Founder's Day / Thinking Day !!!

22 February is always a "Special Day" for two-third of the family. It's world Founder's Day to the Scouts and Thinking Day to the Guides. With Aaron-James and Dad in the Scouts and Clarissa-Anne in the Guides, the linkage to the Scouting/Guiding World holds a special meaning to them on this very day.

Traditionally, donning the uniform for the entire day and celebrations (parties, campfires, etc) within the month.

After 10 years ...

Whilst we bumped into each other every now and then, residents of Blk 6, Unit #05s & #06s that shares a common stair-case had never had the opportunity to get together .... so, in the spirit of the Chinese New Year, the idea was mooted to have a potluck @ our very own carpark on the eve of 17 Feb 08. A general flyer was sent and most of the coordination was done mainly through SMS and by 1900 hrs, 6 families managed to bring their share of food for a common makan session.

Two new additions also joined the block not too long ago. Babies of Matthew & Evelyn Minuzzo and Richard & Jennifer Wilkins were the center of attention. They were certainly not lack of potential baby sitters. Both babies were extremely cooperative the entire evening.... probably wondering why everyone were so tall.
The youngest member of the party was Evelyn & Matthew's baby. In a world of her own (thumb in her mouth), she couldn't care what was happening around her. She slept when she felt like it and smile when she felt like doing so. She will gives her "big eyes" look with a gentle smile to get all the potential baby sitters to pay more attention on her. The proud parents could just leave her on her own and she draws her own programme.
As for food contribution to the "kampong style" potluck, we were certainly not lack of good food. The fried noodles was yummy with side dish of baked chicken wings & koropok, delicious spicy otak and popiah, homemade mee-siam, lagsana with wine and even specially made sushi plus tiramisu for desert.... (so much for trying to stay in shape .... though "round" is a shape !!!).
Generally all had "some form" of fun, be it exchanges of stories, funny events or collaboration for a possible golf game. The kids too had their own round of fun & games.
Almost everything could be a new toy; even the stools from IKEA became building blocks and drums for the young and the young-at-heart. For the slightly older ones, out came the ground sheet to laze around to gaze at the stars (even though it was a little cloudy !!!... lots of imagination involved). To them, who cares !!!!... the car park was theirs for the evening and it was their only opportunity to feel FREE !!!. Generally, there was just simple fun among the neighbours .... the kampong spirit does still exist.

PS : Special thanks to John for capturing the moments on his CANON super-duper DSLR camera and efficiently burnt it into a CD to facilate the posting of these pictures on this Blog.

Day IV (CNY)

Started the day with Clarissa waking me up to send her to Church for her 0700 hrs session. On the way back, dropped by the corner coffee shop for the usual prawn noodles (Couldn't resist it. They were calling out my name !!!). Yummy !!! Finally some real food besides the days of finger food and kueh-kueh stuff. Managed to catch a good 1-hr nap (zzzz !!! Great for recovery !!!), then it was duty driver routine again.

Sent Elsie to church and took the opportunity to complete the few missing shots of the Catechists who were still missing since the last update. Ended up joining the Sec 2s for their CNY bash (gosh !!! their parents must have enjoyed the peace for the 2-hrs from their children's absence !!!). Got home to catch Part II nap of the "recovery" process. (Beginning to behave like a mouse/rat already .... eat & sleep by day !!) Spent the remaining part of the afternoon updating th SFX blog (Auntie POM was once again the STAR feature !!!) before heading to Irene's house for a quick CNY visit (Annual ritual !!!). Day ended with the final stage of "zzzzz" recovery, to gear up for the "back-to-office" Monday routine. Looks like life is beginning to be back to normal state. Great !!!!

Day III (CNY)

Day III saw Elsie's staff and Sarah-Marie's Youth Vineyard (YV) for lunch and more catching up. The newly wed in the group brought his wedding shots whilst Elaine shared here views on the various aspects of "Trainers".
Another annual shot for the album before everyone adjourned for their next destination. Elaine too had a height comparison programme with Aaron-James and Clarissa-Anne. The photographs taken will thus be used to gauge/chart their annual rate of growth (in terms of height).

Whilst the Youth Vineyard Group was on the more serious note of economics and the probablity of hitting 21, Elsie's group were on the lighter side of day-to-day happenings and an updating session.

Day II (CNY)

Day II of CNY started with RecAAP ISC Staff for lunch. Whilst it was the 2nd time for some, it was also the 1st time for the newer staff.
For dinner time, it was again the annual assembly of Black Jack players. Coins (and a few notes) changed hands once dinner was over and it lasted till midnight. For non-players, it was just time for merry making (indluging in food, food + some drinks and more food). In between, meals, drinks and cards ... there was always time to catch up with old friends, cousins and relatives, all in the spirit of the Chinese New Year !!!

Day 1 (CNY) - The annual roll-call

As an annual routine, the TJOENG Family lunch will take place on the 1st Day of Chinese New Year. Its also the annual ritual to take the 3G (3 Generation) portrait with grandparents, sibblings and grandchildren. The group picture serves to chart the changes, especially among the 8 grandchilden. (Note : The TWO in stripe shirt have to be at the extreme sides of the picture in case its mistaken for double image !!!)
This year's get together also had an unannounced visitor .... A lion dance troupe gave a close-up performance right at the very door-step of the Old Airport gathering venue.The excitment was not so much that the Lion Dance had came by but to take a quick snap-shot of the Lion at close range. With all the drums and symbols clanning away in a very confined place, it took the ears a little while to clear the ringing tone. (The lion is probably aleady stone deaf !!) The visits after Kong-Kong/Poh-Poh's house was to the homes of their Indonesia Aunts and Uncles. Its also where we get to taste traditional Indonesian yummies, have a good cup of coffee and for the younger ones to met their cousins and relatives (at least to realise that they are related ... somewhere along the complicated chain of relations !!!)

