Update on cockroaches and customer service

I did something which I hardly do - make official complaints.  Yup, called up the Housing Board about the rubbish chute issue and NTUC Fairpriced about their service standard.

HDB sent one of its officers to take a look and a week later, the contractor came round to apply some seals on the inner side of the cover.  Will have to monitor it for a few weeks to see what happens.  The contractor, as usual, were not happy.  They told me that it is normal for cockroaches to be able to crawl through the bin opening and it is something I have to live with.  To hell I should.  They are not the ones who have to duck when flying cockroaches are hovering above their heads at night, or say hello to a night visitor when making a trip to the toilet.  One thing I am certain about, there are still cockroaches in my home.

I was cleaning out our book shelves, clearing paper and school books when there it was, a big cockroach lurking amongst the boxes.  Have I mentioned before that I am pretty good at killing cockroaches?  One down and who knows, how many more to go?

A customer service officer from NTUC Fairprice called me as well.  Apologised for the poor service I received.  Being the usual me, I went on to give them a whole string of other complaints.  I did suggest solutions for them as well.  So I am not just someone who complain.

For those who do shop at Fairprice, they have confirmed that they are to honour whatever price you see as presented on the shelves. Even if it was a mistake or the staff forget to take it down.  So the next time, you see a sticker with an offer price, make sure they punch that price in.  When I mentioned about the cashier telling me to check the pricing myself, she told me that the staff are trained to do that, not the customer.  When a customer enquires about a product, etc.  the staff is supposed to lead them to it and not just point into the direction with their finger. 

On the clarification of being a "budget" store, she could not give me a satisfactory answer as to why that store carries only the chocolate and strawberry flavour of a certain brand and not the original full cream.  She too was baffled as there is no price difference, seeing it is under the same brand.  Lots more information was exchanged and at the end of the day, Fairprice has a lot of training to do for their staff.  Logistics-wise, they lack terribly.  Whatever the case may be, I would still shop at Fairprice.

Rants Rants Rants

WARNING: This blog contains pictures which may leave those adverse to cockroaches retching.  Even if they are just "babies" and "toddlers".

Rant Number One.  Customer Service in Singapore.  I am a sucker for good customer service and that is mainly how they get me taking out my wallet.  On the other hand, I have a low threshold for bad customer service.  Call me fussy, picky, arrogant, incompassionate, whatever. I expect a certain standard.  I will tolerate until you get me on a bad hair day or you step on my tail, whichever comes first.  Shopping at the less than 1 year old "budget" NTUC Fairprice outlet near my home has not been something I look forward to.  The space is small, aisles are narrow, range of products rather an odd mix and when you need to buy something urgently, going at the wrong time can put you back by more than half an hour.  Only one cashier counter, long queue that stretches along the narrow aisle, causing human traffic to make a detour into the other remaining aisle.  Because it is a "budget" outlet, it does not stock a lot of the things I purchase on a regular basis.  Thus, my trip to the Singpost Centre still stands. 

I always believe that if one is hired to serve customers, there is a need to go through training of some sort.  For sure, customer service, cashiering skills, etc.  Well, this is not the first time I find fault with this outlet.  There had been occasions whereby the wrong prices were displayed, staff not keen to answer your questions, staff saying it is a "budget" outlet and thus, that particular product does not fall into that category.  When something is described as "budget", the first thing that comes to my mind is pricing.  With that in mind, I took a second look at the products in the store and found pricy items.  That does not quite click.  Ok, I presumed it was the pricing.  I enquired about the Marigold UHT milk packs.  There were strawberry and chocolate flavoured ones but none of white full cream.  "This is a budget outlet" I was told. Yes.... a budget I understand.. but the prices are the same.  So... where does the "budget" fit in?  Another time, I enquired about cereals.  I was given the same answer : This is a budget outlet.  I looked at the oil section and saw the top range in Extra Virgin Oil.  That is budget?

Skip to last week.  I saw that they had a special on Extra Virgin Oil.  A few dollars off.  Great timing as the bottle at home had a teeny weeny bit left.  Happily I took it to the cashier.  I noticed that she punched in the original price.  When I checked with her, she told me that it was a Purchase with Purchase item. That meant I had to purchase $20 worth of items before I could get the lower price.  I was sure it was not a PnP item but a Special item.  She insisted and said it was stated on top.... on top of whatever she meant.  I hobbled to the shelf.  Nope. No PnP sticker, just an NTUC Special Price sticker.  She must be thinking I was blind when I told her there was no PnP notice.  Seemingly a little irritated, she walked over and wahla, no PnP.  Guess what she did.

