... so good to have a bonding time with Ken at the NFL game (Giants vs Colts)

Visited Ken in New York as he had not come home for 1.5 years. The men (Ken, me and his flatmates) went for a football game. It was a really good bonding time with him - taking the train all the way to New Jersey having beer all the way. It was a spectacular entertainment - fireworks at the kick off, the lights and sounds were just amazing!

... so good to get together to remember father

Lai Ying, Lai Fong and our respective spouses got together on National Day to remember father's death anniversary. It was 32 years ago, exactly a month after our wedding that dad past away.

Father was a man that did not display much emotion but we all knew that he cared for us in his own way. He was proud of what we achieve but never really talked much about them.

He showed his love in providing for us and when he got his pension - he rather put it away for our education rather than invest in property. Perhaps not the wisest move but definitely a caring move. 

To remember him and his habits - Lai Ying decided to try a beer. That was his way of relaxing to have a beer at the coffee shop (we never saw him drink at home). Mother would comment that he was smelly after that and he was drinking '屎水' but always in jest. 

... so good for another milestone for our core group

Victor Li married Melissa Goh at the Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. The couple individually played the pipe organ as that was how they met (at a pipe organ competition. This event represents another milestone for our close group of friends ... as the first of our children to get married. Extremely happy for the happy couple and their parents.

Just to show that we are all getting older but so so blessed.

... so good to tick off another of the items on my bucket list - The Grand Canyon

One of the natural wonders of the world - the Grand Canyon is really spectacular! We flew from Vegas to the South Rim on a small 21 seater plane; transferred to a helicopter - flew into the canyon and then coached to the Bright Angel lodge look out point. 

The flight took us over the Hoover Dam and a great view of the whole canyon. The chopper ride took us close the walls of the canyon. The red and orange hues of the canyon is just beyond words. It was also amazing that the greenery on top of the canyon and steep drop into the Colorado river. 

God's creation is marvelous!

... so good to have trial run of empty nest

Jon was sent to Rockhampton, Australia for reservist since 14 October and wouldn't be back till 1 Nov. So for the last week or so, Connie and I have been experiencing the 'empty nest' - lots more space for ourselves; much more flexibility in terms of going to work (or not going). Plus Connie has been going to work at 8am because of some changes at the work place, so I have lots more time for myself. Trying to make good use by grooving in my new clubs before going on the Holy Land cruise from 2 Nov to 18 Nov. No golf for 3 weeks!

Also taking the time to get excited about the cruise. Really looking forward to Rome, Alexandria, Israel, Athens, Sicily ....

... so good to see the changes in the Singapore skyline

Mark asked us to support the daughter of his friend from Hong Kong for a piano/saxophone recital. The photo was taken from on top of the Esplanade where we had cocktails before the the recital. I was just amazed at how much the skyline of Singapore has changed in the last 5 - 10 years. All these new skyscrapers with modern design popped up over the last few years. 

Singapore has really developed materially but unfortunately the society has not ... we are still not civil minded and overly focussed on material accumulation. Recently, the Minister for Education announced changes that hopefully will reduce the stress the children faces in school but the problems run deeper. As long as our values are stuck in the undeveloped nation of economic survival where asset accumulation is almost the only driving force, we will continue to be a nation obsessed with $$$. I really hope, wish and pray that the next generation will wake up and see that there's more to life. I especially am worried for Jon and Ken and their children - that they do not become lost in the pursue of $$$ and forget to smell the roses along the journey of life.

Life is great only if we can strike the right balance.

... so good that Christmas came early!

Christmas came early this year. For the longest time, I have been thinking of buying the Mac Air but just couldn't bring myself to spend $2,000 on a new notebook. It was so cool for Jon to offer to get it for me as Christmas and birthday gift! So good to have a filial son.

... so good to have breakfast at Mac, West Coast Park

It is so good to take a break and have a quiet breakfast at Mac @ West Coast Park. Last night, the Volvo broke down with a spoiled alternator and the repair would be more than $2,000. Not a great way to start the week but taking breakfast at West Coast Park helps to restore the tranquility of retired life. Just have to decide to spend more on repairs on just change car. But life is good.

..so good to be back at the gym

This is the view as I sweat it out on the treadmill at Keppel. Very inspirational (also watching the US whipped the International team for the President's Cup). Makes exercising more bearable. Life is truly great.

