Thursday 26 December 2013

A different Christmas Eve.

On Christmas day, 2013.

小tz: "Mummy, I hide your Christmas present. You will not be able to find your present." 

yt: "Can I vacuum the floor first before I find my present?"

小tz: "Can mummy, but don't vacuum under the sofa please."

yt: "... ... ..."

me: "Hahaha... ... ..."

小tz: "Mummy, daddy is so naughty. We keep his present and give it to him on next Christmas, only if he is good then. Ok?"

me: "... ... ..." 


The night before we had a very different Christmas Eve. 

When I was young, I only got to celebrate Chinese New Year. Christmas Eve and Christmas day to me was just another day.

Fun on Christmas Eve started when I got my first pay. BBQ at the beach, attending friends Christmas party, countdown at pub and disco. Then, with the arrival of 小tz, Christmas Eve mostly started with a simple dinner and a night out to Esplanade Outdoor Theatre.

This Christmas Eve, we had it in a different way. I brought yt and 小tz to attend a Christmas Eve BBQ celebration with a group of adults with intellectual disability at SAF Changi Seaview Resort. The intention is to expose 小tz to others who are less fortunate, and understand how fortunate she is when compared to their limited choices and restrictive lifestyle in an institution. I am also hoping to build up her compassion and empathy for others.

I think I did not succeed.

Talking to her on Christmas day, the first thing she recalled was how happy she was when we allowed her to barbecue her own food at the BBQ pit. Anyway, that must be an entire new experience to her. #Fainted#

Fortunately, relating the life of people staying in an institution, she did understand how fortunate she is and insisted that she doesn't want to stay in an institution. That's 50% success rate for my intention, I hope.

Sunday 22 December 2013

Life is a practice, not a perfection.

Life is a practice, not a perfection.

We just love to be perfect. From wanting to be the top in everything, to finding that perfect partner, having that perfect wedding, giving enrichment classes to our young ones, planning the life of our children and making decision on their behalf. All of us wanted that perfection some times in some parts of our life, didn't we?

Are we happy in the the process of looking for that perfection?

No, we are not!

We regretted not doing better, not putting that extra effort, not trying hard enough, not insisting what we intended to do and not achieving it in perfection. We get frustrated with our own performance, if not immediately, then likely some time later in life when we compared our performance with others who is much better than us.

This happened to me last Friday when I was told to stand-in to give an opening speech for a party. 

There were tons of thoughts running through me the moment before my speech. Should I make a statement on the behalf of that person I am standing in? Will the poor AV system affect my speech? Will the audience like what I am going to talk? Will nervousness affect the quality of my speech?

In the end, I did not talk about my last blog post which I earlier planned. It is just some festive wishing and with that, we started the party. Oh man, I am so so so disappointed with my performance. 

Fortunately, I snapped back into reality very quickly. It's the team's party, not mine. So why am I so concerned with my performance in the first place, which isn't the focus of the night.

I really enjoyed the party. Look! There are FOOD, you know, food!!! If not for the earlier buffet I ate in another invited event, I would have eaten more. Oops... I meant to say I didn't eat a lot because I have exceeded my daily calories intake that day. Haha...

Then the elaborated beauty pageant, completed with the grand introductory dance, the sections including the test for the ladies' intelligence and talent. The performance in between showing the talents of the team filled with the different nationality, race and style. Everybody put in so much effort and were pretty well-dressed. I feel so under-dressed when compared. 
:-\

Thanks for the invitation and great party that night. I had my share of laughter, fun and of course the FOOD. Oh, thanks too for making me dance that night... yes, don't ever post that picture. Pleasessss..... 

In life, it is not about achieving perfection. It's the journey, the fun, the experience and the practice we received through the many opportunities given to us. Let's not be bothered by being perfect during this festive season and immerse ourselves into the fun and laughters. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!


Picture: Christmas art work by 小tz.

Thursday 19 December 2013

The little India riot on Sunday, 8 Dec 2013 at 9:23pm.

The little India riot on Sunday, 8 Dec 2013 at 9:23pm.
  
Yes, it is old news by now. Nevertheless, it is still an important incident happening in Singapore that is worth recording. After all, how often do we see a riot involving 400 people, injuring at least 12 officers, damaging (burning, flipping and banging) 9 vehicles consisting of police cars, ambulances, Red Rhino and Fire Engine?
  
