Spring cleaning the whole weekend, cleaned all the windows at home, packed my bedroom and the rest, also cleared the air of stale energy and revitalised my whole house. Went out a while. By night, was exhausted. Me in slumberland. PS. Oh, happy birthday to a friend!

The Queen

I had a dream last week. I was in a tropical place with many trees and green bushes, the weather was cool and windy, it's somewhere near the sea.

There were many people around busy preparing offerings in a big open space. Then when the offerings were ready, the people quickly gathered around as some sort of a procession started. Then I saw someone carryinga big photo frame of His Holiness Dalai Lama and walking slowly. Many people bowed in respect. I saw myself doing 3 prostrations. Just as he walked passed me, I clasped my palm in respect. Then when I opened my palm, I saw a small bunch of blueberries appeared on my palm. I was looking at the berries in bewilderment.

The show was not over. Then suddenly I saw Queen Sirikit of Thailand appeared with her entourage. She was in her royal gown and wearing gold and silver. The Queen looked young, like in her younger days. Again when she walked nearer, many people bowed. Then I saw myself kneeling down in respect. She came towards me, and when she reached me, her hand pressed lightly on my head many times, as if blessing me. In the dream I saw myself with eyes closed, too scared to lift my head and shocked that the Queen is blessing me. The gesture was quite similar to Rinpoches giving blessings.

I was a little surprised with this dream. Why the Thai Queen is blessing me??

Resolutions

Here are the belated resolutions I decided upon for 2008.

1. Find more time to practise Dharma & meditate.

2. Let go of things and people who have upset me, to let them all go.

3. Find worthy causes & people for my magnanimous love and concern.

4. Improve my financial situation.

5. Repay all the benefactors I am indebted to, in all areas.

6. Find a new job.

7. Renovate my ideal home.

8. Hang out with my buddies more often.

9. Go on a long holiday trip to a country I have never been to.

10. Go to bed latest by midnight to have a good 8 hours of beauty sleep.

11. Find the love of my life and soulmate.

DELETE

This is a post by Quan Yi Feng, a local host which I like for her forthrightness, remembering her friends she just lost.

农历新年就快到了 ! 对我来说只有过了农历新年才算是过了一年. 回望过去这一年 , 有欢笑有悲伤 , 有相聚也有分离。

2007年年尾到 2008 初 , 短短两个月内我就失去了俩个朋友。他们走得太突然,太年轻，以至于教人心酸, 让人不舍!到现在我手机里还留著 Freddy and MC King 俩人的电话号码 , 我舍不得 Delete ,舍不得…………! 每每把玩电话, 在手机里找人名打电话时总会不经意掠过俩人的名字。这好像一直在提醒我 , 他们曾经来过这世上 , 我和他们曾在人生路程上碰过面。

一想到这里，我的心就会开始往下沉。有时候会认为这样对待自己太残忍了,把他们的电话号码Delete不就没事了吗？

可是我真的不想也不敢。不想是因为不舍，不敢是因为深怕自己会忘了他们。。。我从来都不记得他们的号码 , 只靠手机的电话簿 ,Delete了之后我就永远失去了他们 !

Yes, just like Quan Yi Feng, when I lose a friend, will I bear to delete their number in my handphone? Does deleting the number means I will lose him/her forever? Does deleting automatically erase the past where you remember the times you spent together? Does deleting a memory means the past never happened? We can't bring back the past, but can we move on comfortably with life when you know you had lost someone so precious and there is no turning back? We can try to delete the unhappiness, we can try to delete the good times, but can we delete each other out of our minds just like that? Can we delete the fact that fate had once upon a time made us crossed each other's paths and magically connected us? Do we have to wait till our next lives to be reunited? Even then can we delete our past? 我舍不得....

Can YOU delete your past?

The truth?

Maybe the truth is....
We hide because we want to be found
We walk away to see who will follow
We cry to see who will wipe away our tears
We get hurt to see who will take the time to fix the pain.

In the genes

Rae'e and Raegan are attending creative art classes every weekend. They have a flair for anything art - painting, handcrafts, sewing, drawings etcc. These are one of their masterpieces, created using tissues, which were on display at the exhibition. Keep it up, kids! Obviously the genes run in the family, hiak hiak...

Happy birthday, buddy!

