Why?....why?...tell me why?

I thought I could just pause and stop blogging for a while but it seems that is not possible, coz today 29 Feb, only comes once in 4 years, so better blog but actually…I just cannot stop blogging…Well here it goes…At work, I just found out that I was again assign to be in the SPICE committee as a member…(it stands for Student Professional Image Continuous Enhancement) …wah so professional sounding but actually it is equivalent to the disciplinary committee in the schools….WHAT? Did I make a mistake in getting the info? No..no…I think I was right…I have been on this committee for the longest time that I can remember…since 2001 I think?....Loud Sigh…why can’t they just give me to be in charge of NAPFA instead…why do I say that? Here is the good reason:

After obtaining Bronze award + $10 NTUC cash voucher for my 2.4 km staff run, having completed 1 half marathon (21km) and three 10 km runs and able to do a total of 6 chin-ups at the grand ripe old age of 44 years old and what’s more?....…… able to 45 sit ups per minute….still not good enough yet to be a staff to be in-charge of NAPFA…then what else do they want from me?????? Silver Award? Gold Award...OK…OK…I make sure I get the silver award this year + $20 NTUC cash voucher, OK?
And couple with the fact….that my looks….yeah my looks, just take a look at my “Tumbak” face….with this kind of looks, do I look so fierce as to I have to be in the “Disciplinary Comm” for so many years and still have to in this comm.....for another term?

OK…OK…now to some things else more joke, joke…. I just attended the Graduation DnD. This year I chose to go coz’ it was my class that I was put in-charge as their Personal Mentor is graduating……ahhhhhhhh…..finally!
It was nice that the students gave each lecturer who thought them in the final year and presented each a token….So I was one them…as in the past few sems I was assigned to teach final year students. So there were awards give out during the DnD….Here are the list of awards by the students:….There are the most big and beautiful award / mother of mother liquor award / Ali Baba award / HaLo3 award / Napfa Nag and Nag award / Close to being a millionaire award/ U cheat N I cheat award……And guess which award did I get? It is the Ali Baba award….see:
OK…OK….I am not Ali Baba, all right....yeah..yeah…but I am Peranakan Baba, well close enough sounding to get the award..…on the whole it was fun and have picture taken. Here is me receiving the prestigious award:

Good nite! N God Bless!

Albert Y

.....PAUSE.....

Dear all,

My blog entries is now been put on PAUSE so that you can have some time to read the rest......PAUSE...will be back with more exciting entries......SOON!

Albert Y

I am back to blogging......

A bit busy these days...so no time to blog....anyway today boss ask me to submit ERP (Emergency Response Plan) to SCDF at Ubi..small arrow....so came back home early..open letter box, received a letter from HDB...wah so happy, you know what...my parking fine of $50 (for parking in season parking lot on a Sunday) which I told you about earlier... got waived...there you see, here:

Slept for 1 hour and then speed off to my favourite haunt...BRP..lah where else? The weather is so good and the air is so fresh I cannot forgive myself if I miss this...

and this.....
Just look at this...and I am sure you must agree with me what a lovely day...today

So run my usual 4.3 km and I try to break previous record, and today...you know what...it is the best ever timing...24 mins 11 secs..

After run, do 50 sit ups..and then cool down and then reward myself with this:

and then while resting at usual spot, I saw this in the distance.... it is a "sand dune"...you know Singapore also got sand dune ( I thought only Saudi Arabia got sand dune), and here it is:

Then I saw this man fishing alone on a hot sunny evening...

then I told myself no wonder the word "fisherwoman" does not exist in the english vocabulary...and some of the 12 apostles are also fisherman themselves, and of all the professions in the world, God chose the fisherman to spread His word...so it must a very Divine profession...whom God favours...and then there this group of 3 fishermen staring into the waters of the reservoir

....maybe trying to look hard where the fishes are...but then it makes me curious and so I too stare into the water lah.... like them and look... this is what I saw (Can you find any fishes?)

Actually, there are no fishes at all in the water...what a lovely evening! After dinner continue my marking of exam scripts and then after that I stumble upon this book which bought some time ago but never really started reading it but will start soon: She is also my favourite saint. St Bernedette Soubirous from France (southern part of France) whose body is completely intact and prevented from decay until today by God. She reminds of Snow White (minus the 7 dwarfs of course!) sleeping in a glass coffin. That is why France is also my favourite country...talk about France...straight away my 2 spiritual friends comes to my mind..St Therese (from the northern part of France) and St Bernedette.

Thank God for the lovely day today, thank God for France, if not, I will not have my 2 spiritual friends .......tomorrow I am on leave to spend time with my sweetie...Thursday will be in Jurong Island.

Wah....1.40 am in the morning already ah!...Good morning folks.....!

I am going to bed now, OK?..yawn!yawn!

God Bless!

Albert Y

Reflections - Today's reading Mt 18:21-35

Dear All

Today's reading is about the merciless officer who was cleared off his debt by his master, but was relentless to a fellow officer was in debt to him. Jesus reminds us to be forgiving not 7x but 70x7 times. If we do not forgive others, we should not expect the Lord to forgive us.

Yesterday, when I took out the clothes to hang after machine-washing them, I found in particular, a white long sleeve blouse of Tiffany's stained with black. I then realised Bert must have put in his black jeans in the wash and I didn't know about it. I was fuming mad and grumbled to the girls. Then Felicia told me "Don't be angry with dady, mumy. It's not dady's fault". I then grumbled, "If not his fault, it's the machine's fault!!"

Then the little angel, Felicia, said to me "Don't worry mumy. If che che don' want to wear it, I will wear it and che che can take my red one instead."

I asked her if she dares to wear the white spoilt blouse out, knowing that she's such a vain little girl, I was surprised when she said she would. So strong was her desire for me not to be angry nor blame Bert that she was willing to sacrifice her own vanity!

As I reflect on my behaviour, I realise that when things go wrong, we so easily look for others or things to blame. (If I am not allowed to blame Albert, I blamed the washing machine. I never blamed myself!). Later, I felt that I should have dug out the clothes and checked them. I told Bert that next time he should either leave the black jeans aside (not in the machine) or tell me if he had placed it in the machine.

Felicia's reactions also taught me about forgiveness. She's such a little peace-maker.The things our children teach us. We do learn something new everyday.

Love Theresa

Sad Sharings from Tiffany today (25 Feb 08)

Dear All

After a rare birthday party of a classmate of Tiffany's yesterday, Tiffany shared with us some sad news about her classmate and a school mate today. On the way back home after supplementary class on the public bus, her classmate told her that she was very sad. This was because her parents are divorcing the second time. She has to shift house again, and would be renting a 2 room flat. I didn't ask her whether she's with her mum or dad. Bert and I later looked up last year's St Anthony Canossian's Primary School (SACPS) yearbook to see how her classmate looked like...she's such a sweet little girl with a cheerful smile. We felt so sad for her.

