My Grandma

My grandma first got admitted into hospital about a month ago after she was vomitting and had diarrhea for 4 days. We thought it was a case of gastroenteritis. She was discharged a week later only to be admitted again two weeks later. This time she complained of constipation and a constant nausea.

A day after she was admitted we were told that there is a large amount of water in her chest cavity and her lungs and they had to drain the fluid. I was told that they managed to drain out 1500 MLS of water. I thought that was all, that she will be well after that and be back to the senile little old lady that she had become after she had dementia.

Yesterday, I was told that cancerous cells has been found in the fluid that was drained from her chest cavity. After all the scans and tests, we were told that its the last stage of cervical cancer and that it has spread tbroughout her body.

We are now giving her palliative care and she is expected to leave anytime. I'm comforted that she has lived to be in her eighties and has lived to see her great grandchild. Now I can only pray that we will get the chance to sat our last goodbyes.

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I Finally Did It

I have moved back to my mom's place. I have finally decides that its enough.

I finally came to realise that he can never change. No matter how harsh or how sweet I am to him, it doesn't matter because he will never change. I have finally snapped. My friend advised that he could be like that because of a psychological problem. How can any one person not feeling any guilt after being caught? Anyway that's all in the past. I'm gonna pick up and move on.

I'm now looking for a childcare for Larissa near my mom's place. After I settle her, I will go to legal aid to settle our divorce.

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One Last Thank You

On the 8th of May, I came down to Potong Pasir to take meet people from Singapore People's Party's Facebook group to walk around the area and take some photographs before the town changes for good.

Soon after, I went to Blk 121 where the Town Council was where we waited for Mr. and Mrs. Chiam.

I really don't know what to type anymore.The sadness is overwhelming. Let the pictures do the talking.

 

I know that it is highly possible that the petition for a by-election will not go through. Just let them try, no harm giving it a try. At least they tried. 

The End of An Era?

I was there at Block 136 Potong Pasir Ave 1 on Saturday night itself when the results were being announced. Although I felt unwell, I felt that I had to go. This is the town of my hero, I want to be there to celebrate his or rather, his wife's win. I already knew that he had lost Bishan-Toa Payoh to Wong Kan Seng, I wanted to be there to show support.

I reached there at about 2.15am, after I have fed my girl and made sure that she will not be up until I'm back. As I was walking towards the coffeeshop, I can see people gathering and the results are being announced. Sadly, Mrs Chiam had lost Potong Pasir to Seetoh by a slight margin of 0.7% which is about 110 votes! The crowd started jeering at Seetoh and then they cheered for Mr Chiam. All you can hear is, "Potong Pasir, Chiam See Tong!"

We waited for the Singapore People's Party to make their way back to Potong Pasir. As they arrived, people crowded around their lorry and cheered for them. Shouts of, "Kelong" can be heard as they do not accept the fact. A man who has done his all for Potong Pasir for 27 years, one cannot believe he would be let down like that.

Mr. Chiam sat in the front passenger seat of the lorry quietly with his daughter while Mrs. Chiam addressed the media and the crowd. I walked to the front and his window was winded down, giving me a chance to shake his hand and I told him my whole family voted for him and we loved him. I couldn't help but start tearing at the moment. He was so quiet, you can feel how heartbroken he was. Even as I'm typing this, tears come to my eyes when I think of what I saw that night. 

Look at the crowd!

The atmosphere was electrifying! Everyone was shouting for Chiam See Tong and Lina Chiam. None of us can believe that they had lost their stronghold of Potong Pasir. After 27 years, is this how they repaid Mr. Chiam for his effort? Sighs. I have friends who live in Potong Pasir and she asked me why should she vote for Potong Pasir when the place is so run down and that there is no facilities. I guess the carrot dangled to Potong Pasir has finally worked. However, I proceeded to explain to her what Mr. Chiam has done for Potong Pasir and the obstacles that he met. Another apathetic youth who only cares for upgrading. Sighs. 

