Wish me courage

Since I started writing the blog, most year ends I struggle a bit to pen down some meaningful and memorable words about the year gone by and the year to come. 


2016 HAD been a year about relationships.  Something major happened but it is a very private affair that I won't share in this blog.  It went unnoticed to most people around me, but my closest friends were there for me.  Through this episode, I learn the meaning of love, the meaning of self respect and love, and the meaning of growing older, wiser and nicer.  I am not ready to put down the burden of what had happened, but I am very willing and eager to use this experience to improve relationships going forward. 

Still on relationship, back in Nov I had a rare outing with Mum and Sis to Marriot Hotel high-tea buffet on a weekday.  That day I spent the whole morning running errant with Mum at banks and the CPF building.  Mum is the old fashion type whom I can't discuss topics such as financial planning (eg Will) with; thus it was a good opportunity that I grabbed, to put some controls in place when she initiated to open a joint account.  I know it is wistful thinking, that Mum will one day appreciate what she is blessed with and not keep dwelling on unfulfilled wishes.  Oh well, I will continue to do what is within my capability and not dwell on the unbridgeable.

IN 2017, I want to muster all my courage to carry out my wish.  I had postponed this for a year now, and I hope I won't postpone it again.  So next year may be yet another turning point for me.  I feel that I have come to point in my life where there is no strong push to complete anything major.  If I have 84 years to live, I have completed half of it.  It is time to restart again.
    

Merry 🎄⛄️

 

 

 

 

Choices & Decisions

Every minute every second, we make decisions. Like making a decision on how to spend a lovely Friday evening. Like making a choice to say goodbye or to just go away.  To sulk or to make full use of that only weekend day.

What am I going to tell her tonight

History was made today; not in the way the world expected.

I do not know this guy but he spoke my thoughts. https://www.facebook.com/NowThisNews/videos/1220171848072937/

Update 10/11:  Found my thoughts on my drive home.  Sweetie knew the outcome already from TV news.  I told her that for so long, we all have mocked this guy, about his big ego and shamelessness, to think of himself being qualified for the job, and that he has any chance in winning at all.  While we do not know yet if he will be up to the job, but at least he made the whole world eat humble pie with the unexpected win.  It goes to show that, as long as we believe in ourselves, with lots of perseverance and never say die attitude, we can be anything that we want to be.  This, is the only positive message that I can conjure from this bizarre turn of events.  Life goes on.   

Double digit, Single candle

Sweetie is turning 10 today.  I have been teasing her about being "double digit" in the past 2 days, which she retorted "not yet".  10 years back, at 10+ am (now that I'm updating this blog), I am goggy with all the anesthesia drug.  It was an emergency caesarean section that was decided close to lunch time.  I told her technically speaking, she cannot deny anymore after 2pm today :).

Sweetie has been my biggest joy for the past 10 years.  I count my blessings everyday.  She will not stick to me forever. 

[29 Oct] Got molested by grandma:

 

 

Told her already; not my fault - when she grows up, she will find that all her childhood photos are of quirky expressions.  [Pokémon hunting ~ 30 Oct]

 

She was super happy that she caught a "Ninetales" earlier on, before this shot was taken. 

 

 

The 3 Oct/Nov kids (Brayden and Mabel) gathered again, this time round at Qiu Yun's house.   

 

Here's Mabel's and Lynnette's extremely "Picasso" standard creation from Icing Room.   Winny and Qiu Yun didn't know that I mostly fainted at Icing Room....

History in the making 2016

I have taken an interest in the US presidential election because, frankly, it's very entertaining.   The US is a very interesting country.  I dare to say that the rest of the world watch in wonder and amusement, even with some disgust, that such a maverick character can become a serious contender to becoming one of the most powerful person in world politics. 

Recently, the talking points turn to DT's past sexual assaults on women.  As I lapped up one article after another, I became very interested in this topic.

I used to think that most countries and most men are respectful of women.  I thought that sexual assault only happen to some unfortunate women, who had the bad luck of having known/met some horribly sickening men.  Then, I also believe in the justice system, that each and every sexual assault case can be brought to justice in court. 