Another shocking news was she heard from many school friends and the birthday girl (from yesterday's party) that another girl from a different P6 class had written a note to her teacher saying she wants to commit suicide. That girl did not attend school today. I was very shocked to hear that, especially when Felicia was hearing everything and saying it could be just a rumour. My reaction was to remind them that it is a grave sin to kill oneself. Having children saying things like that and being exposed to the realities of broken marriages must be quickly tempered with our Church's values. That's why, I tell them, it is important to let mummy and daddy have time to talk with each other and some time alone without them demanding mummy's attention all the time. We also looked up the yearbook to see the schoolmate's face. We don't know what's the reason, but that class is of slower learners. Perhaps our society's and education system's branding of children at such a young age puts children down as being lousy or stupid. Such branding is very hurting and very damaging to the children's self-esteem. That's why we parents worry so much about our children's education and exam marks.

Sometimes, when I think just how short life is, and how death puts everyone on a level playing field where everything we possess ends and we can't take it along with us, it makes me feel that all these activities of politics, pettiness, dog-eat-dog world, paper-chase etc, are quite meaningless in itself.

Coz' when the day comes when the one and only one hole that is being punched through your Singapore Identity Card......right on the Lion Head by the ICA officer....
...yes, we won't be there to see it...and probably at that time the only thing that we can bring with us to the next better world...is only our soul ...nothing else matters anymore... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE MATTERS ANYMORE...FOREVER...

As Father Timothy of Holy Trinity says, our activities like playing computer games, playing mahjong, etc are just to fill-in time just to keep ourselves busy, to pass the time.

I'm not saying that working and studying are useless. They are important as they can be made into means of glorifying the Lord. An example was when I was working with the printer on a newsletter and he was late in all the deadlines, I had to be tough on him. After the telephone conversation, my colleague remarked that she was surprised that I could be quite hard on the guy as she thought I was such a pious catholic. I told her that though I am a catholic, it doesn't mean I should let the printer be late in his delivery. Anyway, after that remark, I was taken aback as to why she said that. Was it because I had a holy picture of the sacred heart of Jesus in my office, or that she had seem me reading my bible in the morning before my work day started? Whatever the reason, I was then more cautious of my actions so that I do not blemish His name by any "unholy" actions of mine. Also, there is a saying "an idle mind is a devil's workshop" so it is important that man work or do some meaningful activity (like going to school), but in the process, do not get involved in politics or back-stabbing.

Once, Tiffany had such "politics" in P4. Tiffany has the habit of forgetting to write her name on her papers. At a science spelling test, 2 papers did not have names on them. One had 29/30 marks, the other was a fail (can't remember the marks). Only Tiffany and the other girl did not get back their papers, and the other girl claimed the 29/30 marks was hers. Tiffany's classmates knew that this was not possible as Tiffany usually scores quite high in Science. Tiffany showed me the paper, and it was written in super neat handwriting. As she normally writes very untidily, I was doubtful. Tiffany was of course hurt. She showed me proof of her work where her handwriting was very neat. I must say, I was astounded she can write very neatly when she wants to! Anyway, the teacher decided to give them a re-test. The next day, Tiffany came back very happy. She remembered to write her name this time and got full marks. I asked her what did the other girl get, and she say, she didn't bother about it, she was just glad that she now had full marks and that's what counts. Lesson learned from her - never compare yourself to others, just measure your progress with yourself. Second lesson was - she didn't wish bad intentions on the other girl and just let her be. (Quite contrary to most people where we seek revenge). I told her then that knowledge and talent is yours and although others may try to take credit for your work, it doesn't matter, for they can't take away knowledge or talent that you already possess.

In my journeying with my girls, studing woes is just one part of their childhood problems. A great part is also the interactions with their classmates or schoolmates and how they cope and deal with them. I really thank the Lord and my dear Albert that I am allowed this privilege to grow with my girls everyday, and giving them life-skills and lessons on a real-time basis when they arrive "fresh" from school with their latest news. I never had that opportunity when I was working and came home late and the rush of sharing of the moment is long gone and forgotten. In the process, I too am learning and growing with them as they teach me values of forgiveness and tolerance.

Love Theresa n Albert

Readings for 25 Feb - 1 Mar 08

Mon, 25 Feb
2 Kgs 5:1-15b Ps 42 Lk 4:24-30

Tue 26 Feb
Dn 3:25, 34-43 Ps 25 Mt 18:21-35

Wed 27 Feb
Dt 4:1, 5-9 Ps 147 Mt 5:17-19

Thur 28 Feb
Jer 7:23-28 Ps 95 Lk 11:14-23

Fri 29 Feb
Hos 14:2-10 Ps 81 Mk 12:28-34

Sat 1 Mar
Hos 6:1-6 Ps 51 Lk 18:9-14

Love Theresa

Living 500 years apart but circumstances still the same...

It is now close to 3 am in the morning and I am sort just happen to be awake at this time of the day and so decided to blog...I slept earlier at about 9.30 pm and now I am awake..so I chose to blog on something that we all face in our daily lives especially at our work place. It is politics...you can chose to stay clear of it (like myself) or be part of it. But if you chose to stay clear of it like myself, you may have to pay a high price for it...like I did! Just take a look at myself, I joined NY in June 2001 and now is close to 7 years since I join....now comes the next part which may sound a bit astonishing...my salary is exactly the same since the day I join ( not a single dollar or cents increase!) and I am still doing the same thing as I did the day I join my current workplace. Many have joined later and have already been promoted and some have left (resigned). With this little sharing, I hope that if you are victim of this circumstance, I hope you can take comfort in my situation. Don't give in for your reward shall be great in heaven. Christ was tempted in this aspect during His fasting of 40 days. For me, I stick to my faith ever resisting the temptation of jostling for status, power and politics at my work place, so I end up watching from the sidelines - just like watching a footbal match.

I seek comfort and draw strength from St John of the Cross...though we lived in a complete different era about 500 years apart but circumstances are the same - time is immaterial whether you lived in the year 1550 or in the year 2008, human nature is indeed all the same...

Here is an insight of what St John of the Cross went through who is a victim of the infighting among the priests in his order then....in Spain

....and during his term of imprisonment he wrote the most beautiful book ever.....

So in the light of the Lenten Season, I prayed to the Almighty God and to St John of Cross to give me the strength to continue to resist the temptation of power struggle at work, circumstance of which is similar to that of St John of the Cross....Living 500 years apart but circumstances are still very much the same..

Good nite or (izit good morning?)...I going back to bed now..yawn...yawn..zzzzz

God Bless!

