Someone very wise told me a month ago - that if I didn’t like something, change it. Life is too short - live life to your fullest - do things you love and don’t waste time over-analyzing and I took his advice. My life is here in Canada - there is no going back and there is no way - I’m going to take care of others before my own family. Once that was settled, I knew exactly what I had to do. And I also learned that everyone have their bragging rights and if you don’t like it - then I can choose not to listen and walk away - the same for those who don’t like to hear me.

Yes! I’m very blessed! I’ve got a good spouse and an awesome and funny daughter, I haven’t “really” worked since I came to Canada and I loved what i do online - and I’ve good advertisers who look out for me and my friends often. My health is getting better everyday and I’m spending time with Chloe and able to do things with her more than I did before. Plus, we have good business acumen and do not have to worry about our daily expenses. What more can I asked for right?

My love for jewelry started when I was very young - I think it was my grandmother who actually got me interested in jewelry and when I was young and visiting my grandmother - she would take out her jewelry to show me. My great-grandmother who loved my sister so much - left her a ring - on her deathbed - so you see how we all got started young with loving our diamonds and gold. My grandmother also kept most of her jewelry at home therefore, she had all her jewelry insured - even an engagement ring insurance - that’s to tell you how early she started with buying insurance for all her jewelry. Being a Peranakan - descendants of Malay and Indonesia - they have exquisite jewelries - it’s too bad that my mother didn’t get left with a lot of her jewelry since she was the oldest amongst her siblings. But because of generations of love for jewelry - I too develop a love for them and passing on the tradition to my daughter.

We are definitely overdue for a holiday- it has been years since we had a real vacation. For years we refused to go anywhere because Chloe was so young, but I do miss those days when I was living in Glasgow and traveling with friends and family. If we do go for a holiday soon we are bringing some friends and family along, that way Chloe who’s currently 7 will have more people to play with. And of course her grandparents and cousins to babysit her when PB and I want to do a little exploring on our own. Plus holiday cottages are a lot less expensive when you have so many people going on a trip with you to share the lodging cost.

I would love to travel home to Asia, but to do that the airfare alone would cost us at least $10K just for economy class. Therefore going to UK or Europe would be a lot less expensive and more feasible - plus there is a lot to see in both places. Many years ago you needed to go to a travel agent to find the right accommodations for a party of 6 - 12, but in this age and time you can book directly for villas in Furteventura with just a click on the computer. That means we are actually saving money without having to pay an agent to make the arrangements - pretty easy right?

I find renting a villa to be a lot more private than renting a hotel since many have their own private pool and you can swim or do anything you want by the pool without worrying about strangers looking on. Plus if you have kids you will understand that kids can get really loud when they are playing in the pool, therefore I find holiday cottages and villas a more convenient overall experience and definitely better value for money.

I watched these twins grow up at our store - they are such delightful girls even when they were much younger. I remembered both of them telling me that they wanna come work at our store when they grow up - so cute! I met them yesterday during the Multi-cultural fest at the hotel and they were manning a counter for tickets to U2. And like usual - the 2 gals - they are twins were as lovely and polite as ever. When I see them I think of our old babysitter for Chloe and I feel a intense sadness rushed into me. You see I watched her grow up too - like these girls and I know that growing up can sometimes be hard and tough - but when I think of my old friend - I cannot but feel a sense of sadness.

I asked PB why some kids turn out the way they are while others turned out so well? Is it the parenting ? or the friends they are with - and PB said it is mostly the friends they are with. I watched my friend’s kids grow up with us - seeing that she haven’t finished her studies yet - or do what she said she was going to do for years - just makes me feel sad. She had so much going for her - because she was definitely a good looking and intelligent gal - so what happened? what went wrong? so why all the stories? all the fibbing? it didn’t do anyone real harm for now - but in the future as she grows older and the lies and stories become more intense - someone is going to end up hurt and wanna hurt her in return. We’ve all been teenagers before, and we have gone thru’ a certain amount of being shitty but it’s really sad to see my friend’s kids turn out this way - and now I fear for my own Chloe and hoping she isn’t going to mix with the wrong company - yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, you know what i mean right?

I don’t have many friends and those whom I called friends are those who’ve known me for a long time and treasure me and accepts me for who I am. My rule for any friendship is I would never ask to borrow any money from my friends if i treasured their friendship - now would i take my friends for granted. But my friends need to back off and give me space when I need it. Even though I am very talkative - truth be told I’m a very private person - Chloe and PB are the most important people in my life - and of course, I have good friends that I’ve known for many years. It’s hard to be my friend - because I’m quite picky.

