... so good to take a quick break to Margaret River

After the Japan cruise, we decided that we needed to take another short break. We were deciding between Taiwan or Korea. Walter advised that Taiwan might still have typhoons and the itinerary from the travel agent on Korea was not interesting (too many ginseng outlet visits!). We figured that the best time to travel is autumn and spring otherwise it is too cold or too hot (more than 25º C)

We chanced on a good fare from Singapore Airlines to Perth and we booked the fare on an impulse. We later researched (thanks - TripAdvisor) and decided what we wanted to do. We decided to skip Perth city all together (except for a Segway tour on the banks of the Swan river which we ended not doing because it clashed with the Penguin Island tour).

On the day we arrived (early afternoon as we have decided not to take the red eye. In fact - we have decided that we will fly mid morning as much as possible. No early morning or late night flights - do not need the stress on mind and body) - we drove to Esplanade on the outskirt of Perth which faces the Indian Ocean. Lovely views. 

We planned a relaxed holiday with activities not starting before 10am! So we had a Penguin Island tour, visited mazes, lunched at VineYard, ... overall a very relaxing break.

For details - see facebook entries or the photobook on the trip. So good to take a relaxing break. Life is great! 

... 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 to visit Japan as a tourist!

On 7th July, Connie and I left for Japan to join a cruise around Hokkaido with a brief stop over in Tokyo and Sapporo. Connie has toured Japan before with her colleagues and Ah Cheng but this would be the first time I visit Japan for non-business purpose.

7th July is Tanabata which is the Japanese valentine's day similar to the Chinese one which is on 7th day of 7th month.

The plan is to do all the tourist stuff in Tokyo (Tokyo Tower, Tea Ceremony, Mt Fuji, Onsen, etc) and then fly to Sapporo. Connie has discovered that at Furano (2 hours from Sapporo) there is a flower festival featuring lavenders. So we will make a day trip to Tomita Farm to see the flowers. Then we travel to Otaru to board the Sun Princess for 8 nights of cruising around Hokkaido. The highlight is supposedly the Shitetoko Peninsula which is a UNESCO heritage site. There will be a side visit to a small Russian town, Korsakov as well.

The plan is to celebrate Connie's birthday in Sapporo! A lot to dow in a little time.

We are truly into cruising holidays! So good to do another cruise.

PS: For details on the trip, check out the photobook!

So good to celebrate another birthday - Connie's

This was the first of two birthday dinners for Connie. The second one was during our Japan Trip.

Jon and Andrea bought us dinner at Bistro 103 for her birthday and our anniversary! That's why there are two cakes!

We truly count our blessings every year ... having the 2 boys is really a great blessing. And now a future DIL to celebrate with us is a real bonus!

... so good to see Elyn and Kevin tie the knot finally

So great to finally see Elyn and Kevin tied the knot. It was a little disappointing that Kevin's mum still refuses to accept Elyn and as a result his family were not present. BUT it was still a great occasion and we had lots of laughter and joy!

Hopefully when the little ones come along, his mum will accept his choice!

PS: Place holders were really beautifully hand made by Elyn

...(not) so good but MIL finally returned to the Lord

Madam Wong Choy Woo, my mother-in-law was called back to the Lord on 17 May 2014. She has been at All Saints Nursing home for 7 sevens. Other than her senile dementia she had been healthy and was able to enjoy food right to the end. On the Friday, 16 May - the nursing home called to say she was running a fever and lost of appetite; the doctor suspected that she had an infection (a recurrence of one that hospitalized her a couple of months before). We decided not to send her to A&E as she would be subjected to a strange environment and test, drips, etc. So we asked the doctor to give her oral antibiotics and make her comfortable. That night around midnight the nursing home called to say that she had low blood pressure. Connie called again at 1am and they said her condition was the same.

As Connie had arranged with her sister and auntie to visit her the next day at 10am, she decided to stay with the plan. I went for my usual Saturday golf game early in the morning. At around 8.30am, the nursing home say that her pulse was weak but still breathing. As it was raining heavily and they had to wait for the aged auntie; Connie and her sister waited before proceeding to the nursing home. My MIL passed away that morning around 8.45am.

Looking back, I always remembered her cooking for her family - the deep fried meat balls that Connie like so much, the pork chop which was really nice. We were also very blessed to have stayed with her when Jonathan was born. For the first 6 months, she helped look after Jonathan with Connie. Those six months, I had hot breakfast every day before going to work and dinner ready when I got home; laundry done daily - it was a good life!

I also remembered how she would trek from her Dover Road home to NUH daily when my father in law as hospitalized there. She was quite old by then by she made it a point to be there and cooked him food and stayed all the time with him. 

Despite all the grief that she gave Connie over money issues, she was a loving and caring mother that ultimately placed her husband and children first. May she rest in peace with the Lord.

... so good to pass the stress ECG test

Visited the National Heart Centre to do a check up on the ticker. The cardiologist recommended that I do a stress ECG. He said if they find any abnormality then go for more detail test.

Passed the test - the good news. The bad news is that stress ECG only detects blockage of 70% or more. But since the cardiologist would not do any intervention for blockage less than 70%, I guess it makes no difference.

But for close to $500 for consultation and the test, it provided only a small peace of mind. Next time round, maybe I should opt for a MRI or CT-SCan. Just don't like the idea of being injected with radio active dye!