My version of Monday blues start on Tuesdays....

My Beautiful Boy - 19 Months Old

April 2009


His No. 1 daily activity - 'drawing' with his crayons at home




At the Tiong Bahru sand playground



Posing at home with his fave 'animals' - March 2009

Kids

As we mature, we filter things.
Things that we may have been open to before.
Things that we weren't so cynical about before.
Things that we probably had more time for before.
At one point, I guess...we inevitably filter even our friends.

Anyway.

I was with Marco at the waterfront again today.
It was a really HOT morning... i mean, the sun was just blazing, wasn't it?
We ventured out, and I almost regretted coming out at all, promising to bring him to see his trains and ships.
But God had other plans - I spotted a nice spacious shady area, with seats!
And so we just sat there, both of us, looking out to the waters, the ferries passing by, and awaiting the trains that come by every 5 mins or so.

I thought to myself, how lovely is this moment?
How lovely and sweet can life be?
How much I cherish these simple times and appreciate having him in my life.
How much more of these do I have?

We always think about how much we do for our children, our sacrifices, our pains, our effort.
But don't they do just as much for us, unwittingly so?
Don't they show you what's really important in life?
Don't they provide a haven for your troubled soul?
Don't they show you what's key and what's not?
Don't they bring you back a lil, from all the excesses of before?
Don't they love you openly and in that big-hearted way only kids can?
Don't they re-prioritise your life from what you thought you wanted?

I have friends who openly proclaim they hate kids.
They never want kids, never want to have anything to do with them, period.

Isn't that sad? Saying these with such conviction even before having tried being around kids.
To approach life and things with such a closed mind?
Ironically, these are the very people that need to be around kids.
To learn from the lil ones how to open their hearts, minds and eyes.
To remember what they were before they had an education and income.

Just Another Work Day

Hung out with some colleagues at The Screening Room last nite.
Totally impromptu, but so glad I went.
Nice rooftop bar, nice drinks but go early... it fills up so fast.

And dropped by my fave bookshop just across the road - Books Actually.
Nice lil book haven tucked away at Ann Siang Hill.
Lots of vintage stuff, fogey cameras, quaint lovely paper things, and of cos, tomes of books.
I bought some nice postcards of 80s Singapore... the Singapore of my childhood.
Very tempted to get all the old old stuff... i'm a complete sucker for nostalgia.

So, altogether, a very interesting Friday nite.
Who would have thought? I went to work with absolutely no plans for the evening.

And also, CNBC is 20!
Yes, 20 years old, this fogey network.
We did a bash of sorts in the office, absolutely hilarious.
Game show quiz of CNBC trivia, lucky draw, full buffet lunch, cake-cutting, video spoofs of the newsroom and anchors from 20 years ago... it was a total laugh-fest.
If you'd caught the shows yesterday, you'd have seen some of those throwbacks on air!
It's these silly stuff that brings a lil joy to work, no?

Church

Oddly enough, Terence went to church with me yesterday.
You have no idea what this gesture meant to me.
That he loved me enough to not just accept me, but accept my faith, my God.
No, not that he converted to Christianity, but he was open to the idea, open enough not to condemn/reject it, open enough to go along, see for himself, and just go with an open mind.
Very mature.

I, of course, have not been there for a good couple years.
I used to think, I'm a believer.
I don't need to go to church to believe. I can worship and honour God by myself, in my home, or just about anywhere, anytime.
Besides, I'm not a fan of the loud accoustics / band music etc at church.
All i want is a good service, a good minister, to hear the Pastor speak.

But as in many things, I was wrong.
The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of Christ.
It's a time-honoured tradition to set aside sacred Sunday for God, and who was I to discredit that? To think that I don't need to go to church?

I'm glad i was there, with my husband.

Love the styling on this.
Simple print, lovely colour, fantastic belts idea.
If you saw this dress lying around on its own, i'm pretty i'll give it a pass.
But presto... i'll pinch myself when i see this picture later.