In my 11 years in Canada - I’ve gathered a group of friends - and these people are truly good to not only me - but Chloe and PB as well. They care for us unconditionally and remembers all our special dates and days - they are there for us - if we needed a helping hand - or a warm home to stay in - if we get power outages. I’m happy with my friends and the family I have - what about you?

I’ve been asked many a times - how do one get thru’ custom and get your 6 months chop on your passport without any trouble. So when i received an email this morning from a fellow Singaporean - i decided to write it out here instead. First of all, don’t go to the embassy and tell them you are staying for 6 months - as soon as you do that - they might send in the information to Canadian custom to look out for you ( i think they are required by law to do so). Canadian custom frown upon people who are planning to stay this long. But having said that Canadian custom are not evil - they are just doing their job and don’t want over stayers and people who intend to stay in Canada illegally or work here illegally.

So here is what you do - if you want to enter into Canada without any problems and be granted a 6 months visit legally. You have to have enough cash with you - you have to tell them you have family and friends and a job waiting for you back home. You have to have a return ticket - showing when you are going home - but note - that you should not have your air ticket printing it 6 months from your date of arrival. Always buy a ticket that allows you to change your date of flight - that way - you can book for 2 months from date of arrival and then change it when you arrive and have gotten your 6 months visa.

If possible - bring a business card with you if you are working - if you are still in school - make sure you have school papers showing when you are supposed to be back for school. The whole idea is to show them that you have no intention of staying longer than you should - and that you are just here for a visit and sightseeing around Canada. And by the way - if you are coming to Canada in February - it is the coldest month here - make sure you are dressed warmly. Do not spend a lot of money buying winter clothes in Singapore - safe your money and buy one when you arrive - in the meantime - just buy something as warm as you can in Singapore. I hope the above helps - and like I said before - i never had any trouble with immigration Canada - and you shouldn’t too - because Immigration Canada is not out to get you - they are only out to get those who have ill intentions.

Yesterday was one of the worst days in my life ! a sudden death in PB’s family - PB’s 18 yrs old nephew passed away suddenly - unexpected - we still have no idea how he died yet and may never know I was told by his aunt. How? why? when? all these ran thru’ my mind the whole day. And even though I was smiling and tending to our customers at the store - I can’t helped but think of Nick and if there was something we could’ve done to prevent this?

We saw him last summer and he was such a nice boy - although I sense a bit trouble but hey! which teenager doesn’t have some right? So I let it go and minded my own business - for I’m known to be outspoken and being a busybody and nosey. Should I have offered him a job here at our store and kept him close ? so many things are going thru’ my mind right now. Look at how handsome this young man was! my heart hurt a lot ! I can’t imagine what his parents are going thru’ - what about his brothers? Oh Nick! I wished you could have reached out to someone and talked with someone and get help.

I’m taking a lesson from this - and must remember to be diligent with Chloe - teenage years are harder than we think - or have gone thru’ ourselves. 18 yrs is a long and hard time to bring up a child and lose him over night. I never wished this upon any parents! Oh God! please help me to be a diligent mom, give me patience with my daughter. Remind me to make time for Chloe always. RIP Nick! RIP ! we’ll always remember you and love you!

Like I said before Facebook is a pretty awesome thing - you can find some people that you’ve known in the past and get in touch with them again. But do all of us wanna get in touch with the past? I saw some of my church friends on FB a few days ago - from during my teenage years and was tempted to get in contact with them again. But after reading their profile I decided not to - because they are still very strong in going to church and every word that comes out from there mouth would be - “Praise the Lord!”. Don’t get me wrong - I have nothing against people attending church and all and I do believe in God. But i’m not the same person I was some 30 yrs ago - and follow the word and His way that much.

There are just some things in the past - that are better left in the past - like I once said. My so-called “bestie” from church some 30 yrs ago - moved to Ohio - and when i asked her which part of Ohio - she replied “ohio” - and she never once wrote to me - when she was there. So I’m guessing although I treated her like a “bestie” she didn’t feel the same for me when i was a kid. So should I write her a message? will she think that i’m stalking her? hahahahha!!! nah ! i rather not stalk anyone - just knowing that they are well is good enough for me eh.

As I sit and watch the video on the eulogies read by Mrs Lee’s family and then the one by MM Lee and his farewell - when they were saying their last goodbye - MM Lee kissed Mrs Lee twice before moving away from the coffin sadly - it really touched me deeply. How many can have a relationship like our MM Lee and Mrs Lee? I envy and I feel really, really sad for MM Lee - must be a huge lost to him - losing his confidante, counsel and life-long partner.