Albert Y

Latest on Edison Chen & Today's Hey Arnold Show

Dear All

In my earlier blog I mentioned Edison Chen & the biasness of society. Edison is a HK actor-singer with his own fashion line. In today's "wo bao" - "My Paper" he confesses to having taken most of the pictures and apologises to all the ladies involved and the hurt it has caused them.

When I reflect on this episode, it dawned on me that if these photos were not publicly disseminated, these people would probably continue with what they were secretly doing i.e adultery and fornication. In the bible, I remembered it was said that people do all kinds of bad things in the cover of the night/dark. When Judgement Day comes, when we stand before God, God will not accuse us or ask us for an account of all that we have done. We ourselves will be the judge of our own account. It's like what's happening in this photo scandal case. When the acts that were done in secret were exposed to the light, the man and the seven women involved felt awkward and embarrassed as they knew what they had done was wrong. They have judged themselves in front of society (here equvalent to God/heavenly community).

Isn't it scary for us too? I don't know about you but I have done lots of wrongs in "secret", perhaps in my thoughts or actions, and it's soon forgotten. But come Judgement Day, all will be revealed and highlighted to me. This is where I'm grateful for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At least my slate can be wiped clean again before it gets too dirty to be washed clean.

Regarding another matter of the "Hey Arnold Show". It showed Arnold and his best friend learning to fish from Arnold's grandpa. His grandpa then to exaggerate, so they wonder if there really was such a huge fish or was it just an urban legend. Their classmates also laugh at them as they knew they can't fish. When the 2 friends finally caught the elusive fish, Arnold felt sorry for the fish and let it go. His friend wanted to let the world know there was such a fish and the only evidence was to bring it back to their friends to see for themselves. They will be heros too. His friend decided to allow Arnold to let the fish go, and also the chance for glory for himself. Before they let it go, Arnold took back the broken hook his grandpa told him that the big fish took when he caught him when he was a young man. No one, include his wife, believed him.

When the 2 friends came back empty handed, prizes were being given out for the biggest fish caught, but none of them could compare to the size of the one which they had let go. Worse still, their friends laughed at them and made fun of them in believing the urban legend. What was moving was, the 2 boys ignored their teasing and gave grandpa back his broken hook which fitted well with his other half of the broken pole. His grandma still laughed as she did not believe in her husband, but it didn't matter to grandpa. Arnold realised that he himself at first didn't believe his grandpa, but that didn't affect his grandpa one bit. I told Tiffany that in life, we do not have to proof to others anything. Even when we are right and people laugh at us, we should not get angry and try to proof them wrong, as we know deep down what we believe in is true and that's what is more important.

Sometimes, cartoons do have important life messages and life-skills taught to us, even for grown-ups. I hope my sharing with my girls would mould them into confident women in the future. Just my 2 cents worth :)

Love Theresa

On the topic of sufferings (cont'd)....

In this blog entry, I continue on with the topic of sufferings…

Last nite, my dear Theresa shared with how disappointed she was in herself after her mum sort of implied that she is never a good mother in taking/looking after our 2 little princesses. I too was disappointed in such a remarks being passed at her. To me she was the perfect mother and a perfect wife though as humans we should not be expecting perfection for there if one is looking after this big word TRUE PERRFECTION in this world, one would sorely be disappointed. I assured her that she is doing fine and no one in our little family is complaining, it is just we need to focus on certain areas of the children’s well-being. I admit that this time round (episode) of Fel’s health, I have lately neglected in the aspect of her diet i.e to incorporate more dietry into the children’s diet. I was actually to blame in a way….In fact a little test of our faith came on Tuesday, 19 Feb where I entered a blog entry on sufferings and on that nite, Fel’s was admitted to the hosp. I feel that as whenever I attempt to draw closer to God, there is this element of sufferings that accompanied with it ....this is what I experienced in my past year also…the same happen to us when I first started going to the lunch time weekday masses at the Novena Church last year May, the same thing happen to Fel…she was admitted to KKH for about a week for pneumonia…this is confirmed by the passage taken from the book “Spiritual Doctrine of St Therese…just take a look at what did St Therese said.....

You can brush it off as mere coincidence or fated or whatever….but it certainly sounds a bit scary. This is my little testimony and there are many more of my past life experiences which seems to confirm this. Looking back at my mum’s life it seems to confirm this too…whenever my mum tries to get closer to God, something “Bad” would happen to her……but to my surprise the more she is being tried, the more pious she became and hence closer to God she became.

All in all, I take comfort in the little life story of St Therese’s father below. He is my source of perseverance in this life of the world. I leave with you with his life story…made a widower at the age of 54 and left with taking care of the children ranging from age 4 to 17. Did not remarry till the end.

Have a Blessed weekend and God Bless!

Albert Y

Thérèse's Papa, Louis Martin 1823-1894,

Therese's mother (left), died of breast cancer in 1877 when little Therese was 4 and half years old.

Together, they gave us the Holy Saint, St Therese of Lisieux, also my spritual friend...to the world..

Life story of St Therese's daddy, Louis Martin

Of farming and army stock, the Martin family had solid roots in Normandy and Mayenne. Brought up in a series of military camps, Louis Martin thought of seriously of entering a monastery. But this was not to be, and he turned to clock and watch-making instead. Zélie Guérin was also unsuccessful in her attempt to enter the religious order of the sisters of the Hôtel-Dieu. Thérèse's Mama to be learned the Alençon lace-making technique and soon mastered this painstaking craft. They married in 1858 but determined they would be celibate until a priest told them that was not how God wanted their marriage to work. They must have followed his advice very well because they had nine children. Four, including two boys, died in infancy. The five children who lived were all daughters who were close to each other all their lives. Thérèse, the youngest, was born on January 2, 1873. She was put out to nurse for a year and became a lively, mischievous, and self-confident child; she thrived on the love that surrounded her in this pious Catholic household, where prayer, the liturgy, and practical good works formed the basis of her own ardent love of Jesus—her desire to please him and the Virgin Mary. But sorrow struck early in her life when her mother died of breast cancer in the summer of 1877. Thérèse was four and a half years old. Her sixteen-year-old sister, Pauline, became her second mother.
Lisieux—LES BUISSONNETS
Her father was left to raise the five girls, ranging from four to seventeen. His brother-in-law, Isidore Guérin, a chemist in Lisieux, invited them all to go and live with him in this small town, with its population of just 18,600 people. They moved on 15 November 1877. Thérèse spent eleven years at Les Buissonnets, a fine house with a quiet garden, some way from the center of the town. Her sisters, Marie and Pauline, took care of her education. "Poor Léonie" was a difficult child.
Céline, nearly four years older, was her favorite playmate. Louis Martin was both father and mother to his children. He called Thérèse his "little queen" and often took her walking or fishing in the surrounding countryside. The shock of her mother's death had changed her from a lively, self-confident child into an introverted, shy and self-effacing one. Her entry into the Benedictine Abbey School of Notre-Dame du Pré was a trial for her: "The five years [1881-1886] I spent there were the saddest of my life." She worked hard, and loved catechism, history and science, but had trouble with spelling and mathematics.
At the age of ten, she was deeply distressed when Pauline, her favorite sister whom she had chosen as a substitute mother, left to become a Carmelite in October of 1882. This new emotional shock went so deep that she fell seriously ill with a fever and people thought she was dying. For a whole month, her family were at their wits' end; even doctors could find no explanation for the hallucinations, tossings, turnings and anorexia that afflicted her. The worst part of it for Thérèse was all the people sitting around her bed staring at her like, she said, "a string of onions." Family and Carmelites alike prayed to Our Lady of Victory. When Thérèse saw her sisters praying to a statue of Mary in her room, Thérèse also prayed. And, on May 13, 1883, when it seemed that she would either die or lose her sanity, she saw the family's statue of the Virgin smile at her, and she was cured. She tried to keep the grace of the cure secret but people found out and badgered her with questions about what Mary was wearing, what she looked like. When she refused to give in to their curiosity, they passed the story that she had made the whole thing up.
Without realizing it, by the time she was eleven years old Thérèse had developed the habit of mental prayer. She would find a place between her bed and the wall and in that solitude think about God, life, eternity.