... so good to have a quiet date lunch

Connie does not work Fridays. So we decided to make use of Jonathan's Amex Feed at Raffles card to splurge on a buffet at the 70th level of Swisotel Hotel at the Equinox Restaurant. Magnificent view and the food was really good. It was an ala carte buffet ... choose the main course but appetizers, soup, desserts were buffet. Had a long relaxing lunch up there. Best of all - we paid for 1 buffet with the card. Bestest - Jon picked up the bill!

.. so good to find pearls each day

Last week, just happened to look out of the living room window and saw this beautiful view. So had to dust off the camera and try a night shot. Each week we seem to find more and more good points about the investment we made. Life is good ... when things work out by themselves.

... so good to finally baptise the kitchen

blu (picture is for illustration only - not actual meal)
We finally cooked our first meal (actually just plain porridge as we had porridge with century egg, pork floss, five spice pork cubes, frozen mixed veggie and peanuts - all mircowaved food). So the showroom kitchen is finally opened!

Technically, Connie cooked spaghetti sauce the week before but I don't consider that a meal as it was just sauce.

Actually we had to delay the cooking for a whole week because of some issues with the Bosch gas hob. Believe it or not - the hob actually has two types of gas nozzles; one for cylinder gas and another for piped gas. The unit comes factory fitted for cylinder gas. As a result everytime we turn on the gas, there is a small flow of gas and if we attempt to have a bigger flame, the flames goes off with a 'poof'. So silly that no one told us about - not the salesperson, not the city gas technicians who came to install it, not even the Bosch service center person when we call to complain. Surprising the technician knew immediately the problem when we spoke to him on the phone.
Anyway, we are just glad that it is working. Now we can look forward to the next home cooked meal - maybe we will be adventurous and cook instant noodles.

... so good to wake up to a sunrise

it is so good to wake up each morning to this view. 7am, mug of piping hot coffee and sitting in the living room; it is so quiet you can hear the birds chipping. Then suddenly it is there - a beautiful amber globe hanging in the sky. What a beautiful scene - almost makes waking up each day a joy!

... so good to hit the big 55

It was great celebrating turning 55 (CPF release date for Singaporeans) with a bunch of great friends at Spring Court. 55 is the age that everyone looks to when we started work as eager graduates as it was the official retirement age and we can draw out our CPF money. Over the years, the government has changed the rules so that we have to work longer and delay the withdraw of our funds but those of us who are young/old enough get to draw most of it still.

.. so good that Jon is finally called to Bar

.. so good to see Jon be accepted into the Bar. The final step to being a lawyer. It was a rather solemn ceremony presided by the CJ. The president of the law society and CJ both gave short speeches focussed on not being arrogant, helping out the poor, continuous education and being professional.

Finally, Jon is independent. So good that at least one birdie is now flying on his own. Now it is up to him to chart his own course.

...so good that Ken has completed Freshman year

Ken received his spring term results this morning. Overall, he received 1 A and 3 A- and has a GPA of 3.75 which far exceeds our expectations. This is especially since he was really busy with the squash season, trying to adjust to a new environment and haven't hit books for 3 years because of National Service.

Well done! We are so thankful and proud.

.. so good to catch up with friends

it is good to catch up with friends even though it was during a not so joyous occasion. During Jee Kong's wake, we caught up with friends that we did not have time to catch up over the years.

But we also met some friends that we have lost touch with over the years like Connie's primary school classmate who is now the pastor at Lai Ying's church. Or Wah On who is the father of a boy that Lai Ying is tutoring.

Strange - how some unusual events can bring along unexpected outcome.

.. so good finally get that family photo shoot done

... so good to finally collect the family photo. The photos were taken like in August (1 month) ago but only collected them on Friday, 18th Sept. Here are a few of them below.

.. so good to start digitising our film negatives

One of the biggest fear that Connie and I have is the possibility of losing all our old photos through fading or fire. So I have started a project to digitise all our old film negatives. Bought a Canon 8800F scanner and started the process. It is time consuming and frustrating as some of the film already have mouldy stains. But it is really good to review the photos as they are being scanned. I am so thankful for all the wonderful memories that I have with family and friends.

In the process I found this old photo of Connie and me when Connie was expecting with Jon. Not a bad looking couple, even though I say so myself.

...so good to witness Jonathan's commencement

Today Connie and I attended Jon's commencement at NUS. It was a rather formal affair with a Judge giving the key note. Seeing all of them so grown up in the gowns and mortar hats was quite a sight.

Jon, we are so proud of you!