Farewell Forever

..........to the Year of 2008.

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You'll go down in history as a year full of natural disaster (Cyclone Nargis hits Myanmar & Worst earthquake hits Sichuan provine in China) that eventually followed by illness that plagued mankind.

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We next saw Energy and Commodities prices peaked for the first time while watching in awe at the 1st XXIX Beijing Olympics Opening 'Live' on the television.

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In a short span of time, we watched Thailand changing her Prime Minister as if she's changing her clothes while financial tsnami flushed everyone's savings away. Then, those damned Chinese milk were found to contain melamine causing children to develop kidney damage......

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Also there were nitty gritty news happening and happening.............Gosh!!!

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SO Goodbye Year 2008!!!!

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.............as our family looked forth to a brand new start ahead....

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Part Two)

.........yes, we're spending it in a very different way indeed!

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Along with grandpa and grandma, we crossed the checkpoints and joined our dear friends in Johor for a warm BBQ & steamboat feast at their humble abode!

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The traffic on Christmas Day was uncongested hence we arrived just in time to help in setting up and getting the food ready. Everyone feasted themselves silly and dear son for once, spent his first Christmas Day overseas and it's along with his grandparents!

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On Boxing Day, we brought grandpa and grandma to the Jusco shopping centre as it's their first time there. Needless to say, we brought quite a bagful of things though.

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While dear son as usual, was up to lots of mischief and definitely enjoyed himself throughout.......(that's of course since there's no need to attend school on Boxing Day)

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By Saturday afternoon, we returned to Singapore also without much traffic fuss. Lucky us!!.........Let's hope we'll get a chance to visit to our friend's place again before the Lunar New Year.
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There........a jolly short break and an unusual Christmas for our family.
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On a side note, it's most regrettable to hear from the media that the "most exciting woman in the world" best known for her 1953 Christmas song "Santa Baby" died on Christmas Day at age 81.
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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Part One)

..........and our family did, starting right from yesterday, on the eve of Christmas.

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Daddy was still on his long leave and due to the morning rain, dear son skipped his half day at the daycare. Not to be left out of the Christmasy eve, Mummy also left her work place early and the threesome had lunch before going home.

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After an afternoon nap, Mummy started preparing some simple fare for our X'mas eve dinner.

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We feast ourselves silly during dinnertime with pasta, cheese sausages, sprouts, fishballs and some beer!.....oppsss, I mean our child is given water and orange juice......hahaha

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Although not an elaborated party of sort, we enjoyed our dinner very much in our peaceful and cosy home. After dinner, we washed up our dishes and settled for the night with some story-time and TV programme.
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This Christmas Day, we would welcomed it in a different way this year!.......
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(to be continued)
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Another week had passed

woooooo............the Christmasy season is nearing.......especially now while enjoying this song in the office......
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Time really ticks away and we've done quite a fair bit of things last week. Hmmm.....we shopped and dine at Bugis Junction on 16 Dec evening.
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Bugis had changed a fair bit and it's been a while since our family went there. Before the year closes, we thought it's a good idea to spend our evening there that day......
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On 19 Dec, Mummy and her colleague planned time away from work and went chilling out! The girls had their korean lunch at KU SHIN JUNG (East) followed by leisure cycling (been a while since we last cycled) around East Coast Park.
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After the cycling exercise, the girls hopped over to Jones the Grocer at Dempsey Road for Tapas and coffee. It was really leisure and some rain made our stay at Jones even more cosy and comfortable that late afternoon.

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Later the same day, Master and Mistress ANG arranged to have dinner followed by a movie at Orchard Cineleisure. We brought tickets to watch the latest mandarin movie IP MAN starring Donnie Yen. (It's Mistress ANG's favourite martial arts actor)
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On 20 Dec (Saturday), we joined Kiet's paternal grandpa and grandma for dinner followed by a snowy evening at The Jewel Box. Master ANG remembered that it was more than 30 years ago since the last time his parents brought him to Mount Faber for his 1st cable car ride. Hence this trip to Mount Faber, he wanted to rekindle that cable car memory, but this time, it's their son who brought them back for the ride instead! - Yup, I know, that's how lovely my Master ANG is.
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Not long, Sunday arrives before us. We spent most of our time at home lazing, recuperating and sorting out the last few Christmas presents. We also tidied the house and cooked simple fare before a brand new week awaits us.
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Setting goals

Sipping my cup of coffee away after putting dear son to sleep.

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The night breeze gets more chilly these days as year end sets in, a hot and now turning cold coffee is absolutely necessary to keep me warm and awake while browsing the net.

