Growing up, I must say I am a super good kid. No bad company, no average grades and no undue heartaches for my parents. Afterall, I've learnt to be ultimately responsible for the welfare of my younger siblings and I understood submission equals respect for my parents.
The only act of rebellion would be having my own beliefs. I had as a young child of about 7 heard the gospel at a playground and it struck a deep note deep within my soul. Somehow, i just believe that there is God and there is only one of it and that God created everything!!!!! Eventually in my early teens I rebelled against "being forced to hold joss sticks and burn incense papers and visiting temples where many would kneel to pray to idols fashioned by human beings themselves".
When I told my mum i wanted to be a Christian, she slapped me so hard on the cheeks that I bled and the taste of my own blood was most disgusting!!!! It was persecution so to speak. For a few years in my secondary school days I had every bible thrashed by my mum and every "friend" scrutinised including a Roger from TK Tech whom I had a crush on!!!! Roger had brought me to his church then Fishermen of Christ where I heard my first sermon in Mandarin. John 15. However, I had BBC to thank for the live worship and sermons broadcast that I often tune in to. Many christian friends in school also studied the bible and prayed with me during lunch. My faith only grew stronger and became more deep rooted through the years, after all, I am the type that commits to the path I had chosen.
Though my heartcry is always wanting to learn music and fine art, I did obtain the accountancy degree that my parents wanted much. In the 80s, its almost every parents' dream that their kids will go to university and become doctors, lawyers, accountants and engineers. Artistic development were not encouraged for fear that these pursuits would derail the plans to getting the all too necessary paper qualifications essential for financial and material well-being.
Sometimes I wished I had studied music, art and french in my youth instead of memorising loads of information which I had scarcely any passion in. Accountancy and math were the most challenging to me followed by the super dry legal studies. Notwithstanding the fact of my lack of passion, God enabled me to excel in my studies and make my parents proud. My only consolation lies in my own endless pursuits of art, music and french, largely self taught that made minute progress during the holidays.
Home-schooling Rachel allows us to help her develop in areas where she has passion. Even as I try to blog, at this very minute my beloved kid had proceed on to practice her violin after she had played on the piano, all on her own accord. Usually I would drop everything I do, except cooking and supervise her playing but today, I just decide to take a backseat, and "see" what her level of enthusiasm and self-motivation is like since she is not yet 5.
Indeed, she continues to amaze me being able to focus and be disciplined in what she does. She likes to attend classical concerts and recitals with me and had on more than one occasion told me that she want to be an artiste when she grows up. (both art and music). I know God our Father will bless her in every way. Amen
Monday, 26 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Most Expensive Magazine Ever.
Hi all, today I bought THE most expensive magazine ever in my life. The Strad, special edition VIOLIN HEROES. Its S$34.90!!!!!
This special issue features exclusive interviews of some of my current favourite violinists Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Maxim Vengerov and Anne Sophie Mutter to name a few and that's not all, included are original articles as way back as 1896 concerning THEIR violin heroes like Eugene Ysaye, Issac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, George Enescu and Fritz Kreisler and more. GOD!!!! What a wonderful reference for my forever growing music library of cds, dvds, books and scores!!!!!!! How can any serious, aspiring violin student, youth or adult resist such a God send material!!!
I like to think about the "family tree", those stories of great teachers who not only passed on their formidable skills and imparted the passion of the art of violin playing. In fact, I had in my own library books after books on violin mastery. My favourite "teacher" is Leopold Auer who taught Efrem Zimbalist, Mischa Elman, Jasha Heifeitz (who looked a bit like my late grandpa who played the chinese violin or erhu) and Toscha Seidel amongst others and out of these famous players came many generations of well sought after teachers who are currently head and directors of many a conservatories.
Even my beloved David Garrett had had many great teachers. As a youth he learnt from Ida Haendal, whose major influence was George Enescu. And while at Julliard School in New York, David's teacher, the legendary Itzhak Perlman named David Oistrakh, Fritz Kreisler, Nathan Milstein and also Jasha Heifetz as major influences in his playing. Indeed great teachers produced great pupils who went on and became SUPERSTAR violinists.