She simply took the Special Price notice off the shelf, folded it and told me that the pricing was wrong.  It was supposed to be a PnP item.  So, I asked why it was not on the PnP shelf.  She replied that sometimes they do not move it there.  Fine.  I asked when the Special price deal was over and she said it should be next week and for me to return in one week's time if I want the special price.  "Shouldn't you honour what you state the price is?" I asked.  No reply to that.  "Come back next week" was all she wanted me to hear.  "If you want a refund, I can give you back your money".  I certainly want that then.  I was not happy.   The word "complain" was flashing in front of my eyes.  Why this time and not the other times things like this happened?

Simple:  Not only was she not in the least apologetic, there was this air of "take it or leave it".  To me, the attitude sucked.  There had been many incidences in that outlet which set my alarm off but I tended to brush it off  by the time I get home.  Guess this time round, she stepped on my toes.  An overdue call to NTUC Fairprice Customer Service Hotline was made.  They are investigating.  They sent me an sms to assure me that they are doing so and will get back to me once investigation is completed. 

So far, NTUC Fairprice has been good on their word.  Let's see what happens this time.

Rant Number 2.  My HDB rental flat was given an upgrading.  The old rubbish chute door in the kitchen was replaced with a so-called New Asthetically Air-tight version.  Air-tight my ass.  For a few months, I could not understand how I kept having uninvited "guests".  It does not matter what I did, they came appearing.  Babies, toddler, teens, adults, grannies and who knows, uncles and aunties.  In case you are getting puzzled, I am talking about cockroaches.  There was a couple of times when I came home to find my whole kitchen infested with hundreds of them.  Some dead, some alive.  I called up the HDB and they told me that I was to close my kitchen windows when they fog the chutes.  Well... how was I to know when they do that?  I was also very sure they did not come through the kitchen window.  This is not the first time I live on the 2nd storey and I never had this problem before.  They assured me that they will put notices the next time they do it.  Fine, they did put up a notice and I did close my kitchen window.  I came home to yet another welcoming party of cockroaches in my kitchen.  Some even ventured into the bathroom and living room. 

Another call made and now they said, perhaps I need to seal the chute.  I did that the next time and guess what?  When I pull off the scotch tapes the next morning, I had countless baby sized cockroaches attached to the tape.  Yucks !!!!  I have done that twice and I am getting tired.  Today, when I was cleaning up the area after tearing off the tape, I saw this "toddler"crawling through the gap.  5 minutes later, its sibling followed.  Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

I took pictures this time.  Not as many cockroaches as the last time but enough to eat up my remaining amount of patience.  My son killed one cockroach near the area yesterday before I sealed the chute.  Time to make my grievance known.  Who should I approach first? MP or HDB or Town Council?  Or perhaps tweet it, put it on Stomp?

Close your eyes before you scroll down if you are not a fan of cockroaches.

Ranting is too tiring for me.

Singapore Writers' Festival 2011

25th October - 30th October 2011.  A week of events for those in the literary arena, be it writers, authors, publishers, literary agents or simply those who are aspiring to write their first novel.  Those in attendance came from both homeland and afar.  Depending on the genre of interest, there is something for everyone - new book launches, dinner with authors, performances, mini-talks and of course the 2-day symposium which I paid $100 to attend.  There are 3 types of passes: Festival pass at $15, the symposium pass at $60 per day or $100 for both days and then the individual passes which range from $20 onwards.  There were some free events as well.

Someone asked me if it was worth paying the amount for the 2day symposium.  Not taking into account the fact that full day pass holders were fed well with 2 tea breaks and 1 lunch, it could  have been extended an hour or so longer.  If any of the organisers get to read this, I would suggest sending the speakers to a course on public speaking first.  It is true to say that being knowledgeable does not make one a good speaker.  The sound system was ok but the speaker stands could have been placed more midway than next to the speakers.  The mike runners had totally no idea how to do their jobs.  I still give credit to the runners as they are after-all volunteers.  I should volunteer for the event next year.  Get to learn and be fed at the same time... not bad.

Rants aside, I did leave the symposium with enough knowledge of what I should or should not do with regards to the publishing of my upcoming book, The Wong Way Home.  One fact is, never to publish my e-book before or even at the same time as my printed book.  I may end up self-publishing if the publishers do not market my book.  The topic on rights was interesting but most of the questions from the audience could not be satisfactorily answered.  Not helpful at all if most of the answers were: "look at your contract."  Had the audience laughing each time that answer was given.