Felicia Hospitalised - discharged already

Dear All

The last 2 weeks have been trying for us. Felicia fell sick - diarrhoea - rushed to school to pick her up. Then Tiffany fell sick with gastric flu. Felicia fell sick again over last weekend (around time of sad news of the death of Ah Poh - see my earlier blog entry) then got a call again from school to fetch Felicia back from school on Tue because of acute tummy ache. Admitted her to A&E at KKH and was shocked that she had to be admitted as they her pain on a scale of 0 (least pain) to 10 (greatest pain), she felt 9. After some medication at the A&E and clearing her bowels, she still said it was 8. On admission, she said it was 8.5

She was admitted on Tue/Wed (3am) and was discharged today (Thur) 1pm. She still has the pain, but it was around 2 - 5 on the scale when discharged. The docs think it's gases (her tummy was very distended and bloated). It has come down somewhat. I only got 2h of sleep when I reached home on Wed morning, got Tiffany for school and then went off again to see Feli at KKH. Luckily Bert relieved me at 12noon on Wed. Got back home for Tiffany and then fetched her for tuition at 4pm, then at 6pm, back again to see Feli at KKH.

Whenever any of my girls fall sick, I shudder. 1st from the worry for their health, but 2ndly, from the accusations from my mother - "You have taken them back too young". or "When I take care of them, no problem, how come you take, they fall sick?" etc etc. I already have a low self esteem of my capabilities as a stay-at-home-mum (SAHM), and her remarks just makes me wonder if I am really such a lousy mother. I feel I am not allowed to let my girls fall sick. Like Feli getting asthma, my mum says it's our fault --- letting them sleep in air-con, and me not keeping the house free of dust. "How do you take care of them?" she would ask. I feel a greater responsibility on my shoulders as the girls were taken care of by my mum since they were babies, so they are like her "children" too. When they fall sick when we were living with my parents, I don't remember her accusing us or herself of being incapable parents/grandparents. Sometimes, I feel like cutting off the phone call queries as I can't take the accusations. Next is always the question "why did you move out? We didn't chase you out?"

I guess, when we are living with others, there'll always be people problem. Just like in the office, it's seldom the work that gives us problem, its the people.

That is why sometimes I am in awe that God can be so generous and open-hearted to love everyone despite our faults and accusations and hurt we cause him. I try to imitate Christ...to love my mum inspite of her accusations and hurt she unwittingly and unknowingly cause me. I take consolation in the fact that the girls love me dearly and would never trade me being at home with them to me going back to work. As my dear Tiffany told me, she used to worry alot for me and my safe return from work whenever I am late back. And that was when she was only in nursery. God do send little angels to lighten our load and brighten our day.Though sometimes we feel the world seem to be against us, such assurances gives us the strength to press on in life's difficulties and brush aside such remarks. I must be doing something right with the girls for them to love me so.

Love Theresa

Sufffering and sin

Hi Albert,
Nice write out about suffering,about sins,about union with God....One thing i guess we layman lacks is perserverance...i dont know about you guys,but for me,very ironic,know the sin i committed and always...i say always,go confession.......and always about the same sins.....why????? faith not strong? too close to SATAN?take the gift of life for granted?...i really dont know.....but i remembered in a sermon,Father Edmund Chong or izit Fr Lawerence Yeo?He said that when we sin,we are actually being brought closer to God.He said we are all attached to God with a string....so,when we sinned,we cut the string to detach ourself from Him...But because our God is so forgiving,He will always pull us to Him,so....that exlpained why we become closer to Him.Anyway,it shouldnt be this way to get closer to God.
Theresa,who is this Edison?

Love,Joseph

Sufferings...why is it a necessity in our daily Christian living

Today, I would like to share this aspect of our lives which we all tried to avoid but is indeed necessary for our Christian living leading to our eventual union with God...

To begin with, on a lighter side...this morning I just learnt from my colleague that God created only 3 types of men namely introvert, extrovert and the 3rd type of men is pervert....! We all learnt something new everyday!!

Anyway, to something more serious now....was reading this book on the train on my way to work..(BTW, nowadays train rides are indeed more pleasant, since SMRT increases the frequency of trains during the peak hour, at least now I don't have to take to Pasir Ris and then ride all the way to City Hall to change train...oops sorry for the side track)

After reading the following, I begin to think of the value of sufferings in our daily Christian living and I remember, Fr Tim (Holy Trinity) in his sermon over the weekend he mentioned that ....life in this world does not belongs to us...it belongs to God so that is why it is so important for us to submit to the will God and do what pleases God.

Before, I proceed we must all acknowledge that SIN has separate us, MEN (also WOMEN) and GOD since the beginning of time..it was never on the original plan of God in His creation.

Now, onto the reason why sufferings is so important here is why....in this book St Therese has list down 4 reasons on why sufferings has to be very much a part of our daily Christian living.

Briefly, firstly, suffering is necessaryy as a means to detach us, to purify us and dispose us for union with Christ, Himself.

Reason 2, Sufferings is also a matter of love. It is God's proof that He loves us. [It is hard to comprehend this fact but then...]

Reason 3...sufferings is that without it we cannot reach heaven.

Finally,, suffering is necessary for the the salvation of souls. And this is a fact that we mmust all accept..