Then my thoughts went to my first and current teacher Amy. She's younger than me and performs mainly easy listening pieces for functions, teaches kids as young as 2 and adults and is a violin collector as well. I feel blest already. To be able to relate to a teacher as a friend. Amy subsequently became Rachel's teacher as well and taught her even when she was still a screaming, tantrum throwing toddler under 3.
Time flies. It's been 2 years since that fateful afternoon July 2007, at the Paragon shopping centre where Yan had asked me to take Rachel to that "Free" album promotion event. Words aren't enough to say that I was totally blown away, by David Garrett's sheer good looks, model built and the beautiful, enchanting melodies from his heart stopping US$4m Stradivari named San Lorenzo. Dare i say, his super performances transformed, inspired and empowered me, a full time home-maker, to courgeously take up violin lessons and start the muscial life journey that I had always wanted as a child but did not had the support of parents and resources in my youth.
My life is never the same again. Thank you Jesus! Yan and David, you two, my sincere gratitude.
This special issue features exclusive interviews of some of my current favourite violinists Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Maxim Vengerov and Anne Sophie Mutter to name a few and that's not all, included are original articles as way back as 1896 concerning THEIR violin heroes like Eugene Ysaye, Issac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, George Enescu and Fritz Kreisler and more. GOD!!!! What a wonderful reference for my forever growing music library of cds, dvds, books and scores!!!!!!! How can any serious, aspiring violin student, youth or adult resist such a God send material!!!
I like to think about the "family tree", those stories of great teachers who not only passed on their formidable skills and imparted the passion of the art of violin playing. In fact, I had in my own library books after books on violin mastery. My favourite "teacher" is Leopold Auer who taught Efrem Zimbalist, Mischa Elman, Jasha Heifeitz (who looked a bit like my late grandpa who played the chinese violin or erhu) and Toscha Seidel amongst others and out of these famous players came many generations of well sought after teachers who are currently head and directors of many a conservatories.
Even my beloved David Garrett had had many great teachers. As a youth he learnt from Ida Haendal, whose major influence was George Enescu. And while at Julliard School in New York, David's teacher, the legendary Itzhak Perlman named David Oistrakh, Fritz Kreisler, Nathan Milstein and also Jasha Heifetz as major influences in his playing. Indeed great teachers produced great pupils who went on and became SUPERSTAR violinists.
Then my thoughts went to my first and current teacher Amy. She's younger than me and performs mainly easy listening pieces for functions, teaches kids as young as 2 and adults and is a violin collector as well. I feel blest already. To be able to relate to a teacher as a friend. Amy subsequently became Rachel's teacher as well and taught her even when she was still a screaming, tantrum throwing toddler under 3.
Time flies. It's been 2 years since that fateful afternoon July 2007, at the Paragon shopping centre where Yan had asked me to take Rachel to that "Free" album promotion event. Words aren't enough to say that I was totally blown away, by David Garrett's sheer good looks, model built and the beautiful, enchanting melodies from his heart stopping US$4m Stradivari named San Lorenzo. Dare i say, his super performances transformed, inspired and empowered me, a full time home-maker, to courgeously take up violin lessons and start the muscial life journey that I had always wanted as a child but did not had the support of parents and resources in my youth.
My life is never the same again. Thank you Jesus! Yan and David, you two, my sincere gratitude.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Of wheels and parenting
After church service at Suntec City, yan and I proceeded to Carrefour and bought Rachel her first bike, one of those four wheels type with a matching red helmet to go along. So, we had to cut short the usual weekend shopping to bring the bike home in a cab. To do that, we had to carry her little bike and walk through the Mazda's Roadshow event where all the latest Mazdas 2, 3, 5, 7 and the convertible were on SALE. Rachel wanted a red convertible while I was wishfully thinking that perhaps one day I will drive a tiny Mazda 2, instead of taking cab everywhere since my secondary school days. (When mum was too busy to drive me about).