I am not a sadist, I must say.
  
It’s sad to see such incident unfolding and it is important for 小tz to know about this.
  
This is likely the peak of the anti-foreigners situations happening in Singapore, I hope. I really don’t wish to see more of this happening. The SMRT incident was bad enough, isn’t it?
  
Before anything else, I felt a strong need to clarify myself on the stand of so call foreigners against born Singaporeans. Am I against foreigners? No, I am not or else, I would have been stoned to death by now. Haha…
  
However, I am not going to be a hypocrite to tell you that I treat everybody, regardless of their relationship with me, race, nationality and religion equally. To hell with it, else I would be treating all of you as my daughter and wife. I cannot imagine... ...
  
So yes, yt is Chinese and I hope my future son-in-law would also be a Chinese. Err… ya, ya, ya… still many more years to go, I know. That’s my preference and it is very much affected by my race, origin and upbringing. However, if my daughter so decide to marry a non Chinese, I would have to accept the gentleman and treat him as part of my family. The same goes to my working life. As long as the person is in the team, the race, religion and nationality is not important. I will be more concern about how this person is able to integrate into the team and develop that team spirit much needed to tackle the issues we faced at work.
  
Personally, I felt the great tension were result of the disparity in income and culture of the many people (citizens and non citizens) staying in Singapore. In Chinese, there is a saying “江山易改, 本性难移", meaning that it’s very difficult to change one’s character. Think about it… how difficult it is for us to stay with our spouse after marriage (Initially, not forever before yt hit me.  ;P), the conflicts we have with our in-laws, the quarrels among siblings and the unhappiness with our colleagues and friends at times. However, those tend to disappeared with times when both parties respected each other's right, attempted to understand each other and developed a willingness to compromise.
  
When I joined the deaf community as a volunteer many years back, I did not feel comfortable. I felt out of place and alienated as I cannot understand their mode of communication and unable to catch up with their conversation. With time, with the community's  understanding and respect, I get better in sign language and started to understand the community better. It helps too that the community is willing to accept me and have patient with my poor ability to communicate in sign language. It is a 2 directional process and took years before I became more comfortable. Now, I am back to the starting point, I have not been practicing my signing and that’s another story altogether.
  
The points I wish to put across are (1) we need time, (2) understanding, (3) respect for each other, (4) willingness to accommodate, (5) patient and (6) a slow transition to encourage the integration of different group or individuals. Be it at home, with friends or at work, it is the same.
  
Oh, I am still talking about disparity in culture, character, upbringing, race, nationality and religion. I have yet touch on disparity in income, if you noticed.
  
Anyway, I am writing to share what I have learned with 小tz and hope it will help her later in her life. I have no interest in politics, I do not wish that this be circulated or used for purpose not intended by me. We each have our roles in life and in this society. For the smaller me, I will continue to provide for yt and 小tz financially, physically and emotionally. For the bigger me, I just wanted to focus on my work to support people who are less fortunate than I am.
  
Other than circulating oxygenated blood to the various parts of our body, the heart is also there to guide us in our daily life. If the decision that we are going to make is not going to benefit everyone involved and may even hurt others, may I suggest that we rather not act on it.

_/|\_

Sunday 1 December 2013

22 Nov 2013, our first family dinner.

"Daddy, this is our first dinner together at home. You know?"

I didn’t expect that. All along, I thought I tried my best to be with 小tz, whenever possible.
We have our outings, fun and meals together when I was on leave or during weekends when I was not working. I brought her to library, lunch, Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, and many many more places either just the 2 of us, or together with yt.

But then… …

As hard as I tried to recall, 小tz is correct. That night, 22nd November 2013, is the first night that we (小tz, yt and I) had dinner together at home just like everybody else does. Is it usual for other families to not to have dinner together at home? I am not sure. But for us, it’s our first night.
I finished work at 7:13pm that night after visiting a client at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. yt asked if I want to come back for dinner since our little princess was still sleeping, recovering from her fantastic, and wonderful, non-stop buffet biscuit/Milo eating campfire starting from the day before. Although the travelling will at least take me 1.5 hours, I thought I might still be in time to reach home before the sleeping beauty wake up.

Well… wrong.

小tz woke up and started eating at 8pm when I am still stuck in the train. yt asked if she wanted to eat her dinner first, she said no and insisted to just eat a little so that she can eat together with me when I come home later.

