Anything Under the Sun

PREVENT Facebook from Using Your Information

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Mon, 28 May 2012 19:03:00 +0000

I just received this notification from a friend.
Whether true or not, it is still good to take this step.
This was the message I received:

"On Friday, Facebook will start using your photos in ads targetting your contacts and FB friends. It is legal and was mentioned to you when you opened an account.

To PREVENT this, do the following:

Account Settings (top right arrow [drop down])

-> Facebook Ads (left side last option)

-> Edit third party ad settings

-> Choose "NO ONE"

-> Save Changes"

My Facebook Account Has Been Locked!

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sun, 27 May 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Just 10mins ago, I was happily tagging my boys on the photos, we took at the Army Open House @ Our City 2012, which I uploaded onto my Facebook account.
Suddenly, I was interrupted by this RUDE message, popped up saying that I need to re-login before I could continue my task.

After re-login, there was a series of messages after messages asking me to verify my Facebook Account.

Hey! I'd answered ALL questions correctly, but it still refused to let me assess my account and THIS came out at the end of it all:

Anyone??!!!
Anyone out there knows what REALLY worked???!!!
I tried using the methods shown on YouTube, but errrrmmmmm.......NOT WORKING!

*Scream*

I am NOT done with my photo uploading and tagging!!!

Humph!

Song Sharing Sunday #175 - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going ~ Jennifer Holiday & Jessica Sanchez

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:26:00 +0000

I feel so much for Jessica Sanchez!
So incredibly talented!
So young!
Why wasn't she crowned the American Idol Season11???
*sad*

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going ~ Jennifer Holiday & Jessica Sanchez

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

We Found Our House On First Day of House-Hunting!

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:45:00 +0000

Amazing!
Everything is going as we had planned!
Many said our plan was unrealistic.
I told them that NOTHING is impossible.

Hundreds of years ago
Who would think that they can fly in the air?!
But look at what we have now,
Planes of all sorts are zooming through the clouds.

Hubby and I are very simple people
And over the years of managing our retail business
We have changed.
We have learned to become decisive.
We have learned that when an opportunity comes, we grab.
We have learned that every second count and procrastination is not an option.

So what did we plan?

Back in November 2011...
We planned to sell our house by December ~ late by one month: Sold in January
We planned to finalise a rental unit by February ~ we did: thank you to the wonderful ladies
We planned to get a confirmation on the bank loan by May ~ we achieved.
We planned to find a house by June ~ we found a house TODAY, 20th May 2012!!!!
We planned to complete the transaction by October ~ the seller MUST complete by 9th October!
We planned to do renovation in November ~ achievable now!
We planned to move from our rental unit to our NEW house during December school holidays ~ achievable now!

Hip Hip Hooray!
LOA indeed!

Hubby and I were still a little upset that we could not start our house hunting yesterday, Saturday, because I had a course to attend to in the afternoon, which clashes with the house-viewing timings.

Hubby, being in the property line, knows all the right steps and did all the due diligence.
We were all geared up to find our house today.
6 houses to view
and we FOUND IT!

We found our house on first day of house-hunting!
Amazing!

It was so clean and neat and sparkling!
No joke
Not exaggerating
the floor tiles and the wall tiles of the kitchen were really sparkling clean!
Sad to say,
we have our own ideas of what our house should look like already; even before we sold our old house!
*laugh*

So everything has to go.
Nothing will be kept.

We are so excited about everything that is to come and will come for the rest of 2012!
My heart is dancing, I think its doing tap-dance!
Its so loud!
*laugh*

Song Sharing Sunday #174 - Our Favourite KTV Love Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:58:00 +0000

*laugh*
Yes, there are NO such song title but I do not know what should I put. *bleh*

During our dating days, we loved to go KTV.
We are not great singers, but we just love to sing to our hearts content in that small private room.
No need to worry about embarrassment when we sang out of tune.
*giggle*

We have this long list of songs which we will DEFINITELY sing whenever we step into the KTV room.
AAaaawww.... those were fun times.
Hhhmm.... we have not been to KTV for more than a decade already!

Yesterday, we celebrated our 12th Anniversary!
Shared my thoughts on what kept us going strong in this marriage on this post "Happy 12th Anniversary, Dearie!"