I had obtained my driving licence in 1995 long before I went to Europe for the ultimate 32 days tour and before I had graduated from NTU. My dad had promised me a car, probably one affordable second hand model should I pass my driving test. I did. BUT, he did not honour his words. "No la, no money already LAH!" was his standard reply. I was so incensed deep within, ONCE AGAIN, he made another promise, not intending to keep at all. The good kid in me kept all that anger, frustrations and disappointment deep within. Sadly its that same reply throughout my growing years. My family never visit the zoo, science centre or anyway except those awful Kusu island pilgrimages where my taoist family prayed.
"I will get a proper job, save up for my own car," I said to myself. Unfortunately due to unfavourable job market conditions, I eventually worked as an auditor with a starting pay of only S$1300, net of 20% CPF contributions and my parents wanting at least $500 monthly maintenance, insurance, church tithes etc I had to dip into my savings almost every month. How to save for the fine set of wheels????? I never did. I figured its easier to get around in cabs everyday and everywhere until the Asian Financial Crisis which made public transport by bus and train a part of my everyday life.
So, with the bike, I was prepared to help Rachel cycle at the estate premises for a start. Rachel, however was so natural with it, cycling, circling, slowing, stopping the bike that we ended the day at the beach, with me running after her for a long time, till I had blisters from the sandals I was wearing. Like me as a kid, she is fond of music and good in sports. We also detol washed and cleaned her tricycle together as baby Lynn, my brother Ron's youngest girl will be taking over the still in good condition pink 3 wheeler with a nice purple rear basket meant for 2+.
It seemed like yesterday when we bought Rachel this tricycle, wanting her to exercise at home, then Mandarin Gardens studio apartment. It was only $49.90, could be folded for easy storage and looks like a fun thing for an active toddler. Rachel liked it immediately and like all toddlers, they started to learn by pedaling backwards. Before long, she was complaining that the tricycle was too small for her long strong legs when she cycle about in the Neptune court balcony to water her sunflowers. Of course, we understood. Its time to UPGRADE.
My parents never help me learn to cycle. I remembered asking for a bike year after year until I gave up. I did had a pair of roller skates eventually. Then roller blades. My first bike an embarrassing BMX was bought by my dad when I told him I need a bike to get about the campus grounds. Needless to say, I was too shy to ride it in school and it soon had deflated tyres and rusting parts. I know he loves me but he did not give the appropriate gift that I needed and wanted. Why would I, 19 going on 20 want to ride a BMX for a young teen????????
Anyway, while Rachel chose her bike, I tried on roller blades and pondered the possibility of blading again. In me, there is this "need for speed" syndrome that never wore off since a child. The last time I was blading, this super fast pair of used metroblades bought for $100, I was in the FCBC church cell, in my early 20s, and I had plenty of glazes since I did not wear protection pads and helmet. One time I fell so hard and bruised my lower back, not being able to walk properly for a week, not forgetting I blacked out for a few seconds while hurting my head. In the end I had to sell these cherished blades due to mum's advice (read nagging). Hahaha
I had obtained my driving licence in 1995 long before I went to Europe for the ultimate 32 days tour and before I had graduated from NTU. My dad had promised me a car, probably one affordable second hand model should I pass my driving test. I did. BUT, he did not honour his words. "No la, no money already LAH!" was his standard reply. I was so incensed deep within, ONCE AGAIN, he made another promise, not intending to keep at all. The good kid in me kept all that anger, frustrations and disappointment deep within. Sadly its that same reply throughout my growing years. My family never visit the zoo, science centre or anyway except those awful Kusu island pilgrimages where my taoist family prayed.
"I will get a proper job, save up for my own car," I said to myself. Unfortunately due to unfavourable job market conditions, I eventually worked as an auditor with a starting pay of only S$1300, net of 20% CPF contributions and my parents wanting at least $500 monthly maintenance, insurance, church tithes etc I had to dip into my savings almost every month. How to save for the fine set of wheels????? I never did. I figured its easier to get around in cabs everyday and everywhere until the Asian Financial Crisis which made public transport by bus and train a part of my everyday life.