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The thought about setting goals come into my mind. Just last year also around the December month, I was trying to set new goals for the new year 2008 with Daddy over our retreat. Somehow, I do realise that most of the goals were not fulfilled and I'm still dangling feeling nothing much achieved - probably we did stike it right in some other areas I hope.

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So, just what would I like to expect of myself? I'm really keen to find it out as I don't want to have the idea of where the year went and blink, you missed it all over feeling again year after year.

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Having settled down for so many years, one do gets weary but it's not a good excuse to run away from the commitment and obligations of course. So, instead of running and hiding when the feeling of weariness and tiredness sets in, why not convert it to turbo-powered goal? haha.....sounds so funny....but I think it's all in one's mind. It's YOUR CHOICE how you want the story to start and ends.

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So don't keep telling your mind that you cannot achieve your goals. Start to tell yourself that when you don't do anything at all, it is as good as not achieving your goals.....to start with.

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Now get your buttocks working!

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Happy Hatch Day Uncle HOW

Today's public holiday made it possible for the gang to gather for lunch this afternoon to celebrate Mr HOW's birthday.

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We had a simple vegetarian lunch followed by cake cutting over coffee session at Uncle Philip's place.

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The cake was yummy........Aunty Allison brought it from Bengawan Solo.

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The children had it better - they watched Madagascar 2! In no time, everyone left Uncle Philip's place for home.........the children need to nap you see.....hahaha...

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Oh, not forgetting to wish Mr HOW - Happy Hatch Day!

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SUN DAY

was sunny and humid for us to bear.

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Hence we decided to drop by the library after our morning prayer at the temple.

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It was exciting for Kiet as this marked his first official library visit where we observed that he picks out books to read on his own - quietly.

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We remember during his earlier years, he'll be running around the library premises with Mummy or Daddy chasing after him. To him at that time, it was pure fun.

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This time to the library, we can tell that he's enjoying the books much more.

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It's time - to nurture our young reader. He is obviously ready.

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Bolt

Mummy's company arranged for its' staff movie screening - BOLT on Thursday evening at Lido 2.

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After work, Mummy picked the 2 children (Kiet and Poh Ong) from their school and daddy from home to meet up with Aunty Allison in town.

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All of us had dinner before the movie adventures of the cute white dog starts.
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Kiet enjoyed the movie very much. After the screening, he even wanted Daddy to buy him a white puppy.....haa.....our silly boy! Before we headed home, we had a cuppa coffee at the Mcdonald's joint near Shaw Tower to end our day. The long weekend is due to start shortly!! Yipee............!!

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On this last day of November

.........dear son woke up slightly past 9am this Sunday morning and requested to have his breakfast.

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Mummy hence got his bluey IKEA table setup and he was enjoying a chocolate donut shortly. (His gu gu had brought the donut for him yesterday).

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Seeing that dear son had well settled himself to the breakfast, Mummy then left the table to prepare a coffee and snack for herself in the kitchen. When she returned to the table shortly, she found her boy indulging and looking like this!!!

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It was absolutely hilarious and Mummy quickly brought him to a mirror. Mummy's laughter must have tickled him so much that he also started laughing at himself.

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It's really how much he enjoys the chocolate eh? Ha ha..........

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We got him cleaned up after breakfast and the entertainment kicks in. Mummy loaded the Madagascar 2 website on her lappy and the trailers kept dear son well entertained. He was enjoying the Move it Move it MTV and even particularly liked the scene of Moto-Moto walking up to hitch with Gloria - opppssss.......that's quite a mature 4 year old here......

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Home-cooked lunch was served at half-past noon - upon dear son's request again. We ate rice mixed with carrot/pork stew and japanese nato beans! It was so yummy.........both of us finished our lunch.

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After washing up and a bottle of milk-milk, dear son is now well settled down having his regular nap time while it's Mummy's very own opportunity for her reading and leisure......kekeke.......Mummies do deserve a break isn't it?

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What is the office coming to?

The media always reminds bloggers to avoid mentioning issues, affairs and names of your bosses, office politics and where you work for.

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I jolly well know it.

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However, I'll still like to 'vent' my frustrations and announce that it's a XXXX stressful day at work today.

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Why??!!??

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Due to the in-efficiency of others - Of Course. Ewwwwwrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

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Eric Carle's favourites

This is it.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed-up Chameleon by award-winning children's book illustrator and writer, Eric Carle, retold on stage in the dark.

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It's the very reason why we're on our way to the Victoria Theatre this morning. Yippee!!

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There were a lot of children with their parents at the theatre entrance when we arrived. To avoid being squeezed among the crowd, both of us headed straight into the theatre for our seats since the performance is due to start in about 5-10 minutes time.

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We got settled down, geared the dear son on a booster seat and the show started quite shortly. All the young audience were mesmerised. Their eyes were glued to the stage while they name out the animals, objects and colours!