I did wonder why the publishers did not seem keen to talk to us. It was later revealed that they get hounded by writers and authors non stop.  Their recommendation is to submit a manuscript and wait.  One freelance editor caught our attention with his great questions.  When I stood up with my proposals from publishers, he got rather upset and shouted out for me to run far away from those publishers and called them scams.  He later approached me and gave me some insights as to why he said that.   I also met some authors who after a few years, still had not broke even, not to mention making any money.  There were others who had books launched overseas but sales were still slow.  Marketing is the key to sales.  Not all publishers market the books.  They would try to get your books into bookstores.  There is no guarantee that your book would get onto the shelves even if they had distributors all over the world.  At the end of the day, unless you are a best seller writer, you would have to have a strong marketing strategy.

The talk on travel apps was an eye-opener for me. Light-bulbs glowing above my head. I am not that techie but I love dabbling in new things.  Getting distracted again. hahaha  I feel like a little kid inside a candy store when I come across things that excite me.  Ideas ideas ideas.  What lacks is the right team for me.  People who resonates with my craziness.  Yup one of my girlfriends says that I am crazy to be trying different things all the time.  hmmm a sudden thought.  Am I the female version of Richard Branson?  He dabbles in different kinds of businesses too.  Yup, I am a dreamer as well.  Hey, dreams are what keeps us going mostly.  Better than nightmares, right?

An agent gave the advise to put the book aside for a while after writing.  Then perhaps a month later, read the book as a whole.  One would be marvelled at how differently the book would be read and new ideas and inputs would suffice.  This is what I have done for the past 2 weeks.  Not touched my book at all.  I know for a fact that there will be changes when I get back to it.  I even know which section I want to change.  Till next week, it shall remain in the hard drive.

Some connections have been made and I will follow up on them in a couple of days.  Calls to make, people to see.  Exciting time.  Today, I read about The Marriage Central in Singapore.  Light bulbs lighting up again.  I wrote to the Chairperson Ms Anita Fam to share with her my two books.  Yes, yes, two books.  I have yet to talk about my second book but I already have the title and idea for it.  Tons of research to be done for that.

Wow time flies as usual.  Better get off my butt and take my eyes off the computer screen for a while. Today, my youngest son turns 14.  I would probably seek their opinion as to where they want to have dinner.  I like to try new places on such occasions.  Tell you about it in my next blog.

Ciao.....

Chinese Green Tea and Me and .....

Sipping on my cup of Chinese green tea, I remember it was a gift from my son.  He had bought it during his school trip to China a few years ago.  I was so touched as I knew that it was not something cheap.  He could have simply bought me a key chain...... (like I needed another one haha).  Back then, I could not bear to drink it.  It was too precious.  As I was cleaning the kitchen cabinet sometime this year, I came across the two containers of it.  The metal box was starting to rust a bit.  I thought about it for a moment and decided that I should drink it before it expires.  Do tea leaves have expiry dates?  I wonder.....

It was rather pleasant to drink.  And thus started my daily routine (almost daily) of boiling a pot of it.  To give it an extra zest, I usually add a couple of lemon slices.  Love it.  I wonder if drinking it daily will help me drain my fats away.  Oh well. FAT HOPE lol.  I do get some exercise out of drinking the tea.  You see, I leave the pot in the kitchen and with this small tea cup, I have to keep walking to the kitchen to top it up.  Not much of an exercise you say, but still some exercise.  Beats just stretching the hand a little to reach for the pot if it was right in front of me.

If only drinking Chinese Green Tea gives me Chinese Kung Fu power.  Then I can kill this one irritating mosquito buzzing around me and sucking my sweet blood.  The curse of being sweet.  A peaceful evening is turning into quite a mini adventure.  I see a trail of ants moving along the groove of the floor tiles.  This is the 3rd night that it is happening.  Where on earth are they coming from and where are they going??????  From near the front door to the kitchen.  Kill Kill Kill

With my TV set as dead as Steve Jobs, the house is so silent.  The boys are asleep and I miss my Masterchef USA.  Does this mean another night of watching X Factor USA, UK and Australia on YouTube again?  I need to kill that mosquito first. 

Till tomorrow, without the mozzie....

Hillary Raimo - Walking in Spirit Business 09/28 by RockYourLife | Blog Talk Radio

Hillary Raimo - Walking in Spirit Business 09/28 by RockYourLife | Blog Talk Radio

9/11 TEN YEARS ON

Today is September 11.  Ten years ago, the Twin Towers in USA fell. Until a week or so ago, I did not realise that it has been so long.  Time really flies.  Seems there is a building coming up on that spot.  I wonder how many people in Singapore still feels what it was like that day, how they felt.  I shudder to think that anything can happen despite a country's most developed military capabilities.  It does not take weapons to destroy anymore.  Violence is bad, war is terrible.  However, to have innocent people killed just to put a point across, is simply COWARDICE.  Would I get into trouble for saying so?  I have no freaking idea but that is how I feel.

