Good-bye my Fren

Life is uncertain - Death is certain
26 July 2008
Just been informed that a close friend died suddenly. We were friends for a long time. We were colleagues working together at the airport. We were in the same team.

Friendship lasted even after we left our airport job and doing our own stuff. Even though each of us carried on with our own journey in life, we still kept in touch - even though sometimes it could be a few months or longer that we do not see each other.

His death came as a shock becos he wasn't ill or anything like that where you could at least be mentally be prepared for the worst.

I know that in Buddhism, death is part of the cycle of life and death. Death is a release from this life of suffering. Death should be taken 'as it is' - neither happy or sad.
But I'm a sentient being. I'm still not enlightened. I'm still affected. It is easy to say but not easy to do.

27 July'08
This morning while waking up, I was thinking if it was just a bad dream. Part of me is still in denial, that he will call me and go "Hello Mrs. Leong" in his cheeky tone. But alas...........

Went to his funeral and cremation. Seeing him lying there in the coffin - it seemed so surreal.

31 July 2008
Attended his Memorial service at The Buddhist Library.

I'm beginning to come to term that he is really gone. A part of me felt a little angry - questions of why he have to go so suddenly especially since he had just come back from his Buddhist pilgrimage, why did he have to go since he's a good person - I wanted to ask the monk that but then I guess I know deep down that it was his time. Comforting to know also that he had enjoyed his pilgrimage which aptly was his last journey in this life.

For me, even though I've been reading about Buddhism - with his death, I've realised that I'm still very attached to "attachment". Guess I've got a long way to 'enlightenment'.
Good-bye Ronald from all your friends in this life-time, I'm sure we will meet again in the next life.........

(Died : 25 Jul'08 / Cremation : 27 Jul'08 / Sea-Burial : 28 Jul'08 / Memorial : 31 Jul'08)

"Death is not the end and each birth too is not the beginning of a life.
In fact, death is the beginning of life and conversely birth is the ending of life.
It is just one part of a whole process, a whole cyclic process of birth, death, rebirth and dying again"
- passages from a Buddhist perspective -

Pasir Ris Park Restaurant

12 July 2008

We were wondering where to go for our dinner. Always eating around Toa Payoh and surrounding areas was getting so boring.

Ended up at Pasir Ris Park where there are quite a number of eateries there.


We ate at this restaurant call "Beach Culture" which serves Western Food.



There's an air-con indoor area but we prefer to sit outside which was nice and breezy.

There's live singing too.

50th Wedding Anniversary

10 July 2008

Was invited by hubby's boss, who was also my indirect ex-boss to his parents' 50th Wedding Anniversay at the Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa.

A very grand affair. There was a traditional Indonesian dance and there was a live band playing jazz styled love songs and of cos some Indonesian songs too. The female singer is very, very good - fantastic voice - think she might be some kind of a celebrity singer in Indonesia as everybody started clapping when she came in.

The usual menu like in a Chinese wedding but the food was delicious compared to some others I had tasted in S'pore. So brides-to-be, this is a venue to consider.

The one item that I liked was of the video montage of the parents' old pics when they were young and when they got married and the video recording of wishes from their children and relatives.

Tried to take some pics with my camera-phone but not too good leh. Some pics did not turn out nice and so cannot put it up.



FG (hubby's boss) at our table.



FG's son played an electric guitar on stage and his daughter sang some songs. Very talented and musically inclined kids.



FG's parents and all their relatives on stage.



With LY, my ex-colleague.


50 years, that's really a long marriage. In view of how marriages are rather short-lived nowadays, that's really an achievement.

I'm already bugging hubby that we should have a big party when we cross the 10th year mark. My dream is to have a party with songs from the 80's to dance to like Bee Gees, Abba, Michael Jackson etc... Yes, LY, I'll definitely invite you.

We would have been married for 7 years at the end of this year. Wow, frankly, it does not feel that long to me. That's a good sign, right? It means I'm not sian of him, ha ha...

Petrol Power

We were at a petrol kiosk to pump in petrol.

Hubby : Uncle, I want Power 92.

Attendant A (in hokkien) : Li eh chia si Mercedes, Power 92 oi gow power?
(your car is a Mercedes, Power 92 enough power for your car?)

Hubby (in his terrible Hokkien) : Oi sai, wa tak pai yong Power 92, oi gow power
( Can! I always use Power 92, enough power!)

Hubby went inside the petrol station to pay the cashier, whereas I remained in the car and overheard the following exchanges :

Attendant B came over to talk to A : hee eh chia oi sai yong Power 92 meh?
( his car can use Power 92 meh?)

Attendant A : Yi gong oi sai leh... ( he said can leh)

Attendant B : mer si chia got power boh, si boh Liu Power!
(it's not whether car got power or not, it's no Money Power!)

Ha ha ha, the uncles were rather witty and funny. Luckily hubby thought it was hilarious too and was not offended when I told him what was said.

EnviroFest 2008

28 June 2008

Was walking to Toa Payoh Central when we came across this EnviroFest.



Some kids playing chess.



Some pics of animals being caged up and killed for medicinal uses.



Exhibit about how bile is extracted from the bear while they are still alive. Really gruesome.










A pickled baby dugong - was inside mama dugong when mama dugong got hit by a boat propeller and died :(



Biofuel.