Later was 9pm when I set foot at home. The table was already set and小tz was folding the serviette nicely into a sail boat for yt and herself. Mine was a lump of don’t know what she said. Always bully her daddy. Sigh~

I felt bad having my 6 years old daughter telling me that for the past 6 years, I never once came home to have dinner with her after work.

That’s sad.

Told yt that I will attempt to be back at least once a week after work to have dinner with her and 小tz . It’s not going to be easy with the nature of my work and the travelling distance. But, how can I disappoint my sweet princess further.

Hey, the next time if you see me rushing to go home, please understand that I have a date with my 2 darlings at home.
;-)

Thursday 28 November 2013

小tz's Campfire.

I like to go for Nanyang Kindergarten Camp this year because there is a campfire. I like to go to the campfire because we get to sing songs and dress my friend up for the fashion walk. Ms Ang also went to the camp.

I like the barbeque dinner at the camp. We had roasted marshmallows, chicken wings, cauliflower, nuggets, broccoli, mushroom, fried rice, fish balls and fruit punch. We didn't need to do anything, we just had to eat, eat and eat!

At night, Ms Ang checked on us. I knew because at night when I woke up to drink water, I spied on her. Ms Ang was not sleeping.

For breakfast, we ate eggs, lettuce, croissant, sausages, hash browns , and drank milk.


Written by:
ThE cRaZy dAdDy

Who told him to write this story? 
ThE cRaZy 小tZ


~ ThE eNd ~

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Where is our Little Miss Chatterbox?

Tonight, 21 Nov 2013 will be one of those nights when yt hope that our little miss chatterbox was around. Haha...

"Mummy, I can take everything. Let me do it please."

Caption for the photo attached. I can only guess as I was at work.

The night before, while yt and I were busy with our stuff, 小tz was busy reading the programme sheet for her first campfire and last Nanyang Kindergarten overnight camp.

"Wow! Mummy, see! We are going to have buffet for breakfast. Imagine how I can eat as many biscuits and drink as much Milo as I like. Yummy ~"

"Hey, then we are going to have campfire you know. Campfire, mummy. Great man!"

"Oh, then I can sleep at 11pm. Haha... 11pm! So cool."

And as you could have guessed by now, she just goes on and on, and on, and on...

OMG! Didn't we bring her to try many types of buffet before? What's so great about having free flow of biscuits and Milo? In the first place, I really don't think the teachers going to let them have all the biscuits and Milo they want lor.

#fainted#

She is simply... excited. Pengz...

Her poor mother is just the opposite. She missed 小tz so much that she keeps messaging me while I was on my way home from work.

Oh... Poor me.  ;p

Why?

Upon her return, she asked: "Daddy, why you did not apply leave to fetch me home?"

Oh man, nagging from the 2 ladies.

Oops! Got to make sure the 2 didn't get to see the sentence above.
:x

Friday 22 November 2013

Google Now vs. Siri, a crazy review.

Me: "OK Google. Where is the off switch on tz?"

Sad, Google ignore me. I suppose even with their large database, Google like me, is still unable to find the off switch for tz's voice output.

;(

In case you have all the ??? in your head, I am talking about the latest update for Google Now. In addition to having a hot word "OK Google" to activate Google Search by voice  just like Motorola's Moto X, Google Now is also getting more interactive with voice feedback. With that, I can put my phone in my pocket, long press my headphones button and get Google Now to tell me the time, my next appointment or help me SMS anybody on my contact list.

tz: "OK Google. Can you please tell me which is the tallest building in Singapore?"

Google seems unable to catch what tz is asking and provided with irrelevant answer.

Me: "tz, you don't need to ask Google using such a long sentence. I show you."

Me: "OK Google. Tallest building in Singapore?"

tz: "Mr Ling, you are so rude towards Google. You know."

#facepalm#

Oh no! Calling me Mr Ling some more. Where is her off switch for voice output?!?!

Me: "OK Google. Where is the off switch on tz?"

tz: "Daddy, I told you many times already. I don't have an off switch. Mummy didn't born me with one. Aiyo..."

#double facepalm#

tz ever used a Siri clone application for android I downloaded on my phone. With her interaction with both Siri and Google Now, she seems to like Siri better. Here's my review of Google Now versus Siri.

Google Now is like a man and Siri, a lady. I tell you why.

