... so good to have a family vacation

It was a small break rather than a vacation. We went on a cruise with the Royal Carribean Cruise from 27 Dec to 31 Dec. It was a relaxing time for all of us. We left Singapore on the night of 27 Dec. Sailed into Port Kelang on the morning of 28 Dec. Most of the passengers took the long ride to KL but the boys and I headed to Port Kelang Golf Course (public course) for a round of golf. It was fun (especially riding the tuft mate - the boys took to racing down the fairways!).

Then we sailed to Phuket the next day where we went for a Thai foot and body massage. Had some Thai food and bought some singlets. Was caught in the rain and took shelter in a Thai resturant.

Sailed back during which the boys tried their hands at rock climbing (they had a wall on the ship) and Ken/I won the silver for putt putt tournament!

Good relaxing trip - Royal Carribbean is highly recommended for the quality of service and food. Much better than the crappy Star Cruises. It was so good to hang with the family.

... so good to continue the Christmas tradition

The core group met last night (Christmas Eve) for our annual Christmas dinner complete with ham, turkey and roast beef. It is now umpteen years since we started and it is great to see everyone again - including the Lees who flew in from Seattle despite the snow storms there. The children are really growing up and begining to join the 'adult' table.

Conversation and wine flowed easily - remembrance of the year's events, the challenges of the past year and the traditional 'to more good years' cheer.

It is so good to have friends to share this annual experience.

... so good to take a break with the boys

Just returned from a 2 day/1 night golf trip to Batam with the boys. It was a guy getaway. Left on Sunday on the noon ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and arrived in time for a 1pm tee off. Was really pissed to find out that all the buggies were out because of a morning tournament and had to cool the heels in the coffee shop. Then we were assigned two rooky caddies who were clueles. To make matters worse, Jon's shoes came apart (2 years of dis-use does that to shoes!!!).

After the game, transferred to Batam View Hotel. Was better than we expected as it has been renovated. Washed up and had dinner at 'Kelong' the seafood restuarnt attached to the hotel but it was more like Thai style zi-char! Enjoyed some cheap California wine whilst catching the Singapore-Vietnam game. (Singapore lost 1-0 because of some crappy defending). Retired to the room to play 'Zhou Di Ju'.

Played another round in the morning. Much better game - better caddies, better course and better score. Had lunch and returned to Singapore after buying Kuey Lapis for wifey. It was a good bonding time with the boys!

... so good to have another annual company dinner

It was so good to celebrate another year end with team ... the theme was Casino Royale but the key was that everyone had fun, walked away with some prizes and generally had a great time.

Had a pleasant surprise to meet up with Janice again. Can hardly recognise her as the last time wifey and I saw her - she was still a young girl playing squash. Now she is a young lady and the companion of Timothy for the night.

It was quite a night!!

...so that was the family holiday (Dec 2005)

It was a long time ago but it is so good to remember ....

Dec 2005, Sydney - that was the last big family holiday. It was one of the hottest summer in Sydney. We visited Hunter Valley and it was so hot that we stayed in door most of the time. But we had a great time overall - wine tasting and then watching dolphins at Port Stephens.


Of course, we visited our friends - Bill & Heather, Kee Wee and Sandra in Sydney.


...so good to go away as a family.

...so good to catch up with another set of old friends

Met up with Dave and family, Johnny and family, Oi Lin and Fong Oi. Had a very filling dinner at Ah Hoi along Temple Street in China town! We had talked about going back for a meal for like the last 3 years. Finally, it happened - thanks, Dave, for organising it.

It was the typical TeoChew food (no photo - sorry but I do not do food photos!). Somehow the food was not as nice as we remembered. Our minds must be playing tricks with us. Or we had waited so long and the expectations have been built to unrealistic levels.

Had a great time catching up with every one. Gave ang pow to the PSLE boys - hopefully they will continue to work hard in secondary school.

Bumped into Elyn and her group of friends as I left to pick up the car. What a surprised to see her in Chinatown.

...so good to be out there

...so good to be out there playing again. This is the 11th hole of Keppel Club. Today, Gabriel, Ben, Ken and I decided to have a morning game (because of the afternoon showers). This hole is one of the toughest for the back nine at Keppel. A long 360m par 4 with a small green surrounded on 3 sides by water.