A Potong Pasir resident, Vas, decided that she is not going to take this without a fight and decided to ask the residents to gather at Blk 108 Potong Pasir on 8th May, 4pm to sign a petition so as to get a by election, a re-vote and so I decided that I will go down on the 8th to support the petition.

I stayed until Mrs.Chiam left at about 4am before making my way home with tears in my eyes. 

Democracy by Langston Huges

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right 
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet 
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say, 
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you. 

I am a Polling Agent!

Yesterday, I went down to Blk 108 Potong Pasir where we, volunteers for Singapore People's Party, were gathered for a briefing and registration to become Polling Agents for the upcoming General Elections.


This is the void deck where Mr. Chiam See Tong conducts his Meet-The-People sessions. This is my first time stepping into Potong Pasir. Is Potong Pasir a slum? Definitely not!

I also saw for myself, the infamous place where Mr. Chiam held his weekly Meet-the-People sessions

It makes one wonder why is he treated with such prejudice. Especially in a country like Singapore. Isn't our government supposed to be uncorrupted? Then why is he denied the fundings and the chance to build a proper office? They say a picture paints a thousand words, I am no professional photographer but can you feel the pain I feel?

This is where the residents wait for their turn to meet Mr. Chiam

“I make no apologies that the PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP.”
- Lee Kuan Yew, Petir, 1982




I don't know about you but the above statement makes me feel that they are a big bully, that they are very certain that they are above all. Is this really what democracy is about? Sighs.


Lets end this post on a lighter note.


Singapore People's Party is still on the lookout for more Polling Agents and Counting Agents to join them. Do spread the word to your friends, better still volunteer yourself! There will be 2 shifts, either 8am to 2pm or 2pm to 8pm at a polling both (you can choose which one) on May 7 itself. Please email Chee Peng  with the following details:-


Name (as in NRIC)
NRIC No
Date of issue of NRIC
Mobile Number
E-mail address
Residential Address (to aid assignment of polling agents)


I do hope that this General Election will be the turning point for Singapore. Majulah Singapura!

My Hero - Mr. Chiam See Tong

As the General Election 2011 is just around the corner, I would like to dedicate a post to Mr. Chiam See Tong, Secretary-General to the Singapore People's Party. IMO, he is the unsung hero of Singapore.

1976 – contested unsuccessfully as Independent Candidate at Cairnhill Constituency against Mr. Lim Kim San Minster for National Development and Communications.

1979 – Took part in by-election also as independent candidate at Potong Pasir. Lost to Mr. How Yoong Chong, Minster for Defence designate.

September 1980 – Together with friends formed the Singapore Democratic Party.

December 1980 – Contested unsuccessfully at Potong Pasir. Again lost to Mr. How Yoong Chong, Minister for Defence. Obtained 40% votes.

December 1984 – Contested at Potong Pasir as a SDP Candidate at Potong Pasir. Won with 60% majority vote.

September 1988 – Returned again at Potong Pasir Constituency with 63%. 31.08.1991 – Elected third time to Parliament, Potong Pasir constituency with 69.3% votes casted.

17th of December 1996 – Elected Secretary-General of Singapore People’s Party (SPP).

2nd of January 1997 – Elected fourth time to Parliament, Constituency of Potong Pasir as a Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate with 54.3% votes polled

2001 – Elected fifth time to Parliament, Constituency of Potong Pasir as a Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate with 54.3% votes polled.

2006 – Elected six time to Parliament, Constituency of Potong Pasir as a Singapore People’s Party (SPP) candidate with 54.3% votes polled.

For 27 years, he has slogged hard to conduct his Meet-the-People session at void decks. He is denied of funds to build a proper place but we can see his determination and dedication from the aluminum sheets used to build his make shift office. Why would a man want to become a MP even though he understands that he has to go through so much, even being denied of funds to do every simple thing? Do you live in a PAP constituency? Have you ever seen the MPs from PAP conduct their Meet-the-People session? Its is done is a air-conditioned office. What a stark difference!