So, with the bike, I was prepared to help Rachel cycle at the estate premises for a start. Rachel, however was so natural with it, cycling, circling, slowing, stopping the bike that we ended the day at the beach, with me running after her for a long time, till I had blisters from the sandals I was wearing. Like me as a kid, she is fond of music and good in sports. We also detol washed and cleaned her tricycle together as baby Lynn, my brother Ron's youngest girl will be taking over the still in good condition pink 3 wheeler with a nice purple rear basket meant for 2+.
It seemed like yesterday when we bought Rachel this tricycle, wanting her to exercise at home, then Mandarin Gardens studio apartment. It was only $49.90, could be folded for easy storage and looks like a fun thing for an active toddler. Rachel liked it immediately and like all toddlers, they started to learn by pedaling backwards. Before long, she was complaining that the tricycle was too small for her long strong legs when she cycle about in the Neptune court balcony to water her sunflowers. Of course, we understood. Its time to UPGRADE.
My parents never help me learn to cycle. I remembered asking for a bike year after year until I gave up. I did had a pair of roller skates eventually. Then roller blades. My first bike an embarrassing BMX was bought by my dad when I told him I need a bike to get about the campus grounds. Needless to say, I was too shy to ride it in school and it soon had deflated tyres and rusting parts. I know he loves me but he did not give the appropriate gift that I needed and wanted. Why would I, 19 going on 20 want to ride a BMX for a young teen????????
Anyway, while Rachel chose her bike, I tried on roller blades and pondered the possibility of blading again. In me, there is this "need for speed" syndrome that never wore off since a child. The last time I was blading, this super fast pair of used metroblades bought for $100, I was in the FCBC church cell, in my early 20s, and I had plenty of glazes since I did not wear protection pads and helmet. One time I fell so hard and bruised my lower back, not being able to walk properly for a week, not forgetting I blacked out for a few seconds while hurting my head. In the end I had to sell these cherished blades due to mum's advice (read nagging). Hahaha
Friday, 16 October 2009
Dreams and reflections
I woke remembering my late mum. She had died last year after losing her 4.5 year fight against colon cancer. The scene I saw was when Yan and I went back to Sengkang and she prepared her last meal for our family. As she laid the plates rather heavily on the table, she remarked in Mandarin, "Mummy will not be cooking any more!". Those words stung me, (not sure Yan felt it), but we all knew she knew she was dying and leaving us and wanted to cook for us, one last time. It was her way of indicating that the final goodbye was fast approaching. Sigh (breathe heavily).
I love my mother. I looked up to her since I was a kid. She was this super woman who had 4 children within 4 years, overdue me and pre-term twin brothers plus an "accidental" younger sister and my mother also did the chores, supervised our homework, hit us often when we mishaved and for me when I "talked back" too while helping dad managed the food store that sold Teochew fishball noodles. There were also extreme hardtimes when she had to care for almost 10 years my bedridden, amputee grandfather with his horrendous temper and later my grandmother who suffered stomach carcinoma. Watching her, I learnt much though I remain squeamish with all things blood and gore and pain and suffering. I am probably pro euthanasia due to my compassionate side, and had prayed before that the good Lord end the suffering of some in my lifetime.
I love it that with Rachel, my only kid, I am able to spend much quality time with her, coaching her, shopping even playing Lego, Playdoh or painting or making crafts with her. I truly enjoy the time we spend together, singing, watching youtube, completing puzzles, hugging, kissing and tickling. With my mum it was serious business since I was young. I exist to help her with my younger siblings. I was the extra pair of hands and legs she needed to clean the house, to prepare the ingredients and to fetch my younger sister home from school (pri one). Rain or shine, whether I like it or not, it was my DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to fetch my sister home from Boon Keng Primary School several streets away. I know my mother loves us all but never equally. Uppermost on her mind were her pre mature twins now all grown fathers with kids on their own; then my sister, the youngest, who had so much liberty and stuff that I had to fight long and hard for being the eldest. I remembered wishing I was the only child, perhaps I could have more things, parental love, happiness and rest included.