So for today's post, I decided to let my hubby choose the song to share and he chose these two songs from the long list of duet songs.

I was torn between these two songs. I do not know which one to post for this week's Song Sharing Sunday.
In the end, my hubby said, "Cannot Both meh?!"
"Can, can, can...." I laughed.

So granting my hubby's wish, today I'll be posting two songs instead of one:

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

你最珍贵 --- 张学友 , 高慧君

AND

制造浪漫 --- 郑中基 , 陈慧琳

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Happy 12th Anniversary, Dearie! (and what Kept Us Going Strong)

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Every year, I will take time to do a blog post on this special day.
This year, my heart is filled with gratefulness.
I recalled what it was like 14 years ago...

I loved his smile
I loved his mannerism
I loved his calmness
I loved his intelligence
I loved his wittiness
I loved the sense of security and reliability he radiates so naturally.

Then I remembered the day he proposed 12 years ago...

unromantic
shy
and that cute pinkish blush on his face

And now, looking at the same man, whom I have been sharing the same bed with for the past 12 years...

His smile remained
His mannerism improved
His calmness had been tested with 'fire' and now it glows
His intelligence is still something that continues to impress me
His wittiness has not diminished a single bit
The sense of security and reliability he gives is reaching perfection
From an unromantic man, he now knows how to create little romance in everyday life
Well, his shyness are almost gone but I could still manage to turn his face pinkish with a little teasing now and then.

I am thankful that the good Lord sent him to me at the worst possible moment of my life to lift me up.

I am also thankful for the first 8-9 years of difficult times, which we went through together slogging 12hours or more a day, 7 days a week, to feed ourselves and the children.
Without that hardship, our marriage foundation would NOT be this strong.

I am truly grateful for maintaining the openness in our communication.
Maybe its because our horoscope matches.
Maybe its because our ba-zi matches.
Or
Maybe simply because we continued to respect and love each other.
To speak with an open heart and mind.
And to continue to achieve our common goal.

I realised many married couples do not have a common goal.
They get married.
Have a (few) bundle(s) of joy.
They worked hard to make sure the family survives.
And that's about it.

I realised that couples with a common goal, respect each other more, understand each other deeper and communicates better too.

To me, a 'healthy' marriage life is simply being IN LOVE:
Intimacy
Never Blaming

Listen
Offspring
Variety
Eternity

Intimacy is more important than you think
There are a lot of difference between Sex and Making Love.
Go think!
*wink*

Never Blaming each other
When things go wrong, especially when its terribly wrong.
Point the finger AT YOURSELF
and things will work out
wonders will happen.

Listen to what your spouse has to say
Listening to not just what was said
but to why those words were said

Offspring to complete a family
To me, offsprings, aka children, are reminders
Reminding you and your spouse how in love you feel towards each other
So In Love that you are willing to JUMP into this commitment

Variety is spice to any marriage
Staying the same end up being a routine
Do things differently keeps that spark alive
Find NEW things which the two of you can do together
Find NEW goals which two of you must work as a team to achieve

Eternity in Mind will go a long way
To my surprise, many couples does not have Eternity in their mind when they get married.
I have so many friends and relatives who tell me that marriage is unpredictable and no point staying together as a couple when they do not see eye to eye anymore.
To me, that is a super lousy mindset!
I believe in Law Of Attraction.
If you already have the thought that one day there is a chance that you two will be separated, then, guess what?
That day will come!

Has it become a habit that you two are together?
Or are you still IN LOVE with your spouse?

Are you having a 'healthy' marriage?
Or are you passing each day with the same routine?

I am thankful that Allan and I are and will continue to be, for the rest of our lives.

Happy Anniversary Dearie! *muack*

Good News Pouring in Like Fountain

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Everyone loves good news.
But I was in luck, I had many Good News Pouring in Like Fountain today.

Some are children related, so I blogged about them in my Parenting Blog "All About Your Child".
Here, its reserved for non-kids stuff. *wink*

First, let's talk about Kaching!
Yup, Money!
I received a surprise big ang pao from a friend today. She thanked me for giving her a lobang which gave her money making opportunities.

