The Birthday Song was sung but at real slow time. The two boys were certainly gearing up more for blowing the candles than singing the song. With the concentration of candles (per sq unit), the heat from the candles were about to melt the green tea cake if the song last any longer !! Happy Birthday Tai-Ku !!
Grandma spent the first couple of days of the Chinese New Year at the Alexandra Hospital for various complications and was on the Dangerously Ill List (DIL). She was closely monitored by the nurses at Ward 3.
Members of CCC and CCMC (Serangoon) were invited to Mrs Lim HH'a new home for a Lunar New Year reception. Members of other organisations such as theWomen Wing and other MPs were also present. Met up with Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Cynthia Phua and had a good chat of the good old CJC days when it was first setup. The common topic was of course L2 (who else). 
The must have photo shoot of the combined CCC & CCMC Team was taken by her swimming pool.
It finally came and boy, did it come fast. January past by so fast and before I knew it, it was the 2nd week of Feburary 2010. So much had happened within the first 6 weeks of the year. So much of packing for the shift out of Kensington Park (our home for almost 13 years), made 3 trips to Bangkok, Batam and Jakarta, Mum gone to a Nursing Home, went to KK Hospital and then to Alexandra Hospital under the Dangerously Ill List (DIL) ... so much changes in the last days of the OX. Hopefully the "Tiger" can be more steady ... and not bulldozed the way thru !!! 
As Aaron's Digital SLR had to have a malfuntion just before the "master-piece" moment, the family shot was taken with a "mickey-mouse, fail safe camera".... This year's shot was taken next to the overhead bridge, next to Blk 99, Old Airport Road.
All the cousins (8 of them) took the opportunity to have their shots taken along the stairs. One looked like "Snow White" ... .figure out the remaining Seven. Smile !!! (hi-ho ! hi-ho !!)
Mom is back @ Alexandra Hospital. Now at Ward 3 (previously at Ward 5 & 7). Having received a pint of blood, her condition is still under monitoring. She is still deemed to be under the dangerously ill list. She is being monitored/checked hourly and with the oxygen mask on.
The most coordinated family (in terms of uniformed turnout) goes to Eddy, Irene and Ashley. Eddy claimed that it was "3 for $10.00" but I guess, buy "2 get 1 free" sounds more classy. Anyway, PURPLE was the order of the day (for them !!!) 
This year's re-union dinner was held in a Chinese Restaurant @ Hong Lim COmplex, near China Town. Shawnna's dad and brother also joined in the traditiomal Loy Hae dish. Quite civilized this year. The salad didn't find its way to the other parts of the table/the floor. We also managed to have the dinner scheduled for the earlier window, that is from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. (The very enterprising restaurant had 3 windows for the evening !!
!). Eddy once again had the luck of finding a "wire in the salad" (something like finding a needle in a haystack). He had a pair of tigers to compensate him. The pair of tigers certainly looked like collector items (like the Hello Kitty series) ... probably worth quite a fair bit. (Unfortunately, that was short live. There were many pairs of tigers being sold along the streets ... some 3 for $10.00) 
The entire family then embarked on a aimless walk around the streets of China Town before the "attendance taking" photo-shoot next to the carpark. All tired people were accounted for the last day of the Year of the Ox.
In the midst of clearing more cupboards (in preparation for the great move out of Kensington Park), stumbled on this cute shot of Sarah-Marie, Aaron-James and Clarissa-Anne .... when they were more cooperative and lesser at each other's throat. (Now, ain't they CUTE !!!)
Whilst clearing the cupboards to store away old photographs, came across an old album of my parents. Goodness knows how old were they when this was taken.
After toying with the idea of starting anew with a totally different OS since X'mas, the aimless walk on the Sunday evening outside the APPLE Outlet at 313 did the trick. The MacPro Notebook was just calling out to me. Already frustrated with the Window Vista that slowed down my system tremendously, coupled with the ACER Notebook that was showing signs of active aging, the decision to switch became stronger by the day. Booting the laptop had invited more prayers than the Priest weekly call to pray. Since the "ladies" were still shopping, the push to take the bold step finally came. Convinced that its my own post-birthday present, the Mac Pro Notebook became my new project for the year, to get my graphics in place. The $99 bundle of Microsoft Mac office was the much needed push that I was looking for. Am now, officially, a MAC User !!!! (wef 7 Feb 2010)
"Kopi Kuwak" whatever that means but it was a nobel way of brewing coffee right in front of you. Hmmm !! Quite a long wait just for a cup of coffee.
No trip to Jakarta is complete without indulging in the Indonesian Bak Mee. This round, stayed at the Grand Hyatt @ Central Jakarta, right next to Plaza Indonesia. Had the liberty of wondering aimlessly among the many makan places to hunt for selected food. Finally, came across a Food Count known as "FOOOD KULTURE" by Urban Kitchen and the Bak Mee stall was just calling out for me. (Hey, it was a timely call at 13:30 hrs).
