Monday, August 26, 2013

Angels Living at Bedok South


Who believes in angels? 

I do. And I believe at least two angels live at Bedok South. You say I am crazy but let me tell you my story...

The last two months or so, my family and I were going through a rough patch. A scenario that would test the strength of any family. A scenario to test how we would support one another through these rough times and how strong we will be. It was definitely a trying time. There were a few occasions we snapped at one another and fought and almost to a point of giving up...but we continued to stick together and stood tall.

The waiting (for the outcome) was the worse. We didn't know what to expect...whether it'll be good news or bad news. But we prepared ourselves for the worse.

A few days before my dad headed up to Thailand to settle the issue, he went out for a little while in the afternoon and when he came home, he was exhausted and drenched in sweat. I asked him if he was alright and he told me the story about how he had bumped into this old lady on a wheelchair and she had lots of grocery bags with her. She had asked my father to assist in pushing her back to her block of flats. My father obliged not knowing how far it was. When he reached her block of flats, she thanked him and said he can go back now as she will wait by the lift for someone who had company and who could help lift her wheelchair to her house.

I find that strange. Maybe she didn't live there? Maybe she was an angel testing my father? That was still debatable until a week after when my mum came home and told me of another incident that happened to her...

My mum was waiting by the bus stop when a nicely dressed old lady came up to her and asked her for $2 because she wanted to buy a cold drink. For your information, there were many other people at the bus stop but this old lady decided to ask my mum! And since she didn't seem like she was poor or anything, why did she ask for money for a drink?

Again I am trying to put all the points together but it doesn't make any sense. And they always said that when an angel visit you, they will always ask for something to drink....

I guess everyone has their own beliefs and everyone is free to their own opinions. But I believe these two ladies were angels. They were sent here to test my parents. To see how they would react to helping them when my family needed help of our own. So what if my parents turned those two ladies away? Would luck not have been on our family's side then?

Who knows?

All I can say is that I believe they were angels and they were sent here to bless our family because I happy to say that things are somewhat settled and my family has been blessed. Through this, we have gotten tougher and we appreciate one another more.

Friday, August 23, 2013

No child should be more important than any other child


What I witnessed in the train on my way to the office this morning is something that really caught my eye and touched my heart. What I saw reminded me the purpose of being a parent and that the love for your child is endless. It has also made me realize how lucky I am to have two smart, healthy and beautiful kids.

This morning, in the train I saw this family of three. Father, mother and son. What made them stand out was the fact their son (about 14 or 15 years old) had down syndrome. Yes I know it's pretty common nowadays but there was something different about this family. The father was well dressed and wore a Rolex Submarine watch. The mother was neatly dressed and styled herself in nothing but branded from head to toe. Yet you knew there wasn't any airs about this family and their love for one another was so great you could feel it rub off on to you. Well it rubbed off on me at least ...

The way she stroked her sons face gently as she spoke to him... You could see the love in her eyes for her child and I am almost assured that to her, he is the most beautiful person in her whole world.

Moving on to the father... The way he held his son in his arms as his son rested his head on his chest, the way he held his wife close to the both of them as they travelled to their destination together... It's so hard to describe in words. But it touched my heart so deeply.

It is something like this that should make everyone know that 'no child should be more important than any other child.'

For instance, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William just had a baby and the whole world is making a fuss over it ... I question, "what's the big deal?". Yeh the child is a Prince and not just a Prince in fairy tales but in real life but so what? I'll excuse the British as they have a right to get excited and all as this baby could be their future King but why are the rest of the world making a fuss about it?

My son is also my Prince and my daughter my Princess. I am certain majority of you feel the same way about your kids too, right?

So I end this with my conclusion of "No child should be more important than any other child".

Agree? Well, everyone is welcome to their own opinions.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Happy Birthday Little Bro

My brother have made me crazy at times in my life but regardless I love him unconditionally and couldn't imagine not having him in my life. He was born and lives to annoy me, pick on me and drive me nuts but I love him to pieces. i always believe that a brother is for life unlike friends who will come and go. 