Second, the income tax statement came today!
YEAH!
*super clap clap clap*
I CAN FINALLY START MY HUNT FOR MY HOUSE!
This temporary place which I am in now has all the good, great and awesome.
Good quiet environment.
Great location.
Awesome selection of food!
Yum!
But its still NOT my house.....

Third, hubby FINALLY agreed to go Genting Highlands after persuading him for YEARS!
We searched through the internet
We made overseas calls
We went down to travel agencies
BUT WE STILL FAILED TO GO Genting Highlands.
*pout*
To us, going on holiday is about relaxation and enjoyment.
But how can that be achieved when we had to squeeze with each other every night in the hotel room?
Yes, the rooms which have two queen size beds have been fully booked
and THE DECEMBER HOLIDAYS too!
*faint*

Finally without giving up for 3 days of hunting for hotel rooms which can fit in two queen size beds,
TODAY! we found it!
And it was within our small 'travel budget'
Our aim is to spend LESS than S$500 for transport and accommodation on a 3 days 2 nights trip, for the four of us, this June Holidays (peak season).
Hooray!
We did it today!
Confirmed!
Chopped!
We are going!
Yeah! *clap clap clap*

Fourth, hubby is working on his first deal after moving to this new temporary place.
Awesome!
*clap clap clap*

If you think having 4 good news in a row on the same day is great, no No NO, remember I said that there is another list of Good News which happened to my kids TODAY over at my Parenting Blog "All About Your Child"? Go read!
*smile*

We TRULY had Showers of Blessings today!!!
Thank you thank you.... we love to get wet in this way!
*laugh*

Song Sharing Sunday #173 - Mom's Song ~ Bryant Oden

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:33:00 +0000

I think this is one of my HAPPIEST Mother's Day ever!
Simply because the first few hours of Mother's Day, I have 2 extra kids spending the night with me.
I'm a Mother of 4 (instead of 2), on this special 2012 Mother's Day.
*giggle*

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Mom's Song ~ Bryant Oden

If you cannot catch the lyrics of Mom's Song, here it is:

You've been my mom for a really long time
And you know me pretty well
Sometimes I act like an angel from Heaven
Sometimes I act like a rebel from ...
Well, you get the idea

But through it all,
you love me just the same
You're my very favorite Mom
Even when you forget my name

How can I tell you
how much I love you in a way that let's you see
I love you as much as you love me

You're really in my heart today
And I wanted to make it clear
Even though I don't always show it
I'm really glad that you are here

All the ways that you support me
the ways you help me shine

Thank you once more for who you are
Out of all the Moms I'm glad you are mine

How can I tell you
how much I love you in a way that let's you see
I love you as much as you love me

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

FREE PAP Smear Screening for May 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:18:00 +0000

I posted about this on 5th May 2012 on my Facebook and right after doing so, I called up one of the clinics and made an appointment.

Free PAP Smear Screening For Female Singaporeans and PRs during the month of May 2012. The participating clinics will display the CvCAM decal and are listed on SCS’ website http://thenewageparents.com/free-pap-smear-screening-for-may-2012/

Today, I received the report through SMS:

Hi *my name*, Dr Ben from SBCC women's clinic.

Your PAP Smear Report is Normal.

Regards.

Yeah!
*clap clap clap*

It is advisable for all woman to do a PAP Smear Screening every year.

Have you done yours this year?
*eyebrows raised*

My Last GoodBye

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Yup!
As planned, I dished out different aspects of my big move and this is the last, the dessert.

Our last cleanup on 14th April 2012 before handing over the house to our buyer, with my sick little one lying on our wedding mattress which we had decided to say Goodbye to.

Its funny how both boys love my wedding mattress so much. They sleep better on our bed than on their own mattresses.

Could it be the 'fragrance' from their parents' bodies?
or maybe
Simply because that mattress is full of their own 'smells' : urine smell, diarrhea smell, vomit smell, perspiration smell, etc.

Well, when they were really young, we co-slept, especially when they were sick; so having their different smells is nothing alarming at all.

