If you've never failed, you've never lived.

Famous Failures

Don't be afraid of failures. Don't go through life with trepidation. And don't let anyone tell you that you are not good enough.

Arriving at destination...

Recently, my hubby decided to outsource his job of directing me to places to a Garmin GPS for a low low price of $169. I guess it's worth its salt if it means lesser arguments about unclear instructions and exploring more places in his absence.

We tried it out the first few days and the princes were tickled by the GPS going 'recalculating' or 'u-turn when possible' whenever we took a different route from what the GPS recommended. We joked that the GPS some times kept very quiet because she was having her tantrums or PMS and that maybe we should change it to a male voice which may be less talkative.

I have mixed feelings about the GPS. When my hubby is overseas, I feel more secure going to places with it but some times, the direction it gives is different from what seems to be the correct route and it can be frustrating because I can't scold this damn thing or ask it questions. In such situations, I have to re-activate it to re-direct. According to a friend, Singapore is very small, so it's impossible to get lost. I disagree. Anyway, what I love about this machine is that I can save some favourite locations and there is an icon that that says 'Go home'. I feel safe knowing that even if I got lost, I will somehow find my way home. I hope.

A piece of our past

It's strange how we form emotional attachment to inanimate objects. Our coffee table had been with us since we got married and moved into our first house. It was a simple square table made of low quality wood. Yet it weathered our daily abuse over the past 14 years and still stood strong on the day it was abandoned.

The day before the new coffee table was due to arrive, I told my hubby that maybe we should keep our old coffee table after all. Ok, stupid suggestion. Then, I suggested that maybe we saw off a leg of the table and keep it as a momento. Stupider. So, we just took a picture of the old fellow, in its usual form, with remote controls, toys, cups and anything our 2 princes put on it.

The day the new coffee table arrived, I received it without any emotion. Unlike the old coffee table, this one is more elegant and is made of good quality Indonesian wood but lacks character and a certain charm that the old table had.

I guess human beings are nostalgic suckers. We associate anything, from an old coffee table to Michael Jackson with our youth and time lost. We grieve for MJ not because we love him. Come on, we don't even know him. We mourn the lost youth and freedom that we had during the times we listened to his music and watched his rebellious crotch-grabbing dance moves. In the same way, the coffee table held many many memories of our early married and parenthood years. It witnessed our fights and hugs, held our TV dinners, heard our stories and grew with us as a couple and young family. It has stopped becoming a furniture but a part of our lives.

I tapped into the logical part of my brain and told it to let go of the old fellow. Maybe it will serve a purpose for its next owner. For now, I have to get used to the new coffee table - the smell, the shape, the texture and move on. Like the slogan in the movie 'Meet the Robinsons', 'Just Keep Moving Forward', we cannot be stuck in the past. And we shouldn't. So I guess the new coffee table has to earn its keep and hopefully last long enough to bond with us and become part of our children's memories too. When they have their own homes and coffee tables, I hope they will remember the happy times they had in our home and around our coffee table.

The perfect apology

From the movie 'Fireproof''.

It takes humility and commitment to apologise whole-heartedly to someone, especially someone you love. Feeling contrite can come naturally but expressing it is one of the toughest thing to do. Some people even choose to end a relationship than say sorry! A sincere apology and asking for forgiveness will melt away hatred and hard feelings and improve relationships. Why don't we do it more often?

Human beings are strange creatures. We value our pride and ego much more than we should. Is keeping our pride and ego intact really worth the sacrifice of a relationship? I believe a lot of people lost relationships this way. Why can't we eat the humble pie once in a while when it really matters? Jesus Christ is the embodiment of love, humility and forgiveness. For God so loved the world that He sacrificed His only begotten son to die for us so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) and God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we are still sinners, Christ died for us (Roman 5:8). Why would someone go through torture and humilation and die for us when we have proven to be unworthy? Even as Christ took his last breathe on the cross, He said, 'Father, forgive them.' Love conquers all pride and hatred, only if we allow it.

