Get Together With Buddies From Down Under

If i am as lucky as my friend Karen, i would be a mother of 3, the eldest being 9 years old and the youngest being 7 months already. Well, Karen, Steven & family are back from Melbourne for their 2 months vacation. Karen's mom just got the keys to the new Punggol Flat 2 weeks ago and thus, they are busy helping auntie to do up the house right now.

It's been a long time since we met up. I think the last was probably 4 - 5 years back when i accompanied bro to melbourne when he first went to Monash University. The gals have grown up and Jolene, the second daughter is just like Tracy, Karen's sis when i looked at the photo. She was already asleep when i went over just now but by just taking a peep at her, well .... i really couldn't recognise her. She was just a toddler when i saw her previously.

Met up for supper with them, together with my old pal Carrie. The last time when i met her, well, it was 4 - 5 years back. Only realised just now that she is currently doing her part-time Masters in international marketing at RMIT and working. She was telling us how excited she is that she's transferred to handle asia-pacific region, instead of Europe market. This means that she gets to travel to Melbourne since the new furniture store is opening there soon. Gives her the extra opportunity to visit karen & family.

Looking forward to meet up with them again tomorrow evening when we bring the kids to Night Safari. It's just so good to spend time together with them. I remember when i first went over to Melbourne to study, i was staying with Karen & Steven for a good 3 weeks before i shifted out. We had a good conversation in the car just now and wow .... both of them have known eachother for a good 17 years.

Each time i meet them, the question and thought of moving to Australia will definedly cross my mind. It made me wonder ..... do i really want to stay in Singapore? The pace is definedly slower there and in a way, u have a more relaxed life. Unlike here where u work really hard and slog like crazy. Sigh!

Baby Sean

Yeap! Finally the latest family member has arrived and that's non-other than Sean Yong.



Congrats Nic & Jo.

Finally Over

Am really glad that the show is over. It's like being able to get on with life once again. The past few days and weeks haven't been easy at all. Complains and well, compliments ..... not sure which is more. Óf the many fairs which i have handled, this is one which i actually looked forward to the ending before it has begun. It is also one of the most complicated in terms of sponsors involvement and working with well, some very particular people which can drive me nuts.

There have been many frustrations and i think i've probably burnt off quite abit of brain cells while solving the numerious problems which have cropped up.

Had an enjoyable time while joking and catching up with Sean, his new colleague, Serene, Siu Siu during lunch today. Got to know eachother more on the personal level. A pity that Sean is moving back to his old portfolio while Siu Siu, the ever bubbly little gal is going back to her studies. Will miss Estella too who's moving on. Afew less work kaki. Sigh! It's just life.

Paris, Je táime

Finally, had the chance to watch Paris, je táime. Was suppose to watch it on sat nite but tickets were all sold out. The two hour french film consists of eighteen five-minute arrondissements (written and directed by different people). The film had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 last year.



The film speaks of romantic encounters taking place in various spots of the capital. Each short, running five minutes, bears the hallmark of great international filmmakers. In the credits of this atypical collective film, celebrating both love and the art of cinema, appear the names of actors as prestigious as Natalie Portman, Gena Rowlands, Elijah Wood, Ben Gazzara, Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Catherine Deneuve.

Each director had to tell the story of a romantic encounter in one of Paris' arrondissements in under five minutes, and on a relatively tight budget. Through the neighbourhoods of Paris, love is veiled, revealed, imitated, sucked dry, reinvented and awakened.

After watching this, i'm looking forward to more good foreign films in the upcoming film festival already. If u enjoy foreign films, this is recommended. Go watch it!

Meeting The Celebrity Twins

I finally had the chance to meet May & Choi during the opening ceremony on friday coz. Robin invited them as Guests. So naturally, my colleagues and me were looking forward to seeing them. But well, i don't know much about them except that they were twins and are MTV VJs.

They are really tall and quite a babe. Robin's fav is Choy coz. he said she is friendlier. Anyway, i actually had the opportunity to work with them for an event next month but latter changed it to Irene Ang & possibly Amy Cheng. Coz. not too sure if the twins will be suitable.

For today, met Paul Twohill and Emilee Kang from Singapore Idol 2006 plus Moses Lim. Let's see who i'll meet tomorrow. OK! These are the more interesting bits of my job. But trust me ... it doesn't happen everyday.

STRESSED is Desserts Spelt Backwards

A friend pointed out to me last night that STRESSED is desserts spelt backwards when i mentioned that i have been feeling very stressed @ work. I've never come to realise it in the past but this has indeed made me see the lighter side of 'stress'.

Another friend asked me how i handle it. For me, i draw strength from the Lord. And to think of it now, no wonder i love desserts. Mere coincidence? Or Not? Anyway, it's just one more stressful week to go before life is back to normal.

But well, it's really important that we rise above the challenges of stress, enjoy the desserts of life and overcome it with humour, hope and courage.

God is Good, All The Time

Last week, i did something for the Lord which puts my heart to complete ease and peace. It was something which i have been struggling with for a long time. And just afew days later, God blesses me in return with something unexpected. Wow! God is indeed good, all the time.

Being Survivors

So May is not going to be a mother afterall. She had a miscarriage @ 7 weeks. I can never forget the tears in her eyes when i walked to her desk to ask her why she was in the office when she was suppose to be on MC. After some moments, she turned to me and said "It's Gone". Her expression was the total opposite of her usual bubbly, sanguine self. I was totally speechless, caught by surprise.