Hubby and I endured the abused mattress for so many years, because we wanted to be Very Sure that there will not be another chance for those smells to sip into our new mattress. And the only way we could do that was to WAIT till our boys are much older, like now, one 7 and the other turning 9 in November.

The new mattress we bought was also a gift for ourselves as we celebrate our 12th Wedding Anniversary this May. *smile*

So what else did I say my last goodbye to?

The All Rusty TV socket. Its been there for 32 years! What do you expect? *flicked eyebrows*

The 'messy' floor tiles which ALWAYS give me a hard time when I drop something small, like a needle!!! *faint*

The UNEVEN walls which also challenges us whenever the walls need a new colour.

The OLD door knob that does not have any key to it when its locked from the inside.

The Kids' 'Target Shooting ScoreBoard' in the Kitchen

The Long Aluminum sink which sat on a place where the doors to hide the area were broken and gone long ago.

The FIRST GENERATION mosaic floor tiles in the kitchen, with missing pieces here and there and everywhere.

The mini wall tiles that divide the bedroom from the living room AND the living room from the kitchen

What used to be my Parents' room, then became our room after we bought over the house.

What used to be My Sister and My room, then became My Sister's room before she got married, then became my boys' room for a short 4+ months

The OVER-Utilised storeroom

The upgraded toilet. If the toilet was not upgraded in 2004, waahhhhh, then that OLD toilet would make such a memorable image in this post.

And when you piece all the above together, you get this....

That's it! Goodbye to all the above once and for all....
I want to take this opportunity, on this ending post to my big move out, to thank my hubby.

Without him, I have no idea, when can I ever move out of this place.
So thank you dearie! *super hugs*

Song Sharing Sunday #172 ~ What Doesn't Kill You by Glee Cast

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Kelly Clarkson sings it so well!
Its inspiring!
However, being a Glee fan, I think the Glee Cast did a great job too.
*smile*

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

What Doesn't Kill You (Makes You Stronger) ~ Glee Cast

The lyrics of What Doesn't Kill You ~ Glee Cast:

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby, you don't know me, 'cause you're dead wrong

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself, and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely
I'm alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me
You know in the end the day I left was just my beginning
In the end

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over 'cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself, and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

Not alone.

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Jumping Around under the Shower

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:15:00 +0000

When we first arrived at our new temporary house, we had a lot of getting-used-to on top of our unpacking list. One of the most troubling one was the shower heater.

We used electric heater in our own house but here, the owners use gas heater.

I would not think that it would be too much of a difference until we tried it.
It was extremely frustrating!
The temperature of the water does NOT stay!

Its too hot one moment and too cold in another second.
My boys, in fact adults as well, were jumping around under the shower head throughout the whole bathing session.

When the temperature is right, we had to jumped under the shower head quickly and chip-chip-chop-chop to clean ourselves as much as possible before the temperature changes again.

And in less than 5 seconds, we had to jumped away from the steaming hot 'waterfall'.

So my boys usual 5 mins of bathing time ended up being 10 or even 15 mins because they had to WAIT for the right temperature to jump in to wash themselves.

Yes, there was lots of turning of the tap from the right Red to the left Blue. We had also tried tuning the temperature on the heater itself, but it was no use. The best solution then was to let it stay in the center, between the Red and Blue and just let the shower head go ahead with its Hot and Cold attitude. Should I sing the Katy Perry song?! *eyes rolled*

First 5 days!
We thought enough is enough!
I talked to the owner and asked if we had done something wrong.
Obviously they would not have been jumping around under the shower head all these years, right?
So what was the trick, if there's any at all to get the shower to 'work properly'?!

She and her family said they had no problem at all with the heater, during the phone call.
They were puzzled too.
So she suggested that we should do the tub bathing style.

I had NOT bathed for my children ever since I trained them to bath on their own when they were 3 years old. But with this, we had no choice but to start using the tub bathing style. No, no, no, not sit in the baby tub, but that we filled the tub with water of the RIGHT temperature. Then we scooped up the water for them to bathe. We had to buy a scoop for this purpose as a result.

They were not trained to bathe that way, so after two, three tries, they ended up bathing in their own soapy water and we had to step in to bathe them all over again.