The Love Dare

Caleb's father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day experiment he calls 'The Love Dare.' Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, but more for his father's sake more than for his marriage. When Caleb discovers the books daily challenges are tied into his parents' newfound faith, his already limited interest is further dampened. While trying to stay true to his promise, Caleb becomes frustrated time and again. He finally asks his father,'How am I supposed to show love to somebody who constantly rejects me?' When his father explains that this is the love God shows to us, Caleb makes a life-changing commitment to love God. And--with God's help--he begins to understand what it means to truly love his wife. But is it too late to fireproof his marriage? His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever--rescuing his wife's heart.

Watch this movie! It will help many people in their relationships! This is by the same people who brought us 'Facing the Giants'. Very touching and meaningful. Never leave your partner behind.

Date: 11th Sept 2009 (Fri)
Time: 7.45pm
Venue: BBTC Hall 1 (Level 1) Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church,
300 Bedok North Ave 3, Singapore 469717
Admission: By complimentary tickets (550 only).
Ticket Reservation: Email events@bbtc.com.sg

Got 'hung!'

Can't believe I'm saying this but wholemeal bread tastes good. Especially when eaten with egg and tuna mayo (just half a teaspoon) and some cut up lettuce. I watched as older prince bit into the healthful egg mayo wholemeal sandwich I made for him. No violent protests. No dagger stares. Score!

This is significant as older prince is one of those who rolls his eyes at me when I grab a multi-grain loaf or bought some purportly health food. He doesn't care for this healthy eating crap. He just wants real food that makes his taste buds happy. Ditto for the rest of the family.

But the 'brain' of the family recently got 'hung' (scared in hokkien) by a medical report on the sorry state of her health - high blood pressure, high sugar level and low iron and low healthy red blood cells, and a weight that is not exactly Kate Moss category (actually more like Jennifer Hudson category). So begins the quest for healthy living. Goodbye to my beloved oreo cheese cake and sticky chewy chocolate ice-cream and hello spinach and wholemeal.

As I journey through this squeaky clean, semi-sweet land, my beloved friends and dear ones, please bear with my grumpiness and my inevitable hatred for you as you munch on your chocolate donut. I'm, afterall, just human. A miserable sugar-deprived human...

A celebration of unions

A friend and ex-colleague got married to her long-time boyfriend on 1 August. It was a simple wedding with gathering of family and friends and 2 of our mutuals friends' kids were the page boy and flower girl. I was the guardian for the flower girl. I was a little worried to be given such a delicate task. But all turned out alright. The ceremony began at Lady of Our Perpetual Succour Church followed by a reception at the SAF Yacht Club.

It was good to meet up with friends, old and current, to celebrate the new couple and to catch up on one another's lives. We discovered that no one had changed much over the years or perhaps when we got together, we just behaved like we used to in the past. We laughed and shared stories with one another freely. Somehow, the colleagues in FED during the early years are the best I have. Many of us feel the same way. It was a new department then and we sort of journeyed through the ups and downs together. Even though the six of us (Hui San, Karen, Sharol, Meng Yee and Pei Shang) only see one another monthly, the connection is still good. I wish we could all work in the same place again one day.

The bride, Meng Yee, in her beautiful gown, walking down the aisle with her father and the page boy, Lucas and flower girl, Anne, aka, son of Hui San and daughter of Karen.

The new couple after the ceremony.

Anne and her sister, Andrea. Aren't they such angels? Aw...

All FED staff, at some point in time. Front row from left: Hui San, Eunice, Karen & Guek Ee. Back row from left: Sharol, Richard, Pei Shang & Mindy.

Me & flower girl.

Hui San and baby Lyra.

At the SAF Yacht Club. SAF Yacht Club is a beautiful place for romance - deserted location and near the sea. I think I will go back there with my hubby for dinner some day.

At end of reception. Meng Yee's purple and fuchsia gown was gorgeous.

Three of Karen's 4 lovely kids and she wants to produce more!!.But then who can blame her for falling in love with such lovely creatures.