Another pre-CNY ang pow

A damn busy week in my work. Apologies to my 'kakis' for not being able to have coffee with you all. I promise to show up should there be any Lunar New Year gatherings.

Margaret was excited and happy when she recieved a cheque of $1500 from a local bank. At the last CNY period, we put in a small amount in their structured deposit promotion. In fact, we were talking about it recently and couldn't be bothered to check the status. The reason is simple : we didn't expect much. As the saying goes, "it's easier for money to find you than you going around looking for money." That's another pre-CNY ang pow. The God of Fortune has arrived! Believe there's more to come. :)

Happy birthday Margaret!

Happy birthday to my dearest wife, Margaret. She celebrated with her colleagues with an Italian lunch this afternoon. They bought her a birthday cake too. As it is a working day today, we could only celebrate with her in the evening. In attendance were me, Smily, Fyn and Sheryl. We had dinner in a Japanese restuarant at Novena Square as per the birthday girl's wish. Me, Margaret and Sheryl enjoyed the assorted sashimi that came with our bento sets. Gosh, the last time I had it was months ago. Both Smily and Fyn have no appetite for this delicacy and they ordered their sets without it. Apparently, Sheryl was first introduced to us at Margaret's celebration last year. Happy 1st Anniversary to her too. Cheers!

My early Ang Pow

Luck is on my side. I gave up my Aria 12-string guitar for its' tuning knobs and strings were rusty. Moreover, 2 strings broke. I bought this guitar for $150 after a 50% discount in the late '70s. Left it in the Utility Room after I bought a classical guitar for Fyn a few years back.
Yesterday, I was packing the room and decided to throw it away. Margaret suggested otherwise i.e. sell it to the karung guni man. I doubt the karung guni man would want even if I give it to him for free. So, I brought it to the Cash Converter this evening. Guess what? They gave me $35 for that guitar. In fact, I asked for $50-70. Anyway, it's an early ang pow for me for this coming CNY. Cai Shen Dao!!!

Getting ready for CNY ' 08

11 more days to Chinese New Year. Oink, oink! Mr Piggy is going back soon afterwhich it's the begining of a new zodiac cylcle. Yes, Brother Rat will lead the way beginning 7 Feb 2008.
Since there's no Spring season in Singapore, we will give Spring Cleaning a miss. Haha, what a good excuse! Jokes aside, we still need to clean up our place to welcome the coming New Year for good luck, health and prosperity. God of Fortune bless homes which are clean and tidy. By the way, we bought new bedsheets for our children and ourselves. Talking to Fyn the other day, she is still looking for a new pair of shoes. As for Smily, another long sleeve shirt would complete his New Year's attire.

Back to the pool

I feel good! Finally, went to the pool with Margaret last evening. Surprisingly. I swam 20 laps with several breaks of course. We hope to be back in the pool at least once a week in order to maintain our fitness. By the way, I have slimmed down a kilo or two. It's rather encouraging. Will continue to watch my diet. Dieting rocks!

Thaipusam 2008

We would like to wish our Hindu friends 'Happy Thaipusam'.

My late father brought me and my younger brother to the Tank Road Temple to watch the procession of this festival many years ago. I must be somewhere about 8 years old. I was fascinated by those devotees carrying the kavadis. From then on, I have the tradition of watching the celebrations annually. There were few years where I missed the procession due to work. I felt so sad.

I went down to the temple after work today. It gave me a 'high' to watch those devotees dancing with their kavadis on and to the beat of the Indian drum and music. I admire them for their faith, devotion and spiritual strength. They started their journey from Serangoon Road and walk all the way bare footed to Tank Road. When they reached the temple entrance, they danced all the way into the temple to pay their respect and give thanks to Lord Muruga for his blessing. Mission accomplished. Congrats!

Beautiful Sunday....

Nowadays, everyone is busy. That includes my children. Hardly have an opportunity to have a meal together, weekend inclusive. Fyn is occupied with her Track and Field training while Smily, busy with girlfriend lah. Good thing is that they find time to visit my mother whenever I reminded them to. They visit their maternal grandmother regularly too.

We had dinner at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre after visiting their paternal grandma yesterday. While waiting for the Shanghainese Dumplings and Noodle, Fyn ordered a cup of Teh Peng ( Ice milk tea ). Much to our surprise, it was served in a mug and the colour of the tea didn't look right. You don't need to taste to tell that it taste horrible.


Teh Peng?

After dinner, we proceed to Isetan Scotts for the Hokkaido Fair. Sheryl joined us there. As all of us are seasoned food samplers ( thick skin ), me and Margaret noticed that Sheryl was quite shy to ask for samples. Probably, it's a weird experience for her. Haha! In the end, Margaret bought a packet of cheese sticks. The miso ramen was out of stock and we may need to go down another day to get a few packets.

Hokkaido Fair

The Hokkaido Fair returns to Isetan Scotts. I enjoyed the food samplings like frozen cheese cream, cheese cake, miso ramen, japanese fish cake, etc. I bought a few cakes of facial charcoal/horse oil soap the last time and was surprise that each piece can last about 4 months. Don't forget to try the dried scallop should you visit the fair. Happy food sampling.

Chinese New Year is around the corner. Me and Margaret have started to shop for new clothing. To date, I bought an orange polo-shirt and Margaret, a blueish grey top. We leave our children to shop on their own. Well, need to visit my mum this weekend to give her the fish maw for the CNY steamboat and the few tubes of muscle relaxing cream.

What's the buzz.... 17 Jan 2008

Fm L - R: Me, May, Serene and Nora.

