M R Loh!

This is an overdue posting. On 1st Feb 2013 I reached a new milestone of my life; I received the much coveted “Cert and watch” set which free me from all NS obligations.

yeah!

Yes! I have fulfilled the necessary 7 High Key ICT and that means that I do not need to go back for any more in camp training as well as take my IPPT ;o)

Good news indeed and looking back, times really flew by. Looking at my fellow platoon mates, I still can’t believe i have known them for 15 years already...

almost garang bunk mates

Indeed, they say that you go in a boy and come out a man... i won’t deny the part army played in maturing me. Also i am so thankful to have meet such great buddies like Sebby , Roy, Fongster and Ah Huat in ATEC

Pathfinders ( Last ICT 21 Jan - 1 Feb 2013 )

Thanks for the invaluable memories and the friendship forged... Never forget! ;o)

Random Thoughts

Do first (talk less) - the attitude of faith

Sometimes a lot of things did not get started because there are a lot of talk around it.

So I hope I can be someone who can start do things first and not have so much discussion about a matter. 

Do it quietly - the attitude of humility

The best work are many times being done in a low profile manner. I shall not let external noise disturb what I wish to achieve nor shall I create unnecessary attention.

Do it at the right pace - the attitude of contentment 

I may be slow but I shall not let external pressure dictate the speed of living.

Work hard - the attitude of dilligence

I shall work hard and find joy and meaning in everything I take on.

Art and Craft with Gigi

Last evening, we brought Gigi down to our house for her first art and craft lesson.

We plan to spend an hour each week just to do some simple colouring, cutting and drawing with her in a more conducive environment with a structured setting.

We just want to do our part, however small, to help wee Gi improve her concentration and simple skills required to prepare her for life in primary school.

We showed her the way to fold paper aeroplane

and cut out a cartoon cat for her first lesson.

Bringing our "student" home after lesson ;o)

Gigi seemed to enjoy the lesson and satisfied with her achievements. We were so happy to see her laughter.

Lord give us creativity as we plan activities or Gigi and may you continue to help her develop. We commit our dearest Gigi into your mighty hands. Amen.

Entering 2013

On Monday, wifey and I went to Vivocity (Aoba Ramen) to have our dinner. She ordered Seafood Ramen and I ordered Chasiu Ramen. Both of us chose fish base as its should be less saltish.

Our set comes with octopus and fried chicken side dishes and a cup of ice lemon tea each. Bill comes to about $40 in total.

After dinner, we took a bus home and catch some TV before going out with Deb and the boys to join Mike at Commonwealth field for the New Year Countdown even organised by the RC. 

It was quite a nice event with an impressive fireworks finale. Pity the whole day of incessant raining caused the field to become soggy. If not, we’ll sure be running about in the big open field.

After the countdown, we watched more TV at home before sleeping.

On the first day of 2013, wifey and myself went swimming at SAFRA Mt Faber. We were welcomed by the sight of a surprisingly empty pool.

Nice! Weather was also just right and i enjoyed that day’s swim. We really liked SAFRA Mt Faber as there is a cosy and familiar feeling about that place and we spent many fun times there throughout the years, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries etc..

After the swim, we went over to the market opposite to eat at Swee Hoon’s dad’s fishball noodle stall.

It was really delicious. Will ask folks to patronise the stall as I feel they will enjoy the noodles here. Then, we crossed over back to SAFRA again to get some towels from e-mart. (Can only get 3pcs this time round as they have placed a limit on the number of items each person can buy using credits.. oh well..)

Before heading home, we also used their message chairs at $1 for 16mins. Very cheap but somehow I feel that the message is too hard.. prefer human hands anytime ;o)

94 Inches ?? Can or Not ??

Yes that figures pretty much summed up the Saturday for me.
Woke up early to play some football with Matt as the weather was rather good

and soon we were out looking for a new wardrobe to put in our guest room so that we can release some burdens from our existing one.

Saw one which we liked at Alexandra which is selling for $899. However, it looked rather huge and we were unsure if it fits into the space we planned for.
So, to be certain, I walked back home to do the measurement again while wifey stayed back at the shop to look at the combinations for the wardrobe.
Concluded that the cupboard will just be able to fit because our ceiling is 1inch taller... if my measurement is accurate.

After getting our cupboard, we went for lunch at the hawker centre and went home to rest awhile before heading to Toa Payoh again to distribute the remaining vouchers to the beneficiaries with Prisc and Aung Leng.

We then had our dinner at the nearby hawker centre and I finally got to try their famous fish ball noodles. Queue was long as usual but it was worth it.

Wifey had her prawn noodles again and we shared a sting ray.
After dinner we went to get a birthday present for Joshua and I got one for myself as well .

Sunday was our Church members appreciation luncheon at Qian Xi Restaurant which is located at Tanjong Katong Complex. As we were still early after service, we went for Tang Yuan first before Aung Leng drove us there.

Us with Ps Jeff ;o)

Aung Leng and Wifey

We went over to Tiong Bahru Plaza in the evening and had our dinner at the coffee shop opposite. Wifey had her fish slice soup while I ate Sam Lo Hor Fun (nice) and also a plate or fried oyster. We walked for awhile at the plaza to wind down our weekend and headed home about 10pm.


By the way, wifey just completed another set art over the past few days... marvellous.

And Danny got me this book as a Christmas prezzie.

Unless the LORD Builds the House, Its Builders Labor in Vain.

2013 is just 3 days away so naturally everyone is preparing themselves for the new year ahead. Packing stuffs, clearing leaves, finishing unfinished businesses, setting new goals. In the midst of all these, I remembered a message shared by Ps Jeff sometime back that there is no magic in entering a new year. It does not mean that an illness will disappear all of a sudden, debts will be cleared automatically or bad habits will be broken immediate once the clock struck 12 on the 31st Dec.. For those who like to draw an imaginery line to close off the past year and plan or make resolutions for the new one, the only one needed would probably be to walk closely with Jesus and anchor our lives around Him. Anything more is rather unneccesary. Remembering Psalm 127  Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Ole, Ole...Mexico!

Today I joined in the last sales meeting of 2012 and after that, Jesreel brought us (Silas, Valenie, Jenelle and me) out for a team lunch.


Wanted to eat Italian but the restaurant was still not opened so we ended up having Mexican cuisine next door. The name of the restaurant is called Margarita’s located at Faber Drive

We shared a Kitchen Sink Burrito, 2 set lunches ( turkey wrap and fried Fish ) , Another chicken wrap and chilli stuffed with minced meat.

It was my first time eating in an authentic Mexican restaurant ... quite an experience. We all came to a conclusion that Mexican uses the same ingredients for most their dishes ( e.g. jalapenos, beans, rice, sour cream, tomatoes etc ) they just presented in different ways.

Isn’t it easy to be a Mexican chef ?