Google understand short and direct questions just like man. Anything longer than 7 words, you can expect irrelevant response. Cut the "please", "can you", "is", "are", "were", etc. Siri on the other hand, loves long complicated questions in complete sentences. Even when she does not have the answer, she will still engage you with her light hearted and appropriate reply.

Google Now, the man, tends to give you a direct answer and in most cases, with options so that you can decide what you need. Siri, usually provide an answer. However, she doesn't mind engaging in long interactive conversation and provide other options thereafter.

So, you prefer the man or the lady? Haha…

Wednesday 20 November 2013

I love... (by 小tz)

I love to play with my father,
and I love to talk to my mother.

Barbie dolls, Restaurant, 
Coconut, Heart attack, 
Shooting gun, Big bread, 
Ping pong and 一 二 三, 
I play with my father.

I love the phone that mummy lend me,
playing Uno and reading stories I wrote.

I love my dresses, 
I love my t-shirt, 
I love my pants and skirts.

I love daddy, I love mum,
I love everybody, in my family.

~ The End ~

Tuesday 19 November 2013

1.6kg gone while having fun, yippee!!!


Yahoo!!!


3 days of sleep, 3 buffet breakfast and 1 buffet dinner from 5th to 8th November 2013 and my weight is down by 1.6 kg!

Yes, DOWN! Not up, and your eyes is not playing trick on you. Haha...

The good sleep with unplugged environment, ie cut off from SMS and email must have helped. So is the 3 days of swimming and 1 day of 8 hours non-stop walking in Legoland.

Talking about Legoland, it's my first visit to the place. In fact, it's my first visit to a theme park. First time having fun with all the rides, including roller coaster.

Right, on a roller coaster for the first time in my 45 years of life. Thanks to 小tz.

The fun of fatherhood. Haha...

小tz had fun too. I thought that seating at the outer seat of the roller coaster when it turns is more scary so I arranged 小tz to sit at the inner seat. It turns out to be otherwise. After the ride, 小tz keep saying: “你害死我了!” (you sabotaged me!). I have my fun too, for the next half an hour, I am like floating. yt had to carry all the bags till I felt I was back on solid ground.

;p

It's worth the effort. Weight lost, fun, good rest and most important of all the words from 小tz on our way home.

"Daddy, I love you. You know right? Just like the 'I love you' card I drew for you at the hotel"

That's all I needed.

Love you too xiao baobei.


Picture:
The koala bear 小tz and I outside Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour, Johor, Malaysia.

Sunday 17 November 2013

I can do it, papa.

The latest fun 小tz enjoyed is going to the library catalog terminal, search for a book then locate the physical book in the library.

When she finally located the book she wanted, she was jumping with joy.

Err... so fun meh?

Along with the search, she selected another 3 books on recycling. That's 4 books that I brought home last week.

I supposed it is part of growing up and wanting to be independent. The other day, she asked $2.00 from me to buy her favourite drink from our neighbourhood provision shop before dinner. When she noticed I was watching her, she turned and said:

"Papa, i can do it. Don't follow me OK?"

I guess part of it was wanting to be independent and the other part was worrying that I may comment on her approach.

To me, I just wanted to ensure her safety. I am not concern on her approach as long as she gets what she wanted and I get my change back. If she didn't get it correct, she will have to learn from her mistake. That's independent and the most effective way towards adulthood, my view.

Thursday 14 November 2013

2013 Nanyang Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony.

It's like ages since I last woke up at 4 am in the morning. I used to do that to have my morning taiji before I bathe and go to work.

Laziness, my partner in crime had successfully persuaded me not to do so till today.

Today is an important day. The day I celebrate completing stage 1 of my fatherhood journey. The day 小tz graduated from Nanyang Kindergarten.

So I woke up at 4 am this morning to make sure I have my morning exercise and be ready for the day ahead. 小tz is only required to report at 1 pm. But you know, being Singaporean and being "kiasu" (afraid of losing), we just wanted to be sure to give that extra time for yt and I to be ready. To ensure yt do not need to rush to do 小tz's hair for her graduation and performance. To ensure we gave 小tz enough time to wash up, eat and clear her bowel for her big day. So, the compounded effect is having me waking up at 4 am. 

