Wednesday, July 31, 2013
What's the occasion?
My boss (supervisor) asked us to fill in feedback recent. One of the points was "What makes you want to come to work daily". One of my answer was "My colleagues".
I'm very happy be either participating in or organising events for my department/colleagues. It is usually a very big hassel to be organising events (it fustrates me a lot), but I still take on the role because it brings a lot of happiness to people all around.
(i) Dinner at blk 85 Bedok - Early July
This is organized by Alice. She is our famous-Bedok-hawker food- guide!
That night, we tried the famous pork knuckle, mince pork noodle, dumplings, etc.. We also had stuff like chilli stingray, cockles and satay. Food's great and satisfying.
(ii) Breakfast - from 216 Bedok
This is the 2nd time me and Alice did this - take order to buy kopi and breakfast for the department. Last time, we only bought 11 packs of coffee, 4 packs of carrot cake and a few packs of nasi lemak. Only 2 of us went the other time.
We had a fantastic experience back then, so Alice kept jio-ing me to do it again. And we did this morning. This time round, we asked Karen and Hui Fen to come along to help out. And we got 20 packs of kopi, 10 packs of nasi lemak, 10 packs of vegetarian bee hoon and 9 packs of carrot cake!!
This is the q for the Kopi. And yes, to answer Winny, it is really very good. Last time, I had Kopi-Si siu-dai; it was heavenly... This time, I had Kopi-Si kosong, a bit bitter (cos the kopi (bean) really really very thick and aromatic).
Rui-Xing. BTW, this stall ony open from 7 am to 10am. In 3 hours, all sold out!
The breakfast and lunch..
I'm very happy be either participating in or organising events for my department/colleagues. It is usually a very big hassel to be organising events (it fustrates me a lot), but I still take on the role because it brings a lot of happiness to people all around.
(i) Dinner at blk 85 Bedok - Early July
This is organized by Alice. She is our famous-Bedok-hawker food- guide!
That night, we tried the famous pork knuckle, mince pork noodle, dumplings, etc.. We also had stuff like chilli stingray, cockles and satay. Food's great and satisfying.
(ii) Breakfast - from 216 Bedok
This is the 2nd time me and Alice did this - take order to buy kopi and breakfast for the department. Last time, we only bought 11 packs of coffee, 4 packs of carrot cake and a few packs of nasi lemak. Only 2 of us went the other time.
We had a fantastic experience back then, so Alice kept jio-ing me to do it again. And we did this morning. This time round, we asked Karen and Hui Fen to come along to help out. And we got 20 packs of kopi, 10 packs of nasi lemak, 10 packs of vegetarian bee hoon and 9 packs of carrot cake!!
This is the q for the Kopi. And yes, to answer Winny, it is really very good. Last time, I had Kopi-Si siu-dai; it was heavenly... This time, I had Kopi-Si kosong, a bit bitter (cos the kopi (bean) really really very thick and aromatic).
The breakfast and lunch..
We had an extra pack of Kopi, which Alice offered to our SCM colleague. She asked "what's the occasion"? :) No occasion, just sharing joy and happiness with people, on an otherwise normal and mundane workday. Looking forward to next time already!
Update - Grandma
Evetually, grandma didn't undergo op.
Again, this is my own interpretation of the events. I think that we tried to grab the opportunity (ie go for the risky op), but it proved to be difficult to seize.
In the first place, the cardiologist didn't want to commit to a risk factor, and only say "motality rate is high". Maybe he didn't expect the family to make the decision to go for the risky op. When the family made that decision, he got no choice but to give the risk factor - 10%, adding that almost all families will not go op if the risk factor is >5%.
Eventually, the family succumb to the pressure. I think that's what the cardiologist want to achieve.
I had a talk with my 2 aunties. For what they have done for the family and their mum, only their opinions and their choices matter (to me). I can fully understand why and how conforming to social norm ("families will not go op if the risk factor is >5%") is important. I can fully understand how and why they worry about the unknow "in-between" scenarios after the op (like total/partial paralyze).
Thus life! Thus life! The world is full of grey areas; almost nothing is black or white. It is very very sad to be sick.