I am thankful and blessed for the family I had during the formative years. It's thanks to my dad that I now have a temper and can hold a grudge. Thanks to my mum, I can hold it inside when I have to...and thanks to my brother I know how to get even!! Haha.

My dearest brother, I may not be by your side celebrating your SPECIAL DAY with yoU, but I want you to know that I'm thinking of you and wishing you a wonderful birthday. I wish you all the happiness and success, love and health life has to offer you. I've always been proud of you and through everything I've never once given up hope because I know what happened in the past is all a learning journey.

Brother dear, our laughs have always been limitless and our memories are countless. You're not just my brother but my friend. Our friendship is endless. 

Happy birthday brother dearest. I miss you so very much.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Debra Debra Goes To Dunkin Donuts

 photo bimbo_zps82f4193b.jpg

** NOTE: this was honestly the hardest and most painful blog post I've ever done! But I did it to amuse my colleagues because we've all been really irritated by this one "C U Next Tuesday" (take the first alphabet from each word) and this is exactly how she does her blog posts. Very Singaporean bimbo who refers to herself as a third person. Idiot!

Ok hor. Debra is writing this blog post hor because it was inspired by a very bimbo-ish girl who thinks it's super cute to write her posts in this manner.

Anyway hor, Debra want to tell you about her trip to Dunkin Donuts at ION Orchard. Actually hor Debra has been waiting almost three weeks for her coffee powder to come in leh so since hor Debra was around the area, Debra decided to drop by to check lor if stock has come in or not?

Why Debra only buy coffee from Dunkin Donuts? Because hor, the coffee very nice one leh. Also because hor Debra atas mah and because Debra lived in America many years last time mah.

So Debra goes there and asked whether stock for her coffee have come in already or not. Wah lau eh, the Supervisor remembers Debra leh! Of course Debra feels so flattered lah.

Then hor, the Supervisor told Debra hor that she only had one bag of coffee but the expiry date was in two weeks leh so since she knows how much Debra needed the coffee, she was so nice and said she will give Debra a 50% discount. Of course Debra so happy lor.

Later she take the bag of coffee out and realize that it's already been open leh. She notice Debra's disappointed face so she tell Debra don't worry because she will give Debra the bag of coffee for free lor. Wah lau!!! Debra was super super excited and happy lor. Like that Debra save $18 leh. Shiok hor? Of course lah!

Not just that ok. Debra learned it was also National Donut Day lor so this nice Supervisor want to give Debra free donuts also leh. But pai seh lah so Debra tell her no need lah but also because hor, the flavour not so nice lah. That's why they giving it away free lah.

So anyway hor, Debra still bought half dozen donuts for her family lah because Debra loves her family a lot mah.

Like that Debra happy happy go home lor. So shiok right? Of course lah!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Family

My father is now on his way to Thailand. I am not a religious person but I pray for his safety and I pray he will be able to settle the issues with my brother. I really hope things will work out and that my brother will finally wake up and work his way in the right direction. Enough with the big dreams and big ego.

The last five days has been a nightmare for us. It was a trying time and a time we finally realize who actually has our backs (friends and family). A time we fought but still stuck together as a family to try and come up with a way to solve the current situation we were put in to.

Of course under the given situation and pressure, each one of us felt we were pressurized by the rest to put in more effort in trying to handle and fix the situation. In actual fact, we were all in it together because we are a family and that is what a family should do to protect one another.

Thursday, an old mutual friend of my brother's and I sent me this newspaper clipping with the incident on it and my brother's picture. Of course it was in Thai so I had to have someone translate it for me. Nothing really major was mentioned (thankfully) but it is this that makes me think otherwise.... Yes I know my bother has balls of steel and has that bad boy tendency but he probably was framed by enemies. I have a few suspects actually. But whatever it is, lets see...