I had never been so busy for some good years already! Showering them?! Huh? What's that?! But I or hubby had to do it because if we don't, more water wastage will happen whenever they bathe.

This carried on for almost two weeks!
Yes! First 5 days of insane jumping around under the shower head like a frog and after that, it was scoop-to-bathe method. Well, at least no more jumping around like a frog. *phew*

Showering should be a relaxing moment, yet it was a frustrating one for us.....

UNTIL.....

Hubby noticed this!

He suspected that the battery might be 'dying', even though the 'Battery Lamp' was NOT flashing or lit.

We went ahead to buy. We were 'dying' to have a proper shower, so we were all out to try whatever that just might make our wish come true.

Guess what?!

It worked!

Hooray! *clap clap clap*

So No More Jumping Around under the Shower Head anymore! Yeah!

My MIL LOVES ME!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:07:00 +0000

My MIL wanted to check out our temporary accommodation today. However, the kiddos over at her side were not cooperative (according to her), the two elder ones refused to study for their exams papers tomorrow.

Only when she called in the late morning to tell us that the visit was cancelled, did we realise that she had boiled Yeung-Sum (Cantonese language for the drink) water last night, all ready to bring to us today. Due to those two bottles of Yeung-Sum water, she insisted that her son must make a trip down to her place to collect it, since she is not coming over already.

Me: "Your Mum REALLY loves her grandsons."

Hubby: "No. Its You! She Really loves you. I told her that you had very bad sore throat on Sunday and immediately she boiled Yeung-Sum water. The boys had been sick for so long already, she did nothing. So its YOU whom she loves."

Me *sacarstically*: "Yes, yes, yes..."

In the late afternoon, hubby went over to her place while I stayed at home with my sick children who were sound asleep then.

...............

Just minutes before hubby came home, my MIL called, "Is he back yet?"

Me: "Not yet."

MIL: "How are you now? Did you gurgle with salt water? The Yeung-Sum water must drink ah! Will make make you feel better. Kids cannot drink. They are coughing."

ONLY THEN, IT DAWNED ONTO ME THAT WHAT HUBBY SAID WAS TRUE!

The Yeung-Sum water was for ME!
AAaaaawwww.....
*heart melted*
and speechless for a few seconds.

Me: "Orh. Orh. I'll drink. I'll drink."

And with a comforted "ok", she hung up.

My yearn for a Mother's Love all these years!!!!!

Came late.

But I am still so happy, so grateful, so blessed....

With my hubby storming through the rain....

brought home my MIL's love to me...

And MIL's dishes too for our dinner.

Thank you MIL!

Thank you!

This is the second time, she did something that makes me feel so loved. The feeling of being loved by a mother. *super hugs*

The first time was back in year 2009, when she walked down almost 20 flights of staircase for my health. Read post here "I Was Exorcised".

Once again, it made me feel terrible to have made her cry (ONCE). I am the ONLY DIL who made her cry because I shouted at her for pressuring me to stop working back in 2006. *slapping my own face*
I'm sorry....

Song Sharing Sunday #170 and #171

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:01:00 +0000

A big thank you to my regular participant of my weekly meme "Song Sharing Sunday".
Though I had missed a week due to lack of internet connection after my big move, she did not.
Hence, I decided to catch up on the missing week and post two songs this round.

Song Sharing Sunday #170 and #171

Right after my hubby got well, I am down.
After taking care of a sick child for almost 3 weeks and now with my elder one sick too since Friday, I think I have survived long enough...
So Song Sharing Sunday #170, a simple funny song to remind me that I am still very blessed.
Just like what the song said, "It could be worse...."
But it didn't...

*smile*

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Song Sharing Sunday #170: Get Well Soon/It Could Be Worse ~ Unknown

================

With all the above said, for Song Sharing Sunday #171, you probably would have expected me to post this song ~ "The Lazy Song"

Yes, really don't feel like doing anything at all...

But I cannot. *pout*

Well, that's what being a Mother is all about, isn't?

Song Sharing Sunday #171: The Lazy Song ~ Bruno Mars

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Will I Still Use This Mover?

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:49:00 +0000

So did you guess YES or NO for the last question posted in my previous post "40 Plus Boxes!!!"?

