Rogue Landlord

We were basically busy with moving from our 1700 sqft rented apartment at Braddell View last month.
 
We stayed there for 2 years and had enjoyed that place.  We like the big hall, the unblocked view from the windows and the tranquility. We had many great time of having friends and family over for gatherings.  Plus we've got really nice neighbours too.   We were quite sure for a while that we would buy an unit there eventually.

What tainted the whole experience for us is our landlord.   What can I say but that he is a rogue and he is attempting right now to forfeit our 2 months deposit.   Not that we are so hard up for the money but his way of dealing and his methods are so underhand and so deceitful. 
Anyway, let God be the rightful judge. 

Peace on the earth and goodwill to man.

Few Lessons

I have not been updating my blog as I was really occupied.

To sum up what I was busy with and the few lessons I learnt:

1) Never.Be.A.Kaypoh.Matchmaker.Again
Well, who would have known that a coffee session (harmless enough) would result in a broken heart, fragile ego, counselling sessions, strike off on facebook and possibly relocation to HK.  When I get over it myself, maybe I will elaborate on it.

2) 相见好，同住难
If I can, I will blog about it but I can't because I love them,  really, trust me. But there is truth in this saying.

3) A miser is a miserable person
Well, maybe a miser makes the people around him more miserable than himself. That's all I can say. Ok maybe blog another time too.

3 Funerals and a Wedding

Been quite occupied recently.

Other than taking a short holiday, hubby and I had attended 3 different funerals in the last month.  All demises were our dear friends' family members.  Our deepest condolences to them. Someone told me that death comes in seasons. I quite believe that.

On the other hand, I'm also helping out another friend's wedding in 2 weeks' time. I have been busy organising things and details for the couple. I love weddings and celebrations.  I love to see the union of 2 lives together. 

This is something to look forward to. Away with the gloom.

  

LIfe Track

Very blessed by Dr AR Bernard's message: Ps 90:12

Our Life Track

1. Learning years - experiencing education, eduction is the primary focus in these years

2. Earning years - establish your financial power base/primary revenue source

3. Investing years - you grow your money and you grow your life

4. Legacy years - you give back, pour into the next generation and establish your works

5. Golden years - enjoying the fruit of your labour

Know the times and seasons

Have been thinking about this passage the last week.

Ecclesiastes 3 (New King James Version)

Everything Has Its Time

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

another life's irony

I went for a facial while the kids were in school today. 

I go to this beautician whose shop is located in a HDB estate.  Very heartland, very "auntie" setup but my "facialist", Teresa, is good. 

Teresa is in her early 50s and has a warm personality.  She puts you at ease quickly and she likes to offer you her homemade chrysanthemum tea.  During my monthly "visit", she always chit-chat to me (while squeezing out my blackheads) about :

1) the ever increasing housing prices
2) recipes that are good for health (and she does have a wealth of knowledge on the various chinese herbs and TCM stuff)
3) current affairs (heehee or rather, whatever that is on the chinese newspaper headlines)

Today however, the topic was solemn. 

Teresa shared that her mother, who's in her 80s, has been hospitalised for the past 3 weeks for some infection and her condition is deteriorating by the day.  The infection seems to have affected her neurons as well as she is behaving strangely and could not recognise them.

Teresa has 11 siblings.  They are all mostly running their own businesses, as such, they all had very little time for their mother.  According to Teresa, the mother was always at home by herself, taking care of by a maid. The mother hardly has anyone to talk to or anything to do.

Teresa told me that her siblings now make sure someone visits the mother in the hospital everyday, even the nieces and nephews are roped in and they also take turns to stay overnight with her.  Teresa said ironically that if the mother is aware/conscious, she would be so happy to see them around her.

I left the facial place feeling sad for Teresa and her mother.  I will be praying for them.

Earthly Treasures

I just read a friend's breast cancer blog which she bravely opens up and accounts her personal experience and shed light on the mastectomy procedure. I am so moved by her sharing and admire her immensely for her spirit.

In one of her blog entries, she mentioned she has her earthly treasures with her, ie. loving husband and children.  I love the term - "earthly treasures".

Few months ago, I had a scare with my mum when she was admitted to the hospital for heart failure.  The doctor found her 3 main heart arteries to be blocked so it caused her breathing difficulty and water retention in her lungs and legs.  On top of that, she has diabetes which was badly controlled.   I have never seen my mother so weak and frail lying on the hospital bed before and I was really worried.

I have a "love-hate" relationship with my mum.  Even now she nags at me and she nitpicks but my mother has always been there for me and my sister.  When my dad passed away, I was only 17 and my sister 14.  My mother was there to hold the family up.   She must be going through hell then but never did I once see her breakdown in front of us.

I have to admit that only with a family of my own now, do I fully appreciate what a bravefront and sacrifice my mum made for us during that time.    When I had my babies, my mum was also there to help me and babysat the children so that I could still go to work if I wanted to. 

When my mother was lying on the hospital bed, I had just returned to the workforce for less than 6 months (after a period of becoming a stay-at-home mum).  It became very clear to me what my priorities should be - my mum's health and my own family -- my earthly treasures. 

Today my mum is much better and she is also resting more.  For me, being a stay-at-home mother again  is definitely a more fulfilling and meaningful experience this time round.