But as I read more on this topic, I began to realise that gender inequality is still extremely prevalent.  Even in our century, even in one of the most democratic and advance country in the world.  It began to dwell upon me that most women, even myself, tolerate men's behaviour day in and day out.  For example, my boss will pass comment about women leadership skills, and I will just brush it aside.  There's a very simple explanation for that(my) reaction; it's probably ingrained in me, and I will venture to say, in a lot of women, to avoid conflict. We also suffer from lower self esteem and confidence, and will always attribute some blame to ourselves.  By keeping quiet, I indirectly perpetuate this kind of  thinking and behaviour in him.

I wonder how I can teach my peace loving, good natured 老 baby (ha!, she's turning 10 in a few days' time!) the important value of  gender equality and standing up for female rights.   I also hope that my sister and sister in laws will do the right thing in educating their daughters and sons. 

My new 偶像 is Michelle Obama. 
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/13/politics/michelle-obama-donald-trump-election-2016/index.html

And I kept wanting to have a opportunity to post this again, as I really admire this young chap's respect for women and his wife:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3384822/Be-nerd-school-successful-inventor-Mark-Zuckerberg-brilliant-response-woman-said-encouraging-granddaughters-date-geeks-school.html

The one thing missing

An article, dedicated to my sweetie. 


http://refineus.org/the-one-thing-missing/


This is the 2nd time I am dedicating an article on couple relationship to my darling-daughter rather than darling-hubby.  On one hand, people only live once; I had already picked my life partner, and we will keep learning together to grow the relationship for the better.  On the other hand, the dream of a second chance at something even better, isn't this the reason why we all want to and feel excited about having children?   I fantasied about Lynn asking for my opinion on how to pick a good partner and what I think of her daddy.   It's a challenging and interesting question to answer.  But she may never ask, like I never asked my mum.  I hope she does.

Anyway here's another great article to read.   

BD, gathering and celebration

(July and August)

Wk turned 44 this July; time flies.. Had a very simple, early celebration for him at home as I need to travel during his BD week:

Had a farewell dinner for the Tianjin plant FM during the business trip. I seldom post about my currently job, so here a photo of the colleagues from the northern plants.

Made it back in time for Ginny's BD dinner on 1st August. It had been some years since we celebrated her BD together. Right now, Joc is organizing a gathering in October for Deloitte gp 5 1996, to celebrate our 20th year anniversary of friendship! 

National day weekend came around; Lynn was invited to Victoria's (our Indian neighbor) BD party.  Here's a picture that WK took for them.

And I tried to organize a picnic for our family together with mum. But it rained hard that evening. So we ended up bringing the food to grandma's house and shared it with aunt YY too.  For the records, it was spaghetti beef Bolognese and chicken rice, which are both yummy!!

The Pokemon go fever had started, so Wk brought Lynn to bishan park on the Monday before national day holiday.  And they walked all the way to J8!

Pinsir on my bed!!!

And then on national day, I went Bangkok with Lili for a short holiday..

Vain pot 2016

(July and August)

Well, after rebonding my hair, I felt vain and pretty, so I have been taking some selfies in the last few months.  But didn't dare to nor want to post on FB or Instagram. So, here's a blog post dedicated to myself, ha!

 

1) Entertaining myself on lonely biz trip:

 

2) dolling up at home before meeting "old" friends to celebrate yet another year gone by!

3) "meow!" Bought this hair band and for my sweetie 

4) out for another biz trip again in late August.. This was taken when shopping at Changi DFS

Peacock and Pikachu

It's a holiday today; spent the morning at Sentosa and Vivo city, and "captured" 2"P"s on my mobile!

Mid autumn 2016

It's September already. Not going to watch up on updates today. Instead, on this windy night, here's the latest happening today.

This morning, I brought Lynn to Chinese garden, to catch Pokemon. She is now at level 20..

See the twin pagoda on the right, is where we headed first, to take the gym..

Some beauties:

There's not much Pokemon at Chinese garden, so we decided to head to Macritchie reservoir again. On our way out, took a picture of this couple taking wedding photo:

We have been spending quite a fair bit of time at Macritchie, cos Lynn is currently collecting Magikarp, which is "water" Pokemon.  When we went in the evening last weekend, there were monkey families..

Today:

Last week:

And this evening, and right now, the cousins are celebrating mid autumn together again.  Looks like it will take another year or so, for the young ones, as in Clara and baby Clariss, to be able to join in. I wonder if by then, how many out of this group will still be interested in playing with paper lanterns..