Mrs Lee was an extraordinary woman - I don’t think a lot of woman today - can measure up to her. Like MM Lee said without Mrs Lee - he wouldn’t be the man he is today - and maybe, just maybe - Singapore wouldn’t be where it is today either. But what i respect most - was how Mrs Lee not only held her own career, helped MM Lee and still was the best mother and grandmother for her family and even took care of our present PM’s kids when their mother past away.

I reflect on my own relationship - and even though I am not in Singapore - and migrated to Canada for more than 10 years now - I still keep a very close eye and tab on what’s going on in Singapore. I love my Singapore and I don’t want to give up my citizenship if I can help it. There are lots of one can learn from Mrs Lee and one of them is “quiet”. Yes ! I have to learn to be “quiet”. Farewell, Mrs Lee - you will always be my inspiration and I will always remember you.

The bad ones comes along - have you heard of that before? hahah!! FB is a fantastic social networking tool - I’ll have to tell you. A few months ago, I not only found my childhood friend on FB by accident - just a few days ago - I found a cousin on FB. I also talk with my god-daughters on FB - although I’m not always on FB these days. But yes! i thought of connecting with my cousin - from my dad’s side of the family - but when I think of the good times we had as kids - the bad ones comes along as an adult. You see we were never closed - in fact the only memory of my cousins were when my grandmother was still alive and they would come visit my grandmother.

My cousins father was a meant man till he lost all his money in gambling. When he was broke - my mother came to his aid - and I still don’t understand why she did it - because we could ill-afford to help anyone. Anyhow - I gave it a lot of thought - and decided not to re-connect with them - and let old ties die there - afterall, I have my mother’s side of the family I’m closed with - so I’m not gonna dwell on the past.

U2 is coming to Toronto !!! yes ! you heard me right! Ahhh..! talking about U2 brings back so many good memories. Yes ! I grew up listening to U2! and yes ! they have been around for a long time - 30 yrs. I was in my teens too when they started the band. Irish guys and so handsome ! we all went ga-ga over all of them. So who do I liked? Bono of course!! and he still looks so good now - at 50. Wished they were coming to Halifax in November instead of Toronto but for those who are in Toronto and want some U2 tickets, make sure get yours really early - coz’ i hear they are sold out on every concert. Dreamy, dreamy I am now - and plotting to get to Toronto if I can in November - afterall, you don’t get to go for U2 concerts every other month eh. And I leave you with this you-tube of one of their many good songs - bringing you back to yesteryear.

A few months ago - I happen to chance upon a childhood friend from 30 yrs ago - on Facebook. At first I wanted to add him onto my Facebook friend list but I stopped myself. Why? I checked out his info and pictures and his wall and he is happily married with 3 children and even though I haven’t seen him for a good 20 yrs - I don’t really know if his wife would like it very much. We were childhood friends and attended the same church together - I left to UK to finish my school and he left for USA to finish his. We kept in contact when we were in school - but I was really busy - trying to juggle work and school work - and usually he wrote more than I - we drifted apart.

When I arrived home to Singapore - he met me at the airport - with his fiancee (now his wife) - i guess to introduce us? And no - i wasn’t in love with him - we went out once ! hhahahah!! and I was only but 18 at that time. He wanted to hold my hands and I said no - hahahah! he was like a friend - more like my mother’s friend kid. My life at that time was pretty simple - i just wanted to finish school and survive but I knew at 18 - he wasn’t the man I wanted to fall in love with. Why? Too old-fashioned - too “chinese” with lots of old fashion ideas - like the wife needs to be able to cook and stay home after having kids - stuff like that.

So why I didn’t wanna connect with him? because I had told him - when i fall in love - it will be forever - and he wasn’t the right guy for me. Why he brought his fiancee to the airport to pick me up - hahahha!! i have no idea. But looking at his wife’s pictures now on his FB - i wonder if his wife is his mother or his wife? yes - she looks really oldddddddd… !! not being mean or anything - but i figured if we did connect - his wife might not like it so much. What do you think?

Tomorrow, my home country celebrates its 45th birthday - it’s easy to remember because that was the year i was born. And while my home country flourishes every year and become better and bigger and more famous - i ended up in a small town in Canada. Singapore has changed so much since i left 10 years ago. A girlfriend who was in New York for 10 days - told me she missed home so much - the minute she stepped into Changi International Airport - she had a plate of Nasi Lemak before going home - hahahhaha!!! I know how she felt - because that was what i did - but i had mee siam when i first came to Canada for 1.5 months.