After going up and down from my house for two rounds of loading and unloading, the truck looked like this:

And how many more things do I have left in the house, which are still waiting to be loaded up into the truck?

Ignore the Yellow Cabinet, its staying behind for good.

Ignore the Wardrobe, its not coming with us.

*JAWS DROPPED* There was no way all of those are going to fit into the rest of the space left in the truck.

So the answer to yesterday's question was "No. The truck could not hold All of my Goodies in one trip."

After loading up a few more things to fill up the last bit of space in the truck, we set off to our new temporary home, leaving behind these for the second trip:

We reached the new place before the movers. It was almost 3pm! Unbelievable? Believe it!

In fact, my heart ached for the Two of them. You can tell that they were already half dead and their tummy were definitely growling. From 11.30am to 3pm and with so much energy used, whose tummy would not growl?!

My sick boy and I were left in the new house giving instructions to the movers, while hubby went to pick up my elder son from school before he goes off to meet the movers again in the old place for the second trip.

We had already decided what to put where, when we went to the new place the day before this big move, so on that day it was "Put Where?" "This, Put Here." NOT once did I say "Hhhmmm..., let me see ah...." Totally no hesitation or whatsoever. Making their job easier and faster.

After all was cleared from the first trip, I could tell that their 'batteries had went flat'! *laugh*
So I told them to go for their late lunch first before going back to the old house for the second trip.

When all was done, it was almost 6pm!!!!!
*faint*

In total he charged us $450.
Expensive?
*shrugged*
Maybe

But for the effort made by the TWO of them because of my hubby's error, I think the price was definitely reasonable. In fact, after observing the way they work, I think I am more than willing to pay that amount. It was REALLY TOUGH!

It is not just muscles without brains.

You need to organise your thoughts before even starting to move anything.

You need to know what should be placed beside each other for a best fit and load them up in that sequence.

There are many things that the two of them did which I really appreciate:

Though shocked (see yesterday's post), when they first arrived, they did not complain nor give bad attitude or grouchy faces. They still smile when we smile at them.
They brought two extra Huge boxes to store those irregular-shaped items. *super thumbs up*

They are extremely strong! My glass dining table is so big and heavy, but the smaller size guy could carry it like as if it was nothing!
Though extremely strong, they are very gentle to my ALL my 'treasures'. The only 'flaw' they made was a dent in the fan's front grid, which hubby felt could have been caused when the vehicle made a sharp turn or something. So its an accident.

They are also considerate muscle men. When they were moving the items along the narrow corridors, they make extra effort to watch over the plants of my neighbour, avoiding them at all costs.
They were so thoughtful that they bother to put down our things carefully and slowly.

When they were unloading at my new temporary place after the second trip, it was obvious that their minds were still very alert though they were exhausted. Instead of asking, "This, Put Where?", they asked, "This goes into the Kitchen right?" or "This put in the Bedroom?"
They also make Special Effort (Without us saying anything at all) not to scratch the floor in our new temporary place, when putting the things down.

My younger boy gave them a packet of drink each when hubby was paying them and preempting them of our next move towards end of this year, after we had finalized our own nest.

"No problem, but next time I will bring more helpers." *laugh*

40 Plus Boxes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:58:00 +0000

You will never know how much junk you have until you decide to move your nesting ground!

Till the second last day before our big move, we were still picking new carton boxes and buying our third roll of plastic wraps.

I am very thankful for those 7 years of retail life, especially those bazaar days, we had learned to use plastic wraps to wrap things up really well.

In fact, I am proud to say that with our frequent trips to replenish our stocks overseas in the past, we know how to make use of carton boxes to the fullest and know how to wrap them up so well that no matter how heavy those things inside the boxes are, the boxes will not break nor tear, even with rough handling.
*thumbs up*

The day before our big move, my removal company called in the afternoon and said that they had made a mistake. They were not able to come at 11am on the 11th of April 2012. They said they could only come after 3pm. *faint*

No way am I going to change my plans because of someone's mistake. So I fired them and looked for another removal company. We chose 11am because of the special schooling time my elder son has on every Wednesday. So I am not going to change the timing for anything or anyone.