The final stop of the day was at Tan Sim Boh Road with Godparents and God brothers/sisters & long time friends.

All set for the 1st day ...

After the late night of "hong-pau" packing, the 1st day morning was off to a late start. A final squaring up of things in the house before getting ready for the day's outing. After all have donned their new year clothes, it was the traditional new year family shot before proceeding to Grandma's house. Choosing a site is always an issue. It has varied
from different angles in the living room to the balcony and even consider having it down stairs.

Taking the shots at Grandma house was slightly simplier as she is usually seated at her favourite seat. As the years past, Grandma memory finds it more difficult to remember faces. In her smiley look, its apparent that she is trying hard to remember names among the many other things.
Before leaving for the next destination, a family shot with Grandma as she celebrates the Year of the Rat !!!

Re-Union Dinner in a quieter place !!

Lesson learnt from past years re-union dinners where restaurants were over crowded and dishes emerged like a assembly line production were one of the conditions that we'll like to avoid. The worst memories from previous years was that we needed to rush to complete the meal within a specified time window cos the next slot is booked by another family. Dinner this year @ The Harvest Thai (Barker Road) was a welcomed change. A more private setup, with a quieter atmosphere. The dishes were also more spaced out. Lots of food, lots of time for catching up abd more moving room for the younger ones to run around.

When it comes to the traditional "Lo Hei" (whether sufficient space or not ... it will be the traditional MESS (I guess that's the fun of it all !!!). As the various coloured salads are tossed in the air with goodness knows what was uttered (some quite loudly, some sounded like *#"&#" !!!), a few percentage of the food found its way onto the table, chairs and even the floor.

On the whole ... A more acceptable venue for family gatherings especially on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Re-union lunch

Chinese-style hotpot, eaten communally is a traditional meal shared during the Lunar New Year festive period. Side dishes of raw meats(chicken, pork, beef, liver, minced balls), fish, squid(sotong) and vegetables are cooked by dipping into the hotpot which is kept simmering at a boiling temperature. The best part of the steamboat meal is savouring the soup after all the meats and vegetables have been cooked and eaten. It is at this time that the soup is at its richest and tastiest.
The re-union lunch at Grandma's place started with the moving of the dinning table from the kitchen to the living room. The gas stove was lighted and as the soup began to simmer, Aaron & Sarah started adding all the ingredients whilsts Clarissa helped grand-ma with the first few mouthful of chicken rice.
Having our fill with the last drop of flavoured soup, the reversed order of clearing up took place and before one knows it .... table was back in the kitchen and the living room was back to what it was. A tired but food filled afternoon for all .....

A Stressful Week !!!

Wished I could be like this little kitten. Just lay back on a hammock and laze away.

Firstly, car was still in the workshop following the unfortunate accident. Started with a bad flu on Monday. Sniffed the entire day and could not sleep the whole night. Woke up like a walking zombie on Tuesday morning. Back in office, lots of deadlines. Everyone was gearing up for the Feb 08 event, and it was only mid-week. Had an eye surgery on Thursday but had to rush to clear the reports that evening (real tough trying to stay focus !!!). Though able to read without glasses, the distance vision needed some orientation cos focusing on right eye for distance and close-up for left eye. Night vision (those blinking lights !!!) is a challenge.
Though on MC on Friday, got to complete the report in the morning before the eye review. With visual adjustments required, have to drive real slow and the traffic was no help. With the 3-hourly eye drop routine to ensure quick healing, the whole process was quite tiring. Just when I thought that I could have some time to sort things out on Saturday, the HONDA CITY had an accident ..... Aghhhhhh and Chinese New Year have to be round the corner !!!!
Couldn't this Pig Year stay a little longer !!!

Why that damn kitten is so lucky !!!?? (Have rats for the whole of next year too !!!)

Another "Not-so-Good" Day !!!

Just when the back of the TOYOTA ISIS has been repaired, in time for the Chinese New Year, following a knocked at its back on 15 Jan 08, Elsie's HONDA CITY (SCA 4449Y) suffered the same faith. Whilst turning into Lorong Chuan from Serangoon Garden Way (in the vicinity of the SHELL Petrol Station), a LEXUS IS200 (SGT 8838J) hit the rear of her vehicle, which was then stationary. The rather hard impact threw all the items which was displayed at her dashboard onto the floor of the car.

Though the visible damage to the LEXUS seem minor, the HONDA CITY took a beating. Bumper was damaged and dislodged, right rear light was dislodged and the boot could not be opened.

With the assistance from Henry, a report was filed at the IDAC (Sin Min)

It's clearer now !!!

After some discussion with the Doctor on my "vision", took a bold step today to go for EpiLASIK treatment this afternoon. "EpiLASIK is an innovative new procedure designed to restore natural vision with the help of an epikeratome. The Epi-Lasik surgeon uses an epikeratome, a separator that creates an epithelial sheet, to make a thin flap in the epithelium". (Sound very complex, right ?!!! .... RIGHT !!! took some faith too to understand it). Anyway, went for it. Coincidentally, Ka Leong was also doing his, right after me.

We had a pact. If I scream, he will run !!!

The whole procedure was quite fast and forgetful me forgot to scream and there he was waiting outside patiently, to be next in line.

Came home, slept and on waking up .... Behold !!! I could read the small fonts of my NOKIA phone. Wow !!! Couldn't understand why every message seem so interesting .... all of a sudden. Though there are some adjustments and getting use to, it was a great feeling to be able to read without glasses again. Ya !!!!

(Photo courtesy of EAGLE EYE CENTRE)