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