Remembering my Ah Gong

Losing a loved one is never easy.

My Ah Gong or Grandpa, passed on for over a decade now. But the memories of him still resided somewhere in my heart and mind. Very often, for no apparent reason, I would think of him and started to feel sad and regretful. Sad, since he was no longer around, and regret, for not making an effort to learn his dialet, the Hainanese, to communicate better with him. Sometimes I really wonder, even till now, whether Ah Gong really understood what I was saying with my half-bucket Hokkien.

I can remember vividly, on the day that Ah Gong died, I was still in school, celebrating my "victory" over that stubborn Home Economics test paper. I knew nothing of his passing. I was light-footed as I skipped up the stairs to my house. Then I noticed there were a lot of footwear at the doorstep. Hmmm, how come got so many shoes? What's the occasion? I thought to myself, still humming a little tune inside my head.

The gate was unlocked. I opened it and saw many red faces and red watery eyes. I was dumbstruck. What happened? Then my father broke the news to me in a try-to-calm voice," Your Ah Gong just passed away." My shoulder suddenly gave way and my school bag slide down to the cold, hard floor. For a few seconds, I couldn't comprehend what my father was saying. I walked slowly into my parents' room and sat on their bed. Moments later, as if finally understanding what was going on, tears just trickled down. I was sobbing uncontrollably. No one was there to console me. Everyone was equally sad. I waited until I had calmed down, before seeing my Ah Gong's body. I was afraid. I was never this close to a dead body. I dared not touch him.

Maybe that is why I keep thinking about Ah Gong. For not showing my filial piety to him while he was around and when he was dead.


"It's not important if you can't change the past. The most important thing is that you had made me smile."

What am I?

Just came home from Rebecca's wedding dinner. Well, met a couple of secondary school friends and we had a chat. Seems to me that all the others are doing pretty well in their careers. All seemed to be high flyers, and me?

Well, all I can say is that I'm happily married.



"When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it's a sure sign you're getting old."

Thanks...

I want to thank our friends for celebrating our 1st anniversary with us. They are CareBear, 小妹, Su and May May. We ate at Bakerzin Millenia, played pool and sang karaoke at Yishun Safra until 2am. I sang until I'm quivering from exhaustion. All that singing was just too much for my larynx.

Then me, Hubby, 小妹 and CareBear proceeded to the not-so-nearby kopitiam for supper, while Su and May May went home.

It was fun going out with them.



"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.Walk beside me and be my friend."

Our Anniversary

Today marks the 1st anniversary of my marriage with Hubby. This is our 2nd year together. Time flies and I really feel attached to him. I felt like we had known each other and married for decades. Haha, it's strange to feel this way, isn't it? But I've prepared a little something for my baby and I'm sure he likes it very much. I am very happy today too.

Happy Anniversary, Baby.



""Pooh, promise you won't forget about me, ever.
Not even when I'm a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little.
"How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
Pooh nodded.
"I promise," he said."

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

What's a hero without super powers?

Firemen, policemen, nurses, volunteers ... Need I say more? You get the picture.
Sure, it is good to have super powers, but only if they are put to good use. And those common heroes who are all around us? They don't need super powers, they just need a heart to do what they did.

Kudos to all these people who sacrifice themselves for the better of all the people around them.



"Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say: This I am today; that I will be tommorrow."

Baby Don't Cry

Namie Amuro - Baby Don't Cry

信号待ち見かけた
見覚えのある青いT-Shirts (I remember that)
変わらない笑顔流れた時はちょうど
3 years (Time goes by)
声かけようとその隣に見知らぬ誰か
ふと反らした目に映る空はいつもと同じで

きっとこうして人はちょっとずつ
過ぎた季節に記憶を隠す
いつか零れた涙集まって
陽を浴びて輝くまで

そうだからBaby悲しまないで
考えても分かんない時もあるって
散々でも前に続く道のどこかに
望みはあるから
雨の朝でも(Baby don't cry)
愛が消えそうでも(Baby don't cry)
一人になんてしないから(Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side

眠れない夜は何度も寝返りばかり
心細くなって
吐き出すため息は深い(Yeah I know)
また抱えた不安これ以上解消出来ず
誰かの手握って
見えない明日へ繋ごうと努力して

だってそうして人は何度でも
闇に立ち向かう強さあるはず
与えられて選ぶんじゃなくて
その足で 踏み出して

そうだからBaby悲しまないで
考えても分かんない時もあるって
散々でも前に続く道のどこかに
望みはあるから
雨の朝でも(Baby don't cry)
愛が消えそうでも(Baby don't cry)
一人になんてしないから(Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side
鏡に映る自分が(When I lose myself)
まるで別人みたいな日もあるけど
(When I need someone's help)
諦めないでLet me see your smile
ねえ 良くなる方に捉えたら?
いつか笑って話せる日がくるから
(Don't cry, cry...)