I managed to catch up with Serene, her daughter May and Nora last evening. We had coffee at a cafe in Paragon. She must have enjoyed all the good food here for she has put on weight. Anyway, hope she enjoys her stay here.

Oh ladies........ can't get enough? Well, two night of hunks on Deal or No Deal for a change. Haha! First of its kind. Interesting. Also, the return of America Idol Season 7. It's rather disturbing to watch with so many lunatics at the audition. Wonder how Randy, Paula and Simon survive through this period?

New Orchard Station Entrance

New Orchard Station Entrance

Today marks the opening of the Orchard Station new entrance and Ponggal, an Indian Harvest Festival.

These 2 days, I am blessed with a bit of luck and everything seems to go my way. Hope it will stay a bit longer so that I can achieve what I planned for my career. I called my friends to chat and was surprised that from every conversation, I learned something from them.

Serene Yip and her family are still in town and will be going back to Melbourne on 19 Jan 2008. Will be meeting up with her the next few days for she need to pass me those muscle relaxing cream and gel which I ordered for my mother.

Haircut Day

Me, at the hair salon

Pretty busy this weekend especially yesterday. We got out of our house at about 9 in the morning and came back at 8.30 in the evening. The 3 of us went to JB to have our haircut. Margaret dyed her hair too. Had a late Japanese lunch after which Margaret proceeded to her footspa. Me and Fyn went window shopping. Our last destination was City Square which host a CNY Bazzar at the Atrium selling new year goodies. This particular stall, Mr Sotong, attracted us with their 'reasonable' titbits price. It was a bit late when we realised that the price was not per kilo but per 500 gram. Somehow we managed to convince the seller to reduce half the quantity we ordered. Well, a lesson learned. Anyway, we bought a kilo of BBQ dried chicken meat.

While on our way home, my eldest brother Thomas called to say that he is coming over. He came with his wife, Jeanette, to collect the few packets of fish maw which Margaret bought for them. Understand my neice Selina is getting married on 18 March 2008. CONGRATS!

In fact, before their arrival, Patrick brought over the box of fishes which he bought for us at Pontain. Guess these fishes can last us through the new year. Btw, I like the rambutans he gave us. Fresh, crunchy and not so sweet. Thanks!!

Fyn at her favourite chicken restaurant, Kenny Rodgers

Juz chat lah...

Hey, keep a distance!

Today is Islamic New Year 1429. Happy New Year to all our Muslim friends.

With the holidays over, life is back to normal. Fyn returns to her college and CCA training. Smily cleared his annual leave, returns to office. Margaret, as usual, comes home tired out. And me? Wah lau, very bored with my job. I have a gut feeling that Year 2008 would be a better one. May not have the luck now but may come in the year of the Rat. Definitely. Huat ah....

So far, so good. My mum is happy with her Burmese maid. Hope it remains that way. I could sense that she is quite concern with all her grandchildren ( from the eldest to the youngest). As usual, I lend her a listening ear and advise her to relax and take care of herself first. To all her grandchildren, I have only this to say. Though you may have forgotten her due to your busy lifestyle but she still have you in her heart. Please visit her whenever you can and you will never know what her blessing could bring.

It rained for the past few evenings. So, can't go the pool yet. Promise myself, next week. Haha!

Chocolate

OMG! I put on weight during the X'mas and New Year festive season. Wasn't aware until my friends pointed out to me. Of course, I am not proud to be rounded. Moreover, it's not healthy. Okay, no more chocolate log cake, Rocher, etc. In fact, I am cutting down on carbo too. Hopefully, I can go down a few kilos so that I can eat a little bit more on the coming Lunar New Year. :)
Besides watching my diet, I need to drag myself to the pool. Guess I am getting lazy. The last time I swam was about 2 months ago. Sigh! Need to start all over again to build up my stamina. Well, it has been raining for the past few evenings. Haha... that's a good excuse for a lazy bum like me.

What's the buzz.... 5 Jan 2008

David Beckham an Arsenal player? No, he has joined up with the Arsenal squad in preparation for the start of the domestic season in the United States. I am sure he will be in good shape when he returns.

Thank goodness. I had an easy and relaxing working life last year though the market was buzzing. I think it's high time for me to pick up this year should a good opening comes along. Up, up, up. Everything has gone up. With the Lunar New Year around the corner, it's going to head further North. An advice from a good friend on how to beat inflation: DO NOT SPEND UNNECESSARILY.

Juz for laugh

New Year greetings

I have been sending and receiving New Year text greetings for the past 3 days. Most of them in English while a few in Chinese. Some were in 'funny' format.

I sent a text greeting to this childhood friend of mine. It's been almost a year since we last met at a gathering the previous Lunar New Year. He returned my greeting thru a sms text with 'God blessed new year'. Huh? That was exactly what he wrote. Till now I am still very puzzled by what that meant. Since it's the New Year, I 'll take the message in good spirit as ' God bless you'. :)

OK, this is another one. I sent another greeting to an engineer and expected a return greeting from him. Instead I received a mere 'Thank You'. Gosh! Guess he simply love to receive and refuse to give. Even in words. Bet he can be a very successful businessman. LOL.

Happy New Year 2008

Happy New Year Everyone !
May our 2008 be joyous, successful and fulfilling. Good health and abundant of wealth too.

Back to school. Those of schooling age will reunite with their classmates when school reopens tomorrow. Guess they have enjoyed enough from their long vacation. Study hard.

Arsenal fans, don't forget that there is a match against West Ham tonight at 11 pm. :)