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Dear son enjoyed himself for the whole 45 minutes. He was rather reluctant at first (perhaps being afraid of very loud and dark environment) but was engaged quite immediately like the other children after the show started. On the whole, it was a great and engaging performance by the Canadian puppeteers from Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia!

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For those who had missed the performance, Mummy had managed to take a little sneak from her mobile.......hehehe. A better video (promotional) may be found here: http://www.mermaidtheatre.ns.ca/repertory/vhc_video_med.shtml

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I Like to Move it Move it

Yeah.......the Madagascar sequel returns to town!

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Children, mum and dad's all time favourite and now this adorable animation is back in town........opens in all theatres on 13 November 2008.

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Before we sneak on the real thing, say how about a preview of the Music Video?

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母亲一生的八个谎话

母亲一生的八个谎话
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让天下的孩子都知道世界上最伟大的就是母亲！

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儿时，小男孩家很穷，吃饭时，饭常常不够吃，母亲就把自己碗里的饭分给孩子吃。母亲说，孩子们，快吃吧，我不饿！―― 母亲撒的第一个谎。

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男孩长身体的时候，勤劳的母亲常用周日休息时间去县郊农村河沟里捞些鱼来给孩子们补钙。鱼很好吃，鱼汤也很鲜。孩子们吃鱼的时候，母亲就在一旁啃鱼骨头，用舌头舔鱼骨头上的肉渍。男孩心疼，就把自己碗里的鱼夹到母亲碗里，请母亲吃鱼。母亲不吃，母亲又用筷子把鱼夹回男孩的碗里。母亲说，孩子，快吃吧，我不爱吃鱼！―― 母亲撒的第二个谎。
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上初中了，为了缴够男孩和哥姐的学费，当缝纫工的母亲就去居委会领些火柴盒拿回家来，晚上糊了挣点分分钱补点家用。有个冬天，男孩半夜醒来，看到母亲还躬着身子在油灯下糊火柴盒。男孩说，母亲，睡了吧，明早您还要上班呢。母亲笑笑，说，孩子，快睡吧，我不困！―― 母亲撒的第三个谎。

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高考那年，母亲请了假天天站在考点门口为参加高考的男孩助阵。时逢盛夏，烈日当头，固执的母亲在烈日下一站就是几个小时。考试结束的铃声响了，母亲迎上去递过一杯用罐头瓶泡好的浓茶叮嘱孩子喝了，茶亦浓，情更浓。望着母亲干裂的嘴唇和满头的汗珠，男孩将手中的罐头瓶反递过去请母亲喝。母亲说，孩子，快喝吧，我不渴！―― 母亲撒的第四个谎。

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父亲病逝之后，母亲又当爹又当娘，靠着自己在缝纫社里那点微薄收入含辛茹苦拉扯着几个孩子，供他们念书，日子过得苦不堪言。胡同路口电线杆下修表的李叔叔知道后，大事小事就找岔过来打个帮手，搬搬煤，挑挑水，送些钱粮来帮补男孩的家里。人非草木，孰能无情。左邻右舍对此看在眼里，记在心里，都劝母亲再嫁，何必苦了自己。然而母亲多年来却守身如玉，始终不嫁，别人再劝，母亲也断然不听，母亲说，我不爱！――母亲撒的第五个谎。

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男孩和她的哥姐大学毕业参加工作后，下了岗的母亲就在附近农贸市场摆了个小摊维持生活。身在外地工作的孩子们知道后就常常寄钱回来补贴母亲，母亲坚决不要，并将钱退了回去。母亲说，我有钱！――母亲撒的第六个谎。

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男孩留校任教两年，后又考取了美国一所名牌大学的博士生，毕业后留在美国一家科研机构工作,待遇相当丰厚，条件好了，身在异国的男孩想把母亲接来享享清福却被老人回绝了。母亲说，我不习惯！―― 母亲撒的第七个谎。

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晚年，母亲患了胃癌，住进了医院，远在大西洋彼岸的男孩乘飞机赶回来时，术后的母亲已是奄奄一息了。母亲老了，望着被病魔折磨得死去活来的母亲，男孩悲痛欲绝，潸然泪下。母亲却说，孩子，别哭，我不疼。―― 母亲撒的第八个谎 。

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不论你多富有, 不管你官多大, 到什么时候也离不开咱的妈....

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愿天下父母平安度春秋.....................珍惜母亲的每一个谎言, 好好的对待父母, 很多东西, 失去后才得来的珍贵代价太大。所以一定要好好的爱我们的父母。

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如果我還一直深愛著你...你是否還會待在我身邊?如果我還一直在乎著你....你是否會再多看我一眼? 是否我已不存在了...你才感覺的到我的離開?是否我已離開了....你才感覺的到我對你的好?