I wonder at this moment how the surviving family members of the 9/11 victims are feeling today.  How have they coped these last 10 years.  Were they forgotten soon after or are support for them still ongoing.  People usually say that time heals.  I am not so sure if if does really heal.  How is "healing" defined?  The pain certainly does not go away nor missing the person/s.  The pain does get better in the sense that it does not hurt every minute second as before nor is it as painful and tearing.  The tears are lesser too but they are still there, coming on really unexpectedly.  Sometimes we think that we are coping well and we can control our emotions well.  It does not happen to everyone.  I know that first hand.

In memory of the victims of 9/11, I attach the video by Darryl Worley, Have you forgotten.

WISDOM FOR LIFE'S JOURNEYS

I subscribe to some inspirational and motivational sites which send me beautiful stories, quotes and sayings.  Today, I received one which resonated very well with how I feel about life's ups and downs and how to deal with it.  


It is always easier said than done for most but it is not impossible.  For some people, it takes longer, for others it seems to be inborn.  Whatever happens in life, at whatever pace one is going, we should always stop to smell the roses.  With development of the world, one would expect it making life easier.  However, the irony is, it causes a tremendous increase in the level of stress for most.  We are sucked into the rat-race, whether we like it or not.  More people are finding it difficult to cope with the demands of the modern world.


Learning how to cope with life's demands is not something that comes along easily.  It is something which we need to nurture on a conscious level.  Constant reminders to ourselves that life can be beautiful and simple, if only we allow ourselves to see and live it that way.  Material things have never been something I yearn for.  Branded stuff, big cars and big houses.  Sure, it would be nice, but does that really give real happiness?  Would it help us to get by the tribulations of life?  At the end of the day, it is how we decide to see things and live by our own beliefs.  


Everyday is a new day for me.  I never know what it will bring.  One thing I know for sure, is that it can only be bad if I expect it to be.  Enjoy each day as it comes. Life is full of shits but how you see that pile of shit, will determine how you live your life.  For me, sometimes a pile of shit is turned into a speck of dandruff on my shoulder which I can easily fluff off in a second.  


All in all, it is our attitude that counts.  I have below the sharing for today by Nancye Sims.  Who is she? I have not idea.  All that matters to me is that she had written something so beautiful that I am compelled to share it with everyone.  Here goes: 


WISDOM OF LIFE'S JOURNEYS


Your life is a journey ahead of you.

Each day is a new beginning.
Yesterday is a friend that will guide you.


There will be good times and bad times;
Cherish the good, because they make life sweet,
But be thankful for the bad,
For through them you come to know
The important things in life
And the meaning of life.
There will be times when you face
Difficult decisions,
And you won’t know which way to turn.
The important thing is that you make a choice,
And move forward.


There will be times that test your strength and endurance,
But don’t give up;
Refuse to accept defeat,
For perseverance is the key to success.
there will be times when you are hurt by love.
Forgive those who hurt you
So that your heart will be free to love again.
There will be times when you make mistakes.
Remember that mistakes are not a reflection of your self-worth,
But of your humanity.
Nor do they make you less of a person.
Because of the lessons you’ve learned,
You’ve grown and become wiser.


There will be times when your search for happiness
Leads to frustration and disappointment,
But don’t stop believing in happiness.
Being happy with yourself goes a long way toward
Knowing happiness in your life.
There will be times when life seems unfair,
But don’t allow it to make you bitter
And steal your joy.
Nothing is worth this.
When fear stands in the way of reaching out for your dreams,
Confront them and you will conquer them.


There will be times when your faith is shaken,
But don’t despair,
It will rise up and carry you above the storm and to victory….
 Copyright  © 1996 By Nancye Sims

Beauty of Women

Why Women Cry. Watch her eyes

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him. I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?" All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry. Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said: "When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

by: Gregg Braden

 

I came across the above many years ago and again this morning when a Facebook friend posted it.  It is a heartwarming reminder of who I am within. 

I always believe that females are much stronger than males internally though not all female realise that.  When both goes through adversity, somehow on a larger percentage, the women will come out of it better and stronger.  There are so many women out there whom we read about, their "never give-up" attitude and positive outlook to life.  Many strive for others without conditions nor expectations.  Their selflessness is just so admirable.