Throughout the ceremony in the Auditorium of Nanyang Girls' High School, my eyes were wet with joy in seeing 小tz moving on to the next stage of her life journey, hearing from her teachers that her study and behaviour were both good in school, and seeing her being selected to be on the front row during the ceremony in the beginning and ending. Emotion flows when I saw her sing and sign in Taiwanese Sign Language (if I remember those signs correctly). It reminds me of the days when yt and I first know each other through volunteering during SADeaf-Starbucks Christmas Songs Signing.

It's a joyous occasion to realised I survived stage 1 of my fatherhood. 
I am definitely looking forward to the next stage which is coming Monday. 小tz's Primary School Orientation.

Err... Why so fast arh?! 

;-)

Sunday 10 November 2013

Creative advertising. Agreed?

Marketing is always mistaken as having good advertisement, the right copywriting and brand awareness. All of this actually is just one of the 4 marketing mix, "Promotion".

The 4 marketing mix are price, place, promotion and product.

On 5 November 2013, I have the opportunity to see a failed marketing strategy focusing too much on promotion. In their menu, yt and I were attracted to the picture and description on one of their item.

Cheese Chawanmushi.

In its description it says "Japanese egg custard topped with cheese". The picture shows a traditional Chawanmushi cup of egg covered with a layer of smooth silky cheese.

Yummy, we thought. So we ordered the dish.

When the dish arrived, we were shocked. Ok, Ok, we were amazed by the terrific promotional strategy they employed. Creative wording anyway. The cheese, half a piece of those NTUC thin slice square cheese, cut into 2 and placed on top of the cup of traditional Chawanmushi. 

"Japanese egg custard topped with cheese", they were not wrong, did they?

Haha...

"I like the egg", 小tz said. So, maybe they are targeting at the children and not old man like me.

~ The end ~

Friday 8 November 2013

The importance of teamwork!

Dear 小tz,

I know you will not like what I am going to write this time. After all,we spend a good 20 minutes talking about it that Sunday. So much so that most people at the bus-stop turned their heads just to check on us. I could have just asked you to shut up and listen but I know it will not work. If this approach doesn't work on your father, how can it work on you. Right?

Putting it here in writing again so that in future, if you decide to read about it again, it's here. Oh, talking about this blog, it's content is getting more and more. I really need to tag or label them so that it's easier for you to search in the future. Well, when you feel like reading on my nagging, there is a tag you can click to see all your daddy's nagging. If you are unhappy, there should also be an option for you to read those funny post we wrote. If you would like to understand your crazy daddy, you know where you can find those posts.

So, back to the topic.

On that faithful Sunday, I was seated in your dance studio together with all the other parents who were invited to watch the mock examinations. Yes, "s" because like what you always say, there were 2 mock examinations. One after another, your tap and jazz examinations.

Not sure if you are stressed.You looks for like you are having fun. Believe me, I am stressed watching you. Very stressed.

You were in the second group to be assessed. Watching the first group frighten me off terribly. I saw how some of your classmates freezed under pressure and forget all their dance steps. I saw some receiving scolding for not following instructions. I even saw a boy broke down with tears and refused to continue thereafter.

It is not easy. At 6 years old, I went through one of my hardest moment in life. I am constantly worrying if I get to eat my next meal then. However, never, never did I once have to stand in front of a group of adults and be critically assessed for my performance. You had that and you done that. 

Bravo!

I would likely breakdown and cried like what your classmate did. But you did it! You are not very good, there are definitely areas that you can improve. Neither were you bad or among the worst. You do it so naturally as if it is part of you. So natural that I see myself smiling with pride while filming you. 

Oh... see! I talked and talked without going to the point I wanted to say. Sigh...

Old age they say.

Now, back to our 20 minutes of heated argument.

I don't like what you said while we were waiting for our bus. You told me that you didn't like being in the same group with one of your classmate. 

"She was slow and didn't know what to do!" You said.

It is good that you took your dance lessons and examinations seriously (not sure if you will do the same for your studies #facePalm#). It is good that you pace yourself with your classmates to make sure you are not the last in class. However, it is not good at all for you to blame your teacher for putting you in the same group with that classmate of yours. Neither it is good to blame that classmate of yours for her bad performance and do nothing about it. I tell you why...

Your teacher must have her reasons for doing so. I suspected that she wanted a balanced group to be presented to the examiner. A group with strong and weak students so that the whole class have an equal chance to be assessed fairly. Imagine if you are paired with best in class, you will likely score lower as compared when you are in your current group. You may even score lower than the best in the weakest group.

