When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade

After a week break from work, I was suffering from serious post holiday depression syndrome when I have to return to work this Monday. I wonder if it is god's will or what...Today paper did an article that day to brighten everyone's life amidst all the bad news in the media lately. The radio DJ also pick it up as a topic for the morning show. If you are not aware or haven't seen or hear it, the title of the report was "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Throughout the whole papers for that day, they have people mentioning about what is the little things that make them smile for the day. The radio DJ also requested people to sms their little things. To hear things such as:

- Being happily married for XX years.
- All set to accept a newborn in the family.
- To see their young one in the first day of school and able to buy food for themselves.
- To be able to go for picnic with the family.

The list went on and on.

Not sure if this little messages warm you and brightened your day like it does for me. So if you ever think you are having a bad things, think of this little things around your heart and I am sure your day will improve. It is all about changing the way you look at things.

Goodbye 2008 and All Ready for 2009!

Every year since I started blogging, I will do a reflection and goal setting entries as the first and last entries of the year. However, I realise that the goals are usually the same as previous years and I also can't seems to achieve the goals that I set.

Hence, as I was pondering on what should I do with this entry....I remember that I actually listened to a radio programme few months back. In this episode, the DJ actually wanted everyone to use a word to describe the 2008. What word will it be for you? For me, the best word for 2008 will have to be "change".

2008 started well for me as I finally found a job that I have been looking for at least 4 yrs. So it is like a dream come true for me.....doing BTL and events.Afterwhich, I also became godma to 2 lovely children - Josh and Clara. Looking at how they have developed and grow till date help me realise the many simple or little things that I have forgetten to appreciate as we get older each year. Not to forget, the spiritual trip that I have went with my family middle of the year that let our whole family get closer and stronger with our faith.

Above that, Singapore also achieve the first olympic medal and paralympic medals after ages. As all these happy activities are happenening, we shouldn't forget those natural disasters that struck us too...Mynammar Cyclone and Sichuan Earthquake....It is like mother nature is sending us a signal to appreciate what she has created for us. Since then, everything seem to going downhill as well....with the bankrupcy of lehman brothers, DBS retrenchment, the failing US economy that leads to recession in many countries including Singapore, etc.

Hence, instead of setting many goals for 2009, I guess the most important goal for me in 2009 should be "Contentment".

I should be contented:

- To have a family and friends that loves us for who we are and what we do.

- To have a family and friends that will share our joy, laughter and saddness.

- To have a job that provides the food and butter as well as feed my hobby (i.e. shopping).

- That I am healthy

With contentment, I will appreciate all the little things in our life and be happier person. With happiness, I will be all ready for all the challenges ahead of us in 2009.

I wish everyone who reads my blog - A Happy & Healthy 2009!

p.s. Please do forgive my language as it didn't undergo any QC.

Last activity of the year

Before I say goodbye to 2008, I have an appointment to visit my favourite shopping place in Chinatown. Apart from getting the 2 bottoms (dark grey and black) for the CNY, I also went home with 2 new tops below and my first cheongsum (too bad...it is still under alteration so i can't post it in).

Apart from the above new tops, I actually have some other purchases which I have reserved for the CNY.

Not to forget, the below 2 pairs of shoes. I just discovered the shop: Mitju that offer flats at a very affordable price. I actually wanted another pair but too bad the finishing isn't as ideal.

I guess I can say I am all ready for the CNY or should I say I am over ready or everyday is new year with my purchases. hehe

Meaningful quotes

Attended a religious class last weekend and the speaker share the below quotes (I did my own translation) which I find it is very meaningful and will like to share with all of you and at the same time remind myself:

1) To pick on somebody's faults just prove that you do not have sufficient 修为。

2) To be angry is punishing yourself for other's mistakes.

3) To love is not about what others do for you but how much you have done for others.

There was also a story that I like to share:

从前有个仙人，他在临走时叫来牛，马，猴，狗和人.他说他会给它们每个多二十年的寿命。牛，马，猴和狗都不要。人却说它们不要的话，全都给我吧。仙人答应了。

所以人在一岁至二十岁都在享福。人在二十岁至四十岁就在做牛做马。人在四十岁后就在做狗。因为孩子大了都常不在家只留父母在家看家想一只狗。人在六十岁就在做猴子。因为他们都得办猴子逗孙子。

Edited on 11 Dec: What a coincidence, my friend forwarded me this story as well which is a english translation.

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of
your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give
you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be
barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God
agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do
tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to
perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed .

On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field
with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk
to support the farmer 's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty
years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty
years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed
again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry
and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.' But the human said:
'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave
back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes
eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy
ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.
For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And
for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone. Life has
now been explained to you.