In church, God placed a outcast on my path. I love being in a church and my first church was literally made up of two big families. What I love most was the singing of hymns and choruses, then fellowship and the feasting afterwards and then the bible knowledge part. Well, God gave me a compassion for julie. I had to be her friend even though she was so different from me. We grew up for almost 17 years and in the process she spoke better English, became more confident and sociable, had better hygiene and grooming and became more grounded in faith I hope. I was her age but at the same time I was her mother, sister, teacher, leader, motivator, encourager and last but not least companion. At the risk of being mistaken as a lesbian couple, since she was with me all the time, I brought her to my various class outings, chalets, BBQs, karaoke and other gatherings so she could have more friends. My mother did not like me hanging out with a "loser" like her, but over the years she saw that the church had "made" julie quite "ordinary" a kid, my faithful friend over the years.
With julie, I became less of an elitist in thinking. Afterall, all my friends were in SAP schools and had businessmen, doctors, lawyers as parents. I actually felt inferior that my dad was only a foodseller but became proud and supportive of him as I learnt about God, my heavenly father in the church. With Julie, my patience level went up and I became less impetuous and choleric. In a way God trained me to teach and impart using her as a prototype of sorts, which I later found useful in counselling wayward youths and inspiring others.
It's fun being a natural leader in everyway. I am better in everything and i could not help but notice the resentment in her many nagging and complaints. But still, it was not until she began to copy my fashion sense, (in those days mid 90s I shop in Hong Kong and was ahead in fashion and gadgets) that I began to feel stifled. I scolded her for copying me and caused the first rift to happen. Then the unbelievable happened. We both moved on to FCBC, a spirit-filled church in Marine Parade area and fell for the same guy in the worship ministry. Wilson, the houseman. She went for the looks, I was definitely won over by his singing tenor voice and the fact that we had known each other earlier in college when he was the flutist in the VJC band where Teck was one of my buddies along with Winston. Coupled with the fact that his outlook tallies with my dreams of many years, needless to say, I was head over heels. Not quite myself near him.
In my heart, I would never give way but I felt God telling me not to worry about this guy. He will provide. In the end, Wilson chose to turn me down in an email!!!!!!!though he hardly bats an eyelid for the other. Coldblooded doctor indeed!!! (exactly what my mother had warned studying his facial features -those thick bushy short brows) HAHA. My friendship with julie went on but in my heart, I often cried out to God for someone more on par, IQ, EQ, SQ (spiritual quotient) and MQ (musical quotient) wise for a true BBF (best friend forever). It came in the form of Melina, and later Yan whom I married and had rachel with.
With Yan, my poetic and sentimental side are well nourished. With him who played the piano so beautifully and sings so well, my heart is ravished. I admire him deeply and felt connected to him. He's so comfortable and relaxing to be with. What a great blessing! To love him as a husband and the father of rachel!!!!!!!!
With him, it was as if I became Anne Boleyn who said to the King Henry VIII, "Write me letters and poems. Ravish me with your words. Seduce me." I trust God he will never behead me!!!!!!
I love my mother. I looked up to her since I was a kid. She was this super woman who had 4 children within 4 years, overdue me and pre-term twin brothers plus an "accidental" younger sister and my mother also did the chores, supervised our homework, hit us often when we mishaved and for me when I "talked back" too while helping dad managed the food store that sold Teochew fishball noodles. There were also extreme hardtimes when she had to care for almost 10 years my bedridden, amputee grandfather with his horrendous temper and later my grandmother who suffered stomach carcinoma. Watching her, I learnt much though I remain squeamish with all things blood and gore and pain and suffering. I am probably pro euthanasia due to my compassionate side, and had prayed before that the good Lord end the suffering of some in my lifetime.