Do i missed Singapore? that’s for sure ! the convenience of everything back home - the modernness and efficient government - plus a stable job if you wanna work. But having said all that - I know i would never turn the clock back and change coming to Canada - because i wouldn’t have Chloe if i did. I missed the food, the weather - good friends, cousins and a good job but where/what would i be if I didn’t become a mother? or if i am without Chloe? But that came with a price too of course, I’m not in the best of health here because I can’t get to eat the kind of food i am used to back home - I’m trying hard though. So for those who wants to migrate - think very carefully. Make sure you choose a place where there are lots of Asians - else you will end up like me - wanting to go home every other month. I would love to go home for a visit - soon - my Singapore - soon - i’ll come and see how beautiful you are.

As I sit and admire my contemporary sofas in my tv room, i cannot helped but also admire the beautiful pictures of a friend - Alexis’s family outing in Vancouver with her beautiful family. You see, Alexis was someone I met thru’ PB’s buddy - they used to date and while they are no longer together -Alexis and I kept in contact. You see Alexis is a very wonderful and lovely looking lady from Singapore and I had took a instant liking for her when i first met her 10 yrs ago. As I look at her happy family - I cannot but feel a tinge of regret for PB’s buddy for not cherishing the relationship and things ended the way it did.

Relationships are hard and I admire the way Alexis ended it - even though they were together for a long time and have a kid together. Alexis is now married and has her own kids with her new husband and he looks like a wonderful person - he is from Sweden. I sometimes wonder if people from the West knows how tough it is for us to uproot just to be with them? do they even know - how much we miss home - the food, the weather, the shopping - everything just to be with them.

Relationships are hard - having a kid together doesn’t mean one must stay with someone who don’t appreciate you. I admire Alexis - for being so strong - even though at that time - she wasn’t with anyone - didn’t have a job and a kid to raise - she call it quits. I don’t know the whole story - but I know relationships are hard and for things to work - both gotta make lots of effort.

We successfully celebrated Chloe’s 6th birthday at the bowling alley with the help of family and friends who attended the party. Chloe had a blast - the weather wasn’t the best - but it could have been worst.

Quite a few people came - and those who didn’t .. didn’t even call to say they weren’t coming - even though they had say they were - but no worries we still had a good time.

Chloe’s cake - she chose it herself and a friend’s sister made the awesome cake for her. Thank you .. Crystal..!!!

And this year.. it was special because Aunt Helena was in town - so was able to attend her birthday party.

So PB’s first cousin got married a few days ago. When i first met them.. they were still kids in school. But i’ll have to say .. the twins are awesome kids.. and grew up to be awesome adults. I bet her parents are proud of her.. and when the pastor asked “who gives her hand in marriage” - her father replied, ” her mother and I” .. I wanna cry..!! I love weddings.. donch you ..??

Do you see what my lil’ brat is wearing on her neck..?? she calls it her “key” .. because she heard me and PB talking about me .. getting a key for my pictures and movies. And now she insist on wearing it… how geeky is that..? I can’t wait for her to grow a little older.. to bring her home to Singapore.. during Christmas.. i bet she would be so fascinated by all those digital signage on all the streets around town.. and in Orchard Road especially. But i also know that things changed a lot since i left .. and I can’t wait till i get home .. i really missed home.

I have many friends in the States that I keep in touch with constantly but I have a really bad habit of not carrying my little telephone book around with me. Of course those are the times when I want or need to call them. I kinda remember the numbers but most times I’m not sure or get them mixed up, so what better way then to use an online phone book search to make sure that the phone number really matches. It’s pretty easy to use and goes by the state they are in and it’s absolutely free.

Once upon a time.. i would never think of eating leftovers.. because my mother didn’t encouraged it.. when we were young. She said.. it gave us wind in the tummy.. thus making us sick. Well.. we also didn’t have a microwave then.. when we were young.

But these days.. i would meticulously picked out all the meat.. that chloe doesn’t wanna eat.. and put it in a container.. and eat them with my instant noodles..

Once upon a time.. i eat sushi everyday.. ! you can ask my God-daughter, Enna & Sandy.. they both can vouch for me.. coz’ Enna got her first job in this japanese restaurant that i frequent.. because i eat there everyday. And i bring Sandy for company for my meals..

But these days.. i eat only frozen sushi.. and bad (lousy, sub-standard) frozen sushi for the record.

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