Again, this is my own interpretation of the events. I think that we tried to grab the opportunity (ie go for the risky op), but it proved to be difficult to seize.
In the first place, the cardiologist didn't want to commit to a risk factor, and only say "motality rate is high". Maybe he didn't expect the family to make the decision to go for the risky op. When the family made that decision, he got no choice but to give the risk factor - 10%, adding that almost all families will not go op if the risk factor is >5%.
Eventually, the family succumb to the pressure. I think that's what the cardiologist want to achieve.
I had a talk with my 2 aunties. For what they have done for the family and their mum, only their opinions and their choices matter (to me). I can fully understand why and how conforming to social norm ("families will not go op if the risk factor is >5%") is important. I can fully understand how and why they worry about the unknow "in-between" scenarios after the op (like total/partial paralyze).
Thus life! Thus life! The world is full of grey areas; almost nothing is black or white. It is very very sad to be sick.
Mini update...random photos of sweety
*( updating the blog, all "thanks" to US conf call :(
Hazy Days
June 2013 had went into the history books of Singapore - haze reading of 200 to 400 PSI for 3 days, due to burning of crop land in Indonesia. On the day that haze broke (Sat), we were all geared up to spend a full day indoor. When we reached NEX, we saw a long queue at the pharmacy for mask. We spent some time in the library, then went for a movies. When we came out of the cinema, we were greated by the Sun.
Singapore's vulnerable. There were again lots of government bashing. I really hope that people can be rationale and work hard to guard our beautiful homeland
School reopens
After 4 weeks of holidays, school reopening was almost a non-event. On the first day/week in July, I noticed that even the P1 kids were behaving nonchalalant. They walked up to the back door like "an old bird", ha! Here's some photos taken very recently
(i) Bad hair day
(ii)Pretending to be a cat, meowwww
My favourite T-shirt of hers
Some weekend in July... GRRRWWWW....
Hazy Days
June 2013 had went into the history books of Singapore - haze reading of 200 to 400 PSI for 3 days, due to burning of crop land in Indonesia. On the day that haze broke (Sat), we were all geared up to spend a full day indoor. When we reached NEX, we saw a long queue at the pharmacy for mask. We spent some time in the library, then went for a movies. When we came out of the cinema, we were greated by the Sun.
Singapore's vulnerable. There were again lots of government bashing. I really hope that people can be rationale and work hard to guard our beautiful homeland
School reopens
After 4 weeks of holidays, school reopening was almost a non-event. On the first day/week in July, I noticed that even the P1 kids were behaving nonchalalant. They walked up to the back door like "an old bird", ha! Here's some photos taken very recently
(i) Bad hair day
My favourite T-shirt of hers
Some weekend in July... GRRRWWWW....
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Choices
It's amazing, the dynamics of 6 siblings, who had known each other for half a century, coming together to discuss and to decide for their 84 year old mum whether to undergo operation.
Have they done this before? They seem so comfortable, and so use to doing this.
There were 2 options, the main care givers explained. Facts and information, and to a large extent, personal opinions were shared. Then each sibling was asked to state their views and choice. The final choice had the majority votes. I was there, I was asked for my opinion. I said I had none.
What did I really think? There was no 2 options. There was no choice. All except Uncle Eric opted for Grandma to go for the op. Despite cardiologist's "mortality rate is high". In another words, her chances of surviving the op is low. The reason cited by everyone is that quality of life is more important than length. I don't disagree, neither do Uncle Eric I think. Uncle Eric asked "what quality of life are we talking about if she doesn't survive the op?". I agree. We are kidding ourselves. We are placing a bet with odds against us. But everyone is ready to accept the consequence of losing. Losing means letting her go, letting go of our suffering, and deciding for her to end ... Is losing winning?
Have they done this before? They seem so comfortable, and so use to doing this.
There were 2 options, the main care givers explained. Facts and information, and to a large extent, personal opinions were shared. Then each sibling was asked to state their views and choice. The final choice had the majority votes. I was there, I was asked for my opinion. I said I had none.