I love it that with Rachel, my only kid, I am able to spend much quality time with her, coaching her, shopping even playing Lego, Playdoh or painting or making crafts with her. I truly enjoy the time we spend together, singing, watching youtube, completing puzzles, hugging, kissing and tickling. With my mum it was serious business since I was young. I exist to help her with my younger siblings. I was the extra pair of hands and legs she needed to clean the house, to prepare the ingredients and to fetch my younger sister home from school (pri one). Rain or shine, whether I like it or not, it was my DUTY and RESPONSIBILITY to fetch my sister home from Boon Keng Primary School several streets away. I know my mother loves us all but never equally. Uppermost on her mind were her pre mature twins now all grown fathers with kids on their own; then my sister, the youngest, who had so much liberty and stuff that I had to fight long and hard for being the eldest. I remembered wishing I was the only child, perhaps I could have more things, parental love, happiness and rest included.
In church, God placed a outcast on my path. I love being in a church and my first church was literally made up of two big families. What I love most was the singing of hymns and choruses, then fellowship and the feasting afterwards and then the bible knowledge part. Well, God gave me a compassion for julie. I had to be her friend even though she was so different from me. We grew up for almost 17 years and in the process she spoke better English, became more confident and sociable, had better hygiene and grooming and became more grounded in faith I hope. I was her age but at the same time I was her mother, sister, teacher, leader, motivator, encourager and last but not least companion. At the risk of being mistaken as a lesbian couple, since she was with me all the time, I brought her to my various class outings, chalets, BBQs, karaoke and other gatherings so she could have more friends. My mother did not like me hanging out with a "loser" like her, but over the years she saw that the church had "made" julie quite "ordinary" a kid, my faithful friend over the years.
With julie, I became less of an elitist in thinking. Afterall, all my friends were in SAP schools and had businessmen, doctors, lawyers as parents. I actually felt inferior that my dad was only a foodseller but became proud and supportive of him as I learnt about God, my heavenly father in the church. With Julie, my patience level went up and I became less impetuous and choleric. In a way God trained me to teach and impart using her as a prototype of sorts, which I later found useful in counselling wayward youths and inspiring others.
It's fun being a natural leader in everyway. I am better in everything and i could not help but notice the resentment in her many nagging and complaints. But still, it was not until she began to copy my fashion sense, (in those days mid 90s I shop in Hong Kong and was ahead in fashion and gadgets) that I began to feel stifled. I scolded her for copying me and caused the first rift to happen. Then the unbelievable happened. We both moved on to FCBC, a spirit-filled church in Marine Parade area and fell for the same guy in the worship ministry. Wilson, the houseman. She went for the looks, I was definitely won over by his singing tenor voice and the fact that we had known each other earlier in college when he was the flutist in the VJC band where Teck was one of my buddies along with Winston. Coupled with the fact that his outlook tallies with my dreams of many years, needless to say, I was head over heels. Not quite myself near him.
In my heart, I would never give way but I felt God telling me not to worry about this guy. He will provide. In the end, Wilson chose to turn me down in an email!!!!!!!though he hardly bats an eyelid for the other. Coldblooded doctor indeed!!! (exactly what my mother had warned studying his facial features -those thick bushy short brows) HAHA. My friendship with julie went on but in my heart, I often cried out to God for someone more on par, IQ, EQ, SQ (spiritual quotient) and MQ (musical quotient) wise for a true BBF (best friend forever). It came in the form of Melina, and later Yan whom I married and had rachel with.
With Yan, my poetic and sentimental side are well nourished. With him who played the piano so beautifully and sings so well, my heart is ravished. I admire him deeply and felt connected to him. He's so comfortable and relaxing to be with. What a great blessing! To love him as a husband and the father of rachel!!!!!!!!
With him, it was as if I became Anne Boleyn who said to the King Henry VIII, "Write me letters and poems. Ravish me with your words. Seduce me." I trust God he will never behead me!!!!!!
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Some updates
Some recent happenings:
I am on twitter, having been inspired by the grand dame Elizabeth Taylor herself. So far, I am following David Garrett (part his agent perhaps) anyway, its nice to know the latest happenings like the new cd Classical Romance which boasts of many of my favourite composers : Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, D'vorak etc.