Took a sick day from work today.
I struggled in yesterday despite having the flu, a bad throat and a sour temper.
One day was about all i could muster.
By the end of it, I knew i'm not coming in the next day.
There's just something about offices that makes you feel more sick than you do.
Is it the air? The dirt? Or, gasp, the people?!!

Anyway, staying home today, i feel like i've recovered!





Another hit - the new cupcakes debut at Bakerz Inn are absolutely delicious.
And pretty too.
I tried one couple days back and it was a melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
Typically Bakerz Inn with its fluffy texture, rich cream that felt so deceivingly airy-light and totally yumz.
Definitely going back for more and letting my sis try it.

Sanctuary House

Where me & Marco are going tomorrow afternoon:

*******

Sanctuary for little ones
by Dewi Sriwahyuto
(First published in myPaper - April 3 2009)


AT FIRST glance, little Ben looked every inch a normal seven-week-old baby with curly hair and rosy cheeks.
But a day after his birth, he had chicken pox. Two weeks later, doctors found a foreign object in his brain but could not explain how it got there. And just last week, he was found to have a thyroid condition.

The infant, who was abandoned by his 14-year-old mother, is cared for by Sanctuary House, the only charity in Singapore that takes in unwanted babies like Ben, according to its programme director, Mr Noel Tan.
In just three months this year, it has accepted 12 babies – slightly over half the total number of 21 babies it took in last year.
The welfare organisation stressed that it is not encouraging promiscuity, but is instead focused on giving the abandoned children a better future.
Mr Tan, 39, said: “A lot of girls who find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy don’t come forward (to us). That is why we have cases of babies being dumped in lockers and rubbish chutes.”

Abandoning a baby, he said, is not only a serious offence, but a moral issue too.
“Instead of dumping them, come to us, because we will care for the babies and do anything to save them,” he said.

He added that one reason why young girls are not coming forward is because they fear their boyfriends would be taken to court for having sex with a minor.
Mr Tan has two full-time employees and about 30 volunteers who act as the babies’ foster parents.

The charity provides everything for the infants it looks after, from diapers to milk powder and prams. It even hands these items to the people who adopt the children.
“All I ask from the adoptive parents is to love the baby,” said Mr Tan.

The charity needs up to $350,000 a year to cover transportation and maintenance fees, hospital bills and materials for the babies.
Those who need help or wish to volunteer can contact Sanctuary House on 6221-0588 or 9817-0588.

4th Anniversary --2009

The anniversary got more subdued than we planned for.
Cos Marco was seriously ill. Sigh.
Cancelled the massage cos I had to be back earlier.

We managed to sneak in a pretty good lunch at Holland V, followed by a trip just walking around in town.
I love my husband.
I guess... if the day came again where he asked me to marry him, I'll still do it.

And he gave me a ring!

Buy less; but buy better

Sneaked in 2 hours of shopping late yesterday, at the price of a company event that i bailed out of.
Oh well, it was yet another farewell vs ...I just desperately needed to hit the shops.
Bought a Korean silk dress from a dresses-only boutique at Far East.
Finally.
Ever since the K-invasion at Far East Plaza, i've yet to purchase a single item from the usually overpriced, too-sweetie-pie range.
But yesterday's silk dress was hardly fluff... interesting cut that i do not have, luxe silk that feels great against the skin, in prints for once (realised most of my stuff are single colour blocs...so boring) and in a suprising shade of pastel-ish green.

Erm, this also means I now have like... 5-6 un-worn dresses in my wardrobe now, all waiting for the right occasion to pop!

And for the record, I'll just like to say that I have enough of cheap clothes.
Honestly, i need to remind myself that.
Is this part of getting old? Where badly-made clothes frustrate me?
I mean, i used to wear 'This Fashion' outlet stuff in school.
But seriously, no more.
This means no more poorly tailored stuff, stuff that don't last beyond a year, cranky, off-centre heels. Yes, especially the shoes.
I just hate it. And am now orchestrating a shoe overhaul. Just not worth the frustration.