SLK 280 Mercedes-Benz

Hubby's sister got this cool, sleek SLK280 Mercedes-Benz convertible car from her company for the weekend.






Going out for a test-run with hubby.






Click below and see the car roof in operation :



Think the car cost over S$200,000 - that about half the price of my HDB flat!!!

The Secret

22 May 2008 - Suntec City, Singapore

Attended a talk by Dr. John Demartini, one of the contributors to "The Secret".

He touched a bit on "The Secret" but mainly as a introduction for his course call "Breakout Experience".

Very interesting talk - pointed out how you can view things differently. Will not go into it cos will take too long to explain.

Dr. John Demartini

It was full house

Very interesting reading :
- "Excuse me, your life is waiting" by Lynn Grabhorn

- "The Power of your Subconscious Mind" by Dr. Joseph Murphy (both books being recommended by Wel, thanks Wel) and of course

- "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne

All these books tells you how to use your mind to visualise and also feel what you want to have.


See a trailer of "The Secret" movie :

WAY BACK INTO LOVE

A beautiful movie and this touching song is dedicated to all my frens .....




WAY BACK INTO LOVE
(actual singers : Hugh Grant & Haley Bennett)

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past
I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need them again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but i just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

Oh oh oh

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

Oh oh oh

BBQ at Leisure Farm Resort

17 May 2008

Invited by hubby's fren for a bbq at Leisure Farm resort, Johore Bahru. Suppose to be a gathering for the vintage VW cars club.

It was the long weekend as 19 May, Monday being a Public Holiday, Vesak Day.

When we got to the Woodlands checkpoint, apparently due to the large number of motobikers going back to M'sia, another lane was opened for the bikers which was the lane of the overhead bridge.

My gosh, it was a sea of bikes. Tried to take a pic but unable cos I've only got my camera phone and it's not clear.


We thought it will be long wait - but it wasn't too bad - about half an hour only. I guess the immigration had anticipate a huge crowd and they have policemen co-ordinating the traffic so it was pretty smooth.


Look at this vintage VW van. It's the same one that Jamie Oliver drives. So retro and cool!



Some of the vintage car owners. Most own the Beetle. Sorry, unable to take any pics of it cos it was too dark and I ain't got no flash on my camera phone.




With Chloe.








Sophia in white, bbqing. She was absolutely wonderful in bbqing for us. It was really a very hot and humid nite and it was worse bbqing and being near to the pit. Wah, I cannot tahan but to move away.

So Sophia, thanks! - you are really great.

Barilla Spaghetti - Price Difference

What a difference in Price!

Ma-in-law called me and told me that the Barilla Spaghetti that I use is cheaper now at $2.90 at NTUC. The price for this brand have been going up from like $1.30 to $2.75 to $3.30 when wheat got more expensive.

So the next day, I quickly went to NTUC.

Along the way, I passed by Shop-n-Save to check it out too - wow, the price is $4.45! - that's really expensive! Did my MIL see salah or not?

My MIL was right, it is $2.90 at NTUC - it's on promotion till end of April.

Why the vast difference? It's $1.55 difference!

Hubby think it's becos NTUC bought it at the old contracted rate from the seller and once the stock from the old contracted rate's finished and a new contract signed - it will be more expensive as wheat is more expensive now and I think, most probably will be selling the price quoted at Shop-n-Save (not very "Save" leh).

And yes, we bought at least 10 packets to stock up..... ya, I know, kiasu......

Dog Show

26 April 2008

Came across a Dog-Competition at the mall near the Indoor Stadium.

So cute......


Saw this 'funny' dog in polka-dots - hmm..... I prefer those big dogs.



This guy is waiting for his cue to put his dog thru the paces - like obeying his order to stop, walk, run, jump etc...



Wah, I like the husky.... that's the dog's breed - I said husky, not hunky.

Wholesalers Frozen Meat and Others

12 April 2008

My in-laws found out about these 2 places and so we decided to check it out.

Seems these 2 places sell whole-sale prices of frozen meat like beef, pork, lamb and chicken. And indeed it is cheaper than the supermarket.

This one called Q.B. is bigger and sells more stuff.
You can find premium cuts of beef like the 'wahyu' (did I spell it correct?) beef, very nice rolls of pork tenderloin, pasta, cheeses, desserts, different kinds of hotdogs, fish like salmon, prawns, scallops, premium grade of the dory fish and others........

Q.B. Food Trading Pte Ltd

8 Chin Bee Crescent, Jurong
tel : 6261-6120

This is the much smaller one which is just next to Q.B. Sells mainly meat stuff. Got a pack of pork bones (for soups) for only about $1.00!

BH Fresh Food Pte Ltd

6 Chin Bee Crescent
tel : 6268-3056

If you don't mind buying frozen stuff, then you should go to these 2 places cos the prices there are definitely much cheaper.

Car Inspection at Sin Ming

03 April 2008

Hubby : you want to follow me for the car inspection?
Me : (hmm.... is this a dream?)
Hubby : you want to go?
Me : huh? wah, so early (isn't this your job to do it leh?)
Hubby : you better come with me so that you'll know what to do if you have to do it one day.
Me : ok, ok, let's go.



This is to check if the brakes are working :


Testing exhaust emission :


Printing out the test results : FAILED! The front wheel alignment failed the test - have to get it re-aligned and re-test and of cos, pay again (cheaper price for re-test).