さあだからBabyその手伸ばして
雲間に覗く陽射しを信じて
心配事なんて 全部取り除くから
これでもう大丈夫
遠い朝でも(Baby don't cry)
愛をなくしても(Baby don't cry)
一人になんてしないから(Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side

Baby もうDon't cry (Baby don't cry yeah)
It's gon' be alright (It's gon' be alright)
Baby もうDon't cry (Baby もうDon't cry)
You'll see the sunshine (See the shushine)
Baby もうどのくらい(Baby don't baby don't cry)
一人でyou've been tryin'
(一人でyou've been tryin')
Baby もうDon't cry (Baby もうDon't cry)
You'll see the sunshine (You'll see the sunshine)



Baby Don't Cry
shingou machi mikaketa
mioboe no aru aoi T-Shirts (I remember that)
kawaranai egao nagareta toki wa
choudo 3 years (Time goes by)
koe kakeyou to sono tonari ni mishiranu dareka
futo sorashita me ni utsuru sora wa itsumo to onaji de

kitto koushite hito wa chotto zutsu
sugita kisetsu ni kioku wo kakusu
itsuka koboreta namida atsumatte
hi wo abite kagayaku made

sou dakara Baby kanashimanaide
kangaetemo wakannai toki mo aru tte
sanzan demo mae ni tsudzuku michi no dokoka ni
nozomi wa aru kara
ame no asa demo (Baby don't cry)
ai ga kiesou demo (Baby don't cry)
hitori ni nante shinai kara (Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side

nemurenai yoru wa nando mo negaeri bakari
kokoro hosoku natte
hakidasu tameiki wa fukai (Yeah I know)
mata kakaeta fuan kore ijou kaishou dekizu
dareka no te nigitte
mienai asu e tsunagou to doryoku shite

datte soushite hito wa nando demo
yami ni tachimukau tsuyosa aru hazu
ataerarete erabu n' ja nakute
sono ashi de fumidashite

sou dakara Baby kanashimanaide
kangaetemo wakannai toki mo aru tte
sanzan demo mae ni tsudzuku michi no dokoka ni
nozomi wa aru kara
ame no asa demo (Baby don't cry)
ai ga kiesou demo (Baby don't cry)
hitori ni nante shinai kara (Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side
kagami ni utsuru jibun ga (When I lose myself)
marude betsujin mitai na hi mo aru kedo
(When I need someone's help)
akiramenaide Let me see your smile
nee yoku naru hou ni toraetara?
itsuka waratte hanaseru hi ga kuru
(Don't cry, cry...)

saa dakara Baby sono te nobashite
kumoma ni nozoku hizashi wo shinjite
shinpai goto nante zenbu torinozoku kara
koe de mou daijoubu
tooi asa demo (Baby don't cry)
ai wo nakushitemo (Baby don't cry)
hitori ni nante shinai kara (Baby don't cry)
Baby don't cry
Always stay by your side

Baby mou Don't cry (Baby don't cry yeah)
It's gon' be alright (It's gon' be alright)
Baby mou Don't cry (Baby mou Don't cry)
You'll see the sunshine (See the sunshine)
Baby mou dono kurai (Baby don't baby don't cry)
hitori de you've been tryin'
(hitori de you've been tryin')
Baby mou Don't cry (Baby mou Don't cry)
You'll see the sunshine (You'll see the sunshine)



"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible."

Did I see the Signs right?

In a toilet:
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW


In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT


In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS

In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN

In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD

Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?

Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS

Spotted in a safari park:(I sure hope so)
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR

Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR

Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK)



"Whatever God's dream about man may be, it seems certain it cannot come true unless man cooperates. "