I had lunch with "Uncle Eugene" with rachel of course. Eugene was my vocal leader in the FCBC worship team for many years. He's now a worship leader at his church and works in Trumpet Praise Parkway branch. Still the same old uncle except getting near sighted. After the quick lunch, I pondered the possibility of a ex FC worship team gathering in my place. Who should I invite?? How many will turn up??? Should it be a thanksgiving thingy or Christmas event?????? Thankfully Yan loves gatherings as well, so we'll decide later. Boy, I can party all day type. I can play violin and read all day too......as long as there is good coffee to accompany me. Coffee relaxes me even more. I love to start the day with a nice cuppa. Though I rarely need the afternoon fix unless I am shopping of course, just to relax further and make that day extra special.
Just cooked stir fry beef with onions and leek and sambal kang kong with ingredients costing only $3.58. Shockingly cheap from Giant supermarket, my kid's choice today but the queuing almost killed me.....more than 10mins and my lower back ached a bit since I had forgotten to wear the posture correcting Fitflops. Conclusion, I must live near Cold storage, where the fresh ingredients and speedy service sans the DIY weighing beckons me daily. How much will my family save????? we take the bus and cab to parkway almost daily. Its about 5 bus-stops away. Siglap centre is nearer but its so small and old a mall. Then marine terrace its worst!!!! I am just not the wet market and mama convenience shop type. The last time I tried to buy something from the wet market, it was a headache since I do not bargain and I missed the convenience of price tags and use by dates.
Yan thinks we should move to Holland area. It has everything, banks, eateries and shopping and all the beautiful landed and non landed apartments. In 3 years time, new creation church will relocate to One North, buena vista area, in the west and going to church and town will be so much easier. I, on the other hand, prays that by then, our family is ready for overseas living. I am so wanting to live in Europe, particularly London and Paris where everything from the weather, the food, the entertainment, the scenery, the people, the languages, the history, the culture, the museums is drawing my heart.
I am on twitter, having been inspired by the grand dame Elizabeth Taylor herself. So far, I am following David Garrett (part his agent perhaps) anyway, its nice to know the latest happenings like the new cd Classical Romance which boasts of many of my favourite composers : Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, D'vorak etc.
I had lunch with "Uncle Eugene" with rachel of course. Eugene was my vocal leader in the FCBC worship team for many years. He's now a worship leader at his church and works in Trumpet Praise Parkway branch. Still the same old uncle except getting near sighted. After the quick lunch, I pondered the possibility of a ex FC worship team gathering in my place. Who should I invite?? How many will turn up??? Should it be a thanksgiving thingy or Christmas event?????? Thankfully Yan loves gatherings as well, so we'll decide later. Boy, I can party all day type. I can play violin and read all day too......as long as there is good coffee to accompany me. Coffee relaxes me even more. I love to start the day with a nice cuppa. Though I rarely need the afternoon fix unless I am shopping of course, just to relax further and make that day extra special.
Just cooked stir fry beef with onions and leek and sambal kang kong with ingredients costing only $3.58. Shockingly cheap from Giant supermarket, my kid's choice today but the queuing almost killed me.....more than 10mins and my lower back ached a bit since I had forgotten to wear the posture correcting Fitflops. Conclusion, I must live near Cold storage, where the fresh ingredients and speedy service sans the DIY weighing beckons me daily. How much will my family save????? we take the bus and cab to parkway almost daily. Its about 5 bus-stops away. Siglap centre is nearer but its so small and old a mall. Then marine terrace its worst!!!! I am just not the wet market and mama convenience shop type. The last time I tried to buy something from the wet market, it was a headache since I do not bargain and I missed the convenience of price tags and use by dates.
Yan thinks we should move to Holland area. It has everything, banks, eateries and shopping and all the beautiful landed and non landed apartments. In 3 years time, new creation church will relocate to One North, buena vista area, in the west and going to church and town will be so much easier. I, on the other hand, prays that by then, our family is ready for overseas living. I am so wanting to live in Europe, particularly London and Paris where everything from the weather, the food, the entertainment, the scenery, the people, the languages, the history, the culture, the museums is drawing my heart.
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