Now, to assimilate the explanation above...first of all..we must all know that in God's creation of the humanity, sufferings is not part of the original plan for man. God did not create us to see us suffer. How sufferings comes about is actually brought about by our own imperfection leading us to sin. Hence, sufferings is a consequence of our sinful nature.

I just want to share with you all on the value of sufferings...not that I am able to cope with it when the time comes...I am actually a coward and also am very weak but hope that with this little sharing when any one of you comes face to face with any form of sufferings in your daily life you will remember that you are certainly not alone and to press on and ask God's grace to carry on for your reward shall be great in heaven...

Good bye and God Bless!!

Boss wants to inspect the lab now....

Albert Y

Eddison Chen Scandal Biasness

Dear All

Over the last few days, the newspapers reported about several scandalous photos of the seven high profile women in the life of just one man - Eddison Chen.

How bias society is against women since the beginning of the human race. Never was the guy in the centre of the scandal, scalded in anyway...only the seven women were publicly disgraced and torn-down by society.

In the bible, women in society then were always looked down upon when caught in scandalous affairs, NEVER the man...but in actual fact, it takes at least two hands to clap. The left hand is always wrong, and not the right. In Jesus' time, it is the adulterous woman, who by law, was to be stoned, but what about the adulterous man? He gets away scotch-free.

I had brought this up with Bert, and our conclusion is man never change, no matter which generation he is born. What is clear from the new testament when Jesus came, was that the old law given to Moses for the people was because man is so stubborn. What God wanted was not polygamous relationships but monogamous marriages as revealed by Jesus.

We call ourselves a modern society. But we still live no different from our ancestors. Sometimes I marvel at how wonderful God is, to reach out to us, who are sinful and so imperfect, and still wanting us to be with Him forever!

How unfair society is against women. Luckily God is not bias and is colour and gender-blind.

Love Theresa

Another Sad News in our Family

Dear All

My mum called me at 3pm today (Sun, 17 Feb 08). We had received sad news that my Ah Poh had passed away this morning. She's my mum's godma. If I'm not wrong, I believe she's only a year older than my dad. My mum said Ah Poh's birthday was the 9th day of the Chinese New Year, i.e. Fri - 15 Feb 08. Tiffany asked why was everyone dying just after their birthday? Ah Mah would have been 73 on the 14th Jun this year. She passed away in the end tail of her year of the Pig. My mum says we can't attend the wake which starts today and ends tomorrow. It's too close to Bert's mum's wake. Having to hear such news just opens raw wounds. We still think of Ah Mah.

Ah Poh was a very nice and gentle lady. She speaks only Teochew so it was kinda strange that when she trys to communicate with me when I was little, I'll reply to her questions posed in Teochew, in English. Somehow, we both understand each other. It was very sad that her one and only daughter passed away a year plus ago. She was so close to her daughter Monica, who died of cancer. From then on, she was shuttled between the homes of her 2 sons, so that she'll not feel lonely. Mum is unable to visit her for many years, but they kept in touch often over the phone. The most recent was on the 1st day of CNY. Mum said Ah Poh sounded OK then. It must have been old age. It seemed she had cancerous cells removed some years back but her children did not want to tell her about it, so as not to upset or scare her. She's so kind that I strongly believe that she's in God's hands now, safely in the bosom of the Creator and happy in heaven with her husband and daughter now. I will miss her a lot.

It seems that all of us are aging. It's a fact that once a person is born, that person will die one day. It's just so sad that for us who are still on earth, our loved ones who are gone, are no longer just a phone call away, not can we just drop by to see them anymore. They just seem to disappear permanently from the face of the earth. But their memories live on in us. We don't want to and are afraid to lose our memories of them. When I look back at the photos of my Ah Kong and Ah Poh on my dad's side, I find that my Ah Kong seemed to be different in looks from what I remember of him. Ah Poh seems to be exactly the way I remember her. They died years back when I was around 8 years old. But I remember one grandparent after another passing away. My tears were flowing shamelessly then. It flowed the most for the 1st grandparent - my paternal Ah Poh. It grew lesser for the 2nd, my paternal Ah Kong, and lesser still for the 3rd Ah Kong (my mum's godpa). I guess it must have been reflective of the degree of closeness and perhaps even due to the defence mechanism of hardening my heart to grief once more within a pace of 1 - 2 years of each death. Whenever my parents picked me up from school instead of the school bus, I instinctly knew there was a death, and feared to know who was next. For both my paternal grandparents, it poured heavily on both days of the funeral burial, and I was very glad of the rain as my tears could be disguised as raindrops on my face. I remember feeling as gloomy as the heavens, and felt then that heaven must be mourning with me for them. I guess being a child then, such memories are very deep.

Whenever I see how frail my dad is becoming everyday, I am so afraid whenever I receive a call, expecting the worse. He is now just a shadow of the robust and strong-willed man he used to be. I am very heartened that he still wears the gold medal of the image of Lady of Medjigorie around his neck - the miraculous vision that he and mum saw in the Sun during their 1st pilgrimage to Medjigorie. It gives me faith in God and His promise of eternal life with Him in heaven as I witness that faith in my dad.

May the almightly God, Mother Mary and dear Jesus guide Ah Poh to heaven and may she be eternally happy in heaven!

Love Theresa

Importance of courtship even in marriage

Dear All

As Joseph has said so aptly, everyday should be a valentine's day with our spouse. I was listening the the radio station 97.2FM yesterday (V Day) when Dr Edmund Chong was on air. There were a few advices he made over the air which I would like to share with you.

- courtship doesn't end after you are married. In fact, it is very important to continue courting your wives.

In our bz lives where in most families, both husband and wife are working, making time for one another is vital.

- have couple time away from the kids at least once a year.

He suggest a family hol for everyone AND a holiday just for the 2 of you. For himself, he has 2 overseas hols - one with the kids and another just he and his wife.

For Albert and I, we can't trouble my parents to take care of the kids while we have couple time for a few days or even a day. They have already dedicated 7 years of their lives to take care of them since they were babies. We are glad that since we now got back a room since Mar last year, all to ourselves (in the past, it's always been a family bed and room), we are using the privacy to catch up with each other after the kids are asleep. Little snatches of couple time are squeezed in during the kids tuition classes, catechism classes and the rare time when they are at friends' birthday parties!!

I find since Albert started this LC blog, it also gives me glimpses into another aspect of Albert that I have not seen when he's with the kids --- the fun and jovial side. He tends to be very serious with the kids.

So which ever way best suits you, keep the ME spirit alive between you and your spouse! Little gestures done constantly means a lot to your spouse.

Love Theresa

A tribute to mum..