Your teacher may also wanted the weaker student to be guided by stronger students so they have a chance to pass the examinations.

Next, you need to know about reality in life. There are many things in life that we cannot change. Instead of grumbling, why not share what you know and learn from your teammates next time before class? As you share your experience, it gets reinforced in your mind and you will get better. Its a win-win solution. 

Last but not least, not everybody is good at everything. Even if a  person knows a lot of things, he cannot be best in everything. I saw your strength in your determination to be perfect, the hard work you have put in and your calmness in facing the examinations. I believed that is why your teacher put you first to be tested in your group, so that you can show your teammates how to do and not have any false start. However, I saw your weaknesses too. You are weak in certain basic moves and your movement wasn't that well defined. Don't always think you can't learn from people who are weaker because you may never know their strengths that you may need to learn or seek their help.

The best team is a team with teammates understanding each other strengths and weaknesses, and uses their strengths to support the weaknesses of their fellow teammates.

Picture:
小tz reading her thick library book. Definitely her strength and her daddy's weakness.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Daddy and 小tz on the bus to Cathay.


One Sunday morning, daddy and I went to Cathay for my dance class.

I like dancing.

After I change to my jazz shoes, my father helped me to tie my shoes laces. Thereafter he went to the toilet to shit and came to pick me up after he was done.

We went to the changing room to change my leotard to shirt and pants. I wore pants with the leotard during my dance class.

I like tap dancing the most because of the tapping sound. I like the songs that I will be dancing for my tap and jazz examinations.

~ The end. ~


Note from Crazy Daddy:

Another guest post by 小tz.

Aiyo... writing about me going to toilet to shit!!! What's next?!?!

On top of this, she have been practicing hard for her examinations. Well... previously was just one song repeating till performance time, now we have 2 songs 13 sequences that she keep insisting we to go through with her. Mamamee ah!

:'(

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Unfortunately, I said...

Talking to my colleague yesterday, he asked if I am getting fat recently. Instinctively, I told him:
"Unfortunately, yes…"

Thereafter, we laugh it off and then he looks at me again and asked:
"Unfortunately?"

Again, instinctively, I repeated:
"Yes, unfortunately."

Towards the end of my day, this conversation keeps coming back to me, "unfortunately". Why is it and why must it be unfortunately when I have the control over my diet and the amount of exercises I wanted. Is not that I am on some kind of medication that causes my weight to balloon. So, why is it "unfortunately"?

I recalled a conversation with a friend year's back when he said:
"Unfortunately, they gave me extra work loads before I took up the offer!"

Why unfortunately when it is not that he was thrown with the added responsibilities when he was already in the job when it is kind of difficult to reject, in today's world. He went for a job interview, he was given opportunities to ask questions on many occasions. The set-up, size, responsibilities, etc, etc, etc. Either he did not ask any of those questions or choose not to process it before accepting the offer. Anyway, heard he did not do well, or rather, choose not to do because he wasn't happy that he got a bigger work load than expected. Not even those portions that he could have managed.

Coming back to my "unfortunately", I regretted saying the word unfortunately. It is so irresponsible.  I am just going to fight obesity and so, I re-installed the Android Application that helps me previously – "Noom Coach" to track my diet and amount of exercise I put in from now.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Differences with no different.

I was attracted to young lady wearing a tube top, jeans, sports shoes, Samsung Galaxy Gear and holding Note 3. And the old man wearing pyjamas, slippers and holding an old fashion Nokia candy bar keypad mobile phone, seating on his wheelchair pushed by the young lady. Heads turn, including mine, when they appeared. Well... Yes, I was attracted by the pretty young lady. But what really caught my attention was the interesting contrast between her and the old man.

Young versus old,
Trendy versus old fashioned, 
Mobile versus wheelchair bounded,
Energetic versus weak, and
Modern versus traditional.

I heard the young lady was struggling to communicate with the old man with her English accented Hokkien (a dialect). Likewise, the old man was also attempting to communicate to the young lady with his broken, half-past six English.

How on earth can these 2 person be together, harmoniously?!

Every time when I saw such a combination, it was either the old nagging at the young, or the young grumbling about the old being old fashioned.

They must be Social Worker because Social Worker were trained to be non judgemental. Wait, or are they Counsellors because they respect each other's choices, preferences and rights? Anyway, I like their approach and the way the treat each others.