Different people go through various ordeals in their life. Some emerged as winners in their own right and became a stronger person. It's a journey of self discovery and of course, many heartbreaking moments too. Whilst others, it takes a long time, even a lifetime to get over it. The sense of guilt, betrayal, devastation and feeling that the world was crashing down. That's inevitable. Afterall, we are all humans.

Her miscarriage reminded me of a very dear friend who went through the same ordeal some 5 years ago. I can still remember the tears, the heartache, the cries. The whole scenario was so vivid. I think i still kept the email print-out from her sharing with me on the whole experience. In short, it was tramatic. During this time, she held on to God for strength and it was the Lord that pulled her out of the valley of darkness. Right now, she's a happy mother of 2 boys.

Last week was totally strange too. Things were not doing well for several friends. One of which is Baby Jadyn who is still in hospital. Went to visit her on friday and she feels just so uncomfortable and unwell. Doris looks extremly tired too. I can only pray and ask that God will heal her completly soon and keep the parents healthy. Hope that she will be well soon.

Will be praying for those friends in need. On the happier and more joyful side of things, i am grateful for God's providence in my life which he never fails. I had a good time of praying during last friday's CPM. Was reminded to move forward and not remain in the past. And also, a reminder of God's directions in my life. It's just so good to put time aside on a friday nite to come before the Lord and not be anywhere else.

Life Is Full Of Surprises

Life is full of surprises. Sometimes u love it, at times u simply hate it. I hate it when i wake up in the morning only to be greeted by the unexpected (bad news i mean).

Just this sunday morning, i was looking forward to attending sunday service. I wanted to make it early for morning prayer meeting. After all, there were so many things in my heart which i wanted to pray about. I wanted to spend some quality time with God. My heart was heavy-hearted. Afterall, i have been deprived of spending personal time with God due to the packed itinerary during the recent holiday in China.

Well, when i opened my door ready to leave for nexus, mom told me that Uncle TT had heart/chest pain and was admitted to NUH for observation and further check-up. Many thoughts and questions just ran through my head. Please God! He has always been in the pink of health and has been an avid golfer in the past. Why why? Let it not be the beginning of another awlful chapter for me or my family. At that moment, i could just imagine my auntie and their friends coming together to pray for uncle TT as they were strong believers in christ.

Just came home after choir practice. Bro told me that he visted uncle TT with Dad in the hospital this afternoon. He just had his surgery but looked fine when they visited him. Apparently, he had blood clots and one of his artery was blocked.

I just pray and ask that God will heal him completly and pray for good health for all in the family. Also pray for May, my colleague who is on 2 days MC due to bleeding (she's just pregnant).

Zoe's New Friend: Charlotte

Some of you know Zoe. Like what her mommy says, this is her first CNY and she looks pretty in pink when i went to pick her up on the first day the lunar new year. We were going to visit her new friend, Charlotte @ NUH.

This is Zoe's new friend, Charlotte.



Charlotte's mommy gave Zoe an ang bao. Our dear friend knows how to hold it by herself. Smart gal!



Charlotte was just 2 days old when we visited her. Hmm! Seems that she can't wait to join us for the lunar new year celebrations. Zoe turns exactly 6 months that day. So, here's a picture of Zoe and her new friend.



Congratulations Alvin & Cheryl.

(Well, just hang on Zoe & Charlotte. Sean will be arriving soon.)

Trip to Ancestor's Hometown - Hainan, China (Day 5 & 6)

Day 5 (25 Feb)
We left Sanya this morning for Haikou. It will be a long journey. We passed by the Beauty Crown Cultural Centre and the driver told us that this was the place where Miss Universe was held.

Arrived @ Haikou at around 12.30pm today from Sanya. Last nite, we had a quick dinner @ McDonalds. This morning, we also had McDonalds breakfast. Apparently, it was the first experience for Yan, (Jiang's wife) and the driver. To us, it's cheap. But to them, we understood that it's too expensive. They are unable to afford.
Hmm ... it just reminds me how fortunate we are.



When we arrived in Haikou, we spotted Carrefour, Pizza Hut, KFC and many big shopping malls. Suddendly, civilisation and urbanisation seems to quickly creep back. The big brands which we saw on the signboards was like ... wow .... we can relate to that.

In the evening, it was meeting with relatives from Haikou. Yeap ... more relatives. It was only after dinner that the driver brought us to what we call a 'nite tour' of Haikou. Grandma love this tour best coz. it doesn't require her to get out of the vehicle at all. This is the haikou bridge & it's nite scenery. Beautiful! But i think i enjoy the nice cool weather more.




Day 6 (26 Feb)
It's the day to go home. I enjoyed the trip tremendously and i only wish that my cousin Lynn and afew others could join us. It would have been perfect. It was also funny or like what auntie soo said ... erie.

Before we boarded the plane, dad asked the crew members if it was a full flight and they said yes. But it turned out that everyone had chosen their own seats (coz. it's tiger airways) and the only one left is next to Grandma. And guess what she said ... oh .. maybe grandpa (who has passed on abt 20 years back) is seating next to her and protecting us. That's why no one is seating next to her. Ha ha! My grandma can surely joke man!