Nevertheless, within three days, we managed to pull together the bail and now it's time to put more faith and prayers that this situation isn't so huge or that these corrupted people will accept the bail as they initially asked for and not raise the amount to anything higher than what we've already got.

Right now, there isn't much else we can do but wait....it's the waiting that I hate most!! What should we expect? Good news or bad news? The time right now just can't pass any quicker can it?

It's breaking my heart!! More so each time I look at his photo in the newspaper article. He's such a smart person and so very talented and creative...all wasted.

But on a different note, my BH sister in Malaysia has asked me to meet with her friend who is in Singapore. She had asked him to deliver my NKOTB surprise box to me for my early birthday present. I was excited all day and also spent the afternoon 'creating' some NKOTB surprises for her. I made her a tin piggy bank and a couple cups. I hope she likes it.

 photo 05-26WhatIMadeForMyBestBHSisterSarynna10_zps5fb111e8.jpg

So yes, I finally collected the box and went straight home to open it up! I was like a hyper kid at Christmas. So many surprises! I felt blessed.

Inside the box:

1. NKOTB Deluxe Box Set
2. A signed NKOTB “10” CD – YES it’s signed biatches!!
3. A signed NKOTB photo – YES again it’s signed!!
4. Jordan Knight’s “Ah F*ck Yeah” bracelet
5. Forever 21 NKOTB Edition Shirt 6. Photos of NKOTB when they were signing the CD!

 photo 05-26NKOTBSurpriseBox001_zps15ed0ded.jpg

Thank you Thong Yeen Fuan (Sarynna). We’ve only briefly met in Jakarta at the NKOTBSB concert and have been in touch via Social Media channels but you’re the sister I never had. Thank you for these surprises. I am ever so grateful.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

YouTube FanFest

 photo photo-3_zps948affcb.jpg
Look who is all grown up now?
 photo photo1_zps01b7cdb0.jpg

Here we are sitting Starbucks Coffee at Marina Square waiting for our daughter who is attending the YouTube FanFest event at Ritz Carlton Hotel. I'm a mom with ants in her pants right now....how can you blame me? My 10-year-old daughter is at the event with her friends and here we are waiting to pick her up. I've got my phone ringer on its loudest setting and it's right beside me for when Lani calls. One day it will be time to let go but just not today...

"Ryan Higa" - before yesterday, I didn't know who the hell he was. A short introduction from my daughter and not only did I learn that he's a famous YouTuber, I've also learned that he's my daughter's idol! Not a bad looking guy. American Japanese decent. What I don't understand is how he got famous in 2006 when he posted his first video?? I honestly think his videos are no brainer and it's actually dumb but whatever tickles their fancy.

Being the cool mum I was, I tried to do my mischief in hopes I could get her to meet this guy Ryan Higa. I started by asking everyone I knew in the events industry and emailed to everyone connected to this event or this guy. I even followed this guy on Twitter, subscribed to his YouTube channel and LIKED him on Facebook!! This isn't the end to the extent I will go to so my daughter could have a dream fulfilled. I tracked his flight and the time he'd arrive and which hotel he was putting up at. Sent over a souvenir gift with a note, left a message to his room but still no luck... So as disappointed as I am, I know I've tried (to say the least).

I just hope she is having a great time and learning a few things or two. Her interest is there thus why we didn't want to stop her from attending this event. But she's here on the condition that she will have to blog about her whole experience. I mean why not start a blog since she's already got her own YouTube channel and Facebook Group and not to mention her own server for gaming.

Well it's time for us to make our way back to Ritz Carlton to wait for her to come out. I really hope she's had a great time. I hope almost as much as I did a year ago at the NKOTB concerts.

So sitting here, outside the ballroom where the YouTube FanFest is taking place, we hear screams from the girls chanting "Ryan".... I looked up and I see him walk past this small group of his adoring fans without stopping for a brief moment to say 'hi' or just making some eye contact. Wow!