Since it was weekday, it was so easy to get a replacement mover.
However, the funny thing was there was a huge misunderstanding between hubby and the movers. Allan kept saying that there aren't many furniture because we have dissembled most of our furniture into small movable sizes and we had thrown away our queen size mattress and bed frame, plus there were merely 20 plus boxes.

The HUGE BIG FAT 'BUT' was we had NOT finished packing when Allan spoke to the movers!

The phone call was made when I collect the keys from my landlord of my temporary home at 12pm plus. We agreed to pack our daily-need-to-use stuff only the day before. Never did we expect that those things could DOUBLED the quantity of the number of cartons we told the movers!!!!

11th April 2012, at 11.30am the two of them came!

Yes!

ONLY two of them!

*super faint*

When they stepped into the house, Allan told them, there were about 30 plus cartons and some Toyogo boxes plus some luggage. The boss's jaws dropped, "Huh?! So many?! I thought you said not many things?!"
"We were not done packing yesterday yet, didn't expect to end up with so much." hubby replied with a little awkwardness.

"I would have called for more helpers if I knew there were this much and I do not think my truck is big enough either for one trip." He warned.

"Its my mistake. Its ok, just name me the price." hubby confessed.

"Nevermind let's move them first and see how it goes." the boss suggested.

And so they did...

See how nicely hubby and I have wrapped all the furniture?!
Just the two of us!
So proud of ourselves.
*pat on shoulders*

Even the movers were impressed.
The 3 rolls of plastic wraps brought by them were not needed at all.
*wink*

My Very Ill boy was still asleep when we were hard at work that morning.

In total, we have dissembled 2 single bed frames, one glass dining table, one wooden study table and one bookshelf. If we had not done that, there would not be any space available for the boxes!!! *eyes rolled*
Dissembling those things also made it easier for the movers to carry.

*SCREAM*

I forgot to take a photo of the completely FULL STOREROOM!!!!

What a waste!!!

So did the movers manage to fit all my 'Goodies' into their truck?

Song Sharing Sunday #169 - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye ~ Banarama

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:50:00 +0000

*slap*
I was so caught up with the big move that I had even forgotten to do a scheduled-post for last Sunday. Hhhhmmm... me and my messy mind.

Yup! I missed a Sunday. My PC was still not up yet in my new temporary home last Sunday.
So this week, its still Song Sharing Sunday NUMBER 169.

I giggled aloud when I heard this song over the radio the moment I hopped back into the car after signing the final documents on the 2nd HDB appointment.
Instantly I felt, "Yes! It was meant to be done this way! And Yes! Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye!"

Goodbye Old Place!

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye ~ Banarama

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

What it was like When We Bought The House in year 2000

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Blog is like a diary to me.
The biggest difference from a physical book is my thoughts are read by more than one reader, myself.
However, to me, a diary is something that records significant moments and this move out IS something that holds a very important place in my heart.

There are so many things to record for this event, so I decided to spread it out into different posts for different aspects.

Here's the first part:

It looked like this before my hubby and I bought the house over from my Mother, just slightly more than a month after my wedding.

Kitchen

Living Room

Common Bedroom

Master Bedroom

For those of you who had been following my Parenting Blog, which I often post pictures of different parts of my house, you would have noticed the Huge Contrast in how the house looked like then and after we had moved in, right? *laugh*

Lots of Changes were made over the past 12+ years, as we created space for babies to crawl and children to run around.

Its Official! I NO Longer Own The House...

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Yes!
Its done!
Finally!

So many years of waiting....
Finally, the wait is over.

Today, at 3pm, HDB 2nd Appointment.
Its stamped and signed.

A house that I grew up in.
Not one single bit of unwillingness nor sigh.
Neither am I missing it at all.

Rather, my heart is filled with JOY and Relief.

Let's be honest.
Its easy to say Forgive and Forget.
Yes, forgiven, but not forgotten.

Come On! If you continue to stay in a house where every corner, every wall, every door still reminds you of the punches, the kicks, the screams, the cries, the paint, the blood.......
Can one really forget, even though the people who created those awfulness are no longer here to see this day?

Can I really forget?

No, I can't.