ALICE ELIZABETH MAH
( 1935 - 2008)

Yesterday (14 Feb 2008) is exactly 1 month mum has passed on..and memories of her lives on in me..it was especially strong in me coz when I think back all these years of growing up under her motherly care..I was particularly touch by her commitment, perserverance, patience and steadfastness in taking care of us singlehandedly. Most important to mention, mummy...you have introduced me to GOD and you have thought me to love GOD and to love HIM very much...you have also taught me how to say the rosary....Thank you, mum, for all these years of undying love for me and I truly will always miss you!

Mummy, I shall always keep my faith and grow in my faith in God, the strong faith like what you have in God starting from just a young Catholic convert.

I love you, mum! ALWAYS!

Mummy, I would like to dedicate the following short music piece "Ride with Me" from the movie "Bu Neng Shuo De Mi Mi" to you .....it summarises all your love for me....mum, this little music piece brings me back to the days of my primary school in Ipoh. Malaysia, where you use to pillion me on your bicycle daily to and from school...mum, you are best mum ever!

My Lord and my God, please take care of mum for me in heaven and may she be happy always there!

Eternal rest grant upon her, O Lord and may perpetual Light shine upon her! Amen.

Albert Y

Weirdo "guys" - from "Hey Arnold" nickelodeon show

Dear All

As I was preparing the girls for school this morning, I got a snatch of the 2nd part to the cartoon show "Hey Arnold!". It's a show that the kids normally see from 6 - 6:30am as they drink their milk and I comb their hair.

This episode was about this "popular" girl in 5th grade and this weird male classmate of hers that keeps hounding her to be his girlfriend. The guy was the kind we would call a "nerd".

In another episode, another girl named Helga likes the main character Arnold, but dares not tell him. Instead, she treats him the very opposite to what she feels i.e. very hostile. She goes to see a child psychrist and on the way out, there was this weird kid was who hiding and waiting for her. As she lets him off the hook this time as she was in a good mood, he secretly takes out a photo of Helga and adores it.

When I see these 2 shows, it reminds me that reel reflects the real world somewhat. I've had my share of "weirdos" "hounding" me! Let me tell you it can be very scary. Unlike those 2 girls who are very strong in personality and character (they tell them off and even punch them up), the softie ones like me can get very intimidated.

I never knew there are so much "weirdos" out there, including girl "weirdos" too! I had my fair share of weird girl versions when I was working. Some can be very life-threatening and nerve-wrecking too!

I was just sharing with Bert on V day that I'm glad I'm no longer in the "dating game". He is too. It can be very tiring to fend off the weird ones and equally tiring to "read" the other parties actions and minds with the normal ones. When I got married, I quickly had my name plate changed to "Mrs Theresa Yong" instead of "Ms Theresa Bong" on my office door to fend off the weirdos and other nasty "ji-ko-pak"! I was very glad of the peace I had from then on. As one of my bosses said "Now you can keep the wolves at bay!". I was surprised he was aware of the problems I had. Afterall, I guess he's an old hand in the game as he was already 50+ and greying at that time already!

A girl classmate of mine told me she met her hubby from her working place. Her method of hubby-hunting was unusual to us (we 4 good JC friends meet up once in a long while). She changes job every 2 to 3 years to hubby-hunt. After 2 - 3 years, if she can't find a suitable guy, she changes job. Sounds very drastic and tedious to us other 3 ladies. But it eventually worked out for her, so good for her.

Out of my 3 neighbours, 2 found their hubbies through their working place. Not too sure about the 3rd as they are running their own business, so I seldom if ever talk to the wife, only the husband, so how to ask the husband, yah?

For us, we'll very glad we had SDU. No second guessing the agenda or motive of the other party. Though this takes out the guessing part, I must say when I looked back on the "dating game", when you are no longer part of it, it does bring back some sweet memories...those little puppy loves and 1st crush.

I guess we girls get a share of the weird ones as in our society, the girls are generally the "targets" and its the guys who, as Bert says, holds the "flint gun". The guys shoot, and if there's a spark (at least from the guys point of view - NOT the girls!!) they pursue! Generally, the girls don't go "hunting" or at least be the 1st to tell the guy (their target) their feelings. There are of course exceptions to the rule. When I shared this with Bert, he says he finds its OK for the girl to be the 1st to tell, but of course she mustn't be "weird" in the 1st place.

Actually, I've seen this happen once, but the guy tells me it didn't work out as he didn't feel the chemistry, and I see the poor lady downcast and embarrassed. I guess it is equally devastating for guys who have to do the "hunting" and "chasing" to be put down by the ladies.

Makes us feel "worried" for our little princesses when they grow up. It's a "jungle" out there! What we can do is just to strengthen their faith and foundation in God to see them through the ups and downs in life.

Love Theresa

V day 2008..

Last nite I share with you on the my thoughts about V day...and tonite I share with you what I did for my sweetie for V day....

This morning as usual prepare for work and as usual Theresa is still sleeping except that last nite I continue to nurse Tiff to monitor her fever..so Tiff slept on our bed and Theresa slept with little Fel in the other room..

So before leaving for work this morning, I went over to the next room and decided to do something which is out of my normal routine...I decided to cover Theresa with as much kisses as possible on her till she wakes up...of course she eventually woke up from her sleep (how can she not to?) and she wish me good luck and bye, bye...She had already read my entry the nite before..so I guess she sort of figured it out the manner I woke her up unusually..I think she went back to sleep thereafter...

I had a surprised dinner prepared by Theresa tonite..she baked us a chicken filled with carrots and shitake mushroom in it and lined with potatoes...yum..yum

Today, I went back on the dot..fortunately the train was not too crowded today and reach home relatively early.
This year I have relinquish the role of giving V Day cards to the children and here are the cards we received after all the years of sacrifices and upbringing them....felt a little sense of achievement.....and here is the assortment of hand made, hand drawn cards from "Tom and Jerry" (That is what I called them sometimes...and they know why)

...and this one from Fel and it comes with a 12 sided dice bought by Fel from her school at a cost of 1dollar

...a card from Tiff

Tiring day today as dunno why boss called for a meeting of all the time...at 5pm! but fortunately it ended 10 mins before 6pm.

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed V day today and May the Almighty God be with your little families on this day and through out the days of your lives..as you continue to write your own little real "TONG HUA" (fairytale).

Good nite and God Bless!

Albert Y

DEAR LC300 LOVERS

Happy Valentine's Day ! !

To me,everyday is Valentine's Day since after my original ME weekend.I thank God for the gift of life,my spouse,my 3 kids,my beloved parents,brothers & sisters and the ME community, and all the wonderful blessing and of course our beloved LC300 lovecircle team.Happy Valentine's day again.I bought a pair of Owell theraputic bracelet and we are both happy about it.

with tons of love,

Joseph+Janice

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Dear LC300 lovely couples

We'll like to say "Thank You" for all your loving sharings during our LC meetings and particularly during our recent bereavement. - You were ALWAYS there for us! We Love You Guys!!

