Jump, smile, laugh and get going.

Oh... my poor blog, I am sorry for neglecting you for such a long time. You know, this crazy daddy had been pretty busy recently. It started with some unhappy events, and then spiced up with series of happy moments. Thereafter, you know, I sort of got lazy. Ok, ok, I am always lazy, I know. When I finally ready to write again, another wave of surprises strike me! Not only did a big fat rat appear just outside my door, I am also called at 3am to assist with an incident!!!

Phew~ I got nothing to do with that incident. But it is exciting, scary and yes, I now believe that the scene in drama series can be real because I experienced it. Haha…

Am I affected?

Yes, I am but I am coping well. I am just very concerned and affected by people around me. It must be pretty hard for them. Especially for my 2 baobei (宝贝 aka. loves one) at home. 

Ok, the sun is finally up. What happened during the past few weeks just makes the happy moments more precious and memorable. Jump, smile, laugh and get going. The Sun is up and I am just not going to be affected by the dark clouds. Are you? 

Going to share some of my happy moments here...

Walking on my way to a briefing venue for work related matters, I bumped into an old but healthy couple in their early 60s. In sports attire, they seem to have just completed their morning jog, sweating but not panting. What catches my attention was the sight of the old couple healthy lifestyle and show of affection towards each other. 

Ah... yes, I followed them. Well, not intentionally as I happened to be going on the same direction. No, no... I am not going to the market. I really meant the place I am heading is just after the market, where the couple is heading. Hey, come on!!!

Err... ok. In case, you know, in case you think I enjoy stalking people, I am not. I am just addicted to simple and happy people. 

Few days later, while celebrating 小tz and my birthday at a famous restaurant that serve everything from the sea, the waiter came back with a 10% discounted bill. He said he gave us the discount because we are celebrating our birthday. 小tz and yt suggested that we should bring along a cupcake and a candle next time when we visit the restaurant again. 

# Facepalm #

No, No... I am not going to mention the name of that restaurant. Not unless they pay me for the advertisement. 

Wait long long right? I know, I know. I am still waiting ma... haha.

I drew the cartoon of our family portrait while we are taking a break during 小tz’s March school holiday. One of those crazy moments I had with 小tz. Haha...

Yeah, yt still looks like a witch. She told me that many years ago when I drew our faces on the walkway along the Singapore River outside Esplanade when she was still my girlfriend. Now, I have 2 witches in my drawing. But they are sweet switches that bring happy magically moments into my life.

Well… got to start improving my skills.  ;-)

Reaching home on 5 Mar 2014, I received my birthday present. A smartwatch! Nope, it is not Omate Truesmart, it is not Apple's iWatch and definitely not Google's Gem. It’s a paper watch handmade by 小tz and it is still sitting in my tray with my wallet and mobile phone. 

Sad, crying and/or depressed, you still need to face life. Why not be happy, smile, laugh and enjoy every single moment. It either makes you stronger or happier. 

I don't eat rotten apples. No. Not even forced.

Is it necessary?

Heard a hurtful statement about me few weeks back. It was a reported statement by the other person, who heard it from another person. In summary, it's a rumor.

I am hurt and disappointed.

Regardless of how hard I tried not to think about it, I can't. I just cannot understand how one can't differentiate things like:

"Chong Beng doesn't eat fruits." to

"Chong Beng doesn't eat apples." to

"Chong Beng doesn't eat rotten apples".

Can you?

What's the problem if I don't eat rotten apple? First, it is my personal choice and second, it's rotten. OMG!!! The person eats rotten apple? It would be worst if the person doesn't even eat fruits to start off.

Will I change based on the reported advice?

First, I am not even one. How to change?!?! Then, why should I change when doing that only please the person but go against my principle in life.

"If the decision don't benefit everybody. If the decision may hurt others. Why should I bother?"

What say you?

Happy life. Simple living.

Started walking short distances again recently. Well, I wasn't successfully and still trying hard to reduce that the unwanted extra ingredient in me - fats.

