site uses — and the Google Maps embed you choose to load.
1. What this page covers
Half Past Kallang is a static personal blog. I do not run advertising networks, social login, or analytics dashboards. The only interactive storage on this site relates to remembering whether you want maps to load. This page describes those cookies and similar browser storage, explains the Google Maps disclosure required when you opt in, and tells you how to change your mind later.
2. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies include local storage entries that persist in your browser. Cookies can be “first-party” (set by the site you are visiting) or “third-party” (set by another domain, such as Google when a map loads). They can be “session” cookies (deleted when you close the browser) or “persistent” cookies (kept until they expire or you delete them).
Under Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act, information stored in cookies that identifies or can be associated with you may be personal data. I treat consent preferences accordingly and do not use cookies to sell data or track you across unrelated sites.
3. Cookies I use
Essential — always on
Name: hpk_consent (first-party cookie)
Purpose: Stores a JSON record of your cookie choices: essential (always true), functional/maps (true or false), analytics (always false on this site), version number, and a timestamp.
Duration: Up to one hundred eighty days (Max-Age=15552000 seconds), unless you clear it sooner.
Path: Site-wide (/).
SameSite: Lax. Secure flag added on HTTPS connections.
Local storage mirror: cookie_consent_v1 — same JSON content, used so the banner does not reappear unnecessarily if the cookie is cleared but storage remains. You can delete both through browser settings.
These are strictly necessary to remember your decision and comply with transparency expectations under the PDPA. They do not load external content by themselves.
Functional / maps — off until you consent
If you click “Accept all”, save functional as on in the customise panel, or click “Load the map” on the contact page, functional consent becomes true and the site may inject a Google Maps iframe. Until then, the map area shows a placeholder with a load button only.
When the iframe loads, Google may set its own cookies or use similar technologies according to Google Maps Platform policies. I do not control those cookies. Examples historically used by Google services include identifiers for security, preferences, and aggregated usage, subject to change by Google. Review Google’s cookie documentation and privacy policy for current detail.
Map embed URL domain: google.com / google.com.sg (Maps embed).
Purpose: Display an approximate map of the Boon Keng and Kallang River area — not a precise pin on my flat.
When loaded: Only after explicit action as described above.
Analytics — not used
I do not deploy Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, or comparable trackers. The cookie banner shows an analytics toggle disabled to make that clear. No analytics cookies are set by Half Past Kallang.
4. Google Maps disclosure
Google Maps is a third-party service operated by Google. When you load the map on the contact page, your browser establishes a direct connection to Google’s servers. Google may process your IP address, device information, and interactions with the map. That processing is governed by Google’s terms and privacy policy, not mine.
I chose an embed centred on the general Upper Boon Keng area rather than a street-level pin on my block deliberately — this blog describes a neighbourhood, not a home visit service. Even so, Google may infer approximate location from your IP address. If you prefer to avoid Google processing, do not load the map and reject functional cookies.
Google’s policies may change without notice on my site. I review this page periodically but cannot guarantee real-time alignment with every Google product update.
5. How to manage preferences
On first visit, a banner at the bottom of each page offers three choices: accept all, reject all, or customise. Customise lets you turn functional/maps on or off before saving. Your choice is stored in hpk_consent and mirrored in local storage.
You can reopen the panel at any time using the button below. This shows the cookie strip again and expands the customise panel so you can change functional settings without clearing all site data.
You may also delete cookies through your browser settings. Instructions vary by browser: look for privacy or history menus, select cookies and site data for lifemovenow.pro, and remove stored entries. After deletion, the banner will appear again on your next visit.
Rejecting functional cookies means maps will not load automatically and the load button will ask for consent again if clicked. Essential consent storage remains so the site remembers that you rejected functional options.
6. Consequences of disabling cookies
If you disable all cookies including essential ones, the site cannot remember your cookie choice and the banner will appear each visit. Content pages remain readable. Only map embeds require functional consent or an explicit load click.
7. Contact and more information
For privacy questions, including access or correction requests under the PDPA, see the privacy notice or email [email protected] with subject “PDPA request”. For factual corrections about blog posts, use the contact page.
8. Changes
If I add features that require new cookies — unlikely on this static blog — I will update this page and request fresh consent where required. The last updated date above will change when edits are made.