Maybe my expectations are too high comparing him to NKOTB or Engelbert Humperdinck or the few other celebrities we've met and even come to know on a personal level. But then again, this guy is just a YouTube sensation, a joker in most eyes whereas NKOTB and Engelbert are true celebrities who has been in the industry for a long long time...long before this joker was even in diapers!

I'm not sour about the fact that he's not gotten back to me about my request to meet my daughter for a photo but from what I can tell, this guy is a snob. I saw it with my own eyes and I guess I can say from 'my experience' dealing with 'him' and other real celebrities.

Of course I am not telling my daughter what a dick I think he is. That's up to her to find out for herself but all I know is that as a mom, I've done my best to get her to meet her idol but he just doesn't seem to appreciate any of his fans.

Lets see how far this joker goes? One thing for sure, he'll probably never get a USD8,000 ad placed in the Billboard magazine or any other magazine, dedicated to him from his fans around the world. NKOTB got that and deserve every bit of it! Because they treat their fans like family and treat them with love and respect.

I mean really.... Big names like Engelbert have emailed us back and called us, NKOTB have emailed and sent me messages via Twitter, I've been in touch with the band members of groups till they passed on, etc. So is it so difficult for this joker to stop and shake a few hands?

One day my daughter will be old enough to understand that. One day my daughter may even be a bigger name than him and when he asks to meet her, I hope she declines! LOL. After all, he is one of many popular YouTubers in the US whereas my daughter is now the only youngest female magician in Singapore. Anything is possible.

And look who is all tuckered out after having all that fun.
 photo photo2_zps42cc3991.jpg

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Christmas Isn't The Same Without You

The long awaited Christmas has finally come and gone...just like that! We have to start working hard once more to save up for next Christmas.

My kids had a great Christmas! They have their new toys to keep them busy till they decide they are bored of it!! But kids are kids.

Since having kids of my own, I've learned that Christmas is for the kids. No matter what happens, we as parents must try to make it a meaningful one for them. Christmas is not just about money or gifts, it's about spending time with loved ones and your kids and that should be priceless!

I love Christmas. There’s no other time of the year that excites me the way Christmas does, no other season that evokes in me warm, cozy childhood memories as Christmas does. Christmas is simply a Magical season. It’s that time of the year when the air is filled with lively exuberance, when spirits soar in joyous merriment, and families and friends get together to share love and re-live old traditions. Old traditions that isn't quite the same this year because my brother is away.

My husband kept asking me what I wanted for Christmas and I've thought long and hard about it and then realized that I've already got everything...the best family and friends ever! So what more could I really ask for? Actually there is something else I want and if there was a God, I would ask him for one Christmas wish and that would be to see my baby brother and to celebrate Christmas together again like we always did,... to laugh with him, hug him and to tell him I love him and am missing him.

Things have not been quite that easy for us in 2012 but it has definitely made us stronger as a family. And I hope for a better 2013 because my family deserves it.

So since we are on the topic of Christmas.... I happen to find this photo on a Facebook page of a different religion. Believe me I am not a holy person. I've given up on praying. I don't believe in any Gods and have very little faith. But seeing this got me really angry. This group of people gets pissed and defensive when other people poke fun at them but now it's ok for them to poke fun at others...???

They had a photo of a little boy sitting on Santa's lap and the caption read, "where are you in the bible Santa?" ... Then this moron had to add fuel to the fire and remark, "yes, where are you in the bible Santa?" 

What right have they got to ask a question like that? I don't know but I think they are being trouble makers! None of their bloody business I say. But I had to have my say in this and this was what I wrote....

"All of you are ignorant!! Santa is not a religion and even if he was, you don't have a right to ask him or us where in the bible he comes in! You should not be such troublemakers. You're so pathetic and un-knowledgeable, so let me explain... Santa Claus is the spirit of giving, the joy of bringing happiness to others by sharing. Majority of us have Santa Claus in us at Christmas when we give to our family, friends and charities!"

Of course I've had morons arguing with me but I left it be knowing full well these idiots cannot be taught!

Photobucket

  © I Am S.P.G.

Design by Debra Palmer