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~ 在此祝福全天下父母平安度春秋~

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Makana Chocolates

One of our colleague returned from her 14 days NZ trip recently.

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Flown back along with her, were some very fresh and yummilicious hand-made chocolates from NZ that got all of us in the office very excited and in indulgence with.

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The brand is known as Makana Confections.

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It's pure bliss and it makes you relaxed after popping a mouth of it..........the Butter Toffees....hmmmm.....yummy.......tasty!

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I want to order & ship some over!!!

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4th Birthday preparation

How time flies! Dear Son's 4th birthday is just around the corner - in another 2 weeks!

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How exciting. As mummy's sweetheart turns 4, another new stage of in life unveals while he advances into his kinder years next year.

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Sometimes, this mummy wishes that her boy remains a little infant but on the other note, she can't wait for him to grow up soon. Contradictive yeah? Haha, I guess life is a contradiction itself.

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Preparations are already ongoing since a month ago for his little birthday celebration in school. Unlike last year, we're not opting for Macdonald's theme this time. Dear son is now in love with Pocoyo hence we adopted Pocoyo theme for his birthday cake. Goodie bags will not include food items in view of the china diairy issues.

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It would definitely be a simple school celebration for him and his own classmates. Hah.......with those adorable children.

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Canon 50D

This Saturday started slow and easy as usual since Daddy just turned in (returned from his night shift). However not long after, Daddy woke up and suggested that we go out for breakfast.
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We had our simple prata egg breakfast and went out to pray at the Thai temple. Since we did not intend to go out later (as we do recognise that a lot of people are down with cough/fever/flu etc), we brought some fresh produce at the neighbourhood NTUC to prepare for our dinner-fare.

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We invited our good friend Chris over for dinner tonight since she was available and it's been some time since she last dropped by our place. Chris recently purchased a new Canon SLR (as standby camera) for her jobs and she was so kind to bring it along with her; for us to take a look and 'play' with it - using our dear son as our model..........haa haa.

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We ate our dinner and got down to play with the 50D. Gosh, we must admit that Canon's shutter really work very fast (when compared to our Nikon). It's able to react instantaneously to our button press and the pictures we took really look vibrant!

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Just let the pictures do the talking.........Yeah, we swear there's no photoshop tricks used in the pictures here.....simply the cam plus well adjusted flash mode.

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Wooooooooo.........very in love with Canon SLR now..........

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Happy Halloween!

Yeah, it's Halloween again;
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In Singapore, our children do not go door to door in their costumes begging for treats and playing pranks. It's most commonly another usual day unless you're attending a Halloween Party at some clubs in the evening. Our children will be hidden behind closed doors in our culture here. (haa haa.....)

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Today happens to be a Friday and most of us are in good spirits (cos' weekend is around the corner!!!). Out of fun/education, we'll usually try to celebrate festivities and get dear son to participate hoping he will enjoy the experience as much as we do.

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As he is still a little young to understand and celebrate Halloween, we did not deliberately purchase any merchandise this year. Perhaps when he is older, we can elaborate and explain this 'holiday' to him.
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For those who are attending a Halloween party, Have a great 万圣节 nevertheless!

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COFFEE been?

I hope most of us have not miss out the October treats from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

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It's their 45th anniversary apparently hence special treats were thrown every Wednesday in the October month. It's just too bad I keep missing out their Wednesday offers due to some reason or another......but for the fun of it, tomorrow's the last day to catch it!

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We're leaving town

in another few hours.

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Another self-drive short trip up the City of Entertainment ourselves. Away from the recent financial and commodities buzz..............the family just want to stay away.......have some peace, be entertained and feast like there's no tomorrow.

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Haa...........we just wanted a short break from work honestly....that's all. Wish us a safe and enjoyable trip!

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My Family

OK.

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Now, this (shyless) mama is going to show her dear son's drawing to everyone - for a chuckle.

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The impression is so cute; drawn out of an innocent 4 year old of his dad, mum, himself and his dear friend Poh Ong.

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From the left, his dad - according to dear son while drawing, dad has a pair of small eyes, big stomach and short hair while his mama, big eyes, small stomach and long long hair (is it ?!?........haa haa)

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Next, dear son drew of himself - he was mumbling that he is smaller (compared to dad and mum), with short hair and small stomach. Standing next to him is Poh Ong. He did not elaborate why he added so much 'hair' onto Poh Ong's head (when mummy asked him) but he was happily adding those 'hair' during the colouring process (**scratch head**)

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Well, this is it, my child's master-piece, signed off by him.

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