Happy Leap Year!

Today is a very special day for it comes once in every 4 years. That's the reason why I wake up early to blog. Gonna spend this day meaningfully and hope to have lots of good memories. So, everyone have fun and stay healthy. Moreover, it's TGIF! Let's party....

Went for a swim last evening. On my way home, I recieved a call from Nokia Service Centre to say that my phone was ready for collection. Good gracious! I rushed down without hestitation. Luckily I brought my warranty card along as they wanted to charge me $26.50. I asked them what was wrong with my phone and they replied, 'Programme corrupted'. Whatever, I am happy to have it back and spent the whole night updating the calendar.

Phone camera faulty

It's all quiet on the Eastern Front. Peaceful. Err...... except that I sent in my Nokia N73 for servicing. Complaint : phone camera goes back to main display when switch on. Luckily, it's still under warranty. Meantime, I am trying to get used to Fyn's old phone Nokia (sorry, don't know what model number, hehe..). Please do not expect me to reply your sms for this phone is meant for making and recieving calls only. Fyi, my Nokia N73 phone should be back in 3 t0 5 days' time.


You have, we also have....


That's Teddy, Patrick's cat.


That's Armani, our block's cat.

What's the buzz.... 25 Feb 2008

I am feeling restless. Me and Margaret are looking for a short trip abroad to relax ourselves but everywhere we enquired is expensive. A 5D Ho Chi Minth city tour would cost about $800+ while a 4D Cebu holiday would cost about $800. Maybe China is cheaper. Gosh! I was quoted $1100 for a 7D Kunming/Dali/Lijang trip. The quotations make us more tense instead. Maybe we have to give up the whole idea unless something good comes along.
My mother will be collecting the keys to her new place at Block 90 Commonwealth Avenue on 10 March 2008. With a supermarket, food court and shops just below her block, I believe she would adapt quickly to her new enviroment.

Chingay Floats in Toa Payoh

Double Celebrations

Joesph and grandson Jeffrey

Birthday greetings to Joseph (22 Feb 2008) and Jeffrey (23 Feb 2008). Celebrated their birthdays with a chinese dinner at Block 203 Toa Payoh North last night. Cheers!




Joesph and Anna

Moving on...

CNY 2008 is over. Attended Patrick's CNY dinner with Margaret at Commonwealth Cresent last night. Had a final 'lo hei' and hope the year ahead would be a good one. Heng heng. In between the celebrations this festive season, I was introduced to this western food outlet ASTONS Express at Serangoon Garden. Located in one of the coffee shops there, it serves quality food like beef steak, grille herbal fish, pork chop, etc. Though the price is a little exorbitant, it's still worth it. Check it out!







I am clearing my annual leave these few days. Coincidentally. I was offered some Yongmao placement shares and it started trading yesterday. The price has gone up a little but it's below my expectation. Big money, I want big money....

Hong Hiao Group CNY Dinner

Clockwise: Neo, Tuah Kiat, Pipi, Christina, Winston, Kevin, Lee Hoon, Adeline, Gina.

Venue: window on e park restaurant (proposed by Winston)
Date: 18 February 2008 (18 in Cantonese means 'sure to prosper')
Time: 7 pm sharp
Tuah Kiat and Neo were the first to arrive and by 7 pm, almost all of us were there. We started the evening with a 'fatt choy yusheng' and it's probably our 3rd or 4th 'lo hei' this year. Huat ah!
I can't remember the last time Adeline attended our gathering. It must be many years ago. Talking to everybody, it's nice to hear that everyone is doing well. We exchanged jokes, 'websites', songs, videos, etc. For those who dare to offend us, you better think twice for Gina is working in a renown law firm. LOL.
Special thanks to Lee Hoon for putting so much effort to make this dinner a success. It's regretable that a few were absent. And yes! Did I hear you wrongly? A karaoke session somewhere next month. Rock on!
P.S. Pipi, you better practising. Haha....

Out of FA Cup!