It makes me look back at my own life.  Recently, an acquaintance I met for coffee asked me a question.  He was keen to know where I got my strength for life from.  Some of the events I went through in life may not be much to some, but to others it was something that would have brought a person down for years to come.  I had no answer for him.  I am still trying to understand where I get my inner strength from.  How I can always be taking responsibility for my own actions and accepting the consequences and then moving on.  I am easily contented, more so with simple things in life.  I do not need material goods, branded bags and shoes nor be adorned with jewellery.  It is not that I do not like such things, it is just that I never believe we need to pay so many times more for something I consider practical.  My contentment comes from fulfilling my needs rather than my wants.  Happiness is not from owning branded things.  Happiness is a process, a journey of intangibles.  The joy of being with people you like, moments filled with laughter, the sense of friendship.  Seeing your children enjoy their childhood, hearing their thanks for cooking them a meal, getting kisses and hugs from them.  These are things that tell me I am doing alright.  

It helps me to go on doing what brings joy to others.  I signed up as a volunteer recently.  Some people were pleased for me while others asked why I am spending time doing things I do not get paid for, and why bother wasting time helping others.  I tell them "Why not? It is something I like doing."  The world can be a better place and all it requires it for everyone to contribute a little time, kindness, forgiveness to get there.  

It takes strength to forgive.  I remember the phrase : forgive and forget.  I find it so wrong.  One can forgive but never forget. Well, unless you are senile.  Then again, you can still have bouts of selective memory bouncing back.  It is not easy to understand what is forgiveness.  Forgiveness is not simply saying "I forgive you."  It comes from deep within oneself.  It is a process of looking at things in a different perspective, acknowledging that both had contributed to the incident, accepting the consequences and willingness to let it go and move on.  Forgiving is one of the most difficult thing to do in life.  When you learn to forgive, you have gained a life-long strength.  It somehow makes a person stronger internally and of course, happier too.  It is not easy for many to understand how forgiving others can make themselves happy.  Well, it does.  If only there is a course to teach people how to forgive, the world would be a happier place.

I am not sure if men find it easier to forgive than women.  After all, women are known to be emotional creatures. We shed tears easily.  I do for all kinds of reasons.  One reason I hardly watch movies at the cinema is that I cry too easily.  I cry at scenes of deaths, weddings, childbirth, reconciliation, love, etc.  I cry when things remind me of people I miss, of things I went through and of hopes and dreams.

I am a compassionate fool. Come to think of it, being compassionate helps me to see things in a different light.  It helps me to get to the other person's level and understand them better.  Being compassionate is not to be confused with pity.  Pity to me, creates negativity.  When you pity someone, it somehow lowers that person's self-esteem.  When we show compassion, it strengthens them.  I guess women are better with showing compassion than men.  Maybe it is the mother-nurturing factor in us.  At times, I wonder if the development of our world has changed characteristics of people.  Women of today sees beauty differently, they see it more externally.  Which is sad. Sure, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  However, inner beauty radiates more than the bling blings on the body.

With this, I  hope you can spend some time to think about your own beauty and strength.  You may be surprised at what you discover.

Yellow Ribbon Street Sale Project 2011

I participated in today's Yellow Ribbon Street Sale Project.  I was not sure how I would do but just prayed for the best.  It turned out to be a heart warming and delightful experience for me.  The last time I helped out at a Flag Day event was back in the 1970s when I was still schooling and I remembered that as most discouraging and it was something I told myself not to get involved in again.

My reporting station was at the Pasir Ris MRT Station.  I arrived slightly before noon to report for the second shift.  As I moved to the reporting area, there was a big group of volunteers from Pertapis collecting their tins and ribbons. Suddenly, I felt so alone.  Kicking myself out of that feeling, I told myself that I was there for a cause and that was most important.  As the day passed, every volunteer I saw there either arrived in groups or were from an organisation and later in the afternoon, students.  I went as an individual volunteer.  Nevertheless, all the volunteers were full of spirit and I could see they were there with a heart. 

Within the first minute of standing outside B Exit of the train station, I had my first sale.  That had me feeling really good.  I started to have a constant stream of donors.  I noticed that those approaching from the bus-stop either had purchased a ribbon from those volunteers standing along the pathway or they were not interested at all.  Most of my donors were coming out from the train station.  It was quiet in between train arrivals.  So, I decided to check out the area outside White Sands Shopping Centre.  There were already quite a few volunteers.  My area at Exit B was much better.  That became my territory.

I learned to gauge the reaction of the people as they approached and saw me standing there, smiling at them.  9 out of 10 of those I sensed would donate, did.  A few times, I decided to go against my gut feelings and approached those whom I thought would not donate.  9 out of 10 did not donate.  A lot of the donors were those above 35.  A few of them told me that they had already bought a ribbon at Tampines or earlier in the morning but they still wanted to donate a second time.  It gave me a great feeling when I saw people holding the yellow ribbon pack in their hands or had a ribbon pinned onto their shirt/blouse.  As they came nearer, I thanked them even though they had bought it from another volunteer.  After all, it did not matter whom they bought it from, we were all there for the same cause and my showing of gratitude is free and genuine.