Not that i'm going designer right away, but there's certainly wisdow in that saying:
Buy less, but buy better.


*********************


Up at 7am this morning.
Usually the time to go running, if i'm ever up at this hour.
But today's different.
Marco's coughing woke me up.
He was having a blistering cough all night. I sooo feel his pain.
That wretched dry pain in the throat from all that effort to cough.
He even vomitted some milk out, due to the violent upheavals.
Heal him God.

Today is also the 4th anniversary of me & Terence.
We've planned half a day together, just hanging out with each other & basically doing nothing much.
I know he's planned lunch; I planned a massage session.
We get to do this, like... 2-3 times a year max.
And only if my mum's kind enough to look after Marco for the day, skipping all her errands/gym.
Seriously looking forward to it.

I do miss the us that used to be.
Where everyday was like that, hitting town, enjoying ourselves, hanging out, eating at great places, feeling young and commitment-free.
Now, we've got a mortgage, a kid and 1.5 jobs betweens the 2 of us.

But also an amazing son, a warmer extended family (funny how babies bring EVERYONE together), combined upsized savings account. our own sanctuary and glorious Sundays.
Fair enough.

Appraisal - April 2009

I was in for a surprise when i arrived at work today.
My boss casually asked, matter-of-factly, "Wanna do your EMS (appraisal) today?"
No prior appointments; no hint of it the day before...

Well, i guess you don't really need to be prepared for these things.
But at the very least, I figured i need to know what i want out of this job, lest i say something dumb like "anything lor".
And so we met.
Just the 2 of us in a huge conference room.
Nothing like a closed-door affair to make one nervous.

There's so much to talk about, which i've kinda avoided.
When exactly am I returning to full-time work?
What are my plans? Do i want to stay on this desk forever or move on to another area within the organisation? etc etc etc.

I felt encouraged by the whole talk.
You'll be glad to know i received an excellent appraisal, far better than I thought.
:)
I was touched, hahah.
With me working 3 days a week, she could have easily skimmed mine or kept it succinct.
But she went the full length and I appreciated it.
The kind intentions behind it.

She even let me have my pick of work schedule when i do want to return to full-time work.
Like if i prefer the morning/mid-day/noon or late shifts.
That's super kind--I don't think i ever had that kinda option from any boss before.

So yes, all in all, a great chat with my immediate boss.
She's a great person, extremely rare in my office of wily foxes and werewolves.
A nice boss, thoughtful, understanding and supportive.

It's easy to throw in the towel and move on when it comes to jobs.
At least for me.
But there's something about this place that is a keeper.
Yes, despite the torrid politicking.

For one, it's family-friendly.... i still have yet to hear of another company that offers it employees a flexi work schedule when she has kids.
For another, there's different areas to explore once I get bored.
I'm not chained to my desk and in fact, bosses here encourage us to try new skills, learn new stuff, move around the food chain.

Also, my big boss right at the top is humane and decent, even if he is sickeningly drawn to the politics. I guess he has to be in the game. But outside of that, he is alright and approachable.
It was him, after all, who approved my current work schedule.
And I do have some pretty decent colleagues - those who are not into the sick politics.
Some of them are down-to-earth folks who are great at their jobs; make good mentors.

Perhaps it also helps that we are such a key global news network: I'm really at the forefront of business news, and daily work can get pretty exciting. The resources and reputation precede the product almost; I'm constantly amazed at the quality put out.
CNA? A galaxy away.

But of course, I also face the ugly side of things everyday.
The politicking aside, it's hard to 'climb the ladder' in this place.
Most people are dying for a promotion that is not forthcoming.
They are not generous like that.
And of course, like the news we put out, the politicking is world-class as well.
So advanced that I'm not even half in it -- way too sophisticated for my lil' pea brain.

So there.
My job in a nutshell.