Out of Sight IS Out of Mind!

Now that the house is sold, my name erased off from that housing document.
I can truly start afresh.

Get a new place, create a home full of love and blissfulness.

Filled with laughter and smiles for my children to remember for years to come and more.

Though staying in a temporary place now, a place I cannot call my own, I am still happy and at peace with myself.
Everything looks clearer, brighter...
even the cup of plain water tastes sweeter...
because my heart is calmer.

This big move is indeed a joyous episode in my life. (I cannot deny that I am physically exhausted to the MAX too.)

A start to a new chapter.

*Thumbs Up*

****Sorry readers, for not being able to blog sooner. My PC was set up only last night. *bleh*

Song Sharing Sunday #168 - Movin' Out ~ Billy Joel

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:11:00 +0000

I almost forgot that I have yet to post this week's Song Sharing Sunday.
Busy packing, labeling, sealing, dissembling, wrapping...
at the same time
Being a nurse to my sick son (what a 'perfect' time to be sick *sigh*)
at the same time
Walking around like a mad woman with my pounding headache due to lack of rest...

All because I'm movin' out...

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Movin' Out ~ Billy Joel

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Ok, now that its done,

I'm going back to where I've left off,

no time to lose...

Tata...

Walking Dead : Walk to Your Own Burial Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

I hardly do blog posts in Chinese because my written Chinese sucks.
Yet, I speak in Chinese more often than English.
Alright, I'm weird. *laugh*

Summarized Translation: In Indonesia, black magic is used on corpse, so that the dead could walk himself/herself, or should I say itself, to his/her/its own burial ground. *Eyebrows Raised High High*

Self-Playing Piano

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Personally I find it quite eerie!

Every school day, my hubby and I have 45mins of couple time. Its the gap between dropping one at school and waiting for the next to be released from school.

Last week, we went to explore a new shopping mall, ARC, which stands for Alexandra Retail Centre.
It is so new, only 60% of the shops were taken. The other 40% were either under renovation or still waiting for takers.

It was at level two.
This piano from Christofori was playing by itself.

Pretty amazing, at the same time, quite eerie too!

Song Sharing Sunday #167 - Moves Like Jagger ~ Maroon 5

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:25:00 +0000

I wanted to post this song for a long time now.
But I could not because I didn't know the title of the song. *shucks*
Until I watched Glee and Artie performed it.
Yeah!
Then with a quick search, Ta-daa!
April Fool's day isn't fooling with me this year...
*clap clap clap*

Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Moves Like Jagger ~ Maroon 5

Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

American Idol Season 11 - Who Left Top 9?

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:04:00 +0000

I'm apologise to all his fans.
But I was jumping with joy the moment Ryan Seacrest said HeeJun Han was heading home.

FINALLY!!!
To me, this should have happened last week.

Anyhow, no doubt, he does have talent big enough to bring him this far into the competition. So with all due respect, here's his last performance on the stage.

Never Be Ashamed To Say "I Need Help!"

noreply@blogger.com (Angeline) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:21:00 +0000

Ask and You Shall Receive.

Seek and You Shall Find.

Something happened recently and it reminded me of my past.
The many times when I had nothing to feed myself.
The many times when I had trouble finding peace.
The many times when I just needed a listening ear.

The times of helplessness.
The times of frustrations.
The times of anger.

They were difficult times, but they are over now.
Thanks to friends, family members, relatives.
Without them, there would not be me here and now.

Then again, its God above who watches over all, undeniably.

Many says, "Just Pray and everything will be fine."
To me, praying is not good enough.

I need to do something before help can be rendered.
I need to do something before I can see the light of hope.

And that something is humility.

Everybody need help at some point in their lives.
Some need more help and others less.
NEVER be ashamed to say "I need help!"

Only when I bowed down my head in humility,
that's when angels started to appear with their helping hands stretched out.

Only when I put down my ego,
and tell the truth,
gifts of love came pouring.

Only when I revealed my battered soul,
I finally saw who are friends for fun and who are friends for life;
and people for good times only and people for all sort of moments.

Taking this opportunity to thank YOU, YOU and many more YOUs, who pulled me through my darkest moments in my life.

*Super Hugs*