When God send His blessings, He always sends them abundantly. You are our blessings and angels on earth!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Don't forget to give your spouse a hug and squeeze.

Love Theresa & Albert

Feng Yu Tong Lu.....

Tomorrow is Feb 14, Valentine's day and also it is exactly 1month mum has passed on....but I prefer to blog something happy, happy on V day. Like so many of us in LC300, we have been married for quite sometime now and our journey has not ended as yet. So while we are still journeying together in this world and still have some time, let us cherish very much one another, appreciate one another and thank the Lord for the gift of one another. On this V day, it does not have to be sending expensive flowers, costly dinners, buying chocolates for one another etc. though it is OK to express your love in this form also....But we can also try to think of some simple and loving gestures that our spouse would love and appreciate very much. I am not a romantic person I must say and admit openly.....so now I am thinking quite a bit from now till tomorrow to at least say a thank you to her...sometimes it is easy to say thank you just like that but how to say it and the manner you say it is another big challenge..I am thinking hard now..and I will tell you at the end of tomorrow what I have in mind....it has been quite a tiring day for me to day...with exam invigilation duty today standing on my feet for 2 solid hours...wah tiring man! It is now about 11.30 pm gotto pray and sleep now and I will leave with the words of Feng Yu Tong Lu (Through thick and thin, we stand together or Wind or Rain Same Road (Literally translated)

Feng Yu Tong Lu
风雨同路
FENG YU TONG LU
Through Thick and Thin (Stand Together)
主唱Sang by: Michael Wong (光良)
作曲Song written by : 颜晓薇
作词Lyrics by : 吴以健/颜晓薇
Translated by : athlynn17
Pinyin by : athlynn17

并著肩迎接著挑战
Bing zhe jian ying jie zhe tiao zhan
Together we stand to welcome challenges
贡献彼此泪和汉从不伪装
Gong xian bi ci lei he han cong bu wei zhuang
Each dedication, tears and sweat are never fake
不要害怕你走得缓慢Bu yao hai pa ni zou de huan man
Don’t be afraid that you’re walking too slowly
总有一天会到
Zong you yi tian hui dao
There will be day that you’ll arrive
下一个幸福的车站
Xia yi ge xing fu de che zhan
To the next destination filled with happiness
风雨路 我们携手共渡
Feng yu lu wo men xie shou kong du
Through thick and thin, we’re holding hands together to face it
三色石 牵绊不了进度
San se shi qian ban bu liao jin du
Three-coloured stone, bonded together endlessly to the way to advancement
凭著各自坚持与领悟
Ping zhe ge ji jian chi yu ling wu
Depending on each others’ perseverance and understanding
感受互相扶持的幸福
Gan shou hu xiang fu chi de xing fu
Feel the happiness of helping each other
漫长路 庆幸你我同步
Man chang lu qing xing ni wo tong bu
The long road, Success is with me and you
三叶草 陪伴著不却步
San ye cao pei ban zhe bu que bu
Three-leaved grass, walking together in synchronicity
不同理念和方式互补
Bu tong li nian he fang shi hu bu
Different ideas and ways complementing each other
铺造一条属于我们骄傲的道路
Pu zao yi tiao shu yu wo men jiao ao de dao lu
Paving ourselves a road that will make us proud

Good nite and Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!

God Bless!

Albert Y

If you can help it, don't apply for a bank safe deposit box....and here is why...

Dear all,

I hope by this entry, everyone can learn from my experience and not to go through this.

My mum has a safe deposit box with a local bank....and to close it, is just not so simple as just like closing the box and returing the keys, like what you would normally do in returning rental lockers. Matters are more complicated than what I think coz firstly, it is under her own name ONLY.

So, naturally, being the next of kin, we would like to have a proper closure to this matter and to move on...but then according to the banking policy (quite common across all local banks) the NOK has to appoint a lawyer who in turn will apply to the court for a Letter of Administration or sometimes it is known as the Court Order or Letter of Grant or something like that. This ultimate letter issued by the court, which can take about 4 to 6 months to issue after going a series of court documents (about 10 sets in all), only then the box can be opened in the present of the lawyer, the NOK and the bank officials at a stipulated fixed time and date. The opening of this box is sometimes what they called the inventory taking of the box. Without this letter, the inventory taking of the box cannot proceed accordingly.

Now, comes to the money part. Court filing fees alone can cost the NOK $600 to $700. Now, taking lawyer professional fees, all in all, it will cost the NOK about $2500 to $ 3000 -----just to eventually open an empty box infront of few human beings in the most secured environment + airconditioned thrown in. So, if you have just only a few pieces of documents like your birth cert, whatever cert, certificate of attendance for your first-aid course and other courses etc in my opinion, keep at home lah, not unless you have drawn up a highly sensitive will which may potentially be a source of conflict among the surviving family members, then it is only right to keep it in the safe deposit box or some solid gold bars or strata titles etc.........if not don't bother to apply for one. Also not cheap, per year rental is about $160.

And yes, by the way, if you are thinking that by including joint names of your family members, you may save all this hassle....but this is only good when all parties are still alive meaning to say that any of the parties can operate the box...but the scenario changes the minute if either one of the holders to the box dies....the same procedure applies. The box will still be sealed and the above procedure still holds. I have just spoken to a lawyer...before blogging this. I may be wrong in my understanding during the conversation I had with him...but then I don't think I am that far off. I will update you all...when I go through this process eventually...this is just only the beginning///Bank accounts are treated quite differently and much simpler..I will update you all on this later on.

Gotta to go home now!
Bye for now and God Bless!

Albert Y

Just one of those nites.....never mind press on!

Sigh.....Last nite came back and straight away without taking off shoes run off to the clinic to bring Tiff to see the doc. Was tired and hungry....but then no choice lah. So reach the clinic and there were 5 patient infront of us waiting. Fortunately, Tiff took a dose of Panadol at 7pm and her temperature sort of subsided for a little while. In fact at the clinic, there she told me her temperature is already back to normal...I said never mind just see the doc and see what he says....while wating see quite a number of toddlers and I told myself how time flies so quickly thru my fingers..it was like yesterday that Tiff is like one of these toddlers...running about here and there.


We started timing how long per patient takes and the patient before us take nearly 30 mins inside!!!! I nearly faint ah! Really a test of our patience!



We got to see the doc at about 9.40pm and reach home about 10pm....dead tired and hungry....gobble down the dinner. Told Tiff, I will nurse her for the nite....so switched place...in sleeping. Tiff slept in our room and Theresa went over to sleep with little Fel. I woke up at 3am and found that Tiff temp has spiked a little at 38.5....so gave the Neurofen and she slept soundly throughout..I monitored her off and on throughout...and found she is OK....at 7am woke up to prepare for work..she told me that she feels normal and wish me bye! bye! .....she chose to read a story book (by Enid Blyton, I think,,,,those kind of like "Little Bear" by Enid Blyton books, was a bit surprised..12 year old reading this kind of books still?...never mind leave her alone.....).. in the room and I think she is OK....She is off school today and tomorrow c how lor! God will take care of it...!