Thank you to the wonderful people who supported the Yellow Ribbon Project by purchasing yellow ribbons from me and all my fellow volunteers. There was one gentleman who had a few plastic bags of items in both hands. He asked me to hold on to those from one of his hands so that he could get his wallet out from his pocket to make a purchase from me. That really touched me.  I also had many people donating $2 and $5. Two persons donated all the coins they had which amounted to a few dollars each as well. I approached a primary school girl who said that she did not have money.  I told her even 10cents would be appreciated.  She took her wallet out and donated more than a dollar worth of coins.  Such an angel.

All my ribbons were sold out in 2 hours. If not for my empty tummy and painful joints, I would have gone on to collect a second batch of ribbons.

The sale of yellow ribbons at various places in Singapore will go on until 7.30pm tonight. Once again, thank you all for your support and God Bless Everyone.

Learning and healing through writing

It has been a while since I last blogged.  Procrastination was one reason.  It was always "later" even when the thoughts were fresh.  The mind was not strong enough to overcome the distractions of the day.  As I sit in front of the laptop now, I find myself having so many things to document and as usual, my mind becomes too muddled up.

For those who do not know me, I am writing a book.  A book which I hope will inspire others, to remind them that there will always be obstacles in life.  Only we ourselves can choose to either remain standing in front of it or go around it.  Sometimes, it takes a longer time to go around it but eventually we will get there.

I have completed the first 4 chapters of my book.  It has been rather overwhelming, more emotional than I anticipated.  As the words flowed and the recollection of past life events surfaced, so did the deeply buried emotions.  I found that writing about one's life journey required immense inner strength and courage.  It is not something for the faint hearted. 

At this juncture, it has helped me to link my feelings and behaviour to certain incidents, how it has caused me to be withdrawn in some areas of my life.  It had affected me more than I realised.  I thought by putting the incident out of my mind, I would be fine.  Little did I know that by burying it deep within me, it was slowly eating me up.  There will be more to come as I continue to write. 

Recently, I met a local author.  He told me that writing a book such as mine will bring out a lot of emotions and not everyone is strong enough to go through with it till the end.  He did however, encourage me to continue writing, to take my time, not to rush through it, stop when I feel overwhelmed.  I understand now how he felt when he was writing his books.  At the end of the day, it is not important to have everything published.  It is about putting it down in writing, drawing out the emotions, acknowledging it and letting go.  I have started this journey and I will not stop until I complete the book. 

I started reading a book called The Quest by Mike Handcock.  As I turedn the pages, something inside of me was being stirred.  In it, it states that there are seven stages of human development and everyone who has ever lived, has operated in one of these levels. 

Excerpt from the book:

"The first level is SAFETY where a person is simply worried about their next meal and the roof over their head.  The second is THINKING which is how do I get ahead.  The third is SELF-DEFINITION which is where a person asks who am I and why am I here?  The fourth is GIVING where a person understands they are not on earth for themselves but for others.  The fifth is FLOW and this is the concept of everything that flow, like the seasons.  It is the Universal law of attraction that one is "in the flow".  The sixth is CONSCIOUSNESS where we understand that we are all connected in thought.  Throwing a gum wrapper on a street in Vietnam, could have impact here in New Zealand.  The seventh is SOURCE where it is where we are totally connected to source energy.  "

As I read the above, I thought about my life journey and what I had been through.  I had passed the first and second level.  Right at this moment, you can say that I am in between three and four.  I have always been a giving person but never really understood who I am or why I am here.  Am I believing in what is written in a book not knowing if it is a fiction or a non-fiction?.  It is irrelevant.  All I know is that it makes sense to me.  I wonder what else I will discover about myself through reading the rest of the book. 

I always believe that everything happens for a reason.  What has led me to write this book and what my book will do for others, is a reason in itself why I went through those dark stages of my life.  If I had not walked those paths of the past, I would have nothing to write about, at least nothing that could inspire anyone in the way I want it to.  Life is a never-ending journey.  My adventures do not stop here nor will it be smooth.  Riding a bike over a bumpy road is never easy but when one adds in an attitude of making lemonade when life gives you a lemon, then it becomes an adventure rather than a torture. 

Better check on my spaghetti sauce stewing in the pot.  Tomorrow is another day of fun for me.  I am helping out at the Yellow Ribbon Street Sale, in aid of ex-offenders.  My little way of giving and supporting others.