What did I really think? There was no 2 options. There was no choice. All except Uncle Eric opted for Grandma to go for the op. Despite cardiologist's "mortality rate is high". In another words, her chances of surviving the op is low. The reason cited by everyone is that quality of life is more important than length. I don't disagree, neither do Uncle Eric I think. Uncle Eric asked "what quality of life are we talking about if she doesn't survive the op?". I agree. We are kidding ourselves. We are placing a bet with odds against us. But everyone is ready to accept the consequence of losing. Losing means letting her go, letting go of our suffering, and deciding for her to end ... Is losing winning?
Grandma
Grandma is 84. She has dementia for 4 years now. She is in the hospital due to brain hemorrhage. The doctors are divided as to whether she should undergo surgery. If she does, she may die. If she doesn't, she will go into a coma eventually.
The cruel facts of old age. It's a big irony that she suffers from dementia. We watched the disease taking over her brain, bit by bit, and eventually totally, over these 4 years. It's suffering for us, but can never ever compare to the suffering she goes through.
Women of her generation, do they have dreams in life? Time passes by, does she have fulfilled and unfulfilled dream? What do they want, what do they crave in their lifes? Who do they live their lifes for?
So what if she has unfulfilled dreams. I wonder if that matters at all? Where's the dignity of life, when we all lie on our beds, unaware of even the ones we loved most in life, unaware of when the suffering will end....
The cruel facts of old age. It's a big irony that she suffers from dementia. We watched the disease taking over her brain, bit by bit, and eventually totally, over these 4 years. It's suffering for us, but can never ever compare to the suffering she goes through.
Women of her generation, do they have dreams in life? Time passes by, does she have fulfilled and unfulfilled dream? What do they want, what do they crave in their lifes? Who do they live their lifes for?
So what if she has unfulfilled dreams. I wonder if that matters at all? Where's the dignity of life, when we all lie on our beds, unaware of even the ones we loved most in life, unaware of when the suffering will end....
1st school holidays
Time passes by, at it's own steady and rhythemic pace. Now, we had entered into the second half of 2013.
I finally experienced for myself the "trouble" that school holidays bring for working mothers. In the past, I encountered many colleagues who take leave during school holidays. I never fully understand why they must do that.
For the first time in 6.5 yrs of being a mother, I felt sad and guilty for being a working mum. In the past, Lynn went to full day childcare, which operates full year round. I had always liked the programme at her childcare, and felt that she was well taken care of, and she enjoyed a fulfilling time there. Now in P1, the moment June holidays approached, I finally understand why mummies cracked their brains to find activities to fill the childrens' time.
I am really glad that WK brought Lynn to Bali when I went Scotland in the 2nd week of June, else I will feel even more guilty. Other than that, Lynn also had some fun with Juin, prawning and going to the movies. For the rest of the time, Lynn read story books, did assessment books, and handicraft.
If I were a full time mum, I will bring Lynn outdoors a lot. But, I'm not. Well, time passes by, bringing with it both fulfilled and unfulfilled dreams.. Some pics for memory
"Reading Corner" poster
Paper cutting, from Diaso
Yacht trip with aunts, WS and Yin family. This time round we tried the Dinghy.
I finally experienced for myself the "trouble" that school holidays bring for working mothers. In the past, I encountered many colleagues who take leave during school holidays. I never fully understand why they must do that.
For the first time in 6.5 yrs of being a mother, I felt sad and guilty for being a working mum. In the past, Lynn went to full day childcare, which operates full year round. I had always liked the programme at her childcare, and felt that she was well taken care of, and she enjoyed a fulfilling time there. Now in P1, the moment June holidays approached, I finally understand why mummies cracked their brains to find activities to fill the childrens' time.
I am really glad that WK brought Lynn to Bali when I went Scotland in the 2nd week of June, else I will feel even more guilty. Other than that, Lynn also had some fun with Juin, prawning and going to the movies. For the rest of the time, Lynn read story books, did assessment books, and handicraft.
If I were a full time mum, I will bring Lynn outdoors a lot. But, I'm not. Well, time passes by, bringing with it both fulfilled and unfulfilled dreams.. Some pics for memory
"Reading Corner" poster
Paper cutting, from Diaso
Yacht trip with aunts, WS and Yin family. This time round we tried the Dinghy.
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