That's the way to live life, isn't it?

Sunday 20 October 2013

We can recycle materials but not life. Think, treasure and enjoy it now.

Another weekend with 小tz, learning and recycling unwanted papers into a book cover at the library.

On our way to the library, we have this short conversation. 

------
小tz: "Daddy, do you like your work?"

Me: "Yes darling."

小tz: "But daddy, you didn't earn lots of money right?"

Me: "Yes darling, daddy's work doesn't pay well."

小tz: "Then why are you still working there?"

Me: "I like my work and it is a promise that I need to fulfill."

小tz: "Next time when I grow up, I want to work and earn a lot of money."

Me: "It is ok to find a job that allow you to earn lots of money. But, you must be happy. Some people earns lots of money but they are never happy. They gets angry easily, always scold people and ended up nobody likes them."

小tz: "Daddy, I want to earn lots of money but I will not be like those people you said."
------

That was the best I can relate to 小tz for now. Therefore, I decided to write it here so that she may be able to read it later in her life.

Life is not just about money. While it would be great to have lots of money or be born into a wealthy family with lots of money. While it would almost be impossible to survive in this world without money. Money, is still not everything in life. 

Money cannot buy happiness and life experiences. Why do we want money when we will not have the opportunity to spend, as we will be busy earning them? Why do we want money when we will have no time for our family and friends, the people that will bring us happiness? Why do we want money when we will not have time to experience life, when we will regret the day we die that we did nothing? Why do we want money when it bring along stress and frustration, when we get irritated easily, throwing tantrum easily and ended up alone?

I am not against earning lots of money. However, each of us is born differently and meant to do different things in life. So, before we get fixated with just money...

Think, treasure and enjoy life, now.

Monday 14 October 2013

2nd Chance.

Oops! You guys still found us despite we having the best hiding place at a hidden corner of the library. 

It is sad and scary! 

Well... Take a look! We are used ice cream sticks, toilet rolls and waste papers that would likely ended up in a rubbish bin, if not for this project. Thanks to the recycling project initiated by the library, 小tz and her crazy daddy, we were given a second chance to live. 

Look! 

We are pretty and unique aren't we? Not only are we alive, we are also given eyes to see this world. Is this what library supposed to be? We see kids runnng around and treating the place like a playground! Ok, air-conditioned playground then. Fortunately, 小tz and her crazy daddy decided not to give us each a pair of ears. OMG!

Now you know why we are hiding at a corner, right?

Please~ HELP!!!

小tz found us and decided to bring us back to her home. What will happen to us?!?!

:'(

Sunday 6 October 2013

Rights and responsibilities.

Having our early lunch at Kopitiam food court after 小tz dance class, I saw the gentleman on a wheelchair. Alone, I saw him order his coffee then detour to the snacks counter to collect the "tim sum" he ordered earlier. Thereafter, he moved to a table for 2 person, shifted a chair and tucked it nicely under the table adjacent to him.

I predicted every single moves of his as I seen him last week while 小tz and I were having our lunch.

"He will shift the chair back to its original position before he leave the food court." I confidently told myself while watching 小tz enjoying her "yong tao fu". 

Bingo! He did not disappoint me and did that. Hee...

Later, after we finished our lunch and left our table, I remembered and pulled 小tz back to our table. 小tz looks a little puzzled and asked why are we going back. I told 小tz what the gentleman on the wheelchair did.

All of us have our rights. The gentleman on the wheelchair have his right to have a proper table to enjoy his lunch. We have our rights to pull an additionally chair from the unoccupied table next to us to put our bags. However, we should also be mindful that with rights, comes our responsibilities to ensure we do not inconvenient others. Just like the gentleman who shifted the chair back to its original position after his lunch, We too should return the chair after we finished our lunch.

After we returned the chair and on our way to the library... ...

Me: "Oops!"
小tz: "What is it daddy?"
Me: "I forget to take a photograph so that I can write on my blog."
小tz: "Go then, daddy. I want to read it!"

What I like about the gentleman on the wheelchair is his attitude towards life and how he balanced his rights against his responsibilities. The responsibilities to ensure that (1) he do not use his disability to gain sympathy and gain unfair advantage or be unreasonable, and (2) he maintain a good image for persons with disability and helps others to be more willing to accept person with disability. 

Hope 小tz will grow up with a good character and attitude towards life.