5

After 2 years of dating and 3 years of living together, me and Joel have been together for 5 years on 21 Mar 2008. :D

This year, we didn't have any celebration because his granny Mama Jenny passed away on 20 Mar 2008.

And since 24 Mar, we're back dating again.. :)

During the weekdays, i'm at my mom's and working my ass off. And on weekends, i'm with him and Peanut. You see, we've been having conflicts so much so that we literally cannot see eye to eye. It was tough and sour.. Almost every other day, we will disagree with each other and end up sleeping with a heavy heart. And that's no good! After many thoughts and confessions, we knew that we were so 'used' to each other that we took each other for granted. Habit, bad. It was either stay or leave. I chose to STAY AND BE HAPPY.

We decided that it is best we only see each other on weekends and on weekdays, it's me and my work and for Joel, its him and his networkings.

Although it feels weird in the beginning, i kinda enjoy the space i have now and for him, he definitely enjoy the freedom he has. And most importantly, i felt 'wanted' again.. It couldn't get any better.. :)

Four

I just received news.. My ex-colleague Jane from Zuji and her husband who was an ex-colleague of mine at Ken-Air, Kevin Bong? They were called home to God this morning..

Baby girl escapes horrific car crash which killed parents, brother and grandma

Update 28 Mar 2008

Four killed in family holiday tragedy

They were not forgotten..

We just came back from Joel's granny cremation. It was sad and happy, mixed feelings.

Since Joel and his family found out about her passing, we have been going to her wake every night. It was the least we could do.

Today is the day. There were tears but no cries. It was a solemn funeral service, memories and tears gushing in. Everyone were strong even when her soul less body was pushed in to cremate. There was a big sigh of relief. Mama Jenny had a long suffering life.

From what i gather, Mama Jenny is a saint. She was raised as a Christian. She married into a family where she's the only Christian. At times, she had to go on a hungry stomach because she didn't want to eat the food that was offered to the idols. She was educated in Raffles Girls and Raffles College and taught in SCGS for many years before she retired. She had 3 sons and Joel's dad was the youngest. Due to tough times, she had to give her 2nd son away. She was always happy and she remembered all her grandchildren's birthdays. As she aged, her eye sight started to fail her. Sadly, we lost her on 20 Mar 08.

Although i have not met her personally, having hear what she been through, it really touch my heart. What impresses me most about Mama Jenny was that throughout her life, she NEVER lost her cool! Not a single moment..

After the cremation, the whole family was told that Mama Jenny had prepared an envelope for them. It was a A4 size brown envelope, sealed and signed by Mama Jenny. Everyone in the family received a letter written by her. She actually had eveyone's gifts sealed up 12 years ago! She didn't forget Gavin, Elisa and Joel's share. She even remembered what Elisa loved.. The moment the 3 siblings received their gifts, they all bursted out in tears. For the 1st time, i've seen Joel cried.. It was too much for them. But.. They were delighted to know that they still stand a place in her heart.

Goodbye Mama Jenny. God has called you home. Mama Jenny, please bless the whole family. I know you will. :)

In loving memory of

Mama Jenny Chia

1912-2008

A lady with the biggest heart

Called home to God

We just received news. Joel's paternal grandmother passed away peacefully this morning. She was 95.

Shanghai

On 08 Mar 2008, i flew to Shanghai for a whole week of work. I'm glad that i flew on SQ and not GA. If GA, i think i will be dreading this trip.

After arrival, we went over to collect our luggage. And i was greeted by this.

What in the hell is that? Welcome to Shanghai..? Worst welcome signboard i've ever seen.. So cheap.

Anyway, that's not the worst part. The worst was they have so many belts and they had to arrange 2 flights to 1 belt when the rest are empty and not even in operation. Can you image? SQ and Emirates arriving at the same time, using the same belt? SQ was 95% full, Emirates more or less 95% full too.

The no of people crowding the belt.. Collecting your luggage at this point was like crazy. Lucky my luggage was out earlier.

When we stepped out of the Airport, i had a weather shock. It was cold, i was smoking without a cigarette! Cool.

Having only 8 days in Shanghai, Sun 09 Mar 2008 was the only day i could sightsee and it's cold today. When there's no wind chill, it's cool. But when the wind comes.. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!