This is Mr. Chiam's office for the past 27 years

This man has been bullied for 27years how much longer are we going to let him get bullied and pushed aside by the people hamming the government of Singapore? This man here is fighting so hard for democracy. 

Have you watch Mr. Chiam See Tong in Parliament?

This was Mr. Chiam asking for Potong Pasir to be included in the upgrading program. Why was Potong Pasir not included in the HIP even when Mr. Chiam agreed that they are in agreement of the program? People of Potong Pasir, Mr. Chiam fought for you but did the Government listen?

Here is Mr. Chiam asking for curbing of the influx of foreigners by a skills shortage list and to cut down on GST. Singapore Government, are you listening or did you fall asleep listening to Mr. Chiam? He is physically weak but he is fighting for us. Singapore can you hear him?

If you are wondering why is his speech slurred, Mr. Chiam has suffered 2 strokes, the last one in 2008. It touches me to tears that a man who has suffered 2 strokes is fighting hard for democracy in Singapore. Is he fighting for fame or money? No, he is fighting because he loves Singapore! Most people at his age would have been retired and should be enjoying life but not Mr. Chiam, not until the day there is true democracy!

This is a letter sent to someone who just moved to Potong Pasir. Which PAP MP do you know does this?

This General Election, Mr. Chiam will be walking out of Potong Pasir, to contest in the Bishan-TPY GRC. He is walking out of his comfort zone and leaving Potong Pasir to his wife, Mrs. Lina Chiam. This is a very big risk for him. He might lose Potong Pasir and Bishan-TPY, and lose his seat as the only one of two Opposition in the Parliament or he could win Bishan-TPY GRC and bring in 4 other Opposition MPs into the Parliament to make the government sit up and listen to what we have to say. 

I have lived in Bishan-TPY all my life and I have NEVER met Mr. Wong Kan Seng, the current MP in charge of my constituency. Its very clear who my vote goes to. Do you live in Bishan-TPY? Who are you voting for?

Lastly, a quote from my hero, 

"When there is life there is hope, when there is hope, there will be change."

Golden Rules for Finding Your Life Partner

On this blog post, I am going to share something which was sent by email from a friend quite some time ago.

Being someone who is in a 'failing' marriage - I call it failing coz we're not divorced for the sake of Larissa - I urge all you out there who is reading my blog to spent some time reading this and thinking it through. Is he or she the one for you? Are you ready to spend the rest of your lives together? Do you see yourselves together?

Golden rules for finding your life partner by Dov Heller, M.A.

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50%, it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr./Miss. Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: "We're in love"; I believe this is the ..1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love. Though this may sound "not politically correct", there's a profound truth here.

Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: "You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone"; You need a lot more!!!

Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.

QUESTION 1: Do we share a common life purpose?

Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose.

Two things can happen in a marriage:
(1) You can grow together, or
(2)you can grow apart. 50% of the people out there are growing apart.

To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life!

Bottom line; marry someone who wants the same thing.

QUESTION 2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?

This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship.

Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust - i.e. trust that I won't get "punished"; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION 3: Is he/she a mensch?

A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ";. So ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.

There are essentially two types of people in the world:

(1) People who are dedicated to personal growth and

(2) people who are dedicated to seeking comfort.
Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

QUESTION 4: How does he/she treat other people?

The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.

Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self- absorbed?

To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation?

If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone, who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

QUESTION 5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?

Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve"; them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.

In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous.

The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself trouble because you didn't do your homework.

Another perspective...

There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.

Pay attention...Which ones lift and which ones lean?

Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?

Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?

When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?

Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know, or appreciate you?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye"; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important.

Do you bring out the best in each other?

Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?

What do you bring to the relationship?

Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?

You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life"; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.

WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG IS:

1. TRUST

2. COMMUNICATION

3. INTIMACY

4. A SENSE OF HUMOR

5. SHARING TASKS

6. SOME GETAWAY TIME WITHOUT BUSINESS OR CHILDREN

7. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, touch, notes, etc.)

8. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS

9. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE 10. GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment Withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty; and pain will replace.