Similar to previous experiences, walking always bring me lots of pleasant surprises. With the need to look at where I am going, less time is spent staring on my mobile and more on observing the surrounding around me. In the process, I was rewarded with beautiful sight, both tangible and intangible. Well, let me explain...

Encounter 1

While walking to the MRT station near my house, I saw a pretty lady walking towards me. Yes, really pretty! No make-up, simple clothing and appealing features just like my wife (an important statement, haha...).

She smile at me!

I smiled back. Basic courteous right? Haha.... 
;-)

I overclocked my 486 MHz processor up in my head, trying hard to put a name to the face. Just when I got panic for not being able to address her by name when we are at arms length, she opened her mouth and said:

"Hello, John!" to the gentleman walking behind me.

Alamak!

Lesson learnt. Must remember to bring along a paper bag to cover my face the very next day. In case, you know, me trying to be like smart alec again. Hahaha...

That's an example of beautiful tangible things I saw with my walk. Agreed?

Ok, ok. Please la, I don't always look at beautiful ladies. Don't frame me.  ;P

Encounter 2

A bicycle overtook me one day while I was walking. Catching up with them at the traffic junction, I saw a young Malay gentleman was riding the bicycle, his wife seated behind and his daughter seated on the handmade seats in front. I cannot help but assumed that they must be staying in a one room HDB flat nearby.

A very bias statement, I agreed. Bias with an envy nature and good intention. I cannot help as my mind was then thinking about this phrase:

"Happy life. Simple living."

The scene of the couple talking to each other was so pleasant, soothing and it just made me smile from within. The beautiful thoughts of movie scenes of people staying in village, in timber houses with plantation just outside their houses flashes in my memory.

The funny thing is why we always link happy life to simple living. The type of living where possession were kept to a minimum of what one needed, not one wanted. I suppose, when we get richer, we forget about the way of living and get so used to pampering ourselves with materialistic rewards. Our wants gets bigger and we spend more time, trying to get more money to get what we wanted. In the process, we forget what is happiness, forget to care and will not hesitate to hurt anybody that block our way.

See... I started nagging again. Haha...

Ok, you can be rich and yet happy. Try it!

How?

You know. Ask your heart.   _/|\_

Huat came early!

Huat ah (Prosperity) came early this year.

This year, Huat came earlier. Well, as early as on 25 Jan 2014 when yt, 小tz and I celebrated grandma's birthday.

Huat = 鱼生 = Yu Sheng = Lou Hei

Equal to prosperity, luck, wealth and everything good for the coming lunar year after eating the dish. Haha...

Unlike other uniquely Singapore culture, Yu Sheng aka. Lou Hei is unlikely to disappear due to the commercial motivation behind the dish. Which restaurant or eatery would want a profitable dish selling anything from $28 to as high as $128 to disappear?

On 6 January 2014, I chatted with 小tz while accompanying her to wait for her school bus.

小tz: "Daddy, are you working today?"

Me: "Yes dear."

小tz: "Then why are you wearing your home clothes?"

Me: "I am starting work at 12:30PM today. After you board your school bus, I am going for my Tai Chi then eat my breakfast."

小tz: "Then order your 钓鱼 (fishing) right? Hee hee..."

Me: "So clever huh."

Patting her shoulder, I smiled and nodded my head.

In case you are wondering, 钓鱼 or the direct translation - fishing, is the way the coffee shop aunties labelled Chinese Tea. 小tz ever asked me and I told her that the way we handle the tea bag gave Chinese Tea this name. A name that likely to disappear among the young ones with more of them going to McDonald's and Starbuck often than their coffee shop downstairs.

Is there any other coffee shop terms that will be forgotten soon too? Well... "Ta Kui" (kick ball),  Clementi and "hor li", just to name some I remember. Do you know what they are and  the reason behind those names? Haha...

Sad to see the erosion of the unique Singaporeans culture.

Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!!!