This is a belated post. Two weeks ago, we had a little get together at Rich Friend's house before she flew off to HK, for her birthday. We ate not one cake, but two cakes, which were very special; one was Lychee Martini and the other was Baileys. I liked the Baileys cake because it was rich with Baileys! The Lychee Martini unfortunately was tasteless of martini, hehe. Then we went to Le Viet Cafe Restaurant in Siglap for dinner, ordered the typical vietnamese staple, the noodles, sambal kangkong, chicken wings and tua tau. And went back her place for more drinks into the night.

Anyway, my Rich Friend, hope you had a good time that day. Happy Birthday, and may you enjoy your successes with fun forever, may you find the one you love, be with the one you love (Muffy, Bubbles, Snow and ........ ) always. Thanks for being my buddy through these years, almost 30 years man! You know how I value friendship, especially buddies. Thanks for being there at those times when I am down (whether you know it or not!) with your senseless banter. Hope us, your these few buddies, can celebrate your birthdays every year till death do us part! *muak* ho ho ho!

Muffy's friend Joey

Muffy made a new friend recently, Joey, Mag's 4 year old Maltese. The two boys had a little identity crisis at the beginning, cos Joey started humping Muffy, haha! Then they played and became friends. Rae'e and Raegan also love Muffy. No, that's not Raee's playpen. That's Muffy's playpen!

Countdowner

Now that I am more sober *hic* here are the pixs from our countdown for 2008, at my uncle's house. It was just snacks, food, drinks, drinks, and more drinks.

Happy Birthday, Rae'e girl girl!

Rae'e turns 9 today. She is such a good girl. She did not request to go restaurants. She did not want any toys for presents. She requested for dinner at home, and only books or red packet for presents.

So her mommy bought all sorts of take aways home for dinner. Rae'e wished she has a DIY cake, so her mommy bought the huge heart shape brownie from Mrs Fields and many cookies, and small cube brownies, and Rae'e decorated and designed her own cake in the end. Among the books I bought her, I also gave her a surprise gift, bought her a little soft toy, the female version plushie tortoise that is so popular now from Mini Toons. She called it Toro. She was jumping with joy, because this was what she wanted secretly but didnt dare ask for it because the mommy said "no toys". Hrrmph...

ISC HK Cafe

The past Sunday, met Jasmine at the Airport T2 for late lunch. We wanted to try the HK restaurant, ISC. We ordered a few different dishes to try. In the end, Jasmine ticked the cashier off for some mistakes on reward points. Otherwise the food was passable. Hmm... if I can cut down on makan... maybe more people will love me better....hur hur... Anyway, thanks Jasmine (pictured here), for the treat!!

- Fried Chee Cheung Fun

- Peanut Butter & Milk Toast

- Mango Prawn Roll

- Paper Wrapped Chicken with Egg

- Mango with Pomelo

- Lychee with Ice Cream

Park Palace

Last month Miss Piggy and myself went for a high class quiet treat in Park Palace - courtesy of a special occasion for celebration. Thanks! These are what each of us had. I forgot what the fancy name for each dish though .... 

1. Wrapped Peking Duck ( 4/5) 

2. Sharksfin Soup in Special Broth (5/5) 

3. Drunken Lobster In Hua Tiao Wine (5/5) 

4. Cod Fish (I think) ( 3/5) 

5. Grilled Foie Gras In Sotong Ball (3/5) 

6. Noodles (3/5) 

7. Egg White Soup (for dessert) (5/5)

New start

I am so so proud of my nephew Raegan. Today is his first day in Primary One. His mommy accompanied him whole day in school. I took leave partly to see him. Managed to catch him in school just after his class at the end of the day, when he was to take the school bus home. Although sometimes he is a stubborn rascal, but mostly he is a sweet mischievious and smart boy, whom I know will have no problem coping with a new environment, a new kickstart to life.

庆幸

Whenever I am feeling the blues and wallowing in sadness, I will listen to 堂娜's songs. She is one of my favourite singer, known for her sad love songs. She is also a fantastic and versatile actress, plus businesswoman plus yoga instructer. And I like her for her natural beauty, with an aloof "character" looks. Although her sad songs may not make me feel better, but it breeds familiarity, a familiarity to the past... my past, my memories. I like one very difficult song, a very sad song called 庆幸. I remembered watching her in concert on TV in about year 2000, singing this song at her encore finale. She cried and I too cried at the ending dialogue, because it was simply touching. She is my greatest singer. I shall not post the sad lyrics in its entirety here. Food for thought:

"我不再听悲伤的歌了, 我甚至常提醒自己

人是可以永远不老的,只要心不死

外表只是一个现象罢了受伤, 破碎, 在所难免

只要我们生命中曾经有过一场交易

那就不虚此行了"