Isn't this a simple reflection of the different phases of our lives?

Spreading the festive cheers

If you have known me long enough, you will know that my parents are not educated and blue collar workers. Hence, our family are not that well-to-do who can only afford the bare minimal. Things only improved after my sister and I start working and we start to contribute to the family. Sad to say, when I was younger, I will always think about why others can live in a bigger place but we can only live in rented flats? Why do they have so many toys while I don't? Why do other's parents drive and my parents don't? and the list goes on and on..... It could be due to such thinking that help mount me to a person I am now.

To be frank, I am ashamed of my thinking and immature actions when younger. Since watching the recently ended program - Live Transformers on Channel 8, it actually make me feel that though my family was not that well-off in the past, we were definitely better than those feature in the programme and we should be contented and bless with what we have.

Hence, in these bad times, I believer it is important for everyone of us who are more fortunate than others in many ways to do a little and spread our love to the less fortunate and help make their lives a better one in the coming years. Since I started work, I also started this practise of doing my bit for the less fortunate through donating to World Vision Charity. For this year, I am fortunate to still have a job so I decided to donate more.

So sincerely hope that those of you who are reading my blog to do a little bit for the less fortunate this X'mas in your own little way and help boast the festive mood during such bad times.

Clara @ 7months

My poor little princess is hospitalised for a week because she is infected with Kawasaki syndrome. The doctors can't start any treatment until all the symptons appear so this poor little girl has to be hospitalised for observations as well as on drip. Due to her illness, she is very cranky so I can only visit her now when she is back from the hospital.

Can see her bruises on her leg and ankle due to the drip and insertion of the medicine. Above that, her voice is still sore due to her constant crying in the hospital. The good thing is she has now recovered and become a brave little girl. Not to forget, mummy also say she has actually put more weight and has more appetite.

Learning to walk in her walker and her get well balloon.

See my brave little princess.

She is so happy when her daddy and mummy make funny faces and noise at her.

My happy little princess is back.

She is also now more "yang oh" after the hospitalisation.

She will now be a stronger and healthier princess after this episode.

Josh @ 10 months

I haven't meet up with Godma for a few weeks so she dropped by to play with me this Saturday. I am not very comfortable with her when she came so I cling on to Ah ma. But after she entertained me for a while, I decided to play with her and of cos show her my latest skill, i.e. spitting my saliva, which mummy say I only do that when I am happy.

Since I am still unable to breakthrough and start to crawl, Godma decided to let me skip and proceed to walking which I totally enjoy.

Godma caught me in this ugly pose of walking with big elephant step.

See...I am so happy with my walking exercise.

Me sitting steadily on my Yi Po's lap.

Please do not block my view, I am watching my favourite TV commercial.

See how engross I am when it comes to TV. I think this is from Papa's genes.

I also got my reading genes from mummy.

That's how I usually play when Ah ma is busy with the housework. Somehow, I just can't move forward and make the first attempt with crawling.

So happy...so many people came and play with me. heehee

Before godma proceed to visit her princess, mummy took a picture for us.

Till the next time, my godma update about me...Bye everyone!

PhotoFunia

Notice recently that everyone is having fun at photofunia. It is a pretty simple to use site where you can place your photos on different background.

So I decided to give it a try with till date best pictures of my little darlings.

My little princess as Billboard Poster girl.

Now it's the turn for my little prince.

MacDonald Date with Prince Josh

Was arranging a meet up with Mummy when she mentioned how Prince Josh is interested in MacDonald's pancake. Hence, we arrange for a meet-up this morning with the little prince for breakfast.

Happy to see how the little guy is interested in the pancakes as well as the birds flying around. So I guess Jurong Bird Park will be welcoming another new member to the place. When little prince is happy, we are able to get nice pictures of him. So here we go:

Hey, something just flash at me?

Heehee. Mummy is making a funny noise.

One more shot of me.

Final handsome shot of me. Look out for more updates of me at my godma blog. Bye everyone.

New Recipe: Fried White Radish Cake

Someone from my office left the company and got each of us a departing gift. She notice that I have a slight interest in dim sum cooking and my family is vegetarian so she got me a vegetarian dim sum cookbook as farewell gift.

So I make the first attempt yesterday and below is the picture of the outcome:

All mixed up pretty easily and ready for the steam.

Looking good after the steam.

The final product - Looking good but not as attractive as the book but I guess it is good enough for family. So I will be starting mass production soon. Only feedback is it is rather bland so I just need to add more salt to it.

Look out for more dim sum and kuehs. heehee.