The hotel we stayed, The Bund Hotel 金外滩酒店 is conveniently located to most of the major attractions in Shanghai. The Bund 外滩, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Walk 南京路步行街 and People's Park人民广场, all within 5 minutes walk.

If SIN has 4 seasons, we can have such lovely landscape too. But if SIN really going to have 4 seasons, please have it like Hongkong where they don't snow!

Look at the wires, the walls, the street.. Everything's so 上海滩! So nostalgic, i like. If there's a history behind it, i will lagi like it more.

How can you not love these kind of buildings? Well, i do.. I cant stop snapping pictures of these pictures.. Too bad i don't have a proper and good camera with me.. Sponsors please! :p

This is The Bund.. The famous 夜上海夜上海你是个不夜城... The whole of Shanghai is in a mess. They are building their Circle Line, just like us. But they have a dateline to complete. They're trying to get the whole of Shanghai ready for Expo 2010. The last Expo was at Japan 2006.

We took a river cruise and view from the cruise was awesome.

Pearl of the Orient Tower. We didn't go up there. We didn't have time to play tourist. By the time the cruise ended, it was 1pm.

We had to rush to Lujiabang Road 陆家浜路 for some tailored pants. It's like Jalan Sultan Textile Centre but every shop is a tailor shop. Please remember to bargain.. My trench coat was offered initiately at 480RMB, but with my mom's bargaining skills, we managed to convince them for 400RMB.

With some day light left, we went Chenghuangmiao 城隍庙. It's a street with nostalgic buildings that have been restored. It's a shopping street, you can find fakes, fakes and more fakes here. Other than that, it will be a ground where you can find some local snacks.

I like this place because its huge and nostalgic. Very Ming or Qing dynasty..

They have alot of Tea Houses here which were located on the 2nd floors. There were alot of Goldsmiths too and alot of local snacks.

After a whole 8hrs of daylight, we went Pedestrian Walkway 步行街 for some shopping. It's Orchard Road. Nothing special but nice buildings.

Nanjing Road. It is quite long, there is Nanjing Road East and West But main attraction is here, Pedestrian Walkway.

We ended the night early because I HAVE TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.

10 Mar 2008, Hotel visits.

11 Mar 2008, Hotel visits.

12 Mar 2008, Hotel visits.

13 Mar 2008, Hotel visits.

14 Mar 2008, Sabre office in Shanghai to follow up on our hotel visits. Suppose to leave early but too many things to do.. Left office at 6 for Quanjude Peking Duck全聚德北京鸭 at Huaihai Road 淮海路, another Orchard Road. Duck was DELICIOUS!

15 Mar 2008, finally i can do some shopping.. We went Qipu Road七浦路, notorious fake markets. I didn't buy much, besides the fakes this is also their fashion mall. Jeans, tops, coats, leggings, anything you need to style yourself from top to botom. 3 hours later, we were on our way to Airport for our flight back.

SIN is sweet.

PS: SIN is not oily. SIN is not salty. :)

夜上海

Just arrived in Shanghai.

It's 5 degree celsius, so freaking cold!

quitsmokingforgood

Today, Me started a new medication which may take 1 month or longer..

Chantix
It's all about getting there.

Joel has started before me and is seeing progessive change. :)

Bless us, Abba! Give us the strength!

It was nice catching up..

I was at Expo for Natas Fair yesterday. I was there purely to waste some time and to pay Evon a visit. If i don't, she will be mad!

Queue to get into Natas was crazy, the queue started at Hall 4B and all the way to Hall 6! I could have simply walked to the back of the hall and got in from there, but i just walked to the counter and pay for my admission. Don't know why i did that for..

Anyway, it was a pleasant visit. I met up alot of my ex-colleagues from Ken-Air whom i haven't seen for a long time.. There was Suzanah Rahim who is now Suzanah Lim, Kents, Anna, Jamaliah, Maz, Mr Sunny Goh and Eileen Ong who is a teacher now! Voon who left Zuji last year was at Ad Travel and Paul who left Zuji on Fri freelancing at Nam Ho. And there was the usual khaki, the Phua sisters, Evon and Eileen.

It was nice seeing all of them.

But it's nicer to learn that i can buy my mom's travel insurance with Natas discount ONLINE!