My favourite drink

After more than 30 years of sampling various available soft drinks, you are still the only one I keep stock at home.

Every time my wife is busy at home with kids, housework, cooking, cleaning, I will pour her a glass.

She prefers you with ice.
I prefer sipping you from the can.

You go well with cigar, bbq food, fried food, spicy food.

I drink Coke on only 2 occasions.
Either when I'm alone or when I'm with someone.

Heartbroken

Today marks the first time I saw my daughter's heart broken.

Our domestic helper, Yunani, had completed her 2 years contract and did not want to continue her tenure with us anymore. Though she was very close to our children, she misses home and we have to let her go.

After sending our maid off through the customs of Changi Airport, I saw Isabel's reddened eyes gleaming with tears. She turns 8 this year and for the very first time, her heart was broken knowing that her favourite playmate will not be returning to keep her company anymore.

Seeing her with such sorrow, saddens me and my wife. And I now know the big difference about being heartbroken myself and seeing the people you care about going through the ordeal. The latter being the one that will really twist and wrench your heart because you know that they will have to go through this process and there isn't much that one can do to help with the pain other than to hope that time passes quickly. And time, is the only healer.

And when it was time for bed just now, she wept uncontrollably as she misses her room mate sorely. I had to promise her that we will call Yuna the next day evening so she can chat with her.

All this time, we were worried more about our 3 year old son, Nathaniel, not being able to understand that his "kaka" will no longer be in our home the next day. But it was Isabel whom found it so hard to let go.

I had to explain to Isabel that in life, there will be many "Hellos" and "Goodbyes". With each "Goodbye", there will be a new "Hello". (Citing the new incoming maid as example). I hope she can understand what I was trying to say.

But what I didn't tell her was that, the greater the joy in the "Hello", the more the sorrow when it's time to say "Goodbye". Parents can guide their children but it'd still be best to let them figure out some facts of life for themselves rather than plain following parents' advice and not understanding about life itself.

I believe Isabel had matured socially after this significant event of her life. And we are so proud of her.

 

Isabel on happier days just weeks before her kaka's departure

10th Wedding Anniversary

Today is 6th October 2011..

In a blink of an eye, in the midst of working, having kids and making a living,
today marks the 10th year of partnership continuity between me and my missus.

Time flies when we look back at the years that whizzed by..

We had our good times and we had our bad times.

10 years ago, I asked for your hand because I was afraid I'd lose you if I didn't.
10 years later, I am glad that I did pick up the gem that turned out to be a real diamond.

On our good days, let's make it a point to remember them..
On the bad days, the memories of the good days will keep us going strong again..

Let me quote a poem I wrote on my website dedicated to you more than 10 years ago:

Seasonal Torrents...

Great speeds they come,

Much often without warning.

Tides of unimaginable proportions,

Tidal Waves.

Some Perish , Some Hurt..

The next morning,

Healing begins.

i love u

Whatever happens in the future, I am not sure...
But I know memories of the happier days will get us through any dark ones ahead!

1437

Pre-Valentines Date with Mrs Neo

14th February is Valentine's day and we both know traditionally, everywhere will be packed.

So, we celebrated the weekend before Valentine's monday on the 11/12th February.

We booked midnight tickets for the movie "Just Go With It" at Tiong Bahru Plaza and after the movie, we went to take some photos..

Here are a few pictures that Mrs Neo allowed me to put up on the web.

She looks as radiant as ever!

She got apples on her cheeks!

Christine in Post-Apocalyptic Singapore

Just wanna say I still love you very much, be it 14th Feb or any other day....

Christine's Birthday BBQ Chalet

See all the pictures taken here

This one for Mrs Neo

Did I miss out anything?

Dogs and feet and shoes

My missus recently gave a very interesting point to ponder about dogs and cats.

According to her, she wonders

"Why pet owners allow their pets to go outdoors and return to the house with dirty paws. But yet the owners themselves wear shoes outdoors and remove their shoes when returning to their house to keep the floor clean."

So should dogs and cats wear shoes?