We're Going to The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

18th April marks the day my ah lao turns 27 and to celebrate this day, I brought him to the Singapore Zoo!

Though Larissa and myself woke up early to prepare for our outing, it was dampened by a morning rain. We had to wait for the rain to stop before we headed out. The rain stopped at only about 10.30am and by the time by ah lao got ready, we only reached the zoo at 1pm.

Here we are, camwhoring in the cab on the way to our destination

Look alike? No?

I didnt really bother to take pictures right in front of the Zoo entrance. Damn malu leh. As if I'm a tourist leh. LOL.

Entrance was $20 per pax for admission and $5 tram rides. Larissa gets free admission as she is below 2. I'm damn stupid, paid $5 extra for the tram rides but I did not get on a single tram ride. I walk the whole journey! LOL!

Oh, and we rented a little cart at $18 for Larissa. Never Ever count on the Zoo for strollers. If you need a stroller in case your baby needs to nap, please bring your own stroller. I was there on a Monday afternoon and they have ran out of strollers already so try to imagine going there on a weekend.

Warning! This is gonna be a photo heavy post! Here goes the photos

The Cotton-Top Tamin - one of the world's most endangered primate species

Giant Turtle

Many giant turtles. heehee...

Larissa watching the turtles. 

Proboscis Monkey

Otters

The Greater Flamingo

White Handed Gibbon. Looks like its wearing a pair of gloves.

Orang Utans

This huge orang utan was lying at the corner of the glass enclosure

Larissa rides the huge turtle

Komodo Dragon

I think this is called the horned lizard

This huge dragon is about 2 meters long. Just seeing one is not scary but imagine having 10 of them coming after you. Do note, they are pretty quick on their feet and the bacteria in their saliva is enough to kill you or at least wound you so badly you can't walk. However, they are now an endangered species and can most be found on Komodo Island.

Cute little Ground Squirrels

The croc in the photo is at least 3 meters long! I wonder why they put the turtle in the enclosure with the croc.  I am very sure I have seen documentries where the croc will eat the turtle. Hmmm...maybe the croc is very well fed?

The Sun Bear

One of the smallest species of bear, it can be recognized by the U-shaped yellow marking on its chest.

Penquin

Manatees

I have previously thought that manatees are small creatures about the size of a medium dog. Never have I thought that they are huge animals! They are about 2 meters in length and very very fat! lol. No wonder they say what is see on TV is always smaller than its real size.

The Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephant is smaller than the African Elephant. You can easily differentiate the elephants by their ears. As you can see above, the Asian elephant has got small ears, the African elephant, on the other hand, has got huge ears like fans like the picture below.

Both elephants, however, are endangered. 

 

A Falabella. 

There are two types of horses on display in the Zoo at the Kidzworld, the pony and the Falabella. The bigger one that I did not take picture of, is the pony, which one will easily mistaken it for a horse. It is about our height and looks like a horse, if you have seen an adult horse before you will know that it is a pony. 

And the one in the above picture, is the Falabella. Very nice name for a horse aye?

Pls pardon my fat body. 

 

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Chimpanzees

After roaming for a while, we walked into this area where the animals are free roaming.

This bird was just right at my feet.

So are these ducks, right at my feet.

Free roaming lemurs!

I don't know what is this called. It was also free roaming and it just sat there. I wanted to touch it but decided not too.

These bats are huge! Their wingspan is at least 50 cm!

The lioness

 When we got to the lions, Larissa fell asleep in her little trolley. As it did not have any support, she almost fell a few times, thus we decided to head home.

As Larissa is still very young, she is unable to understand much of the knowledge I would love to impart to her. I will bring her again when she is older and teach her all that I know.

Last shot at the zoo

 And finally, camwhore shots in the cab on our way home.

One afterthought I had after visiting the zoo is how wonderful it would be if we are able to see these animals in the wild. I feel kinda sad for these animals, if we were able to protect their habitat, they can live in the wild. 

Let do our part to save the environment.