2010 is the year of challenges f0r us, especially of the finanical commitment due to new puchase of a property. I did not agreed to buy but ... However, this will mean that both of us cannot achieve financial freedom now as we have earlier planned...... I was perplexed over this issue but chose to remain calm and work out the possibilities. The only hope that I can complete my loan before 60 years old so that I can choose the path of retirement!

I was exhausted mentally due to the time spent over fact-findings and getting the right bank loans... worst still, pestered by the idoit property agents that only interested to claim commissions that refuse to provide the service!!

Throughout this saga, I finally realised that I can only rely on myself and no one else! I am alone... yes. I am! I need to carry the entire loan and slave myself. It is worth? I am not sure! But I prefer not to, if given choice!

Thinking positively, maybe I can rest in a nice view and the most important, able to witness my girl's marriage to be taken place over there! Also, I hope that this will be the best present to my kids when I am away!

Today (1/12/2009), my little boy behaved very difference in the am & pm. In the am, while I brought the boy to school, I told him that he cannot stay with his sister and Ah Mah due to the fact that no one can bring him to school everyday (his sis is having the school holiday and our maid, Erna is leaving for Indonesia for a month break before re-joined us by Jan 2010)... He shed his tears vehemently in the train and refused to talk to me... just like any little boy.

While in the evening, the boy told me that he understood the reason and highlighted that he preferred to stay with us did give us a big question. Later, he even tidy up the bed and did his homework (P1 math. He is currently K2 only) willing. Before sleep, he told me that he wanted to buy a math book that have a lot of story (actually he meant problem sum) that his teacher is having so that he can practice. Moreover, he even want to challenge his friend (raina, the girl standing besides hin) to complete faster (as both of them has the same P1 math assessment). I am totally baffled and delighted. Obviously, his elder sister has never mentioned that before. This boy is very unique and really keen to upgrade him (very competitive ha)

Good luck, my boy and hope that the sky is your limit...

Love u daddy

Exhaustion

Seemed that age is getting on. With the frequent flying and staying late night till 3-4am, I felt that I got easier agitated and lost of temper quickly especially when doing mathematics with my girl. Last night, I marked her assessment with the score of 32/100. I was very angry and mad that she had deliberately left many blanks, hopefully there was someone to fill her blank. Her careless does not help, obviously. Mistakes of addition/subtraction/multiplication/division made my heart pounding faster. During my revision to her, I yelled at her at least thrice, repeatedly said that I AM TIRED..... She shed her tears but seemed to be remorse of her terrible irresponsible act (as a student) and offered to do correction on the spot.

However, I cannot cool down even though I have shut my mouth off! I really failed as a father as I am unable to teach the right concepts of mathematics to her. I hated to see my little girl struggle (as she used to be above average in her math till Pri 3).

I really hope that I could have stay in Singapore longer to coach her more.
Sorry, Joaquim!

Love u, daddy

My sweet little wife

When I was back from Bangkok last week, I was revealed by my wife that she reduce my girl's hair length as short as the boy's. She was mad that my little girl did not told her homework and received complaints from not only from her school teachers but her enrichment class, jan & Elly as well. Her inattentive and rebellious approach have created multiple headaches to all of us. Seeing that we spent so much time, money and effort over her, and yet she has relentless unrepentant and "bochap" attitude made us worried.

The day when she punished her, the little boy (her brother) cried as well. Of course, the bitter feeling of my wife did shed her tears.

My girl was mad as well and documented in he journal that she "hate" the mother!

However, the best part of the story is that after the day, my wife came to my daughter's study room and apologised for cutting her hair and swept. Both my girl and boy started to cry as well and everything turns out to be happy one.

In a family, we believes that no one is able to being left alone and forget and forgive is the best way to resolve any issues. There is no right or wrong in this house; but rather making everyone respect the each others and ensure the right positive approaches need to be adopted.

My wife is emotional (perhaps influenced by her star, haha). However, one thing is sure, she is always passionate the things she do. She adores my girl and always want her to be a better person.

During her sis's wedding, she can even go all the way to become the photographer and attempted to take on every besy shots. She even stacked herself up to collect the fallen flowers just to create the special effect for her beloved sister. With such her passionate personality, there is little doubt that once she befriended with you, you can ensure that she will be your best friend.

She started to work since secondary 3 part time to support herself to study. Taking all the steps to reach her university degree. Not an easy steps especially she needs to do part time study with her full time nurisng job and yet needs to handle all the family affairs especially taking care of the kids. She got little help from her parents (yet they are expecting her to deliver more). Sometimes, I found that I am more fortunate than her.

I will do my best to bring happiness to her and the family!
Thankx and love u, vivian!

Travelling Again!

Wow~ !!!! There are alot of travelling since I joined Checkpoint. I think that I have travelled at least more than 10 times since 4 months ago. My little girl had requested me to QUIT! "I want u to join back your ex-co, whereby u do not need to travel so much', she demanded repeatedly.

With such a global ecomonic meltdown with retrenchment and collapse of huge enterprise almost one day or after, I only can console her that I need to work harder to bring back the bread and butter!

I really miss my family while travelling, with the biggest sin not unable to teach my little ones more and accompany them to grow up; and the burden of upbringing has stressed my wife alone as well.

I am thankful that my wife is supporting and there is no doubts that she grumbles over my job commitment that made me stay late at night and missing in action during my travels, nevertheless, she always supported me! Thankx, dear!

Checkpoint Sales Kick-Off (SKO) - 18th to 22th Jan 2009

After joining Checkpoint for 3 months since 1/11/2008, I will be given opportunity to go to SKO@Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel. Wow, what a time to go, whereby the Hamas and the Israelis are fighting at the Gaza. From the broadcast TV especially the CNN, explicit pictures of rockets, tanks, fighter planes, helicopters and of course the casualties of both sides especially the civialians, that hurt the most! Some of the buildings are crashed almost parallel to the ground!

I did not reveal to my girl, but of course, my wife is very concerned and hoped that the SKO can be cancelled. I can only comfort her by saying that all Checkpoint staff are going inclusive of my big boss, and no one is left behind! When I told my sister, she is equally concern.

I can feel my wife's concerns and she has expressed worry even though that she attempt to conceal it! I really felt bad too! However, I am equally excited to visit the long waited historic site - Jerusalem, whereby the holy city of 2 reglious! I will not travel to visit as a tourist as I will not risk my family's safety, but I always keen to go there as once in a life time visit.

Let's pray that the trip will be smooth and nothing bad will happen...

Love my family!

Smiling Girl

Today I was walking my girl to the Camp. She is attending a holiday camp that required to stay out. Along the walk, she told me that she is not sure why she is always smiling to everyone and making her face very exhausted (using too much facial muscle...haha)

I told her this is good as long as she does not attract any unwanted glares and too much boy's attention. This will going to impact her studies if the boys started to woo her because she keeps smiling at them (she is so charming)

The ones on the left with the Victory sign is my little girl. She is the flower girl for her aunt's May Goh's wedding.

Hope that she will keep her smiles always.

Cheers,