Holy shit! Manchester United thrashed Arsenal 4 goals to nil in a FA Cup tie at Old Trafford this morning. No doubt Arsene Wenger declared that he was down to bare bones where players were concerned, there's no excuse for this humiliating defeat. This match is best forgotten and a better performance on Wednesday when they entertain AC Milan in the Champions League Knockout Rounds 1st leg would savage some pride.

Just a few more days before the Chinese New Year ends. Chia with his wife in tow, bought me, Leslie and Ah Song dinner last night. Glad that not only does he doing well in Shanghai, he is going to a first time father too. Kudos!
For the record, Meng Chuang and Jason could not make it at the last minute.

Happy Valentine Day 2008

Happy Valentine Day! May I wish you ' love and happiness' always. May your love one treasures and loves you more each day. This year, me and Margaret were left to celebrate ourselves as our children had their own programmes. Well, it's the first time we celebrated without them after all these years. Got to get use to it and accept that they have already grown up. Btw, we had dinner at Sketches pasta and wine restaurant this evening. It's long overdue and we enjoyed the pastas a lot. Slurp...

Tight schedule

Welcome home, Chia Choon Yong. Hope we can have a meal before you go back to Shanghai this weekend. And yes! Thank you to all my friends for those CNY wishes, be it sms, calls, whatever. It's really nice to keep in touch and celebrate this festive season together.
Well, my New Year is not complete till my Malaysian friends return after the 'Ti Gong Festival' i.e. on the 9th day of the New Year. Not forgetting Serene and Francis Soh who will be back from Melbourne this Sunday.
Just a reminder. Tomorrow is the 7th day of the New Year. To the Cantonese, it's 'Birthday Celebration for everyone.' The day after, 14 Feb 2008, Valentine Day. Busy, gonna be very busy......

'Lo Hei 2008'

Huat Ah! We had our first 'Lo Hei' of the year at Baywater Seafood Restaurant, courtesy of Go Sports LLP. It's an annual event on the 3rd day of CNY. Absent this year were PK and family, Patrick and family and Smily as they had other commitments. We were surprised to meet Thomas and family when alighting the bus. We were on the upper deck and they, on the lower deck all the while.
Dinner couldn't start in time as Selina and Kevin Teo were late for about 20 minutes. We had a good laugh when everyone started to clap and snap pictures when they arrived. Guess it was their wedding rehearsal.
Well, the main event of the dinner was the 'Lo Hei'. As you can see from the pictures, everyone lifted the salad as high as possible for good luck and prosperity. The joke of the night was the dish of noodles. A few of us ate and commented that it was worst than our home cooked instant noodles. We brought it to the attention of a lady whom we believed to be the manager. She brought the dish back after realising that they had forgotten the gravy. Haha...
Overall the dinner was okay. We enjoyed the chilli crab. Once again, thanks for the invitation. Huat ah!

Sheryl many first(s)

Celebrate good times, come on! The day started with Sheryl visited us at noon and joined us for lunch. Afternoon was spent recuperating at home from the previous day hectic schedule. Evening began with Smily bringing Sheryl over to his maternal grandmother for the New Year visit. Joesph (Smily's maternal grandfather) was at home too. Since this is their first introduction, he enquired about her.
We proceeded to my sister's place at Holland Road after that. Guess she must be 'excited' for Smily's paternal grandmother, uncles, aunties and cousins were there. I was greeted by my nieces and nephews the moment I stepped in. Not because I was popular but they needed a banker. Yes, another gambling session. Manner wise, I went to greet my mum, brothers, sisiter and in-laws before giving in to these grown up kids' demand.


( I used my handphone second camera to monitor my in-laws who were sitting behind me when I was the banker. LOL )

Smily, with Margaret and Fyn in tow, introduced Sheryl to all family members. They joined in the gambling session too. As for Fyn, like what my mother observed, she was pretty reserved. At about 6.30pm, all of us proceeded to the pool deck for a buffet dinner. Besides my family, Jessie, Eddie and Peizhi had invited their business associates, relatives and friends too. When darkness fell, they were about more than a hundred guests. Thanks for the invitation.