Photo taken early in the morning on the departure day of my mother's maid...see how sleepy Tiff is!

God bless!

Albert Y

BZ Day these 2 days (11 & 12 Feb 08)

Dear All

It's been a crazy & BZ day these 2 days just after CNY long weekend. Feli had diarrhoea at 5am Mon (11 Feb 08) and just before going down to catch the school bus, she had to go to the toilet again. She yelled to me that her stools were watery. I rampaged thru the fridge for the diarrhoea medicine but couldn't find it..must have thrown it away as it had expired. Yelled to her to hurry and asked Tiff to go down first and stop the bus. Told Feli she had to go to school that day as I had already made appointment with my mum to do some banking errants for my parents.

Whilst at the bank, got a call from Bert that the school called him 3x. Urgent. Feli had diarrhoea and needs to go home. Quickly finished my errant, went to pharmacy to get the medicine, took cab to fetch her home, gave her medicine and the slept like a baby. Poor girl, she told me she went toilet 8x since 5am that morning before I picked her up from school.

Today (12 Feb 08), Tiff seemed alright till 7pm. She felt nauseous and ran a fever of 38.2....panick again. Bert will be back late as he went for a run. Feli just recovered from diarrhoea so dare not risk her getting any bugs from the clinic. Frustration came in as I called Bert's handphone but no reply. Tiff had no appetite. She laid down waiting for her dad to fetch her to see the doc. I had already given her panadol. She could have caught the bug from her classmate as she was nauseous this morning and was absent from school the day before. Luckily her classmate called so I spoke to her mum...she didn't have the virus bug - it was motion sickness which lasted the whole of the CNY weekend. Poor girl. At long last, Bert came back at 8:30pm. I quickly rushed him out of the door with Tiff. Dinner can wait. As I am quite weak myself (I easily catch the bug from people), I seldom bring the girls to see the doc unless there really is no choice. Anyway, normally if I bring one, the other has to tack along as there's no one to take care of them, and I try to minimise the one that is well, exposure to the virus in the clinic. Doc diagnosed that Tiff has gastric flu..and surprise, surprise, it's likely from her sister!! So now, my home is a sick-bay. Just took redoxan to boost up my immunity. And I'm sleeping with Feli to reduce my chance of catching the bug from Tiff, cos when I fall sick, Bert can't take leave and the household would be truly topsy-turvy! That's the disadvantage of being a neuclear family without a maid! What to do? Single-income so have to DIY everything yourself lah!

Love Theresa

Consolation for our dear Joseph...

Hi Joseph,

Your are certainly not alone when comes to getting summons for parking. You see last year Apr I got a summons for parking in a HDB loading and unloading bay and the fine is SGD 100/-.....I wrote in to HDB and eventually got it waived. Recently, about the time my mum passed away, I got another parking summon....this time I was very goody good...It was a sunday, so parking is free anyway, I park in designated parking lot but it just that it was a season carpark lot (i.e. those marked red in colour ones) and I got a ticket for SGD50/-. I have sent in my appeal and still waiting for a reply from the HDB...Hopefully, my appeal will go through..

To all, don't park in a season carpark lot even though there is a lot of empty ones around and even though it is a Sunday..and parking is free.

Hope that this makes you feel better and go and eat man...don't let this get in your way man!...

Albert Y

On leave after CNY….

Actually last nite I wanted to blog…....blah have to prepare for presentation for WITS meeting this morning…now meeting over, so now I can blog….
OK, yesterday I took leave to settle a couple of things…I went down to the POSB HQ at Bras Basah in the hope of having able to close the mum's safe deposit box there (the problem is that the box is under only her name)…but then reach there was told by the information counter staff (which is not really helpful) give me a one line answer which goes like “You have to get lawyer…you have to get a lawyer…you cannot just close like that!)..after getting lawyer then do what? I dunno..see how lah... So, I walked away from there without antagonizing her knowing maybe she is not the good mood.. just come back to work after CNY. I walked away from there feeling lost of dunno what to do…I stood at the traffic light just to think of where to find a lawyer..then called my “life counselor”, Theresa, and she advised me this … Aiya don’t waste your leave lah…just go to Jurong house and clear the things there…lawyer can find some other time..Yeah hor! Why I didn’t think of that?
So I put that behind me and proceed to Jurong house thru the MRT and spend 3 solid hours there just clearing junk…and while clearing I have come to understood how museums come about in this world…here is why.....
A 1990 bus guide…ever wondered where were you in 1990?

Our church wedding booklet in 1993...

and the Two shall become One...

A 1994 Straits Times calendar…what was I doing in 1994…er…let me see…
A 1997 Yellow pages still in crisp condition….year of asian financial crisis..
There are many more artefacts unearthed there in my little archeological expedition there but space constraint does not permit me to display my wares at this moment. So you see, I have actually built a museum in Jurong and I am the curator of this museum.
Next, the big thing….how to take this 8 floors down and ship from west to the east…I still have not come to that yet..(You know, I aspire to be like Michael Guang Liang (the Ipoh boy), you know...just kidding....)

Memories of mum came to me again…inevitably…Here is where my mum used to sleep ( When mum is alive, I make sure that this corner is well ventilated and bright free from all dust..I have disposed off her bed since..)

…and here is where my mum used to sit and rest whenever she has her tube feeds
…now it just all memories which explains why I am not able to stay in this house..it keeps coming back to me…I know mum like this house very much (she has repeatedly ask me not to sell this house) so we have decided to rent it out…instead.

There are still a lot of things to clear…but I am just taking it easy. Towards, 3pm, left Jurong for the east coz we decide to tried out our little prize (the hotplate we won, remember? ) and have STEAMBOAT….and here is the spread…wow! Wow!...

From their faces, I think it is a success…(BTW, that is fake crying face on Felicia..actually she enjoyed the steamboat very much)..pardon my sleepy face coz when I reach home, I slept for 2 hours and this photo was taken shortly after I woke up from bed...
..and here is my sweetie with the rest of the little princesses...(P.S. Notice all of them, their foreheads is quite completely covered...female version of Jay Chou?)

Here is me feeding the raw materials into this thermal batch reactor..you need to agitate it at the right r.p.m. to have perfect broth.

...and here is the assortment of noodles that we have…I share half of the noodle with my sweetie (cannot eat too much nowadays…old already)

Nice and beautiful dinner and thank the Lord for it……feeling sleepy but still have to prepare for presentation for WITS meeting the next day.....before zzzz...

Albert Y