For once, Ken and I both managed to hit drives that allowed us to go for the green in regulation. Alas, my approach sailed over the green on the left and the ball was never found. Ken managed to hit the rough behind the green and won the hole!

It was a hot but good day of golf and company. Ken is playing well and should be able to get his handicap once he takes the test! It is so good to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life - good weather, good company, good game!

...so good to take a break

Was away in Hong Kong from 20 - 22 Nov. Wifey suggested a trip to watch the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open Squash. The top 10 men and ladies players were competing.

Managed to watch the quarters and semis before flying back to Singapore. But the standard of play was amazing - the speed, the pick ups and the deception! Totally different from watching club level players.

Speaking of clubs, the Hong Kong Football club also hosted a 3-pax team tournament. Kenneth took part as part of Singapore Cricket Club Team 1 with Udai and Vivan. Unfortunately, they met the eventual winners (a professional team from Hong Kong). However, it was good to visit the club; especially with the open bar!

Hong Kong as usual is full of good food and we enjoyed the clay pot dinner at a dingy place that Ken recommended, a wonderful shark fin lunch and some good tim sum at Pacific Place.

It was a great break - relaxing and really didn't have to do much. .... so good to take a break!

... so good that the brothers care for each other

Here are the brothers in a shot from years ago - when both of them received their National Colors for representing their respective school in squash!

Jonathan in his RJC blazer and Kenneth in his ACSI blazer.

They are so different in temperament yet they are so similar in other ways. Guess they have the same DNA after all. They fight often yet we know deep down they care for each other ... maybe that's why they argue!

Connie and I were so proud that day!

.. sooo good that the government paid for ...

Jonathan to experience many things that he would otherwise not even dream of doing ... jumping out of an aeroplane with nothing more than a cloth to bring him gently to the ground; marching non stop for 72 kilometers pushing his body and mind to the limit; trekking in the Brunei jungle, driving through dried river beds in the dessert of Australia in a light strike vehicle , living in a bunk with a bunch of guys in a cramped, old barrack!

Well done, kid - you have made us proud once again!

.. sooo good to finally have those photos taken

It was sooo good on the cruise that they provided free photo shoot during dinner at very affordable prices. So we took the opportunity to take some photos - again something that we have not before. Not too shoddy even if I say so myself!

... so good to finally have that honeymoon

When Connie and I first go married, we were so cash strapped that we never had a proper honeymoon or wedding dinner for that matter. Sure - over the years we went on many holidays far and wide but they were always family trip with the boys! So we finally made the long trip to Scandinavia and Russia for the long waited (26 years after our wedding)honeymoon. Here are some of the memories from the trip. It was a 10 days cruise with Princess Cruise. Highly recommended for folks who wants to get away from it all. Once on board, you can really switch off as most things are taken care of. Even the blackberry has no reception (wifey loved that) and no affordable internet.

..so good to have lasted ...

..this was July 2007 ... more than a year ago but how can I not remember ....

25th years together ... sooo good that we lasted the journey. Great to have Connie as my life partner for 25 years. Since we met (that's another story for another time), we have had many ups and downs, sweet and sad memories but we lasted and hopefully we will last until 25 year or till death do us part.

It is sooo good to be able to celebrate with family ....

It is also sooo good to celebrate with friends ....

..so good to meet up with old friends

I mean friends that I have known for 30+ years though we cannot deny that we have grown older (and maybe wiser). To catch up with KeeWee and Sandra was really good. They taught many things about life especially family life without ever talking about it. They taught by the way they led their lives and brought up their children (Shanon, Allison and Cameron). Grandparents now, they continue to inspire me with their ability to put things in perspective and always looking for the good in the people they touch.

It is sooo good to have friends like them

Why is life sooo good?

Seems like a strange title especially with the crash of the financial market and the 'recession' confirmed. But there are so many other things to to be thankful for - most people I know in good health, most people I am associated with are still gainfully employed, the sun still shines and I still get to go out and play (golf!) every now and then!

So on balance, life is so good!