Getting back on track

Before yesterday, it has been quite a few weeks since I last cooked a meal for my kids.  It has been a really difficult July for me on a personal level, having lost a dear friend cum boss to heart attack. I have 3 lovely boys who have been there for me in their own way, lending me their understanding that I needed to grieve.  No matter what else happens in my life, they are my 3 musketeers. ok ok sometimes when things do not go right and it feels like they are sucking my blood, they are then my 3 mosquitoes LOL  My friend's passing has made me realise even more that I need to make sure that things like a Will and important documents are all in order; making time to be with them, appreciating them, guiding them are things I should not take granted for.

Even cooking a simple meal for them is a big deal for me now.  I am not the greatest of cooks but they do have their favourite dishes.  The wet market cum hawker centre a block away has been closed for upgrading??? and through the grapevine, I was told it would be so for 9 months !!!!  The bad news is, all the stalls are not being relocated at all.  So, marketing for stuff I cannot get here means that I either shop at the Geylang Serai Market or NTUC at SingPost Centre.

Was at Singpost yesterday and decided that I would cook chicken curry for dinner today.  Veg dish is stir fried baby kai-lan.  Very simple fare.  Oldest boy is still down with the flu and so, I am home today to make sure he eats and drinks and most importantly, take his medication.  Other than that, it is mainly housekeeping, being online, watching tv programmes, cleaning clutters in the house.  Need to remember to get on my stationery bike before I shower this evening.  That is another thing I have stopped for weeks.

Being a single-mom is a challenge but it has its moments of wonders.  Little things which we tend to brush aside can be important for others.  I remember once when my son was ill last year and I declined to meet an acquaintance.  She told me that my kid is old enough to take care of himself.  Sure he is but you know, whenever I am sick, all I want is to know that someone cares enough to be home for me.  That is the basic of caring.  What kind of mom would I be if I were to go out for social fun, leaving my sick kid at home all by himself?  Years back when I was working at the airport, I could not return home when they fell ill.  That is the downside of working for management personnel who lack the human touch.  To them, it is what they want, not what you need.  Staff welfare is more than giving bonus, providing medical allowance, etc.  Not everyone has family members to help out during times of need.  Having said that, we survived.  I am really proud of my kids who went through the tough times with me and still turn out ok.

So, to all of you reading this.  Be appreciative of the people in your life.  Stop to smell the roses.  You never know when your time is up.

Ruben !!!!

I tried replying to your comment Ruben but it was not getting published.  I am sure I am doing something wrong.  Anyway, thank you for coming forth to be my web host angel.  Praise the Lord !!!!! Thank you Ruben !!!!

Will get back to you when I finally have the website ready. I am lousy with designing the website and what I need. 

Another son down !!!

My 16 yo has recovered. Now, it is my 18 yo who is down with flu.  The blessing is that he took the vocational assessment tests at the Commando Camp yesterday.  It would have been terrible if it was today.

He came back happy as he told me that the 1st Warrant Officer who interviewed him, knows his father.  He commented that he looks like his father.  My son was told to retake his NAPFA tests as the last one was taken in 2009.  The good news is: he is most likely to be posted to the Commando Camp as the Officer said that my son will see him for his BMT.  My son is really happy with that piece of news.  He was describing to me some of the things they did.  Flexibility with your body helps as there was on test which was more like a yoga pose than anything else.

Finally cooked dinner again after almost a month of not doing that.  Oh.. I did cook some porridge yesterday for lunch.  Nothing fancy for dinner, just some ready made fried spring-rolls; and soup of beef balls, carrot, baby kailan, tomatoes, silky toufu.

Been feeling really tired easily lately too.  Actually, more sleepy than anything else.  I have not been sleeping well for a few weeks now.  At times, during the night, I am not sure if I was dreaming or just having a lot of thoughts floating by.  I am probably experiencing menopause too.  One moment, I am feeling ok, the next warm (hot flush, I guess).  Throughout the night, I would be like flipping off the blanket, putting it back on again, flipping it off, putting it back on again.....  Was told that women going through early stages of menopause tend to put on weight around the wrong areas.  AAHHHHH I do not want that, don't need that.  Exercise , exercise.

Maybe I should try and retire to bed early tonight.  Hang on,, I am on my bed already hahaha  My bed is my chair, my writing den, my everything..

Need to catch up on many things tomorrow.  Have to stop procrastinating so much.  Tomorrow may never come, at least for me.  Come to think of it, better get a will done too.  Losing my friend so suddenly to heart attack, has been a really big wake-up call for me.  I miss him so.  Wish I could give him a kick right now for going off just like that.  Maybe I will get to do that if he comes into my dream.

Feeling warm again... that's life.

Son missed his Prelim exam paper

I was hanging up the laundry when I heard my son come home.  He told me that he was having a terrible headache and he could not stay in school to take his Preliminary Exams Bible Study paper.  His temperature was 37.6 deg. 

He had been staying up late at night, not drinking enough liquid.  I know.  Not good.  As a Medical Certificate was required by the school administration, he went to the clinic at the block next to our flat.  He is seen here, resting on our bed.  I do worry about his health but then again, to appear utterly worried, gets them upset too.  So, I am going to show concern but not overly suffocate him with love.

Oops, my tummy just growled.  Better to get something to eat before I do anything else.  I really need to get on my book writing tomorrow.  Tonight, I shall look through websites, write down what I like and do not like about certain ones, jot down what I want on my websites and hopefully be able to send something to Trevor.  Trevor is the saviour who is doing up my website for me.  I just need to have a web hosting angel.  I know I will get one this week.  Attraction attraction.

I signed up as a Volunteer !!!

I finally did it today.  Signed up as a volunteer at ISCOS (Industrial & Services Co-Operative Society Ltd) to help with ex-offenders.  I still need to attend the Basic Volunteer Course before I can do anything.  I met up with Elvis of ISCOS at Starbucks, City Hall. He explained what ISCOS does and what they require.  What they require are more volunteers.  So if you are reading this and would like to be a volunteer, do get in touch with me.  It can be on an adhoc basis, not regular.

He feels that I would make a good mentor as well.  I will have to attend special training before I can be one. I am raising 3 boys and to be a mentor to a female would be a challenge for me.  Not that raising 3 boys was no challenge for me lol.  Nevertheless, I am really looking forward to working with ISCOS and doing my part in helping the ex-offenders integrate into society and starting a new and fulfilling life. 

Why is a picture of their Annual Report on my blog?  No prize if you guess that I have yet again forgotten to take pictures lol.  Maybe I should have a videographer or photographer follow me around.  hhmmm  come to think of it, not a bad idea at all hahaha

No Pics???

Yeah, no pics.  I was at Jalan Senang for a Coffee Conversations with Harasha session earlier today.  On the way there, I reminded myself to take some photos.  What happened? I forgot.  Never had the habit of taking pictures before and I have been telling myself to get into the habit of taking pictures.  It really helps when times goes by and memory cells do not work as well as before.

It was a great gathering with some sincere and heartfelt sharings.  Shhhh... the sharings are confidential, not to be shared here.  hehehehe  The coffee, iced-tea and snacks were great too. lol  Now the next thing I need to do is keep in contact with these lovely people.  Have the faintest idea how to spell most of their names but perhaps the next time I meet up with them, I will make extra effort to take pictures. 

A New Book, A New Chapter

This was meant to be my first blog here but somehow I excitedly blogged about my mahjong session yesterday  hhmm.. i wonder what is the priority here.  lol  My friend, Terri, told me that Tumblr would be easier and so, I signed up on Tumblr too.  Trust me, being new to blogging, nothing seems easy at first.  I had been trying to get my way around both on Friday night but gave up after getting more confused after a while.  I tried to send the blog to Tumblr from my iphone earlier but the system kept bouncing it back, citing error with uploading.  So, back to blogspot I came, and viola, I managed to set something up.  I am still clicking on anything and almost everything here to find out what they are and what they do, etc.  Would have to continue with it later tonight or tomorrow.  I have a coffee meet with a bunch of interesting people (so as the host tells me hehehe) later at 4pm. I am really looking forward to meeting everyone as we have never met before prior to today.  I am hoping to share my dream of setting up a cafe as a social enterprise to help ex-offenders and solo-parents.   
Follow me as I go on my new adventures in meeting many more wonderful, interesting, knowledgeable people whom I hope would be able to guide and join me in my new life journey.  Come onboard and enjoy the ride with me.
Be great if I can figure out how to place this as the first blog instead of second....

Saturday Mahjong

I started learning how to play Mahjong sometime last year and no, I am not an expert at it yet.  I am still a "sotong" paying my "school fees" at each session.  It has been more than 2 months since I ha played Mahjong at my friend, Margaret's home in Pasir Ris.  I wanted to get out of my home and decided to plonk myself into hers.

As usual, we have lunch at her place, start the Mahjong session till dinner time, and then followed with one last session till just before 11pm.  I would love to stay longer but I need to catch the last train home from Simei.  Damn the train system.  The last train out from Pasir Ris is simply too early.

I always enjoy my time there, although I would enjoy it more if I win LOL.  Oh well, like I always say, besides